2)
Changing Hydro-Meteorological Events and its Threat to Water
Security - A Study of Perak River, Klang River and Kelantan River Basins.
E-Science Project 2008, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation
(MOSTI)
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This research is fully funded by
the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). The general aim
of this study is to understand the complexity of water issues and its impact
on societies when water resources are threatened by a changing climate
regime, environmental resources exploitation and the general scarcity of the
resource.
The study also evaluates the water resources management strategies in the country in terms of short term and long term anticipation of a changing climate regime threat. Three major river basins, which are under different levels of exploitation, are considered for the study. The basins are the Klang River Basin (developed), the Perak River Basin (transitional development) and the Kelantan River Basin (limited development). The study focused on a number of specific objectives, namely ; (1) to identify and classify water resources potential and its uses (2) to study changing patterns and trends (space and time) of climate meteorological- runoff events in the basins (3) to understand how society affects water resources availability (including its quality and quantity) (4) to study how water affects society (water economics, water ethics and justice, water politics and legal issues, (5) to study why societies are vulnerable to water resources availability in the future (6) to study the various adaptive mechanisms inherent in societies to adapt to water resources availability (including short term non-formal strategies) and long term more formal strategies) (7) to evaluate existing water policies and water resources management systems within the basins in addressing water resources availability (8) to recommend a national policy on water resources management based on findings of the study. |
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3) The use of a
double heat pipe heat exchanger system for reducing energy consumption of
treating ventilation air in an operating theatre - A full year energy
consumption model simulation
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Energy and Buildings 40 (2008)
917–925
Available online at www.elsevier.com/locate/enbuild In two earlier papers [Y.H. Yau, Application of a heat pipe heat exchanger to dehumidification enhancement in tropical HVAC systems—a baseline performance characteristics study, International Journal of Thermal Sciences 46 (2) (2007) 164–171; Y.H. Yau, The analysis of enthalpy change with and without a heat pipe heat exchanger in a tropical air conditioning system, International Journal of Energy Research 30 (15) (2006) 1251–1263], two series of experiments were conducted under controlled conditions to establish the baseline performance characteristics of the heat pipe heat exchanger (HPHX). In the present paper, a complete empirical transient systems simulation program model is assembled to estimate the air states as well as the entire typical meteorological year energy consumption of an operating theatre located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The current heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for the operating theatre are found to be inherently energy-inefficient and can be further improved with a double heat pipe heat exchanger system. The impact on actual energy consumption of a custom-built Trane Air Handler Unit 0704 2-2MB is simulated with two 8-row heat pipe heat exchanger installed in the heating, ventilating and air conditioning system compared to the existing without HPHX HVAC system. Based on this investigation, the application of a double heat pipe heat exchanger system (Plant E) in the conventional Air Handler Unit operating in a tropical climate is strongly recommended as an efficient mean for humidity control and energy savings to maintain acceptable room conditions per American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) requirements [ASHRAE, ASHRAE Handbook HVAC Applications SI Edition, ASHRAE, Atlanta, GA, USA, 1995]. |
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5)Creating Wealth
from Wastes - Making Low Cost, Fire Resistant Roofing Materials from Local
Plant Fibres
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INTRODUCTION
Generally, there are three main
types of roof materials used in Malaysian houses: namely the concrete tiles,
attap and metal. Concrete roof tiles are widely used in urban houses.
The tiles (made of clay or cement) are very heavy, contributing to much of the
weight of the heavy roof, requiring strong supporting structures such as
cement bricks and concrete leading to high cost of the house. Attap has
been a traditional materials for roofs in the rural houses.The material is
light weight and durable, however, there are some short comings.
Firstly the attap leaves are not completely impermeable to rain water, and
during dry season, in the event of a fire, the roof can burn rapidly and
spread the fire to the other parts of the house. The metal roofs,
usually in the form of corrugated metal sheets (zinc, galvanized iron or mild
steel), have become the most widely used in rural and sub-urban houses. They
are more expensive than attap roof but cheaper than concrete roof,
impermeable to rain and do not burn. However metal roof cannot
insulate against the heat of tropical sun and require the installation of
air-conditioning. This could incur high electricity usage. Another irritating
feature is the noise of falling rain during the rainy season.
    OBJECTIVE
The project aim To utilize
plant wastes from the agriculture sector to make fire-resistant plant
fibre-polyurethane roofing material.
The new material must be water-proof and does not burn easily as the attap roof. It should have good insulation against the sun and does not produce disturbing noise by rainfall as in the case of metal roof. Most important of all, it must be cheap. DESCRIPTION
The agriculture sector produces abundant of various plant
fibres such as oil palm biomass, lalang, leaves and stems of various other
plants. Most of them are being treated as wastes and left to rot in the field
or being burned. The plant fibers were coated with fire-retardant chemicals
and held on top of layer of rigid foam and PVC or aluminum sheet with a palm
oil-based adhesive,which has been patented recently. [A process for producing
polyol and polyurethane adhesives. Malaysia Patent Application:
PI20042859, filed on 16-7-2004.]
