The global convergence of some self-scaling conjugate gradient methods for monotone nonlinear equations with application to 3DOF arm robot model.

Conjugate Gradient (CG) methods are widely used for solving large-scale nonlinear systems of equations arising in various real-life applications due to their efficiency in employing vector operations. However, the global convergence analysis of CG methods remains a significant challenge. In response, this study proposes scaled versions of CG parameters based on the renowned Barzilai-Borwein approach for solving convex-constrained monotone nonlinear equations.

Effect of Chewing Gum on Duration of Postoperative Ileus Following Laparotomy for Gastroduodenal Perforations: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Prolonged post-operative ileus is associated with increased risk of other complications, length of hospital stays and health care related costs. Chewing gum has been shown to reduce duration of ileus in many elective surgeries, but there is a paucity of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on its effect on duration of ileus among patients undergoing emergency surgery, specifically patients with peritonitis. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of chewing gum on duration of postoperative ileus following laparotomy for gastroduodenal perforations.

Spermatozoa Survival in Egg Yolk-Based and Soybean-Based Extenders at Ambient and Chilling Temperature in Domestic Turkeys .

Populations of many galliform species have declined mainly due to habitat loss and over-hunting, notably the Congo peacock, which has been classified as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The domestic turkey, being a species of least concern, which has been reported to be closely related to peacocks, could serve as a model for the optimization of assisted reproductive technologies for the Congo peacock. This study was aimed at developing a suitable turkey semen extender for artificial insemination in field conditions.

Penile ring entrapment and strangulation: A case report at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital in Western Uganda.

Introduction: Penile ring entrapment during self-sexual satisfaction is one of the rare cases in general and urologic surgery. When the penile shaft is entrapped in a metal ring, one risks possible complete loss of distal penis to strangulation and gangrene. We present management of a case of entrapped penile ring with penile strangulation in resource limited set up amidst absence of management guidelines.

Impacts of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention on Malaria Burden among under Five-Year-Old Children in Borno State, Nigeria.

Malaria disproportionately affects all ages with a high burden among children below five years. Thus, control measures are deployed including Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC). The present study assessed the impacts of SMC on malaria burden among subjects aged 3-59 months in Borno State, Nigeria.

Seroepidemiology and assessment of risk factors for the spread of avian influenza in birds in two Nigerian states.

Despite modified stamping out eradication policy adopted in Nigeria, there was resurgence in 2015 of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 with greater infectivity. A survey of the risk of spread of HPAI in two HPAI-infected and -uninfected Nigerian states were studied. A cross-sectional study to detect avian influenza (AI) H5 antibodies was conducted using haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Management of a blinding orbital apex cyst in a 14-year-old girl.

This study was conducted to highlight the diagnostic and management challenges of orbital apex lesions. It is a retrospective report of a 14-year-old female who presented with no perception of light vision in her left eye following a 1-year history of left unilateral axial proptosis. Her computed tomography scan revealed a mass surrounding the optic nerve which was reported to be an optic nerve glioma.

Case of multivertebral anomalies, cloacal dysgenesis, and other anomalies presenting prenatally as cystic kidneys.

We describe a newborn boy on whom prenatal ultrasonography demonstrated intrauterine growth retardation, multiple vertebral anomalies, cystic kidneys, and oligohydramnios. Autopsy findings included multiple vertebral anomalies, cloacal dysgenesis (imperforate anus, vesicorectal fistula, and bilateral renal dysplasia), sacral absence, single umbilical artery, pulmonary hypoplasia, scoliosis, and hexadactyly of the left thumb. Although our case resembles a previously described case, a definitive diagnosis could not be made.

Epidermal nevus syndrome: subgroup with neuronal migration defects.

Epidermal nevus syndrome is one of the sporadic congenital hamartoses in which neurologic abnormalities have been frequently reported. We report two cases with severe primary brain involvement, seizures, mental retardation, and facial hemihypertrophy. We emphasize the superiority of magnetic resonance imaging over other radiographic studies in outlining the primary central nervous system anomalies associated with this syndrome.

MR imaging of Hippel-Lindau disease: value of gadopentetate dimeglumine.

Hippel-Lindau disease is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by tumors of the central nervous system and abdominal viscera. Frequent multisystem radiologic evaluation of persons at risk is desirable. Twenty-seven patients with Hippel-Lindau disease or a family history of the disease were examined with both unenhanced and gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to study the usefulness of the contrast medium in the evaluation of these patients.

