Effect of prostaglandin alone and in combination with trace minerals on the follicular and luteal dynamics, estrus response and pregnancy in sub-estrus buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis).

Sub-estrus is a condition when buffaloes do not display behavioural estrus signs, despite being in estrus and causes a delay in conception and increases the service period. The present study describes the effect of synthetic prostaglandin (PGF2α) alone and in combination with trace minerals on the follicular and corpus luteum (CL) dynamics, serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) concentration correlating estrus response and pregnancy outcome in sub-estrus buffaloes during the breeding season. A total of 50 sub-estrus buffaloes, identified through ultrasonography (USG) examination, were randomly allocated into three groups, viz. T1 (Synthetic PGF2α, Inj. Cloprostenol 500 µg, i.m, n = 17), T2 (Synthetic PGF2α + Trace mineral supplementation, Inj. Stimvet 1 mL/100 kg body weight, i.m., n = 17) and control (untreated; n = 16). Following treatment, 100% of sub-estrus buffaloes were induced estrus in the T1 and T2 groups, while only 18.75% were induced in the control. The CL diameter and serum P4 concentration were significantly lower at post-treatment, whereas the pre-ovulatory follicle (POF) size and serum E2 concentration were significantly higher in the T1 and T2 groups as compared to the control (p < .05). The buffaloes of the T2 group had a greater proportion of moderate intensities estrus than those of T1. Moreover, the proportion of buffaloes conceived in the T1 and T2 were 41.2% and 52.95%, respectively. The larger POF diameter and higher serum E2 concentration were associated with intense intensity estrus and higher conception rate (66.7%) in sub-estrus buffaloes. Similarly, CL regression rate, POF size and serum E2 concentration were relatively higher in the buffaloes conceived as compared to those not conceived. It is concluded that synthetic PGF2α in combination with trace minerals induces moderate to intense intensities estrus in a greater proportion of sub-estrus buffaloes and increases the conception rate during the breeding season. Moreover, behavioural estrus attributes correlating follicle and luteal morphometry, serum E2 and P4 concentration could be used to optimise the breeding time for augmenting the conception rate in sub-estrus buffaloes.

Beyond the amyloid cascade: An update of Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multi-etiology disease. The biological system of AD is associated with multidomain genetic, molecular, cellular, and network brain dysfunctions, interacting with central and peripheral immunity. These dysfunctions have been primarily conceptualized according to the assumption that amyloid deposition in the brain, whether from a stochastic or a genetic accident, is the upstream pathological change. However, the arborescence of AD pathological changes suggests that a single amyloid pathway might be too restrictive or inconsistent with a cascading effect. In this review, we discuss the recent human studies of late-onset AD pathophysiology in an attempt to establish a general updated view focusing on the early stages. Several factors highlight heterogenous multi-cellular pathological changes in AD, which seem to work in a self-amplifying manner with amyloid and tau pathologies. Neuroinflammation has an increasing importance as a major pathological driver, and perhaps as a convergent biological basis of aging, genetic, lifestyle and environmental risk factors.

Multiplexed Continuous Biosensing by Single-Molecule Encoded Nanoswitches.

Single-molecule techniques have become impactful in bioanalytical sciences, though the advantages for continuous biosensing are yet to be discovered. Here we present a multiplexed, continuous biosensing method, enabled by an analyte-sensitive, single-molecular nanoswitch with a particle as a reporter. The nanoswitch opens and closes under the influence of single target molecules. This reversible switching yields binary transitions between two highly reproducible states, enabling reliable quantification of the single-molecule kinetics. The multiplexing functionality is encoded per particle via the dissociation characteristics of the nanoswitch, while the target concentration is revealed by the association characteristics. We demonstrate by experiments and simulations the multiplexed, continuous monitoring of oligonucleotide targets, at picomolar concentrations in buffer and in filtered human blood plasma.

Mapping autosomal recessive intellectual disability: combined microarray and exome sequencing identifies 26 novel candidate genes in 192 consanguineous families.

