Pushes and Pulls of ISO28000 Implementation in Supply-Chain of Malaysia Mining

Supply chain security is one of the components of an industry’s strategy to protect their chain from any risk that can damage their supply chain. ISO 28000 is a standard which specify requirement for security management system for the supply chain. However, there are still many organizations didn’t apply for this standard. Still many mining industries are doubtful about the effectiveness of ISO 28000. This paper objective to examine the pushes and pulls of ISO 28000 implementation for Pahang mining industry. From literature, potential pushes and pulls are identified, then the researchers undergo interview session with experts in mining industry from Pahang of Malaysia. Based on the interview result, this study introduces a list of pushes and pulls to the supply chain security standard. This contributes to implementation of ISO 28000 in mining industry of Malaysia, specifically Pahang. In the industry, the result of this study is beneficial for supply chain managers and policy-makers to ease the ISO implementation and reduce supply chain risks

Influence of the inlet air temperature on the microencapsulation of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) seed oil.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different inlet air temperatures on the physicochemical properties and oxidative stability of microencapsulated kenaf seed oil (MKSO). Kenaf seed oil was homogenised with the wall materials at a total solid content of 30% and was spray-dried at 160, 180 or 200°C inlet air temperature. The microstructure and morphology of the microencapsulated kenaf seed oil were observed using a scanning electron microscope. The physicochemical properties, such as moisture content, water activity and particle size, of MKSO produced at different inlet air temperatures showed a significant difference (p<0.05). MKSO produced with an inlet air temperature of 160°C exhibited the highest microencapsulation efficiency (MEE, 96.46%) compared to 180°C (78.42%) and the efficiency was lowest at 200°C (58.96%). Increasing the inlet air temperature also resulted in significantly increased (p<0.05) lipid oxidation of MKSO and decreased total intrinsic phenolic content upon accelerated storage. However, all MKSO had lower lipid oxidation and higher total phenolic content than bulk (unencapsulated) oil. This study indicates that increased inlet air temperature results in larger particle size, higher lipid oxidation and lower MEE. The process of microencapsulation could protect oil from the external environment that causes lipid oxidation. Practical applications: Kenaf seed oil contains PUFA and phytosterols, which are beneficial to human health. However, the PUFA in kenaf seed oil is susceptible to lipid oxidation, which degrades its nutritional value. Microencapsulation is used to protect the kenaf seed oil from being oxidised. By knowing the influence of the inlet air temperature on the physical properties and oxidative stability of the microencapsulated kenaf seed oil, the ideal inlet air temperature can be used to produce microencapsulated kenaf seed oil, which may be incorporated into food products to supplement the bioactive compounds that are beneficial to human health

O Serviço Social numa Comissão Social de Freguesia: uma abordagem preliminar deste novo espaço sócio ocupacional

Aprofundar o conhecimento do Serviço Social no âmbito das Comissões Sociais de Freguesia, refletindo sobre a prática do Serviço Social, nomeadamente na Comissão Social de Freguesia da Guia, é o objetivo deste relatório. O processo de criação e implementação do Programa Rede Social, como política social baseada nos fundamentos da descentralização de poderes e responsabilidades do Estado e a sua intensificação em parcerias entre o setor público e o setor privado, assentam numa lógica de desenho de políticas sociais neoliberais. O Serviço Social revela ser um importante recurso profissional para as autarquias, nomeadamente para as freguesias, desempenhando um trabalho de proximidade com as populações, facilitando-lhes o acesso a alguns direitos sociais e executando os seus deveres cívicos. No entanto, esta atuação de natureza assistencialista, pretende a resolução emergencial da situação de pobreza e das desigualdades sociais da população de determinada freguesia. Ora, estes fenómenos não estão circunscritos a uma pequena área territorial, são problemas estruturais e universais, como tal não podem ser tratados apenas como locais. Tendo como ponto de partida, a experiência vivenciada pela assistente social que fez parte da organização da Comissão Social de Freguesia da Guia e que desenhou o seu modelo de intervenção social, é feita uma análise a este novo espaço. Conclui-se, atestando que para a efetivação como espaço sócio profissional e que legitime a profissão, a política social que define as CSF terá que sofrer algumas alterações e melhorias, partindo ao encontro do projeto profissional do Serviço Social, ao mesmo tempo que potencia o enfrentamento à pobreza e desigualdades sociais ao nível local

