A temperature-stable, low-power ring oscillator design for implementation in an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) is presented. In this work, the design uses a new arrangement of chain delay elements consisting of a current-starved inverter and a CMOS capacitor. This power consumption improvement ring oscillator design was built in the environment of 130nm CMOS process technology using Mentor Graphics environment with voltage supply 1V. The simulation results show a maximum power consumption of 1.036 nW and it shows that the presented design is applicable in low power advanced sensing systems application including biomedical, chemical, and other sensors.
Several foot deformities have been identified in Malaysian women due to wearing shoes which do not fit the size and shape of their feet. Hallux valgus (bunions), corn, cellules and ingrown toenail are among the common deformities experienced by Malaysian women. The root of this issue is that the Malaysian footwear market has adopted foreign shoe size standards such as those from the US and UK. This means that Malaysian women face difficulties in obtaining correctly-sized shoes. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop and propose a standard shoe sizing system for women in Malaysia based on anthropometric measurements of Malaysian women’s foot sizes and shapes. Women from Malaysia’s primary ethnic groups (Malay, Chinese, and Indian) aged 20 to 60 years old participated in this project, where the anthropometric measurements for their foot size and shapes were obtained using a 3D foot scanner. Regression analysis in the form of Generalized Linear Model (GLM) was performed to determine the association between a few attributes including foot measurements and the existence of the foot deformities. Foot length and Ball girth circumference have significant association with the foot deformities (FL: p = .028 and BG: p = .045). The new standard shoe sizing system has been developed ith more accurate sizes and shapes, it is hoped that the foot deformities problem could be solved or at least reduced the foot pain.
Cement production is a major environmental problem that causes the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This study attempts to sustainably use palm oil fuel ash (POFA) and eggshell powder (ESP) as partial replacements for Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in concrete production. POFA and ESP are two wastes that need to be managed to reduce their detrimental environmental effects. As such compressive and slump tests were conducted on POFA-ESP-OPC concrete mixtures by replacing 10% of OPC with POFA-ESP. Two mediums of curing were used: tap water and river water. It was found that the compressive strength and slump resistance of these mixtures were within the ranges typically encountered in regular concrete mixtures indicating the viability of this procedure employed for structural applications.
In the oil and gas industry, pipeline is the major transportation medium to deliver the products. According to [1] containment of pipeline loss to indicate that corrosion has been found to be the most predominant cause for failures of buried metal pipes. MIC has been identified as one of the major causes of underground pipeline corrosion failure and Sulphate Reducing Bacteria (SRB) are the main reason causing MIC, by accelerating corrosion rate. The objectives of this study is to study the SRB growth, Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATCC 7757 due to pH and determine the optimum value controlling the bacteria growth on the internal pipe of carbon steel grade API X70. The result shows that the optimum SRB growth is at range pH 5-5 to 6.5 and the exposure time of 7 to 14 days. At pH 6.5 the maximum corrosion rate is 1.056 mm/year. Corrosion phenomena on carbon steel in the study proven had influence by pH and time. From this result pitting corrosion strongly attack at carbon steel pipe. In the future project, it is recommended to study the effect of different pipe location for example the pipeline under seawater.
Nowadays in construction development, the needs of construction materials that have a unique reinforced concrete design with good quality, reasonable market price, and easy installation techniques has been prioritized. Therefore, this study aimed to produce an alternative new construction material that can fulfill the requirements. The U-shaped composite spacer block (UCop) through the production of Cement Bonded Particle Board (CBPB) as a specimen block was produced from the wood waste of carpentry work combined with Shorea spp. (Seraya red and white) particle size approximately 0.4mm - 2.00 mm. Then it was mixed together with Portland cement by using a ratio 1:2.5. The mixture was then added with Ammonia Chloride (Al2SO4) and Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) act as additives for this product. The physical and mechanical tests were conducted in this study. The results were showed that the thickness expansion was achieved an average of 1.79 %, which was passed the minimum requirement of MS934:1986 standards. However, the flexural strength did not meet the minimum standards. The poor mixing technique was attributed to the results. However, UCop still could contribute as an alternative solution in ease the concrete pouring process using a special binder, giving the spacer block any resistance to formwork of columns or beams is filled with concrete. The high-impact innovations of this product in construction such as it can help the process to be more efficient and to reduce construction costs, next indirectly preserve the nature.
This paper is a review of the chemical and physical properties of coconut fiber in asphalt mixtures. Coconut fibers (CF) are natural fibers and also an agricultural waste, which is abundant after the extraction of juice and coconut fruit. Nowadays, CF has been studied for its potential use in the construction field to increase the strength of materials with its high tensile strength. Additionally, CF can also be one the materials in highway construction as it can improve the skid resistance of asphalt pavements. It was shown that CF treated with NaOH lowered the penetration value and increased the softening point of modified bitumen. Flow of bitumen also can be avoided at high mixing and compaction temperatures by adding 0.7% of CF.
Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) caused by the presence of Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) is a big concern in heavy industries. Pipeline infrastructure may experience severe metal loss due to corrosion induced by the species and can potentially lead to catastrophic failure. By studying SRB growth condition, important parameter can be controlled to prevent or slow down a corrosion process. This study discussed on the effect of pH value to the corrosion growth rate on API 5L X70 low carbon steel subjected to outer part of underground pipeline. In this research, the type of SRB that's been used is Postgate C of Desulfovibrio Desulfuricans. There are 80 numbers of samples prepared with various pH value and temperature, which each of the samples contains two coupon steel immersed in the medium together with SRB for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. The process in determining weight loss is analyzed and the corrosion rate for each steel sample is identified by weight loss. The result is plotted and analyzed, the particular pH values and temperature affect the growth of SRB in the medium where the existence of SRB could accelerate the corrosion rate towards the steel surface of API X-70. The samples are exposed to SRB in days’ time. This experiment aims to determine the optimum temperature for SRB growth and demonstrate the corrosion rate simulation using One-Factor-at-A-Time method (OFAT) method. The consequences of SRB activity, it is shown that pitting corrosion produced on the surface of steel. In fact, the sulphur element is identified as one of the corrosion products due to SRB activity.
Automatic Vehicle Number Plate Recognition (AVNPR) system is an image processing technology in computer vision which captures the image of the vehicle and recognizes its number plate. Currently, the security and management of transportation system becomes an important key in controlled place such as campus area. With an increased number of vehicles, there is a need for vehicle recognition mechanism that is effective, affordable and efficient. The objective of this paper is to propose an efficient automatic vehicle identification system by recognizing the vehicle plate number. The system will be installed at the main entrance of POLIMAS to ensure that only the authorized vehicles can automatically enter the campus area. Once the vehicle is detected by the input sensors, AVNPR system will capture the image of vehicle plate number. An image is then extracted and investigated character segmentation by using optical character recognition (OCR). The method used for detection of a plate number is by preprocessing of the image and using a combination of Sobel edge detection and Laplacian edge detection techniques. Bounding Box technique is used to find the number plate and character segmentation. For character recognition, OCR method is used by using template matching to compare the segmented image with the template. The system is sustainable as the camera will only be switched on when a car is present. The propose system successfully detects and recognizes the vehicle number plate on real images. This system can also be used for security and traffic control.
Virtual reality (VR) is a fast-growing technology in the world today. Many countries use virtual reality for many purposes such as education, military and entertainment. Despite the benefits of VR, harmful effects of VR on the users are still inconclusive. With only a few reliable studies that investigate the effect of virtual reality on the users especially on the eyes, yet still there are a lot more things we do not know about the effects of VR. The purpose of this study was to compare the amplitude of accommodation before and after watching 3-dimesional (3D) movie utilizing VR and notebook (control group). Thirty-two participants volunteered in this study and all participants underwent amplitude of accommodation (AA) test using Royal Army Force (RAF) rule before and after watching three-dimensional (3D) movie for 30 minutes using VR and two-dimensional (2D) movie by laptop. The amplitude of accommodation between pre- and post-watching 3D movie on VR was insignificantly changed (p= >0.05). The similar trend was also found after 30 minutes watching movie using laptop (p= >0.05). The utilization of VR and laptop for 30 minutes did insignificantly alter the eye accommodation.
: Virtual reality (VR) has been integrated and used with smartphones as one of the digital entertainments such as in gaming and movie streaming. With emergent of various VR brands in the market, it concerns the public on the possible side effects of VR on the ocular performance specifically on tear film stability and ocular discomfort. The purpose of this study was to compare the change on non-invasive keratograph tear break-up time (NIKBUT), tear meniscus height (TMH) before and after the use of VR for 30 minutes, and to measure the ocular discomfort after the use of VR quantitatively. Thirty-two subjects were recruited in this study and all the subjects were divided randomly into two groups; VR and laptop (used as a control) groups. Each subject needed to watch a movie for 30 minutes using the respective devices. The changes of tear film stability and ocular discomfort before and after the use of the devices were then compared and the results showed that there was no significant difference (p>0.05) after 30 minutes of the use. Comparison of the ocular parameters between the devices on post-watching activities was also not significant (p>0.05). Use of VR did not give any signs of dryness to the eyes and it can be used without any discomfort even after 30 minutes usage of the devices.
