Modification of tensile and impact properties of crosslinked rubber toughened nanocomposites via electron beam irradiation

Enhancing the tensile and impact properties of high density polyethylene (HDPE)/ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) matrix is the main target of developing nanocomposite. The nanocomposite system was first prepared via melt intercalation method with different organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT) loadings. Electron beam (EB) irradiation was applied as a crosslinking agent for modification of tensile and impact properties of HDPE/EPDM matrix and HDPE/EPDM filled OMMT systems. The effectiveness of EB irradiation technique were then compared with control one (uncrosslinked system) and analyzed based on the tensile and impact tests as well as morphological xamination. The tensile and impact tests revealed that control and EB irradiated systems had attained the optimum tensile and impact properties at 4 vol% OMMT content. EB irradiated system at dose rate of 100 kGy showed excellent in tensile and impact properties with the highest rosslinking degree which were proved by gel content analysis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the existence of delamination structure with EB irradiation technique based on the disappearance of characteristic peak. The degree of delamination was further investigated by transmission electron microscope (TEM)

Internet-of-Things (IoT) for Human Thermal Comfort: A Simulative Investigation

Human thermal comfort is very important especially in an indoor environment as it can influence human’s health and welfare. In tropical countries like Malaysia, air conditioning system has become a necessary tool in creating a thermally comfortable ambience in an indoor environment. However, the current control mechanism of the system would allow the user to set into maximum cooling – at minimum temperature with maximum fan speed – which not only consumes more energy, but is not creating a thermally comfortable environment as well, as extreme coolness could also bring negative effect towards the human. Therefore, it is essential to integrate human thermal comfort factor into air conditioning system control as well. This paper will highlight the possibility of integrating thermal comfort control into air conditioning system in creating a comfortable indoor environment. It adopts an enhanced version of Predictive Mean Vote (PMV) approach, specifically in creating thermal comfort ambience for a small sedentary work-based indoor space, in tropical countries. As the Internet-of-Things has become a trend in the smart home application, its element is also integrated here, where an Android-based application is developed and tested towards controlling a hardware simulative model which represents an air conditioning system based on the user-defined PMV value. It is shown that the application is able to control the fan speed and temperature through the LED brightness as demanded by the user. It is not only expected to work with a real air conditioning system in the future to create a thermally comfortable environment, but could also allow the system to be operated in energy and cost-efficient manner

Gaia focused product release: radial velocity time series of long-period variables

Stars and planetary system

Role of mechanical alloying parameters on powder distribution of Al/Cu alloy and Al/Cu composite

The aim of the current study is to investigate the effect of milling time and speed on mixing properties of aluminium (Al)/copper (Cu) alloy and Al/Cu composite. Ethanol and argon gas were employed as process control agent and milling atmosphere. Mechanical alloying process by means of high-energy ball milling was performed to produce alloy and composite metal powder. This process proceeds through repeated deformation, cold welding and fracturing of powder particles mixture with a controlled fine microstructure. X-ray diffraction and particle size analyser confirmed particle size reduction of Al/Cu alloy with increasing milling time and speed. On the other hand, the addition of reinforcement particles was found to accelerate the milling process of Al/Cu composite. Scanning electron microscope micrographs revealed homogeneous distribution of powder mixture particles by mechanical alloying process at changing milling conditions

Assessment of energy and exergy efficiencies of a grate clinker cooling system through the optimization of its operational parameters

Grate coolers are widely used in cement industries to recover heat from hot clinker, coming out from the rotary kiln. This study focuses on improving the energy, exergy and recovery efficiencies of a grate cooling system through the optimization of its operational parameters such as masses of cooling air and clinker, cooling air temperature, and grate speed. It has been found that the energy and recovery energy efficiencies of a cooling system can be increased by 1.1 and 1.9, respectively, with every 5 mass increases of cooling air. Similarly, it has been estimated that energy and recovery energy efficiencies can be increased by 2.0 and 0.4 with every 5 increase of cooling temperature. The exergy and its recovery efficiencies found to be increased by 3.6 and 2.2, respectively, for the same condition. Energy efficiency and energy recovery efficiencies are increased by 3.5 and 1.4 with every 9.1 increase of grate speed. Using heat recovery from the exhaust air, energy and exergy recovery efficiencies of the cooling system found to be increased by 21.5 and 9.4, respectively. It has been found that about 38.10 and 30.86 energy cost can be saved by changing mass flow rate of clinker and mass flow rate of cooling air, respectively

