19672 research outputs found
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Proteomic insights into short neurotoxin-driven, highly neurotoxic venom of Philippine cobra (Naja philippinensis) and toxicity correlation of cobra envenomation in Asia
No full textThe Philippine cobra, Naja philippinensis, is a WHO Category 1 venomous snake of medical importance responsible for fatal envenomation in the northern Philippines. To elucidate the venom proteome and pathophysiology of envenomation, N. philippinensis venom proteins were decomplexed with reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and protein fractions were subsequently digested with trypsin, followed by nano-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis and data mining. Three-finger toxins (3FTX, 66.64% of total venom proteins) and phospholipases A2 (PLA2, 22.88%) constitute the main bulk of venom proteome. Other proteins are present at low abundances (<4% each); these include metalloproteinase, serine protease, cobra venom factor, cysteine-rich secretory protein, vespryn, phosphodiesterase, 5′ nucleotidase and nerve growth factor. In the three-finger toxin family, the alpha-neurotoxins comprise solely short neurotoxins (SNTX, 44.55%), supporting that SNTX is the principal toxin responsible for neuromuscular paralysis and lethality reported in clinical envenomation. Cytotoxins (CTX) are the second most abundant 3FTX proteins in the venom (21.31%). The presence of CTX correlates with the venom cytotoxic effect, which is more prominent in murine cells than in human cells. From the practical standpoint, SNTX-driven neuromuscular paralysis is significant in N. philippinensis envenomation. Antivenom production and treatment should be tailored accordingly to ensure effective neutralization of SNTX. Biological significance: The venom proteome of Naja philippinensis, the Philippine cobra, is unravelled for the first time. Approximately half the protein bulk of the venom is made up of short neurotoxins (44.55% of the total venom proteins). As the only alpha-neurotoxins present in the venom, short neurotoxins are the causative toxins of the post-synaptic blockade and fast-onset neuromuscular paralysis in N. philippinensis envenomation. A substantial amount of cytotoxins (21.31%) was also detected in N. philippinensis venom, supporting that the venom can be cytotoxic although the effect is much weaker in human cells compared to murine cells. The finding is consistent with the low incidence of local tissue necrosis in N. philippinensis envenomation, although this does not negate the need for monitoring and care of bite wound in the patients. © 2019 Elsevier B.V
Composite material identification using a two-stage meta-heuristic hybrid approach incorporated with a two-level FRF selection scheme
No full textA different identification method for isotropic and composite materials, known as, the two-stage meta-heuristic hybrid GA-ACO-PSO optimization method which involves the use of the natural frequency error function in the first stage, followed by the use of the frequency response function (FRF) error function in the second stage, has been proposed. A two-stage approach is suggested along with a two-level FRF selection scheme to mitigate the effects due to uncertainties as well as to improve the identifiability of the in-plane shear modulus and Poisson's ratio. The emphasis is placed on the implementation of the two-level FRF selection scheme on account of its pivotal role in ensuring more accurate outcomes. A discernible reduction can be observed in the absolute percentage errors of the in-plane shear modulus and Poisson's ratio from the first to second stages of identification, which consequently, acknowledges the feasibility of the proposed approach in improving the identifiability of the aforementioned parameters. As compared with conventional destructive methods, the proposed method can be technically useful for industrial applications, especially in the manufacturing industry and construction industry, where operational time and cost are the primary concerns. © 2019 Elsevier Lt
De novo assembly of transcriptomes, mining, and development of novel EST-SSR markers in Curcuma alismatifolia (Zingiberaceae family) through Illumina sequencing
No full textCurcuma alismatifolia widely used as an ornamental plant in Thailand and Cambodia. This species of herbaceous perennial from the Zingiberaceae family, includes cultivars with a wide range of colours and long postharvest life, and is used as an ornamental cut flower, as a potted plant, and in exterior landscapes. For further genetic improvement, however, little genomic information and no specific molecular markers are available. The present study used Illumina sequencing and de novo transcriptome assembly of two C. alismatifolia cvs, ‘Chiang Mai Pink’ and ‘UB Snow 701’, to develop simple sequence repeat markers for genetic diversity studies. After de novo assembly, 62,105 unigenes were generated and 48,813 (78.60%) showed significant similarities versus six functional protein databases. In addition, 9,351 expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeats (EST-SSRs) were identified with a distribution frequency of 12.5% total unigenes. Out of 8,955 designed EST-SSR primers, 150 primers were selected for the development of potential molecular markers. Among these markers, 17 EST-SSR markers presented a moderate level of genetic diversity among three C. alismatifolia cultivars, one hybrid, three Curcuma, and two Zingiber species. Three different genetic groups within these species were revealed using EST-SSR markers, indicating that the markers developed in this study can be effectively applied to the population genetic analysis of Curcuma and Zingiber species. This report describes the first analysis of transcriptome data of an important ornamental ginger cultivars, also provides a valuable resource for gene discovery and marker development in the genus Curcuma. © 2019, The Author(s)
Financial development, efficiency, and competition of ASEAN banking market
