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The spread of antibiotic-resistant opportunistic microbes is a huge socioeconomic burden and a growing concern for global public health. In the current study, two endophytic fungal strains were isolated from Mangifera Indica roots and identified as Aspergillus niger MT597434.1 and Trichoderma lixii KU324798.1. Secondary metabolites produced by A. niger and T. lixii were extracted and tested for their antimicrobial activity. The highest activity was noticed against Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli treated with A. niger and T. lixii secondary metabolites, respectively. A. niger crude extract was mainly composed of Pentadecanoic acid, 14-methyl-, methyl ester and 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester (26.66 and 18.01%, respectively), while T. lixii crude extract's major components were 2,4-Decadienal, (E,E) and 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, and methyl ester (10.69 and 10.32%, respectively). Moreover, a comparative study between the fungal extracts and dicationic pyridinium iodide showed that the combination of A. niger and T. lixii secondary metabolites with dicationic pyridinium iodide compound showed a synergistic effect against Klebsiella pneumoniae. The combined formulae inhibited the bacterial growth after 4 to 6 h through cell wall breakage and cells deformation, with intracellular components leakage and increased ROS production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, published in the journal Endoscopy, discusses a rare complication that can occur after embolization of a hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm. The case study involves an 87-year-old woman with a history of hemobilia who experienced coil migration into the common bile duct. This migration led to the formation of multiple large stones and a condition called Megacholedochus. The article concludes that foreign bodies, such as coils, can migrate into the biliary tract and contribute to the formation of stones. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) are effective methods for addressing this issue. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents the preliminary results of the OneScope-II study, which aimed to compare the use of single-use and reusable gastroscopes in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The study found that both types of gastroscopes had similar diagnostic performance in assessing the presence of a bleeding site. However, the single-use gastroscopes were slightly less successful in achieving hemostasis during endoscopic intervention, particularly in the duodenal bulb. The final analysis of the study will include follow-up data, statistical analysis, and further secondary endpoints. [Extracted from the article]

We estimated autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevalence in 7–9 year-old children in 2015 using data from three nationwide health registry systems (Denmark, Finland, Iceland) and two French population-based regional registries. Prevalence ranged from 0.48% in South-East France to 3.13% in Iceland (South-West France: 0.73%, Finland: 0.77%, Denmark: 1.26%). Male/female ratios ranged from 3.3 in Finland to 5.4 in South-West France. Between 12% (Denmark) and 39% (South-West France) of cases were diagnosed with intellectual disability. The variations in population-based ASD prevalence across four European countries with universal health care practices likely reflect variation in detection, referral and diagnosis practices and autism awareness across these areas. Using established population-based data systems is an efficient approach to monitor ASD prevalence trends over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been estimated that 17% of the recovered hydrocarbon exergy in oil fields [ 1 ] is spent on fluid handling and recovery costs. Therefore, improving the efficiency of oil production can give an some contribution to more efficient energy usage and therefore minimizing to some extent the carbon footprint. By way of example we present in this paper a work-flow, which can serve as a template for computing the fluid handling and recovery costs for natural polymer (Guar-Arabic Gum) flooding. The main contributors to the exergy investment in an Exergy Return on Exergy Investment analysis (ERoEI) are, the fluid circulation costs, the steel costs of the tubing and casing and to some degree the drilling costs. The main contributor to the exergy gain is the exergy of the produced oil. The fluid circulation costs represent the largest exergy investment and usually approximately accounts for 80% of the exergy used for the recovery of oil. For quantifying the circulation costs, the paper uses a 1-D displacement model of polymer flooding of oil to compare the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) history for three scenarios, i.e., (1) water injection, (2) natural-polymer water injection and (3) natural-polymer slug injection. The advantage of a 1-D model is that it allows multiple comparisons of many scenario's avoiding time consuming simulations but this goes at the expense of ignoring 3-D effects. The 1-D model can be extended to a 2-D or 3-D model, which makes it possible to include the improvement of vertical and areal sweep-efficiency. A numerical solution of the EOR model is obtained with COMSOL. We analyze the exergy balance of viscosified water, e.g., with natural-polymer. A comparison as to the displacement efficiency is made between the three scenarios, viz., water, Guar-Arabic gum, and slug injection. The viscosity behavior of Guar-Arabic gum is obtained from laboratory data. It is argued that an ERoEI analysis, which is used on its own or complementary to an economic analysis, can be used to show the advantage of using Guar-Arabic gum slugs with respect to permanent polymer-injection to enhance the oil recovery. Moreover, the analysis shows that at the end of the project, the concept of exergy-zero recovery time or zero-time marks, for each scenario the termination point, i.e., when the circulation exergy costs (exergy investment) become equal to the recovery exergy (exergy return), and thus recovery should be abandoned. For the conditions considered a single polymer injection displacement leads to optimal results. • Using a 1-D model of natural-polymer displacement it is possible to analyse the Exergy Return on Exergy Investment (ERoEI). • The investment costs are frequently mainly due to circulation costs (%80) of the exergy used for the recovery of oil. • A small rock permeability leads to high circulation costs, thus higher invested exergy costs. • The abandonment time occurs before the circulation exergy costs become equal to the recovery exergy costs. • A minimum exergy cost corresponds to minimum greenhouse gas emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phosphosilicate for planar waveguides fabrication by using sol-gel, and particularly erbium-doped waveguide amplifiers, is reviewed. In particular, efforts to use sol-gel to improve molecular homogeneity in Er-doped phosphosilicate-based monolith and thin films will be discussed. A variety of material studies was carried out to investigate and optimize the sample preparation condition for such application. These include X-ray diffraction, the Fourier transform infrared and optical transmittance, absorption and refractive index calculation. The erbium nitrate precursors use is shown to alter the Er3+ ions doping in the prepared samples thermally treated in the final monolith glass form, in comparison to the use of thin film phosphosilicate sol-gel sample. Excess heat treatment is used to force prepared samples crystallization, moreover resulting photoluminescence analysis is used to detect the co-operative-up-conversion sample properties before and after heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microsurgical procedures for construction of anastomoses present new challenges for anesthetists in the perioperative setting. Despite their increasing importance, so far no perioperative management guidelines for these patients existed. Anesthetists can influence the success of surgery (e. g. successful perfusion of a flap) via an optimal preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative approach. Patients should be carefully evaluated preoperatively for increased risks to avoid poor postoperative outcomes. Perioperatively, the choice of anesthetic procedure as well as the management of fluid infusion, blood glucose, temperature and blood transfusion are of great importance. Adequate analgesia as well as strict control should be performed as soon as possible postoperatively, preferably in a surveillance unit to detect and treat any complications as early as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Objective The aim of this study was to compare Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) in obese, overweight, and normal-weight young men. Methods This study included 12 obese, 32 overweight, and 23 normal-weight young Lebanese men. Weight and height were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Body composition, bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), and lumbar spine (L1-L4) TBS were assessed by dual-energy X-ray asborptiometry (DXA). Physical activity, daily calcium intake and Pittsburgh sleep quality index were evaluated using validated questionnaires. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO 2 max in l/min) was measured whilst exercising on a bicycle ergometer using a specialized device. Results Weight, lean mass, fat mass, BMI, whole body (WB) BMC and WB BMD were significantly different among the three groups (obese, overweight and normal-weight). Trabecular Bone score (TBS) was not significantly different among the three groups (obese, overweight and normal-weight). In the whole population ( n = 67), weight, lean mass, BMI and VO 2 max (l/min) were positively correlated to BMC and BMD but not to TBS. Conclusion This study suggests that obesity and overweight do not positively affect trabecular bone score values in young men. Body mass index is not a determinant of trabecular bone score in young men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The life cycle of Centrocestus formosanus (Digenea: Heterophyidae) was to be successfully completed in the laboratory in the present study. Hundreds of the thiarid snail, Melanoides tuberculata, were collected from the main water course Mansouriya Canal, Giza Governorate, Egypt. The snails were individually exposed to artificial light to determine possible infection with trematode larvae. Fifteen snails were found infected with opthalmopleurolophocercous cercariae (infection index of 1.97). These opthalmopleurolophocercous cercariae shedded from snails were collected and placed in an aquarium with fish intermediate host, Gambusia affinis , to obtain metacercariae encysted in the gills. The gills with metacercariae were fed to albino rats, Rattus norvegicus , to obtain the adult worms. Adult worms were recovered in the small intestine of rats at 7 days after infection and they were identified as Centrocestus formosanus based on the morphological characteristics and the comparison with the previous descriptions in the literature. They were small, 518 × 324 μm in average size and had characteristic 32 circumoral spines around the oral sucker. The morphological characteristics of the developmental stages, from cercariae to adults, of this heterophyid fluke were given here. Therefore, the presence of this fluke is to be confirmed for the first time in Egypt by the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroless deposited contacts are frequently used for II–VI semiconductor materials and particularly on CdTe/CdZnTe. This chemical deposition method creates a stronger chemical bond and few nested interfacial layers between the contact and the semiconductor when compared to physical deposition methods such as sputtering or evaporation. This method also forms a moderate quasi-ohmic contact which eliminates the spectral degradation problem caused by the polarization effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents an experimental study of mild flameless combustion regime applied to methane/hydrogen mixtures in a laboratory-scale pilot furnace with or without air preheating. Results show that mild flameless combustion regime is achieved from pure methane to pure hydrogen whatever the CH4/H2 proportion. The main reaction zone remains lifted from the burner exit, in the mixing layer of fuel and air jets ensuring a large dilution correlated to low NOx emissions whereas CO2 concentrations obviously decrease with hydrogen proportion. A decrease of NOx emissions is measured for larger quantity of hydrogen due mainly to the decrease of prompt NO formation. Without air preheating, a slight increase of the excess air ratio is required to control CO emissions. For pure hydrogen fuel without air preheating, mild flameless combustion regime leads to operating conditions close to a "zero emission furnace", with ultra-low NOx emissions and without any carbonated species emissions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article offers information on Saudi Arabian administrative law. It discusses the Board of Grievances' Statutes, and provides criteria for distinction between administrative and nonadministrative government contracts, including the administrative authority requirement, purpose of the contract, and special clauses that must be included in the contracts. Information on the legal implications of distinction between the administrative and nonadministrative contracts is also provided.

