This study investigated the optimum conditions for total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) removal from diesel-contaminated water using phytoremediation treatment with Scirpus grossus. In addition, TPH removal from sand was adopted as a second response. The optimum conditions for maximum TPH removal were determined through a Box-Behnken Design. Three operational variables, i.e. diesel concentration (0.1, 0.175, 0.25% Vdiesel/Vwater), aeration rate (0, 1 and 2 L/min) and retention time (14, 43 and 72 days), were investigated by setting TPH removal and diesel concentration as the maximum, retention time within the given range, and aeration rate as the minimum. The optimum conditions were found to be a diesel concentration of 0.25% (Vdiesel/Vwater), a retention time of 63 days and no aeration with an estimated maximum TPH removal from water and sand of 76.3 and 56.5%, respectively. From a validation test of the optimum conditions, it was found that the maximum TPH removal from contaminated water and sand was 72.5 and 59%, respectively, which was a 5 and 4.4% deviation from the values given by the Box-Behnken Design, providing evidence that S. grossus is a Malaysian native plant that can be used to remediate wastewater containing hydrocarbons.
MeSH terms: Biodegradation, Environmental; Hydrocarbons/metabolism*; Models, Theoretical; Petroleum/metabolism*; Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism*; Water Purification/methods; Cyperaceae/metabolism*; Wetlands*
This paper presents a study on gene knockout strategies to identify candidate genes to be knocked out for improving the production of succinic acid in Escherichia coli. Succinic acid is widely used as a precursor for many chemicals, for example production of antibiotics, therapeutic proteins and food. However, the chemical syntheses of succinic acid using the traditional methods usually result in the production that is far below their theoretical maximums. In silico gene knockout strategies are commonly implemented to delete the gene in E. coli to overcome this problem. In this paper, a hybrid of Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) and Minimization of Metabolic Adjustment (MoMA) is proposed to identify gene knockout strategies to improve the production of succinic acid in E. coli. As a result, the hybrid algorithm generated a list of knockout genes, succinic acid production rate and growth rate for E. coli after gene knockout. The results of the hybrid algorithm were compared with the previous methods, OptKnock and MOMAKnock. It was found that the hybrid algorithm performed better than OptKnock and MOMAKnock in terms of the production rate. The information from the results produced from the hybrid algorithm can be used in wet laboratory experiments to increase the production of succinic acid in E. coli.
Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF) contribute in the development of preeclampsia and are suggested as prediction markers in healthy pregnant women but limited data is available in women with major preeclampsia risk factors. This study aimed to determine the role of sFlt-1 and PlGF in predicting preeclampsia among high risk pregnant women. This was a prospective study and samples were collected for a period of ten months. Blood samples were obtained from 84 pregnant women who had at least one risk factor for preeclampsia at 25 to 28 weeks and at 29 to 36 weeks of gestation. SFlt-1 and PlGF concentrations were determined by immunoassay method. There were significantly higher median sFlt-1 and sFlt-1:PlGF ratio at gestational interval 25 to 28 weeks and sFlt-1:PlGF ratio at 29 to 36 weeks in high risk women who developed preeclampsia. Significant lower median serum PlGF levels at 25 to 28 weeks and 29 to 36 weeks were observed in this group of women. In conclusion, the concentrations of these markers were altered in high risk preeclamptic women, a similar pattern seen in low risk preeclamptic women. However the predictive value of these markers could not be established clearly.
MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Humans; Pre-Eclampsia/blood*; Pre-Eclampsia/diagnosis; Pre-Eclampsia/epidemiology*; Predictive Value of Tests; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Proteins/blood*; Risk Factors; Solubility; Biomarkers/blood; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1/blood*; Young Adult
Alpha (Α) thalassaemia is the most common inherited disorder in Malaysia. The clinical severity is dependant on the number of Α genes involved. Full blood count (FBC) and haemoglobin (Hb) analysis using either gel electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or capillary zone electrophoresis (CE) are unable to detect definitively alpha thalassaemia carriers. Definitive diagnosis of Α-thalassaemias requires molecular analysis and methods of detecting both common deletional and non-deletional molecular abnormailities are easily performed in any laboratory involved in molecular diagnostics. We carried out a retrospective analysis of 1623 cases referred to our laboratory in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) for the diagnosis of Α-thalassaemia during the period October 2001 to December 2012. We examined the frequency of different types of alpha gene abnormalities and their haematologic features. Molecular diagnosis was made using a combination of multiplex polymerase reaction (PCR) and real time PCR to detect deletional and non-deletional alpha genes relevant to southeast Asian population. Genetic analysis confirmed the diagnosis of Α-thalassaemias in 736 cases. Majority of the cases were Chinese (53.1%) followed by Malays (44.2%), and Indians (2.7%). The most common gene abnormality was ΑΑ/--(SEA) (64.0%) followed by ΑΑ/-Α(3.7) (19.8%), -Α(3.7) /--(SEA) (6.9%), ΑΑ/ΑΑCS (3.0%), --(SEA)/--(SEA) (1.2%), -Α(3.7)/-Α(3.7) (1.1%), ΑΑ/-Α(4.2) (0.7%), -Α(4.2)/--(SEA (0.7%), -Α(3.7)/-Α(4.2) (0.5%), ΑΑ(CS)/-- SEA) (0.4%), ΑΑ(CS)/ΑΑ(Cd59) (0.4%), ΑΑ(CS)/ΑΑ(CS) (0.4%), -Α(3.7)/ΑΑ(Cd59) (0.3%), ΑΑ/ΑΑ(Cd59) (0.1%), ΑΑ(Cd59)/ ΑΑ(IVS I-1) (0.1%), -Α(3.7)/ΑΑ(CS) (0.1%) and --(SEA) /ΑΑ(Cd59) (0.1%). This data indicates that the molecular abnormalities of Α-thalassaemia in the Malaysian population is heterogenous. Although Α-gene deletion is the most common cause, non-deletional Α-gene abnormalities are not uncommon and at least 3 different mutations exist. Establishment of rapid and easy molecular techniques is important for definitive diagnosis of alpha thalassaemia, an important prerequisite for genetic counselling to prevent its deleterious complications.
Deaths due to blunt force trauma to the head as a result of assault are some of the most common cases encountered by the practicing forensic pathologist. Previous studies have shown inflicting injury to the head region is one of the most effective methods of murder. The important factors that determine severity of trauma include the type of weapon used, type and site of skull fracture, intracranial haemorrhage and severity of brain injury. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of blunt force trauma to the skull produced by different instruments. Nine adult monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) skulls were used as models. Commonly found blunt objects comprising of Warrington hammer, hockey stick and open face helmet were used in this study. A machine calibrated force generator was used to hold the blunt object in place and to hit the skulls at forces of 12.5N and 25N. Resultant traumatic effects and fractures (linear, depressed, basilar, comminuted, and distastic) were analyzed according to type of blunt object used; surface area of contact and absolute force (N/cm(2)) delivered. Results showed that all investigated instruments were capable of producing similar injuries. The severity of trauma was not related to the surface area of contact with the blunt objects. However, only high absolute forces produced comminuted fractures. These findings were observational, as the samples were too small for statistical conclusions.
MeSH terms: Animals; Household Articles*; Humans; Macaca fascicularis; Skull/injuries*; Skull/radiography; Skull Fractures/etiology; Skull Fractures/pathology*; Skull Fractures/radiography; Head Injuries, Closed/etiology; Head Injuries, Closed/pathology*; Head Injuries, Closed/radiography; Forensic Pathology/methods*
Murder is the most notorious crime that violates religious, social and cultural norms. Examining the types and number of different killing methods that used are pivotal in a murder case. However, the psychological traits underlying specific and multiple killing methods are still understudied. The present study attempts to fill this gap in knowledge by identifying the underlying psychological traits of different killing methods among Malaysian murderers. The study adapted an observational cross-sectional methodology using a guided self-administered questionnaire for data collection. The sampling frame consisted of 71 Malaysian male murderers from 11 Malaysian prisons who were selected using purposive sampling method. The participants were also asked to provide the types and number of different killing methods used to kill their respective victims. An independent sample t-test was performed to establish the mean score difference of psychological traits between the murderers who used single and multiple types of killing methods. Kruskal-Wallis tests were carried out to ascertain the psychological trait differences between specific types of killing methods. The results suggest that specific psychological traits underlie the type and number of different killing methods used during murder. The majority (88.7%) of murderers used a single method of killing. Multiple methods of killing was evident in 'premeditated' murder compared to 'passion' murder, and revenge was a common motive. Examples of multiple methods are combinations of stabbing and strangulation or slashing and physical force. An exception was premeditated murder committed with shooting, when it was usually a single method, attributed to the high lethality of firearms. Shooting was also notable when the motive was financial gain or related to drug dealing. Murderers who used multiple killing methods were more aggressive and sadistic than those who used a single killing method. Those who used multiple methods or slashing also displayed a higher level of minimisation traits. Despite its limitations, this study has provided some light on the underlying psychological traits of different killing methods which is useful in the field of criminology.
