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The effect of virtual reality imagery on sports imagery, motivation, emotional intelligence and expectancy-belief and values on football kicking skill performance among youth football players in Sarawak
No full textImagery, a psychological skills training method, enhances athletic performance, particularly in football. This study examines the impact of virtual reality imagery on sports
imagery, motivation, emotional intelligence, and belief-values regarding football kicking skills among youth players in Sarawak. Phase 1 involved validating the Malay versions of
the Sports Imagery Ability Questionnaire (SIAQ-M), Sports Motivation Scale-6 (SMS-6-
M), Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS-M), and Expectancy-Value Questionnaire in
Physical Education (FEVQ-PE-M). A total of 321 male trainee teachers participated, with
a mean age of 20.13 years. Confirmatory factor analysis and composite reliability (CR)
were used for reliability and validity assessment. The SIAQ-M displayed an acceptable fit
(RMSEA = 0.071, CFI = 0.969, TLI = 0.960, SRMR = 0.08), with a Composite Reliability
(CR) values range from 0.796 to 0.885 and test-retest reliability of ICC = 0.996-1.000.
The SMS-6-M showed a fit with RMSEA = 0.065, CFI = 0.924, TLI = 0.912, SRMR =
0.052, and a Cronbach’s alpha of α = 0.929, with test-retest reliability of ICC = 0.987-
1.000. The EIS-M demonstrated fit indices of RMSEA = 0.083, CFI = 0.904, TLI = 0.893,
SRMR = 0.08, with a Cronbach’s alpha of α = 0.955, and ICC = 0.989-0.999. The FEVQPE-
M showed RMSEA = 0.854, CFI = 0.966, TLI = 0.958, SRMR = 0.081, with α =
0.923, and ICC = 0.993-1.000. Phase 1 also utilised Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to analyse relationships, revealing significant positive association among the study
variables. Phase 2 investigated the effect of virtual reality imagery on these variables and
football kicking performance among youth players. Results indicated significant changes
over time and between groups for Sports Imagery, F(1, 57) = 56.54, p < .001, ηp2 = .498,
Motivation, F(1, 57) = 64.40, p < .001, ηp2 = .530, Emotional Intelligence, F(1, 57) =
10.21, p < .001, ηp2 = .264), and Expectancy-Belief and Values, F(1, 57) = 9.92, p < .001,
ηp2 = .163. Group comparisons indicated significant differences between Virtual Reality
Imagery (VRI) and Imagery Script (IS), VRI and Control Group (CG), but not between
IS and CG, except for the SMS-6-M (p = .112). The study concludes that the SIAQ-M,
SMS-6-M, EIS-M, and FEVQ-PE-M are reliable and valid for youth football players in
Sarawak. SEM revealed that virtual reality imagery positively influenced sports imagery,
motivation, emotional intelligence, and expectancy-belief and values. A 12-week virtual
reality imagery intervention program is recommended for educational and football
institutions to enhance football skills among youth players in Sarawak, contributing to
long-term performance improvements
An evaluation using fdi criteria to compare full-ceramic crowns, composite resin fillings, ceramic inlays and onlays in posterior teeth after endodontic treatment
No full textRestoring endodontically treated posterior teeth is a critical challenge due to
structural compromises following root canal treatment. This study evaluates the
clinical performance of full-ceramic crowns (FCC), composite resin (CR) fillings,
and ceramic inlays/onlays in posterior teeth using the World Dental Federation (FDI)
criteria. A prospective cohort study was conducted involving 150 patients (194
posterior teeth), assessing functional outcomes such as fracture resistance, marginal
adaptation, wear, and patient satisfaction over a mean follow-up period of 58.14
months (SD = 2.93). Statistical analysis revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in
long-term success rates among the three groups, with FCC demonstrating superior
durability and marginal adaptation, while CR fillings provided a minimally invasive,
cost-effective option with higher wear and marginal deterioration over time. Ceramic
inlays/onlays offered a balance between structural conservation and durability,
making them suitable for cases with moderate tooth structure loss. Patient
satisfaction scores, as measured by the FDI criteria, were highest in the FCC group
(mean score: 1.2 ± 0.4), followed by the ceramic inlays/onlays group (1.4 ± 0.5)
and the CR fillings group (1.8 ± 0.6), with differences statistically significant (p <
0.05). These findings provide evidence-based recommendations for restorative material selection, emphasizing the need for personalized treatment planning based
on clinical conditions and patient need
