bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of physical properties and stability of indomethacin–cimetidine and naproxen–cimetidine co-amorphous systems prepared by quench cooling, coprecipitation and ball milling
Authors: Lim Ai Wei , Löbmann Korbinian , Grohganz Holger , Rades Thomas , Chieng Norman
Published: December 2015

Objectives

The objective was to characterize the structural behaviour of indomethacin–cimetidine and naproxen–cimetidine co-amorphous systems (1 : 1 molar ratio) prepared by quench cooling, co-evaporation and ball milling.

Methods

Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and DSC were used to characterise the samples. Structural relaxation (i.e. molecular mobility) behaviour was obtained from the Kohlrausch–Williams–Watts (KWW) relationship.

Key findings

A glass transition temperature (Tg), on average 20 °C higher than the predicted Tg (calculated from the Fox equation), was observed in all samples. The structural relaxation was dependent on the preparative methods. At a storage temperature of 40 °C, a comparatively higher molecular mobility was observed in indomethacin–cimetidine samples prepared by ball milling (ln τβ = 0.8), while similar molecular mobility was found for the same sample prepared by quench cooling (ln τβ = 2.4) and co-evaporation (ln τβ = 2.5). In contrast, molecular mobility of the naproxen–cimetidine samples followed the order co-evaporation (ln τβ = 0.8), quench cooling (ln τβ = 1.6) and ball milling (ln τβ = 1.8).

Conclusion

The estimated relaxation times by the DSC-KWW method suggest that different preparative methods resulted in a variation of structural characteristics. Despite the differences in molecular mobility, all sample remained co-amorphous for up to 7 months.
Effects of high peanut meal with different crude protein level supplemented with amino acids on performance, carcass traits and nitrogen retention of Chinese Yellow broilers
Authors: Gou Z. Y. , Jiang S. Q. , Jiang Z. Y. , Zheng C. T. , Li L. , Ruan D. , Chen F. , Lin X. J.
Published: December 2015

This study assessed the effects of feeding high peanut meal diets of reduced crude protein (CP) content supplemented with essential amino acids (EAA) on growth performance, carcass traits, biochemical indices in plasma, and nitrogen (N) retention of male and female Lingnan Yellow broilers from day 22 to day 42 of age. Each of four dietary treatments (19%, 18%, 17% or 16% CP, dietary CP level reduced by the reduced dietary peanut meal) contained six replicate pens with 35 birds of each sex (males and females with equal number), separately (1680 in total). The three diets with reduced CP were supplemented with 5 EAA to meet the requirements and provide the same levels as in the 19% CP diet. Average daily gain decreased and feed:gain ratio was worse in both sexes with reduced CP% (linear, p < 0.05). Dressing percentage increased as CP% decreased in males (linear, p < 0.05) and thigh muscle percentage reduced slightly in females (linear, p < 0.05). Abdominal fat percentage of males fed the 17% CP was the lowest (quadratic, p < 0.05). The plasma metabolic indices, concentrations of triglycerides and malondialdehyde, showed linear responses to reduced CP% (p < 0.05) with triglycerides increasing while malondialdehyde decreased. Plasma uric acid increased in females (linear, p < 0.05), but not in males, as CP% decreased. Efficiency of N retention increased and N excretion strikingly decreased with lower CP diets (p < 0.001), and both variables showed significant (p < 0.05) linear and quadratic effects. It is concluded that there was a limit to which dietary CP of broilers could be reduced without adverse effects. Dietary CP could be reduced to 17% for males and 18% for females (or 18% when fed together) between day 22 and day 42, if diets are supplemented with synthetic EAA.
Putative Androgen Exposure and Sexual Orientation: Cross-Cultural Evidence Suggesting a Modified Neurohormonal Theory
Authors: Ellis Lee , Lykins Amy , Hoskin Anthony , Ratnasingam Malini
Published: December 2015

Introduction

According to neurohormonal theory, prenatal androgens are key determinants of sexual orientation. As a reputed marker for prenatal androgens, the 2D:4D finger length ratio has been used in more than a dozen studies to test the hypothesis that prenatal androgens influence sexual orientation. Findings have been very inconsistent.

Aim

The present study sought to retest the hypothesis that 2D:4D and sexual orientation are related is a manner consistent with neurohormonal theory.

Methods

A 2D:4D measure (of the right hand) along with four additional somatic markers of androgen exposure (height, physical strength, muscularity, and athletic ability) with samples of college students in Malaysia (N = 2,058) and the United States (N = 2,511). The five androgen measures were factor analyzed, resulting in a two-factor solution: Factor 1 consisted of strength, muscularity, and athletic ability (the muscular coordination factor), and Factor 2 was comprised of the r2D:4D and adult height (the bone growth factor).

Main Outcome Measures

Sexual orientation was measured by asking each respondent the extent to which they were sexually attracted to males and the extent to which they were sexually attracted to females, both on 11-point scales.

Results

When the countries and sexes were analyzed separately, neither the r2D:4D measure nor Factor 2 correlated with sexual orientation to significant degrees. Instead, it was the muscular coordination factor that correlated the best. Support was found for the hypothesis that prenatal androgens influence sexual orientation, but the nature of these influences was more complex than neurohormonal theory predicted.

Conclusion

A modified theory is needed and presented to accommodate the results from this study.
Epidemiological characteristics of the carriers with coexistence of HBsAg and anti‐HBs based on a community cohort study
Authors: Pu Z. , Li D. , Wang A. , Su H. , Shao Z. , Zhang J. , Ji Z. , Gao J. , Choi B. C. K. , Yan Y.
Published: December 2015

The coexistence of HBsAg and anti‐HBs is an atypical serological pattern in HBV infection. There is no epidemiological characteristics of this serological pattern in the community and there is controversy over the molecular mechanisms underlying this pattern. We investigated the epidemiological characteristics of the carriers with HBsAg and anti‐HBs in a longitudinal community cohort study. The prevalence of this atypical serological pattern was 2.93% (122/4169) in HBsAg‐positive populations. The prevalence progressively increased with age from 40 to 70 years old. The rate of HBeAg positive and detectable HBV DNA were both significantly higher in carriers with this pattern than in carriers who were HBsAg positive but anti‐HBs negative (26/122 verse 598/4047, P = 0.046; 86/122 verse 275/529,P < 0.001). After 1 year of follow‐up, 85.19% of the carriers still had coexistence HBsAg and anti‐HBs, 14.81% of the carriers lost their anti‐HBs. Viral sequencing showed that carriers with coexistence of HBsAg and anti‐HBs had higher numbers of residue changes within the S gene than carriers who were HBsAg positive but anti‐HBs negative (2.42 verse 1.33 changes per 100 residues, P < 0.05). Hence, the coexistence of HBsAg and anti‐HBs is a unique serological pattern which may be associated with an increased risk of adverse clinical outcome and may be related to HBsAg immune variants which have genotypic heterogeneity.
Molecular and Immunohistochemical Diagnosis of Photobacterium damselae Subspecies piscicida During Naturally Occurring Disease in Egypt
Authors: Abu‐Elala Nermeen M. , Abd‐Elsalam Reham M. , Marzouk Mohamed S.
Published: December 2015

In the marine aquaculture industry, photobacteriosis caused by the Photobacterium damselae subspecies piscicida, Phdp is a globally significant disease. A number of clinical photobacteriosis outbreaks among yearling cultured and broodstocks of gilthead sea bream were sampled and submitted to our laboratory during the summer and autumn of 2013. The tissues of infected fish were subjected to an ordinary bacteriological identification and were analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry techniques. The results indicated that the selective primers that have been designed for detecting the gene encoding the apoptotic‐induced protein, AIP56, represent a powerful tool for sensitive and specific detection of virulent strains of Phdp. AIP56 toxin triggers apoptosis of host macrophages and neutrophils, contributing to the lesions observed during the pathological investigation. Immunohistochemistry allows bacterial identification and antigen expression to be directly correlated to the disease; the immune‐positive bacteria were detected in gills, liver, kidneys, spleen, and brain tissues in acute photobacteriosis. These also appeared in the necrotic areas of the granulomas of chronically infected fish. Molecular and immunohistochemical methods were useful as research and diagnostic tools in different stages of the disease; moreover, they appear to have enormous potential in retrospective epidemiological investigations.
Myostatin: A Potential Growth‐Regulating Gene in Giant River Prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii
Authors: P. E. Sarasvathi , Bhassu Subha , Maningas Mary B. B. , Othman Rofina Y.
Published: December 2015

Growth retardation and diseases hindering growth are constraints faced by Macrobrachium rosenbergii and thus urge an in‐depth study on the growth and growth‐related genes to improve this species. This study focused on molecular cloning and characterization of the myostatin gene in M. rosenbergii (MrMSTN) followed by mRNA transcription in different life stages and upon infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) infection. We have characterized a full‐length MrMSTN gene encoding 1619 base pairs (bp) with an open reading frame of 945 bp that encodes for 315 amino acid residues. MrMSTN retains all the conserved characteristics belonging to TGF‐β superfamily including propeptide and mature peptide domain, cysteine residues and a proteolytic cleavage site, RXXR where “XX” denotes Asparagine and Arginine. MrMSTN gene is ubiquitously expressed in all the tissues of healthy adults, with the highest expression observed in muscle. Moreover, the MrMSTN transcripts showed significant (P < 0.05) changes in different life stages of M. rosenbergii and IHHNV‐challenged prawns. The results indicate the possible functional role of MrMSTN as a negative growth regulator. Thus, MrMSTN can be exploited further to enhance the growth and can be used as a biomarker to address the growth deficiency‐related problems in M. rosenbergii.
Species‐specific photosynthetic responses of symbiotic zoanthids to thermal stress and ocean acidification
Authors: Graham Erin R. , Sanders Robert W.
Published: December 2015

Increasing sea‐surface temperatures and ocean acidification (OA) are impacting physiologic processes in a variety of marine organisms. Many sea anemones, corals and jellies in the phylum Cnidaria form endosymbiotic relationships with Symbiodinium spp. (phylum Dinoflagellata) supply the hosts with fixed carbon from photosynthesis. Much work has focused on the generally negative effects of rising temperature and OA on calcification in Symbiodinium‐coral symbioses, but has not directly measured symbiont photosynthesis in hospite or fixed carbon translocation from symbiont to host. Symbiodinium species or types vary in their environmental tolerance and photosynthetic capacity; therefore, primary production in symbiotic associations can vary with symbiont type. However, symbiont type has not been identified in a large portion of Symbiodinium−cnidarian studies. Future climate conditions and OA may favor non‐calcifying, soft‐bodied cnidarians, including zoanthids. Here we show that two zoanthid species, Palythoa sp. and Zoanthus sp., harboring different symbiont types (C1 and A4), had very different responses to increased temperature and increased partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2), or dissolved CO2, and low pH. Thermal stress did not affect carbon fixation or fixed carbon translocation in the Zoanthus sp./A4 association, and high pCO2/low pH increased carbon fixation. In contrast, both thermal stress and high pCO2/low pH greatly inhibited carbon fixation in the Palythoa sp./C1 association. However, the combined treatment of high temperature and high pCO2 increased carbon fixation relative to the treatment of high temperature alone. Our observations support the growing body of evidence that demonstrates that the response of symbiotic cnidarians to thermal stress and OA must be considered on a host‐specific and symbiont‐specific basis. In addition, we show that the effects of increased temperature and pCO2 on photosynthesis may change when these two stressors are combined. Understanding how carbon fixation and translocation varies among different host−symbiont combinations is critical to predicting which Symbiodinium associations may persist in warm, acidified oceans.
Community‐based grain banks using local foods for improved infant and young child feeding in Ethiopia
Authors: Roche Marion L. , Sako Binta , Osendarp Saskia J.M. , Adish Abdul A. , Tolossa Azeb L.
Published: December 2015

The first thousand days of a child's life are critical for ensuring adequate nutrition to enable optimal health, development and growth. Inadequate infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices likely contribute to Ethiopia's concerning malnutrition situation. Development partners in four regions of Ethiopia implemented community production of complementary food with women's groups processing local grains and legumes at grain banks to improve availability, accessibility, dietary diversity and timely introduction of complementary foods. The objective of this study was to establish the acceptability, perceived impact, feasibility and required inputs to sustain local grain bank interventions to improve IYCF. A subsidized barter system was used by mothers in the rural communities, and flour was sold in the semi‐urban context. Purposive sampling guided the qualitative study design and selection of project stakeholders. A total of 51 key informant interviews and 33 focus group discussions (n = 237) were conducted. The grain bank flour was valued for its perceived diverse local ingredients; while the project was perceived as creating labour savings for women. The grain bank flour offered the potential to contribute to improved IYCF; however, further dietary modification or fortification is needed to improve the micronutrient content. Dependence upon external inputs to subsidize the barter model and the reliance on volunteer labour from women's groups in the rural context are the greatest risks to sustainability. This intervention illustrates how integrated agricultural and health interventions leveraging local production can appeal to diverse stakeholders as an acceptable approach to improve IYCF.
PbWoxT1 mRNA from pear (Pyrus betulaefolia) undergoes long‐distance transport assisted by a polypyrimidine tract binding protein
Authors: Duan Xuwei , Zhang Wenna , Huang Jing , Hao Li , Wang Shengnan , Wang Aide , Meng Dong , Zhang Qiulei , Chen Qiuju , Li Tianzhong
Published: December 2015

Little is known about the mechanisms by which mRNAs are transported over long distances in the phloem between the rootstock and the scion in grafted woody plants.

We identified an mRNA in the pear variety ‘Du Li’ (Pyrus betulaefolia) that was shown to be transportable in the phloem. It contains a WUSCHEL‐RELATED HOMEOBOX (WOX) domain and was therefore named Wox Transport 1 (PbWoxT1).

A 548‐bp fragment of PbWoxT1 is critical in long‐distance transport. PbWoxT1 is rich in CUCU polypyrimidine domains and its mRNAs interact with a polypyrimidine tract binding protein, PbPTB3. Furthermore, the expression of PbWoxT1 significantly increased in the stems of wild‐type (WT) tobacco grafted onto the rootstocks of PbWoxT1 or PbPTB3 co‐overexpressing lines, but this was not the case in WT plants grafted onto PbWoxT1 overexpressing rootstocks, suggesting that PbPTB3 mediates PbWoxT1 mRNA long‐distance transport.

We provide novel information that adds a new mechanism with which to explain the noncell‐autonomous manner of WOX gene function, which enriches our understanding of how WOX genes work in fruit trees and other species.
Environmental influences on rabbit numbers and control methods in southern New Zealand between 1860 and 1930
Authors: Holland Peter , Mager Sarah
Published: December 2015

In the mid‐19th century, European rabbits were released in southern New Zealand and thrived in the dry interior. Landholders recognised the need to understand rabbit behaviour, learned to identify vulnerable stages in the animal's life history and based their eradication programmes on that knowledge. Rabbit numbers changed with shifts in prevailing weather systems, and landholders used different combinations of control and extermination methods in wetter than in drier periods. Large properties needed to employ gangs of rabbiters when herbage was abundant and rabbits were common, but required fewer men when rabbits were scarce.
Four windows into geography and imagination(s)
Authors: Kearns Robin , O'Brien Gregory , Foley Ronan , Regan Nell
Published: December 2015

Geographical awareness and the imaginative impulse are sibling domains of human experience. We imagine the places we have yet to visit and allow ourselves to envisage differently those already familiar to us. This set of four essays extends presentations made at a Stout Research Centre (Victoria University of Wellington) seminar in 2015, at which two geographers and two artists reflected on the connections between geography and imagination. Collectively they take forward a broader conversation between geography and the humanities, contributing to the emergent field of ‘geohumanities’.
Hawke's Bay regional economic development strategy: The importance of stakeholder buy‐in
Authors: Rowe James E. , Collits Paul , MacLeod Alasdair
Published: December 2015

