Engineering Technology Program In Malaysia: A Market Survey

In line with industrial development which is growing rapidly in Malaysia, the country is in great needs of competent technical workforce able to apply the latest concept of technology, improve equipment and system utilization, optimizing operation and maintenance of equipments. Therefore, an engineering technology program will be introduced in Malaysia education system at higher level. In developing the electrical engineering technology program and designing a curriculum structure in Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), a market survey has been conducted to gather opinion from industries on the relevant subjects, duration of training required and also the career opportunity. The market research survey was conducted by the Committee of Development for Engineering Technology, UTeM in 2011. A total of 110 questionnaires were distributed to local and foreign companies throughoutMalaysia. The scope of the market survey covered the common understanding of the concept of Engineering Technologist,requirements from industry perspective, the relevant focus areas as well as perceptions towards the program. The findings shows that there is a demand for degree programs in Electrical Engineering Technolog

An agricultural investment map based on geographic information system and multi-criteria method.

The study aimed to produce an investment classification map, which shows the potential areas of investment in agriculture in Sinnar, Sudan. The spatial multi-criteria analysis was used to rank and display potential locations, while the analytical hierarchy process method was used to compute the priority weights of each criterion. The study attempted to explore the utilization of Geographic Information System (GIS) to map the potential investment areas, therefore, it did not cover a comprehensive analysis of all factors that influence investment in agriculture. In addition, the analysis was limited to criteria that had spatial reference. The investment criteria for spatial analysis were defined from the guidelines provided by the Ministry of Investment, Sudan. Even with the shortcomings of the data, it was found that the results obtained were very encouraging and provided clear indicative areas for agricultural investment in Sinnar. Government agencies can use GIS to access information regarding the potential areas of investment, and minimize investment risks. On the other hand, the economic development organizations will now have the ability to benefit from the Geographic Information System (GIS) solutions by leveraging on this technology to attract and retain business from worldwide sources. Thus, the model will serve as a decision support tool for investors and decision makers at various levels

Kesejahteraan dalam Pembangunan Komuniti Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR): Suatu Pemerhatian Awal

Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) merupakan satu dasar kerajaan dalam menyeimbangkan keperluan asas tempat tinggal kepada rakyat yang tergolong dalam kategori B40 untuk memelihara hak kemanusiaan rakyat Malaysia agar menjalani kelangsungan kehidupan yang sejahtera. PPR sebagai Key Performance Indicator (KPI) oleh Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan (KPKT) untuk diberi fokus terhadap keberkesanan tahap kesejahteraan PPR. PPR menitikberatkan elemen kualiti kehidupan dan kesejahteraan sosial kepada penghuninya. Namun, wujud permasalahan mengaitkan isu kesejahteraan pembangunan komuniti PPR apabila ketidakcapaian kesejahteraan berlaku. Kajian tentang kesejahteraan ini dilakukan melalui sorotan literatur bagi memastikan tahap kesejahteraan dapat dicapai secara holistik

Graphene nanoplatelets (GnP)-PVA based passive saturable absorber

We demonstrate a passive Q-switched at 1.5 μm region by integrating a graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) embed in Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA). The GnPs was dispersed with the aid of surfactant and mixed with PVA by solution casting aroach and then dried at ambient temperature to develop a GnPs-PVA film. The integration of the passive Q-switcher is by attaching a small portion of the developed GnPs-PVA film at the end of fiber ferrule in the laser cavity with ring configuration to generate pulse laser. The experimental works show that the proposed GnPs-PVA film based passive Q-switcher operates at input pump power ranges from 39 mW to 148 mW with central wavelength of 1530.76 nm. We observe the tunable repetition rate from 33 kHz to 91.5 kHz with the shortest pulse width of 2.42 μs. The laser produce maximum instantaneous output peak power and pulse energy of 1.2 mW and 5.9 nJ, with the recorded signal to noise ratio of 28 dB

Hybrid carboxymethyl kappa-carrageenan/carboxymethyl cellulose- based biopolymer electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cell application

Natural biopolymers have recently attracted a lot of attention for the development of new polymer electrolytes due to their environmental friendliness, nontoxicity, and abundance in nature. Biopolymer electrolytes based on carboxymethyl kappa carrageenan/carboxymethyl cellulose incorporated with sodium iodide were prepared and their structural and electrochemical stability were investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transference number measurement, and linear sweep voltammetry. The film containing 30 wt% sodium iodide had the highest ionic conductivity and the highest relative number of charge carriers at room temperature. The relative number of charge carriers for each prepared electrolyte film in this study increased with salt concentration, according to Barker's electrolyte dissociation theory. The highest conducting electrolyte and the lowest salt concentration electrolyte films were used to fabricate and characterise dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). These DSSCs responded well to a light intensity of 100 mW cm-2

Identification of bovine growth hormone (BGH) gene polymorphism using PCR-RFLP method in buffalo bulls

Growth Hormone (GH) is a single polypeptide chain synthesised and secreted from anterior pituitary gland by somatroph cells. The product of GH gene hastens metabolism and promotes the growth of many organs and tissues especially bone, muscle and visceral organs. It also regulates growth, mammary gland development and lactation. Polymorphism in this gene is associated with increase in growth and development of many tissues in the body. Aim: The objective of this study was to investigate the polymorphism of bovine growth hormone (bGH) gene in buffalo bulls (Bubalus bubalis) using the PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism) technique. Design: Genomic DNA was extracted from a total of 10 bulls, consisting of Murrah – Swamp crossbred and pure Swamp buffalo bulls. A The 446 segment of the bGH gene was amplified. The DNA amplicons were detected in 2% agarose gel following 45 minutes of electrophoresis. They were thereafter digesting with AluI endonuclease restriction enzyme, and the digested DNA were detected in 2% agarose gel following electrophoresis for about 45minutes in all samples Results: Similar bands of approximately 300 and 146-bp each, with no variation, were detected in 2% agarose gel following electrophoresis in all the animals tested. Conclusion: Based on the Alu1 digestion result, all samples produced the same allele of the gene, with no polymorphism detected

Statistical evaluation of pre-selection criteria for industrialized building system (IBS)

The Malaysian government has endorsed the use of an industrialized building system (IBS) in domestic projects. These have shifted the focus of the nation's construction industry towards mass production and modular products. A proper study on site selection criteria for new IBS precast manufacturing sites has now become essential. The preliminary study in this research determines the IBS precast manufacturing site selection criteria from literature reviews. Questionnaires pertaining to IBS acceptance and preference criteria were send to manufacturers, policymakers, academicians and contractors. The outcome analyses the respondents’ view towards 15 site selection criteria. The result from the ANOVA statistical test indicates that most respondents agreed with the selected criteria except political and regulation criteria, urban requirement criteria, and personal criteria. However, there is a significant difference within the opinions of the contractors and manufacturers sector. Likewise, the mean ranking analysis of criteria shows significant difference in their preferences. The ideal rank of criteria preferred by the correspondents are costs, transportation and optimum distance, land sites, resources and utilization, infrastructures, economy markets, labour, inter-industry linkage, environmental risk, competition, personal, population, capacity, political and regulatory, and urban criteria

Gravity Effects of Curing Angle on Laminated Composite Structures: A Review on Novel Study

Composites manufactured by small and medium industries/entrepreneurs (SMI/E) are conventionally cured in the horizontal position. Hence, the confined space restricts optimum productivity. Besides, SMI/E is unable to allocate high budget for high-end technology such as autoclave and vacuum mechanical oven which limits the development of SMI/E as a result of high capital cost. Through a series of literature review, the review confirmed that there is no similar scientific study has been conducted. Consequently, the review is carried out to facilitate the investigation of the feasibility of a gravity cured glass fiber laminated thermosetting composites via vacuum bagging at angle position from horizontal (0 ∘ ) to vertical (90 ∘ ) to enhance the curing space required

Passively Q-switched Erbium-doped fiber laser with brass-based saturable absorber

The operating wavelength in the 1.5 µm region is made accessible through an Erbium-doped fiber as a gain medium. The minimum optical loss of this region has proven beneficial in the application of pulsed fiber lasers. However, the ideal material to act as passive modulator for the system is yet to be found. Therefore, this research proposed the generation of pulsed fiber laser using metal based passive saturable absorber by utilizing brass-based 3D printer filament. A free-standing film was fabricated using chitin as host polymer for ease of integration in the laser ring cavity. The Erbium-doped fiber laser with brass-chitin based polymer composite film generated Q-switched pulses within the input pump power of 135.7 mW to 172.3 mW. The repetition rate was increased from 55.80 kHz to 68.03 kHz. Meanwhile the pulse width was reduced from 3.06 µs to 2.24 µs, with corresponding maximum instantaneous pulse energy and peak power of 2.10 nJ and 882.71 µW, respectively. The signal-to-noise ratio was measured at 67 dB, indicating a highly stable pulse generation

Strength and chloride penetration performance of concrete using coal bottom ash as coarse and fine aggregate replacement

Since 1987, Malaysia had used coal as a product to generate electricity. One of the main or the largest power plant in Malaysia is Tanjung Bin power plant at kukup, Johor. As a coal-based power plant, tonnes of coal bottom ash had been burned every day and the waste is wasted without specific economic benefit. Other than that, the waste generated are dangerous as it involved in environmental risk such as landfill ash reservoir. Therefore, this paper presents one of the alternative ways to manage the coal waste by cooperative it into concrete. This research study focuses on strength and durability performance of the concrete containing coal bottom ash as a coarse and fine aggregates replacement. The tests conducted was workability on fresh concrete, compressive strength test and chloride penetration test in 5% sodium chloride. The results show that the concrete containing coal bottom ash has low workability compare with normal concrete without coal bottom ash. Compressive strength test with coal bottom ash resulted higher than normal concrete. In chloride solution, the concrete containing coal bottom ash replacement shows better performance compare to normal concrete. Thus, it can be concluded that by using coal bottom ash in concrete as fine and coarse aggregates replacement, the performance in term of strength and chloride resistance are better compare to normal concrete. On the other hand, by using it in concrete, the waste generated dump in landfill can be reduced