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- PublicationUnderstanding The Economic Impacts Of International Branch Campuses (Ibc) In Uzbekistan: Insights From Graduates(2025-08)The number of international branch campuses (IBC) in Uzbekistan has grown rapidly in recent decades. The government has actively supported the establishment of these institutions with the aim of increasing access, quality, and capacity within the higher education system, as well as preparing qualified human resources for the national economy. Although the industry has matured and some IBCs have already produced several batches of graduates, the actual benefits and impacts of these institutions on the economy and society remains unclear. Therefore, this study explores the perspectives of IBC graduates on the economic impacts of international branch campuses in Uzbekistan, with a focus on human capital development.
- PublicationInvestigating Source Apportionment And Ecological Risk Assessment Of Microplastic Pollution In The Surface Waters Of Pinang River And Kerian River Using Spatial Analysis(2025-09)Microplastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems is an emerging environmental concern due to its persistence, widespread distribution, and ecological risks. This study investigates the sources, distribution, and ecological risks of microplastics in the surface waters of the Pinang River (Balik Pulau) and Kerian River (Nibong Tebal), Malaysia. These two rivers are subjected to varied land uses, including agriculture, aquaculture, and urban development. The study integrates historical water quality data (2017–2021), in-situ measurements, stereomicroscopy, FTIR polymer identification, and ecological risk assessment through the Risk Quotient (RQ) method. To identify potential pollution sources, secondary water quality data were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), revealing that both rivers are predominantly impacted by diffuse sources such as agricultural runoff, aquaculture effluents, and domestic discharges.
- PublicationThe Influence Of Institutional Pressures And Social Capital On Blockchain Technology Diffusion In Malaysian Agriculture And Food Supply Chain: The Moderating Role Of Social Networks(2025-09)The conventional agriculture and food supply chain (AFSC) suffers from concerns such as food security, food waste, operational inefficiency, instances of food fraud, and lack of traceability, among others. These concerns exist due to a lack of traceability, transparency, digitalization, and interconnectedness across AFSC. In addition, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has forced companies to adopt digitalization solutions to sustain their business operations. While most businesses reverted to existing practices once the pandemic's adversities eased, this implies that the adopted system does not meet the needs of AFSC companies. In response, researchers advocated for the use of blockchain technology (BCT) to unlock the capabilities of traceability and transparency, as well as to offer a secure platform for digitalization. Despite the benefits of BCT in improving AFSC, its usage is still in the infancy stage. Therefore, this study aims to increase the diffusion of BCT in the Malaysian AFSC by assessing the influence of social capital theory and institutional theory. Also, most previous studies have particularly focused on intention to adopt, and this study extends the scope by adding two preceding stages: knowledge seeking and evaluation of perceived innovation characteristics. The key research objectives are to identify the significant determinants of each BCT diffusion stage and examine the moderating role of social networks in trust-based relationships.
- PublicationImmunomodulatory Effect Of Christia Vespertilionis Leaf Extract (Cvle) On B Cell Activating Factor (Baff) - Mediated Monocyte Proliferation(2025-09)Aberrant expression of B cell activating factor (BAFF) has been strongly implicated in a range of immunological disorders, particularly autoimmune diseases and lymphoid malignancies. Among the various disorders influenced by BAFF dysregulation, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is particularly notable, as elevated levels of BAFF have been consistently reported in patients with SLE, thereby positioning BAFF as a promising target for therapeutic intervention. While synthetic BAFF antagonists are currently used for treatment, a substantial percentage of patients do not respond well to these treatments, justifying the need for alternative approaches with natural products from traditional/medicinal plants. Christia vespertilionis (CV), commonly known as the butterfly wing plant demonstrated various medicinal properties, though its immunomodulatory effects remain largely unexplored. Therefore, this study evaluates the potential immunomodulatory effects of aqueous CV leaf extract (CVLE) on BAFF-mediated monocyte proliferation.
- PublicationExamining The Relationship Between Hrm Practices, Organizational Justice, Transformational Leadership, And Job Performance Of Administrative Staff In “Double First Class” Universities In Sichuan, China: The Moderating Role Of Organizational Identification(2025-08)As China’s higher education sector expands, operational-level administrative staff face increasing workloads, evolving job expectations, and immense pressure. Ensuring their effectiveness is crucial for institutional efficiency, yet research on their performance remains limited. This study, based on social exchange theory (SET) and social identity theory (SIT), explores how HRM practices, organizational justice, and transformational leadership influence job performance, with organizational identification as a moderator.
