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In contemporary discussions, there is growing debate over the procedural methods employed by police in obtaining evidence from suspects while in custody. A key point of contention is whether evidence acquired through illegal means should be admitted in court, with some arguing that its admission violates the suspect's right to a fair trial, while others contend that such evidence is crucial for proving the case. The law is currently ambiguous on this issue. According to the Oxford Legal Dictionary, illegally obtained evidence is defined as evidence acquired through methods that contravene legal procedures. Importantly, the distinction between evidence obtained illegally and confessions made while in police custody is critical, as Section 26(1) of the Evidence Act 1950 explicitly prohibits the admission of confessions made under such circumstances. This article aims to explore the status of illegally obtained evidence and assess whether it should be admitted or excluded by the courts when the evidence is obtained from a suspect in police custody.

Abstract This research proposes the application of fractional‐order sliding mode control (FOSMC) at the primary controller level to improve the stability of an islanded microgrid by adjusting its voltage and frequency. The control strategies used in the microgrid are performed in two levels (primary and secondary) in the islanded mode. Practically, most previous studies have worked to improve the primary controller. Droop control is one of the most commonly used methods at the primary level and is adopted in this study as well. The sliding mode control (SMC) strategy is normally used to control linear equations. Thus, the non‐linear microgrid equations were transformed into some linear ones using the input‐output feedback linearization technique. Further, a fractional sliding surface was acquainted. The sliding surface and FOSMC were designed to reject system uncertainties and organize the voltage and frequency. Design parameters were chosen using the Lyapunov stability theorem. The validation of the proposed method using Simulink‐MATLAB confirms its effectiveness in enhancing level power sharing, regulating frequency, and maintaining voltage stability across the system.

Background: Labour pain experienced by women during childbirth can significantly affect the mother’s psychological condition and birthing process. This study aimed to determine the effect of shiatsu massage on pain and anxiety during labour.Method: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 80 nulliparous pregnant women who gave birth in four low-risk maternity clinics in Samarinda, Indonesia, from February to May 2022. The women were randomized into intervention (N=40) and control (N=40) groups based on random allocation. Certified midwives performed shiatsu massages following standard protocols. Pain was assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale, and anxiety was assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Score at three times including before the intervention (T0), the latent phase (T1), and at transition phase (T2). The impact of the intervention was analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance by SPSS 26. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The intervention group showed a significant reduction in labour pain scores from 6.85±1.00 (T0) to 6.13±0.88 (T1) and 4.78±0.83 (T2) (P

In the modern corporate world, dividend policy is a widely discussed topic. Early academic literature mainly focused on the linear relationship between dividends and firm value. However, a non-linear (J-shaped) relationship was later discovered in major economies, indicating that firm value may have a more complex connection to dividends. This study reviews existing literature on the non-linear relationship between dividends and company value, suggesting that this relationship might also exist between Shariah-compliant and non-Shariah-compliant firms. The low leverage characteristic of Shariah-compliant firms may contribute to this potential relationship. An extensive search through Google Scholar and Scopus revealed that few empirical studies have examined this non-linear relationship. Notably, no analysis has yet investigated the non-linear relationship between dividends and firm value specifically among Shariah-compliant firms. This article provides a conceptual overview of how and why such a relationship may exist. The review highlights the need for further research, offering insights that could help policymakers and firms make informed decisions to enhance firm performance.

Highlights 1. VCO can accelerate AFB sputum conversion in tuberculosis infection. 2. VCO can decrease SOD levels as a marker of inflammation. Abstract Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis has the potential to raise illness and death rates on a global scale significantly. A low sputum conversion rate for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and malnutrition are indicators of failure in pulmonary TB treatment. Virgin coconut oil (VCO) contains lauric acid and has antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of VCO supplementation on sputum AFB conversion rates, superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, and body mass index (BMI) status of pulmonary TB patients. Material and Methods: This study was an analytic experimental study measuring BMI levels and SOD levels at the Pekauman Community Health Center, Sultan Suriansyah Hospital, and Ulin Hospital, Banjarmasin, Indonesia, between July and September 2023. This study, 40 samples were separated into two groups: the treatment group, which received first-line antithyroid drugs (ATD) with VCO, and the control group, which received first-line ATD and a placebo. Results: Based on the proportion, there was an improvement in the acceleration of BTA sputum conversion, and from the mean BMI and the median value of both groups, there was a decrease in SOD levels after VCO administration. No statistically significant association was found between VCO administration and accelerating the AFB sputum conversion and BMI at the end of the fourth and eighth weeks (p>0.05). Additionally, there was no relationship considered between VCO administration and reducing SOD levels before and after treatment (p>0.05). Conclusion: VCO administration had no relationship with the level of AFB sputum conversion, reduction in SOD levels, and BMI status in pulmonary TB patients.

