Opposition-based manta ray foraging algorithm for global optimization and its application to optimize nonlinear type-2 fuzzy logic control

Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Logic Control (IT2FLC) possesses a high control ability in a way that it can optimally handle the presence of uncertainty in a system dynamic. However, the design of such a control scheme is a challenging task due to its complex structure and nonlinear behavior. A Manta Ray Foraging Optimization (MRFO) is a promising algorithm that can be applied to optimize the control design. However, MRFO still suffers the local optima problem due to unbalance exploration-exploitation of the MRFO agents and hence limiting the performance of the desired control. In this paper, Standard, Quasi, Super, and Quasi-Reflected opposition strategies are integrated into the MRFO structure. Each strategy enhances the exploration-exploitation capability and offers different approaches of varying agent’s step size relative to the algorithm’s iteration. The proposed opposition-based MRFO (OMRFO) algorithms are applied to optimize the IT2FLC control design for a laboratory-scaled inverted pendulum system. Moreover, as the algorithms are also promising strategies to other problems, they are applied to solve 50D of 30 IEEE CEC14 benchmark functions representing problems with different features. Performance analysis of the algorithms is statistically conducted using Wilcoxon sign rank and Friedman tests. The result shows that the performance of MRFO and Quasi-Reflected-OMRFO are equal, while all other OMRFO variants show a significant improvement and better rank over the MRFO. The Super and Quasi OMRFO-IT2FLC schemes acquired the best responses for the cart and pendulum, respectively

UPC barcode apps for drug registered verification

In pharmacology, drug is used to prevent and cure diseases and to improve the physical or mental well-being. All medicinal products must be registered with Drug Control Authority (DCA) of Malaysia before being marketed. However, there are still numerous unregistered products being sold in night markets and grocery stalls that contained unknown materials that could harm our bodies. As nowadays most people own smartphones, thus it will be great if the smartphone is being utilized to become a mobile apps that can prevent consumers from buying unregistered products. This study described the process of creating a barcode reader application for drug registered verification. The application is created using Android Studio software, Java programming language and source code from GitHub, which is then synchronized with the database of some medicinal products. The barcode scanner is then tested to read the UPC barcode on the products and the result of registration confirmation will be shown on the screen of the smartphone. Thus, it will aware the user from buying the unregistered products

Investigation on the Mechanical Properties of TIG Welded AA6061 Alloy Weldments Using Different Aluminium Fillers

In this research, the effect of filler weld material onthe mechanical properties of tungsten inert gas (TIG) weldedAA6061 alloy weldments have been investigated. Themicrostructure of the base metal (BM) as well as weld metal(WM) and heat affected zone (HAZ) was analyzed using opticalmicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and theVickers hardness of the samples were compared. Corrosionresistance of the weld area was investigated in natural seawatersolution. Results for both filler samples indicate that the strengthof the WMs and HAZs is lower compared to BMs. In addition tothat, the weld joints of ER4043 samples show relatively higherhardness compared to ER4047 samples. The corrosion testresults show that ER4043 sample has a lower corrosion rate valuecompared to ER4047. It can be concluded that ER4043 samplesshow better Vickers hardness value and corrosion resistancecompared to ER4047 sample

Preparation and Characterization of Barium Titanate Nano Particles Using Solution Combustion

Ferroelectric materials are gaining increased importance as a result of their high dielectric constants making them useful for electrical capacitors, high piezoelectric constants to make sensors, actuators, RF Filters, ferroelectric hysteresis suit making non-volatile memories, high pyroelectric properties for infra-red detectors, thermistors, and strong electro-optic effects to be used in optical switches, data storage, etc. Barium titanate undergoes change in shape from perovskite into cubic structure Curie temperature which causes polarization, or spontaneous, polarization. Many techniques were described for the synthesis of Barium titanate including solid-state reaction, sol-gel method, hydrothermal and solution combustion. Solution combustion. The last method offers good control of the properties to meet specific requirements of the products and allows the preparation of nanomaterials  to suit energy saving and protection of environment made it attractive for many purposes. In the present work barium titanate is synthesized as submicro to nano sized particles using the solution combustion technique utilizing urea and glycerin as fuel / oxidant mixture. The experimental parameters were varied to suit the optimization of the process

Uji Aktivitas Antibakteri Sediaan Gel Ekstrak Daun Sereh (Cymbopogon Nardus L. Rendle) Terhadap Bakteri Staphylococcus Aureus Penyebab Jerawat: Anti Bacterial Activity Test of Extract Gel Formulation of Lemongrass Leaves (Cymbopogon Nardus L. Rendle) on Staphylococcus Aureus Acne Causing Bacteria

