Study of the Magnetized Hybrid Nanofluid Flow through a Flat Elastic Surface with Applications in Solar Energy

The main theme of the present study is to analyze numerically the effects of the magnetic field on the hybrid nanofluid flow over a flat elastic surface. The effects of the thermal and velocity slips are also analyzed in view of the hybrid nanofluid flow. It is considered a combination of titanium oxide (TiO₂) and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles that are suspended in the incompressible and electrically conducting fluid (water). The behavior of the Brownian motion of the nanoparticles and the thermophoretic forces are contemplated in the physical and mathematical formulations. Moreover, the impact of the Joule heating and viscous dissipation are also discussed using the energy equation. The mathematical modeling is simulated with the help of similarity variables. The resulting equations are solved using the Keller–Box method with a combination of finite difference schemes (FDSs). Hybrid nanofluids provide significant advantages over the usual heat transfer fluids. Therefore, the use of nanofluids is beneficial to improve the thermophysical properties of the working fluid. All of the results are discussed for the various physical parameters involved in governing the flow. From the graphical results, it is found that the hybrid nanoparticles improve the concentration, temperature, and velocity profiles, as well as the thickness of the relevant boundary layer. The conjunction of a magnetic field and the velocity slip, strongly opposes the fluid motion. The boundary layer thickness and concentration profile are significantly reduced with the higher levels of the Schmidt number.     

Patterns of recognition of Arabic consonants by non-native children with cochlear implants and normal hearing

Objective: This study examined the patterns of recognition of Arabic consonants, via information transmission analysis for phonological features, in a group of Malay children with normal hearing (NH) and cochlear implants (CI).

Method: A total of 336 and 616 acoustic tokens were collected from six CI and 11 NH Malay children, respectively. The groups were matched for hearing age and duration of exposure to Arabic sounds. All the 28 Arabic consonants in the form of consonant–vowel /a/ were presented randomly twice via a loudspeaker at approximately 65?dB SPL. The participants were asked to repeat verbally the stimulus heard in each presentation.

Results: Within the native Malay perceptual space, the two groups responded differently to the Arabic consonants. The dispersed uncategorized assimilation in the CI group was distinct in the confusion matrix (CM), as compared to the NH children. Consonants /?/, /t?/, /s?/ and /?/ were difficult for the CI children, while the most accurate item was /k/ (84%). The CI group transmitted significantly reduced information, especially for place feature transmission, then the NH group (p?Conclusion: CI and NH Malay children may be using different acoustic cues to recognize Arabic sounds, which contribute to the different assimilation categories’ patterns within the Malay perceptual space.     

Migrating foreign body into the common carotid artery and internal jugular vein – A rare case

Ingested foreign bodies are a fairly common otorhinolaryngological emergencies encountered in Malaysia. The vast majority of these foreign bodies are fish bones which most commonly are impacted at the level of the cricopharynx. Rarely, however, a foreign body may migrate extraluminally and may even extrude subcutaneously. We report a rare occurrence where a fish bone not only migrated extraluminally, it was found to have migrated into the common carotid artery and the internal jugular vein and required surgical removal.     

Quality of life in Palestinian patients with end-stage renal disease receiving treatment by haemodialysis: a cross-sectional study

Background

Haemodialysis is a life-saving but burdensome therapy for patients with end-stage renal disease, which can substantially impair health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the patterns of HRQOL and to identify the risk factors for reduced HRQOL in Palestinian patients receiving treatment by haemodialysis.

A bibliometric analysis of toxicology research productivity in Middle Eastern Arab countries during a 10-year period (2003–2012)

Background

The key to universal coverage in tuberculosis (TB) management lies in community participation and empowerment of the population. Social infrastructure development generates social capital and addresses the crucial social determinants of TB, thereby improving program performance. Recently, there has been renewed interest in the concept of social infrastructure development for TB control in developing countries. This study aims to revive this concept and highlight the fact that documentation on ways to operationalize urban TB control is required from a holistic development perspective. Further, it explains how development of social infrastructure impacts health and development outcomes, especially with respect to TB in urban settings.

Methods

A wide range of published Government records pertaining to social development parameters and TB program surveillance, between 2001 and 2011 in Delhi, were studied. Social infrastructure development parameters like human development index along with other indicators reflecting patient profile and habitation in urban settings were selected as social determinants of TB. These include adult literacy rates, per capita income, net migration rates, percentage growth in slum population, and percentage of urban population living in one-room dwelling units. The impact of the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program on TB incidence was assessed as an annual decline in new TB cases notified under the program. Univariate linear regression was employed to examine the interrelationship between social development parameters and TB program outcomes.

Results

The decade saw a significant growth in most of the social development parameters in the State. TB program performance showed 46% increment in lives saved among all types of TB cases per 100,000 population. The 7% reduction in new TB case notifications from the year 2001 to 2011, translates to a logarithmic decline of 5.4 new TB cases per 100,000 population. Except per capita income, literacy, and net migration rates, other social determinants showed significant correlation with decline in new TB cases per 100,000 population.

Conclusions

Social infrastructure development leads to social capital generation which engenders positive growth in TB program outcomes. Strategies which promote social infrastructure development should find adequate weightage in the overall policy framework for urban TB control in developing countries.