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CuO–MnO–2TiO2 composite thin film having a photocurrent density of 2.21 mA cm−2 at +0.7 V has been deposited from a homogeneous mixture of acetates of Cu and Mn and (Ti(O(CH2)3CH3)4) in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid in THF via AACVD at 550 °C.

Unlike wheeled robots, humanoid robots are able to cross obstacles by stepping over or upon them. Conventional 2D methods for robot navigation fail to exploit this unique ability of humanoids and thus design trajectories only by circumventing obstacles. Recently, global algorithms have been presented that take into account this feature of humanoids. However, due to high computational complexity, most of them are very time consuming. In this paper, we present a new approach to footstep planning in obstacle cluttered environments that employs a human-like strategy to terrain traversal. Simulation results of its implementation on a model of the Saika-3 humanoid robot are also presented. The algorithm, being one of reactive nature, refutes previous claims that reactive algorithms fail to find successful paths in complex obstacle cluttered environments.

Bilateral adrenal hemorrhage (BAH) is a rare but potentially fatal entity that carries a mortality rate of 15%. Most cases are associated with sepsis, antiphospholipid syndrome, the use of anticoagulants, as well as trauma and surgery. In this case report, we present a case of BAH in a previously healthy man with a recent history of corticosteroid use. Our case emphasizes the ambiguous clinical presentation of BAH, which poses a challenge in the establishment of a correct diagnosis. We also illustrate the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and subsequent therapeutic approach to this rare clinical entity.

In this paper, sampled-data control of locally Lipschitz nonlinear systems is studied. The controller is designed entirely in the discrete-time domain. The design is based on the approximate discrete-time model of the continuous-time system obtained using the Euler method. The analyses of the closed loop system establish trajectory convergence, which implies asymptotic/exponential convergence for arbitrarily small sampling time. The major contribution of this paper is that asymptotic/exponential convergence of the closed loop system is proved under some additional conditions for a sufficiently small but nonzero sampling time.

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Organophosphate (OP) poisoning is a commonly seen condition in many countries. OP poisoning classically presents with symptoms of cholinergic excess. It can rarely affect other organ systems but when it does, it can worsen a patient's overall prognosis. We present a case of a 23-year-old man with an extremely rare case of acute kidney injury due to OP, who was successfully treated with a combination of hemodialysis, atropine and pralidoxime days after OP poisoning with reservations on the aging process.

Objective The objective of this study is to find a correlation between internal jugular vein (IJV) and common carotid artery (CCA) diameter ratio and central venous pressure (CVP) measurement and find a cut-off value for the IJV/CCA ratio to predict low CVP i.e. < 10 cm H 2 0, for estimating the volume status in critically ill patients. Methods This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the critical care department of Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, from July to December 2017. A sample of 49 patients ≥ 18 years with intrathoracic central venous catheters (CVCs) who underwent bedside sonographic assessments of IJV and CCA diameter were included in this study using convenient sampling. The IJV/CCA diameter ratio was calculated and correlated with CVP and the predictive value of the IJV/CCA diameter ratio to predict CVP < 10 cm H 2 O was explored by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. Results A total of 49 patients, 30 males (61.2%) and 19 females (38.8%) with a mean age of 56.00±16.11 years were included in the study. The mean CVP was 8.98±2.37cm H 2 O in ventilated (51%) and 10.7± 6.01 cm H 2 O in non-ventilated (49%) patients. The mean IJV/CCA diameter ratio was 1.60±0.55 at expiration and 1.41±0.56 at inspiration. There was a significant correlation between the IJV/CCA diameter ratio and CVP at expiration (r=0.401, p=0.004). The correlation between IJV/CCA and CVP was significant in non-ventilated patients at expiration (r=0.439, p=0.032). The area under the ROC curve for the IJV/CCA diameter ratio for predicting CVP < 10 cm H 2 O was 0.684 (p=0.028). The predictive value of the IJV/CCA diameter ratio for CVP < 10 cm H 2 0 at the cutoff value of < 2 was insignificant. A new cut-off < 1.75 was taken for the IJV/CCA diameter ratio from the coordinates of the ROC curve. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of an IJV/CCA diameter ratio of < 1.75 for predicting a CVP < 10 cm H 2 0 were 84.62%, 52.17%, 66.67%, and 75.00%, respectively. Conclusion The assessment of volume status by the IJV/CCA diameter ratio with a sonographic device may be a useful noninvasive alternative for a central venous catheterization with a cut-off < 1.75.