New Algorithm and Data Structures for the All Pairs Shortest Path Problem

In 1985, Moffat-Takaoka (MT) algorithm was developed to solve the all pairs shortest path (APSP) problem. This algorithm manages to get time complexity of O(n² log n) expected time when the end-point independent model of probabilistic assumption is used. However, the use of a critical point introduced in this algorithm has made the implementation of this algorithm quite complicated and the running time of this algorithm is difficult to analyze. Therefore, this study introduces a new deterministic algorithm for the APSP that provides an alternative to the existing MT algorithm. The major advantages of this approach compared to the MT algorithm are its simplicity, intuitive appeal and ease of analysis. Moreover, the algorithm was shown to be efficient as the expected running time is the same O(n² log n). Performance of a good algorithm depends on the data structure used to speed up the operations needed by the algorithm such as insert, delete-min and decrease-key operations. In this study, two new data structures have been implemented, namely quaternary and dimensional heaps. In the experiment carried out, the quaternary heap that employed similar concept with the trinomial heap with a special insertion cache function performed better than the trinomial heap when the number of n vertices was small. Likewise, the dimensional heap data structure executed the decrease-key operation efficiently by maintaining the thinnest structure possible through the use of thin and thick edges, far surpassing the existing binary, Fibonacci and 2-3 heaps data structures when a special acyclic graph was used. Taken together all these promising findings, a new improved algorithm running on a good data structure can be implemented to enhance the computing accuracy and speed of todays computing machines

Sorotan literatur kuasa Sultan dalam kehakiman Islam

Sultan ialah ketua agama Islam bagi negerinya seperti yang dinyatakan dalam Perkara 3 Perlembagaan. Pelaksanaan doktrin pengasingan kuasa juga boleh didapati dalam Perlembagaan. Namun, terdapat beberapa kes yang menyaksikan Sultan menggunakan kuasanya dalam Kehakiman Islam, contohnya seperti kes Timbalan Pendakwa Syarie Pahang v Kartika Sari Dewi binti Shukarno [2010] 1CLJ 172. Kes ini menyaksikan Sultan telah mengurangkan hukuman terhadap kesalahan yang dilakukan oleh Kartika Sari Dewi binti Shukarno apabila hukuman yang dijatuhkan ke atasnya telah bertukar kepada hukuman khidmat masyarakat. Oleh itu, kajian ini dilakukan untuk mengamati sejauh mana Sultan berhak untuk menggunakan kuasanya dalam Kehakiman Islam. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah temu bual separa struktur dengan menemu bual lima orang Ketua Hakim Mahkamah Syariah di lima buah negeri di Malaysia. Manakala dapatan kajian dianalisis menggunakan kaedah tematik dan deskriptif. Hasil daripada tinjauan literatur yang dijalankan mendapati Sultan memiliki kuasa dalam Kehakiman Islam, walau bagaimanapun hal ini tidak bermaksud Sultan boleh menggunakan kuasanya sewenang-wenangnya kerana Malaysia mengamalkan prinsip pengasingan kuasa. Kajian ini penting untuk membantu memantap dan menegakkan konsep Raja Berperlembagaan

The evaluation of problem-solving oriented e-module in learning computer-based subject

It is tough and challenging to learn several computer-based subjects via an online learning setting during COVID-19 for students from the education field. It required a lot of skills, techniques, understanding among students, and the ability to think critically to solve problems. To date, a lack of studies provides digital content as learning approaches to computer-based subject students for their learning via online learning. Thus, the problem-solving oriented e-module in learning computer-based subject via Facebook for Higher Education was proposed. An exploratory sequential research design (qualitative and then quantitative approach) has been used in this study. Research samples were selected based on purposive sampling (10 students) to find out what they needed from the e-module. Then, the module was developed based on ADDIE Model and problem-solving learning strategy. There were nine experts validated the e-module in terms of the ADDIE model approach, problem-solving approach, and content. This module was tested on 34 undergraduate students towards students’ performance and social presence for quantitative part. The t-test showed that the e-module significantly improved student performance (p 0.00; t=5.52) with Cohen’s d=0.944. Interestingly, the results from the content analysis show that this module fosters social presence via Facebook learning groups such as interactive, affective, and cohesive

Developing sustainable communities by integrating the sustainable development concept into university courses: social science lecturers’ perspectives in UKM

Sustainable cities are formed by sustainable communities and vice versa. Developing sustainable cities and sustainable communities need individuals who are taught about the principles, criteria and elements of sustainable development (SD) and sustainability, and have been ‘bred’ in sustainable environments at least during the students’ years in sustainable campuses. To enable the university students to learn about and practice sustainable SD, all courses must be integrated with SD elements. Therefore, the understanding and willingness of lecturers to integrate SD principles and elements in their courses is very vital. The purpose is to discuss the relationship between social science lecturers’ understandings towards SD concept and their beliefs in integrating this concept into their own courses in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Lecturers’ understandings of SD concept and beliefs in integrating the concept into the courses are important because they can facilitate the implementation stage of integrating SD concept into various courses at the university. Statistically, the results of this study indicated that the relationship between lecturers’ understandings towards SD concept and their beliefs in integrating the concept into social science courses is significant at p<0.05. Unfortunately, the relationship showed a very low level of strength, which is 0.22. However, the qualitative results showed that several lecturers illustrated a very high level of belief in integrating SD concept into their courses even though they do not fully understand the concept. Thus, the findings suggested that training should be implemented for social science lecturers to enhance their level of understanding towards SD concept and explore the appropriate teaching approach in integrating this concept into the courses

Raja vs Qadi: Kuasa Raja dalam keputusan kehakiman Islam di Malaysia

Raja adalak merupakan Ketua Agama Islam bagi sesebuah negeri yang dinyatakan dalam Perkara 3. Kuasa Raja tertakluk kepada konsep Raja Berperlembagaan dan doktrin pengasingan kuasa yang termaktub dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Namun, tindakan Raja yang dikatakan telah memutuskan keputusan yang bertentangan dengan penghakiman mahkamah syariah dalam kes Timbalan Pendakwa Syarie Pahang v Kartika Sari Dewi binti Shukarno [2010] l CLJ 172 telah mencetuskan kontroversi apabila hukuman yang dijatuhkan ke atasnya telah bertukar kepada perintah khidmat masyarakat secara tidak langsung proses pengasingan kuasa dianggap tidak dijalankan sepenuhnya dalam mahkamah Syariah. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji sejauh mana Raja berkuasa dalam membuat keputusan kehakiman Islam. Kajian ini mengggunakan pendekatan kajian kes melalui analisis dokumen dan temu bual mendalam separa struktur terhadap empat orang Ketua Hakim Syarie, seorang Pendaftar dan seorang Pegawai Penyelidik Ketua Hakim Syarie di lima buah negeri di Malaysia. Manakala, dapatan kajian dianalisis dengan menggunakan kaedah tematik dan deskriptif. Hasil kajian mendapati Raja sebenarnya memiliki kuasa dalam membuat keputusan kehakiman Islam. Walau bagaimanapun, sebenarnya hal ini tidak bermaksud Raja boleh menggunakan kuasa tersebut sewenang-wenangnya. Ini kerana Malaysia mengamalkan prinsip pengasingan kuasa dan Raja terikat dengan Perlembagaan Persekutuan

A Comprehensive Study of Students’ Challenges and Perceptions of Emergency Remote Education During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Literature Review

Since year 2020, researchers have conducted research on challenges and perceptions of emergency remote teaching and learning (ERTL) during the COVID-19 pandemic on students. Many studies were conducted on the effectiveness of online learning, but there is a lack of studies on ERTL where online learning differs from ERTL. Thus, this study aims to identify the challenges and perceptions of students on ERTL during the early COVID-19. The methodology employed in this study are systematic literature review which used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), synthesis analysis and quality appraisal to review 51 selected articles. These articles are from two publishers (ScienceDirect and IEEE) and two databases (ERIC and Scopus). This study revealed that students experienced four types of challenges during the early period of ERTL namely technological, pedagogical, personal, and social issues. However, students have positive perceptions toward ERTL to pursue their studies during the difficult period. This study highlighted the students’ challenges and perceptions of ERTL during the COVID-19 pandemic in higher education. It is believed that this study will help future researchers to develop a strategic ERTL specifically for implementation during any crises in the future

