Incidence of fern contamination in nodal segment cultures of Shorea parvifolia dyer

The greatest drawback in large scale micropropagation of tropical woody forest species is high contamination of cultures. In developing a sterilization protocol for micropropagation of Shorea parvifolia Dyer utilizing nodal segments excised from nursery-grown seedlings, it was found that washing 20% (v/v) with Clorox solution for 18 minutes was the best. After six weeks of culture in WPM media supplemented with 10-5 M BAP (apart from fungal and bacterial contamination), the nodal segments developed hair-like structures which were amenable to subculture. Upon subculture, green leafy structures developed from the mass of hairy structure after six weeks. These later developed into ferns which are normally found as epiphytes on older forest trees, known as Asplenium nidus

Defoliation of in vitro shootlets of Azadirachta excelsa (Jack) M. Jacobs: a possible solution

Defoliation is a common phenomenon which usually hinders the productivity of plantlets of Azadirachta excelsa through micropropagation. Thus, a study to develop a procedure to overcome defoliation of in vitro shootlets of A. excelsa after undergoing rooting stage was conducted. Shoots exhibiting defoliation were transferred on to MS medium supplemented either with only 0.24% gelrite, mixture of 0.1 mgl-1 BAP, 1.0 mgl-1 NAA and 0.75% difco-bacto agar, mixture of 0.24% gelrite and 0.2% activated charcoal and mixture of 0.24% gelrite, 2.0 mgl-1 BAP and 10.0 mgl-1 AgNO3. The results indicated that the different treatment produced significant effects at P<0.05 on the number of leaves, shoot length, root length and number of axillary shoots after 30 days of culture incubation. The MS medium supplemented only with 0.24% gelrite was the most effective treatment producing the highest number of leaves (9.8) and the longest shoot and root lengths of 17.2 mm and 43.5 mm respectively. The addition of NAA, BAP and AgNO3 stimulated callus formation and growth of axillary shoot

The Development of Educational Policy Acceptance Model

This study aims to develop an education policy acceptance model. Policy implementers need to implement education policies in the best possible way. However, due to the uncertainty of such situations, health, politics, and natural disasters, have an impact on the implementation of education policy and the quality of education. Thus, there is a need to determine what indicators can prevent this uncertainty and accept education policies to be implemented smoothly to guarantee the sustainability of the quality of education. This quantitative study was conducted to obtain research data. In this study, the researcher applied the concept of positivism. Finding shows there was a significant influence between the constructs of Attention Towards Use to Behavioral Intention through path analysis at significance level of 0.05 (β= 0.898, p<0.05) ; Perceived Useful to Attention Towards Use (β=0.152, p <0.05); Perceived Useful to Perceived of Ease (β= 0.789, p<0.05), and Perceived of Ease to Attention Towards Use(β=0.69 p <0.05). While the research model explained 75% of the total variance in Behavioral Intention. This suggests that the three sets of exogenous latent variables have collectively explained 80.6% of the variance in Behavioral Intention. This study wraps up various potential concerns and importance for policymakers. Implementers within an organization should assess user opinions towards the proposed modifications to shape the development of the policies. By knowing the acceptance indicators of education policy, even if there are challenges such as health, politics, and natural disasters, stakeholders can focus on indicators involved in adopting policies and preventing uncertainty in implementing educational policies.Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) of Malaysia FRGS/1/2022/SSI07/UUM/02/1

Potensi gentian pisang sebagai sumber tekstil.

Kajian ini adalah untuk mengenalpasti tanaman pisang yang berpotensi untuk dijadikan gentian sebagai sumber tekstil dan juga kaedah yang terbaik untuk menghasilkannya. Ini adalah sejajar dengan galakkan oleh kerajaan untuk memperkembangkan industri tekstil dan juga menggalakkan penanaman pisang bagi eksport buahnya. Walaupun industri tekstil di Malaysia pesat membangun, kita masih tidak mempunyai bahan mentah sendiri. Oleh itu dengan mengadakan gentian pisang dari bahan terbuang batang pisang sebagai sumber bahan mentah tekstil adalah sangat menguntungkan. Sumber gentian dari batang ini ada tetapi masih belum dieksploitasikan lagi. Di dalam kajian ini sebanyak 8 jenis pokok pisang telah dipilih. Dua kaedah telah digunakan iaitu kaedah separa mekanikal dan kaedah rendaman. Rawatan kimia digunakan bertujuan untuk mendapatkan-gentian yang lebih halus melalui 'degumming'. Ciri-ciri fizikal dan prestasi gentian-gentian ini ditentukan. Hasil penyelidikan telah menunjukkan bahawa gentian pisang yang dihasilkan menggunakan kaedah mekanikal lebih efisien. Gentian pisang amatlah berpotensi sebagai sumber bahan mentah untuk tekstil. Gentian kasar yang dihasilkan setakat ini dapat dilembutkan dan dihaluskan lagi dengan menggunakan mesin-mesin yang lebih sofistikated dari negara luar. Projek ini dianggap s iap apabila gentian yang telah kami hasilkan setakat ini dapat ditukar ke bentuk tekstil untuk pakaian

