Displaying publications 61 - 80 of 82 in total

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  1. Mohamad Kasim AS, Ariff AB, Mohamad R, Wong FWF
    Nanomaterials (Basel), 2020 Dec 10;10(12).
    PMID: 33321788 DOI: 10.3390/nano10122475
    Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been found to have extensive biomedical and biological applications. They can be synthesised using chemical and biological methods, and coated by polymer to enhance their stability. Hence, the changes in the physico-chemical characteristics of AgNPs must be scrutinised due to their importance for biological activity. The UV-Visible absorption spectra of polyethylene glycol (PEG) -coated AgNPs displayed a distinctive narrow peak compared to uncoated AgNPs. In addition, High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy analysis revealed that the shapes of all AgNPs, were predominantly spherical, triangular, and rod-shaped. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis further confirmed the role of PEG molecules in the reduction and stabilisation of the AgNPs. Moreover, dynamic light scattering analysis also revealed that the polydispersity index values of PEG-coated AgNPs were lower than the uncoated AgNPs, implying a more uniform size distribution. Furthermore, the uncoated and PEG-coated biologically synthesised AgNPs demonstrated antagonisms activities towards tested pathogenic bacteria, whereas no antagonism activity was detected for the chemically synthesised AgNPs. Overall, generalisation on the interrelations of synthesis methods, PEG coating, characteristics, and antimicrobial activity of AgNPs were established in this study.
  2. Mohamad R, Awang N, Jotani MM, Tiekink ER
    Acta Crystallogr E Crystallogr Commun, 2016 Aug 1;72(Pt 8):1130-7.
    PMID: 27536397 DOI: 10.1107/S2056989016011385
    The crystal and mol-ecular structures of two di-phenyl-tin bis-(di-thio-carbamate)s, [Sn(C6H5)2(C5H10NOS2)2], (I), and [Sn(C6H5)2(C7H14NO2S2)2], (II), are described. In (I), in which the metal atom lies on a twofold rotation axis, the di-thio-carbamate ligand coordinates with approximately equal Sn-S bond lengths and the ipso-C atoms of the Sn-bound phenyl groups occupy cis-positions in the resulting octa-hedral C2S4 donor set. A quite distinct coordination geometry is noted in (II), arising as a result of quite disparate Sn-S bond lengths. Here, the four S-donors define a trapezoidal plane with the ipso-C atoms lying over the weaker of the Sn-S bonds so that the C2S4 donor set defines a skewed trapezoidal bipyramid. The packing of (I) features supra-molecular layers in the ab plane sustained by methyl-ene-C-H⋯π(Sn-ar-yl) inter-actions; these stack along the c-axis direction with no specific inter-actions between them. In (II), supra-molecular chains along the b-axis direction are formed by methyl-ene-C-O(ether) inter-actions; these pack with no directional inter-actions between them. A Hirshfeld surface analysis was conducted on both (I) and (II) and revealed the dominance of H⋯H inter-actions contributing to the respective surfaces, i.e. >60% in each case, and other features consistent with the description of the mol-ecular packing above.
  3. Haezam FN, Awang N, Kamaludin NF, Mohamad R
    Saudi J Biol Sci, 2021 May;28(5):3160-3168.
    PMID: 34025187 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.02.060
    Context: Diphenyltin(IV) diallyldithiocarbamate compound (Compound 1) and triphenyltin(IV) diallyldithiocarbamate compound (Compound 2) are two newly synthesised compounds of organotin(IV) with diallyldithiocarbamate ligands.

    Objective: To assess the cytotoxic effects of two synthesised compounds against HT-29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells and human CCD-18Co normal colon cells.

    Materials and methods: Two successfully synthesised compounds were characterised using elemental (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulphur) analysis, Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR), and 1H, 13C 119Sn Nucleus Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. The single-crystal structure of both compounds was determined by X-ray single-crystal analysis. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazholium bromide (MTT) assay upon 24 h of treatment. While the mode of cell death was determined based on the externalisation of phosphatidylserine using a flow cytometer.

