UNIMAS Journal (Universiti Malaysia Sarawak)
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Strategies for Enhancing Grow-Out Culture Technique of Community-Based Sea Cucumber (Holothuria scabra): A Case Study in Malawali Island, Sabah: Enhancing Holothuria scabra Grow-Out in Malawali
No full textInitial efforts to cultivate Holothuria scabra in coastal communities on Malawali faced several challenges. Most notable were the high mortality rate and slow growth, especially after several harvests. In this study, an attempt was made to improve cultivation techniques to increase the growth and survival rate of hatchery-produced H. scabra on Malawali Island. A comparative analysis of growth and survival rates of 50 H. scabra juveniles (8.68 ± 3.88 g [mean ± S.D.]) kept in 4 m² (stocking density: 12 ind. m⁻²) and 16 m² (3 ind. m⁻²) experimental pens with and without sediment enrichment with Sargassum spp. (enrichment ratio: 3% total biomass) for a period of 6 months was conducted. Several key biophysical parameters were recorded, including total organic matter (TOM) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a). The results indicate that lower stocking density and sediment enrichment did not lead to a higher survival rate of juvenile H. scabra. However, stocking density had a noticeable effect on the growth of juvenile H. scabra. The average final total biomass of juveniles in enriched and non-enriched pens with low stocking density was significantly higher (1890.45 g and 1667.65 g, respectively), while juveniles in enriched and non-enriched pens with high stocking density had the lowest total biomass (889.7 g and 350.15 g, respectively). While there was no significant difference in TOM content between enriched and non-enriched pens on each observation day (one-way ANOVA; p > 0.05), the pooled data showed that enriched pens had significantly higher TOM content. Conversely, the enriched pens have a significantly higher Chl-a concentration than the non-enriched pens. Conclusively, the research findings indicate that a stocking density of 3 ind. m⁻² is a feasible approach to maximise the biomass of H. scabra in grow-out pens. On Malawali Island, it was also discovered that while a 3% sediment enrichment alters the properties of the sediment, it is insufficient to sustain H. scabra's ideal development and survival. This study offers insights into sea cucumber farming in the region but highlights the need for further research. Future studies should determine optimal sediment enrichment ratios and use larger sample sizes with sufficient replicates for more conclusive results
Growth Performance, Digestive Enzymes Activities and Gut Microbiota of Malaysian Mahseer, Tor tambroides Fingerlings Affected by Various Probiotics Concentrations: Probiotics' Impact on Growth and Gut Microbiota in Tor tambroides
No full textThe most valued freshwater fish in Malaysia is the Malaysian mahseer, Tor tambroides, also known as Empurau. Due to the extended growing period, innovative feeding management is required to maintain fish health. This study looked at the effect of Lacto-sacc, a feed additive and antibiotic replacement made up of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Enterococcus faecium, on T. tambroides fingerlings’ growth performance, digestive enzyme activities and gut microbiota. A total of 600 fingerlings, each weighing 6.53 g ± 0.17 g, were allocated into twelve 650 L tanks, with 50 fingerlings per tank. Over a period of 20 weeks, the fish were fed four different diets: 0% Lacto-sacc as control (A), 0.5% Lacto-sacc (B), 1.0% Lacto-sacc (C), and 1.25% Lacto-sacc (D), with each diet replicated in three tanks. Although statistic revealed no significant differences in growth performance among treatment group (p>0.05), but it is noteworthy that fingerlings of T. tambroides were fed a diet containing 0.5% Lacto-sacc exhibited a trend toward improved growth performance with value higher SGR, along with elevated lipase and protease activities than other groups. Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes were the top four phyla in the gut microbiota of T. tambroides, accounting for more than 95%, with Fusobacteria dominating at around 70% of the gut microbiota. Cetobacterium, ZOR0006, Brevinema, and Aeromonas were the most common genera detected. T. tambroides fed a 0.5% Lacto-sacc (B) diet had lower Fusobacteria abundance while increasing other dominating bacteria compared to other treatments. Although there is no significant difference in gut microbiota, the gut microbiota of T. tambroides fed probiotics was more consistently disturbed and diversified, indicating less species dominance. The addition of Lacto-sacc, particularly at a concentration of 0.5%, appeared to enhance growth performance and increase the activity of digestive enzymes compared to the diet without Lacto-sacc, although the results were not statistically significant
AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
