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The development of circle kit for form 2 circle topic
No full textThe aim of this study is to develop and evaluate the validity and usability of Circle Kit for the Form 2 Circles topic. The study employs the Design and Development Research (DDR) approach, focusing on the Analysis Phase and the Design and Development Phase guided by the ADDIE model. Five experts consisting of four Mathematics lecturers from a public university and one secondary school Mathematics teacher, assessed the kit’s validity. To determine usability, 35 Mathematics trainee teachers from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) were selected through simple random sampling and responded to a usability questionnaire. Data from expert evaluation were analysed using descriptive analysis, employing the Content Validity Index (CVI), while usability was determined using the mean score. The results of the study found that the validity of the content of daily lesson plan (RPH), kit face and kit content is satisfactory with a value of CVI 1.00. The results also show that the kit’s usability scored a mean of 3.83, indicating high usability. In conclusion, the RPH aligns with the learning standards and supports the kit’s use during Teaching and Facilating (PdPc) sessions. The implication is that the developed kit effectively addresses the Circles topic, making it suitable as a teaching aid (BBM). This study provides valuable guidelines and innovative ideas for Form 2 Mathematics teachers to enhance their teaching through the application of this educational tool
Knowledge, attitude and practice of antenatal exercise among pregnant women in Kuala Selangor
No full textBackground: Pregnancy is associated with significant physical, emotional, and psychological changes. To adapt to these changes and ensure a healthy pregnancy, lifestyle interventions such as regular antenatal exercise (ANE) are vital. Hence, adequate knowledge of ANE among pregnant women is essential to promote the uptake of ANE. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of ANE, and its associated factors among pregnant women in a suburban district. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 571 pregnant women receiving antenatal care at primary health clinics in Kuala Selangor. Demographic data and maternal characteristics, as well as the KAP and associated factors of ANE, were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics of the KAP of ANE were generated. Binary and multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine the predictors of ANE among pregnant women. Results: About half (53.7%) of the study participants reported adequate knowledge while two-thirds (65.5%) had a positive attitude toward exercise. However, only 38.9% displayed a good practice of ANE. KAP of ANE was significantly associated with higher education, pre-pregnancy physical activity, and having received advice on physical activity. Women with positive attitudes were more likely to have good practice of ANE (AOR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.5–3.2). Conclusion: In short, this study indicated a moderate level of knowledge but a positive attitude towards ANE among pregnant women. Nevertheless, their actual practice of ANE needs to be improved. Future health education campaigns should focus on empowering women about the uptake and conduct of physical activity during pregnancy
Floristic composition and diversity of plants across three vegetation zones of Gashaka Gumti National Park, northeastern Nigeria
No full textGashaka Gumti National Park (GGNP) is Nigeria’s biggest national park, with an elevation range of 300 m to its highest peak at 2400 m. Although GGNP has a wide range of plant species, particularly woody ones, there is limited information regarding its floristic composition along the vegetation zones. This study examined the floristic composition and species diversity of GGNP by systematically sampling plant species using quadrats of 25 m × 25 m and a point-centered quadrat (PCQ). A total of 228 plant species belonging to 114 genera and 49 families were recorded across the three major vegetation zones. Fabaceae was the most species-rich family (34 species), representing 14.9% of the species, followed by Malvaceae (18 species), representing 7.9%. Other important species include Moraceae and Rubiaceae, 15 species each, representing 6.6% of the species, respectively, while Combretaceae (10 species) represents 4.4% of the species recorded. The Lowland Tropical Rain Forest (LTRF) recorded 137 species in 42 families, and Montane Highland (MH) recorded 146 species in 43 families. In comparison, the Savannah Woodland (SW) recorded 68 species in 28 families. Twenty-five species, which account for 11% of the total, are threatened. Among them, 10 species are Vulnerable, six are Endangered, five are Critically Endangered, and four are Near Threatened, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status. Across all plots, average Shannon-Weiner’s species diversity indices of 2.40, 2.40, and 2.25 were recorded for MH, LTRF, and SW, respectively. According to Sorensen’s similarity coefficient, LTRF and SW (33.42%) habitats recorded the highest species similarity, while MH, as against SW habitats, recorded the lowest (18.92%). The importance value indicated that the SW had the most important species based on the importance value (0.581) compared to other vegetation zones. The overall evenness values for LTRF, SW, and MH are 0.77, 0.78, and 0.77, respectively. This study offers significant insights into the flora variety and conservation situation of Gashaka Gumti National Park. It emphasizes the need for more research and conservation initiatives to save its distinct habitats and endangered species
Liquid biphasic flotation system (LBFS) for separation of protein from Azolla pinnata
