Browse publications by year: 2014

  1. Fulltext Wireless displacement sensing of micromachined spiral-coil actuator using resonant frequency tracking
    Ali MS, AbuZaiter A, Schlosser C, Bycraft B, Takahata K
    Sensors (Basel), 2014 Jul 10;14(7):12399-409.
    PMID: 25014100 DOI: 10.3390/s140712399
    This paper reports a method that enables real-time displacement monitoring and control of micromachined resonant-type actuators using wireless radiofrequency (RF). The method is applied to an out-of-plane, spiral-coil microactuator based on shape-memory-alloy (SMA). The SMA spiral coil forms an inductor-capacitor resonant circuit that is excited using external RF magnetic fields to thermally actuate the coil. The actuation causes a shift in the circuit's resonance as the coil is displaced vertically, which is wirelessly monitored through an external antenna to track the displacements. Controlled actuation and displacement monitoring using the developed method is demonstrated with the microfabricated device. The device exhibits a frequency sensitivity to displacement of 10 kHz/µm or more for a full out-of-plane travel range of 466 µm and an average actuation velocity of up to 155 µm/s. The method described permits the actuator to have a self-sensing function that is passively operated, thereby eliminating the need for separate sensors and batteries on the device, thus realizing precise control while attaining a high level of miniaturization in the device.
    MeSH terms: Equipment Design/instrumentation; Miniaturization/instrumentation; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/instrumentation*; Radio Waves; Microtechnology/instrumentation; Wireless Technology/instrumentation*; Magnetic Fields
  2. Effects of wink glass on blink rate, nibut and ocular surface symptoms during visual display unit use
    Ang CK, Mohidin N, Chung KM
    Curr Eye Res, 2014 Sep;39(9):879-84.
    PMID: 25014251 DOI: 10.3109/02713683.2013.859273
    PURPOSE/AIM: Wink glass (WG), an invention to stimulate blinking at interval of 5 s was designed to reduce dry eye symptoms during visual display unit (VDU) use. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of WG on visual functions that include blink rate, ocular surface symptoms (OSS) and tear stability during VDU use.
    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 26 young and asymptomatic subjects were instructed to read articles in Malay language with a computer for 20 min with WG whereby their blink rate, pre- and post-task tear break-up time, and OSS were recorded. The results were compared to another reading session of the subjects wearing a transparent plastic sheet as a control.
    RESULTS: Non-invasive tear break-up time was reduced after reading session with transparent plastic sheet (pre-task = 5.97 s, post-task = 5.14 s, z = -2.426, p = 0.015, Wilcoxon), but remained stable (pre-task = 5.62 s, post-task = 5.35 s, z = -0.67, p = 0.501) during the reading session with WG. The blink rate recorded during reading session with plastic sheet was 9 blinks/min (median) and this increased to 15 blinks/min (z = -3.315, p = 0.001) with WG. The reading task caused OSS (maximum scores = 20) with median score of 1 (0-8) reduced to median score of 0 (0-3) after wearing WG (z = -2.417, p = 0.016).
    CONCLUSION: WG was found to increase post-task tear stability, increased blinking rate and reduced OSS during video display unit use among young and healthy adults. Although it may be considered as an option to improve dry eye symptoms among VDU users, further studies are warranted to establish its stability and its effect on subjects with dry eyes.
    KEYWORDS: Blink rate; Wink glass; non-invasive tear break-up time; visual display units
    MeSH terms: Adult; Blinking/physiology*; Female; Humans; Male; Ophthalmoscopy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Task Performance and Analysis*; Tears/chemistry*; Visual Acuity/physiology; Dry Eye Syndromes/prevention & control*; Computer Terminals*; Cross-Over Studies; Optical Devices*; Young Adult
  3. Fulltext Facile, regio- and diastereoselective synthesis of spiro-pyrrolidine and pyrrolizine derivatives and evaluation of their antiproliferative activities
    Almansour AI, Kumar RS, Beevi F, Shirazi AN, Osman H, Ismail R, et al.
    Molecules, 2014 Jul 10;19(7):10033-55.
    PMID: 25014532 DOI: 10.3390/molecules190710033
    A number of novel spiro-pyrrolidines/pyrrolizines derivatives were synthesized through [3+2]-cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with 3,5-bis[(E)-arylmethylidene]tetrahydro-4(1H)-pyridinones 2a-n. Azomethine ylides were generated in situ from the reaction of 1H-indole-2,3-dione (isatin, 3) with N-methylglycine (sarcosine), phenylglycine, or proline. All compounds (50 μM) were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against human breast carcinoma (MDA-MB-231), leukemia lymphoblastic (CCRF-CEM), and ovarian carcinoma (SK-OV-3) cells. N-α-Phenyl substituted spiro-pyrrolidine derivatives (5a-n) showed higher antiproliferative activity in MDA-MB-231 than other cancer cell lines. Among spiro-pyrrolizines 6a-n, a number of derivatives including 6a-c and 6i-m showed a comparable activity with doxorubicin in all three cell lines. Among all compounds in three classes, 6a, 6b, and 6m, were found to be the most potent derivatives showing 64%, 87%, and 74% antiproliferative activity in MDA-MB-231, SK-OV-3, and CCRF-CEM cells, respectively. Compound 6b showed an IC50 value of 3.6 mM in CCRF-CEM cells. These data suggest the potential antiproliferative activity of spiro-pyrrolidines/pyrrolizines.
    MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology; Humans; Pyrrolidines/chemical synthesis*; Pyrrolidines/pharmacology*; Spiro Compounds/chemical synthesis*; Spiro Compounds/pharmacology*; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation/drug effects; Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
  4. Assessing Knowledge Sharing Among Academics: A Validation of the Knowledge Sharing Behavior Scale (KSBS)
    Ramayah T, Yeap JAL, Ignatius J
    Eval Rev, 2014 Apr;38(2):160-187.
    PMID: 25015259 DOI: 10.1177/0193841X14539685
    BACKGROUND: There is a belief that academics tend to hold on tightly to their knowledge and intellectual resources. However, not much effort has been put into the creation of a valid and reliable instrument to measure knowledge sharing behavior among the academics.

    OBJECTIVES: To apply and validate the Knowledge Sharing Behavior Scale (KSBS) as a measure of knowledge sharing behavior within the academic community.

    SUBJECTS: Respondents (N = 447) were academics from arts and science streams in 10 local, public universities in Malaysia.

    MEASURES: Data were collected using the 28-item KSBS that assessed four dimensions of knowledge sharing behavior namely written contributions, organizational communications, personal interactions, and communities of practice.

    RESULTS: The exploratory factor analysis showed that the items loaded on the dimension constructs that they were supposed to represent, thus proving construct validity. A within-factor analysis revealed that each set of items representing their intended dimension loaded on only one construct, therefore establishing convergent validity. All four dimensions were not perfectly correlated with each other or organizational citizenship behavior, thereby proving discriminant validity. However, all four dimensions correlated with organizational commitment, thus confirming predictive validity. Furthermore, all four factors correlated with both tacit and explicit sharing, which confirmed their concurrent validity. All measures also possessed sufficient reliability (α > .70).

    CONCLUSION: The KSBS is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used to formally assess the types of knowledge artifacts residing among academics and the degree of knowledge sharing in relation to those artifacts.

    MeSH terms: Communication; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Malaysia; Surveys and Questionnaires; Social Behavior; Universities; Writing; Reproducibility of Results; Artifacts; Knowledge; Rivers
  5. Fulltext Genomic analysis of the causative agents of coccidiosis in domestic chickens
    Reid AJ, Blake DP, Ansari HR, Billington K, Browne HP, Bryant J, et al.
    Genome Res, 2014 Oct;24(10):1676-85.
