Archive of Journal
Volume 73, Issue 12, Dec. 2017

Male Pseudohermaphroditism Due To 17-Beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase III Deficiency in Saudi Arabia

Volume 73, Dec 2017
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2017.12.55

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Abstract: 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isozyme 3 (17?-HSD III) deficiency is a rare disorder leading to male hermaphroditism (MPH), a condition characterized by incomplete differentiation of the male genetalia in 46xy male. The 17?-HSD III enzyme catalyzes the conversion of androstenedione to testosterone in the testis. We present two male patients with male pseudohermaphroditism due to (17?-HSD III) deficiency to highlight the problem, which is not that rare in our community.

Author(s): Nasir Aljurayyan, Mossa N. almotawa, Amal Alhakami

THE COLLABORATION OF SCHOOL-COMMUNITY IN IMPLEMENTING CRAFT EDUCATION

Volume 73, Dec 2017
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2017.12.54

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Abstract: This paper aims to describe the form of arts education collaboration between schools and communities in the weaving craft enculturation in Indonesia. This study used a qualitative approach through study case design in community of woven craftsmen and primary schools in Jepang Village. The data was collected through observation, interview and document study employing a flow model analysis. The results show that arts education in society occurs in the process of woven craft enculturation in Jepang Village involving schools and communities that take place in the form of transmission of craft skills and the transmission of socio-cultural values. The transmission process involves between three components, namely the student-teacher-craftsmen. Empirically, the implementation of the collaboration between school and community occurs in learning resources. On the other hand, the weaving craft in Jepang Village serves as artwork which has unique forms, media, techniques, ideas, as well as change aspects.

Author(s): Eko Sugiarto, Tjetjep Rohendi Rohidi, Totok Sumaryanto F., Dharsono Sony Kartika

AN APPROACH FOR RELIABILITY DATA DELIVERY IN DYNAMIC MANET

Volume 73, Dec 2017
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2017.12.58

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Abstract: Communication in MANET is done through a wireless medium based on node movement and topological structure changes. To maintain the topology structure occurring dynamical on node movement is a challenging aspect of research for a longer duration of time as while as short duration is the main issue. Further, reliability of energy constrains and shortest path creation is also a challenging factor in finding the node reliability. Many works have been done early based on reliability of nodes in communicating the data from source to destination in MANET, but the works done earlier lacks with the quality and reliability based on node efficiency, route discovery and energy constraints. To provide reliability and quality of service in MANET, we divide our approach into two categories. First develop a reliable extended RA-ADODV and second extend ERA-AODV for generating dynamic routing based on energy consumption of route between the nodes in terms of route discovery and locations of nodes. At first we propose an extended RA-AODV based on reliability measure in terms of bandwidth, mobility, end to end delay in terms of nodes and its intermediate nodes. Second ERA-AODV build a route discovery based on reduced energy consumption between nodes for better transmission of packets. The proposed algorithms are evaluated for performance measure including throughput, packet delivery ration and End to End delay. Implementation is done in NS-2, where our proposed works out performs better compared to the existing schemes.

Author(s): SILAPARAPU.JOY KUMAR, A.YESU BABU

AN INTEGRATED HOME ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Volume 73, Dec 2017
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2017.12.53

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Abstract: Nowadays, home network becomes applied to our daily life and most of new apartments include home network technology to save energy and provide comfortable service to users. However, there are still many old apartments have the economic reasons to build this system for users. In this paper, we intent to design economical integrated home energy management system for all kinds of apartments. We focus on implementing REST based sensing information collecting module, sending sensing information to cloud server module, controlling sensor module, sending/receiving sensing information module, monitoring sensing information, saving to database module. This integrated home energy management system will provide real-time monitoring and notification service so that can find the ways to save energy.

Author(s): Sang Boem Lim, Guohua Li

LISTENING TO LEARNERS’ VIEWS ABOUT THE VALUE OF PRACTICAL WORK IN NATURAL SCIENCES

Volume 73, Dec 2017
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2017.12.56

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Abstract: Teaching and learning by engaging learners in practical work in science is regarded as useful in linking theory to practice. Practical work is linked to inquiry based learning, and is seen as a route to learning how to apply the scientific method. Within the South African context, where learner performance in Science and Mathematics has been dismal based on international and national evaluative tests, the importance of practical work has received greater attention. A large amount of the work that has been done about practical work in science classrooms focusses on practicing or pre-service teachers. Little attention has been directed to what learners say about practical work. We address this paucity by exploring learners’ views about practical work, through the following question: “What are learners’ views about the effectiveness of practical work in Natural Sciences classrooms? Why do learners hold these views?” In order to respond to these questions we designed a qualitative study within an interpretivist paradigm. We purposively selected grade nine Natural Sciences learners who participated in individual and focus group interviews. Our findings reveal that all the participants valued practical work for four reasons. First, practical work enabled learning of science process skills; second, it deepened conceptual understanding; third, it made science fun and enjoyable and finally, it enabled them to relate classroom science to activities in daily life. These findings are significant to science teachers and policy makers who determine the scope of practical work.

