Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan - Monograf

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3d sex prediction model in malays using lower second molar
(2026-02)
Hong, Tan Zong
Sex prediction models play a crucial role in forensic science, particularly in disaster victim identification (DVI), by reducing the potential identification pool by approximately half. Sex is also a fundamental component of the biological profile, as it forms the basis for estimating other parameters such as age and stature. To date, no studies have investigated sex prediction using occlusal traits—specifically intercuspal distance (ICD), interpit distance (IPD), and total length of the central groove (TLCG)—within the Northeastern Malay population of Malaysia. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between occlusal traits of the lower second molar and sex among the northeastern Malay population. Measurements of ICD, IPD, and TLCG were obtained indirectly from 3D dental casts of 200 Malay individuals (100 males and 100 females) using 3-Matics software. An independent t-test was conducted to assess sexual dimorphism between sexes. Sex prediction models were developed using four machine learning approaches: Logistic Regression (LR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and Decision Tree (DT). The results demonstrated that mean values of ICD, IPD, and TLCG were generally higher in males than in females, except for the ML–MB distance. Among the models tested, LR achieved the best performance, with an area under the curve value (AUC) of 0.70. Stepwise LR analysis identified ML–MB (p = 0.008), MB–DB (p = 0.014), and MB–DL (p = 0.007) as significant predictors of sex. Two of the variables studied were statistically significantly larger in males than females. The percentages of sexual dimorphism ranged from 0.3-7.4%. The highest sex prediction model was LR and yielded fair classification (classification accuracy = 0.63, AUC value = 0.70). Other models yielded poor classification.
9th International conference on biosience, biochemistry & bioinformatics 2018.
(2019)
Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 4 (TRPM4) is overexpressed in activated B-cell-like subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (ABC-DLBCL) associated with poor survival. In this study, its functions in the disease and the potency of its inhibitor 9-phenanthrol were investigated. The biological functions associated with TR.PM4 mRNA expression were examined through Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) in ABC-DLBCL cases (n=15). The cytotoxicity of 9-phenanthrol in three ABC-DLBCL cell lines (SUDHL2, OCI-LY3, OCI-LYIO) was tested at six different concentrations (0.0InM, 0.1 nM, InM, lOnM, 25nM, 50nM). GSEA results showed that cell cycle gene sets conferred the highest number of gene sets representing 42% (n=21/50) of the top 50 most significantly enriched gene sets ranked according to false discovery rate (FDR; all 50 gene sets had FDRO.OI), followed by DNA replication (n=8/50; 16%) and RNA processing (n=8/50; 16%), suggesting the roles of TRPM4 in cell cycle progression and cellular division of ABC-DLBCL. In terms of the cytotoxicity effects of 9-phenanthrol, the resulting GI50 for all ABC-DLBCL cell lines ranged from 19nM-41,88nM. In conclusion, TRPM4 is potentially involved in the cell cycle progression and cellular division of ABC-DLBCL cells, and the TRPM4 inhibitor 9-phenanthrol was cytotoxic against ABC-DLBCL cells.
A comparative study of intra venous patient-controlled analgesia morphine and tramadol in patients undergoing major operation
(2004)
Kamalrujan Hassan, Shamsul
The success of major surgery depends partly on providing effective post-operative pain relief, which can be achieved by morphine administration via PCA system. Tramadol is a weak opioid analgesic, which act mainly on f..L-opioid receptor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) Tramadol in comparison with PCA Morphine in tenn of analgesic properties, sedation and other side effects such as nausea, vomiting and pruritus. randomized, double-blinded study was conducted on 160 selected ASA I and II patients who were divided into two groups by a closed envelope technique. Following surgery, the PCA morphine (M) group (n=80) received a loading dose of 0.1 mglkg of intravenous morphine followed by I mg ( 1 mg/ml) of PCA infusion as required. The PCA tramadol (T) group (n=80) received a loading dose of 2.5 mg/kg of intravenous tramadol followed by 10 mg (10 mg/ml) ofPCA infusion as required. The lockout intervals for both groups were 10 minutes. None of the patients received baseline infusion. In the recovery room, patients were given oxygen via facemask and monitored for pain score according to Modified Pain Score, sedation score according to Ramsay Sedation Score, respiratory rate, nausea, vomiting, pruritus, blood pressure and pulse rate. Patients were evaluated at the end of 30 minutes in recovery room. After 4 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours post operation, patients were again evaluated in the ward. Showed no difference in the demographic data between the two groups (p>0.05). The mean pain score in tramadol group at 30 minutes, 4 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours post operation were 1.32 ± 0.79, 1.04 ± 0.79, 0.35 ± 0.48 and 0.09 ± 0.33 respectively. Whereas, the mean pain score in morphine group at 30 minutes, 4 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours post operation were 1.35 ± 0.99, 1.14 ± 0.81, 0.40 ± 0.54 and 0.10 ± 0.34 respectively. There were no significant differences in the mean pain score between the t\vo groups at each duration of assessment (p>0.05). The mean sedation score in tramadol group at 30 minutes, 4 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours post operation were 0.90 ± 0.74, 0.56 ± 0.59, 0.08 ± 0.27 and 0.02 ± 0.16 respectively. Whereas, the mean sedation score in morphine group at 30 minutes, 4 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours post operation were 0.84 ± 0.70, 0.46 ± 0.64, 0.08 ± 0.27 and 0.01 ± 0.11 respectively. There were no significant differences in the mean sedation score between the two groups at each duration of assessment (p>0.05). There were also no significant differences between the two groups in the incidence of nausea, vomiting and pruritus. This study indicates that PCA tramadol is suitable to be used as an alternative to PCA morphine in controlling pain following major surgery. The incidence of sedation, Dallfiea and pruritus were similar in the two groups.
A randomized trial on haemodynamic changes during intubation using airtraqr and macintosh laryngoscope
(2013)
Chen, Chua Chen
Sympathetic response is associated with laryngoscopy and intubation. Such response can be hazardous to patients with poor physiological reserve. Many research and development were done to look for the best way of obtunding this response. New laryngoscopes like Airtraq® laryngoscope were designed to improve the process of intubation and thus reduces sympathetic response secondary to laryngoscopy and intubation. To compare the sympathetic response and immediate complication of endotracheal intubation using Airtraq® and Macintosh laryngoscope, which are then analyzed to determine if the newer Airtraq® laryngoscope is an inferior, equal or superior alternative to the mainstay Macintosh laryngoscope. This is an experimental, prospective, stratified, single blind randomized study. 142 patients who had fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were allocated into Airtraq® and Macintosh group according to age group, 18-29, 30-39, 40-49 and 50-59. sBP, dBP, MAP and HR of patients at baseline, during intubation, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 minutes post-intubation were collected and compared. Complications associated with laryngoscopy and intubation were observed in this study too. Statistical analysis using mean (SD) and ANOVA test were performed on the data obtained. Data was compared in general, age group below 40 years old and age group above 40 years old. In general, there was significant difference within group for both Airtraq® and Macintosh groups for sBP, dBP, MAP (p < 0.001). However, there was no significant different between and within-between group for sBP, dBP, MAP and HR. Pressure response was significant different within and between groups for age group more than 40 years old (p 0.05) and the changes were more than 20.0% from the baseline in Airtraq® group. No significant different in HR between 2 groups and the changes were less than 20.0% in all age groups. Airtraq® laryngoscope causes less sympathetic stimulation during laryngoscopy and intubation. It is suitable to use in elder patients and those which exaggerated sympathetic response during laryngoscopy can be hazardous.
A study on acid violence and corrosive acid damage pattern to textiles
(2025)
Razak, Nurul Fatil Atikah
Acid attack cases are one of the forms of crime that have serious physical and psychological effects on the victim and leave important forensic evidence at the scene. This study was conducted to assess the effects of corrosive agents on various types of textiles and identify the presence of corrosive agent anions through the color spot test, in addition to analyzing the trend of acid attack cases in Malaysia through the analysis of online news archives. The design of this study involved news content analysis to identify patterns of acid spill cases in Malaysia, laboratory experiments to assess the effects of corrosive agents on textiles such as cotton, viscose, and polyester, and color spot tests or chemical tests for the detection of corrosive agent anions. News analysis also showed an increase and certain patterns in acid attack cases in Malaysia. Observations showed that corrosive agents produce significant physical changes in textiles, including color changes, fiber expansion, and disintegration of fabric structure, depending on the type of textile and the duration of exposure. The color spot test also showed the ability to detect the presence of certain anions clearly and quickly. Overall, this study proves that the analysis of corrosive agent effects on textiles and the detection of anions through the color spot test have significant value in assisting forensic investigations, which involves hurt or even death to victims
A study to determine association of pattern of calcifications in ct scan and staging of retinoblastoma in Hospital University Science Malaysia.
(2011)
Goon, Rozita
A study to determine the association between pattern of calcification in CT scan and staging of retinoblastoma in Hospital University Science Malaysia(HUSM). Retinoblastoma is one of the most common intraocular malignancy in children under 15 years old. About 80% of cases occurs in patients under 3 years old. The incidence varies form countries to countries. In United States of America, it occurs in 1 of every 15000 live birth. Most incidence of retinoblastoma is unilateral, bilateral involvement is seen in approximately 30% of cases and it is detected earlier. Physical and radiological examination helps in diagnosing retinoblastoma. CT scan of the orbit is one of the important tools in diagnosing retinoblastoma. Intraocular calcification can be detected in about 80% of the CT scan of orbit. Many researches have been performed since 1980s to determine association between intraocular calcification in retinoblastoma with prognosis and size of the tumour. The aim of study is to determine the association between intraocular retinoblastoma in CT scan and staging in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM). To determine frequency of intraocular calcification in retinoblastoma and association between the pattern of calcification with histopathological examination, clinical data and staging. This was a retrospective descriptive study. The age of patients were ranged from 0 to 7 years old. 23 patients with 24 involved eyes were included in this study during the study period from January 2003 until July 2010. All patients had undergone pretreatment CT scan of the orbit and enucleation. The CT scans were performed using GE Lightspeed Plus with contiguous 1.25mm orbital slice in axial projection. A repeated examination was done after intravenous injection of contrast medium Omnipaque (300 mg iodine/ ml). From these, coronal images were reformatted through the orbits and oblique sagittal images were reformatted through the optic nerves. Characteristic of calcification on CT scan images which were presence of calcification, size, site and Hounsfield Unit of calcification were recorded. CT scan images were reviewed via GE Centricity PACS- IW (Intregrated web) version 3.71. Histological findings which were presence of calcification, size, site of tumour and optic nerve involvement were recorded. History of presenting illness, family history, demographic data and clinical classification were sought form medical record and recorded. Association between characteristic of calcification and histological findings, clinical data and staging were determined. There was 95% intraocular CT calcification seen in retinoblastoma in this study. There was significant association between presence of calcification on CT and presence of calcification on HPE(p=0.042). There was also significant association between presence of HPE calcification and CT calcification site(p=0.016). Significant association noted between CT calcification size and strabismus(p=0.035). Although presence of calcification on CT scan was used as a criteria to diagnosed retinoblastoma especially in children younger than 3 years old, there is no significant association between patterns of the calcification with staging in retinoblastoma.
