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THE USE OF MALAYSIAN MODEL OF PICTORIAL VOCABULARY FOR VIRTUAL LEARNING AMONG LOWER SECONDARY ESL STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA
Get PDFVocabulary learning is only indirectly integrated into the four core skills of the Standards-Based English Language Curriculum (SBELC): reading, writing, listening, and speaking. English as a Second Language (ESL) students with limited vocabulary knowledge often face difficulties to learn and use English on a regular basis. In a sustainable Open Distance Learning (ODL), this study uses Malaysian model of pictorial vocabulary to help students learn vocabulary remotely. In this study, 300 ESL students from lower secondary schools across Malaysia use this model to help them learn the target words mentioned in the SBELC. A mixed methods research design is employed. After using the model, students have answered an evaluation form which is evaluated descriptively in terms of its mean scores and standard deviation. The qualitative data from the interview with the students are transcribed, categorised, and coded using content analysis. Based on the research findings, the students’ vocabulary knowledge has substantially increased after using the model. This study's implications indicate that the use of the Malaysian model of pictorial vocabulary learning is both interactive and effective in learning the target words. In the area of vocabulary acquisition, this research adds value as it can be used to carry out additional research to enhance the ability of students to learn new words
EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A MACHINE LEANING MODEL FOR RECOMMENDATION SYSTEM FOR GENERIC COMPETENCY DEVELOPMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Get PDFGeneric competence (GC) is an important element in the development of students in tertiary education. Activities that contribute to the development of GCs are called GC Development Activities (GCDAs). This research investigates the effectiveness of a recommendation system for students to join GCDAs. At a self-financed higher education institution, the investigators evaluated the performance of various recommendation algorithms, including collaborative filtering and content-based recommendation, in providing systematic recommendations on the selection of GDAs. Then the investigators developed a machine learning model for building a recommendation system for generic competency development. The recommendation system was trained using the GCDAs joined by the students in the past. Then it made recommendations to other students on what GCDAs are suitable for them. The recommendation system was tried by a selected group of students at the institution. Then the effectiveness of the system was measured in terms of the acceptance of the system by the students, and in terms of the improvement in GC of the students.
The project will benefit students, academics, and institutions. Students, especially freshmen, will be able to further enhance their generic competence by selecting suitable activities to develop their GCs. Student advisors will be able to provide advice on non-academic development in an evidence-based and efficient manner. Educational institutions will also be able to use their resources more efficiently to provide student activities that consider students’ whole-person development
ANALYSIS ON SUPPORT PROGRAM WITH CONVERSION FROM VACANT HOUSES INTO COMMUNITY BASES: A CASE IN SETAGAYA WARD, TOKYO
Get PDFThe municipal government of Setagaya Ward established a consultation program for individual owners of vacant houses in July 2013 to convert them into useful places for the community. This service aims to match with owners of vacant houses and citizen groups such as non-profit organizations and has established 22 bases for the community in 10 years. The authors found that the majority of them are used for social welfare offering places for children, disabilities, or the elderly. These facts indicate the necessity of the role of the public sector’s program rather than private companies to promote the re-utilization of vacant houses into places of inclusionary use for the community
TOWARD DEVELOPING PRIMARY SCHOOL LEARNERS’ READING SKILLS: AN ANALYSIS OF TOP-DOWN, BOTTOM-UP AND INTERACTIVE APPROACHES.
