Production of Bioflocculant through Fermentation of Spoilt Orange Juice with Bacillus spp Isolated from Sediment of Local Clay Pot

The biodegradable and non-toxic Bioflocculants have attracted considerable interest as alternative to non-biodegradable chemical flocculants. However, the cost of fermentation media for bioflocculant production and low flocculation efficiency is a major challenge. In this study, we grow Bacillus spp isolated from sediment of local clay pot on spoilt orange juice to produce bioflocculant. The culture supernatant of the bacilli grown on spoilt orange juice were screen for bioflocculant production using Jar test method and Kaolin clay suspension as model wastewater. The effect of pH and temperature on the bioflocculant production were also studied. The effect of cations on bioflocculation rate of the bioflocculant produced were tested via hybridization of the bioflocculant with the cations. The bioflocculation efficiency of the bioflocculant on sample wastewaters were also determined. The bacilli isolated initially had flocculation rate between 31.1±1.6 % to 76.4±1.2% when cultured on screening media. Bioflocculation rate peaked to 77.9% at 40 oC while the lowest flocculation rate (55.41%) was obtained at 25 oC.  The optimum bioflocculant production (about 78%) was recorded at pH 6 – 7 while the highest bioflocculant production (84.2%) was achieved at 96th hour of incubation. Na+ and Fe3+ had serious inhibitory effect on the bioflocculant while K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Al3+ had less or no effect on the bioflocculant. The bioflocculant had up to 77.7% and 64.5 % on Kitchen wastewater and aquaculture wastewater. This study reveals the potential for utilization of spoilt orange juice as fermentable substrate for bioflocculant production especially if the fermentation conditions and flocculation parameters are well optimized

Response of suction distribution due to variations of permeability in residual soil slope

A landslide in residual soil normally occurs immediately after heavy rainfall. Previous studies have shown that decrease in matric suction during rainfall decreases the shear strength of soil and results in landslides. One of the factors that contribute to infiltration of water into soil is permeability of the soil which varies with depth. The variations of permeability can either prevent or allow water to infiltrate into deeper soil layer. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the suction distribution in a two-layered residual soil system with variable permeability function using laboratory physical slope model. The Ksat for Grade V varies from 5.11 × 10-4 m/s for relict joint of 100 mm spacing to 5.40 × 10-5 m/s for relict joint of 300 mm spacing. Meanwhile the Ksat for Grade VI represent Grade VI without burrow holes, 5.00 × 10-7 m/s and Ksat with burrow holes, 6.98 × 10-4 m/s. The infiltration tests were conducted for 12 series of experimental program. The suction distribution due to variations of permeability and rainfall intensity were determined. The results illustrated that suction distribution responded in various ways depending on permeability of the layered soil and also the rainfall intensity

Mitigating the Event and Effect of Energy Holes in Multi-hop Wireless Sensor Networks Using an Ultra-Low Power Wake-up Receiver and an Energy Scheduling Technique

This research work presents an algorithm for extending network lifetime in multi-hop wireless sensor networks (WSN). WSNs face energy gap issues around sink nodes due to the transmission of large amounts of data through nearby sensor nodes. The limited power supply to the nodes limits the lifetime of the network, which makes energy efficiency crucial. Multi-hop communication has been proposed as an efficient strategy, but its power consumption remains a research challenge. In this study, an algorithm is developed to mitigate energy holes around the sink nodes by using a modified ultra-low-power wake-up receiver and an energy scheduling technique. Efficient power scheduling reduces the power consumption of the relay node, and when the residual power of the sensor node falls below a defined threshold, the power emitters charge the nodes to eliminate energy-hole problems. The modified wake-up receiver improves sensor sensitivity while staying within the micro-power budget. This study's simulations showed that the developed RF energy harvesting algorithm outperformed previous work, achieving a 30% improvement in average charged energy (AEC), a 0.41% improvement in average energy (AEH), an 8.39% improvement in the number of energy transmitters, an 8.59% improvement in throughput, and a 0.19 decrease in outage probability compared to the existing network lifetime enhancement of multi-hop wireless sensor networks by RF Energy Harvesting algorithm. Overall, the enhanced power efficiency technique significantly improves the performance of WSNs

Attraction Factors in Choosing Industrialized Building System (IBS) Method over Conventional Building System

Industrialised Building System(IBS) is defined as a construction system which components are manufactured in factory or offsite. The components then being positioned and assembled into structure with minimal additional site work. This field study was conducted directly between the researchers with 70 respondents, representing 70 IBS companies in Peninsular ofMalaysia. The purpose of the research is to identify the attraction factors that can influence the entrepreneurs and IBS contractors to choose IBS construction method in their constrcution rather than the conventional construction system method. Descriptive analysis are being used and varimax rotated principle component analysis is also being conducted. The research result shows that kaiser Meyer Olkin (KMO) statistical value is 0.861 surpasses the usable legal 0.6 value and Barlet

