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Nowadays, radio frequency identification (RFID) localization techniques have been widely used in indoor positioning systems (IPS) due to their low cost and ease of deployment. The main reason for the rise in RFID localization is because of inaccuracies faced by the global positioning system (GPS) in the indoor environment due to multi-path interferences of signals. The localization methodology based on received signal strength indication (RSSI) technology for indoor RFID is currently a hot topic. Because RSSI obtained is highly dependent on environments, classic algorithms like trilateration will lead to huge errors in the accuracy of the localization. This paper introduces a novel approach for RFID based indoor localization by making use of machine learning algorithms such as artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machines (SVM) and K-nearest neighbors (KNN). Hyperparameter tuning is incorporated for increasing the accuracy of the models. Experimental results show that the ANN algorithm remarkably improves the indoor localization accuracy and is also effective in tackling nonlinear changes in radio frequency signals. Moreover, the proposed model can be used in similar environments.

A field experiment was conducted during the dry seasons of 2012 and 2013 in Irrigation Research Station, Talata Mafara, Zamfara State, Latitude 12°34ʹ00ʺ N and Longitude 6°04ʹ00ʺ E 488m above sea level in the Sudan savanna agro-ecological zone. The objective of the research was to test the effect of rice varieties to various levels of nitrogen (N) fertilization under irrigation. The experiment was laid out in a Complete Randomize Block Design (CRBD) using split plot arrangement and was replicated three times. Three rice varieties (Faro 44, 45 and 57) were allocated to the main plot and three nitrogen levels (60, 120 and 180 kg N ha-1) were allocated to the sub plot. The gross and net plot sizes were 5 x 4 and 3 x 3 m respectively. Weeds were controlled using Glyphosate as pre-plant, Butachlor as pre-emergence and Orizo plus as post-emergence herbicides and supplemented with hand pulling at 9 WAS. Fertilizer was applied in two split doses. First half was applied at planting using NPK and the remaining half at 6 WAT using Urea (46 % N). Data collected were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant means were separated using DMRT at 5 % level of probability. The result of the effect of variety on growth parameters showed that Faro 44 recorded higher days to 50 % anthesis but was significantly (p≤0.05) shorter in height than Faro 57. The effect of the treatment on yield parameters showed that Faro 44 recorded higher thrashing percentage, 1000-grain weight and number of grain panicle-1 significantly (p≤0.05) higher than Faro 45 and 57 in all the seasons. Increasing nitrogen levels from 60 kg N ha-1 significantly increased growth and yield parameters. Application of 180 kg N ha-1 on Faro 44 is hereby recommended for rice growing in the ecological zone.

Introduction La nephrocalcinose (NC) est caracterisee par le depot de sels de calcium dans le parenchyme renal. Sa presentation est multiforme et les causes sont multiples. Le but de cette etude est de rapporter les principales caracteristiques cliniques et para-cliniques des patients presentant une NC. Description Il s’agit d’une etude retrospective et descriptive concernant les cas de nephrocalcinose macroscopique pris en charge dans le service de nephrologie de Monastir entre janvier 2000 et decembre 2020. Methodes La collecte des donnees cliniques, biologiques et radiologiques etait faite a partir des dossiers medicaux des patients. Resultats Sur une periode de 20 ans, 16 cas ont ete identifies avec un âge moyen au moment du diagnostic de 25 ± 19,6 ans. Le sex-ratio H/F etait de 2,2. Pres de la moitie des patients (43,8 %) avaient des antecedents familiaux de maladie lithiasique. Le diagnostic etait evoque devant des coliques nephretiques dans 37,5 % des cas, une hypokaliemie dans 18,8 % des cas, une infection urinaire dans 12,5 % des cas, une hypercalcemie dans 12,5 % des cas, un syndrome polyuro-polydipsique dans 7 % des cas et une insuffisance renale dans 7 % des cas. Le bilan urinaire avait montre la presence d’une hypercalciurie dans 87,5 % des cas, une hypocitraturie dans 25 % des cas, une leucocyturie aseptique dans 25 % des cas et une hyper-oxalurie dans 18,8 % des cas. Le diagnostic de la NC etait fait par les explorations radiologiques. La radiographie standard etait pratiquee chez tous les patients, l’echographie renale chez 93,8 % des cas et le scanner chez 43,8 %. Les etiologies retrouvees etaient dominees par l’oxalose primitive (5 cas), l’hyperparathyroidie (4 cas) et l’acidose tubulaire distale (3 cas). Conclusion La NC est une pathologie rare et sa presentation clinique, para-clinique et etiologique heterogene. Sa decouverte impose une enquete etiologique comportant une approche clinique globale et un bilan biologique approprie associes a des explorations radiologiques.

