The contribution of cooperative law to economic development in Malaysia

Since the cooperative movement was first introduced in Malaysia approximately eighty five years ago, there is no doubt that it has had a positive impact on Malaysia’s economic development. The characteristic of being community-centered and catering to those most vulnerable to economic vagaries has rendered cooperatives as valuable institutions in promoting agricultural development and trade, the creation of employment opportunities and in advancing the social and economic positions of societies in general. This paper evaluates the policies of cooperatives and their programs and performances in boosting the economy of Malaysia as well as investigates the function of cooperative societies in the growth of economic development. It concludes by stating that to be effective and successful, cooperative institutions must adhere to the principles and precepts provided for by the government as in the Cooperatives Societies Act 1993

Nanodiagnostic method for colorimetric detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis 16S rRNA

A nanodiagnostic method using nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) and gold nanoparticle probes (AuNP probes) was developed for colorimetric detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The primers targeting 16S rRNA were used for the amplification of mycobacterial RNA by the isothermal NASBA process. The amplicons were hybridized with specific gold nanoparticle probes. The RNA-DNA hybrids were colorimetrically detected by the accumulation of gold nanoparticles. Using this method, 10 CFU ml-1 of M. tuberculosis was detected within less than 1 h. Results obtained from the clinical specimens showed 94.7% and 96% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. No interference was encountered in the amplification and detection of M. tuberculosis in the presence of non-target bacteria, confirming the specificity of the method. © 2009 Humana Press Inc

Detection of Helicobacter pylori by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of thermophilic helicase-dependent isothermal DNA amplification

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of thermophilic helicase-dependent isothermal DNA amplification (tHDA) was developed for detection of Helicobacter pylori. The primers targeting ureC were used for the amplification of bacterial DNA by the isothermal digoxigenin (DIG)-labeling tHDA process, resulting in the accumulation of DIG-labeled DNA amplicons. The amplicons were denatured using heat and then hybridized with a specific biotinylated DNA probe, which was noncovalently immobilized on streptavidin-coated microtiter plate. The hybrids were colorimetrically detected by the addition of an anti-DIG antibody HRP conjugate and 2,2-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzthiazolinsulfonate) substrate solution. Results obtained from the gastric biopsy samples showed 90% and 95.7% of sensitivity and specificity, respectively, in comparison with culture results, and 96.6% and 96.8% of sensitivity and specificity, respectively, in comparison with those of the histologic studies. This assay significantly reduces the time needed for the identification of H. pylori and has the potential to facilitate early detection of this gastrointestinal pathogen. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Improving response time in traf fic police infraction registration system

Advanced of civilian wireless network infrastructure made the mobile devices increasingly popular. One of the main police requirements is information systems to provide information for police anywhere and anytime. Mobile equipments are widely used for communication but lacking of security makes it unsuitable for transmitting the confidential data. In this paper, we discuss requirements of the traffic police data center firstly, and then propose a solution for improving response time of traffic police data center. Policemen in the system can use various kinds of mobile terminals, such as mobile phones, tablet PCs, personal digital assistants, and laptops equipped with wireless LAN (WLAN) or General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) device to access data in the central database. The system addresses the requirement of security and transaction speed, and can be extended to the other mobile information systems such as e-commerce

STAT1 is required to establish but not maintain interferon‐γ‐induced transcriptional memory

Exposure of human cells to interferon‐γ (IFNγ) results in a mitotically heritable yet reversible state called long‐term transcriptional memory. We previously identified the clustered GBP genes as strongly primed by IFNγ. Here, we discovered that in primed cells, both interferon‐responsive transcription factors STAT1 and IRF1 target chromatin with accelerated kinetics upon re‐exposure to IFNγ, specifically at promotors of primed genes. Priming does not alter the degree of IFNγ‐induced STAT1 activation or nuclear import, indicating that memory does not alter upstream JAK–STAT signaling. We found STAT1 to be critical to establish transcriptional memory but in a manner that is independent of mere transcription activation. Interestingly, while Serine 727 phosphorylation of STAT1 was maintained during the primed state, STAT1 is not required for the heritability of GBP gene memory. Our results suggest that the memory of interferon exposure constitutes a STAT1‐mediated, heritable state that is established during priming. This renders GBP genes poised for subsequent STAT1 and IRF1 binding and accelerated gene activation upon a secondary interferon exposure

Natural fiber reinforced poly(vinyl chloride) composites : a review.

Materials from renewable resources – also called biomaterials or ‘green’ materials – are presently gaining in importance worldwide. In these times of continuous increases in the price of crude oil and discussion of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, conventional plastics have reached a price level and a questionable image which promotes the search of alternatives. Natural fibers are a renewable natural resource and are biodegradable, which is an important characteristic for components that must be disposed of at the end of their useful life. They are recyclable and can be easily converted into thermal energy through combustion without leaving residue. In this study, we will discuss the natural fiber reinforced polyvinyl chloride composites, reinforcing effect, plasticization effect along with modification by coupling agents, properties, and applications based on composite materials. Also, the polyvinyl chloride-based composite materials with specific emphasis on effect of coupling agent, foamed polyvinyl chloride composites, and the effect of natural fiber reinforcement on its material properties will be reviewed. One of the best alternatives is natural fiber reinforced plastics composites. These are composites that are typically filled or reinforced with plant fibers, as well as plastics such as polyvinyl chloride or recently, even bioplastics

Bradyrhizobium japonicum senses iron through the status of haem to regulate iron homeostasis and metabolism

The Irr protein from the bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum is expressed under iron limitation to mediate iron control of haem biosynthesis. The regulatory input to Irr is the status of haem and its precursors iron and protoporphyrin at the site of haem synthesis. Here, we show that Irr controls the expression of iron transport genes and many other iron-regulated genes not directly involved in haem synthesis. Irr is both a positive and negative effector of gene expression, and in at least some cases the control is direct. Loss of normal iron responsiveness of those genes in an irr mutant, as well as a lower total cellular iron content, suggests that Irr is required for the correct perception of the cellular iron status. Degradation of Irr in iron replete cells requires haem. Accordingly, control of Irr-regulated genes by iron was aberrant in a haem-defective strain, and iron replete mutant cells behave as if they are iron-limited. In addition, the haem mutant had an abnormally high cellular iron content. The findings indicate that B. japonicum senses iron via the status of haem biosynthesis in an Irr-dependent manner to regulate iron homeostasis and metabolism

A queueing model for evaluating traffic police infraction registration system

This paper is a consequence of a main project, the project is a novel experiment which provides "live" traffic ticket issuing and registration. One of the main police requirements is information systems to provide information for police anywhere and anytime. We made some efforts to improve police performance with new solution. Advanced of civilian wireless network infrastructure made the mobile devices increasingly popular. Mobile equipments are widely used for communication but lacking of security makes it unsuitable for transmitting the confidential data. In this paper, we discuss requirements of the traffic police data center firstly, and then this paper is produce a generally applicable queuing model that abstracts all Traffic Police Data Center components, in a queuing model of a Traffic Police Data Center, the customers are officers, the servers are located on Traffic Police Data Center (TPDC) and queues are populated by traffic tickets that wait for the services. Finally, we focus on the resources monitoring

Tyr25, Tyr58 and Trp133 of Escherichia coli bacterioferritin transfer electrons between iron in the central cavity and the ferroxidase centre

Ferritins are 24meric proteins that overcome problems of toxicity, insolubility and poor bioavailability of iron in all types of cells by storing it in the form of a ferric mineral within their central cavities. In the bacterioferritin (BFR) from Escherichia coli iron mineralization kinetics have been shown to be dependent on an intra-subunit catalytic diiron cofactor site (the ferroxidase centre), three closely located aromatic residues and an inner surface iron site. One of the aromatic residues, Tyr25, is the site of formation of a transient radical, but the roles of the other two residues, Tyr58 and Trp133, are unknown. Here we show that these residues are important for the rates of formation and decay of the Tyr25 radical and decay of a secondary radical observed during Tyr25 radical decay. The data support a mechanism in which these aromatic residues function in electron transfer from the inner surface site to the ferroxidase centre

Ferritins: furnishing proteins with iron

Ferritins are a superfamily of iron oxidation, storage and mineralization proteins found throughout the animal, plant, and microbial kingdoms. The majority of ferritins consist of 24 subunits that individually fold into 4-α-helix bundles and assemble in a highly symmetric manner to form an approximately spherical protein coat around a central cavity into which an iron-containing mineral can be formed. Channels through the coat at inter-subunit contact points facilitate passage of iron ions to and from the central cavity, and intrasubunit catalytic sites, called ferroxidase centers, drive Fe2+ oxidation and O2 reduction. Though the different members of the superfamily share a common structure, there is often little amino acid sequence identity between them. Even where there is a high degree of sequence identity between two ferritins there can be major differences in how the proteins handle iron. In this review we describe some of the important structural features of ferritins and their mineralized iron cores and examine in detail how three selected ferritins oxidise Fe2+ in order to explore the mechanistic variations that exist amongst ferritins. We suggest that the mechanistic differences reflect differing evolutionary pressures on amino acid sequences, and that these differing pressures are a consequence of different primary functions for different ferritins