Keberkesanan pelaksanaan kerja makmal Program Teknologi Kejuruteraan Mekanikal KUiTTHO : sistem penilaian ujikaji Makmal Teknologi Kejuruteraan Mekanikal

Laporan Projek Sarjana ini mempersembahkan hasil kajian yang bertajuk "Keberkesanan Pelaksanaan Ujikaji Makmal Program Teknologi Kejuruteraan Mekanikal, KUiTTHO : Sistem Penilaian Ujikaji Makmal Teknologi Kejuruteraan Mekanikal. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk meninjau persepsi pelajar terhadap kaedah sistem penilaian ujikaji yang dijalankan, tahap penguasaan pelajar terhadap ujikaji yang dijalankan dan ciri-ciri sistem penilaian ujikaji makmal di Makmal Teknologi Kejuruteraan Mekanikal. Data dipungut daripada 47 orang responden dan instrumen kajian menggunakan borang soal selidik dan temubual. Data tersebut dianalisis secara deskriptif menggunakan SPSS versi 10 dan dipersembahkan dalam bentuk min dan sisihan piawai. Dapatan kajian ini menunjukkan reaksi yang positif daripada responden terhadap pelaksanaan sistem penilaian ujikaji Makmal Teknologi Kejuruteraan Mekanikal dengan min keseluruhan ialah 3.57 dan sisihan piawai 0.21. Keberkesanan sesuatu ujikaji makmal adalah bergantung kepada tahap penguasaan pelajar dalam menjalankan ujikaji tersebut di samping kaedah sistem penilaian yang efisyen

ESG Strategy Through the Integrated Business Model in Congruence with Circular Economy: Does Independent Board Members Matter?

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the integrated Business Model disclosures on the financial performance of the top 30 Malaysian PLCs, moderated by a 50% presence of Independent Board of Directors as proposed by the Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance 2017 (MCCG 2017). The paper’s design will adhere to the purposive sampling methodology, utilizing descriptive statistics, multiple regression analysis, and quantitative content analysis derived from the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC)’s Integrated Report, along with previous studies. This approach aims to analyze the annual reports and integrated reports, aiming to explore the Integrated Business Model disclosures within the top 30 Malaysian PLCs. The originality of this paper lies in the design of the new Independent Board of Directors Scoring Index, which aims to identify the best disclosures among the top 30 Malaysian PLCs. This scoring index could prove beneficial to both academicians and practitioners, extending its utility beyond the Top 30 PLCs. The study serves as a systematic review of recent research developments in Integrated Business Model disclosures within the Integrated Report and the Annual Reports of the top 30 Malaysian PLCs. Keywords: ESG, Circular Economy, Governance, Integrated Report, Business Model, Independent Board of Director

Pengambilan makanan dalam kalangan warga emas yang mengalami ketakjaminan makanan di penempatan pertanian di Lubuk Merbau, Kedah

Ketakjaminan makanan dikaitkan dengan pengambilan nutrien yang tidak mencukupi dalam kalangan warga emas. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan pengambilan makanan dalam kalangan warga emas yang mengalami ketakjaminan makanan di kawasan penempatan pertanian iaitu di FELDA Lubuk Merbau, Kedah. Seramai 70 orang warga emas telah dipilih secara subsampel dari kajian sebenar (n = 289: purata umur 69.2 ± 7.4 tahun) untuk mengisi maklumat bekalan makanan selama seminggu. Kajian ini dijalankan melalui lawatan dari rumah ke rumah, dengan responden ditemu ramah untuk mendapatkan maklumat sosiodemografi dan ketakjaminan makanan. Pengambilan makanan direkodkan mengunakan soal selidik bekalan makanan untuk seminggu. Ketakjaminan makanan dinilai menggunakan soal selidik ketakjaminan makanan untuk warga emas. Hasil kajian mendapati seramai 19.7% responden mengalami ketakjaminan makanan. Pengambilan tenaga didapati lebih tinggi dalam kalangan responden wanita dengan ketakjaminan makanan (2329.0 ± 814 kcal/hari) berbanding mereka yang tidak mengalami ketakjaminan makanan (1836 ± 447 kcal/hari) (p < 0.05). Walau bagaimanapun selepas digugurkan responden yang terlebih lapor, pengambilan tenaga antara kedua kumpulan adalah tidak berbeza secara signifikan (1890 ± 208 kcal/hari dan 1643 ± 233 kcal/hari). Jumlah pengambilan makanan dari kumpulan makanan lemak, minyak, gula dan garam adalah tinggi dalam kalangan subjek dengan ketakjaminan makanan (106.6 ± 60.0 g/hari) berbanding dengan mereka yang tidak mengalami ketakjaminan makanan (80.3 ± 30.1 g/hari)(p < 0.05). Kesimpulannya, satu perlima daripada responden mengalami ketakjaminan makanan dan dikaitkan dengan pengambilan makanan yang kurang sihat iaitu tinggi lemak, minyak, gula dan garam. Terdapat keperluan untuk merangka program intervensi bagi meningkatkan kualiti diet warga emas yang berisiko mengalami ketakjaminan makanan

Observation on SPME different headspace fiber coupled with GC-MS in extracting high quality agarwood chipwood

Agarwood is well known as one of the expensive woods in the world. It has a unique scent which brings it to have wide usages especially in perfumery ingredient, as incense, in traditional medical preparation, and as symbol of wealth. Due to that, this paper presents the analysis on chemical profiles of agarwood chipwood, as a part of agarwood grading system. The work involved of Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) coupled with Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) GC-MS in extracting high quality. Three headspace fibers; PDMS-DVB, CAR-PDMS and DVB-CAR-PDMS were used during the extraction to identify the compounds with the sampling time of 60 minutes. The result showed that high quality agarwood chipwood is made up of terpene group which are monoterpene hydrocarbon, sesquiterpene hydrocarbon and oxygenated sesquiterpene. The relative peak areas (%) for compounds are tabulated and plotted. The finding in this study confirmed that the difference in compounds extracted and their relative peak area (%) are due to different fiber's polarity and absorbent, Thus, it is significant and benefit especially in agarwood oil quality grading and its related area

Preparation of Politechnic Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin (PSMZA) Lecturers in Facing The Industrial Revolution Flow 4.0

Technology development can’t be denied a great role and contribution in the life. The world has undergone a technology transition through the first, second and the third revolutions. Every revolutions having its own progress and achievement.  Now, the world will facing the new revolutions of the industrial revolutions 4.0, which is based on the emergence of supercomputer, smart robot, also unmanned vehicle and variety technologies. Industrial Revolution 4.0 also pushed up the mobile applications as a medium in every life and it’s an inevitable transformation. All parties need to be prepared and adapted to face the challenges of the Industrial Revolutions 4.0 to remain competent. This study aims to identify teaching methods for PSMZA lecturers in the face of the challenges of the Industrial Revolutions 4.0. The study was conducted qualitatively in the form of a document evaluation. Some previous reports were reviewed through findings from the conference and journal, identified as a literature review, data were collected and analyzed using a matrix table. Researchers suggested that polytechnic management set the strategy by increasing the training and seminars on the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and taking other effective measures to ensure that lecturers are prepared to take on the challenge. The PSMZA lecturer is advised to increase knowledge in information technology, further reading and training remain competent in the current Industrial Revolution 4.0

Essential oil constituents of Alpinia scabra and Alpinia murdochii, two wild highland species from Peninsular Malaysia and their anti-microbial activity

This study investigates the chemical constituents of essential oils and their anti-microbial activity of Alpinia scabra and Alpinia murdochii, two wild Zingiberaceae species. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and the chemical components of the oils were determined by GC-FID (retention indices, RI) and GC/MS analysis. The major components of Alpinia scabra rhizome oil are γ-selinene (33.45%), α-selinene (3.64%) and α-terpineol (3.55 %) while the major components of the leaves are β-pinene (63.37%), α-pinene (6.58 %) and borneol (3.20 %). The major compounds of Alpinia murdochii rhizome oil are γ-selinene (15.51 %), (E,E)-farnesyl acetate (6.56 %), terpinen 4-ol (5.58 %) and α-terpineol (5.04 %). The monoterpenes; β-pinene (23.83 %), sabinene (23.76 %) and terpinene-4-ol (10.49 %) were the major components in the leaf oil of A. murdochii. The lowest MIC values were recorded for the rhizome essential oils of both Alpinia species against all Staphylococcus aureus strains (coded as MSSA, MRSA, Sa7, VISA24, VRSA156) with MIC values ranging from 0.04 mg/mL to 2.50 mg/mL. The rhizome oils of both species also showed a broad spectrum of anti-microbial activity as compared to the leaf oils

The Preferences of Student’s Learning Method Based on Course, Gender and Age: Visual, Audio, Reading & Kinesthetic (VARK)

