BIAR BUKU BICARA

Toward Quantum-Resilient PKI: A Systematic Literature Review of Post-Quantum Certificates Model

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

The rise of quantum computing presents a critical threat to classical public-key cryptographic systems, necessitating a global shift toward post-quantum cryptography (PQC). While algorithmic standardisation has seen substantial progress since the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) initiated its call for PQC proposals in 2017, the integration of these algorithms into certificate-based infrastructures remains fragmented and underexplored. This gap creates uncertainty for secure communication, particularly in transitioning legacy systems into quantum-resilient environments. This systematic literature review (SLR) focuses on PQC certificate architectures studied between 2017 and 2025, encompassing the evolution of the field since NIST's formal standardisation efforts began. The review employs the PRISMA 2020 methodology to identify and analyse six distinct post-quantum certificate models: Pure PQC, Hybrid, Composite, Chameleon, Parallel, and Wrapped. Each model is evaluated across several criteria, including structure, backwards compatibility, tooling support, standardisation status, and production readiness, drawing evidence from scholarly publications, draft standards, and open-source implementations. Findings highlight the Hybrid certificate as the most viable short-term solution due to its high interoperability and maturity in deployment. Composite and Parallel architectures offer enhanced security assurances that are suitable for critical infrastructure, although they come with increased implementation complexity. Pure PQC certificates, while future-proof, are still limited to constrained or greenfield environments. Chameleon and Wrapped models are identified as emerging alternatives for blockchain and legacy scenarios, respectively, with limited but growing support. This review enlightens the design and deployment of quantum-safe public key infrastructures by outlining the trade-offs and maturity levels of each architecture. It also emphasises the need for continued development in standardisation and toolchain support to facilitate scalable and secure PQC adoption.

Human Dimensions of Cybersecurity Operations: Survey Insights from SOC Professionals in Malaysia

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Security Operations Centres (SOCs) form the operational core of cyber defence strategies across the world. They are tasked with ensuring continuous monitoring, triage, detection, and response to ever-evolving threats. However, conventional performance metrics used to evaluate SOC efficacy—such as Mean Time to Detect (MTTD), Mean Time to Respond (MTTR), and false positive rates—primarily assess system throughput while overlooking the psychosocial realities of the human analysts who underpin these metrics. This paper presents the findings of a quantitative workforce study conducted among 175 Malaysian SOC professionals across internal, hybrid, and managed security service provider (MSSP) environments. Using a Likert-based adaptation of the NIOSH Worker Well-Being Questionnaire (WellBQ), the study investigates stress, burnout, alert fatigue, task autonomy, psychological safety, tooling efficacy, and career development perceptions. Findings reveal that 73.1% of respondents experience emotional tiredness at least “Sometimes,” while 78.9% agree that more automation would improve their well-being. Notably, 68.0% reported having opportunities to grow and develop their careers within their SOC environments. These insights highlight the need for a paradigm shift in SOC performance measurement—one that integrates human-centric indicators alongside traditional technical KPIs. The paper concludes with empirically grounded recommendations for embedding well-being frameworks into operational security management to ensure sustainable, high-performing cybersecurity teams.

Enhancing Audio Steganography Through CGAN-Generated Cover Audio and Adaptive LSB Embedding: A Hybrid Approach

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Audio steganography hides secret messages inside audio files, enabling covert communication without drawing attention. Audio steganography methods aim to achieve high imperceptibility, robust performance, and high payload capacity. While traditional techniques like Least Significant Bit (LSB) coding offer good imperceptibility, they are highly vulnerable to statistical steganalysis and signal manipulation. Existing hybrid methods suffer from maintaining quality across diverse audio and inadequate robustness mechanisms, struggling to balance imperceptibility, payload capacity, and robustness. This paper proposes a novel hybrid approach that combines Conditional Generative Adversarial Networks (CGANs) with LSB coding to address these limitations. The CGAN is trained with the LibriSpeech dataset to generate audio patterns that simulate spontaneous speech for use as adaptive covers. The model was implemented using PyTorch, with performance evaluated based on Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), Perceptual Evaluation of Speech Quality (PESQ), Bit Error Rate (BER), and robustness to audio transformations. Experimental results showed a PESQ value of 4.05 and a mean SNR of 33.1 dB, representing excellent audio quality given the substantial payload capacity of 1.27 kbps. The method achieved a BER value of 2.23% and 87% robustness to compression, filtering, and resampling operations. The effectiveness of the CGAN-LSB hybrid method for enhancing capacity, imperceptibility, and robustness is achieved through the CGAN's ability to generate statistically natural audio covers, while adaptive LSB integration preserves data integrity during signal processing operations, making it highly suitable for secure audio communication and audio watermarking applications. While the generated covers exhibit distributional properties similar to genuine audio, direct validation against specific steganalysis detectors remains an important direction for future empirical evaluation.

DBT Gene Mutation Among Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) In Malaysian Population

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is an autosomal recessive genetic disease and an inherited autosomal recessive trait. It is characterised by a deficiency of an enzyme complex, resulting in an excess of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which are toxic to the nervous system. Our four cases generally presented with lethargy and poor feeding weeks after birth. They were all treated for sepsis until the laboratory results showed high levels of BCAAs, which indicated MSUD. Genetic analysis showed that the four cases were homozygous for the DBT gene mutation c.1196C>G (p.S399C), a possible founder mutation. All of our cases were managed accordingly, with regular monitoring of the BCAA levels. Dietary support, with infant formulas free of BCAAs, was provided to all four cases with regular follow-up at the paediatric genetic clinic. All cases had spastic diplegic and developmental delays

Pyogenic Granuloma of Inferior Turbinate in Children: Common Symptoms with a Rare Diagnosis

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a rapidly growing benign lesion of the skin and mucous membrane. Its etiology is still unclear. It is suggested to have arisen either due to trauma or hormonal influences. Pyogenic granuloma is regularly found in the oral cavity. Even though it is rare, it does occur in the nasal cavity and a few cases of pyogenic granuloma have been reported among the paediatric population. We present a case of a 6-year-old boy, who presented with unilateral nasal blockage and recurrent epistaxis. The child has a history of allergic rhinitis and frequent nasal picking. Clinical examination revealed a small broad based reddish mass at the anterior part of the right inferior turbinate. The histopathological examination from complete excisional biopsy was consistent with pyogenic granuloma. Although pyogenic granuloma is relatively rare, we should raise suspicion in young patients who complain of progressive unilateral nasal blockage and recurrent epistaxis, with or without a history of trauma. Thorough clinical examination is adequate in small lesion thus sparing the need for radiological investigation for bigger and extensive lesions. Complete excision is the ultimate treatment to avoid recurrence.

Knowledge Integration Model of Blockchain Technology in Higher Learning Institutions: A Rasch Measurement Model Approach for Pilot Study

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Blockchain technology has emerged as a transformative tool in higher education, offering secure, transparent, and tamper-proof systems for credential verification, academic record management, and institutional data governance. Despite its potential, adoption remains limited due to technical, financial, and organizational barriers, alongside a lack of validated measurement tools to assess readiness and integration. This pilot study aims to validate an instrument grounded in the Knowledge Integration Model of Blockchain Technology for Higher Learning Institutions using the Rasch Measurement Model. A 50 item survey was administered to 31 purposively sampled stakeholders, including academics, researchers, and postgraduate students with blockchain related experience. Data analysis using WINSTEPS 3.92.1 assessed reliability, item-person fit, unidimensionality, and targeting through Wright Map analysis. The results showed satisfactory reliability (person = 0.82; item = 0.77). Four items (B5, B6, D8, C7) exceeded the acceptable outfit MNSQ threshold (>1.5) and were revised to enhance instrument quality. However, several items showed misfit and require refinement, and the Wright Map indicated a need for more challenging items to better target high ability respondents. Unidimensionality testing revealed a dominant construct with minor secondary dimensions, suggesting further refinement for conceptual clarity. These findings provide preliminary evidence the instrument’s potential for large scale application, providing a foundation for assessing blockchain knowledge integration and guiding policy and strategic implementation in higher education.

