Evaluating Emergency ENT Admissions In Two Scottish Teaching Hospitals

Introduction: Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) emergencies are common in all communities, with significant regional variations in published literature. Early diagnosis and prompt management results in reduction in morbidity and mortality. The management of ENT emergencies requires significant financial resources for admissions and surgical interventions. An awareness of the pattern of admissions will facilitate strategic planning of a department’s activity. Objective: To evaluate the pattern of emergency ENT admissions to our department. Our objectives were to register the common admission diagnoses; record the equipment required in the ward treatment room and to identify training requirements for nursing and medical staff involved in their management. Methods: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained departmental database. All emergency admissions to our department over 8 years were recorded. The data collected included patients’ demographics and admission diagnoses. Results: The total patients identified were 3878 with 56% (2185) male and 44% (1693) female. The majority of the patients admitted had a diagnosis in the head and neck sub group (58%). Over the study period on average 41 emergency admissions were recorded per month. The commonest emergency requiring admission was epistaxis, followed by acute sore throat. Conclusions: The most common adult ENT emergencies requiring admission to our unit are epistaxis, quinsy and post-tonsillectomy complications

Changes in chlorophyll, phenols, sugars and mineral contents of cucumber plants infected with cucumber mosaic virus

Biochemical studies were made to monitor the relationship of chemical components and development of resistance in cucumber plants against Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Total soluble phenols, soluble sugars, chlorophyll and mineral nutrients; Potassium, Magnesium, Sodium and Lead were compared among resistant and susceptible varieties. Different metabolites showed different trends among diseased and healthy plants from resistant and susceptible groups of varieties. The phenolic and Magnesium contents increased in the inoculated plants of both susceptible and resistant genotypes. In resistant variety, rise in magnesium concentration in inoculated plants was less as compared to that of inoculated plants of the susceptible varieties. However, the chlorophyll, sugars, potassium were reduced in the inoculated plants of both reaction resistant and susceptible reaction groups. Plants from susceptible group presented a lower of level of nutrients as compared to un-inoculated ones whereas; the changes in sodium contents were not showing any relation to resistance mechanism

Quantity and Quality of Human Resources in Health Care: Shortage of Health Workers in India

The analysis made in this paper is illustriously indicate that the shortage of human resources for health care services especially the skilled health professionals and workers in India is at considerable level and thereby it is a great deal of concern

Structural and Functional Analysis of Coxsackievirus A9 Integrin alpha(v)beta(6) Binding and Uncoating

Coxsackievirus A9 (CVA9) is an important pathogen of the Picornaviridae family. It utilizes cellular receptors from the integrin v family for binding to its host cells prior to entry and genome release. Among the integrins tested, it has the highest affinity for v6, which recognizes the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) loop present on the C terminus of viral capsid protein, VP1. As the atomic model of CVA9 lacks the RGD loop, we used surface plasmon resonance, electron cryo-microscopy, and image reconstruction to characterize the capsid-integrin interactions and the conformational changes on genome release. We show that the integrin binds to the capsid with nanomolar affinity and that the binding of integrin to the virion does not induce uncoating, thereby implying that further steps are required for release of the genome. Electron cryo-tomography and single-particle image reconstruction revealed variation in the number and conformation of the integrins bound to the capsid, with the integrin footprint mapping close to the predicted site for the exposed RGD loop on VP1. Comparison of empty and RNA-filled capsid reconstructions showed that the capsid undergoes conformational changes when the genome is released, so that the RNA-capsid interactions in the N termini of VP1 and VP4 are lost, VP4 is removed, and the capsid becomes more porous, as has been reported for poliovirus 1, human rhinovirus 2, enterovirus 71, and coxsackievirus A7. These results are important for understanding the structural basis of integrin binding to CVA9 and the molecular events leading to CVA9 cell entry and uncoating.Peer reviewe

Botox in periodontics - Exploring new avenues

From a periodontal point of view, various factors contribute to facial aesthetics. In the recent past, studies have revealed that excessive gingival display is a factor that influences an individual’ smile line. Some literature exists to support that more than excessive gingival display of more than 3mm is considered unaesthetic and termed a ‘gummy smile’ (GS). The prevalence of 'gummy smile’ has been 10% and to be more common in females. Gingival hyperplasia altered passive eruption, vertical maxillary excess, and upper-lip hypermobility can all result in excessive gingival display when a patient smile.To select the correct treatment protocol, accurate diagnosis is essential. Various techniques have been used to treat gummy smile which includes surgical and non-surgical methods. Recently a non-surgical method using Botulinum toxin gained popularity considering that the method is minimally invasive

