1,411 research outputs found
Variable viscosity and thermophoresis effects on Darcy mixed convective heat and mass transfer past a porous wedge in the presence of chemical reaction
An analysis is presented to investigate the effect of thermophoresis particle deposition and variable viscosity on Darcy mixed convective heat and mass transfer of a viscous, incompressible fluid past a porous wedge in the presence of chemical reaction. The wall of the wedge is embedded in a uniform Darcian porous medium in order to allow for possible fluid wall suction or injection. The viscosity of the fluid is assumed to be a inverse linear function of temperature. The results are analyzed for the effect of different physical parameters, such as variable viscosity, magnetic, chemical reaction and thermophoresis parameters, on the flow, the heat and mass transfer characteristics
Schwannoma of T12 Vertebra: Case Report and Review of Literature
We report a case of schwannoma of the twelfth thoracic vertebra that presented with
paraparesis. The tumour was excised, and posterior and anterior stabilisation was performed.
Eighteenmonths following this procedure, the patient has solid bony union, satisfactory
neurological improvement and no recurrence
Crossings as a side effect of dependency lengths
The syntactic structure of sentences exhibits a striking regularity:
dependencies tend to not cross when drawn above the sentence. We investigate
two competing explanations. The traditional hypothesis is that this trend
arises from an independent principle of syntax that reduces crossings
practically to zero. An alternative to this view is the hypothesis that
crossings are a side effect of dependency lengths, i.e. sentences with shorter
dependency lengths should tend to have fewer crossings. We are able to reject
the traditional view in the majority of languages considered. The alternative
hypothesis can lead to a more parsimonious theory of language.Comment: the discussion section has been expanded significantly; in press in
Complexity (Wiley
Evaluating Inhaler Use Technique among Asthma and COPD Patients at a Primary Health Care Unit: A Pilot Study in Selangor Malaysia
Inhaler is the most preferable device to deliver medication in order to treat asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Incorrect usage of inhaler influences the clinical effectiveness of the delivered drug. A pilot study was conducted to determine the appropriateness of inhaler handling technique among asthma and COPD patients. As many as 92 subjects whom diagnosed with asthma and COPD, aged between 18 to 64 years old were observed in this cross-sectional study. Consenting subjects on inhaler, who attended medical out patients clinic at a primary health care unit in Selangor, Malaysia were asked to demonstrate on how they use the inhaler while an inhaler administration checklist were used to assess each patients inhaler technique. Data was analysed using descriptive statistical methods. Of total 92 patients, a total of 155 devices were used. Only 4 out of 92 patients correctly handles the device (4.3%). In average, a patient made approximately >4 mistakes during pMDI inhalation and >2 mistakes during DPI inhalation. The most common mistake found among pMDI, Turbuhaler and Accuhaler users were unable to hold the breath for approximately 5 seconds in which comprise of â„80% patients. In conclusion, majority of asthma and COPD patients use their inhaler inaccurately. Patients prescribed by inhalation medications should have routine assessment of their inhaler technique at every visit and corrected if found to be poor
A SURVEY OF IRRIGATION PRACTICES FOR SUGAR CANE IN MAURITIUS
Abstract Irrigation is vital in subhumid areas to sustain economic production of sugar cane. It is also important input data for a GIs database for sugar cane land management. A survey was conducted in Mauritius in 1999 to collect data on irrigation practices and irrigation systems in use. The objectives were, inter alia, to provide up to date information on irrigation status in the sugar industry and allow studies on yield relationship to land characteristics for re-assessment of land suitability. Valuable statistics on the distribution and practices of irrigation were derived and a map was also prepared. Twenty two per cent of the total cane area in Mauritius was irrigated, the three main irrigation systems being overhead, drip (trickle) and surface. Low-pressure overhead irrigation systems, such as the centre pivot and dragline, were gradually replacing high-pressure overhead systems
Multiple Fidelity Modeling of Interactional Aerodynamics
Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143037/1/6.2017-3918.pd
Amorphous carbon film deposition on inner surface of tubes using atmospheric pressure pulsed filamentary plasma source
Uniform amorphous carbon film is deposited on the inner surface of quartz
tube having the inner diameter of 6 mm and the outer diameter of 8 mm. A pulsed
filamentary plasma source is used for the deposition. Long plasma filaments (~
140 mm) as a positive discharge are generated inside the tube in argon with
methane admixture. FTIR-ATR, XRD, SEM, LSM and XPS analyses give the conclusion
that deposited film is amorphous composed of non-hydrogenated sp2 carbon and
hydrogenated sp3 carbon. Plasma is characterized using optical emission
spectroscopy, voltage-current measurement, microphotography and numerical
simulation. On the basis of observed plasma parameters, the kinetics of the
film deposition process is discussed
The Use of HCGâBased Combination Therapy for Recovery of Spermatogenesis after Testosterone Use
Introduction and AimAbout 3 million men take testosterone in the United States with many reproductiveâage men unaware of the negative impact of testosterone supplementation on fertility. Addressing this population, we provide an early report on the use of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)âbased combination therapy in the treatment of a series of men with likely testosteroneârelated azoospermia or severe oligospermia. MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed charts from two tertiary care infertility clinics to identify men presenting with azoospermia or severe oligospermia (<1 million sperm/mL) while taking exogenous testosterone. All were noted to have been placed on combination therapy, which included 3,000 units HCG subcutaneously every other day supplemented with clomiphene citrate, tamoxifen, anastrozole, or recombinant follicleâstimulating hormone (or combination) according to physician preference.Main Outcome MeasureClinical outcomes, including hormone values, semen analyses, and clinical pregnancies, were tracked. ResultsFortyânine men were included in this case series. Return of spermatogenesis for azoospermic men or improved counts for men with severe oligospermia was documented in 47 men (95.9%), with one additional man (2.1%) having a documented pregnancy without followâup semen analysis. The average time to return of spermatogenesis was 4.6 months with a mean first density of 22.6 million/mL. There was no significant difference in recovery by type of testosterone administered or supplemental therapy. No men stopped HCG or supplemental medications because of adverse events. ConclusionsWe here provide an early report of the feasibility of using combination therapy with HCG and supplemental medications in treating men with testosteroneârelated infertility. Future discussion and studies are needed to further characterize this therapeutic approach and document the presumed improved tolerability and speed of recovery compared with unaided withdrawal of exogenous testosterone. Wenker EP, Dupree JM, Langille GM, Kovac J, Ramasamy R, Lamb D, Mills JN, and Lipshultz LI. The use of HCGâbased combination therapy for recovery of spermatogenesis after testosterone use. J Sex Med 2015;12:1334â1337.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/111925/1/jsm12890.pd
Living in a risky world: the onset and ontogeny of an integrated antipredator phenotype in a coral reef fish
Prey individuals with complex life-histories often cannot predict the type of risk environment to which they will be exposed at each of their life stages. Because the level of investment in defences should match local risk conditions, we predict that these individuals should have the ability to modulate the expression of an integrated defensive phenotype, but this switch in expression should occur at key life-history transitions. We manipulated background level of risk in juvenile damselfish for four days following settlement (a key life-history transition) or 10 days post-settlement, and measured a suite of physiological and behavioural variables over 2 weeks. We found that settlement-stage fish exposed to high-risk conditions displayed behavioural and physiological alterations consistent with high-risk phenotypes, which gave them a survival advantage when exposed to predators. These changes were maintained for at least 2 weeks. The same exposure in post-settlement fish failed to elicit a change in some traits, while the expression of other traits disappeared within a week. Our results are consistent with those expected from phenotypic resonance. Expression of antipredator traits may be masked if individuals are not exposed to certain conditions at key ontogenetic stages
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