Factors Driving The Use Of Web 2.0 In Branding Activities And Competitive Advantage: A Study Of Hospitality Industry In Penang

Kepesatan dalam bidang teknologi telah mewujudkan daya saing di antara sector perindustrian terutama dalam bidang teknologi iaitu Web 2.0. One of the defining features of competition in many industries has been the extremely rapid pace of technological change, marked by a continuous stream of new technology adoption which is Web 2.0

Marketing Strategies Of Housing Developers To Capture The MM2H Market Segment

Malaysia My Second Home Programme (MM2H) was initiated by the government to allow foreigners who fulfill certain requirements to reside in Malaysia with ten years visa and multiple entries passes. The participants of MM2H programme have increased over the years. It has become a potential market segment for housing developers. This study was done to examine how housing developers to cater this MM2H market segment. In this research, mixed methods were adopted to present a more comprehensive analysis. Data was collected via postal questionnaire survey, face-to-face interview and secondary sources. 41 usable completed questionnaires were returned. Eight interviewed housing developers formed the case studies for this thesis. The questionnaire survey found that only 7.3% of the respondents targeted a single nationality group. One of companies from the case studies targeted only the Koreans and subsequently found that it was a wrong marketing tactic. Also, this study found that most commonly developed product for MM2H house buyers were luxury condominiums and the price range of the dwellings was most frequently set at RM651,000 to RM850,000. Kuala Lumpur was the most preferred location for housing developments to cater for the MM2H segment due to easy accessibility to modern amenities and infrastructure. Lastly, the most executed marketing method by the sampled housing developers was company websites and property fairs in Malaysia. The findings of this study can be used as a reference for housing developers who are interested to tap into the MM2H market segment

Stopping the progression towards type 2 diabetes mellitus : investigating the hypoglycaemic (glucose-lowering) potential of antioxidant-rich plant extracts : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Nutritional Science, Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

