The purpose of the study was to examine the developmental pathways of elite youth swimmers. Swim-related developmental activities of elite and sub-elite youth swimmers were examined. Fifteen elite (8 males; 7 females) and 15 subelite (5 males; 10 females) youth swimmers were recruited for the study. A semistructured questionnaire was used to record retrospectively the hours engaged in swim-related activities (i.e., structured and unstructured activities) from beginning of career. No significant differences were found for swim-related developmental milestones for both elite and sub-elite swimmers. Overall, the elite swimmers accumulated more hours in swim-related activities than the sub-elites between 6-15 years of age. Although the former accumulated more hours in both structured and unstructured swimming activities between 6-12 years of age, no significant differences were found between the groups. However, the elite swimmers accumulated significantly more hours in structured swimming.....

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The research reported here investigates variation in beginning teachers‟ early experiences of their own teaching competency. A phenomenographic research approach was used to show the qualitatively different ways teacher competence was understood amongst beginning teachers in Malaysia. Phenomenographic interviews were conducted with 18 beginning teachers who had started full time teaching for between 1-3 years. Analysis revealed that beginning teachers „saw‟, „understood‟ the conceptions of competency in five different ways: i) the ability to manage classroom and student behavior, ii) a strong knowledge of the subject content, iii) the ability to reach out for assistance and support, iv) understanding the students they teach, and v) possessing values of professionalism. The relationships between these different ways are represented diagrammatically. This investigation gives an insider‟s perspective a strong voice of what constitutes teacher competence, as well as illustrates.....

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This research was conducted to test the effectiveness of visual-spatial intelligence teaching courseware to teach “equivalent fraction” topic for Form 1 underachieving students. This courseware uses visual-spatial intelligence which is one of the eight multiple intelligences in multiple intelligence theory by Howard Gardner. The design of this research was pretested and posttested on nonequivalent groups design. The sample involved 57 students that comprised 29 for the treatment group and 28 for the control group. This research also tested whether the use of the courseware could increase visual-spatial intelligence in the Multiple Intelligence (MI) test. Students’ perspective towards the courseware in terms of courseware objectives, courseware content, interface design, motivation, and assistance in learning the topic was acquired using questionnaire. ANCOVA test showed that there was a significant effect of the visual-spatial teaching courseware on learning performance compared .....

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The lethal and sublethal effects of imidacloprid were determined against the red pumpkin beetle, Aulacophora foveicollis (Lucas) (Coleopterea: Chrysomelidae). In a bioassay experiment, six varying concentrations of imidacloprid and a control were applied to the adults. The median lethal concentration (LC50) was determined to be 0.005 mg a.i. L-1. Assuming at this level of concentration to be sublethal, i.e. LC50 value, imidacloprid was found to significantly exert harmful sublethal effects on the beetle’s survival and fecundity. Compared to the control, imidacloprid reduced the longevity of the treated beetle by 29 days and the fecundity to zero. This study showed that imidacloprid was ovicidal against A. foveicollis and might not induce physiological resurgence or resistance in the red pumpkin beetle...

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The purpose of this study is to investigate the level of Physical Education Teachers’ self-efficacy in teaching Physical Education in secondary schools. Around 106 respondents were chosen randomly to represent novice and expert teachers in teaching Physical Education. Data were collected and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicated a high level of self-efficacy among the Physical Education teachers. Pearson correlation analysis was used to show the relationship of self-efficacy of physical education teachers in relation to the teaching of Physical Education subject. The results of this study showed that the teachers’ self-efficacy of the three variables, that is, students’ involvement, instructional strategy and class management were at the high level. Mean score of the class management variable was 3.96, which was the highest. The instructional strategy variable score was 3.79 while the students’ management variable was 3.70. The self-effica.....

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Purpose – The study aimed to explore, describe and analyse the design and implementation of clinical simulation as a pedagogical tool in bridging the defi ciency of higher order thinking skills among para-medical students, and to make recommendations on incorporating clinical simulation as a pedagogical tool to enhance thinking skills and align the curriculum. Methodology – A qualitative approach using interpretativedescriptive case study design was utilized in framing the research study. Purposive sampling was used to select 20 fi nal year paramedical students and fi ve teaching staff who participated in this study. Data was collected through direct and participant observation, interviews and document analysis. Thematic analysis using Stake’s Countenance Model was utilized to analyse and present the findings. Findings – On the basis of these analyses, the study supports that (i) clinical simulation facilitates the infusion of higher order thinking skills; (ii) clinical simulat.....

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In Malaysia, there is widespread recognition that technology can play a significant role in supplementing and complimenting the process of teacher’s teaching and learning. Given current recognition of the advancement of educational technology, as well as the high costs of investing in schools or higher institutions, this study attempted understand teachers’ acceptance of blended e-learning in teaching and learning. It examines the effects of the endogenous variables towards with blended e-learning acceptance, which involved 98 teachers. Computer attitudes (CA), computer teaching efficacy (CTE), school environment (SE) and Moodle use (CU) were analysed to understand its influences in Moodle use. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was employed for the data analysis. All hypotheses were supported by the data and have direct effects towards blended e-learning acceptance...

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Rice straw in Malaysia is presently disposed of mostly by open burning. This results in the release of various pollutants affecting the environment, weather and local communities. Yet, there are several potential uses for rice straw which can still be explored and developed to benefit Malaysia’s rural economy. The present study involved 160 farmers in two of the largest granary areas of the Kedah’s Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) and the Selangor’s Sekinchan Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA). An evaluation of the knowledge level among farmers and their methods relating to straw use was undertaken. As farmers are the main actors in rice production a high knowledge level about the potential economic benefit of straw use may encourage them to utilise this by-product more competitively while also adopting more ecologically sustainable agricultural practices. This research found that most farmers knew only some of the potential uses of the straw, namely as.....

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As a developing country, Malaysian is currently driving for implementing a new or modern construction method, the Industrialised Building System (IBS), as an alternative towards enhancing construction performance. Currently, most of the IBS project developments in Malaysia are still conducted by using the traditional construction process approach. This traditional construction process has been widely criticised for its fragmented approach to project delivery and its failure to form effective teams thus created a number of issues such as reworks, time delay, rising costs, lack of communication and coordination, and wastages. This paper through literature review aims to highlight this fragmentation issue and clarify how far it affects the process of IBS implementation. Suggestions on how an integrated approach in design and construction in order to minimise the fragmentation gaps will be concluded...

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A phytochemical study of the stem bark of Alseodaphne perakensis (Lauraceae) had been carried out. The dichloromethane crude extract from stem bark of Alseodaphne perakensis (Lauraceae) yielded two hernagine type of aporphine alkaloids namely oxohernagine and N-methylhernagine. The isolation and purification of these alkaloids were achieved using Column Chromatography (CC) and Preparative Thin Layer Chromatography (PTLC) techniques. The structural elucidations were performed by spectral methods notably Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy one-dimentional (1H, 13C and DEPT) and two-dimentional (COSY, HMQC/HSQC and HMBC)...

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