National University of Malaysia

About: National University of Malaysia is a education organization based out in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Heat transfer. The organization has 26593 authors who have published 41270 publications receiving 552683 citations. The organization is also known as: NUM & Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Reservoir Optimization in Water Resources: a Review

Abstract: This paper reviews current optimization technique developed to solve reservoir operation problems in water resources. The application of conventional, especially evolutionary computation, combination of simulation-optimization and multi objectives optimization in reservoir operation will be discussed and investigated. Furthermore, new optimization algorithm from other applications will be presented by focusing on Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) and Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA) as alternative methods that can be explored by researchers in water resources field. Finally this paper looks into the challenges and issues of climate change in reservoir optimization.

The four point explicit decoupled group (EDG) Method: a fast poisson solver

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to introduce a four point explicit decoupled group (EDG) iterative method as a new Poisson solver. The method is shown to be very much faster compared to existing explicit group (EG) methods due to D. J. Evans and M. J. Biggins (1982) and W. Yousif and D. J. Evans (1985). Some numerical experiments are included to confirm our recommendation.

Nipah Virus: Vaccination and Passive Protection Studies in a Hamster Model

Abstract: Nipah virus, a member of the paramyxovirus family, was first isolated and identified in 1999 when the virus crossed the species barrier from fruit bats to pigs and then infected humans, inducing an encephalitis with up to 40% mortality. At present there is no prophylaxis for Nipah virus. We investigated the possibility of vaccination and passive transfer of antibodies as interventions against this disease. We show that both of the Nipah virus glycoproteins (G and F) when expressed as vaccinia virus recombinants induced an immune response in hamsters which protected against a lethal challenge by Nipah virus. Similarly, passive transfer of antibody induced by either of the glycoproteins protected the animals. In both the active and passive immunization studies, however, the challenge virus was capable of hyperimmunizing the vaccinated animals, suggesting that although the virus replicates under these conditions, the immune system can eventually control the infection.

5 ' isomiR variation is of functional and evolutionary importance

Abstract: We have sequenced miRNA libraries from human embryonic, neural and foetal mesenchymal stem cells. We report that the majority of miRNA genes encode mature isomers that vary in size by one or more bases at the 3' and/or 5' end of the miRNA. Northern blotting for individual miRNAs showed that the proportions of isomiRs expressed by a single miRNA gene often differ between cell and tissue types. IsomiRs were readily co-immunoprecipitated with Argonaute proteins in vivo and were active in luciferase assays, indicating that they are functional. Bioinformatics analysis predicts substantial differences in targeting between miRNAs with minor 5' differences and in support of this we report that a 5' isomiR-9-1 gained the ability to inhibit the expression of DNMT3B and NCAM2 but lost the ability to inhibit CDH1 in vitro. This result was confirmed by the use of isomiR-specific sponges. Our analysis of the miRGator database indicates that a small percentage of human miRNA genes express isomiRs as the dominant transcript in certain cell types and analysis of miRBase shows that 5' isomiRs have replaced canonical miRNAs many times during evolution. This strongly indicates that isomiRs are of functional importance and have contributed to the evolution of miRNA genes.

A review of photovoltaic systems size optimization techniques

Abstract: Based on the fact that PV systems are clean, environment friendly and secure energy sources, PV system installation has played an important role worldwide. However, the drawback of PV system is the high capital cost as compared to conventional energy sources. Currently, many research works are carried out focusing on optimization of PV systems so that the number of PV modules, capacity of storage battery, capacity of inverter, wind turbine capacity as well as diesel generator size optimally selected. In this paper, the current status of research on PV systems size optimization is reviewed taking into account standalone PV systems, hybrid PV/diesel generator systems, hybrid PV/wind systems, hybrid PV/wind/diesel generator systems as well as grid connected systems. In addition, size optimization techniques for the inverter in PV systems are reviewed. The outcome of this paper shows that the optimization of PV system is strongly depends on meteorological variables such as solar energy, ambient temperature and wind speed. Furthermore, the numerical methods are the mostly used methods. Meanwhile the artificial intelligence techniques have been employed recently to improve the process of PV system size optimization.