Browsing by Type "Master Theses"

The goal of this project is to develop an object detection and classification system for road crossing areas as part of a monitoring system using 4D radar imaging with a deep-learning neural network approach. In this work, we utilised deep neural networks powered by Keras and Tensorflow to detect and classify multiple pedestrians, cars, buses, and trucks. This paper presents Retina-4F, which is a multi-chip radar imaging system with high range resolution for object detection and localization. Retina-4F, which was developed by Smart Radar System, allows the system to provide 4D real-time information about the target. Retina-4F utilises a multi-chip cascade onboard with three transmitters and four receivers in each chip. We demonstrated two road-crossing scenes to collect data for creating a point cloud dataset with a target class label to be used for training and testing a deep learning model. There are two main sensors implemented in this work: Retina-4F as a 4D radar imaging and a mono-camera. The data from both sensors is pre-processed using DBSCAN and YOLOv7. Retina-4F operates at 77 GHz, and the test was conducted in two different road areas. After conducting data measurement at two road crossing areas, the collected data is passed for preprocessing and data fusion processing. This results in a complete point cloud dataset with approximately 10,000 frames of point cloud images that can be used for neural network training and testing. The model evaluation showed satisfying performance of the deep neural network in classifying multiple targets with 97 percent of overall accuracy. The approach of sensor data fusion for multiple target classification shows good results where it manages to distinguish different types of targets: cars, pedestrians, buses, and trucks. The proposed radar point cloud classification using sensor fusion can be applied to a wide variety of complex monitoring applications.

This study assesses the life-cycle environmental impacts of magnesium (Mg) and aluminum (Alu) in automotive transmission systems, with emphasis on energy consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and trade-offs between production and use phases. The study employs Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) based on ISO 14040/14044 standards and iterative analysis through the GREET model covering material extraction, production processes, use phase and end-of-life processes. Results show that due to its lightweight property, Mg provides a significant benefit during the use phase, with total energy consumption for Mg transmissions being 16.6–17.4% lower than for Alu systems. The emissions in the use phase of Mg are also lower, with a decrease in CO₂ emissions of 23.6%, compensating for its higher production-phase emissions. Mg shows better performances in some emissions categories, such as a 74% reduction in SOₓ emissions compared to Alu. While the GHG emissions during production of Mg are higher, advancements in Mg manufacturing technologies such as cleaner electrolytic processes and alternative cover gases may reduce the environmental impact in the future. The results highlight Mg's potential to replace Alu as the primary material in automotive transmission systems, especially as production advances continue to improve. Based on Mg's higher use-phase performance and the continuous development of Mg technologies, the results of the study confirm that, compared to Alu, Mg can be considered as a promising and sustainable alternative, which may lead to Mg potential becoming one of the primary materials across multiple sectors within the next decade.

Muscle spasticity is a condition that occurs in patients with neurological disorders when their muscles are stiff, tight, and resistant to stretching. The current assessment method, relying on the subjective judgment of therapists using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), introduces variability that may affect the rehabilitation process. In addition, many existing computational models are not aligned with clinical standards such as MAS, limiting their practical adoption in clinical settings. They also often overlook direction-specific movement phases and fail to distinguish muscle responses across different axes and muscle groups. To address the limitations, this research aimed to develop a quantitative assessment method by muscle spasticity characteristics based on mechanomyography (MMG) signals and MAS levels, utilising machine learning techniques. A Quantitative Spasticity Assessment Technology (QSAT) platform has been developed which consists of two sensors that were tri-axial accelerometer mechanomyography (ACC-MMG) functioning in measure acceleration of biceps and triceps muscle contraction and potentiometer to measure the angular position of forearm during flexion and extension movement. A comprehensive investigation was conducted to assess muscle spasticity level by recording ACC-MMG signals from patients' forearm musculature during flexion and extension movements using QSAT platform. A total of 30 patients with neurological disorders were classified into five MAS levels (0, 1, 1+, 2, and 3), along with 10 healthy subjects serving as a baseline group. The pre-processed data comprised 48 extracted features from ACC-MMG signals along the x, y, and z axes for both flexion and extension movements of the biceps and triceps. These features corresponded to the longitudinal, lateral, and transverse muscle orientations. For both flexion and extension movements, machine learning models were trained using the selected subset of 25 significant features and the full set of 48 features respectively, with performance comparisons made to identify the most effective approach. Various machine learning models algorithms, including Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Decision Tree (DT), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and K-Nearest Neighbour (KNN), were tested. The KNN-based classifier demonstrated the highest performance using a 90% training and 10% testing data split surpassing the performance of other classifiers. Specifically, at k = 15 using Euclidean distance, the KNN achieved an accuracy of 91.29% for flexion using the significant features, with corresponding precision, recall, and F1-score of 91.64%, 91.25%, and 91.47%, respectively. For extension, the same configuration resulted with 96.30% for extension using the full feature set, with precision, recall, and F1-score of 96.53%, 96.30%, and 96.33%, respectively. These results indicate high classification performance, with minimal false positives or false negatives, particularly in distinguishing between different MAS levels. This research suggests that the muscle characteristic model embedded in the QSAT can serve as a standardised and objective assessment tool for measuring the spasticity level of the affected limb using computational method, leading to support clinical evaluations and enabling more effective rehabilitation strategies.

The popularity of the concept of Islamic tourism has given more focus on providing guides that may suit the needs of the Muslims travelers. This study seeks to establish knowledge on the notion of Muslim tourism, competencies involved in offering Muslim-friendly tour guiding services, and the current competency level of the tour guides in Malaysia in order to come up with a model of core competencies that anticipates the satisfaction of Muslim tourists. The study sets out four primary objectives: For the first study, to understand the idea of Muslim friendly tour guides in Islamic tourism, to establish what competencies are necessary for tour guides to enhance the Muslim friendly experience, to evaluate the existing competency levels of tour guides serving the Muslim tourist, and for the last, to suggest a framework for the core competencies of Muslim friendly tour guides in Malaysia. Hence, a qualitative research design was adopted, accompanied by in-depth interviews with the tour guides, tourism agencies in Malaysia, also academicians who specialized in tourism industry to provide verbal data, giving a vivid and credible account of respondent’s experience/views. The study identified six key elements essential for a competent Muslim-friendly tour guide: culture and religion awareness, destination knowledge, awareness of Halal food, language barriers, respect tourists’ professional handling treating equally and handling of emergencies situations. On the mentioned elements, all of the participants confirmed the awareness but came up with more enhancements for a broader competency model. The study entails the use of these competencies in an effort to enhance a Muslim-friendly experience; and contributes to the formulation of training frameworks for tourist guides of the Malaysian region. The research importance also points to the need for specific competencies among the tour guides with a view of improving the Islamic tourisms and thus the proposed model of core competencies helps as a directory for the tour guides’ training and development since they have to meet the expectation of the Islamic tourists in all aspects. Thus, this research enriches the knowledge about Islamic tourism and the position of the tour guides in this domain. It will also highlight gaps in the preparation of tour guides and also it can be used to chart the training and assessing of tour guides regarding the area. Besides, this research serves the development of Muslim-friendly tourism and is useful for tourism institutions, operators, trainers, and developers of tour guides for Islamic countries.

