Zeros of Polynomials

In this paper we find bounds for the number of zeros of a polynomial with certain conditions on its coefficients .The results thus obtained generalize many results known already

Analyzing the Surface Roughness Effects on Piston Skirt EHL in Initial Engine Start-Up Using Different Viscosity Grade Oils

The absence of fully developed fluid film lubrication between Pistonand Liner surfaces is responsible for high friction and wear at initial engine start‐up. In this paper flow factor method is used in two dimensional Reynolds’ equation to model the effects of surfaceroughness characteristics on Piston Skirt elastohydrodynamiclubrication. The contact of surface asperities between the twosurfaces and its after effects on EHL of piston skirt is investigated. For this purpose, two different grade oils are used to show the changing effects of viscosity combined with surface roughness on different parameters including film thickness, eccentricities and hydrodynamic pressures. The results of the presented model shows considerable effects on film thickness of rough piston skirt, hydrodynamic pressures and eccentricities profilesfor 720 degrees crank angle

Biomass expansion factors of Olea ferruginea (Royle) in sub tropical forests of Pakistan

Wood biomass gives information about total productivity of the forest as well as individual tree. Olea ferruginea (Royle) which is small and evergreen is widely distributed in native sub tropical forests of Pakistan and extensively used as fuelwood domestically. This study was carried out in the sub tropical forests of Pakistan at 33° 38’ north and 73° 00’ east latitude and longitude, respectively, and at an elevation of 917 m. Trees with exploitable diameter were selected randomly from the entire forest.Destructive sampling techniques were used for measuring biomass (kgm-3) in all the tree components. For this purpose, 5 trees were felled and the biomass of each component of the tree including main stem, branches, leaves, twigs and roots were estimated separately using volume, weight and density. The generic data of wood density (kgm-3) was used to determine the biomass (kg). The study showed that average contribution of stem portion of the tree was 49.01% of the total tree biomass, and branches showed 31.17%, leaves 1.98%, twigs 1.05% and roots 16.65% of the total tree biomass. So, it was found that the major part of the total tree biomass was present in the stem portion of O. ferruginea. Totalvolume of the tree was also found to be dependent on the diameter of the tree. Mean volume of the tree was 0.475 ± 0.07 m3. The prepared  biomass expansion factor will be helpful in estimating productivity, carbon stocks and yield of the forest.Key words: Biomass, biomass expansion factor, tree volume, Olea ferruginea

A Nationwide Study of the “July Effect” Concerning Postpartum Hemorrhage and Its Risk Factors at Teaching Hospitals across the United States

Objective To assess the “July effect” and the risk of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and its risk factors across the U.S. teaching hospitals. Method This study used the 2018 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and included 2,056,359 of 2,879,924 single live-birth hospitalizations with low-risk pregnancies across the U.S. teaching hospitals. The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) from the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) medical coding was used to identify PPH and other study variables. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to compare the adjusted odds of PPH risk in the first and second quarters of the academic year vs. the second half of the academic year. Results Postpartum hemorrhage occurred in approximately 4.19% of the sample. We observed an increase in the adjusted odds of PPH during July through September (adjusted odds ratios (AOR), 1.05; confidence interval (CI), 1.02–1.10) and October through December (AOR, 1.07; CI, 1.04–1.12) compared to the second half of the academic year (January to June). Conclusions This study showed a significant “July effect” concerning PPH. However, given the mixed results concerning maternal outcomes at the time of childbirth other than PPH, more research is needed to investigate the “July effect” on the outcomes of the third stage of labor. This study’s findings have important implications for patient safety interventions concerning MCH

A Case of Persistent Asthma Resistant to Available Treatment Options: Management Dilemma

Asthma affects nearly 300 million people worldwide, with 250,000 associated deaths annually. An estimated 5%-10% of patients have severe asthma, while only 1%-2% presented with treatment-resistant or refractory asthma. Currently, the endotype of asthma is divided into T-helper type 2 (Th2) high and Th2-low inflammation endotypes. The Th2-high endotype is characterized by eosinophilic asthma, while the Th2-low endotype is associated with neutrophilia and a pauci-granulocytic profile. The Th2-low endotype carries a high resistance to corticosteroid and bronchodilator therapy, and these patients typically have a severe and acute-onset of symptoms. We present a 57-year-old nonsmoking female with recurrent intensive care unit (ICU) admissions for severe acute asthma exacerbations, resistant to bronchodilator and steroid treatment, requiring mechanical ventilation. Currently, the guidelines for treating neutrophil-predominant Th2-low inflammation asthma have not been established. This creates a management dilemma when encountered with such a patient in clinical practice. We aim to propose targeted treatment options for these severe and potentially fatal asthma patients, with reference to current literature

Cloning and expression of hepatitis B surface gene in E. coli

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is among the smallest DNA viruses resulting in ~800,000 deaths each year. Pakistan is considered a country affected by HBV. In Pakistan, the most dominant genotype is D. HBV is an enveloped virus of 3.2 kb. The study's goal was to express hepatitis B surface antigen in a bacterial host to produce a recombinant protein.Method: Blood samples were collected in EDTA coated vacutainer from patients after their consent. DNA was extracted from serum through the phenol-chloroform method; Hepatitis B surface gene was cloned in TA cloning vector, subclone in pET 28a expression vector. An expression vector containing the Surface gene was then transformed into a competent bacterial host BL21 and inducted with IPTG at 0.1-0.2mM concentration for expression. The expressed proteins (soluble and pellet form) were analyzed on SDS PAGE.Results: Hepatitis B Surface gene of 681bp after PCR were detected under UV light then successfully cloned and subcloned in pET 28 expression vector. The restricted fragment indicating the gene of interest was 681bp when analyzed on 1.2% Agarose gel under UV light. The required protein of 25kDa was obtained in soluble form when detected on 12% SDS PAGE after staining with Coomassie Blue dye.Conclusion: Hepatitis B surface gene was successfully expressed in both insoluble and pellet forms using E.coli. The expression of surface protein needs to maximize through optimizing conditions to be used as potent candidate for vaccine production to prevent hepatitis B infection.Keywords: Hepatitis B virus; Surface gene; Cloning vector; pET expression vector  

Side effect profile of hepatitis C treatment with peginterferon alpha-2b and ribavarin

Background: The major types of side effects include fatigue, influenza-like symptoms, gastrointestinal disturbances, neuropsychiatric symptoms and hematologic abnormalities. These side effects may be treatment limiting and require dose reduction or drug discontinuation objectives of the study was to assess the side effect profile of hepatitis C treatment (peginterferon alpha-2b and ribavarin) in Kashmiri patients attending the Department of Gastroenterology skims.Methods: In this study, all consecutive patients of hepatitis C infection on peginterfron and ribavarin treatment were enrolled after written consent. The patients underwent intervention treatment taking pegylated interferon α-2b (Viraferon, Schering Plough Corp., Kenilworth, NJ) and ribavirin in accordance with the standard protocol. Patients were monitored through weekly referrals while taking the medications. A detailed history was taken and complete physical examination done each time the patient presented to the hospital necessary blood sampling was taken.Results: During the study period of 2 years,105 Patients were enrolled 55 (52.4%) were males with a male:female ratio of 1.1:1.0. and mean age 37.6 years with a range of 13-75 years 7 patients (6.6) had a history of needle pricks, 4 patients (2.2%) of sharing same razors at barber’s shop. 4 (3.8%) patients of drug abuse; out of which 3 (2.8%) were intravenous drug abusers, Anemia occurred in 17 (16.2%) patients with requirement of dose modification w in 11 (10.4%) patients and dose stoppage in 1 (0.95%) patient in whom Hb dropped to less than 7, thrombocytopenia occurred in 27 (25.7%) patients with requirement of dose modification in 13 (12.3%) patients and dose stoppage in 1 (0.95%) patients due to platelet count decreasing to less than 30,000. Neutropenia as defined by ANC less than 1500 occurred in 22 (20.9%) patients.Conclusions: Dose modification was required in 48 (45.7%) patients, 30 (28.5%) patients required dose modifications due to labortory abnormalities and 18 (17.1%) due to other side effects. In 8 (7.6%) patients dose was discontinued due to adverse events (including psychosis in 1, severe flu like symptoms in 3, dermatitis in 1, depression in 3)

Characterizing the Ordered AG-Groupoids Through the Properties of Their Different Classes of Ideals

In this article, we have presented some important charcterizations of the ordered non-associative semigroups in relation to their ideals. We have initially characterized the ordered AG-groupoid through the properties of the their ideals, then we characterized the two important classes of these AG-groupoids, namely the regular and intragregular non-associative AG-groupoids. Our aim is also to encourage the research and the maturity of the associative algebraic structures by studying a class of non-associative and non-commutative algebraic structures called the ordered AG-groupoid

An Unusual Cause of Rectal Bleeding -Report of Three Cases and Literature Review

Haemangioma of the rectum and colon is very rare malformation with only around 100 cases have been reported so far. Most commonly young adult is affected. Common site is recto sigmoid junction. Here we present three cases of rectal haemangioma affecting two males and one female patient. All were having cavernous type of haemangioma at rectum and recto sigmoid junction with one involving additional caecum and ascending colon. All the cases were misdiagnosed previously. Colonoscopy is the cornerstone for evaluation of these patients showing bluish discoloration with engorged mucosa. Rectum and sigmoid colon are commonly affected. Abdominoperineal resection was the favored procedure in the past. At present, definitive treatment of diffuse cavernous haemangioma (DCH) of rectum and sigmoid colon is excision of the involved bowel with sphincter saving procedure with either stapling or hand sewn anastomosis of colon and anal canal. Key words: Rectal haemangioma; sphincter saving surgery.DOI: 10.3329/bsmmuj.v2i1.3709 BSMMU J 2009; 2(1): 36-3