Wireless Communication Network Tools Kits with Visualization Techniques : Design Consideration for Proposed Architecture

Che Zalina Zukifli,Sumiati Suparmin 보안공학연구지원센터 2015 International Journal of Multimedia and Ubiquitous Vol.10 No.7

Wireless Communication network is an inescapable reality of our days, being part of curricular proposed by almost all institute. Effective learning and teaching of wireless communication however, require student to visualize and illustrate in understanding the technical and how the communication network is operates. This paper recommends a conceptual framework to overcome the inability student in learning wireless communication network course which is complex and difficult especially for novice student. The aim of the course is to teach student not only programming and hardware design but also basic team-work and project management skills in the field of wireless networks through the active learning using the tools that we proposed. In this paper we proposed the architecture named Wireless Kit (Wkits) as one of the support tools that help novice student in enhancing their understanding of learning wireless communication. This kits focus in wireless communication such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and FRID technology.

Assessing Overall Service Quality in the Parcel Delivery Services in Korea*

물리코바 잘리나(Mulikova, Zalina),소애림(So, Ae-Rim),박병인(Park, Byung-In) 한국물류학회 2021 물류학회지 Vol.31 No.1

COVID-19의 대유행 기간 동안 온라인 소매에 대한 전세계 수요가 증가하여 한국과 같은 국가에서도 택배 서비스에 대한 수요가 크게 증가했다. 이와 더불어 중국, 동아시아, CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States)에서 온 외국인의 증가에 따라 형성되는 시장 부문은 물류서비스업 입장에서 고객을 고려한 적절한 전략의 구축과 적용의 요구가 높아지고 있다. 물류서비스업이 성장하기 위해서는 서비스 품질 향상, 기업 평판 강화, 고객 만족도 향상, 충성 고객 확보, 재 구매율 향상, 그리고 매출 증가가 필요하다. 본 논문은 국내 택배 서비스 분야의 서비스 품질을 전반적으로 평가하고, 민족과 성별에 따른 소비자 집단이 소비자 행동에 명백한 차이를 보이는지를 검증하였다. 부분최소제곱 구조 방정식 모델링(pls-sem)과 다중집단분석이 사용되었으며, 중요도성과지도분석(IPMA)으로 재 구매 의도 (목표 구성 개념)의 성과를 개선하기 위한 전략을 제안하였다. 연구결과에 따르면 고객만족도가 재 구매 의도에 가장 중요하며, 기업 평판, 고객 충성도, 신뢰성, 차별화, 공감, 그리고 인프라 순으로 평가되었다. 다중 집단 분석의 결과 하위 그룹의 소비자 행동에는 큰 차이가 없는 것으로 나타났다. 이에 물류서비스기업은 고객의 민족이나 성별을 구분하지 않고 단일 관리 전략을 적용할 수 있는 것으로 판단된다. 택배 서비스 부문의 재구매 의도를 증가시키기 위해서는 특히 고객 충성도와 그 직접적인 선행 요인, 즉 신뢰성과 차별화의 서비스 품질 차원에 영향을 받는 고객 만족에 초점을 맞추는 전략이 가장 우선적이다. 모형의 실질적인 구현 측면에서 재구매 의도의 성과를 향상시키려는 물류서비스 회사는 고객들에게 정확한 추적 정보를 제공하고, 파손과 분실없이 지정된 장소와 시간에 배송함으로써 서비스의 신뢰성을 강화하는데 집중해야 할 것이다. 더불어 물류서비스 기업은 서로 다른 채널 (인터넷, 스마트 폰 앱, 전화 등)을 통한 접근, 차별화된 지리적 접근(무인 택배 서비스, 가장 가까운 조직의 배달 서비스 창구, 배달 서비스 창구, 여성용 안전박스 등), 그리고 소화물유형 (신선 식품, 콜드체인 서비스, 대량 및 중량 택배 배송 등)을 통한 차별화된 서비스를 제공해야한다. The COVID-19 pandemic period has seen an increase in the global demand for online retailing which has in turn triggered the growth of parcel delivery services in countries such as South Korea. A new market segment, which among others is constituted from the growing number of foreigners from China, East Asia countries, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) can be seized by service providers who manage to build and apply a proper strategy taking into consideration customer needs to improve service quality, strengthen corporate reputation, increase customer satisfaction level, gain more loyal clients, boost the rate of repurchase, thus, increasing sale volumes. This paper intends to make an overall assessment of the service quality in the field of parcel delivery services in Korea and also reveal if different consumer groups based on ethnicity and gender demonstrate obvious differences in consumer behavior. Structural equation modeling is employed to reveal cause-effect interactions between constructs while differences between the groups are analyzed via multigroup analysis. Additionally, IPMA methodology is used for proposing strategies to improve the performance of repurchase intention (target construct). Based on the findings, customer satisfaction possesses the highest importance towards repurchase intention, followed by corporate reputation, customer loyalty, reliability, differentiation, empathy, and infrastructure in the pecking order. Results of the multigroup analysis revealed no significant differences in the consumer behavior of the subgroups. For this reason, a single management strategy can be applied. Managerial implications for increasing repurchase intention in the parcel delivery services sector are suggested. Based on relative importance, it is advisable to focus on customer loyalty and its direct antecedents, namely, customer s atisfaction which is a ffected by s ervice q uality dimensions of r eliability and d ifferentiation. To improve t he performance of repurchase intention, parcel delivery companies should focus on strengthening the reliability of services through the provision of tracking information, making timely deliveries to designated places without damages and losses. Additionally, companies should provide differentiated services via different channels (internet, smart-phone apps, telephone, etc.) as well as differentiated geographical access (un-manned courier box services; delivery service windows in the nearest organizations; women safety boxes, etc.), parcel types (including fresh food, cold chain service, delivering large volume and heavy parcels, etc.).

