Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Standardization of Seedling Characteristics for Paddy

TheseA field experiment was conducted duringkharif 2012 at ARS, Gangavathi, UAS, Raichur to standardize the suitable age of seedlings, stage and concentration of GA3 spray for mechanical transplanting of rice seedlings. The treatment consisted of different age of seedlings (20, 25 and 30 days old seedlings) and two concentrations of GA3 (25 and 50 ppm) and sprayed on 10 days and 15 days old seedlings. The results revealed that 30 days old seedlings along with spraying of GA3 @ 50 ppm on 15 days old seedlings recorded significantly higher seedling growth parameters like shoot length (26.62 cm), root length (12.29 cm), root volume (9.33 cm3) and lowest was recorded with 20 days old seedlings without GA3 spray (14.2 cm, 6.26 cm and 4.00 cm3) respectively. Whereas, 20 days old seedlings with spraying of GA3 @ 50 ppm on 15 days old seedlings recorded higher number of tillers per hill (22.9), seed yield (47.05 q/ha), straw yield (23.7 q/ha), lowest unfilled seeds (6.1) and highest B:C ratio (2.7). Among the various age of seedlings and concentration of GA3 used for the study, twenty days old seedlings along with spraying of GA3 @ 50 ppm on 15 days old seedlings were found most suitable for walk behind mechanical transplanter in order to get better seedling establishment, plant growth, seed yield and to realise more profit by minimising the cost of seed production.
Energy Expenditure For Restriction Of Carbohydrate Or Fat In The Diet

Recently, discussion on low carbohydrate diet (LCD) and calorie restriction (CR) have advanced. When carbohydrate is taken too much, body weight often gains. When carbohydrate is restricted, there are no acute increases of blood glucose and insulin level, leading to weight reduction. There are many patients with obesity and diabetes, in which some cases cannot stop taking much food or carbohydrate. This phenomenon seems to be one of the addiction statuses, which may be called a food addiction or carbohydrate addiction. Thus, this problem includes bio-psycho-social aspects, which would be dealt with adequate strategies [1].
Conflicts of interest in medical school: Missing Policies and high need for student information at most German Universities

Objectives: Medical students interact with pharmaceutical representatives already during medical school. The goal of this study was to find out: Do policies exist at German medical faculties that govern the interactions between medical students and pharmaceutical representatives, do schools offer courses on the subject and do students attend these courses? And What are the attitudes of medical students concerning the role of pharmaceutical companies in medical teaching? Methods: All 36 German medical faculty deans and 1,151 medical students at eight German universities were asked to complete a questionnaire of 4 and 7 questions, respectively, regarding the above mentioned topics. Results: 30 (83,3%) deans and 1,038 (90.3%) medical students filled in the questionnaire, respectively. According to the deans' answers, only one school had a policy concerning conflicts of interest and one had a policy governing the interactions between medical students and industry. 8 (26.7%) deans showed an interest in constructing a policy or educational an activity on this subject. 149 (14,4%) students had participated in an activity that focussed the subject of conflicts of interest and 779 (77,8%) wanted more education on the subject. 701 (73,4%) were opposed to an improvement of medical studies through financial support by pharmaceutical companies, whereas 216 (21,9%) were of the opinion that students should not meet with pharmaceutical representatives. Conclusions: Unlike in other countries, like the US, most German medical faculties do not have policies that govern the interactions between medical students and pharmaceutical companies. Since most students want to be taught more about these interactions, the implementation of respective policies and lectures would be desirable.
Body Surfaces Colonization of Newborn Babies with ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae on Delivery at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria

DOI: 10.21276/sjams.2018. 6.10. 94 Abstract: Considering that body surface colonization of the new born by multi-drug resistant bacterial strains could predispose to early onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) this study was embarked upon at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos to investigate the percentage body surfaces colonization of the newborn and the vagina of their respective mothers by extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE). The study also evaluated the percentage of babies so colonized, who manifested with signs and symptoms of sepsis in the first 7 days of postnatal life. The antibiotic susceptibility, resistance patterns and risk factors for ESBLcolonization of the newborn in pregnancy were also determined. This investigation was conducted amongst 350 newborn babies delivered in the labour wards of LUTH, Lagos and their mothers, between January 2014 and May, 2015. Structured questionnaires were used to collect mothers’ socio-demographic data. The body surfaces swabs from the newborns and maternal high vagina swabs were cultured and isolates were tested both for antibiotic susceptibility and ESBL production. The babies whose body surfaces were colonized by Enterobacteriaceae were monitored for the first 7 days of postnatal life for signs and symptoms of EONS. Multivariate logistic regression model was constructed to determine the risk factors for newborn ESBL-PE colonization. A total of 243 (69.4%) babies were colonized by Enterobacteriaceae, 187 (53.4%) were non-ESBL-PE, 56 (16%) of the Isolates were conformed ESBL-PE. Out of the 56 confirmed cases ESBL-PE, 11 (19.6%) on postnatal monitoring, manifested with signs and symptoms of EONS. Maternal vagina ESBL-PE colonization in pregnancy was an independent risk factor for neonatal colonization (p<0.05). ESBL-production was associated with cross resistance to other antibiotic classes. Antenatal screening of pregnant women for vaginal colonization with ESBLPE is recommended. Further research to determine if a correlation exists between vaginal ESBL-PE in pregnancy and EONS should be encouraged.
Thiazolidinediones and glucocorticoids synergistically induce differentiation of human adipose tissue stromal cells: biochemical, cellular, and molecular analysis.

