Learning strategies using Socio-Scientific Issues (SSI) are approaches that will meet the characteristics of 21st Century Skills (K-21) and upgrade the Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS). One of the reasons of the unfavorable TIMMS and PISA results in Malaysia because students’ incompetent to answer science reasoning question based on scientific issues that occur in their daily lives. SSI is a dimension that is used in the assessment of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) and Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) which consists of the issue of the environment, medicine, health and genetic engineering. The purpose of this study is to assess the scientific reasoning level of Form Four science students in the biology subject based on SSI. Quantitative approaches surveys have been used in this study. The SSI instruments used were adapted. Total of 450 Form Four science students are samples used in this study. Findings revealed the needs of stu.....

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Socio Scientific Issues (SSI) is one of the strategies used in teaching and learning to discuss particular current issues that related to health, environment, medicine and genetic engineering as frequently reported in the mass media. This strategy used in teaching and learning to approach students in understanding and empowering the science concept. The purpose of this study is to develop a model based on SSI in measuring and assessing the cause effect relationship of the identified variables for the proposed model of reasoning skills among the science students. The method used in this research is a quantitative study with survey approach that will measure the model fit. A total of 500 respondents form four students in biology classes around four zones in Malaysia responded to four variables in the questionnaire (content acquisition, epistemology scientific belief, adhered moral and ethics and reasoning skills). Data was analyses by using SPSS and Analysis of Moment Structure (AMOS) 21.....

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In Malaysia, blended e-learning pedagogical practices have made a very rapid penetration into Malaysian schools. However, there is little Malaysian studies on the affordances and obstacles of blended e-learning. This study examines and understands the affordances and obstacles of using Blended E-Learning Practices (BeLPs) and develops change actions that can lead to better use of BeLPs. A total of 27 practicing teachers were involved in this study. A phenomenological perspective was employed for this study. In-depth interviews with participating teachers was carried out to understand their perceptions on the usage of BeLPs. A majority of them agreed that there are many practical advantages to teach and learn using BeLPs. Significant affordances are to encourage active learning, improve motivation, and encourage authenticity and connectedness. This report also revealed the impact of teachers’ and students’ readiness to blended e-learning, technical infrastructure, support and enviro.....

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This paper will discuss determining construction, formation of the factors of acceptance and use of the Blended Learning approach among teachers. The determining construction for the teacher’s acceptance and use were identified through literature review and semi-structured interviews. The writing of this paper is to discuss in detail the determining constructs that make up the factors of acceptance and use of Blended Learning approach among teachers based on previous models for the learning environment of schools in Malaysia. The results of this study are expected to give a complete picture regarding constructs that make up the factors of acceptance and use among teachers and improve overall understanding of the individual’s acceptance of the Blended Learning approach. This understanding is also expected to guide implementation policies to create an effective Blended Learning environment for Malaysian education settings...

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Gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs) incorporated in magnesium zinc sulfo-phosphate glass with the molar composition of (58.5P2O5–20MgO–20ZnSO4–1.5Nd2O3–xAu NPs (where x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mol%) were prepared via melt quench technique. The effect of Au NPs as incorporated in Nd3+ doped glasses were studied using X‒ray diffraction (XRD), High Resolution-Transmission Electron Microscope (HR‒TEM), UV‒Visible-NIR absorption spectrometer and photoluminescence spectrometer. The amorphous nature of glass is confirmed via XRD measurements and existence of Au NPs inside the glass is reveal by HR-TEM. The typical absorption bands of Nd3+ are attained which positioned around 352, 430, 459, 474, 512, 525, 581, 626, 682, 744, 801and 875 nm. Up-conversion (UC) photoluminescence (PL) demonstrated six prominent emission bands located around 420, 445, 460, 484, 515 and 545 nm corresponding transition 2P1/24I9/2, 2D5/24I11/2, 2P1/24I11/2, 2D5/24I13/2, 2K15/2,4G7/24I11/2,.....

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Acanthamoeba spp. boleh menyebabkan keratitis kepada manusia, khasnya kepada pemakai kanta sentuh yang tidak menitikberatkan aspek higen kanta sentuh. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji keberkesanan antibiotik titisan mata Gentamicin terhadap sista Acanthamoeba isolat klinikal iaitu HKL 5, HKL 11, HKL 32, dan HKL 51. Kajian dimulakan dengan melakukan suspensi sista terhadap keempat-empat isolat klinikal tersebut. Mikropencairan terhadap antimikrob dilakukan dan kemudiannya suspensi sista ditambah, seterusnya dieramkan selama 24 jam pada 30ºC sebelum dipindahkan ke atas plat agar bukan nutrien (NNA) yang dilapisi E. coli matian haba. Plat agar diperhatikan setiap hari sehingga hari yang ke-14 untuk mengesan sebarang kehadiran trofozoit di bawah mikroskop inverted. Kehadiran trofozoit Acanthamoeba menunjukkan bahawa antibiotik ujian tidak berkesan terhadap sista Acanthamoeba. Gentamicin berkesan terhadap sista Acanthamoeba, dengan nilai purata sistisidal minimum (MCC) 1453.1 μg/ml. Ge.....

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The detection of halal adulteration in processed food, particularly the presence of porcine based material, be it human or animal food is very important to safeguard the interest of Muslim consumers. Many techniques have been developed to determine such adulteration which can ascertain the halal status of food products. In this paper, the presence of porcine based materials in few processed foods namely meat products, candy products, and animal feeds obtained from Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia were screened by using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method. Findings revealed that all processed meat samples showed a positive result of the presence of porcine DNA. A similar result was also obtained for a few samples of animal feeds and candy products. As such, further study is required to verify the results...

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A wealth of studies have proposed that plantations can be enhanced into an area that is rich in biodiversity, perhaps to the extent of being an off-reserve strategy area for conservation purposes. This study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of rubber forest plantation in harbouring and acting as an off-reserve conservation area for birds. By conserving forest fragment areas as a way to improve the heterogeneity of a landscape within a rubber forest plantation, this paper aims to determine the conservation status of birds recorded from Bukit Kuantan rubber forest plantation which adopted forest fragment conservation. A point count observation method was implemented to record any sightings of birds within this plantation landscape. Subsequently, the identified bird species were checked with the Malaysian Wildlife Conservation Act (WCA) 2010 and IUCN Red List Data of endangered species. From the context of WCA 2010, it was found that majority of birds which accounted to 70%, .....

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In the evolving globalization in Malaysia, many organizations employ online communication platform for faster decision making, easier collaboration on assignments and greater recognition of employees for achievement and rewards. However, this additional medium of communication posts a risk of uncivil online comments that can lead to lower unproductively among employees that reduces employees’ well-being and increases organizations costs. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the negative consequences of online incivility, in particular in Malaysia, considering aspect of negative moods as possible mediator in the relationship. In addition, problem solving conflict management styles is also discussed as a social support that may decrease the negative consequences of online incivility based from sound literature review. Plausible hypotheses are also then derived from the constructive arguments. This study is consistent with the objectives of Eleventh Malaysian Plan (2016-2020) and Trans.....

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From the agricultural waste of rice (rice husk), high purity SiO2 with about 98.548 % purity was extracted using a very simple room temperature leaching method. Using the rice husk extracted silicate, a system of silicate borotellurite glasses was fabricated with composition equation [(TeO2)0.7 (B2O3)0.3]1-x (SiO2)x with x= 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4. The density and molar volume were measured, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-Vis analyses were performed on the glasses. Both the density and molar volume decreased and the XRD pattern confirmed the glasses’ amorphous nature. The FTIR showed the presence of TeO3, TeO4, BO3, BO2O, SiO4, and H3BO3 structural units in the glasses. The concentrations of TeO3, TeO4, BO3 and BO2O structures were determined by the deconvolution of the FTIR spectra using an Origin software. The optical energy band gap, index of refraction, oxygen packing density (OPD), molar refractive index, metallization criterion and pola.....

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