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This study aims to characterise the physicochemical properties and stability of confectionery glazes made from various tropical fruit seed powders during storage. Physicochemical properties were evaluated at regular intervals throughout frozen storage to monitor quality changes. The mango seed glaze is slightly acidic, and significantly darker, with tones of green and blue. The glaze has a total soluble solid content of 73.37 °Brix, a moisture content of 19%, hardness of 46.69 g, and sagging capacity of 18.33 mm, which ensures both structural integrity and sensory appeal. Its highest viscosity among formulations suggested possible thickening and improved stability. Over 28 days, significant changes occur, with the pH stabilising to a near-neutral 6.8. The hue changes over time, migrating towards reddish tone as indicated by increasing positive a* values, while maintaining a consistent preference for blue-toned hues with continuously negative b* values. Moisture levels remained stable at 18.71% during storage, with minimal total soluble solid content changes, indicating sustained quality. The findings suggest that mango seed glazing is a viable option for quality preservation during storage. This study provides essential empirical insights into the potential changes in the quality characteristics of various fruit seed glazes when subjected to freezing.

Untuk memberikan pemahaman yang lebih mendalam mengenai pencegahan perundungan, sikap disiplin, dan tanggung jawab diperlukan adanya pemberian edukasi yang tepat dan terarah kepada peserta didik. Edukasi dengan cara edukasi menjadi salah satu langkah untuk mencegah adanya kasus perundungan khususnya di SDN Rawa Barat 05 Pagi, edukasi ini melibatkan 30 peserta didik. Pengabdian ini menggunakan metode ceramah, edukasi, dan diskusi yang berjudul Edukasi Sadar Hukum Terhadap Bullying Serta Pendidikan Disiplin dan Tanggung Jawab. Target dari pengabdian ini adalah siswa Sekolah Dasar yang duduk di kelas 4 dan kelas 5. Adapun tujuan dari pengabdian ini adalah untuk membentuk sikap disiplin serta tanggung jawab agar tindakan perundungan di sekolah diminimalisasi. Peningkatan pemahaman peserta didik dapat dilihat dari hasil posttest yang memperlihatkan peserta didik dapat memahami materi yang dibawakan.

Abstract Background Childhood obesity is a growing concern, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant consequence. Currently, there are no approved drugs to treat NAFLD in children. However, a recent study explored the potential of vitamin E enriched with tocotrienol (TRF) as a powerful antioxidant for NAFLD. The aims of the present study were to investigate the effectiveness and safety of TRF in managing children with obesity and NAFLD. Methods A total of 29 patients aged 10 to 18 received a daily oral dose of 50 mg TRF for six months (January 2020 to February 2022), and all had fatty liver disease were detected by ultrasonography and abnormally high alanine transaminase levels (at least two-fold higher than the upper limits for their respective genders). Various parameters, including biochemical markers, FibroScan, LiverFASt, DNA damage, and cytokine expression, were monitored. Results APO-A1 and AST levels decreased significantly from 1.39 ± 0.3 to 1.22 ± 0.2 g/L (P = 0.002) and from 30 ± 12 to 22 ± 10 g/L (P = 0.038), respectively, in the TRF group post-intervention. Hepatic steatosis was significantly reduced in the placebo group from 309.38 ± 53.60 db/m to 277.62 ± 39.55 db/m (p = 0.048), but not in the TRF group. Comet assay analysis showed a significant reduction in the DNA damage parameters in the TRF group in the post-intervention period compared to the baseline, with tail length decreasing from 28.34 ± 10.9 to 21.69 ± 9.84; (p = 0.049) and with tail DNA (%) decreasing from 54.13 ± 22.1to 46.23 ± 17.9; (p = 0.043). Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression levels were significantly lower in the TRF group compared to baseline levels for IL-6 (2.10 6.3 to 0.7 1.0 pg/mL; p = 0.047 pg/mL) and TNF-1 (1.73 5.5 pg/mL to 0.7 0.5 pg/mL; p = 0.045). Conclusion The study provides evidence that TRF supplementation may offer a risk-free treatment option for children with obesity and NAFLD. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of TRF offer a promising adjuvant therapy for NAFLD treatment. In combination with lifestyle modifications such as exercise and calorie restriction, TRF could play an essential role in the prevention of NAFLD in the future. However, further studies are needed to explore the long-term effects of TRF supplementation on NAFLD in children. Trial registration The study has been registered with the International Clinical Trial Registry under reference number (NCT05905185) retrospective registration on (15/06/2023).

