Deformation Behavior of Radiation Damaged Nano Copper Single Crystal:A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study

This project work presents a Molecular dynamics(MD) simulation study on radiation damage of Nano copper single crystal and its effect on the deformation behavior and underlying deformation mechanism.At first,perfect Nano copper models will be created using MD simulations.Then the models will be subjected to radiation and the damaged samples will be tested for mechanical characterization by tensile studies at a temperature 300K and strain rate 1010s-1.The MD simulation was performed by using LAMMPS (Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator).In this,we studied Irradiated Nano copper-cascade interactions caused by 0.2KeV to 3KeV primary knock-on atoms(PKA)respectively.We found the displacement of atoms(dpa) from its lattice structure that caused for the creation of various defects within the lattice structure.The mechanical properties of the Irradiated Nano copper single crystal are analyzed and both the elastic properties and yields under tension is analyzed.Defects like point(vacancy) and stacking faults,appears in the irradiated Nano copper depending on the incident energy. The Young modulus is significantly reduced by the incident irradiation energy,and the reduction magnitude depends on the vacancy number,which is determined by the incident radiation energy.The mechanism for these changes are also discussed

Pulse Shape Analysis Studies in Si(Li) Detector

This work presents developments in the nuclear radiation detection, which take advantage of fast digital electronics. Numerical algorithms, which analyze detector pulse shape, were tested. A method to discriminate between electrons and gamma radiation using pulse shape analysis was demonstrated. The analysis was done on the data taken with 207Bi source using a semiconductor Si(Li) detector. An algorithm to improve the timing resolution of the detection system was implemented. Software code to simulate the pulse shape generation process, for electrons and gamma radiation, in a Si(Li) detector was developed. Advantages of the applications of digital electronics in nuclear spectroscopy are discussed

Antagonistic effect of chitin-degrading microfungi on thick-shelled pig helminth eggs

The rising demand for pigs produced in organic farming systems, which require access to outdoor areas and associated increased risk of gastrointestinal nematode infections, is creating growing interest in alternative control strategies. Also development of anthelminthic resistance due to extensive use of anthelmintics is a concern in intensive pig production. Use of chitin-degrading microfungi is one of the options. Extensive research has been conducted on biological control of plant pathogenic nematodes using such fungi, and some fungal species are commercially available for plant protection. In contrast, there are only limited laboratory studies conducted on eggs from nematodes which are animal parasites. The aim of present study is to investigate the antagonistic effect of chitin-degrading microfungi on thick-shelled pig helminth eggs (i.e. Ascaris suum and Trichuris suis) both in the laboratory as well as in the field. We have performed a pilot study of the ovicidal effect of Paecilomyces lilacinus alone and in combination with chitin supplement on A. suum eggs over 4 weeks in 2% water agar. Within 1 week more than 90% of the eggs were hatched in both cases within the Petri dish as compared to controls, indicating that the fungus is capable of degrading the chitin wall so the larvae are becoming free. Soon we will proceed for full-fledged study with 2 fungal species (P. lilacinus and Pochonia chlamydosporia) which were proven to have ovicidal activity against nematode eggs. This will be done in the laboratory using soil samples amended with A. suum eggs, under semi-natural (pasture plot) conditions and finally on heavily contaminated pastures

Emergency peripartum hysterectomy: a 7-year review at tertiary hospital

Emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH) is a major obstetric procedure, usually performed as a life-saving measure in cases of intractable obstetric hemorrhage. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, indications and the risk factors and complications of emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH). The medical records of 13 patients who had undergone EPH, between January 2012 and December 2018, were reviewed retrospectively. All necessary data was obtained by record review. The mean age of pregnant women was 30 year. There were 13 EPHs out of 15768 deliveries, a rate of 0.82 per 1,000 deliveries. Out of 13 women who underwent EPHs, 8 hysterectomies were performed after cesarean delivery and 5 after vaginal delivery. The most common indication for hysterectomy was abnormal placentation (7/13), followed by atony (4/13), rupture of scared uterus (1/13) and rupture of unscared uterus (1/13). There were two cases of intra-operative bladder injury, we had 1/13 maternal death because of EPH. There were no cases of neonatal mortality. In our series, abnormal placentation was the most common of indication for EPH. The risk factors for EPH were previous CS for abnormal placentation and placental abruption for uterine atony and peripartum hemorrhage. Limiting the number of CS deliveries would bring a significant impact on decreasing the risk of EPH

Design and Evaluation of a Novel Gas Formation-Based Multiple-Unit Gastro-Retentive Floating Drug Delivery System for Quetiapine Fumarate

Purpose: To develop a gastro-retentive formulation of quetiapine fumarate in the form of floating minitablets.Methods: The system consisted of core units prepared by direct  compression process, which were coated with three successive layers, namely, an inner seal coat, effervescent layer and an outer polymeric layer of polymethacrylates.Results: Mini-tablets coated with Eudragit RS 30D (5, 7.5 and 10%)  released . 85% of the drug after 12 h, while those coated with Eudragit RL 30D (5, 7.5 and 10%) released . 85% drug within the same period. Drug release kinetic studies showed that drug diffusion fitted best to zero order and Higuchi models, indicating that drug release was anomalous  non-Fickian transport. In vivo gastric residence time results indicate that the units remained in the stomach for about 6 h (n = 3). There was nosignificant change in dissolution profiles before and after storage at 40‹C and 75% RH for 6 months.Conclusion: The developed floating mini-tablets of quetiapine fumarate exhibit prolonged release for .12 h, and thus may improve bioavailability and minimize fluctuations in plasma drug concentrations. Keywords: Mini-tablets; Floating delivery system; Effervescence, Polymeric membrane, Controlled release, Quetiapine fumarat

