Electronic structure of Pr2MnNiO6 from x-ray photoemission, absorption and density functional theory

The electronic structure of double perovskite Pr2MnNiO6 is studied using core x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. The 2p x-ray absorption spectra show that Mn and Ni are in 2+ and 4+ states respectively. Using charge transfer multiplet analysis of Ni and Mn 2p XPS spectra, we find charge transfer energies {\Delta} of 3.5 and 2.5 eV for Ni and Mn respectively. The ground state of Ni2+ and Mn4+ reveal a higher d electron count of 8.21 and 3.38 respectively as compared to the atomic values of 8.00 and 3.00 respectively thereby indicating the covalent nature of the system. The O 1s edge absorption spectra reveal a band gap of 0.9 eV which is comparable to the value obtained from first principle calculations for U-J >= 2 eV. The density of states clearly reveal a strong p-d type charge transfer character of the system, with band gap proportional to average charge transfer energy of Ni2+ and Mn4+ ions.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figure

Fetomaternal outcome of rheumatic heart disease in pregnancy: an observational study

Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains a significant global health burden, particularly among pregnant women in regions with limited access to healthcare. Pregnancy exacerbates the risks associated with RHD due to increased cardiac demand, potentially leading to adverse fetomaternal outcomes. This study aims to investigate the fetomaternal outcomes associated with RHD during pregnancy. Specific objectives include assessing the maternal outcome of patients with rheumatic heart disease in pregnancy and investigating the fetal outcome. Methods: It was a retrospective observational study to assess the outcomes of pregnant women and neonatal outcomes. Results: The findings reveal a significant burden of adverse fetomaternal outcomes associated with RHD during pregnancy. Maternal complications, such as maternal mortality (4%), mean gestational age 39.17 years, valvular disorder and mode of delivery, and fetal complications, including preterm birth, low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction, and neonatal mortality, were also elevated in this population. Conclusions: Moving forward, further research is essential to enhance our understanding and optimize care for pregnant women with RHD

Choroid Plexus of the Fourth Ventricle: Review and Anatomic Study Highlighting Anatomical Variations

Relatively few studies have been performed that analyze the morphology of the choroid plexus of the fourth ventricle. Due to the importance of this tissue as a landmark on imaging and during surgical intervention of the fourth ventricle, the authors performed a cadaveric study to better characterize this important structure. The choroid plexus of the fourth ventricle of 60 formalin fixed adult human brains was examined and measured. The horizontal distance from the midline to the lateral most point of the protruding tip of the horizontal limbs was measured. In the majority of the 60 brain specimens, right and left horizontal limbs of the choroid plexus were seen extending from the midline and protruding out of their respective lateral apertures of the fourth ventricle and into the subarachnoid space. However, on 3.3% of sides, there was absence of an extension into the foramen of Luschka and in one specimen, this lack of extension into the foramen of Luschka was bilateral. On two sides, there was discontinuity between the midline choroid plexus and the tuft of choroid just outside the foramen of Luschka. For specimens in which the choroid plexus did protrude through the foramen of Luschka (96.7%), these tufts were located anterior to the flocculus and inferolateral to the facial/vestibulocochlear nerve complex and posterosuperior to the glossopharyngeal/vagal/accessory complex. A thorough understanding of the normal and variant anatomy of the fourth ventricular choroid plexus is necessary for those who operate in, or interpret imaging of, this region

Overweight and Obesity and its associated factors among high school students of Dibrugarh, Assam, India

Background: The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity is emerging as a public health problem in urban India and also contributes to obesity and various non-communicable diseases among adult population. Hence, it is necessary to identify potential risk factors for childhood obesity and formulate early interventions to control this epidemic. Aims & Objectives: To assess the magnitude of overweight and obesity among high-school students of Dibrugarh and to determine factors associated with it. Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study including students enrolled in 8th- 10th grades in schools of urban Dibrugarh, Assam was conducted from October 2012 to June 2013 wherein 1000 students were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Information regarding dietary intake, amount of physical activity was collected using pre-designed, pre-tested questionnaire followed by anthropometric measurements which included body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference was done. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS-16 software. Results: Of the 1000 students enrolled, 119 (11.9%) were overweight, 71 (7.1%) were obese and 225 (22.5%) had high waist-hip ratio. The factors significantly associated with overweight and obesity were higher socio-economic class, frequent intake of fast food items, sedentary lifestyle with less physical activity. Conclusion: Children belonging to higher socio-economic group, consuming fast food and involved in less physical activity were more predisposed to overweight and obesity.&nbsp

Comparison of Dentoskeletal Changes, Esthetic, and Functional Efficacy of Conventional and Novel Esthetic Twin Block Appliances among Class II Growing Patients: A Pilot Study

Objective:A twin block appliance used for correction of skeletal Class II malocclusion suffers from undesirable dental effects and bulkiness. To overcome these limitations and the need for more esthetic appearance of this appliance, an esthetic twin block was designed and used in patients. This study aimed to compare dentoskeletal changes and esthetic and functional efficacy in patients treated with conventional and newly designed esthetic twin block (CTB and ETB) appliances using cephalometric measurements and a questionnaire.Methods:A pilot study with a 2-arm parallel-randomized double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 24 patients (20 males, 4 females) in the age group of 11-13 years. Subjects were treated with CTB (group 1 [G1]: n=12; mean age=11.67±0.49 years) and ETB (group 2 [G2]: n=12; mean age=11.75±0.62 years) appliances. A modified Pancherz analysis was performed to evaluate skeletal and dental changes. The esthetic and functional efficacy was evaluated by a questionnaire using Likert scale. Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U tests were employed for intra and intergroup comparisons respectively (p<0.05).Results:In G1, a significant increase in lower incisor inclination was observed (p<0.05) whereas it was insignificant in G2. The changes were predominantly skeletal in G2 whereas they were both skeletal and dental in G1. ETB was found to be esthetically and functionally acceptable in all the patients while CTB patients were esthetically conscious, lacked confidence and had discomfort and difficulty in eating, chewing and speaking.Conclusion:ETB had greater skeletal effects with a reduced tendency of lower incisor proclination, was esthetically acceptable, and functionally more comfortable than the CTB

Clinical Profile of Dengue Infection in Patients with Hematological Diseases

Managing hematological disorders in a tropical country presents several unique diagnostic and management problems. Apart from the disease process, we need to be aware of infections that can exacerbate or mimic serious hematological problems. We present here a series of five patients with pre-existing hematological diseases who were infected by dengue virus. These cases highlight the need to keep a strong suspicion of common endemic diseases in tropical countries before considering extensive workup for the basic hematological disease. There was no mortality and all patients recovered without any significant impact on their pre-existing hematological condition inspite of their low baseline blood counts. There was no excessive bleeding, prolonged stay in the hospital or relapse of underlying hematological disease in these patients and the only major concern was the increased anxiety among both the patient and treating physician regarding the relapse/progression of pre-existing hematological disease

SUBCLINICAL SYSTOLIC DYSFUNCTION AMONG NEWLY DIAGNOSED HYPERTENSIVES WITH PRESERVED LEFT VENTRICULAR EJECTION FRACTION USING TWO DIMENSIONAL STRAIN IMAGING METHOD: HOSPITAL BASED OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Background: Heart failure is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in hypertension. Early detection of sub- clinical systolic heart failure thus is an important step in prevention of clinical heart failure. There are limited studies evaluating the presence and determinants of subclinical heart failure along axial, circumferential and radial axis among hypertensives with normal Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) using strain imaging methods. Present study aimed to detect the subclinical global and regional systolic dysfunction in longitudinal, circumferential and radial axis and its determinants in hypertensive patients with normal LVEF. Material and Method: 2-dimensional echocardiographic (2DE) images of the Left Ventricle (LV) were acquired in apical 4-chamber and parasternal short-axis view at mid ventricular levels to assess global and regional strain in lon- gitudinal, radial and circumferential axis in 72 hypertensive patients with normal LVEF and 57 healthy controls us- ing speckle tracking method. LV Mass and LVEF were measured using 2D guided M Mode scan and diastolic func- tion was assessed in early diastole with tissue Doppler imaging. Results: The regional strain in longitudinal axis was significantly reduced at Apex and Apico lateral segment of LV in hypertensive population compared to normotensive group (-17.99± 5.21 Vs-19.77±4.17; p<0.01 and -14.78 ±5.69 Vs -17.40± 5.23; p<0.01) respectively. However the mean Global Longitudinal and circumferential systolic Strain was not significantly reduced in the hypertensive group when compared to the normotensive group. Conclusions: The regional LV systolic function in longitudinal axis at apex and apico lateral wall was significantly reduced while the global systolic function in longitudinal and circumferential axis was preserved in hypertensive patients compared to normotensive healthy individuals