No full textTheoretically, the financial sector fosters economic development of a nation. Weak institutions, poor contract enforcement, and macroeconomic instability are negatively correlated with an underdeveloped financial sector. The global trends have revived the need for the ASEAN to continue to work for further integration among member countries. ASEAN banks serve as the important intermediaries in increasing the connectivity among ASEAN members and supporting the financial integration in the region. The strong growth of ASEAN financial institutions is driven by the development of business fundamental and the increasing competitiveness of financial institutions in this region. Therefore, this study aims to examine the nexus between financial development, competition, and efficiency of ASEAN banks over the period 2011 to 2016. Using dataset of 78 banks across ASEAN countries, data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to measure efficiency, Herfindahl-Hirschman index to measure market concentration, and Lerner index to measure market power. The dynamic panel approach, namely the generalized method of moments (GMM), is employed to examine the nexus between financial development, competition, and efficiency of banks. The empirical results of nexus between financial development, competition, and efficiency indicate that competition is positively related to efficiency (technical efficiency and pure technical efficiency). However, competition is negatively related to scale efficiency. The results also show that financial development is negatively related to efficiency (pure technical efficiency) and competition. Nevertheless, GDP is positively related to competition. The results of this study imply that development in the financial sector makes banks inefficient and underutilized resources as banks improve their market power. The results of this study imply that competition in the banking sector must be encouraged to foster efficiency. © 2019 by De La Salle University
Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Low-Income Adults in Metropolitan Kuala Lumpur
No full textBackground: The aim of this research is to assess the level of physical activity (PA) in relation to different socio-economic factors and to examine the effect of the recommended level of PA on the domains of quality of life (QoL) among residents of low-income housing in the metropolitan area of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included 680 respondents from community housing projects. Reported PA was assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) short form version 2. The SF-12v2 was administered to assess the health-related QoL (HRQoL) among the study population. Respondents were grouped into “active” and “insufficient” groups according to reported weekly PA level. One-way analysis of variance, analysis of co-variance, and multiple linear regression were used in the analysis. Results: Overall, 17.6% (95% CI, 14.3-20.9) of the respondents did not achieve the recommended levels of PA (≥600 metabolic equivalent [MET]-minutes week -1 ). Level of achieving recommended PA was higher among younger participants, females, members belonging to nuclear families, and in self-employed participants. The group that fulfilled recommended PA levels (active) has higher levels of QoL in all domains except physical functioning. Conclusions: Almost one out of five low-income urban residents were physically inactive. In addition, individuals who attained recommended PA levels had better scores on some domains of HRQOL than those who did not. Our findings call for tailormade public health interventions to improve PA levels among the general population and particularly for low-income residents. © 2018 Tin Tin Su et al
How to use the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as a reference system for comparative evaluation and standardized reporting of rehabilitation interventions
No full textRehabilitation aims to optimize functioning of persons experiencing functioning limitations. As such the comparative evaluation of rehabilitation interventions relies on the analysis of the differences between the change in patient functioning after a specific rehabilitation intervention versus the change following another intervention. A robust health information reference system that can facilitate the comparative evaluation of changes in functioning in rehabilitation studies and the standardized reporting of rehabilitation interventions is the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The objective of this paper is to present recommendations that Cochrane Rehabilitation could adopt for using the ICF in rehabilitation studies by: 1) defining the functioning categories to be included in a rehabilitation study; 2) specifying selected functioning categories and selecting suitable data collection instruments; 3) examining aspects of functioning that have been documented in a study; 4) reporting functioning data collected with various data collection instruments; and 5) communicating results in an accessible, meaningful and easily understandable way. The authors provide examples of concrete studies that underscore these recommendations, whereby also em-phasizing the need for future research on the implementation of specific recommendations, e.g. in meta-analysis in systematic literature reviews. Furthermore, the paper outlines how the ICF can complement or be integrated in established Cochrane and rehabilitation research structures and methods, e.g. use of standard mean difference to compare cross-study data collected using different measures, in developing core outcome sets for rehabilitation, and the use of the PICO model. © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA
The effects of graphene oxide nanoparticle additive stably dispersed in dairy scum oil biodiesel-diesel fuel blend on CI engine: performance, emission and combustion characteristics
