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Volume 4, Issue No 1, March 2017 <<Previous Volume II Next Volume>>
Issues in Volume 4 Cover Page and Table of Contents Full Articles
Promotion of Adventitious Root Formation of Miracle Fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum Daniel) Through Stem Cuttings and Air Layering Technique
Rozalia Mohd Geoffery; Hamsawi Sani. 2017. Transactions on Science and Technology, 4(1), 1 - 7 Abstract Synsepalum dulcificum or Miracle fruit plant is a medicinal shrub that belongs to the family Sapotaceace are known to exert an extraordinary effect of changing sour taste to sweet. The increase in industrial demand may cause depletion on the raw materials source as it is a slow-growing plant. Propagations of miracle fruits are restricted due to difficulties in rooting through cuttings and the seeds are recalcitrant. This study was to overcome the needs to supply large number of seedlings for large-scale planting by inducing adventitious root formation through vegetative propagation methods such as stem cutting and air layering (marcotting). A total of 140 softwood stem cuttings were treated with four IBA concentrations (0, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/L) and planted in sand bed under non-mist system. Another experiment involved air layering was initiated on vertical young shoots treated with commercial rooting hormone Seradix No.2 (3000 ppm). Percentages of rooting (%), mean number of root (%), and mean root length (cm) per rooted cutting were collected 2 months after planting. Stem cuttings soaked in control treatment produced the highest percentage of rooting (54.28%) per cutting. However, mean root numbers per rooted cutting increases with high concentrations of IBA treatment. Adventitious root started to emerge four weeks after propagation period in air layering method. Results showed that 73.33% air layers successfully induced roots with mean root length 5.98cm. Thus, vegetative propagation is a promising technique that can be applied to promote adventitious rooting in hard-to-root species as in Synsepalum dulcificum. View article
Phycocyanin Fluorescence in Whole Cyanobacterial Cells as Bioindicators for the Screening of Cu2+ and Pb2+ in Water
Wan Nurul Aisyah Wan Jusoh; Ling Shing Wong; Mee Kin Chai. 2017. Transactions on Science and Technology, 4(1), 8 - 13 Abstract Heavy metals such as Cu2+ and Pb2+ are commonly used as coats for pipelines and various kitchen appliances; they are also used for alloys and stainless steels. In this study, cyanobacteria, A. cylindrica was chosen as bioindicator. The study focused on phycocyanin of the cyanobacteria, one of the major pigments that is located on the thylakoid membrane that absorbs light to drive photosynthesis. It is also able to emit fluorescence naturally, hence it could be exploited to screen for Cu2+ and Pb2+ in water. Our present study indicated that immobilized A. cylindrica displayed high responsiveness upon exposure to Cu2+ and Pb2+. A. cylindrica was also able to give out responses at concentrations as low as 0.01 mg/L, hence proving it to be sensitive and making it a great candidate for biosensors in detecting heavy metals in drinking water. View article
Removal of Methylene Blue by Iron Terephthalate Metal-Organic Framework/Polyacrylonitrile Membrane
Mohd Hadi Mohd Tahir; Szea Err Teo; Pak Yan Mo. 2017. Transactions on Science and Technology, 4(1), 14 - 21 Abstract MIL-53(Fe)/PAN membrane is a mixture comprises iron terephthalate metal-organic framework on polyacrylonitrile, which were fabricated through the phase inversion method. The adsorption property of the MIL-53(Fe)/PAN was evaluated in batch condition over various concentration of methylene blue (MB) in water and without pH adjustment. The effect of MIL-53(Fe) to PAN ratio, initial MB concentration, and contact time to the degree of MB removal was investigated. This study reveals that as low as l g/L of the membrane with 1:5 of the MIL-53(Fe) to PAN ratio was capable of removing about 70% of the 15-ppm MB in 5 hours. The adsorption data, on the other hand, was best fit to the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-first order kinetics models suggesting multilayer adsorption between the membrane and the MB with physisorption dominating the entire process. Hence, MIL-53(Fe)/PAN membrane is a potential material for environmental remediation and pollution control. View article
Tuning Acoustic Properties of Glass via Growth of Gold Nanoparticles
Reuben Chee Wui Ho; Asmahani Awang; Fuei Pien Chee; S.K. Ghoshal; Khasidah Kamarudin; H.A.A. Sidek; Jedol Dayou. 2017. Transactions on Science and Technology, 4(1), 22 - 29 Abstract Erbium doped tellurite glasses containing gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) are prepared by melt quenching technique and systematic characterizations are made prior to density and elastic properties. The result reveals the addition of Au NPs generate non-bridging oxygen atoms which cause bond breaking and increase in inter-atomic spacing, thus decreasing the density of glass. The longitudinal ultrasonic velocity, shear ultrasonic velocity, ratio of shear ultrasonic velocity to longitudinal ultrasonic velocity, longitudinal modulus and bulk modulus vary with increasing concentration of Au NPs due to modification in glass structure via generation of non-bridging oxygen atoms. In addition, shear modulus and Poisson’s ratio are evidenced to change slightly upon addition of Au NPs as cross-linkage in the glass structure is not easily affected by the introduction of NPs. The significant features of the results may constitute a basis for improving the acoustic properties of tellurite glass. View article
Recycling of Wastes from wood processing in a Conical Spouted Bed Combustor
María J. San José; Sonia Alvarez; Raquel López. 2017. Transactions on Science and Technology, 4(1), 30 - 37 Abstract Conical spouted bed incineration has been proven a feasible technology for thermal treatment of beds consisting of wastes from wood processing. The objective has been to evaluate the combustion efficiency and gas products from wastes from wood processing such as shavings, sawdust and wood chips. The spouted bed regime has been obtained up to velocity corresponding to low bed pressure drop fluctuations. Experiments have been carried out from 450 to 550°C. The combustor has been operated with an average excess air (20%) regarding minimum spouting gas flow, and the efficiency has been in 68-90% range. View article
Mapping and Validation of Noise Level in Kuwait City
Jasem M. Al-Awadhi; Dhary S. AlKandary. 2017. Transactions on Science and Technology, 4(1), 38 - 47 Abstract Noise Pollution Modeling Software “CUSTIC 2.0” has been used to assess the noise level due to traffic flow in Kuwait City during weekdays and weekends at three different time slots. Geographical Information System (GIS) was used to generate, store and retrieve the spatial data and map the sound levels using an interpolation technique. In general as the traffic flow increases the noise pollution levels tend to increase in their magnitude. During the weekdays, the traffic noise is generally higher in the morning period than in the afternoon time due to higher car numbers, while in the weekends, the traffic noise is higher in the afternoon than in morning time due to increase of traffic movement for shopping purposes. In general, the maximum noise level was measured between March 2011 and February 2012 was 83 dBA and 82 dBA for weekdays and weekends respectively. The predicted levels of noise have been calculated as 80 and 70.5 dBA for weekdays and weekends. The two predicted and measured noise levels were compared with the noise level measurements at 25 different locations in Kuwait City. A good agreement between the measured and predicted results was found. View article
Emotional Maturity among Medical Students and Its Impact on Their Academic Performance
Vidya Bhagat; Yasrul Izad; Joash Jayaraj; Rohayah Husain; Khairi Che Mat; Myat Moe Thwe Aung. 2017. Transactions on Science and Technology, 4(1), 48 - 54 Abstract Emotional intelligence is a measure of our emotional strength to cope with our surroundings. Monitoring emotional intelligence and being aware of our own emotions shows people’s emotional maturity. Assessing this quality of emotions is important for medical students to examine their overall ability to deal with their immediate world since they may have to confront end number of stressful situations in their profession. The emotional maturity explicitly has an impact on students’ academic performance and is also an important aspect of professional development. Thus the study makes an effort to find out the influence of emotional maturity on academic performance among the year one and year two medical students of University Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA). The study population included preclinical medical students of UniSZA from Year 1 and Year 2 of academic session 2015/2016. The convenient sampling technique was used to select the sample. Data were collected using ‘Emotional Maturity Scale’ to study the association between emotional maturity and academic performance. Out of 124 questionnaires only 10 response sheets were not complete, other 114 were complete. Among the study participants, 87 % and 27 % were males and females, respectively. The data were then compiled and analyzed using SPSS Version 22. The Carl Pearson’s correlation coefficient method was carried out to find the significance of the association between the variables. The result revealed that there was a statistically significant positive correlation between emotional maturity and academic performance (r =0.783, p <0.001). Medical faculty members should lay more emphasis on these aspects thereby mending their students for better performance. Hence the researchers expect that the country will mold medical doctors into better professionals. View article
Sustainable Campus Initiatives Implemented by Higher Education Provider: Practices amongst Students
Ah Choi Er; Asmaa binti Mohamad Salleh; Ath Thur Mart Luthfi; Erna Yanti Binti Baharum; Noraine Bt. Nordin; Nurul Izza Binti Abdul Rahim; Siti Khairati Binti Zakaria; Siti Nor Amirah Bt. Ab. Aziz; Siti Nur Amira Binti Khoro; A. S. A. Ferdous Alam. 2017. Transactions on Science and Technology, 4(1), 55 - 61 Abstract The Sustainable Campus program, which was launched on 21 June 2007, seeks to coordinate the implementation of sustainable development in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia as a whole. However, the university’s complex environment with diverse organizational sub-cultures and traditions has raised concerns. The main challenge in conservation efforts is awareness and acceptance. Therefore, continuous efforts have to be made through various programs such as awareness campaigns and enforcement. The involvement of all parties will help in realizing the Sustainable UKM Charter towards a sustainable campus. This study aims to identify sustainable consumption practices among students and their role towards achieving a sustainable campus. Interviews were conducted via a set of questionnaire with 216 undergraduate and 84 graduate students. The results indicated that majority respondents, students take cognizance and adopt sustainable campus practices such as energy management, water saving, use public transportation, manage waste effectively and actively involved in recreational facilities. View article |