bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Locally Developed Date Palm Pollination Machine with Manual Pollination under Shambat Condition – Sudan
Authors: Dahab Mohamed Hassan , Osman Mona Shahin , Abdalla Omer Ahmed 
Published: December 2020

The main objective of the research study was to compare a locally developed date palm pollination machine to manual pollination during two successive seasons. Two pressures were used to operate the machine. The parameters measured were, rate of work, pollen application rate, crop yield and cost of pollination. The results indicated that the field capacity (rate of work) of the pollination machine was 18 tree/hr, while for the manual pollination it was 5 tree/hr. The machine pollen application rate was 0.5-1 gm/tree as compared to manual pollination which consumed higher amount of pollen 8 gm/tree. There was no significant difference between the effect of using the three methods of pollination on physical and chemical characteristics of date fruits. There was significant effect of treatments on quantity of date yield in the two seasons for the three methods of pollination at 5% level of significance. The pollination machine at high pressure produced higher yield than other treatments which were 605 kg, 1206 kg for the two seasons respectively, while the lowest yield was recorded by manual pollination as 233 kg and 818 kg for the two seasons in sequence. The pollination cost of the machine was 9.1 SDG /tree which was less than the manual pollination that costs 60 SDG /tree. The manual pollination needed two labors to pollinate 200 trees per season, while mechanical pollinator needed one operator to pollinate 760 trees per year. The pollination machine reached up to 10 meters in height. In addition, considerable reduction of time requirements, and pollination cost were observed.
It was concluded that the pollination machine is highly reliable and efficient in control over pollen application rate, thus reducing pollen loss to minimum, saving cost and time and overcoming defects associated with manual pollination.
Effect of Weed Management Practices on Economics of Groundnut in Coastal Zone of Karnataka
Authors: Narwal Kunal , Yenagi B. S. 
Published: December 2020

