Consensus recommendations for the use of automated insulin delivery technologies in clinical practice

The significant and growing global prevalence of diabetes continues to challenge people with diabetes (PwD), healthcare providers, and payers. While maintaining near-normal glucose levels has been shown to prevent or delay the progression of the long-term complications of diabetes, a significant proportion of PwD are not attaining their glycemic goals. During the past 6 years, we have seen tremendous advances in automated insulin delivery (AID) technologies. Numerous randomized controlled trials and real-world studies have shown that the use of AID systems is safe and effective in helping PwD achieve their long-term glycemic goals while reducing hypoglycemia risk. Thus, AID systems have recently become an integral part of diabetes management. However, recommendations for using AID systems in clinical settings have been lacking. Such guided recommendations are critical for AID success and acceptance. All clinicians working with PwD need to become familiar with the available systems in order to eliminate disparities in diabetes quality of care. This report provides much-needed guidance for clinicians who are interested in utilizing AIDs and presents a comprehensive listing of the evidence payers should consider when determining eligibility criteria for AID insurance coverage

A comparative review of natural and synthetic biopolymer composite scaffolds

Tissue engineering (TE) and regenerative medicine integrate information and technology from various fields to restore/replace tissues and damaged organs for medical treatments. To achieve this, scaffolds act as delivery vectors or as cellular systems for drugs and cells; thereby, cellular material is able to colonize host cells sufficiently to meet up the requirements of regeneration and repair. This process is multi-stage and requires the development of various components to create the desired neo-tissue or organ. In several current TE strategies, biomaterials are essential components. While several polymers are established for their use as biomaterials, careful consideration of the cellular environment and interactions needed is required in selecting a polymer for a given application. Depending on this, scaffold materials can be of natural or synthetic origin, degradable or nondegradable. In this review, an overview of various natural and synthetic polymers and their possible composite scaffolds with their physicochemical properties including biocompatibility, biodegradability, morphology, mechanical strength, pore size, and porosity are discussed. The scaffolds fabrication techniques and a few commercially available biopolymers are also tabulated.Scopu

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Not AvailableNot AvailableDirectorate of Extension, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare), Government of Indi

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Not AvailableThe effect of passive aeration on substrate quality, composting period and yield was studied using different perforated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes arrangements, as a composting method for substrate preparation to Agaricus bisporus cultivation. The ingredients are, mixture of wheat straw (60%), wheat bran (5.5%), chicken manure (31%), urea (0.5%) and gypsum (3%) with initial moisture (75%) used for composting. It was demonstrated that passive aeration is the key parameter controlling composting process, shortened the compost period, enhance the substrate quality and Agaricus yield as of pile composting. The substrate physico-chemical characteristics that is, moisture content, temperature pattern, bulk density, pH, electric conductivity, C: N ratio and thermophilic fungi activity varied significantly with composting period. The parallel arrangement (10% perforations) was found best among all the passive aeration treatments for achieving the quality substrate in shortest composting period of 16 day and enhance the A. bisporus yield up to 27.6%. This study also opens possibility to cultivate A. bisporus on a lingo-cellulosic, non-pasteurized, non-conditioned, aerated substrate and that composting for 16 days improve the mushroom yield with minimum energy, labor and infrastructure.Not Availabl

Wollastonite/forsterite composite scaffolds offer better surface for hydroxyapatite formation

The present work deals with a comparative study of ceramic/ceramic composites for the development of scaffolds for biomedical applications. Wollastonite and forsterite were synthesized by a sol-gel combustion method. The influence of constituents and composition on apatite deposition was studied by fabricating wollastonite/forsterite composites. The X-ray diffraction pattern explains the bone like-apatite deposition within early stages of immersion. The atomic force microscopy micrographs revealed that with an increase in wollastonite content in the composites the roughness was enhanced. Dissolution studies further confirmed the rapid consumption of Ca and P ions from the simulated body fluid. Hence, apatite formation was observed to be more on the surface of a composite containing a higher amount of wollastonite. The results suggest that composites have more influence on the biomineralization activity when compared with pure bioceramics.The authors thank DST-FIST for the XRD, SEM facility and SAIF/IIT Madras for ICP-OES facility. This study was financially supported by Vellore Institute of Technology Research Grants for Engineering, Management and Science (VITRGEMS).Scopu

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Not AvailableThe present investigation entitled “Fertility status of irrigated soils of Jhotwara panchayat samiti of Jaipur district “was carried out during 2010-11. The soils were pH neutral to alkaline (pH 7.2–8.5) in reaction having electrical conductivity (EC) value in surface soil (0.53–2.51 dSm-1). The data on nutrient showed that the soils are low in organic carbon and available nitrogen and low to medium in available phosphorus and available sulphur whereas, medium to high in available potassium. Among the DTPA extractable micronutrient cations, manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu) were found to be above critical limits, whereas the soils were deficient in iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) supply.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2011-12 and 2012-13 C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur with the objectives to find out the combined effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on grain yield, productivity and profitability of wheat crop. The 10 treatments were tested in Randomized Block Design with three replication. T1- Control, T2 - RDF (150:60:40 NPK Kg/ha), T3 - 125% RDF, T4 - RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha, T5 - RDF + Vermicompost @ 5 t/ha, T6 - RDF + FYM @ 5t/ ha, T7 - RDF + FYM @ 10 t/ha, T8 - RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha + Azotobacter, T9 - RDF + FYM @ 5t/ha + Azotobacter, and T10 - RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha + FYM @ 5 t/ha + Azotobacter. Result showed that the treatment T10 produced higher yield attributes and grain yield than rest of the treatment. The higher yield led to higher NPK uptake by wheat. Further, the available NPK and Organic Carbon (%) content of soil also increased in above integration of organic and inorganic fertilizer along with bio-fertilizer strain over control as well as chemical fertilizers alone. The highest net return (INR/ha 53882) and benefit : cost (1.23) was also obtained from the application of RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha + FYM @ 5 t/ha + Azotobacter and lowest from control (21873) and (0.74), respectively.Not Availabl

Design of 1-bit and 2-bit magnitude comparators using electro-optic effect in Mach–Zehnder interferometers

The Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) structures collectively show powerful capability in switching an input optical signal to a desired output port from a collection of output ports. Hence, it is possible to construct complex optical combinational digital circuits using the electro-optic effect constituting MZI structure as a basic building block. Optical switches have been designed for 1-bit and 2-bit magnitude comparators based on electro-optic effect using Mach–Zehnder interferometers. The paper constitutes a mathematical description of the proposed device and thereafter simulation using MATLAB. Analysis of some factors influencing the performances of proposed device has been discussed properly. The study is verified using beam propagation method

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