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Understanding consumers’ intentions to use QR code menus in the post-COVID-19 pandemic
No full textPurpose
This study aims to examine the factors influencing consumers’ intentions to use QR code menus in the post-COVID-19 pandemic using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology and rational choice theory as the theoretical foundations.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a survey method, 200 data are collected from consumers who had used QR code menus in the past. Partial least squares structural equation modelling is used to analyse the data.
Findings
Our findings show that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, habit and perceived privacy protection have a significant positive influence on intentions. However, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation and perceived privacy risk do not have a significant influence on intentions.
Originality/value
This study further extends the work of previous studies by using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model, with additional two new predictors, namely perceived privacy protection and perceived privacy risk, to understand consumers’ intentions to use QR code menus
Lab-grown insect meat - Chemical and biological insights - A comprehensive review
No full textLab-grown insect meat is a promising alternative to traditional livestock for sustainable food production. This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge regarding lab-grown insect meat, emphasizing key aspects such as life cycle assessment, insect cell culture history, technological advancements, and bio-robotics in insect cell culture. Comparisons and challenges between insect and mammalian/avian cell culture methodologies are presented. The nutritional content of edible insects (proximate, amino acid, mineral, and vitamin content) and the potential health benefits of consuming insect meat are discussed. The paper also explores embryonic and adult myogenesis processes in insect cells, as well as the significance of insect body fat and muscle cells in culture. Applications of insect cell culture in various fields, such as food production and pharmaceutical development, are presented. Moreover, the potential occurrence of mutations in lab-grown insect cells is examined. Lastly, the review addresses the drawbacks and limitations of insect labriculture, discussing factors such as scalability, cost-efficiency, and public acceptance. Overall, this comprehensive review provides essential insights into the chemical and biological aspects of lab-grown insect meat, paving the way for further research and development in this emerging field. This article is the first review article reporting the chemical and biological insights of lab-grown insect meat
Efficacy of Mobile Mindfulness-based Intervention (M-MBI) in reducing stress in emerging adults transitioning out of university – a mixed-method study
Get PDFTransitioning out of university is a multi-layered experience that can be highly stressful for emerging adults (EAs). Evidence suggests that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) may improve aspects of psychological well-being. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mobile-MBI (m-MBI) in alleviating stress and improving mental well-being (i.e., worry, mindfulness, and self-compassion) in EAs. The study employed a mixed-methods design, with a 9-week randomised controlled trial (RCT; i.e., 5-week intervention and 4-week follow-up), followed by qualitative interviews. Ninety-two final-year university students (91.5% female, mean age 22.55), the majority with no prior mindfulness experience (77.2%), were randomly assigned to either a 5-week m-MBI group (n=47) or a waitlist group (n=45). Half of the participants randomized to the study did not complete it. Daily mindfulness practices were required, and adherence was tracked within the application. Intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses were performed. Findings from both analyses suggested that relative to waitlist control, m-MBI exerted a significantly small-to-moderate positive impact on worry (dITT=.40;dPP=.49), even after Bonferroni correction at post-intervention and 1-month follow-up. Perceived stress, self-compassion, and mindfulness were not significantly improved across the three time points after adjusting for multiple comparisons. More participants in the m-MBI group, in comparison with the waitlist group, showed significant and reliable improvements in worry and mindfulness scores throughout the study. Mediation analyses showed that mindfulness and self-compassion together contributed as mediators to perceived stress and that the amount of mindfulness practices was positively associated with the outcomes assessed. Qualitative findings supplemented the benefits found in self-reported measures and further illustrated adherence issues encountered by the participants. These findings suggested the feasibility of a 5-week m-MBI in mental health enhancement, especially worry for EAs in transition. Findings also highlight the importance of including components cultivating mindfulness and self-compassion in m-MBI. Nevertheless, researchers should implement methodologically more rigorous RCTs and examine withdrawals in future m-MBI studies
