INOVAÇÃO DE PRÁTICAS ALTERNATIVAS DE SUPERVISÃO PARA CONCLUSÃO DE PROJETO DE PESQUISA DE AÇÃO EM SITUAÇÃO PANDÊMICA COVID-19 - UM ESTUDO BASEADO NO BACHARELADO (HON.) EM EDUCAÇÃO ESPECIAL (BEDSNE) OFERECIDO PELA UNIVERSIDADE ABERTA DE SRI LANKA (OUSL)

Supervision plays a vital role in the completion of the research project in the bachelor’s degree programmes (Askew et al., 2016). Changes in the delivery of research programmes at the university level have, in recent years, resulting in significant changes to research supervision (McCallin & Nayar, 2012). Especially, the global pandemic COVID-19 has forced academics to be engaged to find out alternative strategies to supervise their students (Wisker, et al. 2021). On other hand, the Covid-19 pandemic had negative effects on the process of research of the programmes (Boufenchoucha & Chandra, 2021). The aim of this study is to innovate the Alternative Supervision Practices for Completion of the Action Research Projects of the BEDSNE programme offered by OUSL during the COVID-19 Pandemic Situation. A fully qualitative approach was followed to conduct this study and a multiple case study design was utilized to conduct the study. The target population was 86 students, and 4 students were supervised by a particular supervisor selected by using the convenience sampling method. Data was collected using reflective journals and semi-structured in-depth interviews. The thematic analysis technique was utilized to analyse the data. The findings: all four students lack knowledge and never skills in action research. Online supervision support to get regular support from the supervisor, time management, managing unnecessary cost, peers, and family members. ZOOM is good for meeting with the supervisor, email is good for sharing the documents with the supervisor and getting immediate feedback from the supervisor, and social media support for the communicating with supervisor and getting support from peers. Online supervision has more advantages than onside supervision. Conclusion: online supervision is more appropriate to supervise the action research of bachelor students in the Open and Distance Education (ODL) mode. Recommendation: supervisors can use online supervision strategies to supervise students in prevailing situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis of Sri Lanka.A supervisão desempenha um papel vital na conclusão do projeto de pesquisa nos programas de bacharelado (Askew et al., 2016). Mudanças na realização de programas de pesquisa a nível universitário resultaram, nos últimos anos, em mudanças significativas na supervisão da pesquisa (McCallin & Nayar, 2012). Especialmente, a pandemia global COVID 19 forçou os acadêmicos a se engajarem para descobrir a estratégia alternativa para supervisionar seus estudantes (Wisker, et al. 2021). Por outro lado, a pandemia COVID 19 teve efeitos negativos no processo de pesquisa dos programas (Boufenchoucha & Chandra, 2021). O objetivo deste estudo é inovar as Práticas Alternativas de Supervisão para Conclusão dos Projetos de Pesquisa de Ação do programa BEDSNE oferecido pela OUSL durante a Situação Pandêmica da COVID-19. A abordagem totalmente qualitativa foi seguida para conduzir este estudo e o desenho de múltiplos estudos de caso foi utilizado para conduzir o estudo. A população alvo era de 86 estudantes, e 4 estudantes foram supervisionados por um supervisor em particular, que selecionou usando o método de amostragem de conveniência. Os dados foram coletados utilizando um diário reflexivo e uma entrevista aprofundada semestruturada. A técnica de análise temática foi utilizada para analisar os dados. Os resultados: todos os quatro alunos tinham falta de conhecimento e nunca habilidade na pesquisa de ação. Apoio de supervisão on-line para obter apoio regular do supervisor, gerenciamento de tempo, gerenciamento de custos desnecessários, colegas e membros da família. ZOOM bom para se reunir com o supervisor, e-mail bom para compartilhar os documentos com o supervisor e obter feedback imediato do supervisor, apoio da mídia social para a comunicação com o supervisor e obter o apoio dos colegas. A supervisão on-line tem mais vantagens do que a supervisão onside. Conclusão: a supervisão on-line é mais apropriada para supervisionar a pesquisa de ação dos estudantes de bacharelado no modo de Educação Aberta e à Distância (EAD). Recomendação: os supervisores podem usar as estratégias de supervisão on-line para supervisionar os estudantes nas situações predominantes como a pandemia COVID-19 e a crise econômica do Sri Lanka

THE IMPACT OF THE SILENT ENEMY (COVID-19 PANDEMIC) ON THE MARKETING EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN BY THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRIES IN MALAYSIA

