Displaying publications 101 - 120 of 512 in total

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  1. Fulltext Land use change using geospatial techniques in upper prek thnot watershed in Cambodia
    Norin Khorn, Mohd Hasmadi Ismail, Norizah Kamarudin, Siti Nurhidayu
    Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2020;28(3):879-892.
    MyJurnal
    Monitoring of land use change is crucial for sustainable resource management and development planning. Up-to-date land use change information is important to understand its pattern and identify the drivers. Remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) have proven as a useful tool to measure and analyze land use changes. Recent advances in remote sensing technology with digital image processing provide unprecedented possibilities for detecting changes in land use over large areas, with less costs and processing time. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the land use changes in upper Prek Thnot watershed in Cambodia from 2006 until 2018. Geospatial tools such as remote sensing and GIS were used to process and produce land use maps from Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7 ETM+ and Landsat 8. The post-classification comparison was conducted for analysing the land use changes. Results show forest area was greatly decreased by 1,162.06 km2 (33.67%) which was converted to rubber plantation (10.55 km2 ), wood shrub (37.65 km2 ), agricultural land (1,099.71 km2 ), built-up area (17.76 km2 ), barren land (3.65 km2 ), and water body (14.69 km2 ). Agricultural land increased by 1,258.99 km2 (36.48%), while wood shrub declined by 161.88 km2 (4.69%). Rubber plantation, built-up area, barren land, and water bodies were increased by 10.55 km2 (0.31%), 33.64 km2 (0.97%), 4.87 km2 (0.14%) and 15.89 km2 (0.46%), respectively. The decrease of forest and wood shrub had resulted due to population growth (1.8% from 2008 to 2019) and land conversion for agricultural purposes. Hence, this study may provide vital information for wise sustainable watershed’s land management, especially for further study on the effect of land use change on runoff in this area.
    Matched MeSH terms: Conservation of Natural Resources
  2. Fulltext A review on climate change and Malaysia’s actions
    Narinderjeet Kaur, Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim, Zahir Izuan Azhar, Mohd Yusof Ibrahim, Mohammad Saffree Jeffree, Mohd Rohaizat Hassan
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(106):72-72.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: One of the biggest global health threats of the 21st century is climate change It is so catastrophic that the climate action has been given a platform as it is the 13th goal of the 17 United Nations Sustainable developmen-tal goals (SDG). This review seeks to understand the factors causing climate change, followed by understanding the impact it has on individual and population health. We also identify the strategies to control and prevent further cli-mate change. Methods: Reviews of local and international articles from the past ten years was conducted. The focus of the review was the causes, health effects as well as strategies. Data base used was Pro Quest. Results: This re-view identified that the main contributor to climate change are man-made activities such as fossil fuels combustion, livestock farming, and deforestation. This change in climate has many repercussions from mass migrations, increase communicable diseases as well as an increase in extreme weather events and natural disasters. All this eventually leads to the deterioration of individual and population health. Strengthening adaptivity to climate-related hazard, climate change integration into national policies, education, awareness-raising, impact reduction and early warning are actions that are present in Malaysia to manage this crisis. Conclusion: Climate change is occurring globally, and its presence can no longer be denied. Actions have been put forth, but only when its importance and impact is taken seriously will the positive changes be sustainable.
    Matched MeSH terms: Conservation of Natural Resources
  3. Fulltext Molecular characterization by using 12SrRNA and Cytochrome b for identification of species of genus Ratufa (Rodentia: Scuiridae) including Ratufa indica, endemic species of India
    Bahuguna A, Singh A
    Mitochondrial DNA B Resour, 2019 Oct 17;4(2):3085-3091.
