Fostering Creativity through Innovation Engagement in Science and Technology Education: Case Study of Universiti Teknologi MARA Students

AbstractStudents tend to learn faster through hands on participations. Guided problems solving outside the classroom environment has been regarded as better and a motivating learning method for these young generation. Innovation engagement among students from higher institution are very much encourage as their participation in the activities belief to result in a group of creative and innovative intellectual who will be future leaders and entrepreneurs. A survey was done on students from this institution to obtain their perception on the subject matter through a set of questionnaires adopted from similar study done elsewhere. A comparison of the responses from those that have directly engagement with innovation, invention and design project (IID group) and those without any direction engagement with innovation, invention and design project (non-IID group) was carried out. Students who participated in the innovation convention related themselves to be more confident and motivated in their study as compared to students who have not participated in any innovation, invention and design project. Their engagement in the project helps them in the teamwork and their communication skills. Their thinking is more influenced by their lecturers than by their friends. This finding is opposite to that of the students who did not participate in the project. Hence, the effort, time and money spent on engaging students with activities related to IID are worthwhile endeavour that steered towards producing competent graduates

Outcome-impact survey on the public awareness & appreciation programme and traditional knowledge documentation programme of Sarawak biodiversity centre / Voon Boo Ho... [et al.]

Outcome and impact evaluations for important service organisations such as Sarawak Biodiversity Centre is crucial in ensuring high quality policymaking and effective service operations management. A continuous and consistent emphasis on serving the targeted customer groups as well as the general public will always be necessary for excellent and sustainable biodiversity conservation and development in Sarawak. It is great to note that Sarawak Biodiversity Centre's core functions are generally wellregarded and respected towards Sarawak's biodiversity excellence. This six-month state-wide questionnaire survey which focuses on evaluating the Awareness & Appreciation Programme and Traditional Knowledge Documentation Programme of the Centre has found numerous favourable outcomes and impacts of the two programmes. Besides, there are also useful insights for further improvement. Sarawak Biodiversity Centre has been very actively involved in promoting Sarawak's biodiversity and educating the general public on the importance of Sarawak's biodiversity and the Traditional Knowledge related to Sarawak's biodiversity. The strategic programmes are developed and implemented accordingly. Specifically, the Awareness and Appreciation Programme helps to: i) provide opportunities for the general public to participate in the Centre's Awareness and Appreciation programme and enhance appreciation for the State's rich biodiversity and her biotechnology initiatives, ii) organize seminars and forums that focus on biodiversity-biotechnology topics, targeted at policy makers, key government officials, members of the academia, researchers and scientists, industry representatives and the media, and iii) collate and disseminate accurate and factual information on biodiversity-biotechnology to th

Studies on Homalomeneae (Araceae) of Borneo XI: Homalomena matangae, a new species from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo

Homalomena matangae Y.C.Hoe, S.Y.Wong & P.C.Boyce is described and illustrated as a new species from and endemic to the Matang massif sandstone formation, Kuching Division, NW Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, from where it was originally collected by Odorado Beccari during his first ascent of Matang

Benzophenone constituents from the roots of Garcinia eugenifolia

Our recent phytochemical investigation on the roots of Garcinia eugenifolia gave a new benzophenone,( 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)(3-hydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl) methanone(1), one other benzo-phenone,(3- hydroxy-phenyl)3,4,5-trihydroxyp- henyl) methanone (2), together with four triterpenoids, magniferolic acid (3), euphadienol(4), β-sitosterol (5) and friedelin (6) as well as two xanthones, 5,9-dihydroxy-8-methoxy- 2,2-dimethyl-7-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)Pyrano[3, 2-b] xanthen- 6(2H)-one(7)and1,3,6,8-tetrahyd roxyxant-hone (8).The structures of these compounds were fully characterised by NMR spectroscopic analysis

Studies on the seedborne diseases of sugar and fodder beet: A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours in the University of Canterbury

