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We analyse in detail our experimental data, our simulation results and data from the literature, for the adsorption of argon, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methanol, ammonia and water on graphitized carbon black (GTCB), and show that there are two mechanisms of adsorption at play, and that their interplay governs how different gases adsorb on the surface by either: (1) molecular layering on the basal plane or (2) clustering around very strong sites on the adsorbent whose affinity is much greater than that of the basal plane or the functional groups. Depending on the concentration of the very strong sites or the functional groups, the temperature and the relative strength of the three interactions, (a) fluid-strong sites (fine crevices and functional group) (F-SS), (b) fluid-basal plane (FB) and (c) fluid–fluid (FF), the uptake of adsorbate tends to be dominated by one mechanism. However, there are conditions (temperature and adsorbate) where two mechanisms can both govern the uptake. For simple gases, like argon, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, adsorption proceeds by molecular layering on the basal plane of graphene, but for water which represents an extreme case of a polar molecule, clustering around the strong sites or the functional groups at the edges of the graphene layers is the major mechanism of adsorption and there is little or no adsorption on the basal planes because the F-SS and FF interactions are far stronger than the FB interaction. For adsorptives with lower polarity, exemplified by methanol or ammonia, the adsorption mechanism switches from clustering to layering in the order: ammonia, methanol; and we suggest that the bridging between these two mechanisms is a molecular spill-over phenomenon, which has not been previously proposed in the literature in the context of physical adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus isolates from food handlers' hands at primary schools in Hulu Langat district, Selangor (Malaysia). Disc diffusion methods were used to examine the antimicrobial resistance of the bacteria by using ten types of antibiotic discs with different concentrations. The results show that the prevalence of S. aureus (65.88–74.12%) was far higher than the prevalence of E. coli (9.41–14.12%). The percentage isolates of E. coli that were resistant to the antibiotics was 85.71% Penicillin and Chloramphenicol, 57.14% Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim, Ampicillin and Trimethoprim, 28.57% Kanamycin and Tetracycline and 14.29% Ciprofloxacin. All of the isolates had shown susceptible to Gentamicin and Nitrofurantoin. For S. aureus, the percentage isolates that were resistant to the antibiotics was 72.30% Ampicillin, 53.38% Penicillin, 4.73% Nitrofurantoin,1.35% Chloramphenicol and Trimethoprim and 0.68% Kanamycin and Tetracycline. None of the isolates had shown resistant to Ciprofloxacin, Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim and Gentamicin. Multidrug resistant Escherichia coli represented a high percentage (85.71%) of the total positive strains revived whereas multidrug resistant S. aureus strains were only 5.41% of the total positive strains. The existence of multidrug resistant bacteria is quite worrying as they may pose serious threat to the patients. Hence, the microbiological quality of food handlers' hands from foodservice operations should be maintained in a good condition to reduce the existence of multidrug resistance bacteria. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The goal of fracture fixation is to achieve bone healing and restore the function of the injured limb in the shortest possible time without compromising safety. Newer technologies such as the locking compression plate (LCP) and its derivatives are valuable additions to the orthopaedic traumatologist''s armamentarium. As with any emerging technology, the indications will be extended until a threshold is reached and the limitations of the technology are seen. It is vital that surgeons involved in fracture care are aware of when locked plating is superior to other methods and also when they should use another treatment modality. This paper reviews the use of locked plating as a fixation method. Five topics covered in this review are: a historical perspective on locked plating, general indications, specific modes and techniques, patterns of failure, and an anatomical overview of current indications for locked plating. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Assesses the effects of patients' age and cause of infertility on the probability of pregnancy, livebirth and pregnancy failure in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Age-specific cumulative conception and livebirth rates; Effect of age and treatment-cycle number; Findings that suggest that there is a progressive decline in the cumulative conception and livebirth rates in IVF with advancing age over 34 years; More.

BACKGROUND Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the foundation of spermatogenesis and represent a crucial resource for male fertility restoration. It has not been well documented, however, whether the recovery of SSC population size after cytotoxic damage associates with the kinetics of male fertility restoration. We addressed this issue using the mouse as a model. METHODS Following single injections of busulfan at 15, 30 or 45 mg/kg into male mice, we examined their ability to sire offspring at different times by natural mating and determined SSC numbers using spermatogonial transplantation. We measured testis physiological parameters (testis weights, sperm counts, serum and intratesticular testosterone levels, and histological assessments of spermatogenic recovery) and quantified the expression of glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) transcripts. RESULTS Regardless of busulfan doses, fertility was lost within 4 weeks after treatment, while more than 95% of SSCs were lost within 3 days. Fertility and SSC numbers gradually recovered with time, but the recoveries were delayed at higher busulfan doses. Interestingly, SSC numbers reached ∼30% of before-treatment levels by 4 weeks prior to the time of fertility restoration, across the dose groups. Sperm counts were ∼20% of before-treatment levels at the onset of fertility restoration, regardless of busulfan doses. We detected a significant increase in total GDNF mRNA per testis immediately after busulfan treatment. CONCLUSIONS The loss and restoration of fertility after busulfan treatment are direct consequences of SSC loss and expansion. Our data suggest that there is a threshold in SSC numbers that allows for male fertility restoration and that the testicular somatic environment responds rapidly and temporarily to the loss of spermatogonia, including SSCs, by altering GDNF mRNA levels. This study provides fundamental information to clinically apply SSCs for male fertility restoration in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A series of Ag-doped La0.6Pb0.4MnO3 thin films were grown on vicinal cut substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Laser-induced thermoelectric voltages (LITV) had been observed in these films, and these LITV signals had been demonstrated to originate from the anisotropic Seebeck effect. By doping Ag to an optimum value, it was found that the peak values (U P) of the LITV signals were maximized, and the full-width at half-maximum (τ) of the response curves of LITV were minimized at the same time. The figure of merit (F m) of the device used as photodetector is greatly improved by doping Ag in La0.6Pb0.4MnO3 thin films. The possible reason for these improvements had been well discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The use of smartphones and multimedia messaging service (MMS) continues to increase in day to day orthopaedic clinical practice. However, there is limited evidence to support the safe utilisation of MMS.Objectives: The aim of this study was to correlate the performance of MMS imaging to picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) imaging within the setting of diagnosis and management of ankle fractures.Methods: The ankle fracture radiograph series of 82 consecutive patients were evaluated by five orthopaedic consultant specialists. A questionnaire regarding diagnosis and preferred management was completed separately for each patient using smartphone and PACS images. Statistical analysis was performed using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC).Results: Ankle fracture diagnosis showed strong to excellent correlation both inter- and intraobserver MMS vs PACS when using the Weber (0.815, 0.988), Anatomical (0.858, 0.988), and AO classification systems (0.855, 0.985). MMS was less reliable than PACS in determining many management options.Conclusion: The reliability of ankle fracture classification using MMS image viewing was not significantly different to interpretation on PACS workstations. Smartphone use in ankle fracture classification is supported by this study. Smartphone use was less accurate than PACS in devising management plans and future use should be limited to making only initial plans that must be corroberated with PACS and intraoperative findings prior to definitive fixation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a letter to the editor on fertility preservation in women undergoing cancer treatment.