Acidosis potentiates endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and gap junction communication in the superior mesenteric artery.

Extracellular pH is an important physiological determinant of vascular tone that is normally maintained within 7.35-7.45. Any change outside this range leads to severe pathological repercussions. We investigated the unknown effects of extracellular acidosis on relaxation in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) of goat. SMA rings were employed to maintain isometric contractions at extracellular pH (p

Principles of Interplay Between miRNAs and Transcription Factors in The Cancer Genome

Digitized for IUPUI ScholarWorks inclusion in 2021.miRNAs are small non-coding RNA that play a vital role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. They are involved in several important biological processes; hence their dysregulation has been associated with several diseases. In this study we propose a novel method to identify dysregulated miRNAs using tumor matched expression data. Applying the method to expression datasets of nine cancers from TCGA we identify dysregulated miRNAs in each of these cancers. In six cancers we see that more than 50% of the dysregulated miRNAs are up-regulated, suggesting a general trend of upregulation. We then identify transcription factors (TFs) that control the expression of dysregulated miRNAs in cancer by footprinting their upstream regions in order to build a high confidence transcriptional regulatory network contributing to the dysregulation of miRNAs. We observe that these TFs are predominantly responsible for up-regulation of miRNAs across cancers. In addition, we find that TFs that are identified in six or more cancers have different network centralities in the TF-Tf regulatory network when compared to TFs identified to contribute to dysregulation of miRNAs in a single cancer. Finally, we build cancer specific dysregulated TF-miRNA networks and identified several novel motifs including feedback loops involving TFs and miRNAs. These patterns of interactions show how TFs and miRNAs interact in a cancer specific manner and how dysregulation at one level affects the other

Pancytopenia: a clinico hematological study

Background: Pancytopenia is very common consequence of many haematological diseases. It is the shortage of all types of blood cells. It happens in many serious and life-threatening illnesses, ranging from simple drug-induced bone marrow hypoplasia, megaloblastic anemia to fatal bone marrow aplasias and leukemias. It has different causes and severity based on which the treatment is directed and prognosis is implicated. Main objective of the study was to study the clinical presentations in pancytopenia due to various causes; and to evaluate hematological parameters, including bone marrow.Methods: It was a prospective study, and 50 pancytopenic patients were evaluated clinically, along with hematological parameters and bone marrow aspiration in Hematology Unit, Department of Pathology, Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India during the period of October 2013 to September 2015.Results: Among 50 cases studied, age of patients ranged from 1 to 80 years with commonest age group being 41-50 years, and male predominance. Most of the patients presented with generalized weakness, pain abdomen and bleeding. Bone marrow aspiration was conclusive in all cases. The commonest marrow finding was hypocellularity followed by hypercellularity with megaloblastic erythropoiesis. The commonest cause for pancytopenia was aplastic anemia (44%), followed by mrgaloblastic anemia (20%).Conclusions: The present study concludes that detailed primary hematological investigations along with bone marrow aspiration in cytopenic patients are helpful for understanding disease process and to diagnose or to rule out the causes of cytopenia. These are also helpful in planning further investigations and management

UNDER WESTERN EYES: Feminist Scholarship and Colonial Discourses

It ought to be of some political significance at least that the term 'colonization' has come to denote a variety of phenomena in recent feminist and left writings in general. From its analytic value as a category of exploitative economic exchange in both traditional and contemporary Marxisms (cf. particularly such contemporary scholars as Baran, Amin and Gunder-Frank) to its use by feminist women of colour in the US, to describe the appropriation of their experiences and struggles by hegemonic white women's movements,' the term 'colonization' has been used to characterize everything from the most evident economic and political hierarchies to the production of a particular cultural discourse about what is called the 'Third World.'2 However sophisticated or problematical its use as an explanatory construct, colonization almost invariably implies a relation of structural domination, and a discursive or political suppression of the heterogeneity of the subject(s) in question. What I wish to analyse here specifically is the production of the 'Third World Woman' as a singular monolithic subject in some recent (western) feminist texts. The definition of colonization I invoke is a predominantly discursive one, focusing on a certain mode of appropriation and codification of 'scholarship' and 'knowledge' about women in the third world by particular analytic categories employed in writings on the subject which take as their primary point of reference feminist interests as they have been articulated in the US and western Europe.Debería tener cierta importancia política el hecho de que el término "colonización" haya llegado a denotar una serie de fenómenos en los últimos escritos feministas y de la izquierda en general. Desde su valor analítico como categoría de intercambio económico explotador en los marxismos tradicionales y contemporáneos (cf. particularmente estudiosos contemporáneos como Baran, Amin y Gunder-Frank) hasta su uso por parte de las mujeres feministas de color en los EE.UU., para describir la apropiación de sus experiencias y luchas por parte de los movimientos hegemónicos de mujeres blancas, el término "colonización" se ha utilizado para caracterizar todo, desde las jerarquías económicas y políticas más evidentes hasta la producción de un discurso cultural particular sobre lo que se llama el "Tercer Mundo". 2 Por muy sofisticado o problemático que sea su uso como constructo explicativo, la colonización implica casi siempre una relación de dominación estructural y una supresión discursiva o política de la heterogeneidad del sujeto o sujetos en cuestión. Lo que deseo analizar aquí específicamente es la producción de la "mujer del Tercer Mundo" como un sujeto monolítico singular en algunos textos feministas (occidentales) recientes. La definición de colonización que invoco es predominantemente discursiva, y se centra en un determinado modo de apropiación y codificación de la "erudición" y el "conocimiento" sobre las mujeres del tercer mundo por parte de determinadas categorías analíticas empleadas en escritos sobre el tema que toman como punto de referencia principal los intereses feministas tal y como se han articulado en los Estados Unidos y Europa occidental

