The present study reports on the isolation, purification and antioxidant activity evaluation of the dichloromethane extract of Aquilaria subintegra Ding Hou leaves. Four compounds were successfully isolated and purified from the dichloromethane extract using column chromatography. Purification was monitored by thin layer chromatography, and four isolated compounds were identified by spectroscopic analyses such as NMR and mass spectrometry. These compounds were 5-hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone, luteolin-7,3',4'-trimethyl ether, ?-sitosterol and friedelin. Their antioxidant activity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). All compounds exhibited weak antioxidant activity, with inhibition values of less than 30 % at the highest tested concentration (500 ?g/mL). To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first to report on the DPPH radical scavenging activity of isolated secondary metabolites from A. subintegra leaves. 2024 Malaysian Institute of Chemistry. Al.....

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INTRODUCTION: In every country, an adequate and reliable blood supply can be assured by a stable base of regular, voluntary, and unpaid blood donors. However, with the strike of COVID-19 around the world, fewer donors have come forward to donate blood since the government's movement control order. Therefore, to ensure the blood supply is always sufficient, this study discussed the Malaysians' motivation and intention to donate blood during the COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The structural focus group discussion was conducted among nine informants. The informants are classified into four groups, which are non, first-time, regular, and lapsed (repeated/occasional) blood donors. RESULTS: It indicated that the regular and lapsed group of blood donors were motivated by the satisfaction of donating blood. Meanwhile, first-time donors are motivated to donate blood because of extrinsic rewards. However, the donors attested that the movement control order restricted their movement to go to th.....

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This investigation evaluated the correlation between different writing strategies and interventions in argumentative essays, with self-confidence (the so-called SC) as a continuous covariate. The investigation used a quasi-experimental design. Sixty English Foreign Language (EFL) students from Institut Agama Islam Negeri Palangka Raya, Indonesia were the subjects of the study. During the intervention, class A, the first experiment class, was taught with digital graphic organizers (DGOs); class B, the second experiment class, with paper-based graphic organizers (PGOs); and class C, the control group, with non-graphic organizers (NGOs). The data came from a SC questionnaire and a writing test. A one-way ANCOVA was applied to work with data. The result evidenced that: (a) the significant differences occurred in writing accuracy because of self-confidence, F= (1.56) 8.34, p= 0.01, eta= 0.35; (b) the significant differences occurred in writing accuracy because of different interventions, F .....

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The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of financial literacy, financial stress, financial management practices, saving behaviour, household size and income adequacy, on Malaysian female millennials' retirement preparedness. A total of 268 questionnaires were self-administered and collected from Malaysian female millennials residing and working in the Klang Valley aged between 26 to 41 years old using a purposive stratified sampling method. Regression analyses were performed using SPSS software to determine the influence of variables investigated on retirement preparedness. Findings indicate that financial literacy level (? = 0.154, t-statistic = 2.669), financial stress level (? = 0.108, t-statistic = 2.207), saving behaviour (? = 0.281, t-statistic = 5.713) and household size (? = 0.242, t-statistic = 2.616), have significant positive effects on retirement preparedness. Income adequacy (? =-0.298, t-statistic =-2.595) on the other hand, is significantly and negatively asso.....

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Depression is rather common among students in any educational institution, with no exception for local students in Malaysia. Early depression intervention, such as boosting awareness of depression, has been documented in the literature as a helpful strategy to prevent this type of mental disease. Therefore, knowledge of depression was introduced through a mobile app to enhance the knowledge level of depression among paramedic students at Institut Latihan Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (ILKKM) Kuching, in Sarawak. An interventional study with convenience sampling was conducted among final-year paramedic students aged 22 to 27 years old. Knowledge of Depression for Students Questionnaire (KDSQ) and clinical vignette were used to assess the knowledge on depression before and after the intervention. The Knowledge of Depression for Student Mobile Application (KDS-App) consists of 12 sections and was used in intervention to enhance the knowledge of depression among the students. Assessment f.....