    PMID: 33365866 DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2019.1667270
    Oriental giant squirrels are tree squirrels classified under family Ratufinae. In India, there are three species of genus Ratufa, i.e. Ratufa bicolor, Ratufa macroura and Ratufa indica. They are also distributed in South and Southeast Asia. However Ratufa indica is endemic to India. The fourth species Ratufa affinis is restricted to Maritime Southeast Asia (East Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Thailand) and probably in Singapore. The species is near threatened .The species R.macroura is endemic to South Asia. Forests of South and Southeast Asia are hotspots of squirrel diversity but at the same time they are at a high risk of extinction because of high deforestation rate and habitat fragmentation. The present molecular study is the first study of the species of Ratufa for their identification. In this study old taxidermy samples were used for amplification of 12SrRNA and Cytochrome b genes. Maximum likelihood and neighbor-joining methods were used to delineate the species by using MEGA 6 and also for molecular analysis for variable, conserved, parsimony and singleton sites. Similarities between species through BLAST indicated 92.21-89.57% between R.macroura vs. R. bicolour; 93.22-90% Ratufa macroura vs. Ratufa indica; 96-92% Ratufa indica vs. Ratufa bicolour, 93.88% between Ratufa affinis vs. Ratufa indica, 93.5% R. affinis vs. R. bicolor, 90.5%. R. affinis vs. R. macroura. Ratufa bicolor is noted to be genetically closer to R. indica as inferred by using both markers. The BLAST result indicated that the obtained sequences matched 99-100% with their respective species. It was also noted that R. bicolor of Jalpaiguri, West Bengal are genetically closer to that of Bhutan. The study also revealed the evolution of R. indica and R. macroura from a single population.
    Matched MeSH terms: Conservation of Natural Resources
  4. Water Quality Modelling for River Activities Management: Example from a Low- and Middle-Income Country
    Zahidi I, Wilson G, Brown K, Hou FKK
    J Health Pollut, 2020 Dec;10(28):201207.
    PMID: 33324504 DOI: 10.5696/2156-9614-10.28.201207
    Background: Rivers are susceptible to pollution and water pollution is a growing problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) with rapid development and minimal environmental protections. There are universal pollutant threshold values, but they are not directly linked to river activities such as sand mining and aquaculture. Water quality modelling can support assessments of river pollution and provide information on this important environmental issue.

    Objectives: The objective of the present study was to demonstrate water quality modelling methodology in reviewing existing policies for Malaysian river catchments based on an example case study.

    Methods: The MIKE 11 software developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute was used to model the main pollutant point sources within the study area - sand mining and aquaculture. Water quality data were obtained for six river stations from 2000 to 2015. All sand mining and aquaculture locations and approximate production capacities were quantified by ground survey. Modelling of the sand washing effluents was undertaken with the advection-dispersion module due to the nature of the fine sediment. Modelling of the fates of aquaculture deposits required both advection-dispersion and Danish Hydraulic Institute ECO Lab modules to simulate the detailed interactions between water quality determinants.

    Results: According to the Malaysian standard, biochemical oxygen command (BOD) and ammonium (NH4) parameters fell under Class IV at most of the river reaches, while the dissolved oxygen (DO) parameter varied between Classes II to IV. Total suspended solids (TSS) fell within Classes IV to V along the mid river reaches of the catchment.

    Discussion: Comparison between corresponding constituents and locations showed that the water quality model reproduced the long-term duration exceedance for the main body of the curves. However, the water quality model underestimated the infrequent high concentration observations. A standard effluent disposal was proposed for the development of legislation and regulations by authorities in the district that could be replicated for other similar catchments.

    Conclusions: Modelling pollutants enables observation of trends over the years and the percentage of time a certain class is exceeded for each individual pollutant. The catchment did not meet Class II requirements and may not be able to reach Class I without extensive improvements in the quality and reducing the quantity of both point and non-point effluent sources within the catchment.

    Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests.

