A case-control study to identify risk factors associated with avian influenza subtype H9N2 on commercial poultry farms in Pakistan

A 1:1 matched case-control study was conducted to identify risk factors for avian influenza subtype H9N2 infection on commercial poultry farms in 16 districts of Punjab, and 1 administrative unit of Pakistan. One hundred and thirty-three laboratory confirmed positive case farms were matched on the date of sample submission with 133 negative control farms. The association between a series of farm-level characteristics and the presence or absence of H9N2 was assessed by univariable analysis. Characteristics associated with H9N2 risk that passed the initial screening were included in a multivariable conditional logistic regression model. Manual and automated approaches were used, which produced similar models. Key risk factors from all approaches included selling of eggs/birds directly to live bird retail stalls, being near case/infected farms, a previous history of infectious bursal disease (IBD) on the farm and having cover on the water storage tanks. The findings of current study are in line with results of many other studies conducted in various countries to identify similar risk factors for AI subtype H9N2 infection. Enhancing protective measures and controlling risks identified in this study could reduce spread of AI subtype H9N2 and other AI viruses between poultry farms in Pakistan

Anisotropic nanomaterials: structure, growth, assembly, and functions

Comprehensive knowledge over the shape of nanomaterials is a critical factor in designing devices with desired functions. Due to this reason, systematic efforts have been made to synthesize materials of diverse shape in the nanoscale regime. Anisotropic nanomaterials are a class of materials in which their properties are direction-dependent and more than one structural parameter is needed to describe them. Their unique and fine-tuned physical and chemical properties make them ideal candidates for devising new applications. In addition, the assembly of ordered one-dimensional (1D), two-dimensional (2D), and three-dimensional (3D) arrays of anisotropic nanoparticles brings novel properties into the resulting system, which would be entirely different from the properties of individual nanoparticles. This review presents an overview of current research in the area of anisotropic nanomaterials in general and noble metal nanoparticles in particular. We begin with an introduction to the advancements in this area followed by general aspects of the growth of anisotropic nanoparticles. Then we describe several important synthetic protocols for making anisotropic nanomaterials, followed by a summary of their assemblies, and conclude with major applications

Phase-field modeling of eutectic structures on the nanoscale: the effect of anisotropy

This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Journal of Materials Science. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-017-0853-8A simple phase-field model is used to address anisotropic eutectic freezing on the nanoscale in two (2D) and three dimensions (3D). Comparing parameter-free simulations with experiments, it is demonstrated that the employed model can be made quantitative for Ag-Cu. Next, we explore the effect of material properties, and the conditions of freezing on the eutectic pattern. We find that the anisotropies of kinetic coefficient and the interfacial free energies (solid-liquid and solid-solid), the crystal misorientation relative to pulling, the lateral temperature gradient, play essential roles in determining the eutectic pattern. Finally, we explore eutectic morphologies, which form when one of the solid phases are faceted, and investigate cases, in which the kinetic anisotropy for the two solid phases are drastically different

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Non-destructive discrimination of Bell states by NMR using a single ancilla qubit

Discrimination of Bell states plays an important role in a number of quantum computational protocols such as teleportation and secret sharing. However, most of the protocols dealing with Bell state discrimination in the literature either involve performing correlated measurements or destroying the entanglement of the system. Here, we demonstrate an NMR-based experimental realization of a protocol for Bell state discrimination, following a scheme proposed by Gupta et al (quant-ph/0504183v1, 23 April 2005), which does not destroy the Bell state under consideration. Using the proposed protocol, one can deterministically distinguish the Bell states, without performing a measurement using the entangled basis. State discrimination is performed through two independent measurements on one ancilla qubit, which leaves the Bell states unchanged

Does Late Presentation of Displaced Supracondylar Humerus Fracture in Children Influence Outcomes of Surgery?

Introduction: Displaced Supracondylar Humerus Fracture (SCHF) in children is usually treated with percutaneous pinning on emergency basis in fresh cases. Though there are spectrum of modalities treatment reported, still paucity of literature available to compare between cross versus lateral pinning in late presented cases with massive swelling and poor soft tissue condition. Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of percutaneous medial-lateral cross Kirschner wire (K-wire) and two lateral K-wire fixation in treatment of displaced SCHF in children. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the functional and radiological result of treatment in 58 children (aged 2-12 years) with displaced SCHF presented more than two days duration after injury. Among 58 patients, (n=31) treated with cross K-wire (Group A) and (n=27) treated two lateral K-wire fixation (Group B). Statistical analysis of different variables was performed using SPSS software (version 20.0; SPSS, Chicago, Illinois). A p-value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Both the group were similar in terms of mean demographic variables. Mean delay of presentation was 4.07 days and 4.87 days in Group A versus Group B respectively. In Group A, three patient had iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury. There were also no significant differences (p>0.05) between groups with respect to the Baumann angle, change in the Baumann angle, Flynn grade, carrying angle, elbow range of motion, return to function, or complications. Conclusion: Although both the technique appears to be equally effective in term of stability and outcomes. But lateral pinning has a definite edge over cross pinning in respect to reduced incidence of iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury, especially in late presenters with severe swelling and poor soft tissue conditions

Functionalized Nanomaterials (FNMs) for Environmental Applications

Nanomaterials empower the advances of innovative solutions to environmental problems. Among the broad range of nanomaterials, functionalized nanomate- rials emerged as promising catalyst for environmental issues. Functionalization of nanomaterials offers a great advantage on cost effectiveness and enhances the properties in many folds. Implementation of bare nanomaterials has a few chal- lenges as well as limitations such as instability, agglomeration and reusability. Functionalization of the nanomaterials facilitates to overcome these problems. Addition of functional groups helps in tailoring the nanomaterial surface to enrich the specific sites on the surface level. This chapter discusses the engineer- ing of functionalized nanomaterials and focuses on environmental applications. Different materials such as cellulose, chitosan, silica, metal oxides, and other poly- mers are added to nanomaterials and the introduction of functional groups on the surface which results composite materials of enhanced capability. Different pro- cess of functionalization namely direct functionalization, postsynthetic function- alization, grafting-to, grafting-from, and grafting-through methods are illustrated. Nanomaterial and functional group interaction such as covalent and noncovalent bonding is described. This chapter highlights the limitations of different materi- als in various aspects of environmental applications. It provides a clear overvie

An inventory of the ethnobotanicals used as anti-diabetic by a rural community of Dhemaji district of Assam, Northeast India

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Traditional remedies used for treating diabetic ailments are very important in the primary health care of the people living in rural Dhemaji district of Assam, north-east India. Novel information gathered from the current survey is important in preserving folk indigenous knowledge. Materials and methods: Interviews were conducted amongst 80 households comprising of 240 individuals using semi-structured questionnaires. The focus was on plants used in treating diabetes mellitus. Results: The current survey documented 21 plant species (20 families) which are reportedly used to treat diabetes mellitus by the rural people in the study area. To the best of our knowledge, Amomum linguiforme, Cinnamomum impressinervium, Colocasia esculenta, Dillenia indica, Euphorbia ligularia, Garcinia pedunculata, Solanum indicum, Sterculia villosa and Tabernaemontana divaricata are recorded for the first time based on globally published literature as medicinal plants used for treating diabetes mellitus and related symptoms. Conclusions: The wide variety of plants that are used to treat diabetes mellitus in this area supports the traditional value that medicinal plants have in the primary health care system of the rural people of Dhemaji district of Assam. The finding of new plant uses in the current study reveals the importance of the documentation of such ethnobotanical knowledge. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved