bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Aging Regimens on Resin Nanoceramic Chairside CAD/CAM Material
Authors: Al‐Harbi Fahad A. , Ayad Neveen M. , ArRejaie Aws S. , Bahgat Hala A. , Baba Nadim Z.
Published: December 2015

Purpose

To evaluate the effect of cyclic mechanical loading, thermal cycling, and storage in water on a resin nanoceramic chairside computer‐aided designed/computer‐aided manufactured (CAD/CAM) material compared to a control leucite‐reinforced glass‐ceramic material.

Materials and Methods

One hundred twenty specimens (18 × 4 × 3 mm) were milled from two chairside CAD/CAM materials’ blocks (Lava Ultimate: LU; Vitablock Mark II: VM). Each group included four subgroups (A: n = 20 control; B: n = 20 cyclic loading [105 cycles, 80 N]; C: n = 20 thermal cycling [5 to 55°C]; D: n = 60 water storage [20: 3 months; 20: 6 months; 20: 9 months at 37°C]). Each subgroup included 10 specimens tested for flexure strength using three‐point bending in a universal testing machine. The other 10 specimens were tested for surface roughness using an automated profiler followed by testing for surface hardness using a microhardness tester.

Results

LU displayed higher flexure strength than VM before and after all the aging conditions. The surface roughness for VM was lower than LU for the control, but both materials showed comparable values and significant increases after 9 months storage in water. After cyclic loading, only VM displayed a significant increase in the surface roughness value (p < 0.05). The surface hardness of VM was higher than LU for the control. VM did not show significant changes in hardness after any aging condition. LU showed significant reduction in surface hardness value only after storage in water (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The resin nanoceramic Lava Ultimate can be used as a durable substitute for glass‐ceramic chairside CAD/CAM material.
Effect of urea supplementation on performance and safety in diets of Dorper crossbred sheep
Authors: Wang B. , Ma T. , Deng K.‐D. , Jiang C.‐G. , Diao Q.‐Y.
Published: December 2015

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dietary urea in sheep rations having a 50:50 concentrate:roughage ratio. Sixty‐four Dorper × thin‐tailed Han crossbred ram lambs with an average body weight of 30.8 (±0.02) kg were randomly divided into four groups of 16 sheep each, and each group was fed one of the following diets: a basal diet (CON), or CON supplemented with 0.5% (0.5UTM), 1.5% (1.5UTM) or 2.5% (2.5UTM) urea. Growth performance, carcass characteristics, non‐carcass offals, meat quality and peptic tissue lesions were assayed. The average daily weight gains for CON, 0.5UTM, 1.5UTM and 2.5UTM were 216, 218, 200 and 170 g, respectively, with the CON and 0.5UTM groups higher than 2.5UTM group (p < 0.05). Sheep from the 2.5UTM treatment had a significantly lower dry matter intake (1.29 kg/day) than those from the CON and 0.5UTM treatments (1.42 and 1.43 kg/day, p < 0.05), and the feed conversion ratio in the 2.5UTM group was the highest (p < 0.05). Carcass characteristics, including shrunk body weight, empty body weight, hot carcass weight, dress percentage, and the absolute or relative weight (% body weight) of heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney, were not altered by the treatments (p > 0.05). The muscular pH of 2.5UTM was higher than that of CON (5.68 vs. 5.52, p < 0.05), and shear force in 0.5UTM was lower compared with CON and 2.5UTM (p < 0.05). The anatomical structure lesions in kidneys became more serious with the increasing dietary urea concentrations, with the 2.5UTM animals showing the most severe lesions compared with CON animals. Therefore, supplementary urea as a non‐protein nitrogen source for sheep should not exceed 1.5% of ration having a 50:50 concentrate:roughage ratio to ensure efficacy and safety.
Effect of dietary supplementation with clay‐based binders on biochemical and histopathological changes in organs of turkey fed with aflatoxin‐contaminated diets
Authors: Lala A. O. , Ajayi O. L. , Oso A. O. , Ajao M. O. , Oni O. O. , Okwelum N. , Idowu O. M. O.
Published: December 2015

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with molecular or nano‐clay binders on biochemical and histopathological examination of organs of turkeys fed diets contaminated with aflatoxin B1. Two hundred and sixteen unsexed 1‐day‐old British United Turkeys were randomly allotted to nine diets in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of diets supplemented with no toxin binder, molecular toxin binder (MTB) and nano‐clay toxin binder, each contaminated with 0, 60 and 110 ppb aflatoxin B1 respectively. There were three replicates per treatment with eight turkeys per replicate. Biochemical analyses, organ weights and histopathological changes of some organs were examined at the end of the study which lasted for 84 days. Turkeys fed diets supplemented with molecular and nano‐binders showed higher (p < 0.001) total serum protein, reduced (p < 0.001) serum uric acid and GGT concentration values when compared with those fed aflatoxin‐contaminated diets supplemented with no binder. Turkeys fed aflatoxin‐contaminated diets supplemented with no binder had increased (p < 0.001) AST and ALT concentration when compared with other treatments. The heaviest (p < 0.001) liver and intestinal weight was noticed with turkeys fed diets supplemented with no binder and contaminated with 110 ppb aflatoxin B1. Pathologically, there was no visible morphological alteration noticed in all turkeys fed uncontaminated diets and nano‐clay‐supplemented group. Hepatic paleness, hepatomegaly and yellowish discolouration of the liver were observed with turkeys fed diets containing no binder but contaminated with 60 and 110 ppb aflatoxin B1. Intestinal histopathological changes such as goblet cell hyperplasia, villous atrophy and diffuse lymphocytic enteritis were more prominent in turkeys fed diets containing no toxin binder and MTB. In conclusion, there were improved biochemical parameters and reduced deleterious effects of aflatoxin B1 in turkeys fed diet supplemented with clay binders. However, the improvement was more conspicuous in the nano‐clay‐supplemented group than molecular clay group.
Hippocampus volume and subjective sleepiness in older people with sleep‐disordered breathing: a preliminary report
Authors: Sforza Emilia , Celle Sébastien , Saint‐Martin Magali , Barthélémy Jean C. , Roche Frédéric
Published: December 2015

Sleep‐disordered breathing (SDB) is associated with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and explained by sleep fragmentation and hypoxaemia, both contributing to brain morphology abnormalities. Recent data on middle‐aged SDB patients suggest a link between hippocampus volume (HV) and EDS. We tested this hypothesis in a group of SDB older subjects. A total of 232 healthy participants aged 75 ± 0.9 years were examined. Subjective EDS was assessed by the Epworth Sleep Questionnaire (ESS), with a mean score of 5.6 ± 3.5. Volumetric segmentation of the right (RHV) and left HV (LHV) were measured using FreeSurfer software. All subjects underwent extensive cognitive testing to exclude neurological disease, as well as ambulatory polygraphy to assess SDB status. Sleepy subjects showed a lower HV. In a correlation analysis, RHV (r = −0.162, P = 0.01) and LHV (r = −170, P = 0.05) were correlated negatively with ESS and not associated with respiratory data. Multiple regression analysis did not reveal any effect of age, gender, SDB severity and hypoxia. ESS was the only factor possibly explaining the lower RHV (P = −0.03) and LHV (P = −0.04). In older people with SDB, the subjective EDS was associated with lower HV. This morphological finding should be considered on the pathogenesis of sleepiness in SDB patients. Clinical trial registration: NCT 00759304 and NCT 00766584.
Long‐lasting Effect Against White Spot Syndrome Virus in Shrimp Broodstock, Litopenaeus vannamei, by LvRab7 Silencing
Authors: Alvarez‐Ruiz Píndaro , Luna‐González Antonio , Escamilla‐Montes Ruth , Mejía‐Ruiz Claudio H. , Magallón‐Barajas Francisco J. , Llera‐Herrera Raúl , Galván‐Alvarez Diego A.
Published: December 2015

The white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) remains the most devastating viral pathogen of shrimp culture worldwide. Gene silencing by RNA interference (RNAi) using double stranded RNA (dsRNA) has been considered a powerful tool for conferring protection against WSSV when viral genes are silenced, as documented in several shrimp species. However, this effect is not long lasting. Our results provide the first evidence that long‐term silencing of the LvRab7 endogen produced antiviral effect against WSSV, which endured at least 21 d after dsRNA treatment (dat). Until now, the most efficient way to implement RNAi with dsRNA into the shrimp is by injection. Consequently, its application to broodstock in hatcheries is possible, minimizing the risk of vertical transmission of the virus. We show that the expression of Rab7 in hemocytes is lowest at 2 dat and finally recovers to basal status. In contrast, in gills and pleopods, gene expression silencing continued for at least 21 d. We challenged Litopenaeus vannamei broodstock with WSSV at 7, 14, or 21 dat reaching mortality rates of 0, 40, and 27%, respectively. In conclusion, the LvRab7 gene silencing is progressive and effective against WSSV. However, further studies are necessary to elucidate the functions of Rab7 in shrimp cells before applying this methodology at a commercial level.
Biomarker‐based diagnostic work‐up of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompromised paediatric patients – is Aspergillus PCR appropriate?
Authors: Buchheidt Dieter , Reinwald Mark , Spiess Birgit , Boch Tobias , Hofmann Wolf‐Karsten , Groll Andreas H. , Lehrnbecher Thomas ,   the Working Group “Infections in Hematology and Oncology”, German Paul‐Ehrlich‐Society
Published: December 2015

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children and adults with haematologic malignancies or undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and early diagnosis and adequate antifungal treatment improve outcome. However, important differences exist between children and adults regarding epidemiology, underlying disease, and comorbidities, and the value of diagnostic tools to detect IA may also differ between these patient populations. Imaging studies are important to detect IA early, but typical findings of IA in chest computed tomography of adults are not detected in the majority of children. Whereas the value of the serum marker galactomannan seems to be comparable in children and adults, data on the performance of beta‐d‐glucan in children are too limited for firm conclusions. PCR‐based assays are a promising diagnostic approach to rapidly and reliably detect and identify Aspergillus species in various clinical samples. However, as the majority of data on PCR‐based approaches has been obtained in adult patients, the value of this method in paediatric patients has not been defined to date. The present review focuses on studies of PCR‐based methods to diagnose IA in immunocompromised paediatric patients.
Taiwanese nurses’ experiences of difficulties in providing patient education in hospital settings
Authors: Che Hui‐Lian , Yeh Mei‐Yu , Jiang Ru‐Shang , Wu Shu‐Mei
Published: December 2015

Taiwanese nurses face increasingly demanding working conditions along with a distinctive culture where family members participate in medical decisionmaking. This research explores Taiwanese nurses' perceptions of patient education, with a focus on the difficulties. Data were collected by in‐depth focus group discussions with nursing staff (n=53) from the medical and surgical wards of two teaching hospitals. Transcripts were analyzed and revealed six themes: source of fulfillment and pressure; excessive workload; alternating between patients; not knowing who to teach; difficulty in communication; and disrupted confidence and work rhythm. Research findings could help managers understand the difficulties faced by nurses in providing health education. Nurses should broaden the scope of patient education activities to include family members. Additionally, nurses should discuss patients’ desires and expectations from family members in medical treatment and decisionmaking.
Resilience of family farming 1984–2014: Case studies from two sheep/beef hill country districts of New Zealand
Authors: Pomeroy Ann
Published: December 2015

In this analysis, the resilience of family farmers is investigated in two hill country districts of New Zealand (Central Hawkes Bay and Waitomo District) by following the experiences of a sample of 119 sheep/beef producers through two snapshots of their circumstances taken three decades apart. The famers and their spouses were first interviewed in 1984 prior to the removal of state subsidies and other assistance. In 2012–2013, 94 of the farmers (or their successors) were interviewed again. During the period under investigation, they had coped with economic shocks, natural disasters (particularly major droughts) and for some, personal tragedies. The focus of the study is on the economic viability of the family farms in the face of a range of hazardous and adverse events, and how their owners (and families) are adapting and responding to global and local economic and social changes, and the natural disasters which are a normal backdrop to farming.
The Recipients' Parity Does Not Influence Their Reproductive Performance Following Non‐Surgical Deep Uterine Porcine Embryo Transfer
Authors: Martinez EA , Nohalez A , Martinez CA , Parrilla I , Vila J , Colina I , Diaz M , Reixach J , Vazquez JL , Roca J , Cuello C , Gil MA
Published: December 2015

Contents

With the development of the non‐surgical deep uterine (NsDU) embryo transfer (ET) technology, the commercial applicability of ET in pigs is now possible. There are, nevertheless, many factors that influence NsDU‐ET effectiveness that need to be addressed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the weaned recipients' parity on fertility and prolificacy following NsDU‐ET. The recipients (n = 120) were selected based on their reproductive history and body condition and grouped into three categories according to their parity: primiparous sows, sows of parity 2 and sows of parities from 3 to 5. Thirty fresh embryos (morulae and unhatched blastocysts) were non‐surgically transferred into one uterine horn of each recipient. It was possible to insert the NsDU‐ET catheter through the cervix along a uterine horn in 98.3% of the recipients. The parity had no influence on the difficulty grade of the insertions or on the percentage of correct insertions. The cervix and uterine wall were not perforated during the insertions, and vaginal discharge was not observed after transfer in any of the recipients. There were no differences in the pregnancy rates (74.8%), farrowing rates (71.2%) or litter sizes (9.6 ± 3.3) between groups. Also, there were no differences between groups regarding to the piglets' birthweights or piglet production efficiency. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that weaned sows from parity 1 to 5 are appropriate to be used as recipients in NsDU‐ET programs, which increase the possibilities for the utilization of ET in the recipient farms.
Nonlinear Instabilities of Multi‐Site Breathers in Klein–Gordon Lattices
Authors: Cuevas–Maraver Jesús , Kevrekidis Panayotis G. , Pelinovsky Dmitry E.
Published: December 2015

We explore the possibility of multi‐site breather states in a nonlinear Klein–Gordon lattice to become nonlinearly unstable, even if they are found to be spectrally stable. The mechanism for this nonlinear instability is through the resonance with the wave continuum of a multiple of an internal mode eigenfrequency in the linearization of excited breather states. For the nonlinear instability, the internal mode must have its Krein signature opposite to that of the wave continuum. This mechanism is not only theoretically proposed, but also numerically corroborated through two concrete examples of the Klein–Gordon lattice with a soft (Morse) and a hard (ϕ4) potential. Compared to the case of the nonlinear Schrödinger lattice, the Krein signature of the internal mode relative to that of the wave continuum may change depending on the period of the multi‐site breather state. For the periods for which the Krein signatures of the internal mode and the wave continuum coincide, multi‐site breather states are observed to be nonlinearly stable.
What Kind of War? “Mommy Wars” Discourse in U.S. and Canadian News, 1989–2013
Authors: Milkie Melissa A. , Pepin Joanna R. , Denny Kathleen E.
Published: December 2015

The “Mommy Wars” is a cultural frame asserting the existence of a battle between employed mothers and homemakers. We perform critical discourse analysis of U.S. and Canadian news articles using this term from 1989 through 2013 (N = 402). Building upon the concept of symbolic annihilation, we highlight how the frame distorts and trivializes mothers' experiences. First, ironically, although some authors describe the Mommy Wars as not real, usage grows rapidly over time. Moreover, the meaning expands to include “alternative wars” on a multitude of childrearing differences and on disputes outside of mothering altogether (e.g., type of water used); this serves to equate trivialities like tap versus filtered water with work‐family conditions, effectively rendering them equally inconsequential battles among “mommies.” Finally, the frame trivializes social problems through a focus on (middle‐class) mothers' individual choices as a solution to Mommy Wars. Privileging maternal “choice” with only passing mentions of fathers and the state absolves these groups of responsibilities for the next generation. The use of Mommy Wars rhetoric acts as a divisive, symbolic wedge, ultimately perpetuating a war against mothers.
Wildlife Management Conflicts in Rural Communities: A Case‐Study of Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) Management in Ērgļu Novads, Latvia
Authors: Storie Joanna T. , Bell Simon
Published: December 2015

Wildlife conflicts are often characterised by conflicts between groups due to an incompatible understanding of the management of the resource. Latvia has experienced an increase in wild boar numbers and associated damage due to improved habitat, caused by land abandonment and actions taken by hunting organisations to maintain boar populations. In Ērgļu Novads, an administrative district of Latvia where the damage is particularly intense, wild boar management is a contentious and emotive issue among different groups within the community. This study sought to investigate the ecological, economic and social dynamics of the conflict using qualitative interviews with members of different interest groups, conducted according to a conceptual framework developed by White et al. (2009) to analyse biodiversity management conflicts. Results showed high wild boar numbers, poorly written contracts between landowners and hunters and a lack of trust between various stakeholder groups, such as landowners, hunters and the authorities, causing conflicts, as well as a lack of effective dialogue preventing the elaboration of solutions. The study identified the need for all stakeholders, including the authorities, to listen more seriously to those most affected by the damage.
STUDY OF ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTIC FOR 50NM AND 10NM SOI BODY THICKNESS IN MOSFET DEVICE
Authors: Aziz M.N.I.A , Salehuddin F. , Zain A.S.M. , Kaharudin K.E.
Published: December 2015

Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology is an effective approach of mitigating the short channel effect (SCE) problems. The SOI is believed to be capable of suppressing the SCE, thereby improving the overall electrical characteristics of MOSFET device. SCE in SOI MOSFET is heavily influenced by thin film thickness, thin-film doping density and buried oxide (BOX) thickness. This paper will analyze the effect of BOX towards SOI MOSFET device. The 50nm and 10nm thickness of buried oxide in SOI MOSFET was developed by using SILVACO TCAD tools, specifically known as Athena and Atlas modules. From the observation, the electrical characteristic of 100nm thickness is slightly better than 50nm and 10nm. It is observed that the value drive current of 10nm and 100nm thickness SOI MOSFET was 6.9% and 11% lower than 50nm respectively, but the overall 50nm is superior. However, the electrical characteristics of 10nm SOI MOSFET are still closer and within the range of ITRS 2013 prediction.
PELARGONIUM RADULA AS A PLANT BIOINDICATOR IN MONITORING MERCURY IN DRINKING WATER
Authors: A Majid Noraishah , Ramli Nur Syazila , Chia Phang Ing
Published: December 2015

Pollution by organic and inorganic toxic substances has raised public and environmental concern globally since last decade. However, due to rapid growth of world population along with excessive industrial development, this situation worsens. One of the non-essential heavy metals, mercury (Hg), is a widespread toxic pollutant commonly found in drinking water sources. Therefore, there is a need to monitor the level of Hg in the drinking water. Biomonitoring, which use biological response to assess environmental changes, is one of the approaches that are getting more attention recently. Plant bioindicator offers huge advantages over conventional water quality analysis. Other than cheap, easy to apply and give rapid results; most importantly, people in the rural area can apply this method to monitor water quality without the need of modern equipment and technical expertise. In this study, young leaves from terrestrial plants were treated with water containing Hg solutions. Plant that showed visible morphological changes was selected as potential bioindicator and further analyzed. Over 60 plants were screened including herbs, shrubs and flowering plants. At the 24th h of observation, 15 plants showed morphological changes with several obvious symptoms, including the presence of dark spot, chlorosis, browning of leaves and wrinkle. Among these plants, Plectranthus amboinicus, Lantana camara and Pelargonium radula treated with Hg solutions exhibited morphological changes at the 6th h of treatment, compared to the control. In the present study, Pelargonium radula was chosen as the Hg bioindicator as it gave the fastest and visible morphological changes, which is within 4 h of treatment. This new finding was promising, as it demonstrated that plants could be used for Hg biomonitoring for the safety of drinking water.
COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT CELL DISRUPTION METHODS AND CELL EXTRACTANT BUFFERS FOR RECOMBINANT BROMELAIN EXPRESSED IN E.COLI BL21-A1
Authors: Mohd Arshad Zatul Iffah , Amid Azura , Othman Muhd. Ezza Faiez
Published: December 2015

The often-encountered problem such as protein degradation has driven various methods of cell lysis in obtaining recombinant protein post fermentation. In this paper, we compare methods such as homogenization, sonication, sonication with lysozyme and chemical lysis using B-PER reagent with lysozyme to extract the recombinant bromelain from E. coli BL21-AI. The sonication process is found to be the most effective in releasing recombinant bromelain without any pre-treatment. To obtain the high quality of protein from sonication method, the influence of different extractant buffer was investigated including phosphate buffer saline (PBS), PBS containing cysteine and EDTA (PBS-CE), and sodium phosphate buffer containing cysteine and EDTA (EB-CE). The highest specific enzyme activity was obtained when it was extracted with EB-CE buffer. Under sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the recombinant bromelain showed protein band at 55kDa. In conclusion, the sonication method with extractant buffer containing 100mM phosphate buffer pH7.0 with 15 mM cysteine and 2 mM EDTA (EB-CE) was shown to give high specific activity of recombinant bromelain.
EXTRACTION AND EVALUATION OF ANTI INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF SPATHIPHYLLUM CANNIFOLIUM
Authors: Ahmad Raus Raha , Abdullah Norhayati , Ismail Nurul Fakhriah , Shahbuddin Munira
Published: December 2015

Sphathiphyllum cannifolium is abundantly planted in Malaysia as a landscape plant. However, this plant also has medical benefit to human as it was previously found to possess anti-bacteria and anti-cancer activities. In the present study, the plant was evaluated for its anti inflammatory activity and the optimum condition for the extraction of bioactive compounds with anti inflammatory activity was determined. Semi purification of the compounds possessing anti inflammatory activity was conducted as well. To extract the bioactive compound, sonication with methanol as a solvent extraction was carried out. Face-Centered Central Composite Design (FCCCD) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) were used to design and identify the optimum condition to extract the compound, respectively. The results showed that the plant was positive for the anti inflammatory activity with IC50 6.3 µg/ml. Sonication for 60 min at 40°C using medium frequency was the optimum condition to carry out the extraction for bioactive compounds. After semi purification of the initial crude extract by solvent partitioning, chloroform fraction was found to be positive for anti inflammatory activity. In conclusion, this study suggested that S. cannifolium possess anti inflammatory activity and should be further analyzed to identify the specific compounds that responsible for this activity.
STANDARDIZATION OF SURFACE STERILIZATION PROTOCOL OF FIELD GROWN Stevia rebaudiana PRIOR TO IN VITRO CLONAL PROPAGATION
Authors: Urbi Zannat , Zainuddin Zarina
Published: December 2015

The high demand of Stevia rebaudiana, commonly known as Stevia encourages people for commercial-scale cultivation. In vitro clonal propagation is a potential alternative for conventional propagation due to its advantages. However, microbial contamination is a constant problem for in vitro clonal propagation of field grown plant. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish an effective surface sterilization protocol for Stevia prior to in vitro propagation. Two disinfecting agents, NaOCl and HgCl2 with different concentrations and various exposure times were tested for surface sterilization of shoot tips and nodal explants. Results show that treatment of explants with NaOCl was more effective compared to HgCl2 and 5% NaOCl for 10 minutes with 0.2% carbendazim (fungicide) pre-treatment showed least contamination and highest survival rate. Fungal contamination was observed to be a main problem in this study and it occurred within 2-3 days of inoculation, leading to the death of the explants.
SCREENING OF CHLOROPLAST PROMOTERS FOR HEVEA BRASILIENSIS CHLOROPLAST TRANSFORMATION
Authors: Ag. Ismail Anas Akmal , Zainal Abidin Zaima Azira , Zainuddin Zarina
Published: December 2015

In recent years, the growth in the use of recombinant proteins has grown tremendously. With the aid of the advances in DNA recombinant biotechnology, molecular farming in plants has been applied to meet this increasing demand where plants have emerged as one of the most promising general production platforms for recombinant proteins. Hevea brasiliensis is one of the main commodities in Malaysia and widely cultivated species for commercial production of latex. This important plant has been used to express recombinant proteins such as a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody against the coat protein of Streptococcus gordonii (an oral dental bacterium), human serum albumin and human atrial natriuretic. The genes that encodes for the recombinant proteins were targeted into the nucleus genome of Hevea but the proteins were expressed in low concentration. Generating transgenic plant using chloroplast transformation offers many advantages in comparison to nuclear transformation and many researches have been made to apply this strategy to enhance agronomic traits or produce recombinant protein in several plant species. Since chloroplast is highly polyploidy, it allows high-level foreign protein expression. Given the generally very high foreign protein accumulation rates that can be achieved in transgenic chloroplasts, the aim of this study is to screen a number of chosen endogenous Hevea chloroplast promoters to drive the expression of the reporter gene, uidA for Hevea specific chloroplast transformation vector. Three promoters were chosen for this experiment which are; rbcL, psbA and rrn16 promoters. The putative regions of these promoters were derived from the chloroplast genome sequence of Hevea. Analyses of the three putative promoter regions using multiple sequence alignment with comparable regions from other plant species show significant sequence homology. Further analyses of the putative regions using in-vitro transcription are planned for future study. It is hoped that with the development of an optimized expression vector will allow high expression of valuable recombinant protein in the chloroplast of Hevea.
THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT PH AND SALINITIES ON GROWTH RATE AND CARRAGEENAN YIELD OF GRACILARIA MANILAENSIS
Authors: Mohamad Hidayat Nor Salamah , Mohammad-Noor Normawaty , Susanti Deny , Saad Shahbudin , Mukai Yukinori
Published: December 2015

The high demand of seaweed for their polysaccharide namely carrageenan leads to the commercial production of carrageenophytes through mariculture. Based on literatures it is well documented that growth rate and carrageenan yield depend on environmental factors such as salinity, pH, temperatures, light intensity and water movement. In this study, growth rate and carrageenan yield of Gracilaria manilaensis, a red seaweed, was determined at different pH and salinities. G. manilaensis was cultured under laboratory conditions in a 500 mL flask at different salinities (15 psu, 20 psu and 25 psu ) and pH (7.6, 7.8, and 8.0) for 21 days. At the end of experiment, the growth rate was determined followed by carrageenan analysis. From the analysis, growth rate was highest at salinity of 15 psu and pH 7.6 with 1.3 ± 0.2 % day-1.For carrageenan analysis, the seaweed was air dried for about a week until it reached a constant weight. Farmed G. manilaensis was used as control and carrageenan yield was determined from farmed G. manilaensis. It gives yield of 50.2 ± 10.9 %. For carrageenan yield analysis, the highest value was demonstrated at salinity of 25 psu and pH 8.0 with 91.7± 14.4 %. Result shows that carrageenan yields from G. manilaensis under laboratory conditions are higher compared to farmed Gracillaria.  This indicates that the quality of G. manilaensis in term of carrageenan content can be optimized under certain growth conditions. This is important as this species has the potential to be commercialized for pharmaceutical and food industries.
DETECTION OF VIRULENCE GENES IN Vibrio alginolyticus ISOLATED FROM Green Mussel, Perna viridis.
Authors: Nor Najwa M. , Muhd Danish Daniel A. , K. A. Mat Amin, , Effendy A. W. M.
Published: December 2015

Vibrio sp. is known as pathogenic microorganism affecting aquatic species.  They are commonly isolated from wild fish, mollusc and bivalves. V. alginolyticus carries several virulence genes such as ompK, toxR and collagenase that can cause severe infection to the fishes, crustaceans and bivalve mollusks. Therefore, this study was carried out to detect the presence of virulence genes from V. alginolyticus isolated from mantle, adductor muscle, gill, hemolymph, gastrointestinal tract of infected green mussels; including from the water and rope of the cultivation areas. Further identification of the isolates was carried out using conventional method and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The detection of virulence genes, namely ompK, toxR and collagenase were carried out using gene-targeted PCR method. A total of 21 isolates were confirmed as V. alginolyticus. Results showed that 67% of the isolates carry ompK, toxR and collagenase genes, while 19% carry both ompK and toxR genes.  Only 5% from the total isolates carried the ompK and collagenase genes while 10% of the isolates carried ompK gene only. Overall, the results indicated that most of V. alginolyticus isolates are pathogenic bacteria as they carried the virulence factor.
RANDOM AMPLIFICATION POLYMORPHIC DNA-PCR (RAPD) ANALYSIS OF Vibrio alginolyticus STRAINS ISOLATED FROM GREEN MUSSELS (Perna viridis) IN MARUDU BAY, SABAH
Authors: Munirah M. , Danish-Daniel Muhd , Vairappan C. S. , Effendy A. W. M.
Published: December 2015

Vibrio alginolyticus infection is common in aquatic species. The species has been isolated from infected green mussels (Perna viridis) cultivated at Marudu Bay, Sabah.  The infection of V. alginolyticus was prevalent since 2009 and caused more than 60% mortality of the mollusc. This study was conducted on V. alginolyticus isolated from clinically infected P. viridis at cultivation area in Marudu Bay from 2013. Twenty isolates were randomly selected and subjected to RAPD-PCR analysis using 20 sets of RAPD primers. Results showed that the most suitable primers were OPA 3, OPA 5, OPA 9, OPA 10 and OPA 12 where the significant bands ranging from 100-2500 bp. Genetic variability among the isolates as revealed by these primers indicated that RAPD-PCR method has good discriminative ability and can be used as a rapid typing method of differentiating V. alginolyticus strains isolated from infected green mussels for epidemiological investigation.
ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF 3-CHLOROPROPIONIC ACID DEGRADING BACTERIUM FROM MARINE SPONGE
Authors: Mohd Sufian Nurul Hanani , Naim Mohd Azrul , Tengku Abdul Hamid Tengku Haziyamin , Huyop Fahrul , Abdul Hamid Azzmer Azzar
Published: December 2015

Synthetic haloalkanoic acids often applied as active components in herbicides are toxic to the environment and harmful to the living organisms. These compounds are widely released to the environment due to their routine use by agricultural activities.  In recent years, accumulation of haloalkanoic acids was emerged in marine environment. In this study, a 3CP-degrading bacterium which designated as strain H4 was successfully isolated from marine sponge Gelliodes sp. that capable of degrading 3CP as the sole carbon and energy source. The bacteria growth on solid minimal media containing 3CP was the evident for the presence of dehalogenase enzyme. In liquid medium, the doubling time of the cells for strain H4 was 56.82 ± 0.1 h while the maximum chloride ion release was 2.03 ± 0.01 mM. The 16S rDNA sequence of strain H4 was obtained via 16s rRNA gene analysis (1000 bp) and it was closely related to Bacillus aryabhattai B8W22 (99% similarity). To the best of knowledge, this report is the first report detailing haloalkanoic acid degrading bacteria from marine sponge in coastal area of Malaysia.
ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES OF RUTA ANGUSTIFOLIA EXTRACT
Authors: Shuib Nur Azfa , Iqbal Anwar , Sulaiman Fatimatul Akmal , Razak Izzatie , Susanti Deny
Published: December 2015

Ruta angustifolia was used in this study in order to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and antioxidant properties and its correlation with the polyphenolic content. Two Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778) and two Gram–negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739) were used to determine the antibacterial activity. Aqueous maceration extract was used for antioxidant activities and methanolic maceration extract was used for antibacterial activity. The antioxidant properties and activities were evaluated by using total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), DPPH free radical scavenging activity and beta-carotene bleaching method. Whereas, the antibacterial activity was examined using disc diffusion method against selected microorganism at concentration 1.0 mg/disc. The results showed the phenolic content of R. angustifolia extract was 18.89 g GAE/100 g extract while the flavonoid content was 14.170 g QE/100 g extract. R. angustifolia exhibited good radical scavenging with IC50 value of 2.04 mg/ml. The result for disc diffusion method showed no inhibition zone against all the strains of bacteria at 1.0 mg/disc concentration of the extract. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the R. angustifolia aqueous extract has the antioxidant properties and there is correlation between polyphenolic content of the extract with its antioxidant activity. However, R. angustifolia methanolic extract did not show any antibacterial activity.
Predicting drug‐induced QT prolongation and torsades de pointes
Authors: Roden Dan M.
Published: December 2015

Drugs used to treat cardiovascular disease as well as those used in the treatment of multiple other conditions can occasionally produce exaggerated prolongation of the QT interval on the electrocardiogram and the morphologically distinctive polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (‘torsades de pointes’). This syndrome of drug‐induced long QT syndrome has moved from an interesting academic exercise to become a key element in the development of any new drug entity. The prevailing view, which has driven both clinical care and drug regulation, holds that cardiac repolarization represents a balance between inward currents (primarily through calcium and sodium channels) and outward currents (primarily through rapid and slowed delayed rectifier potassium channels) and that block of the rapid delayed rectifier (IKr) is the primary mechanism whereby drugs prolong individual action potentials, manifest on the surface electrocardiogram as QT interval prolongation. Such marked action potential prolongation in individual cardiac cells, in turn, is accompanied by arrhythmogenic afterdepolarizations thought to trigger torsades de pointes. This review describes the evidence in support of this construct, and describes the way in which clinical and whole heart experiments have informed molecular mechanisms and vice versa. New data that challenge these views and that may, as a result, lead to new clinical care and drug screening paradigms, are discussed.

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TRPM7 kinase activity regulates murine mast cell degranulation
Authors: Zierler Susanna , Sumoza‐Toledo Adriana , Suzuki Sayuri , Dúill Fionán Ó , Ryazanova Lillia V. , Penner Reinhold , Ryazanov Alexey G. , Fleig Andrea
Published: December 2015

Key points

The Mg2+ and Ca2+ conducting transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) channel–enzyme (chanzyme) has been implicated in immune cell function.

Mice heterozygous for a TRPM7 kinase deletion are hyperallergic, while mice with a single point mutation at amino acid 1648, silencing kinase activity, are not.

As mast cell mediators trigger allergic reactions, we here determine the function of TRPM7 in mast cell degranulation and histamine release.

Our data establish that TRPM7 kinase activity regulates mast cell degranulation and release of histamine independently of TRPM7 channel function.

Our findings suggest a regulatory role of TRPM7 kinase activity on intracellular Ca2+ and extracellular Mg2+ sensitivity of mast cell degranulation.

Transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) is a divalent ion channel with a C‐terminally located α‐kinase. Mice heterozygous for a TRPM7 kinase deletion (TRPM7+/∆K) are hypomagnesaemic and hyperallergic. In contrast, mice carrying a single point mutation at amino acid 1648, which silences TRPM7 kinase activity (TRPM7KR), are not hyperallergic and are resistant to systemic magnesium (Mg2+) deprivation. Since allergic reactions are triggered by mast cell‐mediated histamine release, we investigated the function of TRPM7 on mast cell degranulation and histamine release using wild‐type (TRPM7+/+), TRPM7+/∆K and TRPM7KR mice. We found that degranulation and histamine release proceeded independently of TRPM7 channel function. Furthermore, extracellular Mg2+ assured unperturbed IgE‐DNP‐dependent exocytosis, independently of TRPM7. However, impairment of TRPM7 kinase function suppressed IgE‐DNP‐dependent exocytosis, slowed the cellular degranulation rate, and diminished the sensitivity to intracellular calcium (Ca2+) in G protein‐induced exocytosis. In addition, G protein‐coupled receptor (GPCR) stimulation revealed strong suppression of histamine release, whereas removal of extracellular Mg2+ caused the phenotype to revert. We conclude that the TRPM7 kinase activity regulates murine mast cell degranulation by changing its sensitivity to intracellular Ca2+ and affecting granular mobility and/or histamine contents.
Treatment of cam-type femoroacetabular impingement
Authors: Fiorentino Gennaro , Fontanarosa Alberto , Cepparulo Riccardo , Guardoli Alberto , Berni Luca , Coviello Gianluca , Guardoli Aldo
Published: December 2015

Purpose: the aim of this study was to evaluate preliminary clinical and radiographic results of arthroscopic treatment of cam-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).

Methods: thirty-eight patients underwent hip arthroscopy for cam-type FAI between 2009 and 2012. Preoperative assessment was based on clinical examination, modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) and radiographic examination with anteroposterior pelvis, frogleg and Lequesne views. The patients’ clinical conditions at follow-up were assessed using the mHHS administered as a telephone survey. Radiographic outcome measurements evaluated pre and postoperatively were the alpha angle and femoral head-neck offset.

Results: the patients were clinically evaluated at a mean follow-up of 36 months. Radiographic follow-up was performed at an average of 12.7 months. Thirty of the 38 patients (79%) were satisfied with the results of the arthroscopic procedure. A total of nine patients subsequently underwent a total hip replacement. All 30 patients who declared themselves satisfied recorded an mHHS increase; in particular, the mHHS increased from a mean of 52.9 preoperatively (range: 27.5-82.5) to a mean of 85.6 postoperatively (range: 45.1-100.1). Three significant differences between the two groups of patients (satisfied and not satisfied) were recorded: mean age, alpha angle and BMI were all significantly greater in the patients who were not satisfied with the treatment.

Conclusions: a crucial aspect in order to obtain good clinical outcomes of arthroscopic treatment of camtype impingement is correct selection of patients who are likely to benefit from this kind of surgery. Hip arthroscopy should be avoided in patients aged over 50 years with risk factors for early osteoarthritis (high BMI and a significantly increased alpha angle).

Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic case series.
PRACTICA DE LA PEDAGOGIA DE GRUPO EN CONJUNTOS MUSICALES Y ORQUESTAS
Authors: Cobo Dorado Karina
Published: December 2015

Este articulo propone innovar el funcionamiento de los conjuntos musicales y orquestas a través la práctica de una pedagogía de grupo. A continuación se presenta la descripción de una experiencia pedagógica realizada con un conjunto instrumental de niños en una escuela de música en Francia. Esta experiencia es considerada como una aplicación de los resultados de una tesis doctoral en didáctica musical. Los análisis de cursos filmados muestran que las interacciones verbales y no-verbales, instauradas y gestionadas por el profesor en un grupo de aprendizaje, conllevan a los estudiantes a participar activamente en la construcción de sus saberes musicales gracias a la reflexión, coevaluación y colaboración. Los ensayos de conjuntos musicales y orquestas podrían así convertirse en verdaderas situaciones didácticas fundadas sobre un aprendizaje colaborativo para permitir a los instrumentistas apropiarse otros saberes musicales diferentes de “tocar en grupo”.
The Effects of Cold Environments on Double-Poling Performance and Economy in Male Cross-Country Skiers Wearing a Standard Racing Suit
Authors: Wiggen Øystein N. , Heidelberg Cecilie T. , Waagaard Silje H. , Færevik Hilde , Sandbakk Øyvind
Published: December 2015

Purpose:

To investigate differences in double-poling (DP) endurance performance, economy, and peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak) at low (–15°C) and moderate (6°C) ambient temperatures (TA) in cross-country skiers wearing standard racing suits.

Methods:

Thirteen well-trained male cross-country skiers performed a standardized warm-up followed by a 5-min submaximal test (Sub1), a 20-min self-paced performance test, a 2nd 5-min submaximal test (Sub2), and an incremental test to exhaustion while DP on an ergometer at either low or moderate TA, randomized on 2 different days. Skin and rectal temperatures, as well as power output and respiratory variables, were measured continuously during all tests.

Results:

Skin and rectal temperatures were more reduced at low TA than moderate TA (both P < .05). There was a 5% (P < .05) lower average power output during the 20-min performance test at low TA than at moderate TA, which primarily occurred in the first 8 min of the test (P < .05). Although DP economy decreased from Sub1 to Sub2 for both TAs (both P < .01), a 3.7% (P < .01) larger decrease in DP economy from Sub1 to Sub2 emerged for the low TA. Across the sample, V̇O2peak was independent of TA.

Conclusions:

These results demonstrate a lower body temperature and reduced performance for cross-country skiers when DP at low than at moderate TA while wearing standard cross-country-skiing racing suits. Lower DP performance at the low TA was mainly due to lower power production during the first part of the test and coincided with reduced DP economy.
Effect of Intensive Training on Mood With No Effect on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Authors: Piacentini Maria Francesca , Witard Oliver C. , Tonoli Cajsa , Jackman Sarah R. , Turner James E. , Kies Arie K. , Jeukendrup Asker E. , Tipton Kevin D. , Meeusen Romain
Published: December 2015

Context:

Monitoring mood state is a useful tool for avoiding nonfunctional overreaching. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is implicated in stress-related mood disorders.

Purpose:

To investigate the impact of intensified training-induced mood disturbance on plasma BDNF concentrations at rest and in response to exercise.

Methods:

Eight cyclists performed 1 wk of normal (NT), 1 wk of intensified (INT), and 1 wk of recovery (REC) training. Fasted blood samples were collected before and after exercise on day 7 of each training week and analyzed for plasma BDNF and cortisol concentrations. A 24-item Profile of Mood State questionnaire was administered on day 7 of each training week, and global mood score (GMS) was calculated.

Results:

Time-trial performance was impaired during INT (P = .01) and REC (P = .02) compared with NT. Basal plasma cortisol (NT = 153 ± 16 ng/mL, INT = 130 ± 11 ng/mL, REC = 150 ± 14 ng/ml) and BDNF (NT = 484 ± 122 pg/mL, INT = 488 ± 122 pg/mL, REC = 383 ± 56 pg/mL) concentrations were similar between training conditions. Likewise, similar exercise-induced increases in cortisol and BDNF concentrations were observed between training conditions. GMS was 32% greater during INT vs NT (P < .001).

Conclusions:

Consistent with a state of functional overreaching (FOR), impairments in performance and mood state with INT were restored after 1 wk of REC. These results support evidence for mood changes before plasma BDNF concentrations as a biochemical marker of FOR and that cortisol is not a useful marker for predicting FOR.