[en] Our purpose was to evaluate the effects of ovariectomy in conjunction with cadmium (Cd) exposure on bone. Aged female beagles with ⁴⁵Ca-labeled skeletons ovariectomized and exposed to Cd. Successive vertebral scans by dual photon absorptiometry monitored changes in bone mineral density (BMD) in each dog with time. Results showed that ovariectomy or Cd exposure alone caused significant decreases in BMD; ovariectomy with Cd exposure caused the greatest decrease. Ovariectomy alone did not decrease BMD in the distal end or mid-shaft of the tibia while BMD of the distal tibia decreased significantly due to Cd exposure alone. Combination treatment resulted in significant decreases in BMD of both tibial regions. At necropsy, tibiae, humeri, lumbar vertebrae and ribs were obtained for biochemical analysis. No group-to-group differences in bone weights (wet, dry, ash), in ash/dry ratios, or in long bone and vertebral Ca/dry or Ca/ash ratios were observed. Significantly higher total ⁴⁵Ca content and ⁴⁵Ca/dry and ⁴⁵Ca/ash ratios were observed in long bones and vertebrae of OV- and OV+ groups. In contrast, intact ribs showed significantly decreased Ca/dry and Ca/ash ratios compared to the SO-group. Quartered ribs demonstrated regional responses to specific treatment; decreases in total Ca content were greatest in the mid-rib region (-36 to -46%). Results suggest that in the aged female beagle, bone mineral loss associated with estrogen depletion is not only related to bone type (trabecular versus cortical) but also to bone Ca pools. Our results also suggest that a regional heterogeneity of bone plays a role in responsiveness to ovariectomy and Cd exposure. These aspects suggest that Cd is an exogenous factor affecting bone mineral loss independently of estrogen depletion. However, estrogen depletion primes bone for responsiveness to Cd-induced bone mineral loss

[en] RF SQUIDs have been fabricated by manually scribing a hole shunted with a microbridge in a BSCCO thick film. The V-Φ modulations are observed up to 96.5 K. In the white noise region, the spectral density of flux noise is 5x10^-4 Φ₀/√Hz at 77 K. The SQUID has been operated successfully in flux-locked-loop mode (FLLM). The stability of the SQUID output and observation of hysteresis in external flux measurements are also reported. (orig.)

[en] This study evaluated the effects of Cd exposure on bone calcium following ovariectomy. Fourteen female beagles (7-9 y old) with ⁴⁵Ca prelabeled skeletons (100 μCi/kg body weight) were divided into four groups: shams (SO-; n = 3); ovariectomized (OV-; n =4); shams exposed to Cd (OV+; n = 4). Cd was given in capsules for 4 weeks, increasing dosage weekly (1,5, 15, 50 ppm), followed by exposure for 4.5, 2.0, and 15 weeks in drinking water (15 ppm). Repeated measures of bone mineral density (BMD) were made by dual photon absorptiometry. After the last Cd-water exposure, ribs, tibiae, humerii and lumbar vertebrae (L2-4; L5) were taken from each dog (except SO+, kept for further study). No consistent differences between treatment and control groups were observed in dry or ash weight, Ca content, ash/dry , Ca/dry, and Ca/ash ratios. However, ⁴⁵Ca, ⁴⁵Ca/dry, and ⁴⁵Ca/ash were significantly higher (18 to 38%) in bones of OV+ and OV- compared to SO-. In contrast, significant decreases in BMD of L_2-4 were observed in OV+ dogs (baseline to sacrifice) (OV+: -7.2 ± 1.1%; OV-: -4.0 ± 1.9%; SO-: -1.0 ± 1.7%). Our results suggest: (1) ovariectomy sensitizes bone to cadmium effects and (2) bone mineral loss due to Cd exposure, such as in Itai-Itai disease, may be due to direct effects

[en] As device dimensions shrink to submicron levels, good design of ultrashallow junctions has become increasingly important. It is in this context that the use of carbon/oxygen as a possible diffusion-suppressing agent for phosphorus has been suggested. To study this complex phenomenon, this experimental study looks at the effects of low dose silicon, carbon, and oxygen implantation damage on the diffusion of lightly doped phosphorus layers. The effects of a silicon and carbon coimplant on the diffusion of phosphorus are studied as part of a second experiment. Finally, lightly doped drain structure is annealed in the presence of a carbon implant. Carbon is the most effective diffusion-suppressing agent among the three species. Results from the second experiment suggest that carbon strongly affects the interstitial profile, and thereby the final phosphorus profile

[en] Two hole YBCO bulk and one hole YBCO, BSCCO thick films rf SQUIDs have been fabricated and operated at 77K. RF SQUID behavior has been studied using commercial rf SQUID electronic with external rf and af sources. Flux noise density of these SQUIDs depend on the quality of the microbridge. In this paper flux noise present in various reported high T_c film rf SQUIDs are compared

