Does Village Fund Transfer Address the Issue of Inequality and Poverty? A Lesson from Indonesia

ARHAM, Muhammad Amir,HATU, Rauf Korea Distribution Science Association 2020 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.7 No.10

This study investigates the impact of fiscal transfer, specifically the Village Fund Transfer, on rural income inequality and rural poverty. Studies on fiscal transfer offers contrasting outcomes, some argues that fiscal transfer suppresses wealth disparity, while others argue that it tends to widen disparity. This study employs descriptive analysis in estimating the elasticity of income inequality and poverty rate before and after the Village Fund Transfer. It develops multiple regressions model on panel datasets of 33 provinces in Indonesia before and after the implementation of Village Fund Transfer. This study suggests that the elasticity of income inequality is higher after the implementation of village fund transfer. Rural poverty tends to decline annually, however, the elasticity changes is lower after the implementation of village fund transfer. Furthermore, this study suggests that village fund transfer is insignificant in coping with the issue of income inequality, while education and the level of labor productivity of agricultural sector appears to be the determinant factor in tackling the issue of income inequality in the rural areas. This study further reveals the significance of village fund transfer in suppressing the rural poverty rate. This study also highlights the significance of human resources quality and agricultural sector in reducing poverty rate in rural areas.

Electrode modifier performance of TiO2 incorporated carbon quantum dots nanocomposites on Fe(CN)6 3/Fe(CN)6 4 electrochemical system

Zul Arham,Kurniawan Kurniawan 한국화학공학회 2022 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.39 No.5

TiO2 incorporated carbon quantum dot nanocomposite, (CQDs@TiO2) was synthesized and applied as anew modifier for carbon paste electrode (CPE). The synthesis process consisted of two steps: the synthesis of a carbonquantum dot (CQDs) solution electrochemically and the synthesis of CQDs@TiO2 by impregnation. The characterizationresults show that the morphology of CQDs@TiO2 is composed of small particles with different particle sizes whichcauses the nanocomposite surface to be non-uniform. The impregnation process causes a change in the average particlesize of TiO2 from 29.32 to 33.23 nm. This process also produces new diffractograms at positions 2 =53.75o and54.95o. In addition, its process changes the specific wave number absorption (1/) TiO2 for -OH stretching (3,300 cm1to 3,369 cm1) and -OH bending (1,631 cm1 to 1,660 cm1). This shift in wavenumber was followed by the presence ofnew absorption at wavenumbers of 2,162 cm1 and 1,371 cm1. Based on the performance test of CQDs@TiO2 as aCPE modifier, it shows that CQDs@TiO2 improves CPE performance in the Fe(CN)63/Fe(CN)64 solution system. It ischaracterized by an increase in both oxide and reducing currents and a narrowing of the voltammogram peaks. Theoptimum mass of CQDs@TiO2 as a CPE modifier is 0.01 g with an electroactive surface area of 0.27 cm2. The overallresults of this work indicate that the CQDs@TiO2 nanocomposite can be applied as an electrode modifier for electrochemicalsensor applications in the future.

The Nexus Between Factors Affecting eBook Acceptance and Learning Outcomes in Malaysia

Ahmad Fadhly ARHAM,Nor Sabrena NORIZAN,Maz Izuan MAZALAN,Norazamimah BOGAL,Mohd Natashah NORIZAN 한국유통과학회 2021 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.8 No.9

This study aims to investigate factors affecting eBook acceptance and learning outcomes among students experiencing online distance learning. As conventional textbooks are now switched into eBooks, the effects of contextual factors including lecturer, student computer competency, content and design of the course, access ability, infrastructure, and university support on eBook acceptance and learning outcome needs to be evaluated. The sample of this study is represented by students at the Universiti Teknologi MARA, City Campus Melaka, undertaking ‘strategic management course’. Non-probability random sampling was selected as the sampling technique and a purposive sampling method was chosen to select the samples. The samples comprised 171 students randomly selected through Google Form. The questionnaire data was analyzed by using PLS-SEM. The results indicated that these factors contributed 62.3% variations in the eBook acceptance and 67.1% variations in the learning outcomes. The strongest factor affecting both dependent variables was content and design of course. Managerial implication suggested that the content for all courses taught through the eBook platform needs to be revisited and improved in accordance with the mode of online deliverance. Tutorial on how to navigate the eBook platform is important to all users as this would enhance acceptance and produce better learning outcomes among students.

