Browse publications by year: 2017

  1. Fulltext Application of the Socio-Ecological Model to predict physical activity behaviour among Nigerian University students
    Essiet IA, Baharom A, Shahar HK, Uzochukwu B
    Pan Afr Med J, 2017;26:110.
    PMID: 28533833 DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2017.26.110.10409
    INTRODUCTION: Physical activity among university students is a catalyst for habitual physical activity in adulthood. Physical activity has many health benefits besides the improvement in academic performance. The present study assessed the predictors of physical activity among Nigerian university students using the Social Ecological Model (SEM).

    METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited first-year undergraduate students in the University of Uyo, Nigeria by multistage sampling. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short-version was used to assess physical activity in the study. Factors were categorised according to the Socio-Ecological Model which consisted of individual, social environment, physical environment and policy level. Data was analysed using the IBM SPSS statistical software, version 22. Simple and multiple logistic regression were used to determine the predictors of sufficient physical activity.

    RESULTS: A total of 342 respondents completed the study questionnaire. Majority of the respondents (93.6%) reported sufficient physical activity at 7-day recall. Multivariate analysis revealed that respondents belonging to the Ibibio ethnic group were about four times more likely to be sufficiently active compared to those who belonged to the other ethnic groups (AOR = 3.725, 95% CI = 1.383 to 10.032). Also, participants who had a normal weight were about four times more likely to be physically active compared to those who were underweight (AOR = 4.268, 95% CI = 1.323 to 13.772).

    CONCLUSION: This study concluded that there was sufficient physical activity levels among respondents. It is suggested that emphasis be given to implementing interventions aimed at sustaining sufficient levels of physical activity among students.

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ethnic Groups/statistics & numerical data; Female; Humans; Male; Models, Theoretical*; Nigeria; Surveys and Questionnaires; Students/statistics & numerical data*; Universities; Exercise*; Multivariate Analysis; Logistic Models; Young Adult
  2. Fulltext A genome-wide assessment of stages of elevational parapatry in Bornean passerine birds reveals no introgression: implications for processes and patterns of speciation
    Moyle RG, Manthey JD, Hosner PA, Rahman M, Lakim M, Sheldon FH
    PeerJ, 2017;5:e3335.
    PMID: 28533979 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3335
    Topographically complex regions often contain the close juxtaposition of closely related species along elevational gradients. The evolutionary causes of these elevational replacements, and thus the origin and maintenance of a large portion of species diversity along elevational gradients, are usually unclear because ecological differentiation along a gradient or secondary contact following allopatric diversification can produce the same pattern. We used reduced representation genomic sequencing to assess genetic relationships and gene flow between three parapatric pairs of closely related songbird taxa (Arachnothera spiderhunters, Chloropsis leafbirds, and Enicurus forktails) along an elevational gradient in Borneo. Each taxon pair presents a different elevational range distribution across the island, yet results were uniform: little or no gene flow was detected in any pairwise comparisons. These results are congruent with an allopatric "species-pump" model for generation of species diversity and elevational parapatry of congeners on Borneo, rather than in situ generation of species by "ecological speciation" along an elevational gradient.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Borneo; Ecology; Biological Evolution; Songbirds; Genomics; Passeriformes; Gene Flow; Islands
  3. Fulltext Lid opening and conformational stability of T1 Lipase is mediated by increasing chain length polar solvents
    Maiangwa J, Mohamad Ali MS, Salleh AB, Rahman RNZRA, Normi YM, Mohd Shariff F, et al.
    PeerJ, 2017;5:e3341.
