Selection of antagonistic actinomycete isolates as biocontrol agents against root-rot fungi

In this study, actinomycetes isolates, isolated from rhizosphere of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), were screened for antagonistic activities on certain root rot fungi (Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium verticilloides and Bipolaris sorokiniana). The  in vitro antagonistic effects of actinomycetes isolates were determined on solid media against fungal pathogens. The inhibition mechanism, effect of application time and pH on inhibition was investigated. The actinomycete isolate 129.01 exhibited a high inhibition ratio of more than 60 % against all fungi. The activity of the isolate 129.01 against root rot fungi was tested under greenhouse conditions. The root rot score (1-10), mean plant height (cm) and mean weight of green part of plant (g) were determined after an incubation period. The root rot score of the infected plants was decreased significantly by this isolate, even if the plants were inoculated with all of the pathogen fungi together (P<0.05). The results indicate that isolate 129.01 could be useful as a biocontrol agent. The assignment of the isolate 129.01 to the genus Streptomyces was supported by 16S rRNA analysis.Fil: Erginbas, Gul. Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo; TurquíaFil: Yamac, Mustafa. Eskisehir Osmangazi University; TurquíaFil: Amoroso, Maria Julia del R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Cuozzo, Sergio Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentin

Investigation Of Damage Detection Methodologies For Structural Health Monitoring

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is employed to track and evaluate damage and deterioration during regular operation as well as after extreme events for aerospace, mechanical and civil structures. A complete SHM system incorporates performance metrics, sensing, signal processing, data analysis, transmission and management for decision-making purposes. Damage detection in the context of SHM can be successful by employing a collection of robust and practical damage detection methodologies that can be used to identify, locate and quantify damage or, in general terms, changes in observable behavior. In this study, different damage detection methods are investigated for global condition assessment of structures. First, different parametric and non-parametric approaches are re-visited and further improved for damage detection using vibration data. Modal flexibility, modal curvature and un-scaled flexibility based on the dynamic properties that are obtained using Complex Mode Indicator Function (CMIF) are used as parametric damage features. Second, statistical pattern recognition approaches using time series modeling in conjunction with outlier detection are investigated as a non-parametric damage detection technique. Third, a novel methodology using ARX models (Auto-Regressive models with eXogenous output) is proposed for damage identification. By using this new methodology, it is shown that damage can be detected, located and quantified without the need of external loading information. Next, laboratory studies are conducted on different test structures with a number of different damage scenarios for the evaluation of the techniques in a comparative fashion. Finally, application of the methodologies to real life data is also presented along with the capabilities and limitations of each approach in light of analysis results of the laboratory and real life data

Comparison of Effects of Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco “Maras Powder” Use on Humoral Immune System Parameters

Background. The aim of this study is to assess the impacts of “Maras powder” and cigarette smoking on the parameters of the humoral immune system. Material and Methods. One hundred seventy seven subjects were included in the study. The IgA, IgG, IgM, C3 and C4 levels were detected via nephelometric method. Results. In 1.4% of the control group IgM levels were below normal where it was 10.8% and 18.6% in Maras powder group and in cigarette smoking group respectively. The IgM levels of both groups were significantly lower compared to the control group (P < .05). Nonetheless, the IgE levels of Maras powder group and smoking group were found to be remarkably higher compared to the control group (P < .01). Conclusion. Effects of Maras powder on humoral immune response were found to be similar to that of smoking

CB2: Collaborative Natural Language Interaction Research Platform

CB2 is a multi-agent platform to study collaborative natural language interaction in a grounded task-oriented scenario. It includes a 3D game environment, a backend server designed to serve trained models to human agents, and various tools and processes to enable scalable studies. We deploy CB2 at https://cb2.ai as a system demonstration with a learned instruction following model

Avaliação da eficácia da eletroconvulsoterapia contínua para esquizofrenia resistente ao tratamento

Background : Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been reported being a safe and effective treatment in schizophrenia. However, there are a limited number of studies assessing continuation ECT utilization in patients with schizophrenia giving partial response to pharmacological treatment. Objective : The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of continuation ECT in preventing relapse in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Methods : In this retrospective analysis, schizophrenia patients (n = 73) were defined in three groups such as patients who received only AP treatment (only AP), patients who received acute ECT only during hospitalization (aECT+AP), patients who received acute ECT and continuation ECT (a-cECT+AP). Three groups were compared according to positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores. Results : As per comparison of only AP group, aECT+AP group and a+cECT+AP groups in terms of after discharge PANSS and after discharge BPRS scores for 1st month, 3rd month and 6th month; 3rd and 6th month’s PANSS scores of a+cECT+AP group were statistically significantly lower than other two groups. Discussion : Although this study suffers the limitations of retrospective medical chart analysis, results suggest that, in patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia who have responded to an acute course of ECT, continuation ECT in combination with antipsychotics is more effective than antipsychotics alone in preventing relapse.Contexto : A eletroconvulsoterapia (ECT) tem mostrado ser um tratamento seguro e eficaz para esquizofrenia. No entanto, o número de estudos que avaliam a utilização contínua de ECT em pacientes com esquizofrenia e a resposta parcial ao tratamento farmacológico é limitado. Objetivo : O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar a eficácia da ECT de continuação na prevenção de recaída em pacientes com esquizofrenia resistente ao tratamento. Métodos : Nesta análise retrospectiva, pacientes com esquizofrenia (n = 73) foram alocados em três grupos: pacientes que receberam apenas o tratamento AP (somente AP), pacientes que receberam um curso agudo de ECT durante a hospitalização (aECT+AP) e pacientes que receberam um curso agudo de ECT durante a hospitalização e ECT de continuação (a-cECT+AP). Esses três grupos foram comparados de acordo com a pontuação atribuída na Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) e na Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Resultados : De acordo com a comparação dos grupos, somente em AP, aECT+AP e a+cECT+AP, em termos de PANSS e BPRS, após descarga no primeiro, terceiro e sexto mês, as pontuações na PANSS no terceiro e sexto mês no grupo a+cECT+AP foram estatística e significativamente menores do que nos outros dois grupos. Conclusões : Embora este estudo mostre limitações causadas pela análise retrospectiva de prontuários, os resultados sugerem que a continuação da ECT em combinação com antipsicóticos é mais eficaz do que somente os antipsicóticos, na prevenção da recaída em pacientes com diagnóstico de esquizofrenia que responderam ao curso agudo de ECT

The Effects of Oxidative Stress in Urinary Tract Infection

We aimed to determine the effects of oxidative stress in urinary tract infection (UTI). One hundred sixty-four urine samples obtained from patients with the prediagnosis of acute UTI admitted to the Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, were included in this study. Urine cultures were performed according to standard techniques. Urinary isolates were identified by using API ID 32E. The catalase and superoxide dismutase activity and the lipid peroxidation levels known as oxidative stress markers were measured in all urine samples. Thirty-six pathogen microorganisms were identified in positive urine cultures. These microorganisms were as follows: 23 (63.8%) E coli, 5 (13.8%) P mirabilis, 4 (11.1%) K pneumoniae, 2 (5.5%) Candida spp, 1 (2.7%) S saprophyticus, and 1 (2.7%) P aeruginosa. It was observed that lipid peroxidation levels were increased while catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were decreased in positive urine cultures, compared to negative cultures. We conclude that urinary tract infection causes oxidative stress, increases lipid peroxidation level, and leads to insufficiency of antioxidant enzymes

Vrednovanje glutaraldehidnog testa i količine klora u buražnom sadržaju u slučajevima vagusne indigestije (Hoflfl undova sindroma) uzrokovane traumatskim retikuloperitonitisom.

