286 research outputs found
Between Archaeology and Text: The Origins of Rice Consumption and Cultivation in the Middle East and the Mediterranean
No full textAsiatic Rice Oryza sativa L. (Poaceae) is a domesticated grain crop native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, which presently ranks among the most important grains in a global diet. Oryza sativa is comprised of two distinct phylogenetic subspecies, namely japonica and indica, for which genetic evidence indicates at least two centres of domestication: the Lower Yangtze valley for the broad thick-grained japonica (c. 4000 BC) and the Gangetic basin for the thin elongated indica variety (c. 2500 BC) (Fuller et al 2010; idem 2011; Nesbitt et al 2010: 325–7). Modern genetics of landraces from northeast India may indicate a third distinct origin for the so-called aus rice varieties (Londo et al 2006: 9581–2). The genetic history of this taxon is further complicated by post-domestication hybridisation between domesticates and their wild ancestors as well as the presence of rarer forms like the aromatic rice varieties (basmati in South Asia and sadri from Iran) which may be of independent origin (Nesbitt et al 2010: 324–5). In South Asia domesticated rice is attested at various archaeological sites in the Ganges basin from the mid-3rd millennium BC onwards. It subsequently appears at mature and late Harappan levels in north-western India (c. 2000 BC) before arriving at the edge of the eastern Iranian plateau at Pirak on the north Kachi plain in the early 2nd millennium BC (Costantini 1981; Fuller 2006: 36; Sato 2005). The presence of rice at Pirak heralds its gradual westward movement along the Iranian plateau via overland and perhaps even coastal routes into western Iran and Mesopotamia
The angle of the components of the common atrioventricular valve predicts the outcome of surgical correction in patients with atrioventricular septal defect and common atrioventricular junction
No full textBackground: Three-dimensional echocardiography offers new insights into valvar function in atrioventricular septal defects (AVSDs). The aim of this study was to identify a morphological marker to predict the functional outcomes of left atrioventricular valves (AVVs) following the repair of AVSDs.Methods: Twenty-nine consecutive patients were evaluated preoperatively using 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional echocardiography. The angle of the AVV relative to the crux of the heart was measured in multiplanar review mode.Results: The severity of postoperative left AVV regurgitation was correlated with preoperative valvar angle, being more acute in patients with moderate or severe regurgitation (mean, 57 ± 13° vs 83 ± 9° in patients with no or mild regurgitation; P = .002). Angles ? 59° predicted severe regurgitation with 79% specificity.Conclusions: Multiplanar review of 3-dimensional data sets is valuable for the assessment of the functional morphology of AVSD valves. Using this technique, more acute AVV angles predicted increased likelihood of severe regurgitation following surgical repair.<br/
A multiplanar three dimensional echocardiographic study of mitral valvar annular function in children with normal and regurgitant valves
No full textIntroduction - The mitral valvar complex is difficult to visualise accurately in only two dimensions. Three-dimensional echocardiography gives new insight into the dynamic changes of intra-cardiac structures during the cardiac cycle. The aim of this study was to study the mitral annulus in systole and diastole in normal children using three-dimensional echocardiography, and to analyse the effect of regurgitation on annular function.Materials and methods - Three-dimensional echocardiographic datasets, acquired in 11 consecutive subjects with mitral regurgitation, and 20 normal subjects, were analysed offline using simultaneous multiplanar review.Results - The mitral valvar annular area decreased in diastole, and increased in systole, in both groups. The annulus in patients with mitral regurgitation is dilated compared to normal subjects, the systolic value for those with regurgitation having a mean of 6.79 plus or minus 2.55 centimetres2/metres2, and the diastolic value a mean of 5.01 plus or minus 1.78 centimetres2/metres2, as opposed to a systolic mean value of 5.28 centimetres2/metres2 plus or minus 1.68, p = 0.091, and diastolic mean value of 3.05 centimetres2/metres2 plus or minus 0.90, in normal subjects (p less than 0.0001). The proportional change in mitral valvar annular area from systole to diastole showed a trend towards being smaller in those with mitral regurgitation, although this did not reach significance (24.8% versus 41.13%, p equal to 0.249). Analysis of subgroups of patients with moderate or severe mitral regurgitation showed mitral excursion, expressed as percentage of left ventricular length, to be significantly less than in normal subjects, at 12.78 plus or minus 5.10% versus 15.84 plus or minus 4.23% (p equal to 0.012).Conclusions - Mitral valvar annular area in children decreases in diastole, and increases in systole. In those with mitral regurgitation, the annulus is dilated and the dynamic annular function is depressed.<br/
Supplemental Material - Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Red Emitting Copper Nanoclusters Using Trypsin as a Ligand for Sensing of Pb<sup>2+</sup> And Hg<sup>2+</sup> Ions in Water and Tobacco Samples
No full textSupplemental Material for Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Red Emitting Copper Nanoclusters Using Trypsin as a Ligand for Sensing of Pb2+ And Hg2+ Ions in Water and Tobacco Samples by Dharaben J. Joshi, Lalrinhlupuii, Naved I. Malek, Rajendra Bose Muthukumaran, and Suresh Kumar Kailasa in Applied Spectroscopy.</p
sj-docx-1-pie-10.1177_09544089231223035 - Supplemental material for Optimization of fused deposition modeling parameters to fabricate morphogenesis light weight structure with high tensile and compression strength
No full textSupplemental material, sj-docx-1-pie-10.1177_09544089231223035 for Optimization of fused deposition
modeling parameters to fabricate morphogenesis light weight structure
with high tensile and compression strength by R Baskar, V Muthukumaran, S Nandhakumar and S Arivazhagan in Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering</p
Total phenolic and flavonoid content of membrane processed Aloe Vera extract: a comparative study
No full textPower generation system for l-moxie: Concept proposal and trade-off analysis
Get PDFThe manned exploration of Mars is a demanding goal, requiring a large amount of resources. Among them, oxygen is without doubt pivotal since it is needed for the crew to breathe and for the Mars Ascent Vehicle to fuel the return journey to the Earth. In light of this, In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) practices become useful. We know that carbon dioxide constitutes about 96% of Martian atmosphere and it is the candidate for oxygen extraction through a Solid Oxide Electrolysis reaction. The Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment (MOXIE) demonstrator proved this concept on board of the Perseverance Rover in April 2021. A full-scale device suitable for a human mission, called L-MOXIE, will be more than 200 times larger. In this work, we evaluate the power requirements of L-MOXIE through process simulations obtaining a consumption of 22.8 kW. This result suggests a thorough redesign of the power generation system. To perform this design activity, we employ a forcing technique based on C-K theory pillars to broaden the spectrum of options retrieved from the literature review. The degrees of freedom are design variables associated with the power generation technology, the power transmission system and the power storage system while the constraints are set forth by the Martian environment, the oxygen handling and storage requirements, and the overall system safety and maintenance requirements. From the partial solutions, we build a morphological chart, and three concepts are then generated based on nuclear, grounded solar, and orbiting photovoltaic Power Generation System. We performed a Multi-Attribute Utility Analysis (MAUA) to assess them, and the nuclear and grounded solar concepts proved more attractive than the orbiting photovoltaic concept. These results are intended to support future activities such as a feasibility analysis and a multi-objective optimization for the nuclear and grounded solar concept
Epigenetics regulation of prostate cancer: Biomarker and therapeutic potential
No full textProstate cancer (CaP) is the second leading cause of cancer death and displays a broad range of clinical behavior from relatively indolent to aggressive metastatic disease. The etiology of most cases of CaP is not understood completely, which makes it imperative to search for the molecular basis of CaP and markers for early diagnosis. Epigenetic modifications, including changes in DNA methylation patterns, histone modifications, miRNAs, and lncRNAs are key drivers of prostate tumorigenesis. These epigenetic defects might be due to deregulated expression of the epigenetic machinery, affecting the expression of several important genes like GSTP1, RASSF1, CDKN2, RARRES1, IGFBP3, RARB, TMPRSS2-ERG, ITGB4, AOX1, HHEX, WT1, HSPE, PLAU, FOXA1, ASC, GPX3, EZH2, LSD1, etc. In this review, we highlighted the most important epigenetic gene alterations and their variations as a diagnostic marker and target for therapeutic intervention of CaP in the future. Characterization of epigenetic changes involved in CaP is obscure and adequate validation studies are still required to corroborate the present results that would be the impending future of transforming basic research settings into clinical practice
Hepatic changes in the failing Fontan circulation
No full textBackground: The failing Fontan circulation is associated with hepatic impairment. The nature of this liver injury is poorly defined.Objective: To establish the gross and histological liver changes of patients with Fontan circulation relative to clinical, biochemical and haemodynamic findings.Methods: Patients were retrospectively assessed for extracardiac Fontan conversion between September 2003 and June 2005, according to an established clinical protocol. Twelve patients, mean age 24.6 (range 15.8–43.4) years were identified. The mean duration since the initial Fontan procedure was 14.1 (range 6.9–26.4) years.Results: Zonal enhancement of the liver (4/12) on CT was more common in patients with lower hepatic vein pressures (p = 0.007), and in those with absent cardiac cirrhosis on histological examination (p = 0.033). Gastro-oesophageal varices (4/12) were more common in patients with higher hepatic vein pressure (21 (6.3) vs 12.2 (2.2) mm Hg, p = 0.013) and associated with more advanced cirrhosis (p = 0.037). The extent of cirrhosis (7/12) was positively correlated with the hepatic vein pressure (r = 0.83, p = 0.003). A significant positive correlation was found between the Fontan duration and the degree of hepatic fibrosis (r = 0.75, p = 0.013), as well as presence of broad scars (r = 0.71, p = 0.021). Protein-losing enteropathy (5/12) occurred more frequently in patients with longer Fontan duration (11.7 (3.2) vs 17.9 (6.1) years, p = 0.038).Conclusions: Liver injury, which can be extensive in this patient group, is related to Fontan duration and hepatic vein pressures. CT scan assists non-invasive assessment. Cardiac cirrhosis with the risk of developing gastro-oesophageal varices and regenerative liver nodules, a precursor to hepatocellular carcinoma, is common in this patient group
Prevalence of asymptomatic cardiac and renal damage in treatment naïve adult patients with Systemic Hypertension and its co-relation with hsCRP and Uric acid levels: A Cross Sectional Study
Get PDFOBJECTIVES:
To look at the prevalence of asymptomatic cardiac and renal damage in newly diagnosed treatment naive adult patients with systemic hypertension and to study the co-relation between inflammatory markers, hsCRP and uric acid, with the
asymptomatic organ damage in hypertensives.
METHODS:
The study recruited 98 hypertensives who presented to the medicine OPD and were willing to participate in the study. The patient data was collected with a questionnaire and the blood pressure, height, weight and abdominal circumference
were measured in these patients. The blood investigations including fasting glucose, creatinine, electrolytes and lipid profile were done in these patients. The patients
also underwent electrocardiography and echocardiography with the documentation of M-Mode values. The albumin creatinine ratio, eGFR and the LV Mass index were also subsequently calculated in these patients.
RESULTS:
The prevalence of microalbuminuria was 31.9% and the prevalence of Left ventricular Hypertrophy was 29.59% of the study population. The uric and hsCRP were not related to asymptomatic organ damage when analysed. The hsCRP was
however very significantly related to body mass index (p=0.000) and abdominal circumference (p=0.003) on bivariate analysis. This association of hsCRP to elevated body mass index and abdominal circumference might be due to its association with the metabolic syndrome.
CONCLUSION:
Almost one third of the newly detected hypertensives in the study population had evidence of asymptomatic cardiac and renal damage. However, the asymptomatic cardiac and renal damage was not related to elevated inflammatory markers in these patients. The elevated hsCRP in the study population might berelated to an underlying metabolic syndrome
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