The physics and kinematics of the evolved, interacting planetary nebula PN G342.0-01.7

Here we aim to study the physical and kinematical characteristics of the unstudied old planetary nebula (PN) PN G342.0-01.7, which shows evidence of interaction with its surrounding interstellar medium. We used Integral Field Spectra from the Wide Field Spectrograph on the ANU 2.3 m telescope to provide spectroscopy across the whole object covering the spectral range 3400-7000 {\AA}. We formed narrow-band images to investigate the excitation structure. The spectral analysis shows that the object is a distant Peimbert Type I PN of low excitation, formally of excitation class of 0.5. The low electron density, high dynamical age, and low surface brightness of the object confirm that it is observed fairly late in its evolution. It shows clear evidence for dredge-up of CN-processed material characteristic of its class. In addition, the low peculiar velocity of 7 km s$^{-1}$ shows it to be a member of the young disk component of our Galaxy. We built a self-consistent photoionisation model for the PNe matching the observed spectrum, the H$\beta$ luminosity, and the diameter. On the basis of this we derive an effective temperature $\log T_{\rm eff} \sim 5.05$ and luminosity $1.85 < \log L < 2.25$. The temperature is much higher than might have been expected using the excitation class, proving that this can be misleading in classifying evolved PNe. PN G342.0-01.7 is in interaction with its surrounding interstellar medium through which the object is moving in the south-west direction. This interaction drives a slow shock into the outer PN ejecta. A shock model suggests that it only accounts for about 10\% of the total luminosity, but has an important effect on the global spectrum of the PN.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, A&A accepted 201

Recycled Aggregate Self-curing High-strength Concrete

The use of recycled aggregates from demolished constructions as coarse aggregates for concrete becomes a need to reduce the negative effects on the environment. Internal curing is a technique that can be used to provide additional moisture in concrete for more effective hydration of cement to reduce the water evaporation from concrete, increase the water retention capacity of concrete compared to the conventionally cured concrete. High strength concrete as a special concrete type has a high strength with extra properties compared to conventional concrete. In this research, the combination of previous three concrete types to obtain self-curing high-strength concrete cast using coarse recycled aggregates is studied. The effect of varying water reducer admixture and curing agent dosages on both the fresh and hardened concrete properties is studied. The fresh properties are discussed in terms of slump values. The hardened concrete properties are discussed in terms of compressive, splitting tensile, flexure and bond strengths. The obtained results show that, the using of water reducer admixture enhances the main fresh and hardened properties of self-curing high-strength concrete cast using recycled aggregate. Also, using the suggested chemical curing agent increased the strength compared to conventional concrete without curing

Galaxy emission line classification using 3D line ratio diagrams

Two-dimensional (2D) line ratio diagnostic diagrams have become a key tool in understanding the excitation mechanisms of galaxies. The curves used to separate the different regions - HII-like or else excited by an active galactic nucleus (AGN) - have been refined over time but the core technique has not evolved significantly. However, the classification of galaxies based on their emission line ratios really is a multi-dimensional problem. Here we exploit recent software developments to explore the potential of three-dimensional (3D) line ratio diagnostic diagrams. We introduce a specific set of 3D diagrams, the ZQE diagrams, which separate the oxygen abundance and the ionisation parameter of HII region-like spectra, and which also enable us to probe the excitation mechanism of the gas. By examining these new 3D spaces interactively, we define a new set of 2D diagnostics, the ZE diagnostics, which can provide the metallicity of objects excited by hot young stars, and which cleanly separate HII region-like objects from the different classes of AGNs. We show that these ZE diagnostics are consistent with the key log[NII]/H$\alpha$ vs. log[OIII]/H$\beta$ diagnostic currently used by the community. They also have the advantage of attaching a probability that a given object belongs to one class or to the other. Finally, we discuss briefly why ZQE diagrams can provide a new way to differentiate and study the different classes of AGNs in anticipation of a dedicated follow-up study.Comment: 21 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ. Due to size limitations, the supplementary STL file for the 3D-printable diagram is available here: http://www.mso.anu.edu.au/~fvogt/online_material.htm

Prolonged QT Syndrome in a 27-Year-Old Female Presenting as a Cardiac Arrest after Elective Surgery

Cardiac arrest is a true medical emergency and clinicians should base the management on American Heart Association advanced cardiac life support algorithm. The potential triggers of cardiac arrest should be sought. We present a case of a 27-year-old female who developed cardiac arrest and was later found to have congenital long QT syndrome. The patient’s outcome was favorable. Discussion of the key management options will be discussed in the text

