Academic stress and life satisfaction as social sustainability among university students

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between academic stress and life satisfaction among university students in Sabah, Malaysia. A total of 400 students were selected as respondents and data were collected using questionnaires. Academic stress was measured using the Perception of Academic Stress Scale (PAS), which has four subscales: i) Performance stress; ii) Workload perception of workload and examinations; iii) Academic self-perception; and iv) Time constraints. Meanwhile, the Satisfaction with Life Scale was used to study student’s life satisfaction. The data obtained were analyzed using Pearson correlation and t-test. The results showed that performance stress is negatively associated with life satisfaction, while academic self-perception is positively associated with life satisfaction. The result also showed that perception of workload and examinations and time constraints not associated with life satisfaction. All in all, academic self-perception and performance stress have an association with life satisfaction

Optimum Welding Parameters for Friction Stir Welded AA6063 Pipe Butt Joint Using the Taguchi Method

Welding parameters for pipe joint friction stir welding (FSW) have been identified based on L-9 orthogonal arrays used in the Taguchi Method. Different welding parameters, such as rotation speed, travel speed and axial force, have been used to produce several quality friction stir welded AA6063 pipe butt joints. The reliability of products obtained in the FSW process can be improved through the identification of the optimum combination of welding parameters. Weld quality was evaluated based on its tensile strength and residual stress profiles. The S/N analysis and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) have been used to determine significant welding parameters that affect weld quality. Maximum tensile strength with acceptable residual stress was obtained at the optimum welding parameters of 1300 rpm, 5 mm/s and axial force between 5 and 6 kN. The goal of this study was to optimize welding parameters for high tensile strength and low residual stress

Gender differences among drug abusers in the process of readiness to change

Although gender-related issues are often cited as playing an important part in determining patterns of illicit drug use, little is known about the differences between men and women drug users within treatment settings. This article is provided to measure gender differences in terms of readiness to change among rehabilitees of Malaysian National Narcotics Rehabilitation Centre (PUSPEN) via the stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES). A total of 609 people consisting of 490 men and 109 women drug users from six drug rehabilitation centers in Peninsular Malaysia responded to a survey by using stratified random sampling and systematic random sampling. Data were analyzed using t-test analysis to compare the readiness to change among men and women rehabilitees in terms of recognition, ambivalence and taking steps. The results of the study showed significant differences between gender in terms of taking steps, however no significant differences were noted in the dimensions of recognition and ambivalence. Input to the identification of changes associated with readiness to change among gender would be able to provide a new data to formulate more effective strategies for rehabilitated drug addicts among the gender

Psychopathological profile and readiness to change among drug addicts in Malaysia

The severity of psychopathological symptoms may influence the motivation to change drug dependence behavior. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the predictive relationship between psychopathological symptoms and readiness to change among drug addicts in Malaysia. The study employed survey research involving the administration of the Symptoms Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) and the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES). A total of 599 respondents in six rehabilitation centers in Malaysia participated in this study. Results showed that there were significant correlations between several psychopathological symptoms with recognition, ambivalence and taking steps. Findings also showed that psychopathological symptoms did not predict Recognition, interpersonal-sensitivity and paranoia predicted significantly Ambivalence, while only symptom of hostility predicted significantly Taking Steps. This demonstrated that high level of psychopathology among drug addicts undergoing treatment may compromise their motivation to change. Those who did not recognize that they have problems with addiction were ambivalent about changing and were unwilling to take steps to change their addictive behavior

Semangat perpaduan dalam kalangan remaja B40 yang tinggal di kawasan perumahan rakyat (PPR) sekitar Kuala Lumpur

Semangat perpaduan merupakan elemen penting dalam mengekalkan keharmonian dan kemakmuran dalam kalangan generasi muda pelbagai bangsa di Malaysia. Oleh itu artikel ini disediakan bertujuan untuk (1) mengukur tahap semangat perpaduan dan (2) mengenal pasti faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi semangat perpaduan dalam kalangan remaja B40 yang tinggal di kawasan perumahan rakyat di Malaysia. Kajian dijalankan dengan menggunakan reka bentuk tinjauan keratan-lintang secara kuantitatif. Seramai 244 orang remaja B40 yang tinggal di tiga buah kawasan perumahan iaitu di perumahan Rakyat Desa Rejang, Pantai Ria dan Seri Pantai telah dipilih sebagai responden kajian. Data kajian telah dianalisis dengan menggunakan ujian deskriptif dan regresi pelbagai secara stepwise. Analisis deskriptif menunjukkan bahawa majoriti (59.8%) remaja B40 yang tinggal di kawasan perumahan rakyat menunjukkan semangat perpaduan yang sederhana sahaja dan perlu dipertingkatkan. Analisis regrasi pelbagai pula mendapati bahawa faktor kesihatan diri (β=.539, p<.05) adalah petunjuk utama yang mempengaruhi semangat perpaduan dalam kalangan remaja B40. Manakala kombinasi kesihatan diri (β=.405, p<.05) dan tingkah laku prososial (β=.289, p<.05) menyumbang sebanyak 6.6% perubahan tambahan terhadap semangat perpaduan. Faktor hubungan kejiranan dan semangat cintakan Malaysia pula menyumbang sebanyak 3.1% dan 1.4% varians terhadap semangat perpaduan dalam kalangan remaja B40. Kombinasi keempat-empat faktor peramal tersebut telah menyumbang sebanyak 40.1% varians terhadap semangat perpaduan dalam kalangan remaja B40 yang tinggal di kawasan perumahan rakyat. Hasil kajian memberi implikasi positif kepada pihak-pihak yang berkepentingan dalam usaha untuk menyediakan pelan strategik yang komprehensif dalam menambahbaik program-program yang boleh membina dan menyemarakkan semangat perpaduan dalam kalangan rakyat khasnya remaja B40 yang tinggal di kawasan perumahan rakyat di Malaysia

Smartphone addiction and sleep quality on academic performance of university students: An exploratory research

This study was conducted to examine the relationship between smartphone addiction, sleep quality, and academic performance. The study presented quantitative research on 323 students in a public university in Sabah to explore the relationship between smartphone addiction, sleep quality, and academic performance. A simple random sampling was used in the study. The Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version (SAS-SV) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used in this study. SPSS was used as a tool of analysis for descriptive and inferential analysis. Pearson correlation was involved to test the hypothesis of the study. The result indicated that the greater the smartphone addiction, the lower the academic performance of university students. The finding also proved that students with poor sleep quality might exhibit low academic performance. Smartphone addiction was found to be associated with sleep quality where overusing smartphones was related to poor sleep quality in university students. On this basis, the problem of smartphone addiction and sleep quality should be tackled in order to improve the academic performance of university students and their overall health

Keselamatan persekitaran perumahan dalam kalangan remaja di kawasan Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR)

Keselamatan dan kesihatan merupakan aspek penting dalam kehidupan seharian agar proses hidup masyarakat lebih terjamin dan berkualiti terutama di kawasan Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR). Penafian kepentingan aspek ini akan memberi kesan buruk kepada masyarakat termasuk golongan remaja yang masih dalam proses awal perkembangan hidup. Masalah seperti gejala ponteng sekolah, kecurian, isu lepak, jenayah pelbagai, mengambil bahan terlarang dan gangguan kemudahan awam boleh berlaku sekiranya aspek keselamatan dan persekitaran tidak diberi perhatian sewajarnya. Melihat kepentingan isu tersebut, kajian dijalankan untuk mengenal pasti faktor utama yang mempengaruhi keselamatan persekitaran dalam kalangan remaja di PPR. Kajian melibatkan komuniti remaja yang menetap di kawasan PPR di sekitar Lembah Klang. Sejumlah 244 orang remaja yang berumur dalam lingkungan 11 hingga 24 tahun terlibat dalam kajian ini. Penganalisaan data dilakukan menggunakan ujian deskriptif dan analisis regresi pelbagai secara stepwise. Kajian mendapati lima faktor yang mempengaruhi keselamatan persekitaran dalam kalangan remaja di PPR iaitu kesihatan diri, hubungan kejiranan, penggunaan media sosial, hubungan keluarga dan semangat cintakan Malaysia. Keputusan kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa faktor kesihatan diri merupakan petunjuk utama yang mempengaruhi keselamatan persekitaran perumahan dalam kalangan remaja yang menetap di PPR. Kombinasi kelima-lima faktor tersebut telah menyumbang sebanyak 39.6% varians terhadap keselamatan persekitaran perumahan dalam kalangan remaja yang tinggal di PPR. Hasil kajian memberi implikasi positif kepada pihak yang berkepentingan dalam usaha menyediakan pelan strategik yang komprehensif untuk menambahbaik program keselamatan dan kesihatan dalam kalangan remaja di Malaysia

Route Schedule Optimization Method of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Implementation for Maritime Surveillance in Monitoring Trawler Activities in Kuala Kedah, Malaysia

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone has been used worldwide nowadays and operate beyond our expectations. The potential of drone usefulness not only in the film industry or simply a leisure activity, search and rescue but also encompass various aspects of human life. Trawler activities in Malaysia are one of the problems that need to be worried. These activities harm and disrupt income of the small angler by entering the specific zone for the fishery activities. UAVs play an important role as a most effective way for maritime surveillance. The purpose of this research is to create the route optimization method of unmanned air vehicle implementation for maritime surveillance in monitoring trawler activities in Kuala Kedah. The objectives are (1) to identify the main factors that interfere with flying drone and (2) to identify the best route for routine monitoring schedule system for maritime surveillance in Kuala Kedah. The route planning of UAVs is the most critical and challenging problem of operation process conducted. An innovative maritime surveillance operation in which a boat concept collaborates with a drone monitoring of making a new variant of the traveling salesman problem (TSP) that we call the TSP with drones (TSP-D). In addition, this research applies the heuristic method to several artiï¬cial instances with different characteristics and sizes. Our numerical analysis shows that substantial savings are possible with this concept in comparison to boat-only delivery