• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
• /
• 제7권12호
• /
• pp.593-604
• /
• 2020

This study analyzes human development convergence and the impact of funds transfer to the regions using σ and β-convergence analysis method. Observations were made in all Indonesia's provinces in the period 2010-2019. The coefficient of variation calculation shows a dispersion in the inequality of human development, which means that convergence occurred. This is also documented by the clustering analysis results developed in the study. The results are in line with the hypothesis of neoclassical theory, which shows the tendency for provinces with lower human development levels to grow relatively faster. The dynamic panel data approach with the GMM model shows that a model built with explanatory variables for transfer of funds to regions may lead to the process of convergence of human development - 2.21% per year or 31 years to cover the half-life of convergence. This is a consequence of the Special Allocation Fund and the Village Fund, which positively impact the convergence process, and the General Allocation Fund and the Revenue Sharing Fund with negative signs slowing the convergence process. This evidence opens opportunities to review the justification of the weighting component in determining the amount of funds transferred to the region to accelerate the convergence process of human development.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제14권9호
• /
• pp.5031-5035
• /
• 2013

Zizyphus spina-christi (ZSC) fruit is a rich source of bioactive compounds but any medicinal properties in chemoprevention of colon cancer have hitherto not been studied. The aim of the present study was to examine in vivo protective effects of ZSC water extract on colon carcinogenesis in azoxymethane (AOM)-treated rats. Our results showed that ZSC significantly reduced AOM-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci development and AOM-induced oxidative stress as indicated by restoration of endogenous glutathione depletion and abrogating the impairment of total antioxidant capacity. Caspase-3 cleavage, which has been considered as an apoptotic index, was almost undetectable in AOM-treated rats and ZSC exhibited pro-apoptotic effects evidenced by increased levels of cleaved caspase-3. In the studied model, our findings provide the first in vivo evidence that ZSC extract could inhibit the early stage of colon carcinogenesis by preventing oxidative stress and inducing apoptosis.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• 제23권3호
• /
• pp.316-322
• /
• 2018

In this study, the effects of polymer concentration and additive in the formation of asymmetric nanofiltration (NF) membrane were evaluated. The membrane fabrication was carried out via dry/wet phase inversion technique. A new formulation of dope solution with polymer concentration ranging between 17 wt% to 21 wt% and the present of additive was developed. The results show that the permeate flux gradually decreases as polymer concentration increased, until $2.5969L/m^2h$ and increased the rejection up to 98.7%. Addition of additive, polyethylene glycol 600 increased dyes rejection up to 99.8% and decreased the permeate flux to $3.6501L/m^2h$. This indicates that the addition of polyethylene glycol additive led towards better membrane performance. The morphological characteristics of NF membrane were analysed using a Scanning Electron Microscopy.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• 제25권2호
• /
• pp.157-164
• /
• 2019

The study was conducted to investigate the acute and sub-acute toxicity effect of Aquilaria malaccensis leaves aqueous extract (AEAM) towards male ICR mice in terms of body weight, relative organ weight, mortality rate and sperm parameters. In acute toxicity study, a single dose at of 2000 mg/kg was performed. In sub-acute toxicity study, the mice were received normal saline (control group), 50, 100, 150, 200, 500, or 1000 mg/kg of AEAM orally for 21 days of treatment. In sub-acute toxicity study, the number of abnormal sperm were significantly decreased in AEAM 100, 150, 200, 500, and 1000 when compared to the control group. While, the motility of sperm were found to be significantly increased in AEAM 100, 150, 200, and 1000 as compared to the control group. No mortality was recorded in the control group and treated groups in both toxicity studies except for one mouse from AEAM 1000 group. However, the mild sedative effect in terms of the tendency to sleep was clearly noticeable in both toxicity studies. Results indicated that the AEAM can be one of the useful alternative medicine to enhance fertility rate by increasing healthy sperm production.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• 제23권5호
• /
• pp.421-428
• /
• 2019

The development of the low power application such as wireless sensors and health monitoring systems, attract a great attention to low power vibration energy harvesters. The recent vibration energy harvesters use smart materials in their structures to convert ambient mechanical energy into electricity. The frequent model of this harvesters is cantilevered beam. In the literature, the base excitation cantilevered harvesters are mainly investigated, and the related models are presented. This paper investigates a tip excitation cantilevered beam energy harvester with permendur. In the first section, the mechanical model of the harvester and magneto-mechanical model of the permendur are presented. Later, to find the maximum output of the harvester, based on the response surface method (RSM), some experiments are done, and the results are analyzed. Finally, to verify the results of RSM, a harvester with optimum design variables is made, and its output power is compared. The last comparison verifies the estimation of the RSM method which was about $381{\mu}W/cm^3$.

• 유통과학연구
• /
• 제20권11호
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2022

Purpose: This study determines the effect of spending distribution, namely experiential, impulsive, self-expressive, prosocial, and conspicuous spending, on the financial well-being of young working women in Malaysia. Research design, data and methodology: This study employed a quantitative and deductive approach. A sample of 400 young working women was selected using a systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (CB-SEM). Results: The findings revealed prosocial and impulsive spending as the significant spending distribution to affect financial well-being. The effect of prosocial spending is positive on financial well-being, while the effect of impulsive spending is a negative predictor of financial well-being. All other spending distribution - experiential, self-expressive, and conspicuous spending - do not have a significant effect on financial well-being. Conclusion: To achieve financial well-being, young working women need to distribute the spending budget for the happiness of others and reduce impulse buying. The findings provide useful insights on the significant role of spending distribution in influencing, how to fuel young working women to develop good spending habits that consequently improve their financial well-being, for themselves and Malaysian economics, as well as the plausible solution to overcome financial problems and high indebtedness.

