Kumpulan pelajar antarabangsa UPM layak ke Hult Prize 2019 di London

SERDANG: Kumpulan pelajar antarabangsa dari Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) layak ke pertandingan yang membentangkan idea perniagaan, Hult Prize Accelerator Summer Program 2019 di Ashridge Castle, London selama lima mingg

Kumpulan pelajar antarabangsa UPM layak ke Hult Prize 2019 di London

SERDANG: Kumpulan pelajar antarabangsa dari Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) layak ke pertandingan yang membentangkan idea perniagaan, Hult Prize Accelerator Summer Program 2019 di Ashridge Castle, London selama lima mingg

Metadiscourse in the academic writing of local and international students at a university in Malaysia

This study examines the use of metadiscourse markers among 50 Malaysian and 50 Arab Pre-University students. The findings of this study indicated that there was a significant difference in the use of metadiscourse markers between Malaysian and Arab Pre-University students {χ2 (1, n = 100) = 7.17, p-value is .007} where the use of metadiscourse markers among Malaysian Pre-University students was substantially higher than that of the Arab Pre-University students. In the use of interactive markers, the results showed significant differences between Malaysian and Arab Pre-University students in the use of transitions, evidential and code glosses. Additionally, in the use of interactional markers, Malaysian and Arab students differed in their use of hedges, engagement markers and self-mentions. These variances in the frequency and forms of metadiscourse markers utilized by the students could be attributed to the diverse cultural backgrounds of the two groups of students. It is therefore suggested that English language teachers integrate and incorporate cultural elements in their lessons with regard to metadiscourse markers

The effect of kenaf filler reinforcement on the mechanical and physical properties of injection moulded polypropylene composites

Natural fibres potentially offer better reinforcement to improve the mechanical and physical properties of polymer composites. However, these natural materials at this stage are not fully explored yet due to the fibres themselves have limited heat resistance and are quite sensitive to moisture. This limitation will weaken the adhesion when interacting with thermoplastic matrices during the processing of composites. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to investigate inherent strength characteristics among kenaf (core and bast) fillers as a reinforcement in polypropylene composites at various geometries and loadings via the injection moulding process. The composite materials consisted of kenaf with the geometric core filler of the 20 mesh (992 μm), 40 mesh (460 μm) and bast filler (166.9 μm) were mixed with polypropylene based on the filler loadings of 10 up to 40 wt. %. The results showed that bast filled composites had the highest tensile strength of 19.52 MPa at 30 wt. %, compared to core filled composites. Instead, 20 mesh core filled composites were obtained had the highest flexural strength which values were 25 MPa and 29 MPa at 20 wt. % and 30 wt. %, respectively. While 40 mesh core filled composites had the highest values of 25.35 MPa at 40 wt. % of filler loading compared to bast filled composites. SEM micrograph images showed the good interfacial bonding of core filler which surrounded by PP leading to diffusion and permeation of bonding. In conclusion, the use of kenaf (core and bast) fillers as a reinforcement in composite materials is reasonable to maximise the use of fibre from natural sources

Effects of Fiber Content and Processing Parameters on Tensile Properties of Unidirectional Long Kenaf Fiber Reinforced Polylactic-Acid Composite / Izdihar Tharazi...[et al.]

Recent developments within the field of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composite have led to a renewed interest in fully biodegradable composite or green composite. Interest in using green composites is due to environmental awareness concerns as well as stringent government regulations. The study is aimed to determine the optimum percentage of fiber content for unidirectional long kenaf fiber (LKF) reinforced polylactic-acid composites. In addition, the influence of processing parameters has also been investigated but only for the optimum fiber content. The percentage of kenaf used are 10 wt% to 50 wt% prepared by film stacking method with a hot-press machine. A series of tensile tests was performed to obtain the tensile strength, including the Young’s modulus of the composite. The 40 wt% fiber composites showed tensile strength, and the Young’s modulus increased linearly to 230% and 650%, respectively. Furthermore, for 50 wt% of fiber content, tensile strength and young modulus increased linearly to 244% and 625% compare to pure polymer, respectively. It was found that better tensile properties were achieved with 50%wt fiber composites produced at a temperature of 200oC, 5MPa compression pressure and 5 minutes holding time. Applications for fabricated compoistes are in non-structural to structural with medium loads, especially in the field of aerospace, automotive, and building construction industries

Mechanical Properties of Compression Molded Epoxy Polymer Composites Reinforced with Kenaf Fibers / Nur Farhani Ismail ...[et al.]

Kenaf composites have been widely used in the engineering and industrial applications such as air cleaner, dashboard, insulation mats, and fibreboard. Due to considerable attentions; kenaf fibres are reinforced in polymers for the fabrication of polymer composites. This work deals with the fabrication and characterizations of untreated and treated temafa kenaf fibres. The microstructure (SEM), flexural properties and tensile properties of the prepared kenaf polymer composites were discussed throughout this study. The kenaf fibres were treated with 6 wt% sodium hydroxide, NaOH solution for 24 hours soaking time. The epoxy thermoset reinforced with randomly oriented temafa kenaf was fabricated using compression molding technique. The composite samples of kenaf were prepared with different kenaf fibre loadings; 20 wt%, 30 wt%, 40 wt%, 50 wt% and 60 wt% . It was found that the properties of kenaf composites mainly depend on the compositions of kenaf fibres. It has also been investigated that the treatment influences the properties of kenaf itself. Overall, the results revealed that the treated kenaf composites have better mechanical properties such as flexural strength as compared to the untreated kenaf composites. However, it is observed that the flexural strength also increased with increasing percentage loading of kenaf fibres. These prepared kenaf composites will perform better mechanical properties than existing polymer may be used in automotive applications

Flow Characteristics in Perforated Subsurface Drain of Drainage System Application: Case Study of Gate Fully Open with Longitudinal Slope 1/500

Subsurface drainage is part of a sustainable drainage system's components. This component represents the infiltration of stormwater into the subsurface drainage system for flow attenuation purposes. This study examines the flow parameters of subsurface drainage components. The laboratory validation of perforated subsurface drains was conducted at a longitudinal slope gradient of 1/500 with the Gate Fully Open. The manning, n data obtained in these experiments varies with several hydraulic parameters. Therefore, the experimental relationship between the flow characteristics of these subsurface drain components has been investigated. The relationship between flow behavior has been determined. The sub-critical and supercritical, and turbulence flow has occurred in this stud

Flow Characteristics in Perforated Subsurface Drain of Drainage System Application: Case Study of Gate Fully Open with Longitudinal Slope 1/500

Subsurface drainage is part of a sustainable drainage system's components. This component represents the infiltration of stormwater into the subsurface drainage system for flow attenuation purposes. This study examines the flow parameters of subsurface drainage components. The laboratory validation of perforated subsurface drains was conducted at a longitudinal slope gradient of 1/500 with the Gate Fully Open. The manning, n data obtained in these experiments varies with several hydraulic parameters. Therefore, the experimental relationship between the flow characteristics of these subsurface drain components has been investigated. The relationship between flow behavior has been determined. The sub-critical and supercritical, and turbulence flow has occurred in this stud

Optimal power dispatch of hybrid PV/diesel systems using heuristic bio-inspired algorithms

Generally due to the strategic equatorial region, Malaysia is advancing into solar energy as a replacement of alternative source for an electrical energy production to meet the escalation load demand. Thus, the integrated hybrid system like PVGenset set system are developed to generate power to meet load demand where it can be fitted into its local geography and others according to specification. However, this does not guarantee the hybrid system to generate power optimally as weather conditions (solar insolation, temperature and others) changes periodically and influence the power generation and the power dispatch to the load. Therefore, the hybrid system does not operate at the optimal state and without a proper dispatching controller it may lead to over stress one or the other hybrid system component causes frequent wear and tear with higher maintenance cost to the system. In order to curb this situation, the hybrid system requires a specific approach along with a controller to search and to dispatch the hybrid PV-Genset system generated power at the best potential optimal state. A Bio-Heuristic approach can be applied to determine the optimal power generation while a dispatch controller dispatches the electric hybrid power system to the load demand. The aim of this research is to implement the selected bio-heuristic approach such as Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) while Fuzzy Logic is used as a dispatch controller for a small scale hybrid PV-Genset system. The simulation of the hybrid PV-Gertset system modelling is simulated using two types of tropical weather conditions (sunny and rainy). From this research, simulation results are obtained and series of analysis is conducted using MATLAB/SlMULINK. Through the analysis, results have shown the contribution of each hybrid system component operates at the optimum level while power is dispatch to the load based on the hybrid system capability

Native English: ESL learners’ perceptions of female speakers’ accents

This paper presents some preliminary findings of a study which investigates undergraduate ESL learners’ perceptions of British, American, Australian and New Zealand English accents. The participants were 66 Malaysian undergraduates from a public university in Malaysia. They were presented with speech samples of four female native speakers reading a short passage. The students were asked to rate the speakers for a number of items including the ease of understanding, sounding comfortable to the ears, being an ideal English teacher and being a speaker they would want to sound like. The learners were also asked to state the nationalities of the speakers. In general, the study found that the speakers whose accents were familiar to the learners were rated higher in terms of the items examined. The study also found that the speakers whose accents were familiar to the learners were better identified for their nationalities than those whose accents were less familiar to them. Pedagogical implications of these findings on English language teaching and learning in Malaysia are discussed