Deposition of ZnO-Al (AZO) thin films for optical properties

Zinc Oxide (ZnO) is an inorganic compound and it is doped with aluminum to increase its capabilities. Aluminum Zinc Oxide (AZO) thin films are semiconductor materials that have band gap energy of 3.3eV. Various method of deposition have been study to growth AZO thin films. It has been extensively use in solar cell application, display application, gas sensing purposes, and thin film transistors (TFTs). In this work, sol gel method and spin coating was used to deposited AZO thin films. The ZnO sol-gel were synthesized using zinc acetate dihydrate as precursor, isopropanol as solvent, diethanolamine as sol stabilizer, and distilled water as oxidation agent. Then, synthesized ZnO were doped with different mole ratio of aluminum nitrate nanohydrate to produced AZO. The glass substrate was used as substrate and AZO thin films were then calcinated at 300°C and 500°C. The characterization of AZO thin film were done using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The XRD results show that the ZnO with hexagonal wurtzite-type structure and temperature does have effect on the film intensity which related to crystallinity of thin films. Through AFM analysis, the value of RMS decreases from 3.018 nm to 2.240 nm as the temperature increases. Meanwhile, from UV-Vis result, it can be seen that AZO thin film have a high transmittance percentage above 90% after wavelength 400 nm with band gap value of 3.3 eV. FESEM image show that the grain boundary of AZO decrease with both parameter (mole ratio and calcinations temperature). Both parameters do have effect on AZO thin film. EDX analysis shows that there are existence of zinc, oxide, and aluminum

Expression analysis of the 35S CaMV promoter and its derivatives in transgenic hairy root cultures of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) generated by Agrobacterium rhizogenes infection

The cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter is the most commonly used viral-based promoter to drive transgene expression in plants. Although, many studies have demonstrated the constitutive nature of this promoter, some reports have suggested varied expression levels in different parts of the plant. Therefore, our aim was to study the activity of the CaMV 35S promoter in the hairy root system. The CaMV 35S promoter, the duplicate CaMV 35S promoter (designated CaMV 35ST) and the duplicate CaMV 35S promoter containing a 5’- untranslated leader sequence from the alfalfa mosaic virus RNA4 promoter (designated CaMV 35ST/AMV) were compared to evaluate their effects on the expression of the gus reporter gene in transgenic hairy roots, which was mediated using the Agrobacterium rhizogenes A4 transformation system. The integration of T-DNA containing a gus reporter gene in hairy root lines was confirmed at low copy numbers ranging from 1 to 4 copies using quantitative real-time PCR. Histochemical staining of cucumber hairy roots showed over-expression of the gus gene when driven with the CaMV 35S promoter. The expression of the gus gene when driven with the CaMV 35ST promoter showed a lower expression than that driven by the CaMV 35S promoter. However, the expression of the gus gene driven by the CaMV 35ST/AMV promoter was slightly higher than that driven by the CaMV 35ST promoter. In this study, the reduced activity of the CaMV 35ST promoter was observed for the first time. Further investigation is required to elucidate the factors that mediate the decline in promoter activity.Key words: Cucumis sativus L, hairy root, Agrobacterium rhizogenes, promoter 35S cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV), β-glucuronidase (GUS), 5’UTR AMV

Multimedia environmental fate and transport model of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT): case study sayong river watershed

This study describes the development of a multimedia environmental fate and transport model of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) at Sayong River Watershed. Based on the latest estimated DDT emission, the DDT concentrations in air, soil, water, and sediment as well as the transfer flux were simulated under the equilibrium and steady-state assumption. Model predictions suggest that soil and sediment was the dominant sink of DDT. The results showed that the model predicted was generally good agreement with field data. Compared with degradation reaction, advection outflow was more important in removal processes of DDT. Sensitivities of the model estimates to input parameters were tested. The result showed that vapour pressure (Ps), chemical solubility (Cs), and absolute temperature (T) of DDT were the most influential parameters for the model output. The model output–concentrations of DDT in multimedia environment is very important as it can be used in future for human exposure and risk assessment of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) at Sayong River Basin

Compressibility and Permeability of Solidified Dredged Marine Soils (DMS) with the Addition of Cement and/or Waste Granular Materials (WGM)

Dredged marine soils that obtained from dredging work were characterize as geo-waste, which is prone to be dumped rather than to be reused. This type of soil is high in compressibility and low in load bearing capacity. The engineering properties of this soft soil can be improve via soil solidification method. Cement is the common hydraulic binder used in soil solidification, were found to generate the emission of greenhouse gasses (GHG), particularly carbon dioxide (CO2) which also had affected the earth’s atmosphere. Therefore, there has been an increasing interest in using alternate pozzolanic materials such as waste granular materials (WGM) to fully or partially substituted the use of cement in soil solidification. WGM such as coal bottom ash (BA) and palm oil clinker (POC) were opted due to its pozzolanic properties. Prior to the planning of reclamation work using DMS admixed with conventional and/or alternate pozzolanic materials, the consolidation characteristics of the admixed materials must be acknowledged. Hence, the present study will examine the amount of settlement and coefficient of permeability (k) of DMS treated with cement and/or WGM in laboratory-scale experiments. Samples were prepared in various proportion in order to examine the individual effect of the cement and/or alternate pozzolanic materials on compressibility and permeability. For cement-admixed DMS, sample with 20 % of cement have significantly reduced the settlement than untreated and 10 % cemented DMS. For WGM-admixed DMS, the initial void ratio is low as compared to the untreated DMS due to the rearrangement of soil particles, which is densely packed. For cement-WGM-admixed DMS, samples of 15C50BA and 15C50POC displayed significant settlement reduction than 10C100BA, 10C100POC and untreated samples

