Decreasing maize production-consumption gap by intercropping with upland rice using different planting densities under deficit irrigation

A two-year field experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019 at Gemmiza Agricultural Research Station (Lat. 31.03° N, Long. 30.88° E, 8 m a.s.l.); Gharbia Governorate; Egypt. The aim was to use untraditional sowing method to intercrop maize with upland rice using three maize planting densities (25, 37.5 and 50% of its recommended density) and application of two deficit irrigation treatments (irrigation every 9 and 12 days), in addition to irrigation every 6 days (control) and to study its effect on the yield of both intercrops, competitive relationships and farmer’s income. The results indicated that the highest value of rice yield and its components were found under irrigation every 6 days and 25% maize planting density intercropped with rice. Whereas, the highest value of maize yield and its components were found under irrigation every 9 days and 50% maize planting density intercropped with rice, which also obtained the highest land and water equivalent ratios, area time equivalent ratio, and land equivalent coefficient. Furthermore, the highest total income and monetary advantage index were obtained under irrigation every 9 days and 50% maize planting density intercropped with rice. Thus, these results implied that intercropping maize with upland rice can solve part of the maize production-consumption gap through increasing its production without using additional lands or water.  Keywords: Land and water equivalent ratios, percentage of land saved, area time equivalent ratio, land equivalent coefficient, monetary advantage index, Rice, Maize, Egyp

First trimester spontaneous rupture of an unscarred uterus in a multiparous woman: a case report

The rupture of an unscarred uterine is a rare life-threatening event that usually occurs late in pregnancy or during labor. Spontaneous uterine rupture, as in our case, is extremely uncommon and rarely diagnosed before laparotomy. Herein, we present a case of spontaneous uterine rupture in a 32 year old multiparous woman with no previous uterine surgery. The patient presented with acute abdomen at 11 weeks of gestation. Preoperative diagnosis based on clinical and ultra-sonographic findings was ruptured ectopic pregnancy. However, emergency laparotomy showed uterine rupture with extrusion of a dead fetus within intact amniotic sac in the abdomen. The defect was repaired in layers and the patient was discharged in a good condition after five days of hospital stay. Multiparity is a risk factor for spontaneous uterine rupture even in the first trimester. It should be kept in mind in any pregnant multiparous woman presenting with acute abdomen and shock. The absence of vaginal spotting and lack of history of uterine surgery give a false sense of security

First-trimester rupture of a scarred uterus after use of sublingual misoprostol: a case report

Uterine rupture is a disastrous obstetric complication, occurring mostly in the second and third trimesters. The risk of uterine rupture markedly increases with previous uterine surgeries. Termination of early pregnancy failure using misoprostol is common. However, its use in women with a scarred uterus is speculative and usually puts the obstetricians in a stressful situation. Here we present a case of rupture of a scarred uterus in the first trimester after sublingual misoprostol. A 35 years old multiparous woman presented with uterine rupture after administration of small doses of sublingual misoprostol for termination of early pregnancy failure. Immediate laparotomy was done and the defect was repaired. Termination of early pregnancy failure, in women with a scarred uterus, using sublingual misoprostol can lead to uterine rupture. Sublingual misoprostol should be used cautiously under close supervision or other routes (vaginal or oral) should be used instead

New 1,2,3-Triazole/1,2,4-triazole Hybrids as Aromatase Inhibitors: Design, Synthesis, and Apoptotic Antiproliferative Activity

A novel series of 1,2,3-triazole/1,2,4-triazole hybrids 5a, 5b, and 6a–i was designed and synthesized as antiproliferative agents targeting aromatase enzymes. The antiproliferative activity of the new hybrids against four cancer cells was studied using Erlotinib as a control. Compounds 6a and 6b demonstrated the highest antiproliferative activity among these hybrids, with GI50 values of 40 nM and 35 nM, respectively. Compound 6b was the most potent derivative, with a GI50 of 35 nM, comparable to Erlotinib’s GI50 of 33 nM. Compound 6b inhibited all cancer cell lines with comparable efficacy to Erlotinib. Compounds 5a, 5b, and 6a–i were tested for inhibitory action against aromatase as a potential target for their antiproliferative activity. Results revealed that compounds 6a and 6b were the most potent aromatase inhibitors, with IC50 values of 0.12 ± 0.01 µM and 0.09 ± 0.01 µM, respectively, being more potent than the reference Ketoconazole (IC50 = 2.6 ± 0.20 µM) but less potent than Letrozole (IC50 = 0.002 ± 0.0002). These findings indicated that compounds 6a and 6b had significant aromatase inhibitory action and are potential antiproliferative candidates. The findings were further linked to molecular docking investigations, which gave models of strong interactions with the aromatase domain for inhibitors with high binding scores

