Importancia biológica de los telómeros / Biological importance of telomeres

Se exponen los hallazgos históricos y la importancia biológica de los telómeros en la vida celular y en los aspectos genéticos del ADN humano. (AU)

The discovery and the biological importance of the telomeres are exposed. (AU)

Sensitivity factor analysis of asymmetric gait quality evaluation model based on random forest algorithm / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:The assessment of asymmetric gait quality plays a pivotal role in guiding rehabilitation training;however,the link between gait quality and kinematic-kinetic gait parameters remains ambiguous. OBJECTIVE:To formulate a machine-learning model for evaluating gait quality based on gait parameters,identify factors sensitive to gait quality from asymmetric gait parameters,investigate the relationship between gait indicators and gait quality,and provide guidance for asymmetric gait training and rehabilitation. METHODS:An asymmetric gait database was established through the creation of asymmetric conditions.Kinematic and kinetic data were collected from 8 young and 8 elderly subjects(all male,right dominant population)during gait tests.Gait quality for each test data set was assessed using symmetry indices,resulting in the creation of a gait parameter-gait quality dataset.Utilizing the Random Forest algorithm,a gait quality evaluation model was developed and key quality parameter factors were identified through differential analysis.This model was iteratively refined.The model's performance was evaluated through 10-fold cross-validation,and its effectiveness was verified using the cross-validation dataset. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)A gradient test was designed to categorize gait quality into optimal,suboptimal,intermediate,and poor groups,with 759,329,133,and 125 instances,respectively.(2)The application of the Random Forest algorithm in gait quality assessment was explored.A relationship model was established between gait indicators and gait quality,yielding a predictive model accuracy of 95.99%.(3)The 13 main parameters significantly influencing asymmetric gait quality were identified through the Random Forest model's feature importance ranking.(4)An analysis of gait quality sensitivity factors using the 13 important parameters led to the identification of five key sensitivity indexes.The Random Forest model utilizing these sensitivity factors achieved a predictive accuracy of 94.20%.

Review of the Prospective Significance and Recommendations of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) for Diabetes Mellitus

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is a nutritious and drought-resistant cereal grain that has been traditionally grown in many parts of the world, particularly in arid and semiarid regions. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the potential significance of pearl millet in the management and prevention of diabetes mellitus. This review will discuss some of the prospective benefits and significance of pearl millet for individuals with diabetes mellitus. Pearl millet has a low glycemic index, which means it has a relatively slow and steady impact on blood sugar levels when compared to high-GI foods. This is particularly beneficial for individuals with diabetes as it can help control post-meal blood sugar spikes. It's important to note that while pearl millet can be a valuable addition to the diet of individuals with diabetes, it should be part of a well-balanced diet that is tailored to their specific needs. The overall dietary approach should be coordinated with a healthcare professional or dietitian to ensure that it aligns with the individual's health goals and needs. Additionally, individuals with diabetes should monitor their blood sugar levels and make adjustments to their diet in consultation with a healthcare provider, as the impact of specific foods can vary from person to person. Pearl millet, like any other food, should be consumed in moderation as part of a diversified diet. In conclusion, pearl millet has the potential to be a significant component of a diabetes-friendly diet due to its low glycemic index, high fiber content, nutrient profile, and antioxidant properties. However, it should be part of an overall strategy that includes other healthy eating habits and lifestyle choices to effectively manage and prevent diabetes mellitus.

Impact of Long Term Integrated Plant Nutrient System (IPNS) in Rice –Wheat Cropping System on Population Dynamics and Dominance of Weed Species in Wheat

Weeds are the serious constraints in field crops. In 2014-15 and 2015-16 long term experiment was conducted which was earlier established from the year 1994 on IPNS in rice-wheat cropping system using randomized block design with four replications at Badiarkhar farm of the university. Twelve treatments viz., control (no fertilizer/manure), 50, 75 and 100% NPK each to rice and wheat through fertilizers, 50% NPK to rice and 100% NPK to wheat through fertilizers, 50% substitution of Nitrogen through FYM, wheat straw and green manure in rice and 100% NPK through fertilizers in wheat; 25% substitution of Nitrogen through FYM, wheat straw and green manure in rice and 75% NPK through fertilizers in wheat; and farmers’ practice (40% NPK through fertilizers to each crop plus 5 t FYM/ha on dry weight basis to rice) were evaluated for a period of two years (2014-15and 2015-16). Phalaris minor was the most dominant weed during both years followed by Alopecurus sp., Vicia sativa, Polygonum hydropiper, Lathyrus aphaca and Polygonum alatum. Artemisia sp. and other weeds had a little infestation during rabi 2014-15. While Cynodon dactylon, Anagallis arvensis, Centella asiatica and other weeds had shown their invasion during rabi 2015-16.