The main components of most economic development (ED) strategies are very similar. The visions and aspirational goals also sound alike for most communities. Most communities have also had a series of ED strategies that, over time, were often never implemented because of poor stakeholder buy‐in. This paper considers the importance of community support for an ED strategy and compares the engagement processes of the Auckland Council and the Hawke's Bay in developing their respective regional economic development strategies. In the Hawke's Bay situation, the process is more important than the actual strategy document. This paper argues that garnering stakeholder buy‐in is the most critical component of the strategy development process.
Leafhoppers Exitianus atratus and Amplicephalus funzaensis transmit phytoplasmas of groups 16SrI and 16SrVII in Colombia
Authors: Perilla‐Henao L. , Wilson M. R. , Franco‐Lara L.
Published: December 2015

The phytoplasmas of groups 16SrI (‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’) and 16SrVII (‘Ca. Phytoplasma fraxini’) have been associated with phytoplasma diseases in several urban tree species in Bogotá, Colombia and surrounding areas. The insect vectors responsible for this phytoplasma transmission are unknown. The objectives of this study were to test for the presence of phytoplasmas in leafhopper species (Cicadellidae) collected in areas with diseased trees and to determine the phytoplasma transmission ability of two of these species. Leafhoppers of nine species were collected at two sampling sites and tested by nested or double nested PCR using primers for the 16S rRNA gene. The amplicons were subjected to RFLP and/or sequencing analysis. Phytoplasmas of group 16SrI were detected in morphospecies MF05 (Haldorus sp.), group 16SrVII in MF07 (Xestocephalus desertorum), MF08 (Empoasca sp.) and MF09 (Typhlocybinae), and both groups 16SrI and 16SrVII in MF01 (Empoasca sp.), MF02 (Typhlocybinae), MF03 (Scaphytopius sp.), MF04 (Amplicephalus funzaensis) and MF06 (Exitianus atratus). Transmission tests to uninfected bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris) were performed using field collected A. funzaensis and E. atratus individuals in separate assays. After 5 weeks, the test plants exposed to individuals of both species of leafhoppers showed symptoms, suggesting phytoplasma infection. Phytoplasma groups 16SrI and 16SrVII were detected in the two groups of exposed plants, indicating that A. funzaensis and E. atratus were able to transmit both groups of phytoplasmas. This is the first report of insect vectors for phytoplasmas of group 16SrVII in the world and of 16SrI in South America.
Playing possum, hide‐and‐seek, and other behavioral patterns: knowledge boundaries at newly emerging interfaces
Authors: Rau Christiane , Möslein Kathrin M. , Neyer Anne‐Katrin
Published: December 2015

Organizations increasingly experiment with new interfaces for knowledge sharing to foster innovation. More precisely, a variety of actors from inside and outside the organization who before hardly had any interfaces in their daily work are now expected to share their knowledge. Using data collected in an explorative qualitative study with innovation managers across Europe we explore what types of semantic and pragmatic boundaries exist as barriers to knowledge sharing at newly emerging interfaces. Thereby, distinct open and hidden behavioral patterns have been identified for each type of boundary. This understanding is a precondition for fostering and managing knowledge processes at newly emerging interfaces. Also, it enables practitioners and researchers alike to engage in a more nuanced discussion of these new facets of complexity of knowledge sharing in innovation projects.
What's Special about Moral Ignorance?
Authors: Wieland Jan Willem
Published: December 2015

According to an influential view by Elizabeth Harman, moral ignorance, as opposed to factual ignorance, never excuses one from blame. In defense of this view, Harman appeals to the following considerations: (i) that moral ignorance always implies a lack of good will, and (ii) that moral truth is always accessible. In this paper, I clearly distinguish these considerations, and present challenges to both. If my arguments are successful, sometimes moral ignorance excuses.
The Effect of Sperm Morphology and Sire Fertility on Calving Rate of Finnish Ayrshire AI Bulls
Authors: Attia S , Katila T , Andersson M
Published: December 2015

Contents

Good‐quality semen is a prerequisite for successful and profitable artificial insemination (AI) of modern dairy cattle. Fertility of the bulls is evaluated with andrological examinations and semen analyses, such as morphology. However, little attention has been paid to the inheritance of bull fertility. In this study, we correlated sperm morphology, birth year and station of 695 AI bulls with calving rate (CR). Sperm morphology was clearly associated with CR underlining the usefulness of morphological examination in the assessment of fertility. The correlation between the proportion of normal spermatozoa and CR was significant (p < 0.001). No significant differences were detected between stations or birth years. We also compared the CR of 695 AI bulls with the CR of their 27 sires to study the inheritance of fertility. Sire's CR did not correlate with the CR of the sons (p = 0.218). This result indicates that at least when sires of acceptable CR are used to produce sons for use in AI the inheritance of CR is not significantly correlated.
Bone Morphogenetic Protein‐6 (BMP‐6) Stimulates the Antrum Formation by the Regulation of its Signalling Pathway in Caprine Pre‐antral Follicles Cultured In Vitro
Authors: Araújo VR , Silva GM , Duarte ABG , Magalhães‐Padilha DM , Almeida AP , Lunardi FO , Serafim MKB , Moura AAA , Campello CC , Rodrigues APR , Figueiredo JR
Published: December 2015

