Immunomodulators for Curtailing COVID-19: a Positive Approach

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is highly infectious, spreading swiftly from man to man which has not been previously recognized in humans. World Health Organization (WHO) on February 11, 2020 named the infection as COVID-19 as an acronym for ‘coronavirus disease-2019’ and on March 11, 2020 declared the outbreak as pandemic. It affects all the people without discrimination, however, older, immune compromised are more susceptible. The virus chiefly spread through droplet infection from infected person to healthy one by coughing, sneezing or with infected hands when touched to eyes, nose or mouth. Symptoms of the infection range from mild to severe ones. In severe cases (approx. 14% of cases) fever typically of high grade (104oF), breathlessness, pneumonia and severe acute respiratory syndrome may appear. So far no specific treatment or vaccine for novel coronavirus-2019 is there. From the past and recent past experiences we have learnt that herbal medicines have proven beneficial against various dreadful viral infections. Assessment of immune enhancing herbs in this paper may definitely be helpful for the body to fight COVID-19 infection. Keywords:   Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, COVID-19, Pneumonia, Immune, Herb

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of natural dye from Swietenia mahagoni and its application on silk fabric

The current study deals with the extraction of natural dyes from the flower of the Sweitenia mahagoni plant by ultrasound-assisted extraction method using ethanol as solvent. Box-Behnken design has been employed to optimize and investigate the effect of three independent variables (sample-solvent ratio, sonication time and extraction temperature) on the natural dye yield. The results reveal that the experimental data are fitted to a second-order polynomial equation using multiple regression analysis with high coefficient of determination value (R2> 0.98, Adj. R² >0.96 & Pred. R² >0.81). Optimal extraction conditions for the dyes yield are: sample-solvent ratio 1/20 g/mL, sonication time 30 min and extraction temperature 50°C. Under these conditions, the highest dyes yield is predicted to be 0.855%. FTIR spectroscopy has been used to identify the major chemical group in the extracted dye. Further, dyeing of silk fabric has been carried out by an exhausted dyeing method and the dyeing property and fastness properties of the dyed samples are also assessed

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of natural dye from Swietenia mahagoni and its application on silk fabric

69-77The current study deals with the extraction of natural dyes from the flower of the Sweitenia mahagoni plant by ultrasound-assisted extraction method using ethanol as solvent. Box-Behnken design has been employed to optimize and investigate the effect of three independent variables (sample-solvent ratio, sonication time and extraction temperature) on the natural dye yield. The results reveal that the experimental data are fitted to a second-order polynomial equation using multiple regression analysis with high coefficient of determination value (R2> 0.98, Adj. R² >0.96 & Pred. R² >0.81). Optimal extraction conditions for the dyes yield are: sample-solvent ratio 1/20 g/mL, sonication time 30 min and extraction temperature 50°C. Under these conditions, the highest dyes yield is predicted to be 0.855%. FTIR spectroscopy has been used to identify the major chemical group in the extracted dye. Further, dyeing of silk fabric has been carried out by an exhausted dyeing method and the dyeing property and fastness properties of the dyed samples are also assessed

Slider®-A Novel Device For Remote Tracking Of Physiotherapy Exercises In Patients With Osteoarthritis Of The Knee: An Early Report

Background The waiting times for total knee replacements are over six months in the UK, EU and Australia with many patients waiting over a year. This leads to significant deterioration in the quality of life and increased frailty. Although closely supervised pre-operative physiotherapy (Prehab) has been shown to partially mitigate this problem, the demand for physiotherapy services has outstripped the supply. This mismatch has been made worse by the recent Covid pandemic. Printed information, app-based videos and wearables have been introduced to compensate for this discrepancy. However, concerns remain about usability, lack of patient engagement, objective tracking of patient engagement, the need for calibration/special positioning, lack of force measurement, and complications arising from contact with the user’s skin. The latter especially so with wearables. A novel device, Slider®, was designed by patients, physiotherapists, and surgeons to address these concerns. Objectives A Real-World Validation (RWV), funded by the Lancashire Health MATTERS programme, which is part funded from European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) monies, evaluated the response of patients awaiting knee replacement surgery to the use of Slider®. Study Design & Methods Slider® is a patented novel smart disc-shaped device 15cm in diameter with a force plate on its upper surface. A Lidar and optical sensors track heel motion in three dimensions. The force plate measures the downward force on the heel on Slider®, like that of a gait lab. The patient places their heel resting unrestricted on Slider®. As the patient moves their heel with Slider®, it tracks movements in the horizontal plane. When the heel is lifted off Slider® and its vertical position is tracked. Algorithms calculate the angle of knee flexion. The data is sent via Bluetooth to an app on the user’s smartphone/tablet. The app shows the user in real time how they are doing the exercises. Specially designed games actively encourage and record user engagement. Activity data is securely sent online in real time to the clinician. If the patient’s progress deviates from the pathway, an exception notification is sent to the patient and the clinician. 15 patients on the UK National Health Service (NHS) waiting list for knee replacements at a major teaching hospital were non-randomly chosen. They used the Slider® for two weeks and then completed an online questionnaire on usability and acceptability. Results 73% found Slider® easy to learn to use. 93% of the patients were satisfied. 100% found that Slider® provided for their pre-operative physiotherapy needs. All agreed that they would use Slider® again. None of the patients had safety concerns or experienced adverse effects. Conclusions This Real World Validation was carried out on pre-operative patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. It has measured the usability and acceptability of Slider®. It established Slider® as an effective tool for patients having knee replacements to perform pre-operative physiotherapy exercises in a self-managed manner outside the hospital environment

Association between contrast-induced nephropathy and CHA2DS2-VASc score in patient with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction after percutaneous coronary intervention

Background: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a recognized complication in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). CHA2DS2-VASc score, commonly employed in clinical settings, shares similar risk factors for CIN development. This cross-sectional observational study investigated the association between CHA2DS2-VASc score and CIN post-PCI in non-ST segment elevated myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients. Methods: Over one year (April 2019 to March 2020), 100 NSTEMI patients undergoing PCI at the national institute of cardiovascular diseases (NICVD), Dhaka, were included. Patients were categorized into two groups based on CHA2DS2-VASc scores (≥4, group I; <4, group II). CIN assessment utilized post-procedural serum creatinine within 48 hours, with statistical analysis performed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: Group I exhibited a significantly higher CHA2DS2-VASc score (4.15±1.35 vs. 2.25±0.92 in group II). Post-procedural serum creatinine was notably elevated in CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥4 (1.98±0.46 vs. 1.46±0.27, p<0.001). A CHA2DS2-VASc score cut-off ≥4 predicted CIN with 84.6% sensitivity, 55.2% specificity (AUC 0.83, CI: 0.743-0.90, p<0.001). Conclusions: This study establishes a significant association between CHA2DS2-VASc score and CIN in NSTEMI patients post-PCI, suggesting its potential utility in predicting CIN risk in this population.

Water management and livelihood choices in southwestern Bangladesh

Coastal Bangladesh faces an increasing number of challenges including cyclones, tidal surges, floods, drought, saline water intrusion, waterlogging and land subsidence, which pose substantial threats to the livelihoods of the coastal inhabitants. In addition to these threats, profound social and land-use changes are complicating the livelihoods of resource users in the region, including the introduction of aquaculture and increasing competition for ground and surface water sources. The government of Bangladesh has targeted this region for investment with irrigation expansion. This paper uses a sustainable livelihood lens to understand the role of investments in water management and irrigation in driving and shaping livelihood changes and transitions over the past ten years and offers recommendations for investments. We find that while water infrastructure development has greatly enhanced the role of agriculture in coastal livelihoods over the last 10 years, further development of irrigation infrastructure should only be prioritized after issues of water governance and inequity across agricultural and aquacultural livelihoods are addressed

Dynamics of Seasonal Migration of Rural Livelihood: Capital Formation Perspective

Globally, farming communities migrates considering it as a livelihood strategy, especially given unprecedented environmental change. Because migration facilitates poverty reduction, education improvement, entrepreneurial investments and even the economic evolution of the origin areas. Farmers in the northern region of Bangladesh migrate during the slack season when farming activities are not up to the mark. Driven by this context, this study examined the principal actors, the pattern of seasonal migration in the context of seasonal variability and migration's role in food security and livelihood resilience in the Barind Tract, Bangladesh. The participatory rural appraisal was employed for collecting basic facts and information. The study suggests that poverty is the root cause of migration, such that men from poor households with small landholdings and high food insecurity migrate for work during the winter. Moreover, the traditional practice of sharecropping, which helped them reduce food shortages, has also become less profitable these days. Therefore, the tendency of migrating is likely to escalating among the people of this region, and those already relocated are planning to settle down there for a more extended period. Currently, such migrants are getting engaged in low-paying unskilled wage work, construction work mainly in Rajshahi city, Mohadevpur, and Dhaka the capital city of Bangladesh, which enables them to make not only modest savings but also hard enough to repay the debt their family has incurred during food shortages

Comparative study of different transformer-less inverter topologies for grid-tied photovoltaic system

Lately, interest is developing significantly on transformerless photovoltaic (PV) inverter for its small size, low cost and high efficiency compared to the inverter which has transformer. Different topologies of transformerless inverters are stated in the literature based on the leakage current characteristics. In this paper five different topologies of transformerless inverters (H5, H6, HERIC, Modified H6, OH5) have been selected for analysis. For controlling the grid current and voltage of the DC link a common controller for all the topologies has been designed based on PI controller and SPWM technique. These two techniques have been used to generate the switching pulses for the inverter switches. The simulation of all the five topologies are conducted in MATLAB/SIMULINK environment and analysis has been done. Finally, based on that a comparative study has been obtained based on the component ratings, leakage current, maximum efficiency and components number to determine a better topology for real world operation

Implementation of graphic health warnings in Bangladesh - current status and challenges

Background Graphic Health Warning (GHW) in 50% of all tobacco packets/packages has been implemented from 19 March 2016 following the tobacco control (TC) law that amendment in 2013 and rules notified in 2015. But, there are many small and large tobacco industries bypass and ignore the TC law in different ways. The study was conducted to identify and show the current GHW implementation and challenges in Bangladesh and the sample collection period of the study was January 2017 to April 2017. Methods Out of 64, survey was conducted in 25 Districts and both qualitative and quantitative techniques, semi structured questionnaire and observational methods used to conduct the study. GHWs in all types of tobacco products were observed. 3 retail shops and 3 wholesale shops selected from each district. A research team was developed and organized a workshop regarding tobacco control law and GHW implementation for effectiveness and quality of the study and Excel software was used to analyze the data. Results Total 5234 tobacco products was investigated, 1757 smoking tobacco (1497 Cigarette packets and 260 Bidi packets) and 3477 smokeless tobacco (3263 different packs of Jarda and 214 Gul). Study found that, 34% Bidi, 25% Jarda and 15% Gul in market without GHW. 64% bidi, 75% Jarda, 85% Gul provide GHWs, but among these, 50% bidi, 45% jarda and 30% gul doesn't follow law. It shows that, excluding cigarettes packets, bidi and smokeless tobacco vastly ignore about GHWs section of law. Absence of manufacturing date and different size/forms of smokeless tobacco and bidi packets, it is very difficult to measure GHWs implementation on all tobacco products. Conclusions Its necessary to ensure uniform packets for smokeless tobacco and bidi with date of manufacture and monitoring for effective implementation of GHW provisions in Bangladesh

An optimum control-based approach for Dynamic Positioning of vessels

This paper presents a solution to the problem of Dynamic Positioning of vessels in Arctic environments, using a finite-horizon optimal control based approach. As the first step, an Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) based non-linear observer is developed for estimating both the vessel states and unknown inputs such as ice load. To perform better set point control and disturbance rejection, a Non-linear Model Predictive Controller (NMPC) is employed for dynamic positioning. Using the developed estimation and control strategies, successful simulation results are obtained. � 2016 IEEE.Scopu