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Relationship Dimension In University Laboratories And Its Effects On Students’ Interest
Get PDFMalaysian universities are currently facing a decline of students’ interest in science. It is perceived that the students’ practices in laboratory activities with properly managed activities could result in positive interest in science. In that sense, it is argued that laboratory activities are less constrained, creating excellent opportunities for the interaction between instructor and students to occur. Hence, this study was aimed to examine the relationship dimension in university laboratories and its’ connection towards the students’ interest in a science subject. Drawing upon a survey conducted over 321 science students in four Malaysian Universities, a series of exploratory factorial, descriptive and regression analyses were applied in this study context. The results proved that in the aspects of instructor supportiveness, student cohesiveness and involvement explained 56.15% of the variations and exhibited a positive relationship with the students’ interest in science. Subsequent analysis also found that both instructor supportiveness and student cohesiveness demonstrated significant contributions of 17.2%. The relationship dimension definitely showed significant contribution although in small percentages. As the laboratory objectives are ultimately important to achieve, future research should examine the best practices in laboratory to develop students’ interest in science
The perceived role of Islamic medical care practice in hospital: the medical doctor’s perspective
No full textPurpose: This study aims to investigate the perceived role of the Islamic medical care practice of Muslim doctors in Malaysian Muslim-friendly private hospitals. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collection through self-administered questionnaires voluntarily submitted by the respondents. The survey covered selected major Muslim-friendly private hospitals in the country in the states of Kedah, Johor, Penang, Selangor, Kelantan and Kuala Lumpur. The non-probability purposive sampling was used, as the respondents and locations of the survey areas were predetermined. Findings: Five dimensions of the Muslim-friendly medical care practice were identified, namely, medical etiquettes, physical examination, proper cleansing process of blood and body fluids, proper handling and treatment of infectious diseases and doctors’ advice to Muslim patients. The findings also indicate that the scale development analysis produced excellent results which can be used for reproducible or repetitive medical care purposes and for integration facts and figures for inclusion into wider medical care policy and practices. Practical implications: The results from the study can further develop Islamic medical care practices and enable medical service providers to upgrade their performances to an enviable strategic status. Originality/value: Islamic medical care is a new mode of healthcare service market, as there are very few studies on this topic from the perspective of Muslim patients or no obvious facts are known. This study has first explored Muslim doctors’ perceived role in Islamic medical care practice in Malaysian Muslim-friendly private hospitals. This empirical study can immensely contribute to the further development of Islamic medical care practice for Muslim doctors in particular and for the Muslim-friendly hospital service marketing strategy in general
Lentinula edodes (shiitake mushroom): An assessment of in vitro anti-atherosclerotic bio-functionality
No full textMushrooms have been highly regarded as possessing enormous nutritive and medicinal values. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-oxidative and anti-atherosclerotic potential of shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) using its solvent–solvent partitioned fractions that consisted of methanol:dichloromethane (M:DCM), hexane (HEX), dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EA) and aqueous residue (AQ). The hexane fraction (1 mg/mL) mostly scavenged (67.38%, IC50 0.55 mg/mL) the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical, contained the highest reducing capacity (60.16 mg gallic acid equivalents/g fraction), and most potently inhibited lipid peroxidation (67.07%), low density lipo-protein oxidation and the activity of 3-hydroxy 3-methyl glutaryl co-enzyme A reductase (HMGR). GC–MS analyses of the hexane fraction identified α-tocopherol (vitamin E), oleic acid, linoleic acid, ergosterol and butyric acid as the bio-functional components present in L. edodes. Our findings suggest that L. edodes possesses anti-atherosclerotic bio-functionality that can be applied as functional food-based therapeutics against cardiovascular diseases
A GNSS-based weather forecasting approach using Nonlinear Auto Regressive Approach with Exogenous Input (NARX)
No full textThe rapid variation of precipitation that occurs in the troposphere potentially affects weather conditions. Using GNSS-derived precipitable water vapour (PWV) and external input of rainfall data is useful and beneficial for the prediction of rapid changes of PWV which eventually leads to rainfall prediction in near real time. A nonlinear autoregressive approach with exogenous input (NARX) is an effective approach to statistical forecasting which is used in weather forecasting studies. Furthermore, choosing the most effective algorithm between the Levenberg Marquardt regularization and Bayesian Regularization may be ideal for predicting rainfall. Ten GNSS stations from the Malaysia real-time kinematic network (MyRTKnet) were selected. The selected GNSS stations cover Perak states in Malaysia from 1 January to 31 December 2013. While Obtained results from linear regression model show only 1% correlation between rainfall data and GNSS-derived PWV, comparing the predicted values by NARX networks and actual data show a significant improvement. Addition of GNSS-derived PWV along with daily rainfall data collected from meteorological stations significantly improves the prediction results between 30% and 59% correlation for Bayesian and Levenberg Marquardt regularization, respectively. Furthermore, the Levenberg Marquardt training algorithm may be the most accurate model among the forms of ANN used. Such a significant improvement is favourable to use NARX networks for near real time prediction
