The Fusarium species are notoriously known for causing various plants and animal diseases and producing a number of harmful mycotoxins. The mycotoxins production by species recovered from non-agricultural hosts such as wild grasses have hitherto never been given attention. We examined 30 strains representing 12 Fusarium species i.e. F. oxysporum, F. solani, F. semitectum, F. nelsonii, F. compactum, F. equiseti, F. chlamydosporum, F. proliferatum, F. subglutinans, F. sacchari, F. lateritium and F. incarnatum-equiseti species complex isolated from wild grasses in Peninsular Malaysia for the production of four major mycotoxins i.e. moniliformin (MON), fumonisin BI (FB1), zearalenone (ZEN) and beauvericin (BEA) using TLC and HPLC techniques. BEA was the highest frequency of mycotoxin detected, followed by MON, ZEN and FB1. This study also presented the first report of BEA production by F. solani, F. compactum and F. chlamydosporum. All mycotoxins were not produced by F. nelsonii and F. lateritium. All Fusarium species were isolated from asymptomatic grasses, hence they are likely to exist as endophytes or latent pathogens.
In this paper, we present an automated classification method of landform elements using an application of SAGA GIS software. The spatial assessment was done on the Yambaru forest area (YFA) in the northernmost part of Okinawa Island, Japan. This task is performed through the detailed elevation grid analyses from DTM of YFA with a spatial scale of 10 × 10 m2 supported by The Geospatial Information Authority of Japan. The classification has ten classes; high ridges, midslope ridges, upland drainage, upper slopes, open slopes, plains, valleys, local ridges, midslope drainage and streams. Classes were defined using the ‘topographical position index’ module and selected terrain variables were integrated to vegetation data for site evaluation. Information on terrain characteristics is very important to explain geographical constraints and map variability of natural resources in maintaining sustainable forest management as well as supporting decision making processes. Taking this into account, we adapted a traditional concept of forest terrain introduced by Sai On, a council member of the Ryukyu Kingdom (former name of Okinawa Island) when evaluating the potential site for forestry use.
In the present study, rice noodles (kway teow or flat rice noodles) prepared from Bario rice, a locally grown, popular, organic rice variety of Malaysia was compared with rice noodles prepared from Basmati rice (imported from Pakistan). The quality criteria evaluated included determination of physical (colour and texture), cooking and sensory qualities. Additionally, microbial quality of fresh and stored noodles (stored for 3 days with 0 day as control) was also determined. The results showed tensile strength and elasticity modulus of rice noodles to decrease on storage with Basmati rice showing the lowest value for both the parameters analyzed (24.11 and 7.89 kPa, respectively). The cooking loss of rice noodles increased on storage in both rice varieties with Basmati rice showing higher range of 5.9-7.14%. With regard to colour, significant differences was observed between storage days for the parameters analyzed (L*, a* and b*). Overall, L* value of noodles prepared from Bario as well as Basmati rice showed a decrease on storage (became darker). With regard to microbial quality, aerobic plate count as well as yeast and mold counts increased significantly during storage. The results on sensory qualities showed colour (6.67), appearance (6.8) and texture (6.67) of fresh rice noodles to be significantly higher in Bario rice compared with Basmati rice. From the results, it was concluded that both Bario and Basmati rice can be explored effectively for preparing ‘kway teow’ or the flat rice noodles, which is envisaged to hold high promise in local market.
Kajian anatomi dan mikromorfologi daun telah dijalankan ke atas lima takson dalam genus Schoutenia Korth. (Malvaceae subfam. Brownlowioideae). Lima takson yang dipilih dalam kajian ini ialah S. kunstleri, S. leprosula, S. accrescens subsp. accrescens, S. accrescens subsp. borneensis dan S. accrescens subsp. stellata. Kajian anatomi melibatkan kaedah hirisan dengan mikrotom gelongsor pada bahagian petiol, lamina, tulang daun dan tepi daun, kaedah penjernihan lamina dan kaedah siatan epidermis daun, penjernihan dengan larutan peluntur, pewarnaan dengan Safranin dan Alcian Blue, pelekapan Canada Balsam dan cerapan bawah mikroskop cahaya. Kajian mikromorfologi melibatkan kaedah pendehidratan, titik pengeringan kritikal, saduran emas dan cerapan bawah mikroskop imbasan elektron. Objektif kajian ialah untuk melihat nilai taksonomi ciri anatomi dan mikromorfologi daun dalam genus yang dikaji. Hasil kajian menunjukkan terdapat sembilan ciri sepunya, tujuh ciri variasi yang boleh digunakan untuk pembezaan spesies dan dua ciri diagnostik yang boleh digunakan untuk pengecaman spesies. Ciri tersebut ialah corak hiasan kutikel pada S. kunstleri dan juga kehadiran sel kolenkima lamela pada S. accrescens subsp. stellata. Hasil kajian menunjukkan ciri anatomi serta mikromorfologi daun dalam genus Schoutenia mempunyai nilai taksonomi terutama dalam pembezaan dan pengecaman pada peringkat spesies dan subspesies.
Kajian pengimejan resonans magnet kefungsian (fMRI) subjek tunggal ini mengkaji hubung kait asas antara parameter hemodinamik dengan ketinggian pengaktifan (nilai t) bagi beberapa korteks berkaitan motor. Dalam kajian ini, subjek melakukan empat gaya tepikan jari rentak sendiri iaitu sentuh-perlahan (SP), sentuh-laju (SL), tekan-perlahan (TP) dan tekan-laju (TL) dalam satu imbasan fMRI. Data fMRI dianalisis menggunakan pemetaan statistik berparameter (SPM). Keputusan analisis mendapati otak mengkoordinasi keempat-empat gaya tepikan dengan penglibatan girus presentral (PCG) bilateral, kawasan motor tambahan (SMA), lobus parietal superior (SPL) dan serebelum. SPL didapati menunjukkan anjakan kelateralan akibat peningkatan laju tepikan. Magnitud pengaktifan pada SPL kiri yang lebih rendah berlaku semasa tepikan perlahan manakala tepikan laju memperlihatkan magnitud pengaktifan yang lebih tinggi pada SPL kanan. Plot nilai t melawan peratus perubahan isyarat bagi kesemua kawasan tersebut untuk kesemua gaya tepikan menunjukkan korelasi positif (p< 0.05, ρ= 0.67). Nilai t menunjukkan korelasi positif tak bererti terhadap efikasi neuron (p= 0.08, ρ= 0.40), korelasi positif bererti terhadap pereputan isyarat (p< 0.05, ρ= 0.85) dan masa transit (p< 0.05, ρ= 0.88) serta korelasi negatif bererti terhadap suap balik (p< 0.05, ρ= 0.89). Pemalar kekerasan (α) dan peratus ekstraksi oksigen (Eo) didapati kekal malar untuk kesemua korteks dalam semua cara tepikan. Kajian ini telah mendedahkan maklumat asas berguna mengenai ciri hemodinamik beberapa korteks berkaitan motor yang mengalami pengaktifan.
Porous asphalt (PA) is predominantly made up of coarse aggregates. The coarse aggregate is instrumental in providing the strength and stability of the mix. The aggregate properties including shape is expected to greatly influence the performance of PA. In this study, five different proportions of geometrically cubical shaped (GCS) aggregate and normal shape aggregate combinations were introduced and designated as mix M0, M25, M50, M75 and M100. Further laboratory tests were carried out to determine the properties of PA including air voids, coefficient of permeability, abrasion loss, indirect tensile strength, resilient modulus and resistance to permanent deformation. The results obtained showed that mix M100 which consists of 100% GCS aggregate performed the best in all tests. Statistical analyses of one-way ANOVA and Duncan’s Post Hoc test results showed that the introduction of GCS aggregate has a significant effect on air voids, coefficient of permeability, abrasion loss and resistance to permanent deformation of the mixes. However, the results showed that GCS aggregate do not gave significant effect on indirect tensile strength and resilient modulus of the PA mixes tested.
Cu-doped ZnO nanorods were synthesized by sol-gel method using zinc nitrate tetrahydrate, methenamine and cupric acetate monohydrate as precursors. The as-synthesized ZnO nanorods have a twin-rod structure. The polar (002) surface of ZnO nanorods, which could be either negatively charge (O-terminated) or positively charged (Zn- terminated), was responsible for the formation of twin-rod structure. The results showed that the size, aspect ratio, crystallinity and c-lattice parameter of Cu doped ZnO nanorods decreased with increasing of Cu dopant concentration. In fact, the presence of Cu retarded the growth of ZnO nanorods in its preferred growth direction, i.e. (0001). The XPS analysis indicates that Cu ions were oxidized (Cu2+) and substituted into the ZnO lattice at the Zn2+ site. The presence of Cu reduced the optical bandgap of ZnO from 3.34 eV (undoped ZnO nanorods) to 3.31 eV (20 mol% Cu doped ZnO). Besides, it induced a visible PL emission at 2.97 eV, which could be related to the transition of electrons from conduction band (Ec) to Cu acceptor energy level (Ev + 0.45 eV) radiatively.
Many techniques have been applied to fabricate nanostructures via top-down approach such as electron beam lithography. However, most of the techniques are very complicated and involves many process steps, high cost operation as well as the use of hazardous chemicals. Meanwhile, atomic force microscopy (AFM) lithography is a simple technique which is considered maskless and involves only an average cost and less complexity. In AFM lithography, the movement of a probe tip can be controlled to create nanoscale patterns on sample surface. For silicon nanowire (SiNW) fabrication, a conductive tip was operated in non-contact AFM mode to grow nanoscale oxide patterns on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer surface based on local anodic oxidation (LAO) mechanism. The patterned structure was etched through two steps of wet etching processes. First, the TMAH was used as the etchant solution for Si removing. In the second step, diluted HF was used to remove oxide mask in order to produce a completed SiNW based devices. A SiNW based device which is formed by a nanowire channel, source and drain pads with lateral gate structures can be fabricated by well controlling the lithography process (applied tip voltage and writing speed) as well as the etching processes.
The increase use of synthetic packaging films in food products has led to serious environmental problems due to their total non-biodegradability property. Nutrient composition and sensory acceptability of chicken patties formulated with various levels of Pleurotus sajor-caju popularly known as grey oyster mushroom (oM) and wrapped with degradable plastic were studied. The chicken patties were formulated with either 0, 25 or 50% of fresh oM. The results showed that chicken patty formulated with 25% PSC has protein content of 17.46% lower than the control patty which had 18.13% but it was not significant (p>0.05). After storage, cooked chicken patty formulated with 25% oM had protein content of 21.53% lower than the control patty (23 .90%) but it was not significant (p>0 .05). However, incorporation of oM in chicken patties resulted in decreasing of fat content significantly (p0 .05) from 15.58 (control) to 13.33% after storage. On the other nutrient, the concentration of f3-glucan were detected at values ranged between 0.70 and 0.76 (g1100 g) after 6 month. Other results showed that patty formulated with 25% oM received the highest scores for all attributes except for aroma. Meanwhile, patty prepared with 50% oM received the highest score of aroma attribute after 6 month of storage. However, the score values for all attributes of all oM-based patties were not statistically different with control patty (p> 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of oM at 25% can be recommended for the purpose of lowering fat content while keeping protein and f3-glucan unchanged without jeopardizing sensorial properties. This investigation therefore, suggested that biodegradable plastic can be used in packing any type of processed meat-based products.
A zinc oxide (ZnO) pilot plant furnace was used to synthesize ZnO nanoparticles at very high capacities in a range of 1-4 t/month. The 4-t custom-designed furnace was used to synthesize ZnO particles possessing primary nanoparticles resembling rods and grains. At a combustion temperature of 1000-1300°C, zinc vapour was oxidized into ZnO powder in order to produce granular ZnO (ZG) particles. By blowing air into the combustion chamber, ZnO nanorods (ZR) were produced. The ZR specimen exhibited higher XRD intensities, stronger photocatalysis and higher electrical resistance compared to that of ZG sample. However, the ZR sample showed a stronger toxicity to marine phytoplankton, Isochrysis galbana, by starting to inhibit cell growth at 8 mg/L ZnO concentration in seawater whereas ZG sample started showing growth inhibition at a higher ZnO concentration of 32 mg/L. The toxicity of ZnO primary nanoparticles was probably attributed to the dissolution, release and uptake of free zinc ions especially for the case of the higher surface area of ZR particles that exhibited relatively higher zinc concentration on the particle surface, based on the elemental mapping of the electron spectroscopy imaging results.
Makanan berasaskan kacang soya terkenal di Asia sejak beribu tahun dahulu dan ia tidak hanya diiktiraf sebagai makanan tradisi tetapi mempunyai potensi untuk kesihatan. Kajian ini dijalankan untuk menentukan penerimaan, kesukaan dan kadar penggunaan produk soya dalam kalangan pengguna di Semenanjung Malaysia. Seramai 330 responden telah terlibat dalam kajian ini. Mereka terdiri daripada pelajar universiti dan masyarakat umum yang berumur 18 tahun ke atas. Setiap responden diminta untuk mengisi borang soal selidik dengan seliaan penyelidik. Kajian menunjukkan bahawa 56% responden lebih menyukai susu soya berbanding dengan produk soya yang lain seperti taufufa (16%), kicap (9%), tempeh (8%), tauhu telur (7%) dan tauhu soya (4%). Sebahagian besar responden (>50%) percaya produk soya boleh mengurangkan risiko kanser dan osteoporosis. Sebanyak 89.4% responden makan tauhu soya. Sementara itu, 63.9% responden makan tauhu telur dan 42.2% suka tauhu telur yang digoreng. Lebih daripada 80% responden meminati warna, aroma, rasa dan tekstur tauhu telur.
