Search

Background: Rickettsial infections are often neglected and poorly recognized by physicians in many tropical and subtropical regions. Despite a number of recent reports describing rickettsial diseases in new locations and the discovery of new rickettsiae, medical science and research have largely neglected the diagnosis and antimicrobial treatment of rickettsial infections in subtropical and tropical areas; thus, much remains to be discovered. This study aimed to detect and characterize spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae in ixodid ticks infesting domestic ruminants in Khartoum State. Methods: Polymerase chain reaction targeting both genes that encode for citrate synthase (gltA) and outer membrane protein (ompA) was performed for the presence of SFG rickettsia followed by sequence and phylogenetic analysis. Results: Of the 202 ticks examined for the presence of SFG rickettsia, gltA gene was detected in 4 samples (2%). Furthermore, gltA‐positive samples were used to amplify the ompA gene, in which only two samples yielded positive results. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the positive samples revealed four different species of SFG rickettsiae: Rickettsia aeschlimannii, Rickettsia rhipicephali, Rickettsia massiliae and Rickettsia raoultii. Conclusions: These results indicated the presence of SFG rickettsia in Sudanese ticks. This also indicates that humans have an opportunity to acquire these infections. It is important to keep in mind the need for careful consideration of rickettsial infections in individuals with a fever of unknown origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feed spacers improve mixing and mass transfer in membrane modules. However, they also lead to foulant deposition in the vicinity of the spacer surface. In this paper, two hydrophilic monomers, namely, acrylic acid (AA) and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), are respectively coated on the surface of a commercial feed spacer via a plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method. The resulting modified spacers are then evaluated alongside with a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane for its solute rejection, water permeability, and antifouling properties. Results show that the surface hydrophilicity of feed spacers has been enhanced upon the AA and HEMA deposition. During filtration test, the HEMA‐modified spacer demonstrates higher flux recovery rate (94.17%) and salt rejection (95.78%) for the RO membrane. In contrast, the membrane with the unmodified spacer only shows 89.44% and 92.46%, respectively. Additionally, the membrane with the HEMA‐modified spacer has a thinner fouling layer (200 nm) compared to the unmodified spacer (700 nm). The HEMA‐coated spacer outperforms all the tested spacers, demonstrating that feed spacer modification with a hydrophilic monomer via the PECVD method can effectively reduce membrane fouling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the behavior of various measures of quantum coherence and quantum correlation in the spin-1/2 Heisenberg XYZ model with added Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya (DM) and Kaplan–Shekhtman–Entin-Wohlman–Aharony (KSEA) interactions at a thermal regime described by a Gibbs density operator. We aim to understand the restricted hierarchical classification of different quantum resources, where Bell nonlocality ⊆ quantum steering ⊆ quantum entanglement ⊆ quantum discord ⊆ quantum coherence. This hierarchy highlights the increasingly stringent conditions required as we move from quantum coherence to more specific quantum phenomena. In order to enhance quantum coherence, quantum correlation, and fidelity of teleportation, our analysis encompasses the effects of independently provided sinusoidal magnetic field control as well as DM and KSEA interactions on the considered system. The results reveal that enhancing the entanglement or quantum correlation of the channel does not always guarantee successful teleportation or even an improvement in teleportation fidelity. Thus, the relationship between teleportation fidelity and the channel's underlying quantum properties is intricate. Our study provides valuable insights into the complex interplay of quantum coherence and correlation hierarchy, offering potential applications for quantum communication and information processing technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bluetongue (BT) is an arthropod‐borne viral disease that primarily affects ruminants in tropical and temperate regions. In the present study, a cross‐sectional survey was conducted to define the seroprevalence of Bluetongue virus and to identify the possible risk factors correlated with BTV seropositivity among cattle, sheep, and goats during the period 2015‐2016 in Gadarif State. A total of 420 cattle, 877 sheep, and 641 goat serum samples were collected randomly from 12 localities. Information about age, sex, breed, area ecology, and location was obtained for each sample. Bluetongue seroprevalence was estimated using competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). The overall seroprevalence of BTV was 92.9% (390/420), 76.4% (670/877), and 85.3% (547/641) among cattle, sheep, and goats, respectively. Multivariate analysis followed univariate analysis showed that there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between location, area ecology and age groups of cattle, sheep, and goats, and seropositivity to BTV. In addition, a significant association (p < 0.05) was observed between sex and seropositivity to BTV in sheep. In conclusion, BTV antibodies are highly prevalent in Gadarif State and susceptible livestock are at risk of exposition with BTV. Consequently, these animals have protection against specific BTV serotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, two materials were synthesized: La0.5Ca0.5MnO3 and novel rGO-La0.5Ca0.5MnO3. The solid-state reactions and hydrothermal methods were used to synthesize these nanocomposites. The specific capacitances of La0.5Ca0.5MnO3 nanocomposite were estimated at scan rates of (1 and 90 mV/s), resulting in values of (779.26, and 41.06) Fg−1. Reduced graphene oxide gave the specific capacitance of (491.75 and 140.44) Fg−1 at the scan rates of (1 and 50 mV/s). The novel rGO-La0.5Ca0.5MnO3 nanocomposite gave the reportable specific capacitance of (1014.62 and 81.86) Fg−1 at the scan rates of (1 and 90 mV/s). The XRD pattern displayed crystallized nanoparticles exhibiting five distinct diffraction peaks at (112), (022), (220), (024), and (224) directions, which correspond to the hexagonal crystal structure. The insertion of electrons into the anti-bonding Mn orbital causes the Mn–O bond length to expand, shifting the diffraction peaks of LCM toward higher 2 theta angles. Five diffraction peaks were observed in the crystallized reduced graphene oxide (rGO), with two intense peaks at (002) and (200) at 2 theta angles of 26.591° and 44.640°. The material's surface morphology exhibits a hexagonal structure upon examination. The occurrence of wrinkles in reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is a common observation in 2D materials, primarily because of rGO's negative thermal expansion. Nanopoles in LCM and RLCM exhibit a distinct cube-like shape. The cubes are created through a combination of isotropic compression and thermal reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explores therapeutic strategies for diabetes mellitus, focusing on improving therapeutic outcomes and patient compliance through the development and characterization of an immediate release formulation of dapagliflozin. Eight formulations were developed using a wet granulation process with several super-disintegrating agents and characterized by pre-compression parameters such as angle of repose (40.2 to 61.02), Hausner ratio (1.30 to 1.5), Carr's index (23.5 to 33.3), physical attributes (weight (145-155 mg), thickness (4.42±0.04 to 4.46±0.05 mm), hardness (3.7-5.6 kg/cm²), friability (<1%)), and disintegration time. Furthermore, FT-IR, SEM, and TGA were conducted, which revealed no plausible drug-excipient interaction. In-vitro dissolution studies were conducted and the release profile was determined as F1 (80.50±5.2) > F3 (75.97±1.4) > F2 (75.30±3.3) > F5 (74.14±2.3) > F8 (70.13±3.7) > F7 (68.12±4.1) > F6 (66.45±3.1) > F4 (54.74±1.3) > pure drug (38.14±2.1) within 30 minutes, while the F1 formulation complied with the USP requirements for immediate release formulation. Additionally, the F1 formulation's drug release profile significantly outperformed commercially available options, indicating its potential to enhance glycemic control and patient adherence in T2DM management, as per the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generation of hydrogen is very important, as it is one of the most desired alternatives to fossil fuels. Moreover, designing of cheap and stable electrocatalysts is the task for the efficient generation of hydrogen with reasonable activity. Materials hybridization can be considered a tool for engineering different material properties. Composites of modified silicon such as C–Si, Ni/(C–Si), Pt/(C–Si), and Pt–Ni/(C–Si) were prepared (in weight percent) and studied as electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution. The surface morphologies and chemical compositions of the composites were confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), elemental mapping, and BET surface analysis. The electrochemical measurements of linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), Tafel plots, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to study the behaviour of the prepared electrodes toward the hydrogen evolution process. Among the various prepared composites, [7%Pt–3%Ni]/[C–Si (1:1)] composite shows the best catalytic activity with the highest HER rate (940.95 µA cm−2 s−1), the lowest overpotential [0.358 V vs. (Ag/AgCl) ≈ 0.161 V vs. (RHE)] at 10 mA cm−2, and the lowest charge transfer resistance (2.657 Ω) compared to other prepared electrodes. In addition, it gives the highest values of 4.219 × 10−3 s−1 turn over frequency (TOF) and 642 mA g−1 mass activity. It shows good stability towards the hydrogen evolution reaction as the current density reaches about 34.28 mA cm−2 after 5 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was carried out at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University in Dhaka from November 2021 to June 2022 using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications to assess the significance of variance, heritability, genetic advance, correlation, path coefficient and genetic diversity for different yield contributing parameters in twenty brinjal genotypes. High heritability associated with high genetic advance and high genetic advance in percentage of mean was found in plant height, individual fruit weight and percent of brinjal shoot and fruit borer infestation, which indicated selection based on phenotype would be effective. Assessments of character association indicated that fruit yield plant-1 had highest significant positive correlation with days of last harvesting (rg= 0.495, rp= 0.454), number of secondary branches plant-1 (rg=0.356, rp=0.315), leaf blade length (rg = 0.714, rp = 0.462), leaf blade width (rg = 0.674, rp = 0.498) and number of fruits plant-1 (rg= 0.798, rp= 0.787) in both genotypic and phenotypic level. Path analysis revealed that the number of flowers plant-1 (1.421) had the maximum positive and direct effect on yield plant-1. According to PCA, D² and Cluster analysis, twenty brinjal genotypes were grouped into five different clusters-I, II, III, IV and V with three, three, four, six and four genotypes respectively. Considering magnitude of cluster mean performance and genetic parameters genotypes G10 (Choto Katali), G20 (BARI Bt Begun 2), G11 (BARI Hybrid Begun 2), G8 (BARI Begun 6), G5 (BARI Hybrid Begun 4), G18 (Local Black Long) might be used in future breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mosquito-borne dengue fever and malaria are major public health concerns in tropical settings. They are highly prevalent and considered one of the main etiology of febrile illnesses in Sudan. Aim: This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of dengue virus (DENV) among febrile malaria positive and negative patients in Nyala city, Western Sudan by using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect DENV IgM and IgG antibodies. It also aimed to study possible risk factors that may be associated with DENV and malaria infections. Methods: This cross-sectional study was undertaken in different Hospitals in Nyala city, South Darfur state Sudan from June to December 2021. A total of 93 blood samples from febrile patients were collected in EDTA containers. Plasma was obtained by centrifugation and tested by ELISA (EUROIMMUN, Germany) according to manufacturer instructions for DENV IgG and IgM antibodies. Malaria parasites were detected using microscopy of stained blood smears. Generated data was analyzed using the statistical package (SPSS) version 21. Results: Forty-six (49.5%) out of 93 febrile patients were found infected with malaria parasites using blood smear microscopy. Among these malaria-infected patients, the prevalence of dengue anti-virus IgG (49.5%) was higher than that of IgM (16.1%) but was statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). In the present study, dengue infection was higher in males than in females but was statistically insignificant (p > 0.05) and the age group 21-40 years was the most affected with DENV infection. Conclusion: The present study showed a higher prevalence rate of dengue IgG among the participants of the study more than IgM but was statistically insignificant. There was no association between age and gender with seroprevalence of DENV among febrile patients with and without malaria. The frequent existence of infections of DENV requires improved surveillance and control measures to combat this disease in Nyala, Sudan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: To ascertain the variations in serum aminotransferase levels in severe dengue, dengue fever with warning signals, and dengue fever without warning signs and to assess the relationship between serum aminotransferase levels and dengue illness severity. Materials and Methods: A co relational study was done on all the patients operated from 2020 to 2021 at Department of General medicine, Government General Hospital, Kurnool to investigate NS1Ag and Dengue IgM, IgG SEROLOGY, Hemogram- Hb, TLC, DLC, Platelet Counts, Hematocrit, Serum Electrolytes and Renal Function Test, Serum bilirubin, AST, ALT, ALP, USG abdomen Results: 12 patients with increased liver enzyme levels exhibited bleeding tendencies. In our study, 13 patients exhibited hepatomegaly. A USG abdomen revealed free fluid in 30 individuals. There was no statistically significant relationship between increased liver enzymes and free fluid. Overall, 23 individuals had elevated liver enzymes. Twelve patients with bleeding tendencies, thirteen patients with hepatomegaly, and twelve patients with free fluid on USG abdomen all had elevated liver enzymes. The mean AST and ALT concentrations in our study were 186.52 IU/L and 129.91 IU/L, respectively. Conclusion: In dengue fever, hepatic impairment is frequent. Either reactive hepatitis or direct viral damage to hepatocytes is the cause. In this study, elevated liver enzyme levels have prognostic value. Therefore, liver enzymes must be taken in order to check for problems and have predictive significance in dengue fever. Individuals with increased liver enzyme levels require more cautious monitoring than individuals with normal liver enzyme levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing a universal joint can lead to significant vibration within a driveline system. This study presents a model for analyzing the torsional and lateral vibrations of a driveline connected by a double universal joint. The governing equations of motion are derived, and the Runge-Kutta method computes steady-state responses across a spectrum of input rotational speeds. The focus is to examine the effect of system parameters, including static angular misalignment, load torque, and lateral stiffness. Relative amplification is used to analyze the effects of parameters on system vibration. Results indicated that the second-order component of input rotational speed induced by the universal joint was the factor that caused the vibrations. For the considered system, static angular misalignment significantly impacts both the torsional and lateral vibrations. Increasing the angular misalignment from 15° to 30° results in a threefold increase in lateral vibration amplification, while torsional vibration amplification is increased by nearly two times. The effect of load torque is almost linearly proportional to torsional vibration but is nonlinear to lateral vibration. Thus, lateral vibration is significantly impacted compared to torsional vibration for higher load torque. Changing the stiffness leads to a modification of the natural frequency. Increasing the lateral stiffness shifts the critical speed to a higher speed range, resulting in reduced lateral vibration amplitude. It is demonstrated that a slight fluctuation in angular misalignment due to lateral vibration will not affect the torsional vibration even if both vibrations are coupled. The findings may enhance understanding of how changing system parameters affects vibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Results of crystallization kinetics for Se88Te10Ag2 glass using differential scanning calorimetry under non-isothermal condition are described and discussed. The glass has a single glass transition and two crystalline phases that overlap. The Gaussian fit model was used to separate the overlapping crystalline phases. By applying the Matusita et al. approach to analyses the data, it was possible to determine the activation energy (Ec) and Avrami exponent (n) for the two phases. The average Ec values for the first and the second phases are 126.16 and 113.99 kJ mol−1, respectively. It was shown that the activation energy strongly depended on the heating rate. Using the Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose method, the variable activation energies with crystalline fraction are calculated. This variation demonstrates how the transition from the amorphous to the crystalline phase is a complicated process requiring several nucleation and growth mechanisms. It was discussed if the Johnson–Mehl–Avrami model to describe the crystallization for the composition under investigation. The results show SB(M, N) that model is more appropriate to represent the crystallization process for the examined composition. While the results agree with JMA models at low heating rates. Through the use of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, the crystalline phases for the two stages were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonlinear structural dynamic analysis is required for mechanical structures experiencing nonlinearity through large force-vibration response ranges. Nonlinearities can be caused by large vibration displacements, material properties, or joints. Experimental modal analysis for nonlinear detection is achieved using conventional force-controlled stepped sine testing. However, this approach often encounters premature jumps in frequency response curves before reaching actual resonance peaks. In recent years, response-controlled stepped sine testing (RCT) has been introduced to quantify resonant peaks precisely. This approach, however, has only been limitedly utilised to detect and analyse nonlinearity in jointed structures and structures experiencing large displacement. In this paper, the reliability of the RCT approach is assessed for detecting nonlinearity from different sources. The experimental setup involves placing two magnets on opposite sides of a plate's free end to induce localised nonlinearity through magnet attraction. A low force magnitude of random excitation is employed to identify the frequency range of the first vibration mode using an electromagnetic shaker. Subsequently, RCT is performed within this range to measure the nonlinear forced response. Frequency response functions are measured at ten different controlled displacement amplitudes at the driving point. The analysis observed a symmetry curve of response in the measured FRFs. The results indicate that nonlinear hardening is detected at structures with localised magnet attraction. In conclusion, the reliability of applying the RCT approach for detecting nonlinearity from magnet attraction is achieved due to the absence of a jump issue in FRFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the short crack initiation of the material 9Cr-1Mo (P91) under cyclic loading at different temperatures (T = 24 °C and T = 650 °C) concluded with the estimation of the short crack initiation Wöhler (S/N) Curve. Short crack initiation under the influence of microstructures is analyzed to derive their crack initiation curves. An artificial but representative microstructural model microstructure was generated using the Voronoi tessellation (VT) method and the non-uniform stress distribution is calculated by Finite Element Method accordingly afterwards. The number of cycles needed for crack initiation is estimated on the basis of the stress distribution in the microstructural model by applying the physically-based Tanaka-Mura model (TMM). Since mechanical properties are highly correlated with temperature, the research indicates that the number of cycles required to initiate cracks at room temperature is significantly higher than at elevated temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TGFBI-related corneal dystrophy (CD) is characterized by the accumulation of insoluble protein deposits in the corneal tissues, eventually leading to progressive corneal opacity. Here we show that ATP-independent amyloid-β chaperone L-PGDS can effectively disaggregate corneal amyloids in surgically excised human cornea of TGFBI-CD patients and release trapped amyloid hallmark proteins. Since the mechanism of amyloid disassembly by ATP-independent chaperones is unknown, we reconstructed atomic models of the amyloids self-assembled from TGFBIp-derived peptides and their complex with L-PGDS using cryo-EM and NMR. We show that L-PGDS specifically recognizes structurally frustrated regions in the amyloids and releases those frustrations. The released free energy increases the chaperone’s binding affinity to amyloids, resulting in local restructuring and breakage of amyloids to protofibrils. Our mechanistic model provides insights into the alternative source of energy utilized by ATP-independent disaggregases and highlights the possibility of using these chaperones as treatment strategies for different types of amyloid-related diseases.ATP-independent amyloid-β chaperone L-PGDS disaggregates corneal amyloids in surgically excised human cornea of TGFBI-related corneal dystrophy patients by recognizing and releasing structurally frustrated regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antinutrients such as phytic acids, tannins, saponin, and enzyme inhibitors are phytochemicals that can decrease the bioavailability of micro- and macronutrients, thus causing them to be unavailable for absorptions in the digestive system. Antinutrients are a major concern especially in countries where plant-based commodities such as wheat, legumes, and cereals are staple foods, for the antinutrients can cause not only mineral deficiencies, but also lead to more serious health issues. Although various thermal and non-thermal processing methods such as cooking, boiling, and fermentation processes have been practiced to decrease the level of antinutrients, these processes may also undesirably influence the final products. More advanced practices, such as ozonation and cold plasma processing (CPP), have been applied to decrease the antinutrients without majorly affecting the physicochemical and nutritional aspects of the commodities postprocessing. This review will cover the types of antinutrients that are commonly found in plants, and the available processing methods that can be used, either singly or in combination, to significantly decrease the antinutrients, thus rendering the foods safe for consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The proadaptive effects of glucagon‐like peptide‐2 (GLP‐2) include stimulation of intestinal mucosal growth as well as intestinal blood flow and angiogenesis. We have recently reported that daily subcutaneous injections of glepaglutide, a long‐acting GLP‐2 analog, improved intestinal absorptive function in patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS). As secondary and exploratory end points, the effects of glepaglutide on intestinal morphology and perfusion are reported. Methods: The following assessments were done in 18 patients with SBS in a randomized, crossover, dose‐finding, phase 2 trial before and after three weeks of treatment with glepaglutide: plasma citrulline and mucosa biopsies to assess changes in (1) intestinal morphology by immunohistochemistry and (2) gene expressions associated with absorption, proliferation, and markers of tight‐junction integrity by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Intestinal perfusion was assessed in stoma nipples by laser speckle contrast imaging and quantitative fluorescence angiography with indocyanine green. Results: In the 1‐ and 10‐mg dose groups, glepaglutide significantly increased plasma citrulline by 15.3 µmol/L (P = 0.001) and 15.6 µmol/L (P = 0.001), respectively. Trends toward an increase in villus height, crypt depth, and epithelium height were seen in the same groups. No significant changes were seen in gene expressions or intestinal perfusion. Conclusion: The increase in plasma citrulline and the morphological improvements may partly account for improvement in the intestinal absorptive function. However, the finding of a stability in perfusion after three weeks of treatment with glepaglutide may have been preceded by a more profound acute‐phase increase in intestinal perfusion at treatment initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy is a promising spectroscopic technique with a vast spectrum of applications in fields concerned with identification and detection of elements. But it faces some limitations due to self-absorption, noise due to matrix effect and line broadening resulting in low emission signal. This research proposes LIBS signal enhancement by incorporation of metal nanoparticles (Cu, Mg, Au) on Al surface and compares their effect. The successful optical emissions enhancement is achieved as the emission intensities of Al- and Na- lines of three coated samples are compared with those of uncoated Al. The Electron Temperature has been evaluated by Boltzmann plot and an increase in Electron Temperature has been observed with the incorporation of nanoparticles to the aluminum surface as compared to the untreated aluminum, due to more plasma emissions. The Electron Number Density of the aluminum plasma did not have much effect with the incorporation of Nanoparticles. The Local Thermal Equilibrium condition has been satisfied and checked by Mc Whirter's Criterion. The incorporation of metal nanoparticles can be declared as an effective method not only for LIBS signal enhancement but also better detection of trace elements which were not observed without the use of Nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus may present with different macro- and micro-vascular complications including diabetic nephropathy. This study was designed to evaluate the risk factors for diabetic nephropathy among newly detected type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: This case-control study was done at BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January to September 2017. Adult (≥18 years), type 2 diabetic patients, who were detected as diabetic for the first time, within the previous three months and who tested, at least, 2 urine samples for urine albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR), at least 6 weeks apart, were consecutively enrolled for the study. Pregnant ladies, patients with diagnosed kidney disease, patients having features of glomerulonephritis and systemic diseases like vasculitis and systemic lupus erythematosus, history of recent fever, urinary tract infection and menstruation were excluded. Patients having UACR ≥30 mg/g in at least 2 (out of 3, if tested) samples were taken as cases and those with UACR < 30 mg/g were controls. Data were analyzed by statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20. Results: Total patients were 224 with female predominance (150, 67%). Fifty one (22.8%) patients had diabetic nephropathy (microalbuminuria = 47 and overt proteinuria = 4). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that, hypertension [odds ratio (OR) = 3.71; 95% CI 1.23 to 4.31, p = 0.003], smoking (OR = 3.27; 95% CI 2.91 to 4.79, p = 0.003), family history of diabetes (OR = 2.31; 95% CI 1.84 to 3.14, p = 0.005) and diabetic nephropathy (OR = 3.34; 95% CI 2.40 to 4.97, p = 0.001), dyslipidaemia (OR = 2.31; 95% CI 1.98 to 3.91, p = 0.023), increased body mass index (BMI) (OR = 2.11; 95% CI 1.54 to 4.87, p = 0.001 and high glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) (OR 3.21; 95% CI 1.71 to 5.97, p = 0.034) were significant risk factors for diabetic nephropathy. Conclusion: One in every five type 2 diabetic patients had diabetic nephropathy during diabetes diagnosis and most patients had microalbuminuria. Hypertension, dyslipidaemia, smoking, family history of diabetes and diabetic nephropathy, increased BMI and high HbA1c were significant risk factors for diabetic nephropathy among newly detected type 2 diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a zoonotic parasite that can be transmitted from animals to humans, with felids acting as its definitive host. Thus, understanding the epidemiology of this parasite in animal populations is vital to controlling its transmission to humans as well as to other animal groups. Objectives: This systematic review and meta‐analysis aims to summarise and analyse reports of T. gondii infection in animal species residing in the Arabian Peninsula. Methods: : It was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA), with relevant studies being retrieved from MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect. All articles published in Arabic or English languages between January 2000 and December 2020 were screened for eligibility. Random effects model was used to calculate the pooled prevalence of T. gondii infection in different animal populations which were found to harbour this infection. The critical appraisal tool for prevalence studies designed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) was used to assess the risk of bias in all included studies. Results: A total of 15 studies were retrieved, reporting prevalence estimates from 4 countries in this region and in 13 animal species. Quantitative meta‐analysis estimated a pooled prevalence of 43% in felids [95% confidence interval (CI) = 23–64%, I2 index = 100%], 48% in sheep (95% CI = 27–70%, I2 = 99%) and 21% in camels (95% CI = 7–35%, I2 = 99%). Evidence of possible publication bias was found in both felids and sheep. Conclusions: This meta‐analysis estimates a high prevalence of T. gondii infection in animal species which are of high economic and cultural importance to countries of this region. Hence, these findings provide valuable insight to public health authorities as well as economic and animal resources advisors in countries of the Arabian Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The throttle mechanism, a regulatory technique of engine output, is accompanied by a loss of some energy. The effect of intake air throttling on the performance and emissions of a multi-cylinder spark ignition gasoline engine was experimentally investigated. The engine was coupled to a hydraulic dynamometer equipped with a customized cooling system for both the engine and dynamometer. Experimental tests were performed for various engine speeds and airfuel ratios at the WOT and POT conditions with optimized ignition timing. The acquired results recorded that a better engine operation could be achieved with WOT in terms of bmep, bsfc, ηb, CO, CO2 and UHC compared to POT. At the same time, the worst trend at WOT was noticed for the NOx concentration due to the higher conversion efficiency of fuel combustion. In terms of engine speed for both WOT and POT conditions, operating at 3000 rpm represents the minima of ϕ, bsfc, CO and UHC; and the maxima of ηb, CO2 and NOx with some fluctuation on both sides of this point. Maximum recorded values of ηb were about 30.55% and 28. 55%, while the minimum values of bsfc were about 274 and 293 g/kW.h for the WOT and POT conditions, respectively. The maximum bmep was obtained at 2500 rpm at WOT and POT conditions with values of about 940 kPa and 904 kPa, respectively. Maximum recorded values of NOx were about 1525 and 977 ppm for the WOT and POT conditions, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-classical states induced from coherent states (CS) α ⟩ via photon addition operations have useful non-classical properties that improve performances in quantum information processing. Two examples of such induced states are displaced n -photon Fock states (n -DPFS) and n -photon added coherent states (n -PACS). Quantum superposition of n -DPFS and n -PACS results in a new state, superposed- n -DPFS- n -PACS (n -SDP) which has better non-classicality. Specifically, n -SDP exhibits stronger quadrature squeezing, anti-bunching and sub-Poisson compared to n -DPFS and n -PACS. The general enhancements of n -SDP non-classicality over n -DPFS and n -PACS are due to quantum interference effects. For example, for average photon-number α 2 ≤ 1 and n = 1 , 1 -SDP has quadrature squeezing; however, 1 -DPFS and 1 -PACS did not. At the limit of α 2 ≫ 1 , n -SDP exhibits better quadrature squeezing, anti-bunching and sub-Poisson than n -DPFS and n -PACS. Furthermore, using input states of n -SDP and CS in a Mach–Zehnder interferometer enhance phase sensitivity beyond standard quantum limit. Finally, a possible generation of n -SDP by using a seeded optical parametric amplifier with conditional measurement is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research constructs a 26 GHz waveguide slot antenna with decent gain. The application of millimeter-wave requires high bandwidth and gain to increase the traffic and users for millimeter-wave and 5G technology. The application of millimeter waves requires a high gain and bandwidth to achieve the requirements of traffic and users increasing for 5G technology and existing millimeter-wave. High-gain and power handling are provided by waveguide slot antennas. Three waveguide structures which are two waveguide antennae and a waveguide horn have been simulated by using CST and fabricated by a 3D printer. The tilt technique has been used with a waveguide to increase the bandwidth and gain of an antenna. A waveguide with broad wall tilt slots has one diction beam while a waveguide with broad and narrow wall tilt slots has two direction beams, each length of the wall enough to distribute six symmetric tilt slots. The gain of 14.3 dB and 1.9 GHz bandwidth are recorded for an antenna with broad wall tilt slots with one beam. While the waveguide with broad and narrow wall tilt slots achieved a gain of 13.9dB and a bandwidth of 1.9 GHz. The proposed antenna is a decent candidate for use with millimeter waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relationship between an ability-based measure of emotional intelligence (EI) and responses to the COVID-19 virus (RCV) of employed students at a university in the United States. We test our model with questionnaire data from 143 participants. Data analysis including confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling using LISREL suggests that EI is positively associated with RCV. Implications for management, directions for future research, and limitations of the study are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for SME owner/managers to engage in building and maintaining collaborative business relationships is paramount for their success and the resilience of these relationships can be viewed as a crucial factor in successful supply chain management for SMEs. The present study investigates the relationship between the social intelligence of the SME owner/manager and relationship resilience between firms with which they do business. The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between four components of social intelligence (situational awareness, situational response, cognitive empathy, and social skills) of small to medium sized business owners/managers on the resilience of their supply chain relationships. A survey was conducted, and responses gathered from small business owner/managers and the data was analyzed using structural equation modeling. The study provided evidence that the four components of social intelligence are positively associated with relationship resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of Ag content on the linear and nonlinear optical characteristics of thermal evaporated Se90−xTe10Agx thin films, 100 nm thick, (where x = 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 at.