Background: Medication non-adherence is a significant barrier to optimal treatment goals. The study explores the association between subjective well-being (SWB) and medication adherence among Lebanese individuals with multiple chronic diseases and identifies additional factors that may influence adherence in this population. Methods: An exploratory, cross-sectional study was conducted for three months at six community pharmacies. Adherence was assessed using the Adherence to Refills and Medication Scale Arabic Lebanese Version (ARMS-A). The SWB was measured using the Arabic Scale of Happiness (ASH), Love of Life Scale (LLS), Arab Hope Scale (AHS), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Spearmen's Rho correlation analyzed the association between ARMS-A and SWB constructs. Binary logistic regression identified predictors of adherence among individuals with chronic diseases and on multiple chronic medications. Results: Of 400 participants, 106 (26.5 %) with a 95 % CI, 0.22–0.31, were adherent. Lower medication adherence (reflected in higher ARMS-A scores) was associated with lower SWB (p = 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that lower education (OR=2.21, 95 % CI, 1.01–4.81), lack of a specific diet (OR = 1.64, 95 % CI, 1.01–2.69), and frequent hospital and/or emergency visits (OR=3.29, 95 % CI, 1.75–6.17 for 2 visits; OR = 2.71, 95 % CI, 1.43–5.14 for ≥3 visits) significantly increased the odds of non-adherence to chronic treatment. However, higher income (OR = 0.06, 95 % CI, 0.01–0.38), healthcare provider occupation (OR = 0.42, 95 % CI, 0.21–0.48), and having diabetes mellitus (OR = 0.59, 95 % CI, 0.36–0.96) correlated with better adherence. Conclusion: A significant portion of participants failed to adhere to their prescribed chronic medications, influenced by multicomplex socioeconomic, psychological, and health-related factors. These findings demonstrate the need for culturally-tailored, pharmacist-led interventions to improve medication adherence and overall health outcomes.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health problem that causes high morbidity and mortality. Based on its classification, TB is divided into drug-sensitive (DS) and drug-resistant (DR). Several risk factors susceptible to TB are malnutrition with low body mass index (BMI), vitamin D deficiency (VDD), and low total lymphocyte count (TLC) related to low immune status. This study aimed to examine the relationship between vitamin D (VD), BMI, and TLC in the TB population in Banjarmasin. Methods: This was an analytic observational study with a cross-sectional design. The total study sample was 42 patients, confirmed by rapid molecular testing, who had not been treated for TB in Banjarmasin from January to May 2023 and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Chi-Square and Fisher's exact statistical tests were used to see the relationship between VD, BMI, and TLC in DS TB and DR TB. Results: The median age of DS TB was 38 (24-52) years old, and DR TB was 51 (37-58) years old. Most of the gender was male (24 patients/57.1%). There was a statistically significant difference between VD and BMI in DS TB and DR TB (p = 0.048; p = 0.019). There was a significant relationship between VD and TLC in DS TB and DR TB (p = 0.048). Conclusion: VD and BMI significantly differed in DS TB and DR TB. There was a significant correlation between VD and TLC in TB patients.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication, and behavior, with each individual exhibiting unique characteristics due to the diverse symptoms and varying severity levels across the spectrum. Individuals with autism often face difficulties in behavior, communication, and interaction, occasionally leading to stress and tantrums due to their limited verbal expression of emotions. Traditional methods such as therapy and medication have not been enough to fully help individual with autism. Nowadays, technology, especially wearable technology offers promising opportunities for autism intervention. Recognizing their unique characteristics, this study aims to explore the wearable technology design principles that will cater their needs. Two common concepts which are the interaction and physical design components have been identified as essential in the designing the wearable technology for individual with autism. The extraction of the elements and design principles for both components have been done through an extensive process involving literature reviews and focus group discussions. After the validation process through an expert review survey, four key elements for each component, along with their respective design principles, are proposed by the study. The interaction design component includes navigation tools, feedback, direct manipulation, and multimedia elements, while the physical design component comprises material, screen display, safety, and portability. The proposed components, elements, and design principles outlined in this paper will serve as a valuable guideline in designing wearable technology to effectively meet the distinctive needs of individuals with autism.

