Antimicrobial treatment of silk with silver nanoparticles using acrylic binder

Application of silver nanoparticles with self cross-linking binders by pad-dry- cure method has been attempted in this study. Application parameters have been optimized and relevant physical, structural and antimicrobial properties are evaluated. Mechanism of the binder action is found to be impregnation or adhesion. Silver nanoparticles are fixed on the silk fibroin either by entrapping in the binder matrix or due to the adhesive force involved. FTIR studies prove that there is no chemical binding of silver nanoparticles involved. SEM image shows that the binder is impregnated in the interstitials with some amount of adherence as coating. Based on X-ray diffraction studies, the treatment is observed to be predominately in the amorphous region. The antimicrobial activity due to the treatment is found to be good and fast to drycleaning with loss in strength well within the industrial norms

Enhancement of cotton hydrophobicity through modified styrene admicellar polymerization

A novel modified admicellar polymerization (ADPM) technique has been proposed for achieving hydrophobicity oncotton fabrics by synthesizing an ultrathin layer of polystyrene on them. The effect of ethanol and methanol on styreneADPM has been investigated and polymerization time is halved by using methanol at a concentration as low as 0.3 M.Evaluation of the hydrophobic effect is performed through drop tests, contact angle measurements and durability tests.Contact angle of water is as high as ~ 130° and water droplets are repelled for more than 30 min. ADPM delivershydrophobicity which is comparable with commercially available water repellents based on stearic acid melamine resins.Characterization through SEM confirms the formation of ultrathin layers of polystyrene on cotton. Thus, the findingssuccessfully exhibit a modified ADPM process as a potential water repellent finish affording conservation of time andchemicals

Modal wet processing – A novel approach

In this study, various pretreatment parameters have been optimized for greige woven modal fabric in an industrial set-up of semi-continuous and continuous pretreatment range in order to overcome its processing issues without altering the inherent fabric softness. Various recipes of pad-batch desizing, pad-steam bleaching and cold causticization have been attempted and the results are compared with exhaust pretreatment. The pretreated fabric is then subjected to dyeing with. a reactive dye. The performance of the processed fabric has been evaluated in terms of water absorbency, tensile strength, CIE whiteness index, and tegewa rating. Wash and crock fastness of the subsequently dyed fabric are also evaluated. The XRD spectrum indicates marginal increase in the crystallinity of modal fabric post causticization. The results are found encouraging in terms of good and uniform depth of colour with very little deterioration in the desired fabric properties

CONSUMER PERCEPTION OF HOSPITALITY SERVICES IN JCI ACCREDITED HOSPITALS AT DELHI – NCR: AN EXPLORATORY RESEARCH ON GROWTH OF MEDICAL TOURISM

Purpose: This research focuses on understanding the consumer perception and scope of hospitality services provided to patients and their attendants, getting admitted for treatment at internationally accredited multispecialty hospitals. The study also gives insights into the relation among these service elements and their role in the overall satisfaction of patients coming to Delhi NCR as a medical tourist. Methodology: Literature review and interviews with hospital staff, involved as service providers, to find the hospitality services and facilities provided to patients coming to Delhi NCR as a medical tourist. The study adopted survey through questionnaire method to collect primary data, which is analysed through SPSS to study the perceptions of patients/attendants and its relationship with overall patient satisfaction. Main Findings: This research finds that the majority of the JCI accredited hospitals in Delhi-NCR, show fairly good focus on patient care and hospitality centric service style was in place. Hospitality aspects are considered as an opportunity to enhance service excellence and the same is supported by management to bring better patient satisfaction. However, the research found some neglected desires of patients and few areas of poor service delivery. Applications: Hospitals benefiting with medical tourism where attention to nonclinical services is magnified due to a higher expectation of the guest, will benefit from this research. This research would be valuable to healthcare organizations in doing their best to achieve greater patient’s satisfaction, which will improve our image as a destination for Medical Value Travel.  Novelty/Originality: This study explores hospitality services and their relative importance in patient satisfaction. This study describes higher patient satisfaction as an outcome of excellence in non-clinical services. The research outcome is based on primary data and offers a first-hand view of patients perceived hospitality service quality and its constituents

Sophisticated Cloning, Fermentation, and Purification Technologies for an Enhanced Therapeutic Protein Production: A Review

The protein productions strategies are crucial towards the development of application based research and elucidating the novel purification strategies for industrial production. Currently, there are few innovative avenues are studies for cloning, upstream, and purification through efficient bioprocess development. Such strategies are beneficial for industries as well as proven to be vital for effectual therapeutic protein development. Though, these techniques are well documented, but, there is scope of addition to current knowledge with novel and new approaches and it will pave new avenues in production of recombinant microbial and non-microbial proteins including secondary metabolites. In this review, we have focussed on the recent development in clone selection, various modern fermentation and purification technologies and future directions in these emerging areas. Moreover, we have also highlighted notable perspectives and challenges involved in the bioengineering of such proteins, including quality by design, gene editing and pioneering ideas. The biopharmaceutical industries continue to shift towards more flexible, automated platforms and economical product development, which in turn can help in developing the cost effective processes and affordable drug development for a large community