While adipocyte differentiation has been studied extensively in murine cultures, the lack of a readily available preadipocyte model has hindered equivalent studies in man. We describe methods for the isolation and culture of primary human stromal cells from surgical adipose tissue specimens. In vitro, the stromal cells rapidly differentiate in response to a combination of adipogenic agents. Among these, glucocorticoids and thiazolidinediones act together to induce the formation of lipid vacuoles within the cells. These morphologic changes accompany the increased expression of 2 characteristic adipocyte proteins, the cytoplasmic enzyme glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) and the secreted cytokine leptin. Likewise, stromal cell differentiation results in elevated mRNA levels for the fatty acid binding protein aP2 and the adipogenic regulatory transcription factors CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) in addition to leptin. The in vitro differentiated stromal cells exhibit a lipolytic response to beta-adrenergic agonists, comparable to that reported with primary human adipocytes. These studies demonstrate the validity of human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells as a reliable in vitro model for investigations of adipocyte metabolism in humans.
A review of measures of quality of life for children with chronic illness

AIMS To identify currently available generic and disease specific measures of quality of life (QoL) for work with children; and make recommendations about the future development and application of QoL measures. METHODS Systematic searches were conducted to identify measures of QoL. Primary research papers were coded by the authors on the basis of predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS Of the 137 papers included in the review, 43 involved the development of a new measure. These included 19 generic and 24 disease specific measures. Almost half the measures were developed in the USA. Measures were identified which were appropriate for children across a broad age range, and included provision for completion by different respondents (child only, parent only, or both). There were no clear distinctions between measures of QoL, health, or functional status. CONCLUSIONS We have identified a small number of measures which fulfil basic requirements and could be used to assess QoL in clinical trials or following interventions. However, there remain a number of problems in measuring QoL in children. These include limited availability of disease specific measures; discrepancies between child and parent ratings; limited availability of measures for self completion by children; lack of precision regarding the content of domains of QoL; and the cultural appropriateness of measures developed elsewhere for children in the UK. Key messages Different measures have value depending on the purpose for which they are required Basic research is needed to understand the relation between child and parent ratings of QoL Many measures have been developed outside the UK and need to be assessed for cultural appropriateness Children must routinely be involved in development of new measures
NON-DISSIPATIVE ENTROPY SATISFYING DISCONTINUOUS RECONSTRUCTION SCHEMES FOR HYPERBOLIC CONSERVATION LAWS

In this paper, we derive non-dissipative stable and entropy satisfying finite volume schemes for scalar PDEs. It is based on the previous analysis of [20], which deals with general reconstruction schemes. More precisely, we develop discontinuous-in-cell reconstruction schemes, based on a discontinuous reconstruction of the solution in each cell of the mesh at each time step. The intend is to handle well with discontinuous solutions. The schemes satisfy L-stability, decrease of the total variation and of an entropy, and thus are convergent to an entropy solution. A link with other formalisms is established. We propose a detailed numerical study in the cases of advection with constant velocity, of Burgers’ equations, and finally for a non-convex flux.
Mumbai and Thane , India

