The KπK\pi form factors from Analyticity and Unitarity

Analyticity and unitarity techniques are employed to obtain bounds on the shape parameters of the scalar and vector form factors of semileptonic $K_{l3}$ decays. For this purpose we use vector and scalar correlators evaluated in pQCD, a low energy theorem for scalar form factor, lattice results for the ratio of kaon and pion decay constants, chiral perturbation theory calculations for the scalar form factor at the Callan-Treiman point and experimental information on the phase and modulus of $K\pi$ form factors up to an energy \tin=1 {\rm GeV}^2. We further derive regions on the real axis and in the complex-energy plane where the form factors cannot have zeros.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures; Seminar given at DAE-BRNS Workshop on Hadron Physics Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India October 31-November 4, 2011, submitted to Proceeding

Human-activity-centered measurement system:challenges from laboratory to the real environment in assistive gait wearable robotics

Assistive gait wearable robots (AGWR) have shown a great advancement in developing intelligent devices to assist human in their activities of daily living (ADLs). The rapid technological advancement in sensory technology, actuators, materials and computational intelligence has sped up this development process towards more practical and smart AGWR. However, most assistive gait wearable robots are still confined to be controlled, assessed indoor and within laboratory environments, limiting any potential to provide a real assistance and rehabilitation required to humans in the real environments. The gait assessment parameters play an important role not only in evaluating the patient progress and assistive device performance but also in controlling smart self-adaptable AGWR in real-time. The self-adaptable wearable robots must interactively conform to the changing environments and between users to provide optimal functionality and comfort. This paper discusses the performance parameters, such as comfortability, safety, adaptability, and energy consumption, which are required for the development of an intelligent AGWR for outdoor environments. The challenges to measuring the parameters using current systems for data collection and analysis using vision capture and wearable sensors are presented and discussed

Flexural Behavior of Composite GFRP Pultruded I-Section Beams under Static and Impact Loading

In this study, the effect of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) section and compressive strength of concrete in composite beams under static and low velocity impact loads was examined. Modeling was performed and the obtained results were compared with the test results and their compatibility was evaluated.‎ Experimental tests of four composite beams were carried out, where two of them are control specimen with 20 MPa compressive strength of concrete deck slab and 50 MPa for other. Bending characteristics were affected by the strength of concrete under impact loading case, as it increased maximum impact force and damping time at a ratio of 59% and reduced the damping ratio by 47% compared to the reference hybrid beam. Under static loading, there was an increase in all the parameters, including the maximum load, ductility, and stiffness. Mid-span deflection was reduced by 25% under static and impact loads. A finite element analysis was performed by using the ABAQUS software. The midspan deflection value was greater than the experimental values by 6% and 3% for impact and static loads, respectively, and all other results showed a high rate of agreement with the obtained test results. The agreement between the numerical and experimental results indicates that the developed numerical model is capable of analyzing the impact and static behavior of such hybrid GFRP-concrete system. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2020-03091608 Full Text: PD

Randomised comparison of oral ofloxacin alone with combination of parenteral antibiotics in neutropenic febrile patients

Prompt treatment with empirical antibiotics in neutropenic febrile patients reduces morbidity and mortality. Most patients have been treated with parenteral combination antibiotics, but newer antibiotics with broad-spectrum bactericidal activity have made monotherapy feasible. Ofloxacin, a broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone, has the additional advantage that bactericidal concentrations can be achieved with oral administration. We have compared ofloxacin as an oral single agent with standard parenteral combination antibiotics for the management of neutropenic febrile patients in a prospective, randomised trial. Patients with severe neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count less than or equal to 0.5 x 10(9)/l), fever above 38 degrees C, and ability to take drugs by mouth were eligible for the study. After initial investigations, 60 patients were randomly assigned to oral ofloxacin 400 mg twice daily and 62 to parenteral combination antibiotic therapy (amikacin 15 mg/kg daily, plus, at various times in the trial, carbenicillin, cloxacillin, or piperacillin). Patients were examined 72 h and 7 days after the start of treatment and when neutropenia resolved. 24 (40%) ofloxacin-treated and 26 (42%) combination-treated patients had pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO). In both treatment groups, the treatment success rate was higher for such patients than for those with clinically or microbiologically documented infections (92% vs 67% [p less than 0.05] for ofloxacin; 85% vs 64% for combination). There were no significant differences in success rates of ofloxacin and combination treatment for these subgroups or overall (77% vs 73%). Patients with neutropenia for less than 1 week had better responses to both treatments than patients with longer-lasting neutropenia. There were 4 (7%) deaths in the ofloxacin group and 6 (10%) in the combination group. Both regimens were well tolerated. We conclude that oral single-agent ofloxacin is as effective as parenteral combination antibiotic therapy in neutropenic febrile patients, especially those expected to have short durations of neutropenia

