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Purpose: The main aims of our study are to examine the awareness and level of knowledge among sago cultivators concerning the Sago Smallholders Satellite Estate Development (SSSED) programme as well as their readiness and willingness to participate in the programme.Design/methodology/approach: Framed based on the Diffusion of Innovation theory (Rogers, 1995), the study focuses on the first three stages of the Innovation-Decision Process model: Knowledge, Persuasion and Decision. Based on the still ongoing fieldwork, this paper reports some of the preliminary findings on adoption decisions made by the respondents. Data collected from 64 sago cultivators surveyed were analysed.Findings: Initial findings of the study indicate that slightly more than half of the respondents claimed to be the participants in the SSSED program. However, surprisingly their levels of awareness of the program as well as readiness and willingness to participate in the program measured in various dimensions, were reported to be at the moderate level only. Hence, investigating the underlying reasons leading to such findings is warranted in the future.Research limitations/implications: The study is confined to the examination of only the first three stages (i.e. knowledge, persuasion, decision) of the five-stage diffusion of innovation process.Practical implications: The findings can be considered by the relevant authorities for the purpose of strategizing the dissemination of information with respect to the SSSED project.Originality/value: This study tests the applicability of the diffusion of innovation theory in a real context involving smallholders of an agricultural development project.Keywords: Adoption, Diffusion of Innovation, Innovation-Decision Process, SSSED Programme, IntroductionSago plantation has always been essential for the Melanau community's economic livelihood in Mukah, Sarawak. Sago export ranked as the fourth biggest agricultural revenue earner for Sarawak, after oil palm, [...]

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The main aim of our study was to explore the genome sequence of the inclusion body hepatitis associated Fowl adenovirus serotype 8b (FAdV-8b) UPM04217 and to study its genomic organisation. The nucleotide sequence of the whole genome of FAdV-8b UPM04217 was determined by using the 454 Pyrosequencing platform and the Sanger sequencing method. The complete genome was found to be 44,059 bp long with 57.9% G + C content and shared 97.5% genome identity with the reference FAdV-E genome (HG isolate). Interestingly, the genome analysis using ORF Finder, Glimmer3 and FGENESV predicted a total of 39 open reading frames (ORFs) compared to the FAdV-E HG that possessed 46 ORFs. Fourteen ORFs located within the central genomic region and 16 ORFs located within the left and right ends of the genome were assigned as being the high protein-coding regions. The fusion of the small ORFs at the right end terminal specifically in ORF22 and ORF33 could be the result of gene truncation in the FAdV-E HG. The frame shift mutation in ORF25 and other mutations in ORF13 and ORF17 might have lead to the emergence of genes that could have different functions. Besides, one of the minor capsid components, pVI, in FAdV-8b UPM04217 shared the highest similarity of 93% with that of FAdV-D, while only 47% similarity was found with FAdV-E. From the gene arrangement layout of the FAdV genome, FAdV-8b UPM04217 showed intermediate evolution between the FAdV-E HG and the FAdV-D although it was apparently more similar to the FAdV-E HG.

