Significant Difference In Percentage Research Articles

The “Weekday Effect”: A Decrease in Occupational Accidents from Monday to Friday—An Extension of the “Monday Effect”

Objective. Study the variation in the number of accidents across days of the workweek, from Monday to Friday. Data and Method. All occupational accidents of full-time workers in Spain from 2011 to 2018 are analyzed. A total amount of 2,873,872 accidents are representative and not heavily affected by underreporting bias. Chi-squared test (χ2) and z-value determine statistically significant differences in accident percentages from Monday to Friday, controlling personal (sex, age, nationality, and seniority), company (activity, size, and region), temporal (hour of the day and working hour) variables, and consequences (severity, injury type, and injured body part). Results. “Weekday effect” with a decrease in accidents of 29.4% from Monday to Friday, a decrease of 14.3% from Monday to Tuesday (“Monday effect”), 3.9% from Tuesday to Wednesday, 7.9% from Wednesday to Thursday, and 7% from Thursday to Friday. The “weekday effect” and the “Monday effect” occur across industries, for all company sizes, for all types of workers (both genders, different ages and seniority), for different types of injury, and across the day and the shift. “Monday effect” increases with age and seniority, for men, in small companies (10 to 49 workers), in the morning, at the beginning of the work shift hours, and for back injuries. “Weekday effect” decreases with age and increases with seniority, for men, in companies between 20 and 249 workers, in the morning and at the beginning of the work shift hours, and for back injuries.

Seed Germination and Seed Vigour Induction through Foliar Application of Plant Growth Regulators and Nutrients under Drought Stress in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Chickpea cultivation in rainfed regions, such as Madhya Pradesh, faces challenges due to water stress, impacting crop yield and quality. The study conducted assesses the impact of foliar spray with plant growth regulators and nutrients on the germination percentage, seedling length, and seed vigour indices of chickpea varieties (JG 36 and JG 14) under water deficit conditions. Cytokinin analogues, known for breaking dormancy, and other growth regulators and nutrients were applied during the flowering stage. The results revealed significant differences in germination percentage, seedling length, seed vigour index I, and seed vigour index II among irrigation levels, varieties, and foliar spray of plant growth regulators and nutrients. Under different irrigation levels, D1 (Irrigation at 30 DAS and at flower initiation) recorded the highest germination percentage (97.24%), seedling length (31.41 cm), seed vigour index I (3054.81), and seed vigour index II (52.77) compared to control D2 (Drought stress at Flowering up to physiological maturity). JG 14 (V1) performed well, achieving the highest germination percentage of 96.99%. Among the treatments, foliar application of Benzyladenine (BA) at 40 ppm (T3) resulted in the highest germination percentage (98.17%) and seed vigour index II (60.33), whereas T8 (BA 40ppm + ZnSO4 1%) exhibited the highest seedling length (31.83 cm) and seed vigour index I (3099.85). This study demonstrates that foliar spray with plant growth regulators and nutrients, particularly Benzyladenine at 40 ppm, significantly improved germination percentage, seedling length, and seed vigour index, offering potential solutions for enhancing chickpea productivity under water deficit conditions.

Application of aqueous extracts of <i>Alternanthera brasiliana, Chromolaena odorata</i> and <i>Tridax procumbens</i> plants in remediating lead contaminated soils

Soil washing is an effective method of removing lead from contaminated soils. However, great limitations abound in the choice of washing solution that is ecologically sustainable for agricultural soils. In this study, applications of plant soluble extracts in remediating of Pb contaminated soils for ecological sustainability were carried out. Batch laboratory experiments were done using aqueous extracts of Alternanthera brasiliana, Chromolaena odorata, Tridax procumbens and water as control at varying soil-pulp-densities (SPD) of 3, 6, 9, 12, 15%, and washing time of 1, 3, 6, 12 h. For contaminated soil, percentage removal efficiency followed the order: Alternanthera brasiliana (38.1±0.28%) > Chromolaena odorata (21.8±0.12%) > Tridax procumbens (21.3±0.18%). The most appropriate ratio for contaminated soil was 3% SPD at 12 h washing time. Removal efficiency was found to be substantially depended on geochemical phase of Pb (exchangeable-4.04%) in contaminated soil and washing solution pH (5.68). Lead removal efficiency was observed to increased proportionally with increasing washing time, but decreased with increasing SPD. Spike soil with high exchangeable Pb-78.9% recorded significant Pb removal of 63.4±0.24% with Alternanthera brasiliana, 47.8±0.22% with Chromolaena odorata, 38.3±0.38% with Tridax procumbens and 52.0±0.26% with water. Analysis of variance at p=0.05 indicated a significant difference inpercentage Pb removal efficiency across all the four washing solutions. However, the statistical T-test indicated no significant difference at p=0.05 in percentage Pb removal efficiency between both soils. Also, moderately positive correlations were observed between contaminated and spiked soils for Alternanthera brasiliana (0.676), Chromolaena odorata (0.570) and Tridax procumbens (0.517) while negative correlation observed for water (0.485) which served as the control. The three plant extracts exhibited good potential characteristics as washing solutions for the treatment of Pb contaminated soils. Chemical modifications are recommended to enhance and improve their efficiencies when considering the geochemical phase of Pb in soil.

Application of Blood Lymphocyte Immunophenotype and TCR Gene Rearrangement in the Diagnosis of CTCL.

The immunophenotype of peripheral blood lymphocytes and T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) patients were retrospectively analyzed to explore their value in the diagnosis of CTCL. A total of fifty patients' results were enrolled from 2013 to 2021, including 29 malignant skin disorders and 21 benign skin disorders. The immunophenotype of peripheral blood lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry and TCR gene rearrangement was detected by capillary electrophoresis. Lymphocyte subsets, CD4/CD8 ratio, the percentage of CD3+CD4+CD7- cells and CD45RA/CD45RO ratio was calculated between malignant and benign skin disorders. Peripheral blood lymphocyte immunophenotype and TCR gene rearrangement was compared with skin biopsy to evaluate their sensitivity and specificity. Lymphocyte subsets between malignant and benign groups have no significant difference in percentage of T cell (p > 0.05). The CD4/CD8 ratio is higher in patients with malignant lymphoma than the healthy range. The percentage of CD3+CD4+CD7- cells in malignant groups is higher than that in benign groups and CD45RA/ CD45RO ratio has significant difference between malignant and benign groups (p < 0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of TCR rearrangement for CTCL were 51.7% and 42.9%. The sensitivity and specificity of peripheral blood lymphocyte immunophenotype for CTCL were 44.8% and 33.3%. Combining the two methods, the sensitivity and specificity reached 69.0% and 38.1%, respectively. CD4/CD8 ratio of lymphocyte subsets, the proportion of CD4+CD7-T cells and CD45RA/CD45RO ratio can effectively distinguish benign and malignant dermatosis. TCR rearrangement method combined with lymphocyte immunophenotype can improve the sensitivity and specificity of CTCL diagnosis.

TRASFORMATION OF UKRAINE'S FINANCIAL ASSETS AMID THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM

The work has analysed the state of financial assets and their dynamics in the international financial system, considering the global changes in the financial architecture and financial relationships observed over the last decade. It has been observed that in 2020, global financial assets exceeded world GDP more than 18 times and consisted of three main equivalent components: assets of the real sector of the economy, assets of the financial sector, and assets of the financial sphere. The study has revealed that investment in intangible assets has slowed over the past two decades while investment in real assets, particularly in real estate, has become more active. Regularities in the relationship between the decrease in interest rates, the growth rate of GDP, and the directions of investment of funds in the leading countries of the world have been followed. This provides a basis for conclusions regarding further changes in the structure of global financial assets. The article has also raised issues of feasibility and riskiness of further increasing the amount of debt capital on a global scale in the context of some revision of its impact on the world economy after the 2008 crisis. Integration processes in Ukraine prompt the analysis of trends in the formation of financial assets in our country, with indicators similar to those of developed countries and global indicators in general. A comparison of global trends and indicators of the development of Ukraine's financial assets has highlighted significant differences both in percentages of GDP and in their structure; in particular, attention has been paid to the uneven development of various sectors of the financial market of Ukraine — the significant development of the banking sector along with the laggards of the stock market. This indicates an important gap in the development of the Ukrainian financial sector and the need to reform it to integrate into the global economic space.

