Expression of myxovirus-resistance protein A: a possible marker of muscle disease activity and autoantibody specificities in juvenile dermatomyositis.

AIMS: To evaluate the relationship between expression of myxovirus-resistance protein A (MxA) protein on muscle biopsies by immunohistochemistry and disease activity in juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) patients. Also, another aim was to investigate whether the expression of MxA is related with myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSA) status in JDM patients. METHODS: 103 patients (median aged 6.3, interquartile range 0.5-15.9) enrolled in the Juvenile Dermatomyositis Cohort and Biomarker Study (JDCBS). Muscle biopsies were stained with MxA and scored. Clinical data at initial presentation were collected and autoantibodies were analysed. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to estimate the association between MxA expression on muscle fibres and muscle disease activity, and MSA status. RESULTS: Expression of MxA protein on JDM samples was identified in 61.2%. There was a significant association between MxA scores and Childhood Myositis Assessment Scale (CMAS) (P = 0.002), and Manual Muscle Testing of Eight Muscles (MMT8) (P = 0.026). CMAS and MMT8 scores were significantly lower in the group of patients with strong MxA expression. MxA scores differed according to MSA subgroups (P = 0.002). Patients with positive nuclear matrix protein 2 autoantibodies had strong MxA expression, whereas anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 positive patients had no or weak MxA expression. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals the significant association between level of MxA expression on muscle fibres and clinical measures of muscular disease activity in JDM patients and MSA status. This confirms type I interferonopathies in muscle fibres of JDM patients which could help with improving treatment outcome in JDM patients and underscoring the distinct pathophysiological pathways in different MSA status.

Histological heterogeneity in a large clinical cohort of juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathy: analysis by myositis autoantibody and pathological features.

AIM: Juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies have been recently reclassified into clinico-serological subgroups. Myopathological correlates of the subgroups are incompletely understood. METHODS: We studied muscle biopsies from 101 children with clinically and serologically defined juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies from the UK JDM Cohort and Biomarker Study by applying the international JDM score tool, myopathological review and C5b-9 complement analysis. RESULTS: Autoantibody data were available for 90/101 cases with 18/90 cases positive for anti-TIF1γ, 15/90 anti-NXP2, 11/90 anti-MDA5, 5/90 anti-Mi2 and 6/90 anti-PmScl. JDM biopsy severity scores were consistently low in the anti-MDA5 group, high in the anti-Mi2 group, and widely distributed in the other groups. Biopsies were classified histologically as perifascicular atrophy (22/101), macrophage-rich necrosis (6/101), scattered necrosis (2/101), clustered necrosis (2/101), inflammatory fibre invasion (2/101), chronic myopathic change (1/101), diffuse endomysial macrophage infiltrates (40/101) and minimal change (24/101). MDA5 cases segregated with the minimal change group and showed no capillary C5b-9-deposition. The Mi2 group displayed high severity scores and a tendency towards sarcolemmal complement deposition. NXP2 and TIF1γ groups showed a variety of pathologies with a high proportion of diffuse endomysial macrophage infiltrates and a high proportion of capillary C5b-9 deposition. CONCLUSION: We have shown that juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies have a spectrum of histopathological phenotypes and show distinct complement attack complex deposition patterns. Both correlate in some cases with the serological subtypes. Most cases do not show typical histological features associated with dermatomyositis (e.g. perifascicular atrophy). In contrast, more than half show relatively mild histopathological changes.

A Systematic Review for Enabling of Develop a Blockchain Technology in Healthcare Application: Taxonomy, Substantially Analysis, Motivations, Challenges, Recommendations and Future Direction.

