Prediction of viral microRNA precursors based on human microRNA precursor sequence and structural features

MicroRNAs (small ~22 nucleotide long non-coding endogenous RNAs) have recently attracted immense attention as critical regulators of gene expression in multi-cellular eukaryotes, especially in humans. Recent studies have proved that viruses also express microRNAs, which are thought to contribute to the intricate mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions. Computational predictions have greatly accelerated the discovery of microRNAs. However, most of these widely used tools are dependent on structural features and sequence conservation which limits their use in discovering novel virus expressed microRNAs and non-conserved eukaryotic microRNAs. In this work an efficient prediction method is developed based on the hypothesis that sequence and structure features which discriminate between host microRNA precursor hairpins and pseudo microRNAs are shared by viral microRNA as they depend on host machinery for the processing of microRNA precursors. The proposed method has been found to be more efficient than recently reported ab-initio methods for predicting viral microRNAs and microRNAs expressed by mammals

Oral Midazolam Vs Promethazine as Pre Sedation Medication in Pediatric Dentistry

Objectives Pre- and post-sedation effect of oral Midazolam to promethazine in2-6 yrs old fearful children for dental treatmentMethods This randomized clinical trial was carried out on a group of 26 children aged 2-6 years referred to the dental school due to their fear and multiple dental needs. Patients were selected from ASA I or II classification and scored 1 in Frankl Behavior scale. Each patient was scheduled for two subsequent visits to receive one of the two pre medications before IV sedation. Each patient served as self-control and randomly assigned to either group A: receiving Midazolam oral as premed in 1st visit or group B: receiving Promethazine oral as the premed in 1st visit. Six hour NPO was instructed prior to sedation visit. Monitoring vital signs were conducted at every 15 minutes starting with base line before any drug administration. Sedation score was recorded using Houpt Sedation scale. Post sedation problems were recorded by operator. Data were analyzed using Student t test and Kruskal Wallis.Results No significant difference was noted between the patient perceptions at the two different visits. Children did not show a significant difference on symptoms such as Crying, Movement, Sleep and overall behavior in two visits at the first 15 minutes of sedative injection. Post-operative complications were having no significant difference. Lower sickness and vomiting were reported following promethazine intake.Conclusion Promethazine seems to be as effective and as acceptable premedication as Midazolam in pediatric dentistry

MINERAL CHEMISTRY OF FELDSPAR AND AMPHIBOLE APPLICATION OF DIFFERENT GEOTHERMOBAROMETRY METHODS AND OXYGEN FUGACITY, DETERMINATION OF MAGMATIC SERIES, ORIGIN AND TECTONOMAGMATIC CLASSIFICATION OF SHIRKUH GRANITOID BATHOLITH, YAZD, IRAN

Batholith of Shirkuh, Yazd, is part of the central Iranian structural zone, located southwest of the province. The lithology of this complex comprises mostly monzogranite and granodiorite and some quartz monzonite, quartz monzodiorite and syenogranite.Plagioclase, quartz, orthoclase, biotite and amphibole are the dominant minerals in these rocks. The composition of plagioclases varies from labradorite to oligoclase, and alkali feldspars belong to the orthoclase category. Amphiboles are calcic, rich in iron and Fe-Mg-Mn amphiboles, and range from ferro-hornblende to tschermakite, and tschermakite hornblende. According to various geobarometry methods using the amphibole composition, it is estimated that the calc-alkaline batholith has been formed in a supra-subduction tectonomagmatic environment at 700–900 °C and 0.8–1.5 kbar pressure under high oxygen fugacity. Moreover, based on the thermometry results of feldspars, the emplacement temperature was obtained in the 770–920 °C range by the Anderson method for the Shirkuh granitoid batholithO batólito de Shirkuh, Yazd, faz parte da zona estrutural central do Irã, localizada a sudoeste da província. A litologia deste complexo compreende principalmente monzogranito e granodiorito e alguns monzonitos de quartzo, monzodioritos de quartzo e sienogranitos. Plagioclásio, quartzo, ortoclase, biotita e anfibólio são os minerais dominantes nessas rochas. A composição das plagioclases varia de labradorita a oligoclase e os feldspatos alcalinos pertencem à categoria ortoclase. Os anfibólios são cálcicos, ricos em ferro e anfibólios Fe-Mg-Mn, e variam de ferro-hornblenda a tschermakite e tschermakite hornblende. De acordo com vários métodos de geobarometria usando a composição de anfibólio, estima-se que o batólito calcalcalino tenha sido formado em um ambiente tectonomagmático de supra-subducção a 700-900 ° C e 0,8-1,5 kbar sob alta fugacidade de oxigênio. Além disso, com base nos resultados da termometria dos feldspatos, a temperatura de colocação foi obtida na faixa de 770–920 ° C pelo método de Anderson para o batólito granitóide Shirku

MINERAL CHEMISTRY OF FELDSPAR AND AMPHIBOLE APPLICATION OF DIFFERENT GEOTHERMOBAROMETRY METHODS AND OXYGEN FUGACITY, DETERMINATION OF MAGMATIC SERIES, ORIGIN AND TECTONOMAGMATIC CLASSIFICATION OF SHIRKUH GRANITOID BATHOLITH, YAZD, IRAN