This present research is an attempt to explicate Abdullah bin Nuh’s critique on development of modern ideologies particularly in Indonesia after its independence. The development of modern ideologies particularly materialism, Marxism, and communism have become a matter of alarming since the early 20th century in Muslim world through colonization and imperialism. Indonesia as the one of the world’s largest Muslim population in the world did not miss on globalization of modern ideologies. Basically, Indonesia based on the Eastern and Islamic values, but after Western colonization, colonizers began to apply their ideologies in Indonesia through imperialism. As the result, clash has occurred between local ideologies and western ideologies through high tension in the forming of basic principle of state and governance system. Abdullah bin Nuh was one of the Indonesian scholars who are concerned with the affairs of Muslim in general and Indonesian Muslim in particular his responds and critiques to modern ideologies. This study attempts at examining Abdullah bin Nuh’s views in materialism, Marxism, and communism and his critiques of those modern ideologies. The approach of this study is based on textual analysis, using descriptive and analytical methods from various works of the subject under study. It seeks to discover several aspects of Abdullah bin Nuh’s thought of modern ideologies as well as Islamic thought such as the in coherent relationship of materialism and Marxism, Marxism and communism, with Islamic worldview and perspective. This study concludes that Abdullah bin Nuh devoted his live to counter modern ideologies which were developed in Indonesia with presenting the understanding of those ideologies and its detrimental to social live in Indonesia. He also asserted Marxism and communism are misled ideology based on materialism which have difference culture and values with Eastern Muslim countries particularly Indonesia. His noble struggle was successful for he end up with the foundation of Islamic Research Institute as the centre of Occidentalism studies.

The study analyzes academic stress and strain among the undergraduate students of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUMM). It aims at investigating the effect of religious orientation on level of stress and experience of strain among those students. The sample consists of 218 bachelor's students studying in different departments of this university. The sample was cornposed of around 75% of Malay students and 25% of non-Malay. In terms of gender, it was 55% female and 45% male. Data were collected from the stressful situations questionnaire (SSQ) and role strain measures. Frequency analysis was used to examine the level of stress. strain, and religious orientation in the students. The results indicated that all the students in general experienced stress and strain and they also used religious orientation as coping mechanism, but they differed in degree of stress, strain, and religious experience. A series of analyses were done to examine the relationship between criterion and predictor variables, such as gender and nationality. With regard to gender differences, the results indicated that there was a significant difference in the perception of male and female toward stress and religious orientation, but they are not different in their level of strain. Female students reported more stress and they tended to use more religious orientation than do male students. Moreover, there appeared no significant main difference in the perception of Malay and non-Malay students toward stress, but it did appear Strain and religious orientation. Malay students were found to experience more strain and they made more frequent use of religious orientation than did non-Malay students. This analysis also indicated that religious orientation has nothing to do with stress and strain level. That is whether the students were religious or they did experience stress and strain.

This study intended to explore thorough discernments of educational leaders on the function of innovative leadership style in vitally contributing to the implementation of hybrid learning at the university level aiming to understand the role of educational leaders in reference to adopting innovative leadership style for the execution of the matter. The recent pandemic had forced drastic change in reshaping the approaches and designs in the setting of formal education which demands the implementation of hybrid learning to be executed comprehensively in order to accommodate the situation. Through a qualitative research design the targeted informants consisted of head of departments selected from various kulliyyahs in International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) using purposive sampling technique. The data collection method used was in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data gathered from the interviews were transcribed using thematic analysis and themes were extracted to answer all of the research questions. Findings had shown relevant support for the mentioned leadership style towards the effectiveness of hybrid learning, and had highlighted the challenges faced in abruptly implementing hybrid learning, and interesting suggestions for considerations.

This study explores the strategic adoption of an accounting information system (AIS) for an advertising business. The research employed a qualitative approach, specifically a single case study design, and data was collected using semi-structured interviews with selected participants and document analysis for secondary data. The objective of this study is to understand how AIS adoption and its influence on decision-making, and to identify the benefits and challenges of AIS adoption. The company has adopted the AIS through a comprehensive process that involves evaluating business needs, researching AIS options, seeking stakeholder input, implementing the system with vendor support, and continuously monitoring performance. This adoption is influenced by several key factors including industry specific features, system customizability, ease of use, integration capabilities, robust reporting and analysis capabilities, user-friendliness, strong security measures and compliance, a careful selection process, and thorough vendor regulation and support. The AIS adoption provided accurate and timely financial data, streamlined financial processes, enhanced reporting, and financial analysis capabilities, improved internal control and risk management, and transformed the decision-making process. However, the company faced challenges including resistance to change, integration with existing systems, data migration, and the need for ongoing system maintenance and support. These challenges were effectively addressed through comprehensive change management strategies, careful planning and coordination, data migration protocols, and establishing a strong working relationship with the vendor. This strategic adoption significantly improved accounting efficiency, reduced errors, provided accurate financial data for decision-making, and supported the success and growth of their business.

This research studies the first book written in Islamic literature on medical ethics. The main aim of this work is to identify the foundation on which al-Ruhāwī, the author, built medical ethics. The thesis shows that this book was written according to the Islamic worldview - despite the claims that the author was aNestorian Christian. The second finding isthat the author placed emphasis on belief as an important criteria. He bases his other arguments on medical ethics on this point of view.The ethical standard of al-Ruhāwīstems from both responsibilities on and rights forthe mind, the body and the soul. The study also shows how a theoretical (philosophical) base will affect the practical ethical codes: professionality test and the treatment fees. According to this thesis,the philosophy in general and Islamic philosophy in particular can deliver a better understanding of and effect onMuslim medical students, and will also reduce the dichotomy between what they believe (religion) and practise in medicine.

This study is an effort to investigate the adjectives for both English and Malay; their word order positions and how the positions affect the message they convey. This typological study will be of help to learners engaged in acquiring the two languages simultaneously; it enables them to understand the different structures of the languages thus guiding them to deploy the structures better. The research design of this study uses a meaning-based framework, a move away from syntactical investigation. The meaning arising from the use of all the 11 different types of adjectives of both languages remain the focus. The results show a stark contrast of the use of adjectives in English and Malay. A majority of the adjectives in English are prenominal while those of Malay are postnominal. A small number of postnominal adjectives in English and the availability of prenominal adjectives in Malay prove that both types do exist, albeit in limited quantities. The positions of the adjectives in English do affect the message of the tokens. In other words, the prenominal adjectives convey one set of meaning whilst the postnominal another. However, the positions of the adjectives in Malay do not show a similar range in meaning, i.e. the position and the corresponding meanings as found in the Huffman framework do not apply to Malay. The conclusion is quite apparent in that differing positions convey meaning in English; but this is not so in Malay.

This research reviews the criteria of ahl al-bayt in the Qur’an and Hadith using a framework composed of four terms: definition, identification, attributes and merits. It also comparatively examines the Sunnite and Shiite criteria of ahl al-bayt in the Malaysian literature following the same terms. Data collection included those from books, articles, journals, newspapers and websites. From the Qur’an and Hadith, it is found that biological indicator and marital bonds are not the main criteria to be an ahl al-bayt. The other possible criterion promotes piety as tantamount to a pre-requisite. However, it is generally undermined by a more popular consanguine type of ahl al-bayt adopted by the majority of Sunnite and Shiite factions alike. While the understanding of the Sunnite following this line of arguments is relatively diverse, the Shiite is coherent. Among the Malay Sunnite ahl al-bayt whose strong view is based on genetic definition of popular understanding, there exists a tendency to resurrect the elevated statuses of the long-lost celebrated “royal Malay-ahl al-bayt” dignity. This trend includes acknowledgment of the most rightful model of born ahl al-bayt scholars for the Muslims to follow. As far as the banned Malaysian Shiite minority is concerned, they follow the faction’s universal obligatory agenda of restoring allegiance to the caliphate of ahl al-bayt. Since ahl al-bayt is revered in both Sunnite and Shiite traditions, opening minds to yet another possible appreciation of the theme is hoped to prevent it from falling prey to severe manipulations.

The purpose of this study is to explore whether adopting drama techniques in education has an impact on improving the communicative and thinking skills among female juvenile delinquents. This study also investigates how participating in a drama program could help aid learning for juvenile delinquents. The study is limited to a drama program implemented for a group of female juvenile delinquents from Pertapis Center for Women and Girls, Singapore. This Center is a rehabilitation center for female Muslim youth offenders. As such, the data was collected from three juvenile delinquents enrolled in the drama program. The data was gathered through observation, textual analysis and interviews. The aim was to explore how adopting drama techniques in education will create an environment where juvenile delinquents could use their thinking skills and communicate in a non-violent manner while participating in group work which enhances the juvenile delinquents capability to learn. The collected data revealed that during the weekly drama program sessions, the juvenile delinquents had improved positively in their ability to communicate in a non-violent manner and in learning and in their ability to use creative thinking skills. This study sheds light on the ways that educators in rehabilitation centers can use drama techniques to create an environment that aids every juvenile delinquent to learn, thereby enhancing the thinking skills and communicative skills of juvenile delinquents. Therefore, the study recommends introducing drama program in the juvenile delinquents education to aid learning.

