Measurement of loss angle, volume resistivity and surface resistivity of insulating materials used on solar cells

The complete measuring and test system developed to measure the quality and the stability of insulating materials used on solar cell arrays for space application is described. The test set up and measurements are primarily aimed at the measurement and analysis of the degradation of the electrical insulating properties of material used on solar cells. Degradation characteristics of the material subject to thermal cycling, space plasma and very high electrical fields individually and in combination can be investigated

New World Health Organization labour care guide in reducing intrapartum caesarean section rates at tertiary care hospital-Hassan institute of medical sciences, Hassan

Background: The Aim of this study was to assess whether labour monitoring using new WHO LCG will result in reducing intra partum caesarean sections. Methods: A analytical study was conducted from the month of September 2022 to January 2023 among 1735 pregnant women admitted at Hassan institute of Medical Sciences, in active phase of labour (5cm cervical dilatation and above) after obtaining informed consent. Results: In the present study, the New WHO Labour Care guide was plotted for 1735 pregnant women among which 1668 (96%) of the total patients had vaginal delivery, while 67 (4%) of the patients underwent Cesarean Section. Among the patients who underwent Cesarean Section it was found that1082 (94%) of the total Cesarean Sections were in latent phase of labour before plotting of the new WHO Labour care guide whereas only about 67 (6%) of Cesarean Section were conducted in active phase of labour. Among the patients who underwent LSCS in the active phase of labour majority were due to fetal distress 29(43%), 21(31%) due to Cephalopelvic disproportion, 13(20%) due to Non progression of labour and about 4(6%) due to Deep Transverse Arrest Conclusions: Majority of the caesarean sections were conducted in the latent phase of labour. The New WHO Labour Care guide has reduced the occurrence of intrapartum caesarean sections in the active phase of labour. However the overall rate of caesarean section must be controlled by reducing the number of Cesarean Sections conducted in latent phase of labour, that is before plotting the New WHO labour care guide

Correlation between vitamin D levels in third trimester and postpartum hemorrhage

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between antenatal vitamin D levels and postpartum hemorrhage. Methods: An analytical study was conducted among 385 term pregnant women admitted at Hassan institute of Medical Sciences and who went in spontaneous onset of labour or induced labour. Basic demographic details were noted. Vitamin D levels were assessed on admission in these patients prior to childbirth. Incidence of postpartum haemorrhage among these patients after delivery were noted and analysed. Results: Vitamin D levels were deficient in 225 (58.5%) antenatal women in the study. The overall rates of atonic postpartum haemorrhage were higher in vitamin D deficient women that is 19 (54.2%) when compared to woman having normal vitamin D levels. Conclusions: Our results suggest that vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among pregnant woman and is a risk factor for atonic postpartum hemorrhage. Hence antenatal supplementation of vitamin D could help prevent vitamin D deficiency and uterine atony

Electrical Breakdown of Anodized Structures in a Low Earth Orbital Environmental

A comprehensive set of investigations involving arcing on a negatively biased anodized aluminum plate immersed in a low density argon plasma at low pressures (P(sub O), 7.5 x 10(exp -5) Torr) have been performed. These arcing experiments were designed to simulate electrical breakdown of anodized coatings in a Low Earth Orbital (LEO) environment. When electrical breakdown of an anodized layer occurs, an arc strikes, and there is a sudden flux of electrons accelerated into the ambient plasma. This event is directly followed by ejection of a quasi-neutral plasma cloud consisting of ejected material blown out of the anodized layer. Statistical analysis of plasma cloud expansion velocities have yielded a mean propagation velocity, v = (19.4 +/- 3.5) km/s. As the plasma cloud expands into the ambient plasma, energy in the form of electrical noise is generated. The radiated electromagnetic noise is detected by means of an insulated antenna immersed in the ambient plasma. The purpose of the investigations is (1) to observe and record the electromagnetic radiation spectrum resulting from the arcing process. (2) Make estimates of the travel time of the quasi-neutral plasma cloud based on fluctuations to several Langmuir probes mounted in the ambient plasma. (3) To study induced arcing between two anodized aluminum structures in close proximity

