Fever is a common symptom of many infections, e.g., in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, keeping monitoring devices such as thermometers in constant demand. Recent technological advancements have made ...infrared (IR) thermometers the choice for contactless screening of multiple individuals. Yet, even so, the measurement accuracy of such thermometers is affected by many factors including the distance from the volunteers’ forehead, impurities (such as sweat), and the location measured on the volunteers’ forehead. To overcome these factors, we describe the assembly of an Arduino-based digital IR thermometer with distance correction using the MLX90614 IR thermometer and HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensors. Coupled with some analysis of these factors, we also found ways to programme compensation methods for the final assembled digital IR thermometer to provide more accurate readings and measurements.
•Surveyed the adoption of blockchain in OSCM among Malaysian SMEs.•Adopted the TOE framework to investigate the adoption intention.•Explored the relationships between the technological and ...organizational dimensions.•Engaged a nonlinear non-compensatory PLS-ANN approach.•Cost is positively associated with adoption intention.
This study aims to investigate the effects of relative advantage, complexity, upper management support, cost, market dynamics, competitive pressure and regulatory support on blockchain adoption for operations and supply chain management among Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. Unlike existing studies that employed linear models with Technology Acceptance Model or United Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology that ignores the organisational and environmental factors, we adopted the Technology, Organisation and Environment Framework that covers the technological dimensions of relative advantage and complexity, organisational dimensions of upper management support and cost and environmental dimensions of market dynamics, competitive pressure and regulatory support. Empirical data from 194 SMEs were investigated and ranked using a nonlinear non-compensatory PLS-ANN approach. Competitive pressure, complexity, cost and relative have significant effects on behavioural intention. Market dynamics, regulatory support and upper management support were insignificant predictors. SMEs often lack resources for technological investments but faces same requirements for streamlining business processes to optimise returns and blockchain presents a viable option for SMEs’ sustainability due to its features of immutability, transparency and security that have the potential to revolutionise businesses. This study contributes new knowledge to the literature on factors that affect blockchain adoption and justifications were discussed accordingly.
Research on TPACK has been burgeoning recently. Some review studies in the field of educational technology have indicated issues and trends in TPACK research conducted in the past decades. However, a ...review of TPACK research specific to language teachers' knowledge about language teaching with technology has been lacking. To fill this research gap, the present review study intends to understand the landscape of TPACK research on language teachers published from 2011 to 2019. The analysis results reveal that 51 studies were identified with a publication peak in 2015, mostly conducted in Asia and the Middle East. The 51 articles were categorized into four areas: (a) exploring TPACK, (b) assessing TPACK, (c) developing TPACK, and (d) applying TPACK. More specifically, research on exploring TPACK suggests that while teachers had varying levels of confidence in their TPACK competence, their TPACK indicated the dominant use of technology in traditional teacher-centered teaching. Research on assessing TPACK shows that survey items were contextualized to lessen the difficulty of distinguishing between the seven sub-domains of TPACK. However, the difficulty remained perhaps due to a possibility that the seven sub-domains may not appear workable in practice. This issue needs further research. Research on developing TPACK reveals that effective interventions involved language teachers' understanding of the TPACK framework, modeling from teacher educators or experienced teachers, and language teachers' engagement in designing lessons collaboratively. Finally, research on applying TPACK indicates that TPACK-informed language learning courses and platforms were perceived to be helpful and effective. These findings may provide researchers with some possible directions.
The rapid increase in both the quantity and complexity of data that are being generated daily in the field of environmental science and engineering (ESE) demands accompanied advancement in data ...analytics. Advanced data analysis approaches, such as machine learning (ML), have become indispensable tools for revealing hidden patterns or deducing correlations for which conventional analytical methods face limitations or challenges. However, ML concepts and practices have not been widely utilized by researchers in ESE. This feature explores the potential of ML to revolutionize data analysis and modeling in the ESE field, and covers the essential knowledge needed for such applications. First, we use five examples to illustrate how ML addresses complex ESE problems. We then summarize four major types of applications of ML in ESE: making predictions; extracting feature importance; detecting anomalies; and discovering new materials or chemicals. Next, we introduce the essential knowledge required and current shortcomings in ML applications in ESE, with a focus on three important but often overlooked components when applying ML: correct model development, proper model interpretation, and sound applicability analysis. Finally, we discuss challenges and future opportunities in the application of ML tools in ESE to highlight the potential of ML in this field.
•Effectiveness of cloud computing technology among the Malaysian manufacturing firms.•Applicability of cloud computing improves innovativeness and firm performance.•Using PLS-SEM-ANN analysis ...revealed that innovativeness leads to firm performance.
This study explores how performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), firm size (FS), top management support (MS) and absorptive capacity (AC) of cloud computing technology can lead to innovativeness (IN) and firm performance (FP) among the manufacturing firms. Data gathered from 188 managerial positions were analysed using Partial Least Squares (PLS) Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) analysis, together with the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) analysis. Findings revealed that PE, FS, AC have a positive significant influence on IN; while IN positively influences FP. This study offers valuable perspective on the applicability of cloud computing technology to improve IN and FP, and subsequently be aligned with Industry 4.0, the next industrial revolution.