    Matched MeSH terms: Conservation of Natural Resources
  5. Fulltext Green chemistry synthesis of nanostructured zinc oxide powder using azadirachta indica extract for latent fingermark development
    Revathi Rajan, Yusmazura Zakaria, Shaharum Shamsuddin, Nik Fakhuruddin Nik Hassan
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2020;16(101):38-42.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Application of nano-engineered fingerprint dusting powders has been a recent trend to achieve latent fingermark development with superior ridge clarity. As such, efforts have been made to utilise natural resources to increase the sustainability of these emerging nano-engineered powders. Lithium-doped zinc oxide, primarily used as white pigments, have been previously applied to latent fingermarks with success. In the current study, nanostruc- tured zinc oxide, synthesised using neem extract as the reducing agent, was evaluated for fingermark development on non-porous surfaces. Methods: The reduction of zinc nitrate hexahydrate was facilitated by neem extract, pre- pared by boiling neem leaves in distilled water. The thick yellow paste recovered was calcined in the furnace to produce a light yellow powder. Physicochemical composition of the powder was determined using microscopic and spectroscopic instruments. The effectiveness of the powder was tested on natural fingermark deposited on several non-porous surfaces. Results: Nanostructured zinc oxide with particle size ranging in between 1 to 3 µm consisting of highly aggregated spherical particle with less than 100 nm dimensions were synthesised. Developed fingermarks revealed excellent ridge details and contrast on dark coloured surfaces. Studying the fingermark closely under scan- ning electron microscope displayed selective distribution of particle on the ridges of the fingermark residue and very minimal deposition on the fingermark valleys. Conclusion: Nanostructured zinc oxide fabricated using green chem- istry approach can be applied for the development of fingermark. Nevertheless, future works can be undertaken to enhance particle dispersity and to confer strong photoluminescence to the zinc oxide nanoparticles.
    Matched MeSH terms: Natural Resources
  6. Fulltext High Sensitivity Microfiber Interferometer Sensor in Aqueous Solution
    Girei SH, Lim HN, Ahmad MZ, Mahdi MA, Md Zain AR, Yaacob MH
    Sensors (Basel), 2020 Aug 21;20(17).
    PMID: 32825539 DOI: 10.3390/s20174713
    The need for environmental protection and water pollution control has led to the development of different sensors for determining many kinds of pollutants in water. Ammonia nitrogen presence is an important indicator of water quality in environmental monitoring applications. In this paper, a high sensitivity sensor for monitoring ammonia nitrogen concentration in water using a tapered microfiber interferometer (MFI) as a sensor platform and a broad supercontinuum laser as the light source is realized. The MFI is fabricated to the waist diameter of 8 µm producing a strong interference pattern due to the coupling of the fundamental mode with the cladding mode. The MFI sensor is investigated for a low concentration of ammonia nitrogen in water in the wide wavelength range from 1500-1800 nm with a high-power signal provided by the supercontinuum source. The broad source allows optical sensing characteristics of the MFI to be evaluated at four different wavelengths (1505, 1605, 1705, and 1785 nm) upon exposure towards various ammonia nitrogen concentrations. The highest sensitivity of 0.099 nm/ppm that indicates the wavelength shift is observed at 1785 nm operating wavelength. The response is linear in the ammonia nitrogen range of 5-30 ppm with the best measurement resolution calculated to be 0.5 ppm. The low concentration ammonia nitrogen detected by the MFI in the unique infrared region reveals the potential application of this optical fiber-based sensor for rivers and drinking water monitoring.
    Matched MeSH terms: Conservation of Natural Resources
  7. Crocodylian conservation and evolution insights from an anatomical and histological examination of phalli from male false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii)
    Moore BC, Fitri WN, Augustine L
    Anat Histol Embryol, 2020 May;49(3):390-401.
    PMID: 32154618 DOI: 10.1111/ahe.12542
    As wild population threats for the endangered false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii) persist, conservation breeding programs, including developing semen collection techniques for subsequent artificial insemination, are becoming important species conservation measures. Developing reproductive biology understanding of a species is important to developing best practices and hopefully maximizing reproductive successes. However, information on crocodylians functional copulatory anatomy in general is lacking. To that end, zoological facilities and conservation centres have the exceptional opportunity to contribute new understandings that may not otherwise be attainable regarding crocodylian reproductive anatomy, particularly during routine physical examinations or post-mortem necropsies. Therefore, to better understand T. schlegelii reproductive biology, to contribute knowledge in support of zoo breeding conservation efforts and to contribute to what is known overall about crocodylian reproduction, we investigated phallic anatomy of adult male Tomistoma from two zoological populations, the St. Louis Zoo, USA and Sungai Dusun Wildlife Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia. Here, we present the gross anatomical features and histological analysis of underlying tissue-level details in pursuit of a better understanding of copulatory function and associated gamete transfer mechanisms. While much of the overall Tomistoma phallic morphology and inferred function corresponds to that of other crocodylian species and speaks to conserved aspects of functional anatomy across taxa, species-specific aspects of glans and glans tip morphology are also identified. These novelties are discussed in a general function and overall broader evolutionary contexts.
    Matched MeSH terms: Conservation of Natural Resources
  8. Fulltext Mapping patterns of abiotic and biotic stress resilience uncovers conservation gaps and breeding potential of Vigna wild relatives
    van Zonneveld M, Rakha M, Tan SY, Chou YY, Chang CH, Yen JY, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2020 02 07;10(1):2111.
    PMID: 32034221 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58646-8
    This study provides insights in patterns of distribution of abiotic and biotic stress resilience across Vigna gene pools to enhance the use and conservation of these genetic resources for legume breeding. Vigna is a pantropical genus with more than 88 taxa including important crops such as V. radiata (mung bean) and V. unguiculata (cowpea). Our results show that sources of pest and disease resistance occur in at least 75 percent of the Vigna taxa, which were part of screening assessments, while sources of abiotic stress resilience occur in less than 30 percent of screened taxa. This difference in levels of resilience suggests that Vigna taxa co-evolve with pests and diseases while taxa are more conservative to adapt to climatic changes and salinization. Twenty-two Vigna taxa are poorly conserved in genebanks or not at all. This germplasm is not available for legume breeding and requires urgent germplasm collecting before these taxa extirpate on farm and in the wild. Vigna taxa, which tolerate heat and drought stress are rare compared with taxa, which escape these stresses because of short growing seasons or with taxa, which tolerate salinity. We recommend prioritizing these rare Vigna taxa for conservation and screening for combined abiotic and biotic stress resilience resulting from stacked or multifunctional traits. The high presence of salinity tolerance compared with drought stress tolerance, suggests that Vigna taxa are good at developing salt-tolerant traits. Vigna taxa are therefore of high value for legume production in areas that will suffer from salinization under global climate change.
    Matched MeSH terms: Conservation of Natural Resources
  9. Mapping the world's free-flowing rivers
    Grill G, Lehner B, Thieme M, Geenen B, Tickner D, Antonelli F, et al.
    Nature, 2019 05;569(7755):215-221.
    PMID: 31068722 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1111-9
    Free-flowing rivers (FFRs) support diverse, complex and dynamic ecosystems globally, providing important societal and economic services. Infrastructure development threatens the ecosystem processes, biodiversity and services that these rivers support. Here we assess the connectivity status of 12 million kilometres of rivers globally and identify those that remain free-flowing in their entire length. Only 37 per cent of rivers longer than 1,000 kilometres remain free-flowing over their entire length and 23 per cent flow uninterrupted to the ocean. Very long FFRs are largely restricted to remote regions of the Arctic and of the Amazon and Congo basins. In densely populated areas only few very long rivers remain free-flowing, such as the Irrawaddy and Salween. Dams and reservoirs and their up- and downstream propagation of fragmentation and flow regulation are the leading contributors to the loss of river connectivity. By applying a new method to quantify riverine connectivity and map FFRs, we provide a foundation for concerted global and national strategies to maintain or restore them.
    Matched MeSH terms: Conservation of Natural Resources
  10. Algae utilization and its role in the development of green cities
    Chew KW, Khoo KS, Foo HT, Chia SR, Walvekar R, Lim SS
    Chemosphere, 2020 Dec 15;268:129322.
