The integration of knowledge management in the operations of Malaysian banks

The globalization of financial markets forced bankers to be knowledge-based and be more efficient in managing knowledge in their banking operations. The importance of this function is accentuated further by the call from the Central Bank of Malaysia (Bank Negara Malaysia) to integrate the concepts of knowledge management in banking operations. In this paper, we discuss a research model called: Banking Knowledge Management Model (BKMM),which encompasses knowledge creation, knowledge retention and knowledge sharing and more importantly, how each of these elements can be integrated to enhance the quality of banking operations. The various components of BKMM are explained and we illustrate the application of BKMM in two Malaysian commercial banks. We find that the two banks apply the concept of knowledge management in line with BKMM but differ in their knowledge management approach. Despite different approach, both banks derive many benefits from applying knowledge management in their operations. We expect a wider application of BKMM by other banks in Malaysia would create a culture that promote and enhance knowledge management in the banking sector

Effects of Oil-Dispersed Phase Composition and Selected Polysaccharides on the Physical Properties and Stability of Soybean-Palm Kernel Olein Blend Oil-In-Water Emulsions Model System

An oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion is a system that consists of oil droplets dispersed in an aqueous continuous phase. Soybean oil (SBO) is commonly being used as oildispersed phases in many O/W-based food products. The products sometimes exhibit poor physical properties and stability against temperature fluctuations that can be attributed to a high unsaturation degree of SBO. These problems can be reduced by blending of SBO with more saturated oils such as palm kernel olein (PKO). However, crystallizing tendency of PKO at low storage temperatures may lead to partial droplet coalescence, causing destabilization of the emulsion. The use of certain polysaccharides however can reduce this problem and indirectly improve the overall emulsion properties. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of oil-dispersed phase composition and selected polysaccharides on the physical properties and stability of SBO:PKO blend O/W emulsions model system. In the first stage of this study, the effect of palm kernel olein (PKO) incorporation on physical properties and stability of O/W emulsions was investigated. Soybean oil and blends of SBO:PKO at 10-40% PKO levels were used as dispersed phases (70% volume fraction) of egg yolk-stabilized O/W emulsions. The use of PKO caused a significant (p < 0.05) increase in droplet size but a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in rheological properties of the freshly prepared emulsions. With 10-30% PKO replacements, the emulsions were stable after storage at 25°C, most probably promoted by a significant content of C8-C12 fatty acids in PKO. With 30 and 40% PKO replacements, the emulsions were unstable after storage at 5°C due to high solid fat content (14-20%) which caused a severe partial coalescence. This was mainly evidence by increases in droplet equivalent surface mean diameter from 3.65-3.70 μm to 7.80-8.97 μm and decreases in emulsion yield stress from 1.72-1.82 Pa to 0.27-0.30 Pa after 30 days of storage. Throughout the storage, peroxide and anisidine values were found to be lower in the emulsions with PKO incorporated than in the emulsion with fully SBO. Under an accelerated oxidation condition (60°C, 12 days), a calibration model based on a Fourier-transform infrared spectral region (1800-1480 cm-1) was developed to predict the peroxide value in oxidized emulsions over the range of 6-45 meq/kg. In the second stage, physical properties and stability of emulsions as affected by the presence of individually 0.5% (wt/wt) xanthan gum (XG), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), guar gum (GG) and locust bean gum (LBG) were evaluated. A blend of SBO:PKO at 30% PKO level was used as a dispersed phase (40% volume fraction) of the emulsions. The microstructure of stored (5°C) XG emulsion showed the presence of partially coalesced droplets, explaining a large increase in its droplet size and the presence of ‘free oil’ after centrifugation at 3,500 rpm. However, partially coalesced droplets were not observed in stored CMC, GG and LBG emulsions and no ‘free oil’ could be separated under centrifugation force. The results support the ability of these polysaccharides in reducing partial coalescence by acting as a protective coating for oil droplets. Blends of XG, CMC and LBG were also prepared according to an augmented simplex-centroid mixture design with 10 points to investigate interaction effects of these polysaccharides on the emulsion rheological properties. The strongest synergistic effect was shown by ternary blends of XG:CMC:LBG at approximately 33-67% XG levels. Yield stress, apparent viscosity, elastic modulus and loss tangent responses were successfully fitted with a special quartic model (R2 > 0.89). Hence, the mixture design with regression modelling approach was shown to be a valuable tool in better elucidating and predicting the interaction effects beyond the two-component blends

