Association of High Calcitriol Serum Levels and Its Hydroxylation Efficiency Ratio with Disease Risk in SLE Patients with Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D (calcidiol) deficiency in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is more frequent than in healthy subjects (HS); it is associated with clinical activity and damage in SLE. Although calcidiol is considered the best indicator of the vitamin D serum status, its deficiency could not reflect its hydroxylation efficiency ratio and calcitriol serum status. This study was aimed at assessing the association of calcidiol and calcitriol serum levels and its hydroxylation efficiency ratio with the risk to clinical and renal disease activities in SLE patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 308 SLE and HS women; calcidiol and calcitriol serum levels were evaluated by immunoassays. SLE patients showed lower calcidiol serum levels vs. HS (21.2 vs. 24.2 ng/mL; p < 0.001 ). Active SLE patients presented higher calcidiol/calcitriol ratio scores vs. inactive SLE patients (2.78 vs. 1.92 pg/ng; p = 0.02 ), and SLE patients with renal disease activity showed a pattern of calcidiol-deficient levels (19.5 vs. 25.3 ng/mL; p < 0.04 ) with higher calcitriol levels (47 pg/mL vs. 41.5 pg/mL; p = 0.02 ) and calcidiol/calcitriol ratio scores (2.13 vs. 1.54 pg/ng; p < 0.02 ) compared to SLE patients without renal disease activity. Calcidiol levels were negatively correlated with calcitriol levels ( r = − 0.26 ; p = 0.001 ) and urine proteins (mg/dL) ( r = − 0.39 ; p < 0.01 ). Regarding calcitriol levels, it was positively correlated with the blood lymphocyte count ( r = 0.30 ; p < 0.001 ) and negatively correlated with the glomerular filtration rate ( r = − 0.28 ; p = 0.001 ). Moreover, the calcitriol/calcidiol ratio was positively correlated with urine proteins ( r = 0.38 ; p < 0.01 ). The calcidiol deficiency ( OR = 2.27 ; 95% CI = 1.15 -4.49; p < 0.01 ), high calcitriol levels ( T 3 rd , OR = 4.19 , 95% CI = 2.23 -7.90; p < 0.001 ), and a high calcitriol/calcidiol ratio score ( T 3 rd , OR = 5.93 , 95% CI: 3.08-11.5; p < 0.001 ) were associated with the risk for SLE. In conclusion, a pattern of calcidiol deficiency with high calcitriol serum levels and a high vitamin D hydroxylation efficiency ratio was associated with disease risk in SLE patients.

In Vitro Evaluation of Native Taro Boloso-I Starch as a Disintegrant in Tablet Formulations

Introduction. In drug delivery, solid dosage forms, of which tablet is the commonest, are still the leading preferences. An area of research focus in tablet drug delivery is the search for tablet excipients. This study was aimed at evaluating and optimizing native Taro Boloso-I starch as a tablet disintegrant. Methods. The response surface method with central composite design (CCD-RSM) was used for the analysis and optimization of the concentration of native Taro Boloso-I starch and compression force. Wet granulation method was used for the preparation of paracetamol tablets. The response variables considered were tablet crushing strength, friability, and disintegration time. Results and Discussion. Both the native Taro Boloso-I starch concentration and compression force had increasing effect on the tablet breaking force. The friability of the tablets was shown to decrease with increasing levels of the disintegrant concentration. On the other hand, compression force had a decreasing effect on friability in the investigated range. The disintegration time of the tablets was found to decrease with the concentration of the starch. The paracetamol tablets prepared with the optimized levels of native Taro Boloso-I starch and compression force showed tablet breaking force of 116.24 N, friability of 0.153%, disintegration time of 1.36 min, disintegration efficiency ratio of 562.3 N/(%Min), and comparative disintegration efficiency ratio of 13.6 with respect to commercial potato starch. Conclusions. The tablets exhibited improved crushing strength, friability, in vitro disintegration time, and disintegration efficiency ratio which suggest the novel applicability of the native Taro Boloso-I starch as an efficient pharmaceutical tablet disintegrant.

