Mass-transport resistances of acid and alkaline ionomer layers: A microelectrode study part 1 - Microelectrode development

The use of microelectrodes to study localized mass-transport phenomena in fuel-cell catalyst layers is an increasingly valuable tool. However, existing microelectrode cells have been used in static, equilibrated environment modes with poorly controlled interfaces. In this work, we present a microelectrode cell design that expands the experimental space addressable by microelectrodes to include mechanical pressure, gas flow and ionomer medium, and experimental throughput. The feasibility of the design is examined for fuel-cell reactions, with oxygen reduction currents independent of mechanical pressure and gas flowrate. Finally, cell equilibration time and IR drop across the electrolyte are estimated. The new cell design is robust and provides a consistent base from which to perform more complicated studies examining mass-transport properties of ionomers and/or the electrochemical reaction kinetics of hydrogen oxidation and oxygen reduction

Vascular risk factors and diabetic neuropathy

Background: Other than glycemic control, there are no treatments for diabetic neuropathy. Thus, identifying potentially modifiable risk factors for neuropathy is crucial. We studied risk factors for the development of distal symmetric neuropathy in 1172 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus from 31 centers participating in the European Diabetes (EURODIAB) Prospective Complications Study. Methods: Neuropathy was assessed at baseline (1989 to 1991) and at follow-up (1997 to 1999), with a mean (±SD) follow-up of 7.3±0.6 years. A standardized protocol included clinical evaluation, quantitative sensory testing, and autonomic-function tests. Serum lipids and lipoproteins, glycosylated hemoglobin, and the urinary albumin excretion rate were measured in a central laboratory. Results: At follow-up, neuropathy had developed in 276 of 1172 patients without neuropathy at baseline (23.5 percent). The cumulative incidence of neuropathy was related to the glycosylated hemoglobin value and the duration of diabetes. After adjustment for these factors, we found that higher levels of total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, a higher body-mass index, higher von Willebrand factor levels and urinary albumin excretion rate, hypertension, and smoking were all significantly associated with the cumulative incidence of neuropathy. After adjustment for other risk factors and diabetic complications, we found that duration of diabetes, current glycosylated hemoglobin value, change in glycosylated hemoglobin value during the follow-up period, body-mass index, and smoking remained independently associated with the incidence of neuropathy. Cardiovascular disease at baseline was associated with double the risk of neuropathy, independent of cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusions: This prospective study indicates that, apart from glycemic control, the incidence of neuropathy is associated with potentially modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, including a raised triglyceride level, body-mass index, smoking, and hypertension

Comparison of PID Controller with Model Predictive Controller for Milk Pasteurization Process

Proportional–Integral–Derivative (PID) controllers are used in many of the Industries for various process control applications. PID controller yields a long settling time and overshoot which is not good for the process control applications. PID is not suitable for many of the complex process control applications. This research paper is about developing a better type of controller, known as MPC (Model Predictive Control). The aim of the paper is to design MPC and PID for a pasteurization process. In this manuscript comparison of PID controller with MPC is made and the responses are presented. MPC is an advanced control strategy that uses the internal dynamic model of the process and a history of past control moves and a combination of many different technologies to predict the future plant output. The dynamics of the pasteurization process was estimated by using system identification from the experimental data. The quality of different model structures was checked using best fit with data validation, residual and stability analysis. Auto-regressive with exogenous input (ARX322) model was chosen as a model structure of the pasteurization process and fits about 80.37% with datavalidation. MPC and PID control strategies were designed using ARX322 model structure. The controller performance was compared based on settling time, percent of overshoot and stability analysis and the results are presented

The Qualified Legal Compliance Committee: Using the Attorney Conduct Rules to Restructure the Board of Directors

The Securities and Exchange Commission introduced a new corporate governance structure, the qualified legal compliance committee, as part of the professional standards of conduct for attorneys mandated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. QLCCs are consistent with the Commission\u27s general approach to improving corporate governance through specialized committees of independent directors. This Article suggests, however, that assessing the benefits and costs of creating QLCCs may be more complex than is initially apparent. Importantly, QLCCs are unlikely to be effective in the absence of incentives for active director monitoring. This Article concludes by considering three ways of increasing these incentives

Making strides in women’s mental health care delivery in rural Ethiopia: demographics of a female outpatient psychiatric cohort at Jimma University Specialized Hospital (2006–2008)

This paper presents the delivery of mental health care to a sample of women living in Jimma, rural Ethiopia, and their access to mental health services. A total of 226 psychiatric charts were reviewed for women seen at Jimma University Specialized Hospital. The mental health charts included documentation ranging from one paragraph to a full note. No psychiatric chart recorded medication status, detailed substance abuse history, or a history of violence. Rendering appropriate mental health care for women requires concerted efforts by multiple stake holders. Using our results, we advance concrete and practical suggestions for improving women’s mental health in rural Ethiopia. We point out that the health care system needs to be responsive, allowing for change starting with gender rights, so that rural women have access to basic mental health services

Retrospective review of antiretroviral therapy program data in accredited private hospitals in Addis Ababa City Administration, Ethiopia

