Neurotrauma clinicians' perspectives on the contextual challenges associated with long-term follow-up following traumatic brain injury in low-income and middle-income countries: a qualitative study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global public health concern; however, low/middle-income countries (LMICs) face the greatest burden. The WHO recognises the significant differences between patient outcomes following injuries in high-income countries versus those in LMICs. Outcome data are not reliably recorded in LMICs and despite improved injury surveillance data, data on disability and long-term functional outcomes remain poorly recorded. Therefore, the full picture of outcome post-TBI in LMICs is largely unknown. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a cross-sectional pragmatic qualitative study using individual semistructured interviews with clinicians who have experience of neurotrauma in LMICs. The aim of this study is to understand the contextual challenges associated with long-term follow-up of patients following TBI in LMICs. For the purpose of the study, we define 'long-term' as any data collected following discharge from hospital. We aim to conduct individual semistructured interviews with 24-48 neurosurgeons, beginning February 2020. Interviews will be recorded and transcribed verbatim. A reflexive thematic analysis will be conducted supported by NVivo software. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The University of Cambridge Psychology Research Ethics Committee approved this study in February 2020. Ethical issues within this study include consent, confidentiality and anonymity, and data protection. Participants will provide informed consent and their contributions will be kept confidential. Participants will be free to withdraw at any time without penalty; however, their interview data can only be withdrawn up to 1 week after data collection. Findings generated from the study will be shared with relevant stakeholders such as the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies and disseminated in conference presentations and journal publications

Phase evolution of yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG) in a citrate-nitrate gel combustion process

Yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG) powders were synthesized by a citrate-nitrate gel combustion process. Thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and time-resolved X-ray powder diffraction experiments were used to study the phase evolution. Formation of the pure YAG phase depends on the level of precursor decomposition in the combustion process. Removal of undecomposed citric acid from the starting precursor powder helps to lower the temperature at which the YAG phase begins to form and the temperature at which the pure, highly crystalline YAG phase is obtained. The value of citrate to nitrate ratio in the precursor gel affects the phase evolution for YAG

Synthesis of yttrium iron garnet (YIG) by citrate-nitrate gel combustion and precursor plasma spray processes

The influence of synthesis conditions on the formation of yttrium iron garnet (YIG) powders starting from the same precursor solution was investigated by employing a citrate-nitrate (C-N) gel combustion process and a precursor plasma spraying technique. Two different C-N ratios were used in the synthesis and their influences on phase formation were studied by thermal analysis (DTA/TGA) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Time-resolved powder XRD experiments were performed for the first time on these C-N precursor materials to understand their mode of decomposition. For a C-N = 0.75, the ex-situ XRD data confirmed a single-step conversion to YIG from the amorphous precursor powder without any intermediate phase formation. However, the use of the same C-N precursor solution as a liquid feedstock material in the precursor plasma spraying (PPS) technique revealed an entirely different transformation mechanism to YIG through the intermediate phase YFeO(3). The measured values of saturation magnetization (M(S)) as well as coercive field (H(C)) of the powder samples annealed at 1500 degrees C are close to those reported for bulk YIG. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Novel conopeptides of largely unexplored Indo Pacific Conus sp

Cone snails are predatory creatures using venom as a weapon for prey capture and defense. Since this venom is neurotoxic, the venom gland is considered as an enormous collection of pharmacologically interesting compounds having a broad spectrum of targets. As such, cone snail peptides represent an interesting treasure for drug development. Here, we report five novel peptides isolated from the venom of Conus longurionis, Conus asiaticus and Conus australis. Lo6/7a and Lo6/7b were retrieved from C. longurionis and have a cysteine framework VI/VII. Lo6/7b has an exceptional amino acid sequence because no similar conopeptide has been described to date (similarity percentage <50%). A third peptide, Asi3a from C. asiaticus, has a typical framework III Cys arrangement, classifying the peptide in the M-superfamily. Asi14a, another peptide of C. asiaticus, belongs to framework XIV peptides and has a unique amino acid sequence. Finally, AusB is a novel conopeptide from C. australis. The peptide has only one disulfide bond, but is structurally very different as compared to other disulfide-poor peptides. The peptides were screened on nAChRs, NaV and KV channels depending on their cysteine framework and proposed classification. No targets could be attributed to the peptides, pointing to novel functionalities. Moreover, in the quest of identifying novel pharmacological targets, the peptides were tested for antagonistic activity against a broad panel of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, as well as two yeast strains.status: publishe

Indigenous knowledge of silkworm cultivation and its utilization in North Eastern region of India

70-74The vegetation of Northeastern region is unique being characterized as one of the richest flora in the world, which produces a variety of products. Northeastern India has the highest number of endemic plants, animal and microbial species. Many sericigenous insects along with their food plants are endemic to this region. Sericulture and weaving are part of the cultural heritage of the Northeastern region and is one of the most promising income sources to this region without spending much for its cultivation