Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Development of Teacher Professionalism Towards the Self-Effectiveness of Secondary School Teachers

The development of teacher professionalism (PPG) is needed to boost the excellence of school institutions towards continuous and systematic improvement. The process of transformation and innovation desired by the Malaysian Education Development Plan 20132025 (PPPM) is able to realize the world-class Malaysian education system. The study aims to identify the level of PPG practice of secondary school teachers in the state of Selangor (Malaysia) and the implications for teachers' self-efficacy. Data were collected using a questionnaire adapted from the Malaysian Teacher Standard. Stratified random sampling according to the ratio was used in the selection of 384 respondents in this study. Data analysis methods use Statistical Package for the Social Science Version 25 (SPSS) software and descriptive analysis, t-test, variance analysis test (ANOVA), and pearson correlation to determine the influence of teacher professional development on teacher self-efficacy. This study proves that the development of teacher professionalism can increase the level of teacher self-efficacy to a high level. The findings of the study also found that the development of teacher professionalism can be implemented continuously and systematically in schools. The study also proves that there are differences in the level of professional development of teachers according to demographic factors and the findings of this study will be used as a guideline for all stakeholders to implement the development of teacher professionalism in order to increase teacher self-efficacy to a very high level.
On the Inversion of Wind Scatterometer Data

SUMMARY The scatterometer is a real aperture radar ca-pable to perform a set of normalized radar cross section measure-ments under diﬀerent azimuth angles for each resolution cell. Themain ﬁeld of application of a wind scatterometer regards the seasurface wind ﬁeld determination. As a matter of fact, once suchmeasurements have been performed it is possible to determine thesea surface wind ﬁeld by means of an inversion procedure. In thispaper we present a novel inversion scheme which is an evolutionof the procedure nowday used by the Italian Space Agency (ASI)under the Italian Processing and Archiving Facility (I-PAF). Afull comparative study shows that the novel inversion schemebetter behaves whenever light wind regimes are in question.key words: 1. IntroductionWind ﬁeld knowledge is a key element in climatologi-cal and meteorological studies. Classically, sea surfacewind ﬁeld measurement is performed by buoys whichare unavoidably limited in space and time [1]. Alter-natively, sea surface wind ﬁeld can be determined byproper physical models such as the one employed bythe European Center for Medium-Range Weather Fore-casting (ECMWF) analysis [1]. Satellite remote sensing has opened a new perspec-tive to cope to such a demand. In fact, it has beendemonstrated that the normalized radar cross sectionσ
Detecting Beam-Column Connection Failures in ASCE Phase II Simulated Benchmark Studies using a Two-Step Bayesian Structural Health Monitoring Approach

This paper uses a two-step probabilistic structural health monitoring approach to analyze the unbraced cases in the Phase II simulated benchmark studies sponsored by the IASC-ASCE Task Group on Structural Health Monitoring. These cases involve damage detection and assessment of beam-column connection failures of the test structure using simulated ambient vibration data that is generated from the benchmark model which has randomly chosen structural parameter values. The two-step approach involves modal identification followed by damage assessment that uses the identified pre- and post-damage modal parameters based on a Bayesian updating methodology. An Expectation-Maximization algorithm is proposed to find the most probable values of the structural parameters. The results of analysis show that the probabilistic approach is able to successfully detect and assess damage locations for the full-sensor and the partial-sensor cases.
Are Resources Solely to Be Blamed?: The Current Situation on Music Education Facilities, Computer and Music Technology Resources in Victoria

Issues of equity, access, and the provision of music education resources arose as part of a recent study that investigated authentic learning and digital technology in the music classroom. It became clear that it was not just a matter of the resources, but how they are used. Music education must reflect contemporary music practice to ensure its relevancy, engage students and assist in cementing its place in the school curriculum. This article explores the current availability and use of music education facilities, computer/s and music technology resources in Victorian government secondary schools. The discussion then focuses on one particular school and the perceptions of one music teacher and her music students regarding this issue. The school selected had less than ideal resources for music education. This study demonstrates that, even with poor facilities, music educators can deliver effective and relevant music technology programs that engage student with school music.
AUXIN-PRODUCING PLANT GROWTH-PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIA PROMOTE ROOT FORMATION OF EPIPREMNUM AUREUM CUTTINGS

