Effectiveness of yoga on anxiety, depression and stress level of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Background: Breast cancer has ranked number one cancer among Indian females. Women undergoing chemotherapy experience many side effects including alteration in their body image. The present study assessed effectiveness of yoga on anxiety, depression and stress level of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.Methods: Quantitative Research approach and Randomized Clinical Controlled Trial with Time series design was adopted in the present study. The consecutive sampling technique was done to recruit 100 breast cancer patients fulfilling the eligibility criteria. Recruited patients were randomized to control (N=52) and experiment (N=48) groups by concealed randomization. Written informed consent was taken from each participant. Baseline data was collected during cycle one by using Anxiety depression and stress scale. The patients in the experimental group were taught Diaphragmatic breathing, systematic relaxation and alternate nostril breathing and Joints and Gland neck and shoulder exercises, and were instructed to practice them twice daily at home. They were supervised in practicing these when they received second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth cycles of chemotherapy. Participants in control group received routine care. Data was again collected after 21 days during second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth cycles of chemotherapy.Results: Analysis revealed that at the baseline breast cancer patients in control and experimental group were homogenous in terms of their Sociodemographic and anxiety depression and stress scores. After the yoga intervention the experimental group showed statistically significant difference in anxiety scores from control group during second, third and sixth cycles (p 0.01, p 0.02, p 0.02), in depression score during the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth cycles (p 0.02, p 0.02, p 0.02, p 0.001, p 0.000), and in stress scores during third cycle (p 0.01) of chemotherapy.Conclusions: On the basis of findings of the study it was concluded that yoga was effective in reducing the anxiety, depression and stress of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Therefore, it is recommended as complementary therapy for patients receiving treatment for cancer.

Okun's Law amidst Crisis: Analyzing Morocco's Experience during COVID-19

Our study delves into the far-reaching impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Morocco's economic growth and labor market. Our investigation centers on the examination of Okun's law, to assess the validity of this law in the context of Morocco, we employ both traditional OLS and an M-robust estimator. By comparing estimates before and after incorporating statistical observations associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, we gain valuable insights into how this unprecedented global crisis has affected the country's labor market dynamics, and within a rolling regression framework, we explore the stability (or lack thereof) of Okun's coefficient over time. This dynamic approach allows us to capture the evolving relationship between economic growth and unemployment during different phases of the business cycle. Our research substantiates the validity of Okun's law in the Moroccan context, indicating that the well-established principle continues to hold significance. However, our findings also reveal a noteworthy aspect - the instability of the Okun's coefficient over time in Morocco. This instability suggests that the association between changes in unemployment and economic growth in the country is subject to shifts and fluctuations, likely influenced by various economic and policy factors. One crucial discovery from our study is the identification of asymmetries in the trends and shocks associated with the magnitude of the Okun's coefficient. Specifically, when accounting for the most recent major economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we observe distinct patterns that deviate from the norm. This insight can provide critical information for policymakers and economists in devising targeted strategies to address unemployment concerns during challenging economic times

Surface plasmon induced quantum interference at meta-material interface

In this work we investigate quantum interference in a four-level atom coupled to a negative index meta-material (NIMM) plasmonic reservoir that supports both TE and TM polarized surface plasmons (SP). This provides more options to control SP interaction with emitters and hence more control of spontaneous emission decays and spectrum. The spectrum depends critically on parameters like the reservoir parameters, mode frequency, frequency dependent electric permittivity and magnetic permeability, and the location of the atom. We report orders of magnitude enhancement in the reservoir-modified decays and spectrum compared to free space case. The rich atomic and plasmonic parameters provide a wide range of flexibility and more options to control emission spectrum that suits practical applications.Comment: 30 pages , 8 figures , research wor

Adverse events following immunization among children during primary immunizations in selected health facility of Himachal Pradesh

Background: Vaccine related problems are commonly reported after immunizations and are a matter of concern for health care professionals. A study on the pattern and rate of incidences of vaccine related problems was conducted among children undergoing primary immunizations. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in Zonal hospital, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. 150 mothers and their children undergoing immunization were enrolled in the study using systematic random sampling and followed on every immunization event until nine months. Vaccine related problems were enquired at every immunization events namely birth, six weeks, ten weeks, fourteen weeks and nine months using a self-structured tool to assess vaccine related problems among children. Results: Pain at vaccination site, redness and swelling, excessive crying, fever, and sleep related problems, feeding problems and fever were common AEFIs reported by mothers among children. Conclusion:  AEFIs are frequent and need to be reported. None of the child had any severe reaction or hospitalization after immunization

Correlation between surface tension, work of adhesion in liquid metals/ceramic systems, and acoustic parameters

In the paper, a correlation between acoustic velocities V, elastic moduli M, and densities ρ, with surface tension σm, and work of adhesion Wad of different liquid metals on a given ceramic is studied and demonstrated. Simulation program is developed and used for scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) under operating conditions, which favour the generation of acoustic waves. As found, for the given systems, all investigated acoustic parameters exhibit good dependences with both σm and Wad. Analysis and quantification of the results lead to the determination of semi-empirical formulas.В статті вперше демонструється кореляція між акустичними швидкостями V, пружніми модулями M, густинами ρ та поверхневим натягом σm, а також роботою адгезії Wad різних рідких металів на фіксованій кераміці. Використовується обчислювальна програма для сканувального акустичного мікроскопу (САМ) за умов, що є сприятливими задля ґенерування акустичних хвиль. Виявлено, що для конкретних систем усі досліджені акустичні параметри демонструють хорошу залежність від поверхневого натягу та роботи адгезії. Аналіза та кількісне визначення результатів привели до встановлення напівемпіричних формул.В статье исследуется и впервые демонстрируется корреляция между акустическими скоростями V, упругими модулями M, плотностями ρ и поверхностным натяжением σm, а также работой адгезии Wad различных жидких металлов на фиксированной керамике. Используется вычислительная программа для сканирующего акустического микроскопа (САМ) в условиях, благоприятных для генерирования акустических волн. Обнаружено, что для конкретных систем все исследованные акустические параметры демонстрируют хорошую зависимость от поверхностного натяжения и работы адгезии. Анализ и количественное определение результатов привели к установлению полуэмпирических формул

A structural study of a polymer-surfactant system in dilute and entangled regime: Effect of high concentrations of surfactant and polymer molecular weight

International audienceIn the polymer-surfactant system, increasing the concentration of surfactant leads to structural changes in surfactant micelles. This is expected to influence the polymer conformation in the dilute regime where polymer chains are singles and in the entangled regime where the polymer system is described by the blob concept. In this report, the effect of large Sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT), surfactant concentrations on the conformation of two polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) molecular weight (M w ¼ 55000 g/ mol and M w ¼ 360000 g/mol) was discussed. In the first part, in the dilute regime, C PVP 3C*where polymer chains are considered isolated, the determination of PVP (M w ¼ 55000 g/mol and M w ¼ 360000 g/mol) intrinsic viscosity ½h showed a coil to globule transition with the increase of temperature. Electrical conductivity measurements have shown the morphological transition (sphere-cylinder) of surfactant micelles with the increase of surfactant concentrations. The addition of AOT wormlike micelles revealed the expansion of PVP chains for the two molecular weight. In the second part, in PVP entangled regime,C PVP x16C* where overlapped polymer chains form molecular blobs, the addition of AOT wormlike micelles to PVP solutions doesn't affect the Newtonian behavior of PVP (M w ¼ 55000) and the pseudo-plastic behavior of PVP (M w ¼ 360000 g/mol). However, AOT surfactant reinforces significantly the dynamic viscosity of PVP,h for the two molecular weight. By fitting the PVP viscosity-temperature dependence with Fulcher-Tammann-Vogel law, the results showed that the more the surfactant is added, the stronger the PVP solution becomes, which proves that AOT cylindrical (wormlike) micelles presence enhances the solid character of PVP solutions

Binary Semiconductors Thin Films Characterization for Solar Cells Applications

The increasing development of technologies based on the thin films, imposed a high quality of these films. The crucial importance for all applications of thin films is related to the stability of their physical and morphological properties. Therefore, to optimize the performances of the thin films it is recommended to study carefully all their parameters in order to enhance the elaborated films. With this intention, various characterizations methods were developed and carried out to study the different qualities of thin films. In this chapter, we take an interest to the study of the characteristics of some binary semiconductors thin films elaborated by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis, and which are destined for solar cells applications. Several used characterizations techniques to the determination of the thin films properties will be given; namely: X-rays diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy), Hall effect and spectrophotometry will be discussed in detail