The importance of internet for SME internationalization / Muhammad Najib Nasarudin and Farhana Aishah Abd Latiff

The small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) sector has an important role to play in developing economies not only in economic development, but also in poverty improvement and job creation. The sector faces a number of constraints especially in accessing finance, markets, training and technology. Access to business information services has been identified as one area that needs attention from governments and business services providers if the SME sector in developing countries is to achieve sustainable levels of growth and development. Accessing business information services has over the years been greatly enhanced with the emergence of various information and communication technologies. SMEs nowadays should aware of the important of the Internet in their business in order to help them growth internationally. The Internet will increasingly empower SMEs to participate in the knowledge economy by facilitating connectivity, helping to create and deliver products and services on a global scale, and providing access to new markets and new sources of competitive advantage to boost income growth

Aflatoxin, fumonisin, ochratoxin, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol biomarkers in human biological fluids:A systematic literature review, 2001-2018

Human exposure to mycotoxins occurs mostly through dietary intake, although exposure through dermal and inhalation routes has also been shown. Depending on the type of mycotoxins, the applied dose and duration of exposure, a particular toxin can cause either chronic or acute illnesses such as kidney failure and cancer. Thus, understanding the biotransformation of mycotoxins and identification of reliable biomarkers in the human body is important for accurate risk assessment of mycotoxin exposure. This review provides a comprehensive overview of worldwide aflatoxins, fumonisins, ochratoxin, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol mycotoxin biomonitoring studies reported in the last 18 years. The studies performed in Africa, Europe, Asia and America are based on the measurement of a limited number of mycotoxin biomarkers and do not provide a comprehensive risk assessment of the mycotoxin exposure. Although the findings represent a small segment of a much larger health risk of mycotoxins exposure, it is acknowledged that a multianalyte approach covering bioconjugated and other metabolites of most often occurring mycotoxins would better reflect the extent of the global exposure problems with these highly toxic compounds.</p

Level of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in selected marine fish (pelagic) from Straits of Malacca

Fish is a good source of protein, supply important vitamins and other essential nutrients including essential fatty acids (EFA), the EPA and DHA which help to reduce risk of death from coronary heart diseases. However, diet and food of animals’ origin are the most predominant sources of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to human which accounts to over 90%, with fish as one of the major routes of contaminants in human body. PCBs are a group of extremely stable aromatic chlorinated compounds which are relatively resistant to biological degradation and very persistent in the environment. This study has identified the type and level of 12 congeners of PCBs that are most toxic to humans. The maximum permitted level of PCBs in muscles meat of fish and fishery products is 4 pg/g, as recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) using the WHO-TEFs. Meanwhile, the highest amount of PCBs concentration was in Rastrelliger kanagurta (Indian mackerel), with the level of PCBs at 1.37 pg/g wet weight. Other species like Scomberomorus guttatus (Spanish mackerel), Pampus argenteus (Silver pompret), Megalapsis cordyla (Hardtail scad), Eleutheronema tradactylum (Fourfinger threadfin) and Chirocentrus dorab (Dorab wolfherring) showed PCBs levels ranging from 0.35 pg/g to 1.05 pg/g wet weight. Thus, the PCBs in all the samples were below the permitted level. It can be concluded that the studied pelagic fish are safe to consume. Although the levels were not high, it is still important to set limits for the PCBs in fish and shellfish species so as to make a better estimation of the risk of exposure to human through dietary intake of fish, specifically fatty fish to meet nutritional requirement for EPA and DHA

Dietary exposure of the Qatari population to food mycotoxins and reflections on the regulation limits

The article estimates the exposure of the population of Qatar to aflatoxins, fumonisins and ochratoxins, measured in food samples collected from the markets of Doha. The mycotoxin extractions were performed using the “Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe” Method (QuEChERS) and the extract measured with LC–MS/MS. High contamination with aflatoxins was detected in Nuts and Spices (e.g. 534.15ng/g and 371.6ng/g respectively). The estimated daily intake (EDI) level was estimated using statistical data on average Qatari population. Additionally, the probability to exceed TDI was calculated for fumonisins and ochratoxins. The results indicate high exposure to aflatoxins (with alarming values of margin of exposure, i.e. MoE). The article points to the necessity of a regular assessment and reevaluation of the concentration limits allowed in food products accounting for statistics on the population (i.e. food consumption), economic growth of the country, and monitoring of mycotoxin contamination of food as much as technological, financial and human resources of a country allows

Dioxins and furans in demersal fish and shellfish from regions in west coast Peninsular Malaysia.