Get PDFLiteracy education internationally is still in crisis. Only a third of 10-year-olds globally are estimated to be able to read and understand a simple written story [Unicef, 2022]. Out of 45 countries who participated in the international PIRLS testing between 2016 and 2021, the data reveals that 28 countries (or 62%) show that in 2021 more children were below minimum reading proficiency than in 2016, with the most noted differences visible in in Azerbaijan, Latvia, Kazakhstan, and South Africa [Saavedra, Fazili, Ning Wong, Geven & Cloutier, 2023]. In SA children are performing poorly against their African counterparts in international tests and in tests conducted within the country [Mather, 2019]. Thus, an obvious choice of research area in attempting to discover causes for this dismal situation is to find out what is happening in terms of learning and teaching every day in the classrooms of our schools. A practical entry point for this is the teaching practices of our teachers, particularly those directly related to reading development of our school children. This desk study sought to gain insight into approaches that can be used to effectively to develop middle school learners’ reading skills. Desk research or secondary research is a research method that involves using already existing data by conducting research through web searches, online platforms, industry reports, or even physical books [Gell, 2020]. In this study rigorous research has been conducted using online platforms such as Sabinet and Ebscohost to source credible, relevant, and current research related to phenomenon that is being investigated. The study further provided an example of how the interactive approach to reading has been applied in a particular context. It was found that the whilst the interactive approach has shortcomings, it has advocated, and can be adapted for most middle school classrooms. It was concluded that some research has been conducted into writing development. However more research about how the different approaches have been applied in different contexts needs to be conducted to provide useful strategies to support learners’ reading skills and go some way in overcoming the literacy crisis
PSYCHOLOGICAL DYNAMICS AND COPING MECHANISMS OF WOMEN INVOLVED IN ISLAMIC POLYGAMOUS MARRIAGES: Received: 28th February 2024 Revised: 09t April 2024, 16th April 2024, 30th April 2024 Accepted: 05th March 2024
No full textThis study explores the coping mechanisms and religious beliefs employed by women in polygamous relationships to manage emotional distress, and the extent to which this approach challenges or reinforces patriarchal structures within these relationships. Data collected a closed Facebook group for Muslim women only reveal that women in polygamous relationships often experience psychological and emotional distress. To cope, they commonly resort to religious faith, acceptance of fate, and compromise with co-wives. While these strategies help manage emotional distress, they can potentially reinforce patriarchal structures within these relationships. The research provides a nuanced perspective, arguing that these coping mechanisms can be seen both as a form of resistance against and an acceptance of patriarchal norms. The study also underscores the need for further research into factors such as stress levels, coping skills, and marital factors that can impact behavioral, emotional, and cognitive outcomes in polygamous marriages. To conclude, in polygamous relationships, women often use avoidance and religious justification as coping mechanisms. While these strategies provide temporary relief or spiritual comfort, they don't address the long-term psychological harm or inherent gender inequalities
CHARTING THE COURSE: EXPLORING THE FUTURE OF ONLINE EDUCATION MANAGEMENT AND EFFICIENCY IN MAURITIUS' SECONDARY SCHOOLS
Get PDFThis conceptual study examines the challenges faced by secondary school educators in Mauritius in adopting online classrooms, particularly after COVID-19. It evaluates online education as a tool for enhancing education quality, focusing on gender, ICT infrastructure, and educators' technological and pedagogical knowledge. Through qualitative research, specifically in-depth interviews, the study explores educators' experiences and perceptions. The conceptual analysis suggests that gender may influence educators' attitudes toward technology, with female educators potentially facing more challenges. The availability of robust ICT infrastructure and technical support is crucial for educators' readiness to adopt online teaching. Additionally, educators' knowledge of technology and its pedagogical use is key to successfully integrating online learning. These conceptual insights are intended to guide future research and policy decisions, highlighting the need for targeted professional development and strategic investments in ICT to support online education adoption in Mauritius. Future research should include empirical data and expand to other regions and educational levels for a broader understanding of online education adoption
EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL OF DRUG REPURPOSING AGAINST ABNORMALLY REGULATED CELL-MATRIX INTERACTIONS IN THE TREATMENT OF PANCREATIC CANCER (A COMPUTATIONAL STUDY)
