13474 research outputs found
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A model for acceptance of the Information Communication and Technology (ICT) for real estate agency practice in Malaysia / Murni Mohamad
No full textThe integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has revolutionized various industries, including the real estate sector. The advent of ICT has significantly altered the landscape in which real estate agents operate. Real estate agents have used ICT for marketing, information dissemination, and facilitating clients, especially buyers, in property transactions. However, despite its potential benefits, many real estate agents are reluctant to adopt and use these technologies. This is because most professionals in the real estate field are underprepared to embrace ICT and feel pressured to quickly integrate these technologies into their business models. This research aims to propose a model for the acceptance of ICT among real estate agents in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Four objectives were outlined to achieve the aims of this research: (i) to determine the ICT tools used by real estate agents in practice, (ii) to examine the factors influencing Perceived Usefulness (PU), Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU), Behavioural Intention (BI) and Acceptance (ACC) of ICT among Real Estate Agents, (iii) to analyse the importance and performance factors affecting PU, PEOU, BI, and ACC of the ICT among real estate agents, (iv) to develop a model that integrates the factors influencing the acceptance of ICT among Real Estate Agents. This research adopted the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as the foundation and employed a quantitative method, using a simple random sampling technique. The data were gathered through a survey conducted with real estate agents in valuation and agency firms in Klang Valley, Malaysia and 400 responses were collected within four months. Data then was analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) for inferential statistics and Importance- Performance Map Analysis (IPMA). The results show that mobile instant messaging is the most frequently used tool by real estate agents, with 68.50% usage, followed by Social Media (56.50%) and Real Estate Agent’s Website (53.50%). The least frequently used technologies are Robotic Process Automation and Metaverse Real Estate, both at 3.25%. Facilitating Conditions (FC), Innovativeness (INNO), and Perceived Enjoyment (ENJ) positively influence real estate agents’ PEOU of ICT. Meanwhile, Service Quality (SERQ) positively influences PU of ICT, and Trust (TRU) positively influences BI of ICT. For the Importance-Performance Map Analysis (IPMA), Innovativeness (INNO) emerges as the important factor affecting the Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU), while Service Quality (SERQ) is the important factor affecting the Perceived Usefulness (PU). Notably, Perceived Usefulness (PU) is identified as the important factor affecting Behavioral Intention (BI). Furthermore, when examining the factors affecting Acceptance (ACC), Behavioral Intention (BI) is distinguished as the most significant factor. Finally, the model was proposed for the acceptance of ICT among real estate agents. The contribution of this research is an extension of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in the context of real estate agents' acceptance of ICT. In addition, the result from this research will help the firms and educational sector to develop strategies to enhance the acceptance and utilization of ICT by improving service quality, providing better support and resources, making ICT tools more enjoyable and innovative, and building trust in shaping real estate agents willingness to use ICT
Q-switched and dark pulse harmonic mode-locked all-fiber lasers using interference filters / Chi Mingzhi
No full textInterference filters, pivotal optical devices harnessing the principle of interference to selectively transmit or reflect specific wavelengths of light, stand as indispensable tools across diverse domains such as communication, sensing, medical, industrial, and scientific fields. This dissertation embarks on exploring the efficacy of multimode or cladding mode interference in pulse generation. Initially, it proposes and demonstrates a passively Q-switched all-fiber laser, leveraging a multimode double-clad Erbium-Ytterbium co-doped fiber as an active medium. The Q-switching mechanism, facilitated by the Kerr effect of multimode interference, induces intensity modulation within the linear cavity laser. Stable Q-switched pulses at 1552.3 nm are achieved, with a repetition rate ranging from 50.3 to 222.2 kHz and shortest pulse width of 2.1 μs, alongside a peak pulse energy of 2.7 μJ at a pump power of 2.42 W. This unveils a novel modulation mechanism for obtaining high-energy pulses within an all-fiber linear cavity. Subsequently, the study demonstrates the realization of harmonic domain-wall dark pulses in a C-band fiber laser. The self-started domain-wall dark pulse at a mere pump power of 112 mW exhibits a fundamental repetition rate of 0.96 MHz, pulse width of 250 ns, and a maximum average pulse energy of 3.24 nJ. Furthermore, the experiment reveals the visualization and quantification of dark pulses up to the 7th harmonic order, with a minimum pulse width of 60 ns recorded in the 7th order. Remarkably, the harmonic dark pulse fiber laser exhibits commendable stability, maintaining signal-to-noise ratios above 50 dB across all harmonic operations. The pursuit of harmonic dark pulse dark soliton presents a promising pathway for fostering sustainable industrial advancement in the future
Study of five selected Malaysian piano lesson books for young beginners / Tan Jenna
