Universiti Malaysia Terengganu Journal of Undergraduate Research

IMPACT OF pH, TEMPERATURE AND GAMMA RADIATION ON G6PD ACTIVITY AND ERYTHROCYTE MORPHOLOGY IN G6PD DEFICIENCY

2025-05-06T16:38:34+08:00

Glucose-6-Phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a genetic condition that primarily affects erythrocytes. G6PD is an enzyme predominantly found in erythrocytes, where it catalyses the oxidation of glucose-6-phosphate in glucose metabolism. Erythrocytes are blood cells produced by stem cells in the bone marrow. Previous research on G6PD deficiency has mainly focused on affected patients. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to optimise the effects of pH and temperature on G6PD enzyme activity, investigate the impact of G6PD deficiency on erythrocytes, and examine the morphology of both normal and G6PD-deficient erythrocytes after exposure to gamma radiation. For the methodology, the dilution method was employed to identify the optimal parameters for G6PD activity. Erythrocytes were obtained from both G6PD-deficient patients and healthy individuals. To study the reactions, substances such as uncoated aspirin and broad bean solutions were added to the erythrocytes. The erythrocytes’ morphology was then examined after exposure to gamma radiation from Cesium-137 for a week. After one week, the samples were observed under a Nikon Eclipse LV/UDM microscope. The results from this irradiation serve as evidence of the effects of G6PD deficiency on erythrocytes and highlight substances that may contribute to the deficiency.

MORPHOMOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT OF Brotia sp. AND ITS SEDIMENT GRAIN SIZE PREFERENCES AT KEMAMAN AND SETIU, TERENGGANU

2024-12-02T10:26:23+08:00

Brotia sp. is a freshwater snail that belongs to phylum Mollusca under the family Pachychilidae. Brotia sp. has variations in its morphological characteristics such as shape, size, and occupied different type of environments. However, this species has been reported to be in decline especially in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Currently, there is a gap in determining its morphological features and preferences of sediment chosen by Brotia sp. Therefore, this study aims to provide baseline information on morphological features of Brotia sp. and to investigate sediment grain size and total carbon content associated with their habitat. Sampling was carried out at two sites which are Felda Cherul, Kemaman and Sungai Sri Bayas, Setiu. All samples were measured for shell length and width. Sediment samples were collected and sieved through seven different mesh sizes. Total carbon in sediment samples was also determined by using Loss on Ignition (LOI) method. 67 individuals from each site were measured. In Kemaman, shell length of Brotia sp. ranged from 5.50 to 7.80 cm (mean, 6.57 ± 0.64) meanwhile the width ranged from 1.70 to 2.50 cm (mean, 2.06 ± 0.23). In Setiu, the shell length of Brotia sp. ranged from 2.10 to 5.80 cm (mean, 4.28 ± 1.03) and the width ranged from 1.00 to 1.90 cm (1.46 ± 0.25). In addition, the sediment at Felda Cherul, Kemaman had the highest percentage composition of grain size at 500 μm (coarse), accounting for 41%, while the total carbon content in the sediment was recorded at 3.8%. This study provides baseline information about Brotia sp. Which is beneficial for the management and sustainability of the species. Further investigation on their ecological importance in the freshwater ecosystem is recommended.

FACTORS INFLUENCING CONSUMER CHOICE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE USE IN KUALA TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA

2025-02-17T11:17:29+08:00

Increasing awareness among the people and significant efforts to reduce their carbon footprint from daily travel activities are essential. Electric Vehicle (EV) is an alternative mode of travel that is energy-efficient and do not depend on fossil fuels. However, the adoption rate of EV in Malaysia, particularly in smaller urban like Kuala Terengganu, remains relatively low. Therefore, this study aims to determine the factors that can affect consumers’ choice to use EV in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. This empirical study used a survey questionnaire distributed to 200 respondents in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. The data were analysed using descriptive and multiple regression analysis. The study findings revealed that Infrastructure Facilities, Consumer Income, and Consumer Knowledge have a significant impact on consumer choice of EV to reduce carbon footprints in Terengganu. However, the price of electric vehicle has no substantial impact on consumer choice for reduction of carbon footprint. It can be concluded that the price of EV, demographic profile of users, Infrastructure Facilities, and Consumer Knowledge are among the factors affecting consumers’ decisions to use EV in Kuala Terengganu to reduce carbon footprint.

