Effect of Annealing on Hardness and Elastic Modulus of Invar36 Thin Films Deposited by Direct Current Sputtering for Strain Gauge Applications

Invar36 thin film was deposited at room temperature on p-type silicon (100) substrates using DC magnetron sputtering technique. In order to investigate the post-annealing effect on the structural characteristics and mechanical properties of the prepared films, they were vacuum annealed for one hour at different temperatures viz. 200°C, 400°C and 500°C. Composition analysis, phase structure, microstructure and roughness of as-deposited and annealed Invar36 thin films were investigated by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Mechanical properties of Invar36 thin films were studied by nano indentation method. EDX analysis revealed a variation in nickel content with annealing. The XRD measurements indicated the phase transformation of Invar36 thin film with annealing. AFM analysis implied uniform surface morphology of the films, increase of surface roughness and grain size with annealing. The hardness (H) of the film decreased with annealing. Hardness of as-deposited, annealed at 200oC, 400oC and 500oC were found as 8.5±0.96 GPa, 7.64±0.35 GPa, 6.34±0.14GPa and 3.95±1.05 GPa, respectively. The elastic modulus of Invar36 thin films was increased with annealing. Elastic modulus of as-deposited, annealed at 200oC, 400oC and 500oC were found as 157.00±25.49 GPa, 166.0±11.8 GPa, 172.00±9.93 GPa and 176.00 ±10.78 GPa, respectively. These results are explained on the basis of the change of microstructure after annealing and the effect of the same on the mechanical properties of Invar36 thin films for strain gauge applications

Assessment on awareness of rational prescribing practices among medical interns in a tertiary care hospital: a questionnaire based study

Background: Awareness about rational use of Medicines is required to improve the quality of health care system. Attitude towards rational drug use is also an utmost importance as they constitute the future generation doctors.Methods: A set of 13 questionnaire is given to the interns through an online link to their e-mail which contains informed consent and questionnaires. Respondents has to select the best suitable option and after which the data will be compiled and statistically analyzed.Results: Age of the study participants range from 22-26yrs. Half of them have finished major postings. Almost 96.1 % of them were aware of the term essential drugs. Only 25% of them said that they have NLEMI at work place, 75% of them were aware of the term Rational use of Medicines. Only 32% of them were aware of the term P drugs. 44% of them were aware of STEP criteria for selection of drug and 47% of them were aware of the updated prescribing format. 8% knew the difference between old and new prescription format, 25% of them always prescribe. Almost 82% of them narrate regarding the disease and drug therapy, 31% of them prescribe only generic name.Conclusions: Educational intervention like CME and practical hands on training in Rational use of Medicines would help them in better understanding of the subject and its clinical implications thereby decreasing the prescribing errors

Excessive reactive oxygen species induce transcription-dependent replication stress.

Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) reduce replication fork velocity by causing dissociation of the TIMELESS-TIPIN complex from the replisome. Here, we show that ROS generated by exposure of human cells to the ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor hydroxyurea (HU) promote replication fork reversal in a manner dependent on active transcription and formation of co-transcriptional RNA:DNA hybrids (R-loops). The frequency of R-loop-dependent fork stalling events is also increased after TIMELESS depletion or a partial inhibition of replicative DNA polymerases by aphidicolin, suggesting that this phenomenon is due to a global replication slowdown. In contrast, replication arrest caused by HU-induced depletion of deoxynucleotides does not induce fork reversal but, if allowed to persist, leads to extensive R-loop-independent DNA breakage during S-phase. Our work reveals a link between oxidative stress and transcription-replication interference that causes genomic alterations recurrently found in human cancer. [Abstract copyright: © 2023. The Author(s).

Effect of feeding live Lactobacillus acidophilus NCDC 15 and lactic fermented milk as probiotics on the performance of early weaned crossbred (Landrace × Desi) piglets

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of feeding live Lactobacillus acidophilus NCDC 15 and lactic fermented milk (LFM) as probiotics on the performance of early weaned crossbred (Landrace × Desi) piglets. Crossbred (Landrace × Desi) piglets (36) weaned at 28 days were assigned to treatments T1, T2 and T3 (12) following completely randomized block design. Piglets were fed concentrate mixture as per standards consisting of maize, soyabean, wheat bran and fish meal as a major ingredients. Piglets of T1 were fed basal diet without probiotics, while T2 and T3 were fed basal diet fermented with L. acidophilus NCDC 15 (200g/day/piglet, 5.8×107 cfu/g) and curd (200g/day/piglet, 6.7×107 cfu/g), respectively, for 120 days. Supplementation of probiotics (L. acidophilus NCDC 15 and LFM) to piglet diet improved total feed intake and the net body weight gain as compared to control group. The carcass parameters like carcass weight, dressing percentage, carcass length, back fat thickness and loin eye area was higher in L. acidophilus NCDC 15 and LFM supplemented groups as compared to control group where no probiotic was fed. Owing to the comparable affect of both the probiotics tested, it can be concluded that to improve the performance of the piglets, LFM (curd) can be used as probiotic

Immune Function and Muscle Adaptations to Resistance exercise in Older Adults: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Nutritional Supplement

BACKGROUND: Immune function may influence the ability of older adults to maintain or improve muscle mass, strength, and function during aging. Thus, nutritional supplementation that supports the immune system could complement resistance exercise as an intervention for age-associated muscle loss. The current study will determine the relationship between immune function and exercise training outcomes for older adults who consume a nutritional supplement or placebo during resistance training and post-training follow-up. The supplement was chosen due to evidence suggesting its ingredients [arginine (Arg), glutamine (Gln), and β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (HMB)] can improve immune function, promote muscle growth, and counteract muscle loss. METHODS/DESIGN: Veterans (age 60 to 80 yrs, N = 50) of the United States military will participate in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of consumption of a nutritional supplement or placebo during completion of three study objectives: 1) determine if 2 weeks of supplementation improve immune function measured as the response to vaccination and systemic and cellular responses to acute resistance exercise; 2) determine if supplementation during 36 sessions of resistance training boosts gains in muscle size, strength, and function; and 3) determine if continued supplementation for 26 weeks post-training promotes retention of training-induced gains in muscle size, strength, and function. Analyses of the results for these objectives will determine the relationship between immune function and the training outcomes. Participants will undergo nine blood draws and five muscle (vastus lateralis) biopsies so that the effects of the supplement on immune function and the systemic and cellular responses to exercise can be measured. DISCUSSION: Exercise has known effects on immune function. However, the study will attempt to modulate immune function using a nutritional supplement and determine the effects on training outcomes. The study will also examine post-training benefit retention, an important issue for older adults, usually omitted from exercise studies. The study will potentially advance our understanding of the mechanisms of muscle gain and loss in older adults, but more importantly, a nutritional intervention will be evaluated as a complement to exercise for supporting muscle health during aging. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02261961, registration date 10 June 2014, recruitment active

Wii-Fit for Improving Gait and Balance in an Assisted Living Facility: A Pilot Study

Objectives. To determine the effects on balance and gait of a Wii-Fit program compared to a walking program in subjects with mild Alzheimer's dementia (AD). Methods. A prospective randomized (1 : 1) pilot study with two intervention arms was conducted in an assisted living facility with twenty-two mild AD subjects. In both groups the intervention occurred under supervision for 30 minutes daily, five times a week for eight weeks. Repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-tests were used to analyze changes. Results. Both groups showed improvement in Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Tinetti Test (TT) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) over 8 weeks. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups over time. Intragroup analysis in the Wii-Fit group showed significant improvement on BBS (P = 0.003), and TT (P = 0.013). The walking group showed a trend towards improvement on BBS (P = 0.06) and TUG (P = 0.07) and significant improvement in TT (P = 0.06). Conclusion. This pilot study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of Wii-Fit in an assisted living facility in subjects with mild AD. Use of Wii-Fit resulted in significant improvements in balance and gait comparable to those in the robust monitored walking program. These results need to be confirmed in a larger, methodologically sound study

Differential effects of Akkermansia-enriched fecal microbiota transplant on energy balance in female mice on high-fat diet

Estrogens protect against weight gain and metabolic disruption in women and female rodents. Aberrations in the gut microbiota composition are linked to obesity and metabolic disorders. Furthermore, estrogen-mediated protection against diet-induced metabolic disruption is associated with modifications in gut microbiota. In this study, we tested if estradiol (E2)-mediated protection against obesity and metabolic disorders in female mice is dependent on gut microbiota. Specifically, we tested if fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from E2-treated lean female mice, supplemented with or without Akkermansia muciniphila, prevented high fat diet (HFD)-induced body weight gain, fat mass gain, and hyperglycemia in female recipients. FMT from, and cohousing with, E2-treated lean donors was not sufficient to transfer the metabolic benefits to the E2-deficient female recipients. Moreover, FMT from lean donors supplemented with A. muciniphila exacerbated HFD-induced hyperglycemia in E2-deficient recipients, suggesting its detrimental effect on the metabolic health of E2-deficient female rodents fed a HFD. Given that A. muciniphila attenuates HFD-induced metabolic insults in males, the present findings suggest a sex difference in the impact of this microbe on metabolic health.Peer reviewe

Uptake of home-based voluntary HIV testing in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Improving access to HIV testing is a key priority in scaling up HIV treatment and prevention services. Home-based voluntary counselling and testing (HBT) as an approach to delivering wide-scale HIV testing is explored here

Experimental and Predicted Solubilities of 3,4-Dimethoxybenzoic Acid in Select Organic Solvents of Varying Polarity and Hydrogen-bonding Character

This article discusses the experimental and predicted solubilities of 3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid in select organic solvents of varying polarity and hydrogen-bonding character