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Numerous prior studies claimed that social enterprises had a beneficial effect (social impact) on addressing society's social problems. However, there is little evidence to support that statement. How well is this enterprise able to give an impact on solving social problems? Does it have any indicators that can prove the validity of its social impact? Therefore, this study aims to explore the literature review on social enterprise and their social impact, as well as to identify a few measurements to assess the social impact. Hence, the writing of this article was conducted based on reviewing the published literature including articles and journals which are relevant to the topic that can be accessed through online databases. Scopus, Science Direct and Google Scholar have been used for searching the articles needed. The search terms include "social enterprise" OR "social business" OR "social entrepreneurship" AND "Social impact" OR "measuring impact" OR "social impact measurement". This conceptual paper was motivated to get a deeper understanding of the social impact measurement employed by social enterprises. From the discussion, we have clearly defined the definition of social impact from different perspectives, including the importance of measuring the social impact among social enterprises has also been discussed briefly. Reviewed articles revealed that there is a wide range of methods for measuring social impact but in this article, we are focusing on three approaches only there are: balanced scorecard (BSC), social return on investment (SROI), and cost-benefit analysis (CBA) in this paper. This study summarises that measuring the social impact is becoming an essential determination for social enterprises as the key indicators of their performance to the communities or to the potential investors or funders. The study also suggests recommending further study of the social impact measurements that need to be discussed in depth and detail. This study's hope can attract more academicians to stimulate more research on this topic, specifically in measuring methods from Malaysia's perspective. The implication of this study forms a clear understanding of the social impact and a few of the measurements that can be used in measuring the impact of social enterprise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic writing is one of the genres of writing which considered complex as it requires high language skills and the appropriate methodology in its production. One of the skills required is paraphrasing skills. However, paraphrasing is not an easy task especially if it involving a third language. Students may make various forms of errors in paraphrasing which need full attention, understanding, and techniques. Therefore, this study aims to identify the forms of mistakes and the weaknesses of students in making Arabic paraphrases, then, proposing method to address it. This study is a qualitative study and using samples taken from students' final coursework in the subject of Arabic for Academic (BAA4022). The corpus of the study involved 50 samples randomly selected among the students of the semester I session 2020/2021, Faculty of Major Language Studies (FPBU) and Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences (FPSK), Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM). This sample was analysed using the content analysis method. The finding shows that the main errors of students in paraphrasing are comes from the semantic aspect due to weakness in understanding the original reference text. In addition, the errors from grammatical aspects, especially in the use of al-idhofah, the use of dhamir and fi'il are consequences of the weakness in mastery of syntax and Arabic morphology. Both of these forms of weaknesses affect the quality of paraphrases made especially in the aspect of semantic completeness. Thus, this study is hoped to provide enlightenment and helps teachers and students in strengthening the quality of writing academic papers in Arabic Language through the use of accurate and correct Arabic paraphrasing techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly cited papers serve as a proxy for excellence. In this paper, we identify Malaysia's highly-cited papers and explore the characteristics of these papers. The research question posed is "What characterizes Malaysian highly cited papers?" This study adopts the definition by Thomson Reuters Essential Science Indicator, i.e. the highly cited papers are papers that received enough citations to be placed in the top 1 percent of the academic field of each 22 subject areas based on a highly cited threshold for the field and publication year. As a small scientific nation, Malaysia has a rather limited number of papers being highly cited, and we observed nine characteristics of highly cited papers based on 708 datasets obtained from the Web of Science. Malaysian highly cited papers are largely represented by articles, but reviews have higher impact. Typically, these papers have a low self-cited index and they are published in the First Quartile of the science discipline publications. The papers are mainly the outcome of national funded research; involve multiple co-authorship and international collaboration; affiliated to Malaysian research universities and Malaysian authors often play a dominant role as first or reprint authors. Partnership with scientists from Iran, Australia and UK may increase markedly the possibility of a Malaysian paper becoming highly cited. This investigation has shown that these are the characteristics of Malaysian highly cited papers, but to what extent can these be used as indicators need further investigation and discussions among the scientific community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization will cause various land use changes and the vast occupation of green spaces, a critical factor in the deterioration of biodiversity in urbanized areas. Some species of wildlife are endangered due to habitat shrunk and fragmentation. However, Malaysia's current biodiversity protection range is still limited. The Ecological Network (EN) refers to a framework of ecological components, which can be obtained by geographical and technical approaches to support more ecological diversity ranges. Furthermore, little research has been found on EN in Malaysia and the impact of land use change on EN. Therefore, the Selangor region is selected as the study area. This paper quantifies land use change and measures the extent of land use change to obtain the EN's change. The result has shown that forestland has decreased, explored by people for housing and agriculture from 2000 to 2020. The EN has a trend of fragmentation. Overall, this study's results imply that the land use change led to EN's worsened performance from 2000 to 2020 in the study area. This paper hopes that this research could help supply information on conserving biodiversity in future development and urban sustainable planning in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to explore the factors that influence Malaysian online shoppers' behaviour in recycling e-commerce packaging waste. This study employed an in-depth semi-structured interview. In total, 12 participants were recruited in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Malaysia, including eight females and four males aged between 25 and 50. ATLAS.ti version 8 software was used to analyse the details of the content and interpret it holistically. The study reveals that Malaysian online shoppers still lack awareness of the environmental impact, particularly in recycling e-commerce packaging waste. It also indicates that social influences play a major role in influencing them to recycle e-commerce packaging waste. The paper is a new research area with global implications. While limited to sample size, several recommendations are made, covering recycling facilities, consumer empowerment, and individual responsibility to increase future recycling for better environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine angiosperms could inevitably offer considerable potential resources for their fiber, yet little research has been conducted, especially in Malaysia. Fiber characteristics of five species of seagrass - Enhalus acoroides, Cymodocea serrulata, Thalassia hemprichii, Halophila ovalis, and Halophila spinulosa - were evaluated. Fiber dimensions were studied to determine slenderness ratio, flexibility coefficient, Runkel's ratio, and Luce's shape factor species selection. The seagrass species have the potential in papermaking production as they possessed slenderness ratio >33 (98.12 to 154.08) and high Luce's shape factor (0.77 to 0.83); however the species exhibited low flexibility coefficient <50 (30.07 to 35.18) and >1 Runkel's ratio (1.11 to 1.60), which indicate rigid fiber. The five seagrass species have high cellulose >34% (40.30 to 77.18%) and low lignin content <15% (5.02 to 11.20%), which are similar to those encountered in non-wood plant species. Handmade paper sheet of Enhalus acoroides using pulp subjected to mechanical blending exhibited the highest tensile strength (4.16 kN/m) compared to hand-beaten pulp (3.46 kN/m). The highest breaking length (3.43 km) was achieved