    Results: The elemental analysis data of the two compounds showed an agreement with the suggested formula of (C6H5)2Sn[S2CN(C3H5)2]2 for Compound 1 and (C6H5)3Sn[S2CN(C3H5)2] for Compound 2. The two major peaks of infrared absorbance, i.e., ν(C = N) and ν(C = S) were detected at the range of 1475-1479 cm-1 and 972-977 cm-1, respectively. The chemical shift of carbon in NCS2 group for Compound 1 and 2 were found at 200.82 and 197.79 ppm. The crystal structure of Compound 1 showed that it is six coordinated and crystallised in monoclinic, P21/c space group. While the crystal structure of Compound 2 is five coordinated and crystallised in monoclinic, P21/c space group. The cytotoxicity (IC50) of the two compounds against HT-29 cell were 2.36 μM and 0.39 μM. Meanwhile, the percentage of cell death modes between 60% and 75% for compound 1 and compound 2 were mainly due to apoptosis, suggesting that both compounds induced growth arrest.

    Conclusion: Our study concluded that the synthesised compounds showed potent cytotoxicity towards HT-29 cell, with the triphenyltin(IV) compound showing the highest effect compared to diphenyltin(IV).

  4. Khatun J, Loh TC, Akit H, Foo HL, Mohamad R
    Anim Sci J, 2017 Sep;88(9):1406-1413.
    PMID: 28220633 DOI: 10.1111/asj.12775
    The present study assessed the effect of feeding palm oil (PO), sunflower oil (SO) and their combination on performance, fat deposition, fatty acid composition and lipogenic gene expression of broilers reared for 42 days. A total of 144 1-day-old broilers (Cobb500) were randomly allotted into four treatment diets with each having six replicates of six chicks in each replicate following a completely randomized design. Live weight gain and feed efficiency was significantly (P 
  5. Azizi S, Mohamad R, Abdul Rahim R, Mohammadinejad R, Bin Ariff A
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2017 Nov;104(Pt A):423-431.
    PMID: 28591593 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.06.010
    This paper describes the fabrication and characterization of bio-nanocomposite hydrogel beads based on Kappa-Carrageenan (κ-Carrageenan) and bio-synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs). The silver nanoparticles were prepared in aqueous Citrullus colocynthis seed extract as both reducing and capping agent. Cross-linked κ-Carrageenan/Ag-NPs hydrogel beads were prepared using potassium chloride as the cross-linker. The hydrogel beads were characterized using XRD and FESEM. Moreover, swelling property of the hydrogel beads was investigated. The Ag release profile of the hydrogels was obtained by fitting the experimental data to power law equation. The direct visualization of the green synthesized Ag-NPs using TEM shows particle size in the range of 23±2nm. The bio-nanocomposite hydrogels showed lesser swelling behavior in comparison with pure κ-Carrageenan hydrogel. Regardless the slow Ag release, κ-Carrageenan/Ag-NPs presented good antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Methicilin Resistant Staphylococcus aurous, Peseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli with maximum zones of inhibition 11±2mm. Cytotoxicity study showed that the bio-nanocomposite hydrogels with non-toxic effect of concentration below 1000μg/mL have great pharmacological potential and a suitable level of safety for use in the biological systems.
  6. Mohd Yusof H, Mohamad R, Zaidan UH, Rahman NA
    Microb Cell Fact, 2020 Jan 15;19(1):10.
    PMID: 31941498 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-020-1279-6
    BACKGROUND: The use of microorganisms in the biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) has recently emerged as an alternative to chemical and physical methods due to its low-cost and eco-friendly method. Several lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have developed mechanisms in tolerating Zn2+ through prevention against their toxicity and the production of ZnO NPs. The LAB's main resistance mechanism to Zn2+ is highly depended on the microorganisms' ability to interact with Zn2+ either through biosorption or bioaccumulation processes. Besides the inadequate studies conducted on biosynthesis with the use of zinc-tolerant probiotics, the understanding regarding the mechanism involved in this process is not clear. Therefore, this study determines the features of probiotic LAB strain TA4 related to its resistance to Zn2+. It also attempts to illustrate its potential in creating a sustainable microbial cell nanofactory of ZnO NPs.

