UNIMAS Journal (Universiti Malaysia Sarawak)
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Variation of the Pronotal Markings in Rhynchophorus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Species from Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
Get PDFThe notorious palm weevils from the genus Rhynchophorus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are known to be polymorphic and show high phenotypic plasticity. Due to these characteristics, this study attempts to document the typologies based on the pronotal markings observed from Kuala Terengganu population. Samples were collected using baited traps with pheromones and fruits as well as through handpicking method, where the sampling sites were located at two villages, namely, Kampung Tanjung Paya and Kampung Pulau Sekati. A total of 100 individuals were collected of which 19 typologies were successfully identified. Of all, the most prominent pattern observed was typology A, represented by 37 individuals. Findings from this study suggested that the variation was driven by various factors including resource limitation, habitat preference, diet preference and competition. However, a comprehensive study should be initiated to measure possible factor(s) which possibly induce the pronotal variation within Rhynchophorus at a local scale
Potential of Trichoderma and AMF Mixture with Different Types of Fertiliser for Durio zibethinus Murray (Durian) and Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (Jackfruit) Growth
Get PDFOver the years, the co-inoculation of Trichoderma and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) with different types of fertiliser in a field condition has been understudied. This study explores the potential of Trichoderma and AMF mixture (T-AMF) with different types of fertiliser for plant growth with the objectives to: (i) analyse the growth of Durio zibethinus and Artocarpus heterophyllus fertilised with different types of fertiliser and inoculated with T-AMF and (ii) determine the optimal combination of organic and chemical fertiliser with T-AMF. A randomized complete block design was applied using seven treatments namely, 50 g organic fertiliser (OF) + T-AMF, 100 g OF + T-AMF, 50 g chemical fertiliser (CF) + T-AMF, 100 g CF + T-AMF, 100 g OF, 100 g CF, and control (without fertiliser and T-AMF). The growth analysis of D. zibethinus showed the highest mean height was at 100 g OF with T-AMF, stem diameter at 100 g CF with T-AMF, and the number of leaves at 50 g CF with T-AMF. For A. heterophyllus, the highest mean height and stem diameter was at 50 g OF with T-AMF and the number of leaves at 100 g OF with T-AMF. The optimal combination of fertiliser with T-AMF for D. zibethinus’ height was 100 g OF and number of leaves was 50 g CF. The optimal combination of fertiliser with T-AMF for A. heterophyllus’ height and stem diameter was 50 g OF. The optimal combination for its number of leaves was 100 g OF with T-AMF. This concludes that the application of fertiliser with T-AMF reacted differently to plant species and their growth parameters. The co-inoculation of Trichoderma and AMF may present a cheaper and sustainable alternative, especially when the planting scale is huge
Effect of Thermal Treatment on Kelulut Honey Towards the Physicochemical, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties
Get PDFHeat treatment on commercial honey could deteriorate its quality associated with physicochemical and bioactive capacities. In this study, the effects of thermal treatment (50 °C, 75 °C and 90 °C) on the physicochemical properties (i.e., pH, colour intensity), total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were investigated on the Kelulut honey. The results revealed a significant increase in TFC (0.154 mg QE/g honey) for the heat-treated Kelulut honey compared to the control (0.085 mg QE/g honey). The antioxidant activity of the heat-treated honey revealed an increase in 2, 2- Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl levels by 42%, while the ferric reducing antioxidant power levels were reduced significantly by 22.4% compared to the untreated honey. The antimicrobial activities of heat-treated honey declined against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhi bacteria at 75 °C and 90 °C. Based on the effects observed in the bioactive capacities of the heat-treated honey, it is therefore recommended to minimize thermal treatment on the honey during the processing to maintain its natural nutritional quality and benefit consumers
Diversity of Fisheries in Sarawak, Northwest Borneo: Present Status and Conservation Issues
Get PDFInformation on fisheries resources in East Malaysia is scarce and poorly known. The current review aims to compile a checklist of fisheries resources in the Northwest Borneo (Sarawak, Malaysia) from available published literature, address the resources' present status, and suggest future monitoring needs for selected critical species. The study also aims to determine several Sarawak land-use issues that are in flux and responsible for habitat degradation. Five hundred sixty-four species belonging to 123 families and 32 orders were recorded from Sarawak waters. Freshwater fish species comprised 48.0% of the total, followed by a marine (36.6%), marine-euryhaline (12.9%), and brackish water (2.5%) species. Of this, Cyprinidae was the most dominant group accounting for the greatest number of species (82 species), followed by Balitoridae (34 species), Bagridae (21 species) and Penaeidae (21 species). Therefore, available fisheries resources should be managed carefully as 48 species (9.0%) are currently vulnerable to extinction. Furthermore, the presence of 20 alien species in Sarawak water bodies also requires attention from the authorities due to the potential disruption of aquatic ecological balance. Changing land use issues in Sarawak such as forest degradation, agricultural expansion, peatland deforestation and conversion, logging, destruction of mangrove forests, and construction of hydroelectric power dams and flood mitigation channels pose significant challenges to fishery management in Sarawak. Our study documents the priority of fishery monitoring and conservation in Sarawak water bodies to ensure sustainable management of fisheries resources
Diversity of Dragonflies (Odonata) at Pancur Resort Alas Purwo National Park, Indonesia