Protective actions of des-acylated ghrelin on brain injury and blood-brain barrier disruption after stroke in mice

The major ghrelin forms, acylated ghrelin and des-acylated ghrelin, are novel gastrointestinal hormones. Moreover, emerging evidence indicates that these peptides may have other functions including neuro- and vaso-protection. Here, we investigated whether post-stroke treatment with acylated ghrelin or des-acylated ghrelin could improve functional and histological endpoints of stroke outcome in mice after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAo). We found that des-acylated ghrelin (1 mg/kg) improved neurological and functional performance, reduced infarct and swelling, and decreased apoptosis. In addition, it reduced blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in vivo and attenuated the hyper-permeability of mouse cerebral microvascular endothelial cells after oxygen glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD + RO). By contrast, acylated ghrelin (1 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg) had no significant effect on these endpoints of stroke outcome. Next we found that des-acylated ghrelin's vasoprotective actions were associated with increased expression of tight junction proteins (occludin and claudin-5), and decreased cell death. Moreover, it attenuated superoxide production, Nox activity and expression of 3-nitrotyrosine. Collectively, these results demonstrate that post-stroke treatment with des-acylated ghrelin, but not acylated ghrelin, protects against ischaemia/reperfusion-induced brain injury and swelling, and BBB disruption, by reducing oxidative and/or nitrosative damage

Cause-related marketing: it's influence on consumers' choice of hypermarket

Malaysia has undergone market changes which lead to transformation from small shops to larger scale shops due to the globalization. The larger scale shop such as hypermarkets will increase the supply from local suppliers if the demand of consumers toward local product is high. This indicates that cause-related marketing concept can be applied if consumers are favour to hypermarkets that intend to support local product. Therefore, this study aims to examine the factors that influence consumers’ participation intention on “support local product” CRM campaign in the Malaysia context. There were six variables included to determine their effects on participation intention in “support local product” campaign which were firm motive, perceived corporate social responsibility, offer elaboration, brand attitude, ethnocentrism and environmental concern. Multiple regression and one-way ANOVA analysis were used to carry out data analysis. The results of multiple regression analysis indicated that all the predictors have significant relationships with participation intentions except for firm motive. Based on the findings, hypermarket might choose to engage in CRM campaign that use “support local product” as a cause. By doing so, it might assist the hypermarket to differentiate themselves with other competitors in retail industry

Cloning of a novel phytase from an anaerobic rumen bacterium, Mitsuokella jalaludinii, and its expression in Escherichia coli

The full length phytase gene of Mitsuokella jalaludinii was successfully cloned and was found to be 1047 bp in length, with 348 amino acids, and was designated as PHY7 phytase gene. A comparison of the sequence of PHY7 phytase gene of M. jalaludinii with various microbial phytase gene sequences showed that it was not similar to those from other bacteria except Selenomonas ruminatium, thus suggesting that they may both express a new class of phytase. The PHY7 phytase gene was subsequently subcloned into bacterial expression vector, pET32a, for expression in Escherichia coli strain Rosetta-gami. Expression of the recombinant phytase gene was optimized and characterized. The recombinant phytase was estimated to be approximately 55 kDa by SDS-PAGE analysis. The recombinant phytase exhibited optimum activity at 55°C, pH 4.5 and showed good pH stability from pH 3.5 to 5.5 (>78% relative activity). Metal ions such as Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+ were found to exert significant stimulatory effect on the recombinant phytase activity while Cu2+, Fe3+, and Zn2+ greatly inhibited the enzyme activity. The recombinant phytase showed moderate resistance to trypsin proteolysis, but susceptible to pepsin proteolysis. The results of the study showed that several characteristics of recombinant phytase were slightly different from the native enzyme. Unfavourable characteristics such as reduced pH stability and metal ion effects should be taken into consideration during feed enzyme formulation

Age-Specific Associations of Usual Blood Pressure Variability With Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality: 10-Year Diabetes Mellitus Cohort Study.

