Displaying publications 121 - 140 of 209 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Fulltext Evaluation of trace elements iron, zinc, copper and lead in the diet of female university students
    Malays J Nutr, 1995;1(1):-.
    MyJurnal
    Food consumption of 50 female students in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia was recorded for 7 days. Foods and drinks most frequently consumed were selected for analysis of iron, zinc, copper and lead content. The mean daily intakes of energy, protein, carbohydrate and fat among the students are 6.5±1.4 MJ (1550±335 kcal), 59.8±18.5g. 227. 1±54.6 g and 46.0±11.5 g respectively. This diet contributed 19.6±6.4 mg Fe, 7.0±2.0 mg Zn and 1.6±0.6 mg Cu per day which were lower than the Malaysian RDA for Fe and US RDA for Zn, while Cu is within the recommended range. The main sources of these minerals in the student’s diet were rice, rice products, meat and animal products. Lead concentration in the diet (134±77 ug/day) is below the acceptable daily intake (ADI) value suggested by Codex Alimentarius Commission (1984). This study indicated concern regarding the low intake of the essential trace elements on long term basis among the students.
    Matched MeSH terms: Trace Elements
  2. Fulltext A survey of benthic assemblages of foraminifera in tropical coastal waters of pulau pinang, malaysia
    Minhat FI, Yahya K, Talib A, Ahmad O
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2013 Aug;24(1):35-43.
    PMID: 24575240 MyJurnal
    The distribution of benthic Foraminifera throughout the coastal waters of Taman Negara Pulau Pinang (Penang National Park), Malaysia was studied to assess the impact of various anthropogenic activities, such as fishing, ecotourism and floating cage culture. Samples were obtained at 200 m intervals within the subtidal zone, extending up to 1200 m offshore at Teluk Bahang, Teluk Aling, Teluk Ketapang and Pantai Acheh. The depth within coastal waters ranged between 1.5 m and 10.0 m, with predominantly muddy substrate at most stations. Water quality analysis showed little variation in micronutrient (nitrite, NO2; nitrate, NO3; ammonia, NH4 and orthophosphate, PO4) concentrations between sampling stations. Temperature (29.6±0.48°C), salinity (29.4±0.28 ppt), dissolved oxygen content (5.4±0.95 mg/l) and pH (8.5± 0.13) also showed little fluctuation between stations. A total of nine genera of foraminifera were identified in the study (i.e., Ammonia, Elphidium, Ammobaculites, Bigenerina, Quinqueloculina, Reopax, Globigerina, Textularia and Nonion). The distribution of benthic foraminifera was dominated by opportunistic groups that have a high tolerance to anthropogenic stressors. Ammonia had the highest frequency of occurrence (84.7%), followed by Bigenerina (50%), Ammobaculites (44.2%) and Elphidium (38.9%). The Ammonia-Elphidium Index (AEI) was used to describe the hypoxic condition of benthic communities at all sites. Teluk Bahang had the highest AEI value. The foraminiferal assemblages and distribution in Teluk Bahang, Teluk Aling, Teluk Ketapang and Pantai Acheh showed no correlation with physical or chemical environmental parameters.
    Matched MeSH terms: Trace Elements
  3. Fulltext Elemental analysis of Indonesian and Australian bituminous coal used at Kapar power station
    Muneer Saleh, Ahmad Suhaimi
    Journal of Nuclear and Related Technologies, 2008;2008(2):9-17.
    MyJurnal
    An instrumental neutron activation analytical (INAA) technique is used for the determination of thirty elements in five coal samples collected from Kapar power station, imported from Indonesia and Australia. Analyses of the samples are being associated with standards. All irradiations were performed in the nuclear reactor of Malaysia Nuclear Agency (MNA). Samples were counted by Hyper Pure Germanium (HPGe) detector for short period irradiations at MNA, while for the long period irradiations the samples were counted at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). The concentrations of thirty elements have been determined: The major components are Cl, Ca, Mg, K, Fe, Ti and Na with the mean concentrations in the range between 70±69 ppm- 6100±1639 ppm; and the trace elements are Zr, V, Mn , Sc, Cr, Co, As ,Br ,Rb ,Sb ,Ba , La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Lu, Hf, Th, U and Ta with the mean concentrations in the range between 0.1381±0.0202 - 69.0±2.8 ppm. The results have been compared to the reported data of eight coal samples from the United States and the reported data of Australian bituminous coal.
