Sigmoid(x): secure distributed network storage

Secure data storage is a serious problem for computer users today, particularly in enterprise environments. As data requirements grow, traditional approaches of secured silos are showing their limitations. They represent a single – or at least, limited – point of failure, and require significant, and increasing, maintenance and overhead. Such solutions are totally unsuitable for consumers, who want a ‘plug and play’ secure solution for their increasing datasets – something with the ubiquity of access of Facebook or webmail. Network providers can provide centralised solutions, but that returns us to the first problem. Sigmoid(x) takes a completely different approach – a scalable, distributed, secure storage mechanism which shares data storage between the users themselves

Pengurusan Kolaboratif di Sekolah Menengah Wilayah Persekutuan

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji faktor-faktor berkaitan pengurusan kolaboratif di sekolah menengah Wilayah Persekutuan. Faktor-faktor yang dikaji ialah faktor-faktor demografi pengetua sekolah, saiz sekolah, tahap kecenderungan penggunaan sumber-sumber kuasa pengetua, gaya komunikasi penyeliaan pengetua, budaya kerja guru, tahap kebolehan guru serta struktur organisasi. Faktor-faktor demografi pengetua merangkumi jantina, etnik, latar belakang kelulusan akademik, pengalaman, dan umur. Kajian yang berbentuk tinjauan korelasi ini adalah berdasarkan 'Model Kitaran Pengurusan Kolaboratif Sekolah' oleh Caldwell dan Spinks (1988) dan 'Teori Sistem Empat Pengurusan' oleh Rensis Likert (1961). Sejumlah 310 orang guru dari 31 buah sekolah menengah Wilayah Persekutuan dipilih dengan menggunakan kaedah persampelan rawak berlapis

Penentuan Benzena Menggunakan Kromatografi Gas

Projek penyelidikan yang dijalankan ini ialah untuk menentukan secara kuantitatif dan kualitatif benzena yang hadir dalam sampel air. Pembaikan kepada proses pemisahan asas benzena daripada pelarut menggunakan kromatografi gas telah dilakukan. Ini dilakukan dengan mencari keadaan pengoperasian (kadar aliran gas pembawa , suhu penyuntik dan pengecilan) yang optimun bagi kromatografi gas itu

Development and Characterization of a Diamine Oxidase-Based Histamine Biosensor

Histamine levels have been suggested as a rapid fish spoilage indicator. Therefore, histamine biosensors based on immobilization of diamine oxidase (DAO) in photocurable poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (photoHEMA) film was developed. Histamine was oxidized by immobilized DAO at 0.35 volt on the surface of carbon-paste screen-printed electrode (SPE) versus conventional Ag/AgCl reference, and with platinum rod as a counter electrode, which named as macro electrode system histamine biosensor. No leaching of the immobilized DAO was observed during histamine detection using the biosensor. The optimized histamine biosensor displayed a linear response over the range of 0 to 60 ppm histamine with correlation coefficient (R2) equals to 0.9946 (RSD < 11.19%). The sensitivity obtained was 5.56 nA ppm-1 and the limit of detection was 0.65 ppm of histamine with the response time of 50 seconds. The histamine biosensor exhibited repeatability and reproducibility characteristic with RSD values equals to 14.06 and 7.80% (n = 10) respectively. The histamine biosensor was applied to determine histamine in tiger prawns (Penaeus monodon) and the results were agreeable with a conventional high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method, where a correlation of R2 = 0.9612 (Y = 0.9614 x + 5.5813) was obtained. The developed histamine biosensor showed recovery of added histamine in the range of 93.11 to 100.58%. Home made miniaturized histamine biosensor (30 mm x 10 mm) was then developed by screen-printed of carbon as working and counter electrodes together with Ag/AgCl reference electrode on the polyester substrate {named SPE (i)}. Miniaturized histamine biosensor with SPE (i) operated at 0.25 volt exhibited a linear range from 0 to 100 ppm of histamine with R2 = 0.9577 (RSD < 9%) and sensitivity of 0.03 nAppm-1 with the limit of detection of 2.46 ppm of histamine. The miniaturized histamine biosensor with a SPE (ii) was operated at 0.35 volt and it showed a linear range from 0 to 50 ppm histamine with R2 of 0.9766 (RSD < 16%) and sensitivity of 0.40 nAppm-1. The limit of detection of histamine was 4.64 ppm. The miniaturized SPE (i) was then modified with K3Fe(CN)6 and operated at 0.35 volt. This biosensor could detect the histamine in the linear range of 0 to 80 ppm with the R2 = 0.9931 and sensitivity 5.31 nAppm-1. The limit of detection for this modified histamine biosensor was 2.11 ppm histamine

Entrepreneurial Orientation Among Vocational and Technical Students in Kuantan District

