Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Penguin news :D

16 December
Penguins offer evidence of global warming
(Antarctica)



The first Adelie penguin chicks of the season – black fluffballs small enough to hold in the hand – started hatching this month, and the simple fact that there are more of them in the south and fewer of them further north is a sign of global warming, scientists say.
Go to article - Reuters

15 December
Dog leaves penguin safe
(Australia)


Allan Marsh with two of his Maremmas.

Little penguin numbers at Warrnambool’s Middle Island have tripled after a world-first trial in which a Maremma guard dog, Oddball, was placed on the island to protect the penguins during their breeding season.
Go to article - The Warrnambool Standard

13 December
Mystery illness kills all but one yellow-eyed chick
(New Zealand)


DIMINISHING POPULATION: rare yellow-eyed penguins are under threat after a poor breeding season on Stewart Island.

Stewart Island’s yellow-eyed penguins are facing an uncertain future after a mystery illness wiped out all but one of this season’s chicks. Regular monitoring of the penguins’ largest population on the island found that of the 32 chicks hatched, just one had survived.
Go to article - Stuff.co.nz

11 December
How to see a penguin in Antarctica? Play it cool
(Antarctica)
Those who come to Antarctica often dream of seeing the regal emperor penguins or the smaller Adelies, but environmental policies require humans let the birds make the first move, and keep their distance in any case. But sometimes penguins’ curiosity brings them into close proximity with humans - and that's what happened for marine biologist Gretchen Hofmann.
Go to article - Reuters

7 December
Public asked to help track penguin vandals
(Australia)
Authorities are calling on the public to help track down vandals who attacked a colony of endangered little penguins in Sydney harbour. Two eggs were smashed and three nesting boxes destroyed in an attack on the colony near Manly last week, triggering widespread condemnation.
Go to article - News.com.au

Gender of zoo's baby penguins a mystery
(USA)


Samson, one of three penguins born recently at the Memphis Zoo, can be seen through the hatchery window. By spring, the trio should join the 24 other residents of Penguin Rock.

The three African penguins at Memphis Zoo have been named Samson, Dee Dee, and Liam - but without a blood test, you can't tell which gender penguins are. So what happens if Samson lays an egg?
Go to article - Memphis Commercial Appeal

Monday, December 18, 2006

I'm in Penang

I'm in Penang..hehe...since last Fri...and will be back in S'pore on Wed :P

Haven't met up with a lot of my fren's for years...hehe...I'm always such a lazy bum when I get home...everyday just eat, sleep, watch tv, surf internet :D

Well this time round I decided to meet up with some old frens...and one thing in common I found out abt this Penang ppl is...they all work in Intel...or knows a lot of ppl who work in Intel!!! How many ppl did Intel hired??!!

First there's my primary school classmate-cum-swimming-cum-tennis fren, Foong Hooi aka Cabbage aka ba4zao3yu2...haha...long time no see...but still look the same...same goes for her sis, Foong Yen, who happens to be in S'pore now!!
Found out from Foong Hooi so many of our childhood fren...be it from primary school, swimming or tennis are in Intel too!!!

Then there's some my secondary schoolmates...Phaik Choon, Yoon Chee and Lee Ying Ying (there r 3 Ying Ying's in my class at one pt!!) also in Intel...but Ying Ying will be coming to S'pore soon...working so near where I stay somemore...cool...there'll be 2 Ying Ying's in S'pore then...haha...Chua and Lee...if Tan Ying Ying comes back to S'pore from US...it'll be a reunion of the PCGHS class of 1997 Ying Ying's!!! haha :P

Anyway, there r more ppl working in Intel...according to my tennis coach, Francis Su...many of his ex-students are there too!! There's even ppl like Julita...din even know she did IT related stuff :P
Oh ya...Francis has friendster now...haha...check it out here...he's still trying to confirm who created it for him...wahhaha...some mischieveous boy :P

