Universiti Malaysia Terengganu Journal of Undergraduate Research

MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF Lutjanus lutjanus and Lutjanus vitta FROM TERENGGANU

NUR ASMA ARIFFIN — 2024-04-29

Snapper is a fish that belong to family Lutjanidae and order Perciformes. It can be found at tropical and subtropical mangrove habitats and reef from depth ranging from 100m to 500m. Lutjanus lutjanus and Lutjanus vitta are two of the snappers found inhibiting Malaysia coastal waters including Terengganu. However, both species has almost the similar morphological features and identification via morphology only is insufficient. A total of 60 samples were collected from Besut, Kuala Nerus, Kuala Terengganu, and Marang. The samples were firstly identified via morphometric and meristic characterization with 39 morphological characters were measured and 7 meristic characters were counted. A total of 10 samples that has many overlapping morphological features were chosen to undergo molecular identification via DNA barcoding using CO1 gene. Results revealed all morphological characteristics for both species except the number of gills rakers for L. vitta, were matched the description from previous study. Molecular identification showed 5 samples were identified as L. Lutjanus while another 5 samples were L. vitta with 99 % of percentage identical. The constructed phylogenetic using Neighbour Joining method with Kimura-2 Parameter (K2P) model indicate that both species were divided into their own clades. The result further confirmed the identity of the fish species that previously identified via morphometric measurement and meristic count as L. lutjanus, and L. vitta, respectively. The study proved that DNA barcoding is very helpful in determining the identity of fish with ambiguity in morphological characteristics. For future research, it is recommended to use fresh samples, increase the number of samples from other states and continue to validate the identity via DNA barcoding using CO1 gene.

DNA BARCODING TO RESOLVE MORPHOLOGICAL AMBIGUITY OF YELLOWFIN SNAPPER, Lutjanus xanthopinnis FROM TERENGGANU

NUR ASMA ARIFFIN — 2024-04-29

Lutjanus species that belong to family Lutjanidae is a common species in Malaysia. The fish which also known as snapper are the fish that can be found in abundance in most fish landings, including at Terengganu. One of the species is Lutjanus xanthopinnis or commonly known as yellowfin snapper. However, their morphological characteristics were doubted as it is hard to be distinguish by morphometric and meristic identification alone. This study was conducted by collecting 60 samples from fish landing area in Besut, Kuala Nerus, Kuala Terengganu and Marang, Terengganu. Two types of approaches were used in this study, namely morphometric and meristic identification, followed by molecular identification using the CO1 gene marker for the five morphological ambiguous samples. A total of 40 morphometric measurements and 9 meristic measurements were taken. The results from morphometric and meristic identification indicate the possible species was the L. xanthopinnis as there were three characters of meristic counts were similar to the previous report while there was additional one ray of soft dorsal fin rays and soft anal fin rays, respectively. However, the number of gills rakers were lesser than the reported. Molecular identification for the five samples however revealed that three samples were identified as L. xanthopinnis, one sample as L. vitta and L. lutjanus, respectively with 99 % to 100 % percentage of identical. The study proved that molecular identification via DNA barcoding is a complementary tool to morphological identification for more accurate identification. It is recommended that fresh samples should be used in future study besides taking more samples from other states. DNA barcoding should also continue to be used in species validation to achieve the highest accuracy as possible

INVESTIGATING THE PREDICTORS OF INTENTION TO PARTICIPATE IN E-WASTE RECYCLING AMONG UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA TERENGGANU STUDENTS

ELDONNA JOE JOBIT — 2024-04-29

E-waste is an existential problem for the environment and its inhabitants. This study intends to examine the relationship between environmental concern (EC), perceived behavior control (PBC), and attitude (ATT) towards the intention to practice e-waste recycling (INT) among students in Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). Data was conveniently collected from 446 students. Smart PLS 4 was used for the analysis of the structural model. The analysis of data from 446 questionnaires revealed that EC, PBC, ATT, have significant influence on students’ INT, with ATT having the strongest influence. This research may aid policymakers in gaining a greater comprehension of students’ intention to participate in e-waste recycling. This is very helpful in paving the way for a successful e-waste recycling and management system not only at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), but also in other states in Malaysia and other countries with similar e-waste issues.

