Virtual Werribee : a planning support tool

Virtual Werribee is collaborative research in applying 3-D modelling and visualisation as a planning support tool in comparison to 2-D plans and drawings. It was a joint initiative involving Deakin University and the Wyndham City Council to demonstrate the use of 3-D visualisation for planning process in the actual context of a planning authority in Australia. The objective of this project was to assist the council in preparing for the revised Local Structure Plan. By reconstructing the council&rsquo;s data into easily understood information, 3-D model and visualisation served as a verification and discussion tool for decision making. The integration of wider site context also provided a better understanding of the surrounding development areas. This could equip other stakeholders as well as the community to participate in council&rsquo;s planning agenda activities, such as increasing the urban density and building heights limit.Virtual Werribee included the development planning agenda, categorised as new, re-development and hypothetical. The modelling process progressed with sufficient data from the council. Some changes to the initial plan were made, including the use of CAD modelling software instead of GIS software, and production of a block model with selected detail buildings, instead of a full draped 3-D model. The council decided that the block model would be sufficient for their planning purposes. This was determined while taking into consideration the available facilities at the council.The potentials of the model as a planning tool were demonstrated in this paper, and further compared to the council&rsquo;s existing materials prepared by the project developers. The advantages of the 3-D interactive model and visualisation over the conventional materials have provided the council officer with a tool for better empowerment in the planning process. This was also evident in the increasing engagement level between the officer and the model as the process developed. As a result of this, the project scope has also expanded, finally covering the entire city.While Virtual Werribee has the potential to better communicate council&rsquo;s planning agendas to the stakeholders and the community, the key factor, coupled with its visualisation components, was its interactive capability. Property layers with aerial site image that provided a realistic background served as a virtual city platform for different users. Although limited in its analytic capability found in GIS software, this model offered high visualisation content to assist visual impact assessment through its interactive mode along with a series of still images and a simulation movie.<br /

Investigation of Sewage Flows in Universiti Malaysia PAHANG’s Sewerage System

Sewerage systems have long been one of the most critical infrastructure to any development project. The study presented here is part of a research that aim to evaluate the flow characteristics in sewerage systems. Sewage flow data was collected from a sewerage catchment within Universiti Malaysia PAHANG using an area-velocity flowmeter. The data obtained were extracted using a software associated to the flowmeter and analyzed for both dry and wet periods. The results show that the peak or maximum flow for the wet period with a rainfall intensity of 2.5 mm was twice as high for the dry period. The design criterion value back-calculated for the wet period was also twice the value for the design criterion value back-calculated for the dry period. This demonstrates that rainfall has an important effect on flows in sewerage system in that it increases the flow significantly. The k value back-calculated for both dry and wet periods were lower than the criterion recommended in Malaysian Standard MS1228:1991, suggesting that the current peak flow factor equation applied by the industry is over-adequate for sewerage catchments servicing the same population equivalent as this study

Evaluate the compressive strength of cement paste modified with high reactivity attapulgite and affected by curing temperature

This study explores the influence of partial replacement of high reactivity Attapulgite (HRA) with cement by weight and evaluate the effect of curing temperatures on the compressive strength of modified cement paste (MCP). Recently, the Iraqi clay(Attapulgite) has been processed to pozzolanic material HRA, after extracting it from the quarry the clays crushed and grind to filler then specific the suitable calcinations temperature to make this clays as a pozolznic material. The possibility of replacing the Iraqi clays with cement can be reduce the cost and the impact of cement manufacturing on environment. In this study, three percentages of high reactivity Attapulgite used as a replacement 0, 10 and 20 % by weight of cement. The samples cured in four temperatures 20, 40, 60 and 80 °C. The samples with dimension 50x50x50 mm3 were casted and tested at ages 7, and 28 days. The test result shows that the compressive strength at early ages without HRA and cured at 20 °C were higher than samples with HRA. The maximum percentage of HRA as a replacement with cement has a reduced the compressive strength of the concrete. The result at 28 days for the samples with 10% of HRA at curing temperature 40 °C shows increased in compressive strength up to 60 °C, while when the samples were cured at curing temperature 80 °C shows decreased the compressive strength

