Web-based learning environment based on students’ needs

Traditional learning needs to be improved since it does not involve active learning among students. Therefore, in the twenty-first century, the development of internet technology in the learning environment has become the main needs of each student. One of the learning environments to meet the needs of the teaching and learning process is a web-based learning environment. This study aims to identify the characteristics of a webbased learning environment that supports students’ learning needs. The study involved 542 students from fifteen faculties in a public higher education institution in Malaysia. A quantitative method was used to collect the data via a questionnaire survey by randomly. The findings indicate that the characteristics of a web-based learning environment that support students’ needs in the process of learning are online discussion forum, lecture notes, assignments, portfolio, and chat. In conclusion, the students overwhelmingly agreed that online discussion forum is the highest requirement because the tool can provide a space for students and teachers to share knowledge and experiences related to teaching and learning

Probabilistic computing with future deep sub-micrometer devices: a modelling approach

An approach is described that investigates the potential of probabilistic "neural" architectures for computation with deep sub-micrometer (DSM) MOSFETs. Initially, noisy MOSFET models are based upon those for a 0.35 /spl mu/m MOS technology with an exaggerated 1/f characteristic. We explore the manifestation of the 1/f characteristic at the output of a 2-quadrant multiplier when the key n-channel MOSFETs are replaced by "noisy" MOSFETs. The stochastic behavior of this noisy multiplier has been mapped on to a software (Matlab) model of a continuous restricted Boltzmann machine (CRBM) - an analogue-input stochastic computing structure. Simulation of this DSM CRBM implementation shows little degradation from that of a "perfect" CRBM. This paper thus introduces a methodology for a form of "technology-downstreaming" and highlights the potential of probabilistic architectures for DSM computation

Critical gap analysis of merging sections at Kuala Lumpur middle ring road

At merging sections, drivers normally slow down and sometimes need to stop while seeking a suitable gap before merging with the mainstream. Thus, there will always be several observed rejected gaps and an accepted gap which can be used to determine the smallest average gap, so-called critical gap. This study was carried out to determine critical gap values at selected merging sections at the Jalan Tun Razak and the DUKE Expressway uses the Maximum Likelihood method. Data were collected by using videotaping method and the gap acceptance data were extracted for analysis. A gap acceptance event at highway merging sections in this study was redefined due to unavailability of stopping vehicles at the ramp junction. Therefore, the gap data were estimated starting from a ramp’s vehicle passing the end of gore marking to where it merges with the mainstream. The analysis of the critical gap takes into consideration accepted gaps greater than 5 seconds to avoid forced entry due to lead impedance of successive vehicles on mainstream. The critical gap values obtained in this study, according to vehicle classification were ranged between 4.5 to 5.0 seconds, which are slightly smaller if compared to critical gap values for particularly left turn from minor movement at priority junction of the Arahan Teknik (Jalan) 11/87 and the United States Highway Capacity Manual 2000. The findings shall help to study driving behavior of local drivers, especially at priority control facilities such as merging sections

An investigation of the relationship between Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction in Melaka Bookstore

Customer satisfaction is a significant factor in influencing the service sector’s revenue. In this competitive environment which full of advance technologies, delivering a high quality of service is a factor for a stable competitive advantage. Customer satisfaction has a beneficial impact on the profitability of an organization. Service quality will reflect the customer's satisfaction in dimension of tangibles, reliability, assurances, empathy and responsiveness. Although there are many researches about SERVQUAL Model, but there are not much academic evidence measuring customer satisfaction in the bookstore services. Therefore, this research attempts to describe the relationship of service quality and customer satisfaction in the business-to-consumer (B2C). Business to Consumer or B2C is used by businesses that intend to market the products or services to consumers. B2C will conduct directly that business with customers without middleman. Data collection covers 15 bookstores in Melaka state. This research will focusing on selected bookstores such as Popular bookstore, MPH bookstore, TS Commerce bookstore, Kedai Buku Pintar Sdn Bhd and other bookstores that situated in the area of Melaka Tengah. The 151 survey questionnaires received and analyzed using SPSS software. Based on the regression analysis, onlytwo variables from five variables are significant. The two significant variables are reliability and empathy but have positive relationship with customer satisfaction

Modeling of Single Bay Precast Residential House Using Ruaumoko 2D Program

Precast residential houses are normally constructed in Malaysia using precast shear-key wall panel and precast wall panel are designed using BS8110 where there is no provision for earthquake. However, the safety of this house under moderate and strong earthquake is still questionable. Consequently, the full-scale of residential house are designed, constructed, tested and analyzed under in-plane lateral cyclic loading. Hysteresis loops are plotted based on the experimental work and compared with modeling of hysteresis loops using HYSTERES in RUAUMOKO 2D program. Modified Takeda hysteresis model is chosen to behave a similar pattern with experimental work. This program will display the earthquake excitations, spectral displacements, pseudo spectral acceleration, and deformation shape of the structure. It can be concluded that this building is suffering severe cracks and damage under moderate and severe earthquake

