A Virological Study of Enterovirus Infections in Peninsular Malaysia

Background: Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common illness in infants and children. It can be caused by many different human enteroviruses. Of these human enteroviruses, human enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection is more frequently associated with serious neurological complications and fatalities. The emergence of this virus emphasized the need for surveillance study and identification of EV71 to provide early warning of potential EV71 encephalitis outbreaks and assist in directing public health interventions as well as inform clinical decisions. This surveillance study was aimed to examine the prevalence of enteroviruses and EV71 in suspected clinical specimens. Methods: Samples preparation: Specimens with the clinical and epidemiological data were received from various hospitals in West Malaysia from January to December 2007. The samples were analyzed immediately upon arrival in our laboratory otherwise stored at −80 ◦C. RNA extraction: The RNA from the specimens were extracted using High Pure Viral Nucleic Acid Kit. PCR analysis and primer sequences: One step RT-PCR was employed with primers EVPCR1 (5�-ACA-CGG-ACA-CCCAAA-GTA-GTC-GGT-TCC-3�) and EVPCR2 (5�-TCC-GGC-CCCTGA-ATG-CGG-CTA-ATC-C-3�) for enteroviruses and MAS01S (5�-ATA-ATA-GCA-YTR-GCG-GCA-GCC-CA-3�) and MAS02A (5�-AGA-GGG-AGR-TCT-ATC-TCY-CC-3�) for EV71. Results: A total number of 2,381 clinical specimens were analyzed for the presence of enteroviruses and EV71 by RTPCR analysis. Out of all of the specimens analyzed, 531 (22.3%) were positive for enteroviruses and 21 (0.04%) of these were positive for EV71. These results showed that EV71 is less prevalent than other enteroviruses in the clinical specimens analyzed. Conclusion: The outcomes of the present surveillance study suggested that the EV71 which is more frequently associated with serious neurological and complications and fatalities is less prevalent than other enteroviruses. The results obtained also confirmed the usefulness of the PCR as a simple and rapid method for the detection of enteroviruses and discrimination of EV71 from other enteroviruses in clinical specimens

Experimental Solid State Physics on f- electron Systems(Annual Report (from April 1997 to March 1998))

Satellite communication systems a superior capacity. Millimeter wave offers a allocation, involves small-sized antenna experiences less congested spectrum enviro rain posses a crucial intimidation to such satell links especially in tropical region where the severely affect the signal. Rain is the factor that the implementation of higher frequency communications in this region. Time diversity plausible mitigation technique to coun impairments. It is envisioned that the tech requiring extensive auxiliary’s equipment. Th the likely improvement of a future Ka-band Earth link using proposed time diversity ( tropical regions. The analyses relating to prediction of a satellite communication link assimilating TD scheme are also included. The and its associated equations were determin memory capacity requirement of TD. The integrated accordingly at the receiver with attenuation due to rain endured by the propag Index Terms— fade mitigation techniqu tropical regions, satellite communication

Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes synthesized from waste chicken fat

For the first time, vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) have been successfully synthesized using waste chicken fat as the starting material. Chicken fat oil, which was obtained through a rendering process, was directly mixed with 5.33 wt ferrocene as a catalyst to form the synthesis stock. A mixture of single- and multi-walled VACNTs was synthesized at a fixed temperature of 750 °C in a thermal chemical vapour deposition furnace. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analyses showed that the produced VACNTs were of excellent quality, comparable to those obtained using conventional carbon sources, with a purity of 88.2 and tube diameters ranging from 18 to 78 nm. Based on our study, waste chicken fat is a promising carbon source for the synthesis of high-quality and high-purity VACNTs. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved