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Papermaking has been an important craft of Southeast Asia for seven hundred years. Malaysia's rainforests offer the mengkirai tree as an unexplored material for papermaking. Papers made from the bast fibres of the mengkirai bark have enough tensile strength, elasticity and flexibility for making hand-made fine art papers for drawing and painting. These papers are ideal for a wide range of art media including pencil, charcoal, acrylic and ink. Moreover, their surfaces provide tonal variations with different drawing and painting techniques. This study shows that art papers manufactured from the mengkirai are durable products for Malaysian artists and art students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose was successfully extracted from wastepaper with a pre-treatment using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrochloric acid (HCl). The cellulose was then used to fabricate two types of hydrogels: cellulose/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and cellulose/CMC/glycerol. Epichlorohydrin, an ECH solution was used as a cross-linker for the fabrication of both types of hydrogels. NaOH/urea/ultrapure water (NU) solutions were used to dissolve all the materials needed for the formation of hydrogels. The attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) showed the presence of hydroxyl group (O-H), hydrocarbon group (C-H) and carbonyl group (C=O) stretching. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed different porosities for both types of hydrogels, while the equilibrium swelling, swellingeq of cellulose/CMC/PVA hydrogels were better compared to the cellulose/CMC/glycerol hydrogels. The highest swellingeq was found for the cellulose/CMC/PVA hydrogel (3/3/4 ratio), CCP334 with 6.33 g/g, while the lowest swellingeq (g/g) was obtained from the cellulose/CMC/glycerol hydrogel (3/2/5 ratio), CCG325 with 1.49 g/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population of the tropical bed bug Cimex hemipterus (F.) (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), a temporary ectoparasite on both humans and animals, have surged in many tropical countries. Tropical bed bugs preferences when selecting a suitable harbourage and oviposition site were investigated. Two-choice and three choice colour assays were conducted to determine whether bed bugs will choose black, red or white coloured harbourages. Then, 50 1st instar were reared in containers containing black, red and white (control) paper served as the harbourages and observed for 12 weeks. Both fed and starve male, female and nymph strongly preferred red and black coloured harbourage compared to white coloured harbourage. Oviposition assays showed that female bed bugs prefered to laid their eggs on red coloured harbourages compared to black coloured harbourages. Rearing experiment showed that there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between final population size of tropical bed bug. However, tropical bed bugs reared in container with red paper (600 ± 89.238) have the highest number of individuals followed by black (473 ± 133.841) and white (485 ± 84.234) paper. Bed bug preference towards coloured harbourage provide useful information for those developing new bed bug control method or improving bed bug infestation monitoring devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper highlighted the annual distribution, seasonality and reproduction status of two species of sea turtles in Negeri Sembilan, Peninsular Malaysia between January 2016 and July 2020 (55 months). These data were officially provided by the Department of Fisheries Malaysia (Negeri Sembilan’s state), as a part of a conservation effort made by them to protect the endangered species, as the turtle’s population residing in Negeri Sembilan is one of the smallest in Malaysia. Current status shows that the hawksbill turtles, Eretmochelys Imbricata population in Negeri Sembilan is in stable decline with an average of <30 nests per year, and an average of <10 nests per year for the green turtle, Chelonia mydas. The overall sum was 122 nests collected for both species from 2016–2020. This paper updated the status of the hawksbill and green turtle after 30 years from the first study recorded by Mortimer et al. in 1993. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed-based oil has been identified as a viable alternative insulating fluid and a number of vegetable oils has been studied for that purpose. Among the seed-based oils studied is Jatropha oil which was reported to have suitable breakdown strength for high voltage application. However, most of the reports did not study the ageing characteristics of the oil and its compatibility with cellulose insulation. In this present study, the properties and ageing behaviour of a freshly prepared Jatropha oil and its compatibility with cellulose insulation paper were evaluated. The oil was purified through modified Dijkstra and Opstal purification method. The thermo-physical and dielectric studies of the oil was performed and thermal ageing of Kraft paper in the prepared ester fluid was performed. Thermally accelerated ageing was performed with an open beaker containing ageing catalysts, thermally upgraded insulation paper, and the fluid at 140°C for 120, 240, 360 and 480 h. Jatropha oil is a high temperature fluid with high specific heat capacity of 2.59 kJ kg-1 K and low dielectric loss of 0.009. The oil became polymerised with ageing in open cup. This may be due to thermo-oxidative degradation of the oil that progressed with ageing time. This is an indication that the oil is not suitable for use in free breathing power equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to review the empirical literature on value relevance of audit reports by providing current evidence on the market reaction to modified audit opinions (MAOs). This study is motivated by the argument that recent research has resolved the research designs problems raised by the pre-2010 studies that resulted in unmitigated and contradictory results. We adopt a systematic literature review based on the guidelines presented by Kitchenham et al. in 2009 to review papers published between 2010 and 2020. The main findings of our review show sufficient evidence that MAOs are indeed useful to investors in making decisions in developed countries, which is evidenced by the fact that the MAOs have a negative effect on the share prices of companies. In contrast, evidence from studies conducted in developing countries shows null market reaction to MAOs, with the exception of the Chinese market, which shows a significant reaction. The methodological limitations and alternative causes behind the null market reaction to MAOs of studies conducted in developing countries are discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores issues with defining teacher leadership and this causes confusion with research on middle leadership. After providing a definition of middle leadership, four major reviews of teacher leadership and an international research project on teacher leadership are described in terms of how teacher leadership is defined. It is shown that in most definitions of teacher leadership there is considerable overlap with middle leadership research and because of this there is a lack of clarity about what is being researched. A leadership influence model is described which provides a way to distinguish between school leadership based on positional power and personal connectiveness. Importantly, this can provide a distinction between teacher and middle leadership that has greater clarity and distinctiveness than current definitions, and potentially it could unify the study of teacher, middle, principal and distributed leadership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. This is achieved by using algorithms and neural networks for machine learning (ML) and deep learning. ChatGPT is an AI-powered chatbot that can generate responses on any topic based on the user's input or queries. In this review, the focus is on the potential applications of generative AI and ChatGPT in the fields of medical and health professions education. It is important to educate both educators and students about the impact of using generative AI, such as ChatGPT, which is widely used through generative adversarial networks (GANs). In the field of healthcare, GANs can analyse vast datasets to assist in diagnosis, patient data management, and analysis. Students use ChatGPT to obtain factual answers, write papers and translate languages. It can help students with their assignments by summarising literature reviews and generating new ideas. In medical education, educators use ChatGPT to develop learning activities, assessments, and curricula, enhance student learning, and even generate research papers for publication. However, students need to use generative AI carefully so that it does not impede their ability to think critically or write effectively. Guidelines are being formulated in different institutions to regulate the use of this immensely powerful tool. This review could highlight the scope of incorporating ChatGPT into the field of medical education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

