The predictors of habitual behavior in using mobile phone among university students

The use of technology in academic activities, particularly in higher education institutions is one thing in common and undeniable. Entering the era of information technology without borders, the use of technology such as computers, laptops, tablets, mobile phones and so on are seen as essential roles to assist educational activities. Therefore, the utilization has become the norm among instructors and students in higher education institutions. Through previous studies, the terms of norms often referred to habitual behavior or automatically behavior. This study focused on three of independent variables from UTAUT’s model (performance expectancy, effort expectancy and social influences) to predict students’ habitual behavior in higher education in the use of mobile phone. This study involved 393 of undergraduates’ student and was conducted entirely in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang. The results of data analysis revealed all the independent variables have significant effect on habitual behaviour

Promoting teachers’ technology professional development through laptops

This paper reports on a survey study that was carried out to determine the impact levels of laptops use on teachers’ technology professional development. Teachers’ technology professional development is approached as a constructivism process that demands teachers to learn how to use technology and apply them in their daily routines. Teachers in this study were granted laptops from the Teaching-Learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) programme. Hence, they were regarded as the early adopters of technology innovation in schools, and became the agents of change. It is believed that playing the teachers’ role as the agents of change has contributed on a significant change in their practice. Based on the notion, this study was conducted to reveal the impacts of laptop use by teachers on their professional development. A survey was carried out among 386 laptop teachers using a set of questonnaire that measures the impact from four dimensions; namely teaching-learning, the use of resources, communication and sharing of information, and teachers’ laptop competency. The findings explicate that teachers’ use of laptop has a moderate impact on their technology professional development

Periodontal Treatment Needs of Patients Undergoing Orthodontic Treatment in Comparison To Non-Orthodontic Treatment Patients: A Comparative Study

OBJECTIVES To determine the periodontal treatment needs of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment compared to those not undergoing the treatment.   METHODOLOGY A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted on 100 patients visiting the Dental OPD of Sharif Medical and Dental College, Lahore, from June 2019 to July 2020. Clinical examination was done using the Community Periodontal index for treatment needs (CPITN) to assess the participants' periodontal health and treatment needs. RESULTS There was a statistically significant difference in the scores of CPITN across the treatment and control groups (≤0.001). The patients requiring scaling and prophylaxis and Oral hygiene instructions (TN 2) were more (94%) in the orthodontic treatment group in comparison to the non-orthodontic treatment group (62%). A higher percentage of patients (6%) requiring complex treatment (deep scaling, root planning and complex surgical procedures), scaling and prophylaxis and Oral hygiene instructions (TN3) belonged to the non-orthodontic treatment group, while only 4% required it from the orthodontic treatment group. CONCLUSION All orthodontic and non-orthodontic treatment group participants required oral hygiene instructions and had periodontal treatment needs (TN1). The patients requiring scaling and prophylaxis and Oral hygiene instructions (TN 2) were more in the orthodontic treatment group than the non-orthodontic treatment group. A higher percentage of patients requiring complex treatment (deep scaling, root planning and complex surgical procedures), scaling and prophylaxis and Oral hygiene instructions (TN3) belonged to the non-orthodontic treatment group

Knowledge and Awareness about Cervical Cancer and Its Prevention amongst Interns and Nursing Staff in Tertiary Care Hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality amongst the gynecological cancers worldwide, especially in developing countries. It is imperative for at least health professionals in developing countries like Pakistan to have a sound knowledge about the disease. This study was carried out to assess the knowledge and awareness about cervical cancer and its prevention amongst health professionals in tertiary care hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan.A cross-sectional, interview based survey was conducted in June, 2009. Sample of 400 was divided between the three tertiary care centers. Convenience sampling was applied as no definitive data was available regarding the number of registered interns and nurses at each center.Of all the interviews conducted, 1.8% did not know cervical cancer as a disease. Only 23.3% of the respondents were aware that cervical cancer is the most common cause of gynecological cancers and 26% knew it is second in rank in mortality. Seventy-eight percent were aware that infection is the most common cause of cervical cancer, of these 62% said that virus is the cause and 61% of the respondents knew that the virus is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Majority recognized that it is sexually transmitted but only a minority (41%) knew that it can be detected by PCR. Only 26% of the study population was aware of one or more risk factors. Thirty seven percent recognized Pap smear as a screening test. In total only 37 out of 400 respondents were aware of the HPV vaccine.This study serves to highlight that the majority of working health professionals are not adequately equipped with knowledge concerning cervical cancer. Continuing Medical Education program should be started at the hospital level along with conferences to spread knowledge about this disease

Students' perspectives on the use of mobile phone in learning activities

This paper discovers descriptive analysis about the relationship between students’ expectancies with the use of mobile phone behavior in academic activity. This study was fully conducted in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) involving 420 of undergraduate students. Three variables of UTAUT model were adapted consist of performance expectancy, effort expectancy and use behavior. From the descriptive analysis, the overall mean of students’ use behavior in adapting mobile phone in academic activity is 4.34 (SD=0.94). For the expectancies analysis, effort expectancies recorded the highest mean 4.06 (SD = 0.80), rather than performance expectancy with the mean 3.89 (SD = 0.77). This result reveals the expectancies are important for student to engage with the use of mobile phone behavior in academic activity

