Search

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of intrauterine infusion of ceftazidime and cephapirin on uterine bacterial load and uterine horn diameter in bovine subclinical endometritis. At 7-8 weeks postpartum, a total of 122 cows suffering from subclinical endometritis were divided into three groups. Group I cows were intrauterinely (IU) infused with 2 g ceftazidime diluted with 50 mL saline; group II cows were IU infused with 2 g cephapirin diluted with 50 mL saline; and group III cows were kept as untreated control. Vaginal examination, ultrasonography and bacterial examination were done before treatment programme and later repeated twice at 10-day intervals. Staphylococcus spp., Klebsiella spp., Streptococcus spp., Escherichia coli and Proteus spp. were isolated. After the end of the treatment programme, proportions of cows infected with Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in ceftazidime and cephapirin groups. However, proportions of cows infected with Escherichia coli were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in the ceftazidime group only. Uterine bacterial loads in ceftazidime and cephapirin groups were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Mean uterine horn diameters in ceftazidime group (2.44±0.03 cm) became significantly lower (P<0.05) than those in cephapirin (2.70±0.04 cm) and control (3.06±0.06 cm) groups. Conception rate in ceftazidime group (80.95%) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than rates recorded in cephapirin (64.00%) and control (26.67%) groups. In conclusion, ceftazidime and cephapirin decreased uterine bacterial load. Moreover, ceftazidime significantly reduced uterine horn diameter compared to the other groups and was associated with significantly higher conception rate. Thus, ceftazidime is recommended for treatment of subclinical endometritis in dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strong coupling constants of spin-3/2 to spin-1/2 doubly heavy baryon transitions with light vector mesons are estimated within the light-cone QCD sum rules method. Moreover, using the vector-meson dominance ansätz, the widths of radiative decays B QQ ∗ → B QQ γ are calculated. The results for the said decay widths are compared to the predictions of other approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linear and nonlinear optical absorption coefficients of the two-dimensional semiconductor ring in the perpendicular magnetic field B are calculated within independent electron approximation. Characteristic feature of the energy spectrum are crossings of the levels with adjacent nonpositive magnetic quantum numbers as the intensity B changes. It is shown that the absorption coefficient of the associated optical transition is drastically decreased at the fields corresponding to the crossing. Proposed model of the Volcano disc allows to get simple mathematical analytical results, which provide clear physical interpretation. An interplay between positive linear and intensity-dependent negative cubic absorption coefficients is discussed; in particular, critical light intensity at which additional resonances appear in the total absorption dependence on the light frequency is calculated as a function of the magnetic field and levels' broadening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the most general form of baryonic interpolating current, the masses and pole residues of the excited 2S and 1P states of the triply-heavy baryons Ω bbc and Ω ccb are calculated within the QCD sum rule approach. The obtained results are compared with the existing theoretical predictions in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The semi-leptonic transition of B ¯ s → D s 2 ℓ ν ¯ to tensor meson of negative parity J P = 2 − is examined in the content of the QCD sum rules approach. The three-point correlation function is used to calculate the transition form-factors of the hadronic matrix element involved in these channels. With these transition form-factors, the predicted branching ratios are estimated as: B R [ B ¯ s → D s 2 e ν ¯ e ] = 4.32 − 2.0 + 2.0 × 10 − 3 , B R [ B ¯ s → D s 2 μ ν ¯ μ ] = 4.29 − 2.0 + 2.0 × 10 − 3 , and B R [ B ¯ s → D s 2 τ ν ¯ τ ] = 3.1 − 1.4 + 1.4 × 10 − 4. We also calculated the leptonic angular spectra and leptonic forward-backward asymmetries. The effect of the leptonic decay constant f D s 2 on these observables is also considered. The obtained orders of the branching ratios in this work are indicating that these channels can be investigated at LHCb in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of the present study is to explore the classes of the Schrödinger-like wave equations derived from Dirac equation, for which the similarity transformation and asymptotic iteration algorithms can assist in generating second-order differential equation that admit general exact solutions in the presence of nonsymmetrical potential terms. For illustration purposes, we extract the exact bound-state solutions of the Dirac equation with the noncentral Hartmann potential for the cases of exact spin and pseudospin symmetries. Also, we have shown that both Dirac-radial and Dirac-polar parts are sensitive to the variation of the involved parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The removal of a butanone–toluene mixture over Pd/5%V-TiO2 and Pd/TiO2 catalysts has been investigated. The V-doped sample showed a higher performance in the oxidation of butanone and also a butanone–toluene mixture, which was attributed to competition between oxygen species and VOCs on vanadium adsorption sites. However in the presence of both VOCs, Pd/5%V-TiO2 showed a higher performance than in the elimination of butanone alone. An operando DRIFT experiment coupled with a mass spectrometer revealed that both VOCs compete in terms of adsorption on the surface of the catalyst. However, toluene adsorption is decreased by MEK, meaning that the latter oxidizes more easily into its by-products, whose combustion causes variations in the surface temperature of the catalyst, thus enhancing the oxidation of toluene molecules present in the gaseous stream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Influence of doping of porous titania with metal oxides on the oxidation of VOC. [•] Pd and Au loaded materials as highly active catalysts in the removal of toluene. [•] Catalyst's stability in extreme VOC oxidation conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Synthesis of hierarchically porous Nb doped TiO2 catalyst support. [•] Preservation of multi-modal porosity on calcination to crystalline anatase phase. [•] Metal oxide–catalyst interaction influenced by chemical composition of support. [•] Nb promotes catalytic destruction of pollutants by noble metal nanoparticles. [•] Increase in activity and CO2 selectivity for Pt/Nb–TiO2 compared to Pt/TiO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study shows how precise simple analytical solutions for the generalized Dirac equation with repulsive vector and attractive energy-dependent Lorentz scalar potentials, position-dependent mass potential, and a tensor interaction term can be obtained within the framework of both similarity transformation and the asymptotic iteration methods. These methods yield a significant improvement over existing approaches and provide more plausible and applicable ways in explaining the pseudospin symmetry's breaking mechanism in nuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A series of supported Pd catalysts were elaborated using hierarchically porous Nb2O5 and Ta2O5 materials, synthesised with and without a non-ionic surfactant. The deposition of Pd nanoparticles was achieved using the wet impregnation method on calcined supports. The catalytic systems were pre-reduced in hydrogen and investigated for their efficiency in the total oxidation of toluene and found to have increased activity in comparison to a series of reference catalysts based on hierarchically porous TiO2 and ZrO2, with minimal benzene formation. Results have shown how activities are dependent on the support material, synthesis conditions and chemical composition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The catalytic properties of palladium and gold nanoparticles deposited on mesoporous TiO2 are investigated in toluene and propene oxidation. The catalysts, containing Pd and Au deposited on mesoporous TiO2 have been prepared by different order of metal deposition (Pd(shell)–Au(core)/TiO2, Pd–Au(alloy)/TiO2 and Au(shell)–Pd(core)/TiO2. For both toluene and propene oxidation reactions, the catalytic activity was found significantly higher when palladium is deposited on already-deposited gold (Pd(shell)–Au(core)/TiO2). This enhanced activity could be explained by the core–shell morphology (Pd–shell and Au-core) observed by UV–vis spectra, TPR profiles and XPS spectra. It was suggested that the oxidation reaction follows a Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism where the molecules of oxygen and VOC are in competition for adsorption on the surface of catalyst. Operando DRIFT spectroscopy was carried out to test the catalytic activity in a mixture of volatile organic compounds (toluene and propene). It was demonstrated that there is a competition between the molecules of VOC for adsorption but also the toluene has an inhibition effect for oxidation of propene. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cobalt supported on calcined hydrotalcite catalysts were prepared using the memory effect of Mg–Al hydrotalcite. Mg–Al was calcined at different temperatures from 500 to 900°C and dipped in a Co nitrate aqueous solution for surface hydrotalcite regeneration. The calcination at 500°C of the sample Co/Mg–Al(700) leads to an interesting Co mixed oxide supported on calcined hydrotalcite with high specific area and highly active and selective for toluene oxidation. The surface Co hydrotalcite regeneration was observed especially by Infrared Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy combined with Energy Dispersive detection of emitted X-ray photons. The reconstruction of the layered structure influences positively the iteraction between cobalt species and the support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The asymptotic iteration method is used to construct the exact energy eigenvalues for a Lorentz vector or a Lorentz scalar, and an equally mixed Lorentz vector and Lorentz scalar Coulombic potentials. Highly accurate and rapidly converging ground-state energies for Lorentz vector Coulomb with a Lorentz vector or a Lorentz scalar linear potential, , respectively, are obtained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We investigate the effect of Mie-type potential range on the cohesive energy of metallic nanoparticles using the size-dependent potential parameters method. The predicted cohesive energy for different cubic structures is observed to decrease with decreasing the particle size, and increase with decreasing the range of the interatomic potential, a result which is in the right direction at least to predict the experimental values of Molybdenum and Tungsten nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The asymptotic iteration method is used to calculate the eigenenergies for the asymmetrical quantum anharmonic oscillator potentials $V(x)=\sum_{j=2}^{2\alpha}A_{j}x^{j}$, with (α = 2) for quartic, and (α = 3) for sextic asymmetrical quantum anharmonic oscillators. An adjustable parameter β is introduced in the method to improve its rate of convergence. Comparing the present results with the exact numerical values, and with the numerical results of the earlier works, it is found that asymptotically, this method gives accurate results over the full range of parameter values Aj. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The asymptotic iteration method is used for Dirac and Klein–Gordon equations with a linear scalar potential to obtain the relativistic eigenenergies. A parameter, ς = 0, 1, is introduced in such a way that one can obtain Klein–Gordon bound states from Dirac bound states. It is shown that this method asymptotically gives accurate results for both Dirac and Klein–Gordon equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The asymptotic iteration method is applied to calculate the angular spheroidal eigenvalues (c) with arbitrary complex size parameter c. It is shown that the numerical results obtained for (c) are all in excellent agreement with the available published data over the full range of parameter values m, and c. Some representative values of (c) for large real c are also given. PACS No.: 02.70.–c. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The asymptotic iteration method is used to calculate the eigenenergies for the anharmonic oscillator potentials (, ), with for quartic, and for sextic anharmonic oscillators. An adjustable parameter β is introduced in the method to improve its rate of convergence. Comparing the present results with the numerical values calculated by earlier workers, it is found that, asymptotically this method gives exact results over the full range of parameter values, A and B. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The semirelativistic wave equation which appears in the theory of relativistic quark-antiquark bound states, is cast into a constituent second order Schrödinger-like equation with the inclusion of relativistic corrections up to order (υ/c)² in the quarks speeds. The resulting equation is solved via the Shifted-l expansion technique (SLET), which has been recently developed to get eigenvalues and wave functions of relativistic and nonrelativistic wave equations. The Coulomb, Oscillator, and the Coulomb-plus-linear potentials used in q&qmacr; phenomenology are tested. It is observed that, the energy eigenvalues can be explained well upon the more commonly used nonrelativistic models, when such a dynamical relativistic corrections are introduced. In particular, it provides a remarkable accurate and simple analytic expression for the Coulomb ground-state energy problem, a result which is in the right direction at least to serve as a test of this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radiative leptonic Bc → τ&υmacr;[sub τ]γ decay is analysed in context of 2HDM. It is shown that with large values of tan Β, the contributions of Model II to the decay rate exceeds considerably the Standard Model ones, while the contributions of Model I overlap with the Standard Model predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the framework of the QCD sum rules method, the masses and pole residues of the excited states 2S and 1P of the doubly-heavy spin-(3/2) baryons Ξ cc ∗ , Ξ bb ∗ , Ξ bc ∗ , Ω cc ∗ , Ω bb ∗ , and Ω bc ∗ are investigated. The excited state masses and pole residues are predicted with reasonable accuracy. We expect that soon, the current predictions can be tested against future experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mass and leptonic decay constants of recently observed two new excited B c states at LHC are studied within the QCD sum rules. Considering the contributions of the ground and radially excited states, the mass and residues of the excited states of pseudoscalar and vector mesons are calculated in the framework of two different approaches of the QCD sum rules, namely, linear combinations of the corresponding sum rules and its derivatives as well as QCD sum rules with the incorporation of the least square fitting method. The obtained results on mass m B c + (2 S) = 6.88 ± 0.03 GeV and m B c ⁎ + (2 S) = 6.94 ± 0.03 GeV are in good agreement with the experimental data. Our predictions for the decay constants of these states are: f B c + (2 S) = 0.42 ± 0.02 GeV and f B c ⁎ + (2 S) = 0.46 ± 0.01 GeV , which can be checked at future experiments to be conducted at the LHC. Comparison of our results with the predictions of the other approaches on mass and residues is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radiative decays of the p-wave charmed heavy baryons to the ground state baryon states are studied in the framework of the light cone QCD sum rules method. Firstly, the transition form factors that describe these transitions are estimated and then, using these form factors, the corresponding decay widths are calculated. A comparison of our results for the decay widths with those predicted by the other approaches existing in the literature is performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The form factors of the Λ b → N ∗ ℓ + ℓ - decay are calculated in the framework of the light cone QCD sum rules. In the calculations the contribution of the negative parity Λ b ∗ baryon is eliminated by constructing the sum rules for different Lorentz structures. Furthermore the branching ratio of the semileptonic Λ b → N ∗ ℓ + ℓ - decay is calculated. The numerical study for the branching ratio of the Λ b → N ∗ ℓ + ℓ - decay indicates that it is quite large and could be measurable at future planned experiments to be conducted at LHCb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic dipole moments of the negative parity light and heavy tensor mesons are calculated within the light cone QCD sum rules method. The results are compared with the positive parity counterparts of the corresponding tensor mesons. The results of the analysis show that the magnetic dipole moments of the negative parity light mesons are smaller compared to those of the positive parity mesons. Contrary to the light meson case, magnetic dipole moments of the negative parity heavy mesons are larger than the ones for the positive parity mesons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We estimate the strong coupling constant between the negative parity nucleons with π meson within the light-cone QCD sum rules. A method for eliminating the unwanted contributions coming from the nucleon-nucleon and nucleon-negative parity nucleon transition is presented. It is observed that the value of the strong coupling constant of the negative parity nucleon N*N*π transition is smaller by about 50% compared to the coupling constant of the positive parity NNπ transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the framework of simple similarity transformation method, we present simple Schrödinger-like equation for Dirac equation with Hulthén and Eckart Lorentz vectors potentials. Using the asymptotic iteration method we have managed to obtain the explicit analytical solution of the bound state energy spectra as well as the eigenfunctions for both potentials. Discussion related to the eigenfunction for both cases is also considered. We have shown that the wave function is sensitive for both potentials as well as the parameter δ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We derive analytical solutions of the Schrödinger wave equation for some q-deformed potentials. Most of these solutions are obtained in terms of Heun functions. However, for some particular cases the solutions are obtained in terms of geometric and hypergeometric functions. Different observations are realized for each potential. However, for all the cases which we study the oscillations are the usual ones. It is also noted that all of these functions are sensitive to variation in the parameters involved. Our discussion for some particular potential has shown us that for a large value of the parameter q the system tends to exhibit the energy for an infinite potential well between two points zero and a in addition to a free particle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of axisymmetric magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of third-grade fluid between the stretching-shrinking sheets has been modeled. Suitable transformations are considered to reduce the partial differential equations into the ordinary differential equations. The resulting nonlinear differential system for both the cases, stretching and shrinking, is solved by the homotopy analysis method (HAM). The radial and axial velocities are displayed and discussed. Considering both stretching and shrinking phenomena, the skin friction coefficient is tabulated and analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental study is presented here to understand the stress transmission characteristics under different geometrical arrangements of particulates inside a narrow chamber subjected to axial compression loading. The multi-grain systems considered here are face-centred, simple cubic and poly-dispersed structures, as well as inclusions embedded inside seeded, unseeded and cohesive powder bed of Durcal (calcium carbonate). The distribution of the maximum shear stress, direction of the major principal stress and shear stress concentration factor were obtained using photo stress analysis tomography (PSAT). The results show that the maximum shear stress distribution in the simple cubic structure is chain-like and self-repetitive, i.e., a single grain behaviour is representative of the whole system. This is not the case in the case of other granular packing. In the case of the inclusion surrounded by powder media, the maximum shear stress distribution in the inclusion occurs through ring-like structures, which are different from those observed in the structured granular packing. This tendency increases for an increase in the cohesivity of the surrounding particulates. In the granular systems, the direction of the major principal stress is mostly orthogonal to the direction of loading except in some particles in the random granular packing. In the case of inclusion surrounded by Durcal particulates, the directional of the major principal stress acts along the direction of the axial loading except in the ring region where this tends to be oblique to the direction of axial loading. Estimates of the shear stress concentration factor ( k ) show that, k tends to be independent of the structural arrangement of granular packing at higher load levels. In the case of inclusion surrounded by powder bed, k for the seeded granulated particulate bed is mostly independent of the external load levels. In the case of unseeded particulate (granulated) bed, a fluctuation in k is observed with the loading level. This suggests that the seeded granules could distribute stresses in a stable manner without much change in the nature of shear stress-transmitting fabric of the particulate contacts under external loading. An increase in the cohesion of particulate bed results in more plastic deformation as shown by the differential shear stress concentration factor. The results reported in this study show the usefulness of optical stress analysis to shed some scientific lights on unravelling some of the complexities of particulate systems under different structural arrangements of grains and surrounding conditions of the inclusions in particulate media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease that means not all asthmatics respond to the same treatment. We hypothesize an approach to characterize asthma phenotypes based on symptomatology (shortness of breath (SOB), cough, and wheezy phenotypes) in correlation with airway inflammatory biomarkers and FEV1. We aimed to detect whether those clinical phenotypes have an impact on the response to asthma medications. Two hundred three asthmatic children were allocated randomly to receive either montelukast (5mg at bed time) or fluticasone propionate (100 ug twice daily) for 8 consecutive weeks. Serum concentrations of IL- 2Rs, ICAM-1,VCAM-1, total IgE, eosinophilic %, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and FEV1 were done before and after treatment to patients and once to controls. Children who have SOB were found to have higher levels of total sIgE, older age, and longer disease duration, and they responded to fluticasone alone. Cough group was found to have higher levels of eosinophilic % and sECP, younger age, shorter disease duration and responded to montelukast alone. Wheezy group showed mixed pattern and responded to both medications. Conclusion. Although there is variability in response to ICS and LTRAs, we did identify characteristics of patient that should guide the clinician in the choice of asthma medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease that means not all asthmatics respond to the same treatment. We hypothesize an approach to characterize asthma phenotypes based on symptomatology (shortness of breath (SOB), cough, and wheezy phenotypes) in correlation with airway inflammatory biomarkers and FEV1. We aimed to detect whether those clinical phenotypes have an impact on the response to asthma medications. Two hundred three asthmatic children were allocated randomly to receive either montelukast (5mg at bed time) or fluticasone propionate (100 ug twice daily) for 8 consecutive weeks. Serum concentrations of IL- 2Rs, ICAM-1,VCAM-1, total IgE, eosinophilic %, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and FEV1 were done before and after treatment to patients and once to controls. Children who have SOB were found to have higher levels of total sIgE, older age, and longer disease duration, and they responded to fluticasone alone. Cough group was found to have higher levels of eosinophilic % and sECP, younger age, shorter disease duration and responded to montelukast alone. Wheezy group showed mixed pattern and responded to both medications. Conclusion. Although there is variability in response to ICS and LTRAs, we did identify characteristics of patient that should guide the clinician in the choice of asthma medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy for patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and severe heart failure. Reasons ICD has not been well evaluated in patients with functional class IV heart failure; Exclusion of patients with functional class IV heart failure from future arrhythmia trials.