bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Towards A Readiness Assessment Model for Value Management in Construction Industry
Authors: Sabiu Baffa Y , Mohamed Sarajul F , Mahmood Yusoff W 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Value management (VM) has over the years gained acceptance by various countries all over the world as a tool towards achieving value for money for clients. Ongoing research and development into value management adoption and implementation within the construction industries of developing countries is on the run. This has made researchers investigate on a better, more effective and more efficient implementation towards achieving the full benefits it offers. VM implementation efforts in the developed countries necessitate the assessment of the readiness of the industries prior to the introduction and adoption of VM. However, there is little effort made in developing a readiness assessment model for VM in the construction industry. Therefore, this paper aims to carry out a comparative review of the available readiness models in the construction industry and some few more from manufacturing industry in view to laying a base towards the development of a readiness assessment model for VM implementation in developing countries. This paper adopts the document analysis method for the review and comparison of the assessment models. The readiness models have been examined and assessed along with their strengths and weaknesses revealed. The paper identifies the readiness assessment criteria that could be adopted for developing a readiness model for value management in construction industry. It further identifies the requirements of value management and provides a guideline towards the development of a VM readiness assessment model.It finally concludes the necessity of a readiness assessment of the construction industry in developing countries prior to its introduction. The paper finally identifies development of a readiness assessment model as an area for further study.
Performance comparison of partitioned and global approaches for weakly hard real-time systems
Authors: Ismail Habibah , Jawawi Dayang N A , Ahmedy Ismail , Isa Mohd Adham 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
One way to minimizing resource requirements is through the careful management and allocation, in example, scheduling. Research on weakly hard real-time scheduling on multiprocessor has been extremely limited; most prior research on real-time scheduling on weakly hard real-time has been confined to uniprocessors. The need for multiprocessor is due to issues that impose limits on the performance of a single processor. As real-time application systems increasingly come to be implemented upon multiprocessor environments, thus, this study applies multiprocessor scheduling approach for verification of weakly hard real-time tasks and to guaranteeing the timing requirements of the tasks. In fact, within the multiprocessor, the task allocation and migration problems seem even harder than in uniprocessor case; thus, in order to cater that problem, the sufficient and efficient scheduling algorithm supported by accurate schedulability analysis technique is present to provide weakly hard real-time guarantees. The proposed approach involves the two existing multiprocessor real-time scheduling algorithms combining with the hyperperiod analysis and deadline models; weakly hard constraints and μ-pattern. In this paper, the Matlab simulation tool is used in order to validate the result of analysis. From the experimental and performance evaluation results, it proved that the proposed approach is satisfied the tasks deadlines with less number of misses.
An Enhanced Segmentation Technique for Smokers RBC Rouleax Coin Stacking
Authors: Malijan M H , Sharif J M , Abdullah A H , Jamil M M 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Smoking is one of the major factors of having coin stacking formation of Red Blood Cell or commonly known as RBC that can cause blood clots and can lead to stroke. Smokers tends have thicker, high count, and overlapping of RBC compared to non-smokers. Blood cell detection plays significant part in biomedical field. There are two methods in detection of RBC, manual inspection by medical experts and automated machines. The manual inspection process is detection of blood cells under a microscope that is more prone to human error and time consuming, while automated hardware solutions like automated haematology machines are available, due to high cost it is not widely available to poor and developing countries who have a high statistic of smokers. Smokers have a high tendency of overlapping RBC or commonly known as rouleaux coin stacking cell formation. This study presents an enhanced segmentation technique that can detect the high degree of overlapping RBCs of smokers using digital image processing that can be helpful in the medical field.
