Browse publications by year: 2014

  1. The effect of the labile organic fraction in food waste and the substrate/inoculum ratio on anaerobic digestion for a reliable methane yield
    Kawai M, Nagao N, Tajima N, Niwa C, Matsuyama T, Toda T
    Bioresour Technol, 2014 Apr;157:174-80.
    PMID: 24556370 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.01.018
    Influence of the labile organic fraction (LOF) on anaerobic digestion of food waste was investigated in different S/I ratio of 0.33, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0g-VSsubstrate/g-VSinoculum. Two types of substrate, standard food waste (Substrate 1) and standard food waste with the supernatant (containing LOF) removed (Substrate 2) were used. Highest methane yield of 435ml-CH4g-VS(-1) in Substrate 1 was observed in the lowest S/I ratio, while the methane yield of the other S/I ratios were 38-73% lower than the highest yield due to acidification. The methane yields in Substrate 2 were relatively stable in all S/I conditions, although the maximum methane yield was low compared with Substrate 1. These results showed that LOF in food waste causes acidification, but also contributes to high methane yields, suggesting that low S/I ratio (<0.33) is required to obtain a reliable methane yield from food waste compared to other organic substrates.
    MeSH terms: Anaerobiosis; Biotechnology/methods*; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism; Food*; Chemical Fractionation; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Methane/metabolism*; Sewage; Time Factors; Waste Products*
  2. Inflammation of the external ear in acute chikungunya infection: Experience from the outbreak in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, 2008
    Javelle E, Tiong TH, Leparc-Goffart I, Savini H, Simon F
    J Clin Virol, 2014 Apr;59(4):270-3.
    PMID: 24556566 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2014.01.011
    The re-emerging invalidating chikungunya disease has recently extended to temperate areas. Other alphaviruses can also present with febrile arthalgias. Dengue virus transmitted by the same species of mosquitoes may cocirculate, leading to dual infections and concurrent epidemics. Although these diseases share similar clinical features, their prognoses considerably differ. Prominent and prolonged articular disorders are more consistent with chikungunya virus, whereas haemorrhages make the gravity of dengue infection. Specific symptoms are required, especially when diagnostic tests are not available or performable at a large scale. Indeed, early clinical suspicion of a vector-borne disease is crucial to isolate the first cases in the course of an outbreak, and discrimination between arboviruses help to optimal management of patients. No specific chikungunya clinical sign has been yet reported. We highlight here the high prevalence (about 25%) of acute ear redness in infected people during the 2008 chikungunya outbreak in Jahor Bahru in Malaysia. Nine consenting patients are more precisely described. Ear chondritis could be sensitive diagnostic criterion of the acute stage of chikungunya, every physician - even in occidental non endemic areas - should be aware of.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cartilage Diseases/diagnosis; Cartilage Diseases/pathology; Child; Child, Preschool; Disease Outbreaks*; Ear, External/pathology*; Female; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Otitis Externa/diagnosis; Otitis Externa/etiology*; Otitis Externa/epidemiology*; Otitis Externa/pathology; Alphavirus Infections/complications*; Alphavirus Infections/diagnosis; Alphavirus Infections/epidemiology*; Alphavirus Infections/pathology; Young Adult; Chikungunya Fever
  3. Fulltext Partial discharge characteristics of polymer nanocomposite materials in electrical insulation: a review of sample preparation techniques, analysis methods, potential applications, and future trends
    Izzati WA, Arief YZ, Adzis Z, Shafanizam M
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:735070.
