ETS-1 oncoprotein expression is decreased in aggressive papillary transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder: An immunohistochemical study

Introduction: ETS-1 proto-oncogene is a transcription factor that plays multiple roles in the process of oncogenesis and helps in the process of tumor invasion. ETS-1 oncoprotein correlation with high grade and invasive tumors is controversial; as it is found to be upregulated with some tumors and down regulated with others. Expression of ETS-1 in urinary bladder carcinoma (UBC) and its correlation with tumor differentiation and invasiveness are still under-investigated. So far, there is no reliable prognostic marker has been proved for detection of the tumor progression and recurrence.Objectives: To analyze the correlation between ETS-1 oncoprotein immunohistochemical expression and the different stages and grades of the primary papillary transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.Patients and methods: This is a retrospective cross sectional study that included archival material from 150 cancer cases and 24 control biopsies.Results: There was a decreased ETS-1 oncoprotein expression with increasing stage and grade of the tumor with a highly significant statistical correlation (P = 0.001). With the quantitative assessment of the immunohistochemical results and using ROC (receiver operating characteristics) curve, cut-off values were found, that were associated with high grade and muscle invasive tumors (≤30% and ≤20%, respectively).Conclusion: ETS-1 oncoprotein is down regulated with high grade and highly invasive urinary bladder papillary transitional cell carcinomas. This oncoprotein may be used as an independent prognostic marker to predict the aggressive papillary transitional carcinomas with high invasive potential. More studies are needed to confirm our results.Keywords: Papillary transitional cell carcinoma; ETS-1; Prognostic marker; Immunohistochemical; Stage; Grad

Intensity-modulated abrupt tapered Fiber Mach-Zehnder Interferometer for the simultaneous sensing of temperature and curvature

AbstractAn abrupt tapered fiber In-Line Mach-Zehnder Interferometer sensor for simultaneous measurement of temperature and curvature is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The sensor head is fabricated by arcing Corning SMF-28 using a commercial arc fusion splicer. The individual parameters discrimination was achieved by manipulating the unequal sensitivities of optical power to temperature and curvature obtained at two wavelengths within the sensing spectrum. The curvature and temperature sensitivities at λ1 (1537nm) and λ2 (1568.7nm) were found to be 11.8264dBm/m−1, 12.4885dBm/m−1 and 0.0829dBm/°C, 0.0833dBm/°C, respectively. The experimental results show unperturbed readings with rms deviation of ±0.1801m−1 and ±0.0826°C, for curvature and temperature measurements, respectively, through measurement of optical power response of the sensor. With this simultaneous sensing technique, the proposed sensor can be deployed for many field applications such as nondestructive structural health monitoring of civil infrastructure

Experimental Study on Low Cost Biodiesel Production Alkaline Based Catalysts by Using Frying Oil

The primary aim of this research is to investigate the best alkaline-based for the used frying oil (UFO) biodiesel production, using the alkaline catalyzed transesterification method. Transesterification reaction of UFO with methanol, in the presence of several alkaline-based catalysts, is carried out under identical typical transesterification process parameters. The effects of catalyst formulation on biodiesel yield are evaluated by using five different alkaline catalysts, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH), sodium methoxide (NaOCH3), mixture of NaOH and KOH, and mixture of KOH and NaOCH3 in the UFO biodiesel conversion process. A sample of virgin oil (VO) biodiesel is produced using NaOH catalyst, as the comparison reference for UFO biodiesel. The highest yield for UFO biodiesel production in this research was achieved by NaOCH3 catalyst, which gave 96.2% which shown that the NaOCH3 catalyst had advantages in yields-effective and times-effective for the biodiesel production. However, for commercialize purpose, the cost of NaOCH3 was too high which had made it not practical to use. In order to have a balance between yieldeffective, times-effective, and cost effective characteristics, the mixture of KOH and NaOH catalyst was found to be the optimum catalyst in this biodiesel production study

Extraction of eco-friendly natural dyes from Pina leaves and their application on wool fabrics

Natural dyes comprise of colorants that are obtained from animals or vegetable matters without any chemical processing. Natural dyes can substitute synthetic dye and promotes green technology initiatives in the field of textile dyeing. This study was carried out by extracting dyes from pineapple leaves (Ananas Comosus) using three stage mordanting methods using different mordants namely premordanting, post-mordanting and simultaneous dyeing-mordanting. The mordants used were aluminium potassium sulphate, white vinegar and sodium chloride (NaCl). Wool fabrics were used for dyeing. The strength of colour and K/S values of the dyed fabrics were measured before and after washing. The colourfastness to washing, rubbing and light fastness of the fabrics were conducted to investigate the performance of the dye and mordants. The results indicate that the washing, rubbing and light fastness properties of dyed samples were between good to excellent grades

