Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Technology for Biomedical Application

Cold plasma generated in an open environment with a temperature nearly around room temperature has recently been a topic of great importance. It has unlocked the door of plasma application in a new direction: biomedical applications. Cold atmospheric pressure (CAP) plasma comprises various neutral and charged reactive species, UV radiations, electric current/fields etc., which have several impactful effects on biological matter. Some of the significant biological effects of CAP plasma are inactivation of microorganism, stimulation of cell proliferation and tissue regeneration, destruction of cells by initializing apoptosis etc. Although the detailed mechanism of action of plasma on biomaterials is still not completely understood, some basic principles are known. Studies have indicated that the reactive oxygen species and nitrogen species (ROS, RNS) play a crucial role in the observed biological effects. In this perspective, this chapter first provides a brief discussion on the fundamentals of CAP plasma and its generation methods. Then a discussion on the optical diagnostics methods to characterize the plasma is provided. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) is used to identify the reactive species and to measure their relative concentration. Other important plasma parameters such as gas temperature, electron/excitation temperature and electron density measurement methods using OES have also been discussed. Then a discussion on the application of CAP plasma in biomedical field is provided. A thorough understanding of biochemical reaction mechanisms involving highly reactive plasma species will further improve and extend CAP plasma technology in biomedical applications

Synthesis, structural elucidation and X-ray crystallographic studies of 1-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3-(dimethylamino)prop-2-en-1-one

A new enaminone was synthesized by reacting 3,5-bis-(trifluoromethyl)acetophenones and N,N-dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal and its detailed structural and crystalline properties were studied. The crystal data were found to be as C13H11F6NO, monoclinic, space group P21/c (no. 14), a = 8.1556(8) Å, b = 24.877(3) Å, c = 7.6067(7) Å, β = 116.745(6)°, V = 1378.2(3) Å3, Z = 4, T = 293(2) K, μ(MoKα) = 0.150 mm-1, Dcalc = 1.500 g/cm3, 40777 reflections measured (5.594° ≤ 2Θ ≤ 56.786°), 3413 unique (Rint = 0.1040, Rsigma = 0.0584) which were used in all calculations. The final R1 was 0.0771 (I > 2σ(I)) and wR2 was 0.2541 (all data)

Effects of carbon nanotube coating on flow boiling in a micro-channel

Experiments were performed to assess the heat transfer enhancement benefits of coating the bottom wall of a shallow rectangular micro-channel with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Using water as working fluid, tests were performed with a bare copper surface and three separate, yet identical CNT-coated surfaces. Each of the CNT-coated surfaces was tested repeatedly at the same mass velocity to explore any time dependence of heat transfer performance parameters, especially critical heat flux (CHIF). Appreciable differences in the influence of CNT coating were observed at high mass velocities as compared to low. CHF was repeatable at low mass velocities but degraded following repeated tests at high mass velocities, proving high flow velocities cause appreciable changes to the morphology of the CNT-coated surface. SEM images show the initially near-vertical CNTs were bent upon the heated surface at high mass velocities to form a repeated \u27fish-scale\u27 pattern. Voids between the fish scales\u27 provided near-zero-angle cavities that enhanced heat transfer in the nucleate boiling region compared to the bare copper surface. While CHIF was enhanced by the increased heat transfer area associated with the CNT coating, the enhancement decreased following repeated tests as the CNT fin effect was compromised by the bending

A Survey of Ethnomedicinal Plants used for Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) and Kidney Stone in the Nalbari, Sonitpur and Tinsukia Districts of Assam, India

Natural products derived from plants have essential biological parts in contradiction of many pathogenic organisms and are considered a principal source of modern synthetic drugs. A thorough field survey of ethnomedicinal plants was conducted between the months of July, 2022 to December, 2022 in three districts of Assam, namely Nalbari, Sonitpur and Tinsukia. Indigenous knowledge of the traditional medicines used for Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), Urinary Tract stones or kidney stones were gathered based on personal interviews and questionnaires. Medicinal plants with their family, local names, parts used and target diseases were documented. A total of 51 species were documented; of which, amaranthaceae family showed the highest number of species (6), followed by malvaceae (4), fabaceae (3), euphorbiaceae (3), asteraceae (3) etc. This survey revealed several effective medicinal plants that have significant pharmacogenetic properties, especially for UTI and kidney diseases.

Flow Boiling in a Micro-Channel Coated With Carbon Nanotubes

This study examines the heat transfer enhancement attributes of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) applied to the bottom wall of a shallow rectangular micro-channel. Using deionized water as working fluid, experiments were performed with both a bare copper bottom wall and a CNT-coated copper wall. Boiling curves were generated for both walls, aided by high-speed video analysis of interfacial features. CNT arrays promoted earlier, abundant and intense bubble nucleation at low mass velocities, consistent with findings from previous pool boiling studies. However, high mass velocities compromised or eliminated altogether any enhancement in the nucleate boiling region. The enhancement achieved at low mass velocities appears to be the result of deep, near-zero-angle cavities formed by the mesh of CNT arrays. On the other hand, high mass velocities tend to fold the CNTs upon the wall, greatly reducing the depth of the CNT-mesh-induced cavities, and compromising the effectiveness of CNTs at capturing embryos and sustaining the bubble nucleation process. CHF enhancement was also achieved mostly at low mass velocities. It is postulated CNT arrays enhance CHF by increasing the heat transfer area as well as by serving as very high conductivity fins that penetrate into the cooler, bulk liquid flow and take advantage of the liquid subcooling away from the wall. While these mechanisms are prevalent at low velocities, they are both weakened, especially the fin effect, at high mass velocities because of the folding of CNT arrays upon the wall

TO ASSESS THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF PHARMACOVIGILANCE AND ADVERSE DRUG REACTION REPORTING AMONG THE UNDERGRADUATE AND POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL IN ASSAM: A QUESTIONNAIRE BASED STUDY.

AIM : Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) is an important factor contributing to mortality and morbidity worldwide. Since undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) students are the future caregivers to the patients, it is important that they have sound knowledge, positive attitude and good practice of pharmacovigilance. Hence this study was conducted to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of PV and ADR reporting. Also, secondarily this study also tried to look into the impact of Competency based Medical Education (CBME) on the KAP of the students. METHOD: Questionnaire based, observational and cross sectional study. Questionairre was pre-validated and consisted of 30 questions to assess the KAP of undergraduate and postgraduate medical students of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Assam. RESULTS: Total 419 students participated in the study. Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel Sheet and Student T test. Both UGs and PGs have good knowledge about PV, ADR and types of ADRs to be reported. They also have positive attitude but in practice only few have actually filled up ADR form. Mean score analysis showed p value was significant for attitude and practice among the UGs and PGs and highly significant for knowledge, attitude and practice when the CBME and Old Curriculum was compared. CONCLUSION: Although students have good knowledge and attitude, they need to improve in their practice. Regular training and awareness programmes might help in educating them about PV and ADR reporting. However, introduction of CBME curriculum has shown to improve the knowledge and attitude  of the students about PVand ADR reporting