The present work divulges the potential of thermal lens technique for analyzing the absolute porosity of a material in nanofluid using the recently proposed Sankar–Loeb model. The ceria nanoparticles ...synthesized by co-precipitation technique are subjected to morphological and structural characterizations. The study reveals that particle size and thermal diffusivity increase with annealing temperature. The nanocavities formed during the agglomeration of nanoparticles result in closed pores which give rise to absolute porosity that is probed by the thermal wave propagation (or thermal diffusivity) study. The enhancement in the particle size enhances the closed pore volume in the sample resulting in increased absolute porosity. Thus, the TL technique makes the analysis of closed pores possible through the absolute porosity study, which is not possible with the conventional BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller) technique.
Modifications in the structure of pharynx following adenotonsillectomy are presumed to cause changes in the voice characteristics of patients. Data on effect of tonsillectomy/adenotonsillectomy on ...changes in voice among Indian children are sparse. This study was thus conducted to study the effect of adenotonsillectomy/tonsillectomy on childrens’ voice. It was a prospective observational study of children aged 4–15 years undergoing tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy. Measures of voice were noted preoperatively, 1 and 3 months post-operatively. Subjective evaluation was done using Paediatric Voice Outcome Survey (PVOS) questionnaire administered to participants’ parents. Objective evaluation was done by recording and analyzing using PRAAT voice analysis software which is an open-software tool. Statistical analysis was done using the statistical software SPSS 17.0 version. There were 31 children between 4 and 14 years of age 65% being male. Adenotonsillectomy was done in 83.5%. There was statistically significant difference in the subjective scores (PVOS) pre-operatively and 3 month postoperative score (
p
value = 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference between any other pre op and post op parameters. Though the only significant post tonsillectomy voice changes noted was subjective by parents 3 months later, it does raise concern whether this could be a reality and not a myth. Further studies with larger number of patients, including involving the subjective evaluation (PVOS) by another person in addition to patients’ parent need to be undertaken to address this issue.
Heart failure (HF) is a common clinical condition encountered in various healthcare settings with a vast socioeconomic impact. Recent advancements in pharmacotherapy have led to the evolution of ...novel therapeutic agents with a decrease in hospitalization and mortality rates in HF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF). Lately, the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) to construct decision-making models for the early detection of HF has played a vital role in optimizing cardiovascular disease outcomes. In this review, we examine the newer therapies and evidence behind goal-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for managing HF. We also explore the application of AI and machine learning (ML) in HF, including early diagnosis and risk stratification for HFrEF.
The method of optical nonlinearity control is significant because of its wide range of application in the design and fabrication of optical devices. The paper reports the role of hydroxyl (OH) ions ...in the evolution of optical nonlinearity of copper oxide (CuO) through Z scan technique by preparing its nanofluid. The powdered CuO formed through the ageing of copper hydroxide (Cu(OH)2) is subjected to structural and morphological characterizations. The Field emission scanning electron microscopic (FESEM) analysis shows a morphological modification from rod to flakes. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) study carried out helps not only in understanding the formation of CuO but also in estimating the variation of particle size, dislocation density and morphology index with ageing. The Z scan study suggests the nonlinear refractive index n2 of CuO be negative and exhibit a fourth order polynomial variation with ageing irrespective of the laser power. The value of n2 is found to decrease with the laser power and increase with the linear absorption coefficient. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis reveals the structural modifications in the evolution of CuO from Cu(OH)2. The value of n2 is found to exhibit an inverse relation with the amount of OH groups that is exemplified through the evolution of CuO from Cu(OH)2 upon ageing. The study is significant from the point of view of designing materials with tailored nonlinear optical properties.
Carbides are a class of materials with high mechanical strength and refractory nature which finds a wide range of applications in industries and nuclear reactors. The existing synthesis methods of ...all types of carbides have problems in terms of use of toxic chemical precursors, high-cost, etc. Sodium carbide (Na2C2) which is an alkali metal carbide is the least explored one and also that there is no report of low-cost and low-temperature synthesis of sodium carbide using the eco-friendly, easily available natural precursors. In the present work, we report a simple low-cost, non-toxic hydrothermal synthesis of refractory sodium carbide using the natural precursor-Pandanus. The formation of sodium carbide along with boron carbide is evidenced by the structural and morphological characterizations. The sample thus synthesized is subjected to field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), x-ray powder diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman, and photoluminescent (PL) spectroscopic techniques.
