Medication adherence and its associated factors among diabetic patients at Zewditu Memorial Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Objective: Diabetes is a global problem with devastating human, social and economic impact. Anti-diabetic medications play a major role in the glycemic control of patients with diabetes. However, inadequate adherence compromises safety and treatment effectiveness, leading to increased mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to assess adherence to anti-diabetic medications and associated factors among patient with diabetes mellitus receiving care at Zewditu Memorial Hospital. Results: Among the total of 146 diabetic patients (mean age 46.5 ± 14.7), the level of adherence to anti diabetic medication was 54.8% (80) whilst 45.2% (66) of the participants were non adherent. Multiple logistic regression showed that knowledge of medication (AOR = 4.905, 95% CI 1.64–14.62, medication availability (AOR = 0.175, 95% CI 0.031–0.987) and education level (AOR = 13.65, 95% CI 1.45–128.456) were reasons for non-adherence

Determination of Proximate, Ultimate and Structural Properties of Elephant Grass as Biomass Material for Bio-oil Production

Elephant grass was analyzed for its chemical properties, proximate, ultimate and structural composition and high heating value using the American Standard for Testing and Materials. (ASTM) methods. Results of proximate analysis showed moisture and ash content, fixed carbon and volatile matter content to be 0.85%, 5.86%, 14.22% and 79.24% respectively. The composition of ultimate analyses showed carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur content to be 54.44%, 5.59%, 0.67%, 40.95% and 0.35% respectively. The results of structural analyses showed cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin and high heating value to be 46.26%, 29.90%, and 24.60% and 18.52MJ/kg respectively. The results of proximate, ultimate and structural analyses and high heating value showed an indication that the elephant grass is suitable for pyrolysis process because a relatively higher bio-oil yield would be expected

The Application of Taguchi Technique in Mild Steel Weld Prediction and Optimization

Welding is a key joining operation in many production and manufacturing industries, and it requires a scientific approach in obtaining a weld of high quality. This study focuses on the prediction and optimization of the weld parameters of a mild steel plate using Taguchi technique. For experimental examination, a mild steel plate of 10mm thickness, along with input process parameters such as weld current, arc voltage, gas flow rate, and output process parameter such as hardness were studied.  With the statistical tool, ANOVA, further analysis performed to determine the significance of the data obtained shows that for all the responses, a Model F-value of between 64 and 129.85 was obtained, along with a P-value less than 0.05, implying that the model is significant. Furthermore, based on statistical evidence using P-values, all the model terms; welding current, arc voltage and gas flow rate recorded significant contribution to the outcome of the welding experiment, with the weld current having the most significant effect. The optimal result for the responses was obtained 192BHN for the hardness, at a combined process parameters as follows; 200amps, 20v and 20lt/min for the weld current, arc voltage and gas flow rate respectively

Profiling of Secondary Metabolites from Crassocephalum crepidioides (Wild Leafy Vegetable): Validation of Ethnomedicinal Claim by in-vitro and in-silico Studies

Crassocephalum crepioides, labeled as poor man’s food is one of the neglected and underutilized vegetables in Nigeria. The objective of this paper is therefore to validate the ethnomedicinal claim and profile the secondary metabolites of Crassocephalum crepidioides (Wild Leafy Vegetable) using in-vitro and in-silico investigations. The identification of compounds in the leaf extract with the potential to inhibit 1Z32 alpha-amylase was carried out in-silico. Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LCMS) was employed for analysis of the ethanolic leaf extract of this plant, it revealed the presence of sinapic acid, 3-Feruloylquinic acid, dihydroquercetin, malic acid, gallic acid in the extract. Site-directed multi-ligand docking of the identified compounds was performed on 1Z32 protein of alpha-amylase molecular target using the synthetic co-crystallized ligand from the protein. The binding affinity of 3-Feruloylquinic acid (-9.4 kcal/mol) is significantly the highest when compared with sinapic acid (-8.3 kcal/mol). The interactions of this molecule with the amino acids of the protein showed that the mechanism of its inhibitory action is similar to that of the co-crystallized ligand. This study validated an earlier report that the ethanol leaf extract from C. crepidioides showed excellent antidiabetic activity, however, the antidiabetic activity could occur through its alpha-amylase inhibitory activity. Data obtained revealed that C. crepidioides could be an important wild vegetable that could require further advanced exploration rather than neglect

