Physico-mechanical analysis data in support of compatibility of chitosan/κ-carrageenan polyelectrolyte films achieved by ascorbic acid, and the thermal degradation theory of κ-carrageenan influencing the properties of its blends

This article presents the complementary data regarding compatibilization of chitosan/κ carrageenan polyelectrolyte complex for synthesizing of a soft film using ascorbic acid. It includes the thermal-theory for estimating the degradation of κ-carrageenan, as reflected in alteration of the structural properties of the blend. The data has been provided to demonstrate that the blend solution based on chitosan, a polycation, and κ-carrageenan, a polyanion polymer, produces an incompatible polyelectrolyte composite, susceptible to coaservative phase separation. We present further data on water resistance, water barrier property, mechanical parameters, scanning electron micrograph, as well as contact angle image dataset of the chitosan/κ-carrageenan film. The physical data were collected by water solubility and water permeability assays, with a view to elucidate the role of ascorbic acid in the compatibility of polyelectrolyte blends. The mechanical data is obtained from a stress-strain curve for evaluation of tensile strength and elongation at break of the chitosan/κ-carrageenan film. The microstructure observations were performed using scanning electron micrograph. These dataset confirm fabrication of a soft film in presence of ascorbic acid, with reduced heterogeneities in the polyelectrolyte film structure. The κ-carrageenan was also treated by a thermal process, prior to inclusion into the chitosan solution, to investigate the impact of this on the mechanical and structural features of the resulting blend. We present the required data and the theoretical analysis supporting the thermal chain degradation of a polymer and its effects on behavior of the film. Additional information, characterizing the hydrophobicity of the surface of the blend layers is obtained by measuring water contact angles using a contact anglemeter

Effect of short term starvation and re-feeding on some growth, feeding factors and body composition Blue Streak Hap (Labidochromis caeruleus)

In this study, the effects of starvation and re-feeding on growth performance and body biochemical composition of Blue Streak Hap (Labidochromis caeruleus) were conducted at autumn 2014. A total of 450 fish were assigned to 5 treatments with 3 replicates. 15 tanks were prepared with a volume of approximately 120 liters and trial period was considered 48 days in experimental conditions. Treatments included 0, 2, 4, 8 and 16 days of starvation. Fish after two weeks of acclimatization to the laboratory conditions, were examined based on the pattern of starvation and re-feeding. The results of the growth performance and biochemical composition showed that, treatments 2 and 4 days of starvation, compared to the control group were able to compensatory growth in the period of re-feeding and did not show a significant difference in any of the treatments (P> 0/05). But treatments 8 and 16 days of starvation not be able to compensate growth and expenditure of excess metabolic energy due to starvation period, and had significant differences in the growth and nutritional factors as well as significant differences in the lipid and protein level compared to the control group

Epidemiological survey and geographical distribution of cutaneous Leishmaniasis in North Khorasan province, 2006-2013

Background: Leishmaniasis is a widespread problem, especially in the tropical and subtropical countries. Since understanding epidemiologic and geographical distribution of the diseases is necessary for prevention and control of Leishmaniasis. This study was conducted for epidemiological survey of cutaneous Leishmaniasis in North Khorasan Province, using GIS during the years 2006-2013. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data of the Leishmaniasis patients between the years 2006 and 2013 collected from the different districts ofN. Khorasan Province. The gathered data was analyzed by using Spps16 statistical software and chi-square test. Results:Data concerning 2831 patients with CL were collected.The maximum outbreak of the disease occurred in 2011 and theminimum occurrence was reported to be in2008. The mean age of the study population was22/80 ± 18/08 and the maximum cases of infection were observed in age group of 16-30 years. 58/6 percent of the patients were male and 53/5 percent of them lived in the villages. The maximum infection of the disease was observed in Esfarayen with 1095 people (38/7 percent). There was a significant relationship between the gender and age of the patients and cutaneous Leishmaniasis (

Prognostic factors for esophageal squamous cell Carcinoma-A Population-Based study in Golestan province, Iran, a high incidence area

Golestan Province in northern Iran is an area with a high incidence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We aimed to investigate prognostic factors for ESCC and survival of cases in Golestan, on which little data were available. We followed-up 426 ESCC cases participating in a population-based case-control study. Data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazard models. Median survival was 7 months. Age at diagnosis was inversely associated with survival, but the association was disappeared with adjustment for treatment. Residing in urban areas (hazard ratio, HR = 0.70; 95 CI 0.54-0.90) and being of non-Turkmen ethnic groups (HR = 0.76; 95 CI 0.61-0.96) were associated with better prognosis. In contrast to other types of tobacco use, nass (a smokeless tobacco product) chewing was associated with a slightly poorer prognosis even in models adjusted for other factors including stage of disease and treatment (HR = 1.38; 95 CI 0.99-1.92). Opium use was associated with poorer prognosis in crude analyses but not in adjusted models. Almost all of potentially curative treatments were associated with longer survival. Prognosis of ESCC in Golestan is very poor. Easier access to treatment facilities may improve the prognosis of ESCC in Golestan. The observed association between nass chewing and poorer prognosis needs further investigations; this association may suggest a possible role for ingestion of nass constituents in prognosis of ESCC. © 2011 Aghcheli et al

Effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on glycaemia control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and comparison of two therapeutic regimens

Background and study aims: The eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been reported as being lower in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) than in those without DM. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of the two H. pylori eradication regimens in patients without and with type 2 DM and to study the effect of H. pylori treatment on glycaemia control. Patients and Methods: A total of 93 consecutive type 2 DM (non-insulin users) and 98 non-diabetic age- and sex-matched patients were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment protocols all given twice daily: (a) a 14-day quadruple therapy comprising of omeprazole 20mg, metronidazole 500mg, amoxicillin 1g and bismuth subcitrate 240mg (OMAB) and (b) a 14-day triple regimen comprising of omeprazole 20mg plus clarithromycin 500mg and amoxicillin 1g (OCA). Cure was defined as a negative 13C-urea breath test at least 6weeks after treatment. Results: The H. pylori eradication rate with the OCA regimen was 63% in patients with type 2 DM (non-insulin users) and 87.7% in the control group (p=0.017). The H. pylori eradication rate with the OMAB regimen was 38.2% in patients with type 2 DM and 55.1% in the control group (p<0.001). Mean decrease of fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c level shows no statistically significant difference after H. pylori eradication. Conclusion: This study suggests that the eradication rate of H. pylori with OCA or OMAB treatment is lower in patients with type 2 diabetes than in non-diabetics and H. pylori treatment in patients with type 2 DM has no role in the control of the glycaemia. The triple therapy (OCA) is superior to the quadruple protocol (OMAB) in H. pylori eradication of both DM and non-DM cases. © 2013 Arab Journal of Gastroenterology

Head lice infestation (Pediculus humanus capitis) prevalence and its associated factors, among the kormanj tribes in North Khorasan Province

Background: Human pediculosis is an important factor in assessing the level of public health and personal hygiene. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of pediculosis (head lice infestation) and the factors affecting the rate of infestation. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to conduct the study among the Kormanj tribes in North Khorasan province, northeastern Iran. The study was conducted between April to June of 2016. A total of 867 subjects were selected randomly and an interviewer questionnaire was used on each subject to sort for information on demographic profile and factors associated with rate of infestation to pediculosis. Results: Data was statistically analyzed using Excel 2015 and SPSS Statistics 24 software; t-test and Chi-square tests were used to check for any statistical significant association between the variables. A total of 28 cases (3.2) were found to be infected with head lice, 10 cases (35.7) out of the 3.2 prevalence had a history of infestation with head lice in the past while the remaining 18 cases (64.3) had no history of lice infestation in the past. Significant statistical association was observed between the sex and history of head lice infestation (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between lice infestation and the level of education of the subjects, family size, sharing of personal belongings, length of hair, hair posture, showering frequency, the frequency of brushing hair, and permanent scarf coverings at home. Conclusions: The pediculosis is one of the main public health problems in nomadic tribes such as Kormanj tribes in North Khorasan province. It seems that improvement of personal health conditions in females and also appropriate treatment in previous infestations for nomadic tribes could significantly reduce the prevalence of human head lice infestation. © 2018, Author(s)

Strong dispersive coupling between a mechanical resonator and a fluxonium superconducting qubit

We demonstrate strong dispersive coupling between a fluxonium superconducting qubit and a 690 megahertz mechanical oscillator, extending the reach of circuit quantum acousto-dynamics (cQAD) experiments into a new range of frequencies. We have engineered a qubit-phonon coupling rate of $g\approx2\pi\times14~\text{MHz}$, and achieved a dispersive interaction that exceeds the decoherence rates of both systems while the qubit and mechanics are highly nonresonant ($\Delta/g\gtrsim10$). Leveraging this strong coupling, we perform phonon number-resolved measurements of the mechanical resonator and investigate its dissipation and dephasing properties. Our results demonstrate the potential for fluxonium-based hybrid quantum systems, and a path for developing new quantum sensing and information processing schemes with phonons at frequencies below 700 MHz to significantly expand the toolbox of cQAD.Comment: 22 pages, 12 figure

Analysis of the Side-Lobes of FBG Reflection Spectra from Matrix Cracks in Composites

The previously described approximated transfer matrix model (ATMM) provides insight into the strain distribution along on fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensor. In this paper we study the influence of matrix cracks in composites on the angular frequency of the side-lobes of the FBG reflection spectra in frequency space.</p

A Method for Determining the Length of FBG Sensors Accurately

In this letter, we propose a method for estimating the length of single-mode fiber Bragg grating type sensors with high accuracy. Our method is based on calculating the maximum oscillation frequency of the side-lobes of the FBG reflection spectrum. We show that this frequency is independent of the stress field to which the sensor is subjected, and is dependent on the length of the sensor. This method can be used to characterize the gauge length of already installed FBG sensors so that they can provide useful data for engineering models of structural integrity. All the analyses are based on the approximated transfer matrix model, which is a newly developed numerical method for the analysis of the FBG reflection spectrum under various stress fields.</p