Status of River Water in India: A Review

Water means life which is a cyclic, inexhaustible, renewable prime natural resource. It is both a basic human need and a valued asset possessed by all living creatures. Hydrosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere and biosphere are all sources of water around the world. Water covers 71 % of the earth’s surface but only 1% of water is potable. Rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna and Sabarmati are revered throughout India. River water is critical for commercial and industrial development, hydroelectric power generation, agriculture, new multipurpose dams and tourism attractions. However, the presence of different contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, organic waste, chemical waste and direct sewage discharge has harmed the river's water quality. In India, river water pollution is a major issue that has harmed not only human and animal health, but also the economy of the country. In this review, a substantial number of studies on river water pollution in India are examined. Data on various physical, chemical, and biological characteristics are carefully analysed and interpreted, and it is discovered that river water in India is severely polluted. Furthermore, after careful interpretation of data and discussions published in research articles, this review explains the interrelationships among distinct physical and chemical parameters. EC and TDS are complementary to each other and temperature has a direct impact on pH and DO levels. Also, BOD and DO are reciprocally related with each other. This review provides a concise set of guidelines for assessing river water pollution and calculation of water quality index.

Phytodiversity of Herbaceous Flora in the Grasslands of Jannaram Division, Kawal Tiger Reserve, Telangana, India

Aims: To study the diversity and composition of herbaceous species in the grasslands of Jannaram division, Kawal Tiger Reserve, Telangana, India.Place and Duration of Study: Grasslands of Jannaram division, Kawal Tiger Reserve, Telangana, July 2022 to August 2023.Methodology: The study was carried out by laying out 223 sample plots in the Jannaram division by dividing Jannaram division into 3 ranges. The plot size was 1 x 1 m. Varied diversity indices such as Simpson, Shannon–Weiner, species evenness, and IVI were calculated according to standard formulae. Vegetation analysis and IVI value of each species were calculated and analysed.Results: A total of 65 species, comprising 53 genera and 21 families, were reported. The dominant family in the study area was Poaceae, followed by Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Acanthaceae, Asteraceae and Euphorbiaceae. The Shannon–Weiner index was 3.46 and the Simpson index was 0.05, indicating high diversity with less dominance of herb layer in the study area. Top five species holding highest IVI value are Iseilema laxum (29.94), Cynodon barberi (12.19), Eragrostis amabilis (12.15), Dichanthium annulatum (11.20), and Apluda mutica (10.21).Conclusions: This research produced fundamental information regarding the types of herbaceous plants and grasses present at the Jannaram, Kawal Tiger Reserve. This would serve as a guide to the systematists, ethnobotanists, amongst several others researchers who are interested in identifying.

Analysis of feedback of private wards patients: missing links in patient satisfaction in services at tertiary care public hospital

Background: Feedback of client/customer is the key for improvement in any services. It is a precious input for identifying gaps and developing an effective action plan for quality improvement in any organization. Hence, patient feedback on services provided by the health care organization is important quality tool for improvement of services both in public and private hospitals. With the back ground this study was conceptualized with the aim to analyse feedback of inpatients admitted in private wards of a government tertiary care hospital of India, regarding hospital personnel and for basic amenities provided by the hospital. Methods: This was a record-based study where predesigned feedback forms of one year were analysed. Feedback was categorized under three themes and subthemes which were services provided by the hospital, infrastructure of the hospital and feedback with respect to the care provided by the hospital staff. Results: 80% patients were dissatisfied with the delay in conduct of investigations and receipt of reports and cleanliness in ward, housekeeping services and quality of food. As far as clinical care and soft skills of healthcare providers are concerned, 80% of the patients were satisfied by the care provided by doctors and nurses. Suggestions were analysed and implemented to strengthen the service delivery to initiate quality assurance. Conclusions: Major factors for dissatisfaction among patients are the unscientific processes which can be improved with minimum cost.

Biological Aspects and Its Importance of Moringa oleifera

Moringa oleifera is regarded as a significant medicinal plant across the board and is grown in many parts of the world. It is employed in a broad range of medical treatments that attempt to improve the nutritional qualities that are already present in our bodies. This is due to the fact that it has a particularly high nutritive content. Throughout this conversation, we have addressed a broad variety of biological activities, such as those that are anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antipyretic, antispasmodic and many more. In addition, we have shown that it is possible to manufacture a variety of metal nanoparticles by using the extract of different components of Moringa oleifera as the starting material. The main goal of this part of the study was to figure out how important Moringa oleifera is in the field of nano-medicine.

