Nephroprotective effects of Zingiber zerumbet Smith ethyl acetate extract against paracetamol-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats

Paracetamol (PCM) overdose can cause nephrotoxicity with oxidative stress as one of the possible mechanisms mediating the event. In this study, the effects of ethyl acetate extract of Zingiber zerumbet rhizome [200 mg per kg of body weight (mg/kg) and 400 mg/kg] on PCM-induced nephrotoxicity were examined. Rats were divided into five groups containing 10 rats each. The control group received distilled water while other groups were treated with extract alone (400 mg/kg), PCM alone (750 mg/kg), 750 mg/kg PCM+200 mg/kg extract (PCM+ 200-extract), and 750 mg/kg PCM+400 mg/kg extract (PCM+400-extract), respectively, for seven consecutive days. The Z. zerumbet extract was given intraperitoneally concurrent with oral administration of PCM. Treatment with Z. zerumbet extract at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg prevented the PCM-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative impairments of the kidney, as evidenced by a significantly reduced (P<0.05) level of plasma creatinine, plasma and renal malondialdehyde (MDA), plasma protein carbonyl, and renal advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP). Furthermore, both doses were also able to induce a significant increment (P<0.05) of plasma and renal levels of glutathione (GSH) and plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The nephroprotective effects of Z. zerumbet extract were confirmed by a reduced intensity of renal cellular damage, as evidenced by histological findings. Moreover, Z. zerumbet extract administered at 400 mg/kg was found to show greater protective effects than that at 200 mg/kg. In conclusion, ethyl acetate extract of Z. zerumbet rhizome has a protective role against PCM-induced nephrotoxicity and the process is probably mediated through its antioxidant properties.     

Hybrid sliding mode observer for switched linear systems with unknown inputs

This paper addresses the state observation and unknown input estimation of a class of switched linear systems with unknown inputs. This class of systems may have modes in which the state is not fully observable. A state transformation allows implementing two suitable reduced-order observers. The first one, based on second order sliding mode techniques, is proposed to reconstruct the discrete state in the presence of unknown inputs. The second one, based on gathering partial information from individual modes of the switched system and on higher order sliding mode techniques, is introduced to estimate the continuous state. Then, the observer injection signal of the first second order sliding mode observer is used to estimate the unknown inputs. Simulation results highlight the efficiency of the proposed method.     

Comparison of the Carcinogenic Potential of Smokeless Tobacco and Smoked Tobacco by Quantifying the Excretion of Nicotine Metabolite NNAL in Patients with Oral Leukoplakia

The case control study was conducted to quantify the amount of the carcinogenic tobacco specific nitrosamine in smokeless tobacco users and smokers in patients with oral leukoplakia and also to emphasize the role of tobacco-specific nitrosamine in the incidence of oral leukoplakia. The study was conducted on 30 patients. The urine samples were obtained from smokeless tobacco users with oral leukoplakia, smokers with oral leukoplakia and non-tobacco users (i.e. people who do not use tobacco in any form). The collected samples were processed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A highly significant difference of NNAL[4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol] in smokeless tobacco users than tobacco smokers P = 0.0002 (Table 1) was obtained. This significant difference shows smokeless tobacco is more carcinogenic than smoked tobacco. This study confirmed that NNAL is a potent biomarker for calculating the risk of occurrence of carcinoma in smokeless tobacco users and smokers, and that smokeless tobacco is more harmful than smoked tobacco.     

Teachers’ perceptions of the concomitance of emotional behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities in children referred for learning disabilities in Oman

Research has documented overlapping and coexisting characteristics of learning disabilities (LD) and emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD). Such concomitance may impact teacher referrals of children at risk for LD which in turn may influence service delivery. Using the Learning Disabilities Diagnostic Inventory (LDDI) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), we examined teachers’ ratings of EBD and LD symptoms in 439 students referred for LD in elementary schools in Oman. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) showed that there were no gender differences in LD symptoms, whereas there were significant gender differences in teachers’ ratings of hyperactivity and conduct problems in referred children. There was an association between teachers’ ratings on the LDDI and SDQ dimensions, reflecting children’s concurrent display of LD and EBD symptoms. Implications are discussed within an Omani context in which there is a need to increase teachers’ awareness of the behavioural and emotional profile of children at risk for LD.     