Approximately 1% of the global population is affected by intellectual disability (ID), and the majority receive no molecular diagnosis. Previous studies have indicated high levels of genetic heterogeneity, with estimates of more than 2500 autosomal ID genes, the majority of which are autosomal recessive (AR). Here, we combined microarray genotyping, homozygosity-by-descent (HBD) mapping, copy number variation (CNV) analysis, and whole exome sequencing (WES) to identify disease genes/mutations in 192 multiplex Pakistani and Iranian consanguineous families with non-syndromic ID. We identified definite or candidate mutations (or CNVs) in 51% of families in 72 different genes, including 26 not previously reported for ARID. The new ARID genes include nine with loss-of-function mutations (ABI2, MAPK8, MPDZ, PIDD1, SLAIN1, TBC1D23, TRAPPC6B, UBA7 and USP44), and missense mutations include the first reports of variants in BDNF or TET1 associated with ID. The genes identified also showed overlap with de novo gene sets for other neuropsychiatric disorders. Transcriptional studies showed prominent expression in the prenatal brain. The high yield of AR mutations for ID indicated that this approach has excellent clinical potential and should inform clinical diagnostics, including clinical whole exome and genome sequencing, for populations in which consanguinity is common. As with other AR disorders, the relevance will also apply to outbred populations.

Spatio-temporal numerical modeling of reaction-diffusion measles epidemic system.

In this work, we investigate the numerical solution of the susceptible exposed infected and recovered measles epidemic model. We also evaluate the numerical stability and the bifurcation value of the transmission parameter from susceptibility to a disease of the proposed epidemic model. The proposed method is a chaos free finite difference scheme, which also preserves the positivity of the solution of the given epidemic model.

Ectoine: a compatible solute in radio-halophilic Stenotrophomonas sp. WMA-LM19 strain to prevent ultraviolet-induced protein damage.

AIM: Thiss study was conducted to investigate the possible role of a compatible solute from radio-halophilic bacterium against desiccation and ultra-violet radiation-induced oxidative stress. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nine different radio-resistant bacteria were isolated from desert soil, where strain WMA-LM19 was chosen for detailed studies on the basis of its high tolerance to ultraviolet radiation among all these isolates. Here, 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated the bacterium was closely related to Stenotrophomonas sp. (KT008383). A bacterial milking strategy was applied for extraction of intracellular compatible solutes in 70% (v/v) ethanol, which were purified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The compound was characterized as ectoine by 1 H and 13 C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and Mass Spectrometry (MS). Ectoine inhibited oxidative damage to proteins and lipids in comparison to the standard ascorbic acid. It also demonstrated more efficient prevention (54·80%) against lysis to erythrocytes membrane by surface active agents than lecithin. Furthermore, a high level of ectoine-mediated protection of bovine serum albumin against ionizing radiation (1 500-2 000Jm-2 ) was observed, as indicated by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that ectoine from Stenotrophomonas sp. WMA-LM19 can be used as a potential mitigator and radio-protective agent to overcome radiation- and salinity-mediated oxidative damages in extreme environment. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Due to its anti-oxidant properties, ectoine from a radio-halophilic bacterium might be used in sunscreen formulation for protection against UV-induced oxidative stress.

Creatine kinase enzyme level correlates positively with serum creatinine and lean body mass, and is a prognostic factor for survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative condition for which there is no single diagnostic test or biomarker. The level of the creatine kinase (CK) enzyme in serum may be mild to moderately elevated in some patients with ALS, the precise cause of which and its behaviour with disease progression is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the usefulness of monitoring CK serially during the ALS disease trajectory and to determine whether CK levels mirror disease progression. METHODS: This was a prospective observational cohort study, using the clinical database of the olesoxime (TRO19622) investigational medicinal product trial. RESULTS: The baseline CK was raised in 52% of the trial participants with the mean CK ± SD being 257 ± 239 U/l. The mean CK was significantly higher in male participants than in female participants (P < 0.001) and amongst participants with limb onset ALS compared to participants with bulbar onset ALS (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the CK levels between upper limb and lower limb onset disease (P = 0.746). The CK level co-related positively with serum creatinine and estimated lean body mass but there was no relationship between CK and muscle scores and limb function. A higher CKlog was associated with significantly better survival, even when adjusted for prognostic co-variants (P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: The serum CK level seems to be an independent prognostic factor for survival in ALS. The cellular mechanism of CK enzyme suggests that it may be upregulated to provide energy in the face of metabolic stress in ALS.

