17362 research outputs found
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Pest classification: Explainable few-shot learning vs. convolutional neural networks vs. transfer learning
No full textPests significantly threaten plant yield and overall agricultural productivity, leading to reduced output in the farming industry. Accurate and automated detection of crop insect pests is crucial for effective pest control and optimal utilization of agricultural resources. This study addresses the problem of limited datasets in pest detection by exploring the potential of Explainable Few- Shot Learning (FSL), a machine learning approach that not only enables learning from a small amount of data but also provides interpretable insights into the decision-making process. Unlike traditional pest detection studies that rely on large labeled datasets or black-box models, this research introduces an advanced methodology by integrating explainability techniques such as Grad-CAM into FSL models, specifically Prototypical Network and Siamese Network. This dual approach ensures high accuracy with minimal training data while identifying key image features influencing predictions, thereby enhancing transparency and trust. A comparative analysis was conducted against Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and transfer learning models using full pest images, half pest images, and Malaysian pest images. This study found that Explainable FSL achieved the highest accuracy of 99.81 % in various scenarios, including 9-way 1-shot, 3-shot, 5- shot, and 10-shot configurations, outperforming both CNN and transfer learning models. These f indings demonstrate that Explainable FSL models can significantly improve the accuracy, transparency, and efficiency of pest detection systems, even with limited data. By advancing both the detection capabilities and interpretability of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, this research provides a novel contribution to smart agriculture, enabling robust pest detection systems tailored to real-world, data-scarce scenarios
Pulau Labuan sebagai jaringan maritim dalam sejarah British Borneo,1846-1923
No full textKajian ini membincangkan mengenai sejarah Pulau Labuan sebagai jaringan maritim dalam sejarah British Borneo dari tahun 1846 hingga tahun 1923. Jaringan maritim merupakan rangkaian dan hubungan ekonomi di laut yang berhubung kait dengan aktiviti perdagangan, pelabuhan dan perkapalan. Semua aspek ini sangat penting bukan sahaja untuk British mencipta keuntungan semata-mata tetapi juga untuk melihat kepentingan pulau ini dalam konteks sejarah maritim di Borneo. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah penyelidikan kualitatif yang memberi tumpuan kepada sumber primer dan sumber sekunder dalam mendapatkan bahan-bahan kajian. Berdasarkan rekod-rekod sejarah jelas menunjukkan bahawa British telah berusaha mengeksploitasi sumber ekonomi di pulau ini sehingga menjadikan pulau ini sebagai tanah jajahan British pada tahun 1846. Walaupun dasar ekonomi British lebih menitikberatkan ekonomi berasaskan tanah daratan, namun aspek perdagangan, pelabuhan dan perkapalan juga turut menjadi tumpuan utama British di pulau ini
Temperature regulation of Heterotrigona itama (Cockerell, 1918) in lamp posts nests
No full textThe commercial stingless bee Heterotrigona itama naturally nests in tree cavities but is kept in wooden boxes in meliponiculture farms. However, at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), these bees primarily nest in lamp posts. We conducted a temperature survey to investigate the potential infuence of temperature on the selection of lamp posts as nesting sites by H. itama. We measured ambient temperatures in occupied lamp posts in shaded areas and unoccupied lamp posts in exposed areas on the UMS campus, calculating the percentage of time these temperatures fell outside the optimal range for H. itama. Our aim is to determine if the preference for occupied lamp posts was related to their distribution in relation to temperature variations. In addition, we analyzed the occurrence and timing of temperature regulation in lamp post nests by comparing temperature diferences between occupied and unoccupied lamp posts across four-time blocks. Temperature measurements of occupied (shaded) and unoccupied (exposed) lamp posts revealed that exposed lamp posts experienced maximum temperatures outside the bees’ optimal range (27–32 °C), unlike the shaded lamp posts. The percentage of time that temperatures exceeded the optimal range was 9.72% higher for exposed lamp posts compared to shaded lamp posts. This suggests that H. itama may prefer shaded lamp posts due to their more stable temperature profle. The inside temperature of lamp posts, whether occupied or not, was consistently 1.54–1.76 °C warmer than ambient during hotter periods and closer to ambient during cooler periods, indicating conductive properties of metal lamp posts to retain heat. Occupied lamp posts exhibited higher inside temperatures than unoccupied lamp posts in the late afternoon and evening, suggesting active thermoregulation by bees to maintain optimal nest temperature. This study added our understanding to the adaptability of stingless bees in increasingly urbanized environment, contributing to pollinator conservation and meliponiculture industry improvement
Modeling of fermentative polyhydroxyalkanoate production from Cerbera odollam oil using Monod-based and multi-scale kinetic models
