Repositori Digital KPT Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi
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Investigating the Functional Interaction between RhoGDI Family Proteins and Activated Cdc42 associated-kinase (ACK)
No full textACK is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase and an effector protein for Cdc42. ACK has been implicated in carcinogenesis events especially in promoting cell migration and invasion, indicating a need for a fuller understanding of the cellular roles of ACK both in normal and pathological conditions. A previous yeast-2-hybrid screen in the lab identified RhoGDI-3 as an interacting partner for ACK. RhoGDI-3 is a member of RhoGDI family of proteins, which are negative regulators that maintains Rho-family GTPases in the inactive GDP-bound state and sequesters them in the cytosol. RhoGDIs have also been found to become deregulated in cancer and it is possible therefore that they play
role in ACK-driven cancer progression. In this work, it is shown that ACK binds but does not phosphorylate the RhoGDIs in cells or in vitro. ACK was shown to shuttle between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. RhoGDI-1 and -2 have been found only in the cytoplasm, while RhoGDI-3 is localized to both cytoplasm and the nucleus, under the conditions tested. The interaction between RhoGDI-3 and ACK occurs predominantly in the nucleus and RhoGDI-3 levels were shown to decrease following co-expression with ACK, especially in the nucleus. Data generated here shows that ACK-mediates RhoGDI-3 proteasomal degradation potentially by regulating RhoGDI-3 ubiquitination. In order to determine the cellular effects of the interaction between ACK and the RhoGDIs, all possible Rho-family GTPases that interact with the RhoGDIs were determined in a systematic study. RhoGDI-1 and 2 were found to have relatively restricted activity, mainly binding members
of the Rho and Rac subfamilies. RhoGDI-3 displayed wider specificity interacting with several novel interacting partners within the Rho, Rac and Cdc42 subfamilies. Unexpectedly RhoGDI-3 was found to form complexes with the atypical Rho GTPases such as RhoD, Wrch2, Rnd2, Miro2 and RhoH which are not regulated by standard GDP/GTP cycling. The GTP levels of these target proteins were found to decrease following co-expression with RhoGDI-3, confirming its role as a negative regulator of these Rho GTPases. ACK was shown to regulate the activation of these target proteins, including RhoA, RhoB, Rac1 and RhoH, which are known to be involved in cell proliferation and migration. Aberrant activation of these target protein is frequently observed in cancer, suggesting a role for RhoGDI to drive ACK oncogenicity
The Effect Of Firm Strategic Orientation And Capability On New Product Performance In The Malaysian Manufacturing Industry
No full textSmall and medium enterprises (SMEs) have played a very important role in fostering growth, employment and income in the national economy of Malaysia. SMEs in Malaysia are critical to the economic transformation as they form the key domestic source of growth and the bedrock of private sector activity. Moreover, SMEs are also important in stimulating innovation and act as stabilizers of growth during the economic slowdown. In order to accelerate the growth of SMEs, it is important to understand the forces that drive the performance of these firms. It is widely reported that only through innovation can SMEs become competitive in the global market and among their competitors. This thesis examines the relationship between the firm’s strategic orientations (market orientation, entrepreneur orientation and technology orientation) and their new product performance in the Malaysian manufacturing industry and how such a relationship is mediated by a firm’s capabilities (marketing capabilities and technological capabilities). This thesis also investigates how the relationships between a firm’s capabilities and its new product performance are moderated by the exploitation and exploration (or ambidexterity) of such capabilities (marketing and technological capabilities). This thesis aims to identify the differences in new product performance and their influencing factors between Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera firms. Based on the literature review and embedded in the Resource-based View (RBV) of the firm, a theoretical framework of new product performance was developed. A quantitative approach achieved the objectives and a survey technique was used to
collect data from CEOs, Directors, Project Managers, Process Managers and Team Leaders of manufacturing SMEs in Malaysia. A total of 209 usable responses was received from a survey of 900 firms, and the proposed theoretical model was tested using analytical procedures, including confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM). The effects, including direct, indirect, and total effects, among the factors, were calculated simultaneously, together with relationships between the observed variables and proposed factors. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to assess the effect of the moderating variable. A series of t-tests
was used to examine the differences in product innovation between Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera firms. The empirical results demonstrate that a firm’s market orientation and technology orientation have a positive impact on new product performance. This research confirms that marketing capabilities do have a direct impact on new product performance. However, the effect of technological capabilities on new product performance is not significant, although positive. The findings presented in this thesis also highlight that marketing capabilities serve as an indirect-only mediator (full mediation) for the relationship between market
orientation and new product performance. Apart from this, technology orientation is also mediated by marketing capabilities in a complementary mediating effect (partial
mediation) on the relationship between technology orientation and new product performance. Another important finding of this research was that a moderation effect of the firm’s technological capabilities exploration was found in the relationships between a firm’s technological capabilities and its new product performance. There is also a moderation
effect of marketing exploitation on the relationship between marketing capabilities and its new product performance in a significant, but negative way. One unanticipated finding was that the effect of entrepreneur orientation on new product performance was negative. In term of differences in product innovation between Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera firms, the t-test results revealed that only new product performance differs significantly between these two groups of firms.
The findings presented here have implications for both theory and practice. Theoretically, this research extended a model of new product performance, on which can be beneficial to policymakers, managers and owners as a reference to the
innovation policy and new product development. Practically, the results from this research can benefit SMEs in Malaysia, particularly, Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera manufacturing firms. A clear message for managers and owners is that they should focus on developing strong firm capabilities in order to achieve superior new product performance. The evidence from this research suggests that the level of firm capabilities is influenced by the three key resources of market orientation,
entrepreneur orientation and technology orientation
EFFECTS OF LANDSCAPE ENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGS ON MICROCLIMATE IN ENHANCING PEDESTRIAN WALKING DISTANCE IN TROPICAL CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT
No full textDesign is one of the primary elements in conceptualizing campus conducive for learning. One of the criteria that define such as a campus is the promotion of greens, open spaces and walkways. Walkways are important as it helps to create a conducive and healthy campus. An environment with comfortable walkways tends to entice walking. Walking contributes to health and a sustainable way of transportation around campus. Nevertheless, a tropical climate has high ambient air temperatures and relative humidity year-round making walking uncomfortable and unpopular. A suitable microclimate can provide thermal ameliorating effects on pedestrians. However, how it affects pedestrian walking distance and the landscape environmental settings have not been adequately investigated. A good knowledge on campus microclimates becomes important in sustainable campus planning and design. Therefore, this research investigated pedestrians’ thermal comfort and comfortable walking distances for different landscape settings in a tropical campus pedestrian environment. It observes and measures pedestrian thermal comfort and walking distance based principally on the physical properties of the landscape settings and the surrounding environment.
The research posited four research questions. Data collection was divided into three parts. First, an observation method was used to identify the various types of landscape environmental setting in tropical campuses. Four Malaysian higher learning campuses were selected to evaluate the existing conditions of the pedestrian environment according to the Landscape Environmental Settings for Pedestrians (LESP). This led to the proposed five types of LESP (Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, Type 4, and Type 5). The second and third part of data collections were carried out in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) campus in Serdang, Selangor. In the second part microclimatic field measurements involving five microclimatic parameters (Air temperature (Ta), globe temperature (Tg), surface temperature (Ts), wind velocity (v), and relative humidity (Rh) were collected for all the types of LESP. These were then ranked according to pedestrian comfort. The third part involved field surveys and measurements. The field survey was conducted in UPM campus at the five types of LESP sites concurrently with field measurements of the five microclimatic parameters.
Results revealed that different types of LESP provide different thermal comforts. The findings also indicated that it is important to modify the solar radiation in a walkway environment by having a continuous shade. This could be provided by either trees alone or trees together with man-made shade structures along the walkway. The study also found evidences that the impact of LESP on comfortable walking distance in a tropical environment is related to pedestrians’ thermal comfort. The more LESP influences pedestrians’ thermal comfort, the longer will be the comfortable walking distance. LESP with full shades from two rows of trees can provide a 1.0 km comfortable walking distance. Thus, it can be concluded that LESPs influence microclimates in enhancing pedestrian thermal comfort of tropical environments. Therefore, LESPs that are conducive for walking should be provided in tropical campuses to encourage walking. The findings provide new knowledge for landscape architects and urban planners in specifying appropriate microclimatic interventions to improve pedestrian comfort in tropical environments
PENGURUSAN WARISAN KEBUDAYAAN MARITIM DI SEMENANJUNG MALAYSIA