HOST SPECIFICITY, INFECTION DYNAMICS, AND ALLERGENICITY IN ANISAKIS SPP. INFESTATION: A REVIEW

RUO YI LAM — 2024-04-29

This review article's main focus is on the host specificity, infection dynamics, and allergenicity of Anisakis spp. infestations, that have been linked to major health issues for the general public. To achieve this goal, a comprehensive bibliographical search was conducted using online sources such as ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, PubMed Central, Springer Link, and Wiley Online Library. These sources provided a diverse range of articles, research papers and other relevant literature on the subject and provided valuable insights. Anisakis spp. have complex life cycles, mainly marine animals as their primary host, providing a suitable environment for their growth and reproduction. Through the feces of their hosts, their eggs are released into the sea and grow into free-swimming larvae (L2), which infect intermediate hosts like crustaceans. The L2 larvae develop into L3 and are eaten by fish, squid, or cephalopods as paratenic hosts, whilst humans and ducks become unintentional hosts when they consume contaminated seafood. Human gastroenteritis is the most prevalent illness produced by L3 larvae penetrating the gastric wall. Anisakiasis causes stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, or severe allergies can lead to death. Eleven allergen proteins were isolated and identified from Anisakis spp., Ani s 1, Ani s 4, Ani s 5, Ani s 6, Ani s 7, Ani s 8, Ani s 9, Ani s 10, Ani s 11 and Anis 12. Ani s 1, Ani s 5 and Ani s 9, are heat-stable, and persist post-cooking. The host specificity, infection dynamics, and allergenicity of Anisakis spp. infestations have yet to be fully explored in the literature, making this review a unique contribution to its field.

A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL SAFETY AND BACTERIAL BIOFILM FORMATION OF FRESH VEGETABLES

WAN ZAWIAH WAN ABDULLAH — 2024-04-29

Fresh vegetables are usually eaten raw and do not receive any treatment to ensure adequate removal or inactivation of harmful microorganisms prior to eating. Food-borne disease associated with the consumption of fresh vegetables appear to be rising. Farming practices, post-harvest processing and condition of storage have effect on microbial communities for fresh vegetables. Salmonella spp, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria are common foodborne pathogenic bacteria associated with the consumption of fresh vegetables. Biofilm, is characterized as by population of bacteria firmly adhered to a surface and these communities provide longer survival and resistance to adverse conditions such as presence of disinfectants and antibiotics. Attachment of bacteria to plant surface or biofilm formation is the initial step towards the contamination in fresh vegetable. This review emphasizes on pre- and post- harvest contaminant in the safety of fresh vegetables, bacterial biofilm formation and food safety strategies to reduce risk and the foodborne disease outbreaks linked to fresh produce

TEKANAN DAN KONFLIK KERJA-KELUARGA SEBAGAI FAKTOR PERAMAL KEPADA KEPUASAN HIDUP JURURAWAT

R ZIRWATUL AIDA R IBRAHIM — 2024-04-29

Kepuasan hidup adalah persepsi seseorang tentang kehidupan sekarang dan kehidupan yang akan dilaluinya pada masa akan datang. Literatur menunjukkan bahawa tekanan dan konflik kerja-keluarga mempengaruhi kepuasan hidup pekerja dalam organisasi. Oleh itu, Kajian ini dijalankan adalah untuk mengkaji faktor tekanan dan konflik kerja-keluarga sebagai peramal kepada kepuasan hidup jururawat di sebuah hospital di Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Menggunakan persampelan rawak mudah, 226 responden terdiri daripada 68 orang jururawat lelaki (28.9%) dan 159 orang jururawat perempuan (67.7%). Responden telah diberikan soal selidik berkaitan tekanan, konflik kerja-keluarga, dan kepuasan hidup melalui pautan Google Form. Ketiga-tiga pembolehubah ini diukur menggunakan tiga instrumen, iaitu Perceived Stress Scale-14, Work Family-conflict Scale dan Satisfaction with Life Scale. Dapatan analisis korelasi menunjukkan tekanan dan konflik kerja-keluarga mempunyai hubungan negatif yang signifikan dengan kepuasan hidup, dengan nilai r masing-masing adalah (r = -0.069, p < 0.05) dan (r = -0.150, p < 0.05). Seterusnya, dapatan analisis regresi berganda mendapati hanya konflik kerja-keluarga yang mempunyai kesan negatif yang signifikan terhadap kepuasan hidup jururawat di salah sebuah hospital di Kelantan (β = -0.150, p < 0.05). Hasil daripada kajian ini dijangka akan menyumbang kepada literatur yang berkaitan dengan bidang. Selain itu, kajian ini dapat memberi manfaat kepada organisasi bagi meningkatkan kepuasan hidup pekerja organisasi dengan memastikan persekitaran kerja yang lebih kondusif dan bebas daripada tekanan dan konflik.