Comparison of stochastic mortality model for wider age range

The incorporation of non-linear pattern of early ages has opened new research directions on improving the existing stochastic mortality model structure. Several authors have outlined the importance of encompassing the full age range in dealing with longevity risk exposure by not to ignore the dependence between young and old age. In this study, we consider the two extensions of Cairns, Blake and Dowd model that incorporate the irregularity profile seen at the mortality of lower ages which are Plat and O’Hare and Li. The models’ performances in terms of in-sample fitting and out-sample forecasts were examined and compared. The results indicated that O’Hare and Li model performs better as compared to Plat model

Multi-Population mortality model: A practical approach

The growing number of multi-population mortality models in the recent years signifies the mortality improvement in developed countries. In this case, there exists a narrowing gap of sex-differential in life expectancy between populations; hence multi-population mortality models are designed to assimilate the correlation between populations. The present study considers two extensions of the single-population Lee-Carter model, namely the independent model and augmented common factor model. The independent model incorporates the information between male and female separately whereas the augmented common factor model incorporates the information between male and female simultaneously. The methods are demonstrated in two perspectives: First is by applying them to Malaysian mortality data and second is by comparing the significance of the methods to the annuity pricing. The performances of the two methods are then compared in which has been found that the augmented common factor model is more superior in terms of historical fit, forecast performance, and annuity pricing

Morpheme {buN-}: an Example of Morphological Process through Affixation in Bidayuh-Somu Language

The goals of this research were to identify the allomorph of morpheme {buN-}, describe its affixation process, and determine the function of the allomorphs. The qualitative method was applied to gather the data from an informant who was done by recording technique on the field research. The informant was a Bidayuh-Somu language native speaker. The collected data included the derivational words derived from free morpheme that was root, base, and bound morpheme. The free and bound morpheme were then sorted into nominal and verbal class, as well as described qualitatively. Affixation as one of the morphological processes to derive complex derivational word in Bidayuh-Somu Language involved free and bound morpheme. Morpheme {buN-} was chosen as an example to describe the process of affixation in deriving complex derivational word of the language. It is found that the morpheme {buN-} is a prefix and verbal, affixed to the verb, and noun and adjective. Therefore, it functions both as class-maintaining and class-changing. Moreover, it is identified that the morpheme {buN-} has five allomorphs, namely /bu-/ with its alternant /bur-/ and /b-/, and /bum-/, /bun-/, /buN-/ and /bu-/. The morpheme {buN-} is affixed to free morpheme which is initiated with all consonant and vowel phonemes. The morpheme {buN-}also bears meaning

Multi-population mortality model: a practical approach

The growing number of multi-population mortality models in the recent years signifies the mortality improvement in developed countries. In this case, there exists a narrowing gap of sex-differential in life expectancy between populations; hence multi-population mortality models are designed to assimilate the correlation between populations. The present study considers two extensions of the single-population Lee-Carter model, namely the independent model and augmented common factor model. The independent model incorporates the information between male and female separately whereas the augmented common factor model incorporates the information between male and female simultaneously. The methods are demonstrated in two perspectives: First is by applying them to Malaysian mortality data and second is by comparing the significance of the methods to the annuity pricing. The performances of the two methods are then compared in which has been found that the augmented common factor model is more superior in terms of historical fit, forecast performance, and annuity pricing

Nonlinear Smooth Transition Autoregressive (STAR)–type modelling and forecasting on Malaysia Airlines (MAS) stock returns

This study aims to apply nonlinear Smooth Transition Autoregressive (STAR)-type model to the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Stock Returns, which consists of 4450 number of observations. The data taken started from 29th August 1996 until 26th September 2014. Following the STAR strategies by Terasvirta, the diagnostic plots of linear Autoregressive (AR) model revealed that AR (3) model is adequate in modelling the MAS returns series. However, the squared residuals of Autocorrelation Function (ACF) of returns series illustrates a slight presence of correlations in the model, hence the effort to apply nonlinear model was continued. Before proceed to nonlinear STAR modelling, the identification of delay parameter in the second stage of Terasvirta need to be determined. The results of Lagrange Multiplier (LM) tests revealed that delay parameter, d=3 is the best to choose. In addition, the null hypothesis of linearity from LM test is rejected. Furthermore, from the sequence of nested hypothesis of delay parameter, d=3 indicated that LSTAR model is preferred than ESTAR model. Finally, the forecasts and comparison stages was made to compare which models are best performed in forecasting the future series of MAS returns. It proved that LSTAR model performed better in term of forecasting accuracy when compared to ESTAR and AR model

Spatial distribution of some major arthropods and sampling procedures for Aphis gossypii Glov. in polyculture system comprising chilli, brinjal and leucaena plants

