Size of the Bimodality by using Trapezoidal Rule

This study investigates size of the bimodality to illustrate the gap between two modes/peaks in a bimodal distribution. To get this goal, one of the definite integral (i.e. Trapezoidal rule) is used on the mixture of normals (the mixture of one normal and the second one standard normal) with the selected parameter values of mean, mixing proportion and standard deviation. From the results, an increase of size of bimodality is identified if mean increases while all other parameters remain constant. A similar situation of increasing pattern of bimodality size has been observed when parametric values of mixing proportion increases (varies) while keeping other parameter values constant. However, a fraction changed is revealed in the size of bimodality if values of mean and mixing proportion are kept constant while standard deviation varies

Validity and reliability of an instrument assessing the associated factors for preventive behavior towards dengue

Dengue is one of the most important vector-borne diseases in Malaysia. Government efforts alone are not sufficient in preventing the disease if people continue to allow the widespread mosquito breeding in their housing compound. Individual or community behavior is an important factor in the prevention of dengue. However, there is no standard instrument to measure the associated factors of dengue preventive behavior. This study commenced to validate and assess the reliability of a newly developed instrument for the constructs measuring factors associated with dengue preventive behavior. Methods: A total of 327 respondents involved in this pilot study, which is a preliminary study to a larger scale study. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was employed to explore underlying constructs of the latent variables. Results: From the EFA, 10 factors (knowledge regarding dengue, behavior toward dengue prevention, fear and awareness toward dengue, motivation to adopt preventive behavior, medical practices for dengue fever, cooperation in dengue prevention, perceived susceptibility of dengue, perceived severity of dengue, perceived benefit from practicing dengue preventive behavior, and perceived barrier toward dengue preventive behavior) emerged contributing 63.1 percent of the total variance with the reliability of 0.791. Conclusions: The questionnaire is valid and reliable to measure the associated factors of preventive behavior toward dengue

Al Ghazali's thoughts of economic growth theory, a contribution with system thinking

This article tried to view ideas and economic thought of Al Ghazali, which had these thoughts tend to separate, in the sense that these thoughts as not to form an understanding of the aggregate economy. this is why the paper tries to explore and analyze further the thoughts and ideas of Al-Ghazali in the framework of the system, especially in terms of building a theory of economic growth.Modeling with Systems Thinking is used to facilitate the analysis and establish a model of economic growth of Al Ghazali, which is expected to be produced more comprehensive understanding of the thoughts and ideas of the Al Ghazali

Al Ghazali‟s Thoughts of Economic Growth Theory, A Contribution with System Thinking

This article tried to view ideas and economic thought of Al Ghazali, which had these thoughts tend to separate, in the sense that these thoughts as not to form an understanding of the aggregate economy. this is why the paper tries to explore and analyze further the thoughts and ideas of...

The Thoughts of Economic Growth Theories of Classical Muslim Scholars, A Contribution

This paper attempts to view at the development of Islamic thought in the study of economics and economic growth. In particular, it attempts to explore the similarities and differences between Islamic ideas about economics and to construct economic growth thought and how it used to bridge the gap. The analysis starts from Muslim thought Ibn Khaldun, Al-Ghazali and Ibn Taymiyyah. In addition, the study looked at how the views of classical Islamic scholars had entered into the idea of   economic growth. Suggestions will be made on how the gap can be bridged or made   closer to contemporary economic thought and economic direction of the country’s future

Interest Rate Uncertainty, Spread and Economic Activity: Empirical Evidence in Malaysia

The determination of the term structure of interest rate is of great interest to both policy makers and researchers in finance and economics. Not surprisingly, a large body of literature (among others, Fisher (1907), Cox, Ingersoll and Ross (1985), and Longstaff (2000). The uncertainty of interest rates is another variable that has been widely investi-gated, since it measures uncertainty of a macroeconomic nature. It is important both for its effect on the macroeconomic variables (interest rates, investments, etc.) and its effect on in-dividual or firm investment decisions (see, for example, Siegfred (2000)). Therefore, this study will focus on the interest rate spread resulting from default risk and attempts to explain how and why the risk spread leads business cycles. This study also contribute to the existing literature by looking at the interest rate uncertainty that plays a critical role in explaining the interest rate spread and economic activity. Furthermore, the finding shows that interest rate uncertainty embodies useful information in term of predicting the growth rate of indus-trial production. Key words: interest rate uncertainly, interest rate spread, economic activit

DINAMIKA UNDANG-UNDANG TANAH ADAT DI NEGERI SEMBILAN: KAJIAN PERKEMBANGAN DAN ISU UNDANG-UNDANG

Adat Perpatih yang menjuraikan keturunan nasab sebelah ibu merupakan pegangan utama dalam struktur pentadbiran tanah adat di Negeri Sembilan. Kertas kerja ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji sejarah perkembangan undang-undang tanah adat di Negeri Sembilan khasnya yang keseluruhannya diadaptasi daripada perbilangan adat. Tumpuan utama dalam perbincangan kertas kerja ini merangkumi undang-undang yang berkaitan dengan sistem tanah Adat Perpatih seperti perlembagaan, Kanun Tanah Negara, Enakmen Pemegangan Tanah Adat dan juga Akta Pengambilan Tanah. Kajian yang dibuat adalah berdasarkan penyelidikan kepustakaan dan juga hasil temubual dengan beberapa individu yang terlibat secara langsung dengan tanah adat. Konklusi kertas kerja ini menggariskan pemahaman berkenaan perkembangan dan isu perundangan berkaitan tanah adat di Negeri Sembilan sejak zaman penjajahan hingga ke hari ini. Adat perpatih which is based on matrilineal lineage forms the main structure of the administration of customary land in Negeri Sembilan. This paper aims to to study the development of customary land law in particular the state of Negeri Sembilan, which is generally derived from customary sayings/idioms (perbilangan adat). The main focus of discussion in this paper comprises of the laws relating to customary land law in Adat Perpatih such as the Federal Constitution, National Land Code, Customary Tenure Enactment and the Land Acquisition Act. This study applies library based research and interview of relevant key individuals who are directly involved in customary land law. It concludes with a developed understanding on the evolution and legal issues pertaining to customary land in Negeri Sembilan since the colonial era until the present day. &nbsp

Performance of Modality Tests on Existence of Bimodality

In this paper, the Robertson’s and Fryer’s (1969) conditions are applied for the existence of bimodality in the mixture of normals. Best modality test is the pre-requisite to evaluate whether the existing data is a unimodal or bimodal. On the same data the researchers also assessed the bimodality through modality tests. For this purpose the modality tests are compared on size and power properties designed by Monte Carlo simulation. After using the simulated critical values, the results showed that the entire modality tests have stable sizes. In power assesment, mostly the Silverman Bandwidth test was found the best test