The Effect of Substrate Temperature on the Structural Properties of Spray Pyrolysed Lead Sulphide (PbS) Thin Films

Lead sulphide (PbS) films were prepared by the chemical spray pyrolysis technique using a solution of Lead nitrate and thiourea. PbS films were deposited (prepared) on glass substrate at varied temperature (250-350 oC). Effects of  substrate temperature on the structural characteristics of the films were studied. The X-ray diffraction patterns’ results reveal that the all of PbS films have a face centered cubic structure. The  X-ray diffraction study showed that irrespective of substrate temperature all the films exhibits a preferred orientation along the (200) plane. The degree of preferred orientation increased with the substrate temperature. It was observed that the increase  of the substrate temperature increase the diffraction peak intensity of (200) plane which resulted in increase in grain size  and good crystallinity of the films

Day care laparoscopic surgery in gynaecology at a dedicated unit in Nairobi, Kenya

Objective: To evaluate and audit the outcomes of Gynaecological Day care Laparoscopic Surgery inNairobi,KenyaDesign: Retrospective case analysisSetting: The International Centre for Minimal Access Surgery, NairobiSubjects: one thousand three hundred and seventy nine patients undergoing Laparoscopic SurgeryResults: Between January 2011 to December 2015 a total of 1,379 Laparoscopic procedures were undertaken during the reporting period of which 1,121 ( 88.5 % ) were done as day procedures. In total 137 patients ( 9.9 % ) spent one night at ICMAS, 21 ( 1.5 % ) were transferred to a Major Hospital and 41 patients (2.9 %) underwent conversion to Laparotomy. There were two Hospital re-admissions (0.14 % ) and one complication ( 0.07% ), a bladder injury was encountered.Conclusions: Daycare surgery is a continually evolving speciality being competently performed by several units by various disciplines world over , including Kenya. In recent years the complexity of the procedures has increased with a wider range of patients being considered for challenging surgeries including those presenting with acute conditions. Our experiences have been favourable

Molecular Characterization of β-Thalassemia Patients in Wasit Province, IRAQ

Background: Hemoglobin-associated disorder is a different group of recessive genetic diseases. which consist of the structural hemoglobin variants and the thalassemia.Aim of the study: - to characterize the spectrum of beta globin gene mutations  in patients with beta- thalassemia who are registered in thalassemia centers, Wasit, Iraq using PCR - based DNA diagnostic techniques.Patients and methods:The genomic DNA was extracted from 106 Iraqi patients with β-thalassemia major and intermedia from unrelated families and (50) healthy numbers as control were collected from Al-Karama  Teaching Hospital, in Wasit  province, to detect mutation using PCR - based DNA diagnostic techniques. .  Results: of 106 thalassemia patients, 35 (33%) of patients with no mutation detection, IVS 1.116 [T>G] mutation was detected in 42 patients ( 39.6%), followed by IVS 1.110 [G>A], which was detected in 11 (10.4%) patients.Conclusions: Many mutations recorded a high frequency due to close relative marriage. By analyzing many mutations in β-globin gene leading to defect in beta chains play crucial role in drawing mutation frequency and their distribution in our society. Keywords: thalassemia, mutation, DN

Prevalence of Depression and Its Associated Risk Factors among Young Adult Patients Attending the Primary Health Centers in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: The number of young depressive patients approaching the primary health care centres in Saudi Arabia for supportive care and treatment has enormously increased, but more cases of depression are not being diagnosed properly at the primary health care level. AIM: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of depression among young adult patients attending the primary health centres in Tabuk, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done in selected primary health care centres in Tabuk city from March 2018 to June 2018. Patient Health Questionnaire- PHQ-2 and PHQ-9 and a modified questionnaire were used to collect the necessary information and data were analysed by using SPSS (Version 25.0, SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: The study included 384 patients aged between 20 and 40 years. Most of them (76.6%) were females. The prevalence of depression was 74%; mild among 37.8%, moderate among 20.8% whereas moderately severe to severe among 15.4% of them. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that married patients were at lower risk for depression (Adjusted odds ratio “AOR†was 0.36, 95% confidence interval “CI†was 0.20-0.93), p < 0.001. Patients who reported a lack of social support were more likely to be depressed than those with social support (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.03-4.07), p = 0.041. Patients who reported disturbed marriage were at almost four-folded risk of depression compared to those without disturbed marriage (AOR = 3.50, 95% CI = 1.23-9.98), p = 0.019. Patients with financial problems were at almost double risk for developing depression compared to those without financial problems (AOR = 2.37, 95% CI = 1.16-4.85), p = 0.019. Those with stressful experience were significantly more likely to have depression compared to those without stressful experience (AOR = 4.75, 95% CI = 2.58-8.71), p < 0.001. Opposed to patients without a family history of depression, those with such history were at higher significant risk for depression (AOR = 2.75, 95% CI = 1.23-6.14), p = 0.014. Also, patients who reported sleep disorders were at nearly double folds of having depression compared to those without such disorders (AOR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.16-4.30), p = 0.016. CONCLUSION: Depression among young adult patients (20-40 years) attending primary healthcare centres in Tabuk is very high. However, it is mostly mild to moderate in its severity. Suicidal thoughts were reported by one-tenth of the participants. Some predictors for depression among them were identified

