Softball batting performance, characterised by bat velocity and rotational strength, is crucial for competitive success. This study explores the effect of medicine ball training, a widely used yet understudied method, on these key performance metrics. This study examines the impact of an 8-week medicine ball training program on torso rotation strength and batting velocity in female collegiate softball players. Forty participants were divided into a control group and a medicine ball group, performing 100 bat swings thrice weekly. Additionally, the medicine ball group undertook full-body medicine ball exercises thrice weekly. Results showed a significant main effect, F(1, 38) = 5.00, p = 0.03, partial eta squared = 0.12 for torso rotation strength test and F(1, 38) = 4.01, p = 0.05, partial eta squared = 0.10 for batting velocity, signifying there is a difference in the effectiveness of the two training approaches. Pre- and post-intervention tests showed significant improvements in both .....

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Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive pathogen inhabiting soft tissues like the epidermis and nasal cavity. Currently, there is limited knowledge of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks in S. aureus biofilm. The present study aimed to characterize S. aureus proteins and their interaction networks using an in silico approach and to identify the proteins expressed in S. aureus biofilm using tandem mass spectrometry. Initially, a preliminary characterization of the PPI networks in S. aureus was conducted using the STRING 12.0 database. Subsequently, S. aureus biofilm was developed in a 6-well microplate and harvested at 6 h, 12 h, 18 h, and 24 h. The expression of proteins in S. aureus biofilm was determined using a combination of one-dimensional SDSPAGE and HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The in silico results demonstrated that 147 biological processes, 46 molecular functions, 17 cellular components, and 15 biological pathways were significantly enriched (p ..

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Triterpenoid is a group of natural products with various remarkable activities, including cytotoxic. One of the sources for this type of compounds is Swietenia genus belong to Meliaceae family. This genus known to contains various secondary metabolites including limonoids, flavonoids, and triterpenoids. Especially for triterpenoid, there is limited report on isolation as well as biological activity from Swietenia genus, such as Swietenia mahagoni. In this research, three triterpenoid compounds have been successively isolated and identified from n-hexane extract, namely, (-)-leucophyllone (1), toonaciliatavarin E (2), and moronic acid (3). All isolated were assed against MCF-7 breast cancer and CV-1 normal kidney cell lines. The result showed that only moronic acid (3) performed moderate activity against two cells with IC50 of 63.10 and 48.04 µM, respectively. The other isolated compounds (1 and 2) showed weak cytotoxicity with IC50 > 500 µM. Based on preliminary structure activity re.....

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Air quality degradation presents a significant public health challenge, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions where changes in land use/land cover (LULC) can dramatically influence pollution levels. This study investigates the association between LULC changes and air pollution (AP) in the five fastest-growing cities of Bangladesh from 1998 to 2021. Leveraging satellite data from Landsat and Sentinel-5P, the analysis reveals a substantial increase in urban areas and sparse vegetation, with declines in dense vegetation and water bodies over this period. Urban expansion was most pronounced in Sylhet (22–254%), while Khulna experienced the largest increase in sparse vegetation (2–124%). Dense vegetation loss was highest in Dhaka (20–77%) and water bodies (9–59%) over this period. Concentrations of six major air pollutants (APTs) - aerosol index, CO, HCHO, NO2, O3, and SO2 - were quantified, showing alarmingly high levels in densely populated industrial and commercial zones. Pe.....

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This study explored the utilisation of Curcuma xanthorrhiza extract as a natural dye for cotton fabric, assessing its effects on colour intensity and colour permanence. The study utilised different mordanting techniques, such as pre mordanting, meta mordanting, and post mordanting, using ferrous sulphate, soda ash, and alum. The colour strength data demonstrated different levels of efficacy, with meta mordanting displaying the most profound and vibrant coloration, followed by post mordanting and pre mordanting. The results exhibited exceptional colour fastness when using ferrous sulphate as a post mordant, whereas pre mordanting and meta mordanting generated very good results. The colour fastness of dyed cotton fabric is directly influenced by the mordanting processes. The sequence of colour fastness, ranging from exceptional to very good, highlights the importance of mordanting in enhancing the stability and durability of the fabric. The interactions of Curcuma xanthorrhiza extract, m.....

