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Fulltext Development and characterization of liposomal doxorubicin hydrochloride with palm oil

Sabeti B, Noordin MI, Mohd S, Hashim R, Dahlan A, Javar HA

Biomed Res Int, 2014;2014:765426.
PMID: 24795894 DOI: 10.1155/2014/765426

The usage of natural products in pharmaceuticals has steadily seen improvements over the last decade, and this study focuses on the utilization of palm oil in formulating liposomal doxorubicin (Dox). The liposomal form of Dox generally minimizes toxicity and enhances target delivery actions. Taking into account the antiproliferative and antioxidant properties of palm oil, the aim of this study is to design and characterize a new liposomal Dox by replacing phosphatidylcholine with 5% and 10% palm oil content. Liposomes were formed using the freeze_thaw method, and Dox was loaded through pH gradient technique and characterized through in vitro and ex vivo terms. Based on TEM images, large lamellar vesicles (LUV) were formed, with sizes of 438 and 453 nm, having polydispersity index of 0.21 ± 0.8 and 0.22 ± 1.3 and zeta potentials of about -31 and -32 mV, respectively. In both formulations, the entrapment efficiency was about 99%, and whole Dox was released through 96 hours in PBS (pH = 7.4) at 37°C. Comparing cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of LUV with Caelyx(R) on MCF7 and MDA-MBA 231 breast cancer cell lines indicated suitable uptake and lower IC50 of the prepared liposomes.
Fulltext Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coastal sediment of klang strait, Malaysia: distribution pattern, risk assessment and sources

Tavakoly Sany SB, Hashim R, Salleh A, Rezayi M, Mehdinia A, Safari O

PLoS One, 2014;9(4):e94907.
PMID: 24747349 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094907

Concentration, source, and ecological risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in 22 stations from surface sediments in the areas of anthropogenic pollution in the Klang Strait (Malaysia). The total PAH level in the Klang Strait sediment was 994.02±918.1 µg/kg dw. The highest concentration was observed in stations near the coastline and mouth of the Klang River. These locations were dominated by high molecular weight PAHs. The results showed both pyrogenic and petrogenic sources are main sources of PAHs. Further analyses indicated that PAHs primarily originated from pyrogenic sources (coal combustion and vehicular emissions), with significant contribution from petroleum inputs. Regarding ecological risk estimation, only station 13 was moderately polluted, the rest of the stations suffered rare or slight adverse biological effects with PAH exposure in surface sediment, suggesting that PAHs are not considered as contaminants of concern in the Klang Strait.
Fulltext Bioethanol production from fermentable sugar juice

Zabed H, Faruq G, Sahu JN, Azirun MS, Hashim R, Boyce AN

ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:957102.
PMID: 24715820 DOI: 10.1155/2014/957102

Bioethanol production from renewable sources to be used in transportation is now an increasing demand worldwide due to continuous depletion of fossil fuels, economic and political crises, and growing concern on environmental safety. Mainly, three types of raw materials, that is, sugar juice, starchy crops, and lignocellulosic materials, are being used for this purpose. This paper will investigate ethanol production from free sugar containing juices obtained from some energy crops such as sugarcane, sugar beet, and sweet sorghum that are the most attractive choice because of their cost-effectiveness and feasibility to use. Three types of fermentation process (batch, fed-batch, and continuous) are employed in ethanol production from these sugar juices. The most common microorganism used in fermentation from its history is the yeast, especially, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, though the bacterial species Zymomonas mobilis is also potentially used nowadays for this purpose. A number of factors related to the fermentation greatly influences the process and their optimization is the key point for efficient ethanol production from these feedstocks.
Fulltext Utility of DNA barcoding for rapid and accurate assessment of bat diversity in Malaysia in the absence of formally described species

Wilson JJ, Sing KW, Halim MR, Ramli R, Hashim R, Sofian-Azirun M

Genet. Mol. Res., 2014;13(1):920-5.
PMID: 24634112 DOI: 10.4238/2014.February.19.2

