USM Journal Management System (Univ. Sains Malaysia)
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The Impact of Financial Innovation, Product Innovation and Institution Innovation on Banks’ Financial Performance in the UAE: Evidence from CS-ARDL
Get PDFIn today’s competitive market, innovation is vital for long-term bank success. This study addresses a research gap by examining how financial, product and institution innovations impact the performance of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) banks. We adopted a new quantitative index to measure financial innovation, using information technology and employee training hours as proxies for institution innovation, while product innovation is uniquely assessed by total deposits through mobile banking applications. This study examines the impact of these innovations on the financial performance of UAE banks, differentiating between high-performing and low-performing banks as well as large and small banks. Using CS-ARDL modelling to analyse the data, we found that financial innovation positively impacts the financial performance of UAE banks across all subgroups. However, financial and institution innovations have a greater impact on high-performing and large banks than on low-performing and small banks, which often struggle with limited resources and expertise. Conversely, product innovation tends to significantly boost financial performance in lower-performing and small banks. This is because high-performing banks often face difficulties with new products in saturated markets, while large banks grapple with managing complex operations and extensive asset bases. These findings imply that choosing the right types of innovation can significantly improve bank performance
Income Diversification, Bank Monitoring, and Risk: Evidence during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Get PDFThis article investigates the relationship among income diversification, bank monitoring and financial risk in the context of commercial banks in Indonesia. Using panel data of 91 Indonesian commercial banks operating during the COVID-19 pandemic, we find that income diversification can reduce bank risk, while monitoring is negatively associated with that risk. While our investigation does not indicate that monitoring can alter the impact of income diversification on bank risk, the results suggest that policymakers should adopt banking transformation by diversifying their income, particularly during a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. We also suggest that banks enhance monitoring to obtain a good external perception that can ultimately increase a bank’s stability
Sikap Kerajaan Jordan Terhadap Wilayah Palestin di Asia Barat, 1948–1988: The Attitude of the Jordan Government Towards Palestine’s Territory in West Asia, 1948–1988
Get PDFThis study examines the attitude of the Jordanian government towards Palestine’s territory of the West Bank before and after the Arab Israeli War in June 1967 until the disengagement decision of 1988. Since year 1948, the territory including the eastern part of Baitul Maqdis (Jerusalem) was ruled by the Jordan government. The founder of the country, King Abdullah I claimed his sovereignty towards the area constantly, and unified them with the eastern bank of the Jordan River (Transjordan) in 1950 became the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. During this period, there was no effort to acknowledge publicly the West Bank as Palestine’s region and the Baitul Maqdis town as Palestine’s capital. When the Israeli regime occupied the area in the Arab Israeli War 1967, the ruler ceased the sovereignty claims, subsequently the attitude changed to Palestine’s territory instead of Jordan’s land. Eventually, in 1988 King Hussein of Jordan proclaimed the administration and legal disengagement of the West Bank because of the political pressure from the Palestinian political organisations. The study applied history discipline methodology and analysis of archival sources. The findings of the study unveiled the actual attitude of the Arab leaders behind the political rhetoric toward the Palestinians’ struggle and aspiration.
Kajian ini menyelidiki sikap kerajaan Jordan terhadap wilayah Palestin di Tebing Barat sebelum dan selepas Perang Arab-Israel pada Jun 1967 sehingga berlakunya keputusan pemisahan (disengagement) pada tahun 1988. Sejak tahun 1948, wilayah Tebing Barat termasuk kota Baitul Maqdis Timur (Jerusalem) diperintah oleh kerajaan Jordan. Pengasas negara Jordan, Raja Abdullah I secara berterusan mendakwa wilayah ini sebagai wilayah Jordan. Baginda kemudiannya menyatukan Tebing Barat dengan wilayah Tebing Timur atau Transjordan pada tahun 1950 menjadi The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Pada era tersebut, tidak pernah timbul sebarang usaha untuk mengiktiraf Tebing Barat sebagai wilayah Palestin dan Baitul Maqdis sebagai ibu negara Palestin secara terbuka. Setelah Israel menakluki wilayah Tebing Barat dalam Perang Arab-Israel pada Jun 1967, sikap kerajaan Jordan beransur-ansur berubah dengan tidak lagi mendakwa Tebing Barat sebagai wilayah Jordan dan menggugurkan tuntutan kedaulatan terhadap wilayah Palestin ini. Kemuncak kepada perubahan ini adalah ketika Raja Hussein mengumumkan tindakan pemisahan pentadbiran dan penguatkuasaan undang-undang Jordan di Tebing Barat pada tahun 1988. Keputusan baginda ini berpunca daripada desakan organisasi politik Palestin. Kajian ini mengaplikasikan kaedah penyelidikan disiplin sejarah dan analisis dokumen-dokumen arkib. Akhir sekali, dapatan kajian ini telah mendedahkan sikap sebenar kepimpinan Arab di sebalik retorik politik mereka terhadap perjuangan dan aspirasi penduduk Palestin.
 
State Incorporated: State-Making and the Incorporation of Pre-State People in 19th Century in Sarawak
No full textThe article examined the process of incorporation of the pre-Brooke polities and pre-state people in Sarawak through the perspective of the Sarawak native officers. It offers a historical view on the state-making and state formation in Sarawak during the rule of the Brooke rajahs. The article engages a method of historical reconstruction based on the official report and published works contemporary to the era. It has selected the first decade from the cession of Baram district (1883 to 1893) as a case study to emphasise the challenges faced by the Brooke state in enticing nonstate people into its territorial lines. The study found that the role of native officer was key in the process of incorporation. The theory of practice explained how communication between the native officer and the tribal elites was facilitated by social prestige and social class, indigenous to the political culture predating the Brooke’s modern state. This shows the continuation of the primordial political-economy culture into the construction of a modern, colonial state
Screening for Potential Compounds using Drug-Repurposing and Virtual Screening of N-Methyl-S-Aspartate (NMDA) Receptor for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Get PDFIn Malaysia, the study on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is limited. Most studies only focus on gene neuroligin 3 (NLGN3), NLGN4X, neurexin 1 (NRXN1) and SH3. This study focuses on the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) that was believed to have a significant effect on ASD. In this study, potential compounds and drugs that can restore receptor function in autistic patients were analysed. This research used an effective in silico method known as drug-repurposing to discover and rediscover drugs and analyse the binding of potential compounds or drugs to the NMDA receptor. AMPA and DOCK4 were used as controls in this study. Using a trusted server, Drug ReposER, 13 potential compounds or drugs that bind to NMDAR were identified. Then, proceed to the docking of potential compounds or drugs that bind to the NMDA receptor using Autodock Vina, Autodock, Hdock and CB dock and three drugs were selected that have the best binding score to NMDA, AMPA and DOCK4. The drugs were alitretinoin, salicylic acid and indinavir, respectively. Next, molecular dynamics simulations were performed with all selected compounds to study drug-protein binding, with detailed analysis of bond stability using root-mean-square fluctuation (RMSF) oscillations. Finally, ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity) predictions identify 4-androstenedione, tryptophan, carbocisteine and vitamin A as having minimal toxic effects. This study showed that alitretinoin, which was known to treat skin lesions from Kaposi’s sarcoma, might have the ability to reverse the effect in ASD, particularly in NMDA receptors, potentially making a significant impact on the field of neurology and psychiatry
Establishment of High-Throughput Screening Assay using 384-Well Plate for Identification of Potent Antioxidants from Malaysian Local Plants Repository and Phytochemical Profile of Tetracera scandens
