Ultrasonication effects on ultrafiltration membrane cleaning and fouling mitigation

Mitigation of fouling on hollow fiber ultrafiltration membrane using ultrasonication has been carried out. The effects of different contact times, at constant frequency and power of 28 kHz and 60 Watt, respectively on membrane cleaning with and without chemical agents were studied. Results showed that the best optimal membrane cleaning achieved were sonicating in 15 minutes without any chemical agents, with 57% recoveries.It should be noted that the presence of the chemical agent increased the effectiveness of ultrasonic cleaning compared to using water. The best combination method recovered the initial flux to at 67% using 1M of NaOH and 10 min sonication. This is likely the consequence of expanded cavitations movement occurring in the more surface-dynamic result

Money literacy, shopping and purchasing patterns among primary school students in Malaysia

The purpose of this study was to identify the understanding of money literacy, shopping and purchasing patterns among primary school students in Malaysia. This study was conducted among 800 primary school students who were randomly selected using multistage sampling from five different states in Malaysia, including East Malaysia. Money literacy was measured using 11 questions related to subject while shopping and purchasing patterns were measured using 12 questions related to subject. Results showed that primary school students in Malaysia have moderate understanding regarding money. Most of the students understand only on the subjects that involved in their daily routines but they are lacking in other money matters which were not directly related or experienced by them. Results also showed that the patterns of spending and purchasing of primary school students in Malaysia still need changes for the better. Parental involvement or influences in the purchasing patterns of the students were low, plus the results also showed that there were less discussions about expenses between the two sides; parents and students. Surprisingly, findings also showed that there were already indebted practices among the students who are still in primary school and it is at high percentages

Private colleges in Malaysia: are the key marketing environment indicators promising? / Nooraini Mohamad Sheriff and Rozita Naina Mohamad

Private colleges have been long established in Malaysia since 1930's. Being the key sector of the private higher education market in Malaysia, private colleges have assumed great responsibilities in providing private higher education to Malaysians. Their concerted efforts have complemented al1d filled the vacuum left by the public higher educatiol1al institutions. Although private colleges have grown in leaps and bound, the dynamism displayed by its marketing environmental forces 11as been a cause for concern as they could pose as opportunity and threats. Henceforth there is a need for private colleges to understand the nature and magnitude of change plaguing these forces as well as the severity of their impact on operational and strategic activities. The main objective of this paper is to analyze the key marketing environmental forces surrounding the private higher educational market namely competition, legal and technology. An analysis of these forces has uncovered the presence of intense competition among private colleges in Malaysia. Two factors were identified as key sources of this competitive environment namely a large number of industry players (approximately 700) and homogeneity of courses offered. Competition too was present from a broader perspective that is internal, external and external territorial. As a result, the industry is currently face with saturation, thus making survival a priority. This has led to cost-cutting measures and sold outs especially by the small players. Additiol1ally competition too has compelled private colleges to enhance their present standard and hence giving customers an opportunity to choose their best option. Nevertheless, it was perceived that the private higher education industry is one that is not heavily regulated. However, the National Accreditation Board has played an active role to get private colleges to conform to their regulations. This has had some positive impact, namely improvements in the redressal system, feedback on students learning experience and a general enhancemel1t of quality and quantity across the industry. Technology Oil the other hand has been adopted in many facets of the education delivery process as well as administrative process of private colleges. However, working students tend to display a greater preference to this aspect of education. Technology compared to fresh school leavers. There are also cases where private colleges claimed to be on-line but their web sites are poorly maintained. Nevertheless, it is perceived that broad technological applications would propel the growth of private colleges and thus improving their prestige. Data for this exploratory research was collected from secondary sources and primary sources through in-depth interviews with middle to senior managers from established private colleges in the Klang Valley. Twenty private colleges in the Klang Valley were selected via simple random sampling using Wencom Higher Education Guide. However, only seven private colleges consented to participate. Fourteen middle managers were selected via judgment sampling to be interviewed. The researchers felt that only managers involved in strategy formulation would have a good understanding of the external environmental forces affecting their organization. In-depth interview was conducted at designated times with the use of a discussion guide to ensure a comprehensive coverage and smooth progress if each session. Findings were analyzed using the mechanical analysis method that allowed contradictions, majority and minority views to be reported

Factors Influencing the Supply Chain of Muslimas Fashion (Hijabs) on Brand Loyalty

