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The role of apolipoproteins as genetic biomarkers in schizophrenia: a systematic review
No full textIntroduction: Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder involving genetic, environmental, and neurodevelopmental factors. Despite significant progress in identifying several genetic contributors to schizophrenia, the role of apolipoproteins in lipid metabolism, neurodevelopment, and neuroprotection remains underexplored. This systematic review aims to synthesise existing genetic studies on apolipoproteins associated with schizophrenia to clarify their potential role in the disorder’s pathogenesis.
Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using the PubMed and Scopus databases, involving studies published from 2004 to 2023 and limited to English. Keywords included “schizophrenia,” “apolipoprotein,” “genetic,” and “genetics.” Non-research publications such as books, reviews, editorials, letters to editors, short communications, book series, chapters, and conference proceedings were excluded. Only peer-reviewed journal articles were selected to ensure the reliability and credibility of the systematic review.
Results: A total of 41 articles were included in the review, with four key themes identified. These themes addressed specific aspects of apolipoproteins in schizophrenia, including their roles in schizophrenia susceptibility, lipid metabolism, and cognitive functions. This review presents a novel synthesis of these studies, focusing on the underexplored roles of apolipoprotein genes, including APOE, APOL, APOD, APOA, APOC, APOER2, and APOBEC, in schizophrenia.
Conclusion: This systematic review provides a comprehensive understanding of the genetics of apolipoproteins in schizophrenia, particularly in relation to lipid metabolism. The findings suggest future research directions to enhance understanding of schizophrenia pathogenesis and highlight the importance of targeted research to identify specific genetic biomarkers for therapeutic interventions
Annual report 2024: International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC-IIUM)
No full textThe year 2024 marked a pivotal chapter in the continuing evolution of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC-IIUM). With visionary leadership and renewed strategic focus, the Institute advanced its mission as a global centre of excellence for Islamic scholarship, transdisciplinary research, and civilisational renewal, anchored in Tawhidic epistemology and the higher objectives of the Shariah. Guided by the wisdom of IIUM’s President, Tan Sri Samsudin Osman, and Rector, Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr. Osman Bakar, ISTAC reaffirmed its mandate to harmonise sacred tradition with contemporary relevance. This vision found expression in a robust research performance, including the securing of o research grants and the production of 39 scholarly works, comprising academic books, book chapters, and peer-reviewed articles. The Institute’s flagship journal, Al-Shajarah, published three issues, including a special volume on renewal and reform in Islamic thought and civilisation. As a dynamic hub of intellectual exchange, ISTAC hosted more than 25 flagship lectures, spanning the ISTAC-World Professorial Lecture Series (IWPL), ISTAC-Distinguished Scholar Lecture Series (IDSL), and Futures of Integration of Human Knowledge and Civilisational Development forums. The Institute also organised and co-hosted major high-level gatherings. These events reflected ISTAC’s commitment to confronting pressing global issues: theology, epistemology, ethics, civilisational identity, and human dignity through an integrative and spiritually anchored lens. Workshops led by eminent scholars such as Prof. Jasser Auda and Prof. Jamal Badi strengthened the Institute’s research culture, focusing on maqasid-based inquiry, critical thinking, and transdisciplinary design.
Public lectures such as The Grammar of Islamophobia offered timely critique of bias in media and public discourse. Regional collaborations, including the ICILAC Conference (co-organised with IAIN Madura), further expanded ISTAC’s influence in Southeast Asia. The Institute also continued to advance its civilisational mission through cultural diplomacy and interfaith engagement. These programmes promoted a vision of coexistence grounded in aesthetics, dialogue, and shared moral values. ISTAC also curated travelling exhibitions of Malay manuscripts, hosted VVIP library tours, and showcased rare works from the Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas Library, reinforcing Malaysia’s enduring place in the intellectual genealogy of the Muslim world. ISTAC expanded its international footprint through formalised partnerships, engaging institutions from Turkey, India, Indonesia, Japan, and across Malaysia, global delegations, including leading scholars, cultural attachés, and policy thinkers, engaged with ISTAC, cementing its standing as a convener of global civilisational dialogue. At the heart of the Institute’s ecosystem was a thriving academic community of postgraduate students, nurtured through a dynamic curriculum in Islamic Thought and Civilisation, with strong emphasis on sustainability, peace studies, gender justice, and Malay-Islamic heritage. In 2024, ISTAC-IIUM did more than fulfil its academic duties. It shaped discourse, revived legacies, and laid the foundation for future generations of khalifah-minded scholars. As declared by Dean, Datuk Prof. Dr. Abdelaziz Berghout, ISTAC stands as a civilisational catalyst, harmonising sacred knowledge, reformist thought, and ethical foresight in service of the universal mission of Rahmatan lil-‘Alamin
Evaluating performance of the SARIMA model in forecasting daily KTM ridership trends
