Calibrated radar-derived rainfall data for rainfall-runoff modeling.

This study focuses on a technique to improve runoff modeling based on radar-derived rainfall and hydrological model for the whole watershed. GIS tools were used to provide the model parameters for the Upper Bernam River Basin (1090 km2), Malaysia. Virtual rainfall stations are created throughout the UBRB watershed. The rainfall data for these stations are estimated from raw weather radar data using newly developed program called RaDeR ver1.0. For this study, estimated radar rainfall data from Subang weather radar stations were compared and calibrated with actual rain gauge data. Radar-derived rainfall calibration model developed for Subang radar station was y=0.8772x. According to the model developed, the radar rainfall calibration factor (RCf) can be identified as 0.8772. The original estimated radar derived rainfall data should be adjusted before using the calibration factor (RCf). The model gives better correlation when adjusted radar values were used instead of the original radar rainfall values. The model calibration factor increased from 0.464 with R2 of 0.2759** to 0.8772 with R2 of 0.3655***. Finally, the virtual rainfall stations created throughout the river basin produced a more representative rainfall distribution. It is believed that watershed river flow can be better estimated by using radar-derived rainfall data

Optimization of food waste utilization in the RDF recovery energy facility

It is well known that there is a significant increased in the quantity of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generated every year. Therefore, the management of MSW must be handled carefully by experts. Malaysia as one of the developing country with population nearly 30 millions also facing problems related to MSW management and this issue is quite critical. Even though various programmes were established and few model technologies were introduced by the government to manage MSW effectively, but the impact remain unsatisfaction. For example, the energy facility recovery project which use MSW gathered around Kajang as an alternative fuel still not successful to provide energy according to the design capacity of that particular facility. This failure was observed due to the impact composition of MSW collected which consists huge amount of food waste (57%), 16% plastic, 15% diaper, 9% mixed papers and the remaining 3% textile. The existing process technology at Refused Derived Fuel (RDF) facility is no designed to create a new economic benefit from abundant incoming food waste to the facility. Therefore in this paper, the analysis and suggestion of technology on existing RDF recovery energy facility will be discussed especially on how to overcome the abundant composition of food waste

Synthesis and characterization of polyvinyl alcohol /polyaniline/functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube compositeby gamma radiation method

The composite of functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (f-MWCNT), polyvinylalcohol (PVA) and polyaniline (PANI) were in-situ synthesized by gamma irradiation method. In order to make the free standing composite films, the mixture was cast onto a glass plate and dried before being exposed to irradiation. The formation and incorporation of PANI onto the surface of f-MWCNT were confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-Visible (UV-Vis) Spectrophotometer. It was found that in-situ polymerized PANI was coated onto the surface of f-MWCNT due to the increase of f-MWCNT diameter after irradiation and it is supported by the XRD spectra in which it shows that the intensity of main peak in PANI decreases upon irradiation. The increasing of absorption spectra intensity in the FTIR spectra indicates the polymerization of PANI is occurred. In addition, it was found that quinoid unit in composite film is richer as compared to unirradiated sample. This is supported by UV-Vis analysis that shows the benzenoid ring is excited in which the pi-pi* transition peak is shifted to the high wavenumber after irradiation. The calculated value for optical energy band gap decreases after irradiated at 50kGy by gammarays suggested that the resultant composite is more conductive as compared to unirradiated samples

Evaluasi Sistem Pengendalian Internal Piutang Tak Tertagih pada Lembaga Keuangan Mikro Putra Berlian untuk Meningkatkan Kinerja Keuangan

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengevaluasi sistem pengendalian internal piutang tak tertagih pada Lembaga dan kinerja keuangan yang ada Keuangan Mikro Putra Berlian Gondanglegi Kabupaten Malang. Jenis data yang digunakan adalah deskriptif kualitatif dari struktur organisasi dan pemisahan fungsi, sistem wewenang dan prosedur pencatatan, praktik yang sehat dan karyawan sesuai dengan tanggungjawab yang ada pada bagian piutang tak tertagih. Sumber data yang digunakan adalah data primer dan data sekunder. Teknik pengumpulan data melalui wawancara, dokumentasi dan observasi. Metode analisis menggunakan teknik deskriptif kualitatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa prosedur penganan piutang tak tertagih kurang baik, hal tersebut ditunjukan dengan adanya perangkapan jabatan, otorisasi kurang efisien, tidak berjalannya SOP dengan baik serta kurang kompetennya karyawan dilihat dari tingkat pendidikan pada bagian piutang tak tertagih. Hal tersebut berpengaruh pada kinerja keuangan yang buruk pada Lembaga Keuanga Mikro Putra Belian Gondanglegi Kabupaten Malang, sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa sistem pengendalian internal piutang tak tertagih pada Lembaga Keuangan Mikro Putra Berlian Gondanglegi Kabupaten Malang kurang baik, hal tersebut terlihat dari pelaksanaan di lapangan yang belum sesuai dengan unsur-unsur pokok sistem pengendalian internal yang baik

2-[(1,3-Benzothiazol-2-yl)iminomethyl]-6-methoxyphenol: A new monoclinic polymorph

The title compound, C15H12N2O2S, is a P21/c polymorph of a previously reported P21/n polymorph [Büyükgüngör et al. (2004). Acta Cryst. E60, o1414-o1416]. The dihedral angle between the benzothiazole (r.m.s. deviation = 0.010 Å) and the benzene ring of 7.86 (6)° compares with 10.76 (10)° in the literature structure. The methoxy substituent is almost coplanar with the benzene ring to which it is attached [C - O - C - C torsion angle = 178.31 (14)°] and the conformation about the imine bond [1.287 (2) Å] is E. There is an intramolecular O - H⋯N hydrogen bond and the hydroxy O and thioether S atoms are syn. In the crystal, columns are formed along the b axis as centrosymmetric dimeric aggregates, mediated by C - H⋯O interactions and linked by π-π interactions between the thiazole and benzene rings [centroid-to-centroid distance = 3.8256 (10) Å]

Sustainable development, poverty eradication and reducing inequalities

This chapter takes sustainable development as the starting point and focus for analysis. It considers the broad and multifaceted bi-directional interplay between sustainable development, including its focus on eradicating poverty and reducing inequality in their multidimensional aspects, and climate actions in a 1.5°C warmer world. These fundamental connections are embedded in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chapter also examines synergies and trade-offs of adaptation and mitigation options with sustainable development and the SDGs and offers insights into possible pathways, especially climate-resilient development pathways towards a 1.5°C warmer world

Effects of the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin on proteinuria in non -diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease (DIAMOND):a randomised, double-blind, crossover trial

Background: SGLT2 inhibition decreases albuminuria and reduces the risk of kidney disease progression in patients with type 2 diabetes. These benefits are unlikely to be mediated by improvements in glycaemic control alone. Therefore, we aimed to examine the kidney effects of the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin in patients with proteinuric kidney disease without diabetes. Methods: DIAMOND was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial done at six hospitals in Canada, Malaysia, and the Netherlands. Eligible participants were adult patients (aged 18–75 years) with chronic kidney disease, without a diagnosis of diabetes, with a 24-h urinary protein excretion greater than 500 mg and less than or equal to 3500 mg and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of at least 25 mL/min per 1·73 m2, and who were on stable renin–angiotensin system blockade. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive placebo and then dapagliflozin 10 mg per day or vice versa. Each treatment period lasted 6 weeks with a 6-week washout period in between. Participants, investigators, and study personnel were masked to assignment throughout the trial and analysis. The primary outcome was percentage change from baseline in 24-h proteinuria during dapagliflozin treatment relative to placebo. Secondary outcomes were changes in measured GFR (mGFR; via iohexol clearance), bodyweight, blood pressure, and concentrations of neurohormonal biomarkers. Analyses were done in accordance with the intention-to-treat principle. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03190694. Findings: Between Nov 22, 2017, and April 5, 2019, 58 patients were screened, of whom 53 (mean age 51 years [SD 13]; 32% women) were randomly assigned (27 received dapagliflozin then placebo and 26 received placebo then dapagliflozin). One patient discontinued during the first treatment period. All patients were included in the analysis. Mean baseline mGFR was 58·3 mL/min per 1·73 m2 (SD 23), median proteinuria was 1110 mg per 24 h (IQR 730–1560), and mean HbA1c was 5·6% (SD 0·4). The difference in mean proteinuria change from baseline between dapagliflozin and placebo was 0·9% (95% CI −16·6 to 22·1; p=0·93). Compared with placebo, mGFR was changed with dapagliflozin treatment by −6·6 mL/min per 1·73 m2 (–9·0 to −4·2; p<0·0001) at week 6. This reduction was fully reversible within 6 weeks after dapagliflozin discontinuation. Compared with placebo, bodyweight was reduced by 1·5 kg (0·03–3·0; p=0·046) with dapagliflozin; changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and concentrations of neurohormonal biomarkers did not differ significantly between dapagliflozin and placebo treatment. The numbers of patients who had one or more adverse events during dapagliflozin treatment (17 [32%] of 53) and during placebo treatment (13 [25%] of 52) were similar. No hypoglycaemic events were reported and no deaths occurred. Interpretation: 6-week treatment with dapagliflozin did not affect proteinuria in patients with chronic kidney disease without diabetes, but did induce an acute and reversible decline in mGFR and a reduction in bodyweight. Long-term clinical trials are underway to determine whether SGLT2 inhibitors can safely reduce the rate of major clinical kidney outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease with and without diabetes. Funding: AstraZeneca