Proposed P-shaped Microstrip Antenna Array for Wireless Communication Applications

In this paper a P-shaped microstrip antenna array is proposed for X-band applications in the frequency range (8.1567-9.3811) GHz .The gain obtained in this frequency range is about 8.305 dBi. The reflection coefficient is less than - 10 dB in the above frequency range. The simulation results were obtained for the optimum parameters using the CST software while the practical test was carried out using Vector Network Analyzer (VNA). The microstrip antenna was manufactured using FR-4 substrate with relative dielectric constant of 4.3 and loss tangent tan⁡〖δ=0.002〗.The simulation and practical results were compared. The size of the antenna array is (33×70×1.6) 〖mm〗^3. This array is suitable for satellite communication, radar application

Anti-acne activity of Casuarina equisetifolia bark extract: A randomized clinical trial

The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Casuarina equisetifolia bark extract (5% cream) in comparison with benzoyl peroxide as the standard drug for acne vulgaris. After exclusion, fifty patients were included in the study (n=50) with age group distribution between 17-34 years of age. Patients were distributed into Group 1 (5% cream) and Group 2 (benzoyl peroxide), and were advised to apply the herbal cream twice a day topically. The clinical efficacy of the herbal cream and severity of acne vulgaris was assessed by Cook's acne grading scale. Results revealed that there was no significant difference found in both test and standard control groups. Further, remarkable improvement was found in acne grading in the test group

Validation of Half-Reaction Volumes of the Promega PowerPlex® Forensic Amplification Kits (PowerPlex® 18D Systems, PowerPlex ® 21System, PowerPlex® Fusion System and PowerPlex® Y23 System) in STR Analysis

DNA amplification is known to be the most expensive step during forensic DNA analysis. This study evaluated the half-reaction amplification protocol (12.5 µL PCR product) using DNA amplification kits from Promega PowerPlex® (PowerPlex® 18D System, PowerPlex ®21System, PowerPlex® Fusion System and PowerPlex® Y23 System), which might aid in reducing sample analysis cost by half and allow the analysis of more samples. A sensitivity study (15 samples) along with testing of various blood stain samples (n=100) that were submitted to the Medico-Legal Directorate laboratory for DNA testing was accomplished to compare the DNA profiles resulting from half-reaction volume procedure to those with full-reaction volume procedure, using three differed methods along with standard protocol to evaluate the effect of half reaction volume with some variables. Results demonstrated the use of half-reaction amplification protocol preceded by washing step for all aforementioned DNA amplification kits gave a robust and reliable amplification result that aid to increase the number of samples analyzed and decreased the test cost for each kit without compromising the quality of 3DNA profiles obtained

Effect on larval growth of adding finely ground silicon-bearing minerals (wollastonite or olivine) to artificial diets for Helicoverpa spp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The uptake of silicon (Si) by plants is known to reinforce plant tissues against invertebrate herbivores, but whether there is also direct antibiosis from ingesting Si remains in question. To investigate for antibiotic effects, Si-bearing minerals, wollastonite (CaSiO3) or olivine (Mg/FeSiO3), were added to artificial diets as finely ground powders (40–50 μm) before or after acidulation to determine whether Si-reduced larval growth. Newly hatched Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1808) and H. punctigera (Wallengren, 1860) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were placed onto the diets and weighed once the larvae on the control diet had completed feeding (day12 for H. armigera; day 14 for H. punctigera: 25.5°C). Acidulated olivine at rates of 0.4–1.7% Si w/dw (weight Si/dry weight of diet) reduced larval weight of H. armigera by 95–99% compared with control diets. Non-acidulated olivine also appeared to cause a decline in larval weight. Wollastonite at rates of up to 3.3% Si had no significant effect on larval weight whether acidulated or not. A similar effect was observed for H. punctigera. Very few insects survived to emergence on diets containing the higher rates of acidulated olivine. Olivine contains quantities of heavy metals, particularly nickel, cobalt and chromium, which can be toxic to insects. Given the lack of toxicity when Si was included as wollastonite compared with similar quantities as olivine, the heavy metals are implicated as the antibiotic agents. Acidulation increased the toxicity of olivine probably by rendering the metals more biologically active. The results of this bioassay do not support the hypothesis that Si is directly antibiotic to Helicoverpa spp. via ingestion.John N Stanley, Hussein Ali Baqir and Timothy I McLare

BEARING CAPACITY OF SOFT CLAY IMPROVED BY HEATING THROUGH DIFFERENT SPACING CASED BOREHOLES

This paper presents the effect of heat treatment on ultimate bearing capacity and total settlement of soft clay. The soft clay that was used in this study was prepared by mixing Baghdad’s clay with sufficient water content which gives a shear strength of 7 kPa.Seven model tests were carried out on soft clay inside a cubic steel box of 750 mm side length after heat treatment, two of which were used as a reference without treatment for comparison. A special heating system was designed and manufactured for this purpose by using the gas as a source of heating through boreholes. Four square patterns casing boreholes having 3.5 cm in diameter and 30cm in length with spacing 3d, 4d, 5d, 6d and 7d (were d is the diameter of the borehole) and the time of heating was six hours for each model. A monotonic load was applied on an aluminum square model footing of 150 mm length and 20 mm thick placed on the center of surface area of the soft clay until the settlement exceeds 10% of the width footing. The results showed that the bearing capacity increases and the settlement decreases with spacing increasing until some limiting value (5d) then the bearing capacity decreases and the settlement increases. The 5d spacing is the best one where the bearing capacity increases nine times and the settlement decreases to one tenth compared with that without heating

Emphysematous changes in hypersensitivity pneumonitis: A retrospective analysis of 12 patients

Introduction: Emphysema is most commonly associated with smoking but also occurs in hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). The aim of this study was to further explore this relationship. Methods: A retrospective, computer-assisted search was performed to identify patients with HP seen at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, from January 1997 through February 2014. Demographic, clinical, and imaging features were analyzed. Patients were excluded if they had a smoking history of 10 pack-years or more. Results: Twelve patients (9 males) with HP and computed tomographic evidence of emphysema were identified. Ten were never smokers and 2 were ex-smokers. The median age at diagnosis was 47 (range, 29–77) years; median symptom duration was 2.2 (range, 0.2–13.4) years. The most common presenting symptoms were dyspnea (83%) and cough (67%). On pulmonary function testing, 6 patients (50%) had a restrictive defect, 2 (17%) had airflow obstruction, and 4 (33%) had an isolated reduction in diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide. The severity of emphysema ranged from mild to severe to focal bullae. All patients had chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP). Centrilobular emphysema was most commonly seen with coexistent paraseptal emphysema in 5 patients.Emphysema was most frequent in the upper lung but could be seen in any lobe. Conclusion: Emphysema can occur in patients with CHP independently of smoking history and exposure to specific types of antigens. Emphysematous changes seem to progress at a slower pace compare to reticulations/fibrosis. Keywords: Emphysema, Fibrosis, Hypersensitivity pneumoniti