Malaysian Journal of Science Health & Technology
Journal title Malaysian Journal of Science, Health & Technology Initials MJoSHT Abbreviation Malaysian J. of Sci. H. and Tech eISSN 2601-0003 (online) Frequency Two issues, approx. 22 articles per year (April and October) DOI Prefix 10.33102/mjosht - Crossref linked Editor-in-chief Prof. Dato’ ChM Dr. Musa Ahmad , Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Malaysia Managing Editor Dr. Azira Khalil , Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Malaysia Publisher USIM Press Citation Analysis Scopus | Google Scholar Peer Review Double Blind Review
Penerbit Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
The copyright of this article will be vested to author(s) and granted the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license, unless otherwise stated.
Speakable Me: The Development Of Speech Assistance Tools For Patients With Speech Disabilities
This project involves analyzing and designing a system that functions as an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to help individuals with speech and language disorders (e.g., aphasia and dysarthria) who are unable to use verbal speech to communicate by producing sounds based on the words entered by users. The main objective of this project is to assist patients with various types and levels of speech disabilities in communicating their needs, achieving a higher rate of Words Per Minute (WPM) with minimal financial cost. This system is developed using React Native, Visual Studio Code, and Firebase. Speakable Me provides three categories of speech assistants. In particular, Category 1 allows patients to enter the words with full spellings, and the system produces sounds based on the words entered. Meanwhile, Category 2 uses Morse code, which is a combination of 1 and 0 that has been pre-determined and assigned to a word in the library. This category aims to help patients with limited movement since it only requires patients to use two fingers to press the keys. Following this, Category 3 is a category that uses pictograms and has limited keys. Each key represents basic sentences and words that patients usually use. Patients need to press one key, and the system will voice out the whole sentence. Speakable Me also provides a feature that allows patients or their caregivers to add their own words and pre-recorded voices to the library for Categories 1 and 2. While sentences and words for Category 3 can be replaced, they are limited to the ten keys of the numbered keyboard.
augmentative and alternative communication
Copyright (c) 2025 Noor Hayani Abd Rahim, Nadia Natasha Abd Aziz, Nur Izyan Rosli; Muhammad Hafizuddin Hamid https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Role of Inflammatory Markers for Risk Stratification and Prognosis in Dialysis Patients: A Narrative Review
Chronic inflammation is a prevalent condition among dialysis patients and is associated with adverse health outcomes. This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the types and roles of inflammatory markers in risk assessment and their impact on the prognosis of dialysis patients. The associations between various inflammatory markers, including C-Reactive Protein (CRP), anti-inflammatory markers (IL-4, IL-10), and pro-inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-12), are evaluated in relation to their ability to predict mortality and cardiovascular complications in this population. Additionally, the potential of these markers for individualized risk stratification is discussed, aiding proper clinical decision-making and improving patient care. This review synthesizes current knowledge on inflammatory markers and their impact on the outcomes of dialysis patients, offering insights for improved prognostic assessment and therapeutic strategies.
Copyright (c) 2025 Siti Liyana Mohd Nor, Mohd Radzniwan A. Rashid, Faizul Helmi Addnan, Siva Gowri Pathmanathan, Nizam Baharom, Sharifah Najwa Syed Mohamad, Ruslinda Mustafar, Saharudin Ahmad, Arifa Mustika, Minidian Fasitasari, Lusito Lusito https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Microbial Diversity in Landfills through Metagenomics Profiling: A Review
Microbial communities are play a crucial role in the breakdown of organic waste, the production of biogas, and the reduction of environmental impact at landfills, which are complex ecosystems more than just places to dispose of waste. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge of microbial diversity in landfills based on metagenomics studies. Metagenomics studies show that various microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, and fungi, are found in landfills and interact to break down waste. Environmental factors such as pH, temperature, and waste composition impact these microbial communities. This review investigate how landfill age, waste composition, and operational methods impact microbial communities. Important microbial group functions in the waste breakdown, greenhouse gas emission, and soil leachate composition are also highlighted in this paper. The review examine how technologies, such as bioinformatics tools and high-throughput sequencing, enhance our knowledge of the landfill microbiome. Through metagenomics, researchers can identify the microbial genes responsible for important activities, including pollution bioremediation, production of methane, and organic matter breakdown. High-throughput sequencing methods such as 16S rRNA sequencing and shotgun metagenomics have improved the current understanding of landfill microbiomes by identifying new microbes with specialized metabolic roles. Identifying the plastic-degrading microbes and their enzymes is an emerging area of interest with potential for that may help develop biotechnological solutions to landfill plastic pollution. Metagenomics provides the opportunity to develop sustainable landfill management techniques and microbial-based waste treatment methods by identifying these microbial processes. This review emphasis the need of using the microbial processes for a better waste management and the significance of metagenomics in optimising landfill operations.