This work was conducted to determine the possible influences of auxin-producing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on root formation of Epipremnum aureum stem cuttings for environment friendly commercial production. Agrobacterium rubi A-16, Bacillus megaterium M-3, TV-91C and TV-6D were used to increase rooting performance. The new root formation was higher (51.67-75.00%) in all bacteria strain treatments as compared to control (36.67%). Root and shoot length were longer in cuttings inoculated with Agrobacterium rubi A-16 compared with other bacteria strains. The root and shoot lengths were lower than bacteria treatments in control cuttings. The dry matter content of roots varied from 7.27% (M-3) to 8.33% (A-16). The highest new leaf number (2.97) was counted in TV-6D followed by 2.87 in treatment TV-91C. The leaf area and chlorophyll content varied from 8.41 cm2 (control) to 10.32 cm2 (M-3) and 22.60 (TV-6D) to 25.97 (TV-91C), respectively. The mean values of examined properties of Epipremnum aureum cuttings treated with auxin-producing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria were better than control. Plus, when bacteria strains were evaluated among themselves, it could be said that the effect of Agrobacterium rubi A-16 on the examined parameters were higher than other bacteria strains and can be suggested for producers of Epipremnum aureum and other ornamental species for vegetative propagation.
Cross-Frame and Diaphragm Behavior for Steel Bridges with Skewed Supports

Steel bridge girders are prone to buckling from construction loads during casting of the concrete for the composite deck. The buckling capacity of the steel girders can be increased by providing bracing at intermediate locations along the girder length. The intermediate bracing typically takes the form of cross-frames or diaphragms. Skewed supports occur when the supporting abutments for the girders are not normal to the girder line, but are instead offset by a skew angle. The skew angle may be required due to characteristics of intersecting roadways or due to the geological terrain. Fatigue cracks are commonly found around locations of cross-frames and diaphragms during routine maintenance inspections. These cracks form from large stress concentrations in the girder due to cross-frame and diaphragm forces induced by truck traffic on the bridge. This is particularly true for bridges with skewed supports. The objective of the research outlined in this report is to improve the understanding of the bracing behavior of cross-frames and diaphragms in steel bridges with skewed supports. General bracing requirements are developed and new cross-frame and diaphragm details to minimize fatigue problems at bracing locations are proposed. A variety of parameters were considered in the investigation, including skew angle and girder geometry. The skew angles that were considered varied from 0 degrees (normal supports) to 45 degrees. The geometry of the girder cross-sections ranged from doubly symmetric rolled sections to singly symmetric plate girders. The number of intermediate braces along the girder length was varied as well as the brace orientation relative to the girder axes. Two brace orientations were considered for each skew angle: parallel to the skewed supports and normal to the girder line. In addition to determining the general bracing requirements, improved bracing details were also considered in the study. Details are proposed that will reduce the brace forces induced from truck traffic. In addition, bracing systems that will reduce the number of cross-frames or diaphragms are proposed. Reducing the number of braces will make the bridges easier to inspect since there will be fewer fatigue-prone details.
Climate change causes changes in biochemical markers of renal disease

Background: Climate change is a significant threat to the health of the Ghanaian people. Evidence abounds in Ghana that temperatures in all the ecological zones are rising, whereas rainfall levels have been generally reducing and patterns are increasingly becoming erratic. The study estimated the impact of climate variation between seasons on biochemical markers of renal disease.Methods: This study conveniently recruited 50 apparently healthy peasant farmers and hawkers at Wa in the Upper West Region of Ghana. A pre-study screening for hepatitis A and C, Diabetes mellitus, hypertension was done. Serum creatinine and urea levels were analyzed to rule out kidney preexisting renal disease . Baseline data was collected by estimating urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) as well as for hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) concentrations. Anthropometric data such as height, weight and blood pressure were measured by trained personnel. The study participants were closely followed and alerted deep in the dry season for the second sampling (urea, creatinine, hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood pressure, anthropometry)Results: This study recruited more males (58.82%) than females (41.15%), majority (52.92%) of which were aged 25-29 years with the youngest being 22 years and the eldest being 35 years. The study found body mass index (p<0.001), systolic blood pressure (p=0.019), creatinine (p<0.001), urea (p=0.013) and eGFR (p<0.001) to be significantly influenced by climate change. Stage 1 hypertension was predominant among the study participants during the dry season, 8 (15.69%) than was observed during the rainy season, 4 (7.84%) nonetheless the number of participants with normal BMI rose from 49.02% in the rainy season to 62.75% during the dry reason. Additionally, the study observed that the impact of climate change on systolic blood pressure and urea varied based on age and sex. Conclusion: This study revealed that climatic changes cause variations in various biochemical parameters used to assess renal function. Public health education on climatic changes and its implication including precautionary measures should be done among inhabitants of Wa and its environs to reduce its effect. Additionally, appropriate dietary patterns should also be advised to avoid the development of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and obesity that are known principal causes of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
fuzzy logic aPPlied for sustaiNable urbaN models

The environmental indicator choice process for studying a specific context results from a fundamental analysis of the objectives, with the consideration that a good indicator must be specific, sensitive, practical and pertinent to the case under study and carefully defined. The sustainable indica - tors are characterised by a low degree of aggregation and a high amount of information. The scope of this work is to assign, by fuzzy logic, the weights to the different indicators that can be taken in consideration in an environmental impact, so to obtain a significant homogeneity and objectivity. In this paper is illustrated the calculation of the assigned weights that uses a procedure based on fuzzy logic and to define a model that allows us to estimate the sustainability of a city .
Photonic microcells for quantum optics applications

This thesis presents the development of photonic microcells for use as the host for coherent optics phenomena and related applications. A photonic microcell consists of a length of hollow-core photonic crystal fibre (HC-PCF) with a gas-filled core that is spliced to conventional optical fibre at either end to seal the gas within the fibre. Towards the goal of demonstrating and assessing the coherence properties of quantum optical effects in photonic microcells, the fabrication of two types of HC-PCF is presented. The established photonic bandgap HC-PCF offers extremely low transmission loss of ~10 dB/km over kilometre distances. However, the fibre has a limited transmission bandwidth of ~50 THz and exhibits modal coupling unfavourable for many applications. Work is presented on the tailoring of this fibre by control and shaping of the core-surround in order to improve its modal properties. A second type of HC-PCF is based on a large-pitch lattice, whose guidance relies on a new mechanism. This fibre exhibits a much improved bandwidth (>1000 THz) and has a relatively higher but still practical loss of ~1 dB/m. The development of photonic microcells at microbar pressure level and with low optical insertion loss is shown, an important step in the improvement of the technology for coherent optics applications which will take advantage of the extreme gas-laser interaction efficiency achieved in HC-PCF. Finally, quantum optical effects are demonstrated in HC-PCF and photonic microcells loaded with both the molecular gas acetylene and atomic vapour rubidium. The observation of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in acetylene-filled HC-PCF represents the first such observation in a molecular gas, while the use of a photonic microcell allows a comparison of many experimental configurations to explore the coherence properties of coherent optical systems in the core of a HC-PCF. Furthermore, EIT is observed unambiguously in a rubidium loaded HC-PCF for the first time, and the anti-relaxation effects of a polymer coating demonstrated in this configuration.
Investigating individual software development: an evaluation of the leap toolkit