Full text linkAccurate ridership forecasting is crucial for optimizing public transportation operations, including scheduling, capacity planning, and resource allocation. KTM Komuter, one of Malaysia’s primary rail services, experiences fluctuations in daily ridership due to factors such as peak-hour demand, weekends, public holidays, and economic conditions. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) model in forecasting the daily KTM Komuter ridership. The dataset obtained from Malaysia’s official open data portal, spans from the period of October 1, 2023 to January 31, 2025, captures daily trip counts across KTM Komuter stations. The analysis involved exploratory data analysis, stationarity testing, diagnostic checking, and SARIMA modeling to identify the optimal model. The results indicate that the SARIMA(0, 0, 2)(0, 1, 2)12 model successfully captures ridership patterns, achieving a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 9.17%, thereby, demonstrating reliable forecasting accuracy. The findings highlight SARIMA’s potential in improving train scheduling, capacity planning, and resource allocation. However, the model’s reliance on historical data may limit its adaptability to sudden disruptions, such as service interruptions or external economic shifts. Future research should consider integrating external factors, such as weather conditions and macroeconomic indicators, or exploring advanced machine learning models to enhance predictive accuracy and adaptabilit
Optimization of fat, oil, and grease (FOG) biodegradation using consortium of bacteria
Full text linkThis study investigates the potential of a bacterial consortium isolated from palm oil mill effluent (POME) to degrade Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG). Enrichment techniques were employed to isolate a consortium capable of degrading FOG by through the incorporation of used cooking oil (UCO) into the nutrient media. The consortium, composed of three distinct bacterial strains with FOG-degrading abilities, was screened using a lipolytic activity test on Tween 20 agar media. Results identified consortium X3X4 as the most effective consortium, displaying the highest growth and FOG degradation. Optimization experiments, used a 2-level factorial design to explore the impact of bacterial inoculum concentration (2%, 6%, 10% v/v), oil concentration (1%, 3%, 5% v/v), and pH (6, 7, 8) on FOG biodegradation. Statistical analysis revealed that both oil concentration and bacterial inoculum concentration significantly influenced degradation compared to pH. Consortium X3X4, consisting of the Micrococcus lylae strain DSM 20315 and Corynebacterium aurimucosum strain, exhibited optimal FOG degradation, achieving 82.7% degradation after 20 days of incubation. From the kinetic analysis, the consortium’s μmax and Ks values were calculated as 0.04 h−1 and 4.86% v/v UCO, respectively. This study underscores the efficacy of the bacterial consortium, particularly consortium X3X4, in achieving substantial FOG biodegradation under optimal conditions. The study demonstrates the consortium’s potential for wastewater treatment, though it is limited to laboratory-scale experiments. Practical industrial applications will require additional research to address scaling and operational constraint
Fertility rate, demographics, and socioeconomic outcomes: a scoping review
No full textIn recent decades, social and economic changes have led to a drop in fertility rates in various countries, including Malaysia. A persistent birth rate below the replacement levels will lead to demographic changes that eventually increase socioeconomic issues over time. Therefore, it is very important to get a comprehensive overview of this situation, one of which is to study factors
that may influence public reproductive choice such as knowledge and perception about fertility rate. Given that both variables have the potential to impact individual decision, it is essential that the public grasp the connection between fertility rates and shifting trends in the country's demographic structure, particularly to preserve the nation's sustainability. This scoping review
aimed to outline the existing studies addressing public knowledge and perception of fertility issues, particularly fertility rate and its relationship to population demographics. A systematic literature search was conducted through five online databases which are ScienceDirect, Scopus,
SpringerLink, ProQuest and PubMed, targeting studies published between 2005 and 2025. An effective search strategy was developed using the PCC (Population, Concept and Context) framework, combined with Boolean operators to ensure a comprehensive result. The search terms used included (“knowledge” OR “perception” OR “understanding”) AND (“fertility rate” OR “total fertility rate” OR “national fertility rate”) AND (“demographic trend” OR “population
trend”) AND (“public”). After a thorough screening of 982 articles, only 30 studies were selected for final review. Key themes identified across these studies include public knowledge and perception of fertility rate and policies, personal opinions and societal norms affecting childbearing, demographic shifts, healthcare system challenges and changes in support ratios affecting the economy. Subsequently, the study emphasises that a number of variables, beyond knowledge and perception, affect the fertility rate. It also stresses the significance of establishing a solid strategy for the future to address this issue, especially for the long-term health and security of the nation
Assessing changes in academic motivation across medical training stages: a longitudinal study in Malaysia
Full text linkIntroduction
Sustained academic motivation is essential for the success and well-being of medical students. As students progress from pre-clinical to clinical training, the transition in learning environments is theorized to facilitate motivation internalisation, consistent with Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Unlike cross-sectional studies, a longitudinal approach allows tracking of individual changes over time, offering deeper insights into developmental trends. This study examined changes in academic motivation at the start of medical school, after pre-clinical training, and following two years of clinical training.
Methods
The Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) was administered to 292 students from a five-year undergraduate medical programme in Malaysia across three stages: entry, post pre-clinical, and after two years of clinical training. Three cohorts (2016–2018) were followed longitudinally over seven years (2016–2022). Analysis involved confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to validate AMS and assess reliability using composite reliability (CR), followed by repeated measures ANOVA to examine motivational changes.
