SEROMONITORING OF AVIAN INFLUENZA H9 SUBTYPE IN BREEDERS AND COMMERCIAL LAYER FLOCKS

A serological survey for detection of antibodies against avian influenza virus (AIV) subtype H9 in vaccinated layer flocks was carried out. Serum samples were divided into age groups A, B, C, D (commercial layers) and E, F, G, H (layer breeders). Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test was performed to determine serum antibodies against AIV-H9 subtype. Geometric mean titer (GMT) values were calculated. Results showed the level of protection of vaccinated birds was satisfactory

Comparison Mechanical Properties of Two Types of Light Weight Aggregate Concrete

This paper presents the behavior of concrete properties by replacing the conventional coarse aggregate used in the concrete mixture by two types of lightweight aggregate; Expanded Perlite Aggregate (EPA) and Volcanic Pumice (VP). To fulfill this aim; three laboratory tests were applied; density, compressive strength, and abrasion resistance, that conducted to extrapolate the range of the changes in the properties of concrete with existence those types of aggregate in the mixture. Also, the volumetric proportion adopted as a strategy for replacing the coarse aggregate by EPA or VP in the concrete mixture. Then, the volumetric proportion ranged from 10% to 50% with the variation step was 10%. Therefore, ten concrete mixtures are prepared and divided into two groups; each group contains five concrete mixes to represent the volumetric replacement (10-50)% of conventional coarse aggregate by EPA or VP. On the other hand, one extra mixture designed by using conventional aggregate (coarse and fine aggregate) without any inclusion of EPA or VP to be considered as a reference mixture. The obtained laboratory results of this study proved that the density, compressive strength, and abrasion resistance readings of concrete decreased at any volumetric proportion replacement of coarse aggregate by EPA or VP. The decrease in density and compressive strength of concrete readings amounted the peak level at 50% replacing of coarse aggregate by EPA, which were 38.19% and 77.37%, respectively than the reference mixture. Additionally, the compressive strength is an important factor affecting the abrasion resistance of concrete mixture, and loss of abrasion decreased as compressive strength increased

A Global Collaborative Effort to Enhance Design in a Mechanical Engineering Curriculum in Saudi Arabia

In 2008, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Saudi Arabia and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) partnered together to develop project-based curricular material to be tested out in a new undergraduate course offering in KFUPM’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. This paper details some of the unique challenges to collaborating across countries and time zones, and the approaches the KFUPM-MIT team used to address these. These approaches have so far included the establishment of a shared vision for the project and the use of an array of technologies to facilitate distance communication. The paper concludes with a description of lessons learned that might be useful for future programs that plan to engage in international collaboration on design education.Jāmiʻat al-Malik Fahd lil-Batrūl wa-al-Maʻādi

Cocaine Disrupts Pup-Induced Maternal Behavior in Juvenile and Adult Rats

Impaired onset of maternal behavior in first generation rat dams was previously correlated with rearing by cocaine-treated dams and prenatal cocaine exposure. Pup-induced maternal behavior in non-lactating rats has not been examined with regard to cocaine exposure and rearing conditions. First generation male and female juveniles and young adult males reared by cocaine-treated or control dams and prenatally exposed to either cocaine or control conditions were tested for pup-induced maternal behavior at postnatal days 28 and 60. We now report disruptions in pup-induced maternal behavior in both 28 and 60 day old first generation offspring attributable to rearing condition and prenatal cocaine exposure. Originally published Neurotoxicology and Teratology, Vol. 29, No. 6, Nov 200

