Controlling phase transformation of La/Ni oxides by switching annealing conditions and their resultant pseudocapacitive behaviour

Annealing step is a critical step in the hydrothermal assisted synthesis of La/Ni oxides such as LaNiO3-δ (LNOA) and La2NiO4+δ (LNON). In the current study, we have discovered the interlink between the atmosphere and temperature conditions which dictate the product formed. La/Ninitrate precursors were subjected to a hydrothermal synthesis followed by an annealing step at appropriate temperature and varying atmosphere resulting in the synthesis of the corresponding oxides. The annealing temperature was varied in the range between 650 - 800 oC and also the annealing was carried out either in pure N2 atmosphere or air. From the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, it was inferred that annealing in air invariably resulted in the rhombohedral LaNiO3 (LNOA) perovskite phase, while annealing in N2 atmosphere resulted in a orthorhombic Ruddlesden-Popper phase La2NiO4 (LNON), a layered oxide containing traces of NiO phase. Typically, iodometric titrations substantiate the presence of Ni(III) which further can be correlated to the presence of oxygen vacancies (δ).. Iodometric test results demarcated the difference between the two phases with absolutely minimal I2 liberated from the LNON samples proving that negligible amount of Ni(III) was present in LNON Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed an agglomeration of particles annealed at higher temperatures irrespective of the atmosphere. Temperature dependent oxygen non-stoichiometry (Δδ) was analyzed through thermogravimetric analysis, wherein Δδ was inversely proportional to the annealing temperature for all of the LNOA samples. Considering that large δ values favor pseudocapacitive behaviour, it was observed LNOA oxides showed excellent pseudocapacitive behaviour compared to the LNON oxides. Dunn deconvolution of the cyclic voltammograms of LNOA 800 oC at 5mVs-1 indicated that diffusive contribution (66%) was predominant over capacitive contributions. The LNOA sample annealed at 800 oC displayed the highest specific capacitance of 100.3 F/g at 1 A/g current density. It also displayed a coulombic efficiency of 98.68% and capacitance retention of 63.35% even after 5000 cycles. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- .

Cohort profile: maternal antecedents of adiposity and studying the transgenerational role of hyperglycaemia and insulin (MAASTHI)

PURPOSE

The Maternal Antecedents of Adiposity and Studying the transgenerational role of Hyperglycaemia and Insulin cohort in Bengaluru, South India, aims to understand the transgenerational role of increased circulating glucose levels or hyperglycaemia and other nutrients and psychosocial environment, on the risk of childhood obesity, as an early marker of chronic diseases.

PARTICIPANTS

Through this paper, we describe the baseline characteristics of the cohort participants and their children, along with plans and challenges. A total of 5694 pregnant women were screened, with 4862 (85.4%) eligible pregnant women recruited at baseline. We assessed anthropometry, Haemoglobin status, Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT), dietary practices, depressive symptoms using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and social support in all women. Follow-up visits involved assessing anthropometry and the health profile of mothers and children.

FINDINGS TO DATE

Among 4862 eligible participants recruited, 3260 (67%) underwent OGTT, while 2962 participants completed OGTT (90.9%). During the pregnancy, 9.7% of women were obese (>90th percentile of skinfold thickness), and 14.3% had gestational diabetesmellitus. Moreover, 6.2% and 16.8% of women had symptoms suggestive of depression during pregnancy and the immediate postnatal period, respectively. We found that 3.3% of children were small for gestational age, 10.8% were large for gestational age and 9.7% of children were obese at birth.

FUTURE PLANS

We have completed recruitment and baseline data collection in 2019, and are conducting annual follow-ups until age 4 of the participant's children. For delineating causal pathways of childhood obesity, blood aliquots are stored in the biorepository. The study will inform policy formulation and community awareness in the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and health promotion.

Data Mining in Employee Healthcare Detection Using Intelligence Techniques for Industry Development

BACKGROUND

Even in today's environment, when there is a plethora of information accessible, it may be difficult to make appropriate choices for one's well-being. Data mining, machine learning, and computational statistics are among the most popular arenas of training today, and they are all aimed at secondary empowered person in making good decisions that will maximize the outcome of whatever working area they are involved with. Because the degree of rise in the number of patient roles is directly related to the rate of people growth and lifestyle variations, the healthcare sector has a significant need for data processing services. When it comes to cancer, the prognosis is an expression that relates to the possibility of the patient surviving in general, but it may also be used to describe the severity of the sickness as it will present itself in the patient's future timeline. Methodology. The proposed technique consists of three stages: input data acquisition, preprocessing, and classification. Data acquisition consists of input raw data which is followed by preprocessing to eliminate the missed data and the classification is carried out using ensemble classifier to analyze the stages of cancer. This study explored the combined influence of the prominent labels in conjunction with one another utilizing the multilabel classifier approach, which is successful. Finally, an ensemble classifier model has been constructed and experimentally validated to increase the accuracy of the classifier model, which has been previously shown. The entire performance of the recommended and tested models demonstrates a steady development of 2% to 6% over the baseline presentation on the baseline performance.

