HYDROGEN TRAPPING IN NIOBIUM VANADIUM ALLOYS

The authors have measured the localised vibrational modes of hydrogen in a Nd0.93V0.07 alloy. As one cools the sample for the first time to 10K one observes that hydrogen is trapped at octahedral sites associated with two substitutional vanadium atoms. The trap energy is small (10-20 meV) and less than the precipitation enthalpy. The phenomenon exhibits an interesting hysteresis. On repeated cooling cycles the hydrogen atoms tend to precipitate rather than stay in the trap sites. This is due to the formation of additional nucleation sites on the first cooling cycle

Inhibition of food intake in obese subjects by peptide YY3-36

Background: The gut hormone fragment peptide YY3-36 (PYY) reduces appetite and food intake when infused into subjects of normal weight. In common with the adipocyte hormone leptin, PYY reduces food intake by modulating appetite circuits in the hypothalamus. However, in obesity there is a marked resistance to the action of leptin, which greatly limits its therapeutic effectiveness. We investigated whether obese subjects were also resistant to the anorectic effects of PYY.Methods: We compared the effects of PYY infusion on appetite and food intake in 12 obese and 12 lean subjects in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. The plasma levels of PYY, ghrelin, leptin, and insulin were also determined.Results: Caloric intake during a buffet lunch offered two hours after the infusion of PYY was decreased by 30 percent in the obese subjects (P<0.001) and 31 percent in the lean subjects (P<0.001). PYY infusion also caused a significant decrease in the cumulative 24-hour caloric intake in both obese and lean subjects. PYY infusion reduced plasma levels of the appetite-stimulatory hormone ghrelin. Endogenous fasting and postprandial levels of PYY were significantly lower in obese subjects (the mean [+/-SE] fasting PYY levels were 10.2+/-0.7 pmol per liter in the obese group and 16.9+/-0.8 pmol per liter in the lean group, P<0.001). Furthermore, the fasting PYY levels correlated negatively with the body-mass index (r=-0.84, P<0.001).Conclusions: We found that obese subjects were not resistant to the anorectic effects of PYY. Endogenous PYY levels were low in the obese subjects, suggesting that PYY deficiency may contribute to the pathogenesis of obesity

Rethinking reactive halogen budgets in the midlatitude lower stratosphere

Current stratospheric models have difficulties in fully explaining the observed midlatitude ozone depletion in the lowermost stratosphere, particularly near the tropopause. Such models assume that only long-lived source gases provide significant contributions to the stratospheric halogen budget, while all the short-lived compounds are removed in the troposphere, the products being rained out. Here we show this assumption to be flawed. Using bromine species as an example, we show that in the lowermost stratosphere, where the observed midlatitude ozone trend maximizes, bromoform (CHBr3) alone likely contributes more inorganic bromine than all the conventional long-lived sources (halons and methyl bromide) combined. Copyright 1999 by the American Geophysical Union

Neuropathic pain in children

Lesions or disease of the somatosensory nervous system can produce neuropathic pain (NP). Typical features include spontaneous or paroxysmal pain, often described as burning, shooting, like electric shocks, or pins and needles. NP does occur in childhood, but age at the time of injury may influence the risk of NP following traumatic nerve injuries. Whilst conditions commonly associated with NP in adults may be less common in childhood (e.g., trigeminal neuralgia), other conditions (e.g., Fabry’s disease and erythromelalgia) may present with pain in childhood and provide a diagnostic challenge for paediatric practitioners

Ecological risk assessment of heavy metals pollution on irrigated soil along Salanta River Valley, Kano State Nigeria

This paper assessed the heavy metals pollution in irrigated soil of salanta river valley of Sharada industrial area with aim of assessing the potential ecological risk of Cd, Cu, Cr and Zn. Soil samples were collected from five plots randomly selected along the stream and heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Cr and Zn) and pH were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer and pH meter respectively. The mean values and standard deviation of heavy metals in the study area shows that there is variation in the mean values among the heavy metal in the study area in which Cr recorded mean values of 2.30mg/kg ± 0.45, Cu 1.01 mg/kg ±0.78, Cd 3.02 mg/kg ± 0.66, Zn 26.4 mg/kg± 5.45 and mean pH 6.8 ± 0.51. The Cd, Cu and Zn were found below European regulatory values, the mean value of Cd (3.02mg/kg) is found above EU regulatory values (3.0mg/kg) and the pH value of the study area shows that the soil is slightly acidic and can influence the availability and solubility of the heavy metals in the area. The assessment also show that Cd (Pij,= 1.0), Cu (Pij,= 0.007) and Zn (Pij,= 0.088) are heavily polluted the soil of the area, and also slightly polluted with Cr (Pij,= 0.025). However, the potential ecological risk assessment show that Cr (Eri = 0.005) and Cu (Eri = 0.003) have low potential ecological risk in the area; Zn (Eri = 0.04) has moderate potential ecological risk while Cd (Eri = 0.088) is considerable potential ecological risk in the soil of study area. It was recommended that the industries should treat their waste water before  discharge and farmers should avoid using waste water directly, sewage sludge and effluent for watering and manure respectively.Key words: Heavy metals, pollution, soil, ecological ris

Random qubit-states and how best to measure them

We consider the problem of measuring a single qubit, known to have been prepared in either a randomly selected pure state or a randomly selected real pure state. We seek the measurements that provide either the best estimate of the state prepared or maximise the accessible information. Surprisingly, any sensible measurement turns out to be optimal. We discuss the application of these ideas to multiple qubits and higher-dimensional systems