    PMID: 33359993 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129322
    With the rapid urbanisation happening around the world followed by the massive demand for clean energy resources, green cities play a pivotal role in building a sustainable future for the people. The continuing depletion of natural resources has led to the development of renewable energy with algae as the promising source. The high growth rate of microalgae and their strong bio-fixation ability to convert CO2 into O2 have been gaining attention globally and intensive research has been conducted regarding the microalgae benefits. The focus on potential of microalgae in contributing to the development of green cities is rising. The advantage of microalgae is their ability to gather energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide, followed by transforming the nutrients into biomass and oxygen. This leads to the creation of green cities through algae cultivation as waste and renewable materials can be put to good use. The challenges that arise when using algae and the future prospect in terms of SDGs and economy will also be covered in this review. The future of green cities can be enhanced with the adaptation of algae as the source of renewable plants to create a better outlook of an algae green city.
    Matched MeSH terms: Natural Resources
  11. Fulltext MILLENIAL’S BEHAVIOUR AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS NATURAL COSMETICS: A CASE STUDY IN UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA TERENGGANU
    SITI DIANA KAMILA NADIM, JARINA MOHD JANI
    UMT Journal of Undergraduate Research, 2021;3(1):63-74.
    MyJurnal
    Investing in natural cosmetics contributes to the sustainability of natural resources in two ways – the emission of less harmful by-products, and the conservation of ecosystems through sustainable harvesting of resources. Therefore, studying students’ (millennials’) behaviour and attitude towards these products may help improve awareness-raising approaches on their benefits for local market acceptance. A study was conducted in Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Malaysia with the aim to understand the current perception and habits of UMT students towards natural cosmetics and their readiness to convert to natural cosmetics. 521 responses were collected through an online survey that focused on three themes: Stage of Change, Decisional Balance Inventory, and Product Knowledge and Perception. The study found that most of the respondents (79%) claim to be using natural cosmetics, while only nine percent are not considering at all. Eighty-six percent of those users practice label reading habits although most respondents could not distinguish natural cosmetics from synthetic ones if solely based on personal knowledge and appearance of product. This proves that product design does influence customers’ purchasing behaviours. Moreover, results indicate that existing natural cosmetic users are quite likely to maintain the habit, while others are still indecisive. Meanwhile, label reading habits are quite likely to be maintained by many respondents. Hence, based on results, businesses should acknowledge that there is a demand in natural cosmetics among Malaysian millennials, and should increase their promotional activities, improve product design and affordability in order to grab consumers’ attention to switch from synthetic to natural cosmetics.
    Matched MeSH terms: Natural Resources
  12. Shifts in mosquito diversity and abundance along a gradient from oil palm plantations to conterminous forests in Borneo
    Young KI, Buenemann M, Vasilakis N, Perera D, Hanley KA
    Ecosphere, 2021 Apr;12(4).
    PMID: 33996190 DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3463
    Deforestation precipitates spillover of enzootic, vector-borne viruses into humans, but specific mechanisms for this effect have rarely been investigated. Expansion of oil palm cultivation is a major driver of deforestation. Here, we demonstrate that mosquito abundance decreased over ten stepwise distances from interior forest into conterminous palm plantations in Borneo. Diversity in interior plantation narrowed to one species, Aedes albopictus, a potential bridge vector for spillover of multiple viruses. A. albopictus was equally abundant across all distances in forests, forest-plantation edge, and plantations, while A. niveus, a known vector of sylvatic dengue virus, was found only in forests. A. albopictus collections were significantly female-biased in plantation but not in edge or forest. Our data reveal that the likelihood of encountering any mosquito is greater in interior forest and edge than plantation, while the likelihood of encountering A. albopictus is equivalent across the gradient sampled from interior plantation to interior forest.
    Matched MeSH terms: Conservation of Natural Resources
  13. Fulltext Leech blood-meal invertebrate-derived DNA reveals differences in Bornean mammal diversity across habitats
    Drinkwater R, Jucker T, Potter JHT, Swinfield T, Coomes DA, Slade EM, et al.
