Asymmetrically Encapsulated vertical ITO/MoS2/Cu2O photodetector with ultra-high sensitivity

Strong light absorption, coupled with moderate carrier transport properties, makes two-dimensional (2-D) layered transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) semiconductors promising candidates for low intensity photodetection applications. However, the performance of these devices is severely bottlenecked by slow response with persistent photocurrent due to long lived charge trapping, and nonreliable characteristics due to undesirable ambience and substrate effects. Here we demonstrate ultra-high specific detectivity (D*) of 3.2x10^14 Jones and responsivity (R) of 5.77x10^4 AW-1 at an optical power density (P_op) of 0.26 Wm-2 and external bias (V_ext) of -0.5 V in an indium tin oxide (ITO)/MoS2/copper oxide (Cu2O)/Au vertical multi-heterojunction photodetector exhibiting small carrier transit time. The active MoS2 layer being encapsulated by carrier collection layers allows us to achieve negligible trap assisted persistent photocurrent and repeatable characteristics over large number of cycles. We also achieved a large D*>10^14 Jones at zero external bias due to the built-in field of the asymmetric photodetector. Benchmarking the performance against existing reports in literature shows a pathway for achieving reliable and highly sensitive photodetectors for ultra-low intensity photodetection applications.Comment: Accepted in Small, Wile

Comparative study of preservation Versus elective division of ilioinguinal nerve in open mesh repair of inguinal hernia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic post herniorrhaphy groin pain is defined as pain lasting for more than 3 months after surgery. It is one of the most important complications occurring after inguinal hernia repair and it occurs with greater frequency than previously thought .Majority of chronic pain has been attributed to Ilioinguinal nerve entrapment. Routine excision of the ilioinguinal nerve is an attempt to decrease the incidence of chronic groin pain caused by nerve entrapment, inflammation and fibrotic reactions around the nerve. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the effect of routine ilioinguinal nerve excision compared to nerve preservation on chronic groin pain and other sensory symptoms when performing Lichtenstein tension free inguinal hernia repair. METHOD: A total of 60 patients admitted for inguinal hernia at Government Rajaji Hospital Madurai who met with the inclusion criteria underwent open mesh repair of inguinal hernia over the study period from August 2013 to August 2014. The ilioinguinal nerve was identified and preserved in 30 patients(group A) and elective division of the ilioinguinal nerve was done in 30 patients(group-B).Patients were evaluated for pain and other sensory symptoms at PoD-1, at one month, at three months, and at six months after surgery by using 4 point verbal scale. RESULTS: 50 of 60 patients completed the study protocol fully, 26 patients ( 25 men and 1 women ) with mean age 31± 20 belonged to group A, and 24 patients (all men) with mean age of 39± 14 belonged to group B. The results of the follow up visits are 24 Vs 19 ( p>0.05 ) at POD-1 ; 1 3 V s 1 0 ( p>0.05 ) at 1 month ; 1 0 V s 2 ( p>0.05 ) at 3 months ; and 8 Vs 1 ( p<0.05 ) at 6 months in group A and group B respectively. The mean severity score was 1.65±0.79 vs 1.37±0.92 at POD-1 ; 0.81±0.94 vs 0.42±050 at 1 month ; 0.58±0.81 vs 0.08±0.28 at 3 months ; and 0.39±0.09 vs 0.05±0.20 at 6 months in group A and group B respectively. There was significant difference(p<0.05) at 3 and 6 months. The results showed no significant difference in the neurosensory disturbances in either Groups, that is, the incidence of hypoesthesia was 57.6% vs 62.% ; 26.9% vs 37.5% ; 19.2% vs 20.8% ; and 11.5% vs 16.6% at POD-1, 1, 3,and 6 months in group A and B respectively. And the incidence of numbness was 19.2% vs 12.5% ; 23% vs 25% ; 15.3% vs 20.8% ; and 11.5% vs 12.5% at POD-1,1,3, and 6 months in group A and b respectively. CONCLUSION: The prophylactic excision of the ilioinguinal nerve during Lichtenstein mesh hernia repair decreases the incidence of chronic groin pain after surgery. Furthermore the procedure is not significantly associated with additional morbidities in terms of local cutaneous neurosensory disturbances. So when performing Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair, routine ilioinguinal neurectomy is a reasonable option

A True Human Tail in a Neonate : Case report and literature review

A true human tail is a benign vestigial caudal cutaneous structure composed of adipose, connective tissue, muscle, vessels, nerves and mechanoreceptors. A true human tail can be distinguished from a pseudotail as the latter is commonly associated with underlying spinal dysraphism, which requires specialised management. True human tails are very rare, with fewer than 40 cases reported to date. We report a healthy one-day-old male newborn who was referred to the Bharath Hospital, Kottayam, Kerala, India, in 2014 with a cutaneous appendage arising from the lumbosacral region. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine ruled out spinal dysraphism. The appendage was removed by simple surgical excision. Clinicians should emphasise use of ‘true tail’ and ‘pseudotail’ as specific disparate terms as the clinical, radiological and histological findings of these conditions differ significantly, along with management strategies and outcomes

HERBAL NANOSUSPENSION: IN VITRO CANCER STUDY AGAINST DIFFERENT CELL LINES

Herbal formulations marketed in India for many years providing its therapeutic benefits in health problems. Medicinal plants or their phytoconstituents are less toxic and free from side effects than synthetic drugs. However, formulation aspects of these phytoconstituents are limited due to its low solubility. Nanotechnology is a promising technique to increase the solubility of herbal drugs. This will lead to a subsequent reduction in drug dose. Nanoformulations such as nanosuspension increase the solubility of poorly soluble drugs and also have good targeting effects on different cells. The efficacy of herbal nanosuspensions evaluated using different cell lines. Here, hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (SMMC-7721), human prostate cancer cell line, human myelogenous leukemia cell line, human epithelial cell line, human breast cancer cell lines (4T1, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-453), carcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cell line (A549), human umbilical vein endothelial cell line, human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (HT-29), and human epithelial carcinoma cell line (HeLa) are used in the evaluation procedures. In vitro assays help in the determination of the dose range of drugs for the activity. The present review highlights the in vitro cancer studies of herbal nanosuspensions using different cell lines

Standardization of container type, substrate and nutrition for potted plant production of China aster [Callistephus chinensis (L.) Ness.] var. Arka Archana

A study was conducted at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta, Bengaluru for three consecutive seasons during 2019-20, to standardize the container type, substrate combination and nutrition for potted plant production of China aster var. Arka Archana. The treatments comprised of two type of containers (plastic and coir), three substrates {Red soil + FYM + Sand (1:1:1 v/v), Arka Fermented cocopeat (AFC), AFC + Vermicompost (1:1 v/v)} and four nutrition concentration (160:30:180 ppm N:P: K, 128:24:144 ppm N:P: K, 96:18:108 ppm N:P: K and Jeevamrutha @ 3%) laid out in factorial completely randomized design with three replications. Plant height at flowering (33.12 cm), number of primary branches (12.4), plant spread (536.64 cm2), number of flowers/plant (26.47), flower size (5.26 cm) and uptake of major, secondary and minor nutrients were maximum in the plants grown in 6" plastic pots using the substrate combination of soil +sand +FYM (1:1:1 v/v/v) along with the weekly application of nutrient solution of 96:18:108 ppm NPK/plant. This production protocol resulted in a dense canopy and highly floriferous potted plants. The benefit cost ratio of potted China aster production was 1.70. This technology can be adopted by the nurserymen for large-scale commercial potted plant production

Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in tuberculosis patients: a hospital based study

Background: Screening of high risk individuals with weak immunity as in diabetics for active tuberculosis is of great public health importance. The prevalence of diabetes in tuberculosis is high and the data regarding the same is necessary for strengthening TB control activities.Methods: This study was conducted to know the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in tuberculosis patients diagnosed from the hospital. This was a hospital based descriptive study conducted in Department of Respiratory medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences, Northern Kerala in association with DOTS center during a one year period from August 2014 to July 2015. All patients diagnosed as a case of tuberculosis from our institution were included for the study. All patients were screened for diabetes mellitus using Fasting Plasma Glucose value. Additional information regarding age, body mass index (BMI), sputum smear positivity and treatment category of tuberculosis were collected.Results: There was a higher prevalence of diabetes in tuberculosis patients than in general population and the rate was found to be 19.6%. There was a statistically significant association of diabetes with older age, higher BMI and sputum positivity.Conclusions: Routine screening for diabetes needs to be intensified in the community and more importantly in Tuberculosis patients.

Mothering and Radical Selfcare: An Autoethnography of Participating in a Facebook Parenting Group

The article documents the experiences of parenting of an urban Indian Hindu middle-class couple at the intersection of virtual and physical spaces and ideas. The experiences and ideas documented in this paper have co-evolved as the authors are parenting their four-year-old daughter and realised how their participation in a Facebook parenting group is influencing them as parents. The relational perspective in autoethnography is used to examine the mutual influences between the authors as partners, parents, and participants in the Facebook parenting group. This is done to understand how our participation in the Facebook parenting group mutually influenced our understanding of ideas of empowered mothering and self-care. The paper draws from Audre Lorde’s idea of radical self-care to analyse the interactions on the online group on empowered mothering and self-care

Performance of fisheries cooperatives in India- an evaluation of primary societies in Thane District of Maharashtra

The fisheries co operative system in India was devised with a view to providing assistance to the actual producers, the fishers. Fisheries co-operativo societies are governed by a separate set of rules to channel govornment assistance on the principles of self-help and democratic management. A large number of flsheries cooperatives have been formed both in marine and inland sectors of the country and contributing to fhe socio-economic development of the fishers. Presently, there are one National LeveI Federation, 7 state level federations, 108 central Ievol federations and 12,427 primary fishery sodeti s functioning in India

An evaluation of the business performance of fishery cooperative societies in Vasai Taluka of Thane District, Maharashtra

Fishery cooperative movement is considered to be the most effective way to develop the fishery industry and improve the standards of living of the poor fishermen. It is also viewed that fishery cooperatives could spare from the exploitation and improve their socio-economic conditions. Efforts made in this direction have yielded goods results in some areas, but the overall picture of fishery cooperatives is not encouraging