Effect of Chloride Ions on the Corrosion Behavior of Al Zn Alloy in NaOH Solution at Four Different Temperatures

This research involves study effect of chloride ions in concentration range (0.01 0.50 mol.dm-3) on the corrosion behavior of Al-Zn alloy in basic media of 1x10-3 mol.dm-3 NaOH at pH=11 and four different temperatures in the range (298-313 K). Cathodic and anodic Tafel slopes (bc &ba) and transfer coefficients (αc & αa) were calculated and the results interprets according to the variation of the rate determining steps. The results also indicate that the chloride ions are bonded chemically in the interface as an initial step of formation of different mixed oxohydroxy and chloro complexes. Polarization resistance (Rp) is calculates and interprets the different polarization behavior because of addition of chloride ions to the basic media

Increased circulating ANG II and TNF-α represents important risk factors in obese Saudi adults with hypertension irrespective of diabetic status and BMI

Central adiposity is a significant determinant of obesity-related hypertension risk, which may arise due to the pathogenic inflammatory nature of the abdominal fat depot. However, the influence of pro-inflammatory adipokines on blood pressure in the obese hypertensive phenotype has not been well established in Saudi subjects. As such, our study investigated whether inflammatory factors may represent useful biomarkers to delineate hypertension risk in a Saudi cohort with and without hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMT2). Subjects were subdivided into four groups: healthy lean controls (age: 47.9±5.1 yr; BMI: 22.9±2.1 Kg/m2), non-hypertensive obese (age: 46.1±5.0 yr; BMI: 33.7±4.2 Kg/m2), hypertensive obese (age: 48.6±6.1 yr; BMI: 36.5±7.7 Kg/m2) and hypertensive obese with DMT2 (age: 50.8±6.0 yr; BMI: 35.3±6.7 Kg/m2). Anthropometric data were collected from all subjects and fasting blood samples were utilized for biochemical analysis. Serum angiotensin II (ANG II) levels were elevated in hypertensive obese (p<0.05) and hypertensive obese with DMT2 (p<0.001) compared with normotensive controls. Systolic blood pressure was positively associated with BMI (p<0.001), glucose (p<0.001), insulin (p<0.05), HOMA-IR (p<0.001), leptin (p<0.01), TNF-α (p<0.001) and ANG II (p<0.05). Associations between ANG II and TNF-α with systolic blood pressure remained significant after controlling for BMI. Additionally CRP (p<0.05), leptin (p<0.001) and leptin/adiponectin ratio (p<0.001) were also significantly associated with the hypertension phenotype. In conclusion our data suggests that circulating pro-inflammatory adipokines, particularly ANG II and, TNF-α, represent important factors associated with a hypertension phenotype and may directly contribute to predicting and exacerbating hypertension risk

Propagation path loss modeling and coverage measurements in urban microcell in millimeter wave frequency bands

The global bandwidth deficiency facing wireless carriers has motivated the exploration of the underutilized millimeter wave (mm-wave) frequency spectrum for future broadband cellular communication networks, and mm Wave band is one of the promising candidates due to wide spectrum. This paper presents propagation path loss and outdoor coverage and link budget measurements for frequencies above 6 GHz (mm-wave bands) using directional horn antennas at the transmitter and omnidirectional antennas at the receiver. This work presents measurements showing the propagation time delay spread and path loss as a function of separation distance for different frequencies and antenna pointing angles for many types of real-world environments. The data presented here show that at 28 GHz, 38 GHz and 60 GHz, unobstructed Line of Site (LOS) channels obey free space propagation path loss while non-LOS (NLOS) channels have large multipath delay spreads and can utilize many different pointing angles to provide propagation links. At 60 GHz, there is more path loss and smaller delay spreads. Power delay profiles PDPs were measured at every individual pointing angle for each TX and RX location, and integrating each of the PDPs to obtain received power as a function of pointing angle. The result shows that the mean RMS delay spread varies between 7.2 ns and 74.4 ns for 60 GHz and 28 GHz respectively in NLOS scenario