Introduction La nephrocalcinose (NC) est definie par la presence anormale, dans le parenchyme renal, de depots de sels de calcium. Les etiologies sont diverses et dependent de facteurs multiples. Le but de notre travail etait d’etudier les aspects etiologiques de la NC dans notre region. Description Il s’agit d’une etude retrospective menee au service de nephrologie au CHU Fattouma Bourguiba Monastir, s’etalant sur une periode de 20 ans, incluant 16 patients avec NC macroscopique dont nous avons identifie les etiologies. Methodes Le recueil des donnees etait fait a partir des dossiers medicaux des patients. Le saisie des donnees et l’analyse statistiques etaient faits par le Logiciel SPSS. Resultats L’âge moyen d’apparition des symptomes etait 22 ± 19,28 ans, avec un âge moyen au moment du diagnostic de 25 ± 19,6 ans. Une predominance masculine etait constatee (68,8 %). Les caracteristiques cliniques comprenaient des coliques nephretiques (50 %), une hematurie (37,5 %), une polyurie (31,3 %) et un retard de croissance (25 %). L’etiologie de la NC etait identifiee dans 81,3 % des cas. L’hyperoxalurie primitive etait l’etiologie la plus frequente (31,3 %), suivie par l’hyperparathyroidie primaire dans 25 % des cas ou elle etait associee a une maladie de Cachi Ricci dans un cas. L’acidose tubulaire distale etait presente dans 12,5 % des cas, dont un cas secondaire a un syndrome de Gougerot Sjogren. Les autres causes etaient un cas du syndrome de Bartter et un cas de maladie du Dent. A la date de pointe,25 % des patients avaient une fonction renale normale, le reste avait presente une degradation du debit de filtration glomerulaire dont 50 % avaient demarre l’epuration extra-renale. Conclusion Notre etude avait montre que les causes de la NC sont multiples et la plupart des desordres du systeme metabolique associes ont une origine genetique.

Genotype × environment interactions complicate selection of superior genotypes for narrow and wide adaptation. Eighteen tropically-adapted maize cultivars were evaluated at six locations in Nigeria for 2 yrs to (i) identify superior and stable cultivars across environments and (ii) assess relationships among test environments. Environment and genotype × environment interactions (GEI) were significant (P < 0·05) for grain yield. Environments accounted for 63.5% of the total variation in the sum of squares for grain yield, whereas the genotype accounted for 3.5% and GEI for 32.8%. Grain yield of the cultivars ranged from 2292 kg ha–1 for DTSTR-W SYN2 to 2892 kg ha−1 for TZL COMP4 C3 DT C2 with an average of 2555 kg ha−1. Cultivar DT SYN2-Y had the least additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) stability value of 7.4 and hence the most stable but low-yielding across environments. AMMI biplot explained 90.5% and classified cultivars and environments into four groups each. IWD C3 SYN F3 was identified as the high-yielding and stable cultivar across environments. ZA15, ZA14, BK14, BK15 and IL15 had environment mean above the grand mean, while BG14, BG15, LE14, LE15, IL14, LA14 and LA15 had mean below the grand mean. ZA, BK, BG, LE and LA were found to be consistent in ranking the maize cultivars. However, Zaria, Birnin Kudu, and Ilorin were identified as the best test locations and could be used for selecting the superior maize cultivars. The identified high-yielding and stable cultivar could be further tested and promoted for adoption to contribute to food insecurity in Nigeria.