Website Content Extraction Using Web Structure Analysis

The Web poses itself as the largest data repository ever available in the history of humankind. Major efforts have been made in order to provide efficient to relevant information within huge repository of data. Although several techniques have been developed to the problem of Web data extraction, their use is still not spread, mostly because of the need for high human intervention and the low quality of the extraction results. For this project a domain-oriented approach to Web data extraction and discuss it application to extracting news from Web Sites. It will use the abstraction method to identify important sections in a web document. The relevance information will be taken account and will be highlighted in order to develop a focused web content output. The fact-finding and data about the project are gathered from various sources such as internet, and books. The methodology used is a Waterfall Model that involves several phases which are Planning, Analysis, Design and Implementation. The result of this project is the display and review of web content extraction and how it being currently being developed which the goals is to give more usability and easiness toward web users

DYNAMIC MODELING AND OPEN-LOOP CONTROL OF A TWIN ROTOR MIMO SYSTEM

The Twin Rotor MIMO System is an aero-dynamical model of a helicopter with significant cross-couplings between longitudinal and lateral directional motions. In this project there are two main critical parts, which are the development of dynamic models for the characterization of 1-DOF horizontal and vertical part and also the design stage of the state-feedback controller to control the main and tail rotor of the TRMS. The dynamic models ofthemain andtailrotor of theTRMS were obtained by applying a step input to the rotors independently, one at a time. The step responses were then evaluated to find the relevantinformation and quantities to develop secondorder transfer function. From these linearized models, the state-feedback controllers were designed independently for the main and tail rotor by selecting desired pole locations and calculating the feedback gains. Real-time experiments were then performed using the feedback gains obtained to evaluate the performance ofthestatefeedback controllers designed. Strong interactions between the tail and main rotor also seen by performing 2-DOFreal-time experiments

Keluar Dari Lingkaran Kemiskinan: Mobiliti Sosial di Kalangan Komuniti Pesisir Pantai, Kuala Terengganu

The issue of social change and transformation of coastal communities has been the subject of study in earlier landmark works, namely, by Firth (1940s), Ungku Aziz(1960s), and Ishak Shari (1980s). Today, it is found that coastal communities still consist mainly of fishermen who are often portrayed as marginalized, underdeveloped communities and left out of mainstream development. Members of the communities are often regarded as being "trapped within the circle of poverty and backwardness". However, processes of development and modernisation have directly or indirectly triggered changes among these communities while the latter too have undergone transformation. Based on this backdrop of backwardness and underdevelopment on the one hand, and transformation on the other, this study seeks to investigate the phenomenon of "getting out of the circle", vis., the phenomenon of social mobility among the coastal community by focusing on the coastal community in Kuala Terengganu. The theoretical position of the study is that there is no one single factor that can explain social mobility. On the contrary, the changes in the form of social mobility have to be seen within the analytical framework that emphasises multicausality or multi-factoral analysis. For upward social mobility, an individual requires the combination of a host of contributing factors such as education, economy, and socio-cultural, with the actor (human capital), family and community (social capital), as well as the state (structural factor) playing their roles simultaneously. A survey of 300 respondents has been administered, together with interviews and observations. The researcher also undertook a study of secondary materials and documents to analyse change and social mobility in the coastal community over time by using a historical perspective. In general, examined in the context of the history of the last sixty years or so within the coastal community, the fisherfolk is found to be on the decline as this occupation is becoming less and less popular. The study shows that a major transformation has taken place within the coastal community when four generations -- grandfather, father, respondent, and the respondent's son -- are compared. The role of the sea in providing the principal source of income or the principal occupation for members of the coastal community has become more heterogenous. This can be seen from the fact that the percentage of fishermen among the coastal community today only stands at 47 percent while other categories that make 53 percent, comprised of those doing administrative jobs (15 percent), business (22.7 percent) and labourers (15.3 percent). Based on the scale of mobility measurement constructed for the study, it is found that there are four patterns of mobility within the coastal community. Among individuals with better education and who have moved into commercial activities they are relatively more successful in 'getting out of the circle'. This study contributes towards the corpus of knowledge on sociology of development, particularly the study of change and social mobility of coastal communities. The outcome of this study strengthens the researcher's belief that only a proper understanding of the problems of coastal communities will assist the government and other stakeholders to formulate policy and plan programmes that can facilitate and manage change and development of marginalized communities so that they can be empowered

Detection by in situ hybridization of specific high risk HPV in archival tissue of invasive cervical carcinoma and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia using specific biotynylated HPV DNA probe in conjunction with P53 and Rb gene protein expression

