Authentication of traditional Chinese medicine using infrared spectroscopy: Distinguishing between ginseng and its morphological fakes

10.1007/s11373-006-9133-3Journal of Biomedical Science142265-273JBCI

Measuring the flow properties of small powder samples using an avalanche tester

The feasibility of using a small-scale avalanche tester to measure the flow properties of pharmaceutical lactose powders was examined. The modes of behaviour observed in larger systems were displayed and showed a clear distinction between angular, free-flowing particles and more spherical particles of similar flow characteristics. Angular Lactohale LH100 particles showed slumping behaviour at a rotational frequency of 0.33Hz which disappeared at higher frequencies. Spherical lactose powder with a similar flow function to LH100 only showed rolling behaviour under the same conditions, as did more cohesive powders LH200 and LH300. Further investigation of the LH100 data using Fast Fourier analysis showed that the slumping frequency was 1/10th of the rotational frequency

6.EMEA International Symposium in Kanazawa, Japan

Korea Forest Research InstituteUniversity of SeoulProject Number 14404021, Peport of Research Project ; Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(B)(2), from April 2002 to March 2006, Edited by Muramoto,Ken-ichiroKamata, NaotoKawanishi, TakuyaKubo, MamoruLiu, JiyuanLee, Kyu-Sung , 人工衛星データ活用のための東アジアの植生調査、課題番号14404021, 平成14年度～平成17年度科学研究費補助金, 基盤研究（B)(2)研究成果報告書, 研究代表者：村本, 健一郎, 金沢大学自然科学研究科教

Determination of Destination Competitiveness: A Qualitative Analysis on Malaysiain Convention Torist

Despite extensive empirical research linking organizational capability and competitiveness in the context of manufacturing companies, little attention has focused on the service sector, particularly the convention tourism sector. Convention tourism represents a growing and most desirable segment in Asia’s tourism industry. Many host destinations recognize this high-yield market, thus making the competition in the segment greater. Foresee new opportunities for Malaysia to tap into the convention tourism sector, the identification of the industry’s competitive advantages becomes an important step towards successful development in Malaysia. Based on Porter’s Diamond model, this paper makes an assessment on the competitive advantages that affect the convention tourism sector. Using qualitative approach, the components are analyzed carefully, comparing the competition among the four key markets in Malaysia namely Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Sarawak, and Sabah. Through in-depth interviews with focal industry participants, the responses then have been analyzed using cross-case analysis and develop causal network modeling to visualize the linkages between the elements of convention tourism competitiveness. The results indicate that firm strategy, structure and rivalry; demand conditions; and related and supporting industries contribute to the competitiveness of convention tourism industry. The results also highlighted that factors related to qualified, well-trained human resources and locality access should be considered critically in order to boost the performance of the secto

Comparative genome analysis of multiple vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolated from two fatal cases

Enterococcus faecium is both a commensal of the human intestinal tract and an opportunistic pathogen. The increasing incidence of enterococcal infections is mainly due to the ability of this organism to develop resistance to multiple antibiotics, including vancomycin. The aim of this study was to perform comparative genome analyses on four vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) strains isolated from two fatal cases in a tertiary hospital in Malaysia. Two sequence types, ST80 and ST203, were identified which belong to the clinically important clonal complex (CC) 17. This is the first report on the emergence of ST80 strains in Malaysia. Three of the studied strains (VREr5, VREr6, VREr7) were each isolated from different body sites of a single patient (patient Y) and had different PFGE patterns. While VREr6 and VREr7 were phenotypically and genotypically similar, the initial isolate, VREr5, was found to be more similar to VRE2 isolated from another patient (patient X), in terms of the genome contents, sequence types and phylogenomic relationship. Both the clinical records and genome sequence data suggested that patient Y was infected by multiple strains from different clones and the strain that infected patient Y could have derived from the same clone from patient X. These multidrug resistant strains harbored a number of virulence genes such as the epa locus and pilus-associated genes which could enhance their persistence. Apart from that, a homolog of E. faecalis bee locus was identified in VREr5 which might be involved in biofilm formation. Overall, our comparative genomic analyses had provided insight into the genetic relatedness, as well as the virulence potential, of the four clinical strains

Integrating surface plasmon resonance and slow photon effects in nanoporous anodic alumina photonic crystals for photocatalysis

This study explores the potential of gold-coated titania-functionalized nanoporous anodic alumina distributed Bragg reflectors (Au-TiO2-NAA-DBRs) as platforms to enhance photocatalytic reactions by integrating “slow photons” and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The photocatalytic degradation rate of methylene blue – a model organic compound with a well-defined absorption band in the visible spectral region – by these composite photonic crystals (PCs) upon visible-NIR light irradiation is used as an indicator to identify coupling effects between the “slow photon” effect and SPR. Our study demonstrates that the photocatalytic enhancement in Au-TiO2-NAA-DBRs is strongly associated with “slow photon” effect, while the contribution of SPR to the overall photocatalytic enhancement is weak due to the localized generation of surface plasmons on the top surface of the composite PC structure. Photocatalytic enhancement is optimal when the characteristic photonic stopband of these PCs partially overlaps with the absorption band of methylene blue, which results in edges being positioned away from the absorption maximum of the organic dye. The overall photocatalytic degradation for methylene blue is also correlated to the type of noble metal coating and the geometric features of the PC structures. These results establish a rationale for further development of noble metal-coated NAA-based hybrid plasmonic–photonic crystal photocatalyst platforms to optimally integrate “slow photons” and SPR for enhancing the efficiency of photocatalytic reactions and other light harvesting applications.Siew Yee Lim, Cheryl Suwen Law, Lina Liu, Marijana Markovic, Andrew D. Abell and Abel Santo

IL11 activates pancreatic stellate cells and causes pancreatic inflammation, fibrosis and atrophy in a mouse model of pancreatitis

Interleukin-11 (IL11) is important for fibrosis and inflammation, but its role in the pancreas is unclear. In pancreatitis, fibrosis, inflammation and organ dysfunction are associated with pancreatic stellate cell (PSC)-to-myofibroblast transformation. Here, we show that IL11 stimulation of PSCs, which specifically express IL11RA in the pancreas, results in transient STAT3 phosphorylation, sustained ERK activation and PSC activation. In contrast, IL6 stimulation of PSCs caused sustained STAT3 phosphorylation but did not result in ERK activation or PSC transformation. Pancreatitis factors, including TGFβ, CTGF and PDGF, induced IL11 secretion from PSCs and a neutralising IL11RA antibody prevented PSC activation by these stimuli. This revealed an important ERK-dependent role for autocrine IL11 activity in PSCs. In mice, IL11 was increased in the pancreas after pancreatic duct ligation, and in humans, IL11 and IL11RA levels were elevated in chronic pancreatitis. Following pancreatic duct ligation, administration of anti-IL11RA to mice reduced pathologic (ERK, STAT, NF-κB) signalling, pancreatic atrophy, fibrosis and pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNFα, IL6 and IL1β) levels. This is the first description of IL11-mediated activation of PSCs, and the data suggest IL11 as a stromal therapeutic target in pancreatitis