Phylogenetic analysis of some Newcastle disease virus isolates from the Sudan

A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to amplify 1412 bp of the fusion protein gene (F gene) of four Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates; two velogenic (TY-1/90 and DIK-90) and two lentogenic isolates (Dongla 88/1 and GD.S.1). Following sequencing, nucleotide sequences were annotated and 894 bp were compared phylogenetically with those from strains previously reported in the Sudan and the virus strains published on the GenBank. It could be demonstrated that TY-1/90 and DIK-90 strains belong to the genotype VI of NDV and are in close genetic relationship to sub- genotype VIb. TY-1/90 and DIK-90 strains were observed to be genetically unrelated to the earlier Sudanese isolates of 1970/80s and the late of 2000s suggesting a different origin. The close genetic relationship to the European and African pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 (PPMV-1) suggests a common ancestor. Dongola, GD.S.1 strains were classified into genotype II that comprises non-pathogenic lentogenic NDV strains. The present genetic classification of NDV isolates of the Sudan provides valuable information on genotypes of NDV. Further molecular epidemiological investigations of the recent outbreaks of Newcastle disease in the Sudan are needed in order to improve the efficiency of control strategies and vaccine development.Keywords: Newcastle disease virus, Phylogenetic analysis, Sudan isolate

A La0.8Sr0.2MnO3/La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ core–shell structured cathode by a rapid sintering process for solid oxide fuel cells

A La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 (LSM)/La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ (LSCF) core–shell structured composite cathode of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) has been fabricated by wet infiltration followed by a rapid sintering (RS) process. The RS is carried out by placing LSCF infiltrated LSM electrodes directly into a preheated furnace at 800 °C for 10 min and cooling down very quickly. The heating and cooling step takes about 20 s, substantially shorter than 10 h in the case of conventional sintering (CS) process. The results indicate the formation of a continuous and almost non-porous LSCF thin film on the LSM scaffold, forming a LSCF/LSM core–shell structure. Such RS-formed infiltrated LSCF–LSM cathodes show an electrode polarization resistance of 2.1 Ω cm2 at 700 °C, substantially smaller than 88.2 Ω cm2 of pristine LSM electrode. The core–shell structured LSCF–LSM electrodes also show good operating stability at 700 °C and 600 °C over 24–40 h

A Novel Chaotic Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm for Parking Space Guidance

An evolutionary approach of parking space guidance based upon a novel Chaotic Particle Swarm Optimization (CPSO) algorithm is proposed. In the newly proposed CPSO algorithm, the chaotic dynamics is combined into the position updating rules of Particle Swarm Optimization to improve the diversity of solutions and to avoid being trapped in the local optima. This novel approach, that combines the strengths of Particle Swarm Optimization and chaotic dynamics, is then applied into the route optimization (RO) problem of parking lots, which is an important issue in the management systems of large-scale parking lots. It is used to find out the optimized paths between any source and destination nodes in the route network. Route optimization problems based on real parking lots are introduced for analyzing and the effectiveness and practicability of this novel optimization algorithm for parking space guidance have been verified through the application results

Research progress on ophthalmological administration routes and pharmacokinetics of nerve growth factor

Nerve growth factor(NGF)is one of the most important active protein acting on the nervous system, it is applicated widely in ophthalmology, the administration route includes systemic drug administration and local drug administration. Compared to systemic drug administration, local drug administration is targeted, it is more effective to achieve the necessary concentration in eyes and it reduces the risk of side effects. Local drug administration has been a common treatment method in eye diseases. With the development of administration route, corresponding pharmacokinetic researches have received the concern. This review provides a reference for the study on ophthalmological administration routes and pharmacokinetics of nerve growth factor

Travel Intentions among Foreign Tourists for Medical Treatment in Malaysia: An Empirical Study

AbstractThis study essentially attempts to discover the underlying factors that might affect the foreign tourists’ intention to obtain medical treatment in Malaysia. The applicability of Theory of Planned Behaviour model provides the possibility to investigate the foreign tourists’ intention and to measure tourists’ general antecedent attitudes and feelings towards travelling abroad to seek medical treatment. The quantitative research approach has been used to conduct this study. A survey was carried out at four locations nationwide (Northern Region, Central Region, Southern Region and Eastern Region). The first generation technique was used to test and estimate the complex relationship among the variables. The proposed research model is expected to contribute to an understanding for scholars, marketers, policy makers, and practitioners on how these medical tourists formulate their intention to travel to Malaysia as a medical travel destination in order to increase the inbound market in medical tourism. This adds another contribution to the literature in the medical tourism field, reshaping the definition of medical tourism and having a more inclusive view in medical treatment highlighting the conceptual value of this study. Based on the analysis result, it can be confirmed that only attitude and subjective norm significantly influence the intention to visit for medical treatment in Malaysia, but is not significant for perceived control behaviour. The study concluded with several recommendations and insights that are useful to relevant parties such as Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Ministry of Health, Policy Maker, Public and Private Hospital Management teams as well as Travel Agencies or Companies

