XRF analysis was done on a local zircon samples and the result shows it has a high Fe, Th and U content. The high Fe content in Malaysian zircon had made the mineral to be classified as of a low-grade zircon. Presence of Fe in this mineral may be resulted from clay mineral coating found on the zircon surface. Chemical leaching technique was used for the removal of this Fe and the study also shows that a 600 o C heat pretreatment stage is important for the effectiveness of this process. Other parameters studied are the HCl concentration, leaching temperature and time. By using the optimum leaching parameters, the Fe content had been reduced to 0.049% and thus qualified it to be categorised as a premium grade zircon.
Tin slag was collected from a slag dump in the Penang Island and was analysed for its elemental composition using microfocus XRF with a 300ȝm x-ray spot diameter. The tin slag sample was analysed direct without any sample treatment and analysis was conduct on four different spots. The result gives different elemental composition on these different spots. Among the elements analysed are Al2O3, SiO2, SnO2, CaO, TiO2, Nd2O3, MnO, Fe2O3, TaO, W2O3, As2O3, ThO2, U3O8, ZrO2 and Nb2O5. Elemental mapping was also done to show the distribution of these elements in the sample.
Telah terbukti bahawa pembangunan dan kejayaan bioteknologi dan teknologi modifikasi genetik (GM) pada masa hadapan bergantung secara langsung kepada persepsi masyarakat dan sikap pengguna. Kajian lepas menunjukkan bahawa pengguna mempunyai sikap skeptikal terhadap teknologi modifikasi genetik dalam penghasilan makanan. Kajian ini dijalankan untuk mengenal pasti dimensi yang menyumbang kepada pembentukan sikap pelajar terhadap makanan GM selain daripada sikap mereka terhadap perubahan dalam kualiti makanan dan bagaimana ini dapat membentuk cara hidup dan sikap mereka terhadap makanan GM. Pembentukan model dibina berdasarkan kepada model Latifah yang mengandungi enam dimensi iaitu persepsi faedah, persepsi risiko, penerimaan risiko, kebiasaan, aspek moral dan sokongan. Kaedah analisis faktor telah digunakan untuk mengenal pasti dimensi yang membentuk sikap pelajar dalam model yang dibina ini. Didapati dimensi penerimaan risiko mempunyai nilai kebolehpercayaan yang rendah, manakala dimensi baru diperoleh iaitu dimensi kawalan. Hasil analisis faktor telah disahkan dengan penggunaan kaedah pemodelan persamaan berstruktur (SEM). Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa dimensi persepsi faedah, persepsi risiko, kebiasaan, aspek moral, kawalan dan sokongan menyumbang kepada sikap para pelajar terhadap makanan GM.
Public perceptions, understanding and acceptance of modern biotechnology can both promote and hamper their commercial introduction and adoption. Various studies have shown that consumer acceptance of modern biotechnology tend to be conditional and dependent on several factors. Public perceptions of biotechnology have received extensive attention in recent years in most Western countries such as Europe, USA and Canada but there have been limited similar surveys in developing countries. Most of the earlier studies used uni-dimensional or bi-dimensional instrument with multi-items or the most is four dimensions with single item. In this study, public attitude towards genetically modified (GM) soybean that is already available in the Malaysian market. A survey was carried out on 577 general public respondents in the Klang Valley region. In order to detect the structure of attitude amongst the expert group in the Klang Valley region, structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS version 5.1 was carried out. Result of the survey has confirmed that attitude towards complex issues such as biotechnology should be seen as multi-faceted/ multidimensional process. The most important factors predicting encouragement of GM soybean are the specific application-linked perceptions about the benefits and acceptance of risk while moral concern, risk and familiarity are significant predictors of intermediate factors. Researchers, policy makers and industries interested in developing and marketing GM products in Malaysia should consider the various factors mentioned in this in order to gain public approval.
Experiments were carried out to establish optimum culture condition and to identify the most responsive hypocotyls segments to regenerate shoots in the presence of slight callus for the local cabbage cultivar, Brassica oleracea L. var capitata subvar. kkcross. Results of the study showed that only the upper segment of the hypocotyls (1 cm and 2 cm from both shoot apex) excised from in vitro seedlings, regenerate shoots while the segment nearest to the apex (1 cm) regenerate both shoots and roots. Optimum regeneration was obtained when the seedlings' age were 3 weeks old as compared to younger or older explants. Types of culture vessels did not exhibit any significant effect on the hypocotyls culture. Multiple shoots with the presence of slight healthy callus (0.5 - 2.0mm diameter) were successfully regenerated at a frequency of 42 and 50% respectively from hypocotyls sections cultured on a basal Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 3-lndole acetic acid (1AA) [1 µg/L (w/v)], kinetin [2 µg/L(w/v)] and casein hydrolysate [500 µg/L(w/ v)] (designated as Ms1 medium) and B5 medium supplemented with adenine sulphate [40 mg/L(w/v)], glutamine (6mM) and 2, 4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid [2,4,5- T (0.1 mg/L( w/v)] (designated as cs23 medium). Clonal propagation from axillary buds was induced on a basal MS medium supplemented with low concentration of kinetin [0.05-0.2mg/L(w/v)]. Plantlets with complete roots were successfully transferred into a mixture of soil and vermiculate (1: 1) and grown into normal mature cabbage plants in the glasshouse.
Islam merupakan satu agama yang menitikberatkan kesihatan manusia termasuklah sistem pencernaan manusia. Najis
(tinja) manusia yang dibincangkan dalam kajian ini merupakan hasil buangan manusia yang menjadi salah satu kaedah
untuk melihat sudut kesihatan manusia. Objektif penyelidikan ini ialah untuk mengkaji fizikokimia dan ciri-ciri najis
serta kegunaannya daripada perspektif sains dan sudut pandangan Islam terutamanya mengenai diet yang diamalkan
oleh Rasulullah SAW. Kajian ini dijalankan dengan menggunakan ulasan literatur secara deskriptif. Kajian mendapati
bahawa sistem pencernaan merupakan satu sistem yang rumit. Tinja terdiri daripada 75% air dan 25% bahan pepejal
serta ciri-ciri tinja seperti bentuk, warna dan bau memberi kesan kepada kesihatan manusia. Daripada sudut Islam
warna, bau dan rasa tinja merupakan perkara asas yang dititikberatkan semasa proses pembersihan najis terutamanya
bagi memulakan sesuatu ibadah. Selain itu, diet, senaman, umur dan jantina merupakan faktor-faktor yang membezakan
jenis tinja bagi setiap individu. Malah, kajian ini juga merungkai beberapa alternatif yang kini diguna pakai bagi
mengurus najis-najis manusia dalam menjamin kesihatan dan pemeliharaan alam sekitar. Kajian ini kemudiannya
mengupas diet makanan-makanan sunnah yang terdapat di dalam Al-Quran dan hadis yang terbukti kaya dengan serat
dan sihat untuk manusia terutamanya bagi sistem pencernaan manusia. Oleh itu, najis (tinja) manusia daripada sudut
sains mampu menggambarkan kesihatan seseorang dan amalan diet makanan-makanan sunnah sangat baik dalam
memelihara sistem pencernaan manusia.