Dencity: toward a sustainable urban density for suburbs close to inner cities: the case of Muckleneuk, Pretoria

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Urban Design. Johannesburg, 2017The lack of adequate urban density in suburbs close to inner South African cities compromises the ability for cities to reduce urban sprawl. This inadequacy of density prohibits more people from benefitting from the rich city resources and access to opportunities. Public transportation infrastructure, which is necessary for higher densities, often already exists at these locations. These suburbs are predominantly inhabited by white South Africans, are characterised by many heritage buildings, and resist and inhibit change and integration. Muckleneuk, Pretoria is selected as the study area. The study explores urban density as a means to spatially integrate fragmented parts of Muckleneuk. Various density tools are employed to measure the current and proposed density. Densities are compared to successful international examples of neighbourhoods. An investigation into a range of appropriate housing typologies is conducted in order to ensure a diversity of living environments. The study finds that it is indeed possible to radically improve the density of Muckleneuk and simultaneously improve spatial integration and conserve the heritage and natural landscapes of old suburbs.MT 201

CHITOSAN: A MULTIFACET POLYMER

Objective: Chitosan is considerably versatile and promising biomaterial. It is a natural, tough, cationic, nontoxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible polymer obtained by alkaline deacetylation of chitin. Chitin is a polysaccharide obtained from exoskeletons of crustaceans and sea insects such as crab, krill, shrimp and crawfish etc. Besides the formerly mentioned resources it is also obtained from some fungi and bacterial cell walls. Methods: Chitosan has found wide applicability in conventional pharmaceutical devices as a potential formulation excipient, some of which include binding, disintegrating, stabilizing, suspending, tablet coating, and film forming material. Chitosan has been comprehensively investigated for its suitability for its controlled release characteristics in various studies. Chitosan presents remarkable absorption and penetration enhancing properties that makes it a good candidate for the delivery of genes and peptide. Results: It is possessing tremendous mucoadhesive and inherent anti-microbial properties, so that it can be used as a carrier for novel drug delivery. In addition to the above mentioned reasons, tailoring the controlled release and to improve the therapeutic efficacy of the low molecular weight drug compounds can also be achieved by this polymer and moreover in combination with various polymers is feasible due its compatibility i.e. low chemical reactivity. Conclusion: This brief editorial epitomizes the potential application of chitosan in the development of drug delivery systems

Stronger inflammatory/cytotoxic T cell response in women identified by microarray analysis

Women develop chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases like lupus more often than men. The mechanisms causing the increased susceptibility are incompletely understood, although estrogen is believed to contribute. Chronic immune stimulation characterizes many autoimmune disorders. We hypothesized that repeated stimulation may cause a different T cell immune response in women than men. Microarray approaches were used to compare gene expression in T cells from healthy men and women with and without repeated stimulation. Four days following a single stimulation only 25% of the differentially expressed, gender-biased genes were expressed at higher levels in the women. In contrast, following restimulation 72% were more highly expressed in women. Immune response genes were significantly over-represented among the genes upregulated in women, and among the immune response genes, the inflammatory/cytotoxic effector genes interferon gamma (IFNG), lymphotoxin beta (LTB), granzyme A (GZMA), interleukin-12 receptor beta2 (IL12RB2), and granulysin (GNLY) were among those overexpressed to the greatest degree. In contrast, IL17A was the only effector gene more highly expressed in men. Estrogen response elements were identified in the promoters of half of the overexpressed immune genes in women, and in <10% of the male biased genes. The differential expression of inflammatory/cytotoxic effector molecules in restimulated female T cells may contribute to the differences in autoimmune diseases between women and men

Financial preferences of listed SMEs in India: An empirical study

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) play a very significant role in boosting sustainable economic growth and development of any country. The present study examines various firm-specific determinants that have an impact on the financing choice of the listed Indian SMEs. It also studied the financing practices of the listed SMEs in India and tried to find out if their financing pattern follows the established theories of Corporate Finance. The study selected 113 SMEs listed on the NSE Emerge Exchange for the period between 2014 and 2018. To examine the problem, empirical analysis is done with the help of panel data regression. The study finds that for meeting financial requirements of listed SMEs, they prefer current liabilities first, then total reserves, thereafter short-term borrowings and lastly the long-term borrowings. Among the independent variables chosen based on an extensive literature survey, most of them are statistically significant but are depicting lower explanatory power. Hence, it leads to the possibility of some other firm-specific factors or macroeconomic factors being more relevant in deciding the listed firm’s financing choices. The study concludes that no single theory like Pecking Order Theory (POT) or Trade-Off Theory (TOT) can explain the financing behaviour of listed SMEs completely. It contributes to the extant literature on listed SMEs by attempting to examine the impact of listing on the financing patterns of the SMEs

Changing trends in cesarean section: from 1950 to 2020

Caesarean section (C.S) is a part of the standard care in modern obstetrics. The indications for a caesarean section as an alternative to vaginal delivery have evolved over the centuries. Its practicality, disponibility, and apparent safety have placed caesarean section, a first-line procedure in many clinical scenarios. The awareness of perinatal mortality and morbidity associated with safety of caesarean, expert anaesthesia, potent antibiotics, blood transfusion facilities and better neonatal care have increased incidence of caesarean section very fast. Thus, there is fast, steady and definite rise in incidence of caesarean section everywhere. But the question is ‘Is a rising caesarean section rate is inevitable?’. Studies carried out to understand CS deliveries has adopted different framework. The issue treats elements of ethics in the medical profession, gender issues, choices of women, the quality of institutional services, etc. The findings of retrospective studies have suggested that the caesarean section rate could be reduced in certain categories. In this study, we discuss the various ways in which it can be achieved

Enhanced microwave assisted processing of 2D cylindrical porous food dielectric

[EN] The importance of microwave assisted thermal processing for the food industry relies on the fact of the procedure being economical and swift along with ensuring high quality product. The sample has been assumed as a porous solid food with meat being the continuous phase and oil or water being the dispersed phase. The resultant matrix of meat-oil or meat-water is considered to be a 2D cylinder being subjected to microwave irradiation in two different interaction schemes i.e. lateral and radial. The thermal effect of the interaction is calculated by applying Galerkin finite element analysis to simultaneously solve the Maxwell's equation and heat transfer equation using pertinent boundary conditions. The preliminary solution gives the value of average power absorption at different sample sizes which exhibit few peak points depicting enhanced heating and power absorption. Further study consists of analyzing the spatial distribution of power and temperature along with the transient temperature difference and mean temperature evolution within the sample corresponding to designated observation points. The heating strategy exhibiting high heating rate and low thermal nonuniformity is recommended as the preferred optimum condition. For both meat-oil and meatwater porous solids, the radial irradiation is recommended as the optimal heating strategy corresponding to smaller sample diameter (OP: 1) whereas lateral irradiation is recommended for larger sample diameter (OP: 2). Overall the present work serves as a guide for enhanced microwave assisted heating of porous food samples in the shape of 2D cylinders.Kumari, S.; Samanta, S.; Patel, K. (2019). Enhanced microwave assisted processing of 2D cylindrical porous food dielectric. En AMPERE 2019. 17th International Conference on Microwave and High Frequency Heating. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 253-260. https://doi.org/10.4995/AMPERE2019.2019.9893OCS25326

Evaluation of clinical efficacy and safety of natural micronized progesterone in prevention of preterm labor: a prospective study at tertiary care teaching hospital in India

Background: Uterine relaxants (UR) are used in management of in Preterm labour (PTL), which is responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality in mother as well as preterm infant. Author are yet to discover an ideal UR which is highly effective yet safe. Literature supports the use of natural micronized progesterone (NP) during threatened PTL. However, little data exists for Indian population. Therefore, present study becomes imperative.Methods: A comparative clinical study was carried out on 78 patients (aged 19 to 35 years with singleton pregnancy and gestational age between 28 and 37 weeks with cervix ≤4 cm dilated) who were diagnosed with threatened PTL were included. Those who refused treatment were allocated to control group (n= 29) and received only bed rest. NP was given orally 200 mg twice a day to 21 patients and 200 mg intra vaginal twice a day to 28 patients and was continued until delivery or 37 weeks of gestation whichever occurred first. The efficacy was proven if PTL was prevented and patient did not require an alternative UR for ≥48 hours.Results: The mean age of patients was 23±3.2 years, majority being multipara. Author observed that both oral and vaginal formulation of NP was found to be highly effective (p <0.05) as primary UR and maintenance therapy in preventing PTL as compared to the control group. However, difference between them was not statistically significant. None of the patients were lost to follow-up and no adverse events linked to the treatment were reported.Conclusions: Although, the data obtained from this study was limited and the sample size was small, findings of this study support the use of NP in prolonging threatened PTL

