Mode properties of annular gain lasers

The properties of a new class of laser resonators are investigated theoretically and experimentally. In these lasers the radiation propagates longitudinally in an annular amplifying medium, and useful low loss modes can be obtained even when the axial region is obscured. Alignment characteristics and far field patterns are discussed, and experiments have been conducted using coaxial double-discharge CO₂ devices

Air Breakdown in a Radial-Mode Focusing Element

A new radial focusing device is described that condenses an incident laser beam to an extremely intense and uniformly illuminated focal spot. The focal region is useful for many applications. When used with a 10.6-µm CO₂ TEA laser source, a disk-shaped air-breakdown spark results, and the properties of this spark have been investigated

Management of maternal depression: Qualitative exploration of perceptions of healthcare professionals from a public tertiary care hospital, Karachi, Pakistan

The lack of implementation and routine screening of management techniques at tertiary care hospitals leads to an increased burden of maternal depression. The consequences are borne emotionally, physically, and mentally by the mother, the child, the overall family, and society. Hence, it is vital to contextualize this mental disorder to design and implement effective healthcare interventions. The study is aimed to assess the knowledge and practices of healthcare professionals, in a tertiary care setting, who deal with depressive symptoms amongst mothers. It gauges whether a psychological screening criterion is being implemented by the clinical staff during prenatal and postnatal visits to recommend steps that can help develop a service framework. A qualitative, exploratory study design was implemented for this research. With purposive sampling, eight in-depth interviews (three nurses and five doctors) at a single tertiary care hospital were conducted categorically using a semi-structured (open and close-ended questions) interview toolkit. Content Analysis was carried out using information gathered from the unit of analysis. The study provided evidence of the existing gaps in one particular tertiary healthcare system, within Pakistan, concerning diagnosis and management of maternal depression. Results highlighted that providers were well-versed with explanations of maternal depression, the aftermath of it, and the current status of healthcare; however, they were minimally educated about the specifics and levels of treatment. The gathered information assisted in recommending steps to develop a service framework

Quantitative Profiling of WNT-3A Binding to All Human Frizzled Paralogues in HEK293 Cells by NanoBiT/BRET Assessments

The WNT signaling system governs critical processes during embryonic development and tissue homeostasis, and its dysfunction can lead to cancer. Details concerning selectivity and differences in relative binding affinities of 19 mammalian WNTs to the cysteine-rich domain (CRD) of their receptors—the ten mammalian Frizzleds (FZDs)—remain unclear. Here, we used eGFP-tagged mouse WNT-3A for a systematic analysis of WNT interaction with every human FZD paralogue in HEK293A cells. Employing HiBiT-tagged full-length FZDs, we studied eGFP-WNT-3A binding kinetics, saturation binding, and competition binding with commercially available WNTs in live HEK293A cells using a NanoBiT/BRET-based assay. Further, we generated receptor chimeras to dissect the contribution of the transmembrane core to WNT-CRD binding. Our data pinpoint distinct WNT-FZD selectivity and shed light on the complex WNT-FZD binding mechanism. The methodological development described herein reveals yet unappreciated details of the complexity of WNT signaling and WNT-FZD interactions, providing further details with respect to WNT-FZD selectivity

Suicide and deliberate self-harm in Pakistan: A scoping review

Background: Suicide is a major global public health problem with more than 800,000 incidents worldwide annually. Seventy-five percent of the global suicides occur in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Pakistan is a LMIC where information on suicidal behavior is limited. The aim of the review is to map available literature on determinants, risk factors and other variables of suicidal behavior in Pakistan.Method: This study was based on Arksey and O\u27Malley\u27s methodological framework of scoping review, combining peer reviewed publications with grey literature. Ten databases including Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA), Cochrane Trials Register (CRG), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL), National Library of Medicine Gateway (NLMG), ExcerptaMedica (EMBASE), National Library of Medicine\u27s MEDLINE (PUBMED), PSYCHINFO, Social Science Citation Index and Science Citation Index (SCI) and Pakmedinet.com were searched from the beginning of their time frames until December 2016 using a combination of key terms. The inclusion criteria included studies of various study designs covering different aspects of suicidal behavior in English language.Results: Six hundred and twenty three articles were initially retrieved from all ten databases. Two independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts for relevance. One hundred and eighteen articles were read in full, out of which 11 were excluded because they did not fit the eligibility criteria. One hundred and ten articles, including two student theses and one report, were included in the final review. Most studies were descriptive in nature, with only three that used a case-control design. Majority of the studies were from urban areas, and addressed determinants rather than risk factors. Gender differences and age were predominantly reported, with more males committing suicide. Suicidal behavior was more common among individuals younger than 30 years of age. The three most common methods for suicides were hanging, poisoning and use of firearms. Mental illness as a risk factor for suicides was mentioned in only three studies.Conclusions: This review is the first attempt to synthesize available literature on suicidal behavior in Pakistan. The evidence is limited, and calls for more robust analytical research designs, along with a focus on risk factors

