The assessment of comparative advantage of the non-ruminant subsector through policy analysis matrix (PAM) in Peninsular Malaysia

The objective of this study was to assess comparative advantages of the non-ruminant subsector in selected states of Peninsular Malaysia. The study analysed livestock production, namely chicken meat and eggs in three states i.e. Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Selangor. This study used a Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) to determine whether non-ruminant products have a comparative advantage for production under commercial, medium or small scale farm size. The study demonstrated that Malaysia has a strong comparative advantage in the production of chicken meat compared to the production of eggs. Chicken meat produced on a commercial scale has a DRC ratio of 0.24 while eggs produced on a medium scale have a DRC ratio of 0.26. Both farms have a comparative advantage because their ratio implies that the value added per unit of product is larger than the value of domestic resources used to produce in that unit. According to Tsakok (1990), the level of comparative advantage of each subsector is greatest if the DRC ratio is close to zero. As a result, broiler farms on commercial scale with a DRC ratio of 0.24 have a higher degree of comparative advantage compared to layer farms on a commercial scale with DRC ratio of 0.71

One Health (OH) concept on the assessment of in-vivo antiparasitic activity of nerolidol against the growth and survival of zoonotic haemoflagellate protozoa, Trypanosoma evansi.

The concept of One Health (OH) emphasizes on how the involvement of multidisciplinary careers can be jointly approached to ensure the safety and health of humans and animals, as well as to maintain the environmental sustainability. Towards the end of this study, the authors demonstrated how the manipulation of bioactive compound namely nerolidol or 3,7,11-trimethyl-1,6,10-dodecatrien-3-ol (C12H26O), extracted from the seed of natural planted spice, Eiettaria cardamomum (cardamom), promisingly can solve the endemicity of vector-borne zoonotic manifestation of trypanosomiasis. By assessing the cell morphological changes and toxicity assessment of blood enzymes and vital organs, nerolidol was compared with Berenil (C18H22N8O3) on the growth and survival of the animal haemoflagellate protozoa Trypanosoma evansi. Groups of male ICR strain mice (6 – 8 weeks old, 20 – 25g body weight) were intraperitoneally (i.p) infected with the parasite at 5.0 × 103 T. evansi per mouse and orally given pre-, concurrent- and post-infection treatments with 0.1 ml of nerolidol at 10 µg/ml per mouse. By using Giemsa stained blood slides and examined under the light and scanning electron microscopes (SEM), there was a positive correlation (p ≤ 0.05, n = 6) between the mice survival time and the ability to inhibit the parasites growth in pre-infection treatment group. The mice in this group was also recorded the longest pre-patent (42.19 ± 1.2 days) and survival (264.58 ± 0.6 days) period. The morphological changes of T. evansi cells were observed where the undulating membrane was destroyed other than the cell became crescent-shaped and both of the posterior and anterior ends were tapered before the flagellum disintegrated in which lead to death of the cells. Besides, the results for biochemical tests were positively situated in the normal ranged level as well as no abnormalities found on the selected vital organs. This study significantly evidenced that nerolidol could be manipulated for the preservation and welfare of human beings, animals and environment. Thus, it is suggested that the scientists and practitioners from many disciplines needs to initiate to work collaboratively to synthesize and develop the novel solutions towards the trypanosomiasis which was problematize to the policy makers and people who deal with human and veterinary medicine

Antiparasitic assessment of nerolidol against the growth and survival of Haemoflagellate protozoa, Trypanosoma Evansi in mice

