Antioxidant Activity of Selected Commercial Seaweeds

This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant activity (total antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities) of seaweeds commercially available in the Malaysian supermarket. Four types of seaweeds namely Nori (Porphyra sp.), Kumbu (Laminaria sp.), Wakame (Undaria sp.) and Hijiki (Hijikia sp.) were used in the study. The extracts were prepared with water and ethanol, respectively. The β-carotene bleaching and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays were used to determine antioxidant properties of seaweeds by measuring the decrease in absorbance at 470 and 517 nm. In water extract, Kumbu showed the highest total antioxidant activity of 63% compared with other samples. Kumbu, Nori and Hijiki exhibited higher radical scavenging activity than Wakame when extracted with water. Wakame exhibited the highest antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities in ethanolic extract with 58% and EC50 = 0.42 mg/ml respectively. The results of ANOVA analysis show significant differences (p<0.05) in the means of total antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of the seaweeds. The results showed that processed commercial seaweeds exhibited varying degrees of antioxidant properties

Culture and Time Perception: Implications for Mental Representation and Decisions

This thesis examines cultural variations in time perception, as well as the possible influences on mental representation and decisions. Building on prior research on cultural differences in time-related perceptions, two main time perceptions were identified and focused on, namely temporal orientation and the use of time metaphor. The temporal orientation line of investigation explores the implications of a stronger future versus past orientation among English and Mandarin-speakers respectively. Based on Construal Level Theory, temporal orientation is expected to be related to psychological distance, which in turn affects the mental representations individuals form. The findings supported a stronger future orientation among English-speakers which is also evident in their mental representations that vary as a function of temporal orientation. However, Mandarin-speakers exhibited neither a strong past nor future orientation. A study examining the possible influence of temporal orientation on value judgment revealed a complex association between culture and value judgment. The time metaphor line of inquiry investigates the use of time metaphors among English and Mandarin-speakers and also the possible implications of such tendencies. Although previous psychological research implies a possible connection between the use of time metaphor and sense of personal control, this relationship is yet to be established. The findings showed supportive evidence of a frequent use of ego and time-moving metaphors among English and Mandarin-speakers respectively. However, studies examining the relationship between the use of time metaphor, perceived personal control, and decisions (optimism bias and risk-taking) revealed little supportive evidence of an association between them. The findings and a range of methodological and theoretical implications are discussed in the closing chapter

The Intricate Relationship between Strategic Risk Management (SRM) And Strategic Agility In Semiconductor Industry

Manufacturing semiconductors is pivotal to Malaysia's economic growth and technological advancement. In terms of semiconductor exports, Malaysia ranks seventh worldwide. Malaysia's competitiveness has been enhanced by foreign investment and job creation. However, amidst the changing business landscape, strategic agility has emerged as a crucial organizational skill, allowing firms to swiftly adapt to market shifts, technological advancements, and customer demands. This paper aims to bridge the existing gap in the literature by examining the complex relationship between strategic risk management (SRM) and firm strategic agility within the semiconductor manufacturing sector. In spite of previous research exploring these concepts separately, limited empirical evidence connects strategic risk mitigation strategies to a firm's strategic agility, especially in change management settings. The research seeks to address this gap by addressing three key research questions: 1) The relationship between strategic risk identification and a firm’s strategic agility; 2) The impact of strategic risk assessment methods on a firm’s strategic agility; and 3) The association between strategic risk mitigation strategies and a firm’s strategic agility. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between SRM and strategic agility, offering insights crucial for organizations to navigate dynamic business environments effectively

