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In this present study, we reduce the fractional reaction-diffusion equation to a traditional differential equation using the fractional complex transformation and consider the Landau Lifshitz (LLG) equation. Moreover, by using the generalized exponential rational function method and Kudryashov's method respectively we extract new exact and solitary wave solutions for these equations. Some plots of some presented new solutions are represented to exhibit wave characteristics. All results in this paper are essential to understand the physical meaning and behavior of the investigated equation that sheds light on the importance of investigating various nonlinear wave phenomena in mathematical physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the efficiency of the exponential rational function method for the new Hamiltonian amplitude equation has been investigated and the results have been graphically tested and analyzed using Mathematica software techniques. What is important is the high efficiency and accuracy of this method and the variety of answers that provide us with a wide range of answers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human Nipah virus (NiV) infection is an epidemic-prone disease and since the first recognized outbreak in Bangladesh in 2001, human infections have been detected almost every year. Due to its high case fatality rate and public health importance, a hospital-based Nipah sentinel surveillance was established in Bangladesh to promptly detect Nipah cases and respond to outbreaks at the earliest. The surveillance has been ongoing till present. The hospital-based sentinel surveillance was conducted at ten strategically chosen tertiary care hospitals distributed throughout Bangladesh. The surveillance staff ensured that routine screening, enrollment, data, and specimen collection from suspected Nipah cases were conducted daily. The specimens were then processed and transported to the reference laboratory of Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) and icddr,b for confirmation of diagnosis through serology and molecular detection. From 2006 to 2021, through this hospital-based surveillance platform, 7,150 individuals were enrolled and tested for Nipah virus. Since 2001, 322 Nipah infections were identified in Bangladesh, 75% of whom were laboratory confirmed cases. Half of the reported cases were primary cases (162/322) having an established history of consuming raw date palm sap (DPS) or tari (fermented date palm sap) and 29% were infected through person-to-person transmission. Since the initiation of surveillance, 68% (218/322) of Nipah cases from Bangladesh have been identified from various parts of the country. Fever, vomiting, headache, fatigue, and increased salivation were the most common symptoms among enrolled Nipah patients. Till 2021, the overall case fatality rate of NiV infection in Bangladesh was 71%. This article emphasizes that the overall epidemiology of Nipah virus infection in Bangladesh has remained consistent throughout the years. This is the only systematic surveillance to detect human NiV infection globally. The findings from this surveillance have contributed to early detection of NiV cases in hospital settings, understanding of Nipah disease epidemiology, and have enabled timely public health interventions for prevention and containment of NiV infection. Although we still have much to learn regarding the transmission dynamics and risk factors of human NiV infection, surveillance has played a significant role in advancing our knowledge in this regard. Author summary: NiV is one of the most fatal emerging bat-borne zoonotic viruses, posing a threat to global health security. Since the first recognized outbreak in Bangladesh in 2001, human infections have been detected almost every year. In 2006, a hospital-based Nipah sentinel surveillance was established in Bangladesh for the early detection of cases and rapid response to outbreaks. Currently, this surveillance is running at ten strategically chosen public hospitals throughout Bangladesh. Till December 2021, a total of 322 Nipah cases have been reported in Bangladesh, 71% of whom has died during the course of infection. Throughout the years, fever, vomiting, headache, fatigue, and increased salivation have remained the most commonly observed symptoms. Half of the reported cases were primary cases (162/322) having an established history of consuming raw date palm sap (DPS) or tari, and 29% were infected through person-to-person transmission. Since the inception of surveillance, there has been a decrease in large outbreaks and a concurrent increase in sporadic Nipah case detection throughout the country. The overall epidemiology of Nipah virus infection in Bangladesh has remained consistent throughout the years. National Nipah surveillance of Bangladesh is the only global, systematic surveillance to detect human NiV infection. The findings from this surveillance have contributed to the early detection of Nipah cases, understanding of disease epidemiology, and implementation of timely public health interventions for the prevention and containment of human NiV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: The use of endocardial pacing in patients with univentricular hearts and intracardiac shunts is limited, primarily due to the increased risk of thromboembolism. However, when accompanied by proper long‐term anticoagulation therapy, it may be safer