On the importance of post competency elements of community public health professionals / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Objective:To analyze the importance of post competency elements of community public health professionals, and to provide data and method support for the construction and cultivation of community public health professionals.Methods:In September to October 2020, 25 experts were selected in the study, and the interval value hesitant fuzzy entropy method was used to analyze the importance of post competency elements. Excel 2013 and SPSS 25.0 were used to calculate the data.Results:Among the primary index of post competency elements, the order of importance were professional quality (0.207), professional knowledge and skills (0.204), integrative thinking (0.200), personal characteristics (0.199), basic professional ability (0.191); for second-level indicators, for second-level indicators,critical thinking (0.105), systematic thinking (0.095), public health knowledge and skills (0.044) were the top three of post competency elements were the top three of post competency elements.Conclusion:The recessive professional accomplishment dominated by professional ethics, the integrative thinking of public health dominated by critical thinking, and the professional knowledge and skills dominated by public health knowledge and skills should be focused on.

Identification of Kidney-Yang Deficiency Syndrome in Osteoporosis Patients Based on Rule Ensemble Method of Bagging Combining LASSO Regression / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the identification of kidney Yang deficiency syndrome of patients with osteoporosis（OP）， and to form the clinical syndrome identification rules of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）. MethodBasic information， etiology， clinical symptoms and other characteristics of 982 OP patients were included， and statistical tests were used to screen the variables associated with kidney Yang deficiency syndrome. Taking the decision tree as the base model， bootstrap aggregation algorithm（Bagging algorithm） was utilized to establish the classification model of kidney Yang deficiency syndrome in OP， generating numerous rules and removing redundancy. Combining least absolute shrinkage and selection operator（LASSO） regression to screen key rules and integrate them to construct an identification model， achieving the identification of kidney Yang deficiency syndrome in OP patients. ResultEighteen key identification rules were screened out， and of these， where 11 rules with regression coefficients>0 correlated positively with the kidney Yang deficiency syndrome， the rule with the highest coefficient was chilliness（present）&feverish sensation over the palm and sole（absent）. The other 7 rules with regression coefficients<0 correlated negatively with the syndrome， the rule with the lowest coefficient was reddish tongue（present）&diarrhea（absent）&deficiency of endowment（absent）. According to the regression coefficients of each key rule， variables with importance>0.2 were ranked as chilliness， reddish tongue， feverish sensation over the palm and sole， cold limbs， clear urine， diarrhea， deficiency of endowment， prolonged illness. The results of the partial dependence analysis of the identification model showed that compared to OP patients without chilliness， those with chilliness（present） had a 0.266 8 higher probability of being identified as having kidney Yang deficiency syndrome， indicating that this variable had the highest impact on identification of the syndrome. Similarly， compared to OP patients without reddish tongue， those with reddish tongue had a 0.141 9 lower probability of being identified as having kidney Yang deficiency syndrome， indicating that this variable had the highest impact on identifying non-kidney Yang deficiency syndrome. The accuracy， sensitivity， specificity and area under receiver operating characteristic curve（AUC） of the established kidney Yang deficiency syndrome identification model in the test set were 0.865 9， 0.853 7， 0.872 0 and 0.931 5， respectively. ConclusionA precise identification model of OP kidney Yang deficiency syndrome is conducted basing on the rule ensemble method of Bagging combining LASSO regression， and the screened key rules can explain the identification process of kidney Yang deficiency syndrome. In this research， according to the regression coefficients of rules， the importance and partial dependence of variables， combined with the thinking of TCM， the influence of patient characteristics on the identification of syndromes is described， so as to reveal the primary and secondary syndromes of identification and assist the clinical identification of kidney Yang deficiency syndrome.

Medicinal plants and diabetes: an ethnopharmacological study in Brazilian Northeast / Plantas medicinales y diabetes: un estudio etnofarmacológico en el noreste brasileño

Despite access to conventional medical therapies, the use of complementary medicine is increasing in many communities. The present study aimed to evaluate the popular knowledge of medicinal plants used to treat diabetes and its co-morbidities, in four rural communities in the municipality of Vitória de Santo Antão, in the Brazilian State of Pernambuco. The relative importance of a particular medicinal plant was calculated based on the percentage of mentions (IR%). The similarity between the communities was quantified using the Sørensen index (Ss). Interviews were conducted with 141 patients, of these, 83 reported use of medicinal plants as an alternative treatment. Overall there were 186 mentions, covering 61 ethnospecies. In relation to IR%, Mentha × villosa presented the highest value.Knowing the factors that influence selection of medicinal plants sheds light on the mechanisms through which patterns of use develop and this may help to preserve this knowledge.

