Antibiotic-resistant salmonellae in pet reptiles in Saudi Arabia

We investigated the occurrence rate of antibiotic-resistant salmonellae in exotic pet reptiles in Saudi Arabia. Salmonellae samples were collected from eight different genera of pet reptiles (snakes and lizards). Selective enrichment and selective plating procedures were carried out in order to detect salmonellae. Isolated bacteria were identified using biochemical tests, API 20E strips, and the VITEK compact system. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disc diffusion method. Salmonella spp. belonging to subspecies I (Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica) were detected in 29.2% of the samples. All of the detected salmonellae showed multidrug resistance (p<0.001, χ2 ). The results demonstrated that pet reptiles in private households could present health hazards to humans. Therefore, these animals should be carefully handled to avoid infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report regarding the occurrence rate of antibiotic-resistant salmonellae in pet reptiles in Saudi Arabia. The detected Salmonella serovars should be subjected to further in-depth molecular analyses in order to understand the overall epidemiology of salmonellosis in Saudi Arabia.We investigated the occurrence rate of antibiotic-resistant salmonellae in exotic pet reptiles in Saudi Arabia. Salmonellae samples were collected from eight different genera of pet reptiles (snakes and lizards). Selective enrichment and selective plating procedures were carried out in order to detect salmonellae. Isolated bacteria were identified using biochemical tests, API 20E strips, and the VITEK compact system. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disc diffusion method. Salmonella spp. belonging to subspecies I (Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica) were detected in 29.2% of the samples. All of the detected salmonellae showed multidrug resistance (p<0.001, χ2 ). The results demonstrated that pet reptiles in private households could present health hazards to humans. Therefore, these animals should be carefully handled to avoid infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report regarding the occurrence rate of antibiotic-resistant salmonellae in pet reptiles in Saudi Arabia. The detected Salmonella serovars should be subjected to further in-depth molecular analyses in order to understand the overall epidemiology of salmonellosis in Saudi Arabia

Pressure Sensitive Sensors Based on Carbon Nanotubes, Graphene, and Its Composites

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene have attracted a great deal of interest due to their outstanding mechanical, optical, electrical, and structural properties. Most of the scientists and researchers have investigated the optical and electrical properties of these materials. However, due to unique electromechanical properties of these materials, it is required to explore the piezoresistive properties of bulk nanostructured CNTs, graphene, and CNT-graphene composites. We investigated and compared the sensitivities and piezoresistive properties of sandwich-type pure CNT, pure graphene, and CNT-graphene composite pressure sensors. For all the samples, increase in pressure from 0 to 0.183 kNm−2 results in a decrease in the impedance and direct current (DC) resistance. Sensitivity and percentage decrease in resistance and impedance of CNT-graphene composite were lower than pure CNT while being higher than pure graphene based sample. Moreover, under the same external applied pressure, the sensitivity and percentage decrease in impedance for pure CNT, pure graphene, and CNT-graphene composite were smaller than the corresponding sensitivity and percentage decrease in resistance. The achieved experimental results of the composite sample were compared with simulated results which exhibit reasonable agreement with each other. The deviations of simulated resistance-pressure and impedance-pressure curves from experimental graphs were 0.029% and 0.105%, respectively

Methane and Other Hydrocarbon Gas Emissions Resulting from Flaring in Kuwait Oilfields

Non

Validity and reliability of the Dutch translation of the VISA-P questionnaire for patellar tendinopathy