Vermicomposting of Sewage Sludge by Lumbricus rubellus Using Spent Mushroom Compost as Feed Material: Effect on Concentration of Heavy Metals

Azizi Abu Bakar,Noor Zalina Mahmood,Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva,Noorlidah Abdullah,Adi Ainurzaman Jamaludin 한국생물공학회 2011 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.16 No.5

Vermicomposting of sewage sludge (SS) using spent mushroom compost from Pleurotus sajor-caju as feed material was conducted to determine the effect on the concentration of heavy metals, namely Cr, Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn. Previous studies have reported the feasibility of brandling worms, Eisenia foetida, for vermicomposting SS, whereas we conducted vermicomposting by employing red worms, Lumbricus rubellus, with a combination of different percentages of SS and spent mushroom compost (SMC) for 70 days subsequent to 21 days of precomposting. The vermicompost produced in treatments with a low percentage of SS were fine in texture, dark in colour and odourless in contrast to the initial physical characteristics. Results indicate that growth in earthworm numbers and biomass gain was maximum at 25 : 75 (TD)of SS : SMC compared to other treatments with 5 and 8-fold increases, respectively. The heavy metals contained in vermicompost were 0.25 ~ 11.57-fold higher than the initial concentration due to mineralization and excretion of non-accumulated heavy metals existent in the earthworms’gut, which were present prior to treatments. Even so, the concentration was below the limits set by EU and US biosolid compost standards and safe to be utilized as a biofertilizer and soil conditioner.

Centrifugal Atomisation: Influence Material of the Disk and Content Oxygen in the Chamber on Solder Powder Properties

Sheikhaliev Sheikhali,Sheikhalieva Zalina 한국분말야금학회 2006 한국분말야금학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2006 No.1

The Effects of Pre-emptive Administration of Ketamine and norBNI on Pain Behavior, c-Fos, and Prodynorphin Protein Expression in the Rat Spinal Cord after Formalin-induced Pain Is Modulated by the DREAM Protein

( Idris Long ),( Rapeah Suppian ),( Zalina Ismail ) 대한통증학회 2013 The Korean Journal of Pain Vol.26 No.3

Background: We investigated the effects of pre-emptive administration of ketamine and norBNI on pain behavior and the expression of DREAM, c-Fos, and prodynorphin proteins on the ipsilateral side of the rat spinal cord at 2 and 4 hours after formalin injection. Methods: Eighty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 major groups consisting of control rats (C) (n = 12), rats given only formalin injections (F) (n = 24), and rats treated with pre-emptive administration of either ketamine (K+F) (n = 24) or norBNI (N+F) (n = 24). The non-control groups were further divided into subgroups consisting of rats that were sacrificed at 2 and 4 hours (n = 12 for each group) after formalin injection. Pain behavior was recorded for 1 hour. After 2 and 4 hours, the rats were sacrificed and the spinal cords (L4-L5 sections) were removed for immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Results: The pain behavior response was reduced in the K+F group compared to the other groups during the second phase of the formalin pain response. We detected an increase in the nuclear DREAM protein level in the K+F group at 2 and 4 hours and a transient decrease in the N+F group at 2 hours; however, it increased at 4 hours after injection. Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) and Prodynorphin-like immunoreactivity (PLI) neurons decreased in the K+F group but increased in the N+F group at 2 hours after injection. While FLI decreased, PLI increased in all groups at 4 hours after injection. Conclusions: We suggest that NMDA and kappa opioid receptors can modulate DREAM protein expression, which can affect pain behavior and protein transcriptional processes at 2 hours and bring about either harmful or protective effects at 4 hours after formalin injection. (Korean J Pain 2013; 26: 255-264)

The Use of M2-Pyruvate Kinase as a Stool Biomarker for Detection of Colorectal Cancer in Tertiary Teaching Hospital: A Comparative Study

Shahidah Che Alhadi,Wan Zainira Wan Zain,Zalina Zahari,Mohd Nizam Md Hashim,Syed Hassan Syed Abd. Aziz,Zaidi Zakaria,Michael Pak-Kai Wong,Andee Dzulkarnaen Zakaria 대한대장항문학회 2020 Annals of Coloproctolgy Vol.36 No.6

Purpose: Guaiac fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) has been the standard for colorectal screening but it has low sensitivity and specificity. This study evaluated the use of fecal tumor M2-pyruvate kinase (M2-PK) for detection of colorectal cancer and to compare with the current surveillance tool; gFOBT in symptomatic adult subjects underwent colonoscopy.Methods: Stool samples were collected prospectively from symptomatic adults who had elective colonoscopy from September 2014 to January 2016 and were analyzed with the ScheBo M2-PK Quick test and laboratory detection of fecal hemoglobin.Results: The results were correlated to the colonoscopy findings and/or histopathology report. Eighty-five subjects (age of 56.8 ± 15.3 years [mean ± standard deviation]) were recruited with a total of 17 colorectal cancer (20.0%) and 10 colorectal adenoma patients (11.8%). The sensitivity of M2-PK test in colorectal cancer detection was higher than gFOBT (100% vs. 64.7%). M2-PK test had a lower specificity when compared to gFOBT (72.5% vs. 88.2%) in colorectal cancer detection. The positive and negative predictive values were 47.2% and 100% for M2-PK test and 57.9% and 90.9% for gFOBT.Conclusion: Fecal M2-PK Quick test has a high sensitivity for detection of colorectal cancer when compared to gFOBT, making it the potential choice for colorectal tumor screening biomarker in the future.

Predictors of early postoperative hypocalcemia after total parathyroidectomy in renal hyperparathyroidism

Poh Guan Tan,Imi Sairi Ab. Hadi,Zalina Zahari,Maya Mazuwin Yahya,Wan Zainira Wan Zain,Michael Pak-Kai Wong,Rosnelifaizur Ramely,Mohd Nizam Md Hashim,Syed Hassan Syed Abd. Aziz,Zaidi Zakaria,Andee Dzul 대한외과학회 2020 Annals of Surgical Treatment and Research(ASRT) Vol.98 No.1

Purpose: Patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism are at high risk for developing postoperative hypocalcemia. However, there are limited data regarding predictors of postoperative hypocalcemia in renal failure patient with secondary hyperparathyroidism. This study aimed to determine the clinical presentations of renal hyperparathyroidism and the predictors of early postoperative hypocalcemia after total parathyroidectomy. Methods: Data of patients with renal hyperparathyroidism who underwent total parathyroidectomy between January 2007 to December 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into 2 cohort groups according to their serum calcium levels within 24 hours of parathyroidectomy: the hypocalcemia group (calcium levels of 2 mmol/L or less), and the normocalcemia group (calcium levels more than 2 mmol/L). With the use of multivariable logistic regression analyses, the predictors of early postoperative hypocalcemia after total parathyroidectomy in patients with renal hyperparathyroidism were investigated. Results: Among 68 patients, 56 patients (82.4%) were symptomatic preoperatively. Fifty patients (73.5%) presented with bone pain and 14 patients (20.6%) had muscle weakness. Early postoperative hypocalcemia occurred in 25 patients (36.8%). Preoperative alkaline phosphatase level was the predictor of early postoperative hypocalcemia (adjusted odds ratio, 1.004; 95% confidence interval, 1.001–1.006; P = 0.002). Conclusion: Results from our study show that most of the patients with renal hyperparathyroidism were symptomatic preoperatively and the most common clinical presentations were bone pain and muscle weakness. The significant predictor of early postoperative hypocalcemia after total parathyroidectomy was the preoperative alkaline phosphatase levels.

Refining stream ecosystem evaluation: A novel approach using the family ecological index (FEIS)

Nurhafizah-Azwa A.S.,Mohd Ali Zalina,Mohd Suradi Nur Riza 한국응용곤충학회 2024 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.27 No.1