A pesar del acceso a las terapias médicas convencionales, el uso de la medicina complementaria está aumentando en muchas comunidades. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar el conocimiento popular de las plantas medicinales utilizadas para el tratamiento de la diabetes y sus comorbilidades, en cuatro comunidades rurales del municipio de Vitória de Santo Antão, en el estado brasileño de Pernambuco. La importancia relativa de una planta medicinal en particular se calculó en base al porcentaje de menciones (% de IR). La similitud entre las comunidades se cuantificó mediante el índice de Sørensen (Ss). Se realizaron entrevistas con 141 pacientes, de estos, 83 informaron el uso de plantas medicinales como tratamiento alternativo. En total hubo 186 menciones, cubriendo 61 etnoespecies. En relación al% de RI, Mentha × villosa presentó el valor más alto. Conocer los factores que influyen en la selección de plantas medicinales arroja luz sobre los mecanismos a través de los cuales se desarrollan los patrones de uso y esto puede ayudar a preservar este conocimiento.

Prevalencia de Blastocystis sp en niños en edad escolar de Reynosa, México / Blastocystis prevalence in school age children from Reynosa, Mexico

Resumen Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de Blastocystis sp. en niños residentes de la ciudad de Reynosa, Tamaulipas, México. Material y Método: Estudio transversal que incluyó 238 muestras de heces de niños con edad de 5 a 12 años de escuelas primarias de la ciudad de Reynosa, Tamaulipas, México. Resultados: Del total de muestras, el 13,8% tuvo presencia de Blastocystis sp.; siendo este el más prevalente dentro de los parásitos encontrados; también se re porta la presencia de Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Giardia intestinalis y Enterobius vermicularis. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de Blastocystis en zonas de México es poco conocida; sin embargo, los estudios en diversas partes del mundo sugieren un aumento, por lo que es importante determinar la presencia y su relación como patógeno u oportunista humano.

Abstract Objective: To determine the prevalence of Blastocystis spp. in children living in the city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Material y Method: Cross-sectional study that included 238 stool samples from children aged 5 to 12 years from elementary schools in the city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Results: Of the total number of samples, 13.8% showed the presence of Blastocystis spp., being the most prevalent among the parasites found; the presence of Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Giardia intestinalis and Enterobius vermicularis was also reported. Conclusions: The prevalence of Blastocystis in areas of Mexico is poorly known; however, studies in various parts of the world suggest an increase, so it is important to determine the presence and its relationship as a human pathogen or opportunist.

Research on the key driving factors of the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in public hospitals / 中华医院管理杂志

Objective:To learn the key driving factors in the management of scientific and technological achievements transformation in public hospitals, so as to provide basis for improving the effectiveness of achievements transformation.Methods:From March to July 2021, 1 226 medical staff from 7 municipal hospitals in Hangzhou were investigated by stratified random sampling. The questionnaire included the main demographic information, the perceived importance and actual performance of the management mechanism(6 dimensions, 18 items)which was scored by Likert 5. Descriptive analysis was carried out and paired samples were compared by t-test, and the difference was significant when P<0.05. Importance matrix analysis was carried out on all items to identify the key driving factors for the transformation of achievements in public hospitals. Results:1 157 valid questionnaires were finally included. The difference between the scores of perceived importance and actual performance of the various management mechanisms was significance( P<0.001). The gap was presented as follows: evaluation mechanism(1.29), investment mechanism(0.88), organization and leadership mechanism(0.87), guarantee mechanism of services(0.44), benefit and distribution mechanism(0.15), incentive mechanism(-0.11). Matrix analysis results showed that, " special funds support" , " grasp market demand and accurately connect" , " formulate corresponding supporting systems" , " professional transformation team with multidisciplinary background" , " classified and multi-level achievement transformation evaluation index system" , " full life cycle management" , " incorporate into central work and key tasks" and " scientific and technological achievement transformation reporting system and application monitoring system" were the key driving factors for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in public hospitals. Conclusions:The perceived importance of medical staff to the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in public hospitals is acceptable, while the actual performance is relatively weak. The management effectiveness should be improved and give priority to consolidate the management foundation, build index evaluation system, provide the life cycle management service and improve scientific interaction as well as consultation service mechanism.