Lowering dietary glycaemic index through nutrition education among Malaysian women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases risks for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Low glycaemic index (GI) diets improve cardio-metabolic outcomes in insulin-resistant individuals. We examined the feasibility of lowering GI through GI-based-education among Asian post-GDM women. Methods: A 3-month investigation was carried out on 60 Malaysian women with a mean age of 31.0±4.5 years and a history of GDM. Subjects were randomised into two groups: LGIE and CHDR. The CHDR group received conventional healthy dietary recommendations only. The LGIE group received GI based-education in addition to conventional healthy dietary recommendations. At baseline and after 3-months, dietary intake of energy and macronutrient intakes including GI diet and glycaemic load was assessed using 3-day food records. Diabetes-Diet and GI-concept scores and physical activity levels were assessed using a questionnaire. Adherence to dietary instructions was measured at the end of 3 months. Results: At the end of 3 months, the LGIE group had significant reductions in energy intake (241.7±522.4Kcal, P=0.037, ES=0.463), total carbohydrate (48.7±83.5g, P=0.010, ES=0.583), GI (3.9±7.1, P=0.017, ES=0.549) and GL (39.0±55.3, P=0.003, ES=0.705) and significant increases in protein (3.7±5.4g, 0.003, ES=0.685) and diet fibre (4.6±7.3g, P=0.06). The CHDR group had a significant reduction in fat only (5.7±9.4g, P=0.006, ES=0.606). There was a 30% increase in GI-concept scores in the LGIE group (p< 0.001). Changes in GI-concept scores correlated significantly to the reduction in dietary GI (r = -0.642, P=0.045). Dietary adherence was comparable in both groups. Conclusion: GI-education improves GI-concept knowledge and helps lower dietary glycaemic index among women with a history of GDM

Interplay of Oxidative Stress and Necrosis-like Cell Death in Cardiac Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury:A Focus on Necroptosis

Extensive research work has been carried out to define the exact significance and contribution of regulated necrosis-like cell death program, such as necroptosis to cardiac ischemic injury. This cell damaging process plays a critical role in the pathomechanisms of myocardial infarction (MI) and post-infarction heart failure (HF). Accordingly, it has been documented that the modulation of key molecules of the canonical signaling pathway of necroptosis, involving receptor-interacting protein kinases (RIP1 and RIP3) as well as mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL), elicit cardioprotective effects. This is evidenced by the reduction of the MI-induced infarct size, alleviation of myocardial dysfunction, and adverse cardiac remodeling. In addition to this molecular signaling of necroptosis, the non-canonical pathway, involving Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)-mediated regulation of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening, and phosphoglycerate mutase 5 (PGAM5)–dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp-1)-induced mitochondrial fission, has recently been linked to ischemic heart injury. Since MI and HF are characterized by an imbalance between reactive oxygen species production and degradation as well as the occurrence of necroptosis in the heart, it is likely that oxidative stress (OS) may be involved in the mechanisms of this cell death program for inducing cardiac damage. In this review, therefore, several observations from different studies are presented to support this paradigm linking cardiac OS, the canonical and non-canonical pathways of necroptosis, and ischemia-induced injury. It is concluded that a multiple therapeutic approach targeting some specific changes in OS and necroptosis may be beneficial in improving the treatment of ischemic heart disease

Assessment of plant species diversity at Pasir Tengkorak Forest Reserve, Langkawi Island, Malaysia

Plant species diversity of a logged-over coastal forest with in the Pasir Tengkorak Forest Reserve, Langkawi Island, Malaysia was assessed by establishing a 1-ha plot. All plants above 1.0 cm dbh (diameter of a tree at breast height), or 4.5 feet above ground level, the accepted point of diameter measurement for most trees were enumerated. Species diversity was defined as a combination of species richness and evenness. The jackknife estimate and species- area curve were applied to estimate the species richness. It was estimated using Simpson’s index of diversity, Shannon-Weiner function and Brillouin index. Simpson’s measure of evenness, Camargo’s index of evenness and Smith and Wilson’s index of evenness were also used to estimate species evenness. A total of 3414 individual trees representing 120 species, 81 genera and 31 families were recorded. Species with highest relative abundance were Swintonia sp1(0.12), Garcinia eugnifolia(0.09) and Syzygium sp1(0.05). The jackknife estimate of species richness was 132.9 and the regress ion equation to estimate species richness was LnSˆ=2.53 + 0.24 ln (A)with r2=96.0 %. Species diversity was high with Simpson’s index of diversity with a value of 0.96, while Shannon-Weiner index was 5.42 and Brillouin’s Index was 5.14. However, Simpson’s measure of evenness, Camargo’s index of evenness and Smith and Wilson’s index of evenness were 0.264, 0.378, and 0.41 9, respectively. Results indicated that species richness and species diversity were high, but evenness was low in this logged-over coastal forest

