Just another post...

I haven't posted for so long man!!
Just been busy I guess....
Anyway, being IWA...it's kinda expected to be this busy :P

Wait a minute...I wasn't all that busy...in fact, I wasn't doing much last week...just sleeping a lot...hehe...

Well...it all started after my last posting...on the 4th...my housemate started to be very sick...actually it was the 3rd nite...but i got home late and never see...just assumed she has slept early that day...
The next day...she msg me to ask whether I'm gg home early the day...would like me to get dinner since she was sick...hmm...that din sound rite...she must be really sick...
Indeed she was...with really high fever...up to 39 degrees!!

The next day same thing...still having a fever...went back to see the doc who refered her to TTSH for a blood test...suspected dengue...uhoh...
Anyway, blood test result was inconclusive...with pretty low platelet...but not at a critical level...so she was sent home...
Apparently she had an interesting episode there...haha...some "kuku" guy (her words) was there...kept requesting for "X-ray! X-ray!"...apparently his slot was for 11 Jan 10.30am...so he was asked to go home...

On Sat...she went back for another test...again...same thing...and the "kuku" guys was also there...haha...
Anyway, I went to donate blood that morning...my hemoglobin was 14.1..very good...last month couldn't donate 'cos Hb was a little low 12.1 :P

Sunday..same thing for Ms Lim...
But Feei and I went Vivocity for her b'day lunch with a few other ASEAN ppl...had to leave the lawyer at home...hehe...but we'll get some non-oily sandwich for her...she hasn't been able to eat well and been puking out most of wat she ate...she figured it's too oily...and she dreamt of salad and sandwich the nigth b4...haha...
How to find non oily sandwich in Vivocity?? In the end never get anything...instead I went out again in the evening and got sushi for her...it's kinda non-oily rite :P

On Mon...still not well...so her dad decided to send her mom and sis over to rescue her...hehe...
That afternoon...I started to feel..not too good...but anyway, I had plans to meet up with Mr Koh and the NUS tennis gals that evening...so I just hanged ard in school till we met up...
It was nice to meet up with ppl like Joanne and Sharon Liu again!! Busy lawyers...luckily we met up in Raffles City...they could drop by after work :D
...I found out Joanne works in Drew n Napier...same same as my Ms Lim...not only her...Grace Lai is also there...and someone else from the guys team...was it Ray? Haha...everybody works there?
Too bad Grace had plans that nite liao...Stacey also just happened to have left the country that morning...forgot abt Mei Ling...oops...but ChenMei said she's in Germany...phew...hehe
Anyway, it was nice meeting with all those that ppl again...haven't seen each other since after graduation man!!
I was pretty much "gone" after dinner...luckily got a lift home from Mr Koh :D

Tue...even though I was still kinda feverish...I had to go back to the lab to stop the overnight reaction I had started the day b4...gotta work it up...extract..then rotavap...wash my glasswares, clean up the bench...blah blah blah...then home I go ;)

Wei Lee's mum and sis was ard...anyway, I just went home and sleep till it's time to meet Vorlacks for dinner...oh ya...Vorlacks just got back on Sat...and will be leaving again on Sat...that's the only day I'm available to meet him...and find out from him abt his interesting posting on the blog!! Angel and Lili were there too...
It was Tue...so waffles were at 50% off...hehe...I left after one waffle...Vorlacks and Lili wanted another one...but the wait was 30 mins...I wanna sleep liao lah :P

Wed...I din go sch...just nua at home...even meals were settled by Wei Lee's mum...hehe...when to see doc and had a blood test there..just in case...platelets were normal...230..and WBC was normal but on the low side...4.6...

Thur...same thing...except I went to work in the evening...hehe
Wei Lee doesn't seem to have dengue...based on serum antibody...so the docs think it's Chikugunya...it's just a different virus...but basically the same as dengue...spread by Aedes, symptoms similar except different rash pattern...

Fri...went to the lab for a while in the morning...got someone to replace me for work that evening since I was gg to Malacca the next morning...needed more sleep :P

Sat and Sun...I was in Malacca for a day and a half for various interesting and exciting talks! So exciting that I developed a slight fever again on Sun nite :P

Mon...din go sch again...haha...tried to prepare that poster for the OLS opening on the 5 and 6 of next month...oh shucks...it's still not done yet...maybe I need to panick liao...since I have another presentation to prepare for next next Wed's group meeting...

Anyway, this week was just busy in the lab...synthesizing some cpds and purifying some other cpds by Combiflash...I love Combiflash...save me the trouble of packing my own column...and it's so much faster!!! of course that makes it more expensive...but who cares :P

Ok that's all for now...time to get off work soon...wahaha :P

Oh ya...Wei Lee has just been added to the statistics for Chikugunya yesterday...hehe...so wat did I have?

X'mas and new year!!

There were so many holidays the past couple of weeks...so many long weekends!!
First there was X'mas...then there was Hari Raya Haji...and followed by New Year's Day!!
Oh ya...and followed by Feei's b'day..haha :P

So guess wat I did for the holidays??!!
I worked!! Very IWA indeed huh?

Worked at TPY on X'mas day...busy as usual...but ok ;)

Then I was at AMK on New Year's Day and the following day (replacement hol for Hari Raya Haji)...wah...that place is madness...that new hub isn't even all ready...wonder y the rush to open *shrug*
There's only one way down to the basement now...takes me 1 minute to ride on one escalator...ya..i was so irritated...i decided to time my ride...oh ya...there r 2 escalators each way...so...for a 30 min lunch break...I need to spend 5-10 mins getting in and out of that basement...arghhhhh!!
Oh ya..and that place is crowded as hell...dun u guys have another place to go...y all come and crowd in AMK...so irritating...I hate crowds :P
...and then there r the drug addicts...so crowded also u guys wanna come...wat's ur problem??!!
...and does the dispensary at AMK look a lot more like the cashier then any other shop??!! Stop coming to the dispensary to make ur payment...the word "CASHIER" is damn huge and u guys can ask me where's the cashier??!! U all irritate the hell out of me!!
Oh ya...I think a taller stool is necessary for the dispensary...or maybe just longer arms?? I can't even sit down to use the computer or write anything on the desk...design sucks man :P

Oh well...that was the sucky 2 days I had at AMK...at least I'm paid...although if I knew it were this busy and irritating...dun think I would I have chosen to work :P

Anyway, thankfully it's not all work the last couple of weeks...

There was the x'mas party the sat b4 x'mas...I was supposed to be santa elf...but in the end...din get the costume :P
I was a microphone stand instead...wahaha...
It was fun...with plenty of food and entertainment in the form of skit, cooking demo and singing...we sure have great singers ard ;)

Then last Sat it was KC's wedding lunch...met up with quite a few ASEAN ppl...with special guest appearance all the way from Canada...Ms Choy Lye Sim...hehe...
That evening...our lab also had a new year-cum-farewell dinner for Huiwen...at Xiaoling's place...wah...more yummy food...
Then after that..at home...we have the "sim"s...Lye Sim and Win Sim..and Yee Ling over at our place...just to drink and chat...
Lye Sim got really red after a little drink...that's a lot of acetaldehyde produced by her body...haha...not good!!

Anyway, the next day...there was the ultramarathon at MR...well...I totally forgot abt it...shld have noted it down on my PDA :P
Instead I had lunch with Angel...and her dad...hehe...she just got off work...and since she's on call...her dad came to pick her up ;)

That evening...went for countdown at grand plaza hotel...b4 that had dinner with kaizhen...with plenty of time to spare, I took the shuttle bus down to marina square and walked back to city hall...I was so against the human traffic flow...haha...everyone else is headed towards esplanade...no way I'm gg there...I hate crowds...hmm...think I have mentioned that b4 :P

After counting down, we just continued to hang ard...while I played with helium balloons...haha...I really talk like a cartoon after inhaling helium :D
Now I feel like dismantling the helium tank attached to the mass spec machine...and make more helium balloons....Sek Eng will sure kill me if i do that ;)

Oh and finally, yesterday we had a surprise b'day celebration for Feei...with her "friend" ard...hmm...interesting how come this "friend" (yup...just a fren) of hers always get to spend all those special times with her...haha

That's how I spent my x'mas and new year....

So now it's back to work....synthesis, synthesis, synthesis!!
When can I use the mass spec?? I need to confirm my compound b4 I make more of it!!

Happy New Year!!

It's 2007 already!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

So wat's ur new year resolution???

I never seem to have a new year resolution b4...so this year my new year resolution is to have a new year resolution...woohoo...am I crappy or wat :P

Ok...time to sleep...dun wanna sell the wrong drugs to customers tomorrow...or rather later today :P

Will write more abt recent happenings later ;)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! again...hehe...

Zzzzzzzzzz....

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

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!!

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



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

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

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

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...

Another Ironman inspiration!!

This is truly inspiring...

To me the most inspiring thing abt athletes who manage to complete such a feat is not so much the fact that they managed to complete it...i.e. the results...but more of the process...the amount of discipline and effort that goes into training for the event!!!
These athletes spent almost all of their non-working/sleeping/eating hours training!! Can u do that??!!

