Two new records of moray eels (Muraenidae), Gymnothorax margaritophorus Bleeker, 1864 and Strophidon sathete (Hamilton 1822), are reported for Malaysia. They are represented by two specimens each, all collected from Sabah waters. The present study also provides the current taxonomic and distributional information of the Malaysian moray eels. To date, there are 33 species belonging to six genera of the Muraenidae in Malaysian waters based on the published records.
Kidd blood group system is distributed differently within populations. In Malaysia, the prevalence of Kidd phenotypes have been reported but not in Hospital Umum Sarawak (HUS).We characterised Kidd phenotypes among regular blood donors in HUS. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done from 1st September 2015 to 10th September 2015. Blood samples were collected from 250 regular blood donors of different ethnicities in HUS. Samples were then investigated for Kidd blood group phenotypes by utilising Seraclon anti-Jka and anti-Jkb reagents employing the Diamed-ID gel card system. Results: Phenotype Jk(a+b+) was found in 110 out of 250 (44.0%) and phenotype Jk (a-b-) phenotype in seven out of 250 (2.8%) blood donors. Jk(a+b-) was detected in 60 out of 250 (24.0%) and Jk(a-b+) in 73 out of 250 (29.2%) donors. Kidd phenotype was detected in four ethnics; Chinese 50.8%, Malays 38.4%, Bidayuh 10.0% and Iban 0.8%. Jk(a-b-) phenotype was present only in the Malays; seven out of 250 (2.8%) but not found in other ethnicities. Conclusion: Jk(a+b+) is the most common Kidd phenotype found in regular blood donors in HUS in the four ethnicities studied. Only Malays exhibit the Jk(a-b-) phenotype which is a rare phenotype. The results of this study may serve as a preliminary database for Kidd blood group profile of regular blood donors in HUS.
Water quality analysis of the seven feeder rivers in Tasik Chini was carried out from October 2004 to December 2005. A total of nine sampling sites were selected in this study, namely: Sungai Datang (St.1), Sungai Cenahan (St. 2), downstream of Sungai Gumum (St. 3), mid of Sungai Gumum (St. 4), Sungai Kura-kura (St. 5), Sungai Melai (St. 6), Sungai Jemberau (St. 7), upstream of Sungai Paya Merupuk (St. 8), and downstream of Sungai Paya Merupuk (St. 9). Eleven water quality parameters were selected and analyzed in-situ and ex-situ during two sampling seasons. Laboratory analyses were carried out according to the HACH and APHA. Results of the study indicated that the pH content ranged from 3.2 to 6.32, dissolved oxygen 0.27 to 6.4 mg/L, conductivity from 14.33 to 85.7 µS/cm and temperature from 24.1 to 32.1˚C. Total dissolved solids ranged from 22.67 to 184 mg/L, total suspended solids from 1.17 to 79.11 mg/L and turbidity from 4.67 to 28.67 NTU. Nutrients such as ammonical nitrogen (0.01 to 0.57 mg/L), nitrate (0.7 to 2.9 mg/L), phosphate (from not detectable to 0.50 mg/L) and sulphate (from not detectable to 2.0 mg/L) were also studied. This showed that most of the feeder rivers have contributed to high nutrients values in Tasik Chini. Statistically, the relationship between water quality parameters were correlated as very weak and moderately correlated (R2= 0.40). Phosphate and sulphate were significantly correlated as positive slope; turbidity and nitrate showed negative slope with discharge during both the seasons (R2=0.651; R2=0.624). Recent activities such as deforestation, mining, agriculture and tourism have taken place in the surrounding areas of the lake. These activities were expected to influence the stability of the water quality of the feeder river of Tasik Chini.
Effective and rapid methods for RNA extraction from conidia, germinating conidia and appressoria of the fungal plant pathogen, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is reported in this study. The procedure for the RNA extraction from conidia and germinating conidia was carried out using TRI REAGENT® solution (Molecular Research Center, USA) and can be completed in less than one and a half hours. The procedure for RNA extraction from appressoria was carried out using a modified protocol employing guanidine isothiocyanate and mechanical cell disruption by glass beads. The efficiency of the RNA extraction procedures was evaluated by several measures to determine RNA integrity, purity and applicability in RT-PCR. RNA integrity was assessed by observing the integrity of the major RNA species (18S and 28S rRNA) on denaturing agarose gel electrophoresis. The ethidium bromide-staining pattern of intact total RNA extracted from the three fungal morphogenetic cells showed clearly defined 28S and 18S rRNA bands and no genomic DNA contamination. Spectrophotometric assessment of RNA from each sample indicated relatively high purity and absence of carbohydrate contamination. Finally, we have demonstrated that the methods used for RNA extraction of conidia, germinating conidia and appressoria produced RNA of sufficient quality suitable for RT-PCR in detecting the expression of protein kinase A regulatory subunit gene in C. gloeosporioides.
Nitridation behaviour of Al-Mg-Si alloys was studied as a function of temperature by means of thermogravimetry method. A reactive gas, N2-4%H2 at a rate of 10 ml/min was purged into the thermogravimetry analyser chamber. The Al alloys were heated from 25oC to 625oC at the heating rate of 15oC/min and then reduced to 3oC/min until it reached 1500oC. It was found that by varying the amount of Mg and Si in Al-Mg-Si alloys significantly influenced the growth of the composites. A differential thermogravimetric curve shows the Mg containing alloys experienced many steps of chemical reactions. This indicates that besides AlN presence as a major phase, other compounds also exist in the final product. The X-ray diffraction results confirmed the existence of oxide phases such as a-Al2O3, MgAl2O4 and MgO in addition to residual Si and Al metal. The presence of oxide compounds is believed to be due to the reaction between the alloying elements and residual oxygen gas left in the reaction atmosphere. It was also found that Si could play a role in promoting the weight gain of the composite produced. The heating rate has also a profound effect on the weight gain, whereby higher heating rate resulted in low yielded of AlN during the nitridation reaction of the Al-Mg-Si alloys.
Kertas ini membincangkan pembangunan suatu alat sokongan pembuat keputusan dalam mereka bentuk produk berasaskan teori baris-gilir yang dikaitkan dengan maklumat masa kitar pembuatan. Dengan penggunaan alat sokongan ini, kesan reka bentuk sesuatu produk terhadap parameter kapasiti dan masa kitar pembuatan sesuatu sistem pembuatan sedia ada dapat ditentukan. Aplikasi alat sokongan ini membolehkan kumpulan pembangunan produk membangunkan produk sebenar pada masa yang singkat, meminimumkan kos pembangunan serta mengurangkan keperluan untuk mereka
bentuk semula produk. Alat sokongan ini telah diaplikasikan pada sebuah industri automotif tempatan dan hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa alat sokongan tersebut telah berjaya melakukan analisis masa kitar dan tahap penggunaan pada sistem pembuatan sedia ada. Pada jumlah keluaran 44 komponen/jam dan saiz sesekumpul 80, hasil analisis menunjukkan tahap penggunaan pada 98% dengan masa kitar 17.8 jam bagi pemprosesan gabungan produk yang terdiri daripada komponen dengan reka bentuk baru dan reka bentuk sedia ada.
Penyingkiran boron dalam larutan akuas secara penjerapan telah dikaji dengan menggunakan penjerap komposit yang menggabungkan zeolit, batu kapur, karbon teraktif dan buangan arang sekam padi. Parameter optimum seperti pH, masa sentuhan optimum dan dos bahan penjerap dikaji. Kajian isoterma penjerapan dan kinetik penjerapan turut dijalankan. Hasil penyelidikan menunjukkan penyingkiran boron paling optimum berlaku pada pH5 dan masa sentuhan optimum ialah pada minit ke 120. Dos optimum bagi penyingkiran boron dalam larutan akuas ialah pada dos 280 g/L dan penyingkiran yang dapat dilakukan ialah sebanyak 50.49%. Dalam kajian isoterma, model isoterma Langmuir dan Freundlich telah diaplikasikan dan hasil kajian membuktikan bahawa kajian isoterma penjerapan adalah mematuhi model isoterma Langmuir (R2 = 0.8792). Nilai kapasiti penjerapan maksimum (qm) yang diperoleh daripada model isoterma Langmuir adalah 1.8985 mg/g. Kajian kinetik penjerapan dijalankan untuk mengetahui mekanisme proses penjerapan dan hasil kajian menunjukkan kadar kinetik bagi penjerapan boron ini adalah mematuhi model kinetik tertib kedua. Pekali korelasi yang diperoleh untuk model kinetik tertib kedua ini adalah 0.9929. Ini mencadangkan bahawa kinetik penjerapan boron adalah dipengaruhi oleh proses kimia.