Fish Farm Electrification Utilising a Hybrid Device of Low-Speed Vertical Axis Turbine and Solar Panels
Authors: Maimun A , Soufaljen A S , Jaswar  , Adibah A 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
The demand for seafood is continually increasing. The best way to meet that is through the aquaculture. In Malaysia, the important alternative source of fish supply is the fish-farms. Nowadays, fish-farms use unclean and expensive energy, which cannot meet the environmental and climate goals. This paper presents a hybrid device consisting of two Low-Speed Vertical Axis Current Turbines (LS-VACTs), generators, batteries, controller and solar-panels. This device is used as a hybrid solution because of the lake of electricity, low water/marine current speed surrounding the fish-farms and variable nature of both resources solar and marine-currents. This device has lower cabling and infrastructure requirements and reduced capital costs. This paper investigates the performance of the hybrid system and predicting power take-off and the number of solar panels required to provide sufficient energy for fish-farm using MATLAB-Simulink environment. The experimental results of LS-VACT show that the turbine has a power coefficient (CP) = 19.4% and high torque coefficient of 0.76 at a speed of 1 m/s. The simulation results indicate that the power output of the system can provide 20 kWh/day with water/marine current speed higher than 1 m/s. This combination of both resources can sustain and produce enough power for electrification of fish-farm.
Thermal Performance Analysis in Sinusoidal-Cavities-Ribs Microchannel Heat Sink with Secondary Channel Geometry for Low Pumping Power Application
Authors: Japar W M A A , Sidik N A C , Saidur R. , Asako Y , Muhammad N M 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
The increases in the demand for high performance electronic device has led cooling technology from air cooling to liquid cooling method in order to prevent the operating temperature in the electronic device goes beyond the junction temperature of the electronic device. Liquid as a heat transportation in a micro-cooling technology is an effective method to maintain the operating temperature. Among the micro-cooling technology, microchannel heat sink appears as a promising method that provides high heat transfer rate with minimal pressure drop. However, the conventional microchannel heat sink which has straight channels (CR MCHS) inadequate to remove high heat flux generated by the current devices due to high thermal resistance in laminar region. High heat transfer rate just can be obtained in the microchannel heat sink by using a large mass flowrate which affects the pumping power consumption. The method is not suitable for the low pumping power application. So instead of increases the mass flowrate, in this paper, a hybrid microchannel heat sink was proposed in order to satisfy the cooling demand with low pumping power consumption. The effect of sinusoidal cavities, rectangular ribs and secondary channel geometry on thermal resistance and pumping power in the hybrid microchannel sink (SD-RR-SC MCHS) was studied numerically. The result showed the SD-RR-SC MCHS and RR MCHS had the lowest thermal resistance and temperature variation for the mass flowrate that less than 6.78×10−5 kg/s. Despite both designs had a similar thermal performance with the average deviation of 5%, SD-RR-SC MCHS required only 11.3% of CR MCHS pumping power, while RR MCHS required 31.3% of CR MCHS pumping power in order to achieve the optimum thermal performance of CR MCHS. Means, SD-RR-SC MCHS is the most suitable design which can fulfil cooling demand for low pumping power application.
Low Speed Vertical Axis Current Turbine (LS-VACT): Experimental Results
Authors: Yain N Muhamat , Abdul Malik A M , Ali A , Souf-Aljen A S , Behrouzi F , Nakisa M 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Depleting of fossil fuels and climate change problem as well as the pollutions arise make the renewable energy one of the best options for long-term usage. In hydropower energy extraction, vertical axis marine current turbine applications; Savonius turbine, which has the ability to operate in low speed current is suitable with the Malaysia’s sea conditions. However, due to the drawbacks which are low efficiency and low tip speed ratio, modifications need to be done to harness more power. Low Speed Vertical Axis Current Turbine is appeared to extract energy based on the Savonius rotor. In conjunction to this matter, laboratory work has been done in a way to study the relationship between Power Coefficient (Cp) and Tip Speed Ratio (λ), and also the relationship between Torque Coefficient (Ct) and Tip Speed Ratio (λ) at different current speed which are 0.32 m/s and 0.64 m/s.
Expert Validation of Touch Point Method in Ideation Process based on User Benefit and Creativity
Authors: Thamilarasan B. , Yusof Nor Fasiha Mohd , Harun Mohd Noor 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
“You’ve got to start with the user experience and work backward to the technology”–Steve Jobs. This study demonstrates the importance of understanding the user before undergoing the engineering design process. Recently, many researchers in the design engineering fieldwork focussed on the early phase of the design process due to decision making. There are many tools developed to gather and understand user needs. Touch Point method is an example of a user-oriented design approach that focuses on gathering user needs. In this study, Touch Point method is taken as the experimental method to compare with a controlled method of the design process. Participants are the 4th year Mechanical Engineering students of UTM, JB, whom separated into two groups. They are trained with different approaches – Touch Point method and traditional design process – and are required to solve a same problem. Outcomes are in the form of detailed sketching of design concept. Every design concepts produced by both groups are evaluated by seven design experts. They evaluate the design concept via user benefit, originality and feasibility criteria. Significant effect also identified for originality, with negative correlation. Results are discussed. In conclusion, this study proves the importance of understanding user needs during early stage of the design process.
Intelligent Active Force Control Of A Twin Rotor System
Authors: Tay Y S , Mailah M , Tang H H 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
The paper deals with a robust control method applied to a a twin rotor multiple- input-multiple-output system (TRMS). The performance of TRMS employing a hybrid active force control (AFC) and iterative learning (IL) technique is simulated to evaluate the capability of the proposed control method in countering the harmonic excitation with reference to the pitch, yaw, angles of main rotor and tail rotor of the TRMS responses. The AFC with IL scheme was used in conjunction with the Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) to analyze the system’s robustness against the introduced disturbance. The mathematical modeling of TRMS was first derived and later the simulation was conducted in MATLAB/Simulink computing platform. The PID controller was used as benchmarking prior to the implementation of AFC and IL in which the tuning of the PID and IL parameters were based on a heuristic method. A comparative study will be conducted for the PID and PIDAFCIL schemes in terms of overshooting, settling time and steady state error. The results show that the PIDAFCIL control method is highly robust, produces low steady state error and exhibits fast convergence compared to its counterpart.
A Novel Double Chamber Rotary Sleeve Air Compressor- Part III: Leakage Losses Model
Authors: Alduqri Y A , Kamar H M , Musa M N , Kamsah N B , Idris N R N , Alqaifi Gamal 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
This paper presents comprehensive leakage model of a novel double chamber rotary sleeve air compressor (DCRSC). The compressor mechanism is that of a rotary motion whereby the novelty lies in the usage of two rotating sleeves and a secured vane that has one end fixed to an outer sleeve and the other end to a rotor, respectively. The thermodynamic model and friction model of the DCRSC are respectively presented in Part I and Part II of this paper series. The main goal of this study is to formulate and analyse the internal leakage losses at different rotational speed. Dynamic clearance at the contact regions between the high-pressure and low-pressure chambers were made clear. The variations of the internal leakage rate and volumetric efficiency for three compression approaches namely: adiabatic, polytropic and isothermal compression processes were evaluated. At maximum rotational speed of 1500 rpm, the DCRSC volumetric efficiencies are 53.1%, 69.4% and 98% when air undergoes adiabatic, polytropic and isothermal compression process, respectively. The internal leakage losses can effectively be minimized by selecting the right lubricant and reducing the assembly clearances of the rotating parts that defines the compression chambers.
