Rivers : our heritage our future

"Inaugural lecture University of Malaya, 9 December 2003"

Factors Controlling Gully Erosion Development in Toroud Basin – Iran

AbstractGully erosion, is often associated as one of the most severe forms of soil erosion processes. And often results in much displacement of the soil mass, culminating in sedimentation, and degradation of the land. Gully erosion has tremendous impacts on human activities which includes decreasing soil nutrients and agriculture productivity, river channel sedimentation and increasing floods and impact on water resources development within a river basin. Considering the challenges faced in semiarid regions, this research tries to evaluate all the factors controlling gully erosion in Toroud basin that there is no comprehensive study on this gully and basin. In order to achieve this goal and providing greater assistance for obtaining all the elements to stop gully erosion expansion, the research examines two major objectives, which focuses on the formation of gully erosion and the short term or long term approach in the extension of gully erosion in Toroud basin- Iran. This research is using software of Ilwis in GIS for preparing the maps and Excel for preparing the graphs. By considering the importance of the subjects and with regard to the fact that studied region contains large and extensive gully which introduces potential hazards for croplands and habitats, and also make it difficult to pass through them, it is required to perform all possible actions which lead to bring an end to the development and expansion of gullies

Spatial Temporal Analysis of Urban Heat Hazard on Education Area (University of Indonesia)

As education area, campus or university is full with various activities which have an impact on the existence of land-use or land-cover. The variation of activities dynamically change the shape of land-use or land-cover within the campus area, thus also create variations in Land Surface Temperature (LST). The LST are impacting the coziness of human activity especially when reaches more than 30 oC. This study used the term Urban Heat Signature (UHS) to explain LST in different land-use or land-cover types. The objective of this study is to examine UHS as an Urban Heat Hazard (UHH) based on Universal Temperature Climate Index (UTCI) and Effective Temperature Index (ETI) in University of Indonesia. Thermal bands of Landsat 8 images (the acquisition year 2013-2015) were used to create LST model. A ground data known as Air Surface Temperature (AST) were used to validate the model. The result showed an increased level of maximum temperature during September-October since 2013 until 2014. The maximum temperature was reduced in October 2014, however it increased again in August 2015. The UTCI showed “moderate” and “strong heat stress”, while EFI showed “uncomfortable” and “very uncomfortable” categories during that period. This research concluded that build up area in UI Campus highest temperature on UI campus based on UHS. Range UHS in Campus UI on 2013 (21.8-31.1oC), 2014 (25.0-36.2oC) and 2015 (24.9-38.2oC). This maximum UHS on September (2014 and 2015) put on levelling UTCI included range temperature 32-35oC, with an explanation of sensation temperature is warm and sensation of comfort is Uncomfortable, Psychology with  Increasing Stress Case by Sweating and Blood Flow and Health category is Cardiovascular Embarrassment. This UHS occurs in September will give impact on psychology and health, that’s become the UHH of the living on education area

Comparative study ofthe computational fluid dynamics and fluid structure interaction analysis in human airways flow

Numerous studies have been done in order to get the most accurate result that represents the flow characteristics inside the human trachea. Numerical method was the most favorite type of study chosen to simulate the model due to the complexity of the geometry and difficulties to get the real trachea to do the experimental works. In this study, one actual healthy model of human trachea was reconstructed in order to compare, the different of the velocity and pressure distribution between two types of numerical modeling analysis: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) analysis. The model was extracted using the Computed Tomography (CT) scan images to maintain the realistic geometry. Velocity, 1.24 m/s was used at the inlet and the variations of the velocity and pressure distribution along the trachea were observed. The results shown that, the implementation of the FSI technique did produce different result and flexibility of the structure wall did influence the distribution of the velocity and pressure along the trachea

Significance of community in Malaysian Higher Educational Institutions sustainability

Since the beginning of environmental movement, academicians and policy makers have been focusing on the institutions of higher learning. The first document on campus sustainability, the Talloires Declaration, which was ratified by 413 universities, including University Malaya, addressed the concept of community aspect of Higher Educational Institutions (HEI) sustainability. This article is a position paper with the objective to highlight the importance of community in the sustainability of Malaysian Higher Learning Institutions (MHLE). In carrying out this study, the archival and document analysis method was employed, whereby different scholars’ articles, dissertations, and tools were reviewed. Further validation of the findings was accomplished by employing the questionnaire survey method. Various documents were analysed thoroughly to figure out how the issue of community and the effects on campus sustainability were addressed. Besides a literature review, observation and interview were also utilized to figure out the challenges faced by Malaysian Higher Educational Institutions. The results indicated that community and campus sustainability have a linear relationship. In the context of MHEI, ethnical polarization, poor command of English and imbalance distribution of gender are the challenges. Likewise, the community is one of the most important aspects and is given high priority. Thus, the findings of this study could serve as a reference for researchers, institutions, and universities that are working on topics related to sustainability in higher educatio

