• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.137-141
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• 1991

Rumen liquor characteristics and disappearance rate of dry matter were studied in Kedah-Kelantan cattle and swamp buffaloes fed grass of rice straw-based diet. Cobalt-EDTA and chromium mordented fibres prepared from the faecal material were used to determine the liquid and solid particles movement in both animal species fed with rice straw. Swamp buffaloes showed a more intense rumen fermentation activity than Kedah-Kelantan cattle when both species were fed straw-based diet. The buffaloes also demonstrated faster rates of grass and straw degradation in situ. The fluid outflow rate from the rumen of buffalo ($1.06{\pm}0.19l/h$) was observed to be slower than that of cattle ($1.55{\pm}0.01l/h$). No significant differences between cattle and buffaloes were observed in rumen fluid volume and passage rate of small particles from the rumen.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.607-613
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• 1989

The validity of the hypothesis that between-breed differences of carcass composition in cattle can be reduced when compared at the same degree of maturity was assessed using carcass data of various breeds obtained from slaughter experiments in Denmark, Japan and Malaysia. All cattle were kept in intensive feeding conditions in this study. With respect to temperate data (Danish and Japanese data), although large between-breed differences were found in carcass composition in the comparison at the same slaughter weight, the differences were reduced when compared at the same degree of maturity. This result supported the above hypothesis. Kedah-Kelantan and their crosses in Malaysian data, however, had more muscle and bone contents but less fat content than temperate breeds, even if compared at the same degree of maturity. This could be attributed to the history that native Kedah-Kelantan breed has adapted itself in the direction of decreasing fat deposition which requires much energy and prevents heat evaporation, in order to survive under high temperature and high humiodity conditions in Malaysia. In spite of the same tropical breed, carcass composition of Sahiwal-Friesian was similar to that of other temperate breeds at the same degree of maturity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 1995

Energy obtained by grazing cattle in oil palm plantations is usually used for maintenance of body functions, the construction of body tissues and pregnancy, the synthesis of milk and the conversion to mechanical energy used for activities such as walking, eating and others. In this study, attempt was made to estimate metabolizable energy (ME) requirement of grazing cattle. Models of ME requirement (MER) for maintenance, gain, pregnancy, lactation and activities were developed. ME system and units were used because of wide recognition. Estimation of ME intake in grazing cattle was expressed as MEVI = $14.58{\times}VI{\times}DMD$, and under grazing condition MEVI = $MER_i$. MER was expressed as a function of net energy(NER, MJ) required for the i'th body function. Coefficient of efficiency for conversion of ME into net energy(ki) was adopted from literatures. Quantifying of ME requirement for Kedah-Kelantan cattle under grazing condition was made by using equation MERM = NEM / kn. The estimated values of MER for Kedah-Kelantan cattle is quite reasonable if compared with other estimates as reported in literatures from stall-fed animals. Dynamic MER models for grazing herd was developed in order to estimate ME requirement for maintenance and productions. These ME requirement models can be used for prediction of energy utilization pattern of the herd in the grazing systems.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.189-199
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• 2019

The objectives of this study are to propose the Integrated Waqf Environmental Protection Model (IWEP) and investigate the farmers' intention to adopt it. In developing the IWEP model and investigating farmers' willingness to adopt it, this study surveyed 400 farmers in Kedah. The intention of the farmers to adopt the proposed model was analysed by adding perceived barriers and socio-economic variables into the theory of reasoned action (TRA) model. The collected data were processed using structural equation modelling (SEM). The SEM results show that the subjective norm is positive and has a significant impact on the intentions of low-income farmers to accept the IWEP model. This indicates that the decision of the low-income farmers to accept the IWEP model is significantly influenced by their family members, neighbours and friends. Furthermore, awareness and perceived barriers have a greater impact on the elderly, highly educated and wealthy farmers. The findings indicate that the elderly, highly educated and wealthy farmers are aware of climate change and they perceive higher risks or barriers to climate change. As a result, they are more likely to have an adaptation intention. If we encourage people to create waqf fund, we can increase the value of the farmer and the country's total GDP.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.5-15
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• 2017

The Northern States of Malaysia comprises of four states (Penang, Kedah, Perlis and Perak) still record high poverty incidence eventhough Malaysia has experienced a remarkable reduction of poverty over the past century. Economic activities in Perlis and Kedah that are predominantly agriculture in the rural area contribute to this disparity. To add, rural households are also subject to risks and uncertainties that make them more vulnerable to poverty. This study examines the impact of risks and assets on households' vulnerability to poverty. A survey of 400 respondents was conducted in December 2015 in the northern region of Malaysia. From these 400 questionnaires, only 298 were considered valid and used in the analysis. Using a logistic probability function, the results indicated that risks are not a significant threat to households. Gender and strata are crucial elements that significantly determine households' vulnerability. While human capital and financial capital significantly reduce households' vulnerability to poverty, physical and natural capitals were not statistically significant. The study suggests that the government and practitioners design strategies and policies with an assets-based approach. The asset-based approach is more appropriate for linking the causes of poverty to vulnerability.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.569-573
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• 2016

