Novel epoxy activated hydrogels for solving lactose intolerance

"Lactose intolerance" is a medical problem for almost 70% of the world population. Milk and dairy products contain 5-10% w/v lactose. Hydrolysis of lactose by immobilized lactase is an industrial solution. In this work, we succeeded to increase the lactase loading capacity to more than 3-fold to 36.3 U/g gel using epoxy activated hydrogels compared to 11 U/g gel using aldehyde activated carrageenan. The hydrogel's mode of interaction was proven by FTIR, DSC, and TGA. The high activity of the epoxy group was regarded to its ability to attach to the enzyme's -SH, -NH, and -OH groups, whereas the aldehyde group could only bind to the enzyme's -NH2 group. The optimum conditions for immobilization such as epoxy chain length and enzyme concentration have been studied. Furthermore, the optimum enzyme conditions were also deliberated and showed better stability for the immobilized enzyme and the Michaelis constants, Km and Vmax, were doubled. Results revealed also that both free and immobilized enzymes reached their maximum rate of lactose conversion after 2 h, albeit, the aldehyde activated hydrogel could only reach 63% of the free enzyme. In brief, the epoxy activated hydrogels are more efficient in immobilizing more enzymes than the aldehyde activated hydrogel

Effectiveness of Open-Graded Base Layer on Subgrade Moisture Regime and Overall Pavement Performance

Rockcap (open-graded crushed aggregate with a nominal maximum size of 2.5 in.) base layer is commonly used in the construction of asphalt pavements in Idaho. The effectiveness of the rockcap layer on the subgrade moisture regime and the overall pavement performance were evaluated. Two pavement sites were selected in northern and southern regions of the state. At each site, two pavement sections that are identical and adjacent to each other were instrumented by temperature, frost, and moisture sensors using time domain reflectometry (TDR) probes. One was constructed by a well-graded 3/4-in. aggregate base, whereas the other was constructed by the rockcap base. Data collected over approximately 4 years included moisture, temperature, frost condition, climatic information, groundwater level, and deflections using a falling weight deflectometer for structural support evaluation. These data were analyzed to assess effects of the rockcap layer on the variation of moisture in the subgrade and on the overall structural capacity of the pavement system. Results showed that the rockcap layer helped reduce the subgrade moisture content in pavements with daylight ditch drains, and it showed an increase in subgrade moisture for sections where the rockcap was confined by native soil and did not continue to side drains. However, performance analysis showed that sections with rockcap layer were always stronger than sections with aggregate base, even when the subgrade moisture content under rockcap was greater. The predicted rutting life for pavement sections with rockcap base layers was approximately five times greater than for sections with aggregate base

Evaluation of medical consultation letters at King Fahd Hospital, Al Hufuf, Saudi Arabia

Background: In surgical wards, it is of paramount importance to communicate with other health care providers, mostly physicians, referring patients to them for their consultation on any health conditions that affect pre-operative, operative and post-operative patient care. The purposes of this investigation were to assess the appropriateness of physician responses in medical consultation reports and compare physician responses when using these reports from different levels of health care providers. Methods: This study was conducted in Al-Hufuf, Saudi Arabia. The researchers evaluated all the surgical consultation letters in the files during the period be¬tween March 2010 and March 2011. From the explored 234 files, only 200 consultation letters were chosen as there was a referral data plus consultation data in the same file. We evaluated the quality of consultation report included the ethical concerns towards colleagues and patient, consideration of patient safety in all opinions, comprehensive pertinent scientific information, addressing the patient’s medical condition with putting possible differential diagnosis, conclusion and precise management plans suggested. Results: The results showed that the specialists' consultation letters had the highest percentage of fulfillment of all the six items in the consultation report. There is no uniform existing consultation report form. Conclusion:  Specialist form showed the highest number of mentioning the diagnosis. Consultant form showed the highest number of mentioning the concise aim of referral. The highest percentage of all categories mentioned all items in consultation report with a good level were the specialists. Pan African Medical Journal 2012; 12:5

Experimental Performance Characterization of Photovoltaic Modules Using DAQ

AbstractThis paper presents a simple electronic circuit for testing the photovoltaic (PV) modules by tracing their I-V characteristics. A precise PV module electrical model is also introduced. The circuit consists of a fast varying electronic load based on power MOSFET and operational amplifier. A DAQ system with LabVIEW application was developed for controlling the MOSFET gate-source voltage. The circuit is designed, implemented and tested under real conditions. The experimental results verified with simulation results and another way of testing which is resistor method

Designing and Developing Electronic Health System Using XML & RDM

An examination of many hospitals that recently implemented in King Saudi Arabia(KSA) a little electronic health record (EHR) system finds that clinical and administrative leaders built EHR adoption into their strategic plans to integrate inpatient and outpatient care and pro­vide a continuum of coordinated services. Using Relational Data Base Management (RDM) and eXtend Marker Language (XML) Systems .Successful implementation depended on: strong leadership, full involvement of clinical staff in design and implementation, mandatory staff training, and strict adherence to timeline and budget. The EHR systems facilitate patient safety and quality improvement through: use of checklists, alerts, and predictive tools; embedded clinical guidelines that promote standardized, evidence-based practices; elec­tronic prescribing and test-ordering that reduces errors and redundancy; and discrete data fields that foster use of performance dashboards and compliance reports. The system will be developed using PHP Hiper Page(PHP) as web based system. Key word: XML, RDM,EHR.EMR,GIS,PH

Exercise Mimetics: An Emerging and Controversial Topic in Sport and Exercise Physiology

Over the previous decade, there has been growing and fervent interest in scientific and commercial circles regarding the potential of bioactive compounds that mimic, or augment, the effects of exercise. These developments have given rise to the moniker ‘exercise pills’ or ‘exercise mimetics’. The emergence of such orally-delivered bioactive compounds could hold substantial therapeutic value for combating metabolic disease. Such treatments might also present therapeutic value for morbidly obese individuals or those recovering from severe injury. This topic is not without controversy, however, as the search for a ‘one size fits all’ solution is not likely to bear fruit, given the complexity of the molecular and physiological mechanisms involved. The primary goal of this chapter is to explore the challenges of designing a pill that might reliably deliver the myriad and complex adaptations afforded by exercise training, with a focus on skeletal muscle. Furthermore, it will consider the issues, rationale, and practicality of implementing such therapeutics as a credible substitute to engaging in regular exercise training

Computerization of Medical Analysis Laboratories in the Sudan between Reality and Expectations

The rapid development of the techniques used in laboratories led generating massive amounts of data in record time, which put scientists on the front line not only with the interpretation of this data to vital information but with the store this data in databases organization in a good way that allows retrieved easily, and this what led to the emergence of science bioinformatics, which applies computer technology to the management of these bioinformatics, as has this science developed several algorithms and software for analyzing the genome ( after becoming exposed in front of us) and comparing with DNA sequences and chains of proteins with each other or matching new strings with previously undiscovered chains in order to gain access to information about the functions of the new strings without having to use laboratory experiments (which may take month). A medical information services are one of the important pillars of the researchers, but this information becomes worthless or useful if it does not reach in a timely manner and to the extent appropriate. Medical information is considered substrate upon which the medical research in the various fields in Sudan, and so had to be interest in release of its information statement and its role in various fields. There are in the state of Khartoum multiple institutions of medical information in its institutions of medical universities and, have noted the researcher that the institutions of medical information are deficient in human cadre and technical, and there is a decline in the information services provided by these institutions have been given all these and other reasons, the researcher of the study Systems Division Medical Information and Documentation Centre information(SDMIDCI). The study has pursued the study of the case in the institutions of the information, has been used to study a number of scientific disciplines represented in the curriculum, both descriptive and analytical survey, while the study used to collect the data of the following tools: resolution as a key tool in data collection, interview and observation. Questionnaire was distributed to beneficiaries researchers and graduate students and university students of specialty medical laboratory databases of global and local at the Center for Documentation and Information at the National Center for Research. In Conclusion search accept the proposal of information systems in the laboratories of medical tests Sudanese, and the reality of the application of these systems in Sudan and accept results and recommendations is the most important weakness of human resources and lack of uses of modern technologies to reach the medical information in a timely manner, which is the infrastructure in the institutions of medical information then the low information services in those institutions. The researcher recommended that the state give precedence maximum support and medical information sector at the policy level and work to provide medical information to non-traditional fit with the nature of the specialized medical institutions. Keywords: SDMIDCI, DNA, Questionnaire, science bioinformatic

Evaluation of the Biocompatibility of a Recent Bioceramic Root Canal Sealer (BioRoot™ RCS): In-vivo Study

BACKGROUND: Recently, new calcium silicate bioceramic sealers were introduced to the market. The selection of root canal sealers should not only be based on the different physical parameters but also on local biocompatibility and tissue tolerance. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the in-vivo biocompatibility of a BioRoot RCS in parallel to MTA Fillapex and AH Plus sealers. METHODS: Polyethylene tubes containing the freshly mixed test materials were implanted in the subcutaneous tissue of 32 Wistar rats. Empty tubes served as negative controls. After 7, 14, 30, and 60 days, the animals were sacrificed, and the implants with surrounding tissues were processed for routine histological analysis. Histological sections were analyzed under light microscopy. The tissue response was determined by the inflammatory cell infiltration intensity and the fibrous capsule thickness. RESULTS: Results revealed a statistically significant decrease of the inflammation intensity by time within each group for all tested sealers and control. A well-defined thin capsule was observed for all tested sealers at 60 days. CONCLUSION: BioRoot RCS exhibited rapid recovery of inflammation similar to controls. Thus, within the limitations of this study, it can be considered a biocompatible sealer with acceptable tissue tolerance

Temperature dependence growth of CdO thin film prepared by spray pyrolysis

AbstractCdO thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis technique show temperature dependence growth when the spray time is constant. In contrast, the growth is film thickness dependent when the substrate temperature is constant. The films are polycrystalline in the covered spray time and substrate temperature ranges. The crystallite size and microstrain are calculated and analyzed. The Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) micrographs prove that the grains are uniformly distributed within the scanning areas (5μm×5μm) and (50μm×50μm). The roughness shows a considerable decrease with substrate temperature. All samples show an abrupt change in transmission which indicates a direct transition and good crystallinity. The transmission of films is increased up to 80% with increasing substrate temperature in wavelength ranged from 450nm to 1000nm. Also, a broad absorption band is observed in the range 1500–2000nm. This band could be attributed to the increase in free carrier concentration which confirmed by a reasonable decrease in the film sheet resistance. The band gap Eg is determined and found to be in the range 2.45–2.55eV. The sheet resistance is reduced with increasing deposition temperature due to the increase in free carrier concentration and found to be 66Ω/□ at 450°C