A Study on Relationship between Customers Demand and Customers Perception on Transition of SOCSO as Shariah Compliance Organization

This study attempts to examine customers demand and its relationship on customers perceptions on the transition of SOCSO (Social Security Organization of Malaysia) as Shariah compliance organization. The objective of this paper is to determine whether customers demand has a significant relationship with customers perception. Data were collected using questionnaire survey method and a total of 132 questionnaires distributed to SOCSO contributors at Alor Setar, Kedah. Data were analyzed by the use of descriptive analysis and correlation analysis that presented in a table. The result shows a significant positive relationship between the independent variable and dependent variable. Therefore, it is important to look into extensive effort on the Islamization of SOCSO so that the demand from the Muslims employees to have Islamic social security program can be achieved

Somatic Embryogenesis and Plantlet Regeneration in the Carica papaya L. cv. Eksotika

A highly efficient protocol for regeneration of Carica papaya L. cv. Eksotika somatic embryos from immature zygotic embryos was developed. This study was designed to overcome the obstacles in regeneration of somatic embryos from immature zygotic embryos of “Eksotika”, especially problems associated with formation of better root quality and callus formation at the base of somatic embryos. Somatic embryos were generated by incubation of immature zygotic embryos in half-strength salt Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with full-strength vitamins supplemented with 7.5 mg L−1 2,4-D, 100 mg L−1 L-glutamine, 50 mg L−1 myo-inositol, 45 mg L−1 adenine sulphate, 0.33% gelrite, and 6% sucrose, followed by transfer to maturation medium consisting of ½ MS medium supplemented with 5 mg L−1 phloroglucinol, 100 mg L−1 L-glutamine, 100 mg L−1 myoinositol, 68 mg L−1 adenine sulphate, 0.38% gelrite, and 3% sucrose. After that, well-formed somatic embryos were transferred to MS medium containing 3% sucrose and 0.8% agar for shoot production. The embryos were elongated in MS medium supplemented with 1 mg L−1 gibberellic acid, 0.5 mg L−1 indole-3-butyric acid, 100 mg L−1 myo-inositol, and 3.76 mg L−1 riboflavin. Root regeneration was achieved on MS medium containing 7.9 mg L−1 phloroglucinol and supported with vermiculite after 4 days of cultivation on ½ MS medium with 2 mg L−1 indole-3-butyric acid. After the rooting phase, in vitro plantlets were acclimatized in peat moss soil

Vitis Elegan as a Promising Antidiabetic Herb: Phytochemical and Pharmacological Assessment

In this research, we investigated the antidiabetic activity of Vitis elegans rhizome, which is used as traditional treatment for diabetes mellitus. The methanol, chloroform, petroleum ether, and hexane extracts of the plant root were obtained through serial exhaustive extraction and were analyzed by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC).  Glycogen phosphorylase (GP) assay was done to determine the inhibitory effects of respective extracts on GP enzyme. Total phenol content was measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and brine shrimp test was done to evaluate the toxicity of the extracts. Evaluation of TLC plates alone and after spraying with different reagents indicated that terpenoid was the major component of the sample followed by alkaloid and phenol. Chloroform extract applied more inhibitory effects on GP enzyme activity with percentages of 39.65 in concentration of 2.5 mg/ml. This suppression effect was higher than glucose, as a standard inhibitory agent in the body. The highest amount of phenol was found in the methanol extract, equal to 49 mg GAE g-1. Petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol extracts were considered as non-toxic solvents with LC50 values of 8.9, 3.5 and 3.7 mg/ml respectively. While hexane with 0.089 mg/ml LC50 value was classified as toxic extract. Based on the results of this study, we concluded that Vitis elegans rhizome, has the potential to be further studied for anti-hyperglycemic properties

Measurements of a 5:1 blood pump model

This report presents the study of the flow behaviour of the fluid in the clearance gap of a scaled up model of the Kyoto-NTN Magnetically Suspended Centrifugal Blood Pump (MSCBP). The scales up model is 5 times by applying dimensional analysis. MSCBP was used among the other conventional ventricular assist devices as it has a lower haemolysis and thrombus formation. A hot wire anemometry is used in this study to measure the gap velocity in the clearance gap of 1mm in the scaled up model. Measurements of tangential and radial velocity at different radial and angular positions are taken. The angular positions are at intervals of 5 degrees for each measurement. The hot wire probe will also mounted at 3 different protrusion depths which are 0.25mm, 0.5mm, 0.75mm from the wall of the pump casing. The results of the tangential and radial velocity allow us to gain an understanding of the resultant velocity and the flow angle of the fluids for different depths. The results show that the tangential flow velocity plays a more significant role than the radial velocity in the flow behavior of the fluid. There was no re-circulation and the washout mechanism is more significant at the splitter plate at 180 degrees of angular position. This experimental study of the flow behavior can help in future studies of the blood pump and in optimizing it.Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering

A Review of Structural Performance of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Fiber in Polymer Composites