No full textTwo mathematical models were developed to elucidate the biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) by Pseudomonas resinovorans DSM 21078 from Cerbera odollam oil – (1) The modified Monod-based kinetic model was integrated with Andrews, Haldane, and Logistic kinetics to describe carbon, nitrogen, and self-inhibition effects on cell growth and PHA production. An additional nitrogen regulatory factor was incorporated to account for urease activity and alternative nitrogen sources during fermentation. (2) The multi-scale kinetic model was adapted to capture three dynamic modes in the biosynthesis process (i.e., using Triple First-Order model), namely fast and slow modes of PHA production, and PHA degradation mode. The fast factors could be prompted by the de novo fatty acid synthesis pathway, saturated fatty acids in the oil compounds, and late-exponential-phase cells in the culture. Overall, the established mathematical models offered a robust predictive framework, providing valuable insights into fermentation behaviour that could advance oil-based PHA production systems
Tumbuhan herba tradisional etnik Sama-Bajau: Etnobotani dan kearifan tempatan
No full textSeperti di bahagian lain dunia, sejak berzaman lamanya kebanyakan kumpulan etnik peribumi menggunakan rawatan penyembuhan tradisional sebagai sebahagian daripada sistem penjagaan kesihatan tempatan. Sebelum hadirnya perubatan moden, rawatan pengubatan tradisional sememangnya tidak dapat dipisahkan daripada herba yang hidup dan tumbuh di sekitaran pendukungnya. Hal sedemikian tidaklah menghairankan kerana masyarakat ini hidup berbasiskan alam yang mana sedia diketahui bahawa sebelum ubatan moden diguna pakai maka, tumbuhan herba berperanan penting sebagai bahan penyelamat yang berupaya meredakan kesakitan seseorang. Falsafahnya, perawat tradisional tidak mampu menerangkan cara terapi rawatan berfungsi namun, kesan ramuan herba terhadap penyakit itulah yang dipentingkan. Menggunakan format kajian deskriptif, kertas ini meninjau ramuan herba yang diguna oleh para perawat perubatan tradisional Sama-Bajau dari daerah Kota Belud dan Tenghilan, Sabah. Dengan berbantukan empat perawat tradisi maka, temu bual tidak berstruktur dengan kesemua perawat berkenaan telah dilakukan. Mereka telah menjelaskan beberapa jenis tumbuhan herba untuk diguna semasa merawat penyakit-penyakit tertentu. Sebanyak 36 tumbuhan herba telah dikenal pasti mempunyai potensi dan keberkesanan sebagai ubat. Seyogia, terdapat keperluan mendesak untuk merekodkan segala pengetahun dan kemahiran yang dimiliki oleh para perawat perubatan tradisional yang umumnya terdiri daripada golongan tua, terutama mereka yang tinggal di kawasan terpencil dan kawasan yang sukar dicapai. Penyelidikan saintifik sepatutnya dijalankan segera untuk membantu para perawat tradisional merakam dan mendokumentasikan pengetahuan serta kepintaran tradisi berkenaan sebelum kesemua pengetahuan itu mengalami kepupusan
The effect of work-life balance on employee satisfaction mediated by work motivation: Study among Malaysian fire officer in Sabah state
No full textFire and Rescue Department is a main rescue organization in Malaysia. In addition to firefighting, the department's tasks include rescue operations, fire safety, investigations, and many others. Recently, the media has focused heavily on major disciplinary problems that impact firefighter performance. The studies have attempted to explore this further by investigating the effect of work-life balance (WIPL, PLIW, and WPLE) on employee satisfaction mediated by work motivation. The idea behind the problem is rooted in Staines' (1980) spillover theory, which illustrates the effects of balancing multiple responsibilities. The study used a basic random sampling research method with a quantitative approach and focused on 300 firefighters in Sabah. This corresponds to the total sample size recommended by the Raosoft calculator. To get an accurate result of data sampling analysis, the data was collected using Google Form surveys and analyzed using Smart PLS 4.0 as an analysis tool. The study's findings demonstrated a strong correlation between WPLE and employee satisfaction and work motivation, with partial mediation accounting for the significant mediation relationship. Theoretically, it has improved and expanded the understanding of spillover theory. These findings benefit human resource management by helping management understand the impact of firefighter employment and providing information to policymakers
The relationship between primordial sentiments and the political aspirations of Sabah’s Youth
No full textThis study identifies the relationship between primordial sentiments and political aspirations among youths in the state of Sabah. Primordial sentiment refers to individuals’ attachment to basic identities such as ethnicity, religion, language and locality, which commonly shape their political orientation and inclinations. Sabah, as a state rich in ethnic diversity and with a complex political history, provides an important context for examining how these identity factors influence the formation of political aspirations among the younger generation. The study adopted a quantitative approach through a survey method, involving 4,519 youths selected via stratified random sampling across the state’s five main administrative divisions. The constructed questionnaire instrument was analyses using SPSS software. The analysis results show a significant relationship between primordial sentiment and political aspirations, particularly in the dimensions of ethnic and regional attachment. These findings have important implications for the need to formulate political policies that are more inclusive and contextual, in line with the diverse local identities among Sabah’s youth
