Introduction: The teacher centered approach is a teaching and learning strategy has been practiced
traditionally for long in the classroom. Through this strategy the teacher plays an important role, while the
students only act as spectators, the interaction between students and teachers is only one way. In this study, the
concept mapping notes was added in teaching and learning methods during classroom teaching. Concept
mapping is one method of teaching that encourages students to becomes independent learner, critical thinking
and competent in their work.
Methodology: This study was carried out in Kolej Kejururawatan Kubang Kerian (Kelantan), and Kolej
Kejururawatan Pulau Pinang. The respondents were selected using simple random sampling. There were 109
respondents. The respondents were given 40 minutes to develop the concept mapping notes.
Results: The activity of the students in the teaching is certainly a positive sign towards achieving their
learning. The example of variety concept maps construct done by the students are highly creative and
innovative.
Conclusion: Students should take responsibility for their own learning. However, that is a role of a educator
to choose the best teaching method to makes the learning become meaningful and effective toward the student
cognitive structure that will help them to understand the topic those were taught.
MeSH terms: Cognition; Learning; Surveys and Questionnaires; Students; Educational Personnel
Monthly data about oil production at several drilling wells is an example of
spatio-temporal data. The aim of this research is to propose nonlinear spatio-temporal
model, i.e. Feedforward Neural Network - VectorAutoregressive (FFNN-VAR) and FFNN
- Generalized Space-Time Autoregressive (FFNN-GSTAR), and compare their forecast
accuracy to linearspatio-temporal model, i.e. VAR and GSTAR. These spatio-temporal
models are proposed and applied for forecasting monthly oil production data at three
drilling wells in East Java, Indonesia. There are 60 observations that be divided to two
parts, i.e. the first 50 observations for training data and the last 10 observations for
testing data. The results show that FFNN-GSTAR(11) and FFNN-VAR(1) as nonlinear
spatio-temporal models tend to give more accurate forecast than VAR(1) and GSTAR(11)
as linear spatio-temporal models. Moreover, further research about nonlinear spatiotemporal
models based on neural networks and GSTAR is needed for developing new
hybrid models that could improve the forecast accuracy.
MeSH terms: Forecasting; Indonesia; Linear Models; Neural Networks (Computer)
Numerical simulation of the behaviour of blood flow through a stenosed bifurcated
artery with the presence of single mild stenosis at parent artery is investigated. The
flow analysis applies the incompressible, steady, three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations
for non-Newtonian generalized power law fluids. Behaviour of blood flow is simulated
numerically using COMSOL Multiphysicsthat based on finite element method.The
results showthe effect of severity of stenosis on flow characteristics such as axial velocity
and its exhibit flow recirculation zone for analysis on streamlines pattern.
MeSH terms: Arteries; Constriction, Pathologic; Hemodynamics; Finite Element Analysis
Simulation is used to measure the robustness and the efficiency of the forecasting
techniques performance over complex systems. A method for simulating multivariate
time series was presented in this study using vector autoregressive base-process. By
applying the methodology to the multivariable meteorological time series, a simulation
study was carried out to check for the model performance. MAPE and MAE performance
measurements were used and the results show that the proposed method that consider
persistency in volatility gives better performance and the accuracy error is six time smaller
than the normal hybrid model.
In DNA splicing system, the potential effect of sets of restriction enzymes and
a ligase that allow DNA molecules to be cleaved and re-associated to produce further
molecules is modelled mathematically. This modelling is done in the framework of formal
language theory, in which the nitrogen bases, nucleotides and restriction sites are modelled
as alphabets, strings and rules respectively. The molecules resulting from a splicing system
is depicted as the splicing language. In this research, the splicing language resulting from
DNA splicing systems with one palindromic restriction enzyme for one and two (nonoverlapping)
cutting sites are generalised as regular expressions.
MeSH terms: Base Sequence; DNA; DNA Restriction Enzymes; Language; Ligases; Nitrogen; Nucleotides; RNA Splicing
In this paper, Maxwell fluid over a flat plate for convective boundary layer
flow with pressure gradient parameter is considered. The aim of this study is to compare
and analyze the effects of the presence and absence of λ (relaxation time), and also the
effects of m (pressure gradient parameter) and Pr (Prandtl number)on the momentum
and thermal boundary layer thicknesses. An approximation technique namely Homotopy
Perturbation Method (HPM) has been used with an implementation of Adam and Gear
Method’s algorithms. The obtained results have been compared for zero relaxation time
and also pressure gradient parameter with the published work of Fathizadeh and Rashidi.
The current outcomes are found to be in good agreement with the published results.
Physical interpretations have been given for the effects of the m, Pr and β (Deborah
number) with λ. This study will play an important role in industrial and engineering
applications.
