Internet of things based patient-centered care model for elderly healthcare

Providing quality healthcare services to the rising elderly population is a significant challenge, as they often have multiple diseases (multimorbidity) and require proper treatment. Current healthcare systems lack effective care coordination for patients with multimorbidity, and result in increased hospital readmissions and costs. Researchers recommend adopting a Patient Centered Care (PCC) approach for effective care coordination among healthcare systems. However, current health IT solutions are inefficient for recording and sharing patient data as PCC requires. The Internet of things (IoT) has the potential to overcome these obstacles. loT is a network of interconnected computing devices that can collect and share data without human interference. However, the heterogeneous nature of loT devices causes data standardization and interoperability issues between loT devices and Health Information Technology systems (HITs). Moreover, there is a lack of studies that address the interoperability of IT systems for data collection and sharing, as PCC requires. Therefore, this study aims to develop an IoT based PCC model for elderly healthcare to address the issues related to the interoperability of loT and HITs for data collection and sharing. To achieve this objective, PCC and IoT elements suitable for elderly healthcare services have been identified using a qualitative approach. The empirical investigation has been done using face-to-face interviews with elderly healthcare and loT experts. The proposed model has been evaluated through expert review. This study has produced a novel model incorporating loT elements with PCC principles for elderly healthcare services to achieve interoperability of loT and HITs for care coordination. This model will provide useful insights and information for effective healthcare decisions and increase efficient resource utilization for elderly healthcare. Thus, it will enable the loT and HITs to interoperate, improving multimorbidity treatment and the effectiveness of healthcare coordinatio

Genetic analysis of yield components and fiber quality parameters in upland cotton

The experiment was laid to analyze genetic features, genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficients, path analysis with regression analysis among yield contributing traits in a selected F3 populations of upland cotton including parents. In this research experiment ANOVA showed significant difference among all individual plants in F3 populations. Monopodia per plant and bolls per plant possessed maximum value of PCV% and GCV%. Maximum broad sense heritability (≥ 90) was found in all recorded traits except seeds per boll, fiber length and lint percentage. Correlation studies revealed that Seed cotton yield positively correlated with all yield contributing traits i.e. plant height, monopodial branches per plant, Number of bolls per plant, boll weight, lint weight, seed index, lint index, seeds per boll, fiber fineness, fiber strength and fiber uniformity at both genotypic and phenotypic level whereas it depicted negative relationship with staple length. Path coefficient analysis showed that maximum direct positive effect was found of lint weight (2.6005) on seed cotton yield followed fiber fineness (1.2628), seed index (1.1449) and bolls per plant (1.0027). Regression study exhibited that maximum value of R2 for lint weight (0.9509) and boll weight (0.3735) depicted that 95.09% and 37.35% variation in the seed cotton yield, due to its relationship with lint weight and boll weight. It is concluded that there is a great genetic potential in F3 populations for mostly yield contributing traits for further enhancing yield. So those traits should be used as selection criteria during breeding for yield

Comparative study of the modification of multi-wall carbon nanotubes by gamma irradiation and sonochemically assisted acid etching

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been treated with gamma irradiation in air or by using dilute acids (H 2SO 4/HNO 3) combined with 20 kHz ultrasound to compare their effects. The CNT microstructure has been investigated using transmission electron microscopy which revealed that both methods effectively modified the CNTs to overcome aggregation of the nanotubes, resulting in efficient dispersion in ethanol. The nature of the surface modifications was investigated using Raman and FTIR spectroscopies. The introduction of oxygenated species at the CNT surface was detected. At longer treatment times or high ultrasound intensities, the sonochemically assisted acid treatment showed the highest degree of reaction and functionalisation. Modification of the structure with γ-radiation with doses of 100 kGy or 200 kGy also resulted in a reduction of defects, attributed to an annealing and reorganisation process. The observed effects could be correlated with the time and intensity of the ultrasound used or the dose and dose rate of the γ-radiation. Both methods offer the possibility for processes with lower environmental inpact than those that currently exist. Our results also illustrate the importance of careful control over these experimental parameters if optimum results are to be obtained. </p

Sonochemical Modification of Carbon Nanotubes for Enhanced Nanocomposite Performance

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been treated using 20 kHz ultrasound in combination with dilute nitric and sulfuric acids at much lower concentrations than previously reported. The measurements revealed an optimum set of sonication conditions (in this case 30 min at 12 W cm−2) exists to overcome aggregation of the nanotubes and to allow efficient dispersion in ethanol or in chitosan. Transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy suggested the removal of amorphous material and reduction of the CNT diameter as well as modifications to their defect structures. The surface oxidation was determined by FTIR spectroscopy. At longer times or higher ultrasound intensities, degradation such as nanotube shortening and additional defect generation in the graphitic network occurred and the benefits of using ultrasound decreased. The modified CNTs were used as fillers for chitosan films and gave a tenfold increase in tensile strength and integrity of the films. The methodology was combined with sonochemical generation of gold or iron oxide nanoparticles to produce a range of functional membranes for catalytic reductive hydrogenation or dye degradation under conditions that are more environmentally benign than those previously used. Our results further add to the usefulness of sonochemistry as a valuable tool in preparative materials chemistry but also illustrate the crucial importance of careful control over the experimental conditions if optimum results are to be obtained

Inheritance Pattern and Association of Qualitative and Quantitative Traits in Cotton for Sustainable Breeding Goal

Background%253A Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is the most important fiber crop of the world and commonly known as white gold. It plays an important role in the economy of Pakistan. It provides raw material to the local textile industry and generates a considerable amount of foreign exchange. It plays a vital role in the economy of Pakistan. The yield of cotton is lower in Pakistan. Knowledge of association among different traits is important for the development of cultivars with better yield and quality characters. Results%253A In this research, two parents (PB-38 and Jambo Okra) and their crosses sown in randomized complete block design with three replications to sort out best performing genotypes for these profitable traits (plant height, number of sympodial branches, number of monopodial branches, leaf type, boll size, boll shape, number of bolls per plant, boll weight, ginning out turn, 100 seed weight and seed cotton yield). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that parental and their F population showed significant differences for all the observed traits. Correlation and inheritance pattern of all characters provides information of association among all traits and percentage of inheritable attributes. Conclusions%253A The association and inheritance pattern study provides us useful information for effective selection and sustainable breeding programs. Heritability estimations revealed that heritability of traits fluctuate as following order%253B monopodial branchesgt%253B ginning outturngt%253Bboll weightgt%253Bsympodial branchesgt%253Bplant heightgt%253Byieldgt%253Bnumber of bolls plant-1 with heritable percentages 99%25, 90%25, 89%25, 64%25, 60%25, 60%25 and 55%25 respectively

Screened toilet, bathing and menstruation units for the earthquake response in NWFP, Pakistan

In water and sanitation interventions, sensitivity is required for the particular needs of communities when women live in seclusion. In these communities female-headed households may have restricted access to relief supplies and restricted opportunities to make their needs known. Additional screening around water and sanitation facilities can help to provide additional privacy for women and men living in camp environments in emergency settings

Excreta disposal for people with physical disabilities in emergencies following the earthquake in Northern Pakistan

Excreta disposal for people with physical disabilities in emergencies following the earthquake in Northern Pakista

Ultrasound Promoted Synthesis and Properties of Chitosan Nanocomposites Containing Carbon Nanotubes and Silver Nanoparticles

A rapid and facile method to prepare functional chitosan nanocomposite films incorporating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been developed using ultrasound assisted in-situ synthesis, dispersion and crosslinking. Addition of AgNPs and CNTs increased the mechanical strength and extensibility of polymeric chitosan nanocomposites. The films were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and infrared spectroscopy (IR). TEM showed that ultrasound produced more homogeneous dispersion of AgNPs and nanotubes as a result of breakage of CNTs bundles. Dielectric spectroscopy revealed that the real part of dielectric constant is found to increase with increase in temperature and frequency for both Chi/Ag and Chi/CNTs/Ag nanocomposite films. The conductivity of Chi/CNTs/Ag nanocomposite films was lower than when the CNTs were omitted