Search

The presence of dyes in wastewater poses a significant environmental challenge due to their permanence toxicity and potential to harm ecosystems. Because of their high porosity and adjustable characteristics, metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) have become attractive materials for effective dye removal. Among various MOFs, zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) have garnered significant attention, especially ZIF‐8, for its excellent stability, significant porosity, adjustable pore size and remarkable adsorption capacity. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the implementation of ZIF‐8 and its composites for the removal of pollutants from wastewater. The various synthesis methods, structural characteristics and dye adsorption performance of ZIF‐8 and its composites are discussed. Furthermore, impact of the different factors such as pH, temperature, dye concentration, contact time etc. were also highlighted. Moreover, the detailed adsorption mechanism was also discussed. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives in the production of materials based on ZIF‐8 for the removal of dyes were also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of equatorial spread F (ESF) has the potential to detrimentally impact space-based technological systems. This study investigates the utility of ionosondes in forecasting the incidence of post-sunset ESF in the zonal direction, utilizing observational data obtained from four ionosondes located near the magnetic Equator in Southeast Asia. Data were collected during the equinox seasons (March–April and September–October) between 2003 and 2020. To establish a relationship between the probability of post-sunset ESF occurrence and the evening vertical plasma drift (v), a logistic regression model was employed. Post-sunset ESF occurrence is defined as the presence of ESF during the time window between 19:00 and 21:00 LT, while v is derived from the average time derivative of virtual heights during the interval from 18:30 to 19:00 LT. Results indicate that the probability of post-sunset ESF occurrence approaches zero, signifying that ESF is unlikely to develop when v is negative. Conversely, when v exceeds 30 m/s, the probability of post-sunset ESF occurrence surpasses 0.87, indicating that ESF occurs almost invariably. The likelihood of post-sunset ESF occurrence reaches 1 when v equals or exceeds 40 m/s. Utilizing this model, the study determined that a single ionosonde positioned at the Equator can effectively forecast the incidence of post-sunset ESF up to a longitudinal distance of 30° from its location. The accuracy of ionosondes in predicting post-sunset ESF occurrence above their respective locations is approximately 0.80, with a 10% decrease in accuracy when forecasting ESF occurrence at longitudinal distances of 30°. In conclusion, this study enhances our understanding of the link between the evening vertical plasma drift and the manifestation of post-sunset ESF by leveraging ionosonde data. Furthermore, it provides valuable insights into the recommended coverage range of ionosondes for predicting post-sunset ESF occurrence in the zonal direction, which can be employed to fortify regional space weather services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bladder cancer cells can acquire persistent infection of oncolytic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) but the molecular mechanism(s) remain unelucidated. This poses a major barrier to the effective clinical translation of oncolytic NDV virotherapy of cancers. To improve our understanding of the molecular mechanism(s) associated with the development of NDV persistent infection in bladder cancer, we used mRNA expression profiles of persistently infected bladder cancer cells to construct PPI networks. Based on paths and modules in the PPI network, the bridges were found mainly in the upregulated mRNA-pathways of p53 signalling, ECM-receptor interaction, and TGF-beta signalling and downregulated mRNA-pathways of antigen processing and presentation, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, completement and coagulation cascades in persistent TCCSUPPi cells. In persistent EJ28Pi cells, connections were identified mainly through upregulated mRNA-pathways of renal carcinoma, viral carcinogenesis, Ras signalling and cell cycle and the downregulated mRNA-pathways of Wnt signalling, HTLV-I infection and pathways in cancers. These connections were mainly dependent on RPL8-HSPA1A/HSPA4 in TCCSUPPi cells and EP300, PTPN11, RAC1—TP53, SP1, CCND1 and XPO1 in EJ28Pi cells. Oncomine validation showed that the top hub genes identified in the networks that include RPL8, THBS1, F2 from TCCSUPPi and TP53 and RAC1 from EJ28Pi are involved in the development and progression of bladder cancer. Protein-drug interaction networks identified several putative drug targets that could be used to disrupt the linkages between the modules and prevent bladder cancer cells from acquiring NDV