Teaching and learning mathematics and science in English in primary schools in the state of Johor, Malaysia

This article attempts to highlight the opinions of the public on the effectiveness of the use of English in teaching and learning Mathematics and Science (PPSMI) in primary schools in Johor. After nearly six years of its implementation, some people found out that the students have not demonstrated a good command of the language and the acquisition of knowledge of Mathematics and Science is seen to be declining. The teachers also do not seem to adapt well in the implementation. A group of respondents from among the headmasters and headmistress have given their views through a questionnaire and structured interview that showed the government's intention to strengthen the English language in teaching and learning Mathematics and Science did not show an impressive result. Thus, the study suggests that the government can try to give an option of using both languages in the implementation of this policy

Applications of 18(F) FDG PET/CT in oncology

The escalating costs of conventional diagnostic technology in oncology have yet to obviate futile surgery intervention and the spiralling treatment cost. The evolution in engineering technology which looks at the correlation of the anatomy and the function of tumours i.e. Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET-CT) have impacted on the improved diagnostic accuracy and treatment in oncology. Clinical data have demonstrated that the information provided by PET/CT often changes patient management. This review addresses the value of PET-CT as a surrogate molecular marker in tumours and to discuss some issues in adopting PET/CT in routine daily practice as supported by the numbers of literature reviews of its application in oncology since it was first commercialized in 2001. The description of the technology used in multimodality imaging has gained encouraging interest among physicians, policy makers and insurance companies on the importance of the PET-CT, for which roles are not limited to the staging, disease prognostication and treatment monitoring with potential impact on treatment cost and justification of radiation safety for the patient. PET/CT is a useful tool in cancer investigation as evidenced by its role as a surrogate marker in underpinning the cellular reprogramming of different pathological entities

Significance of subcentimetre 18F-FDG PET/CT pulmonary abnormality in patients with known extrapulmonary malignancy.

The significance of a subcentimetre 18F-FDG PET/CT pulmonary abnormality in a patient with known extrapulmonary primary malignancy can have a major impact on the clinical management of the patient. The clinician’s reliance on the semi-quantitative and qualitative PET/CT analysis of the abnormality has, at times, led to untoward diagnostic problems, given the limited spatial resolution of PET for a small volume lesion performed as part of the standard PET/CT study. This paper highlights a case each of an FDG-positive and an FDG-negative focal pulmonary abnormality in a combined PET/CT study of patients with known extrapulmonary malignancy

Emotional intelligence among nurses

Malaysia has more than 78 thousand registered nurses working at the government and private hospitals.Nurses who make up 75% of the total healthcare workforce play important parts in providing healthcare services to patients and working with other healthcare professionals. Emotional intelligence allows people to understand the complexity of human interaction and manage his/her own emotions as well as others.Hence, emotional intelligence seems a relevant concept in healthcare, where it is considered vital for nurses to understand patients’ perspectives and engage in relationships that will facilitate successful care management. This article examines the emotional intelligence profiles of nurses. In additions, it also examines the differences in the level of emotional intelligence of nurses based on selected demographic factors.A study had been conducted in four government hospitals using The Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory: Short (EQ-i:S) by Bar-On (1997).Three-hundred and ninety-five male and female nurses were involved as respondents. Results showed that the majority of respondents had high level of emotional intelligence and there were no significant differences of emotional intelligence based on demographic factors.It is hoped that the results and implications of the study will enhance the service quality of healthcare professionals

Foreign investment, government expenditure, and economic growth in Malaysia

This study uses the ordinary least squares technique to examine the effect of foreign investment and government expenditure on the growth in GDP per capita in Malaysia over the period 1978-2005. The regression results showed that the growth of export and ratio of government expenditure to GDP are the driving forces in enhancing the economic growth in Malaysia. Foreign investment and previous year real income per capita growth depict positive impact, whereas population growth exerts a negative impact on economic growth

The influences of basic physical properties of clayey silt and silty sand on its laboratory electrical resistivity value in loose and dense conditions

Non-destructive test which refers to electrical resistivity method is recently popular in engineering, environmental, archaeological and mining studies. Based on the previous studies, the results on electrical resistivity interpretation were often debated due to lack of clarification and evidences in quantitative perspective. Traditionally, most of the previous result interpretations were depending on qualitative point of view which is risky to produce unreliable outcomes. In order to minimise those problems, this study has performed a laboratory experiment on soil box electrical resistivity test which was supported by an additional basic physical properties of soil test like particle size distribution test (d), moisture content test (w), density test (ρbulk) and Atterberg limit test (LL, PL and PI). The test was performed to establish a series of electrical resistivity value (ERV) with different quantity of water content for clayey silt and silty sand in loose and dense condition. Apparently, the soil resistivity value was different under loose (L) and dense (C) conditions with moisture content and density variations (silty SAND = ERVLoose: 600 - 7300 Ωm & ERVDense: 490 - 7900 Ωm while Clayey SILT = ERVLoose: 13 - 7700 Ωm & ERVDense: 14 - 8400 Ωm) due to several factors. Moreover, correlation of moisture content (w) and density (ρbulk) due to the ERV was established as follows; Silty SAND: w(L) = 638.8ρ-0.418, w(D) = 1397.1ρ-0.574, ρBulk(L) = 2.6188e-6E-05ρ, ρBulk(D) = 4.099ρ-0.07 while Clayey SILT: w(L) = 109.98ρ-0.268, w(D) = 121.88ρ-0.363, ρBulk(L) = -0.111ln(ρ) + 1.7605, ρBulk(D) = 2.5991ρ-0.037 with determination coefficients, R2 that varied from 0.5643 – 0.8927. This study was successfully demonstrated that the consistency of ERV was greatly influenced by the variation of soil basic physical properties (d, w, ρBulk, LL, PL and PI). Finally, the reliability of the ERV result interpretation can be enhanced due to its ability to produce a meaningful outcome based on supported data from basic geotechnical properties