Bats are important flagship species for biodiversity research; however, diversity in Southeast Asia is considerably underestimated in the current checklists and field guides. Incorporation of DNA barcoding into surveys has revealed numerous species-level taxa overlooked by conventional methods. Inclusion of these taxa in inventories provides a more informative record of diversity, but is problematic as these species lack formal description. We investigated how frequently documented, but undescribed, bat taxa are encountered in Peninsular Malaysia. We discuss whether a barcode library provides a means of recognizing and recording these taxa across biodiversity inventories. Tissue was sampled from bats trapped at Pasir Raja, Dungun Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia. The DNA was extracted and the COI barcode region amplified and sequenced. We identified 9 species-level taxa within our samples, based on analysis of the DNA barcodes. Six specimens matched to four previously documented taxa considered candidate species but currently lacking formal taxonomic status. This study confirms the high diversity of bats within Peninsular Malaysia (9 species in 13 samples) and demonstrates how DNA barcoding allows for inventory and documentation of known taxa lacking formal taxonomic status.
Characterization of the first isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae carrying New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase and other extended spectrum β-lactamase genes from Malaysia

Ahmad N, Hashim R, Shukor S, Mohd Khalid KN, Shamsudin F, Hussin H

J Med Microbiol, 2013 May;62(Pt 5):804-806.
PMID: 23449878 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.050781-0
Fulltext Polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthesis and simplified polymer recovery by a novel moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from hypersaline microbial mats

Rathi DN, Amir HG, Abed RM, Kosugi A, Arai T, Sulaiman O, et al.

J Appl Microbiol, 2013 Feb;114(2):384-95.
PMID: 23176757 DOI: 10.1111/jam.12083

Halophilic micro-organisms have received much interest because of their potential biotechnological applications, among which is the capability of some strains to synthesize polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). Halomonas sp. SK5, which was isolated from hypersaline microbial mats, accumulated intracellular granules of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] in modified accumulation medium supplemented with 10% (w/v) salinity and 3% (w/v) glucose.
Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Malaysian tertiary centre

Rashid ZZ, Bahari N, Othman A, Jaafar R, Mohamed NA, Jabbari I, et al.

Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 2013 Jan;44(1):104-8.
PMID: 23682444

Abstract. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is a pathogen recognized to be distinct in both phenotype and genotype from hospital-acquired MRSA. We have identified CA-MRSA cases in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, including their antibiotic susceptibility patterns and genotypic characteristics. Cases were identified during January to December 2009 from routine clinical specimens, where culture and antibiotic susceptibility results yielded pauci-resistant MRSA isolates suspected as being CA-MRSA. The patients' clinical data were collected and their specimens were sent for molecular confirmation and analysis. Five cases of CA-MRSA were identified, which had a multi-sensitive pattern on antibiotic susceptibility tests and were resistant to only penicillin and oxacillin. All cases were skin and soft-tissue infections, including diabetic foot with gangrene, infected scalp hematoma, philtrum abscess in a healthcare worker, thrombophlebitis complicated with abscess and infected bedsore. All five cases were confirmed MRSA by detection of mecA. SCCmec typing (ccr and mec complex) revealed SCCmec type IV for all cases except the infected bedsore case. Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene was positive in all isolates. As clinical features among methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, CA-MRSA and "nosocomial CA-MRSA" are indistinct, early recognition is necessary in order to initiate appropriate antibiotics and infection control measures. Continual surveillance of pauci-resistant MRSA and molecular analysis are necessary in order to identify emerging strains as well as their epidemiology and transmission, both in the community and in healthcare setting.
A novel agricultural waste adsorbent for the removal of lead (II) ions from aqueous solutions

Ibrahim MN, Ngah WS, Norliyana MS, Daud WR, Rafatullah M, Sulaiman O, et al.

J Hazard Mater, 2010 Oct 15;182(1-3):377-85.
PMID: 20619537 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.06.044

The present study explores the ability of modified soda lignin (MSL) extracted from oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) in removing lead (II) ions from aqueous solutions. The effect of contact time, point zero charge (pH(pzc)) and pH of the solution, initial metal ion concentration and adsorbent dosage on the removal process were investigated. Furthermore, the MSL is characterized by SEM, XRF, FT-IR and surface area analysis. Equilibrium adsorption isotherms and kinetics were investigated. The experimental data were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin models of adsorption. The kinetic data obtained at different initial concentrations were analyzed using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. The results provide strong evidence to support the hypothesis of adsorption mechanism.
Time-lapse resistivity investigation of salinity changes at an ex-promontory land: a case study of Carey Island, Selangor, Malaysia