Design and Analysis of a Wide Stopband Microstrip Dual-band Bandpass Filter

A novel configuration of a dual-band bandpass filter (BPF) working as a harmonic attenuator is introduced and fabricated. The proposed filter operates at 3 GHz, for UHF and SHF applications, and 6.3 GHz, for wireless applications. The presented layout has a symmetric structure, which consists of coupled resonators. The designing of the proposed resonator is performed by introducing a new LC equivalent model of coupled lines. To verify the LC model of the coupled lines, the lumped elements are calculated. The introduced filter has a wide stopband up to 85 GHz with 28th harmonic suppression, for the first channel, and 13th harmonic suppression, for the second channel. The harmonics are attenuated using a novel structure. Also, the proposed BPF has a compact size of 0.056 λg2. Having several transmission zeros (TZs) that improve the performance of the presented BPF is another feature. The proposed dual-band BPF is fabricated and measured to verify the design method, where the measurement results confirm the simulations

Management of Helicobacter pylori among medical doctors working in Khartoum, Sudan 2019: a cross-sectional study

Background: Various international guidelines have been developed regarding Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) management, as it is infecting more than half of the world's population. Sudan's health system lacks guidelines regarding H. pylori management, leading to a discrepancy in practice. Investigating the current approach could be a step forward in the formulation of a national consensus in the management of H. pylori. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical doctors currently working in Khartoum, Sudan. Participants were enrolled from platforms of medical associations through an online questionnaire. The questionnaire was scored out of 25 points, and scoring 13 or above considered a good approach. Data analysis was carried out using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: A total of 358 medical doctors participated in the study. The mean (±SD) score was 12.9(±4.5). Those who were using textbooks, campaigns, symposiums or general medical information to their primary Source of knowledge significantly scored higher. The most selected indication for both diagnosis (76.8%) and treatment (67.6%) was an active peptic ulcer. Stool antigen test (SAT) was the most preferred test (70.7%). The majority of respondents selected triple therapy (82.1%) as a first-line regimen. Only 37.7% confirmed the eradication after four weeks of stopping the treatment. They ensure eradication mainly through SAT (29%). Conclusion: A suboptimal approach was noted among medical doctors of Khartoum, Sudan, regarding H. pylori management. Efforts should be invested in forming national guidelines and the implementation of continuous medical education programs. Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, Medical doctor, Sudan

Using of Chroococcus SP. to Treat Polluted Water with Cadmium & Nickel

Chroococcus sp. was exposed to different concentrations 0.3, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 ppm, from cadmium and nickel. The results revealed that the ability of the alga to remove cadmium and nickel was increased with the increase of the metal concentration which the alga exposed to them and this case does not record before. This may relate to mechanisms of adsorption and removal which not understood perfectly till now according to many researches that concerned with this field of studies. It was noticed that the removal percentage of cadmium reaches to 77.66 & 76% in the two higher concentrations 6 & 7 ppm, which exposed to the alga till the last day (twelve days) from the experiment, but same percentage (77.66 & 76%) was recorded on the eighth day of the experiment to remove nickel and decrease to 12.5 & 28% on the last day of the experiment for the above two concentrations