Web-Based Electrical Fault Diagnosis Using Expert System

This thesis discusses the key issues of development of an Expert System (ES) proposed for diagnosing of electrical fault in a building in term of the location and cause of failure. This module used for self-assesment diagnosing in web-based environment so that easier for the maintenance and development unit in any building to get and use the system. The basic development of the system is based on the concept of Engineering Knowledge Based Expert System approach. This knowledge based approach, is used to generate facts by using a set of rules to retrieve a solution. It will choose parts of the texts by referring to other relevant texts by using rule-based reasoning. The main activities in developing the system include the knowledge acquisition, knowledge validation, knowledge representation, inference and explanation. In conclusion, the development of an expert system for diagnosing electrical fault in a building is to help the user to make a better decision on the location and cause of electrical fault in the building. Therefore, the expert system has a great potential in supporting and enhancing the services of electrical supply nowadays

Usability evaluation of a web-based health awareness portal on smartphone devices using ISO 9241-11 model

Much effort has been devoted to evaluating the usability of web-based system.With the increase in the mobile-based applications coupled with the limitations and challenges of mobile devices, it becomes mandatory to evaluate the web-based systems in the context of smartphone usability.In addition, a number of international standards/models on usability are available, but seldom used for practical usability evaluation. In this study, the popular ISO 9241-11 standard was used to evaluate a web-based health awareness portal within the smartphone mobile context.The results reveal some pointers to usability issues as well as confirmation that the web-based awareness portal is relatively usable on smartphone devices within the components defined in the models

Rejection of yaw disturbance in a two-wheeled wheelchair system

In this paper, a virtual wheelchair (WC) model is developed within Visual Nastran (VN) software environment where the model is further linked with Matlab/Simulink for control purposes. The goal is to have stable two-wheeled WC by transforming the two front wheels (caster) to the upright position. Theoretically, when the two big wheels are fed by the same torque, the WC system will only move in one (x-) direction (with a small forward and backward movement before settlement is achieved). On the other hand, WC in VN produces action-reaction forces in terms of friction between the wheels and the defined ground that lead to small degree of rotation with respect to vertical z- axis, (yaw disturbance). Fuzzy logic control is designed in order to eliminate this unwanted rotation of the wheels during lifting and stabilizing phase. Results show that the unwanted rotation of the wheels is successfully reduced

Literature ratified knowledge based view of poultry supply chain integration concept

The evolution of relationships based on collaboration between business partners has become a fundamental subject of research in the area of supply chain management; including poultry supply chain integration.Study in this field has focused on a range of integration models.This study focuses on integration of systems, processes and strategy which is important for poultry supply chain business partners to recognize the benefits of closely associating supply to demand.One need to realize that these benefits are not easily achieved without constraints.A conclusion was made by proposing that ‘Knowledge Based View’ is a resource that can contribute value, towards knowledge generation, acquisition and application among members within and between organizations

Power loss estimation due to difference transformer tap changer position at interface

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IMPACT OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE ON PERFORMANCE OF NON-FINANCIAL LISTED COMPANIES IN PAKISTAN

This study examines the relationship between capital structure andfinancial performance using a broad sample of 213 non-financial firmslisted on the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) over the period 1999-2015. The relationship between financial performance and capitalstructure is estimated using fixed and random effect models. Sectorwisecomparison shows that for the majority of sectors, higher shortandlong-term debt has a significant negative impact on financialperformance; however, magnitude of this effect varies across industries.The results suggest that in order to improve performance, companies’management should decrease their reliance on debt finance

Psychosocial and health impacts of bauxite mining among Felda Bukit Goh communities in Kuantan, Malaysia

Introduction: Communities who live near bauxite mining areas experienced social, psychosocial and health impact from the environmental activities. Some of the problems identified were the nuisance by noise emanating from bauxite lorries, traffic congestions, road damage with red mud, deforestation, increase of erosion, air pollution such as dust which resulted in bad vision during hot dry days, dusty homes and properties, respiratory and skin problems, soil and water pollutions. Objectives: The objectives were to study the social, psychosocial and health impacts of bauxite activities on the Felda Bukit Goh and its neighboring communities. Methodology: One hundred and sixty two residents within the bauxite mining areas were selected randomly as respondents. Face to face interview using questionnaires were used to collect data. Result: A majority of respondents reported medium scores of psychosocial impact (43.2%).. The environmental problems were mainly due to the mining activities which increased air pollution (87.7%) dustier house (87.7%) and frequent cleaning (79.6%), road damage (69.8%), agricultural problem (53.1%) and loss of calmness (46.35). The health symptoms (27.2%), was mainly due to stress. Stress (35.8%), cough with phlegm (27.8%) and itchiness (19.1%) were some of the health symptoms reported There was significant correlation between the psychosocial impacts (stress) due to the environmental factors with health complaints. Psychosocially, the stress experienced by respondents were significantly associated with noise, dusty and dirty environment, contaminated and disrupted water supply, damaged roads, congested traffic and frequent cleaning of properties. The stress finally impaired their physical system (increased respiratory and dermal symptoms reported (p<0.001), reduced energy (p=0.019) and reduced appetite (p=0.020), sleep disturbance (p=0.023) as well as musculoskeletal system disorder (p=0.047), were reported. Conclusion: The combined effects of the environmental disturbance due to mining activities have culminated into health problems among the surrounding communities. These impacts on these communities would be worst if no appropriate mitigating measures provided to protect the environment and human well-being

