bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Cybersecurity Executive DBA?
Authors: Shrivastava Utkarsh , Mohammed Taufeeq
Published: December 2017

After the successful launch of a DBA program for working executives, the program’s academic director ponders whether or not there might be an opportunity to create a cybersecurity doctoral program based on the existing program’s research core.

Grandon Gill, Academic Director of the Doctorate of Business Administration Program (DBA) at the University of South Florida’s (USF) Muma College of Business pondered the email he had just sent to Moez Limayem, the dean of the college (see Exhibit 1). In that email, he had raised the possibility of developing a version of the college’s highly successful DBA program specifically targeting cybersecurity professionals. He also noted the possibility of funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to help cover the costs of launching the program.
The idea of starting the program sparked when Gill had attended an NSF principal investigator’s meeting earlier in the year. A key area of discussion in the meeting involved the serious shortage of terminally qualified faculty candidates to teach cybersecurity-related graduate courses at universities across the United States. These discussions were confirmed by subsequent research. Recent surveys by the U.S. Department of Labor found that the demand for cybersecurity graduates had increased by 27% in 2016 to reach a record high, and increasing number of data breaches and cyber-attacks highlighted the need for trained security professionals. Although there was a lot of practical experience out there in the cybersecurity arena, when a research university like USF wanted to hire faculty, candidates needed to have a terminal degree such as a PhD or DBA. These were much less common among the security experts that would be a good fit with business schools or MIS departments. Indeed, there were few doctoral programs in cybersecurity that focused on researching the human side of cybersecurity—increasingly important in the worlds of business and government. The Muma College of Business has experienced many challenges in its own efforts to hire cybersecurity faculty. What Gill also recognized was that much of the research content of the DBA program that he led could be quite applicable to nontechnical cybersecurity research.

The possibility of initiating the new program was not a decision to be taken lightly. Indeed, it raised a series of related questions and decisions: 1) Would such a program be viable in the first place? 2) Should the launch of such a program be contingent on the acquisition of external funding to cover startup expenses? 3) Could the DBA program faculty and staff, already stretched thin by the DBA program’s larger than expected cohorts, support such an additional program? 4) At a university where responsibility for cybersecurity was spread across three colleges, what type of support or opposition could be anticipated for such a program?
Grandon.com Got Hacked!
Authors: Mohammed Taufeeq , Shrivastava Utkarsh , K Das Ashish , Thi Nguyen Quynh
Published: December 2017

A professor in information systems discovers that his personal website has been hacked. Even worse, his ISP has suspended his site because the defacement included a PayPal phishing scheme. This is not the first time this has happened. How should he recover?

Dr. T. Grandon Gill, a Professor in the Information Systems and Decision Sciences Department at the University of South Florida, was traveling with his family in England when he received a strange phone message. Not being able to respond, he ignored it until—a couple of days later—he was notified that access to his personal website had been suspended (see Exhibit 1). Grandon.com had, once again, been hacked–for the 7th time.
Getting his website hacked was not a new experience for Grandon Gill. In the past, however, getting the site back up and running had been a quick fix involving replacing the corrupted files. This time it was different. Based on the email and his service provider’s response, his site now contained links to PayPal phishing sites. Without significant changes, he could become complicit in fraud if the situation was not remedied. This was a problem that could no longer be ignored.

After Gill had re-read the email, he pondered the various options available to him. Given the amount of trouble it was causing him, he wondered if he needed the website at all. To maintain the domain name grandon.com, which he had held for more than 20 years, all he needed to do was to put up a simple landing page with a message: “Hi, I am Grandon—go to my school account to find out more.” At the other extreme, he could completely re-engineer the site to make it much less vulnerable—a process that could take days, if not weeks. Between the two extremes, there were many other possibilities. These included changing hosts, simplifying the site so that it contained only the most critical information, dropping its WordPress component, or even going to a pure WordPress model. He had a suspicion, based on previous experience, that vulnerabilities in WordPress may have been the source of the hack. But were these vulnerabilities intrinsic to the application, or were they simply the result of his inattentive management? Whatever he decided, he needed to take action soon. It was very embarrassing, and perhaps professionally damaging, to have his site showing an unavailable message. He thought back to a popular ironic quote that said: “Good decisions come from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions.” What should he do now?
Behind Enemy Lines
Authors: Elder Jonathan , Jacobson Nicole , Remsen Natalie , Wilmath Kim
Published: December 2017

A client of a security services firm has received an email from the dark web demanding a ransom or it will start selling data it has stolen from the client. The client as asked for the firm’s assistance in paying the ransom. How should the company proceed?

It was late on a Friday afternoon. The ReliaQuest Security Operations Center was busy as usual, but nothing was out of the ordinary. ReliaQuest Chief Technology Officer, Joe Partlow, was in his office working on a new technology innovation when his cell phone rang. It was the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for ABC Company, one of ReliaQuest’s clients–a company with millions of customers across the United States. ABC Company’s CISO had a crisis on his hands. He had just gotten word from his public relations staff that a journalist had called asking for a comment about a supposed leak of millions of customer records containing personally identifiable information (PTT) that could potentially be used to steal identities. Apparently, the data was listed “for sale” on the “dark web” portion of the Internet by an anonymous hacker. The CISO wanted ReliaQuest’s help figuring out whether the data had, in fact, been stolen. If so, who stole it, and how? And what could be done now to re-procure the data lost? The journalist had given the company a 24-hour window before he said he would post a story.

