Relationship between Flag Leaf Reflectance and Canopy Temperature in Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) Cultivars under Stressed and Irrigated Conditions

Optical technologies can be developed as practical tools for monitoring plant health by providing unique spectral signatures that can be related to specific plant stresses. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine differences in canopy temperature and leaf reflectance of different durum wheat under both well-watered and moisture stressed conditions and (ii) evaluate the relationships between canopy temperature and leaf reflectance at Red and Blue (RB) wavelength. We use numerical image analysis by Mesurim Pro (Version 3.3) softwarefor estimate leaf reflectance at Red and Blue (RB) wavelength.In this study irrigation treatments affect significantly flag leaf reflectance at RB and canopy temperature. Significant correlations were registered between leaf reflectance and canopy temperature under both conditions irrigated and non irrigated; these best correlations proved the efficiency of using leaf reflectance at RB in screening for drought tolerance in durum wheat cultivars

A Smartphone-Based Tool for Rapid, Portable, and Automated Wide-Field Retinal Imaging.

Purpose:High-quality, wide-field retinal imaging is a valuable method for screening preventable, vision-threatening diseases of the retina. Smartphone-based retinal cameras hold promise for increasing access to retinal imaging, but variable image quality and restricted field of view can limit their utility. We developed and clinically tested a smartphone-based system that addresses these challenges with automation-assisted imaging. Methods:The system was designed to improve smartphone retinal imaging by combining automated fixation guidance, photomontage, and multicolored illumination with optimized optics, user-tested ergonomics, and touch-screen interface. System performance was evaluated from images of ophthalmic patients taken by nonophthalmic personnel. Two masked ophthalmologists evaluated images for abnormalities and disease severity. Results:The system automatically generated 100° retinal photomontages from five overlapping images in under 1 minute at full resolution (52.3 pixels per retinal degree) fully on-phone, revealing numerous retinal abnormalities. Feasibility of the system for diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening using the retinal photomontages was performed in 71 diabetics by masked graders. DR grade matched perfectly with dilated clinical examination in 55.1% of eyes and within 1 severity level for 85.2% of eyes. For referral-warranted DR, average sensitivity was 93.3% and specificity 56.8%. Conclusions:Automation-assisted imaging produced high-quality, wide-field retinal images that demonstrate the potential of smartphone-based retinal cameras to be used for retinal disease screening. Translational Relevance:Enhancement of smartphone-based retinal imaging through automation and software intelligence holds great promise for increasing the accessibility of retinal screening

miR-132-3p and KLF7 as novel regulators of aortic stiffening-associated EndMT in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus has risen considerably and currently affects more than 422 million people worldwide. Cardiovascular diseases including myocardial infarction and heart failure represent the major cause of death in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Diabetes patients exhibit accelerated aortic stiffening which is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease and mortality. We recently showed that aortic stiffness precedes hypertension in a mouse model of diabetes (db/db mice), making aortic stiffness an early contributor to cardiovascular disease development. Elucidating how aortic stiffening develops is a pressing need in order to halt the pathophysiological process at an early time point. Methods: To assess EndMT occurrence, we performed co-immunofluorescence staining of an endothelial marker (CD31) with mesenchymal markers (α-SMA/S100A4) in aortic sections from db/db mice. Moreover, we performed qRT-PCR to analyze mRNA expression of EndMT transcription factors in aortic sections of db/db mice and diabetic patients. To identify the underlying mechanism by which EndMT contributes to aortic stiffening, we used aortas from db/db mice and diabetic patients in combination with high glucose-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as an in vitro model of diabetes-associated EndMT. Results: We demonstrate robust CD31/α-SMA and CD31/S100A4 co-localization in aortic sections of db/db mice which was almost absent in control mice. Moreover, we demonstrate a significant upregulation of EndMT transcription factors in aortic sections of db/db mice and diabetic patients. As underlying regulator, we identified miR-132-3p as the most significantly downregulated miR in the micronome of db/db mice and high glucose-treated HUVECs. Indeed, miR-132-3p was also significantly downregulated in aortic tissue from diabetic patients. We identified Kruppel-like factor 7 (KLF7) as a target of miR-132-3p and show a significant upregulation of KLF7 in aortic sections of db/db mice and diabetic patients as well as in high glucose-treated HUVECs. We further demonstrate that miR-132-3p overexpression and KLF7 downregulation ameliorates EndMT in high glucose-treated HUVECs. Conclusions: We demonstrate for the first time that EndMT contributes to aortic stiffening in T2D. We identified miR-132-3p and KLF7 as novel EndMT regulators in this context. Altogether, this gives us new insights in the development of aortic stiffening in T2D.</p