Tajul Baharuddin MF, Taib S, Hashim R, Zainal Abidin MH, Ishak MF

Environ Monit Assess, 2011 Sep;180(1-4):345-69.
PMID: 21136290 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-010-1792-x

Time-lapse resistivity measurements and groundwater geochemistry were used to study salinity effect on groundwater aquifer at the ex-promontory-land of Carey Island in Malaysia. Resistivity was measured by ABEM Terrameter SAS4000 and ES10-64 electrode selector. Relationship between earth resistivity and total dissolved solids (TDS) was derived, and with resistivity images, used to identify water types: fresh (ρ ( e ) > 6.5 Ω m), brackish (3 Ω m < ρ ( e ) < 6.5 Ω m), or saline (ρ ( e ) < 3 Ω m). Long-term monitoring of the studied area's groundwater quality via measurements of its time-lapse resistivity showed salinity changes in the island's groundwater aquifers not conforming to seawater-freshwater hydraulic gradient. In some aquifers far from the coast, saline water was dominant, while in some others, freshwater 30 m thick showed groundwater potential. Land transformation is believed to have changed the island's hydrogeology, which receives saltwater pressure all the time, limiting freshwater recharge to the groundwater system. The time-lapse resistivity measurements showed active salinity changes at resistivity-image bottom moving up the image for two seasons' (wet and dry) conditions. The salinity changes are believed to have been caused by incremental tide passing through highly porous material in the active-salinity-change area. The study's results were used to plan a strategy for sustainable groundwater exploration of the island.
Spectacular Batesian mimicry in ants

Ito F, Hashim R, Huei YS, Kaufmann E, Akino T, Billen J

Naturwissenschaften, 2004 Oct;91(10):481-4.
PMID: 15729761

The mechanism by which palatable species take advantage of their similarity in appearance to those that are unpalatable, in order to avoid predation, is called Batesian mimicry. Several arthropods are thought to be Batesian mimics of social insects; however, social insects that are Batesian mimics among themselves are rare. In Malaysia we found a possible Batesian mimic in an arboreal ant species, Camponotus sp., which was exclusively observed on foraging trails of the myrmicine ant Crematogaster inflata. The bright yellow and black colouring pattern, as well as the walking behaviour, were very similar in both species. We observed general interactions between the two species, and tested their palatability and the significance of the remarkably similar visual colour patterns for predator avoidance. Prey offered to C. inflata was also eaten by Camponotus workers in spite of their being attacked by C. inflata, indicating that Camponotus sp. is a commensal of C. inflata. An experiment with chicks as potential predators suggests that Camponotus sp. is palatable whereas C. inflata is unpalatable. After tasting C. inflata, the chicks no longer attacked Camponotus sp., indicating that Camponotus sp. is a Batesian mimic of Crematogaster inflata.
A systematic review of behaviour change techniques in pharmacist-delivered self-management interventions towards patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Jamil N, Zainal ZA, Alias SH, Chong LY, Hashim R

Res Social Adm Pharm, 2023 Aug;19(8):1131-1145.
PMID: 37202279 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2023.05.006

BACKGROUND: Self-management interventions often employ behaviour change techniques in order to produce desired target behaviours that are necessary for day-to-day living with a chronic disease. Despite the large number of self-management interventions for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), previously reported interventions have been typically delivered by healthcare providers other than the pharmacist.
OBJECTIVE: This systematic review examined the components of pharmacists-delivered COPD self-management interventions according to an established taxonomy of behaviour change techniques (BCTs).
METHODS: A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, ScienceDirect, OVID, and Google Scholar from January 2011 to December 2021 for studies of pharmacist-delivered self-management interventions in COPD patients.
RESULTS: A total of seventeen studies of intervention were eligible for inclusion in the narrative review. Interventions were educational and were delivered individually and face-to-face for the first session. Across studies, pharmacists spent an average of 35 min on the first meeting and had an average of 6 follow-up sessions. Recurrent BCTs in pharmacist interventions were "Information on the health consequence", "Feedback on behaviour", "Instruction on how to perform a behaviour", "Demonstration of the behaviour" and "Behavioural practice/rehearsal".
CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacists have provided interventions towards improving health behaviours, especially on adherence and usage of inhaler devices for patients with COPD. Future self-management interventions should be designed using the identified BCTs for the improvement of COPD self-management and disease outcomes.
Fulltext Assessing the colony morphotypes and antibiotic susceptibility profile of Malaysian clinical Burkholderia pseudomallei to support the use of EUCAST disk diffusion breakpoints to determine antibiotic resistance