Actuarial Reserve for Accumulated Leave Benefits (GCR) with Enhanced Mortality and Interest Rate Modeling

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

The 2023 Malaysian Budget increased the maximum compensable unused leave for public employees from 160 to 180 days, significantly raising future liabilities for public sector employers. Under the Malaysian Private Entities Reporting Standard (MPERS), universities must recognise these benefits, which are payable upon retirement or death, as actuarial liabilities. Existing tools, such as the Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) calculator, offer limited accuracy as they do not account for mortality risk or interest rate fluctuations. This study introduces an enhanced actuarial reserve model that incorporates both uncertainties. The model considers two payment casesw which are upon retirement and upon death, using survival probabilities, interest discounting, and assurance factors to determine the expected present value of future cash awards. To evaluate model performance, a simulation study using a non-parametric bootstrap is conducted on 5,000 simulated employee records. Bootstrap resampling is repeated at increasing levels to measure bias and consistency. Results show that both bias and variance decrease as bootstrap iterations increase, indicating model stability and accuracy. This improved model offers a more realistic and reliable method for estimating future cash awards, ensuring better financial planning, policy compliance, and reserve adequacy for higher education institutions.

Evaluation of User-Centred Design in the User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) of a Gamified Edutainment Application on Disaster Preparedness

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Recent years have witnessed a rise in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities, as reported by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR, 2022). Public preparedness, particularly among youth and rural populations, remains limited due to the absence of accessible and engaging educational tools. Conventional approaches often lack interactivity, reducing knowledge retention and behavioural change. To address these gaps, this study developed DisasterPrep, a user-centred mobile edutainment solution designed to enhance disaster awareness and preparedness. The research pursued three objectives: (i) to identify knowledge gaps among target users, (ii) to design a gamified mobile application tailored to their needs, and (iii) to evaluate its effectiveness in improving preparedness and resilience. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, including surveys, focus groups, and co-design workshops, followed by prototype testing with 30 participants in Malaysia. Quantitative data were collected through a structured survey measuring User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) using a 5-point Likert scale, with descriptive statistics computed for usability and engagement. Results revealed strong usability, with UI mean scores ranging from 4.04 to 4.60 and UX outcomes between 4.20 and 4.56. Tutorials, navigation flow, and progress tracking emerged as the most valued features, while simulation realism and quiz integration revealed more variable responses. Findings confirm alignment with Malaysia’s MySTIE strategic goals and contributions to SDG 3 (Good Health) and SDG 4 (Quality Education). This research demonstrates that gamified, user-centred mobile tools can significantly enhance disaster preparedness education, offering a scalable, inclusive model to strengthen community resilience. The novelty lies in integrating edutainment with structured evaluation, establishing a replicable framework for disaster education that bridges gaps in interactivity, engagement, and scalability.

Enhancing Cryptographic Resilience through Symmetric Encryption Algorithm Utilizing Variable Length Chromosomes Genetic Algorithm

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Symmetric cryptography, particularly the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), is widely used for secure data transmission due to its computational efficiency and strong encryption structure. However, limited internal randomness in AES makes it susceptible to advanced cryptanalytic attacks. To address this limitation, this research proposes an enhanced encryption approach that integrates Genetic Algorithm (GA) techniques into the AES framework to enhance randomness. The GA employs variable-length chromosomes and entropy-based fitness evaluation to evolve dynamic binary outputs through selection, crossover, and mutation operations. These evolved outputs are used to introduce controlled randomness into the encryption process, resulting in unpredictable and robust ciphertext. The expected outcome includes improved increased randomness, and stronger resistance to differential and linear attacks. In conclusion, the proposed GA-AES enhanced model offers a mechanism to strengthen symmetric encryption by introducing evolutionary randomness, making it more secure for modern data protection needs.

Identification of Key Parameters for Cover Audio Generation in Imperceptible Audio Steganography

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

The security of data during communication is an ever-growing challenge, as outdated algorithms face increasing vulnerability. Audio steganography offers a promising alternative by embedding data within audio signals in a manner that is imperceptible to human listeners. Recent advancements in cover selection as well as cover generation techniques have improved the quality and suitability of audio for embedding, yet the parameters influencing imperceptibility remain underexplored. This research aims to identify and evaluate key audio parameters which are energy, the total and value distribution of silent samples. These parameters can be assessed prior to the embedding process which offer a potential advantage over existing metrics, typically require post-embedding analysis to accurately assess imperceptibility. The methodology of this research consists of five main stages: parameter identification, dataset preparation, parameter extraction, embedding, and evaluation. Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) was employed as the primary metric to assess perceptual transparency, with 20% data capacity embedded in each audio of total 220 audio. The first experiment revealed a positive correlation as high as r = 0.706 between energy and SNR, indicating that higher-energy audio benefit from auditory masking, resulting in improved imperceptibility. The second experiment showed a negative correlation, r = –0.787 between total silent sample and SNR, confirming that embedding in silent sample increases the risk of perceptible artifacts. Silent sample that has higher value exhibited superior SNR values compared to those with extremely lower value. These findings highlight the importance of pre-embedding analysis in identifying suitable samples for embedding. By identifying and evaluating these influential parameters, this research contributes to the development of intelligent cover generation strategies that enhance the transparency of audio steganography systems. The insights presented offer a foundation for future design, optimization, and real-world application of robust data-hiding techniques.

Investigation of 0debug Stealer Using Assisted Static Analysis Method

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

This study investigates the capabilities of the identified 0debug Stealer malware through qualitative static analysis and reverse engineering. This study primarily employs non-executional static techniques, such as fingerprinting, decompiling, and string extraction, with a bit of dynamic analysis used primarily for deobfuscation. Analysis confirms that obfuscation hinders direct examination, yet reveals core functionalities of 1) anti-tampering, anti-VM, and anti-sniffer to evade detection 2) data theft targeting important victim information, and 3) Command and Control exfiltration. Findings demonstrate 0debug Stealer’s capabilities in bypassing traditional security measures, emphasising the critical role of static analysis in dissecting advanced threats. This paper contributes to the forensic analysis of emerging threats by providing a detailed examination of the 0debug Stealer's manner, revealing its evasion techniques and comprehensive data theft capabilities.

An Improved Maturity Model for Electronic Court Case Management System from the Perspective of End Users in Malaysia

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Many judicial systems are currently undergoing a significant digital transformation; however, there is no clear way to measure whether their Electronic Court Case Management Systems (ECCMS) are truly mature or not. In Malaysia, several nationwide court modernization programs have been underway. Since 2013, the end-user evaluation has remained somewhat fragmented. In this study, we propose an improved maturity model for an ECCMS and, after filtering out noisy and incomplete responses, test it on 300 active users from various Malaysian courts; 287 were used. The paradigm builds upon earlier e-government maturity models with four underlying constructs: second-order (1) human behaviour, (2) technological, (3) organisational factors, and (4) legal issues. Data were gathered using descriptive statistics, validity tests, and structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), with a 5-point Likert scale. The structural model earned a Q²_predict value of 0.483 and an R² score of 0.8927, showing predictive power good but not perfect. Legal and regulatory aspects revealed, up to 0.713, the highest path coefficients, whereas technical and behavioural elements were marginally weaker. Although for further research there are still a few gaps, the accepted methodology provides a useful foundation for evaluating the development of e-justice. It can inform decisions about court digitalization, more data-driven.

