19672 research outputs found
Sort by
Using nominal group technique to identify career decision elements for TVET entrepreneurs
No full textThis study aims to identify and assess the psychological, social and economic determinants for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) entrepreneurs making career decisions. The formation of these elements is based on expert panel views and agreements using Nominal Group Technique (NGT). A total of 10 experts involved in full-time entrepreneurship career were identified. The process of voting in the NGT session for career decisions is intended to determine the priority level of each element according to the preferences of each individual panel based on scale interpretation. NGT requires five stages: study briefings, idea generation, sharing and discussion ideas, voting for the best ideas, and the presentation of research findings. Therefore, the findings of this study will be the most important point of reference in the construction of career path models for TVET entrepreneurs.. © 2019 Primrose Hall Publishing Group
Effects of zero-sequence transformations and min-max injection on fault-tolerant symmetrical six-phase drives with single isolated neutral
No full textRecently, there has been increased interest in the study of multiphase machines due to their higher fault-tolerant capability when compared to their conventional three-phase counterparts. For six-phase machines, stator windings configured with a single isolated neutral (1N) provide significantly more post-fault torque/power than two isolated neutrals (2N). Hence, this configuration is preferred in applications where post-fault performance is critical. It is well known that min-max injection has been commonly used for three-phase and multiphase machines in healthy condition to maximize the modulation limit. However, there is a lack of discussion on min-max injection for post-fault condition. Furthermore, the effects in terms of the common-mode voltage (CMV) in modulating signals has not been discussed. This paper investigates the effect of min-max injection in post fault-tolerant control on the voltage and speed limit of a symmetrical six-phase induction machine with single isolated neutral. It is shown that the min-max injection can minimize the amplitude of reference voltage, which maximizes the modulation index and post-fault speed of the machine. This in turn results in a higher post-fault power. © 2019 KIPE
Boron Nitride Doped Polyhydroxyalkanoate/Chitosan Nanocomposite for Antibacterial and Biological Applications
No full textThe present research focused on the fabrication of biocompatible polyhydroxyalkanoate, chitosan, and hexagonal boron nitride incorporated (PHA/Ch-hBN) nanocomposites through a simple solvent casting technique. The fabricated nanocomposites were comprehensively characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscope (FT-IR), field emission scanning electroscope (FESEM), and elemental mapping and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The antibacterial activity of nanocomposites were investigated through time-kill method against multi drug resistant (MDR) microbes such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) K1 strains. In addition, nanocomposites have examined for their host cytotoxicity abilities using a Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay against spontaneously immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT) cell lines. The results demonstrated highly significant antibacterial activity against MDR organisms and also significant cell viability as compared to the positive control. The fabricated PHA/Ch-hBN nanocomposite demonstrated effective antimicrobial and biocompatibility properties that would feasibly suit antibacterial and biomedical applications. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland
Estimation of effective dose and organ cancer risk from paediatric computed tomography thorax – Abdomen - Pelvis examinations
No full textRadiation dose exposure in computed tomography (CT) is acknowledged higher when compared to other imaging modalities. The side effects on children have always been a considerable concern. This retrospective study evaluated the dose exposure and organ cancer risk in paediatric patients who underwent CT thorax-abdomen-pelvis (CT TAP) between January 2016 and December 2018. The records of 34 boys and 39 girls (n = 73) were retrieved and divided into three age groups (0–4, 5–9 and 10–12) — the standard protocol for helical scanning setup at 100 kV and 210 mAs. Generally, the CT dose index volume, dose length product and effective dose increased in tandem with the children's age due to higher body mass index. From the youngest to the oldest age group, the liver had the highest cancer risk, especially for boys, which was most likely due to its anatomical location in the scan area. However, from age 5 and above, steep increments were observed in the risk for ovaries, whereas testicles had none. Thus, it is recommended to take precautions when subjecting children to CT TAP, especially prepubescent girls, whose ovaries exposed to almost a thousand times cancer risk per 100,000 procedure. © 2019 Elsevier Lt
White Light Emission from a Simple Mixture of Fluorescent Organic Compounds
No full textThree fluorescent organic compounds—furocoumarin (FC), dansyl aniline (DA), and 7-hydroxycoumarin-3-carboxylic acid (CC)—are mixed to produce almost pure white light emission (WLE). This novel mixture is immobilised in silica aerogel and applied as a coating to a UV LED to demonstrate its applicability as a low-cost, organic coating for WLE via simultaneous emission. In ethanol solution and when immobilised in silica aerogel, the mixture exhibits a Commission Internationale d’Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity index of (0.27, 0.33). It was observed that a broadband and simultaneous emission involving coumarin carboxylic acid, furocoumarin and dansyl aniline played a vital role in obtaining a CIE index close to that of pure white light. © 2019, The Author(s)
Meanings of Sexuality: Views from Malay Women with Sexual Dysfunction
