Knowledge, attitude, and practice study among healthcare workers, during COVID-19 pandemic in an aspiring district of Uttar Pradesh

Background: COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) declared pandemic by WHO on 30th January 2020. Till date there is no antiviral treatment or vaccine has been developed for COVID-19. Primary preventive measures include regular hand washing, social distancing and respiratory etiquettes are only proven methods till date.Methods: A type of questionnaire based cross sectional study was conducted among the healthcare workers (HCWs) of Maharaja Suheldev Autonomous State Medical College, Bahraich.Results: In this predominantly uneducated and socially backward area, majority of participants had knowledge about COVID-19 precautionary measures and most of them are confident of winning over the disease; 77.5% were confident of successfully controlling the disease, yet maximum healthcare workers took seriously the precautionary measures.Conclusions: Good COVID-19 knowledge is associated with optimistic attitudes and appropriate practices towards COVID-19, suggesting that health education programs aimed at improving COVID-19 knowledge are helpful for encouraging an optimistic attitude and maintaining safe practices

Investigation on the Bio-degradability of the Starch Modified Polypropylene with the Help of Maleic Anhydride as a Coupling Agent

Polypropylene was modified with starch in 1/20 ratio by adding a coupling agent in the absence and presence of a compatiblizer so as to produce a modified polypropylene with the advantage of bio-degradability in lesser time as compare to normal time span of degradation. As polypropylene a hydrophobic material and starch a hydrophilic material, so maleic anhydride was used as a coupling agent and PVA used as a compatiblizer to produce proper formation of bond. For the proper inter-mixing of the polymers they were swollen by aromatic compound such as toluene at elevated temperature. The material produced was tested in IR spectroscopy, universal testing machine, water absorption test, soil burial test and scanning electron microscopy for the checking of proper inter-mixing, change in mechanical properties and to check the bio-degradability respectively

Dentists’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Hepatitis B, C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome In Northeast Part of Rajasthan

Introduction: Healthcare professionals including surgeons, dentists and paramedical personnel’s belong to high risk group of transmitting blood borne pathogens. Keeping this in view a study was proposed to assess the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) of dental professionals towards different viral diseases in northeast part of Rajasthan. Materials and Method: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted among 500 randomly selected dentists in Jaipur district. Questions regarding KAP of hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV) and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) / Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were included in the questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done through SPSS Ver. 20.0. software using chi-square test, independent t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to evaluate the differences between parameters. Results: The result indicates that the majority of the study subjects (60%) were female. The mean (+Standard Deviation) for age and work experience was 35.5+8.85 and 5.6+8.76 respectively. The mean value of KAP was 38.4+3.23, 21.5+4.34 and 23.05+5.67 respectively. It was observed that knowledge regarding HBV, HCV and HIV/AIDS was statistically significant with work experience (>10 Years; p<0.001), year of graduation (after 2006; p<0.001). Attitude of study subjects for HBV, HCV and HIV/AIDS was significantly inclined by age group (< 30 years: P = 0.011), work experience (≥10 years: P < 0.001), and place of work (dental clinic: P = 0.013). Conclusions: The observations of the study highlighted a reasonable level of knowledge and attitude of dental practitioners for HBV, HCV and HIV/AIDS infections. However there is a need of improvement in the knowledge level which can alter their attitude and practice towards patients with HBV, HCV and HIV/AIDS infection

Efficacy of Pre-Operative Submucosal Injection of Dexamethasone in Mandibular Third Molar Surgery: A Randomized Control Trial

INTRODUCTION: Surgical extraction of third molar irrespective of any technique results in postoperative pain, swelling of face and limited mouth opening. The aim of the present study was to assess and compare the effects of Dexamethasone (4mg) administered prior to surgery.MATERIALS AND METHOD: A randomized control trial was conducted which included a total of fifty patients. All the patients were randomly put in two groups of twenty five each. Group I patients underwent transalveolar extraction of third molar under local anesthesia and standard oral drug regime. Group II patients received an additional submucosal injection of dexamethasone 4 mg, thirty minutes prior administration of local anaesthesia. Pain, swelling and mouth opening was recorded on second, seventh and tenth post-operative days after surgery.RESULTS: The difference in pain scores on second post-operative day between two groups were found statistically non-significant. However, there was significant reduction in pain scores on seventh and tenth day in both groups. Mouth opening showed statistically significant difference between the two groups.CONCLUSION: The observations of the present study provide a fundamental basis for the use of corticosteroids such as dexamethasone sodium phosphate in the form of submucosal administration in lower than usual doses to decrease postoperative inflammation when compare to other routes of drug administration

Role of third phase in intensification of reaction rates and selectivity: phase-transfer catalyzed synthesis of benzyl phenyl ether

In the current work, the merits of the creation of a third phase in a typical biphasic reaction have been illustrated. The advantages of liquid−liquid−liquid phase-transfer catalysis (L−L−L PTC) have been brought out over liquid−liquid phase-transfer catalysis (L−L PTC) by considering the etherification of phenol by benzyl chloride to benzyl phenyl ether. L−L−L PTC is a novel strategy for waste reduction and improving profitability, in which a catalyst-rich middle phase is formed between the other two phases, wherein the main reaction takes place and intensifies the rates of reaction as well as offers better selectivity including catalyst reusability, unlike in the L−L PTC. The etherification of phenol with benzyl chloride under L−L PTC is accompanied by side reactions that lower the selectivity, and the catalyst cannot be recovered but wasted as an effluent, causing a load on the environment. However, the transformation of L−L PTC into L−L−L PTC leads to 100% conversion of the limiting reactant benzyl chloride with 100% selectivity to benzyl phenyl ether. The catalyst-rich phase is recovered and reused to some extent. This also helps in waste minimization, which is a major theme of green chemistry. The current work deals with the effects of different kinetic and processes parameters on enhancement in rates and selectivities in L−L−L PTC over L−L PTC. A mathematical model is also developed

