National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia

In order to better reflect contemporary professional practice, this study examines how public health law education has changed from its traditional reliance on case-based instruction to experiential, simulation-based, and multidisciplinary approaches. The Langdellian paradigm enhances analytical thinking, but it does not adequately prepare lawyers to handle complex problems like pandemics, cross-sector coordination, regulatory governance, and health disparities. The study is based on the constructivist and situated learning theories and demonstrates that the use of serious games, simulations, tabletop, legal epidemiology tools, and virtual reality enhances judgment, ethical awareness, teamwork, and systems thinking. Students are exposed to limitations, authority structures, and uncertainties that are often absent from typical classroom environments through experiential learning. The paper addresses risks like trivialization, design bias, unequal access, and digital divides in order to ensure that graduates are capable, moral, and practically successful in promoting universal health and professional responsibility across various legal and public health systems, both now and in the future. Additionally, it promotes equity-centered implementation, rigorous assessment, and carefully designed curricula.

Background/Objectives: Isolated methylmalonic acidemia (iMMA) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by defects in methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MCM) activity or in the biosynthesis of its cofactor, adenosylcobalamin. Mutations in five genes-MMUT, MMAA, MMAB, MMADHC, and MCEE-are known to underlie this condition. This study aimed to characterize the clinical features and molecular spectrum of iMMA in Malaysian patients of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Material and Methods: Patients with biochemical evidence suggestive of iMMA, including elevated propionylcarnitine (C3), increased C3/C2 ratio, and raised urine methylmalonic acid levels in the absence of hyperhomocysteinemia, were selected for genetic testing. Sanger sequencing was performed to identify pathogenic variants in the MMUT, MMAA, MMAB, MMADHC, or MCEE genes. Results: The cohort consisted predominantly of Iban patients (n = 5), with the remaining cases comprising one Malay and one Thai-Malay individual. Age at diagnosis ranged from Day 1 of life to 6 years. All 7 patients were confirmed to have iMMA through molecular analysis. A total of seven pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants were identified, including two novel MMUT variants (c.246_250delinsGA and c.1358G>C), four known MMUT variants (c.560C>G, c.693C>G, c.982C>T, c.1106G>A), and one known MMAB variant (c.644+1G>A). Clinical presentation and disease severity varied across cases, reflecting underlying genotypic heterogeneity. Conclusions: This study highlights the molecular diversity and clinical variability of iMMA in Malaysia. Our findings reinforce the importance of integrating metabolic screening with molecular diagnostics to identify disease-causing variants and guide patient management strategies effectively.

A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of foliar-applied marine fish amino acids (MFA) on the growth, yield, yield components, and preventive antioxidant capacity of okra, as well as the interaction between okra varieties and MFA concentrations. The study used a split-plot design with four replications. Three okra varieties — RED FINGER, KN–OYV–02, and LUCKY FILE 473 — were assigned to main plots. Five concentrations were tested in the subplots (0.00, 1.50, 3.00, 4.50, and 6.00 ml/l). Yield per plant — a key indicator for growers — did not differ significantly among the three varieties but responded to MFA levels-plants treated with 3.00, 4.50, or 6.00 ml/l. MFA showed no significant differences among these higher concentrations; however, all produced higher yields than the untreated control and the 1.50 ml/l treatment. The greatest yield (1,271.49 g/plant) was obtained at 3.00 ml/l, followed by 4.50 ml/l (1,251.22 g/plant) and 6.00 ml/l (1,215.51 g/plant). Reducing sugar content did not vary significantly among the okra varieties but was influenced by MFA levels. LUCKY FILE 473 recorded the highest reducing sugar (~1.77 mg/ml). The concentrations 3.00, 4.50, and 6.00 ml/l yielded the highest reducing sugar levels (1.89, 1.84, and 1.77 mg/ml, respectively), with no significant difference among them, while the control plants had the lowest value (1.53 mg/ml). Among pigment traits, RED FINGER exhibited the lowest chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll contents (2.96, 1.51, and 4.47 mg/g FW, respectively) but had the highest carotenoid concentration (0.50 µg/g FW).

