The Development of Science-Biology Learning Instrument Oriented to Mangrove Forest for Junior High School Students

This research aims to develop a science-biology learning instrument that is practical and effective. The stage of development using procedural model consisting of: a) the identification of problem, b) describes the objectives, and c) establishes the development model. The stage of products testing included: a) test, b) to evaluate, and c) communicate the results. The subjects were students of SMPN 3 and 5, Loban River, Tanah Bumbu regency. Individual testing was done in SMPN3. Small group and field test was conducted in SMPN 5. The data of practicality of learning instruments includes: a) the USAge of lesson plan (RPP), and b) the response of students to learning process. The data of effectiveness of learning instruments includes: a) the cognitive learning outcomes, b) the assessment results of critical thinking skills, c) the assessment results of behavioral characteristics, d) the assessment results of social skills, and e) the effectiveness of students in learning process. Data were collected through tests and observation and analyzed descriptively. The results of research in the development stage, including: a) problem identification such as topic selection of learning and the determination of learning environment, b) learning objectives based on the ABCD rule and learning outcomes, such as critical thinking skills, c) development model. The research results in the testing product stage demonstrated the practicality of the learning instrument has been reached. It is based on: a) the USAge of RPP which were already good, and b) most students have responded positively to the learning process. The effectiveness of learning intrument has also been fulfilled. It is based on: a) cognitive learning outcomes that have been completed, b) the assessment results of critical thinking skills, behavioral characteristics, and social skills, that have achieved good category, e) the student's liveliness in learning process which were already visible

Rainfall induced residual soil slope instability: building cracked and slope failure

Rainfall is one of the factors of slope failures due to the intensity of rainfall that will seep and increase the moisture content of geo-materials. One of the important role in slope stability is matric suction. This study present the relationship between rainfall and suction of soil which induced the slope instability and the slope stability analysis involving a building which may cause by instability due to suction variation. The slope had separated into three parts which are top of slope, middle of slope and toe of slope. Every part has been inserted with three tensiometer with 0.3 m, 0.45 m and 0.9 m depth. Suction of soil on slope was carried out by using tensiometer. Intensity of rainfall was collected by using rain gauge which placed at open area which to compare with matric suction of soil. Several site and laboratory tests were carried out to identify the soil properties. Stability of slope was analyzed using Slope/w and Manual Calculation via input parameters collected from laboratory test and field test. Fellenius’ method was used to interpret the factor of safety for slope study. This includes the analysis of the factor of safety of slices at the selected area with its matric suction value. It was found that when the rainfall increased, the suction of soil decreased and affected to decrease of factor of safety. Hence, the constructed slope was suggested to be redesign to improve its safety factor

Granite Exploration by using Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI): A Case Study in Johor

Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) is a tool used in near surface geophysical surveys by flowing an electric current through electrodes that were injected into the ground. The usage of electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) method dominated by geophysicist has increased tremendously in geotechnical engineering application owing to the efficiency and effectiveness of the method in term of time, cost and also data coverage. The survey performed with respect to the particular reference to ERI in determining the granite rock underneath the ground. There were seven (7) lines of ERI performed at the study area by using ABEM Terrameter LS 2 set of equipment based on Schlumberger protocol. Six (6) boreholes were also drilled to obtain engineering properties of rock at the study area. In order to develop the relationship between resistivity and engineering properties, a comparison between borehole field test result and the resistivity value were made. Results from the ERT indicated the presence of zones with high resistivity values identified as overburden soil, fractured granite and solid granite. The findings of this study also showed that the electrical resistivity imaging coupled with borehole drillings were applicable tools for the determination of the granite rock underneath the ground via subsurface profiles and such as depth of overburden soil and engineering properties of soil

Sustainable ground improvement method using encapsulated polypropylene (PP) column reinforcement

This study investigates the effectiveness of encapsulated polypropylene (PP) column in enhancing the undrained shear strength of kaolin (soft clay). The usage of PP in treating problematic soil is a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative compared to other materials. The installation of granular column can be done by using vibro-replacement method. Several geotechnical tests to determine the properties of materials were conducted. The shear strength of treated kaolin sample was examined by using Unconfined Compression Test (UCT). There are seven (7) batches of soil sample in total which included a control sample, three (3) batches of 14 mm and three (3) batches of 20 mm diameter PP column. Different diameters of PP column were examined with 60 mm, 80 mm and 100 mm height, respectively with soil sample of 50 mm in diameter and 100 mm in height. The shear strength improvement of kaolin is 33.82%, 46.51%, and 49.88% when implanted with a PP column with a 7.84 area replacement ratio and 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 penetration ratio. The soft soil treated using 16.00 area replacement ratio with 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 penetration ratio has a shear strength increment of 25.22%, 33.39% and 37.59% respectively. In short, the shear strength improvement of the kaolin clay depends on the parameter of the PP column used to reinforce the sample

Stabilization of kaolin clay soil reinforced with single encapsulated 20mm diameter bottom ash column