November 8th to 12th, 2011, marked the first targeted gathering of people involved in researching, managing, and developing underwater cultural heritage (UCH) in the Asia-Pacific region. Since then, the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage (APCONF) has been convened every three years, providing a unique opportunity to bring together members of government agencies, universities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), intergovernmental organisations (IGOs), museums, the private sector, and the wider community. Participants from over 35 countries have attended the conference, making it a truly international endeavour. The APCONF was created in part to promote awareness of UCH on a wider scale. As such, one of the primary directives of the inaugural conference was to ensure that all papers presented would be recorded in full in the official conference proceedings, so as to establish an ongoing archive of the critical work being done in this region. This article will examine the wider benefits of creating this regional network through the APCONF, arguing that it provides an important venue for face-to-face networking that can lead to additional collaborations, and contributes to the understanding of how the conference may evolve in the future. The fact that the APCONF is not tied to a specific membership base provides not only unusual flexibility but also financial and infrastructural unsurety. The conference is organised by a group of dedicated volunteers and funded almost entirely by donations. As we stop to consider the first decade of the APCONF's achievements, we also need to determine the best ways to ensure its sustainable future success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Educators & Education / Jurnal Pendidik dan Pendidikan is the property of Universiti Sains Malaysia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Between 2010 to 2020, the global media generally had a very positive view of the voluntary migration schemes or humanitarian refugee visas promised by their Pacific allies (e.g., Australia and New Zealand). However, the actual implementation of climate migrants' relocation tells a different story, particularly in the case of I-Kiribati people. This paper examines Australian and New Zealand's governmental policies of immigration for the Pacific islanders over the last two decades. Drawing on a decolonial theoretical approach inspired by Jonathan Pugh, David Chandler and Elizabeth DeLoughrey, in conjunction with Prem Kumar Rajaram's post-Marxist migrant economy theory, this paper argues that the Australian and New Zealand governments ultimately only paid lip service to humanitarian aid for climate displaced people. In fact, the proposed schemes for I-Kiribati people or other Pacific climate migrants ultimately serve to convert the migrant populations into the host country's labour force, of use for its neoliberal economy. The second half of the paper turns to an analysis of an award-winning climate documentary produced by a Canadian film maker, Matthieu Rytz. Rytz's Anote's Ark (2018) aligns with the "migrating with dignity" policy proposed by the former I-Kiribati president, Anote Tong. Bringing in Malcom Ferdinand's decolonial analysis of the figure of Noah's ark in the climate discourse, the paper problematises the general political consensus advanced by this particular type of contemporary climate documentary and challenges the feasibility of the "migrating with dignity" approach. Most importantly, it questions whether climate migrants can truly build a future with dignity in their host country if they are conditioned to supply the migrant labour market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of the golden ratio and the development and the theory for the golden ratio in modern science have witnessed the use of the ratio across many fields, including business, economics and finance. However, the ratio has rarely been used in solving corporate problems, such as fundamental analysis and capital structure decisions. To bridge the gap in the literature, in this paper, we examine the role of the golden ratio in deciding the capital structure and its effect on the firm's financial performance and market acceptance for the manufacturing and services sector listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange for the period from 2010 to 2019. In our analysis, we find a significant association between the deviation from the capital structure and the variation of the firm's financial performance and market acceptance by using the golden ratio. The empirical findings of this study suggest that the golden ratio is an efficient tool for measuring capital structure and is useful for firms to boost financial performance and market acceptance. In general, the findings in our paper suggest financial managers of both the manufacturing and services sectors use a 38.2% ratio of equity and 61.8% of debt at the capital structure level. To the best of our knowledge, no prior studies in the literature have examined the role of the golden ratio in deciding an optimal level of capital structure in Pakistan. Therefore, our paper has a significant contribution to the existing literature, and the empirical findings of the study are found strong and more evident for manufacturing than the services sector. Moreover, the findings in our paper also suggest managers in Pakistan apply the aforementioned percentage of debt and equity in capital structure level subject to performance measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cohesion is deemed an indispensable component of writing, contributing to both the organisation of texts as well as the reader’s comprehension of the content. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the utilisation of discourse features in the academic writing of students. It specifically focuses on the cohesive devices employed by students and their level of awareness regarding cohesion and coherence. The research was conducted in the Dhanbad district, with a particular emphasis on technical students studying English for specific purposes. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the topic, this study also reviewed and analysed previous research that explored the usage of cohesive devices and the relationship between cohesion frequency and high-quality writing. This background research provided valuable insights into the existing body of knowledge and helped establish a foundation for the present study. The data analysis demonstrates that students possess the ability to incorporate various cohesive devices into their writing, indicating their awareness of discourse features. However, their usage is somewhat limited due to a restricted repertoire of discourse markers, which affected the range and diversity of cohesive devices employed in their writing. Overall, the paper sheds light on the significance of cohesion in academic writing, emphasising its role in organising texts and facilitating reader comprehension. It highlights the current state of students’ awareness and usage of cohesive devices in their writing, providing valuable insights for educators and curriculum developers to enhance students’ proficiency in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the host range of Cassytha filiformis L. in the heath forests using six 50-metre transects. Sixteen shrubs and tree species were infected by C. filiformis vines, including two exotic Acacia species. This paper also examined the density and vigour of C. filiformis when infecting the two most preferred and common hosts, the heath native Dillenia suffruticosa (Griff. ex Hook. f. and Thomson) Martelli, and the invasive Acacia mangium Willd. The results suggested that C. filiformis has higher vigour when infecting native hosts than in exotic A. mangium albeit being not statistically significant. The long thread-like stems of parasite were present at relatively high density when infecting A. mangium, regardless of the host conditions. We also assessed the functionality of the haustoria on both D. suffruticosa and A. mangium using histological methods. It was found that C. filiformis can establish a true haustorial endophytic connection with studied hosts. Under controlled conditions, C. filiformis pose as a possible candidate for a biological control agent of A. mangium to curtail the fast spreading of this introduced species in tropical Borneo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Bermulanya Di Sini...Kedah Tua" demonstrates a historical data interpretation of the Kedah Tua early society at Sungai Batu within the artistic context of stage performance demonstrating series of dance and stage act. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the props making process for the stage performance from a designer-maker point of view, by demonstrating the philosophy of body movements and the connection to object designs in space. Furthermore, the props making encompasses the imitation and construction of two scaled building artefacts which are the ancient iron smelting furnace and the circular ritual monument that significantly embodies the early civilisation of Kedah Tua society between the 2nd and 6th CE. The research-design team has successfully constructed the ancient buildings' props using wire structured paper maché technique and Styrofoam sheets assembling in various scaled sizes. In order to accommodate the performance need on the stage, the modular concept have been introduced in the design of the props by embedding the elements of object's practicality, portability and, easy assembling and disassembling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A notable attribute of the empirical studies on monetary rules is that few published articles rely on the normative evaluation in eliminating unwanted economic uncertainty. To prevail over this shortcoming, this paper introduces the optimal mitigation of economic uncertainty and determines its applicability through a sample of 14 selected countries. Using the combination of the theoretically derived optimal mitigation of economic uncertainty with the empirical estimations leads to specific monetary rules. The findings of this paper provide some policy implications; the optimal mitigation of economic uncertainty can characterise the optimal use of the interest rate and exchange rate to eliminate economic uncertainty and serve as a monetary policy guide in the adjustment process to restore macroeconomic conditions of the equilibrium that eventually promote the best macroeconomic outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently most of the aerogel-based drug delivery carriers are made from non-biodegradable materials, such as silica. In this study, highly porous cellulose aerogels with Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface areas that varied between 22 m2 g-1 and 525 m2 g-1 were prepared from a sugarcane bagasse cellulose solution of various concentrations. The potential utility of cellulose aerogels as controlled release carriers was evaluated by loading methylene blue (MB) as a model hydrophilic drug. The MB loading capacity and release kinetic profiles of cellulose aerogels were observed to be substantially influenced by their BET surface areas. Under optimum conditions, a maximum loading capacity of 6.4 mg MB mg-1 cellulose aerogel was achieved with sustained release of MB from cellulose aerogels at physiological pH over a period of 23 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurship must necessarily involve actions under uncertainties. How is opportunity discovered and perceived that will eventually trigger and stimulate entrepreneurial action? An ongoing conversation in entrepreneurship concerns the clumsiness in the definition of opportunity - whether discovered or created, objective or subjective. Can opportunity exist independently, as a pre-existing object, even without being observed by any actors? Or is opportunity subjectively and socially constructed? Are they real or artificial? This paper articulates opportunity as a holographic representation that provides cues and signals to alert entrepreneurs to act. We attempt to explain how opportunity-as-hologram inspires and motivates entrepreneurial action. The proposed opportunity-as-hologram construct (or holographic opportunity) is representationally valuable as it embraces the various definitional variations and clarifies the opportunity concepts underpinning entrepreneurship. Central to this paper are the re-casted perspectives on opportunities by addressing the major conceptual issues at the core of entrepreneurship theories. The three views - discovery, creation, and actualisation of opportunities - can be valid and mutually non-exclusive in holographic terms. This paper explores implicate and explicate orders and quantum theory concepts theorised by physicist David Bohm. This conceptual construct of holographic opportunity contributes to the ongoing dialogues on the opportunity, improves the conceptual clarity of opportunity, and opens new research and practice possibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigated the relationship between cryptocurrencies and emerging stock market indices using fractional integration and co-integration technique. Particularly, fractional integration is applied to examine stochastic properties of individual assets and fractional cointegration to analyse bivariate connectedness. Our findings unveil the absence of mean reversion in majority cases which indicates high persistence in series. Furthermore, bivariate analysis reveals disconnection between cryptocurrencies prices and stock indices. Surprisingly, a different picture emerges on using conditional volatility instead of prices. Like, conditional volatility-based estimation uncovers evidence of mean reversion in univariate analysis as expected. There is some evidence of cointegration on volatility grounds between cryptocurrencies and emerging stock market indices. Our findings implies that investment decision regarding digital currencies should be taken cautiously. As cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile with high degree of persistence which can make them counterproductive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review article analysed and evaluated the current literature on sustainable educational technology in higher-education institutions (HEI). University stakeholders aspire to have any educational technologies employed be sustainable beyond short-term solutions. Identifying these sustainable factors requires reviews of recent studies, particularly with the insightful experience of the recent pandemic. Unfortunately, systematic reviews on sustainability were few and focused more on specific modalities. Hence, this present study reviewed past studies (published between 2015 and 2021) to identify the types of educational technology or modality being studied on the aspects of sustainability, the topic of interests that contribute to the challenges in online learning, and the themes and subthemes that are critical to the sustainable use of online education. Guided by the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and metaanalyses (PRISMA) to review five journal databases (Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science (WoS), Emerald and Google Scholar), 44 articles were analysed systematically. Four themes emerged from the analysis: technology related, teaching and learning, ethical aspects, and instructional support, as well