Cancer Classification Challenges in High-Dimensional Microarray Data: An In-Depth Exploration of Machine Learning Models

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Microarray gene expression profiling has transformed biomedical research by enabling large-scale, parallel analysis of thousands of genes. Despite its promise, cancer classification using Machine Learning (ML) on microarray data continues to face critical challenges, particularly due to high dimensionality, limited sample sizes, and severe class imbalance. These factors contribute to overfitting, poor generalization, and inflated performance metrics, hindering the clinical translation of models. This Structured Literature Review (SLR) examines ML-based cancer classification studies published between 2015 and 2025. This period was marked by the emergence of deep learning, synthetic data generation, and biologically informed modeling. Using a transparent selection protocol, we synthesize findings from over 20 peer-reviewed studies. The review focuses on three methodological pillars: biologically grounded feature selection, constrained data augmentation, and robust performance evaluation. We identify a growing trend toward hybrid feature selection methods that balance statistical relevance and biological interpretability. However, comparative benchmarking across datasets remains limited. Data augmentation techniques, such as Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) and Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN)s, are increasingly being adopted. However, they often lack biological validation. This raises concerns about the plausibility of synthetic gene profiles. To address this, we recommend integrating pathway-level constraints and gene ontology checks during the augmentation process. Furthermore, we observe that many studies disproportionately emphasize accuracy. This can misrepresent the model's efficacy in imbalanced settings. Metrics such as Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC), F1-score, and precision-recall curves offer more reliable insights. These metrics should be standardized across evaluations. External validation using independent datasets is also essential to assess generalizability. In addition, it helps mitigate dataset-specific bias. Based on the findings, we present a conceptual hybrid framework that integrates biologically informed feature selection, biologically constrained data augmentation, and balanced evaluation protocols. This framework is intended to enhance reproducibility, biological fidelity, and translational reliability in machine learning-based cancer diagnostics, thereby contributing to the advancement of precision oncology.

Advanced NLP Techniques for Generating Contextual and Grammatical Arabic Exam Questions

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

This paper outlines the development of an Arabic exam question generator that utilizes advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques and a comprehensive Arabic corpus. The primary aim is to aid educators in automating the process of crafting exam questions tailored specifically for A1-level Arabic learners. By harnessing the capabilities of NLP, the system integrates sequence-to-sequence (seq2seq) models and template-based methods to generate educationally appropriate questions. The seq2seq models are designed to predict the next word in a sequence, ensuring that the generated questions are natural and contextually fitting. This approach enables the system to produce logically coherent questions that align with the given context. Moreover, the template-based method guarantees grammatical accuracy, which is essential for educational purposes. The templates use as structured guidelines that steer the seq2seq models, ensuring that the questions adhere to proper grammatical rules and structures. A vital aspect of the system is the incorporation of the AraBERT pre-trained model. AraBERT, a transformer-based model customized for Arabic, undergoes fine-tuning with a specifically annotated dataset to adapt it to the task of generating questions from simple Arabic sentences, thereby enhancing its ability to handle the intricacies of the Arabic language. By combining seq2seq models for contextual relevance and template-based methods for grammatical precision, this dual approach effectively addresses the unique challenges associated with Arabic NLP. The richness of Arabic morphology and its syntactic complexity pose significant hurdles for NLP applications. Through the integration of these methodologies, the system ensures that the generated questions are not only contextually relevant but also grammatically correct, making it a valuable tool for educators. In conclusion, the paper discusses an innovative application of advanced NLP techniques and Arabic corpus utilization, providing a robust solution for automated Arabic exam question generation. This system holds significant potential for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of language instruction for Arabic learners.

Rapid Authentication of Pig Leather and Synthetic AlternRapid Authentication of Pig Leather and Synthetic Alternatives using NIR Spectroscopy and Chemometrics Approachatives using NIR Spectroscopy and Chemometrics Approach

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

This study investigates the discrimination between pig leather and Polyurethane (PU) leather using Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy combined with chemometric techniques. Genuine leather derived from pig hides presents unique biochemical signatures linked to its collagen structure. In contrast, PU leather is a synthetic polymer engineered to replicate the visual and tactile properties of natural hides. Differentiating between these two materials is particularly crucial in industrial and cultural contexts, such as halal certification, where accurate authentication is crucial. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was first employed as an unsupervised method to explore natural clustering. The PCA score plot revealed a clear separation between pig leather and PU leather, with the first principal component (PC-1) explaining 96% of the total variance, confirming that the dominant chemical features are sufficient for preliminary discrimination. For supervised classification, Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) revealed clear separation in the score plot. The model was supported by robust calibration and validation statistics, with high coefficients of determination (R² > 0.99) and low Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). Overall, these findings demonstrate that portable NIR spectroscopy, coupled with chemometrics, provides a rapid, non-destructive, and reliable authentication method with significant potential for industrial quality control, fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance.

Synergistic inhibition of platelet function by NADPH oxidase inhibitors and clopidogrel

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Previous studies have shown platelets play an important role in prothrombotic complications due to several factors such as hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and hypercholesterolemia, which affected platelets reactivity. Platelets activation involves ADP stimulation via P2Y12 receptor, whereas reactive oxygen species (ROS) including superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) produced by NADPH oxidase (Nox) act as the second messenger, which involved in platelets activation and may contribute to thrombus formation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of Nox on the purinergic receptor (P2Y12 receptor) in activation of human platelets function stimulated by platelets agonist. This research explored the effects of Nox inhibitors and clopidogrel either alone or in combination, on various agonist-stimulated human platelets, including platelets aggregation and adhesion measured by modified LTA, expression of platelets activation markers, and calcium mobilization using flow cytometry, and ROS formation, NADPH oxidase activity, as well as cAMP levels by chemiluminescence assay. Taken together, findings from these experiments suggest that the combination of clopidogrel and Nox inhibitors synergistically reduced platelets aggregation, platelets adhesion, and expression of platelets activation marker during late activation, ROS formation, NADPH oxidase activity, calcium mobilization and increased cAMP levels in vitro. This combination showed that P2Y12receptor reactivity was influenced by the activation of NADPH oxidase. Thus, these data demonstrated a potential combination therapy to reduce the risk of thrombosis formation.

Dentist’s Appearance: Does It Matter?

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Dentistry is a client dependent field. Other than the dentist’s skills, the dentist’s appearance has been observed to affect the patient’s perception of the clinician. This research was conducted to assess patient’s perception of the dentist’s appearance based on the dentist’s attire, gender and age. A total number of 492 Malay respondents were involved in this study. A set of questionnaires was randomly distributed via google forms. This questionnaire consisted of three sections, including socio-demographic details of the respondents, patient’s perception towards dentist’s attire and patient’s perception towards dentist’s gender and age. The result showed that respondents consisted of 78% female and 22% male. The highest percentage of participants was in the age group of 18-30 (85.6%), while the lowest percentage of respondents came from the age group of 49-60 (5.3%). The majority of respondents (51%) preferred a dentist who wears a white coat followed by a dentist in scrub (38.2%) and a dentist dressed in formal attires (9.3%). Only 1.4% of respondents selected a dentist who wears casual attire. Participants also prefer dentist in the age group of 41-60 years old, while participants had no preference toward dentist’s gender. A final open-ended question showed respondents also preferred to see dentists with acceptable dental appearance, good behaviour and established qualification. In conclusion, a dentist’s appearance is important to secure a promising interpretation of the patient towards the dentist.

Forecasting Nestle Stock Price by using Brownian Motion Model during Pandemic Covid-19

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

In the modern financial market, investors have to make quick and efficient investment decisions. The problem arises when the investor does not know the right tools to use in investment decision making. Different tools can be implemented in trading strategies to predict future stock prices. Therefore, the primary objective of this paper is to analyse the performance of the Geometric Brownian Motion (GBM) model in forecasting Nestle stock price by assessing the performance evaluation indicators. To analyse the stocks, two software were used, namely Microsoft Excel and Python. The model is trained for 16 weeks (4 months) of data from May to August 2019 and 2020. The simulated sample is for four weeks (1 month) which is for September 2019 and 2020. The findings show that during the Pandemic Covid-19, short-term prediction using GBM is more efficient than long-term prediction as the lowest Mean Square Error (MSE) value is at one week period. In addition, the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) for all GBM simulations is highly accurate as it shows that MAPE values are less than 10%, indicating that the GBM method can be used to predict Nestle stock price during an economic downturn.

The Effect of Fossil Fuels Price on Energy’s Stock Returns

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Fossil fuels play an important role in energy systems as well as in the growth of technical, cultural and economic conditions of a country. In this study, we aim to investigate the effect of fossil fuels price towards energy’s stock returns in Malaysia by using monthly fossil fuels price and energy stock price taken from Malaysian Energy Commission and investing.com, respectively. To investigate their relationship, first we test the stationarity using Augmented Dickey Fuller Test (ADF). The result shows that the data are stationary at first differences. Next, we use Pearson correlation to measure the strength of the association between two variables. To observe the effect of fossil fuels prices on energy’s stock returns, we conduct a Multiple Linear Regression. We discovered that their relationships are not statistically significant. This is highly due to the competition of the use of non-renewable and renewable energy in recent years. The energy producers are adopting the renewable energy into the electricity grid which indirectly affect the utilization of fossil fuels as well as its price.

Shoe-Lace Technique Hasten Delayed Primary Closure In Fasciotomy Wound For Forearm Compartment Syndrome

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

We report a case of acute compartment syndrome of the forearm in a 51-year-old man with open fracture distal third radius (Gustilo I). Decompressive fasciotomy was performed promptly. Complete progressive closure of the wound without split-thickness skin grafting was achieved using a shoe-lace technique: silastic vessel loop were interlaced held together with skin staplers placed at the edge of the fasciotomy wound and were then tightened daily. Delayed primary closure of the fasciotomy wound was performed after 8 days post fasciotomy with complete opposition of skin edges without tension. Shoelace closure is a good option for atraumatic fasciotomy wound closure with good cosmesis result.

Characterization of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) as Antimicrobial Biocomposite Film: A Review

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Packaging is a critical process in the food industry because it is used to prevent spoilage, extend shelf-life, and provide an attractive presentation of the food product. Plastic packaging is used all over the world, and its production is increasing year after year. It comes in a variety of colours and designs. However, it has caused serious environmental problems, particularly to the ocean that has become a place for discarded plastic packaging. To address this issue, biodegradable packaging was developed to replace the use of plastic packaging because it helps to reduce environmental impact and waste management costs. Biodegradable packaging is also known as environmentally friendly packaging because it can be degraded into carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass by microorganisms, algae, fungi, as well as enzyme catalysts. Biodegradable biocomposite film such as starch, cellulose, chitosan, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is required to produce biodegradable packaging. Therefore, this paper aims to characterize PVA as a biocomposite film in biodegradable packaging. PVA has excellent properties to form films, as well as biodegradable, abundant in the environment, and cost-effective. However, it has some limitations in terms of thickness and mechanical properties; thus, the incorporation of PVA with essential oils and fiber is required to improve its mechanical properties, thickness, and provide antimicrobial properties to the packaging.

Volatility of Technology and Healthcare Sectors Before and During Covid-19 Pandemic

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

The study investigates the effect of the Covid-19 on the volatility of the technology and healthcare sector stock index in Malaysia. The two sectors pose considerable attention during the pandemic due to the increase in demand for healthcare products and digital services. The volatilities are estimated using the GARCH model for the period before and after the implementation of the nationwide movement order control using daily data from September 2019 to September 2020. The finding shows that the Covid-19 pandemic caused a volatility jump for the technology sector index in March 2020 but subsided afterward with estimated conditional volatility revert to normal in the middle of April 2020. However, during the high uncertainty period, the healthcare sector shows a steady increase in volatility beginning in March 2020 till the end of September 2020. The study confirms that there is a significant difference in the volatility of healthcare and technology sectors before and during the Covid-19 outbreak. The outbreak has a significant impact on increasing the volatilities for both sectors but is impacted in different magnitude.

Exposure to Contagion: Perceived Risks and Travel Behavioural Shifts in Malaysia during COVID-19 Pandemic

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

At the beginning of March 2020, the Coronavirus pandemic was acknowledged as a great confrontation that shook the travel organisations’ core. Indeed, it provides such a profound disturbance to the industry. It gives a preview of Malaysian travellers’ discernments in a distinctive point of time - the times of the COVID-19 linked to the worldwide lockdown and restriction movement order. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between perceived risks and Malaysian travel behaviour due to the COVID-19 pandemic and identifies the risk factors that influenced Malaysian travel behaviour. This study was focused on a random sampling among Malaysians who had experienced the pleasure of travelling. The questionnaire was designed to measure travel behaviour and several perceived risks, including travel, psychological, safety, security, financial, and health. Ordered Probit regression and test statistic scores disclosed that perceived psychological risk, perceived financial risk, and perceived health risk significantly impacted and positively correlated to Malaysian travelling behaviours due to COVID-19. The perceived risk factors further showed that anxious feelings existed to enjoy travelling during the pandemic. It shows that Malaysians travel behavioural had shifted due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Preparedness and Attributes of COVID-19 among Malaysian Public during the Movement Control Order

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

The emergence of COVID-19 has affected people worldwide from all angles, from the aspects of health, wealth, emotional and also human interactions. This study aimed to look at the attributes such as positive behaviour, awareness, preparedness and relationships among Malaysians during the implementation of movement control order (MCO), and the predictors of preparedness in facing the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted online involving 317 respondents above the age of 18 years old. A self-administered questionnaire was developed in both Malay and English languages to assess the level of positive behaviour, awareness, preparedness and relationships, as well as their main source of information retrieval regarding COVID-19. Overall, the measured attributes in this study showed the highest level in behaviour (84.2%), followed by awareness (73.5%), preparedness (62.5%) and relationships (60.6%). Multiple regression on preparedness revealed that all variables (behaviour, awareness, and relationships) are significant (p<0.05), while gender is not. The top two sources of information the respondents refer to during the MCO are social and broadcast media. This marks the influence of social and broadcast media in an Industrial Revolution 4.0 era. Despite having good awareness and positive behaviour, the MCO may also have caused relationship issues as well as lower preparation levels in facing a deadly pandemic. It is suggested that future research to look into whether this would have any association with the mental health of Malaysians facing the pandemic. By understanding the attributes related to the MCO during the COVID-19 pandemic, it would help the government in the implementation of policies and procedures in any future pandemic.