Comparative analysis of the remineralization potential of different active ingredients based toothpastes using SEM/EDX: An in vitro study

Background/Aim: The principal purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of different active ingredients to inhibit demineralization around the margins of cervical cavities in natural teeth by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-Ray elemantal analysis (SEM-EDX). Material and Methods: Thirty-two sound human molars were used. Box-shaped cavities were prepared along the cemento enamel junction (CEJ). The samples were were immersed in a demineralization solution (pH=1) maintained for 72 hours and randomly divided into 4 groups. Surfaces according to the groups were treated with potassium nitrate, arginine and calciumsodiumphosphosilicate containing remineralization agents for 14 days, respectively and the samples in control group were submitted to toothbrushing with deionized water. The samples were analyzed by using SEM-EDX analysis. Data was statistically analyzed using by one way ANOVA (analysis of variance) test and LSD (least significant difference) test for comparison between means at a significance level of 0.05. Results: SEM-EDX elemental mapping was used to evaluate the degradation from depth profiles of fluoride (F), Calcium (Ca), and phosphate (P) leaching. Micromorphological and elemental analyses were done using SEM and EDX. SEM EDX Analysis on enamel showed a significant difference between the groups except the control group (p&lt;0.05). The dentine results showed significant differences between the control group and all other groups (p&lt;0.05). Elemental analysis showed significant differences in Ca weight percentage among the first and second observation levels in all groups (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, all tested toothpastes showed some ability to resist demineralization at the margins. The groups except control group showed better outcomes compared with the other tested samples.

Improving Metacognitive Ability Through The Reading Questioning Answering (RQA) Model Assisted With Learning Journals in Nonformal Educational Study Programs

The important skills identified by UNESCO for the 21st century remain related to the four pillars of education, including: 1) learning to find out, 2) learning to do, 3) learning to be personal), an 4) learning to live together in peace (learning to live together in peace). One of the skills that must be empowered through the learning process in higher education is metacognitive skills. The aim of this research is to increase metacognitive abilities through the Reading Questioning Answering (RQA) model assisted by learning journals in social and development problems courses." This research method is a quasi-experimental type. The results of research on the influence of the RQA (Reading Questioning and Answering) model assisted by learning journals on students' metacognitive abilities in learning social and development issues, it can be concluded that there is an influence of the RQA (Reading Questioning and Answering) learning model assisted by learning journals on students' metacognitive learning outcomes with Gain score analysis shows that there is a significant difference in the Gain Score percentage. The difference in the percentage value of the gain score obtained from the two. The control group got a percentage of 10% in the ineffective category. Meanwhile, the experimental group had a G-Score percentage of 60% in the quite effective category. The results of implementing learning with RQA assisted by learning journals are effective in improving students' metacognitive skills

Demographic Insights Into College-Going Students in India: A Morphological Analysis

Introduction: In the context of India's diverse culture and changing education system, it is crucial to understand the morphological characteristics of college students, especially with the government actively supporting sports through initiatives like the "Khelo India" program to aid young athletes. The purpose of the study was to investigate the morphological characteristics of college-level athletes and non-athletes in India. Methods: 287 college students have been randomly selected to acquire a comprehensive set of demographic and anthropometric data. Results: The study revealed significant differences in body mass index (p=0.004), endomorphy (p=0.001), ectomorphy (p=0.02), and body fat percentage (p=0.001). However, no significant difference in mesomorphy (p=0.09) was identified, and only minimal differences in fat-free mass (p=0.57) were observed. College-level athletes exhibit an ectomorphic-mesomorphic physique (2.9-3.9-3.0), characterized by a distinct blend of muscularity and leanness. Non-athletes are mesomorphic-endomorphs (5.0-4.3-2.4), exhibiting higher body fat content and muscularity. Athletes had a significantly lower body fat percentage, highlighting the positive influence of sports training and regular physical exercise on reducing adiposity. The analysis of percentile rankings provides comprehensive insights into the distribution of anthropometric metrics among athletes and non-athletes, assisting in customizing training regimens, identifying areas for potential improvement, and enhancing a comprehensive assessment of individuals' physical characteristics. Conclusion: The study sheds light on the crucial role of morphological traits in discerning differences between college-level athletes and non-athletes within the broader context of the "Fit India Movement." The study will help design an effective training module to improve the overall health of college students.

Mental Health in Malaysia: A Study of Gender Differences

Depression, anxiety, and stress are illnesses that are categorized under mental health conditions. It was anticipated that after heart disease, mental health situations are likely to be the second major health badly-behaved disturbing Malaysians by the year 2020. This situation is very disturbing among youth including university students who suffer from mental health illness which may lead to an increase in the risk of suicide, and other social problems specifically throughout the dated of the COVID-19 pandemic. It needs anticipation approaches to implement a complete social and public health method. Therefore, this study will examine the level of depression, anxiety, and stress among male and female university students in Malaysia throughout the pandemic. The study implemented the DASS-21 inventory to quantify the mental health of the male and female students throughout the pandemic. Data collected between January to May 2021 with a total of 355 respondents came from 196 female students (55.2%) and 159 male students (44.8%). The study employs the simple random sampling method consisting of 31 closed-ended questions and the Likert scale. Overall findings showed that there have been significant differences in percentage between male students and female students in terms of depression, anxiety, and stress levels. The results displayed that the depression, anxiety, and stress levels scored by the female students were higher than those of the male students. The study recommended expanding further research to socio-economic status based on the geography of the university students during and post-pandemic to determine the level of mental health among male and female university students.

Growth Performances and Carcass of KUB Chicken Fed on A Diet Containing Different Levels of Fermented Mixture of Rice Bran and Protein from Slaughtered House

Rice bran is a common poultry feed ingredients. However, its use is limited due to its high fiber content and low phosphorus content. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of feeding a fermented mixture of rice bran and PSW (RPSW) on the growth performances and carcass of KUB chicken. A mixture of two parts of rice bran and one part of PSH was fermented using rumen liquor for 5 days. Two hundred two-week-old KUB chickens were randomly allocated into four dietary treatments with different levels of fermented RPSW i.e.; 0, 10, 20, and 30% for treatments 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. Feed was provided ad libitum for ten-week observation period, and drinking water was always available. At the end of the feeding trial, chickens were slaughtered to measure carcasses and their components. The results showed that there were no significant differences in feed consumption and carcass percentage between treatments, but the final body weight, body weight gain, carcass weight, and organ weight of chickens fed rations containing 20 and 30% fermented RPSH were lower than those fed rations containing 20 and 30% fermented RPSH. 30% fermented RPSH. The control or ration was fed a ration containing 10% fermented RPSH. The results indicate that a fermented blend of rice bran and protein from slaughtered house waste incubated with rumen liquor for 5 days can be included in the KUB chicken diet up to 10%.

Seed dormancy and germination responses of cannabis landraces to various pre-treatments

The current study evaluated the effectiveness of different pre-treatments for dormancy breaking and seed germination of five cannabis landraces. These landraces were collected from local growers in three regions of KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa, namely, Bergville (B), Hammersdale (H), and Ladysmith (L). Each genotype was assigned an alphabet and number based on where the seed material was collected. The five landraces were as follows, ‘B1’, ‘K1’, ‘H1’, ‘L1’, and ‘L2’. The study was conducted using various pre-treatments, including potassium nitrate (KNO3), hydrochloric acid (HCL), hot water (HW) at 70 °C, nitric acid (HNO3), dry prechilling at 10 °C, gibberellic acid (GA3), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), and water, which served as the control. Before the germination test, the seed viability of cannabis landraces was assessed using the tetrazolium chloride (TCC) test. Afterward, the seeds were germinated in Petri dishes with cotton pads moistened with distilled water for five (5) days. The study was later validated under tunnel conditions. The parameters such as germination percentage, germination rate, seedling length, and seed vigour index of the germinated seeds were then measured. The landraces, dormancy breaking treatments, and their interactions showed significant differences (p < 0.001) in germination percentage, germination rate index, seedling length, and seed vigour index under both laboratory and tunnel conditions. In summary, GA3, KNO3 and prechilling were the most effective pre-treatments to improve the germination and seedling growth of cannabis genotypes and breaking seed dormancy. Therefore, it was concluded that cannabis genotypes had physiological dormancy.

Diaphragmatic ultrasonography as a predictor of respiratory muscle fatigue in myasthenia gravis.

