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- PublicationDeterminants Of Online Purchase Intention Of Seasonal Goods In Nigeria: The Role Of Perceived Value And Trust(2023-02)Seasonality influenced every aspect of consumer purchase decisions. Seasons determine the goods that consumers purchase, and when to purchase them. The last few decades have experienced tremendous growth in online purchases, especially during the seasonal periods in Nigeria. Despite this growth in online purchases, the factor influencing consumer online purchase intention of seasonal goods remained under-researched. This study aims to examine the mediating effect of perceived value and trust on the relationship between perceived economic benefit, perceived transaction security, compatibility, website quality, price image, perceived vendor transparency, brand image and online purchase intention of seasonal goods. The theories underpinning this study are the Stimulus Organism Response Theory (SOR) and the Value-Based Adoption Model (VAM). A survey questionnaire was the major instrument used to collect primary data for this study. A mall intercept method was used to administer the questionnaire to the participants. Questionnaires were administered to 800 online shoppers purposively selected from shopping malls across the six geopolitical zones of the country. After data screening, 413 questionnaires were found usable. The study used a Statistical Package for Social Sciences and the Smart PLS-SEM to analyse the data. The results of data analysis revealed that perceived economic benefit, perceived transaction security, compatibility, website quality, price image and brand image have a positive effect on consumer trust. Similarly, perceived transaction security, compatibility, website quality, price image and brand image have positive effects on perceived value.
- PublicationPreschool Teacher’S Knowledge, Skill And Practice Of Hots In Teaching Science Subject(2023-03)This study investigates the teacher’s knowledge, skill and practice of higher order thinking in teaching preschool children through early science education. A total of 481 questionnaires were completed and obtained from preschool teachers in Peninsular Malaysia. The data was analysed using the SmartPLS Software version 3.0 which used for the Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The findings indicated that Knowledge of HOTS in the curriculum, Knowledge of HOTS in Pedagogy, Pedagogical skills, Planning/Preparation Skill, Professional Qualification in ECCE/Preschool and KSPK Training/Course have a positive impact on teacher’s practice of HOTS. In addition, the analysis reveals that knowledge of HOTS in curriculum and planning/preparation skills has a positive correlation. Knowledge of HOTS in Curriculum and Pedagogy skills has an insignificant correlation. The moderating effects reveal a positive moderating impact of KSPK Training/Course on the relationship between (Knowledge of HOTS in Curriculum and Knowledge of HOTS in Pedagogy) and teacher’s practice of HOTS. The study provides policy implications to the Ministry of Education (MOE) and stakeholders. MOE should consider directing their emphasis on preschool educational reforms, thus, prioritizing teachers’ development through the maximization of preschool educational resources. Expanding preschool teachers’ training should be consolidated and assigned nationwide to begin yearly.
- PublicationEmployability And It Competency Of Accounting Graduates In Responding To 4Ir(2023-03)The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has rapidly expanded the use of technology and impacted businesses, including the accounting sector where the role of accounting and duties of accountants are changing quite extensively. In response to this situation, this study aims to identify and analyse the expected information technology (IT) competency of Malaysian accounting graduates in the 4IR. The gap between the job market’s expectations upon accounting graduates’ competency level has led to the formation of IT competency model at the end of the study. In this study, Neo-Correspondence Theory (NCT) is used as a theoretical lens to examine the IT competency amongst accounting graduates and the employers’ expectations in the workplace within the context of 4IR. This study uses a qualitative approach to explore the work environment and IT competency requirements from the perspectives of employers and accounting graduates. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews and documentary reviews and analysed using a thematic analysis approach. This study found that there is a gap between employers’ expectations and accounting graduates’ IT competency concerning the IT competency expected in the 4IR era. Emerging technologies require accounting graduates to have relevant and sufficient IT competencies to ensure their employability.
