Baynoon Centre for Studies and Development (BCSD): OJS
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442 research outputs found
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Task Based Dictation (TBD): A Means of Improving the Language Proficiency of College Students
Get PDFPurpose: This study investigates the improvement in the language proficiency of selected college students using the Task-Based Dictation in an ESL (English as a Second Language) classroom.
Approach/Methodology/Design: The results of the tests scores are statistically analyzed using the measurement of central tendency. The mean is used to determine the total scores of the students in listening, writing, reading and speaking during the pre-test, TBD training, and post-test dictation. Then, each mean score is presented and interpreted using an adopted quantitative description, while the students’ outputs, the teachers’ observations during the conduct of the tests, and the informal interview and survey with college teachers validate the test results.
Findings: Evidently, the scores of the college students in all the skills (listening, writing, reading, and speaking) have increased from novice in the pre-test to competent in the Task-based dictation (TBD) and post-test. Moreover, the teachers’ observations show that TBD provides opportunities for student-entered learning such as small group discussions/collaborations, peer feedback, systematic writing, critical analysis, and problem solving.
Practical Implications: Through TBD, periodicals help college students develop their listening and writing skills, raise awareness on problematic language areas, and avoid biases in analyzing texts.
Originality/value: Indeed, despite its limitations, this study answered the reservations of dictation in improving the English language proficiency of college students by increasing their competencies of their macro skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking)
Banana Peel Cellulose Nanofibers (CNFs) as Retrofitting Material to Soy-Protein in Manufacturing Biodegradable Food Packaging
Get PDFPurpose: The aim of this study is to examine the potential of Cellulose Nanofiber(CNF) isolated from the banana peel through chemical treatment(Alkaline Treatment, Bleaching and Acid Hydrolysis) as reinforcing agent in Soy Protein Isolate films. It also aims to find an application for this agro-industrial residue as a biodegradable material for food packaging.
Study Design: Experimental Design.
Materials and Methods: Chemicals such as Sodium metabisulfite, Ethanol, Potassium hydroxide, Sodium hypochlorite, Acetic Acid, Sulfuric acid, Glycerol, Sodium Hydroxide, and Hydrochloric Acid were bought from a chemical depot. FTIR Spectroscopy, SEM Imaging, Tensile Strength Test, Dimensional Stability to Heat Test were performed.
Results: The results of the tests conducted(FTIR Spectroscopy, SEM Imaging, Tensile Strength Test, Dimensional Stability to Heat Test and Stability in Acidic and Alkaline Conditions Test) showed that CNFs isolated from the banana effectively reinforced the properties of Soy Protein Isolate films. Furthermore, the films fabricated are still biodegradable, displaying that the addition of the CNF does not have any significant effect on the biodegradability of the films.
Conclusion: It is concluded that the addition of Banana Peel CNFs as retrofitting material to the Soy Protein Films materially strengthen the mechanical properties of the films and makes it more suitable for food packaging applications
Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Role of VEGF Gene: An Overview
Get PDFPurpose: The aim of this review study is to outline rheumatoid arthritis and VEGF participation in rheumatoid arthritis disease development and also to help future researchers in this field.
Study Design: A Review Study.
Subjects and Methods: A number of research articles were systematically reviewed. More sixty research studies related to rheumatoid arthritis and the role of VEGF Gene were examined. The results of these studies are highlighted and compared.
Results: Rheumatoid Arthritis is capable of causing joint damage, moreover, lead to long term disability in severe cases. Mutation in VEGF due to the involvement of multiple factors (environmental, genetic factors etc) lead to severity in RA patients as it has a role in certain inflammatory processes, angiogenesis etc. Further research needs to be done in this field because many of the factors involve in pathogenesis of RA such as factors that cause loss of tolerance and inflammation in joints, are still unclear.
Conclusion: Although old diagnostic techniques are optimized, we further need to improve the diagnostic and treatment techniques in order to diagnose the patients at early stage. This will pacify patients’ disease severity and provide certain preventive measure that will assist in preventing the aggravation of disease in family members
Microbiological and Immunological Studies on Brucellosis in a Hospital in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah
Get PDFPurpose: The study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of brucellosis in Prince Sultan Armed Forces Hospital at Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia. The aim was also to determine the most prevalent species of Brucella and to make a comparison between culture and serological methods in diagnosis and to evaluate the levels of sIL-2R and/or IFN-γ production to be used as markers of treatment efficacy.
