Preliminary Survey of Mammals at Crocker Range Park (Park Headquarters), Sabah, Malaysia

Based on fieldwork in conjunction with the Crocker Range Expedition during October 1999 eight species of bats were recorded. Examination of Sabah Park mammals collection from Trus Madi, Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Spring as well as search of the available literature revealed an additional 33 species of bats, giving an overall record of 41 species. These include 11 species of megachiropteran and 30 species of microchiropteran. Fifteen of the bats listed are known to roost in caves. None of the hats are endemic to Crocker Range Park but the naked bat, Cheiromeles torquatus, may be threatened

Bird Diversity Of The Crocker Range National Park, Sabah, Malaysia

A study of bird fauna was conducted at Park Headquarters of Crocker Range Park and its vicinity from 16-22 October 1999. Crocker Range Park Headquarters is located about 8 km from Keningau town. Mist-net and transect study were conducted in secondary and primaryforest. A total of 840 net/hr were deployed with total capture of 32 birds of 17 species from seven families. Of 17 species, seven species were caught in secondary forest and 13 species in primary forest. Three species were caught in both secondary and ..

Antioxidant activity of Piper caninum and Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition by methoxylated flavones.

Background: This study investigated on antioxidant activity of Piper caninum and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition by methoxylated flavones.Materials and methods: The present study was carried out to quantify the total phenolic content and free radical scavenging activities of the crude extracts by Folin-Ciocalteu and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging assay respectively.Results: Methanolic extracts of Piper caninum exhibited the highest total phenolic content and free radical scavenging activities. All the pure compounds possessed significant cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition at physiological concentrations.Conclusion: Based on in vitro and molecular docking, we therefore suggest that Piper caninum methoxylated flavones are potent inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 at physiological concentrationsKey words: Piper caninum; antioxidant; cyclooxygenase-2.List of abbreviations: COX-2, cyclooxygenase-2; DPPH, 2,2-diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl; PGE2, prostaglandin E2

Immobilisation of Candida rugosa lipase on aminated polyethylene/polypropylene microfibrous sheet modifieded with oxirane group

An active microfibrous substrate containing aminated brush obtained by radiation-induced grafting of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto a polyethylene/polypropylene (PE/PP) microfibrous sheet followed by amination reaction was prepared and used for immobilisation of Candida rugosa lipase under various conditions. The aminated microfibrous sheet was characterised by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The amine group density on the aminated micro-fibrous sheet was found to be 3.33mmol/g. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to model and optimise the immobilisation conditions including immobilisation time (2-6 h), medium pH (pH 7-9) and enzyme/support ratio (5.0-9.0mg/cm2). The model generated from RSM was significantly correlated with the studied parameters for the residual activity of the immobilised lipase. The optimum values for immobilisation time, medium pH, and enzyme/support ratio were found to be 4.24h, pH 8, and 8.51mg/cm2 respectively. The enzymatic activity using p-nitrophenyl palmitate (pNPP) as substrate was 1.4588U/cm2 under optimum conditions. The pH endurance, storage, and thermal stability of the immobilised lipase were remarkably enhanced. The immobilised lipase can be readily recovered and more than 50% of its activity was retained following 10 cycles. The results of this study suggested that the aminated microfibrous sheet of PE/PP grafted with poly(GMA) is a promising polymer support for enzyme immobilisation with high potential for broad biocatalytic applications

Effect of kaolin geopolymer ceramic addition on the properties of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder joint

This paper investigates the effects of different weight percentages (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 wt.%) of kaolin geopolymer ceramic (KGC) on the microstructure formation, thermal properties, spreadability and joint strength in Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (SAC305) lead-free solder alloys in order to develop a new composite solder system. Advanced characterization techniques such as Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and synchrotron micro-XRF were used to study the behaviors of the pure SAC305 and KGC reinforced SAC305 composite solders. Experimental results shows that the addition of KGC refines the β-Sn area and increases the eutectic area with fine intermetallics formation. In addition, the thickness of the IMC layer is reduced with a reduction in undercooling value for the KGC reinforced SAC305 composite solder. The spreadability of the KGC reinforced SAC305 composite solder is significantly increased in the spreadable area with a higher strength of solder joint. Significantly, the results obtained prove that 1.0 wt.% KGC addition gives better performance in terms of microstructure formation, thermal properties, spreadability and joint strength. Synchrotron micro-XRF interestingly indicated that some Al and Si, which are the major elements in geopolymer systems, migrate into the solder area

