The main focused aim of developing new processing and manufacturing technologies are to reduce production or manufacturing costs, processing times, and to enhance manufactured product properties. The ...developed processing techniques should be widely acceptable for all types of materials including metal matrix composites, ceramics, alloys, and fiber reinforced plastics. Microwave materials processing is emerging as a novel processing technology which is applicable to a wide variety of materials system including processing of MMC, FRP, alloys, ceramics, metals, powder metallurgy, material joining, coatings, and claddings. In comparison to the conventional processes, microwave processing of materials offers better mechanical properties with reduced defects and economical advantages in terms of power and time savings. The present review work focuses mainly on global developments taking place in the field of microwave processing of materials and their relevant industrial applications.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
•Study analyzed chipping volume occurred during rotary ultrasonic drilling.•Investigation on tool wear takes place at three drilling stages.•A novel coordinate measuring machine is used to quantify ...the chipping volume.•The mathematical volume of chipping is expressed as Vc=πtc13(rc2+rc.Rc+Rc2)-rc2.•Best parametric combination is obtained to achieve the least chipping volume.
Float glass’s utility is emerging continuously; major application of float glass is in solar panel and architecture glass. However, the researchers are still bearing drilling problems i.e. chipping near hole’s exit corner and tool wear. Therefore, this study has carried out a designed experimental investigation while drilling float glass by Rotary ultrasonic machining (RUM) process. The authors have made an attempt to estimate the relationship between selected machining parameters i.e. feed rate, vibration amplitude and tool diameter with the chipping amount at hole exit. The core objective is to reduce the chipping by optimizing the opted machining factors. The novelty of this work is a measurement of chipping using coordinate measuring machine (CMM). It is revealed that the least volume of chipping is estimated as 3.81 mm3. The best parametric combination to obtain the least amount of chipping volume is considered as the first level of feed rate (F1), the third level of vibration amplitude (A1) and the first level of tool diameter (TD1). This study investigates the tool wear occurs at three different drilling stages. Tool (6 mm diameter) has carried out least amount of weight loss i.e. 4.78%. The tool which contains the least surface area (integrated lateral and end face) in contact with the workpiece sample has created minimum weight loss.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
, also known as the "tree of life" or "miracle tree," is classified as an important herbal plant due to its immense medicinal and non-medicinal benefits. Traditionally, the plant is used to cure ...wounds, pain, ulcers, liver disease, heart disease, cancer, and inflammation. This review aims to compile an analysis of worldwide research, pharmacological activities, phytochemical, toxicological, and ethnomedicinal updates of
and also provide insight into its commercial and phytopharmaceutical applications with a motive to help further research. The scientific information on this plant was obtained from various sites and search engines such as Scopus, Pub Med, Science Direct, BMC, Google Scholar, and other scientific databases. Articles available in the English language have only been referred for review. The pharmacological studies confirm the hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, and anti-inflammatory potential of the extracts from the various plant parts. It was found that bioactive constituents are present in every part of the plant. So far, more than one hundred compounds from different parts of
have been characterized, including alkaloids, flavonoids, anthraquinones, vitamins, glycosides, and terpenes. In addition, novel isolates such as muramoside A&B and niazimin A&B have been identified in the plant and have potent antioxidant, anticancer, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, and nutritional effects. The traditional and nontraditional use of Moringa, its pharmacological effects and their phytopharmaceutical formulations, clinical studies, toxicity profile, and various other uses are recognized in the present review. However, several traditional uses have yet to be scientifically explored. Therefore, further studies are proposed to explore the mechanistic approach of the plant to identify and isolate active or synergistic compounds behind its therapeutic potential.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