    PMID: 25015382 DOI: 10.1101/gr.168955.113
    Global production of chickens has trebled in the past two decades and they are now the most important source of dietary animal protein worldwide. Chickens are subject to many infectious diseases that reduce their performance and productivity. Coccidiosis, caused by apicomplexan protozoa of the genus Eimeria, is one of the most important poultry diseases. Understanding the biology of Eimeria parasites underpins development of new drugs and vaccines needed to improve global food security. We have produced annotated genome sequences of all seven species of Eimeria that infect domestic chickens, which reveal the full extent of previously described repeat-rich and repeat-poor regions and show that these parasites possess the most repeat-rich proteomes ever described. Furthermore, while no other apicomplexan has been found to possess retrotransposons, Eimeria is home to a family of chromoviruses. Analysis of Eimeria genes involved in basic biology and host-parasite interaction highlights adaptations to a relatively simple developmental life cycle and a complex array of co-expressed surface proteins involved in host cell binding.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Cell Line; Chickens; Chromosome Mapping; Coccidiosis/parasitology; Coccidiosis/veterinary; Eimeria/classification; Eimeria/genetics*; Phylogeny; Poultry Diseases/parasitology; Protozoan Proteins/genetics*; Genome, Protozoan*; Proteome; Gene Expression Profiling; Synteny
  6. Effect of aqueous extract of Dicranopteris linearis leaves against paracetamol and carbon tetrachloride-induced liver toxicity in rats
    Ismail NA, Shamsahal-Din NS, Mamat SS, Zabidi Z, Wan Zainulddin WN, Kamisan FH, et al.
    Pak J Pharm Sci, 2014 Jul;27(4):831-5.
    PMID: 25015448
    The present study aimed to determine the hepatoprotective activity of Dicranopteris linearis L. (family Gleicheniaceae) leaf aqueous extract (DLAE) using two models of liver injury in rats. Rats were divided into ten groups (n=6) and received dH2O (negative control), 200 mg/kg silymarin (positive control) or DLAE (50, 250 and 500 mg/kg) orally once daily for 7 consecutive days and on the 8th day subjected to the hepatotoxic induction either using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) or paracetamol (PCM). The bloods and livers were collected and subjected to biochemical and microscopical analysis. From the data obtained, only the highest dose of DLAE significantly (P<0.05) reduced the ALP, ALT and AST levels in CCl4-and PCM-induced hepatotoxic rats while the other doses caused significant (P<0.05) reduction only in the levels of ALT and AST. The histological results obtained were in line with the biochemical analysis wherein reduction in the CCl4- and PCM-induced tissue formation of necrosis, steatosis and inflammation occurred in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, the DLAE possesses hepatoprotective activity, which could be attributed to its free radicals scavenging and antioxidant activities, and high flavonoids content. Thus, in-depth studies regarding the hepatoprotective activity of DLAE are warranted.
    MeSH terms: Acetaminophen/toxicity*; Animals; Carbon Tetrachloride/toxicity; Liver/drug effects; Liver/pathology; Male; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts/pharmacology*; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Plant Leaves; Ferns*; Rats; Drug-Induced Liver Injury/pathology; Drug-Induced Liver Injury/prevention & control*
  7. Henipavirus encephalitis
    Abdullah S, Tan CT
    Handb Clin Neurol, 2014;123:663-70.
    PMID: 25015510 DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-444-53488-0.00032-8
    MeSH terms: Brain/pathology; Brain/virology; Encephalitis Viruses/pathogenicity*; Humans
  8. Sperm attributes and morphology on Rusa timorensis: light and scanning electron microscopy
    Mahre MB, Wahid H, Rosnina Y, Jesse FF, Azlan CA, Khumran AM, et al.
    Anim. Reprod. Sci., 2014 Aug;148(3-4):245-50.