Results
CFA confirmed the AMS as valid and reliable. At entry, students showed moderate to high extrinsic and intrinsic motivation with low amotivation. Amotivation rose from Year 1 (M = 6.64) to Year 3 (M = 8.51) and Year 5 (M = 10.27). Identified regulation remained high in Year 1 (M = 23.37) and Year 3 (M = 23.57) before declining in Year 5 (M = 22.47). External and introjected regulation peaked in Year 3 (M = 18.92, 19.42) then dropped or stabilized in Year 5. Intrinsic motivation declined steadily across all domains from Year 1 to Year 5 (all p < .05).
Conclusion
The decline in intrinsic motivation and rise in amotivation highlight challenges in sustaining motivation through medical training. These trends may impact academic performance, mental health, and professional growth, underscoring the need for curriculum adaptations, mentorship, and stress-reduction initiatives to better support students
Self-Care strategies in managing physical discomfort: experience of patient with an intestinal stoma
No full textBackground: The physiological changes resulting from stoma formation necessitate that patients actively engage in self-care practices to manage their physical condition and maintain their well-being. In nursing, supporting and enhancing patients’ self-care abilities forms a key aspect of postoperative education and continuity of care. However, research on stoma self-care practice in Malaysia remains limited. This study aims to explore the self-care strategies employed by patients with an intestinal stoma in managing physical discomfort. Methods: This exploratory qualitative study employed a case study approach, using semi-structured interviews conducted among 17 patients with an intestinal stoma in a public hospital in Malaysia over an eight-month period. The data were analyzed using a framework analysis approach. Results: Three key themes emerged from the analysis: managing pain, stoma care, and adjustment of daily routines. Participants identified these self-care practices as their experience managing their physical discomfort due to having an intestinal stoma. Conclusion: The findings underscore the complexity and multifaceted nature of self-care among stoma patients. These insights are essential for nurses in Malaysia, particularly in developing supportive frameworks and interventions to enhance patients' self-care abilities, which ultimately improve their quality of life (QOL) and healthcare outcome
Pandai di sekolah, terkejut di universiti: realiti senyap pelajar tahun pertama
No full textSetiap tahun, ribuan pelajar melangkah masuk ke pintu gerbang universiti dengan segulung kejayaan cemerlang. Di kampung halaman, kenduri kesyukuran diadakan; di media sosial, ucapan tahniah melimpah-ruah. Mereka datang sebagai bekas pelajar terbaik, terbiasa dengan pujian, dan memikul harapan tinggi bahawa kecemerlangan itu akan berterusan secara automatik.
Namun, bagi ramai pelajar tahun pertama terutamanya dalam bidang mencabar seperti perubatan, kejuruteraan, dan sains, realiti di kampus bukan sekadar sukar. Ia adalah satu kejutan budaya akademik yang mampu menggoncang keyakinan diri.
Perubahan ini jarang dibincangkan secara terbuka. Di mata masyarakat, pelajar universiti dianggap sudah besar, bijak, dan sepatutnya mampu mengurus diri sendiri sepenuhnya.
Namun, hakikat yang perlu kita fahami ialah fasa peralihan daripada sekolah ke universiti adalah antara tempoh yang paling rentan dalam kehidupan seorang remaja. Ia bukan sekadar perpindahan tempat tinggal, tetapi anjakan besar dalam cara mereka berfikir dan memproses ilmu baharu
Tawhidic HMB framework safeguarding kinship and nurturing life: a Tawhidic epistemology framework for digitalised Shariah-compliant human milk banking
No full textHuman milk banking (HMB) is widely recognised as a critical public health intervention that improves survival and health outcomes among preterm and medically vulnerable infants. However, in Muslim-majority contexts, the implementation of HMB remains ethically complex due to concerns surrounding raḍāʿah (milk kinship), lineage integrity, and long-term social implications. While existing studies have examined medical benefits, community acceptance, and isolated digital solutions, the literature remains fragmented, with limited integration between Islamic ethical principles and contemporary digital health system design
Instrumentalisation of religion in electoral politics: how leaders leverage faith in Malaysia, Pakistan and Turkey
Full text linkThis book examines the critical intersection of religion, democracy, and political leadership in three prominent Muslim-majority states—Malaysia, Pakistan, and Turkey. It offers a comparative analysis of the political careers and strategies of Mahathir Mohamad, Nawaz Sharif, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, exploring how these leaders have strategically instrumentalised religion to shape their political narratives, mobilise public support, and consolidate power. By examining the adaptive use of religion as a tool for governance, the book sheds light on the broader dynamics of religious politics in contemporary democracies.
Using qualitative research methods, the book investigates the political rhetoric, policy decisions, and symbolic actions of these leaders, analysing how they navigate the tensions between Islamic principles and democratic institutions. Drawing on extensive historical and contextual data, it categorises religious instrumentalisation into three fluid strategies: conservatism, nationalism, and populism. This innovative framework offers readers a fresh perspective on how religion functions as a versatile political tool, making it highly relevant to scholars and practitioners in political science, sociology, and religious studies