Sustainability: Linking Built and Natural Environment

Sustainable is allowing something to continue for a period of time, and sustainability denotes the noun for the effort, to continue. Relating this term to the natural environment, would means the ability of earths various systems including human cultural systems and economies to survive and adapt to changing environmental conditions. Built and natural environment exist in the same space and time. The earth has existed about 3.7 billion years ago; and through several major global changes has managed to retain harmony between living and the non-living components. With the arrival of human being estimated some 350,000 years ago, global changes become more intense and unpredictable. Human activities have impacted on the ecosystem equilibrium and negative effects are being felt by people: global warming, increase in pollution level and rate of biodiversity erosion are some issues frequently quoted. As people race to achieve socio-economic development ranking, they lose sight of their role as stewards of the environment. Being created divine, equipped with brain and aqal human could still turn back, learn some lessons and move forward to better the earth, not only for themselves but the future generations. This paper will discuss how to simulate some sustainability principles from nature to guide and assist people in handling built environment, to achieve sustainable living, in the Malaysian context. Examples given are often at micro-level: activities that could be carried out by a single human being, which when accumulate may produce substantial changes. Before too late, it is time to learn and copy how nature sustains itself to help guide in managing our built environment, to achieve sustainable living

Pest management challenge in Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia natural history repository

Under the Malaysian Universities Act 1971, Higher Learning Institutions are encouraged to set up museums that could support teaching and learning at the institution. With that provision, the Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) Natural History Repository was formed in 2014, to support the newly developed BSc Program called Biodiversity and Conservation. Under the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, Centre of Research - Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources (CoR-SUNR), develops and organizes the repository. Currently the repository is sited at a shoplot building in Parit Raja Campus that had been modified as part of campus expansion plan. The process of converting this shoplot building into functional gallery/storage space introduced a new challenge in pest management. The goals were to ensure whatever pests already present are eradicated, determine ways to seal out future pests, stabilize the condition to decrease pest infestation, and establish a monitoring program. Baseline pest data were collected via trapping throughout the repository spaces before, during, and after retrofit construction. Data from trapping were used to assess pest problems, and actions to eliminate these pests were initiated. A year-long survey of pests was performed after staff and collections occupied the building. The results showed variation in pest diversity and populations. Having succeeded in controlling insects pest problems at UTHM Natural History Repository would lead to better teaching/learning experience for graduates as well as promoting public awareness and education especially among young public on biodiversity

Relationship of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PaHs) from vehicle emission in air particulate and plant leaves From highway roadsides in Johor, Malaysia

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) produced from the incomplete combustion of the organic and fossil fuel, and are usually attached to the particulate matter from the emission. Abundance of PAHs occurrence in the atmosphere has the ability to accumulate into vegetation. This study, by using selected species of plants is carried out to determine the relationship between the composition of PAHs in plants and the degree of PAHs pollution in the atmosphere to discover the ability of plants to absorb PAHs from the atmosphere. The study is concentrated on 3 toll station along PLUS’ North- South Expressway in Johor. From this study, it was observed that some plants are suitable for absorption of PAHs pollutant from the environment and suitable to be introduced as a medium for biomonitoring

Occurrence of Volatile Organic Compounds and Extrafloral Nectaries in Tropical Rainforest Species in Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia

Plants synthesize numerous classes of secondary metabolites that are crucial in plant defense. Two of the common but non-ubiquitous defenses are the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and production of extrafloral nectaries (EFN). This study investigates the occurrence of emission of VOC and production of EFN in forest species in Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia. From the 165 species screened, 131 species were found to emit VOC while 41 species were EFN-bearing plants. There are 34 species that are both emitting VOC and producing EFN, while 97 species were found to be emitting VOC with no EFN observed. On the other hand, there are 7 species that were EFN bearing but non-VOC emitter, while 27 species were neither emitting VOC nor producing EFN. All 12 dipterocarp species were observed to emit VOC, of these 3 are non-EFN bearing. VOC emissions were further classified into isoprene (C5) and monoterpene (C10) compounds. There are 46 species that were detected to emit both isoprene and monoterpenes, while there are more exclusive monoterpene emitters (62 species) than isoprene-only emitters (23 species). This study showcased the ability of plants to produce a wide array of secondary metabolites as plant defense making them successfully adapt to the complexities of tropical rainforest ecosystem

