Prediktor Tingkah Laku Keibubapaan Ibu Dan Kesejahteraan Anak Dari Keluarga Melayu Bercerai

Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMKe-9) menyatakan bahawa pembentukan institusi keluarga yang sejahtera adalah penting bagi menjana modal insan berdaya saing. Pergolakan dalam institusi keluarga mengakibatkan ikatan perkahwinan berakhir dengan perceraian. Di Malaysia, bilangan keluarga bercerai yang diketuai oleh ibu adalah semakin meningkat dan kajian mendapati keluarga ibu bercerai menghadapi pelbagai kesulitan hidup berbanding keluarga lengkap, disamping memberi kesan terhadap kesejahteraan anak Secara amnya, kajian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan prediktor bagi tingkah laku keibubapaan ibu dan kesejahteraan anak dari keluarga Melayu bercerai. Sampel utama (N=413) kajian merupakan ibu yang telah bercerai dan salah seorang anak mereka yang masih bersekolah (rendah atau menengah) sebagai subsampel kajian (anak fokus; n=100). Data telah dikumpulkan secara temu bual bersemuka menggunakan borang soal selidik. Tingkah laku keibubapaan ibu telah diukur menggunakan „Parental Bonding Instrument’ (Parker, Tupling & Brown, 1979). Kesejahteraan anak pula diukur berdasarkan tiga aspek iaitu tekanan perasaan [Center for Epidemological Studies- Depression Scale (Radloff, 1977)], penghargaan kendiri „Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale’ Rosenberg, 1979) dan pencapaian akademik. Kesemua instrumen yang digunakan telah diadaptasi mengikut kesesuaian budaya tempatan. Penemuan hasil kajian menunjukkan tingkah laku keibubapaan ibu Melayu bercerai yang tinggi mempengaruhi faktor kemurungan dan penghargaan kendiri anak. Responden ibu Melayu bercerai juga menunjukkan persepsi penghargaan kendiri ibu yang baik dan keprihatinan yang tinggi mempengaruhi kesejahteraan anak. Kesejahteraan anak (tekanan perasaan, penghargaan kendiri dan pencapaian akademik) yang dikaji pula adalah pada tahap yang sederhana dan ianya dipengaruhi oleh faktor tingkah laku sosial anak yang positif. Penghargaan kendiri ibu Melayu bercerai yang dikaji merupakan faktor penyumbang utama dan mempengaruhi tingkah laku keibubapaan ibu. Manakala tingkah laku sosial anak pula adalah faktor yang mempengaruhi kesejahteraan anak dari keluarga Melayu bercerai. Situasi ini menggambarkan bahawa persepsi penghargaan kendiri ibu dan tingkah laku sosial anak fokus yang dipamerkan memberi kesan positif terhadap kualiti kesejahteraan keluarga Melayu bercerai. Kesimpulannya, kajian ini memberi sumbangan baru terhadap bidang ekologi keluarga Melayu bercerai dan kualiti kesejahteraan hidup individu ibu dan anak. Faktor penentu tingkah laku keibubapaan ibu dan kualiti kesejahteraan anak yang stabil mendorong kepada sistem ekologi keluarga (jaringan sokongan, sumber ekonomi dan kefungsian keluarga) Melayu bercerai berfungsi dengan lebih baik

Biofilm formation and virulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae

S. pneumoniae is a genetically diverse species which complicates attempts to associate a given clonal lineage or serotype with propensity to cause disease; as well as in the identification of specific molecular determinants of distinct virulence phenotypes. Formation of biofilms is an important step in pneumococcal pathogenesis, as they serve as reservoirs of infection and organisms within biofilms are resistant to antimicrobials and host immune defences. The aim of this work was to extend our understanding of the correlation between biofilm formation in clinical isolates of S. pneumoniae and factors that could influence their invasive disease potential, namely isolate source, pH and Fe(III) supplementation. Firstly, the formation of biofilms of clinical isolates belonging to serotypes/groups 3, 6, 9, 14 and 19 isolated from blood and ear revealed marked inconsistencies in biofilm formation capacity. However, upon MLST typing distinct biofilm phenotypes were identified between blood and ear isolates belonging to the same serotype/group and ST type. Further in vivo investigations on blood and ear isolates of serotype 3 ST180, ST232, ST233 and serotype 14 ST15 revealed distinct pathogenic profiles, which clearly demonstrated the adaptation of the strains to the host niches from which they were isolated. The in vivo co-infection experiment of ST15 isolates further suggested the possibilities of induction of distinct host immune responses, or secretion of a virulence factor by the blood isolate, that prolonged survival of the ear isolate, which would otherwise have been cleared from the lung when challenged in isolation. Investigation of early immune response in the lungs of mice challenged by blood and ear isolates revealed strain-specific differences in gene expression and provided insight into how the immune response may vary from strain to strain, resulting in distinct patterns of infection from two closely related strains. The observed consistent differences suggested the existence of fundamental genomic, methylomic, transcriptomic, proteomic or metabolomic differences between clonally-related blood and ear isolates, which allows them to adapt to, and survive in, distinct host niches. Nevertheless, transcriptomic analysis of the in vitro grown ST180, ST232 and ST15 strains using RNA-Sequencing did not identify any genes that were consistently differentially expressed between the blood and ear isolates of a given ST. This suggests that there may be differences in expression patterns of key virulence-related genes between bacteria growing in different in vivo niches, as well as between in vivo niches and the in vitro cultures. The findings of this study constitute a significant paradigm shift, in that we have found multiple examples of clonally-related strains that consistently and reproducibly exhibit distinct virulence phenotypes in mice that directly correlate with the original site of isolation from human patients (in this case, ear vs blood). Thus, strains within a clonal lineage can exhibit stable niche adaptation. Moreover, our data suggest differential capacity to trigger early host innate immune responses may underpin this adaptation and influence the course of disease. These findings provide a robust platform for future studies aimed at identifying critical bacterial and host determinants of pneumococcal virulence phenotype.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Biological Sciences, 201

A study on factor that influence customer satisfaction toward quality services provided by Tabung Haji, Tanjong Karang, Selangor / Siti Zarina Mohamad Amin

The Pilgrims Fund Board (Lembaga Tabung Haji) was established from the establishment of Pilgrims Fund Corporation in November 1962 and commenced operation on September 30,1963 with the main objective of providing quality product and services to the customers. TH Tanjong Karang is one of the TH's branch established in order to facilitate the resident of Tanjong Karang to get the services provided by TH The main services provided by TH are saving and withdrawing and also hajj registration. This research paper is to study about the factors that influence customer satisfaction toward quality services provided by TH in Tanjong Karang, Selangor. There are 60 respondents in area Tanjong Karang who is being as TH customer and be as our sample in this study. There are various methodology used in this research such as collection of data through primary and secondary data, questionnaires, sampling technique and also the using of Statistical Package for Social Science-SPSS (Version 11.5) in order to analyze the data. From the analysis of data, there are seven things that become as our focus to determine the factor that influence customer satisfaction. There are availability, delivery lead times, quality, services, customer friendliness, selection of product and services and also cost. From the findings analysis, we discovered that all the seven factors as stated above have association with customer satisfaction in 11-1 Tanjong Karang. Even though some of the respondent not satisfied with certain element but the number of respondent who satisfied with the services provided by TH are greater than respondents who are not satisfied with TH Tanjong Karang services

Isolation site influences virulence phenotype of serotype 14 Streptococcus pneumoniae strains belonging to multilocus sequence type 15

