In Malaysia, school activities were disrupted from 2020-2021 due to the enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that hit the country. It caused many things to be temporarily disrupted including co-curriculum activities at school. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine pupils_ perceptions of the co-curriculum activities carried out by the school during the MCO and the effect of those activities on national integration among the pupils. It was quantitative research using a set of questionnaires as its research instrument. The research location was at Tanjong Malim, Perak, Malaysia where five secondary schools were selected. A total of 487 pupils, consisting of 243 Form two pupils and 244 pupils Form four pupils represented various ethnic and religious backgrounds. As a result, the study found that the national integration process was incorporated well through the co-curriculum activities even though the activities were conducted throug.....

213 hits

The quality of indoors in university buildings is vital to ensure a conducive learning environment and health and well-being. The objectives of this study are to investigate microbial aerosols and the concentration of particulate matter (PM2.5) in a university building. The data was collected from three lecturers_ rooms (Room A, B and C). The microbial aerosol was collected using a microbial air sampler, while Total Bacterial Count (TBC) and Total Fungi Count (TFC) were counted to analyze the colony-forming unit. In addition, PM2.5 was obtained using a low-volume air sampler (LVS), for five hours. The Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) was used to analyze the morphological composition of indoor PM2.5. The findings indicated that Room A shows the highest concentration of TBC (251.43 _ 32.74 cfu m-3) and TFC (28.57 _ 2.65 cfu m-3) compared to the two other rooms. In addition, the TBC showed a significantly higher amount (p..

108 hits

This study aims to explore the issues associated with activity-based teaching in the context of teaching Chinese as a foreign language (TCFL) in Beijing. This study adopts a descriptive quantitative survey method. To identify the issues encountered by teachers in activity-based teaching, we administered a questionnaire to collect data. The survey includes three aspects: activity design, activity implementation, and activity evaluation. The sample for this study comprises 234 TCFL teachers in Beijing. The results indicate that TCFL teachers are confronted with issues in the areas of activity design, implementation, and evaluation when conducting activity-based teaching. _ 2024 Sciedu Press. All rights reserved...

174 hits

The use of Palladium (Pd) as a substrate for studying graphene growth presents a unique avenue of exploration. Pd is known as a "carbon sponge" with extensively studied carbon solubility and diffusivity. This study uses Pd as a catalyst for studying graphene growth, revealing a solid-phase reaction process in in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The study reveals significant structural changes in amorphous carbon nanofibers (CNF) catalyzed with Pd when electrical potential is applied through two-probe system. Notably, the gradual recrystallization and agglomeration of Pd particles, beginning in the middle segment of the CNF and advancing toward the end, were observed under high current flow ranging from 0.35 _A to 12 _A. This transformation, influenced by joule heating and significant thermal gradients, led to the crystallization of amorphous carbon, resulting in sp2 hybridized carbon formation and the formation of graphene sheets starting from the Pd surface's tip. Structur.....

104 hits

This paper reports the effect of aging time (2, 4 and 6 days) on the formation of mesoporous mitania nanoparticles (MTN) prepared via sol-gel method. The structural properties of the prepared catalysts were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) with EDX analysis and N2 adsorption-desorption analysis (BET). The XRD analysis revealed that MTNs were successfully synthesized and possessed different crystallite size depending on the aging time. Morphology studies using FESEM-EDX witnessed the formation of agglomerated spherical nanoparticles in the range of 5-50 nm and uniform distribution of Ti and O on the surface of catalysts. N2 adsorption-desorption analyses demonstrated MTN-2 possessed the largest surface area and pore volume compared to the MTN-4 and MTN-6, which due to blockage of the interparticle voids and excessive particles growth of MTN upon prolonged aging time. The MTN-2 achieved 88.35% of MB photodegradation within 210 m.....

131 hits

Background: White spot lesions are a common side effect of fixed orthodontics. This study investigates chitosan-based hydrogels using amelogenin peptide as a scaffold to facilitate hydroxyapatite nanoparticle attachment, assembly, and organisation, aiding in enamel remineralisation. Materials and methods: Three groups were prepared to carry out remineralisation experiments after creating artificial white spot lesions on extracted 1st premolars. The first group served as a control with no treatment, while the experimental groups were treated with either amelogenin peptide/chitosan hydrogel or amelogenin peptide + hydroxyapatite/chitosan hydrogel. Remineralisation was conducted for three weeks. The interaction between amelogenin peptide and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles was evaluated using TEM, UV–Vis, FTIR, zeta potential, and Raman spectroscopy. Remineralisation potential was assessed through enamel microhardness, fluorescence, and XRD. Surface characteristics of demineralised and rem.....

167 hits

As technology advances, people become increasingly dependent on technological tools to increase their work efficiency and productivity. Farming methods in the agriculture sector are also undergoing a shift from conventional to technology-driven modern agriculture practices, primarily because of their benefits and potential to mitigate the effects of climate change. However, the adoption rate of climate-smart agriculture technologies (CSAT) is considered to be very slow. Thus, this study was conducted to examine the factors that lead farmers to adopt CSAT in their agricultural practices. A sample of 185 farmers was used to investigate the main influencing factors in four contexts. The developed model was analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling method. The results of this study suggest that institutions play a critical role as a contextual factor that leads individuals and societies to engage with CSAT, builds confidence, and convinces farmers to adopt these.....

94 hits

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant mental health concern affecting mothers worldwide, irrespective of demographic factors. Detecting and managing PPD at an early stage is crucial for effective intervention. In the context of mental health, intelligent predictive models based on machine learning (ML) have emerged as valuable tools. However, there remains a relative scarcity of research specifically targeting postpartum mental health due to several prominent factors that collectively impede the widespread adoption and practical implementation of ML in the field of PPD. This paper provides an updated overview of ML approaches for PPD prediction. A systematic search across IEEE Xplore, PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus yielded 1,074 relevant articles. The performance of ML algorithms varies depending on the dataset and the problem being addressed. Notably, the findings reveal that the random forest (RF) algorithm consistently demonstrates the highest predictive accuracy, followe.....

239 hits

Paper-based strain sensors, offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution, are in demand for pressure sensing applications. Here, we present a simple sensor design comprising a piece of paper, a graphite pencil, and a copper plate. The proposed fabrication process is simple and eco-friendly. Beyond design and fabrication, our study explores the performance of paper-based sensors in effectively measuring and monitoring pressure changes induced by varying deflection angles. Our findings show that as the deflection angle increases, the sensor exhibits a proportional increase in the relative change in resistance. Furthermore, the practical applicability of the fabricated sensor is demonstrated through real-world testing on a human finger, considering different positions. In essence, our research positions paper-based strain sensors as a promising and practical choice for affordable, eco-friendly, and responsive pressure sensing. _ 2024, Institute of Advanced Engineering a.....

100 hits

The integration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) with project-based learning is beneficial in facilitating students to compete effectively in the 21st century, but teachers still encounter obstacles, so in implementation, especially in primary schools, is still rarely done. Therefore, it is necessary to develop STEM project-based learning module to overcome teacher problems. This study aims to collect and analyze teacher perspectives regarding their requirements for the development of STEM project-based learning module. This study was conducted using a design and developmental research (DDR) approach. The first phase included need analysis, carried out through an online questionnaire. The participants consisted of 397 teachers in Cirebon and the results showed that primary school teachers required STEM project-based learning module to facilitate the development of relevant skills in the 21st century, such as scientific literacy and critical thinking. Based on.....

69 hits