Polycystic ovary syndrome

Thedescription of polycystic ovaries dates back as far as 17211 but it was Stein and Leventhal who first reported the disorder, that we now know as the polycystic ovary (or ovarian) syndrome (PCOS), in seven women with amenorrhoea, enlarged ovaries with multiple cysts and hirsutism.2 These patients were treated with ovarian wedge resection and of the seven all had return of their menstrual cycles, and two conceived. With the advent of hormonal assays in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, the diagnostic focus expanded to include endocrine abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis.3 Elevated luteinising hormone (LH) levels and hyperandrogenaemia were therefore added to the diagnostic criteria for PCOS.4 The advent of pelvic ultrasonography in the late 1970’s allowed for the non-invasive detection of polycystic ovarian morphology. However, this tool confounded matters when it was discovered that polycystic ovaries was a “common finding in normal women”,5 and that it also occurred in diverse endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinaemia,  congenital adrenal hyperplasia and hypothalamic amenorrhoea.6 The finding of polycystic ovaries in normal women has been variably referred to as polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD), polycystic ovaries (PCO) and polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM). We prefer the to use the term PCOM in this setting as it simply describes the ultrasound appearance of the ovaries without any syndromic connotations. Despite the strong link between diabetes mellitus and PCOS, it was only in 1980 when Burghen and coworkers first described hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance in PCOS.7 This has subsequently been confirmed by many others. The identification of PCOS now encompasses a heterogeneous presentation but has at its core three principal features:i. Hyperandrogenismii. Anovulation, and/oriii. Polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) on ultrasonography Keywords: polycystic ovary syndrome, PCOS, polycystic ovarian disease, PCOD, polycystic ovarian morphology, PCO

MICRO‐TEXTURED BORON NITRIDE NANOPLATELET MODIFIED POLYETHYLENE FILMS

Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) micro‐textured films filled with boron nitride nanoplatelets (BNN) were produced by continuous melt extrusion. Nanoparticles displayed a significant extent of dispersion inside the matrix. The addition of BNN led to more than 10‐fold increase of the in‐plane thermal conductivity (TC) of the nanocomposite (7.7 W/m.K vs 0.3 W/m.K for pure LLDPE), and 1.3‐fold increase of through thickness TC. To increase the surface area available for convective heat transfer, micro‐textured films (T‐BNN) were produced from a micro‐patterned die. Nanoplatelets were aligned parallel to the film machine direction. Film stiffness and tensile strength are comparable to the base LLDPE. Textures and BNN lubricant property helped to decrease the coefficientof friction

Processing of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites by Three Dimensional Photolithography

The reinforcement of photoresins with continuous carbon fibers is discussed in this paper. The processing was conducted in an automated desktop photolithography unit (ADPU) developed and built in-house. Continuous fibers were added in situ to the photoresin to obtain composite samples containing over 20 vol% of the fibers. The tensile strength of these composites improved by at least a factor of 2 as compared to that of the pure photoresins. It is also noted that the photoresin could be partially cured to develop sufficient green strength in the composite samples even though the fibers are opaque to ultraviolet radiation. These results indicate the potential of this technique to produce functional composite components in conjunction with a 3-D photolithography apparatus.Mechanical Engineerin

CEFUROXIME-INDUCED THROMBOCYTOPENIA: IT'S JUST NOT IN THE RING??

Beta lactams are one of the most commonly used antibiotic groups in clinical practice, owing to their relatively superior safety profile, when weighed against other available antibiotics. Cephalosporins have overgrown over the years, now extending across five generations of drugs. Older cephalosporins are still commonly used, chiefly because of their low cost and minimal adverse effects. However, no drug is entirely free of adverse effects. Cephalosporins (especially those with a methylthiotetrazole ring) have been associated with bleeding manifestations due to hypoprothrombinemia and thrombocytopenia in susceptible subsets of the global population. This case report concerns the use of a cephalosporin that does not have this ring in its structure, but has still caused a rare instance of thrombocytopeniaKeywords: Beta lactam, Cefuroxime, Platelets, Bleeding, Methylthiotetrazole

Surface Anchoring of Nematic Phase on Carbon Nanotubes: Nanostructure of Ultra-High Temperature Materials

Nuclear energy is a dependable and economical source of electricity. Because fuel supply sources are available domestically, nuclear energy can be a strong domestic industry that can reduce dependence on foreign energy sources. Commercial nuclear power plants have extensive security measures to protect the facility from intruders [1]. However, additional research efforts are needed to increase the inherent process safety of nuclear energy plants to protect the public in the event of a reactor malfunction. The next generation nuclear plant (NGNP) is envisioned to utilize a very high temperature reactor (VHTR) design with an operating temperature of 650-1000ðC [2]. One of the most important safety design requirements for this reactor is that it must be inherently safe, i.e., the reactor must shut down safely in the event that the coolant flow is interrupted [2]. This next-generation Gen IV reactor must operate in an inherently safe mode where the off-normal temperatures may reach 1500ðC due to coolant-flow interruption. Metallic alloys used currently in reactor internals will melt at such temperatures. Structural materials that will not melt at such ultra-high temperatures are carbon/graphtic fibers and carbon-matrix composites. Graphite does not have a measurable melting point; it is known to sublime starting about 3300ðC. However, neutron radiation-damage effects on carbon fibers are poorly understood. Therefore, the goal of this project is to obtain a fundamental understanding of the role of nanotexture on the properties of resulting carbon fibers and their neutron-damage characteristics. Although polygranular graphite has been used in nuclear environment for almost fifty years, it is not suitable for structural applications because it do not possess adequate strength, stiffness, or toughness that is required of structural components such as reaction control-rods, upper plenum shroud, and lower core-support plate [2,3]. For structural purposes, composites consisting of strong carbon fibers embedded in a carbon matrix are needed. Such carbon/carbon (C/C) composites have been used in aerospace industry to produce missile nose cones, space shuttle leading edge, and aircraft brake-pads. However, radiation-tolerance of such materials is not adequately known because only limited radiation studies have been performed on C/C composites, which suggest that pitch-based carbon fibers have better dimensional stability than that of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based fibers [4]. The thermodynamically-stable state of graphitic crystalline packing of carbon atoms derived from mesophase pitch leads to a greater stability during neutron irradiation [5]. The specific objectives of this project were: (i) to generating novel carbonaceous nanostructures, (ii) measure extent of graphitic crystallinity and the extent of anisotropy, and (iii) collaborate with the Carbon Materials group at Oak Ridge National Lab to have neutron irradiation studies and post-irradiation examinations conducted on the carbon fibers produced in this research project

Surface Anchoring of Nematic Phase on Carbon Nanotubes: Nanostructure of Ultra-High Temperature Materials

Nuclear energy is a dependable and economical source of electricity. Because fuel supply sources are available domestically, nuclear energy can be a strong domestic industry that can reduce dependence on foreign energy sources. Commercial nuclear power plants have extensive security measures to protect the facility from intruders [1]. However, additional research efforts are needed to increase the inherent process safety of nuclear energy plants to protect the public in the event of a reactor malfunction. The next generation nuclear plant (NGNP) is envisioned to utilize a very high temperature reactor (VHTR) design with an operating temperature of 650-1000ðC [2]. One of the most important safety design requirements for this reactor is that it must be inherently safe, i.e., the reactor must shut down safely in the event that the coolant flow is interrupted [2]. This next-generation Gen IV reactor must operate in an inherently safe mode where the off-normal temperatures may reach 1500ðC due to coolant-flow interruption. Metallic alloys used currently in reactor internals will melt at such temperatures. Structural materials that will not melt at such ultra-high temperatures are carbon/graphtic fibers and carbon-matrix composites. Graphite does not have a measurable melting point; it is known to sublime starting about 3300ðC. However, neutron radiation-damage effects on carbon fibers are poorly understood. Therefore, the goal of this project is to obtain a fundamental understanding of the role of nanotexture on the properties of resulting carbon fibers and their neutron-damage characteristics. Although polygranular graphite has been used in nuclear environment for almost fifty years, it is not suitable for structural applications because it do not possess adequate strength, stiffness, or toughness that is required of structural components such as reaction control-rods, upper plenum shroud, and lower core-support plate [2,3]. For structural purposes, composites consisting of strong carbon fibers embedded in a carbon matrix are needed. Such carbon/carbon (C/C) composites have been used in aerospace industry to produce missile nose cones, space shuttle leading edge, and aircraft brake-pads. However, radiation-tolerance of such materials is not adequately known because only limited radiation studies have been performed on C/C composites, which suggest that pitch-based carbon fibers have better dimensional stability than that of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based fibers [4]. The thermodynamically-stable state of graphitic crystalline packing of carbon atoms derived from mesophase pitch leads to a greater stability during neutron irradiation [5]. The specific objectives of this project were: (i) to generating novel carbonaceous nanostructures, (ii) measure extent of graphitic crystallinity and the extent of anisotropy, and (iii) collaborate with the Carbon Materials group at Oak Ridge National Lab to have neutron irradiation studies and post-irradiation examinations conducted on the carbon fibers produced in this research project

A new species of the enigmatic genus \u3cem\u3eChiromachetes\u3c/em\u3e Pocock, 1899 (Scorpiones: Hormuridae) from Western Ghats, India, with a key to the genus

A new species of hormurid scorpion is described from the Western Ghats of India. Chiromachetes sahyadriensis sp. nov. differs from other members of this genus in the following set of characters: medium sized scorpions, total length reaching 62.9 mm, carapace flat, three pairs of lateral eyes, manus length/width ratio in males 4.6–4.8 and 3.4 in females, tarsi of leg ventrally with three spinoid setae at the base of tarsi. Dentate margin of pedipalp manus finger with two rows of granules fused at base. Pectines 8–9 in males, 6–8 in females. Lamellar hook positioned distinctly in basal half of hemispermatophore in proximity to the lamellae

Turbidity removal at twenty-one South African water treatment plants

Abstract: The Water Research Group at the Rand Afrikaans University undertook an ambitious sampling and monitoring programme at twenty-one South African water treatment plants during 2000 and 2001. At some of these plants, there were parallel but different treatment trains due to plant extensions being made at different times. A total of 25 full or partial treatment trains could therefore be monitored. A total of 115 plant visits were made over a period of fifteen months, with samples taken throughout the plant, covering the complete treatment train from raw to final water. Amongst other parameters, the turbidity of each sample was determined on site immediately upon sampling. This paper will summarise and interpret the resulting data set of approximately 1300 turbidity values. The paper will firstly characterise the raw and final waters respectively. In other words, how does typical raw water vary, and how good is the typical final water produced? The second part will summarise the typical performance of each of the treatment processes. In other words, what reduction in turbidity is typically achieved during settling, dissolved air flotation and filtration? The paper will make a practical contribution in providing a benchmark to all operators of treatment plants by: · being able to immediately "position" themselves within a typical range of raw water values. · judging their final water quality against what is generally achieved, and · evaluating and troubleshooting their individual process units against what is generally achieved