Iso-conversional study of crystallization activation energy of amorphous-crystallization transformation for Se79Te20Pb1 glass using non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry technique

135-140The ternary Se79Te20Pb1 chalcogenide glass is prepared using melt quenching technique. Differential scanning calorimetry technique (DSC) is used to investigate the kinetics of crystallization of amorphous-crystallization (a-c) phase transformation under non-isothermal conditions at three different heating rates; 5, 10 and 15° C min-1. The variation of crystallized activation energy (Ec) with crystallized fraction (ϰ) and hence, with temperature (T) is investigated using five iso-conversional methods namely KAS, OFW, Friedman, Tang and Chen and Starink. It is found that Ec is not constant but vary with ϰ as well as T. Thus, the iso-conversional analysis of investigated glass indicates that the assumption of constant Ec is not appropriate

Should Sputum Smear Examination Be Carried Out at the End of the Intensive Phase and End of Treatment in Sputum Smear Negative Pulmonary TB Patients?

The Indian guidelines on following up sputum smear-negative Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients differ from the current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines in that the former recommends two follow up sputum examinations (once at the end of intensive phase and the other at the end of treatment) while the latter recommends only one follow up sputum smear microscopy examination, which is done at the end of the intensive phase. This study was conducted to examine if there was any added value in performing an additional sputum smear examination at the end of treatment within the context of a national TB program

Iso-conversional study of crystallization activation energy of amorphous-crystallization transformation for Se79Te20Pb1 glass using non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry technique

The ternary Se79Te20Pb1 chalcogenide glass is prepared using melt quenching technique. Differential scanning calorimetry technique (DSC) is used to investigate the kinetics of crystallization of amorphous-crystallization (a-c) phase transformation under non-isothermal conditions at three different heating rates; 5, 10 and 15° C min-1. The variation of crystallized activation energy (Ec) with crystallized fraction (ϰ) and hence, with temperature (T) is investigated using five iso-conversional methods namely KAS, OFW, Friedman, Tang and Chen and Starink. It is found that Ec is not constant but vary with ϰ as well as T. Thus, the iso-conversional analysis of investigated glass indicates that the assumption of constant Ec is not appropriat

A systematic review on materials, design, and manufacturing of swabs

From simple cleaning to metagenomic studies and now the detection of the SARS-2 virus, swabs are absorbent pads with handles that hold significant promise in several applications and properties. Furthermore, the swab is now used for a wide range of medical purposes, such as the collection of bacteria and other pathogens such as influenza and H1N1. Various designs and materials used for the tip have led to a wide range of applications. In this review, we discuss the characteristics of essential tip materials such as rayon, polyester, nylon, and polyurethane in the context of specimen collection from various substrates. Further, this article reviews swab manufacturing techniques, including injection molding and calendar roll pressing, among others. In recent years, advances in additive manufacturing technology have made it possible to produce swabs in a fast and efficient manner. Furthermore, the design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) is given for the production of swabs. We also examine how 3-D printing of bio-resin swabs has revolutionized the manufacturing process, making it autonomous, quicker, more efficient, and environmentally friendly. Additionally, a shortage of medical devices for testing the SARS-2 virus has zealously motivated the medical industry to revolutionize through additive manufacturing of swabs, thus revolutionizing the medical industry. In conclusion, the limitations of the current techniques and future directions for swabs are discussed

In vivo efficacy of natural essential oil of Syzygium aromaticum L. bud for protecting the Pisum sativum L. seeds

The mycological investigations on sixty samples of stored garden pea food seeds revealed presence of twelve and ten species of fungi by blotter and agar plate techniques respectively. The fungal species were associated with genera viz., Alternaria, Aspergillus, Botrytis, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Fusarium, Penicillium and Rhizopus. The fungal species viz., Cladosporium herbarum (Pers.) Link and Penicillium italicum Wehmer did not show its appearance in agar plate method. It showed dominance of Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ochraceous, Aspergillus terreus in blotter method in comparison to agar plating. Aspergillus tmarii, P. italicum and Rhizopus stolonifer did not grow on sterilized seeds in Blotter method. Pathogenicity tests of dominant fungi caused biodeterioration in garden pea seeds. The antifungal testing of essential oils revealed Syzygium aromaticum L. bud oil to be fungitoxic at 500 ppm (0.025 mL). The minimum inhibitory concentration of the S. aromaticum oil was found to be 300 ppm against four fungi viz., A. flavus, A. niger, A. ochraceous and A. terreus. At this concentration the oil was found to be fungicidal and thermostable. The oil activity was not affected by physical factors and showed broad spectrum. In vivo study depicted that clove oil was more effective in comparison to EDCT. It controlled a maximum of 4 fungi while the clove oil showed no growth of fungi even after 6 months storage

The role of CDC48 in the retro-translocation of non-ubiquitinated toxin substrates in plant cells

When the catalytic A subunits of the castor bean toxins ricin and Ricinus communis agglutinin (denoted as RTA and RCA A, respectively) are delivered into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of tobacco protoplasts, they become substrates for ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD). As such, these orphan polypeptides are retro-translocated to the cytosol, where a significant proportion of each protein is degraded by proteasomes. Here we begin to characterise the ERAD pathway in plant cells, showing that retro-translocation of these lysine-deficient glycoproteins requires the ATPase activity of cytosolic CDC48. Lysine polyubiquitination is not obligatory for this step. We also show that while RCA A is found in a mannose-untrimmed form prior to its retro-translocation, a significant proportion of newly synthesised RTA cycles via the Golgi and becomes modified by downstream glycosylation enzymes. Despite these differences, both proteins are similarly retro-translocated

Missing Clinical Information in NHS hospital outpatient clinics: prevalence, causes and effects on patient care

In Britain over 39,000 reports were received by the National Patient Safety Agency relating to failures in documentation in 2007 and the UK Health Services Journal estimated in 2008 that over a million hospital outpatient visits each year might take place without the full record available. Despite these high numbers, the impact of missing clinical information has not been investigated for hospital outpatients in the UK.Studies in primary care in the USA have found 13.6% of patient consultations have missing clinical information, with this adversely affecting care in about half of cases, and in Australia 1.8% of medical errors were found to be due to the unavailability of clinical information.Our objectives were to assess the frequency, nature and potential impact on patient care of missing clinical information in NHS hospital outpatients and to assess the principal causes. This is the first study to present such figures for the UK and the first to look at how clinicians respond, including the associated impact on patient care

Genetic variants in a sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter gene and age-related cataract.

BACKGROUND: Cataract is a major health burden in many countries and a significant problem in India. While observational studies show lower cataract risk with increasing dietary or plasma vitamin C, randomised controlled trials of supplements have been negative. Genetic variants in vitamin C transporter proteins (SLC23A1), especially rs33972313, may provide evidence on a causal association of vitamin C with cataract. METHODS: We used data from a randomly selected population-based study in people aged 60 years and above in north and south India. Of 7518 sampled, 5428 (72%) were interviewed for socioeconomic and lifestyle factors, attended hospital for lens imaging and blood collection and were subsequently genotyped for rs33972313 and rs6596473. Mixed or pure types of cataract were graded by the Lens Opacity Classification System III as nuclear (2404), cortical (494) or posterior subcapsular cataract (PSC) (1026); 1462 had no significant cataract and no history of cataract surgery and 775 had bilateral aphakia/pseudophakia. RESULTS: rs33972313 was associated with cortical (OR 2.16; 95% CI 1.34 to 3.49, p=0.002) and PSC (OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.06 to 2.65, p=0.03) but not with nuclear cataract. In analyses of pure cataracts, associations were found only between rs33972313 and pure cortical cataracts (OR 2.29; 95% CI 1.12 to 4.65, p=0.03) and with a standardised cortical opacity score. There was no association with rs6596473 and any cataract outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Using an established genetic variant as a proxy for lifetime ascorbate concentrations, our results support a causal association of vitamin C with cataract