Effectiveness Of Automated Enforcement System (Aes) In Reducing Red Light Violation (Rlv) Behaviours: A Case Study In Kuala Lumpur

The national statistics indicates that red light violations (RLV) have become a significant safety problem throughout the nation. As a result, the Malaysian government has initiated the installation of automated enforcement system (AES) to reduce RLV related crashes at identified critical locations particularly in Kuala Lumpur region. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of AES installation in reducing RLR at signalised intersections using a case study at Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur. Before and after AES installation data were collected and were analysed using a statistical tool. T-test results indicated that the installation of AES has significantly reduced RLV behaviours at the studied signalised intersection. The results of this study provide a useful insight on the benefits of AES in decreasing intersection related crashes by means of reducing RLV behaviours among the road users through AES installation

Milk clotting activity of protease, extracted from rhizome of Taffin giwa ginger (Zingiber officinale) cultivar, from northwestern Nigeria

The increasing prices of calf rennets, their accessibility and ethical concerns associated with the production of such enzymes for general cheese making have led to systematic investigations on the possibility and suitability of their substitution by other enzymes of plant origin. In this study, ammonium sulphate ((NH4)2SO4) fractionation, characterization and milk clotting activity (MCA) of protease extracted from Taffin Giwa ginger rhizome cultivar of the family Zingiberaceae from northwestern Nigeria were carried out. The protease extracted showed optimum activity at temperatures near 60 °C and pH value of 6.5 with a relative activity in a broad pH range of 5.0 to 8.0 accordingly. The enzyme was completely denatured at higher temperature of 100 °C and higher pH range of 12.0. The milk clotting property of the protease indicated 3.1 and 2.2 folds of MCA and MSCA respectively in relation to the commercial calf rennet with MCA/PA ratio of 2.52. The properties of Taffin Giwa protease shown in this study, especially its milk clotting activity, make it a potential candidate for substituting calf rennet in the food industries, particularly in cheese making processes.Keywords: Ginger Protease, Milk Clotting Activity, Calf rennet, Characterization, Extractio

Islamic perspectives of integrating Muslim cemeteries planning with recreational areas in urban setting

The provision of Muslim cemeteries is a requirement stemming from the Quranic teaching that Muslims are buried upon death. Simultaneously, the provision of recreational areas is equally important for a healthy living environment and be part of the ten percent calculation of open spaces required by planning guideline. Due to the scarcity of land particularly in the urban area, one of the ways is to integrate these two types of land uses. This study seeks to examine the Islamic perspective of integrating Muslim cemeteries planning with recreational areas. Using content analysis, Islamic injunctions of the Quran and Hadith were examined together with their exegesis by Muslim scholars. In principle, it is permissible to integrate Muslim cemeteries with the recreational areas provided that their sanctity is preserved. There are limitations of recreational activities that could be done there and only the area with severe land scarcity is allowed to do so. Consequently, a specific planning guidelines for a hybrid cemetery is required as the current GP-010A and GP-005A are standing alone in guiding the cemeteries and open spaces planning respectively. This shariah permissibility based on Maslahah mursalah helps to address the requirement of recreational areas and Muslim cemeteries in an urban setting

Machinability And Surface Quality Of Hybrid Composite CFRP/Al2024

oai:myjas.www.journal.unisza.edu.my:article/1The use of hybrid composite has increased due to their special mechanical and physical properties. However, machining of composite materials is extremely difficult due to non-homogeneous, anisotropic and highly abrasive characteristics. The performance of machined surface quality of CFRP/Al2024 was described using two level full factorial methodology. Trimming test was performed under dry conditions using 6mm diameter of burr tools end mills. The factors investigated were spindle speed(N), feed rate(fr) and depth of cut(dc), furthermore Ra CFRP and Ra Al2024 were the response variables. This work aims to minimize the machined surface quality of CFRP/Al2024 between 1μm to 2μm. The finding of this empirical study has shown that, the best estimated value of fr should be 500 mm/min to 530 mm/min, N is between and 2313.870 rpm to 2336.042 rpm. For both response spindle speed is the most significant effect followed by Feed rate and Depth of Cut