No full textIn Malaysia, female sexual dysfunction (FSD) among Malays is common, so understanding the meanings of sexuality becomes crucial, as they can vary with identity, and this may influence each woman’s subsequent reaction to sexual experience. In this article, we explore the meanings of sexuality that Malay women had developed throughout their lived experience. This qualitative study, situated within a social cognitive theory and a phenomenological framework, was conducted through in-depth and photograph elicitation interviews with 26 Malay women who had self-reported experiencing FSD. The findings suggest that the meanings of sexuality for these women linked closely with fundamental factors of Malay identity, which is comprised of tradition (Adat), religion (Islam), and language, that all influence gendered roles. Malay women understood sexuality to be sexual intimacy within marriage, privileging their marital role as a “good wife” over their personal rights within a sexual relationship. This understanding of sexuality was reinforced by meanings attributed to procreation, which Malay women linked closely to the purpose of marriage and their role as a “good mother.” The findings should provide useful evidence that could be used in sexual health promotions to help reduce FSD and in clinical practice to generate appropriate therapy in Malaysia and elsewhere. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature
Effect of Diet Containing Palm Kernel Cake and Coconut Meal Cake on Growth Performance and Carcass Quality of Free-Range Chicken in Malaysia
No full textSignificant increase in feed cost has forced many farmers to identify new alternative sources for free-range chicken diet by using local ingredients to replace imported feeds. This study aim was to evaluate the effect of age and diet containing palm kernel cake (PKC) and coconut meal cake (CMC) on feed intake, growth and carcass quality of free-range chickens in Malaysia. Two hundred crossbred free-range chickens were reared from day old to 12 Weeks of age. At 3 Weeks of age, chickens were divided into 2 dietary treatment groups: Commercial finisher diet (CFD) and formulated finisher diet (FFD) containing CMC and PKC, whereby the body weight and feed intake were measured weekly until the end of the study. The chickens were slaughtered at 9 and 12 Weeks of age. Most data showed no significant difference on growth performance between diets. Male CFD showed higher growth rate than the male FFD diet, while no significant difference was observed on growth rate of female chicken for both diets. Despite that, FFD fed chickens showed no significant different between CFD chickens in term of meat to bone ratio at 12th Week of age, indicating that FFD could result in production meat as good as CFD chickens and produce low undesirable products. In conclusion, CMC and PKC have the potential to be used in FFD as an alternative to CFD for free range chickens. © 2019 Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. All rights reserved
Influence of Internal Stresses in Few-Mode Fiber on the Thermal Characteristics of Regenerated Gratings
No full textThe pre-treatment of few-mode fibers (FMFs) has been successfully done with CO2 laser. The wavelength difference, Δλ between the two resonant wavelengths in the few-mode fiber Bragg grating (FMFBG) varies with temperature increment during the annealing process. The results show that the treated fibers with lower stresses have lower thermal sensitivity in Δλ than that of non-treated fiber. However, the treated fibers produce FMFBGs with better thermal durability and regeneration ratio. It is conceived that the presence of those stresses in the pristine fiber is responsible for the high thermal sensitivity in Δλ. The thermal relaxation of stresses and structural rearrangement during the thermal annealing process are responsible for the degradation of the strength and resilience of the regenerated grating. © 2018, The Author(s)
Using high frequency and low-intensity ultrasound to enhance activated sludge characteristics
No full textIn this study, high-frequency ultrasound wave (1.8 MHz) at low intensity was applied to improve activated sludge settleability at high MLSS concentration. The effect of irradiation intensity, sonication mode, MLSS concentration and sample volume on the physical characteristics of sludge in a pilot scale settling column were investigated for optimizing the conditions. The obtained results showed that high-frequency ultrasound decreased the height of sludge (44%) and effluent turbidity (82.2%) and increased sludge settling velocity about 3 times at high biomass concentration. Irradiation intensity of 0.4 w/cm2 and sonication mode with interval times of 10 s showed the best results on the performance of the system at MLSS concentration of 8000 mg/L with a sample volume of 3 L. © 2019 Elsevier B.V
Tailoring the structural, morphological, optical, thermal and dielectric characteristics of ZnO nanoparticles using starch as a capping agent
No full textUsing Starch as a capping agent, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized by the low cost and simple chemical precipitation technique. The confirmation of the hexagonal crystal structure of ZnO NPs were demonstrated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) pattern. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy confirms Zn-O stretching vibrations. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images reveal the surface morphological properties of ZnO NPs. Optical properties were investigated by UV–Visible spectroscopy. The optical characterization shows that the ZnO NPs exhibits a low absorbance in the visible range. Thermal behavior of ZnO NPs studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Dielectric properties of ZnO NPs are analysed in the different frequencies at different temperatures. The dielectric properties of ZnO NPs were attributed to the interfacial polarization at low frequencies and orientational polarization at higher frequencies. Therefore, the synthesis method has potential for application in manufacturing units due to ease processing and more economical reagents. © 2019 The Author