Risk factors for exacerbations and pneumonia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pooled analysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at risk of exacerbations and pneumonia; how the risk factors interact is unclear. METHODS: This post-hoc, pooled analysis included studies of COPD patients treated with inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/long-acting β2 agonist (LABA) combinations and comparator arms of ICS, LABA, and/or placebo. Backward elimination via Cox's proportional hazards regression modelling evaluated which combination of risk factors best predicts time to first (a) pneumonia, and (b) moderate/severe COPD exacerbation. RESULTS: Five studies contributed: NCT01009463, NCT01017952, NCT00144911, NCT00115492, and NCT00268216. Low body mass index (BMI), exacerbation history, worsening lung function (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease [GOLD] stage), and ICS treatment were identified as factors increasing pneumonia risk. BMI was the only pneumonia risk factor influenced by ICS treatment, with ICS further increasing risk for those with BMI <25 kg/m2. The modelled probability of pneumonia varied between 3 and 12% during the first year. Higher exacerbation risk was associated with a history of exacerbations, poorer lung function (GOLD stage), female sex and absence of ICS treatment. The influence of the other exacerbation risk factors was not modified by ICS treatment. Modelled probabilities of an exacerbation varied between 31 and 82% during the first year. CONCLUSIONS: The probability of an exacerbation was considerably higher than for pneumonia. ICS reduced exacerbations but did not influence the effect of risks associated with prior exacerbation history, GOLD stage, or female sex. The only identified risk factor for ICS-induced pneumonia was BMI <25 kg/m2. Analyses of this type may help the development of COPD risk equations

Circulating leukocyte telomere length is highly heritable among families of Arab descent

Background Telomere length, an indicator of ageing and longevity, has been correlated with several biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease in both Arab children and adults. It is not known, however, whether or not telomere length is a highly conserved inheritable trait in this homogeneous cohort, where age-related diseases are highly prevalent. As such, the aim of this study was to address the inheritability of telomere length in Saudi families and the impact of cardiometabolic disease biomarkers on telomere length. Methods A total of 119 randomly selected Saudi families (123 adults and 131 children) were included in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometrics were obtained and fasting blood samples were taken for routine analyses of fasting glucose and lipid profile. Leukocyte telomere length was determined using quantitative real time PCR. Results Telomere length was highly heritable as assessed by a parent-offspring regression [h2 = 0.64 (p = 0.0006)]. Telomere length was modestly associated with BMI (R2 0.07; p-value 0.0087), total cholesterol (R2 0.08; p-value 0.0033), and LDL-cholesterol (R2 0.15; p-value 3 x 10-5) after adjustments for gender, age and age within generation. Conclusion The high heritability of telomere length in Arab families, and the associations of telomere length with various cardiometabolic parameters suggest heritable genetic fetal and/or epigenetic influences on the early predisposition of Arab children to age-related diseases and accelerated ageing

Propagation Path Loss Modeling and Outdoor Coverage Measurements Review in Millimeter Wave Bands for 5G Cellular Communications

The global bandwidth inadequacy facing wireless carriers has motivated the exploration of the underutilized millimeter wave (mm-wave) frequency spectrum for future broadband cellular communication networks, and mmWave band is one of the promising candidates due to wide spectrum. This paper presents propagation path loss and outdoor coverage and link budget measurements for frequencies above 6 GHz (mm-wave bands) using directional horn antennas at the transmitter and omnidirectional antennas at the receiver. This work presents measurements showing the propagation time delay spread and path loss as a function of separation distance for different frequencies and antenna pointing angles for many types of real-world environments. The data presented here show that at 28 GHz, 38 GHz and 60 GHz, unobstructed Line of Site (LOS) channels obey free space propagation path loss while non-LOS (NLOS) channels have large multipath delay spreads and can utilize many different pointing angles to provide propagation links. At 60 GHz, there is more path loss and smaller delay spreads. Power delay profiles PDPs were measured at every individual pointing angle for each TX and RX location, and integrating each of the PDPs to obtain received power as a function of pointing angle. The result shows that the mean RMS delay spread varies between 7.2 ns and 74.4 ns for 60 GHz and 28 GHz respectively in NLOS scenario

HEREDITARYSPHEROCYTOSIS DIAGNOSED IN 16 YEAR FEMALE- ACASE REPORT

Hereditary Spherocytosis (HS) is relatively common haemolytic anemia in which basic abnormality is an intrinsic defect of red cell membrane. Clinically patients may asymptomatic to intermittent jaundice,anemia, abdominal pain and splenomegaly. Here we reporting a case of 16-year female presented as recurrent abdominal pain,jaundice ,splenomegaly and anemia. Clinical examination show pallor,jaundice and massive splenomegaly. Investigations confirmed diagnosis of HS, by the presence of peripheral blood smear spherocytes,increased MCHC,reticulocytosis,negative direct coombs test and increased osmotic fragility. She advised to undergo splenectomy and cholecystectomy as active part of management

