Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 91 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Siew Tin, Tan, Mohd-Sidik, Sherina, Lekhraj, Rampal, Normala, Ibrahim, Kit-Aun, Tan, Zuriati, Ibrahim
    MyJurnal
    As reported by the World Health Organisation (2014), Malaysia is the fattest country among the Southeast Asia. Among others, obesity is a leading contributor of non-communicable diseases (e.g., type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cancer). This article aims to review the exiting weight management programmes targeting overweight and obesity in Malaysia from 2005 to 2015. The findings from this review could be useful for future intervention efforts in an attempt to address such issues in Malaysia.
  2. Asinamai Athliamai Bitrus, Siti Khairani Bejo, Sarah Othman, Zunita Zakaria
    MyJurnal
    The successful in vivo horizontal transfer of mobile genetic elements carrying resistance and virulence determinants have contributed immensely to a global dissemination of virulent and multi-drug resistant pathogens. In addition, the pathogenesis of MRSA infection is enhanced via initial colonization of the skin through the component of the microbial surface antigen recognizing adhesive matrix molecules and by their ability to evade host immune response. Furthermore, it was also observed that the genetic diversity of pathogenic MRSA is due to its’ ability to rapidly acquire resistance and virulence determinants. A characteristic feature that made it one of the most important nosocomial pathogen worldwide. Similarly, the expression of virulence gene in MRSA has been observed to be regulated by the accessory gene regulator system (agr). These system is made up of a series of genes whose product build up quorum-sensing regulatory mechanisms that is growth dependent. In addition, at a certain growth stage, the agr systems triggers a pronounced changes in the expression of genes called the quorum sensing. The findings of this review affirms the importance of horizontal gene transfer in the dissemination of resistance and virulence determinants and as well as the genetic diversity of MRSA.
  3. Nur Syazwani Jarkasi, Zamberi Sekawi, Cheah, Yoke Kqueen, Zulkefley Othman
    MyJurnal
    Torque Teno Virus (TTV) is a human-infected virus that is present ubiquitously in nature. Globally, it infects up to 95% of the healthy individuals without any clinical manifestations. The widely used laboratory diagnosis of TTV infection is Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Nevertheless, several other methods have been developed. The rapid growth of TTV variants over time has posed a challenge in estimating the global TTV infection as none of the PCR protocol has the ability to detect the entire spectrum of TTV variants. Multiple TTV epidemiological studies have been conducted among Asian population, whereas other continents showed a limited number of studies. The horizontal and vertical transmission of TTV among humans population, as well as interspecies transmission are potentially related to the global widespread of TTV infection.
  4. Mohd Muzammil Salahuddin, Zulfa Hanan Ashaari
    MyJurnal
    The use of remote sensing in detecting aerosol or air pollution is not widely applied in Malaysia. The large area of coverage provided by remote sensing satellite may well be the solution to the lack of spatial coverage by the local ground air quality monitoring stations. This article discusses the application of remote sensing instruments in air quality monitoring of Malaysia. The remote sensing data is validated using ground truths either from local ground air monitoring stations or the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET). The correlation between remote sensing is relatively good with R from 0.5 to 0.9 depending on the satellite used. The correlation is much improved using the mixed effects algorithm applied on MODIS Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) data. Accuracy of predicted air quality data by remote sensing is generally tested using the Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) against the ground truths data. Besides the Geographic Information System (GIS) tools are used in manipulating the data from both remote sensing and ground stations so as to produce meaningful results such as spatio-temporal pattern mapping of air pollution. Overall the results showed that the application of remote sensing instruments in air quality monitoring in Malaysia is very useful and can be improved further.
  5. Aburas, Maher Milad, Sabrina Ho Abdullah, Mohammad Firuz Ramli, Zulfa Hanan Ash'aari
    MyJurnal
    Remote sensing and geographic information system techniques are significant and popular approaches that have been used in recent years to measure and map urban growth patterns. This paper primarily aims to provide a basis for a literature review of urban growth measurement and mapping by using different methods. For this purpose, the general characteristics of measuring and mapping urban growth patterns are described and classified. The strengths and weaknesses of the various methods have been identified from an analysis and discussion of the characteristics of the techniques. Results of reviews confirm that combining quantitative and qualitative techniques, such as Shannon approach and change detection, to measure and map urban growth patterns will improve understanding of the phenomenon of urban growth. Moreover, using social and economic data such as population and income data will improve understanding of the relationships between causes and effects. The integration of social and economic factors with quantitative and qualitative techniques will contribute to a perfect evaluation of urban growth patterns and land use changes, taking technical, social, economic, spatial, and temporal factors into account.