MeSH terms: Adult; Aggression/psychology*; Crime/psychology*; Homicide/psychology*; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Prisoners/psychology*; Psychometrics*; Social Behavior; Young Adult
Optical fibers have been involved in the area of sensing applications for more than four decades. Moreover, interferometric optical fiber sensors have attracted broad interest for their prospective applications in sensing temperature, refractive index, strain measurement, pressure, acoustic wave, vibration, magnetic field, and voltage. During this time, numerous types of interferometers have been developed such as Fabry-Perot, Michelson, Mach-Zehnder, Sagnac Fiber, and Common-path interferometers. Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) fiber-optic sensors have been extensively investigated for their exceedingly effective, simple fabrication as well as low cost aspects. In this study, a wide variety of FPI sensors are reviewed in terms of fabrication methods, principle of operation and their sensing applications. The chronology of the development of FPI sensors and their implementation in various applications are discussed.
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of Malaysian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who have cardiovascular disease (CVD), as well as identify the determinants of HRQoL among this cohort of patients.
METHODS: This study was an analytical cross-sectional study involving 313 patients aged 30-78 years (150 men, 163 women; mean age 55.7 ± 9.2 years) who were diagnosed with T2DM (mean duration of T2DM 10.1 ± 8.1 years) at two tertiary Malaysian government hospitals. The patients' sociodemographic, lifestyle, clinical and laboratory data were collected prospectively from medical records and via face-to-face interviews. HRQoL was assessed using the 15D instrument - a generic, 15-dimensional and standardised measure of HRQoL that can be used as both a profile and a single index score measure.
RESULTS: T2DM patients with CVD were found to have significantly lower 15D HRQoL scores than their nonCVD counterparts (p < 0.001). The HRQoL of T2DM patients with CVD was significantly lower than those without CVD (p < 0.05) in all of the 15 dimensions of the 15D instrument. Multinomial logistic regression analysis using backward stepwise method revealed a significant association between CVD and impaired HRQoL (odds ratio [OR] 11.746, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.898-28.167). Age (OR 1.095, 95% CI 1.054-1.137), duration of T2DM (OR 1.085, 95% CI 1.032-1.140), ethnicity (OR 0.411, 95% CI 0.187-0.903), body mass index (OR 1.074, 95% CI 1.006-1.148), and physical activity level (OR 3.506, 95% CI 1.415-8.689) were also significant predictors of HRQoL.
CONCLUSION: In T2DM patients, the presence of CVD was significantly associated with a lower HRQoL. Therefore, the importance of tertiary prevention to minimise the potential deterioration of the HRQoL of T2DM patients with CVD should be highly emphasised.
MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Cardiovascular Diseases/complications; Cardiovascular Diseases/psychology*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/psychology*; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life*; Surveys and Questionnaires; Social Class; Tertiary Care Centers
Melorheostosis is a rare, progressive bone disease accompanied by hyperostosis and soft tissue fibrosis. While affected adults present with contracture and pain, children present with limb length discrepancy and deformity. We report the case of a 20-year-old woman with melorheostosis since childhood who presented with right hand deformity and numbness. Radiographs showed not only a combination of dense sclerosis and opacities, but also the classic 'flowing candle wax' appearance. Radiography can be used to identify melorheostosis, thus preventing unnecessary bone biopsies. Carpal tunnel release revealed the presence of a thickened flexor retinaculum and a degenerated median nerve distal to the retinaculum, but did not show hyperostosis. This case highlights the role of nerve decompression in melorheostosis and the importance of early identification of the disease to prevent unnecessary bone biopsies.
MeSH terms: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/complications; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/surgery; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Fibrosis/pathology; Hand/pathology; Hand Deformities/surgery; Humans; Hypesthesia; Median Nerve/surgery; Melorheostosis/complications; Melorheostosis/surgery; Radiography; Young Adult
Evidence for C-H···π(CuCl···HNCS) interactions, i.e. C-H···π(quasi-chelate ring) where a six-membered quasi-chelate ring is closed by an N-H···Cl hydrogen bond, is presented based on crystal structure analyses of (Ph3P)2Cu[ROC(=S)N(H)Ph]Cl. Similar intramolecular interactions are identified in related literature structures. Calculations suggest that the energy of attraction provided by such interactions approximates 3.5 kcal mol(-1).
The 21 non-H atoms of the title compound, C15H10Cl2N4, are almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.032 Å); the conformation about the N=C bond [1.277 (6) Å] is E. In the crystal, zigzag supra-molecular chains along the c axis (glide symmetry) are formed via N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds. These associate along the b axis by π-π inter-actions between the fused and terminal benzene rings [inter-centroid distance = 3.602 (3) Å] so that layers form in the bc plane.
The title phenyl-hydrazine derivative, C16H16N2O4, has a crystallographically imposed centre of symmetry. Except for the methyl group, all non-H atoms are almost coplanar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0095 Å). Intra-molecular O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds are observed, generating S(6) graph-set ring motifs.
The complete title molecule, C23H19N3O2, is generated by a twofold axis passing through the central ring. The two oxymethyl-benzo-nitrile arms are attached at the meta positions of the central pyridine ring. The dihedral angle between the pyridine ring and benzene ring of both arms is 84.55 (6)° while the benzene rings make a dihedral angle of 46.07 (7)°. In the crystal, weak C-H⋯π inter-actions link the molecules sheets parallel to the ac plane.
The title compound crystallizes as a hemihydrate, C18H20N2O5·0.5H2O. The mol-ecule exists in an E conformation with respect to the C=N imine bond. The 4-meth-oxy-phenyl unit is disordered over two sets of sites with a refined occupancy ratio of 0.54 (2):0.46 (2). The dihedral angles between the benzene rings are 29.20 (9) and 26.59 (9)°, respectively, for the major and minor components of the 4-meth-oxy-substituted ring. All meth-oxy substituents lie close to the plane of the attached benzene rings [the Cmeth-yl-O-C-C torsion angles range from -4.0 (12) to 3.9 (2)°]. In the crystal, the components are linked into chains propagating along [001] via N-H⋯O and O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and weak C-H⋯O inter-actions.
In the title compound, C14H8N4O6, the benzoxazin-4-one fused-ring system (r.m.s. deviation = 0.018 Å) is coplanar with the attached benzene ring [dihedral angle = 0.81 (4)°], there being an intra-molecular N-H⋯N hydrogen bond between them. Each nitro group is twisted out of the plane of the attached benzene ring [O-N-C-C torsion angles = 167.94 (11) and 170.38 (11)°]. In the crystal, amine-nitro N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds lead to centrosymmetric dimeric aggregates that are connected into a three-dimensional architecture by oxazin-yl-nitro C-H⋯O and π-π inter-actions [inter-centroid distance between the oxazinyl and terminal benzene rings = 3.5069 (7) Å].
In the title pymiridine-2,4-dione derivative, C14H16N2O2S, the dihedral angle between the six-membered rings is 66.69 (10)°. The mol-ecule is twisted about the Cp-S (p = pyrimidine) bond, with a C-S-C-N torsion angle of -19.57 (16)°. In the crystal, adjacent mol-ecules form inversion dimers through pairs of strong N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating an R 2 (2)(8) ring motif. The dimers are connected into chains extending along the c-axis direction through additional N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.
Mol-ecules of the title compound, C16H16N4O7, are not planar with a dihedral angle of 5.50 (11)° between the substituted benzene rings. The two meta-meth-oxy groups of the 3,4,5-tri-meth-oxy-benzene moiety lie in the plane of the attached ring [Cmeth-yl-O-C-C torsion angles -0.1 (4)° and -3.7 (3)°] while the para-meth-oxy substituent lies out of the plane [Cmeth-yl-O-C-C, -86.0 (3)°]. An intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bond involving the 2-nitro substituent generates an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal structure, mol-ecules are linked by weak C-H⋯O inter-actions into screw chains, that are arranged into a sheet parallel to the bc plane. These sheets are connected by π-π stacking inter-actions between the nitro and meth-oxy substituted aromatic rings with a centroid-centroid separation of 3.9420 (13) Å. C-H⋯π contacts further stabilize the two-dimensional network.