No full textSetelah lebih 35 tahun (1980-2015) Pengurusan Warisan Kebudayaan Maritim (PWKM), Malaysia masih tidak terlepas daripada pelbagai isu dan permasalahan asas. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti isu dan permasalahan utama PWKM di Semenanjung Malaysia dan seterusnya memberi rekomendasi yang sesuai untuk mengatasi isu dan masalah tersebut. Pemerihalan isu dan masalah PWKM diperincikan dengan melihat proses tindakan PWKM menerusi dua fasa iaitu Fasa 1: Jabatan Muzium dan Antikuiti (1980-2005) dan Fasa 2: Jabatan Warisan Negara (2005-2015). Aspek utama yang ditekankan semasa fasa tersebut adalah aspek dasar dan amalan PWKM yang dilakukan oleh pihak berkepentingan kerajaan, mekanisme perundangan warisan dan penilaian tahap keberkesanan PWKM. Hasil kajian mendapati terdapat tujuh isu dan masalah PWKM iaitu kekurangan peruntukan perundangan, konflik pihak berkepentingan, aktiviti manusia seperti penjarahan dan pemburuan harta karam, perdagangan warisan budaya, keterbatasan sumber, pelancongan maritim dan konflik penyelidikan arkeologi maritim dengan salvaj komersial. Hasil kajian juga mendapati bahawa salah satu isu dan masalah utama dalam PWKM di Semenanjung Malaysia adalah isu kekurangan peruntukan perundangan warisan. Aspek perundangan merupakan teras utama PWKM kerana tanpa perundangan yang kukuh, segala aktiviti yang berkaitan dengan PWKM yang dijalankan tidak akan berkesan dan seterusnya mengundang pelbagai isu dan masalah lain. Oleh itu, rekomendasi utama kajian ini adalah pengukuhkan perundangan menerusi pindaan atau penambahan peruntukan perundangan yang sedia ada, pembahagian bidang kuasa dan tugas yang lebih jelas, penyebaran maklumat berkesan dan menyeluruh, peruntukan kewangan yang mencukupi, kerjasama antarabangsa, penubuhan kumpulan penyelidikan arkeologi bawah air dan tolak ansur penyelidikan arkeologi bawah air dengan salvaj komersial. Adalah diharap bahawa rekomendasi kajian ini dapat mengatasi isu dan masalah PWKM sedia ada dan membantu dalam penyediaan sebuah garis panduan PWKM yang lebih berkesan untuk melindungi dan memelihara tapak WKBA di Semenanjung Malaysia
PERANAN PIHAK BERKEPENTINGAN DALAM PEMBANGUNAN PELANCONGAN DI PULAU LANGKAWI DARIPADA PERSPEKTIF TEORI PERMODENAN EKOLOGIKAL
No full textPulau Langkawi merupakan salah satu destinasi pelancongan terkenal dengan kemasukan pelancong dari seluruh pelusuk dunia. Kajian ini bertujuan menganalisis hubungkait peranan pelbagai pihak berkepentingan dalam pembangunan pelancongan daripada perspektif teori permodenan ekologikal. Temubual berdasarkan satu set soal selidik dengan 400 orang responden. Data yang dikumpulkan dianalisis menggunakan
SEM AMOS. Hasil kajian menunjukkan terdapat hubungkait antara peranan pihak kerajaan-industri, kerajaan-masyarakat dan industri-masyarakat.Pihak kerajaan melaksanakan peranannya dengan memperuntukkan modal kewangan untuk
menyediakan pelbagai inhastruktur kegunaan pihak masyarakat serta mengawal polisi undang-undang berhubungan secara positif dengan peranan pihak masyarakat iaitu menjadi sumber manusia kepada infrastruktur yang disediakan kerajaan juga menjaga alam sekitar tanpa melanggar polisi undang-undang yang dikawal kerajaan dan memberi sokongan kepada projek pelancongan yang dianjurkan oleh pihak kerajaan. Hubungkait peranan pihak kerajaan dan pihak industri melibatkan modal kewangan yang dikeluarkan untuk menyediakan infrastruktur kegunaan pihak industri supaya pihak industri dapat melaksanakan peranannya untuk menyediakan perkhidmatan
penginapan yang berkualiti serta perkhidmatan makanan yang pelbagai pilihan, selain itu polisi undang-undang yang dilaksanakan kerajaan perlu dipatuhi oleh industri dalam aktiviti harian mereka supaya tidak mengakibatkan pencemaran atau kerosakan. Pihak industri dan masyarakat berhubungkait dalam peranan untuk menyediakan perkhidmatan penginapan dan makanan yang berkualiti serta pelbagai pilihan dimana
masyarakat sentiasa memberi sokongan kepada projek pelancongan dianjur industri serta menjaga alam sekitar terutama kawasan tumpuan pelancong. Hubungkait
peranan setiap pihak adalah positif dan signiHkan pada nilai p<0.05, mencapai objektif serta menjawab persoalan kajian.Kesimpulannya, peranan setiap pihak perlu
untuk mengikut arus permodenan tetapi tidak mengabaikan kelestarian kawasan pelancongan yang sediaada. Hasil kajian ini dapat digunakan oleh sektor lain yang berpotensi untuk lebih memberi sumbangan kepada negara. Pendedahan tentang
pembangunan pelancongan berguna kepada generasi akan datang supaya lebih menghargai alam juga sebagai perkembangan ilmu berkaitan industri pelancongan
kepada penyelidik pada masa akan datang
ROAD MARKER CLASSIFICATION USING GEOMETRICAL FEATURES WITH SLOPE CONTOUR