Background: A phytochemical study on medicinal plants used for the treatment of fever and malaria in Africa yielded metabolites with potential antiplasmodial activity, many of which are Anthraquinones (AQ). AQs have similar sub-structure as naphthoquinones and xanthones, which were previously reported as novel antiplasmodial agents. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the structural requirements of 9,10- anthraquinones with hydroxy, methoxy and methyl substituents to exert strong antiplasmodial activity and to investigate their possible mode of action. Methods: Thirty-one AQs were synthesized through Friedel-Crafts reaction and assayed for antiplasmodial activity in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum (3D7). The selected compounds were tested for toxicity and probed for their mode of action against β-hematin dimerization through HRP2 and lipid catalyses. The most active compounds were subjected to a docking study using AutoDock 4.2. Results: The active AQs have similar common structural characteristics. However, it is difficult to establish a structure-activity relationship as certain compounds are active despite the absence of the structural features exhibited by other active AQs. They have either ortho- or meta-arranged substituents and one free hydroxyl and/or carbonyl groups. When C-6 is substituted with a methyl group, the activity of AQs generally increased. 1,3-DihydroxyAQ (15) showed good antiplasmodial activity with an IC50 value of 1.08 μM, and when C-6 was substituted with a methyl group, 1,3- dihydroxy-6-methylAQ (24) showed stronger antiplasmodial activity with an IC50 value of 0.02 μM, with better selectivity index. Compounds 15 and 24 showed strong HRP2 activity and mild toxicity against hepatocyte cells. Molecular docking studies showed that the hydroxyl groups at the ortho (23) and meta (24) positions are able to form hydrogen bonds with heme, of 3.49 Å and 3.02 Å, respectively. Conclusion: The activity of 1,3-dihydroxy-6-methylAQ (24) could be due to their inhibition against the free heme dimerization by inhibiting the HRP2 protein. It was further observed that the anthraquinone moiety of compound 24 bind in parallel to the heme ring through hydrophobic interactions, thus preventing crystallization of heme into hemozoin.

Newcastle disease (ND) remains an important enzootic disease in chickens in several parts of the world. With the increasing reports of virulence and genetic diversity of the causative agent; Newcastle disease virus (NDV), there is a need to identify the circulating NDV in specific regions. In Oman, to this moment, such information is still lacking. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize the NDV from ND outbreaks from commercial farms in Oman. Following suspected outbreaks of ND in three commercial farms in 2017, a total of 30 carcasses (10 from each flock) of adult chickens were subjected to necropsy for gross and histopathological examination, virus isolation and molecular methods. Specifically, haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay were used for the virus detection and confirmation, respectively. Lesions were suggestive of viscerotropic velogenic form of ND based on gross and histopathological examinations. Isolation of NDV was present in 4 cases and further confirmed by RT-PCR following the target of the partial fusion protein gene of the viral genome. The sequence of the partial fusion gene was determined and phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the partial length F gene of 4 Omani isolates and 65 previously published NDVs. The findings predicted that the Omani isolates had high homology (99%) with the isolate from Pakistan belonging to genotype VII. Subsequently, the isolated pathotype was identified as the virulent NDV. This study serves as a basic work for further research on the analysis and phenotyping of NDV in the Sultanate of Oman. Improved monitoring and surveillance of the disease is important for proper preventive measures.

Newcastle disease (ND) is an endemic disease in Oman’s poultry industry and impacts negatively on food security. However, little is known regarding the potential risks of the disease in backyard poultry. The objectives of this study were to determine the seroprevalence of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in backyard chickens and the herd-level risk factors in Oman. In total, 1383 serum samples were collected from chickens in 139 flocks from nine governorates. Information on associated risk factors was assessed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The samples were tested using commercial indirect ELISA kits.A logistic regression model was applied to assess the associated risk factors. The bird and flock-level NDV seroprevalence was 33.8% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 12.8–38.6%) and 57.1% (95% CI: 35.7–71.4%), respectively. The highest seroprevalence of antibody to NDV at bird and flock levels was recorded in North Ash Sharqiyah (38.6%) and Al Buraimi (71.4%), respectively. Also, the lowest seroprevalence at bird and flock levels was recorded in Musandam (12.8%) and South Al Batinah (35.7%), respectively. A significant difference in NDV seroprevalence at flock and bird levels was only recorded in Ad Dakhliyah. Factors associated with higher seroprevalence to NDV included absence of a veterinarian in the farm (OR = 5.3; 95% CI: 2.1, 11.7), usage of dead ND vaccine (OR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.2–4.2), employment of non-permanent staff (OR = 3.9; 95% CI: 1.5, 10.6) and free entry of visitors (OR = 6.2; 95% CI: 2.0, 20.3). In conclusion, the results of this study revealed a high exposure of backyard chickens to NDV and the identified risk factors could be vital in the prevention and control of the disease in Oman.