Obesity and survival in operable breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant anthracyclines and taxanes according to pathological subtypes: a pooled analysis

IntroductionObesity is an unfavorable prognostic factor in breast cancer (BC) patients regardless of menopausal status and treatment received. However, the association between obesity and survival outcome by pathological subtype requires further clarification.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis including 5,683 operable BC patients enrolled in four randomized clinical trials (GEICAM/9906, GEICAM/9805, GEICAM/2003–02, and BCIRG 001) evaluating anthracyclines and taxanes as adjuvant treatments. Our primary aim was to assess the prognostic effect of body mass index (BMI) on disease recurrence, breast cancer mortality (BCM), and overall mortality (OM). A secondary aim was to detect differences of such prognostic effects by subtype.ResultsMultivariate survival analyses adjusting for age, tumor size, nodal status, menopausal status, surgery type, histological grade, hormone receptor status, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, chemotherapy regimen, and under-treatment showed that obese patients (BMI 30.0 to 34.9) had similar prognoses to that of patients with a BMI < 25 (reference group) in terms of recurrence (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 1.08, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 0.90 to 1.30), BCM (HR = 1.02, 0.81 to 1.29), and OM (HR = 0.97, 0.78 to 1.19). Patients with severe obesity (BMI ≥ 35) had a significantly increased risk of recurrence (HR = 1.26, 1.00 to 1.59, P = 0.048), BCM (HR = 1.32, 1.00 to 1.74, P = 0.050), and OM (HR = 1.35, 1.06 to 1.71, P = 0.016) compared to our reference group. The prognostic effect of severe obesity did not vary by subtype.ConclusionsSeverely obese patients treated with anthracyclines and taxanes present a worse prognosis regarding recurrence, BCM, and OM than patients with BMI < 25. The magnitude of the harmful effect of BMI on survival-related outcomes was similar across subtypes

Spectrum sharing and compatibility between the international mobile telecommunication-advanced and digital broadcasting in the digital dividend band

The International Telecommunication Union for Radiocommunication (ITU-R) became involved with the spectrum allocation for next generation mobile communication services in World Radio Communication conference 2007 (WRC- 07). The reason is to minimize the adjacent channel interference between Mobile service and DVB-T system within the same geographical area. Therefore, this paper investigates the spectrum sharing requirements such as separation distance and studies the compatibility between Mobile services (IMT-Advanced) and Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial (DVB-T) in the 790 to 862 MHz frequency band. This paper also involves the studies of propagation characteristics within this band which can provide better coverage. Possibility of coexistence and sharing analysis were obtained by taking into account the detailed calculations of the path loss effect by using the practical parameters of DVB-T and Mobile service. The interference has been analyzed and simulated for suburban environment in different channel bandwidths for Mobile service at 5MHz and 20MHz, and in different transmitted power for Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial. The best separation distance between these two systems found are 4.65 Km and 3.42 Km for bandwidth of 5MHz and 20 MHz respectively

Insufficient OPC migration into demyelinated lesions is a cause of poor remyelination in MS and mouse models

Failure of remyelination of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions contributes to neurodegeneration that correlates with chronic disability in patients. Currently, there are no available treatments to reduce neurodegeneration, but one therapeutic approach to fill this unmet need is to promote remyelination. As many demyelinated MS lesions contain plentiful oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), but no mature myelinating oligodendrocytes, research has previously concentrated on promoting OPC maturation. However, some MS lesions contain few OPCs, and therefore, remyelination failure may also be secondary to OPC recruitment failure. Here, in a series of MS samples, we determined how many lesions contained few OPCs, and correlated this to pathological subtype and expression of the chemotactic molecules Semaphorin (Sema) 3A and 3F. 37 % of MS lesions contained low numbers of OPCs, and these were mostly chronic active lesions, in which cells expressed Sema3A (chemorepellent). To test the hypothesis that differential Sema3 expression in demyelinated lesions alters OPC recruitment and the efficiency of subsequent remyelination, we used a focal myelinotoxic mouse model of demyelination. Adding recombinant (r)Sema3A (chemorepellent) to demyelinated lesions reduced OPC recruitment and remyelination, whereas the addition of rSema3F (chemoattractant), or use of transgenic mice with reduced Sema3A expression increased OPC recruitment and remyelination. We conclude that some MS lesions fail to remyelinate secondary to reduced OPC recruitment, and that chemotactic molecules are involved in the mechanism, providing a new group of drug targets to improve remyelination, with a specific target in the Sema3A receptor neuropilin-1. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00401-013-1112-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users