Chromatographic and spectroscopic studies on β-cyclodextrin functionalized ionic liquid as chiral stationary phase: Enantioseparation of NSAIDs
No full textRecently, we reported a new chiral stationary phase prepared using β-cyclodextrin functionalized with aromatic ionic liquid which is aimed to enhance the performance of enantioseparation of flavonoids and β-blockers. In this paper, the characteristics and performance of previously prepared chiral stationary phase denoted as β-CD-BIMOTs were compared with the newly synthesized chiral stationary phase denoted as β-CD-DIMOTs. β-CD-DIMOTs were prepared by functionalization of β-cyclodextrin with aliphatic ionic liquid. The obtained β-CD-BIMOTs and β-CD-DIMOTs stationary phases were compared with native β-CD stationary phase for the enantioseparation of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (ibuprofen, indoprofen, ketoprofen and fenoprofen). The β-CD-BIMOTs stationary phase showed greater chiral resolution capabilities rather than β-CD-DIMOTs and native β-CD stationary phases. Further, in order to understand the interaction of enantioseparation, the inclusion complex formation between NSAIDs and β-CD-BIMOTs was studied using 1H NMR, NOESY and UV/Vis. The enantioseparated NSAIDs were found to form multiple interactions with β-CD-BIMOTs-CSP
English(es) in Malaysia
No full textThis article provides a brief historical overview of the advent of English in Malaysia and the education policies that impact on English language education. We then discuss the concept of Malaysian English. We show that rather than being seen as an umbrella term for all varieties of English used in Malaysia, the term ‘Malaysian English’ tends to be associated with the more colloquial spoken one and thus viewed negatively. In view of the expanded use of English in Malaysia, we propose a revised model for understanding the different varieties and uses of English in Malaysia
Mr neurography of median nerve using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and its efficacy to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome in Malaysian population
No full textObjective: This study evaluates the feasibility of diffusion tensor imaging(DTI) in assessing median nerve by measuring diffusion parameters such as fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD) at different sites of median nerve and evaluating their differences in patients with and without carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in local setting. Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was performed with 9 female patients diagnosed with CTS by clinical evaluation and nerve conduction study and 8 age and sex matched normal patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) wrist was performed with pre-set axial PD and DTI protocol on a 3T MRI, images post-processed using 3D SLICER software to generate median nerve tract and measure diffusion parameters FA, MD, AD and RD in segments and focal points. Results: The FA values were significantly lower in CTS patients, 0.454 (± 0.065), p< 0.002 and demonstrates negative correlation with disease severity, r = - 0.510, p = 0.002.The mean MD, 1.090 (± 0.178) and mean RD, 0.834 (± 0.128) is higher in CTS patients, p = 0.041 and p = 0.014 respectively. They show an increasing trend with increasing disease severity. Negative correlation was noted between the FA values and age groups. FA cut of value of ≤ 0.487 with sensitivity 70.6 % and specificity 76.5%, is suggested for diagnosing CTS. Conclusion: MR neurography using DTI can be utilised to detect CTS. Patients with CTS demonstrate lower FA and higher MD and RD values
Hydrothermal syntheses of tungsten doped TiO2 and TiO2/WO3 composite using metal oxide precursors for charge storage applications
No full textSynthesis of advanced functional materials through scalable processing routes using greener approaches is essential for process and product sustainability. In this article, syntheses of nanoparticles of titanium dioxide (TiO2), tungsten trioxide (WO3), WO3-doped titanium dioxide (W-TiO2) and TiO2/WO3 composite at hydrothermal conditions using corresponding metal oxide precursors are described. Electrochemical charge storage capabilities of the above materials are measured using cyclic voltammetry, charge-discharge cycling and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in aqueous KOH electrolyte. The TiO2 and the WO3 nanoparticle showed a specific charge (Q) of ∼12 and ∼36 mA h g−1 at a current density of 2 A g−1 in 6 M KOH, respectively. The Q of TiO2 increased upon W doping up to 25 mA h g−1 for 5 wt% W-TiO2 and the WO3/TiO2 composite showed the highest storage capability (Q ∼40 mA h g−1). Changes in the charge storage capabilities of the doped and composite materials have been correlated to materials properties
Preliminary research: Correlation between pulp chamber volume of mandibular first molar and chronological age on deuteromalay subrace
No full textThe purpose of this study is to analyze the correlation between pulp chamber volume of mandibular first molar and chronological age in Deuteromalay sub race population. The analytical research design was done on the 180 samples from secondary data DICOM CBCT in Installation of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology at Dental Hospital of Universitas Padjadjaran Bandung Indonesia and was measured with ITK Snap v3.6.0 programme. The results of this study was analyzed using statistically correlation Pearson. The conclusion showed that there was correlation between pulp chamber volume of mandibular first molar and chronological age in Deuteromalay subrace population
Cloud computing in manufacturing: The next industrial revolution in Malaysia?
No full textThis study explores how performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), firm size (FS), top management support (MS) and absorptive capacity (AC) of cloud computing technology can lead to innovativeness (IN) and firm performance (FP) among the manufacturing firms. Data gathered from 188 managerial positions were analysed using Partial Least Squares (PLS) Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) analysis, together with the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) analysis. Findings revealed that PE, FS, AC have a positive significant influence on IN; while IN positively influences FP. This study offers valuable perspective on the applicability of cloud computing technology to improve IN and FP, and subsequently be aligned with Industry 4.0, the next industrial revolution