Tomorrow’s Digital Worker : A Critical Review and Agenda for Building Digital Competency Models

In competency management studies, scholars call for the importance of digital savviness to hire, train, and develop new digital workers. Yet, the knowledge about the development of such a competence is still scarce. For this endeavor, we followed a systematic literature review to identify a sample of 103 published scientific articles and book chapters dealing with the development and implementation of competency tools in the past 10 years. To our surprise, our review suggests that the landscape of competency tools is surprisingly obsolete and that contemporary requirements of digitization have not yet been incorporated into updated usable competency tools. Through this review our hope is to provide competency managers and researchers with a framework to advance and upgrade their competency tools to address the gap between existing know how and the needed expertise of the digital world.© 2020 Springer. This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Advances in Human Factors, Business Management and Leadership Proceedings of the AHFE 2020 Virtual Conferences on Human Factors, Business Management and Society, and Human Factors in Management and Leadership, July 16-20, 2020, USA. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50791-6_14fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Gastroprotective activity of chloroform extract of Muntingia calabura and Melastoma malabathricum leaves

Context: Muntingia calabura L. (family Muntingiaceae) and Melastoma malabathricum L. (family Melastomaceae) are traditionally used to treat gastric ulcer. Objective: The present study determines the mechanisms of gastroprotective activity of the chloroform extract of leaves obtained from both the plants using several in vitro and in vivo assays. Materials and methods: Phytochemical screening, HPLC analysis, and antioxidant activity of the respective extract were carried out. Gastroprotective activity was determined using ethanol-induced gastric ulcer assay while the mechanisms of gastroprotection were determined using the pyloric ligation assay. The test solutions [8% Tween-80 (vehicle), 20 mg/kg omeprazole, and different doses of extracts (50, 250, or 500 mg/kg] were administered orally once daily for 7 consecutive days before the animals were subjected to ethanol induced gastric ulcers. Results: The chloroform-extracted M. calabura (CEMC) contains tannins, polyphenolics, triterpenes, and steroids while the chloroform-extracted M. malabathricum (CEMM) contains only triterpenes and steroids. CEMC, but not CEMM, exerted remarkably strong antioxidant activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)- (86% versus 16%) and superoxide- (73% versus 36%) radical scavenging assays. Both extracts demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) gastroprotection with the EC50 value recorded at 192.3 or 297.7 mg/kg, respectively. In the pylorus ligation assay, CEMC and CEMM significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the total and free acidity and volume; while increased the pH of gastric juice as well as the gastric wall mucus content in comparison with the vehicle-treated group. Discussion and conclusion: CEMC and CEMM exert gastroprotective effects in animals with ethanol-induced gastric ulcers via antioxidant and anti-secretory effects

Discovery of a new class of inhibitors for the protein arginine deiminase type 4 (PAD4) by structure-based virtual screening

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease with unknown etiology. Anticitrullinated protein autoantibody has been documented as a highly specific autoantibody associated with RA. Protein arginine deiminase type 4 (PAD4) is the enzyme responsible for catalyzing the conversion of peptidylarginine into peptidylcitrulline. PAD4 is a new therapeutic target for RA treatment. In order to search for inhibitors of PAD4, structure-based virtual screening was performed using LIDAEUS (Ligand discovery at Edinburgh university). Potential inhibitors were screened experimentally by inhibition assays.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twenty two of the top-ranked water-soluble compounds were selected for inhibitory screening against PAD4. Three compounds showed significant inhibition of PAD4 and their IC₅₀values were investigated. The structures of the three compounds show no resemblance with previously discovered PAD4 inhibitors, nor with existing drugs for RA treatment.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Three compounds were discovered as potential inhibitors of PAD4 by virtual screening. The compounds are commercially available and can be used as scaffolds to design more potent inhibitors against PAD4.</p