In this study, the effectiveness of lala clam (Orbicularia orbiculata) shell, a fishery waste, as an adsorbent for removal of Cd(II), Cu(II) and Pb(II) ions from contaminated water was evaluated by characterization and adsorption studies. The characterization study was performed using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) Spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy techniques. The effects of solution pH (pH 1.0 to 6.0), adsorbent dosage (0.125 to 0.750 g) and initial adsorbate concentration (10 to 200 mg/L) on adsorption capacity of lala clam shell were studied. The capability of lala clam shell to remove metal ions from aqueous solution was assessed in both single- and mix-metal systems. The adsorption equilibrium data were fitted to Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models. At an optimum solution pH of 6.0 and initial metal ion concentration of 200 mg/L, the maximum adsorption capacity (Qmax) values of Cd(II), Cu(II) and.....

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This  study  was  conducted  to  highlight  the  reconstruction  of  South  Africans  identity which  was  formulated  through  resistance  from  the  perspective  of  J.M.  Coetzee,  a  novelist.  This  study  addressed  the  research  questions  that  examined  the  impact  of  colonialism on the  black  South  Africans  identity based  on  the  selected  novels  by  J.M.  Coetzee and how he portrayed the idea of resistance and identity reconstruction through his   fictional characters.  The  data  was collected  from a  critical analysis of five  selected novels  employing  the postcolonial concepts,  identity, and  resistance. The  Post-Colonial Theory  was   employed  to  critically  analyse  the  characters  which  reflect  the  concept  of identity and  resistance. The analysis was conducted on the characters′ acts, actions, and the setting, in  particular in South Africa during the apartheid (1.....

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A total of 155 actinomycete strains were isolated from Beach Ridges Interspersed with Swales (BRIS)  soils. Samples were collected at various depths from the earth surface and  subsurface  in  Setiu   district,  Terengganu.  The  isolates  were  assessed  for  their antibacterial activity against a  panel of microorganisms (Escherichia coli DSM30083T, Bacillus   subtilis   DSM10T,   Pseudomonas    fluorescens   DSM   50090T,   Klebsiella pneumoniae   DSM30104T,   Micrococcus   luteus    DSM20030T,   and   Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Results indicated that 65% of all isolates were  active against, at least, one of the test organisms. Thirty-three of the isolates were selected and  characterized by conventional methods and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that most of the  isolates belonged to the genus Streptomyces sp. (15 isolates) and 8 other rare genera namely  Microtetrapora sp. (5 isolates), Streptacidiphilus sp. (3 isolat.....

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This    study   aimed    at    developing    a    communicative    competence    model    for undergraduate  programmes  students  in  Pakistani  universities.  This  study  has  used  structural equation modelling (SEM) statistical approach to analyse the relationships of  the   predicting  variables  in  model  development.  The  random  cluster  sampling method  was used  to   collect  the  data using  a  survey questionnaire  from a  sample  of 599 respondents. The SEM  two-stage method from the measurement to the structural model was used to develop and test the  model. The proposed model has achieved the fit    indices    (χ²=1.588;    df=1;    χ²/df=1.588;     p    =.208;    CFI=.999;    SRMR=.002; RMSEA=.031,  Pclose=.492).  The  results  of  the   regression  indicated  the  predictors explained 62% of the variance and have significantly  contributed to competence (R²= .38,  F(6,  .....

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Ineffective straw management by open field burning, leaving it on the field, and dumping it in landfill causes serious environmental degradation and adversely affects public health. This study assesses the level of farmers’ knowledge on straw potential and the benefits of using straw in agricultural activities. Descriptive analysis was carried out on 160 farmers in the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) agricultural region in Kedah who manage straw in an environmentally-friendly manner. Results show that most of farmers lack knowledge in using straw in agricultural activities. The interviews revealed that the re-use of straw in the agricultural activities would enhance soil quality, improve the growth quality of plant, improve livestock and seedling germination, increase yield production; and reduce the cost of farm management. Given the economic value and high potential, straw could stimulate the wider rural economy through added-value as well as generally increase the s.....

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Co-operatives in Malaysia have urgent jobs in creating business frameworks, and making it workable for the nation to join the worldwide co-operatives society and refined economies. Thus, top management in Malaysian cooperatives aggressively design and implement their strategic plan through strategic accounting procedures in leadership. The purpose of this research is to examine the association between the contemporary management accounting practices (MAP) and managerial performance in the Malaysian’ co-operative sector. Management team from the 100 leading co-operatives in Malaysia were the respondents. Descriptive on the adoption level and its relationship with the managerial performance has been analysed. The finding indicates the level of contemporary MAP is high and there is significant relationship between contemporary MAP and managerial performance among Malaysian Co-operatives. This research offers a exclusive details investigation of the contemporary MAP and an signal of upco.....

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The new media technologies have changed the world drastically. Even the traditional print media have been influenced significantly by the new media technologies. The revolution of new media has changed the pattern of mass communication landscape especially in newspaper and magazine publishing industry in Malaysia. The existence of online publishing such as e-magazine has made the process of reading, purchasing and storing books much easier. This concept paper particularly elaborates the influence of new media technology on magazine publishing industry in Malaysia. The lack of online magazine published in the market has contributed to the result of this reading material being ‘out in the cold’ compared to the other electronic publishing such as online books and online newspaper. This research is made to study on the important factors that contribute to the development and sustainability of the online magazine publishing industry in Malaysia and for that the case study is involved on.....

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This main purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of a mobile augmented reality application on the understanding of mathematics subjects among primary school students. This study is constructed on a quasi-experimental procedure using the pre-test, post-test control group design. The study sample consisted of 78 primary school students that were selected from two intact classes, with a mean age of 13.5 years. Students were assigned to two groups, with a control group and an experimental group comprising 38 and 40 students, respectively. The research instrument utilized to measure students’ understanding of Augmented Reality components before and after treatment was based on a set of 40 multiplechoice questions. Learning sessions took place for one hour per week, spanning over four consecutive weeks, in which the control group and the experimental group used a desktop-based application and a mobile augmented reality application, respectively. Data were analyzed using paired .....

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This study was designed to investigate pre-school environment in PERPADUAN pre-school in Malaysia. The objectives are to identify the quality of work environment in multi-ethnic pre-schools; to investigate the practices of teachers’ role and responsibility; and to identify the quality of human resources. The study involved 2004 respondents who are the staff of PERPADUAN pre-school from the government agency who provide pre-school service. Questionnaires and interviews were used in this study to obtain data from respondents. Quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), and qualitative data to support the findings from quantitative results. Findings indicated that the work environment at a moderate level. The study also found that only 53.7% of respondents agreed facilities at the workplace is sufficient. It shows that nearly half of respondents said that there is still a lack of facilities in the workplace. A total of 1,219 (60.7%) of respo.....

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This academic study is aimed accurately at the established validity of critical thinking questionnaires in the TIG Welding Training Modules based precisely on Project Based Learning (PBP) in the Subject (DJJ3032) of Mechanical Workshop Practice 3 in Polytechnic Malaysia. This study represents a quantitative approach that uses the survey method to influence an excellent opinion through a questionnaire related to the content of critical thinking. The research sample consists precisely of 8 vicariously experienced experts in the chosen field of welding in Malaysia. The findings show that this research instrument maintains the moral content validity..

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