Browse publications by year: 2014

  1. Fulltext Enhanced butanol production by Clostridium acetobutylicum NCIMB 13357 grown on date fruit as carbon source in P2 medium
    Khamaiseh EI, Abdul Hamid A, Abdeshahian P, Wan Yusoff WM, Kalil MS
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:395754.
    PMID: 24672315 DOI: 10.1155/2014/395754
    The production of biobutanol was studied by the cultivation of Clostridium acetobutylicum NCIMB 13557 in P2 medium including date fruit as the sole substrate. The effect of P2 medium and the effect of different concentrations of date fruit ranging from 10 to 100 g/L on biobutanol production were investigated. Anaerobic batch culture was carried out at 35 °C incubation temperature and pH 7.0 ± 0.2 for 72 h. Experimental results showed that the lowest yield of biobutanol and acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) was 0.32 and 0.35 gram per gram of carbohydrate consumed (g/g), respectively, when an initial date fruit concentration of 10 g/L was utilized. At this fruit date concentration a biobutanol production value of 1.56 g/L was obtained. On the other hand, the maximum yield of biobutanol (0.48 g/g) and ABE (0.63 g/g) was produced at 50 g/L date fruit concentration with a biobutanol production value as high as 11 g/L. However, when a higher initial date fruit concentration was used, biobutanol and ABE production decreased to reach the yield of 0.22 g/g and 0.35 g/g, respectively, where 100 g/L date fruit was used. Similar results also revealed that 10.03 g/L biobutanol was produced using 100 g/L date fruit.
    MeSH terms: Butanols/metabolism*; Carbon/metabolism*; Culture Media; Clostridium acetobutylicum/metabolism*; Phoeniceae/metabolism*
  2. Fulltext Characterization of toxic metals in tobacco, tobacco smoke, and cigarette ash from selected imported and local brands in Pakistan
    Ajab H, Yaqub A, Malik SA, Junaid M, Yasmeen S, Abdullah MA
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:413614.
    PMID: 24672317 DOI: 10.1155/2014/413614
    In this study, concentrations of Cd, Ni, Pb, and Cr were determined in tobacco, tobacco smoke-condensate, and cigarette ash for selected brands used in Pakistan. Smoking apparatus was designed for metal extraction from cigarette smoke. Samples were digested through microwave digester and then analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS). Higher concentration of Ni was detected in imported brands than the counterparts in the local brands. Pb levels were however higher in local brands while significant concentration of Cd was observed in both brands. For Cr, the level in tobacco of local brands was higher than their emitted smoke, whereas imported brands showed higher level in smoke than in tobacco. The cigarette ash retained 65 to 75% of the metal and about 25 to 30% went into the body. While this study revealed the serious requirement to standardize the manufacturing of tobacco products, more importantly is the urgent need for stronger enforcements to put in place to alert the general population about the hazardous effects of cigarettes and the health risks associated with these toxic metals.
    MeSH terms: Metals/toxicity*; Metals/chemistry; Pakistan; Smoke/analysis*; Spectrophotometry, Atomic; Tobacco
  3. Fulltext A perspective review on numerical simulations of hemodynamics in aortic dissection
    Wan Ab Naim WN, Ganesan PB, Sun Z, Chee KH, Hashim SA, Lim E
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:652520.
    PMID: 24672348 DOI: 10.1155/2014/652520
    Aortic dissection, characterized by separation of the layers of the aortic wall, poses a significant challenge for clinicians. While type A aortic dissection patients are normally managed using surgical treatment, optimal treatment strategy for type B aortic dissection remains controversial and requires further evaluation. Although aortic diameter measured by CT angiography has been clinically used as a guideline to predict dilation in aortic dissection, hemodynamic parameters (e.g., pressure and wall shear stress), geometrical factors, and composition of the aorta wall are known to substantially affect disease progression. Due to the limitations of cardiac imaging modalities, numerical simulations have been widely used for the prediction of disease progression and therapeutic outcomes, by providing detailed insights into the hemodynamics. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the existing numerical models developed to investigate reasons behind tear initiation and progression, as well as the effectiveness of various treatment strategies, particularly the stent graft treatment.