Thyroid disorder classification using machine learning models

Introduction@#Thyroid hormones are produced by the thyroid gland and are essential for regulating the basal metabolic rate. Abnormalities in the levels of these hormones lead to two classes of thyroid diseases – hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Detection and monitoring of these two general classes of thyroid diseases require accurate measurement and interpretation of thyroid function tests. The clinical utility of machine learning models to predict a class of thyroid disorders has not been fully elucidated. @*Objective@#The objective of this study is to develop machine learning models that classify the type of thyroid disorder on a publicly available thyroid disease dataset extracted from a machine learning data repository. @*Methods@#Several machine learning algorithms for classifying thyroid disorders were utilized after a series of pre-processing steps applied on the dataset. @*Results@#The best performing model was obtained by with XGBoost with a 99% accuracy and showing very good recall, precision, and F1-scores for each of the three thyroid classes. Generally, all models with the exception of Naïve Bayes did well in predicting the negative class generating over 90% in all metrics. For predicting hypothyroidism, XGBoost, decision tree and random forest obtained the most superior performance with metric values ranging from 96-100%. On the other end in predicting hyperthyroidism, all models have lower classification performance as compared to the negative and hypothyroid classes Needless to say, XGBoost and random forest did obtain good metric values ranging from 71-89% in predicting hyperthyroid class. @*Conclusion@#The findings of this study were encouraging and had generated useful insights in the application and development of faster automated models with high reliability which can be of use to clinicians in the assessment of thyroid diseases. The early and prompt clinical assessment coupled with the integration of these machine learning models in practice can be used to determine prompt and precise diagnosis and to formulate personalized treatment options to ensure the best quality of care to our patients.

Major depressive disorder prediction using data science

Background@#Major depressive disorder is a mood disorder that has affected many people worldwide. It is characterized by persistently low or depressed mood, anhedonia or decreased interest in pleasurable activities, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, lack of energy, poor concentration, appetite changes, psychomotor retardation or agitation, sleep disturbances, or suicidal thoughts. @*Objective@#The objective of the study was to predict the presence of major depressive disorder using a variety of machine learning classification algorithms (logistic regression, Naive Bayes, support vector machine, random forest, adaptive boosting, and extreme gradient boosting) on a publicly available depression dataset. @*Methodology@#After data pre-processing, several experiments were performed to assess the recursive feature elimination with cross validation as a feature selection method and synthetic minority over-sampling technique to address dataset imbalance. Several machine learning algorithms were applied on an anonymized publicly available depression dataset. Feature importance of the top performing models were also generated. All simulation experiments were implemented via Python 3.8 and its machine learning libraries (Scikit-learn, Keras, Tensorflow, Pandas, Matplotlib, Seaborn, NumPy). @*Results@#The top performing model was obtained by logistic regression with excellent performance metrics (91% accuracy, 93% sensitivity, 85% specificity, 93% recall, 93% F1-score, and 0.78 Matthews correlation coefficient). Feature importance scores of the most relevant attribute were also generated for the best model. @*Conclusion@#The findings suggest the utility of data science techniques powered by machine learning models to make a diagnosis of major depressive disorders with acceptable results. The potential deployment of these machine learning models in clinical practice can further enhance the diagnostic acumen of health professionals. Using data analytics and machine learning, data scientists can have a better understanding of mental health illness contributing to prompt and improved diagnosis thereby leading to the institution of early intervention and medical treatments ensuring the best quality of care for our patients.

Feeding habit of Brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) in upper parts of river Swat, Pakistan / Hábito de alimentação da truta marrom (Salmo trutta fario) nas partes superiores do rio Swat, Paquistão

Salmo trutta fario is the most important fish species of family Salmonidae inhibited in cool waters all over the world including the nortern parts of Pakistan. This study was aimed to find out the prey selection and feeding habits of the species. One hundred and eighty five Salmo trutta fario were captured from March 2016 to April 2017. Feeding intensity as represented by a fullness index (FI), changing with various length groups and season. Out of 185 Brown trout 24 fish stomaches were found empty. The most important and common food items of brown trout were Brachycentridae, Blepharocera, Hydropsychidae, ephemerella spp. Kruskal Wallis H-test were applied on feeding intensity groups consisting of three month group. The test statistic for K.W-H-test were (H=8.13 with df =3) had a p-value of 0.043 < (alpha=0.05 indicates favor of the alternative hypothesis of at least one difference among the feeding intensity groups. The linear relationship of N with index of relative importance and %IRI denoted by least square regression line (N = 35.2 + 22.1%IRI), shows that for 22 prey there is 1% change in IRI. The relationship between total length (mm) and fish body weight (gm) is expressed by Pearson correlation coefficient (r = 0.976), showed that total length (mm) and fish body weight (gm.) is highly correlated. Descriptive statistics are used for the stomach fullness, which shows that feeding intensity was recorded higher from March to May. A total of 2289 preys was recorded including the most common were; Trichoptera, Hydropsychidae, Brachycentridae, diptera, blepharocera, ephemerala, chironomida, honey bees, grass hopper, locust, trout egg, trochanter, plant tissue, stones were retrieved from the gut contents of brown trout. According to index of relative importance IRI% four preys represents major components of the diet. The highest IRI% was recorded in Brachycentridae (39.38%), followed by blepharocera (13.23%), [...].

