We aimed to determine the characteristics, treatment outcomes and risk factors for poor treatment outcomes among multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) patients in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, ...Pakistan.
A retrospective cohort study including all patients with MDR-TB who sought care at the MDR-TB unit in Peshawar was conducted between January 2012 and April 2014. Patients were followed until an outcome of TB treatment was recorded as successful (cured or completed) or unsuccessful. Binary logistic regression was used to identify predictors of poor outcome, i.e. unsuccessful treatment outcomes.
Overall, 535 patients were included. The proportion of female subjects was relatively higher (n = 300, 56.1%) than male subjects. The mean (standard deviation) age of patients was 30.37 (14.09) years. Of 535 patients for whom treatment outcomes were available, 402 (75.1%) were cured, 4 (0.7%) completed therapy, 34 (6.4%) had disease that failed to respond to therapy, 93 (17.4%) died and two (0.4%) defaulted; in total, 129 (24.1%) had an unsuccessful outcome. We found three significant predictors of unsuccessful treatment during multivariate logistic regression: being married (odds ratio (OR) = 2.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01, 4.66), resistance to second-line drugs (OR = 2.61, 95% CI 1.61, 4.21) and presence of extensively drug-resistant TB (OR = 7.82, 95% CI 2.90, 21.07).
Approximately 75% of the treatment success rate set by the Global Plan to Stop TB was achieved. Resistance to second-line drugs and presence of extensively drug-resistant TB are the main risk factors for poor treatment outcomes.
Urdbean Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper is an important leguminous crop whose production is severely affected by charcoal rot disease caused by Macrophomina phaseolina. This study was undertaken to seek an ...environmental friendly alternative to synthetic fungicides for management of this disease. Dry biomass of an allelopathic weed Sonchus oleraceous L. was used to combat the menace. Fumigated sandy loam pot soil, pre-inoculated with M. phaseolina, was amended with different doses of dry biomass of the weed ranging from 0.5% to 3%. Application of 2% weed biomass completely controlled the disease. Soil inoculation with M. phaseolina inoculation (positive control) reduced shoot dry weight and grain yield of urdbean by 59% and 91%, respectively, over negative control. Application of different doses of soil amendment in pathogen inoculated soil enhanced shoot dry weight and grain yield of urdbean by 107-307% and 438-7400%, respectively, over positive control. The highest positive effect on growth and yield of uedbean in M. phaseolina contaminated soil was recorded due to 2.5% amendment. M. phaseolina inoculation significantly enhanced peroxidase (POX) and phenyl alanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activities. However, application of different doses of S. oleraceous biomass to the soil gradually decreased activities of these enzymes. The present study concludes that application of 2.5% dry biomass of S. oleraceous can completely control charcoal rot of urdbean and significantly enhance crop growth and yield.
RESUMO: O feijão-preto Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper é uma importante cultura leguminosa cuja produção é severamente afetada pela podridão do carvão causada por Macrophomina phaseolina. Este estudo objetivou buscar uma alternativa ambientalmente acessível aos fungicidas sintéticos para o manejo dessa doença. A biomassa seca de uma planta alelopática (Sonchus oleraceous L.) foi usada para combater a ameaça. Solo de barro fumigado, pré-inoculado com M. phaseolina, foi alterado com diferentes doses de biomassa seca da planta daninha, que variaram de 0,5% a 3%. A aplicação de 2% de biomassa de plantas daninhas controlou completamente a doença. A inoculação do solo com M. phaseolina (controle positivo) reduziu o peso seco da parte aérea e o rendimento de grãos de feijão-preto em 59% e 91%, respectivamente, sobre o controle negativo. A aplicação de diferentes doses de alteração do solo no solo inoculado por patógenos aumentou o peso seco da parte aérea e o rendimento de grãos de feijão-preto em 107-307% e 438-7.400%, respectivamente, sobre controle positivo. O maior efeito positivo no crescimento e produtividade de feijão-preto no solo contaminado por M. phaseolina foi registrado devido a uma alteração de 2,5%. A inoculação com M. phaseolina aumentou significativamente as atividades de peroxidase (POX) e fenilalanina amônia liase (PAL). Entretanto, a aplicação de diferentes doses de biomassa de S. oleraceous ao solo diminuiu gradualmente a atividade dessas enzimas. O presente estudo concluiu que a aplicação de 2,5% de biomassa seca de S. oleraceous pode controlar completamente a podridão de carvão em feijão-preto e aumentar significativamente o crescimento e o rendimento da cultura.