[en] Objective: To compare frequency of recurrence of otitis media with effusion in children undergoing the two procedures myringotomy + Grommet insertion with and without additional adenoidectomy. Methodology: This Randomized Controlled Trial was carried out at ENT department, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan from January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2018. A sample of 80 patients was calculated using WHO calculator. Non probability consecutive sampling was used for enrolment of participant. Patients were divided randomly into two groups. Group A underwent Myringotomy plus Grommet insertion with Adenoidectomy while Group B underwent Myringotomy + Grommet insertion without Adenoidectomy. Recurrence of disease was noted at 3 month follow up. Post stratification chi-square test was applied. P value≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: Out of 80 patients, there were 23(29 percent) males and 57(71 percent) females. Mean age was 7.65±3.5 years. An association between two groups and recurrence (P=0.01), interventional groups & age (p=0.01), hearing loss (p=0.001) with respect to recurrence was significant. An insignificant association was found with gender, laterality and duration of disease (p>0.05). Conclusion: Myringotomy + Grommet insertion with Adenoidectomy had better efficacy in terms of lower recurrence rate as compared to Myringotomy + Grommet insertion without Adenoidectomy in management of otitis media with effusion. (author)

[en] To compare 10 percent Icthammol glycerine wick and topical steroid-antibiotic drops in treating diffuse otitis externa in terms of pain and reduction in edema of external auditory canal. Methodology: It was a Randomized Controlled Trial conducted in ENT department, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan from Nov 2016 to May 2017. A sample size of 100 was divided randomly into two group. Non probability consecutive sampling was used. In Group A,10% Icthammol glycerine wick while Group B, topical steroid antibiotic was used. Treatment duration was 5 days. Chi-square test was applied. P value≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: Out of 100 patients, 52(52 percent) were males and 48(48 percent) females. Mean age was 34.05±10.7 years. A significant difference between two groups regarding pain reduction (p=0.001) and edema reduction (p=0.001) was found (p<0.05). Conclusion: Topical steroid antibiotic ear drops are more effective in reduction of pain and edema in comparison to 10% Icthammol glycerine wick to cure diffuse otitis externa. (author)

[en] Fabrication of injection system for INDUS-II is a challenging job in the view of the fact that complete magnet system has to meet stringent requirements of Beam Dynamics and Magnet Division for a uniform magnetic field (^ΔB/B ± 1 x 10^-3 Gauss) in the injected beam path as well as very low leakage field ( < 2 Gauss/meter) at the storage beam. These magnets have successfully demonstrated above requirements in test trials. This paper describes various aspects involved in fabrication of these magnets. Problems encountered during machining to achieve high geometrical accuracies and surface finish and their solutions have been also discussed. (author)

[en] Phosphogypsum (PG) is a by-product of the phosphate fertilizer industry, which contains various toxic elements. The concentration of one of the toxic elements, arsenic, has been measured in 10 samples of PG waste collected from the stack of the Pak-Arab Fertilizer factory at Multan in Pakistan. The technique of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was employed for the characterization of this element. The quality assurance was controlled by analyzing the reference materials, IAEA-SL1, IAEA-SDM-2 and GSJ-JB-2 along with the PG samples. The concentration of arsenic was found to vary from 1.55 to 11.39 mu g/g with an average value of 6.26 mu g/g. The level of arsenic in the PG samples was compared with the permissible value of this element in soil and water. The potential hazard of this element to human health and the environment has been discussed and method to control this pollution has been proposed in this paper. (author)

[en] Objective: To evaluate the glucose lowering effect of 50% ethanol extract of Syzygium aromaticum in comparison with that of standard insulin in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Study Design: Randomized control trial. Place and Duration of Study: National Institute of Health Islamabad. Jul 2011- Dec 2011 Material and Methods: It was carried out on 48 adult rats of Sprague dawley specie. Rats were equally divided into 6 groups (I-VI). Group - I served as control. Diabetes was induced by giving single intraperitoneal injection of STZ in Group II to VI. Group-II served as diabetic control, while groups III, IV, V and VI served as experimental groups. Group III, IV and V rats received 50% ethanol extract of Syzygium aromaticum at a dose of 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg body weight respectively for sixty days. Group VI (standard) received humulin insulin 70/30 at dose of 0.6 units<-kg body weight subcutaneously bid for sixty days. Fasting blood samples were taken at zero day, 15 day, 30 day and 60 day after giving injection STZ. Although Syzygium aromaticum with the doses of 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg body weight and insulin reduced the level of glucose in rats but on comparison Syzygium aromaticum 750 mg=kg dose reduced glucose more effectively than 250 and 500 mg/kg dose. While in group III, IV subjects, blood glucose levels remained above normal level. In group VI receiving insulin the level of this parameter remained almost closer to group IV rats. On studying the weight of the animals after receiving STZ there was initial reduction in the weight of all the experimental groups but after receiving the extract of plant improvement was seen and the weight of group V getting 750 mg=kg/body weight of Syzygium aromaticum became almost closer to the weight of control group. Conclusion: Syzygium aromaticum extract has glucose lowering effect in STZ induced diabetic rats and this effect is dose related and the dose of 750 mg/kg body weight has produced maximum effect. (author)