Effects of Chemical and magnetic disorder on the electrochemical properties of V2−x_{2-x}Mnx_{x}CO2_{2}} MXene electrodes

Investigation of structure-property relations in chemically and magnetically disordered materials can give rise to interesting physical phenomena. The potential of two-dimensional MXenes as electrodes in supercapacitor applications have been studied extensively. However, the role of chemical and magnetic disorder on their electrochemical parameters like the capacitance have not been explored yet. In this work, we have systematically addressed this for V$_{2-x}$Mn$_{x}$CO$_{2}$ MXene solid solutions with an analysis based upon results from first-principles electronic structure calculations. We find that the variations in the total capacitance over a voltage window depends upon the degree of chemical and magnetic disorder. In course of our investigation, we also found out that the magnetic structure on the surface can substantially influence the redox charge transfer, an yet unexplored phenomenon. A significantly large charge transfer and thus a large capacitance can be obtained by manipulating the chemical composition and the magnetic order of the surfaces.These findings can be useful in designing operational supercapacitor electrodes with magnetic constituents

Effect of Village-wide Use of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets on Visceral Leishmaniasis Vectors in India and Nepal: A Cluster Randomized Trial

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a vector-borne disease causing at least 60,000 deaths each year amongst an estimated half million cases, and until recently there have been no significant initiatives to reduce this burden. However, in 2005, the governments of India, Bangladesh and Nepal signed a memorandum of understanding at the World Health Assembly in Geneva for the elimination of the disease by 2015. In the absence of an effective vaccine, the program will rely on the active detection and prompt treatment of cases throughout the endemic region, combined with a recurrent indoor residual spraying (IRS) of all villages at risk. Vector control programs based on IRS are notorious for failing to maintain comprehensive spray coverage over time owing to logistical problems and lack of compliance by householders. Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LNs) have been postulated as an alternative or complement to IRS. Here we describe how comprehensive coverage of LN in trial communities reduced the indoor density of sand flies by 25% compared to communities without LNs. This provides an indication that LNs could be usefully deployed as a component of the VL control program in the Indian subcontinent

Syndactylism of Fingers: A Clinical Study

Different aspects of 44 cases of Syndaetylism secen and treated at Department of Plastic Surgery, S. S. K. M. Hospital and IPGMER 1958 and 1966, followed up for varying periods from 1 to 8 years are described. The probable aetiological factors, the clinical variations, and the treatment are discussed

The influence of the El Nino Southern Oscillation on heat waves in India

The present study investigated the relationship between the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and heat wave characteristics, such as duration, annual number of heat wave days and maximum temperature of heat wave events, in India. El Nino is associated with an eastward shift in the Walker circulation and breakdown of circulation patterns, resulting in delay in the onset of the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM). Because most heat waves in India occur during the pre-monsoon season, the present study showed that heat waves during El Nino years were longer and hotter, and it is argued that this is related to a delay in the onset of the ISM. Further, it was found that the shift in the circulation pattern due to El Nino resulted in (1) the weakening of southwesterlies in the Arabian Sea, and (2) the occurrence of a large number of clear sky days over India. These explain the occurrence of warmer and longer duration heat waves during El Nino years. These results imply that, if El Nino activity increases in the future, heat waves in India are likely to intensify

Enhancing professionalism among engineering students through involvements in technical societies.

A student chapter can be considered to be a miniature enterprise; however without the latter's major financial risks. Involvement in the student chapter of a professional society like IEEE at undergraduate level plays a pivotal role in the overall professional development of the student by keeping the students informed about the various career possibilities. A student chapter shapes the hitherto naive students into industry ready professionals and to suitable candidates for some of the best grad schools worldwide. This assertion has been discussed in-depth taking the example of IEEE EMBS Student Branch chapter of VIT University. It has been described how the entire process, - starting from inception of an idea to its materialization in to an activity, has shaped the volunteers and participants into better professionals

Intensification of future severe heat waves in India and their effect on heat stress and mortality