Aims: To assess efficacy and economic viablity of herbicides on weed management in groundnut under groundnut during rabi-summer season.
Study Design: The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications.
Place and Duration of Study: The field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Kumta, Uttar Kannada, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad (Karnataka) during rabi 2016-2017.
Methodology: The experiment comprised nine treatments are as follows. T1: Unweeded check, T2: Weed free check, T3: Two hand weeding (At 20 and 40 DAS), T4: pendimethalin 30% E.C. @ 1.5 kg ha-1 (PE) fb one hand weeding at 25 DAS, T5: oxyfluorfen 23.5% E.C. @ 200 g ha-1(PE) fb one hand weeding at 25 DAS, T6: pendimethalin 30% E.C. @ 1.5 kg ha-1 (PE) fb quizalofop-p-ethyl 5% E.C. @ 50 g ha-1 20-30 DAS (POE), T7: pendimethalin 30% E.C. @ 1.5 kg ha-1 (PE) fb imazethapyr 10% S.L. @ 75 g ha-1 20- 30 DAS (POE), T8: pendimethalin 30% E.C. @ 1.5 kg ha-1 (PE) fb oxyfluorfen 23.5% E.C. @ 100 g ha-1 at 20-30 DAS (POE), T9: pendimethalin 30% E.C. @ 1.0 kg ha-1 (PE) fb one hand weeding at 25 DAS.
Results: Among the weed management practices revealed that, higher cost of cultivation ( 53,340 ha-1) under weed free check and pod yield (2255 kg ha-1), gross return ( 92,446 ha-1), net return ( 45,239 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (1.96) with pre-emergence application of pendimethalin 30% E.C. @ 1.5 kg ha-1 followed by one hand weeding at 25 DAS.
Hydatidiform mole: clinical analysis of 310 patients
Authors: Mungan T. , Kuşçu E. , Dabakoǧlu T. , Şenöz S. , Uǧur M. , Çobanoglu Ö. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractObjectives: The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome of 310 patients with hydatidiform mole. Methods: Three hundred ten patients with hydatidiform mole admitted to Dr Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Hospital between 1989 and 1994, were evaluated retrospectively according to their clinical characteristics, treatment modalities and follow‐up. Results: The incidence of molar pregnancy was 2.48 per 1000 deliveries and 1.84 per 1000 pregnancies. The age of the patients ranged from 14 to 45 years with a mean age of 25.29 ± 7.40 years. In 60% of the patients, the molar pregnancy was their first pregnancy. A history of previous hydatidiform mole was found in 5.5% of the patients and eight of them had at least two previous molar pregnancies. The most common presenting symptom was vaginal bleeding (71%). Although theca‐lutein cysts were found in 17.1% of the patients, only one patient underwent emergency surgery because of torsion. Dilatation and suction curettage was the first‐line treatment; uterine perforation developed in two patients (0.6%). During follow‐up 14.5% of patients were diagnosed as persistent cases according to serum β‐human chorionic gonadotropin (β‐hCG) levels. Complete remission was achieved with the administration of 2–8 courses of single‐agent chemotherapy in 43 cases; combined chemotherapy (3–7 courses) was given to two patients who were resistant to single‐agent therapy. Conclusion: Comparison of patients with spontaneous remission and patients with persistent trophoblastic disease with respect to age, histologic type, previous history, initial uterine size, gravidity, presence of theca‐lutein cysts and initial β‐hCG levels did not reveal any of the above criteria to be prognostic for the occurrence of persistent disease.
Transvaginal sonography and hysteroscopy in women with postmenopausal bleeding
Authors: Haller H. , Matejčić N. , Rukavina B. , Krašević M. , Rupčić S. , Mozetič D. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractObjective: To make a prospective comparison between endometrial thickness determined by transvaginal sonography (TVS) and hysteroscopic findings in women with postmenopausal bleeding with histologic findings obtained by dilatation and curettage (D&C). Methods: Eighty‐one patients who had not received hormonal replacement therapy were scanned by transvaginal probe, and double‐layer endometrial thickness was measured 1 day before hysteroscopy and D&C. Results: The histologic diagnosis was atrophy in 12 cases, irregular proliferative changes in 21, endometrial polyps in 16, hyperplasia in 16 and endometrial carcinoma in 16. TVS detected 46 of 48 pathologic conditions, including all cases of endometrial carcinoma if the endometrial thickness (both layers) was ≥ 5 mm (sensitivity 95.8%, specificity 45.5%). Hysteroscopy also detected the endometrial pathology in 46 of 48 cases but with a higher specificity (sensitivity 95.3%, specificity 93.9%). Conclusion: TVS and hysteroscopy are complementary diagnostic methods and could be accurately used to discriminate between normal and pathologic conditions in patients with postmenopausal bleeding.
Withdrawal from benzodiazepines by initially switching to zopiclone
Authors: Shapiro CM , Sherman D , Peck DF 
Published: July 2002

SummaryWithdrawal from hypnotics can produce a variety of problems, especially sleep difficulties, some of which may arise from the multiple actions of most hypnotics, thus producing a range of rebound effects. This study examined whether switching patients to a hypnotic with a narrower range of action and of a different class would reduce these problems. One hundred and thirty-four patients participated; they were randomly allocated to one of three methods of switching from “previous hypnotic” to zopiclone (a cyclopyrrolone). The methods were gap (an interval between taking the two drugs); abuttal (taking zopiclone immediately on stopping previous drug); and overlap (gradually reducing previous drug after starting zopiclone). The main findings were that zopiclone was associated with better sleep and increased alertness; the abuttal method was the best method of switching; and no serious side effects from zopiclone were reported. It was concluded that zopiclone has a useful role in benzodiazepine withdrawal, and that immediate substitution is the best method.
Psychosocial rehabilitation of schizophrenic patients in France
Authors: Singer L , Kapfer T 
Published: July 2002

SummaryThe authors examine the situation of rehabilitation of schizophrenic patients in France. After describing the methodology of their survey, the results are given. The housing facilities include halfway houses, “therapeutic” flats. The rehabilitation facilities include outpatient clinics with vocational units and rehabilitation centres such as vocational centres and sheltered workshops. In addition, a few centres provide placement and follow-up in the workplace. This type of centre is a recent innovation which helps stabilized schizophrenic patients find a regular job. The Fondation Santé des Étudiants de France (the health foundation of French students) deserves particular mention because it provides rehabilitation to high school and university students. In the discussion, the authors emphasize the insufficient number of such facilities, due to French psychiatrists only quite recently becoming aware of the importance of rehabilitation, which in turn, leads to insufficient funding of public mental health. As a result, most of the rehabilitation facilities were created and are now managed by private associations such as Les Croix Marines, UNAFAM, MGEN, Fondation Santé des Étudiants, Route Nouvelle Alsace, CAPPA Clermont-Ferrand, etc. In addition, their administrative tutelage is so complex that very few new facilities are developed. In view of their experience, the authors suggest that a large number of vocational centres should be built since they provide an essential service. Thus schizophrenic patients could enjoy a decent life in our society and not become one of the already many homeless. The European Union and the Council of Europe ought to consider the increase of such centres as a significiant aspect of their mental health policy.
Gestational diabetes mellitus: prevalence, risk factors, maternal and infant outcomes
Authors: Xiong X. , Saunders L.D. , Wang F.L. , Demianczuk N.N. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractObjectives: To study prevalence, risk factors, and maternal and infant outcomes of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed based on 111 563 pregnancies delivered between 1991 through 1997 in 39 hospitals in northern and central Alberta, Canada. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals, and to control for confounding variables. Results: The prevalence of GDM was 2.5%. Risk factors for GDM included age >35 years, obesity, history of prior neonatal death, and prior cesarean section. Teenage mothers and women who drank alcohol were less likely to have GDM. Mothers with GDM were at increased risk of presenting with pre‐eclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, cesarean section, and preterm delivery. Infants born to mothers with GDM were at higher risk of being macrosomic or large‐for‐gestational‐age. Conclusions: Specific conditions predispose to GDM which itself is associated with a significantly increased risk of maternal and fetal morbidity.
The maternity waiting home concept: the Nsawam, Ghana experience
Authors: Wilson J.B , Collison A.H.K , Richardson D , Kwofie G , Senah K.A , Tinkorang E.K ,   (The Accra PMM Team)
Published: July 2002

AbstractPreliminary studies: Focus group discussions with community members in Nsawam District, Ghana, identified poor roads, scarce transport and exorbitant fees for emergency transport as barriers to reaching the district hospital for treatment of an obstetric complication. Interventions: To minimize delay in the event of a complication, a maternity waiting home (MWH) was established in Nsawam in 1994. One ward of an abandoned hospital was renovated and furnished for this purpose. The objective was to encourage women at high risk of obstetric complications to move to the MWH so they could be transferred to the hospital when labor began. Results: Of 25 women referred to the MWH by health personnel over 12 months, only one complied, for one night. Focus group discussions with community members and hospital staff later revealed that cost and hardship of staying away from home, absence of health personnel, distance from hospital, desolate surroundings and lack of perceived need were reasons for poor utilization. Costs: The intervention cost approximately US $10 500, shared approximately equally between the project and government. The main government contribution was the building. Conclusions: It is important to consult potential users not only to identify problems, but also to identify appropriate solutions. Careful ‘market research’ should be done before launching interventions. © 1997 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Mobilizing transport for obstetric emergencies in northwestern Nigeria
Authors: Shehu D , Ikeh A.T , Kuna M.J ,   (The Sokoto PMM Team)
Published: July 2002

AbstractPreliminary studies: Focus group discussions and a village case study in Kebbi State revealed delay in the transport of women with obstetric complications. Among contributing factors identified were shortages of vehicles and fuel, and unwillingness of drivers to transport women at affordable fares. Interventions: The cooperation of the local transport workers union was enlisted to address the situation. In 1993, drivers were sensitized and trained and a revolving emergency fuel fund was established. Prior to these activities, emergency obstetric services at nearby facilities had been upgraded. Results: Over two years, 29 women with obstetric complications were transported. Of these, only one died. Mean cost of transport to patients was US $5.89. Mean time from the onset of complications to treatment was 9 h. Substantial numbers of non‐obstetric patients in need of emergency care were also transported. Although defaulting eventually resulted in depletion of the fuel fund, the reimbursement system had become sufficiently well‐established that most drivers no longer requested funds in advance. Costs: Cost of the transport intervention was US $268, with 72% coming from project funds. Conclusions: Improving transport to emergency care does not necessarily require ambulances. Commercial transport owners and communities can be mobilized to provide affordable emergency transport for women with complications. © 1997 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Manufacturing strategy in context: environment, competitive strategy and manufacturing strategy
Authors: Ward Peter T , Duray Rebecca 
Published: July 2002

