EFFECT OF SOYBEAN MEAL, MAIZE GLUTEN 30% AND FEATHER MEAL ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND FEED CONVERSION RATIO OF HYBRID (LABEO ROHITA X CATLA CATLA) FINGERLINGS

Growth performance and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of hybrid (Labeo rohita x Catla catla) fingerlings fed for six weeks on soybean meal, maize gluten 30% and feather meal were evaluated. The feed trails were replicated for each of the ingredients. The feed was supplied at the rate of 4% of wet body weight of fingerlings twice a day. The hybrid (Labeo rohita x Catla catla) fingerlings gained highest body weight (2.07 ± 0.01g) on maize gluten 30%, followed by feather meal (1.88 ± 0.04g) and soybean meal (1.66 ± 0.01g) and these values were significantly different from each other (p<0.05). The growth measured in terms of total length was significantly higher on maize gluten 30% (6.85 ± 0.04 cm) than feather meal (6.20 ± 0.05 cm) and soybean meal (6.15 ± 0.04 cm). The difference between the latter two groups was, however, non significant. FCR calculated for three ingredients was lower (better) on maize gluten 30% (1.90 ± 0.06), followed by feather meal (1.97 ± 0.04) and soybean meal (2.06 ± 0.08). The FCR value on maize gluten 30% was significantly better than soybean meal but non significantly different from feather meal. It was concluded that maize gluten 30% could be included in the feed formulation for fingerling hybrids

Comparative arsenic tolerance and accumulation potential between wild Tagetes patula and Tagetes minuta

Arsenic (As) is a bioactive metalloid that is highly toxic to humans, animals, and plants. Environmental contamination of As especially in groundwater increases due to natural and anthropogenic activities. The present study was performed to evaluate the potential of wild Tagetes species for the phytoremediation of As contaminated soil/water. This comparative research aims to analyze As accumulation and tolerance in two wild species of Tagetes, T. minuta and T. patula. The 20 days old seedlings were grown hydroponically and exposed to the different concentrations of As, 0, 50, 150, and 300 µM As2 O3 for 1-, 4- and 7- days intervals.Effect of As stress was measured on the rate of seed germination, growth parameters like fresh and dry biomass weight, root/shoot length, chlorophyll contents and As contents in root and shoot in both Tagetes species. Increasing concentration of As restricts the growth activity of T. minuta with toxicity symptoms on leaves such as chlorosis. Accumulation of As in the shoot was significantly (p ≤ 0.01) high (634 µg g-1 DW) in T. patula as compared to T. minuta (397 µg g-1 DW) at 300 µM As2 O3 . Both Tagetes species exhibited high variation for As tolerance parameters as well as for As accumulation patterns. Comparatively good tolerance and accumulation of As in T. patula suggests that this species could be used in phytoextraction and re-vegetation in As contaminated sites

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population.The aim of this study was to inform vaccination prioritization by modelling the impact of vaccination on elective inpatient surgery. The study found that patients aged at least 70 years needing elective surgery should be prioritized alongside other high-risk groups during early vaccination programmes. Once vaccines are rolled out to younger populations, prioritizing surgical patients is advantageous

SARS-CoV-2 infection and venous thromboembolism after surgery: an international prospective cohort study

SARS-CoV-2 has been associated with an increased rate of venous thromboembolism in critically ill patients. Since surgical patients are already at higher risk of venous thromboembolism than general populations, this study aimed to determine if patients with peri-operative or prior SARS-CoV-2 were at further increased risk of venous thromboembolism. We conducted a planned sub-study and analysis from an international, multicentre, prospective cohort study of elective and emergency patients undergoing surgery during October 2020. Patients from all surgical specialties were included. The primary outcome measure was venous thromboembolism (pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis) within 30 days of surgery. SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis was defined as peri-operative (7 days before to 30 days after surgery); recent (1–6 weeks before surgery); previous (≥7 weeks before surgery); or none. Information on prophylaxis regimens or pre-operative anti-coagulation for baseline comorbidities was not available. Postoperative venous thromboembolism rate was 0.5% (666/123,591) in patients without SARS-CoV-2; 2.2% (50/2317) in patients with peri-operative SARS- CoV-2; 1.6% (15/953) in patients with recent SARS-CoV-2; and 1.0% (11/1148) in patients with previous SARS- CoV-2. After adjustment for confounding factors, patients with peri-operative (adjusted odds ratio 1.5 (95%CI 1.1–2.0)) and recent SARS-CoV-2 (1.9 (95%CI 1.2–3.3)) remained at higher risk of venous thromboembolism, with a borderline finding in previous SARS-CoV-2 (1.7 (95%CI 0.9–3.0)). Overall, venous thromboembolism was independently associated with 30-day mortality (5.4 (95%CI 4.3–6.7)). In patients with SARS-CoV-2, mortality without venous thromboembolism was 7.4% (319/4342) and with venous thromboembolism was 40.8% (31/76). Patients undergoing surgery with peri-operative or recent SARS-CoV-2 appear to be at increased risk of postoperative venous thromboembolism compared with patients with no history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Optimal venous thromboembolism prophylaxis and treatment are unknown in this cohort of patients, and these data should be interpreted accordingly

Civic and ethnic nationalism in Pakistan.