Correlation between antibacterial activity and yeast extract of Orthosiphon stamineus extract

This paper investigates the boosting antibacterial effect of O. stamineus extracts supplemented with 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 mg/ml concentration of yeast extracts. Leaves and stems of O. stamineus were extracted with methanol to assess their different antibacterial potential against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa through disc diffusion assay. Post-hoc comparisons using Tukey HSD test indicated the mean zone of inhibition for leaves extract (M = 8.67, SD = 0.58) was different compared to stems extract (M = 10.33, SD = 0.58) towards S. aureus. Zone of inhibition produced by the leaves extract (M = 6.67, SD = 0.58) was different compared to the stems extract (M = 7.00, SD = 0.00) towards E. coli. O. stamineus have no antibacterial potential against P. aeruginosa. This study showed the addition of yeast extract have no enhancing or reducing effect towards antibacterial potential. The Pearson correlation coefficient ranging from r(6) = -0.003 to -0.594, p < 0.212 to 0.996.Keywords: correlation; antibacterial activity; yeast extract; Orthosiphon staminue

Chemical Precipitation and Coatings of Tin Selenide

Tin selenide were prepared chemically in alkaline aqueous solution. The crystalline powder was coated onto microscope glass slides using polyvinyl alcohol solution. The coatings were subjected to annealing at various temperatures to study the effect towards the structure, morphology and composition of the material. The product prepared was characterised using various techniques. The photoresponse for the samples were also studied. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell configuration was p-SnSe | (0.01 M K4Fe(CN)6¾0.01 M K3Fe(CN)6.3H2O¾0.1 M Na2SO4| Pt)

Graphical user interface for wireless patient monitoring system using zigbee communication

Nowadays, heart related diseases are on the rise situation. In Malaysia, the proportion of patients is increasing day by day but the number of doctor and nurse slightly different situation. For this reason, the new propose graphical user interface for wireless patient monitoring system is proposed in order to help doctors and nurses to monitor their patient wirelessly for 24 hours by using a designated proposed device. This system runs as prototype to minimize the costing issue in the hospital. This system consists of software and hardware. Visual Basic Net 2010 software is used to design the graphical user interface (GUI) and Peripheral Interface Controller (PIC) 16F877A microcontroller is used as the hardware to implement the whole proposed system. This system is can be divided into three parts. There are three stages that involved in completing the system. The first is developing a program for the microcontroller, the second is transmitting the data from microcontroller to the personal computer (PC) using XBee module and the third is designing the GUI. In conclusion, the proposed GUI for wireless patient monitoring system facilitated the doctor and nurse in monitoring the patient and increased the efficiency of patient monitoring. For the future recommendation

Pengaruh Akuntabilitas , Gaya Kepemimpinan, Kompensasi Finansial, dan Locus Of Control terhadap Kinerja Pemeriksa Pajak

This study aimed to examine the effect caused by the variable accountability, leadership styles, financial compensation, and locus of control tax inspectors in the performens of inspector in KPP Madya Pekanbaru, KPP Pratama Pekanbaru Tampan, KPP Pratama Pekanbaru Senapelan dan KPP Pratama Bangkinang. Respondents in this research were 51 tax inspectors. Data collection techniques in this study is in the form of questionnaires, while data analysis technique used is multiple regression analysis were processed with SPSS version 20.0 for Windows. From the results of the testing that has been done, simultaneous regression test (F test) showed that all independent variables studied have a simultaneous effect on the variable performens of inspector. Partial regression test (t test) showed that independent variables accountability, leadership styles, financial compensation had partial effect on the variable performens of inspector. Meanwhile variable locus of control haa not effect. The magnitude of the effect caused by Adjusted R2 by four variables together against the dependent variable 64.9%, while the remaining 35.1% is influenced by other variables not examined in this study

Aerobic granulation for real domestic sewage treatment at hot and low humidity climate condition

With inoculum sludge from a conventional activated sludge wastewater treatment plant, a sequencing batch reactor fed with real domestic wastewater was operated at 50 ± 1 °C to study the formation of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) for simultaneous organics and nutrients removal with a complete cycle time of 3 h. The AGS were successfully cultivated with excellent settling ability and demonstrated exceptional performance in the organics and nutrients removal with influent loading rate of 1.2 kg COD m-3 d-1. Stable, regular, dense and fast settling granule (average diameter, 2.0 mm and sludge volume index, 73.501 mL g-1) were developed in a single reactor. In addition, 89 % COD removal efficiency was observed in the system at the maturation stage of the granulation, while its ammonia nitrogen removal efficiencies were up to 99 %. The study demonstrated the capabilities of AGS formation in a single, high and slender column type-bioreactor at high temperature which is suitable to be applied for hot climate and low humidity condition (e.g. Saudi Arabia)

Flood flow characteristics and bed load transport in non-vegetated compound straight channels

Floods are the most common natural disasters in Malaysia and have damaged structures, infrastructures, crops and even causes fatalities. It may also lead to erosion and sedimentation in rivers and this will result to complex river behaviour. A hydraulic laboratory experimental study was carried out. Also, flood flow and sediment transport in straight compound channels involving flow resistance, distribution of depth-averaged velocity, stream-wise vorticity patterns, channel bed morphology and bed load transport rate in non-vegetated compound straight mobile bed channels were investigated. The finding showed that the Darcy Weisbach friction factor f increased by 40% and 54% for floodplain and main channel, respectively when relative flood flow depth increase from 0.30 to 0.50. The small bed load transport rates of 0.09 g/s and 0.03 g/s for shallow and deep overbank flows, respectively were measured due to effect of very gentle or mild channel bed slope which was fixed at a gradient of 0.1%