Fashion must have value and purpose and truly resonate to the consumer. Strong brands with consistent powerful messages can create loyalty and a sense of worth that transcends the burden of choice. Therefore, this study is carried out to identify the factors that influenced brand loyalty towards supply chain of Muslimas fashion (Hijabs) in Malaysia. Based on a review of the existing literature in a range of fields, this study proposes that brand loyalty indicates the importance of brand name, product quality, price, store environment, promotion, service quality and style. The success of a firm depends largely on the factors that influencing the supply chain and its capability to attract consumers towards its brands. A quantitative methodology was used in this study. 400 respondents of Muslimas fashion customers in Shah Alam were used to gather information about their perception on the brand loyalty towards supply chain of Muslimas fashion. The research results showed that there is a significant relationship between factors of brand loyalty (price, promotion, service quality, store environment, and style) with Muslimas fashion brand loyalty

Headmaster’s Transformational Leadership and Teacher’s Organisational Commitment in Primary School

The study aimed to explore the level of headmaster’s transformational leadership/the level of teachers/organizational commitment and the relationship between headmaster’s leadership style and the organisational commitment of primary school teachers in Beaufort, Sabah, Malaysia. The model of transformational leadership developed by Bass (1985) and the organisational commitment model which was developed by Meyer and Allen (1991) served as the theoretical framework for the study. The transformational leadership classified into inspirational motivation intellectual stimulation and individual consideration. The organisational commitment on the other hand divided into affective commitment; continuance commitment and normative commitment. Data was obtained from 130 Beauforts, primary schools teachers. The research only dealt with Grade A schools. Two questionnaires were used as the main instrument; Alimo-Metcalfe’s (2001) Transformational Leadership Questionnaire (TLQ) which consisted of 21 items and Meyer and Aliens (1997) Organisational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ)/ which consisted of 18 items. Data was analysed with SPSS for windows version 15.0. An average positive relationship between headmaster’s inspirational motivation and teacher’s organisational commitment was found. As perceived by the teachers/ the level of headmaster’s transformational leadership in Beaufort, was high in most schools. The research also indicated that the level of teacher’s organisational commitment was average. This research also suggested numbers of ways to improve teacher’s organisational commitment

Perbezaan gender tekanan psikologikal dan kesihatan mental dalam kalangan pelajar prasiswazah

Individu yang sihat mental mampu mengekalkan perhubungan yang harmoni dengan orang lain dan berupaya mengambil bahagian serta menyumbang kepada masyarakat. Kesihatan mental seseorang sangat berkait rapat dengan tekanan psikologikal yang dihadapi dan kebolehan individu berkenaan menanganinya. Kertas ini membincangkan hasil kajian mengenai tekanan psikologikal dan kesihatan mental pelajar prasiswazah di Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), dengan memfokuskan kepada perbandingan di antara pelajar-pelajar lelaki dan perempuan. Kajian tinjauan ini mengambil pendekatan kuantitatif dengan menggunakan instrumen kajian yang digunakan adalah General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) dan Mental Health Inventory (MHI). Seramai 200 orang pelajar lelaki dan perempuan dari pelbagai fakulti dan kolej kediaman telah mengambil bahagian dalam kajian ini. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa majoriti responden adalah rendah tekanan psikologikalnya. Namun demikian, pelajar lelaki didapati lebih tertekan berbanding pelajar perempuan. Demikian juga dapatan MHI menunjukkan hampir kesemua responden mempunyai tahap kesihatan mental yang tinggi dan sederhana. Namun begitu, kesihatan mental responden perempuan didapati lebih baik berbanding lelaki. Hasil kajian yang memperincikan perbandingan antara pelajar lelaki dengan perempuan amat relevan pada masa kini yang didominasi pelajar perempuan dan pengurangan pelajar lelaki di universiti-universiti seluruh negara

The Determinant Factors of Supply Chain Management on Purchase Intention of an International Branded Apparels Status Quo

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors influencing status quo of supply chain purchase intention of international branded apparel items among young adult in Malaysia. Data for this study have been collected using self-administered questionnaire which distributed to the channel members (young adult retailers) and customers by using a convenient sampling method. A total of 100 completed and usable surveys were collected. Pearson Correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis have been used to determine the interrelation between different variables in the intention to purchase. The results of this study are limited by the number of participants, thus the area and location of the study and the absence of other methods for obtaining results other than questionnaires. Empirical results show that there is a significant correlation between independent variables (perceived quality, brand image, word of mouth, self-concept and need for uniqueness) towards the dependent variable (purchase intention). This study is important to the marketers to understand the factors that influence consumers purchase intention. Marketers could also improve their business and strengthen it based on a selected variable to be more competitive