    Mol Ecol, 2021 07;30(13):3299-3312.
    PMID: 33171014 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15724
    The application of metabarcoding to environmental and invertebrate-derived DNA (eDNA and iDNA) is a new and increasingly applied method for monitoring biodiversity across a diverse range of habitats. This approach is particularly promising for sampling in the biodiverse humid tropics, where rapid land-use change for agriculture means there is a growing need to understand the conservation value of the remaining mosaic and degraded landscapes. Here we use iDNA from blood-feeding leeches (Haemadipsa picta) to assess differences in mammalian diversity across a gradient of forest degradation in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. We screened 557 individual leeches for mammal DNA by targeting fragments of the 16S rRNA gene and detected 14 mammalian genera. We recorded lower mammal diversity in the most heavily degraded forest compared to higher quality twice logged forest. Although the accumulation curves of diversity estimates were comparable across these habitat types, diversity was higher in twice logged forest, with more taxa of conservation concern. In addition, our analysis revealed differences between the community recorded in the heavily logged forest and that of the twice logged forest. By revealing differences in mammal diversity across a human-modified tropical landscape, our study demonstrates the value of iDNA as a noninvasive biomonitoring approach in conservation assessments.
    Matched MeSH terms: Conservation of Natural Resources
  14. Fulltext Opportunities and Challenges of Economic Development in Malaysia’s Rural Areas
    ELLFRELSTERN ANAK EDIRIN
    Trends in Undergraduate Research, 2018;1(1):0-0.
    MyJurnal
    Rural areas play traditionally important role for our economy as well maintaining social stability. Most of the development is entirely dependent on natural resources in the area which is specialized in a limited number of industries such as agriculture, livestock, forestry, fisheries and local tourism. People that live in rural areas have fewer choices in the social and economic terms. They are facing many problems such as low income, unemployment, low quality of social services like education and healthcare. In addition, remoteness from major urban centres is also one of the problems which is implying the need for well-developed transport infrastructure to support economic development. As stated in the Eleventh Malaysia Plan, the Malaysian Government is committed to ensuring equitable opportunities for all segments of society.
    Matched MeSH terms: Natural Resources
  15. Ultrastructural changes of cell morphology and viral morphogenesis of two ecotypes of dengue virus infection in human monocytic U-937 cell
    Fish-Low CY, Abu Bakar S, Othman F, Chee HY
    Trop Biomed, 2018 Dec 01;35(4):1154-1159.
    PMID: 33601863
    Dengue virus (DENV) is maintained and circulated in both sylvatic/enzootic and endemic/human cycles and spill over infection of sylvatic DENV into human populations has been reported. Extensive deforestation and increase human activities in forest may increase the risk of human exposure to sylvatic dengue infection and this may become a threat to human. Present study investigated the changes in cell morphology and viral morphogenesis upon infection with sylvatic and endemic ecotypes in human monocytic U-937 cells using transmission electron microscopy. Autophagy, a process that is either pro-viral or anti-viral, was observed in U-937 cells of both infections, however only the replication of endemic DENV was evidenced. An insight into the infection responses of sylvatic progenitors of DENV in susceptible host cells may provide better understanding on dengue emergence in human populations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Conservation of Natural Resources
  16. Determinants of voluntary carbon disclosure in the corporate real estate sector of Malaysia
    Kalu JU, Buang A, Aliagha GU
    J Environ Manage, 2016 Nov 01;182:519-524.
