A survey of students' attitude towards occult and paranormal pulp magazines at a Technical University College in Malaysia: A question of value

In Malaysia, pulp magazines and tabloids that deal with the occult and the paranormal are ubiquitous. They are very popular with the masses but not much research has been done on them. This paper, therefore, hopes to bridge that gap and study, though in a somewhat preliminary and limited scope, the extent to which students at a technical university college in Malaysia identify with these magazines from a value perspective. This paper hopes to act as a platform for a more comprehensive and definitive study in the near future

Polysulfone mixed matrix membranes with biosynthesis nanoparticles: enhancement of interface compatibility and antibacterial membrane seperation process

This study investigates the effect of biosynthesis silver nanoparticles (bio-AgNPs) structure towards PSf membranes performance. The addition of bio-AgNPs in the membrane formulation was aimed to improve antibacterial properties and interface compatibility of the polymer mixed matric membrane. In this work, facile green synthesis method of silver nanoparticles was prepared using Parkia speciosa (Petai) leaves extract silver nitrate aqueous solution. The bio-AgNPs/PSf membranes was fabricated using phase-inversion process. Characterization of the synthesized bio�AgNPs and mixed matrix membranes via UV-Vis spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Surface plasmon resonance for bio-AgNPs was assigned at 465 nm with brown colour. FTIR spectroscopy identified the biomolecules capped on the surface of nanoparticles are phenol, flavonoid and terpenoid compounds. The microstructure and structural analyses had shown that AgNPs possessed good characteristics with spherical shapes, small average size of particles (59.96 nm), and small crystallite size. The bio-AgNPs also showed significant potential antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The addition of bio-AgNPs was able to enhance the hydrophilicity of composite PSf membranes which proved by decreasing the value of contact angle. Meanwhile, structure on bottom layer shown a porous bulk with finger-like structure and macroviod structure which is responsible for mechanical support. Finger-like structure on top layer became smaller with increment of bio-AgNPs because of its hydrophilicity properties. Hence, the pure water flux also will increase because the hydrophilicity properties was an essential factor for water permeability. The molecular interaction between molecules was investigated using Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and silver leaching analysis by Inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). vi As revealed, the strength of molecular interaction between AgNPs and PSf molecules was improved with addition of bio-AgNPs. Hence, overall the results showed that the incorporation of bio-AgNPs able to improve antibacterial properties and interface compatibility of the polymer mixed matric membran

Experimental evaluation of new pipe sleeve with weep holes for concrete leakage prevention

Mortar is a layer with high water absorption rate over concrete due to its porous structure. The mortar layer that frequently exposed to water or moisture is more likely to contain moisture in its layer. The example of area that is mostly exposed to water is the bathroom. The water infiltrated and trapped in the mortar slab in the bathroom will eventually increase the moisture content of the mortar slab and will raise many problems such as the deterioration of the building structure surface. Therefore, this study has been carried out to produce a technology to remove the trapped water in the mortar slab and to reduce the moisture content in the mortar layer. The infiltration rate of the water into the mortar slabs installed with the conventional pipe sleeve (T1), the circular weep-holes pipe sleeve (T2), the vertical weep-holes pipe sleeve (T3) and the inclined weep-holes pipe sleeve (T4) have been measured and the results show that T4 has recorded the highest reading of 7.74 ml/min compared to other pipe sleeves. Besides that, T4 has also recorded the highest water flow rate out of the mortar with 1.31 ml/min and recorded the lowest moisture content of 10.1%. Inclined weep-holes pipe sleeve was proven able to work better than other designs. Therefore, the New Pipe Sleeve (NPS) performance with inclined weep-holes designs are studied in depth by changing the weep-holes angles to 15°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 75° and weep-holes surface area of 6%, 8% and 10%. As a result, the weep-holes angle of 60° with 10% weep-holes surface area has recorded the highest water infiltration rate and water flow rate out of the mortar with 20.898 ml/min and 3.764 ml/min, respectively, obtaining the highest reduction of the moisture content by 3.1%. The optimum performance of the pipe sleeve with inclined weep-holes design has been proposed by using Design Expert Software and the optimum performance can be achieved with the used of the weep-holes angle of 69.55° and 10% weep-holes surface area, producing water infiltration rate of 20.4513 ml/min and water flow rate out of the mortar of 3.3795 ml/min. Therefore, application of optimise design of weep-holes has promising potential method to reduce leakage and fungi problem that normally occurred in bathroom area

Development of Spreadsheet MRP model for Panel Front Door Left Hand Side Assembly

The project focus on the development spreedsheet model of material requirement planning (MRP) for panel front door left hand side assembly for an automotive part. The objective of the study was to identify the elements of MRP implementation and develop the model. Three major inputs required to develop MRP model were identified. There were production schedule for the panel front door left hand side assembly, inventory status records, and bill of material of the components. Using the inputs, mathematical modelling of products was developed and integrated using a spreadsheet, the model was expanded to MRP model. The developed MRP was used to prepare MRP for 12 components of the panel. Simulation results indicate the MRP was able to estimate the net requirements for all components for each period based on lot-for-lot

Linear root water uptake by vegetation

The performance of a simple model with a linear root water extraction term that varies with time is presented in this paper. The research is based on the use of a one-dimensional form of Richard’s Equation for unsaturated moisture flow including a sink term. A numerical solution has been achieved via the finite element method for spatial discretisation along with a finite difference time-marching scheme. The model is assessed via a series of simulations of water uptake beneath uniform crop cover. A good correlation between the field data and simulated results has been achieved. This relatively straight forward approach is seemed more suitable for development and application to a range of geoengineering problems such as slope stability, shrinkage and heave prediction

Studentification is it a key factor within the residential decision-making process in Kuala Lumpur?

Studentification is the process that generates from residential concentration of Higher education students and accompanied by spatial structure transformations which has social, economic, cultural and physical impacts in districts enclaves of university campuses or higher education institutes. This process is believed to have some influences like gentrification and can stimulate social segregation and the widening socio-spatial polarization of different social groups, via the displacement of established residential groups. Studentification has been represented as a BritiSh phenomenon; although; recent evidence suggests that it occurs within other international contexts. The important key factor in this regard is the government-sponsored expansion of higher education to foster global economic competitiveness and innovation via knowledge-based economies and societies. In this paper we wish to scrutinize the meaning, causes and consequences of studentification and raise questions about some of underlying influences and effects of current and future forms of urban change in Kuala Lumpur city. We do this by focusing upon the relationships between national agenda in terms of economic and knowledge development and regional as well as local plans and strategies, and consider how process of studentification may be instrumental to the production of gentrifiers within Kuala Lumpur city context. The outcome of this study will support the residential decision making process

Glycomic Analysis of Biomedically Important O-glycoconjugates

It has been established that all cells carry an array of glycans attached to proteins and lipids that are crucial in the interaction between cells and the surrounding matrix. Proteins are mainly glycosylated on asparagines (N-glycosylation) and serine or threonine residues (O-glycosylation). Compared to N-glycans, O-glycans offer a higher degree of structural ambiguity due to the existence of several types and cores. This is believed to contribute to the relative lack of knowledge on these molecules. Therefore, improvement to the current methodologies of structural studies is a prerequisite to complement the immense functional findings of O-glycoconjugates in biological systems. This thesis discusses the structural characterisation, regulation and biological roles of O-glycans. The overall aim was to optimise O-glycomic mass spectrometric analysis to help illuminate the phenotypic findings from our collaborators in three separate but related projects. The methodologies utilised involving MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS, GC-EI-MS, ESI-QTOF-MS and MALDI-QIT-TOF-MS. The first project investigated the effects of core 2 GlcNAc transferase (C2GnT) deficiency in mice. This enzyme exists in three isoforms which are expressed differently in different tissues. Analysis of the single knockout of each of these isoenzymes as well as the triple knockouts has allowed the investigation of their unique and overlapping functions. The outcomes of this study include characterisation of alterations of not just mucin-type O-glycans but also O-mannose glycan, which could be associated with several organ lesions and system failures. The second project focused on the gastric mucosa of mice with deficiency in α1,2-fucosyltranferase (FuT2). This enzyme plays an important role in decorating the mucosal mucins with ABH-blood group and Lewis antigens that are known to interact with various gut flora including the pathogen Helicobacter pylori. It has been shown that the binding of H. pylori via BabA adhesins was significantly impaired with the loss of H antigens and Lewis y on O-glycans. The third project investigated the regulation of mucin-type O-glycosylation. The protein Src has been recognised to play an essential role in the localisation of ppGalNAc transferases, the initiating enzyme of O-glycosylation, in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Therefore, it could be inferred that Src influences the regulation of protein O-glycosylation. The NIH3T3 and NBT-II cell lines with different levels of Src or different localisation of ppGalNAcT-2 have been analysed in order to identify the changes on the structures of O-glycans and the relative abundances of cores 1 and 2. Valuable information has been gathered which could lead to further investigative work to better understand the role of Src in the regulation of protein O-glycosylation

GPS based vehicle tracking system

The research is about creating a system for tracking vehicle. Objective of the research is to design and develop a GPS based Vehicle Tracking System in order to display location of vehicle on Google Maps. This system used Arduino MEGA as a microcontroller and it will be used as the main processing unit. Next, Ublox NEO-6m GPS module is used to routing the coordinate while SIM 900A GSM module is used to connecting with the user. The product was successfully run at outdoor and having some problem at indoor due to GPS module cannot extract the accurate coordinate when there is a roof or obstructer that block the direct signal connection between the GPS and satellite. For the next improvement, the researcher can use the high quality of GPS module to connect with satellite. An example, GPS NEO-6P module where it can collect data more accurate and stay connect to the satellite

Factors that contribute to obesity problem among UTHM catering student

Negative perception by the society and the hospitality industry toward the disabled people is very high and it has to be changed and this parties should be given opportunity to work in this industry. Rosli, et al (2011) states the acceptance in the small and medium industries towards the disabled is at moderate level. However, in 2005, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (KPTM) has initiated Polytechnic Ibrahim Sultan, Johor Bahru conduct a pioneer program to produce graduates with disabilities (OKU) with hearing impairments for a career in the hotel industry. Related to the situation, some lecturers were sent to attend sign language courses for the preparation for the program, some facilities were updated to fit their needs. To this present Polytechnic Ibrahim Sultan, Johor Bahru has produced hundreds of OKU graduates. It is hope that the graduates produced from this program could reduce the number of foreign worker working in the industry. Dependence on foreign workers should be reduced because there are almost 2.6 million people with special needs in Malaysia. Some of them have been able to pursue their studies to diploma and Bachelor degrees. Through the development of education they are participated in, it is hoped that they will also contribute to the country's economy. The Government of Malaysia is in the effort to transform employers' perceptions towards this group to be more positive. Thus, several initiatives or benefits had been made by the Government of Malaysia to attract more government link companies (GLC) and private firms to hire people from this group. However there are also some challenges and obstacles faced by the industry in accepting these graduates at their company. Taheing (1996) states that in its study it has been able to identify problems that limit the employment of disabled persons including physiological factors, disability due to defects, occupational types, gender factors, workplace environment, personality, illness and other disabilities. This is a challenge and obstacle faced by the employer in hiring the disabled graduates in their industry. Therefore, the industry is highly concerned with the selection of highly capable employees in helping to increase profits to the company