Anyway, now I can't rem who's not in Intel liao...wahaha...except those overseas...like my tennis buddy, Sze Pheh aka prawn yeap :P Still studying medicine in Aussie...
Many tennis players seem to be there too...like Amy, Adrian, Siao Yin, Siao Khee...hehe...
Even my NJ-cum-pharmacy senior, Anne, is gg there soon...she couldn't take wat she's doing here...oops...so if u think S'pore pharmacy is bad...M'sia sounds a lot worse :P

It's still a lot of sleep for me back home...somehow there's this drowsy effect everytime I come back to Penang...haha

Will be back in S'pore soon...just in time b4 Kae Woei leaves...and few other frens come back...like Small Ice...hehe...even Oyster and Vorlacks will be back..yippee...IWA reunion!!

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Wilson for NMP!!

Go Wilson!! Proud of u!!

NMP nominations attract new faces under 30 years old

Friday December 15, 8:17 PM
Channel News Asia

SINGAPORE: The deadline to apply for the posts of Nominated MPs closed on Thursday.
Some NMPs are seeking a second stint while there are also several fresh faces, some of whom are under 30.

25-year-old Wilson Ang made a dash for it just before nominations came to a close at 4.30pm.

The president of the Environmental Challenge Organisation almost did not make it as verifications were needed on his application forms.

So his friend (Cheung Kar Onn) came to his rescue.

Wilson is possibly the youngest applicant in the running to be a NMP.

But will his age work for or against him?

Said Mr Ang, "Young, being inexperienced but at the same time, I connect closer to the youth from my generation. I hope to be a more informed voice for youth opinions and issues they want to raise (that are) linked to the environment."


Another nominee from the environmental camp is 28-year-old Louis Ng, who is the executive director of the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres).

He hopes to focus on educating the young about animal welfare in Singapore.

And he has already mapped out his plans.

"I hope to engage the youth in a more sustained fashion. I will hold fortnightly meet-the-youth sessions, very similar to the MPs' meet-the-people sessions but just that they are only for youths, for them to raise social community issues," said Mr Ng.

Another nominee is 44-year-old businessman Dr Ameen Talib, who is a board member with the Association of Muslim Professionals.

65-year-old Ooi Boon Ewe also threw his hat into the ring.

Mr Ooi contested the single seat of Joo Chiat in the recent General Election.

He had also made previous attempts to apply for the NMP position.

Three former NMPs, including Nature Society president Dr Geh Min, social work volunteer Eunice Olsen and biotech businessman Tan Sze Wee, confirmed they are seeking a second term.

Six groups representing business, the labour movement and social-community organisations have also nominated candidates.

In 2004, 37 nominations were made and nine were appointed.

A maximum of nine NMPs can be appointed to serve for a term of up to two-and-a-half years.

They will be selected and interviewed by a committee of eight MPs chaired by the Speaker of the House, Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, before President SR Nathan approves the recommendations.

Those nominated should have been involved in public service, or distinguished themselves in their respective fields.

Under the Constitution, NMPs must be Singaporean, be at least 21 years of age and have lived in Singapore for the past 10 years.

They must also not be disqualified from being an MP under Article 45 of the Constitution that bars the unsound and undischarged bankrupts. - CNA/ir

Are they Men's Health Enough?

Hmm...just helping a fren promote...hehe...

He's one crappy but fun guy in the lab...damn good looking too...plus he has a black belt in taekwondo...dun mess with him...hehe :P

Vote for Heng Seng...here!!

Publications and I..hehe

Showing off some publications with my name on it...hehe...
2 are scientific papers...one is a testimonial :D

The first one...

A Preliminary Ecotoxicity Study of Pharmaceuticals in the Marine Environment

Authors: Mei Fun Choong, Amy1; Lay-Ming Teo, Serena1; Lene Leow, Jo2; Ling Koh, Hwee2; Chi Lui Ho, Paul2
Source: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A, Volume 69, Number 21, November 1 2006, pp. 1959-1970(12)
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd

Abstract:

Environmental fates and effects of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment have been the focus of recent research in environmental ecotoxicology. Worldwide studies of common over-the-counter pharmaceuticals have reported detectable levels in the aquatic environment, but there are few studies examining impacts on marine habitats. These drugs can affect the functions of various vertebrates and invertebrates. The stability of two pharmaceuticals, cyclizine (CYC) and prochlorperazine (PCZ), in seawater was examined under light and dark conditions, as well as the toxicity of these compounds to larvae of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite, which is a cosmopolitan marine organism found in most of the world's oceans. CYC was very stable under all the tested conditions. On the other hand, PCZ degraded in light but not in the dark, and was more stable in seawater than fresh water. For the barnacle larvae, the LC 50 of prochlorperazine was 0.93 μg/ml and the LC 50 for CYC was approximately 0.04 μg/ml.

Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1080/15287390600751371
Affiliations: 1: Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 2: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore

The second one...still in process of publication :P

Quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) of indoloacetamides as inhibitors of human isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase
Jo-Lene Leow1, Rudi Baron2, Patrick J. Casey2 and Mei-Lin Go1 ,
1:Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Singapore
2:Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Centre, Durham, NC 27710, USA
Received 18 July 2006; revised 26 October 2006; accepted 13 November 2006. Available online 15 November 2006.

Abstract
A QSAR is developed for the isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase (ICMT) inhibitory activities of a series of indoloacetamides (n = 72) that are structurally related to cysmethynil, a selective ICMT inhibitor. Multivariate analytical tools (principal component analysis (PCA) and projection to latent structures (PLS)), multi-linear regression (MLR) and comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) are used to develop a suitably predictive model for the purpose of optimizing and identifying members with more potent inhibitory activity. The resulting model shows that good activity is determined largely by the characteristics of the substituent attached to the indole nitrogen, which should be a lipophilic residue with fairly wide dimensions. In contrast, the substituted phenyl ring attached to the indole ring must be of limited dimensions and lipophilicity.

Article still in press in BMCL (Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters) ;)

Yippee....that's like a lot of CPE points for me...hehe...

The third one is a testimonial..hehe

Click here for larger image!!

From here...


If u live in the modern world...I'm sure u are under plenty of free radical attack too...from the sun, the polluted air, radiation from handphones/computers, stress or just from exchanging oxygen into carbon dioxide :P
So would u like to try a bottle of g3 or a box of Lifepak? Dun wait till some chronic diseases or worse still cancer develop hor :P

Monday, December 11, 2006

Interesting cards

Nothing much has happened last week...besides work :P

The only interesting thing was helping out in an adventure race on Sun...din even know wat time I'm supposed to get to yishun etc...until I got home on Sat nite and called the race organizer...hehe...slept at 2am and woke up at 5.30? *yawnz*

It was fun though...saw the usual faces in adventure races again...and met some of my frens again...like gabriel, evan and lily...and also linda!! She's in the Singapore Women's Everest Team...used to be from KR :)
Also met some new frens like Edmund, Ken and another boy...oops..forgot his name...we were helping in the same area...which was the last station...so had time to go for kopi together b4 proceeding to the station...haha...the race organizer was frantically searching for us :P

Anyway, last thur was my b'day...got some of these interesting cards...actually one is a coaster :P


This is a coaster from michelle...cute heh :D


This is a card from my twin who's now in China...the messenger was supposed to pass me the card on 7 Dec..no earlier, no later..but she din...haha..I'm supposed to send the penguin of death after her :P


This isn't exactly a b'day present...just something my housemate saw when she was on holiday in Brisbane...hehe...sounds like me...except that this is a postcard for AIDS awareness :P

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Eureka!!

After the 5th time...i think...trying to separate my cpd...i finally figured the 2 spots on my TLC is due to the 2 E/Z isomers of my compound!!

Well all this while the NMR and MS results seem to indicate that the cpd I wanted is in all fraction...but I thought it's just because the other cpd I can't identify has similar NMR spectra :P

Hmm...but I still can't figure out y the isomers of my cpd appears as 2 totally different spots on TLC..
...and still can't figure out why it can't be separated if they r 2 different spots...