The literature on the seedborne pathogens of beet and on the diseases they cause has been reviewed including methods of seed health testing and the effect of fungicides on the pathogens in bioassay tests. The seed health status of some thirty-three tmported and local beet seedlines were evaluated. Germinations from 60 to over 90% were recorded except in one seedline (below 50%). Pleospora bjoerlinggii was detected in nine lines, most were at a low level but one was at 14 and another at 21%. Cercospora beticola was detected in three lines at 1, 6 and 15%. Alternaris alternata was detected in seventeen lines, with infection ranging from 1% to 76% Pleospore herbarum was detected in four lines with infection ranging from 1 to 17%

Studies on aphanomyces root rot of peas (Pisum sativum) caused by Aphanomyces : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of Canterbury [Lincoln College]

This disease was recorded in 1978 in New Zealand, and found to be a serious disease of peas in the South Island. Disease avoidance is possible, i.e. growing peas only in infested soils with low or moderate amount of inoculum. The literature on the pathogen and factors affecting development of the disease are reviewed, and these aspects studied to determine alternative control methods. When soil samples from 18 infested fields were tested by the Disease Severity Index method (DSI) and direct counting of oospores, there was a curvi-linear relationship (r = 0.97***) between DSI and number of oospores in soil. These results were confirmed when a known number of oospores produced in culture were added to non-infested soil. On potato dextrose agar, growth of Aphanomyces euteiches was inhibited by water potentials between -20 and -30 bars depending on temperature. In glasshouse trials with infested soils, disease increased linearly between -200 and -3 millibars in pea plants grown at 8°, 12° , 16°, 20° and 25°. Yields decreased with increased moisture levels and temperatures. The disease in peas was related to both the inoculum and growth stage at time of infection. Yield was reduced by 35% when the moisture of an infested soil was raised to field capacity (0 millibars) at 3 weeks after sowing, but yield was not affected in plants in soil raised to field capacity at the flowering or podding stages. Aphanomyces euteiches parasitised Medicago sativa, Trifolium repens, Stellaria media, Viola arvensis and Capsella bursa-pastoris in the glasshouse and field. Infected plants showed no symptoms, but the fungus could be isolated from their roots, and each of the isolates infected peas which showed typical symptoms. The effect of the fungicides, pyroxyfur, metalaxyl and hymexazol was assessed on Aphanomyces euteiches in vitro. Pyroxyfur at 1 ppm inhibited hyphal growth while significant reductions occurred at > 10 ppm with metalaxyl and hymexazol. Zoospore formation was inhibited by pyroxyfur at 10 ppm and by metalaxyl and hymexazol at > 100 ppm, whereas zoospore motility was inhibited by pyroxyfur and hymexazol at 1 ppm and metalaxyl at 5 ppm. Pyroxyfur and metalaxyl at 1 ppm significantly reduced oospore formation with hymexazol effective at 10 ppm. The same fungicides were tested as seed treatments in glasshouse trials. After 4 weeks of growth all treatments showed similar levels of control. After 12 weeks growth, with soil of DSI 50, the disease was significantly reduced by metalaxyl (-26%) and hymexazol (-45%), but with soil of DSI 100, no differences were observed. In the same trials, fungicide combinations did not improve the efficacy of seed treatments. In a separate trial, pyroxyfur treated seed grown in soil with DSI 100 reduced DSI significantly (-18%) after 6 weeks with root dry matter being increased by 39% and total dry matter by 23%. Significant increases in top dry matter occurred at 2 weeks 0(+44%) and 8 weeks (+78%). There were no significant interactions between the fungicide treatments, moisture levels (-200, -28 and -3 millibars) and temperatures (20° and 24°). Growing Brassica napus in infested soils for 4 months reduced the DSI; from originally 58 to 27, from 72 to 53, and from 81 to 56. There was no change in DSI when Triticum aestivum, Trifolium repens or no plants were grown in the same soils. When dried leaves and stems of 5 brassica species were incorporated (0.5% of the soil dry weight) into infested soil, there were significant reductions in DSI and oospore numbers. The trend in reductions with length of time of incorporation was similar with greater effect from 6 weeks incorporation compared to 3 weeks. With soils of DSI 50, 75, and 100, the mean effect of Brassica napus, Raphano-brassica and Sinapis alba were equally effective, reducing DSI by 32-38% and oospore numbers by 66-72%. When the same brassica species were grown for 6 months in infested soils and subsequently the roots alone incorporated into the soils for 6 weeks, there was an average reduction of 41% in DSI and 56% in oospore numbers by Brassica oleraceae, Brassica napus and Raphano-brassica. This cultural method, by reducing inoculum, is of value in the control of aphanomyces root rot

