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Full-Text Articles in Biotechnology

Descriptions Of Two New Species Of Simulium (Simulium) (Diptera: Simuliidae) From Tioman Island, Peninsular Malaysia, Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun Jan 2012

Descriptions Of Two New Species Of Simulium (Simulium) (Diptera: Simuliidae) From Tioman Island, Peninsular Malaysia, Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun

Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun

Two new species of black flies, Simulium (Simulium) jasmoni and S. (S.) tiomanense, are described on the basis of adult, pupal and larval specimens collected from Tioman Island, Pahang, Malaysia, and are placed in the tuberosum species-group in the subgenus Simulium (Simulium) Latreille. Simulium (S.) jasmoni, new species, is characterised by the female tarsal claw with a minute subbasal projection, an unusual characteristic within the species-group, and S. (S.) tiomanense, new species, is striking in having a dichoptic male head, a characteristic rarely recorded in the family Simuliidae, as well as the pupal thoracic integument with a pit-like organ near …


Relationships Of Black-Fly Species Of The Simulium Tuberosum Species-Group (Diptera: Simuliidae) In Peninsular Malaysia, With Keys To Ten Malaysian Species, Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun Jan 2012

Relationships Of Black-Fly Species Of The Simulium Tuberosum Species-Group (Diptera: Simuliidae) In Peninsular Malaysia, With Keys To Ten Malaysian Species, Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun

Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun

Two species of black flies, Simulium (Simulium) jasmoni Takaoka, Sofian-Azirun & Belabut, 2012 and S. (S.) tiomanense Takaoka, Sofian-Azirun & Belabut, 2012, described from Tioman Island, Pahang, Malaysia, are placed in two different lineages of the tuberosum species-group in the subgenus Simulium (Simulium) Latreille, and have close similarities to S. (S.) tani Takaoka & Davies, 1995 and S. (S.) brevipar Takaoka & Davies, 1995, respectively, which were the only members of the same species-group in the nearest mainland of Peninsular Malaysia. It is suggested that S. (S.) jasmoni and S. (S.) tani in one lineage, as well as S. (S.) …


Responses Of Sulfur, Nitrogen And Irrigation Water On Zea Mays Growth And Nutrients Uptake, Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun Jan 2011

Responses Of Sulfur, Nitrogen And Irrigation Water On Zea Mays Growth And Nutrients Uptake, Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun

Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun

Availability of both native and applied nutrients is one of the major constrains for plants growth in sandy calcareous soils. Elemental sulfur (S 0) is often applied to acidify calcareous soil which increases the availability of nutrients in soils. The present study was sought to examine the effect of S 0 combined with or without N under acidified (pH 6.5) and normal (pH >7.5) irrigation water on growth, apparent N-use efficiency (NUE) and uptake availability of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) by corn plants grown in calcareous soils. Elemental S at rates …


Effects Of Elemental Sulfur, Phosphorus, Micronutrients And Paracoccus Versutus On Nutrient Availability Of Calcareous Soils, Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun Jan 2011

Effects Of Elemental Sulfur, Phosphorus, Micronutrients And Paracoccus Versutus On Nutrient Availability Of Calcareous Soils, Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun

Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun

This study was carried out in the laboratory to investigate the effects of elemental sulfur (S-0), Paracoccus versutus (Pv), phosphorus (P) and micronutrients (DTPA extractable Fe+Mn+Zn) both singly and combined on nutrient availability of calcareous soils. Soils were collected from Al Semaih, Al Dhahrah and Melaiha in United Arab Emirates (UAE) and all soils were incubated at 40 +/- 2(0)C for 32, 64, 96 and 128 days. Soil pH dropped and S concentration increased significantly with the addition of S-0 alone or in combination with Pv, P and micronutrients in all types of soils. Elemental S application considerably increased the …


Susceptibility Of Field-Collected Aedes Aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) To Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis And Temephos, Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun Jan 2010

Susceptibility Of Field-Collected Aedes Aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) To Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis And Temephos, Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun

Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun

The susceptibility status of field-collected Aedes aegypti (L.) from a dengue endemic area to Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) and temephos was determined. Since August 2007, biweekly ovitrap surveillance (OS) was conducted for 12 mo in 2 sites, A & B, in Shah Alam, Selangor. Site A was treated with a Bti formulation, VectoBac® WG at 500 g/ha, from December 2007 - June 2008 while Site B was subjected to routine dengue vector control activities conducted by the local municipality. Aedes aegypti larvae collected from OS in both sites were bred until F3 and evaluated for their susceptibility. The larvae were …


Antibacterial Activity Of Propolis And Honey Against Staphylococcus Aureus And Escherichia Coli, Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun Jan 2010

Antibacterial Activity Of Propolis And Honey Against Staphylococcus Aureus And Escherichia Coli, Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun

Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun

The disc diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and gradient-plate techniques were implemented to evaluate the antibacterial activity of honey and propolis against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The growth of S. aureus was inhibited by application of propolis and honey at concentrations of 2.74 to 5.48 mg ml(-1) and 375.0 at mg ml(-1), respectively at both MIC and MBC. The greater inhibition zones (13.0 +/- 0.09 to 15.0 +/- 0.11 mm) were observed from propolis at concentrations of 2.74 to 5.48 mg ml(-1) in the disc diffusion method which was closely correlated with the MIC, …


Vertical Dispersal Of Aedes (Stegomyia) Spp. In High-Rise Apartments In Putrajaya, Malaysia, Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun Dec 2009

Vertical Dispersal Of Aedes (Stegomyia) Spp. In High-Rise Apartments In Putrajaya, Malaysia, Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun

Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun

A preliminary study on the vertical dispersal of Aedes populations in high-rise apartments was carried out in Presint 9, Putrajaya, Malaysia. Ovitraps were placed indoors within four blocks of high-rise apartments from the ground floors (0.0 - 3.0 m) until up to the tenth floors (28.1 - 30.0 m). Aedes aegypti was the dominant species found in the ovitraps (87.85%), while Aedes albopictus was found in lower numbers. From total number of larvae collected (650), 40.92% of these larvae were obtained from the fourth block; Block D. The peak density of Aedes sp. was observed at level 6 (16.1 - …


Laboratory Bioefficacy Of Nine Commercial Formulations Of Temephos Against Larvae Of Aedes Aegypti (L.), Aedes Albopictus Skuse And Culex Quinquefasciatus Say, Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun Jan 2009

Laboratory Bioefficacy Of Nine Commercial Formulations Of Temephos Against Larvae Of Aedes Aegypti (L.), Aedes Albopictus Skuse And Culex Quinquefasciatus Say, Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun

Mohd Sofian Bin Azirun

The bioefficacy of nine commercial formulations of temephos against Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae were evaluated in the laboratory. WHO larval bioassay with operational dosage of temephos at 1 mg/L was performed. The larval mortality was recorded every 5 minutes until complete mortality was achieved. All formulations of temephos exhibited various toxicity level against Ae. aegypti, Ae. albopictus and Cx. quinquefasciatus. Generally, larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus was susceptible to all formulations of temephos, followed by Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus.