Sultan Idris Education University

This study explored the chemical composition and biological activities of the essential oil extracted from Litsea tomentosa Blume. Using chromatographic analysis, 44 chemical components, accounting for 99.1% of the oil, were identified. The predominant constituents were (E)-β-caryophyllene (31.0%), α-humulene (10.5%),methyl myrtenate (7.0%), α-gurjunene (6.6%), germacrene d (5.9%), and γ-muurolene (4.5%). The biological potential of the essential oil was assessed through various enzymatic assays. Acetylcholinesterase inhibition was evaluated using the Ellman method, antityrosinase activity was determined with mushroom tyrosinase, and anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using lipoxygenase enzymes. The essential oil exhibited notable bioactivity, demonstrating 50.3% inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, 47.6% inhibition of tyrosinase, and 52.8% inhibition of lipoxygenase. These findings suggest the potential of Litsea tomentosa essential oil as a source of natural enzyme inhibitors particularly sesquiterpenes such as (E)-β-caryophyllene and α-humulene, which exhibit neuroprotective (AChE-inhibitory), skin-whitening (tyrosinase-inhibitory), and anti-inflammatory (lipoxygenase-inhibitory) activities.

Phosphate glasses, characterized by their high thermal expansion coefficients, low melting temperatures, and excellent transparency across a wide spectral range are ideal for optical applications. In particular, phosphate-based glasses are effective hosts for rare earth ions due to their ability to incorporate heavy metal oxides while retaining an amorphous structure. Building on these properties, a series of (50-x)P2O5-20ZnO-15SrO-15Li2O-xSm2O3 where x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mol% were prepared by using melt-quenching technique to explore the effects of Sm2O3 concentration on structural and optical properties. This study addresses the challenge of optimizing Sm2O3 concentration in phosphate glasses to enhance properties such as density, structural stability and emission intensity for efficient green-orange-red luminescence. XRD spectra confirmed the amorphous nature and indicate that samples are glass. The physical measurements indicated that density and molar volume of increased with Sm2O3 concentration from 0 to 1.5 mol% and decreased when Sm2O3 further increase to 2.0 mol%. FTIR spectra revealed seven spectra bands within range 650 to 1500 nm. The emission spectra were recorded under 402 nm excitation, emits strong emission band at 562, 593, 644 and 705 nm which correspond to excitation from ⁶H5/2 ground state. The optimal emission intensity was observed at 1.0 mol% Sm2O3, highlighting the potential of these glasses for applications in green-orange-red emitting materials.

The Piper genus is widely distributed across tropical regions and consists mainly of aromatic shrubs and trees known for their high essential oil content. This study examined the chemical composition and biological properties of essential oil extracted from the leaves of Piper ridleyi C.DC. in Malaysia. Chromatographic analysis identified 23 chemical constituents, accounting for 99.7% of the total oil composition. The predominant constituents included β-asarone (30.2%), myristicin (22.0%), α-asarone (20.6%), and β-caryophyllene (9.2%). The biological activity of the essential oil was assessed through enzymatic assays, where its acetylcholinesterase inhibitory potential was determined using the Ellman method, tyrosinase inhibition was evaluated with mushroom tyrosinase, and its anti-inflammatory effects were tested using lipoxygenase enzymes. At a concentration of 1 mg/mL, the essential oil exhibited significant bioactivity, showing 76.5% ±0.22 inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, 60.8% ±0.32 inhibition of tyrosinase, and 65.5% ±0.23 inhibition of lipoxygenase. These results indicate that P. ridleyi essential oil could be a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in neuroprotection, skincare, and inflammation control.

In an era of increasing importance on sustainable urban ecosystems, this study examines arid region of Kuwait’s dramatic urban transformation over 20 years, highlighting the crucial collaboration between urban resilience, biophysical and morphological composition, land surface temperature (LST), and environmental sustainability. By utilizing the Landsat satellite imagery through geospatial and remote sensing techniques from 2003 to 2023, we identified significant trends in land use alterations and LST fluctuations at 6-year intervals. Our findings reveal a striking expansion of Kuwait’s built-up areas by 1246.51 km2 (217.88%) over the study period, associated by a significant diminishing in water bodies (227.88 km2, 58.40%), barren land (884.02 km2, 5.48%), and vegetation (134.62 km2, 45.58%). Urban zones consistently exhibit elevated temperatures above 54.70 °C, attributed to amplified built-up lands and diminished vegetation, barren land, and water bodies. This study underscores the intricate nexus between LST dynamics and biophysical indicators, offering valuable insights for formulating robust environmental mitigation strategies and urban planning interventions. By illuminating the multifaceted interplay among urbanization, environmental dynamics, and climate change, our research aims to empower policymakers, urban planners, and practitioners to implement adaptive measures crucial for preserving ecological integrity amidst rapid urbanization and a shifting climate landscape.

Background and study aim. This study explores the experiences and challenges faced by elite wheelchair basketball athletes in Malaysia in accessing social support and examines its impact on their athletic performance and psychological well-being. Material and methods. A qualitative ethnographic approach was adopted, with data collected through observation and in-depth interviews with five elite athletes at the Kg Pandan Paralympic Centre of Excellence. Results. The findings revealed four primary forms of social support received by athletes: emotional, instrumental, informational, and appraisal support. Support from family members, teammates, coaches, and sports institutions played a crucial role in enhancing emotional stability, motivation, and athletic performance. However, barriers such as discontinuity of post-program support, social stigma, and financial limitations diminished the overall effectiveness of the support received. Conclusions. The study emphasizes the importance of developing a more holistic and strategic support system, including structured post-program services and financial subsidies, to sustain the long-term growth of Paralympic athletes. These findings contribute to theoretical insights, policy development, and greater public awareness regarding the vital role of social support in promoting adaptive sports in Malaysia.

The prevalence of unhealthy weight and its potential impact on fitness, neuromuscular control, and injury risk has raised concerns within the realm of sports science. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and injuries among sport science recreational badminton players. One-shot case study research design was employed, involving 40 sport science recreational badminton players from University Pendidikan Sultan Idris as participants. Data were collected using a self-designed questionnaire, which included BMI measurements and injury history. The analysis of the collected data revealed that the majority of participants had a normal body weight (65.9%) according to their BMI. The highest proportion of reported injuries was attributed to ankle sprains, accounting for 37% of the total injuries. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation test indicated that there was no significant relationship between BMI and injuries among sport science recreational badminton players. The present study concludes that there is no significant association between BMI and the number of injuries among sport science recreational badminton players. Although higher BMI has been previously linked to poorer fitness, decreased neuromuscular control, and increased injury risk. The findings of this study suggest that other factors might influence the occurrence of injuries in this specific population. Further research is needed to explore additional determinants of injury risk among badminton players and the role of physiotherapist or health care providers to develop appropriate injury prevention strategies in this sport.

There is limited information on the optimum amount of sodium intake for athletes to prevent muscle cramps during sports activities. Thus, this study aimed to determine the relationship between the level of sodium intake and muscle cramps among athletes. Twelve young male athletes performed uphill running (UHR; +3° incline) until their body mass was reduced by 2%. Ten minutes after UHR completion, water containing a specific level of sodium was ingested. There were two visits with two different sodium concentrations (0.3 g/L and 0.7 g/L), with a one-week washout period. Muscle cramp susceptibility was measured using threshold frequency (TF) of electrical stimulation (TENS) that induces cramps, assessed before, immediately after (0 min), and 30 and 50 minutes after ingestion. TF did not change significantly immediately after UHR for either condition (0.3 g/L: 24.8 ± 1.1 Hz; 0.7 g/L: 25.0 ± 1.2 Hz). However, 30 minutes after sodium ingestion (50 min post-UHR), TF significantly increased in both conditions: for 0.3 g/L sodium by 3.1 Hz from baseline (p < 0.05), and for 0.7 g/L by 3.9 Hz (p < 0.05). At 70 minutes after UHR, TF remained significantly higher than baseline for both sodium concentrations (0.3 g/L: 30.0 ± 1.5 Hz; 0.7 g/L: 30.9 ± 1.9 Hz, p < 0.05). In addition, no significant differences were found between the two sodium conditions at any time point. Conclusion. These findings show that both sodium levels had a similar effect in preventing exercise-associated muscle cramps (EAMCs). Further research is needed to explore the role of sodium in EAMC prevention among athletes.