Copyright (c) 2025 Farah Aisha Mohd Haniff, Hasdianty Abdullah, Mohd Fadzli Ahmad, Maegala Nallapan Maniyam, Hazeeq Hazwan Azman, Nazahiyah Sulaiman, Nor Suhaila Yaacob https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Harnessing Green Nitrogen-Doped Zinc Oxide for Efficient Methylene Blue Dye Photocatalytic Degradation in Wastewater Treatment
Photocatalysis remains a promising solution for water treatment due to its efficiency, sustainability, and ability to degrade a wide range of contaminants. This study explores the green synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO/GS) doped with varying weight percent of nitrogen (N) as a photocatalyst. ZnO/GS was synthesized via co-precipitation with zinc nitrate hexahydrate and papaya leaf extract in an aqueous solution, which will be further doped using urea as nitrogen doping. Characterization techniques, including FESEM, EDX, FTIR, and XRD, were employed to analyze the morphology, structural characteristics, surface, and pore volumes of nitrogen-doped green synthesized zinc oxide (N-ZnO/GS). The photocatalytic performance of these samples was evaluated through the photodegradation of methylene blue dye under visible light irradiation. The sample with 10wt%, which is 1 g of dopant, exhibited the optimal results, indicating a homogeneous surface and high crystallinity of N-ZnO/GS synthesized via co-precipitation, demonstrating the best photodegradation efficiency in the photocatalysis process. The findings suggest potential applications in environmental remediation through the degradation of organic pollutants, enhancing wastewater treatment efficacy.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ummu Humairah Hashim, Shahzulaikha Aiman Mohmed, Syahida Suhaimi, Maisurah Mukhtar, Nur Athirah Mohd Taib, Imam Tazi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Application of Oven-Dried Durian Seed Powder and Freeze-Dried Durian Seed Powder on Extending Probiotics Longevity
Durian seed is often wasted but it can be utilized as a biopolymer and encapsulating agent for probiotics. This is good since it is a natural and sustainable biopolymer source. However, durian seed contains a lot of impurities that may hinder the biopolymer’s functional properties. This study aims to extract gum from durian seeds, subject them to oven-drying and freeze drying to obtain durian seed powder, study both oven-dried and freeze-dried durian seed’s characteristics and the potential to use them to enhance the growth of probiotics. Freeze-dried durian seed powder has higher yield percentage, higher water holding capacity, and higher oil holding capacity than oven-dried durian seed powder. Freeze-dried durian seed powder also has more pores and more uniform structure compared to oven-dried durian seed powder, which can be seen through scanning electron microscope. Both oven-dried durian seed powder and freeze-dried durian seed powder manage to support probiotics’ growth. The probiotics’ concentration can be seen to increase after 3 days of incubation upon encapsulation via dried durian seed flour for both encapsulated probiotics with oven-dried durian seed powder and encapsulated probiotics with freeze-dried durian seed powder. Freeze-dried durian seed powder support probiotics’ growth better than oven-dried durian seed powder since the concentration of probiotics after being encapsulated with freeze-dried durian seed powder is higher than the concentration of probiotics after being encapsulated with oven-dried durian seed powder. Based on observation via scanning electron microscope, encapsulated probiotics with freeze-dried durian seed powder also has better appearance, less wrinkles and less dents compared to encapsulated probiotics with oven-dried durian seed powder.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ahmad Naim Rohaizan, Latiffah Karim, Siti Radhiah Omar, Syamila Mansor, Nur Huda Faujan, Jeehan Nusair https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Sleep Duration and BMI: A Study Among First-Year Students of a Malaysian Muslim Gifted and Talented Institution
Sleep is widely recognized as a public health concern due to its impact on societal well-being and healthcare expenses. Emerging evidence suggests that insufficient sleep may significantly increase the risk of obesity and cardiovascular event. To date few studies have examined sleep duration and patterns within Malaysian boarding school particularly in Muslim Gifted and Talented institution. This study aims to identify sleep duration and investigate its relationship with body mass index (BMI) among first-year students of Kolej PERMATA Insan. Demographic data including gender, height, and weight were analysed using descriptive analysis. A linear regression test was applied to explore the relationship between BMI and sleep duration. Result indicated that male students slept significantly longer compared to female students. However, no association was found between sleep duration and BMI. This postulates that the structured environment and healthy lifestyle prepared by the Muslim Gifted and Talented Institution may mitigate potential negative impacts of insufficient sleep on BMI.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nur Fazidah Asmuje, Muhammad Nashwan Mohd Nasarudin, Abdul Razzak Khan Rustum Ali Khan, Rahayu Ahmad https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Relationship Between Brain Wave Power Value Of Pain Perception And Empathy Using The Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Pain is said to be influenced by many psychological factors such as emotional state that manipulated the level of empathy. However, there are limited studies exploring the neuro-correlation connecting all these aspects. The current study aims to assess the dominant brain wave power value of pain perception and empathy by determining the area activated associated with the imaginary pain under three different categories which are stranger, one-self and loved-one. The study utilized a tool of brain signal detector (electroencephalography (EEG) device) which is Emotiv Insight focusing the relevant area of the brain (AF3, AF4, T7, T8 and Pz) to record the electrical signal of healthy subjects during the pain-visual-stimuli presentations. Images showing the pain condition were used as stimulus material during the EEG brain scanning session. The analysis was performed using Emotive Launcher and Brain Vision Analyzer version 2.2. Findings indicates the imaginary pain has activated the prefrontal area of the brain, specifically the medial frontal gyrus (MFG), superior frontal gyrus (SFG), orbital gyrus, subcallosal gyrus, and rectal gyrus; and revealing theta power band as the most dominant brain wave in this research. These power values also relate with the pain perception that influenced by the empathy level of individuals as observed, individual with high empathy do feel more pain for others. This outcome will help in understanding the mechanism of empathy and pain perception especially when imagining their loved one in pain that could enhance the research development in examining psychological processes.
