A one-step, gas-phase photothermocatalytic process for the synthesis of hydrocarbons, including liquid alkanes, aromatics, and oxygenates, with carbon numbers (Cn) up to C13, from CO2 and water is demonstrated in a flow photoreactor operating at elevated temperatures (180–200 °C) and pressures (1–6 bar) using a 5% cobalt on TiO2 catalyst and under UV irradiation. A parametric study of temperature, pressure, and partial pressure ratio revealed that temperatures in excess of 160 °C are needed to obtain the higher Cn products in quantity and that the product distribution shifts toward higher Cn products with increasing pressure. In the best run so far, over 13% by mass of the products were C5+ hydrocarbons and some of these, i.e., octane, are drop-in replacements for existing liquid hydrocarbons fuels. Dioxygen was detected in yields ranging between 64% and 150%. In principle, this tandem photochemical–thermochemical process, fitted with a photocatalyst better matched to the solar spectrum, could provide a cheap and direct method to produce liquid hydrocarbons from CO2 and water via a solar process which uses concentrated sunlight for both photochemical excitation to generate high-energy intermediates and heat to drive important thermochemical carbon-chain-forming reactions.

BackgroundApplication of assisted reproductive technologies in buffaloes is limited to some extent by farmers’ inability to detect oestrus because of its poor expression. The present study aimed at investigating reliability of a milk progesterone enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to assess the ovarian cyclicity during post partum, oestrus and post-breeding periods in water buffaloes.MethodsProgesterone concentrations were measured by an ELISA in milk of 23 postpartum buffaloes in relation to oestrus, pregnancy, body condition score (BCS) and milk production. Two milk samples were taken at 10 days intervals, every month starting from day 30 and continued to day 150 post partum. BCS and milk production were recorded during sample collection. Milk samples from bred buffaloes were collected at Day 0 (day of breeding), Days 10–12 and Days 22–24. Defatted milk was preserved at −80°C until analysis. Pregnancy was confirmed by palpation per rectum on Days 70–90.ResultsSeventeen buffaloes had 47 ovulatory cycles, one to four in each, 13 were detected in oestrus once (28 % oestrus detection rate). Progesterone concentration ≥1 ng/ml in one of the two 10-day-interval milk samples reflected ovulation and corpus luteum formation. The intervals between calving to first luteal activity and to first detected oestrus varied from 41 to 123 days (n = 17) and 83 to 135 (n = 13) days, respectively. Eight buffaloes were bred in the course of the study and seven were found pregnant. These buffaloes had a progesterone profile of low (<1 ng/ml), high (≥ 1 ng/ml) and high (≥ 1 ng/ml) on Day 0, Days 10–12 and Days 22–24, respectively. Buffaloes cycling later in the postpartum period had fewer missed oestruses (P < 0.05). Buffaloes with a superior BCS had a shorter calving to oestrus interval and produced more milk (P < 0.05).ConclusionsMilk progesterone ELISA is a reliable tool for monitoring ovarian cyclicity and good BCS may be an indicator of resuming cyclicity in water buffalo.

Background: This study aimed to examine the differences in epidemiologic and disease aspects among patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Methods: The authors reviewed the hospital records between April 2020 and September 2021 and followed up on the patients for post-COVID complications. Findings: Older adult patients were predominantly affected during the third wave, and middle-aged patients were predominantly affected during the first and second waves. Men were predominantly admitted, considering the three waves, although more women were admitted in the second wave. Cough was more common in the second and third waves than in the first wave 522 (59.7%). Respiratory distress was the most common in the third wave, 251(67.1%), and least common in the first wave, 403 (46.1%). Anosmia was more common in the third wave 116 (31.2%). In the third wave, patients presenting in a critical state 23 (6.2%) and with severe disease 152 (40.8%) were more common. The hospital admission median (IQR) was longer in the first wave, 12 (8–20), than in other waves. More patients were admitted in the first wave (52%) than in the other waves, and patients received more oxygen in the third wave (75%) than in the other waves. Death occurred more commonly in the first wave (51%) than in the other waves. The positivity rate was higher in the third wave (22.8%) than in the other waves. In the third wave, the positivity rate was higher in women (24.3%) than in men. Post-COVID cough increased in the second wave, and fatigue was higher in the third wave than in the other waves. Tiredness and memory loss were greater during the second wave than in other waves. Conclusion: The authors found differences in the presentation, outcomes, and hospital epidemiologic trend of COVID-19 among the three waves.

Background: Migraine is the second most common primary headache disorder that has close link to the neurovascular system. The exact pathogenesis of migraine is still not fully understood but several possible theories have been proposed. Hyperhomocysteinemia is one of the coincidental factors whose association with migraine is yet in obscure. Methods: This case control study was conducted in the department of Neurology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka. A total of 65 patients, who were diagnosed as migraine (with aura or without aura) according to ICHD-3 criteria, were considered as case group and another 65 patients (age and sex matched) with headache other than migraine were considered as control group. Serum homocysteine levels were estimated for both groups and other relevant investigations were done in selective cases. Comparison of serum homocysteine levels between two groups were done to see association of serum homocysteine level with migraine in adults. Results: A total of 50 women and 15 men with mean age of 31 (±10.41) years and 50 women and 15 men with mean age of 33 (±10.91) years constituted case and control groups, respectively. The mean (±SD) serum homocysteine level in case group 10.71 (±4.16) ìmol/L was significantly higher than control group 7.62 (±2.26) ìmol/L, (P <0.001).The mean value of serum homocysteine level in migraine without aura (MWOA) patients 11.87 (±4.18) ìmol/L was found significantly higher than migraine with aura (MWA) patients 8.23 (±1.51) ìmol/L, (p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between severity of migraine headache and frequency of migraine attack with serum homocysteine level. Conclusion: Serum homocysteine level was found significantly higher in migraineurs than non-migraineurs. Bangladesh Journal of Neuroscience 2017; Vol. 33 (2): 76-82