Terrorists are not suddenly born, there is a process in which the process starts from radicalization, namely the transmission of radical ideology into a person. The radical understanding included is an ideology that is related to existing extremist ideology and is usually related to certain political groups or religious groups. The most important process in radicalization is in fact the process of giving doctrine to someone by a terrorist group. Once the Doctrine has been given, it becomes difficult to indoctrinate it. It requires a deep understanding of how doctrines are formed and how they are taught. This research describes how the extremist network of a former convict who is now active in deradicalization activities identifies extremist doctrines and ideologies. By understanding the process of identifying doctrines, it will be understood what processes can be carried out to dispel and fight these doctrines to carry out deradicalization. In this study, the case raised is the extremist network experienced by Agus Suprianto alias Farel, in his journey, he went through a process of accepting radical ideology up to extremist ideology, in the end he was deradicalized and is now in the Pancasila ideology which refers to national unity. The provisions are used to carry out empowerment activities and carry out deradicalization efforts.

The term "harmonization," derived from "harmony," encompasses various meanings. In the context of this discussion, it refers to the willingness and openness to recognize, acknowledge, adopt, or accept elements produced by man-made laws, modern secular traditions, customs, cultures, and institutions that are perceived to align with or not contradict the worldview, principles, values, teachings, and norms of Islam. Therefore, the conceptual approach to harmonizing legal knowledge and education is a process of actualizing divine imperatives within the legal sphere. Legal harmonization is a fundamental concept in comparative law that has gained prominence on both international and national agendas over the past decade. In Malaysia, numerous efforts have been made to identify similarities among legal rules across different jurisdictions; however, these efforts have faced challenges due to a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the nature and scope of harmonization. This article examines various dimensions of harmonization, treating it as a legal phenomenon rather than merely a process of drafting similar rules. A thorough understanding of harmonization as a legal phenomenon can enhance the evaluation of implementation processes and inform the formulation of new legal initiatives.

Background Persons with bronchiectasis have a high risk of community-acquired pneumonia. Social distancing measures, implemented to prevent the spreading of SARS-CoV-2, could potentially reduce the incidence of other infectious diseases.Research question Was the COVID-19 lockdown period, along with accompanying social distancing measures, associated with reduced hospital admissions for community-acquired pneumonia and decreased overall mortality rates among individuals with bronchiectasis?Methods Social distancing measures were introduced in Denmark by 12 March 2020 and were preserved until 20 May 2020 (social distancing period), after which the measures were gradually dismissed. The study included all adults (≥18 years) with bronchiectasis residing in Denmark. Confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were excluded. We retrospectively investigated the incidence of community-acquired pneumonia hospital admission, death of all causes and respiratory antibiotic treatment in the 10-week social distancing period in 2020, compared with the same dates in 2019. 9344 persons were included in the study.Results In the social distancing period, the incidence rate of pneumonia-hospitalisation per 10 000 person-weeks was 9.2 compared with 13.8 in the reference period. This reduction corresponds to an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 0.67 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.88, p

In civil disputes, parties often seek to resolve their issues outside of court using alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods, such as negotiation. If negotiations fail, the matter may be brought to court. Under section 23 of the Malaysian Evidence Act 1950, statements made during negotiations that are marked "without prejudice" are generally considered privileged and inadmissible in court. This raises questions about whether the current legal framework adequately addresses the applicability of the "without prejudice" privilege. Is this rule absolute, or are there exceptions that limit its scope? This paper aims to explore these issues, evaluating whether legal reforms and new mechanisms are needed to adapt the "without prejudice" privilege to contemporary legal challenges.

Abstract: Steroids are the standard recommended therapy for COVID-19, especially in critically ill patients. Previous studies have shown that steroids are beneficial for inflammatory markers such as C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) and D-dimer as well as the value of the PaO2/FiO2 ratio. This study aims to determine the differences in the effects of the steroid’s dexamethasone, methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone on inflammatory markers. This research is a retrospective cohort study. The samples were all COVID-19 patients with critical degrees from January to June 2021. The independent variables were dexamethasone, methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone. The dependent variables are CRP, LDH, D-dimer and the ratio of PaO2/FiO2. The statistical test used was the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and continued with the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Mann-Whitney U test. A total of 148 subjects with a total sample of dexamethasone 60, methylprednisolone 55 and hydrocortisone 33. The statistical test results showed a significant difference in the effect of the steroid dexamethasone, methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone on the value of the PaO2/FiO2 ratio (p=0.04). Administration of hydrocortisone and dexamethasone was statistically superior to methylprednisolone for increasing the PaO2/FiO2 ratio.

Determining the curriculum is the government's authority, in early 2022, the independent curriculum was launched. Implementing an independent curriculum is a challenge in itself for education in North Kalimantan. The reason is educational facilities in this region are not evenly distributed. However, several agencies have made efforts to continue to make the independent curriculum program a success. This research was conducted using the systematic literature review (SLR) method. The results of this research are that the government, teacher groups, and several schools have developed and implemented an independent curriculum. Teaching staff in North Kalimantan experienced various difficulties in implementing the independent curriculum technique, including a lack of resources, such as teaching materials and technology, and confusion due to a lack of understanding. This case is an indication that there is still a need to improve the quality of education, especially in the interior of North Kalimantan.

This study aims to examine the approach in teaching practice to "muallaf" (Muslim indigenous people: "orang asli") and the factors of attraction toward the acceptance of Islamic understanding among them. The study was conducted at the village of "muallaf orang asli" at Paya Sendayan, Temerloh Pahang, Malaysia. Design of this study are using the qualitative methods. Data were collected by observation and selected informant interviews based on purposive sampling methods. Data were analysed using the thematic methods. The results of the study found that the approach in teaching practice to "muallaf orang asli" is "syarah" (explanation) and discussion presented through storytelling, stimulation method and "talaqqi musyafahah" (face to face). Meanwhile, the results of the attraction factors toward the acceptance of teaching and learning among "muallaf orang asli" are aspect of reward, facilities, understanding and skills of teachers or educators for the socio-culture and role model shown by teachers or educators as well as the Muslim community nearby the living community. The findings of this study show that the teaching and learning of "muallaf orang asli" should be organized systematically in line with the factors of attraction in order to increase interest and earnestly.

A new adaptive frequency selective surface (AFSS) has been presented for electromagnetic (EM) shielding applications. Passive EM shields lack reconfigurability which severely limits their application. Moreover, active EM shields involving PIN diodes and other active elements consume power all the time. This paper incorporates a novel adaptive approach with frequency selective surface (FSS) to create a smart environment. The unit cell of the designed FSS has the shape of an octagon loop; each loop includes a pin diode at 180° intervals. An envelope detector has been used to trigger the microcontroller whenever an incident RF signal has been detected. The PIN diodes are switched ON or OFF automatically based on the requirements using a microcontroller to save power. When the PIN diodes are OFF, the FSS is in the shielding mode and when they are ON it is in the transmission mode. A prototype has been built for measurements. A good agreement between theory and experiment has been observed. The proposed AFSS can also be programmed as a time-based event and remote-controlled for on-demand EM wave shielding applications.

The extended use of ethambutol beyond 2 months for treating tuberculosis has increased risk of optic neuropathy. We performed a systematic review of studies evaluating optic neuropathy in extended ethambutol use since 2010 and compared the outcome with a similar systematic review (1965–2010) by Ezer et al. Literature search was conducted in PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Main outcome measures were visual acuity, color vision, visual field defects, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and visual evoked potential (VEP). The JBI Critical Appraisal Checklists were used for quality assessment. Twelve studies were selected (out of 639 studies) for analysis of ethambutol optic neuropathy. Visual acuity improvement after stopping ethambutol was statistically significant. Similar improvement was not noted for other outcome measures. On comparing the results of this review with those by Ezer et al., significant improvement was noted in visual acuity, color vision, and visual field defects. Moreover, more patients reported increased optic nerve toxicity, color vision defects, and visual field defects in the present review. Hence, we conclude that the extended use of ethambutol beyond 2 months results in significant optic nerve toxicity. Further randomized controlled trials with different populations are needed to understand the magnitude of this issue.

The flow of accurate and reliable information is critical to enhance market transparency and efficiency as well as investor protection. However, it is not possible to achieve this merely by requiring the executives to report financial information, and corporate governance should inevitably devise a mechanism to monitor the accuracy of the information contained in financial reports. Therefore, along with the internal control process, parties, known as gatekeepers, have been designed outside the issuer’s organizational structure to evaluate the accuracy of the information disclosed.. In the capital market, there are some gatekeepers who do not perform gatekeepingfunctions, as a matter of principle, but implicitly verify the accuracy of the issuer’s financial information and provide the basis for investors to have confidence and make informed decisions only while performing their primary duty. These parties are therefore referred to as indirect gatekeepers. Securities analysts, equity underwriters, attorneys and legal advisors are among this group of gatekeepers. This article has attempted to examine the concept, function, and effectiveness of examples of these types of gatekeepers in Iranian and American law. For this purpose, information was collected in the Documentary and library form and then evaluated in a comparative method. The results of the analysis show that because these persons inherently are not gatekeepers, they naturally encounter conflicting situations when performing their primary duties and gatekeeping functions, which weakens their effectiveness in achieving gatekeeping objectives. As a result, requiring certification based on the explicit assurance of the accuracy of the information is one of the most important suggestions that have been made to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. However, in order to better ensure the quality of financial information, the capital market should use, in addition to indirect gatekeepers, other professional persons created in principle to perform gatekeeping functions in the market, known as direct gatekeepers.

This study examines repeated waqf contributions in Sabah State, Malaysia. Religious obligation, benevolence, and familiarity with and trust in the waqf institution are the variables that are expected to have a positive relationship with the repeated behaviour of giving waqf cash. These antecedents are drawn from previous empirical studies. A total of 200 respondents who have repeatedly contributed to cash waqf shared their opinions through a survey form distributed by using the "convenience sampling" method. The collected data were then tested employing variance-based structural equation modelling and the partial least squares path modelling method using SmartPLS 3.3 software. The results of the analysis show that all the variables, namely religious adherence, benevolence, familiarity with the waqf institution, and trust in the waqf institution significantly influence the behaviour of repeated cash waqf contributions. The study findings could be used by future researchers as a point of reference. In practice, waqf institutions could also benefit from the findings by better understanding their donors' wishes and preferences.

Abstract Background Osteochondromas are the most common benign bone tumors occurring near the end of long bones. In this case report, we demonstrate the successful treatment of a proximal femoral osteochondroma in a pediatric patient excised through a dual medial and anterior approach with no hip dislocation. Case presentation We present the case of a white Arab 14-year-old boy with chronic hip pain and inability to ambulate. He failed conservative treatment and was referred to us after X-rays revealed two osseous masses. He was diagnosed with an intra-articular hip osteochondroma confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scan. He was treated surgically with excision using two incisions: Smith-Petersen approach and Ferguson approach. Conclusion This case presents the successful resection of a symptomatic pediatric proximal femoral osteochondroma, using dual medial and anterior approaches without the need for hip dislocation. This was optimal for both the safety and accessibility of this unusual condition.

We reported the current distribution of Leptophryne spp. in Gede Pangrango National Park. Leptophryne cruentata was recorded in Cibodas (Cikundul waterfall and Goa Lalay), Selabintana (Cibeureum Waterfall), and Goalpara (Rasta Waterfall), whereas Leptophryne borbonica was only reported from a creek at lowland forest of Bodogol. Goa Lalay and Rasta waterfall were explicitly reported as new distribution locations of Leptophryne cruentata. It was strictly found at a higher elevation usually within reach of waterfalls that generate substantial background noise, except in Cibodas in which Leptophryne cruentata can also be found in two noisy creeks located at a fairly great distance from waterfalls (100 – 170 meters).

Abstract Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is seen in chronic pulmonary disease and is associated with exacerbations and poor long-term prognosis. However, evidence-based guidelines for the management and treatment of P. aeruginosa infection in chronic, non-cystic fibrosis (CF) pulmonary disease are lacking. The aim of this study is to investigate whether targeted antibiotic treatment against P. aeruginosa can reduce exacerbations and mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), non-CF bronchiectasis, and asthma. Methods This study is an ongoing multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label trial. A total of 150 patients with COPD, non-CF bronchiectasis or asthma, and P. aeruginosa-positive lower respiratory tract samples will be randomly assigned with a 1:1 ratio to either no antibiotic treatment or anti-pseudomonal antibiotic treatment with intravenous beta-lactam and oral ciprofloxacin for 14 days. The primary outcome, analyzed with two co-primary endpoints, is (i) time to prednisolone and/or antibiotic requiring exacerbation or death, in the primary or secondary health sector, within days 20–365 from study allocation and (ii) days alive and without exacerbation within days 20–365 from the study allocation. Discussion This trial will determine whether targeted antibiotics can benefit future patients with chronic, non-CF pulmonary disease and P. aeruginosa infection in terms of reduced morbidity and mortality, thus optimizing therapeutic approaches in this large group of chronic patients. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03262142 . Registered on August 25, 2017.

Purpose: This study aims to find out ESL teachers' perceptions of imported CEFR textbooks currently in use in the classroom. Additionally, it seeks to determine how teachers have adapted and localized the contents of these books. Methodology: A total of 331 lower secondary school teachers participated in the survey and six were selected for face-to-face interviews. A questionnaire, utilizing a semantic differential scale ranging from one to six, was administered to collect quantitative data, while qualitative data was gathered through a semi-structured interview protocol. Findings: The results indicate that the majority of the teachers were fully aware of the CEFR imported textbooks currently being used in schools. Interestingly, more than half of the surveyed teachers (53.8%) agreed that these books were suitable and matched CEFR levels B1 and B2 set for the secondary school level. Significance: Findings from the interviews highlighted the necessity for teachers to adapt materials, although it also meant extra workload for them. As expected, the teachers added, modified, and simplified the contents of the textbooks. In short, materials adaptation is inevitable as long as the imported CEFR textbooks remain the main teaching materials.

Since issues of child abuse and other crimes against children have been brought to the public's attention through the media, this article considers to highlight one of the issues relating to the protection of child. The issue of the laws protecting child witnesses in giving evidence will come into the discussion. This paper considers the issue of corroboration of the child witness in the aspects of sworn and unsworn statements to determine whether the evidence given by children will be relevant and admissible in Courts. In tackling the issues, the research methodology applied by the authors is by analyzing and evaluating the decided cases and studying the substantive laws procedure in protecting child witnesses in giving testimony in Courts. The expectation findings of this paper are to harmonize between Malaysian and Islamic law relating to the protection of child witnesses in giving evidence in the court of law. After having observed the conflicts or the problems that had stem out of the current laws and procedures governing child witnesses as to the remedies, the final part of the article proposed some solutions and recommendations from the Islamic point of view.

Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has undergone various mutations of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated B.1.617.2 (Delta) and B.1.1.529 (Omicron) as variants of concern (VOC). Since clinical features and epidemiological characteristics of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 variants remain largely unknown, especially in Indonesia, this study aimed to identify the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients from South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Methods: Data from medical records of COVID-19 patients at Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin from June 2021 to February 2022 were randomly extracted, containing demographic data, comorbidities, and laboratory data, as well as the type of virus. Results: In total, 32 patients were included, 9 were infected with delta, 14 with probable omicrons, and 9 with non-VOC. Patients in the probable Omicron group were significantly older than other groups (median age 64 years old, range 54–73 years; p=0.049), had hypertension as the dominant comorbidity (85.7%; p=0.039), the onset appeared slightly earlier (median 3 days; range 2-3 days, p=0.062), with no anosmia symptom (p=0.006). Critical illness predominated and mostly survived in all variants but was not statistically significant (p=0.590 and 0.726, respectively). The three variants showed similarities in laboratory findings; hence, statistical analysis suggested that the leucocytes differed significantly (p=0.020). Conclusions: Patients with the likely Omicron variant are much older, have hypertension as their main comorbidity, do not have any symptoms of anosmia, and have higher leukocyte counts compared to other variants.

