Pemetaan batimetri lantai laut cetek Delta Sungai Kelantan, Malaysia hingga pelantar benua, Laut China Selatan

Pemetaan dengan menggunakan kaedah pantulan bunyi telah menemukan satu permukaan lantai laut yang unik dengan ciri morfologi yang pelbagai bermula dari kawasan pesisir laut cetek Delta Sungai Kelantan hingga ke pelantar benua Laut China Selatan. Morfologi lantai laut menunjukkan peningkatan sehingga 38 m ke arah pelantar benua. Empat rentasan lantai laut menunjukkan kemiringan yang kurang daripada 1° dengan nilai antara 0.05° dan 0.57°, menunjukkan penurunan yang sekata sehingga pelantar benua. Suatu tindakan mekanisme pencetus telah menyebabkan fenomena lompatan hidraulik berlaku dan membentuk ketakseragaman morfologi lantai laut dan menghasilkan satu lohong hitam sedalam 26 m dari lantai laut sekitarnya dan pembentukan satu beting pasir yang mempunyai ketinggian sehingga 8 m dari permukaan laut dengan keluasan sekitar 9 km2. Penentuan fenomena yang terhasil dikukuhkan dengan penemuan empat kontur tertutup yang dikenal pasti sebagai kaviti kecil di tiga kawasan yang berbeza. Kesemua fitur dan perubahan morfologi yang berlaku di kawasan lantai laut ini terhasil daripada jatuhan air dari mulut Sungai Kelantan yang berterusan dengan kadar kelajuan berbeza bergantung kepada pelepasan air dan musim monsun

Pencirian mikroskopi butiran kuarza laut cetek muara Sungai Kelantan hingga pelantar benua Laut China Selatan, Semenanjung Malaysia

Pencirian butiran kuarza berskala mikro dengan menggunakan mikroskop pengimbas elektron (SEM) menemukan beberapa jenis kuarza yang mempunyai tekstur dan morfologi butiran kuarza berbeza. Penggunaan kaedah ini telah berjaya mengenal pasti enam jenis butiran kuarza iaitu kuarza jenis A, B, C, D, E dan F. Pengelasan dibuat berdasarkan tekstur dan morfologi butiran yang menggambarkan sejarah pengangkutan (proses mekanik) dan pengendapan yang telah dilalui oleh butiran kuarza tersebut. Keenam-enam jenis kuarza tersebut diterbitkan oleh dua faktor geologi iaitu genetik butiran kuarza dan proses mekanik semasa pengangkutan. Hasil daripada pembahagian faktor ini, dua wilayah taburan jenis butiran kuarza telah dikenal pasti iaitu wilayah I dan wilayah II. Wilayah I mencirikan kuarza yang mengalami proses mekanik lemah sehingga sederhana dan dikenal pasti sebagai sedimen Resen yang diangkut melalui Sungai Kelantan sebelum dienapkan ke dalam kawasan lembangan Laut China Selatan. Sedimen Resen ini menunjukkan tekstur permukaan yang tidak kasar dicirikan oleh tanda V berdiameter 2 μm dan lelasan yang tinggi pada permukaan kuarza dan morfologi yang bulat hingga hampir sfera

Best band ratio combinations for the lithological discrimination of the Dayang Bunting and Tuba Islands, Langkawi, Malaysia

Band ratio combination has been proven to be one of the most useful image processing methods for lithological discrimination, as discussed by many researchers in the past. In this study, bands from Landsat 5 TM were used to generate different ratio combinations to discriminate the different lithologies of two islands located at the southern end of the Langkawi archipelago, specifically the Dayang Bunting and Tuba Islands. Both islands comprise similar lithological units – namely, limestone/marble (Permian & Silurian-Ordovician), granite and alluvium. There are two rock formations that are limestone/marble dominated. The first is known as the Chuping Formation, which consists of limestone/marble and the other is the Setul Formation, which consists of not only limestone/marble but also of two detrital intervals. Different ratio combinations obtained from past researchers and that was produced from this study were tested on the image of the Dayang Bunting and Tuba Islands to identify the best ratio combinations that were able to discriminate the different lithologies for both islands. A total of 28 combinations were performed to examine which combinations are the most effective. From the 28 combinations, three were identified as the most suitable; 4/3 5/2 3/1, 5/3 4/3 4/1 and 4/2 5/3 4/3 in the RGB sequence. These combinations enhanced the spectral differences of each lithology unit so that it can be distinguished easily. Apart from the difference in the spectral response, the texture of the lithologies was also enhanced to assist in discriminating the different units

Calcareous nannofloras in Western Lobe Offshore, Niger Delta : eutrophication and climate change implications