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a diverse species causing invasive as well as localized infections that result in massive global morbidity and mortality. Strains vary markedly in pathogenic potential, but the molecular basis is obscured by the diversity and plasticity of the pneumococcal genome. We have previously reported that S. pneumoniae serotype 3 isolates belonging to the same multilocus sequence type (MLST) differed markedly in in vitro and in vivo phenotypes, in accordance with the clinical site of isolation, suggesting stable niche adaptation within a clonal lineage. In the present study, we have extended our analysis to serotype 14 clinical isolates from cases of sepsis or otitis media that belong to the same MLST (ST15). In a murine intranasal challenge model, five ST15 isolates (three from blood and two from ears) colonized the nasopharynx to similar extents. However, blood and ear isolates exhibited significant differences in bacterial loads in other host niches (lungs, ear, and brain) at both 24 and 72 h postchallenge. In spite of these differences, blood and ear isolates were present in the lungs at similar levels at 6 h postchallenge, suggesting that early immune responses may underpin the distinct virulence phenotypes. Transcriptional analysis of lung tissue from mice infected for 6 h with blood isolates versus ear isolates revealed 8 differentially expressed genes. Two of these were exclusively expressed in response to infection with the ear isolate. These results suggest a link between the differential capacities to elicit early innate immune responses and the distinct virulence phenotypes of clonally related S. pneumoniae strains

Factors affecting the development of long-term relationships among SME entrepreneurs in the Malaysian agro-based industry

A strategy based on long-term relationships is considered one of the most effective options, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to be competitive and sustainable in the market. There are many benefits that can be obtained from long-term relationships that include efficiency and effectiveness in operations, total cost reduction, better delivery performance, and higher profit. Thus, the objective of this study is to determine factors that influence the development of long-term relationships among SME entrepreneurs in the Malaysian agro-based industry. The data collected from 226 entrepreneurs has revealed 7 important factors that influence the development of long-term relationships of SME entrepreneurs with their preferred buyers. These factors were trust, reputation, quality, satisfaction, power/dependence, relationship specific investments and communication. This result provides a basis for managers to put more effort into developing business relationships in order to create high competitive advantage in the market

Biofilm inhibition and antimicrobial properties of silver-ion-exchanged zeolite a against vibrio spp marine pathogens

A challenging problem in the aquaculture industry is bacterial disease outbreaks, which result in the global reduction in fish supply and foodborne outbreaks. Biofilms in marine pathogens protect against antimicrobial treatment and host immune defense. Zeolites are minerals of volcanic origin made from crystalline aluminosilicates, which are useful in agriculture and in environmental management. In this study, silver-ion-exchanged zeolite A of four concentrations; 0.25 M (AgZ1), 0.50 M (AgZ2), 1.00 M (AgZ3) and 1.50 M (AgZ4) were investigated for biofilm inhibition and antimicrobial properties against two predominant marine pathogens, V. campbelli and V. parahemolyticus, by employing the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and crystal violet biofilm quantification assays as well as scanning electron microscopy. In the first instance, all zeolite samples AgZ1–AgZ4 showed antimicrobial activity for both pathogens. For V. campbellii, AgZ4 exhibited the highest MIC at 125.00 µg/mL, while for V. parahaemolyticus, the highest MIC was observed for AgZ3 at 62.50 µg/mL. At sublethal concentration, biofilm inhibition of V. campbelli and V. parahemolyticus by AgZ4 was observed at 60.2 and 77.3% inhibition, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy exhibited profound structural alteration of the biofilm matrix by AgZ4. This is the first known study that highlights the potential application of ion-exchanged zeolite A against marine pathogens and their biofilms