The Impact of Covid-19 on Online Teaching and Learning (TnL) Towards Teachers in Malaysia

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

As COVID-19 hits the world shockingly, most nations worldwide have agreed to put educational institutions temporarily close. However, education has not stopped, but to go fully online as schools and universities could provide remote education. In this case, teachers have been struggling to adapt to the new norm to stop disease transmission. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the impact of Online Teaching and Learning (OTL) on teachers during COVID-19. The questionnaire was distributed randomly online among 320 teachers in Malaysia. SPSS has been used to analyse the completed questionnaire to obtain descriptive and inferential statistics. Three variables that have been used in this study were effectiveness, challenges, and school reopening using Cronbach’s alpha, hypothesis testing, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression. This study has shown that most teachers were affected by using online as a new method of teaching. A negative correlation between effectiveness and challenges has implied that increasing challenges would decrease online teaching effectiveness. Besides, many of the components show a significant difference in the variables in terms of socio-demographic profiles. The findings obtained would help the higher administration tackle challenges the teachers face and know the effectiveness of online teaching and learning.

The Effect of Covid-19 Pandemic on Large-cap Stocks in Malaysia

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Covid-19 that emerged in Wuhan, China and spread to Malaysia starting from 25th January 2020 has changed people’s lives and impacted the world’s economy, including the stock markets. The study investigates the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the stock returns in Malaysia by using a sample of thirty (30) constituents of FBM KLCI. The study utilises Malaysia’s daily Covid-19 new cases, death cases, cumulative cases, and cumulative death cases, as well as Singapore new cases and death cases. The impact is observed from 31st December 2019 until 9th June 2020 using the panel regression model. The results show a significant positive but small impact of Covid-19 variables on the stocks’ returns except for Singapore daily cases and death cases, which were negative. The study also identifies that the Malaysian stock market is more sensitive to Covid-19 local death cases during the pandemic.

A Critical Review of Cu2SnS3 (CTS) Thin Films Solar Cells

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

To increase energy demand, reliability, and increasing efficiency, thin-film solar cells get the main focus. Various types of solar cell like (Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS), Cadmium telluride (CdTe) and copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) based absorber compound now eliminated by CTS (Cu2SnS3) for different reason like toxicity, shortage and structural complexity. Focus on CTS is increasing because it is nontoxic and it is environmentally friendly. CTS-based solar cell's power conversation efficiency increases and 30% theoretical efficiency indicates it's developing sign. For analyzing the synthesis property, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques are used. For the synthesis of thin-film solar cells like CTS, different physical methods are used among all sputtering methods. The electron beam evaporation vacuum evaporation method has exposed better efficiency and high product quality and reliability. Additionally, the composition, variation of thickness, structural defects, and elemental composition make the absorber layer's quality affect the performance. This paper has discussed the annealing treatment of CTS-based solar cell synthesis, and it's essential to improve the thin film properties of thin films. This paper describes the reason for efficiency reduction also the scope for future research.

The Impact of Microsoft Teams’ App in Enhancing Teaching- Learning English during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) from the English teachers’ perspectives’ in Jenin city

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

This study stresses the global impact of Microsoft teams’ app in enhancing teaching-learning English during the Coronavirus (COVID-19). As one of the preventive steps for transmitting coronavirus infection, the introduction of lockdown and social distancing has been implemented, resulting in complete paralysis of global activities. There exists a shift from the usual learning practice to online learning, especially the complete shutdown of the education system to comply with the academic curriculum. This can be cited with more online courses, workshops, meetings, etc. It should be remembered that, during this crisis, the world is fully dependent on information technology. The present research offers, therefore, an insight into the impact of Microsoft teams’ app in enhancing teaching-learning English during Coronavirus (COVID-19). Thus, the sample was chosen conveniently from the population of English language teachers and included (25) teachers, 56% of them were females, 52% ageing 31 to 40 years old, with 48% indicating a teaching experience over ten years questionnaire consisted of (15) items of one dimension developed by the researchers based on their experiences and the available literature, In addition, the teachers indicated that the most significant feature of Ms. Teams is that it enables students to share files and share content and that it includes screen sharing options that allow teachers the freedom to display what they choose during a class, indicating that it creates an interactive atmosphere between students, teachers and the community inside and outside the classroom. Furthermore, the researchers recommended using Microsoft teams’ app and giving the English language teachers, students, and parents online workshops on how to use the app, also for the ministry of education to adopt the app.

A Study of Object Transparency Via Charge-Coupled Device Mathematical Modelling Assessment

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

This research discusses an application of Couple-Charge Device (CCD) linear sensor and laser diode in an optical tomography (OPT) system. Tomography is a system that could capture a cross-sectional image based on sensor data scattered across the periphery of the examining device in the non-invasive and non-intrusive framework. This project focuses on quantifying the level of object transparency based on CCD and mathematical modelling assessment. The objective of this project is to investigate the light refraction, reflection and absorption effect on object transparency. The study will include a discussion on the light parameters and its mathematical expression. The voltage output measured by CCD defines the degree of intensity of light obtained after penetrating through different object transparency. In conclusion, this research has successfully proved the potential of CCD in OPT configuration to detect different size diameters of a targeted transparent object, which is an air bubble in non-flowing crystal-clear liquid.

Factors Influencing the Purchase Decision of Affordable Housing Among Middle Income Earner: A Case Study of School teachers in Malaysia

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Affordable housing is a significant issue that has been a concern among Malaysians nowadays, especially in the middle-income group. The demand for housing has been increasing, and thus, the preferences of this group must be taken into consideration. The focus of this study is to identify the factors influencing house buyers in purchasing affordable housing among middle-income groups. The data was collected through a questionnaire survey distributed among school teachers in Malaysia. Two hundred twenty-five respondents returned the questionnaire, which was used for data analysis. Descriptive and statistical analysis was performed to analyze the data collected using Minitab software, Microsoft Excel, and Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). It revealed that house prices, location, and structure of housing had a significant relationship with the purchase decision of affordable housing among the middle-income group. In contrast, the neighbourhood factor had an insignificant relationship. It is also found that middle-income groups are aware of Malaysia’s affordable housing scheme and have a chance to be exposed to the scheme. Thus, this research will help the developers in developing housing schemes based on consumer’s orientation for future demand in Malaysia.

Evaluation of Consortium Enzyme towards Kojic Acid Synthesis

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Consortium enzyme is a new approach in enzymatic esterification reaction to solve Kojic acid esters' low production. Combining a non-specific enzyme (Novozym 435) and a specific enzyme (Lipozyme RM IM) led to an improvement of enzymatic activity in the enzymatic routes. The findings proved that a significant percentage conversion of ester (29.2 %) was successfully achieved at the enzyme ratio (1:1) of Lipozyme RMIM and Novozym 435, the temperature at 50 ?C, amount of enzyme 0.12 g and 8 hours of reaction time. Moreover, the enzyme showed high stability against heat at 500C and can be used repeatedly up to the 5th cycle, as demonstrated by the high percentage conversion of kojic acid ester. This finding confirmed that consortium enzymes have significantly improved the reaction performance by promoting better catalytic efficiency due to the synergistic effect between combined enzymes.

