17362 research outputs found
Sort by
Phytochemical composition and antioxidant properties of Canarium odontophyllum (Sarawak Olive): A seasonal fruit from Borneo, East Malaysia
No full textBackground: Canarium species are reported rich of polyphenol, alkaloids, flavones, and saponins compounds. Canarium odontophyllum from Borneo’s variety, on the other hand is remaining unclear especially on the antioxidant activity towards radicals. Purpose: To investigate phytochemical composition and antioxidant properties of C. odontophyllum. Methods: Antioxidant properties were evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) assay, 2,2′- azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assay, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay with different polarity of extraction solvents (methanol, acetone and hexane). The phytochemical composition was determined by Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry Quadrupole Time of Flight (LCMSQTOF). Results: Acetone showed the highest scavenging activity in the DPPH (0.0307 mg/ml) and FRAP (3.926 mg/ml) assays, while hexane exhibited the highest activity in the ABTS assay (0.119 mg/ml). The LCMS-QTOF chromatogram identified 22 potential compounds. Among these, the major compounds oleamide (10.49 %) and emmotin A (7.23 %) have previously been reported to exhibit antioxidant activity. Other health-beneficial compounds were also found, such as palmitic amide (2.46 %), deoxymiroestrol (6.23 %), and N-Cyclohexanecarbonylpentadecylamine (48.92 %), which are important in preventing metal corrosion, regulating hormones, and distinguishing between N-palmitoylethanolamine-hydrolyzing acid amidase (NPAA) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), respectively. Conclusion: The results indicate that C. odontophyllum shows a promising potential an alternative drug in pharmaceutical developments
Examining the reliability and validity of students’ self-efficacy beliefs, stress, perceived teachers’ support and academic burnout scales using PLS-SEM approach
No full textLikert scales were used in this study to collect data on measures such as the student academic burnout scale, the student stress scale, the student self-efficacy beliefs scale and the student perceived teacher support scale. The purpose of this study is to examine the four-part scales' reliability and validity used in this research. The number of measurement indicators for the four scales was 11, 13, 12 and 10, respectively. Seventy-five college students from five colleges and universities participated in the research and the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach was applied to analyze the data. Consequently, the internal consistency and reliability of the measures were assessed using Cronbach's alpha (CA) and composite reliability (CR) both of which exceeded the clinical thresholds of 0.6 and 0.7, respectively. The average variance extracted (AVE) was used to evaluate the scales' convergent validity and the reported values were all stated above 0.5. The scales' discriminant validity was also framed within the range of threshold values. As a result, the scales used in this study demonstrated good validity and reliability and can be useful in assessing relationships throughout a range of study situations
Economic impact of marine ecotourism on the local community in Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia
No full textThe development of the tourism sector in a destination is heavily dependent on the existing natural resources, the patterns of supply, weather and seasonal influences, as well as current demand trends. The expansion of the tourism sector generates economic spillover benefits, thereby improving the welfare of the local population in a tourist destination. Consequently, this study focuses on the marine ecotourism destination in Semporna, Sabah, to assess the positive economic impact on the local community. A quantitative study was conducted with 80 respondents using purposive sampling methods. The findings reveal that marine ecotourism activities have had an economic impact on the local community, such as the expansion of employment and business opportunities, as well as the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The growth of SMEs is predominantly within the food business sector, as well as businesses based on environmental and cultural products, which have become important income sources for the community. This has elevated the economic status of the local community and led to a shift in the primary employment activities of the population, from fishing to secondary and tertiary economic sectors. Therefore, stakeholders should implement strategies aimed at fostering a more integrated and inclusive local economic development, which involves active participation from the local community. Active community involvement, alongside stakeholder engagement, will ensure that the marine ecotourism sector remains relevant in enhancing economic benefits and supporting sustainable tourism development
Homemade formulas for nutrition support in chronic kidney disease: A narrative review of the opportunity for education, research, and innovation
No full textProtein-energy wasting is common in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially in those undergoing kidney replacement therapy. Oral nutrition supplements and enteral nutrition are strategies that have been shown to improve nutrition status, and potentially outcomes. However, access to specialized commercial products for people with CKD is limited by factors including cost and regional availability. Homemade formulas represent a potentially cheaper, accessible, and more flexible option than commercial products, but they come with their own unique set of challenges. Furthermore, some aspects of homemade products, including consistency of nutrients, physical properties, and food safety, may pose challenges in the context of physiological changes that occur in CKD. Despite evidence of their use in CKD clinics, there have been few studies using homemade formulas in this population. This narrative review article summarizes the available literature on the potential usage, benefits, and concerns related to homemade formulas, emphasizing the unique challenges in people with CKD. Given the potential usage and limited research on homemade formulas in people with CKD, additional education and research are warranted to optimize the use of these tools in this clinical population
Construction and validation of a cell death-related genes prognosis signature of hepatocellular carcinoma
No full textBackground: The cell death pathway, including apoptosis, autophagy, and necroptosis, plays an essential role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and outcome. However, the integration of the three cell death pathways into a prognostic signature has not yet been reported in HCC. This study aimed to investigate the association among cell death-related genes (CDRGs), prognosis, immune microenvironment, and immune checkpoint. Methods: The RNA expression profiles and corresponding clinical data of HCC were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC). Univariate Cox regression analysis was performed to identify the relevant prognostic genes, and Lasso Cox regression analysis was employed to calculate the risk score. The relationship between the risk score and clinicopathological characteristics, immune cell infiltration, and immune checkpoint expression was analyzed. Results: A prognostic risk model for HCC was constructed from the identified CDRGs and patients were subgrouped based on risk score. High-risk patients for HCC exhibited a significantly lower overall survival (OS) rate than the low-risk patients. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve demonstrated the predictive ability of the risk score. Patients in the high-risk group exhibited lower immune cell infiltration and higher expression levels of immune checkpoint molecules. Conclusions: The cell death-related signature established herein provides a valuable predictive tool for survival and holds promise as a potential therapeutic biomarker for HCC
Electrochemical DNA biosensor for the detection of infectious bronchitis virus using a multi-walled carbon nanotube-modified gold electrode
No full textInfectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the genus Gammacoronavirus. It primarily infects avian species, causing respiratory and renal disease and irreversible damage to the oviduct, which can lead to high mortality rates in chickens. The lack of rapid and reliable diagnostic tools for on-farm IBV detection hampers timely disease management and control measures. The introduction of DNA biosensors offers a promising approach for the sensitive and specific detection of IBV, facilitating rapid identification and intervention. In this study, an electrochemical DNA biosensor with a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-modified gold electrode was developed for IBV detection. The biosensor targeted the target-specific 5 ′ untranslated region (5′ -UTR) of the IBV genome. Under optimal conditions, the immobilization and hybridization efficiencies were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), with methylene blue as a redox indicator. The developed DNA biosensor demonstrated a dynamic detection range from 2.0 × 10−12 to 2.0 × 10−5 mol L−1 , with a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.6 nM and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.79 nM. Validation using a small subset of clinical samples, including crude complementary DNA, and polymerase chain reaction products, showed high recovery rates ranging from 95.41% to 99.55%. While these findings highlight the potential of the proposed DNA biosensor as an innovative diagnostic tool for IBV detection, this study remains a proof of concept. However, further validation using a large number of clinical samples is essential to assess its feasibility, robustness, and practical application in a real-world farm setting
Recent progress in sustainable fish byproduct utilisation: unveiling fish collagen as a potential wound healing agent
No full textUtilizing fish byproducts is a strategic focus on reducing waste from fish processing, garnering significant global attention from researchers and fish processors aiming for sustainable practices in line with Sustainable Development Goal 12 by 2030. One highly effective approach involves converting these byproducts into valuable commodities, such as collagen and its hydrolysates. Collagen is an important protein in living organisms that serve as fibrous structural components in the extracellular matrix. For last a decade, fish collagen has gained interest due to its superior physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, biodegradability, safety, and high absorption by the human body. These attributes make fish collagen a promising area of research, particularly for wound healing applications. This review covers the extraction procedures and characteristics of collagen derived from fish byproducts, providing a comprehensive overview of the methods used to obtain high-quality collagen. Additionally, it highlights recent research progress on the use of collagen as a wound healing agent, evaluated through both in vitro and in vivo studies. The review also addresses the challenges associated with applying collagen for wound healing, such as optimizing extraction methods, ensuring consistent quality, and overcoming potential regulatory hurdles. Furthermore, it presents a future perspective on the potential of fish collagen as an efficient and effective wound healing product, emphasizing its role in advancing biomedical research and applications. By offering new insights and stimulating further development in the utilization of fish collagen, this review aims to contribute to waste reduction in fish processing and enhance the economic value of byproducts. Thus, fish collagen holds significant promise as a sustainable and innovative solution in the biomedical field, aligning with global efforts to achieve sustainability and improve human health
Plant-based functional foods from Borneo
No full textBorneo, the third-largest island in the world, is shared between Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), Indonesia (Kalimantan) and Brunei. As a biodiversity hotspot, it is home to about 15,000 flowering plants and 3000 tree species, of which many are endemic to the region. Locally derived plant-based foods are gaining popularity due to their lower environmental impact, contribution to food sustainability and health benefits. The local fruits and vegetables of Borneo have been used traditionally by the indigenous community for medicinal purposes. This community knowledge can provide a valuable guide to their potential for use as functional foods. This review explores the contemporary foods from Borneo, including fruit, vegetables, seaweeds and plant-derived food products that are locally consumed. The findings show that the unique tropical food groups have a wide diversity of phytochemical compositions that possess a wide array of biological activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-proliferative, anti-fungal, wound healing and expectorant properties. The wide range of plant-based foods in Borneo deserves further development for wider applications as functional foods
Performance comparison of gravel- and oil palm shell-based constructed wetland mesocosms for copper, zinc and lead removal
No full textHeavy metal pollution in aquatic environment usually happens at low concentration. Current heavy metal removal technologies have high operational costs. Subsurface flow constructed wetland is a potential solution as it is a lowcost ecotechnology. The high production of underutilized oil palm shell in Malaysia poses a potential as an alternative media for constructed wetland in heavy metal removal. This study aimed to compare the feasibility of oil palm shells as alternative media to gravel in mesocosm-scale constructed wetland for the removal of copper, zinc and lead. All oil palm shell- and gravel-based mesocosm units, unplanted and planted with Typha angustifolia, were spiked with synthetic wastewater under batch drain-and-fill mode and operated at three days hydraulic retention time for 180 days. The removal of lead in both oil palm shell- and gravel-based mesocosms were consistently near 100%. Copper and zinc removals in the oil palm shellbased mesocosms were ranging at 93.11 - 100% and 97.75 - 100%, respectively. Whereas copper removal in the gravelbased mesocosms ranged at 92.13 - 99.98%. Although pH in the planted gravel-based mesocosm was near neutral (pH 6.47 - 7.43), plant presence reduced zinc removal from 99.93% (Day 228) to 66.37% (Day 405) in the gravel-based mesocosm. Higher removal of sulphate in the oil palm shell-based mesocosms suggested the occurrence of metal sulphideprecipitation. Oil palm shell-based mesocosms performed better than gravel-based mesocosms, both in unplanted and planted conditions. Further studies need to be done on the changes of media’s physicochemical properties after experiment as well as copper, zinc and lead mass balance to understand better the removal pathway of copper, zinc and lead in all the mesocosms
Polymorphism analysis of GDF9 and BMP15 genes and their association with litter size in crossbreed goats in Malaysia
No full textThe goat industry plays a crucial role in Malaysia's economy, with breeds such as Katjang and Boer being the integral to mutton supply. However, achieving self-sufficiency in goat meat production is still challenging due to the insufficient local carcass supply. To address this issue, a crossbreeding program has been initiated to improve reproductive performance in local breeds. In mammals, there are BMP15 and GDF9 genes which are the components of TGF-β superfamily that are key regulators of ovulation and litter size. This study aimed to improve reproductive performance in crossbred goats from Katjang and Boer populations in Sabah, Malaysia, by analyzing genetic variations in the BMP15 and GDF9 genes. A total of sixty female cross-Katjang goats, with recorded litter size and parities were sampled. Five milliliters of blood were taken from the jugular vein using K2-EDTA tubes. Genetic analysis was performed using conventional PCR at Biotechnology Research Institute, University Malaysia Sabah, followed by sequencing at Apical Scientific, Malaysia. Four novel polymorphic loci were identified within the GDF9 gene: G320C, A352G, G366T, and G375T. All of these loci resulted in missense mutations, causing a change in amino acid sequences. Notably, the A352G and G375T loci showed significant associations with litter size, with the AG genotype at position 352 and the GG genotype at position 375 emerging as potential markers for selective breeding. However, the polymorphic information content (PIC)values indicated low genetic diversity (< 0.25) at these loci. Interestingly, no polymorphisms were detected in the BMP15 gene, suggesting a monomorphic state (wild-type genotype) in the Cross-Katjang goat population. This finding indicates that BMP15 may not play a significant role in litter size variation in this crossbreed, shifting the focus towards GDF9 as a more relevant genetic marker for enhancing reproductive traits. This study provides important insights into the genetic factors influencing reproductive traits in crossbred goats, with potential applications in marker-assisted selection to improve reproductive and productivity performance