Mengukur keberkesanan rehabilitasi penglihatan murid penglihatan terhad menggunakan UKM-CHILD

Rehabilitasi penglihatan bagi murid penglihatan terhad adalah penting untuk membantu mereka menggunakan penglihatan secara optimum ketika melakukan aktiviti hidup seharian (ADL) dan seterusnya menjadikan mereka lebih berdikari di masa hadapan. UKM-CHILD adalah indeks ADL untuk mengukur keupayaan murid penglihatan terhad dalam melakukan ADL. UKM-CHILD mengandungi 25-item soal selidik kendiri dan 7-item pengukur prestasi. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk mengukur keberkesanan rehabilitasi penglihatan murid penglihatan terhad menggunakan UKM-CHILD. Seramai 40 murid penglihatan terhad berumur 15.33 ± 1.56 tahun diberikan rehabilitasi penglihatan yang melibatkan preskripsi kaca mata, alat bantu penglihatan terhad dan latihan penggunaan alat bantu penglihatan terhad. Sesi latihan dilakukan selama 5 minggu dan ianya merangkumi kaedah penggunaan alat bantu penglihatan terhad dan latihan membaca. Pengukuran parameter kajian iaitu akuiti visual, kelajuan membaca dan keupayaan melakukan ADL (UKM-CHILD) dilakukan pada peringkat pra dan pasca rehabilitasi. Keputusan kajian ini mendapati purata akuiti visual jauh meningkat sebanyak empat baris (VAjauh(pra): 0.85 ± 0.05 logMAR; VAjauh(pasca): 0.40 ± 0.06 logMAR; z = -2.27, p = 0.026) dan purata akuiti visual dekat meningkat sebanyak dua baris (VAdekat(pra): 0.64 ± 0.22 logMAR; VAdekat(pasca): 0.40 ± 0.12 logMAR; z = -5.21, p < 0.05) selepas rehabilitasi. Purata kelajuan membaca meningkat sebanyak 48% (kelajuan membacapra: 49.58 ± 25.51 ppm; kelajuan membacapasca: 73.22 ± 26.19 ppm; t(39) = 16.67, p < 0.05). Dapatan kajian juga menunjukkan terdapat peningkatan signifikan dalam skor soal selidik kendiri (soal selidik kendiripra: 1.72 ± 0.83 logit; soal selidik kendiripasca: 2.12 ± 1.25 logit; z = -5.129, p < 0.05) dan skor pengukur prestasi (pengukur prestasipra: 0.82 ± 0.30 logit; pengukur prestasipasca: 2.87 ± 1.52 logit; z = -5.55, p < 0.05) selepas 5 minggu rehabilitasi. Kajian ini mendapati UKM-CHILD boleh digunakan untuk mengukur keberkesanan rehabilitasi penglihatan

Examining Youth’s Propensity to Political Violence in Northern Nigeria: a Pilot Study Report

The Northern Nigeria has been experiencing violent conflict ever since the returned of civil rule in 199 ranging from ethno-religious crisis to domestic terrorism. Several studies were conducted in an effort to come to terms with the realities behind this persistence incidence of violence, where factors such as poverty, state failure, unemployment and frustration. However, despite all these studies very little is known about the peculiar environmental factors that makes the Northern Youth particularly more prone to political violence. This is therefore a pilot study which was conducted to explore the socio-cultural and political factors shaping and molding youth’s attitude toward violence in a political context. The findings are intended to inform a wider research project which shall assesses the causes of radicalization of the Almajirai demographic cohort into violent extremism in the North-eastern Nigeria. The study generate the data through a cross-sectional survey, the data was collected from 90 respondents who were randomly selected among the Nigerian students in Universiti Utara Malaysia. The data was analyzed and interpreted using Partial Least Square techniques (PLS), with the aid of smartPLS 2.0. Eight research hypotheses were formulated in which 4 were supported 4 were not supported from the result of the pilot study. Keywords: Youth, Political violence, Terrorism, Insurgency, Nigeri

