Antimicrobial activities of marine fungi from Malaysia

Copyright 2011 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Zinc Oxide Nanostructures for Efficient Energy Conversion in Organic Solar Cell

We present a new approach of solution-processed using zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures as extraction layer material for organic solar cells. It is low chemical reaction compatibility with all types of organic blends and its good adhesion to both surfaces of ITO/glass substrate and the active layer (blends). Parameters such as the thickness and the morphology of the films were investigated to prove that these factors greatly affect the efficiency of organic solar cells. In this work, ZnO layer with thickness of approximately 53 nm was used as an interlayer to prevent pin-holes between the electrode and the polymer layer. The polymer layer was coated on the ZnO layer with the thickness of about 150 nm. The thick polymer layer will form a non-uniform surface because of the solvent, 1-2dichlorobenzene will etch away some region of the polymer layer and forming pin-holes. ZnO nanostructures layer was used to prevent pin-holes between the polymer layer and electrode. From the surface morphology of ZnO layer, it shows a uniform surface with particle grain size obtained between 50 -100 nm. The presence of the interlayer has a positive effect on the electrical characteristics of the solar cells. It was found that an organic solar cell with thickness less than 150 nm shows the optimum performance with efficiency of 0.0067% and Fill Factor (FF) of about 19.73

One stop shop: backbones trees for important phytopathogenic genera: I (2014)

Many fungi are pathogenic on plants and cause significant damage in agriculture and forestry. They are also part of the natural ecosystem and may play a role in regulating plant numbers/density. Morphological identification and analysis of plant pathogenic fungi, while important, is often hampered by the scarcity of discriminatory taxonomic characters and the endophytic or inconspicuous nature of these fungi. Molecular (DNA sequence) data for plant pathogenic fungi have emerged as key information for diagnostic and classification studies, although hampered in part by non-standard laboratory practices and analytical methods. To facilitate current and future research, this study provides phylogenetic synopses for 25 groups of plant pathogenic fungi in the Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mucormycotina (Fungi), and Oomycota, using recent molecular data, up-to-date names, and the latest taxonomic insights. Lineage-specific laboratory protocols together with advice on their application, as well as general observations, are also provided. We hope to maintain updated backbone trees of these fungal lineages over time and to publish them jointly as new data emerge. Researchers of plant pathogenic fungi not covered by the present study are invited to join this future effort. Bipolaris, Botryosphaeriaceae, Botryosphaeria, Botrytis, Choanephora, Colletotrichum, Curvularia, Diaporthe, Diplodia, Dothiorella, Fusarium, Gilbertella, Lasiodiplodia, Mucor, Neofusicoccum, Pestalotiopsis, Phyllosticta, Phytophthora, Puccinia, Pyrenophora, Pythium, Rhizopus, Stagonosporopsis, Ustilago and Verticillium are dealt with in this paper

Effective and reliable method for extractions of anthracene

No AbstractKeywords: Anthracene; extraction; LLE; sonication; SP

Assessment of heavy metal contamination at west and east coastal area of peninsular Malaysia

Five heavy metal elements [Pb(II), Cr(VI), Ni(II), Zn(II) and Cu(II)] in the sediment of the two coastal areas had been analysed of the mid-east and mid-west of Peninsular Malaysia in the year of 2012. This is to assess and monitor contamination of heavy metal at mangrove area in the state of Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Pahang. Overall and individual analyses on the heavy metals showed the concentration of the named heavy metals were not at alarming stage. All analysed elements were found to be much lower than the international guideline provided by the Chinese (EPA-China), Canadian (CEPA) and American (US-EPA). Quantitative assessment using Enrichment Factor shows that all analysed elements were to found be within the degree of background concentration

Pahangensin A and B, two new antibacterial diterpenes from the rhizomes of Alpinia pahangensis Ridley

The rhizomes of Alpinia pahangensis Ridley yielded a new bis-labdanic diterpene for which the name pahangensin A (1) was proposed along with a new labdane diterpene, pahangensin B (2). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including, 1D and 2D NMR techniques and LCMS-IT-TOF analysis. Pahangensin A (1) was found to be an antibacterial agent against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis with MIC values less than 100 lg/mL, respectively. Pahangensin B (2) exhibited antibacterial activity (MIC <100 lg/mL) against B. cereus

Diversity and abundance of lignicolous marine fungi from the east and west coasts of Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah (Borneo Island)

We documented the diversity of marine fungi in various mangroves from the east and west coasts of Malaysia in the period May 2008-June 2009; we sampled at Cape Rachado, Morib, Redang Island, Bachok and Cape Layak-Layak. A total of 438 samples were examined. These comprised prop roots, pneumatophores, subterranean roots, rhizomes, overhanging branches and twigs of mangrove trees and driftwood. Seventy-seven higher marine fungal taxa were recorded, comprising 58 ascomycetes, two basidiomycetes and 17 anamorphic fungi. Among these, 38 were only partially identified/unidentified, indicating these might be new species. The most common species (> 10% occurrence) were Aigialus grandis, A. parvus, Dactylospora haliotrepha, Kallichroma tethys, Halocyphina villosa, Verruculina enalia and Ascocratera manglicola. Species diversity and richness were highest in Bachok, while Cape Layak-Layak had the highest species evenness. Sorenson's similarity indices between sites were low, implicating low similarity between fungal communities among the study sites