375 research outputs found
Engineering and Technological Outlook on Traceability of Agricultural Production and Products
Rosana G. Moreira, Editor-in-Chief; Texas A&M UniversityThis is an Invited Paper from International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR, Commission Internationale du Genie Rural) E-Journal Volume 4 (2002): L. Opara. Engineering and Technological Outlook on Traceability of Agricultural Production and Products. Vol. IV. December 2002
Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns and Penicillinase Activity of Staphylococci spp from Wound Specimens in Lagos
Forty-five Staphylococci spp comprising 33 (73.3%) Staphylococcus aureus and 12 (26.7%)
Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from both non-surgical and post-surgical septic wounds were
evaluated for penicillinase activity. Thirty (90.9%) of the S. aureus isolates produced beta-lactamases.
Beta-lactamase production accounted for the high level resistance (70-90%) to the penicillins. Five
(16.7%) of the penicillinase-producing S. aureus (PPSA) were resistant to methicillin, while 25 (83.3%)
PPSA were sensitive. Resistance to the cephalosporins by the PPSA was between 7 and 30% indicating
that the beta-lactamase produced was mostly penicillinase. Ciprofloxacin, vancomycin and rifampicin
were the most active of the antibiotics against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) with activity of
between 90 and 100%. They also gave low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values (0.125-8
μg/ml for ciprofloxacin, 0.125-2 μg/ml for vancomycin and 2-32 μg/ml for rifampicin). Methicillin activity
of 83.3% was comparable with those of erythromycin, ofloxacin and pefloxacin (range 73.3-86.7%).
Azithromycin activity against the PPSA was 90%. S. aureus is the specie of Staphylococci most
frequently isolated from septic wound and have shown high rate of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics
which could be attributed to their production of beta–lactamase enzyme especially, penicillinas
Sex Variability in Pediatric Leukemia Survival: Large Cohort Evidence
Purpose. Sex disparities in pediatric leukemia have been previously reported, and male children continue to present with poorer survival. However, the observed disparities are not fully understood. This current study sought to examine disparities in survival by the sex, and to determine if tumor prognostic factors impact on these disparities. Patients and Methods. We used the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results dataset of pediatric leukemia patients (ages 0–19 years) diagnosed in the United States from 1973 to 2006. There were 15,215 patients of whom 8,622 (65.7%) were boys and 6,593 (43.3%) were girls. The Kaplan-Meier survival estimates, log rank test, and Cox proportional hazard methods were used to assess the data. Results. The overall (both sexes) five-year survival rate was 67.9%. Girls had a survival rate of 70.1%, while the rate was 66.3% in boys. Girls had a significant 14% decreased risk of dying relative to boys, hazard ratio (HR) = 0.86, 99% CI = 0.80–0.93. There were significant differences between boys and girls with respect to tumor cell type, race, age at diagnosis, year of diagnosis, and number of primaries, P < 0.001. After controlling for these factors, the sex differences in survival persisted, with girls still less likely to die from leukemia compared to boys, adjusted HR (AHR) = 0.85, 99% CI = 0.72–1.00, P < 0.01. Conclusion. In a large population-based pediatric leukemia study, boys continued to show poorer survival. These disparities were not completely explained by treatment received, tumor prognostic or socio-demographic factors
Challenges and solutions for enhancing agriculture value chain decision-making. A short review
© IFIP International Federation for Information Processing 2017. Increasingly challenging global and environmental requirements have resulted in agricultural systems coming under increasing pressure to enhance their resilience capabilities. This in special to respond to the abrupt changes in resource quality, quantity and availability, especially during unexpected environmental circumstances, such as uncertain weather, pests and diseases, volatile market conditions and commodity prices. Therefore, integrated solutions are necessary to support the knowledge-management, collaborative ICT solution, risk management and regulation management across agriculture stakeholders. Therefore, and based on the on-going work under the H2020 RUC-APS project research network, this book chapter is oriented to contribute to agriculture value chain decision-making field to cover the current need on gathering a common understanding and appreciation of new trends in agriculture value chain, in special the multi-disciplinary challenges. For this, a short a literature review is conducted to summarise the main findings on real application and current research trends. This within the objective to propose an integrated framework based on better use of communication ways, standardised structures, development of training and awareness, regulation based initiatives and vertical Integration
The agential causes of business management students in the implementation of the full virtual teaching
Objective:- This study investigates the agential causes influencing undergraduate business management students in their handling of change. The objectives are: (1) To investigate emotional reactions experienced by students since the launch of full virtual teaching as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. (2) To investigate the students’ concerns in their lived experiences. (3) To identify commonalities and differences in students’ experiences during the implementation of full virtual teaching induced by COVID-19 in the socio-cultural contexts of China, the UK, and Ukraine.