than epicardial interventions in selected patients at high risk for surgery. We report transvenous endocardial pacing through the atrial septal defect in a patient with tricuspid atresia, transposition of the great arteries, severe pulmonary hypertension, and complete heart block. This study is among the first reported cases using this pacing method in a patient with a univentricular heart and intracardiac shunt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its inauguration in 1977, the Jordanian Martyr's Memorial and Museum (called in Arabic Sarh Al-Shaheed) has gained symbolic status as the national army-museum. Its immense and distinctive architectural design, the arrangement of spaces and exhibits allow it to host large collections of exhibits which illustrate the history of modern Jordan, and show the development of its armed forces, and commemorates the sacrifices of the Jordanian soldiers. It is a major tourist site and considered a national educational and cultural. Using a social semiotic approach to reveal how the structure and its displays all realise an ideology where nation, culture, religion, and history become infused with militarism. Analysis reveals how symbolism, abstraction, and realism combine to document the actions of the Jordanian military. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Museums' structures, spaces, and exhibits are understood as semiotic resources that make spatial texts that communicate a discourse defined by the authorities of the museum or its curators. The current study follows a social-semiotic approach in analyzing the spatial discourse of the Children's Museum in Amman. It demonstrates that interpersonal meanings are semiotically communicated to children visitors in the Museum by firstly establishing a "comfort-zone" and secondly by aligning children visitors into groups with shared qualities, attitudes, and dispositions of affiliation and solidarity, and thirdly by providing abstract and material representations of the real world that encompasses participants, processes, events, and places. These interpersonal meanings produce a pedagogical discourse that semiotically addresses Jordan's energy and water challenges, and that can "charge" the Museum's role as a "Bonding Icon" that stands for shared communal ideals that Jordanians might identify with, or rally around. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on a discourse practice that metaphorically associates ISIS with an early Islamic sect known as the Kharijites. This practice constructs a discourse that calls back the background knowledge and memory of historical narratives and experiences that create conceptual frames that communicate meanings of war and atrocities. These meanings were used by King Abdullah II of Jordan to justify Jordan's military participation against ISIS (circa 2014–2018). On the basis of the "blending theory" of conceptual metaphor, this study shows how the discourse practice of depicting ISIS as the Kharijites has undergone selective associations with the ideological aim of constructing persuasive and coercive discourses to justify military intervention against ISIS, primarily by foregrounding scripts of threat and victimization. That, in turn, leads to the instigation of illusive and incomplete associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employing the Spiral of Silence theory, this study examines the influence of four cultural dimensions (collectivism, resistance to change, commitment to religion, and patriarchy and hierarchy) on gender variations in opinion expression in incongruent offline and online opinion climates about women working in the police force in Kuwait. The response of 534 individuals indicated that a tendency for expressiveness and personal support for women were positive predictors of opinion expression, while fear of isolation and respondents' beliefs about the stance of Islam on the issue were both negative predictors. Both genders were affected by the same variables when they expressed their opinions offline, but they were each affected by different variables when online. The results suggest that women benefit from online discussions more than men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the evidential value of corpus and introspective data from the perspective of morphological operations involved in the causative derivation of Urdu change-of-state verbs. By analyzing multi-source data on the transitivity status of causative variants of 112 Urdu verbs, it discovers a crucial relation between the type of evidence and the aspect of linguistic competence it addresses. More specifically, it compares data from lexical translation, Urdu WordNet and Urdu Lughat on the one hand, and data from a judgment task coupled with dialogical introspection on the other hand, and finds that the former can reveal the gradient nature of morphological productivity, but not its dynamic nature; the latter, however, can help explore the dynamic nature of productivity in the causative alternation. Such an observation confirms that both corpus and introspection complement each other, and that a particular source-specific piece of evidence may limit the coverage and generality of analysis. Thus, the study shows the importance of sharpening data by multi-source evidence for examining how various components of a phenomenon interrelate in the context of the overall grammatical organization of a language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is aimed at