  CONCLUSION
The new roofing material is safer
than the attap roof, can provide better insulation against the sun than the
metal roof, and it is very much cheaper than the concrete roof. The prototype
model has demonstrated the good insulating properties of the new material as
compare to zinc sheet. In addition, the manufacturing activities
could generate employments to the rural population, diversify the
applications of plant fibers from agriculture sources, and promoting the
construction of economical traditional houses with better safety features. In
view of the global interest in environmental protection and the encouragement
to utilize sustainable resources, the environmental friendly plant fiber
roofing materials could have the potential to be marketed overseas.
Reference: New roofing materials from local agriculture waste fibres, Malaysia Patent Application PI20070013, filed on 5-1-2007 This invention has won a number of awards:
TEAM
Prof Dr GAN Seng-Neon (Project leader) Prof Dr Muhamad Zakaria Lee Sook Ching Azalina Puang Gan Yik Kang |
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Dengue has been the most common
mosquito-borne disease in South-East Asia since the 1950s. The viruses are
single stranded enveloped RNA viruses, spherical, about 40-50 nm in diameter,
consisting of an inner viral core within a lipid envelope covered with glycoprotein
peplomers. There are four serotypes of the dengue virus from which infection
with any type is said to give lifelong homologous immunity, but there is no
cross-protection. The pathogenesis of dengue virus infections, dengue
hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome are still not clearly understood.
The current school of thoughts which includes antibody-dependent enhancement,
virus virulence and IFN-γ/ TNFα-mediated immuno-pathogenesis is
insufficient to explain clinical manifestations of DHF/DSS such as
thrombocytopenia and hemoconcentration . The pathogenicity of DENV infection
depends on both viral and human immunologic factors. Viral virulence ,host
genetic background, T-cell activation, the viral burden and auto antibodies
are involved in viral pathogenesis. Host immune factors, which can be
influenced by age, race or ethnicity, nutritional state, and chronic
diseases, have also been suggested to contribute to DHF risk. It has been
stated that the primary correlate of immunity to dengue is thought to be the
presence of neutralizing antibodies. Infection of DENV can be asymptomatic or
cause diseases ranging from a flu-like syndrome to severe disease involving
plasma leakage and thrombocytopenia (DHF), and also life threatening
hypovolemic shock (DSS). In most dengue endemic countries, only a small
percentage of the population actually develop symptoms (DF) upon infection
with the dengue virus. Only some individuals infected with dengue virus will
develop clinical evidence suggestive of dengue infections within two to three
days but some of the infected people remain healthy and immunologically
normal. Studies of the protected group may yield important clues for the
development of prophylactic and therapeutic interventions against the dengue
virus infection. To determine the factors which influence the body’s immune
response to dengue exposure and infection, immune response of the protected
group can be compared with people who are easily show symptoms of DF/DHF upon
exposure of dengue virus. Studying the individual variations in the immune
response will help clarify what contributes to protective immunity against
dengue virus. Studying host genetic factors will contribute to our
understanding of the pathophysiology of dengue virus infections and also of
viral infections in general. Research should be carried out to look at the
genetics of the protected group and determine what is protecting them. This
approach can contribute in vaccine or drug development in dengue virus
infection.
Dot-plot showing infected cells
detected using flow cytometer.
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7) Facial
Recognition System
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The face recognition time
attendance system combines the face recognition technology with existing
computer-base time attendance system to prevent buddy punching and increase
gate/door throughput rate. The system uses an economical PC and a web camera
as the required hardware. There are two main functionalities of the system
i.e. to detect facial images from video streams and to identify the person of
the detected images. This face recognition Time Attendance system uses rapid
object detection and eigen-faces algorithms.
According to the statistics of the International Biometric Group (IBG), the market of global biometrics recognition reached 58 million US dollars, and 15% of the market goes to the facial recognition field. The price slump of computer peripherals, such as PC camera and fingerprint recognition devices have been boosting the biometrics market to grow radically. The market is expected to expand to 590 million US dollars, 10 times bigger than now. Frost & Sullivan also estimated that the market scale would reach 2.6 billion by 2006 only in the US market. Face-recognition technology is booming and diversifying due to the wide application of PC camera and its characteristic of "no need to touch users.” Almost all the face recognition algorithm that exists does not provide sufficiently high recognition ability. Most recognition algorithm ranges from 75% - 90++%. None of it provides a unique matching. Therefore to use this biometric for high security requirements such as bank account identification and etc are not feasible. However, it can be used as an enhancement instead. Hence, this system proposes to simulate a time attendance system with face recognition as enhancement to conventional time attendance system |
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For more information on the research, Please contact: Associate Prof. Datin Dr. Sameem Binti Abdul Kareem |
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8)Coatings Coloured
With Natural Pigments
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Paint consists of pigments, binders, solvents and
additives. In this work, dammar resin from Dipterocarpus grandifolius
was used as binder. Pigments from intact plants of Bixa orellana, Curcuma
domestica and Clitoria ternatea produced various colours. Pigments
extracted from the callus of Celosia cristata, Celosia plumosa
and Echinocereus sp. were also used. The combination of binder
and pigments produced paint. Coatings on various types of surfaces could be
made easier using paint produced via this safe and environmental friendly
method.
