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The best practices for school transformation: a multiple-case study
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the best practices of school leaders, teachers, pupils, parents and the community in selected transformed schools in Selangor, Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach: This qualitative multiple-case study explores the best practices in two selected transformed schools through in-depth interviews, observations and document reviews. The data were collected from 2 school heads, 6 teachers with administrative responsibilities and 20 teachers. The themes were elucidated via open, axial and selective coding based on the grounded theory approach. Findings: The analysis identified various best practices exhibited by school leaders, teachers, pupils, parents and the community. Four themes were found to be common as best practices in both selected schools, which were adaptive and multi-dimensional leadership, winning-the-hearts, extensive use of Information and Communication Technology in school operations, and a culture of acquiring and sharing professional knowledge. The unique theme for School A was the emphasis on the social, emotional and ethical well-being of the students, while extensive parental involvement and support was a unique theme identified in School B. Research limitations/implications: The findings of this paper may be used as guidance tool for policy makers and educational planners regarding school transformation in Malaysia, and as well as in other countries. Such practices can be learned, adapted and replicated by other schools in order to transform. The findings also have direct implications to current teachers, school leaders, parents and the community. Originality/value: This study contributes to the growing body of research on the best practices and school transformation in Malaysian transformed schools. There is a decisive need to explore the best practices of transformed schools in Malaysia based on their own cultural and contextual needs in order to help schools that aspire for transformation
FBGs Real-Time Impact Damage Monitoring System of GFRP Beam Based on CC-LSL Algorithm
No full textGlass-fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite materials have an undisputed dominance over conventional metallic materials. However, susceptibility to barely visible or invisible internal damage due to impact has increased the demand for these composite materials in robust real-time structural health monitoring (SHM) system since they are capable of localizing the source of impact. Thus, in this paper, an in situ FBG sensor was embedded in a GFRP beam, providing an online real-time monitoring system and with the knowledge of cross-correlation linear source location (CC-LSL) algorithm, the impact location was capable of being determined in a split second. The consistency of cross-correlation function in providing repeatable results for all trials estimated a consistent time difference for all the impact points. The CC-LSL algorithm also revealed that the highest percentage of error was only 4.21% away from the actual hit. In the meantime, FBGs also showed good results as a dynamic strain measuring device in capturing frequency response at certain orientations compared to the AE sensor
Estimation of the Burden of Serious Human Fungal Infections in Malaysia
No full textFungal infections (mycoses) are likely to occur more frequently as ever-increasingly sophisticated healthcare systems create greater risk factors. There is a paucity of systematic data on the incidence and prevalence of human fungal infections in Malaysia. We conducted a comprehensive study to estimate the burden of serious fungal infections in Malaysia. Our study showed that recurrent vaginal candidiasis (>4 episodes/year) was the most common of all cases with a diagnosis of candidiasis (n = 501,138). Oesophageal candidiasis (n = 5850) was most predominant among individuals with HIV infection. Candidemia incidence (n = 1533) was estimated in hospitalized individuals, some receiving treatment for cancer (n = 1073), and was detected also in individuals admitted to intensive care units (ICU) (n = 460). In adults with asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) was the second most common respiratory mycoses noticed (n = 30,062) along with severe asthma with fungal sensitization (n = 39,628). Invasive aspergillosis was estimated in 184 cases undergoing anti-cancer treatment and 834 ICU cases. Cryptococcal meningitis was diagnosed in 700 subjects with HIV/AIDS and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonitis (PCP) in 1286 subjects with underlying HIV disease. The present study indicates that at least 590,214 of the Malaysian population (1.93%) is affected by a serious fungal infection annually. This problem is serious enough to warrant the further epidemiological studies to estimate the burden of human fungal infections in Malaysia
Actor' interaction in the follow-up on performance auditing issues in Malaysia: Uncovering the contributing factors and constraining challenges
No full textThis paper explores the extent and nature of actors' interaction in follow-up on performance auditing issues with the attempt to uncover the contributing factors as well as constraining challenges from the Malaysian public sector audit perspectives. Fifty five (55) semi structured interviews data derived from snowball purposive sampling and governance network theory as underlying theory are employed to analyze the data based on subjective qualitative approach. The overall results indicate that interaction has an impact on key actors' involvement in the follow-up practice. The responses gathered from the interviewees demonstrate that involvement of key actors are more important with some other possible factors. Based on the above situation, this paper argued, effective communication and engaging right authority or external actors are important in enhancing the effectiveness of follow-up practice. The findings suggest, audit institution need to make more key actors to involve in order to solve complex audit issues, particularly the regulators such as enforcement agencies. The regulator expects and hope the auditors to share important first-hand information about audit issues as soon as possible. For regulators, early involvement considered more appropriate. Regulators want to secure sufficient evidence so that further investigation and action can be taken so as not to lose important evidence and avoid dealing with outdated issues. Actors' involvement by means of interaction are timely and should be enhanced in terms of information sharing and overcoming problem related to actor role and involvement. This is the first study that employed governance network theory to explore the nature and extent of follow-up on performance auditing issues involving various actors' interaction in the public sector audit environment
Spatial Model of Sky Brightness Magnitude in KUSZA Observatory, UniSZA
