A temperature sensor based on Si/PS/SiO2 photonic crystals.

The present research deals with the extremely sensitive temperature-sensing capabilities of defective one-dimensional photonic crystal structures (Si/PS/SiO2). The proposed structure is realized by putting a defective layer of material silicon Dioxide (SiO2) in the middle of a structure consisting of alternating layers of silicon (Si) and porous silica (PS). The transfer matrix method has been employed to examine the transmission characteristics of the proposed defective one-dimensional photonic crystal in addition to MATLAB software. The transmission spectra of the proposed structure in the visible light domain are computed throughout a temperature range of 25-900 °C, and we study the thermal properties related to the defective mode. Additionally, the impacts of changing the defect layer's thickness are examined. Due to the effects of thermal expansion and the thermo-optical coefficient, the defect mode varies significantly as the temperature increases. Our investigation shows that the proposed structure considerably impacts the transmission intensity of the defective mode. The theoretically obtained numeric values of the quality factor and sensitivity are 2216.6 and 0.085 nm/°C, respectively. The challenges presented by conventional temperature sensors could be overcome by the suggested defective photonic crystal sensor. These results are enough to support our claim that the present design can be used as an ultra-sensitive temperature sensor.

Ultra-high sensitive cancerous cells detection and sensing capabilities of photonic biosensor.

The ultra-high sensitive cancer cell detection capabilities of one-dimensional photonic crystal with defect have been theoretically examined in this work. The simulations of the work have been carried out with MATLAB programming and transfer matrix method. The performance of the proposed biosensor loaded separately with samples containing different cancer cells has been studied by changing the period number, defect layer thickness, and incident angle corresponding to s polarized light only to identify the parameters under which the proposed design becomes ultra-sensitive. The working principle of the proposed biosensor is to sense the minute change in the refractive index of the analytes containing different cancer cells of human. This sensing is done shifting the respective defect mode inside photonic band gap of the structure from one position to other near by position due to change in the refractive index of sample under consideration. Our structure under optimum conditions yields maximum shifting in the position of defect mode from 1538 to 1648 nm corresponding to the samples containing normal and Glioblastoma cells of refractive indices 1.350 and 1.4470 respectively which results a ultra-high sensitivity of 4270.525928 nm/RIU.

Ultra-sensitive pressure sensing capabilities of defective one-dimensional photonic crystal.

Present research work deals with the extremely sensitive pressure-sensing capabilities of defective one-dimensional photonic crystal structure (GaP/SiO2)N/Al2O3/(GaP/SiO2)N. The proposed structure is realized by putting a defective layer of material Al2O3 in the middle of a structure consisting of alternating layers of GaP and SiO2. The transfer matrix method has been employed to examine the transmission characteristics of the proposed defective one-dimensional photonic crystal in addition to MATLAB software. An external application of the hydrostatic pressure on the proposed structure is responsible for the change in the position and intensity of defect mode inside the photonic band gap of the structure due to pressure-dependent refractive index properties of the materials being used in the design of the sructure. Additionally, the dependence of the transmission properties of the structure on other parameters like incident angle and defect layer thickness has also studied. The theoretical obtained numeric values of the quality factor and sensitivity are 17,870 and 72 nm/GPa respectively. These results are enough to support our claim that the present design can be used as an ultra-sensitive pressure sensor.

MATLAB simulation based study on poliovirus sensing through one-dimensional photonic crystal with defect.

The present work, theoretically examined the poliovirus sensor model composed of one-dimensional photonic crystal with defect. The transfer matrix method with the help of MATLAB software has been used to detect poliovirus present in the water sample. The main objective of the present work is to design an efficient sensor by identifying the minute variation in the refractive index of water sample due to change in the poliovirus concentration present in the sample. The alternate layers of aluminum nitride and gallium nitride has been taken to realize Bragg reflector having defect layer of air at center of the Bragg reflector. The effect of change in thickness of defect layer region, period number and incident angle corresponding to transverse electric wave has been examined to optimize the structure which correspond maximum performance of the proposed poliovirus sensing structure. The maximum performance of the structure has been obtained with optimum value of defect layer thickness 1200 nm, period number 10 and incident angle 40°. Under optimum condition maximum sensitivity of 1189.65517 nm/RIU has been obtained when the structure is loaded with waters sample of poliovirus concentration C = 0.005 g/ml whereas figure of merit, quality factor, signal to noise ratio, dynamic range, limit of detection and resolution values become 2618.28446 per RIU, 3102.06475, 2.27791, 2090.99500, 1.91E-05 and 0.24656 respectively.