Left‐behind children in China face increasing challenges in school adjustment due to the complex interaction between negative life events (NLEs), social support systems, and the educational environment. This study aimed to explore the relationships among NLEs, teacher support, positive emotions, and school adjustment, and to determine whether teacher support and positive emotions mediate the effect of NLEs on school adjustment. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 678 junior high school students (317 boys, 361 girls, M_age = 15 years) in Guangxi Province. A serial mediation model was used to examine the mediating roles of teacher support and positive emotions. The findings indicate that teacher support and positive emotions play a significant mediating role in the relationship between NLEs and school adjustment, indicating that enhancing teacher support and fostering positive emotions can mitigate the negative effects of NLEs. These findings underscore the importance of a supportive educational environment and provide practical implications for interventions aimed at improving the well‐being and school adjustment of left‐behind children.

Manufacturing SMEs face persistent challenges in achieving sustainable performance (SP) due to resource constraints and ineffective knowledge management (KM) practices. Drawing on the knowledge-based view, contingency theory, and the triple bottom line framework, this research investigates the influence of KM on SP in Malaysian manufacturing SMEs, under the moderating effect of organizational structure (OS). Data was gathered through a survey of 428 SMEs, yielding 122 valid responses, and analyzed utilising structural equation modeling. The results confirm that KM significantly enhances SP, while OS plays a crucial role in strengthening this relationship. These findings offer both theoretical and practical contributions by demonstrating how adaptive organizational structures can amplify the benefits of KM, enabling SMEs to build resilience and drive sustainable growth. Decision-makers in government and industry can use these insights to optimize resource allocation and implement strategies that generate long-term economic, social, and environmental value. Future research should explore the longitudinal effects of KM on SP across various industries to enhance the applicability of these findings.

Misconceptions in physics learning are a common problem among students, impacting the learning outcomes. Additionally, currently available teaching materials, especially those covering static fluid topics, have not effectively overcome these misconceptions. Therefore, this research aims to develop an electronic module (e-module) for static fluid material through physics modeling learning, which is effective and feasible to overcome students' misconceptions. This research employs quantitative research utilizing the analysis, design, development, implementation, evaluation (ADDIE) development model. The research utilizes a one-group pre-test post-test design for the research trial and applies purposive sampling as the sampling technique. The subjects were 36 students from class XI state Islamic senior high School Insan Cendekia at Tanah Laut, Indonesia. Data collection was conducted using a four-tier diagnostic test with multiple-choice open-ended reasoning and a certainty of response index (CRI) scale. The results indicated that the effectiveness of the e-module seen from the results of overcoming misconceptions reached a value of 0.52, categorized as medium/effective, and the level of student misconceptions was low for all static fluid sub-concepts. It is concluded that the electronic module through physics modeling learning is an alternative that can be used to overcome students' misconceptions.

Strategic management and sustainable business model innovation (SBMI) are widely recognized important firm performance. This study develops a theoretical framework that integrates competitive strategy, SBMI, and performance, with SBMI conceptualized through the multidimensional 6V model. While the model is broadly applicable across industries, this study focuses on the electric vehicle (EV) sector in China as an empirical case to test the proposed relationships. Using survey data from 261 managerial respondents across nine major Chinese EV brands, PLS-SEM is employed to examine both direct and mediated effects of differentiation and cost leadership strategies. The results confirm that both strategies positively influence firm performance; however, the mediating roles of SBMI dimensions vary. This study contributes to the literature by demonstrating the explanatory power of the 6V-SBMI framework and offering practical insights for firms seeking to align strategic choices with sustainability-oriented innovation.