Software developers work too hard and yet do not get enough done. Developing high quality software efficiently and consistently is a very difficult problem. Developers and managers have tried many different solutions to address this problem. Recently their focus has shifted from the software organization to the individual software developer. For example, the Personal Software Process incorporates many of the previous solutions while focusing on the individual software developer. This thesis presents the Leap toolkit, which combines ideas from prior research on the Personal Software Process, Formal Technical Review and my experiences building automated support for software engineering activities. The Leap toolkit is intended to help individuals in their efforts to improve their development capabilities. Since it is a light-weight, flexible, powerful, and private tool, it provides a novel way for developers to gain valuable insight into their own development process. The Leap toolkit also addresses many measurement and data issues involved with recording any software development process. The main thesis of this work is that the Leap toolkit provides a novel tool that allows developers and researchers to collect and analyze software engineering data. To investigate some of the issues of data collection and analysis, I conducted a case study of 16 graduate students in an advanced software engineering course at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. The case study investigated: (1) the relationship between the Leap toolkit’s time collection tools and “collection stage” errors; and (2) different time estimation techniques supported by the Leap toolkit. The major contributions of this research includes (1) the LEAP design philosophy; (2) the Leap toolkit, which is a novel tool for individual developer improvement and software engineering research; and (3) the insights from the case study about collection overhead, collection error and project estimation.
A critical evaluation and refinement of the performance prediction of wet-cooling towers

The thermal performance prediction ofwet-cooling towers is critically analyzed and refined. Natural draft counterflow towers and mechanical draft counterflow and crossflow towers are considered. The Merkel, Poppe and e-NTU heat and mass transfer methods of analysis are derived from first principles, as these methods form the cornerstone of wet-cooling tower performance evaluation. The critical differences between these methods, when applied to fill performance analyses and cooling tower performance evaluations, are highlighted. The reasons for these differences are discussed with the aid of psychrometric charts. A new extended empirical relation for the loss coefficient of fills is proposed where the viscous and form drag effects are accounted for as well as the buoyancy, momentum and fill height effects. The empirical equation for the transfer characteristic of fills is extended to include the effects of fill height and the inlet water temperature. Empirical equations to predict the temperature inversion profile, height of the temperature inversion and the height from which air is drawn into the cooling tower are developed. The influence of temperature and humidity inversions on the performance of wet-cooling towers is subsequently investigated. A comprehensive analytical computer program is developed to predict and optimize the performance of wet-cooling towers. Computer programs are also developed to generate cooling tower performance curves, analyze fill performance test data and plot psychrometric charts. Keywords; Wet-cooling tower, Merke~ Poppe, e-NTU, natural draft, mechanical draft, fill, temperature inversion.
Between school and work: New perspectives on transfer and boundary-crossing

This volume presents the research outcomes of Working Group 2 of Cost Action A11, 'Flexibility, transferability, mobility as targets of vocational education and training'. The group focused on the issue of transfer of learning in vocational education and training and the development of new conceptual tools for the promotion of transformative learning. The book presents an overview of different theoretical approaches to transfer of knowledge and skill, including recent attempts at reconceptualisation. The emphasis is on a perception of learning as boundary crossing between contexts. It is argued that this process is not just the transfer of intact knowledge and skills from task to task or from the school to the workplace, but that as evidence increasingly shows in the process of transfer knowledge and contexts are changed. The chapters are: From transfer to boundary-crossing between school and work as a tool for developing vocational education: an introduction / Terttu Tuomi-Grohn, Yrjo Engestrom and Michael Young. Part one, 'Boundary-crossing as a theoretical basis for research on transfer', contains: Conceptualizing transfer: from standard notions to developmental perspectives / Turttu Tuomi-Grohn and Yrjo Engestrom; Consequential transitions: a developmental view of knowledge propagation through social organizations / King Beach; Transfer and transition in vocational education: some theoretical considerations / David Guile and Michael Young. Part two, 'Learning and transfer in vocational education', contains: Exploration of an industrial enterprise as a method of boundary-crossing in vocational education / Barbel Furstenau; Developing competence during practice periods: the learner's perspective / Johan van der Sanden and Christa Teurlings; Curriculum-embedded mastery learning as a tool for fostering transfer / Frank Achtenhagen; Boundary-crossing in the context of intercultural learning / Susanne Weber; 'Speaking from experience': boundary-crossing within a pre-vocational education programme in Ireland / Gary Granville and Mary Reilly; Developmental transfer as a goal of internship in practical nursing / Terttu Tuomi-Grohn; Promoting developmental transfer in vocational teacher education / Pirjo Lambert. Part three, 'Learning in workplace', contains: Learning in working life: from theory to practice / Petra Angervall and Per-Olof Thang; A model for analyzing knowledge content and processes of learning a trade within alternance vocational training / Annalisa Sannino, Alain Trognon and Lara Dessagne; Workplace learning across activity systems: a case study of sales engineers / Sten R. Ludvigsen, Anton Havnes and Leif Chr. Lahn; Epilogue: from transfer to boundary-crossing / Roger Saljo.
Non-invasive measurement of stress and pain in cattle using infrared thermography : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Science at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

