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Preferences of Generation Z in Participating in Cultural Activities in Kuching, Malaysia
No full textThe global tourism industry is increasingly focused on understanding Generation Z (Gen Z), defined as individuals born between 1997 and 2012, due to their distinct characteristics shaped by digital immersion (Meola, 2023; Pew Research Center, 2019). Their preferences, heavily
influenced by social media and technology, present new challenges and opportunities for cultural tourism development. Cultural tourism is a significant economic driver, and in Kuching, Sarawak, it is central to the city's identity, promoted through a unique blend of culture, adventure, nature, food, and festivals (CANFF). However, a significant research gap exists regarding the specific cultural activities Gen Z prefers, the factors influencing their participation, and the most effective strategies to promote these activities to them on social media (Robinson & Schanzel, 2019; Vieira et al., 2020; Nguyen et al., 2021)
Knowledge and Perceptions of Bat Guano Among Diverse Demographics in Malaysia
No full textBat guano, or bat faeces, plays a crucial role in cave ecosystems, serving as a source of energy and impacting
habitat dynamics. Its utilisation had been beneficial worldwide since centuries ago. However, a lack of awareness
on bat guano’s role in the ecosystem particularly in Malaysia can be identified. Hence, the study delves into the
perceptions and knowledge of the local Malaysian community regarding bat guano. A virtual survey was conducted
through platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Analysis of the chi-square test using SPSS Version
37 Software was done to show the correlation between respondents' demographics, guano knowledge, its
importance, and their willingness to use it. Among 103 respondents, mostly aged 18 to 25, 64.08% were aware of
bat guano, but few had used guano-derived products. Positive perceptions were linked to the age group (p = 0.002),
indicating younger individuals were more receptive. Challenges to broader acceptance included cleanliness and
safety concerns heightened by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Despite efforts to provide information and
change perceptions, 78.64% remained undecided about using bat guano in their daily lives due to persistent
misconceptions. Public awareness and education are crucial for promoting its benefits, necessitating collaboration
among researchers, educators, and government entitie
Impact of internal factors on halal food business performance: The mediating effects of halal critical point
No full textPurpose - This study aims to investigate the correlation between internal factors such as halal executive competencies and commitment, management commitment, training and development, technology capabilities, cooperation and coordination, customer and supplier support, and the performance of halal food businesses, focusing on financial and operational aspects. This study also examines the mediating effect of halal critical points (HCP) on internal factors and halal food business performance.
Design/methodology/approach - This study analyses 156 survey responses from halal audit management stakeholders, such as halal executives, food firm management, and JAKIM auditors,
using SmartPLS. Findings - According to this study, the operational and financial performance of halal food businesses is significantly improved by internal factors such as halal executive competencies and technological capabilities, rather than aspects of customer and supplier support. Additionally, the study found no evidence to suggest that HCP played a role in mediating the relationship between internal factors and halal food business performance. Originality/value: This study reveals the links between internal factors and halal food business
performance, which would help organizations improve operational efficiency and financial performance via halal food management systems
Pantun Bermukun Sarawak: Automated Pantun Reply Generation using Fuzzy N-gram Similarity
No full textPantun bermukun, an interactive oral poetry tradition of the Sarawak Malay community, is under threat due to declining practice and the lack of dialogic paired pantun data. Existing collections predominantly consist of single-verse pantun, impeding both digital preservation and computational analysis. This paper proposes an automated reply selection method that utilises N-gram similarity, augmented
with fuzzy matching and Levenshtein distance, to identify the most appropriate replypantun from a dataset of 316 single-verse Pantun Melayu Sarawak (PMS). Evaluation
by five subject matter experts (SMEs) on 50 query pantun indicates that the fuzzy matching-enhanced approach outperforms the standard Jaccard coefficient method
in generating suitable replies (80.4%vs. 74.8%). The results demonstrate the viability of automated pantun pairing for digital preservation, while also highlighting the limitations of current text similarity measures in handling semantic and culturally nuanced pantun.
These findings support the development of computational tools for the documentation and revitalisation of pantun bermukun traditions
Treatment of Borneo midstream river water affected by palm oil plantation run-off with sustainable batch electrocoagulation system
No full textWater degradation from palm oil plantation runoff in Borneo rural areas has compelled the local communities to rely on untreated river water which does not meet the Malaysia National Water Quality Standards. As such, this study aims to design a batch electrocoagulation system to treat midstream river water affected by palm oil plantation run-off water from rural Borneo by utilizing aluminium electrodes. Correspondingly, this study investigates the effect of electric current and residence time on contaminants removal by conducting both water quality and energy operating cost analyses. Subsequent, this study found the optimal reduction in turbidity, colour, and total suspended solids through electrocoagulation treatment is achieved with a high electric current of 5 A and a residence time of 50 min. Besides, the treatment system effectively reduced 99% of turbidity, 99% of colour, and 99% of TSS from Batang Kayan river, while achieving reductions of 97% of turbidity, 98% of colour, and 99% of TSS from the Batang Sadong river. This study has also noticed that the treated levels of turbidity, colour, and TSS in both midstream rivers water meet the Malaysia Class I standard in National Water Quality Standard. From the energy operating cost analysis conducted, the treatment system cost only Ringgit Malaysia (RM) 3.35 or United States Dollars (USD) 0.74 per meter cubic of treated midstream river water. Overall, it is deduced that batch electrocoagulation treatment is deemed effective to treat Borneo midstream river water affected by palm oil plantation run-off by producing water that suitable for domestic consumption at a reasonable cost
Interplay between modelled depression and hypothalamo-pituitary–adrenal axis
No full textIt is well known that stress-related activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) may result in depression, however information on the reverse effect of depression on the HPAA is missing. The objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of modelled depression not associated with stress on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA). A total of sixteen C57BL/6 mice (weight 20+/-2 g) divided into two groups were included in the study. Reserpine-induced depression was modelled in animals of Group 1 (n=8); while Group 2 mice (n=8) received normal saline. At the end of depression modelling open field, sucrose preference and forced swimming tests were performed. The concentration of corticosterone in blood was measured using ELISA. Morphometric histological changes in the adrenal and pituitary glands were assessed. All results were statistically processed using SPSS 27.0.1 software, with p<0.05 level of significant differences. Animals of Group 1 have higher levels of corticosterone in the blood (p<0.05) and significant changes in distance travelled, rearing, grooming, urination and defecation (p<0.05) compared to Group 2 mice. A significant increase in the volume density of the zona fasciculata (p<0.05), area of spongiocytes and their nuclei (p<0.01) was discovered in experimental animals compared to the negative control. Modelled depression, not associated with stress, results in activation of the HPAA, as demonstrated by increased serum corticosterone, hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex, hypertrophy of cells of the zona fasciculata and behavioural tests; indicating the cross-talk between modelled depression not associated with stress and the HPAA activation pattern in experimental animals. This observation prompts new solutions in treatment of depression
Template Assisted Synthesis of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for the Extraction of p-Coumaric Acid
Get PDFIn present study, the molecular imprinting polymer (MIP) of p-coumaric acid was synthesized by using p-coumaric acid as a template, acetonitrile as solvent, 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate as cross-linker, acrylic acid as monomer and 2,2-azobisisobutironitrile (AIBN) as the initiator. The synthesized polymers were characterized by FTIR and SEM. The results from SEM revealed that the polymer was in
spherical shape with size in micro-range. The binding efficiency of polymers was analyzed by adsorption study. The highest rebinding efficiency for MIP was ~ 80% while for non-imprinted polymer (NIP) it was only 24%
Barriers to conducting implementation science research in Asia : An online survey
No full textBackground Implementation science (IS) has importance in Asia to facilitate effective delivery of evidence-based interventions to bridge disease prevention and management gaps. However, IS research conducted in Asia are slower compared to the Western region. Purpose This study aims to assess barriers to conducting IS research in Asia. Methods This study adopted a cross-sectional online survey design. Researchers who had conducted IS research in Asian settings completed a questionnaire which examined socio-demographic characteristics, IS research practices, and yes or no items on the various barriers to conducting IS research. An open-ended question was provided to gather additional barriers. Results The response rate for this study was 40.1% (113/282). More than half of the participants has PhD level education (68.1%, n = 77), and 46.0% (n = 52) were academic lecturers. The most common barrier to conducting IS research was the lack of funding (86.7%, n = 98) followed by the lack of awareness (59.5%, n = 67), the lack of time (56.6%, n = 64), and the lack of organisational support (48.7%, n = 55). The open-ended responses elicited additional barriers: the lack of commitment and involvement from stakeholders other than researchers, perceived low value of IS research, the lack of scientific rigour as a field, existing knowledge, system and practices challenge, the lack of capacity or training support, and the lack of academic progression indicators. Conclusions To facilitate the increase of IS research in Asia, more support are needed in terms of availability of funding, capacity building and training in the region, and effective ways to build constructive long-term collaborations with stakeholders
Walking the Invisible Lines : Ethnographic Reflections on Statelessness Among Indigenous Communities in Rural Sarawak
No full textThis article reflects on the ethnographic journey undertaken to explore the lived realities of statelessness among rural indigenous communities in Sarawak, Malaysia. The objective of the study is to examine how legal invisibility intersects with historical marginalization, administrative barriers, and everyday precarity to shape the experiences of indigenous individuals who remain excluded from formal citizenship. Utilizing a qualitative ethnographic methodology, the research draws upon in-depth interviews, participant observations, and case studies conducted between 2021 and 2023 across selected stateless individuals and
stakeholders in Kota Samarahan, Lundu, Sibu, and Kuching. The findings reveal that statelessness is not merely a legal anomaly but a structurally produced and socially lived condition, perpetuated through unrecognized customary marriages, intergenerational documentation gaps, religious conversion complexities, and rigid bureaucratic systems. Everyday life for stateless individuals is characterized by
restricted access to education, healthcare, and employment, compounded by emotional distress and societal invisibility. This reflection highlights the methodological challenges and ethical considerations encountered during fieldwork, particularly in negotiating trust and representing vulnerable communities with dignity. The article concludes that addressing statelessness among Sarawak’s indigenous peoples demands a critical rethinking of citizenship frameworks, emphasizing historical justice, cultural sensitivity, and the amplification of indigenous voices in policymaking processes