- PublicationAn Empirical Study On Factors That Influence Value-Based Sustainability Of Non-Profit Organisations In Malaysia(2023-02)Non-profit organisations (NPOs) play a prominent role in realising Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2030 through service delivery and other aspects of sustainable development. However, it was acknowledged that NPOs face two main issues that might impair the organisations’ sustainability. First, the ongoing resource constraint issues that NPOs face worsen due to the COVID-19 crisis. Second, it was observed that NPOs emphasise less on “value-based” perspectives, whereby misalignment of interest between NPOs and stakeholders was noted. This scenario may impair organisational sustainability as value creation is hampered. Thus, addressing these two main issues, this study aims to answer the question: “What does it take for NPOs operating with limited resources to attain value-based sustainability (VBS) to achieve sustainable development?”. Due to limited resources from the government and funders, NPOs need to be more independent; hence, justifying the need to study organisation-specific factors that could influence the VBS of NPOs. Therefore, in line with the Social Resource-Based View (SRBV) and Resource Dependence Theory (RDT), this study examines the organisational factors influencing the VBS of NPOs in Malaysia. The organisational factors identified are organisational capacities, stakeholder engagement, social entrepreneurship orientation (SEO), cross-sector collaboration, and organisational fit.
- PublicationOptimizing The Production Of Short-Peptide Tagged Ss3A Recombinant Protein As A Potential Serological Biomarker For Strongyloidiasis(2023-02)Strongyloides stercoralis is a human-pathogenic nematode with a unique ability to autoinfect causing a parasitic disease called strongyloidiasis. Although listed as one of the neglected tropical diseases by World Health Organisation (WHO), the infection has a worldwide distribution with approximately 613.9 million cases mostly in tropical countries. Human infection occurs when the infective filariform S. stercoralis larvae in contaminated soil penetrate the intact skin through direct contact, travel to the mouth through bloodstream before it gets swallowed and resides in the gut. In the gut, female adult larvae produce eggs parthenogenetically, continuing their life cycle without having to leave the host’s body through a process called autoinfection. In general, the post-infection symptoms vary in two different ways. In immunocompetent individuals, hosts usually exhibit minimal to no symptoms (asymptomatic) and causes a life-long infection whereas in immunosuppressed individuals, unchecked infection is highly inclinative towards developing hyperinfection syndrome, an event where the larvae over-proliferate and disseminate to organs including the lung, liver, and brain.
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- ItemGenetic Polymorphisms In The Phase I And Phase II Xenobiotic Metabolizing Enzymes In Malaysian Population And Their Influence On Colorectal Cancer Susceptibility(2012)Sporadic Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is a multifactorial disease and factors contributing to its etiopathogenesis include dietary and lifestyle habits on one hand and genetic predisposition on the other hand. Exposure to environmental carcinogens through dietary components and cigarette smoke are associated with an increased risk of CRC. However, the genetic predisposition factors associated with CRC development largely remain undetermined. It was hypothesized that genetic variations in xenobiotic metabolism genes may play a role in how individuals will respond to carcinogenic compounds and hence affect the risk of developing CRC. So, this case-control study which involved 566 study subjects (255 histopathologically confirmed sporadic CRC patients and 311 normal healthy controls) was designed and undertaken at Human Genome Centre, University Sains Malaysia during the period 2009-2011, to investigate the influence of genetic polymorphisms of few xenobiotic metabolizing genes in CRC susceptibility risk. Ten polymorphisms from 6 genes encoding enzymes involved in xenobiotic metabolism (GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1 Ile105Val, CYP1A2 G3860A, CYP1A2 T739G, CYP1A2 C729T, NAT1 C1095A, NAT2 G191A, NAT2 A803G, NAT2 G857A) were selected as candidate SNPs to determine their influence, either singly or as combination genotypes, in CRC susceptibility risk and with the ultimate aim of identifying putatively protective and/or at risk genotypes. After getting informed consent, peripheral blood of all study subjects were collected, DNA extracted and genotyping carried out using PCR-RFLP and multiplex PCR methods. Genotypes were categorized into homozygous major, heterozygous variant and homozygous variant. The risk of CRC associated with these polymorphisms were estimated by calculating Odds Ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals using unconditional logistic regression. On evaluating the risk associated with the variant genotypes singly, CYP1A2 A3860A, CYP1A2 T739G, GSTP1 val/val genotypes and GSTT1 null showed significant risk association with CRC predisposition. When analyzed in 2 way combinations, remarkably increased risk was observed for carriers of CYP1A2 A3860A/T739T, GSTT1 (-/-)/ GSTM1 (-/-), (GSTT1 (-/-)/ GSTP1 Ile/Ile), (GSTT1 (-/-)/ GSTP1 Ile/Val) genotype combinations. In triple genotype combination analysis, the GSTM1 (-/-)/GSTT1 (-/-)/ GSTP1 Ile/Ile) genotype combination emerged as high risk predisposition genotype associated with CRC susceptibility risk. It is reasonable to suggest that these SNPs studied might be promoting CRC susceptibility through their capability of increased activation of chemical carcinogens and/or decreased ability of cells to detoxify carcinogens. In conclusion, the SNPs of xenobiotic metabolizing genes showing significant risk association with CRC predisposition, either singly or in combination, may be considered as putative high risk predisposition genotypes and as candidate genetic markers of CRC susceptibility.
- ItemExpression And Characterization Of A Lipase From Bacillus licheniformis IBRL-CHS2(Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2017-08)Lipases are employed in a number of industrial applications as very useful biocatalysts. Therefore, it is always worthwhile to study new lipases in detail to find out their novel properties and a way to exploit their potential as a biocatalyst. Bacillus licheniformis IBRL-CHS2 in this study was obtained from the culture collection of Industrial Biotechnology Research Laboratory (IBRL), Universiti Sains Malaysia. The lipase gene of the bacterium was cloned into the cloning vector, pGEM-T Easy and the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the lipase were deposited into the GeneBank with accession numbers KU984433 and AOT80658 respectively. Alignment of the amino acid sequence with other Bacillus lipases sequences revealed that it belongs to subfamily 1.4 of bacterial lipases. Expression of the lipase was attempted using several combinations of vector and host. The usage of pCold I as the expression vector and E. coli BL21 (DE3) as the host, coupled with the removal of the enzyme’s signal peptide proved to be the best expression system for this lipase. Optimum expression conditions were determined to be at 15°C for 24 hours incubation with 0.2 mM IPTG. The His-tagged enzyme was purified 13 folds with 68% recovery and specific activity of 331.3 U/mg by a one-step affinity purification method. The optimum temperature for the lipase was determined to be 35°C and the optimum pH is 7. Interestingly, the enzyme was stable even after 24 hours of incubation in various 25% (v/v) organic solvents tested namely isooctane (log P= 4.5), n-hexane (log P= 3.6), DMSO (log P= -1.22) and methanol (log P= -0.76). The mentioned organic solvents had a stimulatory effect on the lipase activity compared to the control. Chloroform (log P= 2) and diethylether (log P= 0.85) meanwhile inhibited lipase activity. Substrate specificity study revealed that the lipase possess highest affinity towards p-nitrophenol laurate (C12:0) with Km of 0.36 mM and Vmax was 357 μmol min-1 mg-1. Among the natural oils tested, the lipase showed optimum activity towards coconut oil and lowest activity towards olive oil. The lipase was stable in the presence of 1 mM and 5 mM of Ca2+, K+, Na+, Mg2+ and Ba2+ but the activity decreased in the presence of Zn2+ and Al3+. The lipase was relatively stable in the presence of various 1 mM effector molecules although marginal decrease in activity was detected at the higher concentration of 5 mM. EDTA and ascorbic acid slightly inhibited the lipase activity at both concentrations. Lipase activity was stimulated in the presence of 1 mM non-ionic surfactants like Triton X-100, Nonidet P40, Tween 20 and Tween 40. The anionic surfactant, SDS inhibited lipase activity. Site-directed mutagenesis of the catalytic triad residues- Ser-77, Asp-129 and His-152 resulted in the lipase losing all of its activity and further re-affirmed their importance for catalysis to take place. Due to the high homology (69%) that this lipase shares with the previously solved structure of lipase A from Bacillus subtilis, its tertiary structure was predicted with high confidence using the homology modelling software, SWISS-MODEL. The result revealed that the lipase shares similar fold structure with subfamily 1.4 lipases. This study has laid a strong foundation and reason for future studies of the lipase to enhance some of its properties especially its thermostability. Characterization of the lipase has highlighted some unique properties of the lipase that differs from other members of subfamily 1.4. It is very stable in 25% (v/v) organic solvent and thus can be employed in the area of organic synthesis and other suitable industries.
