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In this study, the influence of slip flow and temperature jump on the entropy generation rate are investigated in rectangular microducts. The Knudsen numbers are considered in the range between 0.001 and 0.1, and the aspect ratio lies between 0 and 1. The dimensionless governing equations are solved numerically using Chebyshev spectral collocation method, and the dimensionless velocity and temperature gradients are employed in the entropy generation model. The influences of the dimensionless numbers including Bejan number and irreversibility distribution ratio on the entropy generation rates are investigated and discussed through surface plots and contour diagrams. It is demonstrated that the minimum entropy generation rate exists corresponding to an optimal aspect ratio for each dimensionless number. This minimum entropy generation rate depends upon the nature of dimensionless numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bangladesh lies in the global thalassemia belt, which has a defined mutational hot-spot in the betaglobin gene. The high carrier frequencies of beta-thalassemia trait and hemoglobin E-trait in Bangladesh necessitate a reliable DNA-based carrier screening approach that could supplement the use of hematological and electrophoretic indices to overcome the barriers of carrier screening. With this view in mind, the study aimed to establish a high resolution melting (HRM) curve-based rapid and reliable mutation screening method targeting the mutational hot-spot of South Asian and Southeast Asian countries that encompasses exon-1 (c.1 - c.92), intron-1 (c.92 + 1 - c.92 + 130) and a portion of exon-2 (c.93 - c.217) of the HBB gene which harbors more than 95% of mutant alleles responsible for beta-thalassemia in Bangladesh. Results: Our HRM approach could successfully differentiate ten beta-globin gene mutations, namely c.79G > A, c.92 + 5G > C, c.126_129delCTTT, c.27_28insG, c.46delT, c.47G > A, c.92G > C, c.92 + 130G > C, c.126delC and c. 135delC in heterozygous states from the wild type alleles, implying the significance of the approach for carrier screening as the first three of these mutations account for ~85% of total mutant alleles in Bangladesh. Moreover, different combinations of compound heterozygous mutations were found to generate melt curves that were distinct from the wild type alleles and from one another. Based on the findings, sixteen reference samples were run in parallel to 41 unknown specimens to perform direct genotyping of the beta-thalassemia specimens using HRM. The HRM-based genotyping of the unknown specimens showed 100% consistency with the sequencing result. Conclusions: Targeting the mutational hot-spot, the HRM approach could be successfully applied for screening of beta-thalassemia carriers in Bangladesh as well as in other countries of South Asia and Southeast Asia. The approach could be a useful supplement of hematological and electrophortic indices in order to avoid false positive and false negative results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study is dedicated to investigate the water functionalized carbon nanotubes squeezing flow between two parallel discs. Moreover, we have considered MHD effects normal to the disks. In addition we have considered two kind of carbon nanotubes named: single wall carbon nanotubes and multiple wall carbon nanotubes with in the base fluid. Under this squeezing flow mechanism model has been constructed in the form of partial differential equation. Transformed ordinary differential equations are solved numerically with the help of Runge-Kutta- Fehlberg method. Results for velocity and temperature are constructed against all the emerging parameters. Comparison among the single wall carbon nanotubes and multiple wall carbon nanotubes are drawn for skin friction coefficient and local Nusselt number. Conclusion remarks are drawn under the observation of whole analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the burden of recently reported cases of dog bite in a tertiary care center of Karachi and to analyze the awareness of these victims or their attendants about dog bite or rabies. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted during January to June 2008 at Emergency department of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Our sample was comprised of 393 patients, reporting first time after stray dog bite incident. The relevant information was obtained regarding patients' age, gender, details of injury, management and patients' knowledge about dog bite and rabies. SPSS 13 was used to manage data and perform analysis. Results: It was found that 83% of the victims were males and 52.4% were of less than 15 years of age. In our data, 26.7% victims reported within twenty-four hours of the dog bite. Mapping of dog bite cases revealed that 24% belonged to Orangi town while 14% each from North Karachi and Nazimabad. Knowledge of people related to rabies was very poor and 91% did not know that rabies could result after dog bite. Only 7% knew that rabies is a fatal disease and 0.7% responded that it can be prevented by vaccines. Conclusion: Dog bite is a significant public health problem among young males with preponderance in certain areas of Karachi. Lack of education of people and lack of health communication reflected well through carefree practices and attitude of victims of dog bite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mathematical model is presented and analyzed for steady 2-D non-isothermal laminar free convective boundary layer flow along a convectively heated moving horizontal plate. New similarity transformations are developed using one parameter deductive group transformations and hence the governing transport equations are reduced to a system of coupled, non-linear ordinary differential equations with associated boundary conditions. The reduced equations are then solved numerically by an implicit finite difference numerical method. The effects of pertinent parameters on the non-dimensional velocity, temperature, friction factor, and heat transfer rates are investigated and presented graphically. It is found that friction factor decreases with the free convective parameter and rate of heat transfer increases with the convection-conduction parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bangladesh lies in the global thalassemia belt, which has a defined mutational hot-spot in the beta-globin gene. The high carrier frequencies of beta-thalassemia trait and hemoglobin E-trait in Bangladesh necessitate a reliable DNA-based carrier screening approach that could supplement the use of hematological and electrophoretic indices to overcome the barriers of carrier screening. With this view in mind, the study aimed to establish a high resolution melting (HRM) curve-based rapid and reliable mutation screening method targeting the mutational hot-spot of South Asian and Southeast Asian countries that encompasses exon-1 (c.1 - c.92), intron-1 (c.92 + 1 - c.92 + 130) and a portion of exon-2 (c.93 - c.217) of the HBB gene which harbors more than 95% of mutant alleles responsible for beta-thalassemia in Bangladesh., Results: Our HRM approach could successfully differentiate ten beta-globin gene mutations, namely c.79G > A, c.92 + 5G > C, c.126_129delCTTT, c.27_28insG, c.46delT, c.47G > A, c.92G > C, c.92 + 130G > C, c.126delC and c.135delC in heterozygous states from the wild type alleles, implying the significance of the approach for carrier screening as the first three of these mutations account for ~85% of total mutant alleles in Bangladesh. Moreover, different combinations of compound heterozygous mutations were found to generate melt curves that were distinct from the wild type alleles and from one another. Based on the findings, sixteen reference samples were run in parallel to 41 unknown specimens to perform direct genotyping of the beta-thalassemia specimens using HRM. The HRM-based genotyping of the unknown specimens showed 100% consistency with the sequencing result., Conclusions: Targeting the mutational hot-spot, the HRM approach could be successfully applied for screening of beta-thalassemia carriers in Bangladesh as well as in other countries of South Asia and Southeast Asia. The approach could be a useful supplement of hematological and electrophortic indices in order to avoid false positive and false negative results.

Glycated haemoglobin is formed by simple chemical reaction between haemoglobin and blood glucose. It represents a reliable and moving average of blood glucose over preceding three months. In 2009 the International Expert Committee recommended the use of HbA1c to diagnose diabetes with a cut-off of 6.5%. Studies have shown that HbA1c even in the range of 5.5% to 6.5% poses considerably high risk of morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular disease. HbA1c as a test is important because about 220 million people have diabetes and with increasing life expectancy and emergence of type 2 diabetes in children makes it even more important. Each 1% increase in HbA1c poses 15-18% relative risk of cardiovascular disease in T1DM and T2DM respectively. CVD is a major cause of death and disability among diabetes patients and glycated haemoglobin itself is proportionately linked with excess CV morbidity and mortality. UKPDS-35 demonstrated 14% reduction in the incidence of acute myocardial infarction with only 1% reduction in HbA1c in T2DM patients. The DCCT reported significant reduction in retinopathy and nephropathy in T1DM, the follow up trial EDIC demonstrated 42% reduction in CVD with intensive reduction of HbAlc. This review is written to remind ourselves of the importance of this simple test which can predict early CV mortality in patients without prior CVD and poor prognosis in established cardiovascular disease. In a country like ours, Pakistan; where diabetes is prevalent with poor health awareness and limited resources, a test like HbA1c which costs Rs, 500.00 twice a year should be considered a cost effective way to avoid the long term diabetes complications, which once start unfolding put enormous burden on already stretched healthcare resources which could easily be avoided by intensive control of diabetes.