Sustainability Assessment of Malaysian Palm Oil Industry

The Palm Oil Sustainability Assessment framework has been developed to improve sustainability performance of Malaysian palm oil production. It was applied to a crude palm oil supply chain to identify sustainability improvement strategies. A biogas plant has been incorporated into the existing supply chain to improve the sustainability performance of crude palm oil production. This framework will assist stakeholders in the supply chain to select appropriate strategies for sustainable palm oil production

Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Early Childhood Teacher Preparation: The Impact of Contextual Characteristics on Coursework and Practica

The population of children in early childhood settings is becoming increasingly culturally and linguistically diverse, and these changes in demographics have warranted teachers becoming more culturally responsive and better prepared to work with diverse young children and families. Teacher preparation programs across the nation have responded differently to this critical issue because of the different contexts in which they are in. Some promising strategies are including cultural and linguistic diversity in both course content and clinical experiences into early childhood teacher preparation programs. Using data from the National Prekindergarten Center's (NPC) National Study of Early Childhood Teacher Preparation Programs and the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) Integrated Post-Secondary Education Dataset (IPEDS), this research study examined the variables that contributed to how much cultural and linguistic diversity content and experiences were required of Bachelor's degree students in their coursework and practica in early childhood teacher preparation programs. Specifically, geographical contexts, program and institutional characteristics were analyzed from a sample of 417 Bachelor's degree programs to determine how these variables predicted the amount of diversity content and experience required in teacher preparation programs. Results indicated that percentage of non-Hispanic White in a state, geographic region, degree of urbanization, governance of institutions, NCATE accreditation, and the presence of non-White full-time faculty in early childhood programs were predictors of coursework or practica requirements. Implications and recommendations for policy, future research, and early childhood teacher preparation are discussed

Effect of knowledge management, management innovation and dynamic capabilities in sustaining competitive advantage in turbulent business environments

The main purpose of this study was to examine the association of multiple firm-level capabilities (i.e. knowledge management, dynamic capabilities, and management innovation) with a proposed sustainable competitive advantage measurement in the Malaysian Electrical and Electronic industry. While sustainable competitive advantage was examined in relationship to multiple firm-level capabilities, this study also assessed the moderating effects of perceived environmental dynamism between the predictor variables and the criterion. The motivation for this study was driven by the need to examine sustainable competitive advantage in a holistic manner. This study used the resource-based theory (RBT) as the main theory to examine the relationships between the variables in the proposed conceptual framework. The simple random sampling procedure was used to select the targeted respondents comprised of E&E manufacturing firms in Malaysia. Of the 185 usable responses, the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the research hypothesis. Positive relationships were found in two direct relationships: sustainable competitive advantage and knowledge management, sustainable competitive advantage and dynamic capabilities, while perceived environmental dynamism did not moderate the relationships between the predictor variables and the criterion variable. While developing a new measure to conceptualise sustainable competitive advantage, its relationships with knowledge management, dynamic capabilities, and management innovation are hoped to contribute nascent theoretical insights. Practically, the findings provide the E&E manufacturing industry some guidance on how to sustain competitive advantage over the competitors. Likewise, the understandings may also assist the policy- makers to develop or to adjust policies to better-fabricate assistance channelled to the E&E manufacturing industry. Methodological limitations and potential avenues for future research are also identified

Marketing mix and STP strategies: an exploratory study into grocery retailers in Malaysia

The purpose of this paper is to obtain insights on the grocery retailer, by comparing across three retail formats (e.g. supermarket, minimarkets and convenience store) in Malaysia, and exploring how these local grocery retailers segment, target, position (STP Strategies) and plan for their marketing mix strategies. In order to investigate the experience shared among the retailers, the interview has been conducted, and textual analysis focused on comparing the similarities and differences in retail strategies has been adopted. The data were transcribed and analysed using content analysis with the aid of Quirkos software. The findings of the paper provide an alternative perspective for the retailers and marketers towards the importance of STP and marketing mix strategies in the grocery retail industry. The paper also demonstrates the extension in the current marketing literature, which address the crucial contribution of STP and marketing mix strategy in the marketing discipline

Impact Of Knowledge Management on Organisational Performance: An Empirical Study of Electrical and Electronics Industry in Malaysia

When encountering a business environment characterised with rapid changes, the manufacturing industry needs to emphasise knowledge management to enhance organisational performance. Knowledge management represents the processes and practices carried out in organisations to leverage their intellectual potential by enhancing the effectiveness and efïciency of their knowledge resources. A growing number of studies have demonstrated that knowledge management is related to organisational performance. However, the practice of knowledge management is not prevalent in many developing countries even though it has been claimed to be an essential component to enhance organisational performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of knowledge management and organisational performance using survey data obtained from 185 respondents in electrical and electronic (E&E) manufacturing firms in Malaysia. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the research hypothesis. The finding indicated a significant relationship between knowledge management and organisational performance. The result provides empirical evidence that it is imperative for business firms to manage their knowledge resources to enhance their organisational performance. Practical implications of the research finding for E&E manufacturing firms are discussed

The effects of construal level and donation magnitude: the case of cause-related marketing