Maybe my cpd isomerize in solution..so even though it was initially one isomer when it came out from the column...but by the time I spot it on TLC...it has become a racemic mixture??

Dunno lah...anyway, doesn't matter which isomer...it's just an intermediate (oxime) which will be converted into a non-chiral cpd (primary amine)...so who cares which isomer it is...
So I just wasted a lot of time...and plenty plenty solvent and columns...wahaha...

Time to move on :D

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Carl Lewis was here!!

Wow...haven't posted for 2 weeks :P
Just realized that I have been so busy that I haven't really kept in contact with my IWA members too...well...we r all busy...IWA mah :P
Also haven't seen my twin, Vorlacks, online since he left for China...his last posting on his blog was one and a half month ago!!

Anyway, what has kept me so busy man???

Deadlines in school!!

Had a couple of presentation to prepare for last week...and also an assignment to hand in...

This week I was just busy trying to separate my compound...failed so many attempts liao!!! Still haven't separate it and I'm still not sure which spot on the TLC is the compound I want...can't really carry on with the next reaction like that!!

My compound is aromatic with an oxime grp...starting material was an aldehyde...and there's a 3rd spot on the TLC which I have no idea wat cpd it is...any idea how in the world I can separate this compound??!! they seem to be separable on TLC...but why can't I separate them using Combiflash or the self-packed column??!!


Check out my TLC plates :P

Oh well...will attempt again with a much smaller load...see if overloading is my problem :P

Anyway, it wasn't all work and no play for the past couple of weeks :P

Last sat we went to play boardgames at Cheryl's place again...I was there for a short while only...Sotong, Roonz and Bala were late...so me played Club Penguin with Eric first...hehe...Eric and Rachel are sooooo cute!!
After the rest arrived...we tried to get Rachel to play hide-and-seek...haha...but she dowan!!! We played Taboo instead...and had plenty of pop corn...yummy!!!

After that I go do facial as usual at Raffles Place...anyone wanna join me? I'm a bimbo there every sat :D

On Sun...went for the beep test by Philip...to check our VO2 max...hehe...the cd player sotong brought din work...so we played the CD from his car instead!!
We ran 20 meter back and forth, back and forth...at increasing pace according to the beep...until we finally can't make it!!

My heart rate when up to 200 beats/min after stage 9...abt 80 laps of 20 m...phew...so my VO2 max was 44.5...hmm...does that mean the measurement using my HRM is quite accurate...according to my HRM...my VO2 max is abt 45-46 :D

Then this past Fri...we had an early "Operation Ninja Ambush" at Cheryl's place...haha...it was her b'day!! Got a giant mumble for her...hehe...luckily I got a ride from sotong...otherwise mumble would have to take a ride on the bus with me :P


Here's a photo of giant Mumble with Tigger...hehe

Yesterday...we met Carl Lewis!!! Nike invited him here for the Vivocity Nike opening on Fri...and also a motivational talk for some athletes on sat...
Thanx to TLR..some of us managed to attend the talk...and I got an autograph from him and a photo with him...woohoo...


Got an autograph from Carl Lewis!!


A photo of Carl Lewis and I!!



Closed up photos of Carl Lewis

The thing he said that really caught my attention was abt his medals...after his 1984 olympics multiple win...someone asked him where he kept his medals, and he casually mentioned they r in storage...
Asked why...he said that the medals represents his past achievements...he doesn't need a reminder on that...he's only focused on what he can achieve in the future!!
This is truly a trait of a successful person we can really learn from...
Dun dwell on ur past achievements or failures...just look forward to what u can achieve in the future!!

Today I accompanied Cheryl for her first 10km run...err..or was it a walk...haha...we walked most of the way...pace was very consistent...abt 11-12 mins per 1km...well...the aim was to complete...not to compete...but we both ended at the finishing line extremely fresh after 1 hr 53 mins of walking and abt 400m of run...haha...


Cheryl after the run...still looking fresh huh?

Oh well...the goal was achieved...so it was all good :D
Next target for would be to complete in 1:30...