Intelligent classification of electrocardiogram (ECG) signal using extended Kalman Filter (EKF) based neuro fuzzy system

This study presents the development of a hybrid system consisting of an ensemble of Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) based Multi Layer Perceptron Network (MLPN) and a one-pass learning Fuzzy Inference System using Look-up Table Scheme for the recognition of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. This system can distinguish various types of abnormal ECG signals such as Ventricular Premature Cycle (VPC), T wave inversion (TINV), ST segment depression (STDP), and Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) from normal sinus rhythm (NSR) ECG signal.     

Experimental and theoretical investigation of sensing parameters in carbon nanotube‐based DNA sensor

Nowadays, sensitive biosensors with high selectivity, lower costs and short response time are required for detection of DNA. The most preferred materials in DNA sensor designing are nanomaterials such as carbon and Au nanoparticles, because of their very high surface area and biocompatibility which lead to performance and sensitivity improvements in DNA sensors. Carbon nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be considered as a suitable DNA sensor platform due to their high surface‐to‐volume ratio, favourable electronic properties and fast electron transfer rate. Therefore, in this study, the CNTs which are synthesised by pulsed AC arc discharge method on a high‐density polyethylene substrate are used as conducting channels in a chemiresistor for the electrochemical detection of double stranded DNA. Moreover, the response of the proposed sensor is investigated experimentally and analytically in different temperatures, which confirm good agreement between the presented model and experimental data.Inspec keywords: electrochemical sensors, polymers, arcs (electric), biological techniques, nanosensors, carbon nanotubes, DNAOther keywords: C, chemiresistor, double stranded DNA detection, CNT, electronic properties, surface‐to‐volume ratio, nanoparticles, biosensors, electrochemical detection, high‐density polyethylene substrate, pulsed AC arc discharge method, electron transfer rate, carbon nanomaterials, carbon nanotube‐based DNA sensor     

Comparison of the Frying Stability of Standard Palm Olein and Special Quality Palm Olein

The main goal of this work was to investigate the stability of standard palm olein (SPOo) and special quality palm olein (SQPOo) under continuous frying conditions. The rate of free fatty acid (FFA) formation was slightly higher for SPOo than SQPOo during 56 h of frying. An equilibrium state was reached at around 40 h for SPOo and 32 h for SQPOo, whereby FFA varied within a narrow range of 0.30–0.32 and 0.22–0.25%, respectively. Smoke point of SPOo and SQPOo progressively dropped from 212 to 184 °C and from 227 to 191 °C. Tocols of SPOo and SQPOo declined from 550 to 273 mg kg⁻¹ and from 720 to 447 mg kg⁻¹ after 56 h of frying, respectively. Oxidative stability of both oils decreased after the successive frying. Induction time of SPOo dropped from 22.3 to 14.9 h while SQPOo decreased from 25.5 to 18.3 h. Polar and polymer compounds increased as frying progressed. The SPOo had higher levels of polar compounds, averaging 11.8%, compared to the 10.2% in SQPOo. However, SPOo had lower levels of polymer compounds compared to SQPOo, averaging 2.1 and 2.5%, respectively. Hence, this work confirms that frying performance using SPOo was comparable to SQPOo for use in industrial production of snack foods (potato chips).     

Optimization of mesoporous K/SBA-15 catalyzed transesterification of palm oil using response surface methodology

K/SBA 15 was investigated for the transesterification of palm oil. The influence of temperature, reactants' ratio, catalyst loading and reaction time on the biodiesel yield was studied using a Central Composite Design (CCD). The process optimization using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was performed and the interactions between the operational variables were elucidated. The optimum conditions were found to be 70 °C for the reaction temperature, 11.6 mol/mol for methanol to oil ratio, 3.91 wt.% for the catalyst loading and 5 h for the reaction time to achieve 93% of biodiesel yield. High catalytic activity was attributed to high surface area of the catalyst and the relatively easy diffusion of reactants in the mesopores. The effect of catalyst loading and reaction time was relatively more dominant in affecting the biodiesel yield. High potential of SBA-15 as catalyst for biodiesel production was demonstrated.     