  6. Noliza Saidin, Dalbir Singh, Zainul Akramin Mohd Drus
    MyJurnal
    Issues regarding misconception of the same piece of information are solicited from users with different cultural background and needs. Various efforts have been conducted to cater to such issue. However studies regarding cultivation of cultural elements in user interface design seem to be neglected. Numerous studies show that interface design preferences are related to the user’s cultural background. Furthermore, studies of user cultural needs could enhance user’s understanding and acceptance of the interface design. Thus, the purpose of this article is to review the cultural factors influencing interface design elements. Indirectly, it exhibits the concept of culture centered design.
  7. Keetanjaly Arivayagan, Zaidatol Akmaliah Lope Pihie
    MyJurnal
    Recently research in creative leadership has ballooned to encompass the essential qualities in organizational leaders (Petrie, 2014). In this study, Generativity Theory was utilized to explore the concept of creativity in leaders. Epstein (1999) presented four main core skills and abilities that assist people in expressing creativity individually which are capturing, challenging, broadening and surrounding. Model of high performing school by Shannon and Bylsma (2007) was utilized to measure school effectiveness. The purpose of this study is to determine teacher’s perceptions related to principals’ creative leadership practices towards school effectiveness in secondary schools in Klang District. Simple random sampling was used to select ten secondary schools from three different clusters of schools in the Klang District. A total of 250 teachers from these ten schools participated in this study. The study used self-administered questionnaires. The data are collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation and Multiple Regressions). This research endeavoured to answer the research questions through employing quantitative research method. This study discovered that the level of school effectiveness as practiced by secondary school teachers was overall high level. On the other hand, it was concluded that the level of creative leadership practiced by school leaders is at moderate level. This study also found out a moderate correlation between school principals’ creative leadership practice and school effectiveness (r = .617, p < .01). Additionally, multiple regression analysis indicated creative leadership practices domain; Encourage Capturing received the strongest weight in the prediction (β = 0.383, p
  8. Wong, Shu Ling, Wong, Su Luan
    MyJurnal
    This paper explores the construct of motivation from the perspective of the instructional designer or teacher. It describes the motivation to learn in the context of intrinsic motivation, Expectancy-value Theory, Self-efficacy Theory, and Attribution Theory. The ARCS motivational model is examined in detail before discussing how motivation can be integrated in instructional design to enhance learning. This paper also explicates Cheng and Yeh’s (2009) framework in the context of classroom learning.
  9. Mohammed, Konto, Tukur, Salamatu M., Watanabe, Mahira, Abd-rani, Puteri A.m., Lau, Seng F., Shettima, Yasheruram M., et al.
    MyJurnal
    Changes in tick-vector densities and a resultant incidence of tick-borne diseases are
    caused mainly by human activities affecting the environmental ecosystem, especially in tropical
    countries. As one of the most important invertebrate arthropod vectors of disease transmission, ticks
    are susceptible to changes in their environment due to their sole dependence of all their life stages on
    prevailing environment. Upon completion of their lifecycle, ticks depend on the availability of hosts
    and other several factors related to their surroundings to survive. This review discusses the major
    factors that influence the prevalence and distribution of tick-borne diseases among domestic animals
    in Malaysia. It is highly imperative to understand the factors that lead to increase in tick-vector
    populations, infection intensity and hence the spatial distribution of ticks and tick-borne diseases in
    order to prevent their emergence and resurgence as well as to serve as a basis for effectivecontrol.
  10. Nadia, Hisamuddin, Nadhirah, Kamarudin, Mohd Roslan, Sulaiman, Wan Mastura, Shaik Mossadeq
    MyJurnal
    Zingiberaceae is one of the largest plant families consisting of rhizomes that are commonly used as spice in soups and curries as well as alternative medications in folklore medicine. Zingiber officinale or commonly known as ginger is extensively employed in Asian, Ayurvedic, Chinese, and Arabian folklore medicine for the treatment of pain, inflammation and various spasm-associated gastric ailments. The past few decades saw rapid advancements in the extraction process of ginger bioactive constituents and validation of their corresponding pharmacodynamic and pharmacotherapeutic activities, and biological properties in vivo and in vitro. Results reported from several biological studies on ginger showed that extracts and compounds from this tuberous rhizome exhibit antiemetic, anticancer, antipyretic, antispasmogenic and antimicrobial activities. This article reviews the effect of Zingiber officinale and its bioactive constituents on isolated organ preparations from several species of animals in view of its potential use as an alternative treatment for muscle spasms and common gastric ailments.
