Computer literacy and internet usage : a survey among the form four students / Salina Mohamed

This study investigated the computer literacy and Internet usage levels in a sample of 70 Form One students from a semi-urban school in the East-Coast State of Terengganu. The sample was randomly selected; there were 36 females and 34 males. All of them are Malays of low to moderate SES. The study also investigated whether if there existed a significant relationship between computer literacy level and Internet usage skills. Further, the researcher also found out whether SES level and gender have a bearing on the computer literacy level of the sample. The instrument distributed to the students was found to have a strong reliability with the Cronbach alpa of 0.777. Both the computer literacy and Internet usage levels of the sample were found to be satisfactorily high as indicated by the respective means. Correlation analysis was done to find out if there existed a significant relationship between computer literacy and Internet usage skills. It was found that a significant positive relationship exists between computer literacy and Internet usage (r = 0.003, p<0.05). Lastly the researcher used the comparison of means and T-testing to find out if income group or gender has a bearing on computer literacy of the sample. No significant difference in literacy level was found between the two genders or between the income groups

Ciri-ciri senibina landskap sekolah di Lembah Klang-Langat

Di samping menambah keindahan persekitaran, dengan reka bentuk berkonsep dan ciri tertentu landskap sekolah seharusnya boleh berfungsi membantu proses pembelajaran dan pendidikan. Ciri-ciri landskap sekolah di Malaysia masa kini masih belum menggambarkan prinsip asas falsafah pendidikan negara. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk mengklasifikasi cirri dan mengenal pasti konsep landskap sekolah di Lembah Klang-Langat. Bagi tujuan itu kajian ini menggunakan data primer yang dikutip melalui cerapan di lapangan menggunakan kaedah senarai semak terhadap 104 buah sekolah di Lembah Klang-Langat yang dipilih secara rawak berstrata; dan data sekunder yang diperoleh daripada pelbagai agensi berkaitan. Hasil kajian menunjukkan 44.6% landskap sekolah di wilayah ini cenderung berkonsepkan landskap buatan, khususnya sekolah di bandar. Konsep landskap lain yang popular termasuklah English dan Nusantara. Dari segi tipologi 89.4% merupakan landskap tradisional. Rata-rata landskap sekolah dihiasi dengan komponen kejur seperti tangga taman, pasu bunga, papan tanda, perabut taman, mural dan gazebo. Pokok peneduh, renek, penutup bumi, rumput, pokok buah-buahan dan herba merupakan komponen lembut yang popular. Kolam ikan dan pancuran pula adalah komponen buatan yang sering ditemui. Elemen fasiliti yang popular pula termasuklah pondok pengawal, tong sampah, laluan pejalan kaki, petak letak kereta dan but telefon. Komponen fauna yang popular pula meliputi burung dan rama-rama. Sedangkan komponen flora yang utama meliputi bunga kertas bagi spesies pokok renek, pandan wangi bagi spesies herba dan rumput kerbau bagi spesies penutup bumi. Penilaian dari segi estetika menunjukkan majoriti landskap sekolah yang dicerap hanya pada tahap sederhana menarik sahaja. Keseluruhan hasil kajian ini cenderung untuk menunjukkan bahawa landskap sekolah di Lembah Klang-Langat belum dimajukan sehingga dapat berfungsi menyokong proses pembelajaran

Perception of school students, teachers and parents towards the importance of landscape.

There are differing perceptions towards landscape among school students, teachers and parents. Their perceptions are influenced by the types of landscapes, functions of the landscapes and schools’ achievements among others

Ovipositional Behaviour Preference of Oriental Fruit Fly, Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae) on Different Host Fruits

The oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a polyphagous insect pest that gives severe damage to orchard fruits when the female adults lay their eggs into the fruits. However, the damage can be reduced by manipulating the behavior of this female insect. Thus, this study aimed to determine the ovipositional  preference behavior  of B. dorsalis on different host fruits. The experiment set up was laboratory-based ‘no-choice’ and ‘choice’ of oviposition behavior by the insect. The parameter recorded were the number of fruit visit, duration of fruit visit, number of attempted to oviposit, number of ovipositing and duration of oviposition completed. Guava (Psidium guajava L), mango (Mangifera indica L.) and papaya (Carica papaya L.) were used as host fruits. In the no-choice experiments, the host fruits significantly influenced the number of fruit visit and duration of the visit of B. dorsalis female. The most fruit visited by B. dorsalis female was mango compared to other host fruits whilst papaya shows the longest duration of the host fruit visit by B. dorsalis. Although the characteristics of host fruits differs, the number and duration of oviposition by B. dorsalis shows no significant difference among the host fruits and no activity of oviposition was recorded on guava fruit. When given a choice of different host fruits, the duration of fruit visit and number of attempt to oviposit by B. dorsalis significantly differed among host fruits. However, the host fruits does not influenced the number of fruit visit, number of oviposit and duration of oviposition completed. Interestingly, only guava shows the egg oviposition activity by B. dorsalis females whilst no oviposition behaviour was observed on mango and papaya. Results obtained in this study will benefit the study of insect pest behaviour which then can be use in biological control program in order to reduce the agriculture damage

Preserving and enhancing the cultural landscape of Kampung Santubong, through eco-village approach / Hafizuddin Tajuddin, Faridatul Akma Abd Latif and Salina Mohamed Ali.

This article attempts to discuss a comprehensive design of landscape conservation for Kampung Santubong, Kuching Sarawak. The purpose study is by preserving and enhancing the cultural landscape of this village through eco-village approach. Major issue of the village is lack sense of personalization, damage of significant building, loss of traditional practice and loss of estuary mangrove ecosystem. As to encounter the issues, this study come out with the aims to revive the memory of Kampung Santubong by preserving and enhancing the local distinctiveness of Kampung Santubong through Eco-village approach. The methodology used in this project is by preparatory study from National Park Service (NPS) Guidelines for evaluating and documenting rural historic landscape and comparative study that reveals several design guidelines. Subsequently, the implications of the analysis and synthesis mapping is used to translate a complementary intervention proposed by the conceptual plan before developing a master plan. Based on this study, the sustainable design approach is used such as reef ball, river treatment, regreening, bio-pores and human and crocodile conflict management. The finding of the project is by preserving all the significant of Kampung Santubong through the identity and history of the village by interpreting the design with a sense of place while achieve balancing vernacular landscape. Hence, this study of cultural heritage village and design program as to sustain the cultural landscape at Kampung Santubong

Psychological distress and quality of life of Malaysian infertile couples

Background: Infertility is an intense situation experienced by couples that causes emotional discomfort and worsening of their quality of life (QoL). The husband and wives of the infertile couples may reacted differently to stress.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 100 infertile couples attending fertility clinics. Cases were selected by systematic random sampling. The severity of depression, anxiety and stress was measured using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and QoL was assessed with the Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQoL) questionnaire.Results: Multivariate analysis revealed that depression, anxiety and stress-related difficulties were reported at a higher level by wives (p<0.001). Total Ferti QoL scores were significantly higher in husbands (p<0.001). The female gender (wives) was the only significant variable associated with the severity of all three DASS-21 sub-scale scores (p <0.001) and considered as a high-risk factor for psychological distress. Poor Qol were significantly associated with wives (p<0.001), male cause of infertility (p=0.004), primary infertility (p=0.022) and previous history of receiving intrauterine insemination (IUI) (p =0.020).Conclusions: The wives of the infertile couples were at higher risk of developing psychological distress and had poor QoL than their husbands. The severity of the anxiety, depression and stress were adversely affected the QoL

Preserving and enhancing the cultural landscape of Kampung Santubong, through eco-village approach / Hafizuddin Tajuddin, Faridatul Akma Abd Latif and Salina Mohamed Ali.

This article attempts to discuss a comprehensive design of landscape conservation for Kampung Santubong, Kuching Sarawak. The purpose study is by preserving and enhancing the cultural landscape of this village through eco-village approach. Major issue of the village is lack sense of personalization, damage of significant building, loss of traditional practice and loss of estuary mangrove ecosystem. As to encounter the issues, this study come out with the aims to revive the memory of Kampung Santubong by preserving and enhancing the local distinctiveness of Kampung Santubong through Eco-village approach. The methodology used in this project is by preparatory study from National Park Service (NPS) Guidelines for evaluating and documenting rural historic landscape and comparative study that reveals several design guidelines. Subsequently, the implications of the analysis and synthesis mapping is used to translate a complementary intervention proposed by the conceptual plan before developing a master plan. Based on this study, the sustainable design approach is used such as reef ball, river treatment, regreening, bio-pores and human and crocodile conflict management. The finding of the project is by preserving all the significant of Kampung Santubong through the identity and history of the village by interpreting the design with a sense of place while achieve balancing vernacular landscape. Hence, this study of cultural heritage village and design program as to sustain the cultural landscape at Kampung Santubong

Restoring and resuscitating the cultural landscape of Kg Pulau Ketam, Perlis / Mohammad Azam Fikri, Faridatul Akma Abd Latif and Salina Mohamed Ali.

This paper will discuss the final comprehensive design restoring and resuscitating the cultural of landscape of Kampung “Pulau Ketam’. The village faces annual flood events leading to degradation of existing significant properties as well as developments that demolish the genus loci of the site as a cultural fisherman village. As to encounter these issues, the aims of this article to restore and resuscitate the cultural landscape of Kampung “Pulau Ketam” with enhance the traditional fisherman Malay village livelihood by using eco-efficient and ecological treatment. The projects covering an area of 821 km2, Perlis is the smallest state in Malaysia. It is located at the northern part of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia (6030’N and 100o15’E). In 2010, the total population was recorded at 245,636 persons with a density of 276.5/km2. The state economy is dominated by agriculture accounting for 80.5% of land use in the state with the dominant crops being rice, sugar, herbs, rubber and fruits. Forestry and fishery are also important economic sectors. The capital city of Perlis is Kangar which all case studies are in this district. The research highlighted the significant of the site study divided into three phases of sustainable interventions; 1) conservation of natural landscape 2) ecological conservation and preservation 3) resilience through protection of natural landscape, adaptive design on flooding, cultural landscape design interpretation and multiple land uses in fisherman village design program as to sustain the cultural landscape by integrating it with sustainable practice

Investigation of constituent determinants of financial inclusion: evidence from Mauritania

It has been globally acknowledged that financial inclusion is one of the most important methods to achieve sustainable development and reduce the incidence of poverty in society. Unfortunately, more than 50% of the adults in the low-income countries are still financially excluded. This paper empirically examines the potential determinants of accessibility to financial services among the Mauritanians. In methodology, a total of 583 self-administered questionnaires were collected based on random sampling method from the three largest cities in Mauritania, namely, Nouakchott, Nouadibou, and Kiffa. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the critical factors influencing financial inclusion in Mauritania. The results highlight specific determinants affecting financial inclusion among the households in Mauritania (such as location, religious activities, financial cost, and financial literacy). The study recommends that these factors must be given due consideration in the efforts of increasing financial inclusion among the Mauritanians

Is religion important in predicting attitude and intention towards adopting Islamic banking? Evidence from Mauritania

This study aims to explore the influence of religion on attitude and intention of individuals towards adopting Islamic banking in Mauritania. Mauritania is one of the countries with 100 percent Muslim population, and 31% of this populace is under the international poverty line. Moreover, the Mauritanian financial system is a bank-based system that is still functioning under financial conventional law. Thus, it is imperative to explore the potential avenue for Islamic banking, which is still in its infancy stage. In efforts to explore the role of religion and factors influencing the intention towards adopting Islamic banking in Mauritania, a data of 583 Mauritanian households were successfully collected through self-administered questionnaires based on random sampling method. The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) is adopted to determine the effect of religion on attitude as well as predictors of intention towards adopting Islamic banking. The results from the Structural Equation Modeling analysis using AMOS show that religion factor was found to be significantly influencing attitude and intention. Further, the results indicate that the attitude, perceived behavioural control and subjective norms are proved to have significant impacts on households’ intention towards adoption. The findings of this study afford valuable insights into designing effective strategies to adopt and develop the Islamic banking system in Mauritania