Ordered microporous NaY zeolite and mesoporous copper oxide are high performance material as catalysts and adsorbents. The copper oxide-NaY zeolite modification in combination of their physicochemical properties could provide excellent opportunities for the creation of new gas adsorbents. In this study, modified NaY zeolite properties and methane adsorptive characteristics were investigated by dispersing copper oxide onto the NaY zeolite structure using the thermal dispersion method. The structures of the copper oxide modified zeolites were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and Micromeritics ASAP 2000, while the methane adsorption characteristics were analyzed using a thermogravimetric analyzer. The results revealed that types of copper oxide, copper oxide loading concentration, calcination temperature and calcination time greatly affected the modified zeolite structure and gas methane adsorption characteristics.
This paper reports the mechanical properties of cement composite boards made using wood-wool from a lesser known Malaysian timber species. A total of 108 specimens were fabricated using Portland cement (Type I) and wood-wool from Kelampayan (Neolamarckia cadamba). The cement to wood ratio of the specimens was 2 to 1 by weight. The aim of the study was to determine the density; flexural, compressive and tensile strength of wood-wool cement composite boards (WWCCB) by studying boards with wood-wool sized 1.5 mm, 2.5 mm and 3.5 mm and board thickness 25 mm, 50 mm and 75mm. The physical and mechanical properties of the boards were evaluated according to ASTM D 1037-96a (Standard testing method for evaluating properties of wood-based fibre and particle panel materials) and MS934:1986. Results showed that mechanical properties of WWCCB were greatly influenced by the density; as the density decreased, the mechanical strengths also decreased. However, the strength properties of the composite boards did not display a similar trend when subjected to different types of loading conditions. The compressive strength increased with thicker boards (50 mm and 75 mm) but the modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture declined as the thickness of the board was increased.
Industrial statistics is an important part of the management system in any industry that strives to continuously improve quality and increase productivity and efficiency. That system covers supply chain management, production design and prototyping, production process and marketing. Industrial statisticians, industrial engineers and industrial leaders should work together hand in hand, in the same language, to ensure that the process and products are as expected. The system itself is never complete. Thus, the usefulness, manageability and reliability of all statistical models used in the system are to be considered as first priority, but those skills are not sufficient. Industrial statisticians should also, of course, be able to come and go between the two poles: statistics and industry. This requirement needs a good understanding about the culture of these poles and how to conduct a mutual symbiosis. One of the principal bridges between these cultures is statistical process control (SPC). This paper is to show that modern industry cannot escape from SPC, especially in a multivariate setting. This setting, which characterizes modern industry, consists of two philosophical problems: how to order data and how to measure process variability. Our recent research results sponsored by the Government of Malaysia will be presented to illustrate the challenging statistical problems in modern industry.
Researchers have developed and modified DNA biosensor techniques to provide a fast, simple and sensitive method for detection of human diseases, bacterial food contamination, forensic and environmental research. This study describes the physical characterization of screen-printed carbon electrodes using the scanning electron microscope.
Warm compaction is an advanced manufacturing technique which consists of two consecutive steps, i.e. powder compaction at above ambient temperature and sintering in a controlled environment. Due to the relative movement between the powder mass and die wall as well as sliding among powder particles, frictional force is generated during the compaction stage. Admixed lubricant is used during the compaction step in order to minimize friction and hence improve the uniformity of the density of distribution inside the component. However, during the sintering process, trapped lubricant is often found to be burnt out hence leaving pores or voids which result in the lower strength of the final products. Warm compaction was initiated in the nineties, however not much information has been published about the effects of lubrication on the quality of the components produced through this route. Therefore, this paper presents the outcome of an experimental investigation about the effects of lubrication on manufacturing near-net shape components through the warm compaction route. Iron powder ASC 100.29 was mixed mechanically with zinc stearate to prepare the feedstock. Mixing time, weight percentage of lubricant content and compaction temperature were varied during green compact generation while sintering temperature, heating rate and holding time were manipulated during sintering. The relative densities and strengths of the final products were investigated at every compaction as well as sintering parameter. The results revealed that lubrication could provide significant effects at the compaction temperature of 180ºC while no significant effect of lubrication was observed during sintering. The suitable lubricant content was found to be 0.4 wt% and mixing time was around 30 min and the sintering temperature was around 990ºC.
In this present study, a series of polymer electrolyte thin films were synthesized by incorporating different ratios of lithium triflate (LiCF3SO3) in a low molecular weight polyvinyl chloride (PVC) matrix by the solution casting technique. The incorporation of LiCF3SO3 suppressed the high degree of crystallinity in PVC enabling the system to possess an appreciable ionic conductivity. The ionic conductivity of the samples, with different LiCF3SO3 content, was determined by the aid of ac impedance spectroscopy. The highest ionic conductivity of 4.04 10–9 S cm–1 was identified for the composition of PVC: LiCF3SO3 (75:25). Further understanding of the ionic conductivity mechanism was based on temperature-dependent conductivity data which obeyed Arrhenius theory, indicating that the ionic conductivity enhancement was thermally assisted. The possible dipole-dipole interaction between the chemical constituents was confirmed with changes in cage peak, analysed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
Current National Design Specification (NDS 2005) provides the guideline to design timber joints strengthened with steel fasteners. This study investigates the possibility of using NDS 2005 to estimate the load-carrying capacity of timber joints fastened with Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) dowel. Double shear timber joint fastened with steel dowels were tested to validate the joints fastened with GFRP using 1.27 cm diameter dowels. Tests were also conducted to determine the dowel bearing strength of wood and dowel bending strength of GFRP and steel. The failure modes of all tests were observed and recorded. Results showed that NDS (2005) successfully estimated the failure mode and was capable of predicting the joint load-carrying capacity when fastened with a GFRP dowel and this was well validated by the load carrying capacity of a steel dowel.
Human activity has ‘very likely’ been the primary cause of global warming since the start of the Industrial Revolution (18th–19th century). As a new player in industrial transformation, Malaysia can choose to ignore the warnings of global warming. blame. This may not augur well. Release of greenhouse gases have been categorically linked to climate change and global warming. In her march towards industrialization, Malaysia too has contributed to the release of greenhouse gases. Apart from those arising from natural sources, the industrial sector in Malaysia also releases other types of gases such as the fluorocarbons. This is evident from the worsening air quality in some of our cities. (Copied from article).
In December 2009, at the UN Climate Change Conference COP 15 in Copenhagen, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, the Rt. Hon. Mohd Najib Abdul Razak, had announced that “Malaysia is adopting an indicator of a voluntary reduction of up to 40% in terms of emissions intensity of GDP by the year 2020 compared to 2005 levels. This indicator is conditional on receiving the transfer of technology and finance of adequate and effective levels from Annex 1 partners, that correspond to what is required in order to achieve this indicator”. Malaysia also needs to decouple its GDP from its current relatively high carbon-based energy demand. In trying to meet both these targets, we need to intensify our research efforts in energy-based areas. As government funding in R&D is limited as the aim is for research to be private-sector driven, and with the grim global economic scenario today, it is most unlikely that Malaysia will get any assistance financially or technologically from Annex 1 nations. It is therefore proposed that Malaysia considers implementing a dedicated carbon cess on petroleum products to fund R&D in the country. (Copied from article).
The government’s science and technology (S&T) apparatus is now in active consultation to formulate the third national S&T policy (NSTP3) and I have been involved in some of these meetings and have benefitted from them. In an earlier article (New Straits Times, 9 July 2011, p. 18) I had briefly described the two previous policies and given some thought on what the essentials of the NSTP3 should be. I am now offering some further thoughts on the subject. (Copied from article).
Awareness and sensitivity on the subject of green technology are currently commanding the attention of the world in the light of rising energy costs and the threat of global warming. Many countries are now recognizing the benefits of researching into and using green technology to reduce their carbon and water footprints and to minimize waste. (Copied from article).
Studies conducted on the various geometric properties of skeletons of water bodies have shown highly promising results. However, these studies were made under the assumption that water bodies were static objects and that they remained constant over time. Water bodies are actually dynamic objects; they go through significant spatio-temporal changes due to drought and flood. In this study, the characterization of skeletons of simulated drought and flood of water bodies was performed. It was observed that as the drought level increased from 1 to 9, the average length of the skeletons decreased due to reduction in the size of the water bodies and increase in the number of water bodies. As the drought level increased from 9 to 15, the average length of the skeletons increased further due to vanishing of small water bodies. Flood caused an increase in the average length of the skeletons due to merging of adjacent water bodies. Power law relationships were observed between the average length of the skeletons of the simulated drought/flood and the level of drought/flood. The scaling exponent of these power laws which was named as a fractal dimension, indicated the rate of change of the average length of the skeletons of simulated drought/flood of water bodies over varying levels of drought/flood. However, errors observed in the goodness of fit of the plots indicated that monofractals were not sufficient to characterise the skeletons of simulated drought and flood of water bodies. Multifractals and lacunarity analysis were required for more accurate characterisation.