Easy fatigability, the clinical hallmark of generalized myasthenia gravis (GMG), cannot be detected in a dynamic way. The aim of this study was to assess respiratory function dynamically through diaphragmatic ultrasonography (DUS) in GMG patients. GMG patients and controls were recruited in a 1:1 ratio. DUS was performed during one quiet breath and 15 consecutive deep breaths. The diaphragm thicknesses were measured at different positions. Diaphragm thickening fraction (TFdi) and the maximal change in diaphragm thickness (Tmax) during 15 consecutive deep breaths were calculated and transformed to normality, named N-TFdi and N-Tmax, respectively. The percentages of changes in TFdi and Tmax compared with baseline were named ΔTFdi and ΔTmax, respectively. The diagnostic parameter for respiratory muscle fatigue was chosen from ΔTFdi and ΔTmax at different deep breath times according to their ability to distinguish GMG patients from controls and the interrater reliability of TFdi and Tmax. Thirty-four GMG patients and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. N-TFdi and N-Tmax significantly changed as the number of deep breaths increased (p < .001) in GMG patients, but not in controls. ΔTmax of the 15th deep breath (ΔTmax15) was selected as the diagnostic parameter for respiratory muscle fatigue. There were no significant differences in percentage of predicted values of forced vital capacity and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide between patients with normal and abnormal ΔTmax15. DUS could identify diaphragm fatiguability in GMG patients, which may be more reliable and sensitive in assessment of diaphragm fatigue than conventional methods.

Study of self- stigma and self -esteem in patients with anxiety and depression

: Self -stigma occurs when a person accepts the negative attitude towards them, then internalize and apply belief to themselves. Self-esteem is individual’s subjective evaluation of their own worth. Self-stigma and self-esteem affects a person’s perception about themselves and the society surrounding them which plays an important role in treatment. It is most commonly affected in people diagnosed with psychiatric disorders.The aim was to study self-stigma and self-esteem in patients with anxiety and depression.After permission from Institutional ethics committee, semi-structured proforma, Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Inventory-9 and Rosenberg’s Self Esteem Scale was used to assess 50 consecutive participants diagnosed with anxiety and depression according to DSM-5 criteria. Participants satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. The data collected was tabulated and analysed statistically and results and conclusions were drawn by using chi-square test, a p-value of &amp;#60;0.05 was considered significant.Mean age of participants was 38.88 years with 64% females, majority being married, predominantly from urban background having education of at least secondary school certificate.19 participants were diagnosed with anxiety while 31 had depression.56% of the participants had high self-stigma and 54% participants had low self-esteem. There wasn’t any significant difference in percentages of high self-stigma and low self-esteem when compared between anxiety disorders and in depression. There were no significant socio-demographic or clinical correlates relating to self- stigma and self-esteem according to this study. It was observed that both high self-stigma and low self-esteem was significantly high in psychiatric patients. It was seen that low self- esteem was associated with high self-stigma and high self-esteem was associated with low self-stigma. Hence, steps must be taken to psycho-educate the patient and their family members in order to reduce self-stigma and help in increasing their self-esteem.

Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Are Not Major Producers of Type 1 IFN in Cutaneous Lupus: An In-Depth Immunoprofile of Subacute and Discoid Lupus

The immunologic drivers of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and its clinical subtypes remains poorly understood. We sought to characterize the immune landscape of discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) and subacute CLE (SCLE) using multiplexed immunophenotyping. We found no significant differences in immune cell percentages between DLE and SCLE (p>0.05) with the exception of an increase in TANK binding kinase 1 (TBK1) in DLE (p<0.05). Unbiased clustering grouped subjects into two major clusters without respect to clinical subtype. Subjects with a history of smoking had increased percentages of neutrophils, disease activity, and endothelial granzyme B than non-smokers. Despite previous assumptions, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) did not stain for type 1 interferon (IFN-1). Skin-eluted and circulating pDCs from CLE subjects expressed significantly less IFNα than healthy control pDCs upon toll like receptor (TLR) 7 stimulation ex vivo (p<0.0001). These data suggest that DLE and SCLE have similar immune microenvironments in a multiplexed investigation. Our aggregated analysis of CLE revealed that smoking may modulate disease activity in CLE via neutrophils and endothelial GZMB. Notably, our data suggest that pDCs are not the major producers of IFN-1 in CLE. Future in vitro studies to investigate the role of pDCs in CLE are needed.