Operational aspect of the policy coordination for financial stability: role of Jeffreys–Lindley’s paradox in operations research

AbstractThis study analyses the implications of Jeffery–Lindley’s paradox and Global Financial Crisis (GFC) for the operational aspect of macroeconomic policy coordination for financial stability. Using a Bayesian Vector Auto-regressive model and data from Jan 1985 to June 2016, our key findings suggest that the claim of macroeconomic policy interaction, interdependence and significance of coordinated policy operations for the financial stability holds its ground. The argument in the support for policy coordination for financial stability was found to be robust against the Jeffreys–Lindley’s paradox and in the Post-GFC era. A profound practical, operational and philosophical implication of this study is the positive aspects of Jeffreys–Lindley’s paradox and the possibility of employing the Frequentist and Bayesian estimation techniques as complementing rather competing frameworks.</jats:p

Clinical audit of neonatal care in Assiut Women's Health Hospital, Egypt

Background: The current study aims to auditing the current care of healthy full term newborns in the delivery room and identify the gap between the current practice and ideal practice in Assiut Women's Health Hospital, Egypt.Methods: The current study was a clinical audit carried out in Assiut Woman Health Hospital, in the period from 1 September 2016 to 28 February 2017.The study included all newborns delivered in the delivery word of gestational age after 37 week. We excluded all Preterm babies, those with congenital anomalies, pregnant women with medical disorders and multiple pregnancies. In the present work all data was collected prospectively through direct personal patient contact, direct observation of care givers, patient interactions and attitudes, from the clinical records and then recording the data in special check sheet. All basic criteria of the study participants as age, parity, gestational age at delivery and type of delivery were obtained. The neonatal gender, weight, heart rate and respiratory rate were checked. Audit criteria were selected according to the WHO 2015 and AAP 2010-2015 guidelines.Results: The study included 800 women; the mean age of the women was 26.52±5.70 years. The mean parity was 1.78±1.85. The mean gestational age at delivery was 38.81±0.96 weeks. As regard the type of delivery, 54.1% of women were delivered by cesarean section. Calling neonatologists occurred in 67.9% of deliveries. The mean birth weight was 3.17±0.39 kilograms. Nearly half of them (52%) were males.Conclusions: Application of the guidelines of the neonatal handling is important for optimum care to the neonates. Re-audit the steps of the handling is important to discuss whether practice has improved or not in our tertiary hospital

Raising the Diversity of Ugi Reactions Through Selective Alkylations and Allylations of Ugi Adducts

We report here selective Tsuji-Trost type allylation of Ugi adducts using a strategy based on the enhanced nucleophilicity of amide dianions. Ugi adducts derived from aromatic aldehydes were easily allylated at their peptidyl position with allyl acetate in the presence of palladium catalysts. These substitutions were compared to more classical transition metal free allylations using allyl bromides

Vancomycin therapy in critically ill patients on continuous renal replacement therapy; are we doing enough?

AbstractBackgroundRecommendations regarding vancomycin dosing and monitoring in critically ill patients on continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) are limited. This is a retrospective study to assess the adequacy of current vancomycin dosing and monitoring practice for patients on CRRT in a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.MethodsA retrospective chart review of adult patients admitted between 1 April 2011 and 30 March 2013 to critical care and received intravenous vancomycin therapy whilst on CRRT was performed.ResultsA total of 68 patients received intravenous vancomycin therapy whilst on CRRT, of which 32 met the inclusion criteria. Fifty-one percent were males and median (range) age was 62.5 (19 – 90) years. Median APACHE II score was 33.5 (22–43) and median Charlson Comorbidity Score was 4 (0–8). The mean (±standard deviation) dose of vancomycin was 879.9mg (±281.2mg) for an average duration of 5.9days (±3.7days). All patients received continuous veno-venous haemofiltration (CVVH). A total of 55 vancomycin level readings were available from the study population, ranging from 6.6 to 41.3, with wide variations within the same sampling time frames. Vancomycin levels of>15mg/L or were achieved at least once in 24 patients (75.0%), but only 11 patients (34.3%) had 2 or more serum vancomycin level readings of 15mg/L or more.ConclusionTherapeutic vancomycin levels are difficult to maintain in critically ill patients who are receiving IV vancomycin therapy whilst on CRRT. Aggressive dosing schedules and frequent monitoring are required to ensure adequate vancomycin therapy in this setting