Assessment of molecular DNA damage and oxidative stress in mice intestinal tissues following 50% watermelon juice supplementation / Mohamad Shafiq Mat Salleh

Ionizing radiation (lR) has been extensively used as therapy and diagnostic modality to detect abnormalities inside human body, but elicit both beneficial and deleterious role. Interaction between and IR and cells can leads to production of free radicals thus causing oxidative stress. By using animal model system, our aim is to assess molecular DNA damage and oxidative stress in mice intestinal tissue following 50% watermelon juice supplementation for 14 days. Twenty four (24) of6 weeks old male ICR mice were randomly selected into four groups, which are negative control group (-ve), antioxidant group (Aox), radiation group (Rx) and treatment group (Tx). Cx were treated with normal diet and filtered tap water; Aox were treated with normal diet and 50% watermelon juice; Rx were treated with normal diet, filtered tap water and irradiated with 100 IlGy x-ray; Tx were treated with normal diet, 50% watermelon juice and irradiated with 100 IlGy x-ray. After 14 days, the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in intestinal tissues were elucidated by using biochemical analysis and comet assay for demonstration of oxidative stress and DNA damage. Comet assay revealed significant reduction of DNA damage in 50% watermelon juice supplemented group compared to radiation group (p=0.00) and pair-wise relationship between Aox and Cx showed significant difference with p=0.003. Between Rx and Cx, the DNA damage were statistically significant at p=O.OO. GSH levels for Rx and Tx yield significant reduction compared to Cx with p=O.OO and p=O.OO respectively. Significant reduction of DNA damage confirmed ameliorative effect of 50% watermelon juice while reduction of GSH level suggested a high consumption of natural antioxidant to combat oxidative stress prior to IR exposure. The outcomes highlighted that supplementation of 50% watermelon juice for 14 days have a radioprotective properties against DNA damage induced by IR

Cloud and rain: perspective of Quran and science

Science and Islam have been proven to be interrelated with each other in many aspects of life. Most of the phenomena that occur in this world has been described in the Quran. As Muslims, Allah has instructed us to study the phenomena that occur in our surroundings. Therefore, it is vital to relate all of our scientific findings with the Quran. This paper will discuss on the process of cloud formation and rain based on the Quran and science. The hydrological cycle which is the major process involved in the formation of cloud and rain will also be described in this paper. The scientific view proposes that the formation of cloud begins with the evaporation of sea water into the sky. After some time, when the cloud is unable to hold water inside it, thus, it results in falling rain. In the Quran, this phenomena is described in Surah Ar-Rum: 48 and Surah An-Nur: 43. Also, there are several verses in the Quran that mention the importance of rain to all living things as stated in Surah Al-A’raf:57 and Surah Qaf:9. In the aspect of science, rain has large effects to certain processes such as the leaching and fertilization of soil. As a conclusion, the scientific explanation on the formation of cloud and rain, has been stated in the Quran in which they are consistent with each other

Assessment On Flow Characteristics Of Dam Spillway Structure Using Physical Laboratory Model And Computational Fluid Dynamics

Spillway is a structure that release surplus water from a dam into downstream area. Without spillway, water will be overtopping the dam and collapse during heavy raining season. During releasing large flow discharge, higher water surface profile and high velocity flow occur. This situation have the tendency for the flow to overtopping and breaching out the spillway. High velocity cause low or negative pressure on the spillway slab, scouring and erosion at downstream area. Negative pressure leads to cavitation and may cause critical damage on spillway structure. This study aims to investigate the flow characteristics along spillway such as water depth, velocity, pressure and energy dissipation on the stilling basin. The study were attempt on the physical experiment and Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD). A 1:20 scaled spillway physical model was constructed and assembled in Hydraulic Laboratory of Universiti Sains Malaysia. This study has been conducted on four different flow rate (0.012 m3/s, 0.017 m3/s, 0.021 m3/s and 0.067 m3/s) with total of 62 measurement points for each case. The data were measured and recorded on the selected points. To ensure the release flow is safe from causing severe damage on the downstream area, the study then was focused on stilling basin. For CFD, ANSYS FluentTM used as the solver for this study. After obtaining the required results from CFD, the values were compared to the physical model data for validation. Based on the original design, hydraulic jump length and depth were overtopping the side bank wall of the model for all flow discharge. Three modifications on the stilling basin were suggested to reduce the depth and length of hydraulic jump. The velocity reduced from these four tested stilling basin ranging from 54% to 64%. The length and depth of the hydraulic jump reduce as suggested on the 2nd modification. As for energy dissipation, original configuration yield the most value averagely compare to the others. By validating the results for both method, a good agreement was achieved for the water surface profile, velocity and pressure. The scatter plot relationship between physical experiment and numerical analysis having the regression coefficient (R2) ranging from 0.97 to 0.99. End results shows that the velocity, length and depth of hydraulic jump at the end of spillway can be reduce more by having a bigger dimension with additional row of buffer blocks while having the same length of stilling basin. Thus, it can be concluded that CFD can be used to simulate the flow characteristics in spillway as an alternative to physical experiment of spillway

Effect of glyphosate-based herbicide on early life stages of Java medaka (Oryzias javanicus): a potential tropical test fish

Glyphosate is globally a widely used herbicide, yet there is little information on their toxicity to marine fishes. Java medaka, a small tropical fish native to coastal areas in several Southeast Asian countries, is viewed as a suitable candidate for toxicity test and thus was used for this study. Java medaka adults were cultured in the laboratory and the fertilized eggs of the F2 generation were exposed to different concentrations of glyphosate-based herbicide (100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 ppm) until they hatched. The survival and hatching rates of the embryos, changes in the heart rate and morphological impairments were recorded. Generally, survival and hatching percentage decreased as glyphosate concentration increased. Absence of pectoral fin(s) and cornea, permanently bent tail, irregular shaped abdomen, and cell disruption in the fin, head and abdomen are among the common teratogenic effects observed. Furthermore, risk factor also increased with the increased in glyphosate concentrations