ØKOLOGISKE GRISE HAR MANGE SPOLORM

Svinets spolorm er uhyre veltilpasset til grisenes levevis i de økologiske besætninger, da ormene smitter via meget hårdføre æg. Et igangværende projekt (PAROL) søger derfor at mindske smittepresset og mindske brugen af ormemidler, så bæredygtigheden styrkes

Ecology and viability of eggs of the pig round worm (Ascaris suum) – on-farm and laboratory studies

Ascaris suum is a highly prevalent parasitic helminth in pig production systems worldwide. In most industrialized countries production systems are highly intensive and fully in-doors (low prevalence of parasites) but there is a growing market for pigs produced out-door or under organic pig farming conditions (high prevalence of parasites). In organic pig production there is a number of factors related to housing and management practices that predispose for A. suum infections. These practices include restricted use of anthelmintics, late weaning of piglets (after min seven weeks of age) and access to outdoor runs. Provision of bedding material, which might be conducive for development and survival of free-living stages of helminths, is mandatory in organic production systems but the amount and type of bedding material vary between farm and housing systems. The differences in A. suum egg development in different housing systems have been poorly described. Biodegradation of organic matter in deep litter housing systems produces physico-chemical conditions which may affect the development and survival of A. suum eggs, but little is known about such effects. Understanding the ecology and transmission dynamics of A. suum may help prevent infections in organic farming. Pig slurry is used to fertilize crops in organic as well as conventional farming and may be treated to inactivate a variety of pathogens present in it before application. To achieve adequate pathogen inactivation, slurry may need to be stored for around one year which may not be ideal logistically and economically. Chemical treatment of slurry may reduce storage time needed to adequately inactivate pathogens. The eggs of A. suum are commonly used as a conservative indicator in estimating pathogen inactivation during slurry treatment as they are more resistant to environmental stress than bacterial and viral pathogens. The eggs of the poultry ascarid, Ascaridia galli are ubiquitous, resistant and available even in places where the eggs of A. suum cannot be found, e.g., areas without pig keeping, but little is known about the suitability of A. galli eggs as a conservative hygiene indicator. Currently, viability of A. suum eggs is estimated by their ability to embryonate which takes up to six weeks depending on temperature. There is a need to develop more rapid viability tests and in addition, embryonation cannot be used as a viability criterion for already embryonated eggs. A quantitative egg hatch test may thus be helpful for already embryonated eggs. The present Ph.D. project therefore addressed the above issues by investigating in six separate studies, the ecology and transmission of A. suum eggs in organic pig farms, including determination of conditions under which A. suum eggs are inactivated

Necrotic debris and STING exert therapeutically relevant effects on tumor cholesterol homeostasis.

Malignant tumors commonly display necrosis, which invariably triggers an inflammatory response that supports tumor growth. However, the effect on tumor cells of necrotic debris, or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) released by dying cells is unknown. Here, we addressed the effect of DAMPs on primary Ewing sarcoma (EwS) cells and cell lines grown in 3D (spheroids) and 2D culture. We show that DAMPs promote the growth of EwS spheroids but not 2D cultures and that the underlying mechanism implicates an increase in cholesterol load in spheroids. In contrast, stimulation of the nucleic acid sensor signaling platform STING by its ligand cyclic GMP-AMP decreases the tumor cell cholesterol load and reduces their tumor initiating ability. Overexpression of STING or stimulation with cyclic GMP-AMP opposes the growth stimulatory effect of DAMPs and synergizes with the cholesterol synthesis inhibitor simvastatin to inhibit tumor growth. Our observations show that modulation of cholesterol homeostasis is a major effect of necrotic cell debris and STING and suggest that combining STING agonists with statins may help control tumor growth

Syndecan-1 and heparanase as novel regulators of colon cancer stem cell function

Proteoglykane, Glykosaminoglykane und ihre degradierenden Enzyme spielen eine große Rolle innerhalb der Homeostase im normalen Gewebe als auch bei Krebs. Das Transmembran Heparansulfat Proteoglykan Syndekan-1 ist ein wesentliches Bestandteil des strukturellen Gerüsts im Darmgewebe. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit war es herauszufinden, ob die Expression von Syndekan-1 und HPSE Tumorstammzell-Eigenschaften und ihre Invasivität im Darmkrebs beeinflusst. Unsere Ergebnisse haben deutlich gezeigt, dass Syndekan-1 und HPSE innerhalb der Stammzellnische durch die Signalwege EGR1, pFAK und Wnt dynamisch miteinander interagieren. Das Targeting dieser Signalkaskaden könnte einen neuen therapeutischen Ansatz darstellen, um Darmkrebs künftig zu behandeln.Proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans and their degradative enzymes are involved in normal tissue homeostasis and cancer. The transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan Syndecan1 provides a structural framework for proper tissue organization in the intestinal tract. The aim of this thesis was to investigate whether expression of Sdc1 and HPSE influences cancer stem cell properties and invasiveness in colon cancer cell lines (Caco2 and HT29). Taken together, our results report for the first time showed the dynamic interplay between Sdc1 and HPSE in stemness associated colon cancer properties via  signaling axis involving EGR1, pFAK and Wnt. These findings could form a conceptual framework for establishing novel therapeutic approaches to treat colon cancer