The use of ecological indices based on benthic macroinvertebrate population for streams ecosystem quality assessment receives great attention. Streams in general have high variability characteristics; thus, using a single index used for the whole stream stretch renders less accurate readings. Therefore, this study was conducted to produce an ecological index using benthic macroinvertebrates as a bioindicator for a clean stream ecosystem. In this study, 42 recreational streams throughout Peninsular Malaysia were sampled and 663 units of water and benthic macroinvertebrates samples were analysed. Three phyla, 19 orders, 117 families and 55,410 macro invertebrate individuals were recorded. Benthic macroinvertebrate data were analysed using existing indices such as Shannon Diversity Index (H’), biotic indices (BMWP THAI and FBI) and WQI to analyse water quality. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to evaluate the strength of water quality and physical habitat in determining benthic macroinvertebrate community structure. Next, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to produce new weights. Based on the similarities and dissimilarities of each family in their ecological functions, the components were truncated into only three significant groups with respective weights and a new ecological index, namely Family Ecological Index for Streams (FEIS). From the FEIS values calculation, three scales which are 2.11 to 3.00 (first class: excellent ecosystem), 1.36 to 2.10 (second class: healthy ecosystem), and 0.00 to 1.35 (third class: moderately healthy ecosystem) were obtained. It is found that FEIS is capable of exhibiting variations in stream quality even within clean streams and able to detect early deterioration in streams which is highly useful for management stakeholders to manage recreational streams in Malaysia. The new datadriven approach in the development of FEIS in this study can be applied to other rivers and the difference in the weights determination as well as formulation obtained can be observed.

The Effects of Pre-emptive Administration of Ketamine and norBNI on Pain Behavior, c-Fos, and Prodynorphin Protein Expression in the Rat Spinal Cord after Formalin-induced Pain Is Modulated by the DREAM Protein

Long, Idris,Suppian, Rapeah,Ismail, Zalina The Korean Pain Society 2013 The Korean Journal of Pain Vol.26 No.3

Background: We investigated the effects of pre-emptive administration of ketamine and norBNI on pain behavior and the expression of DREAM, c-Fos, and prodynorphin proteins on the ipsilateral side of the rat spinal cord at 2 and 4 hours after formalin injection. Methods: Eighty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 major groups consisting of control rats (C) (n = 12), rats given only formalin injections (F) (n = 24), and rats treated with pre-emptive administration of either ketamine (K+F) (n = 24) or norBNI (N+F) (n = 24). The non-control groups were further divided into subgroups consisting of rats that were sacrificed at 2 and 4 hours (n = 12 for each group) after formalin injection. Pain behavior was recorded for 1 hour. After 2 and 4 hours, the rats were sacrificed and the spinal cords (L4-L5 sections) were removed for immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Results: The pain behavior response was reduced in the K+F group compared to the other groups during the second phase of the formalin pain response. We detected an increase in the nuclear DREAM protein level in the K+F group at 2 and 4 hours and a transient decrease in the N+F group at 2 hours; however, it increased at 4 hours after injection. Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) and Prodynorphin-like immunoreactivity (PLI) neurons decreased in the K+F group but increased in the N+F group at 2 hours after injection. While FLI decreased, PLI increased in all groups at 4 hours after injection. Conclusions: We suggest that NMDA and kappa opioid receptors can modulate DREAM protein expression, which can affect pain behavior and protein transcriptional processes at 2 hours and bring about either harmful or protective effects at 4 hours after formalin injection.

Conversion rate and risk factors of conversion to open in laparoscopic appendicectomy

Pushpanathan Nelson Rao,Hashim Mohd Nizam Md,Zahari Zalina,Aziz Syed Hassan Syed Abd.,Zain Wan Zainira Wan,Ramely Rosnelifaizur,Wong Michael Pak-Kai,Mohamad Ikhwan Sani,Mokhter Wan Mokhzani Wan,Yahya 대한대장항문학회 2022 Annals of Coloproctolgy Vol.38 No.6

Purpose: Laparoscopic appendicectomy (LA) has several advantages over conventional open appendicectomy (OA). However, about 5% to 10% of LA patients still need to be converted to open surgery. Identifying risk factors that contribute to conversion to OA allows for early identification of patients who may benefit from primary OA. This study aimed to determine the conversion rate of LA to OA and to identify its associated risk factors among patients with acute or perforated appendicitis. Methods: A retrospective review of medical records was performed among patients with acute or perforated appendicitis who underwent LA between December 2015 and January 2017. With the use of multivariable logistic regression analyses, the predictors of conversion from laparoscopic to OA were investigated. Results: Out of 120 patients, 33 cases were converted to OA which gives a conversion rate of 27.5%. Among 33 patients who were converted to OA, 27 patients (81.8%) had perforated appendix, while in the LA group, perforated appendix cases consisted of 34.5% (P<0.001). Histopathology of the appendix was the predictor of conversion from LA to OA (adjusted odds ratio, 8.82; 95% confidence interval, 3.13–24.91; P<0.001). Conclusion: The result from our study shows that the overall conversion rate for the study period was high. Patients with perforated appendicitis had a higher risk of conversion to OA. Therefore, preoperative diagnosis of perforated appendicitis may be paramount in predicting conversion to OA.