A preliminary study for developing operator manual for ruminant abattoirs on prevention of foodborne diseases and halal compliance

Introduction: Foodborne diseases (FBD) can occur along the whole series of food production from the sources and processing until serving for consumers. Among the sources of food, meat is a major concern since it is come from animal origin where the pathogens might transmit to human and/or contaminate microbes from infected meat handlers to consumers at any time. Background Study: Abattoir operators – managers and workers, and the authorities – Veterinary and Halal officers, play the key role in conversion of live food animals to healthy and edible halal meat and useful animal products fit for human consumption. Abattoir operators, abattoir operating procedures including animal handling and meat process need to abide the standard operating procedures (SOP) as guided by the authority for the safety of meat in meeting the requirements for public health. It is also to be in lines with the halal rules and regulations from the perspective of Islam so that to achieve halal food and products which are beneficial for both physical and spiritual. Problem Statement: A number of researches have conducted in the prevalence of FBD but lack of prevention with combination of halal-compliance especially in ruminant abattoir areas. Objective: The researcher aims to do preliminary study for developing the required Operator Manual of Ruminant Abattoirs (OMRA) on prevention of FBD and also for halal compliance. Method: This preliminary study will be looking into the process of ruminant abattoir by literature search if its premises, staffs, animal handling and the equipment used are in accordance with the halalcompliance and prevention of FBD. From visiting two abattoirs and online data sources, gathering relevant information for ruminant abattoir and halal meat of Malaysia is done. Results: Based on the preliminary findings, the three major accreditations of Malaysia which are MS1500:2009 guidelines of Department of Standards Malaysia, JAKIM (Jabatan Agama Kemajuan Islam Malaysia/ Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) 2008 & 2011 Malaysian halal meat protocols, and DVS (Department of Veterinary Services of Malaysia) code of veterinary practice 2012 respectively. They are compared and analyzed to get the required information for further developing OMRA for the benefits of meat industry, health ministry, global halal market authority and all consumers

Radiotherapy dosimetry and the thermoluminescence characteristics of Ge-doped fibres of differing germanium dopant concentration and outer diameter

We examine the influence of elevated dopant concentration on the thermoluminescence characteristics of novel Ge-doped silica fibres. Basic dosimetric characteristics of the TL media were obtained, including linearity, reproducibility, energy dependence, fading, minimum detectable dose and glow curve analysis, use being made of a 60Co gamma irradiation facility (mean energy 1.25 MeV) and an electron linear accelerator producing photons at an accelerating potential of 6 and 10 MV. The 6 mol% Ge-doped fibres were found to provide TL response superior to that of 8- and 10 mol% Ge-doped fibres, both for fibres with outer diameter of 241 µm and 604 µm. Concerning reproducibility, obtained under three different test conditions, at <10% the 6 mol% Ge dopant concentration was observed to provide the superior coefficient of variation (CV). In regard to energy dependence, the 10 mol% Ge doped cylindrical fibres produced the largest gradient values at 0.364 and 0.327 for the 241 µm and 604 µm diameter cylindrical fibres respectively and thus the greatest energy dependency. Measured 33 days post irradiation; the 6 mol% Ge doped cylindrical fibres showed the least TL signal loss, at 21% for the 241 µm cylindrical fibre and <40% for the 604 µm cylindrical fibres. The results also revealed that the 6 mol% optical fibres provided the lowest minimum detectable dose, at 0.027 Gy for 6 MV photon beams. Evaluations of these characteristics are supporting development of novel Ge-doped optical fibres for dosimetry in radiotherapy

VIRTUAL DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN MANDARIN TEACHING: A REVIEW

Differentiated instruction, also known as differentiated learning, is a teaching philosophy that considers the needs of all students, including when they are in a virtual learning environment. Virtual strategies and differentiated instruction could be tailored to every learner’s needs and are more convincing than the traditional “one-size-fits-all” approach to teaching. Virtual differentiated instruction shows concerns about students’ existence, encouraging engagement while fulfilling the needs of high-performance students. However, there is little information regarding the application of virtual differentiated instruction by teachers. Besides, teachers might not regularly adapt instruction to students’ specific characteristics. Hence, this research intends to determine the status of differentiated instruction’s implementation in Mandarin virtual learning. The review demonstrates that educators are aware of the existence and importance of differentiated instruction. The practice of differentiated instruction is growing among Mandarin educators, with voices urging for proper training and guidance for its realisation. Of late, Mandarin researchers have been focusing on technology-enhanced learning. Scholars have directly or indirectly been applying the differentiated instruction approach in their teaching practices, with positive impacts on students’ learning. Nevertheless, some discrepancies need to be considered in ensuring its success. An understanding of differentiated instruction in Mandarin virtual classes can help instructors adopt the approach efficiently with attuned strategies to cater to students’ diversity. It could also provide ideas to other educators in differentiating their teaching strategies towards enhancing students’ learning performances. &nbsp; Keywords: Differentiated instruction, virtual learning, Mandarin foreign language, technology-enhance learning, students’ diversity. &nbsp; Cite as: Chua, N. A., Soon, G. Y., Ibrahim, M. Y., Che Noh, C. H., Mansor, N. R., Zaid, C. M., … Shen, D. M. (2021). Virtual differentiated instruction and its implementation in Mandarin teaching: A review.&nbsp; Journal of Nusantara Studies, 6(2), 231-249. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss2pp231-24

Probiotics (Bifidobacterium longum) increase bone mass density and upregulate sparc and Bmp-2 genes in rats with bone loss resulting from ovariectomy

