Genetic Characterization of Three Deer Species in Malaysia

In recent years, there has been much interest in the domestication and farming of deer in Malaysia for velvet, skin and meat production. Various deer species and subspecies have been imported into the country and this has resulted in the introduction of new germplasm and the risk of mixture of these, making it necessary to evaluate the genetic background of the various species before they are indiscriminately diluted or altered. This study was carried out to characterize three deer species i n Malaysia, namely rusa (Cervus timorensis), sambar (Cervus unicolor) and sika (Cervus nippon), by using the karyotyping, biochemical polymorphisms and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) techniques. The rusa herd at the Deer Breeding Unit of University Research Park, Universiti Putra Malaysia, the sambar herd at Pusat Permbiakan Ternakan Sabray, Kenungu, Sabah and the sika herd at Pusat Temakan Haiwan, Batu Arang were used as the research populations. Conventional, G-banded and C-banded karyotypes were generated for three male and three female deer of each species. The chromosome number was derived from 100 good metaphase spreads per animal. The morphology of the chromosomes was based on their relative lengths and position of the centromeres. Rusa, sambar and sika displayed a total of 60, 62 and 66 chromosomes in the majority of the cell spreads, respectively. The rusa deer had five pairs of metacentric/submetacentric and 24 pairs of acrocentric autosomes, and a pair of sex chromosomes. The X chromosome was characterised as the largest acrocentric chromosome, while the Y chromosome was a small acrocentric chromosome. The sambar deer had four pairs of metacentric/submetacentric and 26 pairs of acrocentric autosomes. The sex chromosomes were similar to that of rusa deer. In the sika deer there were two pairs of metacentric/submetacentric and 30 pairs of acrocentric autosomes. The pair of sex chromosomes was similar to those of the rusa and the sambar. The homologous chromosomes were paired with respect to their sizes, shapes and banding patterns generated from C-banding and G-banding. The nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) for the three deer species were 1 ocated on different chromosomes. The male r usa displayed NORs on the telomeric regions both homologues of Chromosomes 1 and 6, but the female displayed NORs on only one homologue of Chromosome 1, and both homologues of Chromosome 6. Male and female sambar deer both had three telomeric NORs located on the homologous pair of Chromosome 6 and a single homologue of Chromosome 7. Female and male sika deer displayed four NORs which were on the acrocentric Chromosomes 1 and 2. Cellulose acetate and starch g el electrophoresis were u sed to s tudy e nzymelprotein polymorphisms. Blood samples from 38 rusa, 9 sambar and 34 sika deer were analysed for 15 b iochemical m arkers, h owever, only six m arkers generated results. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Albumin (ALB), Transferrin and X-protein were monomorphic. Haemoglobin (HB) was polymorphic with three phenotypes for the three species, which could b e attributed to two c odominant alleles, H B~ and HB*. The frequency of H B w~as highest in the rusa population, 0.553, while HBB was predominant in sambar, 0.61 1, and sika, 0.574. The rusa and sika populations showed significant (P<0.05) deviations from HWE for this locus. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (GGPD), although polymorphic, was monomorphic within each species. Rusa and sambar showed the same phenotype, but this was different from that of the sika. The genetic distance between rusa and sambar based on the above biochemical markers was 0.001, between rusa and sika it was 0.144, and between sambar and sika it was 0.141. The animals used in the biochemical study were a Iso analyzed for RAPD markers using 10 arbitrary primers. The primers amplified a total of 164 makers, of which 59 were shared by a 11 three species. The overall percent polymorphism was 9 9.39%, with rusa showing 128 polymorphic markers (97.71%), sambar showing 66 (68.04%) and sika showing 118 (95.16%) polymorphic markers. The 62B-1 (800 bp) band was a c ornrnon monomorphic m arker for the three species. Sambar had five e xclusive monomorphic markers, while sika had one and rusa none. The genetic distance based on Dice and Jaccard similarity indices showed sambar and sika to be the most closely related, followed by rusa and sambar

Electromagnetic Analysis of Stator Ground Faults in Synchronous Generators

There are many stator ground faults protection schemes available in the industry. These schemes relatively perform well in detecting the faults in the stator winding. The protection of the neutral point vicinity is the challenge because of the low voltage induced in that area. The 100% stator protection concept has been around for a long time. However, these schemes sometimes have limitations. The fact that stator ground fault detection in generators depends on many factors like the generator design, the generator loading, and the equivalent capacitance of the generator’s windings and the apparatus connected to it, occasionally caused these schemes to fail to detect the winding faults near the neutral or to miss-operate during normal system disturbance. In this dissertation, an electromagnetic analysis of the synchronous generators stator winding ground faults is presented. A mathematical model for the synchronous generator under stator winding fault is being derived. In addition, a study is conducted using 2D FEA simulation and verified using experimental testing on the third harmonic ratio under-voltage protection scheme. Another study focuses on finding a unique signature for the stator ground fault using wavelet transform. This analysis is an attempt to understand this phenomenon from the machine design point of view by looking at the generator terminal and neutral voltages. The analysis presented in this dissertation shows that the protection schemes perform positively in detecting stator ground fault. However, it does not show reliable performance under system disturbances. On the other hand, the wavelet method shows better performance and it reflects robustness against these disturbances

