Virtual Reality Application of Traditional Malay House: Bringing Tourists into 3-Dimensional Virtual World

The focus of this research is to conduct a survey questionnaire among local and foreign tourists to collect data towards virtual reality technology of traditional Malay house for the promotion. The existing application of traditional Malay house developed based on virtual reality (VR) technology and in the field of virtual heritage. In this field, the heritage of a traditional Malay house will be presented among local and foreign tourists. The purpose of this application is to promote the traditional Malay house as well as the Malay heritage to the tourists. An evaluation on the acceptance and usability of the application among them will be measure. This will determine their responses towards the utilization of VR technology in promoting these areas. At the end of this research, a conclusion on the potential use of VR technology in promoting the traditional Malay house as well as the Malay heritage in the tourism sector could be made

Clinical utility of intravitreal fluocinolone acetonide (Iluvien®) implant in the management of patients with chronic diabetic macular edema:a review of the current literature

The first-line therapy for patients with center-involving diabetic macular edema (DME) is with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents, with or without adjunctive macular laser treatment. However, a significant proportion of patients have persistent and recurrent edema despite repeated anti-VEGF injections. The fluocinolone acetonide (FA) 190 μg intravitreal implant has been shown in pivotal clinical trials to be efficacious for the treatment of DME and has been approved in many countries for use in patients who have not responded to first-line therapy. In this report, we have collated the latest data from the increasing number of studies to illustrate the pattern of usage of the Iluvien FA implant for DME during the current anti-VEGF era. We have shown that there is now a wealth of published evidence from real-world studies to support the clinical utility of the FA implant in achieving further resolution of edema and improving visual acuity outcomes in this challenging group of patients

Process Optimization of Friction Welded Spot Aluminum Alloy Using ANOVA

The parameter of angular speed, depth of tool, and time of dwell of friction welded spot was studied on the alloy of aluminium. To do so, the impact from parameters was investigated through tensile shear test on the welded alloy and using the design of experiment (L8). ANOVA is then used to see important factors and contributions via main effects plots. It was found that angular speed of tool had a big impact on tensile shear load with 45 %, time of dwell 34 %, depth of tool 10 %. The angular speed of 1 400 rpm, time of dwell 9 s, and depth of tool 3.5 mm were the optimal parameters in this study. Keywords: light material welding, optimize weld process, weld softened materia

Impact of Plasma Spray Variables Parameters on Mechanical and Wear Behaviour of Plasma Sprayed Al2O3 3%wt TiO2 Coating in Abrasion and Erosion Application

AbstractAlumina-titania coatings produced by plasma spray processes are being developed for a wide variety of applications that require resistance to wear, erosion, cracking and spallation. Consideration of parameters setting will develop reliable coatings with high performance properties for demanding coating application. Al2O3 3%wt TiO2 coating was produced onto metal substrate using Praxair Plasma Spray System with SG-100 Gun. This paper discusses the experimental and testing performance analysis of the coating which prepared based on three varied process parameters (current, powder flow rate and stand-off-distance). With the varied coating parameters, test results showed that increasing current from 550A to 650A and powder flow rate from 22.5g/min to 26g/min increased the performance of mechanical properties of coating (adhesion strength & hardness) and gave the lowest friction coefficient value (i.e. best wear resistance) of coating. Increasing stand-off-distance from 75mm to 90mm also increased hardness performance and provided the lowest friction coefficient value of coating. However increasing stand-off-distance has decreased adhesion strength at setting powder flow rate of 26g/min and 650A current. The behavior of such parameters setting significantly influenced the production of optimum Al2O3 3%wt TiO2 coating onto metal substrate

Conceptual model of persuasive multimedia content (PMC) for social media advertising of island homestays

