DIELECTRIC STUDIES IN Li2O AND CoO DOPED BOROPHOSPHATE GLASSES

Borophosphate glasses in the compositions, (B2O3)0.2 . (P2O5)0.3 . (Li2O) 0.5-X . (CoO) X, wherex = 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.25, 0.30, 0.35, 0.40 and 0.45 were prepared at 1400K by following melt quenching method. Their amorphous nature was confirmed by XRD studies and was investigated for dielectric properties in the frequency range from 100Hz to 1MHz and temperature range from 300K to 573K. The conductivity was derived from the dielectric spectrum. The frequency exponent, s, dc and ac components of the conductivity were determined. The temperature dependence of conductivity at different frequencies was analyzed using Motts small polaron hopping model, and the high temperature activation energy has been estimated and discussed. The variation of conductivity and activation energy with composition revealed a changeover of conduction mechanism from predominantly ionic to electronic regime for mole fractions of CoO between 0.3 and 0.35. This is a new result. Hunts model has been employed to analyze frequency dependence of conductivity. Relaxation features of the dielectric properties have been extracted from the analysis of electric moduli with frequency. Activation energy for relaxation mechanism has been determined. Frequency exponent was found to be temperature dependent. Quantum mechanical theory and correlated barrier hopping models were found to be inadequate to explain frequency exponent behavior with temperature. For the first time that borophosphate glasses doped with Li2O and CoO were studied for dielectric properties and ac conductivity as a function of temperature and frequency and the data has been analysed thoroughly.  &nbsp

Changing trends with respect to standard of methodological reporting and type of research published in a pharmacology journal over a decade: a descriptive study

Background: Criticisms against Indian research include features like redundant research topic, low quality methodological reporting leading to less credible results and poor statistical rigor to mention a few. A ‘publication audit’ of previously published studies in terms of research trend and standards of methodological reporting will help us to identify problem areas so that rectifications if required may be undertaken.Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted on the research articles published in a journal of Pharmacology during years 2005 and 2015. Comparison was done to see any differences in type of studies published and also to assess their standards of methodological reporting on the basis of a predesigned checklist. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data.Results: The proportion of full length research articles published increased from 30.97% in the year 2005 to 46.58% in the year 2015, the number of studies involving human beings increased to 26.86% (as compared to 8% in 2005), studies using drugs as active principle doubled in 2015 as compared to 2005. Focus on area of research shifted from inflammation and wound healing in 2005 to central nervous system in 2015. With respect to standard of reporting, albeit some improvement in the studies published in 2015, some missing links still exist.Conclusions: There is scope for improvement in terms of report of study designs, justification of sample size and adherence to CONSORT (Consolidated statement for reporting randomized controlled trails) statement while reporting results of randomised controlled trials

Geriatric prescription analysis with respect to “STOPP” and “START” criteria: a descriptive study in the Indian scenario

Background: Patients; sixty-five years of age and above, are a special risk group as far as drug prescribing is concerned. Prescription irregularities in such patients may be hazardous. STOPP/START criteria are considered as the most up to-date set of explicit criteria for evaluating geriatric prescriptions. To analyse geriatric prescriptions in a tertiary care centre with respect to STOPP/START criteria and WHO core drug prescribing indicators so as to get an idea of pattern of drug prescription in geriatric patients as well as frequency of potentially inappropriate prescriptions. Descriptive cross-sectional study in a tertiary care hospital.Methods: All inpatients aged 65 years and above who were prescribed at least one allopathic medication and consented to participate in the study were included and patients admitted for medical emergencies were excluded. Demographic data and details of drugs prescribed were collected from prescription chits and indoor case papers.Results: There was a high frequency of polypharmacy, prescription of antimicrobials and injections. Proportion of patients receiving at least one potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) as per STOPP criteria was 21.01%. Proportion of patients subjected to at least one potential prescribing omission (PPO) as per START criteria was 33.33%. Proportion of patients exposed to potentially inappropriate drug prescriptions as a whole (PIPs=PIMs+PPOs) was 46.37%. Statistical analysis used as descriptive statistics like numbers and percentages were used for data analysis.Conclusions: With regards to geriatric prescribing, adherence to WHO core prescribing indicators, prescription of drugs as per STOPP and START guidelines are indicative of scope for improvement

A study of adverse drug reactions in patients receiving treatment for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis

Background: A high frequency of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is one of the major challenges in the treatment of Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Patients may refuse to continue treatment if ADRs are not properly addressed, drugs may be stopped unnecessarily and treatment may be terminated prematurely by inexperienced health workers, resulting in a high proportion of failure.Methods: Patients diagnosed for MDR-TB and registered in Drug Resistant TB centre (DR-TB) of tertiary care hospital during period of July 2014 to June 2015 were enrolled in the study. Data of patients hospitalized for the complaints of ADR in DR-TB centre during study period was collected.Results: Out of 468 patients, 60 (12.82%) patients developed at least one adverse reaction and were hospitalised for the same. Among 109 reported ADRs, Gastrointestinal upset was the most common ADR reported (5.98%) followed by psychosis (4.91%) and ototoxicity (2.99%).Conclusions: The health providers, the patients and their relatives should be sensitised about these ADRs for early detection and treatment. It can also be suggested that the setup of DR-TB centre should be integrated with psychiatry and ENT specialities, with all the provisions of early detection of ADR and treatment

