Screening Islam: the representations of religion and gender in different genres of Islamic films in Malaysia

This study seeks to analyse how genres shape the way in which religion is represented in Malaysian ‘Islamic’ films. It is interesting to study how Malaysian filmmakers represent Islam, because Malaysia is a multi ethnic and religious country with a rising film industry and Islam as the official religion of the state. This thesis examines how film’s generic conventions act as meaning-making tools, contributing to different representations of Islam and gender. The thesis employs narrative analysis to analyse the structure of plots and construction of meaning in the films. A total of 13 recent Islamic films were selected, and the analyses illustrate how the films construct different representations of Islam through the genres of horror, comedy, melodrama and art house. A key narrative feature of all the films analysed is the centrality of the life quest of the main protagonist. However, this quest takes significantly different forms in the diverse genres, casting religion and gender rather differently. In the various genres, the life quest may centre around perpetual punishment for worldly or superstitious desires, ‘happy ending’ reward for abandonment of material and Western values, enduring of gendered hardships which reflecting both obedience and strength, and contradictory exposing and forgiving violence. This thesis discusses how religious and gendered subjectivities are made and remade in the intersection between Western conventions of cinematic genres and the specific cultural, religious and political context of Malaysia

Infantile acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia with T(1:22) in a non-down syndrome child.

Megakaryoblastic leukaemia is the commonest form of leukaemia occuring in Down syndrome infants. However, it’s subtype with translocation t(1;22)(p13;q13)is uncommon comprising <1% of all cases and reported to exclusively occur in infant without Down syndrome. It has a female predominance and carries apoor prognosis. We described this rare form of leukaemia in a 9-month-old girl who presented with bruises, massive hepatosplenomegaly and multiple cervical and inguinal lymphadenopathy. The blood film showed severe anaemia with ovalostomatocytosis, thrombocytopenia and mild leucocytosis. The bone marrow aspirate showed numerous blasts showing high nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio and agranular cytoplasm with cytoplasmic blebs. Peroxidase staining was negative. The immunophenotyping of the blasts showed positive expression of CD117, CD13, CD33 and CD61 which confirmed the diagnosis of acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia. Interestingly, the cytogenetic finding of translocation t(1;22) which is most common in acute megaloblastic leukaemia in infants without Down syndrome was found in this case. She received the AML trial 15 ADE protocol chemotherapy regime and developed severe neutropenic sepsis and respiratory distress requiring ventilatory support and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). She recovered wellmafter the first course of chemotherapy and was discharged. Unfortunately, she was not brought in for follow-up chemotherapy and presented a few months later with relapsed AML. She was re-started on ADE protocol and currently is on oral thioguanine for maintenance therapy

Chloramphenicol therapy of typhoid fever

In a prospective study we compared two different dosage regimens of IV chloramphenicol succinate (100 mg/kg/day and 75 mg/kg/day) in children with culture proven typhoid. Trough and peak blood samples, obtained at 48 hrs, were analysed for free chloramphenicol by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Although the mean trough (8.8 +/- 7.7 versus 5.4 +/- 2.6 mcg/ml) and peak (19.9 +/- 12.2 versus 15.4 +/- 6.1 mcg/ml) chloramphenicol concentrations were comparable in both groups, a significantly wider range was found in the group receiving 100 mg/kg/day. Potentially toxic levels (greater than 30 mcg/ml) developed in two patients with liver dysfunction. Chloramphenicol in a dosage of 75 mg/kg/day is adequate and safe for the treatment of paediatric typhoid

Pengaruh Country of Origin Terhadap Citra Merek Dan Dampaknya Bagi Keputusan Pembelian (Studi Pada Konsumen Uniqlo Di Jakarta)

This_research_aim to identify and explain enfluence of country of origin on brand image, influence of country of origin on purchase decision, influence of brand image on purchase decision. The type of this research is explanatory research with quantitative approach. The sample used in this research was 113 respondents chosen with purposive sampling and questionnaire used as a method to collected the data. The result in this research shows that country of origin significantly influence brand image, country of origin significantly influence purchase decision, and brand image significantly influence purchase decision. Based on the result of this research, Uniqlo should promote Japan as the country of origin to endorse brand image for encouraging costumers purchase decisions

Characterization and fat migration of palm kernel stearin as affected by addition of desiccated coconut used as base filling centre in dark chocolate

The characterization and fat migration of palm kernel stearin (PKS) and desiccated coconut, used as base filling centre in dark chocolate were studied. C36 and C38 triglycerides of PKS decreased by 11% and 9.6% respectively, whereas C32 and C34 increased by 97% and 48% respectively. The change in the triglycerides composition of PKS shift the melting point of PKS from 33.2 to 31.4°C. Solid fat content (SFC) of PK reduced by 40% at 30°C. The rate of fat migration was very slow at 18°C storage compared to 30°C. The rate of change of C36 in the chocolate layer was 0.1% week-1 and 1.2% week-1 at 18 and 30°C respectively. Chocolate stored at 18°C showed post hardening during storage period and withstood bloom during the storage period, whereas that stored at 30°C became soft and bloomed faster after 3 weeks of storage

Efficacy and economics of different herbicides in aerobic rice system

Aerobic rice system, the most promising irrigation water saving rice production technology, is highly impeded by severe weed pressure. Weed control through the use of same herbicide causes development of herbicide resistant weed biotypes and serious problem in weed management. This study was aimed at finding out herbicides with different mode of actions to suggest effective weed control herbicide technology in aerobic rice system. This study was conducted at Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Seberang Perai Station, Penang, Malaysia during off season 2008 (April – July 2008) and main season 2008-2009 (November 2008 – February 2009) to evaluate fourteen and eight combinations of different locally available herbicides, in the off season and main seasons, respectively. A weed free control and a weedy check treatment were also included in the both trials. The trial used a RCB design with three replications in the off season and four replications in the main season, respectively. Twenty one (21) weed species were found in the aerobic rice field but two species (Eleusine indica and Digitaria ascendens) appeared as dominant. Based on the weed control efficiency, weed index values and net benefit from economic analysis, it appeared that the herbicide combinations such as Propanil/Benthiocarb fb Bentazone/MCPA or Cyhalofopbutyl+ Bensulfuron fb Bentazone/MCPA or Pendimethalin fb Cyhalofop-butyl+ Bensulfuron fb Bentazone/MCPA or Pretilachlor+Pendimethalin fb Bentazone/MCPA could be the possible alternative options for effective and economic weed control in rice under aerobic system towards avoiding development of herbicide resistance in weed. Manual weeding is not at all cost-effective. The selected herbicide combinations could be used in rotation for sustainable weed management and to run the aerobic rice system as a profitable business venture.Key words: Herbicide combination, summed dominance ratio, weed control efficiency, weed index, rice yiel

Possible presence of calcium channel blocker(s) in Rubia cordifolia: An indigenous medicinal plant

Crude extract of Rubia cordifolia (RC) was tested in isolated tissue preparations for its possible calcium channel antagonistic activity. RC suppressed the spontaneous contractions of guinea-pig atria, rabbit jejunum and rat uterus in a concentration dependent manner (0.1-3 mg/ml). In rabbit aorta, it inhibited norepinephrine (10 microM) and KCl (80 mM) induced contractions. Replacement of physiological salt solution with calcium free solution abolished the spontaneous movements of rabbit jejunum. However, addition of calcium (25 micrograms/ml) in the tissue bath restored the spontaneous movements. When the tissues were pretreated with plant extract (1 mg/ml) or verapamil (0.5 microgram/ml), addition of calcium failed to restore spontaneous contractions. These results indicate that the plant extract exhibits spasmolytic activity similar to that of verapamil suggestive of presence of calcium channel blocker like constituent(s) in this plant

Customer Awareness and Behavior Intention Towards the Use of Halal Logo on Restaurants

The trend of eating out leads the food service industry to the needs of managing customers and making sure that all their needs and preferences can be fulfilled. The certification and recognition of establishment also becomes the in thing in hospitality industry, which includes the certification of halal, HACCP, and ISO. Establishment with certification is useful as a marketing strategy to attract more customers. This study discusses the level of customer awareness of towards the halal logo used in some restaurants which is carried out to give evidence to restaurant operators regarding the importance of attaching the genuine halal logo in their restaurant. From the findings, it is showed that customers are do aware of the use of halal logo on restaurants. It is also a factor in choosing a restaurant. It is concluded that halal logo is one of the main factors for customers in choosing restaurants which in return can be a main strategy to attract and retain more customers in the future, not only for the local customer but also to foreigners