Models of school-family partnerships: the Malaysian context

This study examined the headmasters' and teachers' perceptions towards the concepts, importance and school practices in parental involvement in order to identify the partnership models that existed in primary schools. Five hundred and fifty three respondents answered the questionnaires. The findings showed that the respondents' perceptions of the concepts of partnerships were partial. Majority of them perceived that parental involvement was important in the children's education especially for the children's cognitive, emotional, and social development. The findings also showed that only a few school practices in parent involvement were carried out. A few partnership models were adopted by the schools but these models were partial partnership models. The findings suggest that a holistic partnership requires schools to adopt a comprehensive model where parental involvement should extend from home-based activities to school-based activities

Early detection of biofilm formation of selected bacterial isolates through a new screening method using 'image J'

Aim: The cells growing in biofilms are physiologically distinct even from the same microorganism in the planktonic state. Although mixed-species biofilms predominate in most of the environments, single-species biofilms exist in a large variety of infections, on the surface of medical implants and parts of the machineries in the food industries. Convenient method and early detection of these biofilms are therefore, necessary to avoid or prevent the important implants from the bacterial biofilm formation. Therefore present research was undertaken with the aim to establish an in vitro method for early detection and screening of biofilm with easily applicable image J. Methodology and results: Eight bacterial colonies were isolated from the poultry wastes (PW), dental plaques (DP) and hospital effluents (HE). Among them, three isolates were finally selected for the study based on their source of origin, colony characteristics and the biofilm forming ability determined by test tube assay. The isolates were provisionally identified as Salmonella arizonae (from PW), Micrococcus luteus (from DP) and Aerococcus viridians (from HE) and examined for their biofilm forming ability through a novel in vitro method, cover slip assay. The images of crystal violet stained biofilms of the isolates on the surface of the cover slips were captured and analysed by image-processing software image J. The results of the cover slip assay were then compared with those from test tube assays to conform the efficacy and reliability of the method for screening and evaluating biofilm formation. The results suggest that the novel in vitro method for biofilm screening by cover slip assay is effective for evaluating selected bacterial biofilms. The ability to form biofilm was not specifically correlated with the colony characteristics but the initial attachment for early development of the biofilm was significantly correlated with their motility. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The method of biofilm screening with the cover slip assay used in this study is novel, very simple but powerful and effective method, is expected to have significant impact and gain additional interest among the scientists for biofilm screening and study

Accessibility Factor of the Elderly in Achieve Mobility Requirements: Case Study in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

The Ageing Population is a phenomenon that arises in global countries due to modernization and globalization. The elderly will be marginalized when travelling less due to the inaccessibility to the essential need later in life. This research examines the accessibility factor related to the travel pattern of the elderly. Factor Analysis is used to analyze 29 parameters of the element implemented accessibility towards their living requirements. This study developed four main factors: personal, land use, transportation facilities, and temporal. The research *ndings can assist the government and various agencies in implementing policies and strategies to ful*l the mobility needs of the elderly. Keywords: Accessibility; the elderly; land use; mobility eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2022. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7i20.344

The North Borneo Iranun’s Community’s Ethnomedicine Knowledge on Marsh Clam (Geloina expansa)

Hamdan DDM, Shah JMD, Gumpulan F, Foo J, Lukman KA. 2020. The North Borneo Iranun's Community's Ethnomedicine Knowledge on Marsh Clam (Geloina expansa). Biodiversitas 21: 30-38. North Borneo is rich with natural resources that have boundless potentials for pharmaceutical product discovery that can lead to socioeconomic development in rural areas as suppliers. Even though rich with cultural heritage and comprises of hundred sub-ethnic groups, detail documentation of ethnomedicinal knowledge in North Borneo from different ethnic groups is still limited and could disappear in no time. The ethnomedicinal knowledge of marsh clam (Geloina expansa) use in the Iranun community (respondents no.=28) living in Kampung Rampayan Ulu, Kota Belud in North Borneo were investigated and the concentration of iron, zinc and copper in different parts of marsh clam tissues were determined. In postnatal care of the Iranun community, many believe that marsh clam soup help boost nursing mother milk supply. Marsh clam is rich with micronutrients of iron followed by zinc and copper. The mantle organ has a higher iron concentration than other tissues. The traditional knowledge to heal blood clotting and bruises is topical application of marsh clam mantle organs onto the wound areas. Although participants have ethnomedicinal knowledge on marsh clam, they have poor knowledge of the nutritional benefits of this clam. Lifelong learning of the benefit of marsh clam is necessary from local health care

Production and characterisation of cellulase from solid state fermentation of rice straw by Trichoderma harzianum SNRS3

Research on production and the use of cellulase and xylanase by commercial microbial strains is widely reported. However, research on production of cellulase and xylanase by local isolates of Trichoderma harzianum known as potential cellulase producers is still very limited. T. harzianum SNRS3 was used for cellulase and xylanase production from rice straw under solid state fermentation. Our study revealed that unlike Trichoderma sp. that is normally associated with low amounts of β-glucosidase, insufficient to perform an efficient hydrolysis, T. harzianum SNRS3 could be considered as a potential β-glucosidase producer, but not an efficient xylanase producer. As a result of storage of the crude cellulase at room temperature, β-glucosidase activity only decreased to above 80% of its original activity at the end of the 3rd week of storage. The crude cellulase produced by T. harzianum SNRS3 could be industrially applied as the enzyme is still highly active at 60°C and over a wide range of acidic pH

Improved pre-treatment protocol for scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis of selected tropical microalgae

