Effects of locally produced bacterial phytase on humoral immunity, live body weight and blood characteristics in broilers vaccinated against Newcastle disease

Immune responses in association with body weight performance and hemato-biochemical constituents might influence the Newcastle disease (ND) vaccination by dietary phytase supplementation (Enterobacter sakazakii ASUA273). The objective of the study was to determine the effects of bacterial phytase supplementation on humoral immunity in association with live body weight and blood characteristics of broilers. Male-day-old Cobb broilers (n=180) were assigned into four phytase treatments (0, 500, 1000 and 1500 FTU/kg-1 of diet) with 12 cages comprised of 3 replicates and each cage contained 15 birds. Birds were maintained on formulated basal diet based with available phosphorus (0.19%) that lasted up to six weeks in feed. Birds were vaccinated with a live ND vaccine at day-old and 21 day-old. Two birds were randomly selected from each treatment weekly. Specific antibody to ND, non-specific immunoglobins (IgM, IgG, and IgA) and live body weight were measured weekly. At the end of experiment, the complete haemato-biochemical constituents were determined. Data of humoral immunity with live body weight and haemato- biochemical values were analysed based on factorial arrangement (treatments×weeks) of completely randomized design (CRD), respectively. Response of the humoral immunity shown that although serum-antibody of ND, IgM, and IgG levels were not improved, the mucosal IgA contents were increased with the increasing phytase doses. The live body weights of broilers were significantly increased (P<0.05) to the graded levels of phytase supplementation throughout the experimental period. Cumulative effects of mucosal IgA contents and live body weights of broilers showed significant (P<0.05) interaction between the effects of phytase levels and effects of weeks. Overall, phytase dose at 1500 FTU/kg-1 of diet over the age of 6 weeks-old showed the best performance. Conversely, no significant, sequential, and consistent treatment effects were observed on hemato-biochemical constituents in broiler chickens. It is therefore, concluded that the efficacy of this local phytase was flourished in respective to mucosal IgA contents and live body weights of broilers

Changes in Color and Physiological Components of The Postharvest Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Influenced by Different Levels of GA3

Abstract - This experiment consisted of two popular mango varieties in Bangladesh (viz., Langra and Khirshapat) and four different levels of Gibberellic acid (GA3) solution, namely control, 100, 200 and 400 ppm. The two factors experiment was assigned in randomized complete block design with tree replicates. Data obtained from various biochemical analyses in terms of physicochemical properties and shelf life of postharvest mango, were recorded and statistically analyzed for comparison among the mean values using DMRT and LSD. The results of the experiments exhibited that only the single effect of varieties was found to be significant in most of the parameters studied. Variety the Langra performed better in accumulating higher quantity of dry matter, ash, vitamin c content in all four experiments over Khirshapat. On the other hand, the Khirshapat showed better performance in achieving higher quantity of moisture, progressively lost physiological weight as well as extended shelf life and delayed skin color changes than Langra at all the storage duration. Keywords: Postharvest mango; Gibberellic acid; physiological components

Continuous glucose monitoring reduces pubertal hyperglycemia of type 1 diabetes

Background: Physiologic hyperglycemia of puberty is a major contributor to poor glycemic control in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D). This study\u27s aim was to determine the effectiveness of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to improve glycemic control in pubertal youth with T1D compared to a non-CGM cohort after controlling for age, sex, BMI, duration, and insulin delivery methodology. The hypothesis is that consistent CGM use in puberty improves compliance with diabetes management, leading to increased percentage (%) time in range (TIR70-180 mg/dL) of glycemia, and lowering of HbA1c. Methods A longitudinal, retrospective, case-controlled study of 105 subjects consisting of 51 T1D controls (60.8% male) age 11.5 +/- 3.8 y; and 54 T1D subjects (48.1% male) age 11.1 +/- 5.0 y with confirmed CGM use for 12 months. Pubertal status was determined by Tanner staging. Results were adjusted for baseline HbA1c and diabetes duration. Results HbA1c was similar between the controls and the CGM group at baseline: 8.2 +/- 1.1% vs 8.3 +/- 1.2%, p=0.48 respectively; but was significantly lower in the CGM group 12 months later, 8.2 +/- 1.1% vs. 8.7 +/- 1.4%, p=0.035. Longitudinal change in HbA1c was similar in the prepubertal cohort between the control- and CGM groups: -0.17 +/- 0.98% vs. 0.38 +/- 1.5%, p=0.17. In contrast, HbA1c increased with advancing age and pubertal status in the pubertal controls but not in the pubertal CGM group: 0.55 +/- 1.4 vs -0.22 +/- 1.1%, p=0.020. Percent TIR was inversely related to HbA1c in the CGM group, r=-0.6, p=0.0004, for both prepubertal and pubertal subjects. Conclusions CGM use significantly improved glycemic control in pubertal youth with T1D compared to non-CGM users

