Hubungan pengetahuan dan tingkah laku kewangan dengan perancangan kewangan persaraan dalam kalangan generasi milenial

Persaraan merupakan satu fasa kehidupan yang bakal dilalui oleh setiap pekerja apabila umur bersaranya tiba. Kajian lepas menunjukkan perancangan kewangan bagi tujuan persaraan dalam kalangan generasi milenial di Malaysia masih kurang berbanding luar negara. Justeru itu kajian ini akan mengkaji hubungan di antara pengetahuan kewangan dan tingkah laku kewangan dengan perancangan kewangan persaraan dalam kalangan generasi milenial. Perancangan kewangan persaraan yang dikaji melibatkan komponen pengurusan tunai, pengurusan simpanan, pengurusan kredit, pengurusan insurans, pengurusan pelaburan dan perancangan harta pusaka. Kaedah survei dengan menggunakan teknik persampelan rawak sistematik diaplikasikan dalam kajian ini. Sampel kajian adalah generasi milenial yang berkhidmat sebagai penjawat awam di Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam, Putrajaya. Borang soal selidik digunakan sebagai instrumen pengumpulan data. Hasilnya seramai 270 orang responden terlibat dalam kajian ini. Analisis Korelasi Pearson digunakan bagi menjelaskan hubungan di antara pengetahuan kewangan dan tingkah laku kewangan dengan perancangan persaraan. Hasil kajian menunjukkan hanya tingkah laku kewangan menunjukkan hubungan signifikan positif sederhana dengan perancangan kewangan persaraan. Justeru itu, implikasi kajian menyarankan agar tingkah laku diberi perhatian dalam memastikan generasi milenial mempunyai perancangan persaraan yang terbaik. Perhatian harus lebih fokus kepada aspek pengurusan kredit dan perancangan pelaburan. Hal ini perlu bagi membolehkan persediaan kewangan optimum dilakukan oleh generasi ke arah kesejahteraan hidup, khususnya semasa menghadapi persaraan

Self-cleaning and spectral attributes of erbium doped sodium-zinc-tellurite glass: Role of titania nanoparticles

Highly transparent and durable self-cleaning materials became demanding for diverse applications. To attain such goals, glass system with composition (69 - x)TeO2-20ZnO-10Na2O-1Er2O3-(x)TiO2, where x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 mol% were synthesized using the conventional melt quenching method and characterized. For the first time, the influence of embedded TiO2 (Titania) nanoparticles (TNPs) concentration variation on the self-cleaning and spectral properties was examined to establish their correlation. TEM micrograph revealed the nucleation of spherical TNPs (average size ˜ 14 nm) inside the amorphous matrix. Reduction in the optical band gap energy (from 3.08–3.03 eV) and water contact angle (from 68o to 43o) both were evidenced with the increase in TNPs contents, wherein the later one (reduced contact angle or enhanced wettability) was attributed to the enhanced hydrophilicity of the glass samples. Conversely, a slight increase in the methylene blue (MB) degradation rate with the increase of TNPs contents up to 0.2 mol% indeed indicated an improved photocatalytic activity of the synthesized glass. The absorption spectra exhibited ten significant bands of Er3 + ions in the wavelength range of 407 to 1532 nm. The emergent three prominent photoluminescence (PL) emission bands of the glass sample (with 0.2 mol% of TNPs) positioned at 535 nm, 555 nm and 670 nm were enhanced by a factor of 6.77, 4.56 and 2.00, respectively. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band of the embedded TNPs inside the glass was detected around 581 nm. Furthermore, Raman band of the glass (containing 0.4 mol% of TNPs) centred at 845 cm- 1 displayed an intensity enhancement by a factor of 3.58 times, which was ascribed to the TNPs localized SPR field mediated effect. It is established that the measured enhanced hydrophilicity (self-cleanliness) and improved spectral features of the present glass composition was steered by the TNPs surface plasmon assisted effects

