The development of scalable membrane-based separation processes has attracted considerable interest on laboratory and industrial scales. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is one of the most widely used fluoropolymer materials for membrane fabrication due to its excellent mechanical strength, good thermal stability and chemical resistance as well as aging resistance. However, the hydrophobic nature of PVDF has resulted in serious membrane fouling during the filtration process. From the past decade, the embedment of hydrophilic materials in/on PVDF-based membranes can significantly alter the membrane_s morphology and surface properties. Therefore, based on most articles retrieved from Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, etc., this article provides the overview of the recent development of PVDF-based membranes during the recent several decades. The detailed information regarding PVDF as a polymer material as well as the main challenge in the development of PVDF-based membranes with bette.....

410 hits

Premature birth remains a significant challenge in maternal health services, underscoring the need for effective predictive models to enable early detection and intervention. This study examined the performance of four machine learning algorithms: Decision Trees, Naive Bayes, KNN, and Random Forest in predicting preterm birth during pregnancy. Utilizing data collected from pregnant individuals, encompassing maternal health indicators and fetal development metrics, our model aimed to forecast the likelihood of preterm birth. We assessed the predictive ability of each model by evaluating metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC). The results revealed variability in model performance, with Logistic Random Forest exhibiting strong performance. This suggests its potential utility in clinical settings for the early detection and intervention of preterm pregnancy. Our study contributes to advancements in predictive modelling within m.....

507 hits

Lavender essential oil is a concentrated plant extract obtained through steam distillation. It is well known for its properties as a good anxiety and stress reliever, for wound healing, for insect repellency and as an insomnia fighter. However, there are many volatile chemical compounds in the essential oil. Hence, formulating a lavender essential oil nanoemulsion is a potential solution to prolong those exclusive applications of the essential oil. Lavender essential oil-based nanoemulsion (LEONE) was prepared with tragacanth gum and Triton X-100 by a combined method of ultrasonic and high-speed homogenisation. This study focused on the physicochemical and morphological characterisation effects of fabrics treated with LEONE. Morphological and physicochemical evaluation of nanoemulsions were conducted by optical microscopy (OM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy was util.....

366 hits

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.....

381 hits

This study uses a quantitative technique and questionnaires to assess geo-disaster literacy among Cameron Highlands schoolchildren, where flash floods and landslides are common. Simple random sampling with descriptive and inferential analysis (ANOVA and Spearman_s Rho correlation) was used to sample 327 Form 3 students. The findings demonstrate strong knowledge, attitude, and practice (M=4.34, SP=2.08). A one-way ANOVA study reveals a significant difference between knowledge and attitude (F=6.372, P=..

378 hits

This study was set on the National Child Development Research Centre (NCDRC) Kindergarten, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), to identify the role of the outdoor landscape in shaping the sense of place and assisting the T&L process of children. Qualitative research design with 15 informants from UPSI's Department of Development and Asset Management (DDAM) and kindergarten teachers were interviewed, revealing themes in outdoor landscapes impact in children's physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development educationally. The study emphasizes the importance of landscape design for holistic child development, compelling kindergarten authorities and the Ministry of Education to prioritize landscape designs in kindergartens. Copyright: _2024 The authors...

386 hits

In this study, durian shell-based activated carbon (DAC) was produced via chemical activation method by utilising durian shell and sulphuric acid (H2SO4) as the starting material and activating agent, respectively. The incorporation of H2SO4 in the DAC production process resulted an improvement in the surface properties and adsorption capacity of the produced DAC adsorbent. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis further showed that the produced DAC possessed a porous structure which was beneficial for dye adsorption application. Under operating conditions of 500_C and 3 hours carbonisation temperature and time, the Brunauer_Emmett_Teller (BET) surface area, total pore volume and BET average pore diameter were measured to be 242.03 m2/g, 0.028 cm3/g and 2.28 nm, respectively. The adsorption performance of the produced DAC was then investigated using methylene blue (MB) as the model adsorbate. The optimum MB dye removal and adsorption capacity were found to be 92.05% and 0......

631 hits

Virtual reality (VR) is an innovative technology that immerses users within its environment, holding significant potential across various sectors, including education. Developing a VR-based application in the form of a game for educational purposes necessitates a usability evaluation. This study aims to develop and evaluate usability of a VR game, CT Saber, designed explicitly for learning computational thinking (CT). The name CT Saber is inspired by the popular VR game Beat Saber, with 'CT' denoting computational thinking to emphasize the educational focus of the game. The research employed a Design and Development Research (DDR) approach, encompassing four stages: analysis & definition, design, development, and evaluation. To assess the usability of CT Saber, pilot testing was carried out involving 36 participants (24 male, 12 female) of computer science students aged between 19-22 years. The USE Questionnaire framework was used to evaluate usability, consisting of four variables: us.....

617 hits

Inflammation, a widespread biological process linked to various diseases, poses a significant global health challenge. Recent research targeting the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs has prioritized plant-derived compounds due to their cost-effectiveness and minimal side effects compared to synthetic drugs. Flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds in plants, show potential for treating inflammation-related diseases. This study evaluates the anti-inflammatory activity of flavonoids from the Knema genus, a member of the Myristicaceae family. We focused on inhibiting two pro-inflammatory proteins, human and murine interleukin-1B (IL-1) and human interleukin-6 (IL-6). Molecular docking and ADMET prediction identified sulfuretin and (_)-catechin with high binding affinity to IL-6, whereas 4'-hydroxy-7-methoxyflava-none and 7,2'-dihydroxy-6,8-dimethyl-4',5'-methylenedioxyflavan stably bind IL-6. Molecular interaction analyses revealed that hydrogen and ___ bonds contribute to the interact.....

165 hits

The teaching and creative movement course incorporates details of physical movements most suitable to be conducted face-to-face. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has undeniably changed pedagogical methodologies, forcing this course to be conducted online via the medium of technology. Therefore, this paper explains the challenges and advantages of the synchronous and asynchronous video conferencing mixed strategies in the teaching and creative movement course. The setting in this research is a semester of the teaching and learning conducted at a university in Malaysia using the Google Meet application and video. The factors of resources and technological capability as well as the psychological factor that is related to social activity hinder the full advantage of video conferencing and technological usage in this course. The researcher also pointed out the security and safety problem experienced by one of our students to get internet access from a remote area, and the need to consider ind.....

499 hits