11 research outputs found

    Facilitators and barriers to the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine precaution dose among adult population: qualitative analysis across six different states of India

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    IntroductionIndia launched the COVID-19 vaccination drive on 16th January 2021 by vaccinating the adult population above 18 years of age. This was followed by the introduction of an additional precaution dose. As on 18th October 2022, 1,02,66,96,808 (1.02 Billion) first dose and 94, 95, 39,516 (949 Million) second doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered. However, when compared to the uptake of the primary doses, the precaution dose uptake lagged behind with only 21,75, 12,721 (217 million) doses administered. Even though, the uptake of the primary doses remained optimal, irrespective of different interventions by the Government of India, the uptake of the precaution dose remained poor. In this context, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare wanted to understand the facilitators and Barriers for precaution dose uptake among adults so that future immunization campaigns could address these issues.MethodsAn exploratory qualitative study was conducted to assess the facilitators and barriers for COVID-19 precaution dose uptake at community level across 6 different states in India. From each of the states, two districts with the highest and lowest rates of COVID-19 vaccine precaution dose uptake were selected. In each of these districts, 2 block Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), one with high and one with low uptake were identified. Within these block PHCs, a PHC field area with high and low precaution dose uptakes was identified. From the identified sites a minimum of four IDIs, four FGDs were conducted among the community members. KIIs of the State Immunization Officers, District Immunisation Officers, PHC Medical Officers, healthcare workers like Accredited Social Health Activist/Auxiliary Nurse Midwife were also conducted. The data was audio recorded and it was transcribed, translated and analysed using framework approach.ResultsIt was observed that rise in COVID-19 cases prompted the community to take the precaution dose, this along with the cost of hospitalization and the number of productive days being lost as a result of being infected resulted in vaccine uptake. The fear of non-availability of COVID-19 vaccines latter on also prompted people for vaccine uptake. While the barriers were, poor accessibility to vaccination centers, long hours of travel, poor road connectivity and lack of transportation facilities. However, the most prominent barriers observed across all study sites was that a sense of pandemic fatigue and complacency had developed both among the providers as well as the beneficiaries. Other barriers include differences in vaccination schedules and longer duration between the primary doses of some vaccines. Media was identified to be both a barrier and facilitator for Covid-19 Precaution dose uptake. Even though media played an important role in disseminating information in the beginning of the campaign, it was soon followed by the circulation of both misinformation and disinformation.DiscussionThe study identified that dissemination of accurate information and community involvement at each stage of planning and implementation are crucial for the success of any campaign. Efforts should be constantly made to address and re-invent strategies that will be most suitable for the needs of the community. Therefore, in order to ensure successful vaccination campaigns, it is crucial that along with political will it is also important to have a decentralized approach with inter-sectoral coordination with different stakeholders such as healthcare workers, community members and the different departments such as the local self-governments, education department, law & order department etc. These lessons learnt from COVID-19 vaccination campaigns must not be forgotten and must be applied in future vaccination campaigns and while framing public health policies

    Preparation and characterization of macroporous SiC ceramic membrane for treatment of waste water

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    Porous SiC based materials present high mechanical, chemical and thermal robustness and thus have been largely applied to water-filtration technologies. In this study, circular disc shaped SiC microfiltration membranes were prepared by dry pressing of commercially available SiC powder with yttria and alumina as additives followed by a low-cost oxide bonding technique. The membranes fabricated were characterized using standard characterization techniques like Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), porosity and pore size distribution analysis and compared with the membrane prepared by liquid phase sintering route from the same powder composition. Finally, water permeation studies were carried out in a standard membrane module and clean water flux was determined. These membranes were found well suited for treatment of oily waste water and grey water. The membrane prepared by oxide bonding method effectively removed similar to 89-93% of COD, similar to 77-86% of oil/grease and 88.4-92% of TSS from kitchen waste water and the removal efficiency are better compared to the membrane prepared by liquid phase sintering method. The effects of corrosions on the membranes were investigated in strong acid and alkali solution at 90 A degrees C. The membranes prepared by oxide bonding method showed better corrosion resistance with retention of mechanical strength

    Severe wear behaviour of alumina balls sliding against diamond ceramic coatings

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    At present alumina is the most widely used bio-ceramic material for implants. However, diamond surface offers very good solid lubricant for different machinery, equipment including biomedical implants (hip implants, knee implants, etc.), since the coefficient of friction (COF) of diamond is lower than alumina. In this tribological study, alumina ball was chosen as the counter body material to show better performance of the polycrystalline diamond (PCD) coatings in biomedical load-bearing applications. Wear and friction data were recorded for microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition (MWCVD) grown PCD coatings of four different types, out of which two samples were as-deposited coatings, one was chemo-mechanically polished and the other diamond sample was made free standing by wet-chemical etching of the silicon wafer. The coefficient of friction of the MWCVD grown PCD against Al2O3 ball under dry ambient condition was found in the range of 0.29-0.7, but in the presence of simulated body fluid, the COF reduces significantly, in the range of 0.03-0.36. The samples were then characterized by Raman spectroscopy for their quality, by coherence scanning profilometer for surface roughness and by electron microscopy for their microstructural properties. Alumina balls worn out (14.2 x 10(-1) mm(3)) very rapidly with zero wear for diamond ceramic coatings. Since the generation of wear particle is the main problem for load-bearing prosthetic joints, it was concluded that the PCD material can potentially replace existing alumina bio-ceramic for their better tribological properties

    Water desalination using graphene oxide-embedded paper microfluidics

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    The need for the removal of salt constituents is very critical in several downstream processes of biological materials and saltwater purification. Substantial efforts to drive low cost-effective techniques for desalination are ongoing, and it is hopeful that novel nanomaterials could provide useful insight to a new paradigm in salt capturing both in biogenic fluids and complex solutions like seawater. In this report, we demonstrate a microfluidic proof-of-concept for a desalination system, in which graphene oxide deposited on the paper substrate was used to remove salt-ion concentration. Our investigation suggests that the optimal modification of paper with the five-time deposition of graphene oxide (paper@5GO) shows the best salt removal performance with the salt-rejection efficiency of ~ 97.0%. The salt rejection occurs by the phenomenon of surface adsorption on the GO-modified paper membrane which is confirmed by the detailed analytical studies of pre- and post-treatment. The system presented does not require additional energy input in the process and thus would become cost-effective and scalable with high salt removal efficiency which may be useful in bioanalysis and saltwater purification for sustainable development

    A Rare Case of Proliferative Glomerulonephritis with Monoclonal IgG Deposits in an Adolescent Female; Mimicking Immune Complex Glomerulonephritis

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    Proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG deposits (PGNMID) is a rare renal disease under the spectrum of monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS). Majority of the cases have been diagnosed in adult population, especially after the age of 40 years. We report a rare case of PGNMID in a 16 years old female, presented with nephrotic syndrome and active urine sediment. She had normal serum creatinine, low C3 and negative infective and autoimmune markers. Renal biopsy revealed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) with monoclonal IgG3 kappa deposits. Our adolescent patient was treated with standard antiproteinuric therapy and steroid. Though C3 became normal on follow up, but proteinuria was increased and rituximab was added. Our case emphasizes the awareness by nephrologist and renal pathologist about this rare disorder even in adolescent population for accurate diagnosis, prognostication and treatment
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