    PMID: 25015846 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2014.06.006
    This study provides standard information on the attributes of sperm and describes the surface structure of normal and abnormal spermatozoa of Rusa timorensis. Two fertile stags were used as the source of semen collected during the first breeding season commencing from April 5 to July 2, 2012. Another five stags were used as the source of semen collected during the second breeding season commencing from April 1 to June 27, 2013. Semen samples were collected from the stags using an electro-ejaculator. The ejaculate was processed and samples prepared for light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) according to standard methods. No significant difference (P>0.05) was found between sperm attributes in comparison between different stags and different months of the fertile seasons. The results of this study have also demonstrated that there are no differences in size, shape and surface structure between spermatozoa of the different stags and different months of the fertile seasons. Sperm attributes (volume, pH, sperm concentration, general motility, progressive motility and viability) were 2.2±0.29 ml, 7.2±0.17, 886.3±39.7×10(6) spermatozoa/ml, 78.7±2.01%, 80.8±1.85% and 83.2±0.85%, respectively. Morphological analysis showed low percentage of abnormal spermatozoa 13.9±2.88%. Scanning electron microscopy revealed spermatozoa which consisted of a flat paddle-shaped head, short neck and a tail, which was subdivided into midpiece, principal piece and endpiece. The average spermatozoon was 66.2±0.69 μm in total length. The flat paddle-shaped head was 7.8±0.28 μm long, 4.2±0.15 μm at its widest width, 2.4±0.18 μm basal width and 0.7±0.0 2μm thick. As for the tail, the midpiece length was 13.2±0.14 μm, 0.6±0.04 μm in diameter; the principal piece was 42.6±0.04μm, and 2.8±0.06 μm for the endpiece. Abnormal spermatozoa such as tapered head, microcephalic head, decapitated spermatozoa and bent tails were observed. Results provide standard information useful for development of strategies for semen cryopreservation and assisted reproductive technology in this species.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Deer*; Male; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Microscopy, Polarization; Sperm Head/ultrastructure; Spermatozoa/abnormalities; Spermatozoa/cytology*; Spermatozoa/ultrastructure*; Sperm Midpiece/ultrastructure
  9. Fulltext Alcohol consumption and risky drinking patterns in Malaysia: findings from NHMS 2011
    Mutalip MH, Kamarudin RB, Manickam M, Abd Hamid HA, Saari RB
    Alcohol Alcohol, 2014 Sep-Oct;49(5):593-9.
    PMID: 25015981 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agu042
    AIMS: To identify the characteristics of current drinker and risky alcohol-drinking pattern by profiles in Malaysia.
    METHODS: We analyzed data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2011. It was a cross-sectional population-based with two stages stratified random sampling design. A validated Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test Malay questionnaire was used to assess the alcohol consumption and its alcohol related harms. Analysis of complex survey data using Stata Version 12 was done for descriptive analysis on alcohol use and risky drinking by socio-demography profiles. Logistic regression analysis was used to measure the association of risky drinking status with the socio-demography characteristics.
    RESULTS: The prevalence of current alcohol use was 11.6% [95% confidence interval (CI): 10.5, 12.7], among them 23.6% (95% CI: 21.0, 26.4) practiced risky drinking. The onset for alcohol drinking was 21 years old (standard deviation 7.44) and majority preferred Beer. Males significantly consumed more alcohol and practiced risky drinking. Current alcohol use was more prevalent among urbanites, Chinese, those with high household income, and high education. Conversely, risky drinking was more prevalent among rural drinkers, Bumiputera Sabah and Sarawak, low education and low household income. The estimated odds of risky drinking increased by a factor of 3.5 among Males while a factor of 2.7 among Bumiputera Sabah and Sarawak. Education status and household income was not a significant predictor to risky drinking.
    CONCLUSION: There was an inverse drinking pattern between current drinker and risky drinking by the socio-demography profiles. Initiating early screening and focused intervention might avert further alcohol related harms and dependence among the risky drinkers.
    Study name: National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS-2011)
    MeSH terms: Alcohol Drinking/epidemiology; Alcohol Drinking/psychology*; Consumer Behavior; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Surveys*; Humans; Malaysia; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Risk-Taking*; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Age Distribution
  10. Association between self-reported physical activity and indicators of body composition in Malaysian adolescents
    Su TT, Sim PY, Nahar AM, Majid HA, Murray LJ, Cantwell MM, et al.
    Prev Med, 2014 Oct;67:100-5.
    PMID: 25016043 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.07.001
    BACKGROUND: Obesity and lack of physical activity are fast becoming a concern among Malaysian adolescents.

    OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess physical activity levels among Malaysian adolescents and investigate the association between physical activity levels and body composition such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and percentage of body fat.

    SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 1361 school-going 13 year old multi-ethnic adolescents from population representative samples in Malaysia were involved in our study. Self-reported physical activity levels were assessed using the validated Malay version of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C). Height, weight, body fat composition and waist circumference (WC) were measured. Data collection period was from March to May 2012.

    RESULTS: 10.8% of the males and 7.4% of the females were obese according to the International Obesity Task Force standards. A majority of the adolescents (63.9%) were physically inactive. There is a weak but significant correlation between physical activity scores and the indicators of obesity. The adjusted coefficient for body fatness was relatively more closely correlated to physical activity scores followed by waist circumference and lastly BMI.

    CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that high physical activity scores were associated with the decreased precursor risk factors of obesity.

