bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eight new species of Gulella Pfeiffer, 1856 from the south-east coast of South Africa (Gastropoda: Streptaxidae)
Authors: Cole Mary , Herbert David
Published: April 2022

Eight new species of Gulella Pfeiffer, 1856 are described from south-eastern South Africa, occurring over a linear distance of 550 km within the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany biodiversity hotspot. Seven species are narrow-range endemics, while Gulella kenbrowni sp. nov. occurs somewhat patchily over most of this distance. The very similar G. fordycei sp. nov. is recorded from only one small nature reserve in medium-altitude mistbelt forest. Six species, G. crookesi sp. nov., G. maraisi sp. nov., G. mkombeni sp. nov., G. abbotti sp. nov., G. donaikeni sp. nov. and G. calcicola sp. nov. each occur at one or a few isolated localities along a narrow strip of 140 km at or near the coast. The latter two are found only in the Marble Delta region, where mining has badly degraded and continues to threaten their habitat, and appear to meet the criteria for Red-Listing as Critically Endangered. Six species occur in nature reserves, highlighting the importance of small pockets of protected habitat for the conservation of terrestrial snails.
Percepção de docentes acerca da evasão universitária
Authors: Araujo Ana Carolina da Costa , Silva Thales Fabricio da Costa e , Pederneiras Marcleide Maria Macêdo
Published: April 2022

A evasão universitária gera consequências a nível individual, organizacional e social e uma forma de combate-la é compreender como os envolvidos no processo educacional percebem o fenômeno e como atuam no seu enfrentamento. Assim, apresenta-se resultados de pesquisa que teve como objetivo compreender a percepção dos docentes do Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande acerca do processo de evasão dos estudantes universitários. Após o levantamento feito com 45 professores do campus e a análise quantitativa e qualitativa dos dados, emergiram diversas categorias de análise que ilustram os fatores que influenciam o processo de evasão do discente e as estratégias e ações para redução da evasão.
Examining athletes' leadership skills development and transfer experiences from sport into business
Authors:   , Sela Or
Published: April 2022

This thesis examines the role of sport in offering experiences that enable the development and subsequent application of leadership skills in business focusing on former professional basketball players and business managers in Israel. Transferable skills are general skills that are context and content free (Wiant, 1977). Within the context of sport, transferable skills are those acquired through sport which can be applied in non-sport domains. In recent years, the demand and interest regarding performance excellence principles has grown significantly. Likewise, the demand in the business world for transferring those principles from elite sport has increased. Thus, business organisations are becoming aware of the power of “learning through metaphor” as well as the fact that life skills are universal, regardless of culture and domain (Fletcher, 2011). Some studies have examined this aspect in the context of high school sport (Carson & Gould, 2010; Voelker, Gould, & Crawford, 2011). However, such findings appear limited as participants have only recently left high school and have not had enough time to implement the skills acquired (Kendellen & Camire, 2017). Thus, there is a gap in the literature here for a study such as this one that focuses on participants that have had longer experiences in business and leadership settings post their sporting careers. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 male participants (Mage = 65.0). Participants were engaged in professional basketball careers on both national and international levels. Upon their retirement participants have worked in business and/or are pursuing business careers. This research utilises a six-step deductive thematic analysis using the conceptual model for life skills interventions developed by (Hodge, Danish, & Martin, 2013). Participants discussed how they believe they developed leadership skills during their professional basketball career and subsequently applied in business many of the leadership skills theorised to be associated with the basic psychological needs. Three higher-order themes of autonomy (e.g., self-control), competence (e.g., coping with stress), and relatedness (e.g., consideration of other’s feelings) comprising 14 lower-order themes were generated from the data. The findings advance the understanding of sports as a development setting by offering concrete examples of both development and application of specific leadership skills provided by the same participants. Linking development in sports and application in business in such a manner demonstrates substantial influence sports experiences can have in the lives of business managers long after their playing days are over. The results proved that athletes could learn leadership skills which they can apply throughout their professional business careers. Those skills can play a significant role in their professional success.
How business schools programmes can more effectively stimulate action in SMEs
Authors:   , Cartwright Glyn
Published: April 2022

The objective of the research is to explore SME business training programmes to identify the "trigger point/s" that stimulate action in SME leaders, to take action within their business’. SME development programmes, run by Erasmus, UKCES and European Region Funding and the participant SME leaders on these programmes are the focus of this research. The emergent insights are explored relating to existing programmes currently being provided by Business Schools for SMEs development, through the stories of SME leaders. More specifically, themes relating to four component features of development programmes, those of content, context, facilitator, and network are used as the focus for this research. The combined impact of these four components in the SME development programmes and the comparative impact each of these individual components has in stimulating action by SME leaders are reflected on, as is how these finding can improve the impact of such programmes in stimulating the participants to take action. This research followed a qualitative and interpretive approach. Research into humanist literature was informed by the four component features. Secondary data from independent analysis and pre-research pilot interviews and questionnaires were used in the focus of this research, together with insights from participant interviewees. Emergent themes were compared with the existing literature and the independent secondary data. All four components were perceived by the research participants as important and influential, in varying degrees, in stimulating action within the SME leader. III Other emergent themes emphasise the importance of additional key components, those of improving self-confidence, storytelling, and relevance to the design of SME training programmes. The insights emerging of the comparative value of the four components of content, context, facilitator, and network, together with the other emergent themes in stimulating SME leaders to take action is the contribution to theory. The findings inform practitioners’ thinking in their design and delivery of SME development programmes.
Young domestic chicks spontaneously represent the absence of objects
Authors: Szabó Eszter , Chiandetti Cinzia , Téglás Ernő , Versace Elisabetta , Csibra Gergely , Kovács Ágnes Melinda , Vallortigara Giorgio
Published: April 2022

Absence is a notion that is usually captured by language-related concepts like zero or negation. Whether nonlinguistic creatures encode similar thoughts is an open question, as everyday behavior marked by absence (of food, of social partners) can be explained solely by expecting presence somewhere else. We investigated 8-day-old chicks’ looking behavior in response to events violating expectations about the presence or absence of an object. We found different behavioral responses to violations of presence and absence, suggesting distinct underlying mechanisms. Importantly, chicks displayed an avian signature of novelty detection to violations of absence, namely a sex-dependent left-eye-bias. Follow-up experiments excluded accounts that would explain this bias by perceptual mismatch or by representing the object at different locations. These results suggest that the ability to spontaneously form representations about the absence of objects likely belongs to the initial cognitive repertoire of vertebrate species.
Unbiased proteomics, histochemistry, and mitochondrial DNA copy number reveal better mitochondrial health in muscle of high-functioning octogenarians
Authors: Ubaida-Mohien Ceereena , Spendiff Sally , Lyashkov Alexey , Moaddel Ruin , MacMillan Norah J , Filion Marie-Eve , Morais Jose A , Taivassalo Tanja , Ferrucci Luigi , Hepple Russell T
Published: April 2022

Background:

Master athletes (MAs) prove that preserving a high level of physical function up to very late in life is possible, but the mechanisms responsible for their high function remain unclear.

Methods:

We performed muscle biopsies in 15 octogenarian world-class track and field MAs and 14 non-athlete age/sex-matched controls (NA) to provide insights into mechanisms for preserving function in advanced age. Muscle samples were assessed for respiratory compromised fibers, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number, and proteomics by liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry.

Results:

MA exhibited markedly better performance on clinical function tests and greater cross-sectional area of the vastus lateralis muscle. Proteomics analysis revealed marked differences, where most of the ~800 differentially represented proteins in MA versus NA pertained to mitochondria structure/function such as electron transport capacity (ETC), cristae formation, mitochondrial biogenesis, and mtDNA-encoded proteins. In contrast, proteins from the spliceosome complex and nuclear pore were downregulated in MA. Consistent with proteomics data, MA had fewer respiratory compromised fibers, higher mtDNA copy number, and an increased protein ratio of the cristae-bound ETC subunits relative to the outer mitochondrial membrane protein voltage-dependent anion channel. There was a substantial overlap of proteins overrepresented in MA versus NA with proteins that decline with aging and that are higher in physically active than sedentary individuals. However, we also found 176 proteins related to mitochondria that are uniquely differentially expressed in MA.

Conclusions:

We conclude that high function in advanced age is associated with preserving mitochondrial structure/function proteins, with underrepresentation of proteins involved in the spliceosome and nuclear pore complex. Whereas many of these differences in MA appear related to their physical activity habits, others may reflect unique biological (e.g., gene, environment) mechanisms that preserve muscle integrity and function with aging.

Funding:

Funding for this study was provided by operating grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP 84408 to TT and MOP 125986 to RTH). This work was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA.
A frameshift in time
Authors: Yordanova Martina M , Baranov Pavel V
Published: April 2022

The efficiency with which ribosomes shift reading frames when decoding viral RNA may change over the course of an infection.
Ecomorphospace occupation of large herbivorous dinosaurs from Late Jurassic through to Late Cretaceous time in North America
Authors: Wyenberg-Henzler Taia
Published: April 2022

Following the Late Jurassic, megaherbivore communities in North America undergo a dramatic turnover in faunal composition: sauropods decline to the point of becoming relatively minor components of ecosystems, stegosaurs become extinct, and hadrosaurids, ceratopsids and ankylosaurs rise in diversity and abundance. Although a variety of causes have been proposed to account for the dramatic decrease in sauropod diversity following the Late Jurassic and could have also been applicable to the disappearance of stegosaurs, the potential for competitive replacement of sauropods by hadrosauroids as an explanation has been previously dismissed due to morphological differences without further investigation. Using twelve ecomorphological correlates of the skull, this study provides a preliminary investigation into ecomorphospace occupation of major megaherbivore clades from the Late Jurassic through to the Late Cretaceous of North America and assess if morphological differences were enough to have potentially facilitated dietary niche partitioning between sauropods and iguanodontians and stegosaurs and ankylosaurs. Overlap in reconstructed ecomorphospace was observed between sauropods (particularly non-diplodocid sauropods) and iguanodontians, as would be expected if morphological differences were not enough to facilitate niche partitioning, contrary to original claims used to dismiss the competitive replacement hypothesis. Overlap was also observed between stegosaurs and ankylosaurs, particularly between Late Cretaceous ankylosaurs. Whether this overlap is reflective competitive replacement or opportunistic occupation of recently vacated niches will require further assessment as sampling of some clades prior to the Late Cretaceous is too poor to make a reliable assessment and several underlying assumptions necessary for competition to occur (e.g., resource limitation) still need investigation. Teasing out the cause(s) of the ‘sauropod decline’ and extinction of stegosaurs in North America following the Late Jurassic will require future research not only into the competitive exclusion hypothesis, but other hypotheses as well with better sampling from Early Cretaceous and Late Jurassic intervals.
A model of multiple tumor marker for lymph node metastasis assessment in colorectal cancer: a retrospective study
Authors: Fu Jiangping , Tu Mengjie , Zhang Yin , Zhang Yan , Wang Jiasi , Zeng Zhaoping , Li Jie , Zeng Fanxin
Published: April 2022

Background

Assessment of colorectal cancer (CRC) lymph node metastasis (LNM) is critical to the decision of surgery, prognosis, and therapy strategy. In this study, we aimed to develop and validate a multiple tumor marker nomogram for predicting LNM in CRC patients.

Methods

A total of 674 patients who met the inclusion criteria were collected and randomly divided into primary cohort and internal test cohort at a ratio of 7:3. An external test cohort enrolled 178 CRC patients from the West China Hospital. Clinicopathologic variables were obtained from electronic medical records. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and interquartile range analysis were carried out for variable dimensionality reduction and feature selection. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to develop predictive models of LNM. The performance of the established models was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration belt, and clinical usefulness.

Results

Based on minimum criteria, 18 potential features were reduced to six predictors by LASSO and interquartile range in the primary cohort. The model demonstrated good discrimination and ROC curve (AUC = 0.721 in the internal test cohort, AUC = 0.758 in the external test cohort) in LNM assessment. Good calibration was shown for the probability of CRC LNM in the internal and external test cohorts. Decision curve analysis illustrated that multi-tumor markers nomogram was clinically useful.

Conclusions

The study proposed a reliable nomogram that could be efficiently and conveniently utilized to facilitate the assessment of individually-tailored LNM in patients with CRC, complementing imaging and biopsy tests.
A long noncoding RNA GTF2IRD2P1 suppresses cell proliferation in bladder cancer by inhibiting the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Huang Zhuo , Gao Hongbin , Qing Liangliang , Wang Biao , He Chaoyong , Luo Ning , Lu Chuncheng , Fan Shipeng , Gu Peng , Zhao Hui
Published: April 2022

Background

There is growing evidence that long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are key in the development of a variety of human tumors. However, the role of lncRNA GTF2IRD2P1 has not been well studied in cancer. The impact of GTF2IRD2P1 on the biological function and clinical relevance in bladder cancer is largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the biological role of GTF2IRD2P1 in bladder evolution and carcinogenesis.

Methods

We used bioinformatics to obtain the lncRNA GTF2IRD2P1 from bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The expression of lncRNA GTF2IRD2P1 was detected by qRT-PCR. The CCK8 assay and flow cytometry were used to detect the lncRNA GTF2IRD2P1 function on the proliferation of bladder cancer cells. A western blot was used to calculate the protein level of cell cycle proteins and Wnt signaling pathway proteins. The effect of lncRNA GTF2IRD2P1 on tumorigenesis of bladder cancer was confirmed by a xenograft nude mouse model.

Results

GTF2IRD2P1 expression was found to be lower in both human bladder cancer tissues and cell lines (UM-UC-3, RT4, and 5637), and elevated in T24 compared to the corresponding normal controls. GTF2IRD2P1 expression was also enhanced after transfection of UM-UC-3 cells with the overexpression vector. Meanwhile, overexpression of GTF2IRD2P1 inhibited the proliferation of UM-UC-3 and prolonged the cell cycle. The silencing of GTF2IRD2P1 significantly increased the proliferation and shortened the cell cycle of T24 cells and induced Wnt signaling activity to promote the progression of bladder cancer. Similarly, the transplanted tumor nude mouse model demonstrated that silencing GTF2IRD2P1 strengthens the progression of bladder cancer by targeting the Wnt signaling pathway.
Diel gene expression improves software prediction of cyanobacterial operons
Authors: Heller Philip
Published: April 2022

Cyanobacteria are important participants in global biogeochemical process, but their metabolic processes and genomic functions are incompletely understood. In particular, operon structure, which can provide valuable metabolic and genomic insight, is difficult to determine experimentally, and algorithmic operon predictions probably underestimate actual operon extent. A software method is presented for enhancing current operon predictions by incorporating information from whole-genome time-series expression studies, using a Machine Learning classifier. Results are presented for the marine cyanobacterium Crocosphaera watsonii. A total of 15 operon enhancements are proposed. The source code is publicly available.
El Plan Experimental de Extensión Docente de Jorge Peña Hen (1964-1973): aproximaciones a su diseño, implementación y resultados
Authors:   Universidad Alberto Hurtado (Chile), Arraño Astete Constanza
Published: April 2022

