Journals of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM)
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The Impact of University Academicians as Solution Providers: A Case Study of SDG-Oriented Community- Based Projects in Kelantan and Terengganu
Get PDFThis article examines the role of university academicians as solution providers in community farming initiatives under the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM-SDG). It focuses on the impact of their participation in beneficiary self-development in selected projects within the Terengganu and Kelantan constituencies in the Eastern Region. This paper adopts a fully qualitative approach, utilizing both primary and secondary sources. Primary data sources consist of in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, site visits, and document analyses extracted from the reports. Secondary sources encompass past literature relevant to the case study approach. The analysis identifies three key roles of academicians as solution providers: socioeconomic assurance, project sustainability, and the preservation of local wisdom. These roles are further enhanced through the application of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) framework. The findings contribute to the valuable discussion on consistency in terms of academicians’ performance-oriented, knowledge discretion vis-à-vis farming community, and ubiquitous local wisdom. Crucial recommendations are proposed for solution providers in academia and policy deliverables in the Eastern Region for future endeavors to minimize multidimensional poverty through the funding of social community projects
Determinants Influencing Malaysian University Students’ Continuance Intention to Adopt E-learning: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach
Get PDFE-learning, powered by technology and the internet, has become a dominant mode of education in today’s world. However, several factors influence students\u27 continuance intention to adopt e-learning, including internet connectivity issues, low attendance rates, and inadequate instructor support. This study investigates the impact of these factors on university students\u27 continuance intention to adopt e-learning, exploring the relationships between each determinant. A survey was administered to 210 undergraduate students at the Faculty of Technology Management and Business, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), yielding 157 responses. Descriptive analysis and Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) were used to analyze the data. The results revealed a strong influence of these factors on students\u27 continuance intention to adopt e-learning. Specifically, perceived ease of use was positively correlated with perceived usefulness and continuance intention, while perceived enjoyment significantly affected perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and continuance intention. Perceived usefulness had a significant impact on continuance intention, and social influence also demonstrated a significant impact on continuance intention. This study contributes to the understanding of factors influencing e-learning adoption and provides an extended model that incorporates motivational elements, offering valuable insights for future research and practical recommendations for enhancing e-learning experiences
I-V Characteristics of GaAs/AlAs Asymmetric Spacer Layer Tunnel Diode (ASPAT) Using Statistical Validation
No full textThe Asymmetric Spacer Layer Tunnel Diode (ASPAT) has been physically fabricated and simulated using (2) Silvaco Atlas, a widely used semiconductor device simulation software. The ASPAT features an asymmetrical structure, leading to asymmetric current-voltage (I-V) characteristics, making it suitable as a zero-bias detector with low power consumption for high-frequency applications. Accurately validating these characteristics is critical to assessing the device’s performance. However, existing numerical models rely on the Poisson, Schrödinger, and Tsu-Esaki equations, which only account for tunnelling behaviour in discrete regions emitter, barrier, and collector without fully incorporating the effects of doping concentration, material composition, and interface defects. The Transfer Matrix Method (TMM), while addressing some limitations, assumes perfect interfaces, which may not always be the case in three-dimensional (3D) fabricated devices. This study aims to investigate the numerical models used for ASPAT diode design, identify their limitations, propose an improved numerical model, and validate the proposed model against existing methods. The fabrication process of the ASPAT diode involves molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) for the Gallium Arsenide/Aluminum Arsenide (GaAs/AlAs) structure, followed by metal contact deposition, with detailed consideration of doping concentrations and potential material mismatches at the interfaces. Statistical validation of experimental and simulated I-V characteristics is conducted using linear regression, non-linear regression, and hypothesis testing of slope and intercept coefficients. (1) To ensure accuracy, a 5% significance level is assumed for validation. Results indicate that the experimental and simulation data align within a justified 5% error margin, confirming ≥ 95% validation accuracy to confirm the perfect validation despite of several limitations in physical simulation. However, the impact of 3D structural effects, boundary defects, and thermal influences must be further examined to enhance ASPAT performance. This study provides a refined numerical approach to improving ASPAT diode characterization for optimized design and performance evaluation
Chemical Fingerprinting of Various Tea and Coffee Types Using SEM, UV-Visible and FTIR Spectroscopy
