Tun Hussein Onn University of Malaysia

The scarcity of water resources exacerbated by climate change poses a major challenge for sustainable agriculture. This study presents an Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled irrigation system designed for real-time monitoring and precise water control. Using the Blynk platform and ThingSpeak for data management, the system integrates sensors for soil moisture, temperature, and humidity with a NodeMCU module to optimize irrigation practices. Initial results demonstrate the system’s effectiveness in improving water use efficiency and supporting sustainable agricultural practices, providing a low-cost, accessible solution for small and medium-scale farmers.

Employees spend 8 h of the day with a minimum of 40 h a week in offices. The office design, furniture and ventilation modes cause high energy consumption, pollutants and sick building syndrome amongst employees. Based on ASHRAE standards and WHO guidelines, the study evaluated offices for the temperature, humidity, PM 2.5 , CO 2 and employees’ subjective assessment. The offices met humidity standards except for the Punjab Civil Secretariat (PCS) (61.9%, ± 0.1) and the Directorate of Public Instruction (54.1%, ± 0.3) in the summer and winter respectively. The concentrations of CO 2 in offices were unhealthy for both seasons except the PCS (697.3 ppm, ± 9.2) and Punjab Skill Development Authority (838.9 ppm, ± 13.3). The mean PM 2.5 concentration for offices was unhealthy during summer (28.4–53.7 μg/m ³ ) and hazardous in winter (178–233.7 μg/m ³ ). The one-way ANOVA of employees’ subjective assessment showed that the results were significant ( p < 0.05) for indoor air quality, thermal comfort satisfaction, preference, health effect, filtration and wind catcher preference, for two seasons and within ventilation modes. The familiarity with wind catcher designs was insignificant ( p > 0.05) but employees preferred their modern applications. The comfort indexes showed that the Governor House (PMV -0.04, PPD 5%) met the thermal comfort standards during winter.

In order to analyze the acoustic emission (AE) characteristics and mechanical properties of muddy shale under different stress conditions, uniaxial and conventional triaxial compression tests and AE tests were carried out through the MTS815 electro-hydraulic servo rock mechanics test system and the PCI-II AE system. The AE characteristics and mechanical properties were analyzed when the confining pressures were 1 MPa, 5 MPa, 10 MPa, 20 MPa, 40 MPa and 50 MPa. The results show that the peak strength, peak strain, residual strength and residual strain are linearly related to the confining pressure. The elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio increase nonlinearly with the increase of confining pressure and can be fitted by the form of a power function, which can provide a theoretical basis for the numerical simulation tests and the theoretical calculations of geotechnical theory to accurately select mechanics parameters such as elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio. Compared with the pre-peak ring-down count rate and energy count rate, the post-peak ring-down count rate and energy count rate are relatively high. As the confining pressure increases, the release of AE energy increases, while the AE signals decreases. In the residual stage, the AE signals generated under low confining pressure are more than those under high confining pressure. During the process of unloading confining pressure, the slope of the cumulative ring-down counts curves will increase suddenly. The AE energy generated by unloading the confining pressure under high confining pressure is generally higher than that generated under low confining pressure. This phenomenon shows that rock burst is more likely to occur under high stress conditions.

This study examines the challenges in translating majāz mursal , the distinction of a distinct Arabic rhetorical device, within English translations of the Qur’an. Specifically, it compares the approaches of Arberry and Hilali-Khan through Holmes’ translation criticism framework. This study identifies the issues related to conveying nuanced meanings, particularly how majāz mursal is often simplified or lost in translation due to linguistic, cultural, and religious disparities between source and target audiences. Using a qualitative comparative method, the analysis reveals gaps in Arberry’s translation, which leans toward literalism, versus Hilali-Khan’s, which incorporates depths interpretive. The findings show that underscore the need of translators is not only the linguistic expertise but also a deep knowledge of Islamic studies. The next research should explore broader applications of majāz and other figurative devices across the diversity of Qur’anic translations to ensure more accurate cross-cultural understanding.