ABSTRACT The emergence of generative AI (GenAI) has accelerated pedagogical innovation and reshaped pathways for student skills development in higher education. Among them, ChatGPT has gained widespread adoption, yet the mechanism through which GenAI contributes to student skills formation remains insufficiently understood. To address this gap, this study employs a systematic literature review of 99 empirical studies published between November 2022 and March 2025 across four major English‐language databases: Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, and IEEE Xplore. The review follows PRISMA guidelines and aims to clarify methodology trends, thematic categories, and skills development. The findings reveal that current research on GenAI in education is primarily concentrated in China and the United States and primarily adopts experimental or mixed‐method designs. GenAI is conceptualised in six roles, namely, thinking mentor, writing assistant, learning companion, development coach, programming assistant, and creative generator. The research is mainly concentrated on four themes: cognitive skills and thinking skills development, academic writing and language performance enhancement, self‐regulated learning and pedagogical innovation, and the development of composite competencies and future readiness. This study uses the three‐stage coding method of grounded theory to systematically analyse the pathways through which GenAI interventions affect students' skills development in empirical studies. It then proposes a theoretical framework for students' skills development centred on the mechanisms of pedagogical innovation, learning support, and feedback regulation. The three subsystems in the framework work together to focus on developing four core skills: digital technology application skills, higher‐order thinking skills, and AI ethical and self‐directed learning skills. This study not only enriches the theoretical understanding of GenAI in educational contexts but also offers practical insights for reforming higher education systems toward skills‐oriented teaching.

Background: Self-esteem is a pivotal yet fragile factor influencing the learning and psychosocial outcomes of students with learning disabilities (LD). Although widely discussed, evidence has been inconsistent and dispersed across cultural and methodological contexts. Methods: This systematic review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Databases search identified 54 records from Scopus and Web of Science, of which eight studies published between 2008 and 2023 met the inclusion criteria. The studies were synthesized into three domains, psychological dimensions, social support and educational interventions. Results: Findings revealed consistent psychological vulnerabilities. Students with LD reported lower academic self-concept than peers, while large-scale evidence showed overall moderate self-esteem with gender differences favoring males. Qualitative accounts from adults indicated ambivalent identities, blending positive traits such as independence with negative perceptions of anxiety and inadequacy. Social support emerged as a protective factor with friendships, parental involvement and teacher encouragement fostering resilience and buffering against stigma. Interventions demonstrated tangible benefits, educational therapy with 150 children improved self-esteem and reduced behavioral problems, while adapted cognitive-behavioral therapy enhanced emotional regulation and self-worth in adults. Conclusion: The evidence highlights the need for integrated, culturally responsive and gender-sensitive approaches that address both academic competence and psychosocial well-being. Future research should adopt larger, longitudinal and cross-cultural designs to better capture developmental trajectories across the lifespan.

Central venous stenosis (CVS) is a clinically significant complication in patients who depend on long-term hemodialysis access. While digital subtraction angiography remains the diagnostic gold standard, it is invasive, costly, and exposes patients to contrast and radiation. This study examined the diagnostic value of a simple, non-invasive, radiation-free alternative-the ultrasound-guided "sniff test," which assesses dynamic changes in subclavian vein diameter during a forceful sniff to screen for CVS. Despite its potential advantages, the diagnostic performance of this method has not been well established. A prospective study was conducted among 71 end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients scheduled for angiography. Each participant underwent a sniff test before the procedure. A reduction of more than 40% in subclavian vein diameter during sniffing was considered normal, indicating absence of stenosis. Angiographic findings were used as the reference standard. Clinical signs-specifically ipsilateral arm swelling and visible chest wall veins-were also evaluated for diagnostic utility. Angiography confirmed CVS in 32 patients (45.1%). The sniff test showed a strong association with stenosis (OR 20.9) and demonstrated solid diagnostic performance, with sensitivity of 84.4%, specificity of 79.5%, and an AUC of 0.82. A normal sniff test accurately excluded stenosis in the majority of patients without CVS (86.1%), whereas an abnormal result was predominantly seen among those with stenosis (77.1%). Arm swelling was also significantly associated with stenosis (OR 20.40) and showed good standalone diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity 75.0%, specificity 87.2%, AUC 0.81). Importantly, combining the sniff test with clinical assessment enhanced overall performance, achieving higher specificity (94.9%) and excellent discriminative ability (AUC 0.90). In conclusion, the ultrasound sniff test is a promising, accessible, and accurate screening tool for CVS. Used alone or alongside clinical findings, it offers a practical method to identify patients who may benefit from confirmatory angiography-particularly valuable in resource-limited or radiation-averse settings.