Embelin, a Potent Molecule for Alzheimer's Disease: A Proof of Concept From Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability, Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition and Molecular Docking Studies

Embelin is well-known in ethnomedicine and reported to have central nervous system activities. However, there is no report on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability of embelin. Here the BBB permeability of embelin was evaluated using in vitro primary porcine brain endothelial cell (PBEC) model of the BBB. Embelin was also evaluated for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity and docking prediction for interaction with AChE and amyloid beta (Aβ) binding sites. Embelin was found to be non-toxic to the PBECs and did not disturb the PBEC barrier function. The PBECs showed restrictive tight junctions with average transendothelial electrical resistance of 365.37 ± 113.00 Ω.cm2, for monolayers used for permeability assays. Permeability assays were conducted from apical-to-basolateral direction (blood-to-brain side). Embelin showed apparent permeability (Papp) value of 35.46 ± 20.33 × 10−6 cm/s with 85.53% recovery. In vitro AChE inhibitory assay demonstrated that embelin could inhibit the enzyme. Molecular docking study showed that embelin binds well to active site of AChE with CDOCKER interaction energy of −65.75 kcal/mol which correlates with the in vitro results. Docking of embelin with Aβ peptides also revealed the promising binding with low CDOCKER interaction energy. Thus, findings from this study indicate that embelin could be a suitable molecule to be further developed as therapeutic molecule to treat neurological disorders particularly Alzheimer's disease

Draft genome sequence of the extended-spectrum -lactamase-producing escherichia coli isolate INF13/18/A, recovered from Kelantan, Malaysia

We describe here the draft genome sequence and basic characteristics of Escherichia coli isolate INF13/18/A, which was isolated from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Hospital. This isolate was identified as an extended-spectrum -lactamaseproducing Escherichia coli strain harboring the antimicrobial resistance genes TEM, CTX-M-1, and CTX-M-9

The use of multi-walled carbon nanotubes as possible carrier in drug delivery system for aspirin

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have raised great interest in a number of applications, including field emission, energy storage, molecular electronics, sensors, biochips and drug delivery systems. This is due to their remarkable mechanical properties, chemical stability and biofunctionalizability. This nanomaterial is low in weight, has high strength and a high aspect ratio (long length compared to a small diameter). This paper will present a brief overview of drugs adsorbed onto the surface of carbon nanotubes via sonication method. The surface area of carbon nanotubes was measured by methylene blue method, Carbon nanotubes synthesized by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) method were purified and functionalized in a mixture of concentrated acids (H2SO4: HNO3 = 3:1) at room temperature (25°C) via sonication in water bath, yielding carboxylic acid group on the CNTs' surface. CNT was successfully loaded with 48 %(w/w) aspirin molecules by suspending CNTs in a solution of aspirin in alcohol. Analysis of loaded CNTs by Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrum (FITR) and UV-visible Spectroscopy confirmed the loading of the drug onto the CNTs. The work presented is a prelude to the direction of using carbon nanotubes as a drug delivery system to desired sites in human body

