19672 research outputs found
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Intranasal inoculation of recombinant DNA vaccine ABA392 against haemorrhagic septicaemia disease
No full textWe evaluate the efficacy of recombinant DNA vaccine ABA392 against haemorrhagic septicaemia infection through intranasal administration route by targeting the mucosal immunity. The DNA vaccine was constructed and subjected to animal study using the Sprague Dawley (SD) rat. The study was divided into two major parts: (i) active and (ii) passive immunization studies, involving 30 animals for each part. Each group was then divided into five test groups: two test samples G1 and G2 with 50 and 100 µg ml−1 purified DNA vaccine; one positive control G5 with 106 CFU per ml formalin-killed PMB2; and two negative controls, G3 and G4 with normal saline and pVAX1 vector. Both studies were conducted for the determination of immunogenicity by total white blood cell count (TWBC), indirect ELISA and histopathological changes for the presence of the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT). Our findings demonstrate that TWBC, IgA and IgG increased after each of the three vaccination regimes: groups G1, G2 and G5. Test samples G1 and G2 showed significant differences (P < 0·05) compared to the negative controls, G3 and G4, but no significant differences from the positive control G5. Groups G1, G2 and G5 showed more formation of BALT compared to the negative controls, G3 and G4. Our results show that intranasal inoculation of recombinant DNA vaccine ABA392 can provoke mucosal immunity which makes it a potential prophylactic against HS. Significance and Impact of the Study: New approach of combating haemorrhagic septicaemia disease among bovines by recombinant DNA vaccine is crucial to overcome the loss of edible products from the infected bovines. DNA vaccine can potentially serve as a better immunogen which would elicit both cellular and humoral immunity, and it is also stable for its molecular reproduction. This research report demonstrates an effective yet simple way of administering the DNA vaccine via the intranasal route in rats, to provoke the mucosal immunity through the development of immunoglobulins IgA, IgG and bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue which guard as the first-line defence at the host's mucosal lining. © 2019 The Society for Applied Microbiolog
Sustainable built heritage: maintenance management appraisal approach
No full textPurpose: Sustainability encapsulated economic, environmental and societal parameters. Without exception, these parameters also conforms the efficiency and increasingly importance of sustainable maintenance management for built heritage. However, there is less attention to the appraisal approach for maintenance management of built heritage, twinned with inconsistent and impractical assessment upon their maintenance strategies. With the aim to support sustainability, the purpose of this paper is to give an insight to the question on how the maintenance management appraisal approach practically determines and ultimately substantiates the decision-making process that promotes sustainable built heritage, based on current scenarios and practices in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach: Maintenance management appraisal for sampling of built heritage enables assessment of efficiency of maintenance and repair during maintenance phase based on survey (questionnaires) and statistical analysis. Findings: It recognises the importance of maintenance management appraisal in achieving efficiency and underpinning rationale decision making for maintenance strategies and service quality (SERVQUAL). Practical implications: It must be emphasised that maintenance management appraisal is not confined to built heritage, and can be applied to any types and forms of property. The decision made as a result of its utilisation is practically support sustainable repair. Social implications: The implementation of this appraisal highlights the efficacy of maintenance strategies and SERVQUAL that may be adopted. Originality/value: The paper is a rigorous appraisal of maintenance management of built heritage. This appraisal relays the “true” sustainable built heritage, contextualised within maintenance strategies and SERVQUAL that consequently allows rationale in achieving sustainable development. © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited
Efficient forecasting model technique for river stream flow in tropical environment
No full textMonthly stream flow forecasting can provide crucial information on hydrological applications including water resource management and flood mitigation systems. In this statistical study, time series and artificial intelligence methods were evaluated according to implementation of each time-series technique to find an effective tool for stream flow prediction in flood forecasting. This paper explores the application of water level, rainfall data and input time series into three different models; linear regression (LR), auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and artificial neural networks (ANN). The performances of the models were compared based on the maximum coefficient of determination (R2) and minimum root means square error (RMSE). Based on the results the ANN model presents the most accurate measurement, with the R2 value of 0.868 and 18% RMSE. The present study suggests that ANN is the best model due to its ability to recognise times series patterns and to understand non-linear relationships. © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
Microwave-assisted synthesis of pyrrolidinone derivatives using 1,1’-butylenebis(3-sulfo-3H-imidazol-1-ium) chloride in ethylene glycol
No full textThe energy efficiency of the microwave-assisted synthesis of pyrrolidinones was demonstrated using catalytic loading of 1,1'-butylene-bis(3-sulfo-3H-imidazol-1-ium) chloride as a sulfonic acid functionalized ionic liquid in ethylene glycol as green solvent. The effect of electron donating and electron withdrawing groups on aniline derivatives was studied under conventional heating and microwave irradiation. Furthermore, the cation effect of ionic liquids containing sulfonic groups on the catalytic efficiency for the synthesis of ethyl-1-phenyl-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-hydroxy-5-oxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyr-role-3-carboxylate was investigated under conventional heat. The experimental results exhibited that there is a relationship between catalytic efficiency and the number of sulfonic groups and imidazolium moieties linked by carbon spacer. © 2019 N.G. Khaligh et al., published by De Gruyter
Informational roles and information needs of formal caregivers at child welfare institutions in Malaysia