Contents

BMP‐6 has been found to be important to ovarian cells and oocyte, as well as to uterus. Thus, this study investigated the effect of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP‐6) and recombinant follicle‐stimulating hormone (rFSH) alone or in combination on the in vitro culture (IVC) of isolated caprine secondary follicles (Experiment 1) and the mRNA levels for BMP receptors/Smad signalling pathway (BMPR1A, BMPR2, SMAD1, SMAD4, SMAD5, SMAD6, SMAD7 and SMAD8) in vivo and in vitro using BMP‐6 (Experiment 2). Secondary follicles were cultured in αMEM+ alone (control medium) or supplemented with BMP‐6 at 1 or 10 ng/ml and rFSH alone or the combination of both BMP‐6 concentrations and rFSH. The results from Experiment 1 showed that the antrum formation rate was higher in the BMP‐6 at 1 ng/ml (p < 0.05) than in MEM. In Experiment 2, the mRNA expression for BMPR2, SMAD1, SMAD5 and SMAD6 was detected in non‐cultured control and after in vitro culture (MEM and 1 ng/ml BMP‐6); while the expression of SMAD7 and SMAD8 mRNA was only detected after IVC, SMAD4 was only detected in the BMP‐6 at 1 ng/ml treatment. In conclusion, the low BMP‐6 concentration positively influenced antrum formation and ensured normal mRNA expression for BMP receptor and Smads after IVC of caprine secondary follicles.
Altruism During Ebola: Risk Perception, Issue Salience, Cultural Cognition, and Information Processing
Authors: Yang Z. Janet
Published: December 2015

A nationally representative sample of 1,046 U.S. adults was randomly assigned to two experimental conditions that triggered different degrees of risk perception related to the Ebola outbreak. In the high‐risk condition, issue salience and deliberate processing increased individuals’ altruistic behavioral intention. In contrast, cultural cognition worldview and negative emotions such as sadness and anger were significantly related to altruistic behavioral intention regardless of the experimental conditions. These findings suggest that affective responses diverge from cognitive processes in influencing risk‐related decisions. Practically, as the United States continues to send experts to the affected countries in West Africa, results from this study suggest meaningful pathways to improve risk communication intended to encourage more altruistic and pro‐social behaviors.
Transgenic tobacco plants with improved cyanobacterial Rubisco expression but no extra assembly factors grow at near wild‐type rates if provided with elevated CO2
Authors: Occhialini Alessandro , Lin Myat T. , Andralojc P. John , Hanson Maureen R. , Parry Martin A. J.
Published: December 2015

Introducing a carbon‐concentrating mechanism and a faster Rubisco enzyme from cyanobacteria into higher plant chloroplasts may improve photosynthetic performance by increasing the rate of CO2 fixation while decreasing losses caused by photorespiration. We previously demonstrated that tobacco plants grow photoautotrophically using Rubisco from Synechococcus elongatus, although the plants exhibited considerably slower growth than wild‐type and required supplementary CO2. Because of concerns that vascular plant assembly factors may not be adequate for assembly of a cyanobacterial Rubisco, prior transgenic plants included the cyanobacterial chaperone RbcX or the carboxysomal protein CcmM35. Here we show that neither RbcX nor CcmM35 is needed for assembly of active cyanobacterial Rubisco. Furthermore, by altering the gene regulatory sequences on the Rubisco transgenes, cyanobacterial Rubisco expression was enhanced and the transgenic plants grew at near wild‐type growth rates, although still requiring elevated CO2. We performed detailed kinetic characterization of the enzymes produced with and without the RbcX and CcmM35 cyanobacterial proteins. These transgenic plants exhibit photosynthetic characteristics that confirm the predicted benefits of introduction of non‐native forms of Rubisco with higher carboxylation rate constants in vascular plants and the potential nitrogen‐use efficiency that may be achieved provided that adequate CO2 is available near the enzyme.
INVESTIGATION ON OXIDATION AND THERMAL STABILITY OF JATROPHA OIL
Authors: Syah Lubis Abdul Munir Hidayat , Ariwahjoedi Bambang , Bin Sudin Mustafar
Published: December 2015

The application of jatropha oil as alternative lubricant basestock has emerged recently. However, the resistance to oxidation and thermal stability of this oil become a concern to its application as lubricant. In this study, the oxidation and thermal degradation of crude jatropha oil (CJO) have been studied. The oxidation of the CJO was investigated by air bubbling method. The viscosity and functional group changes due to oxidation were studied before and after oxidation test. The thermal stability of CJO was investigated by using Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) method in O2 and N2 gases environment. Jatropha oil was found oxidized by autoxidation mechanism produces high molecular species which capable to increase viscosity of the oil. The TGA results shows that CJO thermally stable in the temperature below 168°C in O2 gas environment and below 225°C in N2 gas environment.
EFFECT OF PINEAPPLE LEAF FIBER LOADING ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF PINEAPPLE LEAF FIBER – POLYPROPYLENE COMPOSITE
Authors: Kasim Ayu Natasya , Selamat Mohd Zulkefli , Aznan Nabila , Sahadan Siti Norbaya , Mohd Daud Mohd Ahadlin , Jumaidin Ridhwan , Salleh Suhaila
Published: December 2015