Virtual reality (VR) headsets are becoming remarkably well-known nowadays, especially in gaming industry. Their ability to immerse users into virtual world makes them captivating. However, there is limited research about the impacts of this technology on our eyes and vision. This study investigated if there is any effect on blink rate (BR) and inter-blink interval (IBI) after 30 minutes of watching 3-dimensional (3D) movie on VR. Besides, this study compares between watching 3D movie on VR headset and 2D movie on laptop. Blinks were recorded over 1 minutes for 32 participants volunteered in this study before and after 30 minutes of watching 3D movie on VR headset and 2D movie on laptop. The result of BR and IBI between pre- and post-watching 3D movie on VR was not significant (p= >0.05). The result between watching movie on laptop and VR also not significant (p= >0.05). Watching 3D movie on VR for 30 minutes resulted in no effects on blink rate and inter-blink interval of the users.
: Halal industry is currently one of the fastest growing market segments in the world. With the emerging of IR4.0, the future growth of Halal industry and its sustainability can be affected by the advancement of technology. Technology has continuously assimilated in every aspect of our live from consumerization, commercialization, and industrialization to infrastructure. Even though many factors may have collectively contributed towards better understanding of Halal sustainability, this article focuses only on the technological aspects of Halal in the face of IR4.0. With this focus, four components of technology comprising of technoware, humanware, infoware, and orgaware are discussed. Although each components of technology have been fairly studied in the previous Halal literature, most of them were not specifically emphasized on the sustainability issues. From DCs point-of-view, a firm that is capable of managing the complexity in the components of technology will become more sustainable at Halal marketplace under dynamic environment. A framework is proposed to explain how the technology complexity together with the environmental factors (opportunities and threats of IR4.0) can be affecting Halal sustainability. This article has proposed the complexity in each components of technology will positively affect Halal sustainability. Accordingly, the opportunities of IR4.0 is proposed to have a positive direct and moderation effects on the relationships between technology complexity and Halal sustainability, whereas the threats of IR4.0 will have a negative direct and moderation effects on the relationships.
Amino acids are known as anabolic factors that are essential for formation of muscle by stimulating protein synthesis while inhibiting proteolysis, and they are significant component for the synthesis of various nitrogenous compounds. There are 20 amino acids are essential to require in cell for formation of body protein of which about 10 amino acids, which cannot be synthesized by the birds are termed essential. Among the essential amino acid arginine one of the essential amino acids for chickens because, like other birds, they are unable to obtain Arginine from endogenous sources due to the absence of most of the enzymes involved in the urea cycle. This amino acid involved in synthesis of proline, hydroxyl proline and polyamines which are essential for connective tissue synthesis as well as increased growth of chicken. Moreover, L-arginine (L-Arg) is effective for reducing fat deposition in broiler. Moreover, it decrease heat stress increase meat quality and increase immune response of broiler. This re-view presents the recent advances in the relevance of the inclusion of excess L-Arginine in broiler ration to growth, fat deposition and immune response in broiler.
Diverting waste material from landfill sites has a big implication for the creation of new markets and has environmental benefits through offsetting the need for the extraction of raw materials. Besides, the major attention especially in construction industry is the problem to make natural resources sustainable for three to four decades in future. However, in this study finely glass powder with pozzolanic properties is found to be a partial replacement for cement and can acts as filler in the microstructure of a mortar block. Thus, a study was conducted to see the effects of various proportions of windscreen glass waste powder (WGWP) in determining the degree of water absorption on mortar incorporated with WGWP and to determine the optimum replacement to the ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with WGWP. Several compositions of WGWP (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% by cement weight) of mortar cube sample were prepared and cured at 7, 28 and 60 days to undergo a water absorption test. From this research, it shows that the use of WGWP was found to be the best features pozzolanic enough to use as a partial replacement for cement and it can reduced the pores of mortar by blocking the large voids in the hydrated cement paste through pozzolanic reaction. In the term of water absorption, the lowest reading was achieved in 15% and it can be said that 15% replacement is the optimum replacement of OPC.
The problem of constructing such a continuous function is called data fitting. Many times, data given only at discrete points. With interpolation, we seek a function that allows us to approximate f(x) such that functional values between the original data set values may be determined. The process of finding such a polynomial is called interpolation and one of the most important approaches used are Lagrange interpolating formula. In this study, researcher determining the polynomial interpolation by using Lagrange interpolating formula. Then, a mathematical modelling was built by using MATLAB programming to determine the polynomial interpolation for a given points using the Lagrange method. The result of the study showed that the manual calculating and the MATLAB mathematical modelling will give the same answer for evaluated x and graph.