Life cycle assessment of direct recycling hot press forging of aluminium AA7075 metal matrix composite

The primary objective of this research is to investigate the process of direct recycling of AA7075 aluminium alloy, which is extensively utilised in the aerospace and flight sectors due to its exceptional strength and lightweight characteristics. Alumina (Al2O3)is used as a reinforcing agent and the effect of hot press forging (HPF) parameters on the mechanical characteristics and surface integrity of the metal matrix composite (MMC) constructed of AA7075 alloy with 1% Al2O3 has been studied. Furthermore, the utilisation of an integrated life cycle assessment(LCA) approach is implemented to assess the environmental impacts and economic expenses associated with the recycling of aluminium via high-pressure forming for both the metal matrix composite and AA7075 alloy. Response surface methodology (RSM)is applied to ascertain the optimal parameters for high-performance filtration. The findings suggest that employing a forging temperature of 532.34 °C and a holding time of 60 min produces favourable results. When comparing the characteristics of the MMC and recycled aluminium, it can be observed that they both demonstrate similar essential process attributes. The utilisation of HPF in conjunction with the Multi-Material Composite has the potential to yield a reduction of up to 24.97% in Global Warming Potential (GWP). This research demonstrates the efficacy of HPF as a viable approach for environmentally conscious and economically efficient recycling of AA7075 aluminium scrap, thereby improving product performance and promoting sustainability

Enhanced binding interaction and antibacterial inhibition for nanometal oxide particles activated with Aloe Vulgarize through one-pot ultrasonication techniques

The interaction of green zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) with bacterial strains are still scarcely reported. This work was conducted to study the green-one-pot-synthesized ZnO NPs from the Aloe Vulgarize (AV) leaf peel extract assisted with different sonication techniques followed by the physicochemical, biological activities and molecular docking studies. The NPs structure was analyzed using FTIR, UV–vis and EDX. The morphology, particle size and crystallinity of ZnO NPs were identified using FESEM and XRD. It was found that the formed flower-like structure with sharp edge and fine size of particulates in ZnO NPs/AV could enhance the bacterial inhibition. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for all the tested bacterial strains is at 3.125 µg/ml and the bacterial growth curve are dependent on the ZnO NPs dosage. The results of disc diffusion revealed that the ZnO NPs/AV possess better antibacterial effect with bigger ZOI due to the presence of AV active ingredient. The molecular docking between active ingredients of AV in the NPs with the protein of IFCM and 1MWU revealed that low binding energy (Ebind = -6.56 kcal/mol and − 8.99 kcal/mol, respectively) attributes to the excessive hydrogen bond from AV that highly influenced their interaction with the amino acid of the selected proteins. Finally, the cytotoxicity test on the biosynthesized ZnO NPs with concentration below 20 µg/ml are found nontoxic on the HDF cell. Overall, ZnO NPs/20 % AV (probe sonication) is considered as the best synthesis option due to its efficient one-pot method, short sonication time but own the best antibacterial effect

An effective wavelet neural network approach for solving first and second order ordinary differential equations

The development of efficient numerical methods for obtaining numerical solutions of first and second order ordinary differential equations (ODEs) is of paramount importance, given the widespread utilization of ODEs as a means of characterizing the behavior in various scientific and engineering disciplines. While various artificial neural networks (ANNs) approaches have recently emerged as potential solutions for approximating ODEs, the limited accuracy of existing models necessitates further advancements. Hence, this study presents a stochastic model utilizing wavelet neural networks (WNNs) to approximate ODEs. Leveraging the compact structure and fast learning speed of WNNs, an improved butterfly optimization algorithm (IBOA) is employed to optimize the adjustable weights, facilitating more effective convergence towards the global optimum. The proposed WNNs approach is then rigorously evaluated by solving first and second order ODEs, including initial value problems, singularly perturbed boundary value problems, and a Lane–Emden type equation. Comparative analyses against alternative training methods, other existing ANNs, and numerical techniques demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed method, affirming its efficiency and accuracy in approximating ODE solutions

