PUTRAJAYA: An experiment in space by Malaysia's first astronaut is a success with findings being patented overseas.
The Protein Crystallisation in Space experiment, which saw the successful testing of the effects of microgravity on protein enzymes, has been termed a breakthrough in the field. The experiment by Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor on behalf of Universiti Putra Malaysia's Prof Dr Raja Noor Zaliha Raja Abd Rahman was aimed at comparing the crystallisation of proteins in space with those crystallised on Earth.
The proteins were found to be crystallising on a larger scale in space, making it more accurate for Raja Noor to study the structure of protein enzymes.
"When we know how it acts, we can use the protein fully to benefit the oleochemical, food supplement and pharmaceutical industries.
"By producing our own enzymes, we can sell them to generate income for the country or even improve the job market in the industries," Raja Noor Zaliha said after the opening of a workshop on microgravity sciences at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here yesterday.
The patent has been filed here, in Europe, the United States and Japan, with the protein crystallisation technology already in use.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said the research component of the space programme would continue for the next five years and was likely to be included in the 10th Malaysia Plan. The cabinet will decide on the programme scale and funding.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Malaysians Of All Ages Participate In 51st Merdeka Celebration
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 31 (Bernama) -- The 51st Merdeka Day parade at the Dataran Merdeka here was not only participated by Malaysians of all races and religions but also included the various age groups.
The national-level celebration today included, for the first time, 150 pre-school pupils in the parade and mammoth procession comprising 16,433 participants including police pensioners.
With the theme 'Unity, the Thrust of Success', the parade began to assemble immediately upon the arrival of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah.
Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, together with his wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, arrived in a white Proton Pesona electric car driven by Abdullah himself.
His deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor arrived in a red Proton Savvy driven by Najib.
The parade and procession began with the national anthem 'Negaraku' being played as a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) helicopter flew past carrying the 'Jalur Gemilang' and the Malaysian Armed Forces' flag and emitting red, blue and yellow-coloured smoke, the colours of the Malaysian flag.
Tuanku Mizan then inspected the Guard of Honour mounted by four officers and 103 men from the First Royal Malay Regiment.
The ceremony then proceeded with the raising of the Jalur Gemilang as the national anthem 'Negaraku' was sung and the artillery fired 14 rounds.
This was later followed by the singing of patriotic songs 'Jalur Gemilang', 'Cemerlang, Gemilang, Terbilang', and the theme song for the celebration "Perpaduan Teras Kejayaan", sung by a 2,000-member choir group from the teaching colleges.
Seven secondary school students, representing the various ethnic groups in the country, led by Mohd Hafizul Akhmal Azeman, then read the "Rukunegara" which was followed by shouts of 'Merdeka' reverberating seven times.
The Dataran Merdeka then transformed into a sea of colours as 2,880 students staged a field performance carrying the theme 'Unity, the Thrust of Success' which included a drill formation and martial arts presentation, and aerobics, which were interspersed with human graphics performed by students of several schools in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.
The parade began with a procession carrying a mammoth Jalur Gemilang and the flags of the various states by trainees of the National Service Training Programme, including a contingent of 30 national figures from the various fields.
They included national astronaut Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, national badminton coach Datuk Misbun Sidek, social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye and environmental activist Karam Singh Walia riding in national cars.
The almost two-hour event which ended at 10.10am was also witnessed by thousands of Malaysians who flocked to the Dataran Merdeka as early as 6.30am, as well as millions of others who watched the proceedings live over television.
The national-level celebration today included, for the first time, 150 pre-school pupils in the parade and mammoth procession comprising 16,433 participants including police pensioners.
With the theme 'Unity, the Thrust of Success', the parade began to assemble immediately upon the arrival of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah.
Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, together with his wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, arrived in a white Proton Pesona electric car driven by Abdullah himself.
His deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor arrived in a red Proton Savvy driven by Najib.
The parade and procession began with the national anthem 'Negaraku' being played as a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) helicopter flew past carrying the 'Jalur Gemilang' and the Malaysian Armed Forces' flag and emitting red, blue and yellow-coloured smoke, the colours of the Malaysian flag.
Tuanku Mizan then inspected the Guard of Honour mounted by four officers and 103 men from the First Royal Malay Regiment.
The ceremony then proceeded with the raising of the Jalur Gemilang as the national anthem 'Negaraku' was sung and the artillery fired 14 rounds.
This was later followed by the singing of patriotic songs 'Jalur Gemilang', 'Cemerlang, Gemilang, Terbilang', and the theme song for the celebration "Perpaduan Teras Kejayaan", sung by a 2,000-member choir group from the teaching colleges.
Seven secondary school students, representing the various ethnic groups in the country, led by Mohd Hafizul Akhmal Azeman, then read the "Rukunegara" which was followed by shouts of 'Merdeka' reverberating seven times.
The Dataran Merdeka then transformed into a sea of colours as 2,880 students staged a field performance carrying the theme 'Unity, the Thrust of Success' which included a drill formation and martial arts presentation, and aerobics, which were interspersed with human graphics performed by students of several schools in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.
The parade began with a procession carrying a mammoth Jalur Gemilang and the flags of the various states by trainees of the National Service Training Programme, including a contingent of 30 national figures from the various fields.
They included national astronaut Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, national badminton coach Datuk Misbun Sidek, social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye and environmental activist Karam Singh Walia riding in national cars.
The almost two-hour event which ended at 10.10am was also witnessed by thousands of Malaysians who flocked to the Dataran Merdeka as early as 6.30am, as well as millions of others who watched the proceedings live over television.
Enzyme Tested In Space By Malaysian Astronaut Gets US Patent
PUTRAJAYA, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- The Geobacillus Zalihae enzyme derived from protein crystallisation that was tested in space by Malaysian astronaut Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor last year has received a patent in the United States.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said the rights for the patent for the enzyme, named after researcher Prof Raja Noor Zaliha Raja Abdul Rahman, were also filed in Malaysia, Europe and Japan.
"Four more items of research conducted in space on the same expedition, and involving cells and microbes, are in the final process of development and are expected to be completed by the first quarter of next year," Ongkili told reporters after launching a workshop on Microgravity Science here Tuesday.
The objective of the two-day workshop, which gathered 150 local and foreign participants, including 20 who presented research papers, was to study and discuss the experiments carried out by Dr Sheikh Muszaphar.
Meanwhile, Raja Noor Zaliha, of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), said the enzyme could be used for industrial purposes like in the production of cleansers, pharmaceutical products and food supplements.
"This enzyme can generate income and, if we produce this enzyme, it can provide job opportunities to graduates majoring in biotechnology.
"We can also sell the technology to other countries as the market potential for the enzyme is really big," she said.
She said the research on protein carried out in space was important as bigger protein crystals could be formed there, twice the amount that could be produced on earth.
"A bigger crystal is needed to view the structure of protein, how it acts and how it can be utilised fully," she said.
Dr Sheikh Muszaphar went into space in a Russian Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft on Oct 10 last year, conducted the experiments in the International Space Station (ISS) and returned to earth in a Soyuz TMA-10 spacecraft on Oct 21.
-- BERNAMA
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said the rights for the patent for the enzyme, named after researcher Prof Raja Noor Zaliha Raja Abdul Rahman, were also filed in Malaysia, Europe and Japan.
"Four more items of research conducted in space on the same expedition, and involving cells and microbes, are in the final process of development and are expected to be completed by the first quarter of next year," Ongkili told reporters after launching a workshop on Microgravity Science here Tuesday.
The objective of the two-day workshop, which gathered 150 local and foreign participants, including 20 who presented research papers, was to study and discuss the experiments carried out by Dr Sheikh Muszaphar.
Meanwhile, Raja Noor Zaliha, of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), said the enzyme could be used for industrial purposes like in the production of cleansers, pharmaceutical products and food supplements.
"This enzyme can generate income and, if we produce this enzyme, it can provide job opportunities to graduates majoring in biotechnology.
"We can also sell the technology to other countries as the market potential for the enzyme is really big," she said.
She said the research on protein carried out in space was important as bigger protein crystals could be formed there, twice the amount that could be produced on earth.
"A bigger crystal is needed to view the structure of protein, how it acts and how it can be utilised fully," she said.
Dr Sheikh Muszaphar went into space in a Russian Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft on Oct 10 last year, conducted the experiments in the International Space Station (ISS) and returned to earth in a Soyuz TMA-10 spacecraft on Oct 21.
-- BERNAMA
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