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This paper explores the effective roles of public research institutions (PRIs) in social innovation and understand the element of communal support in researchers-farmers partnership. The case study on Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) reveals that the partnership between researchers and farmers is limited. The only productive and formal channel for researchers to reach the farmers is through agricultural extension agencies. It found that there are three elements that drive sustainable social innovation in agriculture: (1) quality research by PRIs; (2) efficient extension agency in disseminating knowledge to farmers; and (3) productive farmers in delivering high-yields farming. This paper claimed that the presence of partnership between researchers in PRIs and farmers is the crucial pivot in ensuring innovation reaches the target group. The study also found the potential of civil society organizations to transform farmers into more active innovation actors in the agricultural innovation system.

The purpose of this study was to validate the use of digital dental study casts obtained from Cone beam CT Scan (CBCT) against gold standard; that is traditional dental study cast measured with digital caliper. Thirty-four study casts of Malaysian Aborigines were selected from Centre of Malaysian Pribumi Studies Databank. Palatal depth of each study casts were measured using Mitutoyo digital caliper. Subsequently, all the study models were scanned using i-CAT CBCT and the palatal depth were measured using i-CAT software. Data were analysed using SPSS version 12.0 where Intraclass correlation and paired T-test were employed. There was no significant difference in palatal depth between CBCT and Mitutoyo digital caliper (p>0.05). Average measures for Intraclass Correlation is 0.753 indicate that it is consistently good. Within the limitation of this study palatal depth measurement produced by CBCT was as accurate as the digital caliper. However, more samples and parameters should be added to further substantiate the result of this study.

Pandemik COVID-19 telah menunjukkan penggabungan dimensi siber dan fizikal adalah tidak mustahil dan telah menjadi norma baharu dalam kehidupan hari ini. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menjawab persoalan sejauh mana pandemik COVID-19 memberi impak kepada pembangunan modal insan di peringkat pengajian tinggi negara dan pembangunan penyelidikan nasional. Dua aspek ini merupakan aspek utama dalam mencapai status Malaysia sebagai peneraju penyelidikan dan pusat rujukan serantau menurut kerangka Kuasa Nasional. Kajian ini adalah kajian analisis kandungan dokumen. Pemilihan tema dalam pengumpulan data dirangka berdasarkan kerangka kajian yang menggariskan beberapa item iaitu (i) trend nasional pengajian tinggi dan penyelidikan yang berlaku sepanjang pandemik, (ii) kepentingan aktor-aktor tertentu dan (iii) impak pandemik menurut Kuasa Nasional. Berdasarkan data yang dikumpul, kajian ini mendapati pandemik COVID-19 melambatkan pembangunan Malaysia ke arah menerajui penyelidikan dan menjadi pusat rujukan serantau. Hal ini disebabkan, kerajaan masih tidak memiliki visi tersendiri dalam mengurangkan jurang pembangunan modal insan yang melebar dalam sistem pengajian tinggi negara disebabkan pandemik. Malaysia juga masih tidak berjaya untuk mengurangkan pengaruh aktor-aktor intervening yang semakin kuat semasa pandemik dalam ekosistem penyelidikan negara.

This paper explores the achievements, implications and future potential of rice research to achieve sustainable agricultural development in Malaysia according to the Quadruple Helix Innovation Model. The case study on Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) reveals that there are three elements that drive food security and sustainable rice research and development – quality research by Public Research Institutions (PRIs), cooperative private firms in supporting national agricultural agenda and productive farmers in delivering high-yields farming. This paper claims that the presence of public-driven objectives in rice research is the crucial pivot in achieving national food security. The study also found that the cooperation from private firms is key in steering national agricultural agenda towards self-sustaining. The study also found the potential of civil society organisations (CSOs) to transform farmers into more active key players in sustainable agricultural development.