A low CD4/CD8 ratio in elderly HIV-uninfected adults is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. A subset of HIV-infected adults receiving effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) fails to ...normalize this ratio, even after they achieve normal CD4+ T cell counts. The immunologic and clinical characteristics of this clinical phenotype remain undefined. Using data from four distinct clinical cohorts and three clinical trials, we show that a low CD4/CD8 ratio in HIV-infected adults during otherwise effective ART (after CD4 count recovery above 500 cells/mm3) is associated with a number of immunological abnormalities, including a skewed T cell phenotype from naïve toward terminally differentiated CD8+ T cells, higher levels of CD8+ T cell activation (HLADR+CD38+) and senescence (CD28- and CD57+CD28-), and higher kynurenine/tryptophan ratio. Changes in the peripheral CD4/CD8 ratio are also reflective of changes in gut mucosa, but not in lymph nodes. In a longitudinal study, individuals who initiated ART within six months of infection had greater CD4/CD8 ratio increase compared to later initiators (>2 years). After controlling for age, gender, ART duration, nadir and CD4 count, the CD4/CD8 ratio predicted increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Hence, a persistently low CD4/CD8 ratio during otherwise effective ART is associated with increased innate and adaptive immune activation, an immunosenescent phenotype, and higher risk of morbidity/mortality. This ratio may prove useful in monitoring response to ART and could identify a unique subset of individuals needed of novel therapeutic interventions.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The power graph P(G) of a group G is the graph with vertex set G and two
distinct vertices are adjacent if one is a power of the other. Two finite
groups are said to be conformal, if they contain the ...same number of elements
of each order. Let Y be a family of all non-isomorphic odd order finite
nilpotent groups of class two or p-groups of class less than p. In this
paper, we prove that the power graph of each group in Y is isomorphic to the
power graph of an abelian group and two groups in Y have isomorphic power
graphs if they are conformal. We determine the number of maximal cyclic
subgroups of a generalized extraspecial p-group (p odd) by determining the
power graph of this group. We also determine the power graph of a p-group of
order p4 (p odd).
There is an increasing burden of hypertension (HTN) across sub-Saharan Africa where HIV prevalence is the highest in the world, but current care models are inadequate to address the dual epidemics. ...HIV treatment infrastructure could be leveraged for the care of other chronic diseases, including HTN. However, little data exist on the effectiveness of integrated HIV and chronic disease care delivery systems on blood pressure control over time.
Population screening for HIV and HTN, among other diseases, was conducted in ten communities in rural Uganda as part of the SEARCH study (NCT01864603). Individuals with either HIV, HTN, or both were referred to an integrated chronic disease clinic. Based on Uganda treatment guidelines, follow-up visits were scheduled every 4 weeks when blood pressure was uncontrolled, and either every 3 months, or in the case of drug stock-outs more frequently, when blood pressure was controlled. We describe demographic and clinical variables among all patients and used multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression to evaluate predictors of HTN control.
Following population screening (2013-2014) of 34,704 adults age ≥ 18 years, 4554 individuals with HTN alone or both HIV and HTN were referred to an integrated chronic disease clinic. Within 1 year 2038 participants with HTN linked to care and contributed 15,653 follow-up visits over 3 years. HTN was controlled at 15% of baseline visits and at 46% (95% CI: 44-48%) of post-baseline follow-up visits. Scheduled visit interval more frequent than clinical indication among patients with controlled HTN was associated with lower HTN control at the subsequent visit (aOR = 0.89; 95% CI 0.79-0.99). Hypertension control at follow-up visits was higher among HIV-infected patients than uninfected patients to have controlled blood pressure at follow-up visits (48% vs 46%; aOR 1.28; 95% CI 0.95-1.71).
Improved HTN control was achieved in an integrated HIV and chronic care model. Similar to HIV care, visit frequency determined by drug supply chain rather than clinical indication is associated with worse HTN control.
The SEARCH Trial was prospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT01864603.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Antiretroviral therapy scale-up in Sub-Saharan Africa has created a growing, aging HIV-positive population at risk for non-communicable diseases such as hypertension. However, the prevalence and risk ...factors for hypertension in this population remain incompletely understood.
We measured blood pressure and collected demographic data on over 65,000 adults attending multi-disease community health campaigns in 20 rural Ugandan communities (SEARCH Study: NCT01864603). Our objectives were to determine (i) whether HIV is an independent risk factor for hypertension, and (ii) awareness and control of hypertension in HIV-positive adults and the overall population.
Hypertension prevalence was 14% overall, and 11% among HIV-positive individuals. 79% of patients were previously undiagnosed, 85% were not taking medication, and 50% of patients on medication had uncontrolled blood pressure. Multivariate predictors of hypertension included older age, male gender, higher BMI, lack of education, alcohol use, and residence in Eastern Uganda. HIV-negative status was independently associated with higher odds of hypertension (OR 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1-1.4). Viral suppression of HIV did not significantly predict hypertension among HIV-positives.
