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The burden of atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasing worldwide; however, most existing data on AF epidemiology are from Western regions. According to our analyses, the estimated absolute prevalence of AF in the Asia–Pacific region in 2023 was approximately 80 million, which is much higher than has been calculated for other global regions.

In recent years, there have been concerns about the toxicity of bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging materials due to the potential endocrine disrupting effects it may have on humans, especially children and infants. In this present investigation, a free-standing nickel-copper pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDA) metal organic framework (MOF) anchored carbon nanofiber paper (Ni-Cu(PDA)MOF/CNF) was synthesized for the sensing and quantify the BPA analytes in milk and water. As-prepared bimetallic MOF hybrid materials are extremely porous, hydrophilic in nature with a huge surface area. This allows for the easy pathway of analyte molecules, which react with the redox-active metal sites of MOF matrix and enhance the sensitivity. During electrocatalysis reaction, various functional groups present in the MOF system can also act as dynamic adsorption sites. In the neutral medium (pH = 7.0), the Ni-Cu(PDA)MOF/CNF modified glassy carbon electrode (Ni-Cu(PDA)MOF/CNF/GCE) ascertained good catalytic activity and strong electrochemical sensitivity toward BPA with higher sensitivity value and lower limit of detection (LOD) value. The irreversible and diffusion-controlled oxidation reactions of BPA were observed. The bimetallic MOF modified electrode displayed an extensive linear ranging from 1 to 150 µmol/L with a LOD of 75 n mol/L for BPA detection. The MOF anchored electrode displayed exceptional anti-interference property, reproducibility and good storage stability up to one month. It is notable that the Ni-Cu(PDA)MOF/CNF/GCE has proved the competence of detecting BPA in milk and drinking water samples, which displayed satisfactory outcomes with chromatographic analysis.

Excavation work poses significant risks to workers due to the potential for striking underground utilities such as gas lines and electrical cables. Despite the availability of various tools and protocols, excavation accidents still occur frequently, leading to injuries, fatalities, and property damage. This study explores the perceptions of excavator operators regarding excavation conditions and safety protocols, as well as the adaptability of a proposed tool that indicates the location and depth of underground utilities. The study is based on surveys completed by excavator operators, which revealed critical factors contributing to the causes of utility strikes, their experiences at work, and desirable features for future tools. The proposed tool was well-received by operators, with many expressing a willingness to adopt it to enhance safety and efficiency. This research provides insights into the challenges of excavation work and highlights the potential of advanced tools to mitigate utility strikes.

Bi-2212 is the only high temperature superconducting wire with the round geometry. It is multifilamentary, available in a wide range of fine filaments and twisted filament architectures and can be made into Rutherford and other cables. The properties of Bi-2212 conductors depend on powder quality, conductor fabrication and heat treatment. The heat treatment is still complex but much better understood, particularly the vital parameters of the maximum heat treatment temperature (Tmax), time-in-the-melt (tmelt) and the cooling rate as Bi-2212 reforms on cooling. Here we report on the performance and microstructure variation with heat treatments for more than a dozen wires made with powders produced by Engi-Mat in recent years. Wire architectures include 37 × 18, 55 × 18 and 85x18 and wire diameters range from 0.8 to 1.0 mm. Tmax was varied between 884 and 897 °C. Wires with smaller filament diameter showed a peak JE at the low end of Tmax and also a JE that was more sensitive to Tmax. JE (Tmax) plots for all recent wires show a plateau between Tmax of 886 and 894 °C, where JE (4.2 K, 5 T) is 1100–1400 A/mm2. Some wires with filament size of 13–15 μm showed a 10 °C heat treatment window (Δ Tmax) with a plateau JE (4.2 K, 5 T) of about 1100 A/mm2.

Hydrogel-functionalized surface-based transducers demonstrate fluid-like kinetics, non-fouling properties, and superior biocompatibility. The integration of such properties of three-dimensional (3D) micro- or macrostructure of hydrogels into a mesoporous platform provides a favorable moiety for incorporating biomolecule for adsorption or hybridization with a capture agent. Herein, we report a novel κ-carrageenan hydrogel-coated mesoporous gold (Au) electrode (abbreviated as MPGE/gel) for chronocoulometric (CC) detection of microRNA (miRNA). The κ-carrageenan gel provides a 3D porous network on Au electrode surface to enable higher adsorption of target miRNA for CC interrogation of miRNA in presence of a redox molecule-ruthenium hexaammine (III) chloride ([Ru(NH3)6]3+, RuHex). Magnetically isolated and purified target miR-9-2 is adsorbed onto the MPGE viaAu-RNA affinity interaction through the porous 3D network of the gel followed by the CC detection. The enhanced miRNA adsorption and electrocatalytic activity of MPGE/gel provide attomolar (50 aM) level of detection of miRNA with a dynamic range from 100 pM to 10 aM. The good reproducibility (% RSD ≤ 5%, for n= 3) and high specificity of the developed biosensor demonstrates its excellent translational potential toward developing precisely controlled sensing devices for current clinical needs.A novel κ-carrageenan hydrogel-coated mesoporous gold (Au) biosensor (MPGE/gel) for chronocoulometric (CC) detection of miRNA is reported. This assay enables 50 aM level of detection of miRNA with a dynamic range from 100 pM to 10 aM with good reproducibility. The high specificity and sensitivity of this biosensor demonstrate its excellent translational potential for developing precisely controlled sensing devices for current clinical needs.

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current shear design methods, their developments, and the accuracy of the predictions for different types of FRP reinforced members. The existing shear design methods are evaluated based on 320 experimental test results of rectangular concrete beams and slabs. The test specimens were reinforced in the longitudinal direction by FRP bars only without transverse reinforcement. The test results are compared with the predictions of the previous versions of the current CSA, CHBDC, ACI, and AASHTO-LRFD design provisions. It has been observed that almost all methods predicted very conservative and inconsistent results, with mean values of experimental to predicted capacities varying from 2.32 to 9.71. It has been found that the accuracy of the predictions of the current models is increased compared to the corresponding previous models with the values ranging from 1.99 to 3.24. In addition to these current provisions, four other models such as JSCE, BISE, CNR-DT 203 and ISIS-M03 are also examined. Although some of the models showed improvements in their predictions, there are still significant variations in the trends of predictions for different parameters. Among the eight models, the predictions of CSA S806 are better than those of the other methods for combined GFRP and CFRP members followed by CNR-DT 203. When comparisons are made separately for GFRP and CFRP-reinforced members, it becomes evident that the predictions for CFRP-reinforced members consistently outperform those for GFRP-reinforced members across all methods. This is attributed to the fact that most of the design equations are derived from steel-reinforced members and that the modulus of elasticity of CFRP is close to that of steel bars. On the other hand, the predictions have improved significantly for members with shear span to depth ratio greater than 2.5 irrespective of the FRP type. Further study is necessary to refine the models and enhance prediction accuracy for various types of FRP reinforced members.

Integral cross sections of the reactions 24Mg(n,p)24Na, 27Al(n,p)27Mg, 27Al(n,α)24Na, 58Ni(n,d + np)57Co and 60Ni(n,p)60Co were measured for the first time using the fast neutron spectrum of a TRIGA reactor extending from 0.5 to 20 MeV. The values obtained in this work were comparable with the recommended values for a pure 235U prompt fission spectrum. The measured integral value was utilized for integral test of excitation function of each reaction given in some data libraries, namely ENDF/B-VIII.0, TENDL-2017, IRDFF-1.05 and ROSFOND-2010. The integral measurements are generally consistent with the integrated values within 5 %, except for a few cases, e. g. the reaction 60Ni(n,p)60Co, where the data libraries appear to need improvement.

The use of microalgae to produce biodiesel is a beneficial and green substitute for conventional fossil fuels (a major source of greenhouse gas emissions). Microalgae have several merits, including their nontoxic nature, fast growth rate, growth not being dependent on the supply of fresh water, potential for biodegradability, and not requiring arable land for their growth. The exploration of novel frontiers to establish large-scale operations is vital for economically feasible biodiesel production, taking advantage of these favorable attributes. This review is focused on the recent development of the enzymatic transformation of microalgal oils into biodiesel. The areas addressed in this work include (i) microalgae and their lipid content, (ii) maximization of lipid productivity and lipid extraction, (iii) biodiesel production by enzymatic transesterification, (iv) enzyme kinetics, (v) factors affecting enzymatic transesterification, and (vi) immobilized enzymes and their limitations. In addition, various aspects of free enzyme and its potential future applications are discussed. This review also highlights a number of strategies using ionic liquids (ILs) for the successful production of microalgal biodiesel. The present study suggests that free enzyme has a greater potential than immobilized enzyme for the transesterification of bio-oils containing phospholipids into biodiesel.

A computational exploration is presented to emphasis on optimization and sensitivity inspection of the unsteady free convective heat transfer flow of hybrid nanofluid in a square cavity under multidirectional periodic magnetic field with aluminum foam porous medium. The vertical walls of the cavity are maintained at constant low temperature whereas the constant as well as the variable thermal conditions on the bottom wall is considered and the top wall is considered as adiabatic. The finite element technique has been applied to solve the governing equations after changing them into dimensionless form. In the numerical simulations, the Ag-MgO/water hybrid nanofluid has been engaged to gain insight into the flow and thermal arenas. The obtained outcomes are exhibited in terms of streamlines, isotherms and average Nusselt number as well as plotting the response surface and contours. The average Nuis displayed in line graphs, response surface and contours graphs as well as tabular form for different flow parameters. Response surface methodology is applied to achieve an optimization procedure to search for the best situation in which the highest heat transfer rate occurs when the distinct model parameters namely Darcy number, porosity and hybrid nanoparticles volume fraction are treated as the sensitivity of the parameters. A correlation equation between the output response and input variables has been derived with the help of response surface methodology. The magnetic field and its path regime the flow decoration of hybrid nanofluid suggestively. The Ag and Ag-MgO nanomaterial with water flow arenas are compared. While considering Ag-H2O nanofluid, the average Nuincreases 23.97 % at Ra= 107with ϕhnp= 0.02 whereas the corresponding increases is 25.68 % if the Ag-MgO/H2O hybrid nanofluid is taken into account. The average Nuupsurges suggestively, as hybrid nanoparticles volume fraction, period number, magnetic field leaning angle, Darcy number and Rayleigh number rises but porosity and Hartmann number have inverse effect. The outcomes showed that the average Nuis more sensitive to the hybrid nanoparticles volume fraction rather than the porosity or Darcy number. Also, it is discovered that the optimum condition arises at Da= 0.001, ε = 0.2 and ϕhnp= 0.02 with the final Nuave= 2358.21.

A transient transport flow model is adopted in a renal bifurcated artery with different stenosis cases to examine the flow phenomena when the non-Newtonian blood flow regime within the three-dimensional space domain is chosen as a pulsatile nature. The nonlinear governing equations are solved using the Finite Element Method with suitable initial-boundary conditions. During numerical computation, distinct hemodynamic parameters including Wall shear stress, Reynolds number, power law index are evaluated based on different stenosis severities (0%, 25%, and 50%) and stenosis lengths (0mm, 0.5mm, and 1mm). For 0%, 25%, and 50% stenosis, the approximate values of velocity and pressure profiles are estimated at t= 5s at various positions, and achieved the highest velocities that were around 0.07m/s, 0.08m/s, and 0.13m/s respectively. The unsteady response of the stress due to stenosis-induced shear on the outside wall is described as a result of stenosis at t= 0.1s, 0.2s, 5s. The flow is severely restricted by constriction, which increases wall movement and produces stress, depending on the amount of stenosis. As pulsatile flow time increases due to the presence of stenosis, the wall shear stress decreases gradually. The impact of Reynolds numbers on pressure profiles and velocity profiles are displayed for Re= 100, 300, 500, and 700, and found that both velocity and pressure outlines increase significantly. In order to identify the flow phenomena, the influences of the power law index for n= 0.1, 0.3568, 0.5 are presented on the velocity and pressure profiles. Shear-thinning flow occurs for 0

Green enhanced oil recovery (GEOR) is a chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) involving the injection of specific green chemicals (surfactants/alcohols/polymers) that effectively displace oil because of their phase-behaviour properties, which decrease the IFT between the displacing liquid and the oil. Carbon nanoparticles application in EOR has sparked interest in the last few years due to its unique characteristics. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are one of the common carbon nanomaterials with EOR potential, but they are not used with green surfactant to improve oil recovery. In addition, the recently developed Date Leaf Carbon Particle (DLCP) method has not been applied to GEOR and requires further study. The role of carbon particles in GEOR is not well understood and requires further investigation. This study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of DLCP and CNT in green surfactant alkyl polyglucoside (APG) for recovering residual oil within rock pores. The study consisted of a set of laboratory experiments. Two formulations of DLCP, CNT and green surfactant mixtures were selected for core-flood experiments based on interfacial tension measurements to examine their potential for EOR. In the first formulation, 0.08% DLCP was mixed with 0.5% APG and produced 45% of tertiary oil and 89% of oil initially in place (OIIP). This formulation produced a significant quantity of incremental oil after water flooding. Lastly, 0.5% APG was blended with 0.08% CNT; this produced about 27% tertiary oil and 77% OIIP.

pH-responsive polymers are attracting much interest from researchers because of their wide application potentials in areas like biosensor, bioseparator, bioreactor, biocatalysis, drug delivery, and water treatments. In this investigation a two-step process is evaluated to prepare carboxyl(–COOH) functional submicrometer-sized pH-responsive composite polymer particles. First, submicrometer-sized polystyrene (PS) particles are prepared by a modified conventional dispersion polymerization. In the second step, PS/poly(methacrylic acid-acrylamide-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) [PS/P(MAA-AAm-EGDMA)] composite polymer particles are synthesized by seeded co-polymerization of methacrylic acid, acrylamide, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate in the presence of PS seed particles. The size distributions and morphologies analyzed by electron micrographs suggested that seeded copolymerization smoothly occurred without formation of any secondary tiny copolymer particles. The surface composition and functionality are confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance. The hydrodynamic diameter increased with the increase in pH values as part of the carboxyl groups are deprotonated, which favored the swelling of copolymer layer formed around the surface of PS particles. The adsorption of cationic and anionic surfactants at two different pH values showed that adsorption of cationic surfactant is favored at higher pH value whereas that of anionic surfactant is favored at lower pH value.

Cryosurgery is demarcated as cell annihilation by freezing temperature yielded through a cryogenic probe. Thermal distributions nearby the adjacent blood vessels can impede the iceball evolution and surgery success. Hence it is indispensable to predict the dynamic temperature and iceball propagations in biological tissues and its implications earlier through simulation methods. In this study, a transient two-phase flow and heat transfer model is presented to envisage the thermal extents inside and outside cryoprobes. The bioheat transfer model is adopted to inspect the temperature evolutions during multiprobe cryosurgery of hepatic tissues embedded without or with blood vessels. During computer simulation, a 3D geometry model is introduced as the living tissue vicinities embedded with two simplified hepatic arteries when multiple cryogenic probes are injected into the tissues with uniform insertion depth system. The tissues are pondered as non-ideal materials in which phase transition occurs over a temperature range, and the effects of blood perfusion and metabolic heat generation in the tissues are also considered. Computational analyses are then carried out to scrutiny the impact of the blood vessels on the temperature developments of tissues. The results show that when blood vessels are treated as a heat source during treatment, oscillatory thermal outlines are found along the anticipated pathways during multiprobe cryosurgery, and the relative maximum temperature increased upto ∼98 % at the midpoint of the route BB′ for the ablation time of 100 s. The irregular ice fronts are also obtained with the manifestation of blood vessels compared with no blood vessel case, and the iceball volume enclosed by the − 40°Cisothermal front decreased significantly from 22.94 cm3(without blood vessels) to 6.92 cm3(with blood vessels) for the ablation time of 300 s. The simulation outcomes indicate that multiprobe cryosurgery is more effective to destroy the tumor tissue properly when the target tissue is located faraway from blood vessels. The simulation platform is anticipated to be valuable in optimizing pre-treatment plans of cryosurgery schemes while determining the number and position of cryoprobes in the neighborhood of blood vessels.

The study aims to investigate the influence of corporate risk and the moderating effect of managerial ownership on the firm value of the Dhaka Stock Exchange listed manufacturing industries in Bangladesh. The study collected data from 144 manufacturing companies under ten industry categories from 2012–2021, where the total number of firm-year observations was 1,310. The study considers operational and liquidity risks to measure corporate risk. The study uses a two-stage-least square (2SLS) model estimation technique to run the multivariate analysis. The study found that firms’ operational risks, liquidity risks, and multiple effects of firms’ risk and managerial ownership significantly influence the firms’ value. It is also evidenced that firms’ size, age, shareholders’ influence, and GDP growth rate have a noteworthy positive influence on firm value. In contrast, no significant effect of the inflation rate on firm value was identified. The practical implications of the current study demonstrated that corporate risk management enhances firm value and must be invigorated for the interest of all stakeholders. Interestingly, there needs to be more research on identifying the impact of corporate risks on firm value from the perspective of manufacturing industries in Bangladesh. The current study is designed to reduce the research gap and enhance the literature. The research has several financial, legal, and social implications for policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders.

