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- PublicationBoosting English Language Reading And Speaking Skills And Motivation Through Gamification: A Mixed-Method Study Of B40 Students In Buddhist Tzu-Chi Education Centre, Penang(2025-09)This research studies the impact of gamification in boosting English language reading and speaking skills among B40 students simultaneously enhancing their motivation in learning the English language. On the whole, gamification has emerged as a promising tool to enhance motivation and foster language acquisition. This study employes a mixed-methods research design where data is collected both quantitatively and qualitatively through pre- and post-test, surveys and interviews.
- PublicationAn Analysis Of Dong Zhongshu’s Principle Of Benevolence And Righteousness(2025-09)This study aims to explore Dong Zhongshu‘s principles of benevolence (ren) and righteousness (yi) from the perspective of the relationship between the self and others. Research on Dong Zhongshu‘s principles of benevolence and righteousness is extensive; however, very few studies examine them from the perspective of both the self and others, which is a crucial key to addressing various issues. This highlights a gap in academic research that this study seeks to fill. The research primarily employs qualitative methods, including content analysis, comparative analysis, and philological analysis. The main finding of this study is that Dong Zhongshu, while inheriting Confucian thought from the Pre-Qin period, directly linked the principles of benevolence and righteousness with Heaven and argued that both originate from it.
- PublicationThe Evolution Of Modern Ink Painting In Malaysia And Singapore (1950s–2020): Tradition, Diaspora, And Identity(2025-09)This dissertation examines the evolution of modern ink painting in Malaysia and Singapore from the 1950s to 2020, focusing on how Chinese diaspora artists and local Chinese artists reinterpreted traditional ink practices in response to Southeast Asian cultural contexts and under the influence of Western modernist aesthetics. It addresses the marginalisation of this regional artistic development in art historical dis-course and positions modern ink painting in Malaysia and Singapore as a significant form of artistic practice. The research follows a chronological structure across three key phases marked by stylistic and socio-political change. The first phase (1950s–1965) explores how Nanyang pioneer artists integrated Chinese brushwork with trop-ical subject matter and compositional strategies drawn from European modernism. The second phase (1965–2000) investigates how both Nanyang pioneers and second-gen-eration artists engaged with abstraction, symbolism, and personal experimentation in response to post-independence nation-building and evolving regional modernist ideo-logies. The third phase (2000–2020) examines the transition toward globalised and transnational ink art approaches.
- PublicationRenal outcomes and predictors in spina bifida children:10 years review in two tertiary hospitals(2022)specifically renal complications. The purpose of this study is to determine the long-term renal outcomes and their predictors in SB children. Materials and Methods: A 10-year retrospective record review was conducted involving pediatric patients who were diagnosed with SB. Baseline data including type of SB, level of spinal lesion, neurological sequalae (bladder, bowel incontinence, ability to walk), renal function and imaging findings (ultrasound, MCUG, DMSA) were documented. Descriptive analysis was performed for socio-demographic characteristics. Univariable analysis was conducted to screen independent variables. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between significant predictors for renal scarring and CKD. Results: A total of sixty SB children with mean age 11.8±3.8 years during data collection were recruited. Most of the lesions were at L5 and below. Majority were complicated with urinary (88.3%) and bowel incontinence (93.3%). Despite majority performed CIC, almost two-third had symptomatic UTI. One-third of them had both hydroureter and hydronephrosis and fifty percent were shown to have vesicoureteric reflux. The odds for developing renal scarring were 8.3 times in female compared to male (p=0.046). Half of the cohort progressed into CKD. The presence of hydroureter and hydronephrosis on ultrasound were identified as the significant factor for development of CKD (OR 3.8; 95%CI 1.239, 11.385). Conclusion: The presence of hydroureter and hydronephrosis were the predictors for development of CKD whereas female gender is associated with renal scarring.