The impact of a dangerous pandemic to human life is not a new chapter in human history. However, the silent enemy (Covid-19) pandemic crept from Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, at an exponential rate that it shifted the rhythm of the world. The crisis that started in China has become a global crisis that crippled many nations in terms of health and economy. From the events that have happened and still happening, we can notice that humans were not prepared for the onslaught of this killer pandemic. The businesses and industries in Malaysia were also not spared by this killer pandemic. One of the hard-hit industries, due to this pandemic is the automotive industry in Malaysia. Therefore, this research aims to discover how Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the marketing efforts undertaken by the automotive industry in Malaysia. Consequently, to achieve the objective of this research, the survey technique is used to develop a detailed profile, which is gathered from 337 out of 450 formal standardized questionnaires sent online to marketers at twelve automotive companies in Malaysia. This research applied the quantitative methods to yield empirical results and validations that answer the research question. The literature examined the areas of the marketing concept, context and strategies to fill the gap and to determine the significant relationship between the Covid-19 pandemic and the marketing efforts undertaken by the marketers of the automotive industry. The analysis shows that Covid-19 pandemic has a significant relationship and correlated negatively to marketing efforts. The hypothesis proved that Covid-19 pandemic has a significant relationship with marketing efforts. Thus, this study could also help all other businesses and industries in Malaysia stay vigilant and overwhelm the assault of this silent enemy. By making a shift to its marketing concept, context and strategies, the automotive industry could regain its momentum from the onslaught of the silent enemy (Covid-19) pandemic.  Article visualizations

A CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACT OF EMPLOYEE TRAINING PROGRAMS ON JOB PERFORMANCE AND JOB SATISFACTION IN THE TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES IN MALAYSIA

Presently, many companies are confronted with tribulations while operating in a tempestuous business atmosphere; this is combined with the global pandemic, which is Covid-19, that has deteriorated the potency of the businesses. The telecommunication companies in Malaysia were also affected during these conditions. Therefore, a vital stratagem for the telecommunication firms to attain competitive advantage is through training programs conducted for all its employees throughout the various sections in the organization in order to beat this present obstacle. The objective of this research is to uncover if training influences job performance and job satisfaction which are two critical factors that guarantee the survival and growth of the telecommunication firms. Therefore, to realize the aim of this study, the survey technique is applied to cultivate a detailed profile which will be distributed to employees of three leading telecommunication cooperates in Malaysia. This study will use quantitative methods to generate empirical results and substantiations that responded to the research questions. The literature section scrutinized the areas of training, job performance, and job satisfaction to fill the gap and to determine the influence of training programs on job performance and satisfaction of employees. Therefore, the findings of this study could perhaps aid other corporations in Malaysia to instil continuous and well-planned training programs and not to take for granted the significance of training to improve job performance and satisfaction during the times of environmental turbulence. Thus, this could ensure that competitive strength is unceasingly maintained in the telecommunication firms in Malaysia.  Article visualizations

Synthesis and characterization of smart block copolymers for biomineralization and biomedical applications

Theromoreversible, injectable pentablock copolymers with pH, ionic, and glucose sensitivity have been developed for biomineralization and biomedical applications. The polymers were synthesized using living polymerization methods with low polydispersities and controlled polymer architectures. Further, living polymerization facilitated end group functionalization of these polymers, which facilitated biomineralization and biomedical applications. The end groups were modified with acrylates, amines, N-hydroxysuccinimide ester to facilitate crosslinking, dye attachment and peptide attachment to these polymers. The polymer structures were characterized using various spectroscopic, scattering, mechanical and thermal characterization techniques. Ionic polymers and their peptide conjugates were developed and characterized for their potential in templated mineralization of calcium phosphate crystals. Calcium phosphate crystals were synthesized using a self-assembling bottom-up approach with ordered structure and nanometer length scale using these polymer templates. The morphology and size of the crystals were found to depend on the polymer chemical and structural properties. The templated structure was characterized using small angle scattering, rheology, and other complementary techniques such as, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Boronic acid based pentablock copolymers which exhibited thermoreversible gelation and glucose responsiveness were synthesized and characterized. The photo crosslinkable polymers were tested for cartilage healing materials applications while dye and peptide attachment methods were used for cellular trafficking studies in non-viral gene therapy. In short, this thesis work presents the development and characterization of a family of injectable thermoreversible self-assembling pentablock copolymers with enormous potential in future biomineralization and biomedical applications

Preliminary studies of isozyme patterns of isolates of colletotrichum gloeosporioides from host plants in Malaysia

Isozyme variation of 25 isolates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides from 12 different Malaysian host plants were studied using polycrylamide gel electrophoresis. The hosts included seven species of legumes and one species Fach of citrus, grass, cocoa, pepper and chiUi. One to five electromorphs per enzyme were produced for the five enzyme systems typed. Some isolates did not produce any bands for the enzymes studied. Double to multiple bands were observed with esterases, MDH, GLDH and LDH. Only one pepper isolate produced a single band for GDH. Some variations among the isolates of different host plants were observed with the isozyme patterns of esterases and MDH. Isozyme tests may prove to be a useful tool in the identification of C. gloeosporioides of different host plants when mOre samples are tested in future

Comparative studies of isolates of colletotrichum gloeosporioides from eighteen Malaysian hosts