    RESULTS: A zinc-tolerant probiotic strain TA4, which was isolated from local fermented food, was selected based on the principal component analysis (PCA) with the highest score of probiotic attributes. Based on the 16S rRNA gene analysis, this strain was identified as Lactobacillus plantarum strain TA4, indicating its high resistance to Zn2+ at a maximum tolerable concentration (MTC) value of 500 mM and its capability of producing ZnO NPs. The UV-visible spectroscopy analysis proved the formations of ZnO NPs through the notable absorption peak at 380 nm. It was also found from the dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis that the Z-average particle size amounted to 124.2 nm with monodisperse ZnO NPs. Studies on scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) revealed that the main mechanisms in ZnO NPs biosynthesis were facilitated by the Zn2+ biosorption ability through the functional groups present on the cell surface of strain TA4.

    CONCLUSIONS: The strong ability of zinc-tolerant probiotic of L. plantarum strain TA4 to tolerate high Zn2+ concentration and to produce ZnO NPs highlights the unique properties of these bacteria as a natural microbial cell nanofactory for a more sustainable and eco-friendly practice of ZnO NPs biosynthesis.

  7. Azizi S, Namvar F, Mahdavi M, Ahmad MB, Mohamad R
    Materials (Basel), 2013 Dec 18;6(12):5942-5950.
    PMID: 28788431 DOI: 10.3390/ma6125942
    Biological synthesis of nanoparticles is a relatively new emerging field of nanotechnology which has economic and eco-friendly benefits over chemical and physical processes of synthesis. In the present work, for the first time, the brown marine algae Sargassum muticum (S. muticum) aqueous extract was used as a reducing agent for the synthesis of nanostructure silver particles (Ag-NPs). Structural, morphological and optical properties of the synthesized nanoparticles have been characterized systematically by using FTIR, XRD, TEM and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The formation of Ag-NPs was confirmed through the presence of an intense absorption peak at 420 nm using a UV-visible spectrophotometer. A TEM image showed that the particles are spherical in shape with size ranging from 5 to 15 nm. The nanoparticles were crystalline in nature. This was confirmed by the XRD pattern. From the FTIR results, it can be seen that the reduction has mostly been carried out by sulphated polysaccharides present in S. muticum.
  8. Subramaniam C, Johari J, Mashi MS, Mohamad R
    J Safety Res, 2023 Feb;84:117-128.
    PMID: 36868640 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2022.10.013
    INTRODUCTION: This paper investigates the relationships among safety leadership, safety motivation, safety knowledge, and safety behavior in the setting of a tertiary hospital in Klang Valley, Malaysia.

    METHOD: Underpinned by the self-efficacy theory, we argue that high-quality safety leadership enhances nurses' safety knowledge and motivation and subsequently, improves their safety behavior (safety compliance and safety participation). A total of 332 questionnaire responses were gathered and analyzed using SmartPLS Version 3.2.9, revealing the direct effect of safety leadership on both safety knowledge and safety motivation.

    RESULTS: Safety knowledge and safety motivation were found to directly and significantly predict nurses' safety behavior. Notably, safety knowledge and safety motivation were established as important mediators in the relationship between safety leadership and nurses' safety compliance and participation.

    PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The findings of this study offer key guidance for safety researchers and hospital practitioners in identifying mechanisms to enhance safety behavior among nurses.

  9. Baharara J, Namvar F, Ramezani T, Mousavi M, Mohamad R
    Molecules, 2015 Feb 05;20(2):2693-706.
    PMID: 25665064 DOI: 10.3390/molecules20022693
    Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), the most popular nanoparticles, possess unique properties. Achillea biebersteinii is a plant of the Asteraceae family rich in active antitumor components. The aim of this research was the characterization and investigation of the cytotoxic properties of Ag-NPs synthesized using A. biebersteinii flower extract, on a human breast cancer cell line. The Ag-NPs were synthesized after approximately 180 min of reaction at 40 °C, then they were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The anti-apoptosis effect of Ag-NPs on the MCF-7 cell line was investigated by MTT assay, DAPI and acridine orange staining and caspase activity. The transcriptional expression of bax, bcl-2, caspase-3, -8 and -9 were also evaluated by RT-PCR. The TEM images revealed that the Ag-NPs morphology had a different shape. The DLS indicated that the average hydrodynamic diameter of the biosynthesized Ag-NPs was around 12 nm. By UV-visible spectroscopy the strongest absorbance peak was observed at 460 nm. The FTIR results also showed interaction between the plant extract and Ag-NPs due to the similarity in the peak patterns. The EDS results showed that Ag-NPs display an absorption peak at 3 keV, indicating the presence of the element silver. The Ag-NPs caused a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability, fragmentation in nucleic acid, inhibited the proliferation and induction of apoptosis on MCF-7 by suppressing specific cell cycle genes, and simulation programmed cell dead genes. Further investigation is required to establish the potential of this novel and promising approach in cancer therapy.
  10. Mohd Yusof H, Mohamad R, Zaidan UH, Abdul Rahman NA
    PMID: 31321032 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-019-0368-z
    In recent years, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have gained tremendous attention attributed to their unique properties. Notably, evidence has shown that zinc is an important nutrient in living organisms. As such, both prokaryotes and eukaryotes including bacteria, fungi and yeast are exploited for the synthesis of ZnO NPs by using microbial cells or enzyme, protein and other biomolecules compounds in either an intracellular or extracellular route. ZnO NPs exhibit antimicrobial properties, however, the properties of nanoparticles (NPs) are depended upon on their size and shape, which make them specific for various applications. Nevertheless, the desired size and shape of NPs can be obtained through the optimization process of microbes mediated synthesis by manipulating their reaction conditions. It should be noted that ZnO NPs are synthesized by various chemical and physical methods. Nonetheless, these methods are expensive and not environmentally friendly. On that account, the microbes mediated synthesis of ZnO NPs have rapidly evolved recently where the microbes are cleaner, eco-friendly, non-toxic and biocompatible as the alternatives to chemical and physical practices. Moreover, zinc in the form of NPs is more effective than their bulk counterparts and thus, they have been explored for many potential applications including in animals industry. Notably, with the advent of multi-drug resistant strains, ZnO NPs have emerged as the potential antimicrobial agents. This is mainly due to their superior properties in combating a broad spectrum of pathogens. Moreover, zinc is known as an essential trace element for most of the biological function in the animal's body. As such, the applications of ZnO NPs have been reported to significantly enhance the health and production of the farm animals. Thus, this paper reviews the biological synthesis of ZnO NPs by the microbes, the mechanisms of the biological synthesis, parameters for the optimization process and their potential application as an antimicrobial agent and feed supplement in the animal industry as well as their toxicological hazards on animals.
  11. Mahdavi M, Namvar F, Ahmad MB, Mohamad R
    Molecules, 2013 May 21;18(5):5954-64.
    PMID: 23698048 DOI: 10.3390/molecules18055954
    The synthesis of nanoparticles has become a matter of great interest in recent times due to their various advantageous properties and applications in a variety of fields. The exploitation of different plant materials for the biosynthesis of nanoparticles is considered a green technology because it does not involve any harmful chemicals. In this study, iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4-NPs) were synthesized using a rapid, single step and completely green biosynthetic method by reduction of ferric chloride solution with brown seaweed (BS, Sargassum muticum) water extract containing sulphated polysaccharides as a main factor which acts as reducing agent and efficient stabilizer. The structural and properties of the Fe3O4-NPs were investigated by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and transmission electron microscopy. The average particle diameter as determined by TEM was found to be 18 ± 4 nm. X-ray diffraction showed that the nanoparticles are crystalline in nature, with a cubic shape. The nanoparticles synthesized through this biosynthesis method can potentially useful in various applications.
  12. Nawawi MH, Mohamad R, Tahir PM, Saad WZ
    Int Sch Res Notices, 2017;2017:7831954.
    PMID: 28523288 DOI: 10.1155/2017/7831954
    Microbial xylanase and pectinase are two extremely valuable enzymes, which have captivated much attention. This can be seen from the increased demand for these enzymes by many industrial sectors. This study investigates the isolation and screening of extracellular xylanopectinolytic enzymes-producing bacteria in a submerged fermentation (SmF). Samples are collected from the compost of empty fruit bunch (EFB) at Biocompost Pilot Plant, located at Biorefinery Plant, Universiti Putra Malaysia. From the experiment, out of 20 isolates, 11 isolates show xylanase or/and pectinase activity, and only one isolate (EFB-11) shows the concurrent activities of xylanase and pectinase. These activities are selected for enzyme production under submerged fermentation (quantitative screening). At the 72nd hour of incubation, xylanase and pectinase show the highest production, which ranges about 42.33 U/mL and 62.17 U/mL (with low amount of cellulase present), supplemented with 2% (w/v) of rice bran as carbon source at incubation temperature level, which is 30°C. Meanwhile, the pH of media is shifted to 8.42, which indicates that EFB-11 isolate is alkalotolerant bacteria and identified as Bacillus subtilis ADI1. This strain proves to have potential in agroindustrial bioconversion and has a promising ability to scale up to an industrial scale.
  13. Baharara J, Namvar F, Ramezani T, Hosseini N, Mohamad R
    Molecules, 2014 Apr 15;19(4):4624-34.
    PMID: 24739926 DOI: 10.3390/molecules19044624
    Silver nanoparticles display unique physical and biological properties which have attracted intensive research interest because of their important medical applications. In this study silver nanoparticles (Ab.Ag-NPs) were synthesized for biomedical applications using a completely green biosynthetic method using Achillea biebersteinii flowers extract. The structure and properties of Ab.Ag-NPs were investigated using UV-visible spectroscopic techniques, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometers (EDS). The UV-visible spectroscopic analysis showed the absorbance peak at 460 nm, which indicates the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The average particle diameter as determined by TEM was found to be 12±2 nm. The zeta potential analysis indicated that Ab.Ag-NPs have good stability EDX analysis also exhibits presentation of silver element. As angiogenesis is an important phenomenon and as growth factors imbalance in this process causes the acceleration of several diseases including cancer, the anti-angiogenic properties of Ab.Ag-NPs were evaluated using the rat aortic ring model. The results showed that Ab.Ag-NPs (200 μg/mL) lead to a 50% reduction in the length and number of vessel-like structures. The synthesized silver nanoparticles from the Achillea biebersteinii flowers extract, which do not involve any harmful chemicals were well-dispersed and stabilized through this green method and showed potential therapeutic benefits against angiogenesis.
  14. Hanafi MMM, Afzan A, Yaakob H, Aziz R, Sarmidi MR, Wolfender JL, et al.
    Front Pharmacol, 2017;8:895.
    PMID: 29326585 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00895
    This study aims to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic and anti-migratory effects of Ficus deltoidea L. on prostate cancer cells, identify the active compound/s and characterize their mechanism of actions. Two farmed varieties were studied, var. angustifolia (FD1) and var. deltoidea (FD2). Their crude methanolic extracts were partitioned into n-hexane (FD1h, FD2h) chloroform (FD1c, FD2c) and aqueous extracts (FD1a, FD2a). Antiproliferative fractions (IC50 < 30 μg/mL, SRB staining of PC3 cells) were further fractionated. Active compound/s were dereplicated using spectroscopic methods. In vitro mechanistic studies on PC3 and/or LNCaP cells included: annexin V-FITC staining, MMP depolarization measurements, activity of caspases 3 and 7, nuclear DNA fragmentation and cell cycle analysis, modulation of Bax, Bcl-2, Smac/Diablo, and Alox-5 mRNA gene expression by RT-PCR. Effects of cytotoxic fractions on 2D migration and 3D invasion were tested by exclusion assays and modified Boyden chamber, respectively. Their mechanisms of action on these tests were further studied by measuring the expression VEGF-A, CXCR4, and CXCL12 in PC3 cells by RT-PCR. FD1c and FD2c extracts induced cell death (P < 0.05) via apoptosis as evidenced by nuclear DNA fragmentation. This was accompanied by an increase in MMP depolarization (P < 0.05), activation of caspases 3 and 7 (P < 0.05) in both PC3 and LNCaP cell lines. All active plant extracts up-regulated Bax and Smac/DIABLO, down-regulated Bcl-2 (P < 0.05). Both FD1c and FD2c were not cytotoxic against normal human fibroblast cells (HDFa) at the tested concentrations. Both plant extracts inhibited both migration and invasion of PC3 cells (P < 0.05). These effects were accompanied by down-regulation of both VEGF-A and CXCL-12 gene expressions (P < 0.001). LC-MS dereplication using taxonomy filters and molecular networking databases identified isovitexin in FD1c; and oleanolic acid, moretenol, betulin, lupenone, and lupeol in FD2c. In conclusion, FD1c and FD2c were able to overcome three main hallmarks of cancer in PC3 cells: (1) apoptosis by activating of the intrinsic pathway, (2) inhibition of both migration and invasion by modulating the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis, and (3) inhibiting angiogenesis by modulating VEGF-A expression. Moreover, isovitexin is here reported for the first time as an antiproliferative principle (IC50 = 43 μg/mL, SRB staining of PC3 cells).
  15. Farouk AE, Batcha MF, Greiner R, Salleh HM, Salleh MR, Sirajudin AR
    Saudi Med J, 2006 Sep;27(9):1397-400.
    PMID: 16951781
    To develop a molecular technique that is fast and reliable in detecting porcine contamination or ingredients in foods.
  16. Nematzadeh H, Motameni H, Mohamad R, Nematzadeh Z
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:847930.
    PMID: 25110748 DOI: 10.1155/2014/847930
    Workflow-based web service compositions (WB-WSCs) is one of the main composition categories in service oriented architecture (SOA). Eflow, polymorphic process model (PPM), and business process execution language (BPEL) are the main techniques of the category of WB-WSCs. Due to maturity of web services, measuring the quality of composite web services being developed by different techniques becomes one of the most important challenges in today's web environments. Business should try to provide good quality regarding the customers' requirements to a composed web service. Thus, quality of service (QoS) which refers to nonfunctional parameters is important to be measured since the quality degree of a certain web service composition could be achieved. This paper tried to find a deterministic analytical method for dependability and performance measurement using Colored Petri net (CPN) with explicit routing constructs and application of theory of probability. A computer tool called WSET was also developed for modeling and supporting QoS measurement through simulation.
  17. Mohi-Aldeen SM, Mohamad R, Deris S
    PLoS One, 2020;15(11):e0242812.
    PMID: 33253281 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242812
    Path testing is the basic approach of white box testing and the main approach to solve it by discovering the particular input data of the searching space to encompass the paths in the software under test. Due to the increasing software complexity, exhaustive testing is impossible and computationally not feasible. The ultimate challenge is to generate suitable test data that maximize the coverage; many approaches have been developed by researchers to accomplish path coverage. The paper suggested a hybrid method (NSA-GA) based on Negative Selection Algorithm (NSA) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) to generate an optimal test data avoiding replication to cover all possible paths. The proposed method modifies the generation of detectors in the generation phase of NSA using GA, as well as, develops a fitness function based on the paths' prioritization. Different benchmark programs with different data types have been used. The results show that the hybrid method improved the coverage percentage of the programs' paths, even for complicated paths and its ability to minimize the generated number of test data and enhance the efficiency even with the increased input range of different data types used. This method improves the effectiveness and efficiency of test data generation and maximizes search space area, increasing percentage of path coverage while preventing redundant data.
  18. Mohamad R, Agus BAP, Hussain N
    Food Technol Biotechnol, 2019 Mar;57(1):59-67.
    PMID: 31316277 DOI: 10.17113/ftb.57.01.19.5692
    Addition of phytosterols and antioxidants to food may provide additional health benefits to consumers. Their stability in a food matrix may decrease during storage. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to formulate a salad dressing with cocoa butter and determine its phytosterol stability, antioxidant activity and physicochemical properties during storage. The cocoa butter was extracted using a supercritical CO2 extraction (green technology) and added to the formulated salad dressing (containing different ratios of cocoa butter and soybean oil). The salad dressing with 30% cocoa butter (the most stable emulsion) was selected for storage study at 4 and 30 °C. However, values of physicochemical parameters and mass fractions of phytosterols, total phenolic compounds (determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) in the salad dressing with 30% cocoa butter decreased during storage (from day 0 to 28) and increased with the temperature increase, probably due to the oxidation of oil. Thus, the most desirable storage temperature for salad dressing was 4 °C. An excellent stability of the salad dressing with 30% cocoa butter at different storage temperatures for 28 days offers a potential application in food industries for production of salad dressing with cocoa butter enriched with phytosterols.
  19. Azizi S, Mahdavi Shahri M, Mohamad R
    Molecules, 2017 Jun 08;22(6).
    PMID: 28594362 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22060831
    In the present study, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized in zerumbone solution by a green approach and appraised for their ability to absorb Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution. The formation of as-synthesized NPs was established by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and UV-visible studies. The XRD and TEM analyses revealed high purity and wurtzite hexagonal structure of ZnO NPs with a mean size of 10.01 ± 2.6 nm. Batch experiments were performed to investigate the impact of process parameters viz. Pb(II) concentration, pH of solution, adsorbent mass, solution temperature, and contact time variations on the removal efficiency of Pb(II). The adsorption isotherm data provided that the adsorption process was mainly monolayer on ZnO NPs. The adsorption process follows pseudo-second-order reaction kinetic. The maximum removal efficiencies were 93% at pH 5. Thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy change (ΔH⁰), free energy change (ΔG⁰), and entropy change (ΔS⁰) were calculated; the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic. The good efficiency of the as-synthesized NPs makes them attractive for applications in water treatment, for removal of heavy metals from aqueous system.
  20. Azizi S, Mohamad R, Mahdavi Shahri M
    Molecules, 2017 Feb 16;22(2).
    PMID: 28212344 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22020301
    In this paper, a green microwave-assisted combustion approach to synthesize ZnO-NPs using zinc nitrate and Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad (fruit, seed and pulp) extracts as bio-fuels is reported. The structure, optical, and colloidal properties of the synthesized ZnO-NP samples were studied. Results illustrate that the morphology and particle size of the ZnO samples are different and depend on the bio-fuel. The XRD results revealed that hexagonal wurtzite ZnO-NPs with mean particle size of 27-85 nm were produced by different bio-fuels. The optical band gap was increased from 3.25 to 3.40 eV with the decreasing of particle size. FTIR results showed some differences in the surface structures of the as-synthesized ZnO-NP samples. This led to differences in the zeta potential, hydrodynamic size, and more significantly, antioxidant activity through scavenging of 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals. In in vitro cytotoxicity studies on 3T3 cells, a dose dependent toxicity with non-toxic effect of concentration below 0.26 mg/mL was shown for ZnO-NP samples. Furthermore, the as-synthesized ZnO-NPs inhibited the growth of medically significant pathogenic gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aurous) and gram-negative (Peseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) bacteria. This study provides a simple, green and efficient approach to produce ZnO nanoparticles for various applications.
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