as 12 subthemes. A conceptual framework was proposed, and other recommendations were discussed at the end of the paper for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports an empirical study on the practice and effectiveness of online EFL teaching during COVID-19. Teachers had to shift to an online mode of teaching very suddenly with no previous experience and without much preparation. Their practices and effectiveness were investigated using the Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) theoretical model as the framework. A mixed method research design was planned and carried out in Bangladeshi universities using a web-based survey and indepth interviews. Data from 50 university English teachers highlight the need for a student-oriented perspective in teacher education and the creation of online teaching-based teacher development programmes (TDP) to enhance students' experiential learning in online platforms, in line with the 'learning technology by design' approach. More importantly, the element of "Context" (XK) and "Classroom Management Knowledge" (CMK) have emerged as important 'new' tenets of TPACK. Hence, a revised version of TPACK is suggested. Further research and discussions are advocated before it could be established and propagated as an acceptable version of TPACK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary school teachers in Thailand are encouraged to use English as a language of instruction across all curriculum areas in their classrooms, not just in English lessons. However, many non-English major teachers who teach in rural schools struggle to deliver lessons in English due to the lack of professional knowledge and ongoing support for English language usage. This paper considers the experiences of non-English major teachers working in rural schools in Thailand who participated in a coaching and mentoring program to support their motivation and confidence to use English as a language of instruction. A participatory case study research design was used for this study, which included classroom observations and semi-structured interviews with teacher-participants before, during and after the coaching and mentoring program. Some of the key challenges that arose included the use of Thai as a language of instruction, lack of resources and support for the use of English as a language of instruction, lack of clarity in school policies and the limited availability of professional learning for teachers in rural schools. There is an urgent need for additional professional learning support for teachers, especially those working in rural schools, to ensure success of the Thai government's policy aim to make English available as a language of instruction in all primary schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of this study is to examine the trends and significant findings regarding educational drama in teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a Second Language (ESL) classrooms. This study analysed educational drama techniques literature in English language teaching published in international databases, Web of Science, EBSCO and Science Direct from 2012 to 2022. A bibliometric systematic review was conducted, yielding a total of 44 papers. Then, the authors, journals of publishing and language skills were recognised. An inductive content analysis distinguished two main research themes: linguistic and non-linguistic skills. The findings suggest that educational drama techniques should be adopted and adapted to enhance and integrate the four linguistic skills; speaking, listening, reading and writing. Furthermore, educational drama techniques have been proven to boost non-linguistic skills (social, emotional, motivation and learner autonomy). However, the undeniable benefits of drama in the educational process, both generally and in the fields of EFL and ESL, are still limited to a few countries where authors have experimented with its merits and drawbacks. Nevertheless, it is expected to spread worldwide in the coming years, increasing its reach and impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing ethical infringements, moral violations, and disciplinary problems among employees point to the deteriorations in employee values. Hiring employees merely on common competency-based recruitment (CBR) versus value-based recruitment (VBR) ignores the critical role of values in guiding employee behaviours, thus contributing further to the problems. This study involves a qualitative approach using NVivo text analysis tool to analyse texts and word frequency from 44 references, including 35 journal articles, six policy papers, two books or book chapters and one conference proceedings. The results show that Public Sector ICT Management Review was the top journal with the highest coverage of the study's main themes, followed by the Journal of Education for Teaching, the Human Resource Management Review, and the Advances in Health Science Education indicating the importance of the value-based workforce in these four areas of employment (i.e., public sector, education, human resource, and health). The word frequency analysis also shows the five most-used words were "values," "work," "based," "selection," and "recruitment." These findings show that the references used in this study are valid and reliable relevant to the study's main themes. Value-based workforce relates to value-based recruitment -- building a value-based workforce begins with a good recruitment strategy. In the Islamic context, Islamic work values are highly influential and Islamic work-related values have been used as recruitment conditions for hiring employees during the Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) time and the rightly guided caliphs. If incorporated into the value-based model of recruitment, Islamic-related work values could potentially build a value-based workforce. This study has a significant implication to managers especially in finding good employees for the success of the organisation. Recruiting employees through value based recruitment and selection is believed could reduce many work-related issues and improve organisational effectiveness. This study adds to the body of knowledge on value-based hiring by incorporating theories and Islamic work ideals, which can be used as a guide for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world has changed dramatically since the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. This crisis has put companies under the test for their commitment to moral business conduct and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Facing the challenges for survival as well as financial strains could push firms with difficult choices in their CSR practices. The aim of this study is to explore the impact of CSR activities in building customer trust and company reputation with limited resources in the Covid-19 pandemic context. The paper collected data on latent constructs through a survey of 494 consumers by convenience sample in Vietnam. Confirmatory factor analysis assessed psychometric properties of the constructs, while the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was used to examine posited hypotheses. The results show that economic responsibility has a positive impact on expertise trust; legal responsibility and ethical responsibility positively impact integrity trust; philanthropic responsibility has a positive effect on social benevolence trust. However, only ethical responsibility and philanthropic responsibility can directly influence corporate reputation. In addition, three dimensions of trust strengthen the link between CSR initiatives and company reputation. Among them, social benevolence trust plays the most critical role in creating a reputation. Based on this finding, some management implications are also discussed regarding how corporations can allocate appropriate resources for different CSR activities so that they could leverage benefits from CSR strategy in their business. Moreover, the results obtained open future lines of comparative research on the impact of CSR practices, mediated by trust in corporate reputation, between countries with different cultures and religious beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exchange