Sempadan dan pertikaian pemilikan tanah adat di Sarawak

Pertikaian pemilikan tanah adat secara jelasnya berpunca daripada tiga faktor utama iaitu status, kesahihan pemilikan dan keluasan sebenar tanah yang dimiliki. Konflik masyarakat berhubung dengan perkara tersebut boleh dikaitkan dengan cara informasi tanah diperoleh. Kebanyakan pemilik tanah adat mendapatkan informasi tanah milik mereka secara lisan iaitu melalui informasi mulut ke mulut. Hal ini akhirnya menjadi satu cabaran yang besar kepada masyarakat apabila timbul pelbagai anggapan dan intepretasi yang berbeza berkait dengan status dan kesahihan tanah adat yang dimiliki. Justeru kajian ini menelit i maklumbalas pemilik tanah adat berhubung dengan cara penentuan sempadan tanah dalam kalangan masyarakat Bidayuh di daerah Serian Sarawak. Selain itu kajian juga memberikan perhatian terhadap pertikaian persempadanan tanah adat serta impilkasinya dalam kalangan pemilik tanah adat. Maklumat yang berkait dengan tujuan kajian telah diperoleh melalui FGD serta temuselidik mendalam dengan pemilik tanah adat di kawasan kajian. Hasil kajian mendapati wujud beberapa cara penentuan sempadan dalam kalangan pemilik tanah. Sehubungan itu, dapat dirumuskan bahawa pertikaian tanah di kawasan kajian banyak didorong oleh isu status dan kesahihan pemilikan tanah yang dimiliki oleh pemilik tanah adat. Bagi mengurangkan konflik maka dicadangkan agar tanah-tanah yang ada dibuat sukatan oleh juruukur bertauliah. Apabila tanah telah disukat, pemilik tanah akan memperoleh surat hakmilik tanah yang lebih jelas dari segi status dan kesasihan pemilikan

Investigation of highly unsaturated fatty acid metabolism in the Asian sea bass, Lates calcarifer

Lates calcarifer, commonly known as the Asian sea bass or barramundi, is an interesting species that has great aquaculture potential in Asia including Malaysia and also Australia. We have investigated essential fatty acid metabolism in this species, focusing on the endogenous highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) synthesis pathway using both biochemical and molecular biological approaches. Fatty acyl desaturase (Fad) and elongase (Elovl) cDNAs were cloned and functional characterization identified them as ∆6 Fad and Elovl5 elongase enzymes, respectively. The ∆6 Fad was equally active towards 18:3n-3 and 18:2n-6, and Elovl5 exhibited elongation activity for C18-20 and C20-22 elongation and a trace of C22-24 activity. The tissue profile of gene expression for ∆6 fad and elovl5 genes, showed brain to have the highest expression of both genes compared to all other tissues. The results of tissue fatty acid analysis showed that the brain contained more docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) than flesh, liver and intestine. The HUFA synthesis activity in isolated hepatocytes and enterocytes using [1-14C]18:3n-3 as substrate was very low with the only desaturated product detected being 18:4n-3. These findings indicate that L. calcarifer display an essential fatty acid pattern similar to other marine fish in that they appear unable to synthesize HUFA from C18 substrates. High expression of ∆6 fad and elovl5 genes in brain may indicate a role for these enzymes in maintaining high DHA levels in neural tissues through conversion of 20:5n-3

Impact of primary kidney disease on the effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease: secondary analyses of the EMPA-KIDNEY trial

Background: The EMPA KIDNEY trial showed that empagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary composite outcome of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death in patients with chronic kidney disease mainly through slowing progression. We aimed to assess how effects of empagliflozin might differ by primary kidney disease across its broad population. Methods: EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA). Patients were eligible if their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher at screening. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily or matching placebo. Effects on kidney disease progression (defined as a sustained ≥40% eGFR decline from randomisation, end-stage kidney disease, a sustained eGFR below 10 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or death from kidney failure) were assessed using prespecified Cox models, and eGFR slope analyses used shared parameter models. Subgroup comparisons were performed by including relevant interaction terms in models. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110. Findings: Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5–2·4). Prespecified subgroupings by primary kidney disease included 2057 (31·1%) participants with diabetic kidney disease, 1669 (25·3%) with glomerular disease, 1445 (21·9%) with hypertensive or renovascular disease, and 1438 (21·8%) with other or unknown causes. Kidney disease progression occurred in 384 (11·6%) of 3304 patients in the empagliflozin group and 504 (15·2%) of 3305 patients in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·71 [95% CI 0·62–0·81]), with no evidence that the relative effect size varied significantly by primary kidney disease (pheterogeneity=0·62). The between-group difference in chronic eGFR slopes (ie, from 2 months to final follow-up) was 1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (95% CI 1·16–1·59), representing a 50% (42–58) reduction in the rate of chronic eGFR decline. This relative effect of empagliflozin on chronic eGFR slope was similar in analyses by different primary kidney diseases, including in explorations by type of glomerular disease and diabetes (p values for heterogeneity all >0·1). Interpretation: In a broad range of patients with chronic kidney disease at risk of progression, including a wide range of non-diabetic causes of chronic kidney disease, empagliflozin reduced risk of kidney disease progression. Relative effect sizes were broadly similar irrespective of the cause of primary kidney disease, suggesting that SGLT2 inhibitors should be part of a standard of care to minimise risk of kidney failure in chronic kidney disease. Funding: Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, and UK Medical Research Council