Methods:- This research employed an embedded multiple-case design, following the logic of literal and theoretical replication. One-to-one interviews were conducted, involving a total of 61 business management students. All scripts were analyzed using framework analysis and summative content analysis.
Results:- The study found that all sampled students have experienced a wide range of emotions as emerged from their reflexive accounts of their lived experiences associated with full virtual teaching as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A discernible trajectory of emotional changes was observed. The students’ primary concerns evolved as situations progressed, with the desire to return to campus being pronounced at the beginning of the change and intensifying over time. Additionally, the study identified differences in emotional reactions and considerations of personal development between Chinese students and their counterparts from other socio-cultural backgrounds.
Conclusion:- Emotions, reflexivity, absence, and absenting are influential factors shaping student experiences
A 5-year review of contraceptive uptake among women attending family planning clinic at Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, North-Central Nigeria
Background: Rapidly rising population in Africa is of great concern, most especially in Nigeria because of its impact on social stability. Family planning is an indispensable tool for population control and also in preventing unwanted pregnancy and its complications. Women and men at any given point in their lifetime should be able to choose the most appropriate contraceptive methods from many available options, as this is an important contributor to the successful use of contraception. Aim of the study was to determine the uptake and trend in contraceptive use from 2014-2018 in the family planning unit of a specialist hospital in the North central, Nigeria.
Methods: It is a retrospective, descriptive study of contraceptive uptake of women attending family planning clinic of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH), Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria from 2014 to 2018.
Results: Of the 5448 women accessing family planning services in the hospital within the study period, 5277 folders were retrieved with complete data. A vast majority of the women were married (99.6%) with the mean age of the subjects being 28.8±6.0 years. Contraceptive uptake was 43.2% of deliveries in the hospital. Implants (65.4%) remained the preferred contraceptive choice, followed by injectables (20.7%) and intrauterine devices (IUDs) (10.3%). Less popular were bilateral tubal ligation (BTL) (0.2%), Sayana press (0.1%) and Standard Days Methods (SDM) (0.0%). Implants, injectables and IUDs consistently remained the preferred contraceptive choices yearly throughout the studied years.
Conclusions: Implants is the most popular contraception in DASH. Contraceptive uptake is relatively high among the women but there is still need to increase access to effective contraception and if possible make them freely available at all levels of health care
Effect of drying on the bioactive compounds, antioxidant, antibacterial and antityrosinase activities of pomegranate peel
CITATION: Mphahlele, R. R., et al. 2016. Effect of drying on the bioactive compounds, antioxidant, antibacterial and antityrosinase activities of pomegranate peel. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 16(1): 143, doi: 10.1186/s12906-016-1132-y.The original publication is available at http://bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.comPublication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.The use of pomegranate peel is highly associated with its rich phenolic concentration. Series of drying methods are recommended since bioactive compounds are highly sensitive to thermal degradation. The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of drying on the bioactive compounds, antioxidant as well as antibacterial and antityrosinase activities of pomegranate peel.
Methods
Dried pomegranate peels with the initial moisture content of 70.30 % wet basis were prepared by freeze and oven drying at 40, 50 and 60 °C. Difference in CIE-LAB, chroma (C*) and hue angle (h°) were determined using colorimeter. Individual polyphenol retention was determined using LC-MS and LC-MSE while total phenolics concentration (TPC), total flavonoid concentration (TFC), total tannins concentration (TTC) and vitamin C concentration were measured using colorimetric methods. The antioxidant activity was measured by radical scavenging activity (RSA) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of methanolic peel extracts were tested on Gram negative (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia) and Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) using the in vitro microdilution assays. Tyrosinase enzyme inhibition was investigated against monophenolase (tyrosine) and diphenolase (DOPA), with arbutin as positive controls.
