A real-world retrospective evaluation of glycaemic control and weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with canagliflozin 100 mg and canagliflozin 300 mg in an Indian setting

Background. Canagliflozin is a sodium glucose co- -transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor that improves glycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by enhancing urinary glucose excretion (UGE). Indian data regarding comparative efficacy of canagliflozin 300 mg over canagliflozin 100 mg in reduction of body weight are scanty. Objectives. To evaluate and compare the efficacy of canagliflozin 100 mg versus canagliflozin 300 mg regarding loss of body weight retrospectively, in patients with T2DM inadequately controlled with other antihypergycaemic agents (AHA) in a real world setting in India. Methods. T2DM patients inadequately controlled (HbA1c > 8.5%) with diet, exercise and AHA who were prescribed canagliflozin 100 mg (n = 62) or canagliflozin 300 mg (n = 36) once daily, between May 2016 to May 2019 and were followed for at least 20 weeks, are included in the analysis. Changes in blood pressure and glycaemic parameters and body weight are studied. Results. Results show that addition of canagliflozin 100 and 300 mg provided statistically significant improvements in glycaemic control associated with weight loss. However no superiority of canagliflozin 300 mg to canagliflozin 100 mg is established. Conclusion. The present study shows that addition of canagliflozin 300 mg has no advantage over canagliflozin 100 mg on body weight when added on existing therapy with other AHA

Forecasting Hourly Prices in Indian Spot Electricity Market

In this paper, an attempt has been made to forecast the hourly electricity spot prices in India as this is very important for the bidders in the energy exchange for participating in the day-ahead market. Forecasting high frequency data is a challenging task. In forecasting, different variants of ARMA, ARMA-GARCH models are applied in different contexts, but no unequivocal dominance of a particular model exists. In this paper, based on hourly data for several years for all the regions in India, several variants of ARMAX models are estimated, by combining static and dynamic forecasts. Along with ARMA, intra-day, inter-day and hourly variations in prices as well as seasonalities on weekdays, holidays and festive days are incorporated. ARMAX models in this context performed quite well for forecasting horizons of hourly prices of upto 5 days. Interestingly, the ARMAX models provide reasonably good forecasts for day-ahead-market and the simple structure can be quite easily implemented. Such forecasts are not only essential for the players in the spot market, but also provides insights for policymakers as it reveals several aspects of Indian electricity market including the different dimensions of seasonality in demand

Perceived stress among undergraduate medical students and its association with learning strategies and academic performance in Medical College Kolkata, India

Background: Stress is an inevitable and important part of being a medical student. Present study explores perceived stress among undergraduate medical students and the correlation of stress with learning strategies and academic performance.Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at Medical College Kolkata, India. The target population was undergraduate medical students from phase II and III. Participants’ learning strategies was measured using the modified Approaches to Learning Medicine (mALM) questionnaire. The stress level of the students was determined by Perceived stress Scale (PSS 10). Academic performance was measured in terms of percentages scored in the last MBBS examination. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for categorical variables and measures of central tendency and dispersion was calculated for continuous variables. Differences of mean were tested by independent samples t-test. Correlation was tested by Pearson correlation test.Results: There were 136 students enrolled in the study; and 129 (94.8%) students scored above 60% in their last MBBS examination. Mean PSS score of the participants was 19.4± 4.17. One hundred and twenty-three (90.4%) students were found to have moderate stress. Deep learning approach was significantly more for MBBS Phase III students (p=0.003). However, perceived stress had no significant correlation with either learning strategy (p=0.916) or academic performance of students (p=0.309).Conclusion: Perceived stress was found to be high among undergraduate medical students in the present study. However, any particular learning style or academic performance was not found to be associated with stress

Retrospektywna ocena kontroli glikemii i redukcji masy ciała u chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 leczonych kanagliflozyną w dawkach 100 mg i 300 mg w warunkach rzeczywistej praktyki klinicznej w Indiach

WSTĘP: Kanagliflozyna jest inhibitorem kotransportera sodowo-glukozowego typu 2 (SGLT2), który zmniejsza glikemię u chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 poprzez zwiększenie wydalania glukozy z moczem. Dostępnych jest niewiele pochodzących z Indii danych dotyczących porównania skuteczności dawek 300 mg i 100 mg kanagliflozyny pod względem redukcji masy ciała. CEL BADANIA: Badanie miało na celu retrospektywną ocenę i porównanie skuteczności dawek 300 mg i 100 mg kanagliflozyny pod względem redukcji masy ciała u chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 niedostatecznie kontrolowaną za pomocą innych leków przeciwcukrzycowych w warunkach rzeczywistej praktyki klinicznej w Indiach. MATERIAŁ I METODY: Analizą objęto chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 niedostatecznie kontrolowaną (odsetek HbA1c > 8,5%) za pomocą diety, wysiłku fizycznego i leków przeciwcukrzycowych, którym w okresie od maja 2016 do maja 2019 roku przepisano kanagliflozynę w dawce 100 mg (n = 62) lub 300 mg (n = 36) raz na dobę, a następnie obserwowano ich przez co najmniej 20 tygodni. Oceniano zmiany ciśnienia tętniczego, parametrów glikemii i masy ciała. WYNIKI: Uzyskane wyniki wskazują, że dołączenie kanagliflozyny w dawce 100 lub 300 mg spowodowało statystycznie istotną poprawę kontroli glikemii, wiążącą się ze zmniejszeniem masy ciała. Nie wykazano jednak przewagi dawki 300 mg nad dawką 100 mg. Wniosek. Obecne badanie wskazuje, że dołączenie kanagliflozyny w dawce 300 mg do innych leków przeciwcukrzycowych nie ma przewagi nad dawką 100 mg pod względem wpływu na masę ciała