investigating the soliton solutions of the hyperbolic nonlinear Schrödinger equation. Exact analytical solutions of the model are acquired through applying an integration method, namely, the Sine-Gordon method. It is observed that the method is able to efficiently determine the exact solutions for this equation. Graphical simulations corresponding to some of the results obtained in the paper are also drawn. These results can help us better understand the behavior and performance of this model. The procedure implemented in this paper can be recommended in solving other equations in the field. All calculations and graphing are performed using powerful symbolic computational packages in Mathematica software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compares the expression of opinion in incongruent offline and online settings regarding the issue of gender desegregation in Kuwait's public schools. Spiral of silence theory provides the theoretical foundation for examining the impact of certain cultural factors and religious influences on the expression of opinion, their relationship to the fundamental tenets of the theory, such as fear of social isolation, and Twitter use variables among respondents to a survey. The results to a questionnaire administered to 534 public and private university students indicate greater overall expression of opinion in the offline than online context. Offline and online, the nonconformist personality variable was a positive predictor of expression of opinion, and fear of social isolation was a negative predictor. The perceived position of Islam on the issue was a predictor of expression of opinion only in the offline context. Finally, daily average use of Twitter was an additional predictor of expression of opinion in the online environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In November 2011, a government hospital physician in Shibganj sub-district of Bangladesh reported a cluster of patients with fever and joint pain or rash. A multi-disciplinary team investigated to characterize the outbreak; confirm the cause; and recommend control and prevention measures. Methods: Shibganj's residents with new onset of fever and joint pain or rash between 1 September and 15 December 2011 were defined as chikungunya fever (CHIKF) suspect cases. To estimate the attack rate, we identified 16 outpatient clinics in 16 selected wards across 16 unions in Shibganj and searched for suspect cases in the 80 households nearest to each outpatient clinic. One suspect case from the first 30 households in each ward was invited to visit the nearest outpatient clinic for clinical assessment and to provide a blood sample for laboratory testing and analyses. Results: We identified 1,769 CHIKF suspect cases from among 5,902 residents surveyed (30%). Their median age was 28 (IQR:15−42) years. The average attack rate in the sub-district was 30% (95% CI: 27%−33%). The lowest attack rate was found in children <5 years (15%). Anti-CHIKV IgM antibodies were detected by ELISA in 78% (264) of the 338 case samples tested. In addition to fever, predominant symptoms of serologically-confirmed cases included joint pain (97%), weakness (54%), myalgia (47%), rash (42%), itching (37%) and malaise (31%). Among the sero-positive patients, 79% (209/264) sought healthcare from outpatient clinics. CHIKV was isolated from two cases and phylogenetic analyses of full genome sequences placed these viruses within the Indian Ocean Lineage (IOL). Molecular analysis identified mutations in E2 and E1 glycoproteins and contained the E1 A226V point mutation. Conclusion: The consistently high attack rate by age groups suggested recent introduction of chikungunya in this community. Mosquito control efforts should be enhanced to reduce the risk of continued transmission and to improve global health security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hippo tumor suppressor pathway is essential for development and tissue growth control, encompassing a core cassette consisting of the Hippo (MST1/2), Warts (LATS1/2), and Tricornered (NDR1/2) kinases together with MOB1 as an important signaling adaptor. However, it remains unclear which regulatory interactions between MOB1 and the different Hippo core kinases coordinate development, tissue growth, and tumor suppression. Here, we report the crystal structure of the MOB1/NDR2 complex and define key MOB1 residues mediating MOB1's differential binding to Hippo core kinases, thereby establishing MOB1 variants with selective loss-of-interaction. By studying these variants in human cancer cells and Drosophila, we uncovered that MOB1/Warts binding is essential for tumor suppression, tissue growth control, and development, while stable MOB1/Hippo binding is dispensable and MOB1/Trc binding alone is insufficient. Collectively, we decrypt molecularly, cell biologically, and genetically the importance of the diverse interactions of Hippo core kinases with the pivotal MOB1 signal transducer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conducting polymers (CPs) exhibited a promising ability of corrosion inhibition and find application in the formulation of new generation smart anti-corrosive coating materials. CPs not only act as an active barrier for corrosive ions but also provide protection to the metal substrate through the redox mechanism. In view of this, the present article reports the synthesis, structural, physico-chemical, physico-mechanical characterization and corrosion protective performance of tartaric acid (TA) and functionalized protonic acid-dodecyl benzenesulphonic acid (DBSA) doped poly(o-anisidine) nanoparticles (TA–DBSA-POA) and these nanoparticles dispersed epoxy-siloxane (ES) nanocomposite coatings (TA–DBSA-POA–ES) on carbon steel (CS). The structure, size and morphology of TA–DBSA-POA nanoparticles and those of coatings were investigated by FT-IR, XRD, TEM and SEM analysis. The conductivity of TA–DBSA-POA nanoparticles (2.09 S cm−1), and TA–DBSA-POA–ES nanocomposites (5.02 × 10−3S cm−1) as well as their thermal stability were investigated with the help of the four-probe method and the TGA technique. The physico-mechanical properties of these coatings were evaluated using standard laboratory methods. To the best of our knowledge, the corrosion protective performance of these coatings was investigated for the first time in our laboratory, using the salt spray test (SST), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), and electron impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques at varying concentrations of NaCl viz.3.5 wt%, 5.0 wt% and 7.0 wt% NaCl. SEM-EDAX and Raman studies revealed the presence of a passive ferric oxide layer. These studies revealed that nanocomposite coatings show far superior thermal stability, physico-mechanical and corrosion protective performance than plain ES and other such CP reinforced epoxy coating systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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N-terminal pro β-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a valuable marker for monitoring the response to treatment in patients with heart failure. Based on the clinically observed improvement of heart failure symptoms early after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), we sought to investigate whether CRT induce any significant reduction in the plasma level of NT-proBNP in three days after implantation and whether it is correlated with patients' response at six months. In this prospective study, 21 consecutive patients with severe heart failure (New York Heart Association class 3.19±0.40) who underwent CRT were enrolled. Being alive, no hospitalization due to decompensated heart failure, and improvement of at least one NYHA functional class at six months were classified as clinical responsiveness. The plasma level of NT-proBNP was measured before, three days, and six months after CRT. Clinical evaluation, echocardiographic study, and six-minute walking test were performed before and six months after the procedure. At six months' follow-up, 16 (76.2%) patients were responders. The plasma level of NT-proBNP at three days after CRT increased almost equally in both responder and non-responder groups of patients (ΔNT-proBNP was 40.94±135.74 vs. 54.80±88.98); however, at six months' follow-up, the NT-proBNP changes statistically differed across the two groups of patients (P=0.005). According to our findings, NT-proBNP percent deviation from baseline to three days after CRT appears to be not correlated with the patients' clinical response after six months, which was incongruent to the patients' clinical improvement after CRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metaphorical language has an ideological function that needs to be investigated. In this paper, I show how some of the prophetic metaphors are deliberately used to represent a well-defined statement of beliefs that constructs Islamic doctrine based on early Arabs’ beliefs and experiential knowledge. This statement is represented in terms of metaphors from the metaphoric domains of journeying, the heart, slavery or servitude, brotherhood, shepherds, and light. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a critical complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Heart rate variability (HRV) is a noninvasive tool to assess cardiac autonomic function. We aimed to evaluate whether CAN is associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis in T2DM. A total of 57 diabetic and 54 nondiabetic subjects, free of coronary heart disease, were recruited. Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), coronary calcium score (CAC), and brachial Flow Mediated Dilation (FMD) were measured. Heart rate variability and vagal components of autonomic function were determined. Significant reduction of normalized HF power (P < 0.05) and total power (P < 0.01) was observed in T2DM. CIMT and CAC scores were significantly higher while FMD was significantly lower in diabetics (P < 0.01 for all). Median HbA1c levels were significantly higher in diabetics. CIMT was inversely and independently associated with total power both in diabetics and controls (P < 0.01 for both groups). There was also an inverse association between total power and median HbA1c. Autonomic dysfunction, especially parasympathetic neuropathy, was present since early-stage T2DM. This was related to subclinical atherosclerosis. Early detection of cardiac autonomic neuropathy can help us detect the development of atherosclerosis earlier in T2DM to prevent unfavorable outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a critical complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Heart rate variability (HRV) is a noninvasive tool to assess cardiac autonomic function. We aimed to evaluate whether CAN is associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis in T2DM. A total of 57 diabetic and 54 nondiabetic subjects, free of coronary heart disease, were recruited. Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), coronary calcium score (CAC), and brachial Flow Mediated Dilation (FMD) were measured. Heart rate variability and vagal components of autonomic function were determined. Significant reduction of normalized HF power (P < 0.05) and total power (P < 0.01) was observed in T2DM. CIMT and CAC scores were significantly higher while FMD was significantly lower in diabetics (P < 0.01 for all). Median HbA1c levels were significantly higher in diabetics. CIMT was inversely and independently associated with total power both in diabetics and controls (P < 0.01 for both groups). There was also an inverse association between total power and median HbA1c. Autonomic dysfunction, especially parasympathetic neuropathy, was present since early-stage T2DM. This was related to subclinical atherosclerosis. Early detection of cardiac autonomic neuropathy can help us detect the development of atherosclerosis earlier in T2DM to prevent unfavorable outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim In some patients with clinical paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), who are candidates for radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation, attempts for the induction of arrhythmia during the electrophysiological study (EPS) fail despite different stimulation protocols even during the isoproterenol infusion and atropine injection. The presence of an atrial-His interval (AH) jump during decremental pre-mature atrial stimulation is the only clue for slow pathway ablation in these patients; in occasional patients, however, the AH jump is an accidental finding and the real arrhythmia is not atrioventricularnodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). We aimed to introduce a new method for the induction of AVNRT in these patients. Methods and results Ten patients (50% male, mean age=44.40 ± 12.80 years) with clinical PSVT who were referred to our department for the EPS and RF catheter ablation were selected. These patients had documented clinical PSVT with non-inducible arrhythmia during the EPS with different stimulation protocols even during the isoproterenol infusion and atropine injection but they only showed an AH jump. To induce AVNRT, low-watt (15–20), low-temperature (40–45°C) RF currents were delivered into the slow pathway area for a maximum of 40 s. Atrioventricularnodal reentrant tachycardia was inducible in five cases (50%, three male, mean age=45.80 ± 9.65 years). Induction of AVNRT occurred either during the RF current application after the occurrence of junctional ectopic beats or after another stimulation protocol. Conclusion A low-watt, low-temperature RF current application into the slow pathway area can be a provocative method for the induction of AVNRT probably by AV-junction warming and conduction-velocity augmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Determination of predictors of response to cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) in patients with moderate to severe heart failure accompanied by a ventricular dyssynchrony can play a major role in improving candidate selection for CRT. Objectives: We evaluated whether the baseline QRS duration could be used to discriminate responders from non-responders to CRT. Methods: Eighty three consecutive patients with moderate to severe heart failure and with successful implantation of a CRT device at our centre were included in the study. QRS durations were measured on 12-lead surface electrocardiogram before and 6 months after implantation of the CRT device, using the widest QRS complex in leads II, V1 and V6. Clinical response to CRT was defined as an improvement of =1 grade in NYHA class. Results: Optimal cut-off value to discriminate baseline QRS duration for predicting clinical response to CRT was identified at 152 ms, yielding a sensitivity of 73.3%, a specificity of 56.5% as well as positive and negative predictive values of 81.5% and 44.8%, respectively. The discriminatory power of the baseline QRS duration for response to CRT assessed by the ROC curve was 0.6402 (95% CI: 0.4976 - 0.7829). Baseline QRS duration = 152 ms could effectively predict clinical response to CRT after adjusting for covariates (OR = 3.743, p = 0.017). Conclusion: Baseline QRS duration can effectively predict clinical response to CRT and optimal cut-off value to discriminate baseline QRS duration for response to CRT is 152 ms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Determination of predictors of response to cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) in patients with moderate to severe heart failure accompanied by a ventricular dyssynchrony can play a major role in improving candidate selection for CRT. Objectives: We evaluated whether the baseline QRS duration could be used to discriminate responders from non-responders to CRT. Methods: Eighty-three consecutive patients with moderate to severe heart failure and with successful implantation of a CRT device at our centre were included in the study. QRS durations were measured on 12-lead surface electrocardiogram before and 6 months after implantation of the CRT device, using the widest QRS complex in leads II, V1 and V6. Clinical response to CRT was defined as an improvement of =1 grade in NYHA class. Results: Optimal cut-off value to discriminate baseline QRS duration for predicting clinical response to CRT was identified at 152 ms, yielding a sensitivity of 73.3%, a specificity of 56.5% as well as positive and negative