Segmentation and restoration are among the primary objectives in the field of medical image processing. Among many methods available today, derivative method specifically domain based derivative method helps immensely in this field of medical imaging. There was a time-based improvement in the aspects of establishing results in a medical image with the aid of topological derivative. Advantage of this method lies in establishing a link between that of the perturbed domain and that of the original domain and solving for the required metrics in the problem. Treating the original domain as the original image and the diseased image to be the perturbed domain, topological derivative helps to solve the problem. Asymptotic analysis also helps in handling both large and small amount of data based on the big-O notation and small-o notation. It also establishes the supremacy of topological derived image metrics to that of other metrics. Here attempts are made for solving problems in medical images with the help of topological derivative method by adapting minimization procedure. Also, the end results are arrived in an outstanding way with help of the receiver operating characteristic curve.

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is a measure of radiation absorbed by the human body. SAR is expressed either as an average value of SAR in a cell of 1 gram or an average value in a cell of 10 grams. The aim of the paper is to study the average SAR value in human head due to the usage of mobile phones. The SAR values are measured and studied using a simulation software. In addition to calculating the SAR value, four different antenna configurations were designed with quarter-wave antennas to obtain the optimal design that has the least SAR value. The Specific Anthropomorphic Mannequin (SAM) phantom was used to simulate the human head and the simulation software was used to design the antennas and mobile phone.

Printed circuit boards are used for various product manufacturing and assisting purposes. This paper deals with a multifaceted trainer board for integrating various modules for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. As IoT plays a major role in the upcoming technological growth, the next generation of students need to learn about the hardware and software involved in a more effective manner. Also hardware is vital for hands-on training. To guide the students and aspirants to apply various ideas onto one board requires a perfect trainer board. Moreover, this trainer board should be well flexible to handle a vast variety of modules. Arduino Mega, is one example, where programming and interfacing of modules are easy and well-suited to develop IoT applications. This novel trainer board is designed for interfacing with the Arduino Mega, HC-05 (Bluetooth module) and Node MCU (Wi-Fi module) that are embedded on the board. The main purpose is to interface various Analog/Digital/PWM pins with various devices. Each Digital or analog pins are connected with 3-port or 4-port female headers to enable various modules to be linked with the board. Also, each 3 or 4-port header pins are connected with power supply and ground by default and there are interlinks between Analog/digital I/O. The board and external modules can be powered with 5V, 9V and 12V which can be selected based on the application.

An experiment was carried out to assess the growth and development of quality protein maize (QPM) genotypes to various plant populations under different irrigated conditions in a semi arid ecology of Northern Nigeria. Field trials were conducted at the Irrigation Research Station, Institute for Agricultural Research, Kadawa (11 o 39’ N, 08 o 20’ E) and 500 m above sea level) for three years, 2007, 2008 and 2009 during dry seasons to study the effect of three maize ( Zea mays L .) genotypes (TZE - W Pop X 1368, EV - DT W99 STR and DMR - ESRW), four plant populations (33,333, 44,444, 55,555 and 66,666 plants ha - 1 ) and three irrigation scheduling regimes (40, 60 and 80 centibars soil moisture tension) on the growth and development of QPM. This was a three trial experiment with factors arranged in a split plot design, whereby genotype and irrigation scheduling

Hansen's disease is a chronic infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Current therapy for this disease is with the WHO recommended Multi Drug Therapy (MDT) with DDS, rifampicin and clofazimine. Hyper Baric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has been used to treat many medical conditions including infections with a great deal of success. It's efficacy on various species of mycobacteria and other bacteria have been studied in vitro and in vivo and it is found to be an effective antimicrobial agent under specified conditions. HBOT has been used to treat Hansen's disease, including drug resistant lepromatous leprosy cases with good results. However there is a paucity of literature on this form of therapy. We have treated twenty cases of Hansen's disease with HBOT prior to exhibiting MDT as per the WHO schedule. There has been a marked regression in skin signs especially decrease in erythema and flattening of raised lesions. This correlated well with the histopathological picture which showed a reduction in the inflammatory exudate.

Diagnostic of global coagulation parameters is part of the daily clinical routine practice in conservative as well in operative disciplines. The correct interpretation of in vitro test results in context to the ex vivo influence of anticoagulant drugs and the in vivo hemostatic system of the individual patient is dependent on the doctors clinical and laboratory experience. This article shortly reviews the laboratory interference of oral anticoagulants including the target-specific inhibitors dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban on coagulation parameters and discusses the potential of several methods for measuring the anticoagulant effect of the direct oral anticoagulants.

