The Sustainable Purchase Intention in a New Normal of COVID-19: An Empirical Study in Malaysia

Muhammad Safuan Abdul LATIP,Farhana Tahmida NEWAZ,Siti Nur Nadhirah Abdul LATIP,Rachel Yong Yuen MAY,Ahmad Esa Abdul RAHMAN 한국유통과학회 2021 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.8 No.5

The study investigated the effect of food safety knowledge, food safety trust and the factors influencing organic food purchase intention in the ‘new normal’ of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study employed non-contrived and cross-sectional methods. The data was collected in Malaysia using convenience sampling. A total of 330 valid questionnaires were analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and PROCESS for hypothesis testing. The study revealed a significant relationship involving food safety knowledge on personal attitude, perceived social pressure, and perceived autonomy. Moreover, organic food purchase intention was found to be influenced by personal attitude, perceived social pressure, and perceived autonomy. Interestingly, trust in organic food safety moderated the relationship between perceived autonomy and organic food purchase intention. The study proved valuable for stakeholders and organic food producers to understand the ‘new normal’ COVID-19 market scenario for a sound understanding of the market and the sustainability of the organic food industry. A new research framework is proposed and validated, related to individual purchase decision in global health issues which is limited in current literature. Hence, the study contributed to a better comprehension of green consumerism mainly in the Asian market.

A Baseline Assessment of Coral Reef in Malacca Straits, Malaysia

Che Din Mohd Safuan,Azizi Ali,Zuraini Zainol,Ahmad Ali,Mohd Fadzil Mohd Akhir,Aidy M. Muslim,Zainudin Bachok 한국해양과학기술원 2018 Ocean science journal Vol.53 No.2

Coral reefs along the Malacca Straits (MS) are poorly developed mainly due to turbidity and sedimentation. This study describes the health status and community structure of the corals in Cape Rachado, West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia (WCPM), utilizing the Coral Video Transect (CVT) technique. All the survey transects were categorized as ‘fair’ coral conditions (27.39 ± 5.41%–48.56 ± 18.96%) with the reef floor mainly covered by corals and sediment. Twelve families of coral comprised of 25 distinct genera were identified. Coral communities were differentiated into four clusters with each being predominated by Galaxea, Diploastrea, Fungia and Pectinia respectively. Among all, Pectinia is the most spectacular genera and dominated the survey area. Along the MS, Favia, Favites and Porites are commonly found while Porites and Pectinia dominated the reefs. Low coral cover and diversity was recorded in MS as compared to the reefs in the South China Sea (SCS). The most prominent results include changes in the dominant coral from Porites to Pectinia while some species such as Acropora were absent from the study area. Based on the presented data, the reef in the study area was predominantly occupied by sediment and the coral communities were formed by a species with a high tolerance to turbidity and sedimentation.

Current Status of Coral Reef Fish Abundances at Pulau Bidong and Nearby Islands, South China Sea Using Stereo-Diver Operated Video System

Afiq-Firdaus Aminudin Muhammad,Safuan Che Din Mohd,Shafie Suhaidi,Izhar Lila Iznita,Awalludin Ezmahamrul Afreen,Ahmad Muhammad Faiz,Johari Nur Arbaeen Mohd,Bachok Zainudin 한국해양과학기술원 2023 Ocean science journal Vol.58 No.2

Tropical coral reef fish assemblages in the South China Sea (SCS) have not been well-studied; thus, this research investigated the species richness of coral reef fishes at Pulau Bidong and the surrounding islands of Terengganu, Malaysia. Fish surveys were conducted using the Stereo-Diver Operated Video System (Stereo-DOVs) technique from July to October 2019 at 14 sites with different underwater reef structural features. A total of 8259 individuals and 52 reef fish species belonging to 14 families with a density of 23.597 ind. m− 3 were identified and counted from the surveys. Among the families, Scaridae (parrotfish— herbivore), Labridae (wrasse—invertivore), Serranidae (grouper—carnivore), Lutjanidae (snapper—carnivore), and Chaetodontidae (butterflyfish—corallivore) were commonly recognized as indicator fishes for reef health. Based on trophic groups, the proportion of herbivores was significantly highest (51%), followed by carnivores (26%), invertivores (21%) and corallivores (2%). Among the indicator species, Scarus psittacus (Scaridae—parrotfish; Common Parrotfish, 0.829 ind. m− 3) was predominant, followed by Lutjanus lutjanus (Lutjanidae—snapper; Bigeye Snapper, 0.463 ind. m− 3) and Thalassoma lunare (Labridae—wrasse; Moon Wrasse, 0.229 ind. m− 3). The fish communities found at each station were 80% similar between locations. The density at each station ranged from 0.280 to 4.834 ind. m− 3, the diversity index (H′) recorded was between 2.186 and 3.492 and evenness (J′) ranged from 0.610 to 0.862. The high abundance and diversity and significant proportion of indicator fishes might indicate that the coral reef ecosystems at Pulau Bidong and surrounding islands are in good condition. This study offers significant ecological data on fish assemblages of tropical coral reef ecosystems, specifically in the SCS region on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Soft Soil Improved by DCM Columns: A Comparative Review

