The Life History, Population and Feeding Biology of Two Paddy Field Frogs, Rana Cancrivora GraVenhorst and R. Limnocharis Boie, in Malaysia

The life history, population and feeding biology of two species of frogs (R. cancrivora and R. limnocharis) were studied from April 1992 through September 1993 in the rice growing district of Tanjung Karang, Selangor, Malaysia. The results showed that the breeding periods of the two frogs were correlated with the irrigation phase of the rice growing seasons and were not correlated with the rainfall. The frogs were also found to have two breeding peaks annually as opposed to a single peak for the same species in other localities. Comparison of the life history aspects of the two species showed that R. cancrivora females produced more, and larger sized, eggs than R. limnocharis females. This then produced a chain effect whereby R. cancrivora larvae developed faster and metamorphosed at a larger size than those of R. limnocharis, and then continued to grow at a faster rate, attained a larger size and reached sexual maturity earlier. These factors most probably contributed to the observed disparity i n population size between these two frogs wherein R. cancrivora is about six times more numerous than R. limnocharis. The fact that adults of these two species differ in size is also the main reason as to why they can coexist in the same habitat. Different body sizes allow them to ingest different sized prey items, as was discovered by analysis of their diets, thus avoiding competition for food. Survivor ships from eggs to metamorphosis for both species are low but normal for lentic-water breeding amphibians, and they are deemed sufficient to maintain the population levels if human interference can be substantially reduced. Fluctuations in the population structure are mainly due to recruitment, natural mortality and human interference. The most important food items for both species are insects and about 80% of these insects are pests of rice. Hence these frogs are considered very important biological control organisms in the paddy field habitat

Web based computer games as an educational tools: mapping the Malaysian surrounding issues

The advancement of computer and web technology has enabled the growth of one of the most popular application nowadays: online computer games. Thousands of online games are available on the internet consists of different genre, graphics and patterns which enable gamers around the world play their favourite games alone or simultaneously. The engagement and immersion provided by games is no doubt is very high. For this matter, the games should be exploited as a medium for teaching and learning because we may never have experienced same level of engagement in our conventional teaching and learning medium among our students. However, designing and developing educational computer games is a multidisciplinary activity involving computer expert, educational expert, art designers and story creator. Therefore, the process of creating such games is never be easy especially if we want to achieved something the best in terms of good game play and by the same time gaining lot of learning benefits. This study will define the issues and elements needed in this multidisciplinary activity. This will be as a guide in the design and development of an online computer games for teaching and learning purposes

Increased Carbon Dioxide concentration improves the antioxidative properties of the Malaysian herb Kacip Fatimah (Labisia pumila Blume).

A randomized complete randomized design (RCBD) 3 by 3 experiment was designed to investigate and distinguish the relationships among production of secondary metabolites (total phenolics, TP; total flavonoids, TF), gluthatione (GSH), oxidized gluthatione (GSSG), soluble carbohydrate and antioxidant activities of the Malaysian medicinal herb Labisia pumila Blume under three levels of CO₂ enrichment (400, 800 and 1,200 µmol mol⁻¹) for 15 weeks. It was found that the treatment effects were solely contributed by interaction of CO₂ levels and secondary metabolites distribution in plant parts, GSH, GSHH and antioxidant activities (peroxyl radicals (ROO), superoxide radicals (O₂), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and hydroxyl radicals (OH). The records of secondary metabolites, glutahione, oxidized gluthathione and antioxidant activities in a descending manner came from the leaf enriched with 1,200 µmol/mol CO₂ > leaf 800 µmol/mol CO₂ > leaf 400 µmol/mol CO₂ > stem 1,200 µmol/mol CO₂ > stem 800 µmol/mol CO₂ > stem 400 µmol/mol CO₂ > root 1,200 µmol/mol CO₂ > root 800 µmol/mol CO₂ > root 400 µmol/mol CO₂. Correlation analyses revealed strong significant positive coefficients of antioxidant activities with total phenolics, flavonoids, GSH and GSHH indicating that an increase in antioxidative activity of L. pumila under elevated CO₂ might be up-regulated by the increase in production of total phenolics, total flavonoids, GSH, GSHH and soluble sugar. This study implied that the medicinal potential of herbal plant such as L. pumila can be enhanced under elevated CO₂, which had simultaneously improved the antioxidative activity that indicated by the high oxygen radical absorbance activity against ROO, O₂, H₂O₂, and OH radicals

Measuring the Comparative and Competitive Advantage of Iraqi Dates Production Using the Policy Analysis Matrix

Purpose: This study came to analyze the impact of government intervention in the production of this important crop and to determine the extent of its global competition and whether it has a comparative advantage in its production or not.   Theoretical framework: Dates are the most prominent representative of Iraq's foreign trade of commodities and agricultural products, which requires attention to that identity of Iraqi agriculture abroad. Interest in producing dates and improving their performance at the local and international levels is a necessity to revive the national economy and the agricultural economy alike.   Design/Methodology/Approach: The research aimed to measure the impact of agricultural government intervention in the production and export of Iraqi dates through the study of the Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) and protection coefficients, and some macro policies related to the subject of the study.   Findings: The key finding of this research was the results of the policy analysis matrix for one acre of dates both showed that the selling prices of dates at the local level are lower than their prices at the global level, and this is what prompts farmers to export dates. It appeared through the commodity system has the ability to compete locally, but at lower levels than what is achieved at the level of social prices. Research, practical and social implications: This study contributes to analysis the impact of government intervention in the production of IRAQI DATES crop and to determine the extent of its global competition.   Originality/Value: The study recommends that the state should support the producers of dates and provides them with the necessary production requirements such as fertilizers, pesticides, fuel and others, and encourage the cultivation of high-quality and abundantly produced varieties and the introduction of modern technologies in this field. This maintains price stability

The relationship of nitrogen and C/N ratio with secondary metabolites levels and antioxidant activities in three varieties of Malaysian Kacip Fatimah (Labisia pumila Blume).

