On the Cultivation of Their Community of Practice: A Case Study of EFL Malaysian Pre-Service Teachers

This study examined the experiences of five EFL student teachers/pre-service teachers (PSTs) who participated in a Community of Practice (CoP) during their simulated teaching course and the practicum stage or teaching practice (TP), at The University of Malaya, a public Malaysian university. The experiences and tensions they encountered through this stage were discussed in the light of cultivating their CoP over five stages. Joining the CoP, increasing participation and negotiation of one\u27s tacit knowledge and assumptions were found to be productive at their learning to teach stage. However, some tensions, such as English proficiency level, self-confidence and agency, power relationships and worries of assessment persisted until the end of their practice. The results highlighted the significance of collaboration, reflection and social interactions with other CoP members as key to PSTs\u27 learning

On the Cultivation of Their Community of Practice: A Case Study of EFL Malaysian Pre-Service Teachers

This study examined the experiences of five EFL student teachers/pre-service teachers (PSTs) who participated in a Community of Practice (CoP) during their simulated teaching course and the practicum stage or teaching practice (TP), at The University of Malaya, a public Malaysian university. The experiences and tensions they encountered through this stage were discussed in the light of cultivating their CoP over five stages. Joining the CoP, increasing participation and negotiation of one\u27s tacit knowledge and assumptions were found to be productive at their learning to teach stage. However, some tensions, such as English proficiency level, self-confidence and agency, power relationships and worries of assessment persisted until the end of their practice. The results highlighted the significance of collaboration, reflection and social interactions with other CoP members as key to PSTs\u27 learning

The Role of Mastery Goal on Life Satisfaction Using PERMA as A Mediator for College Students

This study examined the relationship between mastery goals, including task-based and self-based competence, and positive emotions, engagement, relationship, meaning, and accomplishment (PERMA), which may affect life satisfaction. Mastery goals, PERMA, and life satisfaction were examined using a relationship study model. The current study involved 260 English education programs, with 81 (31.2%) male students and 179 (68.8%) female students. AMOS 18 was used to conduct a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The results of the current study demonstrate that task-based competence influences life satisfaction. In contrast, self-based competence was found not to affect life satisfaction. Analysis of SEM revealed significant influences of task-based competence on PERMA and no significant relationships between self-based competence and PERMA. PERMA partially mediates the influence of task-related competence on life satisfaction. The indirect effects of self-based competence on life satisfaction were observed through PERMA as a complete mediator. The novelty of the current research lies in its focus on mastery goals, the target population of college students, and the mediating role of PERMA. These contributions are critical, as teachers or instructors are responsible for developing student well-being and life satisfaction. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2023-SIED2-018 Full Text: PD

Systematic review of early English literacy in ELL children : what do we know from a decade of research

Early literacy is an integral aspect of young children’s learning. This review synthesizes existing empirical research evidence from the past decade, focusing on ELL children’s (aged 4 to 6 years) early English language literacy learning and the prevailing trends in the published literature. They were sourced mainly from three prominent databases. Manual selection of highly-cited studies was used as a complementary technique. Systematic exclusion and inclusion were performed and yielded 31 credible studies. The results report on researchers’ theorizing of early English literacy, dimensions of the body of knowledge, and research methodologies. The predictors and outcomes were examined within the lens of theoretical framework. To identify the emerging trends, the studies were analysed qualitatively. The findings were discussed in light of three main trends: (i) the apparent needs for an early English literacy model which captures both the concept of early literacy acquisition and second language learning, (ii) future research to acknowledge the multifaceted phenomenon of early literacy acquisition by employing nested research approach in a cross-discipline scope of research, and (iii) multiple ecological factors as important sources of individual differences. Despite the strength of the review approach to the past study identification, there are several limitations that should be considered. Among others, the representation of the children population in the selected studies which befalls heavily on certain geographical regions could cause bias in the coverage of knowledge

Control and prevention of streptococcosis in cultured tilapia in Malaysia: a review

Streptococcosis in cultured fishes has been reported to cause severe economic losses to the aquaculture industry worldwide. Lancefield group B Streptococcus agalactiae has been recognised as the main pathogen in cultured tilapia. This review discusses the current scenario and risk factors of streptococcosis in tilapia and suggests the control and prevention measures for this disease. The preventive measures focus on combined aspects of selecting farm location, applying good aquaculture farm practices, utilization of antibiotics and proper vaccination programme. A combination of all these measures will perhaps be the key to improve the health of cultured tilapia and prevent the infection by S. agalactiae, which in turn will increase the economic profit of tilapia farm operators

Water absorption and curing time performance of urea formaldehyde resin mixed with different amount phosphorous-based fire retardants.

The curing time and the properties of urea formaldehyde (UF) resin mixed with fire retardants, BP (mixture of boric acid, guanylurea phosphate and phosphoric acid), monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP) were studied. There were two amounts used, 8% w/w and 10% w/w. The curing time of the mixed resin was determined by using thermo oil at the temperature of 170ºC. Water absorption test and physical observations were done to evaluate the properties of the fire retardant-mixed resin. The non-fire retardant UF resin samples were used as controls. The solubility of MAP and DAP in the water at different weights also has been studied. The solubility test was done with and without the involvement of heat. The study showed that UF resin mixed with MAP and BP cured faster than DAP-mixed UF and control samples. The time taken for UF resin to mix with 10 % w/w and 8 % w/w MAP were 20 s and 28 s respectively. The time taken for UF resin mixed with 10 % and 8 % w/w DAP was slightly than the controls, which are 160 s and 150 s respectively. The time taken for UF resin mixed with 10 % w/w and 8 % w/w BP was 101 s and 92 s respectively.The curing time for control samples was 140 s respectively. MAP and DAP were shown to be highly soluble, as they took less than 1 minute to be dissolved in the water without heat, but BP took 30 minutes to be dissolved in the water without heat and less than 1 minute with heat. Water absorption test showed that the higher the amount of MAP, DAP and BP mixed into the resin, the higher would be the rate of water absorbed

Water Thermocline Confirms Susceptibility of Tilapia Cultured in Lakes to Streptococcus agalactiae

A study was conducted on water quality profiling to confirm susceptibility of tilapia cultured in lakes to Streptococcus agalactiae infection. A total of 1,010 and 719 tilapias of different sizes were collected from two lakes; the Kenyir and Pedu lakes, respectively. They were randomly sampled for a period of 24 months. Swabs of brain, eye and kidney were streaked directly onto blood agar before S. agalactiae was identified by the API 20 STREP kit, Slidex Strepto-kit and PCR technique. The water temperature (thermocline) and dissolved oxygen profiling were determined at 1 m intervals for up to 20 m deep. Water clarity and flow rate were also recorded using Secchi disk and a current meter. S. agalactiae was successfully isolated from both lakes throughout the year, ranging between 2 and 78%. Isolation was more frequent during the hot and dry months of both years. During this period, the mean water temperature was >29 degrees C for up to 8 m deep due to the significantly (p12 m deep. This and the slow water flow kept the water temperature at 4 m deep where tilapias under the cage culture system were kept to remain high causing stress to tilapia and increases susceptibility to S. agalactiae. Dissolved oxygen profiling, however remained high at >5 mg L-1 for up to 8 m deep and did not give adverse effects to susceptibility of tilapia to S. agalactiae

Water Thermocline Confirms Susceptibility of Tilapia Cultured in Lakes to Streptococcus agalactiae

A study was conducted on water quality profiling to confirm susceptibility of tilapia cultured in lakes to Streptococcus agalactiae infection. A total of 1,010 and 719 tilapias of different sizes were collected from two lakes; the Kenyir and Pedu lakes, respectively. They were randomly sampled for a period of 24 months. Swabs of brain, eye and kidney were streaked directly onto blood agar before S. agalactiae was identified by the API 20 STREP kit, Slidex Strepto-kit and PCR technique. The water temperature (thermocline) and dissolved oxygen profiling were determined at 1 m intervals for up to 20 m deep. Water clarity and flow rate were also recorded using Secchi disk and a current meter. S. agalactiae was successfully isolated from both lakes throughout the year, ranging between 2 and 78%. Isolation was more frequent during the hot and dry months of both years. During this period, the mean water temperature was >29 degrees C for up to 8 m deep due to the significantly (p12 m deep. This and the slow water flow kept the water temperature at 4 m deep where tilapias under the cage culture system were kept to remain high causing stress to tilapia and increases susceptibility to S. agalactiae. Dissolved oxygen profiling, however remained high at >5 mg L-1 for up to 8 m deep and did not give adverse effects to susceptibility of tilapia to S. agalactiae

Fire propagation and strength performance of fire retardant-treated Hibiscus cannabinus particleboard

The fire propagation and strength performance of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) core particle board treated with three different commercialized fire retardants were studied using ten percent concentration of fire retardants. The fire propagation test was evaluated using performance index (I), which indicates the heat release of the tested particle boards. Physical and mechanical properties such as water absorption, thickness swelling, Modulus of Rupture (MOR), Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) and Internal Bond (IB) of the treated and untreated boards were also studied. The study showed that diammonium phosphate (DAP) was excellent in reducing the heat release of the boards followed by monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and BP® [mixture of 27-33% boric acid, 67-73% guanylurea phosphate and 0.0-4.2% phosphoric acid]. DAP and MAP were able to delay the maximum early heat release of the boards by about 15 to 16 min and 18 to 20 min, respectively compared to BP® which was only able to delay the maximum early heat release by about 10 to 15 min after ignition. The heat release of the DAP and MAP-treated particle boards started 5 min after ignition, but the heat release of the BP®-treated boards started from the beginning of the test. Boards treated with DAP were found comply with the standard ratings for thickness swelling and water absorption test. MAP-treated boards were found comply with the standard rating for MOR and were found to be the best compared to the other treated boards for MOE and IB. However, treated boards complied with the standard ratings of MOE and IB

Effects of adding soybean waste on growth performance and carcass quality in quails

This study determined the effects of feeding soybean waste at different levels on the growth performance and carcass quality in quails (Coturnix coturnix). Forty-five male broiler quails aged two-days-old were reared for three weeks before they were used for the experiment. At the start of the experiment, the quails were divided into 3 groups of 15 quails per group. Group 1 (T0) was treated with 100 commercial diet without soybean waste, Group 2 (T1) was treated with 15 soybean waste + 85 commercial diet, and Group 3 (T2) was treated with 30 soybean waste + 70 commercial diet. For growth performance, the body weight and average daily gain were measured. Meat qualities were evaluated based on the dressing weight, pH, and meat proximate analysis. The results revealed that the body weight, average daily gain, dressed weight and pH value were significantly differ (