AC ELECTRIC TRANSPORT PROPERTIES OF Zn SUBSTITUTED Li FERRITES

The electrical transport properties of ZnxLi0.45-x/2Fe2.55-x/2O4 (where, x=0.0, 0.3, 0.5) synthesized by conventional ceramic method have been investigated as a function of Zn content. The X-ray analysis confirms the formation of single phase cubic spinel structure. The ac resistivity and dielectric constant show opposite trend with increase in Zn content. The ac resistivity and dielectric constant of the samples are found to decreases with increase in frequency, exhibiting normal ferromagnetic behaviour. Dielectric constant of the samples decreases rapidly at lower frequencies and slower at higher frequencies which may be due to the Maxwell-Wagner interfacial polarization. The electrical properties can be explained on the basis of Fe2+/Fe3+ ionic concentration

Inequalities in Psychiatric Service Use and Mortality by Migrant Status Following a First Diagnosis of Psychotic Disorder: A Swedish Cohort Study of 1.3M People

It is unclear whether inequalities in mental healthcare and mortality following the onset of psychosis exist by migrant status and region-of-origin. We investigated whether (1) mortality (including by major causes of death); (2) first admission type (inpatient or outpatient); (3) in-patient length of stay (LOS) at first diagnosis for psychotic disorder presentation, and; (4) time-to-readmission for psychotic disorder differed for refugees, non-refugee migrants, and by region-of-origin. We established a cohort of 1 335 192 people born 1984-1997 and living in Sweden from January 1, 1998, followed from their 14th birthday or arrival to Sweden, until death, emigration, or December 31, 2016. People with ICD-10 psychotic disorder (F20-33; N = 9399) were 6.7 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 5.9-7.6) times more likely to die than the general population, but this did not vary by migrant status (P = .15) or region-of-origin (P = .31). This mortality gap was most pronounced for suicide (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 12.2; 95% CI: 10.4-14.4), but persisted for deaths from other external (aHR: 5.1; 95%CI: 4.0-6.4) and natural causes (aHR: 2.3; 95%CI: 1.6-3.3). Non-refugee (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.4, 95%CI: 1.2-1.6) and refugee migrants (aOR: 1.4, 95%CI: 1.1-1.8) were more likely to receive inpatient care at first diagnosis. No differences in in-patient LOS at first diagnosis were observed by migrant status. Sub-Saharan African migrants with psychotic disorder were readmitted more quickly than their Swedish-born counterparts (adjusted sub-hazard ratio [sHR]: 1.2; 95%CI: 1.1-1.4). Our findings highlight the need to understand the drivers of disparities in psychosis treatment and the mortality gap experienced by all people with disorder, irrespective of migrant status or region-of-origin

Surface modification of thin-film composite forward osmosis membranes with polyvinyl alcohol–graphene oxide composite hydrogels for antifouling properties

© 2020 Elsevier B.V. In this study, the polyamide (PA) layers of commercial thin-film composite (TFC) forward osmosis (FO) membranes were coated with glutaraldehyde cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel comprising of graphene oxide (GO) at various loadings to enhance their fouling resistance. The optimal GO concentration of 0.02 wt% in hydrogel solution was confirmed from the FO membrane performance, and its influence on membrane antifouling properties was studied. The properties of the modified membranes, such as surface morphology, surface charge and wettability, were also investigated. PVA/GO coating was observed to increase the smoothness and hydrophilicity of the membrane surface. The foulant resistances of the pristine, PVA-coated and PVA/GO-coated membranes were also reported. PVA hydrogel-coated TFC membrane with a GO loading of 0.02 wt% showed a 55% reduction in specific reverse solute flux, only a marginal reduction in the water flux, and the best antifouling property with a 58% higher flux recovery than the pristine TFC membrane. The significant improvement in the selectivity of the modified membranes meant that the hydrogel coating could be used to seal PA defects. The biocidal GO flakes in PVA hydrogel coating also improved the biofouling resistance of the modified membranes, which could be attributed to their morphologies and superior surface properties

Post-COVID-19 complications in home and hospital-based care: A study from Dhaka city, Bangladesh

