Houses in Malaysia: Fusion of the east and the west

A great number of architectural scholars in Malaysia learned about western architecture to be used as precedent studies in their design. Few realized that part of the origin of the modern western architecture was actually from the east. Segments of the new approaches in modern architecture was already part and parcels of the local eastern heritage. The trend of following the west was also evident in the design of the modern detached houses. However, the already existed easten local heritage inevitably also played a major contribution to the thinking process of the designers. The main aim of the book is to unfold or clarify the origins of architectural elements in modern detached houses in Malaysia. The significance of the book is to establish the factors that contribute to the architectural thinking of the local architects besides clarifying the current trend or direction of the present style in Malaysia. In other words, to get a clearer picture of the past architecture in order to formulate or suggest a clearer guidelines or criteria for architectural design in the future

Speckle filtering techniques for different quality level of healthy kidney ultrasound images

The increasing reliance of modern medicine on diagnostic techniques such as computerized tomography, histopathology, magnetic resonance imaging, radiology and ultrasound imaging shows the importance of medical images [1]. Ultrasound (US) imaging is an imaging technique that is far the least expensive and most portable comparing to other standard medical imaging modalities. US imaging is a safe technique, easy to use, noninvasive nature and provides real time imaging, hence it is used extensively. But on the downside, ultrasound imaging has a poor resolution of image compared with other medical imaging instrument like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). US has wide spread application as a primary diagnostic aid of obstetrics and gynecology, due to the lack of ionizing radiation or strong magnetic fields. General US imaging applications include soft tissue organ and carotid arter

Containing Muslim extremism and radicalism

This article argues that wars, atrocities, radicalism and extremism have been caused by many interrelated external socio-economic, political and ethnic factors, even though religious communities are involved. However, internal factors such as the role of religious education, are instrumental in understanding religious radicalism and extremism, including among some Muslims. This article also elucidates the dual nature of Islamic religiosity in Asia i.e. its manifested diversity and underlying unity, traces Muslim historical treatment of religious extremism, and suggests that certain methodological and doctrinal aspects of contemporary Islamic education may have contributed to an extremist outlook and behavior. It offers a few specific and practical recommendations involving the external and internal factors to significantly reduce the phenomena of extremism among Muslims, especially in Asi

Properties and performance of high strength fibre reinforced concrete by using steel and polypropylene fibres

Many reinforced concrete structures suffer severe degradation due to the effect from freezing and thawing, shrinkage and expansion, aggressive environment, earthquake and drastic increase of live loads. The most common sign of deterioration in concrete is cracking. Plain or unreinforced concrete is characterised by its low tensile strength, low strain capacities and brittle in nature. The tensile strength of plain concrete is considered lost once cracking occurred. Discrete short fibre reinforcement is being considered to be used for structural applications since it can reduce cracking phenomena, improve ductility and failure mode, and to some extent improve the durability of reinforced concrete. Fibre added in concrete has also been found to be effective in controlling cracks due to plastic and drying shrinkage. Shrinkage in concrete is greatly influenced by the surrounding environment and types of fibre included. Therefore, the aim of this research is to investigate the engineering and shrinkage properties of reinforced concrete containing a combination of steel and polypropylene fibres under different exposure conditions. In this study, the physical and engineering properties of fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) are investigated by using steel fibre (SF) type hooked end and polypropylene fibre (PPF) type virgin fibrillated. The objectives of the study are to assess the effect of hybrid fibres on its engineering properties, shrinkage properties under the influence of tropical climate and finally the structural performance of the FRC beams. Laboratory testing program is first conducted to determine the physical properties of the fibres. Then, the fibre reinforced concrete were tested to determine the engineering properties include compressive strength, tensile splitting strength, flexural strength, toughness, Modulus of Elasticity and shrinkage. The desired optimum mix is evaluated by the volume fractions (Vf) of 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5%., and the combination of SF 100% + PPF 0%, SF 75% + PPF 25%, SF 50% + PPF 50%, SF 25% + PPF 75%, SF 0% + PPF 100%. The engineering properties and structural performance are then determined based on the optimum percentage using high strength concrete grade C60 to simulate concrete strength of sample manufactured at the factory. Test on the efficiency of fibres in limiting the shrinkage deformation for indoor and outdoor exposure are performed. The results indicated that the best combination of fibres is for concrete containing SF 75% + PPF 25%. The combination of SF and PPF fibres in concrete is able to enhance the engineering properties and controlling the growth of cracks in concrete. The results also indicated that concrete with both SF and PPF produced higher tensile and flexural strengths as compared with the control by 77% and 170%, respectively. The variation in relative humidity and temperature was found to have small effect on the drying shrinkage of the FRC. Results for the FRC beam test show that the percentage proportion of SF 75% + PPF 25% give the best flexural performance compared to other beams. Thus, the use of hybrid fibres, SF 75% + PPF 25%, was found to enhance the performance of either plain concrete or reinforced concrete

