Enfoque de lipidómica no dirigida utilizando LC-Orbitrap HRMS para discriminar manteca de cerdo, sebo de res y grasa de pollo para la autenticación halal

This research aimed to perform a lipidomics study using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) to identify lard, beef tallow and chicken fat. A total of 292, 345, and 403 lipid compounds were observed in lard, beef tallow, and chicken fat, respectively. The lipid groups of AcHexStE (acyl hexosyl stigmasterol ester), biotinylPE (biotinylphosphoetanolamine), LPC (lysophosphatidylcholine), MePC (monoetherphosphatidylcholine), PC (phosphatidylcholine) and PI (phosphoinocitol) were found to be specific for lard. The principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) successfully differentiated lard from beef tallow and chicken fat. This research suggested that the untargeted lipidomics technique using LC-HRMS combined with chemometrics could be used to discriminate lard from beef tallow and chicken fat. This method is a promising technique for the detection of lard adulteration in beef tallow and chicken fat for halal authentication purposes.Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo realizar un estudio de lipidómica utilizando cromatografía líquida-espectrometría de masas de alta resolución (LC-HRMS) para discriminar manteca de cerdo, sebo de res y grasa de pollo. Se pudo observar un total de 292, 345 y 403 compuestos lipídicos en manteca de cerdo, sebo de res y grasa de pollo, respectivamente. Se encontró que los grupos lipídicos de AcHexStE (éster de acil hexosil estigmasterol), biotinilPE (biotinilfosfoetanolamina), LPC (lisofosfatidilcolina), MePC (monoéterfosfatidilcolina), PC (fosfatidilcolina) y PI (fosfoinocitol) son específicos para la manteca de cerdo. El análisis de componentes principales (PCA) y el análisis discriminante de mínimos cuadrados parciales (PLS-DA) diferenciaron con éxito la manteca de cerdo del sebo de res y la grasa de pollo. Esta investigación sugirió que la técnica de lipidómica no dirigida que usa LC-HRMS combinada con quimiometría podría usarse para discriminar la manteca de cerdo del sebo de res y la grasa de pollo. Este método es una técnica prometedora para la detección de la adulteración de manteca de cerdo en sebo de res y grasa de pollo con fines de autenticación halal

Implementasi Alignment Point Pattern pada Sistem Pengenalan Sidik Jari Menggunakan Template Matching

Fingerprints is one of biometric identification system. This is because fingerprints have unique and different pattern in every human, so identification using fingerprints can no longer be doubted. But, manual fingerprint recognition by human hard to apply because of the complex pattern on it. Therefore, an accurate fingerprint matching system is needed. There are 3 steps needed for fingerprint recognition system, namely image enhancement, feature extraction, and matching. In this study, crossing number method is used as a minutiae extraction process and template matching is used for matching. We also add alignment point pattern  process added, which are ridge translation and  rotation to increase system performance. The system provide a performance of 18,54% with a matching process without alignment point pattern, and give performance of 67,40% by adding alignment point pattern process

Validation of Multicultural Counselling Competencies Scale among Malaysian Counsellor Trainees: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis

The competency of multicultural counselling is an aspect which needs to be mastered by a counsellor in order to provide good counselling services to clients especially when dealing with clients of different culture. The purpose of this research is to examine the validity and reliability of the Multicultural Counselling Competencies Scale which was developed based on the local culture by using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). A total of 290 final year students participating in the first-degree counselling program from six public universities were selected randomly. The results of the analysis showed that the fit value for the comparative fit index (CFI), Tucker Lewis index (TLI), and normed fit index (NFI) respectively had fulfilled the fit value of 0.90 and above as suggested by the literature. The analysis also showed the average variance extracted (AVE) values for all three constructs were 0.669 (awareness), 0.764 (skills) and 0.642 (knowledge) respectively, indicating the validity convergent and discriminant reliability were achieved. CFA analysis has removed 7 out of 26 original items due to low loading factor. Overall, CFA analysis has successfully proven that competencies of multicultural counselling questionnaire as a multidimensional construct as it has been theorized and is appropriate for measuring the competencies of multicultural counselling in Malaysia