Socio-cultural influences on the behaviour of South Asian women with diabetes in pregnancy: qualitative study using a multi-level theoretical approach

BACKGROUND: Diabetes in pregnancy is common in South Asians, especially those from low-income backgrounds, and leads to short-term morbidity and longer-term metabolic programming in mother and offspring. We sought to understand the multiple influences on behaviour (hence risks to metabolic health) of South Asian mothers and their unborn child, theorise how these influences interact and build over time, and inform the design of culturally congruent, multi-level interventions. METHODS: Our sample for this qualitative study was 45 women of Bangladeshi, Indian, Sri Lankan, or Pakistani origin aged 21-45 years with a history of diabetes in pregnancy, recruited from diabetes and antenatal services in two deprived London boroughs. Overall, 17 women shared their experiences of diabetes, pregnancy, and health services in group discussions and 28 women gave individual narrative interviews, facilitated by multilingual researchers, audiotaped, translated, and transcribed. Data were analysed using the constant comparative method, drawing on sociological and narrative theories. RESULTS: Key storylines (over-arching narratives) recurred across all ethnic groups studied. Short-term storylines depicted the experience of diabetic pregnancy as stressful, difficult to control, and associated with negative symptoms, especially tiredness. Taking exercise and restricting diet often worsened these symptoms and conflicted with advice from relatives and peers. Many women believed that exercise in pregnancy would damage the fetus and drain the mother's strength, and that eating would be strength-giving for mother and fetus. These short-term storylines were nested within medium-term storylines about family life, especially the cultural, practical, and material constraints of the traditional South Asian wife and mother role and past experiences of illness and healthcare, and within longer-term storylines about genetic, cultural, and material heritage - including migration, acculturation, and family memories of food insecurity. While peer advice was familiar, meaningful, and morally resonant, health education advice from clinicians was usually unfamiliar and devoid of cultural meaning. CONCLUSIONS: 'Behaviour change' interventions aimed at preventing and managing diabetes in South Asian women before and during pregnancy are likely to be ineffective if delivered in a socio-cultural vacuum. Individual education should be supplemented with community-level interventions to address the socio-material constraints and cultural frames within which behavioural 'choices' are made

Understanding how immigrant entrepreneurs view business opportunity formation through ethnicity

Given that international research is now consistently showing higher rates of entrepreneurial activity from immigrants above native people, research regarding our understanding of how immigrant entrepreneurs view business opportunity formation remains underdeveloped. Based upon a review of the literature, this chapter examines how ethnicity relates to business opportunity formation through constant interactions. It also introduces the Visual Mixed Embeddedness Framework as an empirical lens for understanding the differences in the business opportunity formation process models between immigrant and native entrepreneurs. By explaining how factors and traits from both home and host countries impact upon the immigrant entrepreneurial business activity process, the framework clearly identifies how the concept of ethnicity influences immigrant entrepreneurial opportunity formation activities in different ways. The framework contributes to existing knowledge by offering a novel method for examining the influence on business opportunity formation of ethnicity, the role of home and host countries and variations between immigrant and native entrepreneurs

Analysis of the Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MAP2K4) tumor suppressor gene in ovarian cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>MAP2K4 </it>is a putative tumor and metastasis suppressor gene frequently found to be deleted in various cancer types. We aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of this gene to assess its involvement in ovarian cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We screened for mutations in <it>MAP2K4 </it>using High Resolution Melt analysis of 149 primary ovarian tumors and methylation at the promoter using Methylation-Specific Single-Stranded Conformation Polymorphism analysis of 39 tumors. We also considered the clinical impact of changes in <it>MAP2K4 </it>using publicly available expression and copy number array data. Finally, we used siRNA to measure the effect of reducing <it>MAP2K4 </it>expression in cell lines.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In addition to 4 previously detected homozygous deletions, we identified a homozygous 16 bp truncating deletion and a heterozygous 4 bp deletion, each in one ovarian tumor. No promoter methylation was detected. The frequency of <it>MAP2K4 </it>homozygous inactivation was 5.6% overall, and 9.8% in high-grade serous cases. Hemizygous deletion of <it>MAP2K4 </it>was observed in 38% of samples. There were significant correlations of copy number and expression in three microarray data sets. There was a significant correlation between <it>MAP2K4 </it>expression and overall survival in one expression array data set, but this was not confirmed in an independent set. Treatment of JAM and HOSE6.3 cell lines with <it>MAP2K4 </it>siRNA showed some reduction in proliferation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>MAP2K4 </it>is targeted by genetic inactivation in ovarian cancer and restricted to high grade serous and endometrioid carcinomas in our cohort.</p

