Serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 for Predicting the Severity of COVID-19 Lung Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction:Lung injury is common in COVID-19 patients. The severity of lung injury appears to be reflected in serum KL-6, a glycoprotein expressed on type II alveolar epithelium. This study aims to assess the role of serum KL-6 in reflecting the severity of lung injury in COVID-19 patients. Methods:A systematic search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, and ProQuest. Articles were screened based on several eligibility criteria and assessed for study quality using NOS. Results:This systematic review included four studies involving a total of 151 adult COVID-19 patients. Pooled analysis revealed that serum KL-6 was significantly higher in severe patients (SMD = 1.16; 95% CI = 0.69–1.63) with moderately high pooled sensitivity (79%; 95% CI = 61–91%) and specificity (86%; 95% CI = 72–95%). Conclusion:High serum KL-6 may depict more severe lung injury in COVID-19 patients with moderately high sensitivity and specificity. Key Words: Biomarker, COVID-19, Infectious disease, Krebs von den Lungen-6, Lung injury     

Traditional utilization of wild date palm （Phoenix sylvestris） in rural Bangladesh： an approach to sustainable biodiversity management

A study was conducted to explore the traditional utilization pattern and indigenous management practices of wild date palm （Phoenix sylvestris Roxb） in the rural agrarian regions of Bangladesh. A multistage sampling method with 10% intensity and a semi-structured questionnaire were used for the study. The farmers manage the palm mainly for sap production with which sugar based secondary goods are manufactured. The sap is either used fresh as drink or after some sort of processing as molasses and/or alcoholic beverage. Seven diversified sites support the palm as its habitat and most palms （20.40%） occur in orchards. Besides growing naturally, the palm is also established in orchards using the wildings as the staple planting material. Although the medium category farmers own most of the palms （33%）, a considerable portion （28.68%） of it is managed by the landless farmers, who earn a substantial livelihood from the palms. The farmers practice their own indigenous wisdom in every stage of the palm＇s maintenance from planting through tapping for sap collec- tion to the processing of products. If managed more scientifically on a sustainable basis with the collaboration of farmers＇ indigenou~ knowledge, this familiar palm could be able to support the rural economy of the country to a great extent. Side by side, it would also be able to contribute to the richness of biodiversity in the region.     

Headspace solid‐phase microextraction gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for the detection of volatile organic compounds released from Ganoderma boninense and oil palm wood

Basal stem rot disease caused by the white‐rot fungus Ganoderma boninense is a major threat to the oil palm industry, and hence, the ability to detect infections at an early stage of development is desired. In this study, a headspace solid‐phase microextraction (HS‐SPME) method coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) was employed to analyse the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from G. boninense cultures and infected oil palm wood. We examined VOCs released from three types of samples: G. boninense mycelium, oil palm wood and oil palm wood colonized by G. boninense. This preliminary study led to the tentative identification of 57 VOCs, including alcohols, alkanes, volatile acids, ketones, aldehydes, esters, sesquiterpenes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon groups. Aliphatic compounds with eight‐carbon atoms, such as 1‐octen‐3‐ol, 3‐octanone, 1‐octanol and (E)‐2‐octenal, were the most abundant constituents of the Ganoderma samples, whereas furfural and hexanal were the major compounds detected in the oil palm wood samples. Chemometric analyses using cluster heat maps and principal component analyses were used to discriminate between the VOC profiles. The results indicated that the novel method described here could be used to detect Ganoderma disease and, more generally, for chemoecological studies of plant–pathogen interactions.     

Small-Scale Mehedi (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lawsonia inermis</Emphasis> L.) Farming in the Central Bangladesh: A Promising NTFP-Based Rural Livelihood Outside the Forests

Throughout the world ornamentation of body with mehedi (Lawsonia inermis L.) leaf paste, with the trade name ‘henna body art’ is becoming increasingly popular. The worldwide increasing demand of mehedi leaf encourages many countries to adopt commercial farming of the plant. Farmers living in central Bangladesh recently commenced small-scale mehedi farming, primarily with the purpose of meeting national demand. A total of 182 farmers are engaged in mehedi farming and a study was conducted among 36 of them (a 20% random sample) to explore indigenous management techniques, marketing, livelihood potential and constraints of the enterprise. Farming was reported to be the major primary occupation of the study area. An average of 0.05 ha land of the respondents was used for mehedi cultivation, which constituted 16.7% of their average farm land. The farmers applied their own indigenous technology in every aspect of the farming, using branch cuttings as the only propagation material. The financial analysis indicated that mehedi farming is a profitable and attractive option for rural livelihoods [with an estimated net present value of Tk (Bangladeshi currency unit, 1 US $ = 68 Taka (as of May, 2009).) 179,500 for 0.1 ha plantation]. However, the enterprise faces several constraints, including absence of a nursery for supplying planting materials, storage and effective marketing facilities, available capital for investment, improved technology, and above all, government support. If the government extends cooperation by assisting farmers with training, technology, credit and market development, mehedi farming could become an important revenue-earning enterprise in the small-scale cottage sector of Bangladesh.     

Elastic wave velocities of lunar samples at high pressures and their geophysical implications

Ultrasonic measurement of P and S velocities of Apollo 11 lunar samples 10020, 10057, and 10065 to 5 kilobars pressure at room temperature shows a pronounced increase of velocity (as much as twofold) for the first 2 kilobars. The travel times predicted from the velocity-depth curve of sample 10057 are consistent with the results of the Apollo 12 seismic experiments. At pressures below 200 bars, the samples are highly attenuating; for both P and S waves, the value of Q is about 10.     

Basal stem rot of oil palm incited by Ganoderma species: A review

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Populus davidiana × Populus bolleana (PdPap) root rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum is a major disease in China. Controlling this disease...     

水稻种子携带稻瘟病菌LAMP检测方法的建立与应用

稻瘟病菌Magnaporthe oryzae可通过种子带菌实现远距离传播,导致病害发生并造成严重经济损失。建立灵敏高效且便于操作的水稻种子携带稻瘟病菌的检测方法,是确保种子健康和控制病害发生的先决条件。本研究选取稻瘟病菌的3-磷酸甘油酰基转移酶基因MoSPC3设计合成3对特异性引物,并对反应体系进行优化,建立了环介导等温扩增(loop-mediated isothermal amplification, LAMP)方法。该方法可特异性地检测稻瘟病菌,对稻瘟病菌DNA样品的检测灵敏度可达到0.24拷贝/μL,远高于普通PCR的检测灵敏度。将该方法用于从中国和马来西亚不同水稻种植区收集的92份水稻种子样品携带稻瘟病菌的检测,结果显示,LAMP方法共检测到89份阳性样品,而普通PCR仅显示有2份样品为阳性。综上,本研究建立了一种适用于水稻种子携带稻瘟病菌的LAMP检测方法,具有简便快捷、灵敏度高等特点,丰富了稻瘟病菌的检测体系,可用于大批量水稻种子样品的健康检测。     

Granites: Relation of Properties in situ to Laboratory Measurements

The velocity of compressional waves and electrical resistivity in granite in situ measured in two 3-kilometer boreholes exhibits very little variation with depth, in contrast with the variation predicted from laboratory measurements on dry samples. These observations can be explained either by the absence of small open cracks in the rocks in situ or by the effects of complete saturation with water. The seismic velocities of many granites at shallow depths in the earth's crust may be significantly larger than was previously believed. Other properties are also affected; correction for the effect of cracks on thermal conductivity raises the average heat flow in shield areas by as much as 20 percent.     

Forest policy and sustainable forest management in Bangladesh: an analysis from national and international perspectives

This paper includes a review of international sustainable forestry development followed by an analysis of forest policies in Bangladesh. There have been four different government forest policies in Bangladesh since 1894. The first two forest policies (1894 and 1955) were exploitative in nature. Most of the regulatory documents were developed during the first two policy periods. The third forest policy instituted in 1979 by the sovereign Bangladesh government had contradictory elements and mutually inconsistent policy statements. It addressed for the first time forestry extension through mass motivation campaign. Current forest policy formulated in 1994 has been considered to be the most elaborate policy in the history of the country. Under this policy, participatory social forestry has been institutionalized in Bangladesh. The analysis shows that, although it is possible to attain the stated policy targets, progress is slow and is blocked on several fronts. A number of identified technical, managerial and logistical problems are hindering policy and program implementation. In addition, corruption contributes to the observed problems. The real strength of Bangladesh forestry is locally based, participatory forestry, co-management of protected areas and highly motivated people who increasingly recognize the need for a healthy forest ecosystem that will provide future economic stability. Because it is the rich homestead forests of Bangladesh that generate the majority of commercial forestry products, it is important that education continues at the grass-roots level. In addition, educated forestry and environment professionals have been identified as the future driving forces towards better, and sustainable, forest management. Results of this study make it clear that Bangladesh and other developing countries are not presently in a position to accept and adopt internationally derived forest policies due to inadequate institutional support, political instability and poor governance. Therefore, along with development of criteria and indicators of sustainable forest management and forest certification, international policy scientists must consider institutional development, professional skill development, identification and adoption of indigenous technology and long-term financial support in developing countries. Without these, all international processes, policies and directives will be of little value and produce few substantive results.     

Laboratory Evaluation on Ammonia Volatilization from Coated Urea Fertilizers

Coated urea fertilizers are assumed to enhance crop yield and reducing the environmental pollution. Nevertheless, many of the coated urea fertilizers are expensive, thus not readily available for most farmers. In addition, many of these fertilizers release N not in tandem with the plant’s need, thus retard growth. Therefore, a laboratory study was conducted to evaluate effects of coated urea fertilizers on N losses via volatilization. Measurement of ammonia volatilization was carried out using the closed-dynamic air flow system. The study for ammonia volatilization was conducted using different rates of fertilizer (50, 100, and 200 kg N ha^?1) with different types of fertilizer (Urea, Sulfur-coated urea; SCU and Gypsum sulfur coated urea using rotating drum; GSCUD) in 37 days of incubation. The results indicate that SCU represents the best fertilizer which decreases the amount of ammonia volatilization at each rate of fertilizer. Besides, the rate of 50 kg N ha^?1 has the lowest percentage of ammonia volatilization. Moreover, the result proved the effectiveness of coating urea fertilizer may reduce the ammonia loss to the environment and new product which GSCUD can be comparable to the commercial product.