Estimation of parameters in a non-linear model

A wide variety of chemical and biophysical processes are describable in a nonlinear function consisting of a number of exponentials. An efficient but seldom used method to estimate the parameters is by fitting the data to a model. This paper describes the use of NAG subroutines E04HFF and LSFUN2 for the nonlinear analysis of simulated data which conform to a model consisting of two exponentials. The data have been generated with independent and normally distributed errors. For errors with standard deviation less than 0.3, the method proves to be reliable and efficient. The linear coefficient and the shorter time constant have been obtained with an accuracy better than 98%. However, when the standard deviation of the error is greater than 2.0, the error in the estimated parameters can be as large as 12%

The use of NMR in quantitative determination of oil and water in emulsions

Nuclear magnetic resonance techniques have been used to determine quantitatively the amount of water and oil in several oil/water emulsions. The technique utilizes the inversion recovery pulse (IR) sequence to produce and measure the amplitude of the spin echoes at non-linearly spaced time intervals. In this study, the temperature and the operating frequency were 24.5°C and 2.5MHz respectively. The quantity of each. component was determined by fitting the data to non-linear models consisting of either one or two exponentials. For n-hexadecane/water and paraffin oil/water, the relaxation behaviour conforms to the two-state non-exchange model. The amount of each constituent could be estimated fairly accurately from the signal amplitudes. Olive oil emulsion, however, appears to be more complex. The difference between signal amplitude ratio and that obtained by weighing is discussed

Cooperative learning in process dynamics & control course for undergraduate chemical engineering students

titute in the country, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) is aggressively encouraging teaching staff to enhance teaching and learning to produce graduates who are relevant in today’s highly competitive world. To achieve this goal, grassroots awareness and training campaign, followed by encouragements are rigorously made. Active learning techniques, especially the Cooperative Learning (CL) and Problem Based Learning (PBL) are currently being promoted across all disciplines as well as levels of studies. This effort which was initiated by a group of enthusiastic teaching staff received a welcome endorsement from the highest level of university administrative key personnel. A special task force called CL-PBL Support Group was then set up to facilitate the promotion of CL and PBL practices across the board. At implementation level, faculty-based core groups were set up and trained to acquire and apply the necessary knowledge and teaching skills pertaining to these active learning approaches. This paper describes strategies and efforts to convince and encourage the implementation of active learning techniques among teaching staff and administrators, especially those in the engineering and engineering-related faculties. Training and support provided to academic staff are also discussed. Finally, factors that influence the success of university-wide implementation will be included

Promoting active learning in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia: A bottom-up, top-down approach

Being a leading technological higher education institute in the country, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) is aggressively encouraging teaching staff to enhance teaching and learning to produce graduates who are relevant in today’s highly competitive world. To achieve this goal, grassroots awareness and training campaign, followed by encouragements are rigorously made. Active learning techniques, especially the Cooperative Learning (CL) and Problem Based Learning (PBL) are currently being promoted across all disciplines as well as levels of studies. This effort which was initiated by a group of enthusiastic teaching staff received a welcome endorsement from the highest level of university administrative key personnel. A special task force called CL-PBL Support Group was then set up to facilitate the promotion of CL and PBL practices across the board. At implementation level, faculty-based core groups were set up and trained to acquire and apply the necessary knowledge and teaching skills pertaining to these active learning approaches. This paper describes strategies and efforts to convince and encourage the implementation of active learning techniques among teaching staff and administrators, especially those in the engineering and engineering-related faculties. Training and support provided to academic staff are also discussed. Finally, factors that influence the success of university-wide implementation will be included

Kecerdasan emosi sebagai faktor penyumbang kepada kepimpinan Ahli Majlis Eksekutif Pelajar Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk melihat trait kecerdasan emosi (KE) sebagai faktor penyumbang kepada kepimpinan Ahli Majlis Eksekutif Pelajar (MEP) UKM (n = 148). Bagi tujuan pemerolehan data, dua jenis instrumen digunakan sebagai alat kajian utama iaitu Inventori Kepintaran Emosi Malaysia (IKEM-MEQI) dan Malaysia Leadership Audit Trail Inventory (MLATI). Data yang diperoleh telah dianalisis menggunakan SPSS. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk (a) melihat profil kepintaran emosi Ahli MEP UKM (b) melihat profil kepimpinan Ahli MEP UKM (c) melihat adakah wujud hubungan antara kepimpinan dengan domain pengurusan personal dan sosial KE di kalangan ahli MEP UKM. Hasil dapatan kajian menunjukkan Ahli MEP UKM mempunyai Indeks Kepintaran Emosi dan Kepimpinan di tahap yang tinggi. Ujian regrasi yang dijalankan menunjukkan bahawa wujudnya hubungan positif yang signifikan antara kepimpinan dengan pengurusan personal dan sosial kecerdasan emosi dalam kalangan ahli MEP UKM

Fungsi ritual dalam adat pertunangan masyarakat Melayu

Ritual ialah peraturan atau perlakuan yang telah ditetapkan oleh masyarakat pengamalnya. Adat pertunangan merupakan antara adat yang masih diamalkan dalam perkahwinan masyarakat Melayu. Adat pertunangan ini biasanya akan dilangsungkan bersama adat merisik dan meminang. Dalam keadaan tertentu, adat merisik ditiadakan. Ini kerana adat merisik merupakan perjumpaan secara tertutup wakil pihak lelaki dengan perempuan yang ingin dipinang sebagai tanda pertanyaan rasmi pihak lelaki. Adat merisik biasanya melibatkan pasangan yang tidak mengenali antara satu sama lain. Adat pertunangan dalam masyarakat Melayu mempunyai ritual yang telah ditetapkan. Perlanggaran ritual dalam perlaksanaan adat pertunangan masyarakat Melayu akan mengakibatkan pelaku dicemuh oleh masyarakat. Makalah ini membincangkan fungsi ritual yang terdapat dalam adat pertunangan masyarakat Melayu. Bagi maksud ini kajian telah dilakukan di Kampung Seri Kedah, Sungai Leman, Sekinchan, Selangor. Kajian dilakukan menggunakan kaedah temu bual dan pemerhatian di lapangan. Hasil kajian mendapati fungsi ritual dalam istiadat pertunangan masyarakat Melayu di kawasan kajian dibahagikan kepada dua iaitu dari sudut simbolik ritual dilaksanakan dan juga utilitarian. Simbolik ritual pertunangan dilaksanakan ialah untuk memperkenalkan kedua-dua pihak lelaki dan perempuan sebelum ikatan kekeluargaan (persanakan/kinship) berlaku dalam masyarakat. Hal ini ditonjolkan melalui ritual sambutan. Manakala dalam ritual doa bagi adat pertunangan pula, sebagai ucapan terima kasih kepada Allah SWT melancarkan perjalanan majlis, memohon agar istiadat dalam perancangan perkahwinan seterusnya dapat dilaksanakan sebagaimana dirancang. Ritual jamuan pula sebagai simbolik memuliakan tetamu yang hadir dalam istiadat pertunangan yang diadakan. Manakala fungsi ritual dari sudut utilitarian dalam istiadat pertunangan pula sebagai mengeratkan silaturahim (sambutan), perpaduan dalam masyarakat (doa) dan perkongsian kegembiraan dan rezeki (jamuan)

Urban Food Insecurity: The relationship between community resilience and urban agriculture

This article presents the relationship between community resilience and urban agriculture as a strategy for food and nutrition security forthe vulnerable urban group. Through a systematic literature review and using thematic analysis, the study reveals four related domains identified as food security, food production, food flow, and resilience strategy. The community resiliency was presented through the contribution of urban agriculture as part of community preparedness, response, and recovery in short and long-term impacts. The study concludes that green spaces provision in a residential area act as a viable support system underlined the economic, social, and environment interaction. Keywords: urban agriculture; vulnerable urban group; community resilience; food insecurity eISSN 2398-4279 ©2020 The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-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/ajqol.v5i18.20

Urban Agriculture as a Community Resilience Strategy against Urban Food Insecurity

Urban agriculture is an initiative in overcoming the impact of food insecurity. This study identifies the elements of food security and explores the strategy for community resilience from urban agriculture perspectives among the vulnerable urban group. This study employs a systematic literature review by three phases of identification, screening, and eligibility. A total of 15 articles are compiled and analyzed using thematic analysis. Four main themes emerged consist of food security, food production, food flow, and resilience strategy. The four themes produced a total of 14 sub-themes in detailing the element of food security and development strategy of urban agriculture programs for community resilience.Keywords: urban agriculture; community resilience; food security; resilience strategyeISSN: 2398-4287 © 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by 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/e-bpj.v5i13.204

Pembangunan berasaskan permainan bagi meningkatkan kemahiran penyelesaian masalah kreatif dalam matematik

Pembangunan elemen kreatif dan inovatif dalam melahirkan modal insan adalah aspek utama yang ditekankan dalam Rancangan Malaysia ke-9. Penyelesaian masalah adalah pendekatan yang sering digunakan dalam pembelajaran matematik dan kreativiti merupakan tunjang utama kepada penyelesaian masalah. Penyelesaian masalah kreatif biasanya dikaitkan dengan penyelesaian masalah bukan rutin. Namun begitu, pelajar menyatakan bahawa penyelesaian masalah bukan rutin adalah sesuatu yang rumit. Kajian lepas telah menunjukkan bahawa Game-Based Learning (GBL) adalah satu kaedah pengajaran yang efektif dalam meningkatkan motivasi pelajar bagi meningkatkan kreativiti dalam proses penyelesaian masalah. Artikel ini akan membincangkan bagaimana GBL dapat membantu dalam meningkatkan kreativiti pelajar dalam penyelesaian masalah matematik

Pembangunan aplikasi mudah alih melalui pembelajaran berasaskan masalah yang dapat meningkatkan pemikiran kritikal pelajar sebuah kerangka teori

Kemahiran Berfikir Aras Tinggi (KBAT) merupakan satu kemahiran yang ditekankan dalam dunia pendidikan masa kini. Ia melibatkan beberapa kemahiran berfikir yang utama dan salah satunya adalah kemahiran berfikir secara kritikal. Kemahiran berfikir secara kritikal menjadi sebuah konsep penting dalam dunia pendidikan seantero dunia dan menjadi satu kemahiran yang dituntut dalam diri setiap pelajar. Justeru, peranan pendidiklah untuk menawarkan strategi pengajaran yang melibatkan aspek KBAT dalam pembelajaran. Namun, panduan atau kaedah dalam membangunkan sebuah aplikasi pembelajaran berasaskan teknologi mudah alih yang menekankan KBAT amat diperlukan oleh para pendidik dalam merencanakan pengajaran dan pembelajaran dalam kelas. Ini kerana teknologi mudah alih dilihat telah menjadi sebahagian daripada kehidupan pelajar masa kini. Oleh yang demikian, kertas kerja ini akan membincangkan cadangan sebuah kerangka teori dalam membangunkan sebuah aplikasi mudah alih yang dapat meningkatkan pemikiran kritikal pelajar.dengan menggunakan pendekatan Pembelajaran Berasaskan Masalah. Kerangka teori yang akan dicadangkan dalam kajian ini diharap dapat membantu para pendidik dan dijadikan sebagai panduan bagi membangunkan aplikasi mudah alih yang mengimplementasikan strategi pembelajaran untuk tujuan meningkatkan kemahiran berfikir aras tinggi (KBAT) khususnya pemikiran kritikal pelajar