The identification of chromosomal aberrations in prostate cancer has been widely studied with several known oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes have successfully been discovered. The most frequent aberrations detected in western population were losses in chromosome 5q, 6q, 8p, 13q, 16q, 17p, 18q and gains of 7p/q and 8q. The purpose of this study was to determine the chromosomal aberrations among Malaysian men of Southeast Asia population and discover those potential genes within that chromosomal aberrant region. Thirty-six formalin-fixed paraffin embedded specimens consist of eight organ-confined prostate cancer cases, five with capsular invasion, 14 showed metastasis and nine cases had no tumor stage recorded, were analyzed by array CGH technique. Chromosomal losses were frequently detected at 4q, 6q, 8p, 13q, 18q while gains at 7q, 11q, 12p, 16q and 17q. Gain of 16q24.3 was statistically significant with tumor size. Gains of 6q25.1 and Xq12 as well as losses of 3p13-p1.2 and 13q33.1-q33.3 were significantly correlated with Gleason grade whereas 12p13.31 gain was associated with bone metastasis. Several potential genes have also been found within that aberrant region which is myopodin (4q26-q27), ROBO1 (3p13-p11.2), ERCC5 (13q33.1-q33.3) and CD9 (12p13.31), suggesting that these genes may play a role in prostate cancer progression. The chromosomal aberrations identified by array CGH analysis could provide important clues to discover potential genes associated with prostate tumorigenesis of Malaysian men.
Space use and activity patterns by 3 species of small mammals, namely, Tupaia glis, Callosciurus notatus and e. nigrovitatus were determined. The home range size of T. glis ranged from 9,544 to 73,470m2, C. notatus from 6,512 to 16,150m2 and C. nigrovitatus 10,970m2. There was no overlap in the ranges between individuals of the same species and sex but the ranges of different species overlapped. There was no significant difference in the mean daily distance moved among the studied individuals. All individuals showed a bimodal type of activity pattern.
Penggunaan habitat dan corak aktiviti 3 spesies mamalia kecil, Tupaia glis, CalJosciurus notatus dan C. nigrovitatus telah ditentukan. Saiz banjaran kediaman T. glis adalah antara 9,544 hingga 73,470m2, C. notatus daripada 6,512 hingga 16,150m2 dan C. nigrovitatus 10,970m2. Pertindihan banjaran tidak wujud antara spesies atau jantina yang sama. Walau bagaimanapun, berlaku pertindihan banjaran antara spesies yang berbeza. Tiada perbezaan bererti pada purata jarak yang dilalui setiap hari antara individu-individu yang dikaji. Semua individu yang dikaji menunjukan corak aktiviti jenis bimodal.
Relationship between understory plant diversity and anthropogenic disturbances in urban forests of Wuhan City, Central China, was analyzed by diversity analysis and detrended canonical correspondence analysis (DCCA). The results showed that: understory species diversity was higher in suburban area than in urban area. From forest center to edge, species diversity of Luojia hill, Shizi hill and Maan hill forests gradually increased, however, that of Hong hill gradually decreased. Anthropogenic disturbances gradient resulted from visitors flowrate, shrub coverage, aspect and adjacent land types had significant effects on species diversity of shrub and herb layers in urban forests. High anthropogenic disturbances might increase similar non-native herb species in urban area and low disturbances might promote co-existence of wood species in suburban area. Further analysis on types of anthropogenic disturbances and plant functional groups in urban-suburban gradient should be taken into a consideration.
Dwarf bamboo is recognized as a significant determinant of the structure and dynamics in temperate forests. Quantitative relationships between the abundance (density and coverage) of dwarf bamboo, Fargesia nitida, and micro-environments, species diversity on the floor were estimated in an Abies faxoniana pure forest in southwest China. Understory microenvironmental conditions (daily differences temperature and moisture, RPPFD under bamboo layer and ground cover) changed dramatically with the bamboo density. Stepwise multiple regression analyses indicated that abundance of F. nitida was mainly correlated with canopy characteristics and disturbance factors in the A. faxoniana pure forest. All richness indices decreased significantly with the bamboo density and RPPFD under bamboo layer. Importance values (IV) of understory species in different bamboo densities and Detrended canonical correspondence analysis (DCCA) indicated three understory plant groups, resistant to high bamboo abundance (Group A), resistant to intermediate bamboo abundance (Group B) and sensitive to bamboo abundance (Group C). These groups mainly responded to abundance of bamboo and RPPFD under bamboo layer, resulted from the integration of characteristics of bamboo, canopy and topography factors. Different bamboo abundance had different influences on understory species diversity and groups. Dense F. nitida condition (> 10 culms/m2) had significant negative effect and 0-5 bamboo condition had not significant negative effect on understory species diversity in A. faxoniana forest. We suggest the fine-scale analysis on effects of bamboo abundance should be taken account into considering in heterogeneous patches in process of the succession and regeneration of natural forests.
