Studies on Homalomeneae (Araceae) of Borneo XI: Homalomena matangae, a new species from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo

Homalomena matangae Y.C.Hoe, S.Y.Wong & P.C.Boyce is described and illustrated as a new species from and endemic to the Matang massif sandstone formation, Kuching Division, NW Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, from where it was originally collected by Odorado Beccari during his first ascent of Matang

Kajian fitokimia dan penyaringan biologi ke atas goniothalamus velutinus dan goniothalamus uvarioides

Kajian ini telah dijalankan untuk mengenalpasti komponen-komponen kimia yang terdapat dalam Goniothalamus velutinus dan G. uvarioides yang melibatkan pengekstrakan, penulenan dan penentuan struktur komponen-komponen tulen. Kulit batang G. uvarioides memberikan perätus minyak pati (1.50 %) yang tinggi berbanding dengan kulit batang G. velutinus (0.19 %). G. velutinus memberikan minyak pati yang berwarna kuning manakala G. uvarioides memberikan minyak tanpa warna. Monoterpena merupakan komponen utama dalam kulit batang G. uvarioides (68.81 %); manakala kulit batang G. velutinus tidak mengandungi monoterpena. Sebatian y-terpinena (32.63 %) merupakan monoterpena yang dikenalpasti dengan peratus kelimpahan yang tertinggi di dalam kulit batang G. uvarioides. Seskuiterpena merupakan komponen utama minyak pati pada kulit batang G. velutinus (39.75 %), tetapi merupakan komponen minor dalam kulit batang G. uvarioides (1.69 %). Sebatian farnesena (13.39 %) dan (E)-kariofilena (6.83 %) merupakan komponen seskuiterpena utama dalam minyak pati kulit batang G. velutinus. Keputusan penyaringan alkaloid ke atas akar serta kulit batang G. velutinus dan G. uvarioides dengan bahan uji Mayer menunjukkan kehadiran alkaloid dalam kuantiti yang sederhana. Sebanyak lima sebatian tulen telah berjaya dipisahkan dan dikenalpasti. Sebatian tersebut adalah velutinum (SI), aristolaktam-1311 (S3) dari G. velutinus, dan pinosembrin (S4), goniothalamin (S5) serta 5,7,4'-trihidroksiflavanon (S8) dari G. uvarioides. Ujian ketoksikan ke atas anak udang Artemia salina menunjukkan ekstrak akar G. velutinus adalah paling toksik, manakala ekstrak heksana kulit batang G. uvarioides adalah tidak toksik walaupun pada kepekatan yang tinggi. Sebatian pinosembrin memberikan nilai LDso 100 ppm, manakala sebatian goniothalamin memberikan nilai LDso kurang daripda 10 ppm. Penyaringan antibakteria menunjukkan minyak pati dari G. uvarioides adalah kurang merencat Bacillus amylofacien, dan tidak merencat Listeria monocytogen serta Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Pinosembrin memberikan perencatan yang amat lemah ke atas Bacillus amylofacien dan Listeria monocytogen. Goniothalamin merencat Bacillus amylofacien, Listeria monocytogen dan Vibrio parahaemolyticus pada 100 ppm dan 1000 ppm. Semua xix sampel yang diuji tidak menunjukkan sebarang perencatan ke atas Vibrio cholerae dan Escherichia coli kecuali minyak pati dari G. uvarioides yang menunjukkan perencatan ke atas Vibrio cholerae pada 1000 ppm. Bagi penyaringan antikanser, goniothalamin dan pinosembrin menunjukkan aktiviti sitotoksik ke atas sel-sel kanser yang dikaji. GI50 bagi sebatian goniothalamin ialah 1.85 μg/mL ke atas sel-sel kanser buah dada (MCF-7), 1.98 μg/mL ke atas sel-sel kanser sistem saraf berpusat (SF-268) dan 6.00 μg/mL ke atas sel-sel kanser paru-paru (NCI-H460). G150 untuk sebatian pinosembrin adalah 16.60 μg/mL (MCF-7), 14.4 μg/mL (SF-268) dan 12.00 μg/mL (NCI-H460)

