40 research outputs found
System Development For Low Cost Data Acquisition For Mobile Satellite Signal Performance Measurement In Low-Latitude
Mobile Satellite (MS) Signal performance is affected by many factors such as ionospheric effect, multipath fading tree-shadowed and buildingshadowed. These cause variations in the received signal quality. Although many studies have been carried out in order to improve the performance of
MS signal, there are still many areas lacking data especially from the less-developed and developing countries. Furthermore, costly data acquisition method hinders more study to be carried out in these regions. This paper discusses the cost effective alternative method for MS data acquisition for satellite operating in the L-band by utilizing the GPS satellites data. Details methodology for doing the experimental works will be discussed. The
measurements of the signal performance are performed for open space environment in Sarawak. The analysis of the signal performance under different MS environments is performed with respect to the information such as elevation and azimuth angles. The analysis produced forms an important part in the studies of the signal performance. From this research work, we characterized the MS received signal for Sarawak
EPIdemiology of Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) : Study protocol for a multicentre, observational trial
More than 300 million surgical procedures are performed each year. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after major surgery and is associated with adverse short-term and long-term outcomes. However, there is a large variation in the incidence of reported AKI rates. The establishment of an accurate epidemiology of surgery-associated AKI is important for healthcare policy, quality initiatives, clinical trials, as well as for improving guidelines. The objective of the Epidemiology of Surgery-associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) trial is to prospectively evaluate the epidemiology of AKI after major surgery using the latest Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) consensus definition of AKI. EPIS-AKI is an international prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study including 10 000 patients undergoing major surgery who are subsequently admitted to the ICU or a similar high dependency unit. The primary endpoint is the incidence of AKI within 72 hours after surgery according to the KDIGO criteria. Secondary endpoints include use of renal replacement therapy (RRT), mortality during ICU and hospital stay, length of ICU and hospital stay and major adverse kidney events (combined endpoint consisting of persistent renal dysfunction, RRT and mortality) at day 90. Further, we will evaluate preoperative and intraoperative risk factors affecting the incidence of postoperative AKI. In an add-on analysis, we will assess urinary biomarkers for early detection of AKI. EPIS-AKI has been approved by the leading Ethics Committee of the Medical Council North Rhine-Westphalia, of the Westphalian Wilhelms-University MĂŒnster and the corresponding Ethics Committee at each participating site. Results will be disseminated widely and published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences and used to design further AKI-related trials. Trial registration number NCT04165369
Transfer factors of
Transfer factors of 226Ra, 210Pb and 210Po from soil
contaminated with naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) in oilfields to some
grazing plants were determined using pot experiments. Contaminated soil was collected from
a dry surface evaporation pit from a Syrian oilfield in the Der Ezzor area. Five types of
plants (Atriplex halimus L., Atriplex canescens, Atriplex Leucoclada Bioss,
Alfalfa and Bermuda grass) were grown and harvested three times over two years.
The results show that the mean transfer factors of 226Ra from the contaminated
soil to the studied plant species were 1.6 Ă 10-3 for Atriplex
halimus L., 2.1 Ă 10-3 for Atriplex
canescens, 2.5 Ă 10-3 for Atriplex Leucoclada
Bioss, 8.2 Ă 10-3 for Bermuda grass, and the
highest value was 1.7 Ă 10-2 for Alfalfa. Transfer
factors of 210Pb and 210Po were higher than 226Ra TFs by
one order of magnitude and reached 7 Ă 10-3, 1.1 Ă 10-2,
1.2 Ă 10-2, 3.2 Ă 10-2 and 2.5 Ă 10-2
for Atriplex halimus, Atriplex canescens, Atriplex Leucoclada Bioss, Bermuda grass
and Alfalfa, respectively. The results can be considered as base
values for transfer factors of 226Ra, 210Pb and 210Po in
semiarid regions
Chemical composition of clays for pottery in Malaysia: a review
Pottery in Malaysia is been known for its utilized functions and unique properties. Clays
as the potteryâs raw materials are a major factor that affecting the quality and reliability
of some pottery products. Observations on claysâ elements and phases are very helpful
for productions of the good pottery. Hence, in this review, chemical compositions of
clays in terms of elements and phases structures are discussed. Basically, the most
elements found in clays are Si, Al, Fe, Ti, K and Ca. Depends on location, the
concentrations for those clays elements in Malaysia are at range of 24.8 â 32.4 for Si,
10.8 â 19.0 for Al, 0.09 â 2.12 for Fe, 0.08 â 1.13 for Ti and 0.45 â 3.39 for K. Several
studies reported, they exist in form of oxide compound which are SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3,
TiO2, MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O and P2O5. The percentages of elements in clays do not only
determine the clays characteristics, but also influence the physical, mechanical and
chemical properties of the end product. Increase of major element like silica arises the
melting point, lowers the fluidity, and enhances the hardness and tensile strength.
Meanwhile, increase alumina content enables the green body to withstand the sintering
temperature and also increase the hardness of the pottery
Mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of epoxy resin toughened with epoxidized soybean oil
Biobased toughened thermosetting polymer blend was prepared by incorporating epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) into a petroleum-based epoxy (DGEBA) in different composition ratios. The mechanical properties (tensile and flexural tests) of the ESO/DGEBA thermoset blends were determined. Thermal properties of the blends were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis. The result showed that, the tensile and flexural properties decreased with increasing of ESO content. However, a slight increase in the strength properties was observed at 10% of ESO content. A significant enhancement in impact strength proves the role of ESO acting as a plasticizer in the blends as well as improve the toughness properties of ESO/DGEBA thermoset blend. As the ESO content increase, the thermal stability of ESO/DGEBA thermoset blend has decreased might be due to reduced cross-linking density of the epoxy network. Further investigations on morphological properties were also done to correlate the mechanical properties of ESO/DGEBA thermoset blend
onospheric Effects on GPS Signal in Low-Latitude Region : A Case Study Review of South East Asia and Africa
The ionosphere is a significant source of errors affecting L- fecting L-Band (1 Band (1 Band (1-2 GHz) signal propagation using Global Position 2 GHz) signal propagation using Global Position System (GPS). The propagated GPS signals that passes through the Earthâs atmosphere where affected by ionosphere ionosphere
and troposphere irregularities and caused the signal propagation delay. However, the velocity of signals that
propagate within the atmosphere deviates from vacuum line of sight (LOS), while the refractivity of ionosphere and
troposphere influence the signal propagation delay troposphere influence the signal propagation delay causing atmospheric effect causing atmospheric effects due to high electrons d s due to high electrons density. Both ensity. Both affect the signal in different ways due to their particular refractive properties. The review focuses of some of the previous research studies conducted on empirical mo previous research studies conducted on empirical modeling of the ionospheric effect in low latitude deling of the ionospheric effect in low latitude region. The gion. The tabulated findings of such models presented in this article. article