Stochastic Restricted Biased Estimators in misspecified regression model with incomplete prior information

In this article, the analysis of misspecification was extended to the recently introduced stochastic restricted biased estimators when multicollinearity exists among the explanatory variables. The Stochastic Restricted Ridge Estimator (SRRE), Stochastic Restricted Almost Unbiased Ridge Estimator (SRAURE), Stochastic Restricted Liu Estimator (SRLE), Stochastic Restricted Almost Unbiased Liu Estimator (SRAULE), Stochastic Restricted Principal Component Regression Estimator (SRPCR), Stochastic Restricted r-k class estimator (SRrk) and Stochastic Restricted r-d class estimator (SRrd) were examined in the misspecified regression model due to missing relevant explanatory variables when incomplete prior information of the regression coefficients is available. Further, the superiority conditions between estimators and their respective predictors were obtained in the mean square error matrix (MSEM) sense. Finally, a numerical example and a Monte Carlo simulation study were used to illustrate the theoretical findings.Comment: 35 Pages, 6 Figure

Inversion of multi-dimensional Laplace transforms-analytical and numerical techniques

In the first part of this dissertation we establish several new theorems in multidimensional inverse Laplace transforms. These results are derived from the known results of the one-dimensional Laplace transforms by using operational techniques. These theorems are applied to a number of commonly used special functions to derive new two-dimensional transform pairs;In Part II, we develop two algorithms to numerically invert two-dimensional Laplace transforms. One of the methods is based on expanding the inverse function in a series of products of (generalized) Laguerre polynomials. This method is an extension of the method presented by Weeks and the generalized version suggested by Luke and implemented by Piessens and Branders for the one-dimensional inverse Laplace transforms. The other method uses the finite Fourier Cosine and Sine series to approximate the inverse integral. This method is an extension of the method first presented by Dubner and Abate and later improved by Crump for one-dimensional problems

Quality of drinking water

Quality of drinking wate

Preparedness for the World of Work Among Malaysian Diploma Students in a Local Institution

The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of appraisal system-attitude and cooperative solidarity principle and also the perception of interviewees and interviewer of the job interview interactions. The data was collected in one of the local education institutions in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. There were 20 students participated in the study. Job interviews were recorded and analysed qualitatively by using appraisal system-attitude and cooperative solidarity principle theories. Semi-structured interviews as well as in-depth interview were done on the interviewees and interviewer to triangulate the study. The findings show that most of interviewees were covered the categories affect, judgment and appreciation but due to lacked English language proficiency, certain occurrences were not reflected to these categories. In relation to cooperative solidarity principle both interviewer and interviewees attribute to the interaction. The findings further reveal that most of the interviewees had difficulty in comprehending the standard interview questions and feeling nervous and anxious to answer the questions. Based on the in-depth interview with the interviewer, it was found that most of the interviewees were not able to expose to the standard interview questions and not able to understand the questions. It is hoped that the present study would be helpful for undergraduates, fresh graduates or in general job seekers as well as interviewer to carry out a smooth interaction in job interviews by having a better understanding on the standard interview questions

Hypervitaminosis A is prevalent in children with CKD and contributes to hypercalcemia.

Vitamin A accumulates in renal failure, but the prevalence of hypervitaminosis A in children with predialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) is not known. Hypervitaminosis A has been associated with hypercalcemia. In this study we compared dietary vitamin A intake with serum retinoid levels and their associations with hypercalcemia

An Analysis of Sentence-Like Utterances of IELTS Mock Speaking Test Scripts

The present study examines non-Malaysian candidates’ performance in an IELTS mock speaking test with regards to their use of different types of sentence structure utterances. Audio recorded data was obtained from eight students of three different levels of proficiency, namely; foundation, intermediate and advanced, in which thereafter an analysis was carried out using Radford (1990; 1997) sentence types. A semi-structured interview was also employed to gauge the candidates’ opinions on answering the test questions as well the interlocutor’s views on the candidates’ performance. The test was conducted by an IELTS trained interlocutor. It was found that most candidates were able to understand the questions, their responses were mainly simple sentence utterances indicated by many disjointed and choppy ideas. The semi-structured interview answers show that most candidates’ high level of nervousness and anxiety caused them not to be able to speak fluently, and as a result, their ideas were expressed in simple sentence structures that lacked logical coordination. It is hoped that the findings of the present study would help the current IETLS course module developers to integrate lessons on the different types of sentence structures in training test candidates to express complete and complex structured responses

A structural and functional investigation into the filamin A G2593E mutation : implications for neurological disease : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of a Master of Philosophy (Science) (Biochemistry) at the Institute of Molecular BioSciences, Massey University, Palmerston North

he dimeric F-actin cross-linking protein human filamin a (hsFLNa) is an actin binding protein, which modulates the properties of the actin cytoskeleton and plays a major role in maintaining the integrity of plasma membrane associated actin, the viscoelastic properties of the cytoplasm, endocytosis, cytoplasmic streaming, cell division and cell motility [McGough et al, 1998; Small et al, 2002; Popowicz et al, 2006]. Dimerization is crucial for actin cross-linking functions of filamins [Davies et al, 1980] and the most C-terminal repeat of hsFLNa (hsFLNa24) is sufficient for hsFLNa dimerization [Himmel et al, 2003]. Several mutations in hsflnA are associated with pathologies such as periventricular nodular heterotopia (PVNH) [Robertson, 2005]. In this study we examined the possible cause and effect of a G2593E mutation in hsFLNa24 in a male patient diagnosed with PVNH on protein functionality. This was done by comparing relevant biochemical properties of wildtype and mutant hsFLNa24 proteins. For this purpose, recombinant proteins were expressed from cloned hsflnA24 coding sequence. Full length wildtype hsflnA24 (wt hsflnA24) was amplified from a cDNA library prepared from the PVNH patient. wt hsflnA24 was used as the template to generate mutant hsflnA24 (mt hsflna24) by site directed mutagenesis. The amplified wildtype and mutant sequences were cloned and over-expressed in an Eschericia coli system. hsFLNa24 proteins were isolated from crude protein extracts by immobilized metal affinity chromatography, purified by gel filtration and concentrated. Several features of the mutant protein indicate that it has a high-entropy, disordered structure. Thermal stability of the two proteins determined by melt curve analyses showed that mt hsFLNa24 is less stable than wt hsFLNa24, their respective melting temperatures being < 303 K and 317 K, respectively. The mutant protein also tended to aggregate during concentration and was prone to precipitation during low speed centrifugation. The two proteins displayed different elution volumes in size exclusion chromatography; wt hsFLNa24 eluted at a volume characteristic of a dimer indicating that in its native form wt hsFLNa24 exists as a dimer, while the mutant’s elution volume suggests that in most probabilities it exists as a monomer with a slightly larger molecular size. The oligomerisation status of the proteins in solution was further confirmed in crosslinking assays using the chemical crosslinker ethylene glycol succinimido succinate ester (EGS). In assays where the proteins at a final concentration of 4 µM were reacted with 1.3 mM EGS, the major form of wt FLNa24 was shown to be a high molecular weight dimeric species, while dimerisation was inhibited in mt hsFLNa24 and the protein exists predominantly in a monomeric state. Both proteins were subject to various crystallizing conditions. Only wt hsFLNa24 produced diffracting crystals which have immunoglobulin (Ig)-like folds of the E-set superfamily [Murzin et al, 1995] with a predominantly β–sheet structure, where seven β-strands organized as two anti-parallel β–sheets of four (ABED) and three (CFG) strands, respectively, are arranged as a β-sandwich. The asymmetric unit consists of a dimer. The dimer interface is formed by β-strands C and D of the monomers and the G2593 residue occurs in β-strand-C; it resides within the hydrophobic core of the dimer interface, where it is involved in a putative hydrophobic stacking. This glycine residue is highly conserved in most vertebrate filamins. Ablation of the G residue in conjunction with substitution by a polar residue is predicted to play a major role in disrupting the hydrophobic nature of the interface thereby inhibiting dimerisation. The inhibition effect arose probably more through unfavourable entropy change induced by substitution of the native G by an E residue than a reorganization of the dimer interface. The actin cross-linking ability of filamins is ascribed to its dimerization mediated by the C-terminal repeats and the loss of the latter function may have serious implications to the patient harbouring the G2593E mutation. The relatively mild symptoms exhibited by the patient leads one to believe that there may be compensatory mechanisms in operation or that the basic premise that the most C-terminal repeat is important for filamin dimerisation is questionable

The effects of academic qualifications, expertise and subject matter knowledge of literary devices amongst Malaysian ESL teachers / Manickavasagar Govindasamy

The Literature Component is a tested section of the English language paper at secondary school level since 2000 and much research has been conducted on English language teachers who are involved in teaching the component. This research investigates the effects of academic qualifications and expertise of English language teachers on their subject matter knowledge of literary devices. This research is based on the Objective Knowledge Growth Framework based on Popper’s theory that guides the growth of professional knowledge. The objective of this research was to investigate empirically the effects of academic qualification, expertise and subject matter knowledge of literary devices among Malaysian English language teachers. The research questions were categorized according to the above objective. The first research question dealt with the influences of academic qualifications and expertise of English language teachers on their subject matter knowledge of literary devices, familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices. The hypothesis was to show there was no significant influence on the subject matter knowledge of literary devices, familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices among English language teachers based on their academic qualifications and expertise. The second research question was to determine if there were differences in the subject matter knowledge of literary devices, familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices between English major and non-English major, TESL and non-TESL and KPLI and non-KPLI English language teachers. The hypothesis was to show there was no difference in the subject matter knowledge of literary devices, familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices between English major and non- English major, TESL and non-TESL and KPLI and non-KPLI English language teachers. The third research question was to determine the extent of correlation between subject matter knowledge of literary devices and familiarity with the use of literary devices, subject matter knowledge of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices and familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices among English language teachers. Hypothesis was to show there was no correlation between subject matter knowledge of literary devices and familiarity with the use of literary devices, subject matter knowledge of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices, and familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices among English language teachers. The fourth research question attempted to discover whether there were interactive effects of academic qualifications and expertise of English language teachers on subject matter knowledge of literary devices, familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices. The hypothesis was to show that there was no interactive effects of academic qualifications and expertise of English language teachers on their subject matter knowledge of literary devices, familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices. A mixed method approach was used in this research in which quantitative data was collected from questionnaires and worksheets while qualitative data was obtained from interviews. For the first research question the statistical method used was the One-way ANOVA. If there were significant differences among the groups in academic qualifications and expertise, then the Scheffe post hoc multiple comparison test was used to indicate which groups were influenced by academic qualifications and expertise of English language teachers. The statistical test used for the second research question was the Independent t-test that would indicate the influences of subject matter knowledge of literary devices, familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices between English major and non- English major, TESL and non-TESL and KPLI and non-KPLI English language teachers. For the third research question, the Pearson Correlation would inform the extent of correlation and the Coefficient of Determination would indicate the percentage of overlapping between subject matter knowledge of literary devices, familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices. The fourth research question was analysed using the two-way ANOVA. Based on the graphs if there were interactions, then the two-way ANOVA was used to determine the significant differences in academic qualifications and expertise in subject matter knowledge of literary devices, familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices. If significant differences existed, then the Turkey multiple comparisons test was used to determine which groups were significantly different. The first major finding revealed that academic qualifications and expertise of English language teachers influenced their subject matter knowledge of literary devices, familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices. The null hypothesis was rejected as academic qualifications and expertise of English language teachers had influenced their subject matter knowledge of literary devices, familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices. The second major finding indicated that there were differences between the English major and the non-English major, the TESL and the non-TESL and KPLI and the non- non-English language teachers in their subject matter knowledge of literary devices, familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices. The null hypothesis was rejected as there were differences between English major and the non-English major, the TESL and the non-TESL and KPLI and the non- non-English language teachers in their subject matter knowledge of literary devices, familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices. Another finding of this research revealed there was high positive correlation between subject matter knowledge of literary devices and familiarity with the use of literary devices, subject matter knowledge of literary and understanding of the functions of literary devices and familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices among English language teachers. However, the correlation of determination indicated there was only 50% overlapping between subject matter knowledge of literary devices and familiarity with the use of literary devices, subject matter knowledge of literary and understanding of the functions of literary devices and familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices among English language teachers. The null hypothesis was rejected as there was positive was high positive correlation between subject matter knowledge of literary devices and familiarity with the use of literary devices, subject matter knowledge of literary and understanding of the functions of literary devices and familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices among English language teachers. The other notable findings of this research revealed there were interactions between the academic qualifications and expertise of English language teachers on subject matter knowledge of literary devices, familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices. This study aims to provide useful insight into the different aspects of the effects of subject matter knowledge of literary devices, familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices among English language teachers who are presently involved in teaching the literary component. The understanding of how language works among language teachers would assist them to develop their competency in literary analysis and the systematic awareness of the general organization of language in literary texts. This form of objective knowledge growth can remove their false perceptions and ideas related to literary analysis. The use of literary devices which is a form of language oriented analysis can provide the ‘why’ and ‘how’ to explain the literary texts among English language teachers. This language based approach can assist English language teachers with a “way-in” to the different genres in the literature component and provide an objective analysis that is less impressionistic. A clear empirical evidence of the subject matter knowledge of literary devices, familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices among English language teachers based on their academic qualifications and expertise will reveal explicit information on the needs of those who are directly involved in the teaching of the literature component. From the evidence they can understand the importance of literary devices that is predominantly concerned with textual analysis in which the primary focus is assigned to language. The findings of the study can enlighten the relevant authorities like the Ministry of Education (Malaysia), Teacher Education Division (Malaysia) and higher institutions of education as to what needs to be reviewed in the objectives of the literature component to ensure that it is more current and in accordance with the demands of the language policy in Malaysia. Subsequently, new literature programmes (teaching files, worksheets and modules) can be developed based on literary devices as a new approach in the teaching of the literature component. Among the implications of this study is that future English language teachers should be equipped with sufficient subject matter knowledge of literary devices, familiarity with the use of literary devices and understanding of the functions of literary devices. This form of literary knowledge enrichment can be beneficial to English language teachers to approach the literature component with confidence from the language perspectives which is one of its objectives