Archives-October 2012

In enzymology, the palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase is the enzyme catalyzing the hydrolysis of acyl-CoA esters to free fatty acid and coenzyme A. This enzyme regulates the intracellular concentrations of acyl-CoAs, free fatty acids and CoASH. This enzyme show broad specificity towards its substrates, i.e. fatty acyl-CoAs with different chain length. Using different previously described inhibitors of palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase including Niacin, FMN, Ibuprofen, Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (DCFA) and Clofibrate in molecular dynamic experiments we simulated enzyme complexes with its inhibitors separately. The simulation media were aqueous solution, 37?C and 1 atmosphere of pressure. In order to construct reasonable complexes between enzyme and its inhibitors we made molecular docking using HEX and Argus Lab software. Our results indicate that the hypothesized mechanism responsible for enzyme inhibition is the structural changes in enzyme protein induced by inhibitors that leads to increased content of irregular random structures in enzyme secondary structure. The structural alteration in enzyme is not necessarily manifested as protein denaturation but instead it appears as increase in protein compactness that brings the protein to go far from its native relaxed structure with enough flexibility and minimum tension. Our results also show that the more effective inhibitor induce the more compactness in protein structure in concomitant with increase in random structures.

UPLC can be regarded as new direction for liquid chromatography. UPLC refers to ultra performance liquid chromatography, improves in three areas: “speed, resolution and sensitivity”. In this system uses fine particles (less than 2.5 ?m). So reduces length of column, saves time and reduces solvent consumption. UPLC chromatographic system is designed in a special way to withstand high system back-pressures. Special analytical columns UPLC BEH C18 packed with 1.7 ?m particles are used in connection with this system. The quality control analyses of various pharmaceutical formulations are transferred from HPLC to UPLC system. The UPLC system allows shortening analysis time up to nine times and three times comparing to the conventional system using 5 ?m and 3 ?m particle packed analytical columns respectively. The negative effect of particle size decrease is back-pressure increase about nine times (versus 5 ?m) or three times (versus 3 ?m), respectively. The separation on UPLC is performed under very high pressures (up to 100 MPa) but it has no negative influence on analytical column or other components of chromatographic system. Separation efficiency remains maintained or is even improved by UPLC.

Small-scale industries occupy a place of strategic importance in Indian economy in view of its considerable contribution to employment, production and exports. However, since 1991, small-scale industries in India find themselves in an intensely competitive environment due to globalization, domestic economic liberalization and dilution of sector specific protective measures. Therefore, the present study analyzes the impact of globalization on Indian Small Scale Industries. The main theme of the paper is to evaluate the performance in terms of units, employment, output and exports of SSI, before and after liberalization and to know the impact of Globalization on the performance of SSI. The period of the study is 1973-2010 and based on secondary information.

Household Investment into energy efficient light bulbs is low in Nigeria despite its proven benefits. This paper seeks to examine the factors determining the decision of households to invest in Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) and Incandescent bulbs. A multinomial logit model was used to estimate these determinants among 1,253 households in Kosofe and Ikorodu Local Government Areas of Lagos State. The model shows that household decision to invest in energy efficient CFLs is determined by factors such as household income, education level of the household head, presence of a technically skilled person in the household, use of prepaid meter, formally employed household head and male household head. Households that reside in tenement buildings are found to be less likely to invest in CFLs for lighting and number of bulbs in apartment was also found to reduce the odd in favour of investment in energy efficient bulbs. Awareness of energy saving benefits as a factor predicting investment was though found to increase the likelihood of investment in CFLs but not statistically significant. The paper recommends the promotion of energy efficient light bulbs in old buildings as recently built houses have been observed to be using them.

Two thousand three hundred and seven fish specimens sampled from Nwaniba (Ikpa River) for 12 calendar months (March 2009 – February 2010) comprised 11 orders, 34 families, 59 genera and 136 species. There was temporal and seasonal significant differences (P<0.05) between number and species of fish caught. The mean annual Index of Preponderance (IP %) values ranged from 0.01 in Brienomyrus brachyistus and Periophthalmus barbarus to 4.24% in Oreochromis niloticus. Mean monthly occurrence shows highest in August (536; 23.23%) and lowest in June (47; 2.03%). The contributions of the fish orders in theirdescending order of abundance are as follow: Siluriformes (1072; 46.47%), Ophiocephaliformes (626; 27.13%), Characiformes (264; 11.44%), Mormyriformes (159; 6.89%), Clupeiformes (87; 3.77%), Cypriniformes (40; 1.73%), Gonorhynchiformes (33; 1.43%), Osteoglossiformes (13; 0.56%), Elopiformes (9; 0.39%), Pleuronectiformes (3; 0.13%) and Perciformes (1; 0.04%). The most abundant family and species in terms of number are Schilbeidae (646; 28.00%) and Parailia pellucida (577; 25.01%) while the least are Scaenidae, Soleidae and Sphyraenidae (1; 0.04%). The most abundant family in terms of species is Mormyridae (17) and the least are 9 families with only species. Relative abundance is higher during the wet season (105 species; 77.77%) than dry season (93 species; 68.88%). The largest fish size in terms of length is recorded in Chrysichthys aluuensis (45.60cmTLmax; 18.40±9.0cm) while the smallest individual is Parailia pellucida (1.10cmTLmin; 7.50±1.20cm). The overall weightiest fish is also Mugil cephalus with a total weight of 662.80gWTmax; 54.42±16.75 while the lightest individuals are Parailia pellucida and Eutropius buffei (1.00gTWmin). Previous results differ from these; which may be occasioned by the human anthropogenic perturbations which are on-going in the river system, thus leading to environmental degradation. Hence, recommendations are proffered.

This study examines the extensive strategic analysis of AirAsia Berhad that has enabled it to sustain its competitive advantage as Asia’s leading low cost carrier (LCC). The study demonstrates the diverse business-level, corporate level and competitive strategies of AirAsia Berhad, played crucial roles in the LCC to successfully penetrate the under-served market segment of the airline industry within the ASEAN region. An in-depth analysis using a wide array of academic resources, relevant financial, legal and management resources and authorized websites, including face-to-face interviews were used to provide a more consequential comprehension on the varied business and international strategies that were implemented by AirAsia Berhad. This research exhibits critical analysis pertaining to the current macro environment of the aviation industry which includes the PESTEL framework and Porter’s Industry Analysis. The competitive environment analysis for AirAsia Berhad is thoroughly scrutinised to examine the driving determinants that attributed to the organisation’s competitive advantage in the industry. Further analysis using the Ansoff Matrix, lends evidence to the successful growth of the organization. Additionally, the international strategies that were implemented exhibit the foresight of the airline. The study concludes by adopting the balance scorecard framework to evaluate the organization from four pertinent perspectives of an organization which includes financial performance, customer knowledge, internal business process and learning and growth.

L-proline monohydrate an intriguing new organic material for frequency conversion has been grown by slow evaporation solution growth technique at room temperature. Their structural, optical and physicochemical properties were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, FTIR and FT-Raman spectra. The crystal belongs to orthorhombic system with space group Pbca. The mechanical response of the crystal has been studied using Vickers microhardness technique.

We are very happy to announce that from 10th October 2012, Prof. Hassan M.H. Mustafa has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Artificial Neural Networks, Natural Inspired Computations , and their applications for modeling of Communication systems and evaluation of learning processes /phenomena. Prof. Hassan M.H. Mustafa is currently working with Associate Professor with Computer Engineering Department, Al-Baha University, K.S.A. The appointment of Prof. Hassan M.H. Mustafa as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. Please send any expressions of interest to chiefeditor@elixirjournal.org. Sincerely Editor-in-Chief

We are very happy to announce that from 19th October 2012, Mr.Zairi Ismael Rizman has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Electrical Engineering. Mr.Zairi Ismael Rizman is currently working with Senior Lecturer in Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) (Terengganu) Malaysia. The appointment of Mr.Zairi Ismael Rizman as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. Please send any expressions of interest to chiefeditor@elixirjournal.org. Sincerely Editor-in-Chief

We are very happy to announce that from 29th October 2012, Dr. Dibyajyoti Saha has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Pharmacy. Dr. Dibyajyoti Saha is currently working as Associate Professor & Chairman, Department of Pharmacy, BGC Trust University Bangladesh, Chittagong, Bangladesh. The appointment of Dr. Dibyajyoti Saha as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. Please send any expressions of interest to chiefeditor@elixirjournal.org. Sincerely Editor-in-Chief