Middle-income countries are currently undergoing massive structural changes towards more industrialized economies. In this paper, we carefully examine the impact of these transformations on the environmental quality of middle-income countries. Specifically, we examine the role of sector value addition to GDP on CO2 emission nexus for middle-income economies controlling for the effects of population growth, energy use, and trade openness. Using recently developed panel methods that consider cross-sectional dependence and allow for heterogeneous slope coefficients, we show that energy use and growth of industrial and service sectors positively explain CO2 emissions in middle-income economies. We also find that population growth is insignificantly associated with CO2 emission. Hence, our paper provides a solid ground for developing a sustainable and pro-growth policy for middle-income countries.
The pace of urbanization in Peninsular Malaysia was slower in the most recent intercensal interval, 1957 to 1970, than in the previous period, 1947 to 1957. Most of the small change in the rural-urban balance from 1957 to 1970 appears due to the growth of towns into the urban classification rather than to a redistribution of population into the previous urban settlements. A number of towns in Peninsular Malaysia do show exceptional growth from 1957 to 1970, but there seems to be no clear relationship between a city's size and its subsequent growth. The rural areas on the outskirts of the largest cities do show rapid growth, especially the periphery of the capital city. It appears that neither the classic model of urbanization based upon Western experience nor the over-urbanization thesis explain the urbanization process in Peninsular Malaysia.
Without drastic efforts to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate globalized stressors, tropical coral reefs are in jeopardy. Strategic conservation and management requires identification of the environmental and socioeconomic factors driving the persistence of scleractinian coral assemblages-the foundation species of coral reef ecosystems. Here, we compiled coral abundance data from 2,584 Indo-Pacific reefs to evaluate the influence of 21 climate, social and environmental drivers on the ecology of reef coral assemblages. Higher abundances of framework-building corals were typically associated with: weaker thermal disturbances and longer intervals for potential recovery; slower human population growth; reduced access by human settlements and markets; and less nearby agriculture. We therefore propose a framework of three management strategies (protect, recover or transform) by considering: (1) if reefs were above or below a proposed threshold of >10% cover of the coral taxa important for structural complexity and carbonate production; and (2) reef exposure to severe thermal stress during the 2014-2017 global coral bleaching event. Our findings can guide urgent management efforts for coral reefs, by identifying key threats across multiple scales and strategic policy priorities that might sustain a network of functioning reefs in the Indo-Pacific to avoid ecosystem collapse.
Electricity is one of the most important resources and fundamental infrastructure for every nation. Its milestone shows a significant contribution to world development that brought forth new technological breakthroughs throughout the centuries. Electricity demand constantly fluctuates, which affects the supply. Suppliers need to generate more electrical energy when demand is high, and less when demand is low. It is a common practice in power markets to have a reserve margin for unexpected fluctuation of demand. This research paper investigates regression techniques: multiple linear regression (MLR) and vector autoregression (VAR) to forecast demand with predictors of economic growth, population growth, and climate change as well as the demand itself. Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (Auto-ARIMA) was used in benchmarking the forecasting. The results from MLR and VAR (lag-values=20) and Auto-ARIMA are monitored for five months from June to October of 2019. Using the root mean square error (RMSE) as an indicator for accuracy, Auto-ARIMA has the lowest RMSE for four months except in June 2019. VAR (lag-values=20) shows good forecasting capabilities for all five months, considering it uses the same lag values (20) for each month. Three different techniques have been successfully examined in order to find the best model for the prediction of the demand.
In this paper, extended Runge-Kutta fourth order method for directly solving the fuzzy logistic problem is presented. The extended Runge-Kutta method has lower number of function evaluations, compared with the classical Runge-Kutta method. The numerical robustness of the method in parameter estimation is enhanced via error minimization in predicting growth rate and carrying capacity. The results of fuzzy logistic model with the estimated parameters have been compared with population growth data in Malaysia, which indicate that this method is more accurate that the data population. Numerical example is given to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed model. It is concluded that robust parameter estimation technique is efficient in modelling population growth.
Rice is a staple and most important security food crop consumed by almost half of the world's population. More rice production is needed due to the rapid population growth in the world. Rice blast caused by the fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae is one of the most destructive diseases of this crop in different part of the world. Breakdown of blast resistance is the major cause of yield instability in several rice growing areas. There is a need to develop strategies providing long-lasting disease resistance against a broad spectrum of pathogens, giving protection for a long time over a broad geographic area, promising for sustainable rice production in the future. So far, molecular breeding approaches involving DNA markers, such as QTL mapping, marker-aided selection, gene pyramiding, allele mining and genetic transformation have been used to develop new resistant rice cultivars. Such techniques now are used as a low-cost, high-throughput alternative to conventional methods allowing rapid introgression of disease resistance genes into susceptible varieties as well as the incorporation of multiple genes into individual lines for more durable blast resistance. The paper briefly reviewed the progress of studies on this aspect to provide the interest information for rice disease resistance breeding. This review includes examples of how advanced molecular method have been used in breeding programs for improving blast resistance. New information and knowledge gained from previous research on the recent strategy and challenges towards improvement of blast disease such as pyramiding disease resistance gene for creating new rice varieties with high resistance against multiple diseases will undoubtedly provide new insights into the rice disease control.
Demand for diesel continues to increase due to rapid population growth, which could contribute to fossil fuel exhaustion. Biodiesel has been widely developed as a replacement for conventional diesel to resolve the issue. Biodiesel production from waste cooking oil (WCO) was carried out via the transesterification process using two types of bentonite catalysts, which are raw bentonite and NaOH/bentonite. By using the impregnation method, the NaOH/bentonite catalyst was synthesized at 60°C for 12 hours. The transesterification was conducted with 0.5wt% of catalyst, at 15:1 (methanol- to-oil), for 2 hours at different reaction temperatures. The characterization of both raw bentonite and NaOH/bentonite was done using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Brunauer, Emmett, Teller (BET) surface characterization. A high yield of FAMEs (72%) was found to be obtained in continuous stirring at 55ºC for 2 hours and 15:1 methanol/oil molar ratio with 0.5wt.% (0.15g) of NaOH/bentonite catalyst.
The global population growth demands intensification of anthropogenic processes, thus leading to inter alia pollution of both land and aquatic environments with toxic organic compounds. Particularly harmful synthetic compounds are classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Their relatively high chemical resistance resulted in a worldwide ban or strict control on the use of POPs. The majority of POPs were commonly used as pesticides, and unfortunately, some of them are still utilized as an aid in agricultural practices. Therefore, environmental monitoring in terms of reliable detection and quantification of pesticidal POPs is an ever-increasing need. Chemical sensors and adsorption materials crafted for specific pesticide operate on host-guest interactions should provide selectivity and sensitivity, thus leading to the detection of target molecule down to the nanomolar range. This could be achieved with materials exhibiting a very large active surface area, well-defined structure, and high stability. The novel materials studied in that context are metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The structure of various MOFs can be functionalized to provide desired host-guest interactions. In this mini-review, we critically discuss the application of MOFs for the detection and adsorption of selected pesticides that are classified as POPs according to the Stockholm Convention.
Population growth and rise in per capital income have influenced the demand for convenience foods and a meat protein-rich diet. The per capital consumption of beef which had increased from 3.89 kg in 1980 to 5.49 kg in 2006 (DVS, 2006/2007) had resulted in an increased in demand for beef at the rate of 6.2% annually. The local beef production although recorded a 2.5% increased over the last 10 years, is still unable to meat the increasing national demand for beef. In 2008, local production of beef is about 38,250 mt. could only meet about 26.7% of the national demand (DVS, 2008). The gap between supply and demand for beef is expected to widen in the next decades unless efforts is been made to accelerate local production. The lack of number of quality breeding stocks and unorganized breeding system had been the major factors that contribute to the slow growth of the local beef industry.
The fertility and parameters of population growth of the Semai Senoi of Malaysia are studied by using a two-census method based on nonstable population theory. Semai fertility is shown to be moderately high; female completed fertility is 7.42 children and the crude birth rate is greater than 0.050. Previous estimates of Semai mortality rates are also moderately high but are insufficient to balance birth; thus, the overall rate of growth is presently nearly 2%. Compared with an earlier description of the pre-1969 Semai population, fertility has increased markedly leading to a nearly threefold increase in the annual growth rate.
The process of somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration involve changes in gene expression and have been associated with changes in DNA methylation. Here, we report the expression and DNA methylation patterns of SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE (SERK), BABY BOOM (BBM), LEAFY COTYLEDON 2 (LEC2) and WUSCHEL (WUS) in meristematic block of newly emerged shoots from rhizome, embryogenic and non-embryogenic calli, prolonged cell suspension culture, ex vitro leaf, and in vitro leaf of regenerated plants of Boesenbergia rotunda. Among all seven samples, based on qRT-PCR, the highest level of expression of SERK, BBM and LEC2 was in embryogenic callus, while WUS was most highly expressed in meristematic block tissue followed by embryogenic callus. Relatively lower expression was observed in cell suspension culture and watery callus for SERK, LEC2 and WUS and in in vitro leaf for BBM. For gene specific methylation determined by bisulfite sequencing data, embryogenic callus samples had the lowest levels of DNA methylation at CG, CHG and CHH contexts of SERK, LEC2 and WUS. We observed negative correlation between DNA methylation at the CG and CHG contexts and the expression levels of SERK, BBM, LEC2 and WUS. Based on our results, we suggest that relatively higher expression and lower level of DNA methylation of SERK, BBM, LEC2 and WUS are associated with somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in B. rotunda.
This paper studies the harvesting strategies for tilapia fish farming. Two logistic growth models have been used namely constant harvesting and periodic harvesting. Even though tilapia fish farming has been commercialized, the use of mathematical models in determining harvesting strategies has not been widely applied in Malaysia. Logistic growth model is appropriate for population growth of animal when overcrowding and competition resources are taken into consideration. The objectives of this study were to estimate the highest continuing yield from fish harvesting strategies implemented. Secondly, the study predicted the optimum quantity for harvesting that can ensure the tilapia fish supply is continuous. Finally, to compare the results obtained between the two strategies. The best harvesting strategy for the selected fish farm is periodic harvesting. These findings can assist fish farmers to increase the supply to meet the demand for tilapia fish.
The identification of spatio-temporal patterns of the urban growth phenomenon has become one of the most significant challenges in monitoring and assessing current and future trends of the urban growth issue. Therefore, spatio-temporal and quantitative techniques should be used hand in hand for a deeper understanding of various aspects of urban growth. The main purpose of this study is to monitor and assess the significant patterns of urban growth in Seremban using a spatio-temporal built-up area analysis. The concentric circles approach was used to measure the compactness and dispersion of built-up area by employing Shannon's Entropy method. The spatial directions approach was also utilised to measure the sustainability and speed of development, while the gradient approach was used to measure urban dynamics by employing landscape matrices. The overall results confirm that urban growth in Seremban is dispersed, unbalanced and unsustainable with a rapid speed of regional development. The main contribution of using existing methods with other methods is to provide several spatial and statistical dimensions that can help researchers, decision makers and local authorities understand the trend of growth and its patterns in order to take the appropriate decisions for future urban planning. For example, Shannon's Entropy findings indicate a high value of dispersion between the years 1990 and 2000 and from 2010 to 2016 with a growth rate of approximately 94 and 14%, respectively. Therefore, these results can help and support decision makers to implement alternative urban forms such as the compactness form to achieve an urban form that is more suitable and sustainable. The results of this study confirm the importance of using spatio-temporal built-up area and quantitative analysis to protect the sustainability of land use, as well as to improve the urban planning system via the effective monitoring and assessment of urban growth trends and patterns.