A cross-sectional survey was undertaken to understand the management patterns and post-COVID-19 complications among hospital and home-treated participants. Retrospective information was collected from four COVID-19 dedicated hospitals and four selected community settings. Using probability proportional sampling, 925 participants were selected. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis and the exact chi-square tests were utilized to analyze the association between the studied variables. A total of 659 participants responded (response rate 70.93%); 375 from hospitals and 284 from communities. About 80% of participants were mild cases, 75% were treated at home, and 65% of hospital-treated participants were referred after home treatment. Participants treated at home-to hospital and directly in the hospital had 1.64 and 3.38 times longer recovery time respectively than what home-based participants had. A significant increasing trend (p < 0.001) of co-morbidities was found among referred and hospital treated participants. Age, level of education, physical exercise, practicing preventive measures, exposure to sunlight, and intake of carbohydrate, additional liquid, food supplements, and avoidance of junk foods were significantly associated with place of treatment. Post-COVID-19 difficulties of all factors were statistically significant for home treatment participants, whilst only depression (p = 0.026), chest pain (p = 0.017), and digestive disorders (p = 0.047) were significant (p < 0.05) for hospital treated participants. The outcomes from this study provide insight into a range of post-COVID-19 difficulties relating to at home and in hospital treatment participants. There are clear differences in the complications experienced, many of which are statistically significant. The health care professionals, the community people and COVID-19 survivors will be benefitted from the study findings, and the policy level people may use the information for designing health education program on post COVID-19 complications

A conserved population of MHC II-restricted, innate-like, commensal-reactive T cells in the gut of humans and mice

Interactions with commensal microbes shape host immunity on multiple levels and play a pivotal role in human health and disease. Tissue-dwelling, antigen-specific T cells are poised to respond to local insults, making their phenotype important in the relationship between host and microbes. Here we show that MHC-II restricted, commensal-reactive T cells in the colon of both humans and mice acquire transcriptional and functional characteristics associated with innate-like T cells. This cell population is abundant and conserved in the human and murine colon and endowed with polyfunctional effector properties spanning classic Th1- and Th17-cytokines, cytotoxic molecules, and regulators of epithelial homeostasis. T cells with this phenotype are increased in ulcerative colitis patients, and their presence aggravates pathology in dextran sodium sulphate-treated mice, pointing towards a pathogenic role in colitis. Our findings add to the expanding spectrum of innate-like immune cells positioned at the frontline of intestinal immune surveillance, capable of acting as sentinels of microbes and the local cytokine milieu

Analyses of Genetic Variations of Glutathione S-Transferase Mu1 and Theta1 Genes in Bangladeshi Tannery Workers and Healthy Controls

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) belong to a group of multigene detoxification enzymes, which defend cells against oxidative stress. Tannery workers are at risk of oxidative damage that is usually detoxified by GSTs. This study investigated the genotypic frequencies of GST Mu1 (GSTM1) and GST Theta1 (GSTT1) in Bangladeshi tannery workers and healthy controls followed by their status of oxidative stress and total GST activity. Of the 188 individuals, 50.0% had both GSTM1 and GSTT1 (+/+), 12.2% had GSTM1 (+/−), 31.4% had GSTT1 (−/+) alleles, and 6.4% had null genotypes (−/−) with respect to both GSTM1 and GSTT1 alleles. Among 109 healthy controls, 54.1% were double positive, 9.2% had GSTM1 allele, 32.1% had GSTT1 allele, and 4.6% had null genotypes. Out of 79 tannery workers, 44.3% were +/+, 16.8% were +/−, 30.5% were −/+, and 8.4% were −/−. Though the polymorphic genotypes or allelic variants of GSTM1 and GSTT1 were distributed among the study subjects with different frequencies, the differences between the study groups were not statistically significant. GST activity did not vary significantly between the two groups and also among different genotypes while level of lipid peroxidation was significantly higher in tannery workers compared to controls irrespective of their GST genotypes

Hyperglycaemia-linked diabetic foot complications and their management using conventional and alternative therapies

Diabetes mellitus, a major cause of mortality around the globe, can result in several secondary complications, including diabetic foot syndrome, which is brought on by diabetic neuropathy and ischemia. Approximately 15% of diabetic patients suffer from diabetic foot complications, and among them 25% are at risk of lower limb amputations. Diabetic foot ulcers are characterized as skin lesions, gangrene, or necrosis, and may develop due to several reasons, including hyperglycemia and slower wound healing in diabetic patients. A management protocol involving wound cleaning, oral antibiotics, skin ointments, and removing dead tissue is currently followed to treat diabetic foot ulcers. In severe cases, amputation is performed to prevent the infection from spreading further. The existing therapy can be costly and present adverse side effects. Combined with a lack of vascular surgeons, this ultimately results in disability, especially in developing nations. There is a growing interest in the use of alternative therapies, such as medicinal plants, to discover more efficient and affordable treatments for diabetic foot syndrome. It has been observed that treatment with numerous plants, including Carica papaya, Annona squamosa, Catharanthus roseus, and Centella asiatica, promotes wound healing, reduces inflammation, and may decrease the number of amputations. However, little information is currently available on the prevention and management of diabetic foot ulcers, and additional research is necessary to completely understand the role of alternative therapies in the treatment of diabetic foot complications