A review of biolubricants in drilling fluids: recent research, performance, and applications

Lubricant additives are added to drilling fluids to lower the drag and torque between the drill strings and rock formation. They impart lubricating properties into two moving surfaces contacts under extreme temperature and pressure conditions. Currently, there is a significant interest in developing biolubricants derived from organic sources. Biolubricants offer several valuable friction-reducing physicochemical properties, including high lubricity, wide viscosity range, low pour point, high flash point, high thermal stability, and biodegradability when applied in drilling operation. This study reviews the application of general lubricants in drilling fluids and the potential of biolubricants derived from vegetable oils in exceeding the performance of hydrocarbon and mineral-based lubricants. Overall, biolubricants possess most of the physicochemical properties required as a lubricant for drilling fluids. The utilization of organic ester-based biolubricant might result in faster and deeper drilling, lower bioaccumulation and high biodegradability characteristic, less waste volume, and reduced in overall operation cost. Among the available biolubricants, polyol esters of vegetable oils demonstrate the most suitable lubricants for many drilling conditions, even though their application is still very limited

Turning a social character trait phenomenon into a diagnostic web-based measuring instrument using a grounded theory research method

The formation of proverbs and phrases into poetic forms with synchronised sentence structures and rhyming expressions through authentic dictions that are engaging and meaningful are the treasures of one’s trait and nation. For some race or ethnic groups it is through these classical works of wisdom that a race or an ethnic group could prevail and remain recognised transcends time and age . A list of 26 basic components of social character traits of the Malays was traced through maxims and literary work s of wisdom. The list of social character traits will just remain a list of compilation to be read and forgotten, just like many others written and compiled by other Malay literary scholars. There is a need to make this list scientifically proven. This paper discusses on how these components were transformed into a measuring instrument through a grounded theory research method. The end product was not only a web-based diagnostic instrument to measure the conformity and deviation of an ethnic group but also a formation of a new theory that could be applied to all other ethnics and related groups in the world today that are interested in knowing and preserving their social character traits

Aplikasi sistem maklumat geografi untuk pemetaan reruang-masa: suatu kajian kes denggi di Daerah Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Penyakit denggi merupakan penyakit bawaan vektor yang menjadi salah satu ancaman utama kesihatan awam di Malaysia. Pemetaan taburan kes denggi daripada aspek reruang-masa boleh menjadi kaedah yang berguna dalam menilai risiko denggi kepada masyarakat. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk memetakan taburan reruang dan reruang-masa kes-kes denggi di dalam daerah Seremban, dijalankan dengan Sistem Maklumat Geografi (GIS) khususnya analisis reruang dan reruang-masa. Analisis taburan reruang menggunakan Indeks Moran, purata kejiranan terdekat (ANN) dan anggaran kepadatan Kernel. Analisis reruang-masa ditentukan dengan indeks kekerapan, jangka masa dan intensiti untuk mengenal pasti kawasan berisiko denggi mengikut masa. Sejumlah 6076 kes denggi dicatatkan di Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah Seremban dari tahun 2003 hingga 2009. Kadar insiden denggi adalah tinggi pada tahun 2003, 2008 dan 2009 dengan nisbah denggi : denggi berdarah adalah 21.6:1. Indeks Moran menunjukkan kes denggi berlaku dalam pengelompokan dengan skor Z adalah 16.384 (p=0.000). Analisis ANN dengan 0.264 (p= 0.000) dengan purata jarak insiden antara kes denggi di dalam kawasan kejiranan adalah 55 m. Anggaran kepadatan Kernel menunjukkan lokasi kawasan panas kes denggi tertumpu di Nilai dan Ampangan. Analisis reruang masa dengan purata nilai tertinggi indeks kekerapan, jangka masa dan intensiti masing-masing melebihi 0.023, 0.614 dan 0.657 di kawasan berisiko tinggi denggi di Nilai, Seremban dan Ampangan. Pengawalan denggi perlu diberi tumpuan kepada kawasan berisiko tinggi ini