11th Month Research Articles

Comparison of Survival Rates of Syrian Refugee Versus Turkish Pediatric Patients with Leukemia

Although survival rates are increasing in acute leukaemias today, this rate is lower in developing countries; there are very few studies conducted on this matter in refugee patients. This research aims to evaluate the survival rate in pediatric Syrian refugee patients with acute leukaemia and compare it with Turkish pediatric leukaemia patients. A total of 144 patients diagnosed with acute leukaemia were included in the study, and their files were reviewed retrospectively. Nineteen 144 patients (13%) were Syrian refugees, and 125 (87%) were Turkish patients. The median age of the Syrian refugees and Turkish patients was 6.9 years (range 1-18 years) and 7.2 years (range 2-18 years), respectively, and gender distribution was similar for both groups (p:0.32). The relapse rate and rate of patients in the high-risk leukaemia group were higher in the Syrian refugee patient group (p=0.05). The survival rates of the Syrian refugee patients at the 11th month and 23nd month of the follow-up were 87.5% and 70%, respectively. The survival rates of the Turkish patients in the 23rd month and 44th month of the follow-up were 96.6% and 85%, respectively. The survival rates of the Turkish patients were significantly higher (p<0,001). The odds ratio of mortality adjusted for being a Syrian refugee was 5.3 (with a 95% confidence interval, 1.5 to 18.3). No difference was observed between the groups regarding compliance with treatment. Survival rates of the Syrian refugee leukaemia patients were lower, and the rate of patients in the high-risk leukaemia group and the relapse rate was higher in Syrian refugee patients compared to Turkish patients.

Equine Stomach Development in the Foetal Period of Prenatal Life-A Histological and Histometric Study.

Histological and morphometrical analysis of the stomach wall was performed during the foetal period divided into three age groups (4th-11th month of gestation). The material was taken from non-glandular (the blind ventricular sac) and glandular parts (the plicated edge margin/cardiac part, the body of stomach and the pyloric part) of the stomach. It was preserved and prepared according to the standard protocol. The histological slides were stained (H-E, Masson-Goldner and PAS). The analyses were performed using the light microscope. All measurements were statistically elaborated. The crown-rump length growth rate was estimated as isometric. The blind ventricular sac growth rate was lower than CRL (negative allometric) and the partition of stomach mucosa into non-glandular and glandular part occurred in the 1st age group. The plicated edge margin/cardiac part and the pyloric part shoved similar tendencies. Only the body of stomach demonstrated a higher growth rate than CRL (positive allometric), which can be explained due to the strongest development of fundic glands. Moreover, comparing the adult reference group to the three parts of the foetal period, all metric values were lower than those achieved prenatally. The blind ventricular sac was covered with the multiple plane epithelium. The glandular parts of stomach that formed the superficial concave areas were covered with the simple columnar epithelium in the 1st age group, which developed to the cardiac, fundic, and pyloric glands in the 2rd and 3rd age groups. The propria mucosae was built with the mesenchyme, which differentiated later to the loose connective tissue. The muscular layer of mucosa was not clearly distinguishable in the 1st age group. The muscular layer of the stomach wall was formed with myoblasts in the 1st age group and later in the 2nd and the 3rd age groups built with fusiform myocytes divided into internal and external layers. The non-differentiated cells of glandular epithelium transformed into the parietal and chief cells. The first were visible in the gastric glands of the 2nd age group. Both of them were present in the 3rd age group gastric mucosa. The PAS staining proved a moderate PAS-positive reaction in the 2rd age group, while it was estimated as intense Pas-positive in the gastric glands in the 3rd age group and was comparable to postnatal observation (the adult reference group).

Equine Stomach Development in the Fetal Period: An Anatomical, Topographical, and Morphometric Study.