Damping of Layered and Jointed Beams with Riveted Joints

The present investigation highlights the effect of interfacial slip on the damping of layered cantilever beams jointed with rivets undergoing free vibration. The inclusion of mechanical joints bears a strong influence in the overall system performance and behavior, particularly the damping level of the structures. In fact, the damping and its improvement in machines or structures are one of the biggest challenges to the practicing engineers. Usually, such structures inherently possess low structural damping necessitating the introduction of additional measures to improve their damping characteristics in order to control the harmful effects of vibration in normal operating conditions. Monolithic structures can be used as an alternative, but unfortunately these are very poor in damping capacity and are not cost-effective. One of the techniques used in the present problem for improving damping is fabricating these structures in layers by means of riveted joints. The incorporation of such joints is the major source of energy dissipation through frictional effects associated with relative shear displacements at the interfaces of the various structural members. Most of the damping in built-up structures is thus attributed to micro-slip at the interfaces.The contribution of the micro-slip on the overall system damping is always significant in spite of its low magnitude

Enhancement of growth and seed yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) through foliar spray of osmoprotectants under high temperature stress

An investigation was undertaken during rabi-summer season of 2016-17 in the Department of Seed Science and Technology, OUAT, Bhubaneswar to study the efficiency of some osmoprotectants in mitigating high temperature stress by improving growth, seed yield and quality of rice cv. Naveen. The field experiment was conducted in Split Plot Design, with three replications. The main plot factor was three dates of sowing (D1 – 30th November, D2 – 15th December and D3 – 30th December). The sub-plot factor was foliar spray of chemicals at vegetative and seed filling stages: Control (T0), 600 ppm Glycine betaine (T1), 400 ppm Salicylic acid (T2), 800 ppm Salicylic acid (T3), 10 ppm Ascorbic acid + 1.3% Citric acid (T4), 150 ppm α-Tocopherol (T5), 1.0% Potassium chloride (T6), 5 ppm Brassinolides (T7) and 10 ppm Brassinolides (T8). Observations on various phenological, seed yield and quality parameters were recorded. With advancement in sowing time, there was significant decrease in the chlorophyll content of leaves. The chlorophyll content of leaves after two days of spraying as slightly higher than that prior to spraying in all the treatments. Maximum chlorophyll content was recorded with spray treatment of 800 ppm salicylic acid at both the stages of observation. Significantly higher pollen viability and seed set were recorded with first date of sowing (D1), compared to second and third dates of sowing (D2 and D3, respectively). Among the treatments, pollen viability was highest with 10 ppm brassinolides and 400 ppm salicylic acid. Seed set was highest with 10 ppm brassinolides and 800 ppm salicylic acid. With advancement in sowing time, there was decrease in membrane stability index of leaves. The MSI of leaves after two days of spraying was slightly higher than that prior to spraying in all treatments. Maximum MSI was recorded with spray treatment of 400 ppm salicylic acid (T2) during vegetative and seed filling stages. The treatments T2, T4 and T8 produced highest increase in MSI compared to that before spraying during both stages. Higher seed yield was obtained from D1, compared to delayed sowing. Mean seed yield from D1 was 53.76 q/ha, as against 48.99 q/ha and 44.51 q/ha from D2 and D3, respectively. Spraying of 800 ppm salicylic acid and 10 ppm brassinolides gave highest seed yields from each date of sowing. Seed yields from D3T0 and D2T0 (35.33 q/ha and 39.72 q/ha, respectively) were significantly lower than all treatment combinations, including D1T0 (51.83 q/ha). Increase in seed yields due to various treatments as against the control was more pronounced in D2 and D3. The first date of sowing (D1) produced seeds with higher 1000-seed weight (22.62 g), compared to D2 and D3 (20.27 g and 19.36 g, respectively). Among the treatments, higher 1000-seed weights were recorded with the treatments T3 and T8 (21.51 g and 21.43 g, respectively), while lowest 1000-seed weight (18.76 g) was recorded with the Control. Seeds produced from D1 recorded higher germination and seed vigour. All the treatments recorded improvement in germination and vigour of seeds with three dates of sowing. Treatments T3, T7 and T8 gave highest improvement in seed germination over control. Under accelerated ageing treatment, T3 recorded highest germination followed by T8. Dates of sowing and treatment sprays had no influence on electrical conductivity of seed leachate. Hence, the present study demonstrated that foliar sprays at vegetative and seed filling stages with 800 ppm salicylic acid or 10 ppm ascorbic acid + 1.3% citric acid or 10 ppm brassinolides were quite effective in alleviating adverse effects of high temperature during flowering and seed set, through increased chlorophyll content of leaves, improved membrane stability, higher pollen viability and seed set, thus improving seed yield and quality of rice

