Digital Commons Network^™

Gender Differences In Information Resource Usage When Making Retirement Saving Decisions, Marilyn Clark-Murphy, Paul Gerrans

Research outputs pre 2011

Population ageing is raising the profile of retirement incomes policy. In Australia assets of retirement savings funds are growing rapidly and fund members are assuming a greater role in determining funds' investment strategies. The decision processes of fund members have not been extensively researched, however, these decisions are significant not only for members but also for employers and government. This paper provides information on retirement savings in Australia and reports on a survey of members of the Superannuation Scheme for Australian Universities (SSAU). In 1999 members of SSAU were asked to choose between a defined benefit scheme or one of …

Educating Professional Software Engineers: Pathways And Progress In The Australian Experience, Rick Duley, David Veal, Stanislaw P. Maj

Research outputs pre 2011

Australia has seized the international initiative in the recognition of software engineers as professionals. Of the 37 universities in Australia offering undergraduate courses in computing, eleven offer courses in software engineering which are accredited by the Institute of Engineers, Australia (IEAust) and which may lead the graduate to membership of the Institute. In this way, the Institute has plausible claim to being the first national professional engineering body in the world to have accredited four-year undergraduate software engineering degrees as professional qualifications. The paper traces the development of the relationship between the Institute of Engineers and the computing industry and …

Improving Assessment: Rubrics In A Tertiary Multimedia Course, Barnard Clarkson, Joseph Luca

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper explains how alternative assessment methods were implemented in a first-year tertiary course on web design. The aim was to make assessment clearer for the students to understand, and more focussed, using a rubric—a detailed, criterion-referenced marking guide. The results of a post-course evaluation of this action research showed that students strongly appreciated the use of this type of assessment. Our conclusion is that the rubric approach improves student satisfaction and can save lecturers time when marking.

Women In Leadership Commemorative Issue: Selected Conference Papers 1998-2000, Adrianne Kinnear, Lelia Green

Research outputs pre 2011

Includes:

1998 Women as Leaders: A Global Challenge

1999 Looking at our Future: Listening to the Past

2000 Keeping Gender on the Agenda

Heckman's Methodology For Correcting Selectivity Bias : An Application To Road Crash Costs, Margaret Giles

Research outputs pre 2011

Aggregate road crash costs are traditionally determined using average costs applied to incidence figures found in Police-notified crash data. Such data only comprise a non-random sample of the true population of road crashes, the bias being due to the existence of crashes that are not notified to the Police. The traditional approach is to label the Police-notified sample as 'non-random' thereby casting a cloud over data analyses using this sample. Heckman however viewed similar problems as 'omitted variables' problems in that the exclusion of some observations in a systematic manner (so-called selectivity bias) has inadvertently introduced the need for an …

B-Nodes: A New Scalable High Level Abstraction Model, Stanislaw P. Maj, Craig William Caulfield

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper proposes a new modeling technique called B-Nodes. B-Nodes represent a new, high-level abstraction that allows technical detail to be controlled using top-down recursive decomposition. This abstraction. is independent of architectural detail and can therefore accommodate rapid changes in technology. The use of recursive decomposition allows B-Nodes to be used not only for entire e-commerce system but also sub-modules within this system. The use of fundamental units allows the performance of heterogeneous technologies to be compared and other units to be derived. Results to date indicate no comparable model exists. Should further work validate this technique the authors recommend …

Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health At The End Of The 20th Century, Neil Thomson (Ed.)

Research outputs pre 2011

The papers were presented originally at the 1999 Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP). Reflecting the importance that the RACP attaches to the issue, Indigenous health was a major theme of the ASM. Six sessions over two days were devoted to various aspects of Indigenous health - the general policy context, lessons from the experiences of Indigenous peoples internationally, consideration of specific health services initiatives, and detailed examination of individual health topics...

An Intelligent Imaging Approach To The Identification Of Forensic Ballistics Specimens, Clifton L. Smith

Research outputs pre 2011

The characteristic markings on the cartridge and projectile of a bullet fired from a gun can be recognised as a "fingerprint" for identification of the firearm. Over thirty different features can be distinguished. The intelligent imaging of the class characteristics of ballistics specimens will provide the potential to identify the make and model of the firearm. Precise measurement of features allow ballistics metrics to be obtained for the identification of the weapon. This paper will describe progress in the development of a multidimensional cluster analysis model for forensic ballistics specimens. The cluster analysis will provide classification that is based on …

Concept Mapping As A Collaborative Activity: Using Concept Mapping Software In A Distributed Learning Environment, Carole Steketee, Ron Oliver, Janice Herrington

Research outputs pre 2011

As part of an ongoing study into distributed learning environments, this paper examines the effects of concept mapping software when used as a collaborative learning tool. Preliminary findings are explored in relation to pre-service teachers' endeavour to distribute their learning collaboratively while working with the software in small groups.