Evaluation of the Immunogenicity of T and B Cell Epitopes from the S And M Proteins of Sars-Cov-2 Wuhan and Omicron Strains in Balb/C Mice
Get PDFThe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in numerous infections and deaths. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) resulted in reductions in the protective efficacies of current mRNA and viral-vectored vaccines targeting the spike (S) protein from the SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain. A more promising strategy involves targeting highly conserved and immunogenic sequences from SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins to produce immune responses against the Wuhan strain and circulating VOCs. Recombinant protein vaccines could serve as a valuable vaccine development platform based on their high stability, safety, and immunogenicity in clinical development. This research project aimed to develop a recombinant protein vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Antigens were identified through literature mining and derived from the SARS-CoV-2 S and membrane (M) in the form of six peptides specifying highly conserved B cell and T cell epitopes. The expressed recombinant protein of interest, GST-6Phis, was purified through ammonium sulphate precipitation, gel filtration, immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC), nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) histidine affinity chromatography, and a protein concentrator. Four groups of 5 BALB/c mice each were intramuscularly or intranasally immunized with 10 µg GST-6Phis or with PBS. Cellular and humoral responses were evaluated at 42 days’ post-immunization. Intramuscular administration of GST-6Phis resulted in IFN-γ secreting CD4+ T cells, while intranasal administration produced IFN-γ secreting CD8+ T cells. Robust IgG antibody responses, as represented by absorbance values and mean reciprocal antibody titters, resulted from the intramuscular and intranasal administration of GST-6Phis. Sera obtained from mice immunized both intramuscularly and intranasally with GST-6Phis contained neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain, while intramuscular administration produced neutralizing antibodies against Omicron. In conclusion, the recombinant protein vaccine demonstrated the promise of utilizing conserved and immunogenic epitopes to produce immune responses against both the SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan and Omicron strains
Performing arts and the royal courts of Southeast Asia. volume 2: pusaka as performed heritage
No full textThis publication brings together current scholarship that focuses on the significance of the performing arts heritage of royal courts in Southeast Asia. The contributors consist of both established and early-career researchers working on traditional performing arts in the region and abroad. The second volume, Pusaka as Performed Heritage, comprises chapters that problematise royal court traditions in the present century with case studies that examine the viability, adaptability, and contemporary contexts for coexisting administrative structures
The traditional method of passing down the knowledge of Makyung in Kelantan
No full textThis study explores the traditional method of knowledge transmission of Kelantanese Makyung. This study examines in detail how Tok Guru teaches Makyung to students and how students learn from the Tok Guru. This study also reveals several different ways in which Makyung is traditionally taught. This study uses the methods of interview and participant observation conducted during field work with Makyung performers from the Seri Gabus Performance Group in Kampung Gabus To'Uban, Pasir Mas, Kelantan and Makyung Sri Gunong, Sri Gunong Heritage Art Association, in Gunong, Bachok, Kelantan. The findings demonstrate that there are four traditional methods of Makyung knowledge transmission, namely berguru, angin sako bako, titih seni permainan and tiru
Safeguarding Malaysia's seafarers health and wellbeing
No full textBy Dr. Ganesh Sritheran Paneerselvam- It is well known that marine waters cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface. More than 97% of Earth’s water supply and 90% of its habitable space rely on marine environments. Marine fisheries directly or indirectly employ over 200 million people. Moreover, over three billion people worldwide depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods. Fish continues to be one of the most-traded food commodities globally
Remediation of Leachate-Metal-Contaminated Soil Using Selected Bacterial Consortia
Get PDFApproximately 95% of urban solid waste worldwide is disposed of in landfills. About 14 million metric tonnes of this municipal solid waste are disposed of in landfills every year in Malaysia, illustrating the importance of landfills. Landfill leachate is a liquid that is generated when precipitation percolates through waste disposed of in a landfill. High concentrations of heavy metal(loid)s, organic matter that has been dissolved and/or suspended, and inorganic substances, including phosphorus, ammonium, and sulphate, are present in landfill leachate. Globally, there is an urgent need for efficient remediation strategies for leachate-metal-contaminated soils. The present study expatiates on the physicochemical conditions and heavy metal(loid)s’ concentrations present in leachate samples obtained from four landfills in Malaysia, namely, Air Hitam Sanitary Landfill, Jeram Sanitary landfill, Bukit Beruntung landfill, and Taman Beringin Landfill, and explores bioaugmentation for the remediation of leachate-metal-contaminated soil. Leachate samples (replicates) were taken from all four landfills. Heavy metal(loids) in the collected leachate samples were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The microbial strains used for bioaugmentation were isolated from the soil sample collected from Taman Beringin Landfill. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry was used to analyze heavy metal(loid)s in the soil, prior to the isolation of microbes. The results of the present study show that the treatments inoculated with the isolated bacteria had greater potential for bioremediation than the control experiment. Of the nine isolated microbial strains, the treatment regimen involving only three strains (all Gram-positive bacteria) exhibited the highest removal efficiency for heavy metal(loid)s, as observed from most of the results. With regard to new findings, a significant outcome from the present study is that selectively blended microbial species are more effective in the remediation of leachate-metal-contaminated soil, in comparison to a treatment containing a higher number of microbial species and therefore increased diversity. Although the leachate and soil samples were collected from Malaysia, there is a global appeal for the bioremediation strategy applied in this study
miR-21 Expression and its Correlation with Demographics, Subtypes, and Tumour Suppressor Genes; PTEN and PDCD4 in Breast Cancer Tissues in Malaysia
No full textObjectives: Despite extensive research in breast cancer (BC) genomics, most studies are from Western countries, which do not reflect the multi-ethnic make-up of Malaysia. Hence, microribonucleic acid-21 (miRNA-21), which is known to be an oncogenic stimulator of BC will be investigated by comparing its expression between breast tumour tissues and normal adjacent tissues excised from 67 BC patients, ethnic groups, age groups distribution, neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) treated and untreated patients, as well as BC subtypes. Methods: Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to measure the distribution of miR-21 expression in the paired BC tissues. The expression of the tumour suppressors; PTEN and PDCD4 was also investigated via RT-qPCR and Western Blot for its gene and protein expressions. Results: The results only showed the significance of miR-21 and PTEN expression between the normal adjacent tissues and BC tissues (p<0.05). Additionally, there was a lack of correlation between gene expression of miR-21 against PTEN and PDCD4. Protein expression analysis did not show a significant difference in tumour suppressor proteins; PTEN and PDCD4 expression in both tissue types. Conclusion: miR-21 has a notable presence in BC and is a suitable biomarker to be evaluated further in patients of all ethnicities and age groups
Knowledge, attitude, and practice of white coat use among medical students during clinical practice (LAUNDERKAP): A cross-sectional study
No full textBackground
Recent studies found white coats to be reservoirs for bacteria and medical students did not conform to proper hygiene measures when using these white coats. We investigated the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of medical students toward white coat use in clinical settings (LAUNDERKAP).
Methods
A validated, online-based survey was disseminated to 670 students from four Malaysian medical schools via random sampling. Scores were classified into good, moderate, or poor knowledge and practice, and positive, neutral, or negative attitude. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to analyze the relationship between demographic variables and knowledge, attitude, and practice scores.
Results
A total of 492/670 students responded (response rate: 73.4%). A majority showed negative attitudes (n = 246, 50%), poor knowledge (n = 294, 59.8%), and moderate practice (n = 239, 48.6%). Senior and clinical year students had more negative attitudes. Male students had higher knowledge, while students from private medical schools and preclinical years had better practice. There was a significant relationship between attitude and practice (r = 0.224, P < .01), as well as knowledge and practice (r = 0.111, P < .05).
Conclusions
The results demonstrate the need for more education to improve medical students’ infection control practices. Our results can also guide decision-making among administrators on the role of white coats as part of medical student attire