A genre analysis and corpus based study of university lecture introductions

This thesis reports a study using a corpus of lecture introductions to explore the generic features of the language used. The main research questions: What are the main communicative functions of this sub-genre? How are the functions realised? Are there any disciplinary differences in university lecture introductions? are explored using two complementary methods of analysis; genre analysis and corpus analysis. Analysis of eighty-nine lecture introductions from the BASE corpus1 resulted in a Lecture Introduction Framework which posits a two-level classification which first differentiates lecture content orientation (Thompson, 1994) versus listener orientation (Dubois, 1980). This yields three main functions, with additional sub-functions original to this study. The study reveals differences in the frequency of different sub-functions in the four disciplinary domains, reflecting different disciplinary cultures and knowledge. The corpus analysis generated a word frequency list for lecture introductions, giving a rich linguistic description of the lexis used. Further analysis on one of the three main functions; the Set Up Lecture Framework Function uses WordSmith Tools 5 to analyse the linguistic realisations of the three subfunctions, which are also the top three most used sub-functions in the corpus. Analysis of pronouns and keywords further supports the finding that there are disciplinary variations in lecture introductions

Effect of different dryers and drying conditions on acceptability and physico-chemical characteristics of durian leather

Optimization study on drying condition of durian leather was carried out using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The optimization was conducted for two different dryers, oven dryer and forced-air cabinet dryer, with temperature and time of drying as independent variables. It was shown that both variables significantly affected most of the sensory properties. For both dryers, the optimum points for 5 sensory attributes evaluated including taste, aroma, texture, appearance and overall acceptability, were at temperatures ranged from 47-55C for 10-14 h. Based on the overall acceptability, the optimum condition for ovendried leather was achieved at temperature 50C for 12.6 h, while for cabinet-dried leather at 52.5C for 10 h. Results showed that panelist preferred product dried with low temperature-long time compared with high temperature-short time. Except for Hunter color b value of cabinet-dried product, results also indicated that drying condition was significantly influencing the physico-chemical properties such as moisture, Aw, nonenzymatic browning, texture, vitamin C and color of durian leather

Effect of glucose syrup solid, sucrose, hydrogenated palm oil and soy-lecithin on sensory acceptability of durian leather

A two-stage optimization of ingredients in durian leather formulations was conducted using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). In stage 1, the independent variables were glucose syrup solids (GSS) and sucrose, and in stage 2, the variables were hydrogenated palm oil (HPO) and soy-lecithin (SL). Based on the responses to sensory acceptability attributes including taste, aroma, texture, appearance and overall acceptability, the most acceptable formulation was a combination of 10% GSS, 5% sucrose, 2.67% HPO and 0.452% SL. Chemical analysis also showed that during processing nutrient composition was relatively unchanged

Potential use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for differentiation of bovine and porcine gelatins

In order to classify unknown gelatin into their species of origin, a simple and rapid method for the qualitative determination was developed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) in combination with attenuated total reflectance (ATR) and discriminant analysis. The spectra were analysed using a chemometric method, principal component analysis (PCA), to classify and characterise gelatin compounds using regions of the FTIR spectra in the range of 3290–3280 cm−1 and 1660–1200 cm−1 as calibration models. Results from PCA, which were subsequently represented by the Cooman’s plot showed a clear distinction between gelatin samples of bovine and porcine origins. This qualitative approach, besides providing a rapid determination of the source of gelatin, may also be established based on a second derivative study of the FTIR spectrum to alleviate any doubt of the gelatin source for applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries

Genetic Identification of Critically Endangered Orangutans in Captivity

A large numerals of the orangutans’ genetic status in captivity is unknown to its exact, thus complicates the translocation process to their true natural habitat. A study was carried out to identify 37 captive orangutans in Peninsular Malaysia at the species and subspecies level using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) displacement loop (D-loop) region DNA sequences. Orangutan genetic samples were provided by the Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island (BMOUI), Zoo Negara, Zoo Taiping and the A’ Famosa. Total genomic DNA was extracted from both fecal and blood samples. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using specific primers for the orang utan. Data analyses were carried out using distance and character based approaches, namely the neighbor joining (NJ), maximum parsimony (MP), and Bayesian techniques. About 8 individuals were identified as Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus, 20 as P. p. morio, 5 as P. p. wurmbii, and 4 as P. abelii. All samples were successfully identified with high probabilities. The results obtained in this study contributes to improve the understanding of captive orangutans’ genetic identification, and indirectly, a guide to the authorities in developing plans for the management in captivity and conservation of primates in Malaysia using molecular dat

Surface Roughness Optimization in Drilling Process Using Response Surface Method (RSM)

Kertas kerja ini mengkaji kesan parameter penggerudian terhadap kekasaran permukaan dan keadaan permukaan dengan menggunakan kaedah tindak balas permukaan (KTP). Model matematik untuk menghubungkaitkan interaksi parameter penggerudian seperti kelajuan gelendong, kadar suapan dan gerudi kepada kekasaran permukaan telah dihasilkan. KTP digunakan kerana ia adalah satu teknik yang paling praktikal dan berkesan untuk membangunkan satu model matematik. Di samping itu, kaedah ini juga boleh mengurangkan percubaan dan kesilapan dalam eksperimen. Oleh kerana tiga faktor iaitu; kelajuan gelendong, kadar suapan dan gerudi diameter, dengan menggunakan KTP jumlah eksperimen melibatkan 20 pemerhatian eksperimen. Dari keputusan eksperimen, didapati bahawa kekasaran permukaan minimum pada lubang adalah 1.06 μm dari gabungan kelajuan 2000 rpm gelendong, kadar suapan 78 mm/min dan 2.5 mm garispusat gerudi. Manakala permukaan kekasaran maksimum 2.59 μm adalah gabungan kelajuan 250 rpm gelendong, kadar suapan 153 mm/min dan 3.5 mm garispusat gerudi. Satu persamaan matematik telah dibangunkan dengan peratusan ralat 0% hingga 29%. Oleh itu, dari hasil yang kita faham bahawa untuk mencari permukaan licin dalam proses penggerudian, ia memerlukan gelendong kelajuan yang lebih tinggi dengan kadar suapan yang lebih rendah dan garis pusat yang lebih kecil