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- PublicationPenentuan kandungan Bitumen optimum menggunakan kaedah yang berbeza.(1999-02)The prime objective of both the flexible and rigid pavement is to support and distribute the volume imposed by traffic, safely and effectively without jeopardizing the stability of its structure component for a certain period of duration. It is the construction objective of the pavement to support the increase in traffic volume accordingly, to it is design specifications. The most essential concept in this investigation involve the awareness that, the failure of flexible pavement is due to lack in engineering design, and not always is the result of traffic volume increment. Shorly, all the increse in the volume should be supported by pavement because it is the reason of its construction in the first place. This investigation is to determine the optimum bitumen content for the wearing course desgn (ACW14) using three kinds of design criteria which is the British Standards, Asphalt Institute Standards and the JKR design creteria. Specimens were made using the Marshall Method if Mix Design. The specimens were compacted using the Marshall Method of Mix Design. The specimens were compacted using the GTM method at first vut due to some technical complications it was switched to the Marshall Hammer Method. Following this procedure is the creep test which will be implemented using the UTM V1.74 instrumentation to evaluate the wearing course in terms of its capabilities in the resistance against the long term deformation and fatigue cracking. It will be proven that the JKR Method to determine the optimum bitumen content will resuly in producing a far better specimen in terms of its stability, durability and characteristics strength to support traffic volume safely and effectively.
- PublicationUsage of focused assessment with sonography in trauma (fast) scan in blunt intraabdominal trauma(2020)Background Blunt intra-abdominal trauma (BAT) encompasses a major portion of trauma cases in the emergency department (ED). It poses a difficulty in diagnosis due to its low sensitivity and specificity of history and physical examination. Morison pouch is typically considered the most common area of free fluid (FF) in BAT visualized on the focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) scan. However, no studies to date have investigated the correlation of the abdominal quadrant for positive FF with the type of abdominal trauma. This study aims to determine the most common quadrant and subquadrants for detecting FF and their association with the type of injury in BAT patients. Methods This multicenter study evaluated 86 BAT patients who presented to the ED. The FAST scan was performed per trauma life support protocol, and video clips were extracted for patients with positive FAST findings confirmed by abdominal computed tomography (CT) or exploratory laparotomy. The most common quadrant and subquadrant positive for FF were then determined. Positive quadrants and their association with type of injury were also analyzed. Areas studied were the right upper quadrant (RUQ), left upper quadrant (LUQ), and suprapubic area (SP). Subquadrant areas were RUQ 1–hepato-diaphragmatic; RUQ 2–Morison pouch; RUQ 3–caudal liver edge and superior para-colic gutter; LUQ 1–splenicdiaphragmatic; LUQ 2–spleno-renal; LUQ 3–around the inferior pole of kidney; SP 1–bilateral to bladder; SP 2–posterior to bladder; and SP 3–posterior to uterus. Results The most frequent region with positive FF results was the RUQ, seen in 82 (95.3%) patients. In subquadrant analysis, RUQ 3 was the most common region (78 patients, 90.75%), followed by RUQ 2 (73 patients, 84.9%) and LUQ 2 (51 patients, 59.3%). A significant association was observed between the LUQ region positive for FF and the presence of splenic injury (p = 0.006). Conclusion In patients with BAI, the RUQ is the most frequent quadrant and RUQ 3 is the most frequent subquadrant positive FF. A positive LUQ free fluid suggests the presence of splenic injury in BAT.
