Pembinaan kesedaran dan polarisasi etnik pelajar di universiti awam Malaysia

Polarisasi etnik yang berlaku di universiti awam Malaysia memaparkan corak hubungan antara etnik dalam masyarakat Malaysia. Hal ini menyebabkan polarisasi etnik di universiti awam Malaysia menjadi satu permasalahan yang penting untuk dikaji bagi memahami punca berlakunya kesedaran etnik dalam kalangan rakyat negara ini. Dalam membincangkan permasalahan ini, perspektif bottom-up yang diketengahkan oleh Michael Banton menyatakan bahawa kesedaran etnik dibina oleh individu. Melalui kesedaran etnik, seseorang individu akan membentuk ikatan dengan individu-individu lain dalam kumpulan etniknya. Ikatan tersebut membolehkan anggota-anggota sesebuah kumpulan etnik membentuk tindakan kolektif untuk bersaing dengan anggota kumpulan etnik yang lain. Kajian ini membincangkan perspektif ini dengan mengkaji peranan pelajar Melayu dan Cina yang menuntut di universiti awam Malaysia dalam membina kesedaran etnik mereka. Kajian ini juga membincangkan peranan ahli keluarga dan rakan sebaya seetnik pelajar Melayu dan Cina dalam membina dan mengukuh kesedaran etnik mereka melalui proses sosialisasi etnik. Selain itu, kajian ini juga menghuraikan bentuk-bentuk batasan etnik kedua-dua kumpulan pelajar. Bagi menyelidiki permasalahan kajian yang sedemikian, kajian ini mengambil pendekatan induktif sebagai pendekatan kajian. Data-data kajian dikumpul melalui lapan perbincangan kumpulan fokus yang diadakan di empat buah universiti awam Malaysia. Dalam setiap universiti, pengkaji mengadakan perbincangan dengan satu kumpulan pelajar Melayu dan satu kumpulan pelajar Cina. Data-data kajian menunjukkan bahawa kedua-dua kumpulan pelajar mengenal diri mereka secara etnik. Pengenalan diri yang sedemikian dikaitkan dengan hasrat untuk membentuk dan mengukuh solidariti etnik di kalangan mereka. Pelajar-pelajar Melayu berpendapat mereka perlu memelihara solidariti etnik bagi melindungi kedudukan orang Melayu di negara ini. Pelajar-pelajar Cina pula berasa solidariti etnik mereka perlu diperkukuh bagi menghadapi masalah peminggiran. Data-data kajian juga membuktikan peranan ahli keluarga serta rakan sebaya seetnik dalam membina kesedaran etnik kedua-dua kumpulan pelajar melalui proses sosialisasi budaya dan persaingan. Selain itu, kedua-dua kumpulan pelajar juga mempunyai kecenderungan untuk mengehadkan interaksi mereka dengan rakan-rakan universiti yang bukan seetnik. Perkara ini menunjukkan batasan etnik wujud dalam kalangan mereka. Sungguhpun demikian, data-data kajian juga menunjukkan bahawa batasan etnik kedua-dua kumpulan pelajar adalah bersifat anjal. Dalam keadaan dan keperluan tertentu, mereka boleh membelakangkan batasan etnik masing-masing. Hasil kajian ini memaparkan peranan yang dimainkan oleh pelajar Melayu dan Cina dalam membina kesedaran etnik mereka. Selaku anggota kumpulan etnik mereka, ahli keluarga dan rakan sebaya seetnik kedua-dua kumpulan pelajar turut memainkan peranan dalam membina dan mengukuh kesedaran etnik mereka melalui proses-proses sosialisasi etnik. Kesedaran etnik dibina atas hasrat untuk memobilisasi kesedaran tersebut bagi membentuk satu gerakan kolektif. Implikasinya, kesedaran etnik pelajar Melayu dan Cina membentuk batasan etnik mereka dan seterusnya menyumbang kepada polarisasi etnik di universiti awam Malaysia. Namun begitu, keadaan sedemikian tidak bersifat statik. Sebagai individu yang rasional, pelajar boleh mengetepikan kesedaran etnik mereka untuk memenuhi keperluan mereka yang pelbagai dari semasa ke semasa. Ringkasnya, sebagaimana yang dijelaskan oleh Banton melalui perspektif bottom-up beliau, kajian ini menunjukkan individu memainkan peranan yang besar dalam membina dan menentukan corak hubungan etnik di negara ini

Socialization of ethnic identity and its consequence in the form of polarization among youth in Malaysia.