Inclined ergometer to enhance FES-assisted indoor rowing exercise performance

Improving the FES-assisted indoor rowing exercise (FES-rowing) performance enables the spinal cord injury (SCI) people to perform hybrid FES-exercise in a higher level of intensity. High level of exercise volume and intensity can play a big role in prevention of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity which is a significant threat to the health of people with chronic SCI. FES-rowing can be enhanced to achieved the high level exercise through the arrangement of the rowing ergometer. In this paper, the performance of FES-rowing using an adjustable inclined rowing ergometer is investigated. Two different methods to enhance the FES-rowing performance using inclined ergometer are implemented. A model of the adjustable inclined ergometer and humanoid are developed using the Visual Nastran (vN4D) software environment and validated by the experimental work. Fuzzy logic control is implemented to control the knee and elbow trajectories for smooth rowing manoeuvre. The generated level of electrical stimulations for activation of quadriceps and hamstrings muscles are recorded and analysed. The FES-rowing efficiency for both methods have been defined and illustrated. The results show the inclined ergometer with upper body effort is the best performance in enhancing the FES-rowing

Prevalence, distribution and antibiotic resistance of emergent Arcobacter spp. from clinically healthy cattle and goats

Prevalence, distribution and antibiotic resistance of Arcobacter spp. were investigated in cattle, goats, floor and treated water samples in this study. The prevalence of Arcobacter in adult and young was recorded as 8/110 (7.27%) and 4/83 (4.81%), respectively, which showed insignificant difference (P = 0.3503) in detection rates between adult and young cattle. A total of 33.33% of the floor samples and 11.11% of the treated water samples analysed were determined as positive for Arcobacter. Among the species isolated, over all, A. butzleri (45%) was the most frequently detected species, followed by A. skirrowii (5%). A. butzleri was isolated from adult cattle, floor and water samples at the rates of 75.0%, 33.4% and 50%, respectively. Co-colonization of species was not uncommon, and 50% of the samples were carrying more than one Arcobacter species. Only 12.5% sample from cattle (adult) was detected positive for only A. skirrowii. All samples from young animals, floor and water contained mixed isolates. None of the samples from goat farm was found to be carrying Arcobacter species. On profiling of antimicrobial resistance patterns, it was found that only one A. butzleri isolate (3.7%) was sensitive to all nine antibiotics tested. A. butzleri was found highly resistant to ampicillin (55.6%), followed by cefotaxime (33.4%) and ciprofloxacin (33.4%). Overall, 20% of the isolates showed multidrug resistance (resistant ≥4 antibiotics). Gentamicin and enrofloxacin can be used as drugs of choice for the treatment for Arcobacter infection

Issues and challenges of integrated agro-food supply chain: An overview of Malaysian food security

The Malaysian economy has experienced strong economic growth over the past few decades, averaging around 6 per cent a year since 2000. Income per person has become third highest in South East Asia trailing Brunei and Singapore in 2006.With rising incomes, food consumption has shifted away from starchy staples and moved toward wheat and livestock products, seafood, fruits and vegetables.Malaysia’s continuing economic growth and industrialisation are expected to place considerable pressure on its policy of increasing food self-sufficiency.With competitive pressure for resources from non-agriculture sectors, there is likely to be limited capacity to increase agricultural production.With the challenges including global warming, floods, droughts, increase in temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns and a rise in sea levels food production is on the decline; Malaysia is one of the many countries where food self-sufficiency is decreasing, year by year.Another weakness of the Malaysia agricultural sector is that it largely produces cash crops and little food.This paper explores interrelatedness of some complementary policy changes and initiatives in the selected Asian countries as well as reviews Malaysian National Food Security Policy (NFSP) that affects food production and food security.The paper concludes that in many important ways, the Malaysian Government still sees food security as a public mandate, especially in the case of rice and working diligently to increase food security for its nationals