Poultry industry is amongst highly developed industries of Pakistan, fulfilling the protein demand of rapidly increasing population. On the other hand, the untreated poultry waste is causing several ...health and environmental problems. The current study was designed to check the potential of keratinolytic fungal species for the conversion of chicken-feather waste into biofortified compost. For the purpose, three fungal species were isolated from soil samples. These strains were pure cultured and then characterized phenotypically and genotypically. BLAST searches of 18S rDNA nucleotide sequence of the fungal isolates revealed that the two fungal isolates belonged to genus Aspergillus and one belonged to genus Chrysosporium. Optimum temperature for Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Chrysosporium queenslandicum was 29, 26 and 25 oC, respectively. A. flavus showed maximum (53%) feather degradation, A. niger degraded feather waste up to 37%, while C. queenslandicum showed 21% keratinolytic activity on chicken feathers at their respective temperature optima. The degradation potential of these fungal species showed their ability to form compost that has agro-industrial importance.
In this study, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSPs) of different size and shape were developed, and their surface coatings were utilized to study their differential effects in enhancing ...antibacterial activity. In brief, MSPs with three different aspect ratios (1, 2 and 4) were prepared, doped with silver ions and finally coated with the polymer chitosan. Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were treated with the MSPs. Results indicate that silver ion doped and chitosan coated MSPs with the aspect ratio of 4 (Cht/MSP4:Ag
) have the highest antimicrobial activity among the prepared series. Further studies revealed that Cht/MSP4:Ag
was most effective against Escherichia coli (E.coli) and least effective against Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae). To investigate the detailed inhibition mechanism of the MSPs, the interaction of the nanoparticles with E.coli membranes and its intracellular DNA was assessed using various spectroscopic and imaging-based techniques. Furthermore, to increase the efficiency of the MSPs, a combinatorial antibacterial strategy was also explored, where nanoparticles, in combination with kanamycin (antibiotic), were used against Vibrio Cholerae (V. cholerae). Toxicity screening of these on MSPs was conducted on Caco-2 cells, and the results show that the dose used for antibacterial screening is below the limit of the toxicity threshold. Our findings show that both shape and surface engineering contribute positively towards killing bacteria, and the newly developed silver ion-doped and chitosan-coated MSPs have good potential as antimicrobial nanomaterials.
Scientific management of nutrients along with several other crop management practices are required for sustainable production of maize (Zea mays L.). Zinc (Zn) status of maize grown in Potohar ...plateau, Pakistan was monitored. A two-year field study was conducted at two sites to assess the yield of maize cultivars, i.e., hybrid (cv. NARC-2704) and local (cv. Agaiti-2002) and Zn requirement of leaves and grain using various Zn application methods. Zinc was applied by three ways, i.e., broadcast and band placement each at 3, 6 and 9 kg Zn ha
−1
; and foliar at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 kg Zn ha
−1
along with recommended basal fertilization. Cultivars' response varied to Zn rates, application techniques and sites. The maximum increase in grain yield (two-year mean) at NARC site was: broadcast - hybrid, 17% and local, 13%; band placement - hybrid, 18% and local, 16%; and foliar - hybrid, 15% and local, 13%. Corresponding response at Pindi Gheb site was: broadcast - hybrid, 20% and local, 16%; band placement - hybrid, 21% and local, 17%; and foliar - hybrid, 17% and local, 15%. Zn concentration in leaves and grain of both cultivars also increased to varying extent as a result of applied Zn rates and techniques. Fertilizer Zn requirement for near-maximum grain yield (kg ha
−1
) was: broadcast - hybrid, 4.6 and local, 1.9; band placement - hybrid, 1.8 and local, 1.5; and foliar - hybrid, 0.28 and local, 0.26.
The Enteric Nervous System (ENS) present in the wall of the gut is currently being explored because of its influence on the gut and beyond. In this context, the morphology of developing ENS has not ...been completely understood in humans due to lack of adequate literature. The aim of the present study was to observe the morphology of the enteric neurons in the human fetal colon and compare the findings in ascending colon a midgut derivative and descending colon a hindgut derivative at various weeks of gestation (WG).