Sistem pengering suria untuk pengeringan hasil pertanian dan laut telah direka bentuk, dibina dan diuji dalam suasana cuaca di Malaysia. Sistem pengeringan suria yang dibina, diuji untuk mengeringkan rumpai laut Gracilaria changii. Rumpai laut yang dikeringkan mempunyai kandungan air sekitar 95% asas berat basah untuk menghasilkan produk kering yang mempunyai kandungan air 10%. Proses pengeringannya mengambil masa selama kira-kira 7 jam, pada purata keamatan sinaran suria 593 W/m2 dan kadar aliran udara pengering 0.0613 kg/s. Pemadanan tiga model pengeringan telah dilakukan dengan data uji kaji pengeringan rumpai laut menggunakan sistem pengering suria pada suhu udara purata dalam kebuk 50oC dan purata kelembapan relatif udara 20%. Kejituan padanan model ditentukan berdasarkan nilai R2 yang paling tinggi, juga nilai MBE dan RMSE yang paling rendah. Kajian ini mendapati model pengeringan rumpai laut yang sesuai adalah model pengeringan Page dibandingkan dengan model pengeringan yang lain (model pengeringan Newton dan model Henderson dan Pabis).
Sapium baccatum is usually used as a timber in Malaysia. Its medicinal values are not well known and very little research has been conducted concerning the plant. Consequently, this study was conducted to observe toxicity effects of hexane extract of stem bark of S. baccatum. The toxicity effects were assessed through observation of physiological changes of the rats as well as through gross and histological examinations of its livers. The doses for the treated groups were given intraperitoneally for T2, T3 and T4 group which were given 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively. Meanwhile, control group (T1) was administered with 80% PEG 200 only. The observation period was 14 days. If the rat died, it was dissected and the liver was removed and examined. Some physiological effects observed include ataxia and hind-legs paralysis. The gross observations of the livers, growth of abnormal spots and connective tissues attachment to lobes of the livers were observed. The experiment was followed byhistopathological observation, which indicated the presence of abnormal hepatocytes with a distorted shape and undefined cell linings for T2 group. Results also indicated an increase in the distortion of hepatocytes, presence of massive cytoplasm and necrosis of hepatocytes for T3 and T4 groups. The results suggest that non polar extract of the stem bark of S. baccatum may promote toxic effects to the animals.
Beberapa kajian sebelum ini menunjukkan penglibatan pengaruh tekanan pengoksidaan dalam patogenesis osteoporosis. Justeru agen antioksida berpotensi untuk digunakan bagi merawat dan mencegah osteoporosis. Dalam kajian ini, vitamin E sawit dalam bentuk fraksi-kaya tokotrienol (‘tocotrienol-rich fraction’, TRF) telah digunakan. Perbandingan dibuat antara rawatan TRF, kalsium dan estrogen terhadap parameter histomorfometri struktur tulang, kandungan kalsium dan kekuatan biomekanikal tulang pada tikus betina terovariektomi. Sebanyak 48 ekor tikus betina Sprague-Dawley dibahagikan kepada enam kumpulan, iaitu kawalan asas, sham, ovariektomi (OVX) dan kumpulan ovariektomi yang diberi rawatan samada kalsium, estrogen atau TRF. Rawatan diberikan secara paksaan oral selama dua bulan. Berdasarkan ujian histomorfometri tulang, tikus-tikus terovariektomi yang diberi kalsium, estrogen atau TRF menunjukkan peningkatan isi padu trabekular dan pengurangan jarak antara tulang trabekular secara signifikan berbanding dengan tikus kawalan ovariektomi. Disamping itu, rawatan estrogen dan TRF meningkatkan ketebalan trabekular secara signifikan berbanding dengan kumpulan OVX dan kalsium. Melalui ujian kandungan kalsium tulang, tikus yang diberi rawatan kalsium mempunyai aras kandungan kalsium dalam vertebra lumbar ke-empat yang lebih tinggi berbanding dengan kumpulan sham dan OVX. Kesimpulannya, rawatan kalsium, estrogen dan TRF berupaya memberikan kesan positif terhadap struktur tulang trabekular. TRF dan estrogen mampu mencegah penipisan tulang. Rawatan kalsium meningkatkan kandungan kalsium tulang, namun ia tidak berupaya untuk mencegah penipisan tulang.