En este artículo, se estudia el “Plan Experimental de Extensión Docente” diseñado por el compositor, director y pedagogo chileno, Jorge Peña Hen (1928-1973). Mediante este plan, emprendido entre 1964 y 1973 en la ciudad chilena de La Serena, se otorgó formación instrumental gratuita a niños, niñas y jóvenes de estratos socioeconómicos diversos que, posteriormente, conformaron la primera orquesta sinfónica infantil en América Latina en diciembre de 1964. El objetivo del artículo es identificar las fortalezas y debilidades del Plan para determinar qué factores incidieron en su éxito. Para ello, se contextualiza el periodo y se analizan archivos generados a partir de la gestión pedagógica de la Escuela Experimental de Música de La Serena –antiguo Conservatorio Regional–, referidos, principalmente, a los antecedentes, lineamientos y recepción del Plan. Con estos documentos, se pretende dar a conocer el proyecto a partir de fuentes primarias revisadas en profundidad, haciendo hincapié en la percepción interna del funcionamiento y desarrollo del Plan. Finalmente, se nombran dos indicadores de logro que evidencian el éxito del proyecto, se constata por qué las condiciones históricas y culturales resultaron idóneas para su implementación, y se explica cómo las principales características del diseño del Plan favorecieron su actividad.a escucha.
La difusión del repertorio sinfónico-coral en cantantes aficionados: estrategias de aprendizaje y relación con la música
Authors:   Universidad de La Rioja (España), Roldán Fidalgo Cristina
Published: April 2022

El fenómeno de los coros no profesionales, cuyo origen se remonta al siglo XIX, ha ido evolucionando a lo largo de la historia, manteniendo, e incluso incrementando su presencia en todo el mundo en los últimos años. Se han estudiado los beneficios sociales y terapéuticos derivados de participar en este tipo de agrupaciones, sin embargo, falta aún mucho por saber respecto a las estrategias de (auto-) aprendizaje que emplean estos cantantes –la mayoría de los cuales no cuentan con conocimientos musicales– y el modo en que se relacionan con la música que interpretan. Dentro de este marco, el presente trabajo centra su atención en 54 aficionados que participan actualmente en distintos coros mixtos del territorio español, interpretando repertorio sinfónico-coral. Se busca identificar los métodos que implementan para aprender estas obras, la significación que adquiere para ellos la partitura, los motivos que les condujeron a participar en un coro, y la presencia e importancia que alcanza en su vida diaria el repertorio a interpretar.
Study of Blood Donor Deferral in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Northern India
Authors: Bhardwaj Harish , Swarup Davendra , Bansal Rani
Published: April 2022

Introduction: Blood donation programme is vital to any transfusion service. Deferral is a painful and sad experience both for the donor and the centre. Thus, every blood centre has to pivot between admissible quality and desired quantity. Aim: To find out incidence and pattern of donor deferral in a tertiary care hospital, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of four years from January 2016 to December 2019 in a blood bank, Department of Pathology in a tertiary care hospital of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India. Details of donors who were deferred either temporarily or permanently during the study period were collected from the deferral files. Data analysis was done by calculating the percentage for every cause of donor deferral. Results: Out of the 29,663 donors who registered for blood donation during the study period, 2,626 donors were deferred due to several reasons. Temporary reasons (2592) were like anaemia, medications, alcohol, allergy, low-weight, fever, tattooing and permanent causes (34) were like hypertension, cardiac disorders, diabetes, asthma and thyroid disorders. Anaemia was the most common cause for deferral and total deferral rate came out to be 8.85%. Conclusion: Studying and analysing the profile of blood donors helps to identify categories of population which could be targeted to increase pool of voluntary blood donors. Education, motivation and treatment of these deferred donors due to anaemia or other temporary causes is an important aspect in blood banking, so that these donors may be recruited again.
ВТОРАЯ ВИКТОРИНА ЮНЫХ ФИЗИКОВ ОТДЕЛЕНИЯ ФИЗИЧЕСКИХ НАУК РАН. ВОПРОСЫ, ОТВЕТЫ., "Земля и Вселенная"
Authors: Голованова А.В. , Магарян К.А. , Наумов А.В.
Published: April 2022

С 1 по 16 мая 2021 года, повторив успех прошлого года, Отделение физических наук Российской академии наук (ОФН РАН) совместно с Московским педагогическим государственным университетом организовали Вторую Всероссийскую Викторину юных физиков ОФН РАН для учащихся 5–11 классов. В период майских праздников академики, члены-корреспонденты и профессора из отделения физических наук РАН задавали школьникам каверзные вопросы по физике и астрономии. В статье описаны результаты проведенного конкурса вместе с условиями и решениями задач, которые будут любопытны читателям журнала «Земля и Вселенная».
ИЗМЕНЕНИЕ ЭКСПРЕССИИ ГЕНА БЕЛКА YB?1 (МЕДИАТОРА ВОСПАЛЕНИЯ) В ЛЕГКИХ МЫШЕЙ ПРИ ПРОГРЕССИРОВАНИИ ТУБЕРКУЛЕЗНОГО ПРОЦЕССА И ПОСЛЕ ЛЕЧЕНИЯ РИФАМПИЦИНОМ, "Вестник Центрального научно-исследовательского института туберкулеза"
Authors: Ерохина М.В. , Лепеха Л.Н. , Рыбалкина Е.Ю. , Щербакова Е.А. , Бочарова И.В. , Эргешов А.Э.
Published: April 2022

