Synthesis of Antibacterial Coating Using Chitosan, Polyethylene Glycol and Silver Nanoparticles and Investigation of Their Antibacterial Properties

Chitosan/ Polyethylene glycol and silver nanoparticles based antibacterial coating has been synthesized and applied to cotton cloth using sonochemical technique. In addition to the synthesis of nanoparticles using Pyrus seed extract (Green synthesis), Chitosan and PEG compound has also been used to develop the coating in this research. The coating obtained with this compound possesses good antibacterial properties and results. The study shows that the coated fabrics and silver nanoparticles show highly potent antibacterial activity towards gram negative and gram-positive bacteria. A comparison of coating with single and multiple components is studied; specifically, a comparison of pure chitosan and polyethylene glycol coating with their blend is studied. Agar plate test is performed against pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and the proposed process is helpful in healthcare industry and specified applications

Diagnostic Challenges in Prostate Cancer and 68Ga-PSMA PET Imaging: A Game Changer?

Creative Commons Attribution LicenseProstate cancer (PC) is the most frequent solid tumor in men and the third most common cause of cancer mortalityamong men in developed countries. Current imaging modalities like ultrasound (US), computerized tomography (CT),magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and choline based positron emission (PET) tracing have disappointing sensitivity fordetection of nodal metastasis and small tumor recurrence. This poses a diagnostic challenge in staging of intermediateto high risk PC and restaging of patients with biochemical recurrence (PSA \u3e0.2 ng/ml). Gallium-68 labeled prostatespecific membrane antigen (68Ga-PSMA) PET imaging has now emerged with a higher diagnostic yield. 68Ga-PSMAPET/CT or PET/MRI can be expected to offer a one-stop-shop for staging and restaging of PC. PSMA ligands labeledwith alpha and beta emitters have also shown promising therapeutic efficacy for nodal, bone and visceral metastasis.Therefore a PSMA based theranostics approach for detection, staging, treatment, and follow-up of PC would appearto be highly valuable to achieve personalized PC treatment

Dormant Account Reactivation at Al–Shajar Capital

The case study highlights the importance of finding a simple and cost effective solution to a core business problem. It elaborates the cost effective approach of Al-Shajar Capital’s Management in reactivating its dormant client base in order to capitalize the post Polling Stock Market rally. In order to analyze its dormant client base, Al-Shajar Capital remodeled the exercise as a capstone project and awarded it to final year MBA students of IoBM-CBM. The study used a modified form of Doreén Pick’s Customer win back model to reactivate customers’ accounts, not actively trading in the market. A five-week, non-scripted warm calling session was conducted, followed by a detailed report and formal presentation. Due to operational issues and human resource limitation, the exercise was conducted on weekends. The study was a success as not only it was able to revert and activate majority of dormant client accounts but also left a positive impression on many non-returning clients

Unsteady two-layered blood flow through a w-shape stenosed artery using the generalized oldroyd-b fluid model

A theoretical study of unsteady two-layered blood flow through a stenosed artery is presented in this article. The geometry of rigid stenosed artery is assumed to be w-shaped. The flow regime is assumed to be laminar, unsteady and uni-directional. The characteristics of blood are modeled by the generalized Oldroyd-B non-Newtonian fluid model in the core region and a Newtonian fluid in the periphery region. The governing partial differential are derived for each region by using mass and momentum conservation equations. In order to facilitate numerical solutions, the derived differential equations are non-dimensionalized. A well-tested explicit finite difference scheme (FDM) which is forward in time and central in space is employed for the solution of nonlinear initial-boundary value problem corresponding to each region. Validation of the FDM computations is achieved with a variational finite element method (FEM) algorithm. The influence of the emerging geometric and rheological parameters on axial velocity, resistance impedance and wall shear stress are displayed graphically. The instantaneous patterns of streamlines are also presented to illustrate the global behavior of blood flow. The simulations are relevant to hemodynamics of small blood vessels and capillary transport wherein rheological effects are dominant

Numerical simulation of time-dependent non-Newtonian nano-pharmacodynamic transport phenomena in a tapered overlapping stenosed artery

Nanofluids are becoming increasingly popular in novel hematological treatments and also advanced nanoscale biomedical devices. Motivated by recent developments in this area, a theoretical and numerical study is described for unsteady pulsatile flow, heat and mass transport through a tapered stenosed artery in the presence of nanoparticles. An appropriate geometric expression is employed to simulate the overlapping stenosed arterial segment. The Sisko non-Newtonian model is employed for hemodynamic rheology. Buongiorno’s formulation is employed to model nanoscale effects. The two-dimensional non-linear, coupled equations are simplified for the case of mild stenosis. An explicit forward time central space (FTCS) finite difference scheme is employed to obtain a numerical solution of these equations. Validation of the computations is achieved with another numerical method, namely the variational finite element method (FEM). The effects of various emerging rheological, nanoscale and thermofluid parameters on flow and heat/mass characteristics of blood are shown via several plots and discussed in detail. The circulating regions inside the flow field are also investigated through instantaneous patterns of streamlines. The work is relevant to nanopharmacological transport phenomena, a new and exciting area of modern medical fluid dynamics which integrates coupled diffusion, viscous flow and nanoscale drug delivery mechanisms

Association of Extradural Hematoma with Linear Skull Fracture: a Clinical Study of 79 Cases in a Teaching Institute

Objectives: To determine the frequency of extra dural hematoma in patients with linear skull fracture due to head injury.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Neurosurgery, Mardan Medical Complex, Mardan from June 2016 to May 2017. Patients of either gender with linear skull fracture and above 2 years of age were included in the study, while patients with bleeding disorder or on anti-coagulants and those presenting 72 hours after injury were excluded from the study. Patient’s demographic profile, type of injury, location of injury and CT findings were recorded and documented on pre designed proforma. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0Results: Out of 79 patients, 55 (70%) were male and 24 (30.3%) were female. Age ranged from 2 years to 60 years (mean 33 years ± 2.54 years). Among these patients the most common cause of head injury was road traffic accident in 44 (55%), followed by fall from height in 20 (25.3%) and assault in 10 (12.6%) of patients. The most commonly fractures skull bone was parietal in 38 (48%) of patients, followed by temporal bone in 21 (26.5%), frontal in 12 (15.1%), and occipital in 8 (10%) of patients. The frequency of extradural hematoma in linear skull fracture was 21 (26.5%).Conclusion: There is strong association of extradrual hematoma with linear skull fracture, therefore a fully conscious person having head injury with skull fracture should be highly suspected for intracranial hematoma

Electrochemical study of different membrane materials for the fabrication of stable, reproducible and reusable reference electrode

© 2020 Fabrication of stable, reproducible and reusable reference electrodes for low energy and high-temperature steam splitting is of great interest for hydrogen fuel production without anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emission. This study has been conducted for the detection of suitable material for the fabrication of novel reference electrode. In the present scenario, this research is designed to fabricate a novel nickel reference electrode by using operating conditions of eutectic molten hydroxide (NaOH-KOH, 49–51 mol%) at temperature 300 °C in an ion-conducting membrane of alumina and mullite tube. Afterwards, the designed nickel reference electrode has been examined for its reusability and stability by using electrochemical technique and cyclic voltammetry. Five scans of cyclic voltammetry are performed for both membrane fabricated reference electrode. A slight positive shift in oxidation peaks is observed for mullite membrane electrode (64 mV from scan 1 to 5). The stability measurements are noted by changing the scan rate between 50 and 150 mV s−1. Furthermore, the results show that the Ni/Ni(OH)2 reference electrode covered with a mullite membrane is stable and reusable at 300 °C temperature without any deterioration. The stability and reusability of prepared nickel reference electrode covered by mullite tube in the eutectic molten hydroxide were up to 9 days to carry out an electrochemical investigation, while for alumina tube reference electrode the stability and reliability were up to 3 days. The internal electrolytic material and ionic conductance can play an important role for future studies with this reference electrode along with optimisation of temperature and scan rate parameters

Role of Low-Dose Theophylline on Functional Improvement in Patients of Moderately Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Objective: To determine the frequency of functional improvement in patients of COPD receiving low-dose Theophylline. Study Design: Case series. Place and Duration of Study: Junior Leaders Academy Hospital, Shinkiari, Mansehra Pakistan, from Feb to Jul 2021. Methodology: Patients with a previous chronic obstructive pulmonary disease diagnosis with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stage 2/3, taking long-acting muscarinic antagonists were included in the study. In addition, patients were prescribed sustained released Theophylline 150mg daily and other previously prescribed medications. The assessment was done before the start of the study with the COPD assessment tool (CAT) questionnaire and followed up with monthly CAT scores. Results: There were 78(81.25%) males and 18 females (18.75%). An increase in the CAT score of more than 2 was a significant improvement. The most common baseline CAT score was 34.26±2.67 (range 0-40 with a higher score denoting a more severe impact of COPD) with a frequency of 16(16.7%). The least commonly occurring CAT score at baseline was 39 and 40(2.1%).The improvement in the CAT score was observed in 42 patients. Conclusion: Early and prompt treatment for COPD will reduce the outcomes by decreasing hospital admissions and better quality of life. This study reaffirms low-dose Theophylline as an add-on therapy in patients with moderately severe COPD

The provenance and tectonic settings of the greywacke member of the late neoproterozoic hazara formation lesser himalayas, northern pakistan: Evidence from geochemistry and petrography

The petrographic and geochemical analysis of the greywacke horizon of the late Neoproterozoic Hazara Formation from the Hazara Mountains has been investigated to determine the provenance, tectonic settings and weathering history of the sediments. The Late Neoproterozoic Hazara Formation is a thick sedimentary sequence comprising of greywacke, shale, argillites, siltstone, and limestone. The greywackes are characterized by fine to medium-grained, moderately sorted and sub-angular to sub-rounded framework grains. They are rich in quartz, lithic fragments and clay minerals. The petrographic investigation of the greywackes categorized them as feldspathic greywacke in the QFR diagram. The quartz content is higher in sandstone and may reach to 70%, which indicates a weathered felsic source. Chemical Index of Alteration values of greywacke suggests that the source region has experienced highly weathering conditions with a warm and moist climate. Various geochemical interpretations, elemental ratios like Th/Sc, La/Sc,Th/Cr, and positive Eu anomalies indicate that the greywackes of the Hazara formation derived from a felsic source and were deposited within an active continental margin tectonic settings. The main source area of the sediments of the greywackes was located to south to southeast, which may possibly be the Aravali orogeny, central Indian craton and Bundelkhand craton. Finally, the geochemical data of the major elements point to a felsic igneous provenance for the greywacke