A Portable in-situ Near-infrared LEDs-based Soil Nitrogen Sensor

Monitoring soil Nitrogen content for palm oil cultivation is paramount to produce high-quality palm oil. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of a designed portable near-infrared (NIR) light emitting diodes (LEDs)-based soil Nitrogen in predicting the soil Nitrogen content using NIR light. First, soil samples that collected from a local oil palm plantation were scanned using the developed sensor and followed by a conventional method, i.e. Kjeldahl analysis. A chemometric analysis was applied in this study to develop a predictive model by choosing the best result from an artificial neural network (ANN). The performance of ANN was validated using leave one out cross-validation. Results indicate that ANN with one hundred number of hidden neurons outperformed with a root mean square error of cross-validation of 0.031. This finding suggests that the proposed sensor coupled with ANN is promising to satisfactorily predict soil Nitrogen content

Comparison of phytochemicals, antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activity of unripe and ripe fruit of sonneratia caseolaris

Sonneratia caseolaris, also known as mangrove apple produces the edible fruit which can be found mainly on tidal mud in mangroves area. Since this fruit is considered as underutilized fruit as it is not fully discovered for its potential health benefits and not fully commercialized, hence this study aimed to determine the phytochemicals contents (i.e. total flavonoid, phenolic, anthocyanins and carotenoids contents), antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activity of different parts (flesh and stem cap) of the unripe and ripe fruit extracts. Phytochemicals, antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activities were determined using standard methods of spectrophotometric analysis. The flesh part of unripe S. caseolaris displayed the highest total phenolic, flavonoid and carotenoid contents as compared to the other parts in 80% methanol extract with the values of 67.67±0.10 mg (GAE/g), 37.06±0.30 mg (RE/g) and 5.41±0.10 mg (BC/100 g), respectively. The flesh part of unripe S. caseolaris in 80% methanol extract exhibited the best antioxidant properties in three different assays (i.e. DPPH, FRAP and ABTS) with the values of 98.32±0.28%, 67.72±0.74 mmol/g and 91.24±1.23 mg/g, respectively. The acetylcholinesterase inhibition also was found to be higher in the flesh part of unripe 80% methanol S. caseolaris extract with 47.18±0.68% at the concentration of 250 µg/mL. Therefore, utilization of this fruit as natural antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibition sources may develop new pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products

Improved heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compound adsorption using functionalised rice husk biochar

Carbazole (CBZ) is a hazardous heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (HAH) that pollutes water bodies, and the treatment remains a challenge due to its high persistence in the environment. This study chemically modified rice husk biochar (RHB) with starch derivative (DS) to develop an effective adsorbent. Thus, functionalised RHB with starch derivative (RHBDS) was synthesised to remove CBZ from synthetic wastewater. Based on a Box-Behnken design, the DS functionalisation optimisation was successfully performed. The parameters, including RHB mass of (5–10) g, DS concentration of (1–5)% w/v, and sonication period of (1–5) min, were analysed using Design Expert. These parameters were then utilised to investigate the optimal conditions (removal rate response and adsorption capacity) for the adsorbent. The removal rate and the adsorption capacity ranged from 83.85 to 98.94 % and 335.41 to 395.76 mg/g, respectively. Consequently, the RHB mass of 6.50 g, DS concentration of 1 % w/v, and sonication period of 5 min within the experimental domain exhibited the best conditions with desirability of 1.0. The 92.67 % removal rate and adsorption capacity of 370.59 mg/g were also obtained under optimal conditions. Compared to RHB, RHBDS demonstrated four times the adsorption capacity for the CBZ removal from synthetic water, which were 23.03 mg/g and 98.01 mg/g, respectively. Therefore, the RHBDS compound could be a promising adsorbent in removing CBZ from wastewater

Effects of culture conditions of immobilized recombinant Escherichia coli on cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) excretion and cell stability

The targeting of recombinant proteins for excretion into culture medium presents significant advan-tages over cytoplasmic expression. However, during the excretion of recombinant protein, caution must be taken in order to avoid cell lysis due to pressure build-up through overproduction of the expressed recombinant protein in the periplasmic space. In the present study, recombinant Escherichia coli express-ing cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) was immobilized by adsorption and entrapment in a porous hollow fiber membrane. The effects of culture conditions (post induction time, agitation rate and pH) on CGTase excretion, cell lysis and plasmid stability of immobilized cells were studied. The optimum post induction time, agitation rate and pH were found to be 24 h, 200 rpm and pH 9, respectively. The immo-bilized cells exhibited a 2.8–4.6-fold increase in CGTase excretion, a 16–95% reduction of cell lysis and a 323–464% increase in plasmid stability compared with free cells. Hence, immobilizing E. coli using a porous hollow fiber membrane proved to be valuable for the excretion of a recombinant protein and increased cell viability

Adequacy of contract provision in managing construction failure

In managing construction failure, normally efforts are made to identify the possible cause of failure and seek for the possible solution of the problems faced. Currently, there is no clear guideline available either within existing contract documents or legislations that can be used as a guide to resolve construction failure cases. Hence, this study has been undertaken to identify the limitations of current contract provisions which related to construction failure. It is conducted to evaluate the adequacy of contractual provisions in contract documents. The methodology adopted for this study includes literature research, interviews and questionnaire surveys with selected professionals in construction industry and legal sector. The findings of the study show that the limitations in current contractual provisions are eminent. It is also found that there is a need for consideration of inclusion of new provisions to be implemented into contract document. Despite there may be a difference of ideas between the respondents from construction industry and legal sector regarding to limitations of law and contract to solve construction failure cases. This study also made some proposal of important items that should be considered for improving current contract provisions

