Improved parallel algorithms for finding connected components

Finding the connected components of a graph is a basic computational problem. In recent years, there were several exciting results in breaking the log2 n-time barrier to finding connected components on parallel machines using shared memory without concurrent-write capability. This paper further presents two new parallel algorithms both using less than log2 n time. The merit of the first algorithm is that it uses only a sublinear number of processors, yet retains the time complexity of the fastest existing algorithm. The second algorithm is slightly slower but its work (i.e., the time-processor product) is closer to optimal than all previous algorithms using less than log2 n time.published_or_final_versio

Ocean renewable energy in Malaysia: The potential of the Straits of Malacca

The need for renewable energy is a global demand due to both the economic factors and the environmental concerns. Malaysian government has been supportive on the research and development in the renewable energies. Renewable Energy Act (2011) and Sustainable Energy Development Authority Act (2011) have been enacted to boost the industry of renewable energy. This paper presents the current status and future prospects of renewable energy in Malaysia with particular focus on the ocean renewable energy. Five types of ocean renewable energy were reviewed including tidal barrage, tidal current energy, wave energy, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) and salinity gradient power. The comparison of various types of ocean renewable energy has been made to present their recent technologies in electricity generation. Tidal current energy is identified as a preferable option particularly in the Straits of Malacca

Preliminary Report On First Database Of Useful Protein Substances From Discus Fish Epidermal Mucus (Symphysodon Spp.) Utilizing The Proteomics Platform.

Many times, fish epidermal mucus has been reported as an essential component for fishes in the area such as mechanical protection, gas transportation, and osmoregulation (Shephard, 1994). Discus fish is a cichlid species demonstrating fry feeding behavior via the parental mucus secretion (Noakes and Barlow, 1972). This species also an important ornamental species with global trading status and is currently being produced locally

THE RELATIONSHIP OF RISK MANAGEMENT AND BANK PROFITABILITY PERFORMANCE BETWEEN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN ISLAMIC BANKS IN MALAYSIA

Purpose: This study is to determine the effects of risk management towards the domestic and foreign Islamic bank’s financial performance in Malaysia. The ten Islamic banks in Malaysia have been chosen as the sample bank in which domestic and foreign banks were equally divided. The credit risk, liquidity risk as well as solvency risk acted as the independent variables to determine the effects towards the bank’s profitability as measured by return on equity. Methodology: The panel data analysis has employed fixed effect and random effect regression models and the Hausman test in this study. Furthermore, the independent sample T-test was conducted to examine the significant difference between domestic and foreign Islamic banks. Result: The finding of this study showed that liquidity risk and insolvency risk would have a greater impact towards the Islamic bank’s profitability while the credit risk has no significant influence on Islamic bank’s financial performance in Malaysia. The study concludes that domestic Islamic banks had better financial performance as compared to foreign Islamic banks in Malaysia. Applications: This research can be used for universities, teachers, and students. Novelty/Originality: In this research, the model of The Relationship of Risk Management and Bank Profitability Performance between Domestic and Foreign Islamic Banks in Malaysia is presented in a comprehensive and complete manner

Biodiesel sustainability: The global impact of potential biodiesel production on the energy–water–food (EWF) nexus

A data-driven model is used to analyse the global effects of biodiesel on the energy–water–food (EWF) nexus, and to understand the complex environmental correlation. Several criteria to measure the sustainability of biodiesel and four main limiting factors for biodiesel production are discussed in this paper. The limiting factors includes water stress, food stress, feedstock quantity and crude oil price. The 155-country model covers crude oil prices ranging from USD10/bbl to USD160/bbl, biodiesel refinery costs ranging from -USD0.30/L to USD0.30/L and 45 multi-generation biodiesel feedstocks. The model is capable of ascertaining changes arising from biodiesel adoption in terms of light-duty diesel engine emissions (NO, CO, UHC and smoke opacity), water stress index (WSI), dietary energy supply (DES), Herfindahl–Hirschman index (HHI) and short-term energy security. With the addition of potential biodiesel production, the renewable energy sector of global primary energy profile can increase by 0.43%, with maximum increment up to 10.97% for Malaysia. At current crude oil price of USD75/bbl and refinery cost of USD0.1/L, only Benin, Ireland and Togo can produce biodiesel profitably. The model also shows that water requirement varies non-linearly with multi-feedstock biodiesel production as blending ratio increases. Out of the 155 countries, biodiesel production is limited by feedstock quantity for 82 countries, 47 are limited by crude oil price, 20 by water stress and 6 by food stress. The results provide insights for governments to set up environmental policy guidelines, in implementing biodiesel technology as a cleaner alternative to diesel

Multifunctional targeting micelle nanocarriers with both imaging and therapeutic potential for bladder cancer.

