The Power of Color Flow Doppler Ultrasonography Versus Blind Technique in Localization of Epidural Catheter: A Randomized Prospective Study.

Background: The success of epidural analgesia hinges on the precise insertion of the needle within the epidural space; failure rates have been reported to reach 32%.

Objectives: We report a new method using color Doppler to help verify the accurate location of the epidural needle tip.

Methods: This is a randomized prospective study.

All-Optical XOR, AND, OR, NOT, NOR, NAND, and XNOR Logic Operations Based on M-Shaped Silicon Waveguides at 1.55 μm.

Silicon waveguides are essential to integrated photonics, which is where optical and electronic components are coupled together on a single silicon chip. These waveguides allow for the integration of signal processing and optical transmission, which advances data centers, telecommunications, and other optical applications. Thus, our study involves the simulation of essential all-optical logic operations, namely XOR, AND, OR, NOT, NOR, NAND, and XNOR, and utilizes M-shaped silicon optical waveguides at a wavelength of 1.

High-Performance All-Optical Logic Operations Using Ψ-Shaped Silicon Waveguides at 1.55 μm.

We simulate with FDTD solutions a complete family of basic Boolean logic operations, which includes XOR, AND, OR, NOT, NOR, NAND, and XNOR, by using compact Ψ-shaped silicon-on-silica optical waveguides that are operated at a 1.55 μm telecommunications wavelength. Four identical slots and one microring resonator, all made of silicon deposited on silica, compose the adopted waveguide.

Optical Logic Gates Based on Z-Shaped Silicon Waveguides at 1.55 μm.

In the last ten years, silicon photonics has made considerable strides in terms of device functionality, performance, and circuit integration for a variety of practical uses, including communication, sensing, and information processing. In this work, we theoretically demonstrate a complete family of all-optical logic gates (AOLGs), including XOR, AND, OR, NOT, NOR, NAND, and XNOR, through finite-difference-time-domain simulations using compact silicon-on-silica optical waveguides that operate at 1.55 μm.

Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Nanoparticles from Green Algae and Their Assessment in Various Biological Applications.

The biosynthesis of algal-based zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles has shown several advantages over traditional physico-chemical methods, such as lower cost, less toxicity, and greater sustainability. In the current study, bioactive molecules present in extract were exploited for the biofabrication and capping of ZnO NPs, using zinc acetate dihydrate and zinc nitrate hexahydrate as precursors. The newly biosynthesized ZnO NPs were characterized for structural and optical changes through UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX).

Biosorption of Cadmium and Lead by Dry Biomass of sp. MK-11: Kinetic and Isotherm Study.

Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are global environmental pollutants. In this study, sp. MK-11 was used as an environmentally safe, economical, and efficient biosorbent for the removal of Cd and Pb ions from synthetic aqueous solutions.

Salpingectomy, tubal ligation and hysteroscopic occlusion for sterilization.

Introduction: Sterilization of females is considered one of the most prevalent contraceptive techniques among women in the United States. There are many surgical sterilization procedures including salpingectomy, tubal ligation, and hysteroscopic occlusion of the fallopian tubes. We provide an overview of these methods from the clinical data and latest studies available on this topic.

Exploring genetic variation among Jordanian Solanum lycopersicon L. landraces and their performance under salt stress using SSR markers.

Background: Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicon L.) are one of the main daily consumed vegetables in the human diet. Tomato has been classified as moderately sensitive to salinity at most stages of plant development, including seed germination, seedling (vegetative), and reproduction phases.

Genetic factors controlling nTiO nanoparticles stress tolerance in barley (Hordeum vulgare) during seed germination and seedling development.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticle (nTiO2) is one of the most produced nanoparticles worldwide. Its mechanism on crop development and performance is unclear as it is hard to predict their toxicity or benefit. Therefore, understanding the genetics of crop development under nTiO2 is a prerequisite for their applications in agriculture and crop improvement.

Detailed Genetic Analysis for Identifying QTLs Associated with Drought Tolerance at Seed Germination and Seedling Stages in Barley.

Drought induces several challenges for plant development, growth, and production. These challenges become more severe, in particular, in arid and semiarid countries like Egypt. In terms of production, barley ranks fourth after wheat, maize, and rice.

Reliable diagnosis of posterosuperior rotator cuff tears requires a combination of clinical tests.

Purpose: Clinical diagnosis of posterosuperior rotator cuff tears remains uncertain due to a lack of evidence-based consensus. This review aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of commonly used clinical tests for posterosuperior rotator cuff tears.

Methods: The authors conducted an electronic literature search using Medline, Embase and the Cochrane library/Central, to identify original clinical studies reporting diagnostic accuracy of clinical tests to diagnose the presence of posterosuperior rotator cuff tears involving the infraspinatus, supraspinatus and/or teres minor.

Natural Variation Uncovers Candidate Genes for Barley Spikelet Number and Grain Yield under Drought Stress.

Drought stress can occur at any growth stage and can affect crop productivity, which can result in large yield losses all over the world. In this respect, understanding the genetic architecture of agronomic traits under drought stress is essential for increasing crop yield potential and harvest. Barley is considered the most abiotic stress-tolerant cereal, particularly with respect to drought.

CpeY is a phycoerythrobilin lyase for cysteine 82 of the phycoerythrin I α-subunit in marine Synechococcus.

Marine Synechococcus are widespread in part because they are efficient at harvesting available light using their complex antenna, or phycobilisome, composed of multiple phycobiliproteins and bilin chromophores. Over 40% of Synechococcus strains are predicted to perform a type of chromatic acclimation that alters the ratio of two chromophores, green-light-absorbing phycoerythrobilin and blue-light-absorbing phycourobilin, to optimize light capture by phycoerythrin in the phycobilisome. Lyases are enzymes which catalyze the addition of bilin chromophores to specific cysteine residues on phycobiliproteins and are involved in chromatic acclimation.

Topical Corticosteroids Decrease IL-25 Expression by Immunohistochemistry.

Background: Interleukin-25 (IL-25) is an important contributing factor in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. It leads to increasing peripheral and infiltrating eosinophilia as well as serum IgE, IgG, and Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13), which are responsible for the allergic symptoms. Intranasal steroids (INS) are effective in treating allergic rhinitis, but their effect on IL-25 release has not been studied.

Marker-trait association for grain weight of spring barley in well-watered and drought environments.

Climate change will increase the effect of drought stress which is one of major constrains for barley production and productivity in Egypt. Identification and development new cultivars having a high drought tolerance combined with a high yield are urgently needed. In this study, a set of 60 highly homozygous and diverse barley genotypes was evaluated in well-watered (N) and dry (D) environments for two successive seasons.

Adaptation to Blue Light in Marine Requires MpeU, an Enzyme with Similarity to Phycoerythrobilin Lyase Isomerases.

Marine has successfully adapted to environments with different light colors, which likely contributes to this genus being the second most abundant group of microorganisms worldwide. Populations of that grow in deep, blue ocean waters contain large amounts of the blue-light absorbing chromophore phycourobilin (PUB) in their light harvesting complexes (phycobilisomes). Here, we show that all strains adapted to blue light possess a gene called .

A Randomized Trial Comparing Two Tongue-Pressure Resistance Training Protocols for Post-Stroke Dysphagia.

The objective of this study was to compare the outcomes of two tongue resistance training protocols. One protocol ("tongue-pressure profile training") emphasized the pressure-timing patterns that are typically seen in healthy swallows by focusing on gradual pressure release and saliva swallowing tasks. The second protocol ("tongue-pressure strength and accuracy training") emphasized strength and accuracy in tongue-palate pressure generation and did not include swallowing tasks.

Differences in swallowing between high and low concentration taste stimuli.

Taste is a property that is thought to potentially modulate swallowing behavior. Whether such effects depend on taste, intensity remains unclear. This study explored differences in the amplitudes of tongue-palate pressures in swallowing as a function of taste stimulus concentration.

The effect of bolus volume on hyoid kinematics in healthy swallowing.

Hyoid movement in swallowing is biomechanically linked to closure of the laryngeal vestibule for airway protection and to opening of the upper esophageal sphincter. Studies suggest that the range of hyoid movement is highly variable in the healthy population. However, other aspects of hyoid movement such as velocity remain relatively unexplored.