Effect of substrate‑shelter and substrate‑shelter orientation on survival and growth of the megalopa and first crab instar Scylla tranquebarica
No full textThe present study aimed to investigate the effect of the substrate-shelter and substrate-shelter orientation on the survival and growth of the megalopa and first crab instar of Scylla tranquebarica. The substrate-shelter and substrate-shelter orientation experiments were conducted with or without sand substrate, in combination with a net and polyvinyl chloride pipe (PVC) as shelters, in triplicate groups for 14 days. In the orientation experiment, shelters were positioned either horizontally or vertically in the culture tank. Megalopae had metamorphosed into first and second crab instars on day 14. Both experiments exhibited a similar trend in observations: the second crab instar composition percentage (CP), total survival rate (SR), and total yield (TY) were significantly higher in the substrate group than the non-substrate group (P < 0.05); and the net shelter outperformed the PVC shelter, as indicated by the higher CP, SR, and TY. In the same shelter group, the horizontal shelter was more efficient than the vertical one, as shown by greater CP, SR, and TY. A substrate in combination with a horizontal net shelter is thus recommended for rearing purple mud crab megalopa and crab instar. This feasible rearing technique pro-motes consistent crab seed production in the hatchery to support sustainable mud crab aquaculture
Morphological and molecular identification of endophytic fungi from roots of epiphyte orchid Aerides odorata Lour in Sabah
No full textAerides odorata Lour is an epiphyte, a valuable orchid for its beauty, fragrance and medicinal uses. Identifying beneficial orchid mycorrhizal fungi is important for improving the success of tissue culture and transplantation into the original habitats. This study aimed to identify and characterise endophytic mycorrhizal fungi associated with the roots of the endangered epiphyte A. odorata. The study examined fungal isolates cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA), analysing macro- and micromorphological characteristics using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). Molecular identification using nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region analysis confirmed the isolates’ species identity. The fungi were found to be tightly packed and dense in cortical cells, forming pelotons and indicating active colonisation. Seven fungal genera were isolated and successfully identified, including Fusarium spp., Clonostachys sp., Biscogniauxia sp., Daldania sp., Trichoderma sp., and Murinectria sp. Most isolates exhibited a cottony or simple radial texture, although some isolates, like FNRAO13 and UNNRAO9, display a velvety or shaped pattern. The mature colony colours varied among the isolates, and their growth rate ranges from 2.4 mm/day to 8.83 mm/ day, reflecting significant variability in growth pattern among isolates. The result provides valuable baseline data for future studies in identifying a variety of mycorrhizal fungi and their functional roles in orchid conservation strategies
The effectiveness of music interventions in exam anxiety reduction among university students –systematic review
No full textExam anxiety is a common global issue for university students; it is associated with poor academic success and self-confidence. This review investigates the potential benefits of music for reducing anxiety. Following the PRISMA guidelines, this review incorporated experimental studies published in English between January 2019 and January 2024, identified through systematic searches of four databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, and Wiley Online Library. Studies meeting the predetermined inclusion criteria underwent methodological quality assessment using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklists for randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies. A review of ten studies, selected from an initial 453, found that music interventions significantly reduced exam anxiety in nine of them. This reduction was evidenced by statistically significant decreases in anxiety scores across various assessment tools (STAI, IEF, VSAF, EAS) and improvements in physiological vital signs. Discussion: Music interventions are effective in reducing exam anxiety, a non-pharmacological approach that complements existing strategies. This benefit is supported by self-reported and physiological measures, highlighting music's versatility for anxiety management, even in brief applications. It also contributes to student well-being and academic success, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 3. Further research on music types and individual responses is needed for optimal results. Exposure to 15 minutes of instrumental classical music before an exam can significantly lower student anxiety. This finding suggests an effective and low-cost way for universities to support student well-being