    PMID: 28533982 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3341
    The dynamics and conformational landscape of proteins in organic solvents are events of potential interest in nonaqueous process catalysis. Conformational changes, folding transitions, and stability often correspond to structural rearrangements that alter contacts between solvent molecules and amino acid residues. However, in nonaqueous enzymology, organic solvents limit stability and further application of proteins. In the present study, molecular dynamics (MD) of a thermostable Geobacillus zalihae T1 lipase was performed in different chain length polar organic solvents (methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, and pentanol) and water mixture systems to a concentration of 50%. On the basis of the MD results, the structural deviations of the backbone atoms elucidated the dynamic effects of water/organic solvent mixtures on the equilibrium state of the protein simulations in decreasing solvent polarity. The results show that the solvent mixture gives rise to deviations in enzyme structure from the native one simulated in water. The drop in the flexibility in H2O, MtOH, EtOH and PrOH simulation mixtures shows that greater motions of residues were influenced in BtOH and PtOH simulation mixtures. Comparing the root mean square fluctuations value with the accessible solvent area (SASA) for every residue showed an almost correspondingly high SASA value of residues to high flexibility and low SASA value to low flexibility. The study further revealed that the organic solvents influenced the formation of more hydrogen bonds in MtOH, EtOH and PrOH and thus, it is assumed that increased intraprotein hydrogen bonding is ultimately correlated to the stability of the protein. However, the solvent accessibility analysis showed that in all solvent systems, hydrophobic residues were exposed and polar residues tended to be buried away from the solvent. Distance variation of the tetrahedral intermediate packing of the active pocket was not conserved in organic solvent systems, which could lead to weaknesses in the catalytic H-bond network and most likely a drop in catalytic activity. The conformational variation of the lid domain caused by the solvent molecules influenced its gradual opening. Formation of additional hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions indicates that the contribution of the cooperative network of interactions could retain the stability of the protein in some solvent systems. Time-correlated atomic motions were used to characterize the correlations between the motions of the atoms from atomic coordinates. The resulting cross-correlation map revealed that the organic solvent mixtures performed functional, concerted, correlated motions in regions of residues of the lid domain to other residues. These observations suggest that varying lengths of polar organic solvents play a significant role in introducing dynamic conformational diversity in proteins in a decreasing order of polarity.
    MeSH terms: Ethanol; Methanol; 1-Propanol; Pentanols; Butanols; Bacterial Proteins; Hydrogen Bonding; Lipase; Solvents; Water; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Geobacillus; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  4. Microplastics in Sediment Cores from Asia and Africa as Indicators of Temporal Trends in Plastic Pollution
    Matsuguma Y, Takada H, Kumata H, Kanke H, Sakurai S, Suzuki T, et al.
    Arch Environ Contam Toxicol, 2017 Aug;73(2):230-239.
    PMID: 28534067 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-017-0414-9
    Microplastics (<5 mm) were extracted from sediment cores collected in Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, and South Africa by density separation after hydrogen peroxide treatment to remove biofilms were and identified using FTIR. Carbonyl and vinyl indices were used to avoid counting biopolymers as plastics. Microplastics composed of variety of polymers, including polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethyleneterphthalates (PET), polyethylene-polypropylene copolymer (PEP), and polyacrylates (PAK), were identified in the sediment. We measured microplastics between 315 µm and 5 mm, most of which were in the range 315 µm-1 mm. The abundance of microplastics in surface sediment varied from 100 pieces/kg-dry sediment in a core collected in the Gulf of Thailand to 1900 pieces/kg-dry sediment in a core collected in a canal in Tokyo Bay. A far higher stock of PE and PP composed microplastics in sediment compared with surface water samples collected in a canal in Tokyo Bay suggests that sediment is an important sink for microplastics. In dated sediment cores from Japan, microplastic pollution started in 1950s, and their abundance increased markedly toward the surface layer (i.e., 2000s). In all sediment cores from Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, and South Africa, the abundance of microplastics increased toward the surface, suggesting the global occurrence of and an increase in microplastic pollution over time.
    MeSH terms: Biopolymers; Environmental Pollution; Hydrogen Peroxide; Japan; Malaysia; Plastics; Polymers; Polypropylenes; Polystyrenes; South Africa; Thailand; Tokyo; Water; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Biofilms; Polyethylene; Bays
  5. Serum concentrations of MCP-1 and IL-6 in combination predict the presence of coronary artery disease and mortality in subjects undergoing coronary angiography
    Tajfard M, Latiff LA, Rahimi HR, Moohebati M, Hasanzadeh M, Emrani AS, et al.
    Mol Cell Biochem, 2017 Nov;435(1-2):37-45.