Extraction methods for Escherichia coli antibacterial assay

The recent increased interest in plant-based medication and dietary supplements has resulted in researchers from various fields of ethnopharmacology, botany, microbiology, and natural product chemistry scouring the planet for phytochemicals and “leads” that might be used to treat infectious diseases. However, even though about 25 to 50% of today’s medications come from plants, none of them is employed as antimicrobials. Western medicine is attempting to replicate the effectiveness of traditional healers who have employed plants for a long time to prevent or treat infectious diseases. Secondary metabolites that have been shown to have antimicrobial activities in vitro include tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, and flavonoids, which are abundant in plants. Plants comprise a complex variety of metabolites and bioactive compounds. Since extraction is the first step in obtaining herbal plant components, many factors must be considered while choosing the best extraction techniques. The correct extraction techniques employed will ensure that the maximal plant compounds are produced sufficiently for the required antibacterial assays. This review discusses several traditional and more recently developed plant extraction methods specifically used for antibacterial assay and includes an overview of the general idea, benefits, and drawbacks of common extraction techniques

Laporan geran penyelidikan Mosti E-Science Scf-0065-Bio-2009 "Quorum sensing antagonists in dietary plants"

No Abstrac

In silico analysis of OSRR22 isolated from MR 219 rice and the strategy for developing CRISPR/CAS9 construct for genome editing

The rice response regulator 22 (RR22) has been reported to be negatively regulating salt tolerance in Oryza sativa and involved in the cytokinin signaling pathway; however, it has not been documented in any Malaysian rice and is deemed as an appealing subject for CRIPSR/Cas9 editing. This study analysed the OsRR22 gene from the Malaysian rice cultivar ‘MR 219’ to elucidate its function and determine the gRNA target site, in which the finding served as the most vital part for our current CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing experiment. In brief, the methods employed include total genome isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, DNA sequencing, genome search, and computational analyses involving an array of in silico tools. The transcript of OsRR22 was 2,019 bp long, composed of six exons and it encoded a highly conserved 696 amino acid residues. Motif analysis revealed the gene product, RR22, contained response regulator (RR) receiver domain (position 27-142), disordered domain (position 154-214), and Myb-like DNA-binding domain (position 214-273). Analysis on the protein-protein interaction (PPI) using STRING revealed RR22 interacted with various proteins including RR24, RR B8A7T0, and a set of HPt domain-containing proteins (B8B4B1, B8AYV8, B8BEM5, B8A9E0 and B8B9H1). Analysis of gene expression profiles via the Rice Expression Database (RED) revealed the OsRR22 (Os06g0183100) gene was highly expressed (FPKM>10) in the leaf and root. In addition, there were 15 genes to be co-expressed (Pearson’s r value > 0.85) with the OsRR22 gene of which high-affinity potassium transporter 9 (HAK9, Os07g0679000) was one of them. Based on the first exon of OsRR22 that encoded a part of the RR receiver domain, a CRISPR-gRNA 20-bp spacer was generated through CCTop. The gRNA spacer was synthesised, annealed, and ligated into the CRSPR/Cas9 pRGEB32 vector. The CRISPR/Cas9 construct—targeting MR 219’s OsRR22 and intended for Agrobacterium-based delivery—was successfully developed. Our study here documents the upstream workflow involved in rice genome editing with an emphasis on the gene characterisation through multiple bioinformatics tools

Effects of sodium bentonite clay as a feed additive on the growth and haematology parameters of hybrid grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus x Epinephelus lanceolatus

This study evaluated the effects of inclusion levels of sodium bentonite clay as a feed additive on growth and hematology parameters of TGGG, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × E. lanceolatus. Four dietary treatments D1, D2, D3, and D4 feeds comprising 0, 1, 1.5, and 2% clay respectively were evaluated for weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival, and hematology parameters. D3 comprising of 1.5% clay showed significantly higher WG, SGR, FI, red blood count (RBC), and the best FCR compared to the other dietary treatments. D4 comprising of 2% clay showed the least desirable effects on growth performance and feed utilization of hybrid TGGG with significantly lower WG, SGR, and RBC compared to D3; as well as the poorest FCR value. D3 also showed the lowest WBC count compared to D1, D2 and D4. Taken together, these findings indicated that dietary treatments comprising 1.5% clay is the most suitable among other investigated treatments as a growth promoting feed additive