This literature review systematically synthesizes the body of existing research on conceptual metaphors within the theoretical and practical system of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Grounded in the analytical framework of Conceptual Metaphor Theory from cognitive linguistics, the review consolidates scholarly findings to demonstrate that metaphors are not merely rhetorical expressions but are foundational cognitive constructs that organize TCM’s understanding of physiology, pathology, and therapy. By collating evidence from numerous studies, it categorizes the pervasive metaphors documented in classical texts such as <i>Huang Di Nei Jing</i> into four primary types identified in the literature: ontological metaphors, structural metaphors, orientational metaphors, and philosophical metaphors. The synthesis confirms that these metaphorical frameworks are central to articulating and operationalizing core TCM doctrines, including the dynamics of Yin and Yang, the process of syndrome differentiation, and the principles of herbal formulation and acupuncture. Furthermore, the review addresses the adaptation of these traditional metaphors in contemporary contexts, particularly in digital and multimodal communication aimed at TCM communication. While highlighting their didactic and popularizing potential, it also notes challenges in multimodal representation and the risk of conceptual distortion in new media forms. This synthesis underscores metaphor as a pervasive and deep-seated cognitive mechanism that bridges TCM’s classical foundations with its modern interpretation and dissemination, with this comprehensive overview establishing metaphor as a fundamental structural element that links TCM’s historical foundations to its contemporary interpretive and communicative practices.

Teachers' professional development is in a fundamental and critical position in the cause of higher education in China. The experience of successive industrial revolutions and educational changes tells us that the key to the success of talent cultivation in colleges and universities in the era of intelligent education lies with teachers. This paper applies data mining techniques and the Apriori algorithm to examine teachers' career development paths and education management using 2023 data from the academic affairs management system of a higher vocational college as the sample dataset. The Apriori algorithm is a powerful tool for discovering hidden patterns and correlations among teacher characteristics, such as education level, workload, and teaching effectiveness, thereby supporting data-driven decision-making in staff development. The results of the study show that encouraging young teachers to pursue further studies, encouraging experienced teachers to lead and help young teachers to study professional technology, enabling teachers to complete the transformation of 'dual-teacher' teachers, and creating a teacher team suitable for higher vocational colleges and universities are the main points of the work of higher vocational colleges and universities in the construction of the teacher team.

Malaysia recorded about 2.7 million COVID-19 cases as of December 31, 2022. An understanding of the overall health and economic burden of COVID-19 on healthcare services and productivity in Malaysia is important for policymakers for future planning and prioritising. Retrospective study. Using publicly available data from Ministry of Health Malaysia, we estimated the direct medical costs associated with COVID-19 from the health system perspective using a cost-of-illness approach. We used a human capital approach to estimate current and future productivity losses and calculated disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) to estimate the burden of disease associated with illness and premature mortality. All future costs and outcomes were discounted at 3%. From January 2020 to December 2022, 28,803 COVID-19 related deaths occurred, and the DALYs associated with these was 638,601. The total estimated cost due to COVID-19 amounted to US$5.2 billion, with direct medical costs making up the largest component (73%) of these costs, at US$2.8 billion. COVID-19 Quarantine and Treatment Centres, COVID-19 testing, and hospitalizations accounted for the largest share of total direct expenditures. Productivity losses (27% of total costs) were driven by future lost earnings resulting from premature mortality. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in considerable economic and disease burden in Malaysia, and during the three years the disease burden was comparable to that of all respiratory illnesses. Our estimates underestimate the full impact of COVID-19, as opportunity costs and health impacts of a diversion of services during surges of COVID-19 cases, and spill-over effects to other sectors of the economy, are not captured here.