Velocity map imaging of inelastic and elastic low energy electron scattering in organic nanoparticles.

Electron transport is of fundamental importance and has application in a variety of fields. Different scattering mechanisms affect electron transport in the condensed phase; hence, it is important to comprehensively understand these mechanisms and their scattering cross sections to predict electron transport properties. Whereas electron transport is well understood for high kinetic energy (KE) electrons, there is a discrepancy in the experimental and theoretical values for the Inelastic Mean Free Path (IMFP) in the low KE regime. In this work, velocity map imaging soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is applied to unsupported organic nanoparticles (squalene) to extract experimental values of inelastic and elastic mean free paths (EMFPs). The obtained data are used to calculate corresponding scattering cross sections. The data demonstrate a decrease in the IMFP and increase in the EMFP with increasing electron KE between 10 and 50 eV

Intensity modulated radiotherapy versus volumetric modulated arc therapy in breast cancer: A comparative dosimetric analysis

Purpose: Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) has the capacity to optimize the dose distribution. We analyzed the dosimetric differences of plans in treatment planning system (TPS) between VMAT and IMRT in treating breast cancer. Methods: Fourteen patients were simulated, planned, and treated with VMAT using single, double or partial arcs. IMRT treatments were generated using 4 to 5 tangential IMRT fields for the same patients. All treatment plans were planned for 50 Gy in 25 fractions. The VMAT and IMRT plans were compared using the planning target volume (PTV) dose and doses to the other organs at risk (OARs). Results: For the PTV, comparable minimum, mean, maximum, median, and modal dose as well equivalent sphere diameter of the structure (Equis) were observed between VMAT and IMRT plans and found that these values were significantly equal in both techniques. The right lung mean and modal doses were considerably higher in VMAT plans while maximum value was considerably lower when compared with IMRT plans. The left lung mean and modal doses were higher with VMAT while maximum doses were higher in IMRT plans. The mean dose to the heart and maximum dose to the spinal cord was lower with IMRT. The mean dose to the body was higher in VMAT plans while the maximum dose was higher in IMRT plans. Conclusion: Four field tangential IMRT delivered comparable PTV dose with generally less dose to normal tissues in our breast cancer treatment study. The IMRT plans typically had more favourable dose characteristics to the lung, heart, and spinal cord and body dose when compared with VMAT. The only minor advantage of VMAT for breast cases was slightly better PTV coverage

Association of high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) with established cardiovascular risk factors in the Indian population

Introduction Inflammation, the key regulator of C-reactive protein (CRP) synthesis, plays a pivotal role in atherothrombotic cardiovascular disease. Methods High sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) analysis was carried out in randomly selected 600 individuals from the sentinel surveillance study in Indian industrial population (SSIP). The hsCRP was measured quantitatively by turbid metric test using kits from SPINREACT, Spain. We analyzed the association between hsCRP and traditional CVD risk factors in this sub-sample. Results Complete risk factor data and CRP levels were available from 581/600 individuals. One half (51.2%) of the study subjects were males. Mean age of the study group was 39.2 ± 11.2 years. The Pearson correlation coefficients were in the range of 0.12 for SBP (p = 0.004) to 0.55 for BMI (p < 0.001). The linear regression coefficients ranged from 0.01 for SBP, PG and TC (p < 0.001) to 0.55 for logeTAG (p < 0.001) after adjustment for age, sex and education. The mean of logehsCRP significantly increased (P < 0.001) from individuals with ≤1 risk factors (-0.50) to individuals with three or more risk factors (0.60). In the multivariate model, the odds ratios for elevated CRP (CRP ≥ 2.6 mg/dl) were significantly elevated only in females in comparison to males (1.63, 95% CI; 1.02-2.58), overweight individuals in comparison to normal weight individuals (3.90, 95% CI; 2.34-6.44, p < 0.001), and abdominal obese individuals (1.62, 95% CI; 1.02-2.60, p = 0.04) in comparison to non-obese individuals. Conclusion Clinical measurements of adiposity (body mass index and abdominal obesity) correlate well and can be surrogate for systemic inflammatory state of individuals

ANN-based decision making in station keeping for geotechnical drilling vessel

Offshore vessels (OVs) often require precise station-keeping and some vessels, for exam-ple, vessels involved in geotechnical drilling, generally use Spread Mooring (SM) or Dynamic Positioning (DP) systems. Most of these vessels are equipped with both systems to cover all ranges of water depths. However, determining which system to use for a particular operational scenario de-pends on many factors and requires significant balancing in terms of cost-benefit. Therefore, this research aims to develop a platform that will determine the cost factors for both the SM and DP station-keeping systems. Operational information and cost data are collected for several field oper-ations, and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) are trained using those data samples. After that, the trained ANN is used to predict the components of cost for any given environmental situation, field-work duration and water depth. Later, the total cost is investigated against water depth for both DP and SM systems to determine the most cost-effective option. The results are validated using two operational scenarios for a specific geotechnical vessel. This decision-making algorithm can be further developed by adding up more operational data for various vessels and can be applied in the development of sustainable decision-making business models for OVs operators

A novel image compression algorithm for high resolution 3D reconstruction

This research presents a novel algorithm to compress high-resolution images for accurate structured light 3D reconstruction. Structured light images contain a pattern of light and shadows projected on the surface of the object, which are captured by the sensor at very high resolutions. Our algorithm is concerned with compressing such images to a high degree with minimum loss without adversely affecting 3D reconstruction. The Compression Algorithm starts with a single level discrete wavelet transform (DWT) for decomposing an image into four sub-bands. The sub-band LL is transformed by DCT yielding a DC-matrix and an AC-matrix. The Minimize-Matrix-Size Algorithm is used to compress the AC-matrix while a DWT is applied again to the DC-matrix resulting in LL2, HL2, LH2 and HH2 sub-bands. The LL2 sub-band is transformed by DCT, while the Minimize-Matrix-Size Algorithm is applied to the other sub-bands. The proposed algorithm has been tested with images of different sizes within a 3D reconstruction scenario. The algorithm is demonstrated to be more effective than JPEG2000 and JPEG concerning higher compression rates with equivalent perceived quality and the ability to more accurately reconstruct the 3D models

Clinicopathological Profile and Surgical Treatment of Abdominal Tuberculosis: A Single Centre Experience in Northwestern Tanzania.

