Performance shaping factors for future sustainable energy management: A new integrated approach

The current literature suggests that a lack of integration between engineering for performance shaping factors (PSFs) and workplace energy management (WEM) is a significant barrier to improving energy management practices (EMP) and power plant efficiency. The study identified three research objectives in response to this research gap: (1) conduct a systematic literature review to analyze current studies; (2) develop a novel integrative model capable of predicting EMP; and (3) test the novel model's validity and reliability through an empirical study in thermal power plants. In this study, a group of academic and energy experts designed research instruments to achieve the study's objectives, which were then pilot-tested. Partial least square structural equation modeling was utilized to analyze the data in this study. The study successfully developed a new model for future sustainable energy management in power plants and a new model integrating the PSFs and WEM to predict power plant energy performance, aiming to enhance communication between operators and EMP in power plants. The model exhibited exceptional explanatory and predictive abilities, yielding a strong fit. Furthermore, the incorporation of success factors associated with PSFs positively influenced the EMP. The data set followed a normal distribution, confirming the model's reliability and validity. Significantly, this study achieved a breakthrough by being the first to integrate success factors for PSFs and WEM in thermal power plants, thus effectively addressing an unexplored area of research. However, the inconsistencies in the current studies emphasize the necessity for additional investigations into the strategy of PSFs in EMP within power plants.

Emotional Intelligence Impacts on Work Performance: the Case in Telecommunication Malaysia Research Company

The study of the correlation between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and work performance is crucial for the organisation. Some of the organisations do not consider EI skills as the work performed. This study investigates the correlation between EI and the work performance of a telecommunication research company in Malaysia. There are 66 participants involved in this study: senior researchers and researchers. A set of questionnaires was distributed to assess their employees’ background, EI, and work performance. As a predictor of research employees’ work performance and EI, the results show that EI had a significant positive relationship with work performance. The findings also show that employees with high EI experience a greater level of task performance. Moreover, the authors also present the relationship of EI with work performance over employees’ background such as gender, marital status, age and work experience. It was found that married employees have a higher correlation than single employees. The study recommends that organisations introduce EI development programs for existing staff to improve their performance at work.

Morphological and Physiological Responses of Brassica chinensis on Different Far-Red (FR) Light Treatments Using Internet-of-Things (IoT) Technology

Advanced technology in agriculture has enabled the manipulation of the artificial light spectrum in plant development such as improving yield and plant growth. Light manipulation using light-emitting diodes or LEDs can inhibit, delay, or even promote flowering. Some studies have shown that far-red (FR) light can stop flowering, but studies have not fully explored the best method involving intensity and duration to induce plant growth. This paper presents results on LED light manipulation techniques, particularly FR light, on plant flowering control and plant elongation. The light manipulation technique on the combination of colors, photoperiods, and intensities proved that it can stop flowering, and stimulate and control the growth of plants during cultivation. The system was monitored using an Internet-of-Things (IoT) remote monitoring system, and it performed data mining. The results showed that plants that were grown under artificial sunlight (T5) and normal light (T1) treatments were superior compared to others. The FR light delayed flowering until 50 days of planting and accelerated the plant growth and increased the fresh weight by 126%. The experiment showed that a high variable intensity at 300 µmol m−1s−1 showed a great performance and produced the largest leaf area of 1517.0 cm2 and the highest fresh weight of 492.92 g. This study provides new insights to the researchers and the farming community on artificial light systems in improving plant factory production efficiency and in determining the best plant cultivation approach to create a stronger indoor farming management plant.

Palm Oil-based Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) Biodiesel to Meet High Blending Rates in Malaysia

Palm oil methyl ester (PME) is a form of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) which in principle is biodiesel. Malaysia could greatly leverage the abundance of PME sources given its status as a palm oil-producing country. In this paper, palm oil is evaluated for its potential as a biofuel feedstock and its derivatives’ vast use in the domestic market but limited use in other regions. In order to create a growth market of PME, Malaysia has introduced an increase of PME blend component in its nation’s biodiesel use for transport and industrial sectors. A phased increase from 5% to the latest of 20% PME blend in biodiesel certainly has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while creating a boost to the local market. However, the government must be careful in managing subsidies of conventional petroleum-based diesel fuel, as this would have an eventual effect on the supply chain of biodiesel in Malaysia. There are limited studies on diesel fuel physicochemical characteristics that are used as base-stock for the biodiesel blend and whether it could be manipulated to maximise yield while maintaining conformance to mandated fuel standards. Multiple relevant research papers were studied of its relevance to PME use as biodiesel FAME to meet high blending rates in Malaysia.