Experimental Validation of Strong Directional Selectivity in Nonsymmetric Metallic Gratings with a Subwavelength Slit

Strong directional selectivity is theoretically predicted and experimentally validated at the microwave frequencies in the beaming regime for a single subwavelength slit in nonsymmetric metallic gratings with double-side corrugations. The operation regime can be realized at a fixed angle of incidence when the surface-plasmon assisted transmission is significant within a narrow range of observation angles, if illuminating one of the grating interfaces, and tends to vanish for all observation angles, if illuminating the opposite interface. The studied effect is connected with asymmetry (nonreciprocity) in the beaming that occurs if the surface plasmon properties are substantially different for the two interfaces being well isolated from each other

Influence of project manager’s competencies on project management success

Upravljanje projektima je vrlo zahtjevno područje u građevinarstvu zbog svojih dinamičkih osobitosti koje proizlaze iz nesigurnosti u pogledu dostupnosti sredstava, tehnologije i razvojnih procesa, te se zbog toga pokazuje potreba za angažmanom vrlo sposobnih voditelja projekata. U ovom je radu razvijen opsežan model za uspješnost upravljanja projektima, a istražuje se utjecaj kompetentnosti voditelja projekta na uspješnost upravljanja projektima. Rezultirajući model pokazuje da kompetentnost voditelja projekta može u velikoj mjeri utjecati na uspješnost upravljanja građevinskim projektima. Sposobnost vođenja definirana je kao najznačajnija kompetencija voditelja projekta, a potom slijede odgovornosti i požrtvovnost. Očekuje se da će istraživači i rukovodeće osobe zaposlene u praksi, npr. voditelji ili članovi upravnih odbora, imati korist od razvijenog modela kroz jasnije prepoznavanje utjecaja voditelja projekta na uspješnost upravljanja projektima te kroz usvajanje preporuka iznesenih u ovom radu.Project management (PM) has been a demanding profession in construction industry due to its dynamic nature originating from the uncertainties in budget, technology, and development processes, which put emphasis on the necessity for highly capable project managers. This study develops an extensive PM success model and investigates the influence of project manager’s competencies on the PM success. The resulting model reveals that the project manager’s competencies can play a big role in determining the PM success in construction projects. Leadership is identified as the most influential project manager competency followed by responsibility and commitment. Researchers and senior industry practitioners such as managers or boards of directors are expected to benefit from the developed model by recognizing the influences of project managers on the PM success and taking notice of the recommendations provided

Rapid and Sensitive Colorimetric ELISA Using Silver Nanoparticles, Microwaves and Split Ring Resonator Structures

We report a new approach to colorimetric Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) that reduces the total assay time to < 2 min and the lower-detection-limit by 100-fold based on absorbance readout. The new approach combines the use of silver nanoparticles, microwaves and split ring resonators (SRR). The SRR structure is comprised of a square frame of copper thin film (30 µm thick, 1 mm wide, overall length of ~9.4 mm on each side) with a single split on one side, which was deposited onto a circuit board (2×2 cm(2)). A single micro-cuvette (10 µl volume capacity) was placed in the split of the SRR structures. Theoretical simulations predict that electric fields are focused in and above the micro-cuvette without the accumulation of electrical charge that breaks down the copper film. Subsequently, the walls and the bottom of the micro-cuvette were coated with silver nanoparticles using a modified Tollen’s reaction scheme. The silver nanoparticles served as a mediator for the creation of thermal gradient between the bioassay medium and the silver surface, where the bioassay is constructed. Upon exposure to low power microwave heating, the bioassay medium in the micro-cuvette was rapidly and uniformly heated by the focused electric fields. In addition, the creation of thermal gradient resulted in the rapid assembly of the proteins on the surface of silver nanoparticles without denaturing the proteins. The proof-of-principle of the new approach to ELISA was demonstrated for the detection of a model protein (biotinylated-bovine serum albumin, b-BSA). In this regard, the detection of b-BSA with bulk concentrations (1 µM to 1 pM) was carried out on commercially available 96-well high throughput screening (HTS) plates and silver nanoparticle-deposited SRR structures at room temperature and with microwave heating, respectively. While the room temperature bioassay (without microwave heating) took 70 min to complete, the identical bioassay took < 2 min to complete using the SRR structures (with microwave heating). A lower detection limit of 0.01 nM for b-BSA (100-fold lower than room temperature ELISA) was observed using the SRR structures

Ultrafast and sensitive bioassay using split ring resonator structures and microwave heating

In this paper, we have reported that split ring resonators (SRRs) structures can be used for bioassay applications in order to further improve the assay time and sensitivity. The proof-of-principle demonstration of the ultrafast bioassays was accomplished by using a model biotin-avidin bioassay. While the identical room temperature bioassay (without microwave heating) took 70 min to complete, the identical bioassay took less than 2 min to complete by using SRR structures (with microwave heating). A lower detection limit of 0.01 nM for biotinylated-bovine serum albumin (100-fold lower than the room temperature bioassay) was observed by using SRR structures

An association analysis at 2q36 reveals a new candidate susceptibility gene for juvenile absence epilepsy and/or absence seizures associated with generalized tonic-clonic seizures

Purpose: To further evaluate the previously shown linkage of absence epilepsy (AE) to 2q36, both in human and WAG/Rij absence rat models, a 160-kb region at 2q36 containing eight genes with expressions in the brain was targeted in a case-control association study involving 205 Turkish patients with AE and 219 controls

Convalescent plasma therapy in patients with COVID-19

INTRODUCTION: Passive antibody therapy has been used to immunize vulnerable people against infectious agents. In this study, we aim to investigate the efficacy of convalescent plasma (CP) in the treatment of severe and critically ill patients diagnosed with COVID-19. METHOD: The data of severe or critically ill COVID-19 patients who received anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody-containing CP along with the antiviral treatment (n = 888) and an age-gender, comorbidity, and other COVID-19 treatments matched severe or critically ill COVID-19 patients at 1:1 ratio (n = 888) were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Duration in the intensive care unit (ICU), the rate of mechanical ventilation (MV) support and vasopressor support were lower in CP group compared with the control group (p = 0.001, p = 0.02, p = 0.001, respectively). The case fatality rate (CFR) was 24.7 % in the CP group, and it was 27.7 % in the control group. Administration of CP 20 days after the COVID-19 diagnosis or COVID-19 related symptoms were associated with a higher rate of MV support compared with the first 3 interval groups (≤5 days, 6-10 days, 11-15 days) (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: CP therapy seems to be effective for a better course of COVID-19 in severe and critically ill patients

The Coincidence of Familial Mediterranean Fever and Hypereosinophilia in a Patient with Hereditary Elliptocytosis

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a genetic disease with autosomal inheritance characterized by recurrent fever, abdominal pain, and serositis attacks. It is relatively common in the races and ethnical groups around Mediterranean Sea (Sephardic Jews, Armenians, Turks and Arabians). Hereditary elliptocytosis (HE) is common genetic defect of the red blood cell membrane skeleton. Spectrin mutations are the predominant causes of HE. Hypereosinophilia is defined as a number of eosinophil granulocytes equal or greater than 0.5 × 10(9)/L of circulating blood. The main causes are allergies and parasitic infections. This case report describes a Turkish female HE patient who presented with FMF and hypereosinophilia. Genetic analysis revealed heterozygous mutation in exon 10 of the MEFV gene (V726A). The patient was successfully treated with colchicine and steroid treatment at 3-month follow-up. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of association between FMF, HE, and hypereosinophilia. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12288-013-0296-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users