There was also the question of whether the supposed data leak was legitimate at all. ABC Company’s security team had not been able to verify that any of their systems had been breached, and there seemed to be no way to inspect the supposed stolen data without purchasing it from the anonymous hacker–something the company was not comfortable doing on its own.

The situation was urgent. The prospect of alleged customer data floating around the dark web was deeply troubling to the CISO and to Joe, yet he knew that finding the underlying cause of the situation could require members of the ReliaQuest team to use tactics outside the scope of work formally agreed upon by ReliaQuest and ABC Company. Joe also knew that if the breach was real, any tactics to identify and secure the data that ReliaQuest used could be subject to discovery in a criminal case. Moreover, Joe worried that if the breach was real and had somehow happened while under ReliaQuest’s watch, the incident could create a public relations crisis not only for ABC Company, but also for ReliaQuest. Joe was at a high stakes crossroad for making a decision and time was of the essence. ReliaQuest prided itself on team members’ willingness to do whatever it took to make security possible for customers. Nonetheless, Joe needed to decide: How far should ReliaQuest go to verify the breach? How would they find the underlying cause of the breach? How would they recover stolen data? And who should he consult with both within and outside of ReliaQuest to solve the problem while protecting stakeholders?
Audit Committee Accounting Expert and Earnings Management with “Status” Audit Committee as Moderating Variable
Authors: Suprianto Edy , Suwarno Suwarno , Murtini Henny , Rahmawati Rahmawati , Sawitri Dyah
Published: December 2017

This research aims to analyze the effect of accounting expert of audit committee on earnings management. This research also assesses the role of audit committee on earnings management with audit committee status as moderating variable. The population is all of firm’s which listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange. Purposive sampling is used to collect data. Data used financial statements and annual report companies from Indonesia Stock Exchange website. Moderated regression analysis (MRA) is used to analyze the hypothesis. The result shows that accounting expert of audit committee has negative effect on earnings management. Yet, variable of audit committee status cannot moderate the relationship between accounting expert of audit committee and earnings management in Indonesia.
The Role of Carbon Accountant in Corporate Carbon Management Systems: A Holistic Approach
Authors: Egbunike Francis Chinedu , Emudainohwo Ochuko Benedict
Published: December 2017

Carbon accounting consists of a combination of advanced cost allocation techniques such as activity-based management and life-cycle costing; that improve the identification and assignments of carbon-related expenses and overheads to such objects as products, services, customers and organizational processes. The study therefore sets out to find the role of carbon accountant in corporate management systems. Data used for this investigation were collected from primary and secondary sources. Primary data are first-hand information from respondents while Secondary data include textbook, Annual Reports and financial statements and internet facilities. The study employed descriptive survey and ex-post facto research design and the formulated hypotheses were tested by use of T-Test and OLS Regression. Based on the analysis and the hypothesis tested, it showed that there is a statistically significant relationship between carbon accounting and corporate performance of selected quoted Manufacturing Companies and based on this findings, it was recommended amongst others that, adaptation to conditions that include long-term changing dynamics of the natural environment should be encouraged and the focus of finance and accounting system should not only cover short-term outcomes and management of short-term costing, reporting and disclosure but also long-term climate risks.
Effectiveness of Selected Entomopathogenic Fungi in Packed Rice Grain at Room Temperature Against Corcyra Cephalonica Stainton
Authors: Samodra Hendrawan , Ibrahim Yusof Bin
Published: December 2017

Eight isolates of entomopathogenic fungi were evaluated as dried conidia against the rice moth,  Corcyra cephalonica. In bioassays two isolates of Beauveria bassiana (BbGc and BbPs) and one isolate of Metarhizium anisopliae (MaPs) consistently gave high mortality to C. cephalonica larvae. Formulations in either kaolin, talc or tapioca flour (20 % w/w a.i.) thoroughly mixed with long grain rice in plastic cups (8 cm diameter by 5 cm) gave complete larval mortality by the 12th day of treatment. However, in general those formulated in kaolin and talc were more efficacious and faster to kill compared to those formulated in tapioca flour or the unformulated control. Even at the lowest rate of 0.05 g BbGc in kaolin provided 100% mortality 7 days after introduction compared with other dust formulations. Isolate BbGc in kaolin and talc administered at 0.4 g a.i. in 200 g rice packed in plastic kept at room temperature provided protection against the rice moth up to 4 months of storage. Larval mortality in excess of 90% was obtained 15 days after introduction. Formulations of MaPs was effective only within the first month of storage beyond which infectivity rapidly declined.
Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on Genetic Diversity in Cycas Balansae (Cycadaceae)
Authors: Tam Nguyen Minh , Trang Nguyen T. Phuong , Giang Vu T. Ha , Triest L. Triest
Published: December 2017