Get PDFThe increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and oxidative stress-related conditions has led to a growing interest in natural products with potent antioxidant properties. High-throughput screening (HTS) assays offer a promising solution for the rapid evaluation of numerous samples. This study aims to establish a robust HTS assay using the 2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method to identify natural products with significant antioxidant capabilities, ensuring their safety profiles through cytotoxicity screening and phytochemical profiling. An automated liquid handler with the usage of a 384-well assay plate was employed in optimising and validating the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-HTS assay by calculating the metrics. The HTS metrics include Z-prime (Z’) values of 0.72 and 0.63, signal to background (S/B) ratios of 3.54 and 9.02, and coefficient of variation percentages (%C/V) of 4.25 and 6.49 for each primary and secondary screenings, respectively. These values indicated that the HTS assay was excellent. By using optimised HTS-DPPH assay programme, a total of 363 plant extracts were screened and 58 (16%) were found to have potent antioxidant activity (a ‘yes’ score and EC50 < 50 ?g/mL). Out of these 363 extracts, only 80 plants were identified with herbarium and the screening results revealed that Tetracera scandens along with other 11 plants have potent antioxidant activities. T. scandens was the most potent and the methanol extract from its leaves recorded an EC50 value of 13.041± 0.82 ?g/mL. However, the aqueous extract of T. scandens leaves (TSLAE) was selected to allow any possibilities of using it for traditional herbal preparation. TSLAE presented an EC50 value of 13.76 ± 4.50 ?g/mL in the DPPH assay and was non-toxic towards normal cells with an IC50 value of > 100 ?g/mL. Secondary metabolites with promising antioxidant potentials were successfully identified using LC/MS and the library, which were mainly flavonoids (37.5%), phenolics (8.9%) and polyphenols (8.9%). HTS-DPPH is a robust and rapid technique for screening of antioxidative substances in plant extracts. The hit is non-toxic in vitro and rich in secondary metabolites that contribute to antioxidant activity
Application of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria to Improve Soil Chemical and Biological Properties and Its Effect on Growth, Physiology and Yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L)
Get PDFThe use of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) as a biofertiliser was proven to be successful in the optimisation of plant growth and yield. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the PGPR on okra growth, physiology, yield and soil physicochemical properties. The okra was planted and fertilised with organic material (goat dung) at 500 g/plant, NPK fertiliser at 100 g/plant (T1) and 70 g/plant for T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively. The BRIS soil isolated PGPR, namely UA 1 (Paraburkholderia unamae), UA 6 (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) and UAA 2 (Enterobacter asburiae) propagated in 6% molasses medium were inoculated with the amount of 40 mL for single strain treatment (T2–T4) and 15 mL of each bacterial inoculum for mixed strains treatment (T5). Results showed that inoculation with PGPR in single or mixed strains has significantly decreased the use of 30% NPK fertiliser and promoted okra growth, physiology, yield and soil chemical properties and bacterial count. Mixed strains (T5) have significantly shown the highest performance with increments of 27.85% of leaf number, 28.56% of okra number, 27.90% of yield per plant and 25.83% of plant total dry biomass. The plant net photosynthesis treated with mixed strains also recorded a 5.27% increment with 26.96% of nitrogen content and 22.79% bacteria count in the soil. The findings of this study suggested that the BRIS soil PGPR inoculants may reduce the amount of chemical fertiliser and have a significant potential to be used as biofertiliser in sustainable agriculture to increase plant growth and yield and soil fertility
Influence of Methomyl and Salinity on the Freshwater Snail Physa venustula: Egestion, Movement, and Hydration Index