Pemerkasaan dengan media sosial: aplikasi facebook dan pembelajaran Bahasa Inggeris dalam kalangan mahasiswa antropologi dan sosiologi, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Dalam dunia tanpa sempadan, penguasaan Bahasa Inggeris amat penting untuk mahasiswa bukan sahaja sebagai bahasa ilmu tetapi juga sebagai bahasa untuk memasarkan mahasiswa itu sendiri sebagai gunatenaga mahir dalam sektor pekerjaan yang diceburi. Oleh sebab itu, objektif utama kajian ini ialah untuk meneliti pandangan mahasiswa terhadap facebook dalam pembelajaran Bahasa Inggeris. Kajian ini menggunakan strategi penyelidikan abduktif dimana pembelajaran Bahasa Inggeris dalam facebook diukur berdasarkan pada fenomena, pengalaman dan pengetahuan mereka sendiri sebagai ahli facebook. Pendek kata, fenomena, pengalaman dan pengetahuan yang hendak dikaji mestilah yang dialami dalam kehidupan harian dan bukannya fenomena yang dicipta oleh situasi eksperimental. Data telah dikumpul menggunakan temubual mendalam. Saiz sampel dalam kajian ini ditentukan oleh ketepuan data. Oleh itu, sejumlah 30 orang mahasiwa telah dipilih sebagai informan dalam kajian ini menggunakan persampelan bertujuan dan persampelan snowball. Kesahihan dan kebolehpercayaan data kajian ini ditentukan menggunakan pendekatan member checked. Hasil kajian mendapati pandangan mahasiswa terhadap facebook dalam pembelajaran Bahasa Inggeris boleh dibahagikan kepada enam tema utama iaitu penulisan,perbincangan, mempelajari perkataan baru, panduan tatabahasa, kemahiran mendengar dan bertutur dan akhir sekali kemahiran menterjemah. Keenam-enam tema ini dilihat telah meningkatkan keyakinan mereka menggunakan Bahasa Inggeris sebagai bahasa pengantaraan sama ada dalam situasi formal dan tidak formal

Efficient removal of Pb(ii) from aqueous solution using zinc oxide/graphene oxide composite

Due to the rapid development of industrialization over the years, the enhancement on heavy metals removal technology are becoming more urgent. Graphene oxide (GO) gained attention as adsorbents due to high surface area and high affinity towards heavy metals removal. However, its tendency for agglomeration and difficulty in phase separation urges more researches done to address its drawback. Zinc oxide (ZnO), a versatile nanomaterial, has been discovered to have high affinity towards heavy metals removal, tendency to spread out across GO sheet and ease of handling. Therefore, in this study, zinc oxide/graphene oxide nanocomposites (ZnO/GO) were synthesized as adsorbents for the removal of Pb(II) from aqueous solution. The synthesized composite was characterized using Fourier-transform Infrared Spectrometry (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and had confirmed the chemically bonding of ZnO on GO. From the batch test, the optimum adsorbent dosage and initial pH for Pb(II) adsorption using ZnO/GO were 0.16 g/L and at pH 5, respectively, with the adsorption capacity of Pb(II) at 418.78 mg/g. The most rapid adsorption had occurred in the first 30 minutes, and the equilibrium time was achieved at 160 minutes. Also, Pb(II) adsorption had followed the pseudo-first order kinetic model. Therefore, ZnO/GO is thought to be a newly promising adsorbent in removing Pb(II) ion from the aqueous solution