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Lignin is classified as the second most abundantly available biopolymer after cellulose and as a main aromatic resource material. Lignin structure differs based on sources of origin and species of biomass with around 15–40% of lignin content based on dry weight. It is extracted from various types of lignocellulosic biomass through different pulping extraction methods. After extraction, lignin can be further functionalized through different chemical reactions to meet the requirements and specifications before being used in end products. Therefore, in this review paper, the details on extraction and the type of lignin, as well as chemical functionalization, are discussed. The chemical functionalization can be used to modify the lignin such through phenolic depolymerization or by other aromatic compounds, creating novel chemical active sites to impact a reactivity of lignin and through functionalization of hydroxyl functional group for enhancing its reactivity. Furthermore, the recent sustainable application of lignin was discussed in different fields such as nanocomposite, flame retardant, antioxidant, cosmetic, natural binder and emulsifier. This review hence provides a summary of the current stateoftheart in lignin technology and future outlook of potential application areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is a rare hereditary condition characterized by abnormal enlargement of the gingival tissue with a variable clinical manifestation. Typically, the hyperplastic gingiva is normal in color and consistency, and the tendency of bleeding is minimal. The swelling may be limited to a particular location or generalized over the whole gingiva. Usually, the symptoms appear during and after the eruption of permanent dentition. Gingival proliferation in HGF causes a variety of esthetic and practical issues. Depending on the size and intensity of the overgrowth, speech and chewing may be impaired. Moreover, diastema and prolonged primary dentition retention may occur. Case Reports: This article describes the identification, management, and treatment approaches of four cases affecting a Syrian family who lived in Arbat refugee camp in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. Conclusion: Proliferative fibrous outgrowth of the gingival tissue, with different degrees of involvement, is a hallmark of HGF. Surgery is frequently necessary to restore function and appearance, though varying degrees of recurrence is anticipated. Nonetheless, the psychological advantages of cosmetic improvement exceed the dangers of recurrence by a wide margin, especially in teenagers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Ruqyah Shar'iyyah, one of the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has shown therapeutic benefits in breast cancer by utilizing Quranic verses in reducing symptoms and enhancing their quality of life as a result of invasive standard therapies. However, scientific evidence is required to demonstrate Ruqyah Shar'iyyah's effectiveness on gene expression and molecular pathways in carcinogenesis. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Ruqyah Shar'iyyah on breast cancer cell line on apoptosis and CCND1 expression in related signaling pathways. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MCF-7 cell lines were treated with direct recitation of several Quranic verses for 12 hours and 24 hours. Cell viability was observed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The expression of CCND1 was determined using RT-qPCR technique. The molecular mechanism and signalling pathways were evaluated using Reactome database for in silico analysis. RESULTS: Cell viability data showed 95.69% and 93.54% exhibiting slight reduction for 12-hour treatment in untreated and treated MCF-7, respectively. Meanwhile more reduction was observed in 24-hour treatment with 95.11% in untreated cell line as compared to 92.34% in treated cell line. The cell morphology also exhibited apoptotic activity in the treated group for both two time points. Gene expression analysis of CCNDI also demonstrated upregulation with 1.81-fold change. The data was supported by the in-silico analysis in which 25 relevant significant signalling pathways related to CCND1 highlighting the role of the gene in breast cancer development. CONCLUSION: CCND1 may have a function in signalling pathways that control the proliferation of mammary epithelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study details a more environmentally friendly method for synthesizing iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4‐NPs) utilizing Hibiscus sabdariffa (H. sabdariffa) leaf extract. The produced H. sabdariffa/Fe3O4‐NPs underwent characterization through VSM, XRD, FESEM‐EDX, TEM and FTIR analyses. The FESEM and TEM images revealed that the H. sabdariffa/Fe3O4‐NPs had a narrow distribution and an average particle size of 5±2 nm. Catalytic degradation studies of the synthesized Fe3O4‐NPs exhibited efficient reduction of methyl orange (MO) dye. The degradation of MO catalysed by H. sabdariffa/Fe3O4‐NPs follow the pseudo‐first order kinetics, with a rate constant of 0.0328 s−1 (R2=0.9866). Moreover, in electrochemical sensing studies, the anodic peak current of nitrite (NO2−) for H. sabdariffa/Fe3O4‐NPs/GCE showed a linear relationship with its concentration within the range of 0.5–7.5 mM, achieving a detection limit of 0.29 μM. These findings demonstrate that the modified electrode with Fe3O4‐NPs synthesized using H. sabdariffa leaf extract serve as a novel electrochemical sensor for determining NO2− with high sensitivity and reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In north-western Algeria (Tlemcen), we collected morphologically mature acorns separately from 17 trees, and another quantity was collected from the ground in the mountain cork oak forests: Hafir and Zariefet. The germination rate of healthy (H) and slightly damaged (S) acorns reaches 100%. The lowest emergence rates are observed in severely damaged acorns (Sd) (8%), with differences between producing individuals (the maximum recorded for Sd is 67%). The survival rate of plants varies in the same way as the emergence rate: 100% in (H) and 93% in (S). The survival score of (Sd) is 57%. These acorns can continue to produce young seedlings until the embryo is completely wiped out. However, more than 90% of the (Sd) of 64% of the trees remain metabolically inactive. In western Algeria, the 60% decrease in the germination rate of (Sd) seems to be linked to the acorns small size, which are approximately half of those in eastern Algeria. Depredation of acorns by insects hardly affects the growth of young seedlings in the first days of their development, but occurs much later, depending on the physiological integrity of the almond, cotyledonary mass and quality, and the infestation intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The teaching and creative movement course incorporates details of physical movements most suitable to be conducted face-to-face. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has undeniably changed pedagogical methodologies, forcing this course to be conducted online via the medium of technology. Therefore, this paper explains the challenges and advantages of the synchronous and asynchronous video conferencing mixed strategies in the teaching and creative movement course. The setting in this research is a semester of the teaching and learning conducted at a university in Malaysia using the Google Meet application and video. The factors of resources and technological capability as well as the psychological factor that is related to social activity hinder the full advantage of video conferencing and technological usage in this course. The researcher also pointed out the security and safety problem experienced by one of our students to get internet access from a remote area, and the need to consider individual student home situations before sending them to learn from home. The identification of strengths and weaknesses faced by this course will enable further efforts in improving the quality of online dance education which incorporate the use of technology to obtain maximum results, especially for developing countries such as Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnosing brain death in paediatrics is difficult due to emotional, ethical, and legal weightage. This can easily be resolved in a straightforward case following a series of examinations and investigations to confirm that the condition is irreversible. However, in some cases, consideration of religio-cultural, family preferences, and other contextual factors have to be carefully considered. This is due to challenges in ethical decision making whether to continue the treatment or to set for discontinuation of active management. There should be an emphasis on appropriate communication, resolution of conflicts and also a focus on supporting the family and healthcare providers involved in the care of the patient. This is to avoid misunderstanding of information and allowing continuous discussion on the right way forward. Decision making in a complex situation such as paediatric brain death would require ongoing negotiation based on the best interest and beneficence of the medical actions to avoid ongoing suffering for the patient and his/her family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online learning has become an important teaching method across academic programmes during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Students' readiness and satisfaction with online learning and their association with selected variables were examined. A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students who undergo clinical rotation during restricted movement orders when face-to-face teaching and learning are converted into an online method. Participants were recruited conveniently by inviting students from targeted clinical years to fill up the Online Learning Readiness Scale (OLRS) and E-Course Satisfaction Scale (ECSS) distributed via the digital platform. One-hundred and eighty-three (n = 183) students in the clinical posting of Years 3 (33.9%), 4 (32.2%), and 5 (33.9%) completed the survey voluntarily. The majority were female (n = 142, 78%), with a mean age of 22.85 [standard deviation (SD) = 1.19]. Overall, they reported high readiness and satisfaction with online learning. A positive moderate to good correlation existed between readiness and satisfaction (r = 0.61, p < 0.001). Readiness was significantly associated with age (β = 1.12, p = 0.037), type of clinical posting (β = -4.09, p = 0.003), online attendance (β = 0.45, p = 0.008), and learning duration (β = 3.44, p = 0.036). Only the duration of learning showed a significant linear relationship with satisfaction. Medical students reported high levels of readiness and satisfaction with online learning, despite heavily relying on this online learning mode to complete their clinical posting during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in naturally occurring phytochemicals has been on the increase, they are believed to reduce the risk of brain disorders. Hispidulin (HN) is a phenolic flavonoid compound with various pharmacological and biological effects on the central nervous system. It belongs to the flavone class of flavonoids. It can be found in different plant materials, especially fruits and vegetables. The literature used in this review was collected from credible scientific databases including ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Hindawi without time restriction, using relevant keywords, such as HN, brain, central nervous system, flavonoids, and flavones. HN was discovered to possess pro-apoptotic properties, act as an antioxidant, inhibit cytokine production and toll-like receptor 4 expression, as well as impede nuclear factor kappa beta and mitogen-activated protein kinase B. HN was also found to inhibit lipid peroxidation in vitro and reduce brain edema in mice. These pharmacological potentials suggest that HN is a promising candidate for neuroprotection in CNS disorders like depression and epilepsy. This review provides an update on the scientific literature concerning how these activities could help provide various forms of neuroprotection in the CNS. Additional experimental data on the effects of HN in models of neurological disorders and neuroprotection should be explored further. Based on the current study, HN is a promising candidate for neuroprotection of the CNS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of educational data mining has gained significant traction for its pivotal role in assessing students' academic achievements. However, to ensure the compatibility of algorithms with the selected dataset, it is imperative for a comprehensive analysis of the algorithms to be done. This study delved into the development of machine learning algorithms utilizing students' online learning activities to effectively classify their academic performance. In the data cleaning stage, we employed VarianceThreshold for discarding features that have all zeros. Feature selection and oversampling techniques were integrated into the data preprocessing, using information gain to facilitate efficient feature selection and synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) to address class imbalance. In the classification phase, three supervised machine learning algorithms: k-nearest neighbors (KNN), multi-layer perceptron (MLP), and logistic regression (LR) were implemented, with 3-fold cross-validation to enhance robustness. Classifiers' performance underwent refinement through hyperparameter tuning via GridSearchCV. Evaluation metrics, encompassing accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score, were meticulously measured for each classifier. Notably, the study revealed that both MLP and LR achieved impeccable scores of 100% across all metrics, while KNN exhibited a noticeable performance boost after using hyperparameter tuning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The classification of student performance involves categorizing students' performance using input data such as demographic information and examination results. However, our study introduces a novel approach by emphasizing students' online learning activities as a rich data source. To avoid misinterpretation during the classification, we therefore presented a study comparing several feature selection (FS) methods combined with artificial neural network (ANN), for classifying students' performance based on their online learning activities. At first, we focused on tackling the issue of missing values by implementing data cleaning using variance threshold. feature selection techniques were implemented which encompass both filterbased (information gain, chi-square, Pearson correlation) and wrapper-based, sequential selection (forward and backward) techniques. In the classification stage, multi-layer perceptron (MLP) was used with the default hyperparameters and 5-fold cross-validation along with synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) were also applied to each method. We evaluated each feature selection method's performance using key metrics: accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. The outcomes highlighted information gain and sequential selection (forward and backward) as the topperforming methods, all achieving 100% accuracy. This research underscores the potential of leveraging online learning activities for robust student performance classification within the specified constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer are critical for saving lives. This paper addresses two major challenges associated with this task: the vast amount of data processing involved and the need for early detection of breast cancer. To tackle these issues, we developed thirty hybrid architectures by combining five deep learning techniques (Xception, Inception-V3, ResNet50, VGG16, VGG19) as feature extractors and six classifiers (random forest, logistic regression, naive Bayes, gradient-boosted tree, decision tree, and support vector machine) implemented on the Spark framework. We evaluated the performance of these architectures using four classification criteria. The results, analyzed using Scott Knott's statistical test, demonstrated the effectiveness of merging deep learning feature extraction techniques with traditional classifiers for classifying breast cancer into malignant and benign tumors. Notably, the hybrid architecture using logistic regression as the classifier and ResNet50 for feature extraction (RESLR) emerged as the top performer. It achieved impressive accuracy scores of 98.20%, 96.59%, 96.64%, and 94.84% across the Break-His dataset at different magnifications (40X, 100X, 200X, and 400X) respectively. Additionally, RESLR achieved an accuracy of 97.05% on the ICIAR dataset and a remarkable accuracy of 95.31% on the FNAC dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the characterization of Aquilaria essential oils from different species, namely Aquilaria malaccensis, Aquilaria beccariana, Aquilaria crassna, and Aquilaria subintegra, renowned for agarwood production in Malaysia. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) were employed for extracting essential oil data, facilitating compound identification. Subsequently, a preliminary analysis focused on classifying significant chemical compounds in the samples. The study then utilized boxplot pre-processing for visualizing and interpreting data distribution. The statistical analyses were performed using MATLAB software version R2021b, considering two key parameters which are the peak area (%) of significant chemical compounds and the classification of Aquilaria species (A. beccariana, A. malaccensis, A. crassna, and A. subintegra) based on their chemical composition. The results, presented through boxplot analyses, demonstrated a clear representation of the parameters and their distribution in the data. This method not only confirmed the potential of boxplot analysis in statistical evaluation of significant compounds in Aquilaria essential oil but also suggested its applicability for further classification work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the use of virtual and augmented reality (VAR) in higher education on students' self-efficacy in science and engineering, and academic performance. An innovative VAR classroom is set up as an immersive and interactive learning environment at Nanyang Technological University for curriculum-based learning. This classroom is equipped with 6 individual VR displays and headsets, where high-end computers are connected to each display providing the computational power required for VAR technology. 46 undergraduate engineering students experience the VAR lessons over the course of 5 weeks. The self-efficacy and academic performance of the students are measured for quantitative analysis with surveys and regular (pre-/post-) tests as they participated in the lessons. Post-lesson focus-group discussions and interviews are conducted for qualitative analysis. The data analysis shows a significant increase in students' self-efficacy levels and academic performance after 5 weeks of VAR lessons. It is found that the collaborative, interactive and immersive nature of the VAR learning environment enriches students' learning experiences and thus contributes to their learning effectiveness. The study provides insights into how the VAR learning environment affects undergraduate students' learning, and how the VAR system can be deployed for effective STEM education [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Spawning beaches are important for coastal horseshoe crabs, Tachypleus gigas (Müller, 1785), to sustain their population. Over time, T. gigas natural spawning area has gradually diminished owing to human and natural causes. T. gigas is being artificially bred in captivity to enhance its population. Aims: The study aims to determine the T. gigas spawning preference for three different sediment sizes. Methods: Spawning experiments were carried out in an indoor concrete tank representing an artificial spawning ground, consisting of three combinations of sediment sizes: coarse, medium and fine. The spawning of 45 pairs of T. gigas samples was observed within 3 h, the nests were marked and excavated on the next day. The number of eggs per nest was counted individually after being cleaned. Key results: The 45 pairs of T. gigas produced 27,266–30,859 eggs. Among these, on the basis of the number of nests produced, T. gigas prefers to spawn in medium to coarse sediment with a particle-size range of 0.25–1.00 mm. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that medium to coarse sediments are optimal for T. gigas spawning in artificial spawning grounds, because they could produce a high number of nests and eggs, increasing the number of juveniles released. Implications: These results could be used as a baseline for the conservation management of T. gigas in captivity. Tachypleus gigas is artificially bred to increase its population because of its diminishing natural spawning grounds. Spawning experiments were conducted in an artificial spawning ground to determine the spawning preference of T. gigas on three different sediment sizes. We suggest that medium to coarse sediments are optimal for T. gigas spawning in artificial spawning grounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical wastes include the wastes created by biomedical research institutes, medical labs, and hospitals. Through exposure to infectious pathogens, improper waste treatment causes substantial hazards of disease transmission to waste workers, waste pickers, patients, health workers, and the population in general. Poor waste management releases dangerous and detrimental constituents into society. However, due of the volumes of wastes generated and its infectious nature, contamination of highly contagious agents such as the sudden pandemic has created huge instability in medical waste treatments and consequent recycling. Several nations have implemented safety procedures to counteract this pollution and manage medical wastes; nevertheless, these efforts are inadequate and vary depending on the nation. Moreover, worldwide organizations have recognized recommendations for the handling of medical wastes. Those