Salmo trutta fario é a espécie de peixe mais importante da família dos salmonídeos, inibida em águas frias em todo o mundo, incluindo as partes do noroeste do Paquistão. Este estudo teve como objetivo conhecer a seleção de presas e os hábitos alimentares da espécie. Cento e oitenta e cinco Salmo trutta fario foram capturados de março de 2016 a abril de 2017. Intensidade de alimentação representada por um índice de plenitude (FI), mudando com vários grupos de comprimento e estação. De 185 trutas, 24 estômagos de peixes foram encontrados vazios. Os itens alimentares mais importantes e comuns da truta marrom foram brachycentridae, blepharocera, hydropsychidae, ephemerellaspp. O teste H de Kruskal Wallis foi aplicado em grupos de intensidade de alimentação consistindo de um grupo de três meses. A estatística de teste para o teste KW-H foi (H = 8,13 com df = 3) teve um valor de p de 0,043 <(alfa = 0,05 indica favor da hipótese alternativa de pelo menos uma diferença entre os grupos de intensidade de alimentação. relação de N com o índice de importância relativa e% IRI denotado pela linha de regressão do mínimo quadrado (N = 35,2 + 22,1% IRI), mostra que para 22 presas há 1% de mudança no IRI. A relação entre comprimento total (mm) e peixes o peso corporal (gm) é expresso pelo coeficiente de correlação de Pearson (r = 0,976), mostrou que o comprimento total (mm) e o peso corporal dos peixes (gm.) são altamente correlacionados. Estatísticas descritivas são usadas para a plenitude do estômago, o que mostra que a intensidade da alimentação foi registrado mais alto de março a maio. Um total de 2.289 presas foi registrado, incluindo os mais comuns foram; trichoptera, hydropsychidae, brachycentridae, diptera, blepharocera, efemérala, chironomida, abelhas, funil de grama, gafanhoto, ovo de truta, trocânter, tecido vegetal, pedras foram retiradas do intestino conteúdo de truta marrom. De acordo com o índice de importância relativa [...].

Distribution of commensal rodents in rain-fed and irrigated areas of Swat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan / Distribuição de roedores comensais em áreas irrigadas e chuvosas do distrito de Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Paquistão

Distribution pattern and relative abundance of the agricultural rodent pests of rain-fed and irrigated areas of district Swat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan were recorded from April 2011 to November 2013 using wire mesh live traps. A total of 350 rodents (269 Rattus rattus and 81 Mus musculus) were captured under 2268 trap nights (trap success: 0.15). Regression of daily captures on cumulative captures revealed an estimate of 350 rodents from all the sampled structures with an average of 21.8 rodents per crop field. House rats (R. rattus; 76.8% of captures) were numerically dominant in almost all types of agricultural fields, and were significantly different from the mice (Mus musculus; 23.1% of captures). Both species were found together in some fields. The sex ratio revealed that males outnumbered the females in both of the reported species.

O padrão de distribuição e a abundância relativa de pragas de roedores agrícolas nas áreas irrigadas e irrigadas do distrito Swat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Paquistão foram registrados de abril de 2011 a novembro de 2013 usando armadilhas vivas de malha de arame. Um total de 350 roedores (269 Rattus rattus e 81 Mus musculus) foram capturados em 2268 noites de armadilha (sucesso da armadilha: 0,15). A regressão das capturas diárias em capturas cumulativas revelou uma estimativa de 350 roedores de todas as estruturas amostradas, com uma média de 21,8 roedores por campo agrícola. Os ratos domésticos (R. rattus; 76,8% das capturas) foram numericamente dominantes em quase todos os tipos de campos agrícolas e foram significativamente diferentes dos camundongos (Mus musculus; 23,1% das capturas). Ambas as espécies foram encontradas juntas em alguns campos. A proporção de sexo revelou que os machos superaram as fêmeas em ambas as espécies relatadas.

