Science Essence Journal

Uncovering Barriers: Why Students in Science Education Struggle with Technology and Engineering Literacy Tests

Defrizal Hamka, Irma Rahma Suwarna, Riandi, Sjaeful Anwar — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study aimed to determine the obstacles that hinder the achievement of technological and engineering literacy among science students. The design used in this study was a mixed research method. Data collection techniques include interviews and questionnaires. The purposive sampling technique was chosen to determine the sample in this study, taking into account students who were declared incomplete/unable to complete the technological and engineering literacy test, resulting in a total of 6 students. The results of the study indicate that the most significant challenges faced by students are the lack of direct experience with technology-based experiments, limited access to technical resources, and teaching approaches that still prioritize theory over practice. Other obstacles contributing to low technological and engineering literacy include low intrinsic motivation, lack of support when developing technological solutions, and poor communication skills in a technology-based environment. These findings highlight the importance of reforming learning approaches, particularly by balancing aspects of theory and practice such as Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and Project-Based Learning (PjBL), design-based learning 6E, and others, as well as (STEM) in the science education curriculum. Strengthening communication skills in the context of technology is also necessary to better prepare students for challenges in the world of industry and technological innovation.

Purification and Characterization of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyvalerate) Depolymerase from Thermophilic Actinomadura sp. TF1

Peechapack Sriyapai, Thayat Sriyapai, Kosum Chansiri — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Actinomadura sp. strain TF1, a thermophilic actinomycete bacterium that produces an enzyme capable of degrading the bioplastic copolymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), was cultured in basal medium under optimized conditions at pH 8, 45 °C, and 0.4% (w/v) PHBV substrate concentration, as previously studied, to achieve the highest production of PHBV depolymerase. The enzyme was purified through 80% (w/v) ammonium sulphate precipitation, dialysis, and Diethylaminoethyl cellulose (DEAE) column chromatography, resulting in a specific activity of 463.7 U/mg protein, 49.9% recovery, and a 2.8-fold purification. The molecular weight of the purified PHBV depolymerase was determined to be 35 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme exhibited optimal activity at 45 °C and demonstrated thermal stability within the range of 35-45 °C. The optimal pH for activity was 8, with stability observed between pH 8 and 9. PHBV depolymerase displayed strong activity against substrates such as PHBV, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), and polybutylene succinate (PBS), with the highest degradation activity observed for PHBV. Additionally, the enzyme hydrolyzed p-nitrophenol esters, confirming its classification as an esterase. The activity of PHBV depolymerase was enhanced by the presence of Ca²⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺ ions but was inhibited by Fe²⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Hg²⁺ ions. Dithiothreitol (DTT) exhibited a significant inhibitory effect. In conclusion, this study is the first to report the purification and characterization of PHBV depolymerase from Actinomadura sp. strain TF1.

Preparation and Characterization of Cetirizine Fast-Dissolving Tablets

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This research aimed to prepare and characterize the properties of cetirizine fast-dissolving tablets (FDTs) for improving patient compliance, especially among the elderly or individuals with swallowing difficulties. The effects of disintegrant type and concentration, including Kollidol^®CL, Kollidol^® CL-SF, and Explotab^®, were evaluated on the characteristics of blank FDTs at concentrations of 5%, 7%, and 10% w/w. Additionally, the effect of compaction force was also investigated. The prepared tablets were evaluated regarding their properties in terms of thickness and hardness, weight variation, wetting time, and disintegration time (DT). The results revealed that the type and concentration of disintegrants significantly influenced tablet hardness, wetting time, and DT, with minimal impact on thickness and weight. Tablets formulated with 7% w/w of various disintegrants and compressed at a force of 12 kN demonstrated optimal physical properties and were selected for the preparation of cetirizine FDTs. Three formulations of cetirizine FDTs were prepared, with an average tablet weight of 307.34±2.57 mg. The weight fluctuation among the tablets was within 5%, adhering to the acceptability standards for the target weight. All FDT formulations exhibited complete wetting and full disintegration within 3 minutes. As a result, the prepared cetirizine FDTs conformed to the standards specified in the European Pharmacopoeia (EU). After one month of stability testing, all cetirizine FDTs retained satisfactory physical properties. However, further studies are required to evaluate their chemical stability. Future studies should focus on long-term stability and the evaluation of cetirizine FDT palatability in human volunteers.