Cloning and expression of pullulanase gene from locally isolated bacillus SP

Bacterial pullulanase represents one of th e starch-degrading enzymes that are widely used in the starch processing indu stry along with amylases. Amylases hydrolyze a -(1,4 )-glycosidic linkage in starch to produce a mixture of glucose , maltooligo sacchari de and limited a-dextrin. All the remaining a -(1,6)-glycosid ic branches in the products are hydrolyzed by p ullulanase. This is an advantage t o improve glucose production by coupling pullulanase and amylase in the p rocess. As such, many pullulana e enzyme has been isolated and one has been showing optimum pH of 10-10.5 which is suitable for use in dishwasher detergent additive in removal of star ch stain. We have recently iso lated a few bacterias that have shown potentially pullulanase producers by the holo-zone in pullulan-plate assay. One of them, we named Bacillus –1 sho ws a bigger holo-zone among others, Bacillus- 1 is highly active in pH more than 7. The enzyme also shows a mo derate activity to wards starch that may be indicates be side hydrolyzes a -(1,6)-glycosidic linkage in starch, it also hydrolyzes a -(1,4)- glycosidi c simi lar to a -amylase. Unfortunately the enzyme from wild-type bacteria is in lower yield an d in this studies, we intend to clone and sequence the pullulanase gene and also expressed the gene in a high expression system to be able to produce in a high yield before characterizing expressed protein

Effects of Watching Violence Movies On The Attudes Concerning Aggression Among Middle Schoolboys (13-17 years old) at International Schools In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Violence is one of the global concerns today in all segments of the world.Antisocial behaviour in human beings is accepted to be associated to a number of physiological, psychological, domestic, and cultural aspects. The learning environments which a child is exposed are also assumed to contribute to the increase of aggressive behaviour and attitudes. Media violence as one of specific learning condition is believed to be a potential contributor to the growth of antisocial behaviour in children and youth. Many studies have been conducted in the area of media violence and its effects on the young viewers. A major focus has been the relationship between media violence and aggressive behaviour but, interestingly, research regarding the relationship between media violence and attitudes about aggression is limited. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to contribute to the state of the research by predicting and comparing attitudes about aggression among adolescent boys on the basis of their exposure to violence in movies. This study used a survey research design. Two hundred and sixteen adolescent boys aged 13-17 were selected from seven international schools located in Kuala Lumpur. The data were collected using four instruments: the Demographic Questionnaire, the Media Viewing Habit Questionnaire, the Affection toward movie violence scale, and the Attitudes concerning Aggression Scale. The results indicated that adolescent boys spend a significant amount of time watching movies on TV and DVD/CD as well. In addition, they are Effects of Watching Violence Movies on the Attitudes Concerning Aggression among Middle Schoolboys (13-17 years old) at International Schools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 142 exposed to substantial amounts of media violence. At the same time, parental involvement with their adolescents’ movie viewing is relatively limited. Further results showed that there is significant difference between heavy and light viewers of movie violence in any dimension of their attitudes about aggression.Adolescents with “violent” movies preferred, however, were significantly more supportive of the attitude that aggression is acceptable and warranted, as compared to those who prefer movies with little or no violence. Additional results demonstrated that the "aggressionacceptable" attitude was significantly related to a set of variables. The strongest predictors of this attitude in adolescent boys were affection toward movies, movie viewing habits, and the adolescents' movies preferred. The results obtained in this research are discussed in terms of implications for both violence-prevention programs and media-awareness programs. Suggestions for future research are also presented

Observations of sustainability practices in Malaysian research universities: highlighting particular strengths

Although Sustainable Higher Education (SHE) is a very important issue in Malaysia, there have not been any comprehensive studies related to the current public Higher Education initiatives and efforts in sustainability. It is a relevant issue which merits a proper study to evaluate both the strengths and deficiencies of the local universities in terms of sustainability. Thus, to carry out this objective, an exploratory method was conducted by reviewing archival data, observation, interviews, as well as short and long conversations with both the staff and students of the four selected Malaysian research universities. The observation, interviews and conversations have validated the archival research. The results indicated that Malaysian research universities have already recognized the concept of SHE and embarked into the sustainability movement. However, there still remains a big gap towards achieving the idealistic goals. The findings would throw some insights into the existing policies and initiatives of SHE which could serve as a reference and preliminary study to improve the current situation

Parents’ influence on children's online usage

Children nowadays has unlimited access to the Internet that possibly will harm them, thus parents’ roles in mitigating their children online risks is crucial.Previous studies show a positive parent-child attachment may reduce the risks. A survey was conducted and a total of 387 participants aged 9 to 16 have been recruited to completed a 14-item questionnaire form.The instrument consists of three sub-scales, namely trust, communication and alienation.Results showed that almost 80% of children in this study trust their parents, feel their parents’ concern (75%), and depend on their parents (74%).Malaysian children are actually very in need to be safe during online due the facts that they knew regarding the Internet effects.They also show a willingness to do the right things by letting their parents involve into their online live activities