Epidemiološko istraživanje, karakterizacija i protugljivična osjetljivost gljivice Microsporum canis izolirane iz kućnih ljubimaca

Dermatophytoses is a very old and neglected ailment in man as well as animals. The development of antifungal resistance is another emerging issue. Among the different etiologies, Microsporum canis plays a crucial role. The present study was undertaken to investigate the epidemiology of, characterize, and explore the antifungal susceptibility profile of M. canis isolated from pet animals. A total of 97 (59.15%) (Dog-46, Cat-51) isolates were identified as M. canis by using PCR. The prevalence of M. canis was highest in puppies (19.1%) and kittens (25.78%) in relation to age. No sexual predisposition was found in this study. Seasonal distribution revealed the highest prevalence in summer and lowest in winter. Resistance against Fluconazole and Griseofulvin was observed in a few isolates. The results indicate the need to properly identify the pathogen, and to be cautious in selecting the drug for treatment in order to stop the further development of resistant dermatophytes.Dermatofitoze su su dugo poznate bolesti u ljudi i životinja kod kojih sve više zabrinjava razvoj protugljivične otpornosti. Među brojnim etiologijama ključnu ulogu ima Microsporum canis. U ovom je radu istražena epidemiologija, provedena karakterizacija i istražena protugljivična osjetljivost gljivice M. canis izolirane iz kućnih ljubimaca. Metodom PCR-a kao vrsta M. canis identificirano je ukupno 97 izolata (59,15 %), 46 kod pasa i 51 kod mačaka. Uvažavajući dob, prevalencija gljivice M. canis bila je najveća u štenadi (19,1 %) i mačića (25,78 %). U ovom istraživanju nije potvrđena spolna predispozicija bolesti. Sezonska raspodjela najveća je bila ljeti, a najmanja zimi. U nekoliko je izolata promatrana rezistencija na Flukonazol i Grizeofulvin. Rezultati upućuju na to da treba točno identificirati patogen i biti oprezan u izboru lijeka kako bi se spriječio daljnji razvoj dermatofita

Process optimization and comparative analysis of EDM and EDD process in machining Al6063/10% SiC metal matrix composites

750-756In this work, a comparative investigation of electric discharge machining (EDM) and electric discharge drilling (EDD) has been presented to evaluate the performance measures for machining blind holes in Al6063/10% SiC metal matrix composites (MMCs). The work has been conducted with an aim of optimizing the material removal rate (MRR), tool wear rate (TWR), and surface roughness (SR). The input parameters chosen for machining are (i) discharged current, (ii) pulse-on time, and (iii) duty factor. The Taguchi’s L9 orthogonal array has been applied to design the experiments. The grey relational analysis has also been used to determine the optimal level of input parameters to achieve better results. Analysis of variances (ANOVA) has been applied to perform the statistical analysis of the experimental data. The results have shown that discharge current is the most influencing factor that affects the multiple performance characteristics in both EDM and EDD processes

Process optimization and comparative analysis of EDM and EDD process in machining Al6063/10% SiC metal matrix composites

In this work, a comparative investigation of electric discharge machining (EDM) and electric discharge drilling (EDD) hasbeen presented to evaluate the performance measures for machining blind holes in Al6063/10% SiC metal matrix composites(MMCs). The work has been conducted with an aim of optimizing the material removal rate (MRR), tool wear rate (TWR), andsurface roughness (SR). The input parameters chosen for machining are (i) discharged current, (ii) pulse-on time, and (iii) dutyfactor. The Taguchi’s L9 orthogonal array has been applied to design the experiments. The grey relational analysis has also beenused to determine the optimal level of input parameters to achieve better results. Analysis of variances (ANOVA) has beenapplied to perform the statistical analysis of the experimental data. The results have shown that discharge current is the mostinfluencing factor that affects the multiple performance characteristics in both EDM and EDD processes