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Body Composition*; Child; Female; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Obesity/epidemiology; Risk Factors; Exercise*; Body Mass Index; Waist Circumference; Self Report*
  11. Fulltext Comparing the effectiveness of ropivacaine 0.5% versus ropivacaine 0.2% for transabdominis plane block in providing postoperative analgesia after appendectomy
    Abdul Jalil RM, Yahya N, Sulaiman O, Wan Mat WR, Teo R, Izaham A, et al.
    Acta Anaesthesiol Taiwan, 2014 Jun;52(2):49-53.
    PMID: 25016507 DOI: 10.1016/j.aat.2014.05.007
    The basis for the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block involves infiltration of a local anesthetic into the neurofascial plane between the internal oblique and the transversus abdominis muscles, causing a regional block that spreads between the L1 and T10 dermatomes. Thus, the TAP block is said to be suitable for lower abdominal surgery. This study was designed to compare the analgesic efficacy of two different concentrations of ropivacaine for TAP block in patients undergoing appendectomy.
    MeSH terms: Abdomen/innervation; Adult; Amides/administration & dosage*; Analgesia/methods*; Appendectomy*; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Postoperative Period; Prospective Studies
  12. Bringing new HIV infections to zero - opportunities and challenges offered by antiretroviral-based prevention in Asia, the Pacific and beyond: An overview of this special issue
    Zablotska IB, Whittaker B, de Wit J, Kamarulzaman A, Ananworanich J, Wright E, et al.
    Sex Health, 2014 Jul;11(2):97-100.
    PMID: 25017549 DOI: 10.1071/SH14071
    This editorial to the special issue of Sexual Health on antiretroviral-based prevention of HIV infection is dedicated to showcasing research and practice in this area. It aims to promote debate regarding the potential of new antiretroviral-based prevention approaches and the challenges encountered in moving prevention innovations into the community. This special issue covers the breadth of innovative HIV prevention research, including that undertaken in the fields of epidemiology, clinical research, social and behavioural science, public health and policy analysis, and with special emphasis on Asia and the Pacific region. Most importantly, it provides an indication of how the region is progressing towards embracing new prevention approaches to combat HIV epidemics across the region.
    MeSH terms: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Asia; Behavioral Sciences; Policy Making; Public Health; Research; HIV Infections; Epidemics
  13. Pilot-scale production of lipase using palm oil mill effluent as a basal medium and its immobilization by selected materials
    Asih DR, Alam MZ, Alam Z, Salleh MN, Salleh N, Salihu A
    J Oleo Sci, 2014;63(8):779-85.
    PMID: 25017863
    A pilot-scale production of lipase using palm oil mill effluent (POME) as a fermentation basal medium was carried out, and parameters for immobilization of the produced lipase were optimized. Lipase production in a 300-L bioreactor was performed using two proposed strategies, constant power per volume (P/V) and constant tip speed. Moreover, lipase immobilization on different materials was also investigated. Lipase production was performed using liquid-state bioconversion of POME as the medium and Candida cylindracea as the inoculum. The fermentation medium was composed of 1% total suspended solids (TSS) of POME, 0.5% (w/v) peptone, 0.7% (v/v) Tween-80, and 2.2% inoculum. The medium composition was decided on the basis of the medium optimization results of a previous study. The fermentation was carried out for 48 h at 30°C and pH 6. The maximum lipase production was 5.72U/mL and 21.34 U/mL, obtained from the scale-up strategies of constant tip speed and P/V, respectively. Four accessible support materials were screened for their potential use in immobilization. The most suitable support material was found to be activated carbon, with a maximum immobilization of 94%.
    MeSH terms: Candida; Charcoal; Enzymes, Immobilized/chemical synthesis*; Fermentation; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lipase/chemical synthesis*; Peptones; Plant Oils/chemistry*; Polysorbates; Temperature; Time Factors; Bioreactors*
  14. Carotenoid biosynthesis regulatory mechanisms in plants
    Othman R, Mohd Zaifuddin FA, Hassan NM
    J Oleo Sci, 2014;63(8):753-60.