This study encompasses the development and application of a conceptual model for social media advertising of island homestays. Findings through observation and two preliminary studies found that the use of advertising without suitable models, approaches, or strategies could lead the homestay industry into failure in terms of attracting potential customers. It is because relying on traditional advertising alone is no longer adequate. The majority of homestay operators were lack of advertising and promotion strategies. Thus, they wished to endeavor alternative strategy of advertising that can help them to improve their income performance. They believed that advertising through social media is a useful way to transform business by engaging with customers. Hence, this study proposes a conceptual model that embedded persuasive multimedia content (PMC) into advertisement. The main aim of this study is development of a conceptual model of PMC for social media advertising of island homestays. This is supported by four sub-objectives: (i) identification of the suitable components and elements for the conceptual model, (ii) development of the conceptual model of PMC, (iii) validation of the proposed conceptual model through expert review and prototyping, and (iv) measurement of the effectiveness of the prototype. The identified components and elements of the PMC were inserted into a diagram to form a conceptual model. Then, the conceptual model went through two validation processes by seven expert reviewers. For advertisement content creation, the conceptual model was applied into the advertisement content of island homestays to produce persuasive advertisement. The prototype of island homestay advertisement was uploaded on the island homestay‟s Facebook page. Paper-based and online questionnaires were distributed to measure the effectiveness of the advertisement. The technique used was copy-testing where 169 Facebook users viewed the island homestay advertisements and gave their response through the questionnaires. The results of the analysis showed that the application of the PMC were significant in influencing social media users‟ attitude. Dimension of advertisement content effect and persuasive multimedia that was correlated with other four dimensions are (i) attitude toward advertised brand, (ii) awareness of persuasive intent, (iii) attitude toward advertisement, and (iv) purchase intention, significantly effective in influencing their attitude toward island homestays. This is because homestay advertisements have attracted respondents‟ attention and persuaded them. They had positive tendency to experience the lifestyle in island homestays

Prediction, detection and suppression of cerebral microemboli associated with carotid disease

Background Transient cerebral microemboli detected by transcranial Doppler (TCD) have been demonstrated to be a reliable biomarker for short term stroke risk in two clinical settings; patients with carotid artery stenosis and those following carotid endarterectomy. Suppressing cerebral microemboli using TCD-directed antiplatelet treatment reduces risk of recurrent stroke. The association between classical cardiovascular risk factors and cerebral microemboli has not been studied. Furthermore, standard TCD method to detect cerebral microemboli is limited by lack of acoustic temporal bone window which is not available in approximately 1 in 7 patients. TCD is the only real-time imaging modality for detecting microemboli. The demonstration of the kinetic of the microemboli is invaluable in assessing the efficacy of antiplatelet agents. Hypotheses 1. Whether Pocock cardiovascular risk score and ABCD2 risk score are able to predict the presence of cerebral microemboli. 2. The feasibility of using transorbital Doppler as an alternative to transcranial Doppler. 3. The effectiveness of Tirofiban in suppressing cerebral microemboli. Methods 1. Pocock score was assessed for the newly developed Carotid Surgery Registry of 670 patients managed between January 2002 and December 2012. 2. ABCD2 score was determined in 206 patients with hyper-acute symptomatic critical carotid artery stenosis in which 102 of these patients were from Registry. A further 104 consecutive patients were recruited between February 2011 and May 2013 within a new prospective observational study. 3. The feasibility of using transorbital Doppler was assessed based on the Registry data. Further new prospective validation study of transorbital Doppler against standard TCD method involving 100 consecutive patients undergoing elective carotid endarterectomies were undertaken. 4. From the Registry, patients who had microembolic signals acutely following carotid surgery were assessed to evaluate the effectiveness of Tirofiban in suppressing microemboli. Findings 1. A high Pocock score (≥ 0.8%) predicts presence of cerebral microemboli acutely following carotid endarterectomy (Area Under Curve (AUC) 0.582 95% CI 0.507 – 0.658, P = 0.038). It also showed a high sensitivity for the presence of microemboli in patients with hyper-acute symptomatic carotid artery disease. 2. The ABCD2 score did not predict presence of cerebral microemboli ((AUC 0.49 95% CI 0.41 – 0.57, P = 0.860), or carotid disease in over one-quarter of patients with symptomatic critical carotid artery stenosis. 3. Transorbital Doppler imaging appears a valid alternative to transcranial Doppler for detecting microembolic signals in patients with no suitable temporal acoustic window (sensitivity 80 %, specificity 86 %. Bland and Altman analysis revealed no significant bias [bias 0.11 microemboli (95% CI: -0.52 to 0.74), P = 0.81]). 4. Tirofiban has been shown to be more effective in treating microemboli in comparison to other most commonly used antithrombotic agents. The time for complete microemboli resolution (Tirofiban 68 minutes (53-94); dextran 113 (79-146); or in controls 53(49-68); P<0.001, KW) were shorter with tirofiban

