Adaptive beamforming with 16 element linear array using MaxSIR and MMSE algorithms

Smart antenna system is a promising technology to provide higher capacity with more reliability. Adaptive beam forming capability is very significant in smart antenna systems. Maximum Signal-to-Interference Ratio (MaxSIR) and Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) beamforming algorithms were investigated using 16 elements linear array antenna. Both algorithms were calculated and simulated using Matlab as well as Zeland’s IE3D software. The performance of algorithms for single and multiple beams are presented in this paper

Transesterification of Jatropha Curcas L. oil to biodiesel using Nd2O2 and Bi2O2 -supported catalysts

Biodiesel is gaining more attention since it is a renewable source of energy that can be an alternative for petroleum based diesel fuels. Other than being renewable, it is also biodegradable and non-toxic. Biodiesel is even more preferable since it can be produced easily via transesterification reaction. With various resources that can be used to produce biodiesel, Jatropha Curcas oil (JCO) is one of the feasible source since it is a non-edible oil, hence no competition over food resources. One of the major drawback of JCO is that it contains high amount of free fatty acids (FFA). In this study, catalyst with different catalyst (Nd2O3 and Bi2O3) on La2O3 support were compared. Bi2O3 catalyst shows higher catalytic activity at lower reaction conditions, hence is used for further study. Different loading of Bi2O3 (1,3,5,7 wt.%) using La2O3 as a support were prepared using wet impregnation method for simultaneous esterification and transesterification of JCO and its potential as heterogeneous catalyst was assessed. The catalysts were characterized by using Xray Diffractometer (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Temperature Programmed Desorption (TPD) of CO2 and NH3. These catalysts were then used for transesterification reaction under different reaction conditions (methanol to oil molar ratio, amount of catalyst,reaction temperature and reaction time) to investigate the catalytic activities of the catalysts. Under optimum transesterification condition at 150°C with catalyst amount of 2 wt.%, methanol/oil molar ratio of 15:1 and reaction time of 4 h,5BiLa catalyst gave fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) conversion of 93%. The catalytic activities were found depending on the acidity, basicity and the surface area of the catalyst used. Several tests were conducted to study the physicochemical properties of the product such as pour point, flash point,kinematic viscosity, sulphur content and cloud point of biodiesel produced. Based on the results, the synthesized biodiesel is comparable with conventional diesel in the market since it meets the international standards of biodiesel which are American Standard for testing Materials (ASTM), Europian Standard (EN) and Malaysian Standard (MS) for diesel fuel specifications

Production of biodiesel from non-edible Jatropha curcas oil via transesterification using Nd2O3-La2O3 catalyst

Biodiesel is viewed as the most promising alternative fuel to replace petroleum-based diesel since it is derived from renewable sources such as animal fats, vegetable oil and grease. Out of various vegetable oil resources for biodiesel production, Jatropha curcas oil (JCO) is a viable choice for biodiesel because it is non-edible and can be grown easily in a harsh environment. In this study, Nd2O3-La2O3 catalyst was prepared for transesterification of JCO with methanol, in order to evaluate its potential as a heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production. Under suitable transesterification condition at 210 °C with catalyst amount of 3 wt.%, methanol/oil molar ratio of 45 and reaction time for 4 h, the conversion of JCO to fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) achieved was more than 93% over Nd2O3-La2O3 catalyst

Business Entities’ Liability for ‘Associated Persons’ Corruption in Malaysia: Key reflections

Section 17A of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 imposes liability on business entities and their management if persons associated with them offer a bribe for their benefit. It provides a new regulatory capture to the meaning ‘Associated Persons’ and corporate liability. This doctrinal research highlights the associated persons' legal framework that business entities should take cognisance of and incorporate in business operations. A comparative approach is undertaken to investigate how other jurisdictions deal with the issue. The study’s findings are significant to Malaysia’s business entities in curbing the associated persons’ corruption acts. Keywords: corporate liability; associated person; corporate corruption; risk assessment  eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6i18.309

A basic guide to civil litigation in Malaysia

This book is aimed to give a basic guidelines to students or any young practitioners who just embarked on the civil litigation practice in court. The book provide step by step procedures and checklists that may be used as guidelines in making application before the court. For instance in making an interloutory application and preparing the case for case management and full trial

Influence of environmental parameters on microbiologically influenced corrosion subject to different bacteria strains

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is capable on weakening the metal’s strength, eventually leads to pipeline leakage, environmental hazard and financial loss. Sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) is the principal causative organism responsible for external corrosion on steel structures. To date, considerable works have been conducted in Malaysia on the mechanisms of SRB upon MIC on the marine environment instead of underground. Moreover, commercial bacteria strain represents local strain in terms of performance and behavior upon corrosion of steel structure is yet to be proven. Thus, this paper aims to investigate the influence of environmental parameters towards MIC in corroding pipeline. Two types of SRB strain were used designated as SRB ATCC 7757 (commercial) and SRB Sg. Ular (local strain) isolated from Malaysian soil. The behavior of both strains was critically compared by calculating the rate of corrosion upon carbon steel coupons in stipulated environmental parameters. Four influential parameters i.e. pH, temperature, salinity concentration and iron concentration were considered. Collected data presented and analyzed using graphical and statistical analysis, respectively. The results showed the difference of corrosivity between two SRB strains in terms of corrosion behavior upon the X-70 steel coupon. SRB Sg. Ular able to cause severe effects upon steel structure as compared to SRB ATCC 7757 due to its aggressiveness shown by the recorded metal loss data. Thus, future works related to MIC for local environment in particular, should not compromise with the type of SRB strains considered due to differences of performance of the microorganisms onto tested environment and materials