Molecular analysis of the ß-globin gene cluster haplotypes in a Sudanese population with sickle cell anaemia.

INTRODUCTION: Sudan has a multiethnic population with a high frequency of Hb S, but little is known about the ß(S) haplotypes in this population. METHODS: Blood samples from Sudanese Hb SS individuals were taken at two locations. Family history, age, ethnicity and clinical symptoms were recorded for each subject. Hb S was investigated using cellulose acetate electrophoresis (CAE) and cation exchange-high performance liquid chromatography. Dried blood samples from 93 individuals were used for ß(S) haplotype identification based on restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis for seven restriction sites. RESULTS: Haplotypes could be assigned unequivocally to 143 chromosomes. Four of the five typical ß(S) -globin haplotypes were identified. The most frequent was the Cameroon (35.0%), followed by the Benin (29.4%), the Senegal (18.2%) and the Bantu (2.8%). The Indian-Arab haplotype was not observed. Three atypical haplotypes were identified in 17 patients, occurring at a combined frequency of 14.6%. One of these, found at the high frequency of 11.8%, possibly represented a new Sudan haplotype. CONCLUSION: ß(S) Haplotyes were demonstrated successfully from dried blood samples. A new haplotype is apparent in Sudan, in addition to the four African haplotypes.

The clinical and cost effectiveness of bee honey dressing in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.

Honey is known, since antiquity, as an effective wound dressing. Emergence of resistant strains and the financial burden of modern dressings, have revived honey as cost-effective dressing particularly in developing countries. Its suitability for all stages of wound healing suggests its clinical effectiveness in diabetic foot wound infections. Thirty infected diabetic foot wounds were randomly selected from patients presenting to Surgery Department, Suez Canal University Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt. Honey dressing was applied to wounds for 3 months till healing, grafting or failure of treatment. Changes in grade and stage of wounds, using University of Texas Diabetic Wound Classification, as well as surface area were recorded weekly. Bacterial load was determined before and after honey dressing. Complete healing was significantly achieved in 43.3% of ulcers. Decrease in size and healthy granulation was significantly observed in another 43.3% of patients. Bacterial load of all ulcers was significantly reduced after the first week of honey dressing. Failure of treatment was observed in 6.7% of ulcers. This study proves that commercial clover honey is a clinical and cost-effective dressing for diabetic wound in developing countries. It is omnipresence and concordance with cultural beliefs makes it a typical environmentally based method for treating these conditions.

Assessment of the relation between prealbumin serum level and healing of skin-grafted burn wounds.

Nutritional status is an important factor in graft healing. Prealbumin (transthyretin) is a better nutritional marker than the widely used albumin serum level. Prealbumin serum levels were estimated in an endeavour to correlate them to graft healing and to serve as a predictor of graft healing in burn wounds. Fifty burned patients undergoing graft in the Suez Canal University Hospital Burn Unit were subjected to this cross-sectional study. Prealbumin levels were assessed on preoperative day and on the fourth postoperative day. Graft healing was considered complete when the take was 90% or more of the grafted area. The most significantly correlated factor to graft healing was serum prealbumin. Serum albumin levels were not in significant correlation with graft healing or prealbumin levels. In addition, serum prealbumin levels were significantly higher in the younger age group and significantly lower in patients with chronic diseases. Serum prealbumin level is a sensitive tool in predicting graft take in burned patients when all local conditions are favourable and optimised. Nevertheless, it seems less sensitive in the prediction of graft healing in small raw areas less than 5% of total body surface area (TBSA).

Assessment of amniotic and polyurethane membrane dressings in the treatment of burns.

As allograft and xenografts are not available in Islamic countries, amniotic membrane seems to be an effective alternative in the management of deep burns. Its proven bioactivities and modest price suggest that it might be superior to synthetic dressings. Forty-six patients were enrolled in this randomized, controlled clinical trial conducted in the Burn Unit at Suez Canal University Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt. All age groups and both gender were included in the study. Only patients with less than 50% total body surface area burned were included, thus minimizing the dropouts in both groups. All were either second or third degree. These patients were randomly assigned either to group I: amniotic membrane (Biomembrane) dressing, or group II: polyurethane membrane (Tegaderm) dressing. Those in group I demonstrated a significantly lower rate of infection and required less frequent dressing changes than those in group II. They also sustained less electrolyte and albumin loss. The rate of healing in the amniotic membrane group was significantly faster than in the polyurethane group. Furthermore, pain was significantly less when Biomembrane was used. Based on these findings, we recommend the use of lyophilized gamma-irradiated amniotic membrane as an effective alternative for allograft and xenografts in Islamic countries and the Jewish population.

Anemia in Kassala Area Eastern Sudan

Objective The objective of this study was to determine the types and the ways of diagnosis of anemia at Kassala region; Sudan. Methods In this study we examined and investigate 210 patients with anemia.Full blood cell count including peripheral picture; blood film for malaria; urine analysis and stool examination were done for every patient.Bone marrow aspiration was done for patients with splenomegaly with or without pancytopenia and or presence of immature cells in the peripheral blood. Serum iron and serum ferritin; for confirmation of iron deficiency were measured in some patients. Results Out of all patients; 45(21) had chronic illness; 42(20) had history of repeated attacks of malaria and 3(18) patients had nutritional anemia. Sixty three (30) patients presented with severe anemia; 32(15) with mild anemia and 115(55)with moderate anemia. Eighty patients presented with enlarge spleen.26 (33) out of the latter group had features of hypersplenism. Conclusion Common causes of anemia in this area were chronic illness; followed by nutritional and repeated malaria infection. Splenomegaly and hypersplenism are common. We recommended that full blood count; peripheral blood picture and estimation of serum iron and serum ferritin should be performed for every anaemic patient. Blood film for malaria should be done for every anaemic patient and negative films should be repeated by immunochromatography test for plasmodium falciparum and vivax

Physician-Nurse communication. Perceptions of Physicians in Riyadh.

OBJECTIVE: The need for communication between nurse and physician in clinical practice is undisputed. The objectives of this study were to describe doctors' perceptions of their communication with nurses, as related to the openness of the communication and the accuracy of the information communicated and to examine if specific sociodemographic characteristics concerning physicians were associated with perception of communication. METHODS: The sample consisted of 200 physicians selected randomly from 6 randomly selected hospitals representing both general and private. A modified Shortell's Intensive Care Unit physician-nurse communication subscale was used to measure the physician's perceptions of the degree to which openness and accuracy described their communication with nurses. Data was collected via a self-administered pilot questionnaire, which also included sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: The overall mean score for openness was 2.61 and 3.19 for accuracy out of a maximum score of 5. For openness the highest mean score was obtained for "listening to physician (4.31)" and the lowest mean score was obtained for "hospital environment (1.84)". For accuracy, the highest mean score was obtained for "use of medical language (4.37)" and the lowest mean score was for "feedback (1.84)". The results showed a significant difference for experience, age and gender for both types of hospitals. For specialization, title and nationality no significant difference was observed for both types of hospitals for openness and accuracy. Multivariate regression analysis showed that gender, age and experience were the predictor variables for openness and accuracy. With more experienced, older aged females, having the highest mean score. CONCLUSION: Communication between physician and nurses needs not remain only a researchable issue; its viability and vitality are crucial to the changing health care scene. Thus, the development of health delivery models that will enable effective multidisciplinary communication, cooperation and wiser use of limited resources in health care is essential.

[Examination of changes in continuous culture of GMK cells under the influence of Hydrocortisone hemisuccinate, propranolol and diazepam]. / Badanie zmian w ciaglej hodowli komórek GMK pod wplywem Hydrocortisonum hemisuccinatum, propranololu i diazepamu.

Changes in continuous breeding of GMK (green monkey kidney) cells treated with three selected medicines have been examined. There have been established cytotoxic doses of particular medicines. The changes in the morphological cells structures treated by the medicine have been described and photographed. Breeding of GMK cells in vitro has been assessed as useful in the examination of drugs toxicity upon human organism.