  11. Bilal Yaseen, Tan Bee Hoon
    MyJurnal
    Language is essential for communication. People who are involved in cross cultural communication have to be bilingual in order to interact with people from a different language background (Blackwell. Woolard, K. (2005). Bilingualism opens up various new pathways of thoughts, expressions, and it helps to reduce misunderstanding in interactions (Hidayat, T. 2012). The purpose of this review is to find out how code-switching plays a vital role in language communication especially in the social media such as Facebook, Twitter, SMS and Chat. This study reviewed fifteen journal articles to examine the ways code-switching was used. The review was to discover social phenomena and authentic identities of social actors. The study discovered that code-switching has been used widely to unmask bilinguals’ cultural background and group identity during online communication via Facebook. Finally, code-switching can be used to obtain positive feelings to the interlocutor, which here was combined with introducing humour as an in-group marker, quoting, and to some extent topic specificity as well as possible vocabulary limitation in one language or the other, in the online conversation by bilinguals such as to express group solidarity.
  12. Aimi Adzirul kamarubahrin, Asmaddy Haris, Siti Nurazira Mohd Daud, Zurina kefeli @ Zulkefli, Nursilah Ahmad, Nurul Aini Muhamed, et al.
    MyJurnal
    Awareness of recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption has increased substantially over the last 20 years. In addition, fruits and vegetables such as pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne) are good sources of many important nutrients, including potassium, vitamin C, folate, fibre, and numerous phytochemicals. Malaysia produces pumpkinits own, with considerably large areas of production comparable to its high global demand. However, in reality, there is a limitation in the commercial production as the local pumpkinis very much dependent on the market demand as the utilization has been limited to the consumption of fresh product. Thus, the objective of the study first initiative to provide the information about the pumpkinand second to investigatesthe opportunities on commercialized local pumpkinin Malaysia as by products despite various nutritious it is also listed as prophetic foods. The scientific research that covered a broad range of in vitro to in vivo studies on the by-products potentials of these fruits is also discussed in detail.The current review is an update for researchers to have a better understanding of the pumpkin, which simultaneously can provide awareness to enhance their commercial value and promote their utilization.Malaysia have potential to growth pumpkin instead of continuously importing. The daily consumption of pumpkins may provide various health benefits to human. Future investigation is needed to explore the potential of pumpkin as by products in order to increase its competitiveness and self-sufficiency.
  13. Wardatun Nadrah Mohd Amin, Zainal Abidin Talib, Zulkarnain Zainal, Hong Ngee, Lim, Sook Keng, Chang
    MyJurnal
    Quantum dots-sensitized solar cell (QDSSC) is one of the third generation solar cell that is
    the most promising low cost, easy to manufacture and highly efficient solar cell. Compared to Dyesensitized
    solar cell (DSSC), quantum dots (QDs) of QDSSC has a narrow bandgap and possess
    excellent properties such as tunable band gaps, strong light absorption and high multiple electron
    generation. Titanium dioxide or titania (TiO2) is an oxides semiconductor material that is frequently
    used as a photoanode in this photovoltaic system due to high stability under visible light illumination.
    TiO2 is also known as a good photocatalyst and an excellent choice in environmental purification. The
    efficiencies of electron injection and light harvesting in QDSSC are affected by the nature, size
    morphology, and quantity of this nanomaterial. In this review, the concept and principles of the
    QDSSCs are reviewed. The preparation and fabrication method ofTiO2 electrode in QDSSC are also
    discussed. It is worthwhile to know the architecture of TiO2 in order to enhance the efficiency of
    QDSSC.
