Diagnosing nutrient limitations to lentil and chickpea in acid soils of Bangladesh

Lentil and chickpea are dietary staple crops in Bangladesh but their local production has been markedly declining in recent decades, mainly due to competition with irrigated cereals. However, in northern Bangladesh, an additional problem to their cultivation is acid surface soil conditions, potentially causing deficiencies of molybdenum (Mo) and boron (B), and toxicities of aluminium (Al), manganese (Mn) or hydrogen ion (H+). In an attempt to rehabilitate lentil and chickpea in northern Bangladesh on-farm trials were conducted to determine the response of these crops to Mo, B, and lime and Rhizobium inoculation. Despite earlier reports of widespread B deficiency in the region a response to B was only found in chickpea. Responses to Mo and Rhizobium, applied through seed priming, were found. There were responses to lime even after B, Mo, and Rhizobium had been applied, suggesting Al toxicity. Recommendations for fertilizer requirement, to fit into an overall integrated crop management package for lentil and chickpea, were modified accordingly

Prospective randomised comparison of femoral transfix versus endobutton with constant tibial fixation in hamstring tendon ACL reconstruction: a preliminary study

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate clinico radiological outcome of hamstring tendon ACL reconstruction using femoral Transfixation and Endobutton with identical Tibial fixation.Methods: A Prospective randomized clinical outcome study was done from January 2002 to June 2008, a total of 132 patients with quadruple hamstring ACL reconstruction using a femoral fixation group A Endobutton (n=68; median age=27.4) and group B with Transfix (n=64; median age=26.1) and identical Tibial fixation with Biointerference screw and bone staple were studied. Patients in each group had a clinical and radiological assessment at <3, 3-12, 12-24 and >24 months after surgery.Results: The mean Lysholm Knee score has improved significantly with time within these groups but no difference on comparison between groups. Ninety percent of all patients had functionally normal or near normal International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) knee ligament ratings. IKDC Subjective Knee evaluation mean score has progressively increased significantly from pre op values of 37.58 and 36.55 to about 74.51 and 75.85 in group A and group B respectively. The tibial and femoral tunnels also showed widening of about 9.64% and 7.79% in group A as compared to 7.71% and 7.27% in group B at >24 months follow-up, which was statistically insignificant. MRI done in limited patients showed good graft incorporation in both groups.Conclusions: So keeping the tibial graft fixation constant, the two different femoral fixation methods, Endobutton and transfixation have not influenced in the clinical outcome in this short term preliminary study. But long term follow up of these is necessary to evaluate the significance of tunnel widening and its final outcome

DNA linkage based diagnosis of Wilson disease in asymptomatic siblings

Wilson disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by defects in ATP7B gene located in chromosome 13q14, and manifested as hepatolenticular degeneration as a result of accumulation of copper. No information on the mutation in the ATP7B gene and haplotypes using linked markers is available for WD patients in India. Hence, the present study was undetaken to identify, by a PCR-based molecular diagnostic test, presymptomatic siblings of WD affected individuals in families with multiple offspring. Methods: Genomic DNA was prepared from the peripheral blood of the patients, siblings and his/her first degree relatives. The repeat-markers flanking WD locus were amplified by PCR using fluorescent labeled primers. Amplified DNA fragments were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in ABI 377 DNA sequencing system. Genotypes of the samples were determined using Genescan software. Haplotypes were determined based on segregation of the alleles in the families under study. Results: Among 15 WD affected families with multiple children, 4 cases were identified where younger siblings shared same genotype as the patient at all three markers analyzed. Further, eight different haplotypes were detected in the four patients. Interpretation & conclusion: The siblings of the WD patients carrying the same genotype at the markers linked to WD locus were presymptomatically diagnosed individuals. Presence of eight different haplotypes in the four patients suggested mutational heterogeneity at the WD locus. The test helps clinicians for therapeutic intervention in suspect WD cases by copper chelating agents prior to manifestation of overt clinical symptoms. Key words ATP7B - genotype - haplotype - microsatellite - Wilson disease (WD) is a genetic disorder, which manifests as hepatolenticular degeneration as a result of accumulation of copper in the brain, liver, kidney and cornea due to its deranged biliary excretion1. In 1912, a WD was described as a familial syndrome of progressive lenticular degeneration associated with cirrhosis of the liver2. The etiological role of copper in the pathogenesis of WD was recognized much late

Expanding the Envelope of UAS Certification: What it Takes to Type Certify a UAS for Precision Agricultural Spraying

One of the key challenges to the development of a commercial Unmanned Air-craft System (UAS) market is the lack of explicit consideration of UAS in the current regulatory framework. Despite recent progress, additional steps are needed to enable broad UAS types and operational models. This paper discusses recent research that examines how a risk-based approach for safety might change the process and substance of airworthiness requirements for UAS. The project proposed risk-centric airworthiness requirements for a midsize un-manned rotorcraft used for agricultural spraying and also identified factors that may contribute to distinguishing safety risk among different UAS types and operational concepts. Lessons learned regarding how a risk-based approach can expand the envelope of UAS certification are discussed

Absolute photoionization cross section measurements of the Kr I-isoelectronic sequence

Photoionization spectra have been recorded in the 4s, 4p and 3d resonance regions for the Kr Iisoelectronic sequence using both the dual laser produced plasma technique (at DCU) to produce photoabsorption spectra, and the merged ion beam and synchrotron radiation technique (at ASTRID) to measure absolute photoionization cross sections. Profile parameters are compared for the 4s − np resonances of Rb+ and Sr2+. Many new 4p " ns, md transitions are identified with the aid of Hartree-Fock calculations, and consistent quantum defects are observed for the various ns and md Rydberg series. Absolute single and double photoionization cross sections recorded in the 3d region for Rb+ and Sr2+ ions show preferential decay via double photoionization. This is only the second report where both the DLP technique and the merged beam technique have been used simultaneously to record photoionization spectra, and the advantages of both techniques (i.e. better resolution in the case of DLP and values for absolute photoionization cross sections in the case of the merged beam technique) are highlighted

Development of the American College of Rheumatology Electronic Clinical Quality Measures for Gout

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143639/1/acr23500.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143639/2/acr23500-sup-0001-AppendixS1.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143639/3/acr23500_am.pd

Birth prevalence of neural tube defects and orofacial clefts in India: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: In the last two decades, India has witnessed a substantial decrease in infant mortality attributed to infectious disease and malnutrition. However, the mortality attributed to birth defects remains constant. Studies on the prevalence of birth defects such as neural tube defects and orofacial clefts in India have reported inconsistent results. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of observational studies to document the birth prevalence of neural tube defects and orofacial clefts. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search for observational studies was conducted in MEDLINE and EMBASE databases using key MeSH terms (neural tube defects OR cleft lip OR cleft palate AND Prevalence AND India). Two reviewers independently reviewed the retrieved studies, and studies satisfying the eligibility were included. The quality of included studies was assessed using selected criteria from STROBE statement. RESULTS: The overall pooled birth prevalence (random effect) of neural tube defects in India is 4.5 per 1000 total births (95% CI 4.2 to 4.9). The overall pooled birth prevalence (random effect) of orofacial clefts is 1.3 per 1000 total births (95% CI 1.1 to 1.5). Subgroup analyses were performed by region, time period, consanguinity, and gender of newborn. CONCLUSION: The overall prevalence of neural tube defects from India is high compared to other regions of the world, while that of orofacial clefts is similar to other countries. The majority of studies included in the review were hospital based. The quality of these studies ranged from low to moderate. Further well-designed, high quality community-based observational studies are needed to accurately estimate the burden of neural tube defects and orofacial clefts in India