Habitat fragmentation is a serious threat to species survival. In Vietnam, Cycas balansae has been considered as threatened species because of the reduction and fragmentation of its habitats and over-exploitation. We assessed genetic variability and the pattern of population structure among six populations sampled in four provinces: Hoa Binh, Ha Nam, Ninh Binh and Quang Ninh. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was performed on leaf tissues from 152 individuals representing 6 populations of C. balansae. Six of twelve enzyme systems were used to estimate genetic diversity at population and species levels. Eleven loci were examined. The allozyme data showed high levels of genetic diversity within all populations, ranging from 0.538 in Ba Sao to 0.628 in Tan Dan (average 0.576). The maintenance of high levels of expected heterozygosity (average 0.571) and low in observed heterozygosity (average 0.347) might be related to great heterozygote deficiency and increased frequencies of rare alleles. Genetic differentiation among populations was low (Dst = 0.036 and Gst = 0.064), indicating high level of gene flow (Nm = 3.22). Isolation by geographical distance was observed, however, no significant relationship between genetic distances and geographical distances was recorded. Our studies suggest small population sizes of cycads brought about by fragmentation of its habitats, over-exploitation, and increasing number of inbred individuals within populations.
A New Triterpene Glycoside from the Sea Cucumber Holothuria Scabra Collected in Vietnam
Authors: Thanh Nguyen Van , Dang Nguyen Hai , Kiem Phan Van , Cuong Nguyen Xuan , Huong Hoang Thanh , Minh Chau Van
Published: December 2017

Bioassay guided fractionation led to the isolation of a new triterpene glycoside, holothurinogenin B (1) along with three known compounds, holothurin B (2), holothurin A (3), and holothurin A2 (4), from the methanol extract of the Vietnamese sea cucumber Holothuria scabra. Their structures were deduced from the spectral analysis (1D-NMR, 2D-NMR, MS) and chemical evidences.
The Safety of Building Structures Subject to Unusual Natural and Man-Made Disasters
Authors: Pho Nguyen Van
Published: December 2017

Previously, we often use the statistical data on natural disasters and mathematical tools such as probabilistic theory, mathematical statistics and random processes to express and analyze natural disasters' phenomena when dealing with the safety problem of building structures subject to natural disasters. However, due to unusual change of the global climate, natural disasters have changed essentially the intensity, frequency and the appearing time so we cannot rely on  the statistical data on natural disasters in the past to do that. Therefore, renovation of the thought on selection of plans, calculation, design, and evaluation of safety of building structures to accommodate to natural disasters and man-made disasters is a required task. This paper presents  some points of view of the authors, including: (i) Why should we renovate our thought on selection of plans, calculation, design, and evaluation of safety of existing structures? (ii) What are the old thought and the new thought on the safety of building structures? (iii) How to renovate the selection of building plan, calculation, design and evaluation of the safety of building structures? and (iv) How were some building structures in Vietnam decided according to the new thought?Some specific examples on the selection of building plan given in this paper are to illustrate the authors' opinions.
Nguyen Duc Thanh∗, Nguyen Thi Kim Lien, Pham Quang Chung, Tran Quoc Trong, Le Thi Bich Thuy, and Henry Nguyen
Authors: Thanh Nguyen Duc , Kim Lien Nguyen Thi , Chung Pham Quang , Trong Tran Quoc , Bich Thuy Le Thi , Nguyen Henry
Published: December 2017

Upland rice grows on 19 million ha, about 15% of the world's rice plantation [2]. The production of upland rice is crucial to agricultural economy of many countries [15]. The yield of upland rice is very low with an average of about 1 t/ha. Drought is a major constraint to the productivity of upland rice. In this paper, we present the results on mapping QTLs for root traits related to drought resistance (maximum root length, root thickness, root weight to shoot and deep root weight to shoot ratios) in upland rice using a recombinant inbreed (RI) population derived from a cross between Vietnamese upland rice accessions. The first molecular linked of Vietnamese upland rice were constructed. The map consists of 239 markers (36 SSR and 203 AFLP markers) mapped to all 12 rice chromosomes. This map covered 3973.1 cM of rice genome with an average distance of 16.62 cM between the markers. Twenty three putative QTLs were detected. Among them, four QTLs for MRL, four QTLs for R/SR, four QTLs for DR/SR, two QTL for RN, two QTLs for RT, two for PH, and five QTLs for TN were recorded. There are several SSR markers such as RM250, RM270, RM263, RM242, RM221 linked to QTL regions. They could be very useful for drought resistant selection in rice. Some common QTLs for maximum root length and deep root weight to shoot ratio were observed in different genetic background (RDB09 × R2021 and IR64 × Azorean populations) and ecological locations (IRRI and Vietnam). These QTLs could be very useful for precise locating drought resistant gene(s) and marker-assisted selection.
A Low Cost HPIB Compatible Interface to a Thermochuck for Computerised C-V Measurement System
Authors: Kwok C.K , Ling C.H , Kanhere R , AH L.K
Published: December 2017

A Low Cost HPIB Compatible Interface to a Thermochuck for Computerised C-V Measurement System
A Study of Compressive Strength and Density of Aerated Concrete
Authors: Kiattikomol Kraiwood , Lim Aikachai Sae , Siripanichgorn Anek
Published: December 2017

A Study of Compressive Strength and Density of Aerated Concrete
An Investigation of the Effects of Emitter Pre-Deposition Temperature in Double-Diffued Polysilicon Emitter Bipolar Transistors
Authors: Chor E.F , Chen C.P , Tan L.S
Published: December 2017

An Investigation of the Effects of Emitter Pre-Deposition Temperature in Double-Diffued Polysilicon Emitter Bipolar Transistors
Research and Development of Solar Thermal Energy in Thailand
Authors: Wibulswas Prida
Published: December 2017

