Editorial

No Abstrac

The Deterministic Capacity of Relay Networks with Relay Private Messages

We study the capacity region of a deterministic 4-node network, where 3 nodes can only communicate via the fourth one. However, the fourth node is not merely a relay since it can exchange private messages with all other nodes. This situation resembles the case where a base station relays messages between users and delivers messages between the backbone system and the users. We assume an asymmetric scenario where the channel between any two nodes is not reciprocal. First, an upper bound on the capacity region is obtained based on the notion of single sided genie. Subsequently, we construct an achievable scheme that achieves this upper bound using a superposition of broadcasting node 4 messages and an achievable "detour" scheme for a reduced 3-user relay network.Comment: 3 figures, accepted at ITW 201

ENHANCEMENT OF DISSOLUTION RATE OF HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE

Objective: The aim of this study was to enhance the dissolution rate of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).Methods: Binary solid dispersions (SDs) of HCTZ with increasing weight ratios of poloxamer 407, polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000) or gelucire 50/13 were prepared by solvent evaporation technique. The solid dispersions were deposited on the surface of aerosil 200 to produce a dry product with large surface area. The SDs were characterized with respect to drug dissolution. The mechanism of dissolution enhancement was researched using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).Results: The unprocessed drug showed erratic, slow dissolution which can be explained on the basis of its hydrophobic nature. Preparation of SDs with hydrophilic carriers resulted in a significant increase in the dissolution rate with most of the drug being liberated in the first 5 min. The dissolution pattern of the drug from the prepared SDs depends mainly on the type of polymer used, and the best dissolution pattern was observed in the SD prepared using 1:1 ratio of the drug to gelucire 50/13 in the presence of aerosil 200 as a carrier. FTIR studies revealed no interaction between the drug and polymers. DSC showed a change in the crystalline structure of the drug after SDs formation. This change can explain the recorded dissolution enhancement.Conclusion: The study presented a system capable of increasing the dissolution rate of HCTZ using polymers which can increase the intestinal permeability as well.Keywords: Hydrochlorothiazide, Poloxamer 407, PEG 6000, Gelucire 50/13, Solid dispersion, Dissolutio

The Deterministic Multicast Capacity of 4-Node Relay Networks

In this paper, we completely characterize the deterministic capacity region of a four-node relay network with no direct links between the nodes, where each node communicates with the three other nodes via a relay. Towards this end, we develop an upper bound on the deterministic capacity region, based on the notion of a one-sided genie. To establish achievability, we use the detour schemes that achieve the upper bound by routing specific bits via indirect paths instead of sending them directly.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted at ISIT'1

Effect of Feeding Propolis on Growth Performance of Broilers

 An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of propolis on broiler performance, carcass characteristics and blood parameters. The experiment was carried out with a completely randomized design of 4 treatments, supplemented with propolis at the rate of 0, 1, 2, and 3 mg/kg diet for 6 weeks. The results indicated that birds diet supplementation with propolis increased body weight (P<0.05), decreased feed intake and improved feed efficiency during the experiment. Carcass traits did not show significant differences for the treatments, with the exception of dressing percentage. The serum total protein and globulins were significantly (P<0.05) increased and the serum cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in propolis supplemented broilers. No significant differences were observed in hematological parameters among the different groups. It could be concluded that dietary inclusion of propolis to poultry diets had a positive effect on growth performance and improved the immune response by elevating blood globulins level. Also, it decreases blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. &nbsp

Surgical treatment of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fracture using a single small lateral approach

The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcome of semi-open reduction and minimal internal fixation through a single small lateral approach as a minimally invasive technique for treatment of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures. This prospective study was conducted on eighteen patients (16 men and 2 women). The average age was 37.7 (22–55). The most common cause of injury was a fall from height in fourteen patients. Patients were operated on within a mean time of 4.8 days of admission (1–11 days) and were followed up for an average period of 24.1 months (6–39 months). Patients were evaluated clinically using the Creighton-Nebraska Heath Foundation Assessment score of Crosby and Fitzgibbons (J Bone Joint Surg (Am) 72-A:852–859, 1990). The scoring system proposed by Knirk and Jupiter was used for radiological assessment of the posterior subtalar joint (Knirk and Jupiter in J Bone Joint Surg (Am) 68-A: 647–659, 1986). The skin incision healed in all cases without necrosis, infection, or sural nerve injury. All fractures healed after an average of 8 weeks (7–10 weeks), and patients returned to the routine daily activities after an average time of 4.3 months (3–7 months). In conclusion, semi-open reduction and minimal internal fixation through a small lateral approach is an effective treatment for carefully selected cases of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures

Antiviral activity of chitosan nanoparticles for controlling plant-infecting viruses

Chitosan nanoparticles (ChiNPs) are a potentially effective means for controlling numerous plant diseases. This study firstly describes the antiviral capabilities of ChiNPs to control plant viral diseases compared to its bulk form. Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) was used as a model plant virus affecting faba bean plants and many other legumes. The antiviral effectiveness of ChiNPs and chitosan were evaluated as a curative application method, using six dosage rates (50, 100, 200, 250, 300 and 400 mg/L). Results indicated that ChiNPs curatively applied 48 h post virus inoculation entirely inhibit the disease infectivity and viral accumulation content at 300 mg/L and 400 mg/L. The virus titre was greatly alleviated within the plant tissues by 7.71% up to100% depending on ChiNP dosage rates. However, chitosan used in its bulk-based material form revealed a relatively low to an intermediate reduction in virus infectivity by 6.67% up to 48.86%. Interestingly, ChiNPs affect the virus particle’s integrity by producing defective and incomplete BYMV viral particles, defeating their replication and accumulation content within the plant tissues. Simultaneously, ChiNP applications were appreciably shown to promote the pathogenesis-related (PR-1) gene and other defence-related factors. The mRNA of the PR-1 gene was markedly accumulated in treated plants, reaching its maximum at 400 mg/L with 16.22-fold relative expression change over the untreated control. Further, the total phenol dynamic curve was remarkably promoted for 30 days in response to ChiNP application, as compared to the untreated control. Our results provide the first report that chitosan-based nanomaterials have a superior effect in controlling plant viruses as an antiviral curing agent, suggesting that they may feasibly be involved in viral disease management strategies under field conditions without serious health concerns and environmental costs. Significance: • Our findings show that chitosan nanoparticles have a powerful curing antiviral activity against BYMV disease. These findings open the door for the use of eco-friendly nano-based tools in controlling numerous plant viruses. The use of eco-friendly nano-based materials could result in a successful integrative control strategy for plant viruses under field conditions, negating the need for the conventional measure used to control most of the insect-transmitted plant viruses, that is insecticide application against vector insects

Epigenetic harnessing of HCV via modulating the lipid droplet-protein, TIP47, in HCV cell models

AbstractThis study aimed at identifying potential microRNAs that modulate hepatic lipid droplets (LD) through targeting the Tail interacting protein of 47kDa (TIP47) in HCV infection.Bioinformatics analysis revealed that miR-148a and miR-30a potentially target TIP47. Expression profiling showed that both microRNAs were downregulated, while TIP47 was upregulated in liver biopsies of HCV-infected patients. Forcing the expression of both microRNAs in JFH-I infected, oleic acid-treated Huh7 cells, significantly suppressed TIP47 expression and reduced cellular LDs with marked decrease in viral RNA. This study shows that miR-148a and miR-30a, regulate TIP47 expression and LDs in HCV infected cells

Effect of Dietary Supplemental Ginger on Broiler Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Blood Profile

A study using one hundred unsexed day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308), 25 birds/treatment was conducted to evaluate the effect of ginger powder as natural feed additives on the growth performance, carcass traits and blood parameters of broiler chickens. Four dietary treatments were formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of broiler chicks containing ginger powder at levels 0%, 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6%. The results showed that no significant differences were recorded in body weight and body weight gainbetween different experimental groups. Birds fed diets supplemented with ginger exhibited better feed conversion (P>0.05) and lower feed intake than control birds. The measurements of carcass traits, hematological values and serum biochemical parameters showed no marked variation between the treated groups. It could be concluded that ginger powder at the used levels in this experiment has not potential to be used as a growth promoter in broiler chicks