Warm Spitzer Photometry of Three Hot Jupiters: HAT-P-3b, HAT-P-4b and HAT-P-12b

We present Warm Spitzer/IRAC secondary eclipse time series photometry of three short-period transiting exoplanets, HAT-P-3b, HAT-P-4b and HAT-P-12b, in both the available 3.6 and 4.5 μm bands. HAT-P-3b and HAT-P-4b are Jupiter-mass objects orbiting an early K and an early G dwarf star, respectively. For HAT-P-3b we find eclipse depths of 0.112^(+0.015)_(-0.030) (3.6 μm) and 0.094^(+0.016)_(-0.009)(4.5 μm). The HAT-P-4b values are 0.142^(+0.014)_(-0.016)(3.6 μm) and 0.122^(+0.012)_(-0.014)(4.5 μm). The two planets' photometry is consistent with inefficient heat redistribution from their day to night sides (and low albedos), but it is inconclusive about possible temperature inversions in their atmospheres. HAT-P-12b is a Saturn-mass planet and is one of the coolest planets ever observed during secondary eclipse, along with the hot Neptune GJ 436b and the hot Saturn WASP-29b. We are able to place 3σ upper limits on the secondary eclipse depth of HAT-P-12b in both wavelengths: <0.042% (3.6 μm) and <0.085% (4.5 μm). We discuss these results in the context of the Spitzer secondary eclipse measurements of GJ 436b and WASP-29b. It is possible that we do not detect the eclipses of HAT-P-12b due to high eccentricity, but find that weak planetary emission in these wavelengths is a more likely explanation. We place 3σ upper limits on the |e cos ω| quantity (where e is eccentricity and ω is the argument of periapsis) for HAT-P-3b (<0.0081) and HAT-P-4b (<0.0042), based on the secondary eclipse timings

Electron-phonon interaction in C70

The matrix elements of the deformation potential of C$_{70}$ are calculated by means of a simple, yet accurate solution of the electron-phonon coupling problem in fullerenes, based on a parametrization of the ground state electronic density of the system in terms of $sp^{2+x}$ hybridized orbitals. The value of the calculated dimensionless total electron-phonon coupling constant is $\lambda\approx0.1$, an order of magnitude smaller than in C$_{60}$, consistent with the lack of a superconducting phase transition in C$_{70}$A$_3$ fullerite, and in overall agreement with measurements of the broadening of Raman peaks in C$_{70}$K$_4$. We also calculate the photoemission cross section of C$_{70}^-$, which is found to display less structure than that associated with C$_{60}^-$, in overall agreement with the experimental findings.Comment: To be published in Phys. Rev.

Hydrogen Bonding in Ionic Liquids Probed by Linear and Nonlinear Vibrational Spectroscopy

Three imidazolium-based ionic liquids of the type [Cnmim][NTf2] with varying alkyl chain lengths (n = 1, 2 and 8) at the 1 position of the imidazolium ring were studied applying IR, linear Raman, and multiplex CARS spectroscopy. The focus has been on the CH-stretching region of the imidazolium ring, which is supposed to carry information about a possible hydrogen bonding network in the ionic liquid. The measurements are compared to calculations of the corresponding anharmonic vibrational spectra for a cluster of [C2mim][NTf2] consisting of four ion pairs. The results support the hypothesis of weak hydrogen bonding involving the C(4)-H and C(5)-H groups and somewhat stronger hydrogen bonds of the C(2)-H groups.Comment: revised manuscript, accepted for publication in New J. Phy

Flux Modulations seen by the Muon Veto of the GERDA Experiment

The GERDA experiment at LNGS of INFN is equipped with an active muon veto. The main part of the system is a water Cherenkov veto with 66~PMTs in the water tank surrounding the GERDA cryostat. The muon flux recorded by this veto shows a seasonal modulation. Two effects have been identified which are caused by secondary muons from the CNGS neutrino beam (2.2 %) and a temperature modulation of the atmosphere (1.4 %). A mean cosmic muon rate of $I^0_{\mu} = (3.477 \pm 0.002_{\textrm{stat}} \pm 0.067_{\textrm{sys}}) \times 10^{-4}$/(s$\cdot$m$^2$) was found in good agreement with other experiments at LNGS at a depth of 3500~meter water equivalent.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Structure near K−K^-+pp+pp threshold in the in-flight 3^3He(K−,Λp)n(K^-,\Lambda p)n reaction

To search for an S= -1 di-baryonic state which decays to $\Lambda p$, the ${\rm{}^3He}(K^-,\Lambda p)n_{missing}$ reaction was studied at 1.0 GeV/$c$. Unobserved neutrons were kinematically identified from the missing mass $M_X$ of the ${\rm{}^3He}(K^-,\Lambda p)X$ reaction in order to have a large acceptance for the $\Lambda pn$ final state. The observed $\Lambda p n$ events, distributed widely over the kinematically allowed region of the Dalitz plot, establish that the major component comes from a three nucleon absorption process. A concentration of events at a specific neutron kinetic energy was observed in a region of low momentum transfer to the $\Lambda p$. To account for the observed peak structure, the simplest S-wave pole was assumed to exist in the reaction channel, having Breit-Wigner form in energy and with a Gaussian form-factor. A minimum $\chi^2$ method was applied to deduce its mass $M_X\ =$ 2355 $^{+ 6}_{ - 8}$ (stat.) $\pm 12$ (syst.) MeV/c$^2$, and decay-width $\Gamma_X\ =$ 110 $^{+ 19}_{ - 17}$ (stat.) $\pm 27$ (syst.) MeV/c$^2$, respectively. The form factor parameter $Q_X \sim$ 400 MeV/$c$ implies that the range of interaction is about 0.5Comment: 12pages, 8 figure