Search

Binders are the products that are used to bind, glue or hold the various feed ingredients together in order to maintain pellet integrity. For aqua-culturists, feed manufacturing is an expensive exercise due to the high cost of ingredients along with traditional artificial binders. The use of grain starches as aqua feed binders have advantages which include availability of that binder, nutritional contribution, and minimization of feed cost. A research trial was conducted to test physical properties such as palatability, water stability, dustiness, friability, settling velocity and floatation time of locally available starch i.e. wheat gluten, pea starch and guar gum and to assist their incorporation in on-farm aqua feed. Results revealed that among these three starch, the starch from pea source was proved superior over other two (wheat gluten and guar gum) as all physical quality parameters (dustiness, water stability and friability) revealed better performance of pea starch except pelletability in which guar gum performed best. Although not a single diet proved best in case of flotation time (Tf) and settling velocity (Vset) at varying lengths (6mm, 9mm and 12 mm). This finding indicates the significance of suitable binders for optimal water pollution and sustainable aquaculture. The use of these binders i.e. wheat gluten, pea starch and guar gum in fish feed pellets may also reduce dependence on synthetic binders and minimizes cost. Resumo Aglutinantes são produtos usados para unir, colar ou manter juntos os vários ingredientes da ração, a fim de conservar a integridade do pellet. Para os aquicultores, a fabricação de ração é uma atividade difícil e cara por causa do alto preço dos aglutinantes artificiais tradicionais. O uso de amidos de grãos como aglutinantes de rações aquáticas tem vantagens que incluem acessibilidade, disponibilidade, contribuição nutricional e minimização do custo da ração. Um ensaio de pesquisa foi conduzido para testar propriedades físicas, como palatabilidade, estabilidade em água, pulverulência, friabilidade, velocidade de sedimentação e tempo de flutuação de amido disponível localmente, ou seja, glúten de trigo, amido de ervilha e goma de guar, e para auxiliar sua incorporação em rações aquáticas. Os resultados revelaram que, entre esses três amidos, o amido de ervilha se mostrou superior aos outros dois (glúten de trigo e goma de guar), pois todos os parâmetros de qualidade física (pulverulência, estabilidade da água e friabilidade) obtiveram melhor desempenho, exceto peletabilidade, em que a goma de guar se destacou. Nenhuma dieta se mostrou melhor no caso de tempo de flotação (Tf) e velocidade de sedimentação em comprimentos variados (6 mm, 9 mm e 12 mm). Essa descoberta indica a importância de aglutinantes adequados para a poluição ótima da água e a aquicultura sustentável. O uso desses aglutinantes, ou seja, glúten de trigo, amido de ervilha e goma de guar, em pellets de ração para peixes também pode reduzir a dependência de aglutinantes sintéticos e minimizar o custo.

The main purpose of this study was to find out a possible association between ABO blood groups or Rh and diabetes mellitus (DM) in the local population of eight (8) different towns of Karachi, Pakistan. For this purpose a survey was carried out in Karachi to have a practical observation of these towns during the period of 9 months from June 2019 to Feb. 2020. Out of eighteen (18) towns of Karachi, samples (N= 584) were collected from only eight (8) Towns of Karachi and gave a code-number to each town. Diabetic group sample was (n1=432) & pre-diabetes sample was (n2 =152). A standard Abbot Company Glucometer for Random Blood Sugar (RBS) and Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) tests, standard blood anti sera were used for ABO/Rh blood type. Health assessment techniques were performed ethically by taking informed consent from all registered subjects. Finally data was analyzed by SPSS version 20.0. In our current study, the comparison of ABO blood groups frequencies between diabetic and pre-diabetic individuals were carried out. The percentage values of blood Group-B as given as: (32% in DM vs. 31% in pre-diabetics), followed by blood Group-O as: (18% in DM vs. 11% in pre-diabetics). Contrary to Group-“B” & “O”, blood Group-A and Group-AB were distribution percentage higher pre-diabetic as compared to DM patients, as given as: Group-A (32% in pre-diabetics vs. 26% in DM) & Group-AB (26% in pre-diabetics vs. 24% in diabetic’s patients). In addition, percentage distribution of Rh system was also calculated, in which Rh+ve Group was high and more common in DM patients as compared to pre-diabetics; numerically given as: Rh+ve Group (80% in DM vs. 72% in pre-diabetics). Different views and dimensions of the research topic were studied through literature support, some have found no any association and some established a positive association still some were not clear in making a solid conclusion. It is concluded that DM has a positive correlation with ABO blood groups, and people with Group-B have increased susceptibility to DM disease. Resumo O objetivo principal deste estudo foi descobrir uma possível associação entre grupos sanguíneos ABO ou Rh e diabetes mellitus (DM) na população local de oito (8) diferentes cidades de Karachi, Paquistão. Para tanto, foi realizado um levantamento em Karachi para observação prática dessas cidades durante o período de 9 meses de junho de 2019 a fevereiro de 2020.De dezoito (18) cidades de Karachi, as amostras (N = 584) foram coletadas de apenas oito (8) cidades de Karachi e deram um número-código para cada cidade. A amostra do grupo de diabéticos foi (n1 = 432) e a amostra de pré-diabetes foi (n2 = 152). Um glicômetro padrão da Abbot Company para testes de açúcar no sangue aleatório (RBS) e açúcar no sangue em jejum (FBS), antissoros de sangue padrão foram usados para o tipo de sangue ABO / Rh. As técnicas de avaliação de saúde foram realizadas de forma ética, tomando o consentimento informado de todos os indivíduos registrados. Finalmente, os dados foram analisados pelo SPSS versão 20.0.No presente estudo, foi realizada a comparação das frequências dos grupos sanguíneos ABO entre diabéticos e pré-diabéticos. Os valores percentuais do sangue do Grupo-B são dados como: (32% em DM vs. 31% em pré-diabéticos), seguido pelo sangue do Grupo-O como: (18% em DM vs. 11% em pré-diabéticos). Ao contrário dos Grupos “B” e “O”, sangue do Grupo-A e Grupo-AB tiveram distribuição percentual maior de pré-diabéticos em comparação com pacientes com DM, dado como: Grupo-A (32% em pré-diabéticos vs. 26% em DM) e Grupo AB (26% em pré-diabéticos vs. 24% em pacientes diabéticos). Além disso, também foi calculada a distribuição percentual do sistema Rh, no qual o Grupo Rh + ve foi elevado e mais comum em pacientes com DM em comparação aos pré-diabéticos; dados numericamente como: Grupo Rh + ve (80% em DM vs. 72% em pré-diabéticos). Diferentes visões e dimensões do tema de pesquisa foram estudadas com o suporte da literatura, alguns não encontraram nenhuma associação e alguns estabeleceram uma associação positiva, embora alguns não estivessem claros em fazer uma conclusão sólida. Conclui-se que o DM tem correlação positiva com os grupos sanguíneos ABO, e as pessoas com o Grupo B têm maior suscetibilidade à doença DM.