Experimental and numerical evidence of symmetry-breaking bifurcations of a circular dissipative soliton with additional boundary conditions in the feedback of a liquid crystal light valve are reported. By tuning the strength of the nonlinearity or the size of the additional boundaries, the circular structure breaks up into polygonal symmetries and the system exhibits multistability. The experimental results are confirmed by numerical simulations with different configurations of the polarizers thus demonstrating the universality of the phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MMA-St, MMA-VA, MMA-St-MA, and MMA-VA-n-BuMA three arm star block copolymers were prepared via ATRP by using trifunctional initiator. TMED CuBr catalytic system was involved in such polymerization processes at 90°C. Subsequent transformation of the bromine ends to hydroxyl ones were carried out on MMA-St and MMA-VA copolymers as two different examples, and two variable routes were involved in the transformation processes using ethanolamine and silver, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Since its independence in 1971, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) took a giant leap toward achieving a high economic growth and urbanization. Consequently, primary energy consumption namely oil and natural gas has quadrupled in the past two decades such that energy consumption per capita was the highest in the world and the resulting carbon emission per capita was at least twice and 10 times higher than the developed countries and the world''s annual average emission, respectively. In this paper, assessments of the UAE''s primary energy consumption and its environmental consequences in the past two decades are carried out. The study covered major parameters such as urbanization, population and economic growths that influenced the country''s energy consumption. Furthermore, the study suggested key remedial measures that could be deployed by local and national organizations in the country in order to consolidate their positions in mitigating country''s primary energy consumption and environmental emissions. The proposed remedial measures are namely enhancing public awareness, achieving a lower population growth rate, maintaining a high economic growth rate, utilizing renewable energy resources, producing and utilizing hydrogen energy, implementing carbon sequestration technology and deploying energy management programs in various sectors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A series of polystyrene-g-methoxypolyoxyethylene (PS-g-MPOE) was prepared by solution polymerization technique using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator and another series of polyacrylamide-g-methoxypolyoxyethylene (PAM-g-MPOE) was prepared by using potassium persulfate initiator. The prepared grafted copolymers were characterized by infrared (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and rheological properties. The results illustrated that the solution of PS-g-MPOE in water behaved as a Newtonian fluid, but the solution of PAM-g-MPOE as pseudoplastic at higher acrylamide ratios. The TGA analysis showed that the thermal stability of PAM-g-MPOE was highest. Some of these polymers were evaluated as cement admixtures. The water of consistency and setting time of the cement pastes premixed with the polymers decreased sharply than those of the blank, i.e., these polymer admixtures can act as superplastisizers and at the same time as accelerators. The combined water and free lime contents as well as compressive strength of the cement pastes premixed with PS-g-MPOE or PAM-g-MPOE were slightly lower than the blank at the early ages up to 7 d, and then became higher during the later hydration ages. Their total porosities are higher during the early ages and lower during the later ages of hydration. The SEM images confirmed that the addition of the organic polymer solutions to the cement powder does not affect the chemical composition of the normal hydration products, but only affects the physical state, shape or morphology and size of crystals of the formed hydrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To assess suitability of Multi Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) for investigating the biodiversity of wine yeast strains. This method was compared with established ones like microsatellite analysis or amplification of genomic regions flanked by repeated (delta) elements. Methods and Results: DNA fragments were amplified and sequenced for 26 loci representing housekeeping genes, open reading frames (ORFs) of unknown functions or intergenic regions. A set of seven loci was tested on 84 Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, including 65 strains isolated from traditional wineries in Lebanon, commercial wine strains and Asian isolates. An overall sequence diversity of 2·05% was observed, consisting of single nucleotide polymorphisms, 60% of them occurring in a heterozygous state. The number of polymorphic sites per locus varied between 4 and 14. The same set of strains was analysed by microsatellite typing on six polymorphic loci and by interdelta amplification. Conclusions: Clustering of MLST profiles clearly differentiated the Asian group of strains from Lebanese and European commercial strains that appear closely related. The current MLST scheme appears less discriminatory (92·27%) on closely related wine yeasts than microsatellite or interdelta typing (>99%). Significance and Impact of the Study: MLST is a highly reliable method for relatedness inference and promising for wine yeast typing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an exergoeconomic analysis of a 12 900 kW PEM electrolyser developed by WE‐NET at various operating temperatures and pressures is conducted. The analysis is performed at electrolyser's operating temperatures (T/T0) and pressures (P/P0) ranging from 1 to 1.4 and 1 to 10, respectively. A 40% improvement in the exergy cost of hydrogen could be achieved by operating the PEM electrolyser at a low temperature. However, a 2% decrease in the exergy cost could be achieved if the operating pressure is increased from 1 to 10 atm. Furthermore, a lower annual capital cost, O&M cost, electricity cost and higher year life could contribute greatly in reducing the exergy cost of hydrogen. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three different composition ratios of polyvinyl acetate-g-polyoxyethylene monomethylether (MPOE-g-PVAc) were prepared in the presence of benzoyl peroxide as an initiator using a macroradical initiator technique. The grafted copolymers were characterized through Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and ultraviolet (UV) spectronomy; the rheological properties expressed as viscometry and creep analysis were also studied. The solutions of MPOE-g-PVAc are Newtonian in nature and by increasing the monomer content in the composition, the viscosity of the solution decreases. The creep analysis demonstrates that the resultant strain increases by increasing the monomer composition ratio.The effect of grafted copolymers on the physicomechanical properties of ordinary portland cement (OPC) pastes was investigated. The results showed that the addition of water mixed to the cement with graft copolymer improves most of the specific characteristics of OPC. As the concentration of the grafted copolymer increases, the water-to-cement (WC) ratio as well as setting time decreases. The combined water content increases with the addition of copolymer to the mixing water. The compressive strength was sharply increased at nearly all hydration ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although electroless contacts are the most used contacts on II-VI semiconductor materials (CdTe family) to solve many problems, they are difficult to understand and to control. For this paper, we have chosen two II-VI materials, CdTe and ZnTe, and three metals: Au, Pt, and Pd. For the characterization methods, we have chosen Rutherford backscattering (RBS), secondary ions mass spectroscopy (SIMS), and partially Auger for the contacts and interface structures, stoechiometry, and composition profiles. Electrical measurements, PICTS and TEES, are done to find out defect level concentrations and nature, as well as the possible correlation with the composition concentrations. As first parameter change, we have chosen the solution dilution in the electroless deposition process, while the other parameters were frozen. This allows us to drive and to see a drastic variation in the profile of the metal, the two constituent materials and the oxygen in the metal layer. The same has been seen at the interface where the Vc,d concentration profile shows sensible variation too. We have found a clear connection with specific electrical defect concentrations. The validity of these concentration measurements in the bulk are then subject to questions. The comparison with evaporated contacts is done for bulk and surface property separations. Contact induced stress is simulated by static pressure in longitudinal and transversal direction. We have driven out the induced defect natures and concentrations. The limit of operation under stress is also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with a study which constructed a prototype CdTe semiconductor detector of 4x4 pixels in order to compare the results already obtained from simulations with experiment. Compton polarimetry; Experiment description; Experimental results; Conclusion.

Presents a study that examined the annealing effects of chlorine doped cadmium telluride on the uniformity of the material, the defects, the resistivity, the product and on the detection properties. Experimental procedure; Results and discussion.

Vaccination with the antiallergic drug Histaglobin is used to treat a broad range of human allergic diseases including bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. In order to further elucidate its functional activity, Histaglobin was investigated in an in vivo mouse allergy model. Mice were sensitized with ovalbumin either prior to or after Histaglobin treatment, and its antiallergic potential was evaluated. Ovalbumin-sensitized mice exhibited increased serum levels of IL-4, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and an increase of total and ovalbumin-specific IgE; total and ovalbumin-specific IgG levels were also elevated. Subsequent administration (therapeutic treatment) of Histaglobin resulted in a decrease of total and specific serum IgE levels; total and specific IgG1 serum levels were reduced by more than 50% and 45%, respectively; the mice displayed a down-regulation of IL-4 and TNF-α serum levels and showed increased levels of IFN-γ and IgG2a. Mice pretreated with Histaglobin, prior to ovalbumin sensitization (prophylactic treatment), were found to be widely unresponsive to ovalbumin. They exhibited higher serum levels of IFN-γ and IgG2a (total and specific) compared to saline-treated control mice. The inhibitory effects were still observed 1 month post-immunization.Our data, indicating a Histaglobin-induced modulation of the Th1/Th2 balance in favour of Th1, correspond with the well-known antiallergic activity of Histaglobin observed in patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the development of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars for malting purposes, it is usually not possible to select for malt quality characteristics in early generations because of the high cost associated with micromalting large numbers of grain samples and assessing quality traits on the resulting malt samples and because of the sensitivity of quantitative malt quality traits to environmental variation. Thus, barley malting quality may be a good candidate for marker-assisted selection. Here, the objective was to use marker-based selection to manipulate a malt quality characteristic, α-amylase activity, in a barley breeding population. Marker-based selection was applied among F[sub 2:3] lines from the cross 'Morex'/'Labelle', targeting Morex alleles in a region of chromosome 7(5H) that had previously been found to affect α-amylase activity in the cross 'Steptoe'/Morex. The target region was represented by two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) markers. Selected lines were grown in field plots in two years. Agronomic and grain quality data were measured. Grain samples were micromalted and assessed for malt quality traits. Selection for the Morex allele at two PCR markers on chromosome 7(5H) was effective in increasing α-amylase activity. It was concluded that marker-based selection for a quantitative trait locus could be effective even when applied in a population other than the mapping population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marker genotype data and grain and malt quality phenotype data from three barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) mapping populations were used to investigate the feasibility of selective genotyping for detection of quantitative trait loci (QTLs). With selective genotyping, only individuals with high and low phenotypic values for the trait of interest are genotyped. Here, genotyping of 10 to 70% of each population (i.e., 5 to 35% in each tail of the phenotypic distribution) was considered. Genomic positions detected by selective genotyping were compared to QTL position estimates from interval mapping analysis using marker genotype data from the entire population. Selective genotyping reliably detected almost all of the mapped QTLs, often with only 10% of the population genotyped. Selective genotyping also detected spurious QTLs in regions of the genome where no significant QTL had been mapped. Even with additional genotyping to verify putative QTLs, the total genotyping effort for detection of QTLs for a single trait by selective genotyping was usually less than 30% of that required for conventional interval mapping. Simultaneous investigation of two or more traits by selective genotyping would require additional genotyping effort, but could still be worthwhile.Key words: selective genotyping, quantitative trait loci, barley.Des données génotypiques moléculaires ainsi que phénotypiques pour la qualité du grain et la qualité du malt provenant de trois populations de cartographie chez l'orge (Hordeum vulgare L.) ont été employées afin d'examiner la faisabilité du génotypage partiel pour la détection de loci de caractères quantitatifs (QTLs). En génotypage partiel, seuls les individus présentant des valeurs phénotypiques extrêmes pour le caractère à l'étude sont génotypés. Dans cette étude, l'impact du génotypage de 10 à 70 % de chaque population (soit 5 à 35 % des extrêmes de la distribution) a été examiné. Les positions génomiques détectées par génotypage partiel ont été comparées aux positions des QTLs détectés par cartographie par intervalle à l'aide des données génotypiques pour l'ensemble de la population. Le génotypage partiel a permis de détecter de manière fiable presque tous les QTLs, souvent en génotypant seulement 10 % de la population. Le génotypage partiel a également détecté de faux QTLs dans des régions où aucun QTLs significatif n'avait été identifié. Même en réalisant des travaux additionnels de génotypage afin de confirmer des QTLs putatifs, l'effort de génotypage global nécessaire pour la détection de QTLs liés à un seul caractère par génotypage partiel représentait habituellement 30 % de l'effort requis lors de la cartographie par intervalles conventionnelle. L'investigation simultanée de deux ou trois loci par génotypage partiel nécessiterait un effort de génotypage additionnel, mais pourrait toujours être avantageux.Mots clés : génotypage partiel, loci de caractère quantitatif, orge.[Traduit par la Rédaction] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the effects of thermal treatment on the precipitates present in the volume of the material in the Cl-doped CdTe crystals. Assessment of the defects of material in CdTe; Basic equations of the time-dependent charge measurement; Experimental procedures used.

The article explores the use analogy of the laser to the teaching of engineering cuantic physics. It shows that the laser has completed all the requirements to be used as context for teaching and it has relevance and currency in the science and the technology. Moreover, it is integrative of knowledge and can be utilized as a guide from the topic.

This contribution focuses on surface complexes in the calcite-brine-surfactant system. This is relevant for the recovery of oil when using a new hybrid enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method, which combines smart-water (i.e., ionically modified brine) and foam-flooding (SWAF) of light oil with dissolved carbon dioxide (CO 2) at high pressure in carbonate (i.e., calcite) reservoirs. Using this new hybrid EOR-method (i.e., the SWAF-process) is not only economically attractive (i.e., it reduces opex costs) but also enhances the effectiveness of the production process, and thus reduces the environmental impact. Ionically modified brine (i.e., low-salinity) has a dual improvement effect. It not only leads to more stable foam lamellae, but also helps to change the carbonate rock wettability, leading for some conditions to more favorable relative permeability behavior. The mechanism for the modified permeability behavior in the presence of ionically modified brine is only partly understood. Therefore, we study this process initially in a zero dimensional (thermodynamics) setting, which can be used for the one dimensional (1D) displacement process with an oleic phase that contains carbon dioxide (CO 2) and an aqueous phase that contains both carbon dioxide (CO 2) and all the ionic substances. Using DLVO theory and surface complexation modeling to better understand the mechanism(s) of ionically modified brine as wettability modifier and foam stabilizer. We perform simulations using both (NaCl) and (MgCl 2) to show the effect of a divalent ion at the high-salinity (8500 mmol/kg-w) and low-salinity (0.4 mmol/kg-w) for both ambient-conditions at (25°C) and at the reservoir-conditions (80°C). We confine our analysis to a description that uses the Dzombak-Morel model of surface complexes, which is based on the Debye-Hückel theory (i.e., valid up to ionic strength of 0.3 (mol/kilogram of water)). We also investigate the effect of carbon dioxide (CO 2) on the stability of low-salinity foam-laminae. We model the foam-laminae, which contain as surface complex a (cationic) surfactant in an aqueous phase. We use the PHREEQC-software to calculate the surface charge and the surface potential. The presence of a carbon dioxide (CO 2) phase leads to dissolution of four valent C(IV) compounds in the aqueous film. PHREEQC also calculates the equilibrium concentrations and surface potential and allows the study of the effect of salinity and the carbon dioxide (CO 2) gas pressure. For the soap-film (foam-film) in a carbon dioxide (CO 2) atmosphere we do use Pitzer activity coefficients (i.e., valid up to 6 (mol/kilogram of water)). As our aim is to show the methodology and the versatility of this approach, we leave more realistic choices of these parameters for future work.sFor the conditions considered we can qualitatively state that, in the presence of (NaCl i.e., at pH > 10) and (MgCl 2 i.e., pH > 10.3), the low-salinity case shows a more stable water-film behavior at (25°C) and at (80°C) than the high-salinity case for both (25°C) and (80°C). Moreover, high carbon dioxide (CO 2) pressures have a destabilizing effect on the film, as they reduce the surface potential. A reduced surface potential leads to a decreasing electrostatic double layer repulsion and thus destabilizes the foam-film, whereas low-salinity leads to less screening of the surface potential and thus improves the stability of the foam-film. The low-salinity flow is characterized by a high residual oil saturation and low end-point permeability for the two phase oil-water flow. This leads to a more favorable mobility ratio and thus a more favorable displacement process. For the calcite surface an enhanced stability helps to stabilize the water film on the calcite surface if the oil-water surface charge has the same sign as the surface charge on the calcite surface. Our calculations show the pH range where the sign of these charges is the same or opposite at low-salinity and high-salinity conditions. Admittedly these calculations only show trends, but