Мультифункциональный белок YB 1 является ключевым медиатором воспаления и в настоящее время рассматривается в качестве терапевтической мишени для регуляции активности воспалительного процесса разного генеза. Вместе с тем участие YB 1 в развитии и течении туберкулеза (ТБ) легких до сих пор не изучалось. Цель исследования: выявление взаимосвязи между экспрессией гена Yb 1, активностью туберкулезного воспаления в легких и проведением противотуберкулезной химиотерапии. Для решения поставленной цели была поставлена задача провести сравнительный анализ изменения экспрессии гена Yb 1: (1) при прогрессировании экспериментального туберкулезного воспаления у мышей; (2) после проведения у них химиотерапии рифампицином. Мыши линии Balb/c были ингаляционно инфицированы M. tuberculosis и выводились из эксперимента через 21, 45, 90 дней после инфицирования. Лечение инфицированных мышей рифампицином проводилось в течение 65 дней. Левое легкое фиксировали формалином для получения стандартных гистологических срезов, правое – для анализа экспрессии гена Yb 1 методом ПЦР в реальном времени. Показано, что процессы деструктивных изменений в легких, инфицированных M. tuberculosis мышей, сопровождаются инфильтрацией альвеолярной паренхимы преимущественно макрофагами, которые на поздних сроках воспаления формируют скопления пенистых макрофагов с зонами микронекроза и лимфоцитарных инфильтратов. Прогрессирование воспаления характеризуется значительным снижением экспрессии гена Yb 1, тогда как лечение рифампицином приводит к восстановлению экспрессии гена Yb 1 до уровня, сравнимого с контролем. Воздействие только рифампицином на здоровых животных не приводит к изменению экспрессии гена анализа. Такие данные при туберкулезном воспалении и его химиотерапии рифампицином получены впервые и демонстрируют, что динамика изменения экспрессии гена Yb 1 является маркером активности туберкулезного воспаления и может свидетельствовать об успешности проводимой химиотерапии. Полученные данные на экспериментальной модели туберкулезного воспаления ставят вопрос об изменении активности экспрессии гена Yb 1 в операционном материале больных ТБ легких, что требует дальнейшего специального изучения.
КЛИНИЧЕСКИЕ АСПЕКТЫ И ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТЬ КОМПЛЕКСНОГО ЛЕЧЕНИЯ ТУБЕРКУЛЕЗА ЛЕГКИХ С ШИРОКОЙ ЛЕКАРСТВЕННОЙ УСТОЙЧИВОСТЬЮ ВОЗБУДИТЕЛЯ У БОЛЬНЫХ РАЗНЫХ РЕГИСТРАЦИОННЫХ ГРУПП, "Вестник Центрального научно-исследовательского института туберкулеза"
Authors: Захаров А.В. , Тихонов А.М. , Полякова А.С. , Багиров М.А. , Романов В.В. , Эргешов А.Э.
Published: April 2022

Эпидемическая ситуация по туберкулезу (ТБ) в России улучшается. Вместе с тем основные риски развития неблагоприятного сценария связаны с ростом доли ТБ с множественной и широкой лекарственной устойчивостью (МЛУ/ШЛУ ТБ) возбудителя. Решение проблемы возможно только при комплексном подходе с использованием наряду с химиотерапией современных высокотехнологичных методов хирургического лечения и коллапсотерапии. В статье дан анализ эффективности комплексного лечения 281 больного с ШЛУ возбудителя в разных регистрационных группах (РГ). Обсуждаются особенности клинического течения и представлен анализ спектров дополнительной лекарственной устойчивости возбудителя у больных ШЛУ ТБ в разных РГ. Изучена доля и эффективность применения коллапсотерапии и хирургических методов лечения у больных с различной историей лечения. Эффективность стационарного этапа комплексной химиотерапии ШЛУ ТБ по критерию прекращения бактериовыделения к 8-му месяцу лечения составила: у впервые выявленных больных – 83,7%, у ранее леченных – 76,1%, с рецидивами – 77,4%. Закрытие деструкций к указанному сроку наступило соответственно у 71,1, 55,1 и 60,0% вышеперечисленных групп больных. Проведенный анализ позволяет оптимизировать подходы к повышению эффективности лечения больных с лекарственно-устойчивым ТБ легких.
Comparative Analysis of Personal and Socio-economic Characteristics of Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) Collectors and Non-collectors of Jammu Region of J&K
Authors: Bagal Y. S. , Nanda Rakesh , Sharma L. K. , Raina N. S. , Rizvi S. E. H.
Published: April 2022

Aims: Non-wood forest produce refers to all forest produce other than wood, such as leaves, fruits, and nuts, while wood forest produce refers to timber, herbs, and firewood. The people living in the vicinity of the forest collect the Non Timber Forest Products (NFTPs) for their livelihood sustainability as an off- farm income for them. Personal and socio- economic characters (gender, age, education level, social participation, farm implement possession, land holding, type of family, marital status) of NTFP collectors differ from the non collectors.

Study Design: Explorative study design was employed.

Place and Duration of Study: The present study was conducted in Jammu region between July 2017 to November 2019.

Methodology: Multistage sampling plan was followed for drawl of ultimate sampling units. The East circle from Jammu region was purposively selected as it covers all the three agro- climatic zones namely Subtropical, Intermediate and Temperate, thus it represents the whole Jammu division. The available NTFP collectors were contacted with the snow ball sampling procedure, a total sample size of 150 collectors and 150 non- collectors were selected through snow ball sampling procedure.

