The perceptions of TESL teacher trainees towards the effectiveness of microteaching subject (SPA 2001) in preparing them for teaching practice

Microteaching is a subject that helps teacher trainees in practicing their knowledge and skills of teaching to prepare themselves for teaching practice. In relation to this, a study was conducted to investigate the perceptions of UTM’s TESL teacher trainees towards the effectiveness of microteaching subject (SPA 2001) in preparing them for teaching practice. A total of 39 TESL teacher trainees were selected to be the respondents of this study. The instruments used in this study were questionnaire and interview. The questionnaire was adapted from previous studies done by Ngui Kuan Sang (1982/1983) and McGarvey and Swallow (1986). Interviews were also carried out on 4 respondents to gain further insight on the topic of this study. Data were analyzed descriptively using Statistic Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 16. The overall findings of the study show that the TESL teacher trainees perceived microteaching subject as effective in preparing them for teaching practice. However, there were problems faced by the trainees during teaching practice especially in handling students and teaching situations. Furthermore, the findings also revealed that the respondents highly valued the feedbacks given by their supervisor, peers and cooperative teacher. Finally, suggestions were also given on how to improve the microteaching subject for the benefit of TESL teacher trainees

An observer design for active suspension system

The purpose of this paper is to construct an active suspension for a quarter car model with observer design. The proportional-integral sliding mode is chosen as a control strategy, and the road profile is estimated by using an observer design. The performance of the proposed controller will be compared with the linear quadratic regulator by performing extensive computer simulation

Multisample Data Acquisition System for Resistance Measurement of High-temperature Superconductors

The construction of a system for simultaneous multiple sample resistance measurement of high-temperature superconductors is reported. The data acquisition system uses the PCLD785B relay board controlled by parallel input-output 8255A PIA emulation through a PCL724B card to perform multisample measurements by signal switching. The system, which is controlled by a 80486 microcomputer, is able to log, store and plot temperature and resistance readings and can be modified to accommodate up to six samples per run. The temperature can be measured with a precision of 0.1 K and accuracy of ±1 K. The absolute-zero offset value is less than 0.1 K. The maximum switching voltage, maximum current and open channel isolation resistance are 125 V, 2 A and 100 MQ, respectively. The closed channe

Maintenance management of high rise buildings in Malaysia: A preliminary study in Klang Valley

Large highrise building is relatively complicated in maintenance. This paper presents the preliminary finding of a study on the building maintenance management of selected large highrise buildings in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Four highrise buildings with a floor number ranging from 20 to 88 floors and a total floor area from 585,527 to 4,252,000 square feet were investigated. Information on maintenance policy including the type of maintenance conducted, the existence policy and budget is collected through unstructured interviews. The paper concludes that a clear maintenance policy does not exist yet in the maintenance of highrise buildings

Sustainable strategy of health and safety assessment in high rise commercial buildings

In Malaysia scenario, various obstacles have to be faced by the building maintenance teams controlling all activities related to the high rise office building and its system. The crucial issue is to face serious problems with health and safety aspect of the building. This study aims to evaluate the health and safety performance of high rise office buildings, using a basic assessment method. An assessment method based on a hierarchy of building performance indicators concerning the quality of design factor and management factor with five attributes such as architectural design, building services design, the surrounding environment, operation and maintenance, and facilities management. Eleven high rise office buildings were randomly selected in Klang Valley, Malaysia and assessed through site inspections, desk searches, and interviewed facilities management personnel (FM), outsourced contractors/consultants (OS), building owners (BO) as well as (T) tenants. A performance analysis was conducted to examine and compare the overall health and safety performance of the buildings. The results had shown that there were significant variations in health and safety conditions across buildings, although they are situated within a single locality. After describing the current situation and problems, this paper concludes that most of the variations in building health and safety conditions were attributed to differences in building management systems rather than building designs. It is envisaged that further research can be conducted to investigate the relationship between building performance and extraneous factors, such as building age, management structure, and scale of development

Building maintenance policy for office high rise buildings in Malaysia: A preliminary study in Klang valley

Large high rise building is relatively complicated in maintenance. The value of buildings depends on the quality, safety and service of the maintenance policy standard provided and implemented in them. Building maintenance policy standard involves obtaining maximum benefit from the investment made on the maintenance activities. This paper presents the preliminary finding of a study on the building maintenance policy standard of selected large high rise buildings in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Seven office high rise buildings were investigated. Information on maintenance policy, including the type of maintenance conducted, the existence policy and budget, is collected through unstructured interviews. Maintenance in buildings in Malaysia is on the increase regardless of size, type, location, and ownership. The current maintenance policy procedures in Malaysia are however based on house rule and contract agreement. The weaknesses in the current procedures are the primary problems because they do not explicitly link maintenance needs with building performance with respect to the building users. The building users measure the performance of a building with various criteria. The condition of a building is just one of those criteria. This research establishes the need for a building maintenance policy that is based on the concept of building’s value in the effort to lead towards the optimization of building maintenance system. Maintenance policy standard that is value based allows users to be proactively put at the centre of maintenance management during decision making processes and takes into consideration both the objective and subjective requirements of users. The paper concludes that a clear maintenance policy does not exist yet in the maintenance of high rise buildings

Building maintenance policy issues in high rise commercial buildings

At present, high rise commercial building is quite complex in implementing a building maintenance policy. The quality, safety and service are the criteria of the building maintenance policy which should be provided and implemented in the high rise commercial buildings in order to sustain their value and economics. It also can benefit to the investment aspect as well as the maintenance activities. The purpose of this paper is to look at the implementation of the building maintenance policy in building maintenance management of high rise commercial buildings in Malaysia. Seven high rise office buildings were investigated through randomly selection in Klang Valley, Malaysia. This study attempts to provide a perspective of in-house building maintenance personnel and outsourced consultant as well as contractors on the maintenance policy practiced in building maintenance management of high rise office buildings through unstructured interviews. This paper presents the preliminary finding of a study on the building maintenance policy issues in the particular buildings. The current maintenance policy procedures in Malaysia are however based on house rule and contract agreement. The weaknesses in the current procedures are the primary problems because they do not explicitly link maintenance needs with performance management, strategic management and facilities management. The results had shown that the scope of building maintenance implemented varies from one building to another. This implies the quality of maintenance is not consistent especially in building performance aspect. The most important finding is that the building maintenance policy standard is not available in all buildings. This research establishes the need to develop a standard of building maintenance policy in high rise commercial building to be enforced legally in order to ensure the consistency of quality, safety and service to end users as well as publics all the time. As a conclusion, building maintenance policy can be a tool in order to measure and value the quality of the maintenance and operation processes improvement link with performance management, strategic management and facilities managemen

UGROŽENE VRSTE RIBA U SVIJETU: Labeo bata (Hamilton, 1822) (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae)

Minor carp Labeo bata is an endangered fish species in Bangladesh. This fish is one of the commercially and nutritionally valuable food fish in Asian countries including Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. L. bata is an important target species for small scale fishermen in Bangladesh who use a variety of traditional fishing gears. However, natural populations are seriously declining due to loss of habitat, siltation in the river basin, indiscriminate killing of fry and fingerlings, water pollution by industrial and domestic waste, agrochemicals and overexploitation. This paper recommends the sustainable conservation measures of this endangered fish species in Bangladesh and neighboring countries.Bata, Labeo bata, je ugrožena vrsta ribe u Bangladešu. Ova vrsta je od komercijalne važnosti te nutritivno vrijedna hrana u azijskim zemljama, uključujući Bangladeš, Indiju i Pakistan. L. bata je važna lovna vrsta za male ribare u Bangladešu koji pritom koriste razne tradicionalne ribolovne alate. Međutim, prirodne populacije ozbiljno opadaju zbog gubitka staništa, zamuljenja riječnih korita, neselektivnog ubijanja mlađi i mladunaca, onečišćenja voda industrijskim i kućnim otpadom, agrokemikalijama i prekomjernim iskorištavanjem. U radu se preporučuju održive mjere očuvanja ove ugrožene vrste riba u Bangladešu i susjednim zemljama

The relationship between performance and graphic presentation in unit trusts' annual reports: Malaysian evidence

This study investigates the use and abuse of graphs in the annual reports of unit trust companies.It is found that 78% of companies use graphs and that 2.1 is the mean number of graphs per graph-using companies.The most commonly graphed financial variables are asset allocation, performance, investment and fund size.Line and pie graphs are more popular than bar and column.Thus, in contrast to previous studies of graphs in annual reports, no relationship is found between performance and graphic presentation in unit trusts’ annual reports.The result may suggest that graphic presentation in unit trust’s annual report is normally dependent on the discretion of company’s management