39506 research outputs found
Sort by
Documenting and Designing Digital Folklore Comics on ‘Indigenous Fruits in Sarawak’: An Ethnobotanical-Linguistic Approach
No full textApart from being a source of food in local community, most species of the indigenous fruits in Sarawak are seasonal which make them unique, symbolic and closely connected to the life of the locals. Socio-culturally, they play a central role in maintaining the identity of Sarawak. However, due to sociocultural hybridization, the indigenous knowledge base related to these indigenous fruits, including their associated folklores, has become increasingly endangered. In line with this, the present study aims to design digital comics depicting folklores related to indigenous fruits in Sarawak. Adopting an ethnolinguistic fieldwork approach, the documentation of folk genres
from the narrators or informants was done in the central region of Sarawak, where most of the indigenous fruits are grown. To this end, conversational qualitative interview and photography method were employed, focusing on stories or folkloric knowledge related to the indigenous fruits, such as their use and traditional beliefs, myths, tales, and practices of people. This was followed by designing the digital folklore comics. In total, eight folklores were collected. This study makes attempts to help preserve the local heritage and culture associated with the
indigenous fruits, while promoting local wisdom via the depiction of historical and cultural values embodied in the folklores
MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION OF Pelobatrachus nasutus (SCHLEGEL, 1858) (ORDER: ANURA, FAMILY: MEGOPHRYIDAE) FROM DIFFERENT LOCALITIES IN SARAWAK
Get PDFPelobatrachus nasutus is a habitat generalist as it can dispersed across fragmented landscapes. Assessing the variation in morphological traits across populations
is necessary to understand the potential impact of environmental changes on the species.
This study investigates morphological variation within the species from various localities across Sarawak, East Malaysia. A total of 26 morphometric characteristics were measured on 58 specimens deposited in the UniMAS Zoological Museum and IBEC Laboratory.
Statistical analyses were employed using Discriminant Function Analysis and the Post hoc Tukey test, revealing significant results in head length, forearm, and eye sizes, as well as snout to nare length and dorsal dermal fold length. The finding indicates that these external
morphologies are useful characters for survivorship (feeding habit, escape mechanism, body immune defence) in their different habitat types. In addition, conspicuous tubercles
were observed more abundantly on the dorsal skin of the frog found in non-protected forests, suggesting the frog’s adaptation strategy to the environment. Overall, this study
emphasised that P. nasutus can adapt to varying habitat conditions across fragmented landscapes in Sarawak through the optimal use of physical characteristics to suit their
ecological needs in various habitat types
MENEROKA SENI VISUAL GEREJA ROMAN KATOLIK DI SABAH MALAYSIA
Get PDFSeni visual memiliki keunikan tersendiri yang merentasi masa dan terus menarik minat ramai, seperti yang dinyatakan oleh Othman (2017). Karya seni visual sering kali memerlukan penghayatan yang mendalam daripada audiens bagi memahami emosi serta makna tersurat dan tersirat yang ingin disampaikan oleh pengkarya. Walaupun tidak semua karya seni dikenali secara meluas, karya seni dalam rumah ibadat, misalnya, cenderung lebih eksklusif kepada penganutnya. Pelbagai kajian terdahulu, seperti oleh Sasongko (2012), Giebelhausen (2006), Fairus & Halim (2016), Othman (2017), dan Khayril Anwar (2016), menekankan kepentingan seni kepada agama, menegaskan bahawa seni dan agama adalah aspek yang sukar dipisahkan. Kajian ini bertujuan meneroka hubungan seni dan agama Kristian di Sabah, Malaysia, dengan berfokus kepada aliran Roman Katolik. Pendekatan kualitatif digunakan melalui pemerhatian, kajian pustaka, dan temu bual tidak berstruktur di tiga tapak gereja Roman Katolik awal di Sabah, iaitu Gereja St. Mary di Sandakan, Gereja St. Michael di Penampang, dan Gereja Sacred Heart di Kota Kinabalu. Penyelidikan ini mendokumentasikan dua karya seni visual atas kaca dan enam karya pada dinding gereja, yang menggunakan Kitab Injil sebagai rujukan utama dengan penonjolan watak yang berulang dalam bentuk visual yang berbeza. Kajian ini juga mendapati adanya adaptasi simbol dan tanda dalam subjek karya, mencerminkan pengaruh seni Zaman Medieval serta simbolisme yang jelas, seperti yang dibincangkan oleh Russell (1989). Simbolisme dalam karya seni ini membawa makna mendalam, terutamanya yang berpaksi pada agama. Kajian ini menggunakan Teori Panofsky dalam menganalisis karya catan gereja melalui tiga peringkat: pre-ikonografi, ikonografi pertengahan, dan ikonografi akhir, dengan penggunaan imej seperti Halo, figura bersayap, warna, merpati, domba, hati, dan gerak tangan untuk menyampaikan makna
Examining the impact of oil use on the relationship between GDP growth and life expectancy in Malaysia
Get PDFLife expectancy reflects a population's overall health and prosperity. This study applies the Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) method to analyze how oil use influences the link between GDP growth and life expectancy in Malaysia from 1980 to 2020. The results show that while GDP growth boosts life expectancy in both the short and long term, dependence on oil negatively affects it. Wealth accumulation positively contributes to longevity, whereas healthcare budget distribution surprisingly reduces life expectancy. These findings highlight the complex relationship between economic development and environmental conditions, suggesting the need for policies that support both growth and environmental sustainability to improve public health outcomes
Invasive Acacia mangium Leaf Litter Modifies Soil Chemical Properties of A Bornean Tropical Heath Forest : A Soil Incubation Study
