Structural characterisation of polycrystalline SiGe thin film

10.1016/S0038-1101(01)00241-6Solid-State Electronics45111963-1966SSEL

The genome sequence of Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from a septicemic patient in a local hospital in Malaysia

Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram negative, strictly aerobic clinical pathogen causing mostly nosocomial infections globally. The DNA of an isolate from the blood of a local septicemic patient was sequenced using the Illumina GA IIx. The draft genome generated is 4,178,008 bp with a G+C content of 42%. From the annotation results, 47 resistance determinants including 16 multidrug resistance (MDR) genes were identified. The data may be accessed via the GenBank WGS master accession number APWV00000000

Microstructural characterization of rf sputtered polycrystalline silicon germanium films

10.1063/1.1423388Journal of Applied Physics911444-450JAPI

Random telegraphic signals in rapid thermal annealed silicon-silicon oxide system

Materials Science and Engineering B: Solid-State Materials for Advanced Technology722135-137MSBT

Oral reading by Chinese speakers with probable dementia of the Alzheimer's type

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The use of Taqman genotyping assays for rapid confirmation of β-thalassaemia mutations in the Malays: accurate diagnosis with low DNA concentrations

Introduction: In Malaysia, β-thalassaemia is a common inherited blood disorder in haemoglobin synthesis with a carrier rate of 4.5%. Currently, PCR-incorporating techniques such as amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) or reverse dot blot hybridization (RDBH) are used in β-thalassaemia mutation detection. ARMS allows single-mutation identification using two reactions, one for wild type and another for mutant alleles. RDBH requires probe immobilization and optimization of hybridization and washing temperatures which is time consuming. The aim of our study was to investigate whether β-thalassaemia mutations can be identified in samples with low DNA concentrations. Methods: Genotype identification of common β-thalassaemia mutations in Malays was carried out using Taqman genotyping assays. Results: Results show that the Taqman assays allow mutation detection with DNA template concentrations as low as 2-100 ng. In addition, consistent reproducibility was observed in the Taqman assays when repeated eight times and at different time intervals. Conclusion: The developed sensitive Taqman assays allow molecular characterization of β-thalassaemia mutations in samples with low DNA concentrations. The Taqman genotyping assays have potential as a diagnostic tool for foetal blood, chorionic villi or pre-implantation genetic diagnosis where DNA is limited and precious

In Vitro Antiproliferative and Antioxidant Activities and Total Phenolic Contents of the Extracts of Melastoma malabathricum Leaves

AbstractThe present study aims to determine the in vitro antiproliferative and antioxidant activities of various extracts from the leaves of Melastoma malabathricum using various established in vitro assays. The aqueous extract inhibited the proliferation of Caov-3 and HL-60 cell lines, while the chloroform extract exhibited antiproliferative activity against the Caov-3, HL-60, and CEM-SS cell lines. The methanol extract demonstrated antiproliferative activity against more cell lines, including the MCF-7, HeLa, Caov-3, HL-60, CEM-SS, and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines. Interestingly, all extracts did not inhibit the proliferation of 3T3 cells, thus indicating their noncytotoxic properties. Unlike the chloroform extracts, the aqueous and methanol extracts of M malabathricum (20, 100, and 500μg/ml) produced high antioxidant activity for the superoxide scavenging assay with only the 500μg/ml aqueous and methanol extracts exhibited high activity for the 2,2-diphenyl -1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay. The total phenolic content recorded for the aqueous, methanol, and chloroform extracts were 3344.2±19.1, 3055.1±8.7, and 92.5±7.3mg/100g of gallic acid, respectively. The M malabathricum leaves possessed potential antiproliferative and antioxidant activities that could be attributed to its high content of phenolic compounds

An inflection in the rate of early mid-Holocene eustatic sea-level rise: a new sea-level curve from Singapore