No full textThis study investigates the information needs of formal caregivers of child welfare institutions through the landscape of their roles and tasks. A case study approach using purposive sampling of three children welfare institutions was conducted with a total number of 10 participants. Data were collected through a series of interviews and two focus groups. Qualitative data were analysed using NVivo. Open coding and thematic coding were used to generate themes on the informational roles and needs of the caregivers. The caregivers perform their roles as guardian, counsellor, and administrator which involve informational roles as a monitor, disseminator and spokesperson of internal and external information for the institution. Each role requires specific information in order to fulfill their tasks such as information on the children's background, daily information required, past education, future education (including sex education) and career path, monitoring of former children, disciplinary action taken on misbehaving children, information related to sports and leisure activities, safety, health as well as children rewards. This paper is significant to this specific community (caregivers of child welfare institutions) in order to understand their information needs, based on the actual caregivers' roles and tasks. The findings would be useful as a benchmark in providing better information services for the caregivers to perform their roles and tasks in managing children at risk. © Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology
Efficiency of global airlines: An application of the metafrontier dea model
No full textThis paper evaluates the technical efficiency of low cost and full cost carriers over the period 2002 to 2011 amid the high level of competition faced by airlines in Asia and Europe since the 2000s using the metafrontier technique based on Data Envelopment Analysis methodology. The application of this technique to airlines is interesting in order to identify the technology gap between low cost and full cost carriers. The study findings suggest that full cost carriers are technically more efficient than their low cost counterparts. The high value of TGR between the full cost carrier group and the metafrontier technical efficiencies indicates that full cost carriers have achieved the highest potential output. © 2019, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. All rights reserved
Highly sensitive capacitive cell based on a novel CuTsPc-TiO2 nanocomposite electrolytic solution for low-temperature sensing applications
No full textThis work demonstrates a highly efficient electrochemical cell based on the hybrid nanofluid of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles dispersed in a water-based copper (II) phthalocyanine-tetrasulfonic acid tetrasodium salt (CuTsPc) solution. A chemical cell of ITO/nanofluid/ITO has been fabricated to study the effect of temperature variations towards its capacitance and resistance. The resultant device showed capacitive sensing mechanism, and the synergistic hybridization of the two different sensing elements lead to the superior performance as compared to the single CuTsPc based device. The hybrid device outperformed the pristine CuTsPc based device in terms of sensitivity, stability, linearity, response/recovery and possessed narrow hysteresis loop. © 2019 Elsevier B.V
The employment of q-PCR using specific primer targeting on mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene for identification of wild boar meat in meatball samples
No full textObjective: The objective of this study was to employ real-time or quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) using novel species specific primer (SSP) targeting on mitochondrial cytochrome-b of wild boar species (CYTBWB2-wb) gene for the identification of non-halal meat of wild boar meat (WBM) in meatball products. Materials and Methods: The novel SSP of CYTBWB2-wb was designed by our group using PRIMERQUEST and NCBI software. DNA was extracted using propanol-chloroform-isoamyl alcohol method. The designed SSP was further subjected for validation protocols using DNA isolated from fresh meat and from meatball, which include specificity test, determination of efficiency, limit of detection and repeatability, and application of developed method for analysis of commercially meatball samples Results: The results showed that CYTBWB2-wb was specific to wild boar species against other animal species with optimized annealing temperature of 59°C. The efficiency of q-PCR obtained was 91.9% which is acceptable according to the Codex Allimentarius Commission (2010). DNA, with as low as 5 pg/μl, could be detected using q-PCR with primer of CYTBWB2-wb. The developed method was also used for DNA analysis extracted from meatball samples commercially available. Conclusion: q-PCR using CYTBWB2-wb primers targeting on mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene (forward: CGG TTC CCT CTT AGG CAT TT; Reverse: GGA TGA ACA GGC AGA TGA AGA) can be fruitfully used for the analysis of WBM in commercial meatball samples. © 2019 Network for the Veterinarians of Bangladesh
Responses of phytoplankton community to eutrophication in Semerak Lagoon (Malaysia)
No full textEffects of aquaculture activities on the environmental parameters and phytoplankton community structure were investigated in a semi-enclosed lagoon located at Semerak River, Malaysia. Elevated concentrations of phosphate and ammonia were observed at the aquaculture area and the inner lagoon. Relatively low dissolved oxygen, high total chlorophyll a, and high phytoplankton abundances but low species richness were recorded. Chaetoceros, Pseudo-nitzschia brasiliana, Blixaea quinquecornis, and Skeletonema blooms were observed, and some were associated with anoxia condition. Eutrophication level assessed by UNTRIX suggests that the water quality in the lagoon is deteriorating. Dissolved inorganic phosphorus and nitrogen at the impacted area were 15 and 12 times higher than the reference sites, respectively. Such trophic status indices could provide a useful guideline for optimal aquaculture management plan to reduce the environmental impact caused by aquaculture
Three-Phase Transformerless Shunt Active Power Filter with Reduced Switch Count for Harmonic Compensation in Grid-Connected Applications
No full textShunt active power filter (SAPF) is the preeminent solution against nonlinear loads, current harmonics, and power quality problems. APF topologies for harmonic compensation use numerous high-power rating components and are therefore disadvantageous. Hybrid topologies combining low-power rating APF with passive filters are used to reduce the power rating of voltage source inverter (VSI). Hybrid APF topologies for high-power rating systems use a transformer with large numbers of passive components. In this paper, a novel four-switch two-leg VSI topology for a three-phase SAPF is proposed for reducing the system cost and size. The proposed topology comprises a two-arm bridge structure, four switches, coupling inductors, and sets of LC PFs. The third leg of the three-phase VSI is removed by eliminating the set of power switching devices, thereby directly connecting the phase with the negative terminals of the dc-link capacitor. The proposed topology enhances the harmonic compensation capability and provides complete reactive power compensation compared with conventional APF topologies. The new experimental prototype is tested in the laboratory to verify the results in terms of total harmonic distortion, balanced supply current, and harmonic compensation, following the IEEE-519 standard