    PMID: 24558326 DOI: 10.1155/2014/735070
    Polymer nanocomposites have recently been attracting attention among researchers in electrical insulating applications from energy storage to power delivery. However, partial discharge has always been a predecessor to major faults and problems in this field. In addition, there is a lot more to explore, as neither the partial discharge characteristic in nanocomposites nor their electrical properties are clearly understood. By adding a small amount of weight percentage (wt%) of nanofillers, the physical, mechanical, and electrical properties of polymers can be greatly enhanced. For instance, nanofillers in nanocomposites such as silica (SiO2), alumina (Al2O3) and titania (TiO2) play a big role in providing a good approach to increasing the dielectric breakdown strength and partial discharge resistance of nanocomposites. Such polymer nanocomposites will be reviewed thoroughly in this paper, with the different experimental and analytical techniques used in previous studies. This paper also provides an academic review about partial discharge in polymer nanocomposites used as electrical insulating material from previous research, covering aspects of preparation, characteristics of the nanocomposite based on experimental works, application in power systems, methods and techniques of experiment and analysis, and future trends.
    MeSH terms: Electricity*; Forecasting; Materials Testing/methods*; Polymers/analysis; Polymers/chemistry*; Nanocomposites/analysis; Nanocomposites/chemistry*
  4. Fulltext In-vitro and in-vivo validation of ethnopharmacological uses of methanol extract of Isodon rugosus Wall. ex Benth. (Lamiaceae)
    Janbaz KH, Arif J, Saqib F, Imran I, Ashraf M, Zia-Ul-Haq M, et al.
    BMC Complement Altern Med, 2014 Feb 22;14:71.
    PMID: 24559094 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-71
    BACKGROUND: Isodon rugosus is used in folk Pakistan traditional practices to cure ailments related to gastrointestinal, respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Present study was undertaken to validate these folkloric uses.

    METHODS: A crude methanol extract of the aerial parts of Isodon rugosus (Ir.Cr.) was used for both in vitro and in vivo experiments. The plant extract was tested on isolated rabbit jejunum preparations for possible presence of spasmolytic activity. Moreover, isolated rabbit tracheal and aorta preparations were used to ascertain the relaxant effects of the extract. Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of Ir.Cr were also determined as well as its antioxidant activity. The in vivo antiemetic activity of the extract was evaluated by using the chick emesis model, while the analgesic and antipyretic activities were conducted on albino mice.

    RESULTS: The application of the crude extract of I. rugosus to isolated rabbit jejunum preparations exhibited relaxant effect (0.01-0.3 mg/ml). The Ir.Cr also relaxed K+(80 m M)-induced spastic contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum preparations and shifted the Ca+2 concentration response curves towards right (0.01-0.3 mg/ml). Similarly, the extract, when applied to the isolated rabbit tracheal preparations relaxed the carbachol (1 μM)--as well as K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions in a concentration range of 0.01-1.0 mg/ml. Moreover, it also relaxed (0.01-3.0 mg/ml) the phenylephrine (1 μM)- and K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions in isolated rabbit aorta preparations. The Ir.Cr (80 mg/kg) demonstrated antipyretic activity on pyrogen-induced pyrexia in rabbits as compared to aspirin as standard drug. The Ir.Cr also exhibited anti-oxidant as well as inhibitory effect on acetyl- and butyryl-cholinesterase and lipoxygenase (0.5 mg/ml).

    CONCLUSIONS: The observed relaxant effect on isolated rabbit jejunum, trachea and aorta preparations caused by Ir.Cr is possibly to be mediated through Ca+2 channel blockade and therefore may provided scientific basis to validate the folkloric uses of the plant in the management of gastrointestinal, respiratory and cardiovascular ailments. The observed antioxidant activity as well as the lipoxygenase inhibitory activity may validate its traditional use in pain and inflammations.

