13474 research outputs found
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Analisis semantik kata pinjaman Bahasa Inggeris dalam buku teks Bahasa Jepun / Roslinda Mohamad Radzi
No full textKata pinjaman daripada bahasa lain merupakan fenomena yang kebiasaannya dijumpai dalam banyak bahasa di dunia. Menurut Payne (2006), kata pinjaman membawa maksud penutur dalam sesuatu bahasa menganggap perkataan, morfem atau pembentukan daripada bahasa lain sebagai leksikal dalam bahasa sendiri. Kata pinjaman bahasa Inggeris yang digunakan dalam bahasa Jepun juga turut disesuaikan dalam bentuk penulisan. Oleh itu, kajian ini dijalankan bagi melihat jenis-jenis pinjaman dan juga aspek perubahan semantik kata pinjaman dalam bahasa Inggeris yang digunakan dalam bahasa Jepun dalam buku teks Bahasa Jepun Tingkatan 5, Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia. Pendekatan Myers-Scotton (2006) dan Horikawa (2013) digunakan bagi melihat jenis-jenis pinjaman dan Analisis Komponen Makna oleh Nida (1975) pula digunakan bagi mengkaji perubahan semantik dalam kata pinjaman ini. Kajian ini adalah berbentuk deskriptif dan dibincangkan dalam bentuk carta pai, carta bar dan jadual. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahawa terdapat empat jenis pinjaman yang digunakan dalam bahasa Jepun iaitu pinjaman teras, pinjaman budaya, pinjaman teras/Barat dan pinjaman teras/budaya. Pinjaman teras merupakan pinjaman yang yang paling banyak digunakan dalam buku teks bahasa Jepun. Kata pinjaman juga turut mengalami perubahan semantik iaitu melalui pengurangan makna, pemilikan makna baru dan peluasan makna
Fluorescence spectroscopic and molecular modelling studies on the molecular interaction mechanism of bromodeoxyuridine with human serum albumin / Amira Adlin Roslan
No full textThe interaction of a nucleoside analogue, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) with human serum albumin (HSA) was studied to investigate the binding phenomenon and analyze the protein conformation upon BrdU binding. Multiple spectroscopic techniques, viz. intrinsic and three-dimensional (3-D) fluorescence, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy along with molecular docking were used. A decrease in the Stern-Volmer constant (Ksv) with the increase in temperature suggested BrdU-induced quenching of protein fluorescence as static quenching and thus implied BrdU−HSA complex formation. This was also supported by UV-Vis absorption spectral results, showing hyperchromism in the absorption spectrum of HSA upon BrdU addition. Intermediate binding affinity between BrdU and HSA was evident from the Ka values (2.49−3.97 × 104 M−1), while BrdU−HSA complex formation was driven by hydrophobic and van der Waals interactions along with hydrogen bonds, as revealed by thermodynamic data (ΔS = +28.48 J mol−1 K−1; ΔH = −17.16 kJ mol−1). The feasibility of the binding reaction was confirmed from the negative sign of ΔG values. The binding reaction was found to be exothermic in nature, as disclosed by the negative ΔH value, which also supported the decrease in the Ka value with increasing temperature. Minor changes occurred in both secondary and tertiary structures as well as in the fluorophores' microenvironment of HSA, as recognized from the CD spectral results in the far-UV and the near-UV regions and 3-D fluorescence spectra, respectively. Use of site markers (warfarin and indomethacin for the site I; diazepam for site II), as well as docking results, suggested BrdU binding to both site I (more preferred) and site II, located in subdomains IIA and IIIA, respectively, of HSA. A small but significant influence of several metal ions on the binding reaction between BrdU and HSA was also noticed
A comparative genre analysis of Malaysian and English Court of appeal judgements / Ahmad Zaki Chamil
No full textThis genre-based research examines and compares the rhetorical structures of Malaysia and England and Wales Court of Appeal judgements. This comparative genre study is motivated by a statement by the former Malaysian Judge of the High Court, Dato’ Syed Ahmad Idid and Umar A. Oseni (2011) in a writing guide book that presents a standard model to write legal judgements that can be adapted to all legal jurisdictions across the world. Normativity statements about the dos and don’ts on how to write judgements are valid and essential to the legal practices but this normative approach does not necessarily describe the compositional discoursal features and language use of legal judgements. Furthermore, a prescriptive standard model that can be adapted to all legal jurisdiction across the world might not reflect the actual comparative similarities and differences of legal judgements between legal systems. Consequently, Dato’ Syed Ahmad Idid’s and Umar. A. Oseni’s book presents a descriptive research prospect that could accompany the normative worldview of legal judgements. Following these motivations, twenty court of appeal legal judgements from the Malaysian and English legal system in the year 2017 are selected through purposeful (non-probabilistic) sampling. Adapting and modifying Bhatia’s (1993) framework, a bottom-up analysis is conducted to identify and categorize the rhetorical structures and communicative purposes of legal judgements from the Malaysia and English legal systems. The findings indicate that the legal judgements from both legal systems are generally identical at the higher level of communicative purposes and Moves and different at the lower level of Steps. Additionally, a new Move, ‘Introducing the Case’ is discovered in the legal judgements of both legal systems. Furthermore, expanding on the issue of linguistic resources, reporting type verbs in each Move of the legal judgements are categorized to determine their functions. Nine functional categories have been identified. However, the findings and conclusions of this research are limited to the selected twenty Court of Appeal legal judgements of Malaysia and England and Wales
Evaluation of wound healing potential, antioxidant activity, acute toxicity and gastro protective effect of 2-pentadecanone in ethanol induced gastric mucosal ulceration in rats / Sareh Kamran
No full textWound is an injury to normal tissue that can happen either externally or internally such as wound in skin tissue or stomach tissue. Compound 2-pentadecanone a ketone derivative, has been identified in some plants, and was reported to have anti-bacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate skin wound healing and gastro-protective potential effect of 2-pentadecanone in Sprague dawley rats. Acute toxicity assay was performed to detect safety of 2-pentadecanone. In the evaluation of skin wound healing, dorsal neck of rats were induced wounds and topically treated with 2-pentadecanone for 10 days. Meanwhile, for gastroprotective study, rats were pre-treated orally with 2-pentadecanone and gastric ulcer was induced by absolute ethanol. Next, skin tissues and stomach tissues were collected for tissue homogenate preparation. Analysis of anti-oxidant effect of 2-pentadecanone in tissue homogenate (superoxide dismutase, catalase and malonialdehyde level determination), percentage of skin wound closure, percentage of stomach ulcer inhibition, macroscopic observations, histological staining (Hematoxylin and Eosin, Masson Trichrome and periodic acid schiff) and immunohistochemistry (HSP70 and BAX) were performed on skin and stomach tissues. Additionally, the level of nitric oxide was measured in stomach tissue. Anti-oxidant effect of 2-pentadecanone on both skin and stomach tissue homogenate was detected. Treatment of skin wounds and pre-treatment of stomachs with 2-pentadecanone resulted in over expression of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes and reduction in malonialdehyde level in tissue homogenate in both samples. In studies, percentage of wound closure, percentage of stomach ulcer inhibition, macroscopic and histological analysis of wounded skin and stomach tissues revealed a positive result of 2-pentadecone applications. Immunohistochemistry assay showed up-regulation of Hsp70 and down-regulation of Bax protein in skin granulation tissue of treated groups with 2-pentadecanone and stomach tissues of pre-treated rats with this compound. The present results suggested that 2-pentadecanone has promising wound healing and gastro-protective potential effect
Potential of human deciduous periodontal ligament stem cells for use in hepatic lineage and their exosome application on hepatic injuries / Punitha R. Vasanthan
No full textIntroduction: Human deciduous periodontal ligament stem cells represent as
another source of stem cells from the dental origin. These cells were shown to have
multi-potential attributes and also self renewing ability. These easily accessible
stem cells candidate could also resolve issues concerning ethical and compatability
for the use in regenerative purposes. However, their efficiency towards hepatic
lineage differentiation has not been addressed so far. Meanwhile, the main
contributor for regenerative properties were supposedly mediated by soluble
factors and extracellular vesicles such as exosomes secreted by cells. Objectives:
The aims of this study are to isolate, characterize and also to investigate the
propensity of stem cells derived from periodontal ligament towards hepatic lineage.