Rattans are one of the most unique and economically important plants for most tropical countries. There is however, a lack of interest in the specific study of the rattan spines. In this paper, we tested a new hypothesis concerning the functional role of rattan spines. We proposed that rattan spines also serve as a visual deterrent against herbivores or seed predators. In our proposed method we used an Imaging software, ImageJ, to measure the spine area of four species of rattan (Calamus insignis, Myrialepis schortechinii, Plectocomiopsis geminiflorus and Calamus caesius) from two different orientations (root to shoot and vice versa). Our results showed that rattan spines were very heterogeneous and highly variable between different species. One common trait that the rattan spines share is that spine area measurements of shoot to root (ShR) are larger than root to shoot (RH) orientation. We propose that the downwards spine angle might be specifically designed to discourage climbing leaf and seed predators.
Radon and toxic elements (Pb, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Zn and Ni) were measured in different water samples in Cameron Highlands, Pahang. RAD7 and rad H20 were used to estimate the radon concentration. The average values for radon concentration were found to vary from a minimum of 0.21 Bq/L to a maximum of 0.297 Bq/L. Heavy metals concentration were measured using an atomic absorption spectrometer. The mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Cr were 0.07, 0.009, 0.009, 0.043, 0.076, 0.079 mg/L and ND, respectively. Comparing the results with the literature, shows that the concentrations obtained were within the allowed limits of the agricultural and domestic use.
MeSH terms: Agriculture; Lead; Radon; Spectrophotometry, Atomic; Zinc; Metals, Heavy
Di dalam kertas ini, pendekatan dalam mentakrifkan ketakpastian titik data melalui pendekatan konsep nombor kabur yang sedia ada dapat diitlakkan. Pengitlakan ini termasuk pentakrifan ketakpastian data yang akan menjadi titik data kabur (titik kawalan kabur) selepas ditakrifkan oleh konsep nombor kabur. Kemudian, kajian ini juga membincangkan tentang proses pengkaburan (operasi potongan-alfa) terhadap titik data kabur tersebut dalam bentuk segitiga nombor kabur diiringi dengan beberapa teorem dan juga pembuktiannya. Selain itu, kami juga turut memodelkan titik data kabur tersebut melalui fungsi lengkung yang sedia ada iaitu fungsi lengkung Bezier. Selepas itu, turut dicadangkan juga ialah proses penyahkaburan terhadap titik data kabur selepas operasi potongan-alfa diimplementasikan bagi memperoleh penyelesaian titik data kabur rangup sebagai keputusan akhir yang turut dimodelkan melalui fungsi lengkung Bezier dengan disertai beberapa teorem bagi memahami bentuk data tersebut.
Kekasaran permukaan satah ketakselanjaran adalah parameter penting untuk penilaian kestabilan struktur pengorekan dalam jasad batuan kerana ia mempengaruhi tingkah-laku ricihan dan nilai sudut geseran puncak satah tersebut. Beberapa kaedah boleh digunakan untuk menentukan kekasaran permukaan ketakselanjaran. Kertas ini memperkenalkan satu pendekatan yang mudah dalam bentuk tiga (3) persamaan polinominal untuk mengkorelasikan sudut geseran puncak ketakselanjaran (fp) batuan granit segar, terluluhawa sedikit dan terluluhawa sederhana dengan pekali kekasaran kekar, (JRC). Persamaan polinominal ketakselanjaran batuan granit segar ialah fp1 = -0.071JRC2 + 3.56JRC + 35.6. Persamaan polinominal ketakselanjaran batuan granit terluluhawa sedikit dan terluluhawa sederhana masing-masing ialah fp2 = -0.087JRC2 + 4.32JRC + 34.1 dan fp3 = -0.133JRC2 + 5.08JRC + 29. Hasil kajian ini memberikan satu kaedah alternatif penganggaran nilai fp satah ketakselanjaran daripada penentuan nilai PKK pada permukaan ketakselanjaran batuan granit di lapangan.
MeSH terms: Autonomic Nervous System Diseases; Diabetic Neuropathies
The collapse of alveolar ridge following tooth extraction is a physiological process which may complicate subsequent implant placement and restoration especially in the aesthetic zone. This case report describes the use of an acellular dermal matrix graft (Alloderm®, Biohorizon, USA) in combination with bovine bone graft (Bio-Oss®, Geistlich, Switzerland) immediately after tooth extraction for soft and hard tissue augmentation prior to implant placement in the anterior maxilla. The eighth year follow-up demonstrated an acceptable aesthetic outcome indicating that this approach may be employed where tooth extraction is indicated and replacement with implant-supported prosthesis is anticipated particularly in the anterior aesthetic zone region.