Dietary Supplementation with Fumaric Acid Improves Growth Performance in Nile Tilapia Juveniles

Organic acids have recently been identified as promising replacements for antibiotics in aquafeeds that promote fish growth and feed efficiency. This study evaluated the inclusion of fumaric acid (FA; 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 g/kg) in diets (350 g/kg CP; 3.4 kcal digestible energy/g) of Nile tilapia juveniles. Fish (average weight 1.7 ± 0.1 g) were distributed in three 40 L aquaria per treatment (13 fish/aquaria) in a completely randomized design. Over 35 days, the fish received the experimental diets three times daily to apparent satiety. The maximum weight gain, feed efficiency ratio, and protein efficiency ratio were recorded in fish supplemented with 14–15 g/kg FA. After 28 days, Enterobacteriaceae was registered only in the gut of tilapia without FA augmentation. Gram-negative bacteria in the fish gut decreased (p < 0.05) in fish receiving 17 g/kg of dietary FA, increased after this level. The intestinal villi height and width were affected (p < 0.05) by FA levels and feeding time. Thus, inclusion of 15 g/kg of FA was effective in promoting growth, improving intestinal morphometry, and decreasing negative gut bacteria of Nile tilapia juveniles after 35 days.

Tingkat Kesehatan Keuangan Organisasi Pengelola Zakat Di Indonesia

As the largest Muslim country in the world, Indonesia has great potential in collecting zakat, infaq, alms, and waqf funds (ZISWAF) to alleviate poverty and social inequality. This study aims to demonstrate the financial health or performance of the zakat management organization (ZMO) by analyzing the ratio of activity, efficiency, amil, liquidity, and growth based on the provisions of the strategic study centre the national amil zakat agency (Puskasbaznas). This study uses a sample of twenty financial statements from five ZMO published from 2015-2018. This study uses an explanatory research method with a quantitative descriptive approach. The results show that the financial statements of the ZMO have implemented PSAK 45 and PSAK 109. The financial health or performance of the ZMO is categorized as quite reasonable. Then the efficiency ratio affects the financial health or performance of ZMO. In contrast, the ratio of activity, amil, liquidity, and growth do not affect the financial health or performance of ZMO. The results of this study are able to detect ZMO who do not aim to make a profit. Then it is used as a reference for ZMO in improving financial health or organizational performance.

Value Added Tax Efficiency in the Western Balkan Countries

An important feature of the tax systems of the Western Balkan countries is the large share of consumption taxes in total tax revenue. Despite its relatively short existence, VAT in particular has proven to be an important fiscal tool, due to its many advantages. The aim of the article is to outline the main developments in VAT in these countries in the past two decades and to analyse its efficiency. The main result of the article is that the tax has good overall revenue performance in the Western Balkans, as measured with the C-efficiency ratio.

Effect of Protein Diet on Growth Performance and Body Composition of Labeo rohita Reared in Glass Tank

Fish is used as a great source of food and the quality of its meat can be indicated by fat and protein contents as well as low quantity of water in fish meat. Therefore, the present study was performed for improvement in weight, feed-conversion ratio, protein-efficiency ratio, and growth. The experiment was performed at commercial level in field (pond) and the influence of fish meal protein on growth of Labeo rohita was investigated in 60 days culture trials. 90 fingerlings (Size: 4.97 to 6.04; Weight: 4.15 to 4.20) were maintained in well aerated 280 L three glass tanks in triplicate. These glass tanks were named as T1, T2 and T3. T1 was consisted of 30% crude protein with control diet containing proteins, fats vitamins and fibres, T2 consisted of 35% protein with control diet, while T3 consisted of only control diet (rice polish). The fish were fed 4% percent of their body weight twice a day at twelve hours interval for 60 days. There was a significant increase (p<0.05) in body weight, feed-conversion ratio, protein-efficiency ratio, and gross fish production of fish having 35% fish meal protein with control diet (T2) when compared with 30% fish meal protein with control diet T1 and control diet T3. These findings suggest that 35% fishmeal protein appear to be sufficient for obtaining optimum growth in fish.

Influence of the position of recessed outdoor units and louvre blade angle on the performance of split air conditioners

In residential air conditioning systems, outdoor units are often installed in the recesses of building facades and shaded by louvres; however, different unit installation positions and louvre blade angles affect the thermal environment around the outdoor unit and the energy efficiency ratio (EER) of the air conditioner. In this study, the effects of the outdoor unit installation position and louvre blade angle on the EER when a single outdoor unit was installed in a recess were investigated by experiments on a 1.5 hp air conditioner (rated power of the air conditioner is 3.5 kW), and the influence of the spacing and angle between two outdoor units on the air conditioner EER when two outdoor units were installed in the same recess was explored. The results of the research indicate that when a single outdoor unit is installed in the recess, the EER increases with an increase in the distance between the inlet of the outdoor unit and the wall. To meet the three-level standard of air conditioner EERs, the distance between the inlet and wall needs to be greater than 300 mm. The EER first increased and then decreased slowly with the increase in the distance between the outdoor unit outlet and louvre; thus, the distance between the outlet and louvre should not be less than 300 mm. The EER first increased and then decreased with the increase in the blade angle, and thus, the blade angle should not be greater than 20°. When two outdoor units are installed in the same recess, each installation mode, “horizontal installation” (same height and collinear), “perpendicular installation” (same height and perpendicular), “angle installation” (same height and obtuse angle), and “up and down parallel installation” (different heights and parallel), has an optimum installation distance and angle.

