Influence of Compost and Rock Amendments on Growth and Active Ingredients of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

Abstract: The effect of compost (0, 5, 10 and 20 ton/fed), rock amendments (0, 500, and 1000 kg/fed) and their combinations on some morphological parameters, yield and active ingredients of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) was carried out in the field during 2006/2007 & 2007/2008 seasons. Two samples were taken after 150 and 190 day from planting. The obtained results indicated that all treatments achieved an increament in morphological parametres, carthamin of petals yield and oil content of seeds comparing with the control. As for the effect of single treatments on growth parameters and active ingredients, the compost 20 ton/fed and rock 1000 kg/fed revealed significant values than the control, except height with R1000 in both seasons. The combination of high concentration of compost (20 ton/fed) and rock phosphate (1000 kg/fed) recorded the highest values in this concern (except plant height and fatty acids charachters). Meanwhile, C20 led to obtain good quality of safflower oil by increasing unsaturated/saturated fatty acids ratio

Clinical identification of feeding and swallowing disorders in 0-6 month old infants with Down syndrome

Feeding and swallowing disorders have been described in children with a variety of neurodevelopmental disabilities, including Down syndrome (DS). Abnormal feeding and swallowing can be associated with serious sequelae such as failure to thrive and respiratory complications, including aspiration pneumonia. Incidence of dysphagia in young infants with DS has not previously been reported. To assess the identification and incidence of feeding and swallowing problems in young infants with DS, a retrospective chart review of 174 infants, ages 0-6 months was conducted at a single specialty clinic. Fifty-seven percent (100/174) of infants had clinical concerns for feeding and swallowing disorders that warranted referral for Videofluroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS); 96/174 (55%) had some degree of oral and/or pharyngeal phase dysphagia and 69/174 (39%) had dysphagia severe enough to warrant recommendation for alteration of breast milk/formula consistency or nonoral feeds. Infants with certain comorbidities had significant risk for significant dysphagia, including those with functional airway/respiratory abnormalities (OR = 7.2). Infants with desaturation with feeds were at dramatically increased risk (OR = 15.8). All young infants with DS should be screened clinically for feeding and swallowing concerns. If concerns are identified, consideration should be given to further evaluation with VFSS for identification of dysphagia and additional feeding modifications

AN INNOVATIVE STRATEGY BASED ON UNCERTAINTY PROFILE FOR THE VALIDATION OF MICROBIOLOGICAL METHODS FOR COUNTING ENTEROBACTERIACEAE IN FOODS

Objective: A new and powerful statistical approach known as the uncertainty profile concept has been suggested for both testing the validity and making easy and straightforward interpretation of results obtained during the validation of an analytical method. The main goal of this paper is to confirm the applicability of this new strategy for the validation of a commercial kit, microbiological method, for the enumeration of the Enterobacteriaceae in foods and the estimate of the measurement uncertainty by using the newly provided formula and without referring to any additional experiments.Methods: An innovative formula to assess the uncertainty by using validation data and without recourse to other additional experiments was proposed. The uncertainty was evaluated through the two-sided β-content, γ-confidence tolerance interval, which is computed with three manners: the Mee's approach, the Generalized Pivotal Confidence, and the Modified Large Simple procedureResults: After the use of the three chemometric method of calculation of tolerance intervals, the obtained results with uncertainty profile show without doubt that the enumeration method is valid over the range of target values given that the upper and the lower 66.7 %-content, 90 %-confidence tolerance limits have fallen within the two acceptance limits of±0.25 Log unit. If the β is stretched to 80 %-content, 90 %-confidence, the three computed tolerance intervals lead to different decisions.Conclusion: we have demonstrated the ability of the uncertainty profile to be used for testing the validity of enumeration method which represents the first application of an uncertainty profile to food microbiological methods, and provides good estimations of the uncertainty measurements for each concentration level.Keywords: Validation, Uncertainty profile, β-content-γ-confidence tolerance interval, Uncertainty measurement, Microbiological metho

Association of Genetic Variants With Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Among Individuals With African Ancestry.

Importance:Primary open-angle glaucoma presents with increased prevalence and a higher degree of clinical severity in populations of African ancestry compared with European or Asian ancestry. Despite this, individuals of African ancestry remain understudied in genomic research for blinding disorders. Objectives:To perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of African ancestry populations and evaluate potential mechanisms of pathogenesis for loci associated with primary open-angle glaucoma. Design, Settings, and Participants:A 2-stage GWAS with a discovery data set of 2320 individuals with primary open-angle glaucoma and 2121 control individuals without primary open-angle glaucoma. The validation stage included an additional 6937 affected individuals and 14 917 unaffected individuals using multicenter clinic- and population-based participant recruitment approaches. Study participants were recruited from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, the United States, Tanzania, Britain, Cameroon, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Morocco, Peru, and Mali from 2003 to 2018. Individuals with primary open-angle glaucoma had open iridocorneal angles and displayed glaucomatous optic neuropathy with visual field defects. Elevated intraocular pressure was not included in the case definition. Control individuals had no elevated intraocular pressure and no signs of glaucoma. Exposures:Genetic variants associated with primary open-angle glaucoma. Main Outcomes and Measures:Presence of primary open-angle glaucoma. Genome-wide significance was defined as P < 5 × 10-8 in the discovery stage and in the meta-analysis of combined discovery and validation data. Results:A total of 2320 individuals with primary open-angle glaucoma (mean [interquartile range] age, 64.6 [56-74] years; 1055 [45.5%] women) and 2121 individuals without primary open-angle glaucoma (mean [interquartile range] age, 63.4 [55-71] years; 1025 [48.3%] women) were included in the discovery GWAS. The GWAS discovery meta-analysis demonstrated association of variants at amyloid-β A4 precursor protein-binding family B member 2 (APBB2; chromosome 4, rs59892895T>C) with primary open-angle glaucoma (odds ratio [OR], 1.32 [95% CI, 1.20-1.46]; P = 2 × 10-8). The association was validated in an analysis of an additional 6937 affected individuals and 14 917 unaffected individuals (OR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.09-1.21]; P < .001). Each copy of the rs59892895*C risk allele was associated with increased risk of primary open-angle glaucoma when all data were included in a meta-analysis (OR, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.14-1.25]; P = 4 × 10-13). The rs59892895*C risk allele was present at appreciable frequency only in African ancestry populations. In contrast, the rs59892895*C risk allele had a frequency of less than 0.1% in individuals of European or Asian ancestry. Conclusions and Relevance:In this genome-wide association study, variants at the APBB2 locus demonstrated differential association with primary open-angle glaucoma by ancestry. If validated in additional populations this finding may have implications for risk assessment and therapeutic strategies

