A review on strength characteristics of concrete incorporating sugarcane bagasse ash.

Sugarcane bagasse ash is an offshoot of sugar factories found after burning of sugarcane bagasse which itself is found after the extraction of sugar from sugarcane. The disposal of this material causes environmental problems surrounding sugar factories. Sugarcane bagasse ash is rich in silica that can play the role of an effective pozzolana which leads to improve pozzolanic reactions resulting in better performing building materials. Light weight concrete can be prepared from low density bagasse ash. Surface reactions are improved due to its high specific surface area. Some percentage of cement is replaced with bagasse ash to determine the fresh and hardened properties of the concrete mix. Compressive strength of the concrete can be improved tremendously on later stages of addition of bagasse ash. Incorporating sugarcane bagasse ash in concrete can further alter the other various performance of concrete. Keywords—sugarcane bagasse ash, pozzolana, fresh and hardened properties

CURRENT PHARMACOLOGICAL STATUS OF CARDIOPROTECTIVE PLANTS AGAINST ISOPROTERENOL INDUCED MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

 Objective: Cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the modern era. Myocardial infarction is a condition where there is a significant decrease or block in the blood (oxygen) supply to the part of heart, leading to degeneration of a portion of the myocardium which triggers a cascade of cellular, inflammatory and biochemical events, leading eventually to the irreversible death (necrosis) of heart muscle cells. Various therapeutic interventions, including lifestyle modification, pharmacological treatment options, and surgical techniques are available. The present review focus on the plants that have been evaluated for cardioprotective activity against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction.Method: The current status of Cardioprotective plants was obtained from a literature search of electronic databases such as Google Scholar, Pubmed and Scopus up to 2017 for publications on medicinal plants used against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction. Isoproterenol, Isoprenaline, myocardial infarction, cardioprotective were used as keywords for the searching.Result: A total of 117 different plant parts and their extracts have till now been published to possess cardioprotection against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction. Isoproterenol a beta-adrenergic receptors agonist causes severe stress in myocardium resulting in the infarct-like lesion and produced cardiotoxic effects by elevating the levels of cardiac biomarkers and causing changes in ECG. Plant-based medicines with their antioxidant, antiapoptotic, antihyperlipidemic, platelet antiaggregatory, anti-lipid peroxidation property provide substantial evidence for the management of Ischemia.Conclusion: This review, therefore, provides a useful resource to enable a thorough assessment of the profile of plants that have cardioprotective activity against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction

A comparative study of early postoperative feeding versus conventional feeding for patients undergoing caesarean section

Background: Early alimentation after caesarean delivery probably has limited clinical significance in terms of improved energy and protein intake. Decreasing the post-operative ileus is possible with early feeding. Objective of this study was to study efficacy of early postoperative feeding versus conventional feeding for patients undergoing caesarean section.Methods: Present study was hospital based comparative study carried out among 200 women who fulfilled the selection criteria. The cases were divided into 2 groups of 100 each by suitable random sampling technique. Group A included 100 cases who were given early feeding within 6 hours of caesarean delivery. Group B included 100 control who were given the feeding after 24 hours of caesarean delivery.Results: The mean duration of postoperative hospital stay in Group A and Group B was 4.59±0.65 and 4.81±0.81 days respectively (p <0.05). The mean time to return of bowel sounds in Group A and Group B was 2.79±1.36 and 3.55±1.49 hours respectively (p <0.01). 2(2%) cases in group A had postoperative ileus symptoms, whereas 3 (3%) cases in Group B had the same. Statistically significant difference (p <0.05) was seen in terms of vomiting 1% versus 17%, nausea 5% versus 16%, abdominal distention 2% versus 7%, diarrhea 4% versus 90% in the early feeding versus conventional feeding groups.Conclusions: It can be concluded from present study that fast return to the normal diet is possible with early feeding among women undergoing cesarean section compared to the conventional feeding among women undergoing cesarean section

Study of intrapartum fetal distress with the help of cardiotocography and its correlation with umbilical cord blood sampling