by a paper sheet of Thalassia hemprichii using hand-beaten pulp. Based on their physical and chemical composition properties, seagrass have potential as sources of fibrous material for handmade papermaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postgraduate students need to be equipped with self-determined learning skills in order to meet the demands of higher degree and employment in the fourth industrial revolution (IR 4.0) environment. However, the lack of analysis conducted on item level for validating the measurement of postgraduate students' self-determined learning skills prompted the development of The Postgraduate Self-determined Learning Questionnaire (PSLQ) to fill in the research gaps. This paper aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the newly developed 42-item instrument through a mixed method approach as no study has evaluated the psychometric properties of PSLQ at the item level through Rasch model analysis. Quantitatively, 440 postgraduate students were sampled from a higher education institution in Malaysia to answer the questionnaire. Qualitatively, 10 respondents from science and non-science disciplines were interviewed. The paper reports findings on the psychometric properties of PSLQ through Rasch Rating Analysis and participants' perspectives on the item validity. The results revealed that the items in PSLQ demonstrated good psychometric properties for the measurement of self-determined learning skills of postgraduate students. Implications of the study were discussed in this paper. Future studies can further investigate the psychometric properties of PSLQ according to students' discipline of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionospheric scintillation is a common phenomenon in the equatorial, auroral, and polar areas, posing a threat to the Global Navigation Satellite System's (GNSS) operation. This ionospheric effect is thought to impact satellite signal propagation, hence, lowering positioning accuracy. Therefore, detecting ionospheric scintillation is critical in enhancing GNSS performance, particularly at low latitudes with severe amplitude scintillation. This paper investigates the effects of ionospheric scintillation on GPS signals at UNIMAS station, the East part of Malaysia. This study aims to identify the occurrence of ionospheric scintillation by calculating the index of scintillation strength during solar maximum 2014. The amplitude scintillation, which is measured in the S 4 index is obtained and classified accordingly from the data recorded at the UNIMAS station. The results have shown that strong scintillation (S 4 ≥ 0.5) occurred in the spring (April) and autumn (September and October) seasons, reaching 8 incidents. This paper also presents the diurnal, seasonal, and solar activity dependence of ionospheric scintillation. It is evident that the occurrence of amplitude scintillation is influenced by variations in solar activity, including solar flares and sunspots, as well as diurnal and seasonal changes. These findings provide valuable insights into the behaviour of the ionosphere and its impact on space-based communication and navigation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This paper investigates Thailand and Malaysia climate governance policy in practice within their multi-level governance structures. Thailand presents a unique case of a unitary state with a degree of deconcentration and decentralization, while Malaysia showcases a federal state with a high degree of centralization. Methodology: The paper collected and analyzed both primary and secondary data. Indepth interviews with government officials, NGOs, and international organizations were conducted online and onsite in Thailand and Malaysia from May 2022 to September 2023. Interview data was triangulated with secondary data from key national policy documents on climate change and related issues. This paper examines the contributions and hindrances of multi-level governance on climate governance and highlights some lessons learned from both countries. Results: It concludes that multi-level government systems provide opportunities for various stakeholders to engage in decision-making and create policy innovation. However, the administration of decision-making in these systems can be constrained by tensions within these systems, between tendencies towards the centralization of decision-making, and little engagement between subnational governments and local-level stakeholders. Conclusions: Overall, we assert that clear direction and guidance at the national level complemented by mechanisms that engage local stakeholders in administration and civil society is essential to achieve overarching climate action goals regardless of the administrative system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Project-based learning (PjBL) is a student-centred approach focusing on experiential learning. The approach has been widely used in the field of sciences and mathematics but not in social sciences, particularly in English writing skills. As PjBL gains popularity as one of the 21st century teaching and learning approaches, there is a need to identify the trends, key authors, significant countries, and findings related to PjBL in writing. This paper presents a systematic literature review (SLR) conducted on 17 articles from the year 2018 to 2023 from the Scopus database following the PRISMA guideline. The study focused on PjBL and English writing, employing a systematic literature review to analyse trends, countries, authors, and journals. The analysis reveals dynamic trends of PjBL in the writing field. While the publication output fluctuated over the years, Indonesia emerged as a major contributor, signifying a global interest. A diverse distribution of articles across journals and countries underscores the global impact of PjBL, with notable contributions from Malaysia, China, and Russia. This paper synthesises the key themes from the literature review, emphasising the improvement in writing skills through PjBL and its challenges. The findings underscore PjBL's potential in transforming English writing education, emphasising the importance of addressing challenges for effective integration. The study contributes to the literature through a systematic analysis, providing insights into the trends and recommendations in PjBL in English writing research. Further research should delve into refining PjBL methodologies to maximize its innovative potential in English writing instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Driven by the evidence from the literature on the significance of mobile (m-)payment in economic growth and productivity and at the same time the relative dismal adoption of this service, the purpose of present paper is to elucidate the merchants' m-payment adoption from the perspective of trust, drawing upon the game theory framework, in the Malaysian context. Design/methodology/approach: An online survey consisting of 302 respondents was carried out to investigate the impact of trust and opportunism on merchants' perceived trustworthiness using a two-staged structural equation modeling–neural network approach to determine the significance and relative importance of variables. This study also applies a game-theoretic approach to analyze the impact of trust on the relationship between merchants and m-payment service providers. Findings: The results indicate a positive and statistically significant relationship between merchant trust, merchant opportunism and perceived trustworthiness, and a statistically significant negative relationship was found between m-payment provider opportunism and perceived trustworthiness. The findings from the prisoner's dilemma two-player model indicate that the scenarios of mutual trust and mutual opportunism as paradigmatic of cooperation and defection produce the best and worse outcomes, respectively. An intriguing result was the positive impact of merchant opportunism on perceived trustworthiness, which indicates a very calculative orientation of merchants in m-payment contracting. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is among the first attempts to propose a game theory approach to the interaction between merchants and m-payment providers under the framework of trust and opportunism. A game theory study in the context of m-payment adoption can contribute to the theoretical literature by providing insights into the decision-making processes of merchants. By incorporating trust and opportunism into the game theory model, we can gain a better understanding of how they affect the decision-making process and overall adoption rates. The conclusions and implications provide useful insights for managers of both m-payment platforms and merchants in this relational exchange. The results of the present research can provide insights into the factors that influence merchant decisions and guide them toward suitable partnerships for successful adoption and can guide authorities for policy interventions and supporting adoption efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The government has set an ambitious target of renewable energy development in Malaysia. As a promising renewable energy source, wind energy plays an important role in the Malaysia renewable energy roadmap. Compared to onshore wind energy, offshore wind resources with better quality can be provided in the areas away from the coast, which has greater potential to contribute to electricity generation. Wind and bathymetry conditions are two important factors that determine the feasibility and economics of offshore wind turbines. In this paper, an investigation is conducted on wind and bathymetry conditions around Malaysia. The data source mainly originates from the Global Wind Atlas. The conditions of the coastal areas in different states and federal territories of both Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia are analysed, with a specific focus on wind speed, wind energy density, and bathymetry conditions in high-wind-speed regions. The data and survey are verified and compared with the past published literature. This paper aims to investigate the wind and bathymetry conditions around Malaysia, assess the potential of offshore wind energy, discuss the feasibility of offshore wind turbines, and provide references for offshore wind development in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Though the takaful industry is undergoing a period of rapid development and growth, it has been seen to be too commercialised and the mutual spirit was seen disappeared. On the other hand, it faces many critics for imposing terms and conditions that benefitted takaful operators and were not sufficient to cover the needs of the participants. Therefore, the study aims to analyse an alternative model to the takaful industry in Malaysia using the cooperative takaful model by analysing the mutuality and cooperative concept and discussing a few controversial issues related to the existing takaful model. Design/ methodology/approach: The study applied the qualitative research method in achieving all objectives through document analysis, focus group discussions and interviews. Findings: The finding proposed the cooperative takaful model as an alternative to current models. The advantages of the cooperative takaful model are its ability to uphold the cooperative and mutuality concepts and its ability to reduce over-dependence on the tijari based takaful. Besides, it offers several benefits to participants compared to the existing takaful models. By participating in cooperative takaful, the participant also became the owner of a takaful company where some of the monthly takaful contribution will be utilise for acquiring the company's share. However, there are some limitations of this model such as high paid-up capital to set up the business, the existing legal system not suit for the cooperative takaful model, creating dormant member issues, the issue of conflict of interest between management and participant as well as existing takaful operator worried to establish new model due to small market penetration. Research limitations/implications: The proposed models have not even been tested yet in the Malaysian market. Practical implications: This paper is able to help the takaful operators in considering cooperative and mutual models as an alternative to the current models. Originality/value: This paper is to explore a new game changer of the takaful industry in fulfilling the research gap by exploring the suitability of a cooperative and mutual model for the Malaysian context and redefining takaful as a social concept that is welfare-based and member-focused. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a thorough review and analysis of solar photovoltaic (PV) home systems in Malaysia, offering a comprehensive exploration of their implementation, challenges, benefits, and future potential. As a nation striving to embrace sustainable and renewable energy solutions, Malaysia's adoption of solar PV systems at the residential level is of paramount importance. The study delves into the current state of solar PV deployment, government initiatives, and policy frameworks that influence adoption trends. It examines the economic, environmental, and societal advantages of solar PV home systems, outlining their contribution to reducing electricity costs, carbon emissions, and energy dependence. Addressing barriers to wider acceptance, the paper scrutinizes challenges encompassing cost, awareness, intermittency, and regulatory constraints. Furthermore, the study evaluates the socio-economic implications of solar PV home systems, including potential job creation and energy independence. Technological advancements, such as enhanced efficiency and smart grid integration, are also explored for their role in surmounting obstacles. Drawing insights from practical case studies, the paper underscores successful installations and the lessons they offer. In examining policy and regulatory frameworks, it analyzes existing incentives while suggesting improvements to accelerate adoption. Finally, the paper offers a visionary perspective on the future trajectory of solar PV home systems in Malaysia, envisioning increased affordability, advanced energy storage solutions, and seamless integration with emerging technologies. This holistic analysis contributes valuable insights to propel Malaysia's sustainable energy transition and inform strategic decision making for stakeholders across sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatments for skin injuries have recently advanced tremendously. Such treatments include allogeneic and xenogeneic transplants and skin substitutes such as tissue-engineered skin, cultured cells, and stem cells. The aim of this paper is to discuss the general overview of the quality assurance and quality control implemented in the manufacturing of cell and tissue product, with emphasis on our experience in the manufacturing of MyDerm®, an autologous bilayered human skin substitute. Manufacturing MyDerm® requires multiple high-risk open manipulation steps, such as tissue processing, cell culture expansion, and skin construct formation. To ensure the safety and efficacy of this product, the good manufacturing practice (GMP) facility should establish a well-designed quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) programme. Standard operating procedures (SOP) should be implemented to ensure that the manufacturing process is consistent and performed in a controlled manner. All starting materials, including tissue samples, culture media, reagents, and consumables must be verified and tested to confirm their safety, potency, and sterility. The final products should also undergo a QC testing series to guarantee product safety, efficacy, and overall quality. The aseptic techniques of cleanroom operators and the environmental conditions of the facility are also important, as they directly influence the manufacturing of good-quality products. Hence, personnel training and environmental monitoring are necessary to maintain GMP compliance. Furthermore, risk management implementation is another important aspect of QA/QC, as it is used to identify and determine the risk level and to perform risk assessments when necessary. Moreover, procedures for non-conformance reporting should be established to identify, investigate, and correct deviations that occur during manufacturing. This paper provides insight and an overview of the QA/QC aspect during MyDerm® manufacturing in a GMP-compliant facility in the Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine, from the perspective of investors, the factors that predict Islamic unit trust (IUT) investment intentions. Additionally, this paper examines the moderating effect of fintech self-efficacy (FSE) on the relationship between attitude and investment intention. A total of 392 data were collected from IUT investors in Malaysia and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The findings reveal that subjective norms have the highest impact on investment intention, followed by attitude and FSE, while religiosity is not significantly associated with investment intention in Islamic unit trust funds. Attitude significantly mediates religiosity-intention and Islamic financial literacy-intention relationships. FSE significantly moderates the attitude-intention relationship. The results shed light on the key factors that increase investing behavior and have direct managerial implications with regard to marketing strategies and target markets. These findings suggest that IUT service providers should take the lead in attracting customers through effective and targeted marketing initiatives, particularly by enhancing customers' FSE and capabilities. This study provides empirical evidence on the interrelationships between Islamic financial literacy, religiosity, and FSE in examining investors' behavior using the Theory of Planned Behavior framework. The study explores the moderating role of FSE on the relationship between attitude and investment intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media can provide important and useful information to communities in their fight to prevent crime. However, this capability has its downside. For every affordance social media provides, the platform presents an equally important constraint, which researchers and the public often ignore. Using an in-depth case study of social media crime prevention communities in Malaysia, this paper intends to provide a rich understanding of the