QTL MAPPING FOR SOME IMPORTANT DROUGHT TOLERANT TRAITS IN UPLAND COTTON

ABSTRACT Drought stress is a major factor limiting crop production. Genetic improvement is possible in cotton and other crops against drought stress by molecular breeding. A drought tolerant (B-557) and a drought susceptible (FH-1000) cultivar were crossed to develop F2 population. The parents and the F2 population were studied under osmotic stress in hydroponic culture. A survey of 524 SSR and EST-SSR primers revealed a lot of DNA polymorphism between the drought resistant and drought susceptible cultivar. The polymorphism was used to construct genetic linkage map using the F2 population. In linkage analysis, 22 primers were mapped on chromosomes. Two QTLs for relative water content were identified. One QTL was mapped on chromosome 23 with nearest marker NAU2954 and another QTL was mapped on chromosome 12 with nearest marker NAU2715. One QTL for excised leaf water loss was found on chromosome 23 with nearest marker NAU2954. These QTLs may be used in molecular breeding program to develop drought tolerant cotton cultivars

A web-based visual analytics platform to explore smart houses energy data for stakeholders: A case study of houses in the area of Manchester

Residential sector need quick and creative solutions since rising energy consumption poses serious risks to the economy and the environment. Information about residential houses is useful for promoting community well-being, protecting the environment, and fostering economic growth. By digging into the residential houses, we can accurately identify sudden spikes in energy consumption. Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) play a critical role in reducing wasteful energy consumption by providing precise information about a home's energy efficiency. Unfortunately, inadequate EPC evaluations and suggestions contribute to the growing demand for energy. This research presents the creation of a smart web-based visual analytics platform that utilises data from cross-sectoral data to examine the effect of various variables on current house energy performance certificates (EPCs). In addition, our study illustrates a technique for mapping stakeholder assessments before offering substantial recommendations for refurbishments. To determine which smart home criteria are most important, we apply the Criterion Importance Through Intercriterion Correlation (CRITIC) method and weight the criteria based on their correlations. Finally, we sort smart house by their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings using the COmplex PRoportional ASsessment (COPRAS) technique

Peer-to-peer live video streaming with rateless codes for massively multiplayer online games

International audienc

Can nature-based solutions contribute to water security in Bhopal?

Bhojtal, a large man-made lake bordering the city of Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh state, central India), is important for the city’s water supply, connoted the lifeline of the city. Despite the dry though not arid and markedly seasonal climate, soil impermeability hampers infiltration into the complex geology underlying the Bhojtal catchment. Rural communities in the catchment are nonetheless high dependent on underlying aquifers. This paper develops baseline understanding of trends in the ecology, water quality and uses of Bhojtal, discussing their implications for the long-term wellbeing of the Bhopal city region. It highlights increasing dependency on water diverted from out-of-catchment sources, and also abstraction across the Bhojtal catchment in excess of replenishment that is depressing groundwater and contributing to reported declining lake level and water quality. Despite some nature-based management initiatives, evidence suggests little progress in haltering on-going groundwater depression and declines in lake water level and quality. Significant declines in ecosystem services produced by Bhojtal are likely without intervention, a major concern given the high dependency of people in the Bhopal region on Bhojtal for their water supply and socio-economic and cultural wellbeing. Over-reliance on appropriation of water from increasingly remote sources is currently compensating for lack of attention to measures protecting or regenerating local resources that may provide greater resilience and regional self-sufficiency. Improved knowledge of catchment hydrogeology on a highly localised scale could improve the targeting and efficiency of water harvesting and other management interventions in the Bhojtal catchment, and their appropriate hybridisation with engineered solutions, protecting the catchment from unintended impacts of water extraction or increasing its carrying capacity, and also providing resilience to rising population and climate change. Ecosystem service assessment provides useful insights into the breadth of benefits of improved management of Bhojtal and its catchment

Optical Propagation and Communication

Contains an introduction and reports on three research projects.Maryland Procurement Office Contract MDA 904-93-C4169Maryland Procurement Office Contract MDA 903-94-C6071U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research Grant F49620-93-1-0604MIT Lincoln Laboratory Advanced Concepts Program Contract CX-16335U.S. Army Research Office Grant DAAH04-93-G-0399U.S. Army Research Office Grant DAAH04-93-G-018