Kajian ini dijalankan untuk membandingkan profil sebatian meruap, ciri fizikokimia dan penilaian sensori antara santan segar, santan UHT dan santan serbuk. Kaedah mikroekstraksi fasa pepejal (SPME) digunakan untuk mengekstrak sebatian meruap dalam sampel dan dianalisis menggunakan kromatografi gas-spektrometer jisim (GC-MS). Analisis profil sebatian meruap menunjukkan santan segar mempunyai tujuh sebatian meruap manakala santan UHT dan santan serbuk masing-masing mempunyai empat dan lima sebatian meruap. Sebatian meruap utama yang terdapat di dalam santan adalah delta-lakton. Santan segar mengandungi kandungan protein (2.35 ± 0.17%), lemak (25.57 ± 1.56%) dan abu (0.82 ± 0.03%) tertinggi secara bererti (p<0.05) manakala santan serbuk (berat basah) mengandungi kandungan lembapan (78.77 ± 0.37%) dan karbohidrat (8.06 ± 0.41%) tertinggi secara bererti (p<0.05) dan asid lemak bebas (0.43 ± 0.03%) terendah secara bererti (p<0.05). Bacaan pH menunjukkan bahawa santan serbuk (5.90 ± 0.11) bersifat lebih berasid secara bererti (p<0.05) berbanding dengan santan segar (6.16 ± 0.02) dan santan UHT (6.17 ± 0.04%). Bagi analisis kelikatan, santan UHT mempunyai kelikatan tertinggi, kerana telah ditambah dengan karagenan dan berbeza secara bererti (p<0.05) dengan santan segar dan santan serbuk. Melalui ujian L*, a*, b*, didapati bahawa warna bagi santan UHT dan santan serbuk adalah lebih cerah dan putih secara bererti (p<0.05) berbanding santan segar. Penilaian sensori menunjukkan bahawa santan segar mempunyai min skor darjah kesukaan tertinggi bagi aroma kelapa, perisa asing, aroma keseluruhan dan penerimaan keseluruhan. Santan UHT pula mempunyai min skor darjah kesukaan tertinggi dari segi warna dan kelikatan.
Seasonal changes in Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) community was studied at rivers in Gunung Jerai Forest Reserve, Kedah, Malaysia. The rivers were visited monthly from September 2007 to August 2008 to sample aquatic insects using D-pond nets. More EPT were found in the wet season (10664 individuals) compared with the dry season (6599 individuals). In all rivers, ephemeropteran populations was highest during the wet season (z=-2.465, p=0.014). Meanwhile, the plecopteran population was low and almost constant throughout seasons in all rivers (z=-2.280, p=0.023). Trichopterans exhibited the highest peak of abundance in the dry season (z=-6.096, p=0.00). Concomitantly, higher diversity was recorded in the dry season (29 taxa) compared with 25 taxa recorded in wet season from all rivers. Tupah River had the most diverse EPT assemblage during the dry season. In wet season, the abundance of ephemeropterans genera such as Baetis, Platybaetis, Campsoneuria and Thalerosphyrus increased tremendously especially in Teroi River.
Wurtzite structure gallium nitride (GaN) thin film was grown on a c-plane sapphire (0001) substrate through spin coating method followed by nitridation process. Readily available and cheap gallium (III) nitrate hydrate (Ga(NO3)3·xH2O) powder was used as the gallium source. Besides that, ethanol-based precursor solution which has better wetting properties and fast evaporation rate was prepared. In addition, a thin layer of polymethyl methacrylate was introduced as a bonding adhesive layer for the growth of the GaN thin film. X-ray diffraction results indicated that the deposited film consists of nanocrystallite GaN with hexagonal wurtzite structure. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy showed the morphologies of the small and well-defined spherical grains that coated on the substrate. The synthesized GaN thin film demonstrated a pronounced and broad exciton peak at 380 nm in Photoluminescence spectrum. Raman scattering measurements showed two features that correspond to the E2 (high) and A1 (LO) phonon modes of the hexagonal GaN.
In this paper we present a new line search method known as the HBFGS method, which uses the search direction of the conjugate gradient method with the quasi-Newton updates. The Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno (BFGS) update is used as approximation of the Hessian for the methods. The new algorithm is compared with the BFGS method in terms of iteration counts and CPU-time. Our numerical analysis provides strong evidence that the proposed HBFGS method is more efficient than the ordinary BFGS method. Besides, we also prove that the new algorithm is globally convergent.