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يضم الكتاب ثلاثة عشر بحثا قدمت في مؤتمر تحت العنوان نفسه، عقده المركز بمقره في الدوحة في أيار / مايو 2018. تنطلق هذه البحوث من اعتبار أن الصورة التي ترسم مستقبل الهند بصفتها قوة عالمية صاعدة من الشرق، إضافة إلى قربها الجغرافي من البر العربي، وروابطها التاريخية والثقافية بشعوبه، ووجود كتلة كبيرة من العمالة الهندية في دول الخليج العربية، تفرض اهتمام العرب المتزايد بها. كما أن الهند من أكبر مستوردي الطاقة العربية، وبات نموها الاقتصادي ومكانتها العالمية مرتبطين بتوافر مصادر طاقة آمنة ومستمرة ورخيصة ما يجعل علاقتها بالعالم العربي تكتسي أهمية استثنائية.

This article marks an experiment in narrating a longue durée intellectual history ‘from below’ of West Punjab’s organised labour movement (c.1920–2000). This movement bridges the late colonial and post-colonial periods and links the histories of working-class movements across the Indian and Pakistani States. Punjab’s revolutionary heritage of the twentieth century has been, over the last decade, at the heart of broader theoretical arguments on the relationship of the internationalist Left with localised articulations of radical politics across South Asia. This resurgent scholarship, I argue in my paper, overstates and presents in a somewhat uncomplicated and teleological frame the role of left ideologies and institutions in the formation of the revolutionary subjectivities of Punjab’s working classes and poor. It crafts in a deeply hagiographic mode a narrative of the working classes’ intellectual emancipation through contact with what are generally taken to be the enlightened and progressive elements amongst the bourgeoisie of those times. This is made possible only by glossing over tensions haunting the potentially transgressive relationship between the worker and the intellectual and which this paper brings to the fore. By focusing on the upheavals attending the fraught relationship between Lahore’s worker militants and its renegade bourgeois intellectuals of the political and academic left over three generations, I question these narratives and their underlying assumptions. It is argued that instead of emancipating the worker, an education in the theory of socialism and the practical experience of left activism alongside bourgeois comrades ultimately reinforced the social and intellectual hierarchies separating the two. The processes through which this inequality was further enshrined are partly revealed by looking at the discursive formation of these workers as a proletarian vanguard, both by the State and the Communist party. Sources used for this purpose include colonial and post-colonial State records, official inquiry reports and their evidence volumes, the internal documents (in Urdu) of the Lahore district branch of the Communist party and newspapers in English and Urdu published from Lahore for the colonial and post-colonial periods. For this proletarian vanguard’s perspective on its own making and unmaking the article draws upon oral interviews (in Punjabi and Urdu) of worker leaders in the archives of local NGOs, published memoirs, as well as formal interviews and informal conversations with trade-unionists and leftist intellectuals directly involved in the workers’ movement, especially through study circles and other ‘educational’ projects, up till the late 1990s.

The mango seed was extracted to starch via distillation, alkaline, sedimentation and centrifugation methods. Based on the analysis, different starch extraction methods resulted in different proximate composition, physicochemical, morphological, structural, functional and thermal properties of starch. As such, it is necessary to choose a suitable starch extraction method to fabricate starch-based film for packaging application. Therefore, in this study, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was applied for performing the decision-making process. Based on the AHP method, it was found that, the best alternative for starch-based films is distillation method.

Objectives: To estimate the rate of unplanned hospital readmission following surgical repair of congenital heart defects (CHD) and investigate the related causes and risk factors. Methods: A retrospective chart review of all the patients who underwent surgical repair of CHD at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The study outcome consisted of any hospital admission during the 12 months following the first reparative surgery. Exclusion criteria included planned admissions. Patients’ demographic and readmission data as well as the perioperative data were collected and analyzed as factors and predictors of unplanned readmission Results: After the exclusion of the deceased patients, a total of 189 patients were included. The readmission rate was 15.9% during a one-year period following surgery. There was a significant association between the probability of readmission and preoperative mechanical ventilation (MV) (p<0.001), intraoperative complications (p=0.025), prolonged postoperative length of stay (LOS) (p<0.001), early postoperative complication (p=0.007), long postoperative MV stay, and drain tube stay (p=0.011). Significant predictors of unplanned readmission included young age (1-12 months) and low weight at surgery (<5kg), preoperative MV, intraoperative complications, postoperative LOS ≥10 days, pediatric intensive care unit stay, MV stay, drain tube stay, infections, respiratory complication, and feeding problems. Only the preoperative MV and LOS >10 days were the independent risk factors. Conclusion: Readmission rates were similar to those reported in other studies. Future studies are warranted to investigate suitable actions to alleviate the modifiable risk factors, such as postoperative complications.