In this thesis, Pakistan's experience with nationalism is studied by highlighting the interplay of civic, ethnic, and religious nationalism. This study also focuses on understanding education's role in creating a shared nationalism. This thesis has employed Gellner's well-developed argument on nationalism, his zones of nationalism to examine civic, ethnic, and religious nationalism, and his emphasis on the role of education in creating shared high culture in nation-states. The thesis has four hypotheses. The first hypothesis argues that since the establishment of Pakistan in 1947, civic, ethnic, and religious nationalism have been in competition with each other. The second hypothesis posits that the elites in Pakistan promote civic, ethnic, and religious nationalism in ways that benefit their short term self-interests. The third hypothesis maintains that elites promote civic, ethnic, and religious nationalism as it benefits them; therefore, their approach towards national education policies also reflects the form of nationalism they promote. The final hypothesis argues that education policies have been ineffective in addressing internal diversities and developing shared nationalism or civic nationalism in Pakistan. This study is conducted through a historical analysis of politics and national education policies in Pakistan. Interviews of bureaucrats, politicians, school principals and teachers, and academics were conducted for primary data collection. The research is broadly based on secondary data sources. Pakistan is examined as a deviant case that simultaneously falls in Gellner’s zone one, three, and five of nationalism. This thesis has found that during different historical phases, the political and military elites in power at the national level have promoted some form of high culture. However, the formation of shared high culture has been subject to shifting focuses, and competition from folk and religious cultures. This thesis concludes that the elites promote their proposed civic nationalism at the national level and simultaneously promote ethnic nationalism at provincial levels to secure short term self-interests. The religious elites promote religious nationalism as a political narrative. The religious-political parties form alliances with ethnic-based political parties and support military regimes to secure short term political gains. Broadly, religious nationalism has not been able to gain popular support in Pakistan. The study finds that political, military, and religious elites have subjected national education policies to shifting focuses, reflecting the form of nationalism they were promoting at the time of policy formation. Education in Pakistan lacks standardization. The public schools, private schools, and madrassas constitute different and parallel education systems in Pakistan. Therefore, in Pakistan, national education has been unable to address socio-economic, ethnic, and religious divisions. A shared civic nationalism has not been shaped through education. The study illuminates that zone one style civic nationalism has not been formed in Pakistan. After the disintegration of Pakistan in 1971, Pakistan has not fully transitioned to zone three style ethnic nationalism. Pakistan has not adopted religious nationalism. There is an ongoing competition among civic, ethnic, and religious nationalism. The deviation from the discussed zones of nationalism might suggest a need to broaden the scope of Gellner’s nationalism to include other post-colonial states, where it seems that due to ethnic and religious conflicts, and colonial imprints on the education system, a shared form of nationalism has not been formed

Smoking and Second Hand Smoking in Adolescents with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Report from the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) Cohort Study

The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of smoking and second hand smoking [SHS] in adolescents with CKD and their relationship to baseline parameters at enrollment in the CKiD, observational cohort study of 600 children (aged 1-16 yrs) with Schwartz estimated GFR of 30-90 ml/min/1.73m2. 239 adolescents had self-report survey data on smoking and SHS exposure: 21 [9%] subjects had “ever” smoked a cigarette. Among them, 4 were current and 17 were former smokers. Hypertension was more prevalent in those that had “ever” smoked a cigarette (42%) compared to non-smokers (9%), p\u3c0.01. Among 218 non-smokers, 130 (59%) were male, 142 (65%) were Caucasian; 60 (28%) reported SHS exposure compared to 158 (72%) with no exposure. Non-smoker adolescents with SHS exposure were compared to those without SHS exposure. There was no racial, age, or gender differences between both groups. Baseline creatinine, diastolic hypertension, C reactive protein, lipid profile, GFR and hemoglobin were not statistically different. Significantly higher protein to creatinine ratio (0.90 vs. 0.53, p\u3c0.01) was observed in those exposed to SHS compared to those not exposed. Exposed adolescents were heavier than non-exposed adolescents (85th percentile vs. 55th percentile for BMI, p\u3c 0.01). Uncontrolled casual systolic hypertension was twice as prevalent among those exposed to SHS (16%) compared to those not exposed to SHS (7%), though the difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.07). Adjusted multivariate regression analysis [OR (95% CI)] showed that increased protein to creatinine ratio [1.34 (1.03, 1.75)] and higher BMI [1.14 (1.02, 1.29)] were independently associated with exposure to SHS among non-smoker adolescents. These results reveal that among adolescents with CKD, cigarette use is low and SHS is highly prevalent. The association of smoking with hypertension and SHS with increased proteinuria suggests a possible role of these factors in CKD progression and cardiovascular outcomes

Natural Drugs from Plants

Natural Drugs from Plants emphasizes the importance of medicinal plants for drug discovery worldwide. Chapters discuss the active ingredients of certain medicinal plants, their mechanisms of action, and how they can be used to treat different diseases

Plant Signaling Molecule: Role and Regulation under Stressful Environments

Plant Signaling Molecule: Role and Regulation under Stressful Environments explores tolerance mechanisms mediated by signaling molecules in plants for achieving sustainability under changing environmental conditions. Including a wide range of potential molecules, from primary to secondary metabolites, the book presents the status and future prospects of the role and regulation of signaling molecules at physiological, biochemical, molecular and structural level under abiotic stress tolerance. This book is designed to enhance the mechanistic understanding of signaling molecules and will be an important resource for plant biologists in developing stress tolerant crops to achieve sustainability under changing environmental conditions