Coating performance in high speed micro machining of H13 tool steel

The development and application of Titanium Aluminium Nitrate (TiAlN) coatings for cutting tools has led to dramatic tool life extension and the realisation of high speed machining for hardened materials. This results in longer tool life and makes it possible to employ higher cutting speeds and feed rates. In this study, a series of different TiAlN based coatings on micro grains solid carbides were tested on H13 Tool Steel. These advanced coatings are commercially available by coating manufacturer which are trade marks of Balzers UK. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the performance of micro tools coated with these coatings and compare with uncoated tools. The results will be used to determine whether coatings for micro tools will have any impact on the performance of the tools such as reducing cutting forces or improving machining quality. This will be achieved by means of analysing the cutting force data and 3-D surface roughness respectively. Result obtained shows that different coating had different performance, hence can be applied to specifically targeted machining operation. The results also highlight some of the differences in wear mechanism of micro tools

Determination of minerals in commercial honeys using atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively couple plasma-optical emission spectrometry / Nurul'ain Arrifin

This study was conducted to determine the amount of minerals in the commercial honeys which were Kehdut, Tualang and black seed honey. Honey was chosen as subject because people ate it for health. The instruments used for the analysis were Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, AAS and Inductively Couple Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry, ICP-OES while the minerals chosen were iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), lead (Pb), calcium (Ca), and copper (Cu). The sample preparation used for the project was wet digestion. The concentration of the minerals in the sample were determined and compared. In AAS analysis, Kehdut honey gave the highest amount of iron while in ICP, black seed honey has the highest amount of iron. Of all the three honeys, black seed honey contains the highest amount of minerals compared to the other two honeys. For AAS result, the amount of magnesium in black seed honey was 15.2 mg/L and the amount of iron was 6108 mg/L. For ICP-OES, the magnesium in black seed honey was 7.8 mg/L while iron was 14.75 mg/L

Matang Dagang Enterprise / Ahmad Muhaimi Mohd Arrifin

MATANG DAGANG Enterprise is the one I choose for this report. MATANG DAGANG Enterprise is a kampong Matang based company that supply animal feed. Matang Dagang Enterprise supply a cow, cat, goat, birds, chicken and duck feed also they have supply a cat and birds cage and former bird food. Matang Dagang Enterprise is the first store that provide an animal feed in village society also the price is less than at the hometown. All the information about this company will be elaborate more of the key characteristics. The two biggest characteristics sees and acts on opportunities and problem solving and also add on the systematic planning. And in the end of entrepreneurial characteristic I also give an suggestions to Matang Dagang Enterprise for improve and support their problem solving

Evaluation of sensory and biochemical changes in freshwater catfish stored under vacuum and different modified atmospheres.

The present study was carried out to compare the influence of six different packaging atmospheres (air, vacuum and MAPs including 5% O2 + 40% CO2 + 55% N2, 5% O2 + 60% CO2 + 35% N2, 5% O2 + 80% CO2 + 15% N2 and 100% CO2) on the biochemical and sensory attributes of freshwater catfish fillets stored at 4 °C. Fillets were monitored for biochemical parameters (pH, total volatile bases nitrogen (TVBN), lipid oxidation) and sensory attributes for 21 days. Proximate and fatty acid composition were also determined in fresh fillets. The sensory quality of all fillets was acceptable during the first 13 ± 1 days of storage in air, 16 ± 1 days of storage in vacuum and MAP1, 18 ± 1 days of storage in MAP2 and 20 ± 1 days of storage in MAP3. The overall sensory scores for fillets which were packed under 100% CO2 were higher than the acceptable limit at the end of storage. It was found that fillets consisted of 5.71 g lipid per 100 g which is susceptible to oxidation due to the high amount of unsaturated fatty acids (63.86%) versus saturated fatty acids (31.14%). Vacuum packed and 100% CO2 fillets showed the lowest TBARS values while air-stored samples showed the highest TBA values. TVBN increased negligibly during storage in all treatments and never exceeded the acceptability limit (35 mg N per 100 g). It can be concluded that 100% CO2 was the best evaluated atmosphere for storage of catfish fillets at 4 °C with superior biochemical and sensory attributes

Case Study : Matang Dagang Enterprise / Ahmad Muhaimi Mohd Arrifin

In this era of freedom has brought about a form of business that has revolutionized the way in which the companies of previous operates. There are many possible explanations for the rise of this form business in society, and all of these explanations are debatable. And if we see more specifically into a village, there are many farmers and breeders such as if farmers is oil palm and if breeders is cow, goat, chicken, duck and etc. With this it will generate a demand for an animal feed and organic fertilizer and for this case study we will more focus on animal feed. In village society, majority will have an animal as a pet or as a product like cat or birds as a pet and cow and goat as a product to sell but all of these need a specific food to stay healthier and it hard to find a premises that sell animal feed in the village society only at hometown we will find it but it too far and expensive.This report is prepared as one the requirements of this subject, Fundamental of Entrepreneurship (ENT300). This report will be focusing on the chosen company background and two factors on Personal Entrepreneurial Competencies (PECs) must be included. MATANG DAGANG Enterprise is the one I choose for this report. MATANG DAGANG Enterprise is a kampong Matang based company that supply animal feed. Matang Dagang Enterprise supply a cow, cat, goat, birds, chicken and duck feed also they have supply a cat and birds cage and former bird food. Matang Dagang Enterprise is the first store that provide an animal feed in village society also the price is less than at the hometown. All the information about this company will be elaborate more of the key characteristics. The two biggest characteristics sees and acts on opportunities and problem solving and also add on the systematic planning. And in the end of entrepreneurial characteristic I also give an suggestions to Matang Dagang Enterprise for improve and support their problem solving

Effects of prenatal stress on the rat hippocampal neurogenesis and the influence of pyramid environment: a morphological and biochemical study

Stress is necessary and inevitable, but in excess is deleterious to the physical and mental well-being of any animal species. Stressful experiences during pregnancy lead to development of Impairments that become evident in prepubertal as well as adult stages. Pyramid models constructed with the same base to height ratio as the Great Pyramid of Giza, when aligned on a true north-south axis, is believed to generate, transform and transmit energy which has beneficial effects. The present study was carried out to assess the effects of housing pregnant Sprague Dawley rats subjected to restraint-stress outside (RC) and under the pyramid (RP) as compared to unstressed normal controls (NC) and its effects on the offspring morphometric and physical development, plasma corticosterone levels and hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neuron arborisation. The results showed a delay of one day In the fur appearance, pinna detachment, ear and eye opening In RC which was significant when compared to NC, while there was no such delay In the RP offspring. Significant decrease In head, body and tail length along with decrease in body and brain weight in RC group was also seen when compared to NC, but not In the RP offspring. Significant hypertrophy of adrenal gland and increase in plasma corticosterone was seen in the stressed mothers. The results were similar to those we found In our earlier work on adult rats and mice. Similar hypertrophy of adrenal glands and Increase in plasma corticosterone was also seen at PND 10, 21, 40 and 60 of the offspring's born to the stressed mothers, indicating presence the of stress induced In the HPA axis of the foetus. RC group showed significant decrease at PND 10, 21, 40 and 60 in both the apical and basal dendritic arborisation when compared to NC and RP offspring. The effects were more significant at PND 10 and 21 which Is just before weaning, and the effect became lesser after they were being weaned from the mothers and until adulthood. Thus, the geometric shape of the pyramid and the energy generated within helps reduce the effects of stress probably by suppressing the HPA axis. This study suggests the therapeutic potential of the geometric shape of buildings that could be used to reduce stress and stress related mental diseases. This study prompts us to explore the rehabilitation effects of previously stressed animals under the pyramid in the future

A study on drivers perception towards speed limit enforcement in Kota Kinabalu / Azlan Arrifin Saladi and Noorsyazwani Osman

Exceeding the speed limit and driving too fast might cause road accidents and severe injuries to the victims. Speeding offense can be considered as one of the factors that might cause traffic crashes and even deaths. Drivers play an important role in this matter because of their attitude towards the speeding may influence their perception towards the speed limit enforcement. Perception of the drivers towards the speed limit enforcement, which being influenced by the attitude of the drivers who did not care about the impacts of speeding might cause loss of lives anytime and everywhere. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of drivers towards the speed limit enforcement in Kota Kinabalu area, the relationship between driver's experiences towards speed limit enforcement and perceptions towards speed limit enforcement and the relationship between drivers' attitude towards speed limit enforcement and perceptions towards speed limit enforcement. This study was done using a self developed questionnaire involving 138 drivers within Kota Kinabalu. From the finding, we can conclude that there was no relationship between the drivers' experience and the perceptions of drivers towards speed limit enforcement. There was a significant relationship between driver attitude towards speed limit enforcement and drivers' perceptions towards speed limit enforcement. It means that the driver's attitude towards speed limit enforcement may influence their perception towards speed limit enforcement

