Abstract:A dichloromethane extract of the stem bark of Cryptocarya nigra showed strong in vitro inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum growth, with an IC 50 value of 2.82 μg/mL. The phytochemical study of this extract has led to the isolation and characterization of four known alkaloids: (+)-N-methylisococlaurine (1), atherosperminine (2), 2-hydroxyathersperminine (3), and noratherosperminine (4). Structural elucidation of all alkaloids was accomplished by means of high field 1D-and 2D-NMR, IR, UV and LCMS spectral data. The isolated extract constituents (+)-N-methylisococlaurine (1), atherosperminine (2) and 2-hydroxy-atherosperminine (3) showed strong antiplasmodial activity, with IC 50 values of 5.40, 5.80 and 0.75 μM, respectively. In addition, (+)-N-methylisocolaurine (1) and atherosperminine (2) showed high antioxidant activity in a DPPH assay with IC 50 values of 29.56 ug/mL and 54.53 ug/mL respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 also both showed high antioxidant activity in the FRAP assay, with percentages of 78.54 and 70.66 respectively and in the metal chelating assay, with IC 50 values of 50.08 ug/mL and 42.87 ug/mL, respectively.
The insecticidal activities of extracts from 22 Malaysian medicinal plant extracts from 8 botanical families were tested against rice weevil: Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and lesser grain borer: Rhyzopertha dominica (F.). The extracts were obtained using hexane, methanol, and dichloromethane to extract potential biopesticides from dried leaves. The toxicity levels were examined periodically based on antifeedant activity and contact toxicity assays using treated grain assay. Hexane extracts of Alpinia conchigera, Alpinia scabra, Curcuma mangga, Curcuma purpurascens, Goniothalamus tapisoides, Piper sarmentosum, and methanol extracts of Curcuma aeruginosa, C. mangga, and Mitragyna speciosa were the most potent extracts against S. oryzae and R. dominica with lethal concentration (LC50) values of ≤ 0.42 mg/mL and ≤ 0.49 mg/mL, respectively. The contact toxicity test results showed that methanol extracts of C. aeruginosa and C. mangga, dichloromethane extracts of Cryptocarya nigra, and hexane extracts of C. mangga, and C. purpurascens resulted in 100% mortality of both pests within 28 days exposure of 5 mg/cm2 concentration.
This paper investigates students’ academic achievements through e-learning approaches based on students’ preference. E-learning approaches can be considered as asynchronous, synchronous and blended learning. Asynchronous learning happens when there is no set time for it to occur. Allows students to learn whenever and wherever they want, at their own pace. Web conferencing and chatting are used to deliver organised and time-bound activities characterise synchronous e-learning. Due to the Movement Control Order (MCO), which went into effect on March 18, 2020, lecturers at the Preparatory Centre for Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (PPST, UMS) could teach either synchronous or asynchronous classes. The independent sample t-test will be used, and the outcomes reveal statistically significant difference in the mean of both online learning strategies. Therefore, from the results we can conclude that students that prefer asynchronous learning approach improves the academic performance of students. However, higher end-of-course grades in asynchronous courses do not necessarily indicate that the asynchronous mode of instruction was more effective. This is because based on students’ preference for both methods that asked in questionnaires. The results also can be affected by various factors such as blended learning that is implemented for learning.
The jotter book concept is not a novel method in scientific research. This practice is common not only among undergraduate students but also among postgraduate students, scientists, and researchers who use it to understand theories, concepts, and newly learned experimental procedures since it is important and significant pre-laboratory (pre-lab) preparation before an experiment is conducted. However, using a jotter book as one component of alternative pre-laboratory (pre-lab) assessment in assessing student achievement at pre-University level is something that has never been done before. In this paper, we proposed the rationale in implementation of the jotter book as one of the alternative assessments for the Chemistry course (SK0011-Practical Chemistry I and SK0021-Practical Chemistry II) for the foundation of science students in the Preparatory Centre for Science and Technology (PPST), Universiti Malaysia Sabah. Sample of 353 students from the intake session 2020/2021 are involved in this study. The improvement in the student grade from semester 1 to semester 2 will be discuss in this paper as the preliminary study.
Since its accreditation by MQA in 2018, the UMS Foundation in Science Program, through PPST has continuously produced high quality standards for students furthering their studies in UMS. Clinging to its accredited program means that quality assurance of foundation’s teaching and learning will be maintained and monitored. Herein, this study reports the feedback given by the foundation program’s alumni whose continue in undergraduate study of UMS Engineering. The objective is to investigate the students’ perception on knowledge and skills they obtained throughout the foundation year in relation to their courses study. A questionnaire with open ended question was constructed through a google form and designed in accordance with the MQA program review and monitoring guideline with 4 Likert scale (1- strongly disagree, 2- disagree, 3-agree and 4-strongly agree). Among 35 student’s replies, almost everyone answered high percentage of number 3 and 4, indicating an agreement towards knowledge and skills aspects. 100% student agree that the foundation program give them new knowledge and strengthen the basic theories in their engineering courses. Meanwhile, 94% believed that the foundation courses strengthen the personal skills, contribute to the achievement in engineering course and assist them to apply the skills obtained in foundation for lifelong learning. In open-ended questions, two themes of answers: (i) strength; (ii) hopes and expectations were organized, which highly in line with the students’ feedback in the Likert scale scores. This is in accordance with the student agreement that Foundation in Science Programme of UMS does provide basic knowledge and skills that relevant to the Engineering course in UMS. Further suggestions received and changes to the programme in the new academic year will be continuously monitored and reviewed for academic quality assurance.
Students enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses in Malaysia have recently decreased, particularly among rural students. It is necessary to mobilize the effort and awareness of the importance of STEM intensively, which supposedly begins at the school level. Accordingly, STEM AUMS Warriors, UMS organized the AUMS Warriors STEM program for rural students by using problem-based learning (PBL)-STEM modules to promote STEM education. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the impact of the PBL-STEM module on rural students in terms of students’ interest in STEM, students’ learning motivation and students’ soft skills development. In the program, four PBL-STEM modules namely Seibutsu module, Da Vinci Code module, The Power of Atom module, and Inception module were used separately in four meetings attended by 79 rural high school students. Qualitative analysis is conducted using a questionnaire that includes components related to students’ interest in STEM, students’ learning motivation and the development of students' soft skills. The questionnaire was distributed to students each time the module is completed. The result shows that the average value for each statement is more than 5.2000 and most of the students give a response of 'Agree' and 'Strongly Agree' for each statement. These results show that all PBL-STEM modules have a positive impact on rural students. A comparative study between the modules showed no significant difference between the modules and the average value for all the aspects studied showed an increase from the first meeting to the last meeting. The study demonstrates, all activities in the module successfully increase students' motivation to learn STEM subjects and further boost students' interest in STEM. The implementation of the PBL method in the module through presentation and group work activities helps in enhancing the students' soft skills including communication, collaboration, self-confidence, and student self-learning skills.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, learning and teaching at home (PdR) was implemented to replace face-to-face learning sessions. The readiness of pre-university students in the implementation of PdR helps in delivering a high quality of education. It can be studied through the internet accessibility, learning environment, student economics, suitability of online course content, type of e-learning platform used, and the locality of students. Hence, this preliminary study aims to identify the relationship between internet accessibility toward students’ readiness in PdR. A set of questionnaires was distributed to 344 students to obtain responses related to the type of internet access used, the level of internet speed, and the type of device used for PdR. The results showed that most students access the internet through home WiFi internet (34.3%) and cellular data (33.1%). All students have devices whereas 61.0% of students use a combination of laptops and smartphones for e-learning purposes. The findings for the speed level of the internet to access PdR shows (M = 3.22, SP = 1.269), which is a moderate speed for internet access. Meanwhile, the findings of the study in the level of online connectivity and student availability in PdR show (Mean = 3.74, SP = 1.2006), where it is above the level of low internet bandwidth and high immediacy, and below high bandwidth and low immediacy levels. This preliminary study proves that the quality of internet access affects the readiness of pre-university students in PdR. Factors such as the learning environment, family economy, and weather could also affect the quality of students’ internet access.
Over the last decade, online examinations have been widely practiced in both the private and government sector. Working professionals preferred the online examination because it provides them with the flexibility of time and location. However, it is not a common practice in educational institutions. Examinations are always conducted in the traditional method through physical attendance, paper, and pen. The outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic and a long duration of lockdown is a game-changer towards assessment and educational approaches that differs from traditional face-to-face methods. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the first online examination experiences and challenges faced by the foundation of science students in the Preparatory Centre for Science and Technology (PPST), Universiti Malaysia Sabah. A pre-survey questionnaire was independently developed to study these purposes. A sample of 252 students from intake session 2019/2020 is affected by this COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the internet connectivity and readiness of the students for their online examinations are the main challenges that are highlighted in this study.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.