Synthesize of gold nanoparticles with 532 NM and 1064 NM pulse laser ablation

The effect of laser wavelength on gold nanoparticle fabrication is reported. Colloidal solutions of gold nanoparticles were prepared by pulsed laser ablation technique in deionized water. A Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with constant energy of 65mJ and operation at fundamental wavelength and second harmonic generation was utilized as a source of energy. Fabricated particles were characterized by using Smart Nanoparticles Measurements (SNM) system. The average diameters of gold nanoparticles achieved as19 nm and 12 nm corresponding to 1064 nm and 532 nm respectively. The fragmentation of colloidal particles by self-absorption of laser pulses is the responsible mechanism to cause for reduction

Development of Electronic Commerce Adoption Model based on Structural Equation Modeling Techniques

Advance Communication Technologies are playing a vital role in business today. In the world currently, many developing nations identified Small and Medium Scale organizations significantly important in counties2019; economic development. But the contribution from the SME sector is considerably low. Therefore, addressing this issue is important in business development. Among many reasons identified as barriers for SMEs to perform, studies have identified that low usage or not using technologies like E-commerce effected to this low performance. Therefore, studies are conducted to identify barriers to use technology in SMEs and many frameworks are tested and verified in different domains. In this study mainly tested and varied a framework which is considering Information Technological factors effecting the adoption of E-commerce technology and how it is effected for SME development. In this study framework is developed using literature analysis and hypothesis are developed based on past studies in terms of Information Technology factors as a main consideration. Model testing part is done using Structural Equation Molding using IBM AMOS. At the end of the study proposed framework is modified with statistical results and finally presented a framework which can be considered as a framework to understand the Information Technology factors effecting the E-commerce adoption and SME development

Persepsi industri hospitaliti terhadap golongan pekerja berkeperluan khas (masalah pendengaran)

Kerjaya merupakan salah satu keperluan bagi setiap manusia samada golongan normal mahupun golongan berkeperluan khas. Kerjaya merupakan laluan bagi manusia untuk mencari sumber pendapatan untuk memastikan kelangsungan hidup. Namun, terdapat isu berkaitan pengangguran terhadap golongan berkeperluan khas. Oleh itu kajian ini dilaksanakan untuk mengenal pasti persepsi industri hospitaliti terhadap golongan berkeperluan khas (masalah pendengaran) serta mengenal pasti cabaran yang dihadapi oleh industri dalam pengambilan pekerja berkeperluan khas (masalah pendengaran). Selain itu kajian ini juga dijalankan untuk mengenal pasti keperluan kriteria yang diharapkan oleh industri hospitaliti. Kajian ini melibatkan 28 syarikat di bawah sektor hospitaliti yang terdapat di sekitar Batu Pahat dan Muar, Johor. Seramai 88 orang majikan yang terdiri daripada pengurus, penyelia, ketua-ketua bahagian dan pekerja yang terlibat dengan pekerja berkeperluan khas (masalah pendengaran) adalah responden dalam kajian ini. Kajian ini menggunakan borang soal selidik sebagai instrument kajian. Data yang diperoleh dianalisis menggunakan kaedah deskriptif menggunakan perisian SPSS (Statistic Package for the Social Science) versi 16.0. Hasil dapatan menunjukkan tahap penerimaan industri hospitaliti terhadap golongan pekerja berkeperluan khas (masalah pendengaran) berada pada tahap sederhana

Adsorption of methylene blue by imperata cylindrica: Reaction optimization by response surface methodology (RSM)

Imperata Cylindrica (IC) is a solid waste that is readily available throughout the year known as one of the most important weed in the world and frequently causes major disposal issues. As a result, using IC as a low-cost adsorbent is beneficial from both, economic and environmental standpoint to remove colors from wastewater of textile industry. This work studies the reaction optimization of methylene blue (MB) removal using IC by response surface methodology (RSM). The RSM experiments were designed with 4 independent variables (initial adsorbent dosage, initial pH, initial dye concentration, and initial temperature) and 1 response variable (percent removal of MB). According to the pareto figure, the initial pH demonstrated the greatest impact on the percent removal of MB. The RSM data predicted the optimum condition of MB removal up to 86.61% using IC, by utilizing adsorbent dosage of 1.458 g/L, at 42 oC, initial pH of 6.8 and MB concentration of 235 ppm. The chacterization analysis revealed the physicochemical properties of IC in the adsoprtion process

Ergogenic, anti-diabetic and antioxidant attributes of selected Malaysian herbs: characterisation of flavonoids and correlation of functional activities

