ICT usage to support agriculture transformation towards agribusiness among smallholder farmers / Mohd Shahrul Nizam Mohd Danuri

The main objective of this research is to investigate and understand the factors that contribute to the usage of ICT to support the agribusiness transformation among smallholder farmers in Malaysia by extending the existing theoretical framework. The perception of smallholder farmers plays an important role in utilising ICT as tools for improving their agriculture and business activities. Agriculture provides the main and raw source of foods for humans. Agricultural activities have been developed intensely in modern techniques and activities depending on the country, culture, and environment, such as the global climate and sustainability. Malaysia still imports food, as local providers cannot support the supply and demand within the country. Hence, the government has introduced many initiatives to support the agricultural industry to produce more food for local needs. Instead of introducing agricultural programmes and educating farmers, the government is focusing on the use of agricultural technology with ICT-based tools, and farmers in Malaysia are gradually recognising the importance of tools, such as fertigation and precision agriculture; nevertheless, they are still unable to improve their yield and supply the local demand for food. The introduction of agribusiness to the farmers is still not well understood and it is difficult to implement due to their limitations as smallholder farmers. This research uses a multimethodology, to explore the nature of the phenomenon by integrating the multiple factor analysis with the integrated nature of the work, and an empirical system prototype has also been incorporated into the integrated information systems theory

A Survey on Mental Health Detection in Online Social Network

Mental health detection in Online Social Network (OSN) is widely studied in the recent years. OSN has encouraged new ways to communicate and share information, and it is used regularly by millions of people. It generates a mass amount of information that can be utilised to develop mental health detection. The rich content provided by OSN should not be overlooked as it could give more value to the data explored by the researcher. The main purpose of this study is to extract and scrutinise related works from related literature on detection of mental health using OSN. With the focus on the method used, machine learning algorithm, sources of OSN, and types of language used for the mental health detection were chosen for the study. The basic design of this study is in the form of a survey from the literature related to current research in mental health. Major findings revealed that the most frequently used method in mental health detection is machine learning techniques, with Support Vector Machine (SVM) as the most chosen algorithm. Meanwhile, Twitter is the major data source from OSN with English language used for mental health detection. The researcher found a few challenges from the previous studies and analyses, and these include limitations in language barrier, account privacy in OSN, single type of OSN, text analysis, and limited features selection. Based on the limitations, the researcher outlined a future direction of mental health detection using language based on user’s geo-location and mother tongue. The use of pictorial, audio and video formats in OSN could become one of the potential areas to be explored in future research. Extracting data from multiple sources of OSNs with new features selection will probably improve mental health detection in the future. In conclusion, this research has a big potential to be explored further in the future

Needs analysis in an EAP course: A case study

This case study was done to investigate academic writing at a public university, in relation to student writing needs and the context of academic writing in a writing course at a public university in Malaysia. The study employed the complementarity mixed-method design, where questionnaires and interviews were used to collect the data. The total number of respondents for the questionnaire was 157 (26 EAP lecturers, 22 engineering lecturers, 17 human sciences lecturers and 92 EAP students from the engineering and human sciences faculties). Interviews were done with 15 EAP lecturers, three engineering lecturers, four human sciences lecturers, four EAP/engineering students and four EAP/human sciences students. The objectives of the study were to investigate the EAP lecturers’, the faculty lecturers’, and students’ perceptions of student academic writing needs and the EAP course. The results of the case study revealed that the EAP, engineering and human sciences lecturers as well as the EAP/engineering and EAP/human sciences students had similar and different perceptions with regard to student academic writing needs. Secondly, the majority of the EAP lecturers and students have a positive view towards the EAP course. The present needs (PSA) and the target needs (TSA) that have been identified from the findings can be used as a source of information for other language centres for their academic writing courses. As a start, since the findings also relate the identified needs with specific faculties (engineering and human sciences), this information can be used as a guide to determine the syllabus of a writing course for the related faculties