In this paper, we consider the pretest, shrinkage, and penalty estimation procedures for generalized linear mixed models when it is conjectured that some of the regression parameters are restricted to a linear subspace. We develop the statistical properties of the pretest and shrinkage estimation methods, which include asymptotic distributional biases and risks. We show that the pretest and shrinkage estimators have a significantly higher relative efficiency than the classical estimator. Furthermore, we consider the penalty estimator LASSO (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator), and numerically compare its relative performance with that of the other estimators. A series of Monte Carlo simulation experiments are conducted with different combinations of inactive predictors, and the performance of each estimator is evaluated in terms of the simulated mean squared error. The study shows that the shrinkage and pretest estimators are comparable to the LASSO estimator when the number of inactive predictors in the model is relatively large. The estimators under consideration are applied to a real data set to illustrate the usefulness of the procedures in practice.

Study design:A multicentre, prospective, assessor-blinded, parallel randomised controlled trial.Objectives:The objective of the trial was to determine the effectiveness of telephone-based management of pressure ulcers in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) in low- and middle-income countries.Methods:One hundred and twenty people with SCI living in the community were recruited through three hospitals in India and Bangladesh between November 2013 and March 2016. Participants had sustained an SCI >3 months prior and had a pressure ulcer. Participants were randomly allocated (1:1) to a control or intervention group. Participants in the control group received no intervention. Participants in the intervention group received weekly advice by telephone for 12 weeks about the management of their pressure ulcers from a trained health-care professional. Outcomes were measured by a blinded assessor at baseline and 12 weeks. There was one primary outcome, namely, the size of the pressure ulcer and 13 secondary outcomes.Results:The mean between-group difference for the size of the pressure ulcer at 12 weeks was 2.3 cm2(95% confidence interval −0.3 to 4.9; favouring the intervention group). Eight of the 13 secondary outcomes were statistically significant.Conclusion:The results of our primary outcome (that is, size of pressure ulcer) do not provide conclusive evidence that people with SCI can be supported at home to manage their pressure ulcers through regular telephone-based advice. However, the results from the secondary outcomes are sufficiently positive to provide hope that this simple intervention may provide some relief from this insidious problem in the future.

This paper introduces shrinkage estimators for the parameter vector of a linear regression model with conditionally heteroscedastic errors such as the class of generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedastic (GARCH) errors when some of the regression parameters are restricted to a subspace. We derive the asymptotic distributional biases and risks of the shrinkage estimators using a large sample theory. We show that if the shrinkage dimension exceeds two, the relative efficiency of the shrinkage estimator is strictly greater than that of the full model estimator. Furthermore, a Monte Carlo simulation study is conducted to examine the relative performance of the shrinkage estimators with the full model estimator. Our large sample theory and simulation study show that the shrinkage estimators dominate the full model estimator in the entire parameter space. We illustrate the proposed method using a real data set from econometrics.

A transient free convective heat transfer in a semicircular vicinity occupied with distinct nanofluids has been examined numerically with a periodic magnetic field. The bottom surface of the cavity is heated non-uniformly as parabolic shape whereas the circular surface is kept at constant cold temperature. In the numerical simulation, ZnO, Fe3O4, Co, Al2O3, and Ag have been used as nanoparticles and water and kerosene as the base fluid to investigate the flow regimes and thermal fields developed inside the computed vicinity. Effects of various governing parameters are revealed with depictions of isotherms, streamlines and iso-concentrations. The results show that there is found less computational time to reach a steady-state solution for a higher Rayleigh number and the effects of the periodic magnetic field magnifies the strength of the vortices turning in the cavity. The average heat transfer rate at the bottom surface is uppermost for cobalt-kerosene nanofluid compared to other nine sorts of nanofluids. The results also reveal that the periodic magnetic field as well as the Brownian motion have substantial impacts on the heat transfer rate.

A coupled one-component mathematical model is applied to analyze the transient natural convective hydro-thermal incidents of different nanofluids occupied with a quarter circular vicinity. A sinusoidal magnetic arena is preferred in the transverse direction to examine the magnetization phenomena. The circular arc of the geometry domain is cold and the lowest wall is heated whereas the vertical wall of the arena is kept thermally insulated. During numerical computation, herein considered Water (H2O), Kerosene (Ke), Engine Oil (EO) as base fluids and Copper (Cu), Cobalt (Co), and Iron Oxide (Fe3O4) as nanoparticles. The dimensionless transports equations are solved numerically by applying the Galerkin weighted residual based finite element method. The outcomes spectacle that heat transfer rate augmented significantly with the increasing values of the Rayleigh number (Ra), nanoparticles volume fraction (ϕ), and period of the magnetic field (λ), whereas an intensification in the Hartmann number (Ha) lessens the total heat transfer rate. For nine sorts of nanofluids, the average heat transfer rate is computed along the bottom wall, and found that the heat transfer rate of Co-Kerosene nanofluid is considerably greater than other eight sorts of nanofluids. Finally, it is observed that the Cu-Kerosene nanofluid provides the high heat transfer rate whereas Cu-EO has the low rate of heat transfer for distinct thermal boundary conditions. The numerical results could be useful in assessing heat transfer features of solar collectors, and electronic devices.

Future generation gas turbine combustors for power production are expected to have the capability of operating on a variety of different types of fuels. Energy systems running on different fuels produce flames with different burning behaviors, combustion dynamics, and pollutant emissions than when using conventional fuels. To ensure the implementation of new energy sources for future power generation units, which is critical for the US energy sector, lab-scale studies at high pressures and temperatures are being performed at many different locations throughout the world. Although many of these authors in the past present their results from the use of a high-pressure combustor, none have made their design methodology available to the public. Therefore, this paper presents a design of an optically accessible high-pressure combustor facility based on a 500 kW power and 1.5 MPa capability, which is the representative pressure of a gas turbine. Finite element analysis was extensively used to predict window and wall thicknesses needed to withstand these extreme conditions. Based on stress analysis quartz windows were designed with a thickness of 48 mm and a thickness of 8.61 cm was selected for the stainless steel combustor. Follow-up on testing using the high-pressure gas turbine combustor using various different types of fuels, diluents, and injectors have provided repeatable data on the capability of the combustor design to withstand the extreme environment conditions.

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is a common condition that kills children and intellectually maims those who survive. Close to 20 million children under the age of 5 years suffer from SAM globally, and about 1 million of them die each year. Much of this burden takes place in Asia. Six countries in Asia together have more than 12 million children suffering from SAM: 0.6 million in Afghanistan, 0.6 million in Bangladesh, 8.0 million in India, 1.2 million in Indonesia, 1.4 million in Pakistan, and 0.6 million in Yemen. This article is based on a review of SAM burden and intervention programs in Asian countries where, despite the huge numbers of children suffering from the condition, the coverage of interventions is either absent on a national scale or poor. Countries in Asia have to recognize SAM as a major problem and mobilize internal resources for its management. Screening of children in the community for SAM and appropriate referral and back referral require good health systems. Improving grassroots services will not only contribute to improving management of SAM, it will also improve infant and young child feeding and nutrition in general. Ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), the key to home management of SAM without complications, is still not endorsed by many countries because of its unavailability in the countries and its cost. It should preferably be produced locally from locally available food ingredients. Countries in Asia that do not have the capacity to produce RUTF from locally available food ingredients can benefit from other countries in the region that can produce it. Health facilities in all high-burden countries should be staffed and equipped to treat children with SAM. A continuous cascade of training of health staff on management of SAM can offset the damage that results from staff attrition or transfers. The basic nutrition interventions, which include breastfeeding, appropriate complementary feeding, micronutrient supplementation, and management of acute malnutrition, should be scaled up in Asian countries that are plagued with the burden of malnutrition.

•We developed a two-phase hemodynamics model with a realistic carotid artery.•Application of magnetic source is crucial to investigate bio-nanofluid flow.•Flow field is affected by the magnetic force due to magnetization.

This paper describes the results of a field study designed to quantify the effects of various factors on the snow-melting performance of salt. Many tests were conducted in a realistic environment over two winter seasons, covering more than 70 snow events, with temperatures ranging from -14°C to 3°C and snowfalls ranging from ~0.2 to 21.0 cm. For each snow event, salts were applied to a set of test sections with specific application rates, and time series performance; condition data such as snow coverage or bare pavement status, friction, pavement and air temperature, sky view, and humidity were collected. An exploratory data analysis was performed to identify the key factors influencing the snow-melting performance of salt, such as application rate, temperature, and snow amount. A multiple linear regression model was calibrated for the relationship between the key snow-melting performance indicators: bare pavement regain time and various influencing factors. The calibrated model was then applied to determine the minimum amount of salt required for achieving a given level of service under specific weather events. Although the research was motivated by the need to develop optimal salt application rates for parking lots and sidewalks, the results could be equally applicable for other transportation facilities after factors specific to the facility, such as traffic and dilution, are accounted for.

In this study, aqueous extracts of peels of best known citrus fruits namely grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), lemon (C. limon), lime (C. aurantifolia) and orange (C. sinensis) were used. Depending on polyphenols content, the extracts were graded as orange > lemon > lime > grapefruit. Effects of the extracts on the release of histamine from rat peritoneal exudate cells (PECs) was measured to know anti-allergic activity. All extracts inhibited the release of histamine from rat PECs induced by the calcium ionophore A23187. Heating of the extracts at 100 °C for 10 min enhanced inhibition of histamine release. Effect of the oral administration of aqueous extract of grapefruit peel on the effusion of Chicago sky blue dye into the intraperitoneal cavity of mice was measured to know the anti-inflammatory activity. The extract potentially suppressed inflammation in the mice cavity as like indometacin, an anti-inflammatory drug. Therefore, the extracts of citrus peels are useful for developing anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory foods and supplements.In this study, aqueous extracts of peels of best known citrus fruits namely grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), lemon (C. limon), lime (C. aurantifolia) and orange (C. sinensis) were used. Depending on polyphenols content, the extracts were graded as orange > lemon > lime > grapefruit. Effects of the extracts on the release of histamine from rat peritoneal exudate cells (PECs) was measured to know anti-allergic activity. All extracts inhibited the release of histamine from rat PECs induced by the calcium ionophore A23187. Heating of the extracts at 100 °C for 10 min enhanced inhibition of histamine release. Effect of the oral administration of aqueous extract of grapefruit peel on the effusion of Chicago sky blue dye into the intraperitoneal cavity of mice was measured to know the anti-inflammatory activity. The extract potentially suppressed inflammation in the mice cavity as like indometacin, an anti-inflammatory drug. Therefore, the extracts of citrus peels are useful for developing anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory foods and supplements.

The mangrove fruit Sonneratia apetalaBuch.-Ham. is extensively consumed by the people of coastal Bangladesh especially adjacent to the Sundarbans’ forest. Seeds consist of very high content of polyphenols (300 ± 8.2 mg GAE/g extract), flavonoids (30.6 ± 0.7 CE/g extract), anthocyanins (2.3 ± 0.03 μmol/g extract) and vitamin C (4.0 ± 0.08 mg/g extract). The IC50values for DPPH and NO free radical scavenging were 4.3 and 49.4 μg/mL for seed extract and that for pericarp extract were 59.8 and 751.6 μg/mL respectively. Seed extract also showed very high reducing power (O.D. 1.14 at 50 μg/mL extract) and total antioxidant capacity (280.8 GAE or 310.24 AAE/g extract). In streptozotocin (STZ) induced type 2 diabetes rats, seed extract treated group showed serum glucose decreased from 13.75 ± 2.21 mmol/L (at 30 min) to 10.3 ± 1.75 mmol/L (at 135 min) and in the pericarp treated group from 14.36 ± 2.16 to 11.32 ± 1.74 mmol/L. The area under the glucose curve was more profoundly decreased in the seed treated group than the pericarp treated group. Susceptibility test showed that seed extract inhibited the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, fruits of S. apetala, especially its seeds are functionally rich with phenolics, flavonoids, antioxidant, antidiabetic and antibacterial compounds.The mangrove fruit Sonneratia apetalaBuch.-Ham. is extensively consumed by the people of coastal Bangladesh especially adjacent to the Sundarbans’ forest. Seeds consist of very high content of polyphenols (300 ± 8.2 mg GAE/g extract), flavonoids (30.6 ± 0.7 CE/g extract), anthocyanins (2.3 ± 0.03 μmol/g extract) and vitamin C (4.0 ± 0.08 mg/g extract). The IC50values for DPPH and NO free radical scavenging were 4.3 and 49.4 μg/mL for seed extract and that for pericarp extract were 59.8 and 751.6 μg/mL respectively. Seed extract also showed very high reducing power (O.D. 1.14 at 50 μg/mL extract) and total antioxidant capacity (280.8 GAE or 310.24 AAE/g extract). In streptozotocin (STZ) induced type 2 diabetes rats, seed extract treated group showed serum glucose decreased from 13.75 ± 2.21 mmol/L (at 30 min) to 10.3 ± 1.75 mmol/L (at 135 min) and in the pericarp treated group from 14.36 ± 2.16 to 11.32 ± 1.74 mmol/L. The area under the glucose curve was more profoundly decreased in the seed treated group than the pericarp treated group. Susceptibility test showed that seed extract inhibited the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, fruits of S. apetala, especially its seeds are functionally rich with phenolics, flavonoids, antioxidant, antidiabetic and antibacterial compounds.

AbstractIntegral cross sections of the reactions 24Mg(n,p)24Na, 27Al(n,p)27Mg, 27Al(n,a)24Na and 95Mo(n,p)95Nb were measured for the first time with fast neutrons (En> 1.5 MeV) from an Am/Be source. Furthermore, upper cross section limits for the reactions 98Mo(n,a)95Zr and 103Rh(n,p)103Ru were deduced. The results were compared with data calculated using the neutron spectral distribution and the excitation function of each reaction given in the data files and libraries ENDF/B-VII, JEFF-3.1.2, JENDL-4.0, IRDF-2004, TENDL-2010, ROSFOND-2010 and CENDL-3.1. In general, the integral measurement and the integrated value agreed within ± 10%. The fast neutron field (with En> 1.5 MeV) of the Am/Be source is thus well suited for integral tests of excitation functions of neutron threshold reactions.

Various literatures recorded approximately 60 medicinal plants in Bangladesh that have antidiabetic properties. Of these medicinal plants, only 14–16 are found in traditional herbal markets and they are being randomly used to treat diabetes. Since diabetes mellitus increases reactive free radicals along with various complications in the body, antidiabetic plants that can potentially neutralize free radicals, may be of central interest to manage the disease. Present study compares functional bioactive components such as total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins contents and antioxidant potential of methanol extracts of antidiabetic medicinal plants that are common in traditional herbal markets. Among the 14 extracts, Syzygium cuminiwas very rich in total polyphenol content (294 mg gallic acid equivalent, GAE/g) followed by Swertia chirata(183 mg GAE/g) and Ficus racemosa(bark) (154 mg GAE/g). These three extracts also had elevated amount of flavonoids and anthocyanins. S. cuminishowed very high DPPH and NO free radical scavenging activities with IC50of 6.25 and 48.61 μg/mL respectively followed by S. chirataand F. racemosa(bark). S. cuminialso showed very high reducing power and total antioxidant capacity followed by S. chirataand F. racemosa(bark). In addition, the study revealed strong correlation between phenolics and reducing power (r= 0.94). Hence, among the 14 extracts, S. cumini, S. chirataand F. racemosa(bark) are potential sources of antioxidant agents. Therefore, these three medicinal plants have diverse beneficial effects on physiological health and they might be the choice of plants to treat diabetes.

Residual stress measurement techniques using mechanical strain relaxation depend on a number of physical quantities and are therefore sensitive to errors associated with the measured data. The resulting stress uncertainties can easily become significant and compromise the usefulness of the results or lead to misinterpretation of the behaviour of the residual stress distributions. It is therefore essential to develop an error analysis procedure for the measurements undertaken. Error analysis procedures for the deep hole drilling (DHD) method are developed to consider triaxial residual stresses. A modified deep hole drilling method, called the incremental deep-hole drilling (iDHD), was applied to measure the near yield residual stress distributions in a cold water quenched aluminium 7010 alloy forged block. The experimental results are used to illustrate the errors.

In common with all mechanical strain relief residual stress measurement methods, extra care must be taken when making measurements on components containing highly triaxial residual stress fields which are close to yield. The introduction of a free surface, created as part of the measurement procedure, can lead to plastic redistribution of the residual stress field. Usually, this is not accounted for in the elastic inversion algorithms of the experimental procedure. This paper demon­strates the usefulness and accuracy of deep-hole drilling (DHD) method [1] in a component predicted to contain a triaxial residual stress field. Previous measurements [2] are compared with the results of a DHD simulation on a type 316H stainless steel pipe containing a repair weld offset from an original girth weld. The influence of different material models was also studied.

AbstractThe neutron capture cross section for the 139La(n, γ) 140La reaction at 0.0536 eV was measured for the first time using monochromatic neutrons coming from a Triple Axis Spectrometer at the TRIGA Mark-II reactor. The neutron beam intensity was determined by irradiating Au-monitor foil together La2O3target. The radioactivity of the products was determined viahigh resolution γ-ray spectrometry. The obtained cross section value is 6.13±0.3 b, which is 1.34% and 0.21% lower than that in the ENDF/B-VII and JENDL-3.3 data library, respectively.

The article presents a study which aims to develop reagentless lateral flow bioactive paper sensors that can be used in detecting pesticides in food and beverage samples. The study made use of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) to detect the Ellman's colorimetric assay-based inhibitors and AChE substrates. The results indicate the effectiveness of the bioactive paper-based assay platform in screening organophosphates (OP) and carbamates (CM) pesticides in the food stuffs and environment.

