Sorbitol accumulation in the tissue is known to cause diabetic complications. Nanotechnology-enabled biosensor methods have high sensitivity, selectivity, and more rapid detection of an analytic for ...sorbitol which is used as a biomarker of diabetic complications. The biosensor used aldose reductase from serum blood to oxidize the NADPH by the enzymatic reaction and reduce glucose to sorbitol. Biosensors can be developed for diagnostic testing. Developing a simple, sensitive, and rapid method for sorbitol detection is significant for efficient monitoring of diabetic complications like neuropathy at the initial stages. This project synthesized quantum dots of copper sulfide (CuS QDs) to fabricate an Electrochemical sensor for the detection of sorbitol by the UV-irradiation technique. The crystal structure of CuS QDs was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), which confirmed the synthesized sample’s hexagonal shape. The structure of the manufactured product was examined using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and the result revealed just copper (Cu) and sulfide (S) elements, indicating that the synthetic material was pure. The morphology, optical properties, and particle size were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), and transmission electron spectroscopy (TEM), respectively. The particle sizes of the CuS QDs were found to range between 5.4 to 9.1 nm. The CuS QDs will be dedicated to the conventional methods to synthesize the modified electrode functionalized with NADPH and covered with CuS QD (Ti-TiO2/CuS/NADPH) demonstrated switchable interfacial properties. The electrochemical process was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The developed sensor was successfully tested to detect sorbitol in human serum samples. The high catalytic activity and the redox behavior of CuS QD make it an efficient matrix for the realization of sorbitol. These results indicate that CuS QD is a suitable candidate material for developing enzyme-based sorbitol biosensors.
Aim
To explore the experiences of adults with newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes in order to understand the adaptive processes that occur in the early phase of the condition.
Methods
We conducted ...longitudinal semi‐structured interviews with 30 adults newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (age range 20–67 years; 16 men; median diabetes duration 23.5 months), recruited from hospitals in Denmark and the UK. The data were analysed using a narrative approach.
Results
The narratives could be grouped into three thematic areas: the diagnosis; learning about diabetes; and learning to live with diabetes. Diabetes was characterized as a major disruptor to the established and future life plans of participants, causing significant emotional distress. The narratives showed how early experiences triggered the development of ongoing psychological problems (fear of complications or hypoglycaemia) and diabetes distress, and that navigating different social scenarios (relationships and employment) could be challenging, leading to suboptimal self‐management behaviours. The narratives also showed that health professionals often did not attend effectively to participants’ emotional needs after diagnosis, and that the language used frequently triggered negative feelings, such as fear or a sense of failure.
Conclusions
Many of the common psychosocial problems associated with Type 1 diabetes seem to gestate in the early phase of life with the condition. There appear to be opportunities to enhance the support provided in this phase to minimize these problems.
What's new?
We currently know little about the early experiences of adults newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes or how they adapt to a life with diabetes.
This study shows that, after the diagnosis of diabetes, adults experience significant emotional distress and can quickly develop ongoing psychosocial problems that affect their self‐management behaviours.
After diagnosis, adults need much more support in adapting to the condition emotionally, psychologically and socially. Such support may reduce or prevent the development of negative psychosocial reactions that can impede self‐management behaviours and reduce well‐being.
Managing perineal trauma after childbirth Webb, Sara; Sherburn, Margaret; Ismail, Khaled M K
BMJ (Online),
11/2014, Letnik:
349, Številka:
nov25 27
Journal Article, Book Review
Recenzirano
Every year millions of women worldwide sustain trauma to the perineum when giving birth. Around 6% of these women will have short term wound complications such as infection and dehiscence.1 Some are ...also at risk of long term problems such as dyspareunia, pain, urinary and faecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and psychosocial problems. Correct assessment and repair of this trauma is therefore essential to help reduce long term complications. In this review we focus on the management of childbirth related perineal trauma that does not involve injury to the anal sphincter complex (this has been dealt with previously2) - that is, first and second degree perineal trauma. We provide healthcare professionals caring for women during childbirth and the postnatal period with an overview of the current best evidence for the assessment, repair, and postnatal management of perineal trauma to reduce the incidence of complications in the short and long term.
