Effects of Micronutrients (B, Cu , Fe, Mn, Mo, Zn) on Plant Performance and Yield of Pineapple CVS Mauritius and Masmerah Planted on Malaysian Virgin Peat Soils

The objective of this study is to establish the importance of micronutrients B, Fe, Mn, Mo and especially Cu and Zn for the cuItivation of pineapple cvs Mauritius and Masmerah on virgin peat coils in Peninsular Malaysia. A pot and three field trials were set up to determine the effects of these micronutrients on the plant height, leaf number, fresh and dry weights of D-leaf, Cu and Zn content of D-leaf and the fruit weight of these two cultivars. The deficiency symptoms were also observed. A study on rinduced Cu and Zn deficiencies was also carried out on the two cultivars. Only Cu showed distinct deficiency symptoms in both the pot and field trials in pineapple cv Mauritius while none was observed for B, Fe, Mn, Mo,and Zn. No distinct deficiency symptoms of B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo and Zn were observed on pineapple cv Masmerah. only Cu was observed to give significant effect to the plant height, fresh an d dry weight of D-leaf an d Cu-content of D-leaf on cv Mauritius. However, the leaf number and fruit weight were not significantly affected. The Cu-deficient pl ants in the field were observed to be sporadic or pocket-like in distribution . The deficiency was observed to occur as early as the fourth of fifth month of planting. No significant difference was observed with the different levels of Cu (5,10,15 kg/ha) applied on the above-mentioned factors investigated. Thus, Cu at 5 kg/h a would be sufficient to overcome the deficiency symptoms in the field. The effect of Zn was observed to be non-significant for the cultivation of pineapple cv Mauritius

Anti-obesity activities of edible bird nest on 3T3-L1 adipocytes and high fat-cholesterol diet induced-obese rabbits

Obesity has become a global public health issue with increasing prevalence in the recent decade. Managing obesity with anti-obesity drugs have been marked by numerous adverse effects. Therefore, current research focuses on commonly consumed foods to provide multi-target functions beyond their traditional nutritive values which would likely prevent obesity. Edible bird nest (EBN) is made from saliva of swiftlets which was deemed as an important ethno-medicinal commodity for its nutritional and healing values. Growing evidence suggests EBN as a potential functional food for managing metabolic disorders, which has initiated the present study to explore the therapeutic benefit of EBN to prevent obesity and its related disorders. The present study evaluated the comparative analysis in nutrient compositions between two different shapes of housefarmed EBN which are half cup and stripe-shape EBN. Nutrient analysis showed half cup EBN has significantly higher protein, carbohydrate, calcium and sulfur content compared to stripe-shaped EBN (p < 0.05). Next, stew extract (SE) and full stew (FS) was prepared form half cup EBN to determine sialic acid (SA) content and subsequently evaluated for their antioxidant effects and enzyme inhibition activities. Stew extract exhibited higher SA content than FS and both EBN showed significantly greater antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activities at concentration of 10 mg/mL (p < 0.05). In vitro anti-adipogenic potential of SA standard (1 mg/mL), SE and FS (10 mg/mL) on 3T3-L1 adipocytes showed significant reduction in lipid accumulation, lipase and G3PDH enzymes level (p < 0.05). The anti-obesity effect of EBN were further evaluated in high fat-cholesterol diet (HFCD)-induced obese rabbits for 12 weeks. Both SE and FS groups significantly prevented weight gain and improved Lee Index as well as reduced white adipose tissue and liver weights compared to HFCD group (p < 0.05). Also, the EBN groups significantly improved serum lipid profile, free fatty acids, leptin, adiponectin, IL-6, MCP-1 and catalase levels (p < 0.05). Gene expression studies revealed that the anti-obesity effects of EBN were associated to regulation of adipokines and adipogenesis along with AMPK activation which significantly improved genes involved in lipid metabolism pathway. Furthermore, SE and FS significantly inhibit NF- κB signalling pathway which in turn downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory (IL-6, CRP, MCP-1) and insulin resistance (IRS1) genes. Supplementation of SE and FS significantly enhanced the expression of antioxidant genes such as SOD3, CAT, GSR and PON1 (p < 0.05). Additionally, both SE and FS supplementation prevented the toxicity effect of HFCD reflected with significant reduction of ALT and GGT enzymes level (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the present study indicates that EBN via synergism of SA and other nutrients provide anti-obesity action through regulation of genes involved in adipokines, adipogenesis, lipid metabolism along with improvement in obesity-mediated inflammation, insulin resistance and antioxidants

Measuring Corporate Intranet Effectiveness: A Conceptual Framework

While research on Intranet effectiveness has been greatly reported in the literature, gaps still exist particularly in the development of a theoretical framework from a user-based perspective. This paper attempts to discuss at a conceptual level on the concept of Intranet effectiveness and further analyze the effectiveness framework with several contributing factors grouped as organizational, technological and individual. Through in-depth review of relevant literature in the information systems and the knowledge management fields the paper proposes a conceptual framework for a study to be conducted on the corporate Intranet effectiveness

Antioxidant activities of phenolic rich fractions (PRFs) obtained from black mahlab (Monechma ciliatum) and white mahlab (Prunus mahaleb) seedcakes

The antioxidant activities of phenolic rich fractions (PRFs) from crude methanolic extract (CME), and its fractions using ethyl acetate (EAF), hexane (HF) and water (WF) of black mahlab (Monechma ciliatum) and white mahlab (Prunus mahaleb) seedcakes were investigated. The total phenolic compounds were found to be higher in white mahlab than black mahlab seedcakes. The antioxidant activity determined by the DPPH method revealed that black mahlab PRFs had the highest antioxidant activity, compared to white mahlab fractions. The presence of antioxidants in the two mahlab PRFs reduced the oxidation of β-carotene by hydroperoxides from these extracts/fractions. The effect of the two mahlab PRFs on the oxidative stability of corn oil at 70 °C was tested in the dark and compared with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). The CME performed better antioxidant activity in inhibiting the formation of both primary and secondary oxidation products. The qualitative and quantitative characterisation of phenolic compounds was carried out by HPLC/DAD

Antioxidant activity and phenolic content of phenolic rich fractions obtained from black cumin (Nigella sativa) seedcake.

The antioxidant activities of crude methanolic extract (CME) and its fractions using ethyl acetate (EAF), hexane (HF) and water (WF) of black cumin seedcake were investigated. DPPH radical scavenging activity, β-carotene-linoleate bleaching, and inhibition of corn oil oxidation were used to evaluate the antioxidant capacity. The total phenolics were found to be 78.8, 27.8, 32.1 and 12.1 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g in EAF, CME, WF and HF, respectively. The CME and EAF exhibited the highest DPPH followed by WF and HF. The extract/fractions showed high effect on reducing the oxidation of β-carotene. The effect of extract/fractions on the oxidative stability of corn oil at 70 °C was tested in the dark and compared with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). The oil peroxide and anisidine values were generally lower with addition of PRFs in comparison to a control. The predominant phenolic compounds identified by HPLC-DAD in CME and WF of black cumin seedcake were hydroxybenzoic, syringic and p-cumaric acids

Oral History Collections at Research University Libraries in Malaysia

Oral history has usually meant as an account of historical event, person or place, a first person memory of the past, by an eyewitness. It is considered as living memories which have great importance in the history of mankind. It has also become a key resource for reconstructing, recreating and recording past and present knowledge of society. Academic libraries have served as repositories for books and manuscripts that help in revealing the stories of world’s civilization for centuries. These civilizations have secured their history by training particular individuals to remember, to record and to pass the updated tradition on to the next generation orally. Sadly, much of our pasts, in terms of oral history, have not been preserved in academic libraries. Even though Malaysia was among the first country in Southeast Asia which have started oral history program in 1960s, activities on oral history conducted or collected by academic libraries in Malaysia appear to be vague. Over the years, various factors in library management have affected oral history activities and program and has brought it to a standstill

F-Bie' edge jetty: Special Area Plan (SAP) for Klang Royal Town, Selangor

The project aims to design the Special Area Plan for Klang Royal Town in Selangor. The area includes Kg. Delek, Telok Gadong, Teluk Pulai, Taman Sentosa, Seri Andalas, Klang Jaya and Kg. Jawa. The new concept of F-Bie’Edge Jetty is proposed to create a new node for social and physical enhancement among community. The facilities and physical elements are designed to promote a healthy activities and lifestyle

Meningkatkan Hasil Belajar Siswa Pada Materi Sumber Daya Alam dan Lingkungan Dengan Menggunakan Media Gambar di Kelas IV SDN Bantuga

Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian tindakan kelas. Penelitian dilakukan dalam dua siklus dengan tujuan penelitian meningkatkan hasil belajar siswa pada materi sumber daya alam dan lingkungan dengan menggunakan media gambar di kelas IV SDN Bantuga. Subyek penelitian adalah siswa kelas IV SDN Bantuga yang berjumlah 19 orang yang dikelompokkan secara heterogen. Hasil pratindakan menunjukkan bahwa jumlah siswa yang tuntas 5 orang sedangkan yang belum tuntas 14 orang dengan nilai tertinggi 80 dan nilai terendah 40. Hasil penelitian  pada siklus I menunjukkan rata-rata hasil observasi aktivitas siswa diperoleh persentase 74,8% dengan kategori cukup, persentase aktivitas guru 76,38% kategori cukup, persentase daya serap klasikal 67,36% dan tuntas klasikal sebesar 52,63%. Pada siklus II diperoleh rata-rata persentase aktivitas siswa sebesar 83,6% dengan kategori baik, persentase aktivitas guru 88,88% kategori sangat baik, persentase daya serap klasikal 77,36% dan persentase tuntas klasikal sebesar 84,21%. Hal ini telah memenuhi indikator keberhasilan yang telah ditetapkan dengan nilai rata-rata hasil belajar minimal 65 dan ketuntasan klasikal sudah mencapai indikator keberhasilan minimal 70%. Kata Kunci: Hasil Belajar, media gambar

Pasar Jawa: Special Area Plan (SAP) for Klang Royal Town, Selangor

The project aims to design the Special Area Plan (SAP) for Pasar Jawa Klang Selangor. The newly proposed J-Market Square Park will be the new commercial area. This market square is designed to create a new landmark and promote tourism activities. The supporting facilities such as pergola, bins, water fountain and lamp post are designed in several designated areas include seating area, eating area, food hub and walkable area