An analysis of the impact of soft skills on Malaysian technical institutions

Many people recognize the importance of technical skills as knowledge and proficiencies required in the accomplishment of professional jobs. However, the importance and applicability of soft skills are mostly ignored despite the fact that, it is a process how individual carry himself in an organization or professional environment for the progress of that individual and the organization he found himself. The paper explored into some journals from the previous the literatures, some soft skills were identified such as communication, lifelong learning, entrepreneurship, leadership, and teamwork, problem solving and critical among TVET institutions in Malaysia. Document analysis was conducted as a methodology for this study. The impacts of these soft skills on TVET related institutions like polytechnics, training centers and universities in Malaysia. It was indicated that, the result of the impact of soft skills on these institutions was generally moderate. The paper concluded that, technical skills alone could not bring about the organizational development there must be a compliment of soft skills for any organizational sustainability. Supplementary of soft and technical skills conceptual model was formulated. The paper was concluded by saying that, the competitive nature of the present situation, soft skills are essential because they have affected all aspect of human development. Some recommendations were suggested, teachers, lecturers and instructor must teach students soft skills for complete individual proficiencies and organizational sustainability

Biofuel scale-up from waste source and strategies for cost optimization

The search for alternate fuels that demonstrate alleviated environmental impact is intensifying globally. To measurably displace fossil fuels in the near future, several aspects should be considered when promoting biofuel technology. Renewable sources, especially wastes from biomass, are feasible to be converted into biofuels of different phases (gaseous, liquid, and solid). This chapter discusses the thermochemical and biological biomass conversion routes, along with the essential processes involved to produce biofuels. The advantages and limitations of each approach are being compared. Significant operating parameters that require optimization for process scale-up are identified and reviewed. The strategies for cost optimization are also outlined in the final part of this chapter

Enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated kenaf using a recombinant xylanase: effects of reaction conditions for optimum hemicellulose hydrolysis

An efficient hemicellulose hydrolysis has now become a crucial step for xylooligosaccharides production for food additives and nutraceuticals industries. In this study, xylanase hydrolysis of pretreated hemicellulosic kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) for substantial hemicellulose hydrolysis was demonstrated. Experiments were performed primarily to investigate the effect of several critical reaction conditions towards the enzymatic hydrolysis of the pre-treated kenaf. The effects of various ranges of reaction conditions (substrate loading, xylanase loading, pH, temperature and time) were systematically and thoroughly studied. The study of hemicellulosic kenaf conversion using single enzyme was proven to effectively yield up to 59% of conversion after 48 h incubation using 3% (w/v) of substrate loading and 400 U of xylanase loading at 50°C in pH 4.0 buffer systems. The use of a single xylanase on the pre-treated kenaf was a key parameter in understanding the action of the main hemicellulose degrading enzyme towards hydrolysing the hemicellulose backbone of the pre-treated kenaf. Enzyme feeding strategy was also conducted and the results revealed that a batch feeding strategy of 400 U xylanase loading yielded the highest hemicellulose hydrolysis compared to the other fed batch enzyme feeding strategy. It was concluded that each reaction conditions and enzyme feeding strategy gave a significant impact towards the enzymatic hydrolysis and the use of optimum reaction conditions resulted in a high product yield at the end of the reaction. With the discovery of the importance of each reaction conditions involved in a hydrolysis, this study highlights the need for a comprehensive investigation on the reaction conditions using a mixture of enzymes towards achieving a complete hydrolysis with a higher product yield

Optimization and characterization of immobilized e. coli for engineered thermostable xylanase excretion and cell viability

There are many parameters that may have influenced the properties of cell during immobilization process. Particularly, the immobilization methods, carrier materials, and enzyme loading amount that have been proved to be important for immobilization process. The physiological responses of microorganisms are depending on the immobilization technique used. Typical alterations to the micro-environment of the immobilized cell involved the altered water activity, presence of ionic charges, cell confinement and modified surface tension. In this study, the graphene oxide was selected as a suitable carrier for immobilization process of recombinant E.coli and adsorption was chosen as an appropriate method to improve the production of engineered thermostable xylanase. High level production of thermostable xylanase by immobilized recombinant cell in the 5 L bioreactor was studied by using optimum research surface methodology (RSM) conditions was studied. The immobilization of E. coli onto nanoparticle matrix manages to improve the cell performance by improving the protein expression, reduced the occurrences of cell lysis as well as improved the plasmid stability of the host cell. Thus, immobilization contributes a physical support for both whole cells as well as enzymes to develop a better operative achievement system for industrialized fields and give rise to the biological advancement existing enzyme for instance xylanase

Delivery of bioencapsulated proteins

Proteins and peptides have been used in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and food applications for their therapeutic and nutritional properties. However, administration of these molecules to the human body is challenging due to their low stability, low bioavailability, high biodegradability, immunogenicity, and inefficient permeability. These molecules require a tailored delivery system to ensure bioavailability and efficient maintenance to target location. Nanotechnology has emerged as an ideal platform in drug delivery as it provides a versatile system with excellent biocompatibility. This chapter discusses various nanomaterials that have been explored, particularly organic, inorganic, protein, and hybrid nanomaterials which are biocompatible for administration to human body. Challenges for the development of protein in nanomaterials are outlined and strategies for the nanoencapsulation in these nano-vehicles are discussed that aim for preservation of bioactivity, high protein loading, structural stability, permeability, and control release besides being easy for synthesis and cost-effective