Fatigue assessment of the trabecular bone has been developed to give a better understanding of bone properties. While most fatigue studies are relying on uniaxial compressive load as the method of assessment, in various cases details are missing, or the uniaxial results are not very realistic. In this paper, the effect of three different load histories from physiological loading applied on the trabecular bone were studied in order to predict the first failure surface and the fatigue lifetime. The fatigue behaviour of the trabecular bone under uniaxial load was compared to that of multiaxial load using a finite element simulation. The plastic strain was found localized at the trabecular structure under multiaxial load. On average, applying multiaxial loads reduced more than five times the fatigue life of the trabecular bone. The results provide evidence that multiaxial loading is dominated in the low cycle fatigue in contrast to the uniaxial one. Both bone volume fraction and structural model index were best predictors of failure (p
The Asian Network for Clinical Laboratory Standardization (ANCLS) decided to start her First Inter-laboratory Quality Assurance survey at the business meeting during the Second Asian Colloquium on October 21-22, 2000 in Kobe, Japan. The first survey materials of Asian Quality Assurance Survey (AQuAS) were distributed in July 2001 to 21 hospitals in the field of chemistry and 22 hospitals in the field of hematology among total 24 participating laboratories from seven Asian countries: Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The survey methods in chemistry and in hematology were somewhat different. In chemistry the survey material was considered as unknown but handled similarly to the sample from the patient. Nineteen routine tests were performed only once. The hematology samples were considered as unknown but handled similarly to control or calibration material. Five parameters were tested five times repetitively and their average for each parameter was calculated. All the results were supposed to be sent back to the office within two weeks. Although it took more than two weeks, the return rate was 100%. The analysis was performed in several ways such as all the results together, by instruments and by methods. Mean, standard deviation (SD), standard deviation index (SDI), coefficient of variation (CV) and variance index score (VIS) were to be calculated in chemistry, and in hematology the same parameter were to be calculated except CV and VIS. In the first survey, the CV in chemistry was not calculated and the analysis by instrument or by methodology was also not attempted since there were not enough participating hospitals to do such analysis. In hematology the analysis was done by instrument only. The survey process was carried out successfully though there were some difficulties in communication tools, transportation methods and handling of specimens due to different weather conditions, and returning the report in the correct unit and to the correct place. The submitted data were acceptable for analysis. There were some differences in the units of measurement in different countries or laboratories. It was necessary to convert some of the units. Some laboratories apparently do not perform certain tests such as calcium, potasium and gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT). The gamma-GT is the most frequently not performed test. With the experience of this first survey, all the members involved in the survey have been trained well to do future surveys.
Anhydrous milkfat (AMF) was fractionated to obtain a series of high-melting milkfat fractions (HMF). Solid fat content (SFC) of HMF as determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was in the range 37.6-43.6% and 21.2-27.5% measured at 20 and 30 degrees C, respectively. The HMF have a higher melting characteristic compared to AMF as analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) with melting enthalpies of 92.2-105.0 J/g and melting peak temperatures of 39.3-41.5 degrees C. The AMF was also blended with soft palm stearin (SPOs and/or hard palm stearin (HPOs)) according to a three conventional component mixture design which providing suitable formulations for HMF. This represented three selected blends of AMF:SPOs:HPOs at three different proportions (70:15:15, 60:30:10 and 50:45:5), having SFC and DSC melting characteristics of HMF. The study revealed that higher-melting characteristics of AMF could be achieved equally well by using both fractionation and blending techniques.
The characterization and fat migration of palm kernel stearin (PKS) and desiccated coconut, used as base filling centre in dark chocolate were studied. C36 and C38 triglycerides of PKS decreased by 11% and 9.6% respectively, whereas C32 and C34 increased by 97% and 48% respectively. The change in the triglycerides composition of PKS shift the melting point of PKS from 33.2 to 31.4 degrees C. Solid fat content (SFC) of PK reduced by 40% at 30 degrees C. The rate of fat migration was very slow at 18 degrees C storage compared to 30 degrees C. The rate of change of C36 in the chocolate layer was 0.1% week-1 and 1.2% week-1 at 18 and 30 degrees C respectively. Chocolate stored at 18 degrees C showed post hardening during storage period and withstood bloom during the storage period, whereas that stored at 30 degrees C became soft and bloomed faster after 3 weeks of storage.