    PMID: 25017864
    Carotenoids are bioactive compounds with remarkably special properties produced by plants in response to internal and external stresses. In this review paper, we focus on the subject of carotenoid biosynthesis and several factors that have been reported to significantly enhance or reduce carotenoid accumulation in studied plant species. These factors include varietal aspects, location, growing season, and type of stress experienced by a plant. In addition, we propose that there are three stress resistance mechanisms in plants: avoidance, tolerance, and acclimation. Better understanding of the environmental factors affecting carotenoid biosynthesis will help researchers to develop methods for enhancing the production of carotenoids and other pigments to desired concentrations in plant crops.
    MeSH terms: Carotenoids/biosynthesis*; Environment; Oxidation-Reduction; Photosynthesis; Plants/metabolism*; Stress, Physiological/physiology; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins
  15. Clinical efficacy and safety of a novel tetravalent dengue vaccine in healthy children in Asia: a phase 3, randomised, observer-masked, placebo-controlled trial
    Capeding MR, Tran NH, Hadinegoro SR, Ismail HI, Chotpitayasunondh T, Chua MN, et al.
    Lancet, 2014 Oct 11;384(9951):1358-65.
    PMID: 25018116 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61060-6
    An estimated 100 million people have symptomatic dengue infection every year. This is the first report of a phase 3 vaccine efficacy trial of a candidate dengue vaccine. We aimed to assess the efficacy of the CYD dengue vaccine against symptomatic, virologically confirmed dengue in children.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Dengue/prevention & control*; Female; Humans; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Treatment Outcome; Dengue Vaccines/administration & dosage*; Dengue Vaccines/adverse effects; Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  16. Fulltext Association between dentures and the rate of falls in dementia
    Eshkoor SA, Hamid TA, Nudin SS, Mun CY
    Med Devices (Auckl), 2014;7:225-30.
    PMID: 25018658 DOI: 10.2147/MDER.S63220
    BACKGROUND: Poor oral health, chronic diseases, functional decline, and low cognitive ability can increase the risk of falls in the elderly.
    OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed to show the effects of oral health, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HT), heart disease, functional status, and sociodemographic factors on the risk of falls in elderly with dementia.
    MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample comprised 1,210 Malaysian elderly who were demented and noninstitutionalized. This study was a national cross-sectional survey entitled "Determinants of Health Status among Older Malaysians". The effects of age, ethnicity, sex differences, marital status, educational level, oral health, DM, HT, heart disease, and functional status on the risk of falls were evaluated. The multiple logistic regression model was used to estimate the effects of contributing variables on the risk of falls in samples.
    RESULTS: The prevalence of falls was approximately 17% in subjects. It was found that age (odds ratio [OR] 1.02), non-Malay ethnicity (OR 1.66), heart disease (OR 1.92), and functional decline (OR 1.58) significantly increased the risk of falls in respondents (P<0.05). Furthermore, having teeth (OR 0.59) and dentures (OR 0.66) significantly decreased the rate of falls (P<0.05).
    CONCLUSION: It was concluded that age, non-Malay ethnicity, functional decline, heart disease, and oral health significantly affected falls in dementia.
    KEYWORDS: chronic diseases; dementia; fall; functional decline; oral health
    MeSH terms: Accidental Falls*
  17. Fulltext Fast transient thermal analysis of non-Fourier heat conduction using Tikhonov well-conditioned asymptotic waveform evaluation
    Rana S, Kanesan J, Reza AW, Ramiah H
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:671619.
    PMID: 25019096 DOI: 10.1155/2014/671619
    Non-Fourier heat conduction model with dual phase lag wave-diffusion model was analyzed by using well-conditioned asymptotic wave evaluation (WCAWE) and finite element method (FEM). The non-Fourier heat conduction has been investigated where the maximum likelihood (ML) and Tikhonov regularization technique were used successfully to predict the accurate and stable temperature responses without the loss of initial nonlinear/high frequency response. To reduce the increased computational time by Tikhonov WCAWE using ML (TWCAWE-ML), another well-conditioned scheme, called mass effect (ME) T-WCAWE, is introduced. TWCAWE with ME (TWCAWE-ME) showed more stable and accurate temperature spectrum in comparison to asymptotic wave evaluation (AWE) and also partial Pade AWE without sacrificing the computational time. However, the TWCAWE-ML remains as the most stable and hence accurate model to analyze the fast transient thermal analysis of non-Fourier heat conduction model.