Results: Major findings indicate that there was significant difference between the NTFP collectors and non- collectors in case of socio-personal variables of age, farming experience, type of house, number of MGNERGA card holders, type of ration card, formal education, literacy rate and sex ratio. The NTFP collectors and non- collectors were matching on size of average operational land holding. The households having members in government service were more in non- collectors’ families whereas households having members as labor were more in households of NTFP collectors.

Conclusion: It is concluded that majority of the NTFP collectors were belongs to young age, had kaccha house, had priority household ration card whereas majority of non- collectors were fall under middle age category, had pacca house, had non- priority household ration card.
On the Comparison of Ordinary Least Squares and Quantile Regression with Nigerian Financial Data on Trade Balance, Foreign Inflow and Imports
Authors: Petronilla Ogoke Uchenna
Published: April 2022

This research work compared the Ordinary Least Squares Regression and Quantile Regression models, as well as the differences between them thereby examining the compared models in terms of goodness of fit statistic and also recommend a suitable fit model for the data collected. These methods were applied to the Nigerian Financial Data on Trade Balance, Foreign Inflow and Imports on the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product. The results via this study, shows that the influence of Trade Balance, Foreign Inflow and Imports vary on the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product depending on the quantile one is looking at. This study recommends the robustness and stability of the Quantile regression model considered as an alternative to the Ordinary Least Square Model.
Effect of Weather Variables and Yellow Mosaic Virus Disease (YMV) on Soyabean
Authors: Amith G. , Venkatesh H. , Jahagirdar Shamarao
Published: April 2022

The presented research work for studied the link between weather and diseases in soybean to determine the effect of weather in disease occurrences and development measures was conducted at Main Agricultural Research Station (MARS), University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during kharif 2017. Biotic and abiotic threats are becoming more significant as of the climate changes. Abiotic stress factors, such as insect pests and diseases, are well recognised to effect biotic stress factors. Furthermore, weather influences the severity and virulence of diseases throughout a geographical area. As a result, there is a need to investigate the impact of meteorological characteristics in diseases in this context. The current study was done in this effort to understand the relationship between weather and diseases in order to treat diseases early before they reach economic injury levels (EIL) and minimize cultivation costs by using low-cost insecticides and pesticides by building a forewarning system. Yellow Mosaic Virus Disease (YMV) is a disease of soybean, which infects mainly to leaves. The weather data was collected from the MARS Dharwad weather data collected in crop field. The Correlation coefficients between disease grade of Yellow Mosaic Virus Disease (YMV) and 29 weather variables were presented in the data show that the disease grade ratings were correlated positively, with r = 0.45 for PRHT (X14), r = 0.46 for PRHM (X17), r = 0.49 for PRHB (X20), and r = 0.34 for PRHO (X26). And remining were negative correlated. Hence, the weather plays an important role in the disease incidence and development.
Effect of Spice form and Extraction Period on Total Phenolic Content of Selected Ugandan Spices
Authors: Justus Murokore Biryomumaisho , California Peter Vuzi , Paul Wacoo Alex , Wangalwa Raphael , Olusoji Ajayi Clement , Gumisiriza Hannington , Nandutu Masawi Agnes
Published: April 2022

Introduction: Spice consumption is one of the globally recognized healthy nutritional practices. Most spices contain phenolic compounds that may prevent or prolong the onset of non-communicable diseases. The harvesting, processing and preparation procedures of such spices may influence the phenolic amount extracted and eventual biological availability. Literature about how extraction period and spice form affects total phenolic content yield in water infusions is scanty.

Aim: This study determined the effect of spice form and length of extraction time on the total phenolic content (TPC) yield of the selected Ugandan spices infused in water.

Methods: Samples of Ocimum gratissimum, Allium sativum, Cymbopogon citratus and Zingiber officinale, were collected in triplicates from Kanungu, Bushenyi and Lugazi Districts, in Uganda. Fresh and dry samples of these spices were infused in hot water for four minutes and 40 minutes and sieved with Whatman paper, No. 1. Phenolic content was measured with a spectrophotometer at Makerere University, Biochemistry Department, following Folin-ciocalteu method, using gallic acid as the reference standard. Results were analyzed using GraphPad Prism 8.0.1 software.

Results: Higher TPC yield was generally observed in dry samples compared to the flesh ones and 40-minute extracts of both fresh and dry samples also had higher TPC content compared to the four minutes ones. The highest TPC yield was observed in Cymbopogon citratus (12.21±0.75 mg GAE/g) among the dry samples and Ocimum gratissimum (10.02±2.45 mg GAE/g) among the fresh samples, extracted for 40 minutes.