No full textLight pollution is the by-product of anthropogenic activities result from the increases in advanced economic and urbanization. Light pollution limits the ability to view the night sky by astronomers, on biodiversity, and ecosystems. This technology nowadays has led us to increase the convenient method to observe the brightness of night sky to determine how much the night sky polluted by artificial light. The study used SQM device and monitored the sky brightness of the KUSZA Observatory in Merang, Setiu, Terengganu, Malaysia. The results obtained were used to compare with the results obtained by simulation data generated from Earth Observation Group (EOG) of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Geophysical Data Center. It is the first world atlas of the artificial night sky brightness using GIS Interpolation tools. The result showed that the Kusza Observatory Merang is still appropriate to be the place of observation of celestial objects to either optical or radio astronomers. Hence, we recommended that through the data obtained from Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites, the value of sky brightness from all over the world can be used to make further analysis and to increase the precision of data recorded through observations. This study provides a clear view mapping of the accessing the sky condition using Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis in the study area
High Performance Modified Model Predictive Control of a Voltage Source Inverter
No full textThis paper proposes a modified model predictive control (MMPC) method for a two-level voltage source inverter (VSI) by applying ‘Midpoint Euler's Approximation’ technique to achieve a high performance. Therefore, a new predictive mathematical modeling is derived and presented in this paper to predict the future behavior of the inductive load model, which is compared with the reference signal to determine the cost function of the system. In this MMPC method, all the possible switching vectors of the converter are utilized to obtain the cost functions, and the corresponding switching vector for minimum cost function is selected to actuate the power converter in the next sampling time interval. The proposed MMPC method and the traditional MPC schemes are verified in MATLAB-Simulink. The experimental validation is performed in DS1104 R&D Controller Board to justify and confirm the performance of the system. Simulation and experimental results validate the robustness of the proposed MMPC method, and improve the results compared to traditional MPC method in terms of total harmonic distortion (THD) and current reference tracking mean error
Screening and characterisation of two strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from aquaculture and water environment
No full textAims: Pseudomonas has been associated with diseases occurring in people with weakened or compromised immune system after exposure to contaminated water. The diseases are commonly treated with antibiotics. However, the bacteria had developed resistances to commonly used antibiotics making treatment a difficult task. Therefore, the continuous surveillance of susceptibility of Pseudomonas especially for the human pathogen P. aeruginosa to commonly clinical and aquaculture farming used antibiotics is important to ensure that serious infections remain susceptible to those antibiotics. Methodology and results: In this study, the bacteria were screened from water, sediment and fish from rivers and aquaculture farms around Kuching, Sarawak. A total number of 38 presumptive P. aeruginosa were isolated using CHROMagarTM Pseudomonas and subjected to a series of biochemical tests. Out of all the isolates tested, only two isolates designated as AS-R10(S) and BK2-OLT2(S) fulfilled the biochemical characteristics of P. aeruginosa. 16S rRNA gene sequencing further confirmed these two isolates as P. aeruginosa based on their 100% similarity with P. aeruginosa strain GD1 and P. aeruginosa strain PA1201 in NCBI database. These two isolates were tested for their susceptibilities against nine common antibiotics used in both clinical and aquaculture farming nowadays: imipenem, piperacillin, meropenem, amikacin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, tobramycin and norfloxacin according to CLSI standard using disk diffusion method. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The two isolates exhibited total susceptibility to all the antibiotics analysed, suggesting the effectiveness of the antimicrobial agents towards P. aeruginosa isolated from aquaculture and water environment in the study area
Job recommendation using facebook personality scores
No full textFacebook is one of the most popular social media sites that has become part of our lives. User-generated Facebook data are useful and can be used to gauge personality. However, previous studies did not use Facebook data for personality assessment and mapping for professional purposes. The current study mainly aims to identify personality features using user-generated content in Facebook. A computational score is created and a model is developed by utilizing these scores in job recommendations that match the personality of the user. The personality score of Facebook is benchmarked against the Big Five Inventory (BFI) test score to determine accuracy. The scores of Facebook personality scores and BFI test reached 93.1%. The findings of this study benefits job candidates, especially fresh graduates by assisting them in identifying a career that suits their personality. This study also helps create awareness among individuals by identifying the personality strengths and weaknesses through the use of Facebook information. This study can help employers find candidates who fit the needs of the company by gauging their personality through Facebook data
Draft genome sequence of a novel actinobacterium from the family Intrasporangiaceae isolated from Signy Island, Antarctica
No full textActinobacterium strain S63T isolated from a soil sample collected from Spindrift Col on Signy Island (South Orkney Islands, maritime Antarctic) is a new species of the Intrasporangiaceae family. Here we report a draft genome sequence with an approximate size of 5 Mbp contained in 54 contigs (69.33% GC content). Preliminary analysis revealed the presence of cold active protein coding sequences, which may indicate an adaptation to the harsh polar environment from which the strain was isolated
Patient and Physician Satisfaction with Analgesic Treatment: Findings from the Analgesic Treatment for Cancer Pain in Southeast Asia (ACE) Study
No full textAim. The aim of this study was to examine patients' and physicians' satisfaction, and concordance of patient-physician satisfaction with patients' pain control status. Methods. This cross-sectional observational study involved 465 adults prescribed analgesics for cancer-related pain from 22 sites across Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Pain intensity, pain control satisfaction, and adequacy of analgesics for pain control were documented using questionnaires. Results. Most patients (84.4%) had stage III or IV cancer. On a scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (worse pain), patients' mean worst pain intensity over 24 hours was 4.76 (SD 2.47). More physicians (19.0%) than patients (8.0%) reported dissatisfaction with patient's pain control. Concordance of patient-physician satisfaction was low (weighted kappa 0.36; 95% CI 0.03-0.24). Most physicians (71.2%) found analgesics to be adequate for pain control. Patients' and physicians' satisfaction with pain control and physician-assessed analgesic adequacy were significantly different across countries (P<0.001 for all). Conclusions. Despite pain-related problems with sleep and quality of life, patients were generally satisfied with their pain control status. Interestingly, physicians were more likely to be dissatisfied with patients' pain control. Enhanced patient-physician communication, physicians' proactivity in managing opioid-induced adverse effects, and accessibility of analgesics have been identified to be crucial for successful cancer pain management. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier NCT02664987)