44 research outputs found
E-Waste: An Emerging Problem of Innovative Society
In the past few years there is a revolution in electronic industry, which increases the volume and varieties of both solid and hazardous wastes. Urbanization Industrialization, fast changes in technologies leave a negative impact on health of human beings. Also increases the pollution in air, land and water. A growing municipal waste contains hazardous electrical and electronics products. When dumped in landfill will pollute the environment badly. This waste is usually named as E-waste (Electrical an Electronics Waste).In the absence of suitable techniques and protective measures, recycling e-waste can result in toxic emissions to the air, water and soil and pose a serious health and environmental hazard-waste is assuming serious proportions in developing countries and urgent steps need to be taken to mitigate this problem. This paper highlights the problem posed by e-waste and its hazards on environment and health
Novel variants in COL4A4 and COL4A5 are rare causes of FSGS in two unrelated families
We report two female patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and chronic kidney disease. The first patient was found to have a heterozygous, de novo, pathogenic variant in COL4A5 (c.141+1G>A, IVS2+1G>A), which is associated with Alport syndrome. The second patient was found to have a heterozygous, likely pathogenic variant in COL4A4 (c.2842G>T). Both these variants in COL4A5 and COL4A4 are novel, and they were detected using whole exome sequencing and gene panel testing, respectively. Additionally, we discuss the complexities of diagnosis in such cases and the benefits of using the abovementioned diagnostic approaches
Correction: Novel variants in COL4A4 and COL4A5 are rare causes of FSGS in two unrelated families
No abstract available
Impact of design and operating parameters on the thermal performance of heat pipes:A review
The goal of this research is to review how different technologies have affected heat pipes' thermal performance and critically evaluate the progress that has been made in this area. Heat pipe's thermal efficiency has been greatly improved because of the implementation of novel approaches proposed by some researchers. Manufacturing various forms of grooves, inner surface treatment, manufacturing different types of fins, using embedded heat pipes, producing rough inner surfaces, utilizing nanofluid as a working fluid, using a non-condensable gas, etc. are some of the primary ways mentioned and examined. Researchers in this field have found that heat pipe efficiency might be improved by the use of the aforementioned strategies; however, some of these approaches have practical limitations. These researchers have a good understanding of how to optimize the change settings for the best optimization outcomes and can help us choose which technique to use in a particular scenario. This paper presents an experimental and numerical review of studies related to the behavior of heat pipes to understand how they affect thermal performance through a change in configuration, structure, design, and operating parameters. “Overall, the results of the published works show that the improving of the efficiency of the heat pipes by applying different techniques: 1) enhancement of the design parameters (like filling ratio, tilt angle, type of working fluids, and dimensions of the heat pipes), 2) modified configurations (like inserts fins, grooved, by-pass line between evaporator and condenser, roughness of the inner surface, utilized tiny pillars, corrugated configuration portion in the evaporator, and adding a vortex alternator), 3) using different nano-fluids as working fluids, and 4) hybrid heat pipes is (31.8–75%), (12.4%−35.5%), (16–87.2%), and (53% −86.7%), respectively.
Impact of design and operating parameters on the thermal performance of heat pipes:A review
The goal of this research is to review how different technologies have affected heat pipes' thermal performance and critically evaluate the progress that has been made in this area. Heat pipe's thermal efficiency has been greatly improved because of the implementation of novel approaches proposed by some researchers. Manufacturing various forms of grooves, inner surface treatment, manufacturing different types of fins, using embedded heat pipes, producing rough inner surfaces, utilizing nanofluid as a working fluid, using a non-condensable gas, etc. are some of the primary ways mentioned and examined. Researchers in this field have found that heat pipe efficiency might be improved by the use of the aforementioned strategies; however, some of these approaches have practical limitations. These researchers have a good understanding of how to optimize the change settings for the best optimization outcomes and can help us choose which technique to use in a particular scenario. This paper presents an experimental and numerical review of studies related to the behavior of heat pipes to understand how they affect thermal performance through a change in configuration, structure, design, and operating parameters. “Overall, the results of the published works show that the improving of the efficiency of the heat pipes by applying different techniques: 1) enhancement of the design parameters (like filling ratio, tilt angle, type of working fluids, and dimensions of the heat pipes), 2) modified configurations (like inserts fins, grooved, by-pass line between evaporator and condenser, roughness of the inner surface, utilized tiny pillars, corrugated configuration portion in the evaporator, and adding a vortex alternator), 3) using different nano-fluids as working fluids, and 4) hybrid heat pipes is (31.8–75%), (12.4%−35.5%), (16–87.2%), and (53% −86.7%), respectively.