The present study was carried out to check the antifungal potential of Sisymbrium irio L. shoot extract against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae (FOC). In preliminary bioassays, different ...concentrations (1 to 5%) of leaf, stem and fruit extracts were evaluated against FOC. All the extracts were effective against the pathogen. However, the leaf extract was found the most effective causing 25-41% decrease in FOC biomass. The fractionation of methanolic leaf extract was done by two organic solvents namely n-hexane and chloroform. Different concentrations (1.56 to 200 mg mL-1) of these fractions were tested against FOC. The n-hexane and chloroform fractions showed inhibitory activity against the pathogen and resulted in 77-93% and 80-96% reduction in biomass of FOC, respectively. GC-MS analysis showed the presence of 24 compounds in n-hexane and 4 compounds in chloroform fraction. In n-hexane fraction, β-sitosterol (18.64%) was the most abundant compound followed by orotic acid, bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-, tert-butyldimethylsilyl ester (12.18%), 10-octadecenoic acid, methyl ester (7.90%) and 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, diisooctyl ester (6.05%). Major compounds identified in chloroform fraction were 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester (50.82%) and di-n-octyl phthalate (33.00%). This study concludes that n-hexane and chloroform fractions of methanolic leaf extract of S. irio contain potent antifungal constituents for the management of FOC.
RESUMO: O presente estudo foi realizado para verificar o potencial antifúngico do extrato de caule de Sisymbrium irio L. contra Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae (FOC). Em bioensaios preliminares, diferentes concentrações (1% a 5%) de extratos de folhas, caules e frutos foram avaliadas contra o FOC. Todos os extratos foram eficazes contra o patógeno. No entanto, o extrato de folhas foi o mais eficaz, causando 25-41% de redução na biomassa FOC. O fracionamento do extrato metanólico das folhas foi feito por dois solventes orgânicos: n-hexano e clorofórmio. Diferentes concentrações (1,56 a 200 mg mL-1) dessas frações foram testadas contra o FOC. As frações de n-hexano e clorofórmio mostraram atividade inibitória contra o patógeno e resultaram em redução de 77-93% e 80-96% na biomassa de FOC, respectivamente. A análise por CG-EM mostrou a presença de 24 compostos em n-hexano e 4 compostos em fração clorofórmica. Na fração n-hexano, o β-sitosterol (18,64%) foi o composto mais abundante, seguido pelo ácido orótico, éster bis (terc-butildimetilsilil) terc-butildimetilsilílico (12,18%), éster de ácido 10-octadecenoico metil (7,90%) e Ter de di-isoctilo do ido 1,2-benzenodicarboxico (6,05%). Os principais compostos identificados na fração clorofórmica foram o ácido 1,3-benzenodicarboxílico, o éster bis (2-etil-hexílico) (50,82%) e o ftalato di-n-octilo (33,00%). Este estudo conclui que as frações de n-hexano e clorofórmio do extrato metanólico das folhas de S. irio contêm potentes constituintes antifúngicos para o manejo do FOC.
Massive MIMO is an important framework of 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT). Signals radiated from a 5G antenna share the complex architecture. A system is therefore needed that can minimize ...complexity and provides good spectral efficiency and throughput. This is achieved by reducing RF chains which is an important constraint in an energy-efficient 5G system. In this paper, a new semi-orthogonal-based scheme is proposed to formulate SINR which maximizes throughput when RF chains are combined without increasing computational complexity, and also the focus is laid on the improvement of the sum data rate of the system. More importantly, the optimization algorithm has been implemented and used to model the massive MIMO as a tool for an energy-efficient system.
A pot experiment was carried out to check the effect of Coronopus didymus (L.) Sm. dry biomass application (1%, 2% and 3% w/w) and two species of Trichoderma (T. viride and T. aureoviride) on growth ...and physiology of mungbean Vigna radiata (L.) WIlczek under biotic stress of Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. Inoculation of M. phaseolina (positive control) reduced plant survival, shoot and root length as well as plant dry biomass by 22%, 52%, 61% and 64%, respectively, over the negative control (without any amendment). There was 100% plant survival in treatments with T. aureoviride alone or in combination with 1% and 2% C. didymus biomass. Likewise, T. viride in combination with 2% biomass also showed 100% plant survival. Application of 3% C. didymus biomass had a pronounced effect on crop growth resulting in 101%, 233% and 342% increase in shoot length, root length and plant biomass, respectively, over the positive control. Sole inoculation of either of the two Trichoderma spp. significantly enhanced various plant growth parameters over the positive control. In general, in combination with 2% biomass of C. didymus, both Trichodermaspp. proved to be the best choice for improving mungbean biomass under stress of M. phaseolina. Activity of denfense related enzymes viz. peroxidase (PO), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) was generally higher in treatments in which 1% C. didymus biomass was applied either alone or combined with Trichoderma spp. in M. phaseolina inoculated soil.