  14. Zafira Madzin, Faradiella Mohd Kusin, Mohd Shakirin Md Zahar, Siti Nurjaliah Muhammad
    MyJurnal
    The contamination of water bodies from heavy metals, either from natural sources or
    anthropogenic sources, has become a major concern to the public. Industrial activities with improper
    water treatment, and then leach into the water body, have become contaminated and harmful to
    consume. Passive remediation is one of the treatments introduced to counter this problem as it is a low
    cost but effective technique. After being widely acknowledged and through research conducted, the
    most suitable remediation technique found is the permeable reactive barriers (PRBs). PRB is defined
    as an in situ permeable treatment zone filled with reactive materials, designed to intercept and
    remediate a contaminant plume under natural hydraulic gradients. There have been many findings
    made from PRB which can be used to remove contaminants such as heavy metal, chlorinated solvents,
    carbonates and aromatic hydrocarbons. The most crucial criteria in making a successful PRB is the
    reactive media used to remove contaminants. The current paper presents an overview of the PRB
    selective medias that have been used and also the unresolved issue on the long term performance of
    PRB. The overall methodology for the application of PRB at a given site is also discussed in this
    paper. This inexpensive but effective technique is crucial as a sustainable technology in order to treat
    the drainage before it enters water tables to prevent water pollution and can be used as an alternative
    raw water source.
  15. Rabiu Muhammad, Aliyu, Mohamed Mustapha, Noordin, Zunita Zakaria, Siti Khairani-bejo
    MyJurnal
    Burkholderia pseudomallei are Gram negative highly pathogenic bacteria of humans and
    animals causing a multisystemic disease called melioidosis. They have recently gained a lot of interest
    from the research community and public health organisations because of their great potential to be
    used as an agent of bioterrorism. This has made the search for simple, rapid, accurate and the most
    definitive means of their detection, identification and discrimination very critical and necessary. This
    article aimed to review the molecular techniques used for detection, identification and differentiation
    of B. pseudomallei. Although, culture and isolation techniques maintained their usefulness in
    confirming cases of melioidosis, their time limitation (can take up to a week for confirming diagnosis)
    leads to the search for rapid and simple techniques. Consequently, serology-based tests have been
    developed which are both faster and less sophisticated. However, the presence of high background
    titre levels and cross-reaction with other organisms make it less reliable. Thus, efforts have been
    directed to explore rapid and accurate molecular techniques and resulting in the development and
    validation of various PCR-based identification techniques targeting either single or multiple genes.
    Although requiring some level of instrumentation and expertise, PCR-based techniques have been
    reported to be very useful in diagnosis of melioidosis. We recommend the 16S rRNA PCR (especially
    augmented with other molecular methods such as gene sequencing and analysis) and MLST
    techniques for timely detection, identification and differentiation of B. pseudomallei for routine
    diagnosis and epidemiological studies respectively.
  16. Ain Aqilah Basirun, Mohd Khalizan Sabullah, Mohd Yunus Abd Shukor, Nur Adeela Yasid, Nor Aripin Shamaan, Siti Aqlima Ahmad
    MyJurnal
    Recently, the contamination of heavy metals towards the environment especially in aquatic system has drastically increased. Heavy metals are able to transform into persistent metallic compound in which it can be accumulated within the organisms’ body system, disrupting the food chain and eventually threatened the human life. The occurrence of heavy metals spillage in the rivers and lakes are due to the careless disposal of excess heavy metals used for human activities. The accumulation of heavy metals in water system will affect all aquatic organisms especially fish. The toxicity of copper in fish can be determined by several changes in the fish under treatment with heavy metals sub-lethal concentration, LC50 within 96-hours period of acute exposure. Therefore, fish can be considered as a high potential biomarker for monitoring heavy metals pollution in aquatic system. Several selective organs are highly sensitive to the xenobiotic pollution and express changes to the exposure. One of the most potential biomarker is the biochemical biomarker of cholinesterase (ChE) inhibition by heavy metals in fish has been well studied in pollution monitoring recently. Thus, this paper gives an overview of the manipulation of fish as a biomarker of heavy metals through enzymatic reaction which have proven to be very useful in the environmental pollution monitoring.
