In this article, a novel shaped metamaterial sensor is presented for the recognition of various oils, fluids, and chemicals using microwave frequency. The performance of the designed sensor structure has been studied both theoretically and experimentally, and it works well. A new sample holder for convenient operation is created and located just behind the designed structure. The results of this study performed better than those of prior liquids sensing studies. Various designs were explored using the Genetic Algorithm (GA), and it is embedded in the Computer Simulation Technology (CST) microwave studio, to optimize the optimal dimensions of the resonator. The suggested metamaterial sensor has a good-quality factor and sensitivity in both frequency shifting and amplitude changing. The resonance frequency shifted to 100 MHz between olive and corn oils, 70 MHz between sunflower and palm oils, 80 MHz between clean and waste brake fluids, and 90 MHz between benzene and carbon-tetrachloride chemicals. The quality factor of the sensor is 135, sensitivity is 0.56, and the figure of merit is 76 which expresses its efficient performance. Furthermore, the proposed sensor can sensitively distinguish different liquids by using the frequency shifting property. The study was carried out in three stages: dielectric constant (DK) measurement with the N1500A dielectric measurement kit, simulation of the structure, and experimental test study with the vector network analyzer. Since the recommended sensor has high sensitivity, good quality factor, and excellent performance, hence it can be used in chemical, oil, and microfluidic industries for detecting various liquid samples.
African swine fever (ASF) is a transboundary haemorrhagic viral disease that affected domestic and wild pigs of all ages. The disease is caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV) and was introduced to China in 2018 before spreading rapidly to neighbouring Asian countries. As such, putting countries free from ASF like Malaysia at risk. ASF is highly lethal with no vaccine or treatment available. In February 2021, we confirmed backyard pigs from various locations in Sabah were infected with ASF using real time polymerase chain reaction (real- time PCR). Further characterization of the Sabah ASFVs indicated that they were of p72 genotype II with intergenic region (IGR) variant II that displayed an addition tandem repeat sequence (TRS) insertion, similar to ASFV from Indonesia, V ietnam and China. These results indicate and support the transboundary expansion of a homogenotypic ASFV (p72 genotype II and IGR variant II) in the Europe and Asia-Pacific, emphasizing the need for a holistic international collaboration in control and preventing further spreading of the current ASF pandemic. Importantly, our results informed the first detection and characterization of ASF, a disease previously not detected in Malaysia. This information is crucial for further mitigation and preventive measures.