Impacts of the Tropical Pacific/Indian Oceans on the Seasonal Cycle of the West African Monsoon

The current consensus is that drought has developed in the Sahel during the second half of the twentieth century as a result of remote effects of oceanic anomalies amplified by local land–atmosphere interactions. This paper focuses on the impacts of oceanic anomalies upon West African climate and specifically aims to identify those from SST anomalies in the Pacific/Indian Oceans during spring and summer seasons, when they were significant. Idealized sensitivity experiments are performed with four atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs). The prescribed SST patterns used in the AGCMs are based on the leading mode of covariability between SST anomalies over the Pacific/Indian Oceans and summer rainfall over West Africa. The results show that such oceanic anomalies in the Pacific/Indian Ocean lead to a northward shift of an anomalous dry belt from the Gulf of Guinea to the Sahel as the season advances. In the Sahel, the magnitude of rainfall anomalies is comparable to that obtained by other authors using SST anomalies confined to the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean. The mechanism connecting the Pacific/Indian SST anomalies with West African rainfall has a strong seasonal cycle. In spring (May and June), anomalous subsidence develops over both the Maritime Continent and the equatorial Atlantic in response to the enhanced equatorial heating. Precipitation increases over continental West Africa in association with stronger zonal convergence of moisture. In addition, precipitation decreases over the Gulf of Guinea. During the monsoon peak (July and August), the SST anomalies move westward over the equatorial Pacific and the two regions where subsidence occurred earlier in the seasons merge over West Africa. The monsoon weakens and rainfall decreases over the Sahel, especially in August.Peer reviewe

Severe early onset preeclampsia: short and long term clinical, psychosocial and biochemical aspects

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy specific disorder commonly defined as de novo hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks gestational age. It occurs in approximately 3-5% of pregnancies and it is still a major cause of both foetal and maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide1. As extensive research has not yet elucidated the aetiology of preeclampsia, there are no rational preventive or therapeutic interventions available. The only rational treatment is delivery, which benefits the mother but is not in the interest of the foetus, if remote from term. Early onset preeclampsia (<32 weeks’ gestational age) occurs in less than 1% of pregnancies. It is, however often associated with maternal morbidity as the risk of progression to severe maternal disease is inversely related with gestational age at onset2. Resulting prematurity is therefore the main cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity in patients with severe preeclampsia3. Although the discussion is ongoing, perinatal survival is suggested to be increased in patients with preterm preeclampsia by expectant, non-interventional management. This temporising treatment option to lengthen pregnancy includes the use of antihypertensive medication to control hypertension, magnesium sulphate to prevent eclampsia and corticosteroids to enhance foetal lung maturity4. With optimal maternal haemodynamic status and reassuring foetal condition this results on average in an extension of 2 weeks. Prolongation of these pregnancies is a great challenge for clinicians to balance between potential maternal risks on one the eve hand and possible foetal benefits on the other. Clinical controversies regarding prolongation of preterm preeclamptic pregnancies still exist – also taking into account that preeclampsia is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the Netherlands5 - a debate which is even more pronounced in very preterm pregnancies with questionable foetal viability6-9. Do maternal risks of prolongation of these very early pregnancies outweigh the chances of neonatal survival? Counselling of women with very early onset preeclampsia not only comprises of knowledge of the outcome of those particular pregnancies, but also knowledge of outcomes of future pregnancies of these women is of major clinical importance. This thesis opens with a review of the literature on identifiable risk factors of preeclampsia

Penilaian Kinerja Keuangan Koperasi di Kabupaten Pelalawan

This paper describe development and financial performance of cooperative in District Pelalawan among 2007 - 2008. Studies on primary and secondary cooperative in 12 sub-districts. Method in this stady use performance measuring of productivity, efficiency, growth, liquidity, and solvability of cooperative. Productivity of cooperative in Pelalawan was highly but efficiency still low. Profit and income were highly, even liquidity of cooperative very high, and solvability was good