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Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) is considered one of the re-emerging diseases of avian virus that causes economic damage worldwide. IBH is caused by different serotypes of fowl adenovirus (FAdV), and most of the FAdV cases in Malaysia are related to the serotype 8b. The objective of this study was to determine the molecular markers of UPMT27 Malaysian FAdV isolate and to identify the evolutionary relationship through the phylogenetic approach. Propagation of the isolate was made in embryonated chicken eggs and chicken embryo liver (CEL cells) before it was subjected to viral DNA extraction. Both the fiber and hexon genes of the isolate were amplified and sequenced. The sequences were aligned with the published FAdV sequences. The results showed 100% identity between UPMT27 and the previous Malaysian isolates. A phylogenetic study showed that UPMT27 was closely related to the previous Malaysian isolates. Interestingly, the substitution of the amino acids was consistent between the Malaysia isolates of both fiber protein at positions 72 (Serine –serine), 101 (Alanine -alanine), 125 (Glycine-glycine), and hexon protein 85 (Serine-serine) 160 (Glutamate- glutamate) and 205 (Alanine-alanine) respectively. It appeared that the amino acid variations were the indicators for genetic diversity. Thus, these findings provide information on the evolutionary relationship between FAdV subtypes for IBH prevention.

Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) is considered one of the re-emerging diseases of avian virus that causes economic damage worldwide. IBH is caused by different serotypes of fowl adenovirus (FAdV), and most of the FAdV cases in Malaysia are related to the serotype 8b. The objective of this study was to determine the molecular markers of UPMT27 Malaysian FAdV isolate and to identify the evolutionary relationship through the phylogenetic approach. Propagation of the isolate was made in embryonated chicken eggs and chicken embryo liver (CEL cells) before it was subjected to viral DNA extraction. Both the fiber and hexon genes of the isolate were amplified and sequenced. The sequences were aligned with the published FAdV sequences. The results showed 100% identity between UPMT27 and the previous Malaysian isolates. A phylogenetic study showed that UPMT27 was closely related to the previous Malaysian isolates. Interestingly, the substitution of the amino acids was consistent between the Malaysia isolates of both fiber protein at positions 72 (Serine –serine), 101 (Alanine -alanine), 125 (Glycine-glycine), and hexon protein 85 (Serine-serine) 160 (Glutamate- glutamate) and 205 (Alanine-alanine) respectively. It appeared that the amino acid variations were the indicators for genetic diversity. Thus, these findings provide information on the evolutionary relationship between FAdV subtypes for IBH prevention.

Stingless bees are in a diverse group of highly eusocial bees (meliponines) which are reared for their products and pollination potentials. The main source of stingless bee colonies is depending on feral colony hunting that potentially affects the ecosystem. Therefore, establishment of a good practise in colony transfer and splitting may extend the survival of a colony in a new location. This study describes a colony transfer strategy from log to hive and nest characteristics of stingless bee Heterotrigoma itama upon colony splitting from the hive. All 15 colonies from the hollow trunks of trees could survive after one month of transfer to hives. Pre-colony splitting data of 10 daughter colonies showed that the height of brood cells was 14.5 ± 1.20 cm, the number of brood layer was 8.9 ± 2.13, while the number of queen cell was 5.2 ± 1.32. After 12 weeks, the height of brood cells became 16.42 ± 1.05 cm, while the numbers of brood layer and virgin queen eggs were increased to 12.1 ± 1.85 and 6.4 ± 1.65, respectively. However, the correlation between the number of brood layer and virgin queen egg was significantly low (r = 0.421). These results show the ideal strategy for colony transfer from log and colony splitting, and the number of brood layer does not correlate to the presence of virgin queen egg which is crucial for survival of the colony.