Ni–La catalyst supported on SiO2(Ni–La/SiO2) synthesized using in situ glycine–nitrate combustion was analyzed for catalyst dispersion at various catalyst-to-support ratios and support surface areas. Catalytic activity of the catalyst was assessed for methane cracking. The catalyst with higher support loading had a better catalyst dispersion. The use of a support with high surface area also improved catalyst dispersion. Ni–La/SiO2B synthesized using a support with high surface area have a higher catalyst dispersion than that of Ni–La/SiO2A with a support of low surface area. As a result, Ni–La/SiO2B had a better methane conversion (the maximum of ∼60%) than that of Ni–La/SiO2A (∼40%) and offered a higher H2yield. Moreover, Ni–La/SiO2B was found to be active for carbon formation. Nevertheless, the catalyst remained catalytically active for methane cracking without deactivation.

Understanding a membrane’s morphology is important for controlling its final performance during protein immobilization. Porous, symmetric membranes were prepared from a polyvinylidene fluoride/N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone solution by phase inversion process, to obtain membrane with various microsized pores. The concentration and surface area of aprotein dotted on the membrane surface were measured by staining with Ponceau S dye. The dotted protein was further scanned and analysed to perform quantitative measurements for relative comparison. The intensity of the red protein spot and its surface area varied depending on the membrane pore size, demonstrating the dependence of protein immobilization on this factor. The membrane with the smallest pore size (M3) showed the highest protein spot intensity and surface area when examined at different protein concentrations. An increase in the applied protein volume showed a linearity proportional trend to the total surface area, and an uneven round dot shape was observed at a large applied volume of protein solution.

Mosaic sludge is sewerage from mosaic industrial activities such as cutting, polishing and grinding. This sludge mostly will be disposed directly to landfill and some of it was discharged in drainage system without proper treatment. Therefore, in this study, mosaic sludge from the mosaic industry were reused and incorporated into fired clay brick in order to provide alternative disposal method, producing adequate quality of brick as well as minimizing the heavy metal leachability to the environment. First, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) was conducted to determine the heavy metal concentration from two types of mosaic sludge. The results indicate that the highest element concentration in mosaic sludge (BS and PS) shows that Barium is the highest with 3253ppm and 3260ppm. On the raw sludge, the lowest obtained in BS and PS is Cesium with 14ppm and 17ppm. SPLP and TCLP also conducted in this study and the results show that, even though the element such as ferum (Fe) and cadmium (Cd) was not detected in XRF but in SPLP and TCLP, it shows that these two elements exist in clay, BS and PS with low concentration. In term of properties, compressive strength was conducted by incorporating 0%, 1%, 5%, 10%, 20% and 30% bodymill and polishing sludge into fired clay brick. The results show that compressive strength of BS brick was stronger than PS brick. Lastly, Static Leachate Test (SLT) was conducted to measure the long term leachability of heavy metals from different percentages of mosaic sludge brick. In SLT result, ferum (Fe) shows the highest value of heavy metal concentration among other elements. The results for control brick, BS brick and PS brick show the same pattern and far from the limit set by USEPA.

AbstractIndoor air contamination by fungi is common nowadays. It creates health problems, especially in people with asthma. Approximately 80% of these patients are allergic to fungus. In this study, a bioactive compound, potassium sorbate which is actively used in the food industry for antifungal purposes was evaluated for its ability to treat indoor airborne fungal contamination in two higher educational buildings at a university in Johor, Malaysia. Indoor air samplings of fungi were carried out at three different sites in each building using malt extract agar (MEA), which were incorporated with the mentioned biocide as culture media. It was shown under indoor and outdoor conditions that fungi were able to colonize untreated MEA. The effectiveness of the biocide to prevent the growth of fungi on treated MEA was compared with that of untreated MEA. It was clearly shown that the biocide can effectively prevent the airborne fungal growth at all six sites as the number of colony forming units was drastically reduced by more than 88% averagely on the treated culture media as compared with that of the untreated media.

There are reports of improved redox outcomes due to consumption of Edible Bird’s Nest (EBN). Many of the functional effects of EBN can be linked to its high amounts of antioxidants. Interestingly, dietary components with high antioxidants have shown promise in the prevention of aging and its related diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, the antioxidative potentials of EBN and its constituents, lactoferrin (LF) and ovotransferrin (OVF), were determined and protective effects against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)- induced toxicity on SH-SY5Y cells using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and acridine orange and propidium iodide (AO/PI) staining with microscopy were examined. Results showed that EBN and its constituents attenuated H2O2-induced cytotoxicity, and decreased radical oxygen species (ROS) through increased scavenging activity. Furthermore, LF, OVF, and EBN produced transcriptional changes in antioxidant related genes that tended towards neuroprotection as compared to H2O2-treated group. Overall, the results suggest that LF and OVF may produce synergistic or all-or-none antioxidative effects in EBN.

Good indoor environmental quality (IEQ) is desired for a healthy indoor environment. The microbial growth in indoor environments contribute into poor indoor environmental quality can cause various of health problems. Antimicrobial coatings are designed to generate a surface that is easy to clean and can also incorporate active agents, commonly called biocides, which prevent microbial colonization, the subsequent growth and bio-deterioration of the substrate. The aim for this study is to treat indoor environmental quality in buildings by reviewing the possible application of potassium sorbate used in food industry preservatives to be use as indoor antimicrobial. Plasterboard wall was used as a substrate to see the influence of different common wall finishing used such as paints and wallpapers on fungal growth. Potassium sorbate was tested against fungal isolated from affected room M146, FKAAS building. The total fungal counts in affected room was 806 cfu/m3. The ASTM D5590-00 standard was used to evalute fungal growth and potassium sorbate was effective to inhibit the amount of fungal growth on four common types of wall finishing used on plasterboard wall. As a result, the percentage reduction in growth between control and treatment sample were 10% on thin wallpaper, 15% on acrylic paint, 25% on glycerol-based paint and 60% on thick wallpaper.

The proliferation of indoor airborne microorganism in public institutional buildings such as schools and universities is often regarded as a potential health hazards to the buildings’ users. This issue is not new in Malaysia, a country with humid climate which favours the growth of microorganism. However, there is lack of research’s data, especially in higher institutional buildings in this country. The assessment of the indoor air quality is conducted in a university’s two new commissioning buildings located at Southern Peninsular of Malaysia. Both buildings utilized centralized air conditioning system. Concentrations of airborne microorganism were determined using a single-stage impacter (biosampler) as per requirement of National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Manual Analytical Method 0800. The acquired readings were compared to the standard level determined in Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality (ICOP IAQ) 2010. Other parameters such as relative humidity, temperature, and air velocity were recorded along the assessment. The mean concentrations of the total bacteria at the affected area of the two buildings are 1102.5 CFU/m3 and 813 CFU/m3 respectively and it is significantly higher compared to the maximum exposure limit of 500 CFU/m3. While, the mean concentration of total fungi at the affected area for two buildings are 805.7 CFU/m3 and 509 CFU/m3 respectively which are both higher than the reading of outdoors and unaffected indoor area although slightly lower than the maximum exposure limit of 1000 CFU/m3. This study provides a glance of the poor indoor microbiological air quality in new higher institutional buildings in this humid region.

The high strength and high performance concrete C80~C100 is popularly used nowadays, especially in the West-Tower Project of Gungzhou. In order to provide reference for the use of high strength concrete and the development of ultrahigh pumping technology, the following six aspects were studied, namely the preparation of high strength concrete, the variation of the concrete mixture under high pressure, the index of the ultrahigh pumping concrete, the change after the pumping, the loss of the pumping pressure and the measurement of the pumping viscous resistance.

The Total Quality Management represent a modern management philosophy, established due to the development in all aspects of life in today's world. The organization of ISO has identified the international quality standards and principles for Total Quality in service and productivityfor organizations and institutions. The study aims to analyze these principles and the implementation of these principles in World Islamic Call Society to improve the performacne of the Society, and for that the study analyzed the results to determine the level of applying Total Quality Management inside the scociety and the level of awareness of personnel in the society about the concept of quality and its importance in improving the Soceity performance in general. This is the first search, which condut a study on the concept of Total Quality Management in the World Islamic Call Society. The main contribution of this study will be through the development of administrative departments in the Society according to the concept and principles of Total Quality Management TQM.

The present study addresses the impact of performance assessment as a tool to control the success of effective oversight in the World Islamic Call Society. The process of performance evaluation is integrated in a series of interrelated stages of the administrative process, which begins by identifying goals and periods. Performance evaluationis the last step in the regulatory cycle that begins with identifying the goals set within a timetable for their implementation and provides the necessary resources, then comes the process of monitoring the actual implementation and evaluating the results of performance, where results indicate that the study was to assess the performance impact on the effectiveness of administrative and financial control. From this result, it can be seen that the organization adopts the idea of performance evaluation in a practical way, making the value of the engine and the goal that is based upon management process on a regular basis, allowing it to stand on their value and then, has been able to take the necessary decisions and measures in a timely manner.

This paper investigated the electrochemical performance of Ni0.9Mg0.1O-SDC for hydrogen and methane fuelled IT-SOFCs using an electrolyte-supported button cells. The Ni0.9Mg0.1O-SDC anode has been chosen based on the premises that the doped-ceria is suitable for intermediate temperatures (550-800deg); that Ni is known as an active metal and good electron conductor; that MgO is a promoter to avoid agglomeration of Ni during reduction and to achieve higher Ni dispersion; and finally, that CeO2-Sm2O3 (SDC) improves oxide ion transport to the cell at this intermediate temperature range. Electrochemical performance under humidified hydrogen and methane were carried out at 650, 700 and 750deg and tested using polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectra. Adding MgO to NiO-SDC anode improved the maximum power density and lowered the polarization resistance of the cell.

The immunochromatographic assay is an alternative method for simple and rapid detection of Infectious bursal disease virus(IBDV) in chickens using colloidal gold—antibody conjugate. The whole-virus antigen of IBDV (UPM04190 isolate) and the high-affinity polyclonal antibodies directed against IBDV were blotted onto nitrocellulose membranes for test and control lines, respectively. Evaluation of the strip was performed using serum samples from experimentally and naturally infected chickens. The results showed that the test strip was more sensitive than the commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) because it could detect a dilution factor up to 1:20,000 (250 ELISA units) for positive samples. It was also specific, in that it detected IBDV antibodies and did not cross-react with antibodies to other chicken viruses. The method was rapid (2 min) in both clinical and field environments with samples needing only a minimum amount (50 μl) of blood to produce an acceptable detection signal. The pen—site test strip proved successful in monitoring the immune status of chickens against the IBDV infection.

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The mathematical model to predict the temperature history for wood column is needed in order to determine its fire resistance when exposed to fire. In this paper, an intelligent methodology called Finite Element Method (FEM) of performing analysis for the square and circular wood columns by virtually or artificially developing a temperature history mathematical model. Numerical simulation model has been developed for the wood column by using two-dimensional mathematical model. The two-dimensional mathematical model was developed by using Galerkin’s Weighted Residual technique. This model focuses on the regional material of the wood column for describing its thermal behavior. When the temperature history in a column and relevant materials properties are known, the strength of the column can be calculated at any time during fire. Therefore, the development of the temperature history mathematical model is a must before any further study to be carried out for the wood columns. The flow of convection will result in minimal increase in the rate of heat energy reaching the column core. The analysis shows that the temperature of the column increases with respect to the duration of exposure to fire.

Mathematical models of Part A [1] are used to calculate the temperatures, deformations and fire resistance of rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal and I-cross section columns for the purpose of Part B. In this paper the comparison among the configurations of the column has been carried out to predict the temperature history for the column elements for preventing the spread of fire and prolonging the structural time collapse. The columns are varied in section size, among them are the rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal and I-cross section column of Keruing timber. The developed mathematical models defined the failure point as the point which the column can no longer support the applied load. From the comparison, the I-cross section column is the worst configuration than the other configuration.

Base usage and dinucleotide frequency have been extensively studied in many eukaryotic organisms and bacteria, but not for viruses. In this paper, a comprehensive analysis of these aspects for infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was presented. The analysis of base usage indicated that all of the IBDV genes possess equivalent overall nucleotide distributions. However when the base usage at each codon positions was analysed by using cluster analysis, the VP5 open reading frame (ORF) formed a different cluster isolated from the other genes. The unusual base usage of VP5 ORF may indicate that the gene was originated by the virus “overprinting strategy”, a strategy in which virus may create novel gene by utilizing the unused reading frames of its existing genes. Meanwhile, the GC content of the IBDV genes and the chicken's coding sequences was comparable; suggesting the virus imitation of the host to increase its translational efficiency. The analysis of dinucleotide frequency indicated that IBDV genome had dinucleotide bias: the frequencies of CpG and TpA were lower and the TpG was higher than the expected. Classical methylation pathway, a process where CpG converted to TpG, may explain the significant correlation between the CpG deficiency and TpG abundance. “Principal component analysis of the dinucleotide frequencies” (DF-PCA) was used to analyse the overall dinucleotide frequencies of IBDV genome. DF-PCA on the hypervariable region and polyprotein (VPX-VP4-VP3) gene showed that the very virulent IBDV (vvIBDV) was segregated from other strains; which meant vvIBDV had a unique dinucleotide pattern. In summary, the study of base usage and dinucleotide frequency had unravelled many overlooked genomic properties of the virus.

The Australian, heat-resistant, a virulent V4 strain of Newcastle disease (ND) virus was selected for further heat resistance to give a variant designated V4-UPM. V4-UPM was sprayed on to food pellets which were fed to chickens in amounts calculated to give about 106EID50 per chicken. Chickens vaccinated only once by feeding developed no haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibodies and were not protected against challenge with a viscerotropic velogenic strain of ND virus.Chickens given food pellet vaccine at 3 and 6 weeks of age developed HI antibodies and were substantially protected against parenteral and contact challenge with virulent ND virus. Similar protection was achieved when the V4-UPM vaccine was given intranasally on two occasions or when the vaccine virus was allowed to spread by contact from intranasally vaccinated chickens to nonvaccinated chickens. Heat resistant ND vaccine incorporated in food pellets may provide a method for protecting village chickens against ND in tropical countries.

A comparison was made of the effect of five different strains of M. iowae after inoculation of one-day-old poults via the thoracic air sac and foot pad. Three strains appeared to be more virulent and more invasive than the other two, causing stunting, poor feathering and leg abnormalities including chondrodystrophy. One of these three strains was used in a second experiment in which three routes of infection were compared. Infection in ovo caused a severe generalised disease in hatched poults with high mortality. The only two birds which survived into the third week developed chondrodystrophy. One group was infected orally at one day of age and some birds developed bone and joint abnormalities but another group, infected via both the thoracic air sac and the foot pad, also at one day of age, developed a higher incidence of these, abnormalities, which included chondrodystrophy, rotated tibia, deviated toes and, in a few cases, erosion of the articular cartilage of the hock joint. Some of the control uninfected birds developed leg abnormalities but never chondrodystrophy, rotated tibia or cartilage erosion. M. iowae was most widely disseminated in tissues following in ovo infection and least after oral infection. Isolations became less frequent with age and no organisms were recovered in birds sampled at 12 weeks. In neither experiment could antibodies to M. iowae be detected by rapid agglutination.

Microporous PVDF membranes were used as protein capture matrices in immunoassays. Because the most common labels in immunoassays were detected based on the colour change, an understanding of how protein concentration varies on different PVDF surfaces was needed. Herein, the correlation between the membrane pore size and protein adsorption was systematically investigated. Five different PVDF membrane morphologies were prepared and FTIR/ATR was employed to accurately quantify the surface protein concentration on membranes with small pore sizes. SigmaPlot(r) was used to find a suitable curve fit for protein adsorption and membrane pore size, with a high correlation coefficient, R2, of 0.9971.

Background and objectiveN-Acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac), a type of sialic acid, has close links with cholesterol metabolism and is often used as a biomarker in evaluating the risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, most studies on the health implications of Neu5Ac have focused on its effects on the nervous system, while its effects on cardiovascular risk factors have largely been unreported. Thus, the effects of Neu5Ac on coagulation status in high fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemic rats were evaluated in this study.MethodsSprague Dawley male rats were divided into five different groups and fed with HFD alone, HFD low-dose Neu5Ac, HFD high-dose Neu5Ac, HFD simvastatin (10 mg/kg day), and normal pellet alone. Food was given ad libitumwhile body weight of rats was measured weekly. After 12 weeks of intervention, rats were sacrificed and serum and tissue samples were collected for biochemistry and gene expression analysis, respectively.ResultsThe results showed that Neu5Ac could improve lipid metabolism and hyperlipidemia-associated coagulation. Neu5Ac exerted comparable or sometimes better physiological effects than simvastatin, at biochemical and gene expression levels.ConclusionsThe data indicated that Neu5Ac prevented HFD-induced hyperlipidemia and associated hypercoagulation in rats through regulation of lipid-related and coagulation-related genes and, by extension, induced metabolite and protein changes. The implications of the present findings are that Neu5Ac may be used to prevent coagulation-related cardiovascular events in hyperlipidemic conditions. These findings are worth studying further.

Attenuated Salmonella has been used as a carrier for DNA vaccine. However, in vitro and in vivo studies on the bacteria following transfection of plasmid DNA were poorly studied. In this paper, eukaryotic expression plasmids encoding avian influenza virus (AIV) subtype H5N1 genes, pcDNA3.1/HA, NA, and NP, were transfected into an attenuated Salmonella enteric typhimurium SV4089. In vitro stability of the transfected plasmids into Salmonella were over 90% after 100 generations. The attenuated Salmonella were able to invade MCF-7 (1.2%) and MCF-10A (0.5%) human breast cancer cells. Newly hatched specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chicks were inoculated once by oral gavage with 109 colony-forming unit (CFU) of the attenuated Salmonella. No abnormal clinical signs or deaths were recorded after inoculation. Viable bacteria were detected 3 days after inoculation by plating from spleen, liver, and cecum. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were carried out for confirmation. Salmonella was not detected in blood cultures although serum antibody immune responses to Salmonella O antiserum group D1 factor 1, 9, and 12 antigens were observed in all the inoculated chickens after 7 days up to 35 days. Our results showed that live attenuated S. typhimurium SV4089 harboring pcDNA3.1/HA, NA, and NP may provide a unique alternative as a carrier for DNA oral vaccine in chickens.

The aim of this study is to prepare a model for the production of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) lentogenic F strain using cell culture in bioreactor for live attenuated vaccine preparation. In this study, firstly we investigated the growth of Vero cells in several culture media. The maximum cell number was yielded by culture of Vero cells in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) which was 1.93×106 cells/ml. Secondly Vero cells were grown in two-litre stirred tank bioreactor by using several commercial microcarriers. We achieved the maximum cell concentration about 7.95×105 cells/ml when using Cytodex 1. Later we produced Newcastle Disease virus in stirred tank bioreactor based on the design developed using Taguchi L4 method. Results reveal that higher multiplicity of infection (MOI) and size of cell inoculums can yield higher virus titer. Finally, virus samples were purified using high-speed centrifugation based on 3∗∗(3-1) Fractional Factorial Design. Statistical analysis showed that the maximum virus titer can be achieved at virus sample concentration of 58.45% (v/v), centrifugation speed of 13729 rpm, and centrifugation time of 4 hours. As a conclusion, high yield of virus titer could be achieved through optimization of cell culture in bioreactor and separation by high-speed centrifugation.