Publications by authors named "Choong C"

This study investigates the removal of total organic carbon (TOC) from paper mill wastewater using air dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma, combined with various persulfate sources, namely potassium peroxymonosulfate (PMS), potassium peroxydisulfate (PDS), and sodium persulfate (SPS). Mechanistic insights into the activation of plasma-PDS and -PMS were obtained through quenching experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) techniques. The addition of persulfate to air DBD plasma increased TOC removal kinetics by approximately 1.

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A checklist, based on a database containing published data, of the Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) occurring in Sundaland and Wallacea is presented. The presence of (sub)species is indicated for eight main regions (Singapore & Peninsular Malaysia, South China Sea (islands in the South China Sea that are not sensibly treated as satellites of larger landmasses), Borneo, Sumatra, Java & Bali, Lesser Sunda, Sulawesi, Moluccas), 22 subregions and 80 smaller islands and island groups. In total 743 full species are recorded from the entire area with 549 species known from Sundaland and 270 from Wallacea.

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In this study, the removal performances of a multi-pollutant elimination cartridge system (MPECS) composed of palm shell waste-based activated carbon (PSAC), magnesium (Mg)/silicon (Si)-doped PSAC (Mg/Si-PSAC), and silver (Ag)-doped PSAC (Ag-PSAC) for heavy metals, organic pollutants, and were investigated. Mg/Si impregnation significantly improved heavy metal removal using PSAC by increasing the surface area and adding more sorption sites to the magnesium silicate nanolayer. Fixed-bed column experiments showed that the MPECS column outperformed PSAC and commercial activated carbon (DJAC), with a 1.

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  • Genetic variations can affect how kidney transplant recipients respond to immunosuppressive drugs, prompting a study on the cost-effectiveness of pharmacogenetic testing in this patient group.
  • A multicenter study analyzed data from 39 ethnic diverse kidney transplant recipients treated with immunosuppressants and found that annual healthcare costs were high, especially for those with specific genetic variants.
  • The research indicated that certain genetic profiles could lead to more cost-effective kidney transplant management, but additional studies with larger populations are needed to confirm these findings.
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Introduction: Body mass index (BMI) is inadequately recorded in US administrative claims databases. We aimed to validate the sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of BMI-related diagnosis codes using an electronic medical records (EMR) claims-linked database. Additionally, we applied machine learning (ML) to identify features in US claims databases to predict obesity status.

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  • * The study explores the mechanisms behind this low adsorption efficiency of short-chain PFAS and suggests that smaller activated carbon particles can improve removal rates for both short- and long-chain PFAS.
  • * Smaller activated carbon particles provide a larger surface area and better accessibility to pores, reducing the risk of blockage and increasing overall adsorption capacity for short-chain PFAS.
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Introduction: Dual-expressing lymphocytes (DEs) are unique immune cells that express both B cell receptors (BCRs, surface antibody) and T cell receptors (TCRs). In type 1 diabetes, DE antibodies are predominated by one antibody (x-mAb), an IgM monoclonal antibody with a germline-encoded CDR3 that recognizes self-reactive TCRs. We explored if x-mAb and its interacting TCRs have distinct structural features.

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Objectives: Current American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and European Society of Hypertension (ESH) thresholds defining hypertension in children use blood pressure (BP) normalised to age, sex and height. However, scare data exists regarding the relative importance of these variables to accurately model the 95th quantile of BP. We hypothesised that height alone may fit the population data equally well compared to more complex definitions.

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Patients with psoriasis often take multiple medications due to comorbidities, raising concerns about drug-drug interactions (DDIs) during the development of new medicines. DDI risk assessments of a new small molecule showed risks of CYP3A4 autoinduction and being a sensitive CYP3A4 substrate. We conducted a real-world evidence (RWE) claims analysis to assess the frequency of prescription claims for up to 12 months from the date of the initial psoriasis diagnosis for drugs that may interact with CYP3A4 substrates.

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  • - The case series examines the use of sirolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, as an additional treatment for hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia (HH) in infants who don't respond to standard therapies.
  • - Four infants from two pediatric centers in Australia were treated with sirolimus, with their clinical responses and side effects tracked through chart reviews.
  • - Results showed sirolimus to be effective and mostly safe, leading to hospital discharges, but suggested a need for careful monitoring and lower dosing to mitigate risks, highlighting the necessity for more research on its use.
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  • This study explores a new way to use graphene oxide modified with melamine formaldehyde to create a three-dimensional structure (3D-GO) that can effectively remove uranium (U) from water by adding UiO-66, a metal-organic framework.
  • The modified material, 3D-GO/U-10, demonstrates a high capacity for U adsorption (375.5 mg/g) across a wide range of pH levels and retains impressive performance even after multiple regeneration cycles.
  • Advanced techniques showed that a specific site in UiO-66 is key to strong binding with U, resulting in a material that not only adsorbs uranium effectively but can
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  • - Dengue fever is caused by the dengue virus and transmitted through infected female mosquitoes, resulting in around 100 million new cases yearly across over 120 countries, with a significant rise in incidence over the past 40 years.
  • - Most people experience mild symptoms, but some can develop severe disease, which may lead to death; immune responses and blood-related issues are key factors in severe cases.
  • - This review explores the clinical and biological aspects of blood-related symptoms in dengue, highlights critical gaps in current knowledge and practice, and suggests areas for future research.
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In-situ remediation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) contaminated soils via Fenton oxidation is a promising approach. However, determining the proper injection amount of HO and Fe source over the Fenton reaction in the complex geological conditions for in-situ TPH soil remediation remains a daunting challenge. Herein, we introduced a practical and novel approach using soft computational models, a multilayer perception artificial neural network (MPLNN), for predicting the TPH removal performance.