Antioxidant, anticancer and antimicrobial activities of methanolic extracts from enicosanthellum pulchrum (King) heusden

Biological activities of crude methanolic extracts from leaves, barks, twigs and roots of Enicosanthellum pulchrum were investigated in four bioassays. The antioxidant, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay showed that bark and twig extracts showed high inhibitory activity with 60 and 56% inhibition at 1 mg/mL and IC50 values of 0.43 ± 0.04 and 0.64 ± 0.05 mg/mL, respectively. The bark and root extracts showed greater reducing power (FRAP) than several standard drugs used in the bioassay. Methanolic extracts of leaves, twigs and roots displayed strong cytotoxicity to breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), myelomonocytic leukaemia cell line (WEHI-3) and ovarian cancer cell line (CAOV-3); the IC50 of the leaf extract were 7.8 ± 0.85 μg/mL (MCF-7) and 9.0 ± 0.13 μg/mL (WEHI-3), while those for the twig and root extracts were 13.9 ± 0.35 and 7.3 ± 0.98 μg/mL (CAOV-3), respectively. In the antimicrobial assays, the extracts were tested against ten bacterial strains and two fungal strains. Bark and twig extracts displayed high inhibitory activity to Bacillus subtilis with 13.3 ± 0.57 and 12.0 ± 0.01 mm inhibition, respectively. In addition, the twig extract displayed better minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) compared with the bark extract (MIC 0.5 and 1.0 mg/mL, MBC 1.0 and 2.0 mg/mL, respectively). For antifungal activity, all extracts showed inhibition on Candida albicans but not on Aspergillus niger. The obtained results suggested that this plant may possibly contain bioactive compounds in the active extracts

In vitro assessment of anti-proliferative effect induced by alpha-mangostin from Cratoxylum arborescens on HeLa cells

Natural medicinal products possess diverse chemical structures and have been an essential source for drug discovery. Therefore, in this study, α-mangostin (AM) is a plant-derived compound was investigated for the apoptotic effect on human cervical cancer cells (HeLa). The cytotoxic effects of AM on the viability of HeLa and human normal ovarian cell line (SV40) were evaluated by using MTT assay. Results showed that AM inhibited HeLa cells viability at concentration- and time-dependent manner with IC50 value of 24.53 ± 1.48 µM at 24 h. The apoptogenic effects of AM on HeLa were assessed using fluorescence microscopy analysis. The effect of AM on cell proliferation was also studied through clonogenic assay. ROS production evaluation, flow cytometry (cell cycle) analysis, caspases 3/7, 8, and 9 assessment and multiple cytotoxicity assays were conducted to determine the mechanism of cell apoptosis. This was associated with G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and elevation in ROS production. AM induced mitochondrial apoptosis which was confirmed based on the significant increase in the levels of caspases 3/7 and 9 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the MMP disruption and increased cell permeability, concurrent with cytochrome c release from the mitochondria to the cytosol provided evidence that AM can induce apoptosis via mitochondrial-dependent pathway. AM exerted a remarkable antitumor effect and induced characteristic apoptogenic morphological changes on HeLa cells, which indicates the occurrence of cell death. This study reveals that AM could be a potential antitumor compound on cervical cancer in vitro and can be considered for further cervical cancer preclinical and in vivo testing

Effect of artonin E on caspases activation.

<p>(A) Relative expression levels of caspases- 3, -8, and -9 in SKOV-3 cells treated with 8 μg/mL of artonin E for 24, 48, and 72 h. Results are represented as mean±SD of three replicates. *<i>p<</i>0.05 indicates significant difference from control. (B) Time-dependent of protein expression levels of caspase-3, -8 and -9 in SKOV-3 cells treated with 8 μg/mL of artonin E. Artonin E induced the up-regulation of caspase-9, -3 and -8. (C) The quantitative analysis is expressed as a ratio to the expression of β-actin. The data are represented as mean±SD of three replicates. *<i>p<</i>0.05 indicates significant difference from control.</p

IC₅₀ values of SKOV-3 cells and T1074 cells treated with artonin E, paclitaxel, and carboplatin at different time points.

<p>IC₅₀ values of SKOV-3 cells and T1074 cells treated with artonin E, paclitaxel, and carboplatin at different time points.</p