Scale Invariance and the AdS/CFT Correspondence

Using the AdS/CFT correspondence, we show that the Anti-de Sitter (AdS) rotating (Kerr) black holes in five and seven dimensions provide us with examples of non-trivial field theories which are scale, but not conformally invariant. This is demonstrated by our computation of the actions and the stress-energy tensors of the four and six dimensional field theories residing on the boundary of these Kerr-AdS black holes spacetimes.Comment: 3 pages. LaTeX, IJMP style. Contribution to proceedings of DPF 2000, held at Ohio State

Intestinal epithelial responses to Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis: Effects on intestinal permeability and ion transport

Salmonella infection of chickens that leads to potential human foodborne salmonellosis continues to be a major concern. Chickens serve as carriers but, in contrast to humans, rarely show any clinical signs including diarrhea. The present investigations aimed to elucidate whether the absence of diarrhea during acute Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (Salmonella Enteritidis) infection may be linked to specific changes in the electrophysiological properties of the chicken gut. Immediately after slaughter, intestinal pieces of the mid-jejunum and cecum of either commercial broiler or specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens were mounted in Ussing chambers in 2 separate experimental series. Living Salmonella Enteritidis (3 × 109) or Salmonella Enteritidis endotoxin (20 mg/L), or both, were added to the mucosal side for 1 h. In both experimental series, the Salmonella infection decreased the trans-epithelial ion conductance Gt (P < 0.05). In the jejunum of SPF chickens, there was also a marked decrease in net charge transfer across the epithelium, evidenced by decreased short-circuit current (Isc, P < 0.05). Interestingly, the mucosal application of Salmonella endotoxin to the epithelial preparations from jejunum and cecum of SPF chicken had an effect similar to living bacteria. However, the endotoxin had no additional effect on the intestinal function in the presence of bacteria. The decreasing effect of Salmonella and or its endotoxin on Gt could be partly reversed by serosal addition of histamine. To our knowledge, this is the first study to address the functional response of native intestinal epithelium of chicken to an in vitro Salmonella infection. For the first time, it can be reported that intestinal ion permeability of chicken decreases acutely by the presence of Salmonella. This type of response could counteract ion and fluid secretion and may thus, at least in part, explain why chickens do not develop overt diarrhea after Salmonella infection

Higher Dimensional Taub-NUTs and Taub-Bolts in Einstein-Maxwell Gravity

We present a class of higher dimensional solutions to Einstein-Maxwell equations in d-dimensions. These solutions are asymptotically locally flat, de-Sitter, or anti-de Sitter space-times. The solutions we obtained depend on two extra parameters other than the mass and the nut charge. These two parameters are the electric charge, q and the electric potential at infinity, V, which has a non-trivial contribution. We Analyze the conditions one can impose to obtain Taub-Nut or Taub-Bolt space-times, including the four-dimensional case. We found that in the nut case these conditions coincide with that coming from the regularity of the one-form potential at the horizon. Furthermore, the mass parameter for the higher dimensional solutions depends on the nut charge and the electric charge or the potential at infinity.Comment: 11 pages, LaTe

Campylobacter jejuni colonization promotes the translocation of Escherichia coli to extra-intestinal organs and disturbs the short-chain fatty acids profiles in the chicken gut

For a long time Campylobacter was only considered as a commensal microorganism in avian hosts restricted to the ceca, without any pathogenic features. The precise reasons for the symptomless chicken carriers are still unknown, but investigations of the gastrointestinal ecology of broiler chickens may improve our understanding of the microbial interactions with the host. Therefore, the current studies were conducted to investigate the effects of Campylobacter jejuni colonization on Escherichia coli translocation and on the metabolic end products (short-chain fatty acids, SCFAs). Following oral infection of 14 day old broiler chickens with 1 × 108 CFU of Campylobacter jejuni NCTC 12744 in two independent animal trials, it was found that C. jejuni heavily colonized the intestine and disseminate to extra-intestinal organs. Moreover, in both animal trials, the findings revealed that C. jejuni promoted the translocation of E. coli with a higher number encountered in the spleen and liver at 14 days post infection (dpi). In addition, Campylobacter affected the microbial fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract of broilers by reducing the amount of propionate, isovalerate, and isobutyrate in the cecal digesta of the infected birds at 2 dpi and, at 7 and 14 dpi, butyrate, isobutyrate, and isovalerate were also decreased. However, in the jejunum, the C. jejuni infection lowered only butyrate concentrations at 14 dpi. These data indicated that C. jejuni may utilize SCFAs as carbon sources to promote its colonization in the chicken gut, suggesting that Campylobacter cannot only alter gut colonization dynamics but might also influence physiological processes due to altered microbial metabolite profiles. Finally, the results demonstrated that C. jejuni can cross the intestinal epithelial barrier and facilitates the translocation of Campylobacter itself as well as of other enteric microorganisms such as E. coli to extra-intestinal organs of infected birds. Altogether, our findings suggest that the Campylobacter carrier state in chicken is characterised by multiple changes in the intestinal barrier function, which supports multiplication and survival within the host

