Identification And Characterization Of Endophytic Fungi From Spines Of Rattan (Calamus castaneus)

Endophytic fungi are fungi residing within plant tissues without causing any negative effects to the host. The present study was conducted to determine whether spines of Calamus castaneus harbour endophytic fungi. Calamus castaneus (rotan cucor) was chosen as the palm is among common and ecologically important plant in Malaysian forests. Spines of rattan are regarded as physical defensive structure against herbivores and reported to contained human pathogens. Morphological characteristics were used to tentatively identify the endophytic fungal isolates to genus or species levels. Depending on the genus, different sets of gene were applied for molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis

Analysis of Electromagnetic Simulation Method for the Dielectric Lens Antenna

For the millimetre wave usage at 5G mobile communication system, a dielectric lens antenna will become a promising candidate for the base station antenna. In developing a dielectric lens antenna, antenna performance analysis by an electromagnetic simulator will be necessary. The structure of the proposed design is a hyperbolic dielectric lens antenna fed by a pyramidal horn at the operating frequency of 28GHz. In this paper, the abilities of a commercial electromagnetic simulator FEKO are investigated. Simulation methods of GO and MoM solvers are shown for electric field distributions on the antenna aperture and far field radiation patterns. The simulation results show that the optimum gain of lens antenna based on GO and MoM method are 26.68 dBi and 27.24 dBi, respectively. Moreover, multi beam radiation patterns and suitable feed positions are clarified for wide scanning angle. Good performance for multi beam application by using MoM is shown based on the off-focus characteristic where the antenna gain is only slightly reduced from 0.51 dBi to 4.03 dBi for 5.71° to 35.54°

First report of Fusarium species at nesting sites of endangered sea turtles in Terengganu and Melaka, Malaysia

In recent years, turtle eggs incubated in situ or in protected hatcheries in Malaysia have been reported to show symptoms and signs of fungal colonisation. However, there are no studies addressing this problem and potential relationship with frequent hatching failures. We identified Fusarium species from nesting sites of green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) situated in Terengganu and Melaka, as well as the environments surrounding those sites. The eggs were incubated on the nesting beach (in situ) or relocated to the beach hatchery and styrofoam boxes (ex situ) in Peninsular Malaysia. Samples were collected from infected eggs, sand, plant roots and debris around the egg chambers. One-hundred and six strains of Fusarium spp. were isolated. They were identified morphologically as member of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC, 101 strains), F. oxysporum (four strains) and F. proliferatum (one strain). We conducted phylogenetic analysis based on nucleotide sequences of translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene (TEF-1α). The strains of the FSSC were further separated into three lineages, F. falciforme, F. lichenicola and F. keratoplasticum. This is the first report on Fusarium species isolated from symptomatic green and hawksbill turtle eggs in Peninsular Malaysia. Fusarium colonisation in sea turtle nests poses a serious risk to the survival of endangered sea turtles in Malaysia. It is, therefore, important to examine the nature of such colonisation and their relationship to hatching failures of the turtles in Malaysia or elsewhere in the region to mitigate pathogenic fungi impact

Assessment of learning with nature in preschool

Learning with nature is a form of psychological therapy for all, including children with disability. Beyond the psychological aspect, access to outdoor green space can also improve social, environmental, developmental, emotional and behavioural, and even medical outcomes. In Malaysia, studies of learning with nature remain scarce due to the Malaysian education system’s focus on indoor learning rather than outdoor learning. This research aimed at determining perceptions towards the application of learning with nature among preschool educators. Qualitative methods were used for data collection, consisting of structured interview and field observation. Four preschools were selected as sample. Results show that learning with nature contributes to the positive development of the children. The approaches used to instil nature awareness include conducive landscape, environmental activities, outdoor class activities, outdoor free play, formal education and recreational programme outside a preschool. These involved both outdoor and indoor spaces and facilities

Expression of Transforming Growth Factor -β1 and Osteocalcin in Rat Calvaria Defect after Application of Bovine Cortical Bone Membrane.

Abstract– Bovine pericardium collagen membran (BPCM) had been widely used in guided bone regeneration (GBR) whose manufacturing process usually required chemical cross-linking to prolong its biodegradation. A newly developed bovine cortical bone membrane (BCBM)is rich with growth factors which theoretically has osteoinductive capacity. It has been proven biocompatible, however its osteoinduction potential still needs to be revealed. This study evaluated the osteoinductive potential of BCBM compared with BPCM applied in critical-sized defects of rat’s calvaria. Critical sized defect was made on calvaria bone of 30 rats. The samples were divided into 3 groups, each contains of 10 rats. The defects were then covered by BCBM dan BPCM in the first two groups. The third group was control group, without membran application. Samples were sacrificed at 2 and 4 weeks. Expressions of TGF-1 and osteocalcin were examined using immunohistochemistry (IHC) method and the data analyzed statistically with the p value < 0.05 being significantly different. TGF-1 expression was insignificantly different between BCBM and BPCM groups. Meanwhile, the osteocalcin expression was significantly higher inBCBM compared to BPCM group (p < 0.05) through 2 and 4 weeks of observation. Bovine cortical bone membrane has similar osteoinductive potential to BPCM based on the expression of TGF-1, but has better bone healing result based on osteocalcin expression. Therefore it is potential to be used as GBR membrane

