Cartap and carbofuran induced alterations in serum lipid profile of Wistar rats

Wistar rats of 6–8 weeks in age weighing between 120–150 g were exposed to the fixed doses of each of the carbamate pesticides such as cartap (50% LD₅₀) and carbofuran (50% LD₅₀) as well as a combination of these two with 25% LD₅₀ of each for one week. The effect of treatments was studied in terms of serum lipid parameters such as high-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein and very low-density lipoprotein. Treatment with individual doses of carbofuran (50% LD₅₀) and cartap (50 % LD₅₀) caused significant alterations in the levels of serum lipid parameters. The pesticides treatment resulted in marked decrease in the level of serum high-density lipoprotein where as that of other lipids got significantly elevated. Further, the rats exhibited relatively higher impact of pesticides when treated with the compounds in combination (25 % LD₅₀ of each). The results indicated that these compounds when used together may exert enhanced effect on the levels of serum lipids in rat.     

Feature selection for face recognition: a memetic algorithmic approach

The eigenface method that uses principal component analysis （PCA） has been the standard and popular method used in face recognition. This paper presents a PCA - memetic algorithm （PCA-MA） approach for feature selection. PCA has been extended by MAs where the former was used for feature extraction/dimensionality reduction and the latter exploited for feature selection. Simulations were performed over ORL and YaleB face databases using Euclidean norm as the classifier. It was found that as far as the recognition rate is concerned, PCA-MA completely outperforms the eigenface method. We compared the performance of PCA extended with genetic algorithm （PCA-GA） with our proposed PCA-MA method. The results also clearly established the supremacy of the PCA-MA method over the PCA-GA method. We further extended linear discriminant analysis （LDA） and kernel principal component analysis （KPCA） approaches with the MA and observed significant improvement in recognition rate with fewer features. This paper also compares the performance of PCA-MA, LDA-MA and KPCA-MA approaches.     

Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T Polymorphism and Risk for Male Infertility in Asian Population

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a critical enzyme of folate pathway and required for DNA synthesis and methylation. MTHFE C677T polymorphisms is reported as risk factors for various diseases and disorders like birth defects, metabolic, neurological, psychiatric disorders, and cancers. Several studies have investigated association between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and male infertility. To assess the risk associated with MTHFR C677T polymorphism in Asian population, a meta-analysis was performed. Included articles were collected from the following electronic databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science direct up to March 2015. Risk was estimated as pooled odds ratios (ORs) with confidence intervals (CIs) for assessment. Seventeen case–control studies involving 4392 breast infertile males and 3667 fertile males were found suitable for the inclusion in the present meta-analysis. Results showed that the C677T polymorphism was significantly associated with male infertility in Asian population using all the five genetic models (OR_{T vs. C} (allele contrast model) = 1.86, 95% CI 1.7–2.0; OR_{TT vs. CC} (homozygote model) = 1.96, 95% CI 1.67–2.30; OR_{CT vs. CC} (co-dominant model) = 1.40, 95% CI 1.18–1.62; OR_{TT+CT vs. CC} (dominant model) = 1.53, 95% CI 1.30–1.77; OR_{TT vs. CT+CC} (recessive model) = 1.67, 95% CI 1.44–1.92). In conclusion, results of present meta-analysis strongly supported an association between C677T polymorphism and male infertility in Asians.     

Action learning in ActionAid Nepal: a case study

This article describes an example of how action learning was used as a framework for an organisational intervention to fundamentally change the organisational culture over a period of time. It also identifies our learning over that period of time and what worked well (and not so well) in an International Non-Governmental Organisation in Nepal.     

Rube Goldberg salad system: Teaching systems theory in communication

Courses: Undergraduate Organizational Communication, Communication Theory, and Small Group Communication courses.

Objectives: This single-class activity aims to engage students actively in explaining and applying systems components, processes, and properties.     

Folate Pathway Gene Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T Polymorphism and Alzheimer Disease Risk in Asian Population

The association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism and susceptibility to Alzheimers disease (AD) was controversial in previous studies. The present meta-analysis was designed to investigate the association of MTHFR C677T polymorphism with AD. Nine studies were identified by search of PubMed, Google Scholar, Elsevier, Springer Link databases, up to January 2013. Odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95 % confidence interval (CI) were calculated using fixed effects model or random effects model. All statistical analysis was done by Mix version 1.7. MTHFR C677T polymorphism had a significant association with susceptibility to AD in all genetic models (for T vs C: OR 1.29, 95 % CI 1.15–1.44, p < 0.0001; for TT + CT vs CC: OR 1.38, 95 % CI 1.16–1.364, p = 0.0002; for TT vs CC: OR 1.60, 95 % CI 1.25–2.04, p = 0.0001; for CT vs CC: OR 1.28, 95 % CI 1.1–1.53, p < 0.008; for TT vs CT + CC: OR 1.37, 95 % CI 1.12–1.67, p = 0.002). Results from present meta-analysis supported that the MTHFR C677T polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of AD in Asian population.     

互联网文学受众特征研究

互联网文学在信息高速发展的今天得到了突飞猛进的发展,与传统文学相比其创作主体与受众都具有相对独立的各种特征。     

Maternal and fetal indicators of oxidative stress during intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR)

The present study demonstrates the possibility of increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in both maternal and fetal erythrocytes as markers of oxygen radical activity during intrauterine growth retardation. The erythrocyte MDA levels were significantly elevated in mothers of IUGR babies when compared to controls (p<0.01). The endogenous protein damage due to oxidative stress was significantly higher in IUGR mothers when compared to controls (p<0.05). Similarly the proteolytic activity in erythrocyte lysates against oxidatively damaged hemoglobin was significantly increased in mothers of IUGR babies compared to controls (p<0.001). In fetuses born with IUGR, both lipid peroxidation and proteolytic activity were significantly increased when compared to normal newborns (p<0.01). The result of this study indicates that oxidative stress was induced both in IUGR babies and their mothers which is manifested as increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidant damage.