The comparison of implementation and non-implementation Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) in practicing field activities for oil palm production / Filzah Hanis Abdul Kadir

Princeton University and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology had estimated between years 1990 until 2010, 55-60% of oil palm was expansion in Malaysia and Indonesia occurred at the expense of virgin forests. In addition, the oil palm industry also produce, the negative impact on the environment like open burning, higher chemical toxic in the soil and water pollution. So, the standard operation procedure (SOP) document a very helpful manager to easy control all the management, environment and activities of workers in plantation. Aim of this study which are to compare the implementation of SOP with non– implementation of SOP in field area, to investigate the most practices activities affect the yield of oil palm and to identify the relationship of field practice and yield of oil palm. The primary data have been collected on smallholders at Batu Anam, Segamat, Johor with involved four villages which are Kampung Sepang Loi, Kampung Mensudut Pindah, Kampung Awat and Kampung Pudu through distributed structure questionnaire. The data were analyzed by descriptive analysis, regression, correlation and t-test through SPSS version 24. This study show, that the most practices activities that effect oil palm yield is harvesting. Besides that, it found there are have significant different between the implementation SOP and non-implementation of SOP in term of yield. As conclusion, most of smallholders are not the implement SOP in handling the field activities

Problem-Based Learning as a Teaching Method: An Experience at University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)

Problem-Based Learning (PBL) stands as a pedagogical approach that stimulates students’ engagement by immersing them in learning experiences centred around real-world problems or scenarios. Under the guidance of tutors, students work in small groups to identify and resolve issues, drawing insights from various sources such as notes, books, journals, newspapers, and online resources. This paper aims to share the practical application of PBL in both compulsory and elective courses at the University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). The purpose of this paper is to integrate Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in their instructional planning and manifest during the facilitation process of PBL as a teaching method. The experience of implementing PBL was witnessed in courses like “Islam and Leadership” with 49 students, Arabic language courses with 16 students and the compulsory course “Philosophy and Current Issues” with around 1200 students. This approach, facilitated by lecturer team, promotes collaborative learning activities, discussions, teaching, observation, and reflective practices. Student-centric PBL offers a positive impact on group collaboration, thereby improving the overall teaching and learning quality

A Study on Political Spectrum in Terengganu, Malaysia: An Analysis of Rabbani Leadership Based on Maqasid al-Shariah

Purpose: propose a new approach to change political organizations where the spirituality of leaders and their workers can be developed as holistic human beings in Terengganu, Malaysia based on the historical background and political paradigm that has changed.   Theoretical framework: Many studies have discussed the role of spiritual leadership in an organization. There are organizations that have successfully introduced specific programs that encourage spiritual activity in the workplace. This study explores how spiritual leadership is essential to improving organizational performance and overall employee engagement.   Methodology: This study relies on the quantitative method of explanatory survey. The study population consisted of UMNO and PAS party leaders at the branch level, namely Terengganu Division or Terengganu Region. A total of 384 respondents were randomly sampled based on locations representing the Terengganu district. Each research finding will be analyzed descriptively based on relevant themes as set out in the research objectives   Findings: This research has added to the knowledge of Rabbani Leadership related to the purpose of Islamic Sharia or 'Maqasid Sharia'. Rabbani political leaders drive awareness in developing the spirit of Islamic sovereignty, preserving the system of life, closeness of public relations, community management and cultural change in knowledge management.   Contributions: This paper contributes to a better understanding of Rabbani leadership in political parties to develop spiritual activities for the purposes of Islamic Sharia. In addition, this study explores the root causes of religious factors that encourage awareness in developing a holistic society.   Originality/value:  This research is innovative because there is no mechanism to be a reference for political activists how to bridge the gap between conventional political practices and rabbanic leadership practices in the political spectrum and program

Simulation Studies on Image Reconstruction Algorithm for Portable Electrical Capacitance Tomography

Electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) is a non-invasive and non-intrusive internal visualization tomographic modality which promising a better quantification by providing cross-sectional distribution information of any kind of multiphase flow. These studies aim to investigate the non-iterative and iterative image reconstruction for 16 channels of portable electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) through simulation work. Linear Back Projection (LBP) as a non-iterative algorithm was compared with the Landweber and generalized vector sampled pattern matching (GVSPM) iterative algorithm for four cases which are core flow, annular flow, stratified flow and two circles by evaluation of image error and image correlation. The results show Landweber algorithms produces lowest percentage error, close to phantom as higher correlation coefficient and acceptable elapsed time. Iterative image reconstruction will produce accurate results by eliminating the artifacts near actual object and enhance the capability of segmented ECT in multiphase flow identification

Non-Destructive Oil Palm Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) Grading Technique Using Optical Sensor

