Ultrastructural study was carried out 2 groups of pollen with numerous, arranged and spirals on convex. Five species was studied; Desmos chinensis Lour. Fl., Desmos cochinchinensis Lour Fl. , Desmos dumonsus (Roxb.) Safford. , Desmos dunalii (Hk. F. et Th.) Safford. and Desmos dasymaschalus (Bl.) Safford. Pollen was collected from UKM Herbarium specimens and fresh specimen was collected at difference area in the Malaysia. They were acetolysis and dried by CPD method. Parameter studied via scanning electron microscope are mounted pollen, were stamen material; shape, P/E, size, surface structure and calpus ornamentation. Results obtained showed that pollen was inaperturate with needle structure and solitary globus. The morphology of pollen grains of all the species is presented and an identification key base on scanning electron microscope observations is tested.
The calcareous rings of two species of local sea cucumbers, Stichopus hermanni Semper and Holothuria atra Jaeger, were located, dissected, exposed and recorded. The calcareous rings of both species each composed of ten plates knit together by connective tissues. The radial plate of H. atra was a square with a notch at the anterior part whereas in S. hermanni it was squarish consisting of 4 ridges in the anterior part with a notch at the posterior part. The interradial plates of both species were smaller than the radial plates. A ridge was present at the anterior part of the interradial plate in H. atra. In S. hermanii, the ridge at the anterior part of the interradial was thin and prominent. Under the scanning electron microscope the calcareous rings from the two species exhibited a mosaic of small, numerous spicules bound to each other.
Recently researchers are interested with the biotherapeutic potential of probiotics in gut disease
treatment. The bacteria are generally regarded as a safe, have a stability of usage and originate
from the natural resources. The study aims to identify and characterize the potential probiotic
Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) isolated from Malaysian fermented fish product known as
Pekasam. Fourty isolates obtained were firstly screened for their antagonism activities against
the common pathogenic bacteria; Esherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella sp.
Our study revealed only three (labeled as L8, L20 and S1) of the isolates tested showed broad
antimicrobial effects towards the pathogenic bacteria. All of the isolates were also γ-hemolytic
and tolerant to various pH (pH 3, 5 and 7.5) and 0.3% (w/v) bile salts. The bacteria isolates
of strain L8 and L20 were susceptible to seven antibiotics tested except vancomycin and
tetracycline whereas S1 was resistant to all antibiotics. Phenotypic tests revealed that both
bacteria isolates of strain L8 and L20 were Bacillus megaterium while S1 was Pediococcus
pentosaceus whereas 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed potential bacteria isolates
of strain L8 and L20 belonged to the Lactobacillus plantarum (99% similarity) and S1 was
characterized as Lactobacillus pentosus (100% similarity) respectively. Our present study
showed that the probiotics of strain L8, L20 and S1 isolated from the fermented fish (Pekasam)
exhibited the potential probiotic properties to be developed as biotherapeutic agents.
Decision making in nursing is one of the most important skills nurses must apply and utilize in their nursing practice. The aim of this study was to determine the perception of clinical decision making ability among nursing students. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary hospital. A total of 54 nursing students were recruited using a modified version of Clinical Decision Making in Nursing Scale (CDMNS) adapted from Jenkins (1985). The findings showed good CDMNS score with mean and standard deviation of (124.24±12.713). The four sub-scales of CDMNS were: searching for alternative (33.24±4.821), canvassing (28.74±3.514), evaluation and re-evaluation (31.43±3.922), searching for information (30.83±4.765). Nineteen (35%) of the participants chose nursing as their first choice, whereas 35 participants (65%) did not. Thirthy seven (69%) participants were satisfied with their nursing competency, 17 (31%) were unsatisfied. There were significant differences between searching for alternatives, evaluation and re-evaluation, and nursing as their first choice (p=
Study site: Nursing students, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM)