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Mapping of magnetic field lines is important for studies of the solar wind and the sources and propagation of energetic particles between the Sun and observers. A recently developed mapping approach is generalized to use a more advanced solar wind model that includes the effects of solar wind acceleration, non-radial intrinsic magnetic fields and flows at the source surface/inner boundary, and conservation of angular momentum. The field lines are mapped by stepping along B and via a Runge–Kutta algorithm, leading to essentially identical maps. The new model's maps for Carrington rotation CR 1895 near solar minimum (19 April to 15 May 1995) and a solar rotation between CR 2145 and CR 2146 near solar maximum (14 January to 9 February 2014) are compared with the published maps for a constant solar wind model. The two maps are very similar on a large scale near both solar minimum and solar maximum, meaning that the field-line orientations, winding angles, and connectivity generally agree very well. However, close inspection shows that the field lines have notable small-scale structural differences. An interpretation is that inclusion of the acceleration and intrinsic azimuthal velocity has significant effects on the local structure of the magnetic field lines. Interestingly, the field lines are more azimuthal for the accelerating solar wind model for both intervals. In addition, predictions for the pitch angle distributions (PADs) for suprathermal electrons agree at the 90 – 95% level with observations for both solar wind models for both intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women's health is a global concern now a days. Studies on issues relating to menopause is lacking Bangladesh and those been conducted mainly focus on physical and psychological symptoms around the time of menopause. This cross sectional study was done to explore the sociomedical context and nutritional characteristics of a group of women approaching menopause A total 106 women aged 45-60 years attending Gynae outpatient department of a tertiary hospital between March- May, 2013 was interviewed using structured questionnaire after obtaining informed written consent. Height and weight was measured using standardized procedure. Data analysed using SPSS. Mean age was 50.3± 5.3 years, about 75.5% were between 45-50 years, 85.1% had more than 2 children and 72.6% had history of Abortion. Mean age at menopause 44.65 ± 6.4 years, range 32-58 yrs. Mean BMI was 25± 4.2 and 43.4% were overweight or Obese. Chronic illness like hypertension and arthritis was present in (15.09%) and diabetes mellitus in 10.3% . The family relationship with children was good in 78.09%, husband was reported caring in 72.3% and 2.8% receive abusive behavior from husband. Only 8.5% were self earning, 24.5% and & 17.9% were dependent on children and husband respectively. With increasing life expectancy and improvements of health care services there is greater chance of survival for a women beyond menopause. Sociocultural and medical characteristics of midlife women is important to explore their specific health needs. Ensuring quality of life for this special group of women will help to better utilize their potential for development of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endometriosis is a common and important health problem of women. The prevalence of endometriosis is difficult to determine. Diagnosis is often difficult and delayed due to close similarity of symptoms of endometriosis with other gynecological disorder. Optimum treatment involves a combination of medical and surgical treatments tailored to the patient's needs and response. The objective of the study is to discuss the current updates on diagnosis, treatment and the optimal role of different options in the treatment of endometriosis. The article reviews different medical journals, medline and internet to get the relevant information. The study results showed that both medical and surgical treatments are almost equally effective in pain management there is no evidence that medical treatment improves fertility. Surgical treatment is associated with small but significant improvement in live birth rate. Newer non hormonal drugs are more selective with less metabolic side effects. Surgical treatment is invasive procedure and repeated surgery is associated with major complication. Medical treatment is considered more effective in the long term management of endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rigorous theoretical investigation has been made on nonlinear dust-ion-acoustic (DIA) waves in a dusty plasma system, consisting of Boltzmann electrons, inertial ions, and negatively charged stationary dust. The reductive perturbation method has been employed to derive Korteweg-de Vries (K-dV), modified K-dV (mK-dV), and standard Gardner equations. The solitary wave solutions of these equations have been analyzed. It has been shown that the K-dV and Gardner solitons (GSs) exist with positive (negative) potential for μ <; 2/3 (μ >; 2/3), where μ = Zdnd0/ni0, with Zd being the number of electrons residing onto the dust grain surface and ndo (nio) being the dust (ion) number density at equilibrium. It has also been shown that the mK-dV solitons (associated with positive potential) exist only for μ <; (1 - 1/√15). It has been finally observed that the characteristics of DIA GSs are different from those of the K-dV and mK-dV solitons. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A theoretical investigation has been made on nonlinear propagation of planar and non-planar solitary waves in a quantum dusty electronegative plasma, whose constituents are quantum electrons, positive ions, negative ions, and arbitrarily charged stationary dust. The reductive perturbation method has been used to derive the Korteweg-de Vries and modified Korteweg-de Vries equations for studying the basic features of solitary waves, which are associated with both positive and negative ion dynamics. The effects of quantum parameter (H), positive and negative ion mass ratio (μin), as well as dust and positive ion number densities (β) on the basic features (polarity, height, and width) of planar solitary waves have been studied. It has been also found that the properties of dust ion-acoustic solitary waves in non-planar cylindrical or spherical geometry differ from those in planar one-dimensional geometry. The implications of our results in space (viz., interstellar compact objects like neutron stars) and laboratory experiments (e.g., intense laser solid density plasma experiments) have been briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rigorous theoretical investigation has been made on the formation of the nonlinear structures (viz., solitary waves, double layers) in a dusty electron-positron-ion plasma (containing inertialess degenerate electrons and positrons, cold, mobile, inertial ions, and negatively charged stationary dust). The pseudo potential method has been employed in this theoretical investigation. The basic features of the solitary waves and double layers, which are associated with positive ion dynamics and pressures of degenerate electrons and positrons, are identified. The co-existence of positive and negative solitary waves, and existence of either positive or negative double layers have been theoretically observed for certain range of different plasma parameters. The implications of our results in astrophysical compact objects have been briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A theoretical investigation has been made of propagating electrostatic waves in a four-component adiabatic dusty plasma, whose constituents are adiabatic electrons, adiabatic ions, adiabatic positively and as well as negatively charged warm dust. The basic features of the solitary structures in such a four-component adiabatic dusty plasma are studied by the reductive perturbation method. It is found that the presence of the positive dust component does not only significantly modify the basic properties of the solitary waves, but also causes the existence of the positive solitary potential structures, which is an interesting feature shown in an adiabatic dusty plasma with the dust of opposite polarity. It is also observed that the basic properties (polarity, speed, amplitude and width) of the DA SWs are significantly modified by the effects of adiabaticity ( γ>1) of electrons, ions, negatively as well as positively charged warm dust. The present investigation can be of relevance to the electrostatic solitary structures observed in various dusty space plasma environments (viz. cometary tails, upper mesosphere, Jupiter's magnetosphere, etc.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescents are a heterogeneous group with special reproductive health needs based on their age, sex, marital status and socioeconomic status. Existing health care system is not capable to respond to adolescents' demands. Objective: To explore the idea regarding specific centre for adolescents and to identify the components of information and health services rendered through the centre. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted with 70 participants in a half day workshop in the Institute of child and mother health (ICMH) on 9th August' 2006. The respondents filled up a set questionnaire containing both open and closed questions focusing different issues regarding functioning of an adolescent clinic. The responses were analysed using SPSS program Result: Almost all respondents expressed the need for a separate clinic for adolescents, that should serve both boys and girls (84.3%), health providers at the centre should be doctors from both Paediatrics and Gynae & Obstetrics department (42.9%) and nurses (42.1%) and the working schedule should be similar to existing out patient hours. It was suggested that the clinic should provide counseling on sexuality issues, contraceptive services and special services as required in addition to general health care. About 75% opined that the cost of the services should be same as those of existing out patient services while 52.9% thought that the services should be free. Conclusion: The need for an adolescent clinic was commonly felt and it is recommended to establish adolescent friendly services at ICMH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibility for the formation of solitary waves (SWs) and double layers (DLs) in an electronegative plasma (ENP) (containing adiabatic electrons, adiabatic negative ions, and cold mobile positive ions) is theoretically examined. The pseudopotential method is used to study the basic features of SWs and DLs in such an ENP. The coexistence of positive and negative SWs and the existence of either positive or negative DLs are found to exist for certain range of different plasma parameters. However, for the recent laboratory experimental conditions of Ghim and Hershkowitz, DLs do not exist, which is in good agreement with their experimental observations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A dusty electronegative plasma containing Boltzmann electrons, Boltzmann negative ions, warm positive ions, and charge fluctuating (negatively charged) stationary dust has been considered. The basic features of the shock and solitary waves, which are associated with positive ion dynamics and dust charge fluctuation, have been investigated by employing the reductive perturbation method. It has been shown that the dust charge fluctuation is a source of dissipation, and is responsible for the formation of dust-ion-acoustic shock structures. The implications of the results (obtained from this investigation) in space and laboratory experiments have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are promising drug targets to manage several neurological disorders and nicotine addiction. Growing evidence indicates that positive allosteric modulators of nAChRs improve pharmacological specificity by binding to unique sites present only in a subpopulation of nAChRs. Furthermore, nAChR positive allosteric modulators such as NS9283 and CMPI have been shown to potentiate responses of (α4)3(β2)2 but not (α4)2(β2)3 nAChR isoforms. This selective potentiation underlines that the α4:α4 interface, which is present only in the (α4)3(β2)2 nAChR, is an important and promising drug target. In this report we used site-directed mutagenesis to substitute specific amino acid residues and computational analyses to elucidate CMPI's binding mode at the α4:α4 subunit extracellular interface and identified a unique set of amino acid residues that determined its affinity. We found that amino acid residues α4Gly-41, α4Lys-64, and α4Thr-66 were critical for (α4)3(β2)2 nAChR potentiation by CMPI, but not by NS9283, whereas amino acid substitution at α4His-116, a known determinant of NS9283 and of agonist binding at the α4:α4 subunit interface, did not reduce CMPI potentiation. In contrast, substitutions at α4Gln-124 and α4Thr-126 reduced potentiation by CMPI and NS9283, indicating that their binding sites partially overlap. These results delineate the role of amino acid residues contributing to the α4:α4 subunit extracellular interface in nAChR potentiation. These findings also provide structural information that will facilitate the structure-based design of novel therapeutics that target selectively the (α4)3(β2)2 nAChR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a ground improvement method using sand as material in columnar inclusion. The main focus of the study is to model the consolidation behavior of peat soil reinforced by sand columns. The effects of sand column length and column diameter were determined using numerical analysis. It was revealed that the final settlement strongly depends on the area replacement ratio. The numerical results showed that the installation of larger-diameter, fully penetrated columns reduced soil settlement. The settlement reduction results of our numerical analysis are in good agreement with the experimental results. In order to improve the confining stresses of sand, an alternative approach utilizing geogrid encasement was examined numerically. The increasing stiffness of geogrid effectively increased the load carrying capacity of the sand column. Based on the results, geogrid performs better in smaller-diameter columns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The exponential growth of published systematic reviews (SRs) presents challenges for decision makers seeking to answer clinical, public health or policy questions. In 1997, an algorithm was created by Jadad et al. to choose the best SR across multiple. Our study aims to replicate author assessments using the Jadad algorithm to determine: (i) if we chose the same SR as the authors; and (ii) if we reach the same results.Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Epistemonikos, and Cochrane Database of SRs. We included any study using the Jadad algorithm. We used consensus building strategies to operationalise the algorithm and to ensure a consistent approach to interpretation.Results: We identified 21 studies that used the Jadad algorithm to choose one or more SRs. In 62% (13/21) of cases, we were unable to replicate the Jadad assessment and ultimately chose a different SR than the authors. Overall, 18 out of the 21 (86%) independent Jadad assessments agreed in direction of the findings despite 13 having chosen a different SR.Conclusions: Our results suggest that the Jadad algorithm is not reproducible between users as there are no prescriptive instructions about how to operationalise the algorithm. In the absence of a validated algorithm, we recommend that healthcare providers, policy makers, patients and researchers address conflicts between review findings by choosing the SR(s) with meta-analysis of RCTs that most closely resemble their clinical, public health, or policy question, are the most recent, comprehensive (i.e. number of included RCTs), and at the lowest risk of bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Intrauterine arterial thrombosis is extremely rare. Multiple inherited coagulopathies were found to be associated with thrombophilia and an increased risk of intrauterine arterial thrombosis. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase MTHFR (C667T) polymorphism was found to be associated with mild hyper-homocysteinemia, which, in turn, can promote thrombotic complications. Materials and Methods. We reported a case of intrauterine upper limb ischemia in a neonate who was found to be heterozygous for the 677C > T polymorphism of the MTHFR gene despite the dispute regarding its clinical significance as a risk of arterial thrombosis. We also reviewed the literature and summarized the clinical features, treatment, and prognosis of similar cases. Case Presentation. We reported a full-term female, born by normal spontaneous vaginal delivery who was found to have a swollen, blue left upper limb in the delivery room. Left upper limb computed tomography angiography (CTA) revealed left subclavian artery thrombosis. Investigations for the risk revealed heterozygosity for the MTHFR (C667T) polymorphism. Left upper limb amputation was done after the failure of medical management. Conclusion. Despite the conflict about whether heterozygosity for MTHFR (C667T) polymorphism increases the risk of arterial thrombosis or not, there are few cases in the literature presented with intrauterine upper limb ischemia and were found to be heterozygous for the mutation. We recommend investigating neonates and their parents for complete thrombophilia mutations when they present with unusual vascular occlusion sites as newborns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) and extra-corporeal support (ECMO) require an abundance of resources and have a high risk of death after lung transplant. To help guide selection, we studied the effect of obesity on mortality in this cohort. The United Network for Organ Sharing database (1987-2021) was queried to identify adult lung transplant recipients (n=41,920) bridged on MV (n=2,186, 5.2%) and/or ECMO (n=1,307, 3.1%). Among body mass index (BMI) categories, overall survival (OS) was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier estimation and compared using log-rank tests. Cox regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for death. Obese (BMI Class I: 30-34.9) and morbidly obese (BMI Class II/III: >35) cohorts were identified. In the MV group, 316 (14.5%) had class I and 62 (2.8%) had class II/III obesity. In the ECMO group, 228 (17.4%) had class I and 37 (2.8%) had class II/III obesity. Median lung allocation scores were 87.0 [IQR 67.5-90.5] in the MV group and 89.2 [IQR 86.6-90.8] in the ECMO group. In the MV group, 30 day, 1, 3 and 5-year OS were 89%, 72%, 53% and 40% in class I patients and decreased to 87%, 56%, 37% and 35% in class II/III patients. In the ECMO group, 30 day, 1, 3 and 5-year OS were 93%, 78%, 58% and 44% in class I patients and decreased to 81%, 43%, 28% and 23% in class II/III patients (Figure 1). Risk factors for death included: class I obesity (HR=1.13, p=0.00), class II/III obesity (HR=1.27, p=0.01), BMI<18.5 (HR 1.16, p=0.00), bridging on MV (HR=1.18, p=0.00), pulmonary hypertension (HR=1.17, p=0.032), diabetes (HR=1.15, p=0.013), history of dialysis (HR=2.05, p=0.00), creatinine (HR=1.11, p=0.00), and donor diabetes (HR=1.13, p=0.00). Morbidly obese (BMI>35) lung transplant recipients bridged on MV and ECMO carry an extremely high risk of death after transplant. These findings likely reflect non-modifiable challenges in perioperative care and should be considered during evaluation for listing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]