Serum lipid profile in non-polycystic ovary syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome women: a comparative and correlational study

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in addition to impaired ovulation, also affects metabolic pathways. Dyslipidemia, occurring in PCOS women leads to cardiovascular diseases in them. The purpose of the present study was to compare lipid profile and its correlation with biochemical and hormonal parameters in PCOS and non PCOS women, to analyse the correlation of lipid profile with hirsutism and body mass index (BMI) in PCOS women.Methods: The present study includes 68 women divided into non PCOS groups (n=30) and PCOS (n=38) as defined by Rotterdam criteria. PCOS group further divided into overweight / obese (n=23) and normal weight subgroups (n=15). Lipid profile, fasting blood glucose and hormonal profile were done in all the groups.Results: TG and TC/HDL ratio were significantly high in PCOS group. Hirsute patients had raised LDL levels as compared to non-hirsute. LDL showed positive significant correlation with insulin, HOMA, testosterone in PCOS group. TC was significantly positively correlated with insulin and HOMA in PCOS group. In both normal weight and overweight / obese PCOS subgroups, LDL had positive and significant correlation with testosterone. TC showed positive and significant correlation with HOMA in overweight/obese subgroup. HDL showed positive and highly significant correlation with FSH in normal weight PCOS.Conclusions: Hyperandrogenism in PCOS may be additionally marked by raised LDL. Overweight/obese PCOS subgroup may be prone to dyslipidemia as well as deranged glucose homeostasis, thereby making it an important therapeutic target

Wireless Communications at 60 GHz: A Single-Chip Solution on CMOS Technology

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Experimental Investigation of the Effect of a Combination of Active and Passive Cooling Mechanism on the Thermal Characteristics and Efficiency of Solar pv Module

A photovoltaic (PV) module’s electrical efficiency depends on the operating temperature of the cell. Electrical efficiency reduces with increasing PV module temperature which is one of the drawbacks of this technology. This is due to the negative temperature coefficient of a PV module which decreases its voltage significantly while the current increases slightly. This study combines both active and passive cooling mechanisms to improve the electrical output of a PV module. A heat sink made up of aluminum fins and an ultrasonic humidifier were used to cool the panel. The ultrasonic humidifier was used to generate a humid environment at the rear side of the PV module. The cooling process in the study was able to reduce the temperature of the panel averagely by 14.61 ℃. This reduction led to a 6.8% improvement in the electrical efficiency of the module. The average power of 12.23 W was recorded for the cooled panel against 10.87 W for the referenced module. In terms of water consumption, a total of 1.5 L was approximately consumed during the whole experimental process due to evaporation. In effect, the proposed cooling approach was demonstrated as effective. © 2021 by the author. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

The COSPAR planetary protection policy for missions to Icy Worlds: A review of history, current scientific knowledge, and future directions

Recent discoveries related to the habitability and astrobiological relevance of the outer Solar System have expanded our understanding of where and how life may have originated. As a result, the Icy Worlds of the outer Solar System have become among the highest priority targets for future spacecraft missions dedicated to astrobiology-focused and/or direct life detection objectives. This, in turn, has led to a renewed interest in planetary protection concerns and policies for the exploration of these worlds and has been a topic of discussion within the COSPAR (Committee on Space Research) Panel on Planetary Protection. This paper summarizes the results of those discussions, reviewing the current knowledge and the history of planetary protection considerations for Icy Worlds as well as suggesting ways forward. Based on those discussions, we therefore suggest to (1) Establish a new definition for Icy Worlds for Planetary Protection that captures the outer Solar System moons and dwarf planets like Pluto, but excludes more primitive bodies such as comets, centaurs, and asteroids: Icy Worlds in our Solar System are defined as all bodies with an outermost layer that is believed to be greater than 50% water ice by volume and have enough mass to assume a nearly round shape. (2) Establish indices for the lower limits of Earth life with regards to water activity (LLAw) and temperature (LLT) and apply them into all areas of the COSPAR Planetary Protection Policy. These values are currently set at 0.5 and -28°C and were originally established for defining Mars Special Regions; (3) Establish LLT as a parameter to assign categorization for Icy Worlds missions. The suggested categorization will have a 1000-year period of biological exploration, to be applied to all Icy Worlds and not just Europa and Enceladus as is currently the case. (4) Have all missions consider the possibility of impact. Transient thermal anomalies caused by impact would be acceptable so long as there is less than 10−4, probability of a single microbe reaching deeper environments where temperature is >LLT in the period of biological exploration. (5) Restructure or remove Category II* from the policy as it becomes largely redundant with this new approach, (6) Establish that any sample return from an Icy World should be Category V restricted Earth return