Open Journal System Universiti Malaysia Kelantan
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A review: amino acids, biogenic amines, and microbial diversity in traditional asian fermented shrimp-based products
No full textFermented shrimp-based products, primarily derived from Acetes spp., are globally consumed and play a crucial role in food quality and extending shelf stability. Fermentation establishes an environment that is unfavourable to spoilage microorganisms; however, natural fermentation stimulates the growth of different microorganisms derived from the shrimps or salts applied in the fermentation. Thus, the primary free amino acids and biogenic amines (BAs) were produced as a result of shrimp-based fermentation. This review aims to describe knowledge on biogenic amines, amino acids, and microbial diversity within fermented shrimp-based products, with a focus on those produced in Asia. Proteinases produced by fermenting microorganisms break down the proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids, and the microbial decarboxylation of amino acids causes the formation of biogenic amines (BAs), which pose health risks. Various analytical approaches have been studied, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for quantifying amino acids and biogenic amines. The profiling of diversity and function of microbes present in a wide range of fermented shrimp-based products can be examined in detail using molecular and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Additionally, this review examines the functional contributions of these elements, addresses challenges, and proposes future research directions. Further research on fermented shrimp-based products is essential for advancing food science and promoting human health benefits
Reptile species composition at three forest reserves in the Central Forest Spine ecological corridor B-SL1, Selangor, Malaysia
No full textCentral Forest Spine (CFS) is an important initiative to reconnect fragmented forest areas in the Peninsular Malaysia. According to the master plan (PIRECFS 2022), 39 ecological corridors have been identified, including CFS B-SL1, which connects Raja Musa Forest Reserve, Bukit Tarek Forest Reserve, and Gading Forest Reserve in Selangor. A review of existing research on reptilian diversity in these reserves revealed a lack of studies, with some focusing on the Bukit Tarek Forest Reserve. This study aims to document the reptile species present in CFS B-SL1. Fieldwork was conducted in May, June, August, September, and October 2022, with two sampling sessions in each forest reserve. A total of 25 pitfall traps were used for five consecutive nights, and active searches were done for two nights per session. The study identified 18 species from nine families, with Calotes emma being the most frequently captured species (n=31). Gading Forest Reserve constitutes the highest number of species (12 sp). The Agamidae family accounted for the highest families in B-SL1, which is 65.08%. Jaccard’s similarity dendrogram indicated Gading Forest Reserve and Raja Musa Forest Reserve clustered together, although the similarity was below 0.4. Kruskal-Wallis test indicated no significant difference in reptile diversity across three forest reservesThe rarefaction curve indicates that more species could be discovered if the sampling effort were increased. Recommendation includes proposing buffer zones at the corridor and monitoring the usage of herbicides at the plantations within the corridor. The study suggests that more time and effort are needed to uncover additional reptilian species in these forest reserves
Exploring the features of plants threatening Malaysia\u27s heritage buildings
No full textPlants contribute to various functions in landscape design such as shade, ornamentation, food sources and etc. For heritage buildings, the functions of plants are identified as elements that can enhance the heritage value of a building. The presence of plants also harms the stability of heritage buildings. Certain plants have been identified to cause damage such as roof damage, wall cracks, plaster layer damage, stains on the paint layer, paint peeling, gutter and drain blockage, and wooden component damage. Therefore, the objective of this study is to identify the features of plants that threaten heritage buildings. This study used a qualitative research design involving observation and interviews. Observation methods were carried out on 112 masonry heritage buildings listed by the National Heritage Department (JWN). In-depth interviews were conducted with eight (8) registered conservators who possess extensive experience and are actively involved in heritage building conservation. The collected data were analyzed thematically to produce a list of characteristics of plants that contribute to the damage of heritage buildings. The study revealed eight (8) plant characteristics, namely compact canopy, shedding leaves excessively, bearing fruit, dense flowering, creeping root, adventitious root, weak wooded, and wide-crowned tree. This study aims to assist conservators, building occupants, maintenance contractors, and landscape architects in selecting suitable plants for landscaping and environmental design surrounding heritage buildings in Malaysia
Innovating Postnatal Care in Malaysia: A Case Study of Roseville Confinement Centre
No full textTraditionally regarded as a domestic ritual overseen by family elders, postpartum care in Malaysia is now experiencing a paradigm shift toward professionalization. Central to this transformation is the Roseville Confinement Villa, a pioneering facility that integrates cultural heritage with clinical governance, entrepreneurial innovation with compassionate care and individual recovery with broader community well-being. Established by qualified healthcare professionals and led by Executive Director Puan Radziah binti Mahmud Muhaidin, Roseville exemplifies a contemporary model of maternal recovery that is structured, culturally attuned and professionally managed
A Consumption Value Perspective on Malacca’s Street Food Tourism
No full textStreet foods have become a crucial experiential dimension for tourism destinations, especially in heritage towns such as Malacca in Malaysia. Although the majority of earlier studies have concentrated on safety, hygiene, and behaviors associated with street foods, there has been negligible conceptual research that explores the effects that a combination of various values has on the attitudes shown by domestic tourists towards street food tourism. Under the premise of Consumption Value Theory, this conceptual piece proposes a holistic approach that explains domestic tourists’ attitudes towards street foods in Malacca using five major dimensions: taste value, health value, price value, emotional value, and social value. Based on some recent experiences within the context of tourism and the consumption of foods, the piece is set to make new contributions to the area of street foods and tourism through the integration of the above-mentioned three types of value into one holistic attitudinal approach
Landscape design guidelines for ecotourism-oriented rural homestays based on environmental, social and governance performance
No full textEcotourism-oriented homestays are a significant driving force for rural revitalization. The landscape is instrumental in distinguishing homestays from one another and enhancing their allure, contributing to cultural heritage and sustainable economic development. However, the current homestay development landscape is marred by several challenges, including a lack of diversity in landscapes, a disconnect from local cultural roots, overdevelopment, ecological protection imbalances, a dearth of interactive experiences, and unregulated service standards. This study uses six representative cases in Zhejiang Province, China, integrating publicly accessible government environmental performance data, tourist review texts sourced from online travel platforms, and insights gleaned from semi-structured expert interviews. A multi-dimensional evaluation framework is established based on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. Quantitative text semantic analysis techniques were applied to parse the review texts, subsequently utilizing statistical methods to ascertain the relative importance of dimensions and indicators and explore their relationships. A significant correlation was observed between the prevalence of ecologically favorable language in user reviews and official environmental assessment scores. The frequency of culturally specific references in guest reviews exhibited a statistically significant positive correlation with tourist ratings. Drawing upon the preceding analysis, the study formulates landscape design guidelines that emphasize green technology, cultural empowerment, and social identity
A study on food waste utilization for fertilizer production: Analysis of physical and chemical properties
No full textFood waste is generated daily in every household worldwide, posing significant challenges to waste management. Disposal in landfills consumes substantial land, water, and fertilizer resources while releasing methane gas that contributes to global warming. This study investigated the nutrient content and physicochemical properties of biofertilizer produced via the Bokashi composting system. Physical characterization focused on liquid fertilizer concentration and moisture content. Results showed that liquid fertilizer from the Bokashi bin had a higher concentration at outdoor temperature, although the yield was lower (0.0073 ratio) than at room temperature. Moisture content in samples at the room temperature was 99.27% higher than those stored outdoors. However, degraded film samples at outdoor temperature had a greater average weight (9 g) compared to room temperature (5 g). The fertilizer was analyzed for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrations. For chemical characterization, total nitrogen content was measured using the Kjeldahl method according to Malaysian Standard MS 417: Part 3: 1994. The results showed that the thin film fertilizer contained 0.3% nitrogen, which is higher than that of the liquid fertilizer. Phosphorus content was determined using UV-Visible Spectroscopy at 740 nm, with the liquid fertilizer at room temperature showing a higher phosphorus concentration of 4.117 mg/L. Potassium concentration in the film fertilizer was found to be 156.1 mg/L, as analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). These findings highlight the potential of Bokashi-based and films bio-fertilizers as a sustainable solution for nutrient recovery and food waste reduction
Sustainable eating begins with youth: exploring organic food consumption intentions among young adults in Malaysia
No full textAs Malaysia moves towards more sustainable food practices, organic food consumption has gained traction, especially among young adults. This study discusses the factors that have been found to be most significant in determining the intentions of young adults to consume organic food. The model is based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) but adds two more constructs to this framework, health consciousness and environmental concern, to explain more about the behavior. The online survey in Malaysia included Sabah and Sarawak (n = 324) was employed to gather the data based on a purposive sampling method and analysed via Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Here, the outcomes reveal that attitude, perceived behavioral control, health consciousness, and environmental concern significantly predict intention to consume organic food, with health consciousness emerging as the strongest determinant. However, subjective norms were found to be statistically insignificant in shaping intention. These results underscore the relevance of personal health orientation and environmental values in driving organic food choices among Malaysian youth, while suggesting a diminishing role of social influence. The study offers valuable implications for policymakers, marketers, and organic food producers in crafting effective strategies that align with health-driven and eco-conscious consumer motivations
Geoheritage Potential of Limestone Caves at Felda Chiku 7, Gua Musang, Kelantan, Malaysia
No full textThis study aims to assess the geoheritage potential of Felda Chiku 7 in Gua Musang District, Kelantan. The study area hosts two limestone caves, which exhibit distinctive geological and geomorphological features, including karst landforms, speleothems, and speleogens. Geologically, the area is underlain by three primary lithologies — limestone, phyllite, and slate — that comprise the Gua Musang Formation. The geology of the study area is mainly composed of three lithologies: limestone, phyllite, and slate. The study integrated qualitative and quantitative assessments: the qualitative assessment was based on the author\u27s fieldwork observations, whilst the quantitative assessment was based on the Modified Geosite Assessment Model (M-GAM) framework. The M-GAM frameworks integrate expert perceptions with visitors\u27/public perceptions, with the Main Values covering scientific, aesthetic, and protection values, and the Additional Values covering functional and touristic values. The qualitative assessment indicates the geodiversity of rocks (lithologies), geomorphology (speleothems and speleogens), landscape and fossil. In addition, the scopes are petrological, geomorphological and paleontological sites, and the scale is small. As for the quantitative assessment, the study shows that aesthetic values rank highest, followed by protection, scientific, functional, and tourism values. The M-GAM results indicate an intermediate overall geoheritage potential (28.4%), with exceptionally high scenic/aesthetic and protection scores, and low touristic readiness (restaurant/visitor infrastructure minimal)—consistent with local familiarity but limited public exposure. The findings demonstrate that Felda Chiku 7 holds substantial potential for future geoconservation and geotourism initiatives, provided that appropriate management strategies, interpretative programmes, and community engagement efforts are implemented to enhance accessibility and long-term protection of this natural asset.
Bioactivity of Mikania micrantha extract in controlling Erwinia chrysanthemi: a natural antibacterial approach
No full textCrop losses caused by soft rot disease induced by Erwinia chrysanthemi pose a persistent threat to global agricultural productivity. Excessive use of synthetic chemical pesticides to control such bacterial diseases has raised serious environmental and health concerns due to their residual toxicity and ecological impact. As an alternative, plant-derived biopesticides have gained attention for their biodegradability, safety, and sustainability. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Mikania micrantha Kunth (sembung rambat) leaf extract against E. chrysanthemi and to determine the most effective concentration for bacterial inhibition. The antibacterial assay was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method with five treatments and four replications: three concentrations of M. micrantha leaf extract (25%, 50%, and 80%), a positive control (1% chloramphenicol), and a negative control (sterile distilled water). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at a 95% confidence level.The results showed that M. micrantha extract exhibited moderate antibacterial activity, producing inhibition zones of 7.51 mm, 8.02 mm, and 8.40 mm for 25%, 50%, and 80% concentrations, respectively. Although inhibition increased with concentration, the differences among extract treatments were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The positive control exhibited a much larger inhibition zone (30.95 mm), while the negative control showed none.These findings indicate that M. micrantha leaf extract possesses moderate antibacterial potential against E. chrysanthemi and may serve as a promising plant-based biocontrol agent for sustainable disease management