Intravenous opioids for chemotherapy-induced severe mucositis pain in children: Systematic review and single-center case series of management with patient- or nurse-controlled analgesia (PCA/NCA)

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis can result in severe pain. Intravenous (IV) opioids are recommended, but management protocols vary. We systematically reviewed studies reporting IV opioid use for pain related to chemotherapy-induced severe oral mucositis in children and conducted a large single-center case series. METHODS: Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies reporting IV opioid duration and/or dose requirements for severe mucositis. Secondly, our pain service database was interrogated to describe episodes of opioid administration by patient- or nurse-controlled analgesia (PCA/NCA) for children with mucositis and cancer treatment-related pain. RESULTS: Seventeen studies (six randomized trials, two prospective observational, three retrospective cohort, six retrospective case series) included IV opioid in 618 patients (age 0.3–22.3 years), but reported parameters varied. Mucositis severity and chemotherapy indication influenced IV opioid requirements, with duration ranging from 3 to 68 days and variable dose trajectories (hourly morphine or equivalent 0-97 mcg/kg/h). Our 7-year series included PCA/NCA for 364 episodes of severe mucositis (302 patients; age 0.12–17.2 years). Duration ranged from 1 to 107 days and dose requirements in the first 3 days from 1 to 110 mcg/kg/h morphine. Longer PCA/NCA duration was associated with: higher initial morphine requirements (ρ = 0.46 [95% CI 0.35, 0.57]); subsequent increased pain and need for ketamine co-analgesia (118/364 episodes with opioid/ketamine 13.9 [9.8–22.2] days vs opioid alone 6.0 [3.9–10.8] days; median [IQR]); but not with age or sex. CONCLUSIONS: Management of severe mucositis pain can require prolonged IV opioid therapy. Individual and treatment-related variability in analgesic requirements highlight the need for regular review, titration, and management by specialist services

Effect of resistance and aerobic exercises on bone mineral density, muscle strength and functional ability in children with hemophilia

Background and purpose: Children with hemophilia are at risk for reduced bone mineral density (BMD), muscle strength and functional ability as a result of reduced leisure-time activity and less involvement in intense activities. So, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of resistance and aerobic exercise program on BMD, muscle strength and functional ability in children with hemophilia.Materials and methods: Thirty boys with hemophilia A ranging in age from 10 to 14 years had participated in this study. They were assigned randomly into two equal groups (control and study groups). Control group received a designed physical therapy program and aerobic exercise in the form of treadmill training, while the study group received the same program as the control group in addition to resistance training program in the form of bicycle ergometer training and weight resistance. Both groups received treatment sessions three times per week for three successive months. BMD, muscle strength of knee flexors and extensors and functional ability were evaluated before and after the 3 months of treatment program.Results: There was no significant difference between both groups in the pre-treatment mean values of all measured variables. Significant improvement was observed in BMD, knee extensors and flexors strength, and functional ability in the study group when comparing pre and post treatment measurements. There was a significant improvement in functional ability of the control group. Significant difference was also observed between both groups when comparing the post treatment measurements in favor of the study group.Conclusion: Based on obtained data, it can be concluded that, resistance and aerobic exercise training program is effective in increasing BMD, muscle strength and functional ability in children with hemophilia.Keywords: Hemophilia; Resistance; Aerobic exercise; Bone mineral density; Strength; Functional abilit

Ectopic (tubal) Molar Gestation: Report Of Two Cases

Ectopicmolar gestation is a rare event. Itsmalignant potential is similar to that of an intrauterine molar pregnancy. To document two cases of tubalmolar gestations seen over a 10-year period. Case series. Two young Nigerian undergraduates presented with features of ruptured tubal pregnancy. They had total salpingectomy and histopathological analysis of the tubal specimens revealed complete hydatidiform mole.HCGlevel normalized in both caseswithin threeweeks of treatment. Ectopic molar gestation does occur occasional in our setting. It is pertinent that clinicians in this part of the world be aware of this and to take routine histological examination of tubal specimens in ectopic pregnancy very seriously in order to diagnosed cases of ectopic molar gestations early and mount appropriate post treatment surveillance. Keywords: ectopic,Tubal,MolarGestation. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 11 (4) 2008: pp. 392-39

Factors related to productivity and persistence of lucerne (Medicago sativa) genotypes with different fall dormancy levels: A review

The lucerne productive and nutritional potential make it the most used forage legume worldwide. This wide use leads genetic improvement programs to increasingly select the main requirements for a given edaphoclimatic condition. However, in Brazil, the research on genetic improvement of lucerne has been limited over the years, which has hindered the production of this species and the domination of other legumes in animal production, as estilosantes and pigeon pea. This literature review aimed to present results from countries such as New Zealand and Australia that lead the world ranking, as well as Argentina, in the cultivation of this crop and that can be used as showcase to understand the management of lucerne. From extensive bibliometry analyses in the period between 1963 and 2021, variables as persistence and phyllochron in these countries indicate that it is possible to produce lucerne with similar productivity, longevity and quality in Brazil. Nevertheless, to leverage this production, not only genetic improvement should be aimed, but also research and dissemination of knowledge on the ideal management of defoliation and, mainly, on the choice of the genotype and dormancy level to be cropped by the producer