Introduction La sclerose tubereuse de Bourneville est une maladie genetique rare, c’est la phacomatose la plus frequente apres la neurofibromatose type 1, transmise sur le mode autosomique dominant caracterisee par le developpement de tumeurs benignes au niveau des different tissu : la peau, le rein, le cœur, le cerveau et de l’œil. L’atteinte renale conditionne, apres l’atteinte neurologique le pronostic de la maladie. Nous presentons l’aspect clinique, radiologique et evolutifs de cette maladie a travers deux observations de STB a localisation renale. Observation Premier cas: Femme âgee de 45 ans a presente deux jours avant son admission des douleurs lombaires bilaterales, des brulures mictionnelles, la tension arterielle a 110/80 mmHg, un contact lombaire gauche positif, pas de visceromegalies ni œdemes des membres inferieurs, l examen cutane mettait en evidence des angiofibromes cutanes de visage, des tumeurs de Koenen en peri-ungueal des lesions hypochromiques au niveau du dos. Le sediment urinaire montrait : Pu + Hu + Lu − la biologie revelait une insuffisance renale terminale avec une clairance de la creatinine (MDRD) 5 ml/min, une anemie hypochrome microcytose Hb a 5 g/dl, hypocalcemie a 1,5 mmol, une echographie renale etait faite montrant deux reins moyennement differencies siege de multiples formation hyperechogenes corticales evoquant un aspect d’angiomyolipomes bilateraux un complement scanographique a confirme la presence des angiomyolipomes, l absence de calcification et de kystes Le diagnostic d’une sclereuse tubereuse de Bourneville etait pose devant la presence des deux criteres majeurs : 2 angiomyolipomes, les angiofibromes le bilan d’extension comprenait : un scanner cerebral revelait des nodules sous ependymaires calcifies bilateraux et corticaux de hemisphere cerebelleux droit, des plages hypodenses sous-corticales a l’etage sus-tentoriel evoquant une STB, pas d’Harmatome retiniens a l’examen ophtalmologique, l’echographie cardiaque ne montrait pas de rhabdomyome intracavitaire l’enquete familiale revelait deux parents indemnes, et 4 enfants dont l’aine âge de 15 ans presentait des angiofibromes au niveau du visage et des taches achromiques en feuille de fouger au niveau des deux jambes avec des angiomyolipomes a l echographie renale, le cadet âge de 5 ans suivi au service de pediatrie pour STB decouverte a l’occasion des crises convulsives aucune indication chirurgicale n’etait posee et la patiente etait prise en charge en hemodialyse avec une surveillance reguliere, clinique, biologique et radiologique. Deuxieme cas: Une femme âgee de 46 ans ayant comme antecedents familiaux un pere diabetique porteur d’angiomyolipome hepatique, un frere âge de 50 ans suivi en psychiatrie pour un trouble de comportement, et un fils âge de 1 ans suivi en pediatrie depuis l’âge de 8 ans pour des crises epileptiques sous Depakine. Elle etait suivie au service de dermatologie pour une sclereuse tubereuse de Bourneville depuis 1995 et en ophtalmologie pour une sclerite posterieure unilaterale, etait hospitalisee dans notre service pour nycturie et douleurs lombaires, la tension arterielle etait a 120/70 mmHg. Un examen cutane montrait un angiome au niveau du front, des papules sebacees au niveau du pli nasogenien avec des multiples tumeurs sessiles au niveau de la nuque ; pas de visceromegalie, pas d’œdemes des membres inferieurs et le sediment urinaire a montre l’absence de Pu et Hu. La biologie revelait une insuffisance renale moderee avec une clairance de la creatinine a 40 ml/min, un dosage ponderale des 31 proteines a 1,5 g. Une echographie renale montrait un rein droit a 9 cm et un rein gauche a 11 cm avec des kystes corticaux bilateraux d’allure simple un bilan dans le cadre d’exploration d’une sclereuse tubereuse de Bourneville comprenait : une IRM cerebrale montrait un aspect cadrant avec des tubers corticaux 3 hemispherique bilateraux asymetriques avec un aspect d’harmatome subepandymaire ventriculaire lateral droit calcifie, un examen ophtalmologique n’a pas revele d’harmatome retiniens, et la biopsie cutanee au niveau d’une formation nodulaire du nez revelait un angiofibrome de la face. L evolution etait marque par un declin progressif du DFG avec un recourt a l’epuration extrarenale apres 10 ans d’evolution. Conclusion L’atteinte renale doit etre depistee systematiquement et suivie regulierement chez les patients ayant une sclerose tubereuse de Bourneville car elle conditionne le pronostic de la maladie. De meme, une recherche de STB doit etre effectuee de principe chez tout patient presentant des kystes renaux multiples ou un angiomyolipome renal. Un diagnostic fait suffisamment tot ameliore la prise en charge et donc le pronostic de la STB.

