The removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution by batch adsorption technique using different low-cost adsorbents was investigated. Adsorbents such as clarified sludge—a steel industry waste material, ...rice husk ash, activated alumina, fuller's earth, fly ash, saw dust and neem bark were used to determine the adsorption efficiency. The influence of pH, adsorbent type and concentration, initial Cr(VI) concentration and contact time on the selectivity and sensitivity of the removal process were investigated. Adsorption process was found to be highly pH dependent. The optimum pH range for adsorption of Cr(VI) was found to be between 2 and 3. Kinetics studies were performed to understand the mechanistic steps of the adsorption process and the rate kinetics for the adsorption of Cr(VI) was best fitted with the pseudo-2nd-order kinetic model. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms were applicable to the adsorption process and their constants were evaluated. The thermodynamic equilibrium constant and the Gibbs free energy were determined for each system. The adsorption capacity (
q
max) calculated from Langmuir isotherm and the Gibbs free energy (Δ
G
o) value obtained for the different adsorbents showed that clarified sludge was the most effective among the selected adsorbents for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. The adsorption efficiencies of rice husk ash and activated alumina were also equally comparable with that of clarified sludge.
Visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) disproportionately affects the rural poor, with approximately 500,000 cases worldwide. Treatment options are limited, especially in resource-poor settings. In this ...open label, comparator-controlled trial, intramuscular paromomycin was found to be noninferior to intravenous amphotericin B in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis, with cure rates of 94.6% and 98.8%, respectively.
Intramuscular paromomycin was found to be noninferior to intravenous amphotericin B in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis, with cure rates of 94.6% and 98.8%, respectively.
Visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) is primarily a fatal vectorborne parasitic disease characterized by fever, hepatosplenomegaly, and pancytopenia. Most of the approximately 500,000 cases of visceral leishmaniasis reported worldwide affect the rural poor in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sudan, and Brazil.
1
Treatment options for visceral leishmaniasis are limited. Sodium stibogluconate, a historically effective and affordable pentavalent antimonial compound, is associated with fatal toxic effects,
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–
4
and in some regions its use has led to the development of resistant strains of
Leishmania donovani,
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with the result that fewer than 50% of treated patients are cured.
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,
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In regions where antimony resistance is prevalent, . . .
A considerable amount of qualitative evidence reporting abusive treatment of women during delivery by health providers is available. However, there is a dearth of information regarding the actual ...prevalence and nature of such abuse, which this study aimed to explore.
We conducted a community based cross-sectional study using a contextually adapted version of the Staha (meaning 'respect' in Swahili) project questionnaire among 410 rural women who delivered between June, 2014 to August 2015 at any health facility of Varanasi district, northern India. We selected the women through multi-stage cluster random sampling from two rural blocks of Varanasi, which recorded the highest number of institutional deliveries in 2014-15.
The frequency of any abusive behavior (excluding inappropriate demands of money due to its high prevalence-90.5%) was 28.8%. The reported abuses were non-dignified care including verbal abuse and derogatory insults related to the woman's sexual behavior (19.3%); physical abuse (13.4%); neglect or abandonment (8.5%); non-confidential care (5.6%); and feeling humiliation due to lack of cleanliness bordering on filth (4.9%). Women were abused during labor or delivery irrespective of their socio-demographic background. Bivariate analysis using Chi-square tests showed statistically significant associations between abuse and provider type, facility type, and presence of complications during delivery. Binary logistic regression indicated that the odds of being abused was four times higher in those women who experienced complications during delivery. Though statistically insignificant, and contrary to expectations, women also seemed to be abused in private institutions; but with a lower frequency and of lesser severity.
The prevalence of disrespect and abuse during labor or delivery was high among women irrespective of their socio-demographic background or delivery conditions in government as well as private health facilities. If the problem of disrespect and abuse is not addressed, it can be assumed that such harsh practices might promote home deliveries, which despite being more unsafe provide an empathetic environment in lieu of safe facility-based birthing options.
Impact of heat stress on poultry production Biswal, Jyotsnarani; Vijayalakshmy, Kennady; T. K, Bhattacharya ...
World's poultry science journal,
01/2022, Letnik:
78, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
SUMMARYThe ever-increasing demand for meat and egg has placed the poultry sector as a priority farming avenue for both small-scale backyard farming by rural farmers and commercial enterprises. The ...elevated temperature over the years has been affecting poultry production systems through reduced growth and egg production all over the world. At a time when heat stress is perceived as a universal issue, and with climate change predicted to have a further significant impact on global temperature increase, the adverse impact on the poultry sector is expected to intensify further. An extensive review is made to discuss the impact of such heat stress on feed intake and feed conversion efficiency, poultry growth and production, egg production, physiology, reproduction, immunity and disease incidence. Advanced biotechnology tools can be used to identify suitable molecular markers and design worthy breeding programmes, which may lead to the development of heat tolerance strains in poultry. Further, suitable mitigation strategies have also been suggested for reducing the impact of such stress conditions on the poultry for minimising the economic loss of poultry growers.
CD44 is a widely-distributed type I transmembrane glycoprotein that binds hyaluronic acid (HA) in most cell types, including primary tumor cells and cancer-initiating cells and has roles in cell ...migration, cell-cell, and cell-matrix adhesion. HA-derived conjugates and nanoparticles that target the CD44 receptor on cells have been reported for targeted delivery of therapeutics and imaging agents. Altering crucial interactions of HA with CD44 active sites holds significant importance in modulating targeting ability of hyaluronic acid to other cancer types that do not express the CD44 receptor or minimizing the interaction with CD44
cells that are not target cells. The approach adopted here was deacetylation of the N-acetyl group and selective sulfation on the C6-OH on the HA polymer, which form critical interactions with the CD44 active site. Major interactions identified by molecular modeling were confirmed to be hydrogen bonding of the C6-OH with Tyr109 and hydrophobic interaction of the N-acetyl group with Tyr46, 83 and Ile 92. Modified HA was synthesized and characterized and its interactions were assessed by
and molecular modeling approaches.
techniques included flow cytometry and fluorescence polarization, while
approaches included docking and binding calculations by a MM-PBSA approach. These studies indicated that while both deacetylation and sulfation of HA individually decrease CD44 interaction, both chemical modifications are required to minimize interaction with CD44
cells. The results of this study represent the first step to effective retargeting of HA-derived NPs for imaging and drug delivery.
SUMMARYThe chicken is considered to be a major inexpensive protein producer of animal origin across the world. Enormous progress has been attained to improve production and reproduction by intense ...genetic selection, but it has resulted in indirect introduction of unwanted characteristics such as a strain on the birds’ skeletal system. Several genetic and non-genetic factors affect bone growth and integrity. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) belong to the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) superfamily and comprise one of the multifunctional growth factors involved in organogenesis. Briefly, BMPs are known to play varied roles in embryogenesis, limb morphogenesis, cardiac myofibrillogenesis, odontogenesis, folliculogenesis, tissue-homoeostasis and left-right chick patterning. Yet, few BMPs have been detected and assessed in the chicken and were found to be located differently on the chromosomes from mammals. BMP’s 1-like, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 and BMP’s specific receptors (BMPR1A, BMPR1B and BMPR2) are expressed in osteoblasts and chondrocytes implicating their important role in osteo-chondrogenesis in chickens. However, some of the BMPs such as BMP2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 15 were also, surprisingly, detected in ovaries (granulosa and theca cells) and BMP2, 4 and 7 and BMPR1A, BMPR1B and BMPR2 in retinal pigment epithelium indicating their function in ovarian follicles and eye development in chicks. A number of antagonists have been identified as having a role in the signalling cascade of the bone morphogenetic proteins pathway. This review discusses the BMPs so far identified in chickens and their signalling and functioning for further use in improving skeletal strength and health of chickens.