Different students have different preferences for learning methods. Some of the students might prefer visual or audio reading or kinesthetic learning. It is believed that the student’s preferences of learning methods might help the students understand more about the subject and hence contribute to their academic performance. Therefore, this study investigates whether the students’ preferences for learning methods are influenced by the courses they registered for and the gender, and age of the students. A sample of 341 students from different backgrounds was selected in this study comprised of students from the Faculty of Business and Management, Faculty of Accountancy, Faculty of Graphic Design, and Faculty of Nursing in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Puncak Alam. The findings show that course and gender play an important role in student’s preferences for learning methods while age is not the significant variable. There is a very high positive correlation between courses and preferences of learning methods, while age and gender have a high positive correlation toward preferences of learning methods. This study might help educators in tailoring their lectures to the students’ preferences of learning methods, thus contributing to the academic performance of the students

Acute modulatory effects of apple cider vinegar, garlic, ginger, lemon and honey mixture, with and without exercise on postprandial glycemia innon-diabetic females

Postprandial hyperglycemia is independently related to cardiovascular disease. Garlic, ginger, lemon, honey and apple cider vinegar are known to have anti-glycemic properties. However, the effectiveness of combination of these natural products on reducing postprandial glycemia is uncertain. The aim of the present study was to investigate the glucose-lowering effect of a novel mixture consisting of apple cider vinegar, garlic, ginger, lemon, and honey; alone and in combination with exercise in response to a high-carbohydrate meal in non-diabetic individuals. Ten, female subjects (mean age: 25 ± 2.67 years, mean BMI: 22.6 ± 3.5 kg/m2) participated in this randomised, cross-over intervention consisting of four trials: control (CON), mixture only (MIX), exercise only (EX), and exercise + mixture (EX-MIX). All trials involved consumption of a high-carbohydrate breakfast, then followed by rest in CON, consumption of natural product mixture in MIX, brisk-walking exercise in EX, and combination of mixture and exercise in EX-MIX. Blood glucose was measured at fasting, and at 30, 60, 90, 120 minutes post meal. Postprandial glucose response was calculated as area under the glucose curve. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant group and time interaction (p < 0.001). Compared to CON, postprandial glucose responses were 8%, 13% and 15% lower in MIX (p = 0.049), EX (p = 0.001) and EX-MIX (p = 0.005) respectively. Postprandial glucose was 8% lower in EX-MIX compared to MIX (p = 0.002). In conclusion, consuming natural product mixture containing garlic, ginger, lemon, honey and apple cider vinegar reduced postprandial glycemia to a certain extent, however, combining mixture with exercise produced a greater attenuation effect compared to consuming mixture alone. This finding is indicative of a potential benefit of the novel mixture as a complementary management of hyperglycemia in high-risk individual

Strengthening programming skills among engineering students through experiential learning based robotics project

This study examined the educational effects in strengthening programming skills among university’s undergraduate engineering students via integration of a robotics project and an experiential learning approach. In this study, a robotics project was conducted to close the gap of students’ difficulty in relating the theoretical concepts of programming and real-world problems. Hence, an experiential learning approach using the Kolb model was proposed to investigate the problem. In this project, students were split into groups whereby they were asked to develop codes for controlling the navigation of a wheeled mobile robot. They were responsible for managing their group’s activities, conducting laboratory tests, producing technical reports and preparing a video presentation. The statistical analysis performed on the students’ summative assessments of a programming course revealed a remarkable improvement in their problem-solving skills and ability to provide programming solutions to a real-world problem

Residual effect of imidazolinone herbicide used in Clearfield© rice on non-clearfield rice

A pot experiment was conducted in the glasshouse at Field 2, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor to study the residual effect of imidazolinone herbicide used in Clearfield® rice which is resistant to imidazolinone on non-Clearfield rice. The experiment comprising of two factorials and was laid out in Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. Treatments included six cultivated rice varieties, namely MR219, MR220, MR253, MR263, MR269 and MR220CL2 and six different time of combinations such as 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 weeks of direct seeding after imidazolinone herbicide application and control (no imidazolinone herbicide application). Before direct seeding of rice, all pots were sprayed with imidazolinone according to the treatments (0.22 kgOnDuty™ WG Herbicide/ha). Imidazolinone herbicide application stunted rice emergence and growth for non-clearfield rice. Imidazolinone herbicide had significant effect on emergence and growth of non-Clearfield rice compared to control (untreated) except Clearfield® rice (MR220CL2) because it is already tolerant to imidazolinone herbicide. Applied herbicide significantly reduced the percentage of the germination, dry weight of shoot and root and number of tillers of non-Clearfield rice. Non-Clearfield rice showed chlorosis and necrotic symptom on leaves and finally died. Imidazolinone herbicide also had residual effect in soil even though 18 weeks after application. This is very harmful not only for environment but also for the biodiversity of all beneficial organisms