Bipolar and unipolar schemes for confined band variable switching frequency PWM based inverter

The single phase inverter performance through the unipolar and bipolar strategies has been previously analyzed based on the constant switching frequency pulse width modulation (CSFPWM). However, the confined band variable switching frequency PWM (CB-VSFPWM) is currently proposed as a new variable switching frequency PWM technique through unipolar strategy to facilitate the design of high order filter, to reduce the switching losses, and to reduce the current total harmonics distortion (THD) as well. To evaluate the performance of a single phase inverter based on the CBVSFPWM through bipolar strategy, this paper presents a comparative study of the CB-VSFPWM based inverter performance using the unipolar PWM and the bipolar PWM strategies. The study adopts MATLAB/Simulink to simulate the inverter and to analyze the simulation results in terms of harmonics spectrum, total harmonic distortion (THD), and fundamental components. The analysis of the study results gives an indication about the appropriate type of CB-VSFPWM strategy (unipolar PWM or bipolar PWM) to guarantee the desired performance of the connected inverter in terms of the electrical grid standards like THD, and harmonics spectrum of the inverter current

Development and Validation of a Bioanalytical Method for Direct Extraction of Diclofenac Potassium from Spiked Plasma

Purpose: To develop and validate a user-friendly spiked plasma method for the extraction of diclofenac potassium that reduces the number of treatments with plasma sample, in order to minimize human error. Method: Instead of solvent evaporation technique, the spiked plasma sample was modified with H2SO4 and NaCl, respectively, and then the drug was extracted after vortexing the sample with acetonitrile as precipitating agent. The separation of diclofenac potassium and internal standard (ketoprofen) was achieved at preset conditions: 5 μm ODS Hypersil C-18 (4.0 mm x 250 mm) column, eluted with 50% acetonitrile in water (v/v) as mobile phase containing ammonium acetate and triethylamine (TEA), at a flow rate of 1 mL min-1. Results: The peaks of the drug and internal standard (I.S.) were resolved at 14 ± 1 min and 7 ± 1 min, respectively. The calibration curve and linearity were determined over the concentration range of 0.25 to 40 μg mL-1 and they were linear (r2 = 0.9991 and 0.9982, respectively). The accuracy was > 81.32 %. Limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.05 and 0.25 μg mL-1, respectively, while the recovery range for diclofenac potassium and ketoprofen was more than 79 and 85 %, respectively. The absolute average difference of 0.18 between the observed concentrations for intra- and inter-day studies indicated that the sample was stable for over one month. Conclusion: The proposed method may be applied to routine bioanalysis, particularly for NSAIDs, due to its high sensitivity, specificity, repeatability, reproducibility, robustness and ruggedness

Last Guidelines Overview of Consecutive Esotropia Management: Review Article

Background: Consecutive esotropia (ET) is persistent esodeviation for 24 weeks afterward bilateral lateral rectus recession (BLRR) for correcting exotropia (XT) with or without diplopia. Some patients may have limited eye movement; amblyopia and loss of binocularity can result. Early postoperative overcorrection has been recommended in surgical treatment of intermittent XT due to tendency towards postoperative exotropic drift. ET with small angles (within 15 PD) vanishes naturally over time, whereas bigger angles are more likely to be present at the start. Patients who have ET that has persisted for at least 24 weeks after BLRR and has been present for more than 15 postoperative days should have surgery. Objective: Hallmark the updated lines of management of consecutive esotropia. Conclusion: For the purpose of maintaining one MR muscle for a future intervention, several research have shown that ET can be performed consecutively after BLR recession by advancement of LR muscle previously recessed and MR muscle recession in the more deviating eye. Studies in recent years have sought to determine the effectiveness of the use of lateral rectus advancement in the treatment of consecutive ET

Serum and Circulatory Omentin mRNA Gene Expression as Predictive Markers of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity and Lupus Nephritis

