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INCLUSIVE LEARNING THROUGH IOT-ENABLED WATER QUALITY MONITORING FOR NIPA PALM AND GULA APONG PRODUCTION- TOWARDS AI EDUCATION
No full textWater quality plays a vital role in the growth and development of agricultural crops, including the Nipa palm. This project aims to investigate and develop a reliable water quality monitoring system specifically designed to assess physicochemical parameters near Nipa palm plantations. This project introduces an IoT-powered real-time water quality monitoring system tailored for nipa palm
agriculture and gula apong production. It integrates low-cost sensors to measure temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), turbidity, and other physicochemical sensors to measure a more comprehensive range of water quality parameters thus delivering accurate and continuous data essential for maintaining optimal palm growth conditions. The temperature sensor also plays a vital role in identifying the ideal cooking time for gula apong, ensuring consistent taste, texture, and quality. The data collected is then analysed to assess the relationship between the physicochemical parameters of the water and the growth of the nipa palm. The collected data is transmitted wirelessly to a cloud platform, where it is visualized in graphical analysis. With the guidance from the designer, both villagers and students can monitor water quality on the spot or via analysis and detemine suitable locations for better quality of nipa palm thus enhance production quality of gula apong. Together with the material, an iot system also created to analyze the ideal time for gula apong production. Beyond supporting agricultural productivity, the system functions as an inclusive learning platform. For villagers, it provides a practical introduction to IoT
technology while opening the door to AI applications in farming. For students, it offers hands-on experience in environmental monitoring, sensor integration, and AI-based data analysis—skills that align with modern educational goals and industry demands. By combining local knowledge
with modern technology, this project empowers communities to adopt sustainable practices, safeguards the heritage of gula apong production, and serves as a beginning for AI in bridging the gap between rural traditions and digital innovation
Academic Gratitude as a Mediator between Psychological Well-Being and Academic Buoyancy among college students in West Java
No full textIntroduction: This study aims to examine the relationships among Psychological Well-Being, Academic Gratitude, and Academic Buoyancy among students in Indonesia, and to assess whether Academic Gratitude acts as a partial mediator in these relationships.
Methods: A total of 407 students (304 females and 103 males) participated in an online survey, selected via stratified random sampling by academic year. The data were analyzed using a covariance-based structural equation model (SEM).
Results: The results showed that Psychological Well-Being was positively related to Academic Gratitude and Academic Buoyancy, while Academic Gratitude was also positively related to Academic Buoyancy. Mediation analysis using bootstrapping with 5,000 resamples showed that Academic Gratitude partially mediates the relationship between Psychological Well-Being and Academic Buoyancy, suggesting that gratitude functions as an affective-cognitive pathway that explains the interrelationships among the three constructs.
Discussion: Given the cross-sectional nature of the study design, the direction of the relationship cannot be concluded as causal and requires further examination in longitudinal or experimental studies. Overall, these findings provide empirical support for the role of gratitude in understanding student adaptation to academic challenges in the context of higher education in Indonesia
Framing of Flood in Mainstream Newspapers and Readers’ Response to Flood Reporting in China and Malaysia
No full textPast studies on flood news have focused on how the media frame disaster events and how readers respond to the flood news. Few studies have examined how readers react to framing of flood news in terms of their affect, behavior, and cognition. To date, no studies have investigated framing together with qualitative interviews to explore readers’perceptions of flood-related media frames. Therefore, little is known about readers’response to flood news framing in newspapers and how their affect, behavior and cognition may be influenced by media systems and disaster communication environments in different countries. The study examined the framing of flood news in mainstream newspapers and reader’ response to flood reporting in China and Malaysia. The objectives of the study were to: (1) analyze inter-relationships between episodic and thematic framing of floods vis-a-vis frame dimensions in selected national and regional newspapers in China and Malaysia; (2) determine the dominant valence of news articles on flood events in selected national and regional newspapers in China and Malaysia; (3) examine readers’responses to reporting of flood events in China and Malaysia; and (4) explore how framing of flood news influences readers’ responses in terms of attitudes, behavior and cognition. The newspaper articles analyzed were 411 articles (147,187 words) published from 1 January to
31 December 2023 in two national newspapers (People’s Daily in China, The Star in
Malaysia) and two regional newspapers (Zhengzhou Daily in China, The Borneo Post in Malaysia). The results showed the high frequency of episodic frames (96.5%) and lack of thematic articles (3.5%). The two newspapers in China have predominant positive valence,particularly People’s Daily (79.6%) which is more than Zhengzhou Daily (30.8%) and the Malaysian newspapers (The Star, 53%; The Borneo Post, 39.5%). In contrast, the two newspapers in Malaysia were more neutral (The Star, 9.1%; The Borneo Post, 18.4%) than the two newspapers in China (People’s Daily, 2.6%; Zhengzhou Daily, 23.1%), and this may help readers to develop critical perspectives on flood management by authorities. The
dominant frame dimension in flood news articles was responsibility (People’s Daily, 81.5%;
Zhengzhou Daily, 76.9%; The Star, 64%; The Borneo Post, 79%). The focus of the newspapers in China was on government efforts but the focus of the newspapers in Malaysia was institutional response. The human interest frame was minimally used due to the fact-focused reporting (People’s Daily, 1.3%; Zhengzhou Daily, 15.4%; The Star,10.3%; The Borneo Post, 3.9%). The conflict frame was absent in Chinese newspapers and minimal in Malaysian newspapers (The Star, 1.2%; The Borneo Post, 1.3%). The morality frame was not used in any of the flood news articles in the four newspapers. To elicit
reader responses to flood reporting, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40
participants (20 China, 20 Malaysia). Thematic analysis based on Rosenberg et al.’s (1960) Affect-Behavior-Cognition model showed differences for China and Malaysia, and between flood victims (13 in China and 15 in Malaysia) and those who did not experience floods (7 in China and 5 in Malaysia). The responsibility frame was common in both countries. Chinese readers appreciated incident-based reporting but Malaysian readers were frustrated by the dominance of episodic frames. Chinese readers generally trusted the authorities to manage the flood crisis, whereas Malaysian readers demanded clearer accountability from the authorities. Chinese readers obtained emotional reassurance from the positive valence of flood news articles in the Chinese national newspaper but Malaysian readers expressed a preference for greater use of the human interest frames to foster empathy and public support because they have been seeking updates and emotional information shared through social media. The findings suggests that in China where there is strict media control, the newspapers can shape the affect, behavior and cognition of the readers but readers in Malaysia have more critical thinking towards the flood news reporting because of less strict media control.
Keywords: Flood, newspaper, framing, episodic frame, thematic frame, valence, frame
dimensions, readers’ response, China, Malaysi
Template Assisted Fabrication of Ciprofloxacin-Imprinted Polymers for Removal of Ciprofloxacin
No full textThe study presents the development of highly specific molecular imprinted polymers for adsorptive removal of ciprofloxacin (CIP) from aqueous media. Ciprofloxacin is one of the commonly used antibiotics which is usually found in effluents due to its inadequate removal from wastewater by conventional treatment methods. In aquatic settings, its persistence contributes to antibiotic resistance and hence poses different risks for aquatic organisms. In this study, the removal behavior of CIP designated as a model contaminant was investigated using state of the art Molecular Imprinting Technology (MIT). Herein, the precipitation polymerization approach was used to synthesize a series of ciprofloxacin molecular imprinted polymers (CIP-MIPs) by changing the solvent ratios and volume of functional monomers. Optimized CIP3-MIP and CIP6-MIP were obtained while using higher concentration ratios of ethanol, acetonitrile, and dimethyl sulfoxide. Prepared CIP-MIPs were characterized to investigate their structural interactions using the FTIR study. Surface analysis of CIP-MIPs as well as non-imprinted polymers (NIPs) was performed employing SEM and the prepared polymers exhibited porous surface having particle size 0.07μm. EDX studies confirmed the elemental composition of CIP-MIPs. Thermal properties of CIP, CIP-MIPs and NIPs were analyzed using TGD/DTG.
Moreover, CIP-MIPs were employed to remove CIP from aqueous media using well established rebinding parameters including
initial CIP concentration, adsorbent dosage of CIP-MIPs, pH and agitation rate. The findings of batch binding studies illustrated that optimized CIP3-MIPs and CIP6-MIPs were able to rebind about 99.1% and 97.24%, respectively of CIP at initial CIP concentration 20ppm, polymer dosage of 0.3 g at pH7 and the agitation speed of 150 rpm. The imprinting factor of 1.73 and 1.699 were an indicator towards higher selectivity of CIP3-MIP and CIP6-MIP towards CIP, respectively. In addition, minimum loss of only
2.05% and 2.84% in the removal efficiency within 10 sequential cycles of adsorption–desorption process proved that CIP3-MIPs and CIP6-MIPs might be employed as the cost effective and suitable adsorbents for the removal of CIP from water bodies
Literature as a tool of national education: Rahman Shaari’s insights into Malaysian national identity
No full textLiterature always played an important role in shaping societies, cultures, and nations. As a powerful tool for the transmission of ideas, values, and experiences, literature can serve as an educational medium, particularly for
fostering national consciousness. Therefore, this study aims to identify, evaluate, and understands the role of literature as a tool of national education in raising national consciousness and shaping national identity. This
qualitative study employs content analysis and library research methods based on Lukacs’ theory of realism, to examine Rahman Shaari’s perspectives on national identity in his novels Pernikahan di Lubuk Hantu, Semoga Molek,
and Cengkaman Hasrat. The findings show that Rahman Shaari’s works truly emphasize efforts to educate society towards preserving and promoting Malaysian National Identity. His discourse on elevating Bahasa Melayu and preserving Malaysia’s cultural heritage underscores his commitment to
national identity. The study concludes that Rahman Shaari’s portrayal of national identity is aligns with the realities of Malaysian society and Lukacs’ aesthetic principles, positively impacting and demonstrating the role of
literature as an effective tool for national education. Subsequently, this study could serve as a resource for future studies specifically on how literature
worldwide influences national identity across diverse societies
Pharmacogenomic profiling of ABCB1 and CES1 in atrial fibrillation patients on dabigatran from a multiethnic Malaysian cohort
No full textDirect oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are preferred for atrial fibrillation (AF) due to their efficacy and safety, though response variabilities raises concerns about fixed-dose regimens. This study investigates the association between ABCB1 and CES1 genetic polymorphisms with Dabigatran trough drug levels (DL), clotting time (CT), and clinical
outcomes in a multiethnic Malaysian cohort. A total of 180 AF patients in Dabigatran were sequenced across the entire length of ABCB1 and CES1 genes using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Trough Dabigatran levels and clotting time were measured by LC-MS/MS and viscoelastic assay (Clotpro®), respectively. Patients were followed up for one year to assess major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). The mean dabigatran level was 34.7 ± 45.4 ng/ml (CV: 130%), and clotting time was 374.6 ± 207.9 s (CV: 55.5%). Trough levels were significantly correlated with clotting time (r = 0.663, p < 0.001). ). Multiple non-coding
variants in ABCB1 and CES1 showed nominal associations (unadjusted p < 0.05) with drug level (35 SNPs) and/or clotting time (32 SNPs), although none remained statistically significant after false discovery rate
correction. A total of 17 SNPs overlapped, and were associated with both.