persistent infection. This novel PPI network analysis of differentially expressed mRNAs of NDV persistently infected bladder cancer cell lines provide an insight into the molecular mechanisms of NDV persistency of infection in bladder cancers and the future screening of drugs that can be used together with NDV to enhance its oncolytic efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of post-sunset equatorial spread-F (ESF) could have detrimental effects on trans-ionospheric radio wave propagation used in modern communications systems. This problem calls for a simple but robust model that accurately predicts the occurrence of post-sunset ESF. Logistic regression was implemented to model the daily occurrence of post-sunset ESF as a function of the evening upward plasma drift (v). The use of logistic regression is formalized by y ^ = 1 / [ 1 + exp (− z) ] , where y ^ represents the probability of post-sunset ESF occurrence, and z is a linear function containing v. The value of v is derived from the vertical motion of the bottom side of the F-region in the evening equatorial ionosphere, which is observed by the ionosondes in Southeast Asia. Data points (938) of v and post-sunset ESF occurrence were collected in the equinox seasons from 2003 to 2016. The training set used 70% of the dataset to derive z and y ^ and the remaining 30% was used to test the performance of y ^ . The expression z = − 2.25 + 0.14 v was obtained from the training set, and y ^ ≥ 0.5 (v ≥ ~16.1 m/s) and y ^ < 0.5 (v < ~16.1 m/s) represented the occurrence and non-occurrence of ESF, respectively, with an accuracy of ~0.8 and a true skill score (TSS) of ~0.6. Similarly, in the testing set, y ^ shows an accuracy of ~0.8 and a TSS of ~0.6. Further analysis suggested that the performance of the z-function can be reliable in the daily F10.7 levels ranging from 60 to 140 solar flux units. The z-function implemented in the logistic regression ( y ^ ) found in this study is a novel technique to predict the post-sunset ESF occurrence. The performance consistency between the training set and the testing set concludes that the z-function and the y ^ values of the proposed model could be a simple and robust mathematical model for daily nowcasting the occurrence or non-occurrence of post-sunset ESFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents two dual polarized proximity‐fed monostatic patch antennas with improved interport isolation for 2.4 GHz industrial, scientific and medical band same frequency full duplex wireless applications. The presented antennas achieves the high interport decoupling through intrinsic isolation of the polarization diversity in conjunction with a simple single‐tap and two‐taps self‐interference cancellation (SIC) topologies. The polarization diversity isolation is achieved through two perpendicular microstrip feeds for proximity feeding to excite orthogonal polarization mode for transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) modes. The prototype for proposed antenna with integrated single‐tap and two‐taps SIC circuit is tested to record its interport isolation, impedance bandwidths and gains for both Tx and Rx ports. The implemented antenna with single‐tap SIC circuit demonstrates 10 dB return‐loss bandwidth of ≥100 MHz for both Tx and Rx ports. The measured isolation exceeds 40 dB over the 40 MHz bandwidth. Moreover, the recorded peak isolation is better than 74 dB for implemented antenna prototype. Furthermore, the 40 MHz bandwidth with 40 dB isolation can be tuned with the help of SIC‐tap as demonstrated through the experimental results. The measured gain levels are around 4.6 dBi for both Tx and Rx port. The same antenna structure with integrated two‐taps SIC topology features better than 55 dB isolation within 10 dB return loss bandwidth of 100 MHz. The peak isolation exceeds 97 dB and isolation levels are better than 60 and 80 dB over 50 and 20 MHz bandwidths, respectively, for presented antenna with two‐taps SIC configuration. The compact antenna offers comparatively wider impedance and isolation bandwidth with improved SIC levels compared to previous designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of this study was to characterize findings of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and dual-energy CT (DECT) (80 keV, 140 keV, and mixed) in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients and to compare and correlate HRCT and DECT findings. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 67 patients of 18-65 years of age who were suspected cases of pulmonary TB with signs and symptoms of cough, fever, hemoptysis, sputum, night sweats, and weight loss with positive sputum AFB examinations/bronchoalveolar lavage. All the patients subjected to HRCT scan and followed with DECT scan. Comparison of various imaging techniques (DECT 80 keV, DECT 140 keV, and DECT mixed) with HRCT was done for detecting lung findings and data so obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: On comparing the various imaging techniques with HRCT for detecting consolidation, tree in bud pattern, cavitary lesions, ground-glass opacity, bronchiectasis, atelectasis, nodules, granuloma, peribronchial thickening, and fibrosis, the maximum agreement of HRCT was found with DECT 80 keV and minimum agreement was found with DECT 140 keV. Conclusion: The study concluded that DECT 80 keV monochromatic reconstructions among 80 keV, mixed, and 140 keV monochromatic reconstructions in lung parenchyma window settings are a faster and better analytical tool for the assessment of findings of pulmonary TB when compared with HRCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Different strains of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) worldwide proved to have tumouricidal activity in several types of cancer cells. However, the possible anti-cancer activity of Malaysian NDV AF2240 strain and its mechanism of action remains unknown. The ability of cytokine-related apoptosis-inducing NDV AF2240 to treat breast cancer was investigated in the current study.Methods: A total of 90 mice were used and divided into 15 groups, each group comprising of 6 mice. Tumour, body weight and mortality of the mice were determined throughout the experiment, to observe the effect of NDV and NDV + tamoxifen treatments on the mice. In addition, the toxic effect of the treatments was determined through liver function test. In order to elucidate the involvement of cytokine production induced by NDV, a total of six cytokines, i.e. IL-6, IFN-γ, MCP-1, IL-10, IL12p70 and TNF-α were measured using cytometric bead array assay (plasma) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (isolated splenocytes).Results: The results demonstrated that 4 T1 breast cancer cells in allotransplanted mice treated with AF2240 showed a noticeable inhibition of tumour growth and induce apoptotic-related cytokines.Conclusions: NDV AF2240 suppression of breast tumour growth is associated with induction of apoptotic-related cytokines. It would be important to further investigate the molecular mechanism underlaying cytokines production by Newcastle disease virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NCS is the combination of control system with control loops that used to regulate feedback signals among system. With the promising research vogue in academic and industry domains stimulate the emergence and advancement of networked control system. In nonlinear systems one of the foremost altercates is communication delays and packet losses. In this paper we analyzed different network control schemes, data rates and other network parameters to investigate the performance of our control system in a comprehensive way. It is also demonstrated by simulations and practical experiments that the several network control systems can compensate for arbitrary communication data dropout to attain anticipated performance and loop stability. The results demonstrate that as the data rate increases, frame size becomes lower and path loss exponent is decreased. Moreover, the control system response can be improved by increasing transmit power and error coding threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is the malignant tumour that developed from cells of the breast and is the first leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are the available treatments for breast cancer, but these were reported to have side effects. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) known as Avian paramyxovirus type-1 (APMV1) belongs to the genus Avulavirus in a family Paramyxoviridae. NDV is shown to be a promising anticancer agent, killing tumour cells while sparing normal cells unharmed. In this study, the oncolytic and cytotoxic activities of NDV AF2240 strain were evaluated on MDA-MB-231, human mammary carcinoma cell line, using MTT assay, and its inhibitory effects were further studied using proliferation and migration assays. Morphological and apoptotic-inducing effects of NDV on MD-MB-231 cells were observed using phase contrast and fluorescence microscopes. Detection of DNA fragmentation was done following terminal deoxyribonucleotide transferase-mediated Br-dUTP nick end labeling staining (TUNEL) assay, which confirmed that the mode of death was through apoptosis and was quantified by flow cytometry. Furthermore, analysis of cellular DNA content demonstrated that the virus caused an increase in the sub-G1 phase (apoptotic peak) of the cell cycle. It appears that NDV AF2240 strain is a potent anticancer agent that induced apoptosis in time-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective : To report early and late outcome after a one stage operation and comparison with others similar work and to see feasibility of this procedures in our limited resources. Patients and method: We have performed transanal pull through in department of Paediatric Surgery, Nishtar Hospital Multan during May 2010 to May 2013. Fifty patients out of 117 were selected, older than one year, non marasmic and diagnosed as short segment