Cell morphological changes are frequently used as indirect indicators of the effect of studied materials on targeted cells. In this study, antiparasitic effects of active compound, namely nerolidol or 3,7,11-trimethyl-1,6,10-dodecatrien-3-ol (C12H26O), in which extracted from cardamom seeds (Eiettaria cardamomum) was in-vivo compared with commercial anti-trypanosomal drug, Berenil, on the growth and survival of the haemoflagellate protozoa Trypanosoma evansi in mice. Groups of male ICR strain mice aged 6 – 8 weeks with 20 – 25g body weight (bw) were administered with the parasite (5.0 × 103 T. evansi per mouse) and orally given pre-, concurrent- or post-infection treatments with nerolidol (0.1 ml 8.8 µg/ml nerolidol per mouse). Stained blood slides were prepared and examined under the light (Zeiss Primo Starr attached with Canon LA-DC58F digital camera) and electron (Phillips XL30) microscopes for the evaluation of specified parameters. The results showed that the mice in negative control group (untreated but infected mice) succumbed to the T. evansi infections with rapid increase of parasitaemia and survived in a short period of time. Mice in the pre-infection treatments with nerolidol not only demonstrated longer pre-patent periods but also exhibited the longest survival times (61.58 ± 0.2 days) as compared to those of the mice in the groups receiving concurrently or post-infection treatments. There was also a positive relationship (p ≤ 0.05, n = 6) between the mice survival time and the ability to inhibit the parasites growth in this group. The morphological changes of T. evansi cells were observed where the undulating membrane was destroyed and the cell became crescent-shaped. Finally, both of the posterior and anterior ends were tapered before the flagellum destroyed and disintegrated in which lead to death of the cells. The cell morphological changes in berenil-treated mice was occurred much earlier (2nd - 3rd hour post-treatment) and totally disappeared from the blood circulation within 5 - 6 hour later. The destruction of these parasite cells allowed the mice survived more than 300 days of observation. The results from this study suggest that nerolidol has a stronger anti-parasitic activity against T. evansi by causing the destruction of the cells. Further studies are required to elucidate the mechanism of action of nerolidol on these cell structures

Gancidin W, a potential low-toxicity antimalarial agent isolated from an endophytic Streptomyces SUK10

Endophytic Streptomyces strains are potential sources for novel bioactive molecules. In this study, the diketopiperazine gancidin W (GW) was isolated sfrom the endophytic actinobacterial genus Streptomyces, SUK10, obtained from the bark of Shorea ovalis tree, and it was tested in vivo against Plasmodium berghei PZZ1/100. GW exhibited an inhibition rate of nearly 80% at 6.25 and 3.125 µg kg-1 body weight on day four using the 4-day suppression test method on male ICR strain mice. Comparing GW at both concentrations with quinine hydrochloride and normal saline as positive and negative controls, respectively, 50% of the mice treated with 3.125 µg kg-1 body weight managed to survive for more than 11 months after infection, which almost reached the life span of normal mice. Biochemical tests of selected enzymes and proteins in blood samples of mice treated with GW were also within normal levels; in addition, no abnormalities or injuries were found on internal vital organs. These findings indicated that this isolated bioactive compound from Streptomyces SUK10 exhibits very low toxicity and is a good candidate for potential use as an antimalarial agent in an animal model

Conceptual framework for the design of a child motorcycle safety seat

Motorcycles are a common mode of transport in Malaysia where families with children can be common seen riding together. However a child riding pillion on underbone motorcycles are not safely protected from falling down from the motorcycle apart from holding onto the adult in front. The current feature in an underbone motorcycle seat does not provide or lack the necessary protection for the child pillion riders. The current seat requires a systematic framework in order to design and develop a safety motorcycle backrest seat for Malaysian child pillion riders of underbone type motorcycles. Therefore the main objective of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework to showcase the conceptual design and development of a child friendly motorcycle seat. In order to design and develop our safety motorcycle backrest seat for child pillion riders, a leading International Automotive Consultancy’s (IAC) New Product Introduction (NPI) process and subsequent IAC Design & Development Process was adopted and adapted to be able to properly design, develop, test and produce a robust prototype seat. The main IAC NPI will be abbreviated from the kick off until the prototype release milestone. The IAC NPI is then divided to 4 main phases starting from the initiating five concepts and choosing the best concept; designing and developing the chosen concept; building the first prototype test the design; validating the design and releasing the final prototype

Screening of native ureolytic bacteria for self-healing in cementitious materials

In recent years, microbial calcium carbonate has been recognised for its potential to self-heal cementitious material by mimicking the natural biological systems of healing wounds. Thus, the inevitable microcracks and concrete pores can be filled with microbial calcium carbonate to prevent any aggressive chemical flow or water and prolong the life span of the structure. Recently, numerous studies have reported on bio-concrete incorporating bacterial species such as B. sphaericus and B. pasteruii, although there are limited studies on the B. pseudomycoides species. In this study, new native ureolytic bacteria were isolated from soil samples collected in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. The morphology, characteristics, and ureolytic production of the bacteria were investigated through biochemical tests. The bacterial enhancement efficiency of the concrete compressive strength was also examined. The results demonstrated that the bacteria are gram-positive with encouraging characteristics such as endospore formation, which is required for application in harsh environments such as concrete. The native bacteria also demonstrated high urease enzyme productivity. Furthermore, the applicability of the bacterial spores and vegetative cells-urea solution as a healing agent in concrete was demonstrated by increasing concrete compressive strength by 10% and 15% compared to the control sample with the optimum cell concentration of 2-107 cell/ml. This finding was attributed to the precipitation of calcium carbonate in the pore volume and confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD)

Correction: Pathogenicity of Nosema sp.(Microsporidia) in the Diamondback Moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera:Plutellidae)

Biological control using pathogenic microsporidia could be an alternative to chemical control of the diamondback moth (DBM) Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). The microsporidium Nosema bombycis (NB) is one of the numerous pathogens that can be used in the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of DBM. However, its pathogenicity or effectiveness can be influenced by various factors, particularly temperature. This study was therefore conducted to investigate the effect of temperature on NB infection of DBM larvae. Second-instar larvae at different doses (spore concentration: 0, 1×102,1×103,1×104, and 1×105) at 15°, 20°, 25°, 30° and 35°C and a relative humidity(RH) of 65% and light dark cycle (L:D) of 12∶12. Larval mortality was recorded at 24 h intervals until the larvae had either died or pupated. The results showed that the spore concentration had a significant negative effect on larval survival at all temperatures, although this effect was more pronounced (92%) at 35°C compared with that at 20 and 30°C (≃50%) and 25°C (26%). Histological observations showed that Nosema preferentially infected the adipose tissue and epithelial cells of the midgut, resulting in marked vacuolization of the cytoplasm. These findings suggest that Nosema damaged the midgut epithelial cells. Our results suggest that Nosema had a direct adverse effect on DBM, and could be utilized as an important biopesticide alternative to chemical insecticides in IPM

The Assessment of Comparative Advantage of the Non-Ruminant Subsector through Policy Analysis Matrix(PAM) in Peninsular Malaysia

The objective of this study was to assess comparative advantages of the non-ruminant subsector in selected states of Peninsular Malaysia. The study analysed livestock production, namely chicken meat and eggs in three states i.e. Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Selangor. This study used a Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) to determine whether non-ruminant products have a comparative advantage for production under commercial, medium or small scale farm size. The study demonstrated that Malaysia has a strong comparative advantage in the production of chicken meat compared to the production of eggs. Chicken meat produced on a commercial scale has a DRC ratio of 0.24 while eggs produced on a medium scale have a DRC ratio of 0.26. Both farms have a comparative advantage because their ratio implies that the value added per unit of product is larger than the value of domestic resources used to produce in that unit. According to Tsakok (1990), the level of comparative advantage of each subsector is greatest if the DRC ratio is close to zero. As a result, broiler farms on commercial scale with a DRC ratio of 0.24 have a higher degree of comparative advantage compared to layer farms on a commercial scale with DRC ratio of 0.71

In-vivo antimalarial activity of the endophytic actinobacterium, Streptomyces SUK 10

Endophytic bacteria, such as Streptomyces, have the potential to act as a source for novel bioactive molecules with medicinal properties. The present study was aimed at assessing the antimalarial activity of crude extract isolated from various strains of actinobacteria living endophytically in some Malaysian medicinal plants. Using the four day suppression test method on male ICR strain mice, compounds produced from three strains of Streptomyces (SUK8, SUK10, and SUK27) were tested in vivo against Plasmodium berghei PZZ1/100 in an antimalarial screen using crude extracts at four different concentrations. One of these extracts, isolated from Streptomyces SUK10 obtained from the bark of Shorea ovalis tree, showed inhibition of the test organism and was further tested against P. berghei-infected mice for antimalarial activity at different concentrations. There was a positive relationship between the survival of the infected mouse group treated with 50 μg/kg body weight (bw) of ethyl acetate-SUK10 crude extract and the ability to inhibit the parasites growth. The parasite inhibition percentage for this group showed that 50% of the mice survived for more than 90 days after infection with the parasite. The nucleotide sequence and phylogenetic tree suggested that Streptomyces SUK10 may constitute a new species within the Streptomyces genus. As part of the drug discovery process, these promising finding may contribute to the medicinal and pharmaceutical field for malarial treatment