CT SCAN IMAGES ANALYSIS OF MAXILLARY SINUS DIMENSIONS AS A FORENSIC TOOL FOR SEXUAL AND RACIAL DETECTION IN A SAMPLE OF KURDISH POPULATION

Despite the fact that the skull and other bones may be badly disfigured in victims who are incinerated, it became an urgent necessity to gender determination using maxillary sinuses as a useful tool of human skeletons in forensic medicine. The aim of the study: to determine the reliability and accuracy of maxillary sinus dimension measurement as a method for gender and racial identification through the use of reconstructed helical CT images. Material and Methods: This prospective study included cranial computerized tomography images (CT) of 119 (M: 57 and F: 62) of the Kurdish population of Sulaimani city of Iraq with an age range (20 - 75) years. All patients were examined on Spiral Computed Tomography Scanner from October 2014 to March 2015.The greatest measurements were taken from the width, length, and height of the maxillary sinuses. The descriptive and discriminate analyzes were performed by using the SPSS package program. Results The mean of the length, the width, and the height of maxillary sinus in males on both right and left sides were (35.90± 4.71, 36.63 ± 5.34) (25.74 ± 5.69 , 25.36 ± 6.03) and (32.86 ± 7.00 , 33.13± 6.87) mm, respectively but in females were (34.58 ± 4.21, 35.60 ± 3.94 ), (22.54 ± 4.74 and 21.53 ± 4.47) and (29.16 ± 7.20,29.25 ± 6.17 )mm respectively. The present study showed that the left maxillary sinus width was the best discrimination parameter, that could be used to study sex dimorphism with Prediction of 69.4% for female and 52.6% for male (overall accuracy = 61. 3%). The discriminative analysis showed that the accuracy of maxillary sinus measurements-i.e the ability of the maxillary sinus size to identify gender-was 71% in females and 56.1% of males (overall accuracy = 63.9%). Conclusion The study showed that the diameters of the maxillary sinus can be used as a guide and a useful tool for racial and sex determination

CT SCAN IMAGES ANALYSIS OF MAXILLARY SINUS DIMENSIONS AS A FORENSIC TOOL FOR SEXUAL AND RACIAL DETECTION IN A SAMPLE OF KURDISH POPULATION

Despite the fact that the skull and other bones may be badly disfigured in victims who are incinerated, it became an urgent necessity to gender determination using maxillary sinuses as a useful tool of human skeletons in forensic medicine. The aim of the study: to determine the reliability and accuracy of maxillary sinus dimension measurement as a method for gender and racial identification through the use of reconstructed helical CT images. Material and Methods: This prospective study included cranial computerized tomography images (CT) of 119 (M: 57 and F: 62) of the Kurdish population of Sulaimani city of Iraq with an age range (20 - 75) years. All patients were examined on Spiral Computed Tomography Scanner from October 2014 to March 2015.The greatest measurements were taken from the width, length, and height of the maxillary sinuses. The descriptive and discriminate analyzes were performed by using the SPSS package program. Results The mean of the length, the width, and the height of maxillary sinus in males on both right and left sides were (35.90± 4.71, 36.63 ± 5.34) (25.74 ± 5.69 , 25.36 ± 6.03) and (32.86 ± 7.00 , 33.13± 6.87) mm, respectively but in females were (34.58 ± 4.21, 35.60 ± 3.94 ), (22.54 ± 4.74 and 21.53 ± 4.47) and (29.16 ± 7.20,29.25 ± 6.17 )mm respectively. The present study showed that the left maxillary sinus width was the best discrimination parameter, that could be used to study sex dimorphism with Prediction of 69.4% for female and 52.6% for male (overall accuracy = 61. 3%). The discriminative analysis showed that the accuracy of maxillary sinus measurements-i.e the ability of the maxillary sinus size to identify gender-was 71% in females and 56.1% of males (overall accuracy = 63.9%). Conclusion The study showed that the diameters of the maxillary sinus can be used as a guide and a useful tool for racial and sex determination