In general, Malaysia is one of the Islamic developing countries in the world. It is a fact that it is compulsory on every student is compulsory to learn religious subjects in their school, either in primary or in secondary school or both especially with regard to learning the Qur’an. The most widely used technique in teaching the Qur’an is the Iqra’ technique. However, there are still a large number of students with Qur’anic illiteracy. Thus, this research attempts to discover the problems that cause Qur’anic illiteracy and introduce the alternative way in overcoming Qur’anic illiteracy in Malaysia. The findings show that 0.6% of the student were at the poor level while 38.2% at the very poor level. It was also concluded that the students’ ability to recite the Qur’an was satisfactory, whilst their ability to apply the rules of the Qur’an recitation was merely satisfactory. It shows that the students’ ability to recite the Qur’an is good enough to reach the qualification standard that they should have reached. Therefore, there is a need to pay more attention on these issues as the weaknesses will affect their learning and understanding of the Islamic subject as a whole. This research promotes several methods in order to understand al-Baghdadi’s teaching techniques of the Qur’an such as the critical analysis, survey, interview and data analysis in order to understand the general perceptions on Qur’anic illiteracy to al- Baghdadi’s Qur’anic teaching technique, particularly at Baghdadi Learning Centre Section 7, Shah Alam, Selangor.

al-Sa`adah or happiness is the ultimate goal of human kind. In Islam, people desire to obtain success and happiness in both the world and the hereafter. The present study seeks to examine the real concept of al-Sa‘adah, from the Qur’an and Sunnah perspective with special reference to the theory of happiness introduced by al-Ghazali to show the true meaning of happiness in life and to safeguard those who seek happiness in vain means. The study focuses on: (a) al-Ghazali’s life and works; (b) al- Ghazali’s concept of al-Sa‘adah; and (c) al-Ghazali’s techniques to achieve happiness. The researcher has applied qualitative method which relies on primary and secondary sources available in the libraries. The thesis is primarily based on some famous writings of al-Ghazali concerning al-Sa‘adah such as Kimiya’ al- Sa‘adah, Bidayah al- Hidayah, Mizan al-‘Amal and Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din etc. This study has made certain important findings about al-Ghazali’s concept of happiness. His concept primarily focuses on the happiness of Hereafter, though the world is not neglected. In order to achieve al-Sa`adah, al-Ghazali stresses on the improvement of the soul and the main method to achieve it is by knowledge and action. The research suggests that knowledge and action are interrelated to one another. In order to gain happiness in both the world and Hereafter, man should obtain knowledge and action, and only with this, will man achieve happiness.

Information Not Available

This study investigates the relationship between brand loyalty and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives by Nestlé Malaysia, with a focus on consumer perceptions in the Malaysian market. It highlights the growing role of CSR in enhancing corporate reputation and fostering consumer loyalty. This research uses the Hierarchy of Effects Model (HEM) Theory as a framework to examine how CSR initiatives influence brand preference and consumer loyalty. Findings reveal that consumers appreciate CSR efforts, viewing them as indicators of a brand's social responsibility. The study shows that CSR activities, particularly those focused on community support and environmental sustainability, positively impact consumer perceptions and reinforce brand loyalty. While CSR initiatives elevate consumer preference for the brand, practical factors like product quality and affordability remain decisive in brand loyalty. This study concludes that CSR efforts can strengthen consumer loyalty. However, a comprehensive approach that combines quality, competitive pricing, and social responsibility is essential for sustaining loyalty in the Malaysian market.