information provided by social media in crime prevention. The study adopts the technology affordances and constraints theory to make sense of and explain how the information provided by social media affords and constrains the communities' efforts to fight crime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive and persistent use of plastic bags has caused severe environmental impact in many developing countries and the significance of biodegradable plastic bags as an alternative solution is uncertain. Bandar Baru Bangi, the second township in the Selangor state in Peninsular Malaysia, has also been plagued with problems of plastic bag use where plastic bags cover 56% of the household waste. Selangor has introduced a plastic bag fee of MYR 0.20 to shoppers who requested for it, albeit the effectiveness of such policy in changing consumer behavior is still unknown. The objectives of the study were to assess consumers' plastic bags consumption behavior in Bandar Baru Bangi, and determine factors influencing their willingness to pay (WTP) for an increase fee in using biodegradable plastic bags. A questionnaire survey incorporating Contingent Valuation Method was conducted to elicit the consumers' WTP. The results indicate that majority of the respondents (83%) requested one to three plastic bags per shopping trip. They moderately agreed that their tendency for plastic bag use was influenced by other consumers in the surrounding and highly agreed on the impact of environmental campaigns. The WTP for biodegradable plastic bags was estimated at MYR 0.43 which was influenced by their age and education level. The findings suggest there is a need to revisit the effectiveness of the policy and revise proper intervention measures to reduce plastic bag use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 pandemic has had an irreversible impact on the global economy and industries, particularly in the healthcare sector. The rush to respond to the pandemic, particularly in terms of getting treatment and vaccines and technology to market, has created a huge opportunity for undisclosed corruption and misconduct in the research and development and procurement processes. Effectively responding to current and future global health corruption threats is critical if the world is to provide health care to all. Due to a lack of research in preventive corruption measures in the healthcare industry, this paper aims to provide an overview of anti-corruption efforts among healthcare companies listed on the main board of Bursa Malaysia. The disclosure index is made up of 47 items derived from a review of previous literature and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act. The content analysis research method is used to analyze information from 13 companies listed in 2020's anti-corruption policies and procedures published on their website, board charter, whistleblowing policy, code of ethics and conduct, annual report, sustainability report, and corporate governance report. According to the findings, Malaysia's healthcare industry has demonstrated a strong commitment to fighting corruption, with 76.9% of companies scoring higher than average on the disclosure index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online learning is on the rise, and it is becoming an important mode of learning in higher education. However, there are limited models that explain the link between learners' characteristics, learning processes, and outcomes in an online learning environment. This study aims to examine the influence of online self-regulation on the experiences and engagement of students during online learning processes and their outcomes in terms of satisfaction and academic performance. A quantitative correlational design was used to achieve the objective of this study. Data collection was carried out using an online survey. A total of 609 undergraduates from four public and private universities in Malaysia were sampled. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was run to analyze the obtained data. The results showed that online self-regulation is a presage factor affecting online learning processes. It significantly and positively affects students' experiences and engagement in an online environment. These three factors explained more than two thirds of the variance in satisfaction, a key learning outcome of online learning. However, its predictive value for academic performance was weaker. The developed model can be used as a framework to promote positive online learning outcomes among undergraduate students. The implications of the study and recommendations for future research are discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of a reflector can increase the solar radiation on the photovoltaic module (PV) surface, whereby the energy output can be improved. However, the economic feasibility may need to be considered too. This study is conducted, for the first time, due to the lack of studies regarding the economic feasibility assessment of implementing reflectors under the Malaysian meteorological conditions. The outcome will give information about the suitability for implementing a PV reflector in Malaysia through an experimental setup at a sewage treatment site, for two months in 2022. The Malaysian meteorological data, which include daily solar radiation, ambient temperature and wind velocity, were collected to study the output energy, efficiency and the economic perspective of a PV. In February 2022, the PV was operating without a reflector and the averaged values for the monthly solar radiation, ambient temperature and wind velocity were 539.9 MJ/m2, 28.4 °C and 2.2 m/s, respectively, which resulted in an output energy of 106.43 kWh. On the other hand, for April 2022, the PV was operating with a reflector. With the respective averaged input parameters 544.98 MJ/m2, 28.9 °C and 1.51 m/s, the output energy was 121.94 kWh. It is thus shown that the PV with a reflector increases the PV's output energy by 14.57%. Also, it is shown that the cost-effective factor value is 0.955 which means that the PV reflector is economically feasible to be implemented under the Malaysian meteorological conditions. Hence, extensive research should be conducted to improve the performance of PV reflectors. The findings of this paper maybe useful for researchers and/or manufacturers of PV reflectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global environmental concerns have garnered significant attention in recent times. Concerns about encouraging more ecologically friendly production to lessen the effects of pollution have been raised by industrial operations that cause environmental pollution. The adoption of an environmental management system in Malaysian firms, however, has received little attention. This paper explores the mediating effect of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework on the relationship between ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) and ESG performance of Malaysian companies. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS 4 was employed to assess the relationship through a conceptual model developed for this purpose. A total of 86 completed responses were collected from the targeted respondents in Malaysia of different industries. With ESG framework as a mediator, ISO 14001 EMS has an insignificant relationship with ESG performance, and the R2 value of ESG performance is 0.243. When the ESG framework is removed, ISO 14001 EMS has a significant relationship with ESG performance, and the f-square value is 0.176. This effect size is considered medium. The results provide an empirical proof for Malaysian companies to adopt the ISO 14001 EMS as a business tool, with ESG framework as a mediator in order to enhance their ESG performance. The study's conclusions highlight the implications of using ISO 14001 EMS as a tool for businesses in Malaysia to improve ESG performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a detailed study of the energy savings that can be achieved through residential appliances by implementing conservation voltage reduction (CVR). The computed energy savings are derived from the ZIP coefficients of a load model (static) under varying voltage conditions that represent the power consumed by each appliance tested. Multiple studies have shown energy savings at the substation level but not at the level of a specific residence and appliance; hence, the latter is the focus of this analysis. The appliances are determined based on the type of heating and cooling loads, and the daily duration of use for each appliance, which contributes to the total monthly consumption that is billed for a household are included in this study. Energy savings in Malaysia has been a focus of many current studies, and this study is the first attempt to achieve energy savings through the implementation of CVR. No published work has compared individual appliances that truly benefits from CVR, and this is addressed in this study. The main contribution of this study is that it provides very detailed and measured data that are used to analyze and generate energy savings for very specific residential appliances intended to meet every 1% voltage drop. The load model is developed for the common household appliances in Malaysia, and