The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has distorted the education system, which greatly challenged educators in the pursuit of the continuity and quality of education. Commitment to perform duties ...and responsibilities are bounded in coping with the situation, emotional state, and the support from the organization.
To analyze and understand the presumed interrelationship of modeled variables, such as the coping style, anxiety level, organizational support, and work commitment of educators during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is a mixed-methods study through an explanatory sequential approach. The path analysis technique was applied for quantitative with 116 educators as sample respondents guided by selection criteria. Digital immigrant educators with extreme responses were identified and asked permission for an interview. Open-access adapted questionnaires used were Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Perceived Organizational Support (POS), Allen and Meyer's Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ). Data were processed and analyzed using SPSS and AMOS for descriptive and inferential statistics. A four-domain semi-structured questionnaire served as a guide in interviewing participants in the context of coping, anxiety, support, and work commitment. Thematic analysis was performed to generate themes.
This study shown that educators often used coping style (1.87 ± 0.84; Mean ±
), have a low level of anxiety (0.58 ± 0.69; Mean ±
), have perceived uncertainty related to organizational support (4.03 ± 1.37; Mean ±
), and neither agree nor disagree in terms of their work commitment (3.02 ± 0.93; Mean ±
). The presumed model through path analysis has significantly predicted 28% plausibility (
= 0.28) with only organizational support that shown significant influence towards educators' work commitment (
= 0.22). The themes that emerged are challenging adjustment, predestined situation, fear of getting infected, difficulty teaching effectively, technologically challenged, psychosocial assistance, uncertainty, and willingness to explore.
Educators during the COVID-19 pandemic were able to cope and control their anxiety through the test of time, seamless work commitment, and presence of support. This study can be considered a framework for situational analysis of nurse educators in the academic realm in times of emergency and disaster.
The respondents presenting with indoor environmentally associated symptoms such as sick building syndrome (SBS) are apt to have been exposed to inadequate indoor air quality (IAQ). The main objective ...of this study is to determine the association between IAQ parameters and symptoms of SBS in three selected buildings. The criteria of buildings selection is based on long history of occupancy and age of building. The structured questionnaire was distributed to respondents and IAQ parameters were technically measured in the selected buildings. The survey shows that the prevalence of SBS symptoms was similar in the selected buildings. Besides, no association was found between building type and SBS occurrence. IAQ parameters measurement indicated that most of the IAQ parameters were complied with the Malaysia standard of IAQ, excluded air velocity. Significant differences (p < 0.001) between the selected buildings were observed among velocity, CO2 concentration, temperature and relative humidity. However, the CO concentration (p = 0.18) and fungal counts (p = 0.83) were not significant differences between building. The findings suggested that the important predictors of sick building syndromes are ventilation and accumulation of possible contaminants within the indoor environment.
A wood-polymer composite (WPCs) refers to wood-based components that are coupled with polymers to produce a composite material. Obtaining the best strength for the tropical WPCs is still a lack of ...research mainly for the tropical timber species and require a large consumption of time and cost. This paper highlighted the evaluation of particle swarm optimization (PSO) to assist in finding the optimal value of the composition of tropical WPCs to obtain the best strength that would offer a betterment in a quality product of WPCs. The findings demonstrate that PSO has been shown as a viable and efficient method for WPCs strength. The composition of Sentang, wood sawdust of 50%, HDPE of 49% and 1% coupling agent is demonstrated the best strength for the WPC. The employment of PSO as an assisted tool would give significant benefit to the manufacturer and researcher to determine the composition of material with less cost and time.
Stone mastic asphalt (SMA) is well known as a high coarse aggregate content that interlocks to form a stone skeleton that resist permanent deformation. However, it facing a lot of problems such as ...rutting and stripping because of the high temperature and repeated axial load. It also suffers with creep issue. The cellulose fiber is a type of synthetic fiber that can enhance the properties of asphalt mixture. Thus, the aim of this study is to utilize the cellulose fiber that has high tensile strength to overcome the problem of SMA. Among the tests involve are Resilient Modulus, Marshall Stability and Cantabro Loss. From the results, it shows that the addition of cellulose fiber improved the recovery ability of asphalt binder. From each test, the addition of 0.2% cellulose fiber contributes to lowest value of abrasion, while 0.3% producing highest value of resilient modulus. Thus, the addition of cellulose fiber is capable in enhancing the properties of SMA.
The influence of coconut shells (CS) and coconut fibres (CF) on the stability and rutting resistance of porous asphalt mixture is examined. Four different percentage replacement of CS and three ...different of CF as additives were investigate. CS and CF were put through chemical treatment by soaking them in 5wt% of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) solution before being involved in the mixture. Marshall Stability and asphalt pavement analyzer are performed to evaluate the Stability and rutting resistance of porous asphalt mixture. It was found that there appears to be an optimum CS replacement level of 10% and 0.3% CS during which the stability and rutting resistance increase significantly.