Colletotrichum gloeosporioidesfrom eighteen Malaysian hosts, namely mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata), cacao (Theobroma cacao), an orchid (Cattleya sp.), pepper (Piper nigrum), chilli (Capsicum annum), grass (Imperata cylindrica), mango (Mangifera indica) and legume cover crops (Pueraria phaeseoloides, Centrosema pubescens, and Calopogonium mucunoides) and a weed (Mimosa pudica), vegetables (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus, Phaseolus vulgaris, Vigna radiata, Vigna sesquipedalis and Arachis hypogaea), a shrub (Leucaena leucocephala) and a herbaceous vine (Clitoria ternatea) were examined for colony growth characteristics, morphology of conidia, growth on various media and temperatures and pathogenicity on Phaeseolus bean hypocotyls. Conidium size ofColletotrichum gloeosporioides was 14.25-19.0 x 2.7-5.03 llm. The appressorium size was 6.34-10.08 x 5.28-7.31 llm and the shape was globose/sub-globose/lobed. No correlation between the appressorium size and shape was noticed. The optimum temperature for growth was 28 and 30°C. None of the isolates caused infection symptoms on Phaseolus bean hypocotyls

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ONLINE LEARNING AND STUDENT’S PERFORMANCE IN THE RURAL AREAS IN MALAYSIA - THE MEDIATING ROLE OF PARENT’S SUPPORT

This study was undertaken during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown to scrutinise the mediating role of parental support on the relationship between online learning and student's academic performance. To realise the objectives, the researchers used the quantitative approach to explore this mediating effect. The population of this study was 7.4 million families who are living in the rural areas in Malaysia. Using the simple random sampling method, 650 parents in rural areas were chosen as the participants in this research. For data collection, closed-ended questionnaires were used by the researchers. Out of the 650 questionnaires, 437 were collected, but only 426 could be used as the respondents did not fully complete the rest. The results of this research illuminated that parent's intervention and support are statistically and significantly necessary during their children's online learning sessions to enhance their children's academic performance during the Covid-19 pandemic. This research can guide academics in public and private education sectors, parents, and the Ministry of Education to focus and upgrade the online learning and teaching methodologies rather than just depending on conventional teaching and learning methodologies. Online learning could be beneficial whenever a catastrophic incident occurs that may disrupt children's education; as such, it would be wise to encourage parents to be always ready for this new way of learning in the new milieu.  Article visualizations

AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL CAPITAL ON THE DIGITAL ENTREPRENEURS’ PERFORMANCE DURING THE OMICRON VARIANT WAVE (SARS-CoV-2: B.1.1.529)

This study empirically scrutinises the relationship between social capital and entrepreneurial performance during the Omicron variant (SARs-CoV-2: B.1.1.529) spread in Malaysia. This study focused on spousal social support, social network, social media usage, and the digital entrepreneurs' performance. This research applied quantitative methods to yield empirical results and substantiations to answer the research questions. Data was collected using a questionnaire through Google Docs. A total of 313 digital entrepreneurs operating their ventures in West Malaysia contributed the data for this study which led to the discoveries, reasonings, and final judgments. The results attained in this study reveal statistically significant relationships among spousal social support, social network, and social media usage with the digital entrepreneurs' performance during the onslaught of the silent enemy (Omicron variant), which is spreading at an alarming rate. Additionally, this study's breakthrough will undeniably give the digital entrepreneurs assurance to form a formidable relationship with their spouses, create and increase the social networks between all stakeholders of the business, and use social media extensively to gain resources and customers during the Omicron shockwave. Moreover, by improving the relationship with their spouse, optimising the social network, and augmenting social media usage, the digital entrepreneurs can heighten their business performance and endure the challenges that they are subjected to during the assault of the Omicron wave in Malaysia.JEL: L10; J10  Article visualizations

THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF RELATIONSHIP MARKETING STRATEGY BETWEEN DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGY AND CONSUMERS’ PURCHASE DECISIONS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY IN MALAYSIA

The intent of this research is to scrutinise the impact of digital marketing strategies applied by marketers in the automotive industry in Malaysia in aiding consumers to make purchase decisions. In reality, marketers know that digital marketing strategies alone will not lead to consumers’ purchase decisions because not all consumers can be motivated by digitalisation. Another significant factor in influencing consumers’ purchase decisions is relationship marketing strategies. Therefore, the interceding impact of relationship marketing strategy between digital marketing strategy and consumers’ purchase decisions was analysed in this study to support the research hypothesis. A total of 605 marketers employed in the automotive industry furnished the data for this study. Moreover, in-depth literature was reviewed to expose the association between digital marketing strategies, relationship marketing strategies, and consumers’ purchase decisions. The findings of this research indicated a statistically significant relationship between digital marketing strategy and relationship marketing strategy as well as consumers’ purchase decisions. Conclusively, the hypothesis is supported by data and illustrated that relationship marketing strategy statistically mediates the relationship between digital marketing strategy and consumers’ purchase decisions in the automotive industry in Malaysia. Furthermore, this research also proves that marketers who utilise all avenues of digital marketing strategies will be able to communicate and build a robust relationship with consumers, which leads to positive consumers’ purchase decisions. In conclusion, digital marketing strategies with the interceding relationship marketing strategies can influence consumers to make a favourable purchase decision that benefits marketers, consumers, and the automotive industry in Malaysia. JEL: M10; M30; M31; L62  Article visualizations

Effect of cellular polyanion mimetics on tau peptide aggregation

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146415/1/psc3125.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146415/2/psc3125_am.pd