Cytomorphological Profile of Graves' Disease and its Co-relation with anti-TPO Antibody

Objective: Thyroid diseases are major health problems in our society, which are manifested by alteration in hormone secretion, enlargement of the thyroid gland. FNAC plays a significant role in the diagnosis of thyroid lesions due to its simplicity and low cost and with a diagnostic accuracy rate of 92%. This study was designed to cytomorphological profile of Graves’ disease and its co relation with anti TPO antibody. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective analytical study of fifty patients with clinically enlarged thyroid gland presenting at STG Hospital, Haldwani, Nainital during Oct 2019 to Oct 2022. FNAC smears of these patients were studied and correlated with cytomorphological findings of different types, grades of thyroiditis and hormone level of T4, T3 and T.S.H. Results: Females were mostly affected by thyroid diseases than males. Female patients were 39 (78%) and male patients were 11 (22%). In the present study, patients were in the age group of 13 to 74 years of age. High T3 levels were noted in 80% high T4 levels were found in 90%. Low TSH level was found in only 64%, normal TSH level found in 34% and 2% presented with high TSH level. 34 patients (68%) found high anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody titre >34 U/ml. Cytomorphology revealed moderate to high cellularity in 88% cases, mild to moderate nuclear atypia in 86% and presence of marginal vacuoles in 82%. Lymphocytic infiltrate found in 24% cases and epithelioid cell granuloma in 14% cases. Conclusion: Thyroid cytology proves to be a reliable, simple, and cost-effective first-line diagnostic procedure with high patient acceptance and with rare, usually easily treated and not life-threatening complications. We recommend further studies with a larger population to validate our study. Keywords: Thyroiditis, Graves' Disease, Malignancy Goiter, Histopatholog

Study of Anaemia in children and current update

Anaemia in children is a major public health problem throughout the biosphere. It is estimated that at least one-third of the populace has been at one-time anemic. It is often multifactorial, iron deficiency being the most frequent etiology and reasons like malaria endemicity, poor nutrition including micronutrient deficiency, haemoglobinopathies, frequent bacterial infections and high parasitic infestations have been given for these high prevalence rates. Chronic Anaemia may impair growth, cardiac function and cognitive development in infants but other consequences are rather poorly explored more thoroughly. Chronic disorders and iron deficiency were the most common causes of Anaemia. Anaemia was frequently diagnosed in this series of elderly patients. Partly treatable nutritional deficiencies, such as iron or folate deficiency, were identified as possible causes. A complex and heterogeneous interplay of chronic inflammation, functional iron deficiency, and renal impairment was identified in a large proportion of patients. Measures directed at prevention and control of anemia, include increased coverage of supplementation and fortification programs are strongly recommended

Differentially Expressed Genes and Molecular Pathways in an Autochthonous Mouse Prostate Cancer Model

Prostate cancer remains a major public health problem and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men in the United States. The present study aims to understand the molecular pathway(s) of prostate cancer which is essential for early detection and treatment. Dorsolateral prostate from 20 week transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice, which spontaneously develops prostate cancer and recapitulates human disease and age-matched non-transgenic littermates were utilized for microarray analysis. Mouse genome network and pathway analyses were mapped to the human genome using the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) database for annotation, visualization, and integrated discovery. In total, 136 differentially expressed genes, including 32 downregulated genes and 104 upregulated genes were identified in the dorsolateral prostate of TRAMP, compared to non-transgenic mice. A subset of differentially expressed genes were validated by qRT-PCR. Alignment with human genome database identified 18 different classes of proteins, among these, 36% were connected to the nucleic acid binding, including ribosomal proteins, which play important role in protein synthesis—the most enriched pathway in the development of prostate cancer. Furthermore, the results suggest deregulation of signaling molecules (9%) and enzyme modulators (8%) affect various pathways. An imbalance in other protein classes, including transporter proteins (7%), hydrolases (6%), oxidoreductases, and cytoskeleton proteins (5%), contribute to cancer progression. Our study evaluated the underlying pathways and its connection to human prostate cancer, which may further help assess the risk of disease development and progression and identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention

Electrical properties of a-antimony selenide

This paper reports conduction mechanism in a-\sbse over a wide range of temperature (238K to 338K) and frequency (5Hz to 100kHz). The d.c. conductivity measured as a function of temperature shows semiconducting behaviour with activation energy $\Delta$E= 0.42 eV. Thermally induced changes in the electrical and dielectric properties of a-\sbse have been examined. The a.c. conductivity in the material has been explained using modified CBH model. The band conduction and single polaron hopping is dominant above room temperature. However, in the lower temperature range the bipolaron hopping dominates.Comment: 9 pages (RevTeX, LaTeX2e), 9 psfigures, also at http://pu.chd.nic.in/ftp/pub/san16 e-mail: gautam%[email protected]