    MeSH terms: Models, Theoretical; Thermodynamics*
  18. Fulltext Biodegradation of palm kernel cake by cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic bacterial cultures through solid state fermentation
    Alshelmani MI, Loh TC, Foo HL, Lau WH, Sazili AQ
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:729852.
    PMID: 25019097 DOI: 10.1155/2014/729852
    Four cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic bacterial cultures were purchased from the Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Culture (DSMZ) and the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). Two experiments were conducted; the objective of the first experiment was to determine the optimum time period required for solid state fermentation (SSF) of palm kernel cake (PKC), whereas the objective of the second experiment was to investigate the effect of combinations of these cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic bacteria on the nutritive quality of the PKC. In the first experiment, the SSF was lasted for 12 days with inoculum size of 10% (v/w) on different PKC to moisture ratios. In the second experiment, fifteen combinations were created among the four microbes with one untreated PKC as a control. The SSF lasted for 9 days, and the samples were autoclaved, dried, and analyzed for proximate analysis. Results showed that bacterial cultures produced high enzymes activities at the 4th day of SSF, whereas their abilities to produce enzymes tended to be decreased to reach zero at the 8th day of SSF. Findings in the second experiment showed that hemicellulose and cellulose was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased, whereas the amount of reducing sugars were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the fermented PKC (FPKC) compared with untreated PKC.
    MeSH terms: Bacillus/metabolism*; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biotransformation*; Cellulose/metabolism*; Fermentation*; Polysaccharides/metabolism*; Arecaceae/chemistry*; Paenibacillus/metabolism*
  19. Fulltext Systematic comparison of sets of (13)C NMR spectra that are potentially identical. Confirmation of the configuration of a cuticular hydrocarbon from the cane beetle Antitrogus parvulus
    Basar N, Damodaran K, Liu H, Morris GA, Sirat HM, Thomas EJ, et al.
    J Org Chem, 2014 Aug 15;79(16):7477-90.
    PMID: 25019530 DOI: 10.1021/jo5012027
    A systematic process is introduced to compare (13)C NMR spectra of two (or more) candidate samples of known structure to a natural product sample of unknown structure. The process is designed for the case where the spectra involved can reasonably be expected to be very similar, perhaps even identical. It is first validated by using published (13)C NMR data sets for the natural product 4,6,8,10,16,18-hexamethyldocosane. Then the stereoselective total syntheses of two candidate isomers of the related 4,6,8,10,16-pentamethyldocosane natural product are described, and the process is applied to confidently assign the configuration of the natural product as (4S,6R,8R,10S,16S). This is accomplished even though the chemical shift differences between this isomer and its (16R)-epimer are only ±5-10 ppb (±0.005-0.01 ppm).
    MeSH terms: Alkanes/chemical synthesis*; Alkanes/chemistry; Animals; Beetles/chemistry*; Biological Products/chemistry*; Hydrocarbons/chemical synthesis*; Hydrocarbons/chemistry; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Stereoisomerism; Molecular Structure
  20. Fulltext Computer aided screening of secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4): a potential control for diabetes mellitus
    Bukhari SA, Shamshari WA, Ur-Rahman M, Zia-Ul-Haq M, Jaafar HZ
    Molecules, 2014 Jul 11;19(7):10129-36.
    PMID: 25019556 DOI: 10.3390/molecules190710129
    Diabetes mellitus is a life threatening disease and scientists are doing their best to find a cost effective and permanent treatment of this malady. The recent trend is to control the disease by target base inhibiting of enzymes or proteins. Secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4) is found to cause five times more risk of diabetes when expressed above average levels. This study was therefore designed to analyze the SFRP4 and to find its potential inhibitors. SFRP4 was analyzed by bio-informatics tools of sequence tool and structure tool. A total of three potential inhibitors of SFRP4 were found, namely cyclothiazide, clopamide and perindopril. These inhibitors showed significant interactions with SFRP4 as compared to other inhibitors as well as control (acetohexamide). The findings suggest the possible treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2 by inhibiting the SFRP4 using the inhibitors cyclothiazide, clopamide and perindopril.
    MeSH terms: Computer Simulation*; Diabetes Mellitus/drug therapy*; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use; Hypoglycemic Agents/chemistry*; Molecular Docking Simulation*
External Links