AbstractConsidering manufacturing strategy in its larger strategic context has been thematic in conceptual literature in operations but relatively neglected in empirical studies, thus leaving predominant conceptual models of manufacturing strategy largely untested. This research develops a conceptual model of manufacturing strategy from the literature and tests the model using data from a sample of manufacturers in three industries in the United States. This research contributes to manufacturing strategy literature in four ways. First, it supports empirically a model of manufacturing strategy that is predominant in the conceptual literature. Second, it demonstrates that the strategic linkages in manufacturing businesses are clearer among good performers than poor performers. Third, this research suggests that competitive strategy acts as a mediator between an organization's environment and its manufacturing strategy. Fourth, the findings suggest that the relationship between competitive strategy and performance is mediated by manufacturing strategy. These last two findings have important implications for approaching research in manufacturing strategy in the future.
Opposite transitions of chick brain catalytically active cytosolic creatine kinase isoenzymes during development
Authors: Ramı́rez Oscar , Jiménez Esperanza 
Published: July 2002

AbstractPostnatally the rat brain synthesizes catalytic forms of muscle type (MM) and heart type (MB) creatine kinase (CK), besides the supposedly sole type vertebrate brain‐specific (BB) CK. We intended to demonstrate that in Rhode Island chicken brain, cytosolic (c) CK isoenzymatic transitions, (for example BB–CK is followed by the appearance of MB–CK and MM–CK during muscle differentiation), can also occur during development and aging. Cytosolic post 125 000×g, mitochondrial CK‐free, brain samples were obtained for zone electrophoresis separation and identification of catalytically active cCK isoforms. BB–CK was never found during chicken brain ontogeny. Against the accepted view, an opposite isoenzyme transition pattern from MM through BB–CK was found in the chicken embryonic brain from the very early stages of development up to day 2 post‐hatching. At very early stages of chicken brain ontogeny constitutive MM– and MB–CK isoenzymes were present before the advent of creatine. It seems to be that typical and atypical brain MM– and MB–CK could be working as ATPases in the absence of creatine before embryonic stage 28 (day 5.5) and/or such CK isoforms may begin to form part of the slow component b in developing early neurons and later in the nuclei of glial cells to be used by the CK/phosphocreatine (PC) system as the neural tissues mature. The post‐hatching transition pattern showed simultaneous expression of more than one CK isoenzyme within the same neural sample as in post‐natal rat brain, presumably due to regional differential transphosphorylation requirements. Strain‐dependent enzymatic specific activities have been reported in several species. Since equivalent values of brain CK specific activity were obtained previously from the embryonic plateau phase of CK activity during White Leghorn development, and those from Rhode Island brain neurons cultured 11 days, we compared if, in vivo, a similar brain CK specific activity pattern was physiologically equivalent during Rhode Island and White Leghorn chicken ontogeny. We found quantitatively different strain‐specific CK specific activity patterns during this period. Rhode Island brain CK activity values were approximately 4.5‐fold those of White Leghorn ones. This indicates that production of energy from anaerobic metabolism and transphosphorylation by the CK/PC system to synthesize ATP more efficiently is strain‐specific. In Rhode Islands, there was an age‐dependent increase of CK specific activity, mostly in older animals (440% above the value found during the embryonic plateau), when the Krebs cycle and glycolysis lose capacity. During adult life and aging, under physiological conditions, the three CK isoenzymes may participate in diverse functions of the different cell compartments of brain glia and neurons with regard to their high and fluctuating energy demands that are not completely covered by anaerobic and aerobic glycolisis.
Thyroid hormone action on astroglial cells fromdistinct brain regions during development
Authors: Lima Flávia Regina Souza , Gonçalves Nelcy , Gomes Flávia CarvalhoAlcantara , De Freitas Marta Sampaio , Neto Vivaldo Moura 
Published: July 2002

AbstractAstrocytes are target to triiodothyronine (T3) hormone action during rat braindevelopment. In this work, we show that astrocytes from distinct developing brain regions aredifferently responsive to thyroid hormone. Distinctly from embryonic or newborn cerebralhemisphere and mesencephalic astrocytes, newborn cerebellar and embryonic hippocampalastrocytes do not change their morphology in response to hormone treatment. We also analysedprotein synthesis and secretion from these T3‐treated astrocytes. The results showed a significantincrease in protein synthesis in astrocytes from older brain regions. Maximum effect, however,was observed in cerebral hemisphere astrocytes from newborn rats. The protein secretion effectwas also more evident in the cerebral hemisphere as well as in cerebellar astrocytes fromnewborn rats. In addition, we examined T3 effects on GFAP/vimentin expression by culturing6‐day old cerebellar astrocytes. In this case T3 seems to induce GFAP expression which might beoccurring as a first step to astrocyte differentiation.
Pedf (Pigment epithelium‐derived Factor) promotes increase and maturation of pigment granules in pigment epithelial cells in neonatal albino rat retinal cultures
Authors: Malchiodi‐albedi F. , Feher J. , Caiazza S. , Formisano G. , Perilli R. , Falchi M. , Petrucci T.C. , Scorcia G. , Tombran‐tink J. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractPigment Epithelium‐Derived Factor (PEDF), purified from human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell culture medium, is a neurotrophic factor which potentiates the differentiation of human Y‐79 retinoblastoma cells and increases the survival of cerebellar granule cells. To investigate the effects of PEDF on non‐transformed retinal cells, we used primary cultures of neonatal albino rat retinas, where the three principal cell types of the retinal layers (neuronal, glial and epithelial) were all present and focussed our attention on RPE cells, which are of special relevance for retinal pathophysiology. PEDF had a dramatic effect on these cells. They showed a modified phenotype, with larger dimensions, higher cytoplasmic spreading, presence of phagocytic vacuoles, development of wide intercellular contacts, and increase and maturation of pigment granules. These results suggest that PEDF may have a role in regulating RPE cell differentiation.
Developmental regulation of glutamate transporters and glutamine synthetase activity in astrocyte cultures differentiatedin vitro
Authors: Stanimirovic Danica B. , Ball Rita , Small Daniel L. , Muruganandam Arumugam 
Published: July 2002

AbstractGlutamate plays an important role in brain development, physiological function, and neurodegeneration. Astrocytes control synaptic concentration of glutamate via the high affinity glutamate transporters, GLT‐1 and GLAST, and the glutamate catabolizing enzyme, glutamine synthetase. In this study we show that astrocytes cultured from rat brain in various stages of development including embryonic (E18), postnatal (P1–P21) and mature (P50), show distinct patterns of GLT‐1 and GLAST expression, glutamine synthetase activity, and phenotypic changes induced by dibutyryl‐cyclic adenosine monophosphate. The transcripts for GLT‐1 message were detectable in embryonic astrocytes only, whereas the GLAST message was highly expressed in E18 and P1–P4 astrocyte cultures, declined in P10–P21, and was undetectable in P50 astrocytes. Uptake of3H‐glutamate correlated well with GLAST expression in astrocyte cultures of all developmental stages. Glutamine synthetase activity significantly declined from high embryonic levels in P4 astrocytes and remained low throughout postnatal maturation. Exposure of astrocyte cultures to the differentiating agent, db‐cAMP (250–500 μM; 6 days), resulted in a pronounced stellation, up‐regulation of GLT‐1 and GLAST in E18, and GLAST in P4 cultures, while it was ineffective in P10 astrocytes. By contrast, db‐cAMP induced a more pronounced stimulation of glutamine synthetase activity (up to 10‐fold above basal) in P10 than in E18 cultures (up to 2 times above basal). The differences in expression/inducibility of glutamate transporters and glutamine synthetase observed in astrocyte cultures derived from various stages of fetal and postnatal development suggest that astrocytes in vivo might also respond differently to environmental or injurious stimuli during development and maturation.