Does socio-Demographic Variables Matter in Explaining Issues and Challenges in Islamic Microfinance? Evidence from Malaysia

Purpose - In line with the wide acceptance of the microfinance industry globally, Islamic microfinance has also evolved rapidly in the past years to cater for the demand for Shariah-compliant microfinancing schemes. Despite this, the industry is facing various issues and challenges from both the clients and microfinance institutions. This study aims to identify the issues and challenges faced by different demographic background of microentrepreneurs receiving Islamic microfinancing from Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM). Methodology- It adopts the quantitative research methodology where primary data is collected using survey questionnaires administered on 393 women entrepreneurs who are currently clients of AIM’s Islamic microfinance scheme located in Selangor. The descriptive and cross-tabulation analyses are applied in efforts to understand the influence of socio-demographic factors (age, education level, duration with AIM, and times of receiving financing) on the following issues: cost of repayment, financing period, amount of financing, distance to AIM center, group lending mechanism, discipline among members, problematic group members, and consultation services. Findings - The study finds that clients with different socio-demographic factors perceived the issues differently, suggesting an influential role of clients’ demographic factors on the microfinance intervention. Practical implications - These findings have important implications to the microfinance industry in terms of further improving their products that are tailor-made to the socio-demographic characteristics of their clients. Originality – This research taken views of AIM’s microfinance recipients which were woman entrepreneurs in Selangor directly through a survey. Results of the research would be useful to AIM to enhance their products and services in future.     Keywords: Islamic microfinance, socio-demography, Islamic finance, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysi

The influence of copper of the total sulphur amino acids requirement of broilers during two growing periods

A study was conducted to assess the influence of copper on the total sulphur amino acid requirements of broiler chickens reared under two growing periods. The TSAA levels used were 0.73, 0.83, 0.93% with copper levels of 0, 125, 250 and 375 mg/kg for the starter period and the TSAA levels of 0.72, 0.79 and 0.86% with copper levels of 0, 125, 250 and 375 mg/kg for the grower period. Total feed consumption, body weight gain and feed L gain ratio were used as the parameters for the assessment. The results showed that adding copper at 250 mg/kg to the diets improved feed : gain ratio of the starter broilers and resulted in small improvement of body weight gain and feed : gain ratio of the grower broilers. Growth was depressed in relation to the reduction of feed intake on the chicks fed diet containing 375 mg/kg copper. There was a significant interaction between dietary TSAA and copper levels for feed intake, hence, indicating that the supplementation of copper at the level of 375 mg/kg increased the TSAA requirement of the starter broilers, although no interference with the requirement of grower broilers

The effects of dietary energy levels on the carcass composition of the broilers

A study was conducted to determine the arcass composition of broilers when fed with three varying levels of dietary energy(3,000, 3,200 and 3,400 kcal/kg ME) at 20% crude protein and 0.79% Total Sulphur Amino Acid. The results showed that there was a significant(p<0.05) increase in the ME intake of the chickens when the ME of the diet increased. Other factors like the protein intake, dressing percentage, weight gain and feed intake were not significantly affected. On the carcass, the increasing dietary ME levels resulted in a significant(p<0.05) decrease in the carcass protein percentage. Similarly, the dietary ME produced a significant(0.05) increase in the amount of and fat percentages of breast meat, thigh meat, and drumstick meat with a significant reduction in the protein percentage. There seemed to be an inverse relationship between the perentages of protein and fat. An increase in fat percentages always resulted in similar reduction in the protein content of the meat. These results also showed major differences between the white and red meat of the chicken

DESIGNING EYE TRACKING ALGORITHM FOR PARTNER-ASSISTED EYE SCANNING KEYBOARD FOR PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED PEOPLE

The proposed research work focuses on building a keyboard through designing an algorithm for eye movement detection using the partner-assisted scanning technique. The study covers all stages of gesture recognition, from data acquisition to eye detection and tracking, and finally classification. With the presence of many techniques to implement the gesture recognition stages, the main objective of this research work is implementing the simple and less expensive technique that produces the best possible results with a high level of accuracy. The results, finally, are compared with similar works done recently to prove the efficiency in implementation of the proposed algorithm. The system starts with the calibration phase, where a face detection algorithm is designed to detect the user‟s face by a trained support vector machine. Then, features are extracted, after which tracking of the eyes is possible by skin-colour segmentation. A couple of other operations were performed. The overall system is a keyboard that works by eye movement, through the partner-assisted scanning technique. A good level of accuracy was achieved, and a couple of alternative methods were implemented and compared. This keyboard adds to the research field, with a new and novel combination of techniques for eye detection and tracking. Also, the developed keyboard helps bridge the gap between physical paralysis and leading a normal life. This system can be used as comparison with other proposed algorithms for eye detection, and might be used as a proof for the efficiency of combining a number of different techniques into one algorithm. Also, it strongly supports the effectiveness of machine learning and appearance-based algorithms

The impact of Dubai’s architectural wonders on the daily indigenous performance in light of cultural modernity: A comparative case study between Burj Khalifa and Burj Al-Arab