The Impact of Gender Inclusivity On Strategic Foresight

Research about the intersection of gender inclusivity and strategic foresight application in a maledominated technological sector is rarely discussed in greater depth. It is widely known that genderinclusive organizations benefit in ways such as increased commitment, enhanced employee confidence, morale and job satisfaction, and an overall improved performance. Strategic foresight, on the other hand, is understood to be beneficial to organizations as it draws useful insights for strategic planning, policymaking, and readiness by anticipating trends, risks, developing issues, potential repercussions, and opportunities. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to highlight the possible approaches to understanding how gender-inclusive organizations may unleash capabilities for strategic foresight especially amongst middle managers. With the emerging number of women in tech, it would be strategic for organizations to leverage on this phenomenon. In addition, a theoretical perspective on the intersection of gender inclusivity and strategic foresight in the technology sectors can contribute towards the discourse on equity and social justice as enshrined in the United Nation SDG 5, namely gender equality and also the principles of ESG. Finally, the elements necessary for organizations to gain a better understanding of gender inclusivity and strategic foresight, some thoughts on future research directions and recommendations are discussed

The Value Of Ethics And Futures Thinking On Firms Strategic Decision Making

This paper explores the strategic convergence of ethical principles and foresight practices, and its impact on firm's strategic decision making within the context of healthcare. Healthcare is an essential part of society, and effective strategic decision-making is crucial for healthcare organizations to ensure efficient and high-quality delivery of care. Ethical considerations are especially important as the actions and decisions made by healthcare professionals impact the lives of individuals. Futures thinking, also known as strategic foresight, is a process of thinking critically about possible future scenarios, identifying opportunities and threats, and developing strategies to address them. Despite the potential benefits of incorporating ethical and foresight practices into strategic decision-making, research suggests that healthcare organizations may not be fully utilizing these practices in the private healthcare sector. In addition, there is a dearth of in-depth discussion which explores the relationships between ethics, futures thinking, strategic decision-making, and healthcare organizations' performance. Therefore, a conceptual framework linking ethical futures thinking and strategic decision making is proposed, to explore: (1) the concept of ethical future thinking and its role in strategic decision making; (2) the key success factors for nurturing ethical future thinking in private healthcare organizations; and (3) the challenges that might impede the effort. The proposed framework highlights the potential value of incorporating ethical and futures thinking practices into healthcare decision-making processes, and that it will further support the attainment of the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3), namely good health and well-being

For Women and by Women : The Case of Female Riding-Partner Adoption in Lily Ride, Bangladesh

The advent of the sharing economy has revolutionized various industries, and one sector that has experienced significant transformation is transportation. This paper discusses how the ride-sharing economy, driven by technological advancements and changing consumer preferences, has transformed the way people commute, creating a seamless connection between riding partners and passengers through digital platforms. Specifically, the discussion focuses on the strategic risk perception and female riding-partner (or driver) adoption within the context of female only ride-sharing service, Lily Ride in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Despite the growing popularity of female only ride-sharing services where the riding partners are female, there is a scarcity of female riding partners (or drivers). Thus, the aim of the study is to examine the underrepresentation of female riding partners in traditional ride-sharing services which perpetuates gender disparities in the transportation sector. A conceptual framework for female riding partner adoption is proposed, where the following questions are explored: What are the concerns and strategic risks that are holding potential female riding partners back? Are they lacking financial and societal support? Is there any trust issue that influences their hesitance in becoming a riding partner despite the obvious potential of economic gain? The proposed framework highlights the potential importance of resource support, trust and equitable reward in encouraging and facilitating female participation as riding partners within the male-dominated transportation sector. By providing a platform exclusively for female riding partners, women can participate in the flexible and inclusive income-generating opportunity, in line with the United Nation SDG 5 and the principles of ESG which seeks to empower women.Finally, some thoughts on future research directions and recommendations are also discussed

The Impact of Domestic Violence on Women’s Professional Competence And Organisational Performance

This study examined the impact of domestic violence in marriage against career women with children, and the effect of experiences on their professional competence as well as overall career performance. Domestic violence relationship is considered an issue of epidemic proportions in many parts of the world including Malaysia. Studies show that women generally are very cautious to discuss matters that might attract any negative perception onto themselves or their family. Despite the increasing recognition that women need additional structural support in their professional lives. This study employs qualitative research method and the preliminary findings suggest that women prefer to share stories with others; rely on trusted family and friends for support, and lodge police reports as well as keep to themselves, usually suffering in silence instead of seeking support from the organisational structure. The findings are part of a larger research on how domestic violence impact women’s professional competence at the workplace. The potential larger implication domestic abuse involving professional women and the potential overall effect on the organisational performance is also explored. Recommendations for future research and how the findings contribute to the effort to improve lives for women which is enshrined under Sustainable Development Goal 5 are also discussed

Economic Uncertainty and the Demand for Broad Money in South Africa

This paper scrutinised the impact of economic uncertainty on the broad money demand in South Africa using quarterly data from 2001 to 2018. Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (GARCH) model is employed to capture the volatilities of selected components in order to construct an economic uncertainty index (EUI) for South Africa. The constructed index is then used as a regressor along with real income, interest rate and exchange rate in determining South African demand for broad money. The empirical finding using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag approach notably shows that the EUI is negatively affecting South Africa’s demand for broad money in the long term. This reveals that economic agents tend to hold real or safer assets than riskier assets, thus reduce broad money demand during times of heightened economy in South Africa. The model is cointegrated in the long-run and stable with the inclusion of EUI in the broad money demand function for South Africa. The findings are able to assist policy makers in using suitable determinants as stabilisation tools and targeting a more effective monetary policy framework refined by appropriate monetary aggregates in South Africa

Cryopreservation of Neurospheres Derived from Human Glioblastoma Multiforme

Cancer stem cells have been shown to initiate and sustain tumor growth. In many instances, clinical material is limited, compounded by a lack of methods to preserve such cells at convenient time points. Although brain tumor-initiating cells grown in a spheroid manner have been shown to maintain their integrity through serial transplantation in immune-compromised animals, practically, it is not always possible to have access to animals of suitable ages to continuously maintain these cells. We therefore explored vitrification as a cryopreservation technique for brain tumor-initiating cells. Tumor neurospheres were derived from five patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Cryopreservation in 90% serum and 10% dimethyl sulfoxide yielded greatest viability and could be explored in future studies. Vitrification yielded cells that maintained self-renewal and multipotentiality properties. Karyotypic analyses confirmed the presence of GBM hallmarks. Upon implantation into NOD/SCID mice, our vitrified cells reformed glioma masses that could be serially transplanted. Transcriptome analysis showed that the vitrified and nonvitrified samples in either the stem-like or differentiated states clustered together, providing evidence that vitrification does not change the genotype of frozen cells. Upon induction of differentiation, the transcriptomes of vitrified cells associated with the original primary tumors, indicating that tumor stem-like cells are a genetically distinct population from the differentiated mass, underscoring the importance of working with the relevant tumor-initiating population. Our results demonstrate that vitrification of brain tumor-initiating cells preserves the biological phenotype and genetic profiles of the cells. This should facilitate the establishment of a repository of tumor-initiating cells for subsequent experimental designs

Does CSR image matter to hypermarket’s consumers in Malaysia? perspective from persuasion knowledge model

It is commonly accepted that positive corporate social responsibility (CSR) image brings desirable outcomes, for instance, brand loyalty, improved brand image, enhanced store image, as well as increased visit intention; suggesting there are various direct outcomes of CSR image. Underpinned by the Persuasion Knowledge Model (PKM), this paper proposes that these outcomes are presented in a sequential manner, where there is a core mechanism that relates CSR image to store image and brand awareness, and in turn associate with consumers’ visit intention. A quantitative research methodology has been used where a structured questionnaire was distributed to consumers in selected states in Malaysia using the mall intercept method. Structural equation modelling was applied to examine the proposed model. The discoveries of the current study offer the observed evidence for the correlation between perceived CSR image and hypermarket visit intention, mediated by overall store image and brand awareness. The study emphasises a prominent role of CSR schemes, bringing together the overall hypermarket store image and the hypermarket brand awareness, which will enable hypermarket management to further boost visit intention from consumers