This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Principal Editor. After a thorough investigation, the Editor has concluded that the review process for this article was compromised. The acceptance was based on information from at least two reviewer reports that were submitted from email accounts provided to the journal as suggested reviewers during the submission of the article. Although purportedly real reviewer accounts, the Editor has concluded that these were not of appropriate, independent reviewers. This manipulation of the peer-review process represents a clear violation of the fundamentals of peer review, our publishing policies, and publishing ethics standards. Apologies are offered to the reviewers whose identities were assumed and to the readers of the journal that this deception was not detected during the submission process...

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Mobile apps for sign language are a fascinating area of research that merits a lot of attention. These apps are widely used due to their affordability and usability. Nevertheless, the quality of these apps needs to be evaluated if they are to have a significant influence. The outcomes of app quality assessment can also stimulate app development efforts and improvements to their functionality and accuracy. Therefore, to gain more in depth understanding, four academic databases (Science Direct, IEEE, Association for Computing Machinery, and Web of Science) were searched as part of a systematic literature review. The review highlighted that sign language apps require further development to support users in achieving the greatest possible usage and learning experience. We present a solution framework based on a quality assessment criterion for sign language mobile apps that could be adopted by academics and developers. Alternative identification, criteria, and development are the three pri.....

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Mobile apps for sign language are a fascinating area of research that merits a lot of attention. These apps are widely used due to their affordability and usability. Nevertheless, the quality of these apps needs to be evaluated if they are to have a significant influence. The outcomes of app quality assessment can also stimulate app development efforts and improvements to their functionality and accuracy. Therefore, to gain more in depth understanding, four academic databases (Science Direct, IEEE, Association for Computing Machinery, and Web of Science) were searched as part of a systematic literature review. The review highlighted that sign language apps require further development to support users in achieving the greatest possible usage and learning experience. We present a solution framework based on a quality assessment criterion for sign language mobile apps that could be adopted by academics and developers. Alternative identification, criteria, and development are the three pri.....

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The authors regret that they have missed to add the second affiliation of the author A.S. Albahri. The additional affiliation of A.S. Albahri should be included as follows: Technical College, Imam Ja'afar Al-Sadiq University, Baghdad, Iraq. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd..

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The analysis of the constituents of the leaves of Tradescantia spathacea yielded one new phenolic compound, named 3,6-di-tert-butyl-5-ethylphenol (1), along with four known compounds consisting of 1,1′-oxybis(2,4-di-tert-butylbenzene), β-sitosterol, β-sitosterone, and stigmasterol. All the structures were depicted using different spectroscopic methods such as NMR, IR, UV, and MS. Compounds 2–5 were reported for the first time to be isolated from T. spathacea leaves. The antioxidant activities of the compounds were tested using a DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Compound 1 showed potent antioxidant activities, while other compounds showed no significant antioxidant properties. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024...

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The agarwood tree is a type of tree that thrives in tropical rainforests and has been utilized and commercialized globally since long ago. Agarwood is widely used in producing perfumes, medicines, and cosmetics. This plant is widely found in Malaysia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Brunei, China, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Laos, Bhutan, India, the Philippines, Singapore, and Papua New Guinea. Malaysia's agarwood industry is also seen as having high potential and demand domestically and globally. Most of the studies conducted regarding agarwood have focused on foreign countries, while the agarwood industry in Malaysia is also growing positively and thriving. The present literature review also focused mostly on the aspect of agarwood farming. More research is still needed to clarify what factors contribute to the growth of the agarwood industry in Malaysia. Thus, understanding of these factors is worth exploring. A qualitative study through a multiple case study appr.....

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Eco-culturalism, as a literary approach, is a growing field that examines the interconnectedness of culture and the environment. It underscores the symbiotic relationship between humans and the natural world, emphasizing the profound impact of ecological concerns on cultural practices, values, and narratives. This literary approach seeks to address critical environmental issues through storytelling, infusing literature with ecological awareness and promoting sustainable practices. Analyzing eco-culturalism in Tan Twan Eng‘s narrative, including The Gift of Rain, The Garden of Evening Mists and The House of Doors, this article offers profound insights into the dimensions through which eco-culturalism manifests in Tan‘s novels, illuminating the symbiotic relationship between culture, ecology and memory. Tan Twan Eng‘s novels are exquisite embroidery woven with intricate threads of culture, identity, and the natural world. From ecological values to ecological identity, and finally t.....

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Virtual Reality (VR) is one of the revolutionary technologies in education that can simulate learning interactively and realistically. The reliability of VR supports various variations in learning, including learning programming algorithms. This research aims to design and develop VR in learning programming algorithms. The ADDIE model is applied in this study to develop products through the stages of analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. The analysis of learning problems shows the unavailability of interactive learning media that can support various learning styles of students in programming algorithm materials. Therefore, this VR learning design integrates various elements of students' learning styles, including visual, audiovisual, kinesthetic, and reading. The product developed is in the form of a VR application that presents learning by having a variety of learning styles. Audiovisual displays are presented in a VR environment, while kinesthetic interaction.....

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This research aims to validate and implement an instrument to measure the scientific literacy of high school science program students, including the abilities of Scientific Reasoning, Scientific Inquiry, and Nature of Science (NOS), called the Lisa3D Test. These three instruments were validated using the Rasch model approach and pre-sented as a digital application. This research method was a descriptive survey with a quantitative approach. The research started from the test design, validation, and implementation stages. The types of validity used included content, psychometric, construct, and external validity. For construct validity, the instrument was tested on 197 high school students, while the implementation stage involved 407 students. The research results show that the Lisa3D Test has fulfilled all aspects of validity. The Lisa3D test has been successfully implemented via the page www.lisatest.id with a cut of 56% for the Scientific Reasoning test, 50% for the Scientific Inquiry.....

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Recently, franchising has emerged as a prominent avenue for business expansion, attracting numerous entrepreneurs in local and international markets. While the prevalence of franchise businesses continues to rise, some businesses struggle to achieve growth due to their failure to leverage technology effectively, thereby failing to distinguish themselves from competitors. To remain competitive, franchisors must embrace technology in franchise operations. However, existing literature predominantly focuses on technology utilisation within SMEs, with limited insights into its application within the franchise sector. More importantly, studies on technology adoption practices within the Malaysian franchise industry remain insufficient for business growth. Understanding Malaysian franchisors' technology adoption guide strategies for competitive market edge and sustained growth. The present study aims to fill this gap by exploring the technology adoption practices of Malaysian franchisors thro.....

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