This study presents a sea-level curve from ~9500 to ~6500 cal BP for the farfield location of Singapore, on the Sunda Shelf in southeast Asia. The curve is based on more than 50 radiocarbon dates from elevations of +1.43 m to −15.09 m representing sea-level index points in intertidal mangrove and shallow marine sediments deposited by sea-level rise accompanying deglaciation. The results indicate that mean sea level rose rapidly from around −17 m at 9500 cal BP to around −3 m by 8000 cal BP. After this time, the data suggest (but do not unequivocally prove) that the rate of sea-rise slowed for a period of 300–500 years centred on ~7700 cal BP, shortly after the cessation of meltwater input to the oceans from the northern hemisphere. Renewed sea-level rise amounting to 3–5 m began around 7400 cal BP and was complete by 7000 cal BP. The existence of an inflection in the rate of sea-level rise, with a slow-down centred on ~7700 cal BP, is broadly consistent with other available sea-level curves over this interval and is supported by evidence of stable shorelines and delta initiation elsewhere at this time, as well as evidence of comparatively rapid retreat of the West Antarctic ice sheet beginning around 7500 cal BP. 'Stepped' sea-level rise occurring shortly after 7500 cal BP and also earlier during deglaciation may have served to focus significant post-glacial episodes of human maritime/coastal dispersal, into comparatively narrow time intervals

Concurrent Inheritance of Deletional a-thalassaemia in Malays with HbE Trait

Introduction: HbE is the commonest beta haemoglobin (Hb) variant in Southeast Asia. It causes a reduction in synthesis of the beta-globin E chain. Studies indicate HbE coinherited with a-thalassaemia leads to milder clinical phenotype. This study investigates the commitant inheritance of a-thalassaemia in Malays with HbE. Methods: Four hundred and fourteen (414) blood samples were screened for haemoglobinopathy using primarily the first three steps of the BHES (B) blood counts, blood film; (H), HPLC; (E) electrophoresis; (S), stability protocol. Complete blood cell analyser, Hb typing with cation exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Hb electrophoresis at an alkaline pH (pH 8.5) Forty-five (10.9%) were identified as HbE trait and DNA analysis was done for deletional a-thalassaemia using a single-tube multiplex-PCR assay. Results: Among the 45 subjects with HbE trait, 4 (8.9%) were found to have alpha-thalassaemia -2 (a) (a-37 kb deletion) and 1 (2.2%) the alpha-thalassaemia-1 (a0) (---SEA 20.5 kb deletion) defects respectively. Discussion: These findings show that 11.1% of Malays with HbE inherit alpha-thalassaemia concurrently. The most prevalent interaction found was a double heterozygote for HbE /a-thalassaemia 2, followed by HbE/a-thalassaemia 1. Conclusion: Molecular screening of deletional a-thalassaemia identified its concurrent inheritance in 11.1%o of Malays who were HbE carriers. This information will guide genetic counseling and the planning of treatment modalities in patients with HbE alpha-thalassaemia

Heterogeneity of the CYP2D6 gene among Malays in Malaysia

Background: Although Malays shared an origin with Chinese, their evolution saw substantial divergences. Phenotyping studies suggested that they differed in CYP2D6 polymorphism, with higher PM prevalence but lesser right-shift for debrisoquine MRs. Objective: To study the genotype distribution of CYP2D6 among the Malays in Malaysia. Method: We obtained DNA from 107 Malays and used PCR to determine common CYP2D6 alleles. Result: CYP2D6*1 occurred at a frequency of 36.0, duplicated gene, 0.93, CYP2D6*4, 2.8, CYP2D6*5, 5.1, CYP2D6*9, 3.3, CYP2D6*10, 49.5 and CYP2D6*17, 0.5. The findings of CYP2D6*17 and CYP2D6*9 were novel for Asia. The frequency for CYP2D6*10 was lower than in other Asian races. The most frequent genotypes were CYP2D6*1/*10 at 39.3. Two subjects had genotypes that predicted PM phenotype, 35 showed genotypes that predicted intermediate metabolizers and one subject had a genotype that predicted ultra-rapid metabolism. Conclusion: The genetic polymorphism of CYP2D6 in Malays is different from Chinese and Far Eastern races. They may be intermediate between East Asians and Caucasians in CYP2D6 activity. Further study in relation to the evolution of races and disease prevalence may help to identify the contributions of the polymorphism in alleged susceptibility to diseases apart from delineating its contributions to ethnic differences in the pharmacology of CYP2D6 drugs