Research design and statistical methods in Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences (PJMS).

OBJECTIVE: This article compares the study design and statistical methods used in 2005, 2010 and 2015 of Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences (PJMS). METHODS: Only original articles of PJMS were considered for the analysis. The articles were carefully reviewed for statistical methods and designs, and then recorded accordingly. The frequency of each statistical method and research design was estimated and compared with previous years. RESULTS: A total of 429 articles were evaluated (n=74 in 2005, n=179 in 2010, n=176 in 2015) in which 171 (40%) were cross-sectional and 116 (27%) were prospective study designs. A verity of statistical methods were found in the analysis. The most frequent methods include: descriptive statistics (n=315, 73.4%), chi-square/Fisher's exact tests (n=205, 47.8%) and student t-test (n=186, 43.4%). There was a significant increase in the use of statistical methods over time period: t-test, chi-square/Fisher's exact test, logistic regression, epidemiological statistics, and non-parametric tests. CONCLUSION: This study shows that a diverse variety of statistical methods have been used in the research articles of PJMS and frequency improved from 2005 to 2015. However, descriptive statistics was the most frequent method of statistical analysis in the published articles while cross-sectional study design was common study design.

Production and characterization of novel self-assembling biosurfactants from Aspergillus flavus.

AIM: This work was conducted to produce, purify and characterize biosurfactants from Aspergillus flavus AF612 isolated from citrus fruit. METHODS AND RESULTS: Biosurfactant named 'Uzmaq' was isolated from A. flavus AF612. The chemical characterization of the biosurfactant was conducted. Biosurfactant Uzmaq produced by A. flavus, was composed of methoxy phenyl oxime glycosides. Two molecular forms of the biosurfactant, Uzmaq-A and Uzmaq-B were isolated. Biological properties (antifungal activity) were evaluated. The fractions of the biosurfactant were isolated and their surface properties were analysed. Uzmaq-A and Uzmaq-B had critical micelle concentration (CMC) around 170 and 80 mg l(-1) , and lowered surface tension of water up to 20 and 25 m Nm(-1) respectively. The biosurfactants were stable at pH 3-12 and temperature up to 80°C. Growth and biosurfactant production kinetics were also analysed. CONCLUSION: Novel biosurfactant Uzmaq was produced from A. flavus, which was composed of methoxy phenyl oxime glycosides. The surface activity of Uzmaq was better than the maximum values of synthetic chemical surfactants. The biosurfactant showed antifungal activity and self-assembling properties. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Aspergillus flavus AF612 can be used for commercial production of Uzmaq that may be employed for controlled drug release applications and bioremediation.

Cancer linguistics and the politics of decolonizing health communication in Coastal Tanzania: Reflections from an anthropological investigation.

The role of language in maintaining asymmetries of power in global public health and biomedicine has become a central part of the broader movement to "decolonize Global Health." While considering how language engenders inequalities in Global Health, hinders interventions, and inhibits medical care, this article contends that colonially derived theorizations of what language is undergirding top-down health communication efforts labeled as "decolonial" can thwart efforts to make biomedical care and public health clearer in postcolonies. We do this through outlining predicaments found in a linguistic anthropological exploration of cancer terminology in Coastal Tanzania. In the small town of Bagamoyo, saratani-the official translation for cancer in Tanzania created by the government in the 1980s as part of a larger effort of decolonial state-building-is dominantly understood as a different or unequivocal disease than kansa-the English-adapted name. As the dissemination of the term saratani into a linguistic arena where colonially derived word kansa is dominantly registered as the biological disease "cancer," this linguistic disjuncture between saratani and kansa has not only created a plethora of problems for oncological care in Bagamoyo, but also illuminates the perils of creating more just health communication in an unequal global political economy. Through showing how binary conceptualizations of language as "colonial" and "local" can reproduce incommunicability-the rendering of racialized subjects as fundamentally unintelligible in hegemonic regimes-we contend that the afterlives of this past effort to decolonize medical language has important lessons for the present of "decolonizing Global Health." Moving beyond static conceptualizations of language, we argue for a fluid "translanguaging" perspective of medical linguistics that facilitates the dismantlement of incommunicability and the global ordering that creates it.

Charge transport mechanisms of PbSnSe2 and observation of transition from direct to Fowler-Nordheim tunneling.

In this study, we report the observation of various conduction mechanisms in mechanically exfoliated PbSnSe2 based on temperature-dependent current and voltage characteristics. A transition from direct tunneling to Fowler-Nordheim tunneling in PbSnSe2 was observed at 2.63 V. At lower temperatures, the 3D Mott variable range hopping model fits the data, yielding a density of states of ∼8.80 × 1020 eV-1 cm-3 at 2 V. The values of Whop and Rhop were 64 meV and 22.7 nm, respectively, at 250 K. The Poole-Frenkel conduction was observed in the Au/PbSnSe2/Au device and the dielectric constant of PbSnSe2 was calculated to be 1.4. At intermediate voltages, a space charge limited current with an exponential distribution of traps was observed and a trap density of ∼9.53 × 1013 cm-3 and a trap characteristic temperature of 430 K were calculated for the Au/PbSnSe2/Au device.

Preparation, characterizations and optical property of single crystalline ZnMn2O4 nanoflowers via template-free hydrothermal synthesis.

In this work, we have reported a template-free hydrothermal approach to fabricate highly pure single phase ZnMn2O4 pen-type nano needles assembled with flower type nanostructures. The X-Ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy, Selected Area Electron Diffraction and UV-visible spectroscopy techniques were used to study the structural and optical properties of Pen-type nanoneedles assembled with flower like nanostrucutres. Single crystalline hetaerolite ZnMn2O4 pen type nanoneedles of flower like nanostructures have an average diameter of 250 nm. Room temperature Raman spectroscopy reveals the four fundamental vibrational modes. Room temperature UV-vis spectrometer was used to determine the transmittance behaviour pen type nanoneedles of flower like nanostructures. Direct optical band gap of 2.19 eV was acquired by using Davis-Mott model. The UV-visible spectrum points out that the absorption is prominent in visible region and transparency is more than 80% in UV region.

Accumulation of chromium in pak choi ( L.) grown on representative chinese soils.

Anthropogenic chromium (Cr) pollution in soils poses a great threat to human health through the food chain. It is imperative to understand Cr accumulation properties in common vegetables because the proportion of vegetables consumed has increased with the improvement of living standards. This study investigated Cr accumulation in pak choi ( L.) grown on six representative agricultural soils in China. Chromium concentration in the edible parts of pak choi generally increased with soil Cr concentrations following the order: Ustic Cambosols > Periudic Argosols > Mollisols > Calcaric Regosols > Stagnic Anthrosols > Udic Ferrisols. Simple correlation analysis indicated that Cr concentration in pak choi was significantly correlated with the total Cr, Mehlich-3-extractable Cr, and Cr(VI). Stepwise multiple regression analysis also demonstrated that the phytoavailability of Cr was strongly correlated with the extractable fraction by Mehlich-3, total Cr concentration, soil organic matter, and Fe(II). Critical Cr concentrations in these six soils were evaluated for pak choi based on the maximum safe level for daily intake of Cr. Total soil Cr can be used as Cr thresholds for potential dietary toxicity in pak choi. Mehlich-3-extractable Cr is most suitable to be used as Cr thresholds for Periudic Argosols, Udic Ferrisols, Mollisols, and Ustic Cambosols, with values of 20.7, 15.8, 21.2, and 20.4 mg kg, respectively, whereas Cr(VI) is most suitable for Calcaric Regosols and Stagnic Anthrosols, with values of 26.5 and 28.0 mg kg, respectively.