predictive values of 81.5% and 44.8%, respectively. The discriminatory power of the baseline QRS duration for response to CRT assessed by the ROC curve was 0.6402 (95% CI: 0.4976 - 0.7829). Baseline QRS duration = 152 ms could effectively predict clinical response to CRT after adjusting for covariates (OR = 3.743, p = 0.017). Conclusion: Baseline QRS duration can effectively predict clinical response to CRT and optimal cut-off value to discriminate baseline QRS duration for response to CRT is 152 ms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of diagnostic and therapeutic methods for assessing pulmonary vein due to its status as a main source of ectopic beats for the initiation of atrial dysrrythmias is strongly recommended. We report the case of a 13-year-old girl who was admitted to our hospital with the electrocardiogram manifestation of an ectopic atrial tachycardia. The focus of arrhythmia was inside the right upper pulmonary vein. The patient underwent successful ablation with a conventional electrophysiology catheter via the retrograde aortic approach. We showed that when the origin of atrial tachycardia is in the right upper pulmonary vein, it is possible to advance the catheter into this vein via the retrograde aortic approach and find the focus of arrhythmia. This case demonstrates that right upper pulmonary vein mapping is feasible through the retrograde aortic approach and it is also possible to ablate the arrhythmia using the same catheter and approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Androgens have been shown to have diverse effects on the cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was to compare androgenic hormone levels in patients with different left ventricular ejection fractions (EF). Methods: The study population consisted of 515 consecutive men who were referred for angiographic studies and whose results of echocardiography and coronary angiography were available. The patients were classified into four groups: EF < 35%, EF = 35-45%, EF = 45-54%, and EF ⩾ 55% to evaluate the trends of baseline characteristics and serum androgens, including free testosterone (fT), total testosterone (tT), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). To better elucidate the difference in the patients with severe heart failure, the patients were divided into two groups according to their EF level, and comparisons were repeated between those with EF < 35% and the ones with EF ⩾ 35%. Results: There were statistically significant trends in some characteristics in the patients with different levels of EF. The subjects with higher EF levels were less likely to have diabetes (p value < 0.001), coronary artery lesion (p value < 0.001), or high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) (p value < 0.001). As regards the patients with severe heart failure, our regression analysis revealed that the fT level was significantly lower in those with EF < 35% than in the ones with EF ⩾ 35% (5.82 ± 2.73 pg/mL vs. 6.88 ± 3.34 pg/mL, p value < 0.05). Conclusion: A significant association was found between the level of fT and EF < 35%. There is a need for further controlled prospective studies to delineate any possible causal relationship accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathophysiological mechanisms and pathways linking cardiovascular mortality and morbidity with air pollution were recently hypothesized. The present study evaluated association between air pollution and changes in heart rate variability as a marker of cardiac autonomic function in healthy individuals, and also determined the frequency of cardiac arrhythmias and QT interval changes on polluted compared to unpolluted days. Continuous Holter electrocardiography (ECG) monitoring was conducted on 21 young healthy individuals in the two episodes of clean air and elevated air pollution in Tehran. All subjects underwent a medical history review, a physical examination and echocardiography in order to rule out structural heart diseases. Measured pollutants and parameters included NO2, CO2, O3, SO2, and PM10, which all showed significantly higher concentrations on polluted days. Holter parameters were measured for 24-h time segments and compared. Maximum heart rate was significantly lower in polluted air conditions in comparison with clean air conditions (115.1 ± 32.2 vs. 128.9 ± 17.7), and the square root of the mean of squared differences between adjacent NN intervals (r-MSSD) was higher in polluted air compared to clean air (99.0 ± 58.2 vs. 58.5 ± 26.4). Also, the occurrence of nonsustained supraventricular tachycardia was reported in 42.9% of participants in air pollution episodes, whereas this arrhythmia was not seen in clear air conditions ( p = 0.001). Changes in air pollution indices may lead to the occurrence of nonsustained supraventricular tachycardia, a slight reduction in maximum heart rate, and an increase in r-MSSD in healthy individuals. Air quality monitoring in cities associated with a high exposure to air pollutants is recommended in order to prevent such events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a comparative study on the poly(1-naphthylamine) and polyaniline dispersed oil polyurethane coatings of conducting polymer (CP). The study used materials and methods such as chemical preparation of coatings and scanning electron microscope analysis of carbon steel. It revealed that CP presence enhanced corrosion protective efficiency of the organic coatings.