SLANGA DAN HANTARAN BAHASA MELAYU DI MEDIA SOSIAL “X” A.K.A. “TWITTER”: ANALISIS PRAGMATIK

2025-09-11T14:36:05+08:00

Kajian ini meneliti penggunaan slanga dalam hantaran bahasa Melayu melalui platform media sosial X dalam kalangan mahasiswa Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) berdasarkan Teori Relevans. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk (i) mengenal pasti persepsi mahasiswa tentang penggunaan slanga, (ii) menganalisis aspek relevans dan inferens dalam penggunaan slanga dan (iii) menilai implikasi pragmatik penggunaan slanga terhadap kefahaman dan penerimaan bahasa Melayu dalam komunikasi digital. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa 89.2% responden pernah menggunakan slanga dalam hantaran mereka, manakala 47.7% bersetuju bahawa slanga menjadikan komunikasi lebih santai dan mesra. Namun begitu, sebanyak 27.7% responden menekankan bahawa slanga yang digunakan mestilah mudah difahami, manakala 23.1% mencadangkan penggunaannya hanya dalam konteks santai atau tidak formal. Dari perspektif pragmatik, penggunaan slanga dalam komunikasi digital mencerminkan keseimbangan antara usaha pemprosesan dengan kesan kognitif bagi memastikan komunikasi yang berkesan. Kajian ini mencadangkan penyelidikan lanjutan mengenai impak penggunaan slanga dalam konteks akademik dan profesional serta kajian korpus bagi mengenal pasti pola linguistik dengan lebih mendalam. Implikasi kajian ini memberikan pandangan kritikal kepada evolusi bahasa Melayu dalam era digital serta kepentingan menyesuaikan penggunaan dalam pelbagai konteks sosial dan profesional.

OPTIMISED EXTRACTION AND ANTIOXIDANT PROFILING OF IXORA JAVANICA VIA SPECTROSCOPY AND GC–MS

2025-09-01T22:37:46+08:00

Oxidative stress occurs when the human body produces free radicals, which can lead to disease. Consequently, there is interest in finding natural antioxidants from medicinal plants. Ixora javanica (commonly known as Bunga Jenjarum in Southeast Asia) has a traditional history of use for treating fever, infections, and inflammations; however, its antioxidant properties remain underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activity of extracts from Ixora javanica flowers prepared with methanol, a methanol: acetone mixture, hexane, and a hexane: ethyl acetate mixture. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays, Total Phenolic Content (TPC), and Total Flavonoid Content (TFC) using a 96-well plate. The methanol: acetone mixture contributed the best solvent system activity, as evidenced by the lowest IC₅₀ value of 48.73 µg/mL, and methanol was the second-best solvent system with an IC₅₀ value of 50.21 µg/mL, while non-polar solvent systems exhibited weak effects. The antioxidant assay indicates that the methanol: acetone mixture as a solvent revealed the presence of flavonoid and phenolic compounds in Ixora javanica. Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis determined the functional groups, such as hydroxyl, O–H (~3282 cm⁻¹) and carbonyl, C–O (~1070 cm⁻¹), indicating that Ixora javanica possesses bioactive compounds. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis identified 19 phytochemical constituents, including 2-butoxyethanol and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, which may contribute to the overall antioxidant activity of Ixora javanica. The observations suggest that the bioactive compounds and antioxidants of Ixora javanica have significant phytochemicals for the functional foods, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceutical industries, and that these need to be consistently validated in traditional uses.

