QUANTITATIVE MEASUREMENT OF TEMPERATURE GRADIENT IN NATURAL HEAT CONVECTION USING COLOR-STRIPE BACKGROUND ORIENTED SCHLIEREN (CSBOS) TECHNIQUE AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CT) METHOD

ABSTRACT Quantitative image analysis and measurement of flow fields in convective heat transfer has great importance for the optimum energy consumption problems. In natural and forced convection phenomena of fluids, the complexity of flow field prevents us from detailed three dimensional (3D) experimental analyses of steady/unsteady dynamics in fluids. These flow fields have locally different density and temperature values and yet to be observed quantitatively. Recent development of the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV) techniques lead us to the quantitative investigation of flow fields in experimental researches. On the other hand, in image measurements density and temperature distributions have been grasped only in two-dimensions (2D). These qualitative image analyses of flow fields were obtained by using classical flow visualizing techniques, such as shadowgraph and color schlieren method. This paper describes the quantitative measurement of convective flow field using our originally proposed color striped background oriented schlieren (CSBOS) method. The obtained measured image data is used for CT reconstruction and 3D temperature gradient distributions

Exploring the relationship of cognitive function with and without COVID-19 recovered schizophrenic patients

BackgroundThe Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is linked to the deterioration of cognitive function among individuals suffering from schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to compare the cognitive performance of schizophrenic patients before and after COVID-19.MethodsA longitudinal cohort study involving a sample of 219 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia was enrolled between June 2022 and May 2023. The participants were split into two groups infected with COVID-19 (n = 165) and not infected with COVID-19 (n = 54). The data were gathered via a questionnaire on demographic characteristics, the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale, and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).ResultsThe repeated-measures ANOVA showed that Among patients diagnosed with COVID-19, there was a deterioration in global cognitive function (before COVID-19 = −2.45 vs. after COVID-19 = −3.02, p = 0.007), working memory (before COVID-19 = −2.76 vs. after COVID-19 = −3.34, p < 0.00 1), motor speed (before COVID-19 = −1.64 vs. after COVID-19 = −2.12, p < 0.001), attention and speed of information processing (before COVID-19 = −1.93 vs. after COVID-19 = −1.16, p = 0.008). multi-variable analysis showed that several factors as having a secondary grade of education (β = 0.434), experiencing insomnia (β = 0.411)and the interaction between COVID-19 diagnosis and cognition at baseline (β = 0.796) were significantly associated with cognitive deficits. At the same time, no significant associations were found between global cognition and clinical symptoms, autonomy, or depression (p > 0.05).ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted various cognitive functions, such as verbal memory, working memory, and global cognition. Insomnia has been identified as the predominant determinant of cognitive impairment, alongside the confirmation of a COVID-19 diagnosis. Additional research is imperative to elucidate the diversification of cognitive functionality observed in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia who have acquired COVID-19

Effect of Ajwa date pits powder (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on body composition, lipid profile and blood pressure in patients with hyperlipidemia: A randomized clinical trial

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Ajwa dates pit powder (ADP) on lipid profile, body composition and blood pressure in patients with hyperlipidemia.Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled clinical study was carried out on 40 patients with total cholesterol >200 mg/dl, triglycerides >150 mg/dl and BMI >25, of either sex, aged 30-50 years, who were recruited through written consent. The patients were divided into two groups (n=20 each): the ADP and the control group (CG). All patients received the doctor’s prescribed class A statin (Rosuvastatin/ Atorvastatin) 10 mg/day, while 2.7 g ADP was given on daily basis before breakfast with lukewarm water for 40 days and the control group received the same amount of wheat flour. Body composition, blood pressure and lipid profile were determined at baseline, and after 20 and 40 days. Data were analyzed by using SPSS and GraphPad Prism.Results: ADP significantly reduced body weight (p<0.001), BMI (p<0.001), fat mass, body fat percentage, visceral fat area and waist circumference compared to the control group. Similarly, ADP significantly (p=0.000) decreased the serum level of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein. Conclusion: ADP may have the potential to improve dyslipidemia and obesity

An innovative state-of-the-art health storytelling technique for better management of type 2 diabetes