Parasitic contamination of fresh vegetables sold in open markets: a public health threat / Contaminação parasítica de vegetais frescos vendidos em mercados abertos: uma ameaça para a saúde pública

Vegetables eating raw are a leading source of transmission of infective forms of pathogenic internal parasites among human beings. This research was conducted from April to October, 2017 to assess the parasitic contamination of vegetables sold at main vegetable markets in districts Lower Dir and Peshawar, Pakistan. Eight hundred specimens of different vegetables were purchased and soaked in physiological saline solution, shaken with a mechanical shaker for 20 minutes and processed by sedimentation concentration method. Results revealed that only 19.7% (n=158/800) of the vegetables were found to be contaminated with single or multiple parasite species. Ascaris lumbricoides (the large round worm) 12.3% (n=99/800) was the most commonly detected pathogen and Taenia saginata (the beef tapeworm) 1.62% (n=13/800) was the least frequently detected one. Interestingly, significant p value (p>0.05 at 95%CI) between the number of examined and contaminated for all the variables studied including education status of the vendors, markets location, type of vegetables, means of display, washed before display, washing source of water and market type. The findings of this study evidenced that consumption of raw vegetables possesses great risk of getting parasitic infections in Lower Dir and Peshawar districts, Pakistan. Instructing the sellers and the public about parasitic disease transfer and their hygiene can reduce the infection rate of parasites of human origin.

Os vegetais crus são a principal fonte de transmissão de formas infecciosas de parasitas internos patogênicos entre os seres humanos. Esta pesquisa foi realizada de abril a outubro de 2017 para avaliar a contaminação parasitária de vegetais vendidos nos principais mercados de vegetais nos distritos de Lower Dir e Peshawar, Paquistão. Oitocentos exemplares de diferentes vegetais foram adquiridos e embebidos em solução salina fisiológica, agitados em agitador mecânico por 20 minutos e processados pelo método de concentração por sedimentação. Os resultados revelaram que apenas 19,7% (n = 158/800) das hortaliças estavam contaminadas com uma ou várias espécies de parasitas. Ascaris lumbricoides (o verme redondo grande) 12,3% (n = 99/800) foi o patógeno mais comumente detectado e Taenia saginata (a tênia da carne) 1,62% (n = 13/800) foi o menos freqüentemente detectado. Curiosamente, valor de p significativo (p> 0,05 em IC de 95%) entre o número de examinados e contaminados para todas as variáveis estudadas incluindo escolaridade dos vendedores, localização dos mercados, tipo de vegetais, meios de exposição, lavado antes da exposição, fonte de lavagem de água e tipo de mercado. Os resultados deste estudo evidenciaram que o consumo de vegetais crus possui grande risco de contrair infecções parasitárias nos distritos de Lower Dir e Peshawar, no Paquistão. Instruir os vendedores e o público sobre a transferência de doenças parasitárias e sua higiene pode reduzir a taxa de infecção de parasitas de origem humana.

Feeding habit of Brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) in upper parts of river Swat, Pakistan

Abstract Salmo trutta fario is the most important fish species of family Salmonidae inhibited in cool waters all over the world including the nortern parts of Pakistan. This study was aimed to find out the prey selection and feeding habits of the species. One hundred and eighty five Salmo trutta fario were captured from March 2016 to April 2017. Feeding intensity as represented by a fullness index (FI), changing with various length groups and season. Out of 185 Brown trout 24 fish stomaches were found empty. The most important and common food items of brown trout were Brachycentridae, Blepharocera, Hydropsychidae, ephemerella spp. Kruskal Wallis H-test were applied on feeding intensity groups consisting of three month group. The test statistic for K.W-H-test were (H=8.13 with df =3) had a p-value of 0.043 (alpha=0.05 indicates favor of the alternative hypothesis of at least one difference among the feeding intensity groups. The linear relationship of N with index of relative importance and %IRI denoted by least square regression line (N = 35.2 + 22.1%IRI), shows that for 22 prey there is 1% change in IRI. The relationship between total length (mm) and fish body weight (gm) is expressed by Pearson correlation coefficient (r = 0.976), showed that total length (mm) and fish body weight (gm.) is highly correlated. Descriptive statistics are used for the stomach fullness, which shows that feeding intensity was recorded higher from March to May. A total of 2289 preys was recorded including the most common were; Trichoptera, Hydropsychidae, Brachycentridae, diptera, blepharocera, ephemerala, chironomida, honey bees, grass hopper, locust, trout egg, trochanter, plant tissue, stones were retrieved from the gut contents of brown trout. According to index of relative importance IRI% four preys represents major components of the diet. The highest IRI% was recorded in Brachycentridae (39.38%), followed by blepharocera (13.23%), Hydropsychidae (10.76%) and ephemerella spp (8.28%). The relationship between IRI and FO is (r =0.556) is moderately correlated with coefficient of determination (r2=0.31). This study will help in the development of an artificial diet for the species for better growth performance in captivity.