    MeSH terms: Aortic Aneurysm/physiopathology*; Hemodynamics*; Humans
  4. Fulltext Suicide attempts in Malaysia from the year 1969 to 2011
    Sinniah A, Maniam T, Oei TP, Subramaniam P
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:718367.
    PMID: 24672358 DOI: 10.1155/2014/718367
    The aim of this paper is to review the literature on suicide attempts in Malaysia. PsycINFO, PubMed, and Medline databases from 1845 to 2012 and detailed manual search of local official reports from the Ministry of Health and the Malaysian Psychiatric Association and unpublished dissertations from 3 local universities providing postgraduate psychiatric training were included in the current review. A total of 38 studies on suicide attempts in Malaysia were found and reviewed. Twenty-seven (76%) of the studies on suicide attempts were descriptive studies looking at sociodemographic data, psychiatric illnesses, and methods and reasons for suicide attempts. No study has been conducted on treatment and interventions for suicide attempts and the impact of culture was rarely considered. The review showed that in order for researchers, clinicians, and public health policy makers to obtain a better understanding of suicide attempts in Malaysia, more systematic and empirically stringent methodologies and research frameworks need to be used.
    MeSH terms: Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Suicide, Attempted/statistics & numerical data*; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century
  5. Fulltext Thermodynamics analysis of refinery sludge gasification in adiabatic updraft gasifier
    Ahmed R, Sinnathambi CM, Eldmerdash U, Subbarao D
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:758137.
    PMID: 24672368 DOI: 10.1155/2014/758137
    Limited information is available about the thermodynamic evaluation for biomass gasification process using updraft gasifier. Therefore, to minimize errors, the gasification of dry refinery sludge (DRS) is carried out in adiabatic system at atmospheric pressure under ambient air conditions. The objectives of this paper are to investigate the physical and chemical energy and exergy of product gas at different equivalent ratios (ER). It will also be used to determine whether the cold gas, exergy, and energy efficiencies of gases may be maximized by using secondary air injected to gasification zone under various ratios (0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5) at optimum ER of 0.195. From the results obtained, it is indicated that the chemical energy and exergy of producer gas are magnified by 5 and 10 times higher than their corresponding physical values, respectively. The cold gas, energy, and exergy efficiencies of DRS gasification are in the ranges of 22.9-55.5%, 43.7-72.4%, and 42.5-50.4%, respectively. Initially, all 3 efficiencies increase until they reach a maximum at the optimum ER of 0.195; thereafter, they decline with further increase in ER values. The injection of secondary air to gasification zone is also found to increase the cold gas, energy, and exergy efficiencies. A ratio of secondary air to primary air of 0.5 is found to be the optimum ratio for all 3 efficiencies to reach the maximum values.
    MeSH terms: Gases/chemistry*; Sewage*; Thermodynamics*
  6. Fulltext Development of pulsating twin jets mechanism for mixing flow heat transfer analysis
    Gitan AA, Zulkifli R, Abdullah S, Sopian K
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:767614.
    PMID: 24672370 DOI: 10.1155/2014/767614
    Pulsating twin jets mechanism (PTJM) was developed in the present work to study the effect of pulsating twin jets mixing region on the enhancement of heat transfer. Controllable characteristics twin pulsed jets were the main objective of our design. The variable nozzle-nozzle distance was considered to study the effect of two jets interaction at the mixing region. Also, the phase change between the frequencies of twin jets was taken into account to develop PTJM. All of these factors in addition to the ability of producing high velocity pulsed jet led to more appropriate design for a comprehensive study of multijet impingement heat transfer problems. The performance of PTJM was verified by measuring the pulse profile at frequency of 20 Hz, where equal velocity peak of around 64 m/s for both jets was obtained. Moreover, the jet velocity profile at different pulsation frequencies was tested to verify system performance, so the results revealed reasonable velocity profile configuration. Furthermore, the effect of pulsation frequency on surface temperature of flat hot plate in the midpoint between twin jets was studied experimentally. Noticeable enhancement in heat transfer was obtained with the increasing of pulsation frequency.