Research and Development of Solar Thermal Energy in Thailand
Technology Research and Development for Environmental Management - With Specific Reference to Malaysia
Authors: Yeoh B. Ghin , Idrus Ahmad Zaharudin , Ong K.S
Published: December 2017

Technology Research and Development for Environmental Management - With Specific Reference to Malaysia
The Preparation of Tin Oxide Film Heat Mirrors by A Sol Gel Process
Authors: Hirunlabh Jongjit , Lorsrichandr Sarayuth , Kirtikara Krissanapong , Pynn Ralph D.
Published: December 2017

The Preparation of Tin Oxide Film Heat Mirrors by A Sol Gel Process
THE EFFECTS OF PALMVITEE ON HUMAN NASAL SEPTAL CHONDROCYTES CULTURE EXPANSION AND CARTILAGE RECONSTRUCTION
Authors: Ruszymah B.H.I. , Aminuddin B.S. , Gapor A. , Fuzina H.
Published: December 2017

Palmvitee may act as a beneficial supplement to cartilage tissue engineering which is currently still has certain limitation on chondrocyte expansion and dedifferentiation. Our objectives in thisstudy were to evaluate the effects of Palmvitee on the growth kinetic and phenotype gene expression of human nasal septal chondrocytesin monolayer expansion as well as cartilage reconstruction via tissue engineering technology. Human chondrocytes were cultured inmediums containing various Palmvitee concentrations. Among the different test groups, the medium containing Palmvitee at 3 μg/ml supported the highest chondrocyte growth rate. The gene expression in monolayer chondrocytes culture supplemented with 3 μg/ml Palmviteedemonstrated similar results as in control. Cultured chondrocytes from the medium added with 3 μg/ml Palmvitee were then mixed with Pluronic F127 for cartilage reconstruction in nude mice model. Palmvitee supplementation supported the engineered cartilage development as shown in the histological and gene expression analysis on engineered tissue after 8 weeks of implantation. Therefore, Palmvitee at 3 μg/ml is beneficial for the human nasal septal chondrocytes monolayer expansion and cartilage engineering.
MEDIUM OPTIMIZATION FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BIOMASS BY Cunninghamella sp. 2A1 USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY
Authors: Sulaiman Siti Aminah , Hamid Aidil Abdul , Yusoff Wan Mohtar Wan
Published: December 2017

A statistical design approach has been used to optimize the production of biomass byCunninghamellasp. 2A1, evaluated based on lipidless biomass. A 23full factorial centralcomposite design (CCD) was chosen to study the combined effects of three factors; ammoniumtartrate, peptone and glucose concentrations. The p-value for each factors was < 0.05 suggestingthat these factors have significant effect on the production of lipidless biomass. The productionis represented by a linear model with p-value < 0.0001. The optimized medium consists of 3.86g/l ammonium tartrate, 55.84 g/l glucose and 7.73 g/l peptone predicted 16.83 g/l lipidlessbiomass. Results from four replications based on the optimized medium produced 18.48 g/llipidless biomass, which are in close agreementwith the predicted value. The coefficient forglucose was the highest indicating it as the most significant factoraffecting lipidless biomassproduction.
MICROBIAL DEGRADATION OF ENDOSULFAN IN AGRICULTURAL SOILS
Authors: Ismail B.S. , Enoma A.O.S.
Published: December 2017

A study of the degradation of endosulfan (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10-hexachloro – 1, 5, 5a, 6, 9, 9a –hexahydro – 6, 9- methano – 2, 4, 3 – benzodioxanthiepin 3 – oxide) in Malaysian sandy loam and clay soils was carried out using a radioisotopic technique under laboratory conditions. It was demonstrated that endosulfan possessed long half-lives of 433, 495 and 462 days in aerobic sandy loam, aerobic clay and anaerobic clay soils respectively. Endosulfan degrades faster in non-sterile than in sterile soils. This study indicates that microorganisms are involved in the degradation of endosulfan. In general, degradation of the pesticide was relatively higher in the clay soil than in the sandy soil. Apart from the parent compounds, α- and β-isomers, the degradation products include endosulfan sulphate and three minor unidentified products.
WATER-SOLUBLE N -SUBSTITUTED CHITOSAN DERIVATIVES
Authors: Le Dung Ph. , Thien D.T. , Dong N.T. , Nhi T.T.Y. , An N.T.
Published: December 2017

Many water-solubleN-substituted chitosan derivatives have been prepared having the typical -NH-CH2- linkage. Both the Michael reaction and alkylation with monochloroacetic acid at pH 8- 8.5 offer relatively simple ways for their synthesis.
STUDY ON MOISTURE-CUR ED POLYURETHANE AS UNDERCOATING LAYER FOR METALLIZATION
Authors: Mohamad Ibrahim M.N. , Izat M.E. , Wahida A.R. , Sipaut C.S.
Published: December 2017

In this work a technique of metallizing substrate via electroless plating using moisture-cured polyurethane (MCPU) system as the undercoat is presented. MCPU prepolymer was prepared by mixing polyethylene glycol divinyl ether and diphenylmethane-4, 4’-diisocyanate in 1:1 ratio. The effects of etching time as well as curing period on the surface characteristic of MCPU undercoating were investigated. Contact angle measurements, FTIR and SEM were employed to study the changes on the surface of the treated MCPU undercoatsprior to electroless nickel plating. Electroless plating was performed using nickel bath and visual inspection was performed after completing the electroless plating cycles. Relative increase in wettability of the treated MCPU was observed. The surface became hydrophilic after subjecting to mild etching for 1 minute. SEM analysis revealed different pitted structures on the treated MCPU that were cured at different periods. FTIR analysis of the treated MCPU showed some chemical changes marked by the presence of free hydroxyl group and decrease of CH (methylene), urethane C=O, urethane amide and ether peaks. FTIR also showed the sign of further NCO reaction, which indicates by the decrease of NCO peak and increase of NH and urea C=O peaks. The standard pull-off testing method (ASTM D 4541) was employed to evaluate the adhesion strength of nickel deposits coated on MCPU undercoating layer.The test results revealed that curing period and etching time influence the adhesion performance.The results also show that at a selected curing period, prolong etching time will decrease the adhesion strength. Meanwhile prolong curing period will improve the adhesion strength.
PHOTOCATALYTIC REMOVAL OF TR I- AND HEXA-VALENT CHROMIUM IONS FROM CHROME-ELECTROPL ATING WASTEWATER
Authors: Kajitvichyanukul Puangrat , Changul Chulaluck
Published: December 2017

A novel technique based on photocatalysis was applied to eliminate chromium ions, a toxic hazardous environmental pollutant. The photoreduction of each species of chromium (total, hexavalent, and trivalent chromiums) from chrome-electroplating wastewater was investigated using a titanium dioxide suspension under irradiation by a low-pressure mercury lamp. The initial concentration of total chromium was 300 mg/l. The applied conditions were the direct photocatalytic reduction process at pH 3.65 and the indirect photocatalytic reduction with added hole scavengers at the same solution pH. Results from both processes were comparatively discussed. Result show that chromium was not efficiently removed by direct photoreduction. In contrast, with the adding of hole scavengers, which were formate ions, the photoreduction of chromium was very favorable. Both hexavalent and trivalent chromiums were efficiently removed. The photocatalytic mechanism is purposed in this study.
SUITABILITY OF SAGO STARCH BLENDED WITH ACRYLAMIDE AS AN ADDITIVE ON HANDSHEETS MADE FROM RECYCLED PULP FIBERS
Authors: Sin Yeng Wong , Tahir Paridah Md. , Kang Chiang Liew
Published: December 2017

This study was carried out to determine the suitability of sago starch blended with acrylamide as paper additive. Solutions of unmodified and blended sago starch with acrylamide, were prepared at 5% weight over volume (w/v) basis before the basic properties (i.e., pH, viscosity and solid content) were determined. Thestarches were thenused to coat on laboratory made handsheets from recycled pulps. Various effects were studied, namely, modification of sago starch, addition of different types of initiator and further curing at different temperatures. The incorporation of acrylamide into sago starch through blending signif icantly increased the pH and viscosity of the solutions. All the blended starches remained biologically resistant even after 14 days of exposure to ambient temperature. Solutionof sago starch blended with acrylamide, gave superior performance when coated on the handsheets, producing handsheets with high folding endurance (110 times) and crushstrength (128 N) ascompared to the handsheets coated with the unmodified sago starch. Nevertheless, the smoothness and air permeance of these papers were unsatisfactory due to insufficient curing shown by the micrographs. The use of ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as initiator and further curing at 50oC however, were able to improve the smoothness and air permeance properties.
CATHODIC ELECTRODEPOSITION OF Cu 4 SnS 4 THIN FILMS FROM ACIDIC SOLUTION
Authors: Kassim Anuar , Min Ho Soon , Tee Tan Wee , Abdullah Abdul Halim , Sharif Atan , Haron Md. Jelas , Nagalingam Saravanan , Kuang Zulkefly
Published: December 2017

In this work the synthesis of copper tin sulfide thin films by electrodeposition is carried out. The films were deposited onto ITO glass substrates from anaqueous solution bath containingcopper sulfate, tin chloride and sodium thiosulfate at pH 1 and room temperature. Prior to the deposition, a cyclic voltammetry experiment was carried out between two potential limits (+1000 to -1000 mV versus Ag/AgCl) to probe the effect of the applied potential and to determine the most likely suitable electrodeposition potential for the deposition of copper tin sulfide. The deposition was attempted at various cathodic potentials such as -400, -600, -800, -1000 mV to determine the optimum deposition potential. The films have been characterized by techniques such as optical absorption, X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. The XRD patterns show that the films are polycrystalline with orthorhombic structure. The AFMstudies reveal the electrodeposited films were smooth, compact and uniform at deposition potentials of –600 mV versus Ag/AgCl. The direct optical band-gap energy was obtained to be 1.58 eV.
Mixed - mode Operating System for Real - time Performance
Authors: M. Hasan M. , S. Sultana , C.K. Foo
Published: December 2017