Hii SYF, Zaiful Bahrina NN, Mohd Zaidi MN, Hashim R, Ahmad N

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 2024 Feb;43(2):373-378.
PMID: 37999783 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-023-04707-5

Burkholderia pseudomallei is intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics. This study aimed to assess bacterial colony morphotypes and the validity of using disk diffusion method (DD) to determine antibiotic resistance in Malaysian clinical B. pseudomallei isolates for ceftazidime (CAZ), meropenem (MEM), amoxicillin-clavulanate (AMC) and doxycycline (DOX). DD produced good categorical agreements exhibiting concordance of 100% with reference method, broth microdilution for CAZ and DOX, 98.6% for MEM and 97.2% for AMC. Smooth-centred colonies were most frequently observed. EUCAST DD interpretative criterion is suitable to interpret B. pseudomallei CAZ, MEM, AMC and DOX resistance. Increasing AMC MIC in B. pseudomallei is a concern.
Structural characterization of modified coconut husk lignin via steam explosion pretreatment as a renewable phenol substitutes

Latif NHA, Brosse N, Ziegler-Devin I, Chrusiel L, Hashim R, Hussin MH

Int J Biol Macromol, 2023 Dec 31;253(Pt 5):127210.
PMID: 37797852 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127210

The effects of steam explosion (SE) pretreatment on the structural properties of lignin isolated from coconut husk (CH) biomass via soda pulping were investigated in this work. The isolated SE lignin was classified as dilute acid impregnation SE lignin (ASEL), water impregnation SE lignin (WSEL), and 2-naphthol impregnation SE lignin (NSEL). The various types of functional groups isolated from SE lignin were characterized and compared using a variety of complementary analyses: FTIR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, GPC chromatography, HPAEC-PAD chromatography and thermal analyses. It was revealed that ASEL has the highest solid recovery with 55.89 % yield as well as the highest sugars content compared to WSEL (45.66 % yield) and NSEL (49.37 % yield). Besides, all isolated SE lignin contain a significant quantity of non-condensed G-type and S-type units but less amount of H-type units as supported by previous research. The SE lignin produced lignin with higher molecular weight (Mw ASEL: 72725 g mol-1 > Mw WSEL: 13112 g mol-1 > Mw NSEL: 6891 g mol-1) seems to influence the success of the synthesis reaction of phenolic resins. Because of the large variances in the physicochemical properties of SE lignin polymers, their structural properties were increased toward numerous alternative techniques in lignin-based applications.
Fulltext Enhanced Goat Milk MUFA Quality via Date Pit Supplementation: A Time-Based Pattern Recognition Analysis Utilizing Agricultural Waste Byproduct

Abd Rahman MR, Hassan Z, Hassan MS, Hashim R, Wong LS, Leong WY, et al.

Int J Food Sci, 2023;2023:1797017.
PMID: 37350796 DOI: 10.1155/2023/1797017

Date pits are agricultural waste byproducts and are available in tons yearly. Milk MUFAs are lipids beneficial for health and sorted out for food product development. This work is aimed at researching the effect of supplementing dairy goats with date pit powder (DPP) as a source of fatty acids (FA), an alternative to enhancing the unsaturated FA in milk and analysed via chemometrics in a 3-month supplementation-based study. Saanen-Boer crossed dairy goats were divided into six groups comprising of control, 10 g and 20 g both for Ajwa DPP (high-quality dates) and Mariami DPP (agricultural waste byproduct), and another 30 g for Mariami DPP only. The supplementation exercise was done daily on each dairy goat. The DPP and milk samples were analysed for its FA profile applying GC-FID and followed by chemometric techniques, namely, PCA and PLS. Results indicated that the n-6/n-3 ratio was the highest for the unsupplemented group compared to the DPP-treated goats with lower n-6/n-3 ratios. The M30 group showcased the most promising health-related class of FAs viewed by 3D PCA and PLS model clustering patterns, in particular monounsaturated FA (MUFA) (C18:1n9c or oleic acid). These results suggest that Mariami DPP supplementation at higher doses and time to lactating Saanen-Boer cross goats can be a means to milk FA quantity and quality enhancement and that chemometrics via pattern recognition can be useful statistical tools when dealing with overwhelming data.
Fulltext Assessing the national antibiotic surveillance data to identify burden for melioidosis in Malaysia

Arushothy R, Mohd Ali MR, Zambri HF, Muthu V, Hashim R, Chieng S, et al.

IJID Reg, 2024 Mar;10:94-99.
PMID: 38179416 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.11.014

OBJECTIVES: A leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Southeast Asia, the epidemiological data on melioidosis disease occurrence and mortality in Malaysia is not comprehensive. The aim of this study is to determine the burden of melioidosis and assess the National Surveillance for Antibiotic Resistance (NSAR) data as a potential tool melioidosis surveilance in Malaysia.
METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis on the B. pseudomallei reposited data submitted to the NSAR network between January 2014 and December 2020. The data were screened for information on patient demographics and specimen types. Additional patient comorbidities and outcomes were drawn from parallel surveillance for bacteremic melioidosis.
RESULTS: The average annual incidence rate of melioidosis between 2014-2020 was 3.41 per 100,000 population and was significantly different between states (P <0.001). The highest incidence was observed in Pahang at 11.33 per 100,000 population. Individuals of Malay ethnicity, from the states of Pahang, Johor, Perak, and Negeri Sembilan aged 40-49, who were diabetic and working in agriculture-related sectors had a higher risk of succumbing to the infection.
CONCLUSION: Assessing the NSAR data proved to be a useful tool for the determination of the incidence and socio-demographic risk factors attributed to melioidosis in Malaysia.
Phase sensitive molecular dynamics of self-assembly glycolipid thin films: a dielectric spectroscopy investigation

Velayutham TS, Ng BK, Gan WC, Abd Majid WH, Hashim R, Zahid NI, et al.

J Chem Phys, 2014 Aug 28;141(8):085101.
PMID: 25173043 DOI: 10.1063/1.4893873

Glycolipid, found commonly in membranes, is also a liquid crystal material which can self-assemble without the presence of a solvent. Here, the dielectric and conductivity properties of three synthetic glycolipid thin films in different thermotropic liquid crystal phases were investigated over a frequency and temperature range of (10(-2)-10(6) Hz) and (303-463 K), respectively. The observed relaxation processes distinguish between the different phases (smectic A, columnar/hexagonal, and bicontinuous cubic Q) and the glycolipid molecular structures. Large dielectric responses were observed in the columnar and bicontinuous cubic phases of the longer branched alkyl chain glycolipids. Glycolipids with the shortest branched alkyl chain experience the most restricted self-assembly dynamic process over the broad temperature range studied compared to the longer ones. A high frequency dielectric absorption (Process I) was observed in all samples. This is related to the dynamics of the hydrogen bond network from the sugar group. An additional low-frequency mechanism (Process II) with a large dielectric strength was observed due to the internal dynamics of the self-assembly organization. Phase sensitive domain heterogeneity in the bicontinuous cubic phase was related to the diffusion of charge carriers. The microscopic features of charge hopping were modelled using the random walk scheme, and two charge carrier hopping lengths were estimated for two glycolipid systems. For Process I, the hopping length is comparable to the hydrogen bond and is related to the dynamics of the hydrogen bond network. Additionally, that for Process II is comparable to the bilayer spacing, hence confirming that this low-frequency mechanism is associated with the internal dynamics within the phase.
Fulltext Bioprospecting medicinal plants for antioxidant components

Coulibaly AY, Hashim R, Sulaiman SF, Sulaiman O, Ang LZ, Ooi KL

Asian Pac J Trop Med, 2014 Sep;7S1:S553-9.
PMID: 25312183 DOI: 10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60289-3

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate antioxidant activities of seven medicinal plant species and their fractions, and to identify their phenolic compounds.
METHODS: Two extractions were processed and further fractionated by column chromatography to evaluate the concentration that inhibit 50% of 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-suslfonic acid, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radicals, and their ferric reducing antioxidant power. The identification of the fractions of phenolic compounds was done by ultra performance liquid chromatography.
RESULTS: The aqueous-acetone extracts of Feretia apodanthera and Ozoroa insignis exhibited the highest antioxidant potentials comparable to those of the standard quercetin. Their subsequently silica gel column fractionation showed three most active fractions from which the major constituents quercetin, myricetin, kampferol, rutin and isoquercetin were identified.
CONCLUSIONS: These plant species have potent antioxidant profiles and polyphenol compounds that may help to manage with radical related disease and aging.
Fulltext Relation of the time in therapeutic range (TTR) of warfarin to bleeding incidences in patients with atrial fibrillation [Abstract]

Jasmi MA, Mazlan MN, Shaharuddin S, Zulkifly HH, Long CM, Hashim R, et al.