An experiment was conducted to assess the response of agrophysiological characters of quality protein maize genotypes to plant population under irrigated conditions in a semi arid ecology of Northern Nigeria. Field trials were conducted at the Irrigation Research Station, Institute for Agricultural Research, Kadawa (11° 39’N, 08° 20’E) and 500 m above sea level) during 2007, 2008 and 2009 dry seasons to study the effect of (Zea mays L.) genotypes (TZE-W Pop X 1368, EV-DT W99 STR and DMR-ESRW), four plant population (33,333, 44,444, 55,555 and 66,666 plants ha-1) and three irrigation scheduling (40, 60 and 80 centibars soil moisture tension) on the growth and yield of quality protein maize. A split plot design was used with combinations of genotypes and irrigation regimes assigned to the main plot and plant population assigned to the sub-plot. The treatments were replicated three times. The study revealed that genotype EV-DT W99 STR recorded significantly higher relative growth rate, crop growth rate and net assimilation rate. Increase in plant population significantly decreased leaf area index and net assimilation rate. Delayed irrigation significantly depressed total dry matter production. Based on the results obtained in this study, it can be concluded that the use of genotype EV-DT W99 STR, at 60 centibars irrigation scheduling and 55,555 plants ha-1 had resulted in good agrophysiological characters of QPM at Kadawa. Key words: Quality protein maize genotypes, plant population, irrigation, agrophysiological characteristics.

Narcolepsy-cataplexy is characterised by orexin deficiency, sleep disturbance, obesity and dysautonomia. Ghrelin and obestatin affect both energy intake and sleep. Our aim was to investigate ghrelin, obestatin and metabolic/autonomic function in narcolepsy-cataplexy. Eight narcolepsy-cataplexy patients (seven CSF orexin-deficient) and eight matched controls were studied. The subjects had a fixed energy meal with serial blood samples and measurement of heart rate variability (HRV). Fasting plasma obestatin was more than threefold higher in narcolepsy subjects (narcolepsy 89.6 ± 16 pg/ml vs. control 24.9 ± 3 pg/ml, p0.001). There was no change in HRV total power, but post-prandial low-frequency (LF) power and high-frequency (HF) power were lower in the narcolepsy group [area under the curve (AUC): HF power narcolepsy 1.4 × 10(5) ± 0.2 × 10(5) vs. control 3.3 × 10(5) ± 0.6 × 10(5 )ms(2)/h, p0.001]. On multiple regression analyses, the only significant predictor of plasma obestatin was HF power, which was inversely correlated with obestatin (β = -0.65 R (2) = 38 %, p = 0.009). Fasting and post-prandial plasma ghrelin were similar in both groups (narcolepsy 589.5 ± 88 pg/ml vs. control 686.9 ± 81 pg/ml, p = 0.5; post-prandial AUC-narcolepsy 161.3 ± 22 ng/ml/min vs. control 188.6 ± 62 ng/ml/min, p = 0.4). Only the narcolepsy group had significant suppression of plasma ghrelin after the meal (ANOVA, p = 0.004). In orexin-deficient narcolepsy, fasting plasma ghrelin is unaltered, and post-prandial suppression is preserved. Fasting plasma obestatin is increased and correlates with autonomic dysfunction. As obestatin affects NREM sleep, we suggest that increased plasma levels contribute to the disrupted sleep-state control in narcolepsy.