Spontaneous posterior rectus sheath hernia: A case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Hernias of the posterior rectus sheath are very rare abdominal wall hernias with only around 15 reported cases to date. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: This case report examines a 27-year-old female who is presented with epigastric abdominal pain and vomiting. An Abdomen CT scan was done and showed signs of SBO and herniation of the small bowel at the posterior rectus sheath. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy that showed right-sided posterior rectus sheath obstructed hernia, which was repaired with primary closure. Postoperatively, the patient was doing well and was discharged on postoperative day 3 in good general condition. CONCLUSION: The patient had no complaints during her follow-up at one month. Due to its rarity and potential complications, it is also important to report this case to enhance the evidence base for posterior rectus sheath hernia and to familiarise this uncommon condition to radiologists, clinicians, and surgeons.

The impact of reflex-based recreational activities and preclinical training on psychomotor skills in an educational dental environment.

BACKGROUND: Participating in recreational activities from a young age may have the potential enhance psychomotor skills early on, and conversely, low levels of participation in these activities may predict slower development of preclinical hand skills. PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the eye-hand coordination benefits of leisure and reflex-based activities to those of typical instructional techniques among dental students. DATA SOURCES: The databases used were PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Scopus. STUDY SELECTION: Ten articles were selected from a total of 1135 articles found across three databases. DATA EXTRACTION: The articles were screened by four investigators through a series of steps in accordance to inclusion and exclusion criteria and rid of any duplicates. DATA SYNTHESIS: The majority of the 10 featured articles were conducted in the United States. All of the research included was cohort observational studies. This systematic review includes a total of 1975 participants from the publications selected for this purpose. RESULTS: Manual dexterity may be taught and improved by practice, and tests designed to measure it should be used primarily to pinpoint which students would benefit most from individualized, close supervision during their education. CONCLUSION: Researchers found that reflex-based activities helped students develop better hand-eye coordination in a classroom setting. However, more precise dental-related tests and questionnaires can always be developed through further study; doing so would yield a wealth of information that would be immensely useful to the dental sector.

Infrared study of Er(3+)/Yb(3+) Co-Doped GeO(2)-PbO-Bi(2)O(3) glass.

Heavy metal oxide glasses, containing bismuth and/or lead in their glass structure are new alternatives for rare eart (RE) doped hosts. Hence, the study of the structure of these vitreous systems is of great interest for science and technology. In this research work, GeO(2)-PbO-Bi(2)O(3) glass host doped with Er(3+)/Yb(3+) ions was synthesized by a conventional melt quenching method. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) results showed that PbO and Bi(2)O(3) participate with PbO(4) tetragonal pyramids and strongly distort BiO(6) octahedral units in the glass network, which subsequently act as modifiers in glass structure. These results also confirmed the existence of both four and six coordination of germanium oxide in glass matrix.

Solution combustion synthesis: the relevant metrics for producing advanced and nanostructured photocatalysts.

The current developments and progress in energy and environment-related areas pay special attention to the fabrication of advanced nanomaterials via green and sustainable paths to accomplish chemical circularity. The design and preparation methods of photocatalysts play a prime role in determining the structural, surface characteristics and optoelectronic properties of the final products. The solution combustion synthesis (SCS) technique is a relatively novel, cost-effective, and efficient method for the bulk production of nanostructured materials. SCS-fabricated metal oxides are of great technological importance in photocatalytic, environmental and energy applications. To date, the SCS route has been employed to produce a large variety of solid materials such as metals, sulfides, carbides, nitrides and single or complex metal oxides. This review intends to provide a holistic perspective of the different steps involved in the chemistry of SCS of advanced photocatalysts, and pursues several SCS metrics that influence their photocatalytic performances to establish a feasible approach to design advanced photocatalysts. The study highlights the fundamentals of SCS and the importance of various combustion parameters in the characteristics of the fabricated photocatalysts. Consequently, this work deals with the design of a concise framework to link the fine adjustment of SCS parameters for the development of efficient metal oxide photocatalysts for energy and environmental applications.

Sustainable chemical processing of flowing wastewater through microwave energy.

Iron oxide nanostructured catalysts have emerged as potential candidates for efficient energy conversion and electrochemical energy storage devices. However, synthesis and design of nanomaterial plays a key role in its performance and efficiency. Herein, we describe a one-pot solution combustion synthesis (SCS) of α-Fe2O3 with glycine as a fuel, and a subsequent reduction step to produce iron-containing catalysts (i.e., Fe3O4, Fe-Fe3O4, and Fe0). The synthesized iron-based nanoparticles were investigated for methyl orange (MO) degradation through Microwave (MW) energy under continuous flow conditions. Fe-Fe3O4 showed higher MO degradation efficiency than α-Fe2O3, Fe3O4 and Fe0 at low absorbed MW power (i.e. 5-80 W). The enhanced degradation efficiency is associated to the combination of higher availability of electron density and higher heating effect under MW energy. Investigation of dielectric properties showed relative dielectric loss of Fe3O4, Fe-Fe3O4, and Fe0 as 3847, 2010, and 1952, respectively. The calculated average local temperature by the comparative analysis of MW treatment with conventional thermal (CT) treatment showed a marked thermal effect of MW-initiated MO degradation. This work highlights the potential of microwave-driven water depollution under continuous-flow processing conditions and demonstrates the positive impact that earth-abundant Fe catalyst synthesized by green SCS method can have over the treatment of wastewater.

Real-Time Monitoring of Biomolecules: Dynamic Response Limits of Affinity-Based Sensors.

Sensors for monitoring biomolecular dynamics in biological systems and biotechnological processes in real time, need to accurately and precisely reconstruct concentration-time profiles. This requirement becomes challenging when transport processes and biochemical kinetics are important, as is typically the case for biomarkers at low concentrations. Here, we present a comprehensive methodology to study the concentration-time profiles generated by affinity-based sensors that continuously interact with a biological system of interest. Simulations are performed for sensors with diffusion-based sampling (e.g., a sensor patch on the skin) and advection-based sampling (e.g., a sensor connected to a catheter). The simulations clarify how transport processes and molecular binding kinetics result in concentration gradients and time delays in the sensor system. Using these simulations, measured and true concentration-time profiles of insulin were compared as a function of sensor design parameters. The results lead to guidelines on how biomolecular monitoring sensors can be designed for optimal bioanalytical performance in terms of concentration and time properties.

Gallbladder lymphangioma simulating liver hydatid cyst: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Gallbladder lymphangiomas are very-rare, yet benign tumors that start developing in early life. Those tumors often go unnoticed until adulthood as they grow into a larger size or a complication happens. Despite its rarity, suspicion for the diagnosis should be maintained by the physicians. CASE PRESENTATION: A 14-year-old female patient presented to the hospital complaining of right upper quadrant abdominal pain of one month duration. Physical examination showed mild upper quadrant tenderness. Serology testing for the patient only showed eosinophilia. Computed tomography showed a large non-enhancing cystic lesion attached to the gallbladder. Presumptive diagnosis of hydatid cyst was made, and the patient was treated accordingly. Histological analysis of mass showed dilated lymphatic vessels, hence the shift in diagnosis towards a lymphangioma was made. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Gallbladder lymphangioma are usually asymptomatic, but they can present with pain, nausea and vomiting. Multiple complications had been reported including compression of the nearby structures, intra-abdominal infection, rupture, torsion or hemorrhagic transformation. Surgical removal of the mass is the treatment of choice. CONCLUSIONS: Right upper quadrant pain can be the presenting symptom of liver pathology. Histological assessment is needed to confirm the diagnosis which will show dilated lymphatic vessels.