rate is a crucial macro indicator for any open economy, whereby any change in the rate would influence, to a certain extent, various socioeconomic facets. One of the significant impacts is revealed in the pass-through of exchange rate variations to price inflation, also known as the exchange rate pass-through (ERPT). This paper explores the effect of ERPT on domestic inflation in Vietnam by comparing with other Asian economies. Specifically, pass-through mechanisms are examined for every single price as well as a distribution chain from import price index (IMP), producer price index (PPI) to consumer price index (CPI). The empirical results show that exchange rate shocks positively influence the price changes in Vietnam as well as in other Asian countries. According to Cholesky decomposition, the exchange rate plays a limited role in regulating CPI movements. Besides, world commodity prices are found to have a significant impact on domestic inflation across the sample-countries. Our findings reveal profound implications for monetary policy management and price stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gender socialisation process will form and affect the career choices of children when they grow up. As a result, certain careers are considered appropriate only for a certain gender. However, this scenario of gender dominated career is now loosened. Currently, there are men who work as nurses, secretaries, and bridal beauticians. This study examines the factors that influence Malay, Muslim Malaysian men to work in two careers generally dominated by women, which are nurse and "pak andam" (Malay bridal beautician and consultant). Using a case study qualitative approach, the author investigated the factors that influence male nurses (N = 14) and "pak andam" (N = 5) to work in occupations generally considered to be the main domain of women in Malaysia's culture. Data from semi-structured interviews revealed that the reason why men become male nurses is mainly caused by external factors, which are family obedience, financial disadvantage, and religious obligation. However, during their journey in becoming nurses, they developed their passion for nursing. In contrast, the males who become "pak andam" do so mainly because of personal factors, which is their interest in beauty and fashion. This paper will further discuss the participants' experiences from the context of Malay Muslim culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the relationship between monetary independence and its potential determinants -- foreign exchange reserves, exchange rate stability, financial integration and inflation. This paper contributes to the literature by testing the threshold effect of the degree of financial integration on the relation between monetary independence and foreign exchange reserves. In particular, a linear model and a threshold model are compared using average cross-sectional data from 55 countries. The linear model shows that foreign exchange reserves increase monetary independence. Nonetheless, the threshold estimation indicates that foreign exchange reserves can maintain monetary independence when the degree of financial integration of a country is above a certain threshold value. Such a finding suggests that the relationship between monetary independence and foreign exchange reserves is subject to the degree of financial integration. Moreover, the evidence supports a weakening effect from financial integration to the phenomenon of 'fear of floating'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the relationship between web-based continuous assessment and pen and paper examination scores of students in open and distance education systems using a correlation research design with a sample of 131 purposefully selected students. Using Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) for data analysis, the study revealed no significant relationship between web-based continuous assessment and pen and paper examination scores because of irregularities that usually accompany web-based continuous assessment in open and distance education. The study recommended transparency in handling web-based assessment through appropriate training and supervision. The study, having many implications for academic counselling, also suggested pre-examination group counselling for students before any examination is taken to ensure that students approach examinations reasonably and with the appropriate skills and attitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper investigated the information communication and technology (ICT) literacy index of English as second language (ESL) teachers utilising descriptive-quantitative method of research. This was undertaken by assessing the skills along the areas of ICT integration in pedagogy. Data shows that ESL teachers have moderate to high index along the areas of ICT literacy. Majority are categorised under advanced or merely moderate user of ICT in their pedagogical practice. These areas are along basic skills, software applications, production and data management. Be that as it may, the ESL participants need further upskilling on hardware management and information management. Taking into consideration these results imply that, there are gray areas which need to be unraveled by the department along the computerisation program to realize the purposes of execution. The researcher concludes that ESL teachers possess varying ICT literacy indexes. Given these data, there is a need to give due attention to the concerns of teachers along ICT literacy aspect to achieve optimum efficacy of the Department of Education (DepEd) computerisation programme. Teachers need to be upskilled on the digitalisation of classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lecturing remains a main teaching method in anatomy education, despite being argued as ineffective in promoting understanding and higher-order cognitive skills. Designing and preparing anatomy lecture slides is a challenging task, as anatomy is a content-driven subject that involves complex threedimensional diagrams. Overly wordy, overcrowded slides and poor organisation of text and pictorial materials are among the problems related to anatomy lecture slide preparation. These unorganised and problematic slides impose a high cognitive load on students and thus hinder learning. Hence, this paper elaborates on the strategies for lecture slide preparation that were formerly mentioned by the authors in a lecturing guideline known as the cognitive load theory lecture model. The strategies were organised into seven steps: (a) step 1: select plain background slides; (b) step 2: use headings and subheadings; (c) step 3: use visual cues and signals; (d) step 4: select a proper font type and size; (e) step 5: use text treatment; (f) step 6: choose a suitable colour scheme; and (g) step 7: synchronise all sub-elements. This paper also provides tested examples for each step to facilitate comprehension of the lecture content while applying the strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses presidential elections as the proxy for political uncertainties to investigate the impact of election induced political uncertainties on the relationship between cash holdings and firm value for a sample of non-financial firms from the U.S. The findings suggest that the impact of cash holdings on firm value goes down significantly during the years of presidential elections. This finding, however, is confined only to elections in which both presidential candidates are new and for firms headquartered in the states that have always voted for the Democrat candidates in the presidential elections. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the impact of political uncertainties on the relationship between cash holdings and firm value does not hold for gubernatorial elections. Our results are robust after including number of firm-specific and country-specific control variables and after taking into account potential endogeneity concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of conventional evaluations of cognitive skills (CSs) utilise paper-based or online multiple-choice questions or single best-answer questions. However, examination that uses online simulation of real scenarios has the potential to complement medium-to-high level CSs that make use of the intellectual capabilities of applying, analysing and evaluating complex information. Nevertheless, the reliability of online simulation as an alternative learning and assessment tool for Malaysian pharmacy courses has never been investigated. This paper illustrates online remote simulation-based assessment, its psychometric properties and students' feedback towards this new learning and assessment tool opportunity. A virtual web-based simulation examination consisting of three infectious disease scenarios was administered in an undergraduate pharmacy course to assess physically distanced students for medium-level clinical pharmacy CSs. Students responded through written typed communication to online enquiries from health professionals, patients or caretakers' avatars. Rasch analysis and a feedback survey were employed to measure the reliability of online simulation and to understand students' experiences with the new web-based tool. This study found that the remote simulation examination had good reliability (ir = 0.95, pr = 0.73) for measuring medium-level clinical pharmacy CSs. The students' survey indicates that the web-based simulation activities improved knowledge, engagement and cognitive reasoning. This article contributes to the pharmacy education literature by illustrating how a different type of assessment is feasible and reliable for evaluating students' CSs for final examinations and potentially has equitable opportunities for distance-learning students to enhance their learning capabilities and show their performances. Future research to investigate the potential of remote online simulation examinations for inter-professional learning and assessment is highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, countries in the global South face an unprecedented challenge of holding back the spiralling COVID-19 cases. The challenge has become even more formidable in containing the virus among migrant workers throughout the Arab Gulf countries. This study explores the patterns of COVID-19 infections, identifies the challenges that the major receiving countries have encountered, and finally reviews the governments' responses to contain the infections among migrant workers. Empirically, this research focuses on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, considered a major destination for Southeast Asian and South Asian migrant workers. The study reports that the GCC countries have been relatively successful in containing the pandemic due to governments' proactive measures. The paper identifies several best practices that may be replicated in other migrant-receiving countries in the global South. This paper suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic exposes the need for better accommodation and healthcare policy for migrant workers throughout the Gulf states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic caused unforgiving circumstances, compromising the socioeconomic well-being of migrant workers. In this context, drawing upon qualitative interviews with South Asian male migrant workers in elementary occupations and sales and service roles in Brunei Darussalam, this paper investigates their lived experiences in the country during the pandemic. This paper employs the conceptual lens of diaspora and moral economy, specifically moral remittance, to reveal their connection to their homeland and the ways they demonstrate their responsibility and obligation to their families. Twentythree research participants were recruited via purposive and snowball sampling techniques, and the interview data were audio-recorded and transcribed before the data analysis. Adopting Clarke and Braun's (2013) phases of thematic analysis, the interview data were rigorously analysed through the meaning-making process and to explore new themes that underscore the distinctive contribution of the local environment to the lived experiences of the participants. Three prominent themes that capture their experience during the pandemic were identified: employment security, concern for oneself and family, and the responsibility to provide care and protection, which were manifested through remittance and continuing engagement with their families. The subsequent data analysis also reveals that these themes are indeed conscious expressions of responsibility and moral obligation due to the deteriorating pandemic situation in their home country that exacerbated their families' economic vulnerability and challenging livelihood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the relevance of Islamic environmental theology in contemporary Islamic society. Islamic law or Shariah gives a significant prominence to environmental care. The responsibility to care for the environment is set at individual and societal levels, as outlined in the primary sources of Shariah. In line with the industrial and vast economic development, the modern jurists have extended the moral and religious obligations to firms. Environment is an important element that supports the objective of Shariah or maqasid al-Shariah, which is to safeguard the interests of all beings. However, the current devastating state of the global environment, including those of Islam-majority and Islam-dominated countries, poses major challenges to the maqasid al-Shariah. Environmental degradation is threatening the dharuriyyah level of maqasid al-Shariah, or the basic necessities of human. In view of this devastating phenomenon, this paper highlights the relevance of Islamic legal maxim of harm prevention, and how it can provide an impetus to the global environmental sustainability in modifying human attitudes and actions pertaining to the environment. We conclude that progressive interpretations of Shariah by way of incorporating vast economic development and social changes are important to address new necessities of maqasid al-Shariah. While holding on to the principles of Shariah, religious rulings pertaining to environmental matters are to be aligned to the current changing needs and problems of the society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Old manuscripts are cultural products of the ancestors of modern Indonesians and contain highly valuable cultural information. As such, they were sought after by other nations, who have managed to acquire them in various ways, including by taking them, bartering them with other items or buying them. It is thus no wonder that a lot of Indonesian manuscripts are now housed in various institutions in other countries, including the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin (STABI) in Germany. This article aims to describe the Indonesian manuscripts that are now housed in STABI and to trace how they ended up there, with a particular focus on the physical condition of the manuscripts using the codicological approach. As the research shows, the Indonesian manuscripts housed in STABI are from various regions, including Java, the Batak lands, Aceh, Bima, Lampung and Makassar, and in the Malay language used all over Southeast Asia. The manuscripts date from the 15th century onwards, and they were acquired as a result of purchase or as gifts from certain institutions or individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aligns with the theme, “Overcoming Adversity, Embracing Change: Addressing Challenges in Language and Culture in Asia”, and with the call for papers for this conference. It takes an optimistic but critical stand on questions of digital technologies, including social media in multilingual societies. The telephone, radio, television and more recently the internet were all in their turn (wrongly) seen as heralding the demise of normal face-to-face communication, and as threatening the continued existence of minority indigenous languages in multilingual nations. But the Chinese traditional saying, “A crisis is an opportunity riding a dangerous wind”, remains relevant in the pandemic and post-pandemic era. Technologies are not in themselves language-specific, nor are they necessarily biased towards powerful, global languages. Social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram and others do not force users to shift