BackgroundWe previously developed a bladder cancer-specific ligand (PLZ4) that can specifically bind to both human and dog bladder cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. We have also developed a micelle nanocarrier drug-delivery system. Here, we assessed whether the targeting micelles decorated with PLZ4 on the surface could specifically target dog bladder cancer cells.Materials and methodsMicelle-building monomers (ie, telodendrimers) were synthesized through conjugation of polyethylene glycol with a cholic acid cluster at one end and PLZ4 at the other, which then self-assembled in an aqueous solution to form micelles. Dog bladder cancer cell lines were used for in vitro and in vivo drug delivery studies.ResultsCompared to nontargeting micelles, targeting PLZ4 micelles (23.2 ± 8.1 nm in diameter) loaded with the imaging agent DiD and the chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel or daunorubicin were more efficient in targeted drug delivery and more effective in cell killing in vitro. PLZ4 facilitated the uptake of micelles together with the cargo load into the target cells. We also developed an orthotopic invasive dog bladder cancer xenograft model in mice. In vivo studies with this model showed the targeting micelles were more efficient in targeted drug delivery than the free dye (14.3×; P < 0.01) and nontargeting micelles (1.5×; P < 0.05).ConclusionTargeting micelles decorated with PLZ4 can selectively target dog bladder cancer cells and potentially be developed as imaging and therapeutic agents in a clinical setting. Preclinical studies of targeting micelles can be performed in dogs with spontaneous bladder cancer before proceeding with studies using human patients

Pyrolysing horse manure via microwave-induced heating for bioenergy recovery

Transforming waste to energy is essential in view of the need to search for greener and more sustainable energy sources. Such transformation of energy is also aligned with the aim of reducing excessive waste generation whilst creating potential biofuel pathways for power generation. In the present study, animal waste in the form of horse manure is being used as feedstock to undergo microwave-induced pyrolysis via a fixed-bed pyrolysis rig. The relationship of the pyrolysis parameters such as pyrolysis temperature of 350 and 550 °C, carrier gas flow rate of 0.5 and 1.5 L/min and ratio of horse manure to activated carbon blend of 1:2 and 1:1, with the yield of pyrolysed products is studied. The derived pyrolysis products in the form of solid, liquid and gaseous are characterised and quantified. Result shows that the highest yield of solid, liquid and gaseous products obtained are 78.8 wt%, 24.7 wt% and 34.2 wt%. Solid yield is observed to decrease with increasing pyrolysis temperature while gaseous yield shows a reverse trend. Higher carrier gas flow rate is observed to lower the generation of gaseous and liquid yield while increasing the solid yield. Higher amount of activated carbon within the feedstock is seen to lower the solid yield but increase the gaseous and liquid yields. The liquid yield is found to contain 55.78 wt% of phenolic compounds while gaseous product consists of up to 55 vol% of syngas. The control of the operating conditions in pyrolysis rig enables the production of pyrolysis end products in different phases, generating useful bioenergy and biofertilizer products in the context of circular economy

Multi-targeting aurones with monoamine oxidase and amyloid-beta inhibitory activities: structure-activity relationship and translating multi-potency to neuroprotection

Previously, a series of aurones bearing amine and carbamate functionalities was synthesized and evaluated for their cholinesterase inhibitory activity and drug-like attributes. In the present study, these aurones were evaluated for their multi-targeting properties in two Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related activities namely, monoamine oxidase (MAO) and amyloid-beta (Aβ) inhibition. Evaluation of the aurones for MAO inhibitory activity disclosed several potent selective inhibitors of MAO-B, particularly those with 6-methoxyl group attached at ring A. Of the different amine moieties attached as side chains, pyrrolidine-bearing aurones were prominent as represented by 2-2, the most potent inhibitor. Evaluation on the Aβ aggregation inhibition identified 4-3 as the best inhibitor with a percentage inhibition comparable to that of a known Aβ inhibitor curcumin. Examination on the neuroprotective ability of the more drug-like aurone 4-3 in two Caenorhabditis elegans neurodegeneration models showed 4-3 to protect the nematodes against both Aβ- and 6-hydroxydopamine-induced toxicities. These new activities further support 4-3 as a promising lead to develop the aurones as potential multipotent agents for neurodegenerative diseases