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Since December 2019, COVID-19 infection rates have risen considerably, and the virus is currently widespread around the world. Following the COVID-19 outbreak, the production of medical waste has skyrocketed. Disposable face masks are considered medical waste. Alternative measures must be implemented to assist in reducing medical waste disposal, which can result in serious public health problems and have a negative influence on the environment. In this regard, this research was conducted to investigate the effect of disposable face mask (DFM) ash with varied rates ranging from 5% to 20% by weight on bitumen with a 5% increment to be utilised as an alternative material in asphalt pavement. A series of physical and rheological tests were conducted on the bitumen samples to study the behavior of the DFM ash in bituminous material. Overall, the physical and rheological test results revealed that introducing 20% DFM ash to the modified bitumen was unable to achieve the same properties as with the conventional SMA14 asphalt binder. However, the modified bitumen penetration grade PEN 60/70 has improved the properties and quality of the asphalt in the flexible pavement. In addition, utilising the DFM waste in road construction would be a sustainable technique for protecting the environment by minimising face mask waste caused by the COVID-19 epidemic while lowering the pavement's construction cost. These research findings may be commercialised to generate revenue in the construction industry for sustainable transportation pathways.
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Context: The outbreak of a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 has caused an unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. To put an end to this pandemic, effective antivirals should be identified or developed for COVID-19 treatment. However, specific and effective antivirals or inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 are still lacking. Aim(s): To evaluate bioactive compounds from Phyllanthus tenellus and Kaempferia parviflora as inhibitors against two essential SARS-CoV-2 proteins, main protease (Mpro) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), through molecular docking studies and to predict the drug-likeness properties of the compounds. Method(s): The inhibition potential and interaction of P. tenellus and K. parviflora compounds against Mpro and RdRp were assessed through molecular docking. The drug-likeness properties of the compounds were predicted using SwissADME and AdmetSAR tools. Result(s): Rutin and ellagic acid glucoside from P. tenellus and 4-hydroxy-6-methoxyflavone and 5-hydroxy-3,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone from K. parviflora exhibited the highest binding conformations to Mpro by interacting with its substrate binding site that was predicted to halt the Mpro activity. As for RdRp, ellagitannin and rutin from P. tenellus and peonidin and 5,3'-dihydroxy-3,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone from K. parviflora were the best-docked compounds that bound to the RdRp catalytic domain (Asp760 and Asp761) and NTP-entry channel that were anticipated to stop RNA polymerization. However, in the context of drug developability, 4-hydroxy-6-methoxyflavone, 5-hydroxy-3,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone, peonidin and 5,3'-dihydroxy-3,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone from K. parviflora were highly potential to be oral active drugs compared to rutin, ellagic acid glucoside and ellagitannin from P. tenellus. Conclusion(s): P. tenellus and K. parviflora compounds, particularly the aforementioned compounds, were suggested as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and RdRp. Copyright © 2022 Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacognosy Research.
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Today, social media plays a vital role in providing information to the public through various platforms including traditional and digital media. In March 2020, the government had announced the Movement Control Order (MCO) due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in.Malaysia. As a result of globalization, COVID-19 shows that pandemic breakouts pose a significant threat to the world. However, using social media to promote campaigns during COVID-19 has its own drawbacks, such as the difficulty of recognizing promoted content. Social media sites have evolved into one of the most important sources of information as well as a platform for spreading dangerous rumors. Thus, it is also under severe pressure to regulate disease misinformation that is pushing people in the wrong direction. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to identify which social media platforms are more effective towards effectiveness campaigns during COVID-19. Researchers employed quantitative surveys, which were distributed across all social media platforms from various people. In sampling, researchers have referred to Roasoft Sample Size Calculator [11]. A total of 162 respondents responded to the survey. The findings of this research prove that Malaysians are using social media for promoting the effectiveness campaign during COVID-19, with M=3.44 being the highest. Furthermore, males are the most effective in promoting the COVID-19 campaigns, with a score of 0.262. © 2022 Author(s).
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Internet advancements and technological sophistication play integral parts in driving online shopping. This method is widely used globally and has become the latest trend among people regardless of age. It was brought to the forefront so that people would no longer need to go to a physical store to make purchases or sales as the world is moving fast and forward nowadays. Even though the world is still recuperating from the COVID-19 pandemic where the number of cases rise every day, online shopping remains the public choice method of monthly shopping. Regardless of how great a revolution it is, online shopping is not all roses. There have been concerns with security and guarantees, quality, and logistics. The aim of this study is to identify the level of online shopping acceptance between male and female during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involved 335 respondents from various demographic backgrounds. The quantitative research method was used in this research where questionnaires were distributed via a purposive sample technique. The data were analysed through the Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) version 23. In general, this research proved that Malaysians' acceptance towards online shopping during COVID-19 pandemic is high (M=3.14). Female respondents are more likely to accept online shopping. However, there is no significant difference between males and females. © 2022 Author(s).