In Vitro Screening of Anti-Viral and Virucidal Effects Against SARS-CoV-2 by Phenylamino-Phenoxy-Quinoline Derivatives: An Integrative Computational Approach

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigated the binding interactions between three groups of 2,4-disubstituted phenylamino-phenoxyquinoline derivatives 1-3(a-d) and four readily available drugs (ritonavir, ensitrelvir, nirmatrelvir, and paxlovid) with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) using cytotoxicity, virucidal activity testing, molecular docking, and molecular dynamic methods. Between the concentration range of 500 to 31.25 µg/mL, 1-3(a-d) demonstrated that none of the investigated substances had any harmful effects on Vero E6 cells. The virucidal activity testing demonstrated that ritonavir, ensitrelvir, nirmatrelvir, paxlovid, and 3c had log reduction values ranging from 2.99 to 3.50 when treated with concentrations between 62.5 to 125 µg/mL. Ritonavir and 3c had exceptional log reduction values that surpassed those of the other substances examined. 3c exhibited the highest log reduction value when compared to the other 2,4-disubstituted quinoline derivatives evaluated at the same concentration. The molecular docking approach revealed that all analyzed compounds interacted with the active site of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M^pro) through hydrogen bonds and π-sulfur interactions. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations, combined with binding free energy calculations using MM-PBSA and MM-GBSA techniques, demonstrated the binding free energy of M^pro-ensitrelvir and M^pro-3c was greater than that of M^pro-1a. To validate our computational results, we conducted M^pro inhibitor screening assay. The analysis was confirmed that compound 3c exhibits strong inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 2.71 μM), consistent with our virucidal testing and computational approaches. The results emphasize the potential of 2,4-disubstituted quinoline derivatives as promising candidates for inhibiting SARS-CoV-2. This provides crucial insights for developing effective antiviral drugs.

Antioxidant and Antihyperglycemic Effects of Bay Leaf (Syzygium polyanthum [Wight.] Walp) Kombucha in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Mice

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Kombucha is a popular functional beverage known for its health benefits, and recent research has focused on using alternative substrates for its production. Syzygium polyanthum (bay leaf) is a medicinal plant with various pharmacological properties, yet its potential as a kombucha fermentation substrate remains unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the polyphenol content, antioxidant capacity, and antihyperglycemic effects of kombucha made from S. polyanthum extract. The research followed four main stages: S. polyanthum extraction, fermentation, product standardization, and pharmacological testing. Chemical analysis quantified the total phenolic and flavonoid content, while biological evaluations included an in vitro antioxidant assessment using the DPPH assay and an in vivo antihyperglycemic study in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Data were analyzed using independent T-tests and ANOVA with a 95% confidence interval. A non-significant increase was observed in the total phenolic content of S. polyanthum kombucha (8.01±0.69 mg GAE/g) compared to the non-fermented infusion (7.71±0.37 mg GAE/g, p = 0.547), along with a slight increase in flavonoid content (5.04±0.25 mg QE/g vs. 4.74±0.23 mg QE/g, p = 0.196). The kombucha also exhibited significantly stronger antioxidant activity than its non-fermented infusion (IC₅₀: 449.31±38.9 µg/mL vs. 578.93
±20.67 µg/mL; p <0.05), although both were considerably less potent than the standard gallic acid (IC₅₀: 25.68±3.26 µg/mL). Furthermore, after 14 days of treatment, S. polyanthum kombucha significantly reduced blood glucose levels in diabetic mice by 61.45±11.63%, surpassing both metformin (50.47±4.28%) and the non-fermented S. polyanthum infusion (53.34±5.71%) (p=0.001; p<0.05). These findings indicate that the kombucha is a promising functional beverage with potential applications in diabetes management.

Unveiling Customer Insights: An Interpretable Machine Learning Approach to Bank Telemarketing Data

Chin Lertvipada, Sirisup Laohakia — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Financial institutions play a vital role in driving the economy. Despite the advent of digital financial systems, phone-based product offerings remain popular in the banking sector. This study focuses on building a model to predict customer applications from telemarketing campaigns. By utilizing the publicly available Bank Marketing Data Set, which exhibits significant class imbalance, we explored various combinations of effective imbalanced treatments and categorical encodings in conjunction with machine learning models to identify the most optimal combination for prediction. Additionally, interpretable machine learning techniques were employed to delve into the critical features and the underlying reasoning behind the model's predictions. The experiment revealed that the LightGBM model with Class weight and One-hot encoding yielded the best AUC score of 0.948. Using SHAP to explain the model's behavior, we found that the features related to economic factors hold greater significance compared to individual customer attributes. Furthermore, error analysis on false negative instances demonstrated that the similarity of instance characteristics of some important features could mislead the models and result in inaccurate prediction. These findings shed light on the model's decision-making process and offer insights for enhancing prediction accuracy and understanding customer behavior in financial product applications. The results offer actionable guidance for optimizing business operations by enabling more efficient lead targeting, reducing resource waste in telemarketing efforts, and supporting data-driven decision-making in customer outreach strategies.

