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The availability of a long and comprehensive rainfall record is crucial for the successful completion of a hydrological study. Real observed rainfall data, however, are frequently insufficient or absent and typically contain numerous missing data. In order to generate high-quality data, an appropriate method is needed. Hence, this study presents a comparative analysis of two methods, namely spatial interpolation and probabilistic methods for the estimation of missing rainfall data. The aim is to determine the best estimation method that can replace missing rainfall data in the study region. The methods are illustrated using 10 rainfall stations in Pahang, from year 2011 to 2020. This research employs different available methods, namely normal ratio, arithmetic average, inverse distance weighting and coefficient of correlation weighting (spatial interpolation method), and gamma distribution (probabilistic method). Results are to be compared and evaluated based on mean square error, root means square error, similarity index, and correlation coefficient values. The study shows that for the spatial interpolation method, the inverse distance weighting gives good predictions. When comparing a gamma distribution (probabilistic method) and the inverse distance weighting (spatial interpolation method), the inverse distance weighting (spatial interpolation method) gives a good performance in estimating missing rainfall data. Studies on missing rainfall are important to produce high-quality data for hydrological and water management purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The palm oil industry forms the backbone of the Malaysian agricultural economy and is indexed as one of the National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs). Despite the rapid demand for palm oil, the labor shortage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has reduced harvest activity since the dependability on human labor is still high. Based on this scenario, the way forward to resolve the issue is through the implementation of mechanized equipment to assist plantation activities. However, the output rate based on the implementation of mechanized equipment in the Malaysian palm oil industry is still unclear. In this regard, this paper aims to develop a simulation model that mimics the operation of the mechanized equipment in the palm oil mill using a discrete event simulation (DES) approach. The related mechanized equipment has been considered in the simulation model to resemble the palm oil mill operation, namely clarification, extraction, sterilization, and stripping stations. As a result, it is found that the sterilization process contributes to the longest waiting time (122.89 seconds) and the highest number of waiting (3.04 tons). In contrast, stripping stations turn the lowest percentage of resource utilization. By improving the utilization of identified mechanized equipment, the dependability on human labor can be reduced gradually. Consequently, it will increase the harvest output known as Fresh Fruit Branches (FFB) yield and crude palm oil (CPO) production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, safety culture is emerging to avoid near-misses, injuries, accidents, and disasters. The Malaysian mining industry is rich in minerals discovered and exploited. However, a literature study on safety culture and safety education among Malaysian mining industries is inadequate. Therefore, the objective of this research is to investigate the safety culture and education in the Malaysian mining industry by focusing on their issues and challenges. Fifteen mining professionals or mining experts were volunteered to involved in this research interview. By applying a thematic analysis, three main themes were created namely: (1) Internal issues (2) External issues and (3) Challenges with six, four, and three sub-themes respectively. The finding showed it is quite challenging to inculcate a safety culture due to the negligence of mine operators to prioritise the culture of safety, especially for small-scale mining operations. In conclusion, this study may be beneficial to government agencies, mine operators, and local governments in emphasizing the need for a strong safety culture and safety education in the mining sector. In the near future, safety culture and safety education can help to develop responsible miners, establish a safe working environment, enhance worker productivity, and reduce the number of mining accidents in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using cluster analysis, the climatic zones of Malaysia are classified based on minimum temperature, maximum temperature, precipitation, and wind speed data from meteorological stations between 1994 and 2017. The method of hierarchical clustering analysis which are the complete linkage, single linkage, average linkage and the Ward's linkage was applied. Meteorological data is clustered and related station pairs are identified using hierarchical clustering techniques like Ward's linkage and Euclidean distance. We conclude that the meteorological stations can be clustered into 4 groups namely, a developed centre city, an urban forest, a coastal city facing the Malacca strait and a coastal city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complexity can affect the error proneness of software systems. This issue has led researchers to conclude that complex areas of code should receive more attention during the testing phase and sought out using complexity metrics in Test Case Prioritization (TCP). TCP is used to schedule the execution order of test cases to improve the effectiveness of the testing phase. Nowadays, the TCP technique is widely used, especially for testing event sequences in modern day programs, as it is unfeasible to test all events from a large number of events. The Unique Complexity Metric (UCM), which is a unified measure of procedural complexity, has been used to prioritize test cases based on complexity. However, UCM does not take into account the object-oriented nature of modern-day programs. Therefore, this research has compared the UCM metric with the Modified Cognitive Complexity Metric (MCCM), as the MCCM provides a more complete measure of complexity for OOP-based modern programs. Based on the two chosen programs and test suites used in this research, the TCP of the test cases was found to be more effective with the MCCM metric than with the UCM metric. The Average Percentage of Fault Detected (APFD) of the TCP by the MCCM metric has a higher value, thus, validating its hypothesized usefulness in OOP-based programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the antifertility effect of the doses Avicennia lanata Ridley mangrove leaf extracts on the spermatogenic cell composition of the male albino mice (Mus musculus L.) testes. A total of 20 male mice weighing 20-28 g aged 2 months, were divided into 5 treatment groups and 4 replicates, namely: P1 control (water), P2 (15 mg/g bw), P3 (20 mg/g bw), P4 (25 mg/g bw) and P5 (30 mg/g bw) extract of mangrove leaf A. lanata. This type of experimental study used a completely randomized design (CRD). Leaf mangrove extract was given orally every day for 34 days. On the 35th day the mice were sacrificed by anesthetizing with chloroform and dissected to then take the testicular organs to make histological preparations. Parameters of spermatogenic cell composition were counting the number of spermatogonia cells, the number of primary spermatocytes and the number of spermatid cells in each cross section of the seminiferous tubules of the testes. Data were analyzed by ANOVA= 0.05% and BNT uji test. The results showed that the combined extract of A.lanata mangrove leaves at all treatment doses significantly decreased the composition of spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubules of mice testes. The decrease in the number of spermatogenic cells was greatest in the P5 treatment (dose of 30 mg/g bw) with the mean number of spermatogonia 28.5, the number of primary spermatocytes 58, and the number of spermatid cells 72.75 compared to the other treatment groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chenderoh Reservoir is a hydroelectric dam commissioned in 1930. Changes at the margin and littoral zone of the reservoir due to shoreline sedimentation and the growth of macrophytes have not been studied well. Therefore, a study on the spatial distribution of macrophytes at Chenderoh Reservoir was carried out to determine the diversity and distribution of macrophyte species based on reservoir morphometry. Field samplings were conducted at 18 sampling points covering the embayments and main river channel using echo sounding, line transect and quadrat methods. The results showed that the macrophyte species were distributed according to the slope of the reservoir. Thirty-four macrophyte species from four different types, emergent, floating-leaved, submerged and free-floating, were recorded. The morphometric characteristic, particularly water depth, resulted in the zoning of macrophytes according to their types, determined by the availability of light and hydrological attributes. This study indicated that the macrophytes distribution at all sampling points in Chenderoh Reservoir was determined by morphometric characteristics influenced by seasonality and water level fluctuations of the dam operation. Hence, the bathymetric study is important to identify reservoirs morphometry and helps in mapping the vegetation for better management by the authority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sling bag formed from the refinement of Anjat product is one of the handicraft goods with aesthetic and cultural characteristics manufactured from rattan. Anjat is a rattan backpack that is used by the Dayak tribe in Indonesia to carry garden equipment and is made in a variety of motifs. The sling bag is a product evolution from Anjat that has changed its purpose to that of a sling bag and was created in accordance with the fashion trend of a smaller size. The creation of this rattan sling bag product differs from the previous Anjat, which prioritized the aesthetic value and function of the product, due to the expanding development of varieties of bags from this product. The focus of this research is to evaluate the aesthetic features of the rattan sling bag as a fashion item today while keeping cultural values in perspective. The Kansei Engineering approach was utilized in this study to assess the product's aesthetic aspects based on existing user preferences. The Kansei Engineering technique yielded key category results with 70 respondents, namely motif, identity, design, and