Studies of equine stomach prenatal development are very rare, and descriptions usually focus on the processes taking place in the embryonic period. Only general information about gastric organogenesis in the fetal period is available in embryology textbooks on domestic mammals. The material for our study included twenty half-breed horse fetuses divided into three age groups on the basis of known fetal age (verified using the CRL method). Our study consists of the topographical, morphological, and morphometrical description of stomach development between the 4th and 11th months of gestation. Even though the skeletotopy, syntopy, and holotopy of the stomach in the fetal period seems to be relatively unchanged, the organ shape and the proportions between its anatomical parts differed in fetuses from the three age groups. The achieved results were statistically elaborated to estimate the dynamics of the stomach shape. This can be described as changing from medium-wide to wide and from slightly bent to sharply bent. A nonlinear correlation of all metric values with CRL in all age groups was observed. A positive allometric growth rate of different intensity was seen in all metric parameters. All the values increased as the fetal period progressed. Only the parietal surface growth rate gradually changed from strongly positive allometric in the first age group to strongly negative allometric in the third age group. A difference between the non-glandular and glandular mucosa of the stomach was visible in the first group. Development of a well-distinguishable plicated edge margin began in the second age group together with gastric pits and gastric areas. The third age group showed a well-developed gastric groove and angular incisura.

ALL-243 Cytomegalovirus Reactivation in Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients during POMP Maintenance Chemotherapy: Do We Underestimate the Dormant Virus?

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common herpes virus that infects around 60-100% of adults and is one of the most common pathogens involved in infectious complications post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Infections with the CMV can cause complications such as pneumonia, retinitis, and enterocolitis. Studies have shown that HSCT patients are at higher risk for CMV reactivation leading to disease and have high morbidity and mortality rates. Nevertheless, CMV infections have been reported in non-transplant patients, especially in the pediatric population. There are several case reports that highlight the complications of CMV in non-transplant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) pediatric patients. Very few cases of CMV infections have been reported in non-transplanted adult ALL patients during maintenance chemotherapy. To report a case series on adult ALL, non-transplant patients with CMV disease. We report four adult patients who were diagnosed with ALL, achieved complete remission after induction chemotherapy without HSCT, and then developed CMV disease during their maintenance chemotherapy treatment with mercaptopurine, vincristine, methotrexate, and prednisone (POMP) at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC), Lebanon. Four cases of ALL patients (all were males, age range from 20 to 73 years) are reported. Patient 1 presented with sequential vision loss in the 5th month of POMP treatment. Patient 2 presented with fever and diarrhea in the 2nd month of POMP treatment. Patient 3 presented with fever, diarrhea, and respiratory distress in the 11th month of POMP treatment. Patient 4 presented with respiratory distress in the 8th month of POMP treatment. Three patients cleared CMV viremia after first-line treatment with either ganciclovir or valganciclovir, whereas one patient required second-line treatment with Ganciclovir, Foscarnet, and intravenous immune globulin. Our observations and a review of the literature suggest this is a rare entity with potentially high morbidity. The majority of patients develop asymptomatic viremia before manifestations of end-organ damage. Clinicians shall be aware of this entity, especially in patients who are at high risk for developing CMV reactivation and diseases such as those with positive serology and prolonged lymphopenia, which is commonly encountered during the maintenance treatment.

Slow increase of bilirubin concentration during administration of lenalidomide, bortezomib and dexamethasone for multiple myeloma (unmasking previously undiagnosed Gilbert syndrome) and disappearance of necrobio­tic xanthogranuloma after complete remission of multiple myeloma

Lenalidomid ranks among immunomodulatory drugs. There are a few of the more common side effects, like a higher risk of venous trombembolism or diarrhea. Other side effects are rare. The hyperbilirubinemia described in this article can be assigned to them. In our case, the increase of bilirubin was associated with unrecognized Gilbert syndrome. We report a patient with multiple myeloma and necrobio-tic xanthogranuloma (NXG) of the skin and liver. After the treatment with bortezomib, lenalidomid and dexamethasone, complete remission was attained after 4 cycles with decrease of monoclonal immunoglobulin to an unmeasurable concentration. At the same time, the dis-appearance of cutaneous and hepatic lesions of NXG on FDG-PET/CT was evident. The administration of bortezomib was stopped after 8 cycles and only continued with lenalidomide as a maintenance therapy. However, after four cycles of this therapy, bilirubin increased above the upper limit and the increase continued till the 11th month of lenadomide administration, when bilirubin reached the highest concentration of 75 μmol/l (more than the three-fold of the upper limit, grade III toxicity). The patient had asymptomatic hyperbilirubinemia with no underlying liver disease or renal impairment while being on lenalidomide therapy. Genetic studies proved mutation; insertion in the promotor gene UGT1A1 typical for Gilbert syndrome. Hyperbilirubinemia may be attributed to the unmasking of previously undia-gnosed Gilbert syndrome. Therefore, the therapy with lenalidomide was interrupted after 11 months. The bilirubin level decreased after the discontinuation of the drug. NXG disappeared after fulfilling complete remission of multiple myeloma with disappearance of monoclonal immunoglobulin. This observation supports the hypothesis that monoclonal immunoglobulin has a crucial role in the ethiopathogenesis of NXG and suggests the treatment of monoclonal gammopathy if present in a patient with NXG, hoping that this will result in xantogranuloma disappearance.