Background: Even in low risk mothers, fetal acidosis occurs as in high risk groups. Aim of fetal monitoring is to detect early response to intrauterine hypoxia and prevent irreversible neurological damage and death. Objective of this study was to correlate the intrapartum fetal distress with the help of cardiotocography CTG with umbilical cord blood sampling.Methods: A total 100 consecutive patients attending the labor ward were studied. Immediately at birth, before the baby’s first breath and before delivery of the placenta, the umbilical cord blood was collected as per the standard guidelines laid down in the standard textbooks. Fetal acidosis was assessed by umbilical cord arterial blood pH. Fetal acidosis was considered when umbilical artery pH <7.2. Cardiotocography features were used to clinically diagnose fetal distress.Results: Most of the mothers were multigravida. They belonged to the age group of 20-25 years. Only 18% had abnormal CTG. Out of 50 mothers with normal vaginal delivery, all had normal CTG. Out of 43 mothers who were delivered by LSCS, no one had normal CTG, 25 had indeterminate CTG and 18 had abnormal CTG. As CTG became abnormal, proportion of mothers with the thick meconium increased. NICU admission proportion increased as CTG changed from normal to the abnormal. There was a significant association between the abnormal CTG and the umbilical cord blood pH being acidic.Conclusions: CTG is a simple test, easy to perform and can alert obstetrician for necessary interventions in case of an abnormal CTG. It can detect fetal distress in labor thus helping to reduce neonatal morbidity by early intervention in cases of abnormal tracing

Perception of Dental Students regarding the role Dentist in smoking cessation counselling

Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of premature death, disease and disability around the world. Six out of eight leading causes of death worldwide are attributed to the diseases related to tobacco use as a risk factor. Healthcare professionals rank high both in effectiveness and preference for providing tobacco cessation counselling. Surveys have found that 58% of smokers made regular appointments with their dentist. Cessation rates of up to 18% have been seen when dental professionals counselled their patients to quit tobacco. The study evaluated dental student’s views about tobacco cessation counselling and their skills as counsellors

A study on immuno histochemical analysis of CD56 and galectin-3 expression in follicular neoplasms of thyroid

BACKGROUND: Follicular neoplasm of thyroid comprises of both benign and malignant follicular tumors. The important feature which differentiates follicular adenoma and follicular thyroid carcinoma (particularly minimally invasive follicular carcinoma) is unequivocal capsular and / or vascular invasion. But identification of this feature in histopathology is very challenging due to sectioning and technical artifacts. In this view increasing numbers of immunohistochemical markers are in the process of evaluation. The aim of this study to predict the diagnostic accuracy of CD56 AND GALECTIN 3 markers, as well as their combination in the differentiation of benign and malignant follicular thyroid tumors. METHODS: In this study immunohistochemical expression of CD56 and GALECTIN 3 were studied in both follicular adenomas and follicular carcinomas. The study was conducted on the blocks retrieved from the pathology department at Tirunelveli Medical College, diagnosed between 2014 and2017 and included totally 45 cases. Out of them 33 cases were benign tumors(follicular adenoma) , 12 cases were malignant tumors (follicular carcinoma). RESULTS: In this study CD56 expression was higher in follicular adenomas (96.6%) and expression of Galectin 3 was higher in follicular carcinomas (83.3%). And combination of these two markers differentiated benign and malignant follicular tumors with stastistical significant difference (p value < 0.0001) and increased specificity for malignancy. CONCLUSION: Galectin 3 is a sensitive marker for malignancy, while loss of expression of CD56 is very specific for malignancy. Combination of these two markers increases specificity for malignancy

IMPACT OF NEUROCOGNITION ON TEACHING COMPETENCY

Teachers' can facilitate a life time of successful learning by equipping students with a repertoire of strategies and tools for learning. The teacher plays an important role in the educational process. Effective teaching depends upon the evolution of innovative strategies and also the methodology of teaching. As we gain a more scientifically based understanding about today's novel brain and how it learns, we must rethink about what we do in classroom and school. Neuro scientists are mapping the pathways between body and brain, providing tangible evidence of the benefits of hands-on, experimental learning. Neurocognitive process includes a number of human functions through neuronal networks. Brain cells communicating with each other through on electrochemical process. Neurocognition includes perceiving, recognizing, conceiving, judging and reasoning processes. The neurocognitive approach is based upon certain irrefutable facts concerning brain functions, which are applied to the intervention strategies of student teachers developmental difficulties. The teachers must develop the competencies like content competency, contextual competency, communication competency, classroom management and evaluation competency. In this paper, we discuss how the brain and its functions are helpful to the teachers in teaching and bringing out the dimensions of teaching competency such as induction, content, pedagogy, organisation and assessment. We elucidate the Neurocognitive strategies are how helpful to bring out the secrets of amygdala and hippocampus involving in teaching strategies. We also emphasize that the recent development of designing Neurocognitive programme that focus on both cognitive and social development has theoretical and practical challenges

