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- PublicationA Case Study Of The Factors Influencing Argumentative Writing Activities Via Whatsapp Among Low Proficiency Esl University Students(2023-06)Haeza Binti HaronThis case study examines low-proficiency university studentsā views of three learning factors that influence ESL argumentative writing skills. This case study focuses on three factors: mobile technology via WhatsApp, peer interaction and teacherās role to examine the low proficiency students at the university level view these factors as important learning criteria that can develop and support their ESL argumentative writing in answering the research questions.
- PublicationA comparison between goat milk and cow milk supplementation on nutritional status among paediatrics with cerebral palsy in Kelantan(2024-04)Shamsudin, JulianaGoat milk (GM) can be used as an alternative if cerebral palsy (CP) children are unable to tolerate cow milk. The purpose of this study was to compare the anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, and dietary intake of powdered GM versus CM among CP children in Kelantan, Malaysia. The study consists of two phases: Phase 1 focuses on determining and analysing the proximate and fatty acids profile of GM and CM, while Phase 2 involves the intervention study. In Phase 1, a grand total of 20 GM samples were analysed, along with 1 GM sample (reference) and 1 CM sample. The studyās criteria for references on GM and CM involved the use of powdered full cream milk as a primary ingredient or the most popular brand among consumers. Meanwhile, during Phase 2 of the study (quasi-experimental design, single blind), a total of 87 children with CP were randomly assigned to either goat milk (GM, n=43) or cow milk (CM, n=44). The research achieved an 82.1% response rate. The study included children between the ages of 4 and 12, but excluded those with severe cases of CP who needed special nutritional requirements such as inborn error metabolism, tube feedings, and cow milk protein allergy (CMPA). In the intervention group, the mean age was 9.05 Ā± 2.30 years, while in the control group, it was 8.27 Ā± 2.55 years. The gender distribution was as follows: in the GM group, 53.5% were male and 46.5% were female, while in the CM group, 70.5% were male and 29.5% were female. Milk powder in the form of a sachet (21-23 grams, twice a day) was provided from the start of the study until the end of the 4 months (3 meetings; baseline, 2-months, and 4-months). Anthropometric data (weight, height, BMI, MUAC, triceps and subscapular skinfold measurements, body fat percentage), biochemical data (hemoglobin and hematocrit), clinical data (systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate), and dietary intake were gathered from baseline to 4-months. The Phase 1 study found that only nine GM samples out of 20 contained pure GM (based on the ingredient label), and sample G17 was chosen as goat milk for Phase 2 because it contained the highest medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) content of 2803.9 mg (12.97%) compared to CM, 765 mg (7.19%), and the other goat milk samples. Phase 2 results show that GM showed greater improvements. There were significant differences in triceps skinfold measurement (0.33 mm vs -0.20 mm, p=0.024) and vitamin B1 (p=0.043), while other parameters did not show significant differences between GM and CM after the intervention (p>0.05). Furthermore, there was a reduction in calcium (p=0.040) and vitamin B12 (p=0.022) levels between GM and CM. In conclusion, laboratory analysis shows that GM has a higher MCFA content than CM. Meanwhile, for the intervention study, GM can be used as a tolerable supplement for CP children based solely on significant differences in triceps skinfold measurement and vitamin B1 levels. Moreover, calcium and vitamin B12 intake decreased in the daily diet of GM in comparison to CM. Further research is needed to confirm and explore this matter over a longer duration, with the necessity of conducting blood tests to assess the decrease in calcium and vitamins from the daily diet.
- PublicationA Critical Discourse Analysis Of Selected Articles In Malaysiaās Official Gst Website(2022-01)Ong Cheng TeikThe main objective of the study is to examine the linguistic manifestations of these discourses and their underlying ideological underpinning predicated on Faircloughās concepts of interdiscursivity, membersā resources, ideology, and his framework consisting of experiential values of words, as well as van Dijkās ideology of us versus them and his ideological square of inclusion and exclusion.