Engaging Parents In The Drug Education Of Their Pre-Adolescent Children : Practical Problems And A Promising Program, Shelley E. Beatty, Donna S. Cross

Research outputs pre 2011

No abstract provided.

Inference Of Regular Languages Using Model Simplicity, Philip Hingston

Research outputs pre 2011

We describe an approach that is related to a number of existing algorithms for the inference of a regular language from a set of positive (and optionally also negative) examples. Variations on this approach provide a family of algorithms that attempt to minimise the complexity of a description of the example data in terms of a finite state automaton model. Experiments using a standard set of small problems show that this approach produces satisfactory results when positive examples only are given, and can be helpful when only a limited number of negative examples is available. The results also suggest that …

Sport Participation Motives Of School Hockey Players In Pulau Pinang, Aun Suah Heng

Student Works (2000-2009)

The aim of survey was to assess the participation motives of hockey players who participated in the interschool tournament in Penang. The research focused on hockey players between the age of 13 and 18 years, and the intensity of the game (level of play in tenn of skills, speed and agility) only limited to the state level tournament. Six research questions were studied and the results could provide meaningful information for physical education teachers, Coaches as well as administrators when they plan sport or hockey training pogrammes or to carry out other sports activities. A hundred and forty four school …

Kegunaan Pembelajaran Berasaskan Web Bagi Meningkatkan Pencapaian Dan Minat Pelajar Terhadap Topik Tenaga Nuklear, Ashfahani Zakaria

Student Works (2000-2009)

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Web-Based Learning (WBL) in improving students' achievement and interest in Nuclear Energy, which is one of the topics taught in KBSM Physics for Form 4. The WBL site used in the study was developed by the researcher based on Gagne's Nine Events of Instruction. The study was conducted using 30 Form 4 students who took Physics at one of the Smart Schools in Selangor Darul Ehsan. The selection of the students was based on their Physics results in the first semester examination. Two categories of students who had high …

Perceived Constraints And Benefits Of Leisure Among Libyans School Adolescents And Their Relation To Participant In Leisure Activities, Abdul Kader Ahmed M. Atani

Student Works (2000-2009)

This study examined constraints and benefits of leisure activities as perceived by school adolescents in Libya (North African Country). More specifically, the study surveyed high school students' perception of the benefits and constraints of leisure activities and the relationship of these perceptions with their desired and actual participation in leisure activities. The respondents comprised 1342 high school students from three grade levels and of ages between 15 and 18 years. These subjects were selected randomly from 28 schools located in the urban area of Tripoli Libya. A questionnaire was designed by the researcher lo obtain information of students' background. their …

Waste Management In Palm-Oleo Sdn. Bhd, Ramesh Ramasamy

Student Works (2000-2009)

Oleochemical industry in Malaysia has been diversifying significantly due to the availability of raw materials (palm oil) and the high demand for downstream products such as fatty acids, fatty alcohols and glycerine. The growth of oleochemical industries is further enhanced by fluctuations io petroleum price and regular animal diseases, which made tallow-based fats unreliable. Environmental awareness is growing rapidly in Malaysia. There is growing realization of the need to balance industrial and economic development with environmental preservation and protection, as well as, with efficient use of energy sources in order to achieve sustainable development. Extensive waste management studies were focused …

Program Bina Sahsiah Belia Jabatan Belia Dan Sukan Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur : Kajian Tentang Keberkesanannya, Abd Rahman Yusof

Student Works (2000-2009)

Youth development programmes are vital in this country. The youth are an essential asset and will be the future leader for ummah and country. They will inherit this country's leadership, society and civilisation. Therefore, they have to be equipped with spiritual and physical capabilities. In order to achieve the above vision the Department of Youth and Sport Federal Territories bas come out with several proggrammes. The question is, how effective are these proggrames among the youth. As a whole, this study is to measure the effectiveness of the efforts taken by the respective Department. The objectives of the extent of …

Optical Coherent Communication System Using Phase Shift Keying, Syed Javaid Iqbal

Student Works (2000-2009)

This thesis presents the experimental study and design of a coherent communication system by using phase shift keying (PSK). Systems are designed by using all passive elements, which make the system very easy to operate, and less maintenance is required. All the PSK designs are based on a single light source. In this thesis there are five different types of PSK with a single light source communication systems are designed. All designs are experimentally tested in free space. The systems are • All optical two-channel PSK communication system, by using single light source, "All optical single channel, two-way PSK communication, …

Diversity And Abundance Of Phytoplankton In Tasek Bera, Pahang, Soo Hui Tang

Student Works (2000-2009)

Tasek Bera, located in southwest of Pahang state, is Malaysia's largest freshwater swamp and lake system. It is one of the remaining examples of a lowland alluvial riparian swamp system. Tasek Bera was designated as Malaysia's first "Wetlands of International Importance" under the Ramsar Convention in November 1994. The water quality of Tasek Bera was monitored from April to October 1998 to assess environmental conditions affecting phytoplankton assemblages. Measurement of physical and chemical parameters at selected sites ranged as follows : pH (4.45 to 6.73), temperature (25.3 to 33.3 °C), dissolved oxygen (0.40 to 5.80 mgL⁻¹), water depth (0.15 to …

Infared Spectroscopy And Electrical Conductivity Of Copper(Ii) Cinnamate And Iodine-Doped Copper(Ii) Cinnamate, Kumar Krishnan

Student Works (2000-2009)

Copper(II) cinnamate (CC) was prepared from copper(II) acetate monohydrate and cinnamic acid. It was a light-blue powder. The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrum of CC, recorded as potasium bromide (K.Br) disc, indicated the presence of all bonds and functional groups expected of it and showed that it exist as an equal mixture of cis- and trans- isomers. The conductivity of CC at room temperature was 5.22 x 10⁻¹¹Scm⁻¹. It showed metallic behaviour in the temperature range 78-300 K, and its conduction mechanism obeyed Mott's variable range hopping (VRH) model in the same temperature range. The density of states at Fermi …

Investigation Of Optical Interference Effects In The Generalized Eikonal Formalism, Nyok Fah Thong

Student Works (2000-2009)

In recent studies, the generalized eikonal equation and the equation of continuity had been shown able to describe wave phenomena, which cannot be obtained by simple geometrical optics. The time dependent generalized eikonal equation, derived from the time dependent Maxwell wave equation, is able to describe dispersion and soliton effects. This method was exten4ed to include diffraction, self-trapping and self-focusing in linear and non-linear media for stationary waves. For cases that have no analytical solution, the generalized eikonal equation and the equation of continuity are solved numerically. The solutions are in good agreement with the solutions obtained from the Fresnel-Kirchhoff …

Information And Communication Technology And Poverty: An Asian Perspective, M. G. Quibria, Feichin, Ted Tschang

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Many commentators have extolled the virtues of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) in reducing poverty and improving the quality of life. While such arguments have been used before in relation to many predecessor technologies, including other earlier communications technologies, the promise has often floundered. This paper attempts to provide a more balanced analysis of the question, by exploring the linkages between the new ICTs and poverty reduction. It examines the linkages in two ways: the potential for direct impacts of ICTs on various areas of poverty and development, and the indirect impacts of ICTs on economic growth, exports and …

Comparative Performance Of Wastewater Treatment Plants In Three Rubber Glove Manufacturing Plants, Lee Kuan Loh

Student Works (2000-2009)

During the manufacturing of rubber gloves, water is used as wash water at different stages to clean the rubber gloves, thus generating quite a substantial amount of effluent. There are four main sources of effluent. i.e. a) from the glove formers cleaning tank, which collects the acidified water used to clean these formers, b) latex dipping tank, where it collects wash water used to cool the tank during dipping process and the sludge form the tank itself, c) leaching tank, where it collects wash water used to leach out the pollutants from the gloves and lastly d) latex compounding, containing …

Hopfield Model For Shortest Path Computation And Routing In Atm Network, Chee Weng Lee

Student Works (2000-2009)

This research focuses on the application of Hopfield neural network and Boltmann machine in solving the shortest path routing problem in the ATM network environment. Hopfield neural network and Boltzmann machine are two types of neural network which are commonly used for solving optimization problem such as the shortest path routing problem. The objectives of this research are to construct a Hopfield neural network and a Boltzmann machine for solving the shortest path routing problem in the ATM network. Both of these two types of neural network are built based on a chosen example of an A TM network. The …

Preparation And Characterization Of Lithiated Cathode Materials For Lithium Batteries, Shanti Navaratnam

Student Works (2000-2009)

Four different cathode materials, LiNiO₂, LiCoO₂, LiCo₀.₂ Ni₀.₈O₂ and LiCo₀.₄, Ni₀.₆O₂ were synthesized by sol - gel technique. The prepared materials were characterized X-ray diffraction pattern, FT-IR and cyclic voltammetry. X-ray diffraction pattern shows crystallinity of materials, increases with higher calcination temperature. From FT- IR studies, it was shown, that the purity of sample also increased with prolong heating at higher temperatures. It was possible to obtain pure and highly crystalline LiNiO₂ after heating for fourteen hours at 800°c. Cyclic voltammetry shows the four prepared materials are suitable for fabrication of cathode, as lithium ions can intercalate and de-intercalate. LiNiO₂ …