Background Maternal micronutrient deficiencies are widespread in Pakistan and are potentially associated with maternal undernutrition and intrauterine growth retardation. Intervention strategies largely consist of administration of iron–folic acid supplements during pregnancy.Objective We evaluated the acceptability of multiple micronutrient supplementation and its potential benefits on pregnancy outcomes and maternal micronutrient status in a cohort of pregnant women in rural and urban Sindh through a cluster-randomized design.Methods We randomly assigned 2,378 pregnant women to receive either iron–folic acid or multiple micronutrient supplements. The supplements were administered fortnightly by community health workers who performed home visits to assess tolerance and observe the mothers.Results The women in both groups consumed about 75% of the supplements provided, and few reported adverse effects such as vomiting, abdominal pain, etc. There was a small (70 g) but significant increase in birthweight among infants of mothers receiving multiple micronutrients as compared with infants of mothers receiving iron–folic acid supplements (2.95 ± 0.6 vs. 2.88 ± 0.5 kg, p = .01). This translated into a 10% reduction (p < 0.17) in the proportion of low-birthweight infants among infants of mothers receiving multiple micronutrients. Although stillbirth rates were comparable in the two groups, the early neonatal mortality rate in the group receiving multiple micronutrients was higher, although not significantly, than that in the group receiving iron– folic acid (43.2 vs. 23.5 deaths per 1,000 live births; RR = 1.64; 95% CI, 0.94 to 2.87). Comparable reductions in anemia (hemoglobin < 11 g/dL) were observed, although the proportion with low iron stores (assessed by serum ferritin) was lower in the iron–folic acid group in the postnatal period. Although the proportion of women with subclinical vitamin A deficiency after supplementation did not differ between the two groups, the iron–folic acid group had a higher proportion with lower serum zinc levels in the immediate postpartum period.Conclusions These data suggest that multiple micronutrient supplements are well tolerated during pregnancy, but the effect on birthweight is modest. The observed effect on early neonatal mortality suggests the need for further studies and careful assessment of the intervention in health system settings.

Background The relationship between food aid and acute malnutrition among children under 5 years of age was assessed in northern Pakistan following the 2005 earthquake.Methods Separate cross-sectional household-based surveys were performed in Mansehra and Muzaffarabad districts. Probability proportional to size (PPS) was used to select clusters in each district, and households were randomly selected within each cluster. Information collected included receipt of food aid, child health, level of household damage, water sources, and excreta disposal.Results Children in households receiving food aid had a lower prevalence of acute malnutrition in Mansehra (adjusted OR, controlled for confounders, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.13 to 1.22) and Muzaffarabad (adjusted OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.36 to 1.44). Communities with higher levels of complete household destruction were more likely to receive food aid.Conclusions Children in households receiving food aid had a lower prevalence of acute malnutrition than those in households not receiving food aid, even after accounting for various confounding variables, although this difference was not statistically significant.

The article discusses a study which developed a reagentless bioactive paper-based solid-phase biosensor for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor detection. It states that the color intensity (CI) calculated by a digital camera or a naked eye is inversely proportional to the pesticide concentration. It notes that biosensor is suited for rapid testing of the trace amount of carbamates (CM) and organophosphates (OP) pesticides.

This protocol represents a novel enzyme-luminescence method to detect dopamine sensitively and rapidly with high temporal resolution. In principle, dopamine is first oxidized with tyramine oxidase to produce H2O2, and then the produced H2O2reacts with luminol to generate chemiluminescence in the presence of horseradish peroxidase (POD). We applied this method successfully to perform real-time monitoring of dopamine release from PC12 cells using a luminescence plate reader upon stimulation with several drugs (e.g., acetylcholine, bradykinin). The results indicated that the dopamine release from PC12 cells was modulated by these drugs in a way similar to that found by using several conventional analytical techniques, such as HPLC-electrochemical detector (ECD). Unlike other assays, this assay technique is simple, rapid, highly sensitive and thus useful for assessment of effects of drugs on the nervous system. The dopamine release assay takes only ≤1 h once reagent setup and culture plates' preparation are finished.

The most critical stage in the heat treatment of high strength aluminium alloys is the rapid cooling necessary to form a supersaturated solid solution. During cold water quenching of thick sections, the thermal gradients are sufficient to cause inhomogeneous plastic deformation which in turn leads to the development of large residual stresses. Two 215 mm thick rectilinear forgings made from 7075 and 7010 were heat treated, and the through thickness residual stresses measured by neutron diffraction and deep hole drilling. The distribution of residual stresses was found to be similar for both alloys varying from highly triaxial and tensile in the core to a state of biaxial compression in the surface. The 7010 forging exhibited significantly larger tensile stresses in the core. 7075 is a much more quench sensitive alloy when compared to 7010. This results in loss of supersaturation by second phase precipitation during quenching in the core of the 7075 forging.

In this paper, experimentally the pressure distribution over wedge and sphere surface in uniform flow has been investigated. Fluid flow over a smooth wedge surface was investigated experimentally to determine the pressure distribution at different values of Reynolds numbers and wedge angles as well as pressure distributions around the sphere of different size are reported for different Reynolds numbers. The variation of static pressures is larger near the wedge vertex and gradually decreases along the length of the wedge surface. At the forward stagnation point the pressure distribution depends on the size of spheres. Separation of flow takes place at an angle of 78° from forward stagnation point for all sizes of spheres. At the rear stagnation point of the sphere the pressure distribution predicts negative pressures. Experimental results provide useful information of interest to potential industrial application. It helps in determining the shape of various wedge and sphere surfaces used in industries for cooling or heating of different wedge surfaces. In the present experiment, it has been found that the pressure near vertex lower as the included angle of the wedge decreases and at lower values of Reynolds number.