Application of Exponential Smoothing Method on Forecasting The Results of Bandeng Pounds in Cot Muda Itam Village-Peureulak District-Aceh Timur

Pould cultivation until now is counted as a bussines that can provide extraordinary income. Cot Muda Itam Village is one of the villages in East Aceh Regency that cultivates ponds by producing milkfish. Milkfish yields also vary, sometimes increasing and not infrequently experience a dcrease in yields.. Therefore, it is necessary to have a study that can predict the production of milkfish un the next harvest. Forecasting is a process of predicting the values of variables based on known values of previously related variables. Based on the results of data processing and data analysis using the linear exponential smoothing method of one brown parameter with and MSE value of 16407,241875 it is obtained that the forecast results in the 11th and 12th months of the harvest decrease, namely 587 kg and 580 kg.

Development of syntax in children’s language acquisition

Çocukların dili nasıl edindiği her zaman ilgi çeken bir konu olmuş ve bu konuyu ele alan araştırmalar dünyada 1950’li yıllardan sonra gelişmiştir. Türkiye’de ise çocuk dil edinimi çalışmaları 1980’li yıllarda ilgi görmeye başlamıştır. Baykoç-Dönmez (1986); Topbaş (2005); Ege (2005); Baştürk (2013); Keklik (2015); Aksu-Koç ve Ketrez (2016) çalışmaları Türkçenin edinimi üzerine yol gösterici çalışmalardır ancak alan yazınıyla karşılaştırıldığında Türkçenin edinim şekli ve sürecinin araştırıldığı çalışmaların sayıca az olduğu görülmektedir. Bu çalışma Türkçe edinen çocuklarda söz diziminin gelişiminin incelenmesi amacıyla yapılmıştır. Tek sözcük döneminden başlayarak, erken dil bilgisi ve ileri dil bilgisi döneminde söz diziminin nasıl geliştiğinin incelendiği çalışma, 6-36 ay arasındaki 11 çocuğu kapsamaktadır. Çalışmada doğal gözlem yöntemi uygulanmış, iki buçuk yıl boyunca 15’er gün arayla doğal ortamda 1 saat süreyle çocukların ses ve görüntü kayıtları alınmıştır. Elde edilen veriler üzerinde söz dizimi incelenmiş, bu konuda yapılan çalışmalardaki verilerle karşılaştırılmıştır. Sonuç olarak Türkçe edinen çocuklarda söz diziminin belirtilen aylardan erken geliştiği, 11. ayda tek sözcüklü cümle kullanımlarının başladığı görülmüştür. 18-24 aylarında çocuklar için karmaşık yapıda olan cümle üretimleri görüldüğünden bu dönem erken dil bilgisi gelişimi, 24-36 ayları ise ileri dil bilgisi gelişimi dönemi olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Türkçe edinme süreci ve şekli değerlendirildiğinde dil edinim evrelerinin genel dil edinim evrelerinden farklılık gösterdiği tespit edilmiştir.

Analisis Kelayakan Usaha Perkebunan Kelapa Sawit Rakyat di Desa Tanoh Mayang Kecamatan Teunom Kabupaten Aceh Jaya

Tanoh Mayang Village is one of the villages which has the highest oil palm area compared to other villages in Teunom District of Aceh Jaya Regency. Based on the survey of research sites, the average smallholder oil palm plantation in Tanoh Mayang Village is neglected with low production levels. By the existing issues, the author is interested in conducting research in the location. The purpose of this study is to know whether the smallholder oil palm plantation business in Tanoh Mayang Village is feasible when viewed from technical aspect, marketing aspect, and financial aspect. The location of this research was chosen purposively by a sample of 19 farmers. The data used are primary data and secondary data. The analysis method uses business feasibility analysis, namely examining technical aspect, marketing aspect, and financial aspect. The results of the study indicate which is based on the results of this study indicate that the smallholder oil palm plantation business in Tanoh Mayang Village, Teunom District, Aceh Jaya Regency is feasible. From the technical aspect, it can be known that access to raw materials, labor and business location is profitable for farmers. Besides, from the aspect of marketing, it has been going well and it is feasible. Meanwhile, from the financial aspect, the results of the NPV analysis is Rp. 133,195,811.4, Net B/C is 2.0, IRR is 10.83%, and Payback Period in the 11th year of the 11th month 2nd day 27th. The results of the sensitivity analysis of the four analytical criterias is that the smallholder oil palm plantation business in Tanoh Mayang Village is still feasible to operate even when operating costs increase to 10% while benefit is fixed or when benefit decreases to 10% while the operating cost is fixed.

Serum Cortisol and Its Correlation with Leucocyte Profile and Circulating Lipids in Donkeys (Equus asinus).

Simple SummaryThere are relatively few studies investigating serum cortisol levels in donkeys. The aim of this study was to evaluate basal cortisol values in donkeys, and its physiological role on the immune system and lipid levels in relation to age and pregnancy. The results showed that age did not influence cortisol levels while pregnancy increased its concentrations. Different correlations were found between cortisol, leucocyte types, and serum triglycerides depending upon age and pregnancy state. Although correlation is, of course, not equivalent to causation, we can hypothesize that the multiple functions of cortisol on the immune system and lipid metabolism vary across donkey lifespan and are related to physiological state.The values for basal serum cortisol concentrations of horses are available in many studies. However, there are limited data about serum cortisol in donkeys. The present study aimed to determine the baseline values for serum cortisol, to evaluate the influence of age and pregnancy on its levels, and to correlate its values with leucocyte profile, serum cholesterol, and triglycerides. Serum samples were collected from 97 healthy donkeys. Cortisol was analyzed by chemo-luminescent assay. The median and the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles of serum cortisol measured and calculated in all donkeys were 5.64, 3.40, and 10.54 µg/dL, respectively. Females (n.91) were divided into three groups: Group A (young), Group B (adult), and Group C (pregnant at the 9th–11th months). The effect of age and physiological status was investigated by the Mann–Whitney test. Group C showed significantly higher levels than Group B (p < 0.05). Significant correlations were found in Group B with monocytes (r = 0.37, p < 0.01) and triglycerides (r = 0.30, p < 0.05), and in Group C with monocytes (r = 0.79, p < 0.01), basophils (r = 0.6, p < 0.05), and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (r = −0.63, p < 0.05). Higher cortisol values related to late pregnancy are also found in this species. These preliminary results provide evidence for a relationship between cortisol and the immune system as well as cortisol and lipid metabolism modulated by age and pregnancy when parameters are within normal values.

Development, Physiochemical characterization and Histopathological studies of Pasteurized Bilimbi (Averrhoa bilimbi L.) Syrup

Averrhoa bilimbi commonly known as bilimbi, is starchy and nutritious fruit rich in ascorbic acid and minerals. The study was aimed for the development of pasteurized bilimbi syrup, a value added and shelf stable product from bilimbi and thereby increase its market value. The heat penetration characteristics during pasteurization of the syrup packed in polypropylene bottles were studied. 29% of bilimbi syrup diluted using potable water to a concentration of 21ºBrix was selected by the sensory panel to serve as ready to drink after dilution. Animal studies to detect histological changes in cardiac, renal and hepatic tissues of experimental rats fed with bilimbi syrup did not show any changes in morphology. Shelf life of the product at ambient conditions (25 to 28ºC) was determined by analyzing the physiochemical changes in the product during storage for a period of 10 months. pH increased from 3.23 to 3.75, titratable acidity decreased from 2.54 to 1.07% of oxalic acid, total sugar increased from 59.59 to 65.07g/100g and ascorbic acid decreased from 44.61 to 34.25mg/100g on the eleventh month. The color of the product showed a rapid change affecting the L* value which decreased from 49.19 to 28.25. The sensory acceptability of the product also decreased which was below the acceptable level on the 11th month. Hence shelf life of pasteurized bilimbi syrup was estimated as ten months at ambient conditions.