Antioxidant Activity of Averrhoa bilimbi Linn. Leaves Extract Using Two Different Types of Solvents

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Exposed to the pollution has led to generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human skin. ROS generated cause many skin diseases such as skin-aging, inflammation, melanogenesis and skin cancer. ROS is a family of oxygen-based free radicals that contains or capable of producing an unpaired electron. Antioxidant is a molecule that can inhibit the reaction of free radical from ROS by donating its electron. Averrhoa bilimbi Linn. (AVBL) is one of the potent natural antioxidant belongs to the group of Oxalidaceae which can be widely found in Asia including Malaysia. Traditionally, this plant has been used to treat many diseases such as cough, itchiness, pimple, fever and inflammation. As a result, much attention has been directed towards the studies regarding the potential of this plant in treating disease. The present study was undertaken to assess the antioxidant activity of AVBL leaves extract. The AVBL leaves were extracted using sonicator with ethanol and distilled water as two different types of solvent. The total phenolic content (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC) of this study were determined by using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and aluminium chloride colometric assay. Antioxidant activity of the plant extract was tested using 2,2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing power (FRAP). From the analyses, water extract of AVBL possessed greater extraction yield (11.231%) as compared to ethanolic extract (5.358 %). However, ethanolic extract of AVBL leaves revealed higher result of TPC (126.4±0.35 mg/g gallic acid equivalent), TFC (32.80±0.37 mg/g quercetin equivalent), DPPH (0.0019±0.0003) and FRAP (41.81±0.45 mg/g gallic acid equivalent). The results of TPC and TFC have strongly positive correlation with antioxidant capacity (r = 1). Thus, it can be concluded that this plant is a potent source of natural antioxidant.

A Systematic Review on The Insurability Risk for Long-Term Care Insurance in Europe and Asia Countries

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Due to the trends of the increase in life expectancies and decrement in fertility rates, the world population is moving towards becoming an ageing nation. With the rise in the number of older people, the demand for long-term care services is expected to increase. Long-term care services are ubiquitous in the developed country, especially in the European region as the countries have become the aged nations. Apart from that, the cost for long-term care services differs for individuals based on the level of needs and the service provider, either public or private nursing home for long-term care. Due to the growing cost of long-term care services, a long-term care insurance policy may be seen as an alternative to covering the cost of long-term care services because the risk is mitigated for individuals. However, most Asian countries are not familiar with the long-term care insurance policy as there is no specific insurance policy for long-term care services offered yet in these countries. The essential factor in constructing a long-term care insurance policy is to identify the risks that are insurable to be included in the policy to be used later for pricing long-term care insurance policy in Malaysia. This study provides an in-depth review and understanding of the insurable risks associated with long term care insurance in European and Asian countries.

Spectroscopy Analysis of Antimicrobial Compound in Centella Asiatica Extract

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

The usage of herbal medicinal is still the widespread among society today in their daily lives. This is mostly due to the tradition of our ancestors who really relied on traditional medicine to cure diseases and improve their intelligence. Next, herbal plants are said to have more and better nutrients and nourishment than modern medicine. This is because the compound have been mixed with the use of other chemicals to produce medicines. Centella asiatica (pegaga) is an herbal plant that is commonly heard about its benefits both internally and externally. However, scientific research is needed to prove its benefits. Thus, the society do not clarified much on the actual nutrients thoroughly. Besides that, Centella asiatica is generally known to come from the Apiaceae family and this plant is an important plant with a wide range of traditional, medicinal and therapeutic values. This plant has it own speciality or strong point in which it is choosen to be mentioned in the Quran. To prove its efficacy, a spectroscopy analysis of Centella asiatica extract was performed using ATR-FTIR. The use of Centella asiatica samples has also been diversified into leaf part and stem part. This is to compare the nutrient content in the leaves. The results from this research is that Centella asiatica leaves do have antimicrobial compound. Therefore, the usage of Centella asiatica leaves in society needs to be expanded so that its nutrients can be utilized to the maximum for the benefit of the people and improvement to the national economy.

Identification of Antioxidants and Active Compounds in Cow’s Milk

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

This paper aims to analyze and identify the antioxidant compounds in cow’s milk. Milk contains high biological molecules protein, essential fatty acids, calcium, fat, amino acid, vitamins that are soluble in water and several bioactive compounds. In Al-Quran and Hadith, milk has been mentioned several times especially for breast feeding which is essential for infant immunity. Antioxidant can suppress free radicals and unstable molecules produced by the body as an environmental and other pressure reaction. Therefore, this study focuses on the identification of antioxidant compounds in milk sample of Dutch Lady Fresh Milk and Goodday Fresh Milk using Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Based on the ATR-FTIR spectrum, we are able to identify the functional groups of antioxidant compounds which are C–H stretch of alkanes, C=O of aldehydes, C–N stretch of aliphatic amine, C–Cl stretch of alkyl halide, O–H bend of carboxylic acids and N–H wag of 1 , 2 amines. This is the first research that studied on the antioxidant compounds in milk sample of Dutch Lady Fresh Milk and Goodday Fresh Milk. Further, the characterization of antioxidant compounds will be perform using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis.

Biogenic Amines as Freshness Indicator in Halal and Non-Halal Slaughtered Chicken Meat Using Chromatographic Approach

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Biogenic amines are naturally occurring organic bases produced by bacterial decarboxylation of amino acids that have been associated with harmful toxicology effects to humans. The main objective of this work is to investigate the possible role of biogenic amines (BAs) as indicators of spoilage in fresh chicken meat stored at 4°C for 15 days. A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method with isocratic elution system is used for the quantification of four biogenic amines (putrescine, histamine, tyramine, cadaverine and spermine as well as spermidine) in chicken meat. Amines were extracted with 5% of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and derivatised using dansyl chloride. The variation storage time differentiated the chicken meat on the microbiological characteristics. The results obtained shows that histamine, spermidine, tyramine, cadaverine, and putrescine increased slowly while spermine decreased for both chicken breast in halal and non-halal chicken meat. Thus, this BAs could be used as a spoilage index of fresh chicken meat.

The Diet Problem on Minimizing Vitamin A: Linear Programming Problem

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

It is essential to practice a good diet in everyday life because human body needs a reasonable amount of nutrients. It is because excessive nutrient intake can lead to internal organs failure, such as kidney damage. This study focuses on minimizing vitamin A’s intake in daily diet because vitamin A can give good vision, maintain healthy skin, and improve body's immune system. This research involves a few nutrients, such as calcium, iron, cholesterol, and vitamin A. The diet problem of minimizing vitamin A will be solved by using the graphical method and excel solver. The results are compared to determine which ways is the best. The results obtained are optimal solution, which is the minimal amount of vitamin A from one of the methods.

Utilisation of Holt-Winters Forecasting Model in Lembaga Zakat Selangor (LZS) For Zakat Collection

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Predicting the collection of zakat in Malaysian zakat institutions is crucial for effective zakat distribution. The surplus problems in zakat funds motivated this study to use more precise statistical methods to predict the future trend of zakat collection. The main objective of this paper is to forecast monthly zakat collection for 12 months ahead of the Lembaga Zakat Selangor (LZS). This research used the Seasonal Exponential Smoothing (Holt-Winters) model to predict zakat collection in LZS. The study utilised monthly zakat collection time series data from 2010 to 2018. The analysis was carried out using Excel Solver. The findings show that the Holt-Winters model is suitable to forecast the monthly zakat collection of LZS as it accounts for seasonal variation. The finding of this study indicates that the Holt-Winters Multiplicative (HWM) model best fits the monthly zakat collection time series data. The multiplicative form of Holt-Winters model yields 24.51% lower error compared to the additive one using the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). The findings of this study will help zakat institutions to accurately predict future zakat collection which may consequently improve the management of zakat distribution without leaving a significant amount of zakat surplus. The forecast results can also be used to create a strategy to handle zakat funds based on the amount of registered asnaf. In addition, the study can serve as a basis for the development of a framework to forecast future zakat collections.

Removal of Methylene blue, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonus aeruginosa by Adsorption Process of Activated Carbon Produced from Moringa oleifera Bark

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

The utilization of biopolymer derived from Moringa oleifera bark using ZnCl2 and H2SO4 as activating agents for eliminating Methylene blue, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from producing wastewater. In this study, Methylene blue and both bacteria were effectively adsorbed by activated carbon with lowest dosage. The activated carbon was prepared from natural-by product of Moringa oleifera bark by pyrolysis in a furnace at 700°C for 1 h. The characteristics of activated carbon have been determined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), pHzpc (zero point charge), and FTIR spectroscopy. The obtained result were closely fitted with Freundlich isotherm model and adsorption kinetics follow the pseudo-second order model with the highest value of correlation coefficient (R2~1). Adsorption quantity was dose dependent and bacteria were maximum adsorbed using 10 mg of activated carbon as well as 25mg for methylene blue. The maximum adsorption capacity showed within 1 hour. The bacterial load was reduced by 98% for E. coli, 96% for P. aeruginosa as well as methylene blue reduced 94.2% from aqueous solution using batch adsorption methods. Adsorption process controlled by film diffusion mechanism. These result proposed that the activated carbon of Moringa oleifera can be used as a good adsorbent for the removal of Methylene blue, E. coli and P. aeruginosa.

Analysis of Antimicrobial Compound in Ziziphus Mauritiana Extract using Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR)

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Ziziphus mauritiana is locally known as Bidara that belongs to Rhamnaceae family which is a herbal plant that believed originated from Indo-Malaysian region of South-East Asia. It is commonly known for its various benefits as pharmacological such as antioxidants and antimicrobial. In order to prove its efficacy, antimicrobial compound analysis of Ziziphus mauritiana leaf extract was performed using Attenuated total reflection-fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR). The spectrum and wavelength obtained can be used to identify the functional group and thus, the antimicrobial compound was discovered present in the plant. A liquid-liquid extraction had been carried out to obtain the extract of Ziziphus mauritiana leaf sample and rotary evaporator is used to remove the solvent of ethyl acetate. Based on this study, Ziziphus mauritiana leaves do have antimicrobial compounds such as eugenol and vanillin which are one of the antimicrobial agents.

Comparison of Antioxidant Compounds between Glycine max and Bos taurus milk

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Milks are dairy products that consists of high nutritional value which is good for health and provides energy to the body. Besides, milk also is believed to have antioxidant properties which helps to reduce the oxidative stress that may cause many diseases. Generally, cow milks are the most popular amongst all the dairy products as it is affordable and easy to find. However, dairy products that are originated from cow contains protein that can induce allergen reactions to some people. Thus, there is milk produced from the plant-based which is soybean that can be used to replace cow milk as it is believed to have similar nutritional value to cow milk. Therefore, to prove its similarity, an identification of antioxidant compounds was performed on soybean milk and cow milk extract using Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. The extraction was done by using liquid-liquid extraction method and the excess solvent was removed by using rotary evaporator machine. As a result, soybean milk has been identified to have the similar antioxidant compounds to cow milk. It can be proven with the presence of functional group that are similar to tryptophan and tyrosine which are both existed in cow milk. Hence, this research is essential for community as it contribute maximum benefit for better healthcare.

Do undergraduate Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) students with adequate oral health literacy have better oral health status?

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Oral health literacy is the ability of an individual in making an appropriate decision to achieve optimum oral health. This study aimed to assess the oral health literacy and oral health status of undergraduate university students. This is a cross sectional study conducted among students from various faculties in USIM. A written consent was obtained before the administration of OHLI-M questionnaire via Google form. Oral examination was conducted after completing the questionnaire. A descriptive data analysis was performed to determine the adequacy of oral health literacy and oral health status among the students. A total of 280 students participated in this study. The mean age was 22 years old (SD=1.17) with the majority of them being female (82.1%) and coming from urban residences (57.1%). The prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease was 58.9% (95% CI= 53.2 to 64.6) and 13.2% (95% CI= 9.6 to 17.1) respectively. Students with adequate oral health literacy had better oral health status. Those with inadequate oral health literacy had a high percentage of dental caries.

Performance and Volatility Modelling for Shariah Compliant Stocks in Malaysia Using Exponentially Weighted Moving Average

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

The diversity of investment in Malaysia provides an excellent platform to gauge volatility. Malaysia as an emerging market with a rich Islamic culture serves as an inspiration to randomly model a portfolio of 50 Shariah compliant stock returns from 2015 to 2020. The systematic risk of a company’s stock returns is measured by computing the volatility and downside volatility for the said period. The Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) method is used to outline the risk levels of Shariah compliant stocks for the recent stipulated period. The results indicate a statistical difference between beta and downside beta for Shariah compliant portfolio. This signals investors to be cognisant of the semi-variant characteristics of returns in estimating volatility. Meanwhile, there is no significant difference in performance using the Sharpe and Sortino ratio on the beta and downside beta scores respectively. Consequently, this suggests that investors can always measure performance to a sufficient degree of accuracy regardless of their volatility choice.

The Efficacy of Reciproc Blue® For Canal Cleanliness Following the Retreatment of Maxillary First Molar: In Vitro Analysis

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Nonsurgical retreatment involves removing mechanical barriers such as gutta-percha to achieve proper cleaning and disinfection. The complexity of the anatomy of molar tooth gives challenge in retreatment procedure. Thus, this study evaluates the amount of residual gutta-percha after retreatment with rotary files (Reciproc Blue®) from each maxillary first molar canal using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and the time required to accomplish it. Nine freshly extracted maxillary molars were instrumented and obturated. Preoperative CBCT was taken, and retreatment was done using Reciproc Blue®. CBCT was taken post retreatment, and the residual volume percentage of gutta-percha from each canal was calculated. The total retreatment time was recorded, and the data were statistically analyzed. The result shows no statistically significant difference in the amount of residual filling material in mesiobuccal, distobuccal, and palatal canal for maxillary first molar and total time used for retreatment with Reciproc Blue® system.

Smart Bran Dispenser for Animal Husbandry Purpose

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

The creation of technology in this century changes people’s life. Technology plays an important role that benefits young people and has increased agriculture production’s efficiency and profitability. Innovative technology mainly involved in animal feeding automation is currently one of Smart Bran Dispensers’ new inventions. This project approaches an innovative animal husbandry management system to improve the agricultural system’s efficiency, particularly livestock nutrition and feed resources. The benefit of this project is to facilitate animal feeding for breeders, which can be remotely controlled and detected by a tracking module that transmits a signal to the user and informs them of the status of the bran dispenser through the Blynk server. NodeMCU ESP8266 and Arduino UNO were implemented as the main controller.

Development of Smart Shoes Using Piezoelectric Material

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

The consumption of low-power electronic devices has increased rapidly, where almost all applications use power electronic devices. Due to the increase in portable electronic devices’ energy consumption, the piezoelectric material is proposed as one of the alternatives of the significant alternative energy harvesters. This study aims to create a prototype of “Smart Shoes” that can generate electricity using three different designs embedded by piezoelectric materials: ceramic, polymer, and a combination of both piezoelectric materials. The basic principle for smart shoes’ prototype is based on the pressure produced from piezoelectric material converted from mechanical energy into electrical energy. The piezoelectric material was placed into the shoes’ sole, and the energy produced due to the pressure from walking, jogging, and jumping was measured. The energy generated was stored in a capacitor as piezoelectric material produced a small scale of energy harvesting. The highest energy generated was produced by ceramic piezoelectric material under jumping activity, which was 1.804 mJ. Polymer piezoelectric material produced very minimal energy, which was 55.618 mJ. The combination of both piezoelectric materials produced energy, which was 1.805 mJ from jumping activity.

