Doping-less Tunnel Field Effect Transistor: Design and Investigation

Using calibrated simulations, we report a detailed study of the doping-less tunnel field effect transistor (TFET) on a thin intrinsic silicon film using charge plasma concept. Without the need for any doping, the source and drain regions are formed using the charge plasma concept by choosing appropriate work functions for the source and drain metal electrodes. Our results show that the performance of the doping-less TFET is similar to that of a corresponding doped TFET. The doping-less TFET is expected to be free from problems associated with random dopant fluctuations. Further, fabrication of doping-less TFET does not require high-temperature doping/annealing processes and therefore, cuts down the thermal budget opening up the possibilities for fabricating TFETs on single crystal silicon-on-glass substrates formed by wafer scale epitaxial transfer

Design and development of modified high efficient high gain DC-DC converter for SPV standalone systems

A conventional DC-DC converter is not viable for power conditioning in standalone solar photovoltaic applications. Switching losses are the primary reason for the poor performance of conventional DC-DC converters. To mitigate the issues in conventional DC-DC converters, a high efficient high gain (HEHG) DC-DC converter is designed and developed in this research work. Modified HEHG converter utilizes the passive components switched capacitors, coupled inductor, and resistor capacitor (RC) snubber circuit for minimizing the switching losses and improving the overall power conversion efficiency of the solar photovoltaic (SPV) system. In addition, a modified D-sweep maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm is in-corporate into this system to improve the tracking efficiency of the SPV system. HEHG for a standalone system is designed using MATLAB/Simulink environment and developed the hard-ware prototype. As a part of the validation, real-time testing is carried out and compares the performance of the HEHG converter with a traditional DC-DC converter. The theoretical efficiency of the HEHG converter is 96.01%, and the real-time efficiency is 95.62%. Found that theoretical and practical values of performance parameters are closely tallying

Design and development of biogas electrical power generation with an adaptive control mechanism for rural electrification

The primary goal of this research is to implement a model of biogas power generation unit used for rural electrification. A biogas reactor, a microturbine, a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG), a rectifier, and a permanent magnet DC motor (PMDC) make up the proposed system. The biomass used to fuel the biogas reactor is typically derived from the surplus agricultural and animal waste found in rural areas. The operation of the biogas power system, design, and detailed mathematical modeling of each segment is described in this paper. In addition to that, an adaptive control mechanism is added to improve the system stability. The MATLAB/Simulink environment is used to develop the overall biogas fueled power system and thus obtained various parameters. The observation in the development has shown an improvement in biogas power generation unit’s suitability for standalone applications such as water pumping in rural area

Unveiling the potential nutrients present in fresh and dried Makuea Poo-Ung

Makuea poo-ung is a highly nutritious fruity vegetable. The main objective of this study was to compare the nutritional contents of fresh and dried makuea poo-ung, then compare to nutrients presents in general eggplants. Makuea poo-ung was pre-treated before reagents and chemicals were used to identify the specific nutrients present, whilst independent T-Test was used to analyse the significant differences. Results revealed that fresh and dried makuea poo-ung contained the six food nutrients. However, comparison between fresh makuea poo-ung and general nutrients in eggplants revealed very substantial diversions. Apart from Vitamin A which fell within the range of eggplants reviewed, most nutrients present in makuea poo-ung compared to eggplants were either less or more than the range reviewed. Conclusively, fresh and dried makuea poo-ung are nutritious to consume and serve as food supplements. It is recommended that commercial/traditional caterers and home makers should patronize makuea poo-ung

Socio-demographic and Clinico-pathological Profile of Cervical Cancer Patients at a Tertiary Care Centre in New Delhi: A Five-Year Retrospective analysis

Background: Cervical cancer remains a major public health challenge in low and middle-income countries including India. However, if detected early, it is preventable and curable. Objective: The present study aimed to ascertain the sociodemographic and clinical profile of cervical cancer patients visiting a tertiary cancer center. Methodology: A retrospective study was carried out at the Delhi State Cancer Institute, New Delhi. The study population included 136 women who were diagnosed with cervical cancer. A pretested data extraction sheet was used as the study tool for collecting information from the inpatient records. Descriptive analysis and chi-square test were performed and the level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results: A total of 136 cervical cancer patients with mean age of 46 ± 9.85 and mean BMI of 23.78 ± 5.03, were studied retrospectively. About 36.8% of patients were aged between 40-49 years and 57.4% were illiterate. While 40.4% of the patients belonged to FIGO stage II, 27.2% had FIGO stage III cancer. Majority (63.2%) of patients were diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), while the rest were adenocarcinoma (25%) and adenosquamous (11.8%). Clinical stage of cancer was found to be significantly associated with educational status (p=0.03) and dietary practices (p=.007). Conclusion: Our study found higher percentage of women with stage II and III cervical lesions and reaffirms the importance of education and healthy diet in early detection and prevention of cervical cancer. Therefore, it is suggested that accelerated population awareness and screening, incorporating digital innovations including vaccination programs are mandatory

Cocos nucifera L. inflorescence extract: An effective hepatoprotective agent

128-136The flowering inflorescence of Cocos nucifera, a main constituent of several traditional drug formulations was investigated with a view to study the effect of the acetone extract of C. nucifera inflorescence (CnAE) on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. The total phenol and flavonoid contents of the extract are found to be 222.6 µg gallic acid equivalent/g and 120.8 µg quercetin equivalent/g, respectively. The LD50 value was >5000 mg/kg b.w. The antioxidant activity was assessed using three methods, namely, 2,2’- diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl assay, 2,2’-azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay and the IC50 values were found to be 65.72, 66.94 and 89.84 μg/mL, respectively. Effect of CnAE (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w.) and silymarin (100 mg/kg b.w.) against acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity was evaluated in Wistar rats. The study showed that CnAE pre-treated groups remarkably prevented the increase in serum alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase and alkaline phosphatase level and decrease in the level of liver superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidise. The extract also suppressed the elevated level of malondialdehyde. The biochemical determinations supported the histopathological examination and blood parameter findings. The findings of our study indicated that the phenolic-rich CnAE could be an interesting alternative candidate against acetaminophen-induced hepato-toxicity and associated oxidative stress

Cocos nucifera L. inflorescence extract: An effective hepatoprotective agent

The flowering inflorescence of Cocos nucifera, a main constituent of several traditional drug formulations was investigated with a view to study the effect of the acetone extract of C. nucifera inflorescence (CnAE) on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. The total phenol and flavonoid contents of the extract are found to be 222.6 µg gallic acid equivalent/g and 120.8 µg quercetin equivalent/g, respectively. The LD50 value was >5000 mg/kg b.w. The antioxidant activity was assessed using three methods, namely, 2,2’- diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl assay, 2,2’-azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay and the IC50 values were found to be 65.72, 66.94 and 89.84 μg/mL, respectively. Effect of CnAE (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w.) and silymarin (100 mg/kg b.w.) against acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity was evaluated in Wistar rats. The study showed that CnAE pre-treated groups remarkably prevented the increase in serum alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase and alkaline phosphatase level and decrease in the level of liver superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidise. The extract also suppressed the elevated level of malondialdehyde. The biochemical determinations supported the histopathological examination and blood parameter findings. The findings of our study indicated that the phenolic-rich CnAE could be an interesting alternative candidate against acetaminophen-induced hepato-toxicity and associated oxidative stress

Artificial sweeteners and their implications in diabetes: a review

Diabetes is a significant global health concern, highlighting the critical role of dietary strategies in its management and prevention. Artificial sweeteners (ASs), due to their capacity to provide sweetness without contributing to caloric intake, have emerged as a potential tool in diabetes management. This review thoroughly examines the nuanced relationship between artificial sweeteners and diabetes, addressing their benefits and potential risks. ASs have been shown to aid in weight management, a key factor in reducing diabetes risk, and do not impact immediate blood glucose levels, offering improved glucose control for individuals with diabetes. Beyond these benefits, however, artificial sweeteners may interact complexly with gut microbiota, potentially altering its composition and affecting metabolic health. This interaction introduces concerns regarding insulin sensitivity and the risk of insulin resistance, with studies reporting conflicting findings. This comprehensive review highlights the importance of a nuanced approach to understanding the implications of artificial sweeteners in diabetes management. Given the mixed evidence on their health effects, there is a clear need for further research to fully elucidate the role of artificial sweeteners in metabolic health and their suitability as part of dietary interventions for diabetes

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

PANC Study (Pancreatitis: A National Cohort Study): national cohort study examining the first 30 days from presentation of acute pancreatitis in the UK

Abstract Background Acute pancreatitis is a common, yet complex, emergency surgical presentation. Multiple guidelines exist and management can vary significantly. The aim of this first UK, multicentre, prospective cohort study was to assess the variation in management of acute pancreatitis to guide resource planning and optimize treatment. Methods All patients aged greater than or equal to 18 years presenting with acute pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria, from March to April 2021 were eligible for inclusion and followed up for 30 days. Anonymized data were uploaded to a secure electronic database in line with local governance approvals. Results A total of 113 hospitals contributed data on 2580 patients, with an equal sex distribution and a mean age of 57 years. The aetiology was gallstones in 50.6 per cent, with idiopathic the next most common (22.4 per cent). In addition to the 7.6 per cent with a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, 20.1 per cent of patients had a previous episode of acute pancreatitis. One in 20 patients were classed as having severe pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria. The overall mortality rate was 2.3 per cent at 30 days, but rose to one in three in the severe group. Predictors of death included male sex, increased age, and frailty; previous acute pancreatitis and gallstones as aetiologies were protective. Smoking status and body mass index did not affect death. Conclusion Most patients presenting with acute pancreatitis have a mild, self-limiting disease. Rates of patients with idiopathic pancreatitis are high. Recurrent attacks of pancreatitis are common, but are likely to have reduced risk of death on subsequent admissions. </jats:sec