The purpose of the mixed-mode system research is to handle devices with the accuracy of real-time systems and at the same time, having all the benefits and facilities of a matured Graphic User Interface(GUI)operating system which is typicallynon-real-time. This mixed-mode operating system comprising of a real-time portion and a non-real-time portion was studied and implemented to identify the feasibilities and performances in practical applications (in the context of scheduled the real-time events). In this research an i8751 microcontroller-based hardware was used to measure the performance of the system in real-time-only as well as non-real-time-only configurations. The real-time portion is an 486DX-40 IBM PC system running under DOS-based real-time kernel and the non-real-time portion is a Pentium IIIbased system running under Windows NT. It was found that mixed-mode systems performed as good as a typical real-time system and in fact, gave many additional benefits such as simplified/modular programming and load tolerance.
R unning Head: Novel Recombinant Phytate - d egrading Enzyme Production Statistical Optimization of the Induction of Phytase Production by Arabinose in a recombinant E. coli using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Farouk Abd - ElAziem , Meor Hussin Anis Shobirin , Greiner Ralf , Ismail Shareef Mohideen , Batcha Mohamed Faizal , Nur Lubis Hamadah Mohd
Published: December 2017

The production of phytase in a recombinant E.coliusing thepBAD expression system wasoptimized using response surface methodology with full-factorial faced centered central composite design. The ampicilin and arabinose concentrationin the cultivation media and the incubation temperature were optimized in order to maximize phytase productionusing 23 central composite experimental design. With this design the number of actual experiment performed could be reduced while allowing eludidation of possible interactions among thesefactors. The most significant parameter was shown to be the linear and quadratic effect of the incubation temperature. OPtim al conditionsfor phytase production were determinedto be100 μg/ml ampicilin, 0.2 % arabinose and an incubation temperature of37ºC.The production of phytase in the recombinant E. coliwas scaledup to 100ml and 1000ml.
Fermentation of Oil Palm Trunk Acid Hydrolysate to Ethanol
Authors: Yeoh H. H. , Lim K. O. , Mashitah M. D.
Published: December 2017

Studies on the feasibility of using oil palm trunk acid hyd10lysates as a substrate for ethanol p10duction using the yeast Saccha10myces cerevisiae were carried out in shake flask culture. The effect of pH and fermentation time on the rate of ethanol p10duction were investigated. Results showed that with 3 hours fermentation period, the highest ethanol yield was obtained at pH 4.75. This yield was about 14% of the dry weight of the sample used; thus giving a fermentation efficiency of 94.7%.
The Mobilization and Utilization of Scientific and Technological Human Resources in Developing Countries
Authors: Moravscik Michel J
Published: December 2017

Human resources (henceforth abbreviated as "manpower") in the development and the functioning of science and technology in developing countries is the most crucial ingredient, and forms, most often, the bottleneck in evolution. This is so because it takes an extended period of time (decades) to establish an indigenous scientific and technological manpower of sufficient quality and quantity, and because it is a much more difficult and uncertain undertaking to do so than to asquire sufficient financial resources. For this reason problems related to the generation and utilization of scientific and technological manpower are at the very centre of attantion when it comes to managing science and technology in developing countries.
DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A VHDL PROCESSOR FOR DCT BASED IMAGE COMPRESSION
Authors: Islam Md. Shabiul , Bhuyan M.S. , Beg M. Salim , Othman Masuri
Published: December 2017

This paper describes the design and implementation of a VHDL processor meant for performing 2D-Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) to use in image compression applications. The design flow starts from the system specification to implementation on silicon and the entire process is carried out using an advanced workstation based design environment for digital signal processing. The software allows the bit-true analysis to ensure that the designed VLSI processor satisfies the required specifications. The bit-true analysis is performed on all levels of abstraction (behavior, VHDL etc.). The motivation behind the work is smaller size chip area, faster processing, reducing the cost of the chip
NONLINEAR FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF NONSEISMICALLY DETAILED INTERIOR RC BEAM-COLUMN CONNECTION UNDER REVERSED CYCLIC LOAD
Authors: Supaviriyakit Teeraphot , Pimanmas Amorn , Warnitchai Pennung
Published: December 2017

This paper presents a nonlinear finite element analysis of non-seismically detailed RC beam column connections under reversed cyclic load. The test of half-scale nonductile reinforced concrete beam-column joints was conducted. The tested specimens represented those of the actual mid-rise reinforced concrete frame buildings designed according to the non-seismic provisions of the ACI building code.  The test results show that specimens representing small and medium column tributary area failed in brittle joint shear while specimen representing large column tributary area failed by ductile flexure though no ductile reinforcement details were provided. The nonlinear finite element analysis was applied to simulate the behavior of the specimens. The finite element analysis employs the smeared crack approach for modeling beam, column and joint, and employs the discrete crack approach for modeling the interface between beam and joint face. The nonlinear constitutive models of reinforced concrete elements consist of coupled tension-compression model to model normal force orthogonal and parallel to the crack and shear transfer model to capture the shear sliding mechanism. The FEM shows good comparison with test results in terms of load-displacement relations, hysteretic loops, cracking process and the failure mode of the tested specimens. The finite element analysis clarifies that the joint shear failure was caused by the collapse of principal diagonal concrete strut.
SURVIVABILITY IN METRO RING NETWORK USING OXADM
Authors: Ab-Rahman Mohammad Syuhaimi , Shaari Sahbudin
Published: December 2017

The optical cross add and drop multiplexing (OXADM) node described in this paper increases the capacity, flexibility and reliability of the trunk-line optical network used for data communication. It features two different bandwidths which operate in working and protection line in a ring configuration. The OXADM has the same features of the conventional OADM node but with more efficiency and reliability. The OXADM prototype system focuses on providing survivability through restoration against failures, such as cable/fiber cut in optical layer with ring topology. Two types of restoration scheme have been proposed to ensure data flow continuously by means of linear/ multiplex protection and ring protection. Comparison between OXADM and OADM restoration schemes is also described. The BER characteristics were measured at 2.5 Gbps (OC-48) and small degradation was observed, as confirmed by a comparison of these simulation results with those obtained from systems without restoration element. Restoration schemes in OXADM node are more reliable and efficient compare to conventional device due to internally routing mechanisms and no ‘drop and re-add function’ is needed to route the signal to alternative path or processed the signals in both electronic and optical domain as practice in conventional nodes today.
OPTICAL STUDIES OF PENICILLIN GROUP IN RELATION TO THEIR MEDICAL ACTIVITY
Authors: Kumar R. Jeevan , Prasad G.V.R. , Shoaib S.Md. , Devadanam G. Paul , Fakruddin K.
Published: December 2017

The study of Medical activity of antibiotics is gaining momentum now a days owing to the importance of their curative values.  The Medical Activity correlated to molecular interactions,can be studied by various physical techniques, at present optical methods like Refractometry and Polarization are used to study the activity of a few antibiotics like Penicillin.  The Refractive Indices Mean Molecular Polarizability Diamagnetic Susceptibilities and Electron Ionisation Cross Section are interpreted in terms of dosages and the toxic effects if any due to over dosages are discussed critically.
The Regional Research And Development Centre of the Asean Institute of Technology, Bangkok
Authors: Anonymous Anonymous
Published: December 2017

The Asian Institure of Technology (AJT) is an autonomouse, International postgraduate Institute. It provides advanced education in engenering, science and allied fields through academic programme loading to Master's and Doctoral degree and Diplomat, and through research programmes are related  closely to the needs of Asia.
An Overview of Thermal Analysis of Polymers
Authors: Chan Sze On DR Hardy
Published: December 2017

This article presents an up-to-date overview of the application of thermoanalytical methods in the study of polymers with special focus on thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis, diferential scening calorimetry and thermomechanical analysis. The working principles behind the variouse thermoanalytical methods together with modes of operation are described. Their usefulness in the characterisation of polymers is cowered comprehensively with examples cited in the litearture. The question of validity of data obtained from thermokinetic studies of polymers is examined and it is felt that the kinetic parameters generated carry little physical meaning about the kinetic of the polymer reaction.
Prothrombin-Sepharose-Purified Factor V and Its Role in Prothrombin Conversion
Authors: ONG T.C
Published: December 2017

Bovine Factor V isolated by the method of Esnouf and Jobin (1967) has been further purified by affiniy chromotgraphy through prothrombin-sepharose. Factor V bound quantitative to the prothrombin-sepharose column. There was a 2-fold increase in the average specific activity (260.000 units/mg protein) of the Factor V recovered. Recovery of total Factor V activity and total protein was about 95% and 90% respectively.
Development in The Analytical Gas Chromatography of Metal Dialkydithiophospate Complexes
Authors: MARRIOT DR PHILIP J
Published: December 2017

The gas chromotographic analysis of metal-containing compounds has been a small but reasonably active field for about 25 yeras. Analyses cover such as organometalics, metal complexes, and compounds such as hydrides and halides. Reviews of the fiels may be seen in the books by Moshier and Sievers (1), Guichon and Pommier (2) and Crompton (3), as well as the papers by Uden and Henderson (4) abd Rodrigues-Vasquez (5).
The Cardenolides of Thevetia Peruviana Grown in Malaysia
Authors: SAID IKRAM M , RAHMAN ZARINA A
Published: December 2017

The cardiac glycosides found in the seed kernels of Thevetia peruviana grown in Malaysia was investigated. Thevetin, a triglycoside, was separated into thevetin A and thevetin B by DCCC while the monoglycoasides obtained after incubation of the seeds were identified as nerlifolin, neriifolin monoacetate, and peruvoside.
PRESERVATION OF MILKS WITH ADDITION OF ANTIBACTERIAL AND AROMATIC SUPPLEMENTS PRODUCED IN JAPAN
Authors: Khusniati Tatik
Published: December 2017

The good antibacterial and aromatic supplements produced in Japan for preservation of milks at storage was investigated. Nineteen sweet and herb materials were made juices as supplements to preserve the milks. Bacterial counts, pH, protease activities and lipase activities of supplemented milks, and antibacterial activities of supplements were detected by total plate counts, glass electrode pH meter, azocasein, modified Dole extraction and turbidity methods. Eleven of nineteen milks added 10% of honey, garlic, ginger, horseradish, “sansho”, “yuzu”, green perilla, “nira”, green tea, bamboo leaf and “yomogi” were selected as good supplemented milks based on pH of these milks closed to pH of milks, the lower bacterial counts, protease activities and lipase activities of these milks than that without supplements, at 5 days before up to 10 days after use by date (P<0.05), consumed materials and antibacterial activities of these supplements in inhibiting Pseudomonas fluorescens P. 33 in the nutrient media.
GASIFICATION STUDY OF SARAWAK COALS
Authors: Othman Nor Fadzilah , Bosrooh Mohd Hariffin
Published: December 2017