    MeSH terms: Equipment Design; Hot Temperature*
  7. Fulltext Coverage extension and balancing the transmitted power of the moving relay node at LTE-A cellular network
    Aldhaibani JA, Yahya A, Ahmad RB
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:815720.
    PMID: 24672378 DOI: 10.1155/2014/815720
    The poor capacity at cell boundaries is not enough to meet the growing demand and stringent design which required high capacity and throughput irrespective of user's location in the cellular network. In this paper, we propose new schemes for an optimum fixed relay node (RN) placement in LTE-A cellular network to enhance throughput and coverage extension at cell edge region. The proposed approach mitigates interferences between all nodes and ensures optimum utilization with the optimization of transmitted power. Moreover, we proposed a new algorithm to balance the transmitted power of moving relay node (MR) over cell size and providing required SNR and throughput at the users inside vehicle along with reducing the transmitted power consumption by MR. The numerical analysis along with the simulation results indicates that an improvement in capacity for users is 40% increment at downlink transmission from cell capacity. Furthermore, the results revealed that there is saving nearly 75% from transmitted power in MR after using proposed balancing algorithm. ATDI simulator was used to verify the numerical results, which deals with real digital cartographic and standard formats for terrain.
    MeSH terms: Models, Theoretical; Wireless Technology*
  8. Fulltext Kinetic studies on fermentative production of biofuel from synthesis gas using Clostridium ljungdahlii
    Mohammadi M, Mohamed AR, Najafpour GD, Younesi H, Uzir MH
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:910590.
    PMID: 24672390 DOI: 10.1155/2014/910590
    The intrinsic growth, substrate uptake, and product formation biokinetic parameters were obtained for the anaerobic bacterium, Clostridium ljungdahlii, grown on synthesis gas in various pressurized batch bioreactors. A dual-substrate growth kinetic model using Luong for CO and Monod for H2 was used to describe the growth kinetics of the bacterium on these substrates. The maximum specific growth rate (μ(max) = 0.195 h(-1)) and Monod constants for CO (K s,CO = 0.855 atm) and H2 (K(s,H2) = 0.412 atm) were obtained. This model also accommodated the CO inhibitory effects on cell growth at high CO partial pressures, where no growth was apparent at high dissolved CO tensions (P(CO)(∗) > 0.743 atm). The Volterra model, Andrews, and modified Gompertz were, respectively, adopted to describe the cell growth, substrate uptake rate, and product formation. The maximum specific CO uptake rate (q(max) = 34.364 mmol/g cell/h), CO inhibition constant (K(I) = 0.601 atm), and maximum rate of ethanol (R(max) = 0.172 mmol/L/h at P(CO) = 0.598 atm) and acetate (R(max) = 0.096 mmol/L/h at P(CO) = 0.539 atm) production were determined from the applied models.
    MeSH terms: Clostridium/metabolism*; Fermentation*; Gases/metabolism*; Kinetics; Biofuels*
  9. Study of co-authorship network of papers in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences using social network analysis
    Zare-Farashbandi F, Geraei E, Siamaki S
    J Res Med Sci, 2014 Jan;19(1):41-6.
    PMID: 24672564
    BACKGROUND: Co-authorship is one of the most tangible forms of research collaboration. A co-authorship network is a social network in which the authors through participation in one or more publication through an indirect path have linked to each other. The present research using the social network analysis studied co-authorship network of 681 articles published in Journal of Research in Medical Sciences (JRMS) during 2008-2012.
    MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out with the scientometrics approach and using co-authorship network analysis of authors. The topology of the co-authorship network of 681 published articles in JRMS between 2008 and 2012 was analyzed using macro-level metrics indicators of network analysis such as density, clustering coefficient, components and mean distance. In addition, in order to evaluate the performance of each authors and countries in the network, the micro-level indicators such as degree centrality, closeness centrality and betweenness centrality as well as productivity index were used. The UCINET and NetDraw softwares were used to draw and analyze the co-authorship network of the papers.
    RESULTS: The assessment of the authors productivity in this journal showed that the first ranks were belonged to only five authors, respectively. Furthermore, analysis of the co-authorship of the authors in the network demonstrated that in the betweenness centrality index, three authors of them had the good position in the network. They can be considered as the network leaders able to control the flow of information in the network compared with the other members based on the shortest paths. On the other hand, the key role of the network according to the productivity and centrality indexes was belonged to Iran, Malaysia and United States of America.
    CONCLUSION: Co-authorship network of JRMS has the characteristics of a small world network. In addition, the theory of 6° separation is valid in this network was also true.
    KEYWORDS: Centrality; Journal of Research in Medical Sciences; density; mean distance; social network analysis
  10. Fulltext Stress hormone and reproductive system in response to honey supplementation combined with different jumping exercise intensities in female rats
    Mosavat M, Ooi FK, Mohamed M
    Biomed Res Int, 2014;2014:123640.
    PMID: 24672778 DOI: 10.1155/2014/123640
    This study was performed to determine the effects of 8-week honey supplementation combined with different jumping exercise intensities on serum cortisol, progesterone, estradiol, and reproductive organs. Eighty-four 9-week-old female rats were divided into 7 groups: baseline controls (C0), sedentary group (C), 20 and 80 jumps per day (Ex(20J), Ex(80J)), honey (H), and combined honey with 20 and 80 jumps per day (HEx(20J), HEx(80J)) groups. Jumping exercise was performed at 5 days/week and honey was given at a dosage of 1 g/kg body weight/day for 7 days/week. The level of serum cortisol was higher in Ex(20J) and Ex(80J) compared to C. There was significantly lower value of serum cortisol in HEx(20J) compared to Ex(80J). Serum progesterone levels were significantly lower in Ex(20J) and Ex(80J) compared to C. However, serum progesterone levels were significantly higher in HEx(20J) and HEx(80J) compared to Ex(20J) and Ex(80J). Relative uterine weights were significantly greater in HEx(20J) compared to C and HEx(80J), respectively. There was no significant difference in estradiol level and relative ovarian weights among all the groups. Therefore, honey elicited beneficial effects in reducing the increase of cortisol and in increasing the reduce of progesterone levels induced by different intensities jumping exercise in female rats.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Body Weight; Estradiol/blood; Female; Honey*; Hydrocortisone/blood*; Motor Activity/physiology*; Organ Size; Ovary/anatomy & histology; Physical Conditioning, Animal*; Progesterone/blood; Urogenital System/physiology*; Uterus/anatomy & histology; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Dietary Supplements*
  11. Fulltext Preparation and characterization of nano liposomes of Orthosiphon stamineus ethanolic extract in soybean phospholipids
    Aisha AF, Majid AM, Ismail Z
    BMC Biotechnol, 2014;14:23.
    PMID: 24674107 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6750-14-23
    O. stamineus is a medicinal herb with remarkable pharmacological properties. However, poor solubility of the active principles limits its medicinal value. This study sought to prepare nano liposomes of OS ethanolic extract in unpurified soybean phospholipids in order to improve its solubility and permeability. OS liposomes were prepared by the conventional film method, and were characterized for solubility, entrapment efficiency, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size and zeta potential, release, absorption in everted rat intestinal sacs, and DPPH scavenging effect.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Intestinal Absorption; Liposomes/chemistry*; Male; Particle Size; Phospholipids/chemistry*; Plant Extracts/chemistry*; Solubility; Soybeans/chemistry; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Orthosiphon/chemistry*; Rats; Nanoparticles/chemistry*
  12. Dietary repletion with ω3 fatty acid or with COX inhibition reverses cognitive effects in F3 ω3 fatty-acid-deficient mice
    Hafandi A, Begg DP, Premaratna SD, Sinclair AJ, Jois M, Weisinger RS
    Comp. Med., 2014 Apr;64(2):106-9.