An analytical study of 50 women presenting with an adnexal mass

Background: The aim of this study was to detect and determine the origin of adnexal mass and to narrow down the diagnosis. Also, to determine the reliability of the bimanual pelvic examination in diagnosing adnexal mass and to determine clinical, radiological and histopathological co-relation of adnexal mass. Adnexal mass lesions are fairly common among women (with a prevalence of 0.17% to 5.9% in asymptomatic women and 7.1% to 12% in symptomatic women) of all age group but very common among reproductive age. Differential diagnosis of adnexal mass is difficult and complex. Recognition of the severity of the problem, appropriate and timely evaluation and treatment with good outcome is the goal.Methods: Prospective, observational study of 50 patients with suspected various adnexal masses were conducted for a period of 1.5yr i.e. from November 2014 to May 2016. All patients underwent pelvic and ultrasonography examination. All patients later underwent surgery. Results were correlated later.Results: The patient ages ranged from 19 to 58 with a mean age of 31.5. Most common site of origin of adnexal masses is the Ovary (Rt. 38% and Lt. 34%) Most common adnexal masses on histopathological diagnosis are mucinous cyst adenoma (20%), Benign and mature cystic teratoma (16% and 6%) and serous cyst adenoma (10%). About 92% patients with adnexal mass presents with abdominal pain as a chief complaint.Conclusions: Although bimanual palpation of the adnexal masses may not allow a very specific diagnosis, clinically useful information can usually be obtained and hence it is particularly useful as a first step in assessment of adnexal masses and as an adjunct to morphological assessment of ovarian lesions. Ultrasonography is an important noninvasive investigation and is helpful in diagnosing most of these cases, but the histopathological examination of specimen obtained from laparotomy of adnexal mass is the gold standard for confirming the diagnosis

STUDY OF VEGETATION IN PT. RAVISHANKAR SHUKLA UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, RAIPUR CHHATTISGARH WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO STATISTICS DEPARTMENT

ABSTRACT Plants used for treatment of various diseases are of significant value throughout the world. Among the plant diversity some of them have great potential to treat many diseases which are referred as medicinal plants. The main aim of the present study is to focus on the diversity of plants for further utility and conservation. Current research is a useful account on medicininal plant in statistics department Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, campus Raipur (Chhattisgarh). A survey on plant diversity was made during 01 June 2013 to 16 June 2013 . After field survey, observed medicinal plants were listed: by botanical name, family, habit, uses and propagation with the help of available literature. Total of 56 medicinal plants species belonging to 26 families were recorded, which indicate the heterogenous floristic composition in the University campus. Maximum species diversity was recorded under the family Fabaceae. Over the recorded medicinal plants 78% plants were propagated by their seeds. Herbaceous medicinal plants showed their maximum presence in the study area

Solochrome dark blue azo dye removal by sonophotocatalysis using mn2+ doped zns quantum dots

Funding Information: Funding: J.P. is thankful to DST, New Delhi, India for Research fellowship under Women Scientist Scheme (SR/WOS-A/CS-82/2018). This work has also been supported by FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., under the Scientific Employment Stimulus-Institutional Call (CEEC-INST/00102/2018) and the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry-LAQV which is financed by national funds from FCT/MCTES (UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/50006/2020). Funding Information: J.P. is thankful to DST, New Delhi, India for Research fellowship under Women Scientist Scheme (SR/WOS-A/CS-82/2018). This work has also been supported by FCT?Funda??o para a Ci?ncia e a Tecnologia, I.P., under the Scientific Employment Stimulus-Institutional Call (CEEC-INST/00102/2018) and the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry-LAQV which is financed by national funds from FCT/MCTES (UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/50006/2020). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.This work investigates the degradation of the azo dye solochrome dark blue (SDB) by measurement of the photocatalytic, sonocatalytic and sonophotocatalytic activities, under low ultrasonic frequency (40 kHz) and UV-C (254 nm) light, using Mn-doped ZnS semiconductor quantum dots (Mn2+:ZnS Qds) as catalysts, prepared by a simple chemical precipitation procedure. In order to study the different morphological and optical crystal properties, various characterization techniques were used, such as high resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption-desorption at −196 °C and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The average particle size of the semiconductor Qds was in the range of 3–4 nm. The optimal parameters affecting dye degradation, such as the catalyst loading, solution pH, time of irradiation, initial concentration of dye, dopant concentration, ultrasonic power and frequency effect were evaluated. The synthesized catalytic material exhibited a high activity for sonophotocatalytic degradation of SDB (89%), larger than that observed for sonocatalysis (69.7%) or photocatalysis (55.2%) alone, which was due to the improved electron-holes separation, formation of more reactive radicals and enhancement of the active surface area. Qds showed good stability and reusability after five repeated cycles. Finally, the degradation products were identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).publishersversionpublishe