A relationship between weak attentional control and cognitive distortions, explained by negative affect.

People high in negative affect (anxiety or depression) show cognitive distortions, specific thinking errors which contribute to the maintenance of their condition. It is thought that weak attentional control is a risk factor for negative affect and emotional disorders, because weak attentional control exaggerates the expression of attentional bias, another cognitive feature of emotional disorders. We wondered whether weak attentional control might similarly exaggerate the expression of cognitive distortions.

Hepatitis-C and it's seroconversion in end stage kidney disease patients on maintenance hemodialysis and factors affecting it.

Objective: To determine frequency of hepatitis-C in dialysis patients at start of hemodialysis, seroconversion from HCV negative to HCV positive over study duration and factors affecting seroconversion.

Methods: This descriptive prospective observational study done in dialysis center of DHQ hospital Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan. The study was conducted from October 2016 to October 2017.

Radial versus femoral vascular access in ST-elevation myocardial infarction: Are the results of femoral operators unfairly represented in observational research?

Background: Recent randomized controlled trials comparing femoral and radial access in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) have shown conflicting results regarding the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and major bleeding.

Methods: Using data from the HEAT-PPCI trial, we compared the primary efficacy (all-cause mortality, stroke, new myocardial infarction or unplanned repeat revascularization) and safety (major bleeding BARC 3-5) outcomes at 28 days, by final access site used (radial or femoral) and by default operator type. We then assessed outcomes in femoral cases performed by both operator types.

A review of the dielectric properties of the bone for low frequency medical technologies.

The dielectric properties are key parameters that quantify the interaction between electromagnetic waves and human biological tissues. In particular, the development of electromagnetic-based medical technologies rely on knowledge of the dielectric properties of bone, specifically for applications such as electrical stimulation and bone health monitoring. Electrical stimulation is used in clinics to promote the healing of bone fractures, treating non-unions, congenital pseudarthrosis, bone regeneration and during bone implant procedures.

A comparison of hospital episode statistics and traditional methods to identify outcomes in a randomized trial; a sub-study of HEAT-PPCI.

Background: This study aims to compare information from hospital episode statistics (HES) and traditional direct patient contact to identify readmission and clinical events in the follow-up of a randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Methods: The study followed 1812 patients for 28 days using direct contact (DC). In addition, we obtained HES for this period.

Formulation development and characterization of cefazolin nanoparticles-loaded cross-linked films of sodium alginate and pectin as wound dressings.

The present study focuses on the preparation of nanoparticles-loaded ionic cross-linked films for the topical delivery of cefazolin. The aim of the study was to prepare a dosage form which can provide local effect of cefazolin along with sustained delivery at the site of application. Cefazolin was loaded into chitosan nanoparticles to mask the burst release of the drug and they were optimized based on particle size, PDI, % EE and zeta potential.

Comparison of the antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects of bivalirudin versus unfractionated heparin: A platelet substudy of the HEAT PPCI trial.

In randomised trials, bivalirudin has been associated with higher rates of acute stent thrombosis (AST) compared to unfractionated heparin (UFH), without mechanistic explanation. Furthermore, data are discrepant regards the antiplatelet effects of bivalirudin. This prespecified study, part of a larger HEAT-PPCI Platelet Substudy, aimed to compare the antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects of bivalirudin and UFH using short thrombelastography (s-TEG), an ex vivo whole blood platelet function assay.

Gender-specific Knowledge of Diabetes and Its Management Among Patients Visiting Outpatient Clinics in Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is an emerging public health concern. The aim of this study was to assess the gender-specific knowledge of patients about diabetes mellitus, its complications, and its management.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in outpatient clinics of Faisalabad, Pakistan, from November 2017 to March 2018.

Evaluation of DNA vaccine encoding BCSP surface protein of Brucella abortus for protective immunity.

