Penerokaan spesifikasi kemahiran generik 4IR bagi graduan kejuruteraan awam berdasarkan perspektif daripada industri

Gelombang teknologi baharu yang dikenali sebagai revolusi perindustrian 4.0 (4IR) diiringi dengan penggunaan robotik dan pengautomasian menyebabkan perubahan terhadap permintaan tenaga buruh dan bidang pekerjaan. Profesion jurutera awam merupakan salah satu daripada 53 bidang pekerjaaan kritikal bagi membangunkan ekonomi negara dalam mendepani arus cabaran 4IR. Namun begitu, peratusan bilangan jurutera awam baharu yang diterima bekerja masih lagi rendah disebabkan oleh faktor ketidaksepadanan kemahiran generik sekaligus menyebabkan masalah pengangguran dalam kalangan graduan kejuruteraan awam (KA) masih lagi berlaku. Oleh itu, kajian ini dilaksanakan untuk meneroka spesifikasi yang terperinci mengenai kemahiran generik 4IR (KG4IR) bagi graduan kejuruteraan awam berdasarkan perspektif daripada pihak industri kejuruteraan awam. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif melalui temu bual semi berstruktur atas talian terhadap lima orang pakar bidang KA berdasarkan protokol temu bual. Dapatan temu bual dianalisis menggunakan sistem kod untuk mengeluarkan kategori dan tema bagi membentuk spesifikasi KG4IR. Hasil analisis mendapati bahawa sembilan tema KG4IR telah diperolehi iaitu kemahiran komunikasi, penyelesaian masalah, kepimpinan, kepintaran emosi, kreativiti, pemikiran kritikal, kebolehsuaian, digital dan pengurusan bersama perincian daripada kategori untuk membentuk spesifikasi KG4IR yang sesuai bagi graduan KA. Melalui spesifikasi KG4IR yang terperinci ini, ianya dapat dijadikan panduan bagi penerapan KG4IR oleh pihak pemegang taruh (IPT, pihak industri) untuk menghasilkan graduan kalis masa hadapan yang mampu bekerja dalam suasana pekerjaan 4IR selari dengan inspirasi Kerangka Pendidikan Tinggi 4.0 oleh Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi Malaysia.

Peptide-based multicomponent oligonucleotide delivery systems: optimisation of poly-l-lysine dendrons for plasmid DNA delivery

Gene therapy is a promising means to treat or prevent diseases either through gene silencing or expression. Some of the most effective delivery agents are polycationic dendrimers, which are highly branched constructs incorporating many positively charged groups. Two of the most effective dendrimers are polyethyleneimine (PEI) and poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM), which show high proficiency at overcoming barriers to oligonucleotide delivery. However, because of their abundance of cationic charge, they are associated with severe toxicity. We have therefore aimed to develop a low toxicity oligonucleotide delivery system, incorporating multiple components that have been selected and optimised to overcome the barriers to efficient oligonucleotide delivery. In this work we have focused on improving the toxicity, cellular uptake, and condensation of plasmid DNA (pDNA) through the fusion of synthetic poly-L-lysine (PLL) dendrons with the cell penetrating peptide TAT(48-60). A library of dendron structures, from 4(+) to 16(+) charge, and constructs containing six histidine residues, were synthesised. The effects of each modification on pDNA binding and condensation; cellular uptake and toxicity; and the size and zeta-potential of the complexes were assessed to identify the optimum dendron for incorporation into our systems. This work concluded that increasing the dendron charge from 4(+) to 16(+) significantly improved cellular uptake and pDNA condensation, with no effect on toxicity, while PLL dendrons with greater than 16(+) charge could not be efficiently produced. In comparison, the incorporation of six histidines into these constructs had a variable effect on cellular uptake, and generated larger sized complexes, but did not affect toxicity

M-protein-derived conformational peptide epitope vaccine candidate against Group A Streptococcus

Identification of the most relevant epitopes is the initial challenge of peptide-based vaccine design. Chimeric conserved epitopes of the Group A Streptococcus (GAS) M-protein were used in the development of an anti-GAS vaccine candidate. Previously, these epitopes have incorporated a GCN4 peptide from yeast to maintain their native helical structure. Here, we designed a new peptide epitope based on the minimal B-cell epitope from GAS M-protein. This new epitope was able to adopt the desired helical conformation without the need for the foreign GCN4 flanking sequence. The selected epitope induced significant immune responses upon administration with external adjuvant, and when incorporated into the Lipid Core Peptide (LCP) system. Moreover, the antibodies produced against this epitope were able to recognize the native p145 sequence from M-protein

Nanosheet Zinc Oxide Synthesized by Solution-Immersion Method for Triboelectric Nanogenerator

Most global problems are being solved by using sustainable energy harvesting technologies to retain the social ecosystem in great condition. The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) which is a renewable energy harvesting device, collects the waste mechanical energy from its surroundings and performs the electric signal conversion. TENG have garnered increased attention in recent years by offering prospective use in energy harvesting technology. Particularly, there is a need for flexible energy conversion that serves as a power supply for portable electronic equipment. In this study, ZnO nanosheet thin film prepared on the flexible conductive aluminium foil through a low temperature immersion technique was used to generate electrical energy. The effect of heat treatment on ZnO nanosheet thin film was also investigated on the surface morphology, strutural properties and nanogerator performance. The high density of interconnected ZnO nanosheet were observed before and after heat treatment as confirmed by FESEM studies. The analysis using XRD confirmed that ZnO nanosheet thin film was successfully deposited on the aluminium foil. Additionally, the ZnO nanosheet thin films improved significantly with heat treatment, enhancing their crystalline quality. The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) was successfully constructed in contact and separation mode using Kapton tape on top and ZnO nanosheet thin film on the bottom to generate electricity by a force of hand pressing. The output electrical voltage of the device doubled from around 2 V to 4 V after underwent the heat treatment. This study provides an essential insight into fabrication of TENG using the ZnO nanosheet thin film through a clean and effective method for nanogenerator applications