    MeSH terms: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use; Antiemetics/pharmacology; Antiemetics/therapeutic use; Antioxidants/pharmacology; Antioxidants/therapeutic use; Aorta/drug effects; Bronchodilator Agents/pharmacology*; Bronchodilator Agents/therapeutic use; Calcium Channel Blockers/pharmacology; Calcium Channel Blockers/therapeutic use; Cholinesterase Inhibitors/pharmacology; Cholinesterase Inhibitors/therapeutic use; Female; Gastrointestinal Agents/pharmacology*; Gastrointestinal Agents/therapeutic use; Jejunum/drug effects; Male; Muscle Contraction/drug effects; Muscle, Smooth/drug effects*; Parasympatholytics/pharmacology*; Parasympatholytics/therapeutic use; Plant Extracts/pharmacology*; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use; Rabbits; Trachea/drug effects; Vasodilator Agents/pharmacology*; Vasodilator Agents/therapeutic use; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors/pharmacology; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors/therapeutic use; Ethnopharmacology; Isodon*; Mice; Antipyretics/pharmacology; Antipyretics/therapeutic use
  5. Fulltext Piper betle induces phase I & II genes through Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway in mouse embryonic fibroblasts derived from wild type and Nrf2 knockout cells
    Wan Hasan WN, Kwak MK, Makpol S, Wan Ngah WZ, Mohd Yusof YA
    BMC Complement Altern Med, 2014;14:72.
    PMID: 24559113 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-72
    Nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45 related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a primary transcription factor, protecting cells from oxidative stress by regulating a number of antioxidants and phase II detoxifying enzymes. Dietary components such as sulforaphane in broccoli and quercetin in onions have been shown to be inducers of Nrf2. Piper betle (PB) grows well in tropical climate and the leaves are used in a number of traditional remedies for the treatment of stomach ailments and infections among Asians. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of Piper betle (PB) leaves extract in Nrf2 signaling pathway by using 2 types of cells; mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from wild-type (WT) and Nrf2 knockout (N0) mice.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Antioxidants/metabolism*; Fibroblasts/drug effects; Fibroblasts/metabolism; Glutathione/metabolism; Glutathione Transferase/metabolism; Inactivation, Metabolic/genetics*; Plant Extracts/pharmacology*; Signal Transduction; Gene Expression/drug effects; NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone)/metabolism; Oxidative Stress/drug effects*; Piper betle*; Metabolic Detoxication, Phase I/genetics; Metabolic Detoxication, Phase II/genetics; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism*; Mice; Antioxidant Response Elements*
  6. Efficacy and safety of topical Trikatu preparation in, relieving mosquito bite reactions: a randomized controlled trial
    Maenthaisong R, Chaiyakunapruk N, Tiyaboonchai W, Tawatsin A, Rojanawiwat A, Thavara U
    Complement Ther Med, 2014 Feb;22(1):34-9.
    PMID: 24559814 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2013.08.014
    INTRODUCTION: Trikatu is composed of dried fruits of Piper nigrum L and Piper retrofractum Vahl, and dried rhizomes of Zingiber officinale R. Although this preparation has been used to relieve pruritis, pain, and inflammation for a long time, there is no clinical evidence to confirm its efficacy and safety. Therefore, we performed a double-blind, within person-randomized controlled study of 30 healthy volunteers to determine efficacy and safety of topical Trikatu on mosquito bite reactions.
    METHODS: All subjects were bitten by Aedes aegypti laboratory mosquitoes on their forearms and they were randomly assigned arms to apply either Trikatu or reference product on the mosquito bite papule. The main outcome was the difference of papule size reduction at 30 min, measured by a caliper, between the Trikatu and reference arms. Pruritis, redness, pain, and patient satisfaction were assessed at 15, 30, 60, 180, and 360 min as secondary outcomes.
    RESULTS: There were no significant differences between treatment and reference arms on any outcome at any time of measurement.
    CONCLUSION: Trikatu did not show additional effects for relieving mosquito bite reaction as compared with the reference product containing camphor, menthol, and eucalyptus. For further study, it is very important to consider a proper selection of subjects, comparator product, and concentration of extract when Trikatu preparation is investigated.