Comparison of Various Treatment Modalities in patients with Alopecia Areata

INTRODUCTION: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common form of non scarring hair loss of scalp and/or body. Genetic predisposition, autoimmunity, and environmental factors play a major role in the etio-pathogenesis of AA. In general population, the prevalence was estimated at 0.1-0.2% with a lifetime risk of 1.7%. AIM OF THE STUDY: To study the efficacy of various treatment modalities in the management of alopecia areata and to compare them with one another. Study Design: Prospective interventional study. Study period: one year (August 2017-July 2018). METHODOLOGY: 100 Patients attending dermatology op with alopecia areata were randomly recruited into study and divided into four groups. Each group consists of 25 patients and following treatment were given. Group I: Intralesional steroids (Triamcinolone Acetonide) 10mg/ml. Group II: Cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen). Group III: Topical phenol application (88%). Group IV: Spot Phototherapy (NBUVB). RESULTS: Cosmetically acceptable regrowth of hair was seen in 88% of patients treated with intralesional steroids, 76% of patients with cryotherapy, 52 % in patients treated with phenol and 36% of patients treated with phototherapy with NBUVB. Nail changes were seen in 34% of patients, with pitting as the most common finding. CONCLUSION: Intralesional steroid therapy were found to be more effective compared with others. All four modalities may be considered in the therapy of alopecia areata and the role of NBUVB needs further evaluation in large group of patients

Small and medium entrepreneurs’ perspective on E-commerce in eastern province of Sri Lanka

Even though there is a rapid development of social commerce, developing countries are still confronted by infrastructural and cultural issues related to the acceptance of e-commerce. Since Sri Lanka is a developing country, the acceptance of e-commerce by the small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) is still in challenge by such barriers; it is now applying models for the acceptance of new technologies by SMEs. The paper aims to discuss these types of issues. This research study is endeavoring to develop a model, with the ideas of existing models on e-commerce, which will be applied with Sri Lankan conditions. The data collected by a survey is composed with prior models in e-commerce area to investigate this study, and it has been empirically tested to recommend an innovative model. The findings of this research reveal that poor awareness of the advantages of the e-commerce and organizational issues lined with its applications are the reasons for most of the e-commerce obstacles in Sri Lanka. The findings and suggestions of this study, can be applicable to other developing countries as well. This paper is giving a better representation of Sri Lankan market. Lastly the paper deliberates probable upcoming guidelines of this research, as well as its boundaries. This research supports to the hypothetical basis of information systems and e-commerce acceptance studies through recommending and testing a pre-acceptance model for e-commerce. The acceptance of e-commerce in SMEs in Sri Lanka has not been considerably inspected. It is obvious that the SMEs in Sri Lanka play a significant role in its economies. The findings of this study demonstrate a substantial affiliation between organizational readiness and the acceptance of e-commerce and validate the positive relationship between readiness of e-commerce and its acceptance

Nanopackaging of Silver using Spice Extract and their Characterization

The aim of the present study was to synthesize silver nanoparticles using spice extracts as reducing agents and further evaluate their anti-microbial activities. Silver has been shown to possess antimicrobial activity. The silver nanoparticles were prepared by solvent evaporation method. The silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The functional groups present in the phyto-constituents on the plant extract were determined by FT-IR studies. The particle size of the silver nanoparticles was determined by Dynamic Light Scattering and was found to be 143, 50 and 56 nm for cloves, cinnamon and neem silver nanoparticles respectively. They exhibited antibacterial property against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi strains, tested using Well Diffusion method. Plant extracts however reduce the antimicrobial activity of the nanoparticles. In conclusion, antimicrobial activities of silver nanoparticles were reduced by plant extracts certifies vital potential in biomedical application.Keywords: Silver nanoparticles Neem Cinnamon Clove