Incommensurate Lamellar Phase from Long Chain Mannosides : Investigation by X-Ray Scattering and Replica Exchange Molecular Dynamics (REMD)

Acknowledgement This work was supported by the Ministry of Education of Malaysia [600-IRMI/FRGS 5/3 (357/2019)]. We are thankful for the computational facility provided by the National Center for High-Performance Computing of Taiwan used to perform calculations reported in this work. AMF would like to acknowledge the Scottish Government and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, for the award of one SAPHIRE project.Peer reviewedPostprin

Development of an inhibitive enzyme assay for copper

In this work the development of an inhibitive assay for copper using the molybdenum-reducing enzyme assay is presented. The enzyme is assayed using 12-molybdophosphoric acid at pH 5.0 as an electron acceptor substrate and NADH as the electron donor substrate. The enzyme converts the yellowish solution into a deep blue solution. The assay is based on the ability of copper to inhibit the molybdenum-reducing enzyme from the molybdate-reducing Serratia sp. Strain DRY5. Other heavy metals tested did not inhibit the enzyme at 10 mg l(-1). The best model with high regression coefficient to measure copper inhibition is one-phase binding. The calculated IC50 (concentration causing 50% inhibition) is 0.099 mg l(-1) and the regression coefficient is 0.98. The comparative LC50, EC50 and IC50 data for copper in different toxicity tests show that the IC50 value for copper in this study is lower than those for immobilized urease, bromelain, Rainbow trout, R. meliloti, Baker's Yeast dehydrogenase activity Spirillum volutans, P. fluorescens, Aeromonas hydrophilia and synthetic activated sludge assays. However the IC50 value is higher than those for Ulva pertusa and papain assays, but within the reported range for Daphnia magna and Microtox assays

A review of salivary composition changes induced by fasting and its impact on health

open access articleHuman saliva is an indispensable fluid that maintains a healthy oral cavity which otherwise can lead to oral diseases (dental caries and periodontitis). In addition, salivary metabolites and microbiome profile provide early detection of systemic diseases such as cancer and obesity. Salivary diagnostic has gained popularity due to its non-invasive sampling technique. Fasting (abstinence from food or drink or both) research for weight loss and improve health is common, but studies using fasting saliva are scarce. Some metabolites in fasting saliva have been reported with interesting results, which can be enhanced by considering different confounding factors. For example, fasting saliva contains higher salivary nitrite, which is related to nitric oxide (NO). NO is a vasodilator supporting the healthy function of endothelial cells and its deficiency is connected to many diseases. The timely supply of NO through exogenous and endogenous means is highlighted and the potential advantage of fasting salivary composition changes in relation to COVID-19 infection is speculated. This review aims to provide a general discussion on the salivary composition, properties, and functions of the whole saliva, including the health benefits of fasting

Bent-core liquid crystals joining the ethylene-oxide/lithium ion tandem: Ionic conductivity and dielectric response towards new electrolytes for energy applications

We report the dielectric and conductivity response of three materials containing bent-core and tetra(ethylene-oxide) moieties, and their complexes doped with lithium triflate salts, as new potential nanostructured electrolytes. Whilst the pristine bent-core compounds do not show mesomorphism, the doped materials display smectic mesophases inside indium tin oxide cells assisted by the selective solvation of the lithium ions in the ethylene-oxide blocks. The dielectric response of the materials in the high-frequency range is controlled by the chemical composition of the bent-core structure, and the presence of lithium ions promotes direct current conductivity at low frequencies, in the σdc ∼ 10-5 S cm−1 range, which can be enhanced to σdc ∼ 10-4 S cm−1 via trans-to-cis photoisomerization of azobenzene groups. The dynamic and dual character of these materials (responding to low and high frequency electrical fields), the formation of ferroelectric crystals capable to store energy, and their interactions with light, will be applied to develop new energy devices

Molecular Aggregation of L-isoleucine in Aqueous Solution and its Impact on the Determination of Solubility and Nucleation Kinetics

Comparison between the solubility of L-Isoleucine as measured using gravimetric and dissolution methods reveals significant differences which is consistent with the presence of solute aggregation in solution. Calculation of the critical aggregation concentration confirms this analysis revealing this concentration to lie between the two measured solubility values suggesting the existence of a stability zone roughly defined by the temperature/concentration range of 40°C/33g/L to 75°C/42g/L in which a mixture of free and aggregated molecules under the slurried conditions appear to exist. Dynamic light scattering result reveals that the aggregate size lies within the range of 40-170 nm. The potential impact of relying on the measurement of solubility using gravimetric data based on solution isolation of the slurried state for such systems is highlighted through a comparison of the values of representative crystallization parameters such as metastable zone width (MSZW) and nucleation kinetics as determined using solubilities derived from both methodologies. Reduction in solution pH in the aggregated molecular state is consistent with the aggregates being formed from neutral species suggesting, in turn, that this compound might crystallize via a 2-step nucleation process. This research suggests that caution should be exercised when using solubility data derived from gravimetric measurements particularly for amphiphilic molecules where solute ordering in solution might be expected

The benefits and challenges of practicing work-life balance among women entrepreneurs

In Today’s Fast Paced Business World, The Ability To Achieve Work Life Balance (WLB) Is Becoming More And More Difficult As People Are Constantly Pushed To Work Faster To Cope With An Increasing Workload. This Paper Presents A Review Of The Challenges And Contribution (Benefit) Of Practice Work – Life Balance. Women Entrepreneurial Success In Their Life And Business Always Being Connected With The Excellent Management Of WLB. An Overview Of The Issues Surrounding Women Entrepreneur Development Draw To The Extension Of More Literature Reviews. Therefore, 34 Articles Have Been Selected And Analysed. There Was Found That Applying Of Work – Life Balance Was Increase Dual Earner For Family Economy And Improving Productivity In The Business. Meanwhile The Main Challenges Of WLB Implementation Among Woman Entrepreneurs Has Always Related To Time Management And Busy Schedule At Work Place. Based On The Issues Identified, Work – Life Balance Strategies Are Proposed To Increased Malaysian Woman Entrepreneurial Potential, Enhance Their Wellbeing In Life And Encourage Them To Part In Business

An alternative bioassay using Anabas testudineus (Climbing perch) cholinesterase for metal ions detection

Climbing Perch or its scientific name, Anabas testudineus is one of the freshwater fish belonging to the family of Anabantidae. It is widely distributed in ponds, swamps and estuaries in Asia. In this study, cholinesterase (ChE) was partially purified from the liver of A. testudineus through ion exchange chromatography. This purification method provided a recovery yield of 5.36% with a purification fold of 6.6. The optimum conditions for ChE assay were identified to be 2.5 mM of butyrylthiocholine iodide (BTC) with pH 8.0 in Tris-HCl buffer at 40°C. Substrate specificity profile also indicated that ChE favours BTC as substrate because it records the highest catalytic efficiency (V/K). Protein analysis through Native-PAGE showed that ion exchange chromatography is an effective method to partially purify ChE. Metal ion inhibition tests were conducted and mercury (Hg) was found to show the highest inhibition effect (87.30%) whereas lead (Pb) shows the lowest inhibition effect (28.01%). All these findings showed that partially purified ChE from the liver of A. testudineus is suitable to be used as a bioindicator to detect the presence of metal ions