Molecular Characterization of α- and β-Thalassaemia among Malay Patients

Both α- and β-thalassaemia syndromes are public health problems in the multi-ethnic population of Malaysia. To molecularly characterise the α- and β-thalassaemia deletions and mutations among Malays from Penang, Gap-PCR and multiplexed amplification refractory mutation systems were used to study 13 α-thalassaemia determinants and 20 β-thalassaemia mutations in 28 and 40 unrelated Malays, respectively. Four α-thalassaemia deletions and mutations were demonstrated. −−^SEA deletion and α^CSα accounted for more than 70% of the α-thalassaemia alleles. Out of the 20 β-thalassaemia alleles studied, nine different β-thalassaemia mutations were identified of which β^E accounted for more than 40%. We concluded that the highest prevalence of (α- and β-thalassaemia alleles in the Malays from Penang are −−^SEA deletion and β^E mutation, respectively.     

含Mxene新型纳米流体太阳能托盘的数值研究

本研究通过计算研究了Mxene-大豆油纳米流体在单个太阳能托盘中的热学和流体行为。太阳能托盘具有输入口和输出口。在稳定的热通量下,将Mxene纳米流体以不同的体积浓度泵送通过太阳能板。采用计算流体动力学(CFD)流体流动辐射模型,利用太阳能板模拟Mxene纳米流体的热物理实验数据。研究了温度、内能、努塞尔数、传热速率、表面传热系数和表面摩擦因数等热力学和流体力学参数的影响。对于Mxene纳米流体,出口温度、内能和表面摩擦因数的最大增幅分别为3.46%、1.2%和11%。太阳能板的效率提高了30%~32%。此外,新开发的Mxene纳米流体具有很好的热应用前景,热物性能也经过方差分析得到证实。     

Stand-alone programmable controller for time-critical robotic systems

This paper proposes and describes a new technique in the design and implementation of stand-alone programmable controllers which implement complex control algorithms for complex systems in general and time-critical systems in particular. Unlike other existing commercially available controllers, the proposed controller is capable of implementing all kinds of simple and complex control algorithm techniques such as PIDs, adaptive, optimal, etc. The controller is designed to handle timed events accurately due to the utilization of a new software approach based on Petri net technique as well as the use of an optimized simulation language designed for control and data acquisition applications. The most significant aspects of the proposed controller are its low cost, high speed, and easy implementation. Using the new approach, it is possible to effortlessly and efficiently simulate any controller algorithm and controlled plant, verify results if they meet pre-defined system specifications and then immediately generate and save codes on EPROMs to be placed on the controller board. The proposed controller system consists of a hardware portion and a software package. The software package is written in C and assembly languages and consists of four different programs. A prototype of the proposed controller was designed, constructed and successfully tested to implement various control algorithms. The data obtained suggest that the proposed technique will significantly aid engineers to simplify the task of implementing complex algorithms industry such as robotics.