Growth, Nitrogen Uptake and Carbon Isotope Discrimination in Barley Genotypes Grown under Saline Conditions

The effect of different salinity levels of irrigation water (ECw range 1-12 dS/m) on dry matter yield, nitrogen uptake, fertilizer nitrogen use efficiency (%NUE), stomatal conductance and carbon isotope discrimination (Δ13C‰) in three barley genotypes originating from different geographic areas (Arabi.Abiad, Syria; Pk-30-136, Pakistan and WI-2291, Australia) was investigated in a pot experiment. An increase in salinity resulted in a decrease in Δ13C in all the genotypes. Increasing salinity reduced leaf stomatal conductance which was less pronounced in WI-2291 comparing to other genotypes. At high salinity level, the reduction in Δ13C corresponded to a considerable decrease in the ratio (Ci/Ca) of intercellular (Ci) and atmospheric (Ca) partial pressures of CO2 in all the genotypes indicating that such a decrease was mainly due to the stomatal closure. Moreover, since the reduction in dry matter yield in all the genotypes grown at 12 dS/m did not exceed 50% in comparison with their controls, the photosynthetic apparatus of all studied genotypes seemed to be quit tolerant to salinity. At the moderate salinity level (8 dS/m), the enhancement of leaf dry matter yield in the WI2291 genotype might have been due to positive nutritional effects of the salt as indicated by a significant increase in nitrogen uptake and NUE. Thus, the lower Ci/Ca ratio could result mainly from higher rates of photosynthetic capacity rather than stomatal closure. On the other hand, relationships between dry matter yield or NUE and Δ13C seemed to be depending on plant genotype, plant organ and salinity level. Based on growth, nutritional and Δ13C data, selection of barley genotypes for saline environments was affected by salinity level. Therefore, such a selection must be achieved for each salinity level under which the plants have been grown

Happiness and Suffering in the Perspective of Sufism (Tasawuf)

Abstract: Suffering and happiness are common conditions that occur in human lives. Man's innate nature led humans to strive for the prior and avoid the latter; however, being understood differently brought confusion and depression to people. Here we will analyse the Sufis' various perspectives on suffering, which will lay a new perspective that can transform sufferings into happiness. By adopting the descriptive analysis method and psychological approaches to Sufism, the research shows that happiness is understood as a matter of meaning or perception, and suffering allows the deepening of self-quality. This article also offers several Quranic and Sufi practices to achieve happiness. For example, maintaining piosity, consuming healthy and halal food, enduring patience, performing invocation (dhikr), prayers (salah), holy war (jihad), and job duties, as well as forbidding what is wrong and commanding what is right in a truthful way.

Client Related Changes Affecting Construction Schedule Performance

Majority of UAE construction works were reported experiencing changes during execution process which exerts adverse effects to project success. Among the negative impacts is the failing in achieving satisfactory schedule performance. This poor schedule performance is also common issue faced by construction works globally. This paper addressed a study on various client related factors causing changes and parameters that affecting project schedule performance. The study was conducted through quantitative method. The data was gathered through questionnaire survey amongst the practitioners from contractor and consultant organization engaged in construction project of UAE and analysed statistically using significant index value. Results obtained in this study highlighted lack of coordination, replacement of key personnel by clients and inadequate understanding of clients need as three major issues related to client which are responsible for changes in construction works. While delay in completion schedule, slower project progress and dispute between owner & contractor are as major parameters affecting schedule performance. For correlation analysis, it was found that lack of coordination between the parties has significant correlation with delay in completion schedule, and dispute between owner & contractor. Also replacement of key personnel from client has significant correlation with schedule delay that are additional works and re-work/redesign. These finding will be helpful for practitioner in prioritizing the factors of change and schedule measuring parameters for improving schedule performance

What is the best practice that can be incorporated to assist the effective use of interactive whiteboard in primary classroom in Brunei Darussalam?

A step taken towards the use of technology in education in Brunei Darussalam has been by providing primary schools with technologies that can help support teaching in the classroom. This includes providing the interactive whiteboard (IWB). At the present time, almost all primary schools in Brunei Darussalam are provided with at least one IWB with the hope that it will be integrated effectively in all subject areas. This study investigates the perceptions of primary school teachers on the use of IWB to be able to assist the effective use of the IWB in Brunei Darussalam. A total of seven government primary schools located in Brunei Muara district were involved in this study. The study is based on data collected from both quantitative and qualitative approaches, which are questionnaire, lesson observations and interviews. The questionnaire sample consists of 75 primary school teachers, which categorised respondents into regular IWB user, low IWB user and no longer using the IWB. Lesson observations were conducted with seven regular IWB users and sixteen teachers participated in the interview. Interviews were conducted with regular and low IWB users as well as teachers who no longer use the IWB. The findings showed the different issues raised by participants relating to the implementation of IWB in primary schools in Brunei Darussalam. These includes accessibility; factors that influence or cause barriers to usage; teachers’ perceived benefits of IWB; challenges teachers faced in using IWB; and IWB resources. It was also revealed that primary school teachers in Brunei Darussalam generally have a positive attitude towards the implementation of the IWB in the classroom. However, they lack the skills and knowledge in integrating use of the IWB effectively into their classroom practice and are still at the early stage of IWB implementation. Additionally, findings suggest that primary school teachers in Brunei Darussalam lack professional development and support when implementing the IWB in the classroom. Furthermore, the significance of the findings of this study was the importance of change management to successfully integrate the use of the IWB in the primary classroom