Myostatin (MSTN), a growth differentiation factor-8 regulates muscular development through its receptors, ACVR2A (Activin receptor type IIA) and ACVR2B (Activin receptor type IIB) by inhibiting ...cellular differentiation of developing somites during embryonic stage and diminishing myofibriller growth during post-embryonic period. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of knockdown of expression of myostatin, ACVR2A and ACVR2B genes on growth traits in chicken. The shRNAs for Myostatin, ACVR2A and ACVR2B genes were designed, synthesized and cloned in DEST vector. The recombinant molecules were transfected into the spermatozoa and transfected spermatozoa were inseminated artificially to the hens to obtain fertile eggs. The fertile eggs were collected, incubated in the incubator and hatched to chicks. Silencing of ACVR2B gene showed significantly higher body weight than other single, double and triple knock down of genes in transgenic birds. The carcass traits such as dressing%, leg muscle%, and breast muscle% were found with the highest magnitudes in birds with silencing of the ACVR2B gene as compared to the birds with that of other genes and control group. The lowest serum cholesterol and HDL content was found in ACVR2B silencing birds. The total RBC count was the highest in this group though the differential counts did not differ significantly among various silencing and control groups of birds. It is concluded that silencing of only one receptor of MSTN particularly, ACVR2B may augment the highest growth in chicken during juvenile stage. Our findings may be used as model for improving growth in other food animals and repairing muscular degenerative disorders in human and other animals.
Over 9.6 million ED visits occur annually for abdominal pain in the US, but little is known about the medical outcomes of these patients based on demographics. We aimed to identify disparities in ...outcomes among children presenting to the ED with abdominal pain linked to race and SES.
Data from 4.2 million pediatric encounters of abdominal pain were analyzed from 43 tertiary US children's hospitals, including 2.0 million encounters in the emergency department during 2004-2011. Abdominal pain was categorized as functional or organic abdominal pain. Appendicitis (with and without perforation) was used as a surrogate for abdominal pain requiring emergent care. Multivariate analysis estimated likelihood of hospitalizations, radiologic imaging, ICU admissions, appendicitis, appendicitis with perforation, and time to surgery and hospital discharge.
Black and low income children had increased odds of perforated appendicitis (aOR, 1.42, 95% CI, 1.32- 1.53; aOR, 1.20, 95% CI 1.14 - 1.25). Blacks had increased odds of an ICU admission (aOR, 1.92, 95% CI 1.53 - 2.42) and longer lengths of stay (aHR, 0.91, 95% CI 0.86 - 0.96) than Whites. Minorities and low income also had lower rates of imaging for their appendicitis, including CT scans. The combined effect of race and income on perforated appendicitis, hospitalization, and time to surgery was greater than either separately.
Based on race and SES, disparity of health outcomes exists in the acute ED setting among children presenting with abdominal pain, with differences in appendicitis with perforation, length of stay, and time until surgery.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Clarified sludge is a major waste generating during steel making process. In India and in most industrial countries, the use of clarified sludge as a road ballast and land filter has had a very long ...history. In present study, clarified sludge has been characterized and used for the removal of Cd(II) from aqueous solutions. The effect of pH, adsorbent dosage, adsorbate concentration, contact time and temperature on adsorption process was studied in batch experiments. Kinetics data were best described by pseudo-second order model. The effective diffusion co-efficient of Cd(II) is of the order of 10
−11 m
2/s. The maximum uptake was 36.23 mg/g. The adsorption data can be well described by Langmuir isotherm. The result of the equilibrium studies showed that the solution pH was the governing factor affecting the adsorption. Mass transfer analysis was also carried out for the adsorption process. The thermodynamic studies indicated that the adsorption was spontaneous and exothermic in nature. The sorption energy calculated from Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm indicated that the adsorption process is chemical in nature. Desorption as well as the application studies were carried out considering the economic viewpoint of wastewater treatment plant operations.
The experimental runs measuring the effect of pH on the batch adsorption of metal solution containing 10 mg/L of Cd(II) at 30 °C.
Toughness describes the ability of a material to resist fracture or crack propagation. It is demonstrated here that fracture toughness of a material can be asymmetric, i.e., the resistance of a ...medium to a crack propagating from right to left can be significantly different from that to a crack propagating from left to right. Such asymmetry is unknown in natural materials, but we show that it can be built into artificial materials through the proper control of microstructure. This paves the way for control of crack paths and direction, where fracture-when unavoidable-can be guided through predesigned paths to minimize loss of critical components.
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