Marketers are focusing on their corporate social responsibility in recent years, utilizing charity business as an effective sale and marketing strategy. A better understanding of consumer behaviour in relation to cause-related marketing (CRM) is critical, as both marketers and consumers are able to build a win-win relationship. Borrowing the construal level theory, we examined the effects of advertising framing in CRM, focusing on how construal level and donation magnitude could have affected consumer’s attitude and willingness to donate. The study proposes that words induce high construal level that consumers should have higher buying intention and willingness to participate in a word- vs. picture-based advertisement. Consistent with the previous study, the preliminary study had successfully attributed picture vs. words to low vs. high construal level. However, the main study results failed to indicate a higher intention to participate and to buy among consumers in a high (e.g. 25% of the selling price) vs. low donation magnitude (e.g. 5% of the selling price) condition. The contribution of the current study is expected to extend the construal level theory by assessing the donation magnitude, which affecting consumer behaviour in the marketing context. The findings of the studies added to the understanding of construal level and donation magnitude manipulations in CRM, which benefits both the CRM marketers as well as the academic researchers. Besides, this study also demonstrated the potential to develop brand awareness, promote a social cause and inspire consumers to demonstrate support for causes they concern about

Cucumber Mosaic Virus: Global genome comparison and beyond

Aims: The cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is categorized under the genus Cucumovirus and family Bromoviridae. This virus is known to infect over 1200 plant species from 100 families, including ornamental and horticultural plants. In this study, we pioneered a global genome comparison to decipher the unknown orchestrators behind the virulence and pathogenicity of CMV via the discovery of important single nucleotide polymorphic markers. Methodology and results: As a result, the genome size was found to be a potential preliminary country-specific marker for South Korea and the GC content can be utilized to preliminarily differentiate Turkey isolates from the others. The motif analysis as well as whole genome and coat protein phylogenetic trees were unable to form country-specific clusters. However, the coat protein haplotype analysis had successfully unconcealed country-specific single nucleotide polymorphic markers for Iran, Turkey and Japan isolates. Moreover, coat protein modelling and gene ontology prediction depicted high conservation across CMV isolates from different countries. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The country-specific single nucleotide polymorphic markers unearthed in this study may provide significant data towards the profiling of varying virulence and pathogenicity of CMV across the globe in time to combat the yield loss driven by this virus thru the most efficacious biological control measures in the future

EFFECT OF GROUND GRANULATED BLAST FURNACE SLAG ON MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF PVA-ECC

ABSTRACT As the most popular construction material, concrete has many advantages compared to other materials. However, its brittle nature causes cracking and results in many deterioration problems and failures in infrastructures. Considering the issue of sustainability, researchers around the world have conducted numerous studies to develop concrete that has better performances, higher durability, longer life span, and less damaging effects to nature. To obtain such characteristics, researchers not only focus on strength enhancement, but also ductility and toughness. This paper examines the effect of using ground granulated blast furnace slag as partial cement replacement in producing engineered cementitious composite (ECC), a ductile cementitious composite reinforced with short random fibers. Slag replacement is not only to increase the strength but also to create better fiber bridging property that results in better ductility of the material. Amount of slag replacement and slag fineness are the variables involved in the mixture proportions. The mechanical behaviors of ECC under uniaxial tensile tests and flexural tests as parameters to measure its ductility are reported

Consumer adoption of on-demand digital platforms: An integrated model

On-demand digital platforms are omnipresent in the contemporary marketplace of the digital era. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors influencing consumers’ intention to adopt on-demand digital platforms in the context of a developing country. Based on a modified integration of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) and the social influence theory, this study contended that electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) about on-demand digital platforms shapes consumers’ perceived risk and subjective norms, which, along with the other elements of UTAUT, influence their intention to use OnDemand digital platforms. A self-administered questionnaire was developed and distributed online, yielding a total of 226 responses, which were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The findings revealed that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, subjective norms, and perceived risk significantly affect consumers’ intention, wherein eWOM reduces perceived risk and shapes subjective norms to adopt on-demand digital platforms. Therefore, this study contributes to the literature on consumer adoption of new-age digital products, and in this case, on-demand digital platforms, with implications for theory and practice in this space

A five-year experience in endoscopic endonasal excision of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma

Introduction: Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is a histological benign but locally aggressive vascular tumour which can invade the base of skull. Aim: This is a retrospective study with the aim to examine the outcome of patients with JNA and endoscopic endonasal excision of tumour at a tertiary center in Malaysia. Material and methods: 9 patients were identified from the medical record office from 2015 to 2019. We review the data on patient demographics, clinical presentations, laboratory investigations, intraoperative blood loss and duration of hospital stay. Results and discussion: 8 patients were male, 1 was female. The average age of diagnosis was 15 (range 11 to 29) years. The commonest chief complaint was recurrent epistaxis, followed by nasal obstruction and nasal discharge. Three patients were at stage I, 4 patients at stage II, 1 patient at stage III and 1 patient at stage IV based on Fisch classification. All patients underwent primary endoscopic endonasal excision of tumour with no vascular, ophthalmological or neurological complication. Seven patients had preoperative embolization done. Average operation time was 137 minutes (range 60–360 minutes). Intraoperative blood lost varied from 500 mL to 1300 mL (mean 777.7 mL). All patients were discharged well with no recurrence. Conclusions: The management of JNA can be challenging. The current shift in management favouring endoscopic endonasal excision of JNA reduces postoperative morbidity. It is possible to be applied on all stages of tumour with good success rate