Abstract  A template free approach was adopted to explore the effect of polymerization environment on the synthesis of nanostructured poly (1-naphthylamine) (PNA) using cupric chloride as oxidant and methyl alcohol as medium. The polymerization environment was varied by carrying out the synthesis in the presence of nitrogen and oxygen. The morphology of the synthesized nanostructured PNA was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis and FT-IR spectroscopies. PNA nanorods of sizes varying between 50–100 nm were obtained in presence of nitrogen while in presence of oxygen, it formed aggregated globular particles of sizes varying between 80–100 nm. The results provide valuable information on controlling the synthesis of one-dimensional nanostructured conducting polymers that exhibit superior processibility as compared to the conventional conducting polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  The present article highlights some preliminary investigations based on a convenient and inexpensive chemical method for preparing novel poly (1-naphthylamine) (PNA) nanostructures in the presence of different alcohols. The effect of alcoholic medium on the polymerization and morphology of PNA was investigated. Results revealed that nanomorphology can be controlled under appropriate preparative conditions. The particle sizes thus obtained were of 5–50 nm exhibiting a much smaller range than polyaniline nanoparticles synthesized under similar conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linseed oil based polyesteramide was synthesized at lower temperature in the absence of organic solvent through condensation polymerization reaction [Sf‐LPEA]. In this reaction N,N‐bis(2‐hydroxyethyl) linseed oil fatty amide and phthalic anhydride were heated at temperature lower than their onset of melting points and the by‐product, such as water was removed by application of vacuum technique. This approach was employed to overcome the use of volatile organic solvents used during processing and application of resin, which are ecologically harmful. The solubility of Sf‐LPEA was checked in different polar and nonpolar solvents. The FTIR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectral techniques were used to confirm the structure of Sf‐LPEA. The physicochemical, physicomechanical, and chemical resistance properties of the resin were investigated by standard methods. DSC and TGA were used to determine, respectively, the curing behavior and thermal stability of the resin. The comparative study of these properties of Sf‐LPEA with reported polyesteramide [LPEA], which are normally synthesized at higher temperature in organic solvent, was done. It was found that Sf‐LPEA exhibited improved physicomechanical, chemical resistance properties, and higher thermal stability compared with LPEA, and hence can find application as corrosion protective coating. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 1143–1148, 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blending of two polymers in solution is a simple and cost‐effective technique to improve upon the physical and mechanical properties of the component polymers through synergism. To obtain maximum synergy in their properties, the component polymers should be miscible with each other on molecular scale. Polymer blends of complex physicomechanical properties are being actively investigated. Poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA), a commercial polymer, yields transparent, hard, brittle, and water‐sensitive films. It has been blended with natural polymers like dextran, collagen, and gelatin to obtain films with improved physical and mechanical characteristics. Polyesteramides, which are easily synthesized from vegetable seeds oil, a sustainable resource, have found application in surface coatings. These oligomeric products do not make free standing films in the ambient condition. The polyesteramides from vegetable seeds oil can be used to obtain blend with PMMA of improved mechanical and water absorption properties. In this study, linseed oil polyesteramide (LOPEA) and dehydrated castor oil polyesteramide (DCPEA), the source oils with different unsaturation in their fatty acid chains, were blended with PMAA through mixing in solution in the ratio DCPEA/LOPEA: PMAA as 80/20, 70/30, 60/40, 50/50, 40/60, 30/70, and 20/80. In the first instance, the miscibility of the two components was investigated in solution by viscosity and ultrasonic measurements and in solid phase through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moisture absorption by the blend was also studied. DCPEA and LOPEA show immiscibility with PMAA in solution phase while LOPEA with more unsaturation in the fatty acid chain of the oil was found more immiscible than DCPEA. DCPEA shows a narrow miscibility window in the solid phase while LOPEA was found immiscible with PMAA in the solid phase too. Uptake of moisture was found to be markedly reduced in the blends of DCPEA/LOPEA with PMAA. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1367–1374, 2007: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rate of dislodgement of atrial pacing leads is ∼3%. To solve this problem, reoperation and repositioning of these leads is one of the solutions. Some operators have reported repositioning these leads with snare systems or deflectable catheters. In this communication, we present a new method using a specially designed urological basket to solve this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]