Association Between Self-Esteem and Happiness Among Adolescents in Malaysia: The Mediating Role of Motivation

Adolescence is the developmental process of becoming an adult. This journey of physical and psychological maturation is filled with challenges and hormonal chaos, and teenagers experience unhappiness at times. From a psychological perspective, this study aimed to examine the association between motivation, self-esteem and happiness; and to explore the mediating role of motivation in the association between self-esteem and happiness among adolescents in Malaysia. 480 secondary school students were recruited using a multistage cluster sampling method and answered the Malay versions of the Subjective Happiness, Brief Motivation and Rosenberg Self-esteem scales. Both self-esteem and motivation were found positively correlated to happiness. The hypothetical mediating role of motivation on the association between self-esteem and happiness was also supported, indicating that individuals with higher self-esteem have higher motivation which may result in greater happiness. Since the direct association between self-esteem and happiness remained significant, a partial mediation of adolescents’ motivation between self-esteem and happiness is indicated. The results showed that perceived self-esteem plays a role in predicting happiness and the presence of motivation enhances happiness, providing an insight to nurture happier adolescents for parents and educators in Malaysia

Erwinia mallotivora sp., a New Pathogen of Papaya (Carica papaya) in Peninsular Malaysia

Erwinia mallotivora was isolated from papaya infected with dieback disease showing the typical symptoms of greasy, water-soaked lesions and spots on leaves. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain belonged to the genus Erwinia and was united in a monophyletic group with E. mallotivora DSM 4565 (AJ233414). Earlier studies had indicated that the causal agent for this disease was E. papayae. However, our current studies, through Koch’s postulate, have confirmed that papaya dieback disease is caused by E. mallotivora. To our knowledge, this is the first new discovery of E. mallotivora as a causal agent of papaya dieback disease in Peninsular Malaysia. Previous reports have suggested that E. mallotivora causes leaf spot in Mallotus japonicus. However, this research confirms it also to be pathogenic to Carica papaya

Effectiveness of Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE) as a Tool for Formative Assessment of Practical and Experimental Skill for Pre-University Students in Biology Course

In many science courses or subjects, lectures (theory) and practical (hands-on) are integrated with the view that theory can be explained in the lecture and then applied and tested in the practical class (Whitworth & Wright, 2015). Similarly, in the Biology course for Centre for Pre- University Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, a lecture on Introduction to Laboratory Instrumentation was conducted. Meanwhile, the practical application and demonstration for this topic were also carried out. The objectives for this practical are to describe the usage and to define the functions of basic laboratory equipment and apparatus as well as to demonstrate the correct way of handling basic laboratory equipment and apparatus

PPPU BULETIN : Special Edition Asasi Eco Ambassador

This publication will both encourage the students to continue spending the commitment of academic production and inspire juniors to follow their example. As in the past years, the write-up has demonstrated the wide variations of biodiversity, ecology, and environment study in various location of national park in Kuching, however, in this issue, you will find the study conducted within the campus area. Nevertheless, the study as far-ranging and divergent as eco-based potential plant for commercial uses, documentation of water quality, rapid wildlife survey, observation of plant-animal interaction, plant-plant interaction, fungi, gymnosperms, angiosperms, pteridophytes, Nepenthes, horticulture plant, palm species, medicinal plants, potential threat to ecosystem, and peat-swamp ecosystem. In a word, there is something for all the students

Chemical constituents of stem bark of shorea faguetiana

A phytochemical investigation on the acetone extract of the stem bark of Shorea faguetiana was conducted. The isolation of the chemical compounds was carried out by different chromatographic techniques and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including UV, IR, NMR and MS, and also by comparison with the literature. Five oligostilbenes were isolated and identified as (-)-ε-viniferin, (-)-α-viniferin, (-)-laevifonol, (-)-ampelopsin E and (-)-hopeaphenol

Brief Documentation of Terrestrial Ecosystem in Kubah, Bako, and Santubong National Park, Sarawak

The state of Sarawak is blessed with vast wilderness and thriving wildlife (Abu Bakar et al., 2016). The state has a flourishing biodiversity, ecology, and environment, packed with amazing national parks, which are worldrenowned. The parks are home to lush tropical rainforests and peculiar wildlife, all of which can be found in natural parks such as Kubah, Bako, and Santubong National Park. This documentation was briefly notes biodiversity, ecology, and environment-related information in the exceptionally rich ecosystems of flora and fauna of these national parks.The documentation was aimed at observing and documenting the ecosystem in Kubah, Bako and Santubong National Parks to assess future needs for ecosystem and education for a sustainable future. The documentation is also targeted at creating awareness on ecosystem and education, inspiring sustainable development goals, studying the selected flora and fauna of the area, and boosting the academic, research, and development value. Multiple perspectives for biodiversity, ecology, and environment of the parks such as scientific, historical, geography, values, cultural, and sustainability (Tan et al., 2009) are significant in the forming of a valuable framework for sustainable development. The outcome of the observation comprised a basic discovery of the mangrove ecosystem, pitcher plant, plant-animal interaction, and invertebrates in the parks. These have enabled the short and basic research documentation from the park’s ecosystem as well as presentation where valuable findings were shared