First documentation on herpetofauna diversity in Gunung Belumut Amenity Forest, Peninsular Malaysia: Implications for conservation in an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA)

Malaysia is blessed with lush tropical rainforests that harbour an exceptional diversity of amphibians and reptiles. However, compared to other animal groups, amphibians and reptiles have received limited attention in research, despite their ecological significance. With amphibians and reptile species having been declining rapidly due to anthropogenic activities, there is a pressing need to conserve these species and their habitats. Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) are designated regions that are beneficial due to their critical role in providing essential ecosystem services and serving as repositories of biodiversity. Nonetheless, the classification of ESAs in Malaysia lacks biological elements and only focuses on physical attributes. To enhance the current ESA classification framework by integrating biological components, there is an urgent need to obtain information on diversity and habitat in Malaysia. Therefore, the objectives of this study were twofold: to determine the diversity of amphibians and reptiles in Gunung Belumut Amenity Forest and to conduct a comparative analysis between the herpetofauna assemblages in Gunung Belumut with other forest reserves in Peninsular Malaysia. The survey was carried out between March and June 2022, with additional sampling conducted in February 2023. The Visual Encounter Survey (VES) and pitfall trap methods were employed to survey the herpetofauna species, focusing on both aquatic and terrestrial habitats within the study area. A total of 210 individuals representing 38 species of herpetofauna were recorded, comprising 18 amphibian and 20 reptile species. Amongst the observed species, Limnonectes blythii was the most frequently encountered amphibian, with 59 individuals observed, while the dominant reptile species was Cyrtodactylus consobrinus, represented by eight individuals. This pioneering study serves as a vital baseline documentation of the amphibian and reptile assemblages in Gunung Belumut Amenity Forest. It provides valuable information for identifying extant herpetofauna species, including those of potential conservation concern or rarity. These findings contribute to ongoing conservation efforts dedicated to the preservation of herpetofauna within the region. By understanding the diversity and distribution patterns of amphibians and reptiles in Gunung Belumut, effective conservation strategies can be developed to protect these species and their habitats

Barber booking mobile application

Barbers offer haircuts and trimming to customers at the barbershop. Barbers traditionally offer haircuts and trimming on a first-come, first-served basis. However, this can lead to long queues and a disorganized process. To address this, a mobile application called "Barber Booking Mobile Application" was developed. The application allows customers to book their time slots in advance, view prices, and make payments through online banking. This streamlines the booking process for both customers and barbers and provides a more efficient and organized experience for everyone involved. The application was developed using the Scrum methodology and object-oriented approach. It is accessible via an Android mobile device and is used by both customers and barbers. The overall outcome of the Barber Booking Mobile Application is a more efficient and organized process for barbershops, enhanced customer experience, and improved customer and appointment managemen

Fabrication of natural and bio-based wound healing material from alginate and beeswax

Alginate is a natural polysaccharide derived from brown algae and exhibits the following properties: biocompatible, biodegradable and non-toxic. Beeswax is a secretion that is produced by young working bees. For this research project, alginate and beeswax are homogenized together to form bio-based films for wound healing applications. Solution casting method was used to fabricate the films of 1 wt% and 2 wt% sodium alginate (SA) with 0-5 g beeswax. The films were then characterized and tested using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and contact angle measurement. FTIR spectra revealed that all films showed spectra from both SA and beeswax pellet, which implies that alginate and beeswax coexist in the film. SEM images showed smooth surfaces for films of 1 wt% and 2 wt% SA with 0 g beeswax and rough surfaces with beeswax particles for films of 1 wt% and 2 wt% SA with 1-5 g beeswax. AFM results revealed that the surface roughness of alginate and beeswax films increased with an increasing amount of beeswax and film of 2 wt% SA with 5 g beeswax recorded the highest surface roughness value. Contact angle measurement revealed that as more beeswax was introduced into alginate solution, the contact angle value increases due to the hydrophobic nature of beeswax. It can be concluded that these alginate and beeswax films can be applied as both hydrophilic and hydrophobic wound dressing material

Simulation and modelling of spray characteristics, spray penetration length and injection pressure of biodiesel

This research compare three different types of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) biodiesel blends, B5, B10, and B15 with different ambient density on nozzle flow and spray characteristics by using CPO and simulated the physics flow pattern of mixture formation with tangential velocity between biodiesel, diesel fuel, and air in the mixing chamber of RCM, to determine the nozzle flow and spray characteristics for different injection pressure of biodiesel spray to ambient variant conditions on mixture formation. In order to mimic the spray processes, an Eulerian-Lagrangian multiphase technique is presented in this study. This work makes use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Fluent to examine the spray properties of biodiesel fuels, and the simulation took biodiesel injection into the constant volume chamber of the RCM into account. The boundary condition is set up at a distinct ambient parameter. The presence of in-cylinder flow, the impact of fuel type, injection pressure, and ambient variables on spray behaviour, such as spray penetration, had been examined. Analysis of the spray penetration variation with time for various ambient parameters and different types of biodiesel fuels revealed that the biodiesel fuels were predicted to develop their break-up more quickly due to the fact that all fuels atomize more quickly in the presence of higher injection pressures. The effects of these various parameters were examined in terms of spray characteristics and contrasted with the findings of the experiment

Daylight-adaptive lighting control techniques: a comparative analysis of particle swarm optimization and firefly algorithm

Lighting in commercial buildings consumes a substantial amount of energy. Therefore, this paper developed particle swarm optimization (PSO) and firefly algorithm (FA) as control techniques for lighting systems to improve energy efficiency and satisfy occupantsꞌ visual comfort in an indoor environment. An office room was considered to test the performance of the PSO and FA techniques. The proposed methods showed superior performance in minimizing the cost of energy consumption by more than 60% while satisfying illuminance-based metrics mentioned by the European Standard EN 12464-1. Based on the comparative result, PSO outperformed FA by 3% in energy savings. Due to its performance, the proposed PSO method can be utilized for other types of building

Synthesis and characterisation of hydroxyapatite from Fringescale sardinella for biomedical applications

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) from fish by-product exhibits good biocompatibility and bioactivity on implants. The aim of the study is to investigate the elemental composition, crystalline phases, and functional groups of HAp synthesised from fringescale sardinella fish bones by heat decomposition method at temperature of 600, 900, and 1200 °C. The synthesised powders were characterized using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). After calcination of the raw fish bone to 600, 900, and 1200 °C, the FTIR data showed the existence of phosphate and hydroxyl peaks in the calcined fish bones. At 900 and 1200°C, the XRD data observed shows well-defined peaks of HAp pattern. The elemental composition evaluated by EDS provides information on the calcium to phosphate formation into apatite with a Ca/P ratio of 2.80, 0.98, 1.64 and 1.79 atomic % for raw fish bones and calcined samples, respectively. It can be concluded that the fringescale sardinella fish bones show promising findings particularly on the synthesisation of HAp for biomedical application

Characterization and microstructure analysis of sodium alginate incorporate with iron (III) oxide for biomedical application

This research focuses on the characterisation of sodium alginate incorporated with Iron (III) oxide for biomedical applications. First, biofilm and bead samples with and without 0.1 g, 0.2 g, and 0.3 g iron (III)oxide particles are prepared by manual syringe technique and solution casting. Next, sodium alginate biofilms and beads incorporated with and without Iron (III) particles were analysed by microstructure using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Energy–dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis was applied as well to reveal the chemical elements present in the sample. The samples were characterised using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analysis. Microstructure analysis results revealed that the microstructure of 0.1g, 0.2g, and 0.3g beads varied due to the amount of iron (III) oxide particles. Meanwhile, EDS detected that the chemical elemental present were mainl