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Objectives: To evaluate asthma characteristics and treatment patterns, including short-acting β-agonist (SABA) prescriptions, in primary and specialist care in the Singapore cohort of the SABA use IN Asthma (SABINA III) study.

Design: Cross-sectional, observational study.

Setting: Multicentre study conducted at five sites across Singapore.

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A hyperdominant left anterior descending coronary artery variation is a rare but important diagnosis because of the risk for large-territory ischemia. We describe a very rare presentation of spontaneous coronary artery dissection in the distal portion of a hyperdominant left anterior descending coronary artery. No similar cases have been described.

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Personalized medicine in kidney transplantation has the potential to improve outcomes and reduce complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes encoding metabolizing enzymes (CYP3A5) and transporters (ABCC2) on clinical outcomes (acute graft failure and/or acute tubular necrosis (ATN)) in kidney transplant recipients (KTR). This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study where adult KTR who had undergone kidney transplantation between 2020 and 2021 and received tacrolimus-mycophenolate treatment were enrolled in the study.

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Bisphenol A (BPA), a widely recognized endocrine disrupting compound, has been discovered in drinking water sources/finished water and domestic wastewater influent/effluent. Numerous studies have shown photocatalytic and electrocatalytic oxidation to be very effective for the removal of BPA, particularly in the addition of graphene/graphene oxide (GO)-based nanocatalysts. Nevertheless, the photocatalytic and electrocatalytic degradation of BPA in aqueous solutions has not been reviewed.

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Objectives: The EQ-5D-Y-5L is a generic preference-based measure of health-related quality of life for children. This study aimed to describe the distributional properties, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity of the EQ-5D-Y-5L in children with intellectual disability (ID).

Methods: Caregivers of children with ID (aged 4 to 18 years) completed an online survey, including a proxy-report EQ-5D-Y-5L, the Quality-of-life Inventory-Disability, and disability-appropriate measures corresponding to the EQ-5D dimensions: mobility, self-care (SC), usual activities (UA), pain/discomfort (PD), and worry/sadness/unhappiness.

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Objective: We examined the impact of long-term mental health outcomes on healthcare services utilisation among childhood cancer survivors in Western Australia using linked hospitalisations and community-based mental healthcare records from 1987 to 2019.

Method: The study cohort included 2977 childhood cancer survivors diagnosed with cancer at age < 18 years in Western Australia from 1982 to 2014 and a matched non-cancer control group of 24,994 individuals. Adjusted hazard ratios of recurrent events were estimated using the Andersen-Gill model.

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The study aims to investigate the vitamin B6 levels in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and their association with liver enzymes and evaluate how much dysregulation is associated with levodopa dose. Furthermore, to evaluate the effect of Opicapone, a catechol-o-methyl-transferase inhibitor, on vitamin B6 levels by monitoring the AST and ALT levels in patients treated with Levodopa-Carbidopa Intestinal Gel Infusion (LCIG). For these aims, serum vitamin B6 levels were measured (PD, n = 72 and controls, n = 31).

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  • - This study explores how growth patterns during puberty relate to future health outcomes by analyzing height data from about 56,000 individuals across various ancestries using a technique called SITAR.
  • - The researchers identified 26 significant genetic loci linked to height growth during puberty and found that different growth rates are associated with various health risks, like type 2 diabetes and heart conditions.
  • - The findings suggest that there are multiple growth trajectories during puberty, each influencing adult health differently, indicating that no single growth pattern is the "best" for lifelong health outcomes.
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  • The study investigates how misfolded α-synuclein (αSyn) spreads between neurons and contributes to diseases called synucleinopathies, focusing on the role of lysosomes.
  • Researchers found that when αSyn aggregates invade lysosomes, they can cause the lysosomal membrane to rupture, leading to the transmission of αSyn aggregation to other neurons.
  • The process of lysophagy, which is the selective degradation of damaged lysosomes, can prevent this transmission, suggesting that maintaining healthy lysosomes is crucial in managing the progression of synucleinopathies.
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Mitochondrial dysregulation, such as mitochondrial complex I deficiency, increased oxidative stress, perturbation of mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy, has long been implicated in the pathogenesis of PD. Initiating from the observation that mitochondrial toxins cause PD-like symptoms and mitochondrial DNA mutations are associated with increased risk of PD, many mutated genes linked to familial forms of PD, including , , and , have also been found to affect the mitochondrial features. Recent research has uncovered a much more complex involvement of mitochondria in PD.

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