Driving Factors of Industry 4.0 Readiness among Manufacturing SMEs in Malaysia

Industry 4.0 increases the production efficiency and competitiveness of companies. However, Industry 4.0 implementation is comparatively low in developing countries, while Malaysian manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Industry 4.0 adoption is still in its infancy stage. This quantitative study aimed to broaden the knowledge of the driving factors that significantly strengthen Malaysian manufacturing SMEs’ readiness for the digital revolution. Based on the Resource-Based View theory, the study built a research framework to govern the investigation of organizational capabilities, SME institutional support, perceived advantage, and market factors as the driving factors of Industry 4.0 readiness, while firm size as the moderating variable. The data were collected by conducting an online survey with the owners and managers of Malaysian-owned manufacturing SMEs located throughout Peninsular Malaysia, where the firms have received some form of government assistance. The analysis of the study indicated that organizational capabilities, SME institutional support, and market factors positively correlate with Industry 4.0 readiness. It was determined that firm size only moderates the relationship between SME institutional support and Industry 4.0 readiness. This study’s findings benefit industry practitioners and policymakers who wish to drive the future of Malaysia’s SMEs business ecosystem and contribute to Industry 4.0 literature

Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Litsea elliptica Blume and Litsea resinosa Blume (Lauraceae)

Objective: To investigate antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of two plant species, Litsea elliptica (L. elliptica) and Litsea resinosa (L. resinosa). Methods: In vitro method -2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay was cdoifnfudsuicotne da sfsoary a anntido xmidyacnetl iaalc triavditiya ld gertoewrmthi naastsiaoyn. while antimicrobial assay consisted of agar well Results: Methanol extracts of root and stem of L. elliptica and L. resinosa exhibited the highest eaxnttriaocxtisd aonf tL a. crteisviintyo swa itahs EwCel50l oafs 2r3o.o9t9,e x41tr.a6c9,t s1 1fr.o22m aLn.d e 3ll5i.p4t8ic ma gs/hLo wreesdp escigtinviefilcya. nAt lsl cmaveethnagninogl nacetgiavtiitvye. Hbeaxcatenrei ae xPtsreauctd ofrmomon astse mae rouf gLi.n oressai naonsda Eprsecsheenritcehdi ath ceo llai rwgehsitl ei nchhilboirtoiofonr mzo neex tirna cGt rfarmom- inner bark of L. resinosa showed major inhibition towards Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis. Essential oils from the root of both species showed significant antifungal activities which are 80.11% and 66.85% respectively. Conclusions: Overall, methanol extracts from root and stem of both species showed antioxidant satcrtoinvigteyr c aonmtipmaircarbolbei atol pstraonpdeartride sb cuotymlaptaerde dh ytod rtohxayt tforloumen Le.. eEllxitprtaiccats

Studies on Homalomeneae (Araceae) of Borneo VII: Homalomena debilicrista, a new species from Malaysian Borneo, and observations of its pollination mechanics

Homalomena debilicrista Y.C.Hoe is described and illustrated as a species new to science from the Matang massif sandstone formation, Kuching Division, NW Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. It represents the sixth species of the informal Hanneae Complex, a morphotaxon apparently endemic to Borneo and composed wholly of nomenclaturally novel species. Inflorescence events, notably spathe movement mechanisms, and interactions with insect visitors were observed and recorded to determine pollinator/s as part of an on-going programme accumulating data on pollinator guild niche partitioning in Homalomena. Six insect taxa visited the inflorescences during anthesis: (1) Coleoptera — Chrysomelidae (Chaloenus schawalleri), Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae (Parastasia bimaculata), Nitidulidae (genus undetermined), and Staphylinidae (genus undetermined) - and (2) Diptera, two species of Colocasiomyia (Drosophilidae). Empirical data strongly implicate P. bimaculata and possibly C. schawalleri to be the pollinators of Homalomena debilicrista. A key to the so-far described species of the Homalomena Hanneae Complex is presented, and the new species is illustrated

Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Litsea elliptica Blume and Litsea resinosa Blume (Lauraceae)