- PublicationCeo Characteristics, Firm Risk Exposure And Industrial Revolution 4.0 Adoption In Malaysia(2025-08)This thesis investigates the relationship between CEO characteristics and the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) adoption, considering the moderating role of firm risk exposure. Drawing on upper echelons theory (UET), the thesis explores how CEO characteristics, specifically family CEOs, female CEOs, CEOs with foreign tertiary education, and older CEOs, influence IR4.0 adoption, which can be viewed as an extended managerial risk-taking. This thesis proposed that IR4.0 adoption could be reflected through four dimensions: technology acquisition, the hiring of top management team (TMT) with IR4.0 expertise, the appointment of chief information officers (CIOs), and the establishment of board-level technology committees. Using a panel dataset of 944 publicly listed firms on Bursa Malaysia from 2015 to 2023, resulting in a total of 8,163 observations, this study analyses data sourced from company annual reports and the S&P Capital IQ database.
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- ItemAssessment of fabric waste as fuel in biomass gasification system(2019-05)The fuel that is used worldwide currently is mostly from fossil fuel which is depleting. In order to replace thefuel, biomass is introduced as an alternative fuel source to generate energy. The objective of the work are to investigate the possibility of a specific biomass, which is fabric waste, to be used in the gasification process and to determine the heating value of the gas produced. The fabric waste was analised its heating value using bomb calirometer, followed by proximate analysis using thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). Gasification experiment of fabric waste was done using fluidised bed gasifier. Producer gas sample was then analysed using gas chromatograph and tar sample was collected and analysed using rotary evaporator. From the pre-analysis of the fabric waste, the heating value of the fabric waste is ranged from 15.69 to 17.08 MJ/kg. From the proximate analysis of the fabric waste, it is found that the fabric generally has high volatile material content (85.817 to 89.015%), followed by fixed carbon content (7.425 to 9.858%), moisture content (3.399 to 4.189%) and ash content (0.079 to 0.197%). The gas composition of the producer gas collected are 0.07% hydrogen, 12.15% oxygen, 30.61% nitrogen, 4.15% carbon monoxide, 0.55% methane and 52.47% carbon dioxide. The heating value of the producer gas is 0.72 Mj/Sm3 and the tar content in the producer gas is 1484 mg/Sm3 .
- ItemAntibacterial polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)/ beta tri calsium phosphate/ zinc oxide composites for craniofacial reconstruction(Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2022)Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is commonly used in dental and bone reconstruction applications due to the excellent properties such as biocompatible, biologically inert and rigid. In craniofacial, traumatic injuries will result to the defect of underlying brain. Somehow, after reconstruction of scull using PMMA, the infection may occur. Thus, incorporation of antibacterial agent such as beta tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) to the PMMA is desirable to eliminate infection. Also, the presence of β-TCP to the composites is one of the alternatives to promote cell growth to the surrounding bone tissue. Hence, in this study, PMMA composites fabricated with specified percentages of filler content of β-TCP and Zinc Oxide. The composites divided into three groups of different percentages of 5, 10, 15% β-TCP without ZnO, and another two groups, 2.5% and 5% ZnO were added 15% β-TCP. The size of β- TCP was approximately 1-5μm and ZnO was in nano size (256nm). The mechanical characteristics, chemical bonding, and physical properties of the specimen were next assessed. The characterization of specimen was then evaluated for mechanical properties, chemical bonding, physical properties. Observations of the microstructure of the fracture surface were performed by Field Emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Chemical groups existed were confirmed with analysis of Fourier Transmission InfraRed (FTIR). The mechanical properties showed the improvement for PMMA composites. There is significant difference detected between PMMA pure and PMMA composites in physical properties. The cytotoxicity effect was investigated through 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazoyl)-2-5 diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT assay), using human fetal osteoblast cell (hFOB). The hFOB cultured with 25 mg/ml PMMA filled 15% βTCP and 5% ZnO demonstrated the highest cell viability (132.73%). The percentages of cell viability of samples with 50 mg/ml and below showed no cytotoxicity effect due to their value of cell viability were more than 70%. The antibacterial properties of the PMMA composite were evaluated using agar diffusion and growth curve methods against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa). A significant difference was observed with the incorporation of ZnO filler in the agar diffusion test. The antibacterial property of PMMA composites were further evaluated with a growth curve and significant antibacterial activity was found on PMMA composites with 2.5% and 5% of ZnO filled. In conclusion, PMMA composites at 2.5% and 5% ZnO, are promising biomaterials that suit to be applied as implants in craniofacial reconstruction.
