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Abstract In this study, the structural, elastic, electronic, and thermoelectric properties of full Li2BeAl and Li2BeGa Heusler alloys were explored using density functional and the Boltzmann transport theories. The GGA and HSE approximations have been used for the exchange–correlation potential. Results indicated that these two compounds are more energetically stable in the inverse Heusler structure. Additionally, both Li2BeAl and Li2BeGa Heusler alloys were found to be mechanically stable due to the positive values of the elastic constants. Also, the high values of the Young's modulus indicate that these compounds are stiff and exhibit a semi-metallic nature. The band gaps were determined to be 0.13 eV and − 0.22 eV for Li2BeAl and Li2BeGa alloys, respectively, using the GGA approximation. By employing the HSE hybrid functional, however, the band gap for Li2BeAl increased to 0.26 eV, and for Li2BeGa, it decreased to − 0.16 eV. Regarding thermoelectric properties, Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, electronic and lattice thermal conductivities, power factor, and the figure of merit have been calculated for both Li2BeAl and Li2BeGa Heusler alloys at different temperatures. Seebeck coefficient in both alloys decreases with increasing the temperature and has the highest value at 300 K. Thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity increase with increasing the temperature, which confirms the intermetallic behavior of the Heusler alloys. The results obtained for both alloys show that n-type doping has better thermoelectric properties than p-type doping. The maximum value of the figure of merit (ZT) was obtained for n-type doping, which was 1.43 at 660 K for Li2BeAl and 0.39 at 1000 K for Li2BeGa alloy. The high values of ZT especially for electron-dopped Li2BeAl suggest the great potential of this material for use in thermoelectric devices. This study suggests that the proposed materials have potential applications in spintronic devices and thermoelectric materials due to their intermetallic character and effective thermoelectric coefficients.

The current study aims to evaluate the potential role of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on functional status, physical disability, and pain in patients suffering from low back pain (LBP). ESWT may provide superior therapeutic outcomes in reducing pain and ameliorating the patient's functional status regarding LBP.

The dining sector in developing countries faces numerous challenges, including inefficiencies in order handling, resource management, and ensuring food quality and customer privacy. Traditional methods often lead to delays, errors, and dissatisfaction. This paper proposes a quick-witted, intelligent order-handling system utilizing the Internet of Things (IoT) to address these challenges and enhance the overall dining experience. We present a comprehensive approach to developing and implementing an IoT-based automated order-handling system tailored to restaurants' specific needs and challenges in developing countries, highlighting the importance of technology in enhancing operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. The proposed automated secure order-handling system using IoT demonstrates significant potential for improving efficiency and customer satisfaction in the dining sector. By addressing common problems through advanced technology, this system offers a sustainable solution that enhances the dining experience while ensuring food orders' validity, quality, and privacy. We analyzed the potential impact of implementing such a system in developing countries, focusing on economic and operational benefits.

As the demand for energy-efficient, affordable, and fast processors increases, analog signal processing (ASP) techniques emerge as promising solutions. Embracing innovative transmission and reception methods becomes vital in addressing evolving challenges and demands as technology advances. In this paper, we propose a power-efficient direct analog demodulation method for M-QAM constellations. We study the general structure of the square QAM constellation and also propose a general direct analog demodulation structure for cross QAM constellations. Additionally, this paper investigates a novel approach for implementing ADC-less joint analog demodulation and decoding (JADD) in wide-band multi-gigabit-per-second applications. On the transmitter side, new processes based on multi-carrier transmission are employed to separately transmit the message and modified parity bits. The message bits are divided into block and non-block bits. Both the message and modified parity bits are demodulated analogously, and the joint analog demodulation and decoder are applied. Our analysis and simulations show that the proposed JADD model improves system performance in terms of bit error rate (BER) while achieving a $12\times $ power saving. Moreover, our proposed analog demodulation scheme can achieve the same error performance as its digital counterpart with more than $28\times $ power savings.