The effect of radiotherapy for treatment of head and neck cancer on oral flora and saliva

Purpose: Radiotherapy causes xerostomia in patients treated for head and neck cancer. This study investigated changes in quality and quantity of saliva after radiotherapy and possible associations between these changes and alterations in oral flora. Materials and Methods: The study was a prospective cohort study of patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Suitable patients were recruited before treatment commenced, and informed consent was obtained. Patients were examined, and provided unstimulated and stimulated saliva samples. Quantity of saliva, buffering capacity and pH were measured. Oral flora was cultured from the saliva samples. Oral clearance of glucose and of lactose was measured. These interventions were repeated at intervals after radiotherapy had been completed. Results: Eighteen patients were recruited. Stimulated and unstimulated saliva flow rates, glucose clearance, salivary pH and buffering capacity were significantly reduced after radiotherapy. Candida albicans counts were significantly increased. These increases were significantly correlated with reductions in stimulated and unstimulated salivary flow rates. Counts of lactobacilli, Streptococcus mutans and Bifidobacteriaceae increased, but not statistically significantly. Conclusions: Therapeutic radiotherapy significantly reduced the quality and quantity of saliva in head and neck cancer patients. These reductions were associated with increased C. albicans counts.</p

A novel mycobacterial Hsp70-containing fusion protein targeting mesothelin augments antitumor immunity and prolongs survival in murine models of ovarian cancer and mesothelioma

Background: Although dendritic cell (DC) vaccines are considered to be promising treatments for advanced cancer, their production and administration is costly and labor-intensive. We developed a novel immunotherapeutic agent that links a single-chain antibody variable fragment (scFv) targeting mesothelin (MSLN), which is overexpressed on ovarian cancer and mesothelioma cells, to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), which is a potent immune activator that stimulates monocytes and DCs, enhances DC aggregation and maturation and improves cross-priming of T cells mediated by DCs. Methods: Binding of this fusion protein with MSLN on the surface of tumor cells was measured by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. The therapeutic efficacy of this fusion protein was evaluated in syngeneic and orthotopic mouse models of papillary ovarian cancer and malignant mesothelioma. Mice received 4 intraperitoneal (i.p.) treatments with experimental or control proteins post i.p. injection of tumor cells. Ascites-free and overall survival time was measured. For the investigation of anti-tumor T-cell responses, a time-matched study was performed. Splenocytes were stimulated with peptides, and IFNγ- or Granzyme B- generating CD3+CD8+ T cells were detected by flow cytometry. To examine the role of CD8+ T cells in the antitumor effect, we performed in vivo CD8+ cell depletion. We further determined if the fusion protein increases DC maturation and improves antigen presentation as well as cross-presentation by DCs. Results: We demonstrated in vitro that the scFvMTBHsp70 fusion protein bound to the tumor cells used in this study through the interaction of scFv with MSLN on the surface of these cells, and induced maturation of bone marrow-derived DCs. Use of this bifunctional fusion protein in both mouse models significantly enhanced survival and slowed tumor growth while augmenting tumor-specific CD8+ T-cell dependent immune responses. We also demonstrated in vitro and in vivo that the fusion protein enhanced antigen presentation and cross-presentation by targeting tumor antigens towards DCs. Conclusions: This new cancer immunotherapy has the potential to be cost-effective and broadly applicable to tumors that overexpress mesothelin

Export, Economic Integration and Exchange Rate Volatility in Turkey and Malaysia

Using annual data (1970-2004), this study re-examined the hypothesis that exchange rate volatility may dampen export demand in Malaysia and Turkey. In particular, this study attempts to investigate the impact of exchange rate volatility on exports after taking into consideration the presence of regional economic integration. In addition, the role of regional economic integration in promoting export is also of concern to this study. The empirical evidence demonstrates that despite the significant, minimal impact of membership to regional economic integration for both economies, regional integration remains an important and valid approach for future economic development for both economies. Meanwhile, similar to the findings of previous studies the impact of exchange rate volatility on exports is consistently negative. However, it is no longer significant in the case of Turkey