Water consumption pattern of urban households in Johor Bahru

Knowledge about water consumption is necessary for water resource planning and development. In the past, many countries in the world including Malaysia adopted the supply management approach for the management of water resources. The conventional supply approach has been proven to be insufficient to cope with increasing water demand to meet changing standards in water utilization. As a new approach in water planning and management, not many studies have been undertaken on analyzing water consumption of Malaysian water consumers. Hence, this research is aimed towards understanding the water usage, awareness, attitudes and perception of water consumers in a major urban area of Johor Bahru District, Malaysia. The study was conducted with four hundred (N=400) sampled respondents comprising of residents of planned housing areas, traditional village, new village and squatter settlements. A questionnaire administered randomly to the selected respondents based on housing type, settlement type and some socio-economic criteria. The data analysis techniques applied are descriptive analysis and inferential analysis using Chi-Square Test. The result had identified that the average water consumption of Johor Bahru is 566 litre per capita per day. Housing type, type of settlement, ethnicity, age, numbers of household, level of education and income have significant effect on water consumption among households. The attitude towards water conservation is not encouraging as only about half of the opinion that conserving water is necessary. The finding indicates that in order to change human behavioral towards water conservation, economic alternative can foster attitude or behavioral shifts. For instance, setting and enforcing higher prices can encourage lower consumption

Physicochemical Properties and Stability of Emulsions Containing Carotenoid-Rich Pumpkin Extract, Whey Protein Concentrate and Carboxymethylcellulose

A response surface methodology with a central composite design was employed to investigate the effects of Carotenoid-Rich Pumpkin Extract (CE), Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC), and Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) on the physicochemical properties and stability of emulsions. The WPC-CMC synergism resulted in the formation of a thick layer around the droplets, thus improving the emulsion system. The optimum levels of CE, WPC, and CMC were determined to be 6.00, 2.00, and 0.87%, respectively, to provide the desired emulsion with a pH of 4.18, a carotenoid degradation stability index of 0.88, a peroxide formation stability index of 0.77, and an apparent viscosity of 0.61 Pa.s

Optimisation of organic matter removal from landfill leachate using ferrous (II)/ persulfate (PS) System

. Fe (II) activated Persulfate (PS) enhanced with reducing agent, Hydroxylamine (HA) was selected in this study for landfill leachate treatment. Central composite design (CCD) under response surface methodology (RSM) was used to design the experiment and predict the optimum operating conditions. The effects of independent parameters Persulfate dose, Fe (II) Dose, Hydroxylamine dose, pH level and Reaction time were investigated with effluent COD concentration and COD removal efficiency as responses. Based on the ANOVA analysis, it was found that all the parameters and their interactions played a role in the treatment of landfill leachate. The optimum treatment condition was 0.58 µM, 38 µM, 15 µM, 2.13, and 31 minutes for PS dose, Fe (II) dose, Hydroxylamine dose, pH level and reaction time, respectively. The optimum condition was predicted to achieve effluent COD of 642 mg/L and COD Removal of 56%. The experimental values obtained under optimum conditions were 967 mg/L and 70%, respectively; variations attributed to the varying influent composition of leachate. The study found that Fe (II) activated PS enhanced with Hydroxylamine can be used to remove COD from landfill leachate

Optimisation of organic matter removal from landfill leachate using ferrous (II)/Persulfate (PS) system

Fe (II) activated Persulfate (PS) enhanced with reducing agent, Hydroxylamine (HA) was selected in this study for landfill leachate treatment. Central composite design (CCD) under response surface methodology (RSM) was used to design the experiment and predict the optimum operating conditions. The effects of independent parameters Persulfate dose, Fe (II) Dose, Hydroxylamine dose, pH level and Reaction time were investigated with effluent COD concentration and COD removal efficiency as responses. Based on the ANOVA analysis, it was found that all the parameters and their interactions played a role in the treatment of landfill leachate. The optimum treatment condition was 0.58 μM, 38 μM, 15 μM, 2.13, and 31 minutes for PS dose, Fe (II) dose, Hydroxylamine dose, pH level and reaction time, respectively. The optimum condition was predicted to achieve effluent COD of 642 mg/L and COD Removal of 56%. The experimental values obtained under optimum conditions were 967 mg/L and 70%, respectively; variations attributed to the varying influent composition of leachate. The study found that Fe (II) activated PS enhanced with Hydroxylamine can be used to remove COD from landfill leachate

Use of spent garnet in industry: A review

Globally, the increasing concrete production also creates growing demand for growing natural sand which is one of the vital mixing ingredients that act as filler to form a dense concrete. Excessive harvesting of river sand results in its depletion and destroys the existing river environment creating an imbalance ecosystem. Integrating industrial by-product as an alternative material to reduce the dependency on sand supply is attractive to ensure the sustainability of rivers. In relation to that, spent garnet which is derived from the surface treatment process in shipping industry and usually disposed as waste at landfill is one of the choices. Continuous practice of dumping this waste would consume the precious land space and pollutes the environment. Realization on the importance of environment sustainability has driven researchers to discover the possible use of spent garnet as sand replacement in concrete. Thus, this paper presents reviews related to properties spent garnet and its effect on concrete performance. On overall, the integration of suitable amount of spent garnet provides encouraging strength result. Success in integrating spent garnet as sand replacement in modern concrete would reduce its dumping at landfill thus contributing to cleaner earth and sustainable river environment

Soil problems in housing development projects: a legal analysis

Soil problems in housing projects are potentially hazardous to house purchasers,neighborhood residents as well as the public safety with consequential economic loss. Although there are guidelines and policies supporting the housing industry in Malaysia, the occurrence of problematic soils in housing projects still persists as little regulatory control on housing project being carried out. In addition, there is no currently specific regulation exists in Malaysia to govern soil fitness in housing development projects.Soil problems are natural hazards that include land slide, soil erosion, unsuitable site conditions, or instability land location that triggering building collapses and failures to the detriment of house purchaser and stakeholders. In essence, this writing provides description on the study of legal issues pertaining to soil problems in housing projects that occur right from the outset of the development till the completion of the housing projects. These problems are diverse and the lack of enforcement in the legal framework is the primary factor. This paper aims to review the laws governing problematic soils whether the provisions had been incorporated in Street Drainage Building Act 1974, Town Country Planning Act 1976, Uniform Building By-Law 1984, and National Land Code 1965.Similarly, other related acts that govern the soil problem will be examined too. By using legal research method, the study adopts case law where judicial decision being the primary source to highlight the legal problems in relation to problematic soils. The study also includes interview that forms as part of the research validity. It is timely that these legislation's need to clearly define the responsibility and liability of stakeholders and the local authority which this stand as loopholes in the law. This issue of soil problems is not resolved, and the public complaints are mounting which if not well addressed, it is anticipated that the housing industry will experience future catastrophic losses. It is always the house purchasers who become victims and residents living in the neighborhood might be affected too

Optimization of mixing parameters on techno-functional properties of fenugreek gum-soy protein isolate dispersion

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) gum (FG) has been identified as a hydrocolloid, with promising emulsifying and stabilizing properties. In an emulsion-based food system, these properties dramatically increased when FG was mixed with soy protein isolate (SPI). Nevertheless, it is highly dependent on mixing parameters such as FG:SPI ratio, pH, and temperature, and it is currently not well understood. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of FG:SPI ratio (3:1 - 1:1), pH (3 - 9), and temperature (65 - 85 °C) on techno-functional properties (flow properties, emulsifying properties, and turbidity) of the FG-SPI dispersion, to reveal the optimum mixing parameters. A response surface regression modeling demonstrated that the quadratic effect of the FG:SPI ratio had significantly (p<0.05) increased the flow properties of the dispersion. However, the interaction between FG:SPI ratio and temperature or pH gave the opposite effect. The FG:SPI ratio had the most significant (p<0.05) increasing effect on both emulsifying properties and turbidity. Conversely, the emulsifying properties were determined to decrease with the interaction effect of FG:SPI ratio and pH. The optimized mixing parameters were recorded at FG:SPI ratio of 2.6:1, pH of 3.0, and temperature of 70 °C, with apparent viscosity (0.19 Pa.s), emulsion stability (100%), and turbidity (2.91, Abs600) values were within the predicted ranges. The present findings provide an excellent opportunity to advance the use of FG-SPI dispersion in related to emulsion-based food products

Mechanical properties and acid resistance of oil palm shell lightweight aggregate concrete containing coal bottom ash

Excessive use of natural river sand causes degradation of river environment scenery and water quality as well as certain flora and fauna in the area. At the same time, continues generation of by-product from palm oil industry and coal power plants namely oil palm shell and coal bottom ash calls for the utilization of these waste in material production rather than disposing it as waste. The present research investigates the mechanical properties and acid resistance of oil palm shell lightweight aggregate concrete containing coal bottom ash as partial sand replacement. Four types of concrete mixes were casted by using coal bottom ash as partial sand replacement from 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% by weight of sand. All specimens were air cured until the testing age. The compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of concrete were tested at 7, 28 and 60 days. The resistance of specimen against acid attack was evaluated by measuring the mass loss and compressive strength after concrete cubes exposed to sulphuric acid solution. The results show that OPS lightweight aggregate concrete exhibit higher compressive and splitting tensile strength also enhanced acid resistance upon inclusion of 10% of coal bottom ash as sand replacement

Induction of selective cytotoxicity and apoptosis in human T4-lymphoblastoid cell line (CEMss) by boesenbergin a isolated from boesenbergia rotunda rhizomes involves mitochondrial pathway, activation of caspase 3 and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest

Background Boesenbergia rotunda (Roxb.) Schlecht (family zingiberaceae) is a rhizomatous herb that is distributed from north-eastern India to south-east Asia, especially in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Previous research has shown that the crude extract of this plant has cytotoxic properties. The current study examines the cytotoxic properties of boesenbergin A isolated from Boesenbergia rotunda. Methods MTT assay was used to check the cytotoxicity of boesenbergin A. The morphological assessment of apoptosis was monitored using normal and fluorescence microscopy. The early and late phase of apoptosis was investigated using annexin V and DNA laddering assays, respectively. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was assessed by fluorescence microscopy. Human apoptosis proteome profiler assays were performed to investigate the mechanism of cell death. In addition, the protein levels of Bax, Bcl2 and HSP 70 were also analyzed using western blot. Assays of caspase =-3/7, -8 and =-9 were carried out in order to test for induction during treatment. Lastly, cell cycle progression was analyzed using flow cytometry. Results Boesenbergin A was found to have the highest toxicity towards CEMss cancer cells (IC50 = 8 μg/ml). The morphology of CEMss cells after treatment showed evidence of apoptosis that included blebbing and chromatin condensation. The annexin V assay revealed that early apoptosis is induced after treatment. The DNA laddering assay confirmed that DNA fragmentation had occurred during late apoptosis. The cell cycle analysis indicated that boesenbergin A was able to induce G2/M phase arrest in CEMss cells. The activity of caspases -3/7, -8 and -9 was increased after treatment which indicates both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways are induced during apoptosis. The involvement of mitochondria was established by increased mitochondrial membrane potential and up and down regulation of Bcl2 and Bax proteins as well as HSP70. Conclusion In conclusion, the results demonstrated that boesenbergin A induced apoptosis of CEMss cells through Bcl2/Bax signaling pathways with the involvement of caspases and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. The current findings warrant further research on boesenbergin A as a novel chemotherapeutic agent for leukemia intervention including studies in animal models

A study on borrower choice and market competition in Singapore’s moneylending market

This paper uses data obtained from Onelyst, an online loan matching platform to study the Singapore moneylending market. We explored two main research questions: what offer terms are borrowers most concerned with when making an offer acceptance decision (Choice Model) and whether lenders compete to offer more favourable loan terms (Competition Model). The Choice Model utilizes the Conditional Logistic Regression Model to understand how borrowers make decisions when faced with multiple loan offers, and the results show that amongst the various offer characteristics available in our data, borrowers are most concerned with the Offer Amount-to-Request Amount Ratio (Offer-Request Ratio), Interest Rate, and Distance between them and the moneylender. The result has regulatory implications, as authorities have mainly focused on regulating the licensed moneylending market via restrictions on interest rates, and have in fact banned the geographic entry of moneylenders; however, our results show that preventing such entry could be undesirable for borrowers. The Competition Model builds on the findings of the Choice Model and examines if lenders compete by lowering Interest Rates and increasing Offer-Request Ratio. We used a Two-Stage Least Squares Regression (2SLS) to correct for omitted variable bias in the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) Regression. The results were insignificant for Offer-Request Ratio but highly significant for Interest Rate, where the 2SLS estimates show that the marginal offer induced by market competition reduces interest rate significantly, while the marginal endogenous offer has negligible impact. This shows that competition is in fact beneficial to borrowers, and that regulators should reconsider anti-competitive measures in the future.Bachelor of Art