Humsathi : empowering girls to become their own advocates and boys as allies to end early child and forced marriage

Seeking to catalyse a sustainable community-owned rejection of child/early marriages, the intervention study aimed to deepen understanding of what and who drives child marriages. It addresses these factors and empowers girls to become their own advocates, with other allies for change. An unexpected finding is the pivotal role of reproductive health knowledge for unlocking girls’ agency. The study confirmed that as the least empowered family and community members, girls require strong reliable allies. The model tested by the Humsathi project proved to be viable. By project end, the vast majority of project-enjoined girls (79.31 percent) had taken actions to stop child and early age marriages

Physical and Chemical Status of Drinking Water from Water Treatment Plants on Greater Zab River

The contamination of surface waters through human activities has been intensified over the past years as the population density has increased. In order to ascertain the drinking water quality of Greater Zab river in Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq, for human consumptions, water samples were collected from three water treatment plants (WTP) on that river. The following water quality parameters were determined which were chosen as the major indicators namely PH, Total Dissolved Solid(TDS), Electrical conductivity(EC), Total Hardness(TH), Cl- , F-, Na+ , K+ , Ca+2 , Mg+2, NO3-, SO4-2 , PO4-3 and the concentration of eight heavy metals (Fe, Pb, Hg, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cu, and Ag. Concentrations of the metals in the water samples were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The research Results showed that efficiency of filtration unit of the three WTPs was: Efraz 1> Efraz 2> Efraz 3. Most of the parameters analyzed in this study were within the guidelines given by WHO or US EPA for drinking water while few others were not. @ JASE

Three-point vs one-point palpation of temporomandibular joint. A clinical trial study

Background: Palpation is a crucial component of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) examination in identifying tenderness. One-finger one-point palpation has a high tendency for inappropriate application and misinterpretation. Objective: To evaluate three-point vs one-point palpation in determination of TMJ tenderness. Patients and Methods: The study included fourth and fifth-year students in the College of Dentistry/Hawler Medical University. All students were examined using both one-point and three-point techniques. Two essential elements were recorded for each TMJ: tenderness and clicking. Results: A total of 76 students (152 TMJs); 40 female and 37 male, were included. One-point TMJ tenderness was present in 41 (26.7%) and three-point TMJ tenderness was present in 114 (75%) TMJs (P=0.0001), with a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 73%. Clicking, in three-point, 14 (9.21%), in one-point, 22 (14.47%) TMJs were with (P=0.2136) with a sensitivity of 18.42% and specificity of 71%. Conclusion: Three-point technique can be used for palpation of TMJ, especially for detection of joint tenderness. Better not to be used for clicking evaluation

Role of a probiotic (Saccharomyces boulardii) in management and prevention of diarrhoea

AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) in acute watery diarrhoea and its role in reducing the frequency of episodes of diarrhoea in subsequent two months.Methods: Children from 2 mo to 12 years of age, with acute diarrhoea were selected according to inclusion criteria and randomised in S. boulardii group (treated with ORS, nutritional support and S. boulardii, 250 mg bid) and in control group (treated with ORS and nutritional support only). Active treatment phase was 5 d and each child was followed for two months afterwards. Frequency and consistency of stools as well as safety of drug was assessed on every visit. A comparison of two groups was done in terms of number of diarrhoeal episode in subsequent two months.Results: There were fifty patients in each group. Baseline characteristics such as mean age and the average frequency of stools were comparable in S. boulardii and control group at the time of inclusion in the trial. By d 3 it reduced to 2.7 and 4.2 stools per d respectively and by d 6 it reduced to 1.6 (S. boulardii Group) and 3.3 (control group). The duration of diarrhoea was 3.6 d in S. boulardii group whereas it was 4.8 d in control group (P = 0.001). In the following two months, S. boulardii group had a significantly lower frequency of 0.54 episodes as compared to 1.08 episodes in control group. The drug was well accepted and tolerated. There were no reports of the side effects during treatment period.Conclusion: S. boulardii significantly reduces the frequency and duration of acute diarrhoea. The consistency of stool also improves. The drug is well-tolerated