- PublicationA Fractional Cointegration Panel Model With Fixed Effect(2023-05)Fehintola, Olaniran SaidatSeveral authors have studied fractional cointegration in time series data, but little or no consideration has been extended to panel data settings. However, recent economics and financial panel datasets such as portfolio returns across firms, price indices and exchange rates across countries often exhibit long-memory properties. Therefore, this thesis aims to develop a fractional cointegrated panel model with a fixed effect assumption. The first objective was to compare the finite sample behaviour of existing fractional cointegration time-series test procedures in panel data settings. This comparison is performed to determine the best tests that can be adapted to fractional cointegration in panel data settings. Specifically, simulation studies and real-life data analysis were performed to study the changes in the empirical type I error rate and power of six semiparametric fractional cointegration tests in panel settings. The analysis findings revealed that the residual-based tests are useful for adaptation in a panel setting. Secondly, the best two residual-based time series fractional cointegration tests observed were implemented in panel settings using Monte-Carlo simulation experiments. The results of the experiments showed that one of the tests is valid for fractional cointegration order of less than 0.5, the other is generalized and accepts any fractional cointegration order within the range [0, 1] at varying sample sizes. Finally, a fractional cointegrated panel approach was developed for testing the absolute Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) model among 16 West African countries using data that spans 49 years (1971-2019).
- PublicationA Mixed Method Study On The Associating Factors, Reasons For Use, Perceptions And Quitting Behaviour Of E-Cigarette Among Dual Users In Malaysia(2023-01)Aimi Nadira Binti Mat RuzlinSeveral sociodemographic and smoking related factors have a significant association with dual use and its frequency of use. In addition, further investigation in phase II found that dual use was detrimental to its users. The findings from this study provide essential information to plan future preventive measures as well as recommendations for EC legislation in Malaysia.
- PublicationA monitoring of archery performance predictors among state-level archers(2023-09)Sien, Lau JiunArchery is a sport that required a certain level of techniques, physical conditions, tactics, and psychology to perform. It is important to understand the most crucial criteria in archery to build excellent archers. Thus, this study aimed to determine the predictors of archery performance among state-level recurve archers. Eighteen state-level recurve archers were recruited from Terengganu State Sports Council and Malaysia Pahang Sports School and 13 participants (mean age = 16.23 Ā± 1.74) had completed the whole study protocol. Muscle activation level, draw force line, mood states, and physical fitness level of the archers were monitored predictors of archery performance in this research. The mood states of the participants were evaluated with Brunel Mood Scale Questionnaire before the scoring session. During the scoring session, the muscle activation of left deltoid muscles, left triceps muscles, right trapezius muscles, and right triceps muscles were measured with electromyography. Meanwhile, the draw force line during the anchoring and releasing was recorded with a video camera and was analysed with Kinovea motion analysis software. The archery shooting performance was based on a total score of 36 arrows shot at a distance of 70 meters. After the scoring session, the physical fitness level of the participants was measured with fitness tests including push-ups, sit-ups, handgrip test, stork stand test, back and leg test, sit and reach test, and multistage fitness test. All the parameters were measured five times, with each measurement taken at a twomonths interval. The results of the Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) revealed muscle activation level and physical fitness level can be used as a guideline in predicting the archery shooting performance. Among the muscles tested in this study, the left deltoid is the only muscle that is associated with the archery shooting performance in the fifth measurement session. Furthermore, physical fitness level also able to predict the shooting performance significantly in the first measurement session, third measurement session and forth measurement session. The physical fitness components that were associated with the archery shooting performance included left and right handgrip strength, back and leg strength, flexibility, balance, upper muscle endurance, core muscle endurance, and cardiovascular endurance. However, the mood states and the draw force line of participants are not associated with the archery performance. It is concluded that the physical fitness level and muscle activation level of the archers can predict the archery shooting performance among state-level archers.
- PublicationA Multi-objective Evolutionary Algorithm Based On Decomposition For Continuous Optimization Using A Step-function Technique(2022-06)Chuah, How SiangMulti-objective optimization is an area of study which solves complex real-world problem that involves two or three objectives. Multi-objective Evolutionary Algorithm based on Decomposition (MOEA/D) is one of the algorithms that utilize the concepts of decomposition and neighbourhood to solve multi-objective problems. One of the recent MOEA/D algorithms, i.e., Constant-distance based Neighbours for MOEA/D with Dynamic Weight Vector Adjustment (MOEA/D-AWACD), integrates the concept of a constant-distance neighbourhood and a dynamic weight vector design. This combination creates a flexible neighbourhood that can adapt to the weight vectors changes. However, MOEA/D-AWACDās performance is dependent on a constant-distance parameter,
- PublicationA Multi-stakeholder Management Perspective For Sustainable Ecotourism In Penang Hill(2022-07)Salman, AhmadEcotourism brings economic, cultural and environmental sustainability in the destination. Ecotourism was introduced because of the negative impact of mass tourism on the destination. Ecotourism focuses on learning about nature, landscapes, the environment and the culture. Many destinations struggle to achieve sustainable ecotourism due to the involvement of multiple stakeholders with varying interests and power. Penang Hill, one of the latest inductees to the world biosphere reserve network, also has multiple stakeholders. This study aims to close the knowledge gap in managing stakeholders of the destination by understanding the interests and influence of the stakeholders of Penang Hill. The main objectives of the study focused on exploring the management of Penang Hill, exploring stakeholders perceptions related to stakeholder management and ecotourism sustainability, identify the relationship between stakeholders interests and influence on stakeholder management, assess the relationship between stakeholder management and sustainable ecotourism in Penang Hill and finally to analyse whether stakeholder management mediates the relationship between stakeholders interests and stakeholders influence on sustainable ecotourism in Penang Hill. A mixed-method approach was used in this study. The data was collected concurrently with the help of semi-structured interviews and questionnaire from the key and primary stakeholders of Penang Hill.