Performance Evaluation of Energy Harvesting Method on Intelligent Wearable Travel Aid Device for Blind Person

The intelligent wearable travel aid device has been developed for blind person usage for traveling purposes. The intelligent wearable travel aid device will be used along with the long cane that is usually used to detect any obstructions around the blind person. However, the problem on power supply to supply the electrical energy for the intelligent wearable travel aid device to work properly always been occurred. In order to fit the energy harvesting device on the intelligent wearable travel aid device, the comparison of the solar panel and photodiode is done. The performance evaluation to compare theenergy harvesting method on the developed intelligent wearable travel aid device for blind person has been conductedbased on the experiment result. The photodiode is proposed in this study due to small size and easy to arrange on top of developed wearable travel aid device compared to the solar panel which big size but commonly used as energy harvesting device. Consequently, the experimental result of the intelligent wearable travel aid device in terms of voltage, current and light intensity for the improved version with different type of configuration is proven respectively

Preparation and Studies of Electrodeposited CuSe Thin Films

Cathodic electrodeposition in the presence of sodium dodecyl-sulphate in aqueous solution was used to prepare CuSe thin film deposited on titanium substrates. The effect of deposition potential, concentration and deposition time were studied to determine the optimum condition for the electrodeposition process. The films were characterized by X-ray diffractrometry. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphology of the deposits. The photoresponse of the films prepared was analysed using linear sweep voltammetry in the presence of sodium thiosulphate

Pendekatan dan pengaplikasian motivasi agama dalam modul pembangunan diri remaja: kajian terhadap Program Motivasi Alihan Pelajar (MAP)

Remaja adalah suatu fasa dalam peringkat kehidupan yang perlu diberi perhatian. Ketidakstabilan keadaan psikologikal remaja boleh menimbulkan pelbagai konflik dan kecelaruan sekiranya tidak diurus dengan baik. Dalam suatu proses pembangunan diri, remaja akan berdepan dengan pelbagai cabaran yang berupaya menjejaskan motivasi diri mereka. Justeru, suntikan motivasi agama yang bersifat komprehensif dan sistematik amat diperlukan. Dengan menggunakan metode analisis kandungan secara holistik dan pemerhatian, kertas ini akan menghuraikan pendekatan motivasi agama berserta pengaplikasiannya menerusi modul pembangunan diri remaja dalam Program Motivasi Alihan Pelajar. Berdasarkan analisis, kesemua sebelas slot yang terkandung dalam modul tersebut telah menggunakan pendekatan motivasi agama yang terdiri daripada langkah pertama iaitu; pengurusan emosi dan pemikiran dan langkah kedua; konsistensi amal. Kajian ini merumuskan, intervensi pembangunan diri remaja melalui dua pendekatan motivasi agama ini didapati lebih komprehensif dan integratif sesuai dengan keperluan psikologikal remaja. Justeru pendekatan ini amat wajar diaplikasikan dalam membantu proses pembangunan diri remaja secara holistik

Laboratory investigation of suction distribution in a modified capillary barrier system

This paper investigated the effect of transport layer in the diversion capacity of natural capillary barrier system using laboratory slope model. The slope model was constructed with stainless steel and 5 mm thick acrylic sheets. Grade VI and grade V soils classified as sandy silt of very high plasticity (MVS) and silty gravel of high plasticity (MHG), respectively were arranged in the slope model with sand and gravel transport layers sandwiched at their interface. The model was subjected to different rainfall intensities using rainfall simulator to determine the behaviour of water flow and suction distribution in the slope model. The results obtained show a modification in the suction distribution behaviour and the natural capillary barrier effect was sustained. It was also observed that a transport layer formed with gravel material was more effective in diverting the infiltrating water compared to that of gravelly sand. This occurred because the upper grade VI layer possessed capillary forces due to its finer pore structures and relatively large air entry value, thus, it retained the infiltrating water, and the gravel transport layer possessed relatively larger pore structures compared to the grade VI layer and hence it possessed higher hydraulic conductivity values and small water entry value. This arrangement, provide a capillary break and allowed the infiltrating water to flow above the interface. Therefore, the inclusion of transport layer provides a definite path through which the infiltrating water flows and diverted laterally. Thus, improving the performance of natural capillary barrier effect

Innovative practice in producing competent Malaysian engineers

This study presents an innovative practice in the Malaysian engineering education system which originated from the historical development of Malaysian education. The historical development has instigated the two streams of Malaysian higher education sectors; public and private universities as well as the university programme offerings and the language of instruction. In order to extricate itself from the system introduced by the British, Malaysia has introduced an innovative element into its engineering practice. The research applies the qualitative approach whereby inductive and deductive analytical strategies were performed. The findings revealed that the Malaysian education system has advanced into an independent own mould engineering education system which is very much shaped by Islamic values and beliefs and, the Malaysian culture - with the aim of producing innovative and competent engineers to compete in this globalized world

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