USM Journal Management System (Univ. Sains Malaysia)
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Sustainable Development Practices in Architectural Design for Cultural Inheritance in Chinese Cities
No full textCultural heritage plays a crucial role in urban regeneration and sustainable development. In recent years, Chinese cities have encountered mounting challenges in architectural sustainability, particularly in reconciling the demands of modernisation with the preservation of cultural heritage. This study aims to explore architectural design pathways that integrate sustainability with urban cultural inheritance to bridge this critical gap. Based on a systematic literature review and a multi-case study methodology, it develops an integrative framework that combines critical regionalism—as a value orientation that responds to local culture and social identity—with urban catalyst theory as an operational pathway for revitalising public life and cultural vitality. Case data were coded and thematically analysed using Atlas.ti 9 to test the framework’s applicability and extract transferrable insights. Findings indicate that the sustainable development of Chinese cities benefits from a culture-oriented design approach. Within this paradigm, architecture can achieve a dynamic balance between cultural continuity and modernity through four key strategies: employing materials to sustain heritage, leveraging technology for cultural integration, reinforcing identity and belonging, and optimising spatial structures and organisation. Collectively, these strategies promote the living transmission of urban culture and provide theoretical as well as practical guidance for developing culture-prioritised urban design policies
Satellite-Based Drought Monitoring Using Drought Indices in Salt Lake Meighan, Iran
Get PDFDrought poses a significant threat to semi-arid regions such as Iran\u27s Meighan Wetland, where limited ground-based data hinders effective monitoring and water resource management. This study addresses the challenge of assessing meteorological drought in data-scarce environments by integrating satellite-derived and reanalysis datasets with ground observations. The objective is to evaluate the spatiotemporal dynamics of drought in the Meighan Wetland from 1998 to 2025 using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) at 3-, 6-, and 12-month timescales. Monthly precipitation data from the GPM Final Run Version 7 and temperature data from the ERA5-Land product were validated against 10 synoptic stations, with six selected for detailed analysis due to their high accuracy (R > 0.9 for GPM, R² > 0.98 for ERA5-Land). Results identified major drought episodes in 2000, 2008, 2017, and 2021, with SPEI indicating greater severity due to rising evapotranspiration. Correlation between SPI and SPEI was strong (R > 0.87), particularly at longer timescales. Trend analysis using the Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator revealed significant drying trends in Arak during late winter and summer. This study demonstrates the efficacy of combining satellite and reanalysis data for robust drought monitoring, offering critical insights for adaptive water resource planning in semi-arid regions
Locating the Bhagavadgita on the Deep Ecology Platform: A Study of Convergence and Divergence
Get PDFHinduism records a strong ecological underpinning in the dharmic system of life which is reflected in the core religious texts like the Bhagavadgita. In the text, the Brahman figure Krishna reveals himself as personified cosmic energy pervading all living and non-living beings and beyond. The eight-pointed deep ecology platform formulated by Arne Naess, demands a radical paradigm shift in human lifestyle for flourishing of nature and biodiversity and the ecosophy conceptualises individual eco-consciousness. As deep ecology was influenced by the Bhagavadgita also, the present study investigates the converging and diverging relations between the deep ecology and the Bhagavadgita and, thereby, foregrounding the limitations of the former to unravel the ecological discourse of the text
Heteropatriarchy, Archetypes and Stereotypes: A Case of Malaysian Lottery Newsletters
Get PDFGambling in Malaysia is frowned upon due to its potentially harmful effects on society. Nevertheless, the same industry also generates income through taxes. Most Malaysian lottery companies still resort to various methods to remain relevant. Past research indicates how Malaysian lottery companies rely on supporting charitable deeds and metaphors to promote their positive images. This article examines how lottery gambling in Malaysia creates a space that advocates heteropatriarchy: a system that favours heterosexual males over cisgender females and minorities of cisgender origin through archetypes and stereotypes. Using Jungian and social theory approaches, the paper investigates how the family patriarchs are constantly portrayed through the everyday hero archetype, while women and other minorities are stereotyped as weaklings and dependents. Ten newsletters reporting lottery winners and companies’ activities released by Sports Toto and Da Ma Cai in the past three years reveal how archetypes and stereotypes distinguish family patriarchs from their dependents. The findings demonstrate the portrayal of heterosexual men in a positive light and inadvertently highlight that, for these lottery companies, creating a space that advocates heteropatriarchy is crucial for their relevance and their brand image. It also communicates that women can be exploited through stereotypes used to promote brand images
Penglibatan Orang Cina dalam Perniagaan Candu di Kedah (1907–1934): Satu Analisis Interim: The Involvement of Chinese Community in Opium Business in Kedah (1907–1934): An Interim Analysis
Get PDFOpium became a commodity brought into Malaya on a large scale by the Chinese beginning in the early 18th century. The high demand for opium, especially in Kedah, allowed the opium market to be dominated by the Chinese. However, the arrival of the British broke the Chinese monopoly on the opium trade. This article discusses the role of the Chinese community in the opium trade in Kedah from 1907 to 1934. This research highlights the content analysis method as the main method of collecting data on the history of the Chinese in Kedah through the National Archives of Malaysia for the analysis of data on the role and contribution of the Chinese in the opium trade sector. The results of the study found that based on the Kedah government report records, the Chinese were actively involved in the opium trade starting at the end of the 19th century. Before the arrival of the British, the Chinese had to get permission from the Kedah government to run an opium business with a leasing system. Next, they invested capital to develop the opium business sector, resulting in the existence of opium farms and opium shops and became entrepreneurs and owners of opium shops. Most opium leases were monopolised by the Chinese, but the opium business was tightly controlled by the government after the arrival of the British with the establishment of the Monopoly and Customs Department. As a result, several policies involving the opium business were introduced by the government, causing a decline in Chinese involvement in the opium business.
