Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of incentives as a tool for prevention of non-communicable diseases: A systematic review

The rising epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) poses substantial health and economic challenges to both individuals and society. Application of incentive-based strategies based on traditional and behavioural economic theory has emerged as a potential strategy to address rising rates of NCDs. Yet, whether or not incentives truly represent a promising strategy for addressing NCDs has not been systematically addressed nor is it clear whether certain behavioural economic strategies outperform others or simply offering a cash-based incentive for meeting a goal. In this systematic review we aim to determine whether there is an evidence base for any of these strategies. Forty-eight published randomized controlled trials (70 contrasts) evaluating the effectiveness of incentive-based strategies for improvements in NCD risk-factors were reviewed. Our primary conclusion is that there is a lack of compelling evidence that incentives of any form represent a compelling NCD reduction strategy. More evidence for long-term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness is needed to justify third party funding of any incentive based strategy

Zika virus and its clinical implications: a comprehensive review

Recent Zika virus outbreak in Latin America and the Caribbean has drawn the world’s attention toward this relatively unknown virus, with WHO declaring it a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). India has had its own tryst with Zika virus with that “significant numbers” of Indians had already been exposed to Zika as early as 1950s. An exponential spread of Zika virus is a potential public health concern, with implications requiring immediate action. The devastating complications of Zika virus infection, particularly congenital and neurological, makes imperative a thorough, thoughtful, and level-headed public health approach in dealing with this infection especially during pregnancy. We review the data on this deadly infection in this brief review including its history, epidemiology, clinical features and management aspects particularly in pregnant women

Analog fabrication of PID controller

The PID controller has been used and dominated the process control industries for a long time as it provides the control action in terms of compensation based on present error input(proportional control), on past error(integral control) and on future error if recorded by earlier experience or some means(derivative control). The PID controllers have excellent property of making the system response faster and at the same time reduce the steady state error to zero or at least to a very small tolerance limit. The work below starts with study of individual components of the controller and their responses in a certain environment for different test signals (say a step or sine wave input).The problem is to design a PID controller using appropriate analog circuit as well as understand and utilize the advantages of all the three terms. The below work is for the study of an analog PID controller using operational amplifiers and fabricate the controller on hardware after testing the individual terms:-proportional, integral and derivative

Advances in Gingival Retraction

Introduction of new materials and improved technologies has created new opportunities to attain these goals of prevention and aesthetics in dental practice. For a precision fit and long-term success with fixed prosthetic dental restorations, the quality of impressions taken is a key element of decisive importance. Taking an accurate impression requires appropriate tooth preparation and soft-tissue management followed by proper selection of impression material, system, tray and the impression technique. The purpose of this review is to demonstrate the high qualities of a new, preventive and improved, temporary retraction materials and techniques

Comparative evaluation of Nano-Hydroxyapatite preparation and Calcium Sucrose Phosphate on microhardness of deciduous teeth after iron drop exposure - An in-vitro study

To evaluate and compare the microhardness of deciduous teeth treated with nano-hydroxyapatite and calcium sucrose phosphate after iron drop exposure. Twenty healthy anterior deciduous teeth were collected and stored in 0.9% saline solution at room temperature. All the teeth were immersed in artificial saliva in an incubator shaker at 37° for an hour and then subjected to Vickers microhardness test at 100g load for 5 seconds. The teeth were then immersed in iron drop for 5 minutes, twice daily, rinsed with distilled water and kept in artificial saliva. This procedure was repeated for 7 days and teeth were subjected to microhardness testing. Further, the teeth were divided in two groups, each group containing 10 teeth. In group I, nanohydroxyapatite preparation and in group II, calcium sucrose phosphate were applied for 10 minutes, twice daily for 7 days and subjected again to microhardness testing again. Vickers microhardness analysis revealed that iron drop exposure to teeth caused significant decrease in microhardness (p<0.05). Application of nanohydroxyapatite preparation in Group I showed significantly increased enamel microhardness (206.90) than that after iron drop exposure. Similarly, application of calcium sucrose phosphate in Group II showed significantly increased enamel microhardness (200.89) than that after iron drop exposure. Statistical difference was seen between the two groups, with nanohydroxyapatite preparation showing increased microhardness than calcium sucrose phosphate. Nanohydroxyapatite preparation and calcium sucrose phosphate have remineralizing effect over teeth affected by acid challenge of iron drops, nanohydroxyapatite preparation showing better results than calcium sucrose phosphate