Molecular Characterization of Heat Shock Protein 70-1 Gene of Goat (Capra hircus)

Heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70) plays a vital role by bestowing cytoprotection against diverse kinds of stresses. The ubiquitous HSP 70 proteins are the most abundant and temperature sensitive among all the HSPs. The present paper has characterized HSP70-1 cDNA in goat (Capra hircus). Total RNA isolated from goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells was reverse transcribed to cDNA that was used for amplification of HSP 70-1 gene. PCR product (1926 bp) was cloned in pGEM-T easy vector and sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed 1926-bp-long open reading frame of HSP 70-1 gene encoding 641 amino acids in goat, as reported in cattle. At nucleotide level, goat HSP 70-1 was found to be 96–99% similar to that of sheep (partial), cattle, and buffalo whereas the similarity at amino acid level was 95–100%. Nonsynonymous substitutions exceeding synonymous substitutions indicate the evolution of this protein through positive selection among domestic animals. Goat and sheep appear to have diverged from a common ancestor in phylogenetic analysis. Predicted protein structures of goat HSP 70 protein obtained from deduced amino acid sequence indicated that the functional amino acids involved in chaperoning through ATPase hydrolytic cycle and in uncoating of clathrin coated vesicles are highly conserved

Children’s residential exposure to selected allergens and microbial indicators: endotoxins and (1→3)-β-D-glucans

Objectives: The study was aimed at assessment of exposure to endotoxins, (1→3)-β-D-glucans and mite, cockroach, cat, dog allergens present in settled dust in premises of children as agents which may be significantly correlated with the occurrence of allergic symptoms and diseases in children. Materials and Methods: The study covered 50 homes of one- or two-year-old children in Poland. Samples of settled dust were taken from the floor and the child's bed. The levels of (1→3)-β-D-glucans (floor), endotoxins (floor) and allergens of mite, cat, dog and cockroach (floor and bed) were analyzed. Results: Average geometric concentrations (geometric standard deviation) of endotoxins, (1→3)-β-D-glucans, Der p1, Fel d1, Can f1 and Bla g1 in children homes were on the floor 42 166.0 EU/g (3.2), 20 478.4 ng/g (2.38), 93.9 ng/g (6.58), 119.8 ng/g (13.0), 288.9 ng/g (3.4), 0.72 U/g (4.4) and in their beds (only allergens) 597.8 ng/g (14.2), 54.1 ng/g (4.4), 158.6 ng/g (3.1) 0.6 U/g (2.9), respectively. When the floor was covered with the carpet, higher concentrations of endotoxins, (1→3)-β-D-glucans and allergens (each type) were found in the settled dust (p < 0.05). The trend was opposite in case of allergens (except dog) analyzed from bed dust and significantly higher concentrations were found in the rooms with smooth floor (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Among the analyzed factors only the type of floor significantly modified both the level of biological indicators and allergens. The results of this study could be the base for verifying a hypothesis that carpeting may have a protective role against high levels of cockroach, dog and cat allergens

Is perfusion index a surrogate indicator of left ventricular contractility in neonates? A prospective study

Introduction : Noninvasive blood pressure monitoring may not accurately reflect cardiac contractility in neonates due to low vascular tone. The perfusion index (PI) is a noninvasive method of assessing the strength of peripheral pulses. It is shown to have a significant correlation with the left ventricular output. This prospective study estimates the correlation between PI and cardiac contractility in neonates. Methods and Results : All hemodynamically stable neonates who were on substantial enteral feeds and not on any respiratory or inotropic support underwent measurement of PI and echocardiography examination. Various indices of left ventricular contractility were estimated, and the correlation coefficient between them and PI was determined. Fifty-six neonates were studied. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) PI was 1.5 (1.25-1.75). The median (IQR) PI in preterm neonates was 1.5 (1.2–1.8) and that in term neonates was 1.8 (1.25–2.7) (P = 0.064). PI had a correlation of 0.205 with fractional shortening (P = 0.129) and 0.13 with left ventricular ejection fraction (P = 0.821). The Spearman's correlation coefficient between PI and velocity of circumference fiber shortening was 0.009 (P = 0.945). The Spearman's correlation coefficient between PI and cardiac output was -0.115 (P = 0.400). Conclusion : The PI does not correlate with left ventricular contractility parameters in neonates

Crystal and molecular structure of 3-(2-(1-hydroxycyclohexyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl)-2-(4-p-methylphenyl )-1,3-thiazolidin-4-one

The compound 3-(2-(1-hydroxycyclohexyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl)-2-(4-methylphenyl)- thiazolidin-4-one was synthesized. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic system with space group Pbca and cell parameters are a=11.795(1) angstrom, b=11.727(1) angstrom, c=33.964(9) angstrom, Z=8, V=4697.9(2) angstrom 3. The final residual factor is R1=0.0647. The molecule exhibits intermolecular hydrogen bond of type O-H center dot center dot center dot O

The Taming of Nuclear Factor Erythroid-2-Related Factor-2 (Nrf2) Deglycation by Fructosamine-3-Kinase (FN3K)-Inhibitors-A Novel Strategy to Combat Cancers

Glycated stress is mediated by the advanced glycation end products (AGE) and the binding of AGEs to the receptors for advanced glycation end products (RAGEs) in cancer cells. RAGEs are involved in mediating tumorigenesis of multiple cancers through the modulation of several downstream signaling cascades. Glycated stress modulates various signaling pathways that include p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), nuclear factor kappa&ndash;B (NF-&kappa;B), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-&alpha;, etc., which further foster the uncontrolled proliferation, growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, drug resistance, and evasion of apoptosis in several cancers. In this review, a balanced overview on the role of glycation and deglycation in modulating several signaling cascades that are involved in the progression of cancers was discussed. Further, we have highlighted the functional role of deglycating enzyme fructosamine-3-kinase (FN3K) on Nrf2-driven cancers. The activity of FN3K is attributed to its ability to deglycate Nrf2, a master regulator of oxidative stress in cells. FN3K is a unique protein that mediates deglycation by phosphorylating basic amino acids lysine and arginine in various proteins such as Nrf2. Deglycated Nrf2 is stable and binds to small musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma (sMAF) proteins, thereby activating cellular antioxidant mechanisms to protect cells from oxidative stress. This cellular protection offered by Nrf2 activation, in one way, prevents the transformation of a normal cell into a cancer cell; however, in the other way, it helps a cancer cell not only to survive under hypoxic conditions but also, to stay protected from various chemo- and radio-therapeutic treatments. Therefore, the activation of Nrf2 is similar to a double-edged sword and, if not controlled properly, can lead to the development of many solid tumors. Hence, there is a need to develop novel small molecule modulators/phytochemicals that can regulate FN3K activity, thereby maintaining Nrf2 in a controlled activation state

Crystal Structure of 12-Methoxy-8,8,21,21-tetramethyl-5-(3-methylbut-2,4-dienyl)-19-(3-methylpent-4-enyl)-3,7,20-trioxahexacyclo 15.4.1.0&lt;2,15&gt;.0&lt;2,19&gt;.0&lt;4,13&gt;.0&lt;6,11&gt;docosa-4(13),5,9,11,15-pentaene-14,18-dione

The title compound was extracted from the natural product of plant origin. It crystallizes in tetragonal space group P4(1) or P4(3), with cell parameters a = 15.795(2)Angstrom, c = 11.970(5)Angstrom and Z = 4. The structure exhibits intermolecular hydrogen bonds of the type C-H...O