Study the factors that influence the purchase intention towards Amanah Saham Bumiputera 2 (ASB 2) / Mohd Shahrul Affendy Sharib

The main purpose of this study is to study the factors that influences the purchase intention towards Amanah Saham Bumiputera 2 (ASB 2) and refine the theoretical framework of the consumer’s intention to purchase with attitude, perceived behavioral control, financial literacy and knowledge. A descriptive research design was adopted for this study. From the SPSS analysis, it indicates that there are significant relationship between individual’s attitude, perceived behavioral control and knowledge with the purchase intention of ASB 2. However, the finding also shows that there is no significant relationship between financial literacy and purchase intention towards ASB 2. The data was collected from 110 respondents that are customers of ASNB Shah Alam. Next, the findings also stated that perceived behavioral control is the most influencing factor that can influence the purchase intention towards ASB 2. All the findings of this study can be used and improvised in the future in order to get the better results

Study and Design of Linear Generator for Regenerative Suspension System

Linear generator on active suspension has superior controllability and bandwidth, provides shock load to segregates the vehicle body from road disturbance for steady control, firm vehicle handling and comfortable ride. It is also has the ability to regenerate electricity from the vibration energy rather than dissipated it in passive system which results in increasing the energy efficiency for mobile vehicles. This paper is mainly discussed and analyzed factors that affect the efficiency of linear generator for regenerative suspension system. Materials, dimension, stator-translator configuration, magnets configuration, and winding is taken in consideration in the process design. A series of experiments conducted shows winding with spacer gives better output compared to winding without spacer. The best criteria for each factors will be chosen to propose the optimum linear generator design

Shipment Tracking for Air Freight via Website

This paper is written as preliminary information on the Information Technology Final YearProject. The title selected for this purpose is software called Shipment Tracking for Air Freight or simply STAR. In addition, it highlights how we can implement the software contents and influences the user to use them. The main target user for this project is the consignee or other party such as freighter forwarder company staff. Currently, the only tools to keep track of each shipment send by the consignee is only thru telex send by the station (airport). The consignee would have to call the station support office of the air freight company in order to know the status of their shipment. Consignee is a person or party who send the shipment. Then the office staff would have to print the telex of the shipment. Theneed for a more rehable and fast system to display the information is increasing. The main objective of the project is to keep track of each shipment by logging on to specific website in the Internet. The main advantage of this system is, it reduce the hassle of using telephone to contact the office of the air freight company and the consignee can view the information of their shipment status anytime and anywhere as long there is an Internet connection facility. The existing tracking method is using less user friendly interface and not available via internet. In order to completethis project the author has chosen to use planning-analysis-design method. It is simple and easy to keep track of the project development. This system will be developed using Macromedia Dreamweaver and a database to integrate all the codes and the system interface. In conclusion it is estimated that by having this system it able increase user satisfaction and productivity, help reduce tensions among company personnel and become very effective tool in helping both user and support staff As for the result this project is hope to also achieve allthe objectives

Comparison between manual and finite element analysis of RC wall in various length to height ratio / Mohd Shahrul Azhary Mohamad

RC walls is an element of the building that shows a different behavior of stress, strain and crack pattern compared with other element such as beam and column. Reinforced concrete (RC) walls are commonly used today and most efficient when they align vertically and are supported on foundation walls or footings. When shear walls do not align, other parts of the building will need additional strengthening. This study is carried out to interpret the behavior and characteristic of the RC wall. The study are focus on the design and analysis of the RC wall by using three method, manual calculation using Euro Code system, and Finite Element method in linear and non linear analysis and laboratory work. The RC walls with web reinforcement will built in the same size with wire mesh. Deform bars having yield strength 250 N/mim for diameter 6mm. Ordinary Portland cement with sand and aggregate are used for concrete mix to RC wall structure. The characteristic strength concrete use for develop RC wall in the laboratories are 30N/mm2. The load are applied in point load and uniform distributed load to the specimen until the specimen fail in strength. With different type of loading applied to the specimen, the characteristic and behavior of RC wall are study according to the mode of failure, crack pattern, ultimate load and stress field method. The results are compared with Finite Element Method using LUSAS software and continue using simulation to determine the effect of length to height ratio for RC wall. From comparison between laboratory work and simulation, according to mode of failure and crack pattern, there are three type of failure occur to the RC wall, failure at support, failure at loading transfer and failure according to real failure that proposed by Leonhardt and Wather. Beside that, using three point testing give higher ultimate load than using four point testing. By changing the length to height ratio, the result in ultimate load and displacement of RC wall are increases according increasing the height of RC wall