Cancer of the cervix is the second cause of cancer deaths among females in Malaysia after breast cancer. Penang, a state which has an up to date cancer registry records an annual incidence of 16 cases per 100,000 females. For the past twenty years or so Annual Reports of Ministry of Health recorded an average of 2200 new cases per year (Ministry of Health Annual Reports 1980-2000). This number is higher than the speculated 16 cases per 100,000 females in this country where the population of females is about 10.5 million. Cancer of the cervix is a preventive disease as the precursor cancer cells can be easily detected provided the women do regular screening tests called Pap Smear. The etiology is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in most cases and although there are ways to prevent transmission of the organisms, this is not often possible as the infection in the males are mainly asymptomatic

Dielectric And Magnetic Characterization Of (La0.5-Xprxba0.5)(Mn0.5ti0.5)O3 Perovskite As A Multiferroic Material Synthesized Via Solid State Technique

A new manganate perovskite (La0.5-xPrxBa0.5)(Mn0.5Ti0.5)O3 has been prepared by ceramic solid-state technique at sintering temperature 1300 °C for 24 hours. The x concentration of Praseodymiun (Pr) in molar proportion in A site has been varied as x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 007, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4. The dielectric properties of the synthesized materials have been studied at frequency ranging from 5 Hz to 1 MHz from room temperature up to 200 °C. Furthermore, analyses have been carried out to determine the structural, magnetic and dielectric electrical properties of the synthesized material as a candidate of multiferroic material. Pr (Praseodymium) addition would promote liquid phase sintering in the synthesized samples. This enhanced the agglomeration and porosity formation in the bulk volume. The defects and conducting liquid present would generate traps that produce negative permittivity response at interfacial/space charge frequency region due to delay in transient current or situation in which inertial conducting current of the trap presents, exceeding the charging-discharging current component. The XRD (X-Ray Diffractometry) results indicate all samples possess a single phase monoclinic structure with space group P112. Multiferroic magnetodielectric coupling in material with ferromagnetic and high dielectric constant ( > 30) is able to achieve in sampel with x molar concentration = 0.07 at room temperature. The dielectric value obtained is 176 with loss tan δ value 0.62. SEM/EDX analysis of the sample shows fine grain microstructure and high manganese (Mn) content ( > 0.6 wt %) which favours the double exchange mechanism

The Culture Shock Faced by the Foreign Students at Antasari State Institute for Islamic Studies Banjarmasin

Nor Faizah Hayati, 2016, The Culture Shock Faced by the Foreign Students at Antasari State Institute for Islamic Studies Banjarmasin. Advisor: Nurlaila Kadariyah, S. Ag. M. Pd.\ud Key world: Culture, Culture Shock and Foreign Student\ud This research describes the culture shock faced by the foreign students who study at the Antasari State Institute for Islamic Studies Banjarmasin. the foreign students who are conscientious in this research are 5 students come from Turkey and 1 student come from Tajikistan.\ud The problem of statements in this research include what the culture shock faced by the foreign students in academic aspects (in institutional rules and the lecturer rules) and what the culture shock faced by the foreign students in social aspects.\ud The objectives of this research are the first to find the culture shocks faced by the foreign students in academic aspect (Institutional aspect and the lecturers role) and the second is to find and to know the culture shocks faced by the foreign students in social aspect (the foreign students attitude, Indonesian students attitude, Indonesian students habits).\ud For data collection the writer technique uses interview. To process data in this study is divided into two phases, namely: editing and interpretation. And then, all of the data have analysis is descriptive and qualitative research.\ud The results from this study indicates that the foreign students experience culture shock in academic aspects such as trouble with the registration system of courses, too many courses and campus environment and on their social aspect difficulty in adapting, both in terms of interacting, communicating and habits of local students

Chemical Composition and Activities of Antioxidant Compounds in Red Pitaya Fruit (Hylocereus Sp.), and Effects on Glucose and Lipid Profile Level of Induced Hyperglycemia Rats