Multi beam dielectric lens antenna for 5G base station

In the 5G mobile system, new features such as millimetre wave operation, small cell size and multi beam are requested at base stations. At millimetre wave, the base station antennas become very small in size, which is about 30 cm; thus, dielectric lens antennas that have excellent multi beam radiation pattern performance are suitable candidates. For base station application, the lens antennas with small thickness and small curvature are requested for light weight and ease of installation. In this paper, a new lens shaping method for thin and small lens curvature is proposed. In order to develop the thin lens antenna, comparisons of antenna structures with conventional aperture distribution lens and Abbe’s sine lens are made. Moreover, multi beam radiation pattern of three types of lenses are compared. As a result, the thin and small curvature of the proposed lens and an excellent multi beam radiation pattern are ensured

Mycotoxin production by Fusarium proliferatum and Fusarium fujikuroi causing stem rot of hylocereus polyrhizus in Malaysia

Fusarium proliferatum and Fusarium fujikuroi are the causative pathogens of stem rot in red-fleshed dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus). Both species are toxigenic fungi that produce several mycotoxins, including fumonisin B1 (FB1 ), moniliformin (MON), and beauvericin (BEA). These mycotoxins exert phytotoxic effects and are involved in pathogenesis in the host plants. In this study, we investigated the ability of F. proliferatum and F. fujikuroi to produce FB1 , MON, and BEA. Polymerase chain reaction amplification using FUM1-specific primers detected the gene in all 44 isolates tested, indicating that all isolates produced FB1 . Isolates of F. proliferatum and F. fujikuroi produced variable concentrations of FB1 , ranging from 11.97–236.80 µg/g. MON and BEA were also produced at 0.48–174.84 µg/g and 0.28–70.02 µg/g, respectively by isolates of F. proliferatum and F. fujikuroi. These results suggest that the three mycotoxins play roles in stem rot disease development and symptom manifestation, as all isolates tested were pathogenic and led to stem rot in H. polyrhizus

Characterization and mycotoxin analysis of Fusarium spp. from highland areas in Malaysia

Fusarium isolates from highland areas in Malaysia were mostly recovered from two species of grasses, Elyhordeum montanense and Paspalum conjugatum. The isolates were grouped into four morphological groups. Based on TEF-1α sequences, morphotype 1 isolates were molecularly identified as F. graminearum species complex, morphotype 2 as F. venenatum, morphotype 3 as F. avenaceum and morphotype 4 as F. kyushuense. Restriction analysis of the Intergenic Spacer region showed high levels of genetic diversity of isolates in F. graminearum species complex and F. venenatum. For mycotoxin analysis, only F. avenaceum and F. kyushuense produced beauvericin and moniliformin (0.869 & 0.321 µg/kg, respectively). Zearalenone was produced by 32 isolates of F. graminearum species complex (0.002 – 0.437 µg/kg), two isolates of F. venenatum (0.006 - 0.014 µg/kg) and F. kyushuense (0.006 µg/kg). Only F. avenaceum isolate produced fumonisin B1 (0.001 µg/kg). The present study indicates the occurrence of Fusarium species commonly reported in highland areas in Malaysia where the weather is cooler and the temperature is lower than in the lowland areas. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrence of phylogenetic species within F. graminearum species complex, F. venenatum, F. avenaceum and F. kyushuense in Malaysia

Standardized bioassays: an improved method for studying Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 4 (FocR4) pathogen stress response in Musa acuminata cv. ‘Berangan’

To date, there is no standardized Fusarium bioassay protocol established owing partly to the wide variety of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) isolates and banana cultivars present. Thus, validation of the infection parameters is deemed essential prior to each bioassay experiment. In the current study, a simple standardized workflow was developed based on available assays for testing Fusarium wilt disease response in Musa acuminata using M. acuminata cv. ‘Berangan’ of tissue-culture origin as a model. The phenotypic assays were able to detect external disease symptoms less than one week post-inoculation, while the molecular approach using RT-qPCR identified differential expression of catalase (CAT), pathogenesis-related 10 (PR10), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and xylanase (XYL) genes as early as day 0. The transcript levels of PR10 and XYL fluctuated over 4 days of Foc Race 4 (FocR4 C1 HIR isolate) infection while the expression of CAT steadily increased over time. In contrast, PAL was highly upregulated at 2 days post-inoculation. These signature changes suggest that all genes tested might be involved in the early defense response of ‘Berangan’ plants against FocR4 infection. ‘Berangan’ cultivar was found to be highly susceptible to Foc Race 4 (C1 HIR isolate) with leaf symptoms index (LSI) and rhizome discoloration index (RDI) scores of 4.257 and 5.971, respectively. The procedure elaborated in this study can be used as a reference Foc bioassay for reproducible and comparable results possibly across cultivars and test isolates due to its simple steps aided by integration of phenotypic and molecular approach