Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPS) analysis of Mu-opioid receptors (OPRM1) using denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) among the intravenous drug users

Objectives: The genetic polymorphisms of OPRM1 among the intravenous drug users (IVDUs) and healthy controls were investigated and the risk of addiction in relation to OPRM1 was predicted. Methods: PCR-denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) method was developed to investigate SNPs in the coding regions of OPRM1 in 93 IVDUs and 100 healthy controls. Subjects were confirmed to be drug addicts and their personality was studied using validated Tridimensional Personality Questionnaires (TPQ). Results: Based on the results obtained, seven SNPs were detected; two of them were previously associated with addiction. Homozygous OPRM1:c.118GG and heterozygous OPRM1:c.118AG variants were found to have higher frequencies among the IVDUs and healthy controls. In addition, carriers of OPRM1:c.118G allele scored higher for novelty seeking (NS) and harm avoidance (HA) with more explorative, neurotic and uninhibited personalities. We identified a new variant of OPRM1:c.77C>G which is located at the N-terminus of the G-coupled protein receptor and possibly decreases the binding affinity of its ligands among the IVDUs. Conclusion: In conclusion, DHPLC allows the detection of new and existing variants of OPRM1. Genotyping of OPRM1:c.118A>G and assessment of personalities using TPQ provide valuable tools for determination of addiction risk

Quality of work life of librarians in government academic libraries in the Klang Valley, Malaysia / Rafidah Abdul Aziz, Fuziah Mohd Nadzar, Haslinda Husaini... [et.al].

The success of any organization is highly dependent on how it attracts workers, motivates, and retains its workforce. Today's organizations need to be more flexible and understanding, so that they are well prepared to develop their employees and enjoy their commitment. For most employees, going to work can be burdensome and somewhat forced upon them to carry out every day. However, for a few, their careers are the most important thing in their lives compared to others. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between work and non-work variables and quality of work life. Therefore, it is anticipated that the contribution from this study will provide useful information to the top management level in organizations for the purpose of planning appropriate policies that can enhance employees overall life satisfaction. The research questions, which serve as a foundation of this study focus on the relationship between work and non-work variables and quality of work life. This study applied the quantitative research design as well as descriptive and correlation approach. Respondents are all librarians working in government academic libraries in the Klang Valley. An online survey was used to gather data for each participating library. The questionnaire was divided into two sections. Section A contained the socio-demographic information, while Section B contained seven parts of questions related to the study. The data was analyzed using Pearson Correlation Analysis. Findings from this study indicated that both work variables and non-work variables do matter in determining the quality of work life. The findings of this research also can be beneficial in Human Resource Management issues and trends in libraries administration

Halia (Zingiber Officinale Roscoe) menurut perspektif agama Islam dan Sains: analisa terhadap manuskrip Melayu terpilih

Kebanyakan masyarakat pada hari ini menggunakan tumbuhan herba dalam perubatan yang dikenali sebagai perubatan tradisi. Kajian ini menggariskan kepentingan tumbuhan terpilih iaitu pokok halia (Zingiber Officinale Roscoe) kerana pokok halia amat berpotensi sebagai ubat-ubatan selain digunakan sebagai perasa dan makanan. Halia dilaporkan sebagai salah satu ramuan perubatan dalam tradisi perubatan melayu seperti rawatan untuk muntah, membuang angin, penyakit dalam usus dan sebagainya. Artikel ini mempunyai beberapa objektif penting iaitu: 1) mengkaji kepentingan tumbuhan halia daripada perspektif agama, 2) menganalisis tumbuhan halia yang terdapat dalam tradisi dan manuskrip perubatan Melayu, 3) menganalisis penemuan saintifik dan kandungan fitokimia yang terdapat dalam pokok halia (Zingiber Officinale Roscoe) serta potensi perubatannya. Dalam kajian ini, penulis telah menggunakan kaedah perpustakaan dan analisis kualitatif untuk melihat produktiviti penggunaan dan manfaat pokok halia dalam masyarakat kita pada hari ini. Hasil kajian yang dijalankan oleh penulis mendapati kajian ini penting untuk difahami agar tumbuhan herba ini dapat digunakan secara komersial sama ada dalam bidang perubatan, kosmetik dan dijadikan makanan seharian

Penambahbaikan penyediaan Laporan Latihan Industri melalui Sistem Repositori Laporan dan Kit Latihan Industri (enhancing the preparation of Industrial Training Report through Report Repository System and Industrial Training Kit) / Salliza Md Radzi … [et al.]

Kursus Latihan Industri (IMC690) merupakan kursus wajib yang harus diambil oleh pelajar semester 7 bagi program Pengurusan Sistem Maklumat (IM245). Kursus ini membawa pemberat jam kredit yang tinggi iaitu 12 jam kredit. Terdapat empat (4) bahagian yang dinilai dan penyumbang markah sebanyak 40% adalah pada laporan akhir latihan industri. Masalah berlaku apabila pelajar tidak dapat menyiapkan laporan mengikut tempoh yang telah ditetapkan oleh pihak Fakulti. Natijahnya, laporan lewat dihantar, laporan lewat disemak dan markah laporan rendah telah memberi kesan terhadap pelajar dan pensyarah. Objektif kajian adalah bertujuan untuk mengurangkan peratus kelewatan penghantaran laporan latihan industri. Kajian ini mengenengahkan dua (2) projek inovasi kreatif iaitu pembangunan Sistem Repositori Laporan Latihan Industri (ITR2) dan penghasilan Kit Latihan Industri (IT Kit) sebagai kaedah penyelesaian masalah. Berdasarkan dapatan kajian, peratusan kelewatan penyediaan laporan akhir IMC690 telah berjaya diturunkan daripada 60% kepada 0% dan secara tidak langsung telah mendorong kepada peningkatan peratusan markah laporan akhir melebihi paras 30%. Hasil kedua-dua inovasi ini telah terbukti sebagai sumber rujukan komprehensif yang telah berjaya membantu pelajar dalam menghasilkanlaporan yang berkualiti dan mengikut piawaian

Toxicity of Malaysian Medicinal Plant Extracts Against Sitophilus oryzae and Rhyzopertha dominica

The insecticidal activities of extracts from 22 Malaysian medicinal plant extracts from 8 botanical families were tested against rice weevil: Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and lesser grain borer: Rhyzopertha dominica (F.). The extracts were obtained using hexane, methanol, and dichloromethane to extract potential biopesticides from dried leaves. The toxicity levels were examined periodically based on antifeedant activity and contact toxicity assays using treated grain assay. Hexane extracts of Alpinia conchigera, Alpinia scabra, Curcuma mangga, Curcuma purpurascens, Goniothalamus tapisoides, Piper sarmentosum , and methanol extracts of Curcuma aeruginosa, C. mangga , and Mitragyna speciosa were the most potent extracts against S. oryzae and R. dominica with lethal concentration (LC50) values of ≤ 0.42 mg/mL and ≤ 0.49 mg/mL, respectively. The contact toxicity test results showed that methanol extracts of C. aeruginosa and C. mangga , dichloromethane extracts of Cryptocarya nigra , and hexane extracts of C. mangga, and C. purpurascens resulted in 100% mortality of both pests within 28 days exposure of 5 mg/cm2 concentration

Volatile constituents and trace metal analysis of Alpinia conchigera griff. / Haslinda Mohd Salleh

The rhizomes and leaves of Alpinia conchigera were extracted by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) technique using liquid carbon dioxide at constant temperature (40°C) with two different pressures (A1: leaves extract at 1500 psi; A2: leaves extract at 5000 psi; B1: rhizomes extract at 1500 psi; B2: rhizomes extract at 5000 psi). The volatile constituents of the extracts were detected by GCMS. The major compound was identified as acetoxychavicol acetate in all the extracts. Besides that, β- bisabolene, chavicol, trans-pcoumaryl diacetate and acetoxyeugenol acetate were detected too. The concentration of macronutrients and trace metal for rhizomes and leaves of Alpinia conchigera were determined using microwave digestion method and analyzed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS). From the analysis on rhizomes and leaves of Alpinia conchigera, the dominant metals are Ca and Mg respectively while the Cu content is the least in all samples. B2 showed strong inhibition against dermathophytic fungi (Trichophyton mentagrophytes) whereas A1 and A2 revealed moderate inhibition against Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum. Therefore, the rhizome extracts of Alpinia conchigera (B2) is more effective compared to the leaves extracts of Alpinia conchigera (A1 and A2)

Quality of work life of librarians in government academic libraries in the Klang Valley

The success of any organization is highly dependent on how it attracts workers and motivates, and retains its workforce. Today’s organizations need to be more flexible and understanding,so that they are well prepared to develop their employees and enjoy their commitment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between work and non-work variables and quality of work life. It is anticipated that the contribution from this study will provide useful information to the top management level in organizations for the purpose of planning appropriate policies that can enhance employees’ overall life satisfaction. The research questions, which serve as a foundation of this study, focus on the relationship between work and non-work variables and quality ofwork life. This study applied a quantitative research design aswell as descriptive and correlation approach. Respondents are all librarians working in government academic libraries in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. An online survey was used to gather data for each participating library. The questionnaire was divided into two sections: Section A, the socio-demographic information; and Section B, the seven questions related to the study. The data were analyzed using Pearson Correlation Analysis. Findings from this study indicated that both work variables and non-work variables do matter in determining the quality of work life. The findings of this research also can be beneficial in Human Resource Management issues and trends in libraries administration

Chemical Constituents From Endiandra kingiana (Lauraceae) as Potential Inhibitors for Dengue Type 2 NS2B/NS3 Serine Protease and its Molecular Docking

International audienc

Chemical Constituents From Endiandra kingiana (Lauraceae) as Potential Inhibitors for Dengue Type 2 NS2B/NS3 Serine Protease and its Molecular Docking

International audienc