Moral hazard and the division of labor in agricultural land leases

land lease contracts, moral hazard, contract duration, division of labor, Land Economics/Use,

MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND LEASE ARRANGEMENTS USED BY OKLAHOMA WHEAT, WHEAT PASTURE, AND WHEAT PASTURE LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS

Winter wheat is grown for three purposes in the Southern Plains, grain-only, forage-only, and as a dual-purpose forage plus grain crop. The USDA's wheat cropping practices survey does not differentiate among the three uses. Little information on actual production practices across use is available. Results of a survey are presented.Crop Production/Industries,

Evaluating the toxicity of capecitabine-cisplatin versus gemcitabine-cisplatin regimens for palliative chemotherapy in advanced biliary tract carcinoma

Background: Advanced biliary tract carcinoma is a malignancy associated with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. This study aimed to compare the treatment effects in terms of toxicities of Capecitabine-Cisplatin and Gemcitabine-Cisplatin regimens as palliative chemotherapy for ABTC in Bangladesh. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Department of Oncology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, involving 78 patients with histopathologically confirmed ABTC (AJCC Stage IV). Participants were divided into two groups: Arm-A received Capecitabine-Cisplatin, and Arm-B received Gemcitabine-Cisplatin. Treatment response, hematological and non-hematological toxicities were assessed and compared between the two groups. Results: No significant differences in baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were observed between the two groups. Arm-A demonstrated a higher rate of partial response in the final assessment (51.28% vs. 41.03%, p=0.029). Acute hematological toxicities were more frequent in Arm-B, with a higher incidence of Grade 2 and 3 anemia, neutropenia, and leukopenia (p<0.05). Non-hematological toxicities were comparable, except for Hand-Foot Syndrome, which was significantly higher in Arm-A (p=0.03). Conclusions: The Capecitabine-Cisplatin regimen exhibited a different toxicity profile compared to the Gemcitabine-Cisplatin regimen for palliative chemotherapy in advanced biliary tract carcinoma. While both regimens were generally well-tolerated, the Capecitabine-Cisplatin regimen demonstrated lower incidences of hematological toxicities. These findings emphasize the importance of considering toxicity profiles when selecting treatment options for patients with advanced biliary tract carcinoma

Decays and spectrum of bottom and bottom strange mesons

The strong decay amplitudes and radiative partial widths of orbital and radially excited states of $B$ and $B_s$ mesons are presented. These results are obtained with a nonrelativistic potential quark model, the nonrelativistic reduction of the electromagnetic transition operator, and the "$^3P_0$" model of strong decays. The predictions are compared to experiment where possible and assignments for the recently discovered states, $B_1(5721)$, $B_2^*(5747)$, $B_J(5840)$, $B_J(5970)$, $B_{s1}(5830)$, and $B_{s2}^*(5840)$, are made.Comment: 36 pages, 3 figure

Effect of omega 3 fatty acid in infertile males with oligozoospermia

Background: Oligozoospermia is the cause of male infertility in 33.3% of cases. Omega-3 fatty acid has been utilized in infertility because of its widespread availability, low cost, and high safety profile. We intended to conduct a study to evaluate the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acid in oligozoospermia. Methods: A prospective comparative study was conducted in the outdoor of the department of reproductive endocrinology and infertility, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, from July 2022 to August 2023. A total of 70 Infertile males with oligozoospermia, were enrolled in the study. The participants were assigned to the omega-3 fatty acid group who was treated with omega-3 fatty acid 1 gm orally twice daily for 12 weeks. The other group was treated with placebo orally twice daily for 12 weeks. Sixty patients completed the 12 weeks of treatment. The changes in sperm count were determined. Results: The mean age of the participants was 35.6±4.59 years. Following treatment with omega-3 fatty acid significant improvement was observed in sperm count from 11.10±2.81 million/ml to 34.2±31.36 million/ml. Significant improvement in total motile sperm count was also observed. At the end of 12 weeks of treatment 76.7% of participants in the omega 3 fatty acid group and 10.0% in the placebo group had normozoospermia. Conclusions: Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid results in improvement of sperm concentration and total motile sperm count in infertile men with oligozoospermia