Evapotranspiration is one of the most important elements of the hydrological cycle. Estimation of evapotranspiration is imperative for effective forest, irrigation, rangeland and water resources management as well as to increase yields and for better crop management. The aim of this study is to calibrate the SEBAL algorithm in estimating evapotranspiration in the Sohrin-Qaracheryan plain, which is affected by flood spreading. In this study, Landsat 8 satellite images were used in 2020-2021 to obtain the coefficients of the relevant bands. Then, the net radiation flux on the earth’s surface and the earth’s heat flux is obtained using incoming-outgoing radiation fluxes from albedo, surface emissivity, land surface temperature, and plant indicators. Next, the sensible heat flux is calculated by determining the hot and cold pixels. Finally, evapotranspiration maps are plotted. Based on the results of this research evapotranspiration obtained from soil water balance model and SEBAL algorithm were estimated as 24115 and 19642 m3, respectively. Also, the calibration of the results obtained from the SEBAL algorithm with reference evapotranspiration was done using R2 and RMSE statistical indices, and were calculated the values of these two indices as 0.64 and 2.15, respectively.

Abstract Background Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a benign neoplasm with a broad spectrum of presentations. The treatment of FD in the hip region is controversial among orthopedic surgeons. Several treatment options exist, including curettage and grafting, valgus osteotomy, medial displacement osteotomy, and so on. Performing total hip arthroplasty (THA) on these patients and their subsequent outcome is still in infancy. Case presentation The patient is a 32-year-old white female with bilateral proximal femur FD who underwent bilateral THA with long stem implants. A year following surgery, she had no complications and had satisfactory radiological, pain, and functional outcomes. Conclusion A bilateral THA with a long stem prosthesis showed promising results when performed following appropriate curettage of the proximal bone in an FD case. A cementless long stem could have enabled better diaphyseal fixation distal to the lesion site.

Purpose – This research explores the spillovers and portfolio implications for green bonds and environmental, social and governance (ESG) assets in the context of the rapidly expanding trend in green finance investments and the need for a green recovery in the post-COVID-19 era. Design/methodology/approach – This study utilizes Diebold and Yilmaz’s (2014) spillover method and portfolio strategies (hedge ratio, optimal weights and hedging effectiveness) for the data starting from February 29, 2012, to March 14, 2022. Findings – The study’s findings reveal that the lower volatility spillover is evidenced between the green bonds and ESG stocks during tranquil and turbulent periods (e.g. COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine War). Furthermore, hedging costs are lower both in normal times and during economic slumps. Investing the bulk of the funds in green bonds makes it possible to achieve maximum hedging effectiveness between the S&P green bond (GB) and the S&P 500 ESG. Practical implications – Both investors and policymakers may use these findings to make wise investment and policy choices to achieve post-COVID environmental sustainability. Originality/value – Unlike previous research, this is the first to explore the interconnectedness among the major global and country-specific green bonds and ESG assets. The major findings of this study about the lower volatility spillovers and hedging costs between green bonds and ESG assets during the tranquil and turbulent periods may contribute to the post-COVID investment portfolio for environmental sustainability.

This study aimed to examine the effect of various live foods on the fatty acids (FAs) and amino acids (AAs) profiles in Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) larvae. One thousand and two hundred larvae were cultured in circular concrete tanks, and four treatments were administered as: (1) Artemia + Daphnia, (2) Artemia, (3) Artemia + Chironomid, and (4) Chironomid. Each treatment was considered as three replicates over an 11-day period. At the end of the experiment, treatment 1 (Artemia + Daphnia) showed the highest average weight of larvae, and the lowest weight was observed in treatment 4 (Chironomid). Survival rate ranged from 83.84% to 88.86% and no significant difference was observed among the groups (P >0.05). Among Artemia-fed larvae, the predominant FAs were docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), oleic acid (ω9), and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), while saturated fatty acids (SFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (ω3 + ω6) were present in a lesser proportion (P 0.05). The results of this study suggest that the Persian sturgeon larvae possess the ability to maintain a balanced state of AAs. It is also evident that the FA profile of different live foods can affect the overall FA levels in the body of Persian sturgeon larvae, ultimately contributing to the enhancement of fish survival rate and growth.