Abstract Background The nicotine in e-cigarette liquid can negatively impact periodontal tissues by altering the salivary pH and elevating cotinine levels. Thus, the study aimed to determine the periodontal parameters, salivary pH, and cotinine levels among cigarette, e-cigarette, and never-smokers. Methods A total of 144 participants were recruited (48 cigarette smokers, 48 e-cigarette smokers, and 48 never-smokers). Clinical periodontal parameters, including plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), periodontal probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were recorded, excluding third molars. The level of unstimulated whole salivary pH was measured using a portable pH meter and the levels of salivary cotinine were measured using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Results Data were analysed statistically using analysis of variance. Mean scores of PPD, percentage of pocket depth ≥ 4 mm, and CAL (p

This study explores the dynamic relationships between renewable energy transitions and economic growth in Malaysia, with a specific focus on hydroelectric power, using the Dynamic Autoregressive Distributed Lag (D-ARDL) simulations. The research leverages extensive time-series data from 1988 to 2022 to analyze the impacts of hydroelectric and non-renewable energy consumption on the nation's economic trajectory. Our findings indicate a positive long-term relationship between hydroelectric power usage and GDP growth, highlighting renewable energy's pivotal role in sustainable economic development. Additionally, the study examines the short-term adjustments and the effectiveness of hydroelectric power in reducing dependence on non-renewable energy sources, which are crucial for achieving Malaysia's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) for 2030. The dynamic ARDL simulations provide nuanced insights into the potential future impacts of increased hydroelectric power usage, underscoring its dual benefits for economic growth and environmental sustainability. This research contributes to the understanding of energy transitions within the context of Malaysia's unique economic and environmental landscape, offering implications for policy and investment in renewable energy infrastructure.

The ethnopharmacological relevance of the Millingtonia hortensis (M. hortensis) flower's aqueous extract lies in its traditional use as a herbal remedy in Southeast Asia. With a rich history in folk medicine, this aqueous has been esteemed for its purported sedative and anxiolytic properties. Our research delves into the scientific basis of these traditional claims, exploring the potential mechanisms underlying the observed effects of M. hortensis flower's aqueous extract on sleep promotion and mood regulation. This study aimed to explore the sleep-promoting effects of M. hortensis dried flower in mice, using an aqueous concentration equivalent to a human concentration of 2.7 mg/mL. Anxiolytic and antidepressant properties were evaluated using behavioural tests, while electroencephalography (EEG) analysis probed the neural mechanisms underlying sleep promotion post-consumption. The aqueous extract of M. hortensis dried flower administered to mice showed a decrease in immobility in the forced swimming test, demonstrating antidepressant-like effects. Moreover, mice treated with M. hortensis aqueous exhibited increased non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep duration, corroborating sleep-promoting potential. EEG analysis of mice treated with M. hortensis aqueous revealed heightened beta oscillations in the frontal and parietal cortex, while pre-treatment with M. hortensis aqueous or diazepam enhanced rapid eye movement (REM) sleep after thiopental administration. Interestingly, M. hortensis aqueous pre-treatment augmented delta frequency ranges in the frontal cortex. Overall, these findings indicate that M. hortensis dried flower's aqueous extract, at a human-equivalent dosage, exerts significant behavioural and neural effects specifically, sedative and hypnotic aspects in mice, corroborating its potential as a natural remedy to promote sleep and regulate mood.

