Application of appropriate level of nitrogen fertilization is a major objective to increase nitrogen use efficiency by rice varieties. Field experiments were conducted during 2016 and 2017 growing seasons to evaluate the efficiency of varying nitrogen fertilizer rates on growth and yield parameters, along with nitrogen use efficiency of some newly released rice varieties (Sakha 108) and some promising lines GZ9399-4-1-1-3-2-2, GZ10101- 5-1-1-1 and GZ10154-3-1-1-1. Five nitrogen levels (i.e. 0, 55, 110, 165 and 220 kg N ha-1) were used. The results from both growing seasons indicated that, Sakha 108 recorded the highest grain yield while GZ10154 and GZ10101 recorded the lowest grain yields. A linear increase in grain yield was observed with continuous rate increase of nitrogen from 0 to 220 kg ha-1, while 220 kg N ha-1 treatment showed maximum grain yield followed by 165 kg N ha-1, with control as minimum. Agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (AE) for studied rice genotypes varied significantly, and ranged from 3.63 to 32.9 and from 2.72 to 34.12 kg grain yield produced per kg of nitrogen applied in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Across N levels, GZ9399 recorded the highest values of AE for the nitrogen fertilizer rate of 165 kg N ha-1 in both seasons.

No abstract

BackgroundStudents’ perceptions of their learning environment, by defining its strengths and weaknesses, are important for continuous improvement of the educational environments and curriculum. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore students’ perceptions of their learning environment, among medical students in Malaysia. Various aspects of the education environment were compared between year levels and sex.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted at the Management and Science University, Shah Alam, Malaysia in 2012. A total number of 438 medical students participated in this study, and the response rate was 87.6%. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Comparisons of the mean scores of Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) subscales were calculated. The t-test was used to determine statistically significant differences.ResultsThe majority of the study participants were female, Malay, and from year 3 (68.7%, 65.3%, and 55.7%; respectively). Analysis of each of the 50 items of the DREEM inventory showed that 47 items scored ranged between 2.00 and 3.00, and three items scored below 2.00. These were identified as problem areas in this medical school that are required to be critically addressed. The overall score showed that the medical students’ perceptions were positive. The students’ perception toward educational environment was positive for all five DREEM subscales.ConclusionThe study found that, in general, the perceptions of the participants about the learning environment were positive. Nevertheless, the study also found there is a need for curriculum improvement in this school and identified priority areas for such improvement.

The research purpose was to experimentally investigate the effect of allicin administration on the levels of main type 1 diabetes (IDDM) autoantibodies which are antiislet cell antibodies (ICA) with an attempt to find a relation between this immunological effect and histological and/or biochemical findings. We have evaluated, with the help of ELISA kits, the levels of ICA and serum insulin in male Sprague-Dawley rats with Streptozotocin-induced IDDM in addition to pancreatic histological findings. The four groups (6 rats each) under study received or not different intraperitoneal doses of allicin for a period of 30 days. Daily intraperitoneal administration of allicin (either at as low dose of 8 mg/kg or high dose of 16 mg/kg) for up to 30 days to type 1 diabetic rats effectively reduces levels of anti-islet cell antibodies and in addition, reduced the level of insulin due to damaged Langerhans islet cell was significantly increased in the serum due to a repairing tissue process in pancreatic tissues. These experimental results suggest that allicin treatment has a therapeutic protective effect against autoimmune reactions occurring in IDDM. The data may provide new strategies for using allicin to be recommended as an excellent candidate in the clinical management, control, and prevention of IDDM.

IntroductionCoeliac disease (CD) is a common diagnosis among children and adults in Iraq; however, removal of gluten from the diet is essential for patients with CD. The aim of this study, the first such study in Iraq, was to assess the serological and histological recovery profiles of coeliac patients, in both children and adults groups after commencing a gluten-free diet (GFD) for at least 1 year ± 1 month.Material and methodsThe study group comprised 78 proved coeliac patients (46 children and 32 adults, median age: 15 years, range: 1–66 years) who all agreed to undergo endoscopy in addition to serological assessment before and after treatment. The duodenal biopsies were interpreted histologically according to modified Marsh criteria and the sera were tested for anti-gliadin antibody (AGA), endomysium antibody (EMA) and anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody (tTG).ResultsComplete histological remission was seen in 29 (63.1%) of 46 treated children CD patients, while only 5 (10.9%) showed Marsh IIIa changes compared with 11 (24%) before GFD. Similarly none of the 32 adults after GFD showed Marsh IIIb and Marsh IIIc compared with 46.9% and 28.1% before treatment respectively (p = 001). Meanwhile, there was strongly significant reduction in AGA, EMA, and tTG antibodies levels (p = 0.00001) following GFD.ConclusionsRepeating the duodenal biopsy 1 year ±1 month after diagnosis and starting a GFD supports the routine measurement of using histological findings as a gold standard test to confirm recovery of Iraqi CD patients along with using known coeliac serology antibodies.