PAPR reduction in CP-OFDM (5G) using hybrid technique

The Cyclic Prefix Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (CP-OFDM) is a 5G multicarrier waveform that offers great data speeds and improvements in spectrum utilisation. The primary CP-OFDM’s weakness is its excessive peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR), which is a characteristic of all multicarrier modulation techniques. We study the application of a hybrid technique approach how to lower the peak to average power ratio (PAPR) in a CP-OFDM system. We also evaluated the outcomes of peak to average power ratio (PAPR) decrease in CP-OFDM, utilising a hybrid technique with Group Codeword Shift (GCS), Median Codeword Shift, Selective Codeword Shift (SCS), and Conventional CP-OFDM. When compared to the non-hybrid technique, the simulation results indicate that the hybrid approach is superior in reducing the peak PAPR by more than 65 percent

Identification of gastrointestinal helminths infection from goats isolated in a farm in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

Livestock is a group of domesticated animal that is reared in an agricultural setting. It usually served as a source of income for most peoples in Malaysia. However, the productions of this livestock especially goats have been decreasing due to the occurrence of gastrointestinal helminths infection. The aim of this study was to identify the presence and species of gastrointestinal helminths from 120 fecal samples collected directly from the rectum of goats from a farm located in Kuantan, Pahang. Firstly, the physical observation was evaluated on all goats. Then, their fecal sample was examined within 96 hours using Formal-ether Sedimentation method for the morphological characteristics identification of gastrointestinal helminthic species under the microscope. This study has identified the majority of goats with a good physical condition, that they have no sign of blood loss and have appropriate body frame. However, the microscopic identification has revealed 89 from the total samples positive with gastrointestinal helminths species while 76 of the positive showed presence of mixed species. The species found were Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus spp., Trichuris ovis, Oesophagostomum spp., Ostertagia spp., and Strongyloides papillosus. This high infection of gastrointestinal helminths observed in goats is related to an impaired immune system, poor farm management, and uncontrolled anthelmintic treatment. The presence of various species of gastrointestinal helminths within a goat is an important cause of morbidity and loss of production. Therefore, this study suggested the need for an effective system of management, diagnosis and appropriate treatment that can reduce the risk of infection and increase the productivity of the animals. ******************************************************** Ternakan adalah sekumpulan haiwan peliharaan yang diternak dalam keadaan pertanian di mana ia berfungsi sebagai sumber pendapatan bagi kebanyakan orang di Malaysia. Walau bagaimanapun, pengeluaran ternakan telah berkurang disebabkan oleh jangkitan cacing di usus haiwan. Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk mengenal pasti kehadiran dan jenis cacing di usus dari 120 sampel najis yang dikumpulkan secara langsung dari rektum kambing dari sebuah ladang yang terletak di Kuantan, Pahang. Pertama sekali, pemeriksaan fizikal ke atas setiap kambing telah dilakukan. Selepas itu, setiap sampel najis kambing tersebut telah diperiksa dalam masa 96 jam menggunakan teknik permendapan formal-ether untuk mengenal pasti sifat-sifat bentuk setiap spesies cacing usus di bawah mikroskop. Pemeriksaan fizikal kambing menunjukkan bahawa hampir setiap dari mereka tiada tanda-tanda kekurangan darah dan mempunyai bentuk badan yang bersesuaian. Walau bagaimanapun, pemerhatian mikroskop menunjukkan kehadiran cacing usus pada 89 ekor kambing dengan 76 ekor daripadanya mempunyai lebih dari satu spesies cacing usus. Spesies yang ditemui ialah Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus spp., Trichuris ovis, Oesophagostomum spp., Ostertagia spp., dan Strongyloides papillosus. Peningkatan jangkitan cacing usus pada kambing biasanya berkait dengan kelemahan sistem imun, pengurusan ladang dan rawatan ubat anthelmintic yang tidak terkawal. Kehadiran pelbagai spesies cacing usus adalah salah satu penyebab yang menyumbang kepada morbiditi dn kekurangan pengeluaran. Oleh itu, kajian ini mengenal pasti keperluan untuk sistem pengurusan, diagnosis dan rawatan berkesan dengan ubat anthelmintik yang dapat mengurangkan risiko jangkitan dan meningkatkan produk pengeluaran ternakan

Human Hand Motion Analysis during Different Eating Activities

The focus of this research is to analyse both human hand motion and force, during eating, with respect to differing food characteristics and cutlery (including a fork and a spoon). A glove consisting of bend and force sensors has been used to capture the motion and contact force exerted by fingers during different eating activities. The Pearson correlation coefficient has been used to show that a significant linear relationship exists between the bending motion of the fingers and the forces exerted during eating. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent samples t-tests are performed to establish whether the motion and force exerted by the fingers while eating is influenced by the different food characteristics and cutlery. The middle finger motion showed the least positive correlation with index fingertip and thumb-tip force, irrespective of the food characteristics and cutlery used. The ANOVA and t-test results revealed that bending motion of the index finger and thumb varies with respect to differing food characteristics and the type of cutlery used (fork/spoon), whereas the bending motion of the middle finger remains unaffected. Additionally, the contact forces exerted by the thumb tip and index fingertip remain unaffected with respect to differing food types and cutlery used

The involvement of accountants in corporate strategy in Malaysia: a stewardship theory perspective

The purpose of the research is to ascertain the extent and nature of accountants’ involvement in the formulation phase of corporate strategy in Malaysian public listed companies (PLCs). This is achieved using the triangulation approach consisting of survey questionnaires and interviews. The findings reveal that accountants in Malaysia are involved in the formulation phase of corporate strategy. At this stage, accountants appear to be discharging their stewardship role, and are involved even in the very initial stage of advising management with strategic proposals, directly helping to formulate proposals and even shaping the strategic framework, which ensure that only strategic proposals that lie within the current concept of strategy is submitted and deliberated

THE EFFECTS OF MICRO- AND NANOHYDROXYAPATITE APPLICATION IN METAL CONTAMINATED SOIL ON METAL ACCCUMULATION IN IPOMOEA AQUATICA AND SOIL METAL BIOAVAILABILITY

The potential of microhydroxyapatite (MHA) and nanohydroxyapatite (NHA) to immobilise heavy metals in a 25-year old active firing range soil was investigated. The effects of immobilisation were evaluated in terms of metal accumulation in water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and soil metal bioavailability. A pot trial was conducted by amending firing range soil with MHA and NHA at application rates of 0%, 1% and 3% (w/w). Both amendments increased biomass yield and reduced plant metal uptake. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) values of the metals were in the order of Zn > Cu > Pb. The bioavailable fraction of Cu, Pb and Zn in firing range soil decreased significantly (p < 0.05) following MHA and NHA treatments. No toxicity symptoms were observed in water spinach over the pot trial. Therefore, MHA and NHA are two promising immobilising agents for the remediation of metal contaminated land

An implementation review of occlusion-based interaction in augmented reality environment

Augmented Reality (AR) technology shows some potential in providing new approach of interaction with computer.It shares similar potential in Virtual Reality (VR) but at lower cost.In this paper, an AR application is developed to explore the capability of the interaction approach called Occlusion Based Interaction using low cost device.The implementation of the application is utilizing the ARToolKit library as the main library to handle the AR part while OpenGL and GLUT to handle the graphics manipulation and windows management respectively

Chlorella vulgaris modulates genes and muscle-specific microRNAs expression to promote myoblast differentiation in culture

Background. Loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function due to gradual decline in the regeneration of skeletal muscle fibers was observed with advancing age. This condition is known as sarcopenia. Myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) are essential in muscle regeneration as its activation leads to the differentiation of myoblasts to myofibers. Chlorella vulgaris is a coccoid green eukaryotic microalga that contains highly nutritious substances and has been reported for its pharmaceutical effects. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of C. vulgaris on the regulation of MRFs and myomiRs expression in young and senescent myoblasts during differentiation in vitro. Methods. Human skeletal muscle myoblast (HSMM) cells were cultured and serial passaging was carried out to obtain young and senescent cells. The cells were then treated with C. vulgaris followed by differentiation induction. The expression of Pax7, MyoD1, Myf5, MEF2C, IGF1R, MYOG, TNNT1, PTEN, and MYH2 genes and miR-133b, miR- 206, and miR-486 was determined in untreated and C. vulgaris-treated myoblasts on Days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 of differentiation. Results. The expression of Pax7, MyoD1, Myf5, MEF2C, IGF1R, MYOG, TNNT1, and PTEN in control senescent myoblasts was significantly decreased on Day 0 of differentiation (p<0.05). Treatment with C. vulgaris upregulated Pax7, Myf5, MEF2C, IGF1R, MYOG, and PTEN in senescent myoblasts (p<0.05) and upregulated Pax7 and MYOG in young myoblasts (p<0.05). The expression of MyoD1 and Myf5 in young myoblasts however was significantly decreased on Day 0 of differentiation (p< 0.05). During differentiation, the expression of these genes was increased with C. vulgaris treatment. Further analysis on myomiRs expression showed that miR-133b, miR-206, and miR-486 were significantly downregulated in senescent myoblasts on Day 0 of differentiation which was upregulated by C. vulgaris treatment (p<0.05). During differentiation, the expression of miR-133b and miR-206 was significantly increased with C. vulgaris treatment in both young and senescent myoblasts (p<0.05). However, no significant change was observed on the expression of miR-486 with C. vulgaris treatment. Conclusions. C. vulgaris demonstrated the modulatory effects on the expression of MRFs and myomiRs during proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts in culture. These findings may indicate the beneficial effect of C. vulgaris in muscle regeneration during ageing thus may prevent sarcopenia in the elderly

Corporate governance in Malaysian tourism small and medium-sized enterprises: review of research issues

Background: Tourism small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) currently emerge as one of the world’s major enterprises with significant changes in its structure and operation. As for Malaysia, the continuous efforts to stimulate the tourism industry by the Malaysian government have created a positive effect on the business activities of SMEs.However, many studies emphasize the problems in managing SMEs in terms of corporate governance for instance lack of awareness on corporate governance structure, lack of awareness on corporate governance operation, size of the board, lack of industry expertise and strategic vision. Objective: This paper presents a general review of the research issues regarding the matter as the first step to enhance further research. Results: The review from related articles indicated that there are three major research issues on corporate governance in SMEs which can also be discussed in the tourism industry.These issues were identified as the roles of corporate governance, the challenges of corporate governance and the significance of corporate governance to SMEs. Conclusion: These three issues should be given serious attention by scholars in determining specific area to be investigated within the context of tourism SMEs.Further, the issues also contribute in terms of practicing corporate governance toward managing tourism SMEs effectively

Optimization of roundness error in deep hole drilling using cuckoo search algorithm

In the manufacturing industry, machining is a part of all manufacture in almost all metal products. Machining of holes is one of the most common processes in the manufacturing industries. Deep hole drilling, DHD is classified as a complex machining process .This study presents an optimization of machining parameters in DHD using Cuckoo Search algorithm, CS comprising feed rate (f), spindle speed (s), depth of hole (d) and Minimum Quantity Lubrication MQL, (m). The machining performance measured is roundness error, Re. The real experimentation was designed based on Design of Experiment, DoE which is two levels full factorial with an added centre point. The experimental results were used to develop the mathematical model using regression analysis that used in the optimization process. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Fisher‘s statistical test (F-test) are used to check the significant of the model developed. According to the results obtained by experimental the minimum value of Re is 0.0222μm and by CS is 0.0198μm. For the conclusion, it was found that CS is capable of giving the minimum value of Re as it outperformed the result from the experimental