Development of the conditional moment closure method for modelling turbulent combustion

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) on the in vitro growth characteristics and in vivo pathogenicity of Candida albicans in a murine model in the absence of a photosensitizer. Background data: C. albicans is an opportunistic commensal organism that causes a wide variety of diseases in human beings, ranging from superficial infections to life-threatening invasive candidiasis. The incidence of C. albicans infection is increasing, because of the greater frequency of acquired immunodeficiency conditions. A high recurrence rate has been reported for vulvovaginal and oral candidiasis, despite the best available treatments. Therefore, the search for new treatment modalities seems quite rational. Methods: Candida culture plates were exposed to common clinical energies of LLLI: 3, 5, 10, and 20 J at 685 nm (BTL Laser 5000, Medicinos Projektai, Czech Republic, Prague, max power output 50 mW) and 3, 5, 10, 30, and 50 J at 830 nm (BTL Laser 5000, Medicinos Projektai, Czech Republic, Prague, max power output 400 mW). Results: Following LLLI with energies >10 J at both 685 and 830 nm wavelengths, statistically significant effects were observed in vitro on the turbidimetric growth kinetics of C. albicans and in vivo on the survival rate of infected mice (p value </=0.05). Therefore, this energy could be considered a threshold for clinical investigation. Conclusions: Translating our data into the clinical setting, it can be proposed that a direct laser-based approach without using a photosensitizing dye can significantly reduce the pathogenicity of Candida albicans. It can also be concluded that laser light at specific wavelengths could be a possible promising novel treatment for superficial and mucocutaneous C. albicans infections

Organic dots (O-dots) for theranostic applications: preparation and surface engineering

Organic dots is a term used to represent materials including graphene quantum dots and carbon quantum dots because they rely on the presence of other atoms (O, H, and N) for their photoluminescence or fluorescence properties. They generally have a small size (as low as 2.5 nm), and show good photostability under prolonged irradiation. The excitation and emission wavelengths of O-dots can be tailored according to their synthetic procedure, where although their quantum yield is quite low compared with organic dyes, this is partly compensated by their large absorption coefficients. A wide range of strategies have been used to modify the surface of O-dots for passivation, improving their solubility and biocompatibility, and allowing the attachment of targeting moieties and therapeutic cargos. Hybrid nanostructures based on O-dots have been used for theranostic applications, particularly for cancer imaging and therapy. This review covers the synthesis, physics, chemistry, and characterization of O-dots. Their applications cover the prevention of protein fibril formation, and both controlled and targeted drug and gene delivery. Multifunctional therapeutic and imaging platforms have been reported, which combine four or more separate modalities, frequently including photothermal or photodynamic therapy and imaging and drug release. © 2021 The Royal Society of Chemistry

Health profile of the PASSI surveillance system according to the second self-audit data

Background. The surveillance system PASSI (Progresses in ASSessing adult population health in Italy) is centrally coordinated by the Istituto Superiore di Sanita (ISS) and carried on by Local Health Units (LHU) from all the 21 Italian Regional Health Authorities since 2008. PASSI monitors the main behavioural health-related risk factors among the adult population in order to better orient and further elaborate interventions for the prevention of major chronic diseases.Study design. Basing on outcomes from the first pilot study in 2011, we conducted a second self-audit to investigate and map levels of conformity with recognized implementation standards by the protocol for PASSI local management in the 21 Italian Regional Health Authorities.Methods. We designed an online questionnaire supported by an open source application (Google) and sent to the local PASSI coordinators. Data were collected from April to September 2013. 113 out of 148 LHUs from all the 21 Italian Regional Health Authorities participated, with a response rate of 76%.Results. Overall, in the respondent LHUs 1,036 professionals result to differently engage in surveillance activities. Although PASSI is locally-based, where data collection and computerisation are arranged, central support is highly appreciated in terms of quality monitoring, analysis, output processing, professional training, delivery of dissemination material. PASSI data are more used for communication (60%) and planning (80%) than to scientific ends.Conclusions. After a ten-year activity, PASSI as complex public health program requires periodical self-audit rounds in order to assess to what extent relevant performance indicators match the levels indicated in its own operational protocol. The second self-audit showed to be reliable concerning both sustainability and data collection. It then represents an experience that can be renewed and repeated

