Computational solution of atmospheric chemistry problems

Extensive studies were performed on problems of interest in atmospheric chemistry. In addition to several minor projects, four major projects were performed and described (theoretical studies of ground and low-lying excited states of ClO2; ground and excited state potential energy surfaces of the methyl peroxy radical; electronic states ot the FO radical; and theoretical studies S02 (H2O) (sub n))

Cost effectiveness analysis of using different monitoring modalities in treating severe traumatic brain injury (CESTBI) in neuro-ICU, HUSM, Kelantan

Introduction: There are two schools of thought in practicing neurotrauma monitoring for patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI); the application of the baseline neuro-monitoring (BNM) and the use of multiple modalities neurotrauma monitoring (M3) which is very expensive. The answer of which of the two monitoring systems is more eflicient and worth doing should be sought. Objective: To determine the cost effectiveness analysis between BNM and M3 monitoring modalities in the management of severe TBI. Methodology: Sixty-two patients with severe TBI admitted to Neuro-ICU, USM who fulfilled the predetermined criteria were selected using systematic random sampling. The macro and micro costing were performed on each of patient. Barthel Index was used to measure physical performance as an outcome six months after discharge. The analyses used were the Independent t- test, ANCOVA, and Repeated Measure ANOVA. Results: The mean total equipment cost of M3 was significantly higher at p = 0.049 (mean difference of RM23.74) after controlling other variables. The mean difference in Barthel Index after six months was significance between the two groups (p = 0.031), patients that were treated with M3 had higher score 163.7 (SD 30.03)J compared to those who were treated with BNM 146.83 (SD 30.36)]. However, the cost-effectiveness ratio of using M3 was significantly lowered (p=O.031) with a mean of RM476.29 was needed to increase a unit improvement in mean Barthel Index compared to RM629.12 if we used BNM. Conclusion: Although M3 is more costly, the outcome of patients treated with M3 was better than that of BNM. Therefore we can conclude that the used of multiple neuro-monitoring was more cost effective than the use of only baseline neuro-monitoring in treating severe traumatic brain injury

Interference Path Loss Prediction in A319/320 Airplanes Using Modulated Fuzzy Logic and Neural Networks

In this paper, neural network (NN) modeling is combined with fuzzy logic to estimate Interference Path Loss measurements on Airbus 319 and 320 airplanes. Interference patterns inside the aircraft are classified and predicted based on the locations of the doors, windows, aircraft structures and the communication/navigation system-of-concern. Modeled results are compared with measured data. Combining fuzzy logic and NN modeling is shown to improve estimates of measured data over estimates obtained with NN alone. A plan is proposed to enhance the modeling for better prediction of electromagnetic coupling problems inside aircraft

Granulomatous gastritis: a diagnostic dilemma?

Granulomatous inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract is an uncommon entity, an aetiopathogenic diagnosis can be reached only by combining the morphological examination with clinical and laboratory investigations. We report two cases of granulomatous gastritis: a 27-year-old woman presenting with weight loss and a 55-year-old woman presenting with epigastric pain and vomiting. Upper oesophagastroduodenoscopy in these cases showed antral hyperaemia and histopathology showed non-caseating gastric granulomatous inflammation. Both the cases were extensively worked-up for possible tuberculosis (TB) as the Patients lived in an endemic area, before starting steroids for the possibility of Crohn\u27s disease (CD). The first Patient improved but the second Patient had a flare of underlying undiagnosed TB. Granulomatous gastritis present a diagnostic challenge for treating physicians because of similar clinical, laboratory and endoscopical features between CD and intestinal TB

Studi Daya Dukung Tanah Lempung Plastisitas Rendah Yang Distabilisasi Menggunakan TX-300 Sebagai Lapisan Subgrade

Soil is a material that serves as an support for the basis of a constuction, be it construction of buildings, bridges and roads. Each region has different soil characteristics in other regions, there is good and has a bearing capacity of those that are poor. To improve the soil characteristics that can lead to por bearing capacity, the necessary repairs to soil stabilization methods. Stabilization efforts are often undertaken by stabilizing additives. In this research using a chemical additive material that is TX-300, which is expected to improve the characteristics of the soil so the soil is worthy of a construction established. Soil samples that tested in this research is the low plasticity clay are derived from Karang Anyar, South Lampung. Variation levels used ia a mixture of 0,8 ml; 1,1 ml; 1,4 ml and 1,7 ml with the same curing time for 7 days and soaking for 4 days. Based on the examination of the physical properties of original soil, AASHTO classify soil samples in group A-6 (clay soil), while the USCS soil samples classify as fine-grained soil and included into the CL group. The results of laboratory research showed that the stabilizing agent TX-300 can improve the physical and mechanical properties of low plasticity clay. On physical testing such as decreased specific gravity and atterberg limits increase after stabilized. While the mechanical testing, a mixture of TX-300 can increase the bearing capacity of the land. From the test results of CBR soaked or unsoaked, soil stabilized with a stabilizing agent TX-300 at optimum levels can be used as a subgrade for road construction due to CBR value = 6 %Tanah merupakan material yang berfungsi sebagai penyokong dasar suatu konstruksi, baik itu konstruksi gedung, jembatan maupun jalan. Setiap daerah memiliki sifat tanah yang berbeda dengan daerah lainnya, ada yang mempunyai daya dukung baik dan adapula yang buruk. Untuk memperbaiki sifat tanah yang dapat mengakibatkan daya dukung menjadi buruk, maka diperlukan perbaikan tanah dengan metode stabilisasi. Usaha stabilisasi yang banyak dilakukan adalah stabilisasi dengan bahan tambahan. Pada penelitian ini menggunakan bahan additif kimia yaitu TX-300 yang diharapkan mampu memperbaiki sifat tanah sehingga pada lapisan tanah tersebut layak didirikan suatu konstruksi. Sampel tanah yang di uji pada penelitian ini yaitu tanah lempung plastisitas rendah yang berasal dari daerah Karang Anyar, Lampung Selatan. Variasi kadar campuran yang digunakan yaitu 0,8 ml; 1,1 ml; 1,4 ml dan 1,7 ml; dengan dilakukan waktu pemeraman yang sama selama 7 hari dan perendaman selama 4 hari. Berdasarkan pemeriksaan sifat fisik tanah asli, AASHTO mengklasifikasikan sampel tanah pada kelompok A-6 (tanah berlempung),sedangkan USCS mengklasifikasikan sampel tanah sebagai tanah berbutir halus dan termasuk kedalam kelompok CL. Hasil penelitian di laboratorium menunjukkan bahwa bahan stabilisasi TX-300 dapat memperbaiki sifat fisik dan mekanik tanah lempung plastisitas rendah. Pada pengujian fisik seperti berat jenis mengalami penurunan dan batas-batas Atterberg mengalami kenaikan setelah distabilisasi. Sementara pada pengujian mekanik, campuran TX-300 dapat meningkatkan daya dukung tanah tersebut. Dari hasil pengujian CBR rendaman atau tanpa rendaman, tanah yang distabilisasi dengan bahan stabilisasi TX-300 pada kadar optimum dapat digunakan sebagai tanah dasar pada konstruksi jalan dikarenakan nilai CBRnya = 6 %

