Quality of mentoring of mentor teachers: Perspective of the trainee teachers

Mentoring by the mentor teachers to the trainee teacher is an important element in the component of professional practice, namely practicum. Mentoring of mentor teachers in this study refers to the quality of guidance given by mentor teachers to trainee teachers. This aspect is seen to have an impact on the success of trainee teachers during the practicum session. However, there are past studies that state that mentor teachers do not provide guidance as required by the trainee teachers. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the quality of mentoring of mentor teachers from the perspective of trainee teachers. This study used a mixed-method approach. Quantitative study was using a questionnaire namely mentor teacher’s guidance while utilizing random sampling method was used on a sample of 217 trainee teachers from the Institute of Teacher Education in the northern zone of Malaysia who have undergone the practicum session. The qualitative approach, on the hand involve semi-structured interview with two trainee teachers as the participants. This study found that the quality of guidance of mentor teachers is at a very good level. Quantitative findings are supported by qualitative findings. Four themes were identified from the interview analysis namely; excellent guidance, informative, cooperation and the needs of mentor teachers

Flow Characteristics in Perforated Subsurface Drain of Drainage System Application: Case Study of Gate Fully Open with Longitudinal Slope 1/500

Subsurface drainage is part of a sustainable drainage system's components. This component represents the infiltration of stormwater into the subsurface drainage system for flow attenuation purposes. This study examines the flow parameters of subsurface drainage components. The laboratory validation of perforated subsurface drains was conducted at a longitudinal slope gradient of 1/500 with the Gate Fully Open. The manning, n data obtained in these experiments varies with several hydraulic parameters. Therefore, the experimental relationship between the flow characteristics of these subsurface drain components has been investigated. The relationship between flow behavior has been determined. The sub-critical and supercritical, and turbulence flow has occurred in this stud

Flow Characteristics in Perforated Subsurface Drain of Drainage System Application: Case Study of Gate Fully Open with Longitudinal Slope 1/500

Subsurface drainage is part of a sustainable drainage system's components. This component represents the infiltration of stormwater into the subsurface drainage system for flow attenuation purposes. This study examines the flow parameters of subsurface drainage components. The laboratory validation of perforated subsurface drains was conducted at a longitudinal slope gradient of 1/500 with the Gate Fully Open. The manning, n data obtained in these experiments varies with several hydraulic parameters. Therefore, the experimental relationship between the flow characteristics of these subsurface drain components has been investigated. The relationship between flow behavior has been determined. The sub-critical and supercritical, and turbulence flow has occurred in this stud

Public understanding of rip current and beach safety at Teluk Cempedak Recreational Beach in Pahang, Malaysia

Rip currents are known to be a global public health issue and have been extensively contributed to the coastguard rescues and drowning cases at recreational beaches. Most studies in Malaysia have focused on the physical control of rip currents, with little emphasis on social factors. This study aims to assess the public knowledge of rip currents and beach safety at Teluk Cempedak Recreational Beach (TCRB) in Pahang, Malaysia. A convenience sampling technique was used to conduct a cross-sectional study among 300 beachgoers in TCRB. All data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable logistic analyses were computed to identify factors associated with satisfactory knowledge of rip current and beach safety. More than half of the respondents were females (51%) and residents of Kuantan (62%). Out of 300 respondents, 160 (53.3%) had a satisfactory knowledge of rip currents, while a higher number of respondents (n = 221, 73.7%) had an unsatisfactory knowledge of beach safety. Those aged 35 and up, females, and those who had never had difficulty with water activities at the beach were more likely to have satisfactory knowledge of rip currents. The only factor found to be significantly related to satisfactory beach safety knowledge was age (35 years old). In conclusion, the respondents were concerned about rip currents, but they had inadequate knowledge of beach safety. Therefore, the development of effective beach safety education programmes is needed in Malaysia

Efficient callus induction and plant regeneration of Malaysian indica rice MR219 using anther culture

Rice plant regeneration via anther culture possess several difficulties, these included early anther necrosis and high albinism frequency. In the present study, several biotic and abiotic factors were studied to develop an efficient protocol for the regeneration of Malaysian indica rice MR 219 variety. Callus initiation of anther cultures was evaluated using different N6 media supplemented with 2,4-D in combination with 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), kinetin (Kin) or 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). The present study revealed that incorporation of 1.0 mg/L of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) with 3.0 mg/L of NAA significantly elevated callus induction rate with 8.45%. Callus development was further enhanced with the application of 1.0 mg/L of 2,4-D in combination with 1.0 mg/L of BAP, which resulted in 80.83% of globular callus formation rate. Formation of rooty callus (70.83%) was initiated by 0.5 mg/L of 2,4-D in conjunction with 0.5 mg/L of BAP treatment. The highest somatic embryogenesis rate (25.83%) and regeneration frequency (10.92%) was achieved under 4 °C during 7th day, together with the formation of 2.17 green rice plantlets. Nevertheless, culture browning frequency increased over time and reached the highest (100.00%) at 29th day for both 4 and 8 °C treatments. The highest number of albino plantlets was recorded at 18.17 for in vitro cultures maintained under 8 °C at 14th day. The study herein developed an efficient protocol which enhanced callus development as well as the regeneration of green indica rice plantlets while minimizing albinism

Kefahaman orang awam tentang arus tempur/karau/simbar/pecah (rip current) dan keselamatan pantai di Pantai Rekreasi Teluk Cempedak, Pahang

This survey questionnaire aims to provide the Malaysian public perspective on how much beach users know and understand about rip currents, adding to international research and effort on rip current awareness, education and prevention of drownin

Validation of functioning resistant genes against Malaysian biotype of brown planthopper in rice variety, Rathu Heenati

Rathu Heenati is a donor parent commonly used in the development of resistant rice varieties against brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, which is a devastating insect pest of rice. The variety is reported to have a broad-spectrum resistance against BPH, through the action of multiple genes and quantitative trait loci (QTL) including Bph3, Qbph3, Qbph4 and Qbph10. The present study was carried out to validate the effectiveness of those genes against Malaysian BPH population. The study was conducted using an F2 segregating population which was obtained from a cross between Rathu Heenati and a Malaysian commercial variety, MR219. Plant damage score was used to estimate the degree of plant tolerance, while the amount of honeydew excretion was used to measure the level of antibiosis. The gene presence in an individual plant was determined based on the segregation pattern of the flanking microsatellite markers of the respective reported genes. Results confirmed the role of Bph3 and the three other QTLs in conferring resistance against the Malaysian biotype of BPH. Marker assisted breeding can facilitate the monitoring of the introgressed genes in the plants of a breeding population

Public understanding of rip current and beach safety at Teluk Cempedak Recreational Beach in Pahang, Malaysia

Rip currents are known to be a global public health issue and have been extensively contributed to the coastguard rescues and drowning cases at recreational beaches. Most studies in Malaysia have focused on the physical control of rip currents, with little emphasis on social factors. This study aims to assess the public knowledge of rip currents and beach safety at Teluk Cempedak Recreational Beach (TRCB) in Pahang, Malaysia. A convenience sampling technique was used to conduct a cross-sectional study among 300 beachgoers in TCRB. All data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable logistic analyses were computed to identify factors associated with satisfactory knowledge of rip current and beach safety. More than half of the respondents were females (51%) and residents of Kuantan (62%). Out of 300 respondents, 160 (53.3%) had a satisfactory knowledge of rip currents, while a higher number of respondents (n = 221, 73.7%) had an unsatisfactory knowledge of beach safety. Those aged 35 and up, females, and those who had never had difficulty with water activities at the beach were more likely to have satisfactory knowledge of rip currents. The only factor found to be significantly related to satisfactory beach safety knowledge was age (35 years old). In conclusion, the respondents were concerned about rip currents, but they had inadequate knowledge of beach safety. Therefore, the development of effective beach safety education programmes is needed in Malaysia

Development of a Highly Sensitive Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Incorporated with Flocculation of Carbon Particles for Rapid On-Site Diagnosis of Blood Disease Bacterium Banana

Bananas are one of the most crucial fruit crops worldwide and significantly contribute to food security in developing countries. However, blood disease of bananas caused by Ralstonia syzygii subspecies celebensensis has become a threat to banana production. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of BDB for on-site detection is pivotal at an early stage for an effective disease control strategy. This study developed LAMP with specific primers targeting BDB, followed by a flocculation assay for visualising positive amplification in the LAMP assay. The assay was sensitive to picogram amounts of gDNA (0.5 pg). LAMP assay on BDB gDNA showed flocculation, but negative results on Fusarium oxysporus cubense and Ralstonia solanacearum confirming the specificity of the assays. Field testing conducted at MARDI headquarters and Taman Pertanian Universiti discovered that the LAMP-flocculation assays were successful in detecting BDB on symptomatic samples as well as on samples from a healthy plot with no symptom observed at the sampling stage, revealing that this assay can detect BDB at an early infection stage. The validation results showed that the LAMP-flocculation assay was comparable with the PCR technique. This newly developed technique is highly specific and sensitive for the early detection of BDB for the adoption of precautionary control measures

Development of a Highly Sensitive Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Incorporated with Flocculation of Carbon Particles for Rapid On-Site Diagnosis of Blood Disease Bacterium Banana

Bananas are one of the most crucial fruit crops worldwide and significantly contribute to food security in developing countries. However, blood disease of bananas caused by Ralstonia syzygii subspecies celebensensis has become a threat to banana production. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of BDB for on-site detection is pivotal at an early stage for an effective disease control strategy. This study developed LAMP with specific primers targeting BDB, followed by a flocculation assay for visualising positive amplification in the LAMP assay. The assay was sensitive to picogram amounts of gDNA (0.5 pg). LAMP assay on BDB gDNA showed flocculation, but negative results on Fusarium oxysporus cubense and Ralstonia solanacearum confirming the specificity of the assays. Field testing conducted at MARDI headquarters and Taman Pertanian Universiti discovered that the LAMP-flocculation assays were successful in detecting BDB on symptomatic samples as well as on samples from a healthy plot with no symptom observed at the sampling stage, revealing that this assay can detect BDB at an early infection stage. The validation results showed that the LAMP-flocculation assay was comparable with the PCR technique. This newly developed technique is highly specific and sensitive for the early detection of BDB for the adoption of precautionary control measures