The natural history of primary sclerosing cholangitis in 781 children. A multicenter, international collaboration

There are limited data on the natural history of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) in children. We aimed to describe the disease characteristics and long-term outcomes of pediatric PSC. We retrospectively collected all pediatric PSC cases from 36 participating institutions and conducted a survival analysis from the date of PSC diagnosis to dates of diagnosis of portal hypertensive or biliary complications, cholangiocarcinoma, liver transplantation, or death. We analyzed patients grouped by disease phenotype and laboratory studies at diagnosis to identify objective predictors of long-term outcome. We identified 781 patients, median age 12 years, with 4,277 person-years of follow-up; 33% with autoimmune hepatitis, 76% with inflammatory bowel disease, and 13% with small duct PSC. Portal hypertensive and biliary complications developed in 38% and 25%, respectively, after 10 years of disease. Once these complications developed, median survival with native liver was 2.8 and 3.5 years, respectively. Cholangiocarcinoma occurred in 1%. Overall event-free survival was 70% at 5 years and 53% at 10 years. Patient groups with the most elevated total bilirubin, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index at diagnosis had the worst outcomes. In multivariate analysis PSC-inflammatory bowel disease and small duct phenotypes were associated with favorable prognosis (hazard ratios 0.6, 95% confidence interval 0.5-0.9, and 0.7, 95% confidence interval 0.5-0.96, respectively). Age, gender, and autoimmune hepatitis overlap did not impact long-term outcome. CONCLUSION: PSC has a chronic, progressive course in children, and nearly half of patients develop an adverse liver outcome after 10 years of disease; elevations in bilirubin, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index at diagnosis can identify patients at highest risk; small duct PSC and PSC-inflammatory bowel disease are more favorable disease phenotypes

Growth, carcass traits, cecal microbial counts, and blood chemistry of meat-type quail fed diets supplemented with humic acid and black cumin seeds

Objective The present study attempted to determine safe and sufficient growth promoters in poultry feeding. Methods A total of 520 seven-day-old quail chicks were randomly allotted to eight treatment groups in a 4×2 factorial design experiment to evaluate the effect of different levels of humic acid (HA) and black cumin (BC) seed and their interactions on growth, carcass traits, gut microbes, and blood chemistry of growing quails. Quails were randomly distributed into 8 groups in a 4×2 factorial design, included 4 HA levels (0, 0.75, 1.5, and 2.25 g/kg diet) and 2 BC levels (0 or 5 g/ kg diet). Results Increasing HA level associated with a gradual increase in final weight, feed intake and body weight gain along with an improvement in feed conversion ratio. Dietary addition of 5 g BC powder/kg diet gave similar results. The highest level of HA (2.25 g/kg diet) recorded the best values of carcass weight, breast yield, intestinal length, and intestinal weight comparing with the control and other HA levels. Total viable microbial counts decreased (p<0.05) with increasing levels of HA except the intermediate level (1.5 g/kg diet). The concentration of serum cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (excluding that 0.75 g HA) decreased (p<0.05) and high density lipoprotein increased (p = 0.034) along with increasing HA level. The interaction between the 2.25 g HA×5 g gave the best results regarding most studied parameters. Conclusion These findings indicated that HA combined with BC could be used as effective growth promoters, with the recommended level being 2.25 g HA+5 g BC/kg of quail diet

The state of the Martian climate

60°N was +2.0°C, relative to the 1981–2010 average value (Fig. 5.1). This marks a new high for the record. The average annual surface air temperature (SAT) anomaly for 2016 for land stations north of starting in 1900, and is a significant increase over the previous highest value of +1.2°C, which was observed in 2007, 2011, and 2015. Average global annual temperatures also showed record values in 2015 and 2016. Currently, the Arctic is warming at more than twice the rate of lower latitudes