Study Design: Cross-sectional Study
Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted on 65 patients with male: female ratio (2:1) suspected of having brucellosis. It was carried out using slide agglutination test for detection of anti-Brucella antibodies. Also, we estimated anti-Brucella IgG and IgM antibody levels in the sera of examined patients using ELISA. Quantization of human IFN-ɣ was performed.
Results: The total incidence of brucellosis was 92.3%. The incidence among males (95.2%) was higher than that of female (87%). Brucellosis was detected in all age groups. Most of brucellosis patients were recovered during the period from January to June. Consumption of milk products, heating raw milk and milking animals were the highest risks with an incidence of 100% followed by drinking raw milk with an incidence of 95% while cutting raw meat and animal contact were the less risk with an incidence of 80% and 67%, respectively. The most prevalent species among examined patients was B. melitensis (86%) and B. abortus (6%). Brucellosis patients had 63% and 83%of anti BrucellaIg G and IgM, respectively. The highest (%) of patients having positive IgG and IgM levels in their sera were among 1/160 standard tube agglutination test (SAT) antibody titer group brucellosis patients were having positive levels of IFN-ɣ. All of them belonged to 1/80 antibody titer group. The mean IFN-ɣ levels according to SAT antibody titers were 224.25, 102 and 69.3 pg/ml, respectively.
Conclusion: Eradication of human brucellosis depends on the eradication of animal brucellosis. In countries like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where brucellosis is endemic; rapid, sensitive and highly specific diagnostic methods are required to make early diagnosis and prevent resistance as there is an overlap in therapy
Investigating the Factors that Undermine Innovative Financing towards Sustainability of Entrepreneurship in Nigeria
Get PDFPurpose: The present study aims at exploring the factors that hinder employing innovative financing that can ensure the sustainability of entrepreneurship in Nigeria. The study also evaluates some aspects of entrepreneurial activity in the country.
Approach/Methodology/Design: Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The key variables under study were two possible factors that can facilitate the use of crowdfunding in southeast Nigeria. The selected themes explored were ‘weak regulatory environment’, ‘awareness of CF’, ‘attitudes and perception of people towards CF’, ‘social media options’, ‘level of education and Occupation’ of the population under investigation.
Findings: The general finding from this research is that no existing law has been developed to guard against the implementation of CF. Data seems to suggest that regulation is an important aspect of CF; therefore, the need for a legal framework is pertinent. The rapid expansion of crowd-based finance especially in developed countries should motivate Nigerians to engage in CF to finance entrepreneurs.
Practical Implications: There are so many constraints against entrepreneurship attaining its full capacity in Nigeria. An innovative means of raising funds through the internet in order to bring new ideas to life and promote existing ones is needed. The outcome of this research can serve as a template to be adopted by other Sub Saharan African countries that face similar situations like Nigeria.
Originality/value: To the best of our knowledge, not much has been done to empirically investigate an alternative innovating funding option known as crowdfunding. This research fills this gap
From Birnamwood to Bollywood: A View of the Cinematographic Adaptation of Macbeth into Maqbool
Get PDFPurpose: The study aims to explore the similarities and dissimilarities between William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and its film adaptation Maqbool by Vishal Bhardwaj. The study also aims to compare both the film and the play in terms of politics and power from a psychoanalytic perspective.
Methodology/ Approach: This study is based on thematic analysis and the main changes when the original play is adapted to film, in order to check the variation from stage to screen. Adaptation theory, Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis theory are used in this analysis. Bollywood movie Maqbool (2003) by director Vishal Bhardwaj and William Shakespeare’s great tragedy Macbeth (1606) are used as primary sources for this analysis.
Findings: The result of the analysis indicates that film and drama are entirely different. When an original play is adapted into film, there are many merits and demerits.Shakespeare mounded more on poetic language than on spectacle and other scenic devices to create the necessary emotional effect. The Elizabethan theatre gores were more audiences than spectators. But the modern spectators habituated to the computer-generated technique of cinematography expect something considerably different. The result is that when the text of the play is converted into a screenplay, there will be a remarkable reduction in the number of spoken words because mainstream cinema depends for its effect largely on visual rather than dialogue. However, the director maintained the originality of play despite the additions and reductions.
Conclusion: The paper throws light on the main changes from English Renaissance theatre to contemporary modern world or theatre. It depicts the Psychological behavioural differences and the power and political structures of the two different periods. The paper suggests that film adaptation is an effective and attractive tool to maintain the value and to understand the original text
Human Conscience in Walter de la Mare’s The Listeners: an Allegorical Exploration
Get PDFPurpose: This paper presents an allegorical exploration of Walter de la Mare’s The Listeners. It dwells on the presentation of the human conscience in the poem.
Methodology/ Approach: A literary analysis with focus on allegory.
Findings: The Listeners by Walter De La Mare is a poem built on controversial grounds. The claimers have their own ambiguous theories. Some explored it for musical aspects other for gothic elements. The allegorical aspect of the poem is ignored not that they deny it, but because it has many meanings to give. Apart from the eerie effects, the character of “The Traveler” and “Phantom Listeners” arise questions and suggestions. The nearest meaning these characters attract is towards a human being. Struggles between vice and virtue; and the inner evil and restless conscience within.
Conclusion: The confession of the author It concerns me a bit now that what was really the intended meaning. It has left the poem opened for critics and readers to explore more. Yet a clue is found when it is said that the Creator is not worried about death but about conscience
Analysis of Memory, Gender, and Identity in Psychological Thrillers with Specific Reference to Alfred Hitchcock’s Spellbound and James Mangold’s Identity
Get PDFPurpose: This paper aims to analyze the portrayal and presentation of memory, gender, and identity in selected psychological thrillers.
Approach/Methodology/Design: The selected films are Alfred Hitchcock’s Spellbound and James Mangold’s Identity. For the analysis of these films, the researcher employs both narrative and structural approaches; thematic analysis, psychoanalysis, and also feminist film theory.
Findings: The results of the analysis show that apart from building suspense and mysteries with the identity issue, these thrillers question the stereotypes and inequality in society through the female characters for the consumerist audience. Hence, these films attempt to break the chains of legitimated stereotypes in the society which create binaries in the lives of people.
Practical Implications: The portrayal of illness in psychological thrillers has attracted a lot more audience to seats. Dissociative elements such as memory and identity of the mind perhaps have permeated the film-going experience. The paper showcases these aspects in the selected films.
Originality/value: The picturization of the fading identity and the double personality of the characters are central to the interior experience. The capturing of Amnesia and its related themes of memory, identity, and distributed consciousness are common materials in recent films because they can stretch to basic humanistic concerns and contemporary psycho-social issues
Electoral Geography and Community: Whither Coalition Governments in Lesotho?
Get PDFPurpose: The aim of this research study is to address the nature, prospects and challenges of coalition governments and their impacts on the community in Lesotho
Approach/Methodology/Design: This paper uses desk top methodology and employs a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis technique to address the nature, prospects and challenges of coalition governments and their impacts on the community in Lesotho. Research questions that guide this study are what prompt coalition governments in Lesotho? How do coalition governments operate in Lesotho? What are the prospects and challenges of coalition governments on the government, governance, lives and livelihoods of the communities in Lesotho? What might be a sustainable democratic coalition government option in Lesotho going forward?
Findings: The hypothesis of the paper is that coalition governments promote instability of government and poor governance for the Basotho. The results show that prospects for coalition governments are inclusive democracy, while challenges are community exclusion, poor service delivery, extravagant public expenditure and government instability.
Practical Implications: The article provides a detailed analysis of the impact of coalition governments on the community.
Originality/value: The major findings and conclusion of the paper is that coalition governments have prompted cooperation among former rival parties to form one coalition government at different times; but they have had a negative impact on the Basotho community as a whole and benefited only a minority aligned to some of the major coalition parties under different coalition regimes
Investigating the Effect of Mobile Apps on Student’s Motivation and Achievement in Motor Vehicle Mechanic Work
Get PDFPurpose: The study was carried out to investigate the effect of mobile apps on students’ achievement in petrol engine maintenance work in technical colleges in Enugu State, Nigeria.
Approach/Methodology/Design: The study adopted quasi-experimental design and was carried out in Enugu State, Nigeria. The population for the study was 170 NTC II students. The sample size for the study was 40 motor vehicle mechanics work NTC II students who have any mobile technologies (Smart phones) participated in the experimental group and were selected using purposive sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was motor vehicle mechanic work achievement test (MWMWAT). The data collected were analyzed using mean, to answer the research questions while ANCOVA was used to test the hypothesis. Three research questions were answered, while one null hypothesis formulated were tested at 0.05 level of significance.
Findings: The study revealed that students taught petrol vehicle maintenance works with mobile apps had a higher mean achievement score than those students taught using conventional teaching aids in the achievement test. There was a significant difference between the mean achievement scores of students taught with mobile apps and those taught with conventional teaching aids in motor vehicle mechanics work trade.
Practical Implications: The study will contribute positively to the understanding of using mobile apps to increase students’ motivation and academic achievement.
Originality/value: This study innovates in examining the use of mobile apps by motor vehicle mechanic work teachers in improving the motivation and academic achievement of students