Adsorptive removal of MN(II) and FE(II) from aqueous solutions using raw lime, lemon and pomelo peels
(2026-01)
Rajan, Darshan Namana
The issue of heavy metal contamination in the Kelantan River basin and its tributaries, where it’s documented that Fe and Mn frequently exceed Malaysian National Water Quality Standards. To address this issue, this thesis investigates the adsorptive removal of Fe(II) and Mn(II) from aqueous solutions using unmodified peels of three common citrus fruits in Malaysia—key lime (Citrus aurantiifolia), lemon (Citrus lemon) and pomelo (Citrus maxima) as low‑cost biosorbents. The fruit peels were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify surface functional groups, and initially analysed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) to confirm the absence of initial Fe and Mn contamination. Following that, batch adsorption experiments were performed in synthetic Fe and Mn solutions under systematically varied pH (3–6), adsorbent dosage (0.2–0.8 g), contact time (10–80 min) and reusability over four adsorption–desorption cycles. Adsorption performance was quantified by AAS using multi‑point calibration curves with excellent linearity (R² ≈ 0.999 for both Fe and Mn), enabling accurate determination of post‑adsorption metal concentrations and percentage removal. FTIR spectra of all peels showed hydroxyl, carboxyl/carbonyl and ether/alcohol bands, with intensity changes after metal uptake implicating these groups involved in surface binding interactions with Fe(II) and Mn(II). Optimal pH was 5, with 0.2 g dosage and short contact times optimal across peels. Key lime achieved the highest Mn(II) removal (91.75%, retaining 76.95% after four cycles), followed by lemon (85.75%) and pomelo (77.25%), while Fe(II) removal was lower (lemon: 43.23% max; key lime: 31.45%; pomelo lower), confirming Mn(II) selectivity. Overall, the findings demonstrate that unmodified citrus peels—particularly key lime—are effective, low‑cost and sustainable biosorbents for Mn removal and moderately effective for Fe, offering a practical route for agricultural waste and a promising supplementary treatment option for metal‑contaminated waters, although further modification and broader metal testing are recommended to enhance Fe adsorption and extend applicability.
An assessment of food safety culture among food vendors in a night market in Meru, Klang
(2026-01)
Sukur, Nurfarah Lina
The maintenance of food safety standards in night markets requires a thorough evaluation of food vendors’ food safety culture (FSC). The purpose of this study is to assess the food safety culture among food vendors in a night market in Meru, Klang, and the association of food safety culture scores with demographic and experience-related factors. For this cross-sectional study, 149 food vendors from three night markets in Meru were examined for the relationship between FSC scores and demographic and experience-related factors. The data were evaluated using nonparametric statistics to find cultural consistency. The descriptive analysis found work pressure as the most consistent indicator (median = 5.00, IQR = 0.00) and risk judgment as the lowest-ranked indicator (median = 3.33, IQR = 1.5). The inferential statistics found there is no difference in the level of food safety culture and demographic factors (p > 0.05), but there is a difference in the level of food safety culture and experience-related factors (p < 0.05). The study comes to the conclusion that focused educational initiatives and time are the main factors that determine the quality of FSC.
Application of atr-ftir spectroscopy and chemometric techniques for the characterization of animal fiber-based commercial brushes
(2026-02)
Salimi, Mohamad Amirul Hakim Mohd
when precise differentiation of fibers is required. Animal-fiber brushes are frequently employed in industrial and artistic settings, although it can be challenging to distinguish between different types due to their striking similarities. The purpose of this study is to use spectroscopic analysis and chemometric approaches to distinguish and examined brushes product made from different animal fibers samples such as Horse (A), goat (B), pony (C), squirrel (D), weasel (E), wolf (F), and pig (G). All samples were examined using Attenuated Total Reflection–Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy in the range of 4000 cm⁻¹ to 600 cm⁻¹. The infrared spectra were first compared visually to identify common functional groups related to protein-based fibers. However, strong overlap between spectra made it difficult to clearly distinguish the samples using visual analysis alone. Therefore, Principle Component Analysis(PCA) was performed on the spectral data for better discriminatory power. The fingerprint region ranging from 1500 cm⁻¹ to 600 cm⁻¹ was selected for analysis since it contains valuable information regarding the fibers. PCA nearly discriminated the brush samples based on the types of animal fibers. The total variation of the data was explained by the first three principal components, which accounted for 90.33%. They were PC1, PC2, and PC3, which accounted for 63.96%, 16.77%, and 9.6% pf variance, respectively. This study demonstrates that the integration of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy with PCA is a straightforward, rapid, and non-destructive technique for distinguishing animal-fiber brushes, hence facilitating applications in forensic analysis related to wildlife crime, material identification, and quality control.
Association of cariogenic food frequency intake, physical activity level with body mass index among undergraduate students in USMKK
(2026)
Azman, Ahmad Haikal
Frequent consumption of cariogenic foods and low levels of physical activity are associated with energy imbalance and unhealthy weight status among university students. However, evidence regarding the relationships between cariogenic food consumption, physical activity level and Body Mass Index among undergraduate students at Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus remains limited. This study aimed to determine cariogenic food consumption, physical activity level and Body Mass Index status, and to examine the associations between these variables. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 209 undergraduate students from the School of Medical Sciences, School of Dental Sciences and School of Health Sciences. Cariogenic food consumption was assessed using the Malay Cariogenic Food Frequency Questionnaire, while physical activity level was measured using the Malay Version of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Body weight and height were measured to determine Body Mass Index. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the study variables, while Chi-square tests were used to examine associations at a significance level of p < 0.05. The findings showed that 72.2% of respondents had moderate cariogenic food consumption and 27.8% had low consumption, with no respondents classified in the high-consumption category. Regarding physical activity, 49.8% had a high level, 38.8% had a moderate level and 11.5% had a low level. For Body Mass Index status, 45.5% had normal weight, 23.4% were obese, 18.2% were underweight and 12.9% were overweight. Overall, 36.3% were overweight or obese. No significant association was found between cariogenic food consumption and Body Mass Index status, χ²(3) = 1.640, p = 0.650, or between physical activity level and Body Mass Index status, χ²(6) = 1.526, p = 0.958. Although no significant associations were identified, the high proportion of overweight and obesity indicates the need to strengthen healthy eating, physical activity and weight-management programmes among university students.
Atr-ftir spectroscopic analysis for forensic differentiation of cooking oils
(2026-02)
Naderajan, Shamini
The accurate classification of cooking oils is important for quality control, and forensic investigations such as food fraud and adulteration. In this study, attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy combined with chemometric analysis namely PCA and LDA was used to discriminate various type of cooking oils based on their spectral profiles. The type cooking oil samples analysed in this study were (i) black seed oil, (ii) canola + sunflower oil, (iii) canola oil, (iv) castor oil, (v) coconut oil, (vi) corn oil, (vii) olive oil, (viii) perilla seed oil, (ix) palm oil, (x) rice bran oil, (xi) sesame oil and (xii) sunflower oil. The spectrum of ATR-FTIR in both fingerprint region (1800–600 cm⁻¹) and the C–H stretching region (3050–2800 cm⁻¹) was not reliable due to overlapping spectral features in both spectral regions which made it harder to differentiate different types of cooking oil. Therefore, PCA which is an unsupervised method was performed where clear clustering of the cooking oils can be seen in the scatterplot of PC2 versus PC3 especially for black seed oil, perilla oil coconut oil and palm oil in the second region. The chemometric analysis was followed by a supervised method namely, LDA where the principal component (PC) score obtained from PCA for its respective region. Overall classification accuracy for fingerprint region was only 50.8% where misclassification of samples was observed in canola, sunflower, and corn oils due to having similar chemical structure. In contrast, the second region has very high accuracy for classification of cooking with 90.0% accuracy. Sunflower oil, canola oil and the blend of sunflower and canola oil was later re-classified as vegetable oil to improve the accuracy of classification. This has greatly improved overall accuracy to 91.7%. However, sesame oil remained as the most misclassified sample due to having very similar chemical structures to other type of cooking oils. The findings in this study demonstrate that ATR-FTIR spectroscopy coupled with PCA-LDA is a rapid, non-destructive method to discriminate various fresh cooking oils
Authentication of genuine and fake certificates using machine learning
(2026-02)
Amran, Asyiq Syahm
The proliferation of fake academic certificates in Malaysia has poses a crucial threat to the integrity of higher education and the credibility of the national workforce. This study was aimed to differentiate genuine and fake academic certificates by analysing their visual textural features through machine learning-based algorithms. In this study, the original physical certificates were digitalised at four scanning resolutions (100 to 400 DPI) and systematically creating 180 fake samples using nine distinct alteration methods using Adobe® Photoshop® software. Textural information was then extracted using the Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) while statistical tests were conducted to investigate the influence of the four scanning resolution and effects of different three conversion methods. The results demonstrated that scanning resolution and conversion methods possessed influence in generating the scanned certificates. Both random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM) models were effective for binary classification. However, in the multiclass classification of specific forgery types, the RF model outperformed the SVM. Overall, the research underscored the critical role of scanning resolution in shaping textural feature quality and validated the effectiveness of machine learning algorithms in certificate authentication. By demonstrating the feasibility of automated and scalable detection systems, this study contributed to safeguarding institutional integrity and protecting the value of educational qualifications, offering a practical pathway toward strengthening trust in Malaysia’s academic and professional landscape.