Clinical assessment of watermarked medical images

Problem statement: Digital watermarking provides security to medical images. Watermarking in Region Of Interest (ROI) however distorts medical images but it is known that the resulting loss of fidelity is visually imperceptible. Approach: Clinical assessment will objectively evaluate the distortion on medical images to see whether or not medical diagnosis is altered. We used 75 medical images consisting of x-rays, ultrasound and CT scans. Digital watermarking was inserted in ROI and ROI/Region Of Non Interest (RONI) in all of them. Three assessors were randomly assigned 225 images, each receiving 75, a mixture of watermarked and non watermarked images. Results: Chi square test was used and p<0.05 was considered significant. There was no significant difference between original images and those watermarked in ROI or ROI/RONI. There was no comment on image quality in all the images assessed. Conclusion/Recommendations: Digital watermarking does not alter medical diagnosis when assessed by clinical radiologists. The quality of the watermarked images was also unchanged

Street Level Politics, local Governance and Local Power Structure in Northern Nigeria: A Social Network Analysis

The key elements of successful local Governance have been identified as participation, sustainability, social inclusion and enabling policy environment. A successful policy framework must therefore involve initiators, Legitimizers, planners and executors, which in practical parlance are not guaranteed by mere decentralization. This is because it does not ensure inclusiveness in decision making. This paper therefore attempt to investigate the local power structure in northern Nigeria with the view to understand how decisions are made at the street level in order to ascertain how “open”  or “close” is the prevailing local power structure in an average local Government. The paper adopts a qualitative methodology in which an in-depth face-to-face, semi-structure interview was conducted with six participants, two from each of the three geo-political zones of Northern Nigeria. The paper specifically tries to achieve four objectives which include: the identification of the local power structure of an average local Government in Northern Nigeria, determining the personal characteristics of the identified stakeholders, ascertaining their level of influence, lobbying capacity and bargaining power and developing a collaborative Governance framework that can ensure inclusiveness and greater citizen participation using the social network analysis. Keywords: Street level politics, local power structure, local Governance, Leadership, Northern Nigeri

International transmission of stock market movement: evidence from the Islamic Equity Markets

This study examines whether the widely accepted conclusion from the generic equity markets, that the emerging equity markets remain segmented from the world markets but exhibit strong intra-regionalleaderships. is also supported from Islamic equity market viewpoint. The new evidence is ,sought through investigating the relationships between Malaysia and most important players in world equity markets, namely the US, the UK, Japan, and Canada as well as the Asia Pacific and several world equity markets. This study utilizes macro levels data of daily closing price index of the Dow Jones Islamic Market (DJIM) indexes from the most recent period of 1999:06 to 2007:06. Using Granger-causality and multiple time series regression tests, it investigates the chain of information leadership within the universe of Malaysia and the rest of the selected markets. The results indicate that the stock prices at time t in Malaysian Islamic equity markets can be better predicted by incorporating information transmitted from the Asia Pacific region (excluding Japan) and World Emerging markets at time t-I and from World Developed markets including the us at time t-5. As for Japan, this market consistently fails to show any significant role in explaining returns on stocks traded in Malaysian Islamic markets

Improving micro-hardness of stainless steel through powder-mixed electrical discharge machining

Powder-mixed electrical discharge machining (PMEDM) is the technique of using dielectric fluid mixed with various types of powders to improve the machined surface output. The process is fast gaining prominence in electrical discharge machining (EDM) industry. The objective of this investigation is to determine the ability of tantalum carbide (TaC) powder-mixed dielectric fluid to enhance the surface properties of stainless steel material during EDM. The properties of investigated are the micro-hardness and corrosion characteristics of the EDMed surface. Machining was conducted with 25.0g/L concentration of TaC powder in kerosene dielectric fluid. The machining variables used were the peak current, pulse on time and pulse off time. The effects of variables on the micro-hardness of the EDMed surface were determined. Corrosion tests were also conducted on the samples that exhibited higher hardness. Results showed that the EDMed surface was alloyed with elements from the TaC powder. The micro-hardness obtained with PMEDM is about 1,200Hv. This is about 1.5 times obtained without TaC powder in the dielectric fluid. The loss in weight during corrosion test was found to be 0.056 ug/min for PMEDM which was lower than the lowest value of 10.56 ug/min obtained for the EDM without powder dielectric fluid

Variability and host specificity of witchweed [Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth.] populations on millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]

&nbsp;&nbsp; Field surveys and greenhouse experiments were conducted during season 2009/10 in the Sudan to investigate variability and host specificity of witchweed [Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth.] populations. Field surveys were conducted in S. hermonthica endemic areas in Gadarif, Gezira and Kordofan to collect seeds from Striga plants growing under their respective hosts. A total of fifteen S. hermonthica populations were collected. Twelve S. hermonthica populations, one each, were collected from under sorghum and three S. hermonthica populations, one each, were collected from under millet. A greenhouse experiment was undertaken at the horticulture nursery, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan, to test the infectivity of seeds of witchweed populations on millet, cultivar Ashana, which is known for its differential response and to study virulence of parasitism on this cultivar. The fifteen S. hermonthica populations were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Growth and harvest attributes on the parasite and crop were measured. Data were collected and transformed as necessary to √x+0.5 and subjected to the analysis of variance procedure. Means were separated for significance using Duncan's Multiple Range Test (at p £ 0.5). The greenhouse experiment showed that emergent S. hermonthica, capsules per plant and shoot dry weight were highest on the respective host. It is noteworthy that some of the Striga, sorghum populations, displayed limited emergence on millet and produced seeds. S. hermonthica populations significantly reduced growth and yield of millet. However, the magnitude of the damage attained, by each &nbsp; population was highest on the respective host. These findings suggest the existence of inter-crop specialization. Moreover, the results confirmed the existence of two strains of S. hermonthica, one specific to sorghum and the other to millet. These findings showed clearly the complexity of obtaining millet cultivars with high and durable resistance across locations. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; طفيل البُودا Striga hermonthica (Del.)، نبات متطفل إجبارياً على الجذور ينتمي للعائلة الهالوكية (Orobanchaceae)، يُهاجم محاصيل الغلال المهمة في أفريقيا. أدى وجود السلالات الفسيولوجية، التباينات الايكولوجية وعزلات الطفيل بالإضافة للتباين في حجم مخزون التربة من البذور، إلى عقبات جدية لتطوير وسائل تحكم بسيطة وفعالة. لذا أُجريت مسوحات حقلية وتجارب بيوت محمية خلال الموسم 2009/ 2010 في السودان لبحث التباين وتخصصية العائل في البُودا. المسوحات الحقلية أجريت في المناطق الموبؤة بالبُودا في القضارف والجزيرة وكردفان، لجمع البذور من نباتات البُودا النامية على عوائلها الخاصة. جمعت اثني عشر عشيرة للبُودا، واحدة لكل، من تحت الذرة الرفيعة، وجمعت ثلاث عشائر من تحت الدخن، واحدة لكل. أجريت تجربة البيوت المحمية بمشتل البساتين، كلية العلوم الزراعية، جامعة الجزيرة، ود مدني، السودان، لاختبار تلويث بذور عشائر البودا للدخن، الصنف عشانا، المعروف باستجابته التفضيلية، ولدراسة التباين في التطفل على هذا الصنف. وُضعت الخمسة عشر عشيرة للبُودا في تصميم قطاعات عشوائية كاملة بثلاث تكرارات. تم تحديد مقاييس النمو والحصاد بالنسبة للطفيل والمحصول. حُولت البيانات عند الضرورة (√x+0.5) وأُخضعت لتحليل التباين. تمت مقارنة المتوسطات بواسطة اختبار دنكن، عندما كان الاختبار معنويا. أوضحت نتائج تجارب البيوت المحمية أن قمة انبثاق نباتات البُودا في الأصيص، الكبسولات في النبات، الوزن الجاف للمجموع الخضري، عدد نباتات البُودا تحت سطح التربة في الأصيص والعدد الكلى لنباتات البُودا في الأصيص كانت أعلى على عوائلها الخاصة. الجدير بالملاحظة أن بعض نباتات البُودا، عشائر الذرة الرفيعة، أظهرت بزوغاً محدوداً على الدخن وأنتجت بذوراً. خفضت عشائر البُودا معنوياً نمو وإنتاج الذُرة والدُخن. ولكن تحققت أعلى مستويات الضرر لكل عشيرة من البُودا على عائلها الخاص. أوضحت نتائج هذا البحث وجود التخصصية بين وداخل نوع المحصول. كما أن النتائج تؤكد وجود سلالتان للبُودا واحدة متخصصة في الذُرة الرفيعة والأخرى في الدُخن. أظهرت هذه النتائج بوضوح التعقيد في الحصول على أصناف من الدخن ذات مقاومة عالية وعريضة في المناطق المختلفة