DNA methylation in hearing-related genes in non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss patients

BackgroundOur understanding of epigenetic modifications in the inner ear is very limited. Although epigenetic regulation of genes related to individual organ- and system-limited pathologies are generally expected to be tissue-specific, DNA methylation patterns in peripheral blood (PB) are found to be associated with the presence of several diseases with no typical hematological involvement. Here, we aimed to investigate whether there is a correlation between hearing-related genes’ promoter region methylation in the PB samples with the presence of non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss (NSSHL) with an aim of future utilization of DNA methylation as biomarkers in hearing loss. The study included 26 patients with NSSHL and a control group of 20 healthy individuals. CpG islands in the promoter regions of the GJB-2, GJB-6, and SLC24A genes were analyzed using bisulfite sequencing, and methylation percentages were analyzed.ResultsMethylation levels at the 1st region of GJB-6 and the 1st and the 4th regions of SLC26A4 were found to differ significantly (p = 0.039, p = 0.042, and p = 0.029, respectively) between the patients and the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in methylation percentages of GJB-2 promoters. We also found that parents’ consanguinity determines the methylation levels in patients’ families.ConclusionsAccording to our knowledge, this is the first study that investigates epigenetic changes in the PB of patients with NSSHL. Despite the small sample size, our findings indicate that DNA methylation patterns in the PB could be of use for understanding epigenetic changes in the inner ear and the clinical management of NSSHL.

Compare the outcomes of minimally invasive versus opentransforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in treatment lumbar spinal stenosis

Background: Minimally invasive-transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion has become an effective method to treat lumbar spinal stenosis and is widely used. This article compares the effectiveness of minimally invasive and open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion surgery in treating lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods: From 9/2018 to 10/2022, 104 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis were treated with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, including 52 cases in the minimally invasive surgery group and 52 cases in the open surgery group. Parameters such as surgery time, blood loss, postoperative time, hospital stay, and complications were recorded. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to assess low back and leg pain, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to assess pain and functional outcome in preoperation, three months, and six months after surgery. Follow-up plain X ray were taken to evaluate the fusion after 2 years. Results: The two groups found no significant differences in age, sex ratio, and percentage of cause spinal stenosis data. Compared with the open surgery group, the minimally invasive surgery group had less intraoperative blood loss (127.50 ± 27.99 mL vs 25.12 ± 62.05 mL, P &lt; 0.001), bed immobilization time shorter (1.21 ± 0.41 days versus 2.40 ± 0.60 days, P &lt; 0.001) and shorter postoperative hospital stay (4.42 ± 0.94 days versus 6.77 ± 1.13 days, P &lt; 0.001). VAS scores of low back pain and leg pain and ODI scores of the two groups decreased statistically significantly compared to before surgery, but there was no difference between the two groups after six months. X-ray showed no significant difference in fusion of the two groups. Conclusion: Our study showed that minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion is a safe and effective option in treating lumbar spinal stenosis and has the advantage of less blood loss and less hospital stay compared to open surgery. Key words: Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), minimally invasive spine surgery, open spine surgery, spinal stenosis.

Effect of Different Levels of Aflatoxin B1 in Concentrated Livestock Diets on Some Characteristics of Rumen Fluid in Laboratory with Sodium Bentonite