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•Effect of urea on the behavior of sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate in water studied.•The urea effect is different below and above 1molkg−1 urea, cu.•The critical micelle concentration is ...dependent on urea concentration above cu only.•NaCl induces a shape change in sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate micelles below cu only.
Understanding the mechanism that controls the folding/unfolding of proteins in the presence of urea continues to be a subject of research, and since micelles mimic biological aggregates, equal importance has been given to the study of surfactants in the presence of urea. Despite several studies on the effect of urea on the behavior of reverse micelles and microemulsions based on sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate (AOT), the urea effect on AOT regular micelles has not been investigated and hence it is studied herein by using surface tension, steady-state fluorescence, and dynamic light scattering methods. The effect of urea on the behavior of AOT is found to be different below and above 1.0molkg−1 urea (cu). The critical micelle concentration (cmc) is almost independent of urea concentration below cu, whereas it increases with increasing urea amount above cu. In AOT+urea aqueous solution below cu, added NaCl at a particular critical concentration (c*) induces sudden increase in the values of (i) counterion binding constant, (ii) aggregation number, (iii) fluorescence intensity ratio of pyrene excimer to monomer, and (iv) hydrodynamic diameter of AOT aggregate, whereas such changes are suppressed by urea above cu. NaCl-induced shape change in AOT micelle takes place if urea concentration is below cu, but hindered above cu. The adsorption behavior of AOT at the air–solution interface as a function of NaCl is also found to be different below and above cu. The urea effect is explained in terms of increase in the polarity of the medium, better solvation of head groups and counterions, and weakening of head group–head group and head group–counterion interactions.
Sodium dodecylsulfate and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide mixtures are important catanionic systems, as they have an inherent tendency to form vesicle structures. Despite extensive studies on the ...phase behavior and microstructures, there is dearth of basic information on the aggregation and adsorption behavior of this mixed system. In this work the critical micelle concentration, surface tension reduction effectiveness, surface excess, mixed micelle and monolayer compositions, activity coefficients, interaction parameters, counterion binding and Gibbs energy terms of this mixed system are determined by measuring its surface tension and conductance as a function of composition. The dependence of mixed micelle composition on surfactant concentration has been successfully demonstrated.
Critical micelle concentrations (cmc) of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in the presence of sodium chloride, sodium acetate, sodium propionate and sodium butyrate were measured by surface tension (at ...20, 25 and 30
°C), conductance (at 25
°C) and EMF (at 25
°C) methods. Values of surface excess, counter ion binding constant, surface area, and standard free energies of micellization and adsorption of SDS in the presence of these electrolytes were also determined. The co-ions are found to have no effect on the cmc of SDS contrary to the report made earlier, but have an influence on its surface activity behaviour. Aggregation numbers were measured by using the steady-state fluorescence quenching method, whereas surface potentials were computed by solving the non-linearized Poission–Boltzmann equation. With added electrolyte aggregation number of SDS increases whereas its surface potential decreases. Butyrate co-ion affects the aggregation number of SDS when its concentration is ≥0.035
mol
kg
−1. This work has addressed the effect of co-ion on the adsorption and micellization parameters of SDS and the results have utility in designing formulations consisting of ionic surfactants and electrolytes for various applications.
•Incineration can generate electrical energy sufficient for 135,680 homes.•Electric energy from incineration can generate US$ 5.799×106 per month.•20% of the recyclables can generate funds for 1120 ...national minimum salary.
