Articles Related to PA

Cu2FeSnSe4 (CFTSe) thin film were synthesized on glass substrate by thermal evaporation method at Ts=400° C, starting from elemental powders mixed by a mechanical alloying process. The structural, morphological, compositional, optical and electrical properties of CFTSe semiconductor have been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) and Van Der Pauw technique, respectiv

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Recycling is an important tool to cope with and sustainably manage rapidly increasing waste generation, and promoting local practices such as informal recycling is vital in developing countries. is study identies determinants of informal recycling that residents of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal practice by selling the recyclable waste to scrap dealers. e data comes from a households survey conducted with around 1200 households in the Valley in 2012. Informal recycling is important because it complements inecient and expensive waste collection services, diverts waste from the landll site, and helps the city to develop sustainably. We found that people who compost are 11.8 to 12.8 percent more likely to recycle in comp

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Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS), also known as testicular feminization, is a rare medical condition that has garnered increased attention in recent years due to evolving research and therapeutic approaches [1,2], as well as the psychological repercussions it has on patients and the risk of being associated not only with sex cord–stromal tumors but also with rare mesenchymal tumors [3]. AIS results from anomalies in the X chromosome and leads individuals with an XY genotype to exhibit various degrees of female physical traits or complete feminine characteristics

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The present paper contains experimental analysis of the spatiotemporal structure of atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in a packet-pulse excitation mode widely used as an effective tool for plasma modification of various media. The motivation is the need to optimize the conditions for DBD plasma obtaining with a homogeneous diffuse structure. It is shown that for a discharge gap of the millimeter range (1–3 mm) in atmospheric air, under certain conditions, a number of new plasma phenomena are possible - the effects of an increase in the density (total number) of filamentary discharges over time, both unchanged and with a decrease in the area of the filaments, as well as the formation of complex space-time structures. An interpretation of this phenomenon is proposed. Homogeneous diffuse discharges are obtained in a standard electrode configuration with a single dielectric

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The aim of controlling/regulating cellular processes by surface patterning of biomaterials is a crucial concept in emerging research fields, where the precise fabrication of micro-nano surface topographies is required at manufacturing scales to meet consumer demand. Photolithography is typically employed for surface patterning; however, the high cost, process complexity, and lack of environmentally friendly and sustainable methodologies represent steep barriers for many researchers. Soft lithographic methods have been utilised extensively as a potential alternative for traditional photolithography, yet a photolithographic step is still required for initial template fabrication. Here, we demonstrate the use of repurposed optical consumer items such as DVDs, diffraction glasses, and gratings that would otherwise be thrown away after their useful lives, being used here as a sustainable approach as templates for the formation of complex nano-patterns. By replicating these templates in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polylactic acid (PLA), we show the varied interactions of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HAoSMC) to these surfaces. Notably, it was demonstrated that, in comparison to nonpatterned substrates, HAoSMC interaction (adhesion, spreading, and viability) was higher on DVD patterned surfaces compared to diffraction glass and grating patterned surfaces according to the results from cell metabolic activity (MTT and Alamar Blue), and proliferation (total DNA) assays. We demonstrate that a simple, reusable, inexpensive, yet robust technology could be a powerful tool in improving our understanding of cell-surface interactions and for the potential development of medical devices with micro- and nanoscale low or high adhesion features

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A trial was carried out on growing lambs to compare conventional protein supplementation of sugarcane with soybean meal with Saccharomyces cerevisiae enrichment produced by solid-state fermentation. Yeast enrichment enabled sugarcane stalks to increase their crude protein content from 4% to 12%. No difference was obtained between these two forms of supplementation on the daily growth of 80.2 and 76.8 g per day for enriched and non-enriched sugarcane respectively.

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The study investigated the effects of supplementing the same level of concentrate in different seasons on the growth performance, rumen fermentation, serum biochemical index, and rumen microflora changes in yaks, to provide guidance on accurate feeding of yaks in cold and warm seasons. 12 healthy yaks weighing (124.21±15.64) kg were selected for the experiment, with a warm season group from August to October and a Cold season supplemental feeding group from October to December. The results showed that the mean daily gain was significantly higher in the warm season grazing group than in the cold season grazing group (p<0.05). Rumen fermentation, serum biochemical index, and rumen microflora changes also varied significantly between the two groups (p<0.05).

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In the last decade, neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and various forms of Dementia) have become a challenging problem facing contemporary society, placing on it a strong economic, social, and healthcare burden. Despite huge and long-lasting efforts, the progress in solving these problems remains unsatisfactory

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Alarmed by numerous worrying reports by the European Food Safety Authority related to widespread contaminations of plant-derived commodities by poisonous alkaloids (nicotine, pyrrolizidine alkaloids), the sources of these alkaloidal contaminations were investigated. Our studies revealed that alkaloids, which have been leached out from decomposing alkaloidal donor plants, are taken up by the roots of acceptor plants growing in their vicinity. Based on these results the so-called “Horizontal Natural Product Transfer

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Objective: The present study aims to explore the benefits of using D-CAP, an android based cognitive training app in Mild Cognitive Impairment(MCI). Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transient phase between normal age related cognitive decline and dementia, with deficits in memory, executive function and speed of processing. D-CAP is an app-based cognitive retraining program provided by downloading an application that can be installed on an android phone, developed by Prof Keshav Kumar. Patients were self trained on the app. Weekly contact with the patient along with the caregiver is made to ensure adherence to the program

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The use of surface electromyography (sEMG) signals for clinical diagnosis is well appreciated in the medical field. However, the use of sEMG signals for the control of powered prosthetic limbs is still regarded as a futuristic idea. Past and present studies have focused more on the upper limb (hand) as compared to the lower limb (leg). The challenges associated with the controlling leg movement include designing for both balance and locomotion. After amputation, the muscle orientation and alignments on the residual stump changes as some of the anatomical landmarks are changed during surgical procedure. To achieve locomotion, some amputees, generally from third-world nations, use passive mechanical prosthetic limbs with a fixed ankle.

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Background and Aims: Obesity and overweight are associated with a wide spectrum of morbid conditions, which contribute to high prevalence of disability and mortality worldwide. These conditions include the metabolic syndrome, cardio-- vascular and cerebro-vascular events, and fatty liver disease with the possible deterioration to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and malignancy. Despite the wide variety of treatment options available, which include lifestyle modifications and medical and surgical interventions, obesity is still considered a worldwide pandemic, necessitating the search for additional treatment options. As caffeine exerts weight-reducing properties, we here studied the effect of Beautycoffee, a dietary supplement composed of black and green coffee arabica, together with herbal compounds, believed to be effective towards decreasing body weight.

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Sugarcane is a vital cash crop grown in about 200 tropical and sub-tropical countries around the world. Due to its high rates of occupational diseases, accidents, and fatalities the agro industry is regarded as one of the most hazardous industries despite being one of the essential sectors globally regarding food supply and workforce. Most of the world's cane sugar crop is produced In Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC), such as Sudan, where agriculture and farming are still the main sources of income and managing occupational health and safety is challenging

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The problem of excess body weight is becoming an epidemic in the general population, especially among children aged to 12 years old. Efforts are being made to find a way to retreat the unfavorable changes related with obesity. This problem is escalating, and the direction of effective protective actions is not sufficiently recognized. The research presented in this study demonstrate the range of changes in overweight and obese children after an 8 weeks of circuit training program, with simultaneous parental education on modifying their children dietary habits

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Childhood stunting is one of the most significant obstacles to human development and the path to prevention is virtually identical. An integration of nutrition‐specific and nutrition‐sensitive intervention was implemented by a program named Gikuriro in five districts of Rwanda to improve maternal and child nutrition. The package included nutrition education and counselling, promotion of agricultural productivity, economic empowerment activities, and provision of Water, Hygiene and Sanitation services

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The application of electronic-nose (E-nose) technologies in forensic science is a recent new development following a long history of progress in the development of diverse applications in the related biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. Data from forensic analyses must satisfy the needs and requirements of both the scientific and legal communities. The type of data collected from electronic-nose devices provides a means of identifying specific types of information about the chemical nature of evidentiary objects and samples under investigation using aroma signature profiles of complex gaseous mixtures containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from manufactured products and parts of the human body. E-nose analyses also provide useful qualitative information about the physicochemical characteristics and metabolic conditions of human subjects without the need for time-consuming analyses to identify all chemical components in human-derived volatile mixtures.

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The collection of human odor volatiles is of interest to forensic applications as a path to investigate canine scent discriminations in legal investigations. A study using a selected array of previously identified human odor compounds has been conducted to determine the retention and release capabilities of five (5) natural and synthetic fabric types, cotton (mercerized fabric and gauze matrix), polyester, rayon and wool.

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Anodisation of pure titanium has been carried out in sulphuric and in phosphoric acid solutions at potentials ranging from 50 to 150V. The SEM and AFM morphological analysis indicates that, within this potential range, oxidation in sulphuric acid solution produces better developed mesoporous oxide layers.

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We investigated a method for preparation of ordered nanopore arrays with the interpore distance of 60 nm by guided self-organization of anodic aluminum oxide with a prepatterned array of pits in the starting Al film.

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The design of an electrochemical reactor for the preparation of self-supported comparatively thin (up to 10 μm) and large area (up to 50 cm2) anodic alumina membranes is described allowing growth of porous alumina at high applied potential (up to 150 V) without burning.

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