The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of out-of-field photon beams radiotherapy to the cancer cell survival. In this study, HeLa and T24 cancer cells were irradiated with 6 MV and 10 MV photon beams in two different conditions, one with intercellular communication with the in-field cell and one without the communication. Cells survival was determined by clonogenic assay. In the presence of intercellular communication, the cell death was increased which indicate the presence of radiation induced bystander effects (RIBE). The effects were also dependent on the cell types and photon energy where the HeLa cells exhibit less survival compares to T24 cells and the effects were prominent at higher photon energy. This study demonstrates that the out-of-field cells in conjunction with RIBE plays important roles in the cells response towards megavoltage photon beam radiation therapy.
Peroxide pre-vulcanized natural rubber latex prepared by using gamma irradiation technique is an alternative over the conventionally prepared peroxide pre-vulcanized that used activator to promote the peroxide decomposition in natural rubber latex. Through this technique the problems aroused by some activators such as tends to darken the natural rubber latex film during the drying process can also be overcome. For this preliminary study, data obtained from crosslink density and mechanical measurements were used to evaluate the effectiveness of gamma irradiation in the vulcanization process. Increasing the quantity of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHPO) from 0.1 pphr to 0.3 pphr while the irradiation dose maintain at 12 kGy has successfully delivered peroxide vulcanized natural rubber latex films with average tensile strength, modulus @ 500% and modulus @ 700% around 15.33, 1.01 and 3.42 MPa, respectively. The effective pre-vulcanization irradiation dose with respect to maximum crosslinking density (85.8 %) was observed on film prepared at 0.1 pphr t-BHPO.
Therapeutic application of metallic nanoparticles such as gold nanoparticles have been extensively investigated and intriguing finding have been reported. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) could also potentially have therapeutic properties that can be exploited to enhance radiotherapy outcome. In this study, investigations on the dose enhancement effects inflicted by SPIONs under irradiation with megavoltage photon beam radiotherapy were conducted. T24 human bladder cancer cell lines were pretreated with 1 mMol/L of SPION and irradiated with 6 MV and 10 MV photon beam at different doses.The non-treated cells irradiation was used as a control. Clonogenic assay was performed to determine the cell survival. Linear quadratic (LQ) model are used as fitting curve and does enhancement factors (DEF) were extrapolated from the curves. The cytotoxicity indicated cell growth normally after 72 hours and no long term cytotoxicity effects of SPIONs towards the cells were observed. The dose enhancement effects were observed for both 6 MV and 10 MV photon beam with DEF obtained 1.71 and 2.50, respectively. This reduction of cell colonies growth could be resulted from the interaction that induced free radical and reactive oxygen species (ROS) by megavoltage photon beams. The SPIONs were therefore act as multifunction nanoparticle both in diagnostic agent and radiotherapy as radiation dose enhancer, thus clearly qualified as future theranostic agents.
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been extensively investigated as dose enhancement agent to increase the lethal dose to the tumours while minimizing dose to the normal tissue. Their intriguing properties and characteristics such as small size and shape provide favorable option in increasing radiotherapy therapeutic efficiency. In this study, the effects of AuNPs size on the dose enhancement effects irradiated under megavoltage photon beams were investigated. The study was conducted in-vitro on HeLa cells using AuNPs of 5 nm and 15 nm sizes. The cells samples were incubated with AuNPs and irradiated with photon beam of energy 6 MV and 10 MV at 100 cm SSD and 10 cm x 10 cm field size. Clonogenic assay were performed to observe the dose enhancement effects on cell survival. Dose enhancement factor (DEF) were extrapolated and evaluated from the cell survival curves. The results show that both sizes of AuNPs produce dose enhancement with the larger size AuNPs of 15 nm produce more dose enhancement compare to 5 nm AuNPs for 6 MV photon beam. Dose enhancements were observed for 10 MV photon beams but DEF for both sizes AuNPs shows no differences. In conclusion, larger size AuNPs produce higher dose enhancement compare to small size of AuNPs which conclude that nanoparticles size is important factor that need to be taken into account for AuNPs to be applied in radiotherapy.
MeSH terms: Cell Count; Cell Survival; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Gold; HeLa Cells; Humans; Silver Sulfadiazine; Metal Nanoparticles
Radiobiological model such as linear quadratic (LQ) is widely used in radiotherapy to predict the biophysical response of the tumour cell to the radiation. In clinical radiotherapy, LQ model is widely employed to plan treatment delivery and fractionation. Nevertheless, LQ model might not provide accurate prediction for high dose rate treatment. This study investigates the radiation cell survival responses using LQ model and alternative Multi-Target (MT) model. The experimental works were conducted in-vitro using HeLa cells that were irradiated using photon and electron beams of different energy. Cells irradiation were performed in full scatter condition and exposed to radiation doses ranges from 1 to 10 Gy. Clonogenic assay is used as an endpoint to obtain the cell survival curves which later be fitted with LQ and MT model. The results demonstrate that MT model produce the fitting curves that are closed to the experimental data compare to LQ model especially at high doses. Parameter analysis from both models indicates more biological damage inflicted by high energy electron beam. Correlation between the experimental cell survival data and radiobiological model analysis suggesting that alternative radiobiological model such as MT model could be applied in analysing cells’ radiation survival and damage in clinical radiotherapy.
The thermoluminescence kinetic parameters of Ge-doped flat fibre have been investigated comprehensively using the computerized glow curve deconvolution analysis. The Ge-doped flat fibre was irradiated to 6 MV and 10 MV photon beam with dose ranging from 100 cGy to 300 cGy. Analysis was done using WinGCF software on the dependence of the glow curve intensity on dose delivered and the determination of the trap parameters. Ge-doped flat fibre was found to be linear over the entire dose range explored for both 6 MV and 10 MV irradiations with r2 value of 0.9955 and 0.9933 respectively. The glow curve consists of five individual glow peaks. The peak height increases with increasing irradiation dose. The first peak (P1) is a dominant individual peak for low temperature peak (LTP) with the maximum temperature ranging from 167.4°C to 179.0°C for both beams studied. Meanwhile, peak (P4) is a dominant individual glow curve for high temperature peak (HTP) with maximum temperature for 6 MV and 10 MV and is observed between 264.5°C to 279.4°C. Peak 1 has the lowest activation energy which is less than 0.72 eV while peak 2 shows the highest activation energy (1.3 eV < Ea < 2.1 eV) which indicates the deepest electrons trap. The results showed that the peak integral will increases as the dose increases. The Ge-doped flat fibre demonstrated the second-order kinetic peak behavior by exhibiting the symmetric shape of the glow curve with high temperature half of the curve slightly broader than the low temperature half, which suggests the possibility of electron retrapping.
This study intended to identify the best learning strategies of writing by focusing in vocabulary
acquisition among the primary school pupils in Malaysia. Axiomatically, local education used the
Process Writing Approach in producing writing composition. Unfortunately, the researchers thought
that it is not sufficient to fulfill the component of good writing. By using the theory of scaffolding
pioneered by Vygotsky, the researchers agreed to include vocabulary learning to scaffold the existing
Process Writing Approach followed by application or practices. During application, the researcher as
the teacher will provide a module where the experimental group will do writing exercises by using the
new learned vocabularies. The researchers will use mixed method research where questionnaires of
vocabulary and writing strategies are distributed where the results are the determinants of VAW
module development.
LINUS is a program implemented by the Ministryof Education Malaysia (MOE) in Primary schools through out Malaysia. LINUS is an acronym for Literacy and Numeracy Screening which aims to increase the level of basic literacy and numeracy Among Level One (Year 1) pupils. The purpose of this studyi stoe xamine the teacher's teaching practices of LINUS-Literacy in Bahasa Malaysia. Based on the Theory of Behaviorism and Theory of Jean Piaget, LINUS teachers need tobe Innovative by utilizing techniques that match the LINUS pupils' ability in order to help The low ability pupils in mastering basic literacy skills. Data collection in this study Includes questionnaire, document analysis and observation; this researchuses Qualitative approach. The results of this study are expected to provide in put to Teachers who are teaching LINUS-Literacy in Bahasa Malaysia.
The study entitled ‘The relationship of principals’ leadership and school climate with teachers’
motivation among the secondary school teachers was held in Sri Aman, Sarawak. A total of 188
respondents were selected through random sampling method. It is a quantitative research completed by
using questionnaires. Principals’ leadership has been measured using the Leadership Behavior
Description Questionnaire (LBDQ), while the school climate was measured by using the School-Level
Environment Questionnaire (SLEQ). A measuring instrument Questionnaire Measure of Individual
Differences in Achieving Tendecy (QMAT) was used to measure the level of teachers’ motivation. The
Cronbach’s Alpha values for the three questionnaires were .926, .747 and .792. The study found that
the level of principals’ leadership, school climate and teachers’ motivation are high. The findings have
shown that there is no significant differences between principals based on academic qualifications and teaching experience, school climate based on academic qualifications, teachers’ motivation existed
based on professional qualifications and teaching experiences. However, there is significant difference
school climate based on teaching experience. The results also indicated that there is a weak positive
relationship between principals’ leadership and teachers’ motivation (r=.206, p
The existence of the gap between the expectation of culinary students and the realities of the job
market has led the students to face the obstacles to entering or continuing their career in the same
industry. As such, entrepreneurship is one of the best approaches in educating culinary students to
prepare for any possible after graduation. However, there are no guidelines for determining and
measuring the entrepreneurial level of culinary students. Therefore, this research aims to identify the
elements of entrepreneurship in culinary. The results of this research is a culinary entrepreneurial
framework. Side of this research is to build a measurement instrument of culinary entrepreneurship
level and to produce culinary entrepreneurship profiles for culinary students. This research uses
qualitative method in the first phase through document analysis and interviews with graduates and
culinary entrepreneurs. At the end of the study, it will acquire a culinary entrepreneurial framework
that is also used to produce an entrepreneurship measurement instrument in the second phase of
research.
