An Adaptive Thresholding Method for Segmenting Dental X-Ray Images

Thresholding is a way of segmenting an image into foreground and background according to a fixed constant value called a threshold. Image segmentation based on a constant threshold leads to unsatisfactory results with dental X-ray images due to the uneven distribution of pixel intensity. In this paper, an adaptive thresholding method is proposed to attain promising segmentation results for dental X-ray images. The Mean, Median, Midgrey, Niblack, and OTSU thresholding methods are utilized to delineate the acceptable range of threshold values to be applied for segmenting X-ray images. Experimental results showed that the Median method provides consistency in achieving the best range of threshold values which is between 57 and 86 in greyscale

Occupational safety and health assessment in metal industry within small and medium enterprise

According to annual report from the Social Security Organization (SOCSO) between years 2009 and 2011, metal industry has the highest reported number of accidents compared to the other manufacturing industry in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the actual causes of problems that lead to the accidents involving metal industries within SMEs. In this study, checklist through site visits has been used to collect the data. The overall result reveals that the main causes of accident are due to organization failure, human factor, machine failure and surrounding environment

A user-orientated electronic laboratory notebook for the retrieval of scientific provenance grounded in EUROCHAMP-2 community

Data is particularly valuable to scientists when details of its provenance are known. The traditional means of capturing provenance of experimental work is a scientist's personal laboratory notebook. The process is often ad-hoc and its content unstructured, making it hard to share the underlying scientific thoughts with other scientists. A better alternative to this traditional method of capturing provenance is now possible by using Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELNs) [1]. This research is concerned with deploying a user-orientated Electronic Laboratory Notebook (uELN) system within a scientific community. The uELN system supported the capture and retrieval of simulation data describing the provenance of the modelling activities of scientists within that community. The research was grounded within the atmospheric chemistry community. The uELN system involved the automatic capture of data concerning the modelling process together with inline annotations added by the modeller explaining the reasoning for modelling decisions at each step of the process. A full realisation of the uELN system was built for the atmospheric chemistry community. An ontology (in OWL) was used to ensure the specific terminology of the community was used within the provenance data and also that it was used consistently. The architecture included a dynamic graphic interface that allows the modeller to view hislher modelling history. This was recorded as a set of nodes each pointing to the stored provenance data associated with a specific simulation run. In addition, there was an innovative mechanism that enabled the modeller to navigate through the various nodes. The navigation process supported comparisons between different nodes: a facility that users found particularly valuable. Two types of user-centred evaluations (i.e. formative and summative) were undertaken with members of the atmospheric chemistry community. In formative evaluation, the usability of uELN design was improved. In summative evaluation, a two-day workshop was conducted. This confirmed the value of the uELN to the modellers and it is now being introduced more widely across the modelling community.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

User Interface Designs of an Educational Mobile Application: A Study of Qiraat Teaching and Learning

This paper reports a summative evaluation conducted for the educational mobile application called “Qiraat Sab’ah.” The prototype was developed using the Rapid Application Development (RAD) and User Experience (UX) methodologies. The prototype was improved further based on the formative evaluation feedback gathered from students, lecturers, and the public who wish to learn Qiraat through the mobile application. The summative evaluation was focused on the value and usability of the application if it is being used in a real environment. A total of 50 participants were involved in this evaluation. The result shows that most of the participants provide positive feedback on usability. One of the major highlights from the participants is that the application can be used as a supplementary teaching and learning tool for people who wish to learn Qiraat anytime and anywhere. However, further areas of expansion are needed such as including all chapters (surahs) in the Quran and tajweed indicators to the verses before it can be used for real

Development and Alpha Testing of EzHifz Application: Al-Quran Memorization Tool

Learning to memorize the Quran presents a challenge. This paper reports the development and alpha testing of a mobile application called “EzHifz” for Quran memorization based on the VARK learning style. The application received positive feedback for user acceptance testing and heuristic testing. The Fleiss kappa coefficient (κ) results for user acceptance testing show a very good level of agreement (κ = 0.850). Heuristic testing results show that κ = 0.731 for content, manual guide, memorization activities, performance information, and tasmik assessment attributes, while κ = 0.727 for presentation design, interactivity, multimedia elements, attraction, and motivation attributes. These results show a good level of agreement, which indicates that the EzHifz application meets the requirements of design and development based on the attributes evaluated. A combination of memorizing techniques in the application helps strengthen the use of preferred VARK learning styles. The techniques support the use of multiple senses that could facilitate the process of memorizing the Quran independently. This study contributes to the novel design and evaluation of the Quran memorization application based on the Quran memorization model. The application supports the teaching and learning of Quran memorization where it allows students to select their preferred VARK learning style with the technique of memorizing the Quran. This mobile application learning approach based on VARK’s learning style has the potential to be implemented in the process of memorizing the Quran as well as retaining memory through the use of memory senses in support of the learning materials developed

A Review of the Prevalence of Thromboembolic Complications among Pregnant Women Infected with COVID-19

Background: Thrombotic conditions triggered by SARS-CoV-2 virus can result in high mortality, especially in pregnant women as they are already in a hypercoagulability state. This thereby leads to excessive inflammation that will increase the risk of thromboembolic (TE) complications. Objective: The aim of this study is to review the prevalence of thromboembolic complications such as deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and intervillous thrombosis, and their preventive strategies among pregnant women infected with COVID-19. Method: The articles were retrieved from online databases PubMed and ScienceDirect published from February 2020 to April 2022. Findings: A total of 5249 participants including 5128 pregnant women and 121 placentas from 19 studies were identified for having TE complications after being infected with COVID-19. The types of TE complications that developed within pregnant women were disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) (n = 44, 0.86%), unmentioned thromboembolic complications (TE) (n = 14, 0.27%), intervillous thrombosis (IVT) (n = 9, 0.18%), pulmonary embolism (PE) (n = 6, 0.12%), COVID-19 associated coagulopathy (CAC) (n = 5, 0.10%), and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) (n = 2, 0.04%). Whereas the prevalence of TE complications reported from studies focusing on placenta were IVT (n = 27, 22.3%), subchorionic thrombus (SCT) (n = 9, 7.44%), and placental thrombosis (n = 5, 4.13%). Thromboprophylaxis agent used among pregnant women include low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) at prophylactic dose (n = 9). Conclusions: The prevalence of thromboembolic complications among pregnant women infected by COVID-19 is low with DIC being the most common form and placental thrombosis being the least common form of TE complications that occurred within pregnant women infected with COVID-19. Anticoagulation, in particular LMWH (variable dose), is frequently used to prevent TE complications