Continuous Large Area Monolayered Molybdenum Disulfide Growth Using Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition.

The growth of large crystallite continuous monolayer materials like molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) with the desired morphology via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) remains a challenge. In CVD, the complex interplay of various factors like growth temperatures, precursors, and nature of the substrate decides the crystallinity, crystallite size, and coverage area of the grown MoS2 monolayer. In the present work, we report about the role of weight fraction of molybdenum trioxide (MoO3), sulfur, and carrier gas flow rate toward nucleation and monolayer growth. The concentration of MoO3 weight fraction has been found to govern the self-seeding process and decides the density of nucleation sites affecting the morphology and coverage area. A carrier gas flow of 100 sccm argon results in large crystallite continuous films with a lower coverage area (70%), while a flow rate of 150 sccm results in 92% coverage area with a reduced crystallite size. Through a systematic variation of experimental parameters, we have established the recipe for the growth of large crystallite atomically thin MoS2 suitable for optoelectronic devices.

Experimental Investigation of Different Fineness and Firing Temperatures on Pellets Properties of Different Iron Ore fines from Indian Mines.

In India, during mining and ore processing, ore fine generation is a common phenomenon, in which more than 60% of process ore becomes discarded material. To explore the alternative of high-grade ores, mutual replacement with the utility of dump ore fines is the best way. With this perspective, Kiruburu iron ore mine (Iron Ore No.1) and Meghataburu iron ore mine (Iron Ore No.2) dumped fines were chosen for a Blaine no. investigation, in the connection of firing temperatures, to get optimum desirable physical properties, Cold Compression Strength (C.C.S.),and Apparent Porosity (A.P.), with physico-chemical properties, Reducibility Degradation Index (R.D.I.), and Reducibility Index (R.I.). To characterize pellet properties with input variables, a microstructure phase study has been conducted using a scanning electron microscope (S.E.M.), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The Iron Ore No.1 and 2 fine pellets survey showed good, desirable properties, at the Blaine no., of 1678 cm2/g and 2311 cm2/g (corresponding to 200 mesh size), and the best results are attained at a firing temperature of 1300 °C. Thermal kinetic analysis of the heating of pellets has been done to knowthe activation energy of different ore characteristics. The results showed that Iron Ore No.2 pellets have high activation energy.

Zinc in denture adhesive: a rare cause of copper deficiency in a patient on home parenteral nutrition.

A 65-year-old woman with Crohn's disease, who had been on home parenteral nutrition for many years, presented with perioral paraesthesia and a burning sensation in the mouth. Initial blood tests including serum ferritin, vitamin B12 and folate, were normal apart from mild pancytopaenia. Serum copper was low, in spite of receiving regular copper in her parenteral feeds. The copper in her parenteral feeds was increased initially, but when it did not improve, she was started on weekly intravenous copper infusions. She was using dental adhesive, which had zinc in it, and a possibility that this was causing her copper deficiency was raised. Serum zinc levels were normal, but urinary zinc was very high. The patient was advised to use zinc-free dental adhesive and her copper level returned to normal within a few months with normalisation of her pancytopaenia, and partial resolution of her oral paraesthesia.

Prevalence of hearing loss and ear morbidity among adolescents and young adults in rural southern Nepal.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 3646 persons, 15 to 23 years of age, in the southern plains District of Sarlahi, Nepal, to assess the prevalence and severity of hearing loss and middle-ear dysfunction, and adverse effects of hearing loss on social integration. Between 2006 and 2008, subjects were enumerated and underwent otoscopic, tympanometric, and audiometric evaluations at central sites in villages. Hearing loss was diagnosed in subjects who failed a hearing screening and exhibited an average air conduction threshold value greater than or equal to 30 dBHL in the worse ear. Clinically, 32.8% of subjects exhibited a dull or retracted tympanic membrane, and 18% had abnormal tympanometry. Nearly 12% failed the hearing screening test, among whom more than half, or 6.1% overall, had hearing loss. Hearing-impaired subjects were six- to eight-fold (ORs, with 95% CIs excluding 1.0) more likely to report problems in hearing usual sounds or communicating with other people. Among young adults living in southern Nepal, hearing loss is common, and associated with social disability.