- PublicationA New Historicist Reading Of Islamization And Islamophobia In Selected Contemporary Pakistani Diasporic Fiction Malik(2022-06)Afzal, Malik HaroonLiterature and power-politics have a strong connection when it comes to literatureās role in promulgating and propagating a certain narrative which serves the interest of power. Past studies on contemporary Pakistani diasporic fictions tend to explore the themes of Islamization and Islamophobia in terms of their relation with power. There is a dearth of research that have investigated intensively the way the narratives of Islamization and Islamophobia were promulgated and propagated on the pretext of discursive formations, i.e., literary and non-literary. The present study unveils this role of discursive formations with reference to the selected contemporary Pakistani diasporic fiction: Muhammad Hanifās A Case of Exploding Mangoes and Our Lady of Alice Bhatti, Hanif Kureishiās The Black Album and My Son the Fanatic, Mohsin Hamidās The Reluctant Fundamentalist, and Kamila Shamsieās Home Fire. Since the Cold War, the narratives of Islamization and Islamophobia have been influencing the Muslims globally, especially in Pakistan due to its Islamization program during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The treatment of Muslim identity by the West in both pre and the post-Cold War eras reveals an interesting shift in the Western approach towards Muslims.
- PublicationA Preliminary Study On Pain Tolerance And Withdrawal Symptoms Among Active Ketum (Mitragyna Speciosa) Users In Malaysia(2022-09)Abdul Rahim, AzlanKratom is known locally as ketum or biak (Mitragyna speciosa) in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Southeast Asian countries are home to the ketum plant. Ketum leaves are extensively used as an herbal supplement (traditional medicine) for self-treatment of medical conditions in the West and Southeast Asia, including pain and opioid use disorder (OUD). However, ketum consumption over a prolonged period was associated with withdrawal effects. Therefore, to systematically investigate the effects of ketum based on claims from previous research (pain tolerance and withdrawal symptoms), a human laboratory study was conducted with 26 male participants in Pusat Sejahtera, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). The study aimed to investigate withdrawal symptoms using a validated clinical measurement, the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS), after 12 hours of ketum cessation. Secondly, the study investigated ketum effects on pain tolerance using the cold pressor task. Study findings suggested no significant association between ketum consumption with withdrawal symptoms and pain tolerance. However, mild withdrawal symptoms were observed during the 12 hours of ketum cessation such as runny nose, yawning, restlessness and axiety.
- PublicationA Study Of Saudi ArabiaāS Social Commentary Based On Photography Artworks(2022-09)Abdullah, Alromih RobaPhotographers have their artistic creativity to express relevant social comments about the global social trend. In this respect, the current Saudi photographers have no exception. Compared to other developed countries, photography in Saudi Arabia has attracted little scientific and international attention. Therefore, this study seeks to unify communication by exploring the depiction of social commentary by Saudi photographers as they move to change the society. This study would determine the general perception of photographs produced by Saudi photographers. The artworks of Saudi artists from various art galleries in Saudi Arabia would be collected and analyzed by interviewing and distributing questionnaires to the public. This study utilized qualitative and quantitive methods to explore, interpret and analyze images. Feedback from the audience would be analyzed by NVivo and SPSS in order to identify recurring and emerging topics that the audience understands through social commentary images. Furthermore, this study would provide the communicative context for portraying social comments by Saudi photographers as an insight into the ideas, practices and attitudes of Saudi artists.
- PublicationA Study of Translated Matrimonial Shar'i Court Documents from Arabic into English: The Case of Palestine(2023-09)Khalaf, Camellia Najeh AbdelkarimTranslating sharia court legal documents is one of the most challenging tasks for translators due to the effort needed to convey accurate and exact meanings of legal and Islam-driven terms. In this study, the analytical descriptive method is used to analyze matrimonial documents in order to explore the problems which confront Palestinian sworn translators in sharia court documents, to identify similarities and differences between Arabic legal system and English legal system, to assess the translation procedures used by the translators in dealing with terminologies in terms of accuracy and acceptability, and to find out how the translators deal with linguistic and translational decision in translating religious expressions in legal documents of sharia court. In doing so, Searleās speech act classifications, Ventiās model, and Vinay and Darbelnetās model of translation are used. The findings reveal that speech act similarities and differences between the Arabic legal system and the English legal system in matrimonial Sharia court documents are mainly related to the use of modal verbs, conditional sentences, the use of active and passive voice, and the use of verb tense. It is found that equivalence, literal, borrowing and modulation are found to be more accurate and acceptable in most of the translations of matrimonial documents terminologies. It is also found that the speech acts force is affected by the translatorsā mishandling of language norms and translation norms
- PublicationA Study On Academic Staffās Perceptions Of Internationalisation Of The Curriculum In University Of Technology And Applied Science, Salalah(2023-08)Kathiri, Ali Mohammed Fael Hubais AlThe internationalisation of the curriculum (IoC) has been a significant trend in higher education across the globe. However, there is a dearth of empirical studies on this area of research in the Arab countries, including the Omani higher education context. Thus, this study was conducted to explore academic staffās perceptions of curriculum internationalisation at: institutional, departmental and course levels at University of Technology and Applied Science (UTAS-Salalah), Salalah, Oman. Additionally, the study investigated how academic staffās perceptions of curriculum internationalisation differ according to their years of experience in higher education, years of experience at UTAS-Salalah, and departments. The study also tried to explore academic staffās perceptions of the three core levels of curriculum internationalisation (awareness, competence, and expertise) at UTAS-Salalah and identify challenges that academic staff encounter in the internationalisation of the curriculum at UTAS-Salalah. The two-phased explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was utilized to answer five research questions addressed by the study. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. While the quantitative data were collected using an adapted questionnaire, the qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The samples of the study included 267 academic lecturers in the quantitative phase and nine academic staff for the semi-structured interviews. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA in SPSS, whereas the qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis
- PublicationA Study On Cyp2c19 Genetic Variations Of Clopidogrel And Ticagrelor Treatment Among Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)(2023-06)Mohammed Ahmed Imran Ak-KaifThe P2Y12 receptor inhibitors, especially clopidogrel, are common antiplatelet drugs used for the prevention of recurrent adverse cardiovascular events among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Several factors may affect the effectiveness of antiplatelet therapy, including genetic variations in CYP450 enzymes. Loss of function (LOF) carriers of the CYP2C19 gene are associated with the decreased metabolism of clopidogrel into active metabolites via CYP2C19 enzyme, leading to decreased platelet inhibition. This causes an increased risk of recurrent cardiovascular events. Drug regulatory authorities suggested using alternative P2Y12 inhibitor, which is ticagrelor. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the adverse effects, and CYP2C19 genetic variations of clopidogrel and ticagrelor treatment among CAD patients undergoing PCI.
- PublicationA Study On The Design And Use Of Performance Management System In Chinaās Innovative Start-ups(2023-08)Hung, Wai Chung ClarenceChinaās start-ups market has grown rapidly since the Chinese Government encouraged new ventures and announced the āmass entrepreneurship and innovationā initiative in 2015. Nevertheless, start-upsā failure rate can be as high as 95%, partly due to the lack of Performance Management Systems (PMSs) in managing and controlling organisations. PMSs are designed based on Western, well-established organisations. Existing research relating to PMSs in China, concerning their design and use in innovative start-ups, is scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the types of PMSs adopted in Chinaās innovative start-ups, and how the systems are designed and used under the influence of Chinese culture and start-up managersā personality traits. This study adopted a qualitative case study approach for four selected start-up companies, with data collected through the use of semi-structured interviews, field observations and document reviews to examine their management control behaviours. One of the four case companies was purposely selected as a contrasting case for identifying the similarities and differences among case ownermanagers in order to uncover the underlying influence of their behaviours. The GLOBE theory, the Traits Theory of Personality, and the Theory of Circumscription and Compromise were used to underpin the findings and discussions. The findings revealed that the Chinese owner-managers used simplified and informal PMSs, through personnel and social controls, in their organisations
- PublicationA Study On The Integration Of Heritage Components Into The Iranian Primary School Curriculum(2021-10)Rabeeh BarghiThis study investigated Iranian primary school curriculum from different perspectives in order to describe and further explain current situation of integrating heritage component into the curriculum. First approach involved examining all primary textbooks as the main resources represent the ideal stage. The study then was keen to find out the way teachers, administrators, and educational experts as the key stakeholders perceive the situation of heritage education and the extent to which it is being implemented.