This research aims to study the effects of social media marketing strategies on the repurchase intention among buyers of halal cosmetics manufactured in Malaysia. The study, based on the theory of social media marketing, identifies the nexus, and considers the mediating functions of word-of-mouth brand recognition and electronic word-of-mouth communication (e-WOM). The work takes a holistic view of brand recognition and e-WOM with reference to the two main relations, social media marketing strategy and repurchasing intention. The partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) method was employed and data collected from 300 respondents (followers) via an online questionnaire. The results indicate that there is a significant influence of social media marketing (SMM) on repurchase intention, brand awareness, and e-WOM; the impact is higher on brand awareness, followed by repurchase intention and eWOM. These results demonstrate that efficient brand management of the use of social media platforms will help increase brand awareness among halal cosmetics buyers. When used correctly, SMM may assist the distribution and communication of the most up-to-date information on cosmetic products and brands, resulting in increased awareness and repurchase intent. At the same time, eWOM is a useful tool for their respective followers to disseminate information to followers. The research has important implications for the halal cosmetics sector, as it contributes to the theoretical and management literature on social media marketing strategy.

In this paper, a composite control strategy for improved off-grid configuration based on photovoltaic (PV array), a wind turbine (WT), and a diesel engine (DE) generator to achieve high performance while supplying nonlinear loads is investigated. To operate the WT efficiently under variable speed conditions and to obtain accurate and fast convergence to the maximum global operating point without a speed sensor, an iterative interpolation method is integrated with the perturbation and observation (P&O) technique. To ensure the balance of power in the system and to achieve the maximum power from the PV array without using any maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method, and ensuring stable operation during the disturbance, a double-loop control strategy for a two-switches buck-boost converter is developed. Furthermore, to protect the synchronous generator of the diesel generator (DG) from the 5th and 7th order-harmonics created by the connected nonlinear loads and to solve the issue of the filter resonance, the interfacing three-phase inverter is controlled using an improved synchronous-reference frame algorithm (SRF) with virtual impedance active damping. The presented work demonstrates effective and efficient control along with improved performance and cost-effective option as compared to the similar works reported in the literature. The performance of the presented off-grid configuration and its developed composite control strategy are tested using MATLAB/Simulink and validated through small-scale hardware prototyping.

Background: TikTok has rapidly become one of the most extensively downloaded and used social media platforms worldwide. Our focus on emergency medicine (EM)-related content on TikTok is to identify what specific video characteristics result in higher degrees of audience engagement, defined in this study as a total of video likes, comments, and shares.Methods: Five second-year medical students using newly created TikTok accounts independently downloaded the first 100 videos to appear using the hashtag #emergencymedicine. The videos were reviewed for 52 variables. We performed a multiple linear regression analysis to examine the relationship between the variables and video engagement.Results: Of the examined videos, 45.8% (222/484) were produced by physicians (MD or DO). Approximately half, 50.0% (242/484), had an educational component, while 55.4% (268/484) of videos were judged to have an entertainment component. Preliminary findings indicate that among TikTok videos featuring #emergencymedicine, a statistically significant positive correlation exists between video engagement and the presence of a healthcare identifier, (ie, individuals wearing white coats or scrubs). No significant correlation was observed between video engagement and video creators’ self-identification as a healthcare professional, use of entertainment, or use of education. A notable negative correlation was identified between video engagement and the inclusion of music.Conclusion: We identified qualities associated with negative and positive correlation with video engagement. For the 100 videos, only healthcare attire, such as wearing a white coat or scrubs, showed a significant positive correlation with engagement, while those with background music showed a negative correlation. Our study offers insight into how EM professionals can effectively use characteristics associated with higher engagement rates to relay information to a wider audience on TikTok.