EEG; Imaginary Pain; Empathy; Brain Wave; Power Value
Copyright (c) 2025 Siti Nur Aisyah Sazali, Muhammad Zaim Kashfi Zaman, Sofina Tamam, Eizan Azira Mat Sharif, Muhammad Ali Mustofa Kamal https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Analysis of Trust Models in Public Key Infrastructure: A Systematic Literature Review of Interoperability Challenges
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) guarantees secure communication and authentication in digital contexts. With the expansion of digital ecosystems, the ability of PKI systems to work together smoothly becomes increasingly important, allowing multiple trust models to be compatible. Nevertheless, several significant challenges must be overcome when merging different trust models. The current body of research does not thoroughly examine these difficulties in various PKI trust models. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive assessment and analysis of the difficulties related to PKI interoperability. The focus will be on trust models such as Cross Certification, Bridge CA, Hierarchical, Hybrid, Cross Recognition, and Certificate Trust Lists. This systematic literature review (SLR) uses the PRISMA technique to analyse trust models in PKI interoperability. The review focuses on peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2024, ensuring transparency and rigor. Eligibility criteria included studies using quantitative methodologies and sourced from major academic databases. This systematic review identified critical challenges in the interoperability of PKI trust models, particularly in operational complexity, security, liability, and scalability. Trust models like Cross Certification, Bridge CA, and Hierarchical systems each present unique challenges when integrated into diverse digital ecosystems. Moreover, gaps in the current research suggest the need for more standardised, scalable solutions that can accommodate the growing complexity of digital infrastructures. Future research should focus on developing a universal model for PKI interoperability, with a particular emphasis on large-scale environments such as E-commerce and E-government systems.
Key management System (KMS), Interoperability, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), Comparative analysis
Copyright (c) 2025 Rozlinda Radzali, A.H. Azni, Farida Ridzuan, Nur Hafiza Zakaria, Tasnuva Ali https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Maturity Model for the Accredited Food Laboratory in Malaysia: A Case Study
A Maturity Model (MM) is essential for laboratories aiming to improve and compete globally. Despite being accredited for over 20 years, some laboratories lack evidence of system maturity necessary for international competitiveness. A higher maturity level indicates a robust quality management system, leading to improved efficiency, accuracy, and customer satisfaction, while also assuring stakeholders, such as customers and regulatory bodies, of the laboratory's commitment to continuous improvement. The MM is designed to assess the success of laboratory processes, management styles, and the development of quality management practices, based on the 4M model (Manpower, Method, Machine, Material). The MM was developed using Analytes Accurate Certain Score (AACS) for the ten most common tests and System Maturity Scores (SMS), which incorporate proficiency testing and audit scores over two accreditation cycles (six years). While the model identifies inefficiencies, it helps organizations pinpoint areas of improvement and devise strategies to enhance their operations. This study applied the MM to a commercial laboratory, ABC (anonymized), accredited since the early 1990s and having undergone eight assessment cycles. The laboratory was found to be at a “leading” maturity level with a score above 80%, although improvements are still needed. Key areas for improvement include: 1) **Manpower**: maintaining competent staff by adjusting management strategies, 2) **Method**: validating all in-house methods according to Analytical Laboratory Accreditation Criteria Committee (ALACC) guidelines, 3) **Machine**: applying good laboratory practices (GLP) for equipment sharing, especially for specific analytes, and 4) **Material**: ensuring metrologically traceable reference materials and proficiency testing for all analytes. These improvements will help the laboratory further enhance its global competitiveness.
Computational Modeling & System Development
maturity model, analytes accurate certain scores, proficiency testing, audit/assessment scores
Copyright (c) 2025 Li Hui Ling, Mohd Sukri Hassan, Che Wan Zanariah Che Wan Ngah, Mehmet Ozturk https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Impact of Capital Market Instruments on Malaysian Economic Growth
The relationship between capital market instruments and economic growth in countries has been quite a topic of debate and research in recent years. Financial markets, whether they are based on capital markets or banks, are essential to one nation’s growth. Its major purpose of serving as the government’s and enterprises’ primary source of finance gives it prominence and authority. This study analyses the causal-effect relationship of stock, bond, sukuk, and foreign exchange markets towards Malaysian economic growth. It aims to appraise the role of capital markets instruments in advancing Malaysian economic growth using the Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method. Although many have studied how capital market instruments affect economic growth, this research intends to fill the absence of that research by offering a comprehensive study on the cumulative effects of capital market instruments towards Malaysian economic growth. A thorough examination that considers the significant and positive influence of stock, bond, Sukuk and foreign exchange markets on Malaysian economic growth will offer a deeper knowledge of their actual meaning to economic growth and insightful analysis that will help academics, investors, and policymakers create strategies and policies that would promote Malaysia’s sustainable economic growth. The findings of this study are stock, bond, Sukuk and foreign exchange markets have a positive impact on economic growth both in the long and short runs. On the other hand, this study found that the sum of bond and sukuk market is statistically significant in the short run.
