High competitive pressure, resulting from multifaceted resources and meritocratic policies, prevails in the current educational settings and endorses universities to signify the measurable, tending to be instantaneous, achievements for self-accreditation. University administration accordingly, taking the positivism, pursues the quantitative but superficial performance, such as project grants, equipment upgrading, and paper publications, in order to create institutional mundane reputation. Limited reflection on the values of current university development is conducted to forthrightly vision institutions’ future and further discuss the essential goals of university education. Thus, this study focusses on literature analysis approaches to synthetically discuss the following issues: (1) the challenges of positivism and consequential performanceism in the university settings, (2) the reflection on administration values in current universities; and (3) the suggested approaches to wholly improve the inmost values of university administration.
This study investigates the effect of the growth factors addition to carob pods syrup obtained by hot extraction at 5% for the production of lactic acid by Lactobacillus plantarum. Five fermentations were carried out by culture of Lb. plantarum in carob syrup. The fermentation control conducted in carob syrup (CS), fermentation characterized by addition of 10 g.L-1 of beef extract, culture enriched by 10 g.L-1 of beef extract and 5 g.L-1 of yeast extract, fermentation supplemented by theses two compnents and 2 g.L-1 of K2HPO4 and finally the fermentation treated by theses three substances and 2 g.L-1 of triammonium citrate. During the fermentation time, a significant growth of Lb. plantarum was observed in carob syrup enriched by different components of MRS. The optical density evolves from 4.56 to 13.87 after 24 h of growth. The highest value of lactic acid 49.34 g.L-1 was obtained in carob syrup enriched by 10 g.L-1 of beef extract followed by carob syrup supplemented by all components 46.29 g.L-1, then carob treated by all components except triammonium citrate 43.64 g.L-1, and carob enriched by beef and yeast extracts 40.6 g.L-1, finally fermentation control 14.69 g.L-1. The carob syrup enriched by 10g.L-1 of beef extract seems to be a good medium for lactic acid production by Lb. plantarum.
Introduction: Articular hypermobility (AH) represents the extreme range of the normal spectrum of range of motion or hereditary connective tissue disorders, with multifactorial influence, erroneously considered by most to be harmless. It occurs between 2-57% in different populations and may be associated with systemic manifestations, including maxillofacial and otolaryngological manifestations associated with AH in several studies. Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders, a group of AH-related, diagnostic exclusion conditions distinguishable from hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, the most common form among the 13 subtypes of the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a genetically modified group heterogeneous connective tissue diseases characterized by AH, with multisystem manifestations and clinical variability, which can cause health damage, but are neglected and rarely identified. Objective: To verify the frequency of AH in the total sample and in each of the variables; characterize the corporal abilities, identify complaint of pain and of maxillofacial and otorhinolaryngological manifestations. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 57 children and adolescents in care at the Outpatient Clinic of AH and EDS of the Base Hospital of São José do Rio Preto. The data were collected from May 2016 to February 2017, with records in a questionnaire. We performed analyzes based on Beighton et al (1973) to characterize AH, with descriptive statistical analysis based on calculations of central tendency, dispersion and frequency counts in the SPSS Software version 24. Results: Children and adolescents with AH and Beighton score ≥6 accounted for just under half of the sample and filled the variables of the score for AH according to the new classification, with predominance in the upper limbs. Body skills most often were the ability to sit in the \"W\" position and to use atypical pen support for writing. Among the most prevalent clinical manifestations are pain of any location, referred by 68.4%, and buccomaxillofacial and otolaryngological signs and symptoms accounted for 84.2%. Conclusion: Children and adolescents with AH accounted for just under half of the sample and filled the variables of the AH score, with predominance in the upper limbs. The ability to sit in the \"W\" position and to use atypical pen support for writing are more frequent bodily abilities. Clinical and otorhinolaryngologic signs and symptoms were frequent. Characterizing children and adolescents with AH and early identification of signs and symptoms and other clinical manifestations is relevant for early intervention, as well as population studies to verify the impact of these manifestations in childhood.
Asparagus officinalis L. is an important economic crop cultivated in temperate regions for consumption as a green vegetable with many proven health benefits. In a previous study, methanolic extract of A. officinalis was found to exhibit potent cytotoxic activity against three human cancer cell lines, namely, MCF7 (breast cancer), HEPG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) and HELA (cervical cancer). Fractionation of the methanolic extract identified the chloroform fraction as the most active against all three cell lines. Phytochemical investigation of the active chloroform fraction resulted in the isolation of nine compounds. 1D and 2D NMR spectral data were used to identify these compounds as four nor-lignans (1, 3, 4 and 6), two acetylenes (2 and 5), two spirostanesaponins (7 and 8) in addition to -sitosterol glucoside. Compounds 1,2,4 5, 7, 8 and 9 were isolated from A. officinalis for the first time. All isolated compounds were tested for cytotoxic activity against the aforementioned cell lines and compound 7 was the most active with IC50 between 8.8-25 µmole/ml. When tested against a panel of 10 microorganisms, compounds 1-6 exhibited good antimicrobial with stronger activity observed against Gram positive bacteria while compounds 7 and 8 were inactive against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria.
This study was applied to investigate the hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extracts of edible Rhamnus (Ziziphus spina Christil L.) Mulberry (Morus alba L.) and sage (Salvia officinalis) alone and against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic damage in rats. Oral administration of CCl4 (1 ml/kg body wt. /day.S/C) induced a chronic hepatotoxicity resulting elevated serum level of glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The substanially elevated serum marker enzyme levels were restored towards normalization by the extract treatment when administered at a dose of 500 mg/kg body wt. once daily. The hepatic antioxidant status such as catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathion S. transferase (GST) and total antioxidant activity (TAC) levels are reduced in CCl4 alone treated animals with subsequent increase in malondaldhyde lipid peroxidase (MDA). Administration of the extracts challenge restored the hepatic antioxidant status. Furthermore, histopathological studies confirmed the hepatoprotective effect. The findings suggested that ethanolic extracts of Z. spina and M. alba exhibited a moderate liver protection while S. officinalis exhibited a high liver protection against CCl4 induced chronic hepatotoxicity in rats by restoring the liver antioxidant status.\nKeywords: Ziziphus spina Christi, Morus alba, Salvia officinalis, Carbon tetrachloride, Hepatoprotective effect, Rhamnus, Mulberry, Sage.\nIntroduction
A new species of plerocercoid larval trypanorhynch cestode, Nybelinia sp. is recorded from red mullet fishes Mullus barbatus belonging to family Mullidae that were collected from the Red Sea, Suez Governorate, Egypt. This larva was isolated from body cavity and external stomach wall. By using scanning electron microscope, this plerocercoid larva is characterized by subcylindrical scolex, four elongated bothridia with deep grooves, tentacular armature is homeoacanthous, homeomorphous and there are a muscular rings around the basal parts of tentacles. For the first time, the bothridial pits are described in a species of genus Nybelinia, so that this structure is considered a characteristic feature of the present new species. In addition to, three kinds of microtriches are detected on the surface of present Nybelinia sp., filamentous, spiniform and bifurcate hook-like microtriches. Concerning to the transmission electron microscopy revealed that the distal cytoplasm of the tegument is thick, rich in discoid electron-lucent vesicles and mitochondria. The basal matrix is poorly developed and the basal region under the musculature layer possess many large spherical electron-dense vesicles. The fibrils of the wall of tentacles are arranged in discrete blocks of parallel fibrils. The bulb musculature consists of layers of striated muscles are arranged into discrete blocks of myofibrils.