Background: Ethiopia is committed to improving access to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care and antiretroviral therapy (ART) service. In May 2005, some private hospitals in Addis Ababa City Administration received accreditation to provide ART services to eligible patients.Objective: To examine and describe the achievements of the ART Program in accredited private hospitals.Methods: Descriptive retrospective analyses of reported ART Program Data from accredited private hospitals, between May 2005 and 31st December 2009. The aggregate data was obtained from Addis Ababa Regional Health Bureau and consisted of information about patients enrolled for care, those who started ART, and those presently are on ART.Results: During the study period, 10,849 patients were enrolled for care, 9,442 who had just started ART and 5,608 already on it across the study private facilities. In general close to 75% of the total patients enrolled for  care at five facilities. Although the majority (87%) had started treatment in the past, only 59.4% were currently on treatment. Overall, the program retained 66.4% of the patients (n=6,270) and attrition was 32% (n=3,021).Conclusions: Differences in patient enrollment for care, ART initiation and retention were observed across facilities. A significant number of patients discontinued treatment and their outcome status was unclear. A better monitoring and reporting of ART Program Data will improve program quality. An effective strategy is needed to enhance patient retention and tracing in the accredited private hospitals in Addis Ababa City Administration. [Ethiop J Health Dev. 2011;25(2):110-115

Electrochemical Aptasensor for Endocrine Disrupting 17β-Estradiol Based on a Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxylthiopene)-Gold Nanocomposite Platform

A simple and highly sensitive electrochemical DNA aptasensor with high affinity for endocrine disrupting 17β-estradiol, was developed. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxylthiophene) (PEDOT) doped with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was electrochemically synthesized and employed for the immobilization of biotinylated aptamer towards the detection of the target. The diffusion coefficient of the nanocomposite was 6.50 × 10−7 cm2 s−1, which showed that the nanocomposite was highly conducting. Electrochemical impedance investigation also revealed the catalytic properties of the nanocomposite with an exchange current value of 2.16 × 10−4 A, compared to 2.14 × 10−5 A obtained for the bare electrode. Streptavidin was covalently attached to the platform using carbodiimide chemistry and the aptamer immobilized via streptavidin—biotin interaction. The electrochemical signal generated from the aptamer–target molecule interaction was monitored electrochemically using cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry in the presence of [Fe(CN)6]−3/−4 as a redox probe. The signal observed shows a current decrease due to interference of the bound 17β-estradiol. The current drop was proportional to the concentration of 17β-estradiol. The PEDOT/AuNP platform exhibited high electroactivity, with increased peak current. The platform was found suitable for the immobilization of the DNAaptamer. The aptasensor was able to distinguish 17β-estradiol from structurally similar endocrine disrupting chemicals denoting its specificity to 17β-estradiol. The detectable concentration range of the 17β-estradiol was 0.1 nM–100 nM, with a detection limit of 0.02 nM

Noninvasive Evaluation of Neural Impairment in Subjects With Impaired Glucose Tolerance

OBJECTIVE—To evaluate neural dysfunction in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)

Empathy without borders? Cross-cultural heart and mind-reading in first-year medical students

Background: This cross-cultural study was designed to examine cultural differences in empathy levels of first-year medical students.Methods: A total of 257 students from the academic year 2010/11, 131 at Jimma University, Ethiopia, and 126 at the Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany, completed the Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale (BEES), the Reading the Mind in the Eyes (RME-R) test, and a  questionnaire on sociodemographic and cultural characteristics. Furthermore, we conducted a qualitative analysis of the students’ personal views on the definition of empathy and possible influencing factors. Group comparisons and correlation analyses of empathy scores were performed for the entire cohort and for the Jimma and Munich students separately. We used a regression tree analysis to identify factors influencing the BEES.Results: The male students in Jimma (39.1 ± 22.3) scored significantly higher in the BEES than those male students from Munich (27.2 ± 22.6; p = 0.0002). There was no significant difference between the female groups. We found a moderate, positive correlation between the BEES and RME-R test, i.e. between emotional and cognitive empathy, within each university. Nevertheless, the RME-R test, which shows only Caucasian eyes, appears not to be suitable for use in other cultures.Conclusions: The main findings of our study were the influence of culture, religion, specialization choice, and gender on emotional empathy (assessed with the BEES) and cognitive empathy (assessed with the RME-R test) in first-year medical students. Further research is required into the nature of empathy in worldwide medical curricula.Keywords: Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale, Cross-cultural, Empathy, Medical Student

Large-Fiber Dysfunction in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Is Predicted by Cardiovascular Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE Diabetic large–nerve fiber dysfunction, as measured by vibration perception threshold (VPT), predicts foot ulceration, amputation, and mortality. Thus, determination of modifiable risk factors is of great clinical importance. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We assessed 1,407 patients with type 1 diabetes and a normal VPT participating in the EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study, at baseline mean ± SD age of 32.7 ± 10.2 years with diabetes duration of 14.7 ± 9.3 years and follow-up of 7.3 ± 0.6 years. VPT was measured using biothesiometry on the right big toe and medial malleolus. An abnormal result was defined as >2 SD from the predicted mean for the patient s age. RESULTS An abnormal VPT was associated with an increased incidence of gangrene, amputation, foot ulceration, leg bypass or angioplasty, and mortality (P ≤ 0.02). The incidence of abnormal VPT was 24% over the 7.3-year follow-up. Duration of diabetes and A1C significantly influenced the incidence of abnormal VPT (P < 0.0001). After correction for these, established risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), including male sex (P = 0.0004), hypertension (P < 0.0001), total cholesterol (P = 0.002), LDL cholesterol (P = 0.01), smoking (P < 0.0001), weight (P < 0.0001), and diabetes complications (retinopathy [P = 0.0001], nephropathy [P = 0.01], and autonomic neuropathy [P = 0.001]), were all found to be significant risk factors. A previous history of CVD doubled the incidence of abnormal VPT. CONCLUSIONS This prospective study indicates that cardiovascular risk factors predict development of large-fiber dysfunction, which may account for the high mortality rate in patients with an abnormal VPT, and emphasizes the importance of early determination of VPT to detect subclinical neuropathy and to address cardiovascular risk factors