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Current Scenarios and Challenges in Animal Husbandry SMEs in Sarawak: A Service-Learning Perspective
No full textAGEING GRACEFULLY WITH CLEAR HEARING : A Journey to Lifelong Wellness
No full textAgeing gracefully requires more than just keeping
physical attractiveness; it also includes sustaining
quality of life, freedom, and connection to the world.
One frequently ignored yet critical part of this
procedure is clear hearing. Hearing is essential for
communication, mental well-being, and safety, making
it an essential component of good agein
Development Of a Hybrid System for Greywater Treatment Using Biochar Filter with Integration of Water Hyacinth
No full textGreywater pollution poses a significant threat to environmental and public health, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions. In this context, hybrid treatment systems that combine nature-based solutions offer a sustainable and cost-effective approach for decentralized wastewater management. This study investigates the synergistic effectiveness of a two-stage greywater treatment system integrating phytoremediation using Eichhornia crassipes (Water Hyacinth) with biochar filtration derived from palm kernel shells. System performance was evaluated based on the removal of ammoniacal nitrogen (AN) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) using standard APHA methods. FTIR-ATR spectroscopy was employed to characterize functional group changes on the biochar surface before and after treatment. Results showed that the phytoremediation unit significantly reduced AN (80.8 %) and COD (75.8 %). Subsequent biochar filtration enhanced these outcomes, achieving final cumulative removals of 85.5 % for AN and 89.3 % for COD. The combined system outperformed either component alone, highlighting the synergistic interaction between plant uptake and biochar adsorption in pollutant removal. Effluent pH approached neutrality, and FTIR analysis indicated organic compound adsorption on the biochar surface. These findings support the application of integrated phytoremediation–biochar systems as effective, low-cost solutions for greywater treatment in developing urban areas
Recycled toner‑based Ni–Zn ferrites for microstrip patch antenna applications: structural, magnetic, and electromagnetic properties analysis
No full textThis work demonstrates the synthesis of nickel-zinc ferrites from printer toner waste (WNZF) as a radiating patch in microstrip patch antennas (MPAs). The printer toner waste, which consists of magnetite, was recycled and converted to
hematite via the oxidation-reduction process, whereby the extracted hematite was used in fabricating WNZF by employing the high-energy ball milling process with subsequent sintering. The XRD analysis confirmed the successful extraction of hematite from magnetite, as evidenced by the appearance of characteristic
hematite peaks. This finding was further supported by thermal analysis from
DSC, which indicated that the phase transformation from magnetite to hematite
began at approximately 384.7 °C. Sintering from 800 to 1200 °C of the synthesized
WNZF significantly enhanced saturation magnetization from 23.11 to 36.17 emu/g
and reduced coercivity and remanence, indicating soft ferrimagnetic behaviour
favourable for high-frequency applications. A return loss of -15.154 dB at a resonant frequency of 2.37 GHz demonstrates excellent impedance matching and
confirms its suitability for S-band MPA applications. This is attributed to microstructural evolution, where higher sintering temperatures promote grain growth
and improved crystallinity, resulting in improved superexchange interactions
between magnetic domains. Optimizing sintering temperature improves MPA
performance by controlling grain size and domain structure, balancing permeability and resonant frequency of the MPA. This demonstrates the feasibility of
e-waste-derived ferrites achieving magnetic and electromagnetic properties comparable to conventional ferrite-based MPAs, providing both environmental and
technological benefits for sustainable wireless antenna systems. This is the first
demonstration of recycled toner-derived hematite applied to Ni-Zn ferrites for
S-band MPAs
Epstein-Barr Virus in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: Molecular Mechanisms and Oncogenic Drivers
No full textBackground: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignancy strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection.
EBV is detected in nearly all non-keratinizing NPC cases and plays a central role in tumor initiation, progression, and immune evasion.
Objective: To review the key molecular mechanisms by which EBV contributes to NPC development, with a focus on viral
oncogenes, host-pathogen interactions, and potential therapeutic implications.
Method: A literature-based review of current evidence from molecular oncology, virology, and NPC-focused clinical studies
was conducted to outline EBV-driven oncogenic pathways and their role in NPC.