Understanding the consumption of folic acid during preconception, among Pakistani, Bangladeshi and white British mothers in Luton, UK: a qualitative study

Background To review the similarities and differences in Pakistani, Bangladeshi and White British mothers health beliefs (attitudes, knowledge and perceptions) and health behaviour regarding their consumption of folic acid pre-conception, to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Methods Our study used a descriptive qualitative research approach, implementing face-to-face focus group discussions with Pakistani, Bangladeshi or White British mothers (normal birth outcomes and mothers with poor birth outcomes) and semi-structured interviews or focus groups with service providers using semi-structured topic guides. This method is well suited for under researched areas where in-depth information is sought. There were three sample groups: 1. Pakistani, Bangladeshi and White British mothers with normal birth outcomes (delivery after 37 weeks of gestation, in the preceding 6 to 24 months, weighing 2500 g and living within a specified postcode area in Luton, UK). 2. Pakistani Bangladeshi and white British bereaved mothers who had suffered a perinatal mortality (preceding 6 to 24 months, residing within a specificied postcode area). 3. Healthcare professionals working on the local maternity care pathway (i.e. services providing preconception, antenatal, antepartum and postpartum care). Transcribed discussions were analysed using the Framework Analysis approach. Results The majority of mothers in this sample did not understand the benefits or optimal time to take folic acid pre-conception. Conversely, healthcare professionals believed the majority of women did consume folic acid, prior to conception. Conclusions There is a need to increase public health awareness of the optimal time and subsequent benefits for taking folic acid, to prevent neural tube defects.</p

Use of the analysis of the volatile faecal metabolome in screening for colorectal cancer

Diagnosis of colorectal cancer is an invasive and expensive colonoscopy, which is usually carried out after a positive screening test. Unfortunately, existing screening tests lack specificity and sensitivity, hence many unnecessary colonoscopies are performed. Here we report on a potential new screening test for colorectal cancer based on the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the headspace of faecal samples. Faecal samples were obtained from subjects who had a positive faecal occult blood sample (FOBT). Subjects subsequently had colonoscopies performed to classify them into low risk (non-cancer) and high risk (colorectal cancer) groups. Volatile organic compounds were analysed by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) and then data were analysed using both univariate and multivariate statistical methods. Ions most likely from hydrogen sulphide, dimethyl sulphide and dimethyl disulphide are statistically significantly higher in samples from high risk rather than low risk subjects. Results using multivariate methods show that the test gives a correct classification of 75% with 78% specificity and 72% sensitivity on FOBT positive samples, offering a potentially effective alternative to FOBT

GISualization: visualized integration of multiple types of data for knowledge co-production

Urban planning deals with multiple layers of information stemming from concurrent activities and stakeholders intervening in urban development. For a better management of complexity more comprehensiveness and data integration are needed. This study develops an adaptive and iterative mixed-method approach for knowledge production in urban transformation processes. Specific research questions relate to data integration from different sources and facilitation of co-production of knowledge beyond triangulation. A new multi-layer framework, GISualization, has been developed in the context of a research project exploring compact city qualities. The framework is structured through five data layers, representing different methods for data collection and different grades of complexity, richness and interpretation: basic statistics; advanced statistics; exogenous quali-quantitative descriptions; exogenous qualitative descriptions; and endogenous qualitative descriptions. Thus, data stem from both quantitative and qualitative sources. Our study has proven that GISualization is a methodological framework that enables analysis and visualization of complex data in a rich format. The approach is closely related to analytical eclecticism and abductivity. It embodies a collaborative communication platform that provides a language to navigate between heterogeneous data, information and methods. The GISualization framework opens up for broader stakeholder involvement and community participation extending research into the domain of transdisciplinary knowledge production