Background: The VISA-P questionnaire evaluates severity of symptoms, knee function and ability to play sports in athletes with patellar tendinopathy. This English-language self-administered brief patient outcome score was developed in Australia to monitor rehabilitation and to evaluate outcome of clinical studies. Aim of this study was to translate the questionnaire into Dutch and to study the reliability and validity of the Dutch version of the VISA-P. Methods: The questionnaire was translated into Dutch according to internationally recommended guidelines. Test-retest reliability was determined in 99 students with a time interval of 2.5 weeks. To determine discriminative validity of the Dutch VISA-P, 18 healthy students, 15 competitive volleyball players (at-risk population), 14 patients with patellar tendinopathy, 6 patients who had surgery for patellar tendinopathy, 17 patients with knee injuries other than patellar tendinopathy, and 9 patients with symptoms unrelated to their knees completed the Dutch VISA-P. Results: The Dutch VISA-P questionnaire showed satisfactory test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.74). The mean (+/- SD) VISA-P scores were 95 (+/- 9) for the healthy students, 89 (+/- 11) for the volleyball players, 58 (+/- 19) for patients with patellar tendinopathy, and 56 (+/- 21) for athletes who had surgery for patellar tendinopathy. Patients with other knee injuries or symptoms unrelated to the knee scored 62 (+/- 24) and 77 (+/- 24). Conclusion: The translated Dutch version of the VISA-P questionnaire is equivalent to its original version, has satisfactory test-retest reliability and is a valid score to evaluate symptoms, knee function and ability to play sports of Dutch athletes with patellar tendinopathy

A Phase I study of the safety, pharmacokinetics and efficacy of navitoclax plus docetaxel in patients with advanced solid tumors

Aim: This Phase I study investigated safety of navitoclax and docetaxel in patients (n = 41) with advanced solid tumors. Patients & methods: Two navitoclax plus docetaxel dosing schedules (21 and 28 days) were evaluated. Maximum tolerated dose, dose-limiting toxicities and preliminary antitumor activity were assessed. Results: Ten (24%) patients experienced dose-limiting toxicities; dose-escalation cohorts: n = 7 (21-day schedule: n = 5; 28-day schedule: n = 2) and 21-day expanded safety cohort: n = 3. Navitoclax 150-mg days 1-5 every 21 days with docetaxel 75 mg/m2 day 1 was the maximum tolerated dose and optimal schedule. Adverse events included thrombocytopenia (63%), fatigue (61%), nausea (59%) and neutropenia (51%). Four confirmed partial responses occurred. Conclusion: Navitoclax 150-mg orally once/day was safely administered with docetaxel. Myelosuppression limited dose escalation; antitumor activity was observed. Clinical trial registration: NCT00888108 (ClinicalTrials.gov)

Reservoir-Excess Pressure Parameters Independently Predicts Cardiovascular Events in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes.

The parameters derived from reservoir-excess pressure analysis have prognostic utility in several populations. However, evidence in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) remains scarce. We determined if these parameters were associated with T2DM and whether they would predict cardiovascular events in individuals with T2DM. We studied 306 people with T2DM with cardiovascular disease (CVD; DMCVD, 70.4±7.8 years), 348 people with T2DM but without CVD (diabetes mellitus, 67.7±8.4 years), and 178 people without T2DM or CVD (control group [CTRL], 67.2±8.9 years). Reservoir-excess pressure analysis-derived parameters, including reservoir pressure integral, peak reservoir pressure, excess pressure integral, systolic rate constant, and diastolic rate constant, were obtained by radial artery tonometry. Reservoir pressure integral was lower in DMCVD diabetes mellitus and than CTRL. Peak reservoir pressure was lower, and excess pressure integral was greater in DMCVD diabetes mellitus than and CTRL. Systolic rate constant was lower in a stepwise manner among groups (DMCVD< diabetes mellitus <CTRL). Diastolic rate constant was greater in DMCVD than CTRL. In the subgroup of individuals with T2DM (n=642), 14 deaths (6 cardiovascular and 9 noncardiovascular causes), and 108 cardiovascular events occurred during a 3-year follow-up period. Logistic regression analysis revealed that reservoir pressure integral (odds ratio, 0.59 [95% CI, 0.45-0.79]) and diastolic rate constant (odds ratio, 1.60 [95% CI, 1.25-2.06]) were independent predictors of cardiovascular events during follow-up after adjusting for conventional risk factors (both P<0.001). Further adjustments for potential confounders had no influence on associations. These findings demonstrate that altered reservoir-excess pressure analysis-derived parameters are associated with T2DM. Furthermore, baseline values of reservoir pressure integral and diastolic rate constant independently predict cardiovascular events in individuals with T2DM, indicating the potential clinical utility of these parameters for risk stratification in T2DM

