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This study identifies and analyzes the processes and differences in distance learning implementation between city and village schools in Indonesia and Malaysia. Characteristics of students and teachers, distance learning facilities, ability to use technology, and parent's role in the learning process will be analyzed in depth. This research will simultaneously hypothesize the link between these factors and student learning independence. This research is a mixed methods research that combines qualitative research that using observation and interview techniques and quantitative methods that using questionnaire technique. This research was conducted on elementary school students in Indonesia and Malaysia located in rural and urban areas, with a total sample of 240 students ranging from low to high grades. Apart from students, as many as 60 school academics consisting of principals, teachers, and staff were also interviewed to obtain more comprehensive data and data triangulation. Quantitative data were analyzed using a qualitative-quantitative descriptive method where the qualitative statements in the questionnaire were converted into quantitative data, while qualitative data were analyzed using an interactive model mentioned by Miles & Huberman (2014). The study results show that the distance learning implementation between city and village schools experiences a slight difference with the rapid development of information technology. Of the four aspects studied, there are aspects in which village schools are superior to city schools. These four aspects are also investigated for their influence on student learning independence so that further research can be carried out regarding the correlation of these aspects to student learning independence.

Purpose: This study aims to explore some benefits and challenges of establishing an international accreditation for teacher education institutions (TEIs) by AsTEN Quality Assurance Agency. This specific accreditation agency is expected to improve the quality of teaching, learning and research at TEIs in ASEAN region. Design/Methodology/Approach: The qualitative study generates data from questionnaires and online semi-structured interviews among ASEAN academics. They work as teacher educators in Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. Findings: As findings show, participating academics from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Brunei Darussalam believe that it is necessary to have a specific international accreditation agency that can properly accommodate particular standards of teacher education. This accommodation is expected to increase the governance of quality teaching, learning and researching to prepare more competent and professional future teachers. Participating academics also acknowledge some potential challenges this specific accreditation agency may have, including local acceptance by national governments in ASEAN region and global acknowledgement from international accrediting agencies, mostly based in Global North countries. Research Limitations/Implications: The study only involves academics in five ASEAN countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines so that it may have less international acceptance. Practical/Social Implications: The study also identifies aspects and mechanisms of blended online-onsite international accreditation application for TEIs, which grows its significance because of technological advancement, efficiency and prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Originality/Value: The study provides a digital accreditation system for TEIs, particularly in ASEAN region. This originality is important in this era of Internet of Things.

Most countries are still nations of homeowners, i.e. owning-centric despite home ownership being an economically irrational tenure due to its long-term financial risk. Seemingly, pre-existing social and institutional factors also shape people's tenure decisions, which supports a cultural explanation of tenure decisions. This paper frames the examination of tenure decisions from a cultural perspective in Malaysia, a Southeast Asian country with a strong home ownership tradition characterised by inflated house prices in its major cities and high household debts. A qualitative approach was adopted, involving a focus group discussion (FGD) and an open-ended online questionnaire survey (OQS). Two input categories (parental and societal) and five cultural determinants (filial piety, parental care, emulation, virtue signalling and status symbol) of tenure decisions were discerned. Considering the current trajectory of the global economy and local housing market, an honest reconsideration of the home ownership culture in Malaysia is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kratom is a medicinal plant native to Southeast Asia. This present study was primarily undertaken to investigate changes in the vital signs, hematological, and biochemical parameters of regular kratom users. Five male regular kratom users were recruited for this longitudinal study. Subjects volunteered to undergo two sessions of blood tests and vital signs assessments after a 3-month interval (baseline: T1; after 3 months: T2). There were no significant alterations found in the hematological and biochemical of kratom users, except for a decrease in white cell count after a 3-month interval. In general, the kidney, liver function tests, thyroid, and glucose parameters were not significantly affected. Calcium, total protein, and globulin levels were significantly increased at T2 compared to T1, but all these parameters were within the normal reference range. There were alterations in the lipid profile, where total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol parameters were elevated at both T1 and T2, while significant increase in HDL cholesterol, and decrease in triglycerides levels were observed at T2 compared to T1. Our results indicated that continuous consumption of kratom decoction at a daily mitragynine dose of 76.3–114.8 mg did not appear to alter the safety hematological and biochemical parameters of kratom users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slope instability is a common natural geological hazard in tropical countries like Malaysia, with abundant residual soil and frequent rainfall. Over the years, these rainfalls have induced instabilities that lead to significant human and economic loss. To reduce the expected disastrous impacts due to rainfall-induced slope failure characterization of residual soil is necessary for evaluation of slope stability assessment. Therefore, this study aims to characterize the residual soil for numerical modelling of rainfall-induced slope failure and preliminary slope stability assessment so that future slope failure can be reduced. A series of experiments involving index properties tests and engineering properties tests were carried out on the residual soil samples collected from a slope located in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). Based on the particle size distribution and consistency the soil can be classified as high plasticity silt (MH). The maximum dry unit weight and optimum moisture content are 13.17kN/m3 and 30 %, respectively. Saturated hydraulic conductivity from the falling head test is 2.32055E-07 m/s, while the saturated gravimetric water content was 54%. The effective cohesion and angle of the internal fraction were 8 kPa and 32°, respectively. The average undrained shear strength and unconfined compressive strength were 105 kPa and 43 kPa, respectively. The result obtained in this study was utilized for the preliminary rainfall slope stability assessment in tropical residual soils by simulating rainfall of different intensities and duration on a typical slope profile using PLAXIS 2d. The results show that due to the low hydraulic conductivity and fine-grained nature of the soil, the slopes in the study area are more critical to the low intensity and long duration rainfall events (I≤4Ks). The highly intense and short-duration rainfall (I≥8Ks) has no significant effect on the safety of the soil, as most of the precipitation will contribute to runoff, and only a minor amount of water will infiltrate into the slope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study geogenic radon potential (GRP) mapping was carried out on the bases of field radon in soil gas concentration and soil gas permeability measurements by considering the corresponding geological formations. The spatial pattern of soil gas radon concentration, soil permeability, and GRP and the relationship between geological formations and these parameters was studied by performing detailed spatial analysis. The radon activity concentration in soil gas ranged from 0.11 to 434.5 kBq m−3 with a mean of 18.96 kBq m−3, and a standard deviation was 55.38 kBq m−3. The soil gas permeability ranged from 5.2×10−14 to 5.2×10−12 m2, with a mean of 5.65×10−13 m2. The GRP values were computed from the 222Rn activity concentration and soil gas permeability data. The range of GRP values was from 0.04 to 154.08. Locations on igneous granite rock geology were characterized by higher soil radon gas activity and higher GRP, making them radon-prone areas according to international standards. The other study locations fall between the low to medium risk, except for areas with high soil permeability, which are not internationally classified as radon prone. A GRP map was created displaying radon-prone areas for the study location using Kriging/Cokriging, based on in situ and predicted measured values. The GRP map assists in human health risk assessment and risk reduction since it indicates the potential of the source of radon and can serve as a vital tool for radon combat planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrialised Building System or IBS is a method to accelerate the process of construction through prefabricated concept where each component will be built first in the component manufacturing plant. There are six categories of IBS introduced by CIDB and one of them is a system block work. The block system has several types of components under this category include the interlocking block-concrete masonry unit (CMU) and lightweight concrete blocks. Block work system introduced to replace the use of conventional bricks to accelerate the construction process and reduce construction costs. However, acceptance of the system to be less favorable than the use of conventional bricks. Statistics show there are only 31 manufacturer across Malaysia. Therefore, this study aims to identify the extent of implementation of the system of block work in Malaysia to contribute in the construction sector. This study used qualitative methods, namely through interviews and focus groups. The findings revealed that there are differences between the application methods IBS system block and conventional brick in terms of type of work performed, the number of working days and the cost of construction. Implementation of the system blocks are also influenced by three factors: the skills of workers, quality of components and component types in use. With a wide exposure is expected to expand the implementation of the system blocks in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iodium Contrast Media (IoCM) in radiological examination can increase the risk of developing CIN/CIAKI within three days without any other causes. GCW contains minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, amino acids, enzymes, and growth hormones. This study aims to prove that GCW can reduce the risk of CIN in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats induced by IoCM through sCr, NGAL and renal tubular cell histopathology. A sample of 30 rats was randomly divided into five groups. Rats were given free access to food and drink (adlibitum). GCW was administered for three days after the IoCM was inducted by sonde 4 ml/head twice a day. Measurements of sCr and NGAL were performed at 2, 24, and 48 hours after the IoCM injection. Rats were terminated under anesthesia and cervical dislocation to determine histopathology changes. Sample examination was used for ELISA and analyzed by LGM and Fisher Exact. GCW decreased the sCr levels by 54.4% in rats, which gave Group 1, 86.6% at Group 2, and decreased NGAL levels by 0.01% at G1 and 9.9% at Group 2. There were no pathological changes in Group 1 and Group 3. Further, there was NET in Group 2, and NIPV occurred in Group 4. The effect of GCW on the sCr decrease was significant (p<0.05), the reduction in NGAL and histopathological changes between groups were not significant (p>0.05). GCW reduces the level of sCr and NGAL and has the potential to be used as a CIN risk prevention agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine factors to influence Islamic Social Reporting (ISR) in Islamic Banks from Indonesia, Malaysia and Gulf Corporate Council (GCC). The population in this study was Islamic Bank from 2013-2016. Nineteen samples were selected using purposive sampling technique. The concept of ISR in this study uses an Index developed by Othman et al. (2009). The variable in this study is Muslim population ratio, Islamic Governance Score, Leverage and Profitability. The result of this study indicates that only Islamic Governance Score significance to influence ISR, while other variables--Muslim Population Ratio, Leverage and Profitability--are not significant to influence the ISR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancers in women from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types, particularly HPV-16 and 18, are consistently identified in cervical cancer cases regardless of geographical region. Factors that have been identified to increase the likelihood of HPV exposure or subsequent development of cervical cancer include young age at first intercourse, high parity and multiple sexual partners. Cervical cancer screening programs in these countries include Pap smears, single visit approach utilizing visual inspection with acetic acid followed by cryotherapy, as well as screening with colposcopy. Uptake of screening remains low in all regions and is further compounded by the lack of basic knowledge women have regarding screening as an opporunity for the prevention of cervical cancer. Prophylactic HPV vaccination with the quadrivalent vaccine has already been approved for use in Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, while the bivalent vaccine has also been approved in the Philippines. However, there has been no national or government vaccination policy implemented in any of these countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]