Overall, these findings suggest that non-coding regulatory variation may contribute to inter-individual variability in dabigatran pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, but the results are exploratory and require replication in larger cohorts. This study highlights the importance of
population-specific pharmacogenomic research for future investigations on personalized anticoagulation strategies
Adapting and testing of DeprEnd EMDR therapy for major depressive disorder: a study protocol of mixed method randomized controlled trial
No full textBackground: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a significant contributor to the global burden of disease, with a high prevalence in Pakistan. MDD is treatable, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is recognized as an effective treatment worldwide. However, EMDR therapy, rooted in Western psychological frameworks, may require cultural and methodological adaptation to fit clients' needs in Pakistan. Notably, there is a lack of research on adapting EMDR therapy in Pakistan, and scarce studies on its effectiveness through online modalities. To bridge these research gaps, this study has two aims: first to develop an adapted DeprEnd EMDR therapy protocol in Pakistan, second, to test its feasibility, relevance, and clinical effectiveness across in-person and online modalities. Methods: This research adopts a mixed-mode exploratory sequential randomized controlled trial design. In the first phase, an exploratory qualitative approach will be utilized to culturally and methodologically adapt DeprEnd EMDR therapy protocol through narrative review and focus group discussion. Data will be qualitatively analyzed. This phase has been previously reported in a separate peer-reviewed publication. In the second phase, a randomized controlled trial design will be used to test feasibility, relevance, and clinical effectiveness of adapted DeprEnd EMDR therapy protocol. Initially, it will be pilot tested among 25 handful clients, and later an estimated sample of 80 clients will be selected to test it on a large scale. Clients will be randomized via covariate-adaptive technique to in-person and online arms with a 1:1 ratio. Symptom-related data will be collected at the baseline, midpoint, post-treatment, and followup stages. Data will be analyzed using a combination of univariate and multivariate statistics
Sustainable Cultural Transformations in Asia: Vietnamese Students’ Intercultural Awareness Following a Malaysian Exchange Programme
No full textThis empirical study examined the impact of a short-term student exchange programme on Vietnamese students’ intercultural awareness, positioning it within the context of growing global interconnectedness. The goal of this chapter is to show how experiential learning through study abroad initiatives can foster intercultural sensitivity, particularly within the As methodology was adopted, using an online questionnaire administered to 104 Vietnamese students who participated in an exchange programme at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. The questionnaire examined the students’ exposure to other cultures in their family and among friends, and communicative behaviours and attitudes towards
other cultures. Key findings indicated that despite limited prior intercultural contact, participants experienced positive shifts in cultural perception and increased ethnorelativism, though they encountered challenges such as adjusting to local cuisine. These results show that even brief study abroad experiences can enhance students’ appreciation for diverse worldviews, values and beliefs. The study suggests that formal intercultural education is essential to prepare students to engage constructively with
cultural differences, an increasingly vital skill in a globally connected world
Role Stressors and Job Insecurity as Predictors of Job Stress: Evidence from a Higher Education Setting
No full textThis study investigates the impact of role stressors, role ambiguity, role overload, and role conflict on job stress among contract-based university lecturers in Jiangsu Province, China, with job insecurity serving as a mediating variable. Drawing on role theory, job stress theory, and the extended Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) model, the research examines the psychological mechanisms through which stressors affect employee well-being. The sample size consisted of 305 valid respondents, who were retrieved using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that all three role stressors significantly increase job insecurity, which in turn strongly predicts job stress. Mediation analysis confirms that job insecurity fully mediates the effect of each role stressor on job stress. These findings provide empirical support for the theoretical framework and offer actionable insights for academic institutions. The study highlights the need for clearer role expectations and enhanced employment security to mitigate stress and support faculty well-being in higher education
New insights into the diets of seven hymenopteran species using trnL metabarcoding in a Malaysian tropical forest reserve
No full textHistorically, wasps were considered merely flower visitors but are now recognized as playing a significant role in interactions with flowering plants. Recent studies indicate that certain wasp families exhibit pollen transport capacity and plant fidelity comparable to some well-known bee pollinators. This study examined the diet on 19 samples comprised of seven hymenopteran species (wasps; Polistes sp., Paramblynotus sp., Polybioides sp., and Auplopus sp., and bees; Tetrigona apicalis, Apis cerana and Nomia strigata) collected from a model site, the protected primary forest of Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve (THWR), Pahang, Malaysia. All 19 hymenopteran samples were subjected to metabarcoding analysis of trnL utilising the Illumina MiSeq platform. Through bioinformatic analyses, the single phylum Streptophyta, comprising 44 known families and 100 known species, was detected, and 15 top species were discussed. Fabaceae (11.45%) emerges as the most predominant plant family recorded, followed by Gesneriaceae (11.03%), Podostemaceae (10.18%), Asteraceae (8.99%), and Poaceae (6.43%). Rachunia cymbiformis (Gesneriaceae), Polypleurum chinense (Podostemaceae), Taraxacum platycarpum (Asteraceae), Chusquea sp. (Poaceae), and Lycoris sp. 1 (Amaryllidaceae) are the top five species being
consumed, with 10.90%, 10.18%, 8.14%, 5.84%, and 4.57%, respectively. Notably, Dipterocarpus turbinatus (Dipterocarpaceae), listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, was recorded in four hymenopteran species. Molecular evidence also revealed that several forest trees and crop species from nearby villages were foraged by both wasps and bees. The data would be beneficial for relevant authorities in formulating a management and conservation strategy for the forest