Showing papers by "Abu Bakar published in 2012"

Effect of water absorption on pultruded jute/glass fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester hybrid composites

Abstract: The use of natural fibers in polymer composites has given renewed interest to the development of green composites today. However, the moisture absorption of natural fibers gives serious concern, especially for their potential outdoor applications. This article reports the study results on the water absorption of pultruded jute/glass fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester hybrid composites, which was subjected to various water conditions and their effects on its mechanical properties. Water absorption tests were performed by immersing composite specimens into three different water conditions, namely: distilled water, sea water, and acidic water, which were at room temperature, for a period of 3 weeks. The characteristic parameter of diffusion coefficient (D) and maximum moisture content (Mm) were determined from the obtained water absorption curves. The water absorption behavior of the glass/jute fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester hybrid composite was found to follow a non-Fickian behavior. The effects...

Mediating role of organization learning between knowledge management and growth performance in construction companies: a framework

Abstract: Contemporary construction businesses are facing multifaceted challenges in today's highly competitive environment which require them to plan right strategies in order to remain relevance and grow in the industry. Growth performance of the companies is often understood as business success and most companies are planning to improve their growth performance. Knowledge is recognized as a valuable resource for companies to sustain competitiveness in a turbulent business environment. However, due to lack of systematic knowledge organization, companies are not realizing and optimizing what they already know. For that reason knowledge management is introduced to assist organization managing the knowledge systematically and effectively. The implementation of knowledge management can offer higher impacts on the organizations' performance when they take into consideration the organizational learning in their strategic plan. This paper reviews the concepts of knowledge management, growth performance and organizational learning and tries to establish relationship between knowledge management and growth performance along with the role of organizational learning as a mediator. The framework relating knowledge management and growth performance with organizational learning plays a mediating role will be established and recommended for future study in construction.

Properties of the crosslinked plasticized biodegradable poly(vinyl alcohol)/rambutan skin waste flour blends

Abstract: Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH)/rambutan skin waste flour (RWF) crosslinked films were successfully prepared by solution casting with glutaraldehyde (GLU) and hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) and without crosslinker in the presence of glycerol as a plasticizer. The properties of cast films were evaluated by tensile testing, water absorption, and degradation behavior at different weight ratios of PVOH and RWF. The tensile results show that the PVOH/RWF films crosslinked with HMTA exhibited a slight improvement in the tensile strength and Young's modulus but a lower elongation at break than that of GLU-crosslinked films; this was attributed to the better crosslinking effect of HMTA, as shown by the Fourier transform infrared results. The HMTA-crosslinked film showed a lower water absorption and water vapor transmission rate as compared to the GLU-crosslinked and noncrosslinked films. A natural weathering test revealed that the addition of 1.5 wt % GLU and HMTA did not significantly affect the reduction in tensile properties, but the biodegradability test showed that the weight loss of noncrosslinked films was higher than those of the GLU- and HMTA-crosslinked films. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012

Key Factors Contributing to Growth of Construction Companies: A Malaysian Experience

Abstract: The growth of firms is an important indicator of a thriving economy. Most firms, in general, have multiple objectives relating to sustaining and succeeding in their business endeavors. For short term, firms pay more attention to profit maximization. For long term, however, profit is no longer the prime focus because one of the objectives which may dominate the management of a firm is its growth. The objectives of this research are to identify the factors that play key roles in determining growth and to analyze the impact of the factors on growth performance of the companies. Data collection for this study was based on a survey questionnaire through large construction companies from grade G7, as classified under the Construction Industry Development Board of Malaysia (CIDB). A total number of 600 questionnaires was sent by mail and handed out to the group of respondents. Accordingly, 102 of the questionnaires were returned and useable. Data was then analyzed by using the relative importance index (RII), confirmatory factor analysis and regression analysis to establish findings. The findings have shown that the customer orientation factors are the utmost important parameters in determining the growth of Malaysian construction companies. It has also been revealed that the management and product quality factors as well as human factors have had a positive significant influence in growth performance both in terms of employment and turnover.

The Comparison Effect of Sorbitol and Glycerol as Plasticizing Agents on the Properties of Biodegradable Polyvinyl Alcohol/Rambutan Skin Waste Flour Blends

Abstract: The comparison effect of glycerol and soritol as plasticizing agents on properties of biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH)/rambutan skin waste flour (RWF) films were studied. Results showed that the glycerol-plasticized films exhibited higher elongation at break, but lower tensile strength and Young's modulus than sorbitol-plasticized films. Water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) was increased with the addition of plasticizing agents. The glycerol-plasticized films showed higher WVTR which indicated that glycerol had more positive contribution to water affinity compared to sorbitol. Biodegradability test revealed that the weight loss of unplasticized PVOH/RWF films was lower than glycerol- and sorbitol-plasticized PVOH/RWF films.

