Data analysis and interpretation : a handbook for postgraduate social scientists

This book is designed to assist postgraduate social science students and researchers to complete their thesis, dissertation or research projects. This book is equipped with a CD-ROM containing data from a Ph.D thesis. The data will be used from start till end, so that the reader could see the continuous application of various statistical tools and techniques to address the research questions identified. Emphasis is given to various SPSS procedures and selected qualitative techniques. Methods for conducting validity and reliability tests as well as subsequent descriptive and inferential analyses are presented in a logical manner. Finally, methods for interpreting and discussing the research findings are presented accordingly

Fabrication of chromatographic membrane via surface-grafted membrane for protein separation

Chromatography process was used extensively for protein separation in biotechnology industry. Chromatography resin bead was normally packed in cylindered column during the operation. However there were limitation on using packed bed chromatography such as high pressure drop, low processing rate and slow binding. Membrane chromatography has ability to overcome the limitation of the conventional packed bed chromatography for protein separation. Membrane chromatography used an adsorptive membrane that carried specific chromatography functionality. In the current study, commercial polyamide (PA) microfiltration membrane was modified with acrylic acid monomer to prepare a membrane chromatography. Two modification methods were compared which are ultra violet (UV) photo grafting and chemical grafting via redox reaction. Modification parameters were studied using One Factor at Time (OFAT) which are initiator concentration (1-50 mM), monomer concentration (0.2-5 M) and grafting time (5-60 minutes). The best grafting technique which gave the highest protein binding capacity was achieved by using UV photo grafting. The highest lysozyme (LZY) binding capacity achieved was 0.175 mg LZY/cm2 membrane for the membrane prepared via UV photo grafting using 10 mM of benzophenone (BP) photo-initiator, 0.1 M of acrylic acid (AA) and 15 minutes of reaction time. The best conditions of UV photo grafting modification obtained from OFAT study were used in Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for optimization of protein binding. Based on the analysis of variance (ANOVA), the quadratic model was chosen with the R squared of the model was 0.9468. The optimum value for each parameter studied in RSM was 20.71 mM of BP, 0.29 M of AA and 18.19 min of grafting time. The optimized membrane chromatography was tested and characterized in term of degree of grafting, contact angle measurement, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), pure water flux and permeability test. The protein binding capacity at optimized condition was 0.180 mg LZY/cm2. This value is less than 4% of the value predicted by the model. This quadratic model can be used successfully to produce the membrane chromatography from PA membrane through UV grafting for LZY binding

The psychometric impacts of Karasek's demands and control scale on employees' job dissatisfaction

The aim of this study was to provide the reliability and validity of job factors and to analyze its association with Demands-Control Model and job dissatisfaction in two time cross-sectional study of Distribution Companies of Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) in Pakistan. Two times self-reported cross-sectional surveys were conducted, the study samples consisting of 420 respondents at T1 and 388 respondents at T2. Appropriate internal consistencies of the four scales: demands, control, job satisfaction and social supports, were obtained. Zero-order correlation and linear and multiple regressions analysis replicated the theoretically assumed structure of the job factors and job satisfaction construct in men and women collectively. Evidence of criterion validity was obtained from cross-correlations of the scales and from their linear and multiple regression analysis. Finally, all four measures were associated with a highly significant ratio of job dissatisfaction (JD), and the effect was strongest for the JD ratio as predicted by fundamental theory of Karasek. The level of work related to their demands and the level of autonomy and control they enjoy in their work place directly results in satisfaction and wellbeing of employees. Based on the results of this study the four quadrant version of the DCM questionnaire is considered a reliable and valid instrument for measuring psychosocial pressure at work environment. These outcomes and measures are applicable to all services and manufacturing industries

Predictive Modeling on Telekom Malaysia Direct Exchange Line Growth

Data mining (DM) is the extraction of hidden predictive information from large databases that has becoming a powerful new technology with great potential to help companies focus on the most important information in their data warehouses. A predictive model makes a prediction about values of data using known results found from historical data where the best possible outcome based on the previous data is derived. Telekom Malaysia (TM) is Malaysia's premier communications provider that provides the digital backbone and communication facilities. Direct Exchange Line (DEL) is one of its core telephony services that handle massive volume and variety of data in its daily operations. Therefore, it is hard to reveal knowledge structures that can guide decisions in conditions of limited certainty. The main objective of this study is to identify the most appropriate DM technique between logistic regression, decision tree and neural networks for predicting DEL growth based on five physical attributes namely exchanges, subscribers, new installation, cutting, and availability of cable or ports (ECP) that constitute of 672 instances leading to a target (either increase or decrease). The result of this study is important in assisting the prediction of DEL growth in TM specifically in Penang, thus leading on better understanding on the future of the market based on the current and previous situation

Optimization of xylose production from sugarcane bagasse using response surface methodology (RSM)

Xylose is a monosaccharide containing five carbon atoms, including an aldehyde functional group. It is a pentose sugar which has chemical formula C5H10O5. Hemicellulose is present in plant cell walls and is associated with the cellulose. Its chemical formula is (C5H8O4)n and in some cases is (C6H10O5)n. It is possible to hydrolyze hemicellulose by several processes (enzymatic, physical and chemical) for producing monomer sugars with great purity and high yield. The aim of this study is to optimize the xylose production from sugarcane bagasse by manipulating the temperature, agitation rate and enzyme concentration using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD). In this study, producing xylose from sugarcane bagasse contributes to reduce the environmental impact and bioprocess cost. Alkaline and acid hydrolysis method was used for the pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse. After the pretreatment, the screening process was constructed to determine the best range of parameters to be used in optimization process. Seventeen experiments have been arranged by RSM for optimization. The optimized conditions of parameters were 50°C of temperature, 180 rpm of agitation rate and 2 mg/ml of enzyme concentration with the predicted xylose production was 0.367 mg/ml. The actual xylose production was 0.373 mg/ml. Before the optimization, the xylose production was 0.228 mg/ml. As a conclusion, the optimization of xylose production from sugarcane bagasse by using RSM was successfully done with 63.6% of increment

Thermal Comfort and its Relation to Ventilation Approaches in Non-Air-Conditioned Mosque Buildings

This paper reports the outcome of a thermal comfort study that assessed the satisfaction of occupants with their surrounding thermal conditions. The study was carried out in 10 mosque buildings around lowland Nibong Tebal, Penang and highland Cameron Highlands, Pahang. It involved determining the compliance level of thermal comfort parameters (i.e. air temperature, relative humidity and air speed) at lowland and highland and establishing relationships between ventilation systems with predicted mean vote and predicted percentage of dissatisfied at lowland and highland according to ASHRAE Standard-55. The study was conducted from 1200h to 1700h/1730h to assess the thermal conditions of the 10 mosques during Zohor/Friday and Asar prayer times. During prayer times, an active ventilation system was in operation, while before and after prayer times, only passive ventilation (windows and doors) was available. Overall, findings indicated that better thermal comfort conditions occurred during prayer time at highland compared with those at the lowland, with the thermal sensation conditions of mosques in the former ‘slightly warmer’ to ‘slightly cool’ and in the latter ‘slightly warm’ to ‘hot’. Moreover, most mosques at lowland did not provide good thermal comfort because the percentage of dissatisfied was high compared to that at highland

Investigating CTQS for international students: a Malaysian case

A review of related literature indicates limited research on critical factors that have impact on perception of higher education services in the context of Asia pacific countries. As such, one of the aims of this study is to gain deeper insight and developing constructs and categorization regarding critical to quality (CTQs) for international students based on interview data. Consequently, the purpose of this article is to identify the service “factors” that postgraduate students use in their evaluation of service quality within the context of Malaysian universities