Background: The period 2006–2009 saw intensive scale-up of HIV prevention efforts and an increase in reported safer sex among brothel and street-based sex workers in Mumbai and Thane (Maharashtra, India). Yet during the same period, the prevalence of HIV increased in these groups. A better understanding of sex workers’ risk environment is needed to explain this paradox. Methods: In this qualitative study we conducted 36 individual interviews, 9 joint interviews, and 10 focus group discussions with people associated with HIV interventions between March and May 2012. Results: Dramatic changes in Mumbai’s urban landscape dominated participants’ accounts, with dwindling sex worker numbers in traditional brothel areas attributed to urban restructuring. Gentrification and anti-trafficking efforts explained an escalation in police raids. This contributed to dispersal of sex work with the sex-trade management adapting by becoming more hidden and mobile, leading to increased vulnerability. Affordable mobile phone technology enabled independent sex workers to trade in more hidden ways and there was an increased dependence on lovers for support. The risk context has become ever more challenging, with animosity against sex work amplified since the scale up of targeted interventions. Focus on condom use with sex workers inadvertently contributed to the diversification of the sex trade as clients seek out women who are less visible. Sex workers and other marginalised women who sell sex all strictly prioritise anonymity. Power structures in the sex trade continue to pose insurmountable barriers to reaching young and new sex workers. Economic vulnerability shaped women’s decisions to compromise on condom use. Surveys monitoring HIV prevalence among ‘visible’ street and brothel-bases sex workers are increasingly un-representative of all women selling sex and self-reported condom use is no longer a valid measure of risk reduction. Conclusions: Targeted harm reduction programmes with sex workers fail when implemented in complex urban environments that favour abolition. Increased stigmatisation and dispersal of risk can no longer be considered as unexpected. Reaching the increasing proportion of sex workers who intentionally avoid HIV prevention programmes has become the main challenge. Future evaluations need to incorporate building ‘dark logic’ models to predict potential harms.
Antioxidant role of human haptoglobin

Human plasma haptoglobin (Hp) is classified according to three phenotypes: Hp 1‐1, 2‐1, and 2‐2 attributed by their two common alleles 1 and 2. Clinically, the 2–2 phenotype is associated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus in patients. In this study, we demonstrate that Hp is an extremely potent antioxidant, which directly protects low density lipoprotein from Cu2+‐induced oxidation. Its potency was markedly superior to probucol (one of the most potent antioxidants). Ranking of the IC50 of antioxidant activity was as follows: Hp 1‐1 ≳ Hp 2‐1 ≳ Hp 2‐2 ≳ probucol ≳ vitamin E. Blockage of disulfide linkages between Hp subunits, not only abolished the α‐helical content but also diminished the ability of Hp to form a complex with hemoglobin. The modified Hp subunits exerted almost 4 times greater antioxidant activity than that of native Hp. To investigate the antioxidant role of Hp on the cellular level, the cDNA of Hp 1‐1 was cloned, introduced into the pcDNA3.0 vector which contains the cytomega lovirus promoter and transfected into chinese hamster ovary (CHO)‐K1 cells. Following transfection, CHO cells were able to express Hp 1–1 protein and significantly (p < 0.001) elevated cell tolerance against oxidative stress. Transfected cells showed 2‐fold higher resistance to hydrogen peroxide exposure for 24 h compared to control cells. Thus, Hp plays a provocative antioxidant role as demonstrated by our in vitro and ex vivo studies.
Role of Angiogenesis as a Factor Modulating the Course of Cardiovascular Complications in Diabetic Rats

Background: Angiogenesis is an adaptive response that occurs in hypoxic and ischemic states as a compensatory mechanism and is modified by “on” switches as regular exercise and nitric oxide administration, and "off" switches as angiostatin. The normal healthy body maintains a perfect balance of angiogenesis modulators. Some authors believe that angiogenesis is beneficial for the myocardial performance during the course of Type II Diabetes mellitus; through providing more adequate blood supply to the cardiac myocyte. Others believe that angiogenesis may lead to micro-aneurismal formation with subsequent rupture and bleeding. Aim of the Work: To study the effects of angiogenesis occurring as an adaptive response in diabetes mellitus, on cardiac functions and whether its stimulation by exercise or NO donor is beneficial or harmful on the cardiovascular performance and to study the effect of its inhibition on some cardiac function parameters. Material and Methods: Fifty male white Albino rats were divided into 5 groups Group 1: (control group) normal rats fed on standard chow, Group 2: (diabetic group) diabetes was induced by fructose enriched chow, Group 3: (diabetic + angiostatin) angiostatin was given in a dose 5 μg/kg each week for 4 weeks starting after 2 weeks from the start of the experiment, Group 4: (diabetic + exercise) exercise [1 hour of daily swimming divided into 4 periods of 15 minutes each, with a 5 minutes rest between each period] and Group 5: (diabetic + NO) L –Arginine was given at a dose 100mg/kg/day. Results: The results showed a significant impairment in the cardiac performance in all the diabetic groups compared to the control group, and a significant increase in VEGF blood level and gene expression under the effect of exercise and nitric oxide supplementation, which was more marked under the effect of exercise, and a significant decrease in the VEGF blood level and gene expression under the effect angiostatin as compared to the control group. Correlation analysis revealed strong negative correlation between the insulin resistance and the cardiac performance parameters and positive correlation between the angiogenic markers [VEGF blood level and gene expression] and the cardiac performance parameters. Correspondence to: Dr. Akef Khoweiled, The Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University. Conclusion: It can be concluded that stimulation of angiogenesis has a beneficial effects on the cardiovascular function in cases of DM, and that exercise exerts additional beneficial effect through improving insulin sensitivity.
Post-operative intravenous patient-controlled analgesic efficacy of morphine with ketorolac versus nefopam after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery: a randomized non-inferiority trial