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic lifelong disease that requires long-term prevention and management strategies in a community setting. A health story is a novel technique that may be used as an effective tool for better prevention and management of T2D. Objective: The main objective of this study is to develop a story to be used as a social health technique based on contemporary scientific knowledge that may be used at a community level for better communication and management of T2D. Methods: A community–academic partnership was formed with a not-for-profit Nutrition Education, Awareness, and Training (NEAT) organization in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. We agreed to develop a story that may be used as a health and nutrition education communication tool for better management of patients with T2D. The following phases were followed during the story creation process: (1) the theory phase, (2) the modeling phase, and (3) the evaluation phase. Raters evaluated the story to determine its literary and scientific quality, comprehensiveness, and T2D specificity. Results: The title of the story translated into English is “The Story of Diabetes—The Story of Success.” It is text based and contains 86 pages in the local language, “Pashto,” with an English translation. The story is divided into five chapters and describes the initial diagnosis, fear associated with the disease, issues related to referral to certified practitioners, the importance of a balanced diet, and related lifestyle habits. After story evaluation, the raters suggested its literary and scientific quality, comprehensiveness, and T2D specificity (Pearson correlation scores of \u3e0.8). Conclusion: This unique story was created for T2D and found to be of significant quality in terms of its literary and scientific quality, as well as its comprehensiveness and diabetes specificity. As a result, it may be suggested that it can be used in subsequent studies to improve T2D management among adult patients

An innovative state-of-the-art health storytelling technique for better management of type 2 diabetes

BackgroundType 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic lifelong disease that requires long-term prevention and management strategies in a community setting. A health story is a novel technique that may be used as an effective tool for better prevention and management of T2D.ObjectiveThe main objective of this study is to develop a story to be used as a social health technique based on contemporary scientific knowledge that may be used at a community level for better communication and management of T2D.MethodsA community–academic partnership was formed with a not-for-profit Nutrition Education, Awareness, and Training (NEAT) organization in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. We agreed to develop a story that may be used as a health and nutrition education communication tool for better management of patients with T2D. The following phases were followed during the story creation process: (1) the theory phase, (2) the modeling phase, and (3) the evaluation phase. Raters evaluated the story to determine its literary and scientific quality, comprehensiveness, and T2D specificity.ResultsThe title of the story translated into English is “The Story of Diabetes—The Story of Success.” It is text based and contains 86 pages in the local language, “Pashto,” with an English translation. The story is divided into five chapters and describes the initial diagnosis, fear associated with the disease, issues related to referral to certified practitioners, the importance of a balanced diet, and related lifestyle habits. After story evaluation, the raters suggested its literary and scientific quality, comprehensiveness, and T2D specificity (Pearson correlation scores of &gt;0.8).ConclusionThis unique story was created for T2D and found to be of significant quality in terms of its literary and scientific quality, as well as its comprehensiveness and diabetes specificity. As a result, it may be suggested that it can be used in subsequent studies to improve T2D management among adult patients

Gut Microbiota and Time-Restricted Feeding/Eating: A Targeted Biomarker and Approach in Precision Nutrition

Each individual has a unique gut microbiota; therefore, the genes in our microbiome outnumber the genes in our genome by about 150 to 1. Perturbation in host nutritional status influences gut microbiome composition and vice versa. The gut microbiome can help in producing vitamins, hormones, and other active metabolites that support the immune system; harvest energy from food; aid in digestion; protect against pathogens; improve gut transit and function; send signals to the brain and other organs; oscillate the circadian rhythm; and coordinate with the host metabolism through multiple cellular pathways. Gut microbiota can be influenced by host genetics, medications, diet, and lifestyle factors from preterm to aging. Aligning with precision nutrition, identifying a personalized microbiome mandates the provision of the right nutrients at the right time to the right patient. Thus, before prescribing a personalized treatment, it is crucial to monitor and count the gut flora as a focused biomarker. Many nutritional approaches that have been developed help in maintaining and restoring an optimal microbiome such as specific diet therapy, nutrition interventions, and customized eating patterns. One of these approaches is time-restricted feeding/eating (TRF/E), a type of intermittent fasting (IF) in which a subject abstains from food intake for a specific time window. Such a dietary modification might alter and restore the gut microbiome for proper alignment of cellular and molecular pathways throughout the lifespan. In this review, we have highlighted that the gut microbiota would be a targeted biomarker and TRF/E would be a targeted approach for restoring the gut-microbiome-associated molecular pathways such as hormonal signaling, the circadian system, metabolic regulators, neural responses, and immune-inflammatory pathways. Consequently, modulation of the gut microbiota through TRF/E could contribute to proper utilization and availability of the nutrients and in this way confer protection against diseases for harnessing personalized nutrition approaches to improve human health