Having met Harn Wei b4 at the NUS pool...I also find him extremely humble...a trait that many truly great ppl have...think I gotta learn to be more humble if I wanna be great :P

The Straits Times

Nov 18, 2006
TRIATHLON
Kua completes 10 Ironman races in 10 straight days
By Jeanette Wang

IMAGINE swimming lengthwise across Singapore, then cycling up to Chiang Mai and finally running back south to Bangkok.
Impossible?


AMAZING FEAT: Kua Harn Wei took a total of 156hr 48min 43sec to complete the Deca-Iron Triathlon World Challenge in Mexico.

Singaporean Kua Harn Wei will tell you otherwise.

The National University of Singapore lecturer, 35, covered that distance at the Deca-Iron Triathlon World Challenge in Monterrey, Mexico, last week.

The event was organised by Multisport Andonie, a Mexican company specialising in ultra-distance events.

Starting last Monday, Kua completed one Ironman triathlon - a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and 42.195km run - every day. He did it for 10 straight days.

Competitors had to swim 76 laps in an indoor heated pool, cycle 93 laps of a paved circuit, and run 22 laps of that same circuit within 24 hours.

Once completed, the remainder of the day was free. But each day at 9am, a new round would be flagged off.

Of the 17 athletes who started, only nine - eight men and a woman - managed to finish all 10 races.

Kua is the first Asian to complete the challenge.

The 2006 Singapore Youth Award winner averaged 15hr 40min 12sec for each Ironman. He won the final leg in 13:16.33.

His total time for the 10 races was 156hr 48min 43sec.

The overall results were not available at press time.

Kua, who took part in his first Olympic distance triathlon (1.5km swim, 40km ride, 10km run) in 1992, has also competed in the Ironman and Double Ironman distances.

Last year, he was ninth at the Quintuple Ironman World Championships in Mexico.

His latest feat has left Triathlon Association of Singapore president David Hoong in awe.

'It's beyond the human body. I can't believe he did it,' he said.

Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports Teo Ser Luck, a three-time Ironman, added: 'Singaporeans should take this as an example of someone who always sets the bar higher for himself.'

Kua could not be contacted.

So do u think I'll attempt a crazy feat like that in the future?
Neh...dun think so :P
Of course things might change in the future...after all I never thought I would attempt...much less complete...a full marathon...up till my undergraduate days :P

Penguins in the news again :D

National Geographic News

Photo in the News: Penguin Shoes Ensure "Happy" Feet



November 15, 2006—They might not be suede, but these blue shoes are a perfect fit for "Elvis."

The newly shod bird, seen here, is one of 18 "second chance" little penguins now living at the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand. The penguins, also called blue or fairy penguins, were adopted from Marineland in Napier, New Zealand, which rescues sick or injured marine animals and sends some of those that can't return to the wild to live at regional animal centers.

But not long after their September arrival in Christchurch, a few penguins started to develop calluses on their feet that could have led to infections. Such calluses are common for penguins in captivity, because the seabirds, which normally spend most of their time fishing at sea, occasionally get lazy and spend too much time waddling on land.

"When the penguins arrived … some developed sore feet, and this has proved quite tricky for us to treat," International Antarctic Centre director Richard Benton said in a press release.

So the center's staff began a rigorous treatment regime, including saltwater foot baths, ointment applications, and fashion footwear design. The special penguin shoes—available in blue and green—are tailored specifically for the little penguins and are made of breathable material with light rubber soles.

"We have seen a dramatic improvement," Benton said, "and [we] expect that they will only be wearing their pretty shoes for a very short time."

—Victoria Gilman

Happy Feet

More penguins in the movie!! Must watch this too!!!

Penguins in An Inconvenient Truth :D

U must watch this show!!

Busy life of a mad chemist

Hmm...have I really been that busy the past 2 weeks??