In order to decrease the reliance on oil and create more economic opportunities, the UAE has witnessed a development boom over the last few decades in an effort to promote tourism. Dubai specifically has purposefully undergone dramatic architectural evolutions with the aim of transforming the city into a tourist hub and a global attraction. Over the last few years, iconic buildings including Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa have been built at different times to become prominent landmarks that promote the city’s global image and combine traditional/local elements in such a way as to form completely new unrecognizable forms i.e. a new genre of design. Those architectural spectacles attract not only visitors from outside but also Emirati citizens/residents as well. However, one is bound to ask: How does the indigenous Emirati population ‘receive’ and ‘perceive’ these major architectural developments and what kind of identity implications do they pose on the Emirati on a daily basis? This research is a qualitative ethnographic comparative case study that explores the Emirati voices and feedback on Burj Al Arab. Based on the findings of Bleibleh’s and Al-Saber’s (2014) previous research on Burj Khalifa titled Cultural Modernity in Urban Space: Indigenous Performance of the Everyday in Dubai’s Architectural Wonders, this research borrows the methodology, theoretical framework and explores the same research question in an attempt to compare the perception of the indigenous Emiratis of the two sites of Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa in the light of cultural modernity. Relying on the Driving Forces of Everyday Life as a base for comparison, the study explores the similarities, differences and patterns between the two sites. The study also examines whether the research outcome could be extended and generalized to other iconic buildings in Dubai or elsewhere

Low Frequency VLA Observations of Abell 754: Evidence for a Cluster Radio Halo and Possible Radio Relics

We present 74 MHz and 330 MHz VLA observations of Abell 754. Diffuse, halo-like emission is detected from the center of the cluster at both frequencies. At 330 MHz the resolution of 90'' distinguishes this extended emission from previously known point sources. In addition to the halo and at a much lower level, outlying steep-spectrum emission regions straddle the cluster center and are seen only at 74 MHz. The location, morphology and spectrum of this emission are all highly suggestive of at least one, and possibly two cluster radio relics. Easily obtained higher resolution, higher sensitivity VLA observations at both frequencies are required to confirm the extended nature of the halo-like emission and the 74 MHz relic detections. However, since there is prior evidence that this cluster is or has recently been in the process of a major merger event, the possible discovery of relics in this system is of great interest in light of recent observational and theoretical evidence in favor of a merger-relic connection. We discuss the possible role the merger shock waves, which are seen in the X-ray emission, may have played in the formation of the halo and radio relics in A754.Comment: 15 pages including 4 figures. Accepted for publication by Ap

Pelaksanaan Hafazan dalam Program Ulul Albab Berdasarkan Jantina dan Kumpulan

This article aims to review the implementation of the hafazan in the Ulul Albab program based on gender and the group. The implementation of the hafazan is reviewed from the aspect of time allocation and preparation of the student before performing the Quran recitation. This study involved 120 Form One students at MRS Gemencheh. In conducting this study, several Islamic Education teachers were involved as instructors and mentors for the Tahdhir, Murajaah and Tasmik sessions. A pilot study found that the whole item was at a high level of reliability above 0.8. The findings show that there is no significant difference and interaction effect of time allocation for students in performing the hafazan. Furthermore, the findings show that there is a significant difference in the time allocation of students in performing hafazan based on gender. For students preparation before performing the hafazan, there is no difference and significant interaction effects based on gender and group. Student preparation before performing the hafazan and time allocation is one of the factors that support student achievement

Probing Fine-Scale Ionospheric Structure with the Very Large Array Radio Telescope

High resolution (~1 arcminute) astronomical imaging at low frequency (below 150 MHz) has only recently become practical with the development of new calibration algorithms for removing ionospheric distortions. In addition to opening a new window in observational astronomy, the process of calibrating the ionospheric distortions also probes ionospheric structure in an unprecedented way. Here we explore one aspect of this new type of ionospheric measurement, the differential refraction of celestial source pairs as a function of their angular separation. This measurement probes variations in the spatial gradient of the line-of-sight total electron content (TEC) to 0.001 TECU/km accuracy over spatial scales of under 10 km to over 100 km. We use data from the VLA Low-frequency Sky Survey (VLSS; Cohen et al. 2007, AJ 134, 1245), a nearly complete 74 MHz survey of the entire sky visible to the Very Large Array (VLA) telescope in Socorro, New Mexico. These data comprise over 500 hours of observations, all calibrated in a standard way. While ionospheric spatial structure varies greatly from one observation to the next, when analyzed over hundreds of hours, statistical patterns become apparent. We present a detailed characterization of how the median differential refraction depends on source pair separation, elevation and time of day. We find that elevation effects are large, but geometrically predictable and can be "removed" analytically using a "thin-shell" model of the ionosphere. We find significantly greater ionospheric spatial variations during the day than at night. These diurnal variations appear to affect the larger angular scales to a greater degree indicating that they come from disturbances on relatively larger spatial scales (100s of km, rather than 10s of km).Comment: Accepted for publication by The Astronomical Journa

Risk Management Practices of Selected Islamic Banks in Malaysia

This study explores the risk management practices of major Islamic banks in Malaysia with the objective of having deeper understanding of the practices and identifying ways for further improvements. Various aspects of risk management practices are assessed through survey questionnaires, particularly those relevant and specific to the case of the Islamic banks. The study finds that the Islamic banks adopt good risk management practices with few areas of improvements include the use of computerised support systems and more sophisticated approaches to measure risks and the use of Shari\u27ah compliance techniques to mitigate risks. By assessing their current risk management practices, the study hopes to contribute in terms of recommending strategies to strengthen the risk management practices of the Islamic banks so as to increase the overall competitiveness in the Islamic banking industry