In recent years, numerous studies have emerged on the application of biosorbents for dyes removal from wastewater. Chitosan, a derivative of chitin, is particularly effective as a flocculant for this purpose. In this study, purified chitin was subjected to a physicochemical evaluation based on FESEM, FTIR, XRD, and TGA as well as the deacetylation step. The unique characteristics of chitin isolated using NADES enhance its suitability for efficient deacetylation and higher conversion to chitosan compared to chitin isolated with organic solvents. The chitin 1D, isolated using organic solvent, displayed a complex, convex structure, like a honeycomb, whereas chitin isolated using NADES exhibited a more fibrous and irregular structure. The data indicated that chitin extracted from BSF pupae was α-chitin with FTIR spectra matching closely to commercial chitin. Chitin isolated using organic solvent demonstrated higher crystallinity and higher thermal stability than chitin isolated using NADES. The trends of decreasing acetylation and increasing deacetylation obtained in all studied samples were indicators for the successfulness of the deacetylation reaction. The X-ray diffraction profiles verified the presence of α-chitin and the relative crystalline indexes ranged from 80 to 86 %. This study provides a green and facile approach for chitin extraction from BSF pupae using a more sustainable approach as the physicochemical properties obtained for chitin isolated using NADES are comparable with chitin isolated with the organic solvent. Multiple analytical methods employed in this study successfully demonstrated that chitin can be effectively extracted from BSF pupae, with data comparable to those published in the literature and to commercial samples.

This study aims to describe the development of ESD integrated interactive modules. The population of this study was grade VII students of SMP Muhammadiyah Pekanbaru with a sample of 35 people who were given learning using ESD integrated interactive modules. The method used is research development (Research and Development) with the ADDIE development model. The instruments used in this study were validation sheets for material experts and media experts to see the feasibility level of interactive modules, practicality test questionnaires and questionnaires of student responses to the use of interactive modules developed. The results showed that the feasibility of interactive modules based on the results of material expert validation was 75.5% with feasible criteria. Meanwhile, the results of media expert validation obtained a percentage of 81.4% with very feasible criteria. The results of the practicality test questionnaire showed a value of 94.6%, which means that it is very practical to use and the student response questionnaire with an average of 89.74% and the category is very interesting. ABSTRAK: Penelitian ini bertujuan dalam upaya mendeskripsikan pengembangan modul interaktif terintegrasi ESD. Populasi penelitian ini adalah peserta didik kelas VII SMP Muhammadiyah Pekanbaru dengan sampel sebanyak 35 orang yang diberikan pembelajaran menggunakan modul interaktif terintegrasi ESD. Metode yang digunakan yaitu penelitian pengembangan (Research and Development) dengan model pengembangan ADDIE. Instrumen yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah lembar validasi ahli materi dan ahli media untuk melihat tingkat kelayakan modul interaktif, angket uji praktikalitas serta angket respon peserta didik terhadap penggunaan modul interaktif yang dikembangkan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kelayakan modul interaktif berdasarkan hasil validasi ahli materi sebesar 75,5% dengan kriteria layak. Sedangkan hasil validasi ahli media memperolah persentase 81,4% dengan kriteria sangat layak. Hasil angket uji praktikalitas menunjukan nilai 94,6% yang artinya sangat praktis digunakan dan angket respon peserta didik dengan rata-rata 89,74% dan kategori sangat menarik

The advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has spurred the development of innovative products, significantly impacting industries reliant on technology-oriented machinery and equipment, notably the construction sector. In response, the Ministry of Works, through CIDB Malaysia, has implemented the Construction Strategy Plan 4.0 (2021 – –2025), grounded in 4IR principles, to facilitate the construction industry's gradual adaptation to technological advancements. Despite its introduction in 2016 to enhance project delivery efficiency and effectiveness, the extent of adoption of advanced 4IR-related technologies and the industry players' awareness of the importance of the Construction 4.0 strategic plan remains largely unexplored. Therefore, this paper examines the awareness and adoption level of CR 4.0 technologies in the Malaysian construction industry through a structured questionnaire survey with all G1-G7 contractors that registered with CIDB Malaysia. Based on 912 valid questionnaire responses received from these contractor grades, it has been identified that the awareness and adoption of most of the contractors in Malaysia on construction 4.0 technologies are predominantly at a semi-automation level. Most of the contractors in Malaysia especially lower grade contractors (