Ali Dehghanbanadaki,Ahmad Safuan A. Rashid,Kamarudin Ahmad,Nor Zurairahetty Mohd Yunus,Jagdish Telangrao Shahu,Mamata Mohanty 대한토목학회 2022 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.26 No.6

The use of deep cement mixing (DCM) columns for soil stabilization is an economical and reliable ground improvement technique that has been studied extensively. The aim of this article is to review the ultimate bearing capacity (UBC) of soft soils improved by DCM columns in a series of 1 g physical modelling tests. Reliable databases of 35 stabilized tests using end-bearing DCM columns and 42 stabilized tests using floating DCM columns are analyzed. The effects of the influencing parameters of undrained shear strength of the soil (Cus) and DCM columns (Cuc), and the area improvement ratio (α) on the UBC and bearing capacity (Nc = UBC/Cus) are discussed. The failure modes of the improved soil have been compared. The review results show that, for end-bearing and floating DCM columns, the role of α and the strength ratio between the columns and soil, respectively, are vital. The effect of the average end-bearing factor for DCM columns (Nc = 15.27) on the UBC was found to be higher than for floating DCM columns (Nc = 8.08). The experimental results were used to develop four computational models to estimate the UBC of stabilized soil improved by end-bearing and floating DCM columns.

Enhancement of Soft Soil Behaviour by using Floating Bottom Ash Columns

Razieh Moradi,Aminaton Marto,Ahmad Safuan A Rashid,Mohammad Moeen Moradi,Abideen Adekunle Ganiyu,Mohamad Hafeezi Abdullah,Suksun Horpibulsuk 대한토목학회 2019 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.23 No.6

The current disposition worldwide is for sustainable construction, and the application of by-products is one of the ways to achieve it. In this research, bottom ash was used as a substitute material in a granular column to decrease settlement and enhance the bearing capacity of soft soil. Bottom ash is a derivate of the coal burning process, it has similar engineering properties to sand and fine gravel. A set of reduced scale physical modelling tests were performed on floating bottom ash columns to assess the improvement in the bearing capacity of the composite ground. The results clearly showed that the bearing capacity of the model soil was greatly improved with the installation of bottom ash column sand. There was an obvious enhancement of the load capacity of the granular columns when they were encased. The usage of bottom ash instead of aggregate or sand for granular columns will reduce the project cost and it aligns with the goal of sustainable construction development.

Vital parameters for high gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production by an industrial soy sauce koji Aspergillus oryzae NSK in submerged-liquid fermentation

Wan Abd Al Qadr Imad Wan-Mohtar,Safuan Ab Kadir,Sarina Abdul Halim Lim,Zul Ilham,Siti Hajar-Azhari,Nazamid Saari 한국식품과학회 2019 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.28 No.6

In submerged-liquid fermentation, seven keyparameters were assessed using one-factor-at-a-time toobtain the highest GABA yield using an industrial soysauce koji Aspergillus oryzae strain NSK (AOSNSK). AOSNSK generated maximum GABA at 30 C (194 mg/L) and initial pH 5 (231 mg/L), thus was able to utilizesucrose (327 mg/L of GABA) for carbon source. Sucrose at100 g/L, improved GABA production at 646 mg/L. Singlenitrogen sources failed to improve GABA production,however a combination of yeast extract (YE) and glutamicacid (GA) improved GABA at 646.78 mg/L. Carbon-tonitrogenratio (C8:N3) produced the highest cell (24.01 g/L) and GABA at a minimal time of 216 h. The keyparameters of 30 C, initial pH 5, 100 g/L of sucrose,combination YE and GA, and C8:N3 generated the highestGABA (3278.31 mg/L) in a koji fermentation. AOSNSKpromisingly showed for the development of a new GABArichsoy sauce.

