13474 research outputs found
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Degradation of microplastic fibers in laundry wastewater via immobilized silver-titanium dioxide based photocatalytic membrane reactor / Biao Wang
No full textPencemaran mikroplastik (MP), terutamanya daripada gentian mikroplastik polyester (PMPF) yang dikeluarkan semasa proses dobi, telah menjadi isu alam sekitar yang ketara. Kajian ini meneroka penyelesaian yang berkesan untuk menolak dan merendahkan kedua-dua simulasi dan PMPF sebenar dalam air sisa dobi menggunakan reactor membran fotomangkin (PMR) berasaskan TiO2. PMR tidak bergerak menyepadukan mangkin TiO2 (Ag-TiO2) yang dihias Ag pada membran seramik Al2O3, menggabungkan keupayaan fotokatalitik TiO2 dengan kecekapan dipertingkat yang disediakan oleh Kesan plasmonik nanopartikel perak. Persediaan ini bertujuan untuk mengoptimumkan degradasi PMPF di bawah penyinaran cahaya ultraviolet-C (UVC). Prestasi PMR tidak bergerak telah dinilai dengan simulasi dan air sisa dobi sebenar yang mengandungi PMPF. Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa membran pemangkin Ag-TiO2 mencapai penolakan sehingga 99.9% bagi kedua-dua simulasi dan PMPF sebenar, dan kadar degradasi 23.2% bagi PMPF simulasi selepas 48 jam penyinaran UVC. Analisis morfologi terperinci melalui FESEM dan pencirian kimia melalui FTIR dan GC/MS mengesahkan degradasi gentian poliester yang ketara. Kajian ini menunjukkan potensi PMR tak bergerak berasaskan TiO2 sebagai penyelesaian berskala dan cekap untuk mengurangkan pencemaran MP berserabut dalam air sisa. Pendekatan ini menggabungkan degradasi fotokatalitik dengan penapisan membran, menolak dan merendahkan ahli parlimen berserabut dengan berkesan, dengan itu mengurangkan kesan alam sekitar mereka
Competing Islamic movements in Malaysia: Analysis of ABIM, IKRAM and ISMA / Aliye Nur Kelesoglu
No full textThis study examines the competition between three prominent Islamic movements in Malaysia —Islamic Youth Movement of Malaysia (Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia, ABIM), Malaysia Ikram Movement (Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia, IKRAM), and the Malaysian Muslim Solidarity Front (Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia, ISMA)—to understand how they construct their identities and social realities and utilise strategies to assert dominance within a complex socio-political landscape of Malaysia. These movements heavily influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood, but their approaches diverge significantly, reflecting unique visions for Islam’s role in a multicultural Malaysia. ABIM advocates a pluralist and inclusive approach, ISMA champions an ethno-nationalist Islam that emphasises Malay-Muslim supremacy, while IKRAM positions itself as a reformist dakwah movement advocating compassion and inclusivity. This competition spans both discursive and non-discursive domains, highlights the fluid dynamics of political Islam in Malaysia and highlights the intra-movement diversity. Employing a qualitative approach, this study draws on frame theory and discourse theory to analyse how these movements define themselves, their opponents, and their target audiences, construct discourses that appeal to varying segments of society, and establish strategies for competition. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews and textual and audio-visual documents produced by each movement as primary data sources. Frame theory provides a framework for examining the identity fields and core framing tasks, while discourse theory illuminates ideological contestations as struggles for hegemony. The findings reveal that, firstly, ABIM, ISMA, and IKRAM strive to establish a unique identity by actively differentiating itself from the others. This differentiation reinforces their appeal to specific audiences and frames each movement as a distinct ideological force within Malaysia’s Islamic landscape. Additionally, these movements exhibit a notable adaptability, shaping their identities to align with the socio-political demands of the time. This flexibility shows the fluid and dynamic nature of their identities, allowing them to remain relevant and responsive to shifting societal needs and expectations. Second, each movement utilises core framing tasks to define their diagnosis, prognosis and motivational frames. ABIM and IKRAM’s diagnosis frames focuses on religious and ethnic extremism as societal threats, while ISMA presents a narrative where Malay- Muslim identity is under threat. This framing shapes how each movement seeks to legitimise its agenda and mobilise support, reflecting broader debates meaning-making processes rooted in Islamic values, symbols, and norms. Finally, the competition strategies of ABIM, IKRAM and ISMA are various. Each movement compete over resources, public legitimacy, and influence, and strategic alliances, all embodied in their hegemonic projects. These strategies underscore the complex interplay of discursive and non-discursive elements where competition for influence involves both ideological framing and tangible resource mobilisation. By situating this analysis within Malaysia’s socio-political context, this study contributes to a detailed understanding of political Islam as a dynamic field shaped by competing actors striving for dominance. It also advances discourse theory and frame theory by applying these frameworks to competing Islamic movements, offering theoretical insights into the power dynamics shaping Malaysia’s Islamic landscape
Design of fast start-up high-Q oscillator for wireless sensor nodes transceiver frequency reference / Abdolraouf Rahmani
No full textWith the prevalence of wireless sensor networks and the Internet of Things (IoT), optimizing power in battery-powered wireless nodes is crucial due to the inconvenience and cost of replacing batteries in remote areas. Synchronized power modulation between "Sleep" and "Active" states, known as burst mode activation, allows nodes to conserve power. However, frequent transitions between these states consume significant energy, highlighting the need to reduce the start-up time of the slowest component, the high-Q crystal oscillator. Additionally, to ensure improved synchronization within the network and a cost-effective IoT device manufacturing, the device should be produced with low start-up time variations and without the need for post-manufacture trimming respectively. This report introduces Zero-phase Lock Injection, a novel method based on resonance lock chirp injection to reliably reduce start-up time. It features Zero-phase Cross Detection, a low-power, variation-tolerant resonance frequency detection technique. Unlike previous detectors, this method does not require the variation-prone voltage reference and utilizes low power digital circuits. Additionally, Zero-phase adaptive chirp is proposed to advance resonance lock chirp injection by allowing for motional current phase correction which increases variation tolerance of start-up time while further reducing the start-up time. Both techniques have demonstrated start-up times that are robust against voltage, and temperature and even process variations. Post-layout simulations with Cadence Virtuoso on a 38.4 MHz crystal resonator with 1.0 V supply and 65-nm CMOS process confirms the feasibility of Zero-phase lock and Zero-phase adaptive chirp to effectively reduce and achieve start-up times of 175 μs and 170 μs respectively. This is achieved with state-of-art minimal temperature variations of 3% and 3.8% respectively. The results demonstrate the promising potential of Zero-phase Lock and Zero-phase Adaptive Chirp as viable variation-tolerant techniques, enabling enhanced synchronization without the need for costly post-manufacture trimming
Development of flexible organic electrochemical transistor based on biopolymer electrolyte and its performance optimization / Bo Sun
No full textNeuromorphic devices are gaining attention for their ability to mimic biological synapses, with organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) emerging as promising candidates due to their high transconductance, low voltage operation, and strong electrolyte gating. However, conventional OECTs often rely on liquid electrolytes or synthetic polymers, posing challenges in stability, sustainability, and scalability. In this study, we develop a biodegradable, flexible OECT using a solid-state chitosan-based biopolymer electrolyte, a PEDOT:PSS semiconductor channel, and a low-cost screen-printing process, enabling scalable fabrication. The chitosan electrolyte, reinforced with salt, enhances ion transport, charge carrier density, and electric double layer (EDL) formation, improving device performance. Our optimized OECTs achieve an on-state current of 0.19 ± 0.03 mA at 0.6 V, an on/off ratio of 0.3 × 10³, and a transconductance of 0.416 ± 0.05 mS, while maintaining mechanical robustness over 300 bending cycles and thermal stability from 30 to 75 °C. The biodegradable electrolyte offers an environmentally friendly alternative, reducing electronic waste and enabling sustainable transient electronics. This study introduces one of the latest solid-state polymer electrolytes for OECTs, demonstrating how electrolyte engineering can optimize ion transport and interfacial dynamics. With scalable fabrication, competitive performance, and eco-friendly design, this work provides a promising approach for bioelectronics, neuromorphic computing, and AI-driven applications
Needs analysis on technostress coping strategies among students in e-Learning environments / Raghiney Venugopal
No full textThis study was conducted to investigate the technostressors faced by students in e-learning environments. Besides that, this study investigated the coping strategies (specifically the problem- and emotion-focused coping strategies) used by students to cope with technostress in e-learning environments. This study employed two systematic literature reviews guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020 statement. Articles were searched in four databases, namely Education Resources Information Center, Web of Science, Scopus and Science Direct from January 2000 to June 2023. The first systematic review investigating the technostressors faced by students in e-learning environments comprised 26 articles, while the second systematic review investigating students’ coping strategies comprised four articles. Based on a thematic analysis of the findings in the first review, 12 themes emerged which are: - Techno-overload, Techno-complexity, Techno-invasion, Structure of lessons and assessments, instructor and administrative factors, Social factors, Techno-uncertainty, Techno-unreliability, Accessibility to ICT and suitable learning space, Techno-insecurity, Physical and psychological strain, Addiction and compulsive use and Privacy invasion. Upon conducting a thematic analysis of the findings in the second review, four problem-focused coping strategies emerged which are: - Academic planning, Problem-solving, The use of digital collaboration tools and Seeking instrumental help to overcome problems; and four emotion-focused coping strategies emerged which are: - Emotional expression or venting, Cognitive reinterpretation, Disengagement and Seeking emotional support. To conclude, this study identified several technostressors students experience in e-learning environments as well as the problem- and emotion-focused coping strategies they use to cope with them. Future studies should investigate technostress and coping in primary and secondary students, the root causes of technostress, how certain technostressors are coped with (that were not identified in this study) and the short- and long-term outcomes of coping strategies
Production and characterisation of cold-bonded lightweight aggregates from biomass waste ash by cementing and one-part alkali-activation method / Lin Jiayi
No full textNowadays, increasing amounts of biomass ash are being sent to landfills, occupying substantial land space and causing health problems due to inadequate control measures. Rapid industrialization has also led to the over consumption of natural aggregates, creating environmental problems. Consequently, the production of artificial aggregates using biomass ash has gained considerable interest as it reduces the consumption of natural aggregates and landfill areas while recycling biomass ash. This study explored the feasibility of producing cold-bonded lightweight aggregates (CBLWA) using biomass ash, namely municipal woody biomass ash (MWBA) and palm oil fuel ash (POFA). First, the granulation parameters for MWBA-based cementing aggregate (MCA) were optimized. It was determined that an optimal water content of 27–29%, a rotation angle of 55° and a rotation speed of 60 rpm resulted in high granulation efficiency of 97.84%. The MCA exhibited a loose bulk density of 841 to 1058 kg/m3, a water absorption of 22 to 25% and a crushing strength of 2.2 to 2.6 MPa with 20% cement content. A low greenhouse gas emissions method for manufacturing another type of MWBA-based CBLWA, known as MWBA-based one-part alkali-activated aggregate (MAA), was also investigated. The MAA showed a loose bulk density, water absorption and crushing strength of 875–919 kg/m3, 11.2–13.8% and 1.7–2.3 MPa, respectively. With 15% Na2SiO3.5H2O, increasing GGBS content from 0 to 30% significantly enhanced crushing strength from 0.84 to 2.25 MPa and reduced water absorption from 24.0 to 12.5%. Secondly, the granulation parameters for POFA-based one-part alkali-activated aggregate (PAA) were optimized. Response surface methodology modeling revealed that the optimal rotation angle and speed for PAA manufacturing were 55° and 50 rpm, respectively, greatly improving the granulation efficiency of PAA from 79.9 to 88.2%. The PAA had a loose bulk density of 718.3 to 742.3 kg/m3 and crushing strength of 2.1 and 2.7 MPa. Thirdly, the characteristics of lightweight aggregate concretes (LWAC) made with these CBLWA were evaluated, obtaining an oven-dried density of 1682–1878 kg/m3 and 28 d compressive strength from 25.0 to 33.0 MPa. The MWBA-based alkali-activated aggregate concrete (MAAC) showed better high temperature resistance properties, with a 60% strength loss comparable to other LWAC. POFA-based alkali-activated aggregate concrete (PAAC) demonstrated a thermal conductivity value of 0.49 W/m·K per 1000 kg/m3, similar to other LWAC. Lastly, the environmental impacts of the produced CBLWA and LWAC were assessed using life-cycle assessment. MAA had the highest cumulative energy demand and global warming impact among CBLWA. PAAC, with the highest effective energy demand (232.4 MJ/MPa), was deemed less feasible with its current manufacturing method, while POFA-based cementing aggregate concrete (PCAC) recorded the lowest at 165 MJ/MPa. Leaching tests showed that the heavy metal concentrations in LWAC met multiple environmental safety standards, proving them safe for use. Overall, the study highlights the potential and environmental benefits of recycling MWBA and POFA into CBLWA and LWAC
Self-reported questionnaire and salivary biomarkers for periodontitis screening in Malaysian adults / Ho Jan Yang
No full textSalivary biomarkers and self-reported oral health questionnaire (SROH) could act as two convenient and non-invasive approaches for periodontitis screening. Their advantages are manifold, given that periodontal examination protocols such as full-mouth periodontal examination, Basic Periodontal Examination and Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Need require more manpower, equipment, time and cost. This study aimed to validate the SROH as a screening tool for periodontitis among the Malaysian population and to compare the salivary levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and metallothionein (MT) between patients with periodontal health, gingivitis or periodontitis. First, content of the SROH was validated by experts followed by face validation by a pilot sample of subjects who were uninvolved in the main study. Next, a convenience sample of 77 systemically healthy adults was recruited consecutively and divided into groups of periodontal health, gingivitis and periodontitis. The participants were asked to answer the self-administered SROH, followed by collection of unstimulated saliva samples. Five millilitres of saliva were collected within 30 minutes. After centrifugation, the resultant supernatants were aliquoted and stored at -80°C until analysis. The SROH responses were used to determine the construct validity, concurrent validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the questionnaire. Concurrently, quantification of salivary biomarker levels was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Differences in salivary biomarker levels between groups were compared with Kruskal Wallis H test with posthoc Dunn test. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to study the linear relationship between salivary biomarker levels and clinical periodontal parameters. Multivariate binary logistic regression for the presence of periodontitis was performed using demographic variables, salivary biomarker levels and responses to SROH as predictors. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the predictive models were determined by plotting a receiver operating characteristics curve. After some modifications, the final six-item SROH was considered to be valid and reliable, with scale-level content validity index of one, scale-level face validity index of 0.837, internal consistency/Cronbach alpha of 0.813, test-retest reliability of 0.975 and all items having factor loading score >0.5. Significant intergroup differences were observed in salivary levels of IL-1β, IL-6, MMP-8 and MMP-9. The levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly higher in periodontal disease states relative to periodontal health. Meanwhile, the highest expression of MMP-8 and MMP-9 was found in the periodontitis group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis for the discrimination of periodontitis from nonperiodontitis groups demonstrated good predictive ability of models combining social demographics, SROH responses and salivary biomarker levels, with diagnostic performance exceeding 90%. In conclusion, the development of prediction model that integrated patient characteristics, SROH responses and levels of selected salivary biomarkers offered a sufficiently accurate and non-invasive means of periodontitis screening that should be validated in future studies
Unsupervised feature-preserving cyclegan for fault diagnosis of rolling bearings using unbalanced infrared thermal imaging / Lujiale Guo
No full textThe fault diagnosis of rolling bearing is of great significance in industrial safety. The method of infrared thermal image combined with neural network could diagnose the fault of rolling bearing in a non-contact manner, however its data in different scenes are often unbalanced and difficult to obtain. In this paper, an unsupervised learning framework named Feature-Preserving Cycle-Consistent Generative Adversarial Networks (FP-CycleGAN) is designed for defect detection in unbalanced rolling bearing infrared thermography sample. Since the classical Cycle-Consistent Generative Adversarial Networks (CycleGAN) not designed to accurately transfer the target features of the image. To avoid this problem, a new discriminator is designed to identify whether the generated image A and B (refer to different conditional bearing image) belongs to two different classes, and a new class loss are proposed. To better extract fault features and perform features migration, the new generator is reconstructed based on the U-Network structure, the transpose convolution method of the up-sampling network is replaced by Bicubic Interpolation to effectively avoid the checkerboard effect of the generated images. The defect detection of the expanded dataset was performed using Residual Network and compared with the pre-expansion data to demonstrate the usability of the generated data and the superiority of the proposed FP-CycleGAN method for rolling bearing defect detection in small samples of infrared thermal images. Finally, the accuracy of the proposed model is 91.52%, which is better than the baseline model (76.81%)
A compilation and assessment of flash flood data in Peninsular Malaysia / Raidan Saleh Maqtan Ba Qatyan
