Background: Gangliosides are a group of sialylglycosphingolipids, widely distributed in body tissues, mainly as components of plasma membranes. They play crucial roles in neurodevelopment, gut maturation, and immune system. Dietary gangliosides have been shown to bring about benefits including cognition and immune support for breastfed infants. There is dearth of studies on dietary gangliosides intake or plasma ganglioside levels for toddlers. Given toddlers are still growing rapidly, a good understanding of ganglioside intake during this early childhood period is important for future dietary recommendations. The aim of this study was to provide information on dietary ganglioside intake in Malaysian toddlers and correlations with serum ganglioside levels. Methods: Toddlers who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were recruited from the Federal Territory of Putrajaya and neighboring urban suburbs. Background characteristics and food intake using food frequency questionnaire were collected for the entire sample (n = 153). As for ganglioside correlation determination, a 2 day weighed food record was conducted on a sub-group who provided blood (n = 74). Ganglioside levels in the food and blood were determined using modern high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method. Results: The average dietary intake of total gangliosides for the Malaysian toddlers (aged 12-24.5 months) was 5.86 ± 0.56 mg/day. Growing up milks had a wide ganglioside concentration range (0.03 11.4 mg/100 g), and were the major contributor to dietary ganglioside intake (85%). The remaining dietary gangliosides were provided by other dairy products, meat, fish, bakery and biscuits. Serum levels varied from 5.05 μg/mL to 16.15 μg/mL. While no significant correlation was observed between dietary ganglioside intake from growing up milks and serum ganglioside levels in the toddlers, there was a significant but weak correlation between dietary ganglioside intake from dairy products (r = 0.241; p = 0.038) and meat (r = 0.294; p = 0.010) with serum ganglioside levels Conclusions: Gangliosides are a component of the Malaysian toddlers' diet (5.68 ± 0.56 mg/day), and were measured in their plasma at levels ranging from 5.05 to 16.15 μg/mL. Growing up milk contributed to 85% of the total dietary gangliosides intake, with remaining contributions from chicken meat and fish. More studies should be undertaken on the contributions of dietary gangliosides, including breast milk, in bringing about health benefits to young children.

Abstract.Triggering innovation among Small-and-Medium Construction Firms (SMCFs) is of paramount importance to gear up the growth of construction firms. Thus, this study aims to develop a Capability-Based forecasting model for innovation development in SMCFs. Built on 157 questionnaires, the model was tested using partial least squares (PLS) technique of structural equation modelling (SEM). The practicality and robustness of this model was then validated by 12 experts. Findings affirm SMCFs making use of multiple Capability-Based approaches would be able to secure their performance via innovation activities. For academia, the new model contributes to the stream of construction innovation management by integrating both technological and organizational innovations in a single framework. For practitioners and policymakers, the model offers valuable input for continuing growth of SMCFs via innovation.

Abstract. Most of the current construction risk assessment tools deliver unsatisfactory results because the prerequisite for their effective applications rely on the availability of high quality data especially during the early stage of a project. Unfortunately, such data are limited, ambiguous or even not exist due to the great uncertainty inherent in construction projects. Based on Fuzzy Synthetic Analysis (FSA), a model development team was formed among construction engineers, IT professionals, and Mathematicians in developing a holistic risk assessment model to estimate the construction risks especially for the situations with incomplete data and vague environments. Through qualitative scales defined by triangular fuzzy numbers used in pairwise comparisons to capture the vagueness in the linguistic variables, a risk assessment model using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was developed. The Pilot Run revealed the developed Fuzzy Synthetic Model (FSM) could accelerate the decisionmaking process and provide optimal allocation of project resources to mitigate possible risks detrimental to the success of a project in terms of time, cost, and quality.

Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) driven gene directed enzyme prodrug therapy is a promising approach to deliver therapeutic agents to target heterogenous solid tumours. To democratize such a therapy, cryopreservation along with cold chain transportation is an essential part of the logistical process and supply chain. Previously, we have successfully engineered MSCs by a non-viral DNA transfection approach for prolonged and exceptionally high expression of the fused transgene cytosine deaminase, uracil phosphoribosyl transferase and green fluorescent protein (CD::UPRT::GFP). The aim of this study was to determine the effects of cryopreservation of MSCs engineered to highly overexpress this cytoplasmic therapeutic transgene. Methods Modified MSCs were preserved in a commercially available, GMP-grade cryopreservative—CryoStor10 (CS10) for up to 11 months. Performance of frozen-modified MSCs was compared to freshly modified equivalents in vitro. Cancer killing potency was evaluated using four different cancer cell lines. Migratory potential was assessed using matrigel invasion assay and flow cytometric analysis for CXCR4 expression. Frozen-modified MSC was used to treat canine patients via intra-tumoral injections, or by intravenous infusion followed by a daily dose of 5-flucytosine (5FC). Results We found that cryopreservation did not affect the transgene expression, cell viability, adhesion, phenotypic profile, and migration of gene modified canine adipose tissue derived MSCs. In the presence of 5FC, the thawed and freshly modified MSCs showed comparable cytotoxicity towards one canine and three human cancer cell lines in vitro. These cryopreserved cells were stored for about a year and then used to treat no-option-left canine patients with two different types of cancers and notably, the patients showed progression-free interval of more than 20 months, evidence of the effectiveness in treating spontaneously occurring cancers. Conclusion This study supports the use of cryopreserved, off-the-shelf transiently transfected MSCs for cancer treatment.

In contrast to classic Turner syndrome, Turner patients with ring X chromosome are associated with distinct dysmorphism and are likely to be mentally impaired. Four Turner patients with ring X chromosome were examined for phenotypic features of Turner syndrome and additional dysmorphism. Both patients 1 and 2 are twins with normal intelligence whereas patients 3 and 4 have mental impairment. With the exception of patient 4, the other three patients only have few Turner characteristics. None of the patients have the distinctive dysmorphism previously reported in Turner syndrome with ring X chromosome. Both twins developed spontaneous puberty. Patients 3 and 4 however had no spontaneous puberty. We postulate that this variation may be related to the ring size, the proportion of 45,X and ring X chromosome in cell lines of various body tissues as well as the ability of these rings to be inactivated as a result of lyonisation.