No full textDriving down and up the roads requires safe manoeuvre to avoid collisions or congestions, subject to the traffic and road conditions, which are regulated by the road markers painted along the roads. As the research in the road lane departures for intelligent transport systems gains huge interest in the research community, the road markers classification becomes essential. One of the challenges in road marker
classification is the varying locations of the road markers between different areas and countries. When classification is carried out using the existing methods, the road marker type transition causes relatively significant errors and delays as compared with the classification over the road stretch without road marker type transitions. Furthermore, the road marker types which look alike such as the dashed-solid (DS) and solid-dashed (SD), are observed to be easily confused, causing more detection failures than the other road marker types. In order to address these problems, an improved camera positioning method to identify a customised area for the Region of Interest (ROI) has been proposed by using the reference of the Field of View (FOV). In addition to the existing five road marker types, namely, Single Solid (SS), Double
Solid (DD), Dashed (D), Solid-Dashed (SD) and Dashed-Solid (DS), three novel twolayer classification algorithms were proposed. This was done by virtue of relatively small ROI identified from the road images which were captured by vehicle-mounted cameras. The proposed algorithms extract several key geometrical features such as the total number of contours, Nc(t), the angle, �, between the centroid of two contours, binary transition percentage, Nc p and the slope of the contours, ϕ , for classifying the road markers. By using the two-layer classification algorithms, it is observed that the
achievable accuracy value, when measured against the ground truth, is achieved at 98.64%, which is higher than that of the existing method. The transition delay has been
further improved by 50% faster than the existing method when using the standard 30 fps camera. The algorithms have also produced better accuracy results when classifying the two look-alike classes, namely SD and DS, achieving accuracy improvement between 2% and 12% in comparison with the existing method
PERSEPSI PELAJAR TERHADAP PENGUASAAN AL-QURAN DI KOLEJ KOMUNITI NEGERI PAHANG
No full textKajian ini dijalankan bertujuan untuk mengetahui persepsi pelajar terhadap penguasaan al-Quran di Kolej Komuniti Negeri Pahang, mengkaji faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi pelajar dalam menguasai al-Quran, mengetahui perbezaan penguasaan al-Quran berdasarkan profil demografi dan pengaruh faktor-faktor pendorong terhadap penguasaan al-Quran dalam kalangan pelajar. Kajian ini memfokuskan pelajar di Kolej Komuniti Negeri Pahang sahaja yang mana melibatkan 200 orang responden. Kajian dijalankan menggunakan kaedah kuantitatif. Proses pengumpulan data melalui instrumen soal selidik dengan menggunakan Skala Likert. Data dianalisis menggunakan IBM SPSS versi 22. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan skor min bagi bacaan al-Quran tinggi (min=4.11), manakala pengetahuan tajwid sederhana tinggi (min=3.65). Skor min bagi pemahaman ayat al-Quran berada pada tahap sederhana tinggi (min=3.21), manakala skor bagi hafalan ayat-ayat al-Quran berada pada skor yang tinggi (min=4.02). Bagi aspek faktor yang mendorong minat terhadap al-Quran, bacaan skor min menunjukkan tinggi bagi faktor kesedaran diri sendiri (min=4.13), ibu dan bapa (min=4.22), guru-guru (min=4.22) dan tempat belajar (min=4.26). Manakala
skor sederhana tinggi bagi rakan-rakan (min=3.67). Hasil analisis ujian-t bagi menguji perbezaan penguasaan al-Quran berdasarkan jantina menunjukkan skor min yang signifikan (p=0.0020.05), perbezaan berdasarkan kolej komuniti
menunjukkan tidak terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan (p=0.088>0.05), perbezaan berdasarkan semester pengajian menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan (p=0.048<0.05), perbezaan berdasarkan kursus pengajian menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan (p=0.024<0.05), perbezaan berdasarkan latar belakang
pendidikan menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan (p=0.000<0.05). Implikasi daripada dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa, persepsi pelajar Kolej Komuniti Negeri Pahang terhadap penguasaan al-Quran adalah tinggi. Pelajar juga bersetuju bahawa faktor kesedaran diri, ibu dan bapa, guru-guru, tempat belajar dan rakan-rakan menjadi pendorong bagi pelajar untuk menguasai al-Quran
