Makna ujaran masyarakat Banjar dari sudut pragmatik

Kajian ini memberi penelitian terhadap ujaran yang berlaku dalam kalangan masyarakat Banjar di Selangor. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk mengenal pasti dan membincangkan ujaran dalam kalangan masyarakat Banjar dari sudut semantik dan pragmatik. Sampel kajian terdiri daripada beberapa buah keluarga di Pulau Carey, Kuala Langat, Selangor. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif yang terdiri daripada kaedah pemerhatian dan temu bual. Teknik kajian adalah dengan menemu bual setiap keluarga dan merakam perbualan mereka ketika mereka berkumpul untuk sambutan perayaan, majlis bertunang dan kenduri kahwin. Seterusnya, transkrip perbualan dianalisis dari sudut pragmatik dengan menggunakan Teori Relevans oleh Sperber dan Wilson (1986). Hasil kajian mendapati makna ujaran dapat dianalisis dengan jelas apabila ilmu pragmatik diaplikasikan. Hal ini kerana, ilmu pragmatik mampu mengungkapkan makna yang disampaikan berdasarkan konteks situasi yang sebenar. Bagi memahami makna sesuatu ujaran, beberapa aspek seperti konteks, kesan konteks dan kos memproses perlu dilihat berdasarkan Teori Relevans. Oleh itu, makna sesuatu ujaran bergantung kepada konteks dan situasi sebenar yang dapat dimanifestasikan

Penggunaan Aplikasi Pembelajaran Mudah Alih dalam Pembelajaran Matematik bagi Pelajar Sekolah Menengah

Penggunaan aplikasi untuk peranti mudah alih telah berkembang dengan pesat dan menjadi isu yang hangat diperkatakan dalam bidang pendidikan serta perkembangan pelajar. Fleksibiliti, mesra pengguna, kecil, kemudahan akses dan pelbagai keupayaan teknologi mudah alih yang lain menjadikannya berharga dan menjadi keperluan pada masa kini. Kajian ini adalah bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti pelajar sekolah menengah menggunakan aplikasi mudah alih bagi subjek matematik dalam pembelajaran secara kendiri melalui satu kajian kes. Kajian ini dilaksanakan di sebuah sekolah menengah di Terengganu. Pengumpulan data juga dilakukan dengan menggunakan instrumen temu bual kepada 10 orang pelajar daripada populasi 233 orang pelajar sekolah menengah di Terengganu. Hasilnya menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan pembelajaran secara kendiri bagi pelajar lelaki dan perempuan dalam penggunaan aplikasi mudah alih. Oleh itu, pelajar sekolah menengah masih perlu diberikan pengetahuan dan motivasi mengenai pembelajaran secara kendiri kerana penggunaan teknologi seperti aplikasi mudah alih dalam pengajaran dan pembelajaran adalah salah satu strategi pengajaran untuk perkembangan kemahiran metakognisi dalam penyelesaian masalah matematik

Default mode network perturbations in Alzheimer's disease: an fMRI study in Klang Valley, Malaysia

The default mode network (DMN) is a large neural network that has a significant correlation with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Grey matter volume (GMV) and functional connectivity (FC) involving the regions of the DMN have been noted to differ significantly between AD and healthy older adults. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of data on the structural and functional changes in the DMN of AD patients in Malaysia. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Klang Valley, Malaysia, to evaluate AD subjects compared to healthy controls (HC) using a resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) experiment. We recruited 22 subjects (AD=11, HC=11) and conducted neuropsychological tests such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR). The subjects then underwent rs-fMRI scans, and subsequently, we quantitatively analysed the GMV by Voxel based Morphometry (VBM) using the structural data. We also utilised the CONN toolbox on Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) software to evaluate the FC and activation of the nodes of the DMN. In comparison with the HC group, the AD group demonstrated a reduction in GMV in the right and left inferior temporal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus medial segment, right gyrus rectus, right temporal lobe, left putamen, and right precuneus. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the FC of the nodes of the DMN noted on rs-fMRI (cluster-size corrected p<0.05). In particular, the precuneus and anterior cingulate cortex had decreased FC in AD compared to HC. Hence, structural and resting-state fMRI can detect distinct imaging biomarkers of AD based on GMV and DMN functional connectivity profiles. This tool can be used as a non-invasive tool for improving the feature detection and diagnosis of AD in the Malaysian population

AEON JUSCO – contributions towards society and environment / Norhasimah Md Razali...[et al.]

This article gives information about AEON CO. (M) BHD. profile which includes the company’s history, current operations and core principles. The objective of this research is to gain information about AEON Jusco social contributions towards the society and environment. In this article, we will know more about what AEON Jusco has done to contribute towards the society and environment. This article also explains about the various programs implemented by AEON Jusco that give benefits to the community

Conformational Design and Characterisation of a Truncated Diamine Oxidase from Arthrobacter globiformis

A functional mini protein can be developed by miniaturising its size. The minimisation technique provides an excellent model system for studying native enzymes, especially in creating an alternative novel biocatalyst. Miniaturised proteins may have enhanced stability, a crucial characteristic for large-scale production and industrial applications. In this study, a huge enzyme molecule, known as diamine oxidase (DAO, comprising 700 amino acids), was selected to undergo the process. By retaining the arrangement of the original functional sites of DAO in the fourth domain, a mini DAO can be designed via homology modelling. After several downsizing processes, a final configuration of 220 amino acids displayed high binding affinity towards histamine, a short-chain substrate that was catalysed by the parental DAO. The configuration also showed enhanced affinity towards a long-chain substrate known as spermidine. The gene for the designed protein was cloned and expressed in pET102/TOPO vector and overexpressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The new mini DAO had similar temperature tolerance and versatile substrates specificity characteristics as its parental protein. An active mini-protein with these characteristics is potentially useful for several applications such as detecting biogenic amines in the biological fluids and the environment that may give rise to health issues