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Papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) is a highly invasive pest and is attaining the status of regular insect pest of papaya in South and South-East Asia. Keeping in view the importance of pest, a survey was conducted in three states of Peninsular Malaysia to observe pest infestation on papaya and other host plants and natural enemies. In Selangor state, the pest infestation was recorded only on farm managed papaya plants (30.33%), while on wild and home garden papaya plants the infestation was recorded in two states Negeri Sembilan (19.67%) and Selangor 31.64%). Besides papaya, P. marginatus infestation was recorded on seven other host plants i.e. hibiscus, roselle, cassava, jatropha, plumeria, eggplant and broad bean belonging to six plant families i.e Apocynaceae, Caricaeae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Malvaceae and Solanaceae. The two predators C. montrouzieri and Apertochrysa sp. were recorded feeding on P. marginatus. The results showed significantly higher population of C. montrouzieri (4.70 ± 0.50) as compared to Apertochrysa sp. (0.90 ± 0.20) at P < 0.001. Out of 7965 P. marginatus mummies collected, four species of parasitoids were emerged. The most dominant species found was Acerophagus papayae (Encyrtidae: Hymenoptera) the primary parasitoid and the remaining three parasitoids Chartocerus sp. (Signophoridae: Hymenoptera), Marietta leopardina (Aphelinidae: Hymenoptera) and Cheiloneurus sp. (Encyrtidae: Hymenoptera) were hyperparasitoids. Overall results of parasitoid investigation showed maximum frequency (95.2 ± 0.57%) of A. papayae. However, the frequencies among Chartocerus sp., M. leopardina and Cheiloneurus sp. were recorded at the rate of 3.50 ± 0.50%, 1.00 ± 0.30% and 0.30 ± 0.10%, respectively.

Aims: Phenacoccus solenopsis is a pest of many agricultural and horticultural crops, causing considerable losses in Asia and other parts of the world. Managing P. solenopsis is challenging due to a waxy covering body and high reproductive potentiality. This study was aimed to explore the potential use of wax-degrading bacteria isolated from fermented Ficus extract against P. solenopsis. Methodology and results: A total of ten isolates of wax-degrading bacteria were isolated from fermented Ficus extract (Ficus FPE) using a selective medium, Davis minimal agar (DMA), which was enriched with mealybug wax. The waxdegrading ability of the bacteria was evaluated through a turbidimetry test using 2, 6-dichlorophenol indophenol (DCPIP). Bacillus sp. 42PB3 demonstrated the highest wax-degrading potential, with 64.78% mealybug wax degraded and 73.85% paraffin wax degraded. The bioassay was conducted with three bacterial concentrations (108, 107 and 106) tested against third-instar nymphs of P. solenopsis on Hibiscus rosa-sinensis by top application technique in completely randomized design (CRD) design with ten replications. The cell suspension and supernatant of Klebsiella pneumonia, Paenibacillus sp. 21F1E3, Bacillus sp. 35F1C1 and Bacillus sp. 42F1B3 isolates caused 70-83% and 60-66% mortality (supernatant) after 168 h post-treatment. Klebsiella pneumonia badly affected the offspring production of the treated mealybug with the lowest number of crawlers (80.2), followed by Paenibacillus sp. 21F1E3 isolate (111). Conclusion, significance and impact of study: In the present study, all tested bacteria isolated from fermented Ficus extract showed varying levels of wax-degrading ability and insecticidal activity against P. solenopsis. These bacterial isolates show promise as an environmentally friendly biocidal agent for managing P. solenopsis, potentially curbing crop losses and ensuring food quality through sustainable pest management practices in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youth drug usage is caused by insufficient parental support. Lack of dedication, decreased communication and poor family connection describe inadequate family support. In addition to parental support, self-efficacy, employer support and community support have been shown to promote addiction and relapse. Substance addiction among youth is alarming and could harm the next generation if not handled. Thus, family and parents strongly impact teenage drug usage. Drug dependence prevention begins with parents. Parents affect their children by offering advice, setting explicit drug use restrictions and emphasizing good communication skills as part of their commitment. Thus, this study aims to determine the significance of family participation particularly parental involvement in reducing juvenile substance addiction in Malaysia. We use Hirshi's social bond theory to link a parent's willingness to participate in a drug prevention programme to their social bonding which includes their attachment, devotion and academic involvement. Additionally, proportionate sampling was used for stratified sampling. Two criteria were used to choose participants: parents with children aged 13-18 and drug-free families. The survey has 515 respondents, 103 per state: Kelantan, Kedah, Kuala Lumpur/Selangor, Johor and Sabah. NADA lists it in high-risk states. Study results indicate that attachment (ATT) and participation (INV) do not affect interest (INT). The study also found that commitment (COM) affects interest (INT). Additionally, the commitment (COM) f² value has a minor impact on interest (INT), an endogenous variable. Agencies must collaborate and exchange resources to promote drug awareness and a drug-free family culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The premium is a deterministic function to compensate for losses due to random events and it is an essential part of an insurance company operation. Numerous issues are faced by the Takaful operator in the practice of insurance, one of them is “validity of life insurance” which is still under discussion among Islamic scholars. Their conversation leads to the issue of approach which are utilised by the Takaful operator to create a sales illustration product. Based on their current discussion, there are still some hidden elements and some missing points related to the concept of loss and surplus sharing utilised by Takaful operator. Therefore, this paper focuses on the practice of Family Takaful for producing the sale illustration product which Shariah compliant. The study develops a new model of the premium for an equity-linked policy (Unit-linked product) by considering the properties of Takaful contracts namely Tabarru and Mudarabah. It aims to ensure that a new model developed can comprehensively demonstrate Shariah compliance. The model adapted and derived from the current Takaful Business Model. We add several assumptions to implicate the approach in a real problem associated with the ratio of profit-sharing (Mudarabah) and loss-sharing (Tabarru). Secondary data are used to test and produce a sales illustration product by utilising a new integrated model of the premium developed. Based on the empirical results, a new model of premium is used to create a sales illustration product that comprehensively complies with Shariah and also more profitable and beneficial when compared with a standard approach used by Takaful operator.

The mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis, is a serious pest of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. The waxy coating on its body may hinder pesticide penetration, and the extensive use of pesticides is risky to humans and the environment. Considering these drawbacks, fermented plant extracts (FPEs) were explored for their potential use in controlling this pest in a more user and environmentally-friendly manner. FPEs derived from eleven plant materials were evaluated against P. solenopsis for their insecticidal activity, mealybug wax removal potential and phytotoxicity effect on H. rosa-sinensis. Five concentrations of FPE [5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% (w/v)] were prepared. Among the 11 FPEs, FPE derived from ficus, kaffir lime, and turmeric were effective in suppressing P. solenopsis with lethal concentration at 50% (LC50 value) less than 20% concentration. Although ficus FPE was the top performer in the insecticidal assay, it induced medium to very high levels of leaf damage after being treated with 15–25% concentration at 24 and 72 hr post-treatment. A low level of leaf damage was observed in treatment with turmeric and kaffir lime FPEs at 72 hr post-treatment. FPEs could remove wax from the body of P. solenopsis with no significant difference among them. In conclusion, the FPE of ficus, kaffir lime, and turmeric showed promising insecticidal effects against P. solenopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new model to identify and prioritize factors affecting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) investment intentions by integrating existing models. Structured questionnaire is used to sample respondents from the Ghanaian SMEs between 2017 and 2018. Data analyses have been conducted using variance-based Smart Partial Least Square (SmartPLS) technique. The major findings of the study are that macro environment factors, resource competitive strategies and oil and gas policy-specific factors are the significant determinants of SMEs investment intentions. Again, the study revealed that the resource competitive strategies significantly mediate the relationship between macro environment factors, industry force, oil and gas policy support and investment intentions. These results are robust and consistent with resource-based view, theory of constraint and theory of strategic positioning. Moreover, these results contribute new knowledge towards developing investment strategy for the downstream oil and gas industry. Besides, these findings have managerial implications needed by policy makers to renew commitment and provide the needed framework to investors to enhance indigenous participation in the industry.

