Effect of microwave sintering treatment to the flank wear of titanium carbide tools in milling operations

The paper reports the research on the improvement of tool wear resistant of Titanium Carbide (TiC) cutting tool after microwave post sintering treatment. Titanium Carbide square milling insert was microwave sintered at 600°C with 15 minutes of holding time. The face milling operations were conducted to Carbon Steel S45C block (130 mm x 95 mm x 40 mm) by using both of original and microwave sintered insert at 5 different cutting speed (60, 90 , 120 , 150 and 180 m/min), constant feed rate (0.2 mm/tooth) and constant depth of cut(0.2 mm/tooth). The flank wear of the insert was measured every nearest 10th minute of complete cutting passes. The results of the experiment show that microwave post sintering treatment improves the tool resistant of the TiC insert. The flank wear of the sintered insert is lower at any machining time and all cutting speed. The research also found that the percentage of the improvement is lower at higher cutting speed compare to lower cutting speed

Isu dan permasalahan Industri Kraftangan Tembaga di Terengganu, Malaysia

Sejarah telah membuktikan akan kemasyuran negeri Terengganu sebagai pusat perdagangan pada zaman dahulu yang sememangnya kaya dengan warisan budaya dan kearifan tempatan dengan warganya yang pakar dalam ilmu pertukangan seperti kraftangan tembaga. Walau bagaimanapun, industri kraftangan tembaga di Terengganu boleh dikatakan agak kritikal pada masa kini dari segi populariti selain kadar pengeluaran barangan kraf tembaga yang semakin merosot berbanding dengan kraftangan yang lain seperti songket, batik, ukiran kayu, anyaman dan lain-lain. Oleh itu, kajian adalah bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti isu dan permasalahan yang menyumbang kepada kemerosotan industri kraftangan tembaga di Terengganu. Kajian ini berbentuk kualitatif yang meliputi penyelidikan luaran seperti temu bual dan juga melibatkan pembacaan dan analisis data. Perisian SPSS Text Analytics for Surveys telah digunakan untuk menganalis data yang telah diperolehi melalui temu bual yang telah dijalankan terhadap 28 orang responden yang terlibat secara langsung dalam industri kraftangan tembaga. Hasil analisis berjaya menghasilkan satu model validasi hubung kait 18 elemen isu dan permasalahan industri kraftangan tembaga di Terengganu. Bagi membantu pembangunan kraftangan tembaga Terenganu pada masa depan, hasil perbincangan dapatan telah dibahagikan kepada 3 peringkat isu dan seharusnya diberi perhatian sewajarnya oleh pemain industri. Peringkat pertama ialah unit. Kedua peringkat kelompok, manakala peringkat ketiga ialah nasional. Pemahaman yang jelas akan isu dan permasalahan dalam kalangan pemain industri melalui model validasi yang dihasilkan berpotensi menaikkan lagi nilai kraftangan warisan di Terengganu sekaligus menjamin kelestarian kearifan tempatan agar terus terpelihara dan tidak hilang ditelan zaman

Comparative Study of Wheatley’s Trichrome Stain and In-vitro Culture against PCR Assay for the Diagnosis of Blastocystis sp. in Stool Samples

Background: This study evaluated the performance of routine permanent stain and cultivation method in comparison with polymerase chain reaction assay as the reference technique to detect Blastocystis sp. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among aboriginal populations that reside in Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia in Feb to Mar 2015. A total of 359 stool samples were examined using Wheatley’s trichrome stain, in-vitro cultivation in Jones’ medium and PCR assay. Positive amplicons were subjected to sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Results: Fifty-six (15.6%) samples were detected positive with Blastocystis sp. by Wheatley’s trichrome stain and 73 (20.3%) by in-vitro culture, while PCR assay detected 71 (19.8%) positive samples. Detection rate of Blastocystis sp. was highest in combination of microscopic techniques (27.9%). The sensitivity and specificity of Wheatley’s trichrome staining and in-vitro culture techniques compared to PCR assay were 49.3% (95% CI: 37.2-61.4) and 92.7% (95% CI: 89.1-95.4) and 39.4% (95% CI: 28.0-51.8) and 84.4% (95% CI: 79.7-88.4), respectively. However, the sensitivity [60.6% (95% CI: 48.3-71.9)] of the method increased when both microscopic techniques were performed together. False negative results produced by microscopic techniques were associated with subtype 3. The agreement between Wheatley’s trichrome stain, in-vitro culture and combination of microscopic techniques with PCR assay were statistically significant by Kappa statistics (Wheatley’s trichrome stain: K = 0.456, P<0.001; in-vitro culture: K = 0.236, P<0.001 and combination techniques: K = 0.353, P<0.001). Conclusion: The combination of microscopic technique is highly recommended to be used as a screening method for the diagnosis of Blastocystis infection either for clinical or epidemiological study to ensure better and accurate diagnosis

Preparation and characterization of acetylated starch mediated silver nanoparticles: the effect of solution ratio and time-varying exposure

Plastic packaging is widely used in food industry to protect and maintain food freshness. However, plastic packaging also contributes to solid waste problem and can become the contamination area of microbial activities which in turn affecting the shelf-life of the food product and may causing food-borne illness towards consumer. Thus, the demands on biodegradable polymer as plastic packaging has grown widely especially among the food industry. The employment of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can improve physical properties of biopolymer as well as promoting antimicrobial properties on the plastic packaging. The aim of this study is to synthesize of AgNPs by utilising acetylated starch (AS) as reducing agent with different parameters via microwave irradiation method. The effect of different ratio of acetylated starch and microwave time-varying exposure is evaluated. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized via UV-VIS spectroscopy (UV-VIS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis. The absorbance peak emerges at 420nm on UV-VIS shows that silver nanoparticles is successfully produced. 15 minutes microwave time exposure and 1:1 ratio is identified as the optimum condition to produce silver nanoparticles. The peak emerges on FTIR spectra shows the involvement of starch in reduction process in synthesizing AgNPs. The XRD results shows the amorphous structure of starch and crystalline peak of silver appear in 2T regions 37.4°, 43.4°, 63.1° and 75.7°. In conclusion, the significant outcome from the study is the AgNPs were successfully synthesized via microwave irradiation method and be a function of time varying exposure and acetylated starch ratio

Effect of microwave sintering treatment to the flank wear of titanium carbide tools in milling operations

The paper reports the research on the improvement of tool wear resistant of Titanium Carbide (TiC) cutting tool after microwave post sintering treatment. Titanium Carbide square milling insert was microwave sintered at 600°C with 15 minutes of holding time. The face milling operations were conducted to Carbon Steel S45C block (130 mm x 95 mm x 40 mm) by using both of original and microwave sintered insert at 5 different cutting speed (60, 90 , 120 , 150 and 180 m/min), constant feed rate (0.2 mm/tooth) and constant depth of cut (0.2 mm/tooth). The flank wear of the insert was measured every nearest 10th minute of complete cutting passes. The results of the experiment show that microwave post sintering treatment improves the tool resistant of the TiC insert. The flank wear of the sintered insert is lower at any machining time and all cutting speed. The research also found that the percentage of the improvement is lower at higher cutting speed compare to lower cutting speed

Issues and problems of the brassware handicraft industry in Terengganu, Malaysia

Terengganu has a historical record of being a formidable old commerce hub, renowned for its local wisdom and its residents' expertise in handicrafts, particularly in the creation of brassware handicraft. The brassware handicraft sector is less popular than other handicrafts like songket, batik, wood carving, weaving, etc. Additionally, its production rate has been decreasing. Therefore, the study aims to identify issues and problems that contribute to the decline of the brassware handicraft industry in Terengganu. This study primarily employs qualitative research methods, which encompass external inquiries such as semi-structured interviews and the thorough literature reviews and interpretation of collected data. The SPSS Text Analytics for Surveys software is utilised to analyse data obtained from interviews with 28 respondents directly involved in the brassware craft business. The investigation yielded a validation model demonstrating the association between the various concerns and problems in the brassware handicraft sector in Terengganu. Based on the findings of this study, the researcher has categorised the challenges and concerns that need to be considered by those interested in developing brassware crafting in Terengganu in the future. These problems are typically categorised into three tiers: individual level, collective level, and national level. A clear understanding of the issues and problems among stakeholders through the validation model produced can increase the value of heritage handicrafts in Terengganu and guarantee the sustainability of local wisdom so that it is preserved and not lost over time