Mechanochemical recrystallization: Forgotten basics and new possibilities

The task of this article is to update, develop and introduce into scientific practice the method of "mechanochemical recrystallization" in solid-phase systems with small additives of the liquid phase of the solvent and solid-phase precursors to stabilize the formed nanoparticles. The essence of this method is shown using the example of mechanical activation of the S–AgNO3–NH4X system, where X = Cl, Br, I, with the addition of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and the resulting mechanochemical synthesis of sulfur-containing nanocomposites S/AgX with the controlled content of sulfur nanoparticles (nanosulfur). The predetermined content of nanosulfur in nanocomposites is ensured by a continuous process of dissolution-crystallization (recrystallization) of starting sulfur in the DMSO medium in a mechanochemical reactor. The proposed technical solution made it possible to obtain S/AgX nanocomposites by a single mechanical treatment of powder precursors – AgNO3, NH4Х, NH4NO3 (diluent), commercial sulfur and DMSO in planetary ball mills with various milling tools. The method also includes washing the water-soluble components of mechanosynthesis

Calcium carbonate fouling on double-pipe heat exchanger with different heat exchanging surfaces

An experimental setup of double pipe heat exchanger fouling test rig was built to investigate the mineral scale deposition on different heat exchanger pipe surfaces. Progressive fouling deposition on different material surfaces under the similar solution conditions were observed and analyzed. Measurable data on the progressive build-up of scale deposits, deposition rate, as well as the composition and crystal morphology of the deposits were studied after each experimental run by analyzing the deposited scale on the test pipes. In this research the artificial calcium carbonate deposit on different material surfaces is considered as it is one of the major constituents of the most scales found in heat exchanging equipment. Fouling on different smooth test pipes were investigated in the centrally located larger concentric pipe heat exchanger. Uniform flow condition near the pipe surface was maintained by constant flow rate throughout the system. The calcium carbonate deposition rates on five different metal surfaces (Stainless steel 316, brass, copper, aluminium and carbon steel) were investigated. The results illustrated an upward trend for fouling rate with time on the tested specimens. The deposition on the surfaces showed a linear growth with the enhancement of thermal conductivity of the metals. However, deposition on carbon steel metal surfaces did not follow the typical linear trend of thermal conductivity over deposition as its surface was altered by corrosion effects. In addition, temperature, velocity, and concentration effects on fouling deposition were investigated on the SS316 metal surface. It is noted that the fouling deposition increases with the increase of temperature and concentration due to enhanced deposition potential whereas reduces due to the increase of velocity which enhances shear stress. © 2017 Elsevier B.V

Effect of Temperature and Humidity on Electrical Properties of Organic Orange Dye Complex Films

In this study the effect of temperature and humidity on electrical properties of organic orange dye (OD) complex with vinyl-ethynyl-trimethyl-piperidole (VETP) have been examined. Thin films of OD (C17H17N5O2) and VETP (C12H19NO) complex were deposited from 10 wt.% (5 wt.% of each matter) solution in mixture of distilled water (80%) and spirit. The films were grown at room temperature under normal gravity conditions, i.e., 1 g and in a spin coater at an angular speed of 300 RPM. The Cu/OD-VETP/Cu surface type samples were fabricated and their low frequency (10 Hz) AC electric characteristics were evaluated for the temperature range 30-95 °C at ambient humidity of 45-80%. It was observed that at normal conditions the conductivity of the samples is temperature dependent and shows semi-conductive behavior with activation energy of 0.55 eV. It was found that with increase in humidity the resistance of the samples decreases and at humidity values equal to 60-70% the irreversible transition from semi-conductive to conductive state takes place. It is supposed that in the former state the conductive matrix is formed due to incorporation of the water molecules into OD-VETP complex