Riktlinjer för införande av biometri Technology i Blekinge hälso-och sjukvården med fokus på mänskliga föreställningar och kostnadsfaktor

Biometrics Technology is an authentication technology that identifies the individuals from their physical and behavioral characteristics. Despite the fact that biometrics technology provides robust authentication and enhanced security, it has not yet been implemented in many parts of the world due to certain issues i.e. human perceptions of the biometrics technology and cost factor, involved in the deployment of biometrics technology. As the biometrics technology involves identity management of individuals that’s why the humans perceptions of biometrics technology i.e. privacy concerns, security concerns and user acceptance issue play a very important role in the deployment of biometrics technology. There for the human perceptions and cost factor need to be considered before any deployment of biometrics technology. The aim of this thesis work is to study and analyze how the people’s perceptions and cost factor can be solved for the deployment of biometrics technology in Blekinge health care system. Literature study, interviews and survey are performed by authors for the identification and understanding of the human perceptions and cost factor. Based on these, solutions in form of guidelines to the issues involved in the biometrics technology deployment in Blekinge health care system Sweden are given.Biometri Teknik är en autentisering teknik som identifierar individer från deras fysiska och beteendemässiga egenskaper. Trots att biometriska tekniken ger en robust autentisering och ökad säkerhet, har det ännu inte genomförts i många delar av världen på grund av vissa frågor som exempelvis mänskliga uppfattningar om biometriska tekniken och extra kostnader, som deltar i användningen av biometriska tekniken. Eftersom biometriska tekniken innebär identitetshantering av individer som är anledningen till att människor uppfattningar av biometriska tekniken dvs rör skyddet av privatlivet, säkerhetsfrågor och användarnas inställning fråga spelar en mycket viktig roll i spridningen av biometriska tekniken. Där för människors uppfattningar och kostnad faktor måste beaktas innan en eventuell utplacering av biometriska tekniken. Syftet med detta examensarbete är att studera och analysera hur människors uppfattning och kostnad faktor kan lösas för införande av biometri teknik i Blekinge hälsovårdssystemet. Litteraturstudie, intervjuer och undersökningar utförs av författare för identifiering och förståelse av människans förnimmelser och kostnad faktor. Baserat på dessa, är lösningar i form av riktlinjer för de frågor som berörs av biometri spridningen av tekniken i Blekinge sjukvårdssystem Sverige [email protected], [email protected]

Riktlinjer för införande av biometri Technology i Blekinge hälso-och sjukvården med fokus på mänskliga föreställningar och kostnadsfaktor