Tissue samples from 15 aborted fetuses (11 WG to 2 months postnatal) were processed for Cresyl violet, H & E staining, and NADPH Diaphorase histochemistry. The morphometric analysis was done by calculating the neuronal number density and neuronal fractional area. The Student t-test; Mann-Whitney test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to analyze the data.
The muscularis externa with two distinct layers was visible as early as 13 WG and the muscularis mucosae was first observed at 18 WG. The size of the myenteric neurons appeared to be larger with increasing weeks of gestation suggesting a process of neuronal maturation. The neuronal number density and neuronal fractional area seemed to be reduced with advancing fetal age. There was no marked difference between the ascending and sigmoid colon. At 23 and 26 WG, a mature pattern of nitrergic innervation was observed.
This study is done on human fetal tissue samples unlike previous studies on animal samples to comprehend the morphology of developing ENS. It will aid in understanding the effect of ENS on various neurological disorders.
Hyperkalemia in Heart Failure Sarwar, Chaudhry M.S., MD; Papadimitriou, Lampros, MD, PhD; Pitt, Bertram, MD ...
Journal of the American College of Cardiology,
10/2016, Letnik:
68, Številka:
14
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Abstract Disorders of potassium homeostasis can potentiate the already elevated risk of arrhythmia in heart failure. Heart failure patients have a high prevalence of chronic kidney disease, which ...further heightens the risk of hyperkalemia, especially when renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors are used. Acute treatment for hyperkalemia may not be tolerated in the long term. Recent data for patiromer and sodium zirconium cyclosilicate, used to treat and prevent high serum potassium levels on a more chronic basis, have sparked interest in the treatment of hyperkalemia, as well as the potential use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors in patients who were previously unable to take these drugs or tolerated only low doses. This review discusses the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and outcomes of hyperkalemia in heart failure; provides an overview of traditional and novel ways to approach management of hyperkalemia; and discusses the need for further research to optimally treat heart failure.
Robotic assisted surgery (RAS) has become increasingly adopted in colorectal cancer surgery. This study aims to compare robotic and laparoscopic approaches to left sided colorectal resections in ...terms of surgical outcomeswith no formal enhanced recovery programme. All patients undergoing robotic or laparoscopic left sided or rectal (high and low anterior resection) cancer surgery at a single tertiary referral centre over 3 years were included.A total of 184 consecutive patients from July 2017 to December 2020 were included in this study, with 40.2% (n=74/184) undergoing RAS. The median age at time of surgery was 68 years (IQR 60-73 years). RAS had a significantly shorter length of median stay of 3 days, compared to 5 days in the conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS) group (p<0.001). RAS had a significantly lower rate of conversion to open surgery (0% vs 16.4%, p<0.001). The median operative time was also shorter in RAS (308 minutes), compared to CLS (326 minutes, p=0.019). The overall rate of any complication was 16.8%, with the RAS experiencing a lower complication rate (12.2% vs 20.0%, p=0.041). There was no significant difference in anastomotic leak rates between the two groups (4.0% vs 5.5%, p=0.673), or in terms of complete resection (R0) (robotic 98.6%, laparoscopic 100%, p=0.095). Robotic left sided colorectal surgery delivers equivalent oncological resection compared to laparoscopic approaches, with the added benefits of reduced length of stay and lower rates of conversion to open surgery. This has both clinical and healthcare economic benefits.
Uveitis represents a spectrum of diseases characterized by ocular inflammation that leads to significant visual loss if left untreated. Adequate, long-term control of inflammation with minimal ...systemic and local adverse effects is the preferred strategy for treating patients with uveitis. Pharmacotherapy for uveitis consists mainly of corticosteroids in various formulations such as topical, local, intraocular and systemic. However, monotherapy with corticosteroids is often unacceptable due to serious adverse effects on various organ systems. There exist limitations with the use of steroid-sparing systemic immunosuppressive agents, as these medications may have significant adverse events and a narrow therapeutic window. Thus, newer molecular targets that act on various steps of the inflammatory pathway appear to be promising emerging strategies for treating uveitis. Specially designed monoclonal antibodies in development can potentially halt the inflammatory processes resulting in remission of the disease. In the index review, novel molecular agents and biological therapies that have shown promising efficacy and safety data in preclinical and clinical studies have been summarized. In addition, new drug delivery systems that may ensure high intraocular therapeutic levels of pharmacologic agents have been highlighted.