Results
Oven drying at 60 °C resulted in high punicalin concentration (888.04 ± 141.03 mg CE/kg dried matter) along with poor red coloration (high hue angle). Freeze dried peel contained higher catechin concentration (674.51 mg/kg drying matter) + catechin and –epicatechin (70.56 mg/kg drying matter) compared to oven dried peel. Furthermore, freeze dried peel had the highest total phenolic, tannin and flavonoid concentrations compared to oven dried peel over the temperature range studied. High concentration of vitamin C (31.19 μg AAE/g dried matter) was observed in the oven dried (40 °C) pomegranate peel. Drying at 50 °C showed the highest inhibitory activity with the MIC values of 0.10 mg/ml against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtili. Likewise, the extracts dried at 50 °C showed potent inhibitory activity concentration (22.95 mg/ml) against monophenolase. Principal component analysis showed that the peel colour characteristics and bioactive compounds isolated the investigated drying method.
Conclusions
The freeze and oven dried peel extracts exhibited a significant antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The freeze drying method had higher total phenolic, tannin and flavonoid concentration therefore can be explored as a feasible method for processing pomegranate peel to ensure retention of the maximum amount of their naturally occurring bioactive compounds.http://bmccomplementalternmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12906-016-1132-yPublisher's versio
The influence of stocking density on the growth performance and production of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in earthen pond
An experiment was carried out to investigate the influence of stocking density on the growth of the initial stocked tilapia (O.niloticus) in earthen ponds, the effect on the reproductive performance of the fish and impact on the economy of production. Six African Regional Aquaculture Centre (ARAC), Aluu, Port Harcourt earthen genetic ponds split into three compartments representing three replicates were stocked with 666 fingerlings of 4.33g average initial weight and 6.06cm average initial length at 37 per replicate. They were fed with a 28%CP blood meal based diet for nine months. The size of the ponds and depth of water was such as to attain average stocking densities of 6.33, 6.45, 5.05, 3.60, 2.88 and 2.05 fish/m3. The result showed distinct increase in growth as the stocking densities decreased. Ponds 5,6 and 4 with lower densities 2.88, 2.05 and 3.60 fish/m3 having higher final weights of 146.10, 120.79 and 108.69g than ponds 3, 2 and 1 with 85.37, 74.36 and 59.68g respectively (P<0.05). Average final length was higher in ponds 5, 6 and 4 at 14.46, 13.86 and 13.79cm than ponds 3, 2 and 1 with 12.09, 10.62 and 11.36cm. Relative weight gain followed suit with 3274.13, 2689.61 and 2410.16% in ponds 5, 6 and 4 as against 1871.59, 1617.32 and 1277.83% in 3, 2 and 1. Percentage survival increased as stocking density decreased at 28.18, 35.45, 37.27, 40.91, 41.82 and 45.45% for the 6.33, 6.45, 5.05 , 3.60, 2.05 and 2.88 fish/m3 treatment respectively, with the 3.60, 2.05 and 2.88fish/m3 treatment significantly higher (P<0.05). The 2.88fish/m3treatment (treatment 5) also provided the cheapest cost of producing 1kg of fish at N178.74 as against N457.14, N351.44, N312.41, N242.81 and N217.25 per kg fish of treatments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 respectively. The total number of off-springs produced all in progressive sizes increased as the stocking density decreased at 1530, 1636, 1674, 2053, 3160 and 3234 for ponds 1-6. The experiment showed that tilapia fingerlings stocked in earthen pond at low densities grow and reproduce more and at a lower cost of production than those with higher stocking densities. The ideal appears to be between 2 and 3 fish/m
Phytochemical investigations of three Rhodocodon (Hyacinthaceae Sensu APG II) species
The genus Rhodocodon (Hyacinthaceae sensu APG II) is endemic to Madagascar and its phytochemistry has not been described previously. The phytochemistry of three species in this genus has been investigated and eight compounds, including three bufadienolides (compounds 1, 4, and 5), a norlignan (2), and four homoisoflavonoids (compounds 3 and 6-8) have been isolated and identified. Compounds 1-3 and 6-8 have not been described previously. The COX-2 inhibitory activity of compound 6 and compound 7 acetate (compound 7A) were investigated on isolated colorectal cancer cells. Compounds 6 and 7A inhibited COX-2 by 10% and 8%, respectively, at a concentration of 12.5 M compared to 12% for 1 mM aspirin (the positive control)
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