    KEYWORDS: Eucalyptus oil; Mosquito bite; Mosquito bite symptoms; Papule size reduction; Trikatu preparation
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aedes; Alkenes/adverse effects; Alkenes/therapeutic use*; Animals; Erythema/drug therapy; Female; Humans; Insect Bites and Stings/drug therapy*; Insect Bites and Stings/epidemiology; Insect Bites and Stings/physiopathology; Male; Piperidines/adverse effects; Piperidines/therapeutic use*; Plant Extracts/adverse effects; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use*; Pruritus/drug therapy
  7. Classification of intelligence quotient via brainwave sub-band power ratio features and artificial neural network
    Jahidin AH, Megat Ali MS, Taib MN, Tahir NM, Yassin IM, Lias S
    Comput Methods Programs Biomed, 2014 Apr;114(1):50-9.
    PMID: 24560277 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2014.01.016
    This paper elaborates on the novel intelligence assessment method using the brainwave sub-band power ratio features. The study focuses only on the left hemisphere brainwave in its relaxed state. Distinct intelligence quotient groups have been established earlier from the score of the Raven Progressive Matrices. Sub-band power ratios are calculated from energy spectral density of theta, alpha and beta frequency bands. Synthetic data have been generated to increase dataset from 50 to 120. The features are used as input to the artificial neural network. Subsequently, the brain behaviour model has been developed using an artificial neural network that is trained with optimized learning rate, momentum constant and hidden nodes. Findings indicate that the distinct intelligence quotient groups can be classified from the brainwave sub-band power ratios with 100% training and 88.89% testing accuracies.
    MeSH terms: Brain/physiology*; Humans; Intelligence*; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Neural Networks (Computer)*
  8. Clinical and imaging features predictive of orbital granulomatosis with polyangiitis and the risk of systemic involvement
    Tan LT, Davagnanam I, Isa H, Taylor SR, Rose GE, Verity DH, et al.
    Ophthalmology, 2014 Jun;121(6):1304-9.
    PMID: 24560566 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2013.12.003
    Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), previously Wegener's granulomatosis, requires prompt diagnosis and systemic review to exclude life-threatening disease. However, early diagnosis of orbital GPA may be difficult because anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) and anti-PR3 antibody screening can be negative at presentation and orbital biopsies taken for diagnosis may not show the classic features of GPA. This study was designed to compare GPA with other causes of orbital inflammation and to identify the presenting clinical and imaging features most likely to predict GPA and its systemic spread.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biopsy; Child; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Orbital Diseases/diagnosis*; Retrospective Studies; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis/diagnosis*; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic/blood; Young Adult; Microscopic Polyangiitis/diagnosis*
  9. Fulltext RF-to-DC characteristics of direct irradiated on-chip gallium arsenide Schottky diode and antenna for application in proximity communication system
    Mustafa F, Hashim AM
    Sensors (Basel), 2014;14(2):3493-505.
    PMID: 24561400 DOI: 10.3390/s140203493
    We report the RF-to-DC characteristics of the integrated AlGaAs/GaAs Schottky diode and antenna under the direct injection and irradiation condition. The conversion efficiency up to 80% under direct injection of 1 GHz signal to the diode was achieved. It was found that the reduction of series resistance and parallel connection of diode and load tend to lead to the improvement of RF-to-DC conversion efficiency. Under direct irradiation from antenna-to-antenna method, the output voltage of 35 mV was still obtainable for the distance of 8 cm between both antennas in spite of large mismatch in the resonant frequency between the diode and the connected antenna. Higher output voltage in volt range is expected to be achievable for the well-matching condition. The proposed on-chip AlGaAs/GaAs HEMT Schottky diode and antenna seems to be a promising candidate to be used for application in proximity communication system as a wireless low power source as well as a highly sensitive RF detector.
    MeSH terms: Arsenicals; Gallium; Electric Power Supplies; Research Design
  10. Oil palm trunk and sugarcane bagasse derived solid acid catalysts for rapid esterification of fatty acids and moisture-assisted transesterification of oils under pseudo-infinite methanol
    Ezebor F, Khairuddean M, Abdullah AZ, Boey PL
    Bioresour Technol, 2014 Apr;157:254-62.
    PMID: 24561631 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.01.110
    The use of pseudo-infinite methanol in increasing the rate of esterification and transesterification reactions was studied using oil palm trunk (OPT) and sugarcane bagasse (SCB) derived solid acid catalysts. The catalysts were prepared by incomplete carbonisation at 400°C for 8h, followed by sulfonation at 150°C for 15h and characterised using TGA/DTA, XRD, FT-IR, SEM-EDS, EA and titrimetric determinations of acid sites. Under optimal reaction conditions, the process demonstrated rapid esterification of palmitic acid, with FAME yields of 93% and 94% in 45min for OPT and SCB catalysts, respectively. With the process, moisture levels up to 16.7% accelerated the conversion of low FFA oils by sulfonated carbon catalysts, through moisture-induced violent bumping. Moisture assisted transesterification of palm olein containing 1.78% FFA and 8.33% added water gave FAME yield of 90% in 10h, which was two folds over neat oil.
    MeSH terms: Methanol/metabolism; Catalysis; Cellulose/chemistry*; Esterification; Esters/metabolism; Fatty Acids/metabolism; Humidity; Plant Oils/chemistry*; Palmitic Acid/metabolism; Arecaceae/chemistry*; Saccharum/chemistry*; Recycling
  11. Effect of different oxytetracycline addition methods on its degradation behavior in soil
    Chen GX, He WW, Wang Y, Zou YD, Liang JB, Liao XD, et al.
    Sci Total Environ, 2014 May 1;479-480:241-6.
    PMID: 24561929 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.01.124
    The degradation behavior of veterinary antibiotics in soil is commonly studied using the following methods of adding antibiotics to the soil: (i) adding manure collected from animals fed with a diet containing antibiotics, (ii) adding antibiotic-free animal manure spiked with antibiotics and (iii) directly adding antibiotics. No research simultaneously comparing different antibiotic addition methods was found. Oxytetracycline (OTC) was used as a model antibiotic to compare the effect of the three commonly used antibiotic addition methods on OTC degradation behavior in soil. The three treatment methods have similar trends, though OTC degradation half-lives show the following significant differences (P<0.05): manure from swine fed OTC (treatment A)
    MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents/analysis; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry*; Manure; Models, Chemical; Oxytetracycline/analysis; Oxytetracycline/chemistry*; Soil/chemistry*; Soil Microbiology; Soil Pollutants/analysis; Soil Pollutants/chemistry*
  12. Fulltext Sleep deprivation is related to obesity and low intake of energy and carbohydrates among working Iranian adults: a cross sectional study
    Parvaneh K, Poh BK, Hajifaraji M, Ismail MN
    Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2014;23(1):84-90.
    PMID: 24561976 DOI: 10.6133/apjcn.2014.23.1.02
    Sleep deficiency is becoming widespread in both adults and adolescents and is accompanied by certain behaviors that can lead to obesity. This study aims to investigate differences in sleep duration of overweight/obese and normal weight groups, and the association between sleep deprivation and obesity, dietary intake and physical activity. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 226 Iranian working adults (109 men and 117 women) aged 20 to 55 years old who live in Tehran. Body weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured, and BMI was calculated. Questionnaires, including the Sleep Habit Heart Questionnaire (SHHQ), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and 24-hour dietary recall, were interview-administered. Subjects were categorized as normal weight (36.3%) or overweight/obese (63.7%) based on WHO standards (2000). Overweight/ obese subjects slept significantly (p<0.001) later (00:32±00:62 AM) and had shorter sleep duration (5.37±1.1 hours) than normal weight subjects (23:30±00:47 PM and 6.54±1.06 hours, respectively). Sleep duration showed significant (p<0.05) direct correlations to energy (r = 0.174), carbohydrate (r = 0.154) and fat intake (r = 0.141). This study revealed that each hour later in bedtime (going to bed later) increased the odds of being overweight or obese by 2.59-fold (95% CI: 1.61-4.16). The findings in this study confirm that people with shorter sleep duration are more likely to be overweight or obese; hence, strategies for the management of obesity should incorporate a consideration of sleep patterns.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Energy Intake*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet; Female; Humans; Iran; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity/complications*; Sleep Deprivation/complications*; Exercise; Body Mass Index; Odds Ratio; Overweight/complications; Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted*; Waist Circumference
  13. Fulltext Food insecurity and the metabolic syndrome among women from low income communities in Malaysia
    Shariff ZM, Sulaiman N, Jalil RA, Yen WC, Yaw YH, Taib MN, et al.
    Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2014;23(1):138-47.
    PMID: 24561982 DOI: 10.6133/apjcn.2014.23.1.05
    This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between household food insecurity and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) among reproductive-aged women (n=625) in low income communities. The Radimer/Cornell Hunger and Food Insecurity instrument was utilized to assess food insecurity. Anthropometry, diet diversity, blood pressure and fasting venous blood for lipid and glucose profile were also obtained. MetS was defined as having at least 3 risk factors and is in accordance with the Harmonized criteria. The prevalence of food insecurity and MetS was 78.4% (household food insecure, 26.7%; individual food insecure, 25.3%; child hunger, 26.4%) and 25.6%, respectively. While more food secure than food insecure women had elevated glucose (food secure, 54.8% vs food insecure, 37.3-46.1%), total cholesterol (food secure, 54.1% vs food insecure, 32.1-40.7%) and LDL-cholesterol (food secure, 63.7% vs food insecure, 40.6-48.7%), the percentage of women with overweight/ obesity, abdominal obesity, hypertension, high triglyceride, low HDL-cholesterol and MetS did not vary significantly by food insecurity status. However, after controlling for demographic and socioeconomic covariates, women in food insecure households were less likely to have MetS (individual food insecure and child hunger) (p<0.05), abdominal obesity (individual food insecure and child hunger) (p<0.01), elevated glucose (household food insecure), total cholesterol (child hunger) (p<0.05) and LDL-cholesterol (household food insecure and child hunger) (p<0.05) compared to food secure women. Efforts to improve food insecurity of low income households undergoing nutrition transition should address availability and accessibility to healthy food choices and nutrition education that could reduce the risk of diet-related chronic diseases.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Blood Glucose/analysis; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Food Supply/statistics & numerical data*; Humans; Hunger; Lipids/blood; Malaysia/epidemiology; Middle Aged; Obesity/epidemiology; Rural Population; Body Mass Index; Metabolic Syndrome X/epidemiology*; Metabolic Syndrome X/psychology; Waist Circumference; Young Adult; Obesity, Abdominal/epidemiology
  14. Ethanol production via simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of sodium hydroxide treated corn stover using Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Gloeophyllum trabeum
    Vincent M, Pometto AL, van Leeuwen JH
    Bioresour Technol, 2014 Apr;158:1-6.
    PMID: 24561994 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.01.083
    Ethanol was produced via the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of dilute sodium hydroxide treated corn stover. Saccharification was achieved by cultivating either Phanerochaete chrysosporium or Gloeophyllum trabeum on the treated stover, and fermentation was then performed by using either Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Escherichia coli K011. Ethanol production was highest on day 3 for the combination of G. trabeum and E. coli K011 at 6.68 g/100g stover, followed by the combination of P. chrysosporium and E. coli K011 at 5.00 g/100g stover. SSF with S. cerevisiae had lower ethanol yields, ranging between 2.88 g/100g stover at day 3 (P. chrysosporium treated stover) and 3.09 g/100g stover at day 4 (G. trabeum treated stover). The results indicated that mild alkaline pretreatment coupled with fungal saccharification offers a promising bioprocess for ethanol production from corn stover without the addition of commercial enzymes.
    MeSH terms: Ethanol/metabolism*; Basidiomycota/metabolism*; Zea mays/metabolism*; Escherichia coli/metabolism; Fermentation*; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism; Sodium Hydroxide/metabolism*; Phanerochaete/metabolism*; Carbohydrate Metabolism*
  15. Augmentation index is a better marker for cardiovascular risk in young Malaysian males. A comparison of involvement of pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, and C-reactive protein
    Aminuddin A, Chellappan K, Maskon O, Zakaria Z, Karim AA, Ngah WZ, et al.
    Saudi Med J, 2014 Feb;35(2):138-46.
    PMID: 24562512
    To determine the association between carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (PWVCF) and augmentation index (AI) with future cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and to assess whether high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is an important mediator towards these vascular changes, among young men.
    MeSH terms: Adult; C-Reactive Protein/metabolism*; Cardiovascular Diseases/metabolism*; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Risk Factors; Pulse Wave Analysis*
  16. Fulltext Current trends in water-in-diesel emulsion as a fuel
    Yahaya Khan M, Abdul Karim ZA, Hagos FY, Aziz AR, Tan IM
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:527472.
    PMID: 24563631 DOI: 10.1155/2014/527472
    Water-in-diesel emulsion (WiDE) is an alternative fuel for CI engines that can be employed with the existing engine setup with no additional engine retrofitting. It has benefits of simultaneous reduction of both NO x and particulate matters in addition to its impact in the combustion efficiency improvement, although this needs further investigation. This review paper addresses the type of emulsion, the microexplosion phenomenon, emulsion stability and physiochemical improvement, and effect of water content on the combustion and emissions of WiDE fuel. The review also covers the recent experimental methodologies used in the investigation of WiDE for both transport and stationary engine applications. In this review, the fuel injection pump and spray nozzle arrangement has been found to be the most critical components as far as the secondary atomization is concerned and further investigation of the effect of these components in the microexplosion of the emulsion is suggested to be center of focus.
    MeSH terms: Vehicle Emissions/prevention & control*; Emulsions/chemistry*; Gasoline*; Models, Chemical*; Water/chemistry*
  17. Fulltext Synchronized Analysis of FTIR Spectra and GCMS Chromatograms for Evaluation of the Thermally Degraded Vegetable Oils
    Sim SF, Lee TZ, Mohd Irwan Lu NA, Samling B
    J Anal Methods Chem, 2014;2014:271970.
    PMID: 24563804 DOI: 10.1155/2014/271970
    Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) are two common instruments used for analysis of edible oils. The output signal is often analysed on the software attached to the workstations. The processing software is usually individualised for a specific source. The output of GCMS cannot be analysed on the FTIR hence analysts often need to juggle between instruments when multiple techniques are employed. This could become exhaustive when a large dataset is involved. This paper reports a synchronised approach for analysis of signal from FTIR and GCMS. The algorithm is demonstrated on a dataset of edible oils to investigate the thermal degradation of seven types of edible oils treated at 100°C and 150°C. The synchronised routines identify peaks present in FTIR and GCMS spectra/chromatograms where the information is subsequently extracted onto peak tables for further analysis. In this study, it is found that palm based products and corn oils were relatively more stable with higher content of antioxidants tocopherols and squalene. As a conclusion, this approach allows simultaneous analysis of signal from multiple sources and samples enhancing the efficiency of the signal processing process.
  18. Fulltext First case of a naturally acquired human infection with Plasmodium cynomolgi
    Ta TH, Hisam S, Lanza M, Jiram AI, Ismail N, Rubio JM
    Malar J, 2014;13:68.