The product has many advantages such as produced from natural plant pigments, safe to use, harmless, environmental friendly, free from volatile organic components, Cost effective and many others. However further research needs to be done in order to improve the quality of this product  | |||||
9)Design and
development of an inverter-drive system for IPM-motor-driven air-conditioners
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Interior permanent-magnet (IPM)
motor’s increasing popular use in air-conditioners is owed to its high
efficiency – highest among ac and dc motors, and 30%-50% more efficient than
common induction motors are. Air-conditioners guzzle power so the consequently
reduced power consumption and running costs are welcome.
IPM motor’s rotor is unique; made from high-energy neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnet, robust, and able to run at very high speeds, its interior construction creates flux distribution superior to that of surface-mounted permanent-magnet motors (90% efficiency against 80% of surface-mounted permanent-magnet motor’s), and the motor’s overall construction provides superior power density and torque-to-inertia ratio and efficiency. Starting torque can be either line-start or inverter-fed. Line-start IPM motors are used in fixed-speed or synchronous-speed applications. Air-conditioner systems need variable speed to maintain the desired temperature, thus an inverter is used for starting and for speed variation. Inverters convert to application-specific ac voltages and frequencies, the dc voltage rectified from ac line voltage. For advantageous use, they need advanced control methods. Speed control of IPM motor is complex as its permanent-magnet rotor construction provides fixed magnetic-field excitation, making rotor-speed control difficult. Conventional-motor speed control is through variation in input voltage and in supply frequency but this limits the speed range. Integration of current vector control with flux weakening control expands the speed range but the technique needs DSP, complicating control. The most advanced IPM motor control developed is the sensor-less drive; without speed-determining position sensors, the system is more robust, and, without feedback signal, more reliable. Speed approximation is through DSP-based calculation. Inverters raise efficiency levels yet most air-conditioning systems are non-inverter types. Highly developed countries have started replacing conventional motors with IPM ones, and the rest of the world will, too, as energy resources dwindle. The only stumble to IPM motor’s out-phasing conventional ones in air-conditioners is that reliable, high-performing inverters are still in the works. The researchers, Prof. Dr. Nasrudin Abd. Rahim and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hew Wooi Ping, are with UM’s Centre of Research in Power Electronics, Drives, Automation and Control, UMPEDAC. |
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10) Wedding Arch: A
Mobile Compliant Web-Based Comparative Analysis Decision Support System
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A long list of preparations
usually awaits soon-to-be brides and grooms before their auspicious wedding
ceremony. The most common hassles the brides and grooms face includes
registration of marriage, wedding photographs, location for the occasion,
dinner ceremony, guest lists, seat placements and the list goes on.
Without guidance and recommendations, these brides and grooms face the
unpleasantness of hunting for the suitable bridal products and services. The
ideal world for any couple is to be able to retrieve information on the
available products and services, such as types of services and price lists,
in the shortest possible time. However, the ideal world is a very lowly part
of reality. A web based wedding planner that lessens the hassles and
progressively shortened the time consuming process is a step towards the
ideal world. It would be desirable if the brides and grooms are able to
acquire the information online or within the same location and subscribe to a
service that is able to assist them in the preparations. Wedding Arch is a
mobile compliant web-based comparative analysis decision support system which
manages to guide and help budgetary couples to plan for their wedding. WA
provides and generates results and graphs which founded on the best price for
wedding apparels and available services from the database of the system based
on both rule based and deduction techniques. The system will return a few
packages to the budgetary couples once it matches the preferences and the
budget of the couples based on a new proposed algorithm.
WA serves as an e-commerce web-based portal by providing vendors with advertising spaces to promote their products and services. At the same time, provides facilities to acquire competitors’ information while assisting vendors in their marketing strategies. WA enables wedding couples to acquire bridal apparels, services and other wedding necessities anywhere, anytime via the internet. The Wedding Arch system works as a comparative analysis decision support system tool whereby it alleviates the problem of high budget and extensive time taken by wedding couples in investing and surveying throughout the wedding planning processes. WA will assist couples in making decisions for their wedding preparations and recommend services based on their preferences and budget. The Wedding Arch system provides busy and tight budgeted wedding couples other alternatives by enabling them to search for resources according to their preferences besides using the traditional way. |
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