Suitable protocol for identification and classification of microalgae using scanning electron microscopy, coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), is important to obtain accurate information of their ultrastructure description. The objective of this study was to modify microalgae pre-treatments for reliable SEM-EDX analysis. Sixteen cultured tropical microalgae were subjected to two-step chemical fixation of glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide, sample washing in sodium cacodylate, ethanol and acetone dehydration, critical point-drying, mounting and gold sputter-coating prior to SEM visualisation and elemental characterisation. In this study, short period of chemical fixation and optimum separation forces, at 3213 x g for 3 min during every chemical solution change, were successfully established with high quality SEM images. Ultrastructure, particularly clear and useful images of cell wall ornamentation in Scenedesmus spp. and Desmodesmus sp.; areola patterns in Biddulphia sinensis and Thalassiosira sp. and morphological appearances such as interconnecting structures in Coelastrum sp. and Crucigenia sp., were obtained. Twelve elements of Y, Nb, Fe, Ca, Cl, K, Cu, F, Ir, P, Mg and Si were detected within the 16 investigated microalgae species. This study illustrated that microalgae identification and classification, as well as their elemental characterisation, could be simultaneously and effectively analysed by SEM-EDX using a modified pre-treatment protocol

Penggunaan E-Pembelajaran dan Kesannya Terhadap Kesejahteraan Kakitangan Akademik di Institusi Pengajian Tinggi di Sabah

E-Pembelajaran adalah kaedah pembelajaran dengan menggunakan informasi teknologi dalam pemindahan pengetahuan, pembelajaran dan latihan dalam pendidikan moden. Sejajar dengan perkembangan teknologi dan dunia tanpa sempadan, pelbagai usaha dilakukan untuk memperkenalkan sistem E-Pembelajaran dalam sistem pembelajaran universiti di Malaysia. Pemindahan pengetahuan, aktiviti pembelajaran, kuliah dan tutorial tidak terhad kepada pertemuan bersemuka atau kuliah secara tradisional antara para pensyarah dan pelajar malah boleh dilakukan melalui blanded learning (BL). Walau bagaimanapun perkembangan ini mempengaruhi kesejahteraan dalam pekerjaan kakitangan akademik. Kajian rintis (pendekatan kuantitatif) yang dilakukan dalam kalangan kakitangan akademik di Institusi Pengajian Tinggi (IPT) awam dan swasta di Sabah menunjukkan Model Unified Theory of Acceptance And Use Of Technology (UTAUT) boleh digunakan sebagai peramal kepada tingkah laku menggunakan e–pembelajaran kakitangan akademik. Hasil kajian mendapati faktor kondisi kemudahan dan sokongan peralatan teknologi mempunyai pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap penerimaan penggunaan E-Pembelajaran dalam aktiviti pembelajaran harian. Walau bagaimanapun kajian ini mendapati amalan E-Pembelajaran mempengaruhi kebimbangan kakitangan akademik dan menerbitkan perasaan takut ketinggalan dalam memahami sistem teknologi pendidikan pada masa kini. Kajian ini membuka jalan kepada penyelidika

Man-made maternity roost selection by Scotophilus kuhlii (Lesser Asiatic yellow bat) in two anthropogenically altered habitats

Scotophilus kuhlii is a highly gregarious bat that thrives in anthropogenically altered habitats readily roosting in man-made structures. Although widespread, information on the ecology of S. kuhlii is very scarce in Southeast Asia. We conducted this study to determine if the females used the same day roost as a maternity roost in buildings in an agricultural and suburban habitat from July 2013 to April 2015. The females were found to use the same day roost as a maternity roost as the buildings provided a higher temperature and more stable thermal conditions as compared to the ambient temperature. We found that there was a significant positive relationship between roost microclimate and ambient microclimate. Based on the observation of the external body condition, females were found to be seasonally monoestrous. Our findings are useful for conservation and management of these synantrophic bats where natural roost sites are lacking and in managing human-bat conflicts

Synthesis, Characterization And Biological Studies Of Organotin(Iv) Complexes Of Thiosemicarbazone Ligand Derived From Pyruvic Acid: X-Ray Crystal Structure Of [Me2sn(Pat)]

Six organotin(IV) complexes of pyruvic acid thiosemicarbazone ligand [H2PAT, (1)] with general formula [RSnCln-1 PAT)] [R = Me2, n = 1 (2); R = Bu2, n = 1 (3); R = Ph2, n = 1 (4); R = Me, n = 2 (5); R = Bu, n = 2 (6); R = Ph, n = 2 (7)] were synthesized by direct reaction of thiosemicarbazone ligand (1), base and organotin(IV) chloride(s) in absolute methanol under N2 atmosphere. These organotin(IV) complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductivity, UV-visible, FTIR, 1 H and 13C NMR spectral studies. Among them, dimethyltin(IV) complex (2) was also characterized by X-ray crystallography diffraction analyses. The cytotoxicity of the ligand (1) as well as its organotin(IV) complexes (2-7) were determined by Artemia salina, shrimp test lethality bioassay

A critical assessment of the pairing symmetry in NaxCoO2.yH2O

We examine each of the symmetry-allowed pairing states of NaxCoO2.yH2O and compare their properties to what is experimentally and theoretically established about the compound. In this way, we can eliminate the vast majority of states that are technically allowed and narrow the field to two, both of f-wave type states. We discuss the expected features of these states and suggest experiments that can distinguish between them. We also discuss odd-frequency gap pairing and how it relates to available experimental evidence