towards Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic or English. I discuss examples of mixed language use in Southeast Asian social media contexts, taking up the point raised by Deterding (2020, 175) in his article based on his keynote presentation at the previous conference in this series: “perhaps trying to analyse the different languages in Brunei as distinct entities is flawed. In the modern globalised world, languages no longer belong in distinct boxes that can be neatly labelled”. The key argument is that the mixing of local vernacular and powerful global languages does not necessarily signal an impending language shift. On the contrary, such hybrid discoursal practices in social media may be viewed as a minority language maintenance and survival strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Securing higher education rights for refugees is critical not only for refugees' selfempowerment but also for the peaceful development of communities. Qualifications recognition is a major barrier when refugees attempt to apply for work or higher education, due to missing documents or unavailability of issuing institutions in their home countries. This issue led to the 2019 Global Convention as the first global treaty on higher education. However, South Korea, a rising power with a normative policy focus, has little addressed qualifications recognition for refugees. Therefore, this research examines the extent to which South Korea, has internalised international norms regarding the provision of education for non-North Korean refugees. Then, by benchmarking the policies of Western normative middle powers, Canada, Norway, and Australia, the research analyses the strengths and limitations of existing qualifications recognition policies for refugees. The paper also refers to the existing policy for access to higher education for North Korean refugees in South Korea. It argues that South Korea should not only welcome more refugees but also develop an effective measure for the recognition of qualifications for refugees to integrate them as productive members of the society in fulfilment of its international humanitarian obligations, but also in accordance with its national interest. Lastly, this research concludes with policy recommendations for establishing a fair and effective recognition system for qualifications of refugees in South Korea, modelled on existing policies for North Korean refugees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examined the effects of audit committee attributes on the sustainability reporting (SR) of commercial banks in Indonesia. This study conducted a cross-sectional and time-series analysis using a sample of 74 commercial banks from 2015 to 2019. This study investigated the audit committee attributes, including financial expertise, size, independence, and meeting frequency. The model under study was underpinned by the theory of legitimacy, stakeholders, and agency. The results showed that the financial expertise of audit committee had an inverse relationship with SR disclosure. Meanwhile, there was a positive relationship between committee independence, bank size, bank age, and type of auditor with SR disclosure. These findings imply that the banks should further focus on the audit committee's attributes as an effective measure to produce quality SR disclosure. In addition, non-financial expertise, especially in the field of sustainability, is a skill that the audit committee needs to have. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to address the basic question why does high absorptive training programmes are not always beneficial for individual level learning? Thus, we seek to understand when and how cognitive absorption is beneficial for individual learning. The proposed model was tested using data obtained in a field study (N = 371) and in an experiment (N = 119). For field study, data was obtained at two points in time from three data sources (co-workers, subordinates, supervisors) working at a private commercial bank operating in Pakistan. For laboratory experiment, data was collected from the business students of a private sector university in Pakistan. The obtained data for both studies were analysed for random coefficient models with Mplus. Based on the motivationability-opportunity theory of behaviour, we proposed a model. It was found that cognitive absorption and highest individual learning was contingent upon the individual level knowledge absorption capacity. It was further found that training programmes with high cognitive absorption are likely to produce high levels of individual learning when the participants also have both high level of knowledge absorption capacity and technological opportunity. With this research, we inform practitioners that in these learner-focused trainings, personal characteristics of the participants and technology play vital role in determining effectiveness for high level of individual learning. The research findings will help practitioners understand what they need to add in training programmes for high level individual learning experience. Doing so will bring best value in form of higher learning to the cost of trainings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most SMEs experience economic collapse and even insolvency due to a lack of sufficient governmental support, particularly those working in growing nations like Egypt with a heavy focus on SMEs' growth and political and economic instability. As a result, this paper seeks first to measure the consequences of COVID-19 on financial performance (FP) by comparing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with listed corporations in the Egyptian Stock Exchange (EGX). Second, we examine the impact of governmental interventions on this association. Our sample includes 26 SMEs in the Tamayoz EGX and the highest 30 firms listed in the EGX30. We applied pooled ordinary least square regression, paired sample test, and Barron and Kenny's test. We used daily stock market returns from January 2020 to November 2020. The proliferation of COVID-19 has an influence on stock prices in both the EGX30 and Tamayoz stock indexes. We furthermore find a partial mediation of income support, facial-covering, school closures, and restrictions on international movements on the linkage between COVID-19 and FP for SMEs. The stock prices listed in EGX30 seem more sensitive to governmental interventions than Tamayoz EGX. The findings confirm governmental interventions would have a significant role in the firm's FP during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of corporate governance mechanisms on bank performance in general and the effect of board-constituted committees on bank performance in particular. Primarily, two questions are addressed in the context of the banking sector of India. First, does corporate governance mechanisms reduce the quantum of non-performing assets (NPAs)? Second, does the internal committee affect bank performance? Hence, this paper determines whether independent directors strengthen corporate boards and whether committees affect bank performance. The panel data ordinary least square regression analysis is used for this study. We also use logistic regression models for various committees to find their relationship with bank performance and NPAs. Tobin's Q is used as proxy for bank performance. Independent variables are board size (BSIZE), proportion of independent directors on the board (PERIND), number of board meetings per year (BMEET), size of the audit committee (AUC), and two measures of the bank business (asset size and loan), and one control variable is time. We use financial and corporate governance data from 2005 to 2018, the study finds that independent directors play a major role on the board. It finds a positive and significant relationship between board independence and bank performance. The performance also increases with the increase in board size but after a point, the curve declines forming and an inverted U-shaped curve is formed. The mandatory internal committees have a crucial role to play, which is demonstrated by their effect on the reduction of NPAs. The significance of a well-functioning board and internal committees in discharging their fiduciary duties