Laparoscopic sacrohysteropexy and myomectomy for uterine prolapse: a case report and review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>A large number of hysterectomies are carried out for uterine prolapse, menorrhagia and other symptomatic but benign gynaecological conditions, which has increased interest in new approaches to treat these disorders. These new procedures are less invasive and offer reduced risk and faster recovery.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>Sacrohysteropexy can be carried out instead of vaginal hysterectomy in the treatment of uterine prolapse. It involves using a synthetic mesh to suspend the uterus to the sacrum; this maintains durable anatomic restoration, normal vaginal axis and sexual function. A laparoscopic approach has major advantages over the abdominal route including shorter recovery time and less adhesion formation. We describe a laparoscopic sacrohysteropexy in a 55-year-old Caucasian British woman that was technically difficult. An intramural uterine fibroid was encroaching just above the uterosacral ligament making mesh positioning impossible. This was removed and the procedure completed successfully.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Posterior wall fibroid is not a contraindication for laparoscopic sacrohysteropexy. This procedure has increasingly become an effective treatment of uterine prolapse in women who have no indication for hysterectomy.</p

High Frequency Inductive Power Transfer Through Soil for Agricultural Applications

This work was supported by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), reference numbers: NE/ T011467/1 and NE/T011068/1, and the National Science Foundation (NSF), award no. 1935632: SitS NSF-UKRI: Wireless In-Situ Soil Sensing Network for Future Sustainable Agriculture’. (Corresponding author: Juan M. Arteaga.)Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Evaluation of EIT systems and algorithms for handling full void fraction range in two-phase flow measurement

In the aqueous-based two-phase flow, if the void fraction of dispersed phase exceeds 0.25, conventional electrical impedance tomography (EIT) produces a considerable error due to the linear approximation of the sensitivity back-projection (SBP) method, which limits the EIT's wider application in the process industry. In this paper, an EIT sensing system which is able to handle full void fraction range in two-phase flow is reported. This EIT system employs a voltage source, conducts true mutual impedance measurement and reconstructs an online image with the modified sensitivity back-projection (MSBP) algorithm. The capability of the Maxwell relationship to convey full void fraction is investigated. The limitation of the linear sensitivity back-projection method is analysed. The MSBP algorithm is used to derive relative conductivity change in the evaluation. A series of static and dynamic experiments demonstrating the mean void fraction obtained using this EIT system has a good agreement with reference void fractions over the range from 0 to 1. The combination of the new EIT system and MSBP algorithm would significantly extend the applications of EIT in industrial process measurement

An assessment of the magnitudes and factors associated with postharvest losses in off-farm grain stores in Kenya

Off-farm grain storage is an important postharvest undertaking by government, traders and processors in Kenya. A survey was conducted in 2014/2015 to assess the kinds and magnitudes of perceived losses experienced in off-farm stores, and the factors associated with them. Store supervisors or key personnel charged with grain storage in 39 public and 74 private stores, spread across the six maize growing agro-ecological zones, were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Total perceived losses averaged 17.6± 2.3%, and were attributed to insects (7.2± 1.0%), molds (5.7± 2.1%), moisture loss (3.4± 0.5%), rodents (2.0± 0.5%), spillage (0.50 ± 0.0%) and birds (0.10± 0.0%). Total losses experienced in public and privately owned stores were not significantly different. The losses attributed to insect and the vertebrate pests, moisture loss and spillage, were also not significantly different in the two storage systems. However, losses due to molds were significantly higher in the private stores. From regression analysis, higher losses were associated with the use of residual insecticides, purchasing low quality maize for storage, reuse of storage bags, untimely control of storage pests, and the agro-climatic conditions of the moist transitional, moist mid-altitude and dry mid-altitude zones. Relying on infestation reports to initiate pest control had the highest marginal effect (21.7%). Lower loss magnitudes were associated with cleaning and drying grain before storage, early pest control and storage periods shorter than two months. These findings provide important reasons for appraising current off-farm storage techniques with a view to taking possible actions for improvements. It is recommended that innovations to mitigate maize postharvest losses should also target off-farm storage, as the losses incurred are significant