Conclusion: Longer extraction time and sample dryness maximize TPC yield.  Ocimum gratissimum and Cymbopogon citratus may benefit consumers by improving their antioxidant status.
Relationship between Weather Variables and the Corynespora Leaf Spot Disease in Soybean
Authors: Amith G. , Venkatesh H. , Jahagirdar Shamarao
Published: April 2022

The present investigation on weather and diseases relationships in soybean to establish forewarning procedures for timely preventive measures was conducted at the Main Agricultural Research Station (MARS), University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during kharif 2017. Due to changing climatic scenario, biotic and abiotic threats are more prominent. It is well known that the biotic stress factors like insect pests and diseases are affected by abiotic factors. Further, the severity and degree of virulence of diseases over a geographical area is dependent on weather factors. Hence, in this context, there is need to study the role of weather parameters in diseases. In this endeavour, the present study has been undertaken with a new concept called lead-time concept for plant disease forecasting helps controlling early before they reach to economic injury level (EIL), and reducing cost of cultivation in use of low use of pesticides and insecticide. Corynespora leaf spot (CLS) is a disease of soybean, which infects mainly to leaves. The weather data was collected from the MARS Dharwad observatory and micrometeorological data collected in crop field and they are collected at three days interval. The Correlation coefficients between disease grade of Corynespora Leaf Spot and 29 weather variables were presented in the data show that the disease grade ratings were positively correlated, with r =0.69 for PRHT (X14), r = 0.69 for PRHM (X17), r = 0.69 for PRHB (X20), and r = 0.28 for PRHO (X26). And remining were negative correlated. Hence, the weather plays an important role in the disease incidence and development.
Effect of Nitrogen Levels on the Growth and Yield of Spring Maize
Authors: Prudhvi Nawabpet , Mohan Mehta Chandra
Published: April 2022

The research entitled the "Effect of different nitrogen levels on the growth and yield of spring maize" was conducted in the agriculture research farm of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara. Three different doses of nitrogen was used at different concentrations from lowest to highest. The doses of Nitrogen are denoted as N1, N2 and N3 viz 80kgN2ha-1, 120 kg N2ha-1and 160 kg N2ha-1 respectively. All the doses of nitrogen are compared with each other for the measurement of morphological parameters like plant height, the number of leaves and dry weight accumulation. In yield parameters, the grain yield, test weight, stover yield and shelling percentage was calculated. From the experiment, it was observed that the highest results were found in the treatment with the highest nitrogen dose with 160 Kg N/ha. The morphological parameters like plant height, number of leaves per plant and dry weight accumulation were found highest in N3 which is 160Kg N/ha. The yield parameters like grain yield, shelling percentage, stover yield and test weight are also found high in the treatment with the application of the highest amount of nitrogen that is 160Kg N/ha. From this research, the best results are provided by N3 which is 160 Kg N/ha, after that the moderate results are provided by N2 which is 120Kg N/ha and the least results were provided by N1 which is 80Kg N/ha.
Role of Nitrogen and Spacing on Growth and Yield of Summer Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)
Authors: Ajay Kumar Nangunoori , Singh Rajesh , Singh Ekta
Published: April 2022

The effect of nitrogen and spacing on summer groundnut traits like growth and yield was studied through an experiment performed in 2021 KVK Farm of SHUATS,Prayagraj (U.P) The experiment had 9 different treatments, replicated thrice in a Randomized control design. The treatments encompassed three different levels of nitrogen soil application and three different plant spacings. The outcome of the study revealed that in treatment (T3) the grouping of 30 kg/ha nitrogen + 20 cm × 10 cm spacing resulted in maximum plant height (52.27cm) and in treatment (T6) the usage of 30 kg/ha nitrogen + 25 cm × 10 cm layout resulted in a significant root nodules per plant (39.57) and dry weight (38.00 g). Treatment (T2) showed a maximum crop growth rate (31.44 g/m2/day) in the combination of 25 kg/ha nitrogen + 20 cm × 10 cm arrangement and 20-40 DAS interval. Furthermore, treatment (T6) had a maximum pods per plant (30.80), seed capitulate (2355.6 kg/ha), and haulm yield (3402.3 kg/ha) with 30 kg/ha nitrogen + 25 cm × 10 cm while treatment (T1) obtained maximum harvest index (42.32%) with the use of 20 kg/ha nitrogen + 20 cm × 10 cm.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Bacteria Isolated from Bath Towels Used by Students of University of Medical Sciences Ondo State
Authors: Kone J. K. , Adegoke K. G.
Published: April 2022

Background/Aims: Bath towels are woven pieces of fabric either cotton or cotton-polyester that are used to absorb moisture on the body after bathing. Towels are a prime location for germs, and they can be picked up by contact with wet skin. The aim of this research work is to isolate, identify, and evaluate the occurrence of bacterial contaminations from individual bath towels of students from the University of Medical Sciences Ondo and their harmful consequence to public health. Microbiological screening of seventy-two (72) bath towels from 5 of the university hostels for bacterial contamination was carried out.

Methods: Bacterial isolation, antimicrobial susceptibility test were carried out using basic microbiological techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was also carried out using Mueller Hinton agar to determine the susceptibility pattern of bacteria isolated.

