Transition Within the Teaching Pedagogy: A Stochastic Opportunity to Engage Problem Solving Skill Through CODE

Engineering curriculum primarily relies on the execution of learning strategy in knowledge skill and psychomotor skill. The COVID19 scenario forces a rethinking stochastic approach needed to continue run the courses without compromising the outcomes as agreed and endorsed by the various stakeholders. This work proposes a way in which the engagement of students and curriculum can be approached in the future through a stochastic approach using design thinking strategy. CODE is a design thinking approach used in the alternative shift in running curriculum due to the shift in the full digital mode of operation due the closed down of physical institutions place of learning. The framework, the key components, and the tracking of the performance to align the set outcomes are presented. Analysis on a sample core module from the engineering specific with action plan strategy over a semester is presented with reflections and effectiveness through on the programme outcomes reflections. © 2022, Institute of Technology PETRONAS Sdn Bhd.

Active Learning via Pair Quiz During COVID-19 Pandemics for Engineering Students

Due to novel coronavirus (COVID-19), higher learning institutions and schools have opted the online based learning instead of face to face (F2F) for their teaching and learning (T&L) activities. Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) also has no exception to this matter. Beginning May 2020 semester, all T&L in UTP are implemented through online platform such as BigBlueButton (BBB) and Microsoft Team (MS Team). BBB is running on ULearn platform, while MS Team is running via Microsoft team. Active learning (AL) approach have been fully utilized for T&L deliveries. One of the AL techniques is the implementation of pair- quiz as one of assessment method for Statistics and Application subject. Pair-quiz can be considered as novelty in T&L implementation especially during COVID-19 pandemic. From the study, pair-quiz provides better option to the students in securing higher course work marks while improving their understanding on the subject matter. Furthermore, through pair-quiz, the students have become peer helpers to each other. © 2022, Institute of Technology PETRONAS Sdn Bhd.

Probing Risk of Default in the Market-Leading Islamic Banking Industry: During the Covid-19 Pandemic

This study aims to highlight the bankruptcy-related challenges and the reasons behind bank failures for the global Islamic banking industry, and to understand the expected impact of Covid-19 on the financial health of the Islamic banking industry. Moreover, the study shows that going bankrupt is a costly process that affects all stakeholders. Evidence shows that in the case of Islamic banking, a Shariah-based bankruptcy prediction model for apprehending the true bankruptcy prediction is over-sighted. It may further sour the existing uncertain situation for the Islamic banking industry with the additional unfavorable impact of Covid-19. As the subjected pandemic has badly affected the flow of the financial system worldwide, Islamic banking is not isolated. Therefore, efficient bankruptcy prediction models equipped with the latest micro and macro-economic factors are compulsory for the sustainability of the Islamic banking industry. © 2022, Institute of Technology PETRONAS Sdn Bhd.

Evolution of Outbreaks, Lessons Learnt and Challenges Towards “New Normalcy”—Post COVID-19 World

A new era in epidemics started due to unhealthy practices, population density, environmental changes, migration and deforestation. The rapidity in the spread is primarily due to globalization as we moved to the industrial revolution where everything is internet-connected. In past 30 years, the trend exhibits an increase in the number of epidemics challenging the social well-being, the economy and to some extent the national security. And this translates to the impact on the industrial growth, the race of future together fighting with the newest of the viruses. This paper analyzes and reviews the outbreaks from the start of the revolutionary steam power generation to the modern days, their impact to generate new values to the society that translated the newer solutions to become new norms. Impact on the outbreaks on the various key sectors and the measures that lead us to overcome is presented. We present the new normal which would become normal in the near future, the post COVID-19 scenario. © 2022, Institute of Technology PETRONAS Sdn Bhd.

The promising barrier: Theoretical investigation

Virus has become a global pandemic because of the rapid spread and imaginative numbers of cases and deaths. It becomes the most important issue that brings the attention of not only scientists but also the press, international and publishing houses, etc. All the countries involved all researches and centres efforts to find a vaccine or treatment to control it to no avail. This study not only investigates and explores the interaction between three types of medicine (Hydroxychloroquine, Favipiravir, and Remdesivir), and the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2) receptors but also comparing the results with the interaction between the active part of the virus (Spike protein (S1)) and the cell. All interactions and properties of all molecules have been studied theoretically using theoretical calculations and computational methods based on the density functional theory. The results indicate that one of the drugs, which is Remdesivir could be an effective barrier inhibits the bind of the S1 with the human cell. This result could be interpreted in terms of the binding energy, since the binding energy of the Remdesivir molecule with the ACE2 equals-8.564 eV, while the binding energy of S1 is-5.666 eV. This research also founds that the electrons transfer from the drug to the ACE2 is 10.873 e, which is higher than that of S1 (5.155e). In addition, the results exhibit the Hydroxychloroquine does not have enough capability to inhibit the binding process between the virus and the cell since its binding energy (-2.948 eV) and the number of electrons transfer (0.7670) are the lowest. Finally, the Fermi energies values of Remdesivir (-3.5 eV) and ACE2 (-3.4 eV) molecules are convergent. In the context of the elastic transport, this predication is an important result since it interprets the large number of electrons that have been transferred from Remdesivir to ACE2 molecule, as shown in Figure 3 and Table 2, and this introduces the Remdesivir as a promising drug. Copyright © Advanced Scientific Research. All rights reserved.