Measuring organic carbon, nutrients and heavy metals in rivers receiving leachate from controlled and uncontrolled municipal solid waste landfills

Since landfilling is the common method of waste disposal in Malaysia, river water is greatly exposed to the risk of contamination from leachate unless proper leachate management is carried out. In this study, leachates from three different types of landfills, namely active uncontrolled, active controlled and closed controlled, were characterized, and their relationships with river water chemistry were examined monthly for a year. The influence of leachate on river water chemistry from each type of landfill depended on many factors, including the presence of a leachate control mechanism, leachate characteristics, precipitation, surface runoff and the applied treatment. The impact of leachate from an active uncontrolled landfill was the highest, as the organic content, NH(4)(+)-N, Cd and Mn levels appeared high in the river. At the same time, influences of leachate were also observed from both types of controlled landfills in the form of inorganic nitrogen (NH(4)(+)-N, NO(3)(-)-N and NO(2)(-)-N) and heavy metals (Fe, Cr, Ni and Mn). Improper treatment practice led to high levels of some contaminants in the stream near the closed controlled landfill. Meanwhile, the active controlled landfill, which was located near the coastline, was exposed to the risk of contamination resulting from the pyrite oxidation of the surrounding area

Field evaluation of palm oil adjuvanted feed-based streptococcosis vaccine efficacy in red hybrid tilapia

Vaccination plays an important role in the aquaculture industry to prevent disease outbreaks, thereby ensuring an economically viable industry. A field trial was conducted in Pedu Lake, Kedah, to determine immunoglobulin M (IgM) progression in red hybrid tilapia following oral vaccination with palm oil adjuvanted streptococcosis vaccine. A total of 6,000 tilapias of 60 ± 20 g were selected and divided into three groups of single booster, double booster, and control group in duplicate. The single booster group was vaccinated orally at weeks 0 and 2, while fish of the double booster group were vaccinated at weeks 0, 2, and 6. Fishes from the control group were not given any vaccine throughout the experimental period. Samples of eye, brain, and kidney were collected at two weeks intervals for sixteen weeks cumulative to isolate the bacteria, while serum samples were collected to determine the antibody level. Throughout the study period, no outbreaks of streptococcosis were recorded, and none of the groups studied showed the presence of Streptococcus agalactiae. Very low mortality of single booster, double booster, and control group was noted at 2.1 ± 8.5 %, 1.3 ± 2.8 %, and 1.5 ± 7.1 %, respectively. Both vaccinated groups showed significant (p<0.05) increases in IgM antibody levels following immunization of first and booster doses before going down below the cut-off value six weeks post-vaccination in the single booster group. However, IgM antibody levels in the fish from the double booster group remained high until the end of the trial. In conclusion, oral vaccination with palm oil adjuvanted feed-based streptococcosis vaccine stimulates an adequate systemic immune response, which can confer possible protection against streptococcosis

Nitrification of ammonium-rich sanitary landfill leachate

The nitrification of ammonium-rich wastewater is considered challenging due to the substrate inhibition particularly in the form of free ammonia (FA) and free nitrous acid (FNA) in ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). The feasibility of the nitrifying activated sludge system to completely nitrify synthetic stabilized landfill leachate with concentration of 1452 mg/L was tested in this study. The process started with 0.4 kg /m3/day of nitrogen loading rate (NLR) in a fed-batch mode to avoid any accumulation of the FA and FNA in the system followed by increasing the nitrogen loading rate (NLR) gradually. Complete nitrification was achieved with a very high ammonium removal percentage (100%). The maximum specific and volumetric nitrification rate obtained were 0.49 g /g VSS/day and 3.0 kg /m3/day, respectively which were higher than those reported previously for ammonium-rich removal using activated sludge system. The nitrifying sludge exhibited good settling characteristics of up to 36 mL/g VSS and a long SRT of more than 53 days which contributed to the success of the nitrification process. The coexistence and syntrophic association of the AOB and NOB was observed by using Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique which supported the results on complete nitrification obtained in the system. These findings would be of prominent importance for further treatment of actual sanitary landfill leachate

Nitrification of high-strength ammonium landfill leachate with microbial community analysis using (FISH).

