Optimum design of HEN can cause significant reduction in the total cost of the plant.
Targeting method using pinch analysis diagrams was presented to find out investment cost required
and the period of return of the investment of optimization of the refinery system. This method can be
done by knowing the amount of ΔTmin and by pointing the composite curve of saving vs investment (S-I
curve).The targeting method is the modification of the system that need to be done to avoid movement
of heat exchangers in order to minimize the return of the investment. This method can assist refineries
management to make decision in order to optimize the refinery system.Result shows that refinery can
reduce the temperature on the main tower until 9.65MW and the investment will be $360,000 with the
time of the return cost being 7.7 months
Autism is a neurological disorder that affects the growth of mind, causing problematic measure in communicating, interacting, and social behaviour. Outstanding educational practices and rapid intermediation leads to vast improvement, as there is no remedy for autism. The main impairment of children with autism is their difficulty in social interaction. The main research is to recognize the effective learning approach in educating social interaction skills to children with autism using mobile technology. This paper presents the result of a engagement session of video modules to support social interaction training for children with autism. The modules are designed to be a part of a mobile application that will be developed based on the three basic interaction skills; Introducing Yourself, Emotions and Gestures. Engagement session was conducted where students with medium functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), aged 7-18 years watched the modules for social competence training during a single session. Outcome measures included an observation study of the student’s reactions towards the modules by two observers. The observers graded each student’s reactions using a ‘Social Skill Rubric’ that has five specific criteria to be scored. Results showed excellent acceptance of modules as well as strong preferences amongst them. The students revealed a range of different reactions towards the modules. However, mainly the modules do appeared to be effective in educating social interaction to children with autism as they are able to focus and enjoy in the learning process.
This Company is one of the largest multipurpose port in Malaysia which provides facilities
and services to handle variety of cargoes ranging from containers, cars, break bulk cargoes, dry bulk
cargoes and liquid bulk cargoes. The company divided into three main core business divisions which
are Container Division, Conventional and Logistics Services and Marine Divisions. Based on Pareto
analysis, Conventional & Logistics Services has the highest number of accidents with 75% of total
number of accidents in year 2014. In this company, the trend analysis of accident keep increasing
month by month. In this study using DMAIC approach, the objectives of this study is to improve safety
performance by decreasing the number of accident focused on Conventional & Logistics Division by
using six sigma approach. Six sigma is a quality tools for process improvement. It involved five phases
which using many quality tools to identify problem and improves the process. The data being analysed
by using statistical method and graph. As conclusion, the average number of accident decrease from
7.33 to 7.25 and the trend analysis shows decline graph compared to before. Based on the hypothesis
testing, using the p-value, it was found the shift pattern, safety culture (unsafe act unsafe condition
report submission), accidents location, type of activity and contractors have significance impact to
number of accident. Meanwhile, number of tonnage handled (productivity) and number of man-hour
does not have significance impact to the number of accident. It was also found that there is no
significance between numbers of accident happen at night shift, morning shift or afternoon shift. It can
be concluded that, the six sigma approach are suitable method to analyse accident and can be a
significance approach in determining the root cause of accident in the company.
In this study, compatibilizing effects of caprolactam-maleic anhydride (CL-MAH) and
polyethylene-grafted-maleic anhydride (PE-g-MAH) with different blend compositions on polymer
blends of recycled high density polyethylene (RHDPE) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) blends were
investigated by tensile properties and swelling behavior. The use of CL-MAH improved the
compatibility of RHDPE80/EVA20 blend composition, and tensile properties of the resultant blend
compared well with those of RHDPE/EVA blends. Addition of PE-g-MAH improved the tensile
properties of RHDPE/EVA/PE-g-MAH blends than RHDPE/EVA blends without compatibilizer. The
scanning electron microscopy (SEM) morphologies of fracture surface for RHDPE/EVA blends with
presence of compatibilizers showing better incorporation of two different phases of polymer matrix.
At present, the learning activities carried out is in line with the rapid growth of development of technology and lifestyle. ICT literacy is categorised as those who can operate a computer and Internet. This study is conducted to determine the level of computer and Internet literacy in generation Y. A total of ten respondents among university students were interviewed. The level of the skill is measured in terms of the use of information processing systems and the Internet. The new knowledge addresses the themes in information communication technology literacy namely; defining, accessing, assessing, managing, integrating, creating and passing data. As such, the model of computer technology in education can also be produced. A more robust method of learning can be heightened by seeing the level of skills possessed by university students. The findings of this study is expected to determine the level of competence of the students and university can provide the necessary equipment to ensure effective teaching and learning.
The present study reports on the preparation processes and characterization of fibers from pineapple cores. The effects of different washing techniques (tap-water and hot-water washing) and particle sizes (0.2, 0.5 and 1 mm) on two important characteristics of dietary fiber, i.e. water holding capacity (WHC) and oil holding capacity (OHC), were investigated. It was found that the washing pre-treatment significantly improved WHC. Meanwhile larger particle sizes of fiber gave better WHC and OHC for all types of fibers. Tap-water washing was the most appropriate pretreatment method compared to hot-water washing and unwashed method. However, there was no difference in morphologies of the fibers before and after being prewashed at different particle sizes. The fiber morphology was preserved best after the drying process using microwave freeze dryer (MFD) and microwave vacuum dryer (MVD). This study demonstrates the potential of pre-treatment and drying methods in functional fiber preparation for food enrichment.
A coconut de-husking machine comprising of two rollers with spikes, chain drives,
presser, clearers, shafts and belting system was developed for small-scale production in rural areas.
Performance test analysis showed that the machine de-husks coconut fruits without any nut breakage
or distortion of the extracted fibre length. The objective of this project is to improve the efficiency and
productivity in producing coconut fruits without husks by using the best selection of mechanical
mechanisms with minimum costs. One electric motor (2hp, 1500rpm) is used to drive two shafts using
a combination of pulley and belt. In between the motor and the shafts, one box of worm gears is used
to reduce the rotation speed from 1500rpm to 21rpm (ratio 70:1). Two metal cylinders with a series of
spikes are used to remove the husks from the coconut fruit and are attached to the rotary shaft. The
machine’s average de-husking efficiency and capacity are 90.42% and 222 coconuts per hour,
respectively. In addition, the development of the machine is also a solution to the constraint of space,
whereby a compact-size machine is more suitable for small and medium enterprises (SME’s). Plus, it
operates with lesser noise, which also contributes to a more viable operating condition for the
environment.
Numerical studies are conducted on turbulent incompressible flow over 2D backwardfacing
step in order to investigate the performance of three different turbulence models (standard k-e,
realizable k-e and SST k-ω) in predicting the region of separation and reattachment behind the edge
of the step. Current solutions of Reynolds number (Re= 13200) and expansion ratio (H: H2=1:3) are
compared with experimental measurements. Among the turbulence models, SST k-ω and standard k-e exhibited good agreement with the experimental results.
Moringa oleifera is a plant with various benefits to mankind from its root until leaves.
From food to biofuel applications, all parts are useful for daily uses. In this research, the pod husk
was examined to determine the possibility of producing ethanol. The pod husks were dried and used in
two forms; one is grinded into powder, and the other is cut within 5 x 5 x 2 mm. About 10 grams of
Moringa oleifera pod husk was put into a conical flask and added with distilled water up to 250 mL.
The pre-treatment was made by adding an alkaline solution, NaOH, where the pH of the sample was
adjusted to (4.5, 5.0, and 5.5) using H2SO4. The samples were autoclaved at a temperature of 120°C
for 2 hours before the samples were cooled to room temperature (25+/-2oC). Baker’s yeast
(Saccharomyces cerevisiae) was prepared with different concentrations (1g, 5g, and 10g) and added
to the samples for fermentation process that took place in the incubator shaker at a temperature of
36°C, for a period of 72 hours. The bioethanol concentration was measured using High Performance
Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with a refractive index detector and REZEX ROA-Organic Acid
HPLC Column using 0.05 N H2SO4 as the mobile phase. The bioethanol produced from Moringa
oleifera pod husk was 8.400 g/L using 1g/L yeast, and the fermentation took place at pH 4.5 for the
sample size of 5 x 5 x 2 mm. The results showed that Moringa oleifera pod husk can be introduced as
a new material for bioethanol production in Malaysia and other tropical countries where this tree is
available
here are many contaminants that could lead to the alteration of oil viscosity. Diesel fuel
is one of the deteriorating contaminants for diesel engine oils. It is among the main factors that give
high impact towards the deterioration of engine oils as one study has found that, in average, 0.36% of
total fuel consumption ends up in the crankcase. Many studies have demonstrated the effect of fuel
dilution on the wear characteristic. However, there are limited studies that focused on the percentage
amount affecting the wear characteristics together with other influencing factors such as load, speed
and temperature. In this research, used motor oil - Gibson 20W50 had been mixed well with fuel
percentages of 0, 1, 3, 5 and 7, hence creating 5 samples that were run under different speeds. The
experiment is conducted by following the ASTM 4172 standard. Based on the results, the fuel
contamination in used motor oil was considered limiting at 5% contamination and became totally
deteriorated at 7%. Through a Stribeck Curve, it could be understood that wear is inversely
proportional to sliding velocity, where it is one of the lubrication parameters together with speed and
load. Rough surface on the balls indicated that abrasive wear has occurred due to the use of used
motor oil
Palm oil-based wax is a waste material from palm oil refining process. Recent prototyping
activities have used industrial blue wax or synthetic wax to produce prototype parts by machining
processes. The new palm oil-based wax blended with LLDPE reduces the use of synthetic wax for
engineering applications. This paper studies the machining characteristic of two different composite
blends: LLDPE/PALMAC 95 -16 Palm Oil-Based Wax and LLDPE/PALMAC 98-18 Palm Oil-Based
Wax. Three machining characteristic results were recorded, namely; surface roughness, temperature
and dimensional consistency.
This study was conducted to establish callus cultures from leaf, stem and root explants of
Physalis minima using different combinations of 2,4-D and kinetin. Callus growth and anti-cancer
compound, physalin B production were further enhanced by optimising the cell explants and media
compositions such as basal media, salts concentration, carbon sources and plant growth regulators.
The results indicated that callus cultures derived from leaf, stem and root explants were best initiated
using a combination of 9.0 µM 2,4-D and 4.5 µM kinetin. Callus growth and synthesis of physalin B
were peaked at the late exponential growth phase over 25 d of culture. Callus growth did not vary
between explants, but physalin B was observed higher in leaf (0.78 mg g-1 dry wt.), followed by root
(0.71 mg g-1 dry wt.) and stem (0.64 mg g-1 dry wt.). MS basal medium was found superior to B5, SH
and WH basal media in supporting growth and physalin B production. Further tests on the media
compositions obtained a half strength of MS salts (½MS), 2.5% (w/v) sucrose and 9.0:4.5 µM of 2,4-
D:kinetin combination, which were the preferred salts strength, carbon sources and plant growth
regulators for optimum growth (0.23 g dry wt.) and physalin B production (1.75 mg g-1 dry wt.) of
callus cultures derived from leaf.
Besides traditional chemical stabilizers, polymer emulsion that is considered as a nontraditional
chemical stabilizer had been introduced recently. Among polymer emulsions, Canlite and
Probase have been widely used for soil stabilization. The aim of this paper is to investigate the
effectiveness of Laterite soil stabilization treated by Canlite-liquid and Probase-liquid soil stabilizers.
A testing program, scheduled to achieve the overall objectives of this study was conducted to
determine the basic properties of Laterite soil, establish the relationship between the compaction
characteristics (maximum dry density and optimum moisture content) with the amount of polymer
emulsion and last but not least to compare the strength of the Canlite-treated and Probase-treated
Laterite soil. The effects of both polymer soil stabilizers – Canlite and Probase – were examined. The
optimum moisture content of the mixtures was used as a reference to determine the water content for
the preparation of all the specimens and later used in the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test.
The laboratory test results showed that the additional amount of Canlite and Probase have improved
the physical properties, liquid limit and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the Laterite soil.
The compressive strength of the treated Laterite was found varied and depends on the type of
stabilizers, quantity of additives and curing time. From the UCS tests, it was found that Probase
improves the strength of the Laterite more than Canlite.
In this paper, we propose an approach to model and simulate a network problem using
bio-inspired computing. Information in a network is embedded in DNA sequence strands and in-vitro
implementation is proposed via bio-molecular tools such as hybridization, ligation and polymerase
chain reaction. The output of the computation is derived from gel electrophoresis process.
This study seeks to investigate small and medium-sized enterprise Human Resource (HR) practitioners’ knowledge pertaining to legislated employment rights at the workplace as laid down by the Employment Act (EA) 1955. The EA provides a variety of individual employment rights covering protections of wages, statutory right to the general standard of working time, statutory right to rest day, public holidays, annual leave and sick leave, statutory right to employment security as well as female employee’s statutory right to paid maternity leave. The study also aims to determine whether HR practitioners’ level of knowledge concerning legislated employment rights differed significantly between age groups, years of experience, level of education and size of company. It also examined the nature of the relationship between the HR practitioners’ level of basic knowledge concerning legislated employment rights and their level of concern in making legally sound decisions in their administrative practice. In addition, it identified whether the HR practitioners’ level of basic knowledge pertaining to legislated employment rights correlate significantly with the size of the company where they are employed.
