Curve Reconstruction By Metaheuristics Algorithms On Cubic Rational Bézier Function

Curve reconstruction regularly used in reverse engineering. Meanwhile, curve fitting is one of the main compositions of curve reconstruction that is usually represented by mathematical functions, most suitable for representing a set of data points, and may need to meet some constraints. Various of curve fitting studies had been done by many researchers specifically using optimisation technique. The optimisation technique consists of exact algorithm, and approximate algorithm. The approximate algorithm is a good technique to be highlighted since it is a feasible way to develop an easier, more convenient curve fitting method, that will save great computation, solve a large scale problem and produce a better quality end result. Metaheuristics has strong and intelligent mechanisms to avoid being trapped in the local minimum

Willingness To Pay Extra Charge For Increasing Safety While Using Public Transport Post Covid-19 Pandemic

This study was conducted to investigate the willingness to pay extra charge for increasing safety while using public transport during post COVID-19 pandemic among Penangites. In this study, several parameters such as socio-demographic, frequency of using public transport, and intention to use public transport were examined to determine the significant factors that influence the willingness to pay towards PT’s operators initiatives to increase safety measures. Within two months period, the questionnaire surveys of 210 respondents were recorded for this study. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and statistical analysis through Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS). Pearson correlation was used to investigate the significant relationship between willingness to pay and sociodemographic factors of respondents. Next, Regression analysis was used in statistical analysis to determine factors that significantly influenced willingness to pay according to socio-demographic factors. From the results acquired through the regression analysis, the age, frequency of using public transport, and the intention to use public transport were factors that contribute to willingness to pay towards PT’s operators initiative

Modification of DNA methylation marks in plants

Phenotypic variation in higher eukaryotes has been found to be associated with different epigenetic states, some of which are associated with defined DNA methylation patterns. In this study, over-expressions of different forms of DNA METHYLTRANSFERASE1 (MET1), with and without catalytic sites and SAM binding domains, were used to alter the epigenetic states of potential target genes and therefore cause epigenetic variation in plants. The DNA methylation is mediated by the addition of a methyl group obtained from S-adenosylmethionone (SAM) to the carbon 5 of a cytosine residue. In plants, it involves de novo and maintenance of methylation in CG, CHG and CHH (H representing A, C or T) contexts catalysed by three classes of methyltransferases, namely METHYLTRANSFERASE 1 (MET1), CHROMOMETHYLTRANSFERASE 3 (CMT3), and DOMAIN-REARRANGED METHYLTRANSFERASE 2 (DRM2). De novo methylation in all sequence contexts is carried out via DRM2 as part of the RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway, while maintenance of CG and CHG methylation are catalysed by MET1 and CMT3, respectively. Phenotypic analysis of the Arabidopsis transformants of MET1 with and without catalytic sites (namely, the METo A1 and METo I1 lines) revealed a reduction in the primary root length in all lines and delayed germination in some of the line. In contrast, Arabidopsis transformants of MET1 without catalytic sites and SAM-binding domains (namely, the MSM line) lack the phenotypes that were observed in the METo lines. Root transcriptome analysis revealed increased expression of genes encoding transposable elements, non-coding RNAs and proteins. These findings in this study may form a foundation for future research to identify epigenetic control of specific target gene responsible for the root phenotyp

El modelo de precaución de la identidad ética de la organización a través de la autorregulación del sector público de Malasia: análisis conceptual

The objectives of this study are to explore the five elements of public sector ethical self-identity precautionary and to propose the Organizational Ethical Self-Identity Precautionary Model in enhancing ethical accountability of the Malaysian Public Sector. This study employed qualitative research by analyzing data from interviews with key informers of the public sector using conceptual content analysis. The study revealed five elements of Organizational Ethical Self-Identity Precautionary Model which are ethical leadership (8 attributes), ethical employees (9 attributes), spirituality encouragement (6 attributes), spirituality acceptance (6 attributes) and code of ethical conduct (5 attributes). These identified elements and their attributes should become the ethical identity and ethical direction of the Malaysian Public Sector. This would enhance the ethical accountability of Malaysia Public Sector which further improved the trust among Malaysian and the international community towards the governance of the public sector.Los objetivos de este estudio son explorar los cinco elementos de la autoidentidad ética pública preventiva y proponer el Modelo de precaución de autoidentidad ética organizacional para mejorar la responsabilidad ética del Sector Público de Malasia. Este estudio empleó investigación cualitativa mediante el análisis de datos de entrevistas con informantes clave del sector público mediante el análisis de contenido conceptual. (8 atributos), empleados éticos (9 atributos), estímulo a la espiritualidad (6 atributos), aceptación de la espiritualidad (6 atributos) y código de conducta ética (5 atributos). Estos elementos identificados y sus atributos deben convertirse en la identidad ética y la dirección ética del Sector Público de Malasia. Esto mejoraría la responsabilidad ética del Sector Público de Malasia, lo que mejoraría aún más la confianza entre la comunidad malaya e internacional hacia la gobernanza del sector público