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Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a new virus. The majority of patients infected with the COVID-19 virus will usually experience light to medium respiratory illness and will recover without getting any special treatment. Since the case became more serious, the Malaysian government has issued a Movement Control Order to beat the coronavirus and protect the country's health systems. However, there are unintended consequences caused by the coronavirus. Besides, it brings different kinds of stress, including physical and mental health risks. The main objective of this study is to examine the level of stress experienced by people from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds during COVID-19. Researchers used a quantitative method and distributed a Google Form survey to all social media platforms. A total of 191 people responded to the survey. From the findings, Malaysians are extremely stressed during this pandemic (M=3.58). Furthermore, the results show that people in the B40 income category are more stressed than those in the M40 and T20 household income categories. The government should take this issue more seriously and assist individuals who are affected by the pandemic of COVID-19. © 2022 Author(s).
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The pandemic of Covid-19 has changed the lifestyle of people nowadays. Students has to adapt to the new norms in which they need to rely on the digital mediums to interact with others. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between social media use and the connectedness among the university students in Malaysia during this pandemic of Covid-19. It also aims to investigate connection between the purposes of social media use (academic, socialization, entertainment and informativeness) and the level of social connectedness. Thirdly, the genders difference between social media use and social connectedness are investigated. The measurement used include the online social networking usage questionnaire and the social connectedness scale, and were distributed through snowball sampling method via the online platforms. A total of 300 respondents were recruited in this study with the mean age of 22.26. The results indicate that no significant relationship between social media usage and social connectedness. However, there was significant relationship between the purposes of using social media and social connectedness. Thirdly, no difference was found between females and males on the social media usage and social connectedness. Finally, this study highlights that the purpose of using social media could enhance the social relationship. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
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In order to improve the quality of youth in entrepreneurship. Schools managements need to know the entrepreneurial intention (EI) of their students. A past study systematic review findings showed that EI measurement has to be improved. To the best ability, this is the contribution of this study and a novel strategy that may pave the way for further research in this area in the future. Thereupon, this study aims for scale development specially for youth in vocational school context and determine the dimensionality of items measuring the EI construct. This study also conducted bibliometric analysis. Research tools used were SPSS version 24 and VOS viewer. The validation used Modified Delphi Method for content and face validity with seven panelists, meanwhile Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) for construct validity was administered to 100 students in 23 vocational high schools (VHS), using questionnaires. The initial items were analyzed using Fleiss Kappa Index (FKI) and Content Validity Index (CVI) that consist of I-CVI and S-CVI. However, the I-CVI achieved the criteria, S-CVI is 0.898, and FKI is 0.432, then processed to the EFA procedure. The EFA identified four sub-constructs of EI with 73.729% of the total variance explained (TVE) in this study. The study found that the instrument is valid and reliable in measuring the values aspect of EI. The study’s findings could be of interest to the governments, schools managements, and other researchers. It will enable those parties to analyze which factorsare needed to enhance the quality and successful youth in entrepreneurship post-covid-19. © 2022, SRAC - Romanian Society for Quality. All rights reserved.
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This article aims to elaborate on the functionality of the neuroscience aspect found in Surah al Insyirah and Surah al Ankabut in efforts to increase happiness and reduce stress experienced during the post COVID-19 Pandemic era. Stress is the body's response to mental stress in human beings in the course of their daily life. This stress stimulus originates from both, outside and inside the human body and involves the limbic system, which is the centre for regulating adaptation in the human body. A growing body of research suggests that long term, stress -induced activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis may lead to increases in inflammation, which is known to play a key role in the pathophysiology of a variety of diseases. Furthermore, the burgeoning fields of social neuroscience and health neuroscience have begun to identify the neurocognitive mechanisms by which stress may lead to these physiological changes. Tadabur (deep reflection) on the meaning of Surah Al-Insyirah and Al-Maarij, which depict the problems faced by humans, can increase happiness and reduce the stress level in humans who are facing challenges brought about during the post COVID 19 pandemic era. Specifically, we summarize the results of neuroimaging studies that have examined the neural correlates of stress-related increases in SNS, HPA, and inflammatory activity. A set of neural systems involved in threat processing, safety processing, and social cognition are suggested as key contributors to stress-related changes in physiology.