Background: Lupus nephritis (LN) affects 50% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). LN often leads to renal failure. Thus, early diagnosis of LN is mandatory for the prevention of complications. Objective: We aimed to evaluate serum and relative omentin mRNA gene expression levels as a noninvasive diagnostic test of LN and to assess their correlations with disease activity, clinical and laboratory features of SLE.Patients and Methods: Case-control study included 104 subjects, 60 patients with SLE were stratified into two subgroups LN group (n=25) and the non-LN group (n=35). Disease activity was assessed by the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI). Measurement of serum omentin was done by ELISA and investigation of omentin mRNA relative expression was done by real-time PCR.Results: Our results detected that serum omentin levels were significantly lower in the LN group and non-LN group compared to controls. Intriguingly, omentin mRNA relative expression levels were significantly lower in the LN group and non-LN group compared to controls. Among the LN group, there were significant negative correlations between serum and relative omentin mRNA expression with SLEDAI, clinical, and laboratory features of LN. Moreover, SLEDAI, proteinuria, and serum creatinine were independently correlated with them. The sensitivities and the specificities of serum omentin were 91% and 65.5% respectively. While the relative omentin mRNA expression diagnostic power showed sensitivities and specificities of 93% and 68.8% respectively.Conclusion: LN group had significantly lower values of serum and relative omentin mRNA expression compared to non-LN and control groups. Additionally, it was negatively correlated with SLEDAI, clinical and laboratory features of LN. Thus, they could be used as non-invasive predictive markers of LN

Regulation of TNF-α and NF-κB activation through the JAK/STAT signaling pathway downstream of histamine 4 receptor in a rat model of LPS-induced joint inflammation.

Histamine 4 receptor (H4R) is a novel target for the pharmacological modulation of histamine-mediated immune signals during inflammatory diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of the H4R agonist 4-methylhistamine dihydrochloride (4-MeH) and antagonist JNJ7777120 (JNJ) in the inflamed rat knee. Animals were fasted for 18h before a single dose of 4-MeH or JNJ (30mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.), both followed by intra-articular (i.a.) injection of LPS 2h later. Blood and synovial fluid were collected after a short incubation period and TNF-α, NF-κB, and IkB-α levels were measured via flow cytometry. Additionally, we assessed the effects of H4R engagement on the expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, and NF-κB mRNAs and the protein levels of TNF-α, NF-κB, JAK-1, and STAT-3 in the inflamed knee tissue. These results revealed increased TNF-α and NF-κB expression and decreased IkB-α levels in both the LPS alone and 4-MeH treated groups in whole blood and synovial fluid. Further, IL-1β, TNF-α, and NF-κB mRNA levels were significantly increased and western blot analysis confirmed increased expression of TNF-α, NF-κB, JAK-1, and STAT-3 in both LPS and 4-MeH treatment groups. Furthermore, these increases were completely inhibited in the inflamed knee tissue of the JNJ-treated group. Thus, the inhibition of inflammatory mediators and signaling pathways by the H4R antagonist JNJ suggests the anti-arthritic importance of this molecule

Determination of Some Trace Elements in Air Samples from the Study Environment of Alasala National Colleges and Study of Irradiated Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Film: Electrical Properties and Determination of Some Trace Elements

This study included two objectives, firstly determination of some trace elements in air samples from the study environment of Alasala National Colleges and secondly study of Irradiated Poly (vinyl alcohol) Film: Electrical Properties and Determination of Some Trace Elements, in the same Environment. The investigate the level of trace elements including Lead [Pb], Copper [Cu], Zinc [Zn] in air samples collected from Alasala National Colleges in Dammam, KSA. The samples were analyzed by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF). The enrichment factors relative to average soil and crustal rock were done of these trace elements to predict the possible sources of these elements in air. The study revealed that the analysis that is scholarly is wholly free from Pb. The ratio that is average of Zn is 0.0006 and Cu is 0.0003 ng/m3. Also the determination of some trace elements by thin film x-ray fluorescence and study of electrical properties of Poly (vinyl alcohol) using ion/electron beam. After preparing of the PVA films the trace elements are determined on thin-film samples by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry.  The limits of detection on the thin film are 0.05-0.7 μg, depending on the element being measured. This study reports on the effect of nitrogen and electron beam irradiation on the electrical properties of films. Films of 3 mm were exposed to a charged (ion/electron) beam for different treatment times; the beam was produced from a dual beam source using nitrogen gas with the other ion/electron source parameters optimized. The real () and imaginary ( ) parts of the dielectric constant decreased with frequency for all irradiated and non-irradiated samples.The AC conductivity showed an increase with frequency for all samples under the influence of both ion and electron irradiation for different times