Probiotics are live microorganisms that exert beneficial effects on the host, when administered in adequate amounts. Mostly, probiotics affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of the host and alter the composition of gut microbiota. Nowadays, the incidence of hip fractures due to osteoporosis is increasing worldwide. Ovariectomized (OVX) rats have fragile bone due to estrogen deficiency and mimic the menopausal conditions in women. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum) on bone mass density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), bone remodeling, bone structure, and gene expression in OVX rats. The rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups (sham, OVX, and the OVX group supplemented with 1 mL of B. longum 108–109 colony forming units (CFU)/mL). B. longum was given once daily for 16 weeks, starting from 2 weeks after the surgery. The B. longum supplementation increased (p < 0.05) serum osteocalcin (OC) and osteoblasts, bone formation parameters, and decreased serum C-terminal telopeptide (CTX) and osteoclasts, bone resorption parameters. It also altered the microstructure of the femur. Consequently, it increased BMD by increasing (p < 0.05) the expression of Sparc and Bmp-2 genes. B. longum alleviated bone loss in OVX rats and enhanced BMD by decreasing bone resorption and increasing bone formation

The past and current updates on diagnostic aspects of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive joint disease leading to the destruction of joint structures, which in turn causes severe and chronic pain to the patient. Since OA is a troubling and disruptive disease, numerous researches have been done into diagnosing this disease, both in the early and the late stages of the disease. Diagnostic modalities such as radiography, computed-tomography (CT), micro-computed tomography (μ-CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been used in OA research. Not only that, more advance measurements and criteria have been established to standardize OA research. Currently, the OA research has been delving into proteomic studies to search for potential disease biomarkers. Biomarkers such as urinary C-terminal telopeptide of collagen type 2 (uCTX-II) and cartilage oligometric protein (COMP) have shown potential to be both diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. For this review paper, the developments in diagnostic modalities are discussed focusing more on proteomic and biomarker studies

Chemical bath deposition of NiSe thin films from aqueous solutions.

The nickel selenide thin films were prepared onto microscope glass slides by a chemical bath deposition technique. The X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy were used for their structural and morphological characterization. The X-ray diffraction results showed that the thin films prepared for longer deposition time and higher pH were polycrystalline with rhombohedral structure. The atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy results indicated that the thin films covered the glass substrate completely and consisted of irregularly shaped grains. The optical properties of thin films were determined from analysis of the measured absorbance spectrum. The nickel selenide thin films exhibited direct band-gap transition with band gap energy of 1.8 eV

Mechanisms of the antihypertensive effects of Nigella sativa oil in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to determine whether the blood pressure-lowering effect of Nigella sativa might be mediated by its effects on nitric oxide, angiotensin-converting enzyme, heme oxygenase and oxidative stress markers. METHODS: Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided equally into 4 groups. One group served as the control (group 1), whereas the other three groups (groups 2-4) were administered L-NAME (25 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). Groups 3 and 4 were given oral nicardipine daily at a dose of 3 mg/kg and Nigella sativa oil at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg for 8 weeks, respectively, concomitantly with L-NAME administration. RESULTS: Nigella sativa oil prevented the increase in systolic blood pressure in the L-NAME-treated rats. The blood pressure reduction was associated with a reduction in cardiac lipid peroxidation product, NADPH oxidase, angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and plasma nitric oxide, as well as with an increase in heme oxygenase-1 activity in the heart. The effects of Nigella sativa on blood pressure, lipid peroxidation product, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase and angiotensin-converting enzyme were similar to those of nicardipine. In contrast, L-NAME had opposite effects on lipid peroxidation, angiotensin-converting enzyme and NO. CONCLUSION: The antihypertensive effect of Nigella sativa oil appears to be mediated by a reduction in cardiac oxidative stress and angiotensin-converting enzyme activity, an increase in cardiac heme oxygenase-1 activity and a prevention of plasma nitric oxide loss. Thus, Nigella sativa oil might be beneficial for controlling hypertension

Chemical bath deposition of NiSe thin films from alkaline solutions using triethanoleamine as complexing agent

The nickel selenide thin films were prepared onto microscope glass slides by chemical bath deposition technique. The X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy have been used for their structural and morphological characterization. The X-ray diffraction result shows that thin films have a polycrystalline and rhombohedral structure. The scanning electron microscopy micrograph shows the thin films cover the glass substrate completely and consisted of irregular shaped grains. The optical properties of thin films were determined from analysis of measured absorbance spectrum. The nickel selenide thin films exhibited direct band gap transition with band gap energy of 1.8 eV

Quantitative analysis of an experimental white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection in Penaeus monodon Fabricius using competitive polymerase chain reaction

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) has been a major pathogen of cultured Penaeus monodon Fabricius in Malaysia since 1994. As quantitative study on the replication of WSSV is in its infancy, competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for quantitative study of an experimental WSSV infection per os in growout P. monodon. Gills, abdominal integument and abdominal muscle were selected for viral quantification. Infection was detectable as early as 14 h postinfection (h p.i.) in both gills and integument, but the infection in muscle was only detected at 24 h p.i. Gill tissue had the highest viral load, followed by integument and muscle. Typical viral growth curves were obtained for all organs with distinct phases of eclipse (0–24 h p.i.), logarithmic (24–48 h p.i.) and the plateau (48–120 h p.i.). Cumulative mortality rapidly increased from 48 h p.i. and reached 100% at the end of the plateau phase at 120 h p.i. Gross signs of white spots and reddish discoloration were also obvious in moribund individuals from the plateau phase. Based on the three phases of viral growth, WSSV infection was classified into light, moderate and heavy infection stages