Thermogravimetry (TG) has been applied in a preliminary investigation, to the gasification of two low rank Sarawak coals. The coal samples, about 10 mg were investigated within the temperature range 30–900°C at different heating rate of 10, 20 and 30°C min-1, under a synthetic air atmosphere for the gasification study. The kinetic parameters were determined using Arrhenius type reaction model assuming a first-order reaction. The reactivity, RT values are fitted with Arrhenius equation at r2 = 0.83 - 0.98 for MP coal, while the RT values for MB coal are fitted with the Arrhenius equation at r2 = 0.99. The activation energy, EA for MP coal are in the range of 3.7 -4.7 kJ mol-1 and for MB coal are 7.6 - 25.6 kJ mol-1 at 3 different heating rates.
ANT INTELLIGENCE ROUTING
Authors: Gan Chye Ong , Wong K. Daniel , Woon Wei-Le
Published: December 2017

We introduce AIR, a new ant-based routing protocol for ad hoc wireless networks. AIR incorporates recent technology advances in ad hoc routing protocols, such as ring-based searching and third-party reply, while retaining the characteristics and benefits of ant-based routing protocols, including probabilistic routing tables and pheromone evaporation. In addition, we combine the best features of previous ant-based routing protocols with new features like update ants and two-way route establishment, to further improve performance. We compare the performance of AIR against AODV and DSR using appropriately chosen simulations, the results of which are presented and discussed. We find that AIR is especially useful for ad hoc networks requiring low end-to-end delay where mobility rates are high.
ARSENIC AND COPPER UPTAKE BY CABBAGES GROWN ON POLLUTED SOILS
Authors: Phuong Nguyen Thi Kim , Dung Nguyen Thi
Published: December 2017

Cabbages (Brassica Juncea (L.) Czern) were grown in pot experiments on typical unpolluted and polluted soils with concentration changing from 20.50 - 50.00 mg As/kg and 156.00 - 413.00 mg Cu/kg dry soil. The results demonstrate the elevation of As and Cu in soil may lead to increased uptake by these cabbages subsequent entry into human food chain. It was found 11.84- 32.12 mg As/kg and 46.86 - 94.47 mg Cu/kg dry leaves. It has tendency increase uptake and accumulation of Cu in cabbage tissue with increasing cultivated time, whereas, it was found accumulation of As in cabbages tissue decreased with time prolonging. The quantity of As and Cu in these cabbages, were significant higher than 0.2 mg As/kg and 5.0 mg Cu/kg fresh vegetable, the permissible limit concentration in fresh vegetable. This indicated that human may As and Cu exposure occur through eating these vegetables.
INTEGRATED REMOTE SENSING AND GIS FOR MODELING ECONOMIC REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT OF EX-MINE SITES
Authors: Junaidi Junaidi , Goh Eric K.H.
Published: December 2017

The potential environmental impacts of mining, increasing environmental legislation and public awareness have received increased attention world-wide in the last two decades. The focus of concern by the industry, environmental regulatory agencies and members of the public is the systematic rehabilitation of ex-mine sites to improve the quality at site for potential future commercial land use. The minerals extracted from these mine/quarry sites are essential in the construction, semiconductor, high-technology, ceramic and other manufacturing sectors for further industrial development. However, efficient engineering design and systematic economic evaluation of mine sites for site rehabilitation are required in maintaining the expected standards of environmental compliance.  With escalating production costs and the keen competitiveness of the mining industry world-wide, the necessity to increase the efficiency in site rehabilitation is getting more prominence.  A coordinated environmental protection and rehabilitation programme is essential if the environmental awareness of the community and the demands of the respective planning authorities are to be accommodated. There is thus a need to increase the base of knowledge for efficient planning in the systematic and progressive rehabilitation of current and future ex-mine sites. An efficient modeling tool is required for the systematic planning and design of potential economic land development of ex-mine sites. The applicability of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology is a useful tool to acquire spatial information for the systematic design and planning of potential development of ex-mine sites. This research was conducted to detect the trends in the suitability of land cover changes via land cover change detection of ex-mine sites and validated with reality. The findings are useful to assist in the development of a tool for efficient modeling and design of potential economic development of ex-mine sites. The aim of this research is to quantify, model and map the economic potential of the ex-mine sites for built up areas such as housing and other urban infrastructures. Land cover classes were interpreted into maps and the accuracy of the maps were validated to reference data and actual ground scenarios. The study for validation of the proposed modeling tool was carried out using the large prominent mining area in Malaysia namely the Kinta District. Results from the validation study carried out indicate that the correlation of the results obtained from this Integrated Remote Sensing and GIS tool for modeling to field data is in the range of 0.87-0.92 which is acceptable and close to reality.
POWER SIGNAL DISTURBANCE CLASSIFICATION USING WAVELET BASED NEURAL NETWORK
Authors: Suja S. , Jerome Jovitha
Published: December 2017

In this paper, the power signal disturbances are detected using discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and categorized using neural networks. This paper presents a prototype of power quality disturbance recognition system. The prototype contains three main components. First a simulator is used to generate power signal disturbances. The second component is a detector which uses the technique of DWT to detect the power signal disturbances. DWT is used to extract disturbance features in the power signal. The third component is neural network architecture to classify the power signal disturbances.