Diversity of Native and Exotic Fruit Genetic Resources in Nepal

Diversity in fruit genetic resources in Nepal is contributed by wild, indigenous and exotic sources. This study was carried out to bring together the available fruit species and cultivars at various stations of Department of Agriculture (DoA), Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Agriculture and Forest University (AFU) and private farms until the Fiscal Year 2017/2018. Altogather there were 47 species of fruits from tropical zone of Terai (Tarahara, Janakpur, Sarlahi, Parwanipur and Khajura) to cold temperature zone of high hills (Marpha, Rajikot and Satbanj) across the country. Apple diversity was found at Horticulture Research Station, Rajikot, Jumla and has introduced 25 spur type cultivars. National Citrus Research Programme (NCRP), Dhankuta was citrus most diversity areas and has maintained 130 exotic and indigenous germplasms of citrus species followed by NCFD, Kirtipur. Mango diversity was noted at RARS, Tarahara (16 cultivars), RARS, Parwanipur (25 cultivars), Farm of DoA-Sarlahi (30 cultivars), Farms of DoA-Janakpur (18 cultivars), AFU-Rampur (17 cultivars). Some of the private nurseries like Everything Organic Nursery, Patlekhet, Kavre and International organization like Technology Demonstration Centre of ICIMOD, Godawari, Lalitpur were also found to be a diversity centre of many exotic and indigenous germplasms of fruit species. These indigenous fruit genetic resources were also used to develop varieties such as Sunkagati-1 and Sunkagati-2 and Tehrathum Local of acid lime, Khoku Local of mandarin orange, \u27Malbhog\u27 of banana which were notified by the National Seed Board, SQCC. The unique fruit genetic resources were ‘Pharping Local\u27 (Asian sand pear), ‘Sindhuli Junar\u27 (sweet orange), ‘Dhankuta Local\u27 and ‘Manakamana Local\u27 (mandarin), Local Malbhog (banana), Bhaktapure Lapsi (Nepalese hog plum) etc. which have superior traits than exotic fruits. Unique and wild fruit species were yellow, black and red raspberries  (Rubus ellipticus, R. foliolosus and R. acuminatus respectively), bale (Aegle marmelos), pummelo (Citrus grandis), citron (Citrus medica), sweet lime (Citrus limettoides), butter tree or chiuri (Basia buttyacea), tamarind (Tamarindus indica), black plum  (Syzygium cumini), wild apple (Mallus baccata), rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri), bayberry (Myrica esculanta), edimayal (Pyrus pashia), black and white ebony (Diospyrus malbarica), wild species of olive (Olea ferruginea and O. glandulifera), wild kiwifruit (Actinidia callosa) etc. Most of the diversity studies were based on phenotypic descriptions. We believe that the number of species and genotypes listed in this article would be increased if detail survey is further carried out. Way forward to utilize these valuable genetic resources has also been discussed in this manuscript

Adaptive Gray World-Based Color Normalization of Thin Blood Film Images

This paper presents an effective color normalization method for thin blood film images of peripheral blood specimens. Thin blood film images can easily be separated to foreground (cell) and background (plasma) parts. The color of the plasma region is used to estimate and reduce the differences arising from different illumination conditions. A second stage nor- malization based on the database-gray world algorithm trans- forms the color of the foreground objects to match a reference color character. The quantitative experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the method and its advantages against two other general purpose color correction methods: simple gray world and Retinex

A colour normalization method for giemsa-stained blood cell images

This paper presents a novel method for the colour normalization of Giemsa-stained peripheral blood cell images. The normalization is applied separately to the foreground and background regions. A rough estimation of the foreground-background regions is done by mathematical morphology and followed by a refined segmentation using histograms of these regions. Then an illumination independent response is calculated using the background region. The normalization is completed by transforming the foreground region according to a reference set. The proposed method has been tested on many images and has been found successful

Effects of the topical hemostatic agent Ankaferd Blood Stopper on the incidence of alveolar osteitis after surgical removal of an impacted mandibular third molar

Background: Alveolar osteitis (AO) is a commonly seen post‑operative complication during the wound‑healing period after permanent tooth extraction or surgical removal of impacted third molar teeth.Objectives: The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate the effects of administration of the topical hemostatic agent Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) into the socket on AO formation after impacted mandibular third molar extraction.Patients and Methods: Bilaterally, 100 half‑impacted mandibular third molars were extracted in 50 patients. Then, 1.0 mL ABS was administered to achieve hemostasis in one half of the sockets and as a control, the other half was irrigated with 1.0 mL physiological serum after surgery.Results: There was no statistically significant difference in terms of AO formation (P > 0.05) between the extraction sites. However, the postoperative pain in ABS administration sites was higher than in the other sites for the first 2 days after surgery (P < 0.05).Conclusions: The results showed that ABS administration did not increase the incidence of AO formation. Thus, ABS can be used safely for hemostasis after impacted mandibular third molar surgery.Key words: Alveolar osteitis, Ankaferd Blood Stopper, hemostasis, third mola

Accuracy and User-Acceptability of HIV Self-Testing Using an Oral Fluid-Based HIV Rapid Test

10.1371/journal.pone.0045168PLoS ONE79

Computer vision for microscopy diagnosis of malaria

This paper reviews computer vision and image analysis studies aiming at automated diagnosis or screening of malaria infection in microscope images of thin blood film smears. Existing works interpret the diagnosis problem differently or propose partial solutions to the problem. A critique of these works is furnished. In addition, a general pattern recognition framework to perform diagnosis, which includes image acquisition, pre-processing, segmentation, and pattern classification components, is described. The open problems are addressed and a perspective of the future work for realization of automated microscopy diagnosis of malaria is provided

Adaptive Introgression across Semipermeable Species Boundaries between Local Helicoverpa zea and Invasive Helicoverpa armigera Moths.

