Surface-bulk micromachined on-chip monopole antenna for 77 GHz automotive radar applications

[abstract not available

Novel Integrated Antenna Array for Automotive Radars Operating at 77 GHz

[abstract not available

Does the Serum Testosterone Level Have a Relation to Coronary Artery Disease in Elderly Men?

Background. The low serum level of testosterone in the elderly subjects may contribute to coronary artery disease (CAD). Our aim is to study serum levels of free testosterone in elderly men with CAD. Subjects and Methods. This study was conducted on 100 elderly males with CAD, one half of them was presented with ACS (with mean age 69.6±2.44 year), and the other half was presented with stable CAD (with mean age 69.42±2.14 year), in addition to 50 apparently healthy elderly males (with mean age 69.06±1.64 year) as a control group. We detected the levels of serum free testosterone, cortisol, fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1), high sensitive C-reactive protein(hsCRP), interleukin-6(IL-6). Results. Cases with CAD had significant lower values of free testosterone and HDL-c, but they had significant higher values of cortisol, fibrinogen, PAI-1, IL-6, hsCRP, in comparison to control group. Cases with ACS had significant higher values of cortisol, hsCRP, IL-6, fibrinogen, PAI-1, total cholesterol and BMI more than those with stable CAD. The free testosterone had significant negative correlation with fibrinogen, PAI-1, hsCRP and IL-6 in both groups of patients. Conclusion. The lower value of serum free testosterone in elderly male subjects may contribute to CAD

Electrosteric stealth Rivastigmine loaded liposomes for brain targeting: preparation, characterization, ex vivo, bio-distribution and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies

Being one of the highly effective drugs in treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, Rivastigmine brain targeting is highly demandable, therefore liposomal dispersion of Rivastigmine was prepared containing 2 mol% PEG-DSPE added to Lecithin, Didecyldimethyl ammonium bromide (DDAB), Tween 80 in 1:0.02:0.25 molar ratio. A major challenge during the preparation of liposomes is maintaining a stable formulation, therefore the aim of our study was to increase liposomal stability by addition of DDAB to give an electrostatic stability and PEG-DSPE to increase stability by steric hindrance, yielding what we called an electrosteric stealth (ESS) liposomes. A medium nano-sized liposome (478 ± 4.94 nm) with a nearly neutral zeta potential (ZP, −8 ± 0.2 mV) and an entrapment efficiency percentage of 48 ± 6.22 was prepared. Stability studies showed no major alteration after three months storage period concerning particle size, polydispersity index, ZP, entrapment efficiency and in vitro release study confirming the successful formation of a stable liposomes. No histopathological alteration was recorded for ESS liposomes of the sheep nasal mucosa. While ESS liposomes showed higher % of drug permeating through the sheep nasal mucosa (48.6%) than the drug solution (28.7%). On completing the in vivo pharmacokinetic studies of 36 rabbits showed 424.2% relative bioavailability of the mean plasma levels of the formula ESS compared to that of RHT intranasal solution and 486% relative bioavailability of the mean brain levels

Electrosteric stealth Rivastigmine loaded liposomes for brain targeting: preparation, characterization, <i>ex vivo</i>, bio-distribution and <i>in vivo</i> pharmacokinetic studies

<p>Being one of the highly effective drugs in treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, Rivastigmine brain targeting is highly demandable, therefore liposomal dispersion of Rivastigmine was prepared containing 2 mol% PEG-DSPE added to Lecithin, Didecyldimethyl ammonium bromide (DDAB), Tween 80 in 1:0.02:0.25 molar ratio. A major challenge during the preparation of liposomes is maintaining a stable formulation, therefore the aim of our study was to increase liposomal stability by addition of DDAB to give an electrostatic stability and PEG-DSPE to increase stability by steric hindrance, yielding what we called an electrosteric stealth (ESS) liposomes. A medium nano-sized liposome (478 ± 4.94 nm) with a nearly neutral zeta potential (ZP, −8 ± 0.2 mV) and an entrapment efficiency percentage of 48 ± 6.22 was prepared. Stability studies showed no major alteration after three months storage period concerning particle size, polydispersity index, ZP, entrapment efficiency and <i>in vitro</i> release study confirming the successful formation of a stable liposomes. No histopathological alteration was recorded for ESS liposomes of the sheep nasal mucosa. While ESS liposomes showed higher % of drug permeating through the sheep nasal mucosa (48.6%) than the drug solution (28.7%). On completing the <i>in vivo</i> pharmacokinetic studies of 36 rabbits showed 424.2% relative bioavailability of the mean plasma levels of the formula ESS compared to that of RHT intranasal solution and 486% relative bioavailability of the mean brain levels.</p

Wave Front-Guided Photorefractive Keratectomy Using a High-Resolution Aberrometer After Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking in Keratoconus

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of wave front–guided (WFG) photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) using a high-definition aberrometer in corneas with keratoconus at least 1 year after corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL). Methods: Prospective uncontrolled interventional case series study including a total of 34 consecutive eyes of 25 patients with keratoconus previously treated with CXL. All cases underwent WFG PRK using the VISX STAR S4 IR excimer laser and the iDesign system. All eyes had keratoconus grade I or II according to the Amsler–Krumeich classification. Visual, refractive, and ocular aberrometric outcomes were evaluated during a 12-month follow-up. Astigmatic changes were analyzed with the Alpins vector method. Results: A significant improvement was observed in the uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuities (P < 0.001). The mean efficacy and safety indices at 12 months postoperatively were 1.58 ± 1.11 and 1.96 ± 1.52, respectively. Manifest sphere and cylinder were reduced significantly (P < 0.001), with 76.5% of the eyes having a spherical equivalent within ±1.00 D at 12 months postoperatively. The mean difference vector and magnitude of error were 1.06 ± 0.92 and 0.43 ± 0.86 D, respectively. Some corneal irregularity indices were reduced significantly with surgery (P ≤ 0.005) as well as the level of ocular higher order aberrations, primary coma, and trefoil (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Sequential WFG PRK using the iDesign system and the STAR S4 IR excimer laser after CXL is an effective option to correct the spherocylindrical error and to minimize the level of higher order aberrations in mild and moderate keratoconus if the maximum intended ablation depth does not exceed 15% of the minimal corneal thickness

Groundwater aquifer assessment using hydrogeophysical investigations: the case of western Al Ain Sokhna area, Gulf of Suez, Eastern Desert, Egypt

This study aims to assess the groundwater aquifer and defined the quality of water in the Gulf of Suez region. Hydrochemical and electrical resistivity techniques have been used for evaluating an aquifer, including its extension and quality, in the western Al Ain Sokhna area, Gulf of Suez. This study collected 16 groundwater samples from wells tapping the upper Miocene aquifer. Laboratory tests, including the estimation of electrical conductivity (E.C.), pH, total dissolved solids (TDS) and major ions such as Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, CO32–, HCO33–, SO42– and Cl–, were conducted. Most water samples belonged to the category of permissible water (TDS 500–1500 ppm) which represented 62.5% and brackish water which represented 37.5%. A total of 47 vertical electrical sounding stations were measured using the Schlumberger array of AB/2 up to 1500 m to detect the subsurface geologic section and delineate water-bearing layers. The results of geoelectrical interpretation illustrated that the subsurface section has five geoelectrical layers. The third layer represents the freshwater aquifer, and the fourth layer represents the brackish water aquifer. The upper Miocene aquifer represents the first aquifer with fresh groundwater of resistivities ranging from 14.7 to 100 Ω.m and thickness ranging between 28.4 and 86 m