Effects of precipitation methods on the properties of protease extracted from starfruit (Averrhoa carambola L.) of different maturity index / Normah Ismail and Ezzana Zuraini Zainuddin

Proteases were extracted from starfruit at maturity Index 2 (unripe, light green) and Index 7 (very ripe, orange) and partially purified using acetone and 40% ammonium sulfate precipitations. Higher yield and proteolytic activity were observed for proteases purified using acetone than 40% ammonium sulfate. As for maturity index, yield and protein concentration of proteases from Index 2 were higher than those from Index 7. SDS-PAGE result showed intense bands for acetone proteases while a distinct band at 50 kDa was observed in all the proteases. Enzyme activity decreased during the seven days storage at 4°C with minimum relative activity of 70%o achieved for acetone proteases at day seven. This study suggested that acetone precipitation is more effective method for purifying starfruit protease based on the yield and proteolytic activity compared to using 40%) ammonium sulphate precipitation. In order to obtain higher protein concentration and proteolytic activity, starfruit at the unripe stage, Index 2 is a better raw material than Index 7 to be used for protease production

The Influence of Job Demand, Respect, and Rapport on Work Engagement of Employees in the Foodservice Sector

Many foodservice operators in Malaysia depend on superior services to entice customers to keep visiting their business. The researchers chose a purposive convenience sampling, and questionnaires were distributed to 303 employees in the foodservice industry in three selected districts in Terengganu, Malaysia. Results of the inferential analysis revealed that there are positive relationships between two of the independent variables, respects, and Rapport with the dependent variable, job engagement. Job demand, however, has no significant impact on Job Engagement. We proposed that trust, efficient communication, mutual respect, and the honest relationship has a strong impact on employees’ engagement with their job.Keywords: Job Engagement; Job Demand; Rapport; Foodservice Industry eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2019. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v4i12.193

Supplier-retailer relational satisfaction in the chicken industry: rhetoric or reality

The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that influence the relational satisfaction between chicken retailers and chicken suppliers in Terengganu. In this study, relational satisfaction as the dependent variable and six independent variables, namely trust, commitment, service quality, personal, organization and the business environment. The independent variable in this research is divided into two components which are labelled as intangible factors and tangible factors. The result discovered that the correlation analysis, all six independent variables are positively and significantly correlated to the dependent variable. The regression analysis revealed that only the intangible variables have a significant and positive relationship with the dependent variable. Moreover, the trust factor is the most influencing factor among the retailers followed by service quality and commitment.Keywords: relational satisfaction; trust; service quality; chicken retailers; supplier

Paediatric asthma clinical pathway: Impact on cost and quality of care

INTRODUCTION: Uncontrolled asthma may cause an increase in healthcare utilisation, hospital admission and productivity loss. With the increasing burden of asthma in Malaysia, strategies aimed at reducing cost of care should be explored. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine if a clinical pathway (CPW) for inpatient paediatric asthma would reduce average length of stay (ALOS), improve asthma management and decrease cost. METHODS: A quasi-experimental, pre-post study was used to evaluate the CPW effectiveness. Paediatric inpatients aged 5-18 years old, admitted for acute asthma exacerbation from September 2015 to April 2016 were prospectively recruited. Data from patients admitted from January-July 2015 were used as control. CPW training was carried out in August 2015 using standardised modules. Direct admission cost from the provider’s prospective was calculated. Outcomes compared were differences in ALOS, discharge medication, readmission within 28 days of discharge and cost. RESULTS: ALOS is 26 hours lower in the CPW group for severe exacerbations and underlying uncontrolled asthma (19.2 hours) which is clinically significant as patients have shorter hospital stay. More newly-diagnosed intermittent asthmatics were discharged with relievers in the CPW group (p-value 0.006). None of the patients in the CPW group had readmissions (p-value 0.16). Mean treatment cost for patients in the intervention group is higher at RM843.39 (SD ±48.99, versus RM779.21 SD±44.33). CONCLUSION: This study found that management using a CPW may benefit asthmatic patients with uncontrolled asthma admitted with severe exacerbation. Further studies will be needed to explore CPW’s impact on asthma management starting from the emergency department. © 2019, Malaysian Medical Association. All rights reserved