Economic Growth; Capital Markets; Stock; Bond; Sukuk; Foreign Exchange; Unemployment Rate; ARDI
Copyright (c) 2025 Norizarina Ishak, Siti Nur Syafiqah Nordin, Siti Raihana Hamzah, Ahmad Fadly Nurullah Rasedee, Sukono https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Using 5WH Competency Questions for Validating Information Retrieval from Al-Quran: A Methodological Approach
Various methods are used to validate information retrieved (IR) from unstructured text. Measuring the effectiveness of IR systems is an important focus of IR research, based on sample retrieval for testing combined with evaluation measures. Evaluation measures include both quantitative and qualitative aspects. Quantitative measures assess precision, recall, and benchmark scores, while qualitative measures focus on relevance, user satisfaction, and usability. As the quality of information retrieved is of importance to humans, the use of competency questions (CQs) has been introduced, particularly, in the case of information retrieved from Al-Quran - to validate the output. As the design of CQs usually relies on expert support, which can limit usability for general users seeking guidance, this research proposes using basic fact-finding 5WH questions. These are fact finding why, what, how, where, when and who questions. It is proposed to use these as CQs to test the relevance of Verses/Ayats retrieved on the basis of common text-patterns found in Al-Quran. We propose this methodological approach using 5WH CQs to test the competency of retrieved information, focusing on popular concepts like Salat, Zakat, and the Sun. It is found that sample Ayats retrieved on the basis of text-patterns found answer fundamental questions such as WHY? For example, why pray Salat? or why was the Sun created? Results show that this method evaluates the relevance and usability of IR systems. Further work based on repeating text-patterns in the Al-Quran is recommended to test whether this evaluation approach can help ontology learning.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nazia Nishat, Rosalina Abdul Salam, Yusuf Mahbubul Islam, Zulkifly Mohd Zaki https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Forecasting Public Health Risks in Malaysia: Insights from SEIR Modelling of Infectious Diseases
During the global pandemic of 2020, the Malaysian government implemented a Movement Control Order (MCO) as a mitigation plan to control the spreading of COVID-19. This effort demonstrates a significant decrease in active cases. However, it is disturbing the nation economically. The lack of a visualization hub to predict the spread of infectious diseases in Malaysia disrupts decision-makers’ efficiency in optimizing health sectors. Therefore, this paper aims to forecast infectious diseases in Malaysia using the Susceptible, Exposed, Infectious, Removed (SEIR) model. The SEIR Model predicts the projection of disease-spread cases based on the sample of previous cases. The samples used public health data from the COVID-19 Open Data Repository, which covers 12 states in Malaysia. The finding revealed that the SEIR model demonstrates a sharp decline in susceptible individuals after three months into 2022, a peak in exposed and infectious individuals around the same time, and a steady rise in recovered individuals as most of the population becomes immune. This forecast data can provide earlier insights on the infection trend, allowing actionable recommendations for policymakers and healthcare.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nuha Rahim, Sakinah Ali Pitchay, M. A.B. Sahbudin, A.H. Azni, Ilfita K. Sahbudin https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
BRAINIAC: The Planning Process for the E-Learning Platform with Text Summarisation Tools
This paper presents the planning process for the BRAINIAC, an e-learning platform with text summarisation tools. The evolution of technology in education happens gradually throughout daily lives, from the old traditional method to the digital process, making the educational experience easier and more convenient. E-learning, which uses electronic devices and digital resources, has become essential, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the widespread use of e-learning platforms such as Moodle, Google Classroom, Blackboard, and Udemy, it still lacks an integrated text summarisation tool. This tool is vital for helping learners efficiently process and comprehend extensive textual information. This project, Brainiac, aims to develop an e-learning platform, which is a web-based application that incorporates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) for text summarization. The methodology used to ensure the development process runs smoothly for this project is the Agile Model. The research objectives are to identify gaps in existing e-learning platforms, propose a robust security framework for Brainiac, and evaluate its accuracy and compatibility through thorough testing. Hence, Brainiac aims to enhance learning, improve comprehension, and save time for users, thus significantly enhancing the overall effectiveness of digital education. The implication of Brainiac could revolutionise digital education by improving information processing and comprehension, ultimately enhancing learning efficiency and user experience. In conclusion, Brainiac’s text summarisation tools significantly advance e-learning, offering a transformative approach to improving information processing, comprehension, and overall educational efficiency.
Copyright (c) 2025 Siti Nur Fatehah Nordin, Nurdiana Azizan, Noraizah Abu Bakar, Dini Onasis https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
CYBERLEAP: The Planning Process for the Security Awareness Game
This paper presents the planning process for CyberLeap, a security awareness game for adolescents. In today's digital age, adolescents navigate a world filled with both opportunities and threats. CyberLeap adopts a novel approach to cybersecurity education in recognition of the significance of providing youngsters with the necessary skills to navigate safely (aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4: Quality Education and 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). This casual online game is aimed towards teenagers, drawing them in with interactive tasks that simulate real-life situations, such as password management and phishing attempts. CyberLeap makes learning enjoyable, whether by solving a challenging quiz on secure password creation or identifying a phishing email that appears legitimate. CyberLeap is an educational and entertaining platform that empowers teenagers to become responsible digital citizens by providing a range of tasks, clear feedback explaining correct and incorrect responses, and a rewarding system with points, awards, or even leaderboards. As a result, there may be a safer online atmosphere due to their increased awareness of cyber threats and the encouragement of appropriate online conduct. In the end, CyberLeap advances a more promising cyber world in which teenagers can prosper and confidently explore the immense possibilities of the internet. The implication of the research suggests that integrating engaging, game-based cybersecurity education like CyberLeap into adolescent learning can significantly enhance digital safety and responsibility, contributing to a more secure online environment and supporting SDGs related to quality education and strong institutions. The research concludes that CyberLeap effectively enhances adolescents' cybersecurity awareness and accountable online behaviour through interactive, game-based learning, fostering a safer digital environment and supporting quality education and strong institutions.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nur Anis Aqilah Muhamad Azahar, Nurdiana Azizan, Noraizah Abu Bakar, Dini Onasis https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
EVENTCIBLE: The Planning Process for the Event Navigation and Tracking Mobile Application
This paper presents the planning process for the EVENTCIBLE, the event navigation and mobile application tracking. In today's digitally driven world, where access to information shapes individuals and societies, the emergence of mobile technology has revolutionised news consumption. This research delves into creating a campus event application tailored to students of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). Designed to cater to the dynamic university life and students' affinity for technology, the USIM event app is a centralised hub for students to discover, engage with, and participate in campus activities. The app aims to bridge the gap between active participants and those less connected by capitalising on the prevalence of smartphones among students. Offering a user-friendly interface, students can seamlessly explore upcoming events across various faculties, book, and receive timely notifications, fostering a vibrant campus community. This endeavour showcases the potential of mobile technology in enhancing student engagement and connectivity within higher education institutions, contributing to the ongoing discourse on the transformative role of mobile applications in academia. The methodology used is a hybrid methodology that integrates both waterfall and agile approaches. This combined approach ensures structured planning and execution while allowing flexibility. The implication of the research enhances student engagement and connectivity, illustrating how technological solutions can bridge gaps in campus participation and foster a more integrated university community. The significance of the research is the potential of mobile technology in promoting student engagement and bridging participation gaps within university communities. The research concludes that the EVENTCIBLE app will hopefully enhance student engagement and connectivity by leveraging mobile technology to bridge participation gaps and foster a more cohesive and vibrant campus community.