An Electronically Reconfigurable Patch Antenna Design for Polarization Diversity with Fixed Resonant Frequency

In this paper, an electronically polarization reconfigurable circular patch antenna with fixed resonant frequency operating at Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) frequency band (2.4-2.48 GHz) is presented. The structure of the proposed design consists of a circular patch as a radiating element fed by coaxial probe, cooperated with four equal-length slits etched on the edge along x-axis and y-axis. A total of four switches was used and embedded across the slits at specific locations, thus controlled the length of the slits. By activating and deactivating the switches (ON and OFF) across the slits, the current on the patch is changed, thus modifying the electric field and polarization of the antenna. Consequently, the polarization excited by the proposed antenna can be switched into three types, either linear polarization, left-hand circular polarization or right-hand circular polarization. This paper proposes a simple approach that able to switch the polarizations and excited at the same operating frequency. Simulated and measured results of ideal case (using copper strip switches) and real case (using PIN diode switches) are compared and presented to demonstrate the performance of the antenna

Growth characteristics and biomass production of kenaf

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) is one of the important fibre crops next to cotton, which is planted throughout the world. It is cultivated for its core and bast fibres. Unlike cotton, the fibre of kenaf is obtained from vegetative part of plant. Hence, growth and biomass production of kenaf is a fundamental issue that should be considered for its successful commercial cultivation. This study was designed to elucidate growth and biomass production of three kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) varieties; Guatemala 4 (G4), kohn-kaen 60 (KK60) and V36. 24 plants of each varieties were cultivated in completely randomize design under control conditions throughout a period of 105 days. Parameters of height, diameter and internode were measured within four to six regular intervals of 10 to 15 days, while biomass production parameters of dry one meter stalk mass (DMSM), defoliated plant mass (DPM), one meter stalk mass (MSM) and fresh plant mass (FPM) were measured at harvest time. There was no significant difference between them in terms of diameter and number of internode. However, KK60 was found to have significant higher height than V36 and G4. The varieties, G4 and KK60, showed significant greater fresh plant mass (FPM), defoliated plant mass (DPM), one meter  stalk mass (MSM) and dry one meter stalk mass (DMSM) than V36. In all of biomass parameters of FPM, DPM, MSM and DMSM, the highest value belonged to G4 except for DMSM where KK60 showed greater value. Results of this study indicated that G4 is a more efficient variety of kenaf for biomass production compared to the other two varieties of KK60 and V36.Key words: Kenaf, biomass, growth, internode

Annular Flow Modelling and Advanced Well Completions Design Optimisation in Oil Rim Reservoirs

The inflow control device completion has proved to be an effective solution to mitigate water and gas breakthrough and coning problems. One of the major parameters affecting the ICD completion's performance is annular flow, the flow of the fluid in the space between the base pipe and the sand-face. The importance of annular flow on the ICD completion was addressed by many researchers. However, there was lack of an analytical annular flow model to integrate the effect of all parameters important contributing to the annular flow. In this study a comprehensive annular flow modelling and ICD completion design using a reservoir simulation model are presented. The results of the study show that ICD completions mitigate the heel-toe effect which is resulted from an improper well configuration. A sufficiently high strength ICD completion reduces the dependency of the annulus pressure to the flowing pressure along tubing itself i.e. reducing the heel-toe effect. This results in minimising the annular flow even with no need of annular flow isolation (AFI) tools like swellable packers. AFI installation would be less necessary in homogenous reservoirs when an appropriate ICD completion design, which could be determined by the analytical annular flow equations, was used

The Effect of Situational Leadership on Employee Performance Through the Corporate and Organizational Working Citizenship Behavior as Intervening Variables (Case Study on Office of PT Nindya Karya Branch Makassar)

The role of leadership will be important and necessary to harmonize the various needs and also to create a conducive working situation. This study aims to determine to know the influence of leadership on employee performance mediated by job satisfaction and OCB at PT Nindya Karya Makassar Branch. The type of research used in this study is quantitative approach. The quantitative approach bases the study of empirical rational principles. The quantitative approach bases the study of empirical rational principles. Therefore, before doing research the researcher must find the problem and hypothesis to be tested based on the criteria specified and the path analysis tool that is Smart PLS 2.0 to know the relation of the variable. The result of this research shows that situational leadership has a significant positive effect on employee job satisfaction, situational leadership has positive and significant effect on Organizational Citizenship Behavior of employees, while situational leadership has positive and insignificant effect on employee performance. As the mediation variable of job satisfaction has negative and insignificant effect on employee performance while Organization Citizenship Behavior has positive and significant effect on employee performance. For situational leadership mediation perspectives have no significant positive effect on employee performance mediated by job satisfaction while situational leadership has a positive and significant effect on employee performance mediated by organizational citizenship behavior.  Keywords: Situational Leadership, Job Satisfaction, Organizational Citizenship Behavior, Employee Performanc