Effect of clay as deleterious material on properties of normal-strength concrete

Harish R. Choudhary,Saha Dauji,Arham Siddiqui 아시아콘크리트학회 2020 Journal of Asian Concrete Federation Vol.6 No.1

Sustainability concerns prompted use of crushed aggregates in concrete, wherein deleterious materials might get inadvertently included. Some deleterious materials are allowed up to limiting values by most standards, which, however, are silent about the quantification of their effects on properties of concrete – which would be site specific. For an important Indian infrastructure, this study quantifies effects of clay fines as deleterious material in concrete, on workability (slump) and strength (cube compression; split tensile; flexural tensile tests) around the limit (1% of fine aggregates by weight) stipulated by the Indian standard. The novelty of the study is that, contrary to the literature in this domain, the effects are studied without alteration of the mix proportions – a different practical scenario. The limit of clay fines in concrete allowed by Indian standard was found to be adequate considering strength parameters, but for maintaining target workability, the limit would be revised to 0.5% of the fine aggregates. Generally, the variations of concrete properties with the increasing clay fines were: (1) the workability and split tensile strength reduced monotonically, in non-linear fashion; (2) compressive strength (beyond 7 days) and the flexural tensile strength (modulus of rupture) reduced monotonically in linear manner.

A Review on Processing Opportunities for the Development of Camel Dairy Products

Muhammad Asif Arain,Sundus Rasheed,Arham Jaweria,Gul Bahar Khaskheli,Ghulam Shabir Barham,Shabbir Ahmed 한국축산식품학회 2023 한국축산식품학회지 Vol.43 No.3

Camel milk has a significant and pivotal role in the diet of people residing in semi-arid and arid regions. Ever since ancient times, marketing of camel milk has remained insignificant due to nonexistence of processing amenities in the camel nurturing areas, hence the utilization of unprocessed camel milk has continuously remained limited at family level by the nomads. Due to the superior medicinal values and health promoting effects, incredible growth in the demand of camel milk and dairy products have been noticed all over the world during last two decades. Such emergence has led dairy industry to provide diversified camel dairy products to the consumers with superior nutritional and functional qualities. In contrast to bovine, very few food products derived from camel milk are available in the present market. With the advancements in food processing interventions, a wide range of dairy and non-dairy products could be obtained from camel milk, including milk powder, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and even chocolate. In some regions, camel milk is used for traditional dishes such as fermented milk, camel milk tea, or as a base for soups and stews. Current review highlights the processing opportunities regarding the transformation of camel milk into various dairy products via decreasing the inherent functionality that could be achieved by optimization of processing conditions and alteration of chemical composition by using fortification method. Additionally, future research directions could be devised to improve the product quality.

Nanocomposite design of graphene modified TiO2 for electrochemical sensing in phenol detection

Muhammad Nurdin,Maulidiyah Maulidiyah,Abdul Haris Watoni,Armawansa Armawansa,La Ode Agus Salim,Zul Arham,Dwiprayogo Wibowo,Irwan Irwan,Akrajas Ali Umar 한국화학공학회 2022 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.39 No.1

This study is the stage of developing a phenol detection electrochemical sensor. Phenol is one of the organic pollutants harmful to human life and ecosystems. The development of this sensor was carried out by studying the use of TiO2 anatase as a modifier of graphene electrodes. The mass of TiO2 anatase was varied, while the mass of graphene and paraffin was fixed. The results showed that the TiO2 mass of 1.0 g was the best mass as a graphene electrode modifier. The use of this mass increases the oxidation current (Ipa) of phenol by 450 A, which is observed at an oxidation potential (Epa) of −0.30 V. The presence of interfering ions such as K+, Fe2+, and OH− can decrease the measurement current. However, based on the %RSD value, it shows that the performance of TiO2-graphene is in a good category, where the %RSD value obtained is 0.6%. TiO2-graphene electrodes can be used repeatedly for 12 days. Overall, this work demonstrates the potential of TiO2-graphene electrodes as electrode candidates for electrochemical-based phenol sensors.