Physicochemical properties of doping Nickel –Cobalt oxides catalysts supported on SiO2 and its catalytic activity

The physicochemical and catalytic properties of low-cost metal mixed oxide catalysts have been researched and characterized. To explore catalysts, various characterization techniques such as BET and X-ray diffraction (XRD) have been utilized. Three distinct catalysts, C1(NiO-Co3O4/Silica), C2(NiO- Co3O4-ZnO/ Silica), and C3(NiO- Co3O4-BaO/ Silica), are synthesized with 20 wt% mixed oxide (NiO- Co3O4) supported on silica and doped with zinc/barium oxide, and then dried at 110C overnight and calcined at 350oC All three catalysts have been tested in an ethyl acetate saponification reaction, and the conversion of reactants is calculated. In comparison to the other catalysts, C2 (NiO-Co3O4-ZnO/ Silica), which is a combination of NiO-Co3O4/SiO2 doped with zinc oxide, show good catalytic activity. In terms of catalyst doping, the addition of zinc oxide to the Silica supported original composition boosted the catalytic activity for the saponification reaction compared to barium oxide and without doped

Physico-chemical and emission characterization of emulsified biodiesel/diesel blends

Biodiesel/diesel blends (BDB) were prepared using different biodiesel percentages (10, 15 and 20% v/v) namely B10, B15 and B20, respectively. A high energy emulsification method was employed for this purpose. An engine test bed was utilized to combust the emulsion in order to investigate emission gas concentrations such as CO, NOx, CO2, O2 and smoke. The emission concentrations of NOx and O2 were decreased with increasing biodiesel concentration. However, the emission of CO2 was increased with the increasing amounts of water. The highest concentration of NOx was found for B15. The physicochemical properties of BDB emulsion fuel in terms of viscosity and calorific value were also measured and investigated. Furthermore, biodiesel showed the highest viscosity compared to diesel and BDB fuels. The viscosity of BDB fuels was increased from B10 to B20. The increasing biodiesel concentration showed a decrease in calorific value. Hence, emulsified biodiesel fuel is a promising alternative fuel for reducing harmful emissions

Control of microbiologically influenced corrosion using ultraviolet radiation

Baram Delta Operation had been producing oil and gas since 1960’s and serious pipelines failure was reported in the year of 2005. The final investigation has concluded that one of the species of bacteria that has been identified to cause microbiologically influenced corrosion, specifically known as sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) was found to be one of the potential contributing factors to the incidents. This work investigates the potential use of ultraviolet (UV) radiation to inhibit the SRB consortium that was cultivated from the crude oil in one of the main trunk lines at Baram Delta Operation, Sarawak, Malaysia. The impact of UV exposure to bio-corrosion conditions on carbon steel coupon in certain samples for 28 days was discussed in this study. The samples were exposed to UV radiation based on variations of parameters, namely: time of UV exposure; and power of UV lamp. The significant changes on the amount of turbidity reading and metal loss of the steel coupon were recorded before and after experiment. The results showed that SRB growth has reduced rapidly for almost 90% after the UV exposure for both parameters as compared to the abiotic samples. Metal loss values were also decreased in certain exposure condition. Additionally, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) was performed to observe the biofilm layer formed on the metal surface after its exposure to SRB. The evidence suggested that the efficiency of UV treatment against SRB growth could be influenced by the particular factors studied

Games and Audiovisuals of Non-Communicable Diseases as Health Promotion, Green Technology for Women Workers

Some of the millions of Indonesian migrant workers who live and work in Malaysia are there illegally and do not have health insurance. If they get sick, their access to health services is limited because the Indonesian JKN system is unable to protect their health. Limited facilities and infrastructure make them vulnerable, so they are more susceptible to disease, especially if the pattern of clean-living behavior is lacking, nutritional intake is low, and the body’s biological condition is not good. in addition to poor sanitary conditions and working environments, a heavy workload, malnutrition, and a lack of guaranteed protection. The implementation of health development includes efforts that must be carried out in an integrated and sustainable manner. This service aims to make TKI independent in maintaining their health while working in Malaysia. Residents’ knowledge from the results of the post-test after the presentation of the material shows an increase in knowledge, so that the percentage of “good” knowledge becomes 91%. The resulting attitude variable also increased from 52% to 70%. The behavior variable increased from 65% to 91% good behavior, so bad behavior decreased