No full textThis study investigated the effects of Acacia mangium Willd. leaf litter on soil chemical properties of a tropical heath forest in Borneo using a controlled soil incubation experiment. The litter of exotic A. mangium and selected native heath forest species (Buchanania arborescens Blume., Calophyllum inophyllum L., Dillenia suffruticosa Griff. and Ploiarium alternifolium Vahl.) were incubated with heath forest soils collected under natural conditions and nine different treatments of heath forest soils (soils without leaf litter, soils treated with single species leaf litter, and soils treated with native leaf litter with and without A. mangium leaf litter). We quantified mass litter loss (%), and soil concentrations of exchangeable nitrogen (NO3? and NH4+) and cations (K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+), available phosphorus (P), total organic carbon (TOC) and organic matter (OM), and total acidity with exchangeable concentrations of Al3+ and H+ in each treatment after a 9-month incubation period. Mass litter loss (%) varied significantly between species, with A. mangium leaf litter only showing higher mass loss than D. suffruticosa litter, but lower than C. inophyllum litter. The effects of incubation with single-species native leaf litter were variable and species-specific, but incubation with A. mangium litter increased soil pH and exchangeable NO3? and K+ concentrations and decreased exchangeable Al3+ concentrations. Soils incubated with a combination of C. inophyllum and A. mangium leaf litters, as opposed to those incubated with C. inophyllum alone, exhibited decreased pH, lower total organic carbon (TOC), and reduced exchangeable concentrations of potassium (K+) and magnesium (Mg2+). Additionally, there was an increase in organic matter (OM) content, total acidity, and exchangeable concentrations of ammonium (NH4+) and hydrogen (H+). Our results provide preliminary evidence that C. inophyllum may be a promising native plant species for use in enrichment planting of degraded or disturbed tropical heath forests with co-occurring invasive A. mangium
Enhancing IoT security with a DNA-based lightweight cryptography system
Get PDFThe rapid increase of internet of things (IoT) devices in our daily lives has highlighted the critical need
for strong security measures to protect the integrity and confidentiality of IoT communications.
This paper presents a novel solution to this growing problem using a secure and lightweight DNAbased encryption method, elliptic curve encryption (ECC), to secure IoT communications. The research explains how DNA-LWCS (DNA-based lightweight cryptography system) utilizes basic
encryption methods to secure data transmission against system complexity while maintaining security effectiveness. The security key ensures enough protection for achieving the necessary level of confidentiality. Three fundamental keys are extracted from publicly accessible DNA sequences to start
the procedure during its first phase. When employed together with ECC these keys generate a private
key during the second stage of development. During the second stage the keys generate a private
key based on ECC (elliptic curve cryptography) protocol. The encryption and decryption of IoT device
messages requires this private key during the last operational phase. The combination of intuitive DNA
sequences together with ECC generates better security and decreases the strain on systems. Practical
evaluations demonstrate that the proposed encryption method offers better security and efficiency
compared to existing methods while maintaining weightless operational performance. This makes it an
ideal solution to secure IoT data exchange. The encryption method we investigated received detailed
study which focused on both security and efficiency criteria during our research timeframe. The
research demonstrates our security method outperforms other solutions by maintaining low resource
requirements. Our proposed DNA-based encryption system shows potential as a suitable security
measure for protecting IoT connections through its lightweight design capabilities
Human Resource Practices and Employee Performance in Sarawak Private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs): Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy
Get PDFThe competitiveness, success and sustainability of Private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs) hinge upon various factors and most importantly, the interplay between human resource (HR) practices and employee’s performance in the light of the rapid changes in the business environment. However, how individuals respond to organizational efforts require further understanding. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of HR practices, specifically training and development, job rotation, career planning, and job involvement on employee performance in PHEIs in Sarawak, Malaysia, with a focus on the mediating role of self-efficacy. Framed within Social Exchange Theory (SET) and the Ability-Motivation-Opportunity (AMO) Theory, the research aims to understand how these HR practices contribute to enhanced employee performance. Data were collected through an online survey across 27 PHEIs, resulting in 452 responses from both academic and non-academic staff using purposive sampling. The analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The key findings revealed that the relationship between HR practices and employee performance is significant, where job involvement shows the strongest influence, followed by training and development, job rotation and career planning. In addition, self-efficacy was found to significantly mediate the relationship between HR practices and employee performance. Theoretically, the findings highlight the importance of strategic HR interventions in fostering a motivated and capable workforce in line with AMO Theory. The practical contributions include enhancing HR practices, improving staff retention, emphasizing leadership development, and guiding policymakers on continuous professional development (CPD) and career progression to strengthen employee performance and PHEIs. Recommendations for future research include exploring additional HR practices and mediators in different educational contexts to develop HR strategies that improve employee performance
WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR BORNEAN ORANGUTAN CONSERVATION IN SARAWAK, MALAYSIA
Get PDFAlthough endangered and protected by the strongest regulations on the island of Borneo, Bornean orang-utans
are threatened by forest loss, habitat degradation, and poaching. The overall population of Bornean orangutans
is estimated to be only 104,700 in total, which is less than half of the population a century ago. Thus, this
study aims to measure the non – market value of the conservation of Bornean orangutans in Sarawak, both in
Matang Wildlife Centre (MWC) and the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre (SWC). Applying the contingent
valuation method (CVM), non - visitors’ willingness to pay (WTP) for the entrance fee of SWC and MWC in
order to conserve Bornean orangutans were measured. Overall, the respondents show positive attitude towards
conserving Bornean orangutans. 90% of the 600 respondents vote in favour of Bornean Orangutan
Conservation Program, while the mean WTP is RM206.98. They also believe that it is everyone’s duty to
ensure that plants and animals today will exist for the future generations. The results of this study will be
useful for the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), government and researchers alike to manage and conserve
Bornean orangutans and other endangered species more efficiently.
Keywords: Bornean orangutan, Willingness to Pay, Contingent Valuation, Economic Valuation
Simultaneous extraction and determination of 34 multiclass endocrine disrupting compounds in river water using solid-phase extraction coupled with three liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry methods
Get PDFEndocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) encompass a diverse range of substances found in river water, and can
have significant impacts on aquatic organisms and human health. In this study, a multiresidue analytical method
was developed for determining 34 endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), including pharmaceuticals, plasticizers, and hormones by utilizing a dual-cartridge solid-phase extraction (SPE) approach (Phenomenex® Strata-X
and Oasis WAX) coupled with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The optimized
method achieved >70 % recovery for all analytes, demonstrating robust extraction efficiency. The reliability and
robustness of the optimized method were ensured through meticulous validation procedures encompassing
linearity, precision, recovery, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ). The method demonstrated satisfactory performance overall, meeting established precision levels and exhibiting LOD and LOQ values
ranging from 0.1 ng/L to − 50 ng/L and 0.3 ng/L–200 ng/L, respectively. The linearity of the compounds
indicated strong regression, with a goodness of fit (r) exceeding 0.99 for all targeted compounds. Satisfactory
precision was achieved with a relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 18 %. However, two compounds
showed lower precision during LC–MS/MS analysis, notably atenolol (21.97 %) and diltiazem (34.28 %). The
validated method was used for the quantitative EDCs analysis of river water samples collected from five locations
within the Langat River, Malaysia. Application of this method to real water samples from the Langat River
revealed the presence of various EDCs, even upstream, underscoring the pervasive nature of EDC contamination
in freshwater environments. This study contributes to the advancement of analytical chemistry methodologies
for the comprehensive assessment of EDC occurrence in environmental waters, thereby facilitating informed
decision-making processes for pollution control and public health protection
An explainable machine learning model for encompassing the mechanical strength of polymer‑modified concrete
Get PDFPolymer-modifed concrete (PMC) is an advanced building material with more excellent durability, tensile strength, adhesion, and lesser susceptibility to chemical degradation. Recent developments in machine learning (ML) have shown that prediction of compressive strength (CS) of PMC key input factors needed to obtain an optimized mix design are among the areas of applicability of ML. This study used eight machine learning models, which are Decision Tree, Support Vector Machine, K-Nearest Neighbors, Bagging Regression, XG-Boost, Ada-Boost, Linear Regression, Gradient Boosting to predict compressive strength and perform SHAP (Shapley additive explanation) analysis. These hybrid predictive PMC models were developed using a wide-ranging dataset of 382 experimental data points compiled from the literature. A SHAP interaction plot was also used to show how each feature afected predictions on the model outputs. As highlighted in the results, hybrid models had signifcantly higher performance than conventional models, and the XG-Boost and decision tree model had the highest accuracy. In particular, the XG-Boost and decision tree model reached R2
scores of 0.987 for training and 0.577 for testing, proving its remarkable prediction ability for PMC compressive strength. The SHAP analysis confrmed that coarse aggregate, cement, and SCMs had the most signifcant infuence on CS, with all other variables contributing lower values.
The Partial Dependence Plots (PDP) analysis allowed a relatively simple interpretation of the contribution of individual inputs to the CS predictions. These results are useful for construction purposes and provide engineers and builders with frst-hand knowledge and insight into the importance of individual components on PMC development and performance