Rotavirus A, a significant cause of infant diarrhea in Mozambique

Introduction: Rotavirus A (RVA) is a leading cause of acute infant gastroenteritis in Mozambique, responsible for approximately 13,000 annual infant deaths in peri-urban and other areas. Aim: the present review aimed summarize the most relevant and recent literature regarding RVA infection in Mozambique. Methods: the documents were obtained from electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scinapse, Scilit, and Microsoft Academic to find the leading scientific publications related to Mozambique's RVA.Findings: The search allowed us to find 20 peer-reviewed journal articles, three official reports, eight abstracts from national conferences, one thesis, and other documents to supplement the information. Rotavirus frequency ranged between 24 to 42.4%, 34.8% attributable to Mozambique. Most data are hospital-based from Maputo, Sofala, Zambézia, and Nampula provinces. Nampula province shows the highest number of cases. Thus, there might be some bias on the geographical distribution of the virus. The prevalence is high in children less than one year. Regarding the control, the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) introduced a monovalent vaccine in September 2015 (Rotarix), which positively impacted the reduction of RVA cases. After vaccine introduction, a high diversity of RVA genotypes was observed, with the predominance of G1P[8] and the emergence of G9P[4], G9P[6], G3P[4]. However, only the whole genome sequence can confirm if it is due to the natural genotypes fluctuation. RVA infection was detected in swine, and a recent analysis reported an RVA strain from children clustered with different animal strains.Conclusion: The scarce yet highly reliable research resources allowed scientists to detect RVA G1P[8] and other genotypes, potential animal reservoirs, and to find that RVA is more prevalent during the transition dry-rainy season, and the virus becomes more frequent when children approach the 11th month, to then decline as they age. It is essential to develop studies providing a broad view of RVA reservoirs as part of the strategy to control its dissemination.Keywords: Rotavirus infections; Children; Diarrhea; Mozambique

Implementation of clinical audit to improve adherence to guideline-recommended therapy in acute coronary syndrome

BackgroundDespite global consensus on the management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), implementation of strategies to improve adherence of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) remains sub-optimal, especially in developing countries. Thus, we aimed to assess the effect of clinical pharmacist-led clinical audit to improve the compliance of discharge prescriptions in patients admitted with ACS. It is a prospective clinical audit of ACS patients which was carried out for 12 months. The discharge prescriptions were audited by clinical pharmacists for the appropriateness in the usage of statins, dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), beta-blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB). A feedback report was presented every month to the cardiologists involved in the patient care, and the trend in the adherence to GDMT was analyzed over 12 months.ResultsThe discharge prescriptions of 1072 ACS patients were audited for the justifiable and non-justifiable omissions of mandated drugs. The first-month audit revealed unreasonable omissions of DAPT, statin, ACE-I/ARB, and beta-blockers in 1%, 0%, 14%, and 11% respectively, which reduced to nil by the end of the 11th month of the audit–feedback program. This improvement remained unchanged until the end of the 12th month.ConclusionsThe study revealed that periodic clinical audit significantly improves adherence to GDMT in patients admitted with ACS.

Resilience of tree fruit farming to climatic variability: study of some growth characteristics of Kent and Keitt varieties of mango (Mangifera indica L.) in the Koulikoro District, Mali

Mali is one of the largest mango producing country in the world. Despite its production potential, the country's mango plantations are not resistant to the effects of climate change, the negative impacts of climate change affects the production, the adaptation of growth and the development of the main exportable varieties. The development of a tree crop resilient to the adverse effects of climate change is necessary to meet the ever-increasing demand. The objective of this study was to compare growth resilience techniques of Kent and Keitt varieties of mango in the face of environmental disruptions. The experimental study was conducted from 2016 to 2018 in an IPR/IFRA orchard in Katibougou to document growth traits. The behavior of the two mango varieties through four cultivation techniques was tested (mulched plowed plot, mulched unplowed, plot plowed plot, and unplowed un-mulched plot). Three different periods were selected after planting: from 6th to 11th month (February-June), from 12th to 18th month (July-November) and from 19th to 24th (December-April). The mulched plowed technique was the best technique to improve the resilience of mango varieties to climatic variability. Among all the growth traits studied: the survival rate, the length of Growth Unit (GU), the speed of GU, the number of leaves, the phyllochron duration, the plowing with mulching technique obtained the best values; particularly for the interval of time between the dates of emergence of two successive vegetative shoots (phyllochron), which was less than one month. Except for the growth rate of the GU, for all the growth studied traits, both varieties behaved similarly under the different cultivation techniques. The good resistance of the Kent variety with a survival rate of about 100%, and the phyllochron achievement time of the Keitt variety were noted. The technique of plowing with mulching could be proposed for adoption to mango producers in the Koulikoro district, and the choice of Kent or Keitt varieties could be made after confirmation tests.