RESUMO: Um experimento em vaso foi realizado para verificar o efeito da aplicação da biomassa seca de Coronopus didymus (L.) Sm. (1%, 2% e 3% p/p) e duas espécies de Trichoderma (T. viride e T. aureoviride) sobre o crescimento e a fisiologia do feijão-mungo Vigna radiata (L.) WIlczek sob estresse biótico causado pelo fungo Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. A inoculação de M. phaseolina (controle positivo) reduziu a sobrevivência das plantas, o comprimento da parte aérea e da raiz e a biomassa seca das plantas em 22%, 52%, 61% e 64%, respectivamente, em relação ao controle negativo (sem qualquer alteração). Foram observados 100% de sobrevivência das plantas nos tratamentos com T. aureoviride isoladamente ou em combinação com 1% e 2% da biomassa de C. didymus. Da mesma forma, T. viride em combinação com 2% de biomassa também resultou em 100% de sobrevivência das plantas. A aplicação de 3% de biomassa de C. didymus teve efeito acentuado no crescimento da cultura, resultando em aumento de 101%, 233% e 342% no comprimento da parte aérea, comprimento da raiz e biomassa da planta, respectivamente, em relação ao controle positivo. A inoculação isolada de uma das duas espécies de Trichoderma spp. melhorou de forma significativa vários parâmetros de crescimento das plantas, em comparação ao controle positivo. Em geral, em combinação com 2% de biomassa de C. didymus, ambas as espécies de Trichoderma spp. provaram ser a escolha mais apropriada para melhorar a biomassa de feijão-mungo sob estresse causado por M. phaseolina. A atividade das enzimas relacionadas à defesa da planta, ou seja, peroxidase (PO), polifenol oxidase (PPO) e fenilalanina amônia liase (PAL), foi geralmente maior nos tratamentos em que 1% da biomassa de C. didymus foi aplicada isoladamente ou combinada com Trichoderma spp. em solo inoculado com M. phaseolina.
(
) is an obligate intracellular parasite which can infect almost all warm-blood animals, leading to toxoplasmosis. Screening and discovery of an effective vaccine candidate or new drug target is ...crucial for the control of this disease. In this study, the recombinant
elongation factor 1-alpha (rTgEF-1α) was successfully expressed in in
Passive immunization of mice with anti-rTgEF-1α polyclonal antibody following challenge with a lethal dose of tachyzoites significantly increased the survival time compared with PBS control group. The survival time of mice challenged with tachyzoites pretreated with anti-rTgEF-1α PcAb also was significantly increased. Invasion of tachyzoites into mouse macrophages was significantly inhibited in the anti-rTgEF-1α PcAb pretreated group. Mice vaccinated with rTgEF-1α induced a high level of specific anti-
antibodies and production of IFN-gamma, interleukin-4. The expression levels of MHC-I and MHC-II molecules as well as the percentages of CD4
and CD8
T cells in mice vaccinated with rTgEF-1α was significantly increased, respectively (
< 0.05), compared with all the controls. Immunization with rTgEF-1α significantly (
< 0.05) prolonged survival time (14.53 ± 1.72 days) after challenge infection with the virulent
RH strain. These results indicate that
EF-1α plays an essential role in mediating host cell invasion by the parasite and, as such, could be a candidate vaccine antigen against
.
Our primary objective was to determine the effects of the abomasal infusion of 16-carbon (16C) and 22-carbon (22C) fatty acids (FA) on apparent FA digestibility, plasma FA concentrations, and their ...incorporation into milk fat in cows. Our secondary objective was to study the effects of 1-carbon donors choline and l-serine on these variables. Five rumen-cannulated Holstein cows (214 ± 4.9 d in milk; 3.2 ± 1.1 parity) were enrolled in a 5 × 5 Latin square experiment with experimental periods lasting 6 d. Abomasal infusates consisted of (1) palmitic acid (PA; 98% 16:0 of total fat), (2) PA + choline chloride (PA+CC; 50 g/d of choline chloride), (3) PA + l-serine (PA+S; 170 g/d of l-serine), (4) behenic acid (BA; 92% 22:0 of total fat), and (5) docosahexaenoic acid algal oil (DHA; 47.5% DHA of total fat). Emulsions were formulated to provide 301 g/d of total FA and were balanced to provide a minimum of 40 and 19 g/d of 16:0 and glycerol, respectively, to match the content found in the infused algal oil. Apparent digestibility of FA was highest in DHA, intermediate in PA, and lowest in BA. Digestibility of 16C FA was lowest in BA and highest in PA. The digestibility of 22C FA was highest in DHA relative to BA (99 vs. 58%), whereas 1-carbon donors had no effect on 22C FA digestibility. Plasma 16C FA concentrations were greatest with PA treatment, and 22C FA concentrations were ~3-fold greater in DHA-treated cows relative to all other treatments. Milk fat 16:0 content was highest in PA relative to BA and DHA (e.g., 37 vs. 27% in PA and DHA), whereas the milk yield of 16:0 was higher in PA relative to DHA (i.e., 454 vs. 235 g/d). Similarly, milk 22:0 content and yield were ~10-fold higher in BA relative to all other treatments, whereas DHA treatment resulted in higher content and yield of 22:6 in milk fat relative to all other treatments (41- and 38-fold higher, respectively). Consequently, the content of FA >16C (i.e., preformed) was higher in milk fat from cows infused with BA and DHA relative to PA. De novo FA content in milk did not differ between PA, PA+CC, and PA+S (~16% of milk fat) but was higher in BA and DHA treatments (19 and 21%, respectively). We conclude that FA carbon chain length and degree of saturation affected FA digestibility and availability for absorption as well as their incorporation into milk fat. The abomasal infusion of choline chloride and l-serine did not modify these variables relative to infusing palmitic acid alone.
Aquaporins (AQPs) are a class of integral membrane proteins involved in the transport of water and many other small solutes. The AQPs have been extensively studied in many land species obtaining ...water and nutrients from the soil, but their distribution and evolution have never been investigated in aquatic plant species, where solute assimilation is mostly through the leaves. In this regard, identification of AQPs in the genome of
L. (eelgrass), an aquatic ecological model species could reveal important differences underlying solute uptake between land and aquatic species. In the present study, genome-wide analysis led to the identification of 25 AQPs belonging to four subfamilies, plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs), tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs), nodulin 26-like intrinsic proteins (NIPs), small basic intrinsic proteins (SIPs) in eelgrass. As in other monocots, the XIP subfamily was found to be absent from the eelgrass genome. Further classification of subfamilies revealed a unique distribution pattern, namely the loss of the NIP2 (NIP-III) subgroup, which is known for silicon (Si) transport activity and ubiquitously present in monocot species. This finding has great importance, since the eelgrass population stability in natural niche is reported to be associated with Si concentrations in water. In addition, analysis of available RNA-seq data showed evidence of expression in 24 out of the 25 AQPs across four different tissues such as root, vegetative tissue, male flower and female flower. In contrast to land plants, higher expression of PIPs was observed in shoot compared to root tissues. This is likely explained by the unique plant architecture of eelgrass where most of the nutrients and water are absorbed by shoot rather than root tissues. Similarly, higher expression of the TIP1 and TIP5 families was observed specifically in male flowers suggesting a role in pollen maturation. This genome-wide analysis of AQP distribution, evolution and expression dynamics can find relevance in understanding the adaptation of aquatic and land species to their respective environments.
For future wireless high-speed wireless applications, the antenna design plays an indispensable role. Electrical compactness has been challenging over the years among the research fraternity. Hence, ...this paper proposes an electrically compact and miniaturized asymmetric coplanar strip- (ACS-) fed MIMO to bridge this research gap. In MIMO antennas, two electrically small antennas are used and are placed on the edges of the smartphone. A ladder-shaped radiator with a C-shaped slit inserted on the ground plane makes up the antenna’s monopole radiator. A compact antenna is proposed in this paper with dimensions of 0.076 λ×0.409 λ×0.005 λ. This achieves dual band characteristics, which cater to 3.5/5.5 GHz (WiMAX), 5.8 GHz (WLAN), 6.3 GHz (C-band), and sub-6 GHz 5G bands. For the available aperture, reasonable gain is attained by the proposed architecture. Furthermore, fractional bandwidth of 69% and 43% in 2.6 GHz and 5.5 GHz bands, respectively, acting in accordance with the bandwidth stated by Wheeler and Chu’s limit, has been attained in this ACS-fed antenna. In both the operating frequency bands, more than 20 dB isolation between the antenna elements has been achieved. High integrity is attained by the radiation pattern, and actual deployment is granted. Moreover, the simulated results presented are in good accordance with the measured results.
Energy and spectral efficiency are attracting attention as “emerging technology” that exploits the opportunities of sensing, communications and artificial intelligence. This paper proposes the ...features of these state of art techniques a new energy and spectrum efficient technique for 5G and beyond networks. By using Interference aware (IA) beam selection in beam-space MIMO, the large number of users are supported with a smaller number of radio-frequency (RF) chains at the same time and frequency resource. It has been observed from the proposed scheme that the achievable sum-rate of mm-wave channel model is also improved. From the simulation results it is found that Interference aware (IA) beam selection is used in beam-space to minimize the total obligatory RF-chains in mm-wave massive MIMO communication systems without noticeable loss in performance.
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