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- PublicationEffect of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyethylene glycol (peg) to alumina slip casting product(2025-08-01)Alumina slip casting is a conventional shaping method that able to produce complex geometries with dimensional accuracy which is suitable to be used for furnace tubes and thermocouple protection tubes. Since there is limited research studies on the impact of lower molecular weight of additives to slurry’s rheological and final sintered product characteristics, low molecular weight PVA (binder) and PEG (plasticizer) were used in this study. The objective of this research is to evaluate the effects of varying concentrations of PEG and PVA and determine the optimal formulation that correlates between rheological of alumina slurry and characteristic of sintered alumina product. In this study, PVA (31000g/mol to 50000 g/mol) and PEG (1500 g/mol) were used at different concentration which is from 1.0 wt% to 4.0 wt% to evaluate their influence on slurry’s viscosity, casting time pH and sintered alumina product’s shrinkage measurement, density, porosity and flexural strength. The slurry formulations were prepared by using ball milling and slip cast into molds, followed by drying and sintering at 1650 °C. Based on the results obtained, viscosity of the slurry decreases as increasing the concentration of PVA. In contrast, the viscosity of slurry was reduced when the concentration of PEG increases. For casting time measurement, the lower the concentration of PVA and PEG, the greater the wall thickness formation. The optimal concentrations of PEG and PVA was sample S6 (1 wt% PEG + 1 wt% PVA) was determined as the optimal formulation since it shows the highest flexural strength (38.80 MPa), bulk density (3.88 g/cm³), the lowest porosity (3.05%), and rapid wall formation with sufficient shape retention and better appearance.
- ItemPemantauan entomologikal terhadap nyamuk di dalam kampus Universiti Sains Malaysia(2009-04)A study on a malaria outbreak in Bukit Gambir on the Southeast district of Penang Island was carried out for 14 months from February 2006 until March 2007. This study details the occurrence of malaria among the population according to age and profession. The age group between 21-30 years old recorded the highest malaria infection, while farm workers, rubber tappers, tourists, construction workers and illegal immigrants were the groups susceptible to the disease. A total of 80.93% of the malaria cases was caused by Plasmodium vivax, 15.69% by P. falcifarum, 0.98% by P. malariae and 2.94% by P. vivax and P. falcifarum. The malaria cases involved 10 citizenship including Malaysian, and the highest were among Indonesian comprising 69.90% of the total number of cases. A study on the bionomics of Anopheles mosquitoes was also carried out. Throughout the study, seven Anopheles species were found namely An. barbirostris (2.52%), An. separatus (2.31%). An. umbrosus (0.68%), An. nigerrimus (0.08%), An. maculatus (91.23%). An. vagus (3.02 %) and An. ramsay; (0.16%). Anopheles larve were present in five habitats. ie. natural ditches, rivers. water reservoirss. hilly area and man made drains. Anopheles spp. bite throughout the night with several biting patterns. Anopheles maculatus shows its first biting peak at 2300 hours and the second peak at 0200 hours. while An. vagus bites throughout the night with the first biting peak at 2100 hours and the second peak at 0400 hours. Anopheles separatus displays the first biting peak at 2100 and the second biting peak at 0300, An. umbrosus bites with the highest biting peak at 0200 and the second highest peak at 2200. Anopheles ramsayi was observed with two same biting peaks at 2000 and 0300 hours. Anopheles barbirostris shows three biting peaks, the highest at 0200 hours and the second peaks at 2000 and 0300. Anopheles nigerrimus does not bite throughout the night, this species was observed to bite only at 2300 hours. Seasonal abundance of Anopheles mosquitoes was closely related to rainfall abundance. The main vector, An. maculatus showed no resistance to DDT4% , Malathion 5% and Permethrin 0.75% .