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Kienbock disease (KD) was described by Robert Kienbock in 1910 as osteomalacia of the lunate. A century has passed since the first description of KD, and numerous theories, classifications, and treatments have been published for achieving the best outcomes for this disease, but the treatments remain controversial among surgeons. Various classifications have been proposed for KD based on radiography, MRI, arthroscopy, and morphology from 1947 to 2017. Recently, the pioneers of KD (Lichtman and Bain) proposed a new classification based on all the previous classification (radiographic, MRI, and Arthroscopy). This classification seems to be the best evaluation method and treatment for KD. We recommend using this new classification for assessment of Kienbock disease.

AbstractWe describe a case of minoxidil overdose which led to a prolonged distributive shock. Although this was a case of combined trauma presenting with self-inflicted lacerations and intentional overdose via ingestion of minoxidil-finasteride topical spray and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), we believe the hypotension encountered was due to minoxidil’s effects and not exsanguination. In conjunction with poison control, our patient was successfully managed with phenylephrine, vasopressin, midodrine, and several liters of IV hydration despite prolonged refractory hypotension.

Abstract Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) presents clinical symptoms of menstrual abnormalities, excessive hair growth (hirsutism), scalp hair loss, acne and infertility. Metabolic abnormalities such as obesity, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance and cardiovascular problems constitute an essential part of PCOS, all of which can have significant long-term health consequences. Low-grade chronic inflammation demonstrated by persistent moderately elevated serum levels of inflammatory and coagulatory markers plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) constitute the mainstay of pharmacologic therapy for women with PCOS to regularize cyclicity and ameliorate androgen excess. On the other hand, OCP use is associated with various venous thromboembolic and proinflammatory events in the general population. PCOS women always carriers the increased lifetime risk of these events. The studies on the effect of OCPs on inflammatory, coagulation and metabolic parameters in PCOS are less robust. Therefore in this study, we investigated and compared the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression profiles of genes implicated in inflammatory and coagulation pathways between drug-naive and OCP-treated PCOS women. The selected genes include intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). Furthermore, the correlation between the selected markers and various metabolic indices in the OCP group has also been explored. Method The relative amounts of ICAM-1, TNF-α, MCP-1 and PAI-1 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 25 drug-naive PCOS subjects (controls) and 25 PCOS subjects who received OCPs containing 0.03 mg-ethinyl-estradiol and 0.15 mg-levonorgestrel for at least six months (cases) were estimated using real-time qPCR. The statistical interpretation was conducted using SPSS version 20.0 (SPSS, Inc, Chicago, IL), Epi Info version 2002 (Disease Control and Prevention Centres, Atlanta, GA) and GraphPad Prism 5 (GraphPad Software, La Jolla, CA) software. Result Six months of OCP therapy enhanced the expression of inflammatory genes viz ICAM-1, TNF-α and MCP-1 mRNA in PCOS women by 2.54, 2.05 and 1.74 folds, respectively, in this study. However, PAI-1 mRNA in the OCP group showed no significant increase. Furthermore, in cases, ICAM-1 mRNA expression positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.01), fasting insulin (p = 0.01), insulin 2 h p = 0.02), glucose 2 h (p = 0.01) and triglycerides (p = 0.01). TNF-α mRNA expression positively correlated with fasting insulin (p = 0.0007). MCP-1 mRNA expression positively correlated with (BMI) (p = 0.002). Conclusion OCPs helped reduce clinical hyperandrogenism and regularise menstrual cycles in women with PCOS. However, OCP use was associated with increased fold expression of inflammatory markers which positively correlated with metabolic abnormalities.