Blockchain in healthcare applications requires robust security and privacy mechanism for high-level authentication, interoperability and medical records sharing to comply with the strict legal requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Blockchain technology in the healthcare industry has received considerable research attention in recent years. This study conducts a review to substantially analyse and map the research landscape of current technologies, mainly the use of blockchain in healthcare applications, into a coherent taxonomy. The present study systematically searches all relevant research articles on blockchain in healthcare applications in three accessible databases, namely, ScienceDirect, IEEE and Web of Science, by using the defined keywords 'blockchain', 'healthcare' and 'electronic health records' and their variations. The final set of collected articles related to the use of blockchain in healthcare application is divided into three categories. The first category includes articles (i.e. 43/58 scientific articles) that attempted to develop and design healthcare applications integrating blockchain, particularly those on new architecture, system designs, framework, scheme, model, platform, approach, protocol and algorithm. The second category includes studies (i.e., 6/58 scientific articles) that attempted to evaluate and analyse the adoption of blockchain in the healthcare system. Finally, the third category comprises review and survey articles (i.e., 6/58 scientific articles) related to the integration of blockchain into healthcare applications. The final articles for review are discussed on the basis of five aspects: (1) year of publication, (2) nationality of authors, (3) publishing house or journal, (4) purpose of using blockchain in health applications and the corresponding contributions and (5) problem types and proposed solutions. Additionally, this study provides identified motivations, open challenges and recommendations on the use of blockchain in healthcare applications. The current research contributes to the literature by providing a detailed review of feasible alternatives and identifying the research gaps. Accordingly, researchers and developers are provided with appealing opportunities to further develop decentralised healthcare applications through a comprehensive discussion of about the importance of blockchain and its integration into various healthcare applications.

Physician-patient interaction satisfaction and its influence on medication adherence and type-2 diabetic control in a primary care setting.

INTRODUCTION: Medication adherence has been found to be an important determinant in achieving glycaemic control in Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) patients. In other patient populations, physician-patient interaction satisfaction was found to influence medication adherence. It is then important to identify if this is also a factor amongst T2DM patients on insulin as poor adherence was associated with increased all-cause mortality. METHODS: This was a cross sectional study involving 197 T2DM patients on insulin from two government primary health clinics in Gombak. Physician-patient interaction satisfaction was assessed using Skala Kepuasan Interaksi Perubatan (SKIP-11) consisting of 3 subdomains (Distress Relief, Rapport and Interaction Outcome). Medication adherence level was measured using a single item selfreport question. Data analysis for descriptive, inferential and multivariate analysis statistics were performed. RESULTS: The mean age of the study participants was 57.12 (SD: 9.27). Majority were Malay, female, unemployed with mean BMI of 27.5. Majority reported full adherence (62.9%). High scores in the Interaction Outcome subdomain was associated with better adherence. Factors associated with high scores in this subdomain included patient education level, number of oral hypoglycaemic agent and type of insulin regime taken. This study also found that high scores in the Interaction Outcome domain is associated with lower HbA1c (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Physician-patient interaction satisfaction is an important factor in achieving better medication adherence which also leads to better glycaemic control in this group of patients. There is a need to identify strategies to improve satisfaction in this domain to improve patient adherence.

Pharmacokinetics of once-daily darunavir/ritonavir in HIV-1-infected pregnant women.

OBJECTIVES: HIV antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy is recommended to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission and for maternal care. Physiological changes during pregnancy can affect pharmacokinetics. The impact of pregnancy was evaluated for once-daily (qd) darunavir/ritonavir. METHODS: HIV-1-infected pregnant women on an antiretroviral regimen that includes darunavir were enrolled in the study and further treated with darunavir/ritonavir 800/100 mg qd. Plasma concentrations were assessed over 24 h during the second and third trimesters and postpartum using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry assay for total darunavir and ritonavir, and using (14) C-darunavir-fortified plasma for unbound darunavir. Pharmacokinetic parameters were derived using noncompartmental analysis. Safety and antiviral response were assessed at all visits. RESULTS: Data were available for 16 women. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC24h ) for total darunavir was 34-35% lower during pregnancy vs. postpartum. Unbound darunavir AUC24h was 20-24% lower during pregnancy vs. postpartum. The minimum plasma concentration of total and unbound darunavir was 32-50% and 13-38% lower, respectively, during pregnancy vs. postpartum. The antiviral response (< 50 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL) was 59% at baseline and increased to 87-100% during the trial; the CD4 count increased over time. One serious adverse event (gestational diabetes) was judged as possibly related to study medication. All 16 infants born to women remaining in the study at delivery were HIV-1 negative (two were premature). CONCLUSIONS: Total darunavir exposure decreased during pregnancy, but the decrease was less for unbound (active) darunavir. These changes are not considered clinically relevant. Darunavir/ritonavir 800/100 mg qd may therefore be a treatment option for HIV-1-infected pregnant women.

Field-Induced Magnonic Liquid in the 3D Spin-Dimerized Antiferromagnet Sr_{3}Cr_{2}O_{8}.

We report on ultrasound and magnetization studies in three-dimensional, spin-dimerized Sr_{3}Cr_{2}O_{8} as a function of temperature and external magnetic field up to 61 T. It is well established [A. A. Aczel et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 207203 (2009)] that this system exhibits a magnonic-superfluid phase between 30 and 60 T and below 8 K. By mapping ultrasound and magnetization anomalies as a function of magnetic field and temperature we establish that this superfluid phase is embedded in a domelike phase regime of a high-temperature magnonic liquid extending up to 18 K. Compared to thermodynamic results, our study indicates that the magnonic liquid could be characterized by an Ising-like order but has lost the coherence of the transverse components.

Erratum: Field-Induced Magnonic Liquid in the 3D Spin-Dimerized Antiferromagnet Sr_{3}Cr_{2}O_{8} [Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 147201 (2016)].

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.147201.

Total and unbound darunavir pharmacokinetics in pregnant women infected with HIV-1: results of a study of darunavir/ritonavir 600/100 mg administered twice daily.

OBJECTIVES: Antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy is recommended to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and for maternal care management. Physiological changes during pregnancy can affect pharmacokinetics, potentially altering pharmacological activity. We therefore evaluated the pharmacokinetics of twice-daily (bid) darunavir in HIV-1-infected pregnant women. METHODS: HIV-1-infected pregnant women receiving an antiretroviral regimen containing darunavir/ritonavir 600/100 mg bid were enrolled in this study. Total and unbound darunavir and total ritonavir plasma concentrations were obtained over 12 h during the second and third trimesters and postpartum. Total darunavir and ritonavir plasma concentrations were determined using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry assay and unbound darunavir was determined using (14) C-darunavir-fortified plasma. Pharmacokinetic parameters were derived using noncompartmental analysis. RESULTS: Data were available for 14 women. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 to 12 h (AUC12h) for total darunavir was 17-24% lower during pregnancy than postpartum. The AUC12h for unbound darunavir was minimally reduced during pregnancy vs. postpartum. The minimum plasma concentration (Cmin) of total and unbound darunavir was on average 43-86% and 10-14% higher, respectively, during pregnancy vs. postpartum. The antiviral response (< 50 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL) was 33% at baseline and increased to 73-90% during treatment; the percentage CD4 count increased over time. One serious adverse event was reported (increased transaminase). All 12 infants born to women remaining in the study at delivery were HIV-1-negative; four of these infants were premature. CONCLUSIONS: Total darunavir exposure decreased during pregnancy. No clinically relevant change in unbound (active) darunavir occurred during pregnancy, suggesting that no dose adjustment is required for darunavir/ritonavir 600/100 mg bid in pregnant women.

Genomic integrity of the Y chromosome sequence-tagged-sites in infertile and Down syndrome Jordanian males.

The long arm of the Y chromosome contains nonoverlapping regions termed azoospermia factor (AZF) with great influence on male fertility. Microdeletions at these regions minimise the males' ability to father offsprings. In this preliminary study, we attempted to screen the presence or absence of twenty Y chromosome's sequence-tagged sites (STS) associated with fertility in infertile and Down syndrome (DS) males. Genomic DNA from 35 fertile, 74 infertile and 22 karyotyped DS males was extracted and amplified in multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) containing 20 primer pairs that amplify Y-specific STS that cover functional regions associated with AZF and spermatogenesis-related genes. Our results indicated the integrity of the Y chromosome at the 20 fertility markers for both the fertile and Down syndrome males. However, the results of the infertile males showed the presence of microdeletions at these Y-specific STS. Three samples showed Y chromosome microdeletion when blood and seminal fluid genomic DNA were assayed, while two samples showed microdeletion only when seminal fluid genomic DNA was assayed. The current study demonstrated that the molecular genetic aspect of infertility should be given proper attention when dealing with infertility cases. Furthermore, our results indicate the importance of genetic counselling in managing infertility cases.

Unconventional magnetostructural transition in CoCr2O4 at high magnetic fields.

The magnetic-field and temperature dependencies of the ultrasound propagation and magnetization of single-crystalline CoCr(2)O(4) have been studied in static and pulsed magnetic fields up to 14 and 62 T, respectively. Distinct anomalies with significant changes in the sound velocity and attenuation are found in this spinel compound at the onset of long-range incommensurate-spiral-spin order at T(s)=27 K and at the transition from the incommensurate to the commensurate states at T(l)=14 K, evidencing strong spin-lattice coupling. While the magnetization evolves gradually with the field, steplike increments in the ultrasound clearly signal a transition into a new magnetostructural state between 6.2 and 16.5 K and at high magnetic fields. We argue that this is a high-symmetry phase with only the longitudinal component of the magnetization being ordered, while the transverse helical component remains disordered. This phase is metastable in an extended H-T phase space.

Preoperative grip strength measurement and duration of hospital stay in patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: This study explored whether a relationship exists between preoperative pinch and power grip strength, and length of hospital stay in patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty at a busy UK hospital. We investigated whether handgrip dynamometry could be used preoperatively to identify patients at greater risk of longer inpatient stays. This would allow focussed intervention preoperatively and facilitate predictors of length of stay postoperatively. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-four patients (64 male, 100 female) undergoing lower limb arthroplasty (83 total knee replacement, 81 total hip replacement) were assessed in pre-admission clinic. Average measurements of pinch grip, power grip and grip endurance were taken from each patient using the Jamar hydraulic dynamometer (Jamar, USA). Duration of inpatient stay of each patient was recorded. RESULTS: Average duration of hospital stay was 9.4 days. Both average pinch grip strength and average power grip strength had a significant negative correlation with duration of inpatient stay. Those patients with a pinch grip strength less than 6.3 kg remained an inpatient for an average of 2 days longer than those with a pinch grip greater than 6.3 kg. CONCLUSIONS: This simple test may be highly beneficial preoperatively in identifying those patients likely to require longer inpatient stays and therefore those who would benefit from early nutritional intervention and focussed physiotherapy. It may also facilitate predictors of length of stay postoperatively. We believe this may effect significant cost reductions in the NHS.

A rare occurrence of persistent hypoglossal artery and its clinical significance.

Persistent hypoglossal artery (PHA) is an embryological vascular variation mostly originating from the internal carotid artery. The presence of PHA has been associated with the incidence of some diseases such as cerebral ischaemia, atherosclerosis, and aneurysm. Here, a very rare case of PHA that was discovered incidentally by digital subtraction angiography in Turkey is reported. Endovascular stenting was not performed for this patient. Also, its clinical importance is discussed.

Severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with inborn errors of immunity (primary immunodeficiencies): a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) are considered significant challenges for children with IEIs, their families, and their medical providers. Infections are the most common complication of IEIs and children can acquire coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) even when protective measures are taken. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the incidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in children with IEIs and analyse the demographic parameters, clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in children with IEIs with COVID-19 illness. METHODS: For this systematic review, we searched ProQuest, Medline, Embase, PubMed, CINAHL, Wiley online library, Scopus and Nature through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) guideline for studies on the development of COVID-19 in children with IEIs, published from December 1, 2019 to February 28, 2023, with English language restriction. RESULTS: Of the 1095 papers that were identified, 116 articles were included in the systematic review (73 case report, 38 cohort 4 case-series and 1 case-control studies). Studies involving 710 children with IEIs with confirmed COVID-19 were analyzed. Among all 710 IEIs pediatric cases who acquired SARS-CoV-2, some children were documented to be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) (n = 119, 16.8%), intubated and placed on mechanical ventilation (n = 87, 12.2%), suffered acute respiratory distress syndrome (n = 98, 13.8%) or died (n = 60, 8.4%). Overall, COVID-19 in children with different IEIs patents resulted in no or low severity of disease in more than 76% of all included cases (COVID-19 severity: asymptomatic = 105, mild = 351, or moderate = 88). The majority of children with IEIs received treatment for COVID-19 (n = 579, 81.5%). Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) due to COVID-19 in children with IEIs occurred in 103 (14.5%). Fatality in children with IEIs with COVID-19 was reported in any of the included IEIs categories for cellular and humoral immunodeficiencies (n = 19, 18.6%), immune dysregulatory diseases (n = 17, 17.9%), innate immunodeficiencies (n = 5, 10%), bone marrow failure (n = 1, 14.3%), complement deficiencies (n = 1, 9.1%), combined immunodeficiencies with associated or syndromic features (n = 7, 5.5%), phagocytic diseases (n = 3, 5.5%), autoinflammatory diseases (n = 2, 3%) and predominantly antibody deficiencies (n = 5, 2.5%). Mortality was COVID-19-related in a considerable number of children with IEIs (29/60, 48.3%). The highest ICU admission and fatality rates were observed in cases belonging to cellular and humoral immunodeficiencies (26.5% and 18.6%) and immune dysregulatory diseases (35.8% and 17.9%) groups, especially in children infected with SARS-CoV-2 who suffered severe combined immunodeficiency (28.6% and 23.8%), combined immunodeficiency (25% and 15%), familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (40% and 20%), X-linked lymphoproliferative diseases-1 (75% and 75%) and X-linked lymphoproliferative diseases-2 (50% and 50%) compared to the other IEIs cases. CONCLUSION: Children with IEIs infected with SARS-CoV-2 may experience higher rates of ICU admission and mortality in comparison with the immunocompetent pediatric populations. Underlying immune defects does seem to be independent risk factors for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with IEIs, a number of children with SCID and CID were reported to have prolonged infections-though the number of patients is small-but especially immune dysregulation diseases (XLP1 and XLP2) and innate immunodeficiencies impairing type I interferon signalling (IFNAR1, IFNAR2 and TBK1).

Micro-bending based optical band-pass filter and its application in S-band Thulium-doped fiber amplifier.

A new approach for filtering an optical band-pass in optical amplifier is proposed using a macro bending. The proposed filter leverages the bending loss of higher order modes at shorter wavelengths. At longer wavelengths, the filter increases fiber's bending loss as the fundamental mode 'tail' is leak out from the cladding. The combination of wavelength dependent loss at longer and shorter wavelength gives rise to the optical band-pass filter characteristic inside the fiber. The simulated spectral response of the filter is found to be in good agreement with the experimental results. Subsequently, the proposed optical band-pass filter is applied in Thulium-doped fiber amplifiers (TDFA) system for gain and noise figure enhancements. The filter functions to suppress both the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) at 800 nm and 1800 nm wavelength regions and thus improves both gain and noise figure performances in S-band region. By bending of the gain medium, gain and noise figure of the TDFA are improved by about 2 dB and 0.5 dB respectively, within a wavelength region from 1440 and 1500 nm when the 1050 nm pump power is fixed at 250 mW.

Angle-dependent evolution of the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov state in an organic superconductor.

We report magnetic-field and angular-dependent high-resolution specific-heat measurements of the organic superconductor ß''-(BEDT-TTF)2SF5CH2CF2SO3. When the magnetic field is aligned precisely within the conducting BEDT-TTF layer, at low temperatures a clear upturn of the upper critical field beyond the Pauli limit of 9.73 T is observed, hinting at the emergence of a Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov state. This upturn disappears when the field is oriented out of plane by more than ∼0.5 deg. For smaller out-of-plane angles, the specific-heat anomaly at T(c) sharpens and a second peaky phase transition appears within the superconducting state.

Job stressors and smoking cessation among Malaysian male employees.

BACKGROUND: Job stressors may reduce the likelihood of quitting smoking. AIMS: To assess the association between job strain, smoking behaviour and smoking cessation among Malaysian male employees involved in a smoking cessation programme. METHODS: The study was conducted among employees in two major public universities in Malaysia. All staff from both universities received an invitation to participate in this study. At the start of treatment, participants completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic variables, smoking habits and the Malay version of the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). The JCQ consists of scales of job control, job demand, supervisor support, co-worker support, job insecurity, job decision latitude and job skill discretion. Behaviour therapy with free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) was given as treatment for two months. Participants were contacted at 1 week, 3 months and 6 months to determine their smoking status. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty five staff from both universities responded and voluntarily showed interest in quitting. At three months (OR = 8.96; 95% CI: 1.14-70.76) and six months (OR = 8.9; 95% CI: 1.15-68.65), men with higher co-workers' support demonstrated a higher likelihood of quitting. Smokers in a 'passive job' also demonstrated higher likelihood of quitting compared with those working in the 'low strain' category at six months (OR = 9.92; 95% CI: 1.20-82.68). No meaningful associations were found between other psychosocial job variables and smoking cessation. CONCLUSIONS: A positive relationship with and support from co-workers are important factors for workplace smoking cessation.

Magnetostructural transitions in a frustrated magnet at high fields.

Ultrasound and magnetization studies of bond-frustrated ZnCr(2)S(4) spinel are performed in static magnetic fields up to 18 T and in pulsed fields up to 62 T. At temperatures below the antiferromagnetic transition at T(N1)≈14 K, the sound velocity as a function of the magnetic field reveals a sequence of steps followed by plateaus indicating a succession of crystallographic structures with constant stiffness. At the same time, the magnetization evolves continuously with a field up to full magnetic polarization without any plateaus in contrast to geometrically frustrated chromium oxide spinels. The observed high-field magnetostructural states are discussed within a H-T phase diagram taking into account the field and temperature evolution of three coexisting spin structures and subsequent lattice transformations induced by the magnetic field.

A comparative assessment of air pollutants of smog in wagah border and other sites in Lahore, Pakistan.

Smog has become the fifth season of Pakistan especially in Lahore city. Increased level of air pollutants (primary and secondary) are thought to be responsible for the formation of smog in Lahore. Therefore, the current study was carried out for the evaluation of air pollutants (primary and secondary) of smog in Wagah border particularly and other sites (Jail road, Gulburg) Lahore. For this purpose, baseline data on winter smog from March to December on primary and secondary air pollutants and meteorological parameters was collected from Environmental Protection Department and Pakistan Meteorological Department respectively. Devices being used in both departments for analysis of parameters were also studied. Collected data was further statistically analyzed to determine the correlation of parameters with meteorological conditions and was subjected to air quality index. According to results, PM 10 and PM 2.5 were found very high above the NEQS. NOx concentrations were also high above the permissible limits whereas SO2 and O3 were found below the NEQS thus have no roles in smog formation. Air Quality Index (AQI) of pollutants was PM 2.5(86-227), PM 10 (46-332), NOx (26-110), O3 (19-84) and SO2 (10-95). AQI of PM 2.5 remained between moderate to very unhealthy levels. AQI of PM 10 remained between good to hazardous levels. AQI of NOx remained between good to unhealthy for sensitive groups' levels. AQI of O3 and SO2 remained between good to moderate levels. Pearson correlation showed that every pollutant has a different relation with different or same parameters in different areas. It is concluded from the present study that particulate matter was much more responsible for smog formation. Although NOx also played role in smog formation. So there is need to reduce sources of particulate matter and NOx specifically in order to reduce smog formation in Lahore.

Sampling of explosive residues: The use of a gelatine-based medium for the recovery of ammonium nitrate.

Forensic scientists must be able to recover traces of any original explosive materials not consumed in the detonation, in a careful controlled manner to aid a crime reconstruction. In current sampling techniques, the collection efficiency of post-blast residue is highly variable and often dependent on the swabbing materials and solvent systems used. To address these method limitations, this study presents a gelatine-based sampling medium and assesses its capabilities for the collection of ammonium nitrate. Common surfaces were spotted with a known concentration of ammonium nitrate, the unset gel applied, allowed to set, and then peeled from the surface. The gel was dissolved, and solid phase extraction employed to isolate the target explosive compound and remove the constituents of the gel. The eluate was concentrated and subsequently analysed and quantified. Overall, the gel formulation was able to collect ammonium nitrate from all of the test surfaces, with recoveries ranging from 0.1% to 61.7%. This study presents a gelatine-based formulation that has the potential to become a valuable asset in the forensic tool kit for the collection of explosive traces. A key attribute of the gel is that it offers an alternative recovery tool to conventional swabbing and solvent extraction methods.

