Volume equalization method for land grading design: Uniform sloped grading in one direction in rectangular fields

Land grading is an important procedure at accomplishing the efficient surface irrigation. This paper presents a new method (volume equalization method-VEM) which has been developed to perform land grading design in designing the uniform sloped grading in one direction. The main goal of this method was to minimize the volumes of earth work required for acceptable smooth surface. The method is based on the assumption that, before and after grading, the soil volumes measured from a reference elevation are equal. The method eliminates the need for trial and error procedures. According to the results of the application of the complete design procedure to a hypothetical area about 2.21 ha, the method was as accurate as the conventional least-squares method in rectangular fields.Key words: Land grading, land leveling, volume equalization method

Frequency of symptoms, determinants of severe symptoms, validity of and cut-off score for Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) as a screening tool: A cross-sectional survey among midlife Nepalese women

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Majority of Nepalese women live in remote rural areas, where health services are not easily accessible. We determined the validity of Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) as a screening tool for identification of women with severe menopausal symptoms and cut-off MRS score for referral.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional survey was carried out between February and August, 2008. Trained health workers administered MRS and a questionnaire to 729 women (40 to 65 years) attending health screening camps in Kaski district of Western Development Region of Nepal. Information about demographics, menopausal status, and use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), chronic disease, self-perceived general health and reproductive history was also collected. Menopausal status was classified according to the Staging of Reproductive Ageing Workshop (STRAW). We calculated rates of menopausal symptoms, sensitivity, and specificity and likelihood ratios of MRS scores for referral to a gynaecologist. We also carried out multivariate analyses to identify the predictors for referral to a gynaecologist for severe symptoms.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total 729 women were interviewed. Mean age at menopause was 49.9 years (SD 5.6). Most frequently reported symptoms were, sleeping problems (574, 78.7%), physical and mental exhaustion (73.5%), hot flushes (508, 69.7%), joint and muscular discomfort (500, 68.6%) and dryness of vagina (449, 61.6%). Postmenopausal women (247, 33.9%) and perimenopausal (215, 29.5%) women together experienced significantly higher prevalence of all symptoms than the premenopausal (267, 36.6%) women. MRS score of ≥16 had highest ratio for (sensitivity + specificity)/2. Women who reported urogenital symptoms [OR 5.29, 95% CI 2.59, 10.78], and self perceived general health as poor [OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.11, 1.53] were more likely to be referred to a gynaecologist for severe menopausal symptoms. While women reporting somatic [OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.63, 0.82] and psychological [OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.74, 0.99] symptoms were less likely to be referred.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>MRS may be used as a screening tool at a cut-off score of ≥16 with least misclassification rate. However, its utility may be limited by woman's general health status and occurrence of urogenital symptoms.</p

Amyloid and tau pathology associations with personality traits, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and cognitive lifestyle in the preclinical phases of sporadic and autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease

Background Major prevention trials for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are now focusing on multidomain lifestyle interventions. However, the exact combination of behavioral factors related to AD pathology remains unclear. In 2 cohorts of cognitively unimpaired individuals at risk of AD, we examined which combinations of personality traits, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and cognitive lifestyle (years of education or lifetime cognitive activity) related to the pathological hallmarks of AD, amyloid-β, and tau deposits. Methods A total of 115 older adults with a parental or multiple-sibling family history of sporadic AD (PREVENT-AD [PRe-symptomatic EValuation of Experimental or Novel Treatments for AD] cohort) underwent amyloid and tau positron emission tomography and answered several questionnaires related to behavioral attributes. Separately, we studied 117 mutation carriers from the DIAN (Dominant Inherited Alzheimer Network) study group cohort with amyloid positron emission tomography and behavioral data. Using partial least squares analysis, we identified latent variables relating amyloid or tau pathology with combinations of personality traits, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and cognitive lifestyle. Results In PREVENT-AD, lower neuroticism, neuropsychiatric burden, and higher education were associated with less amyloid deposition (p = .014). Lower neuroticism and neuropsychiatric features, along with higher measures of openness and extraversion, were related to less tau deposition (p = .006). In DIAN, lower neuropsychiatric burden and higher education were also associated with less amyloid (p = .005). The combination of these factors accounted for up to 14% of AD pathology. Conclusions In the preclinical phase of both sporadic and autosomal dominant AD, multiple behavioral features were associated with AD pathology. These results may suggest potential pathways by which multidomain interventions might help delay AD onset or progression