Development of dna aptamers against bipd antigen of burkholderia pseudomallei for diagnostic applications
No full textMelioidosis is an infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei (B. pseudomallei). A major challenge in diagnosing this disease arises from the limitations of the gold standard method, which is often time-consuming and lacks sufficient sensitivity. Therefore, this study aimed to develop DNA aptamers targeting the Burkholderia invasion protein D (BipD) antigen for melioidosis diagnostic applications. The recombinant BipD protein was expressed and purified to serve as the target for DNA aptamer isolation through systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). Three potent aptamers were isolated based on their high frequency. All these selected aptamers were evaluated for their binding affinity to the recombinant BipD protein, followed by specificity testing against lysates from other Gram-negative bacteria, including Salmonella Typhi, Shigella flexneri, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, through an enzyme-linked oligonucleotide assay (ELONA). AptBipD1 exhibited the highest binding affinity, with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 0.91 ± 0.08 μM, which was lower than AptBipD13 and AptBipD50. All three aptamers demonstrated strong specificity for B. pseudomallei compared to other tested bacteria. Binding analyses were performed through computational methods such as molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Computational analysis revealed that AptBipD1 exhibited the highest predicted binding free energy of -22.8 kcal/mol and greater stability upon binding with BipD protein, as well as the binding site located away from its 5' and 3' ends. This finding suggests that immobilising this aptamer at either end would not affect its binding characteristics. An electrochemical aptasensor was developed by immobilising the most promising aptamer onto screen-printed gold electrodes. AptBipD1-based electrochemical aptasensor demonstrated high specificity for B. pseudomallei over other bacterial strains. This sensor achieved a limit-of-detection (LoD) of 3.4 ± 0.03 ng/mL and limit-of-quantification (LoQ) of 59.2 ± 0.03 ng/mL in buffer, and a LoD of 3.5 ± 0.06 ng/mL and LoQ of 63.2 ± 0.06 ng/mL in spiked serum. The electrochemical aptasensor developed using AptBipD1, which had high binding affinity and specificity, demonstrated low LoD and LoQ in both buffer solution and serum spiked with protein. This indicates its potential for rapid and accurate detection of the BipD protein, making it suitable for diagnostic purposes in melioidosi
Development and validation of a quality of life scale for primary caregivers of children with cerebral palsy in Malaysia
No full textThe quality of life (QoL) among primary caregivers of children with cerebral
palsy (CP) is a critical concern, influencing both caregiver well-being and overall
family dynamics. Understanding the factors that shape caregivers’ QoL is essential for
developing effective support interventions. Yet, there are limited validated tools to
assess caregiver QoL in the local context. This study aimed to develop and validate a
culturally relevant QoL measure for primary caregivers of children with CP in
Malaysia, conducted in three phases. Phase 1 involved a baseline quantitative study
assessing primary caregiver QoL, Phase 2 focused on scale development, and Phase 3
validated the scale through exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Participants were
recruited using key informant sampling in Phase 1 and purposive sampling in Phases
2 and 3, with a cross-sectional study design applied. In Phase 1, 159 primary caregivers
(Mean age = 42.8 years, SD = 8.4) who attended health screening camps in Kelantan,
Johor, and Sarawak participated. Their QoL was assessed using the Pediatric Quality
of Life Inventory™ Family Impact Module (PEDSQL FIM) and analysed through
descriptive analysis, single linear regression, and multiple linear regression. Results
indicated that primary caregivers who attending health screening camps generally had
good health-related QoL, family functioning, and overall QoL, with maternal
education level and family income identified as key factors influencing all three. In
Phase 2, a new Malay-language QoL scale was developed through literature review expert input, and in-depth interviews with eighteen local primary caregivers (Mean
age = 39.3 years, SD = 7.28), identifying eight key themes: physical constraint,
emotional distress, financial hardship, child’s difficult behavior, social support,
acceptance, beliefs, and initiative for the child’s development. Items were generated
and compiled into a draft scale, which underwent content validation by seven experts