No full textThe demand for plant-based protein has surged as consumers nowadays are highly conscious about their daily intake; thus, this has driven extensive research on plant-based protein. Industries are now focusing on minimal operational costs while being environmentally friendly. This project specifically targets the extraction of protein from Azolla pinnata using a liquid biphasic flotation system (LBFS). LBFS is a promising extraction method incorporating microbubbles to enhance protein separation efficiency in liquid-liquid extraction. The LBFS processing parameters are the type of solvent (ethanol and 2-propanol), solvent concentration (75-100%), salt concentration (200500 g/L), biomass load (100-400 mg), and flotation time (5-15 min). The study's findings revealed that 2-propanol, with its polarity, yielded the highest protein recovery and separation efficiency. Increasing the solvent concentration led to a higher yield of extracted protein due to the greater number of hydroxyl groups per unit volume. Higher salt concentrations aid the separation process by enhancing hydrophobic contact between the protein and water. A higher biomass load resulted in greater protein recovery, while a longer flotation duration improved protein extraction due to lower particle surface tension. However, vigorous flotation conditions could lead to protein degradation. Based on the study's optimisation, the LBFS conditions that yielded the best results were 80% 2-propanol solvent, 400 g/L salt concentration, 300 mg biomass load, and a flotation time of 10 min. These conditions resulted in a protein yield recovery of 78.19% ±4.31 and a protein separation efficiency of 79.39% ±2.80. This method provides a high protein yield recovery and separation efficiency for the extraction of biomolecules
Cardio- and neuroprotective effects by pretreatment of dietary moringin from Moringa oleifera seeds and α-CD/moringin formulation in a rat model of isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction
No full textThe aim of this study was to investigated the cardio- and neuroprotective effects of moringin (MG), a dietary isothiocyanate derived from Moringa oleifera seeds, in a rat model of isoproterenol (ISP)-induced myocardial infarction (MI). Thirty-two adult male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups: a control group, an MI group, a group pretreated with freshly prepared MG solution (MG + MI; glucomoringin 20 mg/kg + 30 µl myrosinase/rat), and a group pretreated with a stable α-cyclodextrin-based formulation of MG (α-CD/MG + MI, 42 mg/kg). Pretreatments were administered daily for seven days, followed by ISP injections (85 mg/kg, subcutaneously) on days six and seven at 24-hour intervals to induce MI. The MI group showed impaired hemodynamic and behavioral responses, elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes—superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)—in both myocardial and hippocampal tissues. In addition, serum levels of cardiac biomarkers, including cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase myocardial band (CK-MB), were significantly increased. Pretreatment with MG and α-CD/MG markedly improved locomotor and exploratory behavior, reduced heart rate (HR), and enhanced mean arterial pressure (MAP). Both treatments also decreased serum cardiac marker levels, restored antioxidant enzyme activity, normalized brain monoamine concentrations, and improved the structural integrity of myocardial and hippocampal tissues. These findings indicate that MG and α-CD/MG confer cardioprotective and neuroprotective benefits by attenuating oxidative stress and maintaining redox balance in ISP-induced MI, suggesting their potential as effective pretreatment strategies to mitigate the systemic complications associated with myocardial infarction
Rasch model: a systematic review of Islamic instruments
No full textRasch model has gained prominence in validating psychometric instruments due to its robustness in measuring latent traits, ensuring validity and reliability across diverse populations. However, a systematic review of its evaluation of Islamic instruments has been lacking due to previously limited Islamic empirical studies. This review aims to assess the Rasch model in evaluating the psychometric properties of Islamic instruments. A thorough search via Scopus and Google Scholar, applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, documented 20 articles published between 2014 and 2024. The review highlights instruments assessing constructs based on Islamic and traditional values related to mental health literacy, religious conservatism, educational motivation, and well-being. Differential item functioning (DIF) was found in traditional beliefs, significantly affecting mental health literacy, religious conservatism, and motivation. Analysis showed several Islamic instruments had high item reliability but low person reliability. The necessity for rigorous Islamic instruments was emphasized by the observation of methodological difficulties, including sample representation and inclusions of Islamic core principles. The review highlights the Rasch model's effectiveness in developing reliable, valid, and culturally relevant measures, promoting holistic assessments in educational, psychological, financial, and religious studies. Future research should address these challenges to enhance the psychometric and methodological rigor of Islamic instruments
Volatility spillovers and comparative analysis of conventional and Islamic equity markets during Global Financial Crisis and COVID-19 pandemic: empirical evidence from Malaysia