In the present work, aqueous ethanolic (60% ethanol) extracts from selected Malaysian herbs including Murraya koenigii L. Spreng, Lawsonia inermis L., Cosmos caudatus Kunth, Piper betle L., and P. sarmentosum Roxb. were evaluated for their ergogenic, anti-diabetic and antioxidant potentials. Results showed that the analysed herbs had ergogenic property and were able to activate 5'AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in a concentration dependant manner. The highest AMPK activation was exhibited by M. koenigii extract which showed no significant (p > 0.05) difference with green tea (positive control). For anti-diabetic potential, the highest α-glucosidase inhibition was exhibited by M. koenigii extract with IC50 of 43.35 ± 7.5 μg/mL, which was higher than acarbose (positive control). The determinations of free radical scavenging activity and total phenolics content (TPC) indicated that the analysed herbs had good antioxidant activity. However, C. caudatus extract showed superior antioxidant activity with IC50 against free radical and TPC of 21.12 ± 3.20 μg/mL and 221.61 ± 7.49 mg GAE/g, respectively. RP-HPLC analysis established the presence of flavonoids in the herbs wherein L. inermis contained the highest flavonoid (catechin, epicatechin, naringin and rutin) content (668.87 mg/kg of extract). Correlations between the analyses were conducted, and revealed incoherent trends. Overall, M. koenigii was noted to be the most potent herb for enhancement of AMPK activity and α-glucosidase inhibition but exhibited moderate antioxidant activity. These results revealed that the selected herbs could be potential sources of natural ergogenic and anti-diabetic/antioxidant agents due to their rich profile of phenolics. Further analysis in vivo should be carried out to further elucidate the mechanism of actions of these herbs as ergogenic aids and anti-diabetic/antioxidant agents

Ramification of pH in pectinase-assisted extraction on the antioxidant capacity of Arabica spent coffee ground (SCG) extract

Spent coffee ground (SCG) is the by-product of coffee processing that is produced up to 45% in coffee beverage and instant coffee processing and is believed to contain high amounts of antioxidants. Despite the fact that SCG has exerted many advantages, the information on obtaining the antioxidant values using enzymes are still scarce. The objective of the study was therefore to determine the total phenolic and flavonoid content of antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity in Arabica SCG extracted using pectinase at different pH values. Arabica SCG was extracted using pectinase at pH 3, pH 4, pH 5, pH 6 and pH 7 and analyzed for its anti-microbial activity and antioxidant properties (DPPH, FRAP, total phenolic and total flavonoid content along with individual flavonoids using HPLC). Arabica SCG was extracted using pectinase at pH 3, pH 4, pH 5, pH 6 and pH 7 and analyzed for its antimicrobial activity and antioxidant properties (DPPH, FRAP, total phenolic and total flavonoid content along with individual flavonoids using HPLC). The result showed that the antioxidant capacity of the SCG extract at pH 4 exhibited higher DPPH and FRAP values. The total phenolic and flavonoid content exhibited in (1.38±4.42, mg GAE/g sample and 22.57±0.27 mg QE/g of dry sample). Flavonoids namely quercetin, kaempferol, rutin, gallic acid, catechin, epigallocatechin gallate, pcoumaric acid and myricetin were present in all samples at various levels. The SCG in pH 7 extract showed the highest concentrations of the individual flavonoid compound in the sample and the highest inhibition zone on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, the optimum pH of the pectinase which is pH 4-5 had provided the highest yield in antioxidant capacity and activity of the Arabica SCG extract with this extraction method that can be used for food preservation as well as in the nutraceutical industry

Integrated control of electrical discharge machining (EDM) using PSoC

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is one of the earliest non-conventional machining in order to manufacture very accurate 3-D complex components on any electrically conductive materials. In die-sinking EDM, a pulse discharge occurs in a small spark gap between electrically conductive workpiece and electrode in dielectric medium. This paper proposed a new integrated control system using Programmable System-on-Chip (PSoC) for Die-sinking EDM in order to enhance Material Removal Rate (MRR). The MRR result of EDM-PSoC system is higher than EDM-Ben Fleming system due to the effect off high speed processing data analysis using PID algorithm in PSoC microcontroller and leads to improving system efficiency 41%

Fluorescence dynamics of graphene quantum dots for detecting lard substance

Graphene Quantum Dots (GQD) is used for detecting lard substance. It is discovered that the fluorescence for a GQD with a size approximately 5nm in size will have a peak at 675nm. Introducing lard substance to the GQD will induce a broad fluorescence spectrum at the range of 415 till 715nm. Higher fluorescence is observed from 760nm till 860nm showing the dynamics fluorescence changes when lard is applied. These fluorescence dynamics when lard is introduced is due to the functional groups of Carbon-Carbon interaction between GQD and lard

Effects of elevated temperature on high performance concrete incorporating of metakaolin and garnet

Durability has become one of the major indicators to dictate a good quality of concrete. Rapid growing in construction leads to the demand of high strength concrete which can bear high stress and high resistance towards any hazard and harsh environment thus providing a safe structure. High performance concrete (HPC) has been identified as one of the advanced types of concrete that can fulfill the criteria. Hence, in this study resistance towards elevated temperature of HPC incorporating 10% of metakaolin as part of cementitious material and 50% of garnet as part of replacement of fine aggregates were investigated. Samples of HPC with metakaolin and garnet (HPCMG) and HPC with metakaolin (HPCM) were exposed to different heating temperature of 200°C, 400°C, 600°C and 800°C for duration of one hour. The changes of physical in color and the appearances of cracks in all samples were closely observed. In addition, compressive strength tests according to BS1881-116:1983 and percentage of weight loss for all the samples were also monitored in this study. Results showed that as the temperature increased, significance losses of compressive strength were detected for both HPCMG and HPCM. At the temperature of 800°C, HPCMG degenerated 86.8% of its strength compared to 71.8% for HPCM. As temperature increased, weight loss of HPCM indicated higher reading compared to HPCMG. Major changes of the physical appearances were also detected in both HPCM and HPCGM samples such as cracks and increment in gap width on the samples. This summarized that HPCM has better fire resistance compared to HPCMG