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In this paper we highlight the experience of a mathematics teacher educator (MTE) and their preservice teachers (PTs) in a middle school mathematics methods course during the 2020 shift to online instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe it is valuable to report how the MTE reflected on their instructional decision-making in response to this massive transition to remote instruction. We also report that PTs needed support and guidance to employ new teaching practices they had learned in the methods course instead of reverting to familiar teaching methods.
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Background and Purpose: The COVID19 pandemic challenges on learning necessitate the understanding of students' Language Learning Strategies (LLS). Studies on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students' English LLS is scarce. The objectives of the study are to examine the LLS employed by STEM students learning English as a second language (ESL) in a public university (PU) in Malaysia and to investigate the LLS underlying factors pertaining to the open distance learning (ODL). Methodology: This study was designed as survey research, employing the quantitative approach to gather data. The Strategy Inventory of Language Learning (SILL) questionnaire was administered to 250 engineering undergraduates as respondents, who were chosen using a purposive sampling method. Data were analyzed descriptively using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation was conducted to determine the construct validity. PCA appropriateness was suggested by the inter-item correlation. Findings: The compensation, metacognitive and cognitive learning strategies were the most frequently used strategies while the memory and affective strategies were the least. The PCA added vital information like the memory strategy corresponds to the metacognitive strategy. The cognitive strategy concept of 'practice,' may demand a revisit to some traditional grammar learning methods. There are also demands for social-emotional factors to be considered. ODL has imposed bigger demands too. Contributions: The findings may assist ESL educators to boost STEM students' self-monitoring behavior, to plan and coordinate their own learning process. PCA's 'Self -Awareness' concept revealed that policy makers need to conduct more training to ensure executions run smoothly.
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Since the initially reported cases of COVID-19 in Malaysia in March 2020, the government, particularly the Ministry of Health, has proactively lined out various health and legal measures to mitigate the infection. This study echoes with the previous findings that most Malaysians held positive attitudes towards measures introduced by the government albeit the spike in daily cases. This spike is expected following the active testing carried out by the Ministry;hence, it is unlikely to be attributed by the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards the measures. In this regard, the government continues to review and tighten the measures as the cases continue to spiral up and the numbers of flouting orders remain high. This chapter will provide the results of an online survey conducted during the second wave of the pandemic between June to August 2020 to determine the Malaysian KAP towards the health and legal measures implemented in this country. Results showed a high level of knowledge on the health and legal measures imposed, which were translated to their acceptability of the measures and good practice for themselves and advising other people. © 2022 selection and editorial matter, Natasya Abdullah, Noor Dzuhaidah Osman, Nur Syazana Umar, Muhammad Nizam Awang, and Zairina A. Rahman.
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Background: Antibodies (Abs) are produced by B cells after infection with the SARS/COVID-19 virus. The presence of neutralizing antibody is an indicator of protective immunity for most viral infections. But, we still don’t know how long and how effectively this immune protection will cover. Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the antibodies level in PCR-confirmed COVID-19 subjects in non vaccinated healthcare personnel. Methods: SARS-CoV-2 specific total Abs (IgG and IgM), IgG of nucleocapsid (N) protein and spike (S) protein levels were estimated using two clinically validated and widely used serological assays, detecting antibodies against the Total Antibody, nucleocapsid(N) and spike(S) proteins. Results: A total 130 subjects with PCR-confirmed SARSCoV- 2 infection were included in this study and all subjects were symptomatic and blood samples were collected between 3 to 24 weeks. Of all participants, about 52% were female and mean age was 43.2 years. The study found that the Total Abs, IgG of N protein and neutralizing Abs of S protein were developed 100%, 74.6% and 93.8% respectively. The study also found that the IgG titers of the N protein peaked at about 19 weeks after onset and decreased thereafter. The study also found that the neutralizing Abs of S protein were gradually increasing in the second phase of (9wks-19wks) weeks and in the third phase of (19wks -24wks) weeks after disease onset than compared to the first phase of weeks (3wks- 9wks) and it was significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: The study concluded that the antibodies, total Abs, IgG titer of N protein and neutralizing Abs of S protein were developed 100%, 74.6% and 93.8% respectively. The study also observed that IgG of N protein was decreasing within 19-24 weeks and neutralizing Abs of S protein peaked at 19-24 weeks after the onset of disease. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Bangladesh College of Physicians & Surgeons is the property of Bangladesh College of Physicians & Surgeons and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)
