Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ Pro12 ala polymorphism and risk of cerebral stroke in type 2 diabetes mellitus egyptian patients.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the association of the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) P12A (rs1801282) polymorphism with development of cerebral stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: We included 224 patients with diabetes, they were categorized into116 patients with ischemic stroke (IS) and 108 without IS, in addition to 148 healthy controls in this study. respectively. Anthropometric parameters and laboratory tests were measured. The polymorphism was detected by a PCR-RFLP method. Results: A12 allele and A12 containing genotypes show significant higher percentage in patients with diabetes and IS in comparison to diabetes patients without IS (9.1 vs. 4.2%,16.4 vs7.4%; P = 0.044,0.044) with OR of 2.29 and 2. 449 respectively (95% CI: 1.024-5.115, 1.024-5.856) but does not withstand Bonferroni correction. Conclusion: A12 containing genotypes and A12 allele are not associated with IR, diabetes and risk of IS development, however, significant higher BMI were observed in A12 allele carriers in the studied patients with diabetes as well as those with IS.

A combined machine for collecting and chopping rice straw.

Due to the recent high prices of livestock feed in the world and the new sustainable management practices of rice straw, livestock farmers are obligated to either use or purchase rice straw and cut it to desired lengths to feed ruminants. Therefore, this study aimed to construct a combined machine for collecting and chopping rice straw for lengths preferred in feeding ruminants. The combined machine comprises three main units: a picking up unit, a chopping unit, and a takeout unit. Field experiments were performed on average rice straw moisture content of 25% (w.b.) to evaluate the performance of the combined machine, under factors of 1.3, 1.6, 1.9, and 2.2 km h-1 forward speeds, elevator velocities of 0.79, 0.94, and 1.10 m s-1, and chopping knives rotational speeds of 1600, 2000 and 2400 rpm. The obtained results indicated that the consumed specific energy was 90.94 kWh ha-1 to achieve the highest field capacity of 0.24 ha h-1, with collecting efficiency of 95.30% at a forward speed of 2.2 km h-1, elevator velocity of 1.10 m s-1 and rotational speed of 2400 rpm for chopping knives. In order to achieve the highest chopping quality of 95%, it is recommended to operate the elevator velocity at 0.79 m s-1, rotate chopping knives at 2400 rpm, and drive the tractor at a forward speed of 1.3 km h-1. The total operating cost of the combined machine is lower than the traditional methods by about 49.84%.