- PublicationExploring Deep Eutectic Solvents As Potential Solvent For The Extraction Of Food Additive Allura Red In Food Technology Application(2023-09)In recent years, synthetic food dyes have gained significant popularity as additives, replacing natural dyes, with azo dyes comprising approximately 65% of the commercial dye market. However, concerns regarding the· toxic effects of azo dyes used in food colouring have prompted the development of advanced analytical methods to detect them in various food matrices. These methods typically involve intricate pre-concentration processes, time-consuming steps, and the use of expensive instruments, emphasizing the need for highly sensitive and selective approaches. Hence, this study aims to explore the application of deep eutectic solvent (DES) as potential solvent for the extraction of Allura Red AC (ARAC). Firstly, the synthesized magnetic nanoparticles functionalised with deep eutectic solvents (silicone surfactant:dodecanoic acid) (SS:DoAc@Fe304) adsorbent was successfully characterized using attenuated total reflectance-fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) for the identification of functional bonds. This adsorbent was subsequently applied in magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) technique for the extraction of ARAC in soft drink samples. In contrast to pure Fe304 particles, the target ARAC can be easily adsorbed onto the SS:DoAc@Fe304 surface due to the formation of strong hydrophobic interaction between the ARAC and the adsorbents thus amplifying the extraction efficiency. Under the optimized conditions, R2 value obtained was 0.999 while the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) was found to be 0.1 mgL·1 and 0.4 mgL·I, respectively. The relative recovery values obtained were in the range of 80 to 111% for the studied ARAC. In a nutshell, it can be implied that the newly proposed SS:DoAc@Fe304 based MSPE technique for the extraction of ARAC in drink samples is environmentally friendly, simple, affordable, and effective.
- PublicationComparison of the efficacy of intrathecal fentanyl 20mcg versus intrathecal morphine 0.2 mg as an Adjuvant therapy in spinal anesthesia in lower(2020)Background Spinal anesthesia is the preferred method of anesthesia for majority of the lower limb surgery. Intrathecal Morphine is an adjuvant used to provide prolonged analgesia post operatively. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of adding Intrathecal morphine 0.2mg by assessing the analgesic effect 24hours post spinal anesthesia and to access the proportion of complication that ensues. Methods 43 patients scheduled for various lower limb orthopedic surgery were studied in a prospective, single blinded controlled clinical trial. They were divided into 2 groups; Patient in ITF group receive 2.8mls of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with 20mcg of fentanyl added whilst patient in ITM group received 2.8mls of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with 0.2 mg of morphine added. The primary outcome was the pain score within 24 hours post operatively while the secondary endpoint was to determine the proportion of complications (nausea, vomiting, pruritus and sedation) between the 2 groups. Results: Intrathecal morphine group revealed significantly lower median score at 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th hour post op. There was a significant difference in VAS score between the ITF and ITM group over 24 hours post operatively. There is no difference in terms of incidence of nausea between 2 groups (p=0.098), higher incidence of vomiting (n=9, 39.1%, p=0.002 ) and pruritus (n=10, 43.5%, p=0.001) in ITM group, No incidence of respiratory depression was recorded in both ITF and ITM group. Conclusion: Intrathecal morphine 0.2 mg as an adjuvant to spinal anesthesia provided prolonged 24 hours analgesia with no respiratory depression but at the expense of increased nausea, vomiting and pruritus which can be prophylactically treated with antiemetics,
- PublicationHome Country Institutions, Legitimacy And Liability Of Foreignness Among Chinese High-Tech Multi-National Enterprises: The Moderating Effect Of Technology Asset Seeking Motivation(2025-08)This study examines how home country institutions and legitimacy challenges affect Chinese high-tech multinational enterprises' (MNEs) liability of foreignness (LOF), with technology asset-seeking motivation as a moderating factor. Drawing on institutional theory and the springboard perspective, we analyze three key mechanisms: (1) home country institutional support, (2) legitimacy acquisition processes, and (3) technology-seeking strategies that mitigate LOF.