A Study Of Journal Overlaps, Duplicates And Costs In The Field Of Computer Science Held In Selected Malaysian University Libraries, Siew Ling Ng

Student Works (2000-2009)

This study aims to find out the holding status of the journal collection in computer science in five selected local university libraries, that is libraries of the University of Malaya (UM), University of Science Malaysia (USM), University of Technology Malaysia (UTM), National University of Malaysia (UKM) and University Putra Malaysia (UPM). These universities are selected because they offered courses on computer science. The study also aims to investigate the strengths and weaknesses of computer science journal collection in these universities and the degree of duplicates, overlaps, and the costs of serials in computer science. The study focused on 301 current …

Analysis Of Loratadine By Potentiometry And Reverse-Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Kian Yong Puen

Student Works (2000-2009)

A non-aqueous titration method was developed to assay Loratadine bulk active and a High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to determine Loratadine's manufacturing impurity. The HPLC method was also suitable for simultaneously assay and related substance determination of Loratadine pharmaceutical preparations. In the tritation method, glacial acetic acid was chosen as an amphiprotic solvent. Loratadine ionised in glacial acetic acid; the conjugated base of acetic acid (Ac·), was then titrated with standardised perchloric acid. The method was validated found to be precise, linear and robust. Reverse-phase HPLC method using a Novapak Cl8 column with a CH3CN: I0mM K2HPO4 …

The Effect Of Aluminium Oxide And Cerium Oxide As Dispersoids In Chitosan-Lithium Acetate Complexes, Hoi Mien Leow

Student Works (2000-2009)

In this study, chitosan with 85% deacetylation was used with Ni(OAc)₂·2H₂O as doping salt and Al₂O₃, or CeO₂ as dispersoid. They were mixed in certain weight percentages and dissolved in 100ml of 0.5% acetic acid solution. These solutions were poured into petri dishes and left at room temperature for film formation. Infrared Spectroscopy has shown that there is interaction between chitosan and LiOAc with and without dispersoid. The peaks are shifted. broadened. split and differs in intensity. The electrical conductivity of all samples was calculated using the bulk resistance value obtained from the complex admittance plot. The highest electrical conductivity …

Effects Of Fish Culture On Macrobenthos Diversity And Abundance In The Matang Mangrove Estuary (Malaysia), Patricia Natin

Student Works (2000-2009)

A study on the effects of fish cage culture on mangrove macrobenthos diversity and abundance was carried out in the Matang mangrove estuary, Perak, Malaysia. Multiple investigations consisted of 4-month study, 12-hour study and I-day "grid" sampling. Six samplings (Dec 1999 - May 2000) were conducted along Sungai (River) Sangga Besar (SSB) (cage culture area) and Sungai Sangga Kecil (SSK) (non-cage culture area) by using a 0.1 m² Petersen Grab, Forty-four families (I nemertean, 12 polychaete, 5 bivalve, 11 gastropod, 7 decapod, 2 isopod, 2 amphipod, I ophiuroid and 3 fishes), comprising of 53 species were found, which increased in …

Legal Deposit Of Electronic Publications : Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia's Experience, Shahrozat Ibrahim

Student Works (2000-2009)

The main purpose of this study is to analyse the statistical data of non-print/ electronic publications received and registered by the National Depository Centre, Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia since the enforcement of the Deposit of Library Material Act, 1986. Statistical data of non-print/electronic publications received from the years 1988-2000 were obtained from the National Depository Centre, Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia. The study revealed that out of the 7,926 titles of non-print publications received and registered from the year 1988-2000, only 165 titles (2.08%) are electronic publications, of which CD-ROMs constitute 1.87%, while diskettes and computer software constitute 0.19% and 0.03% respectively. The …

Fixed Bed Biosorption Of Cu(Ii) By Immobilized Biomass Of Sargassum Baccularia, Kong Fei Tan

Student Works (2000-2009)

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using the immobilized biomass of Sargassum buccularia. a brown marine macro algae. to remove and recover copper ions in a fixed bed reactor by passive adsorption. This is commonly referred to as biosorpliun. Inactivated biomass of S. baccularia were chemically modified b) immobilizing it onto polyvinyl alcohol (PVA} as a support matrix. Spherical gel beads that were produced in this manner were subjected to mass transfer and equilibrium studies. The biosorption of copper is a bi-phasic process. with an initial fast phase for the first 2 hours followed …