Fish and shellfish are the richest natural dietary sources of EPA and DHA. Dietary intakes of EPA and DHA have been purported to disease prevention, in particular cardiovascular disease (CVD). In Malaysia, the fisheries along the west coast of peninsular Malaysia contribute to approximately 70% of the total marine resources. These resources are exposed to contamination caused by persistent organic pollutant such as dioxins and furans. Since dioxins and furans accumulate in the lipid compartment of animals, therefore fat of fish caught in the polluted waters may be contaminated with these chlorinated hydrocarbons. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the amount and type of dioxins and furans congeners of demersal fish and shellfish from north, middle and south regions of west coast peninsular Malaysia. The samples of fish and shellfish consisted species such as Psettodes erumei (Large-scale toungue sole), Gymnura spp. (Long-tailed butterfly ray), Sepia officinalis (Cuttlefish), Nemipterus japonicus (Japanese threadfin bream), Epinephulus sexfasciatus (Sixbar grouper), Lutianus argentimaculatus (Malabar red snapper), Anadara granosa (Cockles), Macrobrachium rosenbergi (prawn) and Plotosus spp. (Gray eel-catfish). Findings of this study demonstrate that gray eel-catfish and Malabar red snapper have higher level of total dioxins and furans ranging 0.90-1.57 and 0.34-0.37 pg/g w.w, respectively. Meanwhile, low level of total dioxins and furans were found in large-scale tongue sole and long-tailed butterfly ray ranging from 0.12-0.19 and 0.12-0.17 pg/g w.w, respectively. Among the shellfish, cockles were accumulated higher total dioxins and furans (0.21-0.24 pg/g w.w) compared to prawn and cuttlefish. 2,3,7,8-TCDD, the most potent and toxic congeners was found in 6 species of samples ranging from 0.01 to 0.11 pg/g w.w WHO I-TEQ. While 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD congener was found in all samples at a relatively higher level of 0.02 to 1.04 pg/g w.w Overall, Plotosus spp. (Gray eel-catfish) is the species exhibited the highest buildup of dioxins and furans compared to other species without exceeding the permitted level set by World Health Organization (WHO)

PCDDs and PCDFs in pelagic fish along the straits of Malacca

Fish and shellfish are rich sources of long chain fatty acids, especially DHA and EPA. High consumption of fish helps to elevate the level of these compounds in the body. However, fish also are easily exposed to chemical contaminants, such as dioxins (PCDDs) and furans (PCDFs). Exposure to PCDDs and PCDFs may lead to negative health effects, such as cancer, chloracne, hyperpigmentation and others. Level and type of PCDDs and PCDFs were determined in 20 pelagic fish samples of six different species collected from the Straits of Malacca using HRGC/HRMS. The most toxic congener (2,3,7,8-TCDD) was found in all the samples at a very low level of 0.04-0.05 pg/g sample, except in Spanish mackerel (south-T2) and Indian mackerel (middle-T1). Meanwhile, the level of the total PCDDs and PCDFs ranged from 0.13 pg/g to 0.38 pg/g of the wet weight of the samples. The value of the total PCDDs and PCDFs was in a descending order of Hardtail scad, Spanish mackerel, Indian mackerel, fourfinger threadfin, silver pomfret and dorab wolfherring. Generally, the results of this study indicate that fish and shellfish caught along the Straits of Malacca are safe as in terms of PCDDs and PCDFs levels and the data can serve as baseline information for future monitoring of these organochlorine compounds

Investigation on level of furans and diozins in five commonly consumed fish species.

Five commonly consumed marine fish from Straits of Malacca were studied for their level of dioxins (PCDDs) and furans (PCDFs). The fish fillets were found to contain low to moderate level of fats. Among the moderate fat content species, Plotosus spp. (Sembilang) was found to contain the highest level of total PCDDs/Fs (1.23 + 0.48 pg/g of wet weight) due to the high fat content of the species. Other species however, contain low level of PCDDs/Fs that range between 0.10-0.18 pg/g of wet weight. Generally the levels of total PCDDs/Fs in fish species determined in this preliminary study were well below the European limits and are therefore safe for human consumption

ACE Inhibitory and Antioxidant Activities of Collagen Hydrolysates from the Ribbon Jellyfish (Chrysaora sp.)

Za izdvajanje bioaktivnih peptida iz kompas meduze (Chrysaora sp.) izoliran je kolagen, te je hidroliziran s pomoću tri proteaze: tripsina, alkalaze i komercijalnog prozivoda Protamex. Izmjeren je i uspoređen učinak različito inhibiranih peptida na inhibiciju angiotenzin konvertirajućeg enzima (ACE), te je pomoću metoda FRAP i DPPH ispitana njihova antioksidativna aktivnost. Osim toga, ispitan je utjecaj trajanja hidrolize na bioaktivnost peptida, tj. na inhibiciju ACE i antioksidativnu aktivnost. Najveća je ukupna antioksidacijska aktivnost (FRAP) izmjerena u hidrolizatima dobivenim pomoću komercijalne proteaze Protamex (25-27 mM) nakon 7 sati hidrolize, te nakon 9 sati hidrolize pomoću tripsina (24-26 mM). Nasuprot tome, hidrolizati dobiveni pomoću tripsina imali su najveću sposobnost uklanjanja DPPH radikala (94 % nakon 1 sata i 92 % nakon 3 sata). Hidrolizati dobiveni pomoću tripsina imali su najbolju sposobnost inhibicije ACE (89 % nakon 3 sata). Pomoću dvojne masene spektrometrije određene su sekvencije peptida koje su imale najveću aktivnost, a rezultati pokazuju da su hidrolizati imali veći udjel hidrofobnih aminokiselina i jedinstvenih sekvencija aminokiselina, što vjerojatno pridonosi njihovoj biološkoj aktivnosti.Collagen isolated from the ribbon jellyfish (Chrysaora sp.) was hydrolysed using three different proteases (i.e. trypsin, alcalase and Protamex) to obtain bioactive peptides. Angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity and antioxidant activities (i.e. ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity) of the peptides were measured and compared, and the effect of the duration of hydrolysis on the bioactivity (ACE inhibitory and antioxidant activities) of peptides was also evaluated. FRAP activity was the highest in Protamex-induced (25–27mM) and trypsin-induced hydrolysates (24–26 mM) at 7 and 9 h, respectively. Conversely, hydrolysates produced by trypsin for 1 and 3 h showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activities (94 and 92 %, respectively). Trypsin-induced hydrolysates (at 3 h) also showed the highest ACE inhibitory activity (89 %). The peptide sequences with the highest activities were identified using tandem mass spectrometry, and the results show that the hydrolysates had a high content of hydrophobic amino acids as well as unique amino acid sequences, which likely contribute to their biological activities

Physicochemical and biochemical properties of pepsin-solubilized collagen isolated from the integument of Sea Cucumber (Stichopus vastus)

The integument (high collagen content) of sea cucumber Stichopus vastus is generally wasted after harvesting, whereas only its stomach and intestines are eaten in few Asian countries. Amino acid composition, thermal transition temperature (Tm), zeta potential, solubility, moisture absorption and retention capacities, proximate composition and morphology of pepsin-solubilized collagen (PSC) isolated from the integument of S. vastus were studied. Amino acid composition revealed that glycine was dominant in the isolated collagen. PSC was found to have an isoelectric pH of 4.67, good moisture absorption and retention capacity at higher humidity, a sharp effect of pH and NaCl concentration on solubility, and an inverse relationship between temperature and viscosity. PSC also showed the maximum Tm to be 37.3C, very high protein content and ultrastructural characteristics. Hence, the PSC has the potential to be used as a functional ingredient in food, cosmetics and nutraceutical products