Get PDFTo sustain a competitive edge amidst the dynamic nature of the current market and evolving technological landscape, manufacturing enterprises must ensure that their organizational resources, capabilities, and innovation procedures are optimized. In the manufacturing sector, innovators are known to earn twice as much as their less innovative counterparts, demonstrating the criticality of innovation. On that basis, this study used the RCO technique, which is an integrated approach to sustainable competitive advantage that focuses on resources, capabilities, and open innovation of the organization to improve decisions that lead to a lasting competitive advantage in a developing country. In addition, this study applied an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) approach for data analysis in calibrating the actual application of sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) in a company, especially in developing economies. The study results indicate that possessing valuable organizational resources necessitates adding distinctive capabilities to generate innovations that effectively contribute to attaining organizational objectives, specifically SCA. Moreover, through the utilization of positive knowledge ingress and outflow, open innovation is considered the industry eye of a business organization, with the purpose of accelerating innovation within the organization and expanding the market for innovations’ internal and external applications. In conclusion, an integrated model for sustainable competitive advantage, which is vital to the long-term growth and sustenance of businesses, was devised as a result of this study
The Role Of Hedonic Motivation In Social Commerce Toward Consumer Purchase Intention
Get PDFThis study investigates the influence of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) elements on customer purchase intention within the context of social commerce, with a focus on the moderating role of hedonic motivation (HM). TPB factors, including attitude (ATD), subjective norm (SN), and perceived behavioral control (PBC), along with TAM factors - perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PU) - were examined for their connection to consumer purchase intention (CPI). Hedonic motivation's role as a moderator between TPB, TAM, and purchase intention was explored due to its impact on sensory, creative, and emotional responses of hedonic consumers towards products. The study, involving 500 online survey participants, employed SPSS 26.0 for initial analysis and Smart PLS 3.0 for structural equation modeling. Results supported seven out of ten hypotheses, offering valuable insights into hedonic motivation's regulatory effect on customer purchase intention in the realm of social commerce, contributing to a deeper understanding of this evolving market
An Empirical Study of Financial Efficiency and Stability of Crab–Shrimp Farming Model In Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Get PDFThe study is conducted with the goal of analyzing the financial efficiency of 308 crab - shrimp farming households in the Mekong Delta, finding factors that affect financial efficiency and the extent of their influence on farm household income. Research results show that extensive crab-shrimp farming households are highly effective. With the average cost of investment in production during the crab farming process of 2,051 thousand VND/1,000m2, the average revenue brought from farming Crab farming of 5,099 thousand VND/1,000m2, farmers have an average profit of about 3,020 thousand VND/1,000m2. The average value of the financial ratios shows that the production model in the Mekong Delta is financially effective, the average value of the revenue/cash cost is 8.08, profit/total costs is 2.31, net income/cash costs is 7.08, and profit /revenue is 0.37. Factors affecting the profits of extensive mud crab farmers consist of three influencing factors: Area, crab/total crab ratio, and farmers in Kien Giang Province. Additionally, the number of years of farming experience has an influence, but its impact is not statistically significan
FDI-ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY NEXUS: SOUTHEAST ASIAN TIGER CUB ECONOMIES
Get PDFForeign Direct Investment (FDI) is a crucial catalyst for economic growth in countries, especially in the Southeast Asian Tiger Cub economies, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Nonetheless, the impact of foreign direct investment on environmental quality may differ by region. This study aims to investigate the impact of the FDI on carbon dioxide emission among Tiger Cub economies. Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and quadratic estimation methods are adopted in the study to estimate the relationship between FDI and carbon dioxide emission from 1995 to 2022, in view of linearity and non-linearity aspects. Empirical findings indicate that there is a negative relationship between FDI and carbon dioxide emission in the long run under the linearity model and supported the Pollution Halo Hypothesis (PHH). Furthermore, the non-linearity results show that existence on inverted U-Shaped relationship between FDI and carbon dioxide emission. There is a positive impact of FDI on carbon dioxide emission when FDI is below the threshold level, while there is a negative impact of FDI on carbon dioxide emission when FDI is above the threshold level. The government should encourage green investment by offering business incentives or carbon credits, with a focus on high-value sectors such as advanced manufacturing, technology, renewable energy and research and development, as well as promoting technology transfer and innovation to attract foreign direct investment and stimulate economic growth, all while reducing environmental degradation