This paper had selected watermifoil (Myriophyllum veticillatum Linn.), softstem bulrush (Scirpus validus Vahl) and yellow-flowered iris (Iris wilsonii), in showing the water purification through different configuration. AFIs with different combination of aquatic plants were set up to purify the water quality for 50 days. This paper aimed to evaluate chemical and vegetative characteristics of each type of plant and also to find configuration of aquatic plants to maximize the contaminants removal efficiency by artificial floating island (AFI). The result indicated that the trophic waterbody promote the growth of plants and all of the AFIs have the ability to purify water and reduce contaminants. However, the most effective way is by combination of these three aquatic plants which has strong capacity to remove COD, NO3-, total nitrogen, total phosphorous and improve pH levels. Watermifoil (Myriophyllum verticillatum Linn.) is better than yellow-flowered iris (Iris wilsonii) and softstem bulrush (Scirpus validus Vahl) in disposing water pollutants.
Cancer always presents a big problem that endangers human health. In recent years, the use of gene therapy in cancer
research has significantly increased. This study aimed to construct a non-viral, wild-type, recombinant eukaryotic
expression vector, pEGFP-N1-p53/MAR and verify its mechanism of action in cancer cells in vitro. This investigation
provides a novel strategy for p53 gene therapy via regulation of the matrix attachment region (MAR), potentially laying a
foundation for the establishment of an anticancer protein bioreactor. The p53 gene was cloned from human peripheral blood
and the MAR gene was amplified from chicken liver tissue. The recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-N1-p53/
MAR was constructed using an E. coli self-replication system. LipofectamineTM 2000 was used as the transfection agent
to deliver the plasmid into the human hepatic carcinoma (HEP3B) cell line. We divided the groups as follows: negative
control cells without plasmid transfection, vehicle control cells transfected with the PEGFP-N1 vector, and experimental
cells transfected with the pEGFP-N1-p53/MAR vector. Cells in each well of the vehicle control and experimental groups
were transfected with 1.6 μg of plasmid and 3 μL of liposome. The cellular morphology of each group was analysed
using green fluorescence microscopy at 12, 24, 36 and 48 h. Then, statistical analysis of the apoptosis rates among
the three groups was performed using SPSS. The ultrastructures of the cells were observed via transmission electron
microscopy after transfection for 24 h. Morphological analysis showed that the cells of the experimental group were
shrunken and reduced in size and their intercellular connections had disappeared. Additionally, the apoptosis rate in the
experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control groups and the cellular microstructure showed that
heterochromatin and apoptotic bodies were found in the experimental group. In conclusion, compared with the control
groups, the pEGFP-N1-p53/MAR plasmid can effectively promote Hep3B cell apoptosis in vitro.
How the composition of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal community affects plant traits of different plant species in karst environments is poorly understood. Broussonetia papyrifera (a woody shrub) and Bidens pilosa (a herbaceous plant) growing in pots in limestone soil were inoculated with an AM fungus, either Funneliformis mosseae (FM), Diversispora versiformis (DV) or Glomus diaphanum (GD) or with an inoculum mixture of all three AM fungi (bn). B. papyrifera and B. pilosa seedlings inoculated with AM fungi showed a significant increase in biomass and nitrogen and phosphorus acquisition compared with the controls, which lacked mycorrhiza. Mixed fungal inoculations significantly enhanced biomass and nitrogen and phosphorus acquisition by B. papyrifera seedlings compared with single fungal inoculations. Nitrogen and phosphorus acquisition by B. papyrifera mycorrhizal seedlings was significantly greater than that of B. pilosa mycorrhizal seedlings. Fungal composition significantly influenced the mycorrhizal benefits of biomass and phosphorus acquisition and mixed fungal inoculations enhanced nitrogen acquisition. Plant species significantly affected nitrogen acquisition but did not have an effect on biomass and phosphorus benefits. We concluded that AM fungal associations increased plant growth and nutrient absorption and that in general a mixed inoculation of AM fungi enhanced biomass and nutrient acquisition more than a single AM fungal inoculation. In addition, a mycorrhizal association was more beneficial for B. papyrifera seedlings in terms of biomass and nutrient acquisition than for B. pilosa seedlings.