To describe the radiological signs and demographic characteristics of patients who suffered facial trauma in South-East Asia.This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of a 399 patients who presented with facial trauma over a 2-year period in a tertiary referral centre in South-East Asia. Patients with available CT scan films were included. Demographics, bony and soft tissue radiology characteristics were analyzed.Male to female ratio was 320 (80%):79 (20%). Most of the facial trauma was due to Road Traffic Accident. Of 399 patients, 273 (68%) showed radiological signs of bone or soft tissue trauma. Of these 273 patients, left to right side involvement was 114 (41.7%) / 82 (30.03%), and 77 (28.2%) had bilateral involvement. Floor was the most involved wall (229[83.8%]) and the most involved rim was the inferior rim (164[60.07%]). There were 39 (14.2%) patients with blowout fracture. Bony nasolacrimal duct was broken in 56 (20.5%) patients. Optic canal fracture was found in 7 (2.5%) patients and it was associated with roof and superior rim fracture (P-values were 0.016, 0.046, respectively). Thirty-three (12.08%) patients had radiological signs of extraocular muscle involvement. Traumatic intracranial signs were associated with roof and superior rim fractures (P 0.001 for both).Floor and inferior rim were the most affected orbital structures in facial trauma. We described radiological risk factors association with optic canal, NLD fracture and intracranial involvement. We described extraocular muscle morphological signs, which could alert to the possibility of orbital floor fracture in equivocal cases.

Summary Objective Ghrelin inhibits sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity in rodents. We studied the effect of ghrelin on healthy humans, in obesity and in vagotomized subjects. Design Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover. Subjects Seven lean [mean body mass index (BMI) 23·6 ± 0·9 kg/m2], seven morbidly obese (mean BMI 50·9 ± 4·4 kg/m2) and seven post-gastrectomy subjects (mean BMI 22·0 ± 1·1 kg/m2). Measurements Subjects were randomized to intravenous ghrelin (5 pmol/kg/min) or saline over 270 min. Subjects had a fixed calorie meal and a free choice buffet during the infusion. Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured. Total power (TP) represents overall autonomic function, low-frequency (LF) power represents sympathetic and parasympathetic activity, and high-frequency (HF) power represents parasympathetic activity. Very low (VLO) frequency represents the frequency band associated with thermogenesis. Results Preliminary anova analysis, looking at all three subject groups together, showed that ghrelin had an overall highly significant inhibitory effect on TP (P = 0·001), HF power (P = 0·04), VLO power (P = 0·03) and no effect on LF (P = 0·07). Further subset analysis revealed that ghrelin had a significant effect on TP (P = 0·03), borderline effect on LF power (P = 0·06) and no effect on HF power (P = 0·1) in healthy controls. By contrast in obese subjects, ghrelin had no effect on TP (P = 0·3), LF (P = 0·5) and HF (P = 0·06) and also no effect in the vagotomized subjects on TP (P = 0·7), LF (P = 0·7) and HF (P = 0·9). Ghrelin had no effect on the LF/HF ratio. Conclusions Ghrelin inhibits SNS activity in healthy controls with a moderate effect on parasympathetic nervous system activity but had no effect on obese subjects. Vagotomized subjects also did not respond to ghrelin, suggesting the vagus nerve is important for the effects of peripheral ghrelin on the SNS.

Numerous laboratory tests are in use to detect congenital or acquired platelet function disorders. Platelet aggregometry, using ADP, collagen, arachidonic acid or ristocetin as inductor is the standard test system for diagnosis. It is also used to detect platelet non-response to antiplatelet therapy. Studies have demonstrated that laboratory assessment of platelet non response to aspirin or clopidogrel is associated with adverse outcomes, and they indicate the importance of adjusting antiplatelet therapy in patients with a low degree of platelet inhibition. Nevertheless, a standardized method for identifying these patients is still missing.