The burden of hypertension is substantial and inadequately controlled, both in HIV-positive persons and overall. Universal HIV screening programs could provide counseling, testing, and treatment for hypertension in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Foot fractures have always been a great concern due to their complex anatomical structure. Medical practitioners face difficulties while operating complex anatomical structures through conventional ...treatment, and revision surgeries may occur in multi-fractured complex cases. The surgeon requires understanding the complex geometry of the foot. The Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is rapidly used in the biomedical domain due to its advantages like freedom to design, complex structure fabrication, cost-effectiveness and ease of use. 3D printing is used in the biomedical field for various applications like the fabrication of hydrogels, scaffolds, vascularized soft tissues and bone implants. The role of 3D printing in biomedical is becoming vital in drug formulation, surgical planning, implants prostheses-orthoses, tissue engineering, anatomical model and organ printing. Therefore, this mini-review presents the recent advancement in 3D printing technology for foot and ankle fractures with their advantages like surgical planning, intraoperative directions, customized prostheses and orthoses. This mini-review paper is helpful for medical surgeons, researchers, and design engineers to understand the potential of 3D printing technology and its usage in the biomedical domain.
3D printing; Computed tomography; Customized prostheses; Foot fractures; Foot deformities
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective for HIV prevention, but data are limited on HIV incidence among PrEP users in generalized epidemic settings, particularly outside of selected ...risk groups. We performed a population-based PrEP study in rural Kenya and Uganda and sought to evaluate both changes in HIV incidence and clinical and virologic outcomes following seroconversion on PrEP.
During population-level HIV testing of individuals ≥15 years in 16 communities in the Sustainable East Africa Research in Community Health (SEARCH) study (NCT01864603), we offered universal access to PrEP with enhanced counseling for persons at elevated HIV risk (based on serodifferent partnership, machine learning-based risk score, or self-identified HIV risk). We offered rapid or same-day PrEP initiation and flexible service delivery with follow-up visits at facilities or community-based sites at 4, 12, and every 12 weeks up to week 144. Among participants with incident HIV infection after PrEP initiation, we offered same-day antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and analyzed HIV RNA, tenofovir hair concentrations, drug resistance, and viral suppression (<1,000 c/ml based on available assays) after ART start. Using Poisson regression with cluster-robust standard errors, we compared HIV incidence among PrEP initiators to incidence among propensity score-matched recent historical controls (from the year before PrEP availability) in 8 of the 16 communities, adjusted for risk group. Among 74,541 individuals who tested negative for HIV, 15,632/74,541 (21%) were assessed to be at elevated HIV risk; 5,447/15,632 (35%) initiated PrEP (49% female; 29% 15-24 years; 19% in serodifferent partnerships), of whom 79% engaged in ≥1 follow-up visit and 61% self-reported PrEP adherence at ≥1 visit. Over 7,150 person-years of follow-up, HIV incidence was 0.35 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval CI 0.22-0.49) among PrEP initiators. Among matched controls, HIV incidence was 0.92 per 100 person-years (95% CI 0.49-1.41), corresponding to 74% lower incidence among PrEP initiators compared to matched controls (adjusted incidence rate ratio aIRR 0.26, 95% CI 0.09-0.75; p = 0.013). Among women, HIV incidence was 76% lower among PrEP initiators versus matched controls (aIRR 0.24, 95% CI 0.07-0.79; p = 0.019); among men, HIV incidence was 40% lower, but not significantly so (aIRR 0.60, 95% CI 0.12-3.05; p = 0.54). Of 25 participants with incident HIV infection (68% women), 7/25 (28%) reported taking PrEP ≤30 days before HIV diagnosis, and 24/25 (96%) started ART. Of those with repeat HIV RNA after ART start, 18/19 (95%) had <1,000 c/ml. One participant with viral non-suppression was found to have transmitted viral resistance, as well as emtricitabine resistance possibly related to PrEP use. Limitations include the lack of contemporaneous controls to assess HIV incidence without PrEP and that plasma samples were not archived to assess for baseline acute infection.
Population-level offer of PrEP with rapid start and flexible service delivery was associated with 74% lower HIV incidence among PrEP initiators compared to matched recent controls prior to PrEP availability. HIV infections were significantly lower among women who started PrEP. Universal HIV testing with linkage to treatment and prevention, including PrEP, is a promising approach to accelerate reductions in new infections in generalized epidemic settings.
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01864603.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
PDF