According to environmental concerns and financial problems, natural fibers have become interesting and fascinating nowadays to be used as an industrial material and structural material for rehabilitating of structures. Oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber (OPF) is a natural fiber which is found a lot in tropical areas. Scientists have used OPF fiber with many types of resins such as epoxy, polypropylene, polyester, and phenol formaldehyde. Therefore, this paper focused on the properties of OPF fiber and gathered mechanical properties of OPF composites (OPF as reinforcement of polymer) reported by other researchers in terms of tensile and flexural properties. Furthermore, the chemical surface modification methods to solve the interfacial bonding of fiber and polymer were mentioned. In addition, the results of hybrid composites of OPF were also discussed in this paper. Meanwhile, the results of composites were compared to pure resin properties and also the stress-strain diagram and internal strain energy of composites were considered. Besides, the effects of adding OPF to other composites to make a new hybrid composite were indicated. Finally, it is clear that the use of oil palm fiber composites for structural elements for bearing loads is not recommended but the usage of OPF composites for secondary structural elements may be recommended due to future researches

Halal tourism based on local wisdom in Madura: Opportunities and challenges

Religious and spiritual tourism have been increasingly common and well-liked in recent decades, representing a large portion of global travel and expanding rapidly in recent years. The phrase "hidden paradise" is used to describe the island of Madura, which spans four regencies—Sumenep, Pamekasan, Sampang, and Bangkalan—and offers a variety of tourism opportunities, including historical tourism, natural tourism, cultural tourism, and religious tourism. This study aims to define halal tourism themes using conventional wisdom from the region. In this study, a case study with a qualitative descriptive methodology is used. In-depth interview and observation data were used as the primary sources, and books, the internet, and documentaries were used as the sources for the secondary data. According to the study, Madurese people have a limited comprehension of the idea of halal tourism and are therefore unable to implement it according to local wisdom

HPLC profiling of phenolics and flavonoids of <i>Adonidia merrillii</i> fruits and their antioxidant and cytotoxic properties

<p>In this study the antioxidant and cytotoxicity activity of the <i>Adonidia merrillii</i> fruits were investigated using different solvent polarities (methanol, ethyl acetate and water). The results showed that the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the methanolic extract was higher compare with other extract with respective values of 17.80 ± 0.45 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dry weight (DW) and 5.43 ± 0.33 mg rutin equivalents/g DW. Beside that The RP-HPLC analyses indicated the presence of gallic acid, pyrogallol, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, naringin and rutin. In the DPPH, NO2 and ABTS scavenging assays, the methanolic extract exhibited higher antioxidant activity as compared to the ethyl acetate and water extracts. The extracts exhibited moderate to weak cytotoxic activity in the assays using human hepatocytes (Chang liver cells) and NIH/3T3 (fibroblasts cell) cell lines. The findings showed the <i>Adonidia merrillii</i> fruit extracts to possess considerable antioxidant and cytotoxicity properties. The fruit, therefore, is a potential candidate for further work to discover antioxidant and cytotoxic drugs from natural sources.</p

In Vitro and In Vivo Anticancer Activity of the Most Cytotoxic Fraction of Pistachio Hull Extract in Breast Cancer

Pistacia (Pistacia vera) hulls (PV) is a health product that has been determined to contain bioactive phytochemicals which have fundamental importance for biomedical use. In this study, PV ethyl acetate extraction (PV-EA) fractions were evaluated with the use of an MTT assay to find the most cytotoxic fraction, which was found to be F13b1/PV-EA. After that, HPTLC was used for identify the most active compounds. The antioxidant activity was analyzed with DPPH and ABTS tests. Apoptosis induction in MCF-7 cells by F13b1/PV-EA was validated via flow cytometry analysis and a distinctive nuclear staining method. The representation of genes like Caspase 3, Caspase 8, Bax, Bcl-2, CAT and SOD was assessed via a reverse transcription (RT_PCR) method. Inhabitation of Tubo breast cancer cell development was examined in the BALB-neuT mouse with histopathology observations. The most abundant active components available in our extract were gallic acid and the flavonoid quercetin. The F13b1/PV-EA has antiradical activity evidence by its inhibition of ABTS and DPPH free radicals. F13b1/PV-EA displayed against MCF-7 a suppressive effect with an IC50 value of 15.2 &plusmn; 1.35 &micro;g/mL. Also, the expression of CAT, SOD, Caspase 3, Caspase 8 and Bax increased and the expression of Bcl-2 decreased. F13b1/PV-EA dose-dependently inhibited tumor development in cancer-induced mice. Thus, this finding introduces F13b1/PV-EA as an effectual apoptosis and antitumor active agent against breast cancer

A Study on Relationship between Customers Demand and Customers Perception on Transition of SOCSO as Shariah Compliance Organization

This study attempts to examine customers demand and its relationship on customers perceptions on the transition of SOCSO (Social Security Organization of Malaysia) as Shariah compliance organization. The objective of this paper is to determine whether customers demand has a significant relationship with customers perception. Data were collected using questionnaire survey method and a total of 132 questionnaires distributed to SOCSO contributors at Alor Setar, Kedah. Data were analyzed by the use of descriptive analysis and correlation analysis that presented in a table. The result shows a significant positive relationship between the independent variable and dependent variable. Therefore, it is important to look into extensive effort on the Islamization of SOCSO so that the demand from the Muslims employees to have Islamic social security program can be achieved