The customers satisfaction on retailers’ brand products: a study on selected areas in Klang Valley

In recent years, there has been a shift from national brand towards retailer's brand. This phenomenon is very obvious in developed nations, while growing increasingly in developing nations, such as Malaysia. This study attempts to uncover the customers’ acceptance, and identify factors deemed important in influencing this satisfaction. The literature review was conducted to compile research results conducted in Western nations. Based on this literature review, a research model was proposed that comprises customer satisfaction, product quality, product price, product promotion, and product risk. Using the systematic random intercept approach at the Malls, sample size of 206 was used in this study. The results of the study support past study in the developed nations whereby there exist significant relations between customers’ satisfaction and the other four factors. All the four factors identified by past study also have significant influence on customers’ satisfaction with the retailers’ retailer's brand products

Level of School Managers’ Contribution to Discovering and Supporting Gifted Students in General Education in Sana’a

هدف البحث إلى التعرف على &nbsp;مستوى إسهام مديري مدارس التعليم العام في اكتشاف ورعاية الطلبة الموهوبين بأمانة العاصمة صنعاء، ولتحقيق أهداف البحث تم اعتماد المنهج الوصفي (التحليلي)، وتكون مجتمع البحث من جميع مديري ومديرات مدارس التعليم العام (الأساسية – الثانوية) الحكومية بأمانة العاصمة صنعاء والبالغ عددهم (597) مديراً ومديرة، وتم اختيار عينة بالطريقة العشوائية البسيطة من مختلف مديريات أمانة العاصمة صنعاء، حيث بلغ حجم عينة البحث (172) مديراً ومديرة، وتوصل البحث إلى النتائج التالية: &nbsp; حصلت المحاور ككل على متوسط حسابي (2.99)، وانحراف معياري (0.79)، وكان مستوى إسهام مديري مدارس التعليم العام بأمانة العاصمة صنعاء في اكتشاف ورعاية الموهوبين (متوسطة). لا توجد فروق دالة إحصائيا بين استجابات أفراد عينة البحث لمستوى إسهام مديري مدارس التعليم العام في اكتشاف ورعاية الموهوبين بأمانة العاصمة صنعاء تعزى لمتغيرات البحث المتعلقة بـ(نوع المدرسة – المرحلة التعليمية – سنوات الخبرة في العمل الإداري). &nbsp; الكلمات المفتاحية: مستوى إسهام، الإدارة المدرسية، اكتشاف ورعاية الموهوبين.This research study aimed to identify the level of contribution of general education schools managers in discovering and supporting gifted students in&nbsp; Sana'a city. To achieve the objectives of the research, the descriptive analytical approach &nbsp;was adopted. The research population was (597) principals covering all principals of general education schools (basic and secondary) in Sana’a city. (172) male and female principals were randomly selected. The study revealed that all the areas of the questionnaire had a mean of (2.99) and a standard deviation of (0.79). The level of principals’ contribution to discovering and supporting gifted students was medium. There were no statistically significant differences between respondents’ answers regarding the level of principals’ contribution to the discovery and support of gifted students in Sana’a city, attributed to the variables of type of school, education stage and years of experience in school management. Keywords: Level of contribution, The school management, Discovering and supporting gifted students