The American Heart Association recommended a diet that includes five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables daily based on the combination of micronutrients, antioxidants,phytochemicals and dietary fiber in these foods.Epidemiology studies have indicated a negative relationship between fruit intake and various chronic diseases.This study therefore was designed to analysis the antioxidant vitamin composition,phenolic content of red pitaya fruit (Hylocereus sp.),antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging activity and effect on glucose and lipid profile levels of induced hyperglycemia rats.Thirty six male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into six groups.Hyperglycemia was induced in five of the six groups of rats by injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/ kg).The groups were normal (NO),hyperglycemia control (HK), hyperglycemia with 0.5% red pitaya supplementation (HP1), hyperglycemia with 0.87% red pitaya supplementation (HP2), hyperglycemia with 1.17% red pitaya supplementation (HP3) and hyperglycemia with glibenclamide treatment (HG).The study period was seven weeks. Results showed that crude fiber in red pitaya was 10.1 g/ 100 g dried sample while the lycopene content was 14.35 mg/ 100 g fresh sample. Results showed that the concentration of antioxidant vitamins in red pitaya were 120.13 μg/100 g freeze dried sample (Vitamin A),540.27 mg/100 g fresh sample (vitamin C) and 105.67 μg/100 g freeze dried sample (vitamin E).Results showed that the organic extract (76.19%, 72.90%) of red pitaya had higher antioxidant activity compared to aqueous extract (52.81%,47.79%) in both Ferik Thiosianat (FTC) and Thiobarbiturik Acid (TBA) methods.Red pitaya achieved the highest percentage of scavenging activity in an organic extract (70.13%) compared to an aqueous extract (47.13%). Phenolic content in organic extract of red pitaya was 46.06 ± 1.77 mg/100 g and 25.0 ± 0.87 mg/100 g in aqueous extract .After seven weeks of supplementing red pitaya and glibenclamide, red pitaya shows a potential in reducing blood glucose,cholesterol,triglycerides, LDL-c and malondialdehyde levels and increasing HDL-c levels and plasma antioxidants among the hyperglycemic rats.Results showed that the level of glucose reduced significantly about 29.87% (HP1),35.53% (HP2), 44.90% (HP3) and 27.3% (HG) respectively compared to baseline level (p<0.05).Total cholesterol reduced significantly (p<0.05) at 21.58% (HP1),23.08% (HP2), 27.27% (HP3) and 22.15% (HG). The triglyceride levels were also reduced significantly (p<0.05) about 35.7% (HP1), 37.2% (HP2), 39.8% (HP3) and 37.7% (HG) compared to the baseline level. The HP3 group showed the most increment in HDL-c level followed by HP2, HG and HP1 about 93.30%, 89.74%,89.47% and 76.32% respectively compared to baseline level. The LDL-c for the three supplemented groups decreased significantly about 62.16% (HP1), 70.59% (HP2), 78.65% (HP3) and 65.22% (HG) at the end of the study. The plasma antioxidant levels increased significantly about 18.63% (HP1), 24.34%(HP2),28.4% (HP3) and 23.09% (HG).The plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased about 10.48% (HP1),16.04% (HP2), 20.75% (HP3) and 15.79% (HG) at the end of the study.It was found that HP3 group showed the higher decrement in blood glucose, cholesterol,triglycerides, LDL-c and malondialdehyde level and the highest increment in HDL-c levels and plasma antioxidant compared to the other groups.In conclusion,this study suggests that red pitaya have a potentialin reducing risk factors of diabetes mellitus disease if consumed in appropriate in the die

Examining the trip experience on competitive advantage creation in tourism

Researchers thanked for the support by Directorate of Research and Community Service. Directorate General of Strengthening Research and Development. Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education of Indonesia for the funding in year 2019.Purpose: This study aims to examine the trip experience on competitive advantage creation in Indonesia tourism. Trip experience includes transportation, accommodation, tour guide, and tourism activities. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research population consists of all international tourists who visited Indonesia through Soekarno Hatta International Airport (Jakarta) and Ngurah Rai International Airport (Bali). The questionnaire was constructed in English and translated into Arabic and Mandarin. Convenience sampling techniques were used to collect data. Out of 500 questionnaires distributed, only 415 were valid and used for analysis. Partial Least Square by SMART-PLS 3.0 software was used for data analysis. Findings: Result shows that transportation, accommodation and tourist activities are positively significant factors on tourist loyalty and mediated by tourist satisfaction. Whereas, tour guides have positively but not significant influence on tourist loyalty and mediated by tourist satisfaction. Practical implications: The study provides a practical implication which requires a close relationship of state governments and tourism companies in order to have good cooperative and coordination to competitive advantage creation. Originality/Value: As this study is based on recent studies on tourism destination in competitive advantage creation it brings a new insight of analyzing the two cities of highest tourists visits in order to understand the condition of overall Indonesian tourism.peer-reviewe