- ItemKajian mengenai kesatuan idea dalam dialog pengajaran dan pembelajaran bidang estetik dalam mata pelajaran Bahasa Melayu tingkatan empat di beberapa buah sekolah di Sabah(2005)It has been ages that literature is used in the teaching and learning of Bahasa Melayu to achieve the aesthetic goal and objective of the Bahasa Melayu education. However, a few questions arose about the ineffectiveness and unattrativeness of the teaching and learning situation.. The Teaching and learning process is found to be unable to bring out the overtly and covertly ideas in the literature. Therefore, this study is conducted to identify the teachers` and students` level of thinking during the teaching and learning process. The levels of thinking identified are recording, reporting, generalizing, lower analogy, higher analogy, speculation, and the whole idea. The study is carried out among the form four students and teachers in the district of Tuaran dan Tanparuli in Sabah. There were 12 teachers dan 12 classes involved in the study. The study used the hermeneutic method to analyse the dialogue resulted in the teaching and learning discourse. About 130 dialogue have been analyzed to interpret the level of thinking in the overtly and covertly ideas. The result of the study shows that the students` level of thinking in the teaching and learning of easthetic scope in the Bahasa Melayu subject are focused towards the lower level, which are recording, reporting, and generalizing in the ideas. Whereas the teachers` level of thinking is found to be a bit higher than the students` level of thinking. Eventhough there are efforts to involve in the discourse at higher level of thinking among teachers, but teachers` level at thinking is still clearly focused in the mid-lower level which are recording, reporting, generalizing, lower analogy, and higher analogy. Those levels of thinking are focused into certain themes which are on-going problems, social and society values, family and good practice. Therefore, the teaching and learning of easthetic scope in the Bahasa Melayu subject supports previous researchers that suggested the teaching and learning still focuses on the lower level of thinking which is the overtly ideas.
- ItemA Case Study of Performance Management System in Cooperative Commission of Malaysia (SKM)(Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2010)Sistem Pengurusan Prestasi (PMSs) adalah penting kerana ia memainkan peranan utama dalam menentukan pencapaian strategik objektif sesebuah organisasi. Dengan perubahan daripada Jabatan Pembangunan Koperasi (JPK) kepada Suruhanjaya Koperasi Malaysia (SKM) pada 1 Januari 2008, telah memberi satu tanggungjawab yang besar kepada organisasi untuk membangunkan koperasi di Malaysia. SKM telah mengimplementasikan PMS untuk memastikan bahawa strategi baru dan target yang ditetapkan dapat dicapai. Dengan demikian, kajian kes pada sistem pengurusan prestasi di Suruhanjaya Koperasi Malaysia (SKM) dilakukan dengan tujuan untuk menyemak pelaksanaan sistem Key Performance Indicator (KPI), elemen-elemen dalam sistem PMS, cara pengukur prestasi dibangunkan dan sistem pemantauan yang dilakukan oleh SKM. Masalah-masalah yang timbul semasa melaksanakan PMS akan membantu untuk mengetahui kekuatan dan kelemahan anda pengukuran prestasi yang digunakan dalam SKM dalam rangka meningkatkan gerakan koperasi di Malaysia. Selain itu, penilaian dilakukan untuk menentukan sama ada SKM telah mencapai sasaran prestasi seperti yang dinyatakan dalam rancangan strategik dari tahun 2008-2013. Data dalam kes ini diperolehi dari temuramah dengan pegawai yang releven dalam organisasi. Selain temuramah, semakan keatas dokumen SKM juga dilakukan untuk memberikan gambaran yang jelas dan melengkapkan data kualitatif. Kata Kunci : Sistem Pengurusan Prestasi (PMS), Key Performance Indicator (KPI), sektor awam, kajian kes.
- ItemInvestigation on the effect of gold nanoparticles decorated zinc oxide nanorods as glucose sensor(2016-06)In this work, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesised using the seeding growth method. Various sizes of spherical AuNPs were formed by varying the volume of gold seed, hydroxylamine hydrochloride and gold chloride. Zinc oxide nanorods (ZnONRs) were produced using hydrothermal growth on seeded indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates. Zinc acetate sol seed was dropped on ITO substrates and heated at 150°C in oven. The ITO substrates were then heated at 500°C for 2 hours in a preheated tube furnace to obtain ZnO seed. The substrates were then immersed into a hydrothermal solution and heated at 80°C for 4 hours. The synthesised AuNPs were drop casted on ZnONRs/ITO electrodes and air dried. Enzymatic glucose oxidase (GOx) and nafion were dropped on the produced electrodes. Electrochemical activity of Nafion/GOx/AuNPs/ZnONRs/ITO electrodes in glucose detection was studied using cyclic voltammetry. The effect of parameters on the electrochemical activity investigated were size of AuNPs, volume of AuNPs and volume of GOx. The optimised electrode was Nafion/60 μl GOx/80μl 30nm AuNPs/ZnONRs/ITO with high sensitivity of 3.41 μA/mM·cm2, wide linear range of 0.1 – 20 mM and low limit of detection of 1.17 mM.