Nitrification of mature sanitary landfill leachate with high-strength of N_NHþ 4 (1080–2350mg L_1) was performed in a 10 L continuous nitrification activated sludge reactor. The nitrification system was acclimatized with synthetic leachate during feed batch operation to avoid substrate inhibition before being fed with actual mature leachate. Successful nitrification was achieved with an approximately complete ammonium removal (99%) and 96% of N_NHþ 4 conversion to N_NO_3 . The maximum volumetric and specific nitrification rates obtained were 2.56 kg N_NHþ4 m_3 day_1 and 0.23 g N_NHþ4g_1 volatile suspended solid (VSS) day_1, respectively, at hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 12.7 h and solid retention time of 50 days. Incomplete nitrification was encountered when operating at a higher nitrogen loading rate of 3.14 kg N_NHþ 4 m_3 day_1. The substrate overloading and nitrifiers competition with heterotrophs were believed to trigger the incomplete nitrification. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results supported the syntrophic association between the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. FISH results also revealed the heterotrophs as the dominant and disintegration of some AOB cell aggregates into single cells which further supported the incomplete nitrification phenomenon

Reviving Religious Modesty in the Face of Radicalism Ideology: The Experience of SMA Al-Azhar Menganti Gresik, Indonesia

By radicalising educational institutions, this study would like to see an overview of the development of radicalism ideology in educational institutions, as well as the response of teachers in forums across Religious Secondary Schools (SMA) and National Secondary Schools (SMK) in East Java. Sekolah Menengah Al-Azhar Menganti Gresik, one of the educational institutions based on the pesantren system, has held a programme to restore religious moderation as a solution to radicalism. The emergence of the aforementioned programme has piqued the interest of researchers in conducting an objective analysis of school strategies for promoting religious moderation among students. This study employs a qualitative approach with a case study approach at SMA Al-Azhar Menganti Gresik, as well as data collection techniques such as observations, interviews, and documentation. Miles and Hubarman analysis was used to perform objective analysis. Objectively, the study’s findings indicate that the process of reviving religious moderation requires strong support from educational stakeholders in private schools, specifically foundations. The importance of the top-down model in implementing rehabilitation programmes on religious moderation, as Giddens and Singh explain, determines the success of educational institutions in combating the radicalism movement. Keywords: Religious Modesty; Radicalism Ideology; Experience of SMA Al-Azhar Mengant

Penguatkuasaan kesalahan tidak menunaikan solat Jumaat

Enakmen Kesalahan Jenayah Syariah memperuntukan hukuman ke atas orang lelaki yang tidak menunaikan solat Jumaat. Namun, peruntukan undang-undang mensyaratkan tindakan hanya boleh diambil terhadap kesalahan tidak menunaikan solat Jumaat selama tiga kali berturut-turut telah menimbulkan isu permasalahan dari aspek penguatkuasaan dan pembuktian. Malah,, peruntukan undang-undang juga menghendaki kesalahan tersebut berlaku dalam kariah tempat tinggal pesalah merumitkan apabila ia berlaku diluar daripada kariah masjid pelaku kesalahan. Kajian ini menganalisis undang-undang substantif yang telah diperuntukkan di bawah Enakmen Kesalahan Jenayah Syariah berkenaan dengan kesalahan tidak menunaikan solat Jumaat serta permasalahannya dan mencadangkan penyelesaian untuk mengastasi isu-isu yang berlaku. Penulisan ini menggunakan kaedah kajian kaedah kualitatif melalui analisis dokumen terutamanya meninjau dari aspek perundangan dan prinsip syariah. Kaedah temu bual turut dijalankan ke atas pengamal undang-undang syariah. Hasil dapatan temu bual ini digunakan untuk menyokong dapatan kajian ini. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa terdapat elemen yang perlu dibuktikan dalam peruntukan berkenaan baligh atau mukallaf, tiga kali berturut-turut, masjid dalam kariah dan uzur syarie di bawah Enakmen Kesalahan Jenayah Syariah adalah umum dan tidak jelas.Kajian mencadangkan agar elemen terbabit perlu diperincikan agar penguatkuasaan ke atas pesalah kesalahan tidak menunaikan solat Jumaat ini dapat diperkemaskan serta diperkasakan lagi. Seterusnya, kajian turut mencadangkan agar prosedur operasi standard (SOP) turut perlu dibina berhubung dengan proses penyiasatan kesalahan ini agar dapat membantu pihak penguatkuasa agama menjalankan siasatan dengan baik dan menyokong pembuktian pihak pendakwaan di mahkamah kelak. Kajian ini penting dalam usaha memperkasakan lagi penyiasatan dan pendakwaan kesalahan tidak menunaikan solat Jumaat oleh pihak berkuasa

Effect of incorporating different concentrations of palm oil as adjuvant in fish vaccine

Adjuvants play important role in vaccine efficacy due to the slow release that leads to prolong immune response. This study determines the advantage of palm oil as adjuvant in the newly developed feed-based killed vaccine against streptococcosis. One thousand two hundred red tilapia of approximately 100g bodyweight were divided into 3 major groups. Group 1 consisted of 500 fish and was further divided into 5 sub-groups with replicate. Group 2 consisted of 600 fish and was further divided into 6 sub-groups while Group 3 with 100 fish in replicate. Fish of Group 1 were vaccinated with the feed-based killed vaccine containing 0%, 3%, 5% and 7% Freund’s incomplete adjuvant (FIA) at weeks 0, 2 and 6. Group 2 was similarly vaccinated with the vaccine containing palm oil adjuvant (POA) at concentrations of 0%, 3%, 5%, 7% & 10%. Group 3 was control without vaccination. On week 10, all fish were challenged intraperitoneally with 2.6 x 109 cfu/ ml of live Streptococcus agalactiae. Serum samples were collected at weekly intervals from all replicates and were subjected to ELISA to determine the systemic antibody responses. Immunization by both POA and FIA resulted in significant (p0.05). The 10% palm oil adjuvant (POA) stimulated the best systemic immune responses resulting in 70% survival rate after challenge

The significance of multiple bacterial infections in lutjanus sp. in Malaysian marine cage culture system

The epizootiology of disease problems in Lutjanus erythropterus (Crimson snapper) was conducted in Pulau Langkawi Kedah, the northern state of Peninsular Malaysia, for a period of eight months until harvest due to reported continuous mortality of about 30% after two months introduction, incurring high economic loss. Infected fish was morbid, discoloured with haemorrhagic ulcers in dorsal areas and severe necrosis of caudal region. Monthly sampling revealed multiple Vibrio infections with variable prevalence rate during grow-out stage as shown in Fig.1. Necropsy revealed abnormal liver, with cases of severe whitish nodules in kidney and spleen. The caudal peduncle area was soft and fluffy to touch, releasing yellowish exudates when cut. Histopathological diagnosis of the kidney, spleen and muscle using Grocott and Modified Ziehl Nelsen staining revealed red, long, thin and filamentous organisms in the granulomatous lesions suggestive of nocardiosis shown in Fig. 2. Further sampling of the Lutjanus sp that were above 250g(5thmonth), showed exopthalmus with watery brain, in which case Streptococcus iniae was isolated for three consecutive months. Vibriosis was prevalent throughout the culture period with concurrent infection of V. vulnificus and V. alginolyticus during the later period nearing harvesting. The study has shown that multiple bacterial infections are prevalent throughout culture period infecting at different level and stages of fish growth causing continuous mortality. High economic loss is expected with the recorded pattern of disease infections and thus knowing the source of fish with better treatment regime for effective control is needed for sustainable healthy production. Fig.1. Multiple Vibrio sp. infection in Lutjanus erythropterus (Crimson Snapper) Fig.2. Nocardia spp. Infection in Lutjanus erythropterus (Crimson Snapper

Mitigating flood risk in Malaysia through flood insurance: Exploring the feasibility of the United States and Japanese approaches

Floods have the potential to occur in any location and at any time due to sustained rainfall lasting for several days. In light of these situations, governments that are hesitant to assume these heightened risks may perceive a greater desirability in expanding the involvement of private insurance companies. Nevertheless, the inherent communal nature of these risks necessitates active government intervention to provide sufficient insurance coverage. While there have been considerable studies conducted on flood insurance, there is a noticeable dearth of studies that particularly examine the flood insurance structure in Malaysia. The efficacy of catastrophe recovery in developed nations is contingent upon the crucial functions fulfilled by insurance and government assistance. Nevertheless, it is less common for developing nations to engage in such practices. Hence, this study aims to analyze the flood insurance approaches employed in the United States and Japan. Additionally, the secondary objective involves assessing the current state of flood insurance practices in Malaysia and evaluating its feasibility in adopting flood insurance strategies similar to those implemented in the United States and Japan. This study adopts a library-based approach, and the expected outcome of this research is to propose recommendations for Malaysia to improve its flood insurance system. This investigation adds to the existing body of knowledge by offering fresh perspectives on the efficacy of flood insurance practices in the United States and Japan, and their applicability within the context of Malaysi

Effects of layering sequence and gamma radiation on mechanical properties and morphology of Kevlar/oil palm EFB/epoxy hybrid composites

The present study evaluates the tensile and flexural properties, including the morphological features of gamma radiated Kevlar/oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB)/epoxy hybrid composites fabricated using hand lay-up method with different layering sequences. The fabricated hybrid composites were exposed to different gamma radiation doses: 25 kGy, 50 kGy and 150 kGy. Mechanical (tensile and flexural) and morphological properties were evaluated by using universal testing machine and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Results obtained indicated that tensile strength of hybrid composites were effected by layering sequence. The layering sequence involving the use of EFB as core material yielded better mechanical performance compared to the layering pattern when Kevlar served as the core material. The tensile and flexural properties of hybrid composites showed an improvement for irradiated samples at a low radiation level. Hybrid composites displayed decrease in tensile strength at 50 kGy whereas flexural strength still showed an improvement. However, at 150 kGy, the tensile and flexural properties exhibited significant degradation. FESEM of tensile fracture composites showed the exist of fibre pull out and voids. However, at 150 kV bigger and ruptured voids were observed. It can be concluded from this finding that mechanical performance of Kevlar/EFB/Kevlar hybrid composites after Gamma radiation, has made it as promising material for automotive, aerospace and construction applications