A comparative assessment of air pollutants of smog in wagah border and other sites in Lahore, Pakistan / Uma avaliação comparativa de poluentes do ar do smog na fronteira de wagah e outros sites em Lahore, Paquistão

Abstract Smog has become the fifth season of Pakistan especially in Lahore city. Increased level of air pollutants (primary and secondary) are thought to be responsible for the formation of smog in Lahore. Therefore, the current study was carried out for the evaluation of air pollutants (primary and secondary) of smog in Wagah border particularly and other sites (Jail road, Gulburg) Lahore. For this purpose, baseline data on winter smog from March to December on primary and secondary air pollutants and meteorological parameters was collected from Environmental Protection Department and Pakistan Meteorological Department respectively. Devices being used in both departments for analysis of parameters were also studied. Collected data was further statistically analyzed to determine the correlation of parameters with meteorological conditions and was subjected to air quality index. According to results, PM 10 and PM 2.5 were found very high above the NEQS. NOx concentrations were also high above the permissible limits whereas SO2 and O3 were found below the NEQS thus have no roles in smog formation. Air Quality Index (AQI) of pollutants was PM 2.5(86-227), PM 10 (46-332), NOx (26-110), O3 (19-84) and SO2 (10-95). AQI of PM 2.5 remained between moderate to very unhealthy levels. AQI of PM 10 remained between good to hazardous levels. AQI of NOx remained between good to unhealthy for sensitive groups' levels. AQI of O3 and SO2 remained between good to moderate levels. Pearson correlation showed that every pollutant has a different relation with different or same parameters in different areas. It is concluded from the present study that particulate matter was much more responsible for smog formation. Although NOx also played role in smog formation. So there is need to reduce sources of particulate matter and NOx specifically in order to reduce smog formation in Lahore.

Resumo Smog tornou-se a quinta estação do Paquistão, especialmente na cidade de Lahore. Acredita-se que o aumento do nível de poluentes atmosféricos (primários e secundários) seja responsável pela formação de poluição atmosférica em Lahore. Portanto, o presente estudo foi realizado para a avaliação dos poluentes atmosféricos (primários e secundários) do smog na fronteira de Wagah em particular e em outros locais (Jail road, Gulburg) Lahore. Para este propósito, os dados de referência sobre a poluição atmosférica de inverno de março a dezembro sobre poluentes atmosféricos primários e secundários e parâmetros meteorológicos foram coletados do Departamento de Proteção Ambiental e do Departamento Meteorológico do Paquistão, respectivamente. Dispositivos sendo usados ​​em ambos os departamentos para análise de parâmetros também foram estudados. Os dados coletados foram posteriormente analisados ​​estatisticamente para determinar a correlação dos parâmetros com as condições meteorológicas e foram submetidos ao índice de qualidade do ar. De acordo com os resultados, PM 10 e PM 2,5 foram encontrados muito acima do NEQS. As concentrações de NOx também estavam muito acima dos limites permitidos, enquanto SO2 e O3 foram encontrados abaixo do NEQS, portanto, não têm papéis na formação de smog. O índice de qualidade do ar (AQI) de poluentes foi PM 2,5 (86-227), PM 10 (46-332), NOx (26-110), O3 (19-84) e SO2 (10-95). O AQI de PM 2,5 permaneceu entre níveis moderados a muito prejudiciais à saúde. O AQI de PM 10 permaneceu entre níveis bons e perigosos. AQI de NOx permaneceu entre bom e não saudável para os níveis de grupos sensíveis. O AQI de O3 e SO2 permaneceu entre níveis bons a moderados. A correlação de Pearson mostrou que cada poluente tem uma relação diferente com parâmetros diferentes ou iguais em áreas diferentes. Conclui-se do presente estudo que o material particulado foi muito mais responsável pela formação de smog. Embora o NOx também tenha desempenhado um papel na formação do smog. Portanto, é necessário reduzir as fontes de partículas e NOx, especificamente para reduzir a formação de smog em Lahore.