No full textThe fundamental skills of learning piano are crucial for young children, especially in the early stages, when both student and teacher require cooperation to achieve effective learning. The purpose of this research was to analyse five Malaysian piano lesson books for young beginners based on the application of Cognitive Load Theory. A qualitative approach was used, involving content analysis to review the selected lesson books based on the elements of reading, rhythm, technique, theory, musicianship, repertoire, design and structure, with the aim of evaluating the speed of progression in difficulty and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of each book. Interviews were also conducted with five experienced piano teachers from various institutions in Malaysia for the research objective of aligning lesson book design with the concept of cognitive load. The findings indicated that young children with lower learning capabilities required higher cognitive load to process the lessons taught. Hence, more varieties of learning approaches were needed in the locally written lesson books for young piano beginners. As a result of these studies, suggestions for choosing appropriate lesson books must be based on the child’s cognitive load and responses, as every child learns differently
A comparative study of the cinematic technique of Crouching Tiger, hidden Dragon and let the bullet fly / Yin Shibo
Full text linkThis study conducts a comprehensive comparative analysis of the cinematic techniques of two iconic Chinese commercial films: "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" directed by Ang Lee, and "Let the Bullets Fly," directed by Jiang Wen. This study aims to fill key knowledge gaps by exploring the artistic and commercial elements of these films, emphasizing the application and impact of cinematic techniques. This study adopts a qualitative research design using comparative research and textual analysis. Using the Mise-en-scène concept as a theoretical framework, the literature review provides insights into existing research on cinematic techniques, making up for the lack of research on specific applications of technology in Chinese commercial films. The thesis helps to understand how their cinematic techniques shape the narrative structure and visual aesthetics of their respective films. The study identifies these two films' similarities and differences in cinematic techniques and the influence of these film techniques on modern Chinese films. providing valuable insights to filmmakers, academics, and industry practitioners
Pengaruh sikap, efikasi kendiri, dan kesedaran metakognitif terhadap penaakulan matematik pelajar pendidikan universiti awam Lembah Klang / Chan Choon Tak
No full textKajian-kajian berkaitan penaakulan matematik menunjukkan bahawa, pencapaian pelajar Malaysia berada pada tahap yang kritikal, lebih-lebih lagi dalam kalangan pelajar pendidikan universiti. Sikap, efikasi kendiri dan kesedaran metakognisi telah dikenal pasti sebagai antara faktor yang mempengaruhi penaakulan matematik pelajar. Kajian ini telah dijalankan untuk mengenal pasti saling hubungan antara sikap, efikasi kendiri, kesedaran metakognisi terhadap penaakulan matematik pelajar pendidikan universiti. Selain itu, kajian ini turut mengenal pasti hubungan antara dimensi sikap, efikasi kendiri, kesedaran metakognisi dan penaakulan matematik pelajar pendidikan universiti. Kewujudan faktor pengantara dalam hubungan-hubungan yang melibatkan sikap, efikasi kendiri, kesedaran metakognisi dan penaakulan matematik pelajar pendidikan universiti turut dikenalpasti dalam kajian ini. Kaedah tinjauan yang melibatkan seramai 378 orang pelajar pendidikan universiti yang terletak di sekitar Lembah Klang telah dipilih, menggunakan teknik persampelan rawak berstrata berkadaran. Kajian ini menggunakan Model Persamaan Berstruktur (SEM) melalui data yang diperoleh daripada soal selidik dengan menggunakan perisian Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS). Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa sikap, efikasi kendiri, kesedaran metakognisi dan penaakulan matematik pelajar mempunyai hubungan yang signifikan antara satu sama lain. Hasil dapatan turut menunjukkan bahawa, dimensi sikap, efikasi kendiri dan kesedaran metakognisi didapati mempunyai hubungan yang signifikan terhadap penaakulan matematik pelajar pendidikan universiti. Akhirnya, hasil dapatan kajian turut menunjukkan kesan pengantara separa apabila kesedaran metakognisi dijadikan sebagai faktor pengantara dalam hubungan antara sikap dan efikasi kendiri dengan penaakulan matematik. Kesimpulannya, dapatan kajian ini menyokong kepentingan sikap, efikasi kendiri dan kesedaran metakognisi yang mampu mempengaruhi penaakulan matematik pelajar pendidikan universiti
Design and fabrication of integrated organic thin-film transistor-based sensor on flexible substrate for glucose monitoring / Fazliyatul Azwa Md Rezali
No full textWith the rising cases of diabetes over the years, there is a growing demand for smart glucose wearables for early diagnosis and routine care. The current advancement in glucose sensors, while generally effective, has lacked system integration for wearability and real-time continuous monitoring in interstitial fluid. Herein, a novel integration of an organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) with a hollow microneedle (HMN) and an interfacing circuit has been proposed by adapting facile printing and flexible technology for minimally invasive sampling and sensitive glucose analysis. For a comparative study, interdigitated electrode (IDE) and organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) structures, a subtype of OTFT, are designed and fabricated on a flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film as an electrochemical sensor. The dispense-printed IDE, modified with a reduced graphene oxide/titanium dioxide nanohybrid and glucose oxidase (GOx), operates at 0.5 V. The device demonstrates fair reproducibility (Coefficient of Variance, CV = 12.2%) and