Coating individual bacterial cells with conjugated polymers to endow them with more functionalities is highly desirable. Here, we developed an in situ polymerization method to coat polypyrrole on the ...surface of individual Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1, Escherichia coli, Ochrobacterium anthropic or Streptococcus thermophilus. All of these as‐coated cells from different bacterial species displayed enhanced conductivities without affecting viability, suggesting the generality of our coating method. Because of their excellent conductivity, we employed polypyrrole‐coated Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1 as an anode in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and found that not only direct contact‐based extracellular electron transfer is dramatically enhanced, but also the viability of bacterial cells in MFCs is improved. Our results indicate that coating individual bacteria with conjugated polymers could be a promising strategy to enhance their performance or enrich them with more functionalities.
Surface modification of bacteria: The surface of individual bacterial cells was in situ coated by polypyrrole as a conductive layer to endow bacteria with enhanced electrical conductivity. The PPy coatings promote the contact‐based electron transfer between S. oneidensis MR‐1 and the electrode, leading to a huge improvement in the bioelectricity generation of microbial fuel cells (MFCs).
Stimuli-responsive biomaterials that contain logic gates hold great potential for detecting and responding to pathological markers as part of clinical therapies. However, a major barrier is the lack ...of a generalized system that can be used to easily assemble different ligand-responsive units to form programmable nanodevices for advanced biocomputation. Here we develop a programmable polymer library by including responsive units in building blocks with similar structure and reactivity. Using these polymers, we have developed a series of smart nanocarriers with hierarchical structures containing logic gates linked to self-immolative motifs. Designed with disease biomarkers as inputs, our logic devices showed site-specific release of multiple therapeutics (including kinase inhibitors, drugs and short interfering RNA) in vitro and in vivo. We expect that this 'plug and play' platform will be expanded towards smart biomaterial engineering for therapeutic delivery, precision medicine, tissue engineering and stem cell therapy.
Purpose
Given the emerging nature of integrating blockchain into food traceability systems, this study aims to investigate the intention to participate in a blockchain-based Halal traceability system ...through a united model that consists of Halal orientation strategy, institutional theory and diffusion of innovation theory.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample that consists of 143 Malaysian Halal food and beverage manufacturers was drawn from Halal Malaysia Official Portal using the simple random sampling technique. The responses were collected from the key managerial personnel with experience and knowledge on the Halal supply chain using phone interviews. Subsequently, the partial least squares structural equation modelling approach was then used to analyse the theoretical model.
Findings
The manufacturers would go through a chain of the process before deciding to participate in the traceability system. Firstly, the manufacturers which practice a comprehensive Halal orientation strategy will be more perceptive towards the institutional pressures that demand them to participate in a traceability system. Secondly, in response to the pressures, the manufacturers would evaluate the technological characteristics of the system and subsequently develop their perceived desirability. Thirdly, the manufacturers with favourable perceived desirability shall decide to participate in the system.
Originality/value
This study advances the current literature of Halal supply chain, information systems, operations management and blockchain through an integrated model that could explain 73.19% of the variance in intention to participate.
Whether nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with an increased risk of mortality remains controversial. The present study aimed to clarify this issue. A systematic search of PubMed ...and Embase was conducted through October 2018. Studies providing risk estimates of NAFLD and mortality were included. A random-effects model was employed to calculate summary risk estimates. Subgroup analyses were performed to identify potential effect modifiers. Fourteen studies, involving 498501 subjects and 24234 deaths, were included. Patients with NAFLD were found to be at an elevated risk of all-cause mortality compared with those without hazard ratio (HR) = 1.34; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17-1.54). The significantly positive association between NAFLD and all-cause mortality could not be modified by age, sex, follow-up duration, and adjustment for body mass index, diabetes, smoking or hypertension (all P
> 0.05), and remained in sensitivity analyses. No significant associations of NAFLD with CVD (HR = 1.13; 95% CI 0.92-1.38) and cancer (HR = 1.05; 95% CI 0.89-1.25) mortality were found. In conclusion, NAFLD is a predictor of increased all-cause mortality but not CVD and cancer mortality. These findings have important implications for decision making in public health and clinical practice, and highlight the urgency of developing effective treatments for NAFLD.
Aberrant expression of transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) is associated with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) progression by inducing cancer metastasis. However, the downstream effector(s) in TGF‐β ...signaling pathway is not fully characterized. In the present study, the elevation of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) as a TGF‐β regulated gene in RCC was identified by applying differentially expressed gene analysis and microarray analysis, we further confirmed this result in several RCC cell lines. Clinically, the expression of these two genes is positively correlated in RCC patient specimens. Furthermore, elevated SPARC expression is found in all the subtypes of RCC and positively correlated with the RCC stage and grade. In contrast, SPARC expression is inversely correlated with overall and disease‐free survival of patients with RCC, suggesting SPARC as a potent prognostic marker of RCC patient survival. Knocking down SPARC significantly inhibits RCC cell invasion and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Similarly, in vitro cell invasion can be diminished by using a specific monoclonal antibody. Mechanistically, SPARC activates protein kinase B (AKT) pathway leading to elevated expression of matrix metalloproteinase‐2 that can facilitate RCC invasion. Altogether, our data support that SPARC is a critical role of TGF‐β signaling network underlying RCC progression and a potential therapeutic target as well as a prognostic marker.
PDF