Computational and Experimental Study on the Water-Jet Pump Performance

The effect of operational and geometrical parameters on the jet pump efficiency were determined experimentally and numerically. Numerical investigation was held firstly to determine the effect of diffuser angle, mixing chamber length, pump area ratio and driving nozzle position on the efficiency of jet pump. Commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver ANSYS FLUENT R 15.0 using SST-turbulence model was used. The numerical results showed that jet pump efficiency increases with decreasing both of diffuser angles and mixing chamber length up to a certain value and then pump efficiency decreases. Also, jet pump efficiency increases with increasing pump area ratio up to a certain value and then pump efficiency decreases. It was found that maximum numerical efficiency is 37.8 % for pump area ratio of 0.271. In addition, the numerical results showed that the optimum relative length of mixing chamber is 5.48 and the optimum value for diffuser angle at which the efficiency is a maximum value is 5º. Experimental tests were conducted to obtain the effects of various operational and geometrical parameters on the performance of the jet pumps. A test rig was constructed using the optimum design from the numerical results. The CFD’s results were found to agree well with actual values obtained from the experimental results

Circulating microparticles are increased amongst people presenting with HIV and advanced immune suppression in Malawi and correlate closely with arterial stiffness: a nested case control study

Background: We aimed to investigate whether circulating microparticle (CMPs) subsets were raised amongst people presenting with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and advanced immune suppression in Malawi, and whether they associated with arterial stiffness. Methods: Antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve adults with a new HIV diagnosis and CD4 <100 cells/µL had microparticle characterisation and carotid femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (cfPWV) at 2 weeks post ART initiation. HIV uninfected controls were matched on age, systolic blood pressure (BP) and diastolic BP in a 1:1 ratio.  Circulating microparticles were identified from platelet poor plasma and stained for endothelial, leucocyte, monocyte and platelet markers. Results: The median (IQ) total CMP count for 71 participants was 1 log higher in HIV compared to those without (p<0.0001) and was associated with arterial stiffness (spearman rho 0.47, p<0.001). In adjusted analysis, every log increase in circulating particles showed a 20% increase in cfPWV (95% confidence interval [CI] 4 – 40%, p=0.02). In terms of subsets, endothelial and platelet derived microparticles were most strongly associated with HIV. Endothelial derived E-selectin+ CMPs were 1.3log-fold higher and platelet derived CD42a+ CMPs were 1.4log-fold higher (both p<0.0001). Endothelial and platelet derived CMPs also correlated most closely with arterial stiffness (spearman rho: E-selectin+ 0.57 and CD42a 0.56, both p<0.0001). Conclusions: Circulating microparticles associate strongly with arterial stiffness among people living with HIV in Malawi. Endothelial damage and platelet microparticles are the predominant cell origin types and future translational studies could consider prioritising these pathways

Cervical Steroid Injections Are Not Effective for Prevention of Surgical Treatment of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine how often patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) and initially treated with cervical steroid injections (CSI) and to determine whether these injections provide any benefit in delaying ultimate surgical treatment. METHODS: All patients with a new diagnosis of DCM, without previous cervical spine surgery or steroid injections, were identified in PearlDiver, a large insurance database. Steroid injection and surgery timing was identified using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Multivariate logistic regression identified associations with surgical treatment. RESULTS: A total of 686 patients with DCM were identified. Pre-surgical cervical spine steroid injections were utilized in 244 patients (35.6%). All patients underwent eventual surgical treatment. Median time from initial DCM diagnosis to surgery was 75.5 days (mean 351.6 days; standard deviation 544.9 days). Cervical steroid injections were associated with higher odds of surgery within 1 year (compared to patients without injections, OR = 1.44, CONCLUSIONS: While cervical steroid injections continue to be commonly performed in patients with DCM, there is an overall increased odds of surgery after any type of cervical injection. Therefore injections should not be used to prevent surgical management of DCM

Preparation and Characterization of Fluorescence Probe from Assembly Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposite

A new nanocomposite fluorescence probe with thioglycolic acid (TA) functional layers embedded inside the hydroxyapatite nanoribbon spherulites has been synthesized. The fluorescence intensity of the novel probe is about 1.5–3.3-fold increase compared with the probe containing no TA. When used to detect cadmium ion, the most of original assembly nanoribbon spherulites structure in the novel probe is found to have been damaged to new flake structures. The mechanism of determining cadmium ion in alcohol solution has been studied. The present systematic study provides significant information on the effect of assembly nanostructure on the metal-enhanced fluorescence phenomenon