Microflora of Ciku (Achras sapota L.) of Variety Jantung

The overall microbial count of ciku is law and predominantly )'east. which peaks at day three after haverst. Washing reduced the microbial counts of the fruits, retarding the yeast population by 89% and bacteria by 75 %. During injury, the dominant flora is bacteria which is replaced later by fungi as the storage time progeressed. Normal microbial flora of aim consists of bacteria, yeasl and moulds. Spoilage during cold storage is associated with new strains of,yeast and moulds. Proper sanitation and post harvest handling treatments are important in controlling fruit losses associated with microorganisms

Effect of Interaction between Bridge Piers on Local Scouring in Cohesive Soils

Local scour at the piers is one of the main reasons of bridge foundation undermining. Earlier research studies focused mainly on the scour at a single bridge pier; nevertheless, modern designs of the bridges comprise wide-span and thus group of piers rather than a single pier are usually used to support the superstructure. The flow and scour pattern around group of piers is different from the case of a single pier due to the interaction effect. Reviewing the literature of local scour around bridge piers group revealed that the local scour around bridge piers group founded in cohesive soil bed was not investigated, and most of the scour studies were related to scour in cohesionless soils. The objective of the present study is to investigate the effect of the interaction between two in-line (tandem) circular bridge piers of variable spacings founded in cohesive soil on the local scour. A set of laboratory flume experiments were conducted under the clear-water scour condition to investigate this effect. This study is the first that investigates experimentally the scour around group of bridge piers in cohesive bed. It was found that the maximum scour depth at the upstream pier of the two in-line piers occurred at a spacing of two times the diameter of the pier, scour at the downstream pier was reduced due to a sheltering effect, the interference effect will be reduced for pier spacings larger than three times of the pier diameter. A recent pier scour equation was used to estimate the scour depths at the two in-line piers in cohesive soil and compare the estimated value with the measured scour depths in the laboratory. The comparison indicated that the proposed scour equation overestimates the scour depths at both the upstream and the downstream pier

Fertility preservation opportunities for cancer patients in Malaysia

Fertility preservation is significant for oncology patients to maintain their ability to start a family when they are ready. Onco-fertility, as a discipline, exists at the intersection of oncology and reproductive medicine that safeguards and expands the fertility options for cancer survivors, by facilitating early intervention and suitable treatment with favourable outcomes. Successful fertility preservation requires a comprehensive networking among the gynaecologists, oncologists, pathologists, imaging and other specialists, involved in diagnosing and treating cancer in the reproductive age group. There are several ways in which fertility can be preserved, like role of gonadotrophin releasing hormone analogues, in vitro maturation, and cryopreservation

Pro-poor intervention strategies in irrigated agriculture in Asia: poverty in irrigated agriculture: issues and options: Bangladesh

Irrigated farming / Poverty / Irrigation management / Water resource management / Policy / Planning / Institutions / Organizations / Local government / Non-governmental organizations / Legislation / Water users / Participatory management / Public sector / Water allocation / Cost recovery / Households / Income / Expenditure / Irrigation canals / Bangladesh

Apocynin and catalase prevent hypertension and kidney injury in Cyclosporine A-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of a number of diseases including hypertension and renal failure. There is enhanced expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADPH oxidase) and therefore production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) during renal disease progression. This study investigated the effect of apocynin, an NADPH oxidase inhibitor and catalase, an H2O2 scavenger on Cyclosporine A (CsA) nephrotoxicity in Wistar-Kyoto rats. Rats received CsA (25mg/kg/day via gavage) and were assigned to vehicle, apocynin (2.5mmol/L p.o.), catalase (10,000U/kg/day i.p.) or apocynin plus catalase for 14 days. Renal functional and hemodynamic parameters were measured every week, and kidneys were harvested at the end of the study for histological and NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) assessment. Oxidative stress markers and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured. CsA rats had higher plasma malondialdehyde (by 340%) and BUN (by 125%), but lower superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity (by 40%, all P<0.05) compared to control. CsA increased blood pressure (by 46mmHg) and decreased creatinine clearance (by 49%, all P<0.05). Treatment of CsA rats with apocynin, catalase, and their combination decreased blood pressure to near control values (all P<0.05). NOX4 mRNA activity was higher in the renal tissue of CsA rats by approximately 63% (P<0.05) compared to controls but was reduced in apocynin (by 64%), catalase (by 33%) and combined treatment with apocynin and catalase (by 84%) compared to untreated CsA rats. Treatment of CsA rats with apocynin, catalase, and their combination prevented hypertension and restored renal functional parameters and tissue Nox4 expression in this model. NADPH inhibition and H2O2 scavenging is an important therapeutic strategy during CsA nephrotoxicity and hypertension

An improved enzyme assay for molybdenum-reducing activity in bacteria.