and pre-testing with 15 caregivers. In Phase 3, a hundred Malaysian primary caregivers
(Mean age = 44.9 years, SD = 11.1) participated in the study. The newly developed
scale, named the Primary Caregiver Quality of Life (PCQoL) scale, was tested for
construct validity through EFA, concurrent validity through correlations with related
constructs, and reliability via Cronbach’s alpha. The final 28-item version, covering
eight domains, demonstrated strong validity and reliability in assessing QoL in the
Malaysian primary caregiver context. This study provides valuable insights for
healthcare providers to improve the QoL of primary caregivers of children with C
Effects of health education on physical activity promotion based on precede-proceed model among adolescents in Yunnan, China
No full textRegular physical activity is crucial for adolescent growth, while a lack of it can harm development. The PRECEDE-PROCEED model is a widely used health promotion framework that focuses on psychological and social factors. The model consists of two phases: PRECEDE (assessment) and PROCEED (implementation and evaluation), with a total of nine steps. In the PRECEDE phase, through five assessment steps, a comprehensive analysis of factors affecting health behavior is conducted, summarizing susceptible factors (attitudes and beliefs), reinforcing factors (social support), and enabling factors (resources and policies). In the PROCEED phase, targeted intervention programs are designed, implemented, and evaluated. This study followed the nine steps of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model and was conducted in three phases: two cross-sectional studies followed by a randomized controlled trial. In Phase 1, the researchers used cluster random sampling to select the participants. The reliability and validity of several physical activity-related questionnaires (ASAFA-C, Q-SPACE-C, EBBS-CN, PASES-C, and PAQ-CN) were tested using confirmatory factor analysis and internal consistency reliability. A total of 625 questionnaires were collected, with 586 valid responses (49.8% male, 50.2% female). Data analysis was done using Mplus 8.0 and SPSS 29.0, confirming that all models had good fit within acceptable ranges. These results validated the questionnaires as reliable tools for assessing adolescent physical activity in Yunnan Province. In Phase 2, cluster random sampling resulted in 1,250 completed questionnaires, with 920 valid responses (51.2% male, 48.8% female). SPSS 29.0 was used to analyse factors influencing adolescent physical activity, including social support, self-efficacy, exercise benefits/barriers, school environment, physical fitness, and activity levels. The results showed that physical activity level was insufficient, their physical fitness was at a passing level, and the other factors were at a moderate level among adolescents (high school students) in Yunnan Province, China. SEM confirmed significant relationships between these factors, with good model fit indices (RMSEA (90% CI) = 0.029 [0.026, 0.033], CFI = 0.981, TLI = 0.979, SRMR = 0.031). In Phase 3, a 12-week health education program was developed, combining lectures with physical activity. The intervention included 45-minute interactive learning sessions and 45-minute physical activities, with parents participating in two sessions. A total of 156 high school students participated, with the intervention group (n=79) and control group (n=77). Participants completed questionnaires and physical fitness tests at four points: before the intervention, during the 4th and 8th weeks, and after the program. Data analysis using SPSS 29.0 and Mixed ANOVA showed that the intervention group had significantly higher scores in social support, self-efficacy, exercise benefits, physical fitness, and physical activity levels. They also had lower scores in exercise barriers and school environment limitations compared to the control group. The study concluded that the validated measurement tools effectively assess adolescent physical activity, and the PRECEDE-PROCEED-based health education program successfully improved key factors influencing physical activity participation among high school students in China. Although this study provides valuable insights, it is important to note that the sample was geographically limited, which may affect the generalizability of the result
PPKBSM, Pusat Pengajian Kejuruteraan Bahan dan Sumber Mineral (2025) EBP215 Polymer In Electronics SEM 2 SA 2022.2023.
No full textPPKBSM, Pusat Pengajian Kejuruteraan Bahan dan Sumber Mineral (2025) EBP307 Polymer Rheology SEM 2 SA 2022.2023.
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