Academic performance of students is global issue of great concern to educators. This study sought to ascertain the effect of STEM problem-based learning as an inquiry approach on secondary school students performance in Biology at government-owned secondary schools in Kebbi State, Nigeria. The non-equivalent control group design was adopted. Two schools were selected in which purposive sampling was employed to select the participants. Each class contain 40 participants. The data was obtained using Diffusion and Osmosis Achievement Test (DOAT). The variables were evaluated using descriptive statistics and the Independent Samples t-test. Based on the results obtained the STEM Problem-Based Learning (STEM-PBL) have a significant and favorable impact on students' biology achievement and that students in the experimental group retained more Biology information compared to the control group. The study recommended among others that, Biology classes should be made more engaging to students and.....

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Purpose: It is widely argued that money laundering (ML) is not a new phenomenon and the pervasiveness of ML is associated with some severe economic, social and political costs. Due to the lack of studies on the MLs issue in the UAE, this study aims to examine the determinants of ML in the country between 1975 and 2020. Design/methodology/approach: The autoregressive distributed lag bounds testing results demonstrate the presence of long-run relationship between ML and the selected macroeconomics variables. The analysis is validated by the dynamic ordinary least squares, the fully modified ordinary least squares and the canonical co-integration regression estimators. Findings: The estimation result reveals that while the real estate market, outflow of money, arms procurement and size of the underground economy influences the size of ML positively, gold trade, the level of financial development and the size of economic activities are negatively associated with ML, both in the short- and .....

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Fostering students critical thinking (CT) is an increasing concern in EFL classrooms in China as many students struggle to utilize the skill, particularly in EFL reading comprehension classes. This study investigated the effects of graphic organizers (GOs) on 60 Chinese senior high school students CT skills (analyzing and generalizing) in EFL reading classes. This study adopted a quasi-experimental mixed-method research design involving an experiment and an interview. The findings of this study showed the positive impacts of GOs on students CT skills. After the intervention, the results of the experimental group improved significantly. The findings showed that GOs could effectively improve the analytical and generalization skills of Chinese high school English reading class students. The students in the experimental group reported that the instructions received were motivating, increased their comprehension, made them more focused on reading and aware of CT skills and how to apply them.....

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Utilising technologies to enable language learners to accept authentic and communicative assignments is proliferating, but its effect on their self-directed language learning (SDLL) needs to be investigated. To this end, the present study aimed to investigate English for specific purpose (ESP) learners views on using technology-enhanced task-based language teaching (TBLT) toward their self-directed language learning. A mixed-method approach with a sequential explanatory design with 103 nursing students as research participants. This study used two research instruments: the Likert scale and an open-ended questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Path analysis, and thematic analysis were employed to analyse the data. The findings from quantitative data revealed that students learning needs and utilising skills of SDLL categories have a strong influence on English mastery after receiving technology-enhanced TBLT. Consequently, ESP students must also improve process planning and use skills. T.....

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Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore areas that have been studied extensively in previous studies related to franchising as a platform for global distribution. Furthermore, franchising is a strategic distribution method that gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to replicate an established business model. In addition, franchisees benefit from the use of established branding and receive support from the franchisor. Research design, data, and methodology: This study used the Preferred Reporting Items Systematics Review and MetaAnalyses (PRISMA) method to analyse data from 2003 to 2023 in the Web of Science and Scopus databases. Results: A total of 79 articles were identified and analysed to see trends and related themes such as product distribution, business distribution, business strategy, emerging market, and franchising relationship. Also, publication trends by year related to franchises are also presented. Conclusions: Overall, the research trend related to franchising as a.....

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Syzygium filiforme var. filiforme Chantar. & J.Parn. is a plant variety from the dicotyledonous plant family (Myrtaceae). This work is designed to examine the chemical composition and cytotoxicity of Syzygium filiforme essential oil. The essential oil was obtained through hydrodistillation and the volatile components were analysed using gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. The cytotoxicity of essential oil was evaluated using an MTT assay. A total of 34 chemical components, which constitute 96.1% of oil content, were successfully identified. The most abundant components were ?-cadinol (23.3%), t-muurolol (9.1%), geraniol (6.6%), germacrene D (6.3%), and ?-gurjunene (5.0%). The essential oil exhibited cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines which are HepG2, MCF7, and A549 with the IC50 values ranging from 70.2-88.1 ?g/mL. The current study highlights the potential of the use of essential oils as an alternative to the development o.....

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This research aimed to build an index of heritage city sustainability in Malaysia. The method used was quantitative with a field survey design. Ten heritage cities listed in the Malaysian Architectural Heritage Inventory Study Report were utilized as the study areas: George Town, Melaka City, Taiping, Kuala Kubu Bharu, Jugra, Tampin, Muar, Kota Bharu, Kuala Lipis, and Kuching. A total of 1000 respondents were recruited utilizing cluster sampling and a simple random sampling method. The data were analysed with factor analysis methods as well as descriptive and index formulas. The results show that the sustainable heritage cities are Melaka City (0.85) and Muar (0.75). The moderately sustainable ones are Kota Bharu (0.71), George Town (0.68), Taiping (0.67), Kuching (0.67), Jugra (0.63), Tampin (0.60) and Kuala Lipis (0.58). Meanwhile, Kuala Kubu Bharu (0.47) is less sustainable. This analysis implies that heritage cities can be arranged according to their respective levels of sustainabi.....

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The purpose of this study is to investigate the viability of applying collaborative governance in the management and policy of foreign workers in Malaysia. This study employs a qualitative approach to examine the degree to which Malaysias administrative policy for foreign workers incorporates a collaborative administration element. Information was obtained through interviewing eleven sources from relevant ministries, industries, and contractors and workers associations. The findings found that the policy for managing foreign workers now includes administrative collaboration components. Nevertheless, based on the three collaborative elements of collaborative dynamics, namely the engagement principle, shared motivation, and the capacity to act collaboratively, the level of collaborative governance in the formulation and implementation of foreign worker policy remains low. Thus, to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the foreign worker policy, a more extensive form of collaborati.....

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The chemical composition of the essential oil of Lindera subumbelliflora (Lauraceae) was investigated for the first time. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and fully characterised by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antifungal activity of L. subumbelliflora essential oil was tested against Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans using the broth microdilution assay, whereas the microbial biofilms were determined using a semi-quantitative static biofilm. A total of 28 components (99.6%) were successfully identified, which were characterised by ?-eudesmol (14.6%), cis-?-bergamotene (11.0%), ?-copaene (8.5%), dodecen-1-ol (8.5%), and (E)-nerolidol (8.3%). The essential oil exhibited activity against Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans with MIC values of 250 and 500 g/mL, respectively. The essential oil increased the biofilm of Candida albicans by 38.25%, however, decreased the biofilm of Streptococcus mutans by 47.89% w.....

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In Islamic law, the concept of baligh has long been debated among clerics. The debate also appears to have resulted in different rules regarding the minimum age of marriage among Muslim countries. This paper aims to reveal the maturity standard regarding the minimum age of marriage in four Muslim countries: Egypt, Pakistan, Tunisia, and Indonesia. This paper is based on library research and employs a comparative study approach. This paper argues that Egypt, Pakistan, Tunisia, and Indonesia have a different minimum age for marriage. In Egypt and Pakistan, the minimum age for marriage is 18 years for men and 16 years for women. However, Pakistan has gone further by instituting legal sanctions if the regulation of the minimum age is violated. In Tunisia, the minimum age for marriage is 18 years for men and women, while in Indonesia it is 19 years for men and women. The determination of the minimum age for marriage is intended for several purposes, including limiting the number of early ma.....

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