Ground improvement methods are used to reduce the weakness of soft clay, which is low strength and high compressibility. The stone column technique involves replacing any of the soil with crushed stone such as broken rocks or sand which is an efficient method of improving the strength parameters of soil. Bottom ash usage in materials of building will effectively decrease the buildup of the waste and hence protect the environment. This study is to determine the shear strength of kaolin soft clay reinforced with a 20 mm diameter single encapsulated bottom ash column with various lengths. The research will look into the physicomechanical qualities of the materials used, including subsoil and bottom ash. Three (3) batches of samples with each batch consists of five (5) samples were prepared by using compaction method. All kaolin samples with a diameter of 50mm and height of 100mm with single encapsulated bottom ash columns with various lengths which are 60mm, 80mm, and 100mm were tested under Unconfined Compression Test (UCT). The result illustrated that the strength of samples increases as the height and volume of encapsulated bottom ash column increases

Evaluation of back-side slits with sub-millimeter resolution using a differential AMR probe

The electromagnetic method of the Non-destructive Test is one of the approaches in the field of crack detection on a metallic sample. One of the techniques that appear in the electromagnetic method is the Eddy Current Testing (ECT), where it utilizes the electromagnetic principle to detect cracks in metallic components. In this research, an ECT probe that is made up of two AMR sensors, two excitation coils, and a developed set/reset circuit. Besides, a digital lock-in amplifier has also been developed by using NI-LabVIEW and a data acquisition (DAQ) card. A measurement system that incorporates the ECT probe and the digital lock-in amplifier as well as an amplifier circuit, a power supply, a PC and an XY stage to which the probe is attached to, is developed. Then, artificial slits with different depths from 768 µm to 929 µm are created on a galvanized steel plate sample. The slits are evaluated from the back-side of the galvanized steel plate via two types of scanning, which is the line scan and full map scanning. From the results of the line scan, the localization of the slits, as well as their depths, could be performed and estimated. Furthermore, 2-D mapping of the sample from the backside has been generated. The 2-D map shows that the position of the slits could be estimated, including their slits depths

Sequential inverse dysregulation of the RNA helicases DDX3X and DDX3Y facilitates MYC-driven lymphomagenesis

Summary DDX3X is a ubiquitously expressed RNA helicase involved in multiple stages of RNA biogenesis. DDX3X is frequently mutated in Burkitt lymphoma, but the functional basis for this is unknown. Here, we show that loss-of-function DDX3X mutations are also enriched in MYC-translocated diffuse large B cell lymphoma and reveal functional cooperation between mutant DDX3X and MYC. DDX3X promotes the translation of mRNA encoding components of the core translational machinery, thereby driving global protein synthesis. Loss-of-function DDX3X mutations moderate MYC-driven global protein synthesis, thereby buffering MYC-induced proteotoxic stress during early lymphomagenesis. Established lymphoma cells restore full protein synthetic capacity by aberrant expression of DDX3Y, a Y chromosome homolog, the expression of which is normally restricted to the testis. These findings show that DDX3X loss of function can buffer MYC-driven proteotoxic stress and highlight the capacity of male B cell lymphomas to then compensate for this loss by ectopic DDX3Y expression

Geotechnical properties of bauxite: A case study in Bukit Goh, Kuantan, Malaysia

The research focuses on the basic and morphological characteristics to ensure bauxite ore reached the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC Code) standard before being exported to other countries. The testing procedure, referred to as Geo-spec 3: Model Specification for Soil Testing, was performed to discover the basic parameters of the soil, including pore size distribution, water content, particle density, and morphology qualities. At Bukit Goh, Kuantan, about four (4) samples were chosen, whereas two (2) samples were from the stockpile and two (2) samples were from the Bukit Goh mine. The results illustrated that the mean water content of the soil is 20.64% which is above 10% of the recommended value. The value of Bulk Density is not in the range of 1190 kg/m3 to 1389 kg/m3, which is 2836.25 kg/m3 and the particle size distribution for fine material is greater than 30%, and coarse material is less than 70%. The SEM examination revealed a high concentration of tiny particles in bauxite samples. Bukit Goh bauxite cannot be classified as group C under the IMSBC Code. As a result, the bauxite does not meet the criteria and cannot be shipped

The DREEM, part 1: measurement of the educational environment in an osteopathy teaching program

Background Measurement of the educational environment has become more common in health professional education programs. Information gained from these investigations can be used to implement and measure changes to the curricula, educational delivery and the physical environment. A number of questionnaires exist to measure the educational environment, and the most commonly utilised of these is the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM). Methods The DREEM was administered to students in all year levels of the osteopathy program at Victoria University (VU), Melbourne, Australia. Students also completed a demographic survey. Inferential and correlational statistics were employed to investigate the educational environment based on the scores obtained from the DREEM. Results A response rate of 90% was achieved. The mean total DREEM score was 135.37 (+/- 19.33) with the scores ranging from 72 to 179. Some subscales and items demonstrated differences for gender, clinical phase, age and whether the student was in receipt of a government allowance. Conclusions There are a number of areas in the program that are performing well, and some aspects that could be improved. Overall students rated the VU osteopathy program as more positive than negative. The information obtained in the present study has identified areas for improvement and will enable the program leaders to facilitate changes. It will also provide other educational institutions with data on which they can make comparisons with their own programs