Evaluating the wind speed persistence for several wind stations in Peninsular Malaysia

An important factor to consider when evaluating wind energy potential is the wind speed persistence. In this study, persistence of the wind speed in Peninsular Malaysia is investigated based on the hourly data available at 10 wind stations from 2007 to 2009. To determine the degree of persistence in the data for each station, stationarity and variability are investigated using unit-root tests and the test for equality of variance respectively. Results from the unit-root tests indicated that the hourly wind speed for each station exhibits stationarity. The test for equality of variance, based on Levene’s test, shows that there exists a significant difference in the variability of wind speed between the different stations. Because the variance of the hourly wind speeds for the Chuping station is the smallest observed, the wind speed observed at this location is the most persistent compared to other locations. However, it is more meaningful to measure the persistence at a particular level of speed, one suitable to generate energy. Accordingly, the wind speed duration curve method is applied to the observed data for each station. Consequently, the wind speed at Mersing is found to be the most persistent, and, consequently, this location has the most potential for energy production compared to other locations.     

Device Discovery Signal Design for Proximal Devices in D2D Communication

Wireless Personal Communications - To initiate Device to Device (D2D) communication, proximal device discovery is the most important problem in the contemporary cellular networks. By using...     

Comparative Genomics: Insights on the Pathogenicity and Lifestyle of Rhizoctonia solani

Proper management of agricultural disease is important to ensure sustainable food security. Staple food crops like rice, wheat, cereals, and other cash crops hold great export value for countries. Ensuring proper supply is critical; hence any biotic or abiotic factors contributing to the shortfall in yield of these crops should be alleviated. Rhizoctonia solani is a major biotic factor that results in yield losses in many agriculturally important crops. This paper focuses on genome informatics of our Malaysian Draft R. solani AG1-IA, and the comparative genomics (inter- and intra- AG) with four AGs including China AG1-IA (AG1-IA_KB317705.1), AG1-IB, AG3, and AG8. The genomic content of repeat elements, transposable elements (TEs), syntenic genomic blocks, functions of protein-coding genes as well as core orthologous genic information that underlies R. solani’s pathogenicity strategy were investigated. Our analyses show that all studied AGs have low content and varying profiles of TEs. All AGs were dominant for Class I TE, much like other basidiomycete pathogens. All AGs demonstrate dominance in Glycoside Hydrolase protein-coding gene assignments suggesting its importance in infiltration and infection of host. Our profiling also provides a basis for further investigation on lack of correlation observed between number of pathogenicity and enzyme-related genes with host range. Despite being grouped within the same AG with China AG1-IA, our Draft AG1-IA exhibits differences in terms of protein-coding gene proportions and classifications. This implies that strains from similar AG do not necessarily have to retain similar proportions and classification of TE but must have the necessary arsenal to enable successful infiltration and colonization of host. In a larger perspective, all the studied AGs essentially share core genes that are generally involved in adhesion, penetration, and host colonization. However, the different infiltration strategies will depend on the level of host resilience where this is clearly exhibited by the gene sets encoded for the process of infiltration, infection, and protection from host.     

Radical scavenging and reducing properties of extracts of cashew shoots (Anacardium occidentale)

The total phenolic content and antioxidant activities of methanol, hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of the shoots of Anacardium occidentale were measured. Total phenolic content was assessed by the Folin–Ciocalteau assay whereas antioxidant activities were assessed by measuring the ability of the extracts to scavenge the ABTS^·+ and DPPH^· radicals, superoxide anion radicals and nitric oxide radicals as well as their ability to reduce ferric ions. Results indicated that the methanol extract of A. occidentale was the most potent reducing agent and radical-scavengers compared to the other two extracts. The ethyl acetate extract exhibited some antioxidant activities whereas the hexane extract is the least reactive. The order of the antioxidant potency of the plant extract is methanol > ethyl acetate > hexane. The methanol extract contained more than 7 fold of total phenolic content compared to the hexane and ethyl acetate extracts indicating the likely possibility that the observed antioxidant activities were partly contributed by the phenolics. The results suggest that the shoots of A. occidentale are a source of natural antioxidants.