Chemical characterisation of fresh and used cooking oils by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy
(2026-02)
Ting, Camey Ho Ting
Cooking oils may undergo chemical degradation when subjected to high temperatures during frying and with the addition of food matrices, leading to oxidation, hydrolysis and polymerisation reactions. The repeated reuse of frying oil, particularly in informal food sectors, causes chemical degradation and the formation of potentially hazardous compounds, emphasising the need for a spectroscopic approach to monitor oil quality and ensure food safety. The aim of this work was to chemically characterise and distinguish between fresh cooking oil, cooked oil without food matrices, and oils fried with different food matrices utilising attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy combined with chemometric analyses. In this study, fresh cooking oil were used to fry the various food matrices, including plant-based and animal-based diets, and the collected cooking oils were analysed using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Subsequently, principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were used to evaluate the classification capabilities based on the ATR-FTIR profiles. Through observation, the ATR-FTIR spectral profiles of the cooking oil samples showed distinctive absorption bands associated with triglycerides. Visual inspection and direct spectral comparison revealed negligible variations between cooking oils fried with various food matrices with no significant spectral differences. PCA successfully differentiated between fresh and cooked oils, demonstrating observable chemical changes caused by heating. Although PCA alone was insufficient to effectively distinguish between oils fried with and without food matrices, a PCA-LDA had enhanced discrimination capabilities with 98.0 % classification accuracy. To conclude, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy combined with chemometrics in determining heat-induced chemical changes in cooking oils and discriminating the cooking oils based on frying circumstances. The findings emphasised this method's potential for assessing oil quality and monitoring food safety level.
Chinese gangsterism among Malaysians: A qualitative approach
(2026-02)
Rames, Samuel Peter
This study explores the lived experiences of Chinese gangsters in Malaysia, focusing in Kuantan, Pahang, highlighting the reasons to why most people remain in gangs for a long period before deciding to quit gangsterism. Perspectives from ex-gangsters and police officers were obtained and analysed. The research methodology employed a phenomenological approach (semi-structural interview) to delve into the essence of these individuals’ experiences. Thematic and summative analysis of interview transcripts using NVivo 15 software revealed six main themes and six emerged themes under three main sections: 1) Factors to join gangs, 2) Reasons to remain in gangs, and 3) Knowledge on gangsterism. This study is done due to the lack of studies on Chinese gangsterism. It provides valuable insights into the lived experiences of Chinese gangsterism in Malaysia. This study highlights the unspoken world of Chinese gangsterism in Kuantan and also provides a whole different ideology on gangsterism. Unlike usual gangsterism cases and ideology given by gangsters all around the world, the Chinese gangsters in Kuantan have a complete opposite perspective on gangsterism and gang activities. The ex-gangsters and police officers had provided their insights and perspectives regarding this matter.
Comparative analysis of burial degradation of textile fibres in different soil moisture contents using atr-ftir spectroscopy
(2026-02)
Min, Chan Hui
Textile materials are commonly encountered as evidence in forensic investigations involving assault, homicide, sexual offences, and clandestine burials. However, limited research has focused on the short-term burial of textiles for estimating time since burial. The effects of different soil moisture contents on textile degradation also remain largely unexplored. This study investigated the comparative burial degradation of textile fibres under different soil moisture contents over a six-week burial period. Three textile types were examined, including natural fibres (cotton and silk) and a synthetic fibre (polyester). The textiles were buried in soils with the moisture contents were adjusted to 0%, 20%, 40%, and 60% water holding capacity (WHC). Samples were collected weekly and analysed using stereomicroscopy and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy to evaluate morphological changes and chemical alterations, respectively. Multivariate statistical techniques, including principal component analysis-linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA) and partial least squares regression-discriminant analysis (PLSR-DA) were applied to the spectral data to assess degradation trends and to model to model the estimation of time since burial. Morphological observations revealed that cotton exhibited the most pronounced degradation, followed by silk and polyester showed the greater and comparable resistance to burial conditions. ATR-FTIR analysis combined with PCA showed clear separation of samples according to their types with classifications rate of 99.8%. The PLSR models further showed that burial time could be predicted with reasonable accuracy with R2 values ranging from 0.93 to 0.98 based on the spectral data.
Comparative analysis of DNA extraction methods in the recovery of human DNA from earphones
(2026-02)
Ying, Leeanne Yong Luo
Personal devices like earphones can be significant in forensic investigations as a source of DNA, especially when biological evidence is lacking. Although several studies have demonstrated successful DNA extraction and profiling from earphone samples, the most suitable DNA extraction method remains undescribed. DNA extraction is one of the most crucial steps in DNA analysis. Therefore, this study aimed to compare three different extraction methods, including silica-based commercial kit, Chelex-100 and phenol-chloroform method, to identify the most efficient method in recovering human DNA from earphones. A total of 66 samples were analysed, with 22 samples extracted using each method. DNA yield and purity were assessed using DeNovix DS-11, followed by PCR amplification using hGH autosomal primer and mitochondrial primer to assess DNA integrity. 3 samples from each method were further subjected to Real-time qPCR for quantification of amplifiable DNA. The findings demonstrated that phenol-chloroform yielded the highest and fluctuating DNA concentrations, as measured by DeNovix DS-11; however, the lowest yield when measured by qPCR, indicating contamination and overestimation by the spectrophotometer. The silica-based method yielded the lowest concentrations in spectrophotometry measurement, and moderate concentrations in the qPCR, but was the only method with successful autosomal amplification. The Chelex method displayed the second-highest concentration, but the highest concentration in qPCR. Chelex also demonstrated the greatest amplification success rate using mtDNA. These findings indicate that no single extraction method can excel in both quantity and quality parameters simultaneously. However, the Chelex method was found to recover DNA that performed better than the other methods, in terms of yield and amplifiability
Comparative efficiency between different swab types for touch dna recovery from different surfaces
(2025)
Sirajudin, Alya Amirah
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analysis is a fundamental tool in forensic science, enabling human identification in criminal investigations. In cases where visible biological evidence such as blood or saliva is absent, touch DNA has emerged as an alternative source of genetic material. However, touch DNA presents significant analytical challenges due to its low quantity, variable transfer, and inconsistent recovery from different surfaces. This study focused on evaluating the efficiency of different swab types and surface materials in the recovery and amplification of touch DNA to improve its forensic applicability. Touch DNA samples were deposited through natural handling to simulate realistic forensic scenarios. Three swab types (cotton, dacron, and nylon-flocked) were used to collect samples from glass, ceramic, and plastic surfaces. DNA extraction was performed using a silica-based method optimized for low-template samples. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis revealed low and variable DNA yields across all swab–surface combinations, with no statistically significant differences observed between swab types. To assess amplification feasibility, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) regions of 176 bp and 310 bp was conducted. Agarose gel electrophoresis demonstrated a markedly higher amplification success for the 176 bp mtDNA fragment compared to the 310 bp fragment across all conditions. Surface type did not show a consistent effect on amplification outcomes. These findings indicate that amplicon size is a critical determinant of successful touch DNA analysis. The use of short mtDNA targets enhances amplification reliability, supporting the forensic utility of touch DNA in cases involving low-template biological evidence.