Conclusion: Understanding EBV-driven molecular mechanisms in NPC provides critical insights into the disease's etiology
and highlights novel opportunities for early diagnosis, prognostic biomarker development, and targeted therapy
UNIMAS FSTS Inspires Students Through STEM Junior Explorer Programme At SMK Kota Samarahan
No full textComparative Metabarcoding Analysis of Gut Microbiome in Wild and Captive Stump-Tailed Macaques (Macaca arctoides)
No full textThe primate gastrointestinal tract is home to bacteria, which may be associated with its habitat. In Malaysia, wild stump-tailed macaques (Macaca arctoides) are found solely in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia. No information is currently available regarding the intestinal microbiota of wild or captive Malaysian stump-tailed macaques. In this study, a fecal metabarcoding approach was utilized to determine the gut microbiome composition of wild and captive M. arctoides and how these microbial communities respond to the host's external environment. To elucidate these relationships, 16S rRNA was amplified and sequenced using the MiSeq platform, with 300 paired-end sequences. We identified 18 phyla, 38 orders, 46 families, 76 genera, and
131 species in the stump-tailed macaque samples. The most prevalent bacterial families in the gut of M. arctoides were Firmicutes (4.69%), Spirochaetes (2.87%), and Proteobacteria (2.40%). Our analysis did not reveal any substantial differences between the habitat environment and gut microbiome composition in M. arctoides. Nonetheless, to the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to document the gut microbiome of the wild M. arctoides population in Peninsular Malaysia. Future studies are required to explore and better understand potential zoonotic pathogens harbored in stump-tailed macaques
Functional Outcomes of Inpatient Prehabilitation for Pseudomyxoma Peritonei: A Case Report
No full textIntroduction :
Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare but debilitating abdominal cancer that can cause significant functional
limitations and quality of life. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) are the standard treatments for PMP. Prehabilitation is a novel approach to optimize the physical and psychological status of patients prior to cancer treatment. This case report aims to evaluate the functional outcome of a two-week inpatient prehabilitation for a 47 years old, Malay lady with PMP secondary to mucinous neoplasm planning for CRS and HIPEC using standardized measures of health-related quality of life and functional capacity.
Report:
The 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) is a measure of health-related quality of life. The prehabilitation program shows a positive impact on most of the measured domains, especially “role limitations due to emotional problems”. This significant improvement from 66.7% to 100% after prehabilitation indicates that the patient no longer has role limitations due to emotional issues. These results indicate that prehabilitation can improve the physical and emotional readiness of individuals before they undergo a surgical procedure, leading to better outcomes. The patient’s 6-minute walking distance improved from 194 meters at admission to 404 meters at discharge, indicating a better functional capacity in walking endurance and aerobic capacity.
Conclusion:
This case report provides preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of inpatient prehabilitation. The patient
showed improvements in health-related quality of life and physical function after prehabilitation program prior to surgery. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of prehabilitation in larger populations of
PMP patients planning for CRS and HIPEC
Heightened Levels of Lignin and Flavonoids Coupled with the Absence in Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria Influencing the Non-Trunking Phenotype in Sago Palms (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.)
No full textMetroxylon sagu Rottb. is an important economic commodity crop in Sarawak, Malaysia. High demand for sago
starch has initiated the state’s government to introduce sago palm cultivation to meet both local and overseas
needs. Some plantations reported dwarf (non-trunking) sago palms after ten years of cultivation. Several studies
have been conducted to address this matter, however, the biological mechanism underlying this problem is still
scarce. In addition, information on soil properties at sago palm plantation is also limited. This study aims to
identify the enriched genes and enzymatic pathways expressed in non-trunking and to differentiate microbial
taxonomy present in both trunking and non-trunking soil environments. Transcriptome sequencing on Illumina
NovaSeq 6000 platform with DESeq2 analysis revealed a total of 2158 differentially expressed genes between
trunking and non-trunking datasets with 1353 DEGs were upregulated and 805 DEGs were downregulated.
KEGG pathways enrichment revealed phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis were significantly
upregulated suggesting heightened lignin and flavonoid synthesis in non-trunking sago palms. Soil taxonomy
datasets sequenced with 16S and ITS1 on Illumina MiSeq platform revealed Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria, and
Actinobacteria were dominant bacterial phyla in trunking sago palm rhizosphere whilst phylum Ascomycota
dominates both sampling sites. These comparative analyses will provide insight into the transcriptome of
trunking and non-trunking palms and the associated taxonomic community composition in sago palms cultivated
in peat soil
The Importance of Husbandary Management in Producing Better Quality of Duck Eggs
No full textGood farm husbandry methods are a crucial part of providing safe and high-quality food products. It includes all agricultural measures, from the effort of acquiring and raising healthy animals, to their well-being and finally milking or slaughter. Farm management is carried out in such a way that animals remain healthy through adequate, contaminant-free feed and water with optimal living
conditions (Figure 3.1). Livestock is grown based on risk analysis, and these risks are controlled in order to guarantee safe food production. Proper records are kept for simple traceability