Penelitian tentang uji aktivitas antibakteri sediaan gel ekstrak daun sereh (Cymbopogon nardus L.Rendle) terhadap pertumbuhan bakteri Staphylococcus aureus telah dilakukan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh variasi konsentrasi karbopol, konsentrasi ekstrak, dan kombinasi keduanya terhadap stabilitas gel dan aktivitas antibakteri terhadap Staphylococcus aureus. Ekstrak daun sereh (Cymbopogon nardus L.Rendle) diperoleh dengan cara maserasi dengan etanol 96%. Desain penelitian menggunakan analisis data ANOVA rancangan acak lengkap pola faktorial dengan  variasi konsentrasi ekstrak 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%  dan karbopol sebagai basis gel dengan konsentrasi 0,5%, 1% dan 2%. Evaluasi stabilitas sediaan mencakup uji organoleptis, uji homogenitas, uji pH, uji viskositas, dan uji aktivitas antibakteri. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa variasi konsentrasi ekstrak mempengaruhi stabilitas dan aktivitas antibakteri gel ekstrak daun sereh (Cymbopogon nardus L.Rendle). Variasi konsentrasi karbopol mempengaruhi aktivitas antibakteri tetapi tidak mempengaruhi stabilitas. Kombinasi variasi konsentrasi karbopol dan ekstrak mempengaruhi aktivitas antibakteri. Kombinasi perlakuan yang baik diperoleh pada formula A2B4, karena memiliki aktivitas antibakteri tertinggi yaitu 14,56 mm

Growth and survival of lactic acid bacteria isolated from byproduct of virgin coconut oil as probiotic candidate for poultry.

The main objective of this research is to investigate the potential of LABs isolated from processing byproduct of the VCO in in vitro conditions for use as probiotics in poultry. Forty eight LABs were isolated and four of them have been selected for further study i.e. Lh1, Lh2, Lh3 and Lh4. A series of tests carried out by studying the ability of bacteria to survive at 37 and 42°C, tolerance of LAB at pH 2, 0, 5, 7 and 7, 0 and tolerance to gastric juice as well as sensitivity to several antibiotics commonly was given to poultry. The survival of LABs was evaluated after 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 and 300 min of incubation. The sensitivity test to antibiotics was performed by Muller Hinton's agar. All the bacteria showed tolerance and ability to grow at pH 5 and 7, but only Lh4 enabled to tolerate at pH 2. All of LAB can grow at gastric juice stimulated. Lh4 was not sensitive to all antibiotics (clear zones: 0.33 mm) but the other LABs were sensitive (clear zones: 5-12 mm). The conclusion of this research is the ability of LABs to grow in in vitro conditions varies. The Lh4 has demonstrated its ability to grow and the best survival with the OD (λ = 580) is 1.99 after 300 min of incubation at pH 2 and has shown the most resistant to all antibiotics tested with a wide clear zone 0.33 mm, hence potentially be used for probiotic in poultry

Exploring the role of religious motivation towards tourist satisfaction: a proposed Islamic tourism model from a Malaysian perspective

The purpose of the study is to identify factors influencing tourist satisfaction of Islamic tour destination under the Islamic tourism concept. The study is conceptual in nature.It develops a Tourist Satisfaction Model derived from the comprehensive literature review and prior empirical findings where the relationships among Religious Motivation, Destination Selection, Destination Image, Perceived Value, Service Quality and Tourist Satisfaction are depicted. The theoretical supports of this research provides justifiable evidence that the proposed Tourist Satisfaction Model is acceptable. The research indicates that Malaysia as an Islamic tourism Destination haswide acceptance to the Muslim tourists all around the world. A further study can be addressed to test the model empirically and configure relative importance of the causing factors behind the tourist satisfaction. The proposed model may give the practitioners a way to develop their destination as an Islamic tourism center while academician can find a comprehensive model to test for the specific destination. Key words: Tourist Satisfaction, factor influencing, Islamic Tourism and Malaysi

Effects of late flushing and ewe breed on lamb mortality at birth.

A total of 92 Zel and 92 Zel×Shal ewes, 3–5 years of age and body weight of between 35 and 45 kg were randomly allocated in to four groups in order to determine effects of late flushing and breed on lamb mortality at birth. A completely randomized design in factorial arrangement with two factors (Flushing & Breed) and two levels were used. Ewes were fed in two nutritional groups including none flushing diet (2 mcal/kg metabolizeble energy, 11.5 percent crud protein and 1.7 kg/ewe/day dry matter intake) and flushing diet (2.2 mcal/kg metabolizeble energy, 11.5 percent crud protein and 1.7 kg/ewe/day dry matter intake). The flushing continued for last six week of pregnancy. Animals were housed in pens (10 ewes/pen) and allowed free access to water. The results showed that late flushing had a significant effect on lamb mortality at birth (P<0.05). Zel breed had lower lamb mortality than Zel×Shal breed (P<0.05)