The Synergy of MOOCs, Synchronous and Asynchronous Approaches in Developing a Technology-Integrated Learning Curriculum with Coaching and Mentoring for Science Teachers in the Chiang Mai Education Sandbox

Suthida Chamrat, Suntonrapot Damrongpanit, Monapat Manokarn — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates the impact of a professional development program integrating MOOCs, workshops, and mentoring to support teachers within Thailand’s Education Sandbox policy. Grounded in the TPACK framework, the study employed a mixed-methods design to examine shifts in technological integration, pedagogical awareness, and teacher confidence. Quantitative data from 68 participants were analyzed through descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation. Results showed significant gains in all TPACK domains and a marked progression in the Technology Integration Matrix (TIM) levels. The number of teachers not using any technology dropped by 90%. Thematic content analysis of teacher reflections and mentor notes highlighted increased self-awareness, deeper understanding of student engagement through technology, and ongoing challenges related to digital adaptation. Mentorship emerged as a critical factor, providing just-in-time support, reflective questioning, and emotional encouragement. The findings affirm that human-centered coaching significantly enhances the effectiveness of scalable online learning formats such as MOOCs. This research offers practical insights for designing transformative teacher development that is data-informed, context-sensitive, and sustainable in resource-constrained environments.

Neuroprotective Effects of Urolithins A and B against H2O2-induced toxicity in PC12 cells

Tewin Tencomnao, Atsadang Theerasri, Sakawrat Janpaijit, Anchalee Prasansuklab — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Oxidative stress has been consistently implicated in a range of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). This detrimental condition is caused by exaggerated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation which results in damage to neuronal cells. Urolithin A and B (UA and UB) are natural compounds derived from ellagitannins, which are abundant in pomegranate and other fruits. Herein, neuroprotective potential and underlying mechanisms of UA and UB against H₂O₂-induced oxidative injury of PC12 cells were investigated in this study. We found that pretreatment with UA and UB significantly rescued H₂O₂-induced toxicity in a dose-dependent manner, as demonstrated by increased cell viability and reduced ROS production. The pretreatment of PC12 cells with UA and UB could also modulate the expression of apoptotic-related proteins thereby inhibiting H₂O₂-induced apoptosis. Moreover, UA and UB activated the Nrf2 signaling and upregulated the expression of antioxidant genes including catalase, heme oxygenase-1 and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). Consistently, the activity of SOD1 was increased after pretreatment of PC12 with UA and UB in the presence of H₂O₂. Overall, our study provides supporting evidence on the neuroprotective potential of UA and UB against oxidative stress-induced neuronal damage. Together, the findings suggest that both UA and UB could have potential health benefits for NDDs therapy and prevention.

Development and Implementation of a Smart Single-Station Manual Assembly Cell for an Inexperienced Worker to Enhance Industrial Efficiency in an MSME

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) often face low efficiency, high error rates, and operator fatigue in manual assembly. High turnover of inexperienced/novice workers worsens these issues. Automation is common in large industries, but affordable smart solutions for MSMEs are limited. This study addresses the gap by converting a Traditional Single-Station Manual Assembly Cell (SSMAC) into a Smart SSMAC i.e. Smart Assembly Table (SAT). The SAT/Smart SSMAC uses smart technologies to improve efficiency, reduce errors, and counter the effects of high attrition among novice workers. A design-based experimental method was used. The upgrade included a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), a Human-Machine Interface (HMI), sensor-enabled bin racks, and a modular workstation layout. The SAT/Smart SSMAC was tested in an MSME with inexperienced/novice workers. Productivity, error rates, and labor cost efficiency were measured. Real-time monitoring and digital displays guided operators in part selection, placement, and cycle time adherence using video and alarms. Tests with five inexperienced/novice workers over 100 assembly cycles showed significant gains. Cycle time dropped by 22.5%, and operator errors fell by 71.43%. Meeting the target cycle time improved by 34.33%, and delays reduced by 69.69%. The upgrade cost INR 129,988. Labor cost per unit decreased by INR 11.38, giving a 35% reduction. The SAT/Smart SSMAC supports Industry 4.0 goals, enhances lean manufacturing, and retains human involvement. Future upgrades, such as predictive maintenance and augmented reality, could further increase its benefits. The system’s flexibility across skill levels and product complexities offers potential for broader application.