Insects associated to ephemeral pools in Huentelauquén (29ºS Coquimbo Region, Chile)

In northern central Chile, ephemeral pools constitute shallow isolated water bodies with a favourable habitat for fauna adapted to seasonal changes. Based on the limited knowledge about the fauna—particularly insects—associated to these ecosystems, the objective of this study was to characterize the richness, composition, structure and similarity of the insect communities associated with ephemeral pools in Huentelauquén (29º S, Coquimbo Region, Chile). By using pitfall traps, 10,762 individuals were captured, represented by 7 orders, 27 families, and 51 species. Coleoptera and Hymenoptera were the best represented orders, with Neuroptera, Orthoptera and Plecoptera being poorly represented groups. The non-parametric estimators evaluated showed wealth values above those observed for all the studied pools, and their accumulation curves suggest the existence of an incomplete species inventory in the studied community. Additionally, the hierarchical and ordering analysis showed groupings of pools located in the northwest and southeast of Huentelauquén. Preliminarily we found a negative correlation between the area of the pools and the richness (species) and abundance of insects. Additional studies (on other arthropod groups and other seasons of the year) could provide a better understanding of the local processes of extinction and colonization of the species inhabiting these fragile coastal environments.

Calcemia, Vitamin D and seasonal influences in preeclampsia in Goma

Background: The etiology of preeclampsia remains less well known. It is noted that low vitamin D levels are associated with a high risk of preeclampsia (PE). Calcium (Ca2+) levels during pregnancy appear to be involved in pregnancy-induced hypertension. Recent studies indicate that serum calcium levels may have a role in preeclampsia. Vitamin D promotes absorption of proper concentration of calcium in the blood which helps to lower blood pressure. The complications associated with calcium deficiency during a normal pregnancy are numerous and have not been extensively studied in Goma. Objective: To assess blood calcium levels (ionic and total) in preeclamptic women and to analyse the seasonal influence on preeclampsia in Goma. Method: A prospective case-control study (without matching) of 190 pregnant women without cardiovascular or endocrine diseases for a case-control ratio of 1∶1 was conducted in six hospitals in Goma. Blood ionogram was performed by an automated system directly after blood sampling and vitamin D was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent method. Results: The mean ionised calcium level in preeclamptic woman was 1.24±0.16 mmol/L (0.48-1.59) compared to 1.27±0.17 mmol/L (0.88-2.30) in normal pregnant woman (p=0.214). A slight negative correlation between blood calcium and blood pressure was observed in pregnant women. Low vitamin D levels were associated with preeclampsia. Hypovitaminosis D in the preeclamptic group was more observed during the rainy season than during the dry season. Pregnancies complicated by PE were from fertilisations occurring during the rainy season while the dry season was characterised by a high admission of preeclamptics. Conclusion: The study found that preeclamptic women in Goma had hypocalcemia. There was also a weak negative correlation between blood pressure and serum calcium levels. The majority of preeclamptics were diagnosed during the dry season, while conception with a PE complication occurred during the rainy season. As this is a first study in this area for the Great Lakes region of Africa, a more in-depth study with a larger sample size is desired.

A Genome-Wide Investigation of Effects of Aberrant DNA Methylation on the Usage of Alternative Promoters in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BackgroundThe alternative usage of promoters provides a way to regulate gene expression, has a significant influence on the transcriptome, and contributes to the cellular transformation of cancer. However, the function of alternative promoters (APs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been systematically studied yet. In addition, the potential mechanism of regulation to the usage of APs remains unclear. DNA methylation, one of the most aberrant epigenetic modifications in cancers, is known to regulate transcriptional activity. Whether DNA methylation regulates the usage of APs needs to be explored. Here, we aim to investigate the effects of DNA methylation on usage of APs in HCC.MethodsPromoter activities were calculated based on RNA-seq data. Functional enrichment analysis was implemented to conduct GO terms. Correlation tests were used to detect the correlation between promoter activity and methylation status. The LASSO regression model was used to generate a diagnostic model. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to compare the overall survival between high and low methylation groups. RNA-seq and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) in HCC samples were performed to validate the correlation of promoter activity and methylation.ResultsWe identified 855 APs in total, which could be well used to distinguish cancer from normal samples. The correlation of promoter activity and DNA methylation in APs was observed, and the APs with negative correlation were defined as methylation-regulated APs (mrAPs). Six mrAPs were identified to generate a diagnostic model with good performance (AUC = 0.97). Notably, the majority of mrAPs had CpG sites that could be used to predict clinical outcomes by methylation status. Finally, we verified 85.6% of promoter activity variation and 92.3% of methylation changes in our paired RNA-seq and WGBS samples, respectively. The negative correlation between promoter activity and methylation status was further confirmed in our HCC samples.ConclusionThe aberrant methylation status plays a critical role in the precision usage of APs in HCC, which sheds light on the mechanism of cancer development and provides a new insight into cancer screening and treatment.

