Simulation of ant colony optimization on hole making performance

Hole making operation one of machining process widely used in industrial industry. One of the main criteria in determining the efficiency of machining performance in hole making operation is shortest machining time. In this paper, simulation approach based on Ant colony optimization (ACO) has been done on hole making operation in order to minimize the machining time. The result based on ACO has been compared with the result obtain based on Genetic Algorithm (GA). Based on the simulation results, the ACO is enhance the performance of hole making process by reducing 13.5% of machining time. The results show that ACO is capable to minimize the machining time of hole making procees

The Mediating Effect of Customer Knowledge Sharing on Organizational Performance

Customer knowledge is a vital external factor which can affect organizational performance and survival. Customer knowledge consists of knowledge for customers (KfC), knowledge about customers (KaC) and knowledge from customers (KfrC). Many researchers regard customer knowledge as a strategic resource for companies to improve innovation, to facilitate the detection of new market opportunities, and to support long-term relationships with customers. However, there is still a lack of understanding of the role of knowledge sharing in improving organizational performance. This study aimed to investigate the impact of customer knowledge, and innovative customer knowledge sharing, on organizational performance. A second aim was to study the mediating effect of innovative customer knowledge sharing. The findings showed that customer knowledge positively influences customer knowledge sharing (CKS) except regarding the factor of knowledge about customers (KAC). Organizational performance (OP) was positively impacted by customer knowledge sharing (CKS). The findings also showed that customer knowledge sharing (CKS) has a mediating effect between customer knowledge (CK) and organizational performance (OP)

A study on the viability of implementing a witness protection programme in Malaysia / Nur Hazwani Shuhaimi ...[et al.]

This research project concerned with the protection of witnesses when they have to face the risk of being harmed by the criminals if they come forward to testify against them. In order to protect the witnesses, one of the effective methods is by setting up a witness protection programme; in other words, by enacting specific law to protect the witnesses. Most of the countries in the world have this kind of programme to protect their witnesses such as United States, Australia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Philippine and others. As in Malaysia, we do not have specific statute concerning the protection of the witnesses. However, a Malaysian Witness Protection Bill has been tabled for the first reading in Parliament in December 2008. The main objective of this research project is to highlight the important in having specific law, which is Witness Protection Act that will govern protection of witnesses smoothly by set out the methods and procedures to be done by the witnesses and imposed by the responsible authority. It acts as a guideline for the witnesses and responsible authority. Based on our research project, we can conclude that, it is very crucial to have specific law in protecting witnesses because the increasing crimes in our country are becoming more serious. In having Witness Protection Act, the safety of the witnesses are more protected and this will help in upholding justice as more crimes can be settled without the witnesses fear that they will be harmed if they give evidences leading to the arrest of the criminals

Development and characterization of hybrid liquid fertilizer from celery and cucumber wastes

Agriculture is one of the most important sectors in Malaysia. Since huge amount of vegetable wastes gives negative impacts towards the environment, they can be used to produce hybrid liquid fertilizer to facilitate the growth of the plant. Hybrid liquid fertilizer is a fertilizer that is made from addition of ammonia to fermented liquid from the fermentation of vegetable wastes and brown sugar. The objectives of this study are to produce hybrid liquid fertilizer as a growth booster from fermentation, to characterize the developed hybrid liquid fertilizer, and to analyze the effect of hybrid liquid fertilizer on the growth of mung beans. The hybrid liquid fertilizer obtained was used to analyze the nutrients content by using ICP-MS. pH of the hybrid liquid fertilizers were also tested. The result showed that the pH decreases as days of fermentation increases due to the production of acids. In ICP-MS analysis, potassium content in the samples increases with increasing days of fermentation. The same trend goes for phosphorous except for the hybrid liquid fertilizer of cucumber with 4 g of ammonia. Hybrid liquid fertilizer of celery with 2 g of ammonia at 7 days fermentation showed to be the most suitable to be used for the growth of plant as it produced the best results for the height of mung bean plant, the length of the leaves and the width of the leaves

Pewarisan Harta Orang Hilang (Al-Mafqud): Tinjauan Terhadap Pandangan Syariah dan Perlaksanaannya

Permasalahan berkaitan orang hilang (al-mafqud) merupakan isu yang sangat penting untuk dibincangkan khususnya setelah berlaku pelbagai kejadian yang melibatkan kehilangan orang-orang yang tidak dapat dikesan sama ada disebabkan oleh kecelakaan, perperangan, pemerdagangan manusia dan tidak kurang juga yang menghilangkan diri tanpa dapat dikesan. Kehilangan tersebut membawa kesan yang besar khususnya dalam pembahagian harta pusaka yang melibatkan bahagian orang hilang tersebut ataupun hartanya sendiri yang perlu dibahagikan kepada waris yang lain. Kajian ini dijalankan bertujuan untuk meneliti pendekatan yang paling sesuai dalam menyelesaikan isu pembahagian harta pusaka yang membabitkan orang hilang khususnya di kalangan umat Islam. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah kualitatif untuk mendapatkan maklumat-maklumat berkaitan pewarisan harta al-mafqud. Kajian Teks digunakan dengan merujuk kitab-kitab fiqh klasik dan baharu untuk mendapatkan maklumat kajian. Kajian mendapati terdapat beberapa kaedah untuk menyelesaikan pembahagian harta pusaka orang hilang. Justeru, penulis mengambil pendekatan yang paling sesuai dalam menentukan pembahagian tersebut dengan mengambil kira kemaslahatan semua pihak yang terlibat terutamanya ahli waris.    Kata kunci: Pewarisan, harta pusaka, orang hilang, al-mafqud, syaria