Hybridization between invasive and native species has raised global concern, given the dramatic increase in species range shifts and pest outbreaks due to anthropogenic dispersal. Nevertheless, secondary contact between sister lineages of local and invasive species provides a natural laboratory to understand the factors that determine introgression and the maintenance or loss of species barriers. Here, we characterize the early evolutionary outcomes following secondary contact between invasive Helicoverpa armigera and native H. zea in Brazil. We carried out whole-genome resequencing of Helicoverpa moths from Brazil in two temporal samples: during the outbreak of H. armigera in 2013 and 2017. There is evidence for a burst of hybridization and widespread introgression from local H. zea into invasive H. armigera coinciding with H. armigera expansion in 2013. However, in H. armigera, the admixture proportion and the length of introgressed blocks were significantly reduced between 2013 and 2017, suggesting selection against admixture. In contrast to the genome-wide pattern, there was striking evidence for adaptive introgression of a single region from the invasive H. armigera into local H. zea, including an insecticide resistance allele that increased in frequency over time. In summary, despite extensive gene flow after secondary contact, the species boundaries are largely maintained except for the single introgressed region containing the insecticide-resistant locus. We document the worst-case scenario for an invasive species, in which there are now two pest species instead of one, and the native species has acquired resistance to pyrethroid insecticides through introgression

Blood viscosity in patients with diffuse large B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

The aim of the study was to evaluate blood viscosity as possible marker of disease progression in patients with newly diagnosed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Methods: The viscosity of blood samples from 20 patients with newly diagnosed aggressive NHL (stage I, n = 7; stage II, n = 4; stage III, n = 7; stage IV, n = 2) was analyzed using Brookfield DV-II + (USA) machine. Results: Blood viscosity in NHL patients (median: 5.5 ± 1.46 miliPascal) inversely correlated with lactatdehydrogenase (LDH) level, international prognostic index (IPI) score, and stage (p = 0.02, r= –0.51; p = 0.03, r= –0.63; and p = 0.04, r= –0.45, respectively) and positively correlated with hemoglobin level (p = 0.02, r = 0.65)). Conclusion: According to our data, blood viscosity may be considered as a follow up marker in NHL patients along with LDH level or sedimentation rate.Цель: анализ вязкости крови в качестве маркера возможного маркера прогрессии заболевания у больных неходжкинской лимфомой (НХЛ). Методы: вязкость крови 20 пациентов НХЛ (стадия I, = 7; стадия II, = 4; стадия III, = 7; стадия  IV, n = 4) измеряли на приборе Brookfield DV-II + (США). Результаты: вязкость крови больных НХЛ (средняя величина: 5.5 ± 1.46 миллиПаскаль) находилась в обратной корреляции с уровнем лактатдегидрогеназы (ЛДГ), величиной международного прогностического индекса (IPI) и стадией заболевания (p = 0,02, r = –0,51; p = 0,03, r = –0,63; p = 0,04, r = –0,45 соответственно) и в прямой зависимости от уровня гемоглобина (p = 0,02, = 0,65)). Выводы: согласно полученным данным, вязкость крови можно рассматривать в качестве маркера течения заболевания у больных НХЛ наряду с уровнем ЛДГ и показателем скорости оседания эритроцитов

Reducing the duration of untreated psychosis and its impact in the U.S.: the STEP-ED study

Background: Early intervention services for psychotic disorders optimally interlock strategies to deliver: (i) Early Detection (ED) to shorten the time between onset of psychotic symptoms and effective treatment (i.e. Duration of Untreated Psychosis, DUP); and (ii) comprehensive intervention during the subsequent 2 to 5 years. In the latter category, are teams (‘First-episode Services’ or FES) that integrate several empirically supported treatments and adapt their delivery to younger patients and caregivers. There is an urgent need to hasten access to established FES in the U.S. Despite improved outcomes for those in treatment, these FES routinely engage patients a year or more after psychosis onset. The Scandinavian TIPS study was able to effectively reduce DUP in a defined geographic catchment. The guiding questions for this study are: can a U.S. adaptation of the TIPS approach to ED substantially reduce DUP and improve outcomes beyond existing FES? Methods/Design The primary aim is to determine whether ED can reduce DUP in the US, as compared to usual detection. ED will be implemented by one FES (STEP) based in southern Connecticut, and usual detection efforts will continue at a comparable FES (PREPR) serving the greater Boston metropolitan area. The secondary aim is to determine whether DUP reduction can improve presentation, engagement and early outcomes in FES care. A quasi-experimental design will compare the impact of ED on DUP at STEP compared to PREPR over 3 successive campaign years. The campaign will deploy 3 components that seek to transform pathways to care in 8 towns surrounding STEP. Social marketing approaches will inform a public education campaign to enable rapid and effective help-seeking behavior. Professional outreach and detailing to a wide variety of care providers, including those in the healthcare, educational and judicial sectors, will facilitate rapid redirection of appropriate patients to STEP. Finally, performance improvement measures within STEP will hasten engagement upon referral. Discussion STEP-ED will test an ED campaign adapted to heterogeneous U.S. pathways to care while also improving our understanding of these pathways and their impact on early outcomes. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02069925. Registered 20 February 2014