Evaluation of a Malaysian soy sauce koji strain Aspergillus oryzae NSK for γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production using different native sugars

Hajar-Azhari, Siti,Wan-Mohtar, Wan Abd Al Qadr Imad,Kadir, Safuan Ab,Rahim, Muhamad Hafiz Abd,Saari, Nazamid 한국식품과학회 2018 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.27 No.2

In this study, a selected c-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-rich Malaysian strain Aspergillus oryzae NSK was collected from soy sauce koji. The strain was used to explore the effect of using renewable native sugar syrup, sugarcane, nipa, and molasses as fermentable substrates for developing a novel functional GABA soy sauce. We evaluated the strain using the chosen native sugars for 7 days using shake flask fermentation at $30^{\circ}C$. The results showed optimum GABA concentration was achieved using cane molasses as the fermentable substrate (354.08 mg/L), followed by sugarcane syrup (320.7 mg/L) and nipa syrup (232.07 mg/L). Cane molasses was subsequently utilized as a substrate to determine the most suitable concentration for A. oryzae NSK to enhance GABA production and was determined as 50% g/L of glucose standard cane molasses. Our findings indicate that cane molasses can be used as a GABA-rich ingredient to develop a new starter culture for A. oryzae NSK soy sauce production.

Evaluation of a Malaysian soy sauce koji strain Aspergillus oryzae NSK for c-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production using different native sugars

Siti Hajar-Azhari,Wan Abd Al Qadr Imad Wan-Mohtar,Safuan Ab Kadir,Muhamad Hafiz Abd Rahim,Nazamid Saari 한국식품과학회 2018 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.27 No.2

In this study, a selected c-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-rich Malaysian strain Aspergillus oryzae NSK was collected from soy sauce koji. The strain was used to explore the effect of using renewable native sugar syrup, sugarcane, nipa, and molasses as fermentable substrates for developing a novel functional GABA soy sauce. We evaluated the strain using the chosen native sugars for 7 days using shake flask fermentation at 30 C. The results showed optimum GABA concentration was achieved using cane molasses as the fermentable substrate (354.08 mg/L), followed by sugarcane syrup (320.7 mg/L) and nipa syrup (232.07 mg/L). Cane molasses was subsequently utilized as a substrate to determine the most suitable concentration for A. oryzae NSK to enhance GABA production and was determined as 50% g/L of glucose standard cane molasses. Our findings indicate that cane molasses can be used as a GABA-rich ingredient to develop a new starter culture for A. oryzae NSK soy sauce production.

Predicting the Effective Depth of Soil Stabilization for Marine Clay Treated by Biomass Silica

Lim Jing Jin,Nor Zurairahetty Mohd Yunus,Muhammad Azril Hezmi,Ahmad Safuan Abdul Rashid,Amination Marto,Roohollah Kalatehjari,Faizal Pakir,Nordiana Mashros,AbideenAdekunle Ganiyu 대한토목학회 2018 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.22 No.11

Reclamation and development towards the oceanic area had become a trend of modern days, where the marine soil need to be treated prior construction. The increase in unconfined compressive strength of marine clay treated by Biomass Silica, ‘SH-85’ has been demonstrated by several investigations. This paper studies the stress-strain behavior of marine clay treated with 12% of SH-85 with different curing periods and confining pressures. The results show that the strength parameters of the stabilized soil are greatly improved during the early stage of the curing period under higher confining pressures. In addition, the XRD analysis and microstructure study confirm the appearance of a new reflection peak at 29° in the treated soils indicating the formation of Calcium Silicate Hydrate (CSH). The curing period of 7 days at a confining pressure of 400 kPa was found to be an optimum combination for in situ stabilization. The effective stabilization depth predicted at each location can be defined as the depth ensuing the mentioned confining pressure. The approach of this research can be applied in construction activities associated with marine clay to help engineers in risk assessment, feasibility study and planning of the developments.