The Effect of China and the Factors Affecting Foreign Direct Investments in Asean Countries

Foreign direct investment (FDI) plays an important role in bolstering economic growth. It acts as a pillar in supporting the industrialization and economic development of countries. The objectives of this study are to: (a) Recognise factors aff ecting FDI in countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region and (b) examine the eff ect of China’s entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on the FDI in ASEAN countries. The Vector Autoregressive method (VAR) was applied to establish the factors that had signifi cant impacts on FDI infl ows over the period 1980–2010 for these countries. Apart from the conventional variables, such as market size, labour cost, interest rates, exchanges rates, corporate tax rates, and degree of openness, this study incorporates another variable, that is, the event of China joining the WTO. This is to determine whether the entry of China into WTO had any impact on FDI in the ASEAN region. The result reveals that, fi rstly, only market size is not a signifi cant factor in determining the FDI infl ows for all the ASEAN countries being studied (i.e. Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and, Thailand). Secondly, most of the ASEAN member countries’ FDI are infl uenced by China’s entry into WTO in 2001.   Keywords: China, ASEAN, WTO, VAR, Foreign direct investment

Landscape waste composting with the aid of effective microorganisms using mechanical crusher machine

Malaysia is facing an uncontrolled increase in municipal solid waste generation due to population growth and nation development. Part of the waste that is disposed to landfill is landscape waste. The disposal of these waste can be reduced by composting method. In this study, the compost is produced by using a mechanical crusher machine for 1 hour and stored in a bin for weeks. The form compost had temperature and pH in the acceptable range for fertilizer but low moisture content. The C: N and C: P ratio is higher than the optimum range for fertilizer. The increased concentration of effective microorganisms leads to a higher content of C, N, and P, in which the maximum N content was obtained for sample C60 with 32.9 mg/L. While for P and K content was 11.32 mg/L and 77300 mg/L, respectively in sample A60. All the samples also show low heavy metals contents except for zinc

Landscape Waste Composting with the Aid of Effective Microorganisms using Mechanical Crusher Machine

Malaysia is facing an uncontrolled increase in municipal solid waste generation due to population growth and nation development. Part of the waste that is disposed to landfill is landscape waste. The disposal of these waste can be reduced by composting method. In this study, the compost is produced by using a mechanical crusher machine for 1 hour and stored in a bin for weeks. The form compost had temperature and pH in the acceptable range for fertilizer but low moisture content. The C: N and C: P ratio is higher than the optimum range for fertilizer. The increased concentration of effective microorganisms leads to a higher content of C, N, and P, in which the maximum N content was obtained for sample C60 with 32.9 mg/L. While for P and K content was 11.32 mg/L and 77300 mg/L, respectively in sample A60. All the samples also show low heavy metals contents except for zinc

Targeted outdoor residual spraying, autodissemination devices and their combination against Aedes mosquitoes: field implementation in a Malaysian urban setting

Currently, dengue control relies largely on reactive vector control programmes. Proactive vector-control using a rational, well-balanced integrated vector management approach may prove more successful for dengue control. As part of the development of a cluster randomized controlled epidemiological trial, a study was conducted in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The study included one control site (three buildings) and three intervention sites which were treated as follows: targeted outdoor residual spraying only (TORS site, two buildings); deployment of autodissemination devices only (ADD site, four buildings); and the previous two treatments combined (TORS + ADD site, three buildings). The primary entomological measurement was per cent of positive ovitraps—ovitrap index (OI). The effect of each intervention on OI was analyzed by a modified ordinary least squares regression model. Relative to the control site, the TORS and ADD sites showed a reduction in the Aedes OI (−6.5%, P = 0.04 and −8.3%, P = 0.10, respectively). Analysis by species showed that, relative to control, the Ae. aegypti OI was lower in ADD (−8.9%, P = 0.03) and in TORS (−10.4%, P = 0.02). No such effect was evident in the TORS + ADD site. The present study provides insights into the methods to be used for the main trial. The combination of multiple insecticides with different modes of action in one package is innovative, although we could not demonstrate the additive effect of TORS + ADD. Further work is required to strengthen our understanding of how these interventions impact dengue vector populations and dengue transmission

Numerical Study Of Mixed Convection Boundary Layer Flow Near The Lower Stagnation Point Of A Horizontal Circular Cylinder In Nanofluids

The steady mixed convection boundary layer flow over a horizontal circular cylinder filled with nanofluids has been investigated numerically using different types of nanoparticles. These nanoparticles presences in the fluids increase the thermal conductivity up to approximately two times and thus enhancing the performance of the heat transfer. Enhancement of heat transfer is essential subject from an energy saving perspective, therefore the past years has witnessed extensive research on the convective heat transfer in nanofluids. In this paper, the nanofluid model proposed by Tiwari and Das has been used as this model is successfully applied in several papers. The problem is then being extended for the case of convective boundary conditions where the bottom surface of the cylinder is heated by convection from hot fluids. The resulting partial differential equations are solved numerically using implicit finite-difference scheme via Keller-box method. The effects of mixed convection , nanoparticle volume fraction, and conjugate parameters on the temperature and velocity profiles near the lower stagnation point of the cylinder x 0 are examined. Detailed results are presented through figures for the temperature and velocity profiles. It is found that as the conjugate and mixed convection parameter increase, the temperature and velocity profile increases, while an increase in the nanoparticle volume fraction led to the increment of temperature profile and velocity profiles at 1

