University of Malaya

About: University of Malaya is a education organization based out in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Fiber laser. The organization has 25087 authors who have published 51491 publications receiving 1036791 citations. The organization is also known as: UM & Universiti Malaya.

Evaluation of diagnostic tests: dengue.

Abstract: Dengue is an arthropod-borne flavivirus that comprises four distinct serotypes (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4) that constitute an antigenic complex of the genus flavivirus, family Flaviviridae. Infection by one serotype induces life-long immunity against reinfection by the same serotype, but only transient and partial protection against infection with the other serotypes1,2. Dengue virus infections can result in a range of clinical manifestations from asymp tomatic infection to dengue fever (DF) and the severe disease dengue haemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/ DSS). Most dengue infections are asymptomatic or cause mild symptoms, which are characterized by undifferentiated fever with or without rash. Typical DF is characterized by high fever, severe headache, myalgia, arthralgia, retro-orbital pain and maculopapular rash. Some patients show petechiae, bruising or thrombocytopenia. The clinical presentation of acute dengue infection is non-specific but 5–10% of patients progress to severe DHF/DSS, which can result in death if it is not managed appropriately. Plasma extravasation is the main pathophysiological finding of DHF/ DSS, which differentiates it from DF. DHF/ DSS is characterized by high fever, bleeding, thrombocytopenia and haemoconcentration (an increase in the concentration of blood cells as a result of fluid loss). Approximately 3–4 days after the onset of fever, patients can present with petechiae, rash, epistaxis, and gingival and gastrointestinal bleeding. Pleural effusion and ascites are common. Some patients develop circulatory failure (DSS), presenting with a weak and fast pulse, narrowing of pulse pressure or hypotension, cold and moist skin and altered mental state. Although there are no specific antiviral treatments for dengue infection, patients usually recover when the need for fluid management is identified early and electrolytes are administered3. It has been proposed that the classification of dengue disease should be simplified as severe and non-severe dengue. This simplified classification would make patient management and surveillance easier4. There is a need for specific, inexpensive dengue diagnostic tests that can be used for clinical management, surveillance and outbreak investigations and would permit early intervention to treat patients and prevent or control epidemics. Progress is being made in primary prevention, with several candidate dengue vaccines in late phases of development as well as improved vector control measures. Additionally, new techniques for the early detection of severe disease such as the use of biomarkers have the potential to decrease morbidity and

Observation of the diphoton decay of the Higgs boson and measurement of its properties

Abstract: Observation of the diphoton decay mode of the recently discovered Higgs boson and measurement of some of its properties are reported. The analysis uses the entire dataset collected by the CMS experiment in proton-proton collisions during the 2011 and 2012 LHC running periods. The data samples correspond to integrated luminosities of 5.1 inverse femtobarns at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV and 19.7 inverse femtobarns at 8 TeV. A clear signal is observed in the diphoton channel at a mass close to 125 GeV with a local significance of 5.7 sigma, where a significance of 5.2 sigma is expected for the standard model Higgs boson. The mass is measured to be 124.70 +/- 0.34 GeV = 124.70 +/- 0.31 (stat) +/- 0.15 (syst) GeV, and the best-fit signal strength relative to the standard model prediction is 1.14 +0.26/-0.23 = 1.14 +/- 0.21 (stat) +0.09/-0.05 (syst) +0.13/-0.09 (theo). Additional measurements include the signal strength modifiers associated with different production mechanisms, and hypothesis tests between spin-0 and spin-2 models.

Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Nanocellulose: Structure and Chemical Process

Abstract: Lignocellulosic biomass is a complex biopolymer that is primary composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The presence of cellulose in biomass is able to depolymerise into nanodimension biomaterial, with exceptional mechanical properties for biocomposites, pharmaceutical carriers, and electronic substrate's application. However, the entangled biomass ultrastructure consists of inherent properties, such as strong lignin layers, low cellulose accessibility to chemicals, and high cellulose crystallinity, which inhibit the digestibility of the biomass for cellulose extraction. This situation offers both challenges and promises for the biomass biorefinery development to utilize the cellulose from lignocellulosic biomass. Thus, multistep biorefinery processes are necessary to ensure the deconstruction of noncellulosic content in lignocellulosic biomass, while maintaining cellulose product for further hydrolysis into nanocellulose material. In this review, we discuss the molecular structure basis for biomass recalcitrance, reengineering process of lignocellulosic biomass into nanocellulose via chemical, and novel catalytic approaches. Furthermore, review on catalyst design to overcome key barriers regarding the natural resistance of biomass will be presented herein.

Porphyromonas gingivalis: An Overview of Periodontopathic Pathogen below the Gum Line

Abstract: Periodontal disease represents a group of oral inflammatory infections initiated by oral pathogens which exist as a complex biofilms on the tooth surface and cause destruction to tooth supporting tissues. The severity of this disease ranges from mild and reversible inflammation of the gingiva (gingivitis) to chronic destruction of connective tissues, the formation of periodontal pocket and ultimately result in loss of teeth. While human subgingival plaque harbors more than 500 bacterial species, considerable research has shown that Porphyromonas gingivalis, a Gram-negative anaerobic bacterium, is the major etiologic agent which contributes to chronic periodontitis. This black-pigmented bacterium produces a myriad of virulence factors that causes destruction to periodontal tissue either directly or indirectly by modulating the host inflammatory response. Here, this review provides an overview of P. gingivalis and how its virulence factors contribute to the pathogenesis with other microbiome consortium in oral cavity.