rules are aiding in the management of highly infectious medical wastes generated by all-medical centers. Instead of sending things to landfills, proper medical wastes management may make available value by limiting disease transmission and enhancing recyclability. Disinfecting and classifying medical wastes enables for more sustainable management and reuse of important resources. This paper addresses the various medical solid wastes environmental impacts, management and disposal techniques used in various nations, the issues encountered throughout these strategies, and potential solutions to these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to identify the constrains faced by female entrepreneurs in Egypt. This study also intends to examine the influence of formal and informal institutional factors on women's entry into entrepreneurship in Egypt. In addition, to explore the factors enable women entrepreneurs to overcome the barriers they may face. The qualitative research approach was adopted in the study to explore the challenges experienced by Egyptian female entrepreneurs. Purposeful sampling was employed and twenty-five (25) women entrepreneurs were selected from five Egyptian governorates to conduct semi-structured interviews to collect primary data. The findings indicated that the main constraints faced Egyptian women entrepreneurs arise from difficulty in raising capital, socio-culture commitments, sexual harassment, work-family conflict and lack of managerial skills. The study found factors such family-husband support, religious values, personal traits and technological skills are crucial for overcome constraints faced by women entrepreneurs. The study recommends creating a funding program targeting female entrepreneurs and raise the awareness about the importance of women entrepreneurship as well as take necessary actions to prevent sexual harassment phenomenon. Minimal research has examined female entrepreneurship in Egypt. Therefore, this study offers valuable insights of constraints faced by women entrepreneurs in Egypt. The study contributes to the women's entrepreneurship literature from the perspective of an Arab Islamic developing country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kurjak antenatal neurodevelopment test (KANET) is a pioneering prenatal diagnostic tool designed to evaluate fetal neurodevelopment using high-resolution ultrasonography and detailed neuroimaging analysis. This review provides an in-depth analysis of KANET's methodology, clinical applications, and its significant role in enhancing prenatal care. By integrating advanced imaging techniques with precise neurodevelopmental assessments, KANET enables early detection and intervention for neurodevelopmental disorders, potentially improving long-term outcomes. The review also discusses KANET's validation across diverse populations, its comparative effectiveness with traditional diagnostic methods, and the future potential for incorporating emerging technologies to further refine prenatal diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this research is to provide researchers with a comprehensive literature review while demonstrating how service quality (SQ) led to the development of viable research avenues for future analysis and research. In this study, the review protocol PRISMA approach and meta-literature review are used to analyse the relevant literature using the Scopus database from 1984 to 2023. This analysis takes into account top authors, top keywords by using Publish or Perish and page rank analysis by using Gephi software. Second, the VOS viewer is employed to engage in co-citation analysis and keyword co-occurrence analysis aiding in uncovering the core literature and research within this area of study. Initially, analysis reveals that the number of publications follows a general upward trend. Top authors and SQ keywords were identified in the most-cited papers in the Scopus database. The United States, followed by India, Hong Kong, Jordan, and the Philippines, published most of these papers. This study critically analysed data characteristics, labels, measures objectives and key findings of SQ top-cited papers. In addition, this paper provides additional details regarding the evolution of the research topic's trends and offers insights into future research directions. Finally, this study additionally elaborated key results of 88 top-cited papers. The paper demonstrates that SQ is a topic when taken as a whole, is both relevant and emerging and it necessitates future research about the skills of business, management and accounting professionals, as well as their activities and how their customers perceive quality in an environment that is subject to continuous change. This is the first study to analyse and review relevant research on service quality using the review protocol PRISMA and meta-literature review. This is helpful for researchers since it allows them to easily grasp its development and trend. This evaluation indicates potential paths for future research and acts as a valuable reference for additional investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Borgs are huge extrachromosomal elements (ECE) of anaerobic methane-consuming "Candidatus Methanoperedens" archaea. Here, we used nanopore sequencing to validate published complete genomes curated from short reads and to reconstruct new genomes. 13 complete and four near-complete linear genomes share 40 genes that define a largely syntenous genome backbone. We use these conserved genes to identify new Borgs from peatland soil and to delineate Borg phylogeny, revealing two major clades. Remarkably, Borg genes encoding nanowire-like electron-transferring cytochromes and cell surface proteins are more highly expressed than those of host Methanoperedens, indicating that Borgs augment the Methanoperedens activity in situ. We reconstructed the first complete 4.00 Mbp genome for a Methanoperedens that is inferred to be a Borg host and predicted its methylation motifs, which differ from pervasive TC and CC methylation motifs of the Borgs. Thus, methylation may enable Methanoperedens to distinguish their genomes from those of Borgs. Very high Borg to Methanoperedens ratios and structural predictions suggest that Borgs may be capable of encapsulation. The findings clearly define Borgs as a distinct class of ECE with shared genomic signatures, establish their diversification from a common ancestor with genetic inheritance, and raise the possibility of periodic existence outside of host cells. Borgs are huge extrachromosomal elements associated with anaerobic methane-consuming archaea. Here, the authors use nanopore sequencing to identify new Borgs from peatland soil and their hosts, uncover their DNA modifications and activities, and elucidate the evolutionary relationships of Borgs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The understanding that mental health recovery is a personal and subjective experience informs mental health policies in many countries. However, most of the populations in these studies are from the West, limiting their applicability in Asia. Peer support in mental health refers to helping and mentoring people who have overcome similar obstacles. Despite being proven to be effective in promoting recovery, little is known about its use in Malaysian psychiatric patients. This study aims to explore the participants' perspectives on their concept of recovery and how the peer support group (PSG) aid them to achieve recovery. Methodology: This study was conducted on clients with mental illness who attended the PSG provided by the Community Psychiatry and Psychosocial Intervention Unit in National University Malaysia Medical Centre. A qualitative generic inductive approach was employed in this thematic exploratory study. Purposive sampling was the method used to collect the data for this thematic exploratory study. In-depth interviews of 11 study participants were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke (2006) descriptive thematic analysis method. Results: The findings of this study highlighted six key themes; three pertaining to the participants' perspectives on the meaning of recovery (1. Gaining self-reliance and social inclusion, 2. Personal growth and improved life circumstances in recovery, and 3. Symptoms improvement) and another three pertaining to how the peer support group aids recovery (1. Empowerment and growth through peer support, 2. Promoting well-being, 3. Social connection and support). Conclusion: The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the perspectives of psychiatry clinic patients enrolled in PSG on the concept of recovery and the role of such groups in their recovery journey. The findings demonstrated that the PSG complemented the participants' perspectives on recovery, reinforcing the notion that a comprehensive and person-centered approach to mental health services is essential for successful and sustained recovery outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential functional role(s) of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) in the brine shrimp, Artemia franciscana, a crucial crustacean species for aquaculture and stress response studies, was investigated in this study. Though we have previously reported that Hsp70 knockdown may have little or no impact on Artemia development, the gestational survival and number of offspring released by adult females were impaired by obscuring Hsp70 synthesis. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that several cuticle and chitin synthetic genes were downregulated, and carbohydrate metabolic genes were differentially expressed in Hsp70-knockdown individuals. A more comprehensive microscopic examination performed in this study revealed exoskeleton structural destruction and abnormal eye lenses featured in Hsp70-deficient adult females 48 h after Hsp70 dsRNA injection. Cysts produced by these Hsp70-deficient broods, instead, had a defective shell and were smaller in size, whereas nauplii had shorter first antennae and a rougher body epicuticle surface. Changes in carbohydrate metabolism caused by Hsp70 knockdown affected glycogen levels in adult Artemia females, as well as trehalose in cysts released from these broods, indicating that Hsp70 may play a role in energy storage preservation. Outcomes from this work provided novel insights into the roles of Hsp70 in Artemia reproduction performance, cyst formation, and exoskeleton structure preservation. The findings also support our previous observation that Hsp70 knockdown reduced Artemia nauplius tolerance to bacterial pathogens, which could be explained by the fact that loss of Hsp70 downregulated several Toll receptor genes (NT1 and Spaetzle) and reduced the integrity of the exoskeleton, allowing pathogens to enter and cause infection, ultimately resulting in mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of categorizing students' performance based on input data, encompassing demographic information and final exam results, is recognized as student performance classification. Educational data mining has gained traction in assessing students' performance. However, this study entails the need to analyze the diverse attributes of students' information within an educational institution by using data mining techniques. This study thoroughly examines both previous and current methodologies presented by researchers, addressing two main aspects: data preprocessing and classification algorithms applied in student performance classification. Data preprocessing specifically delves into the exploration of feature selection techniques, encompassing three types of feature selection and search methods. These techniques aim to identify the most significant features, eliminate unnecessary ones, and reduce data dimensionality. In addition, classification algorithms play a crucial role in categorizing or predicting student performance. Models such as k-nearest neighbors (KNN), decision tree (DT), artificial neural networks (ANN), and linear models (LR) were scrutinized based on their performance in prior research. Ultimately, this study highlights the potential for further exploration of feature selection techniques like information gain, Chi-square, and sequential selection, particularly when applied to new datasets such as students' online learning activities, utilizing a variety of classification algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: This paper presents a rare sarcoidosis case in a child of 12 years of age presented with arthritis, bilateral parotid enlargement and ocular, but unfortunately the diagnosis has been missed due to lack of pulmonary involvement. Diagnosis of sarcoidosis is by exclusion, and sometimes, it can be challenging. This paper presents a rare sarcoidosis case in a child of 12 years of age presented with bilateral parotid enlargement. The signs of musculoskeletal and ocular involvement were present before the parotid enlargement, and the parotid swelling persisted for 3 years; but unfortunately the definite diagnosis has been missed by the previous healthcare professionals most probably due to the rarity of the situation, especially lack of pulmonary involvement. Therefore, cooperation between different healthcare specialties is important for an effective diagnosis and management. Despite its rarity, sarcoidosis should always be present in the list of differential diagnosis when encountering multisystem entities like arthritis, ocular symptoms and parotid swelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the relationship between management support, quality infrastructure, staff training and the effectiveness of quality enhancement cells (QECs) established in higher education institutions. Design/methodology/approach: Data were acquired via a structured questionnaire dispatched to faculty members across 12 public and private universities, primarily situated in Punjab, Pakistan. Among the 200 questionnaires distributed, 180 were retrieved and 140 were deemed valid. The proposed relationships were examined using SPSS–25 and PLS–SEM. Findings: The results show a positive and significant relationship between management support, quality infrastructure and staff training with QECs' effectiveness. The study also highlights that the effectiveness of QECs is "Good" in only two of the 12 universities, while in most universities it is "Barely Acceptable". Furthermore, QECs' effectiveness is slightly better in public universities compared to private institutions. Research limitations/implications: The study employs convenience sampling and a cross-sectional approach, focusing on faculty members from 12 universities, primarily in Punjab, Pakistan. To enhance future research, larger samples and probability-based sampling should be considered, while involving quality managers and students for a broader perspective. Practical implications: The research suggests policymakers and university