In this study, injection molding parameters, including green strength, surface quality and green part density, were optimized using the L18 Taguchi orthogonal array. The L25 Taguchi method was used to optimize the green density of solvent debinding parameters. The feedstock consisted of stainless steel powder (SS316L), with powder loading fractions of 63, 63.5 and 64 v/o. The binder compositions used in the study were polyethelene glycol (PEG-73 wt. %), polymethyl methacrilate (PMMA-25 wt. %) and stearic acid (2 wt. %). The Taguchi method was used to optimize the injection parameters. The obtained optimum parameters were as follows: mold temperature of 65oC, injection temperature of 145oC, injection pressure of 650 bar, injection flow rate of 20 m3/s, holding time of 5 s and powder loading of 64% v/o. Analysis of variance results showed that mold temperature has the greatest influence in the production of good green part surface quality and that powder loading gave the best green part strength. Immersion time and temperature were used to optimize for solvent debinding parameters. By optimizing the solvent debinding parameters, an immersion temperature of 61oC and immersion time of 5 h produced the highest density which is the optimum value gain in this study.
In this work, the effects of backbone polymer in the binder system mixed with pre-alloyed NiTi powder, on impurity contents, phase transformation temperatures and microstructures were investigated. A spherical gas-atomised pre-alloyed NiTi powder (50.3 at. %Ni) with a mean particle size of less than 22 μm and powder loading of 69.5 vol. % was used. The binder consisted of a water soluble binder system, mainly polyethylene glycol (PEG), with two different backbone binders, namely polyethylene 520 (PE 520) and poly-methyl- methacrylate (PMMA). The latter was used in the form of a powder and as an emulsion. Green parts were prepared by warm-press the feedstock into a cylindrical shape. The samples were then leached in warm water, thermally debound in Argon and finally, vacuum sintered at 1240°C for 10 h. The experimental results indicate that the oxygen content in the as-sintered condition increased to almost double than that of the powder state (from 0.08 to 0.14 - 0.16 wt. %) and the carbon increased by one third to half (from 0.06 to 0.08 - 0.09 wt. %). This consequently resulted in a shift of the phase transformation temperature to lower values and consequently broadened the reversible austenite to martensite transformation. The uptake of oxygen and carbon during the process led to the formation of the well-known Ti4Ni2Ox and TiC precipitate phases which were evident from grey-scale images of back-scattered SEM.