Assessing the Relationship Between Factors and Strategies Used by Entrepreneur in the Internationalization of Malaysian Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

This dissertation investigates the relationship between influential factors and the strategy used by entrepreneur in the internationalization of SMEs in manufacturing industries in Malaysia. Internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has been widely researched but little is known of how and why internationalization takes place in developing countries and this lack of evidence in the literature provides strong grounds for this study. Investigation on internationalization in this study focused on the three main internationalization theories which are Uppsala Model, Network Theory and International Entrepreneurship Theory. These perspectives examine the influential factors relevant to SMEs internationalization upon the strategy used by entrepreneur including the mode of foreign market entry and market selections were investigate. A quantitative approach were employed in this study where 250 Malaysian-based CEOs and/or key executives from SME manufacturing industries using a survey questionnaire as well as some basic statistical analyses were conducted. Result shows that, there is a significant relationship between entrepreneurial orientations with strategies used by entrepreneur in the internationalization of Malaysian SMEs while psychic distance & market orientations and network relationships does not influence strategies used by entrepreneur

The behaviours and night disturbances of the green turtle in Penang Island, Peninsular Malaysia

This paper focuses on the observation and behaviours of green turtles for one breeding season at Penang Island. Green turtle breeding behaviours and morphological characteristics were studied at Pantai Kerachut and Teluk Kampi, situated at Penang Island, the northern island of Peninsular Malaysia between December 2012 and August 2013. The findings revealed that from the eight green turtles landed; 106 were emergences, 38 were nests, and 158 digging attempts were made over the duration of one breeding season. The total clutch size deposited ranged from 170 to 979 eggs per turtle, and total nests ranged from three to eight nests per turtle. The inter-nesting interval ranged from 9 to 29 days, and the average was 13.5 days. Longer inter-nesting intervals were due to disturbances from feral dogs, wild pigs, sea-coated otters and night activities of fishermen (use of wide torch lights, sounds of boat engines) especially at Teluk Kampi. Lack of full-time personnel to control at Teluk Kampi was found to be a cause to nest poaching. Based on these findings and observation, the study suggests that Kerachut Turtle Conservation Centre should hire sufficient staffs to patrol the two beaches in order to prevent from human poachers and animal disturbances

Modeling and Optimization of Hydrogen Production from Gasification of Waste Polyethylene

Due to the energy crisis and environmental concern of fossil fuel usage, hydrogen has emerged as an alternative source of fuel. Hydrogen which is the major component of syngas, can be produced through gasification of waste polyethylene (PE). PE is a very sustainable source with a global production of 67 million tons in 2010. Waste PE catalytic steam gasification with in-situ carbon dioxide capture using CaO provides good prospects for the production of hydrogen rich gas. This work focuses on the process modeling and optimization for hydrogen production from waste PE using MATLAB. The model incorporates the reaction kinetics calculations of the steam gasification of waste PE with in-situ CO2 capture, as well as mass balances calculations. The developed model is used to investigate the effect of temperature, type of catalyst and steam/PE ratio on the hydrogen purity and hydrogen yield. Based on the results, hydrogen purity of 35 mol% can be achieved. The maximum hydrogen yield predicted at the outlet of gasifier is 125gH2/kg PE. It is also found that the increased in temperature and steam/PE ratio will enhance the hydrogen production. In conclusion, this work provided meaningful resources that can be used as a basis for more detail work for gasification of waste PE