This study is published in order to present the rumen content, amount of chlorine, and the results of glutaraldehyde test in cattle clinically diagnosed with vagal indigestion (Hoflund syndrome) due to reticuloperitonitis traumatica (RPT). The working material included an experimental group, and a control group. The experimental group was made up of 52 cows of different breeds admitted to our clinic for examination and diagnosed with vagal indigestion due to RPT, their ages ranging between 2-14. The control group was made up of 10 cows of different breeds determined to be healthy in clinical examinations, their ages ranging between 2-8. In total, there were 62 cows. After all cattle in the two groups were clinically examined, a minimum of 100 ml of rumen content samples were taken using rumen sounder. Rumen content chlorine levels was determined according to the Schales-schales method. In order to carry out the glutaraldehyde test in the 25 animals in the experimental group and all the animals in the control group, blood with EDTA was taken from the v. jugularis of the animals. As for the clinical parameters of the animals in the experimental group and the control group; the difference between the arithmetic means of body temperature (38.90 ± 0.55 and 38.68 ± 0.15 °C, respectively), heart frequency (85.92 ± 19.88 and 72.00 ± 7.26 item/minute, respectively), and rumen movement (2.75 ± 1.99 and 8.70 ± 0.48 item/ 5 minutes, respectively) was at the significance level of P<0.001, and the difference between the arithmetic means of respiration frequency (29.11 ± 9.94 and 24.80 ± 1.68 item/minute, respectively) was at the significance level of P<0.01. In this study, it was observed that the average value of glutaraldehyde test was (2.44 ± 1.18 minutes) in the experimental group, and it was stated that the difference between the groups was P<0.001 . In conclusion, it is considered that the detection of rumen content chlorine levels, which is the most important parameter in determining abomasal reflux syndrome cases, might be helpful, especially in the diagnosis of functional gastric stenosis, and that the glutaraldehyde test might be useful in detecting back functional stenosis cases due to RPT.Istraživanje je provedeno s ciljem da se odredi sadržaj buraga, količina klora i rezultati glutaraldehidnog testa u goveda s dijagnosticiranom vagusnom indigestijom (Hoflundovim sindromom) uzrokovanim traumatskim retikuloperitonitisom. Istraživanje je provedeno na pokusnoj i kontrolnoj skupini goveda. Pokusna skupina sastojala se od 52 krave u dobi od 2 do 14 godina, različitih pasmina, koje su bile pregledane na klinici, a dijagnosticirana im je vagusna indigestija zbog retikuloperitonitisa. Kontrolna skupina sastojala se od 10 krava različitih pasmina, u dobi od dvije do osam godina, zdravih prilikom kliničke pretrage. Ukupno su obrađene 62 krave. Nakon kliničke pretrage, sondiranjem je uzeto najmanje 10 mL buražnoga sadržaja. Količina klora u buražnom sadržaju određena je po Schales-schales metodi. Za određivanje glutaraldehida u 25 krava pokusne skupine i svih krava kontrolne skupine krv s EDTA bila je uzeta iz jugularne vene. S obzirom na klinički nalaz ustanovljene su razlike između pokusne i kontrolne skupine. Ustanovljena je razlika (P<0,001) u aritmetičkoj sredini tjelesne temperature između pokusne skupine (38,90 ± 0,55 °C) i kontrolne skupine (38,68 °C ± 0,15 °C), frekvenciji bila, koja je za pokusnu skupinu iznosila 85,92 ± 19,88, a za kontrolnu 72,00 ± 7,26 i broju buražnih kontrakcija koji je za pokusnu skupinu iznosio 2,75 ± 1,99, a za kontrolnu 8,70 ± 0,48 u pet minuta. Aritmetička sredina frekvencije disanja za pokusnu skupinu bila je 29,11 ± 9,94, a za kontrolnu skupinu 24,80 ±1,68 u minuti (P<0,01). Prosječna vrijednost glutaraldehidnog testa u pokusnoj skupini iznosila je 2.44 ± 1.18 u minuti. Razlika među skupinama bila je na razini P<0,001. Zaključuje se da dokazivanje količine klora u buražnom sadržaju kao najvažnijega pokazatelja za određivanje sindroma abomazalnog refluksa može biti od posebne koristi za dijagnostiku funkcionalne želučane stenoze. Glutaraldehidni test može biti od koristi za određivanje u slučajevima povratne funkcionalne stenoze zbog traumatskog retikuloperitonitisa