Emergence and Variability of Broad Absorption Line Quasar Outflows
We isolate a set of quasars that exhibit emergent C iv broad absorption lines
(BALs) in their spectra by comparing spectra in the SDSS Data Release 7 and the
SDSS/BOSS Data Releases 9 and 10. After visually defining a set of emergent
BALs, follow-up observations were obtained with the Gemini Observatory for 105
quasars. We find an emergence rate consistent with the previously reported
disappearance rate of BAL quasars given the relative numbers of non-BAL and BAL
quasars in the SDSS. We find candidate newly emerged BALs are preferentially
drawn from among BALs with smaller balnicity indices, shallower depths, larger
velocities, and smaller widths. Within two rest-frame years (average) after a
BAL has emerged, we find it equally likely to continue increasing in equivalent
width in an observation six months later (average) as it is to start
decreasing. From the time separations between our observations, we conclude the
coherence time-scale of BALs is less than 100 rest-frame days. We observe
coordinated variability among pairs of troughs in the same quasar, likely due
to clouds at different velocities responding to the same changes in ionizing
flux; and the coordination is stronger if the velocity separation between the
two troughs is smaller. We speculate the latter effect may be due to clouds
having on average lower densities at higher velocities due to mass conservation
in an accelerating flow, causing the absorbing gas in those clouds to respond
on different timescales to the same ionizing flux variations.Comment: 37 pages, 25 figure
Genome-wide association identifies nine common variants associated with fasting proinsulin levels and provides new insights into the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE: Proinsulin is a precursor of mature insulin and C-peptide. Higher circulating proinsulin levels are associated with impaired β-cell function, raised glucose levels, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Studies of the insulin processing pathway could provide new insights about T2D pathophysiology. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We have conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association tests of ∼2.5 million genotyped or imputed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and fasting proinsulin levels in 10,701 nondiabetic adults of European ancestry, with follow-up of 23 loci in up to 16,378 individuals, using additive genetic models adjusted for age, sex, fasting insulin, and study-specific covariates. RESULTS: Nine SNPs at eight loci were associated with proinsulin levels (P < 5 × 10(-8)). Two loci (LARP6 and SGSM2) have not been previously related to metabolic traits, one (MADD) has been associated with fasting glucose, one (PCSK1) has been implicated in obesity, and four (TCF7L2, SLC30A8, VPS13C/C2CD4A/B, and ARAP1, formerly CENTD2) increase T2D risk. The proinsulin-raising allele of ARAP1 was associated with a lower fasting glucose (P = 1.7 × 10(-4)), improved β-cell function (P = 1.1 × 10(-5)), and lower risk of T2D (odds ratio 0.88; P = 7.8 × 10(-6)). Notably, PCSK1 encodes the protein prohormone convertase 1/3, the first enzyme in the insulin processing pathway. A genotype score composed of the nine proinsulin-raising alleles was not associated with coronary disease in two large case-control datasets. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified nine genetic variants associated with fasting proinsulin. Our findings illuminate the biology underlying glucose homeostasis and T2D development in humans and argue against a direct role of proinsulin in coronary artery disease pathogenesis
PANC Study (Pancreatitis: A National Cohort Study): national cohort study examining the first 30 days from presentation of acute pancreatitis in the UK
Abstract
Background
Acute pancreatitis is a common, yet complex, emergency surgical presentation. Multiple guidelines exist and management can vary significantly. The aim of this first UK, multicentre, prospective cohort study was to assess the variation in management of acute pancreatitis to guide resource planning and optimize treatment.
Methods
All patients aged greater than or equal to 18 years presenting with acute pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria, from March to April 2021 were eligible for inclusion and followed up for 30 days. Anonymized data were uploaded to a secure electronic database in line with local governance approvals.
Results
A total of 113 hospitals contributed data on 2580 patients, with an equal sex distribution and a mean age of 57 years. The aetiology was gallstones in 50.6 per cent, with idiopathic the next most common (22.4 per cent). In addition to the 7.6 per cent with a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, 20.1 per cent of patients had a previous episode of acute pancreatitis. One in 20 patients were classed as having severe pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria. The overall mortality rate was 2.3 per cent at 30 days, but rose to one in three in the severe group. Predictors of death included male sex, increased age, and frailty; previous acute pancreatitis and gallstones as aetiologies were protective. Smoking status and body mass index did not affect death.
Conclusion
Most patients presenting with acute pancreatitis have a mild, self-limiting disease. Rates of patients with idiopathic pancreatitis are high. Recurrent attacks of pancreatitis are common, but are likely to have reduced risk of death on subsequent admissions.
</jats:sec
Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial
SummaryBackground Azithromycin has been proposed as a treatment for COVID-19 on the basis of its immunomodulatoryactions. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of azithromycin in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19.Methods In this randomised, controlled, open-label, adaptive platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19Therapy [RECOVERY]), several possible treatments were compared with usual care in patients admitted to hospitalwith COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 176 hospitals in the UK. Eligible and consenting patients wererandomly allocated to either usual standard of care alone or usual standard of care plus azithromycin 500 mg once perday by mouth or intravenously for 10 days or until discharge (or allocation to one of the other RECOVERY treatmentgroups). Patients were assigned via web-based simple (unstratified) randomisation with allocation concealment andwere twice as likely to be randomly assigned to usual care than to any of the active treatment groups. Participants andlocal study staff were not masked to the allocated treatment, but all others involved in the trial were masked to theoutcome data during the trial. The primary outcome was 28-day all-cause mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treatpopulation. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936.Findings Between April 7 and Nov 27, 2020, of 16 442 patients enrolled in the RECOVERY trial, 9433 (57%) wereeligible and 7763 were included in the assessment of azithromycin. The mean age of these study participants was65·3 years (SD 15·7) and approximately a third were women (2944 [38%] of 7763). 2582 patients were randomlyallocated to receive azithromycin and 5181 patients were randomly allocated to usual care alone. Overall,561 (22%) patients allocated to azithromycin and 1162 (22%) patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days(rate ratio 0·97, 95% CI 0·87–1·07; p=0·50). No significant difference was seen in duration of hospital stay (median10 days [IQR 5 to >28] vs 11 days [5 to >28]) or the proportion of patients discharged from hospital alive within 28 days(rate ratio 1·04, 95% CI 0·98–1·10; p=0·19). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, nosignificant difference was seen in the proportion meeting the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilationor death (risk ratio 0·95, 95% CI 0·87–1·03; p=0·24).Interpretation In patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, azithromycin did not improve survival or otherprespecified clinical outcomes. Azithromycin use in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 should be restrictedto patients in whom there is a clear antimicrobial indication