A Term Rewriting System for Kuratowski\u27s Closure-Complement Problem

We present a term rewriting system to solve a class of open problems that are generalisations of Kuratowski\u27s closure-complement theorem. The problems are concerned with finding the number of distinct sets that can be obtained by applying combinations of axiomatically defined set operators. While the original problem considers only closure and complement of a topological space as operators, it can be generalised by adding operators and varying axiomatisation. We model these axioms as rewrite rules and construct a rewriting system that allows us to close some so far open variants of Kuratowski\u27s problem by analysing several million inference steps on a typical personal computer

PENERAPAN STRATEGI KNOW - WANT - LEARN (KWL) UNTUK MENINGKATKAN KEMAMPUAN MEMBACA PEMAHAMAN SISWA LAMBAT BELAJAR KELAS V SDN RAMBUTAN 01 PAGI JAKARTA

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah meningkatkan kemampuan membaca pemahaman literal bagi tiga siswa lambat belajar dengan menerapkan strategi Know – Want – Learn (KWL). Penelitian ini menggunakan metode Penelitian Tindakan Kelas (PTK) dengan desain Kemmis dan Mc. Taggart yang memiliki tiga tahapan yaitu perencanaan, tindakan dan pengamatan, dan refleksi. Data keseluruhan diperoleh melalui proses observasi, diskusi, tes, dan dokumentasi. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah data proses dan tindakan yang bersifat kualitatif dan kuantitatif. Analisis data kualitatif berupa hasil pengamatan saat melakukan tindakan. Sedangkan analisis data kuantitatif diperoleh melalui tes pada setiap siklusnya. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa penerapan strategi KWL pada siswa lambat belajar kelas V di SDN Rambutan 01 Pagi Jakarta mengalami peningkatan nilai dengan kenaikan 30 sampai 55 poin, dari hasil tersebut dapat dikatakan bahwa penggunaan strategi KWL telah terbukti membantu siswa dalam meningkatkan pemahaman literal siswa terhadap teks bacaan serta memperbanyak jumlah kosakata siswa. ***** The purpose of this research is to improve literal reading comprehension skills for three slow learner students by implementing the Know – Want – Learn (KWL) strategy. This research uses Classroom Action Research (CAR) method with Kemmis and Mc. Taggart design action plan model which has 3 stages; planning, action and observation, and reflection. Overall data was obtained through the process of observation, discussion, testing, and documentation. The data analysis technique that used in this study are process and action data, that are both qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative data analysis was got from observations when researcher taking action, meanwhile quantitative data analysis was got through test results in each cycle. The results indicated that the three fifth-grade slow-learner students in SDN Rambutan 01 Pagi Jakarta increased their reading comprehension skills after implementing the KWL strategy, refers to students score that has increased until 30 up to 55 points. Using KWL strategy has been proven to help students in increasing literal comprehension and increasing students’ vocabulary too. The purpose of this research is to improve literal reading comprehension skills for three slow learner students by implementing the Know – Want – Learn (KWL) strategy. This research uses Classroom Action Research (CAR) method with Kemmis and Mc. Taggart design action plan model which has 3 stages; planning, action and observation, and reflection. Overall data was obtained through the process of observation, discussion, testing, and documentation. The data analysis technique that used in this study are process and action data, that are both qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative data analysis was got from observations when researcher taking action, meanwhile quantitative data analysis was got through test results in each cycle. The results indicated that the three fifth-grade slow-learner students in SDN Rambutan 01 Pagi Jakarta increased their reading comprehension skills after implementing the KWL strategy, refers to students score that has increased until 30 up to 55 points. Using KWL strategy has been proven to help students in increasing literal comprehension and increasing students’ vocabulary too

A nested square-shape dielectric resonator for microwave band antenna applications

In this paper, a nested square-shape dielectric resonator (NSDR) has been designed and investigated for antenna applications in the microwave band. A solid square dielectric resonator (SSDR) was modified systematically by introducing air-gap in the azimuth (ϕ-direction). By retaining the square shape of the dielectric resonator (DR), the well-known analysis tools can be applied to evaluate the performance of the NSDR. To validate the performance of the proposed NSDR in antenna applications, theoretical, simulation, and experimental analysis of the subject has been performed. A simple microstrip-line feeding source printed on the top of Rogers RO4003 grounded substrate was utilized without any external matching network. Unlike solid square DR, the proposed NSDR considerably improves the impedance bandwidth. The proposed antenna has been prototyped and experimentally validated. The antenna operates in the range of 12.34GHz to 21.7GHz which corresponds to 56% percentage bandwidth with peak realized gain 6.5dB. The antenna has stable radiation characteristics in the broadside direction. A close agreement between simulation and experimental results confirms the improved performance of NSDR in antenna applications

A cross sectional study on factors associated with job performance among nurses in a tertiary hospital

Nurses’ job performance is defined as the effectiveness of a person in carrying out his or her duties related to patient care. Aim of this study is to measure job performance among nurses in a tertiary hospital and its associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses selected from four departments, which were Obstetrics & Gynecology (O&G), medical, surgical and Cardiac Care Unit (CCU)/High Dependency Unit (HDU). A Malay validated Six-Dimension Scale of Nursing Performance (6-DSNP) questionnaire was used to measure job performance. Nurses who have one child more compared to other nurses had significantly lower total mean score of job performance by -0.06 (95% CI 0.11, 0.01). Nurses working in medical department [adj.β=0.16 (95% CI 0.01, 0.30)] and CCU/HDU [adj.β= 0.33(95% CI: 0.17, 0.50)] had significantly higher total mean scores of jobs performance compared to O&G department. Effective strategies and re-examining work conditions are imperative for better job performance