Enhancing Visitor Experiences Using Thematic Interpretation in Park Guiding Service in Sarawak National Parks

Enhancing visitor experiences is arguably the primary and most important goal for interpretation by many protected area managers and tourism business. However, little research has been conducted in Sarawak, Malaysia to directly quantify the effects of thematic interpretation has on tourist experiences. Drawing on the TORE-model of interpretation and through the inception of Park Guiding Training and Licensing System in Sarawak since 2007, this quantitative study examines the effectiveness of thematic interpretive guided tours delivered by park guides at Bako National Park, Sarawak, with the assumption that it will further enhance visitor experiences. A descriptive analysis and Pearson's product-moment correlation analysis of sub-indicators of the global evaluation of interpretation of site, and sub-indicators of elaboration surveyed from visitors of purposively sampled park guides revealed a strong measurement and correlation coefficients of visitors’ overall quality of thematic intepretive guided tours effecting visitor satisfaction and experiences. These findings provide empirical evidence that good thematic interpretive guided tour makes a positive impacts on visitor experiences, thus making training of tourism businesses' employees as park guides as a good investment. The suggestions for further research in influencing visitor attitude and shaping visitor behaviour are offered

Enhancing Visitor Experiences Using Thematic Interpretation in Park Guiding Service in Sarawak National Parks

Enhancing visitor experiences is arguably the primary and most important goal for interpretation by many protected area managers and tourism business. However, little research has been conducted in Sarawak, Malaysia to directly quantify the effects of thematic interpretation has on tourist experiences. Drawing on the TORE-model of interpretation and through the inception of Park Guiding Training and Licensing System in Sarawak since 2007, this quantitative study examines the effectiveness of thematic interpretive guided tours delivered by park guides at Bako National Park, Sarawak, with the assumption that it will further enhance visitor experiences. A descriptive analysis and Pearson's product-moment correlation analysis of sub-indicators of the global evaluation of interpretation of site, and sub-indicators of elaboration surveyed from visitors of purposively sampled park guides revealed a strong measurement and correlation coefficients of visitors’ overall quality of thematic intepretive guided tours effecting visitor satisfaction and experiences. These findings provide empirical evidence that good thematic interpretive guided tour makes a positive impacts on visitor experiences, thus making training of tourism businesses' employees as park guides as a good investment. The suggestions for further research in influencing visitor attitude and shaping visitor behaviour are offered

Studies on Homalomeneae (Araceae) of Borneo VII: Homalomena debilicrista, a new species from Malaysian Borneo, and observations of its pollination mechanics

Homalomena debilicrista Y.C.Hoe is described and illustrated as a species new to science from the Matang massif sandstone formation, Kuching Division, NW Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. It represents the sixth species of the informal Hanneae Complex, a morphotaxon apparently endemic to Borneo and composed wholly of nomenclaturally novel species. Inflorescence events, notably spathe movement mechanisms, and interactions with insect visitors were observed and recorded to determine pollinator/s as part of an on-going programme accumulating data on pollinator guild niche partitioning in Homalomena. Six insect taxa visited the inflorescences during anthesis: (1) Coleoptera — Chrysomelidae (Chaloenus schawalleri), Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae (Parastasia bimaculata), Nitidulidae (genus undetermined), and Staphylinidae (genus undetermined) - and (2) Diptera, two species of Colocasiomyia (Drosophilidae). Empirical data strongly implicate P. bimaculata and possibly C. schawalleri to be the pollinators of Homalomena debilicrista. A key to the so-far described species of the Homalomena Hanneae Complex is presented, and the new species is illustrated