Many plants can reproduce both clonally and sexually, and the relative importance between the two modes of reproduction varied among habitats. Clonal diversity and genetic differentiation of the rhizomatous herb, Iris japonica populations, was analyzed by 12 randomly amplified polymorphic DNA markers to determine the extent that reproductive mode varied locally between two habitats, open area of forest edge (OAFE, 2 populations OAFE 1 and OAFE 2) and bamboo forest (BF, 2 populations BF 1 and BF 2) on Jinyun Mountain, southwest China. Total clonal diversity and genetic diversity of I. japonica populations were high. The clonal diversity and genetic diversity of I. japonica populations in BF habitats were lower than those in OAFE habitats. Neighbor-joining tree by Jaccard’s genetic distance showed two genetically distinct groups: OAFE group and BF group. AMOVA indicated that about half of the total variation existed within the four populations, and that genetic differentiation among habitats (BF populations and OAFE populations) was also significant. OAFE habitats were helpful in maintaining clonal diversity and genetic diversity of I. japonica populations than BF habitats. Habitat differences might have distinguished effects on the relative significance of clonal propagation and sexual reproduction, and further have a fatal influence on clonal diversity, genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of I. japonica populations in Jinyun Mountain, southwest China.
The present study investigated the concentration of metals in commonly grown vegetables (Luffa acutangula L., Zea mays L., Solanum melongena L.) irrigated with waste water in District Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The pH (5.80) and electrical conductivity (13 dS/m) of waste water indicated the acidic nature that is not suitable for irrigation purposes. Soil and vegetables samples were analyzed for metals concentration through flame atomic absorption spectrometry (Varian FAAS-240). The findings showed that waste water irrigated soil was highly contaminated with Cd (4.62 mg/kg) which was above permissible limits set by European Union Standard (EU 2006, 2002). The concentrations of heavy metals such as Cr and Cd in vegetables were higher than the permissible limits set by World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization U.S.A guidelines 2001. The health hazard quotient (HQ) of waste water irrigated vegetables was observed higher for Ni (0.699-0.1029 mg/kg), (0.0456-0.1040 mg/kg), (0.731-0.0994 mg/kg) in Luffa acutangula, Solanum melongena and Zea mays, respectively. The study concluded that the consumption of commonly grown vegetables in waste water zone of the study area may pose potential health threats in local population.
Leptospermum flavescens, commonly known as ‘Gelam bukit’ has been used by the Malays as traditional plants in Malaysia for antidiabetic treatment. However, at this moment there is no scientific evidence and data available to validate such claim. In the present study, the aqueous extract of leaves and stems were studied for its antidiabetic activity. The total phenols and flavonoids were determined and correlated with antidiabetic activity. The detection of aqueous leaves extract with LCMS/MS showed the presence of flavonoids aromadendrin glucoside, kaempferol rhamnoside, quercetin rhamnoside and vindoline. The extract has significantly inhibited glycogen phosphorylase at 85% with IC50 = 0.18 mg/mL. In the alloxan induced diabetic rats showed that extract at 500 mg/kg decreased significantly fasting plasma glucose level by 61.9% (p<0.001) on the 20th day as compared to diabetic control. The treatment with Leptospermum flavescens at 500 mg/kg showed that it decreased the total cholesterol and triglycerides but restored the HDL level. The high antidiabetic activity was correlated with high total phenol at 1.57±0.01 GAE/g and total flavonoids at 1.41±0.01 mg QE/g. Thus, the high antidiabetic activity of the aqueous leaves extract attributed due to the presence of aromadendron glucoside, kaempferol rhamnoside, quercetin rhamnoside and vindoline in aqueous extract of Leptospermum flavescens.