can be used to delineate optimal conditions for the application of "Smart Water Assisted Foam (SWAF) Flooding". It is expected that the SWAF-process under the optimum conditions will make the proposed new hybrid Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) process environmentally and economically attractive. • Surface complexes play an important role for creating a stable foam and water film(s) between oil & rock. • Using surface complexation modelling we can determine the charge on the calcite-water-oil surface(s). • A low salinity leads to less screening of the surface potential, and thus improves the stability of the foam film. • A high CO 2 concentration leads to a decrease of the surface charge, and thus destabilizes the foam film. • SWAF-process under the optimum conditions make the proposed new hybrid EOR-process economically & environmentally attractive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CdTe detectors are commonly used for X and γ ray applications. The performance of these detectors is strongly affected by different types of mechanical stress; such as that caused by differential expansion between the semiconductor and its intimate metallic contacts and that caused by applied pressure during the bonding process. The aim of this work was to study the effects of stress on the performance of CdTe detectors. A difference in expansion coefficients induces transverse stress under the metallic contact, while contact pressure induces longitudinal stress. These stresses have been simulated by applying known static pressures. For the longitudinal case, the pressure was applied directly to the metallic contact; while in the transverse case, it was applied to the side. We have studied the effect of longitudinal and transverse stresses on the electrical characteristics including leakage current measurements and γ-ray detection performance. We have also investigated induced defects, their nature, activation energies, cross sections, and concentrations under the applied stress by using photo-induced current transient spectroscopy and thermoelectric effect spectroscopy techniques. The operational stress limit is also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been described as a preexisting psychiatric disorder for patients with burns that may have contributed significantly to their injury. The authors are not aware of any studies that have specifically looked at ADHD in burn patients and its role in the injury. A retrospective chart review of all youth that were admitted to a burn care unit over the past 20 years and diagnosed with ADHD on admission was conducted to describe the occurrence and features of their injury. In the 39 patients identified as having ADHD, impulsive behavior contributed to burn injury in 21 cases (54%) and possibly four additional cases. In addition, nine of the 21 cases were not on prescribed stimulant medication on the day of burn injury. The presence of ADHD is important to consider with respect to risk and potential prevention of pediatric burn injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, published in the journal Endoscopy, explores the generalizability of an artificial intelligence (AI) system trained to detect early Barrett's neoplasia in the context of detecting early squamous cell cancer (SCC) in the esophagus. The study used 120 white light and narrow-band endoscopic images from 60 patients, which were annotated by expert endoscopists. The AI system, trained specifically for Barrett's neoplasia, showed some overlap in detecting SCC, suggesting that features learned from Barrett's cancer-related training may be helpful for SCC prediction. The study suggests the potential for a transfer learning approach to enhance the AI system's detection quality for other diseases. [Extracted from the article]

L'analbuminémie congénitale (AC) est une pathologie rare dont la prévalence est estimée à environ 1 cas sur un million, avec moins de 90 cas dérits dans la littérature. C'est une pathologie qui peut être bruyante à la naissance mais elle est peu symptomatique à l'âge adulte. Les signes cliniques peuvent être : œdèmes, lipodystrophie, fatigue. L'hypercholestérolémie constitue la principale anomalie biologique et elle prédispose aux complications cardiovasculaires. Les particularités cliniques et biologiques de cette pathologie doivent être connues aussi bien par le biologiste que par le clinicien afin d'établir un diagnostic précoce afin de prévenir les complications cardiovasculaires. Nous rapportons un nouveau cas d'analbuminémie congénitale compliquée par un syndrome coronarien aigu récidivant chez un homme de 34 ans. Cette complication n'a été rapportée auparavant qu'une seule fois selon le registre de cas d'analbuminémie. Congenital analbuminemia (CAA) is a very rare disorder with an estimated prevalence of less than one in one million. This anomaly can be lethal at birth and in early infancy but it's not very symptomatic in adulthood. The clinical signs are edema, lipodystrophy, fatigue... Hypercholesterolemia is the main biological disorder and it predisposes to cardiovascular complications. The mild symptoms of CAA leads to delay diagnosis. That's why clinical and biological signs of this disorder should be known by both of biologist and clinician to establish an early diagnosis in order to prevent cardiovascular complications. We report a new case of congenital analbuminemia complicated by recurrent acute coronary artery disease in 34-year-old man. This complication has been reported only once according to the register of analbuminemia cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of sol-gel technique to fabricate phospho-silicate nanocomposite SiO2-P2O5 based glasses containing 20 mol.% P2O5 deposited on quartz silica substrate is presented in this work. Particularly, terbium Tb3+ and holmium Ho3+ ions were doped in the mentioned host matrix. A variety of material studies were carried out for the investigation of the physical properties of these new materials, such as the Fourier transform infrared and X-ray diffraction. The X-ray diffraction confirmed that the silica gel crystallization was enhanced as a result of the phosphorus existence. Moreover, the functional groups of the prepared nanocomposite samples were detected from the Fourier transform infrared analyses. The morphology of prepared monolith samples was characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The surface morphology of both the thin film and monolith samples were confirmed using field emission scanning electron microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a correction to the article "Effectiveness of selective genotyping for detection of quantitative trait loci: an analysis of grain and malt quality traits in three barley populations" that was published in the 2002 issue.

The article discusses the development and validation of a new scale called the Gastroscopy Rate of Cleanliness Evaluation (GRACE) for assessing the visualization of the upper gastrointestinal tract during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). The scale consists of three different anatomic areas (esophagus, stomach, and duodenum) and four grades of cleanliness. The study involved expert and non-expert endoscopists evaluating images and performing real-time evaluations on patients. The results showed high levels of reproducibility, reliability, and agreement, suggesting that the GRACE scale could be an important tool for standardizing the evaluation of mucosal visibility and reducing the risk of missing lesions during EGD. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction Parkinson disease is noted for its association with mutations in GBA and the p.G2019S mutation in LRRK2 . This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of Ashkenazi founder mutations in sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1 ( SMPD1 ) in Ashkenazi patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD); and their impact on PD phenotypic expression. SMPD1 underlies the lysosomal storage disease - Niemann-Pick. Methods A case (n = 287) control (n = 400) study was undertaken. All patients underwent a physical, neurobehavioral and neurologic examination that incorporated the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. Three founder SMPD1 Ashkenazi mutations (c.996delC (fsP330), p.L302P and p.R496L) were investigated in patients and controls, previously evaluated for carriage of founder mutations in GBA and the p.G2019S mutation in LRRK2 . Results Nine (3.1%) PD patients compared to two (0.5%) individuals from the control group were found to carry one of the three Ashkenazi SMPD1 founder mutations (p = 0.007). The overall clinical characteristics of PD patients carrying SMPD1 mutations were similar to those of PD patients with no mutations in SMPD1 , GBA and LRRK2 (n = 189). Conclusion We maintain that disruptive mutations in SMPD1 constitute a risk factor for PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with phytogenic feed additives, Digestarom® 1317 and thyme, on the growth performance, oxidative stress and intestinal microflora in broiler chickens. Approach: A total of 120 1-day-old broiler chicks were randomly allocated to four groups with three replicates per treatment and 10 birds per replicate. The dietary treatments were the basal diet without phytogenic additives (control), basal diet supplemented with Digestarom® 1317 at 1.5 g/10 kg diet, basal diet supplemented with Digestarom® 1317 at 3.0 g/10 kg diet and basal diet supplemented with thyme at 100 g/10 kg diet. The results revealed that 1.5 g/10 kg Digestarom® 1317 increased the body weight significantly compared with either the higher dose of Digestarom® 1317 or thyme. Digestarom® 1317 and thyme significantly increased the phagocytic activity and index. The addition of Digestarom® 1317 (at two dosing levels) or thyme significantly increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes and significantly decreased protein nitrosylation, as reflected by decreased nitric oxide levels in the examined tissues. Thyme significantly increased the serum protein pattern, whereas both phytogenic additives non-significantly increased the level of liver-specific enzyme. The addition of phytogenic additives ameliorated the intestinal microflora via the reduction of coliforms at the ages of 14 and 28 days and via the fortification of beneficial gut flora, such as lactobacilli. This study concludes that Digestarom® 1317 at 1.5 g/10 kg had a growth promotion effect and that Digestarom® 1317 and thyme had antioxidant, immunostimulant and gastrointestinal health effects. The beneficial effects of the addition of Digestarom® 1317 and/or thyme to the broiler diets resulted in the economical production of chicken meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative study of four different metals gold (Au), platinum (Pt), ruthenium (Ru) and rhodium (Rh) deposited on CdZnTe(CZT) by the electroless deposition method has been carried out. Two of these materials, Ru and Rh, have been deposited for the first time by this method. In contrast to the Pt deposition, the deposition of Ru and Rh were not carried out under the optimal conditions. The metals deposited on the samples were identified by Total reflection X-ray Fluorescence (TXRF). Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS) analyses show that Au forms the thickest layer (∼160 nm) for the experimental conditions of this work. Current-voltage measurements show that Pt forms a more linear ohmic contact with the lowest leakage current. A 57Co gamma ray spectrum gave a better detector performance with a FWHM 11 keV at 122 keV. (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the design and performance of cooled ceiling and displacement ventilation (CC/DV) systems application for buildings in Beirut for the purpose of saving energy. The transient thermal response of spaces cooled by the combined CC/DV system is needed for performance assessment. For that reason, the plume-multi-layer model of CC/DV cooled spaces is extended to transient applications. A design procedure for the combined CC/DV system in Beirut humid climate and buildings is developed to insure that both indoor air quality and comfort are satisfied within the conditioned zone. The contribution of the proposed procedure is that it guarantees that the stratification height (occupied zone) is at 1.1 m taking into consideration the plumes from internal sources and non-isothermal walls. The design procedure is applied to a case study in Beirut to design a system for a typical office space at 85 W m-2 sensible cooling load. The CC/DV system size is compared with the size of a conventional mixed convection system. It is found that the size of the CC/DV system is 10.2 kW compared to conventional system size of 7.9 and 13.4 kW at the 30 and 100% fresh air supply, respectively. For the same indoor air quality and thermal comfort level, the CC/DV system consumed 21% less cooling energy than the conventional 100% fresh air system over the cooling season. The initial cost of the CC/DV system is higher, but the pay back period based on transient operation is less than 5 yr. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on a study that compared the electrical properties of traveling heater method-cadmium telluride (THM-CdTe: C1) material with nuclear detection performance. Use of CdTe-THM; Requirement of nuclear imaging; Electrical proprieties of thick detector arrays.

Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni infections have broadly overlapping geographical distributions. Praziquantel is the only treatment for human schistosomiasis, so drug tolerance and/or resistance are major concerns. Artemisinin–naphthoquine phosphate (CO-ArNp), an artemisinin-based combination therapy endorsed by the World Health Organization as a gold standard therapy for malaria, has also been identified as a promising treatment for S. mansoni. In this in vitro study, we tested the effect of 1–40 μg/ml CO-ArNp on S. haematobium worms, and inspected tegumental changes by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), aiming to determine if this combination therapy has a broad-spectrum antischistosomal activity. Incubation of S. haematobium adults with 20 or 30 μg/ml CO-ArNp caused 100% mortality of worms within 72 or 48 h, respectively. SEM examination showed extensive tegumental alterations such as oedema, constriction, shortening and loss of spines, fissuring, sloughing and perforation, resulting in exposure of the underlying basal lamina, mainly in treated male schistosomes. Besides the well-established potent efficacy, bioavailability, tolerability and safety of the antimalarial artemisinin–naphthoquine phosphate combined therapy, these results may also suggest its possible utilization as a new broad-spectrum antischistosomal agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Rutherford backscattering spectrometry was performed using 2 MeV alpha-particles, to characterize electroless platinum contacts on cadmium telluride CdTe(111) crystals, aiming to improve and to understand the structure of the metal electroless chemically deposited. In this paper we have studied the platinum metal contact as well as the interface material-contact. The thickness, the stoichiometry and the concentration profile of platinum, cadmium, tellurium and oxygen present in the surface layers were determined as a function of many parameters, especially the variation trend as function of the chloride solution pH. This work showed the important effect of the crystallographic direction on the growth of Pt on CdTe II–VI semiconductors. Furthermore, the process was more pH dependence at the metalloid Te face than the Cd one. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: It is well known that the CdTe material suffers from the presence of native defects, due to the introduction of dislocations by pressure owing to its mechanical brittleness. Within this framework, we present a study of the dislocations effect on the electric properties of the CdTe material, using measurements by C(V) and I(V) and IR absorption. The adopted method for the plastic deformation is the Vickers microhardness at room temperature and under various weights (10, 25, 50 and 80g). The following results have been obtained: a reduction in the donors concentration, an increase in the leakage current as well as a reduction of the band gap and finally a drastic variation of the Schottky barrier where we could observe two distinct behaviours depending on the used side (Cd or Te) for the contact deposition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ion beam analysis was performed on CdTe(II–VI) semiconductor materials in order to characterize metal contacts, namely Pt, deposited by electroless process. It is essential to perform such a material which can provide high detection quality that needs good deposited metal contact as thick as possible. Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry was used to determine the thickness and the stoichiometry of the layers formed at the surface. The depth profiles of Pt, Cd, Te and O were determined as a function of the dilution solution and the pH parameters which seemed to be determinant factors in the Pt layer deposition process. The distribution of Cd deficiency at the interface layers was profiled using simulations and showed complex profiles in the samples, which can greatly influence the electrical quality of detectors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Both clinical and experimental investigations have shown that maternal hyperthermia during critical stages of embryo development can induce malformations in the offspring. Studies of the effect of heat stress on the placental functions are limited to the ewes, but that on microscopic structure is unknown. In the present study, rats were exposed to 41 or 42°C for 1 h on gestation day (GD) 9. The controls were sham treated. Fetuses and placentas were collected on GD 20. Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and several craniofacial malformations were observed in the fetuses of the heat-treated group. The placentas of the 42°C group were significantly lighter in weight than those of the control. Light microscopy (LM) revealed thickening, hyalinization and occasional lymphocytic infiltration of the decidua basalis. Giant cells were prominent and glycogen cells had degenerated, leaving behind large cysts in the basal (spongy) zone. Best's carmine stain with or without diastase indicated the reduction in number and degeneration of glycogen cells and cyst formation. The labyrinthine zone was relatively thin in comparison to that of the controls. Perivascular fibrosis and paucity of vascularization were other features of the placentas of the hyperthermia group. Electron microscopy (EM) revealed lipid droplet accumulation in the trophoblast, the presence of myelin bodies and an increased production of collagen in the basal zone. Perivascular fibrosis appeared to have contributed to placental barrier thickening. EM also revealed accumulation of glycogen and lipid droplets in the trophoblasts and fibrin secretion into the extracellular space of the labyrinthine zone. These data suggest that placental pathology possibly contributes to fetal growth retardation in maternally heat-stressed rat fetuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on a study which compared the spectral properties among different types of detectors. Methods; Results; Discussion.