58178 research outputs found
Sort by
MSG265 - Design and Analysis of Experiments
Get PDFSecond Semester Examination 2023/2024 Academic Sessio
The Effects Of Alkaline Earth Metals In Nimo-x (X = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) Catalysts On The Characteristics Of Carbon Nanotubes Derived From Plastics Pyrolysis
Get PDFThe increased usage of face masks has spurred environmental concerns, necessitating effective waste management strategies. One effective approach is to upcycle face mask plastic waste into carbon nanotubes (CNTs) through catalytic pyrolysis. Typically, the plastic-derived hydrocarbons, at high temperatures, contact the metal catalysts, allowing the supersaturation state of metal carbide and the formation of CNTs. To date, most research only reports the alkali earth metal elements as thermal supporting material without clarifying their impacts on metal activity in CNTs synthesis, limiting the manipulation of CNTs characteristic for applications. As such, this study aims to investigate the impacts of alkali earth metals towards the CNTs synthesis from the perspective of surface Ni activity, surface characteristic, and metal phases loading. This study utilized the NiMo-Ca-n (n = 0, 7, 15, and 32) and NiMo-X (X = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) catalysts prepared via solution combustion synthesis for one-pot synthesis of CNTs from face masks. In the first part of the study, it was discovered that at optimum Ca loading (n = 15), the presence of CaMoO4 (14.1 wt.%) and CaCO3 (13.4 wt.%) phases yielded longer CNTs with a carbon yield of 6.4 wt.% instead of carbon nanospheres and carbon fragments. Further increase in Ca loading with a high CaCO3 fraction (29.7 wt.%) would lower its carbon yield to 5.4 wt.% with short CNTs appearance. In the second part of the study, it was found that weaker Ni-X interaction moving down the Group 2 elements within NiMo-X jeopardizes the formation of CNTs, resulting in carbon flakes instead, especially from NiMo-Ba with a carbon yield at 3.1 wt.%
The Evolution Of Rural Tourism Development: A Case Study In Kuala Sepetang - Matang, Perak
Get PDFTourism is frequently advocated as a socioeconomic development strategy for rural areas. Despite the growing interest in rural tourism, there exists a notable research gap concerning its emergence as a new economic specialization in rural areas, the reasons behind this emergence, and the key actors involved. This study comprehensively aims to understand the emergence and dynamic evolution of a tourist destination over time in a rural context. To achieve this, an analytical framework is constructed, integrating concepts from evolutionary economic geography (EEG) and relational economic geography (REG), encompassing path dependence, lock-in, agency, power, and contextuality. Methodologically, this thesis employs a qualitative, single-case study approach grounded in critical realist philosophy. Using a diverse range of data sources, including observations, semi-structured interviews, and documents, the study employs an inductive-deductive thematic approach for analysis. The investigation of tourism development in Kuala Sepetang and Matang, within the analytical framework, yields several key conclusions. Firstly, tourism in these regions is deeply rooted in pre-existing natural and cultural resources inherited from the local economy's historical trajectory. Numerous contextual factors, including social, economic, and political structures operating at various geographical scales, continually influence its emergence and evolution. Secondly, the evolution of tourism is shaped by the power dynamics and agency of key actors
The Impact Of Ambidextrous Knowledge Capabilities, Supply Chain Management Skills, Coping Capacity And Moderated By Emotional Intelligence Towards Decision-Making Competence
Get PDFThe most recent global pandemic outbreak have created a huge global crisis in breaking down many global supply chains whereby the Malaysian manufacturers were caught in the global chip crisis. Decision-makers are faced with very challenging position as the application of supply chain resilience mechanisms may be questionable and unreliable in the supply chain resilience surrounding. As a result, decision-makers in the Malaysian manufacturing companies are very much impacted as they have to continue to learn new ways to cope, adapt and mitigate the risk to navigate through the uncertainties ahead of them. This implies that the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies of these decision-makers have become the centre stage for organizations’ survival and sustainability. The main objective of this study is to examine the relationship between ambidextrous knowledge capabilities, supply chain management skills, coping capacity and emotional intelligence that influence decision-making competence in the supply chain resilience environment in the manufacturing companies of Malaysia through the integration of the behavioural decisional theory and competency model. The research gaps and theoretical framework with respect to the construct of decision-making competence are elaborated
Grameen Microfinance And Sustainable Empowerment: A Study Of Farmerettes In Jobra Village, Bangladesh
Get PDFIn the rural setting of Jobra village in Bangladesh, female farmers rely on
microfinancing loans from Grameen Bank, and face challenges in achieving
sustainability, hindering their empowerment efforts. Therefore, this study aims to
identify the sustainability issues farmerettes are facing in Jobra villages, Bangladesh,
from Grameen Bank microfinancing loans; and analyse the effect of Grameen Bank’s
loan on sustainable empowerment of farmerettes in Jobra Village. The study involves
14 farmerettes and two community leaders as respondents. Primary data was collected
through semi-structured interviews and analysed using ATLAS.ti software. To
examine the issues and effects of Grameen's sustainable empowerment, the study