Study of X-phase formation on Cu-Al-Ni shape memory alloys with Ti addition

Cu-based shape memory alloys are used in various applications due to their attractive shape memory effect, easier process and cheaper cost. Cu-Al-Ni SMAs are one of the well-known Cu-based shape memory alloys because of their capability in demonstrating shape memory effect, damping behaviour, and thermoelastic martensitic transformation. In this paper, the effect of Ti addition on the phase transformation temperatures and microstructures of Cu-Al-Ni SMA was investigated. The Cu-Al-Ni alloy specimens were casted with the addition of titanium (Ti) using an induction furnace. Transformation temperature of the alloy was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The evolution of the phases and microstructures was investigated by using the field emission scanning electron microscopy corresponding with energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. It was found that the addition of Ti in the Cu-Al-Ni SMAs has increased the transformation temperatures. The results revealed that the addition of Ti led to the formation of a new phase into the microstructure known as X-phase. From the XRD result, it was indicated that the X-phase was AlNi2Ti and Cu3Ti compounds. It was also found that the alloy with 0.7wt% Ti has produced the most effective outcome of the transformation temperature (Ms: 233.16°C, Mf: 225.67°C, As: 229.85°C, Af: 239.25°C) due to the presence of X-phase in the microstructure. Further study will be carried out to investigate the application of this material and focus on the application of the material in damping application

Recent advances of data compression in wireless sensor network

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have emerged as one of the most promising wireless communication systems supporting wide variety of applications ranging from military tasks, healthcare, disaster prediction and indoor positioning. The low complexity and cost of the nodes result in constraints such as computational power, communication bandwidth and battery power. Energy consumption is one of the most critical to WSN. In WSN communication, data transmission is considered the largest contributor to total energy exhaustion and apparently, it is influenced by the size of the data. Favorably, data compression can be used to reduce the amount of data that requires to be transmitted and hence prolongs sensor's lifetime. In this study, we survey various approaches, issues and challenges to WSN efficiency related to data compression discuss the effect of the data size on the sensor efficiency and how data compression algorithms can be used to address small size data transmission. Finally, recent approaches are reviewed with highlighting of advantages and disadvantages of each solution

Distribution power loss minimization via distributed generation, capacitor and network reconfiguration

This paper presents a solution to solve the network reconfiguration, DG coordination (location and size) and capacitor coordination (location and size), simultaneously. The proposed solution will be determined by using Artificial Bee Colony (ABC). Various case studies are presented to see the impact on the test system, in term of power loss reduction and also voltage profiles. The proposed approach is applied to a 33-bus test system and simulate by using MATLAB programming. The simulation results show that combination of DG, capacitor and network reconfiguration gives a positive impact on total power losses minimization as well as voltage profile improvement compared to other case studies

Spitting success and accuracy in archer fishes Toxotes chatareus (Hamilton, 1822) and Toxotes jaculatrix (Pallas, 1767)

Spitting success and accuracy of two congeneric archer fishes Toxotes chatareus and Toxotes jaculatrix were studied to determine whether spitting success and accuracy rate varied with height and/or group size. Overall, individuals of both species exhibited greater spitting success rate when alone than in a group. Greatest spitting success was observed in T. jaculatrix (29.87%) when alone followed by T. chatareus (27.55%), while lowest spitting success (14.88%) was observed for the average of all individuals in a group of two T. chatareus and two T. jaculatrix. Based on spitting accuracy categories right side high (RH), right side low (RL) and left side high (LH) showed no significant differences among the test groups

The influence of dry-blending operational parameters on homogeneity of milk formula powder

Powdered milk formula is generally manufactured using dry blending/mixing process to homogeneously mix the powdered ingredients, especially in low rate self-sufficient milk producing countries. Mixing can be influenced by several factors: particle size, rotation speed, equipment configuration, mixing volume, mixing angle and the cohesiveness of the material. In this project, the effects of operational parameters and feed preparation in a convective batch ribbon powder mixer are investigated. Whole milk powder, skimmed milk powder, whey protein 45%, maltodextrin, lactose, zinc oxide and ascorbic acid powders were used for the mixing study and the formulation was based on standard infant formula in the market. Four typical infant formulae are prepared. Operational parameters of the mixer are filling level (60, 80 and 100%) and mixing time (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 min). Chemical tests were done to ensure that the nutrients are uniformly distributed throughout the mixing batch. The results have shown that the mixing time is affected by the filling level. A better mixing can be obtained at lower filling level (60% for 10-15 min mixing time). Besides, the results also showedthat powders with smaller particle size (skimmed milk powder, 75.02 μm), cohesive particle and round particle surface produced a better mixing performance. Thus, findings from this work can significantly contribute in comprehending the mixing process, the effects of the raw materials characteristics and furthermore in developing efficient mixing

Thermal analysis of both ventilated and full disc brake rotors with frictional heat generation

In automotive engineering, the safety aspect has been considered as a number one priority in development of a new vehicle. Each single system has been studied and developed in order to meet safety requirements. Instead of having air bags, good suspension systems, good handling and safe cornering, one of the most critical systems in a vehicle is the brake system. The objective of this work is to investigate and analyze the temperature distribution of rotor disc during braking operation using ANSYS Multiphysics. The work uses the finite element analysis techniques to predict the temperature distribution on the full and ventilated brake discs and to identify the critical temperature of the rotor. The analysis also gives us the heat flux distribution for the two discs