Statistical process control for failure crushing time data using competing risks model

This paper describes a Statistical Process Control (SPC) for failure crushing time data using competing risks model. The model is based on the widely known proportional hazard regression model for a variety of censoring. A competing risks model identifies the set of possible failed components given the true cause of failure. EM algorithm method is used to estimate the parameter of the model. The results of this study show that, the competing risks model performs well for SPC using SAS software

Research on cancer diagnosis in Malaysia: current status.

Cancer is a major morbidity and mortality concern in Malaysia. Based on National Cancer Registry data, the Malaysian population is estimated to bear a cancer burden of about 40,000 new cases per year, and a cumulative lifetime risk of about 1:4. Cancer research in Malaysia has to consider needs relevant to our population, and resources constraints. Hence, funding bodies prioritise cancers of high prevalence, unique to our community and posing specific clinical problems. Cancer diagnosis is crucial to cancer management. While cancer diagnosis research largely aims at improvements in diagnostic information towards more appropriate therapy, it also impacts upon policy development and other areas of cancer management. The scope of cancer diagnosis upon which this paper is based, and their possible impact on other R&D areas, has been broadly categorized into: (1) identification of aetiological agents and their linkages to the development of precancer and cancer (impact on policy development, cancer prevention and treatment), (2) cancer biology and pathogenesis (impact on cancer prevention, treatment strategies and product development), (3) improvements in accuracy, sensitivity and specificity in cancer detection, monitoring and classification (impact on technology development) and (4) prognostic and predictive parameters (impact on treatment strategies). This paper is based on data collected by the Working Group on Cancer Diagnosis Research for the First National Conference on Cancer Research Coordination in April 2004. Data was collated from the databases of Institutions/Universities where the authors are employed, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and targeted survey feedback from key cancer researchers. Under the 7th Malaysia Plan, 76 cancer projects were funded through the Intensified Research in Priority Areas (IRPA) scheme of MOSTI, amounting to almost RM15 million of grant money. 47(61.8%) of these projects were substantially in cancer diagnosis, accounting for 65.6% (RM 9.7 million) of cancer project funds. The 8th Malaysia Plan saw a change in research strategy. The IRPA agency fielded several top-down projects which encouraged a multicentre and multidisciplinary approach. This resulted in larger funding per project i.e. RM32 million for 49 projects. There was also a surge of interest in drug development and natural products. Because of this shift in direction, cancer diagnosis projects constituted only 51% of IRPA-funded cancer projects. Nonetheless funding for cancer diagnosis research has exceeded that of the 7th Malaysia Plan, being RM12.5 million by March 2004. The majority of such research is carried out at the Universities, engaging a large number of young scientists and postgraduate students (51 MSc and 21 PhD). A lot of research findings presented at scientific meetings have not yet been published and there is a glaring shortage of patents and commercialization of research findings (such as creation of test kits). Because diagnosis is very much a part of clinical practice, many researchers felt satisfied and confident that their work will be translated into practice and will significantly improve diagnostic services in Malaysia. National guidelines and consensus development on at least three malignancies i.e. breast cancer, oral cancer and lymphoma, have substantial basis in local R&D work. Problems encountered in research included (1) insufficient funding to realize research objectives, (2) lack of local expertise (most research assistants are inexperienced BSc graduates with no or minimal research experience), (3) inadequate technical support from vendors during equipment failure, (4) inexperienced Institutional development units to assist in product development, (5) lack of venture capital for commercialization of findings, and (6) inadequate incentives to undertake research. Researchers pointed out that plans to promote research should include the establishment of (1) regional and national cancer tissue banks, (2) a National Cancer Research Institute, (3) a dedicated cancer research fund, (4) a registry of cancer researchers, (5) national research coordinators, (6) improved coverage by the National Cancer Registry, (7) more international collaboration, (8) a better career structure for researchers, (9) improved Institutional support for product realization, and (10) better recognition for cancer researchers