Letrozole versus dienogest in endometrioma recurrent after surgery: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Letrozole is a third-generation aromatase inhibitor. As there is aberrant aromatase production by endometriotic stromal cells and the growth and regression of endometriosis is estrogen-dependent, the use of letrozole to reduce the size and symptoms of endometrioma especially in recurrent cases is a promising medical intervention. Dienogest is a fourth-generation progestin which is being used for the treatment of endometriosis due to its antiproliferative and antiangiogenic properties on endometrial tissue. The present study was conducted to compare the effects of letrozole and dienogest on endometrioma recurrent after surgery.Methods: This randomized controlled study was conducted on 38 women having recurrence of endometrioma after surgery. They were randomly assigned to receive either letrozole (2.5 mg daily) or dienogest (2 mg once daily) for 6 months. Size of the endometrioma was measured by transvaginal ultrasound and the pain (dysmenorrhoea) was measured on a visual analog scale (VAS) of 0-10, prior to treatment and after 3 and 6 months of treatment.Results: The mean size of endometrioma was reduced from a baseline of 6.06±2.40 cm to 5.23±1.37 cm and to 4.59±1.25 cm after 3 and 6 months of treatment with letrozole. While with dienogest the reduction was from a baseline of 6.67±1.31 cm to 4.83±1.50 cm and to 3.80±1.34 cm after 3 and 6 months of treatment. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant but dienogest yielded better result in terms of effect size. Decrease in pain (dysmenorrhoea) was highly significant with both the drugs.Conclusions: In terms of reduction of the size of endometrioma, dienogest yields better results than letrozole. Both the drugs are highly effective in alleviating pain (dysmenorrhoea)

The International Research and Educational Programs of Clark Atlanta University's Center for Functional Nanoscale Materials

Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy 2009This presentation was part of the session : Science and Innovation WorkforceThis material is presented to ensure timely dissemination of scholarly and technical work. Copyright and all rights therein are retained by authors or by other copyright holders. All persons copying this information are expected to adhere to the terms and constraints invoked by each author's copyright. In most cases, these works may not be reposted without the explicit permission of the copyright holder. ©2009 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or to reuse any copyrighted component of this work in other works must be obtained from the IEEE

Effect of autologous platelet rich plasma on anti-mullerian hormone and antral follicle count in sub fertile women with poor ovarian reserve

Background: Ovarian aging may be reversible. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) has growth factors that promote cellular proliferation and folliculogenesis. Recently published studies and case reports suggest that ovarian rejuvenation can be done by PRP treatment. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of platelet rich plasma on ovarian reserve markers such as anti mullerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicle count (AFC) in sub fertile women with poor ovarian reserve (POR).Methods: The self-controlled quasi experimental study was carried out on 29 sub fertile women with poor ovarian reserve. They were selected for laparoscopic tubo-peritoneal evaluation as they could not afford in vitro fertilization. During laparoscopy, 5 ml of pre prepared autologous PRP was injected into each ovary. Post-PRP AMH and AFC were measured at every cycle for a period of at least three (3) months and compared with base line values.Results: Mean age of participants was 35.9±3.2 years. Baseline AMH was 0.31±0.17 ng/ml and baseline AFC was 3.41±0.73. AMH was raised on first, second and third cycle from base line values in 58.62%, 86.21% and 91.30% of the study population respectively. AMH changes in all three cycle were statistically significant. Pregnancy occurred in three (10.34%) women during the study period.Conclusions: The injection of autologous PRP into human ovaries is a safe procedure to improve ovarian reserve markers (AMH and AFC) in women with POR

Comparison of vitamin D (25OHD) status between fertile and infertile men

Background: Vitamin D (25OHD) deficiency has become a modern-day epidemic, being the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide. Many infertile men are experiencing low total sperm count or different semen abnormalities. The aim of this study was to compare serum vitamin D (25OHD) status among fertile and infertile men.Methods: This was an observational (cross sectional comparative) study and was conducted in the Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, BSMMU, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from April 2019 to March 2020. The sample size was 112 men where 56 participants were in fertile men group and 56 participants were infertile men group. Statistical analyses were carried out by using Windows based Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 23.0).Results: The predictability of vitamin D insufficiency was significant. Holding the effects of vitamin D deficiency constant, males with vitamin D insufficiency were 3.28 times more likely to be infertile than males with vitamin D sufficiency. Subgroup analysis of infertile men was done regarding semen parameters in different vitamin D status categories. There was statistically significant difference in semen volume and sperm concentration between infertile men of different vitamin D status but no significant difference in case of motility and morphology.Conclusions: There was no significant different of serum vitamin D (25OHD) between fertile and infertile men. Men with vitamin D insufficiency (≥20 ng/ml to <30 ng/ml) are more likely to be infertile than men with vitamin D sufficiency.