Immunoglobulins assessment (IgE,G,A,M) in some Iraqi patients with acute and chronic urticaria

60 patients diagnosed as having urticaria were included in the study ; 30 patients were effected with acute urticaria and 30 patients were affected with chronic urticaria. In addition, 30 healthy adult volunteers were selected as control group .The patients and control groups sera were examined with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) to detect total level IgE and radial immunodiffusion (RID) to detect levels of IgG , IgA and IgM . The total level of IgE in acute urticaria ( 1.45±0.13) IU/mL and chronic urticaria (2.12 ± 0.10) IU/mL patients were significantly higher than the control groups ( 0.85 ± 0.10)IU/mL (

Effects of HoMnO3 nanoparticles addition on microstructural, superconducting and dielectric properties of YBa2Cu3O7–δ

(YBa2Cu3O7–δ)1-x(HoMnO3)x (x = 0.0, 0.0025, 0.005, 0.01, 0.03 and 0.05) ceramics were fabricated by introducing co-precipitation synthesized HoMnO3 (HMO) nanoparticles during solid state reaction process of YBa2Cu3O7–δ (Y-123) superconductors. (Y-123)1-x(HMO)x samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) attached with energy Dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX), four-point probe measurement, AC susceptometer and impedance analyzer. Majority of XRD patterns were indexed to orthorhombic Y-123 phase. Besides, YBaMn2O5 (1.5–3.6%) and YBaMn2O6 (2.4–7.4%) phases were detected. FESEM images and EDX analysis showed the presence of agglomerated particulates related to Mn and Ho based phases residing in between the Y-123 grains. The superconducting behavior was significantly enhanced at x = 0.0025 while there was no major depression noticed in critical temperature (Tc-R=0) as the addition increased till x = 0.03 (Tc-R=0 = 88 K). AC susceptibility curves of composites samples manifested sharp transitions for samples with x = 0.0025 and 0.005. Dielectric parameters εr′ and εr′ʹ decreased as the frequency increased for all samples. The εr versus frequency measurements showed increment in εr′ and εr′ʹ values for all added samples as compared to Y-123 sample. The highest values for εr′ and εr′ʹ were obtained for sample x = 0.05 with the highest loss at lower frequency. The Nyquist plots of complex impedance were analyzed where two semi-arc circulars represent grain and grain boundary effect were deduced

Aspect-dependent efficient multipath ghost suppression in TWRI with sparse reconstruction

In through-the-wall radar imaging, multipath propagation can create ghost targets, which can adversely affect the image reconstruction process. However, unlike genuine targets, ghost positions are aspect-dependent, which means their position changes with the transceiver location. This paper proposes efficient ghost suppression methods exploiting aspect dependence feature under compressive sensing framework. This paper proposes a generalized signal model that accommodates for the reflections of the front-wall and target-to-target interactions, making the scheme more practical, yet the knowledge of the location of reflecting geometry is not a requirement as in most of the recent literatures. In addition, the sensing matrix is greatly reduced making the methods more attractive. Moreover, this paper investigates the influence of array configurations by examining two antenna array configurations: multimonostatic, and single-view bistatic configurations. Results based on synthesized data and real experiment show that the proposed method can greatly suppress multipath ghosts and hence increase signal-to-clutter ratio.</jats:p

Effect of Sol-Gel Synthesized BiFeO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; Nanoparticle Addition in YBa&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;Cu&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;7–δ&lt;/sub&gt; (Y123) Superconductor Synthesized by Standard Solid State Reaction Method

The effects of the multiforric BiFO3 nanoparticles addition on the structure and superconducting properties of YBa2Cu3O7–δ (Y123) with different concentrations were systematically investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron micrograph (FESEM), EDX and four point probe measurement. It was found that the added samples were predominant by Y-123 phase beside small amount of Y-211 and unreacted BiFeO3 secondary phases. Samples with less (wt.%) BFO added YBCO precursor powder preserved the orthorhombic structure similar to the pure YBCO, while samples with higher wt% addition show orthorhombic-to-tetragonal transition tendency. The samples became more porous and their grain size slightly decreased with addition of BiFeO3. The addition of nanoBiFeO3 disturbed the grain growth of Y123, thus resulting in the degradation of superconducting properties of the samples. The superconducting transition temperature (Tc onset) of samples decreased from 92 K for x=0.0 to 44 K for x=10.0 wt. %, which could be attributable to oxygen vacancy disorder.</jats:p

Effect of sol-gel synthesized BiFeO3 nanoparticle addition in YBa2Cu3O7–δ (Y123) superconductor synthesized by standard solid state reaction method

The effects of the multiforric BiFO3 nanoparticles addition on the structure and superconducting properties of YBa2Cu3O7–δ (Y123) with different concentrations were systematically investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron micrograph (FESEM), EDX and four point probe measurement. It was found that the added samples were predominant by Y-123 phase beside small amount of Y-211 and unreacted BiFeO3 secondary phases. Samples with less (wt.%) BFO added YBCO precursor powder preserved the orthorhombic structure similar to the pure YBCO, while samples with higher wt% addition show orthorhombic-to-tetragonal transition tendency. The samples became more porous and their grain size slightly decreased with addition of BiFeO3. The addition of nanoBiFeO3 disturbed the grain growth of Y123, thus resulting in the degradation of superconducting properties of the samples. The superconducting transition temperature (Tc onset) of samples decreased from 92 K for x=0.0 to 44 K for x=10.0 wt. %, which could be attributable to oxygen vacancy disorder

Oxygenation improvement and duration of prone positioning are associated with ICU mortality in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients

Background: Prone position has been diffusely applied in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients. Our aim is ascertaining the association between the physiologic response and the length of the first cycle of prone position and intensive care unit (ICU) mortality. Methods: International registry including COVID-19 adult patients who underwent prone positioning. We measured the difference for arterial partial pressure of oxygen to inspired fraction of oxygen ratio (PaO2/FiO2), ventilatory ratio, and respiratory system compliance (Crs) between baseline supine position and at either the end of the first cycle of prone position (Delta-PP) or re-supination (Delta-PostPP). Results: We enrolled 1816 patients from 53 centers. Delta-PP and Delta-PostPP for PaO2/FiO2 were both associated with ICU mortality [OR (95% CI) 0.48 (0.38, 0.59), and OR (95% CI) 0.60 (0.52, 0.68), respectively]. Ventilatory ratio had a non-linear relationship with ICU mortality for Delta-PP (p = 0.022) and Delta-PostPP (p = 0.004). Delta-PP, while not Delta-PostPP, for Crs was associated with ICU mortality [OR (95% CI) 0.80 (0.65, 0.98)]. The length of the first cycle of prone position showed an inverse relationship with ICU mortality [OR (95% CI) 0.82 (0.73, 0.91)]. At the multivariable analysis, the duration of the first cycle of prone position, Delta-PP and Delta-PostPP for PaO2/FiO2, and Delta-PostPP for ventilatory ratio were independently associated with ICU mortality. Conclusion: In COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory failure receiving invasive mechanical ventilation and prone positioning, the physiological response to prone position is associated with ICU mortality. Prolonging the duration of the first cycle of prone position is associated with improved survival