Get PDFPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents one of the most aggressive cancers, with a 5-year survival rate of only 8%. The progression of the disease is significantly influenced by the tumor microenvironment, especially by cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions. The aim of this study is to repurpose small molecules as inhibitor candidates to jointly target key receptors for the ECM attachment, specifically discoidin domain receptors (DDR1 and DDR2), which are implicated in promoting tumor growth through cell-collagen interactions.Using a computational drug repurposing framework, we accomplished ligand docking and virtual screening to identify potential inhibitory agents targeting DDR1 and DDR2. Ligand libraries including 8540 small chemical molecules (neutral charge, molecular weight of 450-500 Da and logP of 2-3 were chosen) were assembled from the Zinc15 database, and 3D structure files of DDR1 (PDB ID: 6BSD) and DDR2 (PDB ID: 2WUH) were processed (removal of water and heteroatoms, polar hydrogen addition, missing atom repair, etc.) using Discovery Studio Software. Following virtual screening by PyRx software, the top 20 ligands were validated by in silico molecular docking using AutoDock4 and PyMOL via parameters such as inhibition constants and affinity scores compared to the known anticancer drugs of Dasatinib, Imatinib, Nilotinip, Ponatinib.Herein, our study has come out with promising candidates, particularly compounds ZINC0000958672 and ZINC000013960048, that can commonly be used for both DDR1 and DDR2 inhibition, with higher efficacy observed for DDR1. These findings suggest that highlighted molecules may be potent to manage PDAC aggressiveness and offer new avenues for therapeutic interventions by targeting ECM receptors and related critical signaling pathways. Consequently, this research bridges the gap between computational drug discovery and clinical applications, aiming to improve treatment outcomes for PDAC patients
IMPACT OF FINANCIAL REPORTING QUALITY ON INVESTMENT EFFICIENCY AROUND THE GLOBE
Get PDFIn developed markets, the documented enhancement of investment efficiency due to financial reporting quality has yet to address the question of whether such a correlation persists in emerging, frontier, and diverse markets. This study investigates the association between financial reporting quality and investment efficiency across 21,741 publicly listed firms spanning 36 countries worldwide, encompassing developed, emerging, frontier, and other markets. Comprehensive accounting data spanning the years 2000 to 2022 is gathered for all listed firms in 40 industries across these 36 countries having 166,453 firms-year observations. Causal connections are examined through fixed-effect regression analysis, supplemented by additional tests and robustness checks utilizing alternative proxies. Concerns about endogeneity are mitigated through 2SLS analysis. The results reveal a positive impact of financial reporting quality on investment efficiency for firms in developed, emerging, frontier, and other markets. Our exploration of both over-investment and under-investment scenarios demonstrates a more pronounced link between financial reporting quality and investment efficiency in the underinvestment scenario. These findings contribute to the existing body of evidence, indicating that beyond its influence on investment efficiency in developed markets, the relationship between financial reporting quality and investment efficiency holds true globally. This encompasses emerging, frontier, and other markets, characterized by varying levels of reporting quality and financial framework
HOW THE PARATEXT SURVIVED THE MASTERPIECE
Get PDFThere are 164 survived manuscripts of the masterpiece of the Georgian and world literary heritage The Man in the Panther Skin by Shota Rustaveli (12th century), rewritten in the 17th century and after. The oldest record belongs to the edge of the 16th-17th centuries and the oldest manuscript dates back to 1646.
Before the appearance of the 1st printed version, that is, until 1712, the epic reached in one editorial version, which is clearly not from Rustveli’s hands. All manuscripts containing this edition are preceded by the pseudo-Rustavelian introductory stanza that presents the poem as a secular work differing from the church ideology and writings; which teaches and advises the reader to distance themselves from the secular ideology of Persian origin represented in the epic, and says that monks and nuns are forbidden to pay attention to this ideology, so they mustn't read this text. It is interesting, that only those manuscripts of the epic have survived, which represented this one and only redaction where the text was preceded by a pseudo-Rustavelian stanza.
The detailed information on the manuscripts of The Man in the Panther Skin and the reality which made the pseudo-Rustavelian stanza to be useful in survival of “The Man in the Panther Skin” will be discussed in the current pape
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER: HOW SUBSIDIARY CREATE KNOWLEDGE BY RELATIONAL EMBEDDEDNESS AND KNOWLEDGE SPILLOVERS
Get PDFIn this study, the relationship between environmental competitiveness and knowledge creation in subsidiaries is examined, suggesting that external relational embeddedness serves as a mediator and knowledge spillover acts as a moderator of this relationship. We analyzed a sample of 189 subsidiaries in Shanghai, Mainland China. The findings indicate that environmental competitiveness has a positive effect on the external embeddedness of subsidiaries. Specifically, subsidiary external relational embeddedness not only directly affects subsidiary absorptive capacity and knowledge creation but also has a fully mediating effect on this relationship. Regarding the effect of knowledge spillovers, only unconscious knowledge spillovers allow subsidiaries to expand their relational networks, increase their sources of knowledge, and notably increase their opportunities for knowledge creation. Both the theoretical and empirical implications are further discussed