aganglionosis by barium enema were selected. Transanal Swenson's pull through was performed, aganglionic segment was decided on gross appearance (narrow) due to lack of frozen section facility, anastomosis made with 4/0 vicryl. Results: Procedure completed on an average within one hour, without any transfusion. Feeding was started from day one, manageable complications were observed in 25% patients, no mortality seen. Hospital stay was on an average 6 days. Conclusions: Transanal one stage pull through is very practical, can be done without facility of frozen section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The study aims to assess the effects of switching from National Center for Health Statistics ( NCHS) growth references to World Health Organization ( WHO) growth standards on health-care workers' decisions about malnutrition in infants aged <6 months. Methods We conducted a single blind randomised crossover trial involving 78 health-care workers (doctors, clinical officers, health service assistants) in Southern Malawi. Participants were offered hypothetical clinical scenarios with the same infant plotted on NCHS-based weight-for-age charts and again on WHO-based charts. Additional scenarios compared growth charts with a single final weight against charts with the same final weight plus a preceding growth trend. Reported (i) level of concern, (ii) referral suggestions and (iii) feeding advice were elicited with a questionnaire. Results Even after adjusting for health-care worker type and experience, using WHO rather than NCHS charts increased: (i) concern: a OR 4.4 (95% CI 2.4-8.1); (ii) odds of referral: a OR 5.1 (95% CI 2.4-10.8); and (iii) odds of feeding advice which would interrupt exclusive breastfeeding (a OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-4.9). A preceding steady growth trend line did not affect concern, referral or feeding advice. Conclusions Health-care workers take insufficient account of linear growth trend, clinical and feeding status when interpreting a low weight-for-age plot. Because more infants <6 months fall below low centile lines on WHO growth charts, their use may increase inappropriate referrals and risks undermining already low rates of exclusive breastfeeding. To avoid their being misinterpreted in this way, WHO charts need accompanying guidelines and training materials that recognise and address this possible adverse effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the frequency of Hirschsprung's Disease as a cause of neonatal intestinal obstruction, to compare the results of treatment with others and to suggest means and ways to improve the deficiencies in our circumstances. Place and duration of study: Nishtar hospital and Ibn-e-Siena Hospital, Multan from January, 2008 to June, 2012. Methodology: A total number of 115 patients from neonatal age to more than 5 years were diagnosed and treated for Hirschsprung's Disease. Results: Hirschsprung's Disease was a cause of neonatal obstruction in 26 (22.6%) patients. Hirschsprung's Disease was a cause of recurrent diarrhea in 37 (32.17%) patients. 76 (66.08%) patients presented with chronic constipation. 27 patients underwent for pull-through operation. Conclusions: The overall complications rate and stooling pattern after Soave's procedure are not significantly different from others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly sensitive amperometric l-glutamate biosensor based on the electrocatalytic oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide has been developed on Lauth’s Violet (known as thionine)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Th-MWCNTs) composite film, which is used as a mediator and an enzyme immobilization matrix. The glutamate biosensor, which is fabricated by immobilizing glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) on the surface of Th-MWCNTs, displayed a precipitous response (ca. 3 s), a low detection limit (15.9 nM), a wide linear dynamic range (0.1 to 500 μM), and high sensitivity of 281.6 μAmM−1cm−2, higher biological affinity, as well as good stability and repeatability. Interferences from other biological compounds were also studied for the fabricated sensor. The Th-MWCNTs system exemplifies a simple and efficient approach to the assimilation of GLDH and electrodes, which can provide analytical access to a large group of enzymes for wide range of bioelectrochemical applications in health care fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO nanostructures with a variety of morphologies and sizes, such as urchinlike structures composed of small-head nanonails, vertically aligned nanonails and nanocones, comblike nanostructures, hierarchical nanostructures, etc., have been synthesized via the simple thermal evaporation process onto the steel alloy substrate without the use of any metal catalyst or additives. It was observed from the detailed morphological and structural studies that substrate temperature, distances between source material and substrates, concentration