Motives for khat use and abstinence in Yemen - a gender perspective

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Khat consumption is widespread in Yemeni society and causes problems both in economic development and public health. Preventive measures have been largely unsuccessful and the cultivation continues to proliferate. The gender-specific motives for khat use and abstinence were studied to create a toe-hold for more specific interventions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a quota sample with equal numbers of males, females, abstainers and consumers, 320 subjects were interviewed on their specific opinions about khat and its impact on subjective and public health, and on social and community functioning. Strata were compared in their acceptance and denial of opinions. Notions that could predict abstinence status or gender were identified with multivariate logistic regression analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Male khat users had a strong identification with khat use, while females were more ambivalent. The notion that khat consumption is a bad habit (odds ratio (OR) 3.4; p < 0.001) and consumers are malnuorished (OR 2.2; p = 0.046) were associated with female gender among khat users. Among the females worries about health impact (OR 3.2; p = 0.040) and loss of esteem in the family (OR 3.1; p = 0.048) when using khat predicted abstinence. Male abstainers opposed khat users in the belief that khat is the cause of social problems (OR 5.1, p < 0.001). Logistic regression reached an accuracy of 75 and 73% for the prediction of abstinence and 71% for gender among consumers. (All models p < 0.001.)</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Distinct beliefs allow a differentiation between males, females, khat users and abstainers when targeting preventive measures. In accordance to their specific values female khat users are most ambivalent towards their habit. Positive opinions scored lower than expected in the consumers. This finding creates a strong toe-hold for gender-specific public health interventions.</p

Effect of Composition on Electrical and Optical Properties of Thin Films of Amorphous GaxSe100−x Nanorods

We report the electrical and optical studies of thin films of a-GaxSe100−x nanorods (x = 3, 6, 9 and 12). Thin films of a-GaxSe100−x nanorods have been synthesized thermal evaporation technique. DC electrical conductivity of deposited thin films of a-GaxSe100−x nanorods is measured as a function of temperature range from 298 to 383 K. An exponential increase in the dc conductivity is observed with the increase in temperature, suggesting thereby a semiconducting behavior. The estimated value of activation energy decreases on incorporation of dopant (Ga) content in the Se system. The calculated value of pre-exponential factor (σ0) is of the order of 101 Ω−1 cm−1, which suggests that the conduction takes place in the band tails of localized states. It is suggested that the conduction is due to thermally assisted tunneling of the carriers in the localized states near the band edges. On the basis of the optical absorption measurements, an indirect optical band gap is observed in this system, and the value of optical band gap decreases on increasing Ga concentration

Diagnosis of aortic graft infection : a case definition by the management of aortic graft infection collaboration (MAGIC)

Objective/Background The management of aortic graft infection (AGI) is highly complex and in the absence of a universally accepted case definition and evidence-based guidelines, clinical approaches and outcomes vary widely. The objective was to define precise criteria for diagnosing AGI. Methods A process of expert review and consensus, involving formal collaboration between vascular surgeons, infection specialists, and radiologists from several English National Health Service hospital Trusts with large vascular services (Management of Aortic Graft Infection Collaboration [MAGIC]), produced the definition. Results Diagnostic criteria from three categories were classified as major or minor. It is proposed that AGI should be suspected if a single major criterion or two or more minor criteria from different categories are present. AGI is diagnosed if there is one major plus any criterion (major or minor) from another category. (i) Clinical/surgical major criteria comprise intraoperative identification of pus around a graft and situations where direct communication between the prosthesis and a nonsterile site exists, including fistulae, exposed grafts in open wounds, and deployment of an endovascular stent-graft into an infected field (e.g., mycotic aneurysm); minor criteria are localized AGI features or fever ≥38°C, where AGI is the most likely cause. (ii) Radiological major criteria comprise increasing perigraft gas volume on serial computed tomography (CT) imaging or perigraft gas or fluid (≥7 weeks and ≥3 months, respectively) postimplantation; minor criteria include other CT features or evidence from alternative imaging techniques. (iii) Laboratory major criteria comprise isolation of microorganisms from percutaneous aspirates of perigraft fluid, explanted grafts, and other intraoperative specimens; minor criteria are positive blood cultures or elevated inflammatory indices with no alternative source. Conclusion This AGI definition potentially offers a practical and consistent diagnostic standard, essential for comparing clinical management strategies, trial design, and developing evidence-based guidelines. It requires validation that is planned in a multicenter, clinical service database supported by the Vascular Society of Great Britain & Ireland

A novel a-L-Arabinofuranosidase of Family 43 Glycoside Hydrolase (Ct43Araf ) from Clostridium thermocellum