EXPLORATION OF IN VITRO SYNERGISTIC ANTIFUNGAL POTENTIAL OF FICUS RACEMOSA AND CASSIA FISTULA L. AGAINST MULTI-DRUG RESISTANT MICROSPORUM CANIS

Microsporum canis is a worldwide-diffused pathogenic dermatophyte that can cause outbreaks in both human and animal populations. Considerable upsurge in the incidence of multidrug-resistant M. canis has created the urgency to identify and develop novel antifungals to avoid therapeutic failures during treatment. The present study was designed to explore the synergistic antifungal potential of fractionalized extract with different solvents of Ficus racemosa and Cassia fistula Leaves (L.) against multidrug-resistant M. canis by broth micro-dilution assay. The mixture of the methanolic fraction of both the extracts showed a potent antifungal activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1 µg/ml as compared to their pure fractions. The results provided a scientific validation for a possible and novel antifungal agent which should further be explored for its safety by using suitable animal trials

Low-Power, Chip-Scale, CO2 Gas Sensors for Spacesuit Monitoring

N5 Sensors, Inc. and NASA through a STTR program are jointly developing ultra-small, low-power carbon dioxide (CO2) gas sensors, suited for monitoring CO2 levels inside the spacesuits. Due to the unique environmental conditions within the spacesuits, such as high humidity, large temperature and operating pressure swings, measurement of key gases relevant to astronaut's safety and health such as carbon dioxide, is quite challenging. Conventional non-dispersive infrared absorption based CO2 sensors cannot be effectively implemented inside the spacesuits due to their sizes, weights, and power constraints. Metal-oxide based sensors have been effectively miniaturized for several applications, however detection of CO2 utilizing metal-oxide based sensors is challenging due to the chemical inertness and high stability of CO2 at room-temperatures. To mitigate these limitations, unique chip-scale, nanoengineered chemiresistive gas-sensing architecture has been developed - to allow the Metal-oxide sensors to operate in space-suite environmental conditions. Unique design combining the selective adsorption properties of the nanophotocatalytic clusters of metal-oxides and metals, provides selective detection of CO2 in high relative humidity conditions. All electronic design provides a compact and low-power solution, which can be implemented for multipoint detection of CO2 inside the spacesuits. This paper will describe a novel approach in refining the sensor architecture, development of new photocatalytic material for better sensor performance

Mechanical characterization of animal fibre-based composites

293-297Horsehair-based composites have been prepared by reinforcing polylactic acid (PLA) using hot compression molding. The weight fraction of horsehair fibre in composites has been varied from 0% to 30 wt.% to investigate the effect of fibre loading on the mechanical properties and moisture absorption performance of the developed composites. The mechanical properties, such as strength and modulus (tensile and flexural), impact energy, and moisture absorption behaviour of the fabricated composites, are experimentally evaluated. The experimental results recommend that the composites reinforced with 20 wt.% horsehair exhibit superior mechanical properties as compared to other developed composites. The tensile strength and modulus, flexural strength and modulus, Charpy and Izod impact energy of the composites reinforced with 20 wt.% horsehair are improved by 9.52, 28.74, 7, 5.63, 398.11 and 379.31% as compared to, one-on-one, neat PLA. The findings also reveal that the percentage of moisture absorption of the developed composites increases with an increase in the fibre content in the developed composites

Mechanical characterization of animal fibre-based composites

Horsehair-based composites have been prepared by reinforcing polylactic acid (PLA) using hot compression molding. The weight fraction of horsehair fibre in composites has been varied from 0% to 30 wt.% to investigate the effect of fibre loading on the mechanical properties and moisture absorption performance of the developed composites. The mechanical properties, such as strength and modulus (tensile and flexural), impact energy, and moisture absorption behaviour of the fabricated composites, are experimentally evaluated. The experimental results recommend that the composites reinforced with 20 wt.% horsehair exhibit superior mechanical properties as compared to other developed composites. The tensile strength and modulus, flexural strength and modulus, Charpy and Izod impact energy of the composites reinforced with 20 wt.% horsehair are improved by 9.52, 28.74, 7, 5.63, 398.11 and 379.31% as compared to, one-on-one, neat PLA. The findings also reveal that the percentage of moisture absorption of the developed composites increases with an increase in the fibre content in the developed composites.

Low-Power, Chip-Scale, Carbon Dioxide Gas Sensors for Spacesuit Monitoring

N5 Sensors, Inc. through a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contract award has been developing ultra-small, low-power carbon dioxide (CO2) gas sensors, suited for monitoring CO2 levels inside NASA spacesuits. Due to the unique environmental conditions within the spacesuits, such as high humidity, large temperature swings, and operating pressure swings, measurement of key gases relevant to astronaut's safety and health such as(CO2), is quite challenging. Conventional non-dispersive infrared absorption based CO2 sensors present challenges inside the spacesuits due to size, weight, and power constraints, along with the ability to sense CO2 in a high humidity environment. Unique chip-scale, nanoengineered chemiresistive gas-sensing architecture has been developed for this application, which can be operated in a typical space-suite environmental conditions. Unique design combining the selective adsorption properties of the nanophotocatalytic clusters of metal-oxides and metals, provides selective detection of CO2 in high relative humidity conditions. All electronic design provides a compact and low-power solution, which can be implemented for multipoint detection of CO2 inside the spacesuits. This paper will describe the sensor architecture, development of new photocatalytic material for better sensor response, and advanced structure for better sensitivity and shorter response times

Interleukin-6 in obese type II diabetes with hypertension

Background: Type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity are found to be associated with increased incidence of hypertension, although the mechanisms facilitating hypertension in T2DM or nondiabetic individuals are not clear.Methods: We compared the levels of fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, lipid subfractions and inflammatory cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6), being risk factors previously found to be associated with hypertension, in T2DM patients showing increased body weight (obese and overweight with body mass index, BMI ≥25 kg/m2) with hypertension (group A, n=30), or without hypertension (group B, n=30), and in non-obese (BMI <25 kg/m2), normotensive controls (group C, n=40).Results: BMI, HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were found to be significantly higher in group A, B Vs C (p <0.05). Also, IL-6 levels were significantly higher both in group A and B compared to group C. The highest level of IL-6 was found in group A, being significantly higher than in group B (A: 14.34 ± 4.98 pg/ml; B: 10.66 ± 1.16 pg/ml; C: 7.41 ± 0.54 pg/ml, A vs. B p<0.001; A, B vs. C p<0.001).Conclusions: Our results have shown that appearance of hypertension in T2DM patients with increased body weight was dependent on rise in inflammatory marker IL-6 cytokine.  

Direct Covalent Chemical Functionalization of Unmodified Two-Dimensional Molybdenum Disulfide

Two-dimensional semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) like molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) are generating significant excitement due to their unique electronic, chemical, and optical properties. Covalent chemical functionalization represents a critical tool for tuning the properties of TMDCs for use in many applications. However, the chemical inertness of semiconducting TMDCs has thus far hindered the robust chemical functionalization of these materials. Previous reports have required harsh chemical treatments or converting TMDCs into metallic phases prior to covalent attachment. Here, we demonstrate the direct covalent functionalization of the basal planes of unmodified semiconducting MoS2 using aryl diazonium salts without any pretreatments. Our approach preserves the semiconducting properties of MoS2, results in covalent C-S bonds, is applicable to MoS2 derived from a range of different synthesis methods, and enables a range of different functional groups to be tethered directly to the MoS2 surface. Using density functional theory calculations including van der Waals interactions and atomic-scale scanning probe microscopy studies, we demonstrate a novel reaction mechanism in which cooperative interactions enable the functionalization to propagate along the MoS2 basal plane. The flexibility of this covalent chemistry employing the diverse aryl diazonium salt family is further exploited to tether active proteins to MoS2, suggesting future biological applications and demonstrating its use as a versatile and powerful chemical platform for enhancing the utility of semiconducting TMDCsComment: To appear in Chemistry Materials (In press