Aggressive Driving is a Major Cause of Traffic Accidents and Road Rage in Jordan

Motor vehicle accidents are a major cause of death among Jordanians. Roughly 700 people died last year in car accidents out of a total population of five million people. Many factors contribute to this. Some involve planning, design, construction, operation, surface condition, and policing of the roadways. The most deadly factor is human error. This includes unawareness of traffic rules and roadway condition; lack of driving skills; poor judgment; failure to interact and adjust to prevailing roadway conditions; and most importantly, aggressive driving. Preliminary findings of a survey questionnaire conducted in this study show that improper engineering design, inadequate traffic control, lack of traffic management, and traffic congestion are the main factors leading to aggressive driving and road rage on Jordan roadways. The study includes 200 questionnaires. The main objective of this study is to identify aggressive driving behaviors in Jordan and underline their effect on traffic safety. In addition, the study attempts to increase drivers’ awareness of their actions on the roadway and point out the consequences associated with these actions. Many drivers justify their aggressive driving as temporary retaliatory measures to counteract other aggressive drivers, and therefore, this leads to road rage and traffic chaos. Aggressive driving behaviors such as pushing a car off the roadway, deliberate obstruction of passing vehicles, pursuing a vehicle, excessive high speed, and tailgating are considered at the top of the list according to the study findings. Most drivers admit that driving 20km/hr above speed limit causes danger to pedestrians but not to other vehicles

Aggressive Driving is a Major Cause of Traffic Accidents and Road Rage in Jordan

Motor vehicle accidents are a major cause of death among Jordanians. Roughly 700 people died last year in car accidents out of a total population of five million people. Many factors contribute to this. Some involve planning, design, construction, operation, surface condition, and policing of the roadways. The most deadly factor is human error. This includes unawareness of traffic rules and roadway condition; lack of driving skills; poor judgment; failure to interact and adjust to prevailing roadway conditions; and most importantly, aggressive driving. Preliminary findings of a survey questionnaire conducted in this study show that improper engineering design, inadequate traffic control, lack of traffic management, and traffic congestion are the main factors leading to aggressive driving and road rage on Jordan roadways. The study includes 200 questionnaires. The main objective of this study is to identify aggressive driving behaviors in Jordan and underline their effect on traffic safety. In addition, the study attempts to increase drivers’ awareness of their actions on the roadway and point out the consequences associated with these actions. Many drivers justify their aggressive driving as temporary retaliatory measures to counteract other aggressive drivers, and therefore, this leads to road rage and traffic chaos. Aggressive driving behaviors such as pushing a car off the roadway, deliberate obstruction of passing vehicles, pursuing a vehicle, excessive high speed, and tailgating are considered at the top of the list according to the study findings. Most drivers admit that driving 20km/hr above speed limit causes danger to pedestrians but not to other vehicles

Enteral reduction and oblique anastomosis: a novel technique in the treatment of small bowel atresia

Background: Jejunoileal atresias are major causes of neonatal intestinal obstruction, and various surgical techniques were described for their treatment. Resection and/or tapering of the proximal dilated pouch and end-toend or end-to-back enteral anastomosis are the most commonly used techniques. Either of these techniques, however, has shortcomings such as loss of bowel length, kink obstruction, and anastomotic leak due to anastomotic line mismatch.Objective: The aim of this study was to describe an alternative surgical technique for bowel atresia repair, enteral reduction and oblique anastomosis.Patients and methods: The technique involves reduction of the dilated bowel diameter by removing an elliptical fullthickness part of the anterior wall of the proximal dilated pouch and oblique anastomosis of the resultant window with a longitudinally incised posterior wall of the distal bowel.Results: This technique was used in seven successive neonates, four female and three male, in 1 year. Their ages at operation ranged between 2 and 30 days (median 3 days). Six neonates recovered well. Enteral feeds were tolerated in 7–10 days and the length of hospital stay ranged between 15 and 36 days. One baby, who underwent surgical repair at the age of 30 days, died following severe sepsis and anastomotic leak.Conclusion: Enteral reduction and oblique anastomosis is an easy and safe alternative to current surgical techniques used for the treatment of small intestinal atresia. No bowel resection is required while proximal bowel tapering is achieved.Keywords: oblique anastomosis, small bowel atresia, taperin

Pattern, First Aid and Complications of Snake Bite in Sudan

Aim: This study aimed at assessing the first aid management and types of complications arising from snakebite. Patients and methods:&nbsp; A survey of snakebites cases admitted to Sinnar Teaching Hospital, Sinnar, Sudan was conducted between March 2011 and March 2013. The demographic and clinical details of each case were obtained using a questionnaire design to collect primary data from patients and their relatives and patient’s, while, secondary data was collected from the hospital record. Data was analyzed using frequency tabulation. Results: A total number of 111 cases of snake bites were reported during the period of study. The most common age group affected was 19-36 years. The highest number of incidents occurred during daytime from July to December, and lower limb was the major affected part of the body. 41.1% of the victims were farmers. Tourniquet was found to be the most commonly used first aid.&nbsp; The major observed complications were cellulitis and spontaneous bleeding.&nbsp; A mortality rate of 3.6% was reported. Conclusion: Extensive use of tourniquet as a first aid measure is one of the primary causes of complications from snakebite. Correct first aid and scientifically based medical intervention are very important snakebite management mechanism and can reduce its complications considerably. Aim: This study aimed at assessing the first aid management and types of complications arising from snakebite. Patients and methods:&nbsp; A survey of snakebites cases admitted to Sinnar Teaching Hospital, Sinnar, Sudan was conducted between March 2011 and March 2013. The demographic and clinical details of each case were obtained using a questionnaire design to collect primary data from patients and their relatives and patient’s, while, secondary data was collected from the hospital record. Data was analyzed using frequency tabulation. Results: A total number of 111 cases of snake bites were reported during the period of study. The most common age group affected was 19-36 years. The highest number of incidents occurred during daytime from July to December, and lower limb was the major affected part of the body. 41.1% of the victims were farmers. Tourniquet was found to be the most commonly used first aid.&nbsp; The major observed complications were cellulitis and spontaneous bleeding.&nbsp; A mortality rate of 3.6% was reported. Conclusion: Extensive use of tourniquet as a first aid measure is one of the primary causes of complications from snakebite. Correct first aid and scientifically based medical intervention are very important snakebite management mechanism and can reduce its complications considerably