Empowering marginalized community with an innovative technology

AbstractThe Malaysian government is aggressive in its innovations in information and computer technology. However, the senior citizens are left behind, mainly due to fear of technology or having low or zero ICT literacy. This paper reports on the usage of a simplified technological device and its impact at two sites in Malaysia. The respondents’ fear towards technology was reduced and they developed interests and needs to seek information online. To conclude, to ensure people's acceptance and ICT adoption, any initiatives to bridge digital divide must consider the A4I2 framework which was developed to prosper the initiative of bridging digital divide in Malaysia which include access, adaptability, acceptance, attitude, innovation and inclusion

Nonantioxidant Tetramethoxystilbene Abrogates α-Synuclein-Induced Yeast Cell Death but Not That Triggered by the Bax or βa4 Peptide

© 2018 American Chemical Society. The overexpression of α-synuclein (α-syn) and its aggregation is the hallmark of Parkinson's disease. The α-syn aggregation results in the formation of Lewy bodies that causes neuronal cell death. Therefore, the small molecules that can protect neuronal cells from α-syn toxicity or inhibit the aggregation of α-syn could emerge as anti-Parkinson agents. Herein, a library of methoxy-stilbenes was screened for their ability to restore the cell growth from α-syn toxicity, using a yeast strain that stably expresses two copies of a chromosomally integrated human α-syn gene. Tetramethoxy-stilbene 4s, a nonantioxidant, was the most capable of restoring cell growth. It also rescues the more toxic cells that bear three copies of wild-type or A53T-mutant α-syn, from cell growth block. Its EC50 values for growth restoration of the 2-copy wild-type and the 3-copy mutant α-syn strains are 0.95 and 0.35 μM, respectively. Stilbene 4s mitigates mitochondrial membrane potential loss, negates ROS production, and prevents nuclear DNA-fragmentation, all hallmarks of apoptosis. However, 4s does not rescue cells from the death-inducing effects of Bax and βA4, which suggest that 4s specifically inhibits α-syn-mediated toxicity in the yeast. Our results signify that simultaneous use of multiple yeast-cell-based screens can facilitate revelation of compounds that may have the potential for further investigation as anti-Parkinson's agents

Development of Integrated GreenVec Biofeedback Game with Galvanic Skin Response Sensor

GreenVec Biofeedback Game (GVBG) is a biofeedback game-based application that able to measure the skin conductivity of the player with the integration of Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) sensor. The measurement of the skin conductivity is crucial as an indicator for human meditation improvement in terms of stress control. In addition, GVBG spread awareness on global green technology issues specifically about the Electric Vehicles (EV) issue to all users throughout the game process. The measured Skin Conductivity Level (SCL) corresponds to the player’s awareness level about the green EV. During the development, Spiral Methodology is applied for a smoother and clearer development processes. GVBG is mainly developed by using Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 with XNA Framework 3.1 and Adobe Photoshop CS6. By playing GVBG, the user will be able to learn more about the proper way to reduce stress while gain awareness on the green technology issues related with Electric Vehicles

Effect of 2-Thioxo Imidazolidin-4-Ones derivative copper complex on the oxidative state on the male rats exposed to hydrogen peroxide

In this work, a new thioxoimidazolidine derivative had been prepared by the reaction of bromobenzaldehyde with thiosemicarbazide then the resulting product reacted with ethelchloroacetate to produce the ligand, L= (3{(E)[(4-bromophenyl) methyldenamino-2-sulfanylideneimidazo lidin-4-one, in an attempt to synthesis its copper complex. The new ligand and its copper complex was isolated, studied and characterized in solid states by studying the analytical and physicochemical properties. It was found that ligand coordinate to copper ion as a bidentate ligand through nitrogen atom of Azomethine groups and sulfur atoms of the thione group. The outcomes recorded that copper complex could be founds in "[1:2] (M:L) molar ratio".  From study of geometrical shape, the copper ion has a square planer shape with Ligand. Twenty-four adult male rats were divided into three equal groups, with age 2-3 months old. The first group returned to the control group, as it was given the necessary food and water, second, third group was given 0.5% hydrogen peroxide in drinking water. The third group was dosage by orally copper complex of 2-Thioxo Imidazolidin-4-Ones by Cavage Needle. after thirty and sixty days of experimental period, blood sample was drawn from each animal

Bacterial and fungal keratitis in Upper Egypt: In vitro screening of enzymes, toxins and antifungal activity

Purpose: This work was conducted to study the ability of bacterial and fungal isolates from keratitis cases in Upper Egypt to produce enzymes, toxins, and to test the isolated fungal species sensitivity to some therapeutic agents. Materials and Methods: One hundred and fifteen patients clinically diagnosed to have microbial keratitis were investigated. From these cases, 37 bacterial isolates and 25 fungal isolates were screened for their ability to produce extra-cellular enzymes in solid media. In addition, the ability of fungal isolates to produce mycotoxins and their sensitivity to 4 antifungal agents were tested. Results: Protease, lipase, hemolysins, urease, phosphatase, and catalase were detected respectively in 48.65%, 37.84%, 59.46%, 43.24%, 67.57%, and 100% out of 37 bacterial isolates tested. Out of 25 fungal isolates tested during the present study, 80% were positive for protease, 84% for lipase and urease, 28% for blood hemolysis, and 100% for phosphatase and catalase enzymes. Thirteen fungal isolates were able to produce detectable amounts of 7 mycotoxins in culture medium (aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2), sterigmatocystin, fumagillin, diacetoxyscirpenol, zearalenone, T-2 toxin, and trichodermin). Among the antifungal agents tested in this study, terbinafine showed the highest effect against most isolates in vitro. Conclusion: In conclusion, the ability of bacterial and fungal isolates to produce extracellular enzymes and toxins may be aid in the invasion and destruction of eye tissues, which, in turn, lead to vision loss