comfort. The purpose of this study is to make recommendations to the industry for the development of rattan sling bag items that are attractive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of nonlinear effect of monetary and fiscal policies on economic performance have intensively discussed and debated among policy makers. In particular, the main objective of this paper is to investigate the performance of monetary versus fiscal policies on GDP growth. The study is based on time series data for the period of 1981Q1-2018Q1. The results reveal that GDP lag two term is a transition parameter of AR(1) and has significance effect on economic growth. Comparing policies, monetary policy where real effective exchange rate is able to stimulate higher growth but the fiscal policy through government spending, government debt and current imbalances fail to lead to higher GDP growth. Overall, we can conclude that monetary policy through exchange rate is more effective to promote growth compared to fiscal policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For ages, there are controversial debates from the different school of thoughts which focused on the behavior of economic experience incidents. In this paper, we carefully examine and compare the impacts of fiscal policy (government expenditure, current account balance, budget deficit and government debt) versus monetary policy (broad money and real interest rate) on economic growth using dynamic panel threshold regression of Hansen (2000). In particular, the main objectives include (1) to model the threshold effect of budget deficit in stimulating regime dependent switching of variables on economic growth and (2) to compare the impacts of both policies on economic growth between two groups of countries with current account deficit versus current account surplus. The study is based on a panel of two groups of countries for the period of 2005-2014. The results detected a first sample split threshold estimate and found that some of the variables have significance effect on economic growth regardless whether the budget deficit below or upper the threshold level. Comparing both groups of economies; we find one similarity, which both groups of economies show more effective in terms of monetary policy where broad money is able to stimulate higher growth but the fiscal policy through government spending fail to lead to higher GDP growth. Thus, it causes to lower growth in countries with current account deficit. Overall, we can conclude that current account balance has contributed to the large economic growth in countries with current account surplus while government spending has led to significant drop in the economic growth in countries with current account deficit, which indicate the failure or ineffectiveness of the fiscal policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental remains one of the most reliable forensic means for identification, especially when facial recognition and fingerprints are inconclusive. Even though previous studies reported the possibility of retrieving DNA from teeth exposed to 300 °C, its recovery at varying exposure durations at that temperature remains unexplored. Therefore, in order to acquire forensic significance, in this research, unclaimed canine teeth obtained from clinics and hospitals were divided into 0 min exposure group together with 4 other groups, and were exposed to 300 °C at varying durations. The dental pulps were extracted and subjected to DNA analyses viz. DNA extraction, quantitation, amplification and visualization, as well as profiling. Although the concentrations of DNA were found to be negatively and moderately correlated (P < 0.05, r = -0.669, r² = 0.447) to the durations of exposure, complete human DNA profiles for the 0 min exposed sample and sample exposed to 300 °C for 5 mins alone were successfully obtained. This finding deserves consideration for whenever human DNA evidence from teeth exposed to such temperature and duration of exposure needs to be considered for human identification in forensic practical caseworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review on the effect of post-annealing temperature on the structural, morphological and optical properties of transition metal (TM= Co, Ni, Cu, Y, and Cd) doped zinc oxide (ZnO) mainly prepared by sol-gel and spin coating method is reported. The deposited thin films were annealed at different temperature ranging from 300 ˚C to 800 ˚C. XRD analysis showed that both ZnO and TM doped ZnO flms were in hexagonal wurtzite crystalline structure, with preferred orientation of (002). The average crystallite size indicated an increasing pattern as the annealing temperature increased. The surface morphology was investigated via AFM and SEM which revealed that the shape of the grains changed with the change in temperature. ZnO and TM doped ZnO exhibited transmittance spectra from 70% to 90% in the visible range, and the optical band gap showed increasing and decreasing patterns when the annealing temperature increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viral marketing is a marketing strategy utilizes social media to spread information about a product or services provided. It is the most powerful way to share information in a short amount of time. The objective of this study is to investigate the dynamic of viral marketing