This systematic review explores the characteristics and theoretical foundations of innovative leadership in educational settings, aiming to identify how specific leadership behaviours and theories promote creativity, adaptability, and institutional innovation. The review process, conducted in March 2024, was structured in four (4) stages. Initially, a comprehensive keyword search was executed across selected databases, yielding 672 articles, supplemented by ten (10) additional articles identified through reference snowballing. After removing 65 duplicates, 617 records were screened based on their title and abstracts. Of these, 558 articles were excluded due to being review articles, meta-analyses, book chapters, conference proceedings, non-English publications, or unrelated to educational settings, leaving 59 articles for a deeper qualitative analysis. Further filtering excluded articles that did not align with the research questions, resulting in a final sample of 39 studies. The analysis highlights transformational, visionary, instructional, and team-oriented leadership as central to fostering innovation, with key characteristics such as clear vision, adaptability, risk-taking, and collaboration emerging as essential for practical, innovative leadership. This review underscores the importance of a multifaceted leadership approach that integrates diverse theoretical perspectives with practical attributes to drive educational transformation, with significant implications for the practice of educational leadership.

The genus Mallotus belongs to the Malphighiales order and the Euphorbiaceae family. This genus includes approximately 150 species distributed in tropical and subtropical regions in Asia such as Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam [1]. Several species are used as medicinal plants in traditional medicine in Southeast Asian countries to treat various ailments ranging from minor infections such as gastrointestinal disorders to dysentery, hepatic diseases, cutaneous diseases, fever and malaria, and a series of other indications [2]. Phytochemical studies of the genus have indicated the presence of diterpenoids, triterpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, coumarinolignoids, phloroglucinol derivatives or benzopyrans, and are found to exhibit interesting biological activities such as cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal properties [3]. Mallotus penangensis Mull. Arg. is a small tree up to 27 m in height, mainly distributed from southern Thailand and the Andaman Islands to the Philippines and New Guinea. It is commonly found in the understory of primary or secondary forests with altitudes up to 1666 m. The leaves have been traditionally used to treat headaches in Sumatra, whereas the wood has a faint sweet aroma and used for fires and house construction in Malaysia [4]. As a continuation part of our systematic evaluation of the aromatic flora of Malaysia, we here report on the volatile components of M. penangensis leaves. The leaves of M. penangensis were collected from Fraser Hill, Pahang, in September 2019, and identified by Shamsul Khamis from UKM, and a voucher specimen (SA03/21) was deposited at the Herbarium of UKM. The essential oil was obtained via hydrodistillation (4 h) of the fresh leaves (300 g) using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The oil was dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and stored at 4-6°C. The oil yield (w/w) was 0.19% based on the fresh weight. The chemical composition of the isolated oil was analyzed by GC and GC-MS under conditions analogous to those published before [5]. For the identification of essential oil components, co-injections with the standards were used, together with the correspondence of retention indices and mass spectra with respect to those occurring in the literature [6-8]. The GC and GC-MS analysis of the essential oil led to the identification of 41 components, accounting for 98.0% of the total composition (Table 1). The major group was mainly composed of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (48.3%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (41.9%). The major components of the leaf oil were α-humulene (22.5%), humulene epoxide II (19.6%), β-caryophyllene (7.2%), caryophyllene oxide (5.6%), α-gurjunene (5.0%), and spathulenol (4.9%). A review of the existing literature on essential oils of the genus Mollotus revealed the presence of a few studies on their essential oils previously, α-humulene was the foremost component of the essential oils of M. obongifolius [9], M. repandus [10], and M. barbatus [11]. The antioxidant properties of the essential oil were evaluated using the DPPH assay as per a previous method [12]. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the essential oil displayed an IC 50 value of 72.8 μg/mL compared with the IC 50 value of ascorbic acid of 40.5 μg/mL.