    PMID: 24674584
    Dietary deficiency of ω3 fatty acid during development leads to impaired cognitive function. However, the effects of multiple generations of ω3 fatty-acid deficiency on cognitive impairment remain unclear. In addition, we sought to test the hypothesis that the cognitive impairments of ω3 fatty-acid-deficient mice are mediated through the arachidonic acid-cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway. To address these issues, C57BL/6J mice were bred for 3 generations and fed diets either deficient (DEF) or sufficient (SUF) in ω3 fatty acids. At postnatal day 21, the F3 offspring remained on the dam's diet or were switched to the opposite diet, creating 4 groups. In addition, 2 groups that remained on the dam's diet were treated with a COX inhibitor. At 19 wk of age, spatial-recognition memory was tested on a Y-maze. Results showed that 16 wk of SUF diet reversed the cognitive impairment of F3 DEF mice. However, 16 wk of ω3 fatty-acid-deficient diet impaired the cognitive performance of the F3 SUF mice, which did not differ from that of the F3 DEF mice. These findings suggest that the cognitive deficits after multigenerational maintenance on ω3 fatty-acid-deficient diet are not any greater than are those after deficiency during a single generation. In addition, treatment with a COX inhibitor prevented spatial-recognition deficits in F3 DEF mice. Therefore, cognitive impairment due to dietary ω3 fatty-acid deficiency appears to be mediated by the arachidonic acid-COX pathway and can be prevented by 16 wk of dietary repletion with ω3 fatty acids or COX inhibition.
    MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Crosses, Genetic; Deficiency Diseases/complications; Deficiency Diseases/drug therapy*; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases/metabolism*; Signal Transduction/physiology*; Fatty Acids, Omega-3/administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-3/pharmacology*; Arachidonic Acid/metabolism*; Maze Learning/drug effects; Recognition (Psychology)/drug effects; Mice; Mild Cognitive Impairment/drug therapy*; Mild Cognitive Impairment/etiology; Mild Cognitive Impairment/genetics
  13. Fulltext Novel SNPs in heat shock protein 70 gene and their association with sperm quality traits of Boer goats and Boer crosses
    Nikbin S, Panandam JM, Yaakub H, Murugaiyah M, Sazili AQ
    Anim. Reprod. Sci., 2014 May;146(3-4):176-81.
    PMID: 24674824 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2014.03.001
    The semen quality of bucks affects the reproduction performance of the herd and is influenced by genetic and non-genetic factors. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is considered as an important gene affecting semen quality traits. The objectives of this study are to find single nucleotide polymorphisms in HSP70 coding region and their association with semen quality traits on Boer and Boer cross bucks. DNA isolated from 53 goats (36 pure South African Boer and 17 Boer crosses) was subjected to PCR amplification of the exon 1 region of the caprine HSP70 gene. Single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) was used to detect polymorphisms and the variant DNA fragments were sequenced. Two synonymous SNPs (74A>C (ss836187517) and 191C>G (ss836187518)) were detected. Qualities of fresh and post-thaw semen were evaluated for sperm concentration, semen volume, sperm motility and velocity traits, live sperm percentage, and abnormal sperm rate. The C allele of ss836187517 and G allele of ss836187518 were at higher frequencies in both the breeds. The C allele of ss836187517 appeared to be the favorable allele for semen concentration, progressive motility of fresh semen, and motility and sperm lateral head displacement of post-thaw semen. A negative overdominance was observed for ss836187517 alleles on velocity traits of post-thaw semen. The C allele of ss836187518 was favorable for sperm concentration and progressive motility. Results herein suggest that the SNPs in HSP70 may affect on semen quality in tropical regions and specially on the potential of semen for freezing.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Goats/physiology*; Male; Spermatozoa/physiology*; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins/genetics; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism*; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/physiology*; Semen Analysis/veterinary*
  14. Chalcones with electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituents: anticancer activity against TRAIL resistant cancer cells, structure-activity relationship analysis and regulation of apoptotic proteins
    Mai CW, Yaeghoobi M, Abd-Rahman N, Kang YB, Pichika MR
    Eur J Med Chem, 2014 Apr 22;77:378-87.