    PMID: 27529312 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.08.011
    Corporate real estate management holds the tent that risk which is not understood cannot be measured or managed. The effect of global warming on real estate investment and need for climate change mitigation through disclosures by companies of carbon emission information has becomes a sine-qua-non for the management of companies' carbon footprint and reducing its overall effect on global warming. This study applied the structural equation modeling technique to determine the determinants influencing Carbon Disclosure in Real Estate Companies in a developing economy. The analysis was based on 2013 annual reports of 126 property sector companies listed in Malaysia stock exchange market. The model was validated through convergent validity, discriminant validity, composite reliability and goodness of fit. The result reveals that social and financial market were critical determinant factors for carbon disclosure while the economic and institutional factors did not achieve significant effect on voluntary carbon disclosure. The result is consistent with legitimacy theory and agency theories. The implication of this finding is that increase in public education and awareness will enhance community demand for disclosure from companies and they will increase level of disclosure; also as financial institutions consider sustainability practice as a viable investment and term for credit financing, companies will be motivated to increase disclosure.
    Matched MeSH terms: Conservation of Natural Resources
  17. Fulltext In vitro antimicrobial activity of musk lime, key lime and lemon extracts against food related pathogenic and spoilage bacteria
    Velu, S., Abu Bakar, F., Saari, N., Zaman, M.Z., Mahyudin, N.A.
    International Food Research Journal, 2014;21(1):379-386.
    MyJurnal
    The demand for novel antimicrobial agents from natural resources has been increased worldwide for food conservation purpose. In this study antimicrobial activity of musk lime, key lime and lemon were evaluated against various food borne pathogens and spoilage bacteria using disc diffusion test. Type of extraction solvent and concentration level significantly influenced the antibacterial activity of all the extracts. Ethanol extracts of musk lime, key lime and lemon exhibited significant broadest inhibitory activity at 100% concentration level (pure extract) compared to water and juice extracts. 100% ethanol extracts of musk lime (39.7 mm), key lime (26.7 mm) and lemon (32.0 mm) exhibited the largest diameter of inhibition zone (DIZ) against Aeromonas veronii. 100% water extracts of musk lime (25.3 mm), key lime juice extract (23.3 mm) and water extracts of lemon (23.7 mm) was most effective against food spoilage bacteria, A. veronii. The prominent results of the antimicrobial activity from lime, key lime and lemon extracts may attribute them as potential natural food preservatives and could be used in pharmaceuticals field.
    Matched MeSH terms: Natural Resources
  18. Evaluation on the decomposability of tropical forest peat soils after conversion to an oil palm plantation
    Sangok FE, Maie N, Melling L, Watanabe A
    Sci Total Environ, 2017 Jun 01;587-588:381-388.
    PMID: 28242223 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.02.165
    To understand the variations in the decomposability of tropical peat soil following deforestation for an oil palm plantation, a field incubation experiment was conducted in Sarawak, Malaysia. Peat soils collected from three types of primary forest, namely Mixed Peat Swamp (MPS; Gonystylus-Dactylocladus-Neoscrotechinia association), Alan Batu (ABt; Shorea albida-Gonstylus-Strenonurus association), and Alan Bunga (ABg; Shorea albida association), were packed in polyvinyl chloride pipes and installed in an oil palm plantation. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes from soil were monthly measured for 3years. Environmental variables including soil temperature, soil moisture content, and groundwater table were also monitored. The pH, loss on ignition, and total carbon (C) content were similar among the three soils, while total N content was larger in the MPS than in the ABg soils. Based on13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, C composition of the MPS and ABg soils was characterized by the largest proportion of C present as alkyl C and O-alkyl C, respectively. The C composition of the ABt soil was intermediate between the MPS and ABg soils. The CO2fluxes from the three soils ranged from 78 to 625mgCm-2h-1with a negative correlation to groundwater level. The CH4fluxes ranged from -67 to 653μgCm-2h-1. Both total CO2and CH4fluxes were larger in the order ABg>ABt>MPS (P<0.05). Annual rate of peat decomposition as was estimated from cumulative C loss differed up to 2 times, and the rate constant in exponential decay model was 0.033y-1for the MPS soil and 0.066y-1for the ABg soil. The field incubation results of the three forest peat soils seem to reflect the difference in the labile organic matter content, represented by polysaccharides.
    Matched MeSH terms: Conservation of Natural Resources
  19. Fulltext Systems perspectives in agricultural education, research and development: A vision for sustaining food security in Asia
    C. Devendra
    ASM Science Journal, 2013;7(2):152-165.
    MyJurnal
    Systems perspectives are fundamental in driving technological improvements and yield-enhancing strategies that improve agricultural productivity. These can resolve farmerʼs problems and are important pathways for sustaining food and nutritional security for human welfare in Asia. The essential determinants of this objective are the capacity to efficiently manage the natural resource base (land, crops, animals, and water) to resolve constraints to farming systems, and notably the integration of multiple research and development (R&D) issues through all levels of formal and non-formal learning systems. Both formal and informal education systems are important, with the former relating more to universities and colleges, and the latter to the intermediate level. Graduates from this level have the primary responsibility of introducing improved technologies and change to farmers, mainly along production and disciplinary pathways.The traditional research–extension–farmer model for technology delivery is no longer acceptable, due to “top down” extension functions and prescriptions, ineffectiveness to cope with the dynamics of production systems, complex interactions within the natural resources, effects of climate change and globalisation. There are also reservations on the technical capacity and skills of extension agents, constraints identification, methods for technology diffusion and dissemination, and innovative use of beneficial technological improvements that can directly respond to the needs of small farmers, and impact on subsistence agriculture. Agricultural education and systems perspectives are therefore an overriding compelling necessity which transcends prevailing limitations to waning agriculture and rural growth. Their wider recognition and applications provides an important means to maximise efficiency in the potential use; of the natural resources, increase engagement and investments in agriculture, promote ways to become more self-reliant in the development of crucial new technologies and intensification. These together can meet the challenges of the future and overcome the legacy of continuing poverty, food and nutritional insecurity. Asian farming systems, with their diversity of crops and animals, traditional methods, multiple crop-animal interactions, numerous problems of farmers present increasingly complex issues of natural resource management (NRM) and the environment. Many if not all of these can only be resolved by interdisciplinary R&D, which overcomes a major weakness of many R&D programmes presently and in the past. Improved education and training is a powerful and important driver of community-based participation aimed at enhancing sustainable food security, poverty reduction and social equity in which the empowerment of women in activities that support organising themselves is also an important pathway to enhance self-reliance and their contribution to agriculture. A vision for the future in which improved agricultural education in a systems context can provide the pathway to directly benefit the revitalisation of agriculture and agricultural development is proposed with a three-pronged strategy as follows:
    Define policy for the development of appropriate curricular for formal agricultural education that provides strong multi-disciplinary orientation and improved understanding of the natural resources (land, crops, animals and water) and their interactions
    Organise formal degree education and specialisation at the university level that reflects strong training in understanding of agricultural systems; systems perspectives, methodologies and their application, and
    Define non-formal education and training needs that can be intensified at different levels, including the trainin of trainers as agents of change.
    Matched MeSH terms: Natural Resources
  20. Molecular genetic approach in the forensic science of animal species identification
    Chong, Lee Kim
    Buletin Persatuan Genetik Malaysia, 2005;11(1):0-0.
    MyJurnal
    Animal species identification is one of the important fields in forensic science. Unlike human forensics which makes use of DNA fingerprinting techniques to identify individuals of the same species - humans, animal forensic species identification is much more complicated as it involves the ability to identify and distinguish between hundreds to thousands of species when the material evidence is only a trace of animal tissue without the presence of any visual physical morphology. It is even more difficult when the specimen is an unknown and no reference material is available. Animal species identification is not only important for the prevention of wildlife crimes for the purpose of wildlife protection and conservation but it is also becoming more and more significant in food safety issues especially for the meat industry. Owing to the demand and the necessity of providing such services for regulation and enforcement in the context of environmental protection, food safety and biosafety, the Department of Chemistry (DOC)
    Malaysia has initiated the use of DNA techniques employing the most widely used genetic markers as part of its scientific solution for animal species identification.
    Matched MeSH terms: Conservation of Natural Resources
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