Concentric circular antenna array synthesis using comprehensive learning particle swarm optimizer

Abstract-Concentric circular antenna array (CCAA) is synthesized to generate pencil beam with minimum side lobe level (SLL). The comprehensive learning particle swarm optimizer (CLPSO) is used for synthesizing a ten-ring CCAA with central element. This Synthesis is done by finding the optimum current excitation weights and interelement spacing of rings. The computational results show that sidelobe level is reduced to −40.5 dB with narrow beamwith about 4.1 •

Comparison Between Norepinephrine Alone Versus Norepinephrine/Vasopressin Combination for Resuscitation in Septic Shock

Abstract Introduction Septic shock is one of the leading causes of death in the intensive care unit (ICU) through its consequences on vital organ function. Combinations of vasopressors for effective cardiovascular support play an essential role in septic shock. This study aimed to compare the effect of norepinephrine (NE) alone versus early NE/vasopressin (VP) combination on tissue perfusion and renal function in septic shock patients. Materials and methods The study enrolled 90 adult ICU patients who developed septic shock. They were randomly divided into two equal groups; NE group (received NE infusion) and VP/NE group (received NE and VP infusion). All patients received standard therapy for septic shock and standard of care in the ICU. Both groups were compared as regard serum lactate level as a primary outcome, central venous oxygen saturation, heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, sepsis biomarkers (C-reactive protein and white blood cell count), renal biomarkers (urea, creatinine, and urinary neutrophil gelatinase associated Lipocalin), time of recovery from septic shock, NE dose, the need for mechanical ventilation and renal replacement therapy, length of ICU stay and 28 days mortality as secondary outcomes. Results We found that the serum lactate, heart rate, NE dose at 6 and 48 hours, length of ICU stay, renal biomarkers and the need for renal replacement therapy were significantly lower, but the mean arterial blood pressure were significantly higher in the VP/NE group compared to the NE group. Thirty-nine (86.7%) patients in the NE group continued with the studied drugs combination after 48 hours versus 22 (48.9%) in NE/VP group (P<.001). There was no significant difference between both groups regarding central venous oxygen saturation, sepsis biomarkers, the need for mechanical ventilation or the incidence of 28days of mortality. Discussion Early combination of VP with NE in septic shock induced a significant improvement of serum lactate, renal function, and decreased NE infusion with significant earlier recovery before 48 hours from septic shock. Trial registration This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04302584)

Assessment of endobronchial chemotherapy in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma

Background Malignant airway obstruction is commonly found in patients with lung cancer and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Relieving malignant obstruction may improve symptoms, quality of life, and life expectancy. The aim of the present work is to determine the efficacy of endobronchial intratumoral injection of 5-Fluorouracil as a chemotherapeutic agent in palliative care for patients with inoperable nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and methods A total of 30 patients diagnosed as inoperable advanced-stage NSCLC were included into this randomized prospective controlled comparative study and divided into two groups (group A: 15 patients received the conventional sessions of systemic chemotherapy only and group B: 15 patients received the conventional sessions of systemic chemotherapy in addition to two to three sessions of local endobronchial intratumoral chemotherapy using 5-fluorouracil). Patient characteristics, histology, airways infiltrated with the tumor, performance status, treatment cycles, complications, and therapeutic outcomes were evaluated. Tumor response was analyzed based on bronchoscopic evaluation performed on completion of the final treatment session. Results There was no significant difference in the total objective response between patients who used systemic chemotherapy alone for treatment of advanced NSCLC and those who used systemic chemotherapy in addition to sessions of local chemotherapy using 5-fluorouracil that was injected intratumorally through bronchoscopy in multiple sessions. Conclusion We concluded that endobronchial intratumoral chemotherapy using 5-fluorouracil is not an effective promising treatment approach for palliative treatment of patients with advanced malignant endobronchial NSCLC

Enhancement Effects of Water Magnetization and/or Disinfection by Sodium Hypochlorite on Secondary Slaughterhouse Wastewater Effluent Quality and Disinfection By-Products

Wastewater disinfection is one of the most critical issues in protecting human health against exposure to waterborne pathogenies. Chlorine is among the most commonly used disinfectants in many wastewaters&rsquo; treatment plants. Nevertheless, disquiets regarding chlorine&rsquo;s disinfection by-products (DBPs) have grown recently. One of the most effective ways to reduce DBPs generation is to reduce chlorine dosage by increasing disinfectant efficiency. Using magnetic field (MF) in wastewater treatment is one of the promising research topics with significant progression. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of using a magnetic field and/or sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) disinfection on secondary slaughterhouse wastewater effluent quality and by-products. Three groups of secondary slaughterhouse wastewater effluents were used: G1 was treated with NaClO only at 0, 2, 4, and 6 mg/L; G2 was treated with exposure to MF at 14,500 gausses, and G3 was pretreated with MF, then NaClO at the exact chlorine dosages and MF strength. The results showed an augmented effect when using a magnetic field as a pre-treatment step before NaClO treatment in the remediation of slaughterhouse wastewater over the use of any of them solely. The removal rate of COD and BOD increased by up to 26 and 20%, respectively, when pre-treatment with MF was employed as a mean percentage at all chlorine dosages, while TSS, TDS, and EC increased by 23.5 and 5.5%, respectively. Over and above, the removal rate for each TN and TP increased by 12 and 6.5% as a mean percentage at all chlorine dosages when using a combination of the two. In addition, pre-treatment by MF reduced the required concentration of NaClO from 6 to 4 mg/L, resulting in an 11% increase in the reduction rate of total coliform count, 8% increase in the reduction rate of fecal coliforms, and 10% increase in the reduction rate of E. coli and 5% in Salmonella via increasing the disinfection efficiency of NaClO. Finally, it decreased the concentration of Chloroform produced by more than 77.2% by using the higher concentration of NaClO (6 mg/L). The issue that approved the promising approach of using MF as a pre-treatment step in the treatment of slaughterhouse wastewater provides the advantage of using smaller dosages of disinfection, lowering the cost of the procedure process, and reducing the harmful concentration of DBPs