- PublicationA Syntactic Analysis Of Arabic-english Intra-sentential Code-switching In Jordanian University Studentsā Speech(2022-04)Alamaren, Eman Mohammad HusseinLanguages are not perfectly complete by themselves. Language contact is the process of contacting languages to allow speakers' connection. This contact results in some changes in languages including code-mixing phenomenon. The present study aims at investigating the syntactic patterns of Jordanian Arabic-English code-mixing in Jordanian students' speech in Yarmouk University. Firstly, the study determines the types of patterns and the syntactic aspects of code-mixing in Jordanian Arabic-English pair in Yarmouk University students' speech. Secondly, it determines the effect of the syntactic differences between Arabic and English on Arabic structure when code-mixing is performed. Thirdly, it explores the most frequently used English syntactic categories that students tend to use when performing codemixing. Finally, the study examines the occurrence of Poplack's constraints in Jordanian Arabic-English code-mixing. To this end, a research design involving both qualitative and quantitative approaches was adopted. That is, tape-recorded conversations between students in Yarmouk University were qualitatively analyzed to identify the types of patterns of code-mixing, and then the conversations were quantitatively analyzed to explore the numbers of the used English constituents. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis and frequency distribution techniques. The findings revealed that there are three types of code-mixing; each type includes a number of patterns, and these types of patterns are gradual in terms of familiarity and frequency of occurrence. Verb-Object pattern occupies the first position followed by Determiner-Noun pattern, while Preposition-Noun pattern occupies the last position.
- PublicationAbnormal Transactions Detection In The Ethereum Network Using Semi-Supervised Generative Adversarial Networks(2022-04)Mahmoud Al-Emari, Salam RadiEthereum network is a blockchain platform that allows users to use cryptocurrency transactions, create, and deploy decentralized applications using smart contracts. Several abnormal transactions came to light due to the existing attacks that targeted Ethereum, for instance, the Ethereum DAO attack, and malicious users might exploit and compromise the vulnerabilities in smart contracts, to steal amount of cryptocurrency or working for their own objectives through abnormal transactions. Therefore, detecting abnormal transactions initiated from these malicious users, implicated in fraudulent activities as well as attribution is excessively complex. However, malicious activities using cryptocurrency transactions, through pseudo-anonymous accounts for sending and receiving ransom payment, consolidation of funds heaped up under diverse identities; thus, controlling and detecting these abnormal transactions is a fundamental pre-requisite to ensure the high level of security in Ethereum network.
- PublicationAdaptive Project Management Model For The International Development And Aid Projects(2022-04)Saleh, Firas Izzat Mahmoud MahmoudWith the increase of natural disasters and man-made crises and the rising levels of poverty and inequality globally, the International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) sector has rapidly grown in response to humanitarian emergencies and the provision of aid to support social and economic development worldwide. INGOs realise their human goals through crossing the borders to diverse, vulnerable communities and contexts to implement International Development and Aid Projects (IDAPs). However, this diversity and the specific nature of these projects have created various complexities that diminished their success and sustainability. Therefore, this industry needs an adaptive Project Management Model (PM-Model) to suit the broader organisational aspects of IDAPs and industry-specificities to increase the success levels of projects. This study aims to provide an adaptive PM-Model for IDAPs based on the standard PMBOKĀ® Guide integrating TQM as a relevant organisational approach and Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) as a relevant industry-specificities. Therefore, to meet the broader and longer-term organisational and social aspects. To that end, a three-round Delphi research process has been conducted to engage a group of experts to develop the required adaptations on the PMBOKĀ® Guide and then validate the emerged PM-Model by another group of practitioners through Focus Group Discussion (FGD) validation workshop setting.
- PublicationAdopting Theories-Based Model Of Information Security Compliance Behaviour For Healthcare Employees In Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia(2023-01)Alanazi Sultan Tuwayrish SInformation security research shows that employees are a source of certain security difficulties in the organization. This frequently happens as a result of disregarding information security policies (ISPs). Therefore, the issue is how to enhance employee information security behaviour so that it complies with the ISPs. This study seeks to advance knowledge about information security compliance behaviour (ISCB) in the Saudi healthcare industry, with a focus on how it may be enhanced from an employee standpoint.