Enhancement of growth and seed yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) through foliar spray of osmoprotectants under high temperature stress

92-100An investigation was undertaken during rabi-summer season of 2016-17 in the Department of Seed Science and Technology, OUAT, Bhubaneswar to study the efficiency of some osmoprotectants in mitigating high temperature stress by improving growth, seed yield and quality of rice cv. Naveen. The field experiment was conducted in Split Plot Design, with three replications. The main plot factor was three dates of sowing (D1 – 30th November, D2 – 15th December and D3 – 30th December). The sub-plot factor was foliar spray of chemicals at vegetative and seed filling stages: Control (T0), 600 ppm Glycine betaine (T1), 400 ppm Salicylic acid (T2), 800 ppm Salicylic acid (T3), 10 ppm Ascorbic acid + 1.3% Citric acid (T4), 150 ppm α-Tocopherol (T5), 1.0% Potassium chloride (T6), 5 ppm Brassinolides (T7) and 10 ppm Brassinolides (T8). Observations on various phenological, seed yield and quality parameters were recorded. With advancement in sowing time, there was significant decrease in the chlorophyll content of leaves. The chlorophyll content of leaves after two days of spraying as slightly higher than that prior to spraying in all the treatments. Maximum chlorophyll content was recorded with spray treatment of 0 ppm salicylic acid at both the stages of observation. Significantly higher pollen viability and seed set were recorded with first date of sowing (D1), compared to second and third dates of sowing (D2 and D3, respectively). Among the treatments, pollen viability was highest with 10 ppm brassinolides and 400 ppm salicylic acid. Seed set was highest with 10 ppm brassinolides and 800 ppm salicylic acid. With advancement in sowing time, there was decrease in membrane stability index of leaves. The MSI of leaves after two days of spraying was slightly higher than that prior to spraying in all treatments. Maximum MSI was recorded with spray treatment of 400 ppm salicylic acid (T2) during vegetative and seed filling stages. The treatments T2, T4 and T8 produced highest increase in MSI compared to that before spraying during both stages. Higher seed yield was obtained from D1, compared to delayed sowing. Mean seed yield from D1 was 53.76 q/ha, as against 48.99 q/ha and 44.51 q/ha from D2 and D3, respectively. Spraying of 800 ppm salicylic acid and 10 ppm brassinolides gave highest seed yields from each date of sowing. Seed yields from D3T0 and D2T0 (35.33 q/ha and 39.72 q/ha, respectively) were significantly lower than all treatment combinations, including D1T0 (51.83 q/ha). Increase in seed yields due to various treatments as against the control was more pronounced in D2 and D3. The first date of sowing (D1) produced seeds with higher 1000-seed weight (22.62 g), compared to D2 and D3 (20.27 g and 19.36 g, respectively). Among the treatments, higher 1000-seed weights were recorded with the treatments T3 and T8 (21.51 g and 21.43 g, respectively), while lowest 1000-seed weight (18.76 g) was recorded with the Control. Seeds produced from D1 recorded higher germination and seed vigour. All the treatments recorded improvement in germination and vigour of seeds with three dates of sowing. Treatments T3, T7 and T8 gave highest improvement in seed germination over control. Under accelerated ageing treatment, T3 recorded highest germination followed by T8. Dates of sowing and treatment sprays had no influence on electrical conductivity of seed leachate. Hence, the present study demonstrated that foliar sprays at vegetative and seed filling stages with 800 ppm salicylic acid or 10 ppm ascorbic acid + 1.3% citric acid or 10 ppm brassinolides were quite effective in alleviating adverse effects of high temperature during flowering and seed set, through increased chlorophyll content of leaves, improved membrane stability, higher pollen viability and seed set, thus improving seed yield and quality of rice

SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF POTASSIUM CIS-DIAQUA-BIS (OXALATO) CHROMATE (III) WITH LEVODOPA AND CARBIDOPA

Objective: These studies focus on the interaction between two clinically active antiparkinsonian drugs L-dopa (L) and carbidopa (C) with the cis-[Cr(C2O4)2(H2O)2]-and evaluation of the synthesized product from a coordination chemistry aspect with respect to the possibility of its antioxidant activity and its therapeutic application in the treatment of Parkinson disease.Methods: The resulting synthesized complexes were characterized by UV-VIS and FTIR spectroscopy. Evaluation of antioxidant activities of this cis-[Cr(C2O4)2(H2O)2]--L-dopa(ML), cis-[Cr(C2O4)2(H2O)2]--carbidopa(MC) and standard butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were carried out by using 1,1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH), 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical cations and hydrogen peroxide method.Results: The results of spectral analysis of the synthesized products indicate that complexes have a Cr(III) ion coordinated via the carboxylic and amino group. In the reduction of radical DPPH· and the formation of radical monocation ABTS·+the ability to scavenge radical was measured in these experiments by the discoloration of the solution. However, in hydrogen peroxide method, the increased in absorbance showing its scavenging potential. The scavenging capacity of the test compounds and standard on the DPPH, ABTS·+, H2O2 decreased in the order BHT>ML>MC>C>L which were 98.4, 96.4, 86.4, 68.3, 49.7% for DPPH, BHT>ML>L>MC>C which were 99.3, 96.9, 96.3,66.6, 53.4% for ABTS·+, BHT>ML>MC>L>C which were 68.8%, 52.4%, 49.6%, 43.1% and 37.7% for H2O2 at the concentration of 50 µg/ml, respectively.Conclusion: The experimental findings showed that cis-[Cr(C2O4)2(H2O)2]--levodopa and cis-[Cr(C2O4)2(H2O)2]--carbidopa are having higher antioxidant potential than Levodopa and carbidopa although not superior to that of standard compound

Evaluation of safety and tolerability of iron amino acid chelate therapy in pregnant women

Background: Anemia is a major health problem. Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia during pregnancy. It can be associated with increased preterm labor, preeclampsia, and maternal sepsis. It can also lead to fetal loss or even perinatal deaths. The aim of the study was to monitor the oral iron therapy [Iron Amino Acid Chelate (IAAC) equivalent to elemental iron 30 mg] administered according to hospital practice and to determine the safety, and tolerability of IAAC in pregnant women.Methods: The data of pregnant women attending the outpatient department of the hospital for antenatal care between March 2020 and February 2021 and prescribed IAAC was retrospectively analyzed. It was of interest to note the changes in the Hemoglobin (Hb) levels and serum ferritin levels. These parameters were considered as the primary efficacy parameter and were analyzed by the paired t-test.Results: The data indicated very well tolerance to IAAC preparation with increase in Hb levels. After 12 week of treatment, there were significant increases in hemoglobin levels with mean rise in Hb level was 7 to 9 gm/dL. A statistically significant difference was observed at the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks from the baseline value to each evaluation in the Hb level due to the supplementation of oral iron.  The change in the serum ferritin levels was found to be statistically significant at the 12th week from the baseline values. Most of the women tolerated the oral IAAC preparationConclusions: This retrospective analysis showcased a significant improvement in the Hb and serum ferritin levels of pregnant women after 12 weeks

Normal saline nasal irrigation in childhood allergic rhinosinusitis: Our experiences in a tertiary care teaching hospital of Eastern India

Background: Allergic rhinosinusitis (AR) is a common clinical disorder among pediatric patients. There are different modalities of the treatment for AR ranging from antihistamines, corticosteroids, and mast cell stabilizers in oral or topical formulations. Objective: The objective of the study was to find out the effect of nasal saline irrigation or saline spray for reducing the symptoms in childhood AR along with an oral antiallergic treatment. Materials and Methods: The present study is a prospective study of the children suffering from AR between December 2017 and January 2019. All the children were in the age group of 5–16 years. All were randomly divided into two groups. In Group I, nasal saline irrigation was done in 56 patients twice a day along with an oral antiallergic treatment. Group II or control group consists of 56 children of AR those received only oral antiallergic treatment. Follow-up was done at the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th weeks after treatment and symptom scores were compared with previous clinical presentations. The data were analyzed by applying t-test. Results: Each group had 56 children with a mean age of 12.6 years in Group-I whereas 11.7 years in Group-II. The percentage disability scores (PDSs) at the beginning of the study were comparable in both the groups (83% vs. 88%). Both groups showed improvement in the PDS after treatment at the 2nd week; however, it was more in Group-I than in Group-II (p<0.001, paired t-test). Conclusion: Involvement of normal saline irrigation with oral antiallergic treatment in the present study provided satisfactory symptomatic relief in comparison with antiallergic treatment in pediatric patients suffering from AR