We examine a heat-absorbing viscous fluid’s electrically conducting boundary layer flow over a semi-infinite permeable plate in a porous medium inclined at an angle α. Nonlinear partial differential equations are solved using perturbation methods, and graphical analysis is used to determine how parameters impact concentration, temperature, and velocity profiles. Buoyancy forces increase fluid velocity with the increased Grashof number. However, the presence of magnetic (Lorentz) and rotational (Coriolis) effects introduces resistance, leading to a reduction in velocity. A direct relationship is observed between the Grashof number and skin friction, while the radiation parameter inversely affects the Nusselt number. An increased Schmidt number lowers the Sherwood number. We also investigate the impact of rotation on unsteady magnetohydrodynamic slip flow using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model employing Levenberg–Marquardt Backpropagation. The ANN accurately predicts flow dynamics and heat transfer using numerical simulation data. Model accuracy is validated through mean squared error graphs, regression analysis, and error histograms, demonstrating reliable fluid dynamics predictions under varying conditions.

Rubber composites are often used at high temperatures, particularly in practical applications, such as autoclave components, gaskets, and seals. This study investigated the effect of elevated temperatures on the friction and wear properties of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF)‐reinforced natural rubber (NR) composites with the addition of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Commercial NR composites were prepared using a two‐roll mill mixing method, followed by molding. The PALF and MWCNTs contents were fixed at 30 and 10 parts per hundred rubber (phr), respectively. The frictional force, coefficient of friction (COF), and specific wear rate (SWR) were studied in the temperature ranges from room temperature (RT) to 80°C under various applied loads (5, 10, and 15 N). A significant improvement in the wear properties of the composites was achieved with increasing temperature. The results showed that the inclusion of MWCNTs effectively enhanced the wear performance of the composites at elevated temperatures. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the friction and wear characteristics of PALF‐reinforced NR composites with the addition of MWCNTs, enhancing their end‐use properties for high‐temperature applications. Highlights Improved wear and frictional properties of NR/30PALF composites with MWCNTs. MWCNTs enhance heat dissipation, reducing softening at elevated temperatures. Frictional force and COF decreased with increasing temperature and load. NR/30PALF/MWCNT composites showed smoother surfaces and lower wear rates. Thermal stability and wear resistance of the composites were enhanced.

The incidence of sugarcane crop infestations at the migration stage, especially by the top borer, can lower yields substantially, which may translate to revenue losses of over 20% across many parts of the world. Traditional pest surveillance approaches tend to lack the accuracy required for timely intervention. This research introduces a new burden rate concept incorporated within a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM), framed within a machine learning environment in order to enhance the precision of infestation pattern prediction. Through the utilization of the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm, the model easily receives maximum likelihood estimates automatically, thus efficiently dealing with cluster distributions at low computational costs. A significant extension of this research is the inclusion of wind direction and topography as dynamic predictors. This allows for maximizing the model's potential in determining highly susceptible locations of infestation. The incorporation of remote sensing and drone data increases the precision of parameter estimation, leading to accurate predictive modeling. The EM-based clustering method reaches a high level of accuracy of 97.5%, which is greater compared to conventional pest monitoring methods. The result of this study provides a new analytical instrument for pest outbreak control and forecasting in precision agriculture. The tool provides real-time workforce management, selective pest eradication, and efficient resource management. Furthermore, the new synergy of clustering processes, topographic modeling, and remote sensing used in the study achieves a scalable data-driven approach to sustainable farm management that involves proactive crop loss minimization.

This study aimed to develop a novel composite adsorbent combining peat (PS), limestone (LS), zeolite (ZEO), and activated carbon (AC), with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) as a binder (40% by weight), for the simultaneous removal of ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from stabilized landfill leachate. The composite was characterized using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, and pH at zero-point charge (pHzpc). The material exhibited high SiO2 and CaO content, functional groups (e.g., Si–O-Si, N–H, O–H, C–O, C–N, and O–C.), a rough and heterogeneous surface morphology, a surface area of 105.96 m2/g, and a pHzpc of 11.25. Batch experiments determined optimal adsorption conditions: 200 rpm shaking speed, 120-min contact time, pH 7, particle size of 2.36–3.35 mm, and dosage of 57 g/L. The Langmuir isotherm model provided the best fit for NH3-N and COD adsorption with adsorption capacities of 26.18 mg/g and 47.39 mg/g, respectively (R2 = 0.9941 and 0.9814). Kinetic studies indicated pseudo-second-order kinetics, suggesting chemisorption as the rate-limiting process. These findings demonstrate the composite (PS, LS, ZEO, and AC) potential as an efficient and sustainable adsorbent for treating stabilized landfill leachate. Further studies should focus on evaluating the performance of composite adsorbents for the removal of NH3-N, COD, or other pollutants from mining industry, domestic, or combined effluents, as well as their potential application in air pollution control.