Standardising neonatal and paediatric antibiotic clinical trial design and conduct: the PENTA-ID network view.

Antimicrobial development for children remains challenging due to multiple barriers to conducting randomised clinical trials (CTs). There is currently considerable heterogeneity in the design and conduct of paediatric antibiotic studies, hampering comparison and meta-analytic approaches. The board of the European networks for paediatric research at the European Medicines Agency (EMA), in collaboration with the Paediatric European Network for Treatments of AIDS-Infectious Diseases network (www.penta-id.org), recently developed a Working Group on paediatric antibiotic CT design, involving academic, regulatory and industry representatives. The evidence base for any specific criteria for the design and conduct of efficacy and safety antibiotic trials for children is very limited and will evolve over time as further studies are conducted. The suggestions being put forward here are based on the adult EMA guidance, adapted for neonates and children. In particular, this document provides suggested guidance on the general principles of harmonisation between regulatory and strategic trials, including (1) standardised key inclusion/exclusion criteria and widely applicable outcome measures for specific clinical infectious syndromes (CIS) to be used in CTs on efficacy of antibiotic in children; (2) key components of safety that should be reported in paediatric antibiotic CTs; (3) standardised sample sizes for safety studies. Summarising views from a range of key stakeholders, specific criteria for the design and conduct of efficacy and safety antibiotic trials in specific CIS for children have been suggested. The recommended criteria are intended to be applicable to both regulatory and clinical investigator-led strategic trials and could be the basis for harmonisation in the design and conduct of CTs on antibiotics in children. The next step is further discussion internationally with investigators, paediatric CTs networks and regulators

Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly: an analysis of locus heterogeneity and phenotypic variation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Locus heterogeneity is well established in autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH) and to date five loci have been mapped. However, the relative contributions of these loci have not been assessed and genotype-phenotype correlations have not been investigated. DESIGN: A study population of 56 consanguineous families resident in or originating from northern Pakistan was ascertained and assessed by the authors. A panel of microsatellite markers spanning each of the MCPH loci was designed, against which the families were genotyped. RESULTS: The head circumference of the 131 affected subjects ranged from 4 to 14 SD below the mean, but there was little intrafamilial variation among affecteds (± 1 SD). MCPH5 was the most prevalent, with 24/56 families consistent with linkage; 2/56 families were compatible with linkage to MCPH1, 10/56 to MCPH2, 2/56 to MCPH3, none to MCPH4, and 18/56 did not segregate with any of the loci. CONCLUSIONS: MCPH5 is the most common locus in this population. On clinical grounds alone, the phenotype of families linked to each MCPH locus could not be distinguished. We have also shown that further MCPH loci await discovery with a number of families as yet unlinked

A sex-specific reconstitution bias in the competitive CD45.1/CD45.2 congenic bone marrow transplant model.

Allelic variants of the pan-haematopoietic cell marker CD45, identified as CD45.1 and CD45.2, have been established as a marker system to track haematopoietic cells following congenic mouse bone marrow transplants. Despite the frequent use of this model for studying the impact of genetic modifications on relative differentiation potential, it is now evident that a bias exists in CD45.1 versus CD45.2 cell reconstitution. While this bias has been demonstrated by reduced reconstitution potential in B cells of CD45.1 origin, differences in the development of other lymphocytes, as well as the impact of sex on this bias, remain uncertain. We performed bone marrow transplants with wild-type CD45.1 and CD45.2 donor cells, and characterised haematopoietic cell reconstitution in dual-expressing CD45.1/2 host mice. We report an increase in CD45.2 reconstitution in the bone marrow that persists in the spleen, thymus and blood. Through the use of CD45.1/2 hosts, we demonstrate the intrinsic bias towards CD45.2 reconstitution is independent of an immunogenic response to the CD45.1 epitope. Furthermore, we identify a sex-specific difference in reconstitution efficiencies, with female mice exhibiting a greater bias towards CD45.2 reconstitution than males. This work sheds new light on the limitations of the CD45.1/CD45.2 congenic system for tracking lymphocyte development

Transrectal ultrasound appearance of granulomatous prostatitis.

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135293/1/jum1990912677.pd