Distance-preserving maps in generalized polygons, part I : maps on flags

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How to manage chronic urticaria ‘beyond’ guidelines: a practical algorithm

Abstract

Chronic urticaria (CU) is a disease characterised by pruritic weals, angio-oedema or both occurring for at least 6 weeks. It encompasses spontaneous and inducible urticarias. The national and international guidelines outline the principles of treatment. Omalizumab, an anti-immunoglobulin E monoclonal antibody has transformed the management of many severe and treatment-refractory patients. However, current UK guidance on its use does not address the needs of those with less severe disease, inducible urticarias, idiopathic histaminergic angio-oedema without weals as a presentation of CU and omalizumab non-responders. Our algorithm and a summary of the evidence to support its principles offers guidance and a more systematic targeted approach to using a range of 'off-label' agents for specific phenotypes of CU. It will be of use when guideline-recommended mast cell mediator antagonists fail to control symptoms and/or using omalizumab is ineffective, not practical or unfunded.

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Annual hospitalisation rates for children with asthma are inversely associated with total hours of sunshine in English regions

Abstract

During childhood, exacerbation of asthma is the most common medical reason for admission to hospital in the UK. Each year 44,000 children are admitted to hospital in the UK with 40-50 children dying as a result of asthma [1]. Weather patterns and seasonality have distinct, measurable effects on the rates of hospitalisation for asthma.

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Determining RUSLE P-factors for stone bunds and trenches in rangeland and cropland, Northern Ethiopia

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Double positive effect of adding hexaethyelene glycol when optimizing the hybridization efficiency of a microring DNA detection assay

In this paper, a method for detection of DNA molecules using silicon-on-insulator (SOI) microring resonators is described. The influence of temperature and the use of formamide on the hybridization efficiency were studied. It was shown that 50 v/v% of formamide in the hybridization buffer can ensure hybridization when working close to physiological temperature. Furthermore, the use of hexaethylene glycol (HEG) as backfilling agent was studied in order to resolve issues of non-specific adsorption to the surface. The results indicated that not only non-specific binding was reduced significantly but also that HEG improves the orientation of the DNA probes on the surface. This led to a 4-fold increase in hybridization efficiency and thus in an equal decrease in the detection limit, compared to hybridization without the use of HEG. An improvement in robustness of the assay was also observed. This DNA reorientation hypothesis was confirmed by studying the thickness and density of the layers by using dual polarization microring sensing. Finally, the different steps in the sensing experiment were characterized in more detail by static contact angle (SCA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The results showed quantitatively that the surface modifications were successful. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.

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Facile, catalyst-free, microwave-assisted access toward the synthesis of 2-aryl/alkyl-3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-2, 3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones

An efficient, catalyst-free, microwave-assisted approach has been developed for the synthesis of 2-aryl/alkyl-3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2yl)-2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one derivatives by condensing 2-aminobenzamides with various aliphatic, aromatic, and heterocyclic aldehydes. This catalyst-free approach exhibited good functional group compatibility and produced the desired products in good to excellent yields in just 10-20 min. This approach can be seen as a better alternative of the metal-catalyzed protocols used for the synthesis of this class of compounds. The formation of desired compound has also been confirmed by X-ray analysis.

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The success of headwater rehabilitation towards gully erosion control

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