One of the biggest challenges for developing countries such as Brazil is the adequate management of urban solid waste. In Campinas, the third-largest city in the state of São Paulo with population over one million inhabitants, the treatment of solid waste turned to be a serious problem since 2014. The daily collection of municipal solid waste (MSW) is 1304t of which only 2.5% is selectively collected, the rest of MSW is landfilled in a neighboring city 40km distant from Campinas. This paper presents a scenario for the treatment of MSW based on recycling and incineration and evaluates the energy, economic and environmental potentials. In this scenario, a selective collection index of 20% is adopted and the rest of MSW is incinerated with energy recovery. Results show that incineration can generate electrical energy sufficient for 135,680 homes and can render about US$ 5.799×106 per month. The benefits from the selective collection index of 20% of the potentially available recyclables include a financial return of about US$ 302,412 per month equivalent to 1120 national minimum salary, energy savings equivalent to 69.4MW and avoided emissions of about 145.77ktCO2/year equivalent to 6.2% of the total emissions of Campinas.
Aims
We examined the effectiveness of a service innovation, Three Dimensions for Diabetes (3DFD), that consisted of a referral to an integrated mental health, social care and diabetes treatment ...model, compared with usual care in improving biomedical and health economic outcomes.
Methods
Using a non‐randomized control design, the 3DFD model was offered in two inner‐city boroughs in London, UK, where diabetes health professionals could refer adult residents with diabetes, suboptimal glycaemic control HbA1c ≥ 75 mmol/mol (≥ 9.0%) and mental health and/or social problems. In the usual care group, there was no referral pathway and anonymized data on individuals with HbA1c ≥ 75 mmol/mol (≥ 9.0%) were collected from primary care records. Change in HbA1c from baseline to 12 months was the primary outcome, and change in healthcare costs and biomedical variables were secondary outcomes.
Results
3DFD participants had worse glycaemic control and higher healthcare costs than control participants at baseline. 3DFD participants had greater improvement in glycaemic control compared with control participants −14 mmol/mol (−1.3%) vs. −6 mmol/mol (−0.6%) respectively, P < 0.001, adjusted for confounding. Total follow‐up healthcare costs remained higher in the 3DFD group compared with the control group (mean difference £1715, 95% confidence intervals 591 to 2811), adjusted for confounding. The incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio was £398 per mmol/mol unit decrease in HbA1c, indicating the 3DFD intervention was more effective and costed more than usual care.
Conclusions
A biomedical, psychological and social criteria‐based referral system for identifying and managing high‐cost and high‐risk individuals with poor glycaemic control can lead to improved health in all three dimensions.
What's new?
There are few evidence‐based models of diabetes care that include mental health and social care.
The Three Dimensions for Diabetes (3DFD) model integrated social care, mental health and diabetes care into one service.
This non‐randomized, observational study, set in three diverse boroughs in London, UK, recruited adults with suboptimal glycaemic control and mental health and/or social problems.
3DFD was associated with clinically significant reductions in glycaemic control but because they were already a very expensive and high‐risk group, there was no evidence of reduction in costs compared with the control group.
The wind power contribution for the global energy matrix and its technological and commercial maturity becomes an important fact for the sustainable energy development. The CFD studies gain ...importance with the computational progress to improve the efficiency of wind turbines on the aerodynamic criteria. The RANS models show the best relation between accuracy and required computational effort. The present article investigates the application of Arbitrary Mesh Interface (AMI) in transient regime and k-ω SST turbulence model in its standard setting to obtain the Power Coefficient of a small HAWT by using OpenFOAM (pimpleDyMFoam). The numerical results were comparable with the field test results and the numerical results obtained with frozen rotor approach, in stationary regime (simpleFoam) and the same turbulence model. The findings showed good agreement between simulations and experiments. The moving mesh approach with layers addition over the blade's surface, for the adjustment of y+ values, was determinant for the results and reproduced well the three-dimensional dynamic effects of flow for this application. The frozen rotor approach resembled the condition of a stopped rotor and its weaknesses are presented and discussed. The numerical results lied between the highest and the mean experimental values and consistently within the confidence interval.
•CFD studies gain importance to improve the aerodynamic efficiency of wind turbines.•We investigate the Arbitrary Mesh Interface (AMI) and k-ω SST by using OpenFOAM.•The numerical results were comparable to the field test results.•The AMI results were compared to the results obtained with frozen rotor approach.•The results lied consistently between the highest and the mean experimental values.
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