Chapter 4 was published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license (CC BY 4.0) as: Lim, W X J, Chepulis, L, von Hurst, P, Gammon, C S, & Page, R A. (2020). An acute, placebo-controlled, single-blind, crossover, dose-response, exploratory study to assess the effects of New Zealand pine bark extract (Enzogenol ®) on glycaemic responses in healthy participants. Nutrients,12(2):497. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12020497Background: Prediabetes is a condition where the blood glucose levels are high but not high enough to be classified as having type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It is also considered a high risk for developing T2DM. There is increasing evidence that demonstrates antioxidant-rich plant extracts exhibiting hypoglycaemic effects in humans. Therefore the extracts may improve glycaemic control in individuals with prediabetes and help prevent or delay the progression of prediabetes towards T2DM. Overall Aim: To examine the acute hypoglycaemic potential of four antioxidant-rich plant extracts, namely the New Zealand pine bark, grape seed, rooibos tea and olive leaf extracts in humans. Methods/Design: The hypoglycaemic effects of the New Zealand pine bark was examined in healthy participants (n=25) in an acute, placebo-controlled, single-blind, crossover, dose-response (50 and 400 mg), exploratory study (Pine Bark study). Blood samples were collected via finger pricking using disposable lancet to measure glucose levels at -20, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with 75 g of glucose. The hypoglycaemic effects of grape seed, rooibos tea and olive leaf extracts matched for antioxidant capacity were examined in an acute, placebo-controlled, crossover study (GLARE study) in participants with prediabetes (n=19). Blood samples were collected via cannulating the antecubital fossa region of the arm at -10, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min during the OGTT with 75 g of glucose. Outcome glycaemic measures were analysed in both clinical studies (Pine Bark study and GLARE study). An in vitro mechanistic study investigating the potential inhibitory action of all four plant extracts (grape seed, rooibos tea, olive leaf and New Zealand pine bark) on digestive enzyme α-amylase and the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) enzyme were carried out using appropriate enzymatic assays of inhibition. Results: Prior to secondary analysis in the Pine Bark study, a significant reduction in the primary outcome mean glucose incremental area under the curve (iAUC) was only observed for the 400 mg dose of pine bark (21.3% reduction, p=0.016) compared to control. After stratification in the monophasic glucose curve shape group (n=12), 50 and 400 mg of pine bark significantly reduced the mean glucose iAUC compared to control (28.1% reduction, p=0.034 and 29.5% reduction, p=0.012), respectively. In contrast, mean glucose iAUC was not significantly different in the complex glucose curve shape group (n=13). In the monophasic group, 400 mg dose further improved glycaemic indices by reducing mean percentage increment of postprandial glucose (%PG) (33.9% reduction, p=0.010), mean glucose peak (11.2% reduction, p=0.025), and mean 2h postprandial glucose (2hPG) (8.9% reduction, p=0.027) compared to control. Within the complex group, there were no other significant changes except for reductions in mean %PG after 50 mg and 400 mg dose (33.8% reduction, p=0.012 and 41.4% reduction, p=0.025) compared to control, respectively. There were no significant differences between treatments in both subgroups (p>0.05). In the GLARE study, there were no overall significant changes in glucose and insulin responses between the extracts and control, or amongst the plant extracts (p>0.05). After secondary analysis, the less healthy subgroup (n=9), grape seed consumption showed significant reduction in mean glucose iAUC (21.9% reduction, p=0.016), mean 2hPG (14.7% reduction, p=0.034) and mean 2h postprandial insulin (2hPI) (22.4% reduction, p=0.029), whilst there was significant improvement in mean overall insulin sensitivity (ISIoverall) (15.0% increase, p=0.028) and mean glucose metabolic clearance rate (MCR) (16.7% increase, p=0.016) compared to control. Rooibos tea extract was shown to improve β-cell function measured by the mean oral disposition index (DI) (32.4% increase, p=0.031) in the less healthy subgroup compared to control. This was coupled with a non-significant improvement in insulin sensitivity measured by mean insulin-secretion-sensitivity-index-2 (ISSI-2) (18.3% increase, p=0.074). Olive leaf exhibited improved mean insulin sensitivity indices of insulinogenic index (IGI₃₀) (27.8% increase, p=0.078), Stumvoll first phase insulin sensitivity (ISIfirst) (17.8% increase, p=0.075) and Stumvoll second phase insulin sensitivity (ISIsecond) (15.6% increase, p=0.062) in the less healthy subgroup compared to control, although significance was not reached. Olive leaf extract was also consistently shown to elevate insulin levels in the study, with a higher mean 2hPI in the healthier subgroup (49.5% increase, p=0.030) and an elevated mean insulin iAUC in the less healthy (16.7% increase, p=0.040) subgroups. There were no significant changes in glucose and insulin responses in the healthier subgroup (n=10) compared to control nor between treatments in both subgroups (p>0.05). The mechanistic study demonstrated that the New Zealand pine bark extract exhibited the greatest inhibitory effects against digestive enzyme α-amylase (IC₅₀ 3.98 ± 0.11 mg/mL) and DPP4 enzyme (IC₅₀ 2.51 ± 0.04 mg/mL) compared to the other extracts (p<0.001). Both grape seed and rooibos tea extracts showed good inhibition of both enzymes tested. Rooibos tea was able to inhibit DPP4 enzyme to a greater extent than grape seed (p=0.018). In contrast, olive leaf extract showed minimal inhibition on α-amylase and no inhibition action against DPP4 enzyme. Conclusions: All four plant extracts (New Zealand pine bark, grape seed, rooibos tea and olive leaf) have shown acute hypoglycaemic potential in the Pine Bark study and the GLARE study by improving various indices of glucose and insulin responses in humans. The inhibitory action of the New Zealand pine bark, grape seed and rooibos tea extracts on DPP4 enzyme might have contributed to the hypoglycaemic effects observed in the clinical studies conducted. Whereas for olive leaf extract other underlying mechanisms on glycaemia remain to be elucidated. Our acute studies have indicated the need to investigate the chronic impact of these plant extracts in longer-term studies. Future studies in the prediabetes cohort should also look to target different metabolic profiles of varying degrees of dysglycaemia, as this may provide more meaningful results

Examining the Impact of Source-product Congruence and Sponsorship Disclosure on the Communicative Effectiveness of Instagram Influencers

Guided by the Persuasion Knowledge Model and the Attribution Theory, this study investigates the perceived source expertise-product attribute congruence and sponsorship disclosure as pertinent factors affecting the communicative effectiveness of influencers. Instagram, with an immense influencer market value projected at USD2.3 billion in 2020, was chosen as the platform context. The study utilised a 2 (source expertise) x2 (product category) x2 (sponsorship disclosure) experiment to examine the roles of source-product congruence and sponsorship disclosure in affecting consumers' perception of extrinsic and intrinsic source motives, consumer resistance and ultimately, advertising effectiveness. Results revealed that the presence of a sponsorship disclosure generated stronger perceptions of extrinsic source motives but did not impact consumer resistance and advertising effectiveness, indicating that the activation of consumers' conceptual persuasion knowledge may not necessarily affect attitudinal persuasion knowledge. Source-product congruence, on the other hand, had main impacts on intrinsic motives, consumer resistance and ad effectiveness. In addition, hierarchical multiple regressions found that source-product congruence triggers a multi-stage process where consumers' perception of intrinsic source motives mediates consumer resistance which subsequently, mediates the relationship between source-product congruence and ad effectiveness