of zinc vapors, zinc partial pressure, concentrations of reactant gases, and choices of substrates have serious impact on the morphologies and structural properties of as-grown products. Therefore, within certain reaction parameters, specific morphologies can be obtained. Detailed structural observations confirmed that the as-grown products are single-crystalline with the wurtzite hexagonal phase and grown along the (0001) directions. Raman-scattering and room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) studies revealed that the as-grown products have good crystallinity with excellent optical properties. The low-temperature PL (LTPL) studies, measured in the temperature range from 11−300 K, of the vertically aligned ZnO nanonails grown at position “B” revealed the presence of excitonic emissions and their multiple-phonon replicas in the ultraviolet region. Additionally, it has also been found that the temperature dependence of free exciton peak position can be successfully described by the standard Varshini’s expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-quantity synthesis of single-crystalline perfectly hexagonal-shaped ZnO rods has been achieved through the thermal evaporation of metallic zinc powder in the presence of oxygen without the use of metal catalyst or additives. Detailed structural analyses confirm that the structures formed exhibit a wurtzite hexagonal phase and are preferentially oriented along the c-axis direction. Low-temperature photoluminescence shows that the exciton emission bound-to-neutral donor (D0X) and free-exciton dominate the edge emission region while the donor-acceptor pair (DAP) and its replica dominate the lower energy regions. With increased temperature, D0X decreases abruptly and is then suppressed, but with further increase in temperature (>100?K) the photoluminescence spectra are dominated by the DAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional ZnO nanosheet networks composed of many thin anduniform hexagonal-shaped ZnO nanosheets and ZnO nanodiscs were preparedin a large scale on silicon substrate through thermal evaporation usingZnCl2 and O2 as source materials for Zn and oxygen, respectively, without the use of metal catalysts oradditives. Detailed structural studies indicated that the synthesized products aresingle crystalline with wurtzite hexagonal structure. Raman scattering of thesynthesized products confirmed that the as-grown structures have good crystalquality with a hexagonal wurtzite phase. Room temperature photoluminescencespectra showed a strong green band with a suppressed UV emission from the ZnOnanosheet networks, but on the other hand a dominant and strong near bandedge emission with a much suppressed deep level emission was observed in thenanodiscs. The growth mechanism of these structures is also discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The automatic detection of shapes or patterns represented by signals captured from spacecraft data is essential to revealing interesting phenomena. A signal processing approach is generally used to extract useful information from observation data. In this paper, we propose an image analysis approach to process image datasets produced via plasma wave observations by the Arase satellite. The dataset consists of 31,380 PNG files generated from the dynamic power spectra of magnetic wave field data gathered from a one-year observation period from March 2017 to March 2018. We implemented an automatic detection system using image analysis to classify the various types of lightning whistlers according to the Arase whistler map. We successfully detected a large number of whistler traces induced by lightning strikes and recorded their corresponding times and frequencies. The various shapes of the lightning whistlers indicate different very-low-frequency propagations and provide important clues concerning the geospace electron density profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ceramide synthase 2 (CERS2) gene has been linked to tumour recurrence and invasion in many different types of cancers including bladder cancer. In this study, the expression levels of CERS2 in bladder cancer cell lines were analysed using qRT-PCR and the protein expression in clinical bladder cancer histopathological specimens were examined via immunohistochemistry. The potential utility of CERS2 as a predictive biomarker of response to oncolytic virotherapy was assessed by correlating the CERS2 mRNA expression to IC50 values of cells treated with the Newcastle disease virus (NDV), AF2240 strain. This study demonstrates that CERS2 is differentially expressed in different types of bladder cancer cell lines and that the siRNA-mediated downregulation of the expression of CERS2 reduces the migratory potential of UMUC1 bladder cancer cells. However, there were no significant correlations between the expression levels of the CERS2 protein with bladder cancer grade/stage or between the IC50 values of cells treated with NDV and CERS2 expression. Although