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In this study, a tool that can explain laboratory-scale photoelectric effect events was designed. So that having a tool that can explain the photoelectric effect will make it easier for users to study the nature of light as a particle. This tool is designed according to its function which will know that the photoelectric effect event is not affected by light intensity but is influenced by the frequency of a light source and the wavelength that shines on a metal so that electrons will move from a negative source towards a positive voltage source. A gadget for this experiment was built uses phototubes and cheap LEDs as light sources instead of traditional mercury lamps. Multiple LEDs operating in the wavelength range 470–631 nm can be used to measure the Planck constant to an accuracy better than 10%. By varying the intensity of the LEDs, it is possible to monitor the energy of the electrons and photocurrent with respect to the amount of light. The results show that the voltage applied to the photodiode leg (cathode) has a different value for each color spectrum and the output voltage obtained for each different wavelength, the less light intensity received by the photodiode, the smaller the output voltage value.

The main purpose of this present study is to evaluate the ability of near infrared technology as an alternative method in determining and assessing quality parameters of meat product where in this case is frozen beef. At first, beef samples from chest and legs parts were sliced and taken at the amount of 100g per sample to be frozen. Then spectra data of beef samples were obtained using near infrared spectrophotometer (PSD IR i16) in wavelength range from 1000 to 2500 nm with optical gain 4x. Actual protein contents were obtained by Kjeldahl method and measured in triplicate. The near infrared spectra data were enhanced and improved by means of mean centering (MC) and baseline shift correction (BSC) methods. The results showed that protein content of frozen beef samples can be predicted rapidly with maximum correlation coefficient is 0.91. Heat properties of beef samples changes exponentially during freezing and thus, optimum freezing temperature and time can be predicted as well. Based on those obtained results, it may conclude that near infrared technology can assess frozen beef qualities rapidly and effectively.

Obesity is a major health concern associated to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Brown adipocytes, which specialise in thermogenesis, offer a potential therapeutic target for obesity prevention and related conditions. This study builds on previous findings of the browning activity of Averrhoa bilimbi hexane fractions and aims to elucidate the underlying mechanisms in vitro. Squalene and phytol, key phytocompounds from bilimbi leaf extract and fractions, were assessed for their ability to induce thermogenic adipocyte using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and C2C12 myoblasts in vitro models. The result shows that bilimbi fractions F7, F8, and F9, along with squalene and phytol, effectively induced thermogenic adipocyte differentiation. This was evidenced by the upregulation of key markers, including Ucp1 , Prdm16 , and Pgc1α , and increased expression of the brown adipocyte-specific protein CIDEA in treated 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Notably, all treatments promoted thermogenic adipocytes differentiation in C2C12 myoblasts via the upregulation of Pgc1α, Ucp1 genes, and UCP1 protein. These findings suggest that bilimbi fractions and its phytocompounds may hold potential as nutraceutical interventions for obesity management., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

The potential alternative of exploring the development of nanocomposites through a single-molecule approach, such as combining chitosan nanoparticles (ChiNP) with chitosan (Chi), remains to be investigated. To maintain the insolubility of the ChiNP filler in the system, the protonation of weakly basic amino groups necessitates the pH of the coating solution above the pKa (6-6.5). This study aimed to evaluate the biofunctional properties improvements of Chi coatings incorporated with ChiNP as filler agents. The coating film forming solution comprised of 0.8 % Chi combined with varying concentrations (0 %, 0.1 %, 0.5 %, and 1 %) of ChiNP. The morphology of ChiNP was characterized via atomic force spectroscopy (AFM). Incorporating the ChiNP (1 %) significantly enhanced antifungal efficacy, i.e., an 88.28 % reduction in fungal activity compared with the control group, and a 65 % reduction compared with pure Chi against Botrytis cinerea. The incorporation of ChiNP improved the ultraviolet and visible light wavelengths, water vapor permeability, hydrophobicity, and thermal properties. Scanning electron microscopy and AFM were performed to assess the surface and internal microstructures of the coating. The findings of this study suggested that the nanocomposite coatings herein presented is potential for use in active packaging, especially in the context of preserving fresh fruit products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The increasing interest in exploring beliefs about teaching mathematics with technology has led educators to employ belief systems as a framework for understanding the impact of technology on math instruction. However, the complex nature of pre-service teachers' beliefs in teaching mathematics with technology involves various dimensions. This study aims to investigate the predictive relationship between Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) sub-components and beliefs in teaching mathematics with technology, revealing a statistically significant direct impact. Utilizing a correlational research approach, we collected data from a cohort of 159 Malaysian pre-service teachers with a focus on mathematics education. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was employed to analyze the proposed model. The measurement model exhibited a satisfactory fit with the collected data. Notably, technological knowledge (25 %), technological pedagogical content knowledge (69 %), and technological content knowledge (39 %) significantly influence discovery learning, while technological knowledge (24 %), technological pedagogical content knowledge (74 %), and technological content knowledge (30 %) significantly influence multiple representations. This underscores the critical role of TPACK in shaping educators' perspectives and practices, providing a crucial avenue for enhancing technology integration in teaching mathematics., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have stated that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the subject matter of this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Double outlet of both ventricles is an anomaly wherein both ventricles equally share the arterial trunks. A majority of the literature describes a variant of this disease with a muscular outlet septum which is perpendicular to the plane of the ventricular septum although a variant with a fibrous muscular septum can also be present. The condition may be associated with obstruction of either outflow tract, which may complicate repair. We report a child with double outlet of both ventricles and a fibrous outlet septum with unobstructed outflows. The child underwent a successful surgical repair using a two-patch technique., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Mechanical prosthetic valve dysfunction can be structural or non-structural. Structural valve dysfunction includes disc dislodgement, disc fracture, and strut fracture. These events in an implanted valve are rare but could pose a risk to life. TTK Chitra heart valve prosthesis (CHVP), an Indian-made single tilting disc valve, has been implanted since 1990 as reported by Vayalappil and Bhuvaneswar (2005). There is limited literature on the structural valve dysfunction of CHVP. We hereby submit images of the dysfunctional valve from our patient, a case of acute severe mitral paravalvular regurgitation 16 years after implantation of CHVP., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (© Indian Association of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeons 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Background: Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and particle bombardment are the two common approaches for genome editing in plant species using CRISPR/Cas9 system. Both methods require careful manipulations of undifferentiated cells and tissue culture to regenerate the potentially edited plants. However, tissue culture techniques are laborious and time-consuming., Methods and Results: In this study, we have developed a simplified, tissue culture-independent protocol to deliver the CRISPR/Cas9 system through in planta transformation in Malaysian rice (Oryza sativa L. subsp. indica cv. MR 219). Sprouting seeds with cut coleoptile were used as the target for the infiltration by Agrobacterium tumefaciens and we achieved 9% transformation efficiency. In brief, the dehusked seeds were surface-sterilised and imbibed, and the coleoptile was cut to expose the apical meristem. Subsequently, the cut coleoptile was inoculated with A. tumefaciens strain EHA105 harbouring CRISPR/Cas9 expression vector. The co-cultivation was conducted for five to six days in a dark room (25 ± 2 °C) followed by rooting, acclimatisation, and growing phases. Two-month-old plant leaves were then subjected to a hygromycin selection, and hygromycin-resistant plants were identified as putative transformants. Further validation through the polymerase chain reaction verified the integration of the Cas9 gene in four putative T 0 lines. During the fruiting stage, it was confirmed that the Cas9 gene was still present in three randomly selected tillers from two 4-month-old transformed plants., Conclusion: This protocol provides a rapid method for editing the rice genome, bypassing the need for tissue culture. This article is the first to report the delivery of the CRISPR/Cas9 system for in planta transformation in rice., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background and Purpose: and purpose: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant global health concern with limited pharmacotherapy options. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized extract of Phyllanthus niruri in mild-to-moderate NAFLD., Materials and Methods: This was a 12-month randomized controlled trial, in which adults with a controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) score >250 dB/m and a fibrosis score <10 kPa were randomly assigned to receive a standardized P. niruri extract at a dose of 3,000 mg daily (n = 112) or a placebo (n = 114). The primary outcomes were changes in CAP score and liver enzyme levels, while the secondary outcomes were changes in other metabolic parameters. The analysis was performed on an intention-to-treat basis., Results: After 12 months, there was no significant difference in the change of CAP score between the intervention and control groups (-15.05 ± 36.76 dB/m vs. -14.74 ± 41.08 dB/m; p = 0.869). There was also no significant difference in the changes of liver enzyme levels between the two groups. However, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in fibrosis score, which was not observed in the control group (-0.64 ± 1.66 kPa versus 0.10 ± 1.61 kPa; p = 0.001). No major adverse events were reported in either group., Conclusion: This study showed that P. niruri did not significantly reduce CAP score and liver enzyme levels in patients with mild-to-moderate NAFLD. However, a significant improvement in fibrosis score was observed. Further research is needed to determine its clinical benefits at different dosages for NAFLD treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Huan-Keat Chan reports equipment, drugs, or supplies was provided by Nova Laboratories Ltd., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Drought stress significantly reduces grain yield (GY) due to poor spikelet fertility and anthesis quality. Aim of this study was to understand the changes of flowering capacity, anthesis quality traits and seed set in the re-watered drought stressed modern high yielding drought susceptible rice cultivar, IR64 at heading (DSH) and booting (DSB) stages. The well-watered plants served as control of the experiment. Results obtained suggest that spikelet moisture content at above 80% was required to maintain optimum anthesis process in rice. Anthesis process in DSH plant was suspended when leaf relative water content (LRWC) dropped to below than 70%. Effects of drought stress on the spikelet moisture were irreversible as compared to the leaf rolling and LRWC. Hence, seed set was failed to occur at the upper rachis branches of the DSH plant. Anthesis process in the re-watered drought stress plants was resumed on the third day after re-watering with about 50% and 80% of anthers managed to dehisce in the DSH and DSB plants. Consequently, percentage of spikelet fertility and seed set in the DSH and DSB plants were increased towards the lower parts of the panicle. The GY, number of seeds, spikelet fertility, and harvest index however were significantly lower in the DSH plant (0.30 g, 13, 16.40% and 14.81) as compared to DSB plant (1.34 g, 57, 59.14% and 48.30), respectively. In addition, all interrelated traits involved in the flowering process of rice could be collectively termed as the anthesis quality traits due to their significant correlation with the grain yield and other yield components., (© Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2022.)

Introduction: Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN), the most common complication of Diabetes Mellitus (DM), is often under-diagnosed and inadequately treated. This study identified the proportion of undiagnosed DPN and its associated risk factors among patients with established type 2 DM (T2DM) in community health clinics in the Gombak district., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2 community health clinics within the Gombak district between September and December 2017. Adults with T2DM were selected via systematic random sampling and screened using the Neuropathy Symptoms Score (NSS). Clinical records of participants' foot examinations were reviewed to identify positive findings of DPN and compared with the NSS., Results: The study's sample comprised 425 patients. Most had co-morbidities, including hypertension, dyslipidaemia and pre-existing DM-related complications. About two-thirds of them performed no daily foot inspection and had no proper footwear. The proportion of patients with positive NSS was 49.4%. However, only 0.2% were diagnosed with positive DPN in their clinical foot examination record., Conclusion: Although a positive NSS was identified in 1 out of 2 patients with established DM, only 0.2% of patients had DPN on their examination records. Most patients had never done daily foot inspections and lacked proper footwear. A positive NSS was associated with uncontrolled diabetes and lower BMI. Proper screening and examination for patients, especially those with uncontrolled diabetes and low BMI, is crucial in identifying DPN to ensure that these diabetic patients receive better preventative care, especially proper foot care and strict diabetic control, to prevent DPN-related complications., (© Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia.)