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In vitro Antiplasmodial and Molecular Docking Studies of The Chemical Constituent Isolated from the Bark of Diospyros lanceifolia (Ebenaceae)
Get PDFThe phytochemical investigations of the ethyl acetate bark extract of Diospyros lanceifolia have led to the isolation of eight compounds, namely lupeol (1), betulin (2), ?-sitosterol (3), oleic acid (4), ?-amyrin acetate (5) glyceryl trilinoleate (6), ?-amyrin (7) and shinanolone (8). The structures of all compounds were established using various spectroscopic techniques such as 1D and 2D-NMR, FT-IR and HRESIMS, which were then compared with reported literature for validation. All compounds isolated from this plant were screened for an in vitro study against Plasmodium falciparum FCR3 followed by an in silico molecular docking study with the PfATP6 protein. The in vitro results revealed that five compounds exhibited strong to good activity (IC50 < 10 ?M). In order of potency, these compounds include 5, 3, 6, 1 and 4 with IC50 values of 0.3 ± 0.3, 0.3 ± 0.3, 1.9 ± 2.2, 4.4 ± 7.4 and 8.4 ± 4.9 ?M, respectively. Compounds 5 and 3 showed the strongest activity compared to the control drugs artemisinin and chloroquine, with the IC50 of 0.7 ± 0.3 ?M and 10.3 ± 2.9 ?M, respectively. The in silico molecular docking simulations showed that all active compounds from the in vitro study displayed good binding affinity to the PfATP6 protein binding site, with compounds 3, 1 and 5 demonstrating greater binding affinity compared to the other compounds tested, including artemisinin and chloroquine. All compounds exhibited several hydrophobic interaction modes with amino acids of PfATP6 residues. Interestingly, all compounds exhibited hydrogen bonding with ASN1039 residue, except compound 3. The in silico study of these compounds supports the in vitro antiplasmodial activity findings, suggesting that these compounds are potential lead candidates for the development of new antiplasmodial drugs
Taxonomic Significant of Leaf Anatomical Characteristics of Selected Globba L. (Zingiberaceae) Species in Peninsular Malaysia
Get PDFA comparative leaf anatomy study was carried out on 10 taxa of Globba L. (Zingiberaceae) in Peninsular Malaysia to ascertain their systematic significance, especially for species differentiation and identification. Methods used include leaf clearing, leaf sectioning using a sliding microtome and observation under a scanning electron microscope. Results showed that a combination of the following characters have taxonomic significance in Globba spp. studied i.e. outlines of leaf margin, midribs, petioles and their relative sizes; number of vascular bundles in arc I, II, III and IV in the midribs and petioles; absence or presence and type of trichomes; presence of fibre caps and girders in vascular bundles in the leaf lamina, as well as the presence of hypodermal layers below adaxial epidermis. Anatomical characteristics such as tufted trichomes in G. patens, papilose adaxial epidermal cells in G. variabilis var. pusilla, rounded margin in G. variabilis and an arc I vascular bundle present only in the midrib of G. variabilis var. pusilla can be used as diagnostic characters for each species. Globba variabilis var. pusilla which is closely related to G. variabilis can be distinguished by the papilose epidermal cells. This study proved that leaf epidermis anatomical characteristics could possibly be applied to the identification of some species in Globba with certainty
In vitro Shoot Regeneration from Crown and Sucker Explants of Ananas comosus cv. Josapine
Get PDFPineapple, Ananas comosus (L.) Merr., is a highly nutritious, major tropical Amazonian fruit valued for its health properties. Josapine, a successfully commercialised Malaysian hybrid, bears sweet fruits and has a shorter gestation period as compared to other cultivars. The current study aims to evaluate the in vitro regeneration and shoot multiplication potential of Ananas comosus cv. Josapine using different types of explant sources and different concentrations of cytokinins. Pineapple crown and suckers were surface sterilised and cultured in MS medium supplemented with 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) at different concentrations (0.0 mg/L, 1.0 mg/L, 2.0 mg/L and 3.0 mg/L) for six weeks to evaluate the shoot regeneration efficiency of both explants used. In vitro induced shoots from crown and sucker explants were also cultured in different concentrations of BAP and kinetin (0.0 mg/L, 0.5 mg/L, 1.0 mg/L, 1.5 mg/L, 2.0 mg/L, 2.5 mg/L and 3.0 mg/L) for the induction of multiple shoots and roots. Results from the current study revealed that the highest percentage of shoot induction obtained from crown explants was 88.00% in the treatment of 2.0 mg/L BAP (3.50 ± 0.67 shoots per explant), whereas the treatment of 3.0 mg/L BAP resulted in the highest percentage of shoot induction (82.00%) from sucker explants. As for the response of in vitro shoots, the treatment of 2.0 mg/L BAP resulted in the highest number of shoots (6.85 ± 0.61 shoots per explant), whereas the highest number of roots (6.09 ± 0.46 roots per explant) was observed in MS media supplemented with 1.5 mg/L kinetin after 16 weeks of culture. This study demonstrates methods for in vitro shoot multiplication suitable for the micropropagation and commercialisation of the Josapine cultivar. This facilitates the mass production of disease-free, high-quality planting materials, leading to improved fruit quality and enhanced export potential of this pineapple cultivar
Long-Term Distribution, Nesting Activity, Hatching Success, and Environmental Influences of the Hawksbill Turtle in Peninsular Malaysia. Part 1: A Case Study from 2015-2019 (Early view)