%) has been examined. The optical measurements were reviewed in the wavelength range of 390–2500 nm based on the transmittance and reflectance data, and the amorphous state of the as-prepared thin film was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The absorption coefficient, extinction coefficient, bandgap, optical density, optical conductivity, dissipation factor, and other optical properties were examined and discussed. For all of the samples, the extinction coefficient of Se90−xTe10Agx declines as the wavelength and Ag concentration rise, whereas the absorption coefficient increases linearly with incident photon energy. Furthermore, the optical bandgap and the width of localized states alter in the exact opposite direction, which is consistent with previously reported findings. The decrease in the optical band gap as Ag concentration increases could be attributable to an increase in the amount of disorder in the materials and the density of defect states. Other critical optoelectronic characteristics are also determined, and they are found to be influenced by the Ag ratio and photon wavelength. These materials may be ideal for optical memory applications due to their high absorption coefficient and compositional dependence of absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Journal archives are invaluable resources to the scientific community. The Journal of Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (JBCPS) is one of the leading biomedical journals in Bangladesh. The objectives of the present review were to have an overview to the all published articles in the JBCPS and to identify remarkable articles for republication of the abstracts on the occasion of golden jubilee celebration of the Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS). This retrospective review covered all published articles in the JBCPS since its inaugural issue published in August 1983 to the latest issue published in April 2022. Articles were retrieved from different sources; the BCPS Library, the JBCPS office and Bangladesh Journals On-Line (BanglaJOL). For selection of remarkable articles, systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized controlled clinical trials and original articles were considered and review articles, case reports and others were excluded. Articles were evaluated on three main areas: contribution to the field, methods and clarity of presentation. After initial scrutiny by different contributors, a short list containing 43 articles was prepared. This short list was then reevaluated by each authors individually for identification of 20 remarkable articles and the final selection was made jointly in a meeting among them. Over 40 years, the JBCPS has published 1212 different types of articles including 114 editorials, 565 original research articles, 138 review articles, 316 case reports, 37 images and 42 other types of articles. Twenty remarkable articles were selected from different specialties including anaesthesiology, dentistry, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hepatology, infectious diseases, histopathology, medical education, obstetrics and gynaecology, oncology, ophthalmology, pulmonology, paediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, toxicology and other specialties. In spite of its commendable role in publishing scholarly articles over the previous four decades, the JBCPS is expected to contribute more in the future, both in local and international perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the linear and non-linear optical properties is critical in terms of technological application, as it aids in developing the semiconducting materials for optoelectronic applications. Consequently, the present studies report the investigation of the influence of thermal annealing on the structural, morphology, linear, and non-linear optical properties of Ge10Se78Ag12 thin films. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the amorphous state of Ge10Se78Ag12 composition. The studied composition was annealed at a temperature between the glass transition and crystallization, and the annealing temperature Tan affected the number and intensity of crystalline phases. Some peaks disappeared at 383 K, indicating that this temperature represents a transition in the structure of the studied materials. The morphological changes caused by the thermal treatment were observed by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). On the other hand, the linear and non-linear optical constants varied with Tan. The band gap was found to decrease from 1.70 to 1.43 eV and then increase to 1.91 eV with increasing the temperature from 363 to 573 K, confirming the presence of structural transition at 383 K. The optical and electrical conductivities were determined and found to vary with the temperature. The present results were analyzed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a highly infectious disease of cattle caused by a virus of the Poxviridae family, genus Capripoxvirus. The disease has great economic effects on the global cattle industry. In this study, an outbreak of LSD among cattle which occurred in Nahr Atbara and Halfa El Jadida locations in Butana area, Kassala State in November, 2020 is described. Methods: Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) antibody and nucleic acid were detected in specimens (n = 50) using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The virus was isolated on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of embryonated chicken eggs and identified by PCR. The number of animals at risk was 295 with a morbidity rate of 4.1% and a mortality rate of 2.4%. Conclusions: LSDV was diagnosed for the first time in the Butana region, Kassala State, Eastern Sudan in 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the FE analysis of the mechanical behavior of glued composite fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) rods into glulam timber, using a 3D-continuum damage mechanics. The application of FRP to the