No full textChemical fingerprinting provides a robust approach for characterizing and differentiating various types of tea and coffee based on their unique chemical profiles. In this study, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), UV-Visible (UV-Vis) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy were employed to analyze and compare chemical fingerprint various types of tea and coffee samples. The study analyzed green tea, black tea, chamomile tea and coffee samples due to their distinct composition and sources of natural antioxidant properties. SEM results showed the surface morphology for all samples is varied indicating the differences in the nature of raw material, processing, composition and surface characteristics of samples. UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed distinct patterns of chromophores observed in the UV region 250-300 nm associated with key compounds such as phenolic substances, flavonoids, methylxanthine compounds and caffeine. Additionally, FTIR spectroscopy demonstrated the fingerprint spectra and functional groups for all samples such as N-H stretching, O-H stretching, C=C aromatic ring and C-O stretching vibrations revealing compositional variations such as polysaccharides, polyphenols, sugars, caffeine, fatty acids and amino acids. The results recorded clear distinctions among various tea and coffee types. This study highlights the potential of combining SEM, UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopy as a non-destructive, cost-effective, and comprehensive toolkit for the chemical profiling of various foods, offering valuable insights for quality assessment, authentication, and adulteration detection in the food industry
Exploring Ozone Precursor Patterns in The Urban Area: A Case Study in Peninsular Malaysia
No full textOzone precursors are chemical compounds that interact with oxygen in the environment, leading to the formation of ozone. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are common ozone precursors. Ozone precursors can affect air quality and human health. The objective of this study is to investigate and evaluate ozone precursors in Cheras and Seremban in the central zone of Peninsular Malaysia using monthly data from 2018 to 2021. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test found a p-value of less than 0.05, significantly rejecting the hypothesis of normal distribution. Exploratory data analysis was used to evaluate the data at both stations based on descriptive statistics, scatter plots, boxplots, and correlations between parameters. The maximum value of toluene from 2018 to 2021, is 5,738 ppb, which is more higher than Seremban\u27s 2,228 ppb and than other ozone precursors in both stations. Meanwhile, the minimum of benzene, ethylbenzene and xylene in Cheras are 0.3201 ppb, 0.1470 ppb and 0.2910 ppb and in Seremban are 0.3794 ppb, 0.1770 ppb and 0.1400 ppb while the maximum value in Cheras are 1.3892 ppb, 0.7826 ppb and 1.3498 ppb and Seremban are 1.6955 ppb, 1.3117 ppb and 1.7801. Spearman\u27s correlation shows that there is a strong positive monotonic relationship between toluene and benzene at both Cheras and Seremban stations (0.71 and 0.91) while most pollutants have a weak correlation with each other. After comparing the two locations, it was found that Cheras had a higher concentration of pollutants than Seremban. Cheras’ growing economy and central location mean that there are more manufacturers, fuel-burning vehicles, and chemicals emitting into the air than in Seremban. The results of the study can help governments develop more effective strategies to reduce the release of ozone precursors into the atmosphere, which can harm humans if emission limits are exceeded
A New Approach to Determine the Flexural Stiffness Coefficient for Reinforced Concrete Shear Walls According to Non-Linear Behaviour
No full textThe precision in calculating the stiffness of reinforced concrete sections is critical for establishing accurate values for structural stiffness and the associated seismic loads. This study investigated effective stiffnesses recommended for use in designing and analysing structures. A total of 135 section models with transverse and longitudinal reinforcement ratios, compressive strength of concrete and axial load levels affecting the analytical analysis of the nonlinear behavior of reinforced concrete shear walls with high ductility levels were considered. The key parameters influencing effective stiffness an aspect that encompasses the impact of cracking and theoretical yielding within structural sections were identified through thorough moment-curvature analyses conducted on a range of shear wall sections. According to the numerical analysis results of the shear wall models, it was found that these design parameters were effective on the stiffness coefficient of the sections. Considering the effective stiffness of section models, a secure and simpler equation is proposed to include these parameters. The equation provides a high degree of accuracy in design and analysis by considering the nonlinear behavior of shear walls in buildings concerning important design parameters. Based on the results of the nonlinear analysis, the proposed predictions for the effective stiffness coefficient, relations proposed by many researchers, standards, and codes, are verified by comparisons with moment-curvature relations. The proposed equation for the effective stiffness of shear wall sections with high ductility levels offers fairly accurate and consistent estimates since it considers all design parameters that affect the non-linear behavior of the sections. This equation has been compared with nonlinear analyses of section models and existing relationships in the literature and has been proven to be reasonably accurate for practical engineering design applications. In the proposed equation, the stiffness coefficients of shear walls can be calculated according to these effective design parameters, and it can verify and design high ductility shear walls with sufficient accuracy in practical engineering design and analysis applications
Rainfall Characteristics Over Kenyir Dam Catchment Under AR5 Climate Change Scenarios
