USM Journal Management System (Univ. Sains Malaysia)
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Investigating Authenticity-Related Features of Prominent AI Logo-generators
No full textAI logo-generators have rapidly transformed the landscape of logo design by offering fast, cost-effective, and technically sophisticated tools for creating visual identities. However, persistent concerns about the authenticity and originality of AI-generated designs have raised important questions about creative ownership, ethical accountability, and the role of human input in automated design processes. This study investigates the authenticity-related features embedded in twenty widely used AI logo-generators to determine how algorithmic and interactive functions influence the production of distinctive and brand-authentic outcomes. Five key variables were systematically evaluated; algorithmic sophistication, template diversity, customization depth, collaboration and feedback functions, and licensing and ownership rights, through a structured scoring matrix designed for cross-platform comparison. Our study suggests that platforms offering advanced prompt control, diverse templates, and flexible customization options are more likely to produce designs with higher authenticity potential, whereas systems that prioritize automation often generate more generic visual patterns. Future research should generate samples using the selected platform to validate this finding. To strengthen authenticity assurance, a pilot study integrating the Exclusion Zone Mapping (EZM)—which identifies visual saturation and innovation zones to guide originality—and Provenance Metadata (PM) frameworks was applied to 50 selected AI-generated logos in the housing design sector. The finding demonstrated that the approach effectively eliminated repetitive motifs, validating EZM as a creative boundary system that promotes authenticity and, when combined with PM, aligns ethical verification with AI-driven design integrity. Together, EZM and PM establish a transparent and verifiable approach that transforms authenticity from an aesthetic ideal into a measurable and evidence-based practice. Although the sample of twenty platforms cannot represent all available tools, research provides actionable insights for designers, educators, and developers seeking to enhance authenticity, integrity, and creative accountability within AI-assisted design ecosystems
Tingkah Laku dan Impak Penggunaan Tiktok dalam Kalangan Belia di Lawas: Satu Tinjauan Berdasarkan Teori Tingkah Laku Terancang
Get PDFGlobalisasi dan pendigitalan telah membawa perubahan kepada medium media berasaskan Internet. Pelbagai medium media sosial telah muncul seperti Facebook, Instagram, X, Lemon8, dan TikTok. Ini telah menjadikan media sosial sebagai sebuah medium yang paling kerap diakses oleh pengguna. Aplikasi TikTok telah muncul sebagai salah satu platform media sosial yang paling dominan dalam kalangan belia di seluruh dunia, termasuk di kawasan luar bandar seperti Lawas, Sarawak. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menilai corak penggunaan, impak serta kecenderungan tingkah laku pengguna TikTok dalam kalangan belia di Lawas. Kerangka Teori Tingkah Laku Terancang (Theory of Planned Behavior, TPB) digunakan sebagai asas utama dalam kajian ini. Teori ini telah diasaskan oleh Ajzen. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif. Seramai 226 responden yang berumur antara 15 hingga 40 tahun yang dipilih secara rawak melalui borang soal selidik dalam talian. Data yang dikumpulkan dari kutipan data diproses menggunakan SPSS. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa majoriti belia menggunakan TikTok dengan kekerapan yang tinggi. Penggunaan aplikasi ini didapati memberi kesan yang ketara terhadap masa pembelajaran, hubungan sosial, norma subjektif dan kawalan tingkah laku yang dirasakan turut memainkan peranan penting dalam mempengaruhi niat serta perlakuan pengguna terhadap aplikasi tersebut. Secara keseluruhannya, kajian ini menyimpulkan bahawa walaupun TikTok menawarkan ruang luas kepada ekspresi diri, hiburan dan pembangunan kreativiti, penggunaannya yang berlebihan berpotensi mendatangkan kesan negatif jika tidak dikawal. Oleh itu, peningkatan penggunaan TikTok dalam kalangan belia kekal positif, seimbang dan memberi manfaat kepada pembangunan diri serta kesejahteraan sosial belia. Secara tidak langsung, TikTok telah membawa perubahan sosial dalam kalangan generasi belia secara umumnya dan spesifik di Lawas
Enhancing the Thinking Skills of Geography Education Students Through a Case-Based Learning Approach
Get PDFThis study aims to analyze the level, relationship, and effect of the case-based learning approach on the thinking skills of Geography students at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI). The study employed a quantitative methodology, using a survey design and a Google Form questionnaire. The sample consisted of 164 male and female students in their fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh semesters, selected according to Krejcie and Morgan\u27s table. Descriptive analysis (mean, percentage frequency) and inferential analysis (Pearson correlation) were used to answer the research questions. The findings show a high level of knowledge (M = 4.67), indicating a strong mean value. Pearson\u27s correlation analysis reveals a moderate relationship between the level of knowledge and the learning type, comparing case-based learning and conventional learning, with a Pearson correlation value of r = 0.599 and p = 0.000. Additionally, the case-based learning approach had a significant effect on the thinking skills of both male and female Geography students, yielding a high mean value (M = 4.64). In conclusion, this study shows that male and female students possess a strong level of knowledge about the case-based learning approach applied in Geography education at the university level. The implications of this study may benefit those looking to investigate the influence of learning approaches on thinking skills, students\u27 knowledge, attitudes, and motivation
Emotional Resilience and Experiences of Flood Victims in Jitra, Kedah: A Phenomenological Approach
Get PDFThis study aims to explore the experiences and emotional resilience of flood victims in Jitra, Kedah, using a phenomenological approach. Focusing on subjective experiences, the study involves in-depth interviews with two respondents who have repeatedly experienced flooding. Participants were selected using purposive sampling techniques and met the criteria set by the researcher. The study identifies seven main themes: initial flood experiences, flood preparedness, experiences during the flood, challenges faced, the home recovery process after the flood, community and authority support, and future recommendations for better disaster management. The findings suggest that early flood experiences raise awareness of disaster risks and the need for mitigation measures to reduce negative impacts. Preparedness involves storing essential items, ensuring family safety, and taking precautionary steps to minimize property losses. However, the spirit of neighborliness and community support helped alleviate emotional distress. Assistance from the community, NGOs, and authorities—including food aid, financial support, and manpower—played a crucial role in helping victims cope with the situation. Future recommendations highlight the need to improve infrastructure, enhance flood risk awareness, and foster close collaboration between communities and public institutions to strengthen resilience against disasters
Extraction of Drainage Networks in the Masamba Watershed Using NASADEM
Get PDFThe drainage network consists of all river channels that flow toward a reference point. It is bounded by a topographically defined distribution of drainage. The network begins with first-order streams that have no tributaries. Within a drainage network, one or more drainage patterns may be present. This study aims to extract drainage networks and identify drainage patterns in the Masamba watershed. The data used is NASADEM, analyzed through software-based spatial analysis methods. The analysis procedure includes sink filling, flow direction, and flow accumulation, as well as the eight-direction (D8) approach and Strahler’s stream ordering method. The results show that the Masamba watershed exhibits three drainage patterns: trellis, parallel, and dendritic. The trellis and parallel patterns occur mainly in the upstream part of the watershed, while the dendritic pattern dominates the middle and downstream areas. Based on these observations, the Masamba watershed can be classified as having a combined drainage pattern. In addition, stream orders were identified up to six levels, with the sixth-order stream representing the main river in the watershed. In 2020, a flash flood disaster struck the Masamba urban area, which is located in the downstream region. This indicates that drainage patterns have an influence on flooding. Information on drainage networks and patterns can serve as a guideline for governments, planners, and communities in addressing flood risks through sustainable watershed management approache
Partial Purification, Characterisation and Gene Detection of Protease by Lacticaseibacillus paracasei IN17 from Inasua
Get PDFEnzymes are functional proteins that accelerate chemical reactions and reduce the activation energy. Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, a lactic acid bacterium, is widely used as a probiotic supplement in the food industry. L. paracasei strain IN17 was isolated from Inasua, Indonesian fish fermentation products. It produces an extracellular protease that hydrolyses peptide bonds to produce peptides or amino acids. It is important to characterise bacteria that produce protease to know their activity and potency. This study aims to purify, characterise and detect the protease-encoding gene from L. paracasei. Isolates that have been identified were tested qualitatively by measuring the proteolytic index. The optimal production was known for two incubation treatments with static and dynamic conditions. The crude extract was precipitated with ammonium sulfate in the concentration range