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causal cancer-related fatalities in the world. Cervical cancer patients can be treated by conventional treatment such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, medications and combination treatments. Currently, more targeted treatments are being developed to cure cervical cancer. The treatments include immunotherapy, virotherapy and gene therapy which will be discussed in this paper. In immunotherapy, the synergy of CTLA-4 suppression and PD-1/PDL-1 immune checkpoint inhibition targeting their corresponding pathways enhanced the human immune system resulting a promising treatment effects. Oncolytic viruses such as Newcastle disease virus selectively infect and kill cancerous cells/tissues without harming normal cells/tissues. This character has made them a potential modality in combating cancer which popularly known as oncolytic virotherapy. Gene therapy delivers modified genetic materials to the target cancer cells via viral and non-viral vectors. It is used to target the abnormal gene, to increase cells’ susceptibility towards drugs or conventional therapy, to induce tumour cells apoptosis, to enhance tumour cell immunogenicity recognition and to inhibit the oncogene expression. The objective of this minireview is to add to the general knowledge on aforementioned therapeutic strategies against cervical cancer.

Stingless bees are in a diverse group of highly eusocial bees (meliponines) which are reared for their products and pollination potentials. The main source of stingless bee colonies is depending on feral colony hunting that potentially affects the ecosystem. Therefore, establishment of a good practise in colony transfer and splitting may extend the survival of a colony in a new location. This study describes a colony transfer strategy from log to hive and nest characteristics of stingless bee Heterotrigoma itama upon colony splitting from the hive. All 15 colonies from the hollow trunks of trees could survive after one month of transfer to hives. Pre-colony splitting data of 10 daughter colonies showed that the height of brood cells was 14.5 ± 1.20 cm, the number of brood layer was 8.9 ± 2.13, while the number of queen cell was 5.2 ± 1.32. After 12 weeks, the height of brood cells became 16.42 ± 1.05 cm, while the numbers of brood layer and virgin queen eggs were increased to 12.1 ± 1.85 and 6.4 ± 1.65, respectively. However, the correlation between the number of brood layer and virgin queen egg was significantly low (r = 0.421). These results show the ideal strategy for colony transfer from log and colony splitting, and the number of brood layer does not correlate to the presence of virgin queen egg which is crucial for survival of the colony.

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causal cancer-related fatalities in the world. Cervical cancer patients can be treated by conventional treatment such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, medications and combination treatments. Currently, more targeted treatments are being developed to cure cervical cancer. The treatments include immunotherapy, virotherapy and gene therapy which will be discussed in this paper. In immunotherapy, the synergy of CTLA-4 suppression and PD-1/PDL-1 immune checkpoint inhibition targeting their corresponding pathways enhanced the human immune system resulting a promising treatment effects. Oncolytic viruses such as Newcastle disease virus selectively infect and kill cancerous cells/tissues without harming normal cells/tissues. This character has made them a potential modality in combating cancer which popularly known as oncolytic virotherapy. Gene therapy delivers modified genetic materials to the target cancer cells via viral and non-viral vectors. It is used to target the abnormal gene, to increase cells’ susceptibility towards drugs or conventional therapy, to induce tumour cells apoptosis, to enhance tumour cell immunogenicity recognition and to inhibit the oncogene expression. The objective of this minireview is to add to the general knowledge on aforementioned therapeutic strategies against cervical cancer.

Stingless bee is a diverse group of highly eusocial bees (meliponines) comprising the Meliponini subfamily of the Apidae family. Throughout the tropics, various kinds of stingless bee have been reared by beekeepers for their products (honey, propolis and bee bread) and pollination services for fruits and vegetables. This meliponiculture in logs or hives is considered safe due to the bee’s inability to sting, with the latter being more preferable for monitoring and managing the colonies and harvesting the products. The source of stingless bee colonies is depending on efficient hunting of feral colonies, which might affect the ecosystem. Following to the growing trend of bee rearing in Malaysia, mainly due to the smart branding strategy of the government through research institutes and universities, e.g. Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu and Universiti Sains Malaysia, it is crucial to increase the number of honey-producing hives by colony splitting. The basis of colony splitting includes provision oviposition (POP), swarming and antennation. Colony splitting is necessary due to deforestation, to expand income generation and for entomological study purposes. A more advanced approach in colony splitting is to prepare and rear the virgin queen bee in vitro, resulting in more queens per one single colony. With the advancement in stingless bee rearing techniques, people may apply the colony splitting strategy to maximise stingless bee products and enhance crop production.

Avian polyomavirus (APV) primarily affects young birds and can cause mortality in a wide range of psittacine birds. This is the first study to detect the presence of APV in Malaysia. A total of 85 faecal samples were collected from symptom-free psittacines species from four different breeders in the Klang Valley. Upon genomic DNA extraction, the presence of APV was analysed by PCR using primers APVfull-AF (5'- ACAATGCCTAACGGAACGCC-3') and APVfull-AR (5'-CACCGAAGCGGCGATACTATA-3'). Positive results of 3 kbp PCR amplicon were detected in six out of the 30 samples (20%), which were from yellow-collared macaws, blue-headed parrots, red-crowned macaws, sulphur-crested cockatoos, blue-throated macaws, and Pesquet's parrots. As a conclusion, the prevalence of APV was clearly indicated.

Stingless bee is a diverse group of highly eusocial bees (meliponines) comprising the Meliponini subfamily of the Apidae family. Throughout the tropics, various kinds of stingless bee have been reared by beekeepers for their products (honey, propolis and bee bread) and pollination services for fruits and vegetables. This meliponiculture in logs or hives is considered safe due to the bee’s inability to sting, with the latter being more preferable for monitoring and managing the colonies and harvesting the products. The source of stingless bee colonies is depending on efficient hunting of feral colonies, which might affect the ecosystem. Following to the growing trend of bee rearing in Malaysia, mainly due to the smart branding strategy of the government through research institutes and universities, e.g. Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu and Universiti Sains Malaysia, it is crucial to increase the number of honey-producing hives by colony splitting. The basis of colony splitting includes provision oviposition (POP), swarming and antennation. Colony splitting is necessary due to deforestation, to expand income generation and for entomological study purposes. A more advanced approach in colony splitting is to prepare and rear the virgin queen bee in vitro, resulting in more queens per one single colony. With the advancement in stingless bee rearing techniques, people may apply the colony splitting strategy to maximise stingless bee products and enhance crop production.

Avian polyomavirus (APV) primarily affects young birds and can cause mortality in a wide range of psittacine birds. This is the first study to detect the presence of APV in Malaysia. A total of 85 faecal samples were collected from symptom-free psittacines species from four different breeders in the Klang Valley. Upon genomic DNA extraction, the presence of APV was analysed by PCR using primers APVfull-AF (5'- ACAATGCCTAACGGAACGCC-3') and APVfull-AR (5'-CACCGAAGCGGCGATACTATA-3'). Positive results of 3 kbp PCR amplicon were detected in six out of the 30 samples (20%), which were from yellow-collared macaws, blue-headed parrots, red-crowned macaws, sulphur-crested cockatoos, blue-throated macaws, and Pesquet's parrots. As a conclusion, the prevalence of APV was clearly indicated.

Since the 10th century B.C., light has been appreciated as a source of energy. Psychologically, a powerful ray of light can induce calmness and excitement in humans. We have been told in the holy books of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, how the Queen of Sheba (Balqis) had lived with hundreds of windows that allowed beams of sunlight in every morning before she prostrated in front of them. It is probably through this ancient practice that the physician Niels Finsen was inspired to use light to treat diseases and developed the first artificial light source for this purpose back in the 1900s.

The nervous system consists of nerve cells or neurons, which can transmit information in the form of electrical signals to our sense organs. Neurons generally are not a good electrical conductor; however, they have elaborate mechanisms for generating electrical signals by eliminating negative resting potentials.

The nervous system consists of nerve cells or neurons, which can transmit information in the form of electrical signals to our sense organs. Neurons generally are not a good electrical conductor; however, they have elaborate mechanisms for generating electrical signals by eliminating negative resting potentials.

Since the 10th century B.C., light has been appreciated as a source of energy. Psychologically, a powerful ray of light can induce calmness and excitement in humans. We have been told in the holy books of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, how the Queen of Sheba (Balqis) had lived with hundreds of windows that allowed beams of sunlight in every morning before she prostrated in front of them. It is probably through this ancient practice that the physician Niels Finsen was inspired to use light to treat diseases and developed the first artificial light source for this purpose back in the 1900s.

A perfect blend of design and innovation could serve as catalysts for future change. Designers offer knowledge and competencies to enable innovators envisage new ideas, with the ultimate aim of finding better and long-lasting solutions, by pushing boundaries and changing the norm. Inordinate power of good design will lead to invention of products or services with greater value and encouraging demand.

Zika virus is not new. The first case of human infection was detected in Uganda and Tanzania in 1952. This flavivirus was associated with diseases in 1964. The virus is spread mainly by the bite of an infected mosquito, and may also be transmitted sexually.

A perfect blend of design and innovation could serve as catalysts for future change. Designers offer knowledge and competencies to enable innovators envisage new ideas, with the ultimate aim of finding better and long-lasting solutions, by pushing boundaries and changing the norm. Inordinate power of good design will lead to invention of products or services with greater value and encouraging demand.

Zika virus is not new. The first case of human infection was detected in Uganda and Tanzania in 1952. This flavivirus was associated with diseases in 1964. The virus is spread mainly by the bite of an infected mosquito, and may also be transmitted sexually.

People manifest beliefs, beliefs represent culture. Culture of certain comunities, or even from one generation to the next, defines the originality or character of people of the world. Accumulation of knowledge, experience, language, attitudes, religion, values, hierarchies and material objects distinguishes one group of people from another. Influencing stimulus can be many, including observation of natural ecological and environmental factors, particularly from species of animal and plant, or even the advancement of technology by time.

Birds migrating across national and intercontinental borders can play a role in the spread of infectious diseases. Their capability to travel over long distances and through a diversity of habitats exposes them to a wide range of microorganisms such as bacteria, virus, parasite or drug-resistant organisms. Similar to wild birds, these migratory birds are hosts or natural reservoirs for many zoonotic diseases. Without showing any clinical signs, they act as a silent disease carrier by possessing pathogens that can threaten the well-being of other animals and humans, hence, raising concern on public confidence in health care, food safety, and security.

Children have limitless imagination, and drawing can be one the ways in which they can be creative. In order to compare the effect of psychology and environment, between urban and rural children, forty 10-year-old schoolchildren were assigned to draw their interpretation of “bird” on a long paper scroll. A drawing could reveal how children feel about their environment. Interestingly, the patterns of drawing of each group were relatively consistent. A majority of female schoolchildren from urban school drew imaginative forms of bird, flying freely.

Children have limitless imagination, and drawing can be one the ways in which they can be creative. In order to compare the effect of psychology and environment, between urban and rural children, forty 10-year-old schoolchildren were assigned to draw their interpretation of “bird” on a long paper scroll. A drawing could reveal how children feel about their environment. Interestingly, the patterns of drawing of each group were relatively consistent. A majority of female schoolchildren from urban school drew imaginative forms of bird, flying freely.

People manifest beliefs, beliefs represent culture. Culture of certain comunities, or even from one generation to the next, defines the originality or character of people of the world. Accumulation of knowledge, experience, language, attitudes, religion, values, hierarchies and material objects distinguishes one group of people from another. Influencing stimulus can be many, including observation of natural ecological and environmental factors, particularly from species of animal and plant, or even the advancement of technology by time.

Birds migrating across national and intercontinental borders can play a role in the spread of infectious diseases. Their capability to travel over long distances and through a diversity of habitats exposes them to a wide range of microorganisms such as bacteria, virus, parasite or drug-resistant organisms. Similar to wild birds, these migratory birds are hosts or natural reservoirs for many zoonotic diseases. Without showing any clinical signs, they act as a silent disease carrier by possessing pathogens that can threaten the well-being of other animals and humans, hence, raising concern on public confidence in health care, food safety, and security.