    Matched MeSH terms: Trace Elements
  4. Impact of Mg rich synthetic gypsum application on the environment and palm oil quality
    Sahibin AR, Shamshuddin J, Fauziah CI, Radziah O, Wan Mohd Razi I, Enio MSK
    Sci Total Environ, 2019 Feb 20;652:573-582.
    PMID: 30368186 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.232
    A study was conducted in an oil palm plantation in Peninsular Malaysia to elucidate the effects of applying Magnesium Rich Synthetic Gypsum (MRSG), a by-product of chemical plant, on the chemical properties of soil, the uptake of heavy metals by the palm trees, the oil quality and its impact on the surrounding environment. The results showed that MRSG application onto soil cropped to oil palm could bring positive impact in terms of soil chemical properties and oil palm production. The quality of the oil was not significantly affected by the continuous MRSG application as shown by the low heavy metals and trace elements of concern content (Cu: 0.062 mg/kg; Fe: 2.10 mg/kg; Mn: 1.93 mg/kg; Pb: 0.006 mg/kg; Zn: 0.103 mg/kg; Cr: 0.354 mg/kg; Ni: 0.037 mg/kg). From the I-geochem index, the soil was found to have values ranging from -3.81 to -1.03 which is considered as uncontaminated. Further, its application did not result in negative impact on the surrounding environment; hence, the quality of the soil and surface water in the plantation and/or the surrounding area remained intact. Phytotoxic elements in the oil palm tissue (As: 0.12 mg/kg; Se: 0.05 mg/kg; Zn: 1.48 mg/kg; Ce: 0.47 mg/kg; La: 0.26 mg/kg; Sr: 3.03 mg/kg) and cytotoxic elements in the oil were below the acceptable limit. Based on the results of the Environmental Monitoring out during the period of the study, it was concluded that application of the by-product of the chemical plant as a source of Mg to enhance soil fertility in the oil palm plantation was considered safe and sustainable. The effects of applying MRSG and Chinese kieserite was almost similar. So, MRSG can be used as a possible source of Mg to replace Chinese kieserite for oil palm production on the Ultisols in Peninsular Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Trace Elements
  5. Fulltext Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy analysis of gamma irradiated human hair
    Lam SE, Mat Nawi SN, Abdul Sani SF, Khandaker MU, Bradley DA
    Sci Rep, 2021 04 12;11(1):7939.
    PMID: 33846448 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86942-4
    Preliminary study has been made of black human hair, carbon concentration of some 53%, a model in examining the potential of hair of the human head in retrospective and emergency biodosimetry applications, also offering effective atomic number near to that of water. The hair samples were exposed to [Formula: see text]Co gamma rays, delivering doses from 0 to 200 Gy. Structural alterations were observed, use being made of Raman and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Most prominent among the features observed in the first-order Raman spectra are the D and G peaks, appearing at 1370 [Formula: see text] and 1589 [Formula: see text] respectively, the intensity ratio [Formula: see text] indicating dose-dependent defects generation and annealing of structural alterations. The wavelengths of the PL absorption and emission peaks are found to be centred at [Formula: see text] nm and [Formula: see text] nm, respectively. The hair samples mean band gap energy ([Formula: see text]) post-irradiation was found to be [Formula: see text] eV, of the order of a semiconductor and approximately two times the [Formula: see text] of other carbon-rich materials reported via the same methodology.
    Matched MeSH terms: Elements
  6. Investigation of trace inorganic elements in street doses of heroin
    Chan KW, Tan GH, Wong RC
    Sci Justice, 2013 Mar;53(1):73-80.
    PMID: 23380066 DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2012.08.004
    Sixteen trace elements found in 309 street heroin samples, piped water and contaminated water were determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. All the street heroin samples were found to contain high levels of sodium, a reflection of the use of sodium bicarbonate during heroin synthesis. Additionally, this element was also found to be one of the potential contaminants acquired from the piped water. Calcium could be derived from lime while iron, aluminum and zinc could have come from the metallic container used in the processing/cutting stage. The levels of these elements remained low in the heroin and it could be due to the dilution effects from the addition of adulterants. Statistical validation was performed with six links of related heroin samples using principal component analysis to find the best pretreatment for sample classification. It was obtained that normalization followed by fourth root showed promising results with 8% errors in the sample clustering. The technique was then applied to the case samples. Finally, the result suggested that the case samples could have originated from at least two major groups respectively showing unique elemental profiles at the street level.
    Matched MeSH terms: Trace Elements
  7. Fulltext Small, Enigmatic Plasmids of the Nosocomial Pathogen, Acinetobacter baumannii: Good, Bad, Who Knows?
    Lean SS, Yeo CC
    Front Microbiol, 2017;8:1547.
    PMID: 28861061 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01547
    Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative nosocomial pathogen that has become a serious healthcare concern within a span of two decades due to its ability to rapidly acquire resistance to all classes of antimicrobial compounds. One of the key features of the A. baumannii genome is an open pan genome with a plethora of plasmids, transposons, integrons, and genomic islands, all of which play important roles in the evolution and success of this clinical pathogen, particularly in the acquisition of multidrug resistance determinants. An interesting genetic feature seen in majority of A. baumannii genomes analyzed is the presence of small plasmids that usually ranged from 2 to 10 kb in size, some of which harbor antibiotic resistance genes and homologs of plasmid mobilization genes. These plasmids are often overlooked when compared to their larger, conjugative counterparts that harbor multiple antibiotic resistance genes and transposable elements. In this mini-review, we will examine our current knowledge of these small A. baumannii plasmids and look into their genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships. Some of these plasmids, such as the Rep-3 superfamily group and the pRAY-type, which has no recognizable replicase genes, are quite widespread among diverse A. baumannii clinical isolates worldwide, hinting at their usefulness to the lifestyle of this pathogen. Other small plasmids especially those from the Rep-1 superfamily are truly enigmatic, encoding only hypothetical proteins of unknown function, leading to the question of whether these small plasmids are "good" or "bad" to their host A. baumannii.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Transposable Elements
  8. An overview of photocatalytic degradation: photocatalysts, mechanisms, and development of photocatalytic membrane
    Koe WS, Lee JW, Chong WC, Pang YL, Sim LC
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2020 Jan;27(3):2522-2565.
    PMID: 31865580 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-07193-5
    Photocatalysis is an ecofriendly technique that emerged as a promising alternative for the degradation of many organic pollutants. The weaknesses of the present photocatalytic system which limit their industrial applications include low-usage of visible light, fast charge recombination, and low migration ability of the photo-generated electrons and holes. Therefore, various elements such as noble metals and transition metals as well as non-metals and metalloids (i.e., graphene, carbon nanotube, and carbon quantum dots) are doped into the photocatalyst as co-catalysts to enhance the photodegradation performance. The incorporation of the co-catalyst which alters the photocatalytic mechanism was discussed in detail. The application of photocatalysts in treating persistent organic pollutants such as pesticide, pharmaceutical compounds, oil and grease and textile in real wastewater was also discussed. Besides, a few photocatalytic reactors in pilot scale had been designed for the effort of commercializing the system. In addition, hybrid photocatalytic system integrating with membrane filtration together with their membrane fabrication methods had also been reviewed. This review outlined various types of heterogeneous photocatalysts, mechanism, synthesis methods of biomass supported photocatalyst, photocatalytic degradation of organic substances in real wastewater, and photocatalytic reactor designs and their operating parameters as well as the latest development of photocatalyst incorporated membrane.
    Matched MeSH terms: Transition Elements
  9. Fulltext Targeting SWI/SNF ATPases in enhancer-addicted prostate cancer
    Xiao L, Parolia A, Qiao Y, Bawa P, Eyunni S, Mannan R, et al.
    Nature, 2022 Jan;601(7893):434-439.
    PMID: 34937944 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04246-z
    The switch/sucrose non-fermentable (SWI/SNF) complex has a crucial role in chromatin remodelling1 and is altered in over 20% of cancers2,3. Here we developed a proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) degrader of the SWI/SNF ATPase subunits, SMARCA2 and SMARCA4, called AU-15330. Androgen receptor (AR)+ forkhead box A1 (FOXA1)+ prostate cancer cells are exquisitely sensitive to dual SMARCA2 and SMARCA4 degradation relative to normal and other cancer cell lines. SWI/SNF ATPase degradation rapidly compacts cis-regulatory elements bound by transcription factors that drive prostate cancer cell proliferation, namely AR, FOXA1, ERG and MYC, which dislodges them from chromatin, disables their core enhancer circuitry, and abolishes the downstream oncogenic gene programs. SWI/SNF ATPase degradation also disrupts super-enhancer and promoter looping interactions that wire supra-physiologic expression of the AR, FOXA1 and MYC oncogenes themselves. AU-15330 induces potent inhibition of tumour growth in xenograft models of prostate cancer and synergizes with the AR antagonist enzalutamide, even inducing disease remission in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) models without toxicity. Thus, impeding SWI/SNF-mediated enhancer accessibility represents a promising therapeutic approach for enhancer-addicted cancers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Enhancer Elements, Genetic
  10. DNA Damage, Copper and Lead Associates with Cognitive Function among Older Adults
    Meramat A, Rajab NF, Shahar S, Sharif RA
    J Nutr Health Aging, 2017;21(5):539-545.
    PMID: 28448084 DOI: 10.1007/s12603-016-0759-1
    BACKGROUND: A cross sectional study was conducted in a group of 317 subjects older than 60 in Malaysia, aimed to determine risk factors associated with cognitive impairment in older adults, focusing on trace elements and DNA damage.

    METHOD: Cognitive decline was determined by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde-MDA and superoxide dismutase-SOD) were determined and DNA damage was assayed using Alkaline Comet Assay. Toenail samples were taken and analyzed using ICP-MS to determine trace element levels.

    RESULTS: A total of 62.1 % of subjects had cognitive impairment. Subjects with cognitive impairment had significantly higher levels of MDA and DNA damage as compared to the group with normal cognitive function; MDA (2.07 ± 0.05 nmol/L vs 1.85 ± 0.06 nmol/L) (p<0.05) and DNA damage (% Tail Density, 14.52 ± 0.32 vs 10.31 ± 0.42; Tail Moment, 1.79 ± 0.06 vs 1.28 ± 0.06) (p<0.05 for all parameters). However, the level of SOD among subjects with cognitive impairment (6.67 ± 0.33 u.e/min/mg protein) was lower than the level among those with normal cognitive functions (11.36 ± 0.65 u.e/min/mg protein) (p<0.05). Multiple logistic regression revealed the predictors for cognitive impairment among the subjects were DNA damage (Adjusted odd ratio [OR], 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-1.59), level of trace elements in toenails namely, lead (OR, 2.471; CI, 1.535-3.980) and copper (OR, 1.275; CI, 1.047-1.552) (p<0.05).

    CONCLUSION: High levels of lead and copper can lead to increase in oxidative stress levels and are associated with DNA damage that eventually could be associated with cognitive decline.

    Matched MeSH terms: Trace Elements/administration & dosage; Trace Elements/adverse effects; Trace Elements/metabolism
  11. Fulltext Dissecting the fungal biology of Bipolaris papendorfii: from phylogenetic to comparative genomic analysis
    Kuan CS, Yew SM, Toh YF, Chan CL, Ngeow YF, Lee KW, et al.
    DNA Res, 2015 Jun;22(3):219-32.
    PMID: 25922537 DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dsv007
    Bipolaris papendorfii has been reported as a fungal plant pathogen that rarely causes opportunistic infection in humans. Secondary metabolites isolated from this fungus possess medicinal and anticancer properties. However, its genetic fundamental and basic biology are largely unknown. In this study, we report the first draft genome sequence of B. papendorfii UM 226 isolated from the skin scraping of a patient. The assembled 33.4 Mb genome encodes 11,015 putative coding DNA sequences, of which, 2.49% are predicted transposable elements. Multilocus phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses showed B. papendorfii UM 226 clustering with Curvularia species, apart from other plant pathogenic Bipolaris species. Its genomic features suggest that it is a heterothallic fungus with a putative unique gene encoding the LysM-containing protein which might be involved in fungal virulence on host plants, as well as a wide array of enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, degradation of polysaccharides and lignin in the plant cell wall, secondary metabolite biosynthesis (including dimethylallyl tryptophan synthase, non-ribosomal peptide synthetase, polyketide synthase), the terpenoid pathway and the caffeine metabolism. This first genomic characterization of B. papendorfii provides the basis for further studies on its biology, pathogenicity and medicinal potential.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Transposable Elements
  12. Understanding selected trace elements behavior in a coal-fired power plant in Malaysia for assessment of abatement technologies
    Mokhtar MM, Taib RM, Hassim MH
    J Air Waste Manag Assoc, 2014 Aug;64(8):867-78.
    PMID: 25185389
    The Proposed New Environmental Quality (Clean Air) Regulation 201X (Draft), which replaces the Malaysia Environmental Quality (Clean Air) 1978, specifies limits to additional pollutants from power generation using fossil fuel. The new pollutants include Hg, HCl, and HF with limits of 0.03, 100, and 15 mg/N-m3 at 6% O2, respectively. These pollutants are normally present in very small concentrations (known as trace elements [TEs]), and hence are often neglected in environmental air quality monitoring in Malaysia. Following the enactment of the new regulation, it is now imperative to understand the TEs behavior and to assess the capability of the existing abatement technologies to comply with the new emission limits. This paper presents the comparison of TEs behavior of the most volatile (Hg, Cl, F) and less volatile (As, Be, Cd, Cr, Ni, Se, Pb) elements in subbituminous and bituminous coal and coal combustion products (CCP) (i.e., fly ash and bottom ash) from separate firing of subbituminous and bituminous coal in a coal-fired power plant in Malaysia. The effect of air pollution control devices configuration in removal of TEs was also investigated to evaluate the effectiveness of abatement technologies used in the plant. This study showed that subbituminous and bituminous coals and their CCPs have different TEs behavior. It is speculated that ash content could be a factor for such diverse behavior In addition, the type of coal and the concentrations of TEs in feed coal were to some extent influenced by the emission of TEs in flue gas. The electrostatic precipitator (ESP) and seawater flue gas desulfurization (FGD) used in the studied coal-fired power plant were found effective in removing TEs in particulate and vapor form, respectively, as well as complying with the new specified emission limits. Implications: Coals used by power plants in Peninsular Malaysia come from the same supplier (Tenaga Nasional Berhad Fuel Services), which is a subsidiary of the Malaysia electricity provider (Tenaga Nasional Berhad). Therefore, this study on trace elements behavior in a coal-fired power plant in Malaysia could represent emission from other plants in Peninsular Malaysia. By adhering to the current coal specifications and installation of electrostatic precipitator (ESP) and flue gas desulfurization, the plants could comply with the limits specified in the Malaysian Department of Environment (DOE) Scheduled Waste Guideline for bottom ash and fly ash and the Proposed New Environmental Quality (Clean Air) Regulation 201X (Draft).
    Matched MeSH terms: Trace Elements/analysis*
  13. Modelling complex features from histone modification signatures using genetic algorithm for the prediction of enhancer region
    Lee NK, Fong PK, Abdullah MT
    Biomed Mater Eng, 2014;24(6):3807-14.
    PMID: 25227097 DOI: 10.3233/BME-141210
    Using Genetic Algorithm, this paper presents a modelling method to generate novel logical-based features from DNA sequences enriched with H3K4mel histone signatures. Current histone signature is mostly represented using k-mers content features incapable of representing all the possible complex interactions of various DNA segments. The main contributions are, among others: (a) demonstrating that there are complex interactions among sequence segments in the histone regions; (b) developing a parse tree representation of the logical complex features. The proposed novel feature is compared to the k-mers content features using datasets from the mouse (mm9) genome. Evaluation results show that the new feature improves the prediction performance as shown by f-measure for all datasets tested. Also, it is discovered that tree-based features generated from a single chromosome can be generalized to predict histone marks in other chromosomes not used in the training. These findings have a great impact on feature design considerations for histone signatures as well as other classifier design features.
    Matched MeSH terms: Enhancer Elements, Genetic/genetics*
  14. Synthesis, crystal structures and characterization of late first row transition metal complexes derived from benzothiazole core: anti-tuberculosis activity and special emphasis on DNA binding and cleavage property
    Netalkar PP, Netalkar SP, Budagumpi S, Revankar VK
    Eur J Med Chem, 2014 May 22;79:47-56.
    PMID: 24721314 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.03.083
    Air and moisture stable coordination compounds of late first row transition metals, viz. Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II), with a newly designed ligand, 2-(2-benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)hydrazono)propan-1-ol (LH), were prepared and successfully characterized using various spectro-analytical techniques. The molecular structures of the ligand and nickel complex were unambiguously determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. The [Ni(LH)2]Cl2.3H2O complex is stabilized by intermolecular CH⋯π stacking interactions between the methyl hydrogen and the C18 atom of the phenyl ring (C11-H11B⋯C18) forming 1D zig-zag chain structure. Both, the ligand and its copper complex, were electrochemically active in the working potential range, showing quasi-reversible redox system. The interactions of all the compounds with calf thymus DNA have been comprehensively investigated using electronic absorption spectroscopy, viscosity, electrochemistry and thermal denaturation studies. The cleavage reaction on pBR322 DNA has been monitored by agarose gel electrophoresis. The results showed that the ligand can bind to CT-DNA through partial intercalation, whereas the complexes bind electrostatically. Further, [Ni(LH)2]Cl2.3H2O and [CuLCl(H2O)2] complexes in the series have high binding and cleavage affinity towards pBR322 DNA. Additionally, all the compounds were screened for anti-tuberculosis activity. All the complexes revealed an MIC value of 0.8 μg/mL, which is almost 8 times active than standard used (Streptomycin, 6.25 μg/mL).
    Matched MeSH terms: Transition Elements/chemistry*
  15. Rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical samples by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR)
    Tang TH, Ahmed SA, Musa M, Zainuddin ZF
    World J Microbiol Biotechnol, 2013 Dec;29(12):2389-95.
    PMID: 23807412 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-013-1407-0
    Although the multi-copy and specific element IS6110 provides a good target for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex by PCR techniques, the emergence of IS6110-negative strains suggested that false negative may occur if IS6110 alone is used as the target for detection. In this report, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) system was developed using primers derived from the insertion sequence IS6110 and an IS-like elements designated as B9 (GenBank accession no. U78639.1) to overcome the problem of detecting negative or low copy IS6110 containing strains of M. tuberculosis. The mPCR was evaluated using 346 clinical samples which included 283 sputum, 19 bronchial wash, 18 pleural fluid, 9 urine, 7 CSF, 6 pus, and 4 gastric lavage samples. Our results showed that the sensitivity (93.1 %) and specificity (89.6 %) of the mPCR system exceeds that of the conventional method of microscopy and culture. The mPCR assay provides an efficient strategy to detect and identify M. tuberculosis from clinical samples and enables prompt diagnosis when rapid identification of infecting mycobacteria is necessary.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Transposable Elements*
  16. CO2 gasification reactivity of biomass char: catalytic influence of alkali, alkaline earth and transition metal salts
    Lahijani P, Zainal ZA, Mohamed AR, Mohammadi M
    Bioresour Technol, 2013 Sep;144:288-95.
    PMID: 23880130 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.06.059
    This study investigates the influence of alkali (Na, K), alkaline earth (Ca, Mg) and transition (Fe) metal nitrates on CO2 gasification reactivity of pistachio nut shell (PNS) char. The preliminary gasification experiments were performed in thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and the results showed considerable improvement in carbon conversion; Na-char>Ca-char>Fe-char>K-char>Mg-char>raw char. Based on TGA studies, NaNO3 (with loadings of 3-7 wt%) was selected as the superior catalyst for further gasification studies in bench-scale reactor; the highest reactivity was devoted to 5 wt% Na loaded char. The data acquired for gasification rate of catalyzed char were fitted with several kinetic models, among which, random pore model was adopted as the best model. Based on obtained gasification rate constant and using the Arrhenius plot, activation energy of 5 wt% Na loaded char was calculated as 151.46 kJ/mol which was 53 kJ/mol lower than that of un-catalyzed char.
    Matched MeSH terms: Transition Elements/pharmacology*
  17. Determination of radioactive elements and heavy metals in sediments and soil from domestic water sources in northern peninsular Malaysia
    Muhammad BG, Jaafar MS, Abdul Rahman A, Ingawa FA
    Environ Monit Assess, 2012 Aug;184(8):5043-9.
    PMID: 21901308 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-011-2320-3
    Soil serves as a major reservoir for contaminants as it posseses an ability to bind various chemicals together. To safeguard the members of the public from an unwanted exposure, studies were conducted on the sediments and soil from water bodies that form the major sources of domestic water supply in northern peninsular Malaysia for their trace element concentration levels. Neutron Activation Analysis, using Nigeria Research Reactor-1 (NIRR-1) located at the Centre for Energy Research and Training, Zaria, Nigeria was employed as the analytical tool. The elements identified in major quantities include Na, K, and Fe while As, Br, Cr, U, Th, Eu, Cs, Co, La, Sm, Yb, Sc, Zn, Rb, Ba, Lu, Hf, Ta, and Sb were also identified in trace quantities. Gamma spectroscopy was also employed to analyze some soil samples from the same area. The results indicated safe levels in terms of the radium equivalent activity, external hazard index as well as the mean external exposure dose rates from the soil. The overall screening of the domestic water sources with relatively high heavy metals concentration values in sediments and high activity concentration values in soil is strongly recommended as their accumulation overtime as a consequence of leaching into the water may be of health concern to the members of the public.
    Matched MeSH terms: Elements, Radioactive/analysis*
  18. Fulltext Homozygous deletion of six olfactory receptor genes in a subset of individuals with Beta-thalassemia
    Van Ziffle J, Yang W, Chehab FF
    PLoS One, 2011;6(2):e17327.
    PMID: 21390308 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0017327
    Progress in the functional studies of human olfactory receptors has been largely hampered by the lack of a reliable experimental model system. Although transgenic approaches in mice could characterize the function of individual olfactory receptors, the presence of over 300 functional genes in the human genome becomes a daunting task. Thus, the characterization of individuals with a genetic susceptibility to altered olfaction coupled with the absence of particular olfactory receptor genes will allow phenotype/genotype correlations and vindicate the function of specific olfactory receptors with their cognate ligands. We characterized a 118 kb β-globin deletion and found that its 3' end breakpoint extends to the neighboring olfactory receptor region downstream of the β-globin gene cluster. This deletion encompasses six contiguous olfactory receptor genes (OR51V1, OR52Z1, OR51A1P, OR52A1, OR52A5, and OR52A4) all of which are expressed in the brain. Topology analysis of the encoded proteins from these olfactory receptor genes revealed that OR52Z1, OR52A1, OR52A5, and OR52A4 are predicted to be functional receptors as they display integral characteristics of G-proteins coupled receptors. Individuals homozygous for the 118 kb β-globin deletion are afflicted with β-thalassemia due to a homozygous deletion of the β-globin gene and have no alleles for the above mentioned olfactory receptors genes. This is the first example of a homozygous deletion of olfactory receptor genes in human. Although altered olfaction remains to be ascertained in these individuals, such a study can be carried out in β-thalassemia patients from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines where this mutation is common. Furthermore, OR52A1 contains a γ-globin enhancer, which was previously shown to confer continuous expression of the fetal γ-globin genes. Thus, the hypothesis that β-thalassemia individuals, who are homozygous for the 118 kb deletion, may also have an exacerbation of their anemia due to the deletion of two copies of the γ-globin enhancer element is worthy of consideration.
    Matched MeSH terms: Enhancer Elements, Genetic/genetics
  19. Fulltext Dissemination of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin G (spegg) with an IS-like element in fish isolates of Streptococcus dysgalactiae
    Abdelsalam M, Chen SC, Yoshida T
    FEMS Microbiol Lett, 2010 Aug 1;309(1):105-13.
    PMID: 20528946 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2010.02024.x
    The Lancefield group C alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus dysgalactiae ssp. dysgalactiae (GCSD) causes systemic granulomatous inflammatory disease and high mortality rates in infected fish. Superantigen and streptolysin S genes are the most important virulence factors contributing to an invasive streptococcal infection. PCR amplification revealed that all strains isolated from moribund fish harbored the streptolysin S structural gene (sagA). GCSD fish isolates were PCR negative for emm, speA, speB, speC, speM, smeZ, and ssa. However, the size of the streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin G (spegg) locus, a superantigen, in positive S. dysgalactiae fish and pig strains was variable. The ORF of the spegg locus of 26 GCSD fish strains and one GCSD pig strain was inserted with IS981SC. Interestingly, the ORF of the spegg locus of two fish strains of GCSD collected in Malaysia was inserted with an IS981SC-IS1161 hybrid IS element. The hybrid IS element was found in all of the GCSD fish isolates and one GCSD pig through PCR screening. Although no insertion sequence (IS) was detected in the spegg locus of S. dysgalactiae ssp. equisimilis (GCSE) strains, a five-nucleotide deletion mutation was detected in the ORF of the spegg locus of one GCSE strain at the supposed site of IS981SC insertion, resulting in a frameshift mutation.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Transposable Elements*
  20. Discontinuation of penicillamine in the absence of alternative orphan drugs (trientine-zinc): a case of decompensated liver cirrhosis in Wilson's disease
    Ping CC, Hassan Y, Aziz NA, Ghazali R, Awaisu A
    J Clin Pharm Ther, 2007 Feb;32(1):101-7.
    PMID: 17286794
    To report a case of early-decompensated liver cirrhosis secondary to discontinuation of penicillamine therapy in a patient with Wilson's disease.
    Matched MeSH terms: Trace Elements/supply & distribution
Related Terms
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator ([email protected])

External Links