The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of smear-positive tuberculosis (TB) in a rural area in Bangladesh at Matlab. A TB surveillance system was established among 106000 people in rural Bangladesh at Matlab. Trained field workers interviewed all persons aged 15 years to detect suspected cases of TB (cough>21 days) and sputum specimens of suspected cases were examined for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). Of 59395 persons interviewed, 4235 (7·1%) had a cough for >21 days. Sputum specimens were examined for AFB from 3834 persons, 52 (1·4%) of them were positive for AFB. The prevalence of chronic cough and sputum positivity were significantly higher among males compared to females (P<0·001). The population-based prevalence rate of smear-positive TB cases was 95/100000 among persons aged 15 years. Cases of TB clustered geographically (relative risk 5·53, 95% CI 3·19–9·59). The high burden of TB among rural population warrants appropriate measures to control TB in Bangladesh. The higher prevalence of persistent cough and AFB-positive sputum among males need further exploration. Factors responsible for higher prevalence of TB in clusters should be investigated.

This paper gives impact of Arsenic contaminated water on human health as well as overview of the extent and severity of groundwater arsenic contamination in Bangladesh. Scalp hair is the most important part of the human body to monitor the accumulation of this type of poison. Therefore, an experiment has been carried out by Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) at Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE), Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh on human hair of corresponding tube well water users of these areas to determine the total accumulation of arsenic to their body. Hair samples collected from the region where the groundwater was found highly contaminated with arsenic. The obtained results of arsenic concentration in the lower age (Hb) categories of users (below 12 years of age users) is in the range of 0.33 to 3.29 /gmg/g (ppm) and that in the Hu categories (upper 12 years of age users) is 0.47 to 6.64 μg/g (ppm). Where as maximum permissible range is 1 ppm certified from WHO. Results show that the peoples are highly affected where the groundwater is highly contaminated with arsenic and acts as the primary source of arsenic poisoning among the peoples of those areas. The results indicate that human population is affected with arsenic locally using the contaminated water for a long time.

The experimental data of the 28Si(α, t)29P and 28Si(α, 3He)29Si reactions at 45 MeV have been analysed in terms of full finite-range coupled-channels calculations. In the calculations, the reaction paths, direct and two step via the inelastic states of the initial and final nuclei have been treated in terms of the finite-range transfer theory. The spectroscopic amplitudes connecting the deformed initial and final nuclei in both the reactions are obtained from Nilsson's model. The data of both the reactions, populating the 1/2+, 3/2+ and 5/2+ states in the Kπ = 1/2+ band and the 3/2+ and 5/2+ states in the Kπ = 3/2+ band, are best described by about 20% mixing of between the two bands. The effects of normal Woods–Saxon (WS), squared WS and molecular type of α-nucleus potentials are also discussed.

The experimental data of the ²⁸Si(α, t)²⁹P and ²⁸Si(α, ³He)²⁹Si reactions at 45 MeV have been analysed in terms of full finite-range coupled-channels calculations. In the calculations, the reaction paths, direct and two step via the inelastic states of the initial and final nuclei have been treated in terms of the finite-range transfer theory. The spectroscopic amplitudes connecting the deformed initial and final nuclei in both the reactions are obtained from Nilsson's model. The data of both the reactions, populating the 1/2⁺, 3/2⁺ and 5/2⁺ states in the K^π = 1/2⁺ band and the 3/2⁺ and 5/2⁺ states in the K^π = 3/2⁺ band, are best described by about 20% mixing of between the two bands. The effects of normal Woods–Saxon (WS), squared WS and molecular type of α-nucleus potentials are also discussed.

Our objective was to estimate the difference in bone mass at clinically relevant sites within female twin pairs who were discordant for use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Between March 1995 and January 2000 we reviewed retrospectively 84 patients with hammer-toe deformity (99 feet; 179 toes) who had undergone metatarsophalangeal soft-tissue release and proximal interphalangeal arthroplasty. The median follow-up was 28 months. Patients were assessed by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Scores (AOFAS) and reviewed by independent assessors.The median AOFAS score was 83, with 87% of patients having a score of more than 60 points; 83% were satisfied and 17% were dissatisfied with the procedure. Pain at the metatarsophalangeal joint was the commonest cause of dissatisfaction, with 14% having moderate or severe pain. Only 2.5% had instability and 9% had formation of callus.There was no statistical difference for the age and gender of the patients, the number of toes operated on, associated surgery for hallux valgus or length of follow-up. Our study was based on an anatomical model and shows good results with no recurrence of deformity.

The sorption isotherms of dudh churpi, a shelf-stable traditional milk product in India, determined at 15, 25, 35 and 45°C, were typical type II sigmoidal according to the BDDT (Brunauer-Deming-Deming-Teller) classification. Nine equations, namely Bradley, Henderson, Iglesias and Chirife, Khun, Mizrahi, GAB (Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer), modified Mizrahi, Oswin and Caurie were fitted to the sorption data. Caurie's equation was found to be suited best to predict equilibrium moisture content of dudh churpi. Monolayer value, density of sorbed water, number of monolayers and area of adsorbent decreased with the increase in temperature.

The sorption isotherms of dudh churpi, a shelf-stable traditional milk product in India, determined at 15, 25, 35 and 45°C, were typical type II sigmoidal according to the BDDT (Brunauer-Deming-Deming-Teller) classification. Nine equations, namely Bradley, Henderson, Iglesias and Chirife, Khun, Mizrahi, GAB (Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer), modified Mizrahi, Oswin and Caurie were fitted to the sorption data. Caurie's equation was found to be suited best to predict equilibrium moisture content of dudh churpi. Monolayer value, density of sorbed water, number of monolayers and area of adsorbent decreased with the increase in temperature.

Retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP) is commonly used in thoracic aortic surgery, ostensibly to provide metabolic support, maintain cerebral hypothermia and/or wash out particulate emboli. We tested the hypothesis that RCP would affect neuropsychological outcome in a clinical cohort.