Kacip Fatimah (Labisia pumila Blume), one of the most famous and widely used herbs, especially in Southeast Asia, is found to have interesting bioactive compounds and displays health promoting properties. In this study, the antioxidant activities of the methanol extracts of leaves, stems and roots of three varieties of L. pumila (var. alata, pumila and lanceolata) were evaluated in an effort to compare and validate the medicinal potential of this indigenous Malaysian herb species. The antioxidant activity determined by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, as well as the total amount of phenolics and flavonoids were the highest in the leaves, followed by the stems and roots in all the varieties. A similar trend was displayed by the ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) activity, suggesting that the L. pumila varieties possess high foliar antioxidant properties. At low FRAP activity concentrations, the values of the leaves' inhibition activity in the three varieties were significantly higher than those of the stems and roots, with var. alata exhibiting higher antioxidant activities and total contents of phenolics and flavonoids compared to the varieties pumila and lanceolata. The high production of secondary metabolites and antioxidant activities in var. alata were firmly related to low nitrogen content and high C/N ratio in plant parts. The study also demonstrated a positive correlation between secondary metabolite content and antioxidant activities, and revealed that the consumption of L. pumila could exert several beneficial effects by virtue of its antioxidant activity

QUALITATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPARISON BETWEEN FLAVONOIDS AND PHENOLIC ACIDS CONTENTS OF LEAVES AND FRUITS OF MELIA AZEDARACH (FAMILY: MELIACEAE) CULTIVATED IN IRAQ BY HPLC AND HPTLC

Objective: The aim of our study was to compare between flavonoids and phenolic acids contents of leaves and fruits of Melia azedarach since no phytochemical investigation had done previously in Iraq.Methods: The leaves and fruits of Melia azedarach were extracted by soxhlet using 80% ethanol then the dried extract was suspended in water and fractionated using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. The n-butanol fraction was hydrolyzed by acid and partitioned with ethyl acetate. The different fractions containing flavonoids and phenolic acids were analyzed by HPLC and HPTLC.Results: The HPLC results revealed the presence catechin-7-O-glycoside in fruit only, while kaempferol-7-O-glycoside is found in the leaves only. Catechin and its glycosides are more abundant in the fruits than in the leaves. The HPTLC results revealed that kaempferol and quercetin are present in all fractions of leaves and fruits as aglycones and as glycosides. Free chlorogenic was found in both leaves and fruits.Conclusion: No major differences were found between the flavonoids and phenolic acids contents of the leaves and fruits of Melia azedarach

Relationship between extractable chlorophyll content and SPAD values in three varieties of Kacip Fatimah under greenhouse conditions

Relationship between extractable chlorophyll and relative chlorophyll values obtained using Soil Plant Analytical Development (SPAD)-502 meter were determined in three varieties of Labisia pumila (alata, pumila, lanceolata) under greenhouse conditions using fresh weight basis. The experiment was arranged as a complete randomized design replicated three times with each experimental unit containing five plants. There were no significant differences (P ≥ 0.05) for all the three varieties in their chlorophyll a, b and total. Best fit relationship was found to be linear in chlorophyll a, b and total (P ≤ 0.01) with ascending slope as SPAD values intensified. Chlorophyll b was higher than chlorophyll a in all the varieties indicating species as shade-loving plants. The chlorophyll content of L. pumila leaves can be conveniently determined using SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter, a technique providing simple, rapid, and nondestructive method to estimate leaf chlorophyll content which could also be an indicator of leaf nitrogen (N) status

Photosynthetic capacity, photochemical efficiency and chlorophyll content of three varieties of Labisia pumila Benth. Exposed to open field and greenhouse growing conditions.

Three varieties (Alata, Pumila and Lanceolata) of Malaysian indigenous medicinal herb Labisia pumila Benth. grown in greenhouse and open field were tested to evaluate and compare their photosynthetic and maximal quantum efficiency of photosystem II (F v/F m) reactions. Every variety grown in greenhouse demonstrated higher light-saturated photosynthetic capacity than in the open field. The diurnal net photosynthesis (A) curve in the open field also displayed dual peaks with lower daily average A compared to the greenhouse. Varieties Alata and Pumila were found to acclimatize better under both growing conditions. The diurnal patterns of F v/F m indicated that plants grown under greenhouse encountered less photoinhibition than in open field condition. A decrease in chlorophyll (chl) a/b ratio in leaves of greenhouse plants with significant increase in chl b was observed. This study indicates that var. Alata and var. Pumila have the capacity to acclimatize to greenhouse growth condition

A feasibility study for developing 3D sketching concept in virtual reality (VR) environment

There is limited digital media available to encompass conceptual design which requires spontaneous and flexible design tools. The constraint is causing less digital integration during the architectural conceptual and engineering design stages. This paper presents the results of an ethnography research on understanding how design collaboration, design transactions and knowledge flow characteristics between studio masters and their students are supported by available technologies in a studio project in Malaysia. The study found three types of external representation modes used by designers: Full Manual, Mixed and Full Digital. The study revealed the inflexibility of traditional geometric modeling tools within intuitive ideations. On the other hand, it also observed the shortcomings of conventional manual sketching tools for articulating design ideas and translating tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge in complex design problems. Results from this study support further studies towards implementing 3D sketching in Virtual Reality (VR) environment to digitally integrate the conceptual architectural-engineering design process