Crystal chemistry characteristics and dispersion performance of Ca-montmorillonite with different layer charge density
Authors: Qiu Jun , Jiang Shan , Wang Yueting , Chen Guowei , Liu Dongliang , Liu Xiaodong , Wang Guifang , Wu Peng , Lyu Xianjun 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
The correlation between crystal chemistry characteristics and dispersion performance of Ca-montmorillonite with different layer charge density was studied. The four kinds of purified montmorillonite were characterized by XRD, XRF, FTIR, SEM, TEM, BET, TG-DTG, Zeta potential, and Molecular dynamics simulation (MD). The XRD analysis results show that the d(001) value of the four kinds of Ca-montmorillonite are 1.51 nm, 1.51 nm, 1.53 nm, and 1.50 nm, respectively, and the calculation results of layer charge density show that the semi-unit cell charge density are 0.38, 0.53, 0.61, and 0.69, respectively. The charge density is positively correlated with the mass content of MgO. The FTIR analysis results show that with the increase of layer charge density, the couple vibration wave number of Si–O–Mg and Mg–O move towards the high frequency region, from 464.70 cm−1 to 466.36 cm−1 and from 517.12 cm−1 to 520.41 cm−1. The SEM analysis results show that the higher layer charge density of montmorillonite, the worse exfoliation between layers and the thicker layer thickness, The images of TEM show that montmorillonites are mainly composed of a clearly layered structure. The results of BET show that with the increase of charge density, the BET surface area, micropore area and total pore volume gradually increase from 32.69 m2 g−1 to 64.50 m2 g−1, from 4.87 m2 g−1 to 18.24 m2 g−1, and from 0.06 cm3 g−1 to 0.12 cm3 g−1 , respectively, while PSDs and pore diameter decrease from 7.88 nm to 1.74 nm, and from 7.65 nm to 5.47 nm. The results of TG and DTG show that with the increase of charge density, the removal temperature of free water and inter-layer water increase from 80 °C to 100 °C and 139 °C to 155 °C, respectively. The simulation results of MD show that with the increase of layer charge density, the number of hydrogen bonds increase from 186 to 271 and the adsorption energy increases from −1467.11 to −1874.32 kcal mol−1. The particle size increases from 701 nm(Mt1) to 1576 nm(Mt4) with the layer charge density, and the absolute value of Zeta potential, colloidal value and expansion capacity of montmorillonites suspension decrease with the increase of the layer charge density, which further indicates that the dispersion of montmorillonites decrease with the increase of layer charge density.
Development of a nano biosensor for anti-gliadin detection for Celiac disease based on suspension microarrays
Authors: Kharati Maryam , Rabiee Mohammad , Rostami-Nejad Mohammad , Aghamohammadi Elham , Asadzadeh-Aghdaei Hamid , Zali Mohammad Reza , Rabiee Navid , Fatahi Yousef , Bagherzadeh Mojtaba , Webster Thomas J 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder represented by the ingestion of the gluten protein usually found in wheat, barley and rye. To date, ELISA has been the most accurate method for determining the presence of anti-gliadin, which is cumbersome, expensive (compared to a suspension microarray technique), and requires extensive sample preparation. In this study, in order to establish a more accurate assay to identify gliadin at lower concentrations, optical nano biosensors using an indirect immunoassay method for gliadin detection was designed and fabricated. For this, polycaprolactone (PCL) nano- to micro-beads were fabricated as a platform for the gliadin antigen which were optimized and nano functionalized with amine groups for such purposes. The gliadin antibody, which is selective to gliadin, was then added to the beads. Static light scattering tests were conducted to determine PCL particle size distribution and sizes were found from 0.1 to 30 μm, which is suitable for flowcytometry detection devices. Anti-gliadin detection was performed using an anti IgG mouse antibody conjugated with FITC in a flow cytometry device to detect the smallest particle. Fluorescence intensity was investigated at different concentrations of anti-gliadin and a standard curve used to determine gluten concentration based on fluorescence intensity. Results showed that the fluorescence intensity increased with greater concentrations of anti-gliadin providing a very effective method of detection due to selectivity at a 5 ppm detection limit. This represents a new highly sensitive and fast method for anti-gliadin detection. Further, the disuse of a cross linker and the use of a dedicated antibody at a very low level (1 μl) made this new method very economical to identify anti-gliadin concentrations at the nano level. In summary, this study provides a new, more accurate and sensitive, as well as less expensive system to detect anti-gliadin for the improved diagnosis of celiac disease.
Photon-induced molecular implementation of a quantized magnetic flux photoelectron
Authors: Mainos C 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
A fundamental magnetic flux quantum can be implemented into a free rotating molecule when the interacting molecular electron experiences the maximum possible intrinsic energy uncertainty of a gaussian, transform-limited half-cycle optical photon wavepacket. A magnetic flux resonance condition can be defined at this limit, with photoionization quenching, and the excited molecular electron is drawn into a Rydberg-like spherical surface where a 3D-diffraction pattern is oscillating at the minimum of a bound potential around a primary formed closed electronic loop. The induced rotational motion of the molecular ion core is initiated at the threshold of a robust inertial effect and the dissipated information entropy is the lowest allowed. The integrated quantum possibilities occur in the process as structural properties of a quantized magnetic flux implementation threshold.
In-water handwriting in multi-medium using electrical impedance imaging
Authors: Wu Chenning , Soleimani Manuchehr 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
A novel approach to human–computer interaction, in water handwriting is presented in this work. The novel handwriting method is based on tomographic imaging of electrical resistivity changes. The new method allows the users to write inside of a water ball in a natural, unconstrained way. In-water handwriting suffers no friction and allows handwriting or drawing in a more relaxed way. This work shows how an electrical impedance tomography (EIT) system and sensor/phantom can be used to create a robust handwriting in water. It is well known that EIT has low special resolution but offers a very good functional imaging with high temporal resolution. The work shows an example of a good quality functional imaging aspect of the EIT in a novel human computer interface (HCI) application. Although it is almost impossible to produce images of letters or complex shapes using EIT sensor, it is totally possible to produce the same using many EIT frames. The system used in this study has a frame rate of 15 frames per second so the actual handwriting of letters and shapes can be done without noticing any delays. Analysis of image similarity between actual handwriting and the one follow the EIT scheme shows a good correlation.
Downregulation of hedgehog-interacting protein (HHIP) contributes to hexavalent chromium-induced malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells
Authors: Li Peichao , Zhang Xiaoru , Murphy Anthony J , Costa Max , Zhao Xiaogang , Sun Hong 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a potent human lung carcinogen. Multiple mechanisms have been proposed that contribute to Cr(VI)-induced lung carcinogenesis including oxidative stress, DNA damage, genomic instability and epigenetic modulation. However, the molecular mechanisms and pathways mediating Cr(VI) carcinogenicity have not been fully elucidated. Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is a key pathway that plays important roles in the formation of multiple tissues during embryogenesis and in the maintenance of stem cell populations in adults. Dysregulation of Hh signaling pathway has been reported in many human cancers. Here, we report a drastic reduction in both mRNA and protein levels of hedgehog-interacting protein (HHIP), a downstream target and a negative regulator of Hh signaling, in Cr(VI)-transformed cells. These findings point to a potential role of Hh signaling in Cr(VI)-induced malignant transformation and lung carcinogenesis. Cr(VI)-transformed cells exhibited DNA hypermethylation and silencing histone marks in the promoter region of HHIP, indicating that an epigenetic mechanism mediates Cr(VI)-induced silencing of HHIP. In addition, the major targets of Hh signaling (GLI1-3 and PTCH1) were significantly increased in Cr(VI)-transformed cells, suggesting an aberrant activation of Hh signaling in these cells. Moreover, ectopically expressing HHIP not only suppressed Hh signaling but also inhibited cell proliferation and anchorage-independent growth in Cr(VI)-transformed cells. In conclusion, these findings establish a novel regulatory mechanism underlying Cr(VI)-induced lung carcinogenesis and provide new insights for developing a better diagnostic and prognostic strategy for Cr(VI)-related human lung cancer.