glulam timber beams, despite the fact of limited investigations to date, offers an interesting and economic solution for strengthening in timber construction. In particular, the use of glued-in FRP rods for timber connections instead of steel is of great interest, due to the improved durability of the joint systems compared to their equivalent counterparts made of steel rods. For pull-out tests, the estimation of the mechanical response of glued FRP rods into glulam timber is very complex because of the combination of the three different materials: FRP rods, epoxy resin and glulam timber as well as the complexity of the expected brittle modes of failure of the timber. On the other hand, the existing prescriptive approaches (standard design codes) did not cover all the modes of failure expected within timber material and their predictivity is highly depending on the loading direction and on the rod material. There is, therefore, still a need to establish a general and predictive FE model to simulate accurately and cost-effectively the glued-in rod timber connections. In this study, a FE model combining 3D continuum damage mechanics (CDM) and cohesive zone modeling approaches is presented and its effectiveness was verified by comparison to experimental results available in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-step solid-state reaction method was used to synthesize (Cu0.5Tl0.5) Ba2Ca2Cu3O10-δ (CuTl-1223) superconducting phase, and sol–gel method was used to prepare copper (Cu) nanoparticles. These Cu nanoparticles (NPs) were mixed with CuTl-1223 superconducting phase to get (Cu)x/CuTl-1223 (x = 0, 1.0, and 2.0 wt%) nanoparticle-superconductor composites. These composites were prepared at high pelletize pressure of 0.202 GPa. The crystal structure and phase purity of (Cu)x/CuTl-1223 composites were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and elemental analysis was carried out via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Different vibrational modes of oxygen in these samples were studied with the help of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The four-point probe technique was used to study the resistivity versus temperature measurements, and Arrhenius law was used for the calculation of activation energy. The critical transition temperature width and hole concentration were calculated for different contents of Cu nanoparticles in (Cu)x/CuTl-1223 composites. All the findings were elaborated in comparison with (Cu)x/CuTl-1223 composites prepared at relatively low hydraulic pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frequency-dependent issues and instrumentation requirement for FBG sensors necessitate the identification of the sensitivity of the cantilever FBG accelerometer using machine learning. As result, this article presents a cascade-forward backpropagation (CFB) neural network with an orthogonally-phase chirp signal with a range of constant forcing frequency and steadily increasing base acceleration amplitude as its input. This input/output data set was numerically calculated by integrating modal model and Euler-Bernoulli beam approach (FBG-MM). The maximum amplitude of the base acceleration was 200 m/s2 and the forcing frequencies and location of the FBG sensor mounted on the beam measured from the fixed end were 1 to 90 Hz and 0.03 m, respectively. The trained CFB predicted the wavelength shift very well, but it was restricted to one-half of the forcing frequencies of those used in the CFB training process, whereas the base acceleration is not an important element in determining the sensitivity of the FBG accelerometer. In terms of the FBG sensor's location on the beam, considering a few positions will greatly expand the CFB's capabilities. Future work will include the use of the trained CFB as "blackbox sensitivity" for actual acceleration measurement, as well as the use of empirical data to replace the numerical FBG-MM as the input/output training data set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, noise induced chaos is investigated for a finance system. To characterize chaotic paradigm, period analysis is done with the variation of a parameter and noise strength. Later on, chaos has been quantified by 0–1 tests under the same variation. A phase space analysis is also done to investigate the effect of noise on the system dynamics. However, we have noticed that the respective asymptotic dynamics of the deterministic and noise induced chaos are very similar. To classify chaos between noisy and noise free systems, multifractal analysis is then performed. Though the phase spaces are showing similar trajectories, the multifractal analysis confirms more complex dynamics of the noise induced system in compare to the deterministic model. This investigation is an application of multifractal analysis, in case of quantifying chaos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the effect of waterpipe smoking on periodontal health. Materials and Methods: The study included 190 participants who were categorised into four groups; cigarette smokers, waterpipe smokers, dual smokers and nonsmokers. Intraoral examination included plaque (PI), gingival (GI) and calculus (CI) indices, probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and bleeding on probing (BOP). Results: The four groups differed significantly in the prevalence and extent of periodontal disease. Pairwise comparison tests showed that the means of percentages of sites with PPD > 3 mm, PPD > 4 mm, CAL > 1 mm and bleeding on probing were significantly higher among smoking groups compared to the nonsmoking group (p < 0.05). After adjusting for age, cigarette smokers (OR = 4.6), waterpipe smokers (OR = 4.3) and dual smokers (OR = 4.9) were significantly more likely to have periodontal disease compared to nonsmokers. When data were analysed according to the smoking method, no significant differences in the odds of periodontal disease were detected between different smoking groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Waterpipe tobacco smoking is not an alternative, safe way of smoking considering periodontal disease. Thus, global actions against waterpipe smoking are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]