Working commitment among trainee teachers： A meta evaluation approach

The main aim of the study was to evaluate trainee teachers working commitment in their teaching practicum. There were seven component teaching practices and eleven demographic factors. The instrument of the study was extracted from various sources to suit the research design based on Units, Treatments, Observing, and Surveying （UTOS） model modification. The reliability index obtained for both research instruments were reasonably good ranging from 0.7030 to 0.9053. A total of 276 trainee teachers who were doing their practical teaching in one of the state in Malaysia （Kelantan）. Stratified random sampling was used. They made their self-assessment by using the working commitment instrument. At the same time, their teaching processes were guided through conferences, observations and finally evaluations to get their comparative scores of teaching performance. The data were analyzed by using statistical multiple regression at significant ofp 〈 0.05. As a result, a linear equation of trainee teachers＇ commitment comprises contribution of work load, work satisfaction, study opportunities, teachers＇ prospect, marital status, teaching practices, planning and preparation teaching procedure, and religious studies. Furthermore the findings of this study led to some suggestions for future teachers development and become more efficient and adaptive.     

Web-based evaluation system for a Problem-Based Laboratory

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University Technology Malaysia is currently moving towards a Problem-Based Laboratory implementation rather than the conventional instructional-based laboratory for final year students. The laboratory has commenced session with about 500 students＇ registration in the 2007/08/1. The Problem-Based Laboratory requires each group of four or five students to solve three given problems in three different laboratories per semester. Each problem has to be solved by conducting the related experiment within four weeks. As they are various evaluation criteria that need to be considered, a web-based evaluation system is proposed in determining the final grade of the students. The evaluation system allows the laboratory coordinators to log in as administrators in order to monitor the evaluation process, which involves both the laboratory technicians and students. The developed web-based evaluation system has proven its capability in working interactively with the users. From the uploading of student＇s information, group division, marks insertion and total marks calculation for the final grade. It is anticipated that the web-based evaluation system can ensure reliability and security in determining a student＇s grade in a Problem-Based Laboratory in a shorter time especially when dealing with a large number of students.     

Heart-Type Fatty Acid-Binding Protein,in Early Detection of Acute Myocardial Infarction: Comparison with CK-MB,Troponin I and Myoglobin

The study aimed to investigate whether heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) measurement provides additional diagnostic value to that of conventional cardiac markers in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) within first 6 h after the onset of symptoms. The study included 120 subjects: 60 AMI cases and 60 age and sex matched controls. The cases and controls were further divided into 2 subgroups depending on the time since onset of chest pain as (1) subjects within 3 h and (2) between 3 and 6 h of onset of chest pain. In all the cases and controls, serum H-FABP concentration was measured by Immunoturbidimetric method, serum Troponin I and myoglobin concentrations by Chemiluminescence immunoassay and serum CK-MB concentration by Immuno-inhibition method. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of H-FABP were significantly greater than CK-MB and myoglobin but were lesser than Troponin I in patients with suspected AMI in both within 3 h and 3–6 h groups. Receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated greatest diagnostic ability for Troponin I (AUC = 0.99, p < 0.001) followed by H-FABP (AUC = 0.906, p < 0.001) within 3 h and 3–6 h after the onset of chest pain. In conclusion, the diagnostic value of H-FABP is greater than CK-MB and myoglobin but slightly lesser than troponin I for the early diagnosis of AMI within first 6 h of chest pain. H-FABP can be used as an additional diagnostic tool for the early diagnosis of AMI along with troponin I.     

Current/voltage-mode universal filter using FTFNs

A new configuration realizing current/voltage-mode (CM/VM) universal filter using two four terminal floating nullors (FTFN) and four passive components is presented. The current-mode configuration has single input and three outputs and realises simultaneously lowpass (LP), bandpass (BP) and highpass (HP) responses from which allpass (AP) and notch functions can also be implemented. The voltage-mode filter has three inputs and two outputs and can be configured to realise all the five filtering functions. The circuit in current-mode uses grounded capacitors which are ideal for monolithic integration. Besides using a bare minimum number of passive components, the topology enjoys low active and passive sensitivity figures. Experimental and PSPICE simulation results are also included.     

Exploring pharmacy students chosen career path: a year-on-year perspective

Higher Education - There are many factors that motivate students to choose a particular academic major, whether it is due to interest, salary, or family. Government policies and...     

新疆少数民族高中双语班汉语教学存在的问题及对策研究

调查表明,新疆少数民族高中双语班汉语教学虽有了较大的改观,但汉语教师的知识结构、汉语课程的设置、汉语第二课堂的开辟及汉语课改的推行等方面还急需完善.在推行进程中,要因地制宜,循序渐进,稳步推进.     

Contrasting Usage of Web-Based Library Services among Postgraduate Students by Type of University within Malaysia

This article aims to describe the differences between research-focused and teaching-focused (non-research) universities in terms of usage of web-based library services, as discovered by way of questionnaires and statistical analyses. It was found that the type of university within the country of Malaysia correlates to significant differences in usage of e-journals and Web-based library services in general. Factors such as library budget allocations, research productivity, and extrinsic motivations for using Web-based library services are surmised to have influenced the usage. The results also suggest that library programs at both types of universities are ineffective in creating awareness of the services. This article discusses several aspects of usage in both types of university and makes several suggestions to remedy identified problems.     

Presynaptic Membrane Receptor in Human Brain

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease that results from antibody mediated damage of Acetylcholine receptor (AChR) at the neuromuscular junction. The autoimmune character of MG and pathogenic role of AChR antibodies have been established by several workers i.e., the demonstration of anti-AChR antibodies in about 90 % of MG patients. It has been demonstrated that patients with MG also have antibodies against a second protein named presynaptic membrane receptor (PsmR), which is identified by utilizing β-Bgtx, a ligand which binds to PsmR. Using β-Bgtx Sepharose 4B affinity matrix, the PsmR was purified from different regions of human cadaver brain by affinity chromatography. Purified receptor was characterized both by biochemical and immunological procedures. PsmR purified from different regions of the brain shows a specific activity of 0.37 ± 0.01, 0.39 ± 0.02 and 0.43 ± 0.005 nM/ μg of protein in Parietal lobe, Occipital lobe and Frontal lobe respectively. The affinity purified PsmR from the brain of 87 and 68 kd (parietal lobe, occipital lobe and frontal lobe) shows immunoreactivity with myasthenic sera. These findings suggest that PsmR from brain is another antigen against which autoantibodies are developed in Myasthenia gravis patients. Upon treatment with various enzymes we concluded that PsmR from brain is a glycoprotein in which the immunoreactivity resides in the carbohydrate as well as the peptide epitopes. In conclusion the PsmR is another antigen against which autoantibodies are formed in different regions of brain. These can be used as a diagnostic tool for detecting antibodies in the sera or cerebrospinal fluid of MG patients.