No full textThis study investigates the co-movement and integration between conventional and Islamic indexes in Malaysia by analysing the volatility spillover and asymmetric effect over the period of 28/2/2007 to 28/2/2023. The sample is divided into five periods: full sample period, pre-, during- and post-Global Financial Crisis period including the during-COVID-19 period. Based on GARCH-M and EGARCH models, the findings indicate that the volatility of every index is more responsive to its lag values than it is to new shocks with the Islamic index consistently demonstrating higher volatility persistence than its conventional counterpart. The EGARCH results also observe asymmetric bidirectional volatility spillovers between Malaysia’s conventional and Islamic index in the during-GFC period. However, unidirectional volatility spillover is found in every sample period, except for the during-COVID-19. This indicates the absence of return and volatility spillover, which makes COVID-19 a special/unique event for Malaysia. The overall findings support the decoupling hypothesis for Malaysian conventional and Islamic indexes. Hence, it is important for policymakers in developing policies to deal with the co-movement and spillovers of the indexes for achieving financial stability. This study suggests that domestic investors in Malaysia have high diversification opportunities by combining both conventional and Islamic indexes in their portfolios in the long run
Peatland forest monitoring and management solution in Peninsular Malaysia: optimal parameters for LoRa data
No full textPeatland forest fires threaten biodiversity, ecosystems, and human health in Southeast Asia, especially during the dry season. Limited in-situ data collection necessitates Long Range (LoRa) sensor-based remote monitoring for its long-range communication, low power consumption, and cost-effectiveness. However, dense vegetation affects Low-Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) signal propagation through scattering, reflection, and diffraction, impacting data transmission. This study investigates LoRa RF propagation in peatland environments through a measurement campaign at Raja Musa Forest Reserve (RMFR), Selangor. File transfer success rate (FT%) across various land-cover types was analyzed using six Data Rate (DR) and Spreading Factor (SF) configurations. Results show that DR5/SF7 and DR0/SF12 achieve over 80% FT% in moderate and dense vegetation, respectively. The findings enhance LoRa RF planning in challenging ecosystems, offering practical guidelines to improve data transmission reliability in RMFR and other peatlands
Empowering financial well-being through life skills: enhancing the economic resilience of B40 households in Malaysia
No full textIn 2020, the B40 group in Malaysia, comprising around 2.7 million households earning less than RM 4,850 (US$1,045) per month, faced significant economic and social challenges. Key issues include limited access to education, healthcare, affordable housing, and rising living costs. Financial management is crucial for this group to achieve stability and well-being. This study explores the relationship between financial knowledge, locus of control, financial behaviour, life skills, and the financial well-being of B40 households. Data was collected through a cross-sectional study from 1,948 B40 households in five states across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak using cluster sampling. SEM-PLS analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between financial knowledge, locus of control, and financial well-being. Additionally, financial behaviour was found to mediate the link between financial knowledge, locus of control, and financial well-being. Life skills further moderated these relationships, emphasizing their importance in improving financial outcomes. The findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of financial well-being and provide actionable insights for policymakers and organizations to design programs aimed at enhancing the financial resilience of B40 households in Malaysia
A bibliometric study of aerobic, resistance, and combined aerobic and resistance exercise research in the elderly: insights from WoS using citespace
No full textAs the global population ages, exercise interventions have become increasingly important for promoting health in older adults. Aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and their combination each offer unique benefits. However, the respective research trends of these exercise modalities have rarely been systematically compared. This study aims to provide a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of these three exercise modalities using Web of Science data and CiteSpace visualization. This study retrieved and analyzed literature from the Web of Science Core Collection (2015–2024) using CiteSpace software. The search targeted articles on aerobic exercise (AE), resistance exercise (RE), and combined aerobic and resistance exercise (CARE) for the elderly. After manual screening, 1,465 articles were included (AE: 616; RE: 746; CARE: 103). CiteSpace was employed to construct country collaboration, institutional, co-authorship, and keyword co-occurrence maps, as well as to identify emerging research fronts. The Results show that RE received the highest research attention, peaking in 2019, while AE maintained a stable output. CARE had lower publication volume but showed notable growth. The United States, Brazil, and China were the leading contributors, though international collaboration in combined exercise studies remains weak. Keyword analysis revealed that AE studies emphasized cardiovascular and cognitive benefits, RE focused on muscle function and nutritional support, and CARE highlighted fall prevention, quality of life, and chronic disease management. The field is shifting from single-modality interventions toward integrated, multidimensional strategies. CARE is emerging as a promising approach due to its comprehensive health benefits. However, gaps remain in research collaboration and knowledge structure in this area. This study provides a macroscopic overview of global trends and may inform interdisciplinary research and policy development aimed at healthy aging