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古今武则天 : Wu Ze Tian in historical and contemporary perspectives.
No full text武则天，一个常被描绘成负面形象的历史人物。随着社会的进步与发展， 历史人物逐渐在翻拍作品中重现，并且走进大众视野。然而，翻拍作品的呈现 也会因各种因素，而令人们对其形象的了解存在一定程度上的偏差。因此本研 究将武则天为研究对象，通过史书和影视剧的形象呈现，对其外貌、性格、才 学，以及影视剧人物塑造因素进行分析。 本研究当中，武则天的形象呈现在史书与影视剧有所不同。史书中表达简 练含蓄，而影视剧中则多用拍摄手法与故事情节为其人物形象增添生动感。通 过对武则天的性格、才学和外貌的研究，可见武则天在影视剧的形象与史书相 比较为柔和。然而，影视剧呈现出的柔和形象，大多都是因各种人物塑造因素 所影响。因此，本研究也对现代人审美、市场需求和角色原型的还原三种人物 塑造因素进行研究。由此可见，影视剧历史人物的呈现，都需基于历史记载与 现代人审美等各种因素的结合。 【关键词】：武则天、影视剧、史书、人物形象、人物塑
Exploring the experiences of cyberbullying victimization among youths in Malaysia
Get PDFThis study explored the lived experiences of cyberbullying victimization among Malaysian youths through a qualitative phenomenological approach, guided by General Strain Theory (GST). The objectives were to examine how victims perceive the strain induced by cyberbullying, to explore its emotional, cognitive, behavioural, relational, and physical impacts, and to investigate the coping strategies they employed. Six participants aged 15 to 30, who experienced cyberbullying, participated in semi-structured interviews, and thematic analysis was used for data interpretation. The findings revealed that cyberbullying caused significant strain, originated from victims themselves (self-blame and guilt, unreciprocated emotional investment and helplessness), perpetrators (threats, coercion, and harassment, emotional manipulation, privacy violations, public shaming and mockery, group and repetitive aggression, and betrayal), significant others (lack of support and invalidating reactions and witnessing significant others in distress). These strain leading to intense emotional impacts such as fear and anxiety, numbness, depression and sadness, anger, guilt, helplessness, alongside cognitive impacts like hypervigilance, overthinking and negative self-appraisal, behavioural changes such as social withdrawal and isolation, online disengagement and avoidance, change in communication style and life choices, relational impacts including friendship breakdown, change in family dynamics, trust issues, and physical symptoms like sleep disturbances, appetite issues and stress-related physical symptoms. Participants utilized adaptive coping strategies, including emotional expression and release, problem-focusing coping, receiving social support and self-talk. However, maladaptive coping strategies were also observed, particularly emotional suppression, risky behaviours or attempts, self-blame and internalization, which often prolonged emotional suffering or led to physical health risks. Overall, the research reinforces the applicability of GST in understanding the complex emotional and behavioural responses to cyberbullying strain, while highlighting the urgent need for culturally sensitive counselling interventions, resilience-building programs, and the promotion of digital literacy among Malaysian youths
Phishing-resistant multi factor authentication
Get PDFThe advent of the internet has revolutionized how people connect and interact, but it also brings various severe consequences such as data leakage when weak authentication method is implemented. Two-factor authentication(2FA) is a widely adopted method, yet vulnerabilities have been discovered to bypass it. Traditional 2FA typically combines something a user knows (like a password) with something they have (like a temporary verification code from a physical device). However, this approach is still susceptible to attacks such as phishing attacks, especially Real-Time Phishing(RTP) attack. Location-based multi authentication (MFA) methods have been proposed to mitigate RTP techniques that exploit traditional OTP-based verification. By replacing the OTP mechanism with a geolocation verification step, it add a layer of security to the authentication process. Limitations on previously proposed location-based multi-factor authentication are additional user step for adaptation, mobile-based, and additional costs due to hardware requirements. This paper suggests incorporating location as an extra security layer while maintaining the user-friendliness and seamlessness of existing two-factor authentication methods, thus creating a user-friendly and seamless multifactor authentication solution. The performance of this proposed authentication method is evaluated against various attacks, notably RTP attack
Emotion recognition companion robot
Get PDFExisting companion robots often lack the depth to recognize a broad range of human emotions or engage in context-aware conversations. These limitations reduce their effectiveness in providing genuine companionship and emotional support. This project introduces Wall-E which is an intelligent companion robot designed to bridge this gap by combining computer vision and large language models to interpret user emotions and generate empathetic responses. This robot is composed of emotion detection module and the conversational response module. Each of the module is implemented as independent ROS2 nodes to ensure modularity and asynchronous communication. The emotion detection module employs a CNN model to analyse facial expressions captured in real time. Detected emotions are published through ROS2 topics for use by other nodes. Simultaneously, the conversational response module enables voice-based interaction. It captures user speech using a microphone, transcribes it with the Whisper API and combines the resulting text with the detected emotion. These inputs are passed to an OpenAI GPT agent to generate emotionally relevant responses. The replies are then converted to speech using the gTTS engine and played through the robot’s speaker. The integration of ROS2 allows seamless communication between modules using a publish-subscribe architecture. A structured verification plan was implemented to ensure system reliability including testing of the CNN model for emotion classification, audio transcription accuracy, context-aware response generation, and speech synthesis clarity
The relationships between prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) symptoms, associated risk factors, and work productivity among industrial workers in a manufacture factory
Get PDFWork-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) are among the most common occupational health issues and are frequently associated with repetitive physical activities. In the manufacturing sector, many jobs still require manual, repetitive tasks, heightening the risk of WMSDs due to sustained and repetitive motion over time. This study explores the connection between the presence of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) symptoms, associated risk factors, and work productivity among assembly line workers who regularly engage in repetitive tasks in a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) manufacturing factory. Data on ergonomic risk factors, MSDs symptoms, and productivity indicators (such as absenteeism, presenteeism, and self-rated work efficiency) were collected from 60 assembly line employees using the Modified Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire and an online Google form. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and binary logistic regression were conducted using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 30. The findings revealed a 93.3% overall prevalence of MSD symptoms among participants in the past week. The most affected areas were the neck (51.7%), lower back (50.0%), right shoulder (48.3%), right foot (45.0%), and left foot (40.0%). The Mann-Whitney U Test indicated that MSDs symptoms were significantly related to presenteeism and self-reported work efficiency (both p < 0.001). Further binary logistic regression analysis highlighted significant associations between right foot MSDs and gender (OR = 5.296, 95% CI = 1.123–24.975, p = 0.035), as well as previous injuries (OR = 43.886, 95% CI = 4.373–440.457, p = 0.001). Symptoms in the right and left forearms were significantly linked to the workers’ daily working hours with the p-value of 0.036 (OR = 0.212, 95% CI = 0.050–0.904) and 0.006 (OR = 0.062, 95% CI = 0.008-0.456), respectively, and MSDs in the right wrist were associated with the frequency of microbreaks (OR = 0.363, 95% CI = 0.138–0.956, p = 0.040). In summary, assembly line workers in an HVAC manufacturing facility showed a high rate of MSDs symptoms, which were closely tied to presenteeism and perceived work efficiency, and considered factors that directly influence overall productivity. To address these issues, the study recommends implementing health surveillance and ergonomic interventions based on the hierarchy of controls. Suggested measures include ergonomic workstation design, job rotation, specialized tools, and employee training, which aim at improving safety, reducing absenteeism, boosting morale, and enhancing productivity. Keywords: Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, Musculoskeletal Disorders Symptoms, Repetitive Tasks, Manufacturing Industry, Work Productivity
Subject Area: RC925–935 Diseases of the musculoskeletal syste
UTAR transportation tracker application
Get PDFThe UTAR Transportation Tracker is a comprehensive system designed to enhance the commuting experience for students who travel to and from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Kampar campus. Commuting in the accommodation area around UTAR has present challenges to the students due to unpredictable bus schedules and limited access to real-time information of the buses, which causes inefficiencies and inconvenience. To address these challenges, the UTAR Transportation Tracker system is developed to meet the transportation needs of the UTAR community. The system integrates real-time bus tracking and weather forecasting functionalities to provide users with accurate information and timely alerts. By employing GPS technology, the system offers real-time tracking of UTAR buses, giving students the ability to monitor the exact location and estimated arrival time of buses to reach the designated bus stops. This function allows students to schedule their journey more efficiently and improves accountability and transparency in UTAR bus operations. In addition, the integration of weather forecasting feature gives users access to the most recent weather information and alerts for adverse weather conditions, enabling students to plan their travels ahead of time. The UTAR Transportation Tracker project demonstrates significant advancement in utilizing technology to enhance the transportation system and improve commuting experience for students and staff who travel to and from UTAR
Determinants of students’ satisfaction on blended learning at local private universities in Malaysia.
Get PDFThis study investigates and analyze the determinants of student satisfaction with blended learning at local private universities in Malaysia. The factors influencing students’ satisfaction with blended learning include student-instructor interaction, service quality, information quality, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use. The researchers focused on students studying at University Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and Sunway University which have implemented blended learning as part of their teaching approach. This paper aims to identify the impact of various factors on student satisfaction in this context. A total of 380 responses were successfully collected for this study through Google Forms which was used to distribute the questionnaire. The data from the respondents were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 30 in both pilot and full studies. To test the significant relationship between the independent variables (student-instructor interaction, service quality, information quality, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use) and dependent variable (students’ satisfaction), the researchers employed Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. In a nutshell, the results found that all explanatory variables (student-instructor interaction, service quality, information quality, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use) have a significant impact on the dependent variable (students’ satisfaction), as determined through Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. Lastly, this study presents a summary of the key findings, discusses the research implications, highlights its limitations, and provides several recommendations for future research. Keywords: Student-Instructor Interaction, Service Quality, Information Quality, Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Student Satisfaction
Subject Area: LB2300 – 2430 Higher Educatio
Applying theory planned behaviour(TPB) on Generation Z’s online shopping purchase intention.
Get PDFThe rapid development of e-commerce has profoundly impacted the purchasing behaviour of Generation Z. Based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), this study examines the effects of convenience, trust and subjective norms on the purchase intention of online shopping of Generation Z in Malaysia. The study adopted a quantitative research method by administering a structured questionnaire to Malaysian Gen Z respondents and analyzing the data using SPSS. The results show that convenience, trust, and subjective norms significantly influence the purchase intention of Generation Z. The results of this study are summarized below. Specifically, ease of access, security of transaction, and social influence play a crucial role in influencing their purchase decisions. This study contributes to both theory and practice. Theoretically, it expands the application of TPB in digital commerce and provides new perspectives for understanding the shopping behaviors of Generation Z. In practice, the findings provide strategic recommendations for e-commerce platforms and retailers to optimize the website experience, enhance trust mechanisms, and leverage social influence to attract and retain Gen Z consumers more effectively. Despite the contributions of this study, there are limitations, including sample representativeness and geographic scope. Future research should consider larger, more diverse samples, longitudinal studies, and other influences such as brand loyalty and perceived risk to deepen the understanding of Gen Z online shopping behavior.
Keyword: Online Purchase Intention, E-commerce, Generation Z, Theory Of Planned Behavior (TPB), Malaysia, Convenience, Trust, Subejctive Norms, Big data analytics
Subject Area: HF1-6182 Commerc
Time course evaluation of biochemical contents and biocatalytic activities of jiaosu from fruit wastes during one-year natural fermentation
Get PDFJiaosu is a multifunctional organic solution derived from fermentation of a mixture of fruit or vegetable wastes, sugar and water for a typical period of three months. The production of jiaosu is an inexpensive approach to reduce food waste. However, the significance of a fermentation period of three months or longer remains to be ascertained. Therefore, the present study evaluated the changes in pH, concentrations of proteins, phenolics, carbohydrates, alcohols, and organic acids (oxalic, tartaric, malic, lactic, acetic, citric, and succinic) as well as amylase, protease, and lipase activities of different groups of fruit peel jiaosu throughout one year of natural fermentation. Three jiaosu groups, each with different types of fruit peels were prepared: orange-papaya-watermelon (OPW), grapefruit-mango-pineapple (GMP), and durian-jackfruit-passion fruit (DJP). A total of 19 jiaosu samples (day 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300, 330, and 360) were analysed for each group. Using day 90 as a reference point for all three jiaosu groups, fermentation caused significant increases (p < 0.05) in phenolics (from 0.17-0.84 to 2.25-5.66 mg GAE/mL), alcohols (from 0% to 4.47-10.47%), malic acid (from 67.36-159.63 to 206.32-403.49 μg/mL), lactic acid (from 67.30-133.41 to 493.19-8353.75 μg/mL), acetic acid (from 61.97-171.84 to 3591.78-6265.55 μg/mL), citric acid (from 32.49-52.67 to 443.73-981.95 μg/mL), and succinic acid (from 433.61-584.63 to 1258.85-2969.13 μg/mL) whereas significant decreases (p < 0.05) were observed in pH (from 4.29-5.19 to 3.11-3.24), carbohydrates (from 52.58-105.31 to 1.48-9.49 mg/mL), and amylase activity (from 237.31-2507.97 to 60.35-118.38 μmol/min/μg protein) compared to before fermentation (day 0). Throughout the one-year fermentation period, the pH, the concentrations of proteins, phenolics, carbohydrates, alcohols, and lactic acid, the amylase, protease, and lipase activities were significantly different (p < 0.05) between all three groups of jiaosu. Notably, GMP showed the highest total protein and phenolic concentrations and the lowest protease activity (p < 0.05) while DJP exhibited the highest lipase activity and lactic acid concentration, and the lowest total alcohol concentration (p < 0.05). The results indicated that the biochemical content and enzyme activities of jiaosu could be influenced by fermentation duration and the types of fruit peels used for fermentation
The role of gender inequality in the wage gap: Perspective of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia
Get PDFThis study investigates the effects of gender inequality on the wage gap in Sub Saharan Africa and South Asia. Despite continued attempts to promote gender equality, women in these areas continue to earn less than men due to persisting structural and cultural hurdles. The study uses panel data from 23 countries from 2007 to 2021 using econometric models, Pooled OLS, Fixed Effects, and Random Effects to examine the link between gender inequality and pay differences. The data show a strong and positive association between gender inequality and the pay gap, indicating that increased gender inequality worsens income inequalities between men and women. Gender inequality has a positive and marginally significant link with the gender pay gap, implying that nations with higher gender inequalities have larger wage gaps. The findings suggest policy recommendations for Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia governments to improve population growth by strengthening labour policies, enhancing access to education and formal employment, and promoting women’s leadership to narrow the gender wage gap