Jati diri kebangsaan dalam kalangan pelajar Institusi Pengajian Tinggi

Kekukuhan jati diri dalam kalangan generasi muda sering kali menjadi kebimbangan masyarakat, perkara tersebut memandangkan generasi muda lazimnya terkenal dengan sifat-sifat seperti ingin mencuba suatu yang baru dan mudah terikut-ikut sedangkan generasi muda merupakan generasi harapan bangsa yang bakal menerajui negara pada masa akan datang. Kajian ini bertujuan meneliti tahap jati diri pelajar institusi pengajian tinggi awam (IPTA) terpilih di sekitar Lembah Kelang. Komponen jati diri yang dinilai dalam kajian ini ialah bahasa, adat, budaya, agama, patriotisme, integriti, idealisme dan sumbangan institusi. Semua komponen tersebut diteliti manifestasinya melalui pengetahuan, tingkah laku, emosi, nilai dan kepercayaan. Reka bentuk kajian ini menggunakan kaedah tinjauan melalui pendekatan kuantitatif. Borang soal selidik merupakan alat pengumpulan data kajian. Alat ukuran jati diri dibina oleh kumpulan penyelidik. Seramai 800 mahasiswa lelaki dan perempuan dari empat IPTA terpilih dengan pelbagai tahun dan aliran pengajian dan terdiri daripada tiga etnik utama terpilih sebagai responden kajian ini. Hasil kajian ini mendapati hanya 54.6 peratus responden mempunyai tahap jati diri yang tinggi. Selain itu, terdapat perbezaan signifikan dari segi jati diri berdasarkan etnik (k<0.001). Kesimpulannya, tahap jati diri sampel kajian adalah agak membimbangkan. Ini menunjukkan bahawa pihak berkuasa harus mengambil tindakan serius supaya ia tidak mengancam integriti nasional negara. Usaha berterusan perlu dilakukan untuk mengukuhkan jati diri rakyat negara ini

Tinjauan pelaksanaan pendidikan al-Quran bagi golongan pekak di Malaysia

Pendidikan al-Quran merupakan satu keperluan serta tuntutan bagi manusia yang bergelar Muslim sama ada bagi golongan tipikal mahupun golongan istimewa. Golongan istimewa adalah golongan yang memiliki ketidakupayaan yang berbeza-beza dari sudut fizikal, penglihatan, pendengaran, kognitif serta pelbagai. Bagi golongan pekak ia mempunyai ketidakupayaan dari sudut pendengaran serta pertuturan. Ketidakupayaan pendengaran pula terbahagi kepada tiga iaitu ringan, sederhana dan teruk. Oleh itu, kajian ini lebih tertumpu pada tinjauan terhadap pelaksanaan pendidikan al-Quran bagi golongan pekak di Malaysia. Ia merangkumi badan kerajaan serta badan bukan kerajaan seperti institusi, persatuan dan sebagainya. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa pelaksanaan pendidikan al-Quran bagi golongan pekak adalah berbeza-beza sama ada di peringkat sekolah, institusi, persatuan, dan sebagainya. Oleh itu, perlunya kajian yang lebih terperinci terhadap penyusunan semula pendidikan al-Quran bagi golongan istimewa khususnya bagi golongan pekak

Rate and extent of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine blood-brain barrier transport and their intra-brain distribution: : the missing link in pharmacodynamic studies

Mitragyna speciosa is reported to be beneficial for the management of chronic pain and opioid withdrawal in the evolving opioid epidemic. Data on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) transport of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, the active compounds of the plant, are still lacking and inconclusive. Here, we present for the first time the rate and the extent of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine transport across the BBB, with an investigation of their post-BBB intra-brain distribution. We utilized an in vitro BBB model to study the rate of BBB permeation of the compounds and their interaction with efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Mitragynine showed higher apical-to-basolateral (A-B, i.e. blood-to-brain side) permeability than 7-hydroxymitragynine. 7-Hydroxymitragynine showed a tendency to efflux, with efflux ratio (B-A/A-B) of 1.39. Both were found to inhibit the P-gp and are also subject to efflux by the P-gp. Assessment of the extent of BBB transport in vivo in rats from unbound brain to plasma concentration ratios (Kp,uu,brain ) revealed extensive efflux of both compounds, with less than 10 percent of unbound mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine in plasma crossing the BBB. By contrast, the extent of intra-brain distribution was significantly different, with mitragynine having 18-fold higher brain tissue uptake in brain slice assay compared with 7-hydroxymitragynine. Mitragynine showed a moderate capacity to accumulate inside brain parenchymal cells, while 7-hydroxymitragynine showed restricted cellular barrier transport. The presented findings from this systematic investigation of brain pharmacokinetics of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are essential for design and interpretation of in vivo experiments aiming to establish exposure-response relationship