The multiple ownership status of the Malay Reservation Land (MRL) has existed since its
establishment by the British colonialist through the Malay Reserves Enactment 1913. The main factor
of the multiple ownership status was due to the continuous process of land inheritance from generation
to next. This situation has given negative implications in the development of the land. This article
discusses the issue of developing the multiple ownership of Malay Reserve Land. Data collection is
conducted by semi-structured interview to the Perak Tengah District Officer and a number of
landowners involved in MRL’s multiple ownership. The qualitative data analysis shows that the
multiple ownership of the MRL can trigger social relationship problems among land co-owners and
subsequently create problems to develop them. It is proposed that co-owners be more tolerant and
willing to develop their land in joint venture scheme or develop individually through the process of
land partition. In order to resolve the difficulty of obtaining financing, landowners must ensure that the
development project is competitive and implemented within the local development zone.
This study evaluates the level of music performance anxiety (MPA) using the Kenny Music
Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI). Participants are tertiary students from Malaysian
universities (Universiti Teknologi MARA UiTM, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris UPSI and
ASWARA). The objective of the study was to measure the level of MPA by Kenny Music
Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI). The survey was distributed to 316 randomly selected
respondents representing semester one to semester five (UiTM), semester one to semester six (UPSI)
and semester one to semester seven (ASWARA) participants. The data were analysed using SPSS
version 22 software to obtain frequencies and percentages. The KMPAI (Cronbach’s a .882) was
reliable and valid for this sample. Normality test, reliability test and frequencies for demographic was
demonstrated by significant positive effect to measure the level of MPA. These results support the use
of this instrument as a screening tool for MPA in young musicians.
Understanding undergraduates’ environmental behaviour is important as they will be the leaders of the
country in the near future. They play an important role in protecting and conserving the environment.
This paper investigates the undergraduates’ behaviours towards the environment after completing the
Environment Economics course. Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) together with some other factors
such as academic performance, government regulations and perceived importance of nature are
employed. Multiple regression analysis shows undergraduates’ behaviours is positively affected by
attitude and perceived importance of nature, and negatively influenced by government regulations.
Although academic performance is very important to provide an understanding of basic principles of
environmental sustainability, it however does not significantly influence their environmental
behaviour. The finding hopes to assist the policy makers to plan future strategies so that the
undergraduates behaviours can make a difference to nature and the environment.
This paper investigates the effect of the ratio of ammonium nitrate (AN) on the structural, microstructural, magnetic, and alternating current (AC) conductivity properties of barium hexaferrite (BaFe12O19). The BaFe12O19 were prepared by using the salt melt method. The samples were synthesized using different powder-to-salt weight ratio variations (1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6 and 1:7) of BaCO₃ + Fe₂O₃ and ammonium nitrate salt. The NH₄NO₃ was melted on a hot plate at 170 °C. A mixture of BaCO₃ and Fe₂O₃ were added into the NH₄NO₃ melt solution and stirred for several hours using a magnetic stirrer under a controlled temperature of 170 °C. The heating temperature was then increased up to 260 °C for 24 hr to produce an ash powder. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) results show the intense peak of BaFe12O19 for all the samples and the presence of a small amount of the impurity Fe₂O₃ in the samples, at a ratio of 1:5 and 1:6. From the Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectra, the band appears at 542.71 cm - 1 and 432.48 cm - 1 , which corresponding to metal⁻oxygen bending and the vibration of the octahedral sites of BaFe12O19. The field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) images show that the grains of the samples appear to stick each other and agglomerate at different masses throughout the image with the grain size 5.26, 5.88, 6.14, 6.22, and 6.18 µm for the ratios 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6, and 1:7 respectively. From the vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis, the magnetic properties of the sample ratio at 1:3 show the highest value of coercivity Hc of 1317 Oe, a saturation magnetization Ms of 91 emu/g, and a remnant Mr of 44 emu/g, respectively. As the temperature rises, the AC conductivity is increases with an increase in frequency.