Injection Drug Use Is a Risk Factor for HCV Infection in Urban Egypt

OBJECTIVE: To identify current risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission in Greater Cairo. DESIGN AND SETTING: A 1:1 matched case-control study was conducted comparing incident acute symptomatic hepatitis C patients in two "fever" hospitals of Greater Cairo with two control groups: household members of the cases and acute hepatitis A patients diagnosed at the same hospitals. Controls were matched on the same age and sex to cases and were all anti-HCV antibody negative. Iatrogenic, community and household exposures to HCV in the one to six months before symptoms onset for cases, and date of interview for controls, were exhaustively assessed. RESULTS: From 2002 to 2007, 94 definite acute symptomatic HCV cases and 188 controls were enrolled in the study. In multivariate analysis, intravenous injections (OR = 5.0; 95% CI = 1.2-20.2), medical stitches (OR = 4.2; 95% CI = 1.6-11.3), injection drug use (IDU) (OR = 7.9; 95% CI = 1.4-43.5), recent marriage (OR = 3.3; 95% CI = 1.1-9.9) and illiteracy (OR = 3.9; 95% CI = 1.8-8.5) were independently associated with an increased HCV risk. CONCLUSION: In urban Cairo, invasive health care procedures remain a source of HCV transmission and IDU is an emerging risk factor. Strict application of standard precautions during health care is a priority. Implementation of comprehensive infection prevention programs for IDU should be considered

The Effect of the Corners Learning Strategy (Court Corners) on the Learning of the Volley Strike Skill Among the Third-year Students

This study aimed to identify the effect of the Corners Learning Strategy (court corners) on the learning of the volley strike skill among third-year students. To solve the problem of this study, the researchers assumed the possibility of teaching third-year students the skill of volley strike, which is one of the important strikes in playing tennis. As it can be used in various places of the court including its two types the front and back strikes. It is considered an offensive strike if the player is close to the net and defensive if the player stands close to the baseline. Through their follow-up of the third-year students and the practical lessons of tennis, the researchers noticed that this skill was not given as much importance as the forehand and backhand strikes. Accordingly, they conducted their study on a sample of (30) third-year students divided into two experimental and control groups. They used the Corners Learning Strategy (corners of the court) in special learning units and applied it in exercises for the skill of volley

Hemoglobin level of Libyan hemodialysis patients during treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin

Abstract: During treatment of Libyan hemodialysis patients with recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO), this study was conducted at some hospitals of Tripoli to evaluate the use of this therapeutic agent in maintaining the hemoglobin of such patients at the target level. A total of 167 patients treated with r-HuEPO at a dose of 150 i.u./kg/week were involved in the present study. Hemoglobin concentration was measured before and after dosing for a period of 20 weeks. The results show that, after dosing, the hemoglobin level was increased. The target hemoglobin level (10-12 g/dl) was achieved in about 28 patients (50%) at Tripoli Kidney Center, in 27 patients (37%) at Zahra Hospital, and only in 14 patients (3%) at Tajoura Hospital. The present findings show no significant differences (P < 0.05) in hemoglobin level after dosing between males and females. The use of r-HuEPO as a therapeutic agent in the control of hemoglobin level among Libyan hemodialysis patients is beneficial and well tolerated. The accepted and target hemoglobin levels are achieved in most cases and this allows to conclude that Epoetin alfa (EPREX®) is an effective alternative to blood transfusion. Although there are differences between hospitals in hemoglobin levels of patients, but this is a challenge to improve practice not to avoid the use of rHuEPO

Bispectral Density Estimation of Continuous Time Series with Missed Observations

In this paper, we study the estimation of the bispectral density function of a strictly stationary r-vector valued continuous time series. The case of interest is when some of observations are mising due to some random failure. Bispectral density function is devoleped in case of L−joint segments of observations. The modified biperiodogram is defined and smoothed to estimate the bispectral density matrix. The theoriotical properties of the proposed estimator are explored

Bispectral Density Estimation of Continuous Time Series with Missed Observations

In this paper, we study the estimation of the bispectral density function of a strictly stationary r-vector valued continuous time series. The case of interest is when some of observations are mising due to some random failure. Bispectral density function is devoleped in case of L−joint segments of observations. The modified biperiodogram is defined and smoothed to estimate the bispectral density matrix. The theoriotical properties of the proposed estimator are explored