17362 research outputs found
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Barriers to alcohol intervention program: A scoping review
No full textExcess alcohol intake is associated with many negative effects and is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. World Health Organization has established a global plan with 10 primary policy areas and interventions and six important action areas to reduce alcohol’s negative effects. However, alcohol intervention programs face several challenges that can hinder their success in assisting patients with alcohol consumption reduction and cessation. The objective of this scoping review was to identify the barriers to the implementation of alcohol intervention programs. The Joanna Briggs Institute recommendations and PCC (participants, concepts, context) eligibility criteria were used for the review. A combination of search phrases was used to narrow the literature search to 2014–2024 English-language papers and original research articles with full access. After removing duplication, 3,846 articles remained from the 5,128 found. After further exclusions, 19 eligible studies were included in this review. Five main barriers to care were identified: service-level barriers, barriers to care seeking, stigma, socio-cultural barriers, and external barriers. Robust regulations and implementation are necessary to effectively address service levels and external barriers. To enhance help-seeking behaviors, alcohol screening should be implemented, strict management policies for alcohol use disorders should be enforced, and accessible alternatives should be provided. Additionally, public health initiatives should focus on changing societal perceptions to counteract alcohol normalization. These efforts must involve both communities and workplaces
Digital innovation incubators for enhancing historical thinking skills
No full textThis study explores how digital innovation incubators enhance historical thinking skills by synthesizing findings from multiple empirical studies. Through a mixed-methods synthesis approach, the research integrates primary data from classroom-based digital interventions, quantitative metrics assessing students' historical reasoning, and qualitative insights from participant interviews and instructional observations. The analysis reveals that digital incubators such as interactive archives, historical simulation platforms, and collaborative digital storytelling tool significantly contribute to students' abilities to analyze sources, construct evidencebased narratives, and understand chronology and causation. The study underscores the potential of technology-enhanced environments to support critical, reflective engagement with the past in formal education settings
Designing and implementing innovation incubators to foster creative pedagogies in early childhood education
No full textThis study explores the design and implementation of innovation incubators aimed at fostering creative pedagogies in early childhood education. Employing a synthesis-method, the research integrates primary data from case studies, quantitative creativity assessment metrics, and qualitative insights from educators and classroom practices. Findings reveal that innovation incubators support creativity by providing flexible learning environments, encouraging exploratory play, and promoting teacher collaboration. The study highlights the importance of contextual adaptation, ongoing professional development, and evidence-based strategies to effectively cultivate creativity in early learners through structured innovation frameworks
Enhancing pronunciation skills in ESL learners through chatgpt: The efficacy of an ai-driven learning tool
No full textPronunciation is often taken as a gauge of language proficiency and to judge overall English ability—sometimes inaccurately. As ESL learners reach tertiary-level education, pronunciation training often diminishes in priority, as they are assumed to have mastered basic pronunciation skills. Unfortunately, this may not be the case, and many pronunciation errors persist into adulthood. If this remains unaddressed, they can become fossilised, making them more challenging to correct later. In higher education settings, English language courses rarely focus on pronunciation training, particularly in the context of correcting erroneous pronunciation. This neglect can lead to communication issues and negatively impact individuals' growth and others’ perception of them in professional environments. Despite the potential of AI technology to transform language learning, there is a notable gap in the literature regarding the application of AI tools for pronunciation enhancement. This study aims to bridge this gap by investigating the use of ChatGPT for individualised pronunciation learning. It positions the study as a critical step toward enabling ESL learners to leverage the use of AI-driven approaches as potential solutions for pronunciation enhancement. Conducted among undergraduates taking English courses in a public university in Malaysia, this study adopts a quasi-experimental mixed-method design involving pre-test, post-test, and vocabulary identification. Findings indicated that ChatGPT has great potential for applications in pronunciation learning and can offer individualised self-accessed support for ESL students to improve their pronunciation
Evolution of gut microbiota across honeybee species revealed by comparative metagenomics
No full textStudying gut microbiota evolution across animals is crucial for understanding symbiotic interactions but is hampered by the lack of high-resolution genomic data. Honeybees, with their specialized gut microbiota and well-known ecology, offer an ideal system to study this evolution. Using shotgun metagenomics on 200worker bees from five honeybee species, we recover thousands of metagenome-assembled genomes and identify several novel bacterial species. While microbial communities were mostly host-specific, we found both specialists and generalists, even among closely related bacterial species, with notable variation between honeybee hosts. Some bacterial generalists emerged host-specific only at the strain level, suggesting recent host switches. While we found some signal of co-diversification between hosts and symbionts, this was not more than expected by chance and was much less pronounced than what has been observed for gut bacteria of hominids and small mammals. Instead, symbiont gains, losses, and replacements emerged as important factors for honeybees. This highly dynamic evolution of the specialized honey bee gut microbiota has led to taxonomic and functional differences across hosts, such as the ability to degrade pollen-derived pectin. Our results provide new insights into the evolutionary processes that govern gut microbiota diversity across closely related hosts and uncover the functional potential of the previously underexplored gut microbiota of these important pollinators
A vision-based deep learning approach for non-contact vibration measurement using (2+1)D CNN and optical flow
No full textThis paper introduces a proof-of-concept vision-based deep learning approach for vibration measurement, proposing a factorized (2+1)D Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model to predict four vibration metrics: acceleration, velocity, displacement, and frequency, with a focus on rigid body motion. Unlike conventional neural network models that primarily focus on frequency prediction alone, this approach uniquely enables the simultaneous estimation of four critical vibration metrics, offering a comprehensive and cost-effective alternative to traditional contact-based sensors such as accelerometers. The framework relies on the visibility of a training fiducial marker, eliminates the need for calibration in controlled settings, enhancing scalability across specific environments. A curated dataset was generated using a controlled experimental setup comprising a single object in a lab-scale environment, augmented synthetically to enhance frequency diversity. An optical flow-based preprocessing algorithm synchronized motion features in recorded video inputs with measured vibration labels, improving measurement accuracy. The proposed model achieved an average Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 7.51 %, with acceleration predictions exhibiting the lowest error at 4.84 % and displacement the highest at 8.80 % across varying brightness levels and object-camera distances. Techniques such as Region of Interest (ROI) cropping and multi-section frame extraction were implemented to reduce computational complexity while further enhancing accuracy. These results highlight the framework’s potential for non-invasive vibration analysis, though its generalizability is limited by the single-object dataset. Future work will expand the dataset, integrate multi-sensor inputs, explore marker-less tracking methods, and enable real-time deployment for predictive maintenance and structural health monitoring
Exploring the cultural significance of sculpture in urban public spaces
No full textThis paper discusses the cultural significance of sculpture in urban public spaces and its impact on urban image, local identity, and social interaction. As a distinctive art form, sculpture not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of urban environments but also serves as a cultural bridge between history and the future, fostering emotional resonance among citizens and strengthening community identity. Through interviews, this paper provides insights into the perceptions and views of local residents, artists and cultural scholars, tourists and visitor groups, and community managers on the cultural significance of urban public sculpture. This study argues that sculpture fulfills multiple functions in urban public spaces, including environmental beautification, historical commemoration, social value expression, and participation in the creation of urban public art. Moreover, through its visual and symbolic nature, sculpture can provide emotional support for urban residents, offering a sense of cultural belonging and spiritual connection. To fully realize these cultural functions, the design and placement of sculptures should align with community needs, cultural contexts, and social values. Additionally, the integration of digital technology presents new opportunities for innovation in urban sculpture. This paper highlights that through government policy support, public engagement, and technological advancements, sculpture can play a vital role in urban cultural development, infusing public spaces with renewed vitality. As a key medium of urban culture, sculpture not only enhances the urban landscape but also serves as a vehicle for historical transmission and spiritual expression. Future research should further explore how to optimize spatial planning and technological applications in sculpture to accommodate the evolving cultural demands of urban societies
Preliminary bioactivity profiling of methanol crude extract from CLIN acanthus nutans leaves: Antioxidant, antimicrobial, and apoptotic properties
No full textCLIN acanthus nutans (C. nutans), or “Belalai Gajah,” is traditionally used to treat microbial infections, cancer, inflammation, and diabetes due to its rich phytochemical profile. This study aimed to extract bioactive compounds from C. nutans leaves using varying methanolic concentrations (100%, 70%, and 60% v/v) and evaluate their total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant, antimicrobial, and apoptotic activities. Extraction yields were 8.50%, 15.80%, and 14.70% for 100%, 70%, and 60% methanol extracts, respectively. The 100% methanol extract showed the highest TPC (23.40 mg GAE/g), followed by 70% (20.48 mg GAE/g) and 60% (20.32 mg GAE/g). Antioxidant activity assessed by DPPH assay showed the strongest radical scavenging in the 100% extract (IC₅₀ = 1.13 mg/mL), followed by 70% (1.87 mg/mL) and 60% (2.82 mg/mL). Only the 60% and 70% extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 10 mg/mL. Cytotoxicity assessed by MTT assay on CT26 cells revealed the lowest IC₅₀ for the 100% extract (0.18 ± 0.071 mg/mL), followed by 70% (0.20 ± 0.062 mg/mL) and 60% (0.49 ± 0.042 mg/mL). Apoptotic populations in CT26 cells, determined via Trypan Blue assay, were 47.34% ± 8.89, 44.37% ± 2.34, and 43.00% ± 0.95 for the 100%, 70%, and 60% extracts, respectively. These findings suggest that C. nutans exhibits promising antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties, supporting its potential as a natural therapeutic agent. Further studies are needed to explore its mechanisms, dosage optimization, and synergistic interactions with other compounds
Mekanisma dan analisis skim agihan zakat di Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) mengikut Maqasid syariah
No full textZakat merupakan mekanisme utama dalam memperkukuh keberdayaan ummah serta mengurangkan jurang kemiskinan dalam menghadapi cabaran ekonomi semasa. Setiap skim yang disediakan perlu dinilai dalam memenuhi keperluan asnaf berdasarkan maqasid syariah yang merangkumi pemeliharaan agama, nyawa, akal, keturunan, dan harta. Kajian ini akan membincangkan konsep maqasid syariah menurut sarjana Islam dan menganalisis skim agihan zakat yang disediakan kepada asnaf yang terdiri daripada pelajar dan kakitangan di Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) berdasarkan maqasid syariah. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif yang melibatkan kaedah dokumentasi, pemerhatian dan temubual. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa skim-skim agihan zakat yang disediakan di UKM memenuhi setiap aspek maqasid syariah. Namun, penilaian semula disarankan bagi memastikan skim-skim tersebut disusun mengikut keutamaan lima prinsip utama maqasid syariah, iaitu pemeliharaan agama, nyawa, akal, keturunan, dan harta. Kajian lanjutan boleh dijalankan bagi menilai setiap skim yang disediakan kepada Institusi Pengajian Tinggi (IPT) yang lain bagi memenuhi tuntutan maqasid syariah yang ditekankan dalam ajaran Islam. Kajian ini diharapkan dapat menjadi rujukan bagi IPT di setiap negeri dalam melaksanakan sistem pengagihan zakat secara lebih cekap, sistematik, dan berkesan
Rapid spread of African swine fever across Borneo
No full textAfrican Swine Fever (ASF) reached the island of Borneo at the end of 2020. The first mortalities were recorded in wild bearded pigs (Sus barbatus) in Sabah, north-east Borneo. The virus then began to spread across the island but due to COVID-19 lockdowns the spread was difficult to monitor on the ground. With the urgent need to track this epidemic, and in the absence of traditional monitoring, the Babi Hutan Project was launched in April 2021 to gather data on pig sightings using citizen science. Any sightings of bearded pigs were requested via the website, social media and a WhatsApp hotline. Here we bring together the data from this project and other online sources to show how the virus spread across almost the entire island within a one-year period. The speed of spread appeared to increase with time following an exponential model: we estimate an average speed of spread of 0.89 km/day after 100 days since the first observation and at 4.28 km/day after 400 days. Our key recommendations are that existing hunting bans on bearded pigs remain in place; that urgent biosecurity measures should be put in place if outbreaks occur in areas with backyard (domestic) pigs; that surviving pigs are tested for resistance; that the disease dynamics are modelled and that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) urgently re-evaluates the bearded pig’s status