of 0%–80% (w/v). Enzyme activity characterisation was carried out based on optimum pH and temperature, the effect of cation metal, inhibitor and protease kinetics. The static condition had higher growth and protease-specific activity than the dynamic condition, which were 0.137 U/mg and 0.054 U/mg, respectively, at 18 h of production. Ammonium sulfate saturation at a concentration of 20% (w/v) resulted in a protease purity 7.36. The optimal activity of crude extract and precipitated protease were at pH 7 and 6, respectively. Both crude extract and precipitated protease have an optimal temperature at 30°C, activated by Mn cofactor and inhibited by EDTA with >50% inhibition percentage. This protease represents a metalloprotease. The gene encoding protease (prtP) was successfully amplified with ~685 bp visualised in an agarose gel 1% (w/v)
Evaluating the Impact of Spinach Supplementation in Enhancing the Growth of Blue Swimming Crab Larvae, Portunus pelagicus (Early view)
Get PDFBlue swimming crabs (Portunus pelagicus) consistently command higher prices in domestic and global markets due to elevated demand. Due to the rising issue of low crab larvae survival, farmers have begun using artificial hormones to increase survival rates and ensure hatchery production aligns with market demands. However, the outcomes of using artificial hormones are concerning, as these compounds pose serious risks to aquatic organisms, humans, and the environment. To address the harmful effects of artificial hormones, efforts are now focused on identifying affordable and eco-friendly plant-based alternatives, such as spinach (S. oleracea), which contains bioactive compounds that could promote crab larval growth and survival. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of spinach in improving the growth performance of P. pelagicus larvae. This was accomplished by enriching Artemia with spinach, allowing it to serve as a nutrient-enhanced live feed. Compounds in the spinach leaf were extracted with methanol and analyzed through GC-MS to identify potential growth-related compounds. LC50 analysis (1000–2000 ppm) was conducted on Artemia to determine the optimal enrichment concentration (1600 ppm) before use in larval feeding. Results indicated spinach contains compounds such as steroids (5.9%), palmitic acid (5.2%), oleic acid (2.5%), and flavonoids (3.6%) that can potentially improve larval growth. Toxicity analysis showed that the 1600 ppm treatment was the LC50, meaning it is the optimal concentration for Artemia enrichment, delivering the highest amount of bioactive compounds without affecting Artemia survival. Larvae were fed spinach-enriched Artemia (1600 ppm) and compared with unenriched Artemia (control). The 1600 ppm treatment resulted in significantly higher survival at various larval stages (Z1–Z2: 82.6%, Z2–Z3: 91.9%, M–C1: 38.1%), shorter intermoult periods for Z2–Z3 (2.9 days), Z3–Z4 (3.1 days), and M–C1 (3.8 days), and higher SGR (M: 22.5% day?¹, C1: 24.5% day?¹). Larval steroid analysis supported these findings, with Treatment 1600 ppm yielding higher steroid levels across all stages (511.63–3953 pg/ml), suggesting that spinach-derived steroids may stimulate moulting and enhance larval growth and survival
Perioperative Anaesthetic Management and Outcomes in Bariatric Surgery: A Seven-year Retrospective Cohort Study at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia
Get PDFBackground: Perioperative anaesthetic management in bariatric surgery presents unique challenges due to patient comorbidities and elevated perioperative risk. This study aimed to evaluate perioperative anaesthetic practices and determine factors associated with postoperative high-dependency unit (HDU) admissions among bariatric surgery patients at a tertiary centre in Malaysia.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 104 adult patients who underwent elective bariatric surgery between 2016 and 2022 at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia. Demographic, clinical, surgical, and anaesthetic data were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with postoperative HDU admission.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 42.5 years (standard deviation [SD] = 9.7), with a female predominance (68.3%) and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 49.6 kg/m² (SD = 11.3). Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) (56.7%) was the most common comorbidity. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was the most frequently performed procedure (66.3%). The overall HDU admission rate was 34.6%, with a decreasing trend from 2020 to 2022. Patients admitted to the HDU had a significantly higher BMI, more comorbidities, longer operative times, and a higher prevalence of OSA. Multivariate analysis identified OSA (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.003–6.781; P = 0.049) and longer duration of surgery (adjusted OR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.018–4.375; P = 0.045) as independent predictors of HDU admission. There were no cases of difficult intubation, postoperative pneumonia, or in-hospital mortality.
Conclusion: Obesity-related diseases, particularly OSA, were highly prevalent. The incidence of difficult intubation was negligible with the use of video laryngoscopy in the ramped position. The HDU admission rates were higher than international benchmarks, influenced primarily by BMI, comorbidities, and surgery duration
Effects of Nutrition Education Based on Social Cognitive Theory on Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Adolescent Girls in Tanakeke Islands, South Sulawesi
Get PDFBackground: Indonesia, as an archipelagic country with a vast population, faces persistent challenges of undernutrition, particularly among adolescent girls, which impedes progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One key issue is inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables (FV). This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of nutrition education (NE) based on the social cognitive theory (SCT) in improving FV consumption among undernourished adolescent girls in the Tanakeke Islands, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Methods: A quasi-experimental study through anthropometric and dietary assessments was conducted across four schools. The 12-week NE programme included role-playing exercises, educational modules for students, and monthly parental education sessions. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28, applying chi-square tests, independent t-tests, and paired t-tests, and analysis was conducted using repeated measures ANOVA with a significance level set at 0.05.
Results: A total of 88 adolescent girls completed the study. Results showed significant improvements in the intervention group’s knowledge, outcome expectations, self-regulation, and FV consumption (P < 0.05). However, no significant change was observed in self-efficacy (P = 0.749).
Conclusion: The research shows NE based on SCT, combined with parental involvement, effectively increases FV consumption among undernourished adolescent girls in remote, low-resource areas to improve adolescent nutrition. The lack of improvement in self-efficacy highlights the need for programme refinement to address this construct explicitly
Obliteration Rate of Arteriovenous Malformation by Radiosurgery
Get PDFBackground: The main goal of any arteriovenous malformation (AVM) intervention is to eliminate the risk of haemorrhage, which can be achieved by complete extirpation, endoluminal occlusion, or obliteration of the AVM. Radiosurgery is a minimally invasive intervention that can be performed alone or in combination with other treatments. This study aimed to determine the rate of AVM obliteration in our study population and to explore the effect of AVM characteristics, treatment mode, and treatment parameters on the obliteration rate.
Methods: Three centres participating in this study obtained approval from the institutional review board and ethics committee. A total of 104 patients from among 146 were identified according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data retrieved from each centre includes demographic review, AVM characteristics such as size, volume, location, eloquence, venous drainage, aneurysm association, treatment mode, and parameters. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the potential predictors of clinical outcome, AVM obliteration, and early obliteration.
Results: Of the 104 patients who underwent radiosurgery, 45 (43.3%) were obliterated, and 88.9% were obliterated within three years. The independent predictors of AVM obliteration were low Spetzler-Martin grading (P = 0.005), dose > 22 Gy (P = 0.001), low radiosurgery-based AVM grading scale score (P = 0.037), low Virginia radiosurgery AVM scale score (P = 0.045), fraction (P = 0.002), and treatment mode (P = 0.025). Volume was the independent predictor of early obliteration (P = 0.013). The presence of a neurological deficit was the independent predictor of the clinical outcome (P = 0.018).
Conclusions: Identifying predictors of good outcomes for patients who are suitable for radiosurgery is important to ensure optimal AVM treatment