  To estimate the rate of unplanned hospital readmission following surgical repair of congenital heart defects (CHD) and investigate the related causes and risk factors. A retrospective chart review of all the patients who underwent surgical repair of CHD at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The study outcome consisted of any hospital admission during the 12 months following the first reparative surgery. Exclusion criteria included planned admissions. Patients' demographic and readmission data as well as the perioperative data were collected and analyzed as factors and predictors of unplanaed readmission. After the exclusion of the deceased patients, a total of 189 patients were included. The readmission rate was 15.9% during a one-year period following surgery. There was a significant association between the probability of readmission and preoperative mechanical ventilation (MV) (p less than 0.001), intraoperative complications (p=0.025), prolonged postoperative length of stay (LOS) (p less than 0.001), early postoperative complication (p=0.007), long postoperative MV stay, and drain tube stay (p=0.011). Significant predictors of unplanned readmission included young age (1-12 months) and low weight at surgery (less than 5kg), preoperative MV, intraoperative complications, postoperative LOS ≥10 days, pediatric intensive care unit stay, MV stay, drain tube stay, infections, respiratory complication, and feeding problems. Only the preoperative MV and LOS greater than 10 days were the independent risk factors. Readmission rates were similar to those reported in other studies. Future studies are warranted to investigate suitable actions to alleviate the modifiable risk factors, such as postoperative complications.

Entamoeba histolytica , a protozoan parasite, is the causative agent of amoebiasis, which is a significant global health concern. The virulence mechanisms underlying its pathogenicity are multifaceted and complex. However, endocytic processes and motility are well accepted virulence determinants. As previously reported, an AGCK family kinase, EhAGCK1 to be involved in trogocytosis exclusively while another one from same family named EhAGCK2 participates in all actin dependent endocytic processes. As the kinase dead mutants of EhAGCK1 showed significant defect in destruction of live host cells and also the localisation pattern of same is distinguishable from EhAGCK2. From observations so far, it appears that former initiates a distinguishable signaling cascade. In this work, we have demonstrated distinct biochemical properties of kinases involved in related yet distinguishable endocytic processes for the first time. Our biochemical characterization highlights distinct ion dependency of EhAGCK1 along with substrate specificity. We also show upstream activator of these kinases, 3-phosphoinositide dependent kinase 1 (PDK1) activity and its role in activating the kinase activity. The kinases exhibit property of autophosphorylation, and which may regulate the kinase activity subsequently. Summarily, these studies show that EhAGCK1 and EhAGCK2 show distinct biochemical properties which further confirm their unique role in related endocytic processes of trogocytosis and phagocytosis.

Intimal hyperplasia (IH) is a common complication of vascular interventional procedures that leads to narrowing of the vessel lumen. 2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME), an estrogen metabolite, has numerous pharmacological actions, including vasoprotective and antiproliferative activities. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of 2ME, prepared as a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS), to inhibit IH induced by balloon injury (BI) in the rat carotid artery. The prepared 2ME SNEDDS had a particle size of 119 ± 2.3 nm and a zeta potential of −7.1 ± 1.4 mV. Animals were divided into 5 groups, namely control, sham, BI, BI + 2ME (100 μg/kg), and BI + 2ME (250 μg/kg). The obtained data indicated that 2ME significantly inhibited IH as indicated by the histological and morphometric assessment of the intima, media and lumen areas. This was associated with enhanced expression of Bax and inhibited expression of Bcl2 mRNA. Furthermore, 2ME exhibited significant antioxidant properties as evidenced by prevention of malondialdehyde accumulation as well as superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymatic exhaustion. In addition, 2ME showed significant anti-inflammatory actions as it significantly inhibited vascular content of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and nuclear factor-κB. The observed vasoprotective activities of 2ME were accompanied by inhibition of Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) protein expression. In conclusion, this study revealed that 2ME ameliorates balloon injury-induced IH in rats via suppressing JAK/STAT axis. This may help to develop new strategies to combat IH.

We have previously shown that pentoxifylline (PTX) protects from vascular complications associated with insulin resistance (IR). Here, we investigated the protective effect of PTX against cardiac ischemia and dysfunction following experimental angina in IR. IR, along with its accompanying cardiac dysfunction, was induced in rats by a high-fructose (10% in drinking water) high-fat diet for 12 weeks. PTX was administered daily (30 mg⋅kg(-1)) during the last 4 weeks of the study. Experimental angina was induced by isoproterenol (10 µg⋅kg(-1)) administered by intravenous injection. Both before (baseline) and after the experimental angina, cardiac contractility was assessed by continuous recording in anesthetized rats via a microtip catheter inserted in the left ventricle, and cardiac conductivity was determined by a surface electrocardiograph. Serum glucose, insulin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), and adiponectin levels and lipid profile were also determined. Feeding the rats a high-fructose high-fat diet produced IR, as evidenced by significant hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia, and PTX administration did not affect this IR. When subjected to experimental angina, IR hearts were less resistant to the ischemia following induction of angina (reflected by the large ST height depression) compared with controls, and PTX completely prevented the excessive ST height depression in IR animals. In addition, left ventricular pressure development was largely attenuated during and after induction of angina in IR animals compared with controls. PTX administration prevented the excessive attenuation in ventricular pressure development in IR animals. IR was associated with elevated levels of the inflammatory cytokine TNFα, whereas PTX treatment elevated the serum level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine adiponectin. PTX alleviates cardiac ischemia and dysfunction following experimental angina in IR directly through inhibition of the low-grade inflammation that accompanies IR.

This paper investigated the performance of ZTA cutting tool with the addition of different particle size of MgO additive. Therefore, the objective of this research is to compare the effects of machining parameters on tool wears of ZTA cutting tools added with micro and nanoparticle of MgO. The experiments were conducted using BridgePort-Romi Powerpath CNC machine using a tool holder Sandvik Coromant (CoroTurn CCLNR 164D-4) to hold the cutting tools properly. The parameters are set up as cutting speeds used between range 354 to 472 m/min, feed rate from 0.1 to 0.5 mm/rev with a constant depth of cut of 0.2 mm. Three types of wear were analyzed which are flank wear, crater wear and tool chipping. Flank wear and crater wear images captured using measuring microscope (NIKON MM-400/L) and the crater wear areas are analyzed using MatLab programming software. Tool chipping is observed via SEM (JEOL JSM-5600). The experimental result shows that flank wear and crater wear increase when cutting speed and feed rate increase. ZMN cutting tool shows lower value of flank wear at 0.143 mm and 3.741 mm2 for crater wear than ZMM, 0.321 mm and 3.808 mm2 respectively. On the contrary, cutting speed did not affect the tool chipping severely as feed rate. Moreover, ZMN also shows that the tool breakage occurred severely than ZMM due to the high load on the tool nose.

The study aims to analyse the action of zingerone in diabetes-related cardiac arrhythmias. Diabetes was induced by streptozocin while treatment groups received 20 mg/kg zingerone daily. Following extra seven weeks, electrocardiography, extraction of blood, urine and heart for biochemical analysis, histopathology and immunofluorescence were undertaken. The suppression of QT and QTc prolongation in diabetic rats was indicative of prolonged cardiac repolarisation that was greatly reduced by zingerone treatment. In addition, the reduction in PR interval attested that zingerone improved AV delay in diabetic rats. The fibrogenic transforming growth factor β1 upregulation in diabetic hearts was suppressed by zingerone. The marked glycogen deposition and muscle degeneration seen in diabetic heart sections were also alleviated by zingerone. Furthermore, zingerone prevented the decrease in of the serum anti-inflammatory cytokine adiponectin in diabetics. The heightened levels of oxidative stress markers 8-isoprostane and uric acid in diabetic rats were suppressed. In the diabetic heart, the reduced catalase activity was improved and the excessive expression of angiotensin receptor 1 was inhibited by zingerone. Cardiac delayed repolarisation and AV conduction in rats with diabetes were halted by zingerone. It appears that inhibition of cardiac fibrosis and associated inflammation-oxidative stress signalling underpins the zingerone effect.