    PMID: 24564912 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-68
    Since 1960, a total of seven species of monkey malaria have been reported as transmissible to man by mosquito bite: Plasmodium cynomolgi, Plasmodium brasilianum, Plasmodium eylesi, Plasmodium knowlesi, Plasmodium inui, Plasmodium schwetzi and Plasmodium simium. With the exception of P. knowlesi, none of the other species has been found to infect humans in nature. In this report, it is described the first known case of a naturally acquired P. cynomolgi malaria in humans.The patient was a 39-year-old woman from a malaria-free area with no previous history of malaria or travel to endemic areas. Initially, malaria was diagnosed and identified as Plasmodium malariae/P. knowlesi by microscopy in the Terengganu State Health Department. Thick and thin blood films stained with 10% Giemsa were performed for microscopy examination. Molecular species identification was performed at the Institute for Medical Research (IMR, Malaysia) and in the Malaria & Emerging Parasitic Diseases Laboratory (MAPELAB, Spain) using different nested PCR methods.Microscopic re-examination in the IMR showed characteristics of Plasmodium vivax and was confirmed by a nested PCR assay developed by Snounou et al. Instead, a different PCR assay plus sequencing performed at the MAPELAB confirmed that the patient was infected with P. cynomolgi and not with P. vivax.This is the first report of human P. cynomolgi infection acquired in a natural way, but there might be more undiagnosed or misdiagnosed cases, since P. cynomolgi is morphologically indistinguishable from P. vivax, and one of the most used PCR methods for malaria infection detection may identify a P. cynomolgi infection as P. vivax.Simian Plasmodium species may routinely infect humans in Southeast Asia. New diagnostic methods are necessary to distinguish between the human and monkey malaria species. Further epidemiological studies, incriminating also the mosquito vector(s), must be performed to know the relevance of cynomolgi malaria and its implication on human public health and in the control of human malaria.The zoonotic malaria cannot be ignored in view of increasing interactions between man and wild animals in the process of urbanization.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Blood/parasitology; Female; Humans; Malaria/diagnosis*; Malaria/parasitology*; Microscopy; Molecular Sequence Data; DNA, Protozoan/genetics; DNA, Protozoan/chemistry; Plasmodium cynomolgi/isolation & purification*; Sequence Analysis, DNA
  19. Letter to the editor regarding "A questionnaire-based study on parental satisfaction with a universal newborn hearing screening program in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia"
    Wiwanitkit V
    Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol, 2014 Apr;78(4):710.
    PMID: 24565116 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2014.01.037
    MeSH terms: Adult; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Malaysia; Male; Mass Screening/organization & administration; Parents*; Surveys and Questionnaires*; Program Evaluation; Neonatal Screening/organization & administration*; Hearing Loss/diagnosis*
  20. Fulltext Identification of a BET family bromodomain/casein kinase II/TAF-containing complex as a regulator of mitotic condensin function
    Kim HS, Mukhopadhyay R, Rothbart SB, Silva AC, Vanoosthuyse V, Radovani E, et al.
    Cell Rep, 2014 Mar 13;6(5):892-905.
    PMID: 24565511 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.01.029
    Condensin is a central regulator of mitotic genome structure with mutants showing poorly condensed chromosomes and profound segregation defects. Here, we identify NCT, a complex comprising the Nrc1 BET-family tandem bromodomain protein (SPAC631.02), casein kinase II (CKII), and several TAFs, as a regulator of condensin function. We show that NCT and condensin bind similar genomic regions but only briefly colocalize during the periods of chromosome condensation and decondensation. This pattern of NCT binding at the core centromere, the region of maximal condensin enrichment, tracks the abundance of acetylated histone H4, as regulated by the Hat1-Mis16 acetyltransferase complex and recognized by the first Nrc1 bromodomain. Strikingly, mutants in NCT or Hat1-Mis16 restore the formation of segregation-competent chromosomes in cells containing defective condensin. These results are consistent with a model where NCT targets CKII to chromatin in a cell-cycle-directed manner in order to modulate the activity of condensin during chromosome condensation and decondensation.
    MeSH terms: Acetylation; Adenosine Triphosphatases/metabolism*; Centromere/metabolism; Chromatin/metabolism*; DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism*; Histones/metabolism; Mitosis/physiology; Nuclear Proteins/metabolism*; Yeasts/metabolism; RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism*; Multiprotein Complexes/metabolism*; Casein Kinase II/metabolism*; Histone Acetyltransferases/metabolism
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