The emergence of software artifacts greatly emphasizes the need for protecting intellectual property rights (IPR) hampered by software piracy requiring effective measures for software piracy control. ...Software birthmarking targets to counter ownership theft of software by identifying similarity of their origins. A novice birthmarking approach has been proposed in this paper that is based on hybrid of text-mining and graph-mining techniques. The code elements of a program and their relations with other elements have been identified through their properties (i.e., code constructs) and transformed into Graph Manipulation Language (GML). The software birthmarks generated by exploiting the graph theoretic properties (through clustering coefficient) are used for the classifications of similarity or dissimilarity of two programs. The proposed technique has been evaluated over metrics of credibility, resilience, method theft, modified code detection and self-copy detection for programs asserting the effectiveness of proposed approach against software ownership theft. The comparative analysis of proposed approach with contemporary ones shows better results for having properties and relations of program nodes and for employing dynamic techniques of graph mining without adding any overhead (such as increased program size and processing cost).
The neural crest cell-derived enteric nervous system (ENS) is the intrinsic innervation of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) which consists of neurons and enteric glia cells in the myenteric ganglia ...and forming plexus. The ENS consists mainly of submucosal and myenteric plexuses. It has various functions on the GIT, which include control of local blood flow, motility, mucosal transport, secretions, immune modulation as well as endocrine functions and coordinated contractile activity of smooth muscle. The knowledge on the development of the innervations at different segments of the gut in humans from 11 to 26 weeks of gestation (WG) may help in understanding the pathophysiology of various congenital diseases affecting the ENS. The aim of this study is to determine the morphology of the myenteric plexus in the esophagus, ascending colon and sigmoid colon at various weeks of gestation. Tissue samples from 10 naturally terminated fetuses aged 11-26 WG were processed for hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry assay. The neurons, enteric glia, the smooth muscle were visualized using PGP9.5, Vimentin and S-100 antibodies. The number of neurons and enteric glial cells appeared lowest in the esophagus than the ascending and sigmoid colon. The myenteric ganglion was closely apposed to each other, forming a continuous arch along the entire circumference of gut sections of ascending and sigmoid colon but the myenteric ganglia in the esophagus was thinly populated and widely spread in the fetus at 13 WG. As the fetal gastrointestinal tract grew in diameter and length, the myenteric ganglia became discernible.
The study aims to examine the survey of earlier literature that deals with economic growth, energy consumption and carbon emission, both single country studies as well as multi-county studies that ...covers the period till 2019. The main focus of this survey is on the coverage of countries, modeling methodologies, periods as well as empirical conclusions. The literature survey in this research paper is based on the causality's direction between (i) economic growth and carbon emission; (ii) economic growth and energy consumption; (iii) energy consumption and carbon emissions. From reviewing these studies, general remark can be assumed that the literature which has been produced is paradoxical. Firstly, most of the earlier studies have reported that economic growth and energy consumption are significant sources of carbon emission, however, the role of economic growth in carbon emission is highly reported in highly developing countries. On contrary, in case of developed countries, carbon emission is not linked with economic development. Secondly, in case of developing countries, higher energy consumption leads to increase the economic growth. For developed countries, there are less evidence of dependence between energy consumption and economic growth. Lastly, in both developing and developed countries, higher energy consumption has reported the main culprit for carbon emission Focusing on the implications, the governments and industries have to replace the non-renewable energy sources with renewable sources to generate electricity, run the industrial operations and for transportation purposes etc. Comprehending the literature survey has provided the basis to address the designing as well as implementing effective environmental as well as energy policies.
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