Articles in International JournalsThe study describes a comparative analysis of biochemical, structural and functional properties of two recombinant derivatives from Clostridium thermocellum ATCC 27405 belonging to family 43 glycoside hydrolase. The family 43 glycoside hydrolase encoding a-L-arabinofuranosidase (Ct43Araf) displayed an N-terminal catalytic module CtGH43 (903 bp) followed by two carbohydrate binding modules CtCBM6A (405 bp) and CtCBM6B (402 bp) towards the C-terminal. Ct43Araf and its truncated derivative CtGH43 were cloned in pET-vectors, expressed in Escherichia coli and functionally characterized. The recombinant proteins displayed molecular sizes of 63 kDa (Ct43Araf) and 34 kDa (CtGH43) on SDS-PAGE analysis. Ct43Araf and CtGH43 showed optimal enzyme activities at pH 5.7 and 5.4 and the optimal temperature for both was 50uC. Ct43Araf and CtGH43 showed maximum activity with rye arabinoxylan 4.7 Umg21 and 5.0 Umg21, respectively, which increased by more than 2-fold in presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ salts. This indicated that the presence of CBMs (CtCBM6A and CtCBM6B) did not have any effect on the enzyme activity. The thin layer chromatography and high pressure anion exchange chromatography analysis of Ct43Araf hydrolysed arabinoxylans (rye and wheat) and oat spelt xylan confirmed the release of L-arabinose. This is the first report of a-L-arabinofuranosidase from C. thermocellum having the capacity to degrade both pnitrophenol- a-L-arabinofuranoside and p-nitrophenol-a-L-arabinopyranoside. The protein melting curves of Ct43Araf and CtGH43 demonstrated that CtGH43 and CBMs melt independently. The presence of Ca2+ ions imparted thermal stability to both the enzymes. The circular dichroism analysis of CtGH43 showed 48% b-sheets, 49% random coils but only 3% a-helices

Prevalence and clinical management of cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients in shanghai, china

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cytomegalovirus retinitis is a common AIDS-associated illness, leading to blindness in up to 30% of patients. This study was to investigate the prevalence and clinical management of the cytomegalovirus retinitis associated with AIDS in a large municipality of China.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Clinical and laboratory data from 23 cytomegalovirus retinitis patients (35 eyes) out of 303 hospitalized AIDS individuals in a single medical center were analyzed retrospectively. Two of 23 patients were diagnosed cytomegalovirus retinitis just before hospitalization without anti-CMV therapy. Ganciclovir combined with the high active anti-retroviral therapy was installed for treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis after diagnosis was confirmed. The data were analyzed by specialists and statistics was also applied.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of cytomegalovirus retinitis in hospitalized AIDS patients was 7.6% in this study. The level of CD₄⁺T lymphocytes was correlated well with the occurrence of cytomegalovirus retinitis, showing 16.8% (19/113) (95% confidence interval: 10.4,25.0), 5.4% (3/56) (95% confidence interval: 1.1,14.9), and 1.4% (1/69) (95% confidence interval: 0.0,7.8) occurrence in the patients with CD₄⁺T lymphocyte counts < 50, 50~99, and 100~199 cells/μl, respectively. The mean CD₄⁺T lymphocyte counts was 31.7 ± 38.6 cells/μl in 23 AIDS patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis. Median CD₄⁺T lymphocyte count is 20 cells/μl with inter-quartile range as (5, 36). Seven patients died (11 eyes) and 16 patients (24 eyes) survived. The proportion of blindness and low vision in eyes infected with cytomegalovirus retinitis respectively was 20.8% (5/24) and 29.2% (7/24) when they were diagnosed in survivors. The ganciclovir therapy was effective in 16 patients (24 eyes). Clinical recovery of cytomegalovirus retinitis was 41.7% (10/24) and clinical improvement 58.3% (14/24). After anti-CMV treatment, the proportion of blindness or low vision was 16.7% (4/24).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The AIDS patients with CD₄⁺T lymphocyte < 50 cells/μl had increased susceptibility to cytomegalovirus associated retinitis. Cytomegalovirus retinitis is a serious disease causing blindness. The cytomegalovirus retinitis in the AIDS patients was response well to ganciclovir therapy. We should check their eyes routinely such as dilated fundus examination with an indirect ophthalmoscope in the AIDS patients with CD₄⁺T lymphocyte counts < 50 cells/μl.</p