Transforming Capability of Indigenous Contractors Through Technology Transfer: A Malaysia Experience

Abstract: A significant method for upgrading and developing the capacity and capability of local contractors is technology transfer from the foreign contractors by the end of a certain contract period, however, the extent and quality of transfer varies with the parties involved. The purpose of this study is to test an overall hypothesis and five main hypotheses with focus on the factors of internal characteristics of the receiving firms, type of technology, technology transfer program and the transformation performance. The study respondents were selected through stratified sampling technique and a target population was identified, a survey method was adopted and non-parametric statistical techniques were used in analysis. The article concludes with the confirmation that the internal characteristics of firms, technology transfer program, type of technology and the transformation performance are significantly related and contribution of technology transfer in developing and upgrading the capacity and capability of indigenous contractors is vital.

Sustainable Housing Development and Leadership: A Review

Abstract: The study of the leadership qualities in sustainable housing development is limited to a relatively small body of knowledge. Although there is considerable research available on sustainability and housing industry, few researchers have considered the importance of leadership in achievement of sustainable development. In the domain of sustainability, it seems the leadership can play a major role in promoting sustainable development practices. As a result, an understanding of leadership and its style seems necessary in order to achieve sustainability and development. This paper presents a review of the published works that linked the key words of sustainability, housing industry and leadership styles and qualities. Furthermore, discussions and findings have been presented to demonstrate the current sustainable housing development practices in Malaysia and find the most probable leadership qualities for sustainable development. Furthermore, the effects of transformational leadership on sustainable development practices have also be considered and discussed by the study.

Electron beam irradiation of sulphur vulcanised ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) nanocomposites reinforced by halloysite nanotubes

Abstract: Modification of the tensile, thermomechanical, morphological and Fourier transform infrared properties of sulphur vulcanised ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) nanocomposites filled with 0, 10, 30 and 100 parts per hundred rubber (phr) of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) by electron beam (EB) irradiation in the presence of cross-link promoter trimethylolpropane triacrylate has been studied. The EB irradiation dosages of 0, 50, 100 and 150 kGy were applied on the EPDM/HNT nanocomposites after sulphur cross-linking. The tensile strength of the EPDM/HNT nanocomposites at low (<30 phr) and high (100 phr) HNT loadings increased and decreased respectively while the elongation at break decreased after applying EB irradiation.

Incorporating sustainable management system into housing development practice in Malaysia

Abstract: This paper reviews the practice in sustainable management in housing development, which incorporates in Malaysia the urban planning organisation and sustainable housing development variables. The transition of a sustainable housing development is to ward off the constraints faced in the housing sector and to drive through the sustainable loop to undergo the evolution in the new housing era. The primary objective is to achieve the balance of a sustainability triple bottom line at the end of the result. The suggestion made is to use a system tool to manage housing development in Malaysia in a sustainable approach.

Cytotoxic properties of selected Etlingera spp. and Zingiber spp. (Zingiberaceae) endemic to Borneo

Abstract: Zingiberaceae are known as valuable herbs with an important role in the prevention and treatment of various diseases. More than 300 species of Zingiberaceae were documented in Borneo. In this study, methanolic extracts of three species of Zingiberaceae (namely, Etlingera velutina, Etlingera belalongensis and Zingiber vinosum) were analysed for their total phenolic and flavonoid contents and cytotoxic activity in vitro. The cytotoxic activities of these extracts were tested against several cancer cell lines, such as hormone dependent breast cancer (MCF-7), non-hormone dependent cancer (MDA-MB-231), ovarian cancer (CaOV3) and cervical cancer (Hela) using MTT assay. Crude extracts from rhizome of E. belalongensis and E. velutina showed significant cytotoxic activity against MDA-MB-231 cell line proliferation, with IC50 values (concentration which inhibit 50% of cell population) of 51.00±4.24 µg/ml and 67.00±9.89 µg/ml, respectively. The methanol extracts were further analysed for the cell cycle analysis using flow cytometry. The results showed that the Etlingera species exhibited higher antioxidant activity and stronger cytotoxic activity in selected cancer cell lines, with the highest cell death accumulated in G1 phase as compared to Zingiber species. Thus, polyphenol phytochemicals could be the major contributors to the cytotoxic activity of these species. As a conclusion, tropical gingers in Borneo investigated in this study have the potential to be developed as anticancer remedies.