Kesan perencatan madu gelam terhadap kehilangan tulang pada tikus periodontitis

Periodontitis adalah penyakit kronik yang melibatkan kehilangan tulang dan inflamasi pada tisu periodontium. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) dan Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) merupakan penanda pro-inflamasi yang penting yang terlibat dalam periodontitis. Sebanyak 20 ekor tikus Sprague-Dawley dibahagikan kepada empat kumpulan iaitu: Kumpulan kawalan dengan salin normal (CS); kumpulan kawalan dengan madu Gelam 3 g/mL (CH); kumpulan ujian periodontitis dengan salin normal (TS); dan kumpulan ujian periodontitis dengan madu Gelam 3 g/mL (TH). Benang bersaiz 4/0 diikat pada molar pertama gigi tikus sebelah kiri bagi tujuan rangsangan penyakit periodontitis. Madu Gelam diberi secara paksa oral selama 15 hari. Selepas 15 hari, sampel plasma dan tisu dianalisis menggunakan kaedah Elisa dan pewarnaan histologi. Kehilangan tulang alveolar pada kumpulan TS adalah paling tinggi berbanding dengan kumpulan kawalan, CS dan CH namun, tiada perbezaan yang signifikan berbanding dengan kumpulan TH. Berdasarkan ujian imunohistokimia, ekspresi IL-6 dan TNF-α pada tisu periodontium adalah tinggi secara signifikan pada kumpulan TS berbanding dengan kumpulan lain. Namun, tiada perubahan aras IL-6 dan TNF-α yang signifikan pada plasma ke semua tikus kajian

Checklist of fishes at Pergau Lake, Jeli, Kelantan, Malaysia

A survey was conducted to determine the diversity of fish in Pergau Lake, Jeli, Kelantan, Malaysia from 2 September to 18 October of 2016. Fish samples were collected at seven random sampling stations around the lake by using setting trap method. The collected samples were preserved in 10% formalin solution and delivered to the laboratory for further identification process. Fourteen species, namely as Hemibagrus nemurus, Hampala macrolepidota, Clarias batrachus, Channa striata, Cyprinus carpio, Poropuntius smedleyi, Pangasius sp., Oreochromis niloticus, Oreochromis mossambicus, Leptobarbus hoevenii, Neolissochilus hexagonolepis, Tor tambroides, Osteochilus hasselti and Neolissochilus soroides, comprising of six families were collected during this study. From this study, family of Cyprinidae was the dominant species in Pergau Lake with exactly 50% of catch percentage, followed by family of Bagridae (29%), Cichlidae (10%), Clariidae (5%), Channidae (3%) and Pangasiidae (3%). This study shows that there is still a diversity of fish species in Pergau Lake, showing that the water and its environmental condition is very good

Processing and Properties of Oil Palm Fronds Composite Boards from <em>Elaeis guineensis</em>

Oil palm fronds are one of the biomass residues originating from oil palm plantations. It has great potential to be used as an alternative material for the composite boards industry to reduce dependency on wood-based raw materials. The fronds are obtainable all the year round and in big quantity. The oil palm fronds had been processed as compressed oil palm fronds to form such a potential composite board in this topic. A composite board from compressed oil palm fronds was produced by removing the fronds’ leaflets and epidermis. The sample was sliced longitudinally into thin layers and compressed into an identical thickness at about 2 to 3 mm. Pieces of the sample were dry using the air-dried method. They were then mixed with phenol and urea-formaldehyde of resins in the range of 12-15% and compressed again with another layer forming a composite board. Standard outlined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) tested for their physical and strength properties of composite board. Found that the physical and strength aspects’ properties show that the composite board possessed characteristics at par or equivalent. The composite board from compressed oil palm fronds has good prospects to be used as an alternative to wood. Thus, this characteristics can overcome the shortage in materials supply in the wood-based industry

Catalyzing red list assessments of underrepresented Taxa through partner networks and student engagement

Global biodiversity decline is continuing largely unabated. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species (hereafter, Red List) provides us with the gold standard for assessments, but taxonomic coverage, especially for invertebrates and fungi, remains very low. Many players contribute to the Red List knowledge base, especially IUCN Red List partners, IUCN-led assessment projects, and the Specialist Groups and Red List Authorities (RLA) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. However, it is vital that we develop the next generation of contributors and bring in new, diverse voices to build capacity and to sustain the huge assessment effort required to fill data gaps. Here, we discuss a recently established partner network to build additional capacity for species assessments, by linking academia directly into the assessment processes run by Specialist Groups and RLAs. We aim to increase Red List “literacy” amongst potential future conservationists and help students to increase publication output, form professional networks, and develop writing and research skills. Professors can build Red List learning into their teaching and offer Red Listing opportunities to students as assignments or research projects that directly contribute to the Red List. We discuss the opportunities presented by the approach, especially for underrepresented species groups, and the challenges that remain