Objective: To investigate antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of two plant species, Litsea elliptica (L. elliptica) and Litsea resinosa (L. resinosa). Methods: In vitro method -2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay was conducted for antioxidant activity determination while antimicrobial assay consisted of agar well diffusion assay and mycelial radial growth assay. Results: Methanol extracts of root and stem of L. elliptica and L. resinosa exhibited the highest antioxidant activity with EC50 of 23.99, 41.69, 11.22 and 35.48 mg/L respectively. All methanol extracts of L. resinosa as well as root extracts from L. elliptica showed significant scavenging activity. Hexane extract from stem of L. resinosa presented the largest inhibition zone in Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli while chloroform extract from inner bark of L. resinosa showed major inhibition towards Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis. Essential oils from the root of both species showed significant antifungal activities which are 80.11% and 66.85% respectively. Conclusions: Overall, methanol extracts from root and stem of both species showed antioxidant activity comparable to standard butylated hydroxytoluene. Extracts from L. resinosa demonstrated stronger antimicrobial properties compared to that from L. elliptica

Outcomes with intra-gastric balloon therapy in BMI < 35 non-morbid obesity : 10-year follow-up study of an RCT

Purpose: Intra-gastric balloon (IGB) therapy is the most established endoscopic treatment of obesity, but there is a paucity of literature on long-term efficacy. This study aims to evaluate the short- and long-term weight loss efficacy of IGB. Materials and Methods: Double-blinded RCT with 6-month IGB vs with sham endoscopy, in body mass index (BMI) 27–35 patients. Anthropometric, fasting glucose, and lipid profile measurement as early outcomes (up to 2 years) and 10-year follow-up. Primary outcomes were total body weight loss (kg) and BMI. Secondary outcomes were new-onset diabetes mellitus, other new comorbidities, and willingness for further intervention. Results: Initial RCT recruited 99 patients (50 IGB vs 49 sibutramine group). Forty-nine patients (26 IGB vs 23 control group) participated in a 10-year review (follow-up rate of 51.6%). Total body weight loss at 6 (9.75 vs 7.48 kg, p = 0.03), 12 (6.52 vs 4.42 kg, p = 0.05), 18 (5.42 vs 3.57, p = 0.32), and 24 months (4.07 vs 2.93 kg, p = 0.56) favored the IGB group. Total weight loss (TWL) at 10 years (0.03 vs − 2.32 kg, p = 0.05) and %TWL (− 0.16 ± 12.8% vs − 2.84 ± 5.6%, p = 0.39) were not significantly different between groups. Follow-up BMI (30.97 ± 1.6 vs 30.38 ± 1.8 kg/m2, p = 1.00) was similar. At 10 years, new-onset diabetes mellitus, sleep apnoea, metabolic syndrome, and arthralgia were not significant (p > 0.05). Twenty-three (81%) IGB group vs 13 (56%) control expressed a willingness for further intervention (p < 0.01). Conclusion: IGB delivers weight loss to 2 years and is superior to control. However, new comorbidity development is not significantly different at 10 years. Patient that received IGB therapy were subsequently more willing for further bariatric metabolic intervention

Impact of adjuvant chemoradiation for adenocarcinoma of stomach after curative gastrectomy in Chinese: A 7-year audit

Background and Aim: Adjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) after curative gastrectomy was introduced to our hospital in 1998. The present study aims to examine the impact of CRT on survival among Chinese. Methods: From our gastric cancer registry, patients who received R0 gastrectomy, with UICC stage II or above, M0 disease and ASA grades I and II were analyzed. Adjuvant CRT was offered and given if patients agreed. The regimen consisted of five cycles of 5-fluoruracil (5FU)/leucovorin chemotherapy and 45 Gy/25 fractions concurrent with cycles 2 and 3. Results: From January 1998 to December 2004, 134 patients fulfilled the criteria. Sixty had surgery alone and 74 patients received CRT after gastrectomy. One hundred and two (76%) patients received radical gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy. Toxicity ≥ grade 3 was seen in 65% of patients without mortality. The overall and relapse-free 5-year survival rates were 45.8% and 42.0%, respectively. On univariate analysis, early disease stage and adjuvant CRT were associated with better prognosis. Cox regression analysis showed that adjuvant CRT (P = 0.01, HR 2.31, 95% CI: 1.4-3.9) predict better survival after adjustment with the other factors. Conclusion: In the present study, postoperative adjuvant chemoradiation is associated with better overall survival in patients with adenocarcinoma of the stomach after curative gastrectomy. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 College of Surgeons of Hong Kong.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex