Nitrate simultaneously induced NADH- and NADPH-nitrate reductase activities in rice seedlings. Chloramphenicol, other organic nitro-compounds such as o-nitroaniline and 2,4-dinitrophenol and nitrite also induced nitrate reductase in rice seedlings. The nitrate- or nitrite-induced nitrate reductase could accept electrons more efficiently from NADH than NADPH. However, when this enzyme was induced by organic nitro-compounds, it could accept electrons more efficiently from NADPH than NADH.
The use of organochlorine pesticides has caused concern due to their effects on human health and the Malaysian aquatic ecosystem, particularly so in view of their persistent and bioaccumulative properties. Since the extent of organochlorine pesticide pollution in Malaysian waterways is unknown except for isolated instances, a systematic survey has now been carried out. Water samples from various rivers were extracted, cleaned up with Florisil and analysed for the individual organochlorine pesticides by gas chromatography (GC) with an electron capture detector (ECD). DDE, DDT and heptachlor were present in all the river water samples of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Other organochlorine pesticides were also identified from the water samples. However, the levels of all these are still below criteria values for Malaysian aquatic life, indicating that organochlorine pesticide pollution is less of a problem than other organic or inorganic pollutants.
A Mo -reducing bacterium (strain 48), which grew on medium supplemented with 200 mM Mo, was isolated from stream water obtained from Chengkau, Malaysia. The chemical properties of strain 48 conform to the characteristics of Enterobacter cloacae. Under anaerobic conditions in the glucose-yeast extract medium containing phosphate ion (2.9 mM) and Mo (10 mM), the bacterium reduced Mo to form molybdenum blue. Approximately 27% of Mo added to the medium was reduced after 28 h of cultivation. The reduction of Mo with glucose as an electron donor was strongly inhibited by iodoacetic acid, sodium fluoride, and sodium cyanide, suggesting an involvement of the glycolytic pathway and electron transport in Mo reduction. NADH and N,N,N',N' -tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine served as electron donors for Mo reduction. When NADH was used as an electron donor, at first cytochrome b in the cell extract was reduced, and then molybdenum blue was formed. Sodium cyanide strongly inhibited Mo reduction by NADH (5 mM) but not the reduction of cytochrome b in the cell extract, suggesting that the reduced component of the electron transport system after cytochrome b serves as an electron donor for Mo reduction. Both ferric and stannous ions strongly enhanced the activity of Mo reduction by NADH.
The structure and distribution of organelles within developing goat oocytes at various stages of incubation were studied. In oocytes with 5 or more layers of cumulus cells, at 0 h of incubation, the zona pellucida had developed although zonation was not evident. Lipid bodies were present but no mitochondria were observed. At 20 h, the zona pellucida had differentiated into thicker and thinner regions. Clusters of membrane-bound electron-transparent bodies were present in the perivitelline space. The mitochondria were fully developed, distributed evenly and usually in close proximity with dilated endoplasmic reticula. Cortical granules were distributed at the periphery. At 40 h of incubation, a number of mitochondria was hooded. In oocytes of 2 to 4 layers of cumulus cells at 0 h, the zona pellucida was penetrated by cumulus cell processes, and the mitochondria were not well developed. However, in 20-h incubated oocytes, fully developed mitochondria, many of which were hooded, could be observed. Clusters of membrane-bound electron-transparent bodies were also observed, while cortical granules were at the periphery. In cumulus-free oocytes, zonation within the zona pellucida was indistinct. Very few vesicles and lipid bodies were observed. At 20 h, mitochondria were sparsely distributed and were not well developed and lacked cristae. At 40 h, the zona pellucida was less compact, and the membrane-bound electron-transparent bodies were less numerous compared with those of the other groups. Endoplasmic reticula were not dilated, and cortical granules were few and had no definite pattern of distribution.
High-energy electron (2.0 MV) and gamma irradiation (60Co) has been used to modify polymeric silicone fluids of initial viscosities in the range, 90-700 cSt. Doses of electron and gamma radiation were delivered at rates of 0.246 kGy s(-1) and 15 kGy h(-1), respectively, exposure times being adjusted to ensure energy deposition in the range 30-360 kGy. Measurements were made using a differential viscometer based on a Bose Institute design. In line with expectation, samples of greater initial molecular weight (and hence greater viscosity), were observed to be more susceptible to radiation induced cross-linking than those of lower molecular weight. The role of dose rate and oxygen diffusion in determining the extent of change is discussed.