Engineering selectivity in novel synthesis of 3-(phenylmethoxy)phenol from resorcinol and benzyl chloride under liquid–liquid−liquid phase transfer catalysis

Monobenzyl ether of resorcinol, namely, 3-(phenylmethoxy)phenol is used as an intermediate for the synthesis of various chemically and biologically active molecules. The synthesis of 3-(phenylmethoxy)phenol can be accomplished by using phase transfer catalysis (PTC), either as liquid–liquid (L−L) or solid–liquid (S−L) PTC. Creation of a third phase in a biphasic reaction leads to several advantages in this type of reaction. A catalyst rich middle phase is formed between the other two phases wherein the main reaction takes place in the liquid–liquid−liquid (L−L−L) PTC and this offers a number of advantages over L−L PTC in terms of intensification of rate, higher selectivity and the possibility to reuse the catalyst. It is an excellent way for waste reduction and improving profitability. The catalyst rich phase is recovered and reused to up to six times with little impact to reactivity. This also helps in waste minimization which is a major theme of Green Chemistry. In the current work, synthesis of 3-(phenylmethoxy)phenol was accomplished by the reaction of resorcinol with benzyl chloride using tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) under liquid–liquid−liquid phase transfer catalysis (L−L−L PTC) at 90 °C. The studies cover the effects of various kinetic and process parameters which lead to enhancement in rates and selectivities. A theoretical model was developed and validated against experimental data. It follows zero-order kinetics in the mono-O-benzylation of resorcinol. There is 100% selectivity for 3-(phenylmethoxy)phenol with no discernible amount of bis-alkylated product detectable. O-Alkylation of hydroquinone and catechol were also studied using the same technique to realise the same high selectivity. The order of reactivity and apparent activation energy is as follows: hydroquinone > resorcinol> catechol

Liquid–liquid–liquid phase-transfer catalysis for cleaner and selective etherification of p-hydroxy-biphenyl with benzyl chloride to 1,1′-biphenyl-4-(phenylmethoxy)

Conversion of bi-liquid phase transfer catalysis (PTC) into a tri-liquid PTC system presents several advantages in terms of enhancement of reaction rates and selectivity. These improvements lead to a minimization of waste, reduction in reactor volume and processing times by orders of magnitude in comparison with a liquid–liquid PTC process. The O-alkylation (etherification) of 4-hydroxybiphenyl with benzyl chloride to 1,1′-biphenyl-4-(phenylmethoxy) was carried out under L-L-L PTC system with 100% selectivity at 50°C. The resulting product is commercially used in fine chemical industry and to produce novel materials. The catalyst-rich third phase can be recycled many times, thereby leading to profitability and waste minimization. A reaction mechanism and kinetic model are developed and validated against experimental data, which include the effect of different variables on reaction rates and selectivity

Selective acylation of 1,3-dibenzyloxybenzene to 3,5-dibenzyloxyacetophenone over cesium modified dodecatungstophosphoric acid (DTP) on clay

The Friedel-Crafts of acylation of aromatic ethers in liquid phase using solid acids is quite challenging, due to problems of deactivation. The ubiquitously used zeolites have several limitations since bulky aromatic ethers are known to deactivate them rapidly. Acylated aromatic ethers are used in a variety of industries such as pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals, perfumes and agrochemicals. In the current work, 1,3-dibenzyloxybenzene was acylated with acetic anhydride using several solid superacids to get 3,5-dibenzyloxyacetophenone, which is a very important precursor for the production of drugs for treatment of various diseases and disorders. The activities of 20% (w/w) Cs2.5H0.5PW12O40/K-10 clay, sulfated zirconia, UDCaT-5, Amberlyst-36 and Indion-130 were studied. 20% (w/w) Cs2.5H0.5PW12O40/K-10 clay was the most selective. A systematic study was undertaken to understand the reaction mechanism and catalyst functioning with Cs2.5H0.5PW12O40/K-10. The catalyst gets deactivated slowly over repeated use and this was studied independently. The adsorption of reactants and products was studied from pure component solutions and mixtures. The experimental data so generated were used to develop a model, incorporating deactivation. The model fits the experimental data very well. Further insight is provided using the model to avoid deactivation by proper selection of process parameters to get 100% selectivity

Selective engineering in O-alkylation of m-cresol with benzyl chloride using liquid–liquid–liquid phase transfer catalysis

Selective O-alkylation or etherification of phenolic substances is attractive to make pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. Liquid–liquid phase transfer catalysis (L–L PTC) is used to make such ethers but it always leads to byproduct formation and wastage of catalyst. On the contrary, liquid–liquid–liquid (L–L–L) PTC is an excellent strategy for waste reduction and improving profitability, in which a catalyst-rich middle (or third) phase is formed between aqueous and organic phases. The reaction takes place in the middle phase, which intensifies the rates and offers better selectivity including catalyst reusability unlike the bi-liquid PTC. Selective O-benzylation of m-cresol was studied with benzyl chloride by using L–L–L PTC at 50 °C. It gives 100% selectivity to 3-benzyloxytoluene. The catalyst-rich third phase was recycled many times, thereby leading to profitability and waste minimization. A kinetic model is developed and validated against experimental data. The reaction follows a pseudo-first order rate law. The studies were also extended to the benzylation of o- and p-cresol. The energy of activation for the benzylation of o-, m- and p-cresols were found to be 12.84, 10.00 and 12.12 kcal/mol, respectively. The results are novel