EFFECTIVENESS OF FOOD SAFETY TRAINING ON KNOWLEDGE, ATITUDE, AND PRACTICES (KAP) OF HOMEBASED FOOD BUSINESS (HFB) IN Al AIN, UAE

This research aimed at evaluating the levels of knowledge, relevant attitudes, and food safety practices (KAP) of food handlers that have home food businesses (HFB) in Al Ain city, UAE. It examined the effectiveness of the Essential Food Safety Training Program (EFST) in providing food safety Knowledge, attitude, and practices. A quantitative research method was conducted using a sample of 68 participants who responded to the questionnaires. Three research questions were used to guide the study and explore the differences of the level of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice (KAP) before and after training program by using a paired-samples t-test. This study revealed that EFST had positive effects on all subcategories of food safety practices. Most of the subcategories of attitudes showed a positive impact except the cross-contamination. Regarding the food safety knowledge, no positive impact was found in the subcategories of cleaning and chilling. The results of this study can contribute to improving government policies and actions regarding the safety of food and training programs

information strategies for Malaysia: geographical, organisational, political and technological implications for development

Malaysia has undergone radical social, economic and political development over the last four decades. The information systems put in place to provide informational support for managing development projects have also changed from manual systems in the 1960s and 1970s, to computerised systems based on batch and on-line processing and networking in the 1980s, and multimedia in the 1990s. Two large-scale information system programmes were studied in detail. The National Project Monitoring System (SETIA) and the National Land Information System (NALIS) involved co-ordination of individualised information systems and sharing of information by agencies at Federal, State (including District) and local authorities. Collection of information and the subsequent analysis of that information was guided by two theoretical frameworks: first the organisational perspectives framed by Web models which help in understanding the dynamics of computing in development; and second the subjective epistemological stance framed by structuration theory which helps to frame an understanding of the complexities of social relations surrounding information systems development. This research demonstrates how organisational behaviour, and a socio-political culture influenced by economic interests and personal ambition, can complicate large scale information systems development. Reluctance to share information; differences of appreciation and awareness and varying levels of understanding of the technology in use; inadequate and incompatible information; inadequate working strategies and standards; and imbalanced infrastructural support are among the major reasons for lack of success. However, in the implementation of information systems, problems related to human factors are not unique to Malaysia; rather they are common even among 'advanced' countries. But developing countries like Malaysia are often more sensitive to changes in economic and political environments. The concluding chapter of this thesis places the information strategy issues in the context of Malaysian and Southeast Asian political and economic events of 1998

Factors impeding organisational change in education :a case study of Tatweer

PhD ThesisThis study investigates the factors impeding organisational change in the public educational sector of Saudi Arabia. It does so to avoid the waste of financial resources by proposing solutions for better management of change in the public education sector. It also identifies the sources of resistance to change, approaches used to control them, and explores the role of internal and external communication in stakeholders’ engagement and in the management of change initiatives. A case study approach was adopted, focusing on the King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Public Education Development Project (Tatweer), the most comprehensive reform initiative introduced in the Saudi educational system to date. Data collection occurred via semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and reviewing documentary evidence. The research used snowball and maximum variation sampling to interview key informants from officials from the Ministry of Education, as well as teachers and head teachers at Tatweer pilot schools and private schools, to provide in-depth insights into the context of change and to explore the factors limiting implementation. The software package Nvivo10 was utilised to aid analysis. This commenced by coding to explore and compare perspectives. Matrices were developed for comparative pattern analysis at the Ministry of Education and school levels. Private schools do not perceive public schools as competitors and competition is not visible between public schools. The analysis of the management of the project revealed several problems surrounding the project’s implementation, particularly insufficient communication, lack of incentives, limited training, and improper resource allocation. Resistance to change emerged due to insufficient communication and incentives. The culture and social norms of Saudi society interfere with effective organisational management. Internal and external communication plays a crucial role in change initiatives and minimising resistance to change. However, in the Saudi public educational system, external communication is limited and tends to be viewed as superfluous, competition between schools does not exist, and external stakeholder participation is minimal. The findings revealed that parents’ minimal involvement impeded the implementation of change initiatives. Schools seldom engage in strategies to enhance student recruitment and without providing incentives, schools are less interested in enrolling additional students, which reduces competition, and consequently external communication remains of marginal importance in Saudi Arabia

