Acute effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces on postprandial blood pressure, vascular function, blood lipids, biomarkers of insulin resistance and inflammation in humans

The acute impact of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces (HSC) extract on postprandial vascular function and other cardiometabolic risk factors have not been studied previously. This study investigated the acute impact of HSC extract consumption on blood pressure (BP), vascular function and other cardiometabolic risk markers. Twenty-five men with 1% to 10% cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk (determined by QRISK 2) were randomised to consume either 250 mL of the aqueous extract of HSC or water with breakfast in a randomised, controlled, single-blinded, 2-meal cross-over study (ClinicalTrials.gov, NTC02165553) with a two weeks washout period between study days. BP was measured at baseline and hourly for 4 h. Flow mediated dilatation (FMD) of the branchial artery was measured at baseline, 2 and 4 h post intervention drink consumption. Acute consumption of aqueous extract of HSC caused a significant increase in % FMD ( < 0.001), a non-significant decrease in systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP); non-significant increase in urinary and plasma nitric oxide (NOx) and reduced response of serum glucose, plasma insulin, serum triacylglycerol and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels; significant ( = 0.026) improvement in the area under systemic antioxidant response curve (0 to 2 h); no significant changes in arterial stiffness following the acute consumption of the extract of HSC. Gallic acid, 4-O-methylgallic acid, 3-O-methylgallic acid and hippuric acid reached a maximum plasma concentration at 1 to 2 h post consumption of the extract of HSC. The extract of HSC improved postprandial vascular function and may be a useful dietary strategy to reduce endothelial dysfunction and CVD risk, although this requires confirmation

Systemic Study of Aerosol Loading and Retention over Praia-Cape Verde: Satellite and Ground Observation Analysis

The situation in Praia may be critical at the moment because of its current aerosol loading and retention. In this study we obtained 14-year (2000-13) data set from satellite and ground observation from a multi-angle imaging spectro-radiometer (MISR) and an aerosol robotic network (AERONET). The analytic and statistical techniques were used to investigate the aerosol loading and retention over Praia-Cape Verde. The average annual aerosol retention over the study area increased by 18%. The highest aerosol retention rate of 39% was recorded in 2010. The aerosol loading was found to be higher between December to February. Since the ventilation over Praia is low, aerosol loading impact on the health and welfare of life forms may be threatened. The study also suggested other sectors of the economy that can be affected by the increased aerosol loading over Praia

CRYSTALLINE GRAIN SIZE EFFECTS ON THE CONDUCTIVITY OF THE DOPED TIN DIOXIDE (SnO2) WITH ZINC (Zn)

Nigeria Spray pyrolysis technique was used for the fabrication of the sample. A series of SnO2 and Zn doped SnO2 (Zn. SnO2) have been deposited on the glass slide with different doping concentration values of 1 wt.% , 2 wt.% ,3 wt.% and 4 wt.% Zn on SnO2. The average grain size of the Zn doped SnO2, compare to the average grain size of SnO2 film is clearly increasing upon increase in doping concentration. However, grain boundary theories were obeyed except for the 4 wt.% Zn on SnO2 which showed a high level of doping incompatibility. At 1 wt.% Zn on SnO2 exhibited the characteristics of a homogenous and stable p-type semiconductor. At 3 wt.% Zn on SnO2, the direction change in the orientation of two adjacent grains was shown to localize at a site equidistant to the grains

The physics of the sheath effects in monopole plasma antenna or helix plasma antenna

The magnetic field in the sheath of monopole plasma antenna or the helix antennas has been found to have a negative impact on its general functionality. The vertical and horizontal signals at predetermined angles had been compromised by the sheath effect. It was observed that this phenomenon is almost unnoticed because magnetization has the highest magnitude when the device is switch on/off. In microscopic scale (monopole plasma antenna), the sheath effect is due to femto spin demagnetization of particulates. However, in macroscopic scale (helix antenna), the sheath effect is due to signal impairment

Study of an attitude control system for the astronaut maneuvering unit final report, dec. 1963 - jul. 1964

Attitude control system for astronaut maneuvering unit

Examining the Relationship between Entrepreneurial Education and Entrepreneurial Action: Implications for Academic Entrepreneurship

In this paper, we focus on examining the relationship between entrepreneurial education and entrepreneurial action by academics. The data covers survey answers by II 0 people representing the sample size of the academics from Covenant University in Ogun State, Nigeria. The Humanistic learning theory was adopted as the theoretical framework. Both descriptive and statistical tool were used to analyze the data collected. The result from the chi square analysis revealed that there is a positive relationshi!f between academics and entrepreneurship. To transfer entrepreneurial skill to students, it was recommended that the entrepreneurial characteristics of academics should be explored by exposing them to constant training in the industry on entrepreneurial issues and practices

Subharmonic bifurcation cascade of pattern oscillations caused by winding number increasing entrainment

Convection structures in binary fluid mixtures are investigated for positive Soret coupling in the driving regime where solutal and thermal contributions to the buoyancy forces compete. Bifurcation properties of stable and unstable stationary square, roll, and crossroll (CR) structures and the oscillatory competition between rolls and squares are determined numerically as a function of fluid parameters. A novel type of subharmonic bifurcation cascade (SC) where the oscillation period grows in integer steps as $n (2\pi)/(\omega)$ is found and elucidated to be an entrainment process.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Percolation in living neural networks

We study living neural networks by measuring the neurons' response to a global electrical stimulation. Neural connectivity is lowered by reducing the synaptic strength, chemically blocking neurotransmitter receptors. We use a graph-theoretic approach to show that the connectivity undergoes a percolation transition. This occurs as the giant component disintegrates, characterized by a power law with critical exponent $\beta \simeq 0.65$ is independent of the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurons and indicates that the degree distribution is gaussian rather than scale freeComment: PACS numbers: 87.18.Sn, 87.19.La, 64.60.Ak http://www.weizmann.ac.il/complex/tlusty/papers/PhysRevLett2006.pd

Relative signal strength coverage optimization in indoor and outdoor wireless LAN environments

Fading and obstacles constitute major threats to effective quality of service (QoS) delivery in wireless local area network (WLAN) environments. In this contribution, we investigate the signal quality of indoor and outdoor WLANs over a defined coverage area. We present experimental analysis of case studies that will be useful for further research and validate the system’s performance in practice. Using an optimized form of the pathloss models, a simulation of the system is carried out over short and extended coverage. Simulation results show that signal quality could be effectively managed to improve the system’s performance for both indoor and outdoor environments in the presence of fading and other environmental factors.Facultad de Informátic

Penggunaan Metode Problem Solving Untuk Meningkatkan Kemampuan Siswa Mengerjakan Soal Cerita Pada Pembelajaran Matematika

: The purpose of this study to obtain actual data about the increase of Lesson Planning , Implementation of Learning , and Learning Outcomes . The method used is descriptive method , the form of research is classroom action research , with the collaborative nature of qualitative research . This research was conducted by three cycles of the first cycle , second cycle and third cycle . The steps in the study of planning, implementation , observation and reflection . The instrument used was learning Implementation Plan ( RPP ) and a data collection tool that is the observation sheet and test instruments . The result of the action taken suggest that the use of problem solving methods to improve the ability of students working on a story about learning mathematics in Grades IV SDN 21 Kubu increased