No full textFlash floods are not only the worst weather-related hazard, but also one of the most complex problems facing the research community. Flash floods occur in a short period of time, leaving little time for effective warning and planning. They are a major natural threat that affects many locations throughout the world, including Malaysia, however they are still a poorly understood and documented phenomenon. Previous scientific reviews concluded that the existing datasets of flash floods around the world, which are required to validate the developing methodologies, are insufficient, and they encouraged research communities to densify their data collection in the future to improve understanding on this topic. However, due to the high effort required to compile and document the data, few studies have been carried out in the existing literature to construct regional flash flood datasets, and there are no documentation guidelines detailing the process of creating historical flash flood datasets. The literature review indicates that there is currently no scholarly literature on the regional characteristics of flash floods in Malaysia. Furthermore, the imprecisely defined riverine flood boundary and the multidisciplinary nature of flash flood studies complicates the review of available materials. A thorough scoping review was conducted in the current study to investigate Malaysian flash flood studies while considering any potential related challenges. It indicated that analogous research in Malaysia is still in their early stages, and that there is a gap in flash flood data analysis. To improve comprehension of the flash flood phenomenon and related research, it is suggested that a comprehensive dataset on Malaysian flash floods be established. The main objective of this study is to create a Malaysian flash floods dataset, identify their regional characteristics, and proposing a comprehensive guideline for data compilation of flash flood events. To meet the study objectives, we investigated several data sources and presented a methodology for compiling flash flood data. Among the data sources investigated were official annual flood reports from the past 20 years (2000-2019), other reports from the internet, newspaper archives, and scholarly literature. The annual flood reports identified 745 flash flood events from 2014 to 2019, which were then classified based on the cause of the flooding, the duration of the flooding, and the triggering rainfall. Furthermore, a list of extreme historical flooding episodes (1971-2022) was created to analyze their flow records and watershed characteristics. The compiled data were successfully used to report, for the first time, the regional characteristics of Peninsular Malaysia's flash floods as well as its regional envelope curves of flood and rainfall extremes. Based on this experience, a guideline for efficient flash flood data compilation has been proposed to contribute to generalizing the flash flood data documentation process. This study is intended to help us better understand the characteristics of flash floods in Peninsular Malaysia, promote targeted mitigation, and will be the first step in creating a Malaysian flash flood database. On the other hand, by comparing these local contexts to global benchmarks of rainfall and flood maxima, this study provides a unique perspective on the region's hydrological extremes, offering light on how it fits into the greater global context
Understanding intangible cultural heritage preservation strategies through intercultural theatre theory: A case study of Ombak Potehi performances / Liu Yueyang
No full textThis study explores the innovative forms, performance styles, and dissemination pathways of traditional Chinese puppetry in Malaysia, with a specific focus on its development in the Penang region. With the migration of Chinese communities to the Nanyang region, various traditional Chinese art forms, including puppetry, were introduced to Malaysia, particularly in Penang. Locally known as "Potehi" in the Hokkien dialect, puppetry has adapted over time to thrive in Malaysia’s multicultural environment. To take root and endure, foreign traditional cultures must embrace adaptation and innovation to keep pace with changing times and address the challenges of cultural integration. In response to these dynamics, a group of passionate young individuals in Penang emerged to revitalize the art of Potehi. Guided by seasoned performers, these young enthusiasts learned the traditional craft and eventually established the Ombak Potehi troupe. By integrating traditional Potehi techniques with other performing arts, they have successfully driven the transformation of this heritage art form. Using a qualitative research approach, this study takes the Ombak Potehi troupe as a case study and examines their performance modes through on-site fieldwork in Penang. The research focuses on three main objectives: first, conducting field surveys to collect data on the troupe’s history and organizational structure; second, analyzing new performance techniques through observations and interviews to understand the current intercultural performance forms; and third, investigating the troupe’s modern communication strategies. The findings reveal that the Ombak Potehi troupe exemplifies modernity and innovation in both their background and operational style. While retaining traditional elements, their performances incorporate a range of influences, including Malaysian cultural features, Taiwanese opera styles, and Japanese puppetry techniques. This includes scriptwriting, dialogue delivery, and music arrangement, as well as updating stage structures and experimenting with modern theater. These efforts in intercultural adaptation have enriched the presentation of puppetry, making it more relatable to local audiences while fostering cultural exchange and understanding. Additionally, the troupe’s innovations extend to their communication strategies, utilizing media, online platforms, and public workshops to broaden the reach of this traditional art form