This study is an analysis of the production of lexical bundles among L2 learners. The data for the analysis were collected from 40 English as a Second Language (ESL) students’ term papers from Universiti Teknologi Mara Terengganu. The study aims to find out the extent lexical bundles were used by L2 learners in their essays. The frequency of lexical bundles found in the essays was calculated, the types of the bundles were sorted according to their categories and the factors contributing to the use and the avoidance of lexical bundles were identified. The study shows that the L2 writers attempted to produce lexical bundles in their term papers but they were very limited. This may be attributed to cross linguistic influence. In terms of the functional type of bundles produced, the writers produced more referential bundles compared to stance bundles and discourse organizers. There was also evidence that there were students who avoided the use of lexical bundles in their essays. The factors that contributed to this avoidance were lack of exposure, fear of making mistakes and uncertainty. An important pedagogical implication of the study is that lexical bundles should be exposed or taught to students in formal classroom teaching in order to help students produce more understandable and quality writing.

This research looks at Malaysia’s relations in term of the security, political and economy with the United States and China in relation to the South China Sea (SCS) dispute. By analysing the hedging factors that influence Malaysia’s response, the study is guided by a theoretical framework consisting of constructive theory. The study used qualitative and interpretative analysis method. It collects data from both primary and secondary sources. According to the analysis of the factors, Malaysia decides to use pragmatic resolution through the United Nations and ASEAN in discussing the dispute. Malaysia has used the UN’s role to coordinate with the US, while Malaysia has used the ASEAN community role to discuss with China. Findings of this study has found that, Malaysia’s South China Sea policy is a rationally calculated and pragmatic foreign policy that employs a combination of military cooperation, legal means, and hedging diplomacy between China and the United States. Finally, based on the discussion in chapter four, this study provides several important recommendations.

In response to the implementation of the 1994 English curriculum in Indonesia, the national textbook English for Senior High School, Book 3 for the Third Year for Social and Natural Science Programs was published in 1997 as a compulsory core textbook used for the third year high school students (18-19 years old). This study investigated the match between the textbook and the revised syllabus of 1994 curriculum in terms of learning objectives, themes, functional skills and learning activities. It analysed the tasks in the textbook using the checklist adapted from Littlejohn’s task analysis framework. The findings reveal that the textbook which is organized in 16 themes and consisted of 262 tasks (originally 222 tasks) has the following skill distribution: 146 (55.7%) reading tasks, 3 (1.1%) listening tasks, 66 (25.2%) speaking tasks and 47 (18%) writing tasks. It was also found that the match between the tasks and the learning objective categories recommended by the curriculum is 59.5% which means that in terms of learning objectives, the textbook is fairly relevant to the curriculum. The match between the tasks and the recommended themes is 100% which suggests that in terms of themes, the textbook is relevant to the curriculum. In terms of functional skills, the textbook is not relevant to the curriculum since the match between the tasks and the categories of functional skills in the curriculum is only 7.6%. As for learning activities, the textbook is also considered not relevant to the curriculum as the match between the tasks and the learning activities recommended by the curriculum is only 30%. The results show that the textbook should be replaced with a new one, relevant to the curriculum to include categories that fulfill the recommended learning objectives, themes, functional skills and learning activities.

This research examines Turkey’s hedging policy towards China; 2002-2015. It argued that two issues (1) the Uighur issue and Turkey’s pro-American Policy from 2002-2015 dominated Turkey’s China policy. The study has employed hedging theory as its theoretical framework and used content analysis technique of qualitative research method. The data collected is discussed in chapters two, three and four with useful findings and recommendations discussed in chapter five. The study has concluded that the after the year 2000 political and economic relations between Turkey and China have improved steadily. Both countries have sincerely worked to improve bilateral relations. The study has also found that Uighur issue is not a real hurdle between Turkey and China while the Turkey’s pro-American Policy has remained unchanged to date. The study highly recommends among others that Turkey should pursue a multi-dimensional policies and benefitting equally from its relations with China and the US.