Get PDFHuman activities, particularly agriculture and urbanisation often have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems and their ecosystem services to varying degrees. Organic pollutants (e.g., pesticides, pharmaceuticals, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances [PFAS]) and abiotic stressors (e.g., salinity, temperature, pH) are common stressors of freshwater habitats with expanding platforms documenting these problems or issues. This research addresses the effects of individual and combined methomyl (insecticide) and elevated salinity on movement, hydration and egestion of the snail Physa venustula. Snails were exposed to treatment concentrations of 100 ?g/L of methomyl and 5 g/L salinity for 96 h. Results indicated a significant reduction in snail movement when exposed to salinity (74%), and in combination with methomyl (67%). In contrast, we did not observe significant effects on egestion or hydration across treatments. These findings suggest that there is an energy trade-off to maintain homeostasis from the other physiological processes. Reduced movement can alter feeding rates, predator avoidance behaviour leading to changes in ecosystem structure and function. This research can provide critical insight into how short-term exposure to multiple stressors affects freshwater invertebrates and suggest P. venustula may be useful for early detection of water quality changes, especially in regions where chemical monitoring is limited
Dietary Habits of Insectivorous Bats (Family Hipposideridae) in The Rice Field
Get PDFThis study establishes a foundational understanding of the dietary preferences of two insectivorous bats (Family Hipposideridae), Hipposideros larvatus and Hipposideros cineraceus caught in the rice field areas. The investigation focused on the analysis of their fecal pellets collected in areas near Gunung Keriang, Kota Setar, Kedah. A total of 40 pellets from eight individuals were meticulously examined. These eight bats were categorised into two distinct groups based on sex and reproductive stages (lactating and non-reproductive) from the two bat species. The dietary composition of H. larvatus comprised 55.2% Coleoptera, 23.2% Lepidoptera, 10.1% Hemiptera, 9.2% Diptera and 2.1% Hymenoptera. The diet of the bat species was significantly dominated by Coleoptera, accounting for over half of the overall dietary percentage. On the contrary, H. cineraceus, exhibited a different diet composition, with 68.0% Lepidoptera, 18.5% Coleoptera, 7.0% Diptera, 5.1% Hemiptera and 0.6% Hymenoptera. These variations in dietary preferences can be attributed to factors such as their differing abilities to digest chitin found on the elytra (forewing) of beetles, variations in size between the two species, distinct echolocation frequencies, and differing reproductive states. Both H. larvatus and H. cineraceus have the potential to serve as effective pest controllers in rice fields by reducing insect pest populations, especially from the order Lepidoptera (rice stem borer) and Hemiptera (leafhoppers). Further research should be conducted in different locations to gain a more comprehensive understanding of these bat species\u27 diets and whether they exhibit exclusive or generalised feeding patterns
Antioxidant Activity, LC-MS/MS Identification, and In Silico Analysis of the Ethanol Extract of Beneng Taro Leaves (Xanthosoma undipes K. Koch) Grown in Three Different Locations (Early view)
Get PDFXanthosoma undipes K. Koch (Beneng taro) leaves are rich in bioactive compounds with reported antioxidant and anticancer potential. This study evaluated the antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts from Beneng taro leaves cultivated in three locations, identified active compounds using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and assessed their anticancer potential through in silico analysis. Extraction was performed with 96% ethanol, followed by phytochemical screening, quantification of total flavonoids and phenolics, and antioxidant evaluation using the DPPH assay. LC-MS/MS identified several bioactive phenolic and flavonoid compounds, including quercetin, isorhamnetin, hispidulin, oleocanthal, and cyclovalone, as key contributors to antioxidant activity. Leaves from high-altitude Cisarua (TB-1) had the highest flavonoid (94.49 ± 1.61 mg QE/g) and phenolic (97.35 ± 1.74 mg GAE/g) contents, with the strongest antioxidant activity (IC?? = 42.96 ?g/mL). Drug-likeness screening indicated favorable pharmacokinetic properties for several compounds. Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinities of quercetin, isorhamnetin, hispidulin, cochliophilin A, cyclovalone, and oleocanthal to Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), a key oncogenic protein regulating cell growth, division, and mutation, suggesting potential anticancer effects. These findings indicate that cultivation at higher altitudes enhances bioactive compound levels and antioxidant potential. Future studies should isolate active compounds, validate their effects in vivo, optimize cultivation practices, and explore their development into functional foods or nutraceuticals