Naegleria fowleri is a deadly human pathogen that causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). In this study, in silico investigations of two important N. fowleri cathepsin B paralogs, i.e., copies of genes resulting from a gene duplication event, were carried out using comparative modeling and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Comparative models of both paralogs showed significant architectural similarity with their template, i.e., rat cathepsin B. However, in N. fowleri cathepsin B (UniProt ID: X5D761) and putative cathepsin B (UniProt ID: M1HE19) enzymes, eleven and fifteen residues in the occluding loop regions were deleted, respectively, suggesting that these enzymes have a short occluding loop. Thus, it is concluded that N. fowleri cathepsin B and putative cathepsin B enzymes lack exopeptidase activity but possess enhanced endopeptidase activity and an affinity for macromolecular inhibitors. MD simulations further confirmed that prosegments (macromolecular inhibitors) bond more tightly with both enzymes than with wild-type cathepsin B. Additionally, a mutation was identified at an important N-glycosylation site; this mutation is believed to affect cathepsin B targeting inside the cell and make cathepsin B available in the extracellular environment. Due to this important N-glycosylation site mutation, these enzymes are secreted in the extracellular environment via an alternative, still unknown, posttranslational processing strategy. The present study is the first to predict the three-dimensional folds of N. fowleri cathepsin B paralogous enzymes, including a detailed description of the active site architecture and information about propeptide binding mode. This information can contribute to the discovery of novel and selective treatments that are effective against N. fowleri.

Large exchange volumes of 2.5 and 3 L are frequently necessary to improve clearances to the level suggested by the DOQI guidelines. However, abdominal wall hernias are a well known complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD) related to increased abdominal pressure, and might increase with higher exchange volumes. We studied the effect of using higher exchange volumes in PD patients on the incidence of hernia formation. Seventy-nine (12%) of 656 PD patients over a 15-year span developed abdominal wall hernias. Eleven percent of patients using 2 L or smaller volumes, 15% of patients using more than 2 L but less than 3 L, and 13% of patients using 3 L developed hernias (not significantly different). Five percent of patients on cyclers for their entire PD experience (3 of 63 patients) developed one or more hernias, compared to 13% of patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis for at least part of their experience (P = 0.06). The use of larger volumes increased dramatically over time; only 11% of patients used more than 2-L exchange volumes during the years 1982 through 1986, compared to 73% in the period from 1992 to 1997. We conclude that increased volumes in PD patients do not lead to an increased risk of hernia formation. Exchange volumes can be increased as needed to improve clearances.

The vegetation around Ghulam Mohammad Barrage especially of Gundi and Railo Bada Reserve Forests was studied. Five vegetation types were observed in the area: Tamarix and Saccharum-association, Acacia arabica-association, Salvadora persica-association, Pond-association and Salvadora and Prosopis-association. The pioneer association of Tamarix and Saccharum is replaced by Acacia arabica-association. However in highly saline areas Salvadora persica-association apperas instead of it. Ultimately these are replaced by climax association of Salvadora and Prosopis.