Pengaruh Kepimpinan Distributif Terhadap Efikasi Guru: Satu Pemerhatian Awal

Amalan kepimpinan yang lebih fleksibel dan bercorak perkongsian perlu diamalkan supaya dapat menambah efikasi kendiri guru supaya mereka lebih efektif serta dapat membantu dalam meningkatkan pencapaian sekolah. Justeru itu, penulisan artikel ini bertujuan untuk meninjau pengaruh kepimpinan distributif terhadap efikasi kendiri guru-guru. Tinjauan ini dilakukan berpandukan sumber literatur dan pemerhatian awal mendapati bahawa pemimpin yang mengamalkan kepimpinan distributif mampu mempengaruhi efikasi kendiri guru

Volterra algorithm for modelling sea surface current circulation from satellite altimetry data

This paper was utilized a new approach for modelling sea surface current from JASON-1 satellite altimetry data. This was based on utilizing of the Volterra series expansion in order to transform the time series satellite altimetry data into a real ocean surface current. Thus,the basic equation of hydrodynamic has been solved by second order Volterra model. Then, the Volterra kernel inversion used to obtain the sea surface current velocity. The finite element model of Lax-Wendorff schemes used which was based on triangular space-time elements to map the spatial current variation in the South China Sea over different monsoon periods. In situ sea surface current measurements were collected along the east coast of peninsular Malaysia by using electromagnetic current meters. The study shows that the maximum current magnitude of 1.2 m/s was occurred during the northeast monsoon period as compared to other monsoon periods. The main noticeable feature was an existence of anticlockwise eddy in the Gulf of Thailand. The results also shows a good correlation between in situ current measurements and the Volterra-Lax-Wendrof scheme with high R2 of 0.91. It can be said that Volterra-Lax-Wendrof scheme can be used as numerical scheme for modelling sea surface current from altimetry data

Impact of diabetes mellitus on clinical presentation and treatment response of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a known risk factor for tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of DM on clinical presentation and treatment response of sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients.Methods: The present retrospective study was carried out in department of Pulmonary Medicine, Sree Gokulam Medical College and Research Foundation, Trivandrum, between January 2014 to December 2016.Results: Out of 205 subjects enrolled for this study, 73 were diagnosed with DM and 132 patients had no history of DM and were having HbA1c less than 6.5%. Mean HbA1c in DM group at presentation was 10.5 and in patients without DM group was 5.6. Low BMI was more in DM patients. Clinical characteristics at presentation were similar in both the groups. Patients with DM presented after long duration of symptoms (>8 weeks duration) and also with more atypical symptoms. On radiological examination, lower zone involvement and cavity lesions were more in patients with DM which was statistically significant. Clinical picture at the end of 6 months showed improvement in both the groups but radiological improvement was more in patients without DM compared to the other group.Conclusions: Uncontrolled DM is associated with high prevalence of Tuberculosis. Atypical symptoms and atypical radiological findings are more common in DM patients which lead to delayed presentation. Strategies are needed to ensure that optimal care is provided to patients with both diseases.

Surrogacy: A Commodification That Needs Legislative Attention

Fatwa prohibits surrogacy agreements for the Muslims in Malaysia. The legal stand for non-Muslims is left in silence, whereas surrogacy raises issues concerning women and children that necessitate legal attention. Regulative measures are imminent to regulate issues arising in a surrogate arrangement. Malaysia has yet to report of any surrogacy cases. Thus, this article analyses decided cases from other countries that have gained international attention to synthesize issues arising in surrogacy arrangements. Based on the case study analysis, this article discourses areas that regulation should encroach specifically to safeguard the welfare and safety of women and children.  Keywords: Surrogacy, Conundrum, Welfare, Fatwa. eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bsby e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI3.256

Reduced graphene oxide-multiwalled carbon nanotubes hybrid film with low Pt loading as counter electrode for improved photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitised solar cells

In this work, the role of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with hyperbranched surfactant and its hybridisation with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and platinum (Pt) nanoparticles (NPs) as counter electrode (CE) were investigated to determine the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs). Sodium 1,4-is(neopentyloxy)-3-(neopentyloxycarbonyl)- 1,4-dioxobutane-2-sulphonate (TC14) surfactant was utilised as dispersing and stabilising agent in electrochemical exfoliation to synthesise graphene oxide (GO) as initial solution for rGO production prior to its further hybridisation and fabrication as thin film. A chemical reduction process utilising hydrazine hydrate was conducted to produce rGO due to the low temperature process and water-based GO solution. Subsequently, hybrid solution was prepared by mixing 1 wt% MWCNTs into the produced rGO solution. TC14-rGO and TC14-rGO_MWCNTs hybrid solution were transferred into fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate to fabricate thin film by spraying deposition method. Finally, the CE films were prepared by coating with thin Pt NPs. Photoanode film was prepared by a two-step process: hydrothermal growth method to synthesise titanium dioxide nanowires (TiO2 NWs) and subsequent squeegee method to apply TiO2 NPs. According to solar simulator measurement, the highest energy conversion efficiency (η) was achieved by using CE-based TC14-rGO_MWCNTs/Pt (1.553%), with the highest short current density of 4.424 mA/cm2. The highest η was due to the high conductivity of CE hybrid film and the morphology of fabricated TiO2 NWs/TiO2 NPs. Consequently, the dye adsorption was high, and the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs was increased. This result also showed that rGO and rGO_MWCNTs hybrid can be used as considerable potential candidate materials to replace Pt gradually

Optimal Biomethane Injection into Natural Gas Grid – Biogas from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) in Malaysia

The Malaysian government aims to facilitate the renewable energy (RE) sector by introducing the National Renewable Energy Policy and Action Plan during 2010. 4,000 MW of installed RE capacity is targeted by 2030, with 410 MW biogas capacity. Palm oil mill effluent (POME), agro-based industries and farming industries are identified as potential sources of biogas. It was studied that more than 500 kt of biomethane could be produced yearly if all the POME is treated anaerobically. The utilization of biomethane has remained unexplored for its injection into natural gas grid. This papers aims to identify the potential of POME biomethane injection into natural gas grid by using the BeWhere model, a techno-economic spatial explicit model. The locations, capacity and technology of biogas refinery plants will be identified based on cost minimization of the full supply chain of biogas production. The result shows that 135 - 227 biogas plants were selected, supplying 40% - 67% residential fossil gas demand, under different carbon price implementation and fossil gas subsidy scenarios

Reliability of diaphragmatic mobility assessment using a real time ultrasound among non-specific low back pain

Background and Objective: Ultrasound measurement of Diaphragmatic Mobility (DM) has been shown to be a reliable measurement tool among healthy subjects. However, the measures of reliability are needed prior to clinical use of this device among Non-Specific Low Back Pain (NS-LBP). Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the relative and absolute reliability of DM using Real Time Ultrasound (RTUS) among subjects with NS-LBP. Materials and Methods: Nine subjects with NS-LBP (23.33 ± 1.58) years old were recruited. A qualified examiner performed measurement of DM using RTUS by placing transducer on the right subcostal region in semi-fowler’s position with 30 degree elevation of the trunk. The test-retest measures were re-assessed with 24 hour interval between sessions. Results: There was no systematic errors between the test-retest measures (p>0.05). Intra rater reliability showed ICC value of 0.92, which indicates an excellent reliability. The SEMs of the measurement was 2.56 mm and the MDC of 7.09mm. Conclusion:The RTUS for assessing DM provides an excellent intra-rater reliability which may be used as an assessment technique for clinical evaluation of DM in adults with NS-LBP. The SEMs and MDC reported may also allow for accurate interpretation of DM assessments in NS-LBP

Account on the deepsea shrimp Aristaeopsis edwardsiana (Johnson, 1867) from the Indian EEZ

Aristaeopsis edwardsiana (Johnson,1867) is a deepsea shrimp of the continental slope that has not yet been reported in the targeted deepsea crustacean fishery along the Indian coast. An exploratory survey on-board FORV Sagar Sampada in the Arabian sea at a depth of 950 m off Trivandrum (lat. 8 0 28’ N and long. 76 014’ E) yielded a catch of A. edwardsiana at a high catch per unit effort (CPUE) of 14 kg h-1. The biological aspects of this less known deepsea shrimp species such as length frequency distribution, morphometric relations, sex ratio and the additional sexual dimorphism manifested in the antennal scale of males are reported

Effects of homogenous soil characteristics to the transient responses of a single long horizontal ground conductor model

This study presents various transient responses behaviours of a single long horizontal ground conductor due to various types of its surrounding homogenous soil. The study is done in time domain using TLM method for the transient node voltages and transient node currents along the ground conductor are demonstrated to be dissipated faster into its surrounding soil with a low resistivity value. It also shown that soil at low hills with rich soil and trees environments is more suitable to be the burial medium of a ground conductor compared to soil at high-rise city streets and industrial areas