This research introduces a compact, self-isolated, 12 × 12 multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna array designed for 5G mobile applications, operating within the 3.5 GHz band (3.42–3.62 GHz). The array consists of two distinct sets of six antenna elements—inverted U-shaped and T-shaped structures, each incorporating two circular and I-shaped strips—arranged symmetrically within the smartphone chassis. Each antenna element measures 15 × 5 mm² (0.17λo × 0.06λo), where λo represents the free-space wavelength at 3.5 GHz. These elements function simultaneously as radiators and isolators, achieving high isolation levels. Additionally, the 12-MIMO antenna elements, designed to be self-isolated, are fabricated on both sides of two compact FR-4 substrates, positioned orthogonally to the ground substrate. This perpendicular configuration augments the self-isolating mechanism. The scattering parameters (s-parameter) findings demonstrate significant decoupling measuring under −19 dB across neighboring 12-MIMO elements. Moreover, the MIMO performance metrics, including channel capacity loss (CCL), total active reflection coefficient (TARC), diversity gain (DG), and the envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), are presented to be below 0.08 bits/s/Hz, −10 dB, 9.97 dB, and 0.006 consecutively. The significant isolation and performance metrics results notably indicate that the presented 12-MIMO antenna system is well-suited for 5G communication systems.

In the challenging environment of the Negeri Roadstone Malaysia quarry, maintaining accuracy in the weight measurement of raw materials and finished products is paramount. This paper presents an in-depth analysis of an integrated weighing system comprising load cells and ultrasonic sensors, used strategically at the quarry site. By leveraging the precision of strain gauge technology inherent in load cells and the distance-measuring capabilities of ultrasonic sensors, the system aims to offer accurate weight estimations across varying distributions of materials, mainly sand. The load cell yields an average weight of 703.8192g, 701.8220g and 702.4949g which is very close to the actual weight of the sand (700g). Experimental results highlight the sensitivity of ultrasonic measurements to the distribution pattern of sand, emphasising the importance of material consistency for accurate volume-to-weight conversions. Furthermore, integrating the Node-RED platform showcases real-time data visualisation, enhancing the system's usability and data analysis capabilities. Through this study, we underscore the potential and challenges of employing a hybrid weighing system, offering insights for future implementations in similar industrial settings.

This article examines the future of rainwater recycling through a study of numerous scholarly articles, research papers, and studies on rainwater collection, its advantages, potential health hazards, and environmental consequences. Rainwater collecting systems have gained popularity as feasible alternatives to traditional water resources because of their ability to alleviate water scarcity. A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed journal articles from 2004 to 2024 was conducted using Medline, PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar, with specific search terms and Boolean operators. The assessment explores the importance of effective disinfection and filtration technologies for reducing microbiological pollutants. It also addresses the effects of toxic contaminants, such as heavy metals, highlighting the necessity of efficient management techniques. The review provides insights into optimising rainwater collection practices for better sustainability and resilience against the impacts of climate change by evaluating regional variances and global regulatory frameworks. This paper advocates for integrated approaches that are aligned with global water security goals and sustainable development objectives by providing information to policymakers, academics, and practitioners regarding the state and future directions of rainwater recycling. Keywords: rainwater recycling; health risks; environmental impacts; contaminants; clean water and sanitation (SDG 6).

Transformerless inverters (TIs) are becoming increasingly popular in solar photovoltaic (PV) applications due to their enhanced efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Unlike transformer-based inverters, TIs, which lack transformers and additional components, offer significant advantages in terms of reduced weight, compactness, and lower costs. Research studies have demonstrated that multilevel TIs can achieve lower total harmonic distortion (THD), reduced switching stresses, and higher AC output voltage levels suitable for high voltage applications. However, achieving these outcomes simultaneously with maximum power ratings and the lowest switching frequencies poses a challenge for TI topologies. In light of these challenges, this research proposes the implementation of a 13-level single-source switched-capacitor boost multilevel inverter (SSCBMLI) designed for solar PV systems. The SSCBMLI consists of a single DC power source, switched-capacitor (SC) units, and a full H-bridge. Compared to other existing 13-level multilevel inverter (MLI) configurations, the proposed SSCBMLI utilizes the fewest components to minimize development costs. Moreover, the SSCBMLI offers voltage boosting and can drive high inductive loads, self-voltage-balanced capacitors, an adaptable topology structure, and reliable system performance. Simulations and experimental tests are conducted using PLECS 4.5 and SIMULINK to assess the performance of the proposed SSCBMLI under varying modulation indices, source powers, and loads. A comparative analysis is then conducted to evaluate the SSCBMLI against existing inverter topologies.

Objective Disaster management strategies often emphasize technical and structural solutions, overlooking the sociocultural factors that shape community resilience and disaster response. In Malaysia, a multiethnic and multireligious country frequently affected by floods and monsoon storms, cultural beliefs, social networks, and traditional practices play a pivotal role in shaping disaster preparedness and recovery. This study examines how religious beliefs, community cohesion, gender roles, and traditional knowledge influence disaster management in Malaysia. Methods A qualitative research approach was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews with 15 stakeholders from diverse ethnic, religious, and social backgrounds. Participants, represented various religious groups and geographic areas. Their roles included local leaders, government officials, NGO workers, and community members, providing insights into how sociocultural factors influence disaster response and policy. Results Religious beliefs serve as both a source of resilience and a potential barrier, shaping community attitudes toward disaster preparedness. Community cohesion, particularly through gotong-royong (mutual aid), plays a crucial role in mobilizing resources and support, though it often excludes marginalized groups. Gender roles significantly influence disaster response, with women taking on caregiving responsibilities yet remaining underrepresented in decision-making processes. Traditional knowledge remains valuable, particularly in rural communities, but faces challenges as younger generations increasingly rely on modern technologies. Conclusions This study highlights the need for culturally sensitive, gender-inclusive, and community-driven disaster management policies in Malaysia.Integrating sociocultural dimensions into formal frameworks can foster more adaptive and inclusive strategies. Enhancing community participation and gender inclusivity will be key to improving disaster resilience in Malaysia.

Dry bamboo leaf waste has emerged as a preferred alternative for silica production because of its chemical properties, making it suitable for diverse applications such as absorbents, biomedicine, ceramic production, membrane additives, and composite production. This study aimed to obtain high-purity silica from Gigantochloa albociliata (honey bamboo) leaves (HBL) in two stages. Stage 1 compared three methods for extracting pure silica: thermal (TT-HBL), beneficiation (BT-HBL), and chemical treatments (CT-HBL). Meanwhile, Stage 2 refined and characterized the purity of the CT-HBL silica by reducing the acid molarities (CT0.5-HBL, CT1-HBL, CT1.5-HBL, CT2-HBL, and CT2.5-HBL). Stage 1 revealed that HBL underwent complete carbonization into silica at 650 °C. Elemental analysis revealed that CT-HBL yielded only Si and O, whereas TT-HBL and BT-HBL retained Mg, K, and Ca. XRD data indicated that all treatments produced amorphous silica, with variations in the crystalline phase due to impurities: TT-HBL (cristobalite low), BT-HBL (quartz low and cristobalite low), and CT-HBL (SiO2). Stage 2 results suggest that a nitric acid (HNO3) concentration of at least 1.5 M is required to eliminate impurities and produce pure amorphous silica with enhanced hydrophilic properties. XRF oxide testing of CT1.5-HBL confirmed 98% silica content compared to 79% in TT-HBL silica. The existence of contaminants, such as Ca/CaO, explains the conversion of cristobalite low-crystalline and quartz low-crystalline phases into pure amorphous silica, as observed in the XRD analysis for both stages. Thus, this study demonstrated that impurities, such as Ca, can disrupt the silica network, preventing a well-ordered crystalline structure and leading to the generation of pure amorphous silica.

The project aims to develop a sustainable smart irrigation system (SIS) for the indoor plant irrigation by integrating photovoltaic (PV), internet of things (IoT), and rainwater harvesting techniques. The addressed problem involves the inconsistency and tediousness of manual watering, emphasizing the need for a sustainable design for a SIS. The IoT system consists of soil moisture sensor with GSM module powered by PV and an algorithm was developed to adjust irrigation schedules based on soil moisture data. The objectives of this project are to design and optimize the PV-powered irrigation system and implement an Arduino-enabled automatic system with SMS-triggered functionality. The methodology involves system modelling for water requirements and sizing of PV, battery, pump, and MPPT based on the load demand. The rainwater harvesting structure designed ensures water sustainability for plants’ irrigation. The system is then implemented using moisture and ultrasonic sensors managed by Arduino Uno embedded system. The electrical performance of the PV was analyzed on both cloudy and moderately luminous days, with irradiance ranging from 250.4 to 667.8 and 285.5 to 928 W/m², respectively. The average output voltage and current of the battery were observed to be 13.04 V and 0.37 A (cloudy), and 13.45 V and 0.47 A (moderate) days, respectively. The rainwater collection test revealed more than 36 L in the tank after one week, indicating it could sustain watering the three plants for 72 days. Based on the analysis, the project can save 14.97 kgCO2 emissions per year compared to the current emissions released into the environment. The overall cost of the system is approximately RM670 (US$139.50). The SIS aligns with SDG 7, promoting affordable and integrates with 12th Malaysia Plan for more efficient and environmentally friendly agricultural and water management practices.

The construction industry across the world recognizes the need for green, lightweight, and self-compacting materials that are also ecologically benign. Considering this requirement, a recent discovery has indicated that a novel form of concrete, known as foamed concrete (FC), has the potential to reduce structural self-weight. Natural fibres are an excellent option to be added in FC for durability properties improvement and are viewed as a great way to contribute to sustainability. The purpose of this study is to examine the possible utilization of agave cantala-based fibre (AF) in the fabrication of foamed concrete (FC) with the objective of enhancing their durability properties. Low densities FC are prone to serious durability performance degradation hence in this experiment FC of low density of 650 kg/m3 was fabricated and evaluated. Varying weight fractions of AF between 0% to 5% were considered as an additive in FC. The durability parameters that were evaluated included apparent porosity, shrinkage, water absorption and UPV. The experimental findings indicate that incorporating a weight fraction of 3% of AF in FC resulted in the optimal durability characteristics across all the durability measures examined in this study. The inclusion of AF in the combination resulted in a significant decrease in the permeability porosity and water absorption of FC. The presence of FC-AF composites with 4% fibre led to the highest drying shrinkage and UPV value and it performed better than the remaining mixtures.

In the realm of high-power LED applications, several critical concerns emerge, significantly impacting LED operational efficiency and reliability. Among these concerns, wire deformation during the LED encapsulation process poses a substantial threat to LED longevity. This research endeavors to investigate the influence of gold wire quantity on the LED encapsulation procedure. Leveraging ANSYS Fluent, our study employs the Volume of Fluid (VOF) technique along with a user-defined function (UDF) to model the deposition of epoxy materials onto the LED. Moreover, ANSYS Fluent is harnessed for a comprehensive analysis of fluid-structure interaction (FSI) phenomena that occur between the gold wire bonding and the epoxy materials. The FSI modeling allows us to indirectly quantify the stress exerted on the gold wire bonding during the encapsulation process. Our simulations encompass a range of gold wire quantities, spanning from 1 to 5, while a validation experiment is conducted to affirm the structural integrity of epoxy materials as per the simulation setup. Our findings reveal a direct correlation between increased epoxy material density and heightened wire deformation, stress levels, and strain distribution on the wire bonding. For EMC, which has the highest density, the maximum gold wire deformation, Von Mises stress, and strain distribution on the gold wire are 2.6616×10–8 mm, 0.00064 MPa, and 8.2019×10–9, respectively. Additionally, the simulations underscore that augmenting the number of gold wires exacerbates stress and strain distribution, assuming consistent epoxy material usage. The present study will contribute to the understanding of the mechanical aspects linked with LED encapsulation and present potential opportunities for improving manufacturing procedures and guiding future experimental attempts in this research domain.