Several types of water treatment technologies including adsorption are now being used to treat polluted water. In this paper the removal of phenol by adsorption will be discussed. Activated carbons are successfully applied for purification of potable water and the removal of organic pollutants in wastwater. This paper is concerned with a low cost approach to treating waste water that is significant especially for those countries where oil palm is an available agricultural product like Malaysia, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Thailand, Papua New Guinea. In the coastal region coconut is an available agricultural product and activated carbon prepared using coconut shell is also an economical method of water treatment. The materials used in this study were Commercial Activated Carbon (CAC), prepared from coconut shell and Modified Oil Palm Shell (MOPAS) of 1 to 2 mm diameters. The surface area of CAC and MOPAS was 38.5 m2/g and 38.2 m2/g respectively and the iodine number was determined as 674 and 454 for CAC and MOPAS, respectively. From the study the result shows above 70% removal efficiency for 5 mg/L and 40% removal efficiency for 20 mg/L of phenol solution. The performance efficiency will be discussed based on batch test, following Freundlich adsorption isotherm. The results indicate that CAC exhibits a higher adsorptive capacity (Kf of 0.079) as compared to MOPAS (Kf of 0.048). Hence a better removal efficiency for CAC at lower concentration of phenol. Results from column tests show a better adsorptive capacity for CAC (2.73) as compared to MOPAS (2.48).
A sludge lagoon has been adopted as a simple and cost effective method for dewatering of sludge. The processes occurring in a sludge lagoon include thickening, dewatering, storage and stabilization; all happening simultaneously. The objective of this study is to determine the dewatering and drying rates at pilot-scale which occur in a lagoon having different design configurations. Two types of sludge lagoons with different initial sludge depth (0.75 m and 0.375 m) were investigated to measure the drying behavior and drying efficiency. The first design is a sludge lagoon with a clay bottom where the dewatering mechanisms are decanting supernatant and evaporation. The second design is a sludge lagoon installed with a sand and underdrains system, where the dewatering mechanisms are filtration or draining and evaporation. Sludge drying kinetic models with high fitness were plotted to describe the sludge drying behavior. Drying of sludge in a sludge lagoon with a clay bottom can best be described by an exponential function. Whereas, drying of sludge in a sludge lagoon with sand and underdrains system followed a logarithmic function. A lagoon designed with sand and underdrains system and having shallower sludge depth was the most efficient. The reduction in volatile solids was lower than 4% during the study period. The drying process proceeded with an increase in dryness and decline in pH value.
The removal of natural organic matter (NOM) using a continuous flow fixed bed granular activated carbon (GAC) column was studied and the results were then fitted with the Adams-Bohart, Bed-Depth-Service-Time and Clarks models. The GAC, KI-6070 and KI-8085 used in the study had external surface areas of 277 m2/g and 547 m2/g, respectively. Adsorption of NOM by the GAC was complex and involved more than one rate-limiting step. The critical bed depths for KI-6070 and KI-8085 were 0.24 m and 0.3 m, respectively. The Clark model was more effective in simulating the absorbent breakthrough process as compared to the Adams-Bohart model. The lower empty bed contact time (EBCT) i.e. 15 minutes gave a better fit to the Clark Model as compared to EBCT of 20 and 30 minutes.
Use of cheap, N-rich, and environmentally benign legume green manures to correct N deficiency in infertile soils is a very attractive option in the humid tropics. Understanding the influence of management and climate on their effectiveness, and quantifying their contribution to crop productivity, is therefore crucial for technology adoption and adaptation. Mineral N buildup and the contribution to N uptake in maize were studied in an Ultisol amended with fresh Gliricidia leaves. Net mineral N accumulation was compared in mulched and incorporated treatments in a field incubation study. The 15 N isotope dilution technique was used to quantify N supplied to maize by Gliricidia leaves in an alley cropping. Mineral N accumulation was slow, but was much greater after incorporation than after mulching. Also, N buildup was always higher in the topsoil (0 to 10 cm) than in the subsoil (10 to 20 cm). More NO3-N was leached than NH4-N, and the effect was greater in the incorporated treatment. Surface-applied Gliricidia leaves significantly increased N uptake by maize, and supplied >30% of the total N in the stover and >20% of that in the corn grain, even in the presence of hedgerows. Thus Gliricidia leaf mulch has immense potential to improve productivity in tropical soils.