Thermogravimetric study of Chlorella vulgaris for syngas production

The present study investigates the thermal degradation behavior of Chlorella vulgaris using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) to explore application as feedstock for syngas production. The biomass was heated continuously from room temperature to 1000 °C at different heating rates (5, 10 and 20 °C min− 1) under N2/air conditions at a constant flow rate of 25 mL min− 1. Experimental results showed that the combustion process of C. vulgaris can be divided into three major phases; (1) moisture removal, (2) devolatilization of carbohydrates, protein and lipids and (3) degradation of carbonaceous material. A degradation rate of 80% was obtained at the second phase of the combustion process in the presence of air whilst a degradation rate of 60% was obtained under N2 atmosphere at the same phase. The biomass was further gasified for syngas production using a Temperature Programmed Gasifier (TPG). The effect of three different process variables, temperature, microalgal loading, and heating rate was investigated. The maximum H2 production was found at 800 °C temperature with a biomass loading of 0.5 g. No significant effect of heating rate was observed on H2 production. The activation energy values, based on the Kissinger method, were evaluated to be 45.38 ± 0.5 kJ mol− 1 (1st stage), 61.20 ± 0.5 kJ mol− 1 (2nd stage) and 97.22 ± 0.5 kJ mol− 1 (3rd stage). The results demonstrate a significant potential for the utilization of the microalgae biomass as feedstock for large-scale production of syngas via gasification

Style of information usage and use of accounting information : a Malaysian study

Purpose &ndash; Since the 1990s, there has been a growing interest in style of information usage. However, most studies on style of information usage are conducted in developed countries. There is limited research on style of information usage in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to fill the gap in the existing literature by examining relationships between style of information usage and use of financial and non-financial information in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach &ndash; The authors adopted a survey method, for which a written questionnaire was prepared and mailed out to companies in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Terengganu and Pulau Pinang. Findings &ndash; Findings of the study show that diagnostic style of information usage is positively associated with use of financial information, while interactive style of information usage is positively associated with use of non-financial information. Further analysis on types of non-financial information used by managers who adopt interactive style of information usage reveals that customer-related non-financial information such as quality, customer satisfaction and flexibility play a more important role in their decision-making processes. Originality/value &ndash; The paper provides insights into relationships between style of information usage on and use of accounting information in developing countries. Findings of the study can be applied to assist management accountants in meeting managers&rsquo; information requirements.<br /

Effect of hospital volume on outcomes of total hip arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: A shift in the healthcare system towards the centralization of common yet costly surgeries, such as total hip arthroplasty (THA), to high-volume centers of excellence, is an attempt to control the economic burden while simultaneously enhancing patient outcomes. The volume-outcome relationship suggests that hospitals performing more treatment of a given type exhibit better outcomes than hospitals performing fewer. This theory has surfaced as an important factor in determining patient outcomes following THA. We performed a systematic review with meta-analyses to review the available evidence on the impact of hospital volume on outcomes of THA.Materials and methods: We conducted a review of PubMed (MEDLINE), OVID MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane library of studies reporting the impact of hospital volume on THA. The studies were evaluated as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 44 studies were included in the review. We accessed pooled data using random-effect meta-analysis.Results: Results of the meta-analyses show that low-volume hospitals were associated with a higher rate of surgical site infections (1.25 [1.01, 1.55]), longer length of stay (RR, 0.83[0.48-1.18]), increased cost of surgery (3.44, [2.57, 4.30]), 90-day complications (RR, 1.80[1.50-2.17]) and 30-day (RR, 2.33[1.27-4.28]), 90-day (RR, 1.26[1.05-1.51]), and 1-year mortality rates (RR, 2.26[1.32-3.88]) when compared to high-volume hospitals following THA. Except for two prospective studies, all were retrospective observational studies.Conclusions: These findings demonstrate superior outcomes following THA in high-volume hospitals. Together with the reduced cost of the surgical procedure, fewer complications may contribute to saving considerable opportunity costs annually. However, a need to define objective volume-thresholds with stronger evidence would be required

Environmental sustainability practices among palm oil millers

Considering the global palm oil production, it can be identified as the second largest vegetable oil. Palm oil is a natural resource that is favorable for the Malaysian climate. In 2017, Malaysia had a total of 454 palm oil mills with a production capacity of approximately 112 million tonnes of fresh fruit bunches. A sustainable environment denotes high income, value addition and zero waste. Nonetheless, palm oil mills are being associated with the discharge of untreated effluent water stream pollution, solid wastes, air pollution, etc. The important objective of this study is to measure the level of sustainable environmental practices parameters and awareness of millers. The primary data were collected through questionnaire survey and interviews from 71 millers in Malaysia. This study used confirmatory factor analysis to describe the relationships between the environmental parameters for measuring environment sustainability. This study found that most of the millers employ positive practices for environmental sustainability, and the highest environment parameter is disposal of solid wastes. However, this study can be implemented in Malaysian palm oil mills for identifying the lowest parameters. This study suggested to the industries that the new national sustainable policies for palm oil mills, especially for small and medium players, may enhance the environmental parameters