Influence of alleycropping microclimate on the performance of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in the semi-desert region of northern Sudan

An alley cropping system was established at Hudieba Research Station (17.57’N and 33.8’ E) on a loamy sand soil of the semi-desert region of northern Sudan. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of modified microclimate in 6-m wide alleys formed by Acacia ampliceps and Acacia stenophylla on growth and yield of groundnut. and sesame. Above-ground interactions were determined by measuring air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, solar energy and shade length and behaviour. Groundnut and sesame were evaluated for growth and yield by laying out sample plots at southern, central and northern part of the alleys and at control plots. Due to microclimatic modifications in the alleys, the yield of both crops in the alleys significantly (p=0.01) exceeded that of the sole crop. Yield reduction at the northern alley was fully compensated by high yield increase at southern and central alleys. The yield of groundnut increased by 37.7 and 19.6 % in the A.stenophylla and A.ampliceps alleys, respectively. On the other hand, the yield of sesame increased with the stenophylla-alley (+40.3%), while it decreased with ampliceps-alley (-51.5%). The results indicated that the competition for light was the major factor contributing to the increase or reduction of growth and yield of groundnut and sesame

Ultrafast Backbone Protonation in Channelrhodopsin-1 Captured by Polarization Resolved Fs Vis-pump - IR-Probe Spectroscopy and Computational Methods

Channelrhodopsins (ChR) are light-gated ion-channels heavily used in optogenetics. Upon light excitation an ultrafast all-trans to 13-cis isomerization of the retinal chromophore takes place. It is still uncertain by what means this reaction leads to further protein changes and channel conductivity. Channelrhodopsin-1 in Chlamydomonas augustae exhibits a 100 fs photoisomerization and a protonated counterion complex. By polarization resolved ultrafast spectroscopy in the mid-IR we show that the initial reaction of the retinal is accompanied by changes in the protein backbone and ultrafast protonation changes at the counterion complex comprising Asp299 and Glu169. In combination with homology modelling and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) geometry optimization we assign the protonation dynamics to ultrafast deprotonation of Glu169, and transient protonation of the Glu169 backbone, followed by a proton transfer from the backbone to the carboxylate group of Asp299 on a timescale of tens of picoseconds. The second proton transfer is not related to retinal dynamics and reflects pure protein changes in the first photoproduct. We assume these protein dynamics to be the first steps in a cascade of protein-wide changes resulting in channel conductivit

A Retrospective Study on Prescribing Patterns and Cost Analysis of Proton Pump Inhibitors

BACKGROUND: PPIs are the most commonly used drugs in clinical practice; inappropriate prescribing may result in increased therapeutic load and treatment cost as well. Hence, a study was conducted to determine the prescribing pattern (rationality and irrationality) of both iv and oral PPIs in tertiary care teaching hospital and cost minimization process can be used only to compare two products that have been shown to be equivalent in dose and therapeutic effect. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To analyze the prescribing pattern of Proton pump inhibitors. 2. To assess the rationality of prescribing oral and iv Proton pump inhibitors. 3. To estimate the cost of iv and oral Proton pump inhibitors. METHOD: A retrospective observational study was carried out in a multispecialty tertiary care hospital on patients’ medical records from Department of Gastroenterology and Department of general surgery. The study sample size were 341, the exclusion criteria were patients who did not receive Oral and IV PPIs and patients under 18 years old. The cost of the prescribed PPI brands is compared with the cost of other available brands in the hospital pharmacy. RESULTS: Most of the patients were seen under the age category between 41-60 years (62.8%). The majority of the patients were Male in this study (69.5%). Most of the patients were included from the Department of Gastroenterology (63.3%). Pantoprazole was administered in a majority of 308 patients (90.3%). Indication for giving PPIs in 181 Patients were Multi-drug use (53.1%) which was majority. 208 patients received PPI through intravenous route (61%). Most of the patients in the study received PPI for a duration of 4 days in 65 patients (19.1%). 282 patients received rational therapy (82.7%) which was a greater extent. Pan 40 (Pantoprazole) was seen to be the most prescribed brand in this study. The cost of pan 40 was reasonable compared to the other prescribed brands. However, Omez (Omeprazole) was the prescribed brand with least cost. CONCLUSION: Pantoprazole was the most prescribed PPI in this study. There are only considerable differences between PPIs in terms of clinical efficacy, the possible drug interactions could be a key factor in the selection of PPIs. In addition, utmost care should be taken while administering PPIs in patients multiple drugs and other elder patients prone to take combination of drugs to attain a rational therapy. PPIs proven to have lower risks of drug interaction would be the favorable choice in those occasions

Measurements of the normal size of spleen and spleen to left kidney ratio among sudanese children up to five years age using ultrasonography