The Supervised Learning Model for Analyzing the Sportsperson Training Efficiency

The driving concept of students’ sports training involves a unique activity that is often tightly correlated to students’ efficiency and varies with the momentum of sports training. Supervised learning is one of the smart methods with positive results in the fields of classification techniques. Due to the excessive currency unit associated with sports, sports forecasting is a growing area that must be well predicted. Therefore, in this paper, sports training based on the supervised learning (STSLM) model has been proposed to evaluate and predict student sports efficiency. STSLM models are based on various variables, such as traditional student ratings, performance, and efficiency. The emphasis is on the efficiency of students predicting sports outcomes. STSLM defines evaluation methods, information sources, effective models for testing students’ sports training, and unique challenges to forecast sports outcomes. The experimental results have been performed. The suggested STSLM model enhances the efficiency ratio of 96.3%, injury prevention level of 98.2%, fitness level of 95.5%, evaluation ratio of 98.8%, and training optimization ratio of 97.2% compared to other existing approaches.

Performance Analysis and Optimisation of a Solar On-Grid Air Conditioner

Solar-powered air conditioners offer a high potential for energy-efficient cooling with a high economic feasibility. They can significantly reduce the energy consumption in the building sector, which is essential to meet the greater ambition of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% in the EU by 2050. This paper presents a computational model development capable of simulating the behaviour of a photovoltaic-assisted heat pump in different locations and working conditions. In addition, this model has been used to optimise a solar on-grid air conditioning system. The generated model has been validated with experimental data obtained in a real facility for a whole summer of operation (more than 100 tested days) in a Mediterranean climate (Alicante, Spain). According to the simulation results, the average Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of the system is 16.0, 10.7 and 7.8 in Barcelona, Madrid and Seville, respectively. The optimisation analysis has proven that the severity of the climatic region increases the costs as well as the optimum PV power to drive the AC unit. The obtained values for the the PV power and the annualised cost are 400 W and 506.2 € for Barcelona, 900 W and 536.7 € for Madrid, and 1300 W and 564.7 € for Seville. The annualised cost and the CO2 emission levels are higher for the conventional system (no PV panels) than for the solar on-grid system, regardless of the installed PV power. This difference can be up to 66.64 € (10.55%) and 112.94 kg CO2 (64.83%) per summer season in the case of Seville.

Changes in Growth Performance, Nutrient Metabolism, Antioxidant Defense and Immune Response After Fishmeal Was Replaced by Low-Gossypol Cottonseed Meal in Golden Pompano (Trachinotus ovatus)

The present study was designed to elucidate the changing pattern of growth performance, nutrient metabolism, antioxidant defense, and immune response after fishmeal (FM) was replaced by cottonseed meal (CSM). Four isonitrogenous and isolipidic experimental diets (42.5% crude protein, 14.0% crude lipid) were formulated to replace 0% (CSM0 diet), 20% (CSM20 diet), 40% (CSM40 diet), and 60% (CSM60 diet) of the FM protein with CSM. Juvenile golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) with an initial body weight of 24.8 ± 0.02 g were fed each diet for 6 weeks. The results showed that compared with the control diet, significant differences were not found in the weight gain ratio, specific growth performance, and apparent digestibility of dry matter and protein after 20% FM was replaced by CSM. Higher CSM replacement markedly decreased the growth performance (P &lt; 0.05). Moreover, the CSM20 and CSM40 diets did not depress the feed efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio compared with the CSM0 diet. Further exploring the physio-biochemical and molecular responses, the present study also showed that dietary 20–40% CSM replacement had no significant effect on altering the whole body, plasma nutrient contents, free amino acids, or whole-body fatty acid contents. Additionally, the CSM20 diet did not change the mRNA and protein phosphorylation levels of the key enzymes and regulators involved in target of rapamycin (TOR) and amino acid response (AAR) signaling, nutrient metabolism, immune response, and antioxidant defense. Higher CSM inclusion significantly varied the TOR and AAR signaling response, nutrient metabolism, immune response, and antioxidant defense. Based on the results, CSM could successfully replace 20% FM in the formulated diets for golden pompano. This study proposes the optimal inclusion level of CSM in the diet, which has an important significance in optimizing aquafeeds formulation.