Nurses Burnout, Resilience, and Its Association With Socio-Demographic Factors During COVID-19 Pandemic

BackgroundIn the recent pandemic, nurses have faced workload and being exposed to burnout. Resilience helps address work-related psychological problems such as stressful events and burnout. According to the roles of nurses in the healthcare system, we investigated the relationship between resiliency and burnout in nurses.Material and MethodsIn this descriptive analytical cross-sectional study, 364 nurses participated from April to June 2021. Census sampling was used to recruit participants. Maslach burnout inventory (MBI), Connor-Davidson Resiliency Scale (CDRISC), and a demographic check-list were utilized to collect data. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 22. Shapiro-Wilk, Kruskal–Wallis test, Mann–Whitney U-test, correlation analysis, and generalized linear model were applied accordingly.ResultsOverall, the findings showed that nurses had severe symptoms of burnout and a moderate level of resilience. The two domains of burnout, emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment had a significantly negative correlation with resilience (r = −0.442, p < 0.001 and r = −0.351, p = 0.03, respectively). Linear regression showed that demographic characteristics (Hospital type, ward type, gender, and overtime) were the major predictors of the 3 sub-categories of burnout. A significant negative correlation was observed between burnout and resilience highlighting the role of resilience in reducing burnout (P < 0.05).ConclusionIn order to help nurses to tackle and endure burnout in pandemic times, there is a need to implement national and local policies to help them accordingly.

Assessment of the relationship between labial gingival thickness and the underlying bone thickness in maxillary anterior teeth by two digital techniques

This study aimed to noninvasively assess the relationship between the labial gingival thickness (GT) and the underlying bone thickness (BT) of maxillary anterior teeth by two digital techniques. A total of 30 periodontally healthy participants with 172 maxillary anterior teeth were enrolled. GT and BT were measured at 2, 4 and 6 mm apical to the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) by two digital techniques: M1—cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and M2—digital intraoral scanning (DIS) combined with CBCT. The Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated to determine the correlation between GT and BT. A significant negative correlation was identified between GT and BT at 2 mm apical to the CEJ for central incisors (CI), lateral incisors (LI), and canines (CA) both by M1 and M2, while a weak negative correlation at 4 mm apical to the CEJ was observed by M1 for CA. No significant correlation was found at other sites by both M1 and M2. The labial BT was < 1 mm in most cases (85% of CI; 97% of LI; and 90% of CA). Within the limitation of this study, it was concluded that GT and BT seemed to be negatively correlated at 2 mm apical to the CEJ. Therefore, caution is warranted when implant restoration at the esthetic area of the anterior teeth.

Understanding the Influence of Rock Content on Streaming Potential Phenomenon of Soil–Rock Mixture: An Experimental Study

To applicate streaming potential phenomenon to study the seepage feature in the soil–rock mixture (SRM), research on the variation in the streaming potential phenomenon of SRM is the precondition. This paper deals, in assistance with the streaming potential test apparatus, with the streaming potential effect response of SRM subjected to different rock contents. The test results show that when the rock content increases from 10% to 30%, the streaming potential coupling coefficient increases with the increases in rock content at 85% compactness and 0.01 mol L−1 salinity. When the rock content is more than 30%, the streaming potential coupling coefficient decreases with the increases in rock content. As the rock content increases, the permeability coefficient has a negative correlation with the streaming potential coupling coefficient. The streaming potential increases first and then goes down with the increases in rock content, and the streaming potential decreases significantly when the rock content exceeds 50%. The findings indicate that the rock content is the key structural factor that restricts the streaming potential phenomenon of the SRM.

The Economic Effects of Free Trading Policies Within an Integrated Economy Between Philippines and the Asean-6 Member States

The analysis of the effects that free trade has within the context of the Philippines and its fellow co-members within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was purposed as a conduit for greater insight on trade relations between the nations of what is being considered as a fast-growing unified economy. In a more specific lens, the paper identifies how the Philippines and its fellow nations within the bloc conduct free trade while also carefully examining the number of goods that are being imported and exported. The study will use a Quantitative research design to find the changes in exports and imports as well as to point out the association between the dependent and independent variables. The study also determines the effect of trade policy. The research is a cross-country study exclusive to ASEAN-6, namely Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, and the period of the study is from the year 1993 – 2015. The researchers used Ordinary Least Squares and showed a high degree of predictability between the dependent and independent variables. The findings confirm that there exists a significant degree of negative correlation between the import and inflation, tariff and FDI. On the other hand, there is a significant positive correlation between the FDI and import of 4 ASEAN countries, namely Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia, besides a negative correlation between FDI and import of Malaysia. While the tariff and inflation of the Philippines and imports come up with a negative relationship, so this brings us to the conclusion that the independent variables are affected by the policy of free trade but for the good of the economies of the countries involved. With the result of the study, it is expected that further examination of this topic will expound more as the zeitgeist affecting the ASEAN bloc continues to tentatively change. The policy-makers should build an inclusive and sustainable trading system by identifying priorities for improvement and clarifying the design of new trade rules. The policy-makers should also come up with indicators, trade facilitation performance of different countries, information on the level of trade in services restrictiveness, and also records on export restrictions.

