Reginol interpretation of river Indus water quality data using regression model

Water samples were collected from river Indus over 591 km2 from Kashmor to Keti Bandar/Shah Bandar in the province of Sindh, Pakistan, during 2008 and 2009 on seasonal bases. These samples were analyzed for 12 water quality variables including physical and chemical parameters. Then correlation study was carried out and correlation co-efficient “r” was determined using correlation matrix to identify the highly correlated and interrelated parameters. Regression model were developed to test the significant ‘r’ and P-value test was carried out to test the significance of the pair of parameters. F-test was also used to examine the joint-effects of several independent variables without taking into account the separate effects of each variable. The comparison of the observed and predicted values of different parameters using regression equation suggested that the regression model provide useful means of rapid and easier monitoring of water quality of a river in a region.Key words: Regression model, correlation coefficient, river indus, monitoring, physico-chemical parameters

Transformation of system action for reconfigurable automation work system

The main idea of this paper is recent about the transformation of system actions extracted from the user requirement. The system actions are required before the implementation of reconfigurable automation work system. System actions are selected base on suitability of a process. Later, each system actions are matched with suitable system components to create a set of system specification. This specification is used to implement the automation system for each process. The developments of the automation work systems are limited by some constraints such as number of component used as well as the availability of component in the repository system

The pleiotropic effects of decanoic acid treatment on mitochondrial function in fibroblasts from patients with complex I deficient Leigh syndrome

There is growing interest in the use of the ketogenic diet (KD) to treat inherited metabolic diseases including mitochondrial disorders. However, neither the mechanism whereby the diet may be working, nor if it could benefit all patients with mitochondrial disease, is known. This study focusses on decanoic acid (C10), a component of the medium chain triglyceride KD, and a ligand for the nuclear receptor PPAR-γ known to be involved in mitochondrial biogenesis. The effects of C10 were investigated in primary fibroblasts from a cohort of patients with Leigh syndrome (LS) caused by nuclear-encoded defects of respiratory chain complex I, using mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme assays, gene expression microarray, qPCR and flow cytometry. Treatment with C10 increased citrate synthase activity, a marker of cellular mitochondrial content, in 50 % of fibroblasts obtained from individuals diagnosed with LS in a PPAR-γ-mediated manner. Gene expression analysis and qPCR studies suggested that treating cells with C10 supports fatty acid metabolism, through increasing ACADVL and CPT1 expression, whilst downregulating genes involved in glucose metabolism (PDK3, PDK4). PCK2, involved in blocking glucose metabolism, was upregulated, as was CAT, encoding catalase. Moreover, treatment with C10 also decreased oxidative stress in complex I deficient (rotenone treated) cells. However, since not all cells from subjects with LS appeared to respond to C10, prior cellular testing in vitro could be employed as a means for selecting individuals for subsequent clinical studies involving C10 preparations

Constraining Cosmological Models by the Cluster Mass Function

We present a comparison between two observational and three theoretical mass functions for eight cosmological models suggested by the data from the recently completed BOOMERANG-98 and MAXIMA-1 cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy experiments as well as peculiar velocities (PVs) and type Ia supernovae (SN) observations. The cosmological models have been proposed as the best fit models by several groups. We show that no model is in agreement with the abundances of X-ray clusters at $\sim 10^{14.7} h^{-1}M_{\odot}$.On the other hand, we find that the BOOM+MAX+{\sl COBE}:I, Refined Concordance and $\Lambda$MDM are in a good agreement with the abundances of optical clusters. The P11 and especially Concordance models predict a slightly lower abundances than observed at $\sim 10^{14.6} h^{-1}M_{\odot}$. The BOOM+MAX+{\sl COBE}:II and PV+CMB+SN models predict a slightly higher abundances than observed at $\sim 10^{14.9} h^{-1}M_{\odot}$. The nonflat MAXIMA-1 is in a fatal conflict with the observational cluster abundances and can be safely ruled out.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figures, reference added, figures changes, substantial revision mad

Improving the impact of nonpharmaceutical interventions during COVID-19: examining the factors that influence engagement and the impact on individuals

Background: During an evolving outbreak or pandemic, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) including physicaldistancing, isolation, and mask use may flatten the peak in communities. However, these strategies rely on communityunderstanding and motivation to engage to ensure appropriate compliance and impact. To support current activitiesfor COVID-19, the objectives of this narrative review was to identify the key determinants impacting on engagement.Methods: An integrative narrative literature review focused on NPIs. We aimed to identify published peer-reviewedarticles that focused on the general community (excluding healthcare workers), NPIs (including school closure,quarantine, isolation, physical distancing and hygiene behaviours), and factors/characteristics (including social, physical,psychological, capacity, motivation, economic and demographic) that impact on engagement.Results: The results revealed that there are a range of demographic, social and psychological factors underpinningengagement with quarantine, school closures, and personal protective behaviours. Aside from the factors impacting onacceptance and compliance, there are several key community concerns about their use that need to be addressedincluding the potential for economic consequences.Conclusion: It is important that we acknowledge that these strategies will have an impact on an individual and thecommunity. By understanding the barriers, we can identify what strategies need to be adopted to motivate individualsand improve community compliance. Using a behavioural framework to plan interventions based on these key barriers,will also ensure countries implement appropriate and targeted responses

Design of 11-Residue Peptides with Unusual Biophysical Properties: Induced Secondary Structure in the Absence of Water

AbstractA series of oligopeptides with β-forming and adhesive properties, were synthesized and analyzed for adhesion shear strength, secondary structure, and association properties. The sequences contained related hydrophobic core segments varying in length from 5 to 12 residues and flanked by di- or tri-lysine segments. Three remarkable peptides consisting of just 11 residues with hydrophobic core sequences of FLIVI, IGSII, and IVIGS flanked by three lysine residues gave the highest dry adhesion shear strength and displayed unusual biophysical properties in the presence and absence of water. KKKFLIVIKKK had its highest adhesion strength at 2% (w/v) at pH 12.0 and showed the highest adhesion strength after exposure to water (water resistance). Both KKKIGSIIKKK and KKKIVIGSKKK, at 4% (w/v) at pH 12.0, displayed nearly identical dry shear strength values to that with the FLIVI core sequence. The peptide with IGSII core, however, displayed a lower water resistance and the latter, IVIGS, showed no water resistance, completely delaminating upon soaking in water. These are the smallest peptides with adhesive properties reported to date and show remarkable adhesion strength even at lower concentrations of 0.2% (w/v), which corresponds to 1.6mM. The FLIVI containing peptide adopted a β-sheet secondary structure in water while the IGSII- and IVIGS-containing sequences folded similarly only in the absence of water. Analytical ultracentrifugation studies showed that when the FLIVI sequence adopts β-structure in aqueous solution, it associates into a large molecular weight assembly. The random coils of IGSII and IVIGS showed no tendency to associate at any pH

Self-reported health status of older adults in Malaysia and Singapore: evidence from the 2007 Global Ageing Survey

The aim of this study is to investigate the correlates of self-reported health (SRH) among older adults in Malaysia and Singapore. The study uses data collected in the Global Ageing Study (GLAS) 2007, one of the largest surveys of its kind, specially designed to investigate attitudes towards later life, ageing and retirement. Data were collected from 1002 and 1004 respondents from Malaysia and Singapore respectively. The study found that Singaporeans report a healthier life than Malaysians. The two countries have consistent results with regard to the influences of selected covariates on individual health. Poorer health is more prevalent among people with lower education, among those widowed, divorced or separated, and those working in blue-collar occupations. Although social support is found to be an important determinant of SRH, the effects are partially confounded with other covariates. These findings enhance our knowledge about the health status of older people, and in turn will be useful for governments to ensure effective policy making

Diagnosis-Specific Work Disability before and after Lumbar Spine Decompression Surgery—A Register Study from Sweden

Low back pain (LBP) patients undergoing lumbar spine decompression surgery (LSDS) often suffer from multi-comorbidity and experience high work disability. This study aimed to identify diagnosis-specific work disability patterns in all LBP-patients before and after LSDS during 2008–2010, that were aged 19–60 years and living in Sweden (n = 10,800) and compare these patterns to LBP-patients without LSDS (n = 109,179), and to matched individuals without LBP (n = 472,191). Work disability days (long-term sickness absence (LTSA), disability pension (DP)) during the three years before to three years after the cohort’s entry date were identified by generalised estimating equations. LBP-patients undergoing LSDS had higher overall work disability during the three years following surgery (LTSA: 23.6%, DP: 6.3%) than LBP-patients without LSDS (LTSA: 19.5%, DP: 5.9%), and those without LBP (LTSA: 7.9%, DP: 1.7%). Among patients undergoing LSDS, the prevalence of work disability due to dorsopathies increased from 20 days three years before surgery to 70 days in the year after and attenuated to 30 days in the third year following surgery. Work disability for other diagnoses remained stable at a low level in this group

Diagnosis-Specific Work Disability before and after Lumbar Spine Decompression Surgery—A Register Study from Sweden

Low back pain (LBP) patients undergoing lumbar spine decompression surgery (LSDS) often suffer from multi-comorbidity and experience high work disability. This study aimed to identify diagnosis-specific work disability patterns in all LBP-patients before and after LSDS during 2008–2010, that were aged 19–60 years and living in Sweden (n = 10,800) and compare these patterns to LBP-patients without LSDS (n = 109,179), and to matched individuals without LBP (n = 472,191). Work disability days (long-term sickness absence (LTSA), disability pension (DP)) during the three years before to three years after the cohort’s entry date were identified by generalised estimating equations. LBP-patients undergoing LSDS had higher overall work disability during the three years following surgery (LTSA: 23.6%, DP: 6.3%) than LBP-patients without LSDS (LTSA: 19.5%, DP: 5.9%), and those without LBP (LTSA: 7.9%, DP: 1.7%). Among patients undergoing LSDS, the prevalence of work disability due to dorsopathies increased from 20 days three years before surgery to 70 days in the year after and attenuated to 30 days in the third year following surgery. Work disability for other diagnoses remained stable at a low level in this group