leaders should strengthen their support by providing resources, quality infrastructure and training for academic and administrative staff. This would enhance the effectiveness of QECs and improve the overall quality of education in both public and private universities. Originality/value: This study contributes to the literature on quality assurance in higher education by emphasizing the significance of QECs concerning management support, quality infrastructure and staff training – areas that are often overlooked in Pakistani universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study is to examine the Islamic and Malay elements that are accultur-ated in the Dabus dance ritual of Perak, Malaysia. The focused group of this study is the Dabus of Tanjung Bidara village, estimated to have been established since the 1818s. However, throughout that time, the perception of the Malay community has not been strong yet, specifically regarding the ritual relationship of the Dabus dance with Islamic values. In fact, not infrequently, Dabus dance rituals are seen as contradicting the values of Islam itself. It is even seen over as skewed by some of the Malay community. However, in terms of history, meaning, practice, and ritual function, the Dabus dance itself cannot be separated from Islam. The study was designed as a field study. The data collected is qualitative and analysed critically using ritual theory, cultural symbols, and acculturation. Data was collected through interviews, field observations, and documents. Other data sources include a review of text, photos, videos, and relevant articles. The findings show that 1) the process of Malay-Islamic acculturation in Dabus dance rituals has been since the arrival of Dabus dance in the Malay peninsula and continues until now; 2) one of the most significant Islamic-Malay acculturation methods and strategies is the reinvention of the Dabus dance over time; 3) Islamic-Malay acculturation includes not only physical forms (forms, structures, and ritual elements) but also non-physical aspects (doa, zikir, selawat, berzanji, belief). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuity of mental disorders in street-working children is rarely studied. This study therefore investigated homotypic continuity, recurrence of the same disorder, and heterotypic continuity, when a new disorder follows on the previous, of mental disorders from childhood to adulthood in street-working boys from Duhok City, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Mental disorders were assessed by structured diagnostic interviews in 40 street-working boys in 2004–2005 and again in 2021, when the participants' mean ages were 12.1 (SD 1.8) and 29.7 (SD 2.3), respectively. Mental disorders were common; 24 participants (60%) satisfied the criteria for at least one diagnosis at baseline and 28 (70%) at follow-up. Comorbidity increased from 1.2 (SD 1.4) disorders initially to 2.5 (SD 1.8) at follow-up. Only anxiety disorders showed homotypic continuity. Depressive disorders exhibited the greatest increase over time whereas externalizing disorders exhibited a decreasing tendency. The number of mental disorders in adulthood was related to the number of mental disorders in childhood but not to the number of childhood traumas experienced, having previously worked for more than two hours per day, having worked for over two years on the streets, or having at least one dead parent as a child. Parental ratings on the Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL) from childhood were also unrelated to the number of adult disorders. More longitudinal studies with bigger samples of both genders are needed to fully evaluate the continuity of mental disorders in street-working children and to determine whether the number of mental disorders in childhood is a stronger predictor of being mentally disordered in adult life than psychosocial risk factors or experiences of internalizing or externalizing symptoms in childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mammographic density (MD) has been shown to be a strong and independent risk factor for breast cancer in women of European and Asian descent. However, the majority of Asian studies to date have used BI-RADS as the scoring method and none have evaluated area and volumetric densities in the same cohort of women. This study aims to compare the association of MD measured by two automated methods with the risk of breast cancer in Asian women, and to investigate if the association is different for premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Methods: In this case–control study of 531 cases and 2297 controls, we evaluated the association of area-based MD measures and volumetric-based MD measures with breast cancer risk in Asian women using conditional logistic regression analysis, adjusting for relevant confounders. The corresponding association by menopausal status were assessed using unconditional logistic regression. Results: We found that both area and volume-based MD measures were associated with breast cancer risk. Strongest associations were observed for percent densities (OR (95% CI) was 2.06 (1.42–2.99) for percent dense area and 2.21 (1.44–3.39) for percent dense volume, comparing women in highest density quartile with those in the lowest quartile). The corresponding associations were significant in postmenopausal but not premenopausal women (premenopausal versus postmenopausal were 1.59 (0.95–2.67) and 1.89 (1.22–2.96) for percent dense area and 1.24 (0.70–2.22) and 1.96 (1.19–3.27) for percent dense volume). However, the odds ratios were not statistically different by menopausal status [p difference = 0.782 for percent dense area and 0.486 for percent dense volume]. Conclusions: This study confirms the associations of mammographic density measured by both area and volumetric methods and breast cancer risk in Asian women. Stronger associations were observed for percent dense area and percent dense volume, and strongest effects were seen in postmenopausal individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to merge the world's proven ways of housing finance, including musharakah mutanaqisah, housing cooperatives and real estate crowdfunding, to present an alternative housing unaffordability solution based on the Islamic finance principle. It is intended to reduce the burden of funding for both sides (consumers and developers) and create win–win chances for all stakeholders, including intermediaries. By moving away from debt financing and merging the features of crowdfunding and cooperative, it is hopeful that the burden of home ownership will no longer be the case. Design/methodology/approach: This paper presents the opinions of potential Chinese homebuyers (minority Muslims and most non-Muslims) and a few industry experts toward the proposed model via a mixed research method. Findings: According to the findings, the majority of respondents agreed with the proposed paradigm. Just concerned that China's lack of community culture and trust could pose a major threat to implementation. However, this paper argues that Chinese local governments may perform pilot testing in places where Islamic culture is prevalent. Their unique community culture and fundamental understanding of Shariah law may affect the viability of the proposed model. Originality/value: The proposed model would increase the applicability of Islamic finance as a way of protecting the social order of communities in the spirit of