Zinc oxide and polylactic-co-glycolic acid (ZnO-PLGA) nanocomposites are known to exhibit different biomedical applications and antibacterial activity, which could be beneficial for adding to wound dressings after different surgeries. However, possible cytotoxic effects along with various unexpected activities could reduce the use of these prominent systems. This is correlated to the property of ZnO, which exhibits different polymeric forms, in particular, wurtzite, zinc-blende, and rocksalt. In this study, we propose a computational approach based on the density functional theory to investigate the properties of ZnO-PLGA systems in detail. First, three different stable polymorphs of ZnO were considered. Subsequently, the abilities of each system to absorb the PLGA copolymer were thoroughly investigated, taking into account the modulation of electrical, optical, and mechanical properties. Significant differences between ZnO and PLGA systems have been found; in this study, we remark on the potential use of these models and the necessity to describe crucial surface aspects that might be challenging to observe with experimental approaches but which can modulate the performance of nanocomposites.

The use of dietary ginger (Zingiber officinale) and curcumin as immunostimulants is a promising method in fish culture. This study evaluated the impacts of dietary ginger extract and curcumin on growth, hematology, immune and antioxidant status, and expression of some growth and immune related genes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fingerlings. Fish (7.5 ± 0.1 g) were randomly distributed into 12 fiberglass tanks (30 fish per tank), divided into four treatments in triplicate and received no supplementation (control) and diets supplemented with 0.5% ginger extract (ginger treatment), 0.5% curcumin (curcumin treatment), and 0.5% ginger extract plus 0.5% curcumin (mix treatment). The growth of fish and muscle crude protein content were highest in the mix treatment. Higher protein efficiency ratio, hemoglobin, and plasma ALP activity were observed in fish fed supplemented diets than the control. Red blood cells (RBC) counts and hematocrit value were higher in the ginger treatment, then curcumin and mix treatments and lower in the control. White blood cells (WBC) counts and plasma lysozyme, ACH50, catalase, and SOD activities were highest in fish fed the mix diet. Moreover, plasma C4 value and GPx activity were significantly higher and triglyceride value was lower in the curcumin and mix treatments compared to the control and ginger treatments. The highest plasma C3 and total immunoglobulin (Ig) values were found in fish fed curcumin and mix diets, but those were not significantly different from the ginger treatment. Growth hormone (GH) and lysozyme relative expression levels were highest in fish fed the mix diet and lowest in the control. Thus, the combination of 0.5% ginger extract and 0.5% curcumin (mix diet) to improve growth, body composition, hematology, immune responses, and antioxidant status in rainbow trout can be recommended.

Intertrochanteric (IT) fractures are responsible for almost half of the fractures in the elderly. The financial burdens of IT fractures are considerable, not only because of their influence on morbidity and mortality but also because they might lead to functional limitation, alleviated quality of life, and a limited possibility to work. There are several methods of fixations for IT fractures, such as cephalomedullary nailing, dynamic hip screw (DHS), proximal femur plate, and external fixator. Most of the patients with this fracture were unsuitable for anesthesia and surgical procedure. The external fixator is a fast, non-invasive, and bloodless method for fixation which would be performed with light sedation. In the present study, we reviewed recent literature regarding external fixators for IT fractures.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cognitive strategies on reading performance of students with special learning disabilities. The research method was quasi-experimental with pretest-posttest design with control group. The statistical population of this study included students with learning disabilities in Ahar city who referred to the Learning Disabilities Center in the academic year 2019-2020, of which 20 were randomly selected and divided into experimental and control group. The instruments Hosaini, et al. reading and dyslexic test and Den educational package of cognitive strategies. The results of statistical analysis of covariance showed that the mean scores of post-tests in both reading and comprehension test were significantly different. The mean post-test of the experimental group was improved compared to the control group. Therefore, it can be concluded that teaching cognitive strategies had a positive and significant effect on reading and comprehension of children with special learning disabilities. Designing and implementing cognitive strategic programs for other students with developmental neurological disorders, as well as holding in-service training courses on cognitive strategies, is recommended for teachers.

In this study, gold nanoparticles were synthesized by laser ablation of Au bulk in distilled water. The laser used is Nd: YAG laser, which has a fundamental harmonic wavelength (λ=1064nm) and second harmonic wavelength (λ=532nm). In order to control the size of Au nanoparticles (NPs), we used sodium citrate as a stabilizer. Morphology, structure and linear optical properties of Au NPs samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM observation), XRD diffraction (XRD) and UV–Visible spectroscopy. Furthermore, the chemical structure in solution of Au NPs was studied by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The nonlinear optical parameters of these Au NPs were studied using the Z-scan method. We found the optimal values of fluencies and laser pulse repetition rates to achieve the smallest size values and the most distribution of the produced gold nanoparticles. It is resulted that due to the very small size of NPs, the nonlinear optical parameters show larger values. It is 107 order of magnitude larger than what has been reported for the nonlinear refractive index in previous researches. In addition, gold nanoparticles that are produced with a laser wavelength of 1064 nm and have a high nonlinear refractive index can be used in chip-based sensors. Finally, the use of these Au NPs in optical switching devices was investigated by the two figures of merit method, which indicated that these Au NPs are practical tools for optical switching devices.

Abstract Background Human papilloma virus (HPV) causes the most common sexually-transmitted infection especially among sexually-active individuals. The aim of study was to characterize the molecular characterization of HPV genotypes between 5176 female and male patients. Methods HPV DNA was extracted from genital swabs of the study participants and amplified by Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Genotyping was performed for 2525 cases using REALQUALITY RQ-Multi HPV Detection Kit for the identification of 14 high risk (HR) and 2 low risk (LR) HPV genotypes. Demographic figures were analyzed in correlation with virological data statistically. Results Out of 5176 cases from 7 laboratories, 2727 (53%) were positive for HPV, of which. 2372(87%) women and 355 (13%) men were HPV positive. However, in an intra-gender analysis, positive rate was higher in men (355/637, 55.7%) than in women (2372/4539, 52%; P value 0.007). HPV positive patients were younger than negative individuals. Positive rate was higher among age categories 20–40. Genotyping was performed for 2525 cases. Out of 1219 (48%) patients who contained single genotypes, 566 (22%) and 653 (26%) harboured HR and LR genotypes, respectively. In females and males, 1189 (54%) and 117 (37%) contained multiple genotypes. No substantial associations were found between different age categories and HR/LR and multiple genotypes distribution. Conclusion The prevalence of HPV infection in both genders was high. However, men had a higher rate of infection. These observations highlighted the necessity for a plan for targeted education to younger population in the society as well as application of infection control measures against HPV infection, especially in terms of general population mass HPV vaccination.

Abstract An important challenge to decrease the toxic effects of the common biocides in marine environments and to achieve suitable ecofriendly natural antifouling coatings is to find effective natural antifoulants and efficient biodegradable coatings. In this study, antifouling activities of nine bioactive extracts (non-polar to polar) from different organs of the sea cucumber Stichopus herrmanni were tested against five bacterial strains, barnacle and brine shrimp larvae. The ethyl acetate extract of the body wall showed the highest in-vitro antifouling activity including high antibacterial and anti-barnacle activities and low toxicity against the brine shrimp as non-target organism. Based on these results, 10 phr of the ethyl acetate extract from S.herrmanni was added to different coatings consisting of polycaprolactone (PCL)/polylactic acid (PLA) blends containing various compositions of PLA (0, 10, and 20 wt.%). Polyvinyl chloride panels were coated with the prepared antifouling coatings and immersed in seawater for three months. Panel coated with PCL 80% /PLA 20% containing 10 phr of the antifoulant (panel-5), showed the highest resistance against fouling settlement with fouling coverage of 41.66% (P

In this article, we compare several approaches to segmenting glacial lakes in the Hindu Kush Himalayas in order to support glacial lake area mapping. More automatic mapping could support risk assessments of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods, a type of natural hazard that poses a risk to communities and infrastructure in valleys below glacial lakes. We propose and evaluate several approaches that incorporate labels from a 2015 survey using Landsat 7 ETM+ SLC-off imagery to guide segmentation on newer higher resolution satellite images such as Sentinel 2 and Bing Maps imagery, comparing them also to approaches that do not use this form of weak prior. We find that a guided version of U-Net and a properly initialized form of morphological snakes are most effective for these two datasets, respectively, each providing between an 8–10% intersection-over-union improvement over existing U-Net segmentation approaches. An error analysis highlights the strengths and limitations of each method. We design visualizations to support the discovery of lakes of potential concern, including an interactive exploratory interface. All the codes supporting our study are released in public repositories.

