Escherichia coli growth modeling using neural network

The assessment of water microbial quality is normally performed by verification ofEscherichia coli where the growth is in nonlinearity. NARX is computational tools that haveextensive utilization in solving nonlinear time series problems. It is well known as one of thetechnique that has the ability to predict with efficient and good performance. Using NARX, ahighly accurate model was developed to predict the growth of Escherichia coli (E. coli) basedon pH water parameter. The multiparameter portable sensor and spectrophotometer data wereused to build and train the neural network. The selection of neural network structure for pHand optical density modelling was optimized and also the training and validation wereanalyzed. The result exhibited that NARX modelling was able to predict the growth of E. colibased on pH water parameter with overall regression is 0.99956.Keywords: neural network; NARX; prediction; Escherichia coli; pH; optical density

Generation of dark pulses in a bismuth tellurite based mode-locked erbium-doped fiber laser

We report on the formation of dark pulses in a highly nonlinear fiber laser passively mode-locked by a Bistmuth Tellurite (Bi2Te3) based SA. The SA was fabricated by embedding Bi2Te3 powder into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film by a solution casting technique. By inserting the SA into an EDFL cavity, stable mode-locked operation was achieved at 1592.68 nm with the maximum pulse energy up to 2.38 nJ by adjusting polarization controller. The laser operated at pulse repetition frequency of 1.0 MHz with a pulse width of 215 ns. These results suggested that Bi2Te3 could be developed as an effective SA for mode-locked dark pulses generation in a highly nonlinear cavity

Effect of Surface Hardness on Joint Contact Forces during Barefoot Running: A Pilot Study

This paper presents an experimental pilot study on the effect of different surface hardness to the joint contact force during barefoot running. Peak joint contact forces during the stance phase of a male subject that running barefoot on three types of surface with different hardness level (concrete, artificial grass and rubber) were investigated experimentally. Differences in peak joint contact force at the ankle, medial tibiofemoral, lateral tibiofemoral, hip and patellofemoral due to surface effects were analysed using Freebody (Version2.1) software. The result showed that the pattern of peak joint contact force was similar for ankle with medial tibiofemoral and hip with lateral patellofemoral. The joint contact force was varied in the varying of the surface hardness. The correlation between various surface hardness and joint contact force was found at the ankle and medial tibiofemoral joint. However, the findings of this pilot study provide the insight into the method and approach selected for the experiment be suitable for an actual experiment for more subjects

MEASURING URBAN RESILIENCE USING CLIMATE DISASTER RESILIENCE INDEX (CDRI)

Measuring urban resilience is one of the important processes toward understanding the current and potential future risk of cities to guide the development of suitable policies and strategies related to climate and disaster resilience. Climate Disaster Resilience Index (CDRI) is one of the means to measure urban resilience. CDRI has been adopted at international level and Kuala Lumpur was one of the tested cities. However, in this study the use of CDRI was adjusted by type of disaster, local needs, and the specific study objectives. A comprehensive assessment of all components that include the physical, social, economic, institutions and the environment component were performed to capture the current performance of the case study cities to cope with disasters. This paper aims at testing the CDRI and exploring the importance of measuring urban resilience to gain awareness on the current and potential future risk for better disaster risk management. Findings from the CDRI assessment performed on two cities; Kajang and Ampang Jaya, situated in the state of Selangor were presented. The paper also highlights the underlying factors that inhibit resilience and means on improving the future disaster management and planning of Malaysian cities to become a disaster resilient city. In conclusion, the data obtained from the CDRI assessment able to guide the establishment of Urban Resilience Action Plan for these cities

Reusable Multielectrode Array Technique for Electroencephalography in Awake Freely Moving Mice

Translational comparison of rodent models of neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases to human electroencephalography (EEG) biomarkers in these conditions will require multisite rodent EEG on the skull surface, rather than local area electrocorticography (ECoG) or multisite local field potential (LFP) recording. We have developed a technique for planar multielectrode array (MEA) implantation on the mouse skull surface, which enables multisite EEG in awake and freely moving mice and reusability of the MEA probes. With this method, we reliably obtain 30-channel low-noise EEG from awake mice. Baseline and stimulus-evoked EEG recordings can be readily obtained and analyzed. For example, we have demonstrated EEG responses to auditory stimuli. Broadband noise elicits reliable 30-channel auditory event-related potentials (ERPs), and chirp stimuli induce phase-locked EEG responses just as in human sound presentation paradigms. This method is unique in achieving chronic implantation of novel MEA technology onto the mouse skull surface for chronic multisite EEG recordings. Furthermore, we demonstrate a reliable method for reusing MEA probes for multiple serial implantations without loss of EEG quality. This skull surface MEA methodology can be used to obtain simultaneous multisite EEG recordings and to test EEG biomarkers in diverse mouse models of human neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. Reusability of the MEA probes makes it more cost-effective to deploy this system for various studies

Quality of life satisfaction among converted Kelantan Chinese Muslims

This article investigates the quality of life of the Kelantan Chinese Muslim community before and after conversion to Islam, focusing on their level of satisfaction in term of economic aspect. This research was carried out using the sequential explanatory mixed method design involving 75 respondents selected for quantitative and five respondents for qualitative. The sampling method adopted was convenience and snowball samplings. The research data was collected using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that respondents were moderately satisfied before conversion and satisfied after conversion. Besides that, there is no significant difference of quality of life before and after conversion to Islam (F = 0.868, p = 0.355) and it was not influenced by the period of conversion to Islam (F = 0.832, p = 0.589). This analysis indicates numerous respondents are still moderately satisfied in their quality of life even though the average data shows they are satisfied after conversion

Non-destructive, laser-based individual tree aboveground biomass estimation in a tropical rainforest

Recent methods for detailed and accurate biomass and carbon stock estimation of forests have been driven by advances in remote sensing technology. The conventional approach to biomass estimation heavily relies on the tree species and site-specific allometric equations, which are based on destructive methods. This paper introduces a non-destructive, laser-based approach (terrestrial laser scanner) for individual tree aboveground biomass estimation in the Royal Belum forest reserve, Perak, Malaysia. The study area is in the state park, and it is believed to be one of the oldest rainforests in the world. The point clouds generated for 35 forest plots, using the terrestrial laser scanner, were geo-rectified and cleaned to produce separate point clouds for individual trees. The volumes of tree trunks were estimated based on a cylinder model fitted to the point clouds. The biomasses of tree trunks were calculated by multiplying the volume and the species wood density. The biomasses of branches and leaves were also estimated based on the estimated volume and density values. Branch and leaf volumes were estimated based on the fitted point clouds using an alpha-shape approach. The estimated individual biomass and the total above ground biomass were compared with the aboveground biomass (AGB) value estimated using existing allometric equations and individual tree census data collected in the field. The results show that the combination of a simple single-tree stem reconstruction and wood density can be used to estimate stem biomass comparable to the results usually obtained through existing allometric equations. However, there are several issues associated with the data and method used for branch and leaf biomass estimations, which need further improvement

Alcoholysis of palm oil mid-fraction by lipase from Rhizopus rhizopodiformis

A mycelial lipase from Rhizopus rhizopodiformis was prepared in fragment form. The lipase was examined to catalyze the alcoholysis of palm oil mid-fraction (PMF) in organic solvents. High percentage conversions of PMF to alkyl esters were achieved when methanol or propanol was used as acyl acceptor. Of the two most prevalent fatty acids in PMF, palmitic acid seemed to be preferred over oleic acid in the formation of methyl and propyl esters. The optimal ratio of oil to methanol in the alcoholysis reaction is 1 to 2 moles. The lipase exhibited high alcoholysis activities in nonpolar solvents (log P>2), such as hexane, benzene, toluene, and heptane. The enzyme showed exceptionally high thermostability

Performance of Phytogreen Zone for BOD5 and SS Removal for Refurbishment Conventional Oxidation Pond in an Integrated Phytogreen System

In this study, the effectiveness of an integrated aquatic plants in phytogreen zone was studied and statistical analysis for the promotional integrated phytogreen system approached was discussed. It was found that's the effectiveness of using aquatic plant such as Typha angustifolia sp., Lepironia articulata sp., Limnocharis flava sp., Monochoria vaginalis sp., Pistia stratiotes sp., and Eichhornia crassipes sp., in the conventional oxidation pond process in order to comply the standard A according to Malaysia Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127); Environmental Quality (Sewage) Regulation 2009 for effluent discharge into inland water near the residential area was successfully shown. It was concluded that the integrated phtogreen system developed in this study has great potential for refurbishment wastewater in conventional oxidation pond

Oral cancer and precancer research in Malaysia - the database and tissue resource bank

Introduction: Uncoordinated data collection by different research groups prompted the initiation of Malaysian oral cancer Research Initiative (MOCRI) group. Objectives: To coordinate and standardize data and tissue collection and storage, develop a minimum dataset on risk factors, intervention techniques and quality of life of oral cancer patients. Materials and Methods: A computer software programme is currently being developed to accommodate multi-centre data collection and research activities in eight hospitals. The complete dataset includes parameters on sociodemographic, clinical, pathological, quality of life measures, details of treatment methods, vital status and dietary intake. Tissues are being collected, stored and catalogued as fresh and formalin-fixed tissues for future use in satellite researches. The networking in tissue and data collection includes the establishment of oral cancer cell-lines. These tissues are being planned for studies on genetic profile, genetic polymorphism, diagnostic and prognostic markers. Results: Tissues and data on 115 oral cancers, 9 leukoplakia and 13 lichen planus has been collected since 2003. Preliminary data from 2004 were analysed for 58 cancer patients. Majority of them are more than 60 years old (65.5%) with a mean age of 63.3. Twenty-four (41.4%) were males, 34 (58.6%) females with the majority of them being Indians (56.9%) followed by Chinese and Malays (15.5% each), Indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak (12.1%). Eighteen (31%) respondents were smokers, 17 (29.3%) alcohol drinkers and 31 (53.4%) betel quid chewers. Five patients have had histories of family cancers where 3 included immediate family members with head and neck cancers. For the quality of life measure, only 30.2% felt that their daily activities were disrupted despite having advanced cancers. Satellite researches are in progress on genetic polymorphism and tumour markers. One oral cancer cell-line has been established. Conclusion: The establishment of oral cancer database and tissue bank in encouraging and supports on-going satellite researches. This record was migrated from the OpenDepot repository service in June, 2017 before shutting down