16 Introduction 16 Current measures of stress and their limitations 17 Developments in non-invasive measures of stress and remote sampling 19 Infrared thermography: application for measuring stress and assessing animal welfare 21 Infrared thermography in the dairy industry 22 Infrared thermography in the beef industry 24 Current research investigating infrared thermography as a tool to measure Stress 25 Conclusions and animal welfare implications 27 References 27 Chapter Three: Non-invasive measurement of stress in dairy cows using infrared thermography 33 Abstract 34 Introduction 34 Method 36 Results 40 Discussion and conclusions 45 References 47 34 Introduction 34 Method 36 Results 40 Discussion and conclusions 45 References 47 Chapter Four: Infrared thermography as a non-invasive method for detecting fear-related responses of cattle to handling procedures 49 Abstract 50 Introduction 50 Materials and methods 52 Results 54 Discussion 57 Animal welfare implications 60 References 60 50 Introduction 50 Materials and methods 52 Results 54 Discussion 57 Animal welfare implications 60 References 60
Orientasi Sikap Keusahawanan di Kalangan Pelajar Politeknik di Malaysia

Objektif kajian ialah untuk mengetahui orientasi sikap keusahawanan di kalangan pelajar politeknik di Malaysia serta mengenal pasti hubungan faktor demografi, latar belakang pendidikan, pengalaman responden, pendidikan ibubapa dan pekerjaan dengan orientasi sikap keusahawanan. Dalam konteks ini, masyarakat telah memberikan harapan yang tinggi kepada politeknik sebagai satu dari institusi pengajian yang utama untuk mengembangkan keusahawanan di kalangan pelajar. Isu mengenai sikap pelajar politeknik terhadap bidang keusahawanan telah mendapat perhatian di kalangan pendidik dan kerajaan. Untuk memahami dengan lebih jelas mengenai faktor-faktor yang boleh mempengaruhi orientasi sikap keusahawanan maka satu model pembentukan orientasi sikap keusahawanan telah dicadangkan. Dalam kajian ini instrumen ujian orientasi sikap keusahawanan dan soalselidik mengenai demografi responden telah digunakan. Kajian ini dibuat ke atas pelajar tahun akhir di enam buah politeknik di Malaysia. Walaupun pelajar dari keturunan Cina telah dikatakan mempunyai sikap keusahawanan yang tinggi kerana latar belakang keluarga, kajian ini tidak mendapati bahawa pelajar-pelajar dari keturunan Cina mempunyai orientasi sikap keusahawanan yang tinggi. Penemuan kajian ini telah memperlihatkan bahawa pelajar wanita, pelajar berasal dari kampung, anak petani dan pengalaman mengendalikan akaun adalah kumpulan pelajar yang mempunyai sikap keusahawanan yang tinggi. Mengenai hubungan di antara gred mata pelajaran di peringkat Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia dengan orientasi sikap keusahawanan pelajar, kajian ini mendapati bahawa gred mata pelajaran Bahasa Malaysia dan Matematik Tambahan mempunyai hubungan yang signifikan dengan sikap keusahawanan yang tinggi.