Abstract Purpose Pelvic obliquity (PO) has not been extensively investigated, and there is no gold standard for measurement. The PO is essential for surgeons in planning hip arthroplasty, which includes the restoration of leg length discrepancy (LLD). We aimed to establish a normative range of PO angles by measuring healthy individuals without musculoskeletal disorders. Methods Our study included 134 consecutive cases (70 females) referred to our institution between April 2020 and September 2021 for non‐orthopedic problems. Patients were screened for normal gait and posture using the visual observation method (VOM) and the Modified Gait Abnormality Rating Scale (GARS‐M). In standing standard radiographs, the PO angle was measured as the angle between the horizontal plane and the inter‐teardrop line. Results Patients' mean age and Body Mass Index (BMI) were 39.7 ± 16.8 and 22.3 ± 3.1, respectively. PO angles did not follow a normal distribution, with a median (IQR) of 2.0° (0.9°—3.1°). According to the Wilcoxon one‐sample test, the median PO angle differed significantly from zero (P

During an open fracture, the barrier of skin that protects the bones is breached, and the unprotected bones are exposed to the environment, resulting in contamination that leads to hematoma formation. It is often found that open fractures are associated with a high rate of morbidity and infection. In spite of the lack of evidence supporting negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), open fractures may benefit from it. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that it can be used to treat open fractures and open complex wounds after failure of arthroplasty or spinal surgery. Based on the recent studies and evidence, we reviewed the role of the NPWT in the open fracture in the present study.

No abstract is available.

Abstract This research aims to study the salinity and pH dilution pattern of discharged brine of the Konarak desalination plant into the Chabahar bay, their relation on coastal environment, and type of its brine discharge. Due to the shallow water depth of the coast and type of brine discharge, evaluating the salinity and pH was done with a sampling of surface seawater. The type of brine disposal is a direct surface discharge of negatively buoyant flow in the coastal environment of Chabahar bay. The brine discharge mechanism is a shore-attached surface jet, which is most likely influenced by the cross-flow deflection, dynamic shoreline interaction, and more minor by bottom attachment factors. The laboratory simulations using actual brine and seawater and either satellite pictures support the finding dilution pattern. The zone of initial dilution is under 50 m which, in the long run, can affect the quality of water of intake seawater pool of the plant.

Background and objectives: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection differs in urban and rural population. In our country, no previous study investigated the H. pylori infection in rural population. The aim of the present study was to find out the status of H. pylori infection among the Bangladeshi asymptomatic rural adult population. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in a rural area located about 40 km north-east of capital Dhaka. Apparently healthy non-diabetic, pre-diabetic and diabetic adults (18 years and above) were enrolled in this study. A structured questionnaire was developed to record the socio-demographic and clinical information. H. pylori infection status was determined by the presence of anti- H. pylori IgG antibody in blood. Serum anti-H.pylori IgG antibodies were determined by immunochromatographic test (ICT) method. Results: A total number of 180 apparently healthy adult individuals were enrolled of which 112, 40 and 28 were non-diabetic, pre-diabetic and diabetic respectively. Out of 180 individuals, anti- H. pylori IgG was present in 70 (38.9%, CI: 32.1, 46.2) cases. Infection rate was 50%, 27.5% and 43.5% in 19-30, 31-50 and >50 years age group respectively. Infection rate was significantly (p< 0.05) low in 31-50 years age group compared to 19-30 and > 50 years age groups. H. pylori infection rates in male and female were 42.6% (CI: 29.2, 56.8) and 37.3% (CI: 28.9, 46.4) respectively (p=0.50). There was no significant (p>0.05) association of H. pylori infection with economic status, education level, occupation and tobacco consumption of the study population. The rate of H. pylori infection in non-diabetic, pre-diabetic and diabetic individuals were not significantly different from each other. Conclusion: The study revealed a low prevalence of H. pylori infection in rural population of Bangladesh. There was no significant association of H. pylori infection with several sociodemographic status and diabetes. IMC J Med Sci 2021; 15(1): 007. OPEN ACCESS *Correspondence: Jalaluddin Ashraful Haq, Department of Microbiology, Ibrahim Medical College, 1/A Ibrahim Sarani, Segunbagicha, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh. Email: jahaq54@yahoo.com