- ItemUsing Fuzzy Logic To Identify Significant Factors Of Negotiation Performance(Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2013-06)Many social and business interactions involve negotiation, in which participants may cooperate to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome that serves both parties, or compete to get the best deal for a party over the other. Within this context, negotiation can be defined as the process whereby two or more parties attempt to settle what each shall give and take, or perform and receive, in a transaction between them. Negotiation is considered as one of the most important activities that managers do on a daily basis in developing business in different markets. It is estimated to consume about fifty percent of their working time. Even with such lengthy consumption of time and effort, negotiation failure rate is reported to be high, which often leads negotiators to fail to achieve a mutual settlement.
- ItemUtilization Of Modified Waste Staghorn Coral As A Base Catalyst In Biodiesel Production(Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2019-05)This work focuses on producing a novel catalyst to synthesize methyl esters from triglycerides by the reaction with methanol. Firstly, calcium oxide derived from staghorn coral was characterized and applied in the transesterification process of refined, bleached and deodorized, (RBD) palm olein. The reaction only yielded about 62.1 ± 4.3 % methyl esters. Therefore, a catalyst modification was carried out by impregnating the staghorn coral with potassium hydroxide, KOH as an effort to further enhance its catalytic effect. The modified catalyst (K-CSC) was then used as a base catalyst in the methanolysis of RBD palm olein and waste cooking oil. For RBD palm olein transesterification, the best reaction conditions to obtain methyl esters content of 94.8 ± 0.5 % was found to be 4 wt.% catalyst, 4 h reaction time, and 15:1 methanol to oil molar ratio. Besides that, K-CSC catalyst also successfully transesterified waste cooking oil at the reaction conditions of 4 wt.% catalyst, 5 h reaction time and 18:1 methanol to oil molar ratio and produced 89.5 ± 4.8 % biodiesel. The reusability of K-CSC catalyst was also studied and unfortunately, the catalyst has poor reusability characteristic. The free fatty acid (FFA) and water tolerance analyses of K-CSC catalyst has revealed its poor ability to tolerate with free fatty acid and water presence.
- ItemPharmacoepidemiological aspects of oral contraceptives from a family planning clinic in Penang(1995)The patient information records of 961 women who were on oral.contraceptives. were extracted for a study from the Family Planning Association Kampong Kolam Clinic, a major family planning clinic in Penang. The objectives of the study were :to determine the pattern of oral contraceptive use, to assess the effectiveness of these drug,s to evaluate the information and education systems used by the family planning program, to investigate compliance to the oral contraceptive regime and the extent of quality of care. The information extracted for the study were patient characteristics, contraceptive history, medical history inclusive of occurrence of side effects and advers'e effects, compliance characteristics as well as rates and reasons fordiscontinuation. For the purpose of the analysis, a computerized system was specially developed using a Clipper system. The computer program developed is also suitable for continuous monitoring of the family planning program for future research purposes. It can also be utilized for quick retrieval of patient information records for day to day use at the clinics. The results showed a high rate of discontinuation (66%) from the oral contraceptive regime, and that those who discontinued were still in the fertile age group(92%). Extrapolation and interrelation of data showed that those women on the oral contraceptive had experienced side effects (40%), were non-compliant or had had a number of deliveries (28%) during their regime. The number of abortions (14%) amongst this group of women was also high. Overall, the study indicated that the services provided by the family planning program, in particular with the use of oral contraceptives, can be further improved. Consequently, an alternative women's health program was developed based on mformation gathered from the study. It looked at patient participation. staff re-education and audio-visual development as major factors to bring about. change in the drug delivery process. It is aimed at improving the drug use pattern at the clinic in particular. This program is being implemented.