Resumo Salmo trutta fario é a espécie de peixe mais importante da família dos salmonídeos, inibida em águas frias em todo o mundo, incluindo as partes do noroeste do Paquistão. Este estudo teve como objetivo conhecer a seleção de presas e os hábitos alimentares da espécie. Cento e oitenta e cinco Salmo trutta fario foram capturados de março de 2016 a abril de 2017. Intensidade de alimentação representada por um índice de plenitude (FI), mudando com vários grupos de comprimento e estação. De 185 trutas, 24 estômagos de peixes foram encontrados vazios. Os itens alimentares mais importantes e comuns da truta marrom foram brachycentridae, blepharocera, hydropsychidae, ephemerellaspp. O teste H de Kruskal Wallis foi aplicado em grupos de intensidade de alimentação consistindo de um grupo de três meses. A estatística de teste para o teste KW-H foi (H = 8,13 com df = 3) teve um valor de p de 0,043 (alfa = 0,05 indica favor da hipótese alternativa de pelo menos uma diferença entre os grupos de intensidade de alimentação. relação de N com o índice de importância relativa e% IRI denotado pela linha de regressão do mínimo quadrado (N = 35,2 + 22,1% IRI), mostra que para 22 presas há 1% de mudança no IRI. A relação entre comprimento total (mm) e peixes o peso corporal (gm) é expresso pelo coeficiente de correlação de Pearson (r = 0,976), mostrou que o comprimento total (mm) e o peso corporal dos peixes (gm.) são altamente correlacionados. Estatísticas descritivas são usadas para a plenitude do estômago, o que mostra que a intensidade da alimentação foi registrado mais alto de março a maio. Um total de 2.289 presas foi registrado, incluindo os mais comuns foram; trichoptera, hydropsychidae, brachycentridae, diptera, blepharocera, efemérala, chironomida, abelhas, funil de grama, gafanhoto, ovo de truta, trocânter, tecido vegetal, pedras foram retiradas do intestino conteúdo de truta marrom. De acordo com o índice de importância relativa IRI%, quatro presas representam os principais componentes da dieta. O maior IRI% foi registrado em brachycentridae (39,38%), seguido por blepharocera (13,23%), hydropsychidae (10,76%) e ephemerellaspp (8,28%). A relação entre IRI e FO é (r = 0,556) está moderadamente correlacionada com o coeficiente de determinação (r2 = 0,31). Este estudo auxiliará no desenvolvimento de uma dieta artificial para a espécie para melhor desempenho de crescimento em cativeiro.

Distribution of commensal rodents in rain-fed and irrigated areas of Swat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract Distribution pattern and relative abundance of the agricultural rodent pests of rain-fed and irrigated areas of district Swat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan were recorded from April 2011 to November 2013 using wire mesh live traps. A total of 350 rodents (269 Rattus rattus and 81 Mus musculus) were captured under 2268 trap nights (trap success: 0.15). Regression of daily captures on cumulative captures revealed an estimate of 350 rodents from all the sampled structures with an average of 21.8 rodents per crop field. House rats (R. rattus; 76.8% of captures) were numerically dominant in almost all types of agricultural fields, and were significantly different from the mice (Mus musculus; 23.1% of captures). Both species were found together in some fields. The sex ratio revealed that males outnumbered the females in both of the reported species.

Resumo O padrão de distribuição e a abundância relativa de pragas de roedores agrícolas nas áreas irrigadas e irrigadas do distrito Swat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Paquistão foram registrados de abril de 2011 a novembro de 2013 usando armadilhas vivas de malha de arame. Um total de 350 roedores (269 Rattus rattus e 81 Mus musculus) foram capturados em 2268 noites de armadilha (sucesso da armadilha: 0,15). A regressão das capturas diárias em capturas cumulativas revelou uma estimativa de 350 roedores de todas as estruturas amostradas, com uma média de 21,8 roedores por campo agrícola. Os ratos domésticos (R. rattus; 76,8% das capturas) foram numericamente dominantes em quase todos os tipos de campos agrícolas e foram significativamente diferentes dos camundongos (Mus musculus; 23,1% das capturas). Ambas as espécies foram encontradas juntas em alguns campos. A proporção de sexo revelou que os machos superaram as fêmeas em ambas as espécies relatadas.