Zur Diagnose angeborener oder erworbener Thrombozytenfunktionsstorungen und zur Therapiekontrolle nach pharmakologischer Intervention haben sich in den vergangenen Jahren vermehrt Verfahren zur Evaluation der Thrombozytenfunktion etabliert. Im Gegensatz zu der aufwandigen Born-Lichttransmissionsaggregometrie, dem Goldstandard der Thrombozytenfunktionsdiagnostik, erlauben Point-of-care(POC)-Verfahren eine zeitnahe Analyse der Thrombozytenfunktion auch ohne umfangreiche labormedizinische Erfahrung. Die Bedingungen der praanalytischen Phase sind dennoch von enormer Wichtigkeit zur Vermeidung medizinischer Fehlentscheidungen. In Bezug auf das Monitoring der Wirkung von Thrombozytenaggregationshemmer gibt es zunehmend Studiendaten, die zeigen, dass durch quantitative Bestimmung des Ausmases der Thrombozytenaggregationshemmung Patienten mit erhohtem Blutungs- bzw. Stentthromboserisiko identifiziert werden konnen. Noch unklar ist das optimale Testsystem, mit dem das klinische Outcome dieser Patienten durch individualisierte Therapie verbessert werden kann.

There is an increasing incidence of anaemia in diabetes despite the absence of significant renal impairment.This study set out to determine the prevalence of anaemia in a diabetic population and to explore the relationship between anaemia and urinary albumin excretion in diabetes mellitus. Also, to determine the difference between those with overt nephropathy, microalbuminuria and those without evidence of renal disease.Five hundred and two consecutive diabetes patients were screened for anaemia. Anaemia was defined by World Health Organization criteria (13 g/dl for men and12 g/dl for women). Urinary albumin excretion was determined by urinary albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) from a single urine sample.Anaemia was present in 118 (23.5%) patients. There was a rise in the prevalence of anaemia from 19% in patients with a normal ACR to 29% in those with microalbuminuria and to 41% in macroalbuminuria. This increase in the prevalence of anaemia in microalbuminuria compared to normoalbuminuria was not explained by declining renal function as there was no significant difference in eGFR between the two groups.Anaemia was common in the study population. Early detection and correction of anaemia in diabetes is important for patients at risk of impaired quality of life and increased cardiovascular risk.

Background amd Objective: Periodontitis is a multifactorial disease in which environmental and genetic determinant factors contribute to individual subject’s susceptibility. A DNA polymorphism in the regulating region of adhesion molecule genes is suggested to modulate the molecule’s physiological effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic association between the E-selectin Ser128Arg and L-selectin Phe206Leu polymorphisms and periodontitis. Material and Methods: DNA was isolated from the whole blood of 88 patients with periodontitis and 139 healthy individuals. All samples were genotyped for the E-selectin Ser128Arg and L-selectin Phe206Leu polymorphisms using the polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers. Results: Our findings revealed a significant difference in the Ser128Arg polymorphism of E-selectin, but not in the L-selectin polymorphism, between periodontal patients and controls. The 128Arg allele was present more frequently in patients than in healthy individuals (31.25% vs. 12.2%, p

There are an increasing number of patients with diabetes who have been found to be anaemic without underlying evidence of chronic renal disease. The cause of this anaemia is mainly unknown. This study set out to determine the prevalence and characteristics of anaemia in our local diabetes population. Five hundred and thirty-one patients attending the diabetes outpatient department were consecutively screened for anaemia with a full blood count after written informed consent was taken. Anaemia was defined by World Health Organization criteria (

Field trials were conducted during 2001 and 2002 rainy seasons in the Northern Guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria, to evaluate the performance of some pre-emergence herbicides used in rice for weed control in maize. Weed dry weight was significantly reduced by cinosulfuron and the two hoe weedings in 2001 and butachlor in 2002. All the treatments with the exception of piperophos and cinosulfuron significantly increased crop vigour. Plant height and plant dry matter was increased by all the treatments with the exception of cinosulfuron. Cob length of maize was significantly increased by butachlor, oxadiazon and the two hoe weedings in both years. The grain yield of maize was significantly increased by all treatments except piperophos and cinosulfuron and the weedy check in both seasons. These trials show that butachlor and oxadiazon can be used for effective weed control in maize in Nigeria.