  17. Motharasan Manogaran, Mohd Yunus Shukor, Nur Adeela Yasid, Wan Lutfi Wan Johari, Siti Aqlima Ahmad
    MyJurnal
    Commercialisation of glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] in the early 1970s has left a big leap in the agriculture sector. This is due to its effectiveness in controlling a wide range of weeds. Glyphosate translocates well in plants. In addition, with added surfactant in its formulae, it can also be used in wet conditions. Its ability to kill weeds by targeting the 5-enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) makes no competing herbicide analogs in its class. Considering its cost effectiveness, only small amount is needed to cover a large sector in agricultural land. The most important aspect in the success of glyphosate is the introduction of transgenic, glyphosate-resistant crops in 1996. However, glyphosate is not an environmental friendly herbicide. This systematic herbicide has raised environmental concern due to its excessive use in agriculture. Studies have shown traces of glyphosate found in drinking water. Meanwhile, it's rapid binding on soil particles possesses adverse effect to soil organisms. Glyphosate degradation in soil usually carried out by microbial activity. Microbes’ capable utilising glyphosate mainly as phosphate source. However, the activity of C-P lyase in breaking down glyphosate have not clearly understood. This review presents a collective summary on the understanding on how glyphosate works and its environmental fate.
  18. Bitrus, Asinamai Athliamai, Zunita Zakaria, Siti Khairani-bejo, Abdul-nasir Tijjan, Sarah Othman
    MyJurnal
    Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the leading nosocomial
    pathogen that is also emerging as a zoonotic pathogen. In this review, it was observed that rapid
    emergence of new MRSA clones at a higher frequency has ushered in a new knowledge on the clonality
    and epidemic potentials of MRSA. Secondly, the success of treatment and management of MRSA
    infection is threatened by the diversity in the clonal types. This is because different clones harbours
    different antibiotics resistance characteristics and as such respond differently to treatment. Furthermore,
    clonal replacement of hospital-acquired MRSA with community -acquired MRSA has also been
    observed. Thirdly, the transmission of MRSA even though previously thought to be exclusively within
    the hospital setting through hand contact and nasal colonization has now spread to the community and in
    addition human to animal and animal to human transmission has also been observed. Similarly, pet
    owners, veterinarians and farmers have been described as high-risked group with potentials of becoming
    reservoirs of MRSA. Furthermore, the adoption of hand hygiene in healthcare setting have to a great
    extent reduced the incidence of MRSA in the hospital. And lastly, the advent of molecular typing such as
    Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), Multi Locus Sequence Typing (MLST), Staphylococcal protein
    A typing (Spa typing) and Double Locus Sequence Typing (DLST) have proven to be a useful tool in
    providing valuable information on the evolution and clonal diversity of MRSA. These in turn help
    researchers to answer some pertinent questions on the epidemiology of MRSA.
  19. Aktar-Uz-Zamana, Md., Tuhina-Khatun, Mst., Mohamed Hanafi Musa, Sahebi, Mahbod
    MyJurnal
    A resistant variety with high yielding potential is key for increasing crop production to
    fulfill the food requirement of the ever increasing world populations. Consequently, the aim of plant
    breeders is to develop high yielding varieties or cultivars that are resistant or tolerant to specific
    diseases or insects. For developing a resistant variety, it is enormously indispensable to incorporate or
    introgress the specific resistant genes of that particular disease into the recipient. Suppression
    subtractive hybridization (SSH) is a powerful technique for the identification of disease specific
    differentially expressed genes that are expressed in a resistant or susceptible variety. This paper
    presents a brief review on the SSH technique with examples focusing on the identification of the
    wheat disease specific differentially expressed genes and their defense mechanisms against fungal
    pathogens in global wheat cultivars. This review is helpful for wheat researchers for the updated
    information on the SSH technique for the identification of differentially expressed genes in the global
    wheat cultivars and varieties. Eventually, the identified genes could be used to develop the disease
    resistance variety through marker-assisted backcrossing programme or conventional breeding.
  20. Wardahanisah Razali, Rusmadiah Anwar
    MyJurnal
    It is hard to identify the local Malay identity in a design context compared to other cultural oriented design in several countries. This paper tries to uncover how designers interpret local identity embodied agent based on local items influences and understood and the influence of incremental, radical design that changes respective to preceding designs. A descriptive study through the literature reviews focusses on a type of artefact initiated through cultural-oriented design. Based on the preliminary study, a sampling taken from the Chinese, Indian, Japanese or European consistently apply the same fundamental understanding in regards to the culture-oriented design. From the same point of view, teapot seems to be used as one of the dominant artefact indicating the design preferences. This research will benefit both the academia and the industry and identify significant identity based on the local context and become an embodied agent to give impact in establishing the state-of-the-art of brand, the identity of local design, establish new trademark towards generating domestic, international economy and promote the nation worldwide throughout design platform.
Related Terms
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links