Entrepreneurship education in Malaysian universities

Entrepreneurship education in the strongly emerging market of Malaysia was examined throughout the country’s 20 public universities. A broad based interview process amongst multiple stakeholders profiled educational policies as well as revealing shortcomings in practice. Observers noted that students showed a preference for salaried jobs after graduation rather than setting up their own businesses, despite participation in entrepreneurship classes and programmes. Policymakers indicated that curricula had deficiencies despite their hype. Passive lectures were far more common than more interactive methods. It is suggested that if Malaysian universities are to promote entrepreneurship education in an effective way, they must address these issues.

     

Knowledge sharing practices: A case study at Malaysia’s healthcare research institutes

The main objective of this study was to investigate the perception of the researchers and officers within the National Institutes of Health Malaysia (NIH) about their understanding of knowledge sharing practices in their respective environment. Questions included: what are the perceptions of the respondents with regard to the knowledge sharing practices in their respective institutions? What are the benefits for knowledge sharing practices as perceived by them? What are their perceived organisational knowledge sharing practices motivating factors? Also, what are the hindering factors? The survey of the researchers and officers of the NIH was distributed to 400 respondents from the six research institutes under NIH: Institute for Medical Research (IMR), Institute for Public Health (IPH), Network for Clinical Research Centres (CRC), Institute for Health Management (IHM), Institute for Health Systems Research (IHSR) and Institute for Health Promotion (IHP). The responses indicated that knowledge sharing depends on the context of encouraging and rewarding the practices of organisational knowledge sharing. The findings suggest four factors – Environment and Infrastructure, Management Support, Culture and Technology – as significant determinants in influencing the organisational knowledge sharing practices among the employees. The study was limited to the perceptual aspect of the issue, specifically from the individuals’ opinions and sentiments.     

Interconversion of Fischer and zig-zag projections learning stereochemistry with the help of hands

Visualization of molecules in three dimensions is an important aspect of organic chemistry. The use of hands has been shown to be effective in the three-dimensional visualization of molecules [1]. A method of looking at one’s own hands as a model that allows students to see the interconversion of Fischer and zig-zag projections is described in this article.     

Convection-radiation from a continuously moving fin of variable thermal conductivity

The homotopy analysis method (HAM) is applied to generate an analytic solution for heat transfer in a moving fin of variable thermal conductivity which is losing heat by simultaneous convection and radiation to its surroundings. The accuracy of the analytic solution is validated by comparing it with the direct numerical solution of the problem. The analytic solution is found to be accurate to at least three places of decimal for a wide range of values of the parameters that are commonly encountered in thermal processing application. Graphs displaying the results are interpreted in physical terms.     

Nephroprotective effects of Zingiber zerumbet Smith ethyl acetate extract against paracetamol-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats

Paracetamol (PCM) overdose can cause nephrotoxicity with oxidative stress as one of the possible mechanisms mediating the event. In this study, the effects of ethyl acetate extract of Zingiber zerumbet rhizome [200 mg per kg of body weight (mg/kg) and 400 mg/kg] on PCM-induced nephrotoxicity were examined. Rats were divided into five groups containing 10 rats each. The control group received distilled water while other groups were treated with extract alone (400 mg/kg), PCM alone (750 mg/kg), 750 mg/kg PCM+200 mg/kg extract (PCM+ 200-extract), and 750 mg/kg PCM+400 mg/kg extract (PCM+400-extract), respectively, for seven consecutive days. The Z. zerumbet extract was given intraperitoneally concurrent with oral administration of PCM. Treatment with Z. zerumbet extract at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg prevented the PCM-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative impairments of the kidney, as evidenced by a significantly reduced (P<0.05) level of plasma creatinine, plasma and renal malondialdehyde (MDA), plasma protein carbonyl, and renal advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP). Furthermore, both doses were also able to induce a significant increment (P<0.05) of plasma and renal levels of glutathione (GSH) and plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The nephroprotective effects of Z. zerumbet extract were confirmed by a reduced intensity of renal cellular damage, as evidenced by histological findings. Moreover, Z. zerumbet extract administered at 400 mg/kg was found to show greater protective effects than that at 200 mg/kg. In conclusion, ethyl acetate extract of Z. zerumbet rhizome has a protective role against PCM-induced nephrotoxicity and the process is probably mediated through its antioxidant properties.     

Individual differences in preferences for matched-ethnic mentors among high-achieving ethnically diverse adolescents in STEM

This short-term longitudinal study examined (a) adolescents' contact with mentors who share their background in relation to the importance they place on having such mentors, and (b) the associations of these perceptions with self-efficacy, identity, and commitment to a science career. Participants were 265 ethnically diverse adolescents (M age = 15.82) attending a 4-week science education program. Cluster analyses indicated that at Time 1, underrepresented ethnic minorities were more often in the cluster defined by feelings of importance of having a matched-background mentor but not having much contact. Perceptions of contact increased over time for these students and were associated with increased feelings of identity as a science student. The results suggest the need for attending to individual differences in students' preferences for matched-background mentors.     

Undergraduate Students' Problems with Citing References

This study explored the problems undergraduate students are faced with in citing references in their academic work. The study revealed that undergraduate students face difficulties in citing references in their academic work and that they are inconsistent in the way they cite. The article suggests ways in which faculty and library staff can work together to address this problem.     

Bibliographic control in Sierra Leone

Bibliographic control is crucial for library and information work and librarians are sensitive to the importance of maintaining their country's national lists. Its importance is premised on the fact that knowledge of a country's literature is of vital importance to the scholars involved in the study of particular disciplines that deal with distinct historical and geographical areas. In parallel, bibliographic control facilitates specialization in the location, collection and retrieval of information, thus providing a basis for inter-library cooperation. Albeit, this article explores bibliographic activities in Sierra Leone. It highlights the country's publishing activities, legal deposit Act, and bibliographic activities and the problems associated with these activities in the country.