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Isu-isu sensitif dalam masyarakat majmuk di Malaysia pasca Pilihanraya Umum (PRU14): Aplikasi pendekatan kesederhanaan
Get PDFIndikator hubungan sosial dalam masyarakat Malaysia sentiasa menunjukkan dalam keadaan pasang surut. Lebih-lebih lagi di era teknologi komunikasi dan maklumat kini. Saban hari timbul pelbagai isu yang melibatkan unsur-unsur provokasi, prejudis dan persepsi yang didorong oleh pelbagai faktor sama ada dalaman atau luaran. Terutamanya, dalam peralihan kuasa pasca PRU14, isu-isu sensitif yang timbul dalam masyarakat Malaysia merentasi kepercayaan dan pegangan agama, dan juga etnik perkauman. Berbanding sebelumnya, isu yang timbul lebih bersifat keagamaan dan perkauman.
Sebaliknya pada masa kini, isu yang tercetus lebih cenderung kepada blok politik yang utama yang tidak lagi berdasarkan parti politik perkauman, khusus kaum Melayu, Cina dan India. Sebaliknya, isu sensitif di era baharu telah diwarnai dengan latar belakang parti politik yang multi agama dan multi kaum. Selaras dengan perubahan lanskap politik tersebut, isu-isu yang timbul merentasi stereotaip agama dan etnik. Sehubungan itu, kajian ini akan membincangkan tentang isu-isu sensitif dalam masyarakat majmuk di Malaysia pasca PRU14 dan merumuskan pendekatan yang relevan dengan prinsip kesederhanaan Islam dalam menangani isu sensitif yang berbangkit sesuai dengan realiti keragaman di Malaysia. Bagi mencapai objektif tersebut, isu-isu sensitif akan dikenalpasti secara rawak melalui media cetak dan media sosial dan akan dianalisis kandungannya. Berdasarkan isu tersebut, satu pendekatan kesederhanaan akan dirumuskan sebagai solusi yang efisien bagi menanganinya. Oleh itu, hubungan sosial perlu dipelihara oleh semua pihak agar keharmonian bersama dapat diwujudkan dalam suasana iklim politik baharu
An Asian consensus on standards of diagnostic upper endoscopy for neoplasia
No full textBackground This is a consensus developed by a group of expert endoscopists aiming to standardise the preparation, process and endoscopic procedural steps for diagnosis of early upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Method The Delphi method was used to develop consensus statements through identification of clinical questions on diagnostic endoscopy. Three consensus meetings were conducted to consolidate the statements and voting. We conducted a systematic literature search on evidence for each statement. The statements were presented in the second consensus meeting and revised according to comments. The final voting was conducted at the third consensus meeting on the level of evidence and agreement. Results Risk stratification should be conducted before endoscopy and high risk endoscopic findings should raise an index of suspicion. The presence of premalignant mucosal changes should be documented and use of sedation is recommended to enhance detection of superficial upper GI neoplasms. The use of antispasmodics and mucolytics enhanced visualisation of the upper GI tract, and systematic endoscopic mapping should be conducted to improve detection. Sufficient examination time and structured training on diagnosis improves detection. Image enhanced endoscopy in addition to white light imaging improves detection of superficial upper GI cancer. Magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging is recommended for characterisation of upper GI superficial neoplasms. Endoscopic characterisation can avoid unnecessary biopsy. Conclusion This consensus provides guidance for the performance of endoscopic diagnosis and characterisation for early gastric and oesophageal neoplasia based on the evidence. This will enhance the quality of endoscopic diagnosis and improve detection of early upper GI cancers
Conductive graphene as passive saturable absorber with high instantaneous peak power and pulse energy in Q-switched regime
No full textThe Q-switched pulse regime is demonstrated by integrating conductive graphene as passive saturable absorber producing relatively high instantaneous peak power and pulse energy. The fabricated conductive graphene is investigated using Raman spectroscopy. The single wavelength Q-switching operates at 1558.28 nm at maximum input pump power of 151.47 mW. As the pump power is increased from threshold power of 51.6 mW to 151.47 mW, the pulse train repetition rate increases proportionally from 47.94 kHz to 67.8 kHz while the pulse width is reduced from 9.58 μs to 6.02 μs. The generated stable pulse produced maximum peak power and pulse energy of 32 mW and 206 nJ, respectively. The first beat node of the measured signal-to-noise ratio is about 62 dB indicating high pulse stability
Chemical characterization and bioactivity of Trichosanthes dioica edible shoot extract
No full textPresent investigation was aimed to evaluate the traditional use of edible part of soft shoots of Trichosanthes dioica Roxb. (Cucurbitaceae) as an antidiabetic in mice model. In addition, antioxidant activity and chemical profiling of this plant part were also performed to support its observed activity. The extract was subjected to oral glucose tolerance test in normal and alloxan induced diabetic mice to explore its antihyperglycemic activity. Antioxidant capacity was analyzed by a number of in vitro assays. Quantification of bioactive polyphenols was done by HPLC. Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (LCMS) was used to identify chemical constituents present in the extract. Total polyphenol and flavonoids content were found in significant quantity. In DPPH radical scavenging assay the IC50 value of the extract was found to be 148.62 µg/mL. Reducing power of the extract was comparable with that of butylatedhydroxytoluene (BHT). HPLC analysis indicated that quercetin, rutin, p-coumaric acid and kaempferol were the major bioactive polyphenols present in the extract. Further chemical profiling using LCMS analysis was identified a total of nine compounds with different chemical classes. In OGTT, extract (400 mg/kg BW) showed a 31.13% decrease (p < 0.05) in blood glucose levels at 30 min compared to the normal control. In alloxan induced diabetic mice the extract at the doses of 200 mg and 400 mg/kg, showed significant decrease (p < 0.05) of blood glucose level compared to diabetic control. The extract showed oral glucose tolerance potential and antioxidant capacity which might be due to the presence of different compounds such as quercetin, rutin, kaempferol, oleanolic acid, β-sitosterol. The results support the scientific basis of it ethnobotanical uses in traditional medicinal practices of Bangladesh
Potential Use of DNA Aptamer-Magnetic Bead Separation-PCR Assay for Salmonella Detection in Food
No full textBackground: Salmonella is one of the most common food-borne pathogens that can cause illness. In this study, the sensitivity and the specificity of Aptamer-Magnetic bead Separation-Polymerase Chain Reaction (AMS-PCR) method were determined for Salmonella spp. detection. Methods: Different concentrations of Salmonella enterica were mixed with streptavidinmagnetic beads coated with biotinylated DNA aptamer. The bound bacteria were eluted and tested with PCR targeting the invA gene of Salmonella. Ten different serovars of Salmonella enterica and four non-Salmonella were tested to determine the specificity of the DNA aptamer. For field application, 14 different food samples were tested and compared with the culture method. Results: The limit of detection of AMS-PCR method was 102 CFU/ml which was 10 times more sensitive than conventional PCR without AMS (103 CFU/ml). The AMS-PCR assay showed high specificity as it detected ten different serovars of Salmonella enterica with no cross-reactivity with other food-borne pathogens. AMS-PCR reduced the analytical duration from 6 to 7 h instead of 4 days by the culture method. Conclusion: In comparison with the culture method, AMS helped to improve the upstream sample preparation in reducing the pre-enrichment and enrichment times. So, it seems that combining AMS with PCR is cost-effective and time-saving. In addition, it is highly specific for monitoring of Salmonella spp. in food chain
Optimal Charging Schedule Coordination of Electric Vehicles in Smart Grid
No full textThe increasing penetration of electric vehicle (EV) at distribution system is expected in the near future leading to rising demand for power consumption. Large scale uncoordinated charging demand of EVs will eventually threatens the safety operation of the distribution network. Therefore, a charging strategy is needed to reduce the impact of charging. This paper proposes an optimal centralized charging schedule coordination of EV to minimize active power losses while maintaining the voltage profile at the demand side. The performance of the schedule algorithm developed using particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique is evaluated at the IEEE-33 Bus radial distribution system in a set time frame of charging period. Coordinated and uncoordinated charging schedule is then compared in terms of active power losses and voltage profile at different level of EV penetration considering 24 hours of load demand profile. Results show that the proposed coordinated charging schedule is able to achieve minimum total active power losses compared to the uncoordinated charging