Background This study aims to investigate the applicability of the Youth Physical Activity Promotion (YPAP) model among Chinese middle school students, focusing on the roles of reinforcing, enabling, and predisposing factors in adolescents’ physical activity participation. Specifically, the research analysed the direct and indirect effects of parental support, physical education, as well as adolescents’ perceived “Am I able” and “Is it worth it” on their participation in physical activities. Methods A quantitative research design was adopted, with data collection relying on cross-sectional questionnaires. The participants were middle school students from grades 7, 8, and 9 in Zhaoqing City, China. A total of 463 samples (223 boys; 240 girls; Mage = 13.08 years; SD = 0.820) were used for data analysis. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analyzed the interactive relationships among YPAP model variables. Results The YPAP model showed good fit indices, explaining 61.7% of the variance in adolescents’ physical activity participation. The findings revealed that reinforcing and enabling factors had significant direct effects on adolescents’ physical activity participation. Moreover, both the concepts of “Am I able” and “Is it worth it” mediated the relationship between parental support and physical activity participation. Physical education also indirectly influenced adolescents’ physical activity participation through the concept of “Am I able”. Notably, the concepts of “Am I able” and “Is it worth it” serially mediated the relationships between both reinforcing factors and physical activity participation, as well as enabling factors and physical activity participation. Conclusions The study validates the YPAP model in the context of Chinese middle school students, highlighting the importance of parental support and physical education in promoting physical activity. Parents and schools should focus on enhancing adolescents’ self-concept of ability and value perception to foster long-term engagement in physical activities. These findings provide valuable insights for designing targeted interventions to address the global issue of insufficient physical activity among adolescents.

This study investigated the chemical composition, antifungal, antibiofilm and anticholinesterase inhibitory activities of the essential oil from Alpinia glabra Ridl. (Zingiberaceae) from Malaysia. The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and analysed using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), revealing 35 chemical components comprising 98.3% of the total oil. The major components identified were β-cadinene (28.5%), benzaldehyde (8.0%), δ-cadinene (6.0%), (E)-nerolidol (5.4%), α-cadinol (4.8%), and viridiflorol (4.0%). Antifungal tests against Candida albicans (ATCC MYA-4901) and Streptococcus mutans (Ingbritt) showed MIC values of 250 µg/mL. The essential oil increased the biofilm of Candida albicans by 42.14%, however, decreased the biofilm of Streptococcus mutans by 64.41% when treated with 500 µg/mL. The essential oil exhibited moderate anticholinesterase activity with 48.5% and 57.2% inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, respectively, at 500 µg/mL. These findings highlight the potential applications of A. glabra essential oil in antifungal, antibiofilm and anticholinesterase therapies.

The demand for tailored user-centric systems is increasing in the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI). This paper systematically explores the literature on user-centric intelligent systems, focusing on three vital dimensions: explainability, robustness, and fairness. By employing a rigorous systematic literature review and adhering to the PRISMA protocol, this study scrutinizes articles from several esteemed online scientific journals—IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect (SD), Web of Science (WoS), and Scopus. Crafting a coherent taxonomy from insights gained through meticulous analysis, ensuring a comprehensive review. Categorizing the literature by explainability, robustness, and fairness, the resulting taxonomy aids readers in navigating this intricate domain, and each category is investigated through different approaches. Detailed discussions, enriched with insights from challenges, motivations, and recommendations in prior articles, analyse the literature through identified perspectives. This paper explores datasets, methods, and frameworks researchers employ, providing a holistic view of methodologies in user-centric intelligent systems. Going beyond a standard literature review, this work guides readers and future researchers, addressing challenges and advancing user-centric intelligent systems. This paper serves as a significant resource for understanding the current user-centric intelligent systems landscape. As the field evolves, subsequent works can build upon this foundation, exploring the nuanced dimensions of user-centric intelligent systems.