The influence of extended warranty policy in Malaysian culture perspective : a case study in automobile

The term of extended warranty has recently appeared in Malaysia industrial market, although it has appeared in the developing countries for quite since the passage of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty—Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act in 1975. Since that era, researchers and scholars has been extensively studied it. In this paper our goal is to study the Malaysian consumers’ perception toward the extended warranty policy, where we have taken Automobile industrial market as our case study to support our believe that Malaysia which is one of the developing countries in terms of industry, and the automobile market represent from the high marketing level. From that perception, we believe that we can obtain a high investigation records in terms of scale of consumers perception. In this paper we have under taken a survey method as a methodology for conducting the data collection. In particular we have designed questionnaire as our instrumental to assist our investigation in collecting required information from the Malaysian consumers. SPSS software has been used to aid the statistical analysis and analyzed of the data that have been collected using the questionnaire methodology. As a summary, by conducting our survey and gathering the data collection from respondents, we are able to analyze our data and come out with results that can answer our research questions and fulfill our objective

Miniaturized High-Q Tunable RF Filters

This dissertation focuses on the investigation and development of novel efficient tuning techniques and the design of miniaturized high-Q tunable RF filters for high-performance reconfigurable systems and applications. First, a detailed survey of the available tuning concepts and state-of-art tunable filters is provided. Then, a novel so-called inset resonator configuration is presented for the applications of fixed and tunable coaxial filters. The design procedure of frequency tunable filters with constant absolute bandwidth (CABW) is described, and various tunable inset filters are implemented, offering many desirable merits, including the wide tuning range and stable high-Q with minimum variation. For wide octave frequency tuning ranges with CABW, a second novel concept is presented using so-called re-entrant caps tuners. Beside simplicity and compactness, this technique also features enhanced spurious performance and wider tuning capabilities than the conventional means. Also, in this dissertation, various miniaturized reconfigurable dual-band/dual-mode bandpass filters and diplexers are presented using compact dual-mode high-Q TM-mode dielectric resonators. Furthermore, a novel microfluidic-based ultra-wide frequency tuning technique for TM010-mode dielectric resonators and filters is introduced in this dissertation. In addition to the very wide tuning window, this mechanism has key advantages of low-cost, simplicity, and intrinsic switch-off. Lastly, the dissertation includes a novel bandwidth reconfiguration concept with multi-octave tuning using a single element for coaxial bandpass filters. This mechanism brings many features including the fast tuning, constant high-Q, intrinsic switch-off, and wide BW-reconfiguration

Miniaturized Dual-Band Dual-Mode TM-Mode Dielectric Filter in Planar Configuration

This paper reports a new class of compact inline dual-band bandpass filters using TM-mode dielectric resonators in planar configuration. Thanks to the employment of the dielectric-loaded TM-mode waveguide configuration and the dual-mode TM120 and TM210 resonances, substantial size miniaturization and volume saving (>70%) can be obtained in comparison with conventional waveguide technology. Additionally, the planar topology of the presented concept offers highly desirable advantages for industry and mass production including the ease of manufacturing, assembly, and tuning. Furthermore, the resonating doublets and the nonresonating TM110 mode are effectively utilized to introduce and control both inter-band and outer-band transmission zeros, advantageously increasing the isolation between the two passbands and enhancing the outer-band rejection regions. The general design procedure of the proposed filter is discussed in detail. A three-pole C-band dual-band dual-mode TM-mode dielectric filter is designed, implemented, and measured to validate the proposed configuration

Very Compact Diplexer Based on Dual-Mode Dielectric TM-Mode Resonators

A very compact in-line C-band diplexer is reported in this letter based on dual-mode dielectric TM-mode resonators in planar coupling configuration. In addition to the advantages of substantial volume-saving and easy assembly, the proposed diplexer features high-quality factor, enhanced spurious performance, high-power handling, and efficient tuning process with independent control of each passband. For verification purposes, a C-band diplexer is designed, implemented, and tested. The final assembled diplexer unit has a compact overall volume of 43 × 40 × 15.9 mm 3 . It operates at 4.73 and 5.03 GHz with the same bandwidth of 24 MHz, an insertion loss better than 0.9 dB, and a return loss higher than 21 dB. In addition, a high-power breakdown analysis shows that the introduced diplexer can handle high levels of input power up to 5200 W

Design and Development of a Tractor Mounted Sweet Potato Transplanting Machine

Transplanting is an important method of establishing field sweet potatoes. Design of a suitable transplanting machine depends on transplanting method. A design concept for the sweet potato transplanting machine was developed using Auto CAD R14. A prototype transplanter was designed, fabricated and field tested at the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, UPM, Serdang, Malaysia. The overall construction of the machine consists of the main chassis, power transmission system, transplanting pocket and handling system of the sweet potatoes vine cuttings. The machine was ground driven and mounted on the 3-point hitch linkage system of a mini or medium size tractor of 20-40 kW. Two operators were required in the transplanting operation; a driver for the tractor and an operator to feed the sweet potato seedlings manually. The operational activities for the machine include the preparation of planting furrow, placement of seedlings horizontally in the prepared furrow, covering of the seedlings and compacting the soil around the planted seedlings. The machine allowed all possible variations and component adjustments to ensure prompt and comprehensive field evaluation. The power requirement was about 8.9 kW for a single row machine. The machine was simple in design, easily manufactured locally and able to operate at high efficiency (77%). Forward speeds were significant parameter for transplanting and machine efficiency. These experimental results showed that first speed of 2km/hr together with planting depth of 20cm is the best among speeds and depths tested as it gave the lower number of missing plants. The sweet potato transplanting machine had an average capacity of 0.19 ha/hr at low speed (2km/hr) while the vegetable transplanter had about 0.09 ha/hr at the same speed. The expected yield for this machine should be greater than the yield produced vertically