Brucellosis is a highly contagious and zoonotic disease and has a considerable impact on animal health and economy of a country, principally in Pakistan, where rural income largely depends upon livestock farming and dairy products. The disease burden is more in underdeveloped/developing countries due to the low economy and limited access to the diagnostic facilities. In Pakistan, the prevalence of Brucella abortus is very high, so it is the need of the hour to control this disease through more advanced methods.

Dielectric properties of bones for the monitoring of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is one of the most common diseases that leads to bone fractures. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry is currently employed to measure the bone mineral density and to diagnose osteoporosis. Alternatively, the dielectric properties of bones are found to be influenced by bone mineral density; hence, dielectric properties of bones may potentially be used to diagnose osteoporosis.

Report-Physicochemical and Antimicrobial properties of canola (Brassica napus L.) seed oil.

Canola oil has been used in the Pakistan for the treatment of various diseases and skin infections. Oil was extracted with n-hexane from the seeds of canola (Brassica napus L.) and was evaluated for free fatty acid value.

Photodegradation of microcystin-LR using graphene-TiO/sodium alginate aerogels.

In this study, sustainable graphene oxide-TiO/sodium alginate and reduced graphene oxide-TiO/sodium alginate aerogels were synthesized and the potential of these aerogels was investigated for microcystin-LR degradation in aqueous solution. Along with the role of alginate in the synthesis of aerogels, effects of different concentrations of photocatalyst, photolysis, pH, and combination of TiO (anatase)/Degussa P25 with graphene were investigated in lieu of microcystin-LR photodegradation.The complete degradation of microcystin-LR was attained in case of reduced graphene oxide-TiO/sodium alginate aerogel-not in graphene oxide-TiO/sodium alginate aerogel case-by the synergistic effect of adsorption and photodegradation.

Open-Ended Coaxial Probe Technique for Dielectric Measurement of Biological Tissues: Challenges and Common Practices.

Electromagnetic (EM) medical technologies are rapidly expanding worldwide for both diagnostics and therapeutics. As these technologies are low-cost and minimally invasive, they have been the focus of significant research efforts in recent years. Such technologies are often based on the assumption that there is a contrast in the dielectric properties of different tissue types or that the properties of particular tissues fall within a defined range.

An implementation of normal distribution based segmentation and entropy controlled features selection for skin lesion detection and classification.

Background: Melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer with highest mortality rate. However, the annihilation in its early stage implies a high survival rate therefore, it demands early diagnosis. The accustomed diagnosis methods are costly and cumbersome due to the involvement of experienced experts as well as the requirements for the highly equipped environment.

Facile synthesis of yolk shell MnO@MnO as an effective catalyst for peroxymonosulfate activation.

Yolk shell Mn2O3@Mn5O8 was prepared through a facile synthetic procedure and was demonstrated to be a highly efficient and stable catalyst in peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation for the catalytic degradation of organic contaminants. Mn2O3@Mn5O8 exhibits much improved activity compared with other classic manganese catalysts such as ε-MnO2, Mn2O3 and Mn3O4, and this performance was due to its yolk shell structure, mesoporous shell, well-defined interior voids, particular particle size and mixed valence states. The long-term stability and efficiency of Mn2O3@Mn5O8 was observed in activating PMS to generate sulfate radicals for the removal of various organic pollutants such as phenol, 4-chlorophenol (4-CP), 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DP) and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) in aqueous medium.

Electrically and electrohydrodynamically driven phase transition and structural color switching of oligomer tethered 2D colloid.

Two-dimensional (2D) nanoparticles in an oligomer-tethered alpha zirconium phosphate (αZrP) colloid self-assemble to form a cofacial lamellar structure with regular spacing parallel to the surface and exhibit high reflectance and vivid structural colors within the visible frequency spectrum. Here, we demonstrate electrical switching of the structural color reflection by electrical control of the liquid crystalline phase of the αZrP colloid. At low frequency (less than 15 Hz, optimally at 1 Hz), electrohydrodynamic flow in the colloid destroys the photonic crystalline lamellar phase and creates an apparently disordered dynamic state with local nematic orientation.

Workplace Psychological Aggression, Job Stress, and Vigor: A Test of Longitudinal Effects.