In support of the on-going temporal palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic reconstructions of the Neogene sediments, this study attempts describing the palaeo-proxies recovered from DEL-1 Well, western offshore Niger Delta. The use of standard smear slide method enabled the recovery of well-preserved calcareous nannofossils that depicts early to mid – Miocene (NN4 – NN5) sediments. The up-hole relationships between the relative abundance of Discoaster spp. and coccolith size of Reticulofenestra show step by step collapse of sea surface stability from early to middle Miocene. The lower horizons (8000-9460 ft.) exhibit relatively high Discoaster abundance and relatively large Reticulofenestra spp. size to suggest a deep thermocline and nutricline that characterize oligotrophic conditions in less warm-water induced climate. Conversely, upper horizons (5225-6550 ft.) exhibit significant changes with relatively low abundance of Discoaster spp. and relative small Reticulofenestra spp. size to suggest a shallow thermocline and nutricline that characterize eutrophic conditions in warm-water induced climate. The high abundance of Helicosphaera coccoliths (Helicosphaera carteri) within the mid - NN5, suggests mesotrophic conditions within a stressed environment (fluctuating salinity and terrigenous influx) with the occurrence of carbonate fluctuating event. The combined parameters indicate gradual eutrophication and collapse of sea surface stability in favour of nutrients and influx of fluvial mechanism (terrestrial input) in the ocean water as it progressed from early to middle Miocene. The palaeo-proxies assemblages depict hyposaline waters in a neritic environment, characterized with induced warm water climatic conditions

Towards an Islamic Spiritual Model in Increasing Academic Performance of Accounting Students

This paper aims at proposing a model of Islamic spirituality to be implemented at higher-education institutions and determining its impact to the academic performance of the students. Thus, this model has suggested an Islamic spirituality programme to be incorporated into students’ activities known as the Sharing-is-Caring (SIC) programme. Regularly attending the programme is expected to provide positive impacts on the students’ academic performances because it emphasises on Islamic spiritual values which are crucial to the students’ successes. Questionnaire were distributed to the final-semester Accounting students and the findings revealed that the SIC programme could improve students’ Islamic spiritual values.  However, the results of the study have failed to actualise the expected positive relationship between the SIC programme and the academic performances of the students

THE OCCURRENCE OF PALAEOZOIC CONGLOMERATIC ROCKS IN EAST JOHOR, PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Conglomeratic rocks in East Johor are found in the separately three formations that are the Murau, Tanjung Leman and Linggiu Formations. The Murau Formation is characterized by cobble to boulder grained breccia with very angular to angular and disorganized clasts. It was deposited by fan-delta system in the sub-aerial to shallow marine environment. The Tanjung Leman Formation consists of pebble to cobble grained conglomerate with rounded to subrounded and organized clasts. It was deposited by braided river system in the sub-aerial environment. Both formations outcropped in eastern coastal of Johor. The rudaceous rocks of the Linggiu Formation consist of pebble to cobble-sized clasts with sub angular and disorganized texture. It present as subordinate rocks within sandstone dominant in the central part of East Johor and was deposited by debris flows in the shallow marine environment. All these rudaceous rocks were interpreted as Palaeozoic in age ranging from Late Carboniferous to Late Permian. Those rudaceous rocks indicated that since Late Carboniferous, palaeogeography of East Johor was a continent with subaerial to shallow marine depositional environment. Keywords: Conglomerate, Palaeozoic, East Johor, subaerial, shallow marine

Taburan fosil dan penilaian semula usia formasi singa di Langkawi, Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia

Formasi Singa yang tersingkap di Kepulauan Langkawi terdiri daripada jujukan batuan sedimen argilit dan boleh dibahagikan kepada empat ahli iaitu Rebak, Kentut, Ular dan Selang. Formasi Singa kaya dengan fosil terutamanya daripada jenis brakiopod, bryozoa dan bivalvia yang boleh ditemui dalam Ahli Rebak dan Ahli Selang. Fosil yang ditemui semasa kajian dijalankan serta fosil yang pernah dilaporkan oleh penyelidik terdahulu telah dibuat penelitian semula untuk menentukan usia Formasi Singa dengan lebih tepat. Himpunan fosil Formasi Singa boleh dibahagikan kepada tiga julat usia, iaitu Visean, Asselian Akhir - Sakmarian Awal dan Sakmarian Akhir. Jujukan berusia Visean diwakili oleh Ahli Rebak, manakala jujukan Asselian Akhir - Sakmarian Awal dan jujukan Sakmarian Akhir diwakili oleh Ahli Selang. Dalam Ahli Ular dan Ahli Kentut tidak ditemui sebarang fosil. Keputusan daripada kertas ini memerlukan satu kajian semula dijalankan terhadap litostratigrafi Formasi Singa