The impact of Ramadan on visits related to diabetes emergencies at a tertiary care center

BackgroundRamadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar were Muslims fast from dawn until sunset. This prolonged fasting period might have an impact on patients with diabetes and their disease control. This study aimed to determine the variation in visits at the Emergency Room department (ER) during Ramadan in comparison with other lunar months at a tertiary care hospital in Jeddah city in relation to the diabetes emergencies.MethodologyA retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using electronic medical record review of patients with diabetes emergencies who visited ER of a Military hospital, from 9th to 11th lunar months during 2017–2018. Diabetes patients who visited ER and aged more than 18 years old were included. Frequency of ER visits, sociodemographic characteristics and clinical features were determined. Chi-square test, Student ‘s t-test and one-way ANOVA at p < 0.05 were used in assessing associations between variables.ResultsWithin the selected study period, a total of 24,498 admissions were recorded in ER. The prevalence of diabetes emergencies visits was only 0.84%. Based on inclusion criteria, a total of 133 subjects were included in the study (54.1% men, 45.9% women). Majority of whom (73.7%) were on insulin therapy, and more than half of whom (51.9%) were type 2 diabetes. There was a significant difference (p = 0.001) in the prevalence of diabetes emergencies visits between the three lunar months Shaban, Ramadan and Shawal, 7, 5 and 4%, respectively. However, the highest prevalence was not in Ramadan. Despite some correlations were identified, the study found no significant differences between frequency of ER visits and various demographic, clinical factors and diabetes profile between Ramadan and other both preceding and succeeding lunar month.ConclusionIn contrary with previous studies, a downward trend of prevalence, from Shaban to Ramadan, to Shawal was found. This indicated that fasting during month of Ramadan does not impact negatively on the diabetes emergencies in comparison with other months. Hyperglycemia among type 2 diabetes and insulin treated patients were recorded the highest feature of diabetes emergences visits during the three months studied with no significant differences between the months. These findings highlight the need of type 2 and insulin treated patients to be thoroughly assess by the Primary Care physicians and in-depth health education and guidance should be given to them.

Evaluation of Biopesticide Formulations Against Banana Stem Weevil &lt;i&gt;Odoiporus longicollis&lt;/i&gt; (Olivier)

This study evaluated the laboratory and field efficacy of some biopesticides against the banana pseudostem weevil Odoiporus longicollis (Olivier). Sprays were applied five times from 3rd to 11th month at 45 days intervals. The observations such as the oviposition marks, larval galleries, plant death and yield revealed 100% mortality in Avaya and chlorpyriphos and 91.66% in CTCRI-Nanma and neem based product Nimbicidine treatments. The field observations indicated that Nimbicidine and cassava based Nanma significantly reduced the infestation similar to positive control chlorpyriphos, and these were considered under 1st category. The botanicals Zimmu plant extract, gallic acid and Aavya (2nd category) and pongamia and neem soap (3rd category) provided moderate/less protection. It is concluded that the neem based botanical formulations could be effective and safe to use in banana against stem we evil.

Influence of the cassava harvest month on the sensory parameters of attiéké

Cassava is an important staple food around the world, especially in Africa. It is cultivated throughout the Ivorian territory with predominance in the South. Due to the high demand, some producers opt for an early harvest, neglecting the impact of the harvest stage on the sensory parameters of cassava root derivatives. The objective of this work was to determine the stage of harvest allowing obtaining products of good sensory quality. The sensory characteristics of the attiéké were evaluated at different stages of harvest (11th, 12th, 13th and 14th months after planting the cuttings) of the cassava roots of the Yacé variety which were used for its production. The attiéké obtained in the twelfth month of harvest was generally much appreciated because it was less acidic, less fibrous and more homogeneous and had a better smell. Thus, cassava harvested in the twelfth month of cultivation makes it possible to obtain attiéké with the best sensory characteristics. Therefore, this stage of maturity of cassava roots is recommended for attiéké producers.