Biometrics Technology is an authentication technology that identifies the individuals from their physical and behavioral characteristics. Despite the fact that biometrics technology provides robust authentication and enhanced security, it has not yet been implemented in many parts of the world due to certain issues i.e. human perceptions of the biometrics technology and cost factor, involved in the deployment of biometrics technology. As the biometrics technology involves identity management of individuals that’s why the humans perceptions of biometrics technology i.e. privacy concerns, security concerns and user acceptance issue play a very important role in the deployment of biometrics technology. There for the human perceptions and cost factor need to be considered before any deployment of biometrics technology. The aim of this thesis work is to study and analyze how the people’s perceptions and cost factor can be solved for the deployment of biometrics technology in Blekinge health care system. Literature study, interviews and survey are performed by authors for the identification and understanding of the human perceptions and cost factor. Based on these, solutions in form of guidelines to the issues involved in the biometrics technology deployment in Blekinge health care system Sweden are given.Biometri Teknik är en autentisering teknik som identifierar individer från deras fysiska och beteendemässiga egenskaper. Trots att biometriska tekniken ger en robust autentisering och ökad säkerhet, har det ännu inte genomförts i många delar av världen på grund av vissa frågor som exempelvis mänskliga uppfattningar om biometriska tekniken och extra kostnader, som deltar i användningen av biometriska tekniken. Eftersom biometriska tekniken innebär identitetshantering av individer som är anledningen till att människor uppfattningar av biometriska tekniken dvs rör skyddet av privatlivet, säkerhetsfrågor och användarnas inställning fråga spelar en mycket viktig roll i spridningen av biometriska tekniken. Där för människors uppfattningar och kostnad faktor måste beaktas innan en eventuell utplacering av biometriska tekniken. Syftet med detta examensarbete är att studera och analysera hur människors uppfattning och kostnad faktor kan lösas för införande av biometri teknik i Blekinge hälsovårdssystemet. Litteraturstudie, intervjuer och undersökningar utförs av författare för identifiering och förståelse av människans förnimmelser och kostnad faktor. Baserat på dessa, är lösningar i form av riktlinjer för de frågor som berörs av biometri spridningen av tekniken i Blekinge sjukvårdssystem Sverige [email protected], [email protected]

Sero-Prevalence of Brucellosis in Occupationally High-Risk Groups in Three Different Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Objectives: Brucellosis is a neglected zoonotic disease in Pakistan, but it causes immense impact on livestock and public health.&nbsp; This study was done to determine the prevalence of Brucellosis in occupationally high-risk groups encompassing butchers, milkers, and cattle caretakers in district Swabi, Mardan, and Peshawar of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 300 blood samples were collected through a non-probability purposive sampling technique from occupationally high-risk groups including butchers, milkers, and cattle caretakers at district Swabi, Mardan, and Peshawar from December 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018. All the blood samples were centrifuged and the serum was separated for further testing. Serum agglutination test was used for the detection of Brucellosis and the reagents used for this method were purchased from Biosciences PTE Ltd, Singapore. Results: Out of 300 blood samples, 111 samples were positive and the overall prevalence of Brucellosis was 37% in occupationally high-risk groups. The overall 37% prevalence of Brucellosis comprised of 70% of B. abortus, 21.6% of B. melitensis, and 8.1% of both B. abortus and B. melitensis simultaneously. The prevalence of Brucellosis in butchers was 27.6%, milkers 13.3%, and cattle caretakers 45.7% while prevalence in males was 33% and in females 39.6%. The prevalence of Brucellosis in district Swabi was 45%, Mardan 33.3%, and Peshawar 30%. The socio demographic factors including age group, occupation, and locality showed statistically significant results. Conclusion: &nbsp;The prevalence of Brucellosis is considerably higher in occupationally high-risk groups in district Swabi, Mardan, and Peshawar, Pakistan

A Status Review on Health-Promoting Properties and Global Regulation of Essential Oils

Since ancient times, essential oils (EOs) have been known for their therapeutic potential against many health issues. Recent studies suggest that EOs may contribute to the regulation and modulation of various biomarkers and cellular pathways responsible for metabolic health as well as the development of many diseases, including cancer, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and bacterial infections. During metabolic dysfunction and even infections, the immune system becomes compromised and releases pro-inflammatory cytokines that lead to serious health consequences. The bioactive compounds present in EOs (especially terpenoids and phenylpropanoids) with different chemical compositions from fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants confer protection against these metabolic and infectious diseases through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-microbial properties. In this review, we have highlighted some targeted physiological and cellular actions through which EOs may exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-microbial properties. In addition, it has been observed that EOs from specific plant sources may play a significant role in the prevention of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, microbial infections, and increasing breast milk production, along with improvements in heart, liver, and brain health. The current status of the bioactive activities of EOs and their therapeutic effects are covered in this review. However, with respect to the health benefits of EOs, it is very important to regulate the dose and usage of EOs to reduce their adverse health effects. Therefore, we specified that some countries have their own regulatory bodies while others follow WHO and FAO standards and legislation for the use of EOs