This study was conducted in the nutrition laboratory of the Department of Animal Production in the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences at the University of Baghdad, Al-Jadriya. The experiment lasted for 90 days to investigate the effects of adding sodium bentonite (SB) to a concentrated diet contaminated with aflatoxin B1 on some characteristics of rumen fluid in a laboratory setting. Four diets were prepared, each contaminated with different concentrations of aflatoxin B1 (0, 20, 40, 60 ppb), and four different percentages of sodium bentonite (0, 3, 5, 7%) were added to each ration. The results showed a significant increase in pH values among the different treatments, with the diet contaminated with 40 ppb aflatoxin B1 (T3) recording the highest acidity compared to the control treatment at 0% concentration. However, there were no significant differences in pH rates between the treatments. The pH rates of 7% sodium bentonite addition did not differ significantly from 5% and 0%, while 3% had the lowest pH rate. Regarding volatile fatty acids (VFA), there was a significant increase in their percentage with the increase in sodium bentonite concentrations. The second treatment contaminated with 20 ppb aflatoxin B1 recorded the highest VFA percentage among the treatments, while the fourth treatment (T4) at 0% concentration recorded the lowest VFA percentage. Significant differences in VFA percentages were observed among all the treatments, with the highest VFA percentage in T2, followed by T3 and T1, while T4 recorded the lowest percentage. The analysis of ammonia nitrogen values showed a significant increase among the different treatments, with T2 recording the highest value among the treatments, and T4 at 0% concentration recording the lowest ammonia nitrogen value. Significant differences in the average percentage of ammonia nitrogen were observed among all the experimental treatments, with the highest value in T2, followed by T1 and T3, while T4 recorded the lowest percentage. The total number of microorganisms showed a significant increase with the increase in sodium bentonite concentrations, with T2 at 7% concentration having the highest number of microorganisms, while T4 at 0% concentration recorded the lowest number. Significant differences in the average total number of microorganisms were observed among all the experimental treatments, with T2 having the highest number, followed by T1 and T3, while T4 had the lowest number.

Arid1b Loss Impairs Hematopoietic Stem Cell Function in Normal Hematopoiesis

Switch Sugar Non- Fermenting (SWI/SNF) nucleosome remodeling complexes are multi subunits complexes that utilize the energy from ATP to remodel chromatin, affecting cellular processes on chromatin including that of gene transcription. SWI/SNF complexes play important roles in normal development and differentiation as well as in oncogenesis. ARID1 proteins, ARID1A and ARID1B, are unique and mutually exclusive subunits of the canonical SWI/SNF complex BRG-1/BRM Associated Factor (BAF) complex. Arid1a is the most frequently mutated SWI/SNF subunit in cancers and plays a vital role in hematopoiesis. Arid1b is also frequently mutated in cancers, and its loss promotes Acute Myeloid Leukemia leukemogenesis. However, its role in normal hematopoiesis is not known. In this study we used hematopoietic specific Cre strains, VavCre and Mx1Cre, to delete Arid1b in a mouse genetic model to study its role in normal hematopoiesis. Analysis of steady state hematopoiesis in the VavCre model showed no significant differences in complete blood count (CBC) between Arid1b fl/flVavCre+ and VavCre+ mice. Further, bone marrow (BM) cellularity was not significantly different between control and experimental mice. Flow cytometry analysis of the percentage of mature myeloid, B cell, or T cell populations in the peripheral blood (PB), BM, or spleen (SPL) did not show significant differences between Arid1b fl/flVavCre+ and VavCre+ control mice. Further, we did not observe any significant differences in percentages of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), including HSCs, common myeloid progenitors (CMPs), granulocyte macrophage progenitors (GMPs), megakaryocyte/erythrocyte progenitors (MEPs), and common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs) in the BM of Arid1b fl/flVavCre+ mice versus VavCre+ controls. Analysis of Mx1Cre model showed similar results. Taken together, these results suggest that Arid1b is dispensable for steady state hematopoiesis. To assess the effect of loss Arid1b in a regenerative setting, we conducted non-competitive and competitive transplantation experiments in VavCre and Mx1Cre models. We transplanted BM cells from Arid1b fl/flCre+ or Cre+ mice (CD45.2) into lethally irradiated recipient CD45.1 mice with (CD45.1 at 1:1 ratio) or without competitor cells for competitive or non-competitive transplantations respectively. In Mx1Cre model, deletion of Arid1b was induced 4 weeks after transplantation. We monitored donor chimerism in PB over time as well as in the BM and SPL at end point. In both VavCre and Mx1Cre non-competitive transplants, we did not observe significant differences in CBC or donor chimerism in mature cells between Arid1b fl/flCre+ and control Cre+ mice in the PB over time. Further, no significant differences were observed between knockout and control mice in donor chimerism in mature cell populations in the BM or SPL, nor HSPC populations in the BM at end point (24-28 weeks). Deletion of Arid1b in the BM was confirmed. These results indicate that Arid1b loss does not affect regenerative potential of HSPCs in a non-competitive setting. In our competitive transplants, we observed significant decreases in PB donor chimerism for both myeloid and B cell populations over time in Arid1b fl/flVavCre+ compared to VavCre+ controls. Further, we observed significant decreases in donor chimerism of mature myeloid cells and B cells in the BM and SPL, as well as HSCs, CMPs, GMPs, and MEPs in the BM of Arid1b fl/flVavCre+ mice compared to VavCre+ controls at endpoint. However, there seemed to be incomplete penetrance as the observed phenotype varied in cohorts of different donor mice and was not significant in all cohorts. A similar phenotype was observed in the Mx1Cre model with the exception of a trend, albeit insignificant, towards a decrease in donor derived mature B cell populations in Arid1b fl/flMx1Cre+ compared to Mx1Cre+ mice in PB, SPL, and BM and no significant difference in HSCs in the BM at end point (20 weeks). Deletion of Arid1b in the BM was confirmed in both models. Overall, our results suggest that Arid1b deficient HSCs can regenerate the hematopoietic system but have defects in competitive transplantations with incomplete penetrance. Further work is needed to address the observed incomplete penetrance phenotype in competitive transplantations, and to understand the mechanism behind the requirement of Arid1b in normal hematopoiesis.