Background: A colorectal cancer screening program was piloted in two districts of Kedah in 2013. There is scarcity of information on colorectal cancer screening in Malaysia. Objective: Thus, this research was conducted to evaluate the colorectal cancer screening program in the districts to provide insights intop its efficacy. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted using data on the colorectal cancer screening program in 2013 involving Kota Setar and Kuala Muda districts in Malaysia. We determined the response rate of immunochemical fecal occult blood test (iFOBT), colonoscopy compliance, and detection rates of neoplasia and carcinoma. We also compared the response of FOBT by demographic background. Results: The response rate of FOBT for first iFOBT screening was 94.7% while the second iFOBT screening was 90.7%. Participants from Kuala Muda district were 27 times more likely to default while Indians had a 3 times higher risk of default compared to Malays. The colonoscopy compliance was suboptimal among those with positive iFOBT. The most common finding from colonoscopy was hemorrhoids, followed by tubular adenoma. Detection rate of carcinoma and neoplasia for our program was 1.2%. Conclusions: In summary, the response rate of iFOBT was encouraging but the colonoscopy compliance was suboptimal which led to a considerably low detection rate.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.321-325
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• 2001

Two experiments were conducted to examine the degradation rates of 4 tropical legume forages in rumen and intestine of Kedah-Kelantan (KK) cattle. Three KK cattle, averaging $173{\pm}17.15kg$ each fitted with a permanent ruminal and a T-shaped duodenal cannulae were used. The cattle were fed a maintenance diet (1% DM of their body weight) composing of 60% oil palm frond (OPF) pellet and 40% of a legume mixture of Arachis pintoi (AP) and Leucaena throughout the study. The overall DM and CP degradabilities in the rumen for Gliricidia sepium (GS) and AP were significantly higher than those for Leucaena leucocephala-Bahru (LB) and Leucaena leucocephala-Rendang (LR). This implies that LB and LR would have higher dietary protein flows into the intestine for the more efficient enzymatic digestion. However, the results of the present study suggested only limited proportions of the ruminal undegraded protein in the Leucaenas were digested in the intestine.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.455-459
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• 1992

Five type of formulated diet from agricultural by-products (ABP) were fed to four breedtype of cattle in feedlot. The ABP used are palm kernel cake (PKC), palm press fibre (PPF), palm oil mill effluent (POME), cocoa pod (COP), coffee pulp (COF) and pineapple waste (PAP). The formulated diets are PS (52% PKC, 15% PPF and 30% POME), PF (57% PKC, 20% PPF and 20% POME), PA (2% PKC and 55% PAP), CO (42% PKC and 55% COP) and CF (67% PKC and 30% COF) with 1% urea, 1% NaCl and 1% vitamins premix. The cattle breedtypes are Kedah-Kelantan (KK), Brahman-KK (BK), Hereford-KK (HK) and Sahiwal-Friesian (SF). The result showed that breedtype significantly affect all the carcass characteristic except dressing percentage. Each breedtype has it's specific carcass characteristics. HK cattle gave high marbling, BK has high % of carcass bone, KK has high % of carcass meat and low % of carcass fat (lean meat type) and SF has high % of carcass fat. Diet-type significantly affect the deposition of fat in the carcass. High moisture diets (PA and CO) produced significantly higher % carcass bone, the lowest % carcass fat and the highest % carcass meat (65.3%). PF, CF, PA and CO diets produced 63.4%, 59.9%, 55.3% and 54.1% carcass meat respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 1995

This study showed that models of energy utilization(EU) developed for grazing cattle in oil palm plantations is valid as the simulated results shows an agreement with actual data of calves and cows body weight changes collected from Brahman x Kedah-Kelantan herd on Pengeli Timor Plantation. Simulation runs on EU models demonstrated that the growth pattern of male and female calves and the weight changes of cows are similar and showed slight variation from the actual data but with no significant difference (p > 0.05). Parameter values such as metabolizability (q), dry matter digestibility(DMD) of herbage and voluntary intake of grazing cattle (VIG) and faecal output/body weight ratio (F) of the animals which were collected from the field are essential in bearing the pattern of body weight changes of the calves and cows in relation to increase in time, physiological status and quality of herbage grazed by these animals in the production system. The EU models is suitable for determining the metabolizable energy requirements and to predict the production of grazing cattle according to quality of the feed on offer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1553-1558
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• 2015

Background: COX-2 has been shown to play an important role in the development of breast cancer and increased expression has been mooted as a poor prognostic factor. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between COX-2 immunohistochemical expression and known predictive and prognostic factors in breast cancer in a routine diagnostic histopathology setting. Materials and Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumour tissue of 144 no special type (NST) invasive breast carcinomas histologically diagnosed between January 2009 and December 2012 in Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar, Kedah were immunostained with COX-2 antibody. COX-2 overexpression was analysed against demographic data, hormone receptor status, HER2-neu overexpression, histological grade, tumour size and lymph node status. Results: COX-2 was overexpressed in 108/144 (75%) tumours and was significantly more prevalent (87%) in hormone receptor-positive tumours. There was no correlation between COX-2 overexpression and HER2/neu status. Triple negative cancers had the lowest prevalence (46%) (p<0.05). A rising trend of COX-2 overexpression with increasing age was observed. There was a significant inverse relationship with tumour grade (p<0.05), prevalences being 94%, 83% and 66% in grades 1, 2 and 3 tumours, respectively. A higher prevalence of COX-2 overexpression in smaller size tumours was observed but this did not reach statistical significance. There was no relationship between COX-2 expression and lymph node status. Conclusions: This study did not support the generally held notion that COX-2 overexpression is linked to poor prognosis, rather supporting a role in tumorigenesis. Larger scale studies with outcome data and basic studies on cancer pathogenetic pathways will be required to cast further light on whether COX-2 inhibitors would have clinical utility in cancer prevention or blockage of cancer progression. In either setting, the pathological assessment for COX-2 overexpression in breast cancers would have an important role in the selection of cancer patients for personalized therapy with COX-2 inhibitors.