Cancellation of birefringence in DBR laser through principal axis offset by a rotation of 90°
No full textThe cancellation of birefringence in the distributed Bragg reflector based on 90° rotation offset method is demonstrated. It is found that the birefringence, which causes the peak bifurcation has been eliminated and a single peak is produced at each resonance in the output spectrum. This modification is an economic solution for eliminating the birefringence of the optical fibre devices
Effects of process, operational and environmental variables on biohydrogen production using palm oil mill effluent (POME)
No full textA batch study for biohydrogen production was conducted using raw palm oil mill effluent (POME) and POME sludge as a feed and inoculum respectively. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to design the experiments. Experiments were conducted at different reaction temperatures (30–50 °C), inoculum size to substrate ratios (I:S) and reaction times (8–24 h). An optimum condition of biohydrogen production was achieved with COD removal efficiency of 21.95% with hydrogen yield of 28.47 ml H2 g−1 COD removed. The I:S ratio was 40:60, with reaction temperature of 50 °C at 8 h of reaction time. The study showed that a lower substrate concentration (less than 20 g L−1) for biohydrogen production using pre-settled POME was achievable, with optimum HRT of 8 h under thermophilic condition (50 °C). This study also found that pre-settled POME is feasible to be used as a substrate for biohydrogen production under thermophilic condition
UTAUT’S performance consistency: Empirical evidence from a library management system
No full textThis paper aims to investigate the use of an adapted UTAUT model to explore librarians' acceptance of Radio-frequency Identification based Library Management System (RFID-LMS) and to determine the performance consistency of UTAUT when applied in a context other than its original intent. Causal relationships between the five identified constructs and their significances are determined using multiple regression method. The results are then compared to the performance of UTAUT as reported in the originating article. The relationship between external variables, attitude and self-efficacy, along with UTAUT constructs and RFID-LMS acceptance were found to be significant. The reliability of the modified UTAUT was found to be consistent with the original UTAUT. These findings have implications on the theoretical foundations of UTAUT and supports the notion of a unified view of examining technology adoption and diffusion
Protective role of Ficus deltoidea against BPA-induced impairments of the follicular development, estrous cycle, gonadotropin and sex steroid hormones level of prepubertal rats
No full textFicus deltoidea is one of the well-known medicinal plants in Malaysia that is traditionally used by the Malay community to treat various ailments and for maintenance of female reproductive health. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential protective roles of Ficus deltoidea against BPA-induced toxicity of the pituitary-ovarian axis in pre-pubertal female rats. In this study, four groups of pre-pubertal female Sprague Dawley rats were administered with the followings by oral gavage for a period of six weeks: NC (negative control- treated with vehicle), PC (positive control-treated with BPA at 10 mg/kg/BW), F (treated with Ficus deltoidea at 100 mg/kg/BW, then exposed to BPA at 10 mg/kg/BW) and FC (Ficus deltoidea control - treated with Ficus deltoidea at 100 mg/kg/BW). Daily vaginal smear, ovarian follicular development as well as gonadotropin and sexual-steroid hormone levels were determined. The findings showed that Ficus deltoidea demonstrated preventive role against BPA-induced toxicity on the ovaries. This was evident by the increased percentage of rats with normal estrous cycle, qualitatively reduced number of atretic follicles (as observed in histopathological examination) and normalization of the gonadotropins hormone (FSH) and sexual steroid hormone (progesterone) levels. In conclusion, Ficus deltoidea has the capability to prevent the effects of BPA toxicity in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis of prepubertal female reproductive system, possibly due to its variety of phytochemical properties. Therefore, these findings strongly support the traditional belief that this medicinal plant is beneficial as daily dietary supplement for the maintenance of female reproductive health