Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters) is an invasive fish and a continuous breeder in inland waters of India. Present investigation highlights the distinct developmental stages of ...developing ovary and associated changes in the energy content. This investigation helps to understand the allocation of energy for development of eggs, prespawn and also oral brooding by the female. Although it is a continuous breeder, based on size of the ovary, number of eggs, their size and energy content, immature, early maturing, developing, prespawning and spawning stages are clearly noticed. Egg diameter during development of ovary varied between 0.31 mm (immature) and 2.21 mm (spawning). Energy content of ovary from immature to spawning stage ranged from 20.7515 kJ g−1 dry ovary to 31.1560 kJ g−1 dry ovary. Nearly 28.73% of energy content of ovary is expended for spawning. Similarly, yolk‐sac fry utilized nearly 25.85% of energy of the fertilized egg for its development. Energy content of ovary of mouth‐brooding female averaged 22.9528 kJ g−1 dry ovary, which is comparable to energy content of early maturing stage of ovary (24.5558 kJ g−1 dry ovary). A strong correlation between body weight and energy content of the developing ovary (P < 0.01), and between ovary weight and energy content of ovary (P < 0.01), was evident. During mouth‐brooding, the fish continues to allocate energy to its developing ovary. Energy investment by the fish is the result of simultaneous processes associated with gonadal and somatic energy. As body size growth and gonadal development are interconnected, information on energy utilization by an iteroparous mouth‐brooding fish could provide the pattern of energy allocation during ovarian developmental phase. Further details of energy utilization, as explained in this paper, could be used as one of the factors to predict the efficiency of fish production.
Fungal keratitis is the major cause of vision loss worldwide. Amphotericin-B is considered as the drug of choice for fungal infections. However, its use in ophthalmic drug delivery is limited by the ...low precorneal residence at ocular surface as a result of blinking reflex, tear turnover and nasopharyngeal drainage. We report Amphotericin-B loaded lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles for prolonged ocular application. The prepared nanoparticles were in the size range of 161.9-230.5 nm, entrapment efficiency of 70-75%, theoretical drug loading of 5.71% with positive zeta potential of 26.6-38.3 mV. As demonstrated by antifungal susceptibility against Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus, nanoparticles were more effective than marketed formulation. They exhibited pronounced mucoadhesive properties. In-vivo pharmacokinetic studies in New Zealand albino rabbit eyes indicated improved bioavailablity (∼ 2.04 fold) and precorneal residence time (∼ 3.36 fold) by nanoparticles prepared from low molecular weight chitosan as compared with marketed formulation.
Introduction Although great strides have been made in maternal and newborn health in Nepal, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is still high at 186 per 100,000 births. Many maternal deaths are ...preventable if there is access to a skilled birth attendant (SBA). The Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal launched the in-service SBA training program in 2007 and has trained over 10,000 SBAs to date. Evidence shows that one episode of training is not enough to retain skills. Therefore, the Nick Simons Institute (NSI) in collaboration with National Health Training Center (NHTC) devised a Follow-Up and Enhancement Program (FEP) in 2011 where the knowledge, clinical skills, and working environment of SBA graduates were assessed directly at their worksites. FEP allows on-site coaching and feedback so that graduates may continue to improve upon any gaps in their knowledge, skills, and working environment. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of FEP. Methods We used a mixed-methods research design. A total of 73 SBAs who had a pre-FEP assessment in 2016 were followed up for a post-FEP assessment in 2017. We also collected data from 3 additional districts (115 SBAs) that had not previously had FEP, to compare SBAs in FEP versus non-FEP districts. Qualitative data was collected from 16 health facilities on the perceptions, motivation, and satisfaction of stakeholders. Results Of the total 188 SBAs that were sampled, a one-time FEP increased knowledge scores by 9%, clinical skills scores by 29%, and enabling environment scores by 7%. The number of deliveries conducted improved with a one-time FEP, although this increase was not statistically significant. We found a trickle-down effect of working in a facility that has had prior FEP, with SBAs that have never had FEP improving their clinical skills. FEP was found to be a highly accepted program and is beneficial to SBAs, trainers, and the Hospital Management Committee (HFOMC). However, a one-time FEP is not sufficient in retaining clinical skills and knowledge. Conclusion FEP is a highly effective program by both quantitative and qualitative evaluation. Our study suggests that FEP should be frequent and continuous to retain the knowledge and clinical skills of SBAs, motivate them through on-site coaching, and improve their working environment through direct feedback to the Ministry of Health and Population.
The main objective of the present article is to investigate the hydromagnetic particle Reiner-Rivlin fluid flow in an asymmetric (divergent) channel. The non-dimensionalized equations solved by the ...shooting method. The graphs are intended to examine how different developing parameters affect the thermal and velocity fields. The effects of various parameters on skin friction and the rate of heat transmission along channel walls are investigated using tabular data. The current results are in admirable agreement with the published data. The fluid velocity delineates in the first portion of the channel and rockets up in the second when the inelastic parameter increases. An increase in cross-flow Reynolds number is accompanied by an increasing tendency in particle temperature. Several areas, like metal steam resistors, fiber suspension in paper manufacture, etc., are significantly impacted by the magnetic field's action on Reiner-Rivlin fluid through asymmetric channels.
•Catalytic reduction of CO2 in a direct solar receiver reactor.•Synergistic enhancement on thermochemical process due to photolytic effects.•Computational analysis of photo-thermochemical processing ...of CO2.
The synergistic combination of the spectral and intensity features of solar energy can potentially lead to chemical synthesis processes under milder temperature conditions than those in solar thermochemical processes. A direct solar receiver-reactor is built and used for the catalytic photo-thermochemical processing of carbon dioxide. The reactor is designed to be representative of field application solar reactors by depicting fluid flow, heat transfer, mass transport, and radiation transport effects, often suppressed in reactors aimed to fundamental chemical kinetics studies. Two different types of catalytic monoliths, tubular quartz and zirconia foam, are tested with coatings of 1 and 2 wt% Cu-doped TiO2. The zirconia foam monolith is optically thick and has more than four times higher coating mass compared to the tubular quartz monolith; nevertheless, the latter, while being optically thin, leads to four times higher CO production, with the 1 wt% coated monolith producing the highest CO yield. Moreover, the experimental results show that the CO production rate increases almost exponentially with increasing incident solar radiation flux. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, describing fluid flow, radiation transport, and heterogeneous photo- and thermo-chemistry, is used to analyze the CO2 decomposition process in the 1 wt% tubular quartz reactor. The modeling results provide assessment of the photochemical and thermochemical effects, and suggest the synergistic enhancement due to the photolytic mechanism on the thermochemical process. Solar photo-thermochemical processing of CO2 using an optically and catalytically tuned catalytic monolith can lead to higher decomposition yields than photochemical processes, potentially comparable to those of solar thermochemical approaches while operating at lower temperatures.
•Design and implementation of a solar reactor for photo-thermochemical processing.•Optical and fluid transport characterization method for solar catalytic monoliths.•Experimentally validated ...computational model of the designed solar reactor.
The direct use of solar energy for chemical processing, such as the synthesis of solar fuels, is an appealing alternative to mitigate environmental emissions while fulfilling the global demand for fuels. The design and evaluation of a direct solar receiver-reactor designed for gas-phase chemical synthesis is presented. The design rationale aims to promote concurrent gas-phase thermochemical and photochemical reactions below 1000°C. The stainless-steel reactor chamber is designed to act as a light trapping cavity to increase photon absorption and to induce long gas residence times through a porous catalytic monolith. The experimentally determined radiative flux distribution map from a high-flux solar simulator is used for the dimensioning of the reactor’s optical aperture. Metal (Cu) catalytic monoliths, designed to have relatively large specific surface and adequate light transmission, are evaluated to determine their light attenuation characteristics and resistance to fluid flow. The designed reactor is evaluated with the direct decomposition of carbon dioxide (CO2). A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is used to analyze the reactor design and complement experimental evaluations. The model describes the gas flow throughout the chamber together with radiation transport and heterogeneous chemistry across the porous catalytic monolith. Experimental results are used for validation of the CFD model and to calibrate kinetic parameters of the heterogeneous chemical kinetics model. The findings indicate sub-optimal light transmission through the catalytic monolith given the rapid conversion of incident radiation into heat, and prompts to the need for co-optimization of the catalytic monolith’s porous structure for light transmission and heterogeneous reactivity. The experimental results show a marked increase in CO2 reduction efficiency with increasing radiation flux but the CO2 decomposition with Cu catalyst is negligible at the tested temperatures. The reactor design methodology and evaluation can assist the devising of equipment and processes for the synergistic use of high-temperature photo- and thermo-catalysts to potentially allow CO2 conversion at lower temperatures than exclusively solar thermochemical processes.
The chemical composition and molecular structure of polymeric surfaces are important in understanding wetting, adhesion, and friction. Here, we combine interface-sensitive sum frequency generation ...spectroscopy (SFG), all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and ab initio calculations to understand the composition and the orientation of chemical groups on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) surface as a function of tacticity and temperature. The SFG spectral features for isotactic and syndiotactic PMMA surfaces are similar, and the dominant peak in the spectra corresponds to the ester-methyl groups. The SFG spectra for solid and melt states are very similar for both syndiotactic and isotactic PMMA. In comparison, the MD simulation results show that both the ester-methyl and the α-methyl groups of syndiotactic-PMMA are ordered and tilted toward the surface normal. For the isotactic-PMMA, the α-methyl groups are less ordered compared to their ester-methyl groups. The backbone methylene groups have a broad angular distribution and are disordered, independent of tacticity and temperature. We have compared the SFG results with theoretical spectra calculated using MD simulations and ab initio calculations. Our analysis shows that the weaker intensity of α-methyl groups in SFG spectra is due to a combination of smaller molecular hyperpolarizability, lower ordering, and lower surface number density. This work highlights the importance of combining SFG spectroscopy with MD simulations and ab initio calculations in understanding polymer surfaces.
This retrospective study was undertaken to assess the outcome of the medical and/or surgical management of patients presenting with clinical features of arytenoid granuloma.
The records of 53 males ...and 9 females were reviewed for predisposing factors, types of treatment received and recurrence following the treatment.
Most of the patients (48 out of 62, 77.4 per cent) were treated conservatively with medical management and voice therapy, which resulted in complete resolution of arytenoid granuloma in over two-thirds of the patients treated (32 out of 48, 66.6 per cent). Overall, 28 patients (out of 62, 45.1 per cent) required surgery (14 failed medical treatment cases and 14 surgery as first-line treatment cases). Of these, five patients (out of 28, 17.9 per cent) had recurrence, and were managed with revision surgery and concurrent local injection of Botox.
Anti-reflux medication and voice therapy are effective first-line management options. Pre- and post-surgery adjuvant treatment improves the results of surgery. Local injection of Botox was successful in the treatment of failed surgical cases.
We report the triton (t) production in midrapidity (|y|<0.5) Au+Au collisions at sqrts_{NN}=7.7-200 GeV measured by the STAR experiment from the first phase of the beam energy scan at the ...Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The nuclear compound yield ratio (N_{t}×N_{p}/N_{d}^{2}), which is predicted to be sensitive to the fluctuation of local neutron density, is observed to decrease monotonically with increasing charged-particle multiplicity (dN_{ch}/dη) and follows a scaling behavior. The dN_{ch}/dη dependence of the yield ratio is compared to calculations from coalescence and thermal models. Enhancements in the yield ratios relative to the coalescence baseline are observed in the 0%-10% most central collisions at 19.6 and 27 GeV, with a significance of 2.3σ and 3.4σ, respectively, giving a combined significance of 4.1σ. The enhancements are not observed in peripheral collisions or model calculations without critical fluctuation, and decreases with a smaller p_{T} acceptance. The physics implications of these results on the QCD phase structure and the production mechanism of light nuclei in heavy-ion collisions are discussed.