within a time duration in the point of view of mathematics. This study used the epidemiological model known as Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR). The model consists of a system of three differential equations with three state variables namely susceptible (S), infected (I) and recovered (R). It considers a case of SIR model with demography. Numerical experiments have been performed. The results show that viral marketing reaches its peak within two days. The online messages shared will become higher if the initial number of the infected individual has been increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are methods or techniques to construct smooth curves, but sometime it needs an effort to understand those methods. Bezier representation is commonly used in generating curves due its interesting properties and stabilizes in calculating. The control points play important roles for shape designing. One of interesting application is font design where outline curves of font are constructed. In this paper we apply a different approach by replacing the control points with the parametric function of disc in facilitates the design of wide fonts. Thus, different shapes and different font sizes can be produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of non-living biomass as an alternative biosorbent for heavy metal removal has gain a tremendous consideration through the years. Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb or pandan leaves, which is widely used as food additives in the South East Asia region, has been selected for its viability in the said effort due to the presence of chemical functional groups on its cellular network that enables the sorption to occur. In order to elucidate the possible mechanisms participated during the heavy metal removal process, the biosorbent undergone a series of modification techniques to alter the chemical functional groups present on its constituent. From the outcome of the chemically-modified biosorbent being subjected to the contact with metal cations, nitrogen- and oxygen-containing groups present on the biosorbent are believed to be responsible for the metal uptake to occur through complexation mechanism. Modifying amine groups causes 14% reduction of Cu(II) uptake, whereas removing protein element increases the uptake to 26% as compared to the unmodified biosorbent. Also, scanning electron micrographs further suggested that the adsorption mechanism could perform in parallel, as attributed to the evidence of porous structure throughout the biosorbent fibrous nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deposition of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles was conducted by using eletrospray method. 0.05wt% of titanium dioxide suspension was prepared and characterized by using Malvern Zetasizer prior to the experiment. From Zetasizer results, stable suspension condition was obtained which is at pH 2 with zeta potential value of +29.0 mV. In this electrospraying, the suspension was pumped at flowrate of 5 ml/hr by using syringe pump. The input voltage of 2.1 kV was applied at the nozzle tip and counter electrode. Electrosprayed particles were collected on the grounded aluminium plate substrate which was placed at 10-20 cm from counter electrode. Particles were then characterized using FESEM and average size of electrosprayed particles obtained. Initial droplet size was calculated by scaling law and compared with FE-SEM results in order to prove droplet fission occur during electrospray. Due to the results obtained, as the working distance increase from 10-20 cm the deposited TiO2 droplet size decrease from 247-116 nm to show droplet fission occur during the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is the most important resource in times of emergency and during military missions. In addition, if there is a war in a country, sources of clean water are essential for life. But, the safety and cleanliness of the river water for the campers and hikers still uncertain. Usually, polluted and contaminated river water is not safe to be directly consumed by human. However, this problem can be partly resolved by using water filter where the river water can be consumed directly after the filtration process. In respect of that, this study was conducted to design the filter media for personal water purification system. Hence, the objective of this work also is to develop a personal, portable dual purpose handy water filter to provide an easier way to get safe, clean and healthy drinking water for human wherever they go. The water quality of samples collected before and after filtration were analyzed. Water samples were taken from a waterfall near Lestari Block and Lake beside Marine Centre UPNM Campus. The experimental results were analyzed based on the assessment of water quality parameters. Overall, the analysis of the results showed that the water filter was designed with basic mix tabs aqua filter water purification tablets is showing a better result where it achieve the class I of water quality index (WQI). In details, the water sample taken from waterfall near Lestari Block shown the WQI around 93 which is higher than WQI of water sample from Lake near Marine Centre UPNM which is 86, class II A which can be used for external purpose only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]