- ItemInvestigating Consumer S Sophistication, Cynicism And Efficacy On Emotion-Based Political Brand Equity Using Anes Panel Data : Moderating Role Of Partisanship(Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2017-02)Utilising secondary data from American National Election Studies, namely the 2008-2009 panel study, this research aims to test the direct and indirect relationships between consumer‘s political sophistication and emotion-based political brand equity, and thereby emotion-based political brand equity predictive power of consumer‘s voting choice. Grounded on the positive paradigm, this thesis utilises a quantitative methodology, namely, descriptive, in testing the aforementioned premises. The findings of this thesis suggest that consumer‘s sophistication, cynicism and efficacy are related to emotion-based PBE; consumer‘s partisanship alters the positive relationship between consumer‘s sophistication, cynicism, and efficacy and emotion-based PBE; emotion-based PBE is predictive of consumers‘ voting choice; consumer‘s sophistication is positively related to consumer‘s efficacy and cynicism; and consumer‘s cynicism and efficacy mediate the relationship between sophistication and emotion-based PBE. Extrapolating on the discussion of these findings, the research demonstrated the research psychological, political, and marketing contributions in terms of the aforementioned results. Thus, the current effort is posited to bring greater clarity to the literatures of marketing, political science and psychology, making it possible to understand, from an interdisciplinary perspective, the nature of relationships that governs the interactions within the framework. That said, the current study is limited by its objectives and scope and therefore, a number of suggestions are provided for future researcher‘s consideration.
- ItemKajian Terhadap Proses Penjanaan Pengetahuan Dalam Kaedah - Kaedah Pengajaran Ekspositori Dan Pembelajaran Berasaskan Masalah Berbantukan Sistem Pengurusan Pembelajaran(Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2010-01)Dari analisis data pelbagai industri terkemuka di Jepun, Nonaka dan Takeuchi (1995) merumuskan bahawa penjanaan pengetahuan meliputi proses-proses interaksi dan transaksi pengetahuan tasit dan pengetahuan eksplisit antara pakar dan novis yang melibatkan proses-proses Sosialisasi (Socialization), Pensuratan (Externalization), Kombinasi (Combination) dan Pensiratan (Internalization) (SECI). Model ini amat menarik namun kajian yang menunjukkan kesesuaian aplikasinya dalam bidang pendidikan masih berkurangan. Maka kajian ini meninjau sama ada model SECI dapat menjelaskan proses-proses penjanaan pengetahuan dalam pembelajaran dalam talian berbantukan teknologi sistem pengurusan pembelajaran (LMS) bagi kaedah-kaedah pengajaran ekspositori dan pembelajaran berasaskan masalah (PBL). Penyelidikan ini menggunakan kutipan data secara tinjauan dan melibatkan sampel seramai 495 orang pelajar yang mengikuti kursus-kursus berbantukan LMS dari sebuah universiti di Malaysia. Satu set instrumen dibangunkan berdasarkan petunjuk-petunjuk (indicators) bagi setiap konstruk dalam model SECI yang mana konstruk Sosialisasi sebagai pembolehubah exogenous dan konstruk lain sebagai pembolehubah endogenous.
- ItemThe expression of ppars gamma in the cervical cancer line, bela and the effects of specific PPAR ligand on cell growth(Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan, 2013)To quantify the mRNA expression levels of PPARy in the cervical cancer cell line, HeLa, using real-time PCR. To correlate the findings in (1) with the corresponding protein expression levels by Western blotting. To correlate the transcriptional and translational levels of PPARy with markers of apoptosis in these cells. To determine whether addition of specific PPARy ligands to the tumour cell line would modulate the above parameters.