Natural fibers have become an important issue in the development of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite to resolve the current ecological and environmental problems. Among the many types of natural fibers that are available, pineapple leaf fiber (PLF) was selected as the natural fiber used in this study due to comparatively better mechanical properties, ease of availability and low cost. In this work, the effects of pineapple leaf fiber (PLF) loading on the properties of PLF/polypropylene (PP) composites was studied. The sample of composites was fabricated with five different fiber loading of PLF (30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 wt.%). An alkaline treatment was conducted to enhance the PLF properties. The fabrication was made by compression molding technique with random orientation of PLF. From the experimental study, the results revealed that the voids percentage and interfacial bonding between the PLF and PP affected the mechanical properties of the PLF/PP composite. Based on the results of tensile stress, hardness and density, it can be concluded that the PLF/PP composite with the composition ratio of 30/70 wt.% has shown the best mechanical properties compared to other composition ratios (40/60, 50/50, 60/40 and 70/30 wt.%), which are 16.71 MPa, 62.83 Shore-D and 0.93 g/cm³ respectively.
MODELLING THE TRILOGY OF INNOVATION, LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE
Authors: Pane Sri Gustina , Kumar M Dileep , Siddique Muhammad
Published: December 2015

Recently, organizations are looking the ways to enhance their performance through innovation and learning. Most organizations are enhancing innovation to increase performance and to get a competitive advantage. However, very few studies are focused to investigate the role of organizational learning in the context of organizational innovation and performance. Current study aimed to investigate the mediating role of organizational learning between the relationship of the organizational innovation and performance. A random sample of 212 employees of the banking sector was selected to collect data. Results indicated that organizational learning significantly mediates the relationship of the organizational innovation and performance. Thus, a study was conducted to assess the presence of organizational learning can enhance the organizational performance in the presence of organizational innovation.
PROTEOMIC ANALYSIS OF RICE SEED STORAGE PROTEINS IN RELATION TO NUTRIENT QUALITY OF THREE DIFFERENT COMMERCIAL RICE TYPES
Authors: Ramli Nur Syazila , Md. Zin Noor Hasniza
Published: December 2015

Seed storage proteins (SSPs) are the most important component in rice, which provides nutrient to consumers. The SSPs content and composition are among the important determinant for rice quality determination specifically for nutritional value. Multiple factors have been identified to give effect to the nutritional value of rice grain including different types of rice. The purpose of this study is to investigate the expression level of SSPs of rice and also relates the nutrient quality of rice with the variability in SSPs expression from three different types of rice commercially available in markets. The SSPs were extracted from three different types of rice; white rice, brown rice and glutinous rice of the local rice brands in markets. Bradford Assay was carried out to determine the total SSPs content and brown rice was found to have significantly higher total SSPs content (9.157± 0.4 mg/100mg seeds) compared to white rice (6.933± 0.8 mg/ 100mg seeds) and glutinous rice (5.388± 0.2 mg/ 100mg seeds). Based on the banding patterns of the SDS-PAGE, there were different level of expressions were observed between the three rice types. The different expression can be observed obviously at the glutelin precursor region and glutelin acidic subunit region and prolamin polypeptides region for each type of rice. Therefore, contribute to the different nutritional value for dietary intake.
PRELIMINARY STUDY OF NEMATODE RESISTANCE TO ANTHELMINTIC DRUGS IN TWO GOAT FARMS IN TERENGGANU
Authors: Abubakar Faisal , Kari Asmad , Ismail Zawawi , Haruna Usman Tijjani , Baba Abdul Rashid
Published: December 2015

Gastrointestinal nematodes considered to be among the factors that could affect the goats’ productivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the current status of nematode resistance to anthelminthic drugs in two farms (Veterinary Research Academy Jenang, Marang and Hulu Seladang Setiu Farms). The goats were randomly divided into five treatments which include control (A), albendazole oral administration (B), levamisole oral administration (C), ivermectin subcutaneous injection (D) and ivermectin pour on groups (E). After two weeks of the treatment the feces were collected and fecal egg count was examined. The mean of fecal egg count reduction (FECR) obtained was not statistically (p>0.05) different between the treatments, and FECR% was lower than 66% in all of the five treatments (A, B, C, D and E). In conclusion, two farms revealed the resistance of nematode to Albendazole, Levamisole, and Ivermectin anthelmintic drugs. This study suggested that the anthelmintic treatment is unlikely to be the suitable method of controlling nematode population, thus studies are needed to investigate further on the effectiveness of other methods of control such as the use of herbs.
INDOOR MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION AND ITS RELATION TO PHYSICAL INDOOR AIR QUALITY (IAQ) CHARACTERISTICS AT DIFFERENT LABORATORY CONDITIONS
Authors: A. H. Hazrin, , A. A. Anis Syazana, , N. Noor Faizul Hadry, , A. Norhidayah, , M. A. Mohd Shukri,
Published: December 2015

Laboratory usually refers to a room or building equipped with chemicals and biological agents for scientific experimentation and research. Due to its own indoor hazards and its cause of health implications, it is an urge to assess and to understand the physical indoor air quality (IAQ) characteristics in the laboratory and the variables affecting the degree of exposure to occupants. The main objectives of this study was aimed to assess and to compare the physical IAQ characteristics and airborne pollutants including particulate matters (PM) and gaseous pollutants between laboratories, to identify microbial contaminants via bacterial counts as well as scientific bacterial-kits species identification and to correlate the relationship of physical IAQ characteristics, airborne pollutants and microbial contaminants between different laboratory settings within the same building which are Natural Product (NP) laboratory, Plant Tissue Culture (PTC) laboratory, and Microbiology laboratory. The physical IAQ characteristics and airborne PM was measured using VelociCalc multi-function ventilation meter 9565 and DustMate environmental dust detector respectively. Surface Air System Indoor Air Quality (SAS IAQ) was used to capture the microbial contaminants and after that bacterial counting and identification were done. The scientific method protocol and standard reference limits were compared based on Industrial Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality (ICOP) (2010) regulated by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). The temperature of PTC laboratory, velocity of NP laboratory and Microbiology laboratory, the respirable particulate matter (PM) of all three laboratories and Colony Forming Unit (CFU) count of PTC and NP laboratory exceeded the standard limit regulated by DOSH. This study demonstrated that Gemella morbillorum is the common bacterial species available in the environment with poor IAQ and there is a significant relationship between physical characteristics, airborne pollutants and microbial contaminants between the different types of laboratory settings. In conclusion, priority should be given to NP laboratory as it is exposed to poor IAQ conditions and immediate action should be taken to eliminate the problems.
PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF POLYSACCHARIDES CONTENT FOR SELECTION OF HIGH QUALITY PLANTING MATERIALS: Eurycoma longifolia
Authors: A. Mohd Zaki, , W. Nor Fadilah, , L. Abdul Rashid, , R. Nurnadiah, , A. Mohd Radzi, , N. Mohamad Lokmal, , M. S. Ahmad Fauzi, , M. A. Farah Fazwa, , A. G. Ab. Rasip, , J. Regina Mariah, , O. Mohamad
Published: December 2015

Provenance trial of Eurycoma longifolia is currently being carried out in order to provide necessary information for breeding strategies, which is crucially needed for the production of high quality planting materials. Assessment of polysaccharides content in the root part of the plant is taken among the important characteristics in the selection of the best provenance. Polysaccharides compound is chosen as bioactive marker due to the non-toxicity nature of the compound and potential pharmacological properties possessed. Polysaccharides compound of the root part is extracted by using water extract procedure from nine selected provenances (Johor, Melaka, Pahang A, Pahang B, Pahang D, Perak, Pulau Pinang, Selangor and Terengganu) of E. longifolia collected throughout forest reserves of Peninsular Malaysia. The analysis of the actual weight of the compound is conducted using phenol-sulfuric acid method by UV-VIS and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is used for the detection of structural components of the polysaccharides compound. The assessment showed that polysaccharides content in the root part of Terengganu provenance significantly has the highest with 1.06 % actual weight of polysaccharides (out of 30 g extracted dry roots). Meanwhile, there are four provenances showed undetectable range of polysaccharide content which were Melaka, Pahang A, Pulau Pinang and Selangor. In a nutshell, based on the preliminary assessment of polysaccharide content alone, Terengganu provenance has the potential to be declared among the best provenances that has high quality. The provenance trial also has taken into considerations several important parameters such as the growth performances variation and the tolerance of the plants to pests and diseases besides the phytochemical screening. Provenance trial of E. longifolia is still ongoing, data for various parameters are still being collected, and thus it is still too early to derive a conclusion of which is the best provenance.
PHENOTYPIC EVALUATION OF FIFTEEN GLYCINE MAX (L.) MERRILL (VEGETABLE SOYBEAN) VARIETIES UNDER MINERAL AND BRIS SOILS OF MALAYSIA
Authors: Abu Bakar Siti Nurul Farhana , Chia Phang Ing , Nordin Mohd Shukor , Ibrahim Maizatul Akma
Published: December 2015

Glycine max (L.) Merrill (vegetable soybean) is an important vegetable mainly among the Asian community.  It is mainly consumed by human as a highly nutritious and savory snack.  Instead of having a relatively higher protein and lower oil contents, it is also has a sweet and better tasting.  Thus, this study aims to investigate the phenotypic characteristics of fifteen varieties of Glycine max (L.) Merrill developed by the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC), Taiwan in order to select the potential varieties to be planted under Malaysian environments.  The fifteen varieties were planted under mineral and bris soils at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Kuantan, Pahang.  Eight phenotypic traits included the seed numbers per plant, the pod numbers per plant, the weight of fifteen seeds per plant, the days to emergence per plant, the days to flowering per plant, the plants height per plant, the pods width per plant and the pods length per plant were measured.  Selection of potential varieties were mainly done by determining the yielding characteristics.  Among these eight morpho-agronomic characteristics, the seed numbers per plant is the main yield determinant while, the other characteristics would be useful for future breeding programs.  From the observation, Variety 4 (AGS429) obtained the highest seed numbers per plant (81 seeds) under mineral soil and Variety 1 (AGS 190) produced the highest seed numbers per plant (91 seeds) under bris soil, thus having the promising higher yielding ability to be selected as a potential vegetable soybean varieties to be planted under Malaysian conditions.
MORPHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS, SELECTED MACRONUTRIENT UPTAKE, AND OXIDATIVE STRESS LEVEL OF Andrographis paniculata UNDER SALINE CONDITION
Authors: Ismail Nor Adibah , Hossain Md. Sanower , Mohd Mustafa Nurhidayatul Husna , Chia Phang Ing
Published: December 2015