Technology in Mathematics teaching: the pros and cons

This paper centers on the use of laptop by Mathematic teachers at 28 secondary schools in Malaysia. It addresses some benefits and challenges faced by the teachers in integrating technology into Mathematics teaching-learning process, as well as their daily activities related to the process such as the use of resources, and the preparation and planning of lesson. A survey was carried out among 172 teachers who were currently teaching the subject area to get their views on laptop use. Although teachers experience challenges in using laptop for Mathematics teaching, they also gained much benefit from it. The survey findings might be useful for the Ministry of Education in developing continuing professional development courses and trainings for teachers. Hence, teachers would be better equipped with the appropriate knowledge, skills, and resources, to support them in their teaching-learning process in the classroom

Gender digital divide: digital skills among Malaysian secondary school

The Digital Divide is an important issue with serious consequences, individuals affected, society as well as threatens economy and productivity growth of a country. It was believed no longer exists in this 21st century era, amongst adolescents due to internet and smart devices penetration increment in Malaysia. Thus, survey conducted among 292 national secondary students from Hulu Langat district, chosen by using proportional random sampling to seek the possibility of digital divide existence by mean of digital skills between genders. There is no divide exist in digital devices ownership especially smartphones and home internet access. However, there was gender divide in digital skills in all dimensions except for information navigation skills even when gender is controlled. Male students had higher digital skills compared to female, whereby female only higher in information navigation skills. There was gender divide exist as well among urban secondary students, whereby urban male had highly digital skilled in computer operational, internet operational, social and creative skills, whilst urban female digitally skilled in information navigation. However, rural female suffered more in digital divide, whereby they were behind in digital skills level compared to rural male in the three dimensions. These findings indicate more efforts should be taken by the policy makers and authorities in enhancing students’ digital skills as well as bridging the digital divide in accommodating them well into today’s informative world

Bioconcentration Potential Studies of Heavy Metals in Fenneropenaeus penicillatus (Jaira or Red Tail Shrimp) along the Littoral States of Karachi City

Fenneropenaeus penicillatus (commonly known as Jaira or Red tail shrimp) is one of the commercially important and abundant species in the coastal areas of Pakistan and export to more than 40 countries world wide. It is a good source of nutrients for human diet because of its highly rich composition of protein, calcium and vitamins. The littoral state of Pakistan is facing much environmental issues during the last many years because of increasing pollution and human induced environmental changes which have gradually declined the export of shrimps. Crustacean species are considered as the bio-indicators of toxic materials due to their high affinity to accumulate heavy metals than fishes. The study was undertaken to quantify the heavy metals like copper, zinc, cadmium and lead in the Red tail shrimp. For this purpose biosamples were collected in year 2011 to 2013 from the littoral states of Karachi city, Pakistan. Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS) technique was used to analyze the Cu and Zn while Graphite Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (GAAS) technique was used to quantify the Cd and Pb. Results were compared with the WHO/FAO/FDA values. The concentrations of selected heavy metals were within the normal range in all analyzed samples except for cadmium. Bioconcentration of cadmium was found much higher than the recommended value which is an alarming condition. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to find out the concentration variation of heavy metals in three years research study at p < 0.05. The results suggested that there is no significant effect of year wise variation on accumulation level of heavy metals in F. penicillatus.

Bioconcentration Potential Studies of Heavy Metals in Fenneropenaeus penicillatus (Jaira or Red Tail Shrimp) along the Littoral States of Karachi City

Fenneropenaeus penicillatus (commonly known as Jaira or Red tail shrimp) is one of the commercially important and abundant species in the coastal areas of Pakistan and export to more than 40 countries world wide. It is a good source of nutrients for human diet because of its highly rich composition of protein, calcium and vitamins. The littoral state of Pakistan is facing much environmental issues during the last many years because of increasing pollution and human induced environmental changes which have gradually declined the export of shrimps. Crustacean species are considered as the bio-indicators of toxic materials due to their high affinity to accumulate heavy metals than fishes. The study was undertaken to quantify the heavy metals like copper, zinc, cadmium and lead in the Red tail shrimp. For this purpose biosamples were collected in year 2011 to 2013 from the littoral states of Karachi city, Pakistan. Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS) technique was used to analyze the Cu and Zn while Graphite Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (GAAS) technique was used to quantify the Cd and Pb. Results were compared with the WHO/FAO/FDA values. The concentrations of selected heavy metals were within the normal range in all analyzed samples except for cadmium. Bioconcentration of cadmium was found much higher than the recommended value which is an alarming condition. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to find out the concentration variation of heavy metals in three years research study at p < 0.05. The results suggested that there is no significant effect of year wise variation on accumulation level of heavy metals in F. penicillatus.

Teachers' technology professional development: a Malaysia perspective

This paper centers on the impact of laptop use on the professional development of teachers. Three hundred and eighty six secondary school teachers from 28 selected schools participated in the survey. These teachers were currently teaching Science and Mathematics, and were provided laptop as part of the Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics in English, or better known by its Malay acronym PPSMI programme. Teachers’ professional development was measured in three dimensions: teaching learning, administrative practice and use of resources. The analysis revealed that the use of laptop has a moderate impact on the overall teachers’ professional development