We had reviewed the current practice in stocks market analysis where stock is represented by its closing price, and then found that this approach may be misleading. In actuality, in the daily activity of stocks market, stock is represented by four prices, namely opening, highest, lowest, and closing prices. Thus, stock is a multivariate time series of those four prices and not a univariate time series of closing price only. In this paper all four prices will be considered. Then, the notion of multivariate time series similarity among stocks will be developed as a generalisation of univariate time series similarity. The results are used to construct stocks network in multivariate setting. To filter the economic information contained in that network, the standard tools in econophysics is used. Furthermore, the topological properties of stocks are analysed by using the most common centrality measures. As an example, Bursa Malaysia data are investigated and we show that the proposed approach can better figure out the real situation compared to the current one.
A survey on the diversity of marine macrogastropoda
in Pulau Songsong, Pulau Bidan and Pulau Telor on the
Northern Straits of Malacca was conducted. Specimens
were collected on rocky shores following NaGISA protocol
and the number of marine macrogastropod were recorded.
Distances and the number of the same species were
converted into Relative Abundance unit (individuals per
100 m2
). A total of 15 species of marine macrogastropoda
were found from seven families namely Neritidae,
Trochidae, Ceriitidae, Littorinidae, Turbinidae, Muricidae
and Potamididae. Seven macrogastropoda species were
newly recorded from these three islands. Morula marginatra
was the most dominant species and Pulau Songsong had
the highest genera and species diversity among the three
islands. (Copied from article).
Aloe emodin, an anthraquinone of Aloe barbadensis Miller has been shown to have more cytotoxic effect in
different kinds of human cancer cell lines compared to normal. Accordingly, we found it to selectively inhibit
the proliferation of oestrogen-receptor-positive-(ER+)-breast cancer cells, MCF-7; but not controls cells,
MCF-10A. However, its precise mechanism is not well understood. Several studies have shown that there is
evidence of increased intracellular calcium (Ca2+), both at early and late stage of apoptosis which associated
with the down-regulation of ERK1/2 proliferative pathway. Therefore, we aim to elucidate the involvement
of intracellular Ca2+ in aloe emodin induced apoptosis on MCF-7. Apoptotic morphological changes were
observed under fluorescence microscope. The involvement of cytoplasmic Ca2+ and MAPKs were investigated
using Fluo-4 intracellular Ca2+ imaging and QuantiGene 2.0 Plex assay, respectively. IC50 of aloe emodin
(80 μM) at 72 hours incubation was used. Data were evaluated using the one-way or two-way ANOVA tests.
Our results indicated that aloe emodin at IC50 80µM induced apoptosis on MCF-7 through the association of
intracellular Ca2+ signalling. This observation include a significant increased (p
In this study polymer electrolytes composed of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a host polymer and ethylene carbonate (EC) as a plasticizer complexed with different lithium salts, i.e. lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF4) and lithium triflate (LiCF3SO3) were prepared by the solution casting technique. The conductivities of the films were characterized by impedance spectroscopy. At room temperature, the highest conductivities were 4.07 × 10–7S cm–1 and 3.40 × 10–5 S cm–1 achieved, respectively from the films containing 30 wt% LiBF4 in the PMMA-EC-LiBF4 system and 35 wt% LiCF3SO3 in the PMMA-EC-LiCF3SO3 system. The conductivity-temperature dependence of the films seemed to obey the Arrhenius equation in which the ion transport in these materials was thermally assisted. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the surface of PMMA-EC-LiCF3SO3 film was smooth and homogeneous, hence lithium ions could traverse through the PMMA-EC-LiCF3SO3 film more easily compared to the PMMA-EC-LiBF4 film. X-Ray diffraction studies revealed that complexation had occurred and the complexes formed were amorphous.