The maturity of mango is usually assessed by the determination of its moisture content (m.c.), soluble solid content (SSC)
and pH. However, these techniques are either time consuming, tedious or destructive. In this research, we extend the
application of the open-ended coaxial probe technique to determine m.c. and pH of Chok Anan mango from its dielectric
properties from week 5 to week 17 after anthesis. The effects of frequency and m.c. on the values of the dielectric constant
and loss factor were also investigated. The critical frequency separating the different polarizations was found to be
inversely proportional to m.c. Also, in this research we proposed a new classification of fruit ripeness related to the number
of weeks after anthesis. The actual dielectric properties, m.c., SSC and pH of Chok Anan mango were measured using
standard methods. Relationships were established between the dielectric constant, loss factor, critical frequency, pH and
m.c. The accuracy for the determination of m.c. and pH using the coaxial probe was within 1.7% and 3.0%, respectively.
This paper describes the development of a simple method to determine the permittivity and moisture content (m.c.) of
ginger. The measurement system consists of a microwave sensor, directional coupler and a PIC microcontroller. The
microwave sensor is a square flanged open-ended coaxial (OEC) sensor made from SMA stub contact panel with outer
diameter (O.D) 4.10 mm. The microwave oven drying method was used to determine the actual m.c. of the ginger. All data
acquisition, processing and display were accomplished using a PIC 16F690 microcontroller programmed using Flowcode
software. The actual values of the permittivity of ginger were obtained by using the Agilent (now Keysight Technologies)
85070B dielectric probe along with a HP 8720B Vector Network Analyzer (VNA). The results showed good relationships
between m.c., permittivity (dielectric constant (εʹ) and loss factor (ε̋)) and reflected voltage. The calibration equations
between reflected voltage and m.c. have been established for the sensor. The measurement system provides a simple, fast
and accurate technique to predict m.c., εʹ and ε̋ of ginger from reflected voltage measurements alone. The accuracy in
determination of m.c., εʹ and ε̋ in ginger was within 2.9%, 2.7%, and 3.6%, respectively.
Integrating an exit choice model into a microscopic crowd dynamics model is an essential approach for obtaining more
efficient evacuation model. We describe various aspects of decision-making capability of an existing rule-based exit
choice model for evacuation processes. In simulations, however, the simulated evacuees clogging at exits have behaved
non-intelligently, namely they do not give up their exits for better ones for safer egress. We refine the model to endow
the individuals with the ability to leave their exits due to dynamic changes by modifying the model of their excitement
resulted from the source of panic. This facilitates the approximately equal crowd size at exits for being until the end
of the evacuation process, and thereby the model accomplishes more optimal evacuation. For further intelligence, we
introduce the prediction factor that enables higher probability of equally distributing evacuees at exits. A simulation to
validate the contribution is performed, and the results are analyzed and compared with the original model.
In this paper, the fully implicit 2-point block backward differentiation formula and diagonally implicit 2-point block
backward differentiation formula were developed under the interpretation of generalized differentiability concept for
solving first order fuzzy differential equations. Some fuzzy initial value problems were tested in order to demonstrate the
performance of the developed methods. The approximated solutions for both methods were in good agreement with the
exact solutions. The numerical results showed that the diagonally implicit method outperforms the fully implicit method
in term of accuracy.
In this paper we consider solving directly two point boundary value problems (BVPs) for second-order ordinary differential equations (ODEs). We are concerned with solving this problem using multistep method in term of backward difference formula and approximating the solutions with the shooting method. Most of the existence researches involved BVPs will reduce the problem to a system of first order ODEs. This approach is very well established but it obviously will enlarge the system of first order equations. However, the direct multistep method in this paper will be utilised to obtain a series solution of the initial value problems directly without reducing to first order equations. The numerical results show that the proposed method with shooting method can produce good results.
Two-point four step direct implicit block method is presented by applying the simple form of Adams- Moulton method for solving directly the general third order ordinary differential equations (ODEs) using variable step size. This method is implemented to get the solutions of initial value problems (IVPs) at two points simultaneously in a block using four backward steps. The numerical results showed that the performance of the developed method is better in terms of maximum error at all tested tolerances and lesser total number of steps as the tolerances getting smaller compared to the existence direct method.