Preparation And Properties Of Rubber Seed Shell Flour (RSSF)- Filled Polypropylene (PP) Composites

In this research, rubber seed shell flour (RSSF) was incorporated in polypropylene (PP) to determine the composites with optimum properties. RSSF loadings were varied from 10 php to 40 php to study the effect of adding RSSF on processing, tensile, morphological, flexural, impact, water absorption and thermal properties of PP/RSSF composites. Dalam penyelidikan ini, serbuk kulit biji getah (RSSF) telah ditambahkan dalam polipropilena (PP) untuk menghasilkan komposit dengan ciri-ciri yang optimum. Muatan RSSF diubah dari 10 php hingga 40 php untuk dikaji kesan penambahan RSSF terhadap sifat-sifat pemprosesan, tensil, morfologi, lenturan, hentaman, penyerapan air dan sifat haba bagi komposit

Synthesis and antioxidant activities of hydroxylated coumarinyl chalcones

Hydroxylated coumarins and chalcones are known to possess potent antioxidant activities. The present study highlights the synthesis of two hydroxycoumarins namely 3-acetyl-7-hydroxycoumarin and 3-acetyl-6- hydroxycoumarin. Both compounds were synthesized using the Knoevenagel condensation method with respective hydroxybenzaldehydes under basic conditions. The synthesized hydroxycoumarins served as an intermediate for the subsequent coupling reaction to produce three new coumarinyl chalcones known as 7-hydroxy-3- [3-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one, 6-hydroxy-3-[3-(4'- hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one and 7-hydroxy-3-[3-(3',4'- dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one respectively. The target products were synthesized via the Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction utilizing the Lewis acid, boron trifluoride-etherate (BF3-Et2O) in 1,4-dioxane. The structures of the synthetic compounds were confirmed by spectroscopic techniques which includes the Infrared (IR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) (1H, 13C and DEPT) Spectroscopies. The antioxidant activities of all synthesized compounds were evaluated using three antioxidant assays known as the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP) assays using the Bio-Tek Epoch microplate reader. Among the compounds tested, the coumarinyl chalcones exhibited a better antioxidant activity compared to the hydroxycoumarins. 7-Hydroxy-3-[3-(3',4'- dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one proved to be the best antioxidant in all assays with SC50 values of 0.57 mM and 0.036 mM in the ABTS and DPPH assays respectively. The FRAP value of this compound falls between the range of 0.09 mM to 1.67 mM. The values were comparable with the positive control used in these assays known as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)

JMASM 46: Algorithm for Comparison of Robust Regression Methods In Multiple Linear Regression By Weighting Least Square Regression (SAS)

The aim of this study is to compare different robust regression methods in three main models of multiple linear regression and weighting multiple linear regression. An algorithm for weighting multiple linear regression by standard deviation and variance for combining different robust method is given in SAS along with an application

Halal Food Perspectives: A cross-sectional survey of neophobic and neophilic mindsets

This study explores the relationship between halal food and food neophobia in Malaysia. A total of 399 participants were surveyed using the Food Neophobia Scale (FNS). Neophobic individuals were most likely to be generation Z, male, had less than tertiary education, and had a salary less than RM1000. They tended to avoid food due to halal status and weird taste. The findings provide insights into the level of food neophobia among Malaysians and its impact on their acceptance of halal food. The results can aid policymakers and industry stakeholders in promoting inclusive and culturally sensitive food choices

Consumer awareness towards promotional strategies implemented by FAMA in Melaka / Mohd Shafiq Mohamad Jaapar

The purpose of this research is to know the consumers respondent whether they are noticeable and aware about the promotional strategies that implemented by FAMA in Melaka state. The promotional strategies consist of elements such as advertising, personal selling, public relations and sale promotions. Nowadays promotional strategies have gained importance within the country to achieving the competitive advantage. Moreover promotional strategies have been used not by the profit organization but also the nonprofit organization. The findings show that the FAMA have encountered some problem in their promotional strategies whereby becomes one of their weaknesses strategies in order to attract the consumers. The study is to find the consumers awareness towards the promotional products and the products that have been produce by the company. As to solve their problem the researcher suggest the company to enhancing their promotional strategies, developing more activity within the community such as education program, community service, sponsoring for the community program and so forth. 50 of respondents have been asked by using questionnaire in order to gain information and feedback to the company. The questionnaire consists of question about the promotional strategies and the product awareness to the consumers around Melaka state

JMASM41: An Alternative Method for Multiple Linear Model Regression Modeling, a Technical Combining of Robust, Bootstrap and Fuzzy Approach (SAS)

Research on modeling is becoming popular nowadays, there are several of analyses used in research for modeling and one of them is known as applied multiple linear regressions (MLR). To obtain a bootstrap, robust and fuzzy multiple linear regressions, an experienced researchers should be aware the correct method of statistical analysis in order to get a better improved result. The main idea of bootstrapping is to approximate the entire sampling distribution of some estimator. To achieve this is by resampling from our original sample. In this paper, we emphasized on combining and modeling using bootstrapping, robust and fuzzy regression methodology. An algorithm for combining method is given by SAS language. We also provided some technical example of application of method discussed by using SAS computer software. The visualizing output of the analysis is discussed in detail