Genetic markers in a Malaysian population: variants of uridine monophosphate kinase (UMPK), phosphoglycolate phosphatase (PGP) and pancreatic amylase (AMY₂)

Three genetic markers, red-cell UMPK, PGP and serum AMY₂ were investigated in Malaysians of Malay, Chinese and Indian ancestries using starch-gel and agarose-gel electrophoresis. UMPK was found to be polymorphic in all three races. Variants were observed for PGP in Malays; in Indians it is a polymorphic marker whereas it is monomorphic in Chinese. AMY₂ was polymorphic only in Indians. The UMPK¹ frequencies in Malays, Chinese and Indians, respectively, are 0.851, 0.880 and 0.942. The PGP¹ frequencies are 0.991, 1.000, 0.962, and the AMY½frequencies are 1.000, 1.000 and 0.983

Utilization of Swamp Forages from South Kalimantan on Local Goat Performances

Forages in swamp area consist of grass and legumes that have good productivity and nutrient quality. This research was aimed to evaluate the potency of swamp forage on digestibility and performance of goats. There were 24 local male goats aged 10-12 months with initial body weight of 13.10±1.55 kg, allocated into 6 treatments. Those were control (R0): 60% grass and 40% legumes; (R1): 60% swamp forages and 40% concentrate; (R2): 100% swamp forages; (R3): 100% swamp forage hay; (R4): 100% swamp forage silage; (R5): 100% haylage swamp forages. Results showed that silage treatment significantly increased (P<0.05) consumption and digestibility. Swamp forages could be utilized well by preservation (silage, hay, and haylage). Ensilage of swamp forages increased protein content  from 13.72% to 14.02%, protein intake (74.62 g/d), dry matter intake (532.11 g/d), nitrogen free extract intake (257.39 g/d), with total body weight gain (3.5 kg) in eight weeks and average daily gain (62.60 g/d). It is concluded that ensilage of swamp forages (R4) is very potential to be utilized as forage source for ruminants such as goats. Key words: body weight, goat, haylage, silage, swamp forag

Prevalence of anemia among chronic kidney disease patients in India: a single-centre study

Background: Chronic kidney disease is defined as abnormalities in kidney structure or function with a decreased glomerular filtration rate 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: A total of 715 patients were enrolled in the study, out of which 432 (59.2%) and 292 (40.8%) were male and female, respectively. The mean age was 56.4±15 SD. Out of 715 patients, 531 (74.3%) patients were anemic and 58 (8.1%) were severely anemic. Thus, the prevalence of anemia was 82.4% among study participants. Hypertension, diabetes, and CKD stage were associated with a high prevalence of anemia.Conclusions: This study reported a high prevalence of anemia compared to previous studies. Assessing the anemic status of patients in earlier stages of the disease will contribute greatly to managing this complication

Molecular characterization of an aster yellows phytoplasma associated with proliferation of periwinkle in Malaysia

Madagascar periwinkle is a common decorative, easy growing and spreading perennial herb. Phyllody, virescence, proliferation, little leaf and yellowing symptoms were observed on periwinkle in Serdang and Banting, Selangor, Malaysia. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays using P1/P7 universal phytoplasma primers and secA primers designed for identification and classification of phytoplasma, amplified 1.8 kb fragment that encompasses the entire 16S rRNA gene, the 16S - 23S intergenic spacerregion and the beginning of the 23S rRNA gene as well as the 840 bp from part of secA gene, respectively. Sequence analysis of the 16S rDNA, 16S - 23S intergenic region and the beginning of the 23S rRNA and secA gene PCR products determined that the phytoplasma strain associated withperiwinkle proliferation in Malaysia belongs to the ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteries’ (16Sr I-B) group of phytoplasmas. The virtual restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis with 10restriction endonulease enzymes revealed identical patterns to phytoplasmas members of Aster yellows phytoplasma subgroup B. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rDNA sequences, secA gene sequences and virtual RFLP revealed that the periwinkle proliferation phytoplasma is closely related to the subgroup 16SrI-B. Periwinkle proliferation also confirmed which 16SrI-B has wide geographical distribution and host range

Optical Properties of PVA-BaSO4.5H2O Composites

Composites consisting of a polyvinyl alcohol matrix and BaSO4.5H2O as filler are designed. The optical properties were measured in the wavelength range from (190-850) nm. The experimental results showed that the absorption coefficient, extinction coefficient, refractive index and real and imaginary parts of dielectric constants are increasing with increase the addition of BaSO4.5H2O content. Keywords: Polyvinyl alcohol, Optical constants, Composites

Forage Production and Nutrient Composition of Different Sorghum Varieties Cultivated with Indigofera in Intercropping System

The experiment  aimed to evaluate the production of nutrients  by different varieties of sorghum grown with high valuable indigofera legume  in intercropping system and to determine the suitable variety of sorghum that produced the highest nutrient in the system. The experiment was done at Jonggol Animal Science Teaching and Research Unit (UP3J) Jonggol, from November 2014 to March 2015. This experiment was conducted using completely randomized design with 2 factors (3 x 4) and 4 replications. The first factor was sorghum varieties (PATIR 3.2 (S1), PATIR 3.7 (S2), and CTY-33 (S3)). The second factor was indigofera composition (0% indigofera (I0), 30% indigofera (I1), 40% indigofera (I2), and 50% indigofera (I3)). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and HSD test. There was no interaction among varieties of sorghum and indigofera composition. Indigofera population of up to 50%  in multiple cropping system had the highest (P<0.01) dry matter content, crude protein content, ash content, total fresh weight production, total dry weight production, total crude protein production, total ash production, and carrying capacity. Sorghum variety CTY-33 planted in multiple cropping system had  the highest (P<0.01) dry matter content, total dry weight production, and (P<0.05) total crude protein production. PATIR 37 sorghum variety planted in multiple cropping system had  the highest (P<0.05) ash content and (P<0.01) total ash production.  It is concluded that Indigofera population of up to 50% planted with different varieties of sorghum in multiple cropping system had  the highest nutrient production

Emerging relationship between vitamin D and LL-37 in the immune system’s response to infection and their possible role in combating sepsis

Background: In patients who are critically unwell, sepsis could be one of major causes of mortality as well as many complications. Sepsis is the medical term describing dysfunctional body reaction to infection that results in dysfunctions in various body systems and hence severe organ failure could occur. A rise of 2 or more points in the sequential organ failure evaluation is an early indicator of organ dysfunction (SOFA score). Severe organ failure can occur if sepsis is left untreated. An infection-controlling effect of vitamin D has been demonstrated. With an increase in cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (AMP) LL-37, human skin, blood plasma, monocytes, and macrophages are all affected. LL-37 and other AMPs, which operate directly against bacteria, regulate numerous innate and adaptive immunological functions. Objective: To make an overview of role of lack of vitamin D (25(OH) D) as well as AMP, LL-37, as risk factors for sepsis. Conclusion: Severe infections, as well as sepsis, have been linked to a deficiency of vitamin D. However, it is not yet clear what the underlying linkage and its clinical consequence is between sepsis and respiratory tract infections as well as critical illness

Dynamical symmetry breaking in vibration-assisted transport through nanostructures

A theoretical model of a single molecule coupled to many vibronic modes is presented. At low energies, transport is dominated by electron-vibron processes where transfer of an electron through the dot is accompanied by the excitation/emission of quanta (vibrons). Because the frequency of the $n$th mode is taken as an $n$th multiple of the frequency of the fundamental mode, several energetically degenerate or quasi-degenerate vibronic configurations can contribute to transport. We investigate the consequences of strong electron-vibron coupling in a fully \emph{symmetric} set-up. Several striking features are predicted. In particular, a gate-asymmetry and pronounced negative differential conductance features are observed. We attribute these features to the presence of slow channels originating from the interplay of Franck-Condon suppression of transport channels and spin/orbital degeneracies.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures, published versio

Synthesis, Characterization of Poly Heterocyclic Compounds, and Effect on Cancer Cell (Hep-2) In vitro.

A synthesis series of new heterocyclic derivatives (A2-A7) (pyrrole, pyridazine, oxazine and imidazol) derived from 4-acetyl-2,5-dichloro-1-(3,5-dinitrophenyl)-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylate(A1) have been synthesised. Synthesis of compound (A2) by the reaction of starting material (A1) with hydroxyl amine hydrochloride in the presence of pyridine. Compound (A2) was reacted with hydrazine hydrate in dry benzene to give (A3) derivative. The compound )A3( deals with sodium nitrite to give diazonium salt, and the reaction diazonium salt with ethyl acetoacetate to produce compound (A4). To a mixture of compound (A4) and hydroxyl amine with sttired to yield (A5).Compound (A6) was prepared by reaction compound (A4) with thiosemicarbazide in presence of drops of acetic acid. Synthesis of 1compound (A7) by reaction compound (A6) with ethyl chloro acetate. The reactions have been monitored by TLC and the synthesized compounds were characterized using spectrophotometric methods FT-IR, 1H NMR.The biological effects of the prepared compounds on the cancer cells were studied in vitro. The results indicated that these Synthesized compounds (A1–A7) inhibited1 the cancer1 cells1 efficiently, the compound (A6) was activity inhibited on the cancer cells