repeatability (CV = 3.3%) within 60 s measurement, with excellent stability for 7 days on a curvature surface (normalized resistance, NR = 7%). The IDE-based sensor has a good linear response to glucose ranging from 0.05 to 30 mM (r2 = 0.988) with a sensitivity of 3.17 μA mM-1cm-2. Meanwhile, the screen-printed OECT, with a PEDOT:PSS channel functionalized by a chitosan-titanium dioxide nanocomposite and GOx, operates at a gate voltage of -0.5 V. In comparison to IDE devices, the OECT devices have better reproducibility (CV = 4.9%) and repeatability within 60 s measurement (CV = 0.3%), although it shows moderate stability when bent for 7 days (NR = 11.9%). The OECT-based sensor has an excellent linear response at glucose concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 30 mM (r2 = 0.993) with a sensitivity of 6.01 μA mM-1cm2. Both devices have good selectivity for glucose over ascorbic acid and uric acid. Subsequently, the OECT is selected for integration with an interfacing circuit since it outperforms the IDE in terms of sensitivity, where the response time of the fully integrated device with the application of a 3D-printed 3x3 HMN array is within 20 s using an agar gel-based skin model. The output signals are calibrated with a glucose concentration of 1–10 mM (r2 = 0.999) at a reading time of below 110 s. As a result, the glucose readings are comparable to those of a commercial glucose meter, and the maximum variation for low glucose levels ( 5.5 mmol/L) is 9.43%, indicating acceptable accuracy according to the ISO standard. Overall, the current prototype of the fully integrated glucose sensor shows great potential as a viable solution for glucose monitoring wearables
Energy-efficient power allocation for downlink non orthogonal multiple access networks based on game theory and genetic algorithm / Reem Mustafa Mah’d Al Debes
No full textThe exponential growth in the number of users and their increasingly diverse demands in next-generation wireless networks has created significant challenges in managing limited resources while ensuring energy-efficient communication. The need to meet the quality of service (QoS) requirements for this rapidly expanding user base, particularly with heightened data rate expectations, underscores the urgency for innovative solutions. Although 5G and beyond technologies provide a foundation for next-generation networks, further advancements are required to improve energy efficiency (EE) and spectrum efficiency (SE) to meet these demands. This study focuses on optimizing energy-efficient power allocation in Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) systems, a transformative approach that allows multiple users to share resources simultaneously. The research leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based Genetic Algorithms (GA) and game theory to address critical challenges in resource allocation. GA is specifically chosen for its ability to solve complex, non-linear problems by efficiently navigating large solution spaces. Complementing this, game theory offers a robust framework to model strategic interactions among users, ensuring fair and effective resource distribution. Together, these methods tackle critical gaps in resource allocation, including the trade-off between energy efficiency and data rate, and the challenges posed by both perfect and imperfect channel state information (CSI). The novel power allocation mechanism developed in this study demonstrates significant improvements. The proposed method achieves a 75% enhancement in energy efficiency compared to conventional Orthogonal Multiple Access (OMA) and an 11% improvement over benchmark NOMA algorithms. Additionally, it reduces outage probability by 25% and 10% relative to OMA and existing NOMA algorithms, respectively. These results validate the algorithm's robustness, particularly under imperfect CSI conditions, where traditional methods often fail. Furthermore, the research explores advanced applications such as integrating NOMA with Millimeter-Wave technology and optimizing user association strategies, enhancing system capacity and overall performance. The findings highlight the pivotal role of Genetic Algorithms and game theory in overcoming the limitations of conventional resource allocation methods. The integration of these advanced techniques ensures adaptability, efficiency, and resilience in dynamic network environments. By achieving substantial gains in energy efficiency and data rates, this study sets a new benchmark for resource allocation strategies in 5G and beyond networks. The proposed method demonstrates how AI-driven solutions, coupled with strategic modeling frameworks like game theory, can address the pressing challenges of next-generation wireless communication systems effectively
Exploring the intrinsic and extrinsic factors on career choice and development among music graduates in Fujian Normal University, China / Wang Xiaolu
No full textThe issues of career among young graduates were frequently raised, particularly with regard to bridging the gap between employment and academics. Music graduates face various challenges in society to retain their professional music skills and to develop their careers. Many studies have examined music students’ or music teachers’ career choice, but the studies on career choice and development among music graduates are limited. The study investigated the music educational experiences, intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing career choice and career development among music graduates in Fujian, China. An exploratory design was used in which the in-depth interviews was first conducted, followed by the questionnaire survey. The selected participants (N=18 in qualitative study; N=221 in quantitative study) were music graduates with two to twenty years working experience from Fujian, China. The study revealed that career choice was intrinsically motivated by interest, confidence on music skills, commitment to music profession, and extrinsically influenced from work environment and interpersonal impact. Personal self-actualization and interpersonal impact were found to be more significant to career development. The results also indicated the different music educational experiences such as music learning years, types of music major, and instrument type have different effect on factors influencing music graduates’ career choice and development. The findings offered for music students in choosing jobs and help music graduates to bridge the gap between their majors and future careers
Real time long range (LoRa) based indoor positioning system using Deep Gaussian Process (DGP) algorithm / Ng Tarng Jian
No full textThis thesis explores the development of a real-time LoRa-based indoor positioning system in industrial production lines. Recognizing the limitations of traditional GPS and other indoor positioning technologies, this research investigates the feasibility of LoRa and proposes a hybrid machine learning approach for accurate and reliable positioning. The study addresses challenges posed by signal fluctuations, non-line-of-sight propagation, and the need for continuous positioning estimation in dynamic environments. Through experimental evaluation and comparison of various machine learning algorithms, including Deep Gaussian Process (DGP) regression, the research demonstrates the effectiveness of DGPs in achieving precise single-point estimation, by keeping the mean absolute error to below 5 meters. Furthermore, the thesis introduces enhancement techniques such as Temporal-Weighted RSSI averaging, Kalman filtering, and lane constraints to improve the system's performance further. The experimental results, conducted in a real industrial environment, demonstrate that the proposed system achieves a mean absolute error of 1.58 meters and a root mean square error of 1.90 meters. These findings highlight the potential of combining LoRa technology with advanced machine learning algorithms and filtering techniques to achieve precise and reliable indoor tracking
Perceived employability in Bangladesh: The role of human capital, social capital and technological skills / Nusrat Jafrin
No full textThe prevailing trajectory of graduate unemployment in Bangladesh poses a significant challenge for higher education institutions and the government. The unemployment rate among graduates surpasses that of less educated youth, highlighting the urgent need to address the issue of graduate employability. To gain insight into improving the unemployment situation, it is crucial to consider graduates’ perspectives. A quantitative assessment of self-perceived employable abilities is widely accepted as critical for success in the labour market. Against this backdrop, this study aims to achieve five specific research objectives. First, it aims to identify variations in graduates’ self-perceived employability based on factors like gender, marital status, field of study, academic result, family financial support, and intermediary institution. The second objective is to investigate the effects of human capital, social capital, and technological skills on graduates’ self-perceived employability. Third objective is to examine the importance and performance of human capital, social capital, and technological skills in predicting self-perceived employability. The fourth objective is to explore differences between employed and unemployed graduates concerning the impact of human capital, social capital, and technological skills on their likelihood of self-perceived employability. Lastly, the study analyses the applicability of Bangladesh's National Youth Policy (2017) in addressing the contemporary challenges of graduate employment. The research employed quantitative methodology to accomplish the research objectives and used data gathered through a questionnaire survey in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. The survey involved primary data collection from 415 graduates, either employed or unemployed, from different public and private universities. The collected data were analysed using several software tools, such as SPSS, SmartPLS, and VOSviewer. The study’s findings indicate that there is no significant variation in self-perceived employability between genders. However, variations were observed in self-perceived employability based on marital status, financial support from family, academic performance, intermediary institutions, and field of study. The findings also reveal that perceived human capital and social capital have a significant positive influence on self-perceived employability. On the other hand, technological skill was found to be an insignificant predictor of self-perceived employability. The importance-performance matrix analysis shows that human capital is considered more important than social capital and technological skill. Furthermore, the results of the multi-group analysis indicate that both human and social capital have statistically significant effects on self-perceived employability for both employed and unemployed individuals, whereas the effect of technological skill is statistically insignificant for both groups. Finally, the analysis of Bangladesh's National Youth Policy reveals that the policy should be revised and updated to address the needs and potentials of graduates in the country. In conclusion, the findings of this thesis offer a comprehensive set of suggestions for graduates, emphasizing strategic priorities for improving employability. These suggestions not only serve as valuable guidance for graduates but also carry significant implications for policymakers and the government. By implementing the insights from this research, it is possible to address the challenge of graduate unemployment effectively, thereby harnessing the demographic dividend and fostering economic growth