This study attempted to investigate the level of entrepreneurial orientation of vocational and technical school students in Kuantan District, Pahang. Specifically, it aimed to investigate the correlates of entrepreneurial orientation along five categories, namely: (1) students' personal characteristics (2) family-related matters (3) school-related matters (4) working experience and (5) environmental factors. The respondents were Form Four students from the two vocational and technical schools in Kuantan District. Of the 337 questionnaires distributed to the respondents, 334 usable sets were returned for analysis. The instrument used was constructed by the researcher with reference to the Entrepreneurial Attitude Orientation by Robinson et. al. (1991), the General Enterprising Tendency Test (1988) and Gray (1989). The instrument, which consisted of 63 items, was pre-tested for validity and reliability. Data were analyzed using T-Test and ANOVA to investigate the differences in entrepreneurial orientation along variables within students' profile. The 0.05 level of significance was used as critical level for decision-making regarding the hypotheses. The findings of this study showed that entrepreneurial orientation is affected by each of the variables under the following three categories: school-related matters, working experience, and environmental factors. However, it was found that not all the variables under the categories of students' personal characteristics and family-related matters are significantly affecting entrepreneurial orientation. Under the category of students' personal characteristics, statistical results indicated that gender has significant effect on the entrepreneurial orientation of students. On the contrary, enthnicity showed no significant difference in entrepreneurial orientation, with all the ethnic groups showing similar level of entrepreneurial orientation. Other than that, findings on family-related matters revealed that there were no significant differences in entrepreneurial orientation along family income, parents' education, and parents' occupation respectively. However, there were significant differences in entrepreneurial orientation among students of various ranking in the family. As for the category of school-related matters, all the independent variables, namely stream, activities participated in schools, and responsible positions held, are significantly related to the entrepreneurial orientation of students. Besides, empirical evidence showed that students with working experience differ significantly from students without working experience in entrepreneurial orientation. Similarly, with regard to the category of environmental factors, statistical significant differences were observed in the entrepreneurial orientation of students along rural/urban differentials and the influence of significant others

Axonal excitability in disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system

Peripheral axonal excitability techniques have given pathophysiological insights into many peripheral nerve disorders, with clinical application still in its infancy. Small excitability changes are usually seen compared to controls, raising questions of sensitivity. The remote effects of central lesions on peripheral excitability are not well defined. The purpose of this thesis was to correlate the changes of excitability in peripheral neuropathic disorders with their clinical signs and nerve conduction findings, and to examine for changes in peripheral nerves in a predominantly central nervous disease model. Three peripheral disorders were studied in this way for the first time. To look for a central effect on peripheral nerves, multiple sclerosis (MS) was studied, and compared with other lesional central nervous disorders. Ischaemic depolarisation was suggested in end-stage liver disease and this was not reversible one year after liver transplantation. Similar findings were noted in HIV-positive subjects but only in nucleoside drug-related neuropathy, distinguishing it from distal sensory polyneuropathy. In mitochondrial disease, motor studies showed no changes at rest or with experimental ischaemia. Sensitivity and subset comparisons indicate that in liver disease, some excitability changes correlated with peripheral clinical signs but not standard nerve conduction abnormalities. The reverse was true in mitochondrial disease. Roughly 20-25% of patients with end-stage liver neuropathy and nucleoside neuropathy were identified to fall outside control 95% confidence interval limits. Upregulated slow K+ channels seen in peripheral motor axons of MS are possibly a response to enhanced persistent inward currents (PICs) at the motoneuron following suprasegmental input interruption. In contrast, peripheral sensory studies show increased fast K+ conductance through altered gating kinetics, possibly because of humoral factors acting locally to loosen the paranodal seal

Quantitative Fibroblast Acylcarnitine Profiling In The Diagnostic and Prognostic Assessment of Mitochondrial fatty acid [beta]-oxidation disorders

Mitochondrial fatty acid ß-oxidation disorders are a group of clinically and biochemically heterogeneous defects mainly associated with intolerance to catabolic stress. The diseases are potentially fatal, but treatable and the prognosis for most diagnosed disorders is generally favourable. Early diagnosis is thus important to prevent morbidity and mortality. This project describes an improved and validated quantitative fibroblast acylcarnitine profile assay for the investigation of suspected fatty acid ß-oxidation disorders. Intact cells were incubated with deuterium-labelled hexadecanoate and L-carnitine, and the accumulated acylcarnitines in the medium analysed using electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. This modified procedure is less demanding technically, requires fewer cells and better reflects the in vivo acylcarnitine status than previously published methods. Mitochondrial fatty acid ß-oxidation is coupled to the respiratory chain. Functional defects of one pathway may lead to secondary alterations in flux through the other. The diagnostic specificity and the prognostic potential of the in vitro acylcarnitine profile assay were investigated in fibroblasts from 14 normal controls, 38 patients with eight enzyme deficiencies of fatty acid ß-oxidation presenting with various phenotypes, and 16 patients with primary respiratory chain defects including both isolated and multiple enzyme complex defects. All fatty acid ß-oxidation deficient cell lines revealed disease-specific acylcarnitine profiles related to the sites of defects irrespective of the severity of symptoms or of different mutation. Preliminary studies suggested a correlation between severity of symptoms and higher concentrations of long-chain acylcarnitine species. However, the fibroblast acylcarnitine profiles from some patients with respiratory chain defects were similar to those of controls, whereas others had abnormal profiles resembling those found in fatty acid ß-oxidation disorders. In vitro acylcarnitine profiling is useful for the detection of fatty acid ß-oxidation deficiencies, and perhaps the prediction of disease severity and prognostic evaluation facilitating decisions of therapeutic intervention and genetic counselling. However, abnormal profiles do not exclusively indicate these disorders, and primary defects of the respiratory chain remain a possibility. Awareness of this diagnostic pitfall will aid in the selection of subsequent confirmatory tests and therapeutic options