Previous scattering and depth-dose investigations involving use of the Malaysian hardwood Rhizophora spp have shown this medium to produce good agreement with measurements made in water. Present study extends the comparison, now including measurements of percentage depth-dose made for photons at 6MV and 5 and 12MeV electron beams. For the 6 MV photon and 5 MeV electron beams, discrepancies between percentage depth-dose for Rhizophora spp and water, at all depths, are found to be within 2.6 and 2.4% respectively. At 12 MeV electron energies, measured percentage depth-doses in Rhizophora spp beyond 3.5cm depth are found to be in significant discord with those for water. The absorbed dose in water measured in Rhizophora spp at d(max) for all three beams produces discrepancies of no more than 1.1% when compared with measurements made in water.
A case of signet-ring cell lymphoma diagnosed initially by fine needle aspiration cytology is reported. This rare tumor is a variant of follicular lymphoma, which closely resembles metastatic adenocarcinoma and other tumors which exhibit signet-ring cell appearance. Correct diagnosis can be achieved by careful morphologic analysis together with positive reactivity with lymphoid markers. The cytohistologic, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic features are described, and the differ ential diagnostic considerations are discussed in the report.
The electronic absorption spectra of eight substituted acetic acids have been measured at room temperature in several solvents. The ground state dipole moments are evaluated experimentally for these molecules. These ground state values are used in conjunction with the spectral results to evaluate their first electronically excited state dipole moments. For all the molecules investigated here the dipole moments in the excited state are higher than their ground state values.
A laboratory scale test rig to treat simulated flue gas using electron beam technology was installed at the Alurtron EB-Irradiation Center, MINT. The experiment test rig was proposed as a result of feasibility studies conducted jointly by IAEA, MINT and TNB Research in 1997. The test rig system consists of several components, among others, diesel generator sets, pipe ducts, spray cooler, ammonia dosage system, irradiation vessel, bag filter and gas analyzers. The installation was completed and commissioned in October 2001. Results from the commissioning test runs and subsequent experimental work showed that the efficiency of flue gas treatment is high. It was proven that electron beam technology might be applied in the treatment of air pollutants. This paper describes the design and work function of the individual major components as well as the full system function. Results from the initial experimental works are also presented.
An optical scanner system, which incorporates a He-Ne laser, photodiode detectors, and a platform for placing film, was built in the laboratory. The laser system operates at the green wavelength of 543.5 nm and functions as a scanning densitometer for measurement of optical changes in a film resulting from irradiation . The central axis electron depth dose of selected electron energies 10,12 and 14 MeV were analysed using Kodak X-Omat and Kodak Extended Dose Range (EDR2) films. The Kodak X-Omat film is routinely used for high-energy electron dose distributions in radiation therapy. The electron depth-dose measured with X-Omat film was found to agree well with standard depth-dose curves in water, obtained using an ion chamber. Conversely, the recently introduced Kodak EDR2 showed an energy dependence for electron beams, the percentage depth-dose curve shifting towards the surface for 12 and 14 MeV electron beams compared to that in water.
IAEA in its publication year 2000 has recommended a worksheet for the determination of absorbed dose to water in an electron beam. We evaluated the worksheet via an absorbed dose to water determination work at a local radiotherapy center using a 12 MeV electron beam. We found that if several modifications are made, this IAEA worksheet will become more user-friendly and could facilitate and fasten the process of quality assurance audit. The modifications are given and discussed.
[IAEA dalam penerbitannya tahun 2000 telah mengesyorkan satu helaian kerja untuk menentukan dos terserap kepada air dalam alur electron. Helaian kerja ini dinilai melalui satu kerja penentuan dos terserap kepada air di satu Pusat radioterapi tempatan menggunakan satu alur electron 12 MeV. Sekiranya beberapa pengubahsuai dibuat, helaian kerja IAEA ini akan menjadi lebih mesra pengguna dan dapat mempermudahkan dan mempercepatkan lagi proses audit jaminan kualiti. Pengubahsuaian ini diberikan dan dibincangkan].
Increased oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction have been identified as common pathophysiological phenomena associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD). As the age-related decline in the production of melatonin may contribute to increased levels of oxidative stress in the elderly, the role of this neuroprotective agent is attracting increasing attention. Melatonin has multiple actions as a regulator of antioxidant and prooxidant enzymes, radical scavenger and antagonist of mitochondrial radical formation. The ability of melatonin and its kynuramine metabolites to interact directly with the electron transport chain by increasing the electron flow and reducing electron leakage are unique features by which melatonin is able to increase the survival of neurons under enhanced oxidative stress. Moreover, antifibrillogenic actions have been demonstrated in vitro, also in the presence of profibrillogenic apoE4 or apoE3, and in vivo, in a transgenic mouse model. Amyloid-beta toxicity is antagonized by melatonin and one of its kynuramine metabolites. Cytoskeletal disorganization and protein hyperphosphorylation, as induced in several cell-line models, have been attenuated by melatonin, effects comprising stress kinase downregulation and extending to neurotrophin expression. Various experimental models of AD, PD and HD indicate the usefulness of melatonin in antagonizing disease progression and/or mitigating some of the symptoms. Melatonin secretion has been found to be altered in AD and PD. Attempts to compensate for age- and disease-dependent melatonin deficiency have shown that administration of this compound can improve sleep efficiency in AD and PD and, to some extent, cognitive function in AD patients. Exogenous melatonin has also been reported to alleviate behavioral symptoms such as sundowning. Taken together, these findings suggest that melatonin, its analogues and kynuric metabolites may have potential value in prevention and treatment of AD and other neurodegenerative disorders.
Polymer blends of 60/40 NR/HDPE were prepared using Brabender PL2000 Plasticorder with 60g capacity. The blends were added with radiation-sensitive natural rubber (NR)-based compatibilizer, known as LENRA. They were irradiated with electron-beam radiation at various doses. The efficacy of the compatibilizer was monitored by measuring various properties of the blends such as physical and dynamic mechanical properties including morphological studies by electron microscopic technique. Early results show that the addition of LENRA improves the properties of the TPNR blends.
This study was carried out to determine the physicochemical properties of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) derived from cellulose of palm oil empty fruit bunch (EFB) and its use asa film-coating agent. Samples were prepared at various concentrations and then their physicochemical properties were studied including the viscosity, pH, tensile strength of films, surface properties of the films and dissolution studies on coated tablets. CMC EFB showed lower viscosity than commercial CMC product at the concentration of 1%, 2% and 3% with the values of 44.0cp, 299.9cp, 358.9cp and 90.0cp, 689.9cp, 5569.0cp respectively. The tensile strength of the films for CMC EFB were 7.85MPa, 14.79MPa, 10.36MPa while the commercial CMC exhibited higher values of 21.72MPa, 35.14MPa and 26.9MPa at similar concentration. The scanning electron microscope showed different surface properties of the films for both of them where the commercial CMC is smoother in texture and very transparent unlike its counterpart. However, dissolution studies on paracetamol tablets coated using the samples showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in drug release profile between the two materials. Hence, CMC EFB has a greater potential to be developed as a competitive tablet-coating agent despite the differences in its physicochemical properties.
The oxidation of ferrous to ferric ions due to ionizing radiation has been used for chemical dosimetry since 1927. The introduction of metal indicator dye xylenol orange (XO) sensitises the measurement of ferric ion yield. A ferrous sulphate- agarose- xylenol orange (FAX) gel was prepared and the gel then exposed to dose ranging from 0.2 to 10 Gy using various high energy photon and electron beams from a linear accelerator. Some general characteristics of FAX such as energy dependence, optical density (OD)-dose relationship, reproducibility and auto-oxidation of ferrous ions were analysed. The radiation yield G of the gel was calculated for gels prepared in oxygen and in air and the values were 46.3 +/- 2.1 and 40.9 +/- 1.4 Fe3+ per 100 eV for photons respectively. However for stock gel which was kept for 5 days pre-irradiation the G value decreased to 36.6 +/- 1.1. The gel shows linearity in OD-dose relationship, energy independence and reproducibility over the dose range investigated. Auto-oxidation of ferrous ions resulted in optical density changes of less than 1.5% per day.
Tetragonal Y2O3 stabilized Zirconia (t-Y-ZrO2) powders were doped with Nb2O5 to seek a possibility if electronics doping would enhance the electronics conductivity of the insulating oxide. In this work Y2O3 was added as a stabilizer to produce tetragonal ZrO2 whereas Nb2O5 was added for the electronic doping. Several compositions of powders were prepared by thermal decomposition method and were post annealed at different temperatures. Precursor solutions were prepared from the mixture of zirconyl nitrate, yttrium nitrate and niobium tartarate as well as TEA (triethanolamine). The mixed solution were evaporated, pyrolysed and calcined to produce nanosized powders. The phase formation of the as-made powders was investigated by x-ray diffractometer. The additions of 7% Y2O3 were found to stabilize the tetragonal phase of zirconia.
The addition of Nb2O5 did not alter the stability of the tetragonal phase but it was found that the conductivity of the material has changed. The band gap as measured by the UV-Visible Spectrometer gave a value in the range of 2.97 to 5.01 eV. XRD was also used to deduce the crystallite size (by using Scherer’s equation) and transmission electron microcopy was used to view the particle sizes and shapes. The Nb doped t-Y-ZrO2 prepared in this work was to be nanosized crystal with size ranges from 7 nm to 15 nm.
An experimental study of the field emission from nitrogen doped Diamond-Like-Carbon (DLC) thin films prepared by plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) was carried out for the purpose of investigating the characteristic of field electron emission from the surface of nitrogen doped DLC thin film. Thin DLC film was deposited on silicon using the plasma CVD method, from a mixture of Methane (CH4), Helium (He) and Nitrogen (N2) at room temperature. Emission current was measured while high volume of voltage was applied between the cathode-anode diode structures. Barrier height was obtained by current density-electric field (J-E) characteristic in the relation of Fowler-Nordheim equation. The value of barrier height in range of 0.03eV to 0.06eV was obtained and considered as low barrier.
A headspace solid-phase microextraction method has been developed for the determination of 8 pesticides in vegetables and fruits by using gas chromatography with an electron capture detector. Two types of fibers (polyacrylate, 85 microm and polydimethylsiloxane, 100 microm) have been assayed and compared. The main factors: extraction and desorption parameters, ionic strength, and the effects of dilution and organic solvents, were studied and optimized. The optimized procedures resulted in more than 80% recovery for all the investigated vegetable and fruit samples with RSD values below 10%.
A general purpose enzyme-based amperometric electrochemical genosensor assay was developed wherein polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons labeled with both biotin and fluorescein were detected with peroxidase-conjugated antifluorescein antibody on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). As a proof of principle, the response selectivity of the genosensor was evaluated using PCR amplicons derived from lolB gene of Vibrio cholerae. Factors affecting immobilization, hybridization, and nonspecific binding were optimized to maximize sensitivity and reduce assay time. On the basis of the background amperometry signals obtained from nonspecific organisms and positive signals obtained from known V. cholerae, a threshold point of 4.20 microA signal was determined as positive. Under the optimum conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) of the assay was 10 CFU/mL of V. cholerae. The overall precision of this assay was good, with the coefficient of variation (CV) being 3.7% using SPCE and intermittent pulse amperometry (IPA) as an electrochemical technique. The assay is sensitive, safe, and cost-effective when compared to conventional agarose gel electrophoresis, real-time PCR, and other enzyme-linked assays for the detection of PCR amplicons. Furthermore, the use of a hand-held portable reader makes it suitable for use in the field.
Nitrates in different water and wastewater streams raised concerns due to severe impacts on human and animal health. Diverse methods are reported to remove nitrate from water streams which almost fail to entirely treat nitrate, except biological denitrification which is capable of reducing inorganic nitrate compounds to harmless nitrogen gas. Review of numerous studies in biological denitrification of nitrate containing water resources, aquaculture wastewaters and industrial wastewater confirmed the potential of this method and its flexibility towards the remediation of different concentrations of nitrate. The denitrifiers could be fed with organic and inorganic substrates which have different performances and subsequent advantages or disadvantages. Review of heterotrophic and autotrophic denitrifications with different food and energy sources concluded that autotrophic denitrifiers are more effective in denitrification. Autotrophs utilize carbon dioxide and hydrogen as the source of carbon substrate and electron donors, respectively. The application of this method in bio-electro reactors (BERs) has many advantages and is promising. However, this method is not so well established and documented. BERs provide proper environment for simultaneous hydrogen production on cathodes and appropriate consumption by immobilized autotrophs on these cathodes. This survey covers various designs and aspects of BERs and their performances.