    PMID: 24675137 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.03.002
    In the present study, a series of 46 chalcones were synthesised and evaluated for antiproliferative activities against the human TRAIL-resistant breast (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231), cervical (HeLa), ovarian (Caov-3), lung (A549), liver (HepG2), colorectal (HT-29), nasopharyngeal (CNE-1), erythromyeloblastoid (K-562) and T-lymphoblastoid (CEM-SS) cancer cells. The chalcone 38 containing an amino (-NH2) group on ring A was the most potent and selective against cancer cells. The effects of the chalcone 38 on regulation of 43 apoptosis-related markers in HT-29 cells were determined. The results showed that 20 apoptotic markers (Bad, Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-w, Bid, Bim, CD40, Fas, HSP27, IGF-1, IGFBP-4, IGFBP-5, Livin, p21, Survivin, sTNF-R2, TRAIL-R2, XIAP, caspase-3 and caspase-8) were either up regulated or down regulated.
    MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry; Cell Survival/drug effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Electrons*; HeLa Cells; Humans; Structure-Activity Relationship; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism*; Molecular Structure; Apoptosis/drug effects*; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects*; HT29 Cells; Cell Line, Tumor; Chalcones/chemical synthesis; Chalcones/pharmacology*; Chalcones/chemistry*; Cell Proliferation/drug effects; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand/pharmacology*; Hep G2 Cells; MCF-7 Cells
  15. Fulltext Genome Sequence of a Complex HIV-1 Unique Recombinant Form Involving CRF01_AE, Subtype B, and Subtype B' Identified in Malaysia
    Chow WZ, Nizam S, Ong LY, Ng KT, Chan KG, Takebe Y, et al.
    Genome Announc, 2014;2(2).
    PMID: 24675847 DOI: 10.1128/genomeA.00139-14
    A complex HIV-1 unique recombinant form involving subtypes CRF01_AE, B, and B' was recently identified from an injecting drug user in Malaysia. A total of 13 recombination breakpoints were mapped across the near-full-length genome of isolate 10MYPR226, indicating the increasingly diverse molecular epidemiology and frequent linkage among various high-risk groups.
    MeSH terms: HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Genetic Linkage; Malaysia; Recombination, Genetic; HIV-1; HIV Infections; Molecular Epidemiology; Drug Users
  16. Fulltext Defining the geographical range of the Plasmodium knowlesi reservoir
    Moyes CL, Henry AJ, Golding N, Huang Z, Singh B, Baird JK, et al.
    PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2014 Mar;8(3):e2780.
    PMID: 24676231 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002780
    BACKGROUND: The simian malaria parasite, Plasmodium knowlesi, can cause severe and fatal disease in humans yet it is rarely included in routine public health reporting systems for malaria and its geographical range is largely unknown. Because malaria caused by P. knowlesi is a truly neglected tropical disease, there are substantial obstacles to defining the geographical extent and risk of this disease. Information is required on the occurrence of human cases in different locations, on which non-human primates host this parasite and on which vectors are able to transmit it to humans. We undertook a systematic review and ranked the existing evidence, at a subnational spatial scale, to investigate the potential geographical range of the parasite reservoir capable of infecting humans.

    METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: After reviewing the published literature we identified potential host and vector species and ranked these based on how informative they are for the presence of an infectious parasite reservoir, based on current evidence. We collated spatial data on parasite occurrence and the ranges of the identified host and vector species. The ranked spatial data allowed us to assign an evidence score to 475 subnational areas in 19 countries and we present the results on a map of the Southeast and South Asia region.

    CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We have ranked subnational areas within the potential disease range according to evidence for presence of a disease risk to humans, providing geographical evidence to support decisions on prevention, management and prophylaxis. This work also highlights the unknown risk status of large parts of the region. Within this unknown category, our map identifies which areas have most evidence for the potential to support an infectious reservoir and are therefore a priority for further investigation. Furthermore we identify geographical areas where further investigation of putative host and vector species would be highly informative for the region-wide assessment.

    MeSH terms: Animals; Asia/epidemiology; Disease Reservoirs*; Humans; Insect Vectors; Malaria/epidemiology*; Malaria/veterinary*; Primates; Plasmodium knowlesi/isolation & purification*; Primate Diseases/epidemiology*; Topography, Medical*
  17. Fulltext Comparative study on attitudes and psychological problems of mothers towards their children with developmental disability
    Shobana M, Saravanan C
    East Asian Arch Psychiatry, 2014 Mar;24(1):16-22.
    PMID: 24676483
    Objective: Parents’ positive attitudes and psychological wellbeing play an important role in the development of the children with developmental disability. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of psychological problems among mothers of children with autism disorder, intellectual disability, and Down syndrome. The second aim was to assess the differences in mothers’ attitudes and psychological problems among their children with intellectual disability, autism disorder, and Down syndrome. The third aim was to identify whether negative attitude was a predictor of psychological problems in these mothers.
    Methods: In this study, 112 mothers of children having mild and moderate levels of autism disorder, Down syndrome, and intellectual disability were assessed using the Parental Attitude Scale and General Health Questionnaire–28.
    Results: Overall, mothers of children with intellectual disability were found to have the most negative attitude towards their child. Mothers of children with autism disorder exhibited higher scores on somatic symptoms, anxiety, and social dysfunction when compared with their counterparts with Down syndrome and intellectual disability. Negative attitude was a significant predictor of psychological problems.
    Conclusion: Parental attitudes and psychological problems would vary among mothers of children with different types of developmental disability.
    Key words: Autistic disorder; Down syndrome; Intellectual disability; Mothers
    MeSH terms: Adult; Attitude*; Autistic Disorder/psychology; Mental Disorders/epidemiology*; Mental Disorders/psychology; Child; Developmental Disabilities/psychology*; Down Syndrome/psychology; Female; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Intellectual Disability/psychology; Mothers/psychology*; Prevalence
  18. Fulltext Testing for hepatitis B virus core antigen and e antigen may confer additional safety of donors' blood negative for heptitis B virus surface antigen
    Al-Joudi FS, Arif MB, Mohamed ZB, Ishak I, Ahmed SA
    Asian J Transfus Sci, 2014 Jan;8(1):63-4.
    PMID: 24678181 DOI: 10.4103/0973-6247.126700
  19. Fulltext Seropositive status of dengue virus infection among blood donors in North Malaysia
    Harif NF, Kader ZS, Joshi SR, Yusoff NM
    Asian J Transfus Sci, 2014 Jan;8(1):64.
    PMID: 24678182 DOI: 10.4103/0973-6247.126702
  20. Fulltext Insights from computational analysis of full-length β-ketoacyl-[ACP] synthase-II cDNA isolated from American and African oil palms
    Bhore SJ, Cha TS, Amelia K, Shah FH
    J Nat Sci Biol Med, 2014 Jan;5(1):73-81.
    PMID: 24678202 DOI: 10.4103/0976-9668.127292
    Palm oil derived from fruits (mesocarp) of African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq. Tenera) and American oil palm (E. oleifera) is important for food industry. Due to high yield, Elaeis guineensis (Tenera) is cultivated on commercial scale, though its oil contains high (~54%) level of saturated fatty acids. The rate-limiting activity of beta-ketoacyl-[ACP] synthase-II (KAS-II) is considered mainly responsible for the high (44%) level of palmitic acid (C16:0) in the oil obtained from E. guineensis.
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