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- ItemAntioxidative Properties, Nutritional Composition Of Cornsilk Powder (Zea Mays Hairs) And Its Incorporation In Patties And Biscuit Product(Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2015-03)This study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidative properties and nutritional composition of cornsilk and the effects of different level of substitution chicken and beef patty and biscuit. Cornsilk powder (CSP) was substituted with potato starch in the meat patties and wheat flour in biscuit at levels of 0, 5, 10 and 15% (w/w). The effects of the incorporation of CSP in meat patties and biscuit on nutritional, physicochemical, microbial and sensory properties were determined. Results showed that MeOH extract of CSP had the highest polyphenol content (101.99 mg GAE/g extract) compared to the EtOH (27.73 mg GAE/g extract), Water (14.63 mg GAE/g extract) and EA extract (3.27 mg GAE/g extract). Flavonoid content of MeOH, EtOH and Water extract ranged from 7.55 to 8.40 mg CAE/g extract and was significantly higher than EA extract (0.66 mg GAE/g extract). MeOH extract showed the strongest capacity in FRAP (EC50=1.11 mg/ml), superoxide (EC50=0.26 mg/ml) and ABTS (EC50=0.35 mg/ml) scavenging capacity and β-carotene bleaching inhibition (66.05 %) compared to other extracts. The DPPH scavenging capacity was not significantly different with EtOH extract (EC50=0.14). By HPLC analysis, the MeOH extract showed the highest content of gallic acid (1782 μg/g) and p-coumaric acid (695 μg/g). EtOH extract showed the highest content of (-)-epicatechin (211 μg/g) and ferulic acid (115 μg/g), while Water extract showed the highest catechin content (536 μg/g). Fresh cornsilk contained cyanidin (25.36 μg/g) and cyanidin-3-o-glucoside (3.30 μg/g). Cornsilk contained nutritional elements included TDF (48.50 g/100 g), vitamin C (67 μg/g), amino acid and minerals such as Ca (1087 μg/g), Mg (1219 μg/g), K (26281 μg/g), Na (190.67 μg/g), Cu (5.60 μg/g), Fe (2.17 μg/g), Mn (32.17 μg/g) and Zn (46.37 μg/g). As higher level of CSP was incorporated the protein, ash and fat were increased in meat patty while moisture, protein, ash and TDF content were increased in biscuit. Physical determination showed that redness was increased while lightness and yellowness values were decreased in meat patty and biscuit. Hardness, cooking yield and fat retention were increased in meat patty. Hardness was increased significantly in higher level of CSP biscuit (10% and 15%). Spread ratio of biscuit with 5% and 10% CSP was not significantly different with control biscuit. Chicken patty showed significantly higher polyphenol content (64.70 to 92.10 μg GAE/g) and DPPH scavenging capacity (37.23% to 66.80%) and FRAP capacity (9.88 to 12.64 mg TE/100 g) than control patty. Gallic acid compound in CSP patties were significantly higher (12.26 to 33.86 μg/g) than control patty. Polyphenol content of CSP biscuit (1.66 to 4.18 mg GAE/g), DPPH scavenging capacity (24.35% to 62.73%) and FRAP capacity (16.94 to 342 mg TE/100 g) were significantly higher than control biscuit. Peroxide value, TBAR number and microbial content of meat patty and biscuit with CSP were below allowable limits. In sensory evaluation, the overall quality of chicken (0 to 15% CSP) and beef patty (0 to 10% CSP) were not affected after 6 months of storage. CSP-based biscuit at 5% level preserved the quality of biscuit and was not affected during 3 months of storage. Therefore, the incorporation of CSP in patties and biscuit could increase nutritional composition, polyphenols content, antioxidative activities without affecting sensorial properties after 6 and 3 months of storage respectively.
- ItemSimulation Of Autothermal Reformer For Production Of Liquid Fuel From Natural Gas(Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2021-06-01)The production of liquid fuels from natural gas is gaining attention worldwide. In the plant, one of the unit operation used is autothermal reforming (ATR) reactor which serves to convert natural gas (methane) to syngas that consist of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. This unit operations need to be studied before its implementation in real industry. In this work, REQUIL model in ASPEN Plus V10 was used to simulate an autothermal reforming (ATR) reactor. The simulated results obtained were first compared with the simulation data from literature. The simulated results obtained by ASPEN Plus showed that it is acceptable since the simulation values corroborated the literature with errors range of 0.72% to 9.45%. Sensitivity analysis on the REQUIL ATR model showed that reactor temperature (800 K to 1300 K), reactor pressure (20 bar to 50 bar), feed steam molar flowrate (200 kmol/hr to 3000 kmol/hr) and feed oxygen molar flowrate (500 kmol/hr to 3000 kmol/hr) have significant effects on the conversion of methane and syngas ratio. The methane conversion was increases when the reactor temperature, feed steam molar flowrate and feed oxygen molar flowrate were increase. While, it was decreases when the reactor pressure was increase. The syngas ratio was decrease when increasing the reactor temperature, reactor pressure, feed steam molar flowrate and it was decreases when increasing the feed oxygen molar flowrate.
- ItemA Study On Determinants Of Rfid Adoption Intention Among Hajj Organizers In Indonesia And Malaysia And Its Strategic Information Systems Plan(Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2013-02)Every year, millions of Muslims go to Makkah to perform the Hajj (Pilgrimage). The management of Hajj activities is a very complex task for Saudi Arabian authorities and Hajj organizers because of the large number of pilgrims, the limited geographical area for pilgrim movement, and the short Hajj period. Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology can be used to provide good solutions for the problems and difficulties that arise during Hajj season. However, as an emerging technology, the use of RFID in Hajj management has not been investigated till date. This study develops a theoretical model for RFID adoption intention in Hajj organizations by using the technology–organization–environment framework. Seven independent variables (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, top management support, organization size, government support, and willingness to collaborate among partners) and one moderator variable (organizational readiness) are proposed to help predict the RFID adoption intention. The variable of willingness to collaborate among partners, which has been ignored in previous Information Systems literature, is included in this study as an important factor in the environmental context. This study empirically tests the proposed model by using an adequate sample size of Hajj organizations. Data collected from 165 Hajj organizers from Indonesia and Malaysia and their Hajj service provider in Saudi Arabia are tested against the proposed research model using hierarchical regression.
- PublicationDesign and simulation of cost effective equipment to dry fruit sheet(2008-04-01)The purpose of this thesis is to examine the effect of several criteria that must be considered in order to select the most suitable dryer for fruit leather production. Different drying temperature in the ranged of 60-80oC and air velocity in the range of 1 to 3m/s is analyzed to see their effect on fruit leather moisture content, weight and drying time while drying process. The drying method factor whether convection or conduction and material used to transfer heat which is brass, aluminum and stainless steel is also determined. The comparison between value of the moisture content by using Moisture Content Determinant Balancing Machine and manually weighting is also done. The heat conductivity of the stainless steel and brass is determined by using Heat Conductivity Apparatus. By using these results and other considerations, the best dryer for fruit leather production is concluded which is drum dryer.
- ItemOrganizational Resources, Networking Resources, Marketing Capabilities And Export Performance: Evidence From Thai Agro-Based Firms(Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2010-05)The Thai economy is very dependent on the agro-based sector. The availability of abundant resources has enabled firms in this sector to play a fundamental role in the economic development and employment for the population. This study is undertaken to identify the competitive strengths of firms in the agro-based sector and their export performance. The resource-based view and the social capital theory provide inputs into the research framework. It is proposed that organizational resources comprising of reputation resources, financial resources, human resources, and research and development and technology resources contribute positively to the firm’s export performance. Besides that the firm’s effort to acquire external resources through networking with business network, institutional networks and knowledge network are expected to contribute to firm’s export performance. Such relationship however is expected to be mediated by marketing capabilities, which are comprised of product, price, distribution and promotion. Two dimensions of export performance are used, namely economic and non-economic measures. The participating firms in this study are drawn from the Exporter Directory published by the Department of Export Promotion (DEP) Thailand. Based on the data analysis, it was determined that only financial resources are positively related to non-economic measure of export performance. Meanwhile among networking resources only business network is statistically significant and positively related to both economic and non-economic measures of export performance. As regards to marketing capabilities, two dimensions of marketing capabilities, price capability and promotion capability, are significant predictors of both dimensions of export performance. On the mediation effect of marketing capabilities, the relationship between financial resources and non-economic measure is partially mediated by price capability. It is also established that price capability act as a partial mediator between business network and both economic and non-economic measure of export performance. As regards to promotion capability, the result shows that it is a partial mediator between business network and economic measure of export performance. The findings of the study show that export performance is dependent on the availability as well access to financial resources and external resources. Investment in networking with trade facilitating organizations such as financial institutions and others involved in the supply chain is a prerequisite for successes. The importance of enhancing the firm’s capabilities in managing price and promotion should not be overlooked.