    PMID: 28534120 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-017-3054-5
    Cytokines play a key role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of current study was to investigate the relationship between the serum concentrations of 12 cytokines with mortality and extent of CAD in individuals undergoing angiography and healthy controls. 342 CAD patients were recruited and divided into 2 groups: those with ≥50% occlusion in at least one coronary artery [Angiography (+)] or <50% obstruction in coronary arteries [Angiography (-)]. Also 120 healthy subjects were enrolled as control group. Lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, body mass index, and blood pressure were evaluated in all the subjects. An Evidence Investigator® was used for measuring 12 cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, MCP-1, IFN-γ, EGF, VEGF) using sandwich chemiluminescent assays. Univariate analysis, multivariate regression models, ROC, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used for exploring the candidate markers in CAD patients. Serum level of IFN-γ, IL-4, MCP-1, EGF, IL-6, and IL-8 were markedly higher in angiogram-positive patients, while VEGF concentrations were significantly (P 2.16 pg/mL IL-6 had a > 94% sensitivity and 70% specificity in predicting 2 years mortality in the subjects with a serum MCP-1 > 61.95 pg/ mL, and patients having IL-6/MCP-1 combination had a shorter survival.Our findings demonstrate that CAD patients with serum MCP-1 and IL-6 levels of >61.95 and >2.16 pg/mL had a higher mortality with 94.1% sensitivity and 70.5% specificity for predicting mortality in CAD patients.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Predictive Value of Tests; Interleukin-6/blood*; Coronary Angiography*; Chemokine CCL2/blood*
  6. Fulltext Leveraging the U.S. Criminal Justice System to Access Women for HIV Interventions
    Meyer JP, Muthulingam D, El-Bassel N, Altice FL
    AIDS Behav, 2017 Dec;21(12):3527-3548.
    PMID: 28534199 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-017-1778-6
    The criminal justice (CJ) system can be leveraged to access women for HIV prevention and treatment programs. Research is lacking on effective implementation strategies tailored to the specific needs of CJ-involved women. We conducted a scoping review of published studies in English from the United States that described HIV interventions, involved women or girls, and used the CJ system as an access point for sampling or intervention delivery. We identified 350 studies and synthesized data from 42 unique interventions, based in closed (n = 26), community (n = 7), or multiple/other CJ settings (n = 9). A minority of reviewed programs incorporated women-specific content or conducted gender-stratified analyses. CJ systems are comprised of diverse access points, each with unique strengths and challenges for implementing HIV treatment and prevention programs for women. Further study is warranted to develop women-specific and trauma-informed content and evaluate program effectiveness.
    MeSH terms: Criminal Law*; Female; Humans; Prisoners/psychology*; Prisons*; United States; HIV Infections/prevention & control*
  7. Adsorption properties of cationic rhodamine B dye onto metals chloride-activated castor bean residue carbons
    Zhi LL, Zaini MA
    Water Sci Technol, 2017 02;75(3-4):864-880.
    PMID: 28234287 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2016.568
    This work was aimed to evaluate the feasibility of castor bean residue based activated carbons prepared through metals chloride activation. The activated carbons were characterized for textural properties and surface chemistry, and the adsorption data of rhodamine B were established to investigate the removal performance. Zinc chloride-activated carbon with specific surface area of 395 m(2)/g displayed a higher adsorption capacity of 175 mg/g. Magnesium chloride and iron(III) chloride are less toxic and promising agents for composite chemical activation. The adsorption data obeyed Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics model. The rate-limiting step in the adsorption of rhodamine B is film diffusion. The positive values of enthalpy and entropy indicate that the adsorption is endothermic and spontaneous at high temperature.
    MeSH terms: Adsorption; Castor Bean/chemistry*; Cations; Charcoal/chemistry*; Chlorides/chemistry*; Diffusion; Ferric Compounds/chemistry; Kinetics; Rhodamines/analysis*; Rhodamines/chemistry; Seeds/chemistry; Surface Properties; Temperature; Thermodynamics; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis*; Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry; Magnesium Chloride/chemistry; Zinc Compounds/chemistry; Water Purification/methods*
  8. Optimisation of Reactive Black 5 dye removal by electrocoagulation process using response surface methodology
    Mook WT, Aroua MK, Szlachta M, Lee CS
    Water Sci Technol, 2017 02;75(3-4):952-962.
    PMID: 28234295 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2016.563
    In this work, a regression model obtained from response surface methodology (RSM) was proposed for the electrocoagulation (EC) treatment of textile wastewater. The Reactive Black 5 dye (RB5) was used as a model dye to evaluate the performance of the model design. The effect of initial solution pH, applied current and treatment time on RB5 removal was investigated. The total number of experiments designed by RSM amounted to 27 runs, including three repeated experimental runs at the central point. The accuracy of the model was evaluated by the F-test, coefficient of determination (R(2)), adjusted R(2) and standard deviation. The optimum conditions for RB5 removal were as follows: initial pH of 6.63, current of 0.075 A, electrolyte dose of 0.11 g/L and EC time of 50.3 min. The predicted RB5 removal was 83.3% and the percentage error between experimental and predicted results was only 3-5%. The obtained data confirm that the proposed model can be used for accurate prediction of RB5 removal. The value of the zeta potential increased with treatment time, and the X-ray diffraction pattern shows that iron complexes were found in the sludge.
    MeSH terms: Flocculation; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Models, Theoretical*; Naphthalenesulfonates/analysis*; Sewage/chemistry; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis*; X-Ray Diffraction; Water Purification/methods*; Electrochemical Techniques/methods*; Waste Water/chemistry*
  9. Torus Mandibularis
    Chaubal TV, Bapat R, Poonja K
    Am J Med, 2017 10;130(10):e451.
    PMID: 28528920 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2017.04.026
    MeSH terms: Adult; Exostoses/diagnosis*; Exostoses/pathology*; Humans; Male; Mandible/abnormalities*; Mandible/pathology; Palate, Hard/abnormalities*; Palate, Hard/pathology
  10. Effects of plasticizers on the physicochemical properties of kappa-carrageenan films extracted from Eucheuma cottonii
    Ili Balqis AM, Nor Khaizura MAR, Russly AR, Nur Hanani ZA
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2017 Oct;103:721-732.
    PMID: 28528954 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.05.105
    The physicochemical properties of κ-carrageenan films extracted from Eucheuma cottonii (E. cottonii) incorporated with different concentrations and types of plasticizers were studied. Glycerol, sorbitol, and polyethylene glycol-300 (PEG-300) in the range of 10-60% were used as plasticizers. The results showed that the thickness and moisture content (MC) of films increased significantly (p≤0.05) with the increase in plasticizer concentration. Sorbitol-plasticized films had the lowest values. Sorbitol-plasticized films have better mechanical properties and the lowest water vapor permeability (WVP), solubility and water uptake ratio (WUR) compared with glycerol and PEG-plasticized films (p≤0.05). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra showed the intermolecular reactions between κ-carrageenan and the plasticizers in the films. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations indicated that sorbitol-plasticized films have a compact structure, even at the highest concentration. The melting temperature (Tm) of films decreased (p≤0.05) with an increase in the plasticizer concentration. Here, the glycerol-plasticized films had the lowest values. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed broad and narrow peaks of the un-plasticized κ-carrageenan film at 2θ=20.0° and 2θ=8.4°, respectively. The intensity of the broad peak increased and the narrow peak disappeared as the concentration of plasticizers increased. In conclusion, films from E. cottonii successfully produced with sorbitol as the plasticizer exhibited good physical properties as packaging films.
    MeSH terms: Rhodophyta/chemistry*; Carrageenan/isolation & purification*; Carrageenan/chemistry*; Permeability; Plasticizers/chemistry*; Steam; Mechanical Phenomena; Chemical Phenomena*; Optical Phenomena
  11. Fulltext Disclosure of traditional and complementary medicine use and Its associated factors to medical doctor in primary care clinics in Kuching Division, Sarawak, Malaysia
    Kelak J, Cheah WL, Razitasham S
    Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2017;2017:5146478.
    PMID: 28529529 DOI: 10.1155/2017/5146478
    The decision by the patients to disclose traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) use to their doctor is an important area to be explored. This study aimed to determine the disclosure of TCM use and its associated factors to medical doctor among primary care clinic attendees in Kuching Division, Sarawak. It was a cross-sectional study using questionnaire, interviewer administered questionnaire. A total of 1130 patients were screened with 80.2% reporting using TCM. Logistic regression analysis revealed that being female (AOR = 3.219, 95% CI: 1.385, 7.481), perceived benefits that TCM can prevent complication of illness (AOR = 3.999, 95% CI: 1.850, 8.644) and that TCM is more gentle and safer (AOR = 4.537, 95% CI: 2.332, 8.828), perceived barriers of not having enough knowledge about TCM (AOR = 0.530, 95% CI: 0.309, 0.910), patient dissatisfaction towards healthcare providers being too business-like and impersonal (AOR = 0.365, 95% CI: 0.199, 0.669) and paying more for healthcare than one can afford (AOR = 0.413, 95% CI: 0.250, 0.680), and accessibility of doctors (AOR = 3.971, 95% CI: 2.245, 7.023) are the predictors of disclosure of TCM use. An open communication between patients and doctor is important to ensure safe implementation and integration of both TCM and medical treatment.
    Study site: Klinik kesihatan, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
    MeSH terms: Adult; Complementary Therapies*; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Malaysia; Disclosure
  12. Fulltext Assessing the species composition of tropical eels (Anguillidae) in Aceh Waters, Indonesia, with DNA barcoding gene cox1
    Muchlisin ZA, Batubara AS, Fadli N, Muhammadar AA, Utami AI, Farhana N, et al.
    F1000Res, 2017;6:258.
    PMID: 28529702 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.10715.1
    The objective of the present study was to evaluate the species diversity of eels native to Aceh waters based on genetic data. Sampling was conducted in western coast waters of Aceh Province, Indonesia, from July to August 2016. Genomic DNA was extracted from the samples, a genomic region from the 5' region of the cox1 gene was amplified and sequenced, and this was then used to analyse genetic variation. The genetic sequences were blasted into the NCBI database. Based on this analysis there were three valid species of eels that occurred in Aceh waters, namely Anguilla marmorata, A. bicolor bicolor, and A. bengalensis bengalensis.
  13. Fulltext trans-Di-chlorido-bis-(dimethyl sulfoxide-κO)bis-(4-fluoro-benzyl-κC(1))tin(IV): crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis
    Amin NABM, Hussen RSD, Lee SM, Halcovitch NR, Jotani MM, Tiekink ERT
    Acta Crystallogr E Crystallogr Commun, 2017 May 01;73(Pt 5):667-672.
    PMID: 28529772 DOI: 10.1107/S2056989017005072
    The Sn(IV) atom in the title diorganotin compound, [Sn(C7H6F)2Cl2(C2H6OS)2], is located on a centre of inversion, resulting in the C2Cl2O2 donor set having an all-trans disposition of like atoms. The coordination geometry approximates an octa-hedron. The crystal features C-H⋯F, C-H⋯Cl and C-H⋯π inter-actions, giving rise to a three-dimensional network. The respective influences of the Cl⋯H/H⋯Cl and F⋯H/H⋯F contacts to the mol-ecular packing are clearly evident from the analysis of the Hirshfeld surface.
    MeSH terms: Emotions; Heterocyclic Compounds; Humans; Personality; Tissue Donors
  14. Fulltext μ3-Chlorido-μ2-chlorido-(μ3-pyrrolidine-1-carbo-dithio-ato-κ4S:S,S':S')tris-[(tri-ethyl-phosphane-κP)copper(I)]: crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis
    Tan YJ, Yeo CI, Halcovitch NR, Jotani MM, Tiekink ERT
    Acta Crystallogr E Crystallogr Commun, 2017 May 01;73(Pt 5):720-725.
    PMID: 28529784 DOI: 10.1107/S2056989017005382
    The title trinuclear compound, [Cu3(C5H8NS2)Cl2(C6H15P)3], has the di-thio-carbamate ligand symmetrically chelating one CuI atom and each of the S atoms bridging to another CuI atom. Both chloride ligands are bridging, one being μ3- and the other μ2-bridging. Each Et3P ligand occupies a terminal position. Two of the CuI atoms exist within Cl2PS donor sets and the third is based on a ClPS2 donor set, with each coordination geometry based on a distorted tetra-hedron. The constituents defining the core of the mol-ecule, i.e. Cu3Cl2S2, occupy seven corners of a distorted cube. In the crystal, linear supra-molecular chains along the c axis are formed via phosphane-methyl-ene-C-H⋯Cl and pyrrolidine-methyl-ene-C-H⋯π(chelate) inter-actions, and these chains pack without directional inter-actions between them. An analysis of the Hirshfeld surface points to the predominance of H atoms at the surface, i.e. contributing 86.6% to the surface, and also highlights the presence of C-H⋯π(chelate) inter-actions.
  15. Fulltext The 1:1 co-crystal of 2-bromo-naphthalene-1,4-dione and 1,8-di-hydroxy-anthracene-9,10-dione: crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis
    Tonin MDL, Garden SJ, Jotani MM, Wardell SMSV, Wardell JL, Tiekink ERT
    Acta Crystallogr E Crystallogr Commun, 2017 May 01;73(Pt 5):738-745.
    PMID: 28529788 DOI: 10.1107/S2056989017005667
    The asymmetric unit of the title co-crystal, C10H5BrO2·C14H8O4 [systematic name: 2-bromo-1,4-di-hydro-naphthalene-1,4-dione-1,8-dihy-droxy-9,10-di-hydro-anthracene-9,10-dione (1/1)], features one mol-ecule of each coformer. The 2-bromo-naphtho-quinone mol-ecule is almost planar [r.m.s deviation of the 13 non-H atoms = 0.060 Å, with the maximum deviations of 0.093 (1) and 0.099 (1) Å being for the Br atom and a carbonyl-O atom, respectively]. The 1,8-di-hydroxy-anthra-quinone mol-ecule is planar (r.m.s. deviation for the 18 non-H atoms is 0.022 Å) and features two intra-molecular hy-droxy-O-H⋯O(carbon-yl) hydrogen bonds. Dimeric aggregates of 1,8-di-hydroxy-anthra-quinone mol-ecules assemble through weak inter-molecular hy-droxy-O-H⋯O(carbon-yl) hydrogen bonds. The mol-ecular packing comprises stacks of mol-ecules of 2-bromo-naphtho-quinone and dimeric assembles of 1,8-di-hydroxy-anthra-quinone with the shortest π-π contact within a stack of 3.5760 (9) Å occurring between the different rings of 2-bromo-naphtho-quinone mol-ecules. The analysis of the Hirshfeld surface reveals the importance of the inter-actions just indicated but, also the contribution of additional C-H⋯O contacts as well as C=O⋯π inter-actions to the mol-ecular packing.
  16. Fulltext 3-Hy-droxy-2-phenyl-2,3,3a,7a-tetra-hydro-1H,5H-pyrano[3,2-b]pyrrol-5-one: crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis
    Zukerman-Schpector J, Moro AV, Dos Santos MR, Correia CRD, Jotani MM, Tiekink ERT
    Acta Crystallogr E Crystallogr Commun, 2017 May 01;73(Pt 5):746-751.
    PMID: 28529789 DOI: 10.1107/S2056989017005680
    The title isoaltholactone derivative, C13H13NO3, has an NH group in place of the ether-O atom in the five-membered ring of the natural product. The five-membered ring is twisted about the N-C bond linking it to the six-membered ring, which has a half-chair conformation with the O atom connected to the ether-O atom lying above the plane defined by the remaining atoms. The dihedral angle between the mean planes of the rings comprising the fused-ring system is 75.10 (8)°. In the crystal, hy-droxy-O-H⋯N(amine) hydrogen bonding sustains linear supra-molecular chains along the a axis. Chains are linked into a three-dimensional architecture via amine-N-H⋯π(phen-yl) and phenyl-C-H⋯O(hy-droxy) inter-actions. The influence of the amine-N-H⋯π(phen-yl) contact on the mol-ecular packing is revealed by an analysis of the Hirshfeld surface.
  17. Fulltext Iso-Seq analysis of Nepenthes ampullaria, Nepenthes rafflesiana and Nepenthes × hookeriana for hybridisation study in pitcher plants
    Zulkapli MM, Rosli MAF, Salleh FIM, Mohd Noor N, Aizat WM, Goh HH
    Genom Data, 2017 Jun;12:130-131.
    PMID: 28529881 DOI: 10.1016/j.gdata.2017.05.003
    Tropical pitcher plants in the species-rich Nepenthaceae family of carnivorous plants possess unique pitcher organs. Hybridisation, natural or artificial, in this family is extensive resulting in pitchers with diverse features. The pitcher functions as a passive insect trap with digestive fluid for nutrient acquisition in nitrogen-poor habitats. This organ shows specialisation according to the dietary habit of different Nepenthes species. In this study, we performed the first single-molecule real-time isoform sequencing (Iso-Seq) analysis of full-length cDNA from Nepenthes ampullaria which can feed on leaf litter, compared to carnivorous Nepenthes rafflesiana, and their carnivorous hybrid Nepenthes × hookeriana. This allows the comparison of pitcher transcriptomes from the parents and the hybrid to understand how hybridisation could shape the evolution of dietary habit in Nepenthes. Raw reads have been deposited to SRA database with the accession numbers SRX2692198 (N. ampullaria), SRX2692197 (N. rafflesiana), and SRX2692196 (N. × hookeriana).
  18. Fulltext Transcriptomic data of Arabidopsis thaliana hypocotyl upon suppression of expansin genes
    Ilias IA, Airianah OB, Baharum SN, Goh HH
    Genom Data, 2017 Jun;12:132-133.
    PMID: 28529882 DOI: 10.1016/j.gdata.2017.05.002
    Expansin is a cell wall loosening protein without hydrolytic activity, which allows cell expansion by influencing cell wall extensibility. Previous studies showed that the suppression of expansin genes (EXPA1, EXPA3, EXPA5 and EXPA10) resulted in defective organ growth and altered cell wall chemical composition [1,2]. However, the molecular mechanism on how the suppression of non-enzymatic expansin expression can result in widespread effects on plant cell wall and organ growth is still unclear. In this study, we performed transcriptomic analysis on the hypocotyls of previously reported transgenic Arabidopsis line [1] to investigate the effects of expansin gene suppression on the global gene expression pattern, particularly on the cell wall related genes.
  19. Fulltext SMRT sequencing data for Garcinia mangostana L. variety Mesta
    Midin MR, Loke KK, Madon M, Nordin MS, Goh HH, Mohd Noor N
    Genom Data, 2017 Jun;12:134-135.
    PMID: 28529883 DOI: 10.1016/j.gdata.2017.04.003
    The "Queen of Fruits" mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) produces commercially important fruits with desirable taste of flesh and pericarp rich in xanthones with medicinal properties. To date, only limited knowledge is available on the cytogenetics and genome sequences of a common variety of mangosteen (Abu Bakar et al., 2016 [1]). Here, we report the first single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing data from whole genome sequencing of mangosteen of Mesta variety. Raw reads of the SMRT sequencing project can be obtained from SRA database with the accession numbers SRX2718652 until SRX2718659.
  20. Fulltext Targeting Lung Cancer Stem Cells: Research and Clinical Impacts
    Zakaria N, Satar NA, Abu Halim NH, Ngalim SH, Yusoff NM, Lin J, et al.
    Front Oncol, 2017;7:80.
    PMID: 28529925 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2017.00080
    Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, accounting for 1.8 million new cases and 1.6 million deaths in 2012. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which is one of two types of lung cancer, accounts for 85-90% of all lung cancers. Despite advances in therapy, lung cancer still remains a leading cause of death. Cancer relapse and dissemination after treatment indicates the existence of a niche of cancer cells that are not fully eradicated by current therapies. These chemoresistant populations of cancer cells are called cancer stem cells (CSCs) because they possess the self-renewal and differentiation capabilities similar to those of normal stem cells. Targeting the niche of CSCs in combination with chemotherapy might provide a promising strategy to eradicate these cells. Thus, understanding the characteristics of CSCs has become a focus of studies of NSCLC therapies.
    MeSH terms: Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Cause of Death; Cell Count; Cell Differentiation; Lung Neoplasms; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Neoplastic Stem Cells
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