No full textIn the present investigation, the effects of graphene oxide nanoparticles on performance and emissions of a CI engine fueled with dairy scum oil biodiesel was studied. Nanofuel blend was prepared by dispersing graphene oxide in varying quantities in dairy scum oil methyl ester (DSOME)-diesel blend. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was used as a surfactant for a steady dispersion of graphene oxide nanoparticles in the fuel blends. The dispersion and homogeneity were characterized by ultraviolet–visible spectrometry. An ideal graphene-to-surfactant ratio was defined, highest absolute value UV-absorbency was seen for a mass fraction of 1:4. The concentration of surfactant above or below this ratio resulted in reduction in the stability of dispersion. Graphene oxide nanoparticles were amalgamated with dairy scum oil biodiesel at proportions of 20, 40 and 60 parts per million using ultrasonication technique. Experiments were performed at a constant speed and varying the brake power and load condtions. The results were notable enhancements in the performance and emissions characteristics, the brake thermal efficiency improved by 11.56%, a reduction in brake specific fuel consumption by 8.34%, unburnt hydrocarbon by 21.68%, smoke by 24.88%, carbon monoxide by 38.662% for the nanofuel blend DSOME2040 and oxides of nitrogen emission by 5.62% for fuel DSOME(B20). Similarly, the addition of graphene nanoparticles in DSOME fuel blends resulted in significant reduction in the combustion duration, ignition delay period, improvement in the peak pressure and heat release rate at maximum load condition. Finally, it is concluded that nano-graphene oxide nanoparticles can be introduced as a suitable substitute fuel additive for dairy scum oil biodiesel blends to enhance the overall engine performance and emissions characteristics. © 2019 Elsevier Lt
PCANet-Based Convolutional Neural Network Architecture for a Vehicle Model Recognition System
No full textVehicle model recognition plays a crucial role in intelligent transportation systems. Most of the existing vehicle model recognition methods focus on locating a large global feature or extracting more than one local subordinate-level feature from a vehicle image. In this paper, we propose the principal component analysis network-based convolutional neural network (PCNN) and pinpoint only one discriminative local feature of a vehicle, which is the vehicle headlamp, for vehicle model recognition. The proposed model eliminates the need for locating and segmenting the headlamp precisely. In particular, PCNN ascertains the effectiveness of both principal component analysis and CNN in extracting hierarchical features from a vehicle headlamp image and also reducing the computational complexity of the traditional CNN system. To further enhance the training procedure while still keeping the discriminative property of the network, the fully connected layer is updated by backpropagation optimized with stochastic gradient descent. The proposed method is validated using a data set that comprises 13 300 training images and 2660 testing images, respectively. The model is robust against various distortions. Experiments show that PCNN outperforms state-of-the-art techniques with an average accuracy of 99.51% over 38 vehicle makes and models using the PLUS data set. In addition, the effectiveness of the proposed method is also validated using the public CompCars data set, achieving 89.83% accuracy over 357 vehicle models. © 2000-2011 IEEE
Diabetes, arthritis, urinary incontinence, poor self‐rated health, higher body mass index and lower handgrip strength are associated with falls among community‐dwelling middle‐aged and older adults: Pooled analyses from two cross‐sectional Malaysian datasets
No full textAim: The identification of risk factors associated with comorbidities and physical fitness might provide pathways for planning therapeutic targets for future falls prevention. Results from large datasets that examined falls risk factors in Asia have been limited. The aim of the present study was to identify the risk factors for falls by pooling data consisting of medical history, physical performance and self-rated health from two large Malaysian epidemiological studies. Methods: Matching variables from the Towards Useful Aging and Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research datasets related to falls, physical performance and determinants of falls were identified and pooled for analysis. The Timed Up and Go test and dominant handgrip strength tests were used as physical performance measures. Falls were self-reported, and functional status was assessed using activities of daily living. Results: Data of 3935 participants, mean age 68.9 ± 6.8 years, 2127 (54.0%) women and 1807 (46.0%) men were extracted for analyses. In an adjusted model, independent risk factors for falls from this cohort studies were diabetes (OR 1.258), arthritis (OR 1.366), urinary incontinence (OR 1.346), poor self-rated health (OR 1.293), higher body mass index (OR 1.029) and lower handgrip strength (OR 1.234). Conclusions: Although the risk factors that emerged from our analyses were similar to available studies among older adults, the Timed Up and Go test did not appear as one of the risk factors in the present study that included middle-aged adults. Our findings will require confirmation in a prospective study. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 798–803. © 2019 Japan Geriatrics Societ
Durable porous carbon/ZnMn2O4 composite electrode material for supercapacitor
No full textA series of porous carbon/zinc dimanganese (ZnMn2O4) composites was successfully synthesized through low temperature combustion of zinc chloride (ZnCl2) activated pineapple peel (PP) and MnCO3 at 500 °C. The incorporation of manganese carbonate (MnCO3) played a vital role in modifying the pore shape and size of the sample which enhanced the rate capability and stability through the synergistic effect of carbon and ZnMn2O4. Highest specific surface area of 976.12 m2g-1 for porous carbon/ZnMn2O4 composite was obtained. The composite samples were further examined for its electrochemical performance and observed that PPZn-Mn1 achieved the specific capacitance of 104.89 Fg-1 while 119.03 Fg-1 in PPZn at the current density of 300 mA g−1. PPZn-Mn1 exhibited better rate capability and cycleability with capacitance retention at 97.06% after 5000 cycles as compared to PPZn composite which dropped to 79.52%. A symmetrical cell imposed similar characteristic which 83.89% of the capacitance was retained after 5000 cycles at 300 mA g−1. Thus, the incorporation of ZnMn2O4 in this composite has highlighted its role as the supporting element to enhance the performance in cycleability and durability test. © 2019 Elsevier B.V