Heat waves are expected to intensify around the globe in the future, with potential increase in heat stress and heat-induced mortality in the absence of adaptation measures. India has a high current exposure to heat waves, and with limited adaptive capacity, impacts of increased heat waves might be quite severe. This paper presents the first projections of future heat waves in India based on multiple climate models and scenarios for CMIP5 data. We find that heat waves are projected to be more intense, have longer durations and occur at a higher frequency and earlier in the year. Southern India, currently not influenced by heat waves, is expected to be severely affected by the end of the twenty-first century. Projections indicate that a sizable part of India will experience heat stress conditions in the future. In northern India, the average number of days with extreme heat stress condition during pre-monsoon hot season will reach 30. The intensification of heat waves might lead to severe heat stress and increased mortality

Efficacy, safety and cost of insecticide treated wall lining, insecticide treated bed nets and indoor wall wash with lime for visceral leishmaniasis vector control in the Indian sub-continent: a multi-country cluster randomized controlled trial

Background: We investigated the efficacy, safety and cost of lime wash of household walls plus treatment of sand fly breeding places with bleach (i.e. environmental management or EM), insecticide impregnated durable wall lining (DWL), and bed net impregnation with slow release insecticide (ITN) for sand fly control in the Indian sub-continent. Methods: This multi-country cluster randomized controlled trial had 24 clusters in each three sites with eight clusters per high, medium or low sand fly density stratum. Every cluster included 45–50 households. Five households from each cluster were randomly selected for entomological measurements including sand fly density and mortality at one, three, nine and twelve months post intervention. Household interviews were conducted for socioeconomic information and intervention acceptability assessment. Cost for each intervention was calculated. There was a control group without intervention. Findings: Sand fly mortality [mean and 95%CI] ranged from 84% (81%-87%) at one month to 74% (71%-78%) at 12 months for DWL, 75% (71%-79%) at one month to 49% (43%-55%) at twelve months for ITN, and 44% (34%-53%) at one month to 22% (14%-29%) at twelve months for EM. Adjusted intervention effect on sand fly density measured by incidence rate ratio ranged from 0.28 (0.23–0.34) at one month to 0.62 (0.51–0.75) at 12 months for DWL; 0.72 (0.62–0.85) at one month to 1.02 (0.86–1.22) at 12 months for ITN; and 0.89 (0.76–1.03) at one months to 1.49 (1.26–1.74) at 12 months for EM. Household acceptance of EM was 74% compared to 94% for both DWL and ITN. Operational cost per household in USD was about 5, 8, and 2 for EM, DWL and ITN, respectively. Minimal adverse reactions were reported for EM and ITN while 36% of households with DWL reported transient itching. Interpretation: DWL is the most effective, durable and acceptable control method followed by ITN. The Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) Elimination Program in the Indian sub-continent should consider DWL and ITN for sand fly control in addition to IRS

Insecticide-treated bed nets in rural Bangladesh: their potential role in the visceral leishmaniasis elimination programme

Objective To analyse the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of insecticide-treated bed nets with slow-release insecticides (KO Tab 123) as an option for kala-azar vector management in Bangladesh. Methods Intervention study involving an insecticide dipping programme through village health workers supervised by public health officers covering 6967 households in Mymensingh and 8287 in Rajshahi district. In a subsample of households, sandfly densities at baseline, 1, 12 and 18 months were measured with CDC light traps both in intervention and control areas. Bioassays were performed for determining the bioavailability of the insecticide and tests of chemical residues in the treated bed nets were undertaken. Satisfaction surveys and direct observation of use of treated bed net use were conducted. Results The dipping programme was feasible with the help of communities and public health staff, was well accepted, reached a coverage of 98.2% and 96.2% in the two study sites within 4 weeks and was effective in terms of a significant reduction in sandfly densities (approximately 60%) for a period of 18 months. Bioassay results were satisfactory (>80% sandfly mortality) and the average chemical content of the treated bed nets was sufficient for killing sand flies at the end of the observation period. Conclusion Bed nets treated with slow-release insecticides can be an important complementary measure for sandfly control in the visceral leishmaniasis elimination programm

Additional file 1: Table S1 of Entomological efficacy of durable wall lining with reduced wall surface coverage for strengthening visceral leishmaniasis vector control in Bangladesh, India and Nepal

of bivariate analysis of household related variables in the study area (site specific data). Table S2 of adverse events related to intervention (DOCX 27 kb