The possibility of using the resonant mirror biosensor to detect point substitutions in oligonucleotides was demonstrated with a fragment of the Helicobacter pylori 23S rRNA gene, point mutations in which are responsible for clarythromycin resistance. Conditions were optimized for the interaction of a probe immobilized on the sensing surface with targets containing various nucleotide substitutions. A probe allowing reliable discrimination of mutant targets was selected. The mismatch position in the probe was shown to affect the kinetic parameters (response) of hybridization with mutant targets, reporting not only the position, but also the character (G or C) of a substitution.
An isotopic dilution assay was developed to measure radiolabile As concentration in a diverse range of soils (pH 3.30-7.62; % C = 1.00-6.55). Soils amended with 50 mg of As kg(-1) (as Na2HAsO4 x 7H2O) were incubated for over 800 d in an aerated "microcosm" experiment. After 818 d, radiolabile As ranged from 27 to 57% of total applied As and showed a pH-dependent increase above pH 6. The radiolabile assay was also applied to three sets of soils historically contaminated with sewage sludge or mine-spoil. Results reflected the various geochemical forms in which the arsenic was present. On soils from a sewage disposal facility, radiolabile arsenate ranged from 3 to 60% of total As; mean lability was lower than in the equivalent pH range of the microcosm soils, suggesting occlusion of As into calcium phosphate compounds in the sludge-amended soils. In soils from mining areas in the U.K. and Malaysia, radiolabile As accounted for 0.44-19% of total As. The lowest levels of lability were associated with extremely large As concentrations, up to 17,000 mg kg(-1), from arsenopyrite. Soil pore water was extracted from the microcosm experiment and speciated using "GEOCHEM". The solid<==>solution equilibria of As in the microcosm soils was described by a simple model based on competition between HAsO4(2-) and HPO4(2-) for "labile" adsorption sites.
A study was conducted to determine the effect of sugarcane maturation on the contents of chlorophyll, tannin, and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity and on color change of sugarcane juice. The maturation period of the cane studied was between 3 and 10 months after planting. Different parts of the cane, namely, the top, middle, and bottom portions, were analyzed. Results obtained indicated that there were significant (P < 0.01) decreases in total chlorophyll a and b and tannin contents during maturity followed by slower rates of decrease of both parameters at the end of maturity stages. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in chlorophyll and tannin contents between the middle and bottom portions. On the other hand, the top portion of the stem had a significantly (P < 0.01) lower concentration of chlorophyll and a significantly (P < 0.01) higher content of tannin. PPO activity of sugarcane juice was determined using chlorogenic acid as a substrate. There was a highly significant difference (P < 0.01) in PPO activity of cane juice during maturity. PPO activity was high at the early development stage, decreased during maturation, and then remained relatively constant at the end of maturity. PPO activity was higher when chlorogenic acid was used as substrate. There were also significant differences (P < 0.01) in juice color (L*, a*, b* values) from different portions at different maturity stages. At the early stages, the color of extracted juice was dark, and then the juice turned to yellowish green during maturity. The decrease in green color or the increase in the yellow color could be associated with the decline in chlorophyll. The overall color change (DeltaE) at maturity indicated that the color of the middle and bottom portions was lower than that of the top portion.
