Faktor-Faktor Yang Menyumbang Kebolehan Membaca Kanak-Kanak Tahun Satu di Sekolah-sekolah Rendah Luar Bandar di Daerah Miri, Sarawak

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk (i) mengenalpasti corak penglibatan ibu, (ii) mengenalpasti tahap pengetahuan ibu mengenai perkernbangan dan keperluan kanak-kanak, (iii) mengenalpasti perkaitan di antara pandangan ibu terhadap pendidikan anak-anak mereka dengan kebolehan membaca kanak-kanak, dan (iv) mengenalpasti ciri-ciri latar belakang keluarga yang berkaitan dengan kebolehan membaca peringkat awal kanak-kanak di empat buah sekolah rendah luar bandar di daerah Miri, Sarawak. Temubual yang mendalam ke atas 23 orang ibu di kalangan kanak-kanak yang sudah boleh membaca dan 23 orang ibu di kalangan kanakkanak yang bel urn boleh membaca telah dilakukan dengan menggunakan satu set soal selidik sebagai panduan. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa wujudnya perkaitan yang signifikan di antara corak penglibatan ibu dengan kebolehan membaca awal kanak-kanak. Ibu kepada kalangan kanak-kanak yang sudah boleh membaca ada dan pernah membacakan sebarang bahan bacaan kepada anak mereka, membacakan buku cerita, membaca bersama-sama anak, mengajar anak mengenal huruf, membeli bahan bacaan untuk anak, membeli buku sebagai hadiah hari lahir anak, membantu anak belajar membaca, mengajar anak menyebut perkataan yang sukar, membantu anak dalam kerja sekolah, melukis dan membuat buku skrap, berbual dengan sarna anak, memberi pujian dan ganjaran kepada anak, membawa anak bersiar-siar, membawa anak ke perpustakaan awam, menggalakkan anak ke perpustakaan dan meminjam buku. Hasil kajian juga mendapati bahawa wujud perkaitan yang signifikan di antara tahap pengetahuan ibu mengenai perkembangan dan keperluan kanak-kanak dengan kebolehan membaca awal kanak-kanak. Ibu di kalangan kanak-kanak yang sudah boleh membaca sedar mengenai masa yang paling sesuai untuk mendedahkan sebarang bahan bacaan kepada anak, keinginan anak untuk membaca, perlakuan anak untuk mencuba membaca, penyediaan kemudahan bahan bacaan untuk anakanak, tabiat membaca anak, dan kelebihan membawa anak bersiar-siar.HasH kajian mendapati bahawa wujud perkaitan yang signifikan di antara pandangan ibu berkaitan dengan pendidikan anak-anak dengan kebolehan membaca awal kanak-kanak. Ibu di kalangan kanak-kanak yang sudah boleh membaca bersetuju bahawa pendidikan anak-anak adalah penting, kerja sekolah yang diberi oleh guru bertujuan untuk anak

Kesungguhan Petani Projek Barat Laut Selangor Terhadap Pelaburan dalam ASN/ASB

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan faktor-faktor yang berkaitan dengan kesungguhan petani di kawasan Projek Pembangunan Pertanian Bersepadu Barat Laut Selangor dalam pelaburan Amanah Saham Nasional/Amanah Saham Bumi putera (ASN/ASB). Objektifk hususnya pula ialah untuk mengetahui gelagat pelaburan responden dalam ASN/ASB,menentukan tahap pengetahuan, perhubungan dengan pegawai pengembangan, kekangan untuk melabur dan sikap responden terhadap pelaburan,mengukur perkaitan beberapa angkubah terpilih dengan kesungguhan terhadap ASN/ASB serta mengenal pasti perbezaan gelagat pelaburan antara penanam padi dengan petani tanaman kekal dalam beberapa aspek

Influence of moisture content distribution in soil on pavement and geothermal energy

Moisture content in soil has a great implication in engineering design, and it has been heavily investigated by soil engineers and scientists. If moisture content in expansive soil changes drastically, it will create significant volume change in the soil. If expansive soil is present in building foundation or pavement subgrade, it may result in structural failure. On the other hand, if sufficient moisture content is present in soil, it will increase the production of geothermal energy from the ground soil. This dissertation is an effort to understand the effects of moisture content on both expansive soils and geothermal energy that is extracted from ground soils. Louisiana has been affected by its expansive soil. In north Louisiana especially, pavements often get longitudinal cracks due to the expansive subgrade soil. In this dissertation, one of the major types of expansive soils, which is called Moreland clay, is investigated to understand the swell-shrink properties. The dissertation research started with the characterization of Moreland clay by performing a series of laboratory tests. As a by-product, a GIS-based swelling potential map of expansive soil in Louisiana was developed. It is concluded from the characterization that Moreland clay is one of the most expansive soils in the world. In the dissertation research, an easily implementable model is developed based on the theory of beam on elastic foundation, in which the mechanism of soil strength is mathematically considered. The predicted heave or shrinkage of expansive soils below the pavement is integrated in the model as the beam deflection. In the proposed method, pavement is simplified as a beam with a virtual load as a form of Fourier series applied on top of the beam to mimic the heave/settlement caused by the volume change of expansive soils. The virtual load is determined by making the predicted subgrade soil heave/settlement equal to the beam deflection. Finally, a closed-form solution of the beam\u27s deflection, rotation, bending moment and shear force are developed, which is caused by the heave/shrinkage of the expansive soil below the pavement. Compared with the traditional finite element models, the proposed analytical model is significantly more simple and more easily implemented. The closed-form solutions make pavement stress analyses and soil heave predictions separate. All the equations and calculations are incorporated in the Excel spreadsheet. The Excel-based software package will be the only required tool for design calculations. As a part of the expansive soil research, using different soil stabilizers (e.g., geopolymer concrete (GPC) and cement) to stabilize the expansive soil is also investigated. Finally, the moisture content of soil on geothermal energy is investigated. At the beginning, a three-story building in New Orleans is designed with an energy-pile foundation as an example to see the prospect of geothermal energy in Louisiana. The research shows, if geothermal energy is used for the building\u27s heating and cooling energy source, less carbon dioxide would be emitted compared to its traditional heating and cooling energy source (i.e., electricity, natural gas, etc.). As a part of the research, a simple graph method is proposed to design a borehole heat exchanger for small apartments and offices. A small apartment in Ruston, Louisiana, is designed as an example using the graph method and later again designed with the two very popular commercial software GLD 2012 and GLHEPRO. The result from the graph method shows a great convergence with both commercial software programs. At the end, a sensitivity analysis of different design parameters of energy pile is performed to have a better understanding of the geothermal energy system

Biomolecular Folding Rates As Understood From Single-Reaction-Coordinate Langevin Dynamics And Kramers’ Theory

Langevin dynamics was used to model the folding and unfolding of simple, hairpin-like biomolecules whose ends are attached to laser-trapped beads, as occurs in optical tweezers experiments. The Langevin process was evolved numerically, using parameters motivated by real experimental systems. Folding trajectories were generated and analyzed to extract the folding rate as a function of the force applied to the beads. The observed rate was compared to the analytical predictions of Kramers\u27 theory. Strong discrepancies were noted. The failure of the Kramers\u27 theory was attributed to the slow dynamical response of the beads, which it does not account for. The results of this work highlight the necessity to include in the modeling the experimental systems that mediate force along the length of the biomolecule