FINANCIAL LITERACY, SOCIAL CAPITAL, DEMOGRAPHY, FINANCIAL INCLUSION, AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE: THE ROLE OF THE ALIGNMENT USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Get PDFThis study investigates the influence of financial literacy, social capital, demography, and financial inclusion on financial performance and the role of alignment moderation in information technology (IT). The samples used in this study were 701 respondents from micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The data were analyzed using the regression method and test of Moderated Regression Analysis Interaction. The results show that the financial performance of those MSMEs might be positively influenced by financial literacy, social capital, and financial inclusion. The financial inclusion of SMEs cannot be influenced by demography. The financial inclusion of MSMEs might be positively influenced by financial literacy, social capital, and financial inclusion in financial performance. However, the alignment of IT usage cannot promote the demographic influence on financial performance. This study also includes some consideration of the effectivity of the application of IT as a moderating factor for the influence of financial literacy, social capital, demography, and financial inclusion on the financial performance of those MSMEs
STUDY OF TOURIST SATISFACTION AT BUSAN’S TEMPLES: A QUANTITATIVE TEXT MINING APPROACH
Get PDFThis study leverages big data analytics to provide a comprehensive analysis of tourist satisfaction at temples in Busan through the examination of online reviews. Utilizing quantitative textual analysis, including frequency analysis, co-occurrence network analysis, and cluster analysis, the research identifies both positive and negative aspects of the temple tourist experience. While visitors frequently highlight the beauty, ambiance, and convenience of temple visits, challenges such as accessibility issues and admission pricing also emerge. This dual perspective offers a balanced view of the tourist experience. The study is notable for its application of advanced text mining tools to a significant dataset, setting it apart from previous research on temple tourism in Busan. The findings underscore the importance of maintaining the temples’ aesthetic appeal and accessibility while addressing tourists' concerns to enhance overall satisfaction. These insights are crucial for temple management and stakeholders in the religious tourism sector, providing a foundation for strategic improvements and a deeper understanding of visitor needs and expectations
DO INSTITUTIONAL ACTS AS ‘BULLET-PROOF’ FOR DUAL BANKING SECTOR DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC? EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM SELECTED HIGH- AND MIDDLE- INCOME COUNTRIES
Get PDFThe global faced another pandemic, which is COVID-19 that created panic amongst the economics sector including banking sector. The pandemic either weakens or enhances the institutional in order to sustain banking performance in terms of financial stability. Pandemic and institutional level in particular countries may give an impact to the banking sector as new regulations and policies were introduced to curb the COVID-19. Dual Banking sector comprises conventional and Islamic banks in high- and middle- income countries are significant to their economics performance. Main question is does pandemic influence institutional in order to sustain financial stability? This study comprises data from 2012 to 2022. System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) is employed. Financial stability indicated by Z-score, institutional variables are extracted from World Governance Index (WGI), and dummy for year of pandemic (2020 & 2021). The findings indicate that pandemics do not have an impact on the financial stability in high- income countries regardless of the level of institutional. On the contrary, the pandemic lowered financial stability in middle- income countries that have better institutional environments. It shows that middle- income countries should issue new policies prudently during pandemics to achieve financial stability
KEY FACTORS INFLUENCING CONSUMER PURCHASE INTENTIONS FOR CHINESE BRAND ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Get PDFIn light of the escalating environmental pollution and the pressing issue of climate change attributed to vehicle emissions, a growing number of electric vehicle companies have emerged in China. Despite various study endeavors focusing on consumers' purchase intention for electric vehicles, there remains a significant gap when it comes to exploring the purchase intentions specifically related to Chinese brand electric vehicles. This study seeks to bridge this gap by examining the relationship between brand image, perceived benefits, attitude, and the purchase intention of potential consumers in the context of Chinese brand electric vehicles. The study was conducted through the distribution of questionnaires, both in offline stores specializing in Chinese brand electric vehicles and online via WenJuanXing, a survey platform. To ensure the data collected is reflective of the target audience, a purposive sampling technique was employed, gathering 187 valid questionnaires from individuals between the ages of 18 and 70 who have a genuine interest in electric vehicles and intend to make a purchase in the near future. The gathered data was analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS. This study's results prove that brand image, encompassing functional, symbolic, and experiential aspects, plays a crucial role in shaping consumers' perceived benefits and attitude, thereby significantly positively influencing their purchase intention. This study holds immense significance for car sellers and industry stakeholders. By unraveling the dynamics of brand image, perceived benefits, and consumer attitude toward Chinese brand electric vehicles, the findings provide essential insights to empower companies to align their strategies, thereby significantly motivating potential consumers to make their purchase intention a reality. Ultimately, this study contributes to the growing field of electric vehicles, particularly within the unique context of the Chinese market