To understand their role in epilepsy, the nitric oxide synthetase (NOS), argininosuccinate synthetase (AS), argininosuccinate lyase (AL), glutamine synthetase (GS), and arginase activities, along with the concentration of nitrate/nitrite (NOx), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and total antioxidant status (TAS), were estimated in different regions of brain in rats subjected to experimental epilepsy induced by subcutaneous administration of kainic acid (KA). The short-term (acute) group animals were killed after 2 h and the long term (chronic) group animals were killed after 5 days of single injection of KA (15 mg/kg body weight). After decapitation of rats, the brain regions were separated and in their homogenates, the concentration of NOx, TBARS and TAS and the activities of NOS, AS, AL, arginase and glutamine synthetase were assayed by colorimetric methods. The results of the study demonstrated the increased activity of NOS and formation of NO in acute and chronic groups epilepsy. The activities of AS and AL were increased and indicate the effective recycling of citrulline to arginine. The activity of glutamine synthetase was decreased in acute and chronic groups of epilepsy compared to control group and indicate the modulation of its activity by NO in epilepsy. The activity of arginase was not changed in acute group; however it was decreased in chronic group and may favor increased production of NO in this condition. The concentration TBARS were increased and TAS decreased in acute and chronic groups of epilepsy and supports the oxidative stress in epilepsy.

Nitric oxide is postulated to be involved in the pathophysiology of neurological disorders due to hypoxia/ anoxia in brain due to increased release of glutamate and activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Reactive oxygen species have been implicated in pathophysiology of many neurological disorders and in brain function. To understand their role in anoxia (hypobaric hypoxia) and reperfusion (reoxygenation), the nitric oxide synthase, argininosuccinate synthetase, argininosuccinate lyase, glutamine synthetase and arginase activities along with the concentration of nitrate /nitrite, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and total antioxidant status were estimated in cerebral cortex, cerebellum and brain stem of rats subjected to anoxia and reperfusion. The results of this study clearly demonstrated the increased production of nitric oxide by increased activity of nitric oxide synthase. The increased activities of argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase suggest the increased and effective recycling of citrulline to arginine in anoxia, making nitric oxide production more effective and contributing to its toxic effects. The decreased activity of glutamine synthetase may favor the prolonged availability of glutamic acid causing excitotoxicity leading to neuronal damage in anoxia. The increased formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and decreased total antioxidant status indicate the presence of oxidative stress in anoxia and reperfusion. The increased arginase and sustained decrease of GS activity in reperfusion group likely to be protective.

The proximate composition and antioxidant properties of the muscle tissues of Scylla olivacea are reported herein. The carbohydrate content was in the range of 1.52% to 3.07%, while protein varied from 13.30% to 17.28%. Meanwhile, the fat content for S. olivacea was found to be ranging from 0.20% to 0.57%. The moisture content in S. olivacea was 60.00%. Generally, no significant differences were observed in both male and female tissues of S. olivacea regarding its total phenolic content, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging, and superoxide dismutase activities. However, significant differences were observed for the total flavonoid content and activity of catalase. The present results revealed the nutritional information and enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant status of the tissues of S. olivacea.

Mud crab from the genus Scylla is also known as mangrove crab, which has been well-accepted as a good source of protein.Recently, the antioxidant properties present in mud crabs have been reported to have a part in the protection of cells against free radicals. Meanwhile, numerous antimicrobial peptides from mud crabs have managed to be characterized through the display of antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Hence, this paper is an effort to collect recent literatures on antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in every part of mud crabs which include muscle tissue, hemolymph, and crab shell. Moreover, the effort to understand the biological properties of mud crabs is important to enhance its production in aquaculture industry. Therefore, this review hoped to attract the attention of natural product researchers to focus on the potential therapeutic applications of mud crabs.

Chemistry is one of the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects that has been perceived as an unattractive subject among students due to its scientific theories and practices in a laboratory. Practical and scientific writing skills are two crucial components in chemistry courses, including at the Pre-University level, thus requiring educators to design activities that integrate both skills in chemistry learning. This article describes the assessment using a projectbased learning approach to assess students' practical and scientific writing skills for the Organic Chemistry course at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Foundation in Science program. A total of 72 Pre-University science students participated in a Chemistry Group Project assessment. The students were divided into 6 groups and asked to write a proposal on the basis of a chosen title, conduct laboratory work, collect data, and prepare a final report. The assessment was conducted in a single semester from learning week 1 to learning week 17. Results of this study were collected through the submitted proposal, final reports, practical sessions, and students' feedback. Students obtained good marks for practical and scientific writing with average marks of 84.9% and 84.4%, respectively. The results revealed that implementing the Chemistry Group Project as project-based learning leads to increased performance in practical and scientific writing skills and social skills among Pre-University students. Therefore, the Chemistry Group Project should be conducted as one of the learning activities and practical approaches at the Pre-University level.