This paper outlines an alternative algorithm for solving general second order ordinary differential equations (ODEs). Normally, the numerical method was designed for solving higher order ODEs by converting it into an n-dimensional first order equations with implementation of constant step length. Nevertheless, this involved a lot of computational complexity which led to consumption a lot of time. Consequently, a direct block multistep method with utilization of variable step size strategy is proposed. This method was developed for computing the solution at four points simultaneously and the derivation based on numerical integration as well as using interpolation approach. The convergence of the proposed method is justified under suitable conditions of stability and consistency. Five numerical examples are considered and some comparisons are made with the existing methods for demonstrating the validity and reliability of the proposed algorithm.
Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of indica rice is undoubtedly a challenging task due to the rice recalcitrant nature to transformation process. Therefore, optimization of the transformation protocol is important for specific indica rice cultivar to ensure effectiveness of the transformation. In this study, crucial parameters affecting Agrobacteriummediated transformation were optimized to obtain transgenic rice of local rice cultivar (indica MR219). Embryogenic calli were chosen for inoculation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 harbouring a binary vector pH2GW7ABP57 containing gene of interest, Auxin binding protein 57 (Abp57). The parameters that have been optimized were the immersion time, co-cultivation period, acetosyringone concentration and co-cultivation temperature. A total of four days co-cultivation period and 30 min immersion of embryogenic callus are optimum for the transformation of MR219 with transformation efficiency of 26.4% and 16.0%, respectively. Acetosyringone at 200 μM and co-cultivation at 28°C also gave the highest transformation efficiency (14.4 and 18.4%, respectively). Meanwhile, inclusion of 20 g/L maltose+20 g/L sorbitol into the regeneration media has significantly improve the transformed somatic embryos growth and increase the regeneration efficiency up to 40.0%. The results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) indicated that the transgene was successfully integrated and overexpressed in transgenic rice of MR219. In conclusion, significant improvement in transformation efficiency for rice cv. MR219 has been obtained by using the optimised protocol for transformation and regeneration developed in this study.
1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) has been found to inhibit ethylene action and thus it can delay the fruit ripening process. The effects of 1-MCP (90 ppb for 12 h) on softening related changes were determined through physiological changes, fruit firmness and activities of the cell wall degrading enzymes including α-galactosidase, β-galactosidase, pectin methylesterase (PME) and xylanase during ripening in papaya (Carica papaya L. cv Sekaki). In this study, fruits were treated with 90 ppb concentration of 1-MCP gaseous vapors for 12 h in airtight container maintained at 28oC. After the treatment fruits were placed at ambient temperature (28oC). Papaya treated with 1-MCP experienced a significant delayed in skin color development, weight loss and reduced firmness loss compared with the fruit without 1-MCP treatment. As softening progressed, activity of the cell wall degrading enzymes in fruit without 1-MCP treatment increased significantly coincident with a rapid decline in fruit firmness. With 1-MCP application, fruit experienced a delay in activity of cell wall degrading enzymes but continued to increase until later stage of ripening. Thus it may be suggested that 1-MCP treatment may aid in delaying softening-related process and thereby extended the postharvest life and maintained the quality of the ‘Sekaki’ papaya fruit.
Kapsaisinoid merupakan alkaloid yang memberikan ciri kepedasan pada cili serta khusus pada genus Capsicum. Sebatian kapsaisinoid terdiri daripada dua komponen utama iaitu kapsaisin dan dihidrokapsaisin. Dalam kajian ini, pengklonan cDNA Kapsaisin sintase (Cs) telah berjaya dilakukan menerusi kaedah transkripsi berbalik PCR (RT-PCR) dan klon cDNA tersebut dinamakan CUKMCS yang bersaiz 981 pb. Pencarian homologi menggunakan program blastx dan blastp yang terdapat pada pangkalan data NCBI mendapati CUKMCS mempunyai persamaan yang sangat tinggi terhadap Cs pada Capsicum frutescens, Capsicum annuum dan Capsicum chacoense. Saiz ramalan protein CUKMCS diangggarkan sekitar 36 kDa. Penentuan pengekspresan transkrip Cs pada 5 tisu yang berbeza mendapati transkrip dikesan pada tisu plasenta, mesokarp dan biji manakala tiada transkrip Cs dikesan pada daun dan akar