The spine, pelvis, and hip are three anatomic structures that tightly interact to create spinopelvic mobility and harmony. Orthopaedic surgeons, both spine and hip specialists, must have a complete awareness of this concept. Recently, the literature has placed great emphasis on paying attention to these parameters in the preoperative planning of the total hip arthroplasty (THA). We could distinguish between balanced and unbalanced pelvis and spine with spinopelvic parameters and therefore, we could diagnose the spinopelvic stiffness that is important in preventing complications following THA. This review briefly introduces the importance of spinopelvic parameters and their critical role in THA outcome. Treatment algorithms are also provided based on the most recent studies.

Background: This study aimed to present a rare case of a failed dynamic hip screw (DHS) used for fixation of intertrochanteric fracture sliding into the pelvis and to review the most common causes of DHS failure in order to prevent this from happening in the future. Case Report: A 68-year-old woman was referred to the orthopedics clinic with left hip pain and limping from 6 months ago. In our evaluation, she had DHS failure and intrapelvic protrusion. Conclusion: There have been several aspects of the previously described DHS failure. We performed a two-stage total hip arthroplasty (THA) for the patient with a good one-year follow-up in the present case.

Background and objectives: The childhood population in Bangladesh is ~20% of the 166.5 million. The rural population comprises almost 70%. Approximately, Bangladesh has more than 23,500 high schools. There has been no published data on the profile of illness commonly observed among the high school children. The aims of the study were a) to determine a profile of common illness among the students of rural high schools; b) to assess the nutrition status related to socio-economic class and c) to find out the correlations between anthropometry and blood pressure and between anthropometry and blood glucose status. Methods: The study was conducted in purposively selected high schools in Santhia thana under the district of Pabna. Local leaders and the school teachers volunteered to communicate the study objectives and investigation details to the eligible students. The teachers prepared the list of participants. All the willing participants were advised to attend the investigation site in the morning in a fasting state. Each participant was interviewed. Socio-demographic and clinical history was taken. Investigations included anthropometry – height (ht), weight (wt), waist- and hip-circumference (waist, hip). Adiposity indices namely body mass index (BMI – wt in kg/ht in met. sq.), waist/hip ratio (WHR) and waist/ht ratio (WHtR) were calculated. Resting blood pressure was taken. Clinical examination (general and systemic) was done. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) was estimated using glucometer strip and blood grouping by test kit. Test kit was also used for detection of urinary protein. Results: From six schools, 1069 students (boys/girls = 392/677) of age 10 to 19 years participated in the study. The participants from middle class family were 52.7% and upper were 14.4%. Their mothers were mostly housewives (95.5%) and only 16% had academic education of ten years or more. The mean (± SD) values of BMI, WHR, WHtR and FBG were 18.2 (± 2.9), 0.81 (± 0.07), 0.43 (± 0.05) and 5.26 (± 0.45) mmol/L respectively. Adiposity was significantly higher in upper socio-economic class than the middle and lower class, though no differences were observed in blood pressure and blood glucose level. Of the illnesses, the most common were sinusitis (21.4%), tonsillitis (13.3%) and toothache plus dental caries (10.7%). Conclusions: The most common illnesses were sinusitis, tonsillitis and dental caries. Anthropometric measures indicated that adiposity was not uncommon in rural children. Though adiposity was found higher among the upper than the lower socio-economic class, blood pressure and blood glucose level showed no difference indicating equal risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) irrespective of socio-economic class. These findings envisage that the existing status of child health might lead to NCDs in adult life. We suggest adiposity, blood pressure and blood glucose status of a high school cohort may be prospectively followed for eventual future health events. IMC J Med Sci 2020; 14(2): 007. EPub date: 07 March 2021. OPEN ACCESS *Correspondence: Tanjima Begum, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, BIRDEM General Hospital, Shabhag, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Email: tanjima1982@gmail.com

Abstract Iran has faced with water scarcity problem for a long time. There is a strong tendency to desalinate seawater from Oman or the Caspian Sea as intake seawater and transfer it to central parts of the country. These projects face significant technical, economic, and environmental challenges. In this work, utilizing available economic theories about single-stage reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plants, the cost analysis of a conceptual plant with a production capacity of 200,000 m3/day, was accomplished assuming the use of Oman and Caspian seawater as feed. The effect of important parameters such as applied pressure, recovery ratio, total salt content of the feed, and produced water and the temperature has been studied theoretically. The results show that under the same working conditions, the final product price per cubic meter of freshwater from the Caspian Sea is $ 0.69 versus $ 1.24 for the Oman Sea, which is about 50% cheaper. The lower salinity of the Caspian Sea compared to the Oman Sea is the main reason, which lead to reduce in the capital cost of the RO membrane (62% difference), cost of the intake and pretreatment (20%), and cost of membrane elements replacement (13%) regardless of water transfer cost.

Abstract Low back pain (LBP) is a major health concern and is closely associated with psychosocial morbidity and diminished Health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This is minimally investigated in community-based samples of developing nations like India. This study is aimed to specifically investigate the exposure-outcome associations between LBP and burden of disability (Modified Oswestry questionnaire (MODQ)), psychological morbidities (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21)), and HRQoL (Short Form -12 version 2 (SF12V2). A Cross-sectional study using a community-based sample of LBP positive population was conducted. The range of treatment options sought was also collected. Chi-square tests and independent t-test were used to analyze the data. Of 1531 recruited participants, 871(57%) were identified as LBP positive of whom 60% were females. Mean (SD) of age and pain intensity of LBP patients was 33 (11) years and numeric rating scale4.2 (2.6) respectively. Two-third reported minimal/moderate disability. Mean (SD) scores of depression 11.87 (4.05), anxiety (8.32), stress 13.7 (5.98), physical and mental summary scores of SF-12v2 were 47.9 (7.4) and 42.2 (10.4). A multitude of remedial options was sought for the ailment. LBP causes significant disability and psychological morbidity among affected population. This may adversely affect their HRQoL and subsequently productivity. Acupuncture was a preferred treatment sought by Indian LBP patients.

Background: Pain control and proper anesthesia during pulp therapy is one of the most important aspects of behavior management in pediatric dentistry. Aims: This study compared the success rate of inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) using 2% lidocaine and infiltration using 4% articaine for pulpotomy of mandibular primary second molars. Settings and Design: The present clinical trial was conducted on 40 children aged 5–8 referred to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, who needed pulpotomy treatment in both mandibular second molars. The patients were randomly divided into two groups (A and B). Subjects and Methods: At the first session, Group A received articaine infiltration and Group B experienced IANB using lidocaine. At the next visit, this trend was reversed. Pain intensity was measured upon the initiation of the pulp exposure using a facial image scale (FIS) and the patients' behavior during pulpotomy was measured using sound eye motor (SEM). Statistical Analysis Used: Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for the analysis of data. A significant level of differences was taken as P ≤ 0.05. Results: According to FIS, the pain upon the initiation of the pulp exposure was significantly lower in the lidocaine group (P = 0.028). Patients' behavior was also significantly better in the lidocaine group according to SEM (P = 0.028). Conclusions: IANB using lidocaine has higher anesthetic efficacy in the pulp therapy of the mandibular primary second molars compared to articaine infiltration.

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No abstract is available.

No abstract is available.