The goal of this article is to investigate the influence of deposit insurance policy on the stability of the banking industry. Stability is measured by the ratio of retail deposits to total assets and the ratio of loans to total assets to cover both positive and negative impacts, and deposit insurance policy is assessed in various stages. The survey uses a data panel of 127 commercial banks from 2000 to 2013 in six member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Using a dynamic panel data investigation, we obtain results showing that the implementation of deposit insurance policy negatively affects the ratio of retail deposits to total assets while positively influencing the ratio of loans to total assets. This is an important finding, as it implies that deposit insurance policy causes bank managers to take greater risks to increase their returns, rather than increasing the confidence level of depositors and ultimately increasing total deposits. This result is important for regulators as they evaluate deposit insurance policy and anticipate any negative outcomes that might follow.

Introduction: COVID-19 has been declared a pandemic by the WHO. Most mortality cases were linked to the presence of cytokine storms induced by the virus. Platelet parameters and IL-6 may provide significant results in the disease severity and input in a COVID-19 patient's management. This study aimed to determine the usefulness of platelet parameters and IL-6 with disease severity and outcomes amongst COVID-19 patients admitted to Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL). Methods: A retrospective study utilising clinical data of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Demographic data, platelet parameters on admission, serum IL-6 level, and treatment outcomes were retrieved and analysed. Results: 283 patients' data were analysed. The mean age of patients was 54.10 ±14.9 years old. Sixty percent of the patients were with comorbidities and (n=65, 23%) of them had succumbed to the disease. Males and females were equally affected and (n=139, 49.1%) were Malays. Ethnicity was an independent predictor for COVID-19 severity. A significant association was found between platelet count, MPV, and IL-6 with COVID-19 severity and outcomes. PDW was not associated with disease outcomes (p=0.236). Comorbidity and platelet count were independent predictors of COVID-19 death. A multivariate analysis of patients' platelet count, MPV, and IL-6 level using binary logistic analysis showed that platelet count of the non-survivor group significantly decreased by 0.004, compared to the survivor group. Conclusion: Combining a readily available routine blood investigation of low platelet count, raised MPV, and IL-6 level signifies an increased risk of COVID-19 severity, and thus, warrants close clinical attention in reducing mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous tribes and rural communities around the world are known to rely on various plant parts for their livelihood and nutrition, most notably for food. This research aimed to examine and document the traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) of wild tuber food plants used by the Orang Asli Bateq tribe of Peninsular Malaysia. The findings of this study are critical to scientifically identify and document food sources from the forest that contribute to the tribe's livelihood and, possibly, future food security. In the Bateq villages, information was gathered via semi-structured surveys, field trips, group discussions, and key informant interviews. The results show that TEK influenced the use of wild tubers inherited from their ancestors. The Bateq ate at least 11 different types of wild tubers, including Dioscorea orbiculata, Dioscorea prainiana, and Dioscorea hispida. Most of these wild tubers are from the Dioscoreaceae plant family and must be properly processed before being consumed. The elements related to the traditional knowledge of the wild tubers are the harvesting skills and the practice in the utilization of the plant. The survey also suggests that the selection to use plant tubers is prompted by its delicious taste and nutritional value while being natural and unpolluted food. In terms of plant sustainability, the majority of the Bateq will follow certain conservation techniques to maintain the plants' availability. Understanding what underlies TEK and the tribe's practices in using wild plant resources will preserve the natural legacy of forest resources and biodiversity, and possibly contribute to future food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the finance literature, the relationship between capital structure and firm value has been extensively investigated, both theoretically and empirically. The main issue on corporate finance is how firms dealing with the important decision of capital structure. In this study, a model of capital structure is formulated in which corporate tax and zakat payment exist by firms into the consideration of combination of debt and equity. The theoretical model as shown by comparative statics prove the implication which is negatively relationship between leverage of the firm and the corporate zakat payment. Meanwhile, the empirical evidence reveals several implication as follows, (1) tax deduction reduces the current liability item relative to the firms that prefer equity financing, (2) the significant of zakat is consistent with the theoretical model that zakat would encourage firm to issue more equity than debt, (3) the strong significant relationship between return on assets with the leverage are the leading indicator of capital structure in all models.

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