5 research outputs found
Developing individuals for developing learning based systems
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.This research is concerned with investigating the externalisation, sharing and making tangible of tacit knowledge in the context of organisational learning (OL). The externalisation, sharing and making tangible of tacit knowledge can provide “inputs” for Information Systems (IS) development. This process, in turn, can become a basis for the development of a system that is capable of promoting a learning environment within the organisation. However, the externalising, sharing and making tangible of tacit knowledge, a transparent and subjective form of knowledge, needs staff members’ self-confidence and willingness to undertake it. Therefore, elements that can motivate staff members to externalise, share and make tangible their tacit knowledge or skills are needed. To undertake this, the elements of meta-abilities, understanding organisational roles, internal strengths, formal and informal discussions and rational discourse are proposed. For this research, all these propositions are integrated into a framework.
Therefore, the aim of this research is to study the elements that can encourage staff members to contribute inputs for learning-based systems development. The question to be used for the research is stated as follows: How do we include individuals in the learning-based systems development? Why use meta-abilities in order to include individuals in the learning-based systems development? By answering the question this research offers the following contributions. A novel topic in the IS area, meta-abilities is discussed within the context of the IS area. By considering these elements motivation and encouragement can be offered to staff members such that a contribution to inputs for learning-based systems development can occur.
The research approach undertaken in this research involved the use of a pilot and an in-depth case study, as well as interviews, observation and reference to archival documents. From the undertaken research it was concluded that the future focus for the OL-based IS development should be towards individual development strategies that develop interpretive, creative staff members. Interpretive, creative staff members in turn, are capable of externalising, sharing and documenting their own tacit knowledge based on the situational contexts and orientation. Systems analysts can study the documented inputs provided by the staff members and can codify them. This whole process will enable continuous re-examination and modification processes of organisational IS, thereby making its content become more relevant for OL
Streptococcus gallolyticus infection: a neglected marker for colorectal cancer?
No full textColorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cancer in Malaysia with mostly detected at later stage,
III and IV due to lack of awareness of CRC symptoms and signs. CRC is a multifactorial, however the
clinical association of Streptococcus gallolyticus (S. gallolyticus) infection with the development of
colorectal cancer were reported. Thus, a case-control study was conducted to identify the correlation
and predictors of S. gallolyticus infection towards CRC among patients attending Sultan Ahmad Shah
Medical Centre@IIUM. A total of 33 stool sample from patient diagnosed with CRC and 80 stool
sample from patient without CRC attending Sultan Ahmad Shah Medical Centre@IIUM were
collected and proceeded with iFOBT test and PCR assay for detection of S. gallolyticus.. In this study,
the proportion of S. gallolyticus infection was higher among CRC patients (48.5%) as compared to the
control group (20%). The Pearson’s, χ2
or Fisher’s exact analysis shows that the presence of occult
blood in stool, S. gallolyticus infection, and family history were significantly associated with the
development of CRC (p-value < 0.05). The best multivariate logistic regression model showed that
positive stool PCR for S. gallolyticus had the lowest relative standard error (RSE) and almost 5 times
the odds to develop CRC after controlling other factors (adjusted odds ratio= 4.7, 95% confidence
interval= 1.7 – 12.6, RSE = 59.6%). This finding suggested that the S. gallolyticus infection was the
strongest predictor towards development of CRC and potentially be used as a predictive marker for
early detection of disease progression
Vacuum-based Robotic Gripper using Vacuum Generator and Soft Suction Cup for Pick-and-Place of Electronic PCB Boards
No full textThe automation of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) assembly using robotic arms is increasingly essential in the electronics manufacturing industry, driven by the need for high precision and efficiency. A significant challenge in this process is the delicate handling and accurate placement of various types of PCB boards, such as SATA M.2, mSATA, and SATA Slim. This research aims to design and evaluate a vacuum-based robotic gripper using a vacuum generator and soft suction cup for the pick-and-place operations of electronic PCB boards. The methodology involves the design, fabrication, and experimental testing of the vacuum gripper, analyzing its performance across different feed pressures and vacuum levels. The principal results show that the vacuum gripper is highly effective in securely handling different PCB types, with success rates improving significantly at higher feed pressures, particularly at 0.3 MPa where all three PCB types attained perfect success rates of 100%. Specifically, the vacuum flow rates at a vacuum level of 80 kPa were 0.0010 NL/s, 0.002 NL/s, and 0.0030 NL/s for feed pressures of 0.1 MPa, 0.2 MPa, and 0.3 MPa, respectively. These findings confirm the vacuum gripper's capability to enhance automation in PCB assembly, offering a scalable and adaptable solution that meets the industry's demands for precision, efficiency, and reliability. Overall, the vacuum gripper demonstrated a 100% success rate for all tested PCB types at optimal feed pressure, significantly improving. This study provides a foundation for future improvements in robotic handling systems for delicate electronic components
Perencanaan Rainwater Harvesting System Dengan Metode Roof Catchment (Studi Kasus: Gedung 8, Institut Teknologi Nasional, Bandung)
No full textThe Rainwater Harvesting System Development Planning which will be built using the Roof Catchment method in Building 8 Campus of the National Institute of Technology is an effort to implement policies for soil conservation, collecting rainwater so that it can be reused and participating in environmental protection and planning. The data needed in planning the Rainwater Harvesting System is data on water needs, rainfall, active student data and the existing condition of the building which will later be planned for the Rainwater Harvesting System. After doing the calculations, it was found that the water needs of students in building 8 is 1,168.8 m3/month, the tank volume is 11,159.39 m3 with a depth of 2 m and a tank width of 2.4 m, rainwater discharge is 134,564 m3/s, and dimensions gutter signs of 9 m with a length of 22 m as many as 4 (four) gutters. The construction of the Rainwater Harvesting System is expected to be an alternative in minimizing the use of uncontrolled groundwater and utilizing rainwater as a substitute when the dry season comes. Planning for the Rainwater Harvesting System in Building 8 of the National Institute of Technology requires a cost of Rp. 63,522,000.00 Keywords: Rainwater Harvesting System, Roof Catchment, GutterA B S T R A K Perencanaan Pembangunan Rainwater Harvesting System yang akan dibangun dengan metode Roof Catchment di Gedung 8 Kampus Institut Teknologi Nasional merupakan upaya dalam pelaksanaan kebijakan untuk konservasi tanah, menampung air hujan agar dapat digunakan kembali serta peran serta dalam perlindungan dan perencanaan lingkungan hidup. Data yang dibutuhkan dalam perencanaan Rainwater Harvesting System adalah data kebutuhan air, curah hujan, data mahasiswa aktif serta kondisi eksisting bangunan yang nantinya akan direncanakan Rainwater Harvesting System-nya. Setelah dilakukan perhitungan maka didapatkan bahwa kebutuhan air mahasiswa di gedung 8 sebesar 1.168,8 m3/bulan, volume tangki sebesar 11.159,39 m3 dengan kedalam 2 m dan lebar tangki 2,4 m, debit air hujan sebesar 134,564 m3/det, dan dimensi talang rambu sebesar 9 m dengan panjang 22 m sebanyak 4 (empat) talang. Pembangunan Rainwater Harvesting System diharapkan dapat menjadi salah satu alternatif dalam meminimalisir penggunaan air tanah yang tidak terkontrol dan memanfaatkan air hujan sebagai pengganti disaat musim kemarau datang. Perencanaan Rainwater Harvesting System di Gedung 8 Institut Teknologi Nasional memerlukan biaya sebesar Rp. 63.522.000,00 Kata Kunci: Rainwater Harvesting System, Roof Catchment, Talan
Optimisation of silicone-based dielectric elastomer transducers by means of block copolymers – synthesis and compounding
No full textEmerging artificial muscle technology has developed from metal-based robotics to softtype
robotics made from soft matter. Research into artificial muscle technology based on
soft matter has been conducted mainly in order to mimic soft and robust human muscle.
In this regard, dielectric elastomers have been studied. Their actuation occurs when
Maxwell stress exceeds elastic stress in the presence of an electrical field, resulting in
contraction in thickness and planar expansion in the area. As well as an actuator,
dielectric elastomers can be used as generators and sensors. As a dielectric elastomer,
silicones have been used extensively in many applications, due to favourable properties
such as thermal stability, non-conductivity, high gas permeability and low toxicity.
However, silicones have a low dielectric constant and thereby low energy density. In
order to enhance actuation performance, it is the aim of this research to develop silicone
elastomers with a high dielectric constant and high electrical breakdown strength, as well as a low Young’s modulus.
In this Ph.D. thesis, two methods were developed to enhance silicone properties such
as the dielectric constant and electrical breakdown strength. The first method was
devised to enhance the dielectric constant of silicone elastomers through the use of a
polydimethylsiloxane-polyethyleneglycol (PDMS-PEG) copolymer, in order to obtain an
elastomer with high electrical energy. PDMS-PEG copolymers were synthesised and
blended in commercial silicone and subsequently cross-linked. The relative permittivity
of cross-linked silicone with 5 wt% of PDMS-PEG copolymers increased by nearly 50%,
without compromising dielectric loss and mechanical properties, compared to the
commercial silicone elastomer.
The second investigated method involved enhancing the electrical breakdown
strength of silicone by using an aromatic voltage stabiliser. Here,
polyphenylmethylsiloxane (PPMS), which contained aromatic voltage stabilisers, was
bonded covalently to PDMS through a hydrosilylation reaction obtaining PDMS-PPMS
copolymers. The synthesised copolymers were subsequently cross-linked with a vinyl
cross-linker. The obtained cross-linked PDMS-PPMS copolymers were inherently soft and
robust with increased electrical breakdown strength (21%) compared to the reference
elastomer without an aromatic voltage stabiliser.
The conducting polymer was developed through the use of a multi-walled carbon
nanotube (MWCNT) in a PDMS-PEG matrix as a compliant electrode of dielectric
elastomers. The conductive PDMS-PEG copolymer was incorporated with surface-treated
MWCNT, in order to obtain highly conductive elastomer. The prepared sample with 4
parts per hundred rubber (phr) MWCNT was soft and the resulting conductivity of the
cross-linked PDMS-PEG copolymer with the addition of MWCNT was high, at 10-2 S cm-1,
nearly equivalent to a commonly used commercial conducting polymer. In this thesis, the elastomer and electrode system is referred to as a ‘dielectrielastome