Simulation Analysis on the Potential Application of Matched Bandstop to Bandpass Filter in Filter Integrated SPDT Switch Design

This paper presents the simulation analysis on the potential application of matched bandstop to bandpass filter in filter integrated switch (FIS) design. The FIS consists of matched band-stop to bandpass filter integrated with single-pole-double-throw (SPDT) switch. The proposed design was demonstrated for 2.45 GHz applications in wireless data communication systems such as Bluetooth and Zigbee. The filter was based on L-shape lossy resonator, which can provide an absorptive feature. PIN diodes were used as switching elements for the SPDT switch and to reconfigure between band-stop and bandpass responses. Therefore, the key advantages of the proposed design are high isolation and good return loss at both ON- and OFF-state ports. As a result, the simulation showed the followings: higher than 10 dB of return loss and greater than 25 dB of isolation at the operation frequency

Transition of Care in Paediatric Surgery: Current practices and perspectives of paediatric surgeons in Malaysia

Objectives: Transition of care (TOC) from paediatric to adult care is still at an early stage in Malaysia. This study aimed to explore current practices and perspectives regarding TOC among paediatric surgeons in Malaysia. Methods: This study was carried out between June and December 2017. All 48 paediatric surgeons currently working in Malaysia were invited to participate in a questionnaire-based survey to assess demographic characteristics and practices and perspectives regarding TOC. Results: A total of 38 paediatric surgeons participated in the survey (response rate: 79.2%). Overall, 97.4% did not have an organised TOC model in their institution, with most (65.8%) caring for paediatric patients with complex surgical conditions until adulthood. Although the majority (86.8%) felt that care should be transitioned to adult surgeons with appropriate credentials, most surgeons (84.2%) nevertheless preferred to be involved in the management of adolescent patients after transition. However, there was no consensus regarding the most suitable age to begin the transition. Years of experience as a paediatric surgeon and place of practice did not affect overall TOC practice scores (P >0.050 each). The presence of adult comorbidities was considered the most common reason to initiate TOC (81.6%), while the lack of TOC guidelines was perceived to be the greatest barrier (84.2%). Conclusion: This study provides a better understanding of TOC from the point of view of paediatric surgeons in Malaysia. However, further studies involving other stakeholders (i.e. patients and adult surgeons) are needed to help formulate a suitable and successful TOC model in this setting.Keywords: Transition to Adult Care; Pediatrics; Adolescents; Surgery; Attitudes; Professional Practice; Malaysia

Pusaka Rimba.

Sejak dari zaman 'pra-sejarah', manusia telah merakamkan hubungannya dengan alam semulajadi menerusi pelbagai bentuk bahasa tampak

An Overview of Filter Integrated Switch (FIS) for RF and Microwave Applications

Integrating multiple devices into one single device is an effective method to reduce circuit size, mismatching loss, and fabrication cost. Radio frequency (RF) and microwave device integrated with filter have become a popular design concept in the recent years. In this paper, an overview of the filter integrated switch (FIS) for RF and microwave applications is presented based on previously published studies and research journals starting from 2006 until 2016. This paper also emphasizes the use of previous and current development of filter integrated switches which mainly covers the fundamental concept on the FIS, the research trends in designs and developments. At the end, this paper reports on the variety of applications that can greatly benefit from FIS and some challenges and factors that need to be considered in designing and development of filter integrated switches

Bio-based production of crotonic acid by pyrolysis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) inclusions

Bio-based material development has become a new focus globally due to limited supply, increasing price of fossil fuel, and demands for environment sustainability. Current industrial production of crotonic acid through petrochemical route has several drawbacks: i) non-renewable, as it is derived from petroleum resource, ii) involves numerous complicated steps, and iii) produces low yield. Therefore, this paper proposes a method for production of bio-based crotonic acid by direct pyrolysis of bacterial poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) inclusion as an alternative to the petrochemical route. Thermogravimetric profile of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) inclusions showed poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) degradation occurred at a temperature range of 270 °C–350 °C with maximum degradation rate at 310 °C. Analysis of products from isothermal pyrolysis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) at 310 °C revealed that pyrolysis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) inclusions yielded approximately 63% of crotonic acid. This is 30% higher than the conventional crotonic acid production via petrochemical method. The proposed method also offers other benefits such as renewable and simpler in processing. Besides, by-products of fermentation and pyrolysis are easy to treat, thus minimizing threat to the environment. Moreover, demands for bio-based products are expected to rise in the near future because of social, environmental and economical issues related to fossil resources which make bio-based production method more appealing and favourable. Therefore, pyrolysis of bacterial poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) inclusions provides new insight of renewable and green chemistry of the crotonic acid production