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This study aims to produce soursop vinegar and evaluate how its nutritional composition changes during production. This process offers a solution to convert acidic fruits like soursop into a nutritious product with a longer shelf life. Fresh soursop juice was extracted using a mechanical press, followed by alcoholic and acetous fermentation under different aerobic and anaerobic conditions, with some samples aerated. The nutritional analysis included proximate composition, vitamin C content, acetic acid, pH, and soluble solids (TSS or Brix). Results during fermentation showed increased moisture content (90.7393.99%) compared to the control (78.56%) and a decrease in protein content (0.50.61%) when Saccharomyces cerevisiae was present (1.531.84% without it). Acetic acid and vitamin C levels remained relatively stable, while Brix values significantly decreased (4.837.00 Brix) compared to the initial 15 Brix of the control during fermentation. Aeration during production improved the vinega.....

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This research delves into the psycholinguistic profiles of proficient and struggling readers among junior secondary Tamil students in Sri Lanka, with the aim of enhancing literacy instruction and intervention. Grounded in the Simple View of Reading (SVR) Theory, the study explores distinct psycholinguistic profiles and predictive factors for reading success or challenges. The research involves 140 carefully chosen students; 70 struggling readers and 70 good readers were identified based on their performance in the national Grade 5 Scholarship exam of 2021 in Puttalam South Divisional Education. A psycholinguistic screening test (PST) aligning with the SVR framework was employed to evaluate decoding and linguistic comprehension skills. The data analysis reveals notable disparities in decoding and linguistic comprehension skills between proficient and struggling readers. Linear regression analysis yields a robust model, elucidating a substantial portion of the variance in the PST profile.....

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The word mahr?datayn is an archaic name for a suit mentioned in a hadith in ?a??? Muslim. The discourse on the meant word contributed by scholars in the fields of hadith, lexicography, botany and pharmacology apparently portrays a contradictory information rooted in its plant-based dye-stuff. The source of the dye-stuff as provided by the discourse revolves around al-hurd, al-wars and al-zafar?n. To ascertain a kind of the suit based on its dye-stuff, this study employs a qualitative approach through documentation methods for data collection. Then the collected data are to be interpreted using content and inductive analysis. Lexicographically, this study finds that mahrudatayn encapsulates its dye-stuff named hurd or turmeric (Curcuma longa), which is a rhizome part of a plant native to the region of al-Hind. On the other hand, the used part of al-wars (Flemingia grahamiana) is glands outside its fruits, and the used past of al-zafar?n or saffron (Crocus sativus) is its stigmas. Howeve.....

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In the present study, ferrihydrite-chitosan nanocomposite (FCN) was successfully produced by co-precipitation method and used for the first time as a recyclable flocculant for pre-treatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME). The physicochemical properties of FCN were studied using Raman spectrometer, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Thermogravimetric Analyser (TGA). The feasibility of FCN to remove total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and, oil and grease (O&G) from POME was investigated using a jar test method. The optimum conditions for contaminant removal from POME were determined by varying the experimental parameters such as flocculant dosage, solution pH and settling time. The results obtained showed that FCN, at a dosage of 1.5 g/L, a contact time of 60 min and pH of 5.0 gave a highest reduction of turbidity, TSS, COD and O&G levels by 72.38%, 77.32%, 71.60% and 53.40%, respectively. Besides that, FCN exhibited a better flocculation performa.....

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Magnetic nanoparticles have evolved over the last few decades as nanocarriers in drug delivery systems for hydrophobic drugs. Here, novel gellan gum magnetic graphene oxide (GG-GO-Fe3O4) and pectin magnetic graphene oxide (PEC-GOFe3O4) nanocomposites were prepared to carry cinnamaldehyde to control Aedes aegypti larvae. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) were employed to investigate the physicochemical characteristics of the nanocomposites. Entrapment efficiencies and loading capacities of nanocomposites on cinnamaldehyde were examined using ultraviolet-visible analysis. The successful cinnamaldehyde loading was confirmed by C-C and C-O stretches in the FTIR spectra. Results of in vitro release study showed the capabilities of GG-GO-Fe3O4 as a drug carrier system, extending the cinnamaldehyde release period for 36 h, and the release profiles for both nanocomposites fit .....

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