PENGLIBATAN TENAGA KERJA DALAM INDUSTRI BATIK MALAYSIA: SATU KAJIAN FAKTOR-FAKTOR PENENTU

2025-08-17T09:40:24+08:00

Batik yang berusia lebih 2,000 tahun merupakan warisan seni budaya negara yang dinamik dalam pembangunan ekonomi komuniti, serta simbol pengukuhan perpaduan masyarakat berbilang kaum di Malaysia. Sebagai produk yang dibangunkan di desa, batik ialah industri berintensifkan buruh yang memerlukan bilangan pekerja mencukupi dalam setiap proses pembuatan bagi menghasilkan produk berkualiti tinggi. Namun begitu, golongan muda kurang berminat untuk bekerja dalam industri ini, dan lebih memilih untuk berhijrah ke bandar bagi mendapatkan pekerjaan. Dalam pasaran semasa, majoriti pekerja batik terdiri daripada individu berusia, dan kebanyakannya bekerja secara kontrak. Situasi tersebut menggambarkan bahawa bilangan tenaga kerja dalam industri ini tidak stabil. Oleh itu, objektif kajian ini adalah untuk mengkaji faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi penglibatan tenaga kerja dalam industri batik tempatan. Data primer yang dikumpulkan melalui soal selidik dianalisis menggunakan kaedah analisis korelasi dan regresi. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa faktor upah, minat, dan keluarga mempunyai hubungan positif yang signifikan dengan motivasi pekerja untuk bekerja dalam industri batik. Dianggarkan hanya 18% pekerja menerima manfaat perlindungan keselamatan sosial dalam pekerjaan mereka dalam industri ini. Implikasi kajian menunjukkan bahawa penawaran upah yang lebih kompetitif berupaya meningkatkan daya tarikan serta kestabilan pekerjaan dalam kalangan golongan muda untuk bekerja dalam industri ini. Sementara itu, sokongan keluarga perlu diperkukuh melalui kesan limpahan daripada insentif dan perlindungan sosial yang diberikan oleh pemilik perusahaan batik kepada pekerja. Pembangunan modal manusia yang efektif akan terus memperkukuh kelangsungan industri batik sebagai warisan budaya dan sumber ekonomi komuniti.

ANALISIS KETIDAKSAMAAN JANTINA DAN PERTUMBUHAN EKONOMI DI MALAYSIA

2025-08-18T10:04:55+08:00

Kajian ini meneliti kesan jangka panjang dan jangka pendek ketidaksamaan jantina terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi di Malaysia bagi tempoh 1990 hingga 2023. Walaupun akses pendidikan wanita semakin baik, penyertaan tenaga buruh wanita masih jauh lebih rendah berbanding lelaki, dan jurang pendapatan kekal ketara, sekali gus menimbulkan implikasi terhadap pembangunan ekonomi negara. Dalam kajian ini, Indeks Ketidaksamaan Jantina (GII) dibentuk sebagai suatu indeks komposit yang berasaskan kadar enrolmen pendidikan wanita serta kadar penyertaan dalam pasaran buruh. Model Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) digunakan bagi menilai hubungan antara GII dengan pertumbuhan ekonomi, berserta dengan pemboleh ubah kawalan seperti pelaburan langsung asing (FDI), keterbukaan perdagangan, kadar pertukaran efektif sebenar (REER), inflasi (INF), dan pembentukan modal kasar (GCF). Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa GII memberikan kesan negatif yang signifikan terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi dalam jangka panjang. Bagi jangka panjang, GCF, keterbukaan perdagangan, dan inflasi menunjukkan kesan positif yang signifikan terhadap pertumbuhan, manakala REER memberikan kesan negatif. Dalam jangka pendek, hanya REER dan inflasi menunjukkan kesan yang signifikan. Nilai pekali pembetulan ralat (ECT) yang negatif dan signifikan mengesahkan wujudnya keseimbangan jangka panjang dalam model. Berdasarkan penemuan ini, kajian mencadangkan agar dasar awam memberi tumpuan kepada pengurangan jurang penyertaan tenaga buruh antara lelaki dengan wanita melalui peningkatan akses kepada peluang pekerjaan, penguatkuasaan gaji setara, dan sokongan institusi terhadap penglibatan ekonomi wanita di Malaysia.