Asthma remodeling: The pathogenic role of matrix metalloproteinase-9

AbstractBackgroundAsthma is an airway inflammatory disease with functional and structural changes, leading to bronchial hyperresponsiveness and airflow obstruction. Pathological repair of the airways leads to these structural changes referred as airway remodeling. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are extracellular degrading enzymes that play a critical role in the remodeling process.Aim of the studyIs to study matrix metalloproteinase-9 in asthmatic patients, detecting its pathogenic role in airway remodeling.Subjects and methodsSamples of broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and bronchoscopic biopsies from 30 asthmatic patients (10 mild, 10 moderate and 10 severe) and 10 healthy volunteers were assessed for the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) total and differential cell count (in BAL fluid), histological airway remodeling changes and immunohistochemical expression of MMP-9 (in mucosal biopsies).ResultsBAL and tissue MMP-9 (going hand in hand with airway remodeling changes) were higher in asthmatic patients and it was significantly increased with increased severity. BAL total cell count is higher in asthmatic patients. BAL eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes as well as MMP-9 positive cell count were higher in asthmatic patients and increased with severity. MMP-9 tissue expression was also strongly inversely correlated with the spirometric parameters in asthmatic patients.ConclusionsMMP-9 plays a role in airway inflammation and airway remodeling in asthma. MMP-9 is an important player in airway remodeling in bronchial asthma and may be the link between inflammation and remodeling processes

Immobilization of heavy metals by microbially induced carbonate precipitation using hydrocarbon-degrading ureolytic bacteria

Crude oil contamination introduces multiple threats to human health and the environment, most of which are from toxic heavy metals. Heavy metals cause significant threats because of their persistence, toxicity, and bio-accumulation. Biomineralization, performed through many microbial processes, can lead to the immobilization of heavy metals in formed minerals. The potential of the microbially carbonate-induced precipitation (MICP) in removal by biomineralization of several heavy metals was investigated. A collection of diverse 11 bacterial strains exhibited ureolytic activity and tolerance to heavy metals when growing in Luria-Bertani (LB) and urea medium. Determination of the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) revealed that heavy metal toxicity was arranged as Cd > Ni > Cr > Cu > Zn. Three hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial strains (two of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and one of Providencia rettgeri) exhibited the highest tolerance (MIC > 5 mM) to Cu, Cr, Zn, and Ni, whereas Cd exerted significantly higher toxicity with MIC <1 mM. At all MICP conditions, different proportions of calcium carbonate (calcite) and calcium phosphate (brushite) were formed. Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains (QZ5 and QZ9) exhibited the highest removal efficiency of Cr (100%), whereas Providencia rettgeri strain (QZ2) showed 100% removal of Zn. Heavy metal complexes were found as well. Cd removal was evidenced by the formation of cadmium phosphate induced by Providencia rettgeri bacterial activity. Our study confirmed that hydrocarbon-degrading ureolytic bacteria not only can tolerate heavy metal toxicity but also have the capability to co-precipitate heavy metals. These findings indicate an effective and novel biological approach to bioremediate petroleum hydrocarbons and immobilize multiple heavy metals with mineral formation. This is of high importance for ecological restoration via stabilization of soil and alleviation of heavy metal toxicity

Naringin attenuates the development of carrageenan-induced acute lung inflammation through inhibition of NF-κb, STAT3 and pro-inflammatory mediators and enhancement of IκBα and anti-inflammatory cytokines

Naringin has been reported to possess diverse pharmacological properties, including anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of the present study was to determine the potential anti-inflammatory effect of naringin in a mouse model of carrageenan-induced pleurisy. A single dose of naringin (40 and 80 mg/kg) was administered per oral (p.o.) 1 h before carrageenan (Cg) administration. Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were analysed in pleural fluid. We also assessed the effects of naringin on the expression levels of iNOS, inducible cyclooxygenase isoform (COX-2), ICAM-1, MIP-2, PGE2, STAT3, TGF-β1, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and inhibitor of kappa B (IκBα) in lung tissue. The histological examinations revealed anti-inflammatory effect of naringin while Cg group deteriorated. Naringin downregulated Th1 and upregulated Th2 cytokines. Western blot analyses revealed increased protein expression of NF-κB, STAT3 and COX-2 and decreased IκBα in response to Cg treatment, which were reversed by the treatment with naringin. In the Cg group, mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory mediators upregulated and anti-inflammatory mediators downregulated. Naringin reversed these actions