3G telecommunication technology in Malaysia

3G is the third generation of mobile phone standards and technology, after 2G. It is based on the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) family of standards under the International Mobile Telecommunications programme, "IMT- 2000". 3G technologies enable network operators to offer users a wider range of more advanced services while achieving greater network capacity through improved spectral efficiency. Services include wide-area wireless voice telephony and broadband wireless data, all in a mobile environment. Typically, they provide service at 5-10 Mb per second

Acetylcholinesterase from Puntius javanicus for the detection of carbamate and organophosphate

A new alternative local source of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been found to be sensitive towards several insecticides. AChE was purified from the brain tissue of Puntius javanicususing affinity chromatography (procainamide hydrochloride coupled with sephacryl 6B) with the total recovery of 40% at 8.48 purification fold. All carbamate (CB) insecticides tested at the concentration of 1 mg/L were capable of lowering AChE activity to less than 30%; Bendiocarp (18.80%), carbaryl (5.96%,), carbofuran (6.12%), methomyl (13.91%) and propoxur (15.851%). The P. javanicus AChE was found to be unaffected by several activated organophosphates (OP) such as acephate and dimethoate, while trichlorfon slightly inhibited the enzyme activity (p<0.05). Chlorpyrifos, diazinon, malathion and parathion lowered AChE activity to 43.02, 40.97, 37.11 and 46.72%, respectively. Pesticides that inhibit AChE activities more than 50% were further tested in different concentrations to determine the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). Carbofuran and carbaryl showed the lowest IC50 value at 0.035 and 0.031 mg/L, respectively, as both showed no significant differences (p <0.05), followed by bendiocarp, propoxur, methomyl, malathion, diazinon, parathion and chlorpyrifos at 0.045, 0.076, 0.090, 0.063, 0.103, 0.151 and 0.202 mg/L, respectively. Based on these results, the sensitivity of AChE from brain P. javanicus brain tissue shows promise as an alternative biosensor for the detection of insecticides contamination

Acetylcholinesterase from Puntius javanicus for the detection of carbamates and organophosphates

A new alternative local source of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been found to be sensitive towards several insecticides. AChE was purified from the brain tissue of Puntius javanicususing affinity chromatography (procainamide hydrochloride coupled with sephacryl 6B) with the total recovery of 40% at 8.48 purification fold. All carbamate (CB) insecticides tested at the concentration of 1 mg/L were capable of lowering AChE activity to less than 30%; Bendiocarp (18.80%), carbaryl (5.96%,), carbofuran (6.12%), methomyl (13.91%) and propoxur (15.851%). The P. javanicus AChE was found to be unaffected by several activated organophosphates (OP) such as acephate and dimethoate, while trichlorfon slightly inhibited the enzyme activity (p<0.05). Chlorpyrifos, diazinon, malathion and parathion lowered AChE activity to 43.02, 40.97, 37.11 and 46.72%, respectively. Pesticides that inhibit AChE activities more than 50% were further tested in different concentrations to determine the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). Carbofuran and carbaryl showed the lowest IC50 value at 0.035 and 0.031 mg/L, respectively, as both showed no significant differences (p<0.05), followed by bendiocarp, propoxur, methomyl, malathion, diazinon, parathion and chlorpyrifos at 0.045, 0.076, 0.090, 0.063, 0.103, 0.151 and 0.202 mg/L, respectively. Based on these results, the sensitivity of AChE from brain P. javanicus brain tissue shows promise as an alternative biosensor for the detection of insecticides contamination

Expression of GBS virulence genes in high vaginal swabs of symptomatic pregnant women at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Kuantan

During pregnancy, group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization is known as one of the risk factors for preterm birth and consequently neonatal infections. Previous in-vitro experiments using human cells and in vivo animal models have portrayed the important roles of these virulence factors including hemolytic pigment (CylE), hyaluronidase (HylB), serine-rich protein (Srr) and bacterial surface adhesion of GBS (BsaB) in mediating GBS colonization and intrauterine ascending infection, leading to preterm delivery. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between mRNA expression of women and preterm delivery. GBS isolates were obtained from high vaginal swabs of pregnant women(n=40) with gestational age less than 37 weeks and symptoms including preterm labour, preterm premature rupture of membrane (pPROM), vaginal discharge and vaginal bleeding. Socio-demographic details, obstetric history and delivery outcomes of these women were also enquired. RNA was extracted from these GBS isolates and RT-qPCR was performed to determine the relative mRNA expression of GBS virulence genes including CylE,HylB, Srr and BsaB. Socio-demographic details and obstetric history were not found to be associated with the delivery outcomes of these women. Women with preterm labour and pPROM who delivered prematurely were demonstrated with higher expression of HylB and Cyl Egenes, in comparison to women with term delivery. The expression of Srr and BsaB genes were both similar between symptomatic pregnant women who had term and preterm delivery. Theseresultssuggestthatfollowingvaginalcolonization,bothCylEandHylBgenespossiblycontributetointrauterineascendinginfectionandinflammation,leading to preterm delivery in humans.Thus, hemolytic pigment and hyaluronidase may be targeted for exploratory and pre-clinical stages of vaccine development, which is a good alternative to intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis in order to prevent neonatal GBS infections