Coronary artery calcium score is a predictive tool for cardiovascular events in an asymptomatic population

Abstract Background Recent research highlights the role of the coronary artery calcium score (CAC Score) in evaluating the severity of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic individuals without apparent cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the influence of the CAC score on the prognosis of an asymptomatic population is not consensual. Objective Investigate the role of the CAC score as a predictive tool for the occurrence of cardiovascular events in an asymptomatic population without known CVD. Methods 1195 asymptomatic subjects (mean age 55.1±6.9 years, 73.8% male) selected from the prospective arm of the GENEMACOR study were followed up during 5.9±4.3 years. CAC score was performed by cardiac computed tomography and reported as Agatston units according to the Hoff Nomogram in low, moderate and high-risk categories. The bivariate analysis evaluated CV events in the three CAC score risk categories and in traditional risk factors (TRFs) individually. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) assessed the variables independently associated with CV events occurrence. Kaplan-Meier estimated the survival in the CAC risk categories. Results None of the TRFs showed significant differences in the CV events percentages. As the CAC score category increases, the percentage of CV events rises (p&amp;lt;0.0001). After Cox regression analysis, the high CAC risk category remained a strong CV events predictor (HR=3.71; 95% CI 1.66-8.27; p=0.001), along with age and smoking (Table). At fifteen years of follow-up, 95.3%, 92.8%, and 84.3% survived in the low, moderate and high-risk categories, respectively (Long Rank test; p&amp;lt;0.0001). Conclusion The presence of coronary calcifications indicated a worse prognosis in our asymptomatic population. CAC score is an excellent predictive tool for the asymptomatic subjects with coronary atherosclerosis in progression and could help initiate preventive therapy.

Leaf defenses of subtropical deciduous and evergreen trees to varying intensities of herbivory.

Generally, deciduous and evergreen trees coexist in subtropical forests, and both types of leaves are attacked by numerous insect herbivores. However, trees respond and defend themselves from herbivores in different ways, and these responses may vary between evergreen and deciduous species. We examined both the percentage of leaf area removed by herbivores as well as the percentage of leaves attacked by herbivores to evaluate leaf herbivore damage across 14 subtropical deciduous and evergreen tree species, and quantified plant defenses to varying intensities of herbivory. We found that there was no significant difference in mean percentage of leaf area removed between deciduous and evergreen species, yet a higher mean percentage of deciduous leaves were damaged compared to evergreen leaves (73.7% versus 60.2%). Although percent leaf area removed was mainly influenced by hemicellulose concentrations, there was some evidence that the ratio of non-structural carbohydrates:lignin and the concentration of tannins contribute to herbivory. We also highlight that leaf defenses to varying intensities of herbivory varied greatly among subtropical plant species and there was a stronger response for deciduous trees to leaf herbivore (e.g., increased nitrogen or lignin) attack than that of evergreen trees. This work elucidates how leaves respond to varying intensities of herbivory, and explores some of the underlying relationships between leaf traits and herbivore attack in subtropical forests.