Penghasilan panduan keselamatan industri bagi kegunaan bakal graduan Kejuruteraan Elektrik Politeknik

Panduan keselamatan industri merupakan satu bentuk bimbingan yang penting kepada pelajar supaya mereka dapat mengetahui dengan jelas tentang amalan dan pengurusan keselamatan keija. Dengan adanya kesedaran dan pengetahuan yang jelas tentang keselamatan keija maka sudah tentu matlamat kemalangan sifar akan mudah tercapai. Untuk perkara ini, satu penyelidikan telah dijalankan untuk menguji tahap pengetahuan pelajar tentang keselamatan industri bagi tujuan untuk menghasilkan sebuah panduan keselamatan industri. Panduan yang telah dihasilkan ini, telah dibuat penilaian mengenai isi kandungan , kebolehlaksanaan dan mesra pengguna kepada pelajar Diploma Kejuruteraan Elektrik di Polileknik Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah, Jitra, Kedah. Instrumen yang digunakan dalam kajian ini adalah soal selidik. Hasil analisis kajian menunjukkan bahawa nilai purata yang diperolehi daripada penilaian terhadap tahap pengetahuan pelajar adalah sederhana rendah manakala isi kandungan, kebolehlaksanaan dan mesra pengguna pula telah menunjukkan kadar setuju yang agak tinggi. Oleh itu sebagai rumusannya didapati bahawa panduan keselamatan industri yang dihasilkan ini boleh diterima pakai dan boleh membantu meningkatkan pengetahuan pelajar dalam pembelajarannya. Adalah diharapkan agar penyelidikan lanjutan dapat dilakukan terhadap panduan keselamatan industri ini agar ianya dapat dihasilkan kedalam bentuk yang lebih berkesan penggunaannya

Penguasaan kemahiran generik di kalangan graduan hospitaliti di politeknik : satu kajian berkenaan keperluan industri perhotelan, persepsi pensyarah dan pelajar

Kajian yang dijalankan ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti kepentingan kemahiran generik mengikut keperluan industri perhotelan di Malaysia dengan persepsi pensyarah dan persepsi pelajar Jabatan Hospitaliti. Oleh kerana matlamat kurikulum pendidikan kini adalah untuk melahirkan graduan yang dapat memenuhi keperluan pihak industri, maka kajian ini dijalankan untuk menilai hubungan di antara keperluan industri perhotelan di Malaysia dengan persepsi pensyarah dan pelajar Jabatan Hospitaliti di Politeknik. Terdapat 13 kemahiran generik yang diperolehi daripada Kementerian Pelajaran dan Latihan Ontario (1997) dijadikan sebagai skop kepada instrumen kajian. Responden kajian terdiri daripada tiga pihak utama iaitu industri perhotelan di Malaysia yang melibatkan 40 buah hotel yang diwakili oleh MAH Chapter dan jawatankuasa dalam Malaysian Associated of Hotel (MAH), pensyarah Unit Hotel dan Katering dan pelajar semester akhir Diploma Hotel dan Katering di Politeknik Johor Bahru, Johor dan Politeknik Merlimau, Melaka. Kajian rintis yang dijalankan menunjukkan nilai Alpha Cronbach pada 0.8781. Data yang diperolehi dianalisis secara deskriptif dan inferensi dengan menggunakan perisian Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) versi 11.5. Melalui dapatan kajian, satu senarai berkenaan kemahiran generik yang diperlukan oleh industri perhotelan telah dapat dihasilkan. Selain itu, senarai kemahiran generik menurut persepsi pensyarah dan juga persepsi pelajar turut dihasilkan. Hasil statistik dan graf garis yang diperolehi menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan di antara kemahiran generik yang diperlukan oleh industri perhotelan di Malaysia dengan kemahiran generik menurut persepsi pensyarah dan persepsi pelajar Politeknik. Dapatan analisis menggunakan korelasi Pearson mendapati bahawa tidak terdapat perhubungan yang signifikan di antara kemahiran generik yang diperlukan oleh industri perhotelan dengan persepsi pensyarah dan persepsi pelajar. Namun begitu, terdapat hubungan yang signifikan di antara persepsi pensyarah dengan persepsi pelajar berkenaan dengan amalan kemahiran generik di Politeknik