Malaria remains a major public health problem worldwide, including in Southeast Asia. Chemotherapeutic agents such as chloroquine (CQ) are effective, but problems with drug resistance and toxicity have necessitated a continuous search for new effective antimalarial agents. Here we report on a virtual screening of ∼300 diarylpentanoids and derivatives, in search of potential Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase (PfLDH) inhibitors with acceptable drug-like properties. Several molecules with binding affinities comparable to CQ were chosen for in vitro validation of antimalarial efficacy. Among them, MS33A, MS33C and MS34C are the most promising against CQ-sensitive (3D7) with EC50 values of 1.6, 2.5 and 3.1 μM, respectively. Meanwhile, MS87 (EC50 of 1.85 μM) shown the most active against the CQ-resistant Gombak A strain, and MS33A and MS33C the most effective P. knowlesi inhibitors (EC50 of 3.6 and 5.1 μM, respectively). The in vitro cytotoxicity of selected diarylpentanoids (MS33A, MS33C, MS34C and MS87) was tested on Vero mammalian cells to evaluate parasite selectivity (SI), showing moderate to low cytotoxicity (CC50 > 82 μM). In addition, MS87 exhibited a high SI and the lowest resistance index (RI), suggesting that MS87 may exert effective parasite inhibition with low resistance potential in the CQ-resistant P. falciparum strain. Furthermore, the in vivo toxicity of the molecules on early embryonic development, the cardiovascular system, heart rate, motor activity and apoptosis were assessed in a zebrafish animal model. The overall results indicate the preliminary potential of diarylpentanoids, which need further investigation for their development as new antimalarial agents.

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical need for effectively disseminating public health information to prevent the spread of disease. Social media platforms, particularly Instagram stories, played a significant role in conveying health messages to younger audiences and professionals. This study explores how Instagram stories created awareness during the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying persuasive elements and their impact on public health communication. Using qualitative content analysis (QCA), this article analyses COVID-19-related Instagram stories from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and medical influencers to categorise key storytelling techniques. In addition, thematic analysis was conducted based on interviews with seven active Instagram story viewers to assess the perceived persuasiveness of these stories in raising awareness. The QCA revealed five categories of Instagram stories, while thematic analysis uncovered eight primary themes and 45 sub-themes related to persuasion. The findings provide valuable insights into creating effective digital storytelling strategies for public health, offering lessons to inform health communication efforts in future crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crafting quality assessment questions in medical education is a crucial yet time-consuming, expertise-driven undertaking that calls for innovative solutions. Large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer), present a promising yet underexplored avenue for such innovations. This study explores the utility of ChatGPT to generate diverse, high-quality medical questions, focusing on multiple-choice questions (MCQs) as an illustrative example, to increase educator's productivity and enable self-directed learning for students. Leveraging 12 strategies, we demonstrate how ChatGPT can be effectively used to generate assessment questions aligned with Bloom's taxonomy and core knowledge domains while promoting best practices in assessment design. Integrating LLM tools like ChatGPT into generating medical assessment questions like MCQs augments but does not replace human expertise. With continual instruction refinement, AI can produce high-standard questions. Yet, the onus of ensuring ultimate quality and accuracy remains with subject matter experts, affirming the irreplaceable value of human involvement in the artificial intelligence-driven education paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to characterise the physicochemical properties and stability of confectionery glazes made from various tropical fruit seed powders during storage. Physicochemical properties were evaluated at regular intervals throughout frozen storage to monitor quality changes. The mango seed glaze is slightly acidic, and significantly darker, with tones of green and blue. The glaze has a total soluble solid content of 73.37 °Brix, a moisture content of 19%, hardness of 46.69 g, and sagging capacity of 18.33 mm, which ensures both structural integrity and sensory appeal. Its highest viscosity among formulations suggested possible thickening and improved stability. Over 28 days, significant changes occur, with the pH stabilising to a near-neutral 6.8. The hue changes over time, migrating towards reddish tone as indicated by increasing positive a* values, while maintaining a consistent preference for blue-toned hues with continuously negative b* values. Moisture levels remained stable at 18.71% during storage, with minimal total soluble solid content changes, indicating sustained quality. The findings suggest that mango seed glazing is a viable option for quality preservation during storage. This study provides essential empirical insights into the potential changes in the quality characteristics of various fruit seed glazes when subjected to freezing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]