Andrographis paniculata (Hempedu Bumi) is an important therapeutical herb that tends to be affected by salinity stress, leading to reduction of plant productivity and growth. This study aimed to study the effects of salt stress on the morpho-physiology, selected macronutrients uptake, as well as intensity and localization of reactive oxygen species in A. paniculata. Symptoms of salt toxicity were observed on A. paniculata including dehydration and browning of leaves. Na+ content in plants was significantly increased as NaCl concentration increases, while K+ content was significantly reduced. For Ca2+ and Mg2+ content, no significant difference was detected between control and plants treated with 92.40 mM NaCl.  Histochemical staining showed that the accumulation of superoxide in 41.10 mM salt-treated leaves was higher than the control, whereas no differences were found for hydrogen peroxide. A. paniculata appeared to be affected by saline condition.
DIVERSITY AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF MANGROVE SOIL ACTINOMYCETES ISOLATED FROM TANJUNG LUMPUR, KUANTAN
Authors: Abdul Malek Nurfathiah , Zainuddin Zarina , Chowdhury Ahmed Jalal Khan , Zainal Abidin Zaima Azira
Published: December 2015

Actinomycetes are biotechnologically important for their unrivalled capacity to produce bioactive secondary metabolites. Although thousands of antibiotics have been discovered from actinomycetes, these represent only a small fraction of the entire reservoir. Thus, screening of actinomycetes from poorly studied environment is a valuable attempt. In the present study, an effort was made to isolate, identify and evaluate the antimicrobial activities of actinomycetes from Tanjung Lumpur Mangrove Forest of Pahang, Malaysia; an underexplored ecosystem. Out of 1366 actinomycetes that were successfully enumerated, a total of 40 representative isolates were selected for further evaluation. The antimicrobial activity of the representative isolates were first assessed using the cross streak method against Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens and Staphylococcus aureus. Twenty five isolates displayed antagonistic potential against at least one of the test organisms. Of this, 40% exhibited antibacterial activity, 24% exhibited antifungal activity and 36% displayed both. The cell–free supernatant of the active isolates were then further evaluated using the agar well diffusion method, in which only 4 isolates displayed inhibitory activity. A total of 13 representative isolates were identified and characterized using 16S rRNA gene partial sequencing. They were further classified into 7 genera namely Streptomyces, Micromonospora, Rhodococcus, Gordonia, Pseudonocardia, Mycobacterium and Actinophytocola. These findings suggested that mangrove of Tanjung Lumpur is a rich source of actinomycetes for the discovery of bioactive secondary metabolites.
THE ROLE OF POLYAMINES IN ANTI-PROLIFERATIVE EFFECT OF SELECTED MALAYSIAN HERBS IN HUMAN LUNG ADENOCARCINOMA CELL LINE
Authors: Abdul Ghani Radiah , Jamil Elyna Fatinie , Nor Azahan Shah Nor Azni Masturah , Nik Abdul Malek Nik Nurasyikin
Published: December 2015

Polyamine is a group of aliphatic amine that is necessary for cell growth and development. However, potential of developing cancer is enhanced with the increase of polyamine levels in the body. Since polyamines can be obtained through diet intake, it is essential for cancer patients to consume foods that have low level of polyamines. Therefore, this study aims to determine the polyamine level of selected plants; Sabah Snake Grass (Clinacanthus nutans), Daun Kadok (Piper sarmentosum) and Fig (Ficus auriculata). The antiproliferative effects of C. nutans, P. sarmentosum and F. auriculata were investigated using MTT assay and the polyamines content in these plants and intracellular content were quantified using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that polyamines content in C. nutans (41.49 nmol/g), P. sarmentosum (55.01 nmol/g) anf F. auriculata (39.28 nmol/g) were classified under low level. The IC50 values for these plants were in the range of 20-30 mg/ml. This study demonstrated that these plants inhibit the A549 cell’s growth after 24 hours to 96 hours of exposure. Depletion of intracellular polyamine after 48 hours to 96 hours of exposure was also identified. In conclusion, the study showed that C. nutans, P. sarmentosum and F.auriculata contain low level of polyamine and have anti-proliferative effect against A549 cells. Therefore these plants are recommended to reduce or delayed the occurrence of malignancy and prevention of cancer recurrence after successful treatment.
REVIEW ON IN-VITRO AMEBOCYTE CULTURE–A LESSON LEARNED FROM PAST
Authors: I. Sheikh Hassan , B. Akbar John, , J. A. Ichwan Solachuddin , K. Zaleha, , B. Y. Kamaruzzaman,
Published: December 2015

Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL/TAL) assay is the only standard test approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to quantify bacterial endotoxin in injectable drugs and implantable medical devices. At present, horseshoe crabs are the sole source of LAL/TAL. Biomedical companies harvest and bleed horseshoe crabs which lead to ≤30% post bleeding mortality. The continuity of this practices will eventually deplete wild stock and threat horseshoe crab’s population. Though, many alternative biosensors were developed to quantify endotoxins, they are not without limitations and some of them even need LAL/TAL as source detectors. Hence, the LAL/TAL industry in its current form has ethical, ecological, commercial and technical issues that make it unideal standard test. An alternative method of culturing amebocyte in tissue culture medium has been addressed in literature since last 4 decades. This paper will address the issues in amebocyte culture in-vitro based on the published literatures. The paper will also suggest the best source of amebocyte cells (gill, gill flaps, blood), culture mode (monolayer or suspension), culture media (Grace's Insect Medium, Leibovitz’s L-15 Medium, Modified Essential medium, Shields and Sang insect medium, TNM-FH Medium, RPMI 1640 medium) and best culture conditions (pH, temperature, osmolarity). This review will also emphasize on key elements in establishing a cell line for the continuous harvesting of amebocyte in-vitro.