Copyright (c) 2025 Abdullah Azzam Syafrizal, Nurdiana Azizan, Noraizah Abu Bakar, Dini Onasis https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Advancing Localized Public Health Surveillance in Malaysia by Enhancing EIOS with Google COVID-19 Data Integration
Epidemic intelligence has evolved from traditional manual reporting and field investigation methods to dynamic, real-time surveillance, driven by the 21st-century surge in digital data sources. Infectious diseases pose a significant global health threat, with traditional surveillance methods often facing delays in detecting and responding due to reliance on structured clinical data. The Covid-19 pandemic has emphasized the need for precise and actionable data to inform public health decisions. The current categorization of the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) system by country limits its ability to precisely track and monitor infectious diseases at more localized levels. This study focuses on enhancing the EIOS system by improving geographic data specifically for Malaysia. Currently, the EIOS platform, which incorporates data sources from Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Worldometers (WOM), provides country-level data that limits the effectiveness of localized interventions. This enhancement involves integrating state-level data in Malaysia from the Google Covid-19 Open Data Repository, which collects data automatically from authoritative sources, volunteers and contributors into the EIOS system. This paper presents the focus in Malaysia for better precision and effectiveness, in public health interventions. The suggested EIOS system will assist in sorting data based on dates,cases numbers,fatalities and data origins resultng in a more intricate and adaptable depiction of the pandemics advancement. The results of this study will offer insights and improvements for public health experts in Malaysia regarding the management and containment of infectious diseases at a local level.It will help optimize resource distribution and readiness efforts to mitigate the effects of outbreaks effectively.This improvement is intended to support targeted lockdowns and other public health interventions, in geographic areas with greater precision by enhancing geographical tracking capabilities.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hazeeqah A.K. Aryffin, Sakinah Ali Pitchay, Murtadha A.B. Sahbudin, A.H. Azni, Ilfita K. Sahbudin https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Equity-based Financing and Credit Risk: A Monte Carlo Analysis of Economic Crises in Malaysia
Financial instruments play a critical role in influencing the performance of a corporation. Corporate management may choose between debt and equity-based financing instruments to ensure the continuity of their business operations. Even so, the management will need to consider the credit risk exposure associated with the financing instruments as they tend to affect corporate performance, especially during an economic fluctuation. Therefore, this study employed Monte Carlo simulation to analyze and compare the credit risk exposure associated with debt and equity-based financing across various sectors in Malaysia, particularly in the context of significant economic crises. The sectoral data were used and segregated into two different phases of economic crises, which are from 2007 until 2018 (this period involves the Global Financial Crisis (GFC)) and from 2010 until 2021 (this period involves the COVID-19 pandemic). Through the simulation, this study finds that equity-based financing recorded consistent results of providing low credit risk exposure regardless of sectors and economic crises. Meanwhile, debt financing recorded high credit risk by all sectors during the economic crises. Therefore, this study suggests that equity-based financing is more reliable than debt in promoting corporate financial sustainability by offering lower exposure to credit risk and minimizing reliance on debt issuance.
Equity-based financing; Debt financing; Credit risk; Monte Carlo; Economic Crises.
Copyright (c) 2025 Umul Ain’syah Sha’ari, Siti Raihana Hamzah, Karmila Hanim Kamil, Putri Swastika https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Novel Approaches to Plastic Pollution: Leveraging Machine Learning and Metaproteomics for Advanced Plastic Degradation
This study addresses a pressing global issue—plastic waste—and explores technologies such as machine learning and metaproteomics as potential solutions. Current initiatives to reduce, recycle, and dispose of plastics in landfills are inadequate; plastic pollution is an issue that affects various ecosystems globally. This paper proposes a prospective solution that leverages machine learning algorithms and metaproteomics to improve the efficiency of plastic degradation. The prediction of environmental factors that facilitate bacteria-induced plastic degradation is performed using Random Forests and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) models on extensive datasets. This enables the identification of specific microbes and enzymes capable of degrading plastics and other substances, including PETase, which acts on polyethylene terephthalate. Metaproteomics enhances this process by elucidating the proteins produced by microorganisms, thereby facilitating the identification of enzymes involved in plastic degradation. The amalgamation of these technologies facilitates the ongoing monitoring and regulation of degradation conditions, thereby improving scalability and performance metrics. Furthermore, the paper examines additional emerging technological innovations, including machine learning, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and robotics, that contribute to enhancing the degradation process and the comprehensive management of plastic waste. Collectively, these concepts have the potential to establish a circular economy where plastic waste is considered a valuable resource rather than waste. In conclusion, the integration of machine learning with metaproteomics presents a compelling narrative to tackle plastic pollution. These technologies improve the efficiency and ecological sustainability of plastic degradation processes, establishing a future in which humanity repurposes plastic waste as a valuable resource in industrial applications rather than discarding it.