Molecular characterization of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) patients with partial duplication of chromosome 11p excludes the gene MYOD1 from the BWS region.

The molecular characterization of two patients with features of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) and chromosome abnormalities is consistent with the association of this phenotype with a duplication of a portion of chromosome 11. Quantitative Southern blot analysis of DNA from patient A defines a large inherited duplicated segment of chromosome 11. For patient B, a de novo duplication of unknown origin has been shown to contain a segment of 11p15.

Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in Hurler's disease.

Computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain in five patients with Hurler's disease are described and compared to the few available reports in the literature. Computed tomographic scans revealed low attenuation areas in the centrum semiovale and peritrigonal white matter. Ventriculomegaly was not a prominent feature in our patients, compared to those previously reported.

Cytogenetic abnormalities in tumors of patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease.

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal dominant disorder that causes the development of benign and malignant tumors in several organ systems. Tumors causing significant morbidity include retinal angioma, cerebellar hemangioblastoma (CH), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and pheochromocytoma (Pheo). Cytogenetic studies of tumors in VHL patients are rare.

MR imaging of the craniovertebral junction, cranium, and brain in children with achondroplasia.

MR imaging of the craniovertebral junction, cranium, and brain was performed in 10 patients (aged 3 months to 16 years) with achondroplasia. All patients had narrowing of the subarachnoid space at the level of the foramen magnum and five had compressive deformities of the cervicomedullary junction. Apparent upward displacement of the brainstem and a relatively vertical course of the optic nerve were seen in all patients.

Fragile site expression in families with von Hippel-Lindau disease.

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal dominant disorder that predisposes to diverse tumors including renal cell carcinoma. Six affected and four unaffected subjects from five families were studied to determine the frequency of fragile site expression. Peripheral lymphocyte cultures from each subject were treated with low folate, 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (FUdR), and FUdR plus caffeine for fragile site induction.

Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome in apparently discordant monozygotic twins.

We report 3 pairs of monozygotic (MZ) twins, one twin showing typical Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome (WBS) with minimal or no expression of the condition in the co-twin. These cases are documented, and three previously reported MZ twin pairs are reviewed. Phenotypic concordance for this syndrome in MZ twin pairs has not been reported.

Hippel-Lindau disease: MR imaging.

Hippel-Lindau disease is an auto-somal-dominant disorder characterized by tumors arising from the central nervous system and abdominal viscera. Because of its progressive nature, frequent multisystem radiologic evaluation of affected persons and family members at risk is desirable for early detection and treatment. During a 2-year study, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the head, spine, and abdomen was used for screening and follow-up in 26 members of nine families with the disease.

Von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis: a linkage study of candidate and random marker genes.

Genotyping, using plasma proteins or DNA polymorphisms or both, was carried out on 30 families selected through probands with Von Recklinghausen disease. The data provide additional evidence for the exclusion of loci on chromosomes 3 and 5, and chromosome arms 1q, 2p, 4p, 4q, 6q, 7p, 9q, 11p, 11q, and 14q. There was no evidence for genetic heterogeneity at D1S1 (DNF15S2) on chromosome arm 3p, using the Morton test for heterogeneity.

Abnormality of chromosome 11 in patients with features of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.

Two unrelated children with features of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome have been found to have partial duplication of chromosome 11p. A review of six other reported cases of partial duplication of 11 p revealed features of this syndrome not previously recognized. We suggest that karyotype studies with banding techniques should be done in children with features of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and developmental delay or retardation.

Verbal communication skills of six children wit craniofacial anomalies.

The verbal communication skills of six children with craniofacial syndromes were examined. The subjects were four girls with Apert syndrome, a boy with Crouzon disease, and a fifth girl with Saethre-Chotzen Syndrome. They ranged in age from six to sixteen years.

Ocular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome with normal lysyl hydroxylase activity.

We report two brothers affected with what has been called either fragilitas oculi or the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type VI. Previously reported cases of the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type VI showed a deficiency of lysyl hydroxylase in cultured fibroblasts. Assays of cultured skin fibroblasts from these two boys yielded normal activity of this enzyme, suggesting that there are two variants of this disease.