ABCD² risk score does not predict the presence of cerebral microemboli in patients with hyper-acute symptomatic critical carotid artery stenosis

ABCD² risk score and cerebral microemboli detected by transcranial Doppler (TCD) have been separately shown to the predict risk of recurrent acute stroke. We studied whether ABCD² risk score predicts cerebral microemboli in patients with hyper-acute symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. We studied 206 patients presenting within 2 weeks of transient ischaemic attack or minor stroke and found to have critical carotid artery stenosis (≥50%). 86 patients (age 70±1 (SEM: years), 58 men, 83 Caucasian) had evidence of microemboli; 72 (84%) of these underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA). 120 patients (age 72±1 years, 91 men, 113 Caucasian) did not have microemboli detected; 102 (85%) of these underwent CEA. Data were analysed using X2 and Mann-Whitney U tests and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. 140/206 (68%: 95% CI 61.63 to 74.37) patients with hyper-acute symptomatic critical carotid stenosis had an ABCD2 risk score ≥4. There was no significant difference in the NICE red flag criterion for early assessment (ABCD² risk score ≥4) for patients with cerebral microemboli versus those without microemboli (59/86 vs 81/120 patients: OR 1.05 ABCD² risk score ≥4 (95% CI 0.58 to 1.90, p=0.867)). The ABCD² risk score was <4 in 27 of 86 (31%: 95% CI 21 to 41) embolising patients and in 39 of 120 (31%: 95% CI 23 to 39) without cerebral microemboli. After adjusting for pre-neurological event antiplatelet treatment (APT), area under the curve (AUC) of ROC for ABCD2 risk score showed no prediction of cerebral microemboli (no pre-event APT, n=57: AUC 0.45 (95% CI 0.29 to 0.60, p=0.531); pre-event APT, n=147: AUC 0.51 (95% CI 0.42 to 0.60, p=0.804)). The ABCD² score did not predict the presence of cerebral microemboli or carotid disease in over one-quarter of patients with symptomatic critical carotid artery stenosis. On the basis of NICE guidelines (refer early if ABCD² ≥4), assessment of high stroke risk based on ABCD² scoring may lead to inappropriate delay in urgent treatment in many patients

Sustainable waste management via incineration system: an Islamic outlook for conservation of the environment

This paper would firstly examine solid waste management currently experienced in Malaysia with special concentration given to waste incineration. Its function and benefits entailed from this system shall then be identified. This paper attempts to emphasize this notion within the Islamic perspective, stressing on the needs to conserve the environment. This study adopts a qualitative approach where the conceptual authoritative literature in the related field is utilized based on content analysis. The related principles of Islamic jurisprudencecarefully examined along with the Quranic verses depicting on this issue This study further submits that incinerating waste could mitigate environmental impact that might otherwise arise from waste. Finally, it further concludes that Islam provides a concrete model of environmental ethics which is based on divine revelation that needs to be observed.Keywords: sustainable waste management; incineration system; environment conservation;Islamic jurisprudence principles

Effect of Die and Punch Radius on Springback of Stainless Steel Sheet Metal in the Air V-Die Bending Process

This paper focuses on the effect of the die and punch radii on the springback in the air V-die free bending process of stainless steel sheet metal. The experiment was performed on sheet metal using various die and punch radius values while their springback behavior was observed. The design of experiment approach was used in these experiments using the full factorial and analysis of variance methods to identify whether or not the die and punch radii are significant input parameters in predicting springback. From the statistical analysis, it shows that the die and punch radius parameters are significant factors contributing to the springback effect in the V-die bending of stainless steel sheet metal at the significance level of 0.05 because their p-value is less than 0.05. The results from the experiments showed that springback is affected by the die and punch radius values in the air V-bending experiments. From this analysis, it can be concluded that the springback values can be decreased by decreasing the values of the die and punch radii. In the air V-die bending process, the punch radius is the most important factor to be considered. The experimental method agreed well with the design of experiment results