• 유통과학연구
• /
• 제21권12호
• /
• pp.15-22
• /
• 2023

Purpose: Business education is in high demand whereas knowledge is critical for an individual's professional development in general, and for teachers in particular. In this research, the effect of the distributions of teachers' business knowledge on schools' achievement were investigated. Research design, data and methodology: This study employs a quantitative method to investigate the level of business knowledge distributions of teachers on schools' achievement. 155 business studies subject teachers were categorised into 66 respective schools to measure the correlation and regression between teachers' business knowledge distribution and schools' achievement. Results: The results of the study show that there is a significant relationship between school achievement from the aspect of teachers' business knowledge distributions, with the score of, r = 0.345, p < 0.05. The value of R² shows a moderate relationship between the teachers' knowledge distributions on school achievement but still plays a role in determining the measurement of the school's level of achievement. Conclusions: It is concluded that the relationship between teacher's business knowledge and school achievement in the subject of Business Studies is significant. This study proves that the teacher's knowledge about business is very important in guaranteeing the success of students who took this subject.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제16권7호
• /
• pp.2731-2737
• /
• 2015

Background: The majority of deaths from cancer occur in low and middle income countries, partly due to poor public awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer. Materials and Methods: A community based survey using the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) questionnaire was conducted in three different communities in Oman. Omani adults aged 18 years and above were invited to participate in the study. Results: A total of 345 responded from 450 invited participants (response rate=76.7%). The majority of respondents were unable to identify the common signs and symptoms of cancer identified in the CAM (average awareness was 40.6%). The most emotional barrier to seeking help was worry about what the doctor might find (223, 64.6%); a practical barrier was too busy to make an appointment (259, 75.1%) and a service barrier was difficulty talking to the doctor (159, 46.1%). The majority of respondents (more than 60% for seven out of ten symptoms) would seek medical help in two weeks for most signs or symptoms of cancer. Females were significantly more likely than males to be embarrassed (p<0.001), scared (p=0.001), and lack confidence talking about their symptoms (p=0.022). Conclusions: Urgent strategies are needed to improve public awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer in Oman. This might leads to earlier diagnosis, improved prognosis and reduced mortality from cancer.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• 제23권3호
• /
• pp.151-156
• /
• 2017

A phytochemical study of Alphonsea cylindrica King (unreported) has led to the isolation of six alkaloids. The compounds were identified as kinabaline (1; azafluorenone alkaloid), muniranine (2), O-methylmoschatoline (3; oxoaporphine alkaloid), lysicamine (4), atherospermidine (5) and N-methylouregidione (6; 4, 5-dioxoaporphine alkaloid). The structures of the isolated compounds were determined based on the spectroscopic techniques and by comparison with data reported in the literature. Alkaloid 2 was isolated as a new derivative of azafluorenone while alkaloids 1, 3 - 6 were isolated for the first time from Alphonsea species. In addition, alkaloid 3 and 4 showed inhibition zone against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus in disc diffusion test. The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) values of lysicamine (4) against S. aureus, B. cereus and P. aeruginosa were found to be smaller than O-methylmoschatoline (3). Therefore, the reported antibacterial activity showed the potential of this plant as natural antibacterial agent and supported the documented traditional use of Alphonsea sp. in the treatment of diarrhea and fever.

• Acta Via Serica
• /
• 제3권1호
• /
• pp.103-117
• /
• 2018

This article aims to examine European reactions against the Ottoman mission headed by Enver Pasha, who was dispatched to China during the 'Boxer Uprising' in 1901. Based on Western archival documents, we can find reliable and informative correspondence about the attitude of the European countries toward the sultan's mission and its pan-Islamic plans in China. The coming of the Ottoman mission caused great reaction in such European countries as Britain, France, Germany and Russia, who were engaged in a competitive power struggle for an influential political and economic position in China. They kept a close watch on the sultan's envoy to find out his secret mission on the one hand and tried to persuade Enver Pasha not to work against their advantage in China on the other. From time to time, Abdul Hamid II (r. 1876-1909), the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, sent China an official mission and secret agents, through whom he tried to subjugate Chinese Muslims for his own advantage. The significance for the Ottoman Empire of any success in penetrating China by way of a pan-Islamic approach cannot be overrated, not only for political advantage but also for commercial and cultural benefit. Like other European countries, Ottomans could retain or gain rights which might bring them opportunities for free trade in opium and in other commodities. The sultan believed that they would constitute a great political factor to his advantage, because most of the tens of millions of Chinese Muslims recognized the Ottoman sultan as their caliph and praised him in their Friday sermon (Khutuba). Taking these factors into consideration, he decided to dispatch the Enver Pasha mission during the Boxer Uprising (1898-1901), responding to the suggestion of German Kaiser Wilhelm II. However, when the Ottoman mission arrived in China, the uprising had already been suppressed. This unexpected situation made the envoy initiate meaningful contacts with Chinese Muslims during its stay in China.