Results and conclusion: Biochemical analysis of bacterial isolates revealed a general contamination by mainly nine bacterial species associated with human nose, stomach, intestine and skin flora in decreasing frequency of occurrence: Staphylococcus aureus (38.8%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (18.1%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (15.3%), Shigella sp. (8.3%), Bacillus sp. (7.0%), Escherichia coli (4.2%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa. (4.2%), Micrococcus sp. (2.8%), Salmonella sp. (1.4%). Antibiotics susceptibility testing was carried out and recorded on each of the bacterial isolates. Most of the bacterial isolates showed resistance and susceptibility to certain antibiotics which helps in the perfect and effective choice of antibiotics if these species cause infections. Therefore, there is a need to adopt adequate measures for the regular cleaning and washing of towels, while also maintaining good personal hygienic practices to prevent the transfer and spread of pathogens from these towels and avoiding sharing of towels.
Phosphorus Fractions in Soils of India: A Review
Authors: Misal N. B. , Singh Narendra , Patel V. A.
Published: April 2022

The different nutrient element are exist in different fractions in the soil. The available form of nutrients is responsible for the change in yield of crop significantly. The availability of different pools involves not only their physico-chemical nature but also the ability of the plant to forage them with plant root system. In Indian soil total phosphorus ranges from 100 to 2000 ppm but the available phosphorus ranges from 2 to 20 ppm. The forms of phosphorus present in soil viz. organic and inorganic. The inorganic form of phosphorus constitute about 30-35 per cent of total phosphorus. The inorganic P consist of different pool such as aluminum, iron and calcium bound phosphorus constitutes active form of inorganic P. The reductant-soluble and occluded forms of phosphorus are relatively less active. Different types of phosphorus are interrelated and add to the pool of plant-accessible P as per their physical and chemical properties such as surface area, composition and solubility.
Genetic Polymorphism of Merozoite Surface Protein-2 (MSP-2) in Plasmodium falciparum Isolates from Endemic Sub-Counties, A Case Study in Kisii County, Kenya
Authors: Chepchumba Bwogo Pacifica , Mong’are Samuel , Masai Rael , Maniga Nyabayo Josephat , Ingonga Johnstone , Kimani Francis , Kamau Luna , Mwangi Milkah , Cirindi Josyline , Matoke Damaris
Published: April 2022

Background: Despite a lot of efforts being put in place globally to reduce malaria burden, malaria is still one of the major public health problem. P. falciparum analysis of the Msp2 gene gives paramount evidence in the evaluation of malaria epidemiology to assist in the ongoing malaria control and elimination programs. Therefore this study aimed at examining genetic polymorphism of msp-2 gene of P. falciparum and its multiplicity of infection (MOI) from endemic Sub-Counties in Kisii County, Kenya.

Methodology: Dried blood spots were collected from 249 study participants who were positive for P. falciparum parasite in endemic Sub – Counties in Kisii County from January to April 2021. Parasites density/μl of blood was calculated by multiplying the number of parasites counted and 8000 white cells/μl then dividing by number of white cells counted. Parasite level was considered low if the parasite/μl of blood was < 500, moderate 501 ≤ 5000 and high if it was > 5000 Parasites DNA was extracted using chelex-100® method and nested PCR for amplification followed by fragment analysis using gel electrophoresis.

Results: 246 samples were identified with msp2 alleles where 94% belonged to 3D7 and 83% belonged to FC27. 40 different polymorphic alleles were identified where 13 belonged to FC27 and 27 belonging to 3D7. 86% isolates had multiple msp2 alleles where the Multiplicity of infection (MOI) overall mean was 2.75.

Conclusion: The study isolates showed high genetic polymorphism. Therefore, this suggests that there is high local malaria transmission, meaning there is failure to the scale up of malaria control interventions in the endemic areas of the County.
The Role Microbiome and Oncolytic Viruses Play in Controlling Cancer
Authors: Atiatorme Emmanuel , Osafo Richard , Nyarko Simon
Published: April 2022

There has been a lot of short backs from the use of the usual conventional anti-cancer therapy for treating cancer cells. Conventional anti-cancer therapy involves the use of chemical chemotherapeutics and radiation to treat cancer whereas sometimes it may include the use of surgery, hormones, and targeted therapy. These drawbacks and ineffectiveness of such therapies sometimes can aggravate other types of illness and cause tumor cells to become resistant to them. In an attempt to resolve these shortcomings, a new era of an alternative anti-tumor therapy has emerged which exhibits much greater specificity and efficacy in treating cancer. This new knowledge explores the use of microbes and oncolytic viruses as potential anti-cancer therapies. Most of these microbes and viruses are engineered or their metabolites are used as potential weapons for treating cancer cells. This review therefore discuss the role of microbiome and oncolytic viruses in controlling cancer. It also outline four ways through which microbiome control cancer treatment. We reviewed the microbiome metagenomic assessment, explained some evidence of microbiome oncogenesis, then again investigated the response and toxicity of microbiome on immunotherapy, and finally discuss the impact of microbiome activities on chemotherapy. We reported that, the metagenomic study of the 16s rRNA gene sequence plays a significant role in detecting bacterial species in natural specimens and establishing phylogenetic relationships in controlling cancer. The review again established that, some metabolites and vitamins produced by bacteria may be vital tools for interactions with epithelial and cancer cells for tumor growth suppression. We also found that, the efficacy of some chemotherapies especially the use of Cyclophosphamide (CTX) were microbiota-dependent. Moving forward, there should be an establishment of methods that will not undermine ethical issues when trying this therapy on humans. Moreover, safety measures should be taken to manipulate the composition of the microbiota with the aid of a strict screening system to eliminate harmful microbes before applying them.