A laser pointer communicating toy

This paper aims to design a smart communicating toys system equipped with laser sensors that can send and receive the data message based on the conversion of data from ASCII to binary code. The system intents to offer two-ways communication toys that will be a new medium for educational purposes for kids in their developmental stages in which both players can send and receive the data to and from each other and equipped with sound indicator module to alert the player. Lastly, functionality and system testing were conducted to verify the functionalities of the system

Design and implementation of visible light communication based toys

This paper presents the design and implementation steps of a smart visible light communication based toy system equipped with laser sensors that can send and receive the data message based on the conversion of data from ASCII to binary code. The toy system intends to offer two-ways communication that will be a new medium for educational purposes for kids in their developmental stages in which both players can send and receive the data to and from each other toys equipped with sound indicator module to alert the player. Lastly, functionality and system testing were conducted to verify the functionalities of the system. A thorough implementation methodology details are presented in the paper

Checklist of Marine Fungi and Yeasts Associated with Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota from Pangkor Island

Marine microorganisms such as fungi and yeasts can adapt to extreme marine environment conditions and play different roles especially in the nutrient cycling and as bioindicator of ocean change. This study was carried out to isolate and identify fungi and yeasts associated with Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota from Pangkor Island, Perak, Malaysia. Two specimens of H. leucospilota were collected from Giam Island and Teluk Nipah Beach of Pangkor Island. Nine samples of fungi and ten samples of yeasts were isolated from the internal and external parts of the H. leucospilota specimens such as cuticle, tentacle, coelomic fluid, cloaca, cuvierian tubules, and surrounding sediment and seawater. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region were applied for species identification of the microorganisms. Sequence analyses of the ITS region resulted in the identification of five genera of fungi i.e. Cladosporium, Curvularia, Polyporaceae, Acremonium, and Penicillium; and four genera of yeasts i.e. Sterigmatomyces, Pichia, Debaryomyces, and Candida with some of them could be identified up to the species level. The fungi and yeasts isolated from the H. leucospilota specimens from Pangkor Island could have potential biotechnological applications which can be further characterised

Uncommon ossicle in Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota from Teluk Nipah, Pangkor Island

The high popularity of a commercial sea cucumber species on Pangkor Island (i.e. Stichopus horrens) has resulted in a lack of studies on Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota from Pangkor Island, Perak, Malaysia. S. horrens is the main ingredient of gamat-based traditional medicine on the resort island, while H. leucospilota is the most dominant species. For that reason, this study aimed to isolate ossicles from a specimen of morphospecies H. leucospilota collected from Teluk Nipah Beach, Pangkor Island; and to determine the shapes of the ossicles for species verification. A number of six ossicle shapes were observed. Beside buttons and tables as the common ossicle shapes; I-shaped rod, long I-shaped rod, branched rod, and spider-shaped rod were also documented. Nonetheless, the spider-shaped rod is an unusual ossicle shape in H. leucospilota as there was no previous record on it, thus it could be considered as a new finding. In summary, the results of this research indicate the uniqueness of the specimen of morphospecies H. leucospilota as a result of the presence of the spider-shaped rod. More studies with more samples, more morphological approaches as well as more molecular techniques need to be incorporated in future for a better insight

Natural silk of Pholcus phalangioides, a common home spider species for wound healing applications

Spider silk contains peptides and biomolecules that able to stimulate and improve conditions of wound healing. In this study, we report the potential use of natural silk from common home spider, Pholcus phalangioides, on human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) and teeth pulp stem cell’s proliferation and migration. The aim of this study was to examine the range of silk concentrations and their biological effects on the different type of cells. Our study showed that the silk is biocompatible and stimulated the proliferation of HaCaT and teeth pulp stem cells in a dose dependent manner after 24 and 48 hours. Selective effect of cellular migration was observed when the spider silk did not affect the migration of teeth pulp stem cells but only stimulated the migration of HaCaT after 24 hours. The ability of spider silk to stimulate cellular metabolic activity and migration could benefit research and development of biologically active wound dressings. © International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering 2016

Production of Natural Food Colourants Using Food Grade Microbial Pigments: A New Focus in Industrial Microbiology

In today’s food industry, the new focus on large-scale microbial production of natural food colourants has emerged among the manufacturers due to the relatively costly production of plant-derived food colourants, and the doubtful safety status of inorganic and synthetic colourants. However, it is still very challenging to change the consumers’ reliance on synthetic colourants. In fact, the first European success on the launch of β-carotene from Blakeslea trispora in 1995 has headed more search for new sources of natural food grade microbial pigments. The acceptance and rejection of a microbial food grade pigment by a community of consumers depend on two main contributing factors i.e. the regional and the traditional-based legislations. This paper discusses the classification of natural pigments, the legislation on natural food colourants, the success and new sources of potential pigment-producing microbes, and the advantages of microbial fermentation