Get PDFAlas Purwo National Park is one of the conservation areas located in the east of the island of Java. Dragonflies are crucial to the ecosystem's equilibrium as predator, bioindicator, and vector for disease control. The sensitivity and presence of dragonflies affect the diversity of dragonflies in a habitat. This inventory can assist the Alas Purwo National Park with additional data and be a basis for making conservation policies. The study aimed to determine the type and diversity index of the dragonflies in this park. The sample location was determined using purposive sampling, and the sample conducted utilised road sampling. This research observed seven species: Orthetrum glaucum, Orthetrum chrysalis, Lathrecista asiatica, Potamarcha congener, Copera marginipes, Prodasineura autumnalis, and Nososticta insignis. The Libellulidae family had the most species; on the other hand, the Protoneuridae family had the fewest Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H' = 1.6). Based on the criteria, the diversity index demonstrated moderate results. Pancur Resort Alas Purwo National Park provided a good environment and supported the survival of dragonflies
Synthesis of Conjugated bis-Schiff Base and Their Complexes as Dye-Sensitizer for Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) Application
Get PDFSchiff base and their metal complexes have been widely used as photovoltaic materials due to their excellent π-electron transfer properties along the molecule. A total of eleven conjugated symmetrical bis-Schiff base and their complexes with different π-spacers have been synthesized and spectroscopically characterized in order to investigate their conversion efficiency in dye-sensitizer solar cells (DSSC). All compounds were either substituted with hydroxy (-OH) or methoxy (-OMe) as the electron donor and difluoro boron (BF2) as the electron acceptor or without any substituent. All compounds were applied as dye-sensitizer in DSSC using titanium (IV) oxide (TiO2) coated on a fluoride doped tin oxide glass as the working electrode and electric paint containing carbon black, whereas graphene coated indium tin oxide glass as the counter electrode. The power conversion efficiencies of the eleven bis-Schiff bases were compared to N3 Dye as the benchmark standard. The results showed that the compound with aromatic ring bridge as the π-spacer and -OMe substituent gave the highest efficiency at 0.0691% whereas the compound with aromatic ring and BF2 gave the lowest efficiency at 0.0012%
Comparative Inventory Control Analysis With Economic Order Quantity (Eoq) And Just In Time Method To Minimize Inventory Costs At UD.Melati Jaya
Get PDFThe research discusses how To Compare Inventory Control Analysis With Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) Method and Just In Time (JIT) Method To Minimize Inventory Costs At UD. Melati Jaya. This study discusses a comparative analysis of the Economic Order Quantity method and the Just In Time method to minimize inventory costs at UD. Jasmine jaya. The data analysis method used is descriptive qualitative method with comparative research that compares the Econimic Order Quantity (EOQ) method with the Just In Time (JIT) method to the cost efficiency at UD. Melati Jaya. The analysis results from the comparative calculation of inventory control show that the Just In Time Inventory Control method is more appropriate to be applied to Ud. Melati Jaya because the total cost of the inventory is smaller than the total cost of the inventory when using the Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) method
Applying Social Capital Theory on Conservation Policies of Protected Areas: A Case Study of Penang, Malaysia
Get PDFEnvironmental conservation efforts internationally and in Malaysia are focused on the establishment, maintenance and conservation of Protected Areas. The phenomenon of Protected Areas is justified by both biological considerations and social considerations. Biological considerations are commonly articulated. This research attempts to balance the narrative by focusing on social considerations, specific on the component of social capital, as derived from Social Capital Theory. Social capital is not commonly employed in the discourse on conservation policies of Protected Areas. However, social capital is postulated to have a tangible influence, as witnessed by its successful application in other contexts such as housing policy and social development. To explore the applicability of social capital towards Protected Areas, a case study of Penang in Malaysia is utilized. Document analysis and field observations are adopted as the research methodology and the data is analyzed thematically. The findings indicate that social capital has a tangible effect on the conservation policies of Protected Areas. Subsequently, public policy recommendations are proposed in light of the findings
Reputation-Based Disclosure and Cost of Capital: The Role of Controlling Ownership
Get PDFThis study aims at examining the effect of reputation-based disclosure on the cost of capital and the role of the controlling ownership as a moderating variable. The sample of the study consists of manufacturing firms listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) for the years 2009–2013. This study uses price-earnings to growth (PEG) as a proxy of the cost of capital. The result demonstrates that reputation-based voluntary disclosure has a negative effect on the cost of capital. The controlling ownership further strengthened this effect. The cost of capital is reduced by higher disclosure. However, the interaction between reputation-based disclosure and ownership structure has a positive effect on the cost of capital. The result of this study is robust, using other measurements of the cost of capital (Fama-French model). It implies that investors can utilize firms’ disclosure as a signal to estimate returns. Firms, however, strive to impress investors positively to reduce the expected returns
Exploring the Catalyst and Constraint Factors of Agriculture Cooperative Performance
Get PDFPerformance can be affected by various factors that differ across organisational contexts. This study aims to identify and describe the catalyst and constraint factors for agriculture cooperative performance based on top management perspectives. Structured interviews were used to gather data from six informants, who were board members of their respective cooperatives. Thematic analysis was used to extract significant patterns from the interview transcripts. The findings indicated the themes of catalyst factors, namely, members’ support, internal commitment and cooperation, obeying rules and maintaining good reputation with the responsible authority, the management team's integrity and the management's determination to achieve the desired objective(s). Meanwhile, the constraint factors for cooperative performance include high-risk avoidance amongst cooperative board members, disagreement amongst board members, market competition and uncertainty of the fresh fruit bunch produce. The originality of this study lies in its qualitative approach, which provides a rigorous understanding of the examined topic based on the cooperative practitioners’ experiences