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This research aims to develop ethno socioscientific issues (ESsI) e-learning to empower students' creative thinking abilities. The design-based research (DBR) method consists of 4 steps, namely, analysis of e-learning needs, design planning, development, and reflection on results. The research subjects were high school students in the experimental group and control group. Collect pre-test and posttest data on creative thinking abilities, teacher and student response questionnaires. The data analysis technique uses the prerequisite tests for normality, homogeneity, and t-test hypothesis testing. The research results show that the development of ESsI e-learning meets the criteria of being valid, practical, and effective in empowering creative thinking skills. The practicality of ESsI e-learning through student and teacher responses is in a good category, meaning it is easy to use the product developed. Based on the t-test, there are differences in the results of the creative thinking ski.....

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The SPARK (Sports Play Active and Recreation for Kids) program is a holistic health initiative with the primary goal of enhancing moderate to vigorous physical activity (PA) in children, focusing on improving physical fitness, fostering sports skills, and contributing to academic achievements. The main purpose of this study was to see the effectiveness of the SPARK program on interest in physical activity among 11-year-old children. This SPARK program contains four physical and four skill fitness activities that will be applied for eight (8) weeks in four selected primary schools in Perak. This study is a quasi-experimental pre and post-control group design. 240 children consisting of boys and girls were selected as a study sample. The selection of participants is based on the 'intact sampling' method, in a situation where all students in fifth grade (5) classes are retained as study subjects, consisting of 120 students in the treatment group and 120 students in the control group. Two-.....

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This study examined the processes that contributed to students’ aspirations for STEM careers and unpacked the relationships between students’ self-concept in science and mathematics learning, perceived parental expectations, perceptions of STEM professionals, career outcome expectations and STEM career aspirations. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse quantitative survey data of 2,477 primary and secondary school students studying in seven Asian regions (Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mainland China, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore). The results demonstrated that students’ self-concept, perceptions of STEM professionals, and their career outcome expectations all significantly and positively predicted their aspirations for STEM careers. However, this study failed to establish a direct relationship or positive correlation between perceived parental expectations and STEM career aspirations. Students’ self-concept negatively predicted their career outcome expectations re.....

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Detecting methane (CH4) at room temperature through adsorption-based sensing poses a challenge due to its inert properties. In this study, we enhance both the sensitivity and selectivity of CH4 detection by decorating ZnO nanorods (ZNRs) with platinum (Pt), forming Pt-decorated ZNRs (PZNRs), which are then coated on a microcantilever surface. The sensor's response is monitored by measuring the resonance frequency shift, ranging from 3 to 20 Hz, and Q-factor of 194 to 208, as CH4 flows at rates of 10-100 mL/min under room temperature conditions. The introduction of Pt significantly enhances the sensor's sensitivity to picogram levels, enabling the detection of extremely low concentrations of CH4. To assess the sensor's selectivity, we compared its response to CH4 with that of carbon monoxide (CO). The results demonstrate that the sensor exhibits a substantially higher response to CH4, with CO detection showing minimal (9-19 times smaller than CH4) or no response. The presence of Pt atom.....

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As we navigate the fast-paced era of urban expansion, the integration of machine learning (ML) and remote sensing (RS) has become a cornerstone in environmental management. This research, focusing on Silchar City, a non-attainment city under the National Clean Air Program (NCAP), leverages these advanced technologies to understand the urban microclimate and its implications on the health, resilience, and sustainability of the built environment. The rise in land surface temperature (LST) and changes in land use and land cover (LULC) have been identified as key contributors to thermal dynamics, particularly focusing on the development of urban heat islands (UHIs). The Urban Thermal Field Variance Index (UTFVI) can assess the influence of UHIs, which is considered a parameter for ecological quality assessment. This research examines the interlinkages among urban expansion, LST, and thermal dynamics in Silchar City due to a substantial rise in air temperature, poor air quality, and particu.....

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