is highlighted in this study. An internal committee comprising a majority of independent directors is found to positively affect the performance of banks. They can help managers disburse good-quality loans and keep a check on risk-laden ventures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this paper is on the perspectives people hold towards starting their businesses. An investigation was conducted on recent immigrants to Canada, the majority of whom were from South Asian nations. Subsequently, the SmartPLS 3.2.8 analysis tool was used to examine the collected data. According to the findings of the analysis, the perception of having structural support is a poor predictor of entrepreneurial intentions. Conversely, individual characteristics, such as self-efficacy and self-control, are significant predictors of entrepreneurial intentions. The results call into question immigration policies and regulations that select immigrants based on their potential for financial success rather than the businesses they intend to start themselves. The research suggests that if immigrants with high self-efficacy were provided support from their immigrant communities, they could more easily launch new businesses. This information can serve as a guide for immigration policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper extends the previous research on strategic transactions (M&A) and focuses on the analysis of the relationship between the pre-event performance of acquiring companies and value creation in strategic acquisitions for growth. It identifies the prerequisites of successful transactions and tests empirically how the key fundamental determinants of the acquiring companies influence investors' reaction around the announcement and acquirers' financial performance in the years after. The results of the analysis confirm that the intrinsic pre-event performance of the acquiring firm can significantly impact the outcome and profitability of strategic M&A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on financial reporting quality proxied by earnings conservatism and value relevance of accounting information. Our final sample consists of 10,510 firm-year observations from 29 countries with a balanced number of 5,255 observations for pandemic and pre-pandemic periods. The results show that during the pandemic, the financial statements of companies with a financial year end of 31 March 2020 have different qualities than those in the pre-pandemic period. Lower earnings conservatism is demonstrated in the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period, supporting the argument that business tends to slow the recognition of bad news as the pandemic starts. The value relevance of accounting information declined in the pandemic period, primarily affected by the reduced value relevance of the book value of equity. The findings of this study can help investors evaluate the quality of accounting information and make smarter investment decisions, especially when most companies are in financial trouble. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the meanings, practices and contexts of marriage and ritual among the Ata Baolangu of Lembata, Eastern Indonesia. Using the methodology of qualitative field research conducted by interviewing local stakeholders and by both participation in, and observation of, local community life, the paper proposes that all of the marriage rituals are necessary to ensure a legitimate relationship between the two parties involved and that procreation is necessary to maintain and transform social relations between and within clans, and to create harmony between the two worlds -- of the living and the dead. This proposition is explained throughout the paper by first examining the concepts of marriage and ritual, followed by analysis of the stages of the rites and their meanings. By including some further reflection beyond ethnological boundaries, the paper hopes to contribute to a broader understanding of, and discourse on, the theme of traditions and philosophies in Asia. An endeavour to preserve traditions of marriage and ritual are philosophically necessary for the future prosperity of family and society, social structure and relations, as well as to give a sense of meaning, belonging and identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japan has been accepting foreign nurses and care workers through an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. For more than ten years of its implementation, the EPA framework with the Philippines has confronted tremendous political hurdles from conservative politicians, groups and non-state agents which oppose the free trans-border flow of health workers. The lack of holistic state support has affected the implementation of the labour scheme under the Philippine-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (PJEPA). In fact, majority of the nurses and care workers have failed the Japanese licensure examination, and an alarming percentage has decided to return to the Philippines after several years of training. Such trends indicate the failure of PJEPA to achieve a sustainable and mutually benefiting migration project. It is therefore imperative to examine the causes of this failure from the viewpoint of nursing and care delivery discourses. This paper contributes to the emerging literature that investigate EPAs and labour migration, with particular focus on the labour conditions and migrant decisions of individual care providers. Rethinking the concept of empowerment, we argue that the migration management regime, manifested in state's healthcare policies and governance mechanism has been lacking meaningful support and guidance to the healthcare facilities, which translates to workers' structural disempowerment. Nurses and care workers contest their dignity of labour, negotiate their experiences of deskilling, and seek strategies to survive the system. Disempowerment clearly impacts on individual migrant decisions, challenging established mechanisms and threatening the entire migration system to fail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the associations between managerial aversion, capital structure, and market valuation. The paper outlines managerial risk aversion and managerial regret aversion as perceptions of managerial aversion and tests whether both managerial behaviours directly affect the capital structure and market valuation of firms. The study uses a comprehensive measure of risk aversion by considering risk frequency, risk severity, and risk reduction price on shareholders' equity. Using a data set of 860 Southeast Asian firms from 2007 to 2018, the study finds that managerial regret aversion affects market valuation and capital structure in market-based economies. Managerial risk aversion affects market valuation in both bank and market-based economies. Contrary to our hypothesis, managerial risk aversion has no significant effect on capital structure among Southeast Asian firms. The paper concludes that capital market undervaluation, leading to managerial aversion, has theoretical implications for regret theory of capital structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates Adibah Amin's use of humour in the two volumes of her occasional writing, As I was Passing (2007). To pursue this objective, the theory of humour formulated by John Morreall, a renowned contemporary figure in humour studies, has been used to frame the discussion. However, since Morreall focuses mostly on spoken humour, the paper also makes references to Dominic Cheetam's work on written humour. The analysis shows that some elements fundamental to humour that can be found in Adibah Amin's writing are the presence of cognitive shifts that involve expectations and violation thereof, the play mode that induces practical disengagement, and the sense of enjoyment that is exhilarating and liberating. Furthermore, Adibah Amin uses humour to promote intellectual and moral values. Besides making use of incongruities in things, Adibah Amin also includes some incongruities in presentation in her writing, which deal with her comical adaptations of linguistic patterns, further proving her astute use of humour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]