Development of Automatic Reminder System for Geriatric Medicine Intake

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

The consumption of medicine is typical in geriatrics, having many problems related to medications. Geriatrics often forget to take their medicine, and this problem can be overcome by using an automatic reminder system. In this study, an automated reminder system is developed as an improved community element, acting as a system that can help geriatric in taking their medicine on time, thus, boosting their health condition. This reminder system also includes an interaction between the geriatrics and their caretakers. This reminder system includes Arduino UNO as the microcontroller, with the notification system, Blynk Application, a buzzer, and a light-emitting diode (LED) system. To make this reminder system more versatile, the buzzer will alarm during the medicine intake time, giving information to the elderly on which medicine to take. When the time has reached to take medication, the buzzer will produce a sound. Suppose the medicine box opens after the buzzer's sound and is detected by the passive infrared sensor (PIR sensor). In that case, the caretaker will receive a notification through the Blynk application that the geriatric already took medicine. On the contrary, if the medicine box is not open after 3 minutes following the buzzer's sound, which indicates that the geriatric did not take their medicine, the system will not send a notification to their caretakers on the status. This prototype is tested on ten users for its accuracy and effectiveness. It is believed that this system can provide geriatrics more alert in taking their medicine on time, enhancing their health status.

Optical Response Analysis at Various Pb2+ Concentration by Using Fiber Optic Displacement Sensor

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

A simple and low-cost Fiber Optic Displacement Sensor (FODS) using reflective intensity modulation technique was developed to analyze various concentrations of Pb2+, a compound classified under heavy metal ions. Lead is harmful to the environment including to human but is used in the cosmetic field for beauty without realizing and considering the hazardousness of lead as it would cause a long-term effect. Therefore, a feasible way has been identified in this study to demonstrate the level of Pb2+ concentration in cosmetics field by employing the theory of modulation of intensity as a function of displacement sensor. The permissible limit according to Malaysian Cosmetics Guidelines and ASEAN Cosmetic Directive was 20 ppm. The concentration sensor’s system exhibits 0.0018 V/ppm sensitivity with a linearity of 96% and 94% respectively, for both peaks. Meanwhile, the sensitivity was 0.034 V/ppm for the first peak and 27.72 V/ppm for the second peak, with slope linearity of more than 96% for surface tension parameter. The credibility of these optical response curves data might be useful, especially in the cosmetic’s industrial application.

Enhancing Microwave Absorbing Properties of Nickel-Zinc-Ferrite with Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) Loading at Higher Gigahertz Frequency

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

The rapid growth of electronic systems and devices operating within the gigahertz (GHz) frequency range has increased electromagnetic interference. In order to eliminate or reduce the spurious electromagnetic radiation levels more closely in different applications, there is strong research interest in electromagnetic absorber technology. Moreover, there is still a lack of ability to absorb electromagnetic radiation in a broad frequency range using thin thickness. Thus, this study examined the effect of incorporating magnetic and dielectric materials into the polymer matrix for the processing of radar absorbing materials. The experiment evaluated the sample preparation with different weight percentages of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) mixed with Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 (Nickel-Zinc-Ferrite) loaded into epoxy (P) as a matrix. The prepared samples were analysed by examining the reflectivity measurements in the 8 – 18 GHz frequency range and conducting a morphological study using scanning electron microscopy analyses. The correlation of the results showed that different amounts of MWCNT influenced the performance of the microwave absorber. As the amount of MWCNTs increased, the reflection loss (RL) peak shifted towards a lower frequency range and the trend was similar for all thicknesses. The highest RL was achieved when the content of MWCNTs was 2 wt% with a thickness of 2 mm with an RL of – 14 dB at 16 GHz. The 2.5 GHz bandwidth corresponded to the RL below -10 dB (90% absorption) in the range of 14.5 – 17 GHz. This study showed that the proposed experimental route provided flexible absorbers with suitable absorption values by mixing only 2 wt% of MWCNTs.

Physicochemical Properties, Nutritional Composition and Sensory Acceptance of Chicken Meat Sausages with Chia Seed Powder Substitution

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Chia seed has a high content of fibres and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Chia seed also holds numerous amounts of minerals and vitamins, including calcium and phosphorus. Chia seed offers a great potential of gel-forming ability and good water and oil holding capacities. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effect of chia seed powder substitution in chicken meat sausage formulations on the physicochemical characteristics and sensory acceptance. In the study, the chicken meat sausages were produced in four formulations; sample A as the control (100% chicken meat), sample B (5% substitution of chia seed powder to chicken meat), sample C (10% substitution of chia seed powder to chicken meat) and sample D (15% substitution of chia seed powder to chicken meat). The sausages were analysed for colour, texture, water holding capacity, cooking loss, proximate analysis, crude fibre content, and sensory acceptability. As for the findings, the substitution of chia seed powder resulted in low ‘L’ values of chicken meat sausage due to the dark colour of the chia seed. On the other hand, chia seed powder's substitution decreased the hardness and cohesiveness values. However, it increased the adhesiveness, springiness, and chewiness. Water holding capacity and a cooking loss percentage of the chicken meat sausages with chia seed powder substitution were observed to improve compared to control sausage (100% chicken meat), resulting in juicier sausages. The chia seed powder substitution increased the carbohydrate, ash, fat, and fibre contents for the chemical composition. On a 9-point hedonic scale, sample B (5% chia seed powder substitution) exhibited the highest sensory scores in all attributes evaluated (colour, texture, taste, juiciness, and overall acceptance). Thus, it can be concluded that chia seed powder can be substituted in chicken meat sausage to produce better quality products.

Sequencing and Annotated of Goat's Milk using Bioinformatics Tool: ClustalX

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Bioinformatics tool is a software program made to extract meaningful information from the mass of molecular biology or biological databases and carry out sequence or structural analysis. The method of determining the order of nucleotides within a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecule is known as DNA sequencing. This analysis is meant to be run to the commercialized or factorymade goat's milk (pasteurised) from various states in Malaysia to identify the milk's authenticity, either it is pure or mixed with other foreign substances from other animals. The main objective is to compare DNA sequences of commercialized and raw goat's milk (handmilking and non-pasteurised). To achieve this, we used ClustalX to align and compare the obtained DNA from both milk samples. The sequences will be aligned using ClustalX software. ClustalX is a provider of an automated system for performing multiple alignments of sequences and profiles and evaluating the outcomes. The usage of ClustalX is helpful as it is cost-effective, user-friendly, and showing a high accuracy of the analysis.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications of Coumarin Derivatives: A Short Review

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0800

Coumarin and its derivatives represent one of the most active curriculums of compound possessing a broad spectrum of biological activity along with other applications such as insecticide and fragrance. There are various methodologies developed for the synthesis of coumarins. Classical routes to coumarins include Pechmann condensation, Knoevenagel condensation, Perkin reaction, and Wittig condensation reactions. Researchers have carried out adjustments and improvements to increase the efficacy and overcome the limitations from the classical route. In this review outline, coumarin derivatives were characterized by using FTIR and Hydrogen NMR spectroscopy. This review paper focuses on various synthesis and characterization techniques to analyze coumarin derivatives and their potential application in various fields.

Surgical Instrument’s Tip Fracture During Cataract Surgery