Pusat kecemerlangan akademik: peer tutoring pembentuk generasi cemerlang

Pusat Kecemerlangan Akademik (PKA) yang ditubuhkan di UiTM Terengganu adalah untuk membantu pelajar-pelajar menangani permasalahan akademik. Dua program utama yang diaturkan ialah Program Mentor-Mentee (PMM) dan juga Program Tutor Muda (PTM). PMM memerlukan penglibatan pensyarah bagi mengenalpasti permasalahan yang dihadapi oleh para pelajar. PTM yang menerapkan konsep peer tutoring pula merupakan satu program bagi pembentukan budaya mencari ilmu dan juga budaya kecemerlangan bersama. PTM ini dikendalikan oleh tutor yang terdiri daripada pelajar-pelajar yang cemerlang bagi menggilap kecemerlangan mereka melalui khidmat sosial dan menunaikan tanggungjawab kepada warga kampus yang memerlukan. Berdasarkan maklumbalas tutor terhadap program PTM ini, didapati terdapat perubahan positif yang mereka alami selepas menyertai PTM. Kertas kerja ini akan membincangkan bagaimana PTM yang dibentuk oleh PKA dapat membantu UiTM Terengganu di dalam membudayakan konsep kecemerlangan dan juga melahirkan generasi ilmuan yang cemerlang bukan sahaja dari segi akademik tetapi mempunyai jati diri, berketerampilan dan mampu mewujudkan integrasi sosial yang mampan

Predictors of Customer Loyalty in Business to Business Trading

ABSTRACT The changing world motivates companies to use intermediaries to ensure their distribution channels are efficient and effective. Many firms serve as intermediaries in delivering products and services to other business organizations. This is known as business to business trading. In business to business (B2B) trading the company becomes an agent to deliver goods to another company. They resell the product to others without transforming or modifying the products. This research was conducted at Petrucom Sdn Bhd Terengganu, a supply based company who is facing challenges in building long-term relationship with their customers. Most of Petrucom Sdn Bhd customers' are not repeated customers. Therefore, this paper focuses on the factors that contribute to customer loyalty in Petrucom Sdn Bhd. Among the factors highlighted that may influence customer loyalty are responsiveness, communication, trust and customer satisfaction. The results of the study indicated that the most significant factor influencing customer loyalty is customer satisfaction. Customers will make repeated purchases when they are satisfied with the service or product offered. In conclusion, the company should be focusing on how to ensure customers are satisfied with their services whether its' good quality, affordable price, minimizing mistakes, ease in communicate and high responsiveness in creating customer satisfaction

Retracted: Employees’ perspective on factors influencing risk management practices in a furniture factory

This article was withdrawn and retracted by the Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences and has been removed from AJOL at the request of the journal Editor in Chief and the organisers of the conference at which the articles were presented (www.iccmit.net). Please address any queries to [email protected]

Assessment parameters of rock masses for excavation in relation to moisture content

The influence of moisture content on weathered rock arise frequent issues to the excavation works. A systematic approach of field and laboratory assessments were structured with geological data collection and excavation trial at two sites which Bentong site consist of sandstone and shale while Ulu Kinta site is characterized by granite to propose suitable assessment parameters of rock mass for excavation in relation to moisture content. Field study includes geological mapping and discontinuity survey in order to characterize the weathering state. Thirty-six trial tests were carried out during sunny days and after rainy days. Fourteen trials on sandstone and shale respectively and eight for granite. From field study, joint spacing are 0.1–2 m with maximum of four joint sets. Block size shows decreasing trend ranges from 1–0.1 m3 is slightly weathered to completely weathered rock mass. The result showed that block size more than 0.6 m3 could not be excavated. When involves block size ranges from 0.15–0.5 m3, the productivity less than 15 m3/h for all type of rock for slightly weathered rock mass. In highly weathered, block size ranges from 0.1–0.8 m3, productivity increase between 10–45 m3/h. Block size ranges 0.1–0.8 m3 does not influenced much on the productivity of completely weathered resulting 25–50 m3/h. It was found that increment of moisture content help to increase the productivity when the block size measured less than 0.3 m3 for all types of rocks. The productivity increased by 20–50% when excavated after heavy rain on moderately and highly weathered sandstone and shale. This study prove that moisture content could affects the excavation performance significantly on highly weathered rock mass. The effects are minimal on slightly, moderately and completely weathered rock mass. The block size does not become important factor in controlling the excavation performance in the completely and slightly weathered rock

Training manual on approach to unwell children under 5 years

In line with the SDG, Ministry of Health Malaysia aims to end all preventable deaths among newborn and children under 5 years and developed the ‘Training Manual on Approach to Unwell Children under 5 years’ (ATUCU5) based on the WHO IMCI strategy. ATUCU5 is meant for training of our health care providers on three main components, which includes early detection of danger signs, improvements in the case management skills and proper immediate treatment