A Stratified Learning Approach for Predicting the Popularity of Twitter Idioms

Twitter Idioms are one of the important types of hashtags that spread in Twitter. In this paper, we propose a classifier that can stratify the Idioms from the other kind of hashtags with 86.93% accuracy and high precision and recall rate. We then learn regression models on the stratified samples (Idioms and non-Idioms) separately to predict the popularity of the Idioms. This stratification not only itself allows us to make more accurate predictions but also makes it possible to include Idiom-specific features to separately improve the accuracy for the Idioms. Experimental results show that such stratification during the training phase followed by inclusion of Idiom-specific features leads to an overall improvement of 11.13% and 19.56% in correlation coefficient over the baseline method after the 7th and the 11th month respectively.

Age- and Sex-Dependent Modulation of Exogenous Ketone Supplement-Evoked Effects on Blood Glucose and Ketone Body Levels in Wistar Albino Glaxo Rijswijk Rats.

In certain disease states, such as epilepsy, the elevation of blood ketone levels with ketogenic diets (KDs) has beneficial effects, while exogenous ketone supplements (EKSs) were shown to increase the level of blood ketone bodies (such as β-hydroxybutyrate, βHB) and decrease blood glucose levels without dietary restrictions. It has been suggested that ketone body and glucose utilization of the body may be modified by age and gender resulting in changes in blood βHB and glucose levels, but it was not investigated through several months yet. Thus, we investigated whether the effect of an EKS on blood βHB and glucose level is modulated by age and sex in Wistar Albino Glaxo Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rats, a model animal of human absence epilepsy. We used KEMCT (1:1 mix of ketone ester/KE and medium-chain triglyceride/MCT oil) by oral gavage in female and male WAG/Rij rats. Animals were fed with standard diet, which was supplemented by KEMCT (2.5 g/kg) once per month by oral gavage for 17 months. One hour after KEMCT treatment, changes in blood R-beta-hydroxybutyrate (R-βHB) and glucose levels were measured. KEMCT gavage significantly increased blood R-βHB and decreased blood glucose levels, in both male and female rats, compared with the controls. In male rats, the KEMCT-induced increase in blood R-βHB levels was lower at the 7th and 8th months and higher at the 16th and 17th months, compared with the results at the 1st month. KEMCT-generated increase in R-βHB levels was higher in female rats, compared with male rats between the 2nd and 11th months, but older (between the 14th and 17th months) female rats showed lower levels than males. KEMCT gavage induced significantly lower glucose levels at the 4th, 9th, 10th, 12th, and 13th months in both sexes, but between the 14th and 17th months, only males showed significantly lower levels, compared with the results at the 1st month. KEMCT treatment induced lower blood glucose levels in female than in male rats between the 1st and 8th months, but higher glucose levels were measured in female rats at the 17th month than in males. These findings suggest that age and sex can modify the EKS-evoked effects on blood R-βHB and glucose concentrations.

Prediction of Mild Cognitive Impairment Using Movement Complexity.

Aimless movement or wandering may be a symptom of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) that arises as a consequence of confusion and forgetfulness. This paper presents a support vector machine (SVM) framework based on movement analysis for the prediction of the onset and progression of MCI. Movement data of 22 subjects with MCI, and 22 other healthy subjects, living independently in smart homes were collected for ten years using motion sensors. Features were extracted from the sensor data using movement metrics, including cyclomatic complexity, detrended fluctuation analysis, fractal index, entropy, and room transitions. Two different SVM classification algorithms were trained using the features, first to predict the progression of MCI in the post-transition period, and second to predict the onset of MCI in the pre-transition phase. The two SVMs were able to detect the onset six months earlier than the clinical diagnosis. The model accuracy in classifying MCI increased monotonically from the onset month and reached maximum (81%) at the 11th post-transition month. The features of cyclomatic complexity contributed significantly to the prediction results. Findings support the use of movement complexity measures and machine learning for monitoring cognitive behavior in an independent living environment.

Seminar addresses identifying, dismantling structural racism

Advocating for racially equitable public policies by taking action beyond the walls of clinics, hospitals and treatment centers is critical as challenges about racial issues and health disparities continue, according to a professor and leader in cultural psychiatry during the New York Association for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) 11th Annual Rehabilitation and Recovery Academy last month.