Performance Levels and Perspective of Graduate Learners’ on Fully Online Learning During Covid-19

Open University Malaysia (OUM) is a leading open and distance learning institution in Malaysia that offers its programs in blended mode. The blended mode of learning comprises self-managed learning, face-to-face tutorials, and online forum. Through its learning platform, named ‘myINSPIRE’, OUM has successfully offered some of its programmes fully online. The outbreak COVID-19 in early 2020 has pushed OUM to offer all its programmes fully online, including programmes for graduates. Measures were taken to improve teaching and learning support online. Part of the efforts included having weekly e-lessons and e-tutorials, as well as online exams. Learners have been exposed to new learning experiences where they faced many challenges. This study is conducted with the aim to investigate how these changes have affected learners’ performance and their perspective towards fully online learning. A total of 143 post graduate learners enrolled in OUM under the Cluster of Applied Sciences participated in this study. The readiness for change model used in the study is based on Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The model applies perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use to measure user acceptance of technology. The findings indicate that overall, the graduate learners have an acceptable level of readiness for change and are able to adapt and continue learning online despite facing some issues and challenges. It was found that the performance of the learners pre- and post- lockdown seemed to be comparable. Nevertheless, there is a need to find ways to improve and better tailor the online learning environment for our adult learners so as to make their fully online learning experience more rewarding

Pengelasan litostratigrafi baru untuk formasi singa di Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia

Semakan semula litostratigrafi Formasi Singa dilakukan berdasarkan data-data baru yang diperoleh melalui kajian terbaru. Secara umumnya, Formasi Singa dominan dengan batu lumpur hitam yang berselang lapis dengan batu pasir nipis hingga sederhana tebal serta sedikit lapisan konglomerat. Kajian melibatkan analisis terhadap beberapa log sedimen yang telah direkodkan di lapangan. Kesemua log sedimen tersebut telah dikorelasikan untuk mendapatkan satu log komposit yang mewakili keseluruhan Formasi Singa. Berdasarkan kajian terperinci korelasi litologi yang dilakukan, cadangan litostratigrafi baru Formasi Singa mengandungi empat ahli iaitu Ahli Kentut, Ahli Ular, Ahli Selang dan Ahli Lembung. Ahli Kentut merupakan ahli yang paling tua diikuti dengan Ahli Ular, Ahli Selang dan Ahli Lembung. Ahli Ular di dalam Formasi Singa dianggap sebagai satu unit kekanta antara Ahli Kentut dengan Ahli Selang. Beberapa siri perubahan paras laut ditafsirkan sepanjang pengendapan batuan Formasi Singa dipercayai akibat daripada proses pencairan glasier yang menyebabkan paras laut meningkat dan pengendapan berterusan yang menyebabkan lembangan menjadi cetek dan paras laut menjadi rendah

Radiolaria Perm Awal daripada Ladang Harmoni, Pos Blau, Baratdaya Kelantan

Radiolaria berusia Sakmarian Awal (Perm Awal) ditemui dalam jujukan rijang yang berselang lapis dengan batu lumpur bertuf daripada Ladang Harmoni, Pos Blau, Gua Musang. Sebanyak 21 spesies radiolaria telah dikenal pasti, terdiri daripada Pseudoalbaillella lomentaria Ishiga & Imoto, Pseudoalbaillella sakmarensis (Kozur), Pseudoalbaillella scalprata postscalprata Ishiga, Pseudoalbaillella cf. internata Wang, Pseudoalbaillella sp. A, Pseudoalbaillella sp. B, Hegleria mammilla (Sheng & Wang), Hegleria sp. A, Ruzhencevispongus rotundus Feng, Ruzhencevispongus girtyi Nazarov & Ormiston, Ruzhencevispongus triradiatus Wang, Latentifistula patagilaterala Nazarov & Ormiston, Latentifistula texana Nazarov & Ormiston, Latentifistula crux Nazarov & Ormiston, Latentibifistula triacanthophora Nazarov & Ormiston, Quinqueremis robusta Nazarov & Ormiston, Pseudotormentus kamigoriensis De Wever & Caridroit, Ormistonella robusta De Wever & Caridroit, Copicyntra sp., Copielintra sp. dan Stigmosphaerostylus itsukaichiensis (Sashida & Tonishi). Kesemua spesies daripada singkapan ini boleh dimasukkan ke dalam Zon Himpunan Pseudoalbaillella lomentaria mewakili usia Sakmarian Awal (Perm Awal). Jujukan ini turut mengandungi beberapa serpihan fosil ammonoid Agathiceras sp