This research was focused on the thermoluminescence (TL) response of commercially produced single-mode telecommunication optical fibre manufactured by INOCORP (Canada). The fibres were either in the form of pure silica (SiO2) or as SiO2 doped with Ge or Al at concentrations appropriate for total internal reflection, as required for telecommunication purposes. Each of these INOCORP fibres had a core diameter of 125 ± 0.1 μm. It was noted that dopant concentration was not included among the data provided in the accompanying product data sheet. A particularly important parameter for obtaining the highest TL yield in this study was the dopant concentration of the SiO2 fibre. The dopants tended to diffuse during the production of the optical fibre. To obtain this parameter, proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis was utilised. PIXE while having limited depth resolution could unambiguously identify elements and analyse trace elements with a detection limit approaching μg g–1. For Al-doped fibres, dopant concentrations in the range of 0.98 – 2.93 mol% had been estimated, the equivalent range for Ge-doped fibres was 0.53 – 0.71 mol%. A linear dose response was observed following 2.5 MeV proton irradiation for Ge- and Al-doped fibres for up to 7 min exposure.
Elevated temperature affects marine benthic algae by reducing growth and limits the transport of electron or carbon fixation which may reduce the ability of the cell to use light. This resulting excess light energy may cause photoinhibition. In this study, the photosystem II of the benthic microalgal communities from Casey, eastern Antarctic were relatively unaffected by significant changes in temperatures up to 8ºC, along with high PAR level (450 μmol photons m–2 s–1). Similarly, the community was able to photosynthesize as the temperature was reduced to –5ºC. Recovery from saturating and photoinhibiting irradiances was not significantly influenced by temperatures at both –5ºC and 8ºC. These responses were consistent with those recorded by past experiments on Antarctic benthic diatoms and temperate diatoms which showed that climate change did not have a significant impact on the ability of benthic microalgae to recover from photoinhibitory temperature stress.
Several binary and ternary medium- and long-chain triacylglycerol (MLCT)-enriched margarine formulations were examined for their solid fat content, heating profile, polymorphism and textural properties. MLCT feedstock was produced through enzymatic esterification of capric and stearic acids with glycerol. The binary formulations were produced by mixing MLCT feedstock blend (40%–90%) and palm olein (10%–60%) with 10% increments (w/w). Solid fat profiles of commercial margarines were used as a reference to determine the suitability of the formulations for margarine production. The solid fat content of the binary formulations of MO 82 and MO 91 (M, MLCT, O, palm olein) were similar to the commercial margarines at 25°C which met the basic requirement for efficient dough consistency. Ternary formulations using reduced MLCT feedstock blend proportion (from 80%–90% to 60%–70%) were also developed. The reduction of MLCT feedstock blend was
done as it had the highest production cost (3USD/kg) in comparison to palm olein (0.77USD/kg) and palm stearin (0.7USD/kg). The proportions of 5%–15% of palm stearin were substituted with palm olein in MO 64 and MO 73 (M, MLCT; O, palm olein) formulations with 5% increment (w/w). As a result, MOS 702010 and MOS 603010 (M, MLCT; O, palm olein; S, palm stearin) margarine formulations showed similar SFC % to the commercial margarines at 25ºC. These formulations were subsequently chosen to produce margarines. The onset melting and complete melting points of MLCT-enriched margarine formulations were high (51.04ºC –57.93ºC) due to the presence of a high amount of long chain saturated fatty acids. Most of the formulations showed β΄- crystals. MOS 702010 was selected as the best formulation due to values for textural parameters comparable (P
In agricultural systems, animals play a very important multifunctional role for developing communities
throughout the world. This is reflected in the generation of value-added products like meat, milk and eggs for food security; socio-economic benefits like increased income, security and survival, and an infinite variety of services such as the supply of draught power and dung for soil fertility. However, and despite this importance, the situation is awesome since the projected total meat and milk consumption levels in 2020 are far in excess of anticipated supply, and projections of both meat and milk will have to be doubled by 2050 to meet human requirements. Strategies for productivity growth from animals are therefore urgent, and are discussed in the context of the scenario of waning agriculture, extreme poverty and hunger, food crisis, the current contributions from the components of the animal industries, prevailing constraints, opportunities and strategies for improved production. Current trends suggest that the non-ruminant pig and poultry industries will continue to contribute the major share of meat and all of egg production to meet projected human needs. With ruminants by comparison, overall meat production continues to come mainly from the slaughter of numbers. Strategic opportunities exist for maximising productivity in improved production systems. These include targeting rainfed areas, development of small farms, integrated crop-animal systems, intensive application of productivity-enhancing technologies, promoting intensive use of crop residues and expanding the R&D frontiers with interdisciplinarity and farming
systems perspectives. The issues, together with increased investments and institutional commitment, provide for expanded animal production systems and productivity which can forcefully impact on improved human welfare in Asia in the immediate tomorrow.