Abstract
Tin Ore tailings (TOT) are waste generated from tin mining activities, which not only occupy lots of land, but also result in severe pollution to the surroundings. Many studies by ...researchers exploring better ways to increase the usage of industrial by-products in order to ease disposal problems preserve natural sources and save the environment. In this study, 1%, 3% and 5% of TOT are incorporated with ACW14 mixture in accordance to JKR 2008. 5% optimum bitumen is used for all samples. Marshall Mix design test is conducted to determine the volumetric properties, stability and flow. Moisture susceptibility test conducted to determine the indirect tensile strength in dry and wet samples. Generally, the stability values increases with the percentage of TOT increased.
Abstract
Repetitive traffic load is the most important factor influencing porous asphalt (PA) performance. The performance of asphalt is mostly influenced by the loading magnitude of heavy vehicles. ...In order to improve the service performance of PA under heavy traffic conditions. the decrement of stiffness is one of the failures that occur on the PA which mainly caused by the repeated load from a large number of different types of vehicles which leads to reduce the characteristic of PA in terms of stiffness and durability. Moreover, to enhance the performance of PA against the stiffness reduction an additive material used to increase the strength of the PA called Nano-silica particles. Thus, the aim of the study to investigate the resilient modulus of Nano-silica modified PA and develop a finite element analysis FEA model to predicate the resilient modulus. In this study, three different Nano-silica contents 0%, 2% and 4% by weight of PA mixture were investigated. To achieve this, a finite element model was developed and simulated by using ABAQUS 6.14 software for the PA samples to predict the resilient modulus performance. A comparative study was done among the unmodified and modified PA mixtures considering the resilient modules value. The result showed that Nano-silica is recommended as an additive in PA mixture, as the result of the modified PA mixture with 2% of NS was 4357Mpa while the unmodified was 3001Mpa. Thus, the addition of NS to PA mixture Capable in increasing the strength and quality of asphalt mixture.
Abstract
In areas with heavy rainfall, the conventional pavement may not be suitable due to low drainage capability. This will cause to a storm failure. To solve this, Porous asphalt (PA) is one of ...the innovative asphalts that can significantly overcome the issue of storm-water problem. The high air voids content characteristic of PA compares with conventional pavement in Malaysia is very suitable in managing the storm-water. However, PA suffers a few problems such as decrement of strength and tensile strength due to high air voids content which lead to permanent deformation. In order to enhance the performance of PA against the permanent deformation an additive material used to increase the strength of the PA called Nano-silica particles. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the dynamic creep of Nano-silica modified PA by developing a finite element analysis (FEA) model. Moreover, this study the dynamic creep performance of porous asphalt with different proportion of Nano-silica particles 0%, 2% and 4% was predicted. A finite element model will be simulated by using ABAQUS 6.14 software for the PA sample in order to achieve the objectives of the study. From this study it was concluded that, the develop model was reliable use to predict the performance of PA in terms of dynamic creep and the utilizing of Nano-silica in PA mixture result changes in the rheological properties of the asphalt binder which lead to an enhancement of its performance against the permanent deformation.
Invasion of Nilaparvata lugens or brown planthopper (BPH) in paddy fields has led to the use of excessive chemical insecticides due to its effectiveness. However, excessive applications has ...contributed several negative effects on the environment, farmers as well as non-targeting organisms. As an alternative, a mixture of a botanical insecticide containing mixture of chili and ginger extracts have been studied. Three parameters were studied namely the extract concentration, time of exposure and temperature of exposure. The results showed that 90% of BPH mortality was found at 40% extract concentration with 72 hr duration time of exposure at optimal temperature 30°C. HPLC analysis proved the presence of capsaicin and gingerol at peaks of 4.502 min and 11.046 min respectively. From repellency analysis, the BPH showed selective repel action against the treated paddy. This is due to the pungent odor contributed from compound of gingerol, shogaol and capsaicin presented in the mixture. Meanwhile, contact toxicity studies have successfully give 100% of mortality of BPH. Microscopic analysis have shown BPH deformities was increased by the extract concentration.
Waste cooking oil (WCO) is identified as a valuable potential waste material that can enhance the performance of conventional asphalt binder for road pavement construction. This study aims to ...evaluate the rutting resistance of bitumen incorporating untreated and treated WCO. Waste cooking oil dosage of 0%, 3%, 4%, and 5% by weight of binder was used throughout the experiments. The dynamic shear rheometer test was conducted to determine the performance of rutting resistance test. In addition, one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determined correlation of the sample. It was found that the rutting resistance performance was decreased as the test temperature increased. The results also indicated that modified binder with treated WCO exhibited the highest rutting resistance as compared to the untreated WCO. Based on analysis of variance it show that there are a significant difference in G*/sin δ for different untreated and treated WCO in modified binder.
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