The Factor structure of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale among school students and university students in Oman

هدفت الدراسة الحالية إلى اختبار البنية العاملية لمقياس روزنبرغ لتقدير الذات، وفحص ما إذا كانت هذه البنية تتساوى لدى عينتين عمريتين. فقد أفادت دراسات عدة أن تقدير الذات ينمو ويتطور ويصبح أكثر واقعية وتمايزًا مع التقدم في العمر. وقد استجاب لمقياس تقدير الذات 365 طالبًا من طلبة المدارس و119 من طلبة الجامعة. يتكون مقياس تقدير الذات لروزنبرغ من 10 فقرات، نصفها تمت صياغته صياغة موجبة، والنصف الآخر تمت صياغته صياغة سالبة. وقد تبين أن مقياس تقدير الذات يتمتع بثبات مقبول لا سيما لدى طلبة الجامعة. وقد تبين أن المقياس يتمتع ببنية عاملية مقبولة لدى كل من العينتين، فقد تشبعت كل فقرات المقياس على عامل تقدير الذات بدرجة جوهرية. إلا أن وجود عامل واحد فقط؛ لم يمثل البيانات بشكل مقبول، فقد كان التطابق ضعيفًا بين العامل الواحد والبيانات. في حين أن وجود عاملين أحدهما موجب والآخر سالب، مثّلا البيانات بدرجة معقولة. ولكن عند اختبار فرضية تساوي المعالم لدى العينتين، اتضح أن المعالم التي تمثل التشبعات كانت متساوية لدى المجموعتين، بينما لم تتساو معالم الثوابت والبواقي والعلاقات بين البواقي. وخلصت الدراسة إلى أن النموذج الأكثر مطابقة للبيانات هو نموذج عامل السمة وعامل الطريقة السالبة في الصياغة، في إشارة إلى تأثير طريقة الصياغة على البنية العاملية، والدرجة التي يفرزها مقياس روزنبرغ. كما تبين الدراسة أهمية الانتباه إلى طريقة صياغة الفقرات عند تفسير الدرجات التي يفرزها هذا المقياس وغيره من المقاييس التي تحوي عبارات موجبة وأخرى سالبة.The aim of this study was to test the structure of Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and explore if the structure is invariant across school students (n=365) and university students (n=119). Previous research has shown that self-esteem so as other personality traits are developmental in nature; and self-esteem becomes more differentiated and realistic with age. Two samples responded to RSES which has 10 items half of which was written in the positive format and the other half in negative format. RSES showed reasonable internal consistency, especially among university students. Also, the scale produced a reasonable structure among both groups as the items measured the factor substantially. Item loadings were invariant across the two groups. However, other parameters (intercepts, residuals and correlations among residuals) were not invariant indicating that the items measured the trait equally valid for school and university students. However, the level of self-esteem as indicated by item scores was not invariant as school children scored higher than university students in most of the items. The results imply that using negative items has an effect on both the structure and magnitude of self-esteem. Scale developers and users may need to be cautioned when they interpret the resultant scores of scales with positive and negative items

Effect of Pre- and In-Hospital Delay on Reperfusion in Acute Ischemic Stroke Mechanical Thrombectomy.

Post hoc analyses of randomized controlled clinical trials evaluating mechanical thrombectomy have suggested that admission-to-groin-puncture (ATG) delays are associated with reduced reperfusion rates. Purpose of this analysis was to validate this association in a real-world cohort and to find associated factors and confounders for prolonged ATG intervals. Patients included into the BEYOND-SWIFT cohort (Bernese-European Registry for Ischemic Stroke Patients Treated Outside Current Guidelines With Neurothrombectomy Devices Using the Solitaire FR With the Intention for Thrombectomy; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03496064) were analyzed (n=2386). Association between baseline characteristics and ATG was evaluated using mixed linear regression analysis. The effect of increasing symptom-onset-to-admission and ATG intervals on successful reperfusion (defined as Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction [TICI] 2b-3) was evaluated using logistic regression analysis adjusting for potential confounders. Median ATG was 73 minutes. Prolonged ATG intervals were associated with the use of magnetic resonance imaging (+19.1 [95% CI, +9.1 to +29.1] minutes), general anesthesia (+12.1 [95% CI, +3.7 to +20.4] minutes), and borderline indication criteria, such as lower National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, late presentations, or not meeting top-tier early time window eligibility criteria (+13.8 [95% CI, +6.1 to +21.6] minutes). There was a 13% relative odds reduction for TICI 2b-3 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.87 [95% CI, 0.79-0.96]) and TICI 2c/3 (aOR, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.79-0.95]) per hour ATG delay, while the reduction of TICI 2b-3 per hour increase symptom-onset-to-admission was minor (aOR, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.94-0.99]) and inconsistent regarding TICI 2c/3 (aOR, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.97-1.02]). After adjusting for identified factors associated with prolonged ATG intervals, the association of ATG delay and lower rates of TICI 2b-3 remained tangible (aOR, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.76-0.99]). There is a great potential to reduce ATG, and potential targets for improvement can be deduced from observational data. The association between in-hospital delay and reduced reperfusion rates is evident in real-world clinical data, underscoring the need to optimize in-hospital workflows. Given the only minor association between symptom-onset-to-admission intervals and reperfusion rates, the causal relationship of this association warrants further research. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT03496064

Long-term efficacy and safety of subcutaneous pasireotide alone or in combination with cabergoline in Cushing’s disease

ObjectiveThis study evaluated short- and long-term efficacy and safety of the second-generation somatostatin receptor ligand pasireotide alone or in combination with dopamine agonist cabergoline in patients with Cushing’s disease (CD).Study designThis is an open-label, multicenter, non-comparative, Phase II study comprising 35-week core phase and an optional extension phase. All patients started with pasireotide, and cabergoline was added if cortisol remained elevated. Eligible patients had active CD, with or without prior surgery, were pasireotide naïve at screening or had discontinued pasireotide for reasons other than safety. Primary endpoint was proportion of patients with a mean urinary free cortisol (mUFC) level not exceeding the upper limit of normal (ULN) at week 35 with missing data imputed using last available post-baseline assessments.ResultsOf 68 patients enrolled, 26 (38.2%) received pasireotide monotherapy and 42 (61.8%) received pasireotide plus cabergoline during the core phase. Thirty-four patients (50.0%; 95% CI 37.6–62.4) achieved the primary endpoint, of whom 17 (50.0%) received pasireotide monotherapy and 17 (50.0%) received combination therapy. Proportion of patients with mUFC control remained stable during the extension phase up to week 99. Treatment with either mono or combination therapy provided sustained improvements in clinical symptoms of hypercortisolism up to week 99. Hyperglycemia and nausea (51.5% each), diarrhea (44.1%) and cholelithiasis (33.8%) were the most frequent adverse events.ConclusionAddition of cabergoline in patients with persistently elevated mUFC on maximum tolerated doses of pasireotide is an effective and well-tolerated long-term strategy for enhancing control of hypercortisolism in some CD patients.Clinical trial registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01915303, identifier NCT01915303

Overview of the PALM model system 6.0

In this paper, we describe the PALM model system 6.0. PALM (formerly an abbreviation for Parallelized Largeeddy Simulation Model and now an independent name) is a Fortran-based code and has been applied for studying a variety of atmospheric and oceanic boundary layers for about 20 years. The model is optimized for use on massively parallel computer architectures. This is a follow-up paper to the PALM 4.0 model description in Maronga et al. (2015). During the last years, PALM has been significantly improved and now offers a variety of new components. In particular, much effort was made to enhance the model with components needed for applications in urban environments, like fully interactive land surface and radiation schemes, chemistry, and an indoor model. This paper serves as an overview paper of the PALM 6.0 model system and we describe its current model core. The individual components for urban applications, case studies, validation runs, and issues with suitable input data are presented and discussed in a series of companion papers in this special issue

The state of HRM in the Middle East:Challenges and future research agenda

Based on a robust structured literature analysis, this paper highlights the key developments in the field of human resource management (HRM) in the Middle East. Utilizing the institutional perspective, the analysis contributes to the literature on HRM in the Middle East by focusing on four key themes. First, it highlights the topical need to analyze the context-specific nature of HRM in the region. Second, via the adoption of a systematic review, it highlights state of development in HRM in the research analysis set-up. Third, the analysis also helps to reveal the challenges facing the HRM function in the Middle East. Fourth, it presents an agenda for future research in the form of research directions. While doing the above, it revisits the notions of “universalistic” and “best practice” HRM (convergence) versus “best-fit” or context distinctive (divergence) and also alternate models/diffusion of HRM (crossvergence) in the Middle Eastern context. The analysis, based on the framework of cross-national HRM comparisons, helps to make both theoretical and practical implications