GERS: interpretation methods and inter-reader agreement

Background: Scintigraphic imaging is a useful screening tool for patients with suspected gastroesophageal reflux. New scintigraphic interpretation methods have recently been introduced. This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficiency of various scintigraphic interpretation methods in the detection of gastroesophageal refl ux and to measure their infl uence on inter-reader agreement. Methods: Scintigraphic images of 49 children with suspected gastroesophageal reflux were interpreted by three different methods: visual interpretation, time activity curves, and condensed images. The readings were performed by three specialists and a resident. The discordant results were resolved by a consensus reading done together by all interpreters based on the three different methods. The gastroesophageal refluxes were grouped according to their number, location and intensity. Results: Gastroesophageal reflux scintigraphy revealed 22 patients with negative results and 27 with positive results. The sensitivity, positive predictive value and specificity for each of the three specialists vs. the resident were 96%, 96% and 81% vs. 96%; 93%, 90% and 96% vs. 81%; and 90%, 86%, and 95% vs. 73%, respectively. The mean inter-observer reproducibility (κ value) was 0.910 for visual interpretation, 0.652 for time activity curves and 0.789 for condensed images. Twentyseven percent of the results were discordant and most of these refluxes were of low grade (92%), low intensity (77%) and localization in the distal esophagus (54%). Conclusion: Gastroesophageal scintigraphy is a useful tool for detecting patients with suspected reflux, and visual interpretation is better than the other two methods in terms of accuracy and inter-observer reproducibility. World J Pediatr 2011;7(3):245-24

Optical and structural characterization of (Mn, Fe) co-doped lead chalcogenides for optoelectronics applications

Lead chalcogenides (LCs) exhibit non-stability and lower device efficiency due to smaller bandgap (Eg) leading to poor optical properties for photovoltaic (PV) applications. In this work, optical properties of transition metals (TMs) such as (Mn and Fe) co-doped with LCs especially PbS in the framework of DFT+U (8 eV) and L/APW+lo method are theoretically investigated to predict new optical material for photovoltaic and other optoelectronics applications. The XAFS spectroscopy technique was used to analyze electronic structures and optical properties of (Mn, Fe) co-doped LCs. Midgap states of co-doped PbS reveal to improve the absorption of infrared light mainly due to slight doping with TMs. Compared to pure PbS, Mn doping in PbS induces Eg widening, blue-shift, and improve the light absorption edge. Due to co-doping, the magnetic order is translated that can lead to forming a charge compensated system which is beneficial to minimize vacancies related to defects formation

Turning Performance and Factors Related to Turning in Mild And Moderate Phase Parkinson’s Disease Patients

Background/aim: The purpose of study is to determine the turning performance and other factors related to turning in mild and moderate phase Parkinson’s disease patients (PD).Methods: Ninety two patients were followed up for observation. After passing neurological examinations, the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Hoehn / Yahr Scale (H&Y), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Tinetti test, Berg Balance test, 6 m walking test, step count, 360° turning duration, and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) were applied. All cases were evaluated according to the “on” period.Results: Forty one females and 51 males participated in the study. The duration of time it took to turn right was 8.22 ± 6.26 seconds, and the time it took to turn from left was 8.51 ± 6.63 sec. There appeared to be no statistical difference in the turn times of patients either in terms of the socio-economic factors of gender, education level, or employment status. But, statistically significant relationships were found when it came to in both directions, age, duration of illness, UPDRS, FIM, Tinetti, the Berg Test, the walking test, and the number of steps taken.Conclusion: Our results suggest that 360 degree turning performance in mild and moderate stage PD is strongly associated with patient’s age, disease duration and disease severity

Determining technical, allocative and cost efficiencies of rice farmers in Kedah, Malaysia using data envelopment analysis

This study estimates technical, allocative, and cost efficiency using cost DEA model under both constant return to scale (CRS) and variable returns to scale (VRS) respectively using survey data of 70 rice farmers from Kedah, Malaysia.In case of cost efficiency only 4.29% of the farmers were 100% technically efficient under CRS while it is increased into 16.90% under VRS. The average technical, allocative and cost efficiencies were estimated at 0.28, 0.878 and 0.255 respectively under CRS while they were increased into 0.61, 0.883 and 0.533 respectively under VRS

Soybean and Sustainable Agriculture for Food Security

Global food security is under-challenged due to over increasing human population, limited cropland, and risk of climate change. Therefore, an appropriate agricultural policy framework needs to be developed for food security that should be sustainable economically and ecologically. Nitrogen (N) is a crucial element that controls the growth productivity of crop plants. N accounts for around 78 volume per cent of the atmosphere but all crop plants cannot use it directly. Agricultural land is mostly dominated by cereals (e.g. rice, wheat, maize) which have specifically high N demand as compared to food legumes. Soybean exemplifies the most significant and cultivated food legume, presently cultivated worldwide under varying climatic conditions. It plays a significant role in global food security as well as agricultural sustainability due to a high seed protein and oil concentration, and low reliance on N fertilization. Soybean enriches soil health by fixing atmospheric N through biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), the most productive and economical system for N fixation and crop production, associated with more intensive production systems. However, the efficiency of BNF depends on several factors. This study is focused to develop more reliable guidelines for managing BNF by using the potential of natural agro-ecosystems

The effect of gamma irradiation on the structural properties of olivine

Gamma irradiation studies of (Mg0.905Fe0.095)2SiO4 olivine were performed using X-ray fluorescence method, X-ray diffraction, Raman and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The absorbed doses were 300, 600 and 1000 Gy. Small irradiation doses cause an increase of lattice vibrations and small deformation of both M1 and M2 octahedron. The observed effect is similar to the results expose to high temperature. However, the small deformation takes place only in unit cell of Olivine’s structure

Search for a Technicolor omega_T Particle in Events with a Photon and a b-quark Jet at CDF

If the Technicolor omega_T particle exists, a likely decay mode is omega_T -> gamma pi_T, followed by pi_T -> bb-bar, yielding the signature gamma bb-bar. We have searched 85 pb^-1 of data collected by the CDF experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron for events with a photon and two jets, where one of the jets must contain a secondary vertex implying the presence of a b quark. We find no excess of events above standard model expectations. We express the result of an exclusion region in the M_omega_T - M_pi_T mass plane.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures. Available from the CDF server (PS with figs): http://www-cdf.fnal.gov/physics/pub98/cdf4674_omega_t_prl_4.ps FERMILAB-PUB-98/321-