then a voltage reduction study is applied to the appliances as well as the Malaysian distribution networks. Here, we also provide insight for performing voltage reduction at an electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Malaysia. The results of this study should serve as a foundation for all practicing utilities engineers to address the issue of CVR in Malaysia. The CVR factors for residential, commercial, and industrial networks in Malaysia are also published in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper investigates the traditional Malay silver craft that has existed for two centuries, reflecting the community's culture and heritage. The Srivijaya Kingdom and British colonial rule historically influenced this Malay culture's silver craft, encapsulating beliefs, dreams, and resilience. Originating in Kelantan, Malaysia, the Malay silver craft industry flourished, but recent studies reveal its decline and potential extinction. This paper's primary objective is to comprehensively identify and propose strategies for integrating sustainable practices of silver craft, aligning with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on sustainable industrialization and cultural heritage preservation. The research seeks to preserve and revitalize the craft industry for community benefit, emphasizing its socio-economic impact, potential for job creation, income generation, tourism, and intangible heritage preservation. The paper conducts a literature review, visual research, and focus group discussions employing anthropology, art history, and community development. This research emphasizes the importance of sustaining cultural heritage, fostering community resilience, and empowerment. Influenced by their cultural beliefs, environment, looking at nature, and the natural world, the fine silver craft undergoes artistic expression, subsequently fostering social cohesion and interaction. Following the quadruple helix concept, the Malay silver craft industry revival engaged through collaboration among local artisans, government agencies, community organizations, and academicians. By utilizing thematic analysis based on focus group discussion, this research thoroughly analyses the sustainability of the Malay silver craft domain, interpreting key thematic codes that underpin its ecological and socio-cultural significance within the framework of local craft in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The invention of street vendors in urban public places help in creating a living cultural enclave despite the robustness of street activities. This paper aims to explore the potentials of street vending as a place making tool in creating a dynamic public area. By choosing Bandar Tasik Puteri as a case study, this paper investigates how street vendors may help to create and improve the livelihood in a public place. The mixed method approach through site observation and questionnaire survey were adopted to capture tangible and intangible aspect of the study area. Findings of the study reveals that Bandar Tasik Puteri has a great potential for street vendor activities as it will improve quality of life of local community, foster social interactions and create dynamic public space within the area. However, several challenges need to be resolved beforehand, including limited space and regulatory issues. The paper highlights the importance of a supportive legislative framework and a collaborative approach among stakeholders to enable the long-term growth of street vending as a means of improving public spaces and boosting public participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is produced with the aim of examining the traces of feminist thinking that is rooted in Malaysia. Feminism is a movement that fights for women’s human rights from discrimination by all parties whether men, communities, or authorities until they achieve the desired emancipation and justice. Its historical background is traced among women as early as its growth after independence in 1957 until its latest development in the 2020s. The methodology used in the production of this writing is entirely armchair research. Data were mostly obtained from individual workbooks, seminar papers, research results, newspaper clippings and online data. The study found that the development of feminism in Malaysia can be categorized according to its growth period, namely after independence in the 1960s, 1970-1980s and finally, the 1990s until present. In each category of those years, feminism presented ideologies and demands in accordance with the developments of its time. This has shaped the uniqueness of Malaysian-style feminism born out of local needs and demands and should continue to evolve in a way that does not conflict with the Malaysian Islamic views and culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiesel can be produced from vegetable oils, animal fats, frying oils, and from microorganism-synthesized oils. These sources render biodiesel an easily biodegradable fuel. The aim of this work was to perform an advanced bibliometric analysis of primary studies relating to biodiesel production worldwide by identifying the key countries and regions that have shown a strong engagement in this area, and by understanding the dynamics of their collaboration and research outputs. Additionally, an assessment of the main primary feedstocks employed in this research was carried out, along with an analysis of the current and future trends that are expected to define new paths and methodologies to be used in the manufacture of biodegradable and renewable fuels. A total of 4586 academic outputs were selected, including peer-reviewed research articles, conference papers, and literature reviews related to biodiesel production, in the time period spanning from 2010 to 2021. Articles that focused on feedstocks for the production of biodiesel were also included, with a search that returned 330 papers. Lastly, 60 articles relating to biodiesel production via sewage were specifically included to allow for an analysis of this source as a promising feedstock in the future of the biofuel market. Via the geocoding and the document analyses performed, we concluded that China, Malaysia, and India are the largest writers of articles in this area, revealing a great interest in biofuels in Asia. Additionally, it was noted that environmental concerns have caused authors to conduct research on feedstocks that can address the sustainability challenges in the production of biodiesel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Among the most urgent public health challenges, of the twenty-first century, is obesity. This can be attributed to its relationship with several non-communicable diseases (NCDs), as well as premature mortality. Being overweight or obese is a major concern not only in high-income countries, but also in low-income and middle-income countries, particularly in urban areas. Several studies have highlighted the prevalence of obesity, among Middle Eastern-descent adolescents, studying in Arabic secondary schools, located in Malaysia. Intervention studies, directed at Middle Eastern adolescents in Malaysia, are limited. This paper, describes the protocol, for an integrated health education intervention process. Titled 'Healthy lifestyle', it is a primary prevention process, aimed at curbing obesity and disordered eating, among Middle Eastern secondary school adolescents, aged 13–14 years old, residing in Malaysia. Methods and anticipated results: A cluster randomized controlled study will be conducted, involving 250 Middle Eastern adolescents, in Arabic schools in Malaysia. The participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. While the intervention group participates in six weeks of fortnightly six sessions (45 minutes per session), the control group will carry on with their regular curriculums, and normal physical activity routines. The variables which will be evaluated include anthropometric measurements, knowledge, attitude, daily routines, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, food assessment, eating attitudes test-26, and a structured questionnaire based on the HBM. Data will be collected from the intervention and control groups at baseline, post-intervention, and two months following the intervention. Data analysis will be performed by way of the SPSS Statistics software version 26. The generalized estimating equation (GEE) will be used, to test the effect of the intervention program, with regards to the selected variables (outcomes), between and within-group at baseline, as well as six weeks and two months following intervention, after adjusting for clustering. Outcomes will be assessed at each time point, along with a derived average over all three-time points; thus, ensuring that both the cumulative and overall effects are determined. Conclusions: This trial will provide useful information for improving the knowledge, attitude, and practices of Middle Eastern adolescents, with regards to body weight status, physical activity level, nutrition status (BMI and dietary intake), and disordered eating. This will go a long way, towards ensuring their adherence to appropriate physical activities, and a healthy diet, to keep non-communicable diseases at bay. Trial registration: This study is registered at NCT: NCT05694143. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a viral infection that primarily affects children. The disease is characterized by fever, sores in the mouth, and a rash on the hands, feet, and buttocks. In this case study, we analyze the dynamics of HFMD in children under 15 years old in Malaysia using an age-structured modeling approach. First we prove backward bifurcation for a baseline model which is then extended to an age-structured model. We used data on the incidence of HFMD in Malaysia from 2021 to 2022 to calibrate the model parameters and simulate the disease dynamics. Sensitivity analysis is done by Latin hypercube sampling - partial rank correlation coefficient (LHS/PRCC) method. Simulation is done and the impact of imperfect vaccine and quarantine is explored. Our results show that the dynamics of the disease is mostly driven by children under 5 years old. The model also predicts that vaccination could significantly reduce the incidence of HFMD in Malaysia. Vaccination is most effective when targeted at young children, who are at the highest risk of disease as this will lead to drastic decrease in the incidence of HFMD in all age groups. Our simulations show that quarantining of infected children until they fully recover will reduce the transmission of HFMD, but this strategy needs to be sustained for a sufficient duration to have a significant impact. The result of this paper can inform the development of policies for controlling the spread of HFMD and other infectious diseases in Malaysia and other similar settings. • A novel age-structured mathematical model of HFMD. • Interactions between different age groups are investigated. • The model is calibrated with real-life data. • Sensitivity analysis is performed to illustrate the role of parameters with respect to disease control. • Prove backward bifurcation due to the incorporation of imperfect vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infertility affects millions of people of reproductive age worldwide. Thyroid hormones and prolactin (PRL) affect reproduction and pregnancy; therefore, these two hormones influence fertility. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarise the strength of the correlation between serum PRL and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in infertile women and to explore selected factors influencing the correlation. We conducted a systematic search of online databases (PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, SAGE and Google Scholar) from inception until March 2021 and a manual search of the bibliographies of the included studies to identify relevant publications. The original research paper describing the correlation between PRL and TSH in reproductive-age women with infertility (primary and secondary) was included. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies. A random effect model was used to estimate the pooled correlations of PRL and TSH, followed by an assessment of heterogeneity and a sensitivity analysis. From a total of 822 relevant articles identified, 11 were eligible and included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The random effect pooled correlation estimates between PRL and TSH was 0.431 (95% CI: 0.251, 0.582), with substantial heterogeneity between the included studies (I² = 80%, τ ² = 0.067, P < 0.001). No significant publication bias was observed. Study region, types of infertility, sample size and year of the study did not influence the correlation estimates. Our results highlighted a significant positive moderate correlation between serum PRL and serum TSH in infertile women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corrupt practices in public procurement in Malaysia are explained in this paper using a principal-agent model. The government leaders, who are typically politicians, ministers, or their relatives, are referred to as the" principal" while the officials who carry out their duties are referred to as "agents". The actors in the model who constitute the third party -- the other actor in the cycle of corruption -- include clients, customers, and the public at large. The principal-agent-client framework was applied to 18 selected corruption cases in Malaysia to describe and analyse the actors involved in the transgressions and illegal acts in these cases. The cases were investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) from 2014 to 2019, charged and found guilty by the courts in Malaysia. The findings show that all the actors in the role of agent were public officials, while the actors in the role of client were from the private sector, and the actors in the role of principal were high-ranking government officials, their relatives, and politicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of national symbols plays a crucial role in reflecting the identity of a nation. The national anthem is one of the national symbol categories that are commonly used by every nation in this world. The combination of syntactic (musical) and semantic (lyrical) structure make it unique from any other national symbols. Despite of tangibility of other national symbols, the national anthem is intangible, and the lack of transient makes it stronger towards the emotional attachment. Negaraku also faces the same problem as there is a lack of understanding regarding the significance of the national anthem as a symbol of national identity. The continuous issues of contempt regarding Negaraku from 1957 until 2022 show the lack of understanding of the anthem itself as a symbol of national identity. Therefore, this paper aims to emphasize the significance of Negaraku as a symbol of national identity as a foundation of knowledge for fellow citizens about Malaysia. An integrative literature review is used to analyze the significance of Negaraku towards national identity discussion. The analysis will review various sources of relevant information from international and local references which cover books, journals, websites as well as newspaper cutting. Based on the analysis drawn it proves that Negaraku textual structures indicate a direct interpretation of national identity through historical and cultural elements in political and economic perspectives. In conclusion, the conceptual discussion through Negaraku contextual analysis can widen the social sciences area through anthemology studies in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing nutritional status in older people is essential to screen for malnutrition and identify the individuals requiring nutritional intervention for a better quality of life and longer life expectancy. This review aimed to investigate malnutrition and the role of nutritional assessment tools among older people in Malaysia. We systematically reviewed the publications from 2000 to 2019 using PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus databases, recovering 15 original articles published until January 2022. This systematic review was conducted from May to September 2022. Two reviewers were involved in the process of the selection of articles and data extraction. Only research papers on malnutrition among older people in institutionalized settings in Malaysia were included. Four articles related to malnutrition in older people in old folk homes in Malaysia were included in this review. The tools with the most significant evidence were Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and Nutritional Health Checklist (NHC) in residential care for the elderly. It was found that the incidence of malnutrition among the elderly in old folk homes in Malaysia ranged from 12.3% to 17.4%. Meanwhile, 40.4% to 57.7% of the population are documented to be at risk of malnutrition. NA and DETERMINE NHC were found to be most suitable for use in residential care due to their high sensitivity and specificity. A subsequent study is proposed to build and implement a scoring system to rate screening tools based on the validity, suitability, and practicability of the tools to help with malnutrition screening research and clinical practice in Malaysia and internationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Malaysia has recorded a sporadic increase in vaccine-preventable diseases in many different states such as Johor, Perak, Selangor, and Sabah, to name a few. What is more worrying was the drastic drop in vaccination for children especially the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination during the early period of COVID- 19 pandemic in 2020. On this basis, this paper is intended to interrogate why vaccine uptake has decreased over the years. When vaccination became a global concern with the surge of COVID-19 cases in the first quarter of 2020, further questions were posed to understand the reality behind vaccine rejections and refusals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study employs a focus group discussion and in-depth interviews to explore the vaccine refusal phenomenon in Malaysia. Theoretical sampling led to the recruitment of participants from health institution, media organisation, and vaccine refusal individuals as they are useful to provide different yet connected insights into the phenomenon under study. RESULTS: Under the constructivist-interpretivist paradigm, grounded theory revealed that micro and macro factors jointly contribute to vaccination refusals. CONCLUSIONS: Considering these factors, this study suggests the importance of health literacy and synergised policies to protect, educate, and guide society on vaccine-related matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptive seating orthosis (ASO) for Cerebral Palsy (CP) patients in Malaysia mostly are imported, highly expensive for the bottom millions, bulky and complicated design structure, and not accommodating users' preferences. Through a study involving 10 CP patients with their parents/guardians in Malaysia, the goal of this paper is to re-assess the design needs of CP's orthotic in ASO design. The purpose of the study is to identify the difficulties, as well as the ergonomic and functional problems, in caring for CP patients with the current ASO. The result of the study revealed several of the problems that parents/guardians face while taking care of the CP patient, mainly caused by technical flaws in the current ASO design. Therefore, a few design criteria have been proposed to solve the addressed problems. The contribution of this study will help as a preference for the improvement and development of ASO design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pangasius nasutus is a freshwater fish that has become one of the major economic sources for fish farmers in Pahang River, Malaysia. Effective aquaculture and conservation P. nasutus depends on the understanding of their gut composition, feeding habits, and gut microbiome. Pangasius nasutus in their natural habitat mostly consume a variety of food sources, including zooplankton, aquatic insects, and crustaceans. The advances in metagenomic sequencing technologies have made it possible to examine gut bacteria by examining hypervariable areas of 16S rDNA for prokaryotes and 18S for eukaryotes through cloning and transferring biologically produced DNA into a bacterial host. In recent times, significant attention has been directed towards nutritional manipulation and the modification of gut microbiota to align with the requirements of aquaculture, all the while aiming to preserve the health and welfare of the host. This paper intends to review the gut content and feeding behavior of Pangasius sp. that will be contributed to the local fish farmer for their breeding and production of high-quality P. nasutus in a short period of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religious tolerance is an important element in developing the balance and harmony of Malaysia's pluralistic society. Despite this, there are still some irresponsible parties that continuously advocate sensitive issues, especially religious rights, that cause intolerance in society. This situation has contributed to the generation of negative impacts on interreligious relationships among the communities in Malaysia. Thus, this paper aims to discuss the religious tolerance framework for Muslim and non-Muslim relations in Malaysia. This study uses qualitative methods and a phenomenological research design. The goal of the phenomenological approach is to understand the subject of the study through their views and perspectives. The information from this interview is the main data for this research. A total of 13 representatives and experts from each major religion in Malaysia, namely Islamic, Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist (represented by mufti academics, scholars, and religious leaders), were involved as informants for this study. The interview method conducted with 13 religious representatives in Malaysia will be analysed to get their perceptions on the formation of religious tolerance guidelines in Malaysia. This study found that in the context of the conceptual understanding of religious tolerance, Muslim and non-Muslim communities emphasise three main values: respect, forgiveness, and doing good deeds. They understand that religious tolerance means adhering to one’s own religion, respecting the religious beliefs of others, and being willing to forgive and do good deeds for those of different religions. This form of understanding of the meaning of tolerance refutes the concept of religious pluralism, which promotes the idea of unity among all religions as a way to establish religious tolerance in a society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive review and proposes prospective research directions for the establishment of a patient-centered hospital in Malaysia that aligns with the principles of maqasid syariah. The integration of maqasid syariah, which encompasses the higher objectives and goals of Islamic law, with patient-centered care aims to create a healthcare environment that prioritizes the well-being and needs of patients while adhering to Islamic ethical principles. The review encompasses an analysis of the key principles of maqasid syariah, including the preservation of life, human dignity, justice, and holistic well-being. These research directions encompass various aspects, including healthcare facility design, communication strategies, equitable access to care, ethical considerations, and the integration of spirituality in healthcare. The outcomes of this research are expected to contribute to the advancement of healthcare practices in Malaysia by integrating Islamic values and patient-centered care principles in developing a framework that can be done in future. The proposed patient-centered hospital will not only provide high-quality care but also ensure the preservation of life, uphold human dignity, promote justice, and address the holistic wellbeing of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aligning with global evidence related to migrants and COVID-19, the pandemic highlighted and exposed long-standing structural inequities in the context of migrant populations in Malaysia who experienced a disproportionate level of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 morbidity, as well as exacerbated precarity during COVID-19 owing to disruptions to their livelihoods, health, and life. Main body: Focusing on COVID-19 and migrant workers in Malaysia, this review addresses two research queries: (i) what are the policy responses of the government toward migrants with regard to COVID-19? (ii) what are the lessons learned from the Malaysian experience of COVID-19 and migrants that can inform pandemic preparedness, especially regarding migrant health policy? The review used Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework refined by Levac, Colquhoun, and O'Brien. In addition to the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCO databases, and Malaysian English language newspapers, including the Malay Mail, Malaysiakini, and the New Straits Times, the search also included reports from the websites of government ministries and departments, such as the Immigration Department, Ministry of Human Resources, Ministry of Health, and the International Trade and Industry Ministry. Conclusion: Using the case example of Malaysia and the policy approach toward migrant populations in Malaysia during the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020 and 2021, this paper unravels complex pathways and inter-linkages between the contexts of migration and health which coalesced to engender and exacerbate vulnerability to disease and ill-health for the migrant workers. The lack of coordination and coherence in policies addressing migrant workers during the pandemic, the normalization of cheap and disposable labor in neoliberal economic regimes, and the securitization of migration were key factors contributing to the failure of migration policies to provide protection to migrant workers during COVID-19. The review suggests that policy approaches embodying the principles of Health in All Policies, a whole-of-society approach, and the promotion of safe, just, and regular migration, predicated on equity and inclusion, are integral to a comprehensive and effective response to pandemics such as COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quality in healthcare is a fundamental pillar of health systems performance, leading to improved health outcomes and reduced waste. The World Health Organization recommends that countries establish a national quality policy and strategy (NQPS) to steer the provision of safe and high-performing healthcare services and foster a quality culture. This paper describes the development process and key content of Malaysia's new 5-year National Policy for Quality in Healthcare. Methods: The development process was managed by a technical working group led by the Institute for Health Systems Research in the Ministry of Health. Situational analysis was conducted through a multi-pronged approach, underpinned by a review of the past and present healthcare sectoral and quality plans and guided by the WHO NQPS framework. This approach involved: (i) review of quality-related policy documents, (ii) online surveys of healthcare providers and the public, (iii) key-informant facilitated discussions and (iv) mapping of existing quality improvement initiatives (QIIs). Data gathered from these approaches informed the content of the new policy. Following thematic analysis, the findings were grouped into specific domains, which