Famotidine for the prevention of peptic ulcers and oesophagitis in patients taking low-dose aspirin (FAMOUS): a phase III, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There are few therapeutic options for the prevention of gastrointestinal mucosal damage caused by low-dose aspirin. We therefore investigated the efficacy of famotidine, a well-tolerated histamine H(2)-receptor antagonist, in the prevention of peptic ulcers and erosive oesophagitis in patients receiving low-dose aspirin for vascular protection. METHODS: Adult patients (aged >/=18 years) from the cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and diabetes clinics at Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, UK, were eligible for enrolment in this phase III, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial if they were taking aspirin 75-325 mg per day with or without other cardioprotective drugs. Patients without ulcers or erosive oesophagitis on endoscopy at baseline were randomly assigned by computer-generated randomisation sequence to receive famotidine 20 mg twice daily (n=204) or placebo twice daily (n=200). Patients had a final endoscopic examination at 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the development of new ulcers in the stomach or duodenum or erosive oesophagitis at 12 weeks after randomisation. Analysis was by intention to treat, including all randomised patients who received at least one dose of study drug (famotidine or placebo). This trial is registered as an International Standard Randomised Clinical Trial, number ISRCTN96975557. FINDINGS: All randomised patients received at least one dose and were included in the ITT population. 82 patients (famotidine, n=33; placebo, n=49) did not have the final endoscopic examination and were assumed to have had normal findings; the main reason for participant withdrawal was refusal to continue. At 12 weeks, comparing patients assigned to famotidine with patients assigned to placebo, gastric ulcers had developed in seven (3.4%) of 204 patients compared with 30 (15.0%) of 200 patients (odds ratio [OR] 0.20, 95% CI 0.09-0.47; p=0.0002); duodenal ulcers had developed in one (0.5%) patient compared with 17 (8.5%; OR 0.05, 0.01-0.40; p=0.0045); and erosive oesophagitis in nine (4.4%) compared with 38 (19.0%; OR 0.20, 0.09-0.42; p<0.0001), respectively. There were fewer adverse events in the famotidine group than in the placebo group (nine vs 15); four patients in the placebo group were admitted to hospital with upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. The other most common adverse event was angina (famotidine, n=2; placebo, n=4). INTERPRETATION: Famotidine is effective in the prevention of gastric and duodenal ulcers, and erosive oesophagitis in patients taking low-dose aspirin. These findings widen the therapeutic options for the prevention of gastrointestinal damage in patients needing vascular protection. FUNDING: Merck Laboratories and Astellas Pharma.

Frequency and effective treatment of ulcers and sinuses in cases of tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency and effective treatment of ulcers and sinuses in cases of tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis (TCL). DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Kathmandu, Nepal, during the period of two years from March, 2000 to February, 2002. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A hundred cases of histopathologically confirmed cases of tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis of more than six weeks of duration were included in the study. Overall frequency of the complication as well as the efficacy of treatment regime was considered. RESULTS: Out of 100 patients, 8 (8%) were found to develop ulcers and/or sinuses during the process of development of TCL which were effectively treated (100% cure rate). Mode of treatment was surgical excision of ulcers/sinuses along with affected underlying lymph nodes, followed by short course of anti-tubercular chemotherapy. Not a single case recurred during their follow-up period. CONCLUSION: In this series there was a low frequency of formation of ulcers/sinuses during the process of development of TCL. Surgical excision of ulcers/sinuses along with affected underlying lymph nodes, followed by short course of anti-tubercular chemotherapy is the effective methods of their treatment.

Outcome of surgical management of laryngeal carcinoma: a 5-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the outcome of surgically managed laryngeal carcinoma patients attending an outpatient clinic over a 5-year period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was an analytical, retrospective, cross-sectional study. A total of 36 laryngeal carcinoma patients who were managed surgically with or without radiotherapy were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 32 patients (89%) were found to be disease-free during follow-up for up to 5 years. Two patients (5.5%) died because of intercurrent infection and recurrence of the disease and two (5.5%) were lost to follow-up 5 and 7 months after surgery, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the best disease-free rates can be achieved by managing laryngeal carcinoma surgically with or without radiotherapy depending on the advancement and aggressiveness of the disease.

Distribution of lymph nodes in the neck in cases of tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution of lymph nodes in the neck during the process of development of tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis (TCL) in patients attending an outpatient clinic over a 1-year period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective, cross-sectional, observational study which included 100 cases of histopathologically confirmed TCL of >6 weeks duration. RESULTS: Lymph nodes in the posterior triangle (PT) were found to be commonest (51%), followed by those in the upper deep cervical (UDC; 48%) and submandibular (SM; 36%) regions. The supra-clavicular (SC; 3%), submental (Sment; 4%) and lower deep cervical (LDC; 9%) regions were found to be the least frequently affected. Uni- and bilateral disease were observed in 83% and 17% of patients, respectively. A single group of lymph nodes was involved in 68% of patients, 2 groups in 29% and >2 groups in 13% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that if unilateral, painless, enlarged and mated lymph nodes are found in either the PT or the UDC or SM areas, lymphadenitis of tuberculous origin should be suspected rather than lymphadenitis of any other etiology.

Exposure of infants to outdoor and indoor air pollution in low-income urban areas - a case study of Delhi.

Indoor air pollution is potentially a very serious environmental and public health problem in India. In poor communities, with the continuing trend in biofuel combustion coupled with deteriorating housing conditions, the problem will remain for some time to come. While to some extent the problem has been studied in rural areas, there is a dearth of reliable data and knowledge about the situation in urban slum areas. The microenvironmental model was used for assessing daily-integrated exposure of infants and women to respirable suspended particulates (RSP) in two slums of Delhi - one in an area of high outdoor pollution and the other in a less polluted area. The study confirmed that indoor concentrations of RSP during cooking in kerosene-using houses are lesser than that in wood-using houses. However, the exposure due to cooking was not significantly different across the two groups. This was because, perhaps due to socioeconomic reasons, kerosene-using women were found to cook for longer durations, cook inside more often, and that infants in such houses stayed in the kitchen for longer durations. It was observed that indoor background levels during the day and at nighttime can be exceedingly high. We speculate that this may have been due to resuspension of dust, infiltration, unknown sources, or a combination of these factors. The outdoor RSP levels measured just outside the houses (near ambient) were not correlated with indoor background levels and were higher than those reported by the ambient air quality monitoring network at the corresponding stations. More importantly, the outdoor levels measured in this study not only underestimated the daily-integrated exposure, but were also poorly correlated with it.