Author(s): R. Mudaly, Ms Reesha Premdutt

ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE ON HUMAN BEING: REVIVING OLD BELIEFS IN THE MODERN CONTEXT

Volume 73, Dec 2017
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2017.12.52

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Abstract: One of the key issues in todays world has become the problem of what it means to be human. The absence of a clear understanding of this complex question causes different problems, including a humanitarian catastrophe due to the emergence of extremist religious organizations that promote the dehumanised ideology. They �counterfeit� the Islamic understanding of who can be considered human and thus worthy to live. This has become a serious threat to Islam itself and needs to be combated with concepts founded in the religion itself. One of them is the idea of khal?fah that designates Islamic anthropology and defines the human being through a range of dimensions, such as meaningful life, emotional stability, freedom, power balance and equality. These can help to construct a new concept of human being, which is in high demand. Though the idea of khal?fah is not well developed in Muslim theology, the current paper proves its compatibility with modernity and, with the further elaboration, can become a significant input of Islamic conceptual theorizing efforts to the welfare of human beings.

Author(s): Yelena Muzykina, Shamshiya Rysbekova

Integrating Future Engineers’ Professional and Communicative Knowledge and Skills in the Process of LSP Teaching

Volume 73, Dec 2017
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2017.12.57

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Abstract: The present article provides theoretical grounding of integration of future engineers’ professional and communicative knowledge and skills in educational process. It also aims at evaluating the effectiveness of teaching involving such integration. Key concepts in cognitive linguistics, discourse theory and competence-based approach have been considered with regard to engineering education. The target competence should be formed as a result of integrated development of an engineer’s professional and communicative skills and abilities. Modern educational standards have been used to identify skills and abilities comprising this competence for a student majoring in Electronics and Automation of Nuclear Power Plants. An experimental study has been conducted. Its results show that organizing the process of LSP teaching as integration of professional, linguistic and communicative constituents improves the students’ academic performance and prepares the learners for real professional communication.

Author(s): Anna V. Tsepilova, Anastasia L. Botova

Development and evaluation of an instrument to measure functional understandings of proof in mathematics

Volume 73, Dec 2017
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2017.12.59

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Abstract: The purpose of this methodological paper was twofold: to develop an objective instrument to measure Grade 11 learners� functional understandings of proof in mathematics in a Dinaledi school (specially selected poor performing school) in South Africa, and evaluate the reliability and validity of the instrument. A curriculum geared toward reflecting the mathematics discipline needs to incorporate the functions of deductive proof in mathematics. The Mathematics curriculum in secondary schools provide teachers with specific aims. The South African Mathematics Curriculum requires that learners develop a deep understanding of proof. However, the lack of an instrument designed to measure functional understandings of proof in mathematics weakens the ability to assess progress towards the fulfilment of this aim. This is an exploratory study conducted in two stages: theoretical development of subscales and items and field-testing the instrument and psychometric evaluation of the instrument by randomly surveying two groups: 37 Mathematics and 37 Mathematical Literacy participants. Initially, a 31-item instrument, Functional Understandings of Proof (FUPS) questionnaire was developed. A panel of experts evaluated content validity and the known-groups method was adopted to assess construct validity. A content validity index of 0.80 was achieved among the experts. A t test for independent samples revealed a statistically significant difference between Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy participants. Further, chi-square tests revealed non-significant association between functional understandings of proof and gender, (1, n = 74) = 1.37, exact p = 0.744 and functional understandings of proof and Home Language, (1, n = 74) = 3.500, exact p = 0.082. As a consequence, values of the effect size for gender and Home Language were respectively = 0.043 and = 0.217. Six negatively-worded items whose correlations were between 0.20 and 0.90 and non-significant thus suggesting that there were some possible conceptual misconceptions among the participants, were deleted. Cronbach�s alpha coefficient of 0.886. In the final analysis, a 25-item FUPS instrument was developed and validated.

Author(s): Vimolan Mudaly, Benjamin Shongwe

Exploring the role of peer mentoring programmes in assisting first year undergraduate students� deal with academic challenges in a South African University

Volume 73, Dec 2017
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2017.12.60

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Abstract: Peer mentoring programmes have become common in most universities to help students, especially academic struggling students in small groups. The objective of this paper was to examine the role of peer mentoring programmes in mitigating first year undergraduate academic challenges. Using a qualitative research approach, data was collected from fourteen peer mentors, seven programme co-ordinators for in-depth interviews and ten first year undergraduate students making use of the mentoring services for focus group discussions, given a total of thirty-one participants. The findings revealed that there are huge academic challenges facing first year students, especially those from poor socio-economic backgrounds. Some of these challenges include academic writing, challenge with a proper understanding and use of English and computer literacy. It was also revealed that three peer mentoring programmes were established. They include tutorials, supplemental instruction and writing advancement programme. These programmes have proven to be very useful in mitigating some academic challenges of first year students at the selected university. However, the programmes have their shortcomings, which need to be addressed. The study recommended that all peer mentors of the different programmes need continuous and proper monitoring and support \r\n\r\nKEYWORDS: academic challenges, peer mentoring, academic programmes, socio-economic background.

Author(s): Cosmas Maphosa, Magdaline Tanga