Study of epidemiology and management of liver abscess in Jammu region

Background: Liver abscess is a common medical condition with different causes and variable morbidity and mortality in different parts of the world, this study has looked into epidemiology, pattern of disease gender and age of affected patients and associated factors. Methods: This prospective study was conducted at a government medical college over a period of one year from August 2022 up to July 2023. Data of patients managed at our centre was collected, analysed and interpreted on MS Excel. Results: The majority of affected patients were male (77.5%). 30 to 40 years age group was the most commonly affected, most of the patients presented with complaints of pain abdomen (85%). Amoebic abscess was present in 71.25% of patients. The right lobe of the liver was involved most commonly (67.5%). Conservative management was successful in 56.25% of patients. Alcohol intake was present in 43.75% of patients, complications were pleural effusion, portal vein thrombosis, necrotizing colitis and gastrointestinal bleeding. Conclusions: In the present era of modern medical science, diagnosis of liver abscesses has become easy through radiological and serological tests, and treatment modalities from minimally invasive to conservative have proved successful in the treatment of liver abscesses. Antibiotics remain the primary course of treatment for both amoebic liver abscess (ALA) and pyogenic liver abscess (PLA), unless there is persistent fever, a substantial abscess cavity, or complications that require surgical intervention. However, challenges persist in combating antibiotic resistance, stemming from incomplete and over-the-counter misuse of available medications. Special concerns include associated comorbidities, delayed medical consultation, and treatment-seeking behavior, as well as the misuse of unhealthy substances or alcohol

Leveraging On Information Technology To Teach Construction Law To Built Environment Students: A Knowledge-based System (KBS) Approach

Construction law is a vital component of the body of knowledge that is needed by construction professionals in order to successfully operate in the commercial world of construction. Construction law plays an important role in shaping building projects. Construction projects are complex because they involve many human and non-human factors and variables. Teaching construction law is therefore a complex issue with several dimensions. In recent years, Information Technology (IT) has become strongly established as a supporting tool for many professions, including teachers. If faculty members have a knowledge base established on similar past projects, it would assist the faculty members to present case studies and contractually based scenarios to students. This paper proposes potential utilisation of a Knowledge-based System (KBS) for teaching construction law to built environment students. The KBS is primarily designed for building professionals to learn from similar past projects. The KBS is able to assist professionals by providing accurate and timely information for decision making and a user-friendly tool for analysing and selecting the suggested controls for variations in educational buildings. It is recommended that the wealth of knowledge available in the KBS can be very helpful in teaching construction law to built environment students. The system presents real case studies and scenarios to students to allow them to analyse and learn construction law. The KBS could be useful to students as a general research tool because the students could populate it with their own data and use it with the reported educational projects. With further generic modifications, the KBS will also be useful for built environment students to learn about project management of building projects; thus, it will raise the overall level of professional understanding, and eventually productivity, in the construction industry

3D printed composite materials for craniofacial implants: current concepts, challenges and future directions

Millions of craniofacial surgeries are performed annually worldwide for craniofacial bones’ replacement and augmentation. This represents a significant economic burden as well as aesthetic expectations. Autografts and allografts are the first choice for treatment of craniofacial defects; however, their limited availability and difficulty to shape have led to investigation for alternative strategies. Biomaterial-based approaches have been used for implantation as they have ample supply but their processing through conventional technologies present several drawbacks; the major one relates to the poor versatility towards the production of patient-specific implants. Additive manufacturing has gained considerable attention during the last decade, as it allows the manufacturing of implants according to patient need. Biomaterial implants can be additively manufactured but have one or more limitations of stress shielding, radiopacity, high strength to weight ratio and limited bone integration. Over the last few decades, composites are investigated to surmount the limitations with traditional implants and also improve their bone integration. This review provides an overview of the most recent polymeric composite-based biomaterials that have been used in combination with 3D printing technology for the development of patient-specific craniofacial implants. Starting with the conventional treatments, biomaterials available for the craniofacial implants, the additive manufacturing rationale are discussed. Also, the main challenges still associated with 3D printing of polymer-based composites are critically reviewed and the future perspective presented