Let me see...
I have finally completed my cell assay work last Mon...yippee...managed to get 3 good readings liao...so no need to do extra...hehe...I feel so lucky...
Anyway, I have killed of the remaining cells...gave them a huge dose of bleach :P

Now I have started on synthesis again...got to use the Combiflash to first purify my previous synthetic cpd that has been kept in the RBF for moons and moons...hehe...
So far I have only synthesized one cpd and but I have yet to separate them...had 2 failed attempt with the Combiflash...first the column I used was too big...then the solvent system too polar liao :P
Oh well...that's part and parcel of synthesis...plenty of failed attempts :P

Besides my research work...I also had plenty of assignments :P
Well this is the last sem I need to do any assignments...have completed my module requirement for PhD...yippee ;)

My first assignment for the "Pharm Analysis" module was on NMR and MRI...due long time ago...that was a boring paper :P

The second assignment was on LC-MS...a grp assignment...we were supposed to come up with a problem related to our research field and come up with a solution involving LC-MS...
My group decided to write up on the standardization of Lingzhi (aka Ganoderma lucidum)...I found out that there isn't a single product in the market that has standardized lingzhi...except Pharmanex :P
Lingzhi is a very good TCM that's potentially very useful as an adjunct in anticancer treatment...but w/o a standardized pdt...which oncologist would dare to let their patient use it??!!

If u r interested, check out the write up here ;)

My final assignment for this very same module (super a lot of assignment for one module hor :P) due on 23rd Nov...is on biophotonic imaging...hehe...sounds familiar?
Well similar to my 2nd assignment...we r supposed to write on a possible application of this technology in relation to our research work...
I'm planning to write abt the use of Raman spectroscopy for antioxidant/carotenoid determination to investigate the potential synergistic effect of antioxidants and my anticancer drug :D

Finally, for the "Emerging Concepts in Drug Discovery" module, I wrote on ziconotide...an interesting marine natural product for chronic pain...which was just approved by the FDA in 2004...

It's a very interesting drug 'cos it has a novel mechanism of action...unlike the usual opioid drugs which works on..err...the opioid receptors...haha :P
Ziconotide work on the N-type calcium channel...it's the first of its kind!!

Also another interesting pt is that ziconotide is the original/unmodified form which was extracted from the cone snail, Conus magnus...most drugs are usually modified/improved form of the original natural pdts...
But in this case even with attempts to improve this natural product, scientists found that the most potent form is still its original form ;)

Well...have I bore u enough? :P
Anyway, if u r interested...u can download my assignment write up here...I have also included the story behind how ziconotide was serendiptously discovered ;)
I hope to do some research on marine natural products in the future...hehe...hopefully I can go diving to get my own samples too...haha :)

Oh...assignments are not all that's keeping busy...
Starting from next week...we r gg to have weekly meetings for all those in my lab...each week, someone has to present briefly abt the work and progress...
I'm supposed to present the following week (20 Nov)...my co-supervisor will be coming along to...save me the trouble of doing the presentation twice...hehe...but I think our meeting with him is long overdue...I hope they have some results on the enzyme inhibition assay for me too :P

Well...that's my busy life for now...but I still managed to exercise at least once or twice a week...been swimming every week...and last week I also went to Sentosa to run with Jayce...it's been so long we ran together!! Hmm...but my ITBS seem to be still there...shucks...I gotta be more hardworking and do some strengthening exercise...otherwise how m I gg to fulfill my IRONMAN dream??!!!

Farewell to my twin?

It's been a while since I have posted...been busy and lazy :P

Anyway, I gotta post something since my twin aka Vorlacks will be leaving for China soon...tomorrow actually...he's been to China quite a number of times the past few months...but this time round...it'll be a much longer trip...at least for a few months...

So I met up with him at Hougang Mall on Thur...it was the only weeknight I was free :P
Wow...I haven't been to Hougang Mall for so long...it's pretty different now after the renovation...renovation is done except some tiny ppl still doing some final touch up like minor screwing and paintings...haha...ok...that last part is crap :P

We had dinner at Cafe Cartel...wanted to order the special combo which contains ribs, chicken, pork etc...unfortunately it's for 4 person...there was only 2 of us and 2 penguins...
Oh well...we had something else instead....forgot to take photo though...shucks!!

Only took one b4 dinner was served...Vorlacks was pretty hungry...so he resorted to eating....my penguins!!!!



After dinner, Vorlacks took out his laptop to get connected to the internet...we found the Hao/How brothers online...How is also in Netherlands with Hao aka oyster...haha...we got a call from Hao which we put on speaker...couldn't hear half the things they said...could only hear them laughing and laughing...typical of the Hao :P

We had dessert after that and it was time to head home...
Of course b4 that...we need took some twin photo...no more twin photos for a while after this!!!

Here's the photo...


So long, twin!!! Till we meet again!!!

Campaign 4 An Inconvenient Truth

Just watch the documentary on global warming at a special screening by ECO at GV Plaza Sing...would like to encourage more ppl to watch it...

It's an excellent documentary that everyone have to watch...and take action!!!
Global warming has to be stopped if u want the earth to live longer than u and many generations after u...