High-throughput multicolor optogenetics for the systematic manipulation of cell behavior

Cellular optogenetics present a powerful approach to control biochemical reactions within living cells and tissues. In principle, optogenetic control offers data-rich experiments with precise perturbations and multiple channels of control (multiple stimulation colors). Further, because light patterns are programmable and light can be applied remotely, optogenetic experiments could be readily scaled up for high-throughput manipulation without the need for expensive robotics, bespoke microfluidics platforms, and perturbative media exchanges. However, there is a lack of methods to perform optogenetic stimulation in a high-throughput microwell format. Here, we describe the optoPlate-96, an LED-based device for independent control of 96 3-color optogenetic experiments in 96- or 384-well plates. The optoPlate-96 is compatible with long-term illumination both in cell culture incubators, as well as in live-cell microscopy. We will first demonstrate how the optoPlates enable more rapid, robust, and reproducible optogenetic experiments. Then, we will briefly detail two studies that highlight the utility of optoPlate experiments. In the first, we used the optoPlate to systematically assess how cancer cells process Ras-Erk signal dynamics differently from normal cells. In the second study, we demonstrated how 3- color (blue, red, far-red) optoPlate-96 illumination enables orthogonal control of red- and blue-responsive optogenetic proteins within the same cell. We used multicolor probing to study signal integration between Rasand PI3K signaling and uncovered new synergies between these two well-studied pathways. We anticipate that the optoPlate-96 will find broad utility and will help realize the potential of optogenetics for the quantitative dissection and manipulation of living systems. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Air Quality Measurements at a Laying Hen House: Particulate Matter Concentrations and Emissions

Particulate matter (PM) was measured in the ventilation exhaust air of a caged layer house using three tapered element oscillating microbalances (TEOMs). Diurnal patterns of PM concentration and emission were observed during 6 days in June 2002. The average daily mean (±95% c.i.) concentrations and emissions were 39±8.0, 518±74, and 1887±563 .g/m3 and 1.1±0.3, 16±3.4, and 63±15 g/d-AU for PM2.5, PM10, and total suspended particulates (TSP), respectively. Daytime (lights on) PM2.5, PM10, and TSP concentrations were 151, 108, and 136% higher (P\u3c0.05) than at night. Emissions peaked during the day when birds were most active and ventilation rates were the highest. Wide diurnal variations in PM concentration and ventilation were observed. PM emission was correlated to ventilation, ambient and exhaust temperatures, and relative humidity (P\u3c0.05)

Preliminary findings for Pulau Jerejak Leper Settlement: reconstructing the built and living environment of Camp 5

The purpose of this paper is to share the historical development of Camp 5, a leper camp on Pulau Jerejak. Pulau Jerejak Leper Settlement was operated from 1871 until 1969. The settlement has been an important collection center for leprosy patients in British Malaya before Sungai Buloh Leper Settlement was built in 1930s. During this period, six camps were built scattered around the island. One of the most important camps was Camp 5, completed in 1936. The camp was planned against the conservative idea of strict segregation where leprosy patients were segregated rigidly in prison-like environment. Camp 5 was planned in such ways where leprosy patients could freely conduct social-cultural events, practice their faiths, establish their own families, appointed as inmate workers, and etc. The houses were planned in clustered manner with well-planned agriculture plots and socio-cultural facilities. The planning layout of Camp 5 is an important historical clue to suggest how leprosy patients could have been segregated more humanely. Today, most of the structures in Camp 5 are in semi-ruined conditions. The available information is insufficient to support the current research. Therefore, this research had to rely on three methods; archival researches, interview and field works. Archival materials such as governmental annual reports and old illustrations will help to reconstruct its chronological developments, and the indexed remnants from the field works will be used to analysis and overlay with its chronological developments. Interviews are crucial to obtain deliberate information to reconstruct the previous living and built environment of Camp 5. By understanding the segregation idea implemented in Camp 5, researchers may be able to interpret and argue the theoretical discourse of modern segregations in dealing with diseases and suggest some historical lessons

To retire or not to retire: intention towards concept of retirement village in Malaysia

The aging population has become a global phenomenon, posing as a major societal issue, especially in developing countries. The retirement village concept has emerged as a reliable option to suit the retirement lifestyle of the elderly. The present study aims to explore the perceptions of Malaysians' buying intentions of retirement village units in Malaysia. Utilizing a quantitative approach, a total of 261 usable questionnaires were collected via self-administrated method and subsequently analyzed using PLS-SEM. Perceived risk, communicability, retirement planning, and social sustainability were found significant in influencing retirement village buying intention. The research findings have implications for both developers and academicians when embarking on retirement village project developments in Malaysia