Methane potential from the digestion of food waste in a batch reactor

The anaerobic digestibility of a targeted substrate, measured as methane yield is conducted via biochemical methane potential (BMP). In this study, the batch BMP test was conducted using Automatic Methane Potential Test System (AMPTS II) for 25 days and focused on the methane production from the digestion of food waste (FW, in the form of raw and diluted) at inoculum to substrate ratio (I/S) ratio of 2:0 and under mesophilic temperature. The results showed that solids (TS and VS) concentration reduced significantly due to the dilution. The ultimate methane yields from the digestion of raw FW and diluted FW were 1891.91ml CH4/gVS and 1983.96 ml CH4/gVS respectively. This showed that the dilution significantly improved the methane yield. In addition, the lag phase of the methane yield curve for both BMP tests was less than one (1) day, showing the good biodegradability of FW. The kinetic methane production from laboratory data and Modified Gompertz modelling fitted well. However, the kinetic equation parameters such as Mo, Rm and from the model were slightly lower based on the observation of the laboratory data

Stagnation point hybrid nanofluid flow past a stretching/shrinking sheet driven by Arrhenius kinetics and radiation effect

The exclusive behaviour of hybrid nanofluid has been actively emphasized due to the determination of improved thermal efficiency. Therefore, the aim of this study is to highlight the stagnation point Al2O3-Cu/H2O hybrid nanofluid flow with the influence of Arrhenius kinetics and thermal radiation over a stretching/shrinking sheet. This particular work is distinctive because it presents a novel hybrid nanofluid mathematical model that takes into account the highlighted issue with a combination of multiple consequences that have not yet been addressed in prior literature. The bvp4c package embedded in MATLAB software is used to address the formulated ordinary differential equations and specified boundary conditions based on similarity solutions. The flow is assumed to be incompressible and laminar, and the hybrid nanofluid is made up of two different types of nanoparticles. The findings demonstrate the viability of dual solutions within the defined ranges of the physical parameters. As predicted, the hybrid nanofluid flow has been convincingly proved to enhance the skin friction coefficient and the heat transfer performance as opposed to viscous flow and nanofluid flow. The heat of reaction and radiation parameters also act as contributing factors in the progress of thermal enhancement. On the other hand, the reaction rate parameter unexpectedly displays a decreasing trend in the heat transfer rate of the current study. It is anticipated that this study will benefit future research into this potential heat transfer fluid, particularly in the areas of thermal systems and boundary layer analysis

Antimicrobial disinfectants and sanitizers: An effective tool for breaking the circle of pandemic disease

The recent outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic has triggered the world in finding and developing efficient disinfectants and sanitizers. This deadly contagious virus has urged all scientist to study the natural characteristic of the virus and thus, to be able to produce the suitable antiviral drug. As developing vaccine is long time-consuming process, the development of disinfectants and sanitizers are necessary to reduce the spread of this pandemic disease. Many types and version of these products have developed and marketed. Several issues, such as the high percentage of alcohol, the high flammability of the product, and many more have arisen. This review provides a comprehensive overview on the type of chemicals used as antimicrobial in general and antiviral in specific agents. In addition, it also discusses the chemical and herbal formulations, factors affecting the performance of antimicrobial agents, the safety precautions, and the future trend of sanitizers and disinfectants. Ultimately, the choice for the best disinfectants and sanitizers formulation would depend on the sensitivity of the surfaces regardless of on skin or other surface materials

Optimization days for Black Soldier Fly (BSF) to be matured and escape from chicken dung based on environmental factors

Hermetia illucens, the Black Soldier Fly, belongs to the diptera Stratiomyidae family. The black soldier fly is interesting because it can be used to solve many of the problems associated with large accumulations of manure during confined feeding operations [1]. Although not known as a disease vector, adult soldier flies are a potential mechanical vector of different pathogenic agents. Accidental ingestion of black soldier fly larvae by animals or humans would be more likely a negative interaction. Black soldier fly is often associated with animals and plant, usually around decaying organic materials such as animal waste or plant material. Since black soldiers fly larvae consume decaying matter, they were used in commercial swine and poultry facilities to reduce animal manure. BSF adults are usually found near places where there is an abundance of manure, decaying food or dead animals. Smells from decaying organic matter attract women ready to lay egg while male prefer sunny spots where vegetation prevail. Black soldier fly is regarded as a beneficial insect in confined animal installations because its tendency to colonize animal waste. Due to the rapid growth of the world population, which is predicted to reach 9 billion people by 2050, global food demand will increase by nearly 100% from 2005 to 2050, while animal feed and human food production are expected to increase by 60 percent through agriculture [1]. Biotic factors can affect the performance of BSF as well. Larval density, for example, can be a major factor affecting development rates [2]. In addition, high larval densities can reduce the quality of the substrate by accumulating larval waste products and direct energy costs can be generated if larvae spend extra energy interacting with each other