Association of the TCF7L2 rs12255372 (G/T) variant with type 2 diabetes mellitus in an Iranian population

In various populations worldwide, common variants of the TCF7L2 (Transcription factor 7-like 2) gene are associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim was to investigate the association between rs12255372 (G/T) polymorphism in the TCF7L2 gene and T2DM in an Iranian population. 236 unrelated patients with T2DM, and 255 normoglycemic controls without diabetes were studied. The PCR-RFLP method was used for genotyping rs12255372 (G/T) polymorphism, and the SPSS version 18.0 for Windows for statistical analysis. The minor T allele of TCF7L2 rs12255372 was found to significantly increase the risk of T2DM, with an allelic odds ratio (OR) of 1.458 (95% CI 1.108-1.918, p = 0.007). A significant difference in TT genotype was observed between T2DM patients and normoglycemic controls (OR 2.038, 95% CI 1.147-3.623; p = 0.014). On assuming dominant and recessive models, ORs of 1.52 [95% CI (1.05-2.21) p = 0.026)] and 1.74 [95% CI (1.01-3.00) p = 0.043] were obtained, respectively, thereby implying that the co-dominant model would best fit the susceptible gene effect. This study further confirms the TCF7L2 gene as enhancing susceptibility to the development of T2DM. © 2012, Sociedade Brasileira de Genética

Isolasi dan Karakterisasi Yeast dari Rhizosphere Avicennia Marina Wonorejo

Salah satu mikroba yang berperan penting dalam proses biodegradasi bahan organik adalah yeast. Yeast berpartisipasi dalam berbagai proses ekologis signifikan dalam laut, terutama di muara dan dekat pantai. Diantara peran tersebut adalah sebagai pendekomposisi substrat tumbuhan, daur ulang nutrisi, dan biodegradasi senyawa minyak. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengisolasi dan mengkarakterisasi yeast dari rhizosphere Avicennia marina Wonorejo. Karakterisasi yeast dilakukan hingga tingkat genus melalui pengamatan makroskopis, mikroskopis, dan uji fisiologis. Hasil penelitian ini didapatkan 12 isolat yeast dari rhizosphere Avicennia marina Wonorejo yang diduga masuk ke dalam genus Rhodotorula, Hansenula, Saccharomyces, Candida, Debaryomyces, Dekkera, dan Geotrichu

Isolasi dan Identifikasi Yeast dari Rhizosfer Rhizophora Mucronata Wonorejo

Yeast merupakan mikroorganisme uniseluler eukaryotik yang bersifat saprofit atau parasit serta memiliki sifat antimikroba dan lebih bisa tahan terhadap stres lingkungan. Eksplorasi yeast di kawasan mangrove Indonesia belum banyak dilakukan, terutama di daerah rhizofer Rhizophora mucronata Wonorejo. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi yeast dari rhizosfer R. Mucronata Wonorejo hingga tingkat genus. Yeast diidentifikasi berdasarkan karakteristik morfologi makroskopis dan mikroskopis, reproduksi seksual, serta ciri fisiologis dan biokimianya. Pada penelitian ini diperoleh 19 isolat yang diidentifikasikan ke dalam 6 genus, yakni Candida, Saccharomyces, Pichia, Hansenula, Debaryomyces, dan Torulaspor

Manufacturing Process Analysis for Simultaneous Synthesis and Deposition of Turbostratic Graphene on Absorbers in Solar Thermal Collector Applications

The absorber section is a critical component in solar thermal collectors and is responsible for converting electromagnetic radiation into sensible thermal energy. The optical properties of the surface of the absorber dictates the effectiveness of this conversion. In this work, a manufacturing process is designed to provide bulk surface treatment for solar absorber plates in order to enhance their radiative properties. The process utilizes a novel approach of graphene synthesis and simultaneous deposition via high pressure blasting of graphite. The results show enhanced spectral, thermal and electrochemical performance of the absorber due to the turbostratic nature of graphene adhesion to its surface, especially when three blasting passes are used. The absorptivity of the absorber exhibited a 7% increase when three passes were applied on its surface. Using graphene has also enhanced the corrosion resistance of the absorber plate. This manufacturing system will provide a facile yet effective treatment of absorbers with various degrees of automation. Applied as a final layer, the process can be retrofitted to existing manufacturing facilities with minimum overhead costs