This research was perform to examine the dimension electronic service quality of
Malaysia airline industries (low cost carrier) and the impact on customers perceived service
satisfaction. This research employed convenience sampling procedure and questionnaire as
method to gain data, 392 completed questionnaires were gathered from Malaysia airline
industries (low cost carrier) website users. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis performed and
indicated that five dimensions such as fulfilment, system availability, efficiency, site privacy
and aesthetic and customizations were applicable to measure Malaysia airline industries
(low cost carrier) e-SQ. The regression analysis performed showed that e-SQ dimensionfulfilment,
system availability, efficiency, site privacy and aesthetic and customizations have
a significant positive relationship exist between e-SQ dimension and perceived service
satisfaction in the Malaysia airline industries (low cost carrier) website user. Future
research recommendations to discuss on impact dimension of e-SQ regarding to recovery
issue such as compensation, responsiveness and contact on customers perceived satisfaction
in Malaysia airline industries (low cost carrier).
This work will explain the processes that follow a reservoir heterogeneity analysis that is
conducted using image logs. The data for this work comprises of image logs of tree wells, which are
obtained from Gachsaran field. The main formations under study in this work are the Asmari
formation, Pabdeh formation and Gurpi formation. This work will explain the process through a
number of valuable log interpretation examples.
Empty fruit bunches and wastepaper together with urea formaldehyde (UF) were
evaluated to figure out potential applications in engineering field. The purpose of this project is to
determine the mechanical properties of a new high density board. This composite was manufactured
by hot-press technique with 3 different ratios i.e. 10:0, 6.67:3.33 and 9.33:0.67. The mechanical
properties were evaluated using the GOTECH/AI-7000M Electronic Mechanical Testing. Tensile tests
were carried out according to ASTM D638. The results were analysed to calculate the tensile
strength. Tensile strength at break ranged from 4.712 N/mm2 to 12.941 N/mm2 while hardness
number obtained ranged from 6.76 RHN to 75.84 RHN. This fibreboard has better properties when
reinforced with wastepaper compared to that of 100% empty fruit bunches. It is also found that the
hardness number is higher, which means that this fibreboard can withstand any load not more than
75.84 RHN. Finally, through Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), the surface structure of the new
high density board has been studied in terms of their surface morphology.
Rural communities in sub Saharan Africa have spent considerable time and energy in
their quest for obtaining cooking requirements. The utilization of solar energy for cooking is not a
widespread practice despite the fact that African countries are abundant in solar resources. A solar
cooker uses the freely, environmentally friendly, healthy and renewable solar energy resource as its
energy source, thus indicating its economical and sustainability advantages. This paper demonstrates
the possibility of using solar energy as an alternative to the traditional system of cooking local
foodstuffs within the rural communities of North-East Nigeria. The cooker was designed and fitted
with a black pot and an automatic tracking mechanism that can track the sun at 10° per hour,
following the sun movement for use in tropical dry climates. Parboiled rice of 1kg each was cooked
completely in 75 minutes at an average solar beam radiation of 623W/m2
after attaining maximum
temperature of 368K under clear weather condition. Whereas 1kg of beans and 1.1kg of yam were
cooked in 90 minutes at an average solar beam radiation of 536.5W/m2
and 430.1 W/m2
respectively.
The highest temperature reached for this test was 368K. The results indicated that a parabolic solar
cooker can easily cook these varieties of Nigerian local dishes within the range of 75 to 90 minutes
under the clear weather condition of Bauchi, north–east of Nigeria.
This article describes the approach towards a sensitivity study of wind flow and pollutant
dispersion in an idealized street canyon with tree plantings under thermal atmospheric conditions
using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). First, validation studies were performed to determine the
best turbulence model for the simulation of wind flow under thermal atmospheric conditions against
the previous experimental wind tunnel data. The results of the numerical simulation indicate that
large eddy simulation (LES) can accurately predict the wind flow structure at different thermal
intensities and different locations of heated wall. Finally, detailed descriptions of future research are
presented at the end of this article.