were then organized into a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) framework. Results: Ten key areas of concern identified were (i) a people-centred holistic approach, (ii) governance for quality, (iii) resources, (iv) quality culture, (v) stakeholder engagement, (vi) health management information system, (vii) workforce competency, (viii) knowledge exchange, (ix) quality indicators and (x) monitoring and evaluation of quality activities. These led to the formulation of seven strategic priorities for the planning of improvements aimed at addressing the key areas of concern. The national definition of quality was affirmed. A total of 40 QIIs were mapped and grouped into three broad categories, namely (i) regulatory, (ii) domain-specific QIIs and (iii) Quality Improvement (QI) method. Conclusions: The National Policy for Quality in Healthcare for Malaysia was developed through a comprehensive situational analysis using a multi-method approach that identified priorities across national, state, institutional and community levels. This evidence-informed approach led to meaningful contextual adaptation of the NQPS framework to shape the strategic direction to advance quality and achieve effective and safe outcomes for all Malaysians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional bitumen pavement is no longer suitable for handling increasing loads and weather variations, which cause road deterioration, Thus, the modification of bitumen has been suggested to counter this issue. This study provides a detailed assessment of various additives for modifying natural rubber-modified bitumen used in road construction. This work will focus on the use of additives with cup lump natural rubber (CLNR), which has recently started to gain attention among researchers, especially in rubber-producing countries such as Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Furthermore, this paper aims to briefly review how the addition of additives or modifiers helps elevate the performance of bitumen by highlighting the significant properties of modified bitumen after the addition of modifiers. Moreover, the amount and method of application of each additive are discussed further to obtain the optimum value for future implementation. On the basis of past studies, this paper will review the utilisation of several types of additives, including polyphosphoric acid, Evotherm, mangosteen powder, trimethyl-quinoline and sulphur, and the application of xylene and toluene to ensure the homogeneity of the rubberised bitumen. Numerous studies were conducted to verify the performance of various types and compositions of additives, particularly in terms of physical and rheological properties. In general, additives enhance the properties of conventional bitumen. Future research should investigate CLNR because studies on its utilisation are limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The halalan toyyiba is a comprehensive concept brought by Islam. According to this concept, the source of consumption must be clean and pure. Every source point, from the initial production process and methods to the final management, such as waste disposal methods, must be taken into account to meet the requirements of the halalan toyyiba. The present time sees water-based use increasingly widespread in daily life. Strictly speaking, the concept of sharia-compliant halalan toyyiba in water use, such as agriculture and farming, still needs to be seriously discussed. Therefore, the issue of sharia-compliant halalan toyyiba in water use is significant to study and draw up a sharia-compliant guide for the Malaysian community, especially the Muslims. This concept coincides with the country's national agenda, namely the National Halal Hub Policy. The main objective of this paper is to study the idea of halalan toyyiba in the management of domestic water in Malaysia. This paper is based on qualitative methods. Fatwa-based resources, scholarly publications, journals, and as such, will be analyzed and summarized descriptively to produce a conclusion that answers the paper's objectives. The findings show that the fundamental concept of sharia-compliant halalan toyyiba regarding domestic water management in Malaysia has yet to be fully implemented. Therefore, this policy must be executed precisely in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the entire distribution of stock market returns/volatility in five emerging markets (ASEAN5) and figures out the conditional distribution of the CHI_EPU index. The aim is to examine the impact of CHI_EPU on the stock returns/volatility density of ASEAN5 markets. It also examined whether changes in CHI_EPU explain returns at higher or lower points (abnormal returns). This paper models the behaviour of stock returns from March 2011 to June 2018 using a non-parametric conditional density estimation approach. The results indicate that CHI_EPU diminishes stock returns and augments volatility in ASEAN5 markets, except for Malaysia, where it affects stock returns positively. The possible reason for this positive impact is that EPU is not the leading factor reducing Malaysian stock returns; but, other forces, such as dependency on other countries' stock markets and global factors, may have a positive impact on stock returns (Bachmann and Bayer, 2013). Thus, the risk of simultaneous investment in Chinese and ASEAN5 stock markets, except Malaysia, is high. Further, the degree of this influence intensifies at extreme high/low intervals (positive/negative tails). The findings of this study have significant implications for investors, policymakers, market agents, and analysts of ASEAN5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the history of the Singapore Girls' Buddhist Institute, the first and only modern Buddhist education institution for women in Singapore and Malaysia. This paper aims to explore a dynamic transregional Buddhist network constructed by nuns, vegetarian nuns, and laywomen, with a particular emphasis on the prominent female figures and religious women communities involved. Through an analysis of the movements and religious practices of the Buddhist women community, the author demonstrates the contributions of Buddhist women to the transmission of religious knowledge and modern experiences. It is this paper's intention that the micro-history of the case could contribute to restaging the women-centered Buddhist community in the narrative of "South China Sea Buddhism". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since consumers are focusing more on environmental sustainability, researchers are also becoming interested in studying the behaviour of such consumers. This study carried out a bibliometric analysis of green product and the purchase behavior of consumers starting from 1992 to 2021. The Scopus database was searched to find the most cited papers, prolific authors, countries, and institutions related to green product purchase behaviour. The purpose of this study is to provide a bibliometric analysis of green product related literature. The study utilized the Boolean search technique to retrieve the publications from 1992 to 2021 related to perception, awareness, attitude, and purchase intention of consumers towards green products. Number of 764 research paper studies were extracted to give instructive and delegate points of view of the information. The outcomes of the bibliometric analysis shown that most publications on green branding were published in 2018. The most recognised study is titled 'Pro-environmental products: marketing influence on consumer buying decision.' Chung-Shing Chan of The Chinese University of Hong Kong is recognised the most popular writer on green branding. Journal of Cleaner Production and Sustainability have published the most literature on green products. Moreover, this study provides information on significant journals, authors, institutions, and countries on the topic of environmental sustainability and green research. Further, this study documented that developing countries dominated the publication of research on green products. In terms of higher education institutions, Malaysia and China took the lead in publishing of green product related research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaysia has great geo-economic advantages, especially in becoming a major logistics and investment hub. However, as operational risk events create uncertainties, logistics companies suffer from supply and demand issues which affect their bottom lines, customer satisfaction and reputations. This is a pioneer paper to propose the optimization of the efficiency of listed logistics companies in Malaysia with operational risk factor using a data envelopment analysis (DEA) model. The basic indicator approach (BIA) is used as an output indicator for the operational risk capital requirement factor in the proposed model. This paper has practical and managerial implications with the identification of potential improvements for the inefficient listed logistics companies based on the optimal solution of the DEA model. This proposed model can be applied in emerging fields such as finance and project-based construction companies, where operational risk is a high concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]