Association of Physical Activity with Co-morbid Conditions in Geriatric Population

To find out association of physical activity with co-morbid conditions in geriatric population, a cross-sectional study was conducted in different cties of Pakistan in 2015. A total of 114 participants were inducted by non-probability convenience sampling technique. Data was collected after informed verbal consent by a validated questionnaire that is Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA). Participants were categorized into two groups i.e. physically active and physically inactive. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS version 20. There were 66 (57.9%) males and 48 (42.1%) females with mean age of 57.04±7.348 years. Among hypertensive individuals (n=43, 37.7%) there were 39 (90.7%) physically inactive, among individuals having angina (n=17, 14.9%) there were 15 (88.2%) physically inactive. Out of 37 (32.5%) diabetics, 35 (94.6%) were physically inactive. Among individuals suffering from arthritis (n=40, 35.1%), there were 38 (95%) physically inactive. A significant association was found between physical activity and diabetes and arthritis with p-value of 0.048 and 0.029 respectively. Physical activity is significantly associated with diabetes and arthritis in geriatric population. Adequate physical activity should be performed to reduce the risk of co-morbid conditions and improve the quality of life in geriatric population

Integration of Distributed Generations in Smart Distribution Networks Using Multi-Criteria Based Sustainable Planning Approach

Energy planning has become more complicated in the 21st century of sustainable development due to the inclusion of numerous standards such as techno-economic, and environmental considerations. This paper proposes multi-criteria sustainable planning (MCSP) based optimization approach for identifying DGs’ optimal allocations and rating powers. The main objectives of this paper are the reduction of the network’s total power loss, voltage profile improvement, energy loss saving maximization, and curtailing environmental emissions and water consumption to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 3, 6, 7, 13, and 15) by taking the constraints into consideration. Different alternatives are evaluated across four aspects of performance indices; technical, cost-economic, environmental, and social (TEES). In terms of TEES performance evaluations, various multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approaches are used to determine the optimal trade-off among the available solutions. These methods are gaining wide acceptance due to their flexibility while considering all criteria and objectives concurrently. Annual energy loss saving is increased by 97.13%, voltage profile is improved to 0.9943 (p.u), and emissions are reduced by 82.45% using the proposed technique. The numerical results of the proposed MCSP approach are compared to previously published works to validate and may be used by researchers and energy planners as a planning tool for ADN schemes

Efficient Excitation of Micro/Nano Resonators and Their Higher Order Modes

We demonstrate a simple and flexible technique to efficiently activate micro/nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS) resonators at their fundamental and higher order vibration modes. The method is based on the utilization of the amplified voltage across an inductor, L, of an LC tank resonant circuit to actuate the MEMS/NEMS resonator. By matching the electrical and mechanical resonances, significant amplitude amplification is reported across the resonators terminals. We show experimentally amplitude amplification up to twelve times, which is demonstrated to efficiently excite several vibration modes of a microplate MEMS resonator and the fundamental mode of a NEMS resonator

Educational needs of patients, families, and healthcare professionals to support the patient journey in haemophilia gene therapy in the UK

With the first gene therapies for haemophilia approved by the European Commission, the US Food and Drug Administration, and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, it is important to consider the remaining unmet needs and challenges that may arise throughout patients’ treatment journeys. We discuss existing unmet needs and important considerations prior to, during, and following haemophilia gene therapy treatment in the UK, and propose potential next steps. Key areas for attention are education, psychological support, and guidance on implementation. Strategies are urgently required to fulfil these needs. An immediate priority for information providers should be comprehensive education for people with haemophilia (PWH) and healthcare professionals (HCPs). Greater access to resources and training in psychological services will be required throughout the treatment pathway. More specific guidance is required to define the implementation model, criteria for accreditation, and responsibilities of care centres. Furthermore, PWH may revisit discussions with HCPs multiple times pre-infusion, thus the patient journey is unlikely to be linear. Consideration of these challenges, and of potential strategies to address them, will be integral to optimising the future success of this promising therapy

Effect of IoT capabilities and energy consumption behavior on green supply chain integration

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the next generation of internet-connected information communication technologies (ICT). IoT typically integrates supply chain activities to enhance green supply chain performance (GSCP). Since every organization has different IoT capabilities in comparison with other organizations, GSCP can enable supply chain integration activities for enhanced performance. The implementation of an IoT system can reduce the consumption of organizational resources like energy, electricity, and time and can increase the operational speed to gain better logistics and, ultimately, improved supply chain performance. This study has developed and empirically tested the relationship between IoT capabilities, energy consumption behavior (ECB), supply chain integration, green training (GT), and supply chain practices. Such a multidisciplinary relationship has not previously been established in the literature. The proposed study can fulfill the literature gap and opens new horizons for interdisciplinary research. Data used in this study are collected through offline and online survey methods. A total number of 250 out of 400 respondents participated in the survey. Data has been analyzed through partial least square-structure equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique. The results of this study empirically test the developed model. IoT has a positive effect on supplier integration (SI), and customer integration (CI). Furthermore, SI and CI have a mediating role between IoT and GSCP, and GT has a positive impact on GSCP. It is concluded that the implementation of IoT can integrate CI and SI to increase GSCP. GT and ECB can ultimately improve GSCP. Additionally, the use of technology and GT can motivate employees to save energy and protect the environment to increase GSCP

Comparative assessment of serum biochemical profile in riverine and cultured populations of Channa marulius (Hamilton, 1822)

1010-1016Serum biochemical assessment is an important tool to provide information about the internal organs, metabolic and nutritional parameters and electrolytes. Present study was conducted to determine the serum biochemistry of Channa marulius in hatchery and riverine populations. For this purpose blood samples were collected by caudal vein puncture. Inferences of the study showed non-significantly (p ≥ 0.05) higher values of calcium 10.24 mmol/L as compared to lower 9.66 mmol/L whereas, significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher values of serum globulin 21.06 g/L, total protein 53.0 g/L, albumin 14.87 g/L, cholesterol 6.116 mmol/L, alanine transaminase 530 U/L and alkaline phosphatase 398 µ/L were observed in cultured populations as compared to lower 20.40 g/L, 44.84 g/L, 12.30 g/L, 5.084 mmol/L, 453 U/L and 255 µ/L in riverine populations. On the other side, non-significantly (p ≥ 0.05) higher values of serum triglyceride 0.674 mmol/L as compared to lower 0.604 mmol/L, while significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher values of glucose 28.43 g/L, urea 2.541 mmol/L, bilirubin 28.20 µmol/L, chlorine 70.3 mmol/L, potassium 13.43 mmol/L, sodium 126.5 mmol/L and aspartate transaminase 1169 U/L in riverine populations as compared to lower 23.89 g/L, 2.17 mmol/L, 26.23 µmol/L, 61.9 mmol/L, 12.08 mmol/L, 111.2 mmol/L and 1029 U/L were recorded in cultured populations, respectively. Findings of the study will be helpful in the field of biochemistry, physiology and toxicology as well as to enhance the management and rearing potential of the Chnanna marulius

Comparative assessment of haematological profile in hatchery and riverine populations of Channa marulius

798-803Present study was conducted to assess the haematological profile of Channa marulius from hatchery and riverine populations. Blood samples were collected by caudal vein puncture. Significantly higher values (p ≤ 0.05) were recorded for various blood indices in hatchery populations as compared to those of riverine sources. Observed values of haematological parameters in hatchery populations were: Erythrocytes 4.90×106 cells µL-1, eosinophils 4.06 %, monocytes 5.53 %, haematocrit count 28.86 %, haemoglobin content 5.385 gdL-1, platelet distribution width 6.91 fL, red blood cell distribution width 23.83 fL, Procalcitonin 2.37 µL, mean corpuscular volume 7.87 fL and large platelet concentration ratio 14.64 %. In riverine populations, significantly higher values (p ≤ 0.05) for leucocytes count 5625×103 µL-1, mean cell haemoglobin 32.75 pg, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration 43.66 gdL-1 and mean cell volume 171.90 fL were observed as compared to those of hatchery populations. Conversely, non-significant (p ≥ 0.05) differences were observed with elevated values for neutrophils (14.042 %) in riverine fish populations as compared hatchery samples (13.896 %). Lymphocytes and platelets counts were 17.344 % and 33.742×103 µL-1, respectively in hatchery populations whereas in riverine populations these were 13.764 % and 33.896×103 µL-1, respectively. Physico-chemical parameters of sample water were observed to be in safe range throughout the study period. The observed variation in haematological profile between both groups is due to different inhabiting conditions that exert direct impacts on fish haematology

Partial characterization of glutathione S-transferase (GST) isolated from hepatocytes of Cyprinus carpio from river Ravi Punjab, Pakistan

1017-1024Glutathione S-transferase (GST) is vital in oxidative stress. Keeping in view the importance of this enzyme, present study was conducted for partial characterization of GST from hepatocytes of Cyprinus carpio. The inferences showed higher (GST) activity in liver of C. carpio collected from Chashma Barrage (144.33±1.15) as compared to Trimmu Head works (128.66.3±0.577) and Rasul Barrage (111.66±0.577) sampling sites. The highest GST activity was 128±0.333 U mL-1 from the crude extract fraction of liver as compared to other fractions of appraisal fish liver. Whereas the lowest activity (109±0.666 U mL-1) was from desalted fraction. Optical density was recorded by spectrophotometer at 280 nm, the fractions that showed high optical density were subjected to enzyme assay. Highest specific activity was 183.63, 153.84 and 162.50 U mg-1 for purified liver GST of C. carpio captured from Trimmu Head works, Rasul Barrage and Chashma Barrage, respectively. Whereas, fold purification was 2.86, 2.69 and 2.10 while, percent recovery was 78.90, 72.07 and 63.19 %, respectively for purified liver GST. The optimum pH was 6.5, 6.0 and 6.8 whereas, temperature was 30.5 oC, 31 oC and 30 oC followed by substrate concentration 40.3 mM, 40 mM and 41 mM, for purified liver GST of C. carpio captured from Trimmu Head works, Rasul Barrage and Chashma Barrage, respectively. It should be noted that detailed studies can be beneficial in the fields of physiology, biochemistry and toxicology