Evaluation of Immune Response against Leishmaniasis in BALB/c Mice Immunized with Cationic DOTAP/DOPE/CHOL Liposomes Containing Soluble Leishmania major Antigens

Background: Whole killed Leishmania vaccine reached phase III clinical trials but failed to display significant efficacy in human mainly due to limited Th1 inducer adjuvant. Liposomes consisting of 1, 2-dioleoyl-3trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) bearing an inherent adjuvanticity and 1, 2-dioleoyl-L-α-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) is well known to intensify the efficacy of positively charged liposomes. Methods: Soluble Leishmania major antigens (SLA) encapsulated in cationic liposomes using lipid film method in 2016). BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously (SC), three times in a 2-wk interval, with Lip (DOTAP)-SLA+, Lip (DOTAP/DOPE)-SLA+, Lip (DOTAP/DOPE/CHO)-SLA+, Lip (DOTAP/DOPE/CHO), Lip (DOPE/CHO), SLA or HEPES buffer. At week 2 after the last booster injection, immunized mice have challenged SC in the footpad with L. major parasites. To investigate the rate of protection and the type of immune response generated in mice, lesions development was assessed, IL-4 and IFN-γ levels with the ratio of IgG2a/IgG1 isotype were studied to describe the type of generated immune response. Results: Mice immunized with all liposomal form of SLA showed smaller footpad swelling and lower parasite burden in the spleen and footpad compared to the group of mice received buffer. However, these formulations did not show protection against leishmaniosis because of a generated mixed Th1/Th2 response in mice characterized by high production of IFN-γ and IL4 and a high titer of IgG1 and IgG2a antibody. Conclusion: Immunization with Lip (DOTAP/DOPE/CHO)-SLA+ was not an appropriate strategy to protect mice against leishmaniosis

Prevalence of Poor Diabetes Self-Management Behaviors among Ethiopian Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta- Analysis

BACKGROUND: Diabetes has no cure so far, but appropriate self-management contributes to delay or control its progression. However, poor self-management by diabetic patients adds to disease burden. The pooled prevalence of overall, and its main components of poor self-management among Ethiopian diabetic patients remain elusive. Hence, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of poor diabetes self-management behaviors among diabetic patients in Ethiopia.METHOD: by using different combinations of search terms, we accessed articles done until February 15, 2020 through Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science and Embase databases. Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale was used for quality assessment, and STATA version 14 software along with the random-effects model was employed for statistical analyses. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA.) guideline was followed to report the results.RESULT: Twenty-one studies with 7,168 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The overall pooled prevalence of poor self-management behavior among diabetic patients in Ethiopia was 49.79% (95% CI: 43.58%, 56.01%). Based on subgroup analysis, the estimated magnitudes of poor selfmanagement by regions were 68.58% in Tigray, 55.46% in Harari, 54.74%, in Amhara, 40.90%, in SNNPRS and 37.06% in Addis Ababa. The worst (80.91%) and relatively better (24.65%) self-management components were observed on self-blood glucose monitoring and medication adherence, respectively.CONCLUSION: One in two diabetic patients in Ethiopia had poor self-management. Thus, we strongly recommend to the ministry of health and universities to train diabetes health educators, and the health facilities to deliver tailored diabetes health education

Nanolipoparticles-mediated MDR1 siRNA delivery reduces doxorubicin resistance in breast cancer cells and silences MDR1 expression in xenograft model of human breast cancer

Objective(s): P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an efflux protein, the overexpression of which has been associated with multidrug resistance in various cancers. Although siRNA delivery to reverse P-gp expression may be promising for sensitizing of tumor cells to cytotoxic drugs, the therapeutic use of siRNA requires effective carriers that can deliver siRNA intracellularly with minimal toxicity on target cells. We investigated a special class of PEGylated lipid-based nanoparticles (NP), named nanolipoparticles (NLPs), for siRNA- mediated P-gp downregulation. Materials and Methods: NLPs were prepared based on low detergent dialysis method. After characterization, we evaluated the effect of NLPs on siRNA delivery, and P-gp downregulation compared to oligofectamineTM (OFA) in vitro and in vivo. Results: Our results showed a significant decrease in P-gp expression and subsequent enhancement of chemosensitivity to doxorubicin in vitro. Although the effectiveness of NLPs for in vitro siRNA delivery compared to OFA was limited, the results of in vivo studies showed noticeable effectiveness of NLPs for systemic siRNA delivery. siRNA delivery using NLPs could downregulate MDR1 in tumor cells more than 80%, while OFA had a reverse effect on MDR1 expression in vivo. Conclusion: The results indicated that the prepared NLPs could be suitable siRNA delivery systems for tumor therapy

Finite element analysis of axial fan blade with different chord lengths

Nowadays, improving energy efficient systems is one of the most controversial and significant global focuses. However, this trend in the field of engineering concentrates on the optimization of the existing technologies more than implementing new ones. Meanwhile, fans are one of the potent devices to be more efficient. Improvement in fan efficiency can be achieved by reducing material that is used in the fan blades. Due to this, decreasing the airfoil chord length to optimum value, leads to a decline in the amount of used materials in the blade design and manufacturing. In fan designing, Factor of safety should be considered. This factor changes by varying the chord length of the airfoil. However, this paper attempts to analyze the factor of safety in an axial fan blade with different chord lengths by use of finite element method. Due to this, axial fan blade with NACA5514 airfoil that is made by Aluminum 6061-T91 will be analyzed to find the correlation between the factor of safety and chord length in various pressure loads. The load values are determined by the experimental test

Development and Psychometric Assessment of a Scale for Measuring Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice About COVID-19

Background and aims: Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) toward coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are important factors for adherence to protection strategies. The aim of this study was to construct and validate a questionnaire about the KAP of Iranians regarding COVID-19. Methods: Initially, a questionnaire about the KAP with regard to COVID-19 was constructed in this cross-sectional study. The initial questionnaire was prepared based on a review of the extensive research literature and global and national guidelines. This researcher-made questionnaire was developed using the COVID-19-KAP questionnaire, which was originally used in China in 2020, and the influenza epidemic KAP Questionnaire (2015), the MERS KAP Questionnaire (2015), the H1N1 flu KAP questionnaire (2017), and the WHO KAP questionnaire about COVID-19. The applied questionnaire consists of three parts including knowledge- (n = 26), attitude- (n = 8), and practice-related (n = 11) questions, respectively. Then, the face, content, and construct validity and the reliability of the questionnaire was determined, and analyzes were performed using SPSS v. 26 and AMOS v. 24 software. Results: In the face validity stage, 2 questions with an impact score of less than 1.5 were excluded from the questionnaire. In the content validity check, all questions had a content validity index (I-CVI) of more than 0.7. However, the content validity ratio (CVR) for 6 questions was less than 0.51, and these questions were removed accordingly. The compliance of the CVI with the chance agreement was close to one for all questions, indicating the lack of a chance agreement. In the exploratory factor analysis stage, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value of 0.90 was obtained, implying the adequacy of the sample size for factor analysis. The significance of the Bartlett test (chi-square: 5820.06, df: 630, P<0.001) indicated a strong correlation between the questions and the appropriateness of factor analysis. Finally, 34 items in 4 domains remained in the questionnaire. Conclusion: The validity and reliability of this questionnaire were confirmed based on the findings. This Farsi KAP questionnaire can be used to assess the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of people about COVID-19

Catalytic decomposition of 2-chlorophenol using an ultrasonicassisted Fe3O4–TiO2@MWCNT system: influence factors, pathway and mechanism study

As a reusable sonocatalyst, magnetically separable Fe3O4–TiO2@MWCNT (FMT) was synthesized by an ultrasound-assisted wet impregnation method and was evaluated in the removal of 2-chlorophenol (2CP). Physical and chemical properties of the catalyst composite materials were investigated by All catalysts were systematically characterized using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), and N2-physisorption. The efficiency and kinetics of 2CP removal by FMT-assisted sonocatalysis (FMT-US) was systematically investigated under various operational parameters i.e. pH, FMT and 2CP concentration, temperature and ultrasonic power. The results indicated that 0.4 g L-1 FMT dosage, pH 5, temperature of 35℃ as well as 50 w ultrasound power are the most favorable conditions for the degradation of the 2CP. Furthermore, both of the superoxide and hydroxyl radicals were produced in the reaction, however, superoxide radicals were assumed to be the dominating reactive species for the 2CP degradation, according to the scavenging tests and electron paramagnetic resonance tests. Moreover, the FMT catalyst exhibited a high reusability and stability in the US/FMT system during the five repetitive experiments. The intermediate products were identified by GC–MS, thereby a possible degradation pathway is proposed. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and corresponding total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiencies were 64.9% and 56.7%, respectively. Finally, toxicity tests showed that the toxicity of the solution increased during the first 5 min and then decreased significantly with the progress of the oxidation. The mechanisms of ultrasound irritation enhanced FMT activation were also proposed

Chemical Composition and Cytotoxic and Antibacterial Activities of the Essential Oil of Aloysia citriodora

The aim of this work is to investigate the in vitro cytotoxic and antibacterial effects of the essential oils of Aloysia citriodora Palau, harvested in different regions of Morocco. The chemical profile was established using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. The cytotoxic activity against P815, MCF7, and VERO cell lines as well as the normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was evaluated using the MTT assay. Standard, ATCC, strains of bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were cultivated in Muller Hinton media. Then, agar disc diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were determined using microdilution method. The essential oils obtained were predominantly composed of β-spathulenol (15.61%), Ar-curcumene (14.15%), trans-caryophyllene oxide (14.14%), and neral (10.02%). The results of the assays showed that the cytotoxic effect of the essential oil of A. citriodora was high on P815 and moderate on MCF7 and on VERO cell lines. However, no cytotoxic effect was observed on PBMCs. On the other hand, essential oils showed a significant antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. MICs ranged between 2.84 and 8.37 mg/ml. Essential oil of A. citriodora leaves possesses significant antibacterial effect and cytotoxic activity against tumor cell lines