Multi-year instrumental records for input, throughflow and output waters of the Lilburn Cave system provide control on denudation rates as they respond to seasonal and spatial variability. Data suggest that maximum denudation is in the late fall and early winter. This is when non-snowmelt discharge is at its maximum. At lower discharge rates the volume of water moving through the cave system is the limiting control on the volume of denudation. During periods of snowmelt the limiting control is the rate at which the calcite dissolves. This is probably the result of water flowing through wider channels during these times. Based on instrumental measurements, there is considerable variation in terms of where denudation occurs inside the cave. The loci of dissolution change from year to year. This is to be expected in the dynamic environment of the cave where materials shift routinely. This variability should be studied over longer periods of time in order to more fully understand its extent. The relatively small area of carbonate exposure relative to the area of the drainage basin gives rise to relatively high denudation rates. The carbonate is being removed at a rate of about 5000 metric tons per year, or at about 830 mm/y. This is about five times the rate reported in the humid karst regions of Malaysia. This information indicates that the relative proportion of carbonate in the drainage basin needs to be considered when trying to estimate denudation in other areas.
Fatty acid profile from crude extracts of local sea cucumber Stichopus chloronotus was determined using gas chromatography (GC) technique. The extracts were prepared separately in methanol, ethanol, phosphate buffer saline (PBS), and distilled water as part of our study to look at the affinity of these solvents in extracting the lipid from sea cucumber. The PBS and distilled water extractions indicate water-soluble components, while the organic fractions are extracted in methanol and ethanol as organic solvents. Furthermore, water extraction is the conventional method practiced in Malaysia. In our analysis the C14:0 (myristic), C16:0 (palmitic), C18:0 (stearic), C18:2 (linoleic), C20:0 (arachidic), and C20:5 (eicosapentaenoic, EPA) were significantly different (p < 0.01) in the four solvent extractions. However, the PBS extraction contained a much higher percentage of EPA (25.69%) compared to 18.89% in ethanol, 7.84% in distilled water, and only 5.83% in methanol, and variances were significantly different (p < 0.01 ). On the other hand, C22:6 (docosahexaenoic acid or DHA) is much higher in water extraction (57.55%), in comparison to the others where only 3.63% in PBS and 1.20% in methanol, and this difference is significant at p < 0.01. No DHA was detected in ethanol extractions. Subsequently, C18:1 (oleic acid) was only detected in PBS (21.98%) and water extraction (7.50%). It is interesting that palmitic acid, C16:() was higher in methanol (20.82%) and ethanol (2.18%), while 12.55% was detected in PBS and only 2.20% in water extraction: and again this was significantly different at p < 0.01. Although our results have shown that all four solvents were different in terms of their ability to extract fatty acids, the major component for tissue repair was well preserved. Probably this is one of the important precocious steps when working with a delicate sea cucumber, in both experimental and/or at the preparative stages. Freshness of the sea cucumber samples is important when undertaking this type of experiment. Finally, we believe that the local sea cucumber S. chloronotus contains all the fatty acids required to play a potential active role in tissue repair.
We have completely sequenced the genomes of two Nipah virus (NiV) isolates, one from the throat secretion and the other from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the sole surviving encephalitic patient with positive CSF virus isolation in Malaysia. The two genomes have 18246 nucleotides each and differ by only 4 nucleotides. The NiV genome is 12 nucleotides longer than the Hendra virus (HeV) genome and both genomes have identical leader and trailer sequence lengths and hexamer-phasing positions for all their genes. Both NiV and HeV are also very closely related with respect to their genomic end sequences, gene start and stop signals, P gene-editing signals and deduced amino acid sequences of nucleocapsid protein, phosphoprotein, matrix protein, fusion protein, glycoprotein and RNA polymerase. The existing evidence demonstrates a clear need for the creation of a new genus within the subfamily Paramyxovirinae to accommodate the close similarities between NiV and HeV and their significant differences from other members of the subfamily.
The identification, characterization and quantification of crystal forms are becoming increasingly important within the pharmaceutical industry. A combination of different physical analytical techniques is usually necessary for this task. In this work solid-state techniques, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and X-ray powder diffractometry (XRPD) were combined to analyze polymorphic purity of crystalline ranitidine-HCl, an antiulcer drug, H2 receptor antagonists. A series of 12 different mixtures of Form 1 and 2 was prepared by geometric mixing and their DRIFT spectra and XRD powder patterns were obtained and analyzed, either alone or combined together, using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). A standard feed-forward network, with back-propagation rule and with multi layer perceptron architecture (MPL) was chosen. A working range of 1.0-100% (w/w) of crystal Form 2 in Form 1 was established with a minimum quantifiable level (MQL) of 5.2% and limit of detection of 1.5% (w/w). The results demonstrate that DRIFTS combined with XRPD may be successfully used to distinguish between the ranitidine-HCl polymorphs and to quantify the composition of binary mixtures of the two.
During the outbreak of Nipah virus encephalitis in Malaysia, stored cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 84 patients (27 fatal and 57 nonfatal cases) were cultured for the virus. The virus was isolated from 17 fatal cases and 1 nonfatal case. There were significant associations between CSF virus isolation and mortality as well as clinical features associated with poor prognosis. In addition, there was a positive linear correlation of CSF virus isolation with age. There was no significant association between CSF virus isolation and the character of the CSF, presence of Nipah-specific antibody in the serum or CSF, duration of illness before collection of samples, or sex or ethnicity of the patients. This study suggests that high viral replication in the central nervous system may be an important factor for high mortality.
This is the first report on fecal pollution using molecular markers in Southeast Asia where serious sewage pollution has occurred. A simple and sensitive analytical method using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for 10 sterols in various environmental samples was developed to monitor extensive areas of tropical Asia. First, the method was applied to wastewater to confirm that >95% of sterols existed in the particulate phase. Then the approach was applied to a tropical Asian region, Malaysia and Vietnam, with a selection of 59 sampling stations in total. River water and sediment samples were collected and analyzed for chemical markers (coprostanol and other sterols) and microbiological markers (fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci). Particulate coprostanol concentrations ranged from <0.0001 to 13.47 microg/L in tropical river and estuarine waters, indicating severe fecal pollution in populous areas. Coprostanol concentrations in the sediments ranged from 0.005 to 15.5 microg/g-dry. The sedimentary coprostanol concentrations were lower than those reported in some urban areas of industrialized countries. This is probably because frequent heavy rain induces intensive input of eroded soil, which dilutes fecal material in river sediments. The relationship between the concentrations of fecal sterols and bacterial indicators was examined in an attempt to develop public health criteria for coprostanol levels applicable to the tropical region. Coprostanol concentrations of 30-100 ng/L or percent coprostanol levels of 2% corresponded to approximately 1000 fecal coliforms per 100 mL, which is set for secondary contact limit in many countries. These coprostanol concentrations were lower than those proposed as criteria in temperate countries, probably owing to greater survival of bacteria in warmer tropical waters. On the basis of these criteria, extensive monitoring of sediments suggests that poor sanitary conditions exist in most of the urbanized area of Malaysia and in several urban and rural sites in Vietnam.
Microplanktonic red tide blooms (dominated by dinoflagellates) were observed in brackish water fish ponds of Terengganu between March 1992 to January 1993. The first short-lived bloom (2-3 days) occurred in October 1992 while the second long-lived bloom (6-7 days) occurred in January 1993. The dominant dinoflagellate species comprised of Peridinium quinquecorne (> 90% total cell count) with considerable proportion of Protoperidinium excentricum. Ciliophora consisting of Tintinopsis sp. and Favella sp. were also present during the bloom period. The total ash, chlorophyll, phaeopigment, lipid and fatty acid content of the microplankton were studied. Considerable amounts (6-11% of the total fatty acid) of the polyunsaturated fatty acid 18:3w3 (linolenic acid) were present in the microplankton. However, high amounts of 20:5w3 (eicosapentanoic acid) and 22:6w3 (docosahexaenoic acid) were present with variable but usually high amounts of 22:4w6 and 22:5w6 acids. The latter microplankton bloom contained higher amounts of 20:5w3 and 22:6w3 acids than the earlier bloom. Lipid content were three to five times higher than chlorophyll a. There was an increase with successive day after bloom outbreak in the relative proportion of total C18, C20, and C22 fatty acid components. The algae microplankton contained the w3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) probably needed for the growth and survival rate of grazing pond animals.