Using causal loop diagram in understanding financial activities of Malaysia Pension Fund

Objective – The aim of the article is to present the development of a simulation framework which identifies Malaysia Pension Fund main sources as well as the financial activities. Methodology/Technique-Numerous factors influencing the financial condition pension fund is summarized.Based on the set of system factors in literature summarization, causal loop diagram is used to analyse the interrelationships among these factors.Findings – Causal loop diagram shows a relationship between these factors, which can be used in analysing financial condition of a pension fund.In the developed causal loop diagram, it shows the main sources of Malaysia pension fund, the asset allocation, and the future benefit payment.Novelty – The causal loop diagram will then, be used as a dynamic hypothesis of this study and serves as a basis for quantitative models

Semarak Patriotisme di Kalangan Belia Perak: Satu tinjauan

Patriotisme didefinisikan sebagai sifat cintakan tanah air oleh individu atau kumpulan.Hal ini menyebabkan semangat patriotisme yang harus diterapkan di kalangan belia merupakan perkara yang perlu diambil serius dalam membentuk jati diri pembinaan sebuah negara bangsa seperti mana yang digarapkan dalam Wawasan 2020. Kini, belia merupakan tonggak utama dan merupakan pewaris kepimpinan pada masa depan yang akan meneruskan kesinambungan pembangunan negara.Oleh itu, kajian ini dijalankan bertujuan untuk meneliti dan mengupas tahap semangat patriotisme dalam kalangan belia masa kini di negeri Perak.Kajian ini merupakan penyelidikan kuantitatif dengan menggunakan soal selidik sebagai instrumen dengan melibatkan 10 buah daerah di negeri Perak.Seramai 911 orang responden telah memberi maklumbalas dan menunjukkan daripada 1,500 soalan soal selidik yang telah diedarkan.Pemilihan sampel dalam penyelidikan ini dilakukan secara rawak berstratifikasi.Data penyelidikan ini dianalisis menggunakan kaedah statistik deskriptif untuk mengenal tahap semangat patriotisme terhadap negara dalam kalangan belia di negeri Perak. Bagi membantu penganalisisan data, perisian IBM SPSS 2.0 digunakan.Oleh itu, penyelidikan ini mendapati bahawa semangat patriotisme di kalangan belia negeri Perak adalah memberangsangkan. Justeru, patriotisme di kalangan belia harus terus dipupuk bagi menyemarakkan lagi semangat patriotisme dalam kalangan belia yang merupakan aset penting bagi memastikan kelestarian pembangunan dan pencapaian aspirasi negara

Comparative analysis of DEA/AHP and DEA/Fuzzy AHP Models in Evaluating the Effeciency of Life Insurance and Takaful Companies / Nur Shuhada Mohamad, Nurul Fatinah Ahmad Padzil and Norhafizah Zakiah Hashim

The purpose of this research is to evaluate efficiency of life insurance and Takaful companies in Malaysia by comparing the efficiency result based on integrating of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (F AHP) during the period 2015-2017. The output-input data consist of 19 life insurance and Takaful companies in Malaysia were chosen as the sample of the study. This research develops the output orientation CCR model to measure the efficiency. This study utilizes two inputs and two outputs; commission expenses and management expenses as well as net premium and net investment income. The secondary data has been collected from each company's annual financial report respectively. This paper has compared the three models which are DEA, DEA/Fuzzy AHP and DEA/AHP. The result showed that DEA model produces many efficient units and many zero weights for three consecutive years. Then, by integrating Fuzzy AHP and AHP into DEA the number of efficient units has been reduced. Besides that, by using the DEA/Fuzzy AHP model the number of zero weights has been reduced. While by using DEA/ AHP model, the number of zero weights has been eliminated. It shows that the discrimination power has been increased when expert judgement being considered

The Ranking of Tongkat Ali Plants to Boost Testosterone Hormone Evaluated in both In vitro and In vivo Experiments

In this study, the Tongkat Ali plants were evaluated for effect on testosterone concentrations and their order in boosting the steroidal hormone from the highest to lowest ranked. Eurycoma longifolia(EL), Stema tuberosa(ST), and Polyathia bullata(PB) are collectively referred to as “Tongkat Ali”. The roots were dried and powdered, then extracted with water under reflux. Size-exclusion chromatography was utilized to isolate the protein fraction, which was subsequently characterized using the Bradford Assay and SDS-PAGE. LC-MS was used to test for the presence of natural testosterone within the Tongkat Ali plants. For in vitroand in vivoevaluations, each plant extract was treated with TM-3 Leydig cells (50 μg/mL) for 72 hours and administered in mice (6 mg/mL) twice/day for 20 days. The extraction of EL, ST, and PB yielded 0.74%, 0.46%, and 0.34% w/w of total protein, respectively. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed a single band between 10 and 15 kDa. In vitroevaluations showed that extracts of EL, ST, and PB increased testosterone secretion by 56.02 nmol/L (41.1% compared to the untreated controls), 40.49 nmol/L (18.65%) and 36.99 nmol/L (10.93%), respectively. In the in vivostudies, EL extract showed the highest testosterone concentration at 3.85 nmol/L (51.18% compared to the untreated controls), followed by ST with 3.35 nmol/L (43.95%) and lastly, PB at only 1.88 nmol/L (9.1%). Tongkat Ali plants boosted the male hormones in both in vitroand in vivostudies, with the order being EL>ST>PB

Comparison of three aphrodisiac plants (eurycoma longifolia, polyalthia bullata and stema tuberosa) synonymous with tongkat Ali

The indigenous people of Malaysia pioneered the use of Tongkat Ali for its aphrodisiac purposes. They gave at least three plants the common name of Tongkat Ali, including E. longifolia, P. bullataand S. tuberosa. Since E. longifoliais the most widely used root of the three, it has undergone extensive research compared to P. bullataand S. tuberosa. Proteins found in E. longifoliahave been proven to be the aphrodisiac bioactive constituent. Parameters such as pH level, moisture content, heavy metal content and microbial load were compared between all three roots after aqueous extraction under reflux, followed by quantitative protein assay, SDS PAGE and HPLC. The pH and moisture content of the extracts were within the acceptable ranges of 5% to 6% and 3% to 7% (w/w), respectively; additionally, no heavy metals were found. Microbes, which were initially detected, were undetectable once a decontamination step was introduced during the treatment. The protein yield for E. longifolia, P. bullataand S. tuberosawere 0.014%, 0.008% and 0.006% (w/w), respectively, and the SDS PAGE provided a single band within the range of 10 to 20 kDa molecular weight. The HPLC of Eurycomanone, a common quassinoid compound, was found in E. longifoliabut not in the other two Tongkat Ali. In conclusion, the three plants investigated possess several physicochemical differences but share the same protein, likely contributing to their aphrodisiac activity

Gas-solid two-phase flow of pulverized coal by ECT: a review

Electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) is a non-intrusive and non-invasive internal visualization tool that facilitates improved quantification by producing cross-sectional distribution information for any kind of multiphase flow. In a coal-fired power station, there are some concerning issues such as the sedimentation of pulverized coal in the piping system before it reaches the boiler system and the non-uniformity of its velocity, which contributes to a reduction in electricity generation and higher carbon dioxide emissions. The aim of this paper is to provide a review based on various research works on pulverized coal that utilized ECT system. This paper also consists of principle of ECT, image reconstruction, and velocity measurement. Further research and works will be executed based on the preliminary data gained to improve the existing works

NDT-defect detection on concrete using ultrasonic: a review

Non-destructive test (NDT) is widely used in industrial applications due to its reliability as well as flexibility. Rather than other methods, NDT is more suitable and practical to be performed in order to detect flaws and deterioration in concrete structures. This paper provides a review by studying various research works on concrete by performing ultrasonic technique NDT. In particular, the working principle of ultrasonic NDT, type of sensor and techniques adopted in ultrasonic NDT are briefly described in this paper. Further research based on preliminary data will be conducted to improve previous experimental work

The impact of parent’s education towards youth leaders

Today’s youths are crucial to society, since, they are our future they hold the key to change and thusly, a fruitful future in their grasp. The instrument used for this research is done through the quantitative findings by using questionnaires that have been distributed around to the youth association throughout Malaysia under Malaysia Youth Council. From 1,000 questionnaires that had been distributed, 793 respondents have responded. The research data had been analysed by using the description statistics. From numerous elements in the questionnaires, this study will covered three chosen elements from the research questionnaires which are the leader’s gender, ethnicity and their primary and secondary school attended. The instrument used is IBM SPSS 20.0 to analyse these research findings. Therefore, this research shows that academic qualification are one of the necessary elements to become a leaders. In order to ensure the sustainability and the achievement of nation building they should be nurture to embellish their leadership skill because youth are the important asset of our country

COVID-19 Health Protocol and Religious Activities: Knowledge, Attitude, and Compliance among Generation Z

Background: COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is a contagious infection currently affecting people worldwide, including in Indonesia. The spread of this virus is extremely rapid, and the number of deaths continues to rise. Compliance with the health protocol is one method of preventing the spread of COVID-19. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between generation-Z (gen-Z) knowledge and attitudes toward the use of masks, keeping distance, and washing hands as a means of preventing COVID-19 in religious activities at houses of worship in Palembang. Method: The observational analytic cross-sectional research design with the study's population consists of generation Z members who participate in religious activities in places of worship. The cluster random sampling method yielded 147 respondents. The data collected are primary data obtained directly from the research subjects via a questionnaire and secondary data obtained from the Palembang City Ministry of Religion. They were using the Pearson chi-square test to analyze descriptive data. Results: According to the findings, 79 people (53.7%) out of 147 respondents have good knowledge, while 75 people have a good attitude (51% ). The results obtained a statistically significant p-value of 0.05, indicating a relationship between gene Z knowledge and attitude and adherence to the use of masks, keeping distance, and washing hands. Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between knowledge and attitudes toward COVID-19 infection prevention in Generation Z who participate in religious activities in Palembang City