This research discover the uniqueness of physical and optical characteristics of the oil palm Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB). The goal is to determine the level of ripeness of the oil palm FFB by creating a non-destructive and real-time oil palm FFB grading systems. This grading system are a solution to automate the current grading process in order to provide more accurate and reliable results. Apart from that, the costs, labor and time consume will also be reduced. In Malaysia, the grading of oil palm FFB are still performed manually by observing the surface color as the main quality attribute. This project explore the chlorophyll content in oil palm and use its characteristic as a level selector to classify the degree of oil palm FFB ripeness. In this case, the level of ripeness are divided into three categories which is unripe, ripe and over-ripe. There are several phases involve in the non-destructive oil palm FFB grading system using optical sensor. First phase is the determination of reflectance data for all three classes of the oil palm FFB. This will be determine by using a light sources with 670 nm wavelength. The light sources will emitted a projection of light that will illuminate the skin of the oil palm FFB. The reflected light will be received by the optical sensor and the reflectance value are obtain. Last phase is the analysis of the data obtained by using statistical analysis. The expected outcome of this project is to study and understand the process of using LED and optical sensor as the data collecting method to determine the level of ripeness of the oil palm FFB

Brown algae-based preparation, characterization and application of Pd nanocatalyst for enhanced reductive azo dye degradation

This study describes a simple green one-pot synthesis of the Palladium Nanocatalyst (PdNC) using the crude extract of a seaweed Saragassum cervicorne (S. cervicorne). The formation of PdNC was monitored by Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The characteristic functional groups of phytochemicals in extract and capped PdNC surfaces were identified by FTIR analysis. The Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the extract revealed the smooth surface area while that of the catalyst was found to be rough and irregular whereas Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirms the existence of Pd in the catalyst. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the crystalline nature of PdNC with a cubic face-centred structure. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to record the images of PdNC with a particle size of 3.131 to 16.45 nm. TGA reports reveal the degradation of the PdNC occurred at 197.8 °C. The catalytic activity PdNC was tested against the reduction of hazardous azo-dyes such as Congo red (CR), Methyl orange (MO) and Methyl red (MR) with NaBH4 as electron donor. The PdNC catalysed azo-dyes in presence of aqueous NaBH4 and was examined by UV–visible spectroscopy where PdNC mediated the electron transfer from NaBH4 to azo-dyes as a carrier. The maximum degradation was observed for Methyl Orange (0.08 mM) of about 99.66% with 60 μg/μL PdNC. Congo red (0.1 mM) showed the highest degradation of 99.25% with a catalyst loading of 40 μg/μl while that of Methyl red (0.1 mM) with 80 μg/ μL catalyst was 95.45%. The preparation of catalyst using water and exploiting water-soluble components of S. cervicorne as reducing agents makes this one-pot preparation of catalyst a novel approach for the preparation of Pd nanocatalyst. The replacement of non-toxic solvents, as well as the use of unexplored brown seaweed, is of primary importance from an economic as well as environmental perspective. Therefore, the newly prepared PdNC is a promising catalytic material obtained by the green facile synthetic method and exhibit enhanced catalytic activity in stimulation on the reduction of harmful azo dyes

Hospital readmissions for fluid overload among individuals with diabetes and diabetic kidney disease: risk factors and multivariable prediction models

10.1159/000538036Nephro

Cardiovascular outcomes with sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors vs other glucose-lowering drugs in 13 countries across three continents: analysis of CVD-REAL data

10.1186/s12933-021-01345-zCardiovascular Diabetology20115

Cardiovascular Events Associated With SGLT-2 Inhibitors Versus Other Glucose-Lowering Drugs: The CVD-REAL 2 Study

Background Randomized trials demonstrated a lower risk of cardiovascular (CV) events with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) at high CV risk. Prior real-world data suggested similar SGLT-2i effects in T2D patients with a broader risk profile, but these studies focused on heart failure and death and were limited to the United States and Europe. Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine a broad range of CV outcomes in patients initiated on SGLT-2i versus other glucose-lowering drugs (oGLDs) across 6 countries in the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and North American regions. Methods New users of SGLT-2i and oGLDs were identified via claims, medical records, and national registries in South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Israel, Australia, and Canada. Propensity scores for SGLT-2i initiation were developed in each country, with 1:1 matching. Hazard ratios (HRs) for death, hospitalization for heart failure (HHF), death or HHF, MI, and stroke were assessed by country and pooled using weighted meta-analysis. Results After propensity-matching, there were 235,064 episodes of treatment initiation in each group; ∼27% had established CV disease. Patient characteristics were well-balanced between groups. Dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, ipragliflozin, canagliflozin, tofogliflozin, and luseogliflozin accounted for 75%, 9%, 8%, 4%, 3%, and 1% of exposure time in the SGLT-2i group, respectively. Use of SGLT-2i versus oGLDs was associated with a lower risk of death (HR: 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.37 to 0.70; p < 0.001), HHF (HR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.50 to 0.82; p = 0.001), death or HHF (HR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.76; p < 0.001), MI (HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.74 to 0.88; p < 0.001), and stroke (HR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.55 to 0.84; p < 0.001). Results were directionally consistent across both countries and patient subgroups, including those with and without CV disease. Conclusions In this large, international study of patients with T2D from the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and North America, initiation of SGLT-2i was associated with a lower risk of CV events across a broad range of outcomes and patient characteristics. (Comparative Effectiveness of Cardiovascular Outcomes in New Users of SGLT-2 Inhibitors [CVD-REAL]; NCT02993614