Batholith of Shirkuh, Yazd, is part of the central Iranian structural zone, located southwest of the province. The lithology of this complex comprises mostly monzogranite and granodiorite and some quartz monzonite, quartz monzodiorite and syenogranite.Plagioclase, quartz, orthoclase, biotite and amphibole are the dominant minerals in these rocks. The composition of plagioclases varies from labradorite to oligoclase, and alkali feldspars belong to the orthoclase category. Amphiboles are calcic, rich in iron and Fe-Mg-Mn amphiboles, and range from ferro-hornblende to tschermakite, and tschermakite hornblende. According to various geobarometry methods using the amphibole composition, it is estimated that the calc-alkaline batholith has been formed in a supra-subduction tectonomagmatic environment at 700–900 °C and 0.8–1.5 kbar pressure under high oxygen fugacity. Moreover, based on the thermometry results of feldspars, the emplacement temperature was obtained in the 770–920 °C range by the Anderson method for the Shirkuh granitoid batholithO batólito de Shirkuh, Yazd, faz parte da zona estrutural central do Irã, localizada a sudoeste da província. A litologia deste complexo compreende principalmente monzogranito e granodiorito e alguns monzonitos de quartzo, monzodioritos de quartzo e sienogranitos. Plagioclásio, quartzo, ortoclase, biotita e anfibólio são os minerais dominantes nessas rochas. A composição das plagioclases varia de labradorita a oligoclase e os feldspatos alcalinos pertencem à categoria ortoclase. Os anfibólios são cálcicos, ricos em ferro e anfibólios Fe-Mg-Mn, e variam de ferro-hornblenda a tschermakite e tschermakite hornblende. De acordo com vários métodos de geobarometria usando a composição de anfibólio, estima-se que o batólito calcalcalino tenha sido formado em um ambiente tectonomagmático de supra-subducção a 700-900 ° C e 0,8-1,5 kbar sob alta fugacidade de oxigênio. Além disso, com base nos resultados da termometria dos feldspatos, a temperatura de colocação foi obtida na faixa de 770–920 ° C pelo método de Anderson para o batólito granitóide Shirku

Congenital malformations at birth in 7,922 consecutive deliveries at Patan Hospital, Nepal

Introductions: Congenital malformations need to be identified and intervenedearly to save lives and prevent sufferings. Many birth defects have well knownincidence/prevalence rates but these have not been studied thoroughly in thelocal population of Nepal. The current study was undertaken to determine theprevalence of congenital malformation at birth, to classify them systematically,to study risk factors and immediate outcome of the newborn babies afflicted.Methods: This was a cross sectional study. All newly delivered babies wereexamined carefully for congenital malformation and when detected, theparents were interviewed in detail.Results: Over the 10 months of study period 7,922 babies were delivered outof which 90 were stillborn. The number of babies with malformations was 64(0.81%). Polydactyli was observed in 12 (19%) babies whereas cleft lip/palateand malformations of ears in seven (11%) each. Musculoskeletal system wasaffected in 31 (35%) cases and craniofacial in 18 (21%). Nine (14%) mothers had bad obstetric history and eight (13%) had illness/medication during pregnancy.Conclusions: Congenital malformation is a significant cause of morbidity andmortality in Patan hospital. Our findings support many established thoughtslike higher rates in stillbirths but also challenge some age-old beliefs like higherrates in babies born to older mothers.Keywords: adverse outcome, congenital malformation, perinatal mortality, riskfacto

Responsiveness of Minimal Clinically Important Change for the Persian Functional Rating Index in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

Study Design A prospective, within-group cohort study of 46 patients with chronic low-back pain (CLBP). Purpose To assess the responsiveness of the Persian Functional Rating Index (PFRI) and to determine the minimal clinically important change (MCIC) of the PFRI in a cohort of patients with CLBP. Overview of Literature The FRI is an instrument for assessing pain and disability in patients with low-back pain. No study so far has examined the responsiveness of the PFRI. Methods Forty-six patients with CLBP with a mean age of 50.33±14.28 completed the PFRI, the Persian Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire (PRMDQ), and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before and after 10 physiotherapy sessions. A Global Rating of Change Scale (GRCS) was completed after treatment. Results The changes in PFRI scores were statistically significant using the paired t-test (p<0.001). The PFRI revealed high effect sizes (range, 0.93–1.82). The PFRI showed significant correlations with the VAS (0.86), the PRMDQ (0.66), and the GRCS (0.45). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve for the PFRI was good (0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.56–0.95). The MCIC for PFRI was 10.63 points. Conclusions The results supported the responsiveness of the PFRI in patients with CLBP and showed the amount of change in PFRI scores perceived as worthwhile by the patients

Defining Secularism in the Particular: Caste and Citizenship in India, 1909-1950

Drawing on recent debates on secularism, this article addresses the methodological problem of writing histories of secularism in context. It considers the experience of India. I argue that a study of the issues from which secularism emerged historically offers a way out of the secularism-religion binary which, in India, has obscured contemporary problems related to democracy. These issues had to do with ensuring the public representation of minorities, both religious and caste, regardless of their relative size or social power. Scholarship on the minority question has begun with the constituent assembly and that on secularism centered on the category of religion. In contrast, this article argues that caste was central to the formulation of Indian secularism and requires a longer historical perspective. It maintains that secularism reified the religious minority and, in so doing, denied both its potential to overcome marginality and the legitimacy of the community in the nation