Importance of estimation of follicular output rate (FORT) in females assisted by intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Background: We aimed to estimate pregnancy outcome after ICSI in terms of oocyte parameters, embryo quality, endometrial thickness, hormone and cytokine levels in women stratified on the basis of follicular output rate (FORT).Methods: Quasi experimental design was carried out after approval from “Ethical review board of Islamabad clinic serving infertile couples” from July 2010 to August 2013. One thousand and fifty females were selected with the criteria of age between 21-40 years, infertility of more than 2 years, body mass index of 18-35 kg/m2, menstrual cycle of 25 ± 7 days, both ovaries present with normal uterine cavity, serum FSH levels less than 8 IU/ml and normal thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. Females on short agonist or antagonist protocol with diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome, fibroids or in their male partner sperms retrieved by testicular biopsy were excluded from the study. Down regulation of ovaries was followed by controlled ovarian stimulation, Ovulation Induction (OI), oocyte pick up, in vitro fertilization, Embryo Transfer (ET) and confirmation of pregnancy was done by serum beta hCG of more than 25 mIU/ml and  cardiac activity on trans vaginal scan. Enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay was used for peak and mid luteal estradiol (E2), progesterone (P) and interleukin I-β estimation on OI and ET days respectively. FORT (ratio of preovulatory follicle count to antral follicle count × 100 on OI day) stratified females into low under the 33rd percentile, medium between the 33rd and the 67th percentile and high above the 67th percentile. Characteristics   of groups were compared by one way analysis of variance.  Results: Females 276 (33%), 288 (34%) and 282 (33%) comprised of low, medium and high FORT groups respectively. The number of retrieved, mature and fertilized oocytes, cleaved embryos, endometrial thickness and number of gestational sacs in the high FORT group was significantly high (P <0.001). High peak and midluteal E2 (P = 0.0025, 0.0001), low P (P = 0.0001) and high peak interleukin-1β (P = 0.0001) was observed in high FORT in comparison with medium FORT with resultant greater number of clinical pregnancies 183 (65%).  Conclusions: The FORT in non PCOS patients may reflect good reproductive outcome after ICSI with maximum clinical pregnancies in high FORT group.

Physical and Psychological Impacts on COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients of 3rd Wave

Background: COVID shelters and many emergency centers were established as a countermeasure to control this pandemic that hit the word by the end of 2019. Due to unavailability of medical care, along with physical health issues, these patients suffer with mental health related issues. Aims: This study aimed to explore the both, physical and psychological impacts upon the patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and admitted in intensive care units of hospitals of Pakistan during the third wave. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was performed during the peak time of COVID-19 for the duration of two months i.e. April & May 2021. After getting ethical approval from Shifa International Hopsital (Ref# 070-021), permission was sorted from public and private hospitals of Pakistan. 183 conscious patients diagnosed with COVID and currently admitted in intensive care units were randomly selected from hospitals of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Written consent was taken from patients and their caregivers after they were briefed regarding the importance of the study. PHQ-15 was used to assess somatic symptoms related to COVID-19 whereas DASS-21 was used to assess level of depression, anxiety and stress among patients. Results: Of 183 hospitalized patients of COVID-19 in intensive care units, 170 (92.9%) participants showed mild to severe level of somatic symptoms on PHQ-15. Shortness of breath, feeling hearth race, back pain, stomach pain, low energy and sleeping difficulties were the most common somatic complaints reported by patients. The statistics of DASS-21 showed that 51 (27.86%) participants had mild to severe level of depression, 74 (40.4%) had mild to profound level of anxiety and 96 (52.45%) reported mild to profound level of stress. Conclusion: This study portrayed a better understanding and confirms the physical and psychological impacts upon hospitalized COVID-19 patients, therefore highlighting the need of both physical and mental health interventions to minimize these impacts