Comparative study on thermal cyclic resistance of glass-ceramic-bonded TBC system and conventional TBC system

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) are provided to protect the metallic parts of gas turbines from high inlet temperature. In the present study, two types of TBCs, namely conventional TBC having NiCoCrAlY bond coat, 8-YSZ top coat and a new TBC with glass-ceramic bond coat keeping the top coat same, were considered to investigate their thermal cyclic resistance at 1000celcius for 500 cycles. Assessment of weight change, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis were performed for both TBCs after thermal cycling. Weight change measurement indicated that oxidative weight gain dominated over the coating spallation in case of conventional TBCs. On the contrary, oxidative weight gain could not considerably govern over coating spallation for glass-ceramic bond-coated TBCs. Furthermore, thermally grown oxide (TGO) layer was not observed at the bond coat-top coat interface of glass-ceramic bond-coated TBC system whereas the same was observed clearly at the interfacial region of bond coat and top coat of conventional TBC system after completion of 500 cycles at 1000 degrees C

Understanding Successful Transfers of Rapid-Composting Technology Using Qualitative Content Analysis for Interpretation

956-965This study focuses on the transfer of technology of rapid composting of bio-waste from a Public-funded Mission-oriented Research Organization (PMRO) in India. The PMRO is engaged in developing nuclear power technologies, and applications of nuclear technologies to non-power areas such as agriculture, bioscience, health care, and industry. It also develops technologies for applications in many areas including electronics, computers, LASERs, and accelerators. The organisation encourages the transfer of spin-off technologies for commercialization as well as for scaling up under incubation on a non-exclusive basis. The technology under study has attracted a large clientele of over 50 transferee firms in 5 years. This paper explores motivations behind a large clientele. While academic literature substantially covers the technology transfers from universities, the PMROs, especially those in emerging economies have not received much attention from academics. This paper inter alia addresses this gap. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the actors namely scientists, tech-transfer managers, and executives of transferee firms. Qualitative content analysis was carried out to arrive at the success-enabling factors, success-inhibiting factors, unique processes, and special roles of actors. Also, the paper brings out the strength of qualitative content analysis as a concept interpretation method in case study research. The paper highlights the synergistic interactions between the industry and the laboratory and provides useful tips for scientists, Tech-transfer Managers, and executives of transferee firms for making success in tech-transfers of societal and environmental technologies

Improvement of knowledge following diabetes self-management education with respect to socioeconomic status: A retrospective cohort study among type 2 diabetes in Eastern India

Introduction: We assessed the baseline knowledge and the improvement and retention of knowledge after attending diabetes self-management education (DSME) programs with respect to different socioeconomic status (SES). We also looked into the change in body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and glycemic parameters after attending the DSME sessions. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, cohort study carried out via chart review based on data collected from manual or electronic medical records (EMR) and questionnaire responses of 160 adult patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who attended two DSME sessions with a gap of at least six months. Results: Baseline knowledge on diabetes was uniform (P = 0.06), irrespective of differences in SES, and DSME sessions significantly improved the knowledge in all socioeconomic classes (P value < 0.05 in each SES group). However, SES did have a significant influence on the finally acquired knowledge of diabetes as was evident from the final score after attending two DSME sessions. A significant number of patients (48.1%) from our cohort either improved or retained their knowledge of diabetes over a mean follow-up of 15.5 months. The BMI of our cohort was significantly reduced from baseline to final follow-up (P = 0.016). Conclusion: DSME sessions were effective in improving knowledge and awareness among T2D patients, irrespective of socioeconomic classes in Eastern India. The acquired knowledge from DSME sessions was retained over a long time

Non lithographic block copolymer directed self-assembled and plasma treated self-cleaning transparent coating for photovoltaic modules and other solar energy devices

Through a combination of sol-gel based self-assembly and plasma based approach we have developed highly transparent, self-ordered, superhydrophilic and photoactive TiO2 thin film coatings. TiO2 sol used for such coatings comprises a block copolymer which functions as a structure directing agent. This structure directing agent aid to formation of regular pores in the TiO2 thin film, thereby, remarkably reducing the refractive index values (similar to 1.31) and enhancing the transparency (4% antireflection gain) of the coatings. Further, such porous TiO2 coatings show an excellent ability to photo-decompose organic pollutants, due to the photocatalytic ability of such metal oxide semiconductor. Enhancement in the photocatalytic activity has been obtained by porous surface created using a block copolymer and shifting the band gap energy by incorporating nitrogen so as to utilize part of the visible region of the solar spectrum for photocatalysis. An optimum condition is achieved by varying the RF self-bias potential and time of plasma treatment. Nitrogen plasma treatment, in addition to enhancing the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 is also found to enhance the mechanical stability and hydrophilicity, without hampering the optical transmission of coatings. Such coatings are also found to exhibit superhydrophilicity with water contact angle (WCA) < degrees 5 under optimized condition. Thus, the coatings developed, qualify as a suitable candidate to be applied on solar PV panel and other energy devices. Treatment with nitrogen plasma extends the photocatalytic activity towards visible region of the spectrum and also ensures the mechanical stability of the otherwise porous network