One strategy to combat opioid misuse is to remove excess opioids from circulation by providing patients with drug disposal products that enable the safe disposal of opioids. We aimed to evaluate ...opioid use and disposal of unused opioids among children and young adults before and after pharmacy staff at our institution began to provide patients and families filling opioid prescriptions with a drug disposal bag.
We performed a prospective pre-post cohort study of patients who filled an opioid prescription in May-August 2019 at the outpatient pharmacies of a large tertiary children's hospital. Patients and caregivers were enrolled at the time the opioids were dispensed. During the first half of the study period, standard opioid-related education was offered by pharmacy staff. During the second half of the study period, standard education was offered, and a drug disposal bag and instructions on its use were provided when the opioids were dispensed. A follow-up survey to assess opioid use and disposal was completed online or by telephone 4-7 weeks after the opioids were dispensed.
A total of 215 participants were enrolled; 117 received a drug disposal bag and 98 did not. Of those, 68% of the participants completed a follow-up survey. In both groups, the median patient age was 11 years, and most patients had been prescribed opioids after a procedure. More than 70% had opioids leftover after they had stopped taking them, and this did not vary by group. However, among families with leftover opioids, the receipt of a drug disposal bag was associated with a higher likelihood of disposal of the unused opioids (71.7% vs. 52.1%, P = 0.04).
Providing a drug disposal bag to families of children receiving opioids increases the likelihood of excess opioid disposal. Greater availability of drug disposal products can complement prescribing reduction efforts aimed at decreasing prescription opioid misuse.
Correspondence to Dr James B Maurice, Hepatology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W2 1NY, UK; jamesmaurice@nhs.net Introduction Climate change has been described as ‘the biggest global ...health threat of the 21st century’.1 Medical professionals have a vital role in mitigating the impact of healthcare systems on the environment and protecting vulnerable people through the development of sustainable clinical practices. Considered in this way, every healthcare intervention has not only financial implications, but also a social cost on the patient and their family/carers, and environmental implications from resource use and carbon footprint, against which the clinical benefit needs to be weighed. Broader research into ‘carbon hot spots’ in healthcare has identified building energy inefficiencies and medical equipment as the main sources of carbon use in acute hospitals. ...reducing procedure numbers is likely to have the biggest impact on the environmental cost.2 8 However, we must also optimise the way we use resources in the procedures we should continue to deliver. Previous studies have quantified the carbon emissions arising from different forms of waste disposal, and these could be used to quantify the impact of improved waste segregation and reduce forms of unnecessary waste in the unit.10 Dealing with the COVID-19 backlog: an opportunity to implement sustainable practice Data from the National Endoscopy Database indicate that total endoscopy activity fell rapidly to 5% of normal levels during the peak phase of the COVID-19 epidemic in the UK.11 Analysis from the first wave of COVID-19 predicted a backlog of almost half a million endoscopic procedures by January 2021.
Single phase MFeCrO{sub 4} (M = Co/Ni) nanosized samples are prepared by solution combustion method using glycine as fuel. Lattice parameter obtained after Rietveld refinement of the powder x-ray ...diffraction pattern of CoCrFeO{sub 4} and NiCrFeO{sub 4} samples are 8.374 and 8.325 Å and corresponding crystallite sizes are 40 and 27 nm, respectively. FTIR spectra of both samples show tetrahedral and octahedral metal oxygen bond stretching peaks at 596 and 488 cm{sup −1}, indicating spinel phase formation. DC magnetisation study indicates that both samples are ferrimagnetic at room temperature, with CoCrFeO{sub 4} having a higher value of saturation magnetisation. Mössbauer spectra indicate the presence of magnetic relaxation in the samples. Also, the strength of interaction with nearest neighbour Fe{sup 3+} cations is higher in NiCrFeO{sub 4}.
In the last few decades there has been a spatial turn in thinking in the social sciences and humanities. This paper develops a research agenda, asking the question: how is this spatial turn shaping ...the way in which people think about contemporary politics?
PDF