Value Health, 2014 Nov;17(7):A478.
PMID: 27201388 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2014.08.1375

Conference abstract;
Objectives: Warfarin use in atrial fibrillation has been established for preventing occurrence of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. However, safety and clinical monitoring of warfarin use is crucial due to its risk of bleeding complications. This study aims to compare and establish relation of time in therapeutic range (TTR) of warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation in the first 6 months and 6 month thereafter of anticoagulation therapy.
Methods: This is a retrospective study carried out at a tertiary-care hospital with anticoagulation clinic in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. Data collected included patients’ demographics, co-morbidities, and international normalized ratio (INR). TTR were determined using Rosendaal method based on records found in database (INR Desk 4.0 system) and patients’ hemorrhage events were also recorded. Samples of the study were patient who started warfarin from January 2009 until March 2013.
Results: A total of 167 patients with atrial fibrillation were enrolled and only 6% (n=10) achieved TTR of more than 75% for the first 6 months of warfarin use as compared to 16.8% (n=28) of TTR more than 75% 6 months thereafter. As for bleeding incidences, 29% (n=45) of patients in the group of TTR less than 75% in the first 6 months had bleeding complications as compared to 18.7% (n=26) in patients of TTR less than 75% 6 months after.
Conclusions: A more regular follow up is necessary during the first 6 months of new warfarin users as they tend to be out of the TTR and have a higher bleeding risk.
Study site: anticoagulation clinic, tertiary hospital, Selangor, Malaysia
Fulltext Intricate predatory decisions by a mosquito-specialist spider from Malaysia

Jackson RR, Li D, Woon JR, Hashim R, Cross FR

R Soc Open Sci, 2014 Oct;1(2):140131.
PMID: 26064534 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.140131

Paracyrba wanlessi is a southeast Asian jumping spider (Salticidae) that lives in the hollow internodes of fallen bamboo and preys on the larvae, pupae and adults of mosquitoes. In contrast to Evarcha culicivora, an East African salticid that is also known for actively targeting mosquitoes as preferred prey, there was no evidence of P. wanlessi choosing mosquitoes on the basis of species, sex or diet. However, our findings show that P. wanlessi chooses mosquitoes significantly more often than a variety of other prey types, regardless of whether the prey are in or away from water, and regardless of whether the mosquitoes are adults or juveniles. Moreover, a preference for mosquito larvae, pupae and adults is expressed regardless of whether test spiders are maintained on a diet of terrestrial or aquatic prey and regardless of whether the diet includes or excludes mosquitoes. Congruence of an environmental factor (in water versus away from water) with prey type (aquatic versus terrestrial mosquitoes) appeared to be important and yet, even when the prey were in the incongruent environment, P. wanlessi continued to choose mosquitoes more often than other prey.
Integrated ecological risk assessment of dioxin compounds

Sany SB, Hashim R, Rezayi M, Rahman MA, Razavizadeh BB, Abouzari-lotf E, et al.

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2015 Aug;22(15):11193-208.
PMID: 25953606 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4511-x

Current ecological risk assessment (ERA) schemes focus mainly on bioaccumulation and toxicity of pollutants in individual organisms. Ecological models are tools mainly used to assess ecological risks of pollutants to ecosystems, communities, and populations. Their main advantage is the relatively direct integration of the species sensitivity to organic pollutants, the fate and mechanism of action in the environment of toxicants, and life-history features of the individual organism of concern. To promote scientific consensus on ERA schemes, this review is intended to provide a guideline on short-term ERA involving dioxin chemicals and to identify key findings for exposure assessment based on policies of different agencies. It also presents possible adverse effects of dioxins on ecosystems, toxicity equivalence methodology, environmental fate and transport modeling, and development of stressor-response profiles for dioxin-like chemicals.

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