Get PDFHawksbills\u27 (Eretmochelys imbricata) status in the state of Melaka is continuously being assessed due to Melaka being the only prominent location for hawksbills in Peninsular Malaysia. Over five years of nesting season, results of the survey revealed the cumulative nests collected the most were in Padang Kemunting and Kem Terendak with a range between 400–700 nests yearly. A year-round nesting trend was observed, and the preferable peak period tends to occur between June-August almost every year. The clutch size ranged from 5 to 243 eggs over five years of the survey. An increase in temperature and rainfall amount will influence the increasing number of nests, while humidity and precipitation did not impact the nesting per month. This paper presents updated nesting statistics for hawksbill turtles, showing an increase in annual nesting activity over the five-year period from 2015 to 2019 in Melaka, compared to the earlier years of 2013–2014. A greater comprehension of hawksbills\u27 reproductive potentiality under environmental force will aid conservation and management aims
Bibliometric Analysis of Science Online Learning Medium in Indonesia 2017–2022
Get PDFThis study aimed to analyse the landscape of science online learning mediums in Indonesia through bibliometric analysis sourced from Google Scholar and Scopus spanning from 2017 to 2022. A total of 259 articles were sampled for analysis. The findings revealed an upward trend in research on science online learning mediums in Indonesia from 2019 to 2021, followed by a decline in 2022. Video-based Science Learning Mediums, Websites and E-Modules emerged as the top three mediums for online science learning. The results of data visualisation and content analysis indicated that research methodologies in this field predominantly employed the research and development approach, complemented by data analysis tools such as questionnaires and quantitative descriptive data analysis. Furthermore, the research primarily focused on the Elementary School level, with minimal attention given to studies conducted at the University level. Additionally, the examination of learning outcomes associated with science online learning mediums predominantly centered on cognitive learning outcomes. The implications of these findings offer valuable insights and recommendations for future research endeavours in this domain
The Place of the Hagiography of King Iyasu I in the Ethiopic Literary Tradition
Get PDFThis paper attempts to define the generic features of the hagiography of King Iyasu I, one of Gondärine’s acclaimed Kings, a?e Iyasu I (r. 1681-1706). It was written two years after the death of the king by aza? Sinoda in G???z. The literary genre of the hagiography of King Iyasu I is still a subject of scholarly debates. The contents and patterns of the hagiography are examined in comparison to the customary patterns of the previous hagiographical genre via entailing textual methods of analysis. Data were analyzed using content and thematic analysis. The article found that despite such linked and distinctive textual features, the hagiography of king Iyasu I appears to be one of the rare hagiographic texts in the history of the Ethiopic hagiography tradition. Apart from contributing our textual knowledge of hagiography, this paper confirms king Iyasu I is the only one among the monarchs of the Solomonic dynasty to have a hagiography composed to his name. It implies that Ethiopic hagiography had developed beyond the essentially edificatory goals of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church into a broader scope of contents and aims, particularly in the Gondärine period. This article is expected to be significant in examining the nature of Ethiopian hagiographic texts and their trends in keeping the narrative accounts about kings and their roles in historical periods
A Review of English Language Teacher Training Programmes in Bangladesh
Get PDFThis paper reviewed the contents and objectives of three English language teacher education programmes offered by government and non-governmental organizations to in-service secondary school teachers in Bangladesh. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect additional data from the programme coordinators who were trainers as well. The aim of the study was to find out whether the training programmes created opportunities for teachers to engage in critical reflection on their own beliefs in order to develop a critical approach towards their teaching. Hence, this study drew on the extensive literature on teacher beliefs and critical reflection to advocate the need for designing teacher development programmes which focus on these two aspects. The study sought to establish the advantages of helping teachers to articulate their beliefs so that they can themselves identify whether their beliefs are in sync with language education today. This can be possible only if teachers reflect on their core beliefs about teaching that propel them to teach in a particular way. The study found that the training programmes which were reviewed all focused on classroom practices. None of the programmes focused on helping teachers to articulate or identify their beliefs so that their awareness of their own beliefs could help them appreciate the need for implementing what they were being trained to do in the classroom. It was argued that if teacher development programmes created opportunities for teachers to collectively and critically reflect on their pre-existing beliefs, it could help them use their newly acquired skills more effectively and convincingly. 
A Sociolinguistic Investigation into (Semantic) Neologisms of Adamu (Baba-Ina-Ne)
Get PDFThis study investigated the neologism manifestations in the communication style of Adamu, also known as Baba-ina-ne, using semantic analysis method. As an individual with speech impairment, Adamu (Baba-ina-ne) does not speak his indigenous language fluently similar to other individuals in his locality. As such he innovated simple and peculiar way of expressing meanings to events and identities, at his capability. The term "neologism" used in the study refers to the creation of new words. The main focus of this study is the phenomena of neologism, which explores how a dialect in the person of Adamu "Baba-ina-ne" comes up with new terms. The three elements of neologism—word generation, borrowing, and coining—form the basis of this paper’s theoretical framework. The use of neologism as a research tool is the foundation of this work. Participant observation, interviews, and the ethnography method were used to gather the data. The research showed that one person could have a significant impact on the development of new terms, which are then adopted by the local population and used in daily speech. Undoubtedly, neologisms offer vivid depictions of a variety of social and cultural acts in the separate societies, and the motivation behind them all is the same: to increase the language\u27s vocabulary
Communicative Language Teaching in Rural Schools in China: Teachers’ Perspectives
Get PDFThe approach to teaching second and foreign languages that emphasises interaction as both the means and the ultimate aim in the process of learning a language is known as communicative language teaching. By introducing communicative methodologies into their national curricula, many nations, notably China, have started teaching English as a foreign language (EFL). Since 2001, the CLT technique has been encouraged at the elementary school level, and young learners\u27 communication skills are prioritised at the primary level. However, CLT is mostly employed at secondary and tertiary levels of education in almost every education system globally. It is rarely associated with primary school teachers, whose experiences might be different from those at higher levels. To address this gap, the present study was conducted. To this end, a survey was administered to thirty primary school teachers to learn more about their perspectives and the challenges they faced when attempting CLT in China, specifically rural China. Rural settings and rural teachers’ perspectives and impressions may differ from those of urban settings. The quantitative result of the study indicated teachers\u27 misunderstandings of CLT. Many of them claimed that CLT is a teacher-centred approach when it is a student-centred one. In addition, several obstacles were also found to inhibit the implementation of CLT, which include the teachers themselves, the students, the educational system of China, and CLT itself. Policymakers and teachers in China are mainly expected to benefit from the findings of this study. Other education systems beyond China are expected to benefit from the findings too
Intertextual Representation of the Orang Asli in the Malaysian Online News Media: A Critical Discourse Analysis
Get PDFIn media discourse, intertextuality is an important aspect which is concerned with how voices are represented and weaved into news articles. The study sets out to explore how the Orang Asli are intertextually represented in the selected Malaysian news media, namely The Star (mainstream news media) and Malaysiakini (alternative news media). The corpus of this study comprises 24 online news articles from The Star (n=12) and Malaysiakini (n=12), respectively. The analysis is grounded on Fairclough’s (1995b) Three-Dimensional Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) Framework focusing on the intertextual aspect, notably the news articles\u27 discourse representation. The results showed that the voices of the authorities were represented more frequently in The Star as compared to the Orang Asli, whereas both voices were represented fairly by Malaysiakini. Furthermore, the quotation patterns revealed that the authorities were directly quoted more frequently than the Orang Asli, especially in The Star. Although Malaysiakini quoted the Orang Asli, the quotations continue to perpetuate an inferior and stereotypical imagery of the community which revolves around vulnerable and dependent narratives. In general, the intertextual analysis reveals that the authorities’ voices continue to predominate the mainstream media in reinforcing existing perceptions of the Orang Asli community as well as speaking on behalf of the community, which in turn suppresses the Orang Asli’s voices