In preventing crop losses due to chilli veinal mottle virus transmitted by Aphis gossypii on chilli plants, a polyculture system is known in many cases to suppress pests through predation by Menochilus sexmaculatus. However,information on spatial distribution of major pests and predators in polyculture crop system is little known. Yet such information is essential in developing sampling plans for pest management. The spatial distributions of two pest species, A. gossypii on chilli and brinjal plants and Heteropsylla cubana onleucaena plants; and one predator species, M. sexmaculatus, were analyzed withrespect to different culture methods and life stages using Taylor’s Power Law (b coefficient) and Iwao’s mean crowding index (β coefficient). Subsequently,Taylor’s coefficients were used in developing the Green’s sequential plan for A. gossypii for each culture method. This study indicates that all arthropod categories were clumped, with β and b values significantly larger than 1. On regressing the variance on the mean density, Taylor’s Power Law indicates the best fit with higher r2 and lower standard errors compared with Iwao’s mean crowding. The immobility of aphid nymphs and wingless aphids tends to result in high aggregations, whereas decreasing aggregations in winged aphids are due to the flight ability. In developing a sampling plan, monoculture requires a smaller sample size than that required by diculture and triculture. Population density of insect species in monoculture is higher than those in diculture and triculture. The Green’s plan required smaller sample size than fixed-sample-size plan. As the precision level is decreased from 0.20 to 0.30, the sample size decreases from 44 to 12 in monoculture, from 41 to 14 in diculture, and from 51 to 17 in triculture. Each type of culture yielded a high percentage of actual precision level lower than the optimal precision level. The result obtained indicates that the Green’s plan is feasible and applicable in pest management program for A. gossypii with a precision level of 0.30

Best fitted distribution for meteorological data in Kuala Krai

Modeling meteorological variables is a vital aspect of climate change studies. Awareness of the frequency and magnitude of climate change is a critical concern for mitigating the risks associated with climate change. Probability distribution models are valuable tools for a frequency study of climate variables since it measures how the probability distribution able to fit well in the data series. Monthly meteorological data including average temperature, wind speed, and rainfall were analyzed in order to determine the most suited probability distribution model for Kuala Krai district. The probability distributions that were used in the analysis were Beta, Burr, Gamma, Lognormal, and Weibull distributions. To estimate the parameters for each distribution, the maximum likelihood estimate (MLE) was employed. Goodness-of-fit tests such as the Kolmogorov-Smirnov, and Anderson-Darling tests were conducted to assess the best suited model, and the test's reliability. Results from statistical studies indicate that Burr distributions better characterize the meteorological data of our research. The graph of probability density function, cumulative distribution function as well as Q-Q plot are presented

Obstacle in implementing sustainable construction in construction project

This Sustainable development is defined as development undertaken to avoid the disposal of resources and ensure minimum damage to the environment.In the concept of Sustainable Development, emphasis is given to the balance between human needs with the natural system's ability to provide products and services without destroying the environment.The purpose of this study is to review barriers to implementing sustainable development under construction in Malaysia.This study also determines an effective way to address the problems in development.The results obtained from this study found that there are many problems and obstacles that need to be faced in the implementation of sustainable development such as lack of awareness about green technology, poor in skill of worker an etc.In conclusion, we need to identify and minimize all obstacles in implementing the concept of sustainable development under construction in Malaysia

Kajian kes mengenai penggunaan perisian sosial di perpustakaan IPTA dan IPTS di Malaysia

Web 2.0 is an application and social networking software that provides interactive information sharing, user oriented design and collaboration on the Internet. Some popular social software that are being used are Facebook Twitter, Blog dan Flickr. This article is the results of a study which seeks to identify the usage of Web 2.0 applications in 20 public and 14 private academic libraries throughout Malaysia. A virtual survey was conducted from October 2009 to February 2010. The findings show that Web 2.0 applications are being used in some academic libraries. Currently, the Blog is the most widehly used application

Impak pameran dan perkhidmatan pandu lalu terhadap pinjaman buku baharu: kajian berasaskan Return on Investment (ROI)

The Library has purchased 10,050 copies of printed books for UKM researchers from 2009 to 2013. Nevertheless, the study found only 4,864 (48.4%) of books were borrowed. This problem should be overcome due to the fact that the estimated cost of books purchasing is RM8.72 million compared to the value of the books that were borrowed (RM4.5 million). A preliminary study was conducted by the Management Quality Improvement Team (QIT) with regards to borrowing transactions using Return on Investment (ROI) and Cost Benefit Ratio (CBR) methods. Several suggestions on how to increase books circulation were presented by the Management QIT to the Library. Two suggestions were implemented by the Innovative and Creative Group (ICG) KLIK in 2014/2015 which included new books display and Drive-Thru@PTSL service. The study has proved that new books display and Drive-Thru@PTSL service have increased the borrowing transaction rate from 1.6% up to 46.8% in nine months