for Amperometric Glucose Detection

A new amperometric glucose sensor has been fabricated based on a composite film prepared by electrochemical polymerization of carbazole derivative with having free amino group in presence of the Keggin type polyoxometalate (POM) anion, (nBu(4)N)(3)[PW9O34(tBuSiOH)(3)]. During the electropolymerization of 3-Amino-9-ethylcarbazole (AAC) on graphite electrode, simultaneously the POM has entrapped in the produced PAAC polymer film. POM/PAAC composite film was successfully synthesized and characterized with electrochemical techniques and surface morphology analyses. Metal/organic conducting polymeric composite has been composed of positively charged PAAC based conducting polymer and negatively charged POM structures. The amperometric response of the POM/PAAC-GO(x) modified electrode versus varying concentrations of glucose was studied at a potential value of -0.7 V (Ag/AgCl). It was determined that the POM/PAAC composite structure with the best sensor response has the lowest oxidation potential among the composite structures prepared at different ratios. Sensitivity of the POM/PAAC based sensor platform for actual glucose detections has been calculated as 66.66 mu A mM(-1) cm(-2) with a linear detection range from 0.1 to 10 mM and detection limit of 0.099 mM. The POM/PACC composite has a unique structure thanks to such advantages the multiple redox reaction, high reactivity and rapid electron transfer of POMs. Especially, as-prepared this composite displayed high electrocatalytic activity for the amperometric detection of glucose with rapid response time, good sensitivity and reproducibility, acceptable recovery and simple preparation. (C) 2018 The Electrochemical Society

Synthesis, electropolymerization, and optoelectronic properties of carbazole containing imidazolium based ionic liquid

Herein, we report a prominent initial step toward the rational design of a carbazole-based ionic liquid. Firstly, the novel ionic liquid-based monomer of 1,3-bis[6-(9 H-carbazol-9-yl)-1H-imidazol-3-ium bromide] (coded as M4) salt has been synthesized 9{[6-(1 H-imidazol-1-yl) hexyl]-9 H-carbazole} which was prepared by the addition reaction of imidazole and N-(6-bromohexyl)carbazole, proceeded by connecting N-(6-bromohexyl) carbazole as precursor compound. The structural properties of the M4 have been determined by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FT-IR, and MS spectral data. The corresponding polymer film (P4) has been synthesized electrochemically on the ITO electrode. The redox behaviors of the resulting polymer have been investigated in detail via cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemistry techniques. The conducting polymer film has exhibited a multi-electrochromic behavior with color changes from transparent, to greenish-yellow and then to blue-green. Moreover, the polymer film has exhibited satisfactory optical contrast, high coloration efficiency, and fast switching time, which made them potential candidates in high-tech applications. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.Pamukkale Üniversitesi, PAÜ: PAUBAP 2023ÖNAP00

A 12b 2.9GS/s DAC with IM3&gt;60dB beyond 1 GHz in 65nm CMOS

A 12b 2.9GS/s current-steering DAC implemented in 65nm CMOS is presented, with an IM3 «-60dBc beyond 1GHz while driving a 50¿ load with an output swing of 2.5Vpp-diff and dissipating a power of 188mW. The SFDR measured at 2.9GS/s is better than 60dB beyond 340MHz

A 12b 2.9GS/s DAC with IM3>60dB beyond 1 GHz in 65nm CMOS

A 12b 2.9GS/s current-steering DAC implemented in 65nm CMOS is presented, with an IM3 «-60dBc beyond 1GHz while driving a 50¿ load with an output swing of 2.5Vpp-diff and dissipating a power of 188mW. The SFDR measured at 2.9GS/s is better than 60dB beyond 340MHz