Background: Knowledge of the normal range of spleen size in the population being examined is very important because there are many different pathological conditions that may alter in spleen size. Also, gender, height, weight and BMI of individual, affect the splenic length and could result in incorrect interpretation of splenic measurements, spleen to left kidney ratio is one of recent parameter mention in literature aid in diagnosis of splenomegaly in children.Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study conducted in Khartoum state at Al-Buluk and Gaafar Ibnauf Paediatric Tertiary Hospital during the period from March 2018 to August 2018. A total of 101 children (males and females) with aged ranged 1 month to 5 years included in study. A transabdominal scan was performed, and measurement of spleen and left kidney taken after an ethical verbal consent from their parents, then data analyzed by SPSS, Mean±SD. Deviation for study variables calculated then correlation between patients factors and ultrasound measurements done.Results: The study found that the mean measurements of the normal size of the spleen and spleen to left kidney ratio for children up to five years of age, Splenic length was 7.24±1.12 cm, width was 3.83±0.81 cm , thickness 2.91±0.55 cm and spleen to left kidney ratio was 1.04±0.0.70 ranged (0.86-1.23). The male have larger spleen than female with no statistically significant differences in spleen sizes between the sexes. There was a strong significant correlation between age, weight, height  spleen and left kidney length (p<0.01)respectively and a moderate association with BMI (p<0.05).Conclusions: Spleen and left kidneys was growing rapidly and similarly in infant up to one year of life 1 mm\1 mm for each month and then decreasing growth rate of kidney in relate to spleen for 1 mm growth of spleen kidney grow 0.8 mm in up to five years of age. There was strong significant positive correlation between spleen and left kidney measurement with age, height, weight of individual. The spleen to left kidney ratio for children up to five years ranged (0.86-1.23) with mean 1.04, so if the ratio less or more than this ranged it should be considered in clinical context for diagnosis of splenomegaly or shrunken spleen in children up to five years of age

Evaluation of Imprint Cytology of Endoscopic Gastric Mucosa Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori Infection

Background:Helicobacter pylori colonization of the gastric mucosa is associated with the pathogenesis of gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric malignancy. There are several methods to detect the presence of Helicobacter pylori.These tests include noninvasive method (serology, urea breath test, or stool antigen test) and invasive methods, such as, culture, histological examination, and rapid urease test. Method:This descriptive prospective cross sectional study was conducted in Gezira state in Wad Madeni from March - August 2016;it aimed to determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV), and negative predictive values (NPV) of imprint cytology in the detection of H. pylori compared with stool Ag test. H.pylori stool Ag test was done for 50 clinically suspected patients for H.pylori infection and one gastric biopsy from each patient was collected during endoscopy. Air-dried imprint smears of gastric biopsies were stained by the Diff-Quik method and examined for H.pylori. The presence of inflammation and intestinal metaplasia were documented. Results: The H. pylori prevalence was 38% by stool Ag test and 42% by imprint cytology. The sensitivity and specificity of imprint cytology in the detection of H. pylori were 89.5% and 87.1% respectively. The PPV and NPV were 80.1% and 93.1%, respectively. The accuracy of the test was 88.0%. Conclusion:This study concludes that gastric imprint smears stained with Diff-Quik method is a rapid, cheap, and reliable method for the detection of H.pylori infection.It recommends the use of Imprint cytology for detection of Helicobacter pylori inpatients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy

Assessment of CO2 with Weather Factors and its Percentage for Indoor and Outdoor

In this paper, measurements of CO2 rate and its relation to temperature, humidity and wind speed were carried out at 13 different locations in Erbil city during March [ 2017 to 2018], it was found that CO2 rate is the same as global level (418ppm) for outdoor. Measurements of CO2 rates for indoor environment showed that using kerosene heaters (during winter season) caused a rapid increase of CO2 rate in a short time, which has harmful side effect on human health

Screening of some sorghum genotypes for resistance to sorghum midge, Stenodiplosis (= Contarinia) sorghicola Coqillet (diptera: Cecidomyiidae) under gedarif rainfed conditions

Preliminary experiments were conducted at Northern area, Gedarif State during seasons of 2002-03, 2006-07.Where as advanced trials during 2008/2009 to 2012/2013 at northern and Southern areas. The objective was to evaluate selected sorghum genotypes for sorghum midge resistance. A total of 3000 accessions were obtained from Gene Bank Resources. Resistant genotype, DJ 6514 (Resistant Check already released in 2007) was obtained from International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). Result showed that the midge damage rating was significantly different among genotypes. The midge damage rating scores ranged between, 1.3- 8.6; 1.1- 9.2; 1.4- 9.0; 1.1 – 9.4; and 1.2- 9.2 for all seasons (2008/09; 2009/10; 2010/11; 2011/12 and 2012/13). However, the lowest midge damage rating was recorded by DJ 6514 (Resistant check), followed by P₁ 570162 (Hag Abbakar); GBM 30 (Early Feterita); Wad Baco; and Safra (1.4; 1.5; 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7), respectively. Genotypes, P₁ 570162 (Hag Abbakar); GBM 30 (Early Feterita); Wad Baco; Safra and Harerai showed lowest % yield loss and performed similar to the resistant check (14.2; 14.5; 14.5; 17.0 and 17.3%), respectively. The combined analysis showed that a significant difference was observed between genotypes. The genotypes were significantly different in panicle types, compact and semi-compact headed genotypes showed lower % glumes coverage (1.3- 4.5%), while semi-compact headed genotypes ranged between 5.5 – 7.8%. Genotypes, Wad Baco; P₁ 570162 (Hag Abbakar); GBM 30 (Early Feterita); Safra; Wad Ahmed; Harerai and Wad Akar showed the shortest glumes coverage (1.3; 1.3; 1.5; 1.5; 1.6; 1.7 and 1.8 %). Compact headed genotypes recorded lowest midge density (6.5 adults/ 5 heads), while the semi-compact headed genotypes were recorded 15.7 adults/ 5 heads compared with others types of heads

Molecular Evidence of High Proportion of Plasmodium vivax

Plasmodium falciparum is a predominant malaria species that infects humans in the African continent. A recent WHO report estimated 95% and 5% of P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria cases, respectively, in Sudan. However many laboratory reports from different areas in Sudan indicated otherwise. In order to verify, we selected four hundred suspected malaria cases from Aljabalain area located in the White Nile state, central Sudan, and diagnosed them with quality insured microscopy and species-specific nested PCR. Our results indicated that the proportion of P. vivax infections among suspected malaria cases was high. We found that on average 20% and 36.5% of malaria infections in both study areas were caused by P. vivax using both microscopy and PCR, respectively. This change in pattern is likely due to the recent demographic changes and high rate of immigration from neighbouring countries in the recent years. This is the first extensive clinical study of its kind that shows rising trend in P. vivax malaria cases in White Nile area, Sudan

A TCR beta-Chain Motif Biases toward Recognition of Human CD1 Proteins

High-throughput TCR sequencing allows interrogation of the human TCR repertoire, potentially connecting TCR sequences to antigenic targets. Unlike the highly polymorphic MHC proteins, monomorphic Ag-presenting molecules such as MR1, CD1d, and CD1b present Ags to T cells with species-wide TCR motifs. CD1b tetramer studies and a survey of the 27 published CD1b-restricted TCRs demonstrated a TCR motif in humans defined by the TCR β-chain variable gene 4-1 (TRBV4-1) region. Unexpectedly, TRBV4-1 was involved in recognition of CD1b regardless of the chemical class of the carried lipid. Crystal structures of two CD1b-specific TRBV4-1+ TCRs show that germline-encoded residues in CDR1 and CDR3 regions of TRBV4-1–encoded sequences interact with each other and consolidate the surface of the TCR. Mutational studies identified a key positively charged residue in TRBV4-1 and a key negatively charged residue in CD1b that is shared with CD1c, which is also recognized by TRBV4-1 TCRs. These data show that one TCR V region can mediate a mechanism of recognition of two related monomorphic Ag-presenting molecules that does not rely on a defined lipid Ag

A blood RNA signature for tuberculosis disease risk: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Identification of blood biomarkers that prospectively predict progression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection to tuberculosis disease might lead to interventions that combat the tuberculosis epidemic. We aimed to assess whether global gene expression measured in whole blood of healthy people allowed identification of prospective signatures of risk of active tuberculosis disease. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, we followed up healthy, South African adolescents aged 12-18 years from the adolescent cohort study (ACS) who were infected with M tuberculosis for 2 years. We collected blood samples from study participants every 6 months and monitored the adolescents for progression to tuberculosis disease. A prospective signature of risk was derived from whole blood RNA sequencing data by comparing participants who developed active tuberculosis disease (progressors) with those who remained healthy (matched controls). After adaptation to multiplex quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), the signature was used to predict tuberculosis disease in untouched adolescent samples and in samples from independent cohorts of South African and Gambian adult progressors and controls. Participants of the independent cohorts were household contacts of adults with active pulmonary tuberculosis disease. FINDINGS: Between July 6, 2005, and April 23, 2007, we enrolled 6363 participants from the ACS study and 4466 from independent South African and Gambian cohorts. 46 progressors and 107 matched controls were identified in the ACS cohort. A 16 gene signature of risk was identified. The signature predicted tuberculosis progression with a sensitivity of 66·1% (95% CI 63·2-68·9) and a specificity of 80·6% (79·2-82·0) in the 12 months preceding tuberculosis diagnosis. The risk signature was validated in an untouched group of adolescents (p=0·018 for RNA sequencing and p=0·0095 for qRT-PCR) and in the independent South African and Gambian cohorts (p values <0·0001 by qRT-PCR) with a sensitivity of 53·7% (42·6-64·3) and a specificity of 82·8% (76·7-86) in the 12 months preceding tuberculosis. INTERPRETATION: The whole blood tuberculosis risk signature prospectively identified people at risk of developing active tuberculosis, opening the possibility for targeted intervention to prevent the disease. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, Aeras, the European Union, and the South African Medical Research Council