Lap Shear Strength and Fatigue Analysis of Continuous Carbon-Fibre-Reinforced 3D-Printed Thermoplastic Composites by Varying the Load and Fibre Content

This study focuses on evaluating the fatigue life performance of 3D-printed polymer composites produced through the fused deposition modelling (FDM) technique. Fatigue life assessment is essential in designing components for industries like aerospace, medical, and automotive, as it provides an estimate of the component’s safe service life during operation. While there is a lack of detailed research on the fatigue behaviour of 3D-printed polymer composites, this paper aims to fill that gap. Fatigue tests were conducted on the 3D-printed polymer composites under various loading conditions, and static (tensile) tests were performed to determine their ultimate tensile strength. The fatigue testing load ranged from 80% to 98% of the total static load. The results showed that the fatigue life of the pressed samples using a platen press was significantly better than that of the non-pressed samples. Samples subjected to fatigue testing at 80% of the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) did not experience failure even after 1 million cycles, while samples tested at 90% of UTS failed after 50,000 cycles, with the failure being characterized as splitting and clamp area failure. This study also included a lap shear analysis of the 3D-printed samples, comparing those that were bonded using a two-part Araldite glue to those that were fabricated as a single piece using the Markforged Mark Two 3D printer. In summary, this study sheds light on the fatigue life performance of 3D-printed polymer composites fabricated using the FDM technique. The results suggest that the use of post-printing platen press improved the fatigue life of 3D-printed samples, and that single printed samples have better strength of about 265 MPa than adhesively bonded samples in which the strength was 56 MPa

3D printed PEEK/HA composites for bone tissue engineering applications: effect of material formulation on mechanical performance and bioactive potential

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a biocompatible polymer widely used for biomedical applications. Because it is biologically inert, bioactive phases, such as nano-hydroxyapatite (HA), have been added to PEEK in order to improve its bioactivity. 3D printing (3DP) technologies are being increasingly used today to manufacture patient specific devices and implants. However, processing of PEEK is challenging due to its high melting point which is above 340 °C. In this study, PEEK-based filaments containing 10 wt% of pure nano-HA, strontium (Sr)- doped nano-HA and Zinc (Zn)-doped nano-HA were produced via hot-melt extrusion and subsequently 3D printed via fused deposition modelling (FDM), following an initial optimization process. The raw materials, extruded filaments and 3D printed samples were characterized in terms of physicochemical, thermal and morphological analysis. Moreover, the mechanical performance of 3D printed specimens was assessed via tensile tensing. Although an increase in the melting point and a reduction in crystallization temperature was observed with the addition of HA and doped HA to pure PEEK, there was no noticeable increase in the degree of crystallinity. Regarding the mechanical behavior, no significant differences were detected following the addition of the inorganic phases to the polymeric matrix, although a small reduction in the ultimate tensile strength (~14%) and Young's modulus (~5%) in PEEK/HA was observed in comparison to pure PEEK. Moreover, in vitro bioactivity of 3D printed samples was evaluated via a simulated body fluid immersion test for up to 28 days; the formation of apatite was observed on the surfaces of sample surfaces containing HA, SrHA and ZnHA. These results indicate the potential to produce bioactive, 3DP PEEK composites for challenging applications such as in craniofacial bone repair

Food Dehydration Recent Advances and Approaches

Dehydration of organic material is undoubtedly a controlled attempt to conserve or construct a novel construct that will satisfy functional devotions. Food dehydration is reviewed in light of the latest progress in food materials research. Understanding the mechanics behind the drying process is crucial in food and agricultural product dehydration. Among the most crucial steps in preserving food is dehydration. Food drying innovations include photovoltaic, thermal imaging, microwave-assisted, and comparable hybrid technologies. According to a recent study, unique food dehydration technologies might increase drying efficiency by decreasing energy usage while improving product quality. Unique drying methods reduce food component degradation and create novel items for customers. Each method’s use of specific foods will be reviewed in this chapter