The evidence of global warming is overwhelming and undeniable...
1) The number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes has almost doubled in the last 30 years.
2) Malaria has spread to higher altitudes in places like the Colombian Andes, 7,000 feet above sea level
3) The flow of ice from glaciers in Greenland has more than doubled over the past decade
4) At least 279 species of plants and animals are already responding to global warming, moving closer to the poles

...and if the warming continues...
1) Deaths from global warming will double in just 25 years - to 300,000 people a year
2) Global sea levels could rise by more than 20 feet with the loss of shelf ice in Greenland and Antartica, devastating coastal areas worldwide
3) Heat waves will be more frequent and more intense
4) Droughts and wildfires will occur more often
5) The Artic Ocean could be ice free in summer by 2050 (where would penguins and polar bears go then??!!)
6) More than a million species worldwide could be drive to extinction by 2050

Therefore, take action b4 it's too late!!!
A little effort goes a long way...

Here are 10 simple things u can do...
1) Change a light
2) Drive less
3) Recycle more
4) Check your tires...keep it properly inflated
5) Use less hot water
6) Avoid products with a lot of packaging
7) Adjust your thermostat
8) Plant a tree
9) Turn of electronic devices...when not in use
10) Spread the word!! Encourage your friends to watch An Inconvenient Truth!!

For more information, go to www.climatecrisis.net
Most of the information above are obtained from the website

My favorite quotes from the movie: "Ask your parents not to ruin the world you'll be living in" and "If you are a parent, join your children..."

"It is DIFFICULT to get a man to understand something when his SALARY depends upon his NOT UNDERSTANDING IT."
Upton Sinclair

Just another busy week

It's been busy busy busy again...so busy I can't really rem wat kept me busy :P

Let me see...I have been swimming at least once a week recently...other than that...it's just going to the lab...nothing interesting...

Sat I went to KL for a seminar...left super early in the morning...and came back super late at night...after a yummy dinner at a nyonya restaurant in Malacca...yummy!!!

Sun...even though I went to bed pretty late...still had to wake up early for an interclub tennis match in NUS...it was my longest game!!! 3hrs...3 sets...lost the first one...won the 2nd...then...lost the 3rd...sianz...I think our NUS ladies' team has yet to win a single match throughout this doubles league!!! excluding the walkover we got :P
Eunice and I got real close to winning one...but...sighz...that's kinda wat happen when u dun train...u regret it!!!

After the super long match...I got lift to Suntec for pharmacy week!!! Plenty of free health screening...including blood glucose, blood pressure, body fat analysis, bone density test...and, most importantly, ANTIOXIDANT scan!!!
Well...ur antioxidant score tells u how healthy u are...unlike the other "health" screening which only tell u wat disease condition u have or do not have...for example a normal blood glucose only tells u that u do not have diabetes :P

Whereas if ur antioxidant level is high...it means ur body is better protected against free radical attack...
Free radical attack can cause aging and cancer, and have also been proved to be associated to 200 over chronic diseases!!!

My antioxidant score is 53000 (optimal = 50000+)...wat's urs?


This week...back in school...except on Tue...'cos it Hari Raya!! Worked at TPY instead...
It flooded at the basement due to a burst pipe the night b4!!! Luckily by the time I got there...it was more or less cleared up...nothing interesting except I got so many calls from that irritating aunty again!!!

Wed I was planning to column of the crude compounds I synthesized a couple months back...hehe...jialat hor...leave it for sooooo long...
Instead I was busy editing a paper...that hopefully will be published on the Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters soon...it finally came back after a long review...

Finally I managed to column my compound today...it was really fast using the Combiflash...looks quite clean...I think...hehe...Jianchao doesn't think so :P Oh well...it's just an intermediate...will do NMR on Mon and see how ;)
Had to do another cell culture assay to determine the IC50 of 2 compounds because blur me added the wrong compound in the last assay!!! Waste time and waste money man!!! So I seeded the cells today...tom add drug...next Mon add MTT ;)

After a mad rush...decided to join Wilson at the screening of "The Inconvinient Truth"...it's a documentary on global warming...narrated by former US Vice President Al Gore...hehe...last minute go gate crash :P

I'm still alive!!

Yippee...the test is over...and I'm still alive...haha

In fact, I think the little bit that I studied was all I need for that paper...hehe...yippee...

Hmm...so now I just need to complete my 2 assignments due in less than 2 weeks time :D

...and in the lab it's back to playing with chemicals again soon...well...my boss have been bugging me abt that quite a while ago...but...hehe...cell culture work is really time-consuming...my boss dun seem to understand that...seems like u really gotta do it to understand it :P