Hiperkolesterolemia merupakan suatu keadaan yang dikaitkan dengan perubahan aras lipid serum serta peningkatan aras peroksidaan lipid. Kajian ini dilakukan untuk melihat kesan ekstrak akues isi dan kulit buah Hylocereus polyrhizus (HP) terhadap jumlah kolesterol dan trigliserid (TG) serum serta aras malonaldehid (MDA-TBAR) hati tikus teraruh hiperkolesterolemia. Tikus Sprague dawley jantan diaruh menjadi hiperkolesterolemia dengan pemberian diet rat chow bersama 15% minyak sapi selama 8 minggu dan 0.02 g kolesterol secara suap paksa dua kali seminggu. Tikus-tikus diberi perlakuan ekstrak isi dan kulit buah HP, 300 mg/kg secara suap paksa selama 10 hari. Hasil menunjukkan aras kolesterol menurun secara signifikan (p<0.05) pada kedua-dua kumpulan hiperkolesterolemia yang diberi rawatan ekstrak isi dan kulit buah HP sebanyak 43.53% dan 51.36% berbanding tikus kawalan hiperkolesterolemia. Aras TG menunjukkan penurunan secara signifikan (p<0.05) sebanyak 38.0% bagi kumpulan tikus yang diberi rawatan ekstrak isi dan 42.98% bagi rawatan dengan ekstrak kulit buah HP. Peningkatan aras MDA-TBAR hati telah direncat dengan penurunan aras MDA-TBAR sebanyak 56.85% bagi kumpulan tikus yang diberi ekstrak kulit serta sedikit penurunan iaitu 10.27% bagi tikus yang diberi ekstrak isi berbanding tikus kawalan hiperkolesterolemia. Kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa kedua-dua ekstrak akues isi dan kulit buah HP merendahkan aras lipid serum serta aras MDA-TBAR hati pada tikus teraruh hiperkolesterolemia. Walau bagaimanapun, kesan ekstrak kulit lebih jelas berbanding ekstrak isi yang mungkin disebabkan oleh kandungan betasianin yang lebih tinggi dalam kulit berbanding isi buah HP.
The influence of PANI additions on methanol sensing properties of ZnO thin films at room temperature had been investigated. Commercial polyaniline powder (PANI) was mixed into 3 mL ZnO solution in five different weight percentages namely 1.25, 2.50, 3.75, 5.00 and 6.25% to obtain ZnO/PANI composite solutions. These solutions were spin coated onto glass substrate to form thin films. Microstructural studies by FESEM indicated that ZnO/PANI films showed porous structures with nanosize grains. The thickness of the film increased from 55 to 256 nm, proportionate to increment of PANI. The presence of 2 adsorption peaks at ~310 nm and ~610 nm in UV-Vis spectrum proved that addition of PANI has modified the adsorption peak of ZnO film. Methanol vapour detection showed that addition of PANI into ZnO dramatically improved the sensing properties of the sensor. The sensors also exhibited good repeatability and reversibility. Sensor with the amount of PANI of 3.75 wt% exhibited the highest sensitivity with response and recovery time was about 10 and 80 s, respectively. The possible sensing mechanism of the sensor was also discussed in this article.
Anthropogenically disturbed soils have unique properties. In most of the ecosystems, especially under disturbed soil conditions, the soil properties are controlled by the accumulated materials. However, the equilibrium between the already present soil mass and the accumulated soil mass is very fragile and is affected by many factors. There are diversity of views about their identification and interpretations. This paper reports on the physico-chemical properties of the investigated
sites under different texture soil accumulate. Three sites namely Chung-nam university field (Site-I), Chung-buk Geosan (Site-II) and Yong-in (Site-III) were investigated for diversity in physico-chemical properties. In situ and ex situ physical and chemical properties were determined and comparisons were made for soil profiles examined at three sites. The classification of disturbed soils largely depends upon the system followed for classification. The objectives of this paper
were to compare the properties of the disturbed soils and to classify for further research investigations of such soils. Abrupt change in electrical conductivity at Site-III was recorded ranged between 10.7 dS m–1 and 1.1 dS m–1 below 20 cm depth. Sudden and abrupt changes in infiltration rates at all sites were also calculated. The data suggested that the soil texture of the accumulated soil had also affected the properties of the underlying soil. Apparently, the difference in the properties seems to be the result of overlying soil accumulates with different texture. The disturbed soils need to be studied in detail and groupings be made on the basis of genesis and similarities.
Dry sliding wear of polyester hybrid composites containing carboxylic functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (cNT) and microparticles, silica (Si02) was studied at different sliding distances. An attempt has been made to produce uniform dispersion of nano- and micro- particles in the test samples by ultrasonication. The tribological properties of the hybrid composites were performed by using pin-on-disc (POD) tester against grey cast iron countersurface. The dry sliding wear tests were carried out under pressure-velocity (pv) condition of 0.4 MPa and 4 m/s for total sliding distance of 28800 m and at an interval of every sliding distance of 3600 m, wear properties and behavior were studied. The samples containing 10 wt.% silica (microparticles) with and without CNT always show increase in coefficient of friction at the expense of wear rate. However, samples containing only ci'rr have the lowest wear rate with the increase in coefficient of friction. Sliding distance studies also provide the information on wear rates which were ever changing at different sliding distances whereas average coefficient of friction did not vary throughout the tests. SEM observations of wear surfaces showed different wear morphologies when reinforcement (cNT or Si02) incorporated into the composites either alone or in combination.