upholding justice and fairness. A new type of housing loan based on musharakah mutanaqisah may squeeze out the real estate bubble and provide stakeholders with a multidimensional investment channel. In particular, the study identifies the impact of Chinese Islamic financing on government and cultural needs. It presents possible challenges for implementing the proposed model in reality and helps bridge the gap between theory and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel multiphase hybrid matrix converter topology dedicated to grid-connected five-phase wind generation. The proposed converter, named Five-phase Ultra-Sparse Series Z-source Matrix Converter (FUSSZMC), aims to facilitate the integration of the five-phase wind turbine generators. This is done by taking into account the improvement of the injected power quality and allowing the fixed output converter voltage level to that of the grid, thanks to the use of the series Z-source, under the variable voltage magnitude of the wind turbine generator, which depends on the wind speed. The proposed space vector modulation as a control strategy for FUSSZMC was detailed, where it was demonstrated that a suitable use of both large and small current vectors improves the input current waveforms. The global model of the proposed system was tested by simulation under Matlab/Simpowersys environment. The obtained results demonstrate clearly the advantages of using FUSSZMC and its modulation strategie. These benefits includea good input and output current waveforms, as reflected by the obtained total harmonic distortion (THD) values, that fall within the range prescribed by international standards. Additionally, FUSSZMC is capable of operating with unity input power factor, regulating input voltages and improving the quality of injected power into the grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dimensionally stable anodes of titanium (Ti) metal coated with mixed metal oxides (MMO) are widely used in several electrochemical applications, especially chloro-alkali electrolysis. Herein, we deposited MMO coatings on Ti substrates in different compositions, namely, (60%RuO2-40%TiO2), (60%RuO2-30%TiO2-10%IrO2), and (60%RuO2-20%TiO2-15%IrO2-5%Ta2O5), where RuO2 has the same percentage ratio in all coatings. The aim was to use these electrodes for chlorine evolution reaction (CER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) applications. Electrochemical characterization of the coated samples was performed to identify the best Ti/MMO electrodes with the highest efficiencies among the various prepared combinations. The role of IrO2 and Ta2O5 in enhancing corrosion resistance and electrochemical efficacy was up for debate. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses were exploited to determine the surface morphology, chemical composition, crystallinity, surface composition, and chemical states of the acquired coatings. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method was used to evaluate the apparent activation energy ( E a ) of the deposited MMO. Additionally, the electrochemical performance of our designed coatings was scrutinized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), a current on–off test, a CV stability test (ST), and an accelerated stability test (AST). Furthermore, linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) was incorporated to assess the catalytic efficacy of the prepared anodes toward the CER in a brine solution of pH 2 and the OER in 1 M H2SO4. It became clear that the CER and OER incurred almost the same potential value (1.1 V) on both Ti/RuO2-TiO2 and Ti/RuO2-TiO2-IrO2 electrodes. However, on the Ti/RuO2-TiO2-IrO2-Ta2O5 anode, there was a 0.2 V potential difference between the CER occurring at 1.1 V and the OER happening at 1.3 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemoglobin (Hb) Vancleave (NM_000518.5:c.431 A > T; dbSNP: rs33918338) is an extremely rare structural hemoglobin variant worldwide, and studies are limited. This report describes the case of a 16-year-old male patient who presented with secondary erythrocytosis. The diagnosis of Hb Vancleave, in combination with codon 41/42 (-TTCT) (NM_000518.5:c.126_129del; dbSNP: rs80356821), was confirmed by direct sequencing. This report highlights the importance of sequencing in the differential diagnosis of beta-thalassemia syndrome in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer exhibits significant heterogeneity, manifesting in various subtypes that are critical in guiding treatment decisions. This study aimed to investigate the existence of distinct subtypes of breast cancer within the Asian population, by analysing the transcriptomic profiles of 934 breast cancer patients from a Malaysian cohort. Our findings reveal that the HR + /HER2− breast cancer samples display a distinct clustering pattern based on immune phenotypes, rather than conforming to the conventional luminal A-luminal B paradigm previously reported in breast cancers from women of European descent. This suggests that the activation of the immune system may play a more important role in Asian HR + /HER2− breast cancer than has been previously recognized. Analysis of somatic mutations by whole exome sequencing showed that counter-intuitively, the cluster of HR + /HER2− samples exhibiting higher immune scores was associated with lower tumour mutational burden, lower homologous recombination deficiency scores, and fewer copy number aberrations, implicating the involvement of non-canonical tumour immune pathways. Further investigations are warranted to determine the underlying mechanisms of these pathways, with the potential to develop innovative immunotherapeutic approaches tailored to this specific patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the fact that natives of Southeast Asia have been consuming Prismatomeris glabra for decades for a variety of health benefits, research on this species is not as extensive as that on other species due to its limited distribution. The purpose of this study was to determine the cytotoxicity and identify the bioactive compounds of P. glabra crude leaf extracts against the MCF-7 cell line. Results: We first examined the potential cytotoxic activity of P. glabra using the MTT assay against the MCF-7 cell line to determine the IC50 of the plant extracts at various concentrations at three time points (24 h, 48 h, and 72 h). Across all time points, the MTT assay revealed that the aqueous extract exhibited the lowest IC50 values (p < 0.05) compared to the ethanol and methanol extracts. All plant extracts exerted the ability to induce cell death in the MCF-7 cell line at all time points, and the optimal time for P. glabra to manifest its antiproliferative activities and promote cell death was 48 h. LC–MS analysis was conducted to reveal the components in plant extracts. Forty compounds were discovered in P. glabra's extracts, with the majority being flavonoids and triterpenoids. Five similar compounds were present in all three extracts. Further research should be conducted on these compounds to unveil a compound that fulfils the criteria as a promising anticancer agent. This research is of the utmost importance, as it provides a fundamental framework for the identification of alternative therapies for breast cancer and contributes implicitly to the development of new drugs. Conclusions: This study discovered that P. glabra crude leaf extracts have the potential to inhibit the MCF-7 cell line by inducing cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leptospirosis is a water-related zoonotic disease. The disease is primarily transmitted from animals to humans through pathogenic Leptospira bacteria in contaminated water and soil. Rivers have a critical role in Leptospira transmissions, while co-infection potentials with other waterborne bacteria might increase the severity and death risk of the disease. Methods: The water samples evaluated in this study were collected from four recreational forest rivers, Sungai Congkak, Sungai Lopo, Hulu Perdik, and Gunung Nuang. The samples were subjected to next-generation sequencing (NGS) for the 16S rRNA and in-depth metagenomic analysis of the bacterial communities. Results: The water samples recorded various bacterial diversity. The samples from the Hulu Perdik and Sungai Lopo downstream sampling sites had a more significant diversity, followed by Sungai Congkak. Conversely, the upstream samples from Gunung Nuang exhibited the lowest bacterial diversity. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Acidobacteria were the dominant phyla detected in downstream areas. Potential pathogenic bacteria belonging to the genera Burkholderiales and Serratia were also identified, raising concerns about co-infection possibilities. Nevertheless, Leptospira pathogenic bacteria were absent from all sites, which is attributable to its limited persistence. The bacteria might also be washed to other locations, contributing to the reduced environmental bacterial load. Conclusion: The present study established the presence of pathogenic bacteria in the river ecosystems assessed. The findings offer valuable insights for designing strategies for preventing pathogenic bacteria environmental contamination and managing leptospirosis co-infections with other human diseases. Furthermore, closely monitoring water sample compositions with diverse approaches, including sentinel programs, wastewater-based epidemiology, and clinical surveillance, enables disease transmission and outbreak early detections. The data also provides valuable information for suitable treatments and long-term strategies for combating infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agarwood (Aquilaria Malaccensis) oil stands out as one of the most valuable and highly sought-after oils with a hefty price tag due to its widespread use of fragrances, incense, perfumes, ceremonial practices, medicinal applications and as a symbol of luxury. However, nowadays the conventional method that rely on color alone has its limitations as it yields varying results depending on individual panelists' experiences. Hence, the quality identification system of Agarwood oil using its chemical compounds had been proposed in this study to enhance the precision of the Agarwood oil grades thus addressing the shortcomings of traditional methods. This study indicates that the primary chemical compounds of Agarwood oil encompass ...-Eudesmol, ar-curcumene, β-dihydroagarofuran, ...-cadinene, α-agarofuran, allo-aromadendrene epoxide, valerianol, α-guaiene, 10-epi-...eudesmol, β-agarofuran and dihydrocollumellarin. This study employed artificial neural network analysis with the implementation of Levenberg- Marquardt algorithm to identify the Agarwood oil grades. The study's findings revealed that this modeling system of five grades got 100% accuracies with mean square error of 0.14338x10-08. Notably, this lowest mean square error (MSE) value falls within the best hidden neuron 3. These study outcomes play a pivotal role in highlighting the Levenberg Marquardtartificial neural network (LM-ANN) modeling that contribute to the successful of Agarwood oil quality identification using its chemical compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey is produced exclusively by honeybees and stingless bees which both are well adapted to tropical and subtropical regions such as Malaysia. Stingless bees are known for producing small amounts of honey and are known for having a unique flavor profile. Problem identified that many stingless bees collapsed due to weather, temperature and environment. It is critical to understand the relationship between the production of stingless bee honey and environmental conditions to improve honey production. Thus, this paper presents a review on stingless bee's honey production and prediction modeling. About 54 previous research has been analyzed and compared in identifying the research gaps. A framework on modeling the prediction of stingless bee honey is derived. The result presents the comparison and analysis on the internet of things (IoT) monitoring systems, honey production estimation, convolution neural networks (CNNs), and automatic identification methods on bee species. It is identified based on image detection method the top best three efficiency presents CNN is at 98.67%, densely connected convolutional networks with YOLO v3 is 97.7%, and DenseNet201 convolutional networks 99.81%. This study is significant to assist the researcher in developing a model for predicting stingless honey produced by bee's output, which is important for a stable economy and food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that variations in the CD36 gene may affect phenotypes associated with fat metabolism as the CD36 protein facilitates the transport of fatty acids to the mitochondria for oxidation. However, no previous study has tested whether variations in the CD36 gene are associated with sports performance. We investigated the genotypic and allelic distribution of the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1761667 in the CD36 gene in elite Moroccan athletes (cyclists and hockey players) in comparison with healthy non-athletes of the same ethnic origin. Forty-three Moroccan elite male athletes (nineteen cyclists and twenty-four field hockey players) belonging to the national teams of their respective sports (athlete group) were compared to twenty-eight healthy, active, male university students (control group). Genotyping of the CD36 rs1761667 (G>A) SNP was performed via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing. A chi-square (χ2) test was used to assess the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) and to compare allele and genotype frequencies in the "athlete" and "control" groups. The genotypic distribution of the CD36 rs1761667 polymorphism was similar in elite athletes (AA: 23.81, AG: 59.52, and GG: 16.67%) and controls (AA: 19.23, AG: 69.23, and GG: 11.54%; χ2 = 0.67, p = 0.71). However, the genotypic distribution of the CD36 rs1761667 polymorphism was different between cyclists (AA: 0.00, AG: 72.22, and GG: 27.78%) and hockey players (AA: 41.67, AG: 50.00, and GG: 8.33%; χ2 = 10.69, p = 0.004). Specifically, the frequency of the AA genotype was significantly lower in cyclists than in hockey players (p = 0.02). In terms of allele frequency, a significant difference was found between cyclists versus field hockey players (χ2 = 7.72, p = 0.005). Additionally, there was a predominance of the recessive model in cyclists over field hockey players (OR: 0.00, 95% CI: 0.00–0.35, p = 0.002). Our study shows a significant difference between cyclists and field hockey players in terms of the genotypic and allelic frequency of the SNP rs1761667 of the CD36 gene. This divergence suggests a probable association between genetic variations in the CD36 gene and the type of sport in elite Moroccan athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]