Proses pembentukan identiti mempengaruhi hubungan etnik. Dalam konteks hubungan etnik di kalangan belia yang menuntut di universiti awam Malaysia, pembentukan identiti etnik telah menyebabkan berlakunya polarisasi. Kajian-kajian menunjukkan belia tersebut memilih rakan sebilik, rakan tugasan dan teman untuk duduk bersama ketika kuliah dengan berpandukan factor etnik. Bagi memahami permasalahan ini, kertas kerja ini menganalisis peranan sosialisasi dalam pembentukan identiti social dan kaitannya dengan polarisasi kaum di kalangan belia di university. Tahap intensity polarisasi dibincangkan dengan mendalami kajian-kajian lepas yang mengkaji fenomena polarisasi kaum di kalangan penuntut universiti awam. Selain itu, peranan biologi dalam pembentukan identiti akan juga dianalisis. Hubungan dialektik antara peranan struktur social (structural) dan tindakan individu (action) dalam pembentukan identiti etnik juga dihuraikan bagi menerangkan bagaimana perkaitan antara mereka boleh menghasilkan polarisasi etnik di kalangan belia universiti awam Malaysia

Settling down spiritually: Chinese Malaysian's worship of Datuk Gong

When the Chinese migrated to Malaya en masse in the 19th century, they brought along with them their religious belief. Many aspects of the Chinese Religion are still maintained and practiced by the Chinese in Malaysia today. However, after years of interaction with people from other ethnic origins in Malaysia, the Chinese has synthesized local elements into their belief system. Empirically, the worship of Datuk Gong is one of them. The worship originated from the Datuk Keramat cult, which was popular among the Malays in Malaysia. This paper attempts to explain why the Chinese in Malaysia accepted local elements such as the worship of Datuk Keramat into their religion and the meaning of such acceptance. When the Chinese Malaysian transfigured certain elements found in their religion to accept the concept of Datuk Keramat, it shows their long-term commitment to make Malaysia their home. In order to achieve these objectives, observations and interviews at ten Datuk Gong temples in Peninsular Malaysia were made to collect relevant data. Data gathered shows the Chinese have transfigured their religious practice to facilitate their adaptation to live in a country, which was once foreign to them

Sociological theory of race and ethnicity: contesting, substituting or complementing?

Issues, related to race and ethnicity, have always attracted attention from many. Throughout the development of sociology, many theories have been developed to explain these phenomena. Most of the time, however, the theories are read as contesting each other. Similarly, argument was laid out as though the theories are contesting to explain the truth of race and ethnicity. Readers have also contributed to the contest. In fact, it is the readers who, most of the time, categorize the theories they read into school of thought and consequently the theories are contesting at least from the readers’ perspective. The theories are also seen as trying to substitute each other, either from the theoreticians’ point of view or from the readers’ point of view. Maybe it is through these contests and the urge to substitute, more and more theories are constructed to explain race and ethnicity. However, instead of contesting and substituting, the theories should also be read as complementing. Sociology is a field that enables society to be understood. Theories related to race and ethnicity should be stitched together to provide the big picture which ultimately leads readers to understand race and ethnicity phenomena. Therefore, this paper focuses on the thoughts of three social analysts, viz., Banton, Geertz and Eriksen. Their contributions to the understanding of race and ethnicity are immense and have never failed to generate discussions and development relating to these areas. By studying and laying out their ideas in complimenting nature, the big picture of what is race and ethnicity could be developed. The big picture is vital and will give significant input to the understanding of issues related to race and ethnicity, particularly in the plural societies such as Malaysia

Syngas-Enriched hydrogen production via catalytic gasification of water hyacinth using renewable palm kernel shell hydrochar

Syngas produced from biomass gasification has emerged as a highly promising substitute for conventional fossil fuel, catering to various industrial applications while ensuring minimal greenhouse gas emissions. Water hyacinth (WH) has been a major concern due to its invasive nature and uncontrollable growth which impedes aquatic growth and urban management. Fortunately, WH is a potential biomass feedstock due to the comparable cellulose and hemicellulose contents alongside high carbon content and high calorific value which reflects good biofuel properties. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the conversion of WH biomass via catalytic air gasification for syngas-enriched hydrogen production using palm kernel shell hydrochar (PKSH). A parametric study was conducted in a lab-scale fixed-bed downdraft gasifier based on the response surface methodology coupled with Box-Behnken design (RSM-BBD). The combined interaction effects of the influencing parameters investigated are temperature (600–800 °C), biomass particle size (2–6 mm), catalyst loading (0–10 wt%), and air flow rate (1–3 L/min). Temperature was revealed to be the primary factor with significant influence on the H2 and CO output. Maximum syngas (30.09 vol%) compositions of 11.14 vol% H2 and 18.95 vol% CO were obtained at 800 °C with a particle size of 6 mm and air flow rate of 2 L/min alongside 5 wt% PKSH catalyst loading

Predicting the catalytic sites of isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS) related non-haem iron-dependent oxygenases and oxidases (NHIDOX) through a structural superimposition and molecular docking approach

Isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS) related Non-haem iron-dependent oxygenases and oxidases (NHIDOX) demonstrated a striking structural conservativeness, even with low protein sequence homology. It is evident that these enzymes have an architecturally similar catalytic centre with active ligands lining the reactive pocket. Deacetoxycephalosporin C synthase (DAOCS), isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS), deacetylcephalosporin C synthase (DACS), clavaminate synthase 1 and 2 (CAS1 and 2) are important bacterial enzymes that catalyze the formation of β-lactam antibiotics belonging to this enzyme family. Most plant enzyme members within this subfamily namely flavonol synthase (FLS), leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase (LDOX), anthocyanidin synthase (ANS), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACCO), gibberellin 20-oxidase (G20O), desacetoxyvindoline-4-hydroxylase (D4H), flavanone 3β-hydroxylase (F3H), and hyoscyamine 6β-hydroxylase (H6H) are involved in catalyzing the biosyntheses of plant secondary metabolites. With the advancement of protein structural analysis software, it is possible to predict the catalytic sites of protein that shared a structural resemblance. By exploiting the superimposition model of DAOCS-IPNS, DAOCS-IPNS-CAS, G20O-LDOX, FLS-LDOX, ACCO-LDOX, D4H-LDOX, F3H-LDOX and H6H-LDOX model; a computational protocol for predicting the catalytic sites of proteins is now made available. This study shows that without the crystallized or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structures of most NHIDOX enzyme, the plausible catalytic sites of protein can be forecasted using this structural bioinformatics approach.Keywords: Enzyme, catalytic sites, isopenicillin N synthase, ligand

Production of biochar from rice straw and its application for wastewater remediation − An overview

The valorization of biochar as a green and low-cost adsorbent provides a sustainable alternative to commercial wastewater treatment technologies that are usually chemical intensive and expensive. This review presents an in-depth analysis focusing on the rice straw-derived biochar (RSB) for removal of various types of contaminants in wastewater remediation. Pyrolysis is to date the most established technology to produce biochar. Subsequently, biochar is upgraded via physical, chemical or hybrid activation/modification techniques to enhance its adsorption capacity and robustness. Thus far, acid-modified RSB is able to remove metal ions and organic compounds, while magnetic biochar and electrochemical deposition have emerged as potential biochar modification techniques. Besides, temperature and pH are the two main parameters that affect the efficiency of contaminants removal by RSB. Lastly, the limitations of RSB in wastewater remediation are elucidated based on the current advancements of the field, and future research directions are proposed

Specific, sensitive and rapid detection of human plasmodium knowlesi infection by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) in blood samples

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The emergence of <it>Plasmodium knowlesi </it>in humans, which is in many cases misdiagnosed by microscopy as <it>Plasmodium malariae </it>due to the morphological similarity has contributed to the needs of detection and differentiation of malaria parasites. At present, nested PCR targeted on <it>Plasmodium </it>ssrRNA genes has been described as the most sensitive and specific method for Plasmodium detection. However, this method is costly and requires trained personnel for its implementation. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), a novel nucleic acid amplification method was developed for the clinical detection of <it>P. knowlesi</it>. The sensitivity and specificity of LAMP was evaluated in comparison to the results obtained via microscopic examination and nested PCR.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>LAMP assay was developed based on <it>P. knowlesi </it>genetic material targeting the apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1) gene. The method uses six primers that recognize eight regions of the target DNA and it amplifies DNA within an hour under isothermal conditions (65°C) in a water-bath.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>LAMP is highly sensitive with the detection limit as low as ten copies for AMA-1. LAMP detected malaria parasites in all confirm cases (n = 13) of <it>P. knowlesi </it>infection (sensitivity, 100%) and none of the negative samples (specificity, 100%) within an hour. LAMP demonstrated higher sensitivity compared to nested PCR by successfully detecting a sample with very low parasitaemia (< 0.01%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>With continuous efforts in the optimization of this assay, LAMP may provide a simple and reliable test for detecting <it>P. knowlesi </it>malaria parasites in areas where malaria is prevalent.</p

A systematic review of the molecular simulation of hybrid membranes for performance enhancements and contaminant removals

Number of research on molecular simulation and design has emerged recently but there is currently a lack of review to present these studies in an organized manner to highlight the advances and feasibility. This paper aims to review the development, structural, physical properties and separation performance of hybrid membranes using molecular simulation approach. The hybrid membranes under review include ionic liquid membrane, mixed matrix membrane, and functionalized hybrid membrane for understanding of the transport mechanism of molecules through the different structures. The understanding of molecular interactions, and alteration of pore sizes and transport channels at atomistic level post incorporation of different components in hybrid membranes posing impact to the selective transport of desired molecules are also covered. Incorporation of molecular simulation of hybrid membrane in related fields such as carbon dioxide (CO2) removal, wastewater treatment, and desalination are also reviewed. Despite the limitations of current molecular simulation methodologies, i.e., not being able to simulate the membrane operation at the actual macroscale in processing plants, it is still able to demonstrate promising results in capturing molecule behaviours of penetrants and membranes at full atomic details with acceptable separation performance accuracy. From the review, it was found that the best performing ionic liquid membrane, mixed matrix membrane and functionalized hybrid membrane can enhance the performance of pristine membrane by 4 folds, 2.9 folds and 3.3 folds, respectively. The future prospects of molecular simulation in hybrid membranes are also presented. This review could provide understanding to the current advancement of molecular simulation approach in hybrid membranes separation. This could also provide a guideline to apply molecular simulation in the related sectors