Biodegradable electronic and optical devices toward temporary implants

Implantable biomedical devices have a high potential to revolutionize health care technologies in near future. Implantable devices can be classified as permanent prosthetic devices such as pacemakers or nerve stimulants and temporary devices for intermediate monitoring and control scenario which are still in research phase. In contrast to permanent device, temporary implants lose functionality and become unnecessary after intended operational lifetime which may pose serious electromagnetic and biomedical safety concern, latent complications at the implanted sites and possible ethical issues if not removed from body by an additional surgical operation. The first paper of this thesis focuses on exploring the feasibility of implantable inorganic bioresorbable thin film inductive devices utilizing borate glass as the substrate material. This inductive device is fully functional for a desired time inside simulated body fluid and then completely dissolves without causing any safety issues. The second paper of the thesis demonstrates a new concept of biodegradable optical devices based on specially formulated reactive phosphate-based glass for potential theragnostic (therapy and diagnosis) applications. This work is focused on the feasibility test of biodegradable glass based light-guiding device for potential application to light-activated therapies. These feasibility studies are expected to continue to a variety of useful sensing and actuation (e.g. temperature, pressure, flow etc.) and light guiding applications (e.g. photodynamic) which can be applied to many biomedical areas --Abstract, page iv

Improving Ready-Made Garment Productivity by Changing Worker Attitude

Bangladesh is the 2nd largest readymade garment exporter in the world. But in terms of productivity, its performance is below the mark. Many studies were performed to increase the productivity of our readymade garment industry by applying proper line balancing, time study, lean manufacturing system etc. Similarly this paper is an attempt to analyze the potential increase in garment productivity by applying a non-monetary process that is related with changing the behavioral aspect of the readymade garment workers. The study shows only slight change in worker attitude along with proper supervision can bring about a tremendous increase in garment productivity which can make the readymade garment products more price competitive to the foreign buyers

Sexual harassment in context of Malaysia

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination or unwelcome sexual action includes verbal or physical touch that can affect the individual’s employment, work performance and others including physical and mental health. Sexual harassment may occur in many condition or situation such as between opposite gender or with the same gender. The victim may be the superior, co-worker, an agent or to a non-employee (U. S. E. E. O. Commission, n.d.). Sexual harassment also not an action with interactivity, friendship or teasing that is mutually agreed (V. E. O. & H. R. Commission, n.d.). However, there are two types of sexual harassment, “quid pro quo” (this for that) and hostile environment. For “quid pro quo”, this occur when it is stated or implied that an individual must agree to conduct a sexual nature in order to get promotion. Other that, hostile environment occur when there is unwelcome action of a sexual nature create frighten, abusive working or threatening that can affect the individual’s ability to participate or perform their task (Center, n.d.)

Biomass Transportation Model for Intermodal Network

Biomass transportation suffers from higher transportation costs and insufficient competition in terms of supply chain providers. The transportation network optimization is somewhat absent in biomass transportation and hence this sector is still subsidized in many states. Biomass transportation industry can be benefitted from utilizing intermodal facilities and various transportation modes. Availability of several modes introduces flexibility of routing and intermodal facility enables using several modes throughout the routes. Transportation network consisting intermodal facility connected with various modes along with various shipment options (direct shipment, transshipment, cross docking, consolidation etc.) among different stages of biomass transportation offer more alternative choices for consideration. Some of the alternative choices induce less cost with prolonged service time, some choices provide expedite delivery with higher cost, some choices maintain similar service level and on time delivery at a reasonable or moderate cost. Proper analysis of various routing options should be done in order to choose the most efficient one. In most of the cases, minimization of time leads toward a costly transportation, on the other hand cost saving routes requires more time to ship the order. This research endeavors to develop a methodology so that both of the objectives (i.e. minimization of transportation time and minimization of transportation cost) can be satisfied together to find out an optimal transportation solution. This paper considers the supply chain of cellulosic bio-diesel. This supply chain consists of harvesters, hub or storage facilities, preprocessing facilities and bio-refinery plant. Several modes of transportations and intermodal facilities are available in the supply chain. There are direct shipment and transshipment options too. This paper tried to develop a generic mathematical model to find out the optimal solution for both minimization of transportation cost and time. In this paper, excel solver is used to calculate the numbers of unit loads to be transported through various routes. Finally, it compares three solutions, out of which, one gives the minimum cost, another gives the minimum time and last one is the modification of second solution that costs less than the second one. The modification is done by choosing alternative cost saving routes without affecting the critical time. The recommended solution considers the trade-off between time and cost. It is expected, that this research will assist the decision maker of biomass industry to make smart choice in route and mode selection process