Abdominal tuberculosis continues to be a major public health problem worldwide and poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to general surgeons practicing in resource-limited countries. This study was conducted to describe the clinicopathological profile and outcome of surgical treatment of abdominal tuberculosis in our setting and compare with what is described in literature. A prospective descriptive study of patients who presented with abdominal tuberculosis was conducted at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) in northwestern Tanzania from January 2006 to February 2012. Ethical approval to conduct the study was obtained from relevant authorities. Statistical data analysis was performed using SPSS version 17.0. Out of 256 patients enrolled in the study, males outnumbered females. The median age was 28 years (range = 16-68 years). The majority of patients (77.3%) had primary abdominal tuberculosis. A total of 127 (49.6%) patients presented with intestinal obstruction, 106 (41.4%) with peritonitis, 17 (6.6%) with abdominal masses and 6 (2.3%) patients with multiple fistulae in ano. Forty-eight (18.8%) patients were HIV positive. A total of 212 (82.8%) patients underwent surgical treatment for abdominal tuberculosis. Bands /adhesions (58.5%) were the most common operative findings. Ileo-caecal region was the most common bowel involved in 122 (57.5%) patients. Release of adhesions and bands was the most frequent surgical procedure performed in 58.5% of cases. Complication and mortality rates were 29.7% and 18.8% respectively. The overall median length of hospital stay was 32 days and was significantly longer in patients with complications (p < 0.001). Advanced age (age ≥ 65 years), co-morbid illness, late presentation, HIV positivity and CD4+ count < 200 cells/μl were statistically significantly associated with mortality (p < 0.0001). The follow up of patients were generally poor as only 37.5% of patients were available for follow up at twelve months after discharge. Abdominal tuberculosis constitutes a major public health problem in our environment and presents a diagnostic challenge requiring a high index of clinical suspicion. Early diagnosis, early anti-tuberculous therapy and surgical treatment of the associated complications are essential for survival

Anti-Influenza Virus Potential of Probiotic Strain Lactoplantibacillus plantarum YML015 Isolated from Korean Fermented Vegetable

Lactic acid bacteria are one of the potential natural remedies used worldwide, commonly known as probiotics. Here, the aim of this research investigation was to isolate a probiotic Lactobacilli strain, YLM015, from the popular Korean fermented vegetable “Kimchi” and to evaluate its anti-viral potential against influenza virus A (IFVA) H1N1 using the MDCK cell line in vitro, and in embryonated eggs in ovo. The YML015 strain was selected from among the 1200 Lactobacilli isolates for further studies based on its potent anti-viral efficacy. YML015 was identified and characterized as Lactoplantibacillus plantarum YML015 based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing and biochemically with an API 50 CHL Kit. In ovo assay experienced with embryonated eggs and the hemagglutination inhibition method, as well as cytopathogenic reduction assay, was performed individually to observe anti-influenza viral activity of YML015 against influenza virus A H1N1. Additionally, YML015 was classified for its non-resistance nature as safe for humans and animals as confirmed by the antibiotic susceptibility (MIC) test, cell viability, and hemolysis assay. The heat stability test was also experienced by using different heat-treated cell-free supernatant (CFS) samples of YML015. As a result, YML015 showed highly potent anti-viral activity against influenza virus A H1N1 in vitro in the MDCK cell line. Overall findings suggest that anti-influenza viral activity of L. plantarum YML015 makes it a potential candidate of choice for use as an influential probiotic in pharmacological preparations to protect humans and animals from flu and viral infection.</jats:p

A new practical method to evaluate the Joule-Thomson coefficient for natural gases

© 2017, The Author(s). The Joule–Thomson (JT) phenomenon, the study of fluid temperature changes for a given pressure change at constant enthalpy, has great technological and scientific importance for designing, maintenance and prediction of hydrocarbon production. The phenomenon serves vital role in many facets of hydrocarbon production, especially associated with reservoir management such as interpretation of temperature logs of production and injection well, identification of water and gas entry locations in multilayer production scenarios, modelling of thermal response of hydrocarbon reservoirs and prediction of wellbore flowing temperature profile. The purpose of this study is to develop a new method for the evaluation of JT coefficient, as an essential parameter required to account the Joule–Thomson effects while predicting the flowing temperature profile for gas production wells. To do this, a new correction factor, CNM, has been developed through numerical analysis and proposed a practical method to predict CNM which can simplify the prediction of flowing temperature for gas production wells while accounting the Joule–Thomson effect. The developed correlation and methodology were validated through an exhaustive survey which has been conducted with 20 different gas mixture samples. For each sample, the model has been run for a wide range of temperature and pressure conditions, and the model was rigorously verified by comparison of the results estimated throughout the study with the results obtained from HYSYS and Peng–Robinson equation of state. It is observed that model is very simple and robust yet can accurately predict the Joule–Thomson effect