Persediaan kerjaya pelajar tahun akhir diploma akauntansi Politeknik dalam melahirkan K-Workes : satu tinjauan

This research was conducted to identify Polytechnic's Diploma in Accountancy final year students' career preparation before enter the working environment to be k-workers. The sample in this study consisted of 48 final year students of Diploma in Accountancy Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah (POLISAS), Kuantan. Questionnaire has been chosen as an instrument to get the data. The data was analyzed by using the Statistical Package For Social Sciences (SPSS) package to derive the percentages and mean. The results revealed the Diploma of Accountancy final year students are quite prepared to enter the working environment. Although the students performed very well for their career preparation, there are still dissatisfaction in other two aspects i.e. they lack of information career opportunity and communication in English. Therefore, the career guideline have been proposed to give an exposure for the students to be k-workers in their career in the future

Experimental evaluation of new pipe sleeve with weep holes for concrete leakage prevention

Mortar is a layer with high water absorption rate over concrete due to its porous structure. The mortar layer that frequently exposed to water or moisture is more likely to contain moisture in its layer. The example of area that is mostly exposed to water is the bathroom. The water infiltrated and trapped in the mortar slab in the bathroom will eventually increase the moisture content of the mortar slab and will raise many problems such as the deterioration of the building structure surface. Therefore, this study has been carried out to produce a technology to remove the trapped water in the mortar slab and to reduce the moisture content in the mortar layer. The infiltration rate of the water into the mortar slabs installed with the conventional pipe sleeve (T1), the circular weep-holes pipe sleeve (T2), the vertical weep-holes pipe sleeve (T3) and the inclined weep-holes pipe sleeve (T4) have been measured and the results show that T4 has recorded the highest reading of 7.74 ml/min compared to other pipe sleeves. Besides that, T4 has also recorded the highest water flow rate out of the mortar with 1.31 ml/min and recorded the lowest moisture content of 10.1%. Inclined weep-holes pipe sleeve was proven able to work better than other designs. Therefore, the New Pipe Sleeve (NPS) performance with inclined weep-holes designs are studied in depth by changing the weep-holes angles to 15°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 75° and weep-holes surface area of 6%, 8% and 10%. As a result, the weep-holes angle of 60° with 10% weep-holes surface area has recorded the highest water infiltration rate and water flow rate out of the mortar with 20.898 ml/min and 3.764 ml/min, respectively, obtaining the highest reduction of the moisture content by 3.1%. The optimum performance of the pipe sleeve with inclined weep-holes design has been proposed by using Design Expert Software and the optimum performance can be achieved with the used of the weep-holes angle of 69.55° and 10% weep-holes surface area, producing water infiltration rate of 20.4513 ml/min and water flow rate out of the mortar of 3.3795 ml/min. Therefore, application of optimise design of weep-holes has promising potential method to reduce leakage and fungi problem that normally occurred in bathroom area