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationships between supervisor- and customer-initiated psychological aggression and vigor across time, and to determine the mediating role of job stress in these relationships. We also investigated the potential for differential impacts of supervisor and customer aggression on our outcome variables. A two-wave longitudinal study was conducted with a time lag of 6 months.

Dental students' concerns regarding OSPE and OSCE: a qualitative feedback for process improvement.

Objectives: Objective structured practical examination (OSPE) and objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) have become established as reliable, valid and objective methods of assessing practical and clinical skills in dental schools. This study explored the perceptions of dental undergraduates' regarding OSPE and OSCE.

Design And Setting: Two focus groups were made; the first consisted of students who had recently undergone an OSPE, while the other group was of fresh graduates (FG) who had given an OSCE in the final examination.

Sulfate-reducing mixed communities with the ability to generate bioelectricity and degrade textile diazo dye in microbial fuel cells.

The biotreatment of recalcitrant wastes in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) rather than chemical, physical, and advanced oxidation processes is a low-cost and eco-friendly process. In this study, sulfate-reducing mixed communities in MFC anodic chamber were employed for simultaneous electricity generation, dye degradation, and sulfate reduction. A power generation of 258 ± 10 mW/m was achieved under stable operating conditions in the presence of electroactive sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB).

AAA Syndrome, Case Report of a Rare Disease.

Triple A (Allgrove) syndrome, an autosomal recessive disease is characterized by achalasia, alacrimia and ACTH-resistant adrenal failure with progressive neurological syndrome including central, peripheral and autonomic nervous system impairment, and mild mental retardation. The triple A syndrome gene, designated AAAS, localized on chromosome 12q 13 encodes for a 546 amino acid protein called ALADIN (Alacrimia-Achlasia-Adrenal Insufficiency and Neurologic disorder). This report relates to two sisters, aged 8 and 12 years, who had vomiting, muscle weakness, alacrimia, excessive fatigue and dysphagia.

Biodegradation of the sulfonamide antibiotic sulfamethoxazole by sulfamethoxazole acclimatized cultures in microbial fuel cells.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are known for their ability to enhance the removal rate of toxins while generating power. This research presents a performance assessment of MFCs for power generation and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation using SMX acclimatized cultures. Experiments were performed in MFC batch mode using different SMX concentrations in synthetic wastewater.

Effect of electron beam irradiation on chemically synthesized nanoflake-like CdS electrodes for photoelectrochemical applications.

In this paper, we chemically synthesized interconnected nanoflake-like CdS thin films for photoelectrochemical solar cell applications and subsequently irradiated them with electron beam irradiation at various doses of irradiation. The as-synthesized and irradiated samples were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and electrochemical measurements. XRD and XPS results confirmed the formation of CdS with a hexagonal crystal structure.

Evaluation of synergistic antimicrobial effect of vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D, E and K) with antibiotics against resistant bacterial strains.

Objectives: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) superbugs, including Acinetobacter baumannii and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), are a challenge for healthcare professionals. In this study, the synergistic activity of vitamins with antibiotics against resistant bacterial strains was evaluated.

Methods: Synergistic effects between antibiotics and stock solutions of vitamins were evaluated by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay.

Comparison of the effects of P2Y12 receptor antagonists on platelet function and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing Primary PCI: A substudy of the HEAT-PPCI trial.

Aims: The HEAT-PPCI trial compared bivalirudin and unfractionated heparin in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). The aim of this study was to report pre-specified, secondary analyses comparing the effects of P2Y12 inhibiting agents on platelet reactivity and clinical events.

Methods And Results: All patients received preprocedural oral antiplatelet therapy.

Personal Bullying and Nurses' Turnover Intentions in Pakistan: A Mixed Methods Study.

In this study, quantitative and qualitative data are presented to examine the direct and mediated effect of personal bullying on nurses' turnover intentions via job stress. The study also investigates the moderating role of political skill on the association between personal bullying and job stress. The study employed an explanatory sequential mixed methods design.