This paper describes a method for designing cryogenic silicon-germanium (SiGe) transistor low-noise amplifiers and reports record microwave noise temperature, i.e., 2 K, measured at the module connector interface with a 50-Omega generator. A theory for the relevant noise sources in the transistor is derived from first principles to give the minimum possible noise temperature and optimum generator impedance in terms of dc measured current gain and transconductance. These measured dc quantities are then reported for an IBM SiGe BiCMOS-8HP transistor at temperatures from 295 to 15 K. The measured and modeled noise and gain for both a single-and two-transistor cascode amplifier in the 0.2-3-GHz range are then presented. The noise model is then combined with the transistor equivalent-circuit elements in a circuit simulator and the noise in the frequency range up to 20 GHz is compared with that of a typical InP HEMT.

ZusammenfassungResistenz gegen Azetylsalizylsäure (ASS) bzw. Clopidogrel wird vom klinischen Gesichtspunkt als Unvermögen des Wirkstoffs angesehen, rezidivierende arterielle Gefäßverschlüsse zu verhindern. Aus laborchemischer Sicht hingegen wird die Non-Response gegenüber ASS und Clopidogrel als das Ausbleiben eines erwarteten Effektes in verschiedenen Thrombozytenfunktionstestsystemen beschrieben. Etablierte Thrombozytenfunktionsteste ermöglichen meist keine spezifischen Aussagen über die Thrombozytenaggregationshemmung durch ASS oder Clopidogrel. Wünschenswert wäre, die ASS- und Clopidogrel-Non-Response mit Plättchenfunktionstesten derart zu ermitteln, dass isoliert die spezifischen Effekte dieser Arzneimittel erfasst werden. Im Idealfall könnte eine solche Labordiagnostik helfen, klinische Ereignisse aufgrund eines Therapieversagens im Vorfeld zu verhindern. Studien, die eine Prävalenz von 5 bis 59% für die ASS- oder Clopidogrel-Non-Response angeben, geben erste Hinweise dafür, dass der Nachweis einer laborchemischen ASS- oder Clopidogrel-Non-Response mit dem nachfolgendem Auftreten vaskulärer Reereignisse assoziiert sein könnte. Allerdings sind diese Studien durch zu geringe Fallzahlen, fehlende Standardisierung der Labormethoden und sehr differente Einschlusskriterien in ihrer Aussagekraft limitiert. Deshalb bleibt die klinische Relevanz laborchemisch nachgewiesener ASS- oder Clopidogrel- Resistenz unklar und sollte umgehend in prospektiven Multizenterstudien geklärt werden. Die individuellen Ursachen einer reduzierten oder ausbleibenden Wirkung von ASS oder Clopidogrel können multifaktoriell sein. Die Mechanismen der ASS- bzw. Clopidogrel- Resistenz sind weitgehend ungeklärt.

We report results on the cryogenic operation of two different monolithic X-band silicon-germanium (SiGe) heterojunction bipolar transistor low noise amplifiers (LNAs) implemented in a commercially-available 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS platform. These SiGe LNAs exhibit a dramatic reduction in noise temperature with cooling, yielding Teff of less than 21 K (0.3 dB noise figure) across X-band at a 15 K operating temperature. To the authors’ knowledge, these SiGe LNAs exhibit the lowest broadband noise of any Si-based LNA reported to date.

In the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT), the most common lesions encountered by the otolaryngologist and the pathologist relate to alterations of the surface squamous epithelium. A common histological alteration confronted by pathologists is intraepithelial squamous dysplasia. Intraepithelial squamous dysplastic changes represent a spectrum of abnormal epithelial maturation and cellular aberrations that may or may not precede an invasive carcinoma. The grading of UADT intraepithelial squamous dysplasia includes mild, moderate, and severe depending on the extent of involvement of the surface epithelium. While conceptually simple, the application of this grading system is fraught with subjectivity and lack of reproducibility among pathologists. This is primarily due to the fact that the majority of squamous dysplasias of the UADT occur in the setting of surface keratinization (the so-called keratinizing dysplasias) in which invasive carcinoma can develop in the setting of dysplastic changes limited to the lower zone epithelium without full-thickness intraepithelial dysplasia (i.e., carcinoma in situ). In this article, we discuss the pathogenesis and histopathologic spectrum UADT squamous dysplasia.