Kepemimpinan kemahiran insaniah dan pengurusan kurikulum pengetua di Sekolah Berprestasi Tinggi

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji hubungan antara kepemimpinan kemahiran insaniah dengan pengurusan kurikulum pengetua di Sekolah Berprestasi Tinggi. Kajian yang berbentuk kuantitatif deskriptif ini dilakukan secara tinjauan dengan menggunakan soal selidik sebagai instrumen. Seramai 186 orang guru daripada lima buah sekolah menengah yang berprestasi tinggi yang terletak di Pulau Pinang dan Kedah dipilih sebagai responden kajian. Penganalisisan data yang digunakan ialah min, sisihan piawai, dan korelasi Pearson. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa nilai min yang tinggi bagi kedua-dua pemboleh ubah utama, iaitu kepemimpinan kemahiran insaniah (min = 4.260) dan pengurusan kurikulum (min = 4.435). Setiap komponen kepemimpinan kemahiran insaniah juga berada pada tahap yang tinggi, iaitu julat min antara 4.017 hingga 4.392. Pekali korelasi Pearson menunjukkan bahawa kelapan-lapan komponen kepemimpinan kemahiran insaniah mempunyai hubungan yang signifikan, sederhana dan positif dengan pengurusan kurikulum (0.490 ≤ r ≤ 0.700) pada aras signifikan 0.01. Hasil kajian ini dapat membantu pihak pentadbir pendidikan terutama pengetua sekolah agar dapat mengaplikasikan kepemimpinan kemahiran insaniah di sekolah bagi melahirkan modal insan yang cemerlang dengan berfokuskan kemenjadian murid seperti yang dihasratkan oleh kerajaan melalui Pelan Pembangunan Pendidikan Malaysia (2013-2025)

Indicators of Ethical Leadership for School Principals in Thailand

AbstractThis study was aimed at developing ethical leadership indicators for school principals, in Thailand, by examining consistent with the confirmatory factor analysis, the empirical data of the “goodness of fit” of the structural relationship model. There were two groups of research samples involved in this study, namely: seven educational experts; and 826 schools. They were chosen by utilizing the multi-staged random sampling technique. The instruments used were interview questions and a questionnaire. The results showed that ethical leadership was composed of five primary factors; 19 secondary factors; and 69 indicators. The affecting factors were ranked in descending order. These were responsibility; fairness; trust; disposition; and empowerment respectively. There were 13 indicators related to responsibility; 11 indicators associated with fairness; 17 indicators connected to trust; 15 indicators linked to disposition; and 13 indicators related to empowerment. These findings had implications for Thailand's educational institutions since, in the last decade, they had failed to develop ethical values amongst the younger generation. This might have been due to the rapid pace of modernization

Development of Community Participation on Water Resource Conflict Management

AbstractWater conflict has been encountered frequently in various river basins including the Pong River Basin where land use along this river is occupied with agriculture, irrigation area, communities and industry. Meanwhile, the effluent discharge of water if treated improperly and inadequately may cause quality deterioration to the river. This study was an action research regarding community participation on water resource conflict management of the Pong Watershed. There were 170 households used as study samples coming from the three villages including Huai Jode, Nong Bua Noi, Non Kham Par located at Kud Namsi Sub-District, Pong District, Khon Kaen Province. This study consisted of three phases by studying current situation, problems and needs of community, analysing the factors affecting to community conflict on the use of water resources by focus group discussion, and developing community participation on conflict resolution of water resource by community dialogue. Collection of data comprised of survey, focus group discussion and community dialogue. The findings in the first phase indicated the insufficient data on water use provided by the governmental sector, and the villagers need an equity principle on its use in order to attain the users’ purposes. The significant factor affecting the conflict was the one who took advantage of water use from the Pong river. In conclusion, a mutual agreement of tri-sectors should be made possible to accomplish water use management and solution to water conflict. Participatory action research is very significant to solve conflicts of water use and other problems. There are more hands-on techniques to be identified that contribute to the conflict thus on how to address it. Finally, there is a need to learn how to handle difficult participants in public meetings around conflict arising over watershed management planning