Molybdenum-reducing activity in the heterotrophic bacteria is a phenomenon that has been reported for more than 100 years. In the presence of molybdenum in the growth media, bacterial colonies turn to blue. The enzyme(s) responsible for the reduction of molybdenum to molybdenum blue in these bacteria has never been purified. In our quest to purify the molybdenum-reducing enzyme, we have devised a better substrate for the enzyme activity using laboratory-prepared phosphomolybdate instead of the commercial 12-phosphomolybdate we developed previously. Using laboratory-prepared phosphomolybdate, the highest activity is given by 10:4-phosphomolybdate. The apparent Michaelis constant, K m for the laboratory-prepared 10:4-phosphomolybdate is 2.56 ± 0.25 mM (arbitrary concentration), whereas the apparent V max is 99.4 ± 2.85 nmol Mo-blue min−1 mg−1 protein. The apparent Michaelis constant or K m for NADH as the electron donor is 1.38 ± 0.09 mM, whereas the apparent V max is 102.6 ± 1.73 nmol Mo-blue min−1 mg−1 protein. The apparent K m and V max for another electron donor, NADPH, is 1.43 ± 0.10 mM and 57.16 ± 1.01 nmol Mo-blue min−1 mg−1 protein, respectively, using the same batch of molybdenum-reducing enzyme. The apparent V max obtained for NADH and 10:4-phosphomolybdate is approximately 13 times better than 12-phoshomolybdate using the same batch of enzyme, and hence, the laboratory-prepared phosphomolybdate is a much better substrate than 12-phoshomolybdate. In addition, 10:4-phosphomolybdate can be routinely prepared from phosphate and molybdate, two common chemicals in the laboratory

Efficacy and safety of long-acting recombinant fusion protein linking factor IX with albumin in haemophilia B patients undergoing surgery.

IntroductionRecombinant factor IX fusion protein (rIX‐FP) has been developed to improve the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of factor IX (FIX), allowing maintenance of desired FIX activity between injections at extended intervals, ultimately optimizing haemophilia B treatment.AimTo determine the efficacy and safety of rIX‐FP in the perioperative setting.MethodsSubjects were adult and paediatric patients with severe to moderately severe haemophilia B (FIX ≤ 2%) participating in three Phase III clinical trials and undergoing a surgical procedure. PK profiles were established prior to surgery for each patient. Haemostatic efficacy was assessed by the investigator for up to 72 h after surgery. Safety measurements during the study included adverse events and inhibitors to FIX. FIX activity was monitored during and after surgery to determine if repeat dosing was required.ResultsTwenty‐one, both major and minor, surgeries were performed in 19 patients. Haemostatic efficacy was rated as excellent (n = 17) or good (n = 4) in all surgeries. A single preoperative dose maintained intraoperative haemostasis in 20 of 21 surgeries. Nine major orthopaedic surgeries were conducted in eight patients with a mean of 7 (range: 6–12) rIX‐FP injections during surgery and the 14‐day postoperative period. Median rIX‐FP consumption for orthopaedic surgeries was 87 IU kg−1 preoperatively and 375 IU kg−1 overall. No subject developed inhibitors to FIX or antibodies to rIX‐FP.ConclusionRecombinant factor IX fusion protein was well tolerated and effectively maintained haemostasis during and after surgery. Stable FIX activity was achieved with a prolonged dosing interval and reduced consumption compared to conventional or currently available long‐acting recombinant FIX

Dissemination of Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria Technology Through Inclusion of Cocoa Pod Husk in Poultry Feed to Substitute for Some Quantity of Maize in Adopted School

One of the major objectives of Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) is to investigate the effective utilization of the crops, by-products and the feasibility of small- scale production of such end-use product. Based on this objective, CPH is one of the major by-products of cocoa and has been utilized effectively by CRIN in the inclusion of poultry feeds. The adopted school’s concept was a collaboration between Agriculture Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN)/West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAPP) and CRIN. The poultry project in the school is to encourage secondary school students to develop interest in agriculture and encourage teachers to practice agriculture before and after retirement. This technology was disseminated to CRIN adopted school in feeding the birds. The inclusion of CPH in layers mash has reduced the quantity of maize by 20%. This was demonstrated by feeding equal numbers of birds with the conventional feed (controlled) and CPH fortified for 16 months (experimental). The result revealed that about N460 was saved on every 25kg of feed fortified with CPH compared to conventional feed with almost the same production result. This has brought a significant drop in amount spent on CPH fortified feed compared to the conventional feed thereby increasing the farmers profit