the utility of CERS2 expression may be limited, its potential as an antimigration cancer therapeutic should be further examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures have shown remarkable potential in optoelectronics applications due to their outstanding optical and electronic properties. Doping ZnO with nanomaterials such as metal nanoparticles has proven its effectiveness in altering, enhancing, and modifying the intrinsic ZnO to suit the intended application. However, doping ZnO with certain materials, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), is much more challenging due to their chemical inactivity and low dispersity in mediums. In this work, ZnO nanorods (ZNRs) were grown on ITO-coated glass substrate using the chemical bath deposition (CBD) method, followed by doping the ZNRs with CNTs suspended in different organic solvents using the drop-casting method. The doped ZNRs were characterized using several characterization methods, including AFM, FESEM, EDX, UV–Vis, PL, and I–V. From the results, it was found that low yield integration of CNTs within the ZNRs was achieved when dimethylformamide (DMF) and ethanol (ETH) were used as solvents, whereby the doped ZNRs were observed to possess similar optical behavior. Results from the other solvent, 1,2-Dichloroethane (DCE), revealed structural damage to the ZNRs, and CNTs were found to merge with the ZNRs, forming a surface with large-size grains. Meanwhile, doping CNTs from acetone (ACE) solvent shows a promising result whereby an acceptable amount of CNTs were well integrated within the ZNRs with minimum structural damage. It was found that the roughness, average diameter, Zn:O:C ratio, band gap energy, and emission peak of the ZNTs doped with CNTs from ACE were 35.2, 57.89 nm, 46:38:16, 3.23 eV, 381.55 nm, respectively. This is the first study that focuses on doping ZNRs with CNT through drop-casting without degrading the electrical and optical properties of the ZNRs. We believe that CNT-doped ZNRs have excellent potential as gain media in electrically pumped random lasers due to the combination of the optical properties of ZnO and the electrical properties of the CNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnic origin plays an important role in bone morphometry. Studies examining the influence of coracoid process have focused primarily on adults and have not included people from diverse Asian ethnic backgrounds. Our goal was to explore ethnic differences in morphometry of coracoid among Asian population. We performed morphometric measurements of coracoid process on cadaveric shoulders and shoulder CT scans from 118 specimens. The cadaveric sample included Indian (46%), Chinese (27%), and Myanmarese (27%) subjects, while the CT scans sample included Chinese (67%) and Malay (33%) subjects. The morphometric measurements were performed using digital caliper and software developed at Golden Horses Health Sanctuary (GHHS). In the Indian cadaveric shoulders, the coracoid process is better developed than the other groups with the exception of the tip width of coracoid process. There are significant differences in almost all measurements (P<0.05) between the ethnic groups. On the other hand, the morphometry of coracoid process from CT scans data is bigger in Chinese than Malay subjects when stratified by sex (P<0.05). Moreover, in all morphometric measurements, the females had smaller measurements than males (P<0.05). Understanding such differences is important in anatomy, forensic and biological identity, and orthopaedic and shoulder surgeries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical and field emission (FE) properties of aligned single-crystalline ZnO nanorods, grown on aluminium substrate at 530 °C by the non-catalytic thermal evaporation process, have been examined. Raman-scattering and room-temperature PL spectra exhibit a strong and sharp optical phonon E2 mode at 437 cm[?]1 and a strong ultraviolet emission at 381 nm, respectively. The FE characterization shows that a turn-on field for the vertically aligned nanorods was 5.8 V µm[?]1 and the emission current density reached to 0.061 mA cm[?]2 at an applied electrical field of 9.0 V µm[?]1 and shows no saturation. The field enhancement factor b was estimated, from the F-N plot, to be about [?]2.081 × 103. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-crystallized ZnO nanowires were grown in large quantity on aluminium foil, by a non-catalytic thermal evaporation method using metallic zinc powder in the presence of oxygen at low temperature. Detailed structural and optical characterizations confirmed that the as-grown nanowires were highly crystalline, possessed a wurtzite hexagonal phase, had grown along the c-axis direction and exhibited excellent optical properties. The electrical characteristics of an individual nanowire were observed in air and vacuum by fabricating field-effect transistor (FET) devices. The transistors turned on typically between [?]5 and 0 V in ambient air. However, a large threshold voltage (Vth) shift, [?]5 V, towards negative gate bias was observed in high vacuum. The shift of Vth is believed to be related to the charge transfer from the ZnO nanowire surface to the physically adsorbed OH or oxygen. Moreover, the fabricated FETs show a high conductivity ON/OFF ratio of about [?]102 with ultraviolet (UV) light and hence provide an effective way to use these devices in nanoscale UV detectors and optoelectronic switches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: High-resolution CT (HRCT) temporal bone has emerged as a useful option in pre-operative assessment of tegmen height in chronic otitis media patients. Material and Methods: A total of 60 patients with clinical suspicion of chronic otitis media were enrolled in the study. HRCT evaluation was done using Siemens Somatom Force 384 slice multidetector computed tomography machine. We radiologically assess tegmen height using lateral semicircular canal as a reference point on HRCT. Final result has been based on correlation of radiological and intraoperative findings. Diagnostic efficacy of HRCT temporal bone was evaluated in terms of sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy for pre-operative assessment of tegmen height. Results: The correlation between actual tegmen height and estimated tegmen height (by equation) was 0.457 which is highly significant (P < 0.001). In the study, the mean tegmen height of exposed dura (ED) was 5.81 ± 1.71 (95% CI 4.91-6.70) while the mean tegmen height of non-exposed dura (NED) was 8.40 ± 1.31 (95% CI 8.02-8.78). Highly significant difference was found in mean tegmen height between ED and NED cases (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Pre-operative CT assessment of tegmen height is an important parameter in assessing risk of dural injury during tympanomastoid surgeries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the preload dependence of femoral maximal change in pressure over time (dP/dtmax) during volume expansion in preload dependent and independent critically ill patients.Design: Retrospective database analysis.Setting: Two adult polyvalent ICUs.Patients: Twenty-five critically ill patients with acute circulatory failure.Interventions: Thirty-five fluid infusions of 500 mL normal saline.Measurements and Main Results: Changes in femoral dP/dtmax, systolic, diastolic, and pulse femoral arterial pressure were obtained from the pressure waveform analysis using the PiCCO2 system (Pulsion Medical Systems, Feldkirchen, Germany). Stroke volume index was obtained by transpulmonary thermodilution. Statistical analysis was performed comparing results before and after volume expansion and according to the presence or absence of preload dependence (increases in stroke volume index ≥ 15%). Femoral dP/dtmax increased by 46% after fluid infusion in preload-dependent cases (mean change = 510.6 mm Hg·s; p = 0.005) and remained stable in preload-independent ones (mean change = 49.2 mm Hg·s; p = 0.114). Fluid-induced changes in femoral dP/dtmax correlated with fluid-induced changes in stroke volume index in preload-dependent cases (r = 0.618; p = 0.032), but not in preload-independent ones. Femoral dP/dtmax strongly correlated with pulse and systolic arterial pressures and with total arterial stiffness, regardless of the preload dependence status (r > 0.9 and p < 0.001 in all cases).Conclusions: Femoral dP/dtmax increased with volume expansion in case of preload dependence but not in case of preload independence and was strongly related to pulse pressure and total arterial stiffness regardless of preload dependence status. Therefore, femoral dP/dtmax is not a load-independent marker of left ventricular contractility and should be not used to track contractility in critically ill patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Africa plays a central importance role in the human origins, and disease susceptibility, agriculture and biodiversity conservation. Nigeria as the most populous and most diverse country in Africa, owing to its 250 ethnic groups and over 500 different native languages is imperative to any global genomic initiative. The newly inaugurated Nigerian Bioinformatics and Genomics Network (NBGN) becomes necessary to facilitate research collaborative activities and foster opportunities for skills' development amongst Nigerian bioinformatics and genomics investigators. NBGN aims to advance and sustain the fields of genomics and bioinformatics in Nigeria by serving as a vehicle to foster collaboration, provision of new opportunities for interactions between various interdisciplinary subfields of genomics, computational biology and bioinformatics as this will provide opportunities for early career researchers. To provide the foundation for sustainable collaborations, the network organises conferences, workshops, trainings and create opportunities for collaborative research studies and internships, recognise excellence, openly share information and create opportunities for more Nigerians to develop the necessary skills to exceed in genomics and bioinformatics. NBGN currently has attracted more than 650 members around the world. Research collaborations between Nigeria, Africa and the West will grow and all stakeholders, including funding partners, African scientists, researchers across the globe, physicians and patients will be the eventual winners. The exponential membership growth and diversity of research interests of NBGN just within weeks of its establishment and the unanticipated attendance of its activities suggest the significant importance of the network to bioinformatics and genomics research in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the frequency of Hirschsprung's Disease associated enterocolitis in pre and post operative patients. Place and Duration of Study: Nishtar Hospital and Ibn-e-Sina Hospital, Multan from January 2008 to June 2012. Methodology: A total number of 114 patients aged from less than 6 months to more than 5 years were diagnosed and treated for Hirschsprung's Disease after rectal biopsy and internal sphinterotomy. Results: In total of 114 patients 32 (28%) developed enterocolitis before and 5 (18.5%) after definite surgery. Conclusions: The results of this study implicates that the early diagnosis and to make measures to decrease the post pull-through anastomostic anorectal stenosis can reduce the frequency of pre and post operative Hirschsprung's disease associated enterocolitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To analyse and to compare how female patients are informed about adhesions and their related problems by surgeons preoperatively. Methods: Over 8 weeks 105 patients (Germany) and 82 (UK) patients admitted for laparoscopic or open abdominopelvic surgery were interviewed preoperatively in a multi-centre study in Germany and the UK. 212 responses to an online survey were also analysed. Results: Less than 50% of patients are made aware of adhesions. Even fewer patients were told about complications caused by adhesions. Lack of knowledge is cited by 46% of patients as a reason for health professionals not informing them about adhesions. 41% considered adhesions as not sufficiently important. Patients who had previously heard of adhesions were most commonly informed by physicians. Conclusions: There is lack of information among patients and physicians about adhesions and their complications. Written information before surgery and computer-based applications may help raise patient's awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Femoral dP/dtmax (maximum rate of the arterial pressure increase during systole) measured by pulse contour analysis has been proposed as a surrogate of left ventricular (LV) dP/dtmax and as an estimator of LV systolic function. However, femoral dP/dtmax may be influenced by LV loading conditions. In this study, we evaluated the impact of variations of LV systolic function, preload and afterload on femoral dP/dtmax in critically ill patients with cardiovascular failure to ascertain its reliability as a marker of LV systolic function. Results: We performed a prospective observational study to evaluate changes in femoral dP/dtmax, thermodilution-derived variables (PiCCO2—Pulsion Medical Systems, Feldkirchen, Germany) and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) measured by transthoracic echocardiography during variations in dobutamine and norepinephrine doses and during volume expansion (VE) and passive leg raising (PLR). Correlations with arterial pulse and systolic pressure, effective arterial elastance, total arterial compliance and LVEF were also evaluated. In absolute values, femoral dP/dtmax deviated from baseline by 21% (201 ± 297 mmHg/s; p = 0.013) following variations in dobutamine dose (n = 17) and by 15% (177 ± 135 mmHg/s; p < 0.001) following norepinephrine dose changes (n = 29). Femoral dP/dtmax remained unchanged after VE and PLR (n = 24). Changes in femoral dP/dtmax were strongly correlated with changes in pulse pressure and systolic arterial pressure during dobutamine dose changes (R = 0.942 and 0.897, respectively), norepinephrine changes (R = 0.977 and 0.941, respectively) and VE or PLR (R = 0.924 and 0.897, respectively) (p < 0.05 in all cases). Changes in femoral dP/dtmax were correlated with changes in LVEF (R = 0.527) during dobutamine dose variations but also with effective arterial elastance and total arterial compliance in the norepinephrine group (R = 0.638 and R = − 0.689) (p < 0.05 in all cases). Conclusions: Pulse contour analysis-derived femoral dP/dtmax was not only influenced by LV systolic function but also and prominently by LV afterload and arterial waveform characteristics in patients with acute cardiovascular failure. These results suggest that femoral dP/dtmax calculated by pulse contour analysis is an unreliable estimate of LV systolic function during changes in LV afterload and arterial load by norepinephrine and directly linked to arterial waveform determinants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]