Copyright (c) 2025 Arooj Fatima Tul Zahra, Mujahid Tabassum, Sundresan Perumal https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Identification of Chemical Profiles of Aromatherapeutic Compounds in Commercial Fragrances and Their Potential to Modulate Emotional States
Aromatherapy, a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts, has been widely recognized for improving psychological well-being. This research aims to identify and quantify the key compounds in a range of commercially available fragrances and analyze their potential therapeutic effects and benefits. Using advanced chromatographic techniques and mass spectrometry, the composition of aromatherapeutic compounds in selected fragrances were determined. The findings indicate that specific aromatherapeutic compounds, such as vanilin, azulene, furanone, thujopsene, lilial, cedrol, pinene, piperonal, ethylene brassylate, butylated hydroxytoluene, and limonene, have distinct effects on emotional state. This comparative analysis highlights both similarities and differences in their chemical profiles in their potential to modulate emotional states. It underscores the potential of aromatherapy as a complementary approach to emotional well-being. The study provides valuable insights for the fragrance industry, healthcare practitioners, and consumers seeking to leverage the benefits of aromatherapy for emotional regulation.
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS)
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Zaim Kashfi Zaman , Sofina Tamam https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Survey on the Pattern of Practice in Using Sodium Hypochlorite as Root Canal Irrigant
Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is the most used endodontic irrigant due to its antimicrobial and organic tissue-dissolving properties. However, NaOCl solutions are unstable; exposure to light, heat, air, metals, and organic substances can reduce the available chlorine concentration with concomitant loss of antimicrobial and tissue-dissolving properties. NaOCl delivery mode during endodontic treatment plays a role in its efficacy in reaching the intricate anatomy of the root canal system. This study sought to investigate the practice patterns of Malaysian dental practitioners concerning the type, storage, dilution, and delivery of NaOCl in their clinical settings. A cross-sectional study was conducted among Malaysian dental practitioners via the online platform. Ninety-seven respondents were recruited, which comprised 88.7% of general dental practitioners and 11.3% of dental specialists. The most common type of NaOCl used is domestic bleach, with the majority using concentrations of 3.5%–6%. Most dental practitioners store domestic bleach in a cupboard and use it diluted. If it is diluted, a majority of the NaOCl is diluted every time before each treatment. The closed-ended side-vented needle is the most common needle used for endodontic irrigation, and it is 30G in size. Manual activation is used to irrigate the canal. The majority of dental practitioners practise proper NaOCl handling to preserve its antimicrobial properties.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sobrina Mohamed Khazin, Hanin Hemdi, Khairina Amyra Khirul Ambia, Noorhazayti Ab. Halim, Diyana Kamarudin https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Empowering Medical Students by Facilitating Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training for Their Peer
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training is an essential component of medical education, equipping students with life-saving skills to respond effectively in emergencies. Following a CPR training program, this study investigates the impact of medical students’ knowledge and confidence levels as they facilitate hands-on CPR sessions for their peers. Through a review of literature and empirical analysis, this research elucidates the benefits of peer-assisted learning in CPR education. Results indicate a significant improvement in both knowledge and confidence levels among facilitators following the CPR training program. Overall, the findings highlight the invaluable role of medical student facilitators in enhancing CPR training outcomes and fostering a culture of peer support and empowerment within the medical community. This study underscores the significance of integrating peer-assisted learning strategies into CPR education programs, providing medical students with opportunities for both personal and professional growth. By leveraging the expertise and enthusiasm of medical student facilitators, educators can enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of CPR training initiatives, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes and community resilience in emergencies.
Copyright (c) 2024 Hafizah Zainal Abidin, Juliza Jamaludin https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Exploring Sex-Specific Brain Complexity in Quran Memorizers: A Fractal Dimension Approach
This study explores sex-specific variations in brain complexity among Quran memorizers (Huffaz) and non-Huffaz using fractal dimension (FD) analysis, a novel method for quantifying structural intricacies of the brain. By employing both box-counting and Fourier FD techniques, we analysed T1-weighted MRI scans from 47 healthy young adults, investigating whether intensive cognitive practices, such as Quran memorization, impact brain structure differently in males and females. The findings reveal significant sex-related differences in FD across multiple brain regions, with the declive, lingual gyrus, and medial frontal gyrus emerging as key areas of interest. These differences persisted even after controlling for Huffaz status, suggesting that both inherent sexual dimorphism and cognitive engagement contribute to brain complexity. The study underscores the potential of FD as a tool for understanding the nuanced interplay between sex, cognition, and brain structure, offering insights that may inform future research on brain morphology and sex-based neurological differences.