Comparative study of DNA extraction methods for recovering degraded DNA from chewing gum under varied environmental condition
(2026-02)
Rohaizi, Rose Anessa Sofea
Chewing gum is a potential source of forensic DNA due to its prolonged contact with saliva and frequent recovery at crime scenes. However, DNA deposited on chewing gum is often exposed to environmental factors that may compromise its integrity. This study aimed to evaluate the recovery and amplification of degraded DNA from chewing gum samples subjected to varied environmental conditions. Chewing gum samples were collected from human participants and exposed to different environmental conditions over multiple time intervals to simulate realistic forensic scenarios. DNA extraction was performed using the Chelex® 100 resin method. The recovered DNA was assessed using agarose gel electrophoresis, spectrophotometric analysis, conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to evaluate DNA presence, degradation patterns, and amplification success. Agarose gel electrophoresis revealed varying degrees of DNA degradation across samples, with increased fragmentation observed in samples exposed for longer durations. Conventional PCR targeting short human-specific amplicons demonstrated successful amplification in selected samples, indicating the presence of amplifiable DNA despite environmental exposure. qPCR analysis further confirmed the detection of human DNA in multiple samples, although amplification efficiency varied depending on exposure conditions and duration. The results indicate that chewing gum can retain detectable and amplifiable human DNA following environmental exposure, although DNA quality is influenced by time and environmental factors. This study provides empirical data on DNA persistence and degradation in chewing gum samples and supports the forensic relevance of chewing gum as a source of trace DNA. The findings contribute to the limited body of forensic literature on unconventional biological substrates and offer insight into the challenges of DNA recovery from environmentally exposed salivary evidence.
Cyberstalking among Gen Z in Malaysia: A qualitative study on perceptions, experiences, and reporting behaviours
(2026-02)
Alam, Nur Aafreen Mohammed Parwez
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Cytogenomic profiling of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients using dna microarray.
(2021)
Zamri, Wan Norizzati Wan Mohamad
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) accounts approximately 5 – 11% of lymphoproliferative disorders in Western countries. Despite the indolent disease progression, it had been reported that Asian CLL is more aggressive and had shorter time to first therapy compared to Western counterpart due to its complex genomic landscape. Even though chromosomal aberration of CLL can be detected by Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH) and Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) together with conventional cytogenetic analysis (CCA), however some of the abnormality can be missed due to method’s limitation. This study investigated chromosomal aberration using DNA microarray to detect cryptic chromosomal abnormality that could escape detection of FISH and MLPA which able to overcome both methods limitation and subsequently identify candidate genes that could involve in our population CLL. In this retrospective study, archive genomic DNA of 7 newly diagnosed CLL in 2012 from previous study (USM Short Term grant title: Analysis of Hypermethylation Status of Tumor Suppressor Genes p16INK4a, p15INK4b, ADAM12 and PCDHGB7 in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients and Normal Individuals)(JEPeM code: USMKK/PPP/JEPeM/234.3(07)) were used. They were subjected to DNA microarray analysis using Affymetrix CytoScan® 750K Array using manufacture procedure. Detailed clinical information was extracted from patient’s cytogenetic request form and patient’s medical records. Chromosomal aberration were identified in all patients using DNA microarray. Result showed deletion of chromosome 13q and 14q varied in size ranging 0.42MB to 39.97MB. Interestingly, there were also additional CAs in form of trisomy 3, cryptic interstitial deletion of chromosome 13q, 14q, 16p, Xp and duplication of 14q32.33 and 22q11.2. Deletion 14q32.33 region closely related to mutational status of IGH while other cryptic aberrations need further investigation to explore contribution to CLL pathogenesis. All the cryptic deletion and duplication of these chromosome unable to be detected by CCA due to small size (<5MB). The findings can help the clinicians to stratify patients accordingly and more close monitoring warranted. DNA microarray are valuable tool in detecting relevant genomic aberrations in CLL patients especially cryptic abnormalities. Implementation of DNA microarray in CLL diagnosis will help clinicians to give precise treatment that tailored to patient’s need.

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