Background Nefopam is a non-opioid non-steroidal centrally acting analgesic. This study was conducted to assess the analgesic efficacy of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) using nefopam alone, compared with a combination of morphine and ketorolac, after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. Methods Sixty patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecologic surgery received IV-PCA. Group A (n = 30) received IV-PCA with a combination of morphine 60 mg and ketorolac 180 mg, while group B (n = 30) received nefopam 200 mg (basal rate 1 ml/h, bolus 1 ml, and lockout time 15 min for both). The primary outcome evaluated was analgesic efficacy using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Other evaluated outcomes included the incidence rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), patient satisfaction of pain control, percentage of patients requiring additional opioids, and incidence rate of postoperative adverse effects. Results Group B was not inferior to group A in relation to the VAS in the post-anesthesia care unit, and at 12, 24, and 48 h after surgery (mean difference [95% confidence interval], 0.50 [–0.43 to 1.43], -0.30 [-1.25 to 0.65], -0.05 [-0.65 to 0.55], and 0.10 [-0.55 to 0.75], respectively). The incidence rate of nausea was lower in group B than in group A at 12 and 24 h after surgery (P = 0.004 and P = 0.017, respectively). There were no significant differences in the other outcomes between groups. Conclusions IV-PCA using nefopam alone has a non-inferior analgesic efficacy and produces a lower incidence of PONV in comparison with IV-PCA using a combination of morphine and ketorolac after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery.
Quantitative Regionalization of W. Mujib-Wala Sub-Watersheds (Southern Jordan) Using GIS and Multivariate Statistical Techniques

In arid and semi-arid watersheds, sustainable management of natural resources (i.e. land, water and ecological resources), and watershed management are crucial issues in applied morphometric studies. Geomorphometric parameters and their interrelationships are of paramount importance in characterizing the morphology, topography, geology and structure, hydrological potential, and geomorphic evolution of such catchments. An analysis of spatial characteristics and morphological development of the demarcated 76 sub-watersheds related to W. Mujib-Wala catchment, was carried out using ASTER DEM and GIS. Multivariate statistical techniques such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Cluster Analysis (CA), and Discriminant Analysis (DA), were also employed to assess different aspects of drainage networks, and their morphometric properties. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) reduces the 22 morphometric parameters to five components, which explain 90.4% of total variance. The relationship of these components to the morphometric variables and to the individual sub-watersheds was evaluated, and then the degree of inter-correlation among the morphometric descriptors was explored. The 76 sub-watersheds were classified according to their individual relation to the components, and similarities in their morphometric characteristics. Regionalization of sub-watertsheds was achieved using hierarchical Cluster Analysis (CA). The validity of the resultant cluster groups was tested statistically by means of Discriminant Analysis. The present investigation provides information which highlights the benefit of geomorphometric analysis and multivariate statistics in modeling hydrological responses: i.e., surface runoff and sediment yield, hydrological assessment, water resources planning, and watershed management. Furthermore, the results can be useful for soil and water conservation planning, and assessment of flash floods potential.
Effect of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril, on NaCl appetite of rats.

Dietary administration of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril (0.70 g/kg of food), to female rats for 1 week was accompanied by a spontaneous appetite for 0.25, 0.30 or 0.35 M NaCl solution when choice was offered between any one of them and distilled water to drink. An additional experiment was performed to determine the NaCl preference threshold concentration for each group. Control and treated rats were offered choice between two drinking bottles containing distilled water and a NaCl solution, respectively. The concentration of the latter varied from 0.0006 to 0.350 M/l. Control rats could detect the difference between water and NaCl solution at a concentration of 0.030 M/l, whereas captopril-treated rats detected the difference at the lowest concentration offered, i.e., 0.0006 M/l. Captopril-treated rats also preferred 5% glucose solution to distilled water, as did untreated controls. Similar results were observed for 0.25% saccharin. No difference between groups was observed when choice was offered between distilled water and dilute solutions of HCl. Thus, a NaCl appetite developed within 1 week of treatment with captopril. The appetite was accompanied by an ability to detect NaCl at a 50-fold lower concentration than that of the control group. Administration of captopril was also accompanied by an appetite for glucose and saccharin but not for HCl.
Interconnection and double layer for flexible electronic circuit with instant inkjet circuits

Instant Inkjet Circuits by silver nano-particle ink realized home-brew electric circuit fabrication. However, current method can support only single-layered patterns, and conventional inter-layer connection methods are not suitable. In this paper, we will evaluate various easy-to-use inter-layer connection methods by making via holes, especially the ones made by different drilling mechanisms. We show that the felting needle is the best candidate as it can establish good conductivity immediately after nano-particle ink is printed into the hole, without using any curing process.