Developing anti-discriminatory education: the impact of specialist training on practitioners and pupils

This article addresses the question as to whether training pre-school practitioners in an approach to anti-discriminatory education can impact on the developing attitudes of young children. This article attempts to analyse the effect of training practitioners in the delivery of an anti-discriminatory curriculum on the developing attitudes of the children they are teaching. This training was carried out with Leicestershire Foundation Stage settings.     

Isokinetic imbalance of hip muscles in soccer players with osteitis pubis

Abstract

In this study, we compared the isokinetic torques of hip flexors/extensors and abductors/adductors in soccer players suffering from osteitis pubis (OP), with normal soccer players. Twenty soccer male athletes with OP and 20 normal soccer athletes were included in this study. Peak torque/body weight (PT/BW) was recorded from hip flexor/extensor and abductor/adductor muscles during isokinetic concentric contraction modes at angular velocity of 2.1 rad · s^?1, for both groups. The results showed a significant difference between the normal and OP groups for hip flexors (P < 0.05). The normal group had significant, lower PT/BW value than the OP group for their hip flexors (P < 0.05). The hip flexor/extensor PT ratio of OP affected and non-affected limbs was significantly different from that of normal dominant and non-dominant limbs. There were no significant differences between the normal and OP groups for hip extensor, adductor and abductor muscles (P > 0.05). Regarding the hip adductor/abductor PT ratio, there was no significant difference between the normal and OP groups of athletes (P > 0.05). The OP group displayed increase in hip flexor strength that disturbed the hip flexor/extensor torque ratio of OP. Therefore, increasing the hip extensor strength should be part of rehabilitation programmes of patients with OP.     

A context-based integrative framework for e-government initiatives

The recent advances in the Internet technology have propelled the development of related applications in electronic communications and transactions, including electronic commerce and electronic government (e-government). There has been a proliferation of e-government initiatives worldwide undertaken under different forms of government, socioeconomic settings, and technological conditions. Nonetheless, the relationship between an e-government initiative and its context has not received adequate attention in the e-government literature. This paper provides an organizing framework that maps the core values (goals) of e-government to two fundamental factors; namely, the degree of e-government readiness and the level of democratization. The framework addresses the importance of the relationship between the context within which e-government initiatives are undertaken and the goals of those initiatives. From a conceptual perspective, this framework underscores the pivotal importance of the context of an e-government initiative in influencing the goals of this initiative. From a practical viewpoint, the framework provides a roadmap for policy makers to formulate policy goals of e-government initiatives commensurate with their respective environments.     

Contrasting perceptions of an innovation in engineering education

There has been considerable criticism about the effectiveness and appropriateness of degree courses in engineering over recent years. In part the criticism have related to inadequate preparation for the profession and in part to the traditional methods of teaching. As a reaction to these criticism, attempts were made at one particular technological institution to change the way in which parts of one particular course were taught. The first problem was created by a relatively high failure rate in examinations. In addition, it was felt that problem-solving was an important skill which had been inadequately taught through the conventional lecture course. Previous research had suggested that audiotapes on which students could work and take notes at their own pace might improve the examination results and help with problem-solving skills relevant to the professional engineer. The innovator found evidence for the success of the innovation in terms of a decreased failure rate and his own satisfaction with the changed emphasis in his part of the degree course. However, an independent evaluation based on interviews and observation found that other members of staff, and the students, all held different perceptions of the effectiveness of the innovation. The contrasting perceptions reflected, in part, the extent to which the staff had been involved with the innovation, and the purposes of the students in using the innovative materials and techniques. The study points up difficulties in introducing an innovation into higher education and shows the importance of the very different perceptions held by those who come into contact with the innovation. Implications for understanding the impact of learning environments on student learning, and for the introduction of innovations, are discussed.