Introduction: Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is known for its health and therapeutic benefits. However, the immunomodulatory effects of VCO have not been extensively investigated. Objective: The present study was devoted to examining the effects of VCO on cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced toxicity of lymphoid tissues. Methods: Thirty healthy male Wistar rats were sorted into 5 groups of 6 animals. The first control (NC) group was given distilled water via gavage at 5 ml/kg once daily. The second (CY) group received CY orally at 10 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks. Rats in the other three groups (CV5, CV10, and CV15) were given 10 mg/kg/day CY for 4 weeks, 5 m/kg/day, 10 ml/kg/day and 15 ml/kg/day VCO for 6 weeks, respectively. Rats were sacrificed at the end of 6th week; blood sample from the animals was collected for full blood count and biochemical analysis. The thymus and spleen of each animal was processed for histological examination. Results: The thymus and spleen showed marked reduction in lymphoid cellularity following daily administration of CY. The thymus also showed a marked reduction in the size of the medulla, and the white pulp areas of spleen had reduction in the follicle number and size. Supplementation with 10 ml/kg and 15 ml/kg VCO showed evidence of restoration of both the thymus and splenic lymphoid architecture. The total white cell counts, absolute lymphocyte counts and plasma globulin levels of the VCO groups were significantly increased compared to CY group. Conclusion: VCO displayed potential protective effects on CYinduced histological changes in lymphoid tissues.
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Attitudes toward Statistics (USM-AS) is a newly developed, selfadministered inventory for measuring attitudes toward statistics among postgraduate students. The
USM-AS consists of three factors (affect, cognition, and behavior) and 58 items. This study was
aimed to validate the USM-AS and provide evidence of its construct validity by investigating its
internal structure. This study consists of four validation studies, which were conducted consecutively
among postgraduate students (master’s degree and PhD students) in the medical and health sciences.
The revised USM-AS, consisting of three factors and 12 items, was found to have good construct
validity, which was demonstrated by good model fit, high factor loadings (0.62 to 0.92), high
construct reliability (0.84 to 0.89), good discrimination between factors and good test-retest reliability
(intraclass correlation coefficients = 0.63 to 0.82). However, validity was limited to postgraduate
students in the medical and health sciences in Malaysia. Further validation studies among
postgraduate students in other scientific fields are recommended to provide additional construct
validity evidence of the USM-AS.
Occupation is the most important element in changing the quality-of-life continuity and the recovery of drug addicts. This study aimed to measure the level of employment sustainability among ex-clients from the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK). This study used a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design. A total of 130 AADK ex-clients who were in employment were selected as respondents for this study. Our findings show that the majority of AADK ex-clients can survive relatively well enough for between 1 to 2 years depending on the factors of wages, work environment, interests and skills. The finding of this study implies that former clients tend to remain only 1 to 2 years in employment if their wages and jobs are not in line with their will. The findings also found that there was a significant relationship between the job-person fit and job satisfaction with motivation. Hence, this study is capable to modify the perceptions and views of employers towards clients' initiative for being persistent at the workplace as well as improving existing policies in providing incentives to clients for being consistent on the job.
Oleic acid (OA) capped wolfram (VI) oxide, WO3 nanoparticles were chemically synthesized and characterized by means of Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The tribological properties of the capped WO3 nanoparticles as an additive in base oils were investigated using a four-ball machine. Results show that OA-capped WO3 nanoparticles are able to prevent water adsorption and capable of being dispersed stable in organic solvents which is base oils. The as-prepared capped WO3 nanoparticles have an average size of 15 nm. In addition, OA-capped WO3 nanoparticles as an additive in base oils perform good anti-wear (AW) and anti-friction (AF) properties owing to the formation of a boundary film.