Besides that, the emergence of cell free based treatment have prompted the study
on exosomes derived from periodontal ligament stem cells and their relevance in
hepatic injury. Methods: Periodontal stem cells derived from human deciduous
tooth were isolated and characterized using the gold standard characterization
method. Differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells into hepatocyte-like
cells were conducted by the exposure of two phases media induction. First phase
was performed in the presence of Hepatocyte growth factors and Nicotinamide to
induce a definitive endoderm formation. In the subsequent phase, the cells were
treated with Oncostatin M, Dexamethosone and Insulin Transferrin to generate
hepatocyte-like cells. Hepatic-related characters of the generated hepatocyte-like
cells were determined at both mRNA and protein level. Furthermore, functional
assay was conducted to examine the functionality of the hepatocyte-like cells. On
the other hand, the extracellular vesicles components were characterized prior to
the application into assisting in in vitro hepatic injury induced by hydrogen
peroxide on HepG2 cells. Polymer based precipitation were employed to isolate
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exosomes and subjected to assessments on surface markers and protein
quantification. Results: Foremost changes observed in the generation of
hepatocyte-like cells were the morphological features in which these cells were
transformed from fibroblastic shape to polygonal shape. Temporal expression of
hepatic markers ranging from early endodermal up to late markers were detected
in the hepatocyte-like cells. Differentiated periodontal ligament stem cells
exhibited functional features of a hepatocyte during and at the end of the
experiment duration. Crucial hepatic markers such as glycogen storage, albumin
and urea secretion were also shown. In addition, exosomes isolated from
periodontal ligament stem cells displayed positive exosome markers with
correlation between cell confluence and exosome release. As for the in vitro hepatic
injury, exosome from periodontal ligament stem cells conditioned media showed
reduction in terms of HepG2 cells injuries after being exposed to oxidative stress.
Conclusions: These findings exhibited the ability of periodontal ligament stem
cells to be directed into hepatic lineage fate contributing towards usage beyond
tooth regeneration. Along with that, the exosomes from periodontal ligament stem
cells displayed hepatoprotective attributes in terms of reduction of oxidative stress.
Ultimately, these cells can be regarded as an alternative autologous source potential
not only for stem cell based treatment but also as a compelling alternative for non
viable or cell free treatment in liver diseases.
Keywords: periodontal ligament, stem cells, hepatocytes, exosome
Effect of different types of static mixer geometry on quality of microbubble generation / Tee Wu Yang
No full textThis research project is mainly focused on the impact of different types of static mixer on the quality of microbubble generation. The design of the microbubble generation consists of venturi to allow the air intake by using pressure difference and then different static mixer geometry are tested to investigate the effect on bubble rising time and dissolved oxygen (DO). At the first part of study, the work comprises of the relationship of bubble rising time at different pressures and bubble diameter at different pressures. It has proved that higher pressure will induce small bubble diameter and the bubble rising time increases when pressure applied is increasing. Moreover, the factors that influences dissolve oxygen (DO) are studied as well. It is known that longer bubble rising time will have greater DO as the bubble rising time is a representation of bubble diameter. Therefore, it has recorded that the DO surged up by 40% when the diameter of bubble is reduced by 12% in this study. Also, the implementation of different types of static mixer geometry has significant improvement in DO and smaller bubbles are generated. The result is obvious when static glass marbles are used together with static mixer. The DO has been improved by around 10% when 2-phase marbles are applied together with static mixer compared to case with static mixer only. This is a result as greater bubble shredding in turbulence flow is found when multiple static mixers with different geometry are added into the system
A study on the performance of University Malaya campus bus service using dwell time model and passenger distribution analysis / Gan Jia Jiun
No full textAccessibility and mobility are key to a sustainable transport system for the community within a green university campus. To encourage more sustainable transport usage, public transport such as campus bus service are provided for students to commute between academic buildings and residential areas on campus. The current operating timetable of the campus bus service is made by the Student Affairs Division based on the observation of bus service in the past few years. This research aimed to study the capability of the campus bus service in University of Malaya (UM) to accommodate the demand of students. A survey questionnaire was distributed among students to identify their transportation mode, willingness and satisfaction level on current campus bus service. To identify the congruity and appropriateness of the current bus timetable, a passenger count survey was done to identify the distribution of passenger demand. The passenger count data was analysed with respective bus capacity to obtain the passenger load factor (PLF). PLF was used to identify the capability of the current bus service to cater to passenger demand. Besides, the bus trip time data was analysed with passenger count data to study and evaluate the effectiveness of the campus bus service. Other than the number of passengers boarding and alighting, the station type, bus type used, and PLF also affected bus dwell time. A statistical software, Minitab was used to construct dwell time models through multiple linear regression analysis and examine the effect of PLF on dwell time. Bus timetable optimisation was used to generate a demand-based bus timetable for the UM campus bus routes. The proposed bus timetable has shorter dwell time and passenger waiting time than the current bus timetable. By implementing the proposed optimal bus timetable, the transit capacity, speed, and reliability of UM’s campus bus service can be enhanced
Radiation modified chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol film with polyvinyl pyrrolidone coating for heavy metal ion removal / Norhashidah Talip
No full textChitosan (CS) / Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) films were obtained by solution casting
method. To be used in the water treatment application, these film need to be improved
in mechanical strength. In this study, 2% (w/v) chitosan and 5% (w/v) PVA were blend
at different CS: PVA weight ratios (50:50, 70:30 and 90:10). These mixtures were then
transformed into films by solution casting method. Mechanical properties of the films
were evaluated using tensile strength test where, at 70:30 of CS: PVA ratio gave the
best tensile strength. Therefore, this composition was selected to proceed with the
radiation modification with Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone (PVP) coating. CS/PVA films were
modified with layer of PVP and exposure to irradiation to improve its mechanical
strength. The films were dipped into different concentrations of PVP solutions at 1%,
3% and 5% (w/v). They were then exposed to gamma radiation at 5,10,20 and 30 kGy.
The tensile strength of CS/PVA films coated with 1% PVP was found to increase up to
31%. Elongation at break was improved by 1% PVP coating. Chemical structures of the
films were obtained by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). It showed that
gamma irradiation might form crosslinking between the polymers chain. Morphology
characteristic was done using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Atomic force
microscope (AFM). Surface morphology proved that by PVP coating and gamma
irradiation increases the roughness of the films. Results obtained from SEM and X-ray
diffraction (XRD) showed the compatibility between all the polymers used in this film.
Adsorption capability of modified CS/PVA films towards copper (Cu) and lead (Pb)
ions showed no significant different when compared with the original CS/PVA film.
While for adsorption of zinc (Zn) ion, modified CS/PVA showed the amount of Zn ion
adsorbed was increased at 1% PVP coating compared with unmodified CS/PVA films.
Can be concluded that modification of CS/PVA film with gamma irradiation and PVP
coating improved the mechanical strength of CS/PVA film and sustained the adsorption
capability of the film towards heavy metals ion such as Cu, Pb and Zn ions. Therefore,
this modification is suitable to be used in water treatment application towards heavy
metals ion adsorption
Development of a protection motivation theory based questionnaire for measuring parental digital security practice in Malaysia / Muhd Zulfadli Hafiz Ismail
No full textKnowledge on parental digital security, which is the parental practice of
maintaining the safety of their children online, is crucial to produce good digital citizens.
Protection motivation theory (PMT) is a useful theoretical model for explaining
protective behaviour and understanding this practice. Many studies and tools for
exploring protective behaviour have been produced based on PMT, but there is no
assessment tool available for assessing parents’ digital security practice in the Malaysian
context. Thus, the development of an assessment tool that reflects Malaysian parents’
digital security practice based on established frameworks such as the PMT is essential.
Therefore, this study attempted to develop a PMT-based instrument for measuring the
digital security practice of Malaysian parents and to explain the factors that determine
these practices based on the PMT domains. The study was conducted over 2 years from
January 2018 to December 2019. It consisted of three major phases: item development,
scale development and scale evaluation. Item development consisted of domain
identification, item generation, content validity and translation, and involved a systematic
review of the literature and engagement with experts and stakeholders. Scale development
focused on pretesting, test-retest reliability and pilot testing for exploratory factor
analysis. Scale evaluation involved path analysis of the domains and confirmatory factor
analysis. The scale development and scale evaluation phases involved Malaysian parents
with children below 18-years-old who were selected through purposive sampling, which
involved two government clinics in Selangor, three private clinics, one each in Selangor,
Perlis and Sabah, and three workplaces in the Klang Valley. The output item development
was a bilingual 54-item questionnaire covering seven domains: perceived susceptibility,
perceived severity, perceived self-efficacy, perceived response efficacy, perceived
maladaptive reward, perceived response cost and parental digital security practice. Scale
development resulted in three items being dropped due to poor reliability and poor
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loading, and nine domains: perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived self�efficacy, perceived response efficacy, perceived tangible cost, perceived psychological
cost, perceived maladaptive reward, discursive digital security practice and control
digital security practice. In the scale evaluation phase, the remaining 51 items showed
good discriminant and convergent validity, and both measurement and structural model
assessment of the domains were adequate. Further analysis revealed that perceived self�efficacy (β= 0.30, p < 0.001), perceived response efficacy (β= 0.20, p=0.01) and perceived
maladaptive reward (β=-0.20, p < 0.001) to be significant determinants of parental digital
security practice. The model was able to explain 34% variation of parental digital security
practice. The study contributes to knowledge by producing a validated instrument for
measuring parental digital security practice in Malaysia. It also identifies the major
determinants of parental digital security practice based on the PMT domains. The
validated instrument has the potential to be utilised further to understand cyber parenting
practices in general. The study also highlights that efforts need to be made to improve
parental efficacy and reduce their perceived maladaptive rewards to keep their children
safe online because these factors have a major influence on the effectiveness of parental
digital security practice.
Keywords: Cyber parenting, digital, citizenship, security, protection motivation theory
Evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy and utility of a new dengue rapid diagnostic test in Malaysia / Chong Zhuo Lin
No full textDengue is an emerging arboviral disease endemic to many tropical countries including
Malaysia. Due to its unspecific symptoms, dengue diagnosis can only be confirmed
through diagnostic tests. Existing laboratory-based dengue diagnostics like enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is accurate in detecting dengue non-structural
protein-1 (NS1), and anti-dengue immunoglobulin M (IgM) and G (IgG); but is also more
complicated and time-consuming. Commercially available dengue rapid
immunochromatographic test (RIT) is efficient but less sensitive. A new dengue rapid
diagnostic rest (RDT) using biosensors may be both efficient and accurate in diagnosing
acute dengue. This study evaluated this new dengue NS1-based RDT and compare its
diagnostic accuracy and utility with a NS1/IgM/IgG combo RIT using a phase III
diagnostic evaluation study design. It also examined the effect of various study
characteristics on test performance. Firstly, a systematic review and meta-analysis was
performed to review the performance of various RITs for the diagnosis of acute dengue.
The effect of various study characteristics on test performance was explored through
subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Secondly, after a case-control pre-test of the new RDT
in a laboratory on archived samples found it to be useful; it was evaluated together with
a RIT in a cross-sectional study in a public clinic on prospectively and consecutively
recruited patients for the diagnosis of acute dengue infection, using established laboratory
tests as reference standard. Subgroup analyses was also performed parallel to that of the
systematic review. The systematic review and meta-analysis identified SD Bioline
Dengue Duo as the most evaluated RIT with rather good performance. Study design,
virus serotype, previous dengue exposure, disease phase, RIT brand, and reference test,
were found to modify test accuracy. In the primary study, the sensitivity (SN) and
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specificity (SP) of the new RDT – ViroTrack Dengue Acute NS1, were 62.3% (95%CI
55.6-68.7) and 95.0% (95%CI 91.7- 97.3), as compared to that of SD NS1/IgM/IgG
combo RIT at 82.4% (95%CI 76.8-87.1) and 87.4% (95%CI 82.8-91.2) (both p<0.001),
respectively. In addition, NS1/IgM/IgG combination would produce less false negatives
compared to NS1-only test. The pattern by which different study characteristics affected
test performance was found to be similar in both the review and primary study. Although
ViroTrack had rather good diagnostic performance and utility, it had significantly lower
SN compared to SD NS1/IgM/IgG RIT. Hence, the latter was superior to ViroTrack as
it would miss less dengue patients. Detection of more dengue patients allows clinical
management and vector control activities to be administered where they are needed, thus
reducing disease mortality and morbidity. Future combination of serology components
to ViroTrack has to be evaluated anew together with currently available RIT using phase
III cross-sectional design with consecutive sampling, and proven more accurate, before it
can be considered better alternatives to the existing ones.
Keywords: dengue, rapid diagnostic test, biosensors, evaluation, diagnostic performanc