Candu menjadi satu komoditi yang dibawa masuk ke Tanah Melayu secara besar-besaran oleh orang Cina bermula pada awal kurun ke-18. Permintaan terhadap candu yang tinggi khususnya di Kedah membolehkan pasaran candu dikuasai oleh orang Cina. Namun begitu, kedatangan British telah memecahkan monopoli perniagaan candu oleh orang Cina. Artikel ini membincangkan peranan masyarakat Cina dalam perniagaan candu di Kedah dari tahun 1907 sehingga 1934. Penelitian ini mengetengahkan metode analisis kandungan sebagai metode utama pengumpulan data berkenaan sejarah orang Cina di Kedah melalui Arkib Negara Malaysia bagi penganalisisan data berkenaan peranan dan sumbangan orang Cina dalam sektor perniagaan candu. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa berdasarkan rekod laporan kerajaan Kedah, orang Cina terlibat secara aktif dalam perdagangan candu bermula pada penghujung abad ke-19. Sebelum kedatangan British, orang Cina perlu mendapat kebenaran dari pemerintah Kedah bagi menjalankan perniagaan candu dengan sistem pajakan. Seterusnya, orang Cina menanamkan modal untuk membangunkan sektor perniagaan candu menyebabkan wujudnya ladang candu dan kedai candu, dan seterusnya menjadi pengusaha dan pemilik kedai-kedai candu. Kebanyakan pajakan candu dimonopoli oleh orang Cina, namun perniagaan candu dikawal ketat oleh kerajaan setelah kedatangan British dengan tertubuhnya Jabatan Monopoli dan Kastam. Kesannya, beberapa polisi membabitkan perniagaan candu diperkenalkan oleh kerajaan menyebabkan kemerosotan penglibatan orang Cina dalam perniagaan candu
Feudalisme: Sejarah dan Persejarahan, by Azmi Arifin. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2023. xii + 545 pp. ISBN 9789834940577.
Get PDFMenerusi buku bertajuk Feudalisme: Sejarah dan Persejarahan, Azmi Arifin telah mengemukakan satu pandangan baharu dan berbeza berkenaan sistem feudal, yang dibincangkan dengan terperinci dan meluas. Secara umumnya, perbincangan dalam buku ini boleh dibahagikan kepada dua bahagian utama. Bahagian pertama merangkumi empat bab terawal yang memfokuskan perbincangan pada sejarah dan latar belakang sistem feudal dalam kerangka zaman sejarah di Eropah Barat. Penulis memulakan perbincangan dengan menjelaskan pandangan pengkaji sejarah Zaman Pertengahan berhubung istilah dan konsep-teori sistem feudal. Walaupun sistem feudal dikaitkan dengan perkembangan sejarah yang berlaku dalam masyarakat Eropah Barat Zaman Pertengahan, namun terdapat para pengkaji yang mengkhususkan kajian dalam konteks Zaman Pertengahan yang telah menolak penggunaan konsep feudalisme disebabkan kekaburan terhadap takrifannya. Masalah ini berlaku disebabkan sikap dan pendekatan pengkaji itu sendiri yang menggunakan konsep feudalisme tanpa memberikan takrifan dan ciri-ciri yang jelas serta sesuai dengan konteks masyarakat yang dibincangkan
Chronic Granulomatous Disease: A Multicentre Study of DHR Flow Cytometry Results and Clinical Correlations in Malaysia
Get PDFBackground: Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is an inherited primary immunodeficiency disease that results from a defect in one of the respiratory burst oxidases (NADPH oxidase) genes that form its components. The diagnostic laboratory assessment for CGD includes evaluation of NADPH oxidase function in neutrophils, using DHR test. The main objective of this project is to develop an internal reference range by determining the relative proportion of oxidising cells percentages and the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) for complete interpretation of the test results and more accurate results.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 107 individuals referred for DHR testing from Institut Perubatan dan Pergigian Termaju (IPPT) and Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM). Purposive sampling was employed. Logistic regression was used to explore relationships between groups and test parameters, and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis assessed test precision.
Results: From our findings, the optimum cut-point for IPPT to differentiate CGD patients from healthy group with fMLP% was 0.26%, and FMLP MFI was 9.15, PMA% was 58.70%, and PMA MFI was 50.00. For the HUSM data, the best possible cut-point for fMLP% was 3.86%, FMLP MFI was 999.50, PMA% was 45.69%, and PMA MFI was 1130.50. The parameters showed a good analytical ability since all the area under the curve (AUC) values were significant (P > 0.5).
Conclusion: This study confirmed the importance of developing an internal reference range for accurate diagnosis of CGD. This data showed a difference between two centres in terms of test results and cut-points, highlighting the need for standardised reference ranges in diagnostic testing
Understanding the Drivers of Food Waste in Malaysian Public Hospitals (MyHoFWa Study)
Get PDFBackground: Understanding the perspectives and experiences of hospital food service personnel in managing food waste may aid in determining the factors that influence food waste. However, such research is still scarce globally. This study aimed to determine the factors influencing food wastage in Malaysian public hospitals.
Methods: This qualitative research was performed in four Malaysian public hospitals and used purposive sampling to select participants for one-to-one interviews because of their role as key informants.
Results: Themes such as patient culture and background, the quality and variety of food choices, the complexity of the ordering system, staff competency and attitude, environmental factors, treatment procedures, and patient clinical condition were identified using thematic analysis.
Conclusion: Rather than focusing solely on patient experiences, this study explores other factors influencing food wastage in Malaysian public hospitals based on the experiences of hospital food services staff in managing food wastage
Kelestarian Gamelan dalam Komposisi Piano Etude No. 5 Karya Razak Abdul Aziz: The Sustainability of Gamelan through Razak Abdul Aziz’s Etude No. 5 for Piano Solo
Get PDFSustainability is a global focus nowadays, especially when the United Nations (UN) introduced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. Music can be mapped to all 17 SDGs. Among the musical arts recognised by the UNESCO is gamelan music. Although gamelan gained international recognition, its sustainability is threatened by the current of modernisation, like other traditional music. Composer Razak Abdul Aziz had anticipated this threat in advance and incorporated gamelan elements into his piano composition Etude No. 5. Western composers such as Claude Debussy, Erik Satie, Leopold Godowsky, and Lou Harrison have adapted gamelan elements into their respective compositions, alongside local composer Marzelan Salleh who uses gamelan elements and scale associations for narration in his work Puteri Gunung Ledang. The works of these composers prove that gamelan elements can be preserved through adapting them into piano compositions. The study conducted on Etude No. 5 uses interviews with the composer, score analysis, and related reading materials as its main research tools. The results found that the composer has adapted the colotomic structure of gamelan into this work using several formulas, namely (1) a modified multiple of eight, (2) a standard multiple of eight, and (3) a modified multiple of six by using certain note values in determining the number of notes in any given colotomic structure. The composer also used micro- and macro-colotomic structures in this composition. Creative approach through the composer’s individual aesthetics based on ideas derived from the Chaos Theory were also used in the adaptation process. Traditional art needs to be preserved through adaptation into contemporary works to stay relevant in the era of development and modernisation and to attract the interest of the audience, especially the young and foreigners, to learn and understand the art of Malaysian cultural heritage, thus placing Malaysia on the global pedestal
The Costumes of Topeng Panji Dance at Surakarta Palace, Indonesia: Symbolic Meanings and Functions
Get PDFTraditional dance costumes in Indonesia, including those used in Topeng Panji dance at Surakarta Palace, carry symbolic meanings and functions that reflect educational characters. However, these meanings and functions are only known within a limited circle, primarily within the palace, making them unfamiliar to the public. This study aims to describe the symbolic meanings and functions of Topeng Panji dance costumes at Surakarta Palace in Indonesia. This qualitative research involved participants from the Surakarta Palace family, cultural experts, and the creators and main dancers of the Topeng Panji dance. Data were collected through observations and supported by information from informants as well as documentation in the form of photographs, videos, and books related to the dance. The data were analysed qualitatively using content analysis. The results of the study revealed: (1) the symbolic meanings of the costumes include representing power and status within the kingdom, distinguishing between protagonist and antagonist characters, symbolising readiness for war, and functioning as a weapon of war; and (2) the functions of the costumes include character depiction, character enhancement, and serving as a medium to facilitate movement. Audiences respond to the costumes’ appearance through their five senses, engaging imagination and emotion. The symbolic meanings of the Topeng Panji dance costumes hold educational value and should be studied further as a learning material for the wider community