A second-order splitting method for a finite difference scheme for the Sivashinsky equation

AbstractA finite difference method is analyzed for the approximation of the solution of the evolutionary fourth-order in space, Sivashinsky equation.We prove that the scheme has a unique solution and we study error estimation for the numerical scheme

Short-course treatment in neurobrucellosis: A study in Iran

Neurobrucellosis is a rare neurological complication of brucellosis. This report describes 19 patients of neurobrucellosis and they accounted for 8% of all cases of brucellosis admitted to Shiraz University Hospitals over a period of eight years. Headache, fever, fatigue, drowsiness and neck stiffness were the common clinical features. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed pleocytosis in 100%, elevated protein levels in 89% and low glucose level in 47% of the patients. All the patients improved with specific antibiotic treatment. Of the 19 patients, 10 (52.5%) patients received treatment for 8 to 28 weeks. Duration of antibiotic treatment was: 8-14 weeks in 8 (42%) patients; 24-28 weeks in 2 (10.5%) patients; 6 months in 7 (37%) patients; 12 months in 1 (5.3%) patient; and 18 months in 1 (5.3%) patient. Clinicians in endemic areas should consider the likelihood of neurobrucellosis in patients with unexplained neurological and psychiatric symptoms

Impact of hybrid plasmonic nanoparticles on the charge carrier mobility of P3HT:PCBM polymer solar cells

The solution processable polymer solar cells have shown a great promise as a cost-effective photovoltaic technology. Here, the effect of carrier mobility changes has been comprehensively investigated on the performance of P3HT:PCBM polymer solar cells using electro-optical coupled simulation regimes, which may result from the embedding of SiO2@Ag@SiO2 plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) in the active layer. Firstly, the active layer thickness, stemmed from the low mobility of the charge carriers, is optimized. The device with 80 nm thick active layer provided maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.47%. Subsequently, the PCE has increased to 6.75% and 6.5%, respectively, along with the benefit of light scattering, near-fields and interparticle hotspots produced by embedded spherical and cubic nanoparticles. The PCE of the devices with incorporated plasmonic nanoparticles are remarkably enhanced up to 7.61% (for spherical NPs) and 7.35% (for cubic NPs) owing to the increase of the electron and hole mobilities to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively (in the optimum case). Furthermore, SiO2@Ag@SiO2 NPs have been successfully synthesized by introducing and utilizing a simple and eco-friendly approach based on electroless pre-treatment deposition and Stober methods. Our findings represent a new facile approach in the fabrication of novel plasmonic NPs for efficient polymer solar cells

Effects of intravenous Semelil (ANGIPARS�) on diabetic foot ulcers healing: A multicenter clinical trial

Some diabetic foot ulcers, which are notoriously difficult to cure, are one of the most common health problems in diabetic patients .There are several surgical and medical options which already have been introduced for treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, so some patient will require amputation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous Semelil (ANGIPARS�), a naive herbal extract to accelerate healing of diabetic foot ulcers. A multi-centric randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate intravenous Semelil for healing of diabetic foot ulcers. Sixteen diabetic patients were treated with intravenous Semelil, and nine other patients were treated with placebo as control group. Both groups were otherwise treated by wound debridement and irrigation with normal saline solution, systemic antibiotic therapy and daily wound dressing. Before and after intervention, the foot ulcer surface area was measured, by digital photography, mapping and planimetry. After 4 weeks, the mean foot ulcer surface area decreased from 479.93±379.75 mm2 to 198.93±143.75 mm2 in the intervention group (p = 0.000) and from 766.22±960.50 mm2 to 689.11±846.74 mm2 in the control group (p = 0.076). Average wound closure in the treatment group was significantly greater than placebo group (64 vs. 25, p= 0.015). This herbal extract by intravenous rout in combination with conventional therapy is more effective than conventional therapy by itself probably without side effect. However, further studies are required in the future to confirm these results in larger population

Electric-field control of the skyrmion lattice in Cu2OSeO3

Small-angle neutron scattering has been employed to study the influence of applied electric (E-) fields on the skyrmion lattice in the chiral lattice magnetoelectric Cu2OSeO3. In an experimental geometry with the E-field parallel to the [111] axis, and the magnetic field parallel to the [1-10] axis, we demonstrate that the effect of applying an E-field is to controllably rotate the skyrmion lattice around the magnetic field axis. Our results are an important first demonstration for a microscopic coupling between applied E-fields and the skyrmions in an insulator, and show that the general emergent properties of skyrmions may be tailored according to the properties of the host system.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, published version (including final proof corrections). Article is free to download at http://iopscience.iop.org/0953-8984/24/43/432201

Presentation and outcome of Middle East respiratory syndrome in Saudi intensive care unit patients.

BACKGROUND: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection is associated with high mortality rates but limited clinical data have been reported. We describe the clinical features and outcomes of patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of data from all adult (>18 years old) patients admitted to our 20-bed mixed ICU with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection between October 1, 2012 and May 31, 2014. Diagnosis was confirmed in all patients using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction on respiratory samples. RESULTS: During the observation period, 31 patients were admitted with MERS-CoV infection (mean age 59 ± 20 years, 22 [71 %] males). Cough and tachypnea were reported in all patients; 22 (77.4 %) patients had bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. Invasive mechanical ventilation was applied in 27 (87.1 %) and vasopressor therapy in 25 (80.6 %) patients during the intensive care unit stay. Twenty-three (74.2 %) patients died in the ICU. Nonsurvivors were older, had greater APACHE II and SOFA scores on admission, and were more likely to have received invasive mechanical ventilation and vasopressor therapy. After adjustment for the severity of illness and the degree of organ dysfunction, the need for vasopressors was an independent risk factor for death in the ICU (odds ratio = 18.33, 95 % confidence interval: 1.11-302.1, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: MERS-CoV infection requiring admission to the ICU is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The need for vasopressor therapy is the main risk factor for death in these patients

A Comparison of Fear of Childbirth and Labor Pain Intensity among Primiparous and Multiparous Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background & aim: Fear of Childbirth (FOC) can be seen as an anxiety disorder or as a phobia that women experience in relation to pregnancy and childbirth. We conducted this study to compare the intensity of labor pain with the FOC in multiparous and primiparous women. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling on 432 pregnant women in Babol, Iran, between 2018 and 2019. All pregnant women completed the demographic and FOC questionnaires, as well as labor pain intensity, four times measured using a visual analog scale (VAS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 software and descriptive and analytical indices. Results: FOC in primiparous women was significantly higher than in multiparous mothers (MD: 12.08<0.001, P). The multivariate linear regression test showed that after adjusting the intervening and obstetric variables, in terms of the intensity of pain in the active phase of labor (MD: 0.07; CI 95% -0.32, 0.47; P=0.71) and the expulsion of the fetus (MD: 0.02; CI 95% -0.38, 0.44; P=0.89), there was no statistically significant difference between primiparous and multiparous women. However, a statistically significant difference was found in placental discharge (MD: 0.52; CI 95% 0.01, 1.02; P = 0.043). Conclusion: FOC in primiparous women was significantly higher than that of multiparous women after adjusting the intervening variables. The results of this study provide basic information for policy makers to pay more attention to reducing the fear of childbirth, especially in primiparous women

Potential for re-emergence of wheat stem rust in the United Kingdom

This is the final version. Available on open access from Springer Nature via the DOI in this recordWheat stem rust, a devastating disease of wheat and barley caused by the fungal pathogen Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, was largely eradicated in Western Europe during the mid-to-late twentieth century. However, isolated outbreaks have occurred in recent years. Here we investigate whether a lack of resistance in modern European varieties, increased presence of its alternate host barberry and changes in climatic conditions could be facilitating its resurgence. We report the first wheat stem rust occurrence in the United Kingdom in nearly 60 years, with only 20% of UK wheat varieties resistant to this strain. Climate changes over the past 25 years also suggest increasingly conducive conditions for infection. Furthermore, we document the first occurrence in decades of P. graminis on barberry in the UK . Our data illustrate that wheat stem rust does occur in the UK and, when climatic conditions are conducive, could severely harm wheat and barley production.This project was funded by an institute development grant from the EI (Norwich, UK), an Industrial Partnership Award (BB/M025519/1) from the BBSRC, a European Research Council Starting Grant awarded to D.G.O.S. (number 715638), H2020 project EMPHASIS (number 634179), by the BBSRC Institute Strategic Programmes BB/J004553/1 and BB/P012574/1, the John Innes Foundation, and an African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) fellowship to R.N.K