Measure of CINE - A relevant parameter for forecasting pre-monsoon thunderstorms over GWB

A method of testing the significance of Z- Statistic is introduced in this paper to discern the role of Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) and Convective Inhibition Energy (CINE) in forecasting the occurrence of pre-monsoon thunderstorms over Gangetic West Bengal (GWB). The result reveals that a negative correlation exists between CAPE and CINE. It further indicates that a range for the lower values of CINE can be fixed where the frequency of occurrence of such storms will be maximum, but such range, either for lower or for higher values of CAPE, is not possible. The paper, thus, ends with a very interesting finding that a measure of CINE is the only relevant parameter whereas CAPE has no significant role in forecasting the occurrence of pre-monsoon thunderstorms over GWB, which is in contrast to the concept of severe thunderstorms of Great Plains of America.

Modulatory Role of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor on Cytokines and Clinical Features of Sarcoidosis

Background: Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology with a significant heterogeneity in organ manifestations, severity, and clinical course. Subjects with sarcoidosis share several features such as, non-necrotizing granuloma, hypergammaglobulinemia, increased local and circulating inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-18, and interferon gamma (IFN-γ). Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pluripotent chemokine produced by various cell types. The expression of MIF at sites of inflammation suggests a regulatory role in the function of macrophages. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of MIF in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of sarcoidosis patients in association with clinical features and other cytokines. Methods: Sera and BALs of sarcoidosis patients (n=55) were collected at the time of diagnosis and patients were followed longitudinally for 3 years. Additionally, fifteen healthy controls participated in the study. The medical records of all patients including, demographics, radiography stages, pulmonary function tests, and organ involvements were recorded. The levels of MIF, IL-18, IL-10, IL-6, IFN-γ and lysozyme in serum and BAL samples were measured by ELISA. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software. Results: Serum MIF had a remarkable positive correlation with IL-10 and IFN-γ but had a negative correlation with serum IgG levels. Importantly, longitudinal follow-up showed a positive correlation between MIF and % predicted diffusion capacity (%DLCO) at 3-year. Serum IL-18 had a significant positive correlation with serum lysozyme, but a negative correlation with % predicted total lung capacity at 3-year follow up. We identified two groups of sarcoidosis subjects with distinct clinical and cytokine features. A group with prominent extrapulmonary involvement, and low serum MIF, IL-10 and IFN-γ levels and a group with elevated serum MIF, IL-10 and IFN-γ levels. Moreover, we found a negative correlation between BAL IL-18 and BAL MIF in sarcoidosis subjects.Conclusions: Patients with low serum MIF, IL-10 and IFN-γ levels has severe and mostly extrapulmonary sarcoidosis with elevated lysozyme and IL-18 levels. Our work provides understanding of phenotypic diversity in association with heterogeneity in cytokine landscape in sarcoidosis.

Investigation of soil properties and pesticide intensity in crop lands at Tangail region of Bangladesh

The study was conducted to investigate the soil properties and pesticide intensity in rice, banana and brinjal growing agricultural land of Delduar and Sakhipur upazila of Tangail district during July 2019 to June 2020. Forty five soil samples were collected from different crop land at the study area and analyzed in the Soil Resource Development Institute to determine the soil properties as pH, total organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), available sulfur (S), available zinc (Zn), exchangeable potassium (K), exchangeable magnesium (Mg) and exchangeable calcium (Ca). However, pesticide used intensity was also evaluated through questionnaire survey with farmers and stakeholders in the study area. Results showed that pH, OM, available N, exchangeable Ca and exchangeable Mg content were significantly higher in rice growing land than banana and brinjal. On the other hand, available P, exchangeable K and available Zn content were substantially higher in brinjal growing land than rice and banana. The OM showed significant positive correlation with soil pH, available N, available S, exchangeable Mg and exchangeable Ca (r=0.37, 0.99, 0.31, 0.59 and 0.63, respectively), indicated rice growing land built up these soil properties through increasing soil OM. The available P showed significant and positive correlation with K and Zn (r=0.55 and 0.74, respectively), but negative correlation with exchangeable Mg and exchangeable Ca (r=-0.53 and -0.32, respectively). The exchangeable K showed significant and positive correlation with available Zn (r=0.45) but negative correlation with exchangeable Mg (r=-0.37). The Mg showed significant negative correlation with available Zn (r=-0.45) but positive correlation with exchangeable Ca (r=0.87). Results also revealed that pesticide used intensity was higher in brinjal followed by banana and minimum in rice crop. Study suggests that farmers require up-to-date information on soil nutrient status so that they may use the proper utilization of fertilizers and avoid using excessive amounts of fertilizers and pesticides in their crop land. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 11(2): 85-94, Dec 2021