IMPLICATIONS OF ZOONOTIC PARASITE, Anisakis spp. TO SEAFOOD SAFETY: A REVIEW

2025-01-23T12:47:03+08:00

Anisakis spp. are marine parasitic nematodes commonly found in seafood, particularly in coastal fish that can cause anisakiasis and allergic reactions in humans. Despite increasing clinical reports, the allergenic profiles of different Anisakis species and their hybrids remain incompletely characterised. This review aims to consolidate and analyse current knowledge on the identification, classification, and molecular characteristics of allergens present in Anisakis simplex sensu stricto, Anisakis pegreffii, and their hybrid haplotypes to better understand their roles in allergic pathogenesis. A systematic bibliographic search was conducted using scientific databases including PubMed Central, ScienceDirect, Springer Link, Wiley Online Library, and Google Scholar. A total of 89 relevant peer-reviewed articles were selected based on inclusion criteria focusing on allergen identification, immunological reactivity, and diagnostic development. Data were extracted and analysed based on allergen type, molecular properties, and relevance to clinical allergy. 14 allergens were identified across the studied Anisakis species, with Ani s 1, Ani s 7, and Ani s 12 consistently reported as major allergens due to their strong IgE-binding properties and resistance to heat and digestion. Minor allergens, including Ani s 4, Ani s 5, Ani s 6, Ani s 8, and Ani s 11 were also noted, showing variable immunogenicity and potential cross-reactivity with other nematodes and invertebrate allergens. Current diagnostic limitations were observed in serological testing and allergen standardisation. The review highlights the emerging role of advanced techniques such as LC-MS/MS, immunoblotting, and transcriptomic profiling in improving allergen detection and characterisation. This review emphasises the need for integrated molecular and immunological approaches to improve allergen identification in Anisakis spp. The findings can inform clinical diagnosis, therapeutic development, and seafood safety regulations. Better understanding of the allergen profiles supports targeted public health interventions and risk assessments for anisakiasis and Anisakis-related allergies.

ENHANCING CUSTOMER RETENTION THROUGH SERVICESCAPE: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR COFFEE SHOP BUSINESSES

2025-06-11T11:35:34+08:00

This conceptual study examines the critical issue of customer retention in the coffee shop business, particularly in the northern part of Malaysia, where competition is intensifying. Although the importance of servicescape and customer retention is acknowledged across many businesses, empirical studies examining their joint impact in the coffee shop environment are few. The primary objective of this study is to present a conceptual framework outlining the impact of various servicescape qualities on customer retention. A deep literature review was conducted to accomplish this. The finding will underscore the imperative for coffee shop proprietors to create an inviting, pleasant environment that fosters customer satisfaction and, in turn, enhances retention. Finally, this conceptual study provides significant theoretical insights and practical implications for practitioners seeking to enhance performance and maintain competitiveness in the coffee shop business.

A REVIEW OF THE EFFECTIVE CONTRIBUTION OF HALAL HOLISTIC HOSPITALITY TO ATTAIN THE UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (UNSDGs)

2025-08-07T16:42:00+08:00

Halal Holistic Hospitality (3H) incorporates Islamic ethical standards with sustainability and inclusivity. These service practices are multidimensional, including halal food and drinks, Muslim-friendly accommodation, and Sharia-compliant wellness. These three pillars ensure that Muslim travellers’ spiritual, cultural, and well-being needs are fulfilled. This study seeks to assess the effectiveness of 3H in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). The current study adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). A thorough keyword search was conducted across several databases, including Scopus, Dimensions, Open Alex, and ProQuest, covering the period from January 2014 to 3^rd November 2024, yielding 641 research articles. After screening, 241 studies were included in the final review. The results demonstrate that Halal Holistic Hospitality significantly contributes to the UNSDGs, particularly ‘Decent Work and Economic Growth’ (SDG 8) and ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities’ (SDG 11). However, there are still significant challenges, for instance, security issues arising from inadequate preparation by local governments and a lack of digital awareness among stakeholders. There is also limited generalisability of cross-cultural tourist activities. These challenges hinder the efficacy of 3H implementation. Despite this, this framework exhibits strong potential for community well-being and promotes ethical consumption and inclusive tourism development. This research explores the conceptual framework of 3H, defines its integration with global sustainability goals, and highlights opportunities for future research. This review clearly suggests that 3H could assist in the development of halal tourism in an impartial and sustainable manner. It can be achieved by investing in digital innovation, comprehensive certification standards, and different comparative studies across regions.