adopts the Capability Approach framework, which centres on the dimensions of
Agency, Resources, and Achievements within Collective Empowerment. The findings
of the study reveal a significant reliance on Grameen loans, coupled with inadequate
bank supervision and training, a cascading impact of mission drift on borrowers, and
a tendency towards loan misuse. Consequently, the identified issues lead to economic,
social, political, and psychological disempowerment effects among farmerettes,
underscoring the need for a holistic microfinance approach addressing
multidimensional empowerment for sustainable development. The study concludes by
recommending future research to develop and implement strategies for a
comprehensive microfinance model, emphasizing that such efforts can contribute to a
holistic approach and foster sustainable empowerment for farmerettes in rural
Bangladesh
Translation Norms Of Cultural References From Arabic Into English In The Queue: An Analysis Using Newmark’s Cultural References And Toury’s Operational Norms
Get PDFThe present study is primarily about the translation norms of cultural references
from Arabic into English in Basma Abdelaziz's novel, The Queue. This particular
novel was selected for analysis because it abounds with cultural references that mirror
cultural values. To achieve its objectives, the study adopts two translation theories:
Toury's (2012) framework on translation norms and Newmark's (1988) categorizations
of cultural expressions. It delves into the functions of initial and preliminary norms, as
well as the application of operational norms in the translation of The Queue novel into
English, utilizing Toury's (2012) theory of translation norms. The study aims to
achieve the following objectives: firstly, to delineate the function of preliminary and
initial norms at a macro level. Secondly, to scrutinize the micro-level operational
norms concerning textual linguistics and translation shifts in the process of rendering
Arabic cultural references into English. These translation shifts are indicative of the
translator's personal perspective on source language norms and the adherence to the
linguistic and cultural norms prevailing in the target language context. The study
revealed that there are macro-level distinctions between the source and target texts,
stemming from cultural differences between Arabic and English. Furthermore, the
study illustrates that the translator of The Queue faced challenges in effectively
transferring cultural references to the target text, leading to certain discrepancies at the
micro-level
Influence Of High-Performance Work System On Employee Performance And Mediating Role Of Employee Engagement
Get PDFThe aviation industry consistently enhances its human resources by recruiting and retaining proficient personnel. The implementation of a structured Human Resource Management (HRM) program is deemed essential in the aviation industry, as it is regarded as a pivotal element of organizational activities. The top management of the aviation industry has been engaging in recruitment efforts, however, a significant proportion of the newly hired personnel have tended to discontinue their employment within a brief timeframe. Modern service managers acknowledge that allocating resources toward employee investment and fostering a supportive work environment can result in heightened motivation, superior job performance, and decreased employee turnover. High-performance work practices (HPWPs) are defined as human resource activities that have a positive impact on employee performance. Therefore, the main objective of this dissertation is to investigate the impact of HPWS on employee performance, a consensus on the mechanisms underlying this relationship has yet to be reached. The present study employs Social Exchange Theory (SET) to examine the relationship between High-Performance Work Systems (HPWS) and employee performance, with a focus on exploring the mediating effect of employee engagement
Interleukin-6-to-albumin ratio for mortality prediction in critically ill elderly patients
Get PDFThe association between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and serum albumin with mortality in critically ill elderly patients, jointly interpreted as a ratio, has been scarcely reported. This thesis aimed to investigate the prognostic value of IL-6- to-albumin ratio in this special population. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the mixed ICU of two university-affiliated hospitals in Malaysia. Consecutive elderly patients (aged ≥60 years) admitted to the ICU who underwent simultaneous measurement of plasma IL-6 and serum albumin were recruited. The prognostic value of IL-6-to-albumin ratio was assessed by analysis of the receiver-operating characteristic curve. A total of 112 critically ill elderly patients were recruited. The outcome of all-cause ICU mortality was 22.3%. The calculated IL-6-to-albumin ratio was significantly higher in the non-survivors compared to the survivors (14.1 [IQR, 6.5-26.7] versus 2.5[IQR, 0.6-9.2] pg/mL, P <0.001]. The area under the curve of IL- 6-to-albumin ratio for discrimination of ICU-mortality was 0.766 (95% CI, 0.667- 0.865, P <0.001) which was slightly higher than that of IL-6 and albumin alone, but statistically insignificant. After adjusting for severity of illness, the IL-6-to-albumin ratio remained as an independent predictor of ICU-mortality with adjusted odd ratio of 3.278 (95% CI, 1.382-7.770, P = 0.007). Comparison of the ratio with the APACHE II or SOFA score did not show its superiority. Also, additions of the ratio to the APACHE II or SOFA score did not significantly improve the prognostic ability of the scores. In conclusion, a high IL-6-to-albumin ratio is independently associated with ICU-mortality in critically ill elderly patients, but our findings did not suggest that it is superior to the standalone IL-6, APACHE II, or SOFA score