Extraction of chitosan-based piezoelectric thin film from shrimp shell waste

In this study, we explored the potential of chitosan, a natural polysaccharide derived from shrimp shell waste, for piezoelectric applications in biomedical, food, and agricultural industries. Despite limited research on its piezoelectric properties, chitosan has gained attention due to its non-toxicity and energy-harvesting potential. We focused on optimizing the extraction of chitosan from shrimp shell waste for these applications. Chitin powder was treated with NaOH concentrations ranging from 30% to 60% to remove acetyl groups and create chitosan. The best results for chitosan extraction were achieved using a 50% NaOH solution. Piezoelectric properties of chitosan thin films dissolved in formic acid were also analyzed, showing the best performance with a piezoelectric constant (k) of 0.3158, maximum charge (Qm) of 64.1, and a low loss tangent (tan δ) of 0.0156. Later, the biological assessment of the chitosan thin films, namely the antimicrobial and biocompatibility analyses, were performed to evaluate their interaction with biological systems and to determine their potential for biomedical and biotechnological applications. The results indicated that the chitosan thin film exhibited no cytotoxic effects, highlighting its promise as a safe and suitable material for diverse biomedical use

Environmental Waqf for climate action in the light of Maqasid al-‘Imran: (Hifz al-‘Imran or Hifz al-Bi’ah)

Environmental degradation has become one of the most pressing global challenges, impacting the entire planet. One of the potential solutions is Waqf, which can contribute significantly to environmental sustainability, including forest restoration and renewable energy development. Hence, this study aims to explore the role of environmental Waqf in addressing climate change, with a focus on the Hifz al-‘Imran (protection of the environment), and to highlight its potential to contribute to effective climate action. The study concludes that Hifz al-‘Imran can provide a strong conceptual foundation for aligning environmental conservation and climate action with the higher objectives of Islamic law

CAN-BiGRUBERT: unveiling automotive vehicle intruders by profiling and characterizing anomalies in controller area network

In-vehicle Controller Area Networks (CAN) are vulnerable to various injection attacks that can compromise the safety of vehicle occupants and result in financial losses. While a substantial body of work on CAN intrusion detection exists, it lacks multiclass attack classification models. Current multiclass models do not encompass all attack types or account for the vehicle’s state, i.e., whether the car is stationary or in motion. This work addresses these limitations by proposing CAN-BiGRUBERT, a multiclass CAN intrusion detection model that jointly predicts the vehicle state and attack class from CAN traffic windows. CAN-BiGRUBERT employs Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) to capture spatial dependencies within individual CAN frames, and a Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (BiGRU) network to capture temporal dependencies across multiple frames in a window. For training and evaluating CAN BiGRUBERT, we comprehensively reviewed current CAN intrusion datasets to select the HCRL Attack & Defense dataset, which contains all injection attacks executed in both vehicle states. We implemented CAN-BiGRUBERT and compared its performance with other variants and state-of-the-art CAN attack classification models, based on individual CAN frames, arbitration identifier (AID) sequences, and windows of complete frames. Compared to the baseline models, the proposed model achieved higher accuracy and F1-score, indicating its superior ability to predict the vehicle state and attack class simultaneously. Specifically excelling in detecting replay attacks and discriminating between driving and stationary states, CAN-BiGRUBERT represents a promising enhanced, informative intrusion detection method for in-vehicle CAN

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in zakat calculation: a comparative study of AI systems

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Islamic financial practices offers new avenues for enhancing zakat calculation accuracy, efficiency, and jurisprudential compliance. However, the adoption of AI in this domain raises complex questions regarding its alignment with Shariah principles, particularly in distinguishing between fixed rulings (nass) and interpretive jurisprudence (ijtihad). This study investigates whether AI can be leveraged to perform zakat calculations while maintaining doctrinal integrity. Using a qualitative research methodology, the study applies doctrinal analysis to classical Islamic sources and contemporary fatwas, combined with comparative analysis across the four major Sunni madhabs and a practical test of five AI systems: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Grok. Each AI was evaluated based on its ability to calculate zakat under three different scenarios of increasing complexity: basic cash, mixed portfolios, and modern instruments like cryptocurrency and REITs. The findings indicate that AI systems are capable of handling standard zakat computations with a high degree of accuracy and efficiency, particularly in areas categorized as wasail (procedural means). However, the results also highlight key limitations, including the inability to autonomously handle new asset classifications or apply jurisprudential discretion without prior scholarly input. The study proposes guidelines and parameters to ensure AI implementation respects the immutable aspects of zakat while optimizing ijtihadi areas. These insights are vital for future Shariah-compliant AI developments in Islamic financ

Ultrasound guided dextrose prolotherapy for chronic medial collateral ligament injuries in young footballers

Dextrose prolotherapy (DPT) is increasingly recognized for its regenerative potential in managing ligamentous injuries. However, evidence supporting its use in medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries among young athletes remains scarce. This case series describes four adolescent footballers (aged 14–16 years) with chronic medial knee pain unresponsive to rehabilitation. Three athletes with isolated MCL injuries achieved complete pain resolution within 4 –6 weeks following ultrasound-guided 12.5% dextrose injections, combined with knee bracing and structured rehabilitation. They successfully returned to full training after passing functional assessments, with no reinjury at 3- and 6- month follow-ups. Conversely, the fourth athlete, with concomitant MCL, anterior cruciate ligament, and meniscal injuries, experienced only partial pain relief and sustained reinjury after premature return to play, ultimately requiring surgical intervention. These findings suggest that DPT may accelerate recovery in isolated chronic MCL injuries but has limited benefit in multiligament knee injuries

Pandai di sekolah, terkejut di universiti: realiti senyap pelajar tahun pertama

Setiap tahun, ribuan pelajar melangkah masuk ke pintu gerbang universiti dengan segulung kejayaan cemerlang. Di kampung halaman, kenduri kesyukuran diadakan; di media sosial, ucapan tahniah melimpah-ruah. Mereka datang sebagai bekas pelajar terbaik, terbiasa dengan pujian, dan memikul harapan tinggi bahawa kecemerlangan itu akan berterusan secara automatik. Namun, bagi ramai pelajar tahun pertama terutamanya dalam bidang mencabar seperti perubatan, kejuruteraan, dan sains, realiti di kampus bukan sekadar sukar. Ia adalah satu kejutan budaya akademik yang mampu menggoncang keyakinan diri. Perubahan ini jarang dibincangkan secara terbuka. Di mata masyarakat, pelajar universiti dianggap sudah besar, bijak, dan sepatutnya mampu mengurus diri sendiri sepenuhnya. Namun, hakikat yang perlu kita fahami ialah fasa peralihan daripada sekolah ke universiti adalah antara tempoh yang paling rentan dalam kehidupan seorang remaja. Ia bukan sekadar perpindahan tempat tinggal, tetapi anjakan besar dalam cara mereka berfikir dan memproses ilmu baharu

Green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using Antidesma orthogyne extract and their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities

The green synthesis approach using plant extracts is preferable due to its effectiveness in producing nanoparticles (NPs). In this study, Antidesma orthogyne leaf extract was used to synthesize ZnO-NPs. Phytochemical profiling was conducted using liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry quadrupole time-of-flight, and the synthesized ZnO-NPs were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against selected microorganisms using the disc diffusion method, while cytotoxicity was assessed on MCF-7 human epithelial breast adenocarcinoma cells via MTT assay. The results showed that pH 12 was the optimal condition for ZnO-NP synthesis, yielding NPs with an average size of 131.1 nm and an absorption peak at 351 nm. SEM images indicated slight aggregation, while XRD patterns confirmed the hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO-NPs. FTIR and EDX analyses confirmed the formation of ZnO-NPs, and TGA demonstrated thermal stability up to 700°C. In terms of antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities, the ZnO-NPs exhibited notable activities in both assays. Hence, these findings suggest that A. orthogyne extract effectively facilitates ZnO-NP synthesis, producing NPs with potential biomedical applications

Robotics and the Islamic worldview: a Tawhidic epistemology framework for ethical and human-centered technological innovation

This paper explores the integration of robotics within the Islamic worldview, proposing a Tawhidic epistemology as a foundational framework for ethical and human-centered technological innovation. Modern robotics influences nearly every sector—from manufacturing and medicine to education and environmental stewardship—yet its rapid evolution generates profound moral and social challenges. Drawing upon the principles of Tawhid (Oneness of God), Khilafah (stewardship), and Maqasid al-Shariah (objectives of Islamic law), this paper examines how Islamic epistemology unifies scientific progress with divine purpose. Through philosophical analysis and illustrative examples, it argues that robotics, when guided by Tawhidic consciousness, becomes an act of stewardship (amanah) rather than domination. The paper concludes that Islamic ethics can provide a comprehensive moral compass for robotics governance—one grounded in justice (‘adl), compassion (rahmah), and sustainability (istiqamah)