Nature Tourism in Muar River Valley

Sungai Muar or Muar River is special. Passing through three states of Peninsular Malaysia, it originates in Negeri Sembilan, passes briefly in Malacca, into Johor and ends into the Straits of Malacca. Though laden with history and presently undergoing much socio-economic development, the importance of this river remains inconspicuous, as it is simply known as Sungai Muar. This paper proposes that a geographical official entity be recognized for this river and its surrounding areas as Muar River Valley (MRV) or in Malay, Lembangan Sungai Muar to enhance any future planning and development which would be site-based, thus giving due recognition to the river. Essential data was researched to produce two maps. The first map is for geophysical information of MRV, which forms the first objective of the research. To realistically prove its importance as an official entity, the tourism development was chosen. This research examined previous and potentially new nature tourism research. These are then marked on the map and thus a simple visual appreciation to understand the potential of nature tourism of MRV is easily seen. Hence, the second map is for existing tourism activities and potential tourism destinations and products in MRV. This forms the second objective. To further enhance, that venture such as nature tourism, could increase the appreciation to the importance of MRV, a nature tourism product development was done and described, forming the third objective. The exemplary product development is based on a newly recognized oyster species, endemic to MRV named as Crassostrea (Magallana) saidii. All data for the three objectives were obtained through literature search using search engine like Google. Additional methods include interviewing through phone calls, face-to-face, and also Google Meet. The information related to land use, and drainage and irrigation system around Bandar Maharani are obtained, along with the topography around the extent of Muar District are obtained as well, as basic requirement for the proposal of MRV. Finally the newly recognized oyster is developed into a tourism product of which the 3 hours package include activities such as observing traditional harvesting of the oysters and tasting of oyster dishes. To complete the nature tourism product development, prototypes of souvenirs are made from shells of the new oysters. For conservation purpose, souvenirs were also made from common species. This recommendation to officiate the designation of MRV would be made to the state government of Johore, through the Muar District Office

Occurrence of volatile organic compounds and extrafloral nectaries in tropical rainforest species in Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia

Plants synthesize numerous classes of secondary metabolites that are crucial in plant defense. Two of the common but non-ubiquitous defenses are the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and production of extrafloral nectaries (EFN). This study investigates the occurrence of emission of VOC and production of EFN in forest species in Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia. From the 165 species screened, 131 species were found to emit VOC while 41 species were EFN-bearing plants. There are 34 species that are both emitting VOC and producing EFN, while 97 species were found to be emitting VOC with no EFN observed. On the other hand, there are 7 species that were EFN bearing but non-VOC emitter, while 27 species were neither emitting VOC nor producing EFN. All 12 dipterocarp species were observed to emit VOC, of these 3 are non-EFN bearing. VOC emissions were further classified into isoprene (C5) and monoterpene (C10) compounds. There are 46 species that were detected to emit both isoprene and monoterpenes, while there are more exclusive monoterpene emitters (62 species) than isoprene-only emitters (23 species). This study showcased the ability of plants to produce a wide array of secondary metabolites as plant defense making them successfully adapt to the complexities of tropical rainforest ecosystem

Plastic collapse and energy absorption of empty circular aluminum tube under transverse quasi-static loading

This paper presents an experimental investigation on plastic collapse and energy absorption of empty circular aluminum tubes under quasi-static transverse loading. Tubular structures being a critical demand as material saving, high energy absorption and good strength characteristics were of major concerns due to its wall thinness, and so, its various diameter-to-thickness (D/t) ratios and span lengths. Studies found that empty circular Al-tube structure subjected to transverse standard three-point bending loading undergone three plastic deformation phases, starting with crumpling phase, crumpling and buckling phase, and lastly the structural collapse. The results found that energy absorption of empty aluminum tubes for a constant D/t ratio decreases as span length. On the contrary, the energy absorption of empty aluminum tubes for a given constant span length increases with the increase in D/t ratio

Development of high voltage pulse inducement method for biological cell

— Electroporation (EP) system is a process of controlling cell functions by using electromagnetic fields (EMF) to create pores through a cellular membrane that causes cell lysis and apoptosis. In this paper we present an experimental setup for fundamental studies on cell EP. An adjustable high voltage pulse generator (3kV/10μs – 600μs pulse length) system were connected to the EP chamber which subsequently allow real time observation of membrane permeability changes and cellular physiology. In order to initiate higher cell viability rate, high transfection efficiency, lower sample contamination and smaller Joule heating the modification of EP chamber need to be implemented. . Following that, HeLa cell culture has been projected as cell that will be used in this study. Finally, some suggestions are proposed for the future studies

Analytical approach to unidirectional flow of non-Newtonian fluids of differential type

This thesis is regarding the development of mathematical models and analytical techniques for non-Newtonian fluids of differential types on a vertical plate, horizontal channel, vertical channel, capillary tube and horizontal cylinder. For a vertical plate, a mathematical model of the unsteady flow of second-grade fluid generated by an oscillating wall with transpiration, and the problem of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of third-grade fluid in a porous medium, have been developed. General solutions for the second-grade fluid are derived using Laplace transform, perturbation and variable separation techniques, while for the third-grade fluid are derived using symmetry reduction and new modified homotopy perturbation method (HPM). For a horizontal channel, a new analytical algorithm to solve transient flow of third-grade fluid generated by an oscillating upper wall has been proposed. A new approach of the optimal homotopy asymptotic method (OHAM) have been proposed to solve steady mixed convection flows of fourth-grade fluid in a vertical channel. The accuracy of the approximate solution is achieved through the residual function. For a capillary tube, two flow problems of the second-grade fluid were developed. Firstly, oscillating flow and heat transfer driven by a sinusoidal pressure waveform, and secondly, free convection flow driven due to the reactive nature of the viscoelastic fluid. The solutions for the first problem were derived using Bessel transform technique while for the second problem by using a new modified homotopy perturbation transform method. For a horizontal cylinder, an unsteady third-grade fluid in a wire coating process inside a cylindrical die is developed. A special case of the problem is obtained for magnetohydrodynamic flow with heat transfer for second-grade fluid. Both of these two problems are solved using a new modified homotopy perturbation transform method. Data, graph and solutions obtained are shown and were found in good agreement with previous studies