Resistivity network and structural model of the oxide cathode for CRT application

In this paper, the electrical properties of oxide cathode and oxide cathode plus, supplied by LG Philips Displays, have been investigated in relation to different cathode activation regimes and methods. Oxide cathode activation treatment for different durations has been investigated. The formations of the compounds associated to the diffusion of reducing elements (Mg, Al, and W) to the Ni cap surface of oxide cathode were studied by a new suggestion method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was used as analytical techniques. Al, W, and Mg doping elements take place during heating to 1080 K (Ni-Brightness) under a rich controlled Ba–SrO atmosphere through an acceleration life test. The chemical transport of these elements was occurred mainly by the Ni cap grain boundary mechanism with significant pile-up of Mg compounds. Al and W show a superficial concentrations and distribution. A new structural and resistivity network model of oxide cathode plus are suggested. The new structural model shows a number of metallic and metallic oxide pathways are exist at the interface or extended through the oxide coating. The effective values of the resistances and the type of the equivalent circuit in the resistivity network model are temperature and activation time dependent.</p

CORRELATION BETWEEN NEURAL RESPONSE TELEMETRY (NRT) MESUREMENT LEVEL AND BEHAVIORL (T-LEVEL AND C-LEVEL) IN PRELINGUAL COCHLEAR IMPLANT PATIENTS

 Objectives: To study the correlation between Neural Response Telemetry (NRT) measurement level and behavioral (Threshold level and Comfort level) in pre lingual cochlear implant patients age between 2 -10 years old at one and three months post implant. Methods: A cross sectional study conducted at University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center from September 2010 to January 2012. Total numbers of hundred patients were involved in this study.All recipients implanted with Nucleus 24 cochlear implant and had full insertion and normal activation of the electrode array. Comparison between intra-operative NRT measurement level and behavioral (T-level and C-level) in cochlear implant patients at one month and three months post implantation were obtained respectively. Results: This study showed the intra-operative NRT levels were seen to fall between the T and C levels in one and three months respectively. There was also a positive correlation between NRT value measurements and both T and C value measurements in both one and three months (p value 0.01). There is a fair strength of the linear relationship between NRT and behavioral level in both one and three month post implant as shown by the r value (0.4 at one month, 0.2 at three months) Conclusion: It is useful to use the NRT values to predict the behavioral T and C values in prelingual children and an additional tool for the mapping. Key words: Neural Response Telemetry (NRT); Threshold level; Comfort level; Nucleus 24 cochlear implant.

A Rare Case of Foreign Body Ingestion, Mimicking as Mesenteric Cyst. "Case Report"

Background: Foreign body ingestion by children is a commonly encountered problem and accounts for a significant emergency visits among pediatric population. Although these ingested foreign bodies pass spontaneously and uneventfully, a subset of such bodies may become trapped in the digestive tract, eventually leading to significant injury. Most of these bodies are radio-opaque and detectable radiologically, but some radio-lucent may become a diagnostic dilemma and subtle management issue. Case Report: We report a case of a one-year girl who presented after accidental ingestion of foreign body with signs and symptoms of acute intestinal obstruction. Initially we were unable to diagnose the cause, but later the radiological investigation suspected a mesenteric cyst. After failure to respond to conservative measures she underwent exploratory laparotomy, and a jelly ball was removed from the gut. The patient had uneventful post-operative recovery and was kept on follow-up for three months without any complication. Conclusion: These patients do not respond to conservative measures and need surgery on an emergency basis. It is likely that if left untreated may have caused Intestinal perforation and irreversible shock. Radiolucent foreign bodies are difficult to diagnose and need high level of suspicion. Need of the hour is to educate the parents to be extra vigilant as “prevention is better than cure”

Toxic effect of naphta exposure on respiratory system among workers in the tyre industry

A cross-sectional study was carried out on workers in a tyre manufacturing industry in Malaysia to determine the effects of naphtha exposure on lung functions and respiratory symptoms. Sixty male workers exposed to naphtha and 42 unexposed workers were selected for this study. Personal air monitoring carried out using solid sorbent tubes and low flow pumps (Model: PAS-500 Personal Air Sampler). Personal air monitoring showed that the mean air naphtha concentration was 28.50 mg/m3, the median was 28.47 mg/m3 and the inter quartile range of 1.27 mg/m3. The range was from 0.19 to 200.51 mg/m3 (PEL is 400 mg/m3). The lung function tests showed in 2 groups for all the 3 parameters (FVC%, FEV1% and FEV1/FVC) were in exposed group 96.16, 85.23 and 0.791 respectively and in Unexposed group was 113.23, 116.28 and 0.903 respectively.The lung function tests showed that there were significant difference in the 2 groups for FVC% (p < 0.001), FEV1% (p < 0.001) and FEV1/FVC% (p = 0.002). Multiple linear regression test showed that monthly household income significantly influence the FVC% predicted (b = 0.003, p < 0.001) and FEV1% predicted (b = 0.006, p < 0.001). In conclusion there was an inverse relationship between air naphtha concentrations and lung functions ability. Early impairment of the respiratory system is detected on the workers who are exposed to naphtha which made up of several chemicals

Distribution of VA Mycorrhizal Spores in Sandy Beach Soils under Cashew

Surface horizons (0-15 em) of sandy beach soils from Besut and Kuantan, (Malaysia) under cashew (Anacardium occidentale L) were sampled for Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (VAM) spores. Isolation of VAM spores were made from both the Rudua and Jambu series in Besut as well as the Rudua and Baging series in Kuantan. There were more spores isolated from the Kuantan than the Besut areas. The results also indiate a positive relationship between spore number to percent organic matter present in the topsoil. The abundant spores isolated from the Kuantan areas (in contrast to Besut) could have some significance in the P nutrition of cashew and probably explain the yield differences existing between these two areas

Swarm Robots Control System Based Fuzzy-PSO

In this paper describes swarm robots control design using combination Fuzzy logic and Particle swarm optimization algorithm. They can communicate with each other to achieve the target. Fuzzy Logic technique is used for navigating swarm robots in unknown environment and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is used for searching and finding the best position of target. In this experiment utilize three identical robots with different color. Every robot has three infrared sensors, two gas sensors, 1 compass sensor and one X-Bee. A camera in the roof of robot arena is utilized to determine the position of each robot with color detection methods. Swarm robots and camera are connected to a computer which serves as an information center. From the experimental results the Fuzzy-PSO algorithm is able to control swarm robots, achieves the best target position in short time and produce smooth trajector

Examining the fit of social media as a tool to share disaster-related knowledge: From the perspective of task-technology fit theory

ICT is emerging as a process of knowledge-sharing without any physical and geographical constraints.ICT has successfully been used to disseminate knowledge during a constrained situation (i.e. disaster).In other words, ICT can be used to connect the public during a time of crisis.In Malaysia, the National Security Council(NSC) is one of the agencies responsible for managing disasters.Having a reputation as being a "champion of agencies", the NSC is responsible for providing a social media by which to share disaster-related knowledge with the public.Nevertheless, to what extent this social media actually supports the knowledge-sharing process is unknown.Hence, the purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which a social media actually supports the knowledge-sharing process; a theory known as Task-Technology Fit (TTF) is adopted. The data will be collected by distributing questionnaires to the users who have experience in accessing the social media tools of the NSC to acquire disaster-related knowledge during the occurrence of a disaster (i.e. flood). Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) will be used to analyze the data.The development of a theoretical research model will assist the agencies involved in disaster management to predict user evaluation of the social media tool in order to gather knowledge/information related to disasters