No full textIn this study, the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) dataset namely CanESM2, a Canadian Earth System Model was used to assess the potential changes of rainfall characteristics over the Kenyir dam catchment. The changes were computed for two future time slices (2025–2055 and 2056–2085) relative to the reference period (1988–2017) under three Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs; RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). For comparison purposes, climate change data was also obtained from National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM). NAHRIM climate data are based on GCMs adopting the Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRE) scenarios in the AR4. The three selected GCMs were CCSM3, ECHAM5 and MRI-CGCM2.3.2. The simulated rainfall patterns generally resemble those in the historical observations. However, the CCSM, ECHAM and MRI produce lower monthly rainfall, while generally CanESM2 simulations produce monthly rainfall that are more consistent with the historical observations for RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. The projected future climate rainfall by the CanESM2 suggest slightly decreasing of total rainfall over the Kenyir dam catchment due to the global warming. The largest decrement appears to be in January and February. The analysis of historical daily rainfall characteristic has suggested remarkable changes in the hydroclimatic regimes over this catchment. Understanding of such changes allow better risk assessment and mitigation planning for water security
Are Malaysia\u27s Graduates Prepared The Fourth Industrial Revolution Workforce?: A systematic Literature Review
No full textThe Fourth Industrial Revolution is defined by artificial technologies and the Internet of Things, leading to the disappearance of some jobs while creating new ones. Most emerging technologies require advanced technical expertise and academic qualifications, significantly impacting employment, education, and TVET training for skilled workers. Skilled labor is essential for economic advancement and achieving a high-income economy, making it crucial to enhance the quality and participation in TVET. This literature review identifies the new skills needed in the workforce for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, focusing on "fourth industrial revolution skills" and "graduate readiness." The literature is categorized into nine Malaysia Future-Proof Skills: 1) Creativity & Innovation, 2) Holistic, Entrepreneurial & Balance, 3) Resilience, 4) Leadership, 5) Compassion & Mindfulness, 6) Value & Ethics, 7) Flexibility & Adaptability, 8) Critical Thinking & Problem Solving, and 9) Communication & Language Proficiency. Utilizing a systematic literature review methodology and the PRISMA procedure, this study synthesizes findings from journals and industry reports. The findings suggest that the nine Future-Proof Skills are consistent with the requirements of businesses that are in search of 4IR professionals. Therefore, further research on human resource perspectives regarding 4IR skills is necessary. Strengthening these skills among Malaysian graduates is vital to fostering high-quality, future-proof talent. To thrive in the machine-human technology era of 4IR, Malaysian graduates must embrace all nine future-proof skills. This study aims to enhance understanding of 4IR skills among graduates, institutions, and industries
Challenges in Developing English As A Second Language (ESL) Learners’ Reading Skills in Pakistan: A Systematic Literature Review
No full textTeachers in Pakistan face numerous challenges in developing the reading skills of English as a Second Language (ESL) learners due to various factors. Despite their teaching efforts, students\u27 reading comprehension skills remain at an unsatisfactory level. This paper presents a systematic literature review exploring the complexities of developing reading skills among second language learners in Pakistan. The review employs the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) technique, which provides standardized strategy for discovering, screening, and selecting relevant studies while assuring transparency and comprehensiveness in the review process. The study focusses on studies published between 2016 and 2024. The review reveals that one of the main challenges in enhancing ESL learners\u27 reading comprehension skills is the teaching strategies employed by the teachers. Studies indicate that teachers often rely on translation-based instruction, which is considered ineffective. Another significant challenge is the low motivation among ESL learners. These insights highlight the need to equip Pakistani teachers with effective methods for teaching reading skills and to boost learners\u27 motivation in second language learning, thereby fostering a stronger reading culture in schools
Emotional Intelligence And Psychological Well-Being
No full textEmotional intelligence plays a crucial role in managing stress and maintaining mental health, especially in high-stress professions like law enforcement. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence and psychological well-being among Police Officers in Johor Bahru. 197 officers are selected as sample for this study. Emotional intelligence is measured by using Goleman (2000) that consists of four dimensions which are emotional awareness, emotional management, social emotional awareness and relationship management. Instrument used was Quick Emotional Intelligence Self-Assessment (QEISA) by Mohapel (2013) with 40 items. Besides, psychological well-being is measured by using the 12-item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) (Goldberg, 1972). This variable has divided into two, Component 1 for positive self-esteem and Component 2 for negative self-esteem. This is a quantitative study, and the data collection process is done by distributing a questionnaire and will be analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 23.0. Based on the findings, there is a negative moderate relationship between emotional intelligence and psychological well-being among Police Officers, implying that higher emotional intelligence is associated with lower psychological well-being, which suggests the need for targeted interventions to support officers\u27 mental health