Background The detrimental effects of increased variability in systolic blood pressure (SBP) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality risk in patients with diabetes mellitus remains unclear. This study evaluated age-specific association of usual SBP visit-to-visit variability with CVD and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods and Results A retrospective cohort study investigated 155 982 patients with diabetes mellitus aged 45 to 84 years without CVD at baseline (2008-2010). Usual SBP variability was estimated using SBP SD obtained from a mixed-effects model. Age-specific associations (45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84 years) between usual SBP variability, CVD, and mortality risk were assessed by Cox regression adjusted for patient characteristics. After a median follow-up of 9.7 years, 49 816 events (including 34 039 CVD events and 29 211 mortalities) were identified. Elevated SBP variability was independently, positively, and log-linearly associated with higher CVD and mortality risk among all age groups, with no evidence of any threshold effects. The excess CVD and mortality risk per 5 mm Hg increase in SBP variability within the 45 to 54 age group is >3 times higher than the 70 to 79 age group (hazard ratio, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.49-1.85 versus hazard ratio, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.15-1.23). The significant associations remained consistent among all subgroups. Patients with younger age had a higher association of SBP variability with event outcomes. Conclusions The findings suggest that SBP visit-to-visit variability was strongly associated with CVD and mortality with no evidence of a threshold effect in a population with diabetes mellitus. As well as controlling overall blood pressure levels, SBP visit-to-visit variability should be monitored and evaluated in routine practice, in particular for younger patients

Predicting the catalytic sites of isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS) related non-haem iron-dependent oxygenases and oxidases (NHIDOX) through a structural superimposition and molecular docking approach

Isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS) related Non-haem iron-dependent oxygenases and oxidases (NHIDOX) demonstrated a striking structural conservativeness, even with low protein sequence homology. It is evident that these enzymes have an architecturally similar catalytic centre with active ligands lining the reactive pocket. Deacetoxycephalosporin C synthase (DAOCS), isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS), deacetylcephalosporin C synthase (DACS), clavaminate synthase 1 and 2 (CAS1 and 2) are important bacterial enzymes that catalyze the formation of β-lactam antibiotics belonging to this enzyme family. Most plant enzyme members within this subfamily namely flavonol synthase (FLS), leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase (LDOX), anthocyanidin synthase (ANS), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACCO), gibberellin 20-oxidase (G20O), desacetoxyvindoline-4-hydroxylase (D4H), flavanone 3β-hydroxylase (F3H), and hyoscyamine 6β-hydroxylase (H6H) are involved in catalyzing the biosyntheses of plant secondary metabolites. With the advancement of protein structural analysis software, it is possible to predict the catalytic sites of protein that shared a structural resemblance. By exploiting the superimposition model of DAOCS-IPNS, DAOCS-IPNS-CAS, G20O-LDOX, FLS-LDOX, ACCO-LDOX, D4H-LDOX, F3H-LDOX and H6H-LDOX model; a computational protocol for predicting the catalytic sites of proteins is now made available. This study shows that without the crystallized or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structures of most NHIDOX enzyme, the plausible catalytic sites of protein can be forecasted using this structural bioinformatics approach.Keywords: Enzyme, catalytic sites, isopenicillin N synthase, ligand

Termite digestomes as a potential source of symbiotic microbiota for lignocelluloses degradation: a review

Termites thrive in great abundance in terrestrial ecosystems and the symbiotic gut microbiota play important roles in digestion of lignocelluloses and nitrogen metabolism. Termites are excellent models of biocatalysts as they inhabit dense microbes in their guts that produce digestive enzymes to decompose lignocelluloses and convert it to end products such as sugars, hydrogen, and acetate. Different of digestive system between lower and higher termites which lower termites dependent on their dual decomposing system, consisting of termite's own cellulases and gut's protists. Higher termites decompose cellulose using their own enzymes, because of the absence of symbiotic protists. Termite gut prokaryotes efficiently support lignocelluloses degradation. In this review, a brief overview of recent experimental works, development and commercialization is discussed. Significant progress has been made to isolate cellulolytic strains from termites and optimise the digestion efficiency of cellulose. Future perspective should emphasize the isolation of cellulolytic strains from termites, genetically modifying or immobilization of the microbes which produce the desired enzyme and thus benefits on the microbiology and biotechnology

Naturally Acquired Human Plasmodium knowlesi Infection, Singapore

Naturally Acquired Human Plasmodium knowlesi Infection, Singapor