Acute aerobic exercise alters executive control network in preadolescent children

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of acute aerobic exercise on executive function (EF) and executive control network (ECN) in preadolescent children, and further explored the neural basis of acute aerobic exercise on EF in these children. We used a within-subjects design with a counterbalanced order. Nine healthy, right-handed children were scanned with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and performed an EF task both in baseline session and exercise session. The exercise session was consisted of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise on a bicycle ergometer at 60% of their estimated maximum heart rate. Compared with the baseline session, acute aerobic exercise benefitted performance in the EF task, increased the functional connectivity between right dorsolateral prefrontal and left cerebellum, further, the increment of functional connectivity was negatively correlated with the EF' s behavioral performance change. These findings suggest that acute aerobic exercise enhances children's EF, and the neural basis may be related to functional connectivity changes in the ECN elicited by acute aerobic exercise.El objetivo de esta investigación es estudiar la influencia del ejercicio aeróbico agudo en la función ejecutiva (EF) y la red de control ejecutiva (REC) en niños preadolescentes, además explorar la base neutral de estos ejercicios aeróbicos en los niños. Hemos utilizado un diseño de orden equilibrado. Nueve niños diestros saludables fueron escaneados con resonancia magnética funcional y se llevaron a cabo tareas de EF, sesiones de ejercicio y sesiones de medición basal. Comparado con las sesiones de base, la sesión de ejercicio consistió en 30 minutos de ejercicios aeróbicos en bicicleta ergométrica al 60% del ritmo cardiaco máximo estimado. Comparado con la sesión basal, el ejercicio aeróbico agudo benefició el desempeño en la tarea EF, aumentó la conectividad funcional entre el prefrontal dorsolateral derecho y el cerebelo izquierdo, además, el incremento de conectividad funcional se correlacionó negativamente con el cambio en el comportamiento del EF. Los resultados de estos estudios demuestran que el ejercicio aeróbico agudo refuerza, y puede provocar ciertos cambios

Neural Basis of Working Memory Enhancement after Acute Aerobic Exercise: fMRI Study of Preadolescent Children

Working memory lies at the core of cognitive function and plays a crucial role in children’s learning, reasoning, problem solving, and intellectual activity. Behavioral findings have suggested that acute aerobic exercise improves children’s working memory; however, there is still very little knowledge about whether a single session of aerobic exercise can alter working memory’s brain activation patterns, as assessed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Therefore, we investigated the effect of acute moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on working memory and its brain activation patterns in preadolescent children, and further explored the neural basis of acute aerobic exercise on working memory in these children. We used a within-subjects design with a counterbalanced order. Nine healthy, right-handed children were scanned with a Siemens MAGNETOM Trio 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner while they performed a working memory task (N-back task), following a baseline session and a 30-min, moderate-intensity exercise session. Compared with the baseline session, acute moderate-intensity aerobic exercise benefitted performance in the N-back task, increasing brain activities of bilateral parietal cortices, left hippocampus, and the bilateral cerebellum. These data extend the current knowledge by indicating that acute aerobic exercise enhances children’s working memory, and the neural basis may be related to changes in the working memory’s brain activation patterns elicited by acute aerobic exercise

Therapeutic effects of Jiaotai pill on rat insomnia via regulation of GABA signal pathway

Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic effects of Jiaotai pill (JTP) on rats with insomnia induced by pchlorophenylalanine (PCPA).Methods: Rats with PCPA-induced insomnia were divided into 5 groups (n = 10), made up of control group, positive treatment group (estazolam 0.1 mg/kg), and 3 JTP treatment groups (0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 g/kg). Another group of 10 rats were treated as normal group. Rats in normal and control groups were treated with normal saline (10 mL/kg). After 14 days of drug treatment, the rats were injected intraperitoneally with sodium pentobarbital (45 mg/kg) and thereafter, latent period and sleeping time were recorded, while contents of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamic acid (Glu) in hypothalamus were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Furthermore, the expressions of glutamate decarboxylase 65 (GAD-65), glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD-67), GABAaminotransferase (GABA)-T, anti-GABA transporter 1 (GAT)-1, anti-GABA transporter (GAT)-3, and GABA receptors (GABA-A and GABA-B) in the hypothalamus were analyzed by western blotting assay.Results: The results showed that JTP (0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 g/kg) significantly shortened latent period and prolonged sleeping time (p < 0.01). JTP also increased GABA level (p < 0.01), but decreased Glu contents of the rat hypothalamus (p < 0.01). Western blotting data indicate that JTP significantly upregulated the levels of GAD-65 (p < 0.01), GAD-67 (p < 0.05), GAT-1 (p < 0.01), GAT-3 (p < 0.01), GABA-A (p < 0.01) and GABA-B (p < 0.01), while the level of GABA-T was down-regulated.Conclusion: The results demonstrate that JTP possesses significant sedative effects on insomnia in rats, most probably through a mechanism involving GABA signal pathway.Keywords: Jiaotai pill, Insomnia, GABA, Glutamate, Estazolam, GABA signal pathwa