Manufacturing Process Analysis for Simultaneous Synthesis and Deposition of Turbostratic Graphene on Absorbers in Solar Thermal Collector Applications

The absorber section is a critical component in solar thermal collectors and is responsible for converting electromagnetic radiation into sensible thermal energy. The optical properties of the surface of the absorber dictates the effectiveness of this conversion. In this work, a manufacturing process is designed to provide bulk surface treatment for solar absorber plates in order to enhance their radiative properties. The process utilizes a novel approach of graphene synthesis and simultaneous deposition via high pressure blasting of graphite. The results show enhanced spectral, thermal and electrochemical performance of the absorber due to the turbostratic nature of graphene adhesion to its surface, especially when three blasting passes are used. The absorptivity of the absorber exhibited a 7% increase when three passes were applied on its surface. Using graphene has also enhanced the corrosion resistance of the absorber plate. This manufacturing system will provide a facile yet effective treatment of absorbers with various degrees of automation. Applied as a final layer, the process can be retrofitted to existing manufacturing facilities with minimum overhead costs

Dacryocystorhinostomie par voie endoscopique endonasale

Introduction : La dacryocystorhinostomie (DCR) endoscopique endonasale est une chirurgie mini invasive du sac lacrymal. Le but de notre travail est d’analyser et d'évaluer prospectivement nos patients opérés pour DCR endoscopique endonasale utilisant une sonde de trans-illumination, durant 2010.Patients et méthode : étude prospective de 20 DCR endoscopique (18 patients) utilisant la sonde de transillumination. Ce travail consiste en une analyse des données épidémiologiques, des indications opératoires, des données cliniques et radiologiques, des constatations per opératoires et des résultats fonctionnels et anatomiques postopératoires.Résultats : Cette étude a concerné 16 femmes (88,9%) et 2 hommes. L'âge médian est de 34 ans. Les indications chirurgicales sont réparties entre échec de DCR par voie externe (6 cas), pathologie rhino-sinusienne associée (13 cas), dacryocèle (1 cas). Notre taux de succès est de 85,7% (12 cas/14) dans les DCR de première intention. Il est de 83,3%(5cas/6) dans les reprises des voies externes. A 6 mois du post opératoire l’orifice de la stomie est identifiable dans 14 cas soit 70%. Aucune complication majeure n’est colligée.Discussion et conclusion : La DCR endoscopique endonasale est une technique physiologique et esthétique. Elle reste tout aussi efficace et fiable que la voie externe avec un taux de succès pratiquement  comparable (85% à 90%). Le succès d'une DCR par voie endoscopique endonasale est conditionné par une collaboration multidisciplinaire étroite(ORL/Ophtalmologistes/Radiologues), par une maitrise des impératifs techniques et enfin, par des soins postopératoires de qualité.Mots clés : dacryocystorhinostomie endoscopique, traitement

Gravitational Waves from Preheating in Gauss-Bonnet Inflation

We study gravitational wave production in an expanding Universe during the first stages following inflation, and investigate the consequences of the Gauss-Bonnet term on the inflationary parameters for a power-law inflation model with a GB coupling term. Moreover, we perform the analyses on the preheating parameters involving the number of e-folds $N_{pre}$, and the temperature of thermalization $T_{th},$ and show that it's sensitive to the parameters $n$, and $\gamma$, the parameter $\gamma$ is proposed to connect the density energy at the end of inflation to the preheating energy density. We set a correlation of gravitational wave energy density spectrum with the spectral index $n_{s}$ detected by the cosmic microwave background experiments$.$ The density spectrum $\Omega_{gw}$ shows good consistency with observation for $\gamma = 10^{3}$ and $10^{6}$. Our findings suggest that the generation of gravitational waves (GWs) during preheating can satisfy the constraints from Planck's data