Assessment of SMC Frames under Different Column Removal Scenarios

Throughout the past decades, failure of structures threatening the lives of humans had been popular whether through structure failure due to human error such as Hyatt Regency walkway collapse, 1981, terrorist attacks on the American embassy attack in Nairobi, Kenya 1998 and the famous 9/11 attacks in 2001 and many more. As a result of these incidents, The Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) was developed concerning the progressive collapse issues by analyzing different types of structures under column loss and studying the overall structural behavior. However, the (UFC) didn’t scope on the local behavior of the structural components and its connection under column loss. In this research, the main objective is to study the local behavior of the special moment frame connection (SMC) under column loss. A detailed study is conducted on a 3D model fully designed by adopting the strong-column weak-beam approach following the ACI318-14 regulations. Two frames are selected from the designed structure, interior and exterior frames, to apply the column loss scenario in different locations and different floor levels. The Applied Element Method is adopted in the study. Non-linear time-dependent dynamic analysis is implemented to apply the different column removal scenarios. Twelve case studies are modeled in detail using the Extreme Loading for Structures (ELS) software at which all elements are modeled and analyzed in a 3D model technique. After analyzing the different case studies, structure behavior is observed. Some cases encountered total collapse, other cases encountered partial /local collapse and finally, some survived the column loss scenario. Many parameters are involved and studied in the research.  Failure pattern is observed for collapsed cases, the cause of failure is monitored and studied. Special moment connection behavior is studied concerning the shear connection capacity. The location of the column removal with the type of frame selected played an important role in changing the structural behavior from one case to another. As a result, it is not applicable to assume that due to the special moment connection ductility, the structure will be able to resist the column loss in all cases

Experimental Study About Effect Iron Slag on The Shear Strength of Reinforced Concrete Beams Without Shear Reinforcement

In the last decades, researchers have become more interested in the environmental aspect of investing materials harmful to the environment in various aspects of life, including construction. Slag is considered as one of the industrial wastes that are harmful to the environment. There are many studies on the use of slag as a substitute for building materials because it adds an excellent property to concrete. In this study, the iron slag was used as a partial replacement of coarse aggregate and fine aggregate in different proportions, the study conducts to know its effects on the shear strength of reinforced concrete beams. Ten R.C. beams without shear reinforcement (1100×100×200) mm were studied using iron slag as a coarse aggregate with a ratio of 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%, as a fine aggregate with a ratio of 10%, 20% and 30%, and partial substitute for coarse aggregate by 7.5% and partial substitute for fine aggregate by 7.5% in the same model, finally, partial substitute for coarse aggregate by 15% and partial substitute for fine aggregate by 15% in the same model. According to the test results, it was found that the optimal proportion of replacing slag with coarse aggregate is 20%, which resulted in a 24.58% increase in peak load. While the optimal proportion of replacing slag with fine aggregate by 20%, resulting in a 24.3% increase in peak load.

Investigation On Black Quarter In Nuba Mountains, South Kordofan State

The aim of this study was to isolate and identify, the causative agent of blackleg disease in Kadougli area, south-Kordofan, and to study the epidemiology and pathology of the disease. Clinical examination showed the affected cattle were 2-2.5 year’s old and showed typical signs and symptoms of blackleg disease. Postmortem examination of affected cattle showed swelling, hemorrhage, and the muscle were black or darker in colour with gas and rancid odor. Specimens were collected from deadcalve showing typical signs and lesions of the black leg disease, for bacteriological and histopathogical examination. The specimens were cultured onto blood agar and incubated anaerobically using anaerobic jar and Gas pack system. Isolates were reported from 2 calves. Cellular morphology, staining reaction, cultural characteristic and biochemical tests, identified the isolates as C. chauvoei. Histopathological examination showed inflammatory changes, haemorrhage, necrosis, and gas bubles. Pathogenicity test was done by inoculation of guinea pigs with one of the isolates. The inoculated guinea pig died within 48h. The postmortem finding showed swelling ininjected leg, congestion, gas and hemorrhage in the internal parts. While histopathologyical examination showed necrosis, inflammatory changes and gas bubbles within the muscle. The findings of the present investigation confirmed the outbreaks were blackleg outbreak and the causative agent of the disease outbreak was C. chauvoe

Conception et optimisation d'antennes large bande destinées au radar à pénétration de sol dans la bande fréquentielle [0.6GHz, 3GHz]

National audienceNous proposons dans cet article deux prototypes d'antennes large-bande que nous avons optimisé pour la réalisation d'un radar à pénétration de sol fonctionnant dans la bande [0.6GHz 3GHz]. Le choix de cette plage fréquentielle découle de notre objectif qui est d'assurer une profondeur de pénétration de l'ordre du mètre et atteindre une résolution centimétrique. Le premier prototype est une antenne spirale imprimée sur FR4 (εr=4.2). Le caractère large bande et la facilité de conception des antennes spirales sont des atouts justifiant notre choix. Néanmoins, ces antennes sont dispersives et caractérisées par un rayonnement bidirectionnel. L'antenne spirale retenue permet de contrecarrer ces inconvénients. Le deuxième prototype est une antenne Vivaldi. Elle est caractérisée par une transition progressive de son ouverture assurant une bonne adaptation sur une large bande fréquentielle. La difficulté majeure rencontrée dans la conception des antennes Vivaldi réside dans l'optimisation du système d'excitation assurant à la fois une adaptation de l'antenne en basses comme en hautes fréquences