The Dependence of the Out Put Power and Absorptivity of Waveguides and Nano Solar Cells on the low Frequency and Dimensions

      One of the most prominent problems facing Scientists in designing solar cells nowadays is to design highly efficient solar cells by increasing its light absorptivity. This needs a design of highly efficient solar cells having nanometer dimensions in a form of a waveguide.      Since the design of such cells is difficult in the Sudan, this paper attempted to design absorption microwave cells to know how the absorption depends on the dimensions of the rectangular waveguid

MEAN PLATELET VOLUME IN TYPE II DIABETES MELLITUS, CASE CONTROL STUDY – GEZIRA CENTRAL SUDAN

Aim: Thrombotic disorders are the major complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). Platelets are considered to play a role in these vaso-occlusive complications. The mean platelet volume (MPV) is recently taken as indicator for platelet reactivity. The aim of this study was to show the state of platelet activity in type II diabetes mellitus by indication of MPV. Methods: This study was done in Wad Madani, Gezira State, Sudan 2007.  MPV was measured in 100 adult type II diabetic Sudanese patients and 100 adult healthy control subjects matched for age and gender.  Results: MPV was found to be significantly higher among the diabetic group (mean 9.9 fl) than the control group (mean 9.0 fl) (P value 0.015). Conclusion: We conclude that elevated MPV may indicate platelet hyperactivity, which may contribute to the vascular complications of type II DM

Widely Tunable TM-Mode Dielectric Filters With Constant Absolute Bandwidth Using Re-Entrant Caps

This paper reports octave tunable dielectric combline bandpass filters with constant absolute bandwidth (CABW) using a novel re-entrant cap tuning technique. The resonant frequency is tuned by the hollow re-entrant cap penetrating into the filter cavity as an envelope around the dielectric resonator. This mechanism of tuning provides wider tuning capabilities and better spurious performance than the conventional screw-based tuning. Also, the cap tuners can be employed effectively to tune the input-output and inter-resonator couplings simultaneously with the frequency reconfiguration, enabling a CABW over a wide frequency tuning window. For proof of concept purposes, a single widely tunable resonator is presented with octave tuning ratio of 2.64:1, high quality factor from 1705 to 5480, and spurious-free band up to 3.44⋅ f0 . Afterwards, two octave tunable re-entrant cap filters are designed, fabricated, and tested. The first filter is a 78% widely tunable two-pole filter with a CABW of 43.5 ± 12% MHz, low insertion loss equals to 0.28 ± 0.03 dB, and a compact volume of 39 cm 3 . The second design is a four-pole octave tunable bandpass filter from 2.96 GHz to 1.36 GHz with a constant 69 ± 13% MHz bandwidth, low insertion loss better than 0.6 dB, return loss higher than 16 dB, and a compact 62 cm 3 structure. According to our own knowledge, thanks to the proposed tuning mechanism, the presented designs are the first CABW octave tunable high Q waveguide-based filters, having the widest tuning ranges over all similar state-of-the-art-designs

Spectrophotometric Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Pseudoephedrine and Triprolidine in Bulk and Tablet Forms

A spectrophotometric method was developed for the simultaneous determination of pseudoephedrine HCl (PSE) and triprolidine HCl (TRI) in bulk and dosage forms. The method involved the determination of pseudoephedrine in the presence of triprolidine using two wavelengths (257 nm and 290 nm). Beers law was obeyed in the concentration (152-760 ?g/ml) and (6.4-32 ?g/ml) with good linearity (0.9996 and 0.9996) for pseudoephedrine and triprolidine respectively. The accuracy and the precision of the developed method were very good (RSD ? 2%). The validity of the proposed method was confirmed through the statistical comparison of the obtained data with those of the official USP method

Investment strategies for different actors in indoor mobile market: "In view of the emerging spectrum authorization schemes"

The regulatory landscape is changing towards more flexible spectrum management schemes. Such schemes are expected to make additional spectrum resources available and lower the spectrum access barriers. Emerging spectrum authorization schemes such as secondary access (TV White Space) and Licensed Shared Access (LSA) are expected to open doors for new actors rather than traditional MNOs to access licensed spectrum resources at reasonable costs. These schemes will allow actors such as Facility Owners (FO), Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to invest in indoor mobile network infrastructure. These actors can act as Local Network Operators (LNO) and build their business models around provisioning of mobile services in locations where there seems to be a hole or lack of service coverage in a particular area within the mobile network operators (MNOs) service footprint. This paper highlights the differences between indoor deployment and outdoor deployment in the light of the available spectrum bands to be used and the possible business models for MNOs and LNOs. In short, the possible investment strategies for provisioning indoor mobile services vary between MNOs and LNOs cases due to economic and regulatory aspects surrounding them. The main finding in this study indicates that the willingness of MNOs to invest in dedicated indoor solutions is driven by the balance between the potential revenues and the deployment cost. Moreover MNOs have more spectrum and investment options compared to LNOs who must bond their investment strategies to the available spectrum resources (i.e. the regulations of spectrum access)