Dual-band microstrip loop antenna for wireless application

In recent years, microstrip and printed antennas are widely used in order to fulfill the commercial needs. The emergence of wireless applications requires compact antenna easy manufacture. The purpose of this project is to design of dual band microstrip loop antenna for wireless applications with a reduction in size. The aim of this antenna was to operate from 2 GHz to 4 GHz. A square microstrip patch antenna has been chosen as antenna design pattern due to its low-profile structure. The development of this project comprised two main stages where the first level is a software simulation (CST Microwave studio2012) and secondly is a hardware development. CST Microwave studio2012 has been used to simulate the antenna design for a purpose of preliminary design which the inherent of the advantages of the antenna can be identified, then the second stage is the development of the microstrip patch antenna which have been fabricated on FR4 substrate and tested using the network analyzer which has range between to 1GHz to 14GHz. Based on this project, the antenna parameters such as return loss, radiation pattern, voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) and bandwidth have been investigated. For further investigation, a substrate material with higher dielectric constant can be used to reduce a microstrip antenna size. The dual band antenna performance shows agreement between both simulation and measurement results

The influences of basic physical properties of clayey silt and silty sand on its laboratory electrical resistivity value in loose and dense conditions

Non-destructive test which refers to electrical resistivity method is recently popular in engineering, environmental, archaeological and mining studies. Based on the previous studies, the results on electrical resistivity interpretation were often debated due to lack of clarification and evidences in quantitative perspective. Traditionally, most of the previous result interpretations were depending on qualitative point of view which is risky to produce unreliable outcomes. In order to minimise those problems, this study has performed a laboratory experiment on soil box electrical resistivity test which was supported by an additional basic physical properties of soil test like particle size distribution test (d), moisture content test (w), density test (ρbulk) and Atterberg limit test (LL, PL and PI). The test was performed to establish a series of electrical resistivity value (ERV) with different quantity of water content for clayey silt and silty sand in loose and dense condition. Apparently, the soil resistivity value was different under loose (L) and dense (C) conditions with moisture content and density variations (silty SAND = ERVLoose: 600 - 7300 Ωm & ERVDense: 490 - 7900 Ωm while Clayey SILT = ERVLoose: 13 - 7700 Ωm & ERVDense: 14 - 8400 Ωm) due to several factors. Moreover, correlation of moisture content (w) and density (ρbulk) due to the ERV was established as follows; Silty SAND: w(L) = 638.8ρ-0.418, w(D) = 1397.1ρ-0.574, ρBulk(L) = 2.6188e-6E-05ρ, ρBulk(D) = 4.099ρ-0.07 while Clayey SILT: w(L) = 109.98ρ-0.268, w(D) = 121.88ρ-0.363, ρBulk(L) = -0.111ln(ρ) + 1.7605, ρBulk(D) = 2.5991ρ-0.037 with determination coefficients, R2 that varied from 0.5643 – 0.8927. This study was successfully demonstrated that the consistency of ERV was greatly influenced by the variation of soil basic physical properties (d, w, ρBulk, LL, PL and PI). Finally, the reliability of the ERV result interpretation can be enhanced due to its ability to produce a meaningful outcome based on supported data from basic geotechnical properties

Combined ultrasound and IVU for the management of childhood urolithiasis: a case report

The incidence of ureteric calculus as a cause for severe abdominal pain in children is mounting, especially in the tropical country. The course of illness may be non-specific but a swift detection via non-invasive imaging modalities singly or in combination may avert unnecessary radiation hazard and futile surgery in a young child. In this paper, we discussed a case of an 11 year-old boy who was presented with a sudden onset of the right side severe abdominal colic whose a bedside ultrasound was positive for hydronephrosis for which localisation of stone was further confirmed via a low dose limited intravenous urography (IVU). It is important to note that data available on the value of a combined ultrasound and the limited IVU in an emergency setting when urolithiais is being suspected in children with abdominal pain are particularly scarce. Hence, this case documented the potential value of a combined ultrasound and a limited IVU study as a unique combined armamentarium used in a suspected childhood urolithiasis in the tropics