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The Influence of Teachers' Self-Efficacy and School Leaders' Transformational Leadership Practices on Teachers' Innovative Behaviour

Zainal MA, Mohd Matore MEE

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2021 Jun 14;18(12).
PMID: 34198506 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126423

BACKGROUND: The current rapid development demands educators to possess innovative behaviour. Presently, in the environment of rapid technological growth and borderless global communication, teachers with innovative behaviour are capable of facing each painful challenge that confronts the education system; therefore, it is essential to understand the factors influencing the innovative behaviour of teachers.
PURPOSE: To identify the influence of teachers' self-efficacy and school administrators' transformational leadership practices on teachers' innovative behaviour.
METHOD: A quantitative approach using a cross-sectional survey design with a sample of 1415 teachers from four states in Malaysia, and the data were statistically analysed using SPSS® version 26.0 for Windows™ (IBM Corporation, New York, NY, USA).
RESULT: Multiple Regression Analysis found that teachers' self-efficacy and school administrators' transformational leadership practices both had a significant influence on teachers' innovative behaviour by contributing 47.0% of the variance in teachers' innovative behaviour.
CONCLUSION: The findings suggested that teachers' self-efficacy and school administrators' transformational leadership practices both play a role in influencing teachers' innovative behaviour. Therefore, the stakeholders need to consider the aspects of self-efficacy and transformational leadership practices of school administrators in drafting policies and related programmes to improve teachers' innovative behaviour.
Frequency-controlled wireless shape memory polymer microactuator for drug delivery application

Zainal MA, Ahmad A, Mohamed Ali MS

Biomed Microdevices, 2017 Mar;19(1):8.
PMID: 28124762 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-017-0148-5

This paper reports the wireless Shape-Memory-Polymer actuator operated by external radio frequency magnetic fields and its application in a drug delivery device. The actuator is driven by a frequency-sensitive wireless resonant heater which is bonded directly to the Shape-Memory-Polymer and is activated only when the field frequency is tuned to the resonant frequency of heater. The heater is fabricated using a double-sided Cu-clad Polyimide with much simpler fabrication steps compared to previously reported methods. The actuation range of 140 μm as the tip opening distance is achieved at device temperature 44 °C in 30 s using 0.05 W RF power. A repeatability test shows that the actuator's average maximum displacement is 110 μm and standard deviation of 12 μm. An experiment is conducted to demonstrate drug release with 5 μL of an acidic solution loaded in the reservoir and the device is immersed in DI water. The actuator is successfully operated in water through wireless activation. The acidic solution is released and diffused in water with an average release rate of 0.172 μL/min.
Fulltext A case-control study of risk factors for bovine brucellosis seropositivity in Peninsular Malaysia

Anka MS, Hassan L, Khairani-Bejo S, Zainal MA, Mohamad RB, Salleh A, et al.

PLoS One, 2014;9(9):e108673.
PMID: 25265020 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108673

Bovine brucellosis was first reported in Peninsular Malaysia in 1950. A subsequent survey conducted in the country revealed that the disease was widespread. Current knowledge on the potential risk factors for brucellosis occurrence on cattle farms in Malaysia is lacking. Therefore, we conducted a case-control study to identify the potential herd-level risk factors for bovine brucellosis occurrence in four states in the country, namely Kelantan, Pahang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. Thirty-five cases and 36 controls of herds were selected where data on farm management, biosecurity, medical history and public health were collected. Multivariable logistic regression identified that Brucella seropositive herds were more likely to; have some interaction with wildlife (OR 8.9, 95% CI = 1.59-50.05); originated from farms where multiple species such as buffalo/others (OR 41.8, 95% CI = 3.94-443.19) and goat/sheep (OR 8.9, 95%Cl = 1.10-71.83) were reared, practice extensive production system (OR 13.6, 95% CI 1.31-140.24) and have had episodes of abortion in the past (OR 51.8, 95% CI = 4.54-590.90) when compared to seronegative herds. Considering the lack of information on the epidemiology of bovine brucellosis in peninsular Malaysia and absence of information on preventing the inception or spread of the disease, this report could contribute to the on-going area-wise national brucellosis eradication program.
Fulltext Bovine brucellosis trends in Malaysia between 2000 and 2008

Anka MS, Hassan L, Adzhar A, Khairani-Bejo S, Mohamad RB, Zainal MA

BMC Vet Res, 2013;9:230.
PMID: 24246015 DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-230

Bovine brucellosis is an important disease affecting cattle characterised by abortion, still birth, reduced milk production, weak foetus and infertility in both males and females. There is wide distribution of the disease among cattle and several wildlife species. Bovine brucellosis is commonly caused by B. abortus and very occasionally B. melitensis and B. suis. The distribution of bovine brucellosis in cattle has not been described in Malaysia. In this paper we describe the distribution, pattern and trend of bovine brucellosis in Peninsular Malaysia between 2000 and 2008 based on serological data obtained from nationwide B. abortus serosurveillance activities in cattle populations.