System Identification I

In his seminal book, Shewhart (1931) makes no demand on the distribution of the characteristic to be plotted on a control chart. How then can we explain the idea that normality is, if not required, at least highly desirable? I believe that it has come about through the many statistical studies of control-chart behavior. If one is to study how a control chart behaves, it is necessary to relate it to some distribution. The obvious choice is the normal distribution because of its ubiquity as a satisfactory model. This is bolstered by the existence of the Central Limit Theorem.

Sampling: Design and Analysis

Wetland vegetation plays a key role in the ecological functions of wetland environments. Remote sensing techniques offer timely, up-to-date, and relatively accurate information for sustainable and effective management of wetland vegetation. This article provides an overview on the status of remote sensing applications in discriminating and mapping wetland vegetation, and estimating some of the biochemical and biophysical parameters of wetland vegetation. Research needs for successful applications of remote sensing in wetland vegetation mapping and the major challenges are also discussed. The review focuses on providing fundamental information relating to the spectral characteristics of wetland vegetation, discriminating wetland vegetation using broad- and narrow-bands, as well as estimating water content, biomass, and leaf area index. It can be concluded that the remote sensing of wetland vegetation has some particular challenges that require careful consideration in order to obtain successful results. These include an in-depth understanding of the factors affecting the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and wetland vegetation in a particular environment, selecting appropriate spatial and spectral resolution as well as suitable processing techniques for extracting spectral information of wetland vegetation.

Multispectral and hyperspectral remote sensing for identification and mapping of wetland vegetation: a review

Fundamentals of Modern Manufacturing: Materials, Processes and Systems

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are regarded as ideal filler materials for polymeric fiber reinforcement due to their exceptional mechanical properties and 1D cylindrical geometry (nanometer-size diameter and very high aspect ratio). The reported processing conditions and property improvements of CNT reinforced polymeric fiber are summarized in this review. Because of CNT polymer interaction, polymer chains in CNTs’ vicinity (interphase) have been observed to have more compact packing, higher orientation, and better mechanical properties than bulk polymer. Evidences of the existence of interphase polymers in composite fibers, characterizations of their structures, and fiber properties are summarized and discussed. Implications of interphase phenomena on a broader field of fiber and polymer processing to make much stronger materials are now in the early stages of exploration. Beside improvements in tensile properties, the presence of CNTs in polymeric fibers strongly affects other properties, such as thermal stabi...

Polymer/Carbon Nanotube Nano Composite Fibers–A Review

The exchange rate is one of the most important determinants of a country's relative level of economic health. Exchange rate plays a vital role in a country's level of trade, which is critical to most free market economies in the world. This paper is an attempt to analyze the relationship between interest rate, inflation rate and exchange rate volatility in Malaysia covering the period between 1999-2009. This paper used time-series Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) approach of stationarity test, cointegration test, stability test and Granger causality test. Impulse Response Function (IRF) has also been generated to explain the response to shock amongst the variables. The results show that the inflation rate impacts the interest rate as indicated by Granger-cause. Subsequently the interest rate influences the exchange rate as shown by the Granger cause test. Taking into account a long term relationship, interest rate moves positively while inflation rate goes negatively towards exchange rate volatility in Malaysia. The implication of this study is that increasing the interest rate can be efficient in restraining exchange rate volatility. Future researchers should attempt to use panel data and cover longer study duration of above10 years by using other variables.

A Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) Approach in Explaining the Relationship between Interest Rate and Inflation Rate towards Exchange Rate Volatility in Malaysia

Mangrove forests are one of the most productive and bio-diverse wetland environments on earth. Yet these unique coastal tropical forest environments are among the most threatened habitats in the world. Some key progress points in mangrove conservation, restoration, and research in Malaysia are highlighted. Based on an intensive literature review, the ecology and ecological management, distribution and areas of existing mangroves in the world and Malaysia, issues associated with mangrove conservation and restoration are discussed. Growing in the intertidal areas and estuary mouths between land and sea, mangroves provide critical habitat for diverse marine and terrestrial flora and fauna. Important for the flora and fauna is the opportunity to continue living in a sustainable environment and in suitable conditions. A potential stand is the place that obtains the possibility of germination and establishment of a plant species according to their physical, chemical, and biological demands. In many cases it is seen that because of unsuitable selection of site and species, afforestation and reforestation projects are forced to fail after spending time, cost, and labor. The population boom and rapid economic developments have greatly reduced mangrove areas in Malaysia despite the Malaysian government launching a series of programs to protect mangroves in the 1980s and establishing mangrove ecosystems as high-priority areas for improving environmental and living resource management. The issues, threats, and significant values of mangroves also were highlighted. A more systematic protection strategy using ecological engineering management-based, active restoration and rehabilitation measurements still are urgently needed in order to preserve these valuable resources in Malaysia.

Malaysian Mangrove Forests and their Significance to the Coastal Marine Environment

Problem statement: Electro-hydraulic actuators are widely used in motion control application. Its valve needs to be controlled to determine direction of the motion. Mathematical modeling is a description of a system in terms of equations. It can be divided into two parts; physical modeling and system identification. The objective of this study was to obtain mathematical model of an electro-hydraulic system using system identification technique by estimating model using System Identification Toolbox in MATLAB. Approach: Experimental works were done to collect input and output data for model estimation and ARX model was chosen as model structure of the system. The best model was accepted based on the best fit criterion and residuals analysis of autocorrelation and cross correlation of the system input and output. PID controller was designed for the model through simulation in SIMULINK. The controller is tuning by Ziegler-Nichols method. The simulation work was verified by applying the controller to the real system to achieve the best performance of the system. Results: The result showed that the output of the system with controller in simulation mode and experimental works were improved and almost similar. Conclusion/Recommendations: The designed PID controller can be applied to the electro-hydraulic system either in simulation or real-time mode. The self-tuning or automatic tuning controller could be developed in future work to increase the reliability of the PID controller.

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Modeling and controller design of an electro-hydraulic actuator system

3 Abstract: Enzyme catalysis is most attractive for the synthesis of fine organic compounds, which are difficult to prepare and to handle by conventional means. In this work, green synthesis of lauryl palmitate, a wax ester was successfully carried out by lipase-catalyzed esterification of palmitic acid and lauryl alcohol. In this study, commercial immobilized lipase from Candida antartica (Novozym 435) was used as biocatalyst. The effect of various reaction parameters were optimized to obtain a high yield of wax esters. The optimum condition to produce lauryl palmitate was at reaction time (RT); 10 min, temperature (T); 40°C, amount of enzyme (E); 0.4 g, molar ratio of substrate (N); 2:1 and organic solvents of log P>3.5. The product was then subjected to characterize using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Gas chromatography spectroscopy (GC) to ensure the purity of product obtained. Analysis of yield showed that at optimum condition, lauryl palmitate was produced in short time with high purity, >90%.

Green synthesis of lauryl palmitate via lipase-catalyzed reaction.

Psychological empowerment comprising four cognitive dimensions i.e meaning, competence, autonomy and impact in the context of private higher education institutions was validated. The behavioral outcome of psychological empowerment was operationalized as innovative behavior. This study examined on a sample of 312 lecturers from 25 private higher education institutions in three states (Penang, Kedah and Kelantan) in Malaysia. The study verified the validity of the psychological empowerment scale of comprising four dimensions whereas innovative behaviour scale was unidimensional. Survey data was analyzed using correlation and regression analyses to assess the relationship between psychological empowerment and innovative behaviour as well as the impact of psychological empowerment on the behavioral outcome. The results indicate that psychological empowerment has significant relationship with innovative behaviour. Psychological empowerment is also found to be a significant predictor of innovative behavior (adjusted R2 = .109). Key words: Academia; Psychological empowerment; innovative behaviour; Private Higher Education; Malaysia Resume: L’habilitation psychologique qui comprend quatre dimensions cognitives, c'est-a-dire le sens, la competence, l'autonomie et l'impact dans le contexte des etablissements de l'enseignement superieur prives a ete validee. Le resultat comportemental de l'habilitation psychologique a ete operationnalisee en tant qu’un comportement innovateur. Cette etude a examine un echantillon de 312 enseignants de 25 etablissements de l'enseignement superieur prives dans trois provinces (Penang, Kedah et Kelantan) en Malaisie. L'etude a verifie la validite de l'echelle de l’habilitation psychologique comportant quatre dimensions alors que l'echelle des comportements innovateurs est unidimensionnelle. Les donnindiquent qu’il y a une relation significative entre l'habilitation psychologique et les comportements innovateurs. L’habilitation est egalement un facteur predictif important de comportements innovateurs. Mots-Cles: academie; habilitation psychologique; comportements innovateurs; enseignement superieur prive ; Malaisie

http://www.cscanada.net/index.php/css/article/viewFile/124/128

Kamaruzaman Jusoff

Papers

A Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) Approach in Explaining the Relationship between Interest Rate and Inflation Rate towards Exchange Rate Volatility in Malaysia

Malaysian Mangrove Forests and their Significance to the Coastal Marine Environment

Modeling and controller design of an electro-hydraulic actuator system

Green synthesis of lauryl palmitate via lipase-catalyzed reaction.

The Impact of Psychological Empowerment on Lecturers’ Innovative Behaviour in Malaysian Private Higher Education Institutions