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This paper explores the laws enforced for the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia, which are the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 [Act 342] and its subsidiary legislations, to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The MCO was first enforced in Malaysia on March 18, 2020. This paper aims to explore and inform the non-legal person on the legal mechanisms in Malaysia during COVID-19. This paper applied the qualitative research approach, where the methodology used was a socio-legal analysis with reference to specific legal texts and statutes of Malaysia. Legal analysis was conducted on the main law, which Act 342, and its subsidiary legislations. Information by way of secondary data was also obtained from the official website of the Ministry of Health of Malaysia and newspaper articles. It was observed and concluded that the role of law is essential in times of crisis. The MCO in Malaysia has a significant role as a preventive measure in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and to break the chain of virus infection. Non-compliance is an offence, punishable by law and upon conviction, offenders are fined or imprisoned, or both. © Penerbit UMT
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The COVID-19 pandemic results in unprecedented impacts globally. Discoveries and knowledge on this pandemic are evolving. A study was conducted to determine factors that could be associated with the knowledge, attitude and practice towards the COVID-19 pandemic among medical students at one of the public universities in Malaysia. A crosssectional study was conducted through an online survey using a set of questionnaires. The questionnaire was adapted and adopted from validated sources. This study found that the scores for knowledge, attitude and practice were high among medical students. Male students had a higher level of knowledge whereas females had a significantly higher level of attitude and practice. For clinical year students, a higher level of knowledge and practice were recorded compared to the pre-clinical year students. The findings from this study could be used to understand the level of knowledge, attitide and practice of COViD-19 among university students and could help in planning for effective wareness campaigns in higher education institution in Malaysia. © 2021, Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine. All Right Reserved.
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At the start of 2020, COVID-19 restrictions have led universities to move most face-to-face teaching to online. Across the sector, traditional university teaching staff were faced with a common challenge: adapting classroom teaching to online in a short window of time. The difficulty of this transition was often compounded by limited support, resources, technical skills and knowledge required to create socially-engaged online classroom experiences that supported learning as effectively as their faceto- face teaching. As a response to the needs of supporting educators during the transition, in March 2020, a cross-institute approach at the Monash Sustainable Development Institute (MSDI), Monash University Australia led to the establishment of the Teaching Online Meetups (TOM) - a series of regular online sessions attended by academic and professional staff in the Institute. The initiative gained momentum across 2020, and later expanded to include across other faculties of Monash University. In this chapter, we firstly discuss the critical roles TOM played in supporting staff's successful transitioning into online teaching during the lockdown and outline the process involved in the establishment and operation of TOM, including the management of TOM's resource site. Next, we explain TOM's community building and staff capacity development approach, which centres around creating an open and safe space to share online teaching practices, test new online teaching tools and activities, and provide hands-on experience with online technologies in a live group setting. We evaluate how this practical approach helped staff to develop their digital capacity effectively and gain confidence in online teaching. Lastly, we discuss the pattern of technology adoption and the different levels of needs of participants. We reflect on how the progression of session topics has continued to address the community's online teaching needs. We conclude with recommendations for others in adopting similar approaches at an institutional level. © 2021 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
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Bankruptcy is indicated by the inability of the company to meet its maturity obligations. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a terrible impact on the economy and businesses. The aim of this study to determine the effect of the ratios of activity, growth, leverage, and profitability in predicting bankruptcy projected by earnings per share (EPS). The sample of this research was non-banking financial sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2015–2019 and the purposive sampling technique was used. The data analysis method used was the logistic regression method to test the hypotheses. Company growth shows the company’s ability to manage sales and generate high company profits, as such, the probability of the company experiencing bankruptcy will be lower. The results of this study showed that the debt to assets ratio (DAR), debt to equity ratio (DER), and return on assets (ROA) can predict bankruptcy. Meanwhile, this research found that the total assets turnover (TATO) ratio, sales growth, and net profit margin (NPM) cannot be used to predict bankruptcy. © Copyright: The Author(s) This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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Medicine and al Quran has a unique power in changing an individual's inappropriate behaviour to appropriate behaviour. According to Azarpour, Moraditochaeeb, & Bozorgia, the al-Quran contains various elements needed by humankind, such as religious, social, economic, health, medical, scientific, political and other aspects, as a guide for achieving prosperity in this life and the afterlife, reciting the al-Quran daily showers a person with continuous serenity, which is a very effective therapy for a person facing pressures in life. The al-Quran also provides all the internal and external needs required by a person to face the various challenges in life. Reciting the al-Quran is not only advantageous to a person but listening to recitals can also provide serenity and blessings from Allah S.W.T.