The potential for high performance HgCdTe arrays at 4 microns

The potential of existing technology at Rockwell International in terms of the goals for astronomical detector arrays in the 3 to 5 micron interval is evaluated. Measurements have been obtained for a number of samples of HgCdTe diodes manufactured by Rockwell International. All the diodes reported on here had cutoff wavelengths at high temperatures of 4.6 to 4.7 microns. Although no confirming measurements were made, the cutoff wavelength is expected to move to 5 microns or beyond at the low temperatures of our tests. Diode sizes ranged from 20 to 150 microns. The test program yielded full diode curves and relative response at 3.4 microns for the sample diodes as a function of temperature. Dark currents are quoted below as the current passing through the diode with a back bias of 50 mV. The various diode types showed a wide range of behavior, both with regard to dark current and responsibility. The test results for one of the best diode types are illustrated. This detector has a size of 148 microns and a cutoff wavelength of 4.61 microns

A Study on role of spot urine protein creatinine ratio in quantification of proteinuria

BACK GROUND : Persistent proteinuria is usually a marker of kidney damage. Quantifying protein in urine is commonly used in the diagnosis of kidney diseases, detection of treatment effects and evaluation of prognosis. Commonly used methods to quantify proteinuria is 24 hours urine collection, which is time consuming cumbersome and often in accurate. The other method of quantifying proteinuria is from Protein-Creatinine ratio. OBJECTIVES : The study was to compare spot urine protein- creatinine ratio with 24 hours urine protein in the quantitative assessment of proteinuria in patients with varying degrees of renal dysfunction. This study also attempts to assess the best timing for collection of urine for estimation of protein creatinine ratio. METHOD : 55 patients with persistent dipstick positive proteinuria with varying degrees of renal dysfunction were included in this study. Two urine samples were collected ,one in the early morning(around 7AM) and other in the evening (7 PM).Both samples were used to estimate protein- creatinine ratio and then a 24 hours urine protein estimation was done and compared. RESULTS: There was good positive correlation between spot urine Protein Creatinine ratio of both samples taken at two different times of the day and estimated 24 hours urinary protein though the best correlation was seen in early morning urine sample than evening sample(r=0.931 in 7AM &r=0.872 in 7 PM; p <0.01). The maximum correlation was seen in patients with normal/mild renal dysfunction and non nephrotic range proteinuria. The positive correlation was least in patients with moderate/severe renal dysfunction and nephrotic range proteinuria. CONCLUSION : Urine protein Creatinine ratio is easy to perform, inexpensive and less time consuming method for measuring of proteinuria. It can thus be used in the outpatient setting for screening and quantification of proteinuria

Studies on wound healing activity of some Euphorbia species on experimental rats

Background: Plants of Euphorbiaceae are used in folkloric medicines in variety of ailments and well known for chemical diversity of their isoprenoid constituents. This study was carried out to explore the preliminary wound healing potential of four Euphorbia species (E. consorbina 1, E. consorbina 2, E. inarticulata, E. balsamifera and E. schimperi).Materials and Methods: Excision wound surface of the animals were topically treated with ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of plants at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight for twenty days. Povidone-iodine ointment was used as a reference drug. Wound contraction measurement and period of epithelialization were used to assess the effect of plants extracts on wound repairing.Results: The groups treated with methanol extracts of E. balsamifera and E. schimperi showed profound effects, high rate of wound contraction (100%) and decrease in epithelization period 19.00±0.40 and 18.50±0.64 respectively, followed by methanol extracts of E. consorbina 2, ethyl acetate extract of E. inarticulata and ethyl acetate extracts of E. consorbina 2 which showed significant (P &lt;0.001) wound contraction and decrease in epithelization period. Conversely ethyl acetate extract of E. consorbina 1, E. balsamifera and E. schimperi and methanol extract of E. Consorbina 1 and E. Inarticulata treated groups was not showing significant wound healing. Methanol extracts of E. balsamifera and E. schimperi were also tested for their safety margin and found safe up to dose of 2000mg/kg body weight.Conclusion: Topical application of methanol extracts of E. balsamifera and E. schimperi have potential wound healing activity which is identical with standard drug Povidone-iodine.Keywords: Wound healing, excision wounds, Euphorbia, extract

COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF HYPERTONIC SALINE AND NORMAL SALINE SOLUTIONS IN EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED ENDOTOXIC SHOCK IN DOGS

This study was contemplated to determine the comparative beneficial effects of hypertonic saline solution and sterile saline solution in induced endotoxic shock in dogs. For this purpose, 12 healthy Mongrel dogs were randomly divided into two equal groups (A and B). All the animals were induced endotoxaemia by slow intravenous administration of Escherichia coli endotoxins 0111:B4. Group A was treated with normal saline solution @ 90 ml/kg BW, while group B was given hypertonic saline solution @ 4 ml/kg BW, followed by normal saline solution @ 10 ml/kg BW. Different parameters were observed for evaluation of these fluids including clinical and haematological parameters, serum electrolytes, mean arterial pressure, and blood gases at different time intervals up to 24 hours post treatments. After infusion of respective fluids, all parameters returned to baseline values in both the groups but group B showed better results than group A except bicarbonates, which better recovered in group A. Thus, it was concluded that a small-volume of hypertonic saline solution could be effectively used in reversing the endotoxaemia. Moreover, it provides a rapid and inexpensive resuscitation from endotoxic shock

EVALUATION OF ACUTE TOXICITY AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS OF BACCHAROIDES SCHIMPERI (DC.) IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS

Background: Steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are most commonly used to treat inflammation, and shown to have severe side effects. In this study, we aimed at evaluating the anti-inflammatory and acute toxicity effects of Baccharoides schimperi (DC.) in order to get new anti-inflammatory agents of natural origin. Materials and methods: The aerial part of the plant was dried under shade, ground and extracted with 96% alcohol (BSE). It was further fractionated in sequence to n-hexane (BSH), chloroform (BSC) and methanol (BSM) soluble fractions. Acute toxicity was evaluated by oral administration of plant and hind paw induced-edema method in rats was used for the anti-inflammatory evaluation. Results: The BSE was found safe up to the dose level of 3 g/kg b.w. and showed LD50 value 7.250 g/kg body weight (b.w.) in mice. BSE showed significant anti-inflammatory effect (62.91%) at 500 mg/kg b.w. Further the n-hexane, chloroform and methanol fractions of BSE were tested for anti-inflammatory activity. The n-hexane fraction (BSH) exhibits significant activity (64.87%) at 400 mg/kg b.w. The methanol fraction (BSM) showed dose dependent activity, highest activity (60.42%) was observed at higher dose 400 of mg/kg b.w. In chloroform fraction (BSC) no significant activity was observed. Conclusion: The results of the study revealed that the plant is safe to the experimental model and recommended as a potential source of anti-inflammatory agent

An empirical analysis of corporate governance and firm value: Evidence from KSE-100 Index

This paper investigates the impact of corporate governance on firm value measured by Tobin&apos;s Q. Different corporate governance proxies i.e. board size, board independence, audit committee and CEO duality are interacted with firm value. A sample of 91 nonfinancial firms listed on KSE was selected over the period 2010-2014. The findings of the study show that board size and CEO duality had negative impacts on firm value. Moreover, board size, non-executive directors and audit committee had positive and significant impacts on firm value. Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

The influence of geometrical shapes of stenosis on the blood flow in stenosed artery

The present work was carried out to investigate the blood flow behavior and the severity of blockage caused in the arterial passage due to the different geometries such as elliptical, trapezium and triangular shapes of stenosis. The study was conducted with respect to various sizes of stenosis in terms of 70%, 80% and 90% area blockage of the arterial blood flow. The study was carried out numerically with the help of advance computational fluid dynamic software. It was found that the shape of the stenosis plays an important role in overall pressure drop across the blockage region of artery. The highest level of pressure drop was observed for trapezoidal shape of stenosis followed by elliptical and then by triangular shaped stenosis. The wall shear stress across the stenosis is great for trapezoidal shape followed by triangular and elliptical stenosis for same blockage area in the artery

STUDIES ON WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY OF SOME EUPHORBIA SPECIES ON EXPERIMENTAL RATS

Background: Plants of Euphorbiaceae are used in folkloric medicines in variety of ailments and well known for chemical diversity of their isoprenoid constituents. This study was carried out to explore the preliminary wound healing potential of four Euphorbia species (E. consorbina 1, E. consorbina 2, E. inarticulata, E. balsamifera and E. schimperi). Materials and Methods: Excision wound surface of the animals were topically treated with ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of plants at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight for twenty days. Povidone-iodine ointment was used as a reference drug. Wound contraction measurement and period of epithelialization were used to assess the effect of plants extracts on wound repairing. Results: The groups treated with methanol extracts of E. balsamifera and E. schimperi showed profound effects, high rate of wound contraction (100%) and decrease in epithelization period 19.00±0.40 and 18.50±0.64 respectively, followed by methanol extracts of E. consorbina 2, ethyl acetate extract of E. inarticulata and ethyl acetate extracts of E. consorbina 2 which showed significant (

Eco-friendly dyeing of wool and pashmina fabric using Quercus robur L. (fruit cups) dye and Salix alba L. (wood extract) mordant

Study was conducted to investigate the dyeing potential of Quercus robur L. (fruit cups) dye and Salix alba L. (wood extract) mordant on wool and pashmina fabrics. The experiment was conducted keeping in view the environmental safety by using unutilized plant materials and excluding the usage of chemical agents. The dyeing was carried out individually including and excluding mordant adopting different mordanting methods. The parameters like percent absorption, colour coordinates, colour strength (K/S), relative colour strength and colour fastness with regard to washing, light and rubbing were investigated. The results revealed higher percent absorption of mordanted samples than unmordanted samples. Colour coordinates (L*a*b*, Chroma, hue and ?E) of dyed wool and pashmina fabric exhibited satisfactory results. The colour strength (K/S) and relative colour strength of pashmina fabric recorded higher than wool fabric. The fastness properties to washing, light and rubbing showed satisfactory grades including and excluding natural mordant. However, the grades of mordanted samples were found better than unmordanted samples. The dye and mordant in isolation and in combination showed beautiful colours and shades on selected fabrics with satisfactory retention properties, hence can be utilized commercially for coloration of wool and pashmina fabrics

Uncovering local aggregated air quality index with smartphone captured images leveraging efficient deep convolutional neural network

The prevalence and mobility of smartphones make these a widely used tool for environmental health research. However, their potential for determining aggregated air quality index (AQI) based on PM2.5 concentration in specific locations remains largely unexplored in the existing literature. In this paper, we thoroughly examine the challenges associated with predicting location-specific PM2.5 concentration using images taken with smartphone cameras. The focus of our study is on Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, due to its significant air pollution levels and the large population exposed to it. Our research involves the development of a Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN), which we train using over a thousand outdoor images taken and annotated. These photos are captured at various locations in Dhaka, and their labels are based on PM2.5 concentration data obtained from the local US consulate, calculated using the NowCast algorithm. Through supervised learning, our model establishes a correlation index during training, enhancing its ability to function as a Picture-based Predictor of PM2.5 Concentration (PPPC). This enables the algorithm to calculate an equivalent daily averaged AQI index from a smartphone image. Unlike, popular overly parameterized models, our model shows resource efficiency since it uses fewer parameters. Furthermore, test results indicate that our model outperforms popular models like ViT and INN, as well as popular CNN-based models such as VGG19, ResNet50, and MobileNetV2, in predicting location-specific PM2.5 concentration. Our dataset is the first publicly available collection that includes atmospheric images and corresponding PM2.5 measurements from Dhaka. Our code and dataset will be made public when publishing the paper.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Nature Scientific Report