Copyright (c) 2025 Abdul Halim Sapuan, Zafri Azran Abdul Majid, Mohd Izzuddin Mohd Tamrin, Mohd Zulfaezal Che Azemin https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Psychological Stress and Coping Strategies among Nursing Students during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study
Nursing students encountered distinctive obstacles during their academic careers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An increase in mental health concerns was the consequence of the pandemic, which necessitated numerous modifications to their daily routines. Subsequently, students have implemented distinct stress-management strategies that are contingent upon their individual perspectives. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the psychological stress levels and coping strategies employed by nursing students during this time. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional investigation was implemented online. The data were gathered through online surveys, which encompassed assessments of stress perception and coping strategies. The survey was divided into three sections: Part A collected demographic data, Part B employed the Perceived Stress Scale(PSS), and Part C employed the Coping Strategies Scale. Results: The study included a total of 220 respondents, who were between the ages of 18 and 25. Among undergraduate students, Year 4 had the maximum representation (35%), followed by Year 1 (22.2%), Years 2 and 3 (21.4%), and so forth. Moderate worry was reported by the majority of students (70.9%). The mean (±SD) score on the Perceived Stress Scale was 20.54 (±6.062), and the mean (±SD) score on the Coping Strategies Scale was 39.47 (±5.848). Conclusion: The study did not identify any correlation or impact between the perceived stress scale, coping strategies, or any of the sociodemographic factors among nursing students. The examination of these factors will enhance comprehension of the mental health obstacles encountered by nursing students during the pandemic. This information can guide the development of targeted interventions by healthcare providers and educational institutions, including stress management workshops, enhanced access to mental health resources, and modifications to curriculum delivery to more effectively support student well-being during future crises.
psychological stress, coping strategies, nursing students, Covid-19, pandemic
Copyright (c) 2025 Khin Thandar Aung, Noor Atikah Mat Ail https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Amberlyst™-15 Catalyzed Hydrolysis of Mango Peel Waste for Bioethanol Production: HPLC Glucose Quantification and GC-FID Analysis of Ethanol Pre- and Post-Distillation
Mango peel waste appears to be an alternative source to lignocellulose materials to produce bioethanol. According to various studies, mango peels are rich in carbohydrates and sugar, which are suitable for generating bioethanol. Today, gasoline, a non-renewable fuel, is massively utilized as a transport fuel. Accordingly, a large amount of bioethanol will have to be generated to replace gasoline. The objectives of this research are to produce bioethanol from mango peel using Amberlyst-15 at various concentrations, characterize the bioethanol, and compare its concentration before and after distillation. For the first time, Amberlyst-15 has been explored as a potential catalyst for hydrolyzing carbohydrates in mango peel to monomeric sugar before the fermentation process. One crucial parameter, which was catalyst concentration (2–4%, w/v), was studied for process optimization. In particular, optimum glucose yield of 23.03 ± 3.64% (High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)) and 24.64 ± 0% (Blood Glucose Meter (BGM)) was attained based on the following optimum condition: catalyst concentration of 4% (w/v). Meanwhile, the bioethanol was not detected by Gas Chromatography Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) after fermentation. However, after distillation, the fermented sample yielded a bioethanol concentration of 4.152 g/L. Overall, the strategy of combining heterogeneous-catalytic hydrolysis and fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been a good strategy for producing bioethanol from mango peel biomass.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nur Sahira Adila Che Marzuki, Mohd Hafiz Abu Hassan, Susi Nurul Khalifah https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Diversification Benefits of Malaysian REITs in the COVID-19 Periods
This study examined the diversification benefits of Malaysian real estate investment trusts (REITs) in a mixed-asset portfolio of stocks and bonds during the COVID-19 period. Monthly data were used from January 2018 to October 2023. The sample time frame consisted of overall periods, as well as the subperiods before, during, and after the COVID-19 period. The risk-adjusted return for each asset and the correlation between Malaysian REITs, stocks, and bonds were analyzed. For each time frame considered, a mean-variance portfolio analysis was performed for two separate scenarios that include a portfolio with and a portfolio without REITs. In each scenario, average portfolio performance was evaluated. Malaysian REITs generally reported a superior risk-adjusted return over other financial assets overall and in each of the subperiods of COVID-19. During the COVID-19 period, REITs had a positive correlation with stocks but negative correlation with bonds. The results of the mean-variance analysis indicated the diversification benefits of incorporating REITs irrespective of overall as well as the periods before, during, and after COVID-19. The portfolio with REITs had a higher risk-adjusted return and a lower level of risk when compared to a portfolio consisting of stocks and bonds. The findings of the study highlight the diversification benefits of Malaysian REITs, which suggest the resilience of liquid real estate assets, particularly during and after the COVID-19 period. The resilience was contributed by the fundamental aspects of tenants and the underlying properties of Malaysian REITs. Investors in the Malaysian market should include REITs in their portfolio despite short-term uncertainty in an attempt to recoup the gains upon the onset of the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science
Copyright (c) 2025 Nurulhusna Adibah Mohamad Nasir, Muhammad Zaim Razak, Shahrina Ismail https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Identification of Residential and Commercial Area using Convolutional Neural Network
Abstract— Image classification of land use using aerial scene classification has become increasingly common around the world. Utilizing the power of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), identification of various city township areas using satellite imagery has become more efficient compared to the previous manual labeling. The objective of this research is to build a convolutional neural network model for residential and commercial area identification. In the research, we also adopted Inception V3 and VGG16 to develop two transfer learning models for the identification system. The Inception V3-based model achieved the highest overall accuracy value of 100%, showing its effectiveness in accurate residential and commercial area identification. The proposed CNN model achieved an accuracy of 99%, while the VGG-16 model with all configurations being frozen achieved 99% accuracy.
Copyright (c) 2024 Valliappan Raman, Putra Sumari, Prabhavathy M, Sundresan Perumal https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Structural and Electrochemical Properties of Binary ZnO:Al Nanocomposites as Anode for Lithium-ion Batteries
In conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), carbon compounds are commonly utilised as the anode owing to their great performance, low cost, and abundance. However, due to the limited storage capability of pure carbon materials that restrict further improvement of LIBs, zinc oxide (ZnO) has been one of the promising anode materials to be used as an alternative to strengthen the electrochemical performance of LIBs due to its high theoretical capacity of 987 mAh g-1. This study aims to synthesise ZnO:Al nanowires using the hot-tube thermal evaporation method. Three types of samples are made using this method by varying the concentration of 0 wt% (S1), 3wt% (S2), and 6 wt% (S3) of aluminium (Al) during the Al deposition process. The EDX findings indicated that the sample has a high proportion of zinc (Zn) and oxygen (O), with the S3 sample having the highest Al concentration after being deposited. The most substantial diffraction peak for XRD of all samples was found at (101), exhibiting a single crystalline hexagonal structure with optimum growth direction on the c-axis. For EIS analysis, the S3 sample has the lowest bulk resistance and maximum ionic conductivity. In conclusion, the ZnO sample with 3 wt% of Al as a dopant was selected as the optimum result to synthesise a homogenous surface of ZnO:Al with good crystallinity by using a hot-tube thermal evaporation process and giving the best conductivity in electrochemical performance.
Copyright (c) 2024 Maisurah Mukhtar, Najiha Hamid, Syahida Suhaimi Suhaimi, Azwani Sofia Ahmad Khiar, Peshawa Omer Amin https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Molecular Docking of Natural Alkaloids with Bcl-xL Protein in The Apoptosis Process
Background: The anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL is a viable target for cancer therapy due to its critical role in cancer formation and resistance to chemotherapy. Insights into Bcl-xL’s role have spurred the development of a new category of cancer drugs called Bcl-xL inhibitors, which mimic the BH3-only protein to cause apoptosis. It could be initiated using alkaloids, owing to their remarkable biological characteristics. Alkaloids, among the biggest obtainable from plants, possess a distinctive structure characterized by the presence of a nitrogen atom in various positions within the molecule. Objective: In the current study, the potential of various alkaloids as Bcl-xL inhibitors was investigated through a molecular docking study. Methods: AutoDock Vina software was used to perform docking simulations of the alkaloids. Results: Ten alkaloids/Bcl-xL protein complexes demonstrated strong binding affinities less than -8.0 kcal/mol-1. These complexes include phaenthine (26), 4,5-Dioxoaporphine (1), anonaine (2), atherospermidine (4), limacine (14), liriodenine (16), monomargine (18), ouregidione (24), oxostephanine (25), and taliscanine (29) as the ligand of Bcl-xL protein. Notably, the complexes of Bcl-xL/dicentrinone (10), ouregidione (24), stepharine (28), and taliscanine (29) displayed three to four hydrogen bonds along with hydrophobic contacts. Conclusion: These results suggest that certain alkaloids could act as potential Bcl-xL inhibitors, mimicking BH3-only proteins and thereby potentially triggering apoptosis during cancer treatment.
Copyright (c) 2024 Noraziah Nordin, Wan Noraini Wan Sulaiman, Marjanu Hikmah Elias https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Analysis of the Effect of Pre-Retirement Withdrawals: VBA Simulation
Malaysia’s trajectory towards becoming an aging nation, coupled with the current healthy life expectancy (HALE) and overall life expectancy, has caused the population to face a higher risk of inadequate retirement income. Private sector workers are obligated to save through the Employees Provident Fund (EPF). However, recent pre-retirement withdrawal policies during the COVID-19 pandemic have raised concerns about future retirement income adequacy. This study simulated accumulated EPF values for SPM and Degree holders, analysed withdrawal effects, determined the income adequacy ratio using replacement rates, and identified poverty status among retirees using VBA Excel. While Degree holders demonstrated the highest savings and expected retirement income, SPM holders had higher replacement rates. Pre-retirement withdrawals had a greater impact on SPM holders due to their lower accumulated value at retirement. According to the scenarios simulated, the highest reduction is 26.76 percent for SPM and 20.85 percent for Degree. Even though none of the analysed scenarios resulted in income during retirement being lower than the poverty line income, they may have a high chance of facing insufficient income for a comfortable retirement year. Hence, policymakers should carefully monitor, control, and plan available and future pre-retirement withdrawal policies, as increased withdrawals can shift retirees’ situations from adequate to inadequate retirement income.
Copyright (c) 2024 Muhammad Rifa’ie Khalid Ibni Walid, Mazlynda Md Yusuf, Sukono https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Long COVID-19 Syndrome, A Prolonged Misery
Long COVID-19 is a constellation of symptoms following a confirmed COVID-19 acute infection. SARS-CoV-2 infection does not only give rise to respiratory problems but also other non-respiratory conditions. The symptoms and duration may vary among the patients and its treatment is based on the clinical presentation. Long COVID-19 among mildly infected patients was scarcely studied and reported, therefore we present a previously healthy, stage 2 COVID-19 patient who experiences prolonged symptoms of cough, chest pain, including anxiety and limited physical activities months after the first COVID-19 symptoms.
Copyright (c) 2022 Hana Maizuliana Solehan, Zatul-'Iffah Abu Hasan, Nurul Azmawati Mohamed, Mohd Dzulkhairi Mohd Rani https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0