RESULTS

Providing a good contribution to the general health welfare of noncommercial potential workers in the healthcare sector is an opportunity provided by this recommended job outcome. It is anticipated that alternative solutions to these constraints, as well as automation of the whole process flow of all five phases, will be the key focus of the work to be carried out shortly. Predicting health status of employee in industry or information trends is made easier by these data patterns. The proposed classifier achieves the accuracy rate of 93.265%.

Evaluation of Parental Dental Fear and Anxiety (DFA) on Adolescent Dental Treatment: A Narrative review

Background

Parental dental fear and anxiety (DFA) is an important factor, which has an impact on adolescence receiving dental treatment and maintenance of their oral health. It is necessary to recognize and know how parental DFA affects the dental treatment of children and adolescents.

Aim

This narrative review was planned with the objective of evaluating parental DFA influence on adolescent dental treatment.

Materials and Methods

A broad search of literature published between 2005 and 2021 from electronic databases through Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar was performed. We included the studies in which parental dental anxiety was a major criterion affecting different dental health conditions. Articles referring to adolescents facing different oral health problems were also included. This narrative review included 12 articles of which 8 cross-sectional studies, 3 longitudinal studies, and 1 descriptive study, all of which met the inclusion criteria and the specified age group of adolescents ranging between 10 and 19 years.

Results

After screening 83 abstracts, 12 articles were selected, which included all the inclusion criteria. In this study, we found that parental DFA showed a positive association with their adolescent's DFA, which hinders the dental treatment received.

Conclusion

Parental DFA influences the adolescent behavior and can impact the seeking of dental treatment. Hence, it is important to address parental DFA prior to the intervention and treatment. An appropriate address will facilitate in reducing or eliminating DFA in adolescents.

Health care professionals' perspectives on screening and management of gestational diabetes mellitus in public hospitals of South India - a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Women developing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) are subsequently at a higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes later in life. Screening and effective management of women with GDM are essential in preventing progression to type 2 diabetes mellitus. We aimed to explore the perspectives of healthcare providers regarding the barriers from the health system context that restrict the timely screening and effective management of GDM.

METHODS

We conducted six in-depth interviews of health care providers- four with nurses and two with obstetricians in the public hospitals in India's major city (Bengaluru). The interviews were conducted in the preferred language of the participants (Kannada for nurses, English for the obstetricians) and audio-recorded. All Kannada interviews were transcribed and translated into English for analysis. The primary data were analyzed using the grounded theory approach by NVivo 12 plus. The findings are put into perspective using the socio-ecological model.

RESULTS

Health care providers identified delayed visits to public hospitals and stress on household-level responsibilities as barriers at the individual level for GDM screening. Also, migration of pregnant women to their natal homes during first pregnancy is a cultural barrier in addition to health system barriers such as unmet nurse training needs, long waiting hours, uneven power dynamics, lack of follow-up, resource scarcity, and lack of supportive oversight. The barriers for GDM management included non-reporting women to follow - up visits, irregular self-monitoring of drug and blood sugar, trained staff shortage, ineffective tracking, and lack of standardized protocol.

CONCLUSION

There is a pressing need to develop and improve existing GDM Screening and Management services to tackle the growing burden of GDM in public hospitals of India.

Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome: Long-Term Outcome and Role of Steroid-Sparing Agents

Background:

Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome (THS) is one of the causes of cavernous sinus syndrome causing painful ophthalmoplegia. Literature on long-term outcome of this rare condition is scarce.

Aims and Objectives:

The aim is to study the recurrence and role of steroid-sparing agents in THS.

Methodology:

All cases of THS treated at a tertiary-level teaching hospital during a 10-year period were studied. Clinical and radiological profile, response to treatment and recurrences were noted.

Results:

A total of 44 cases were studied. The mean age was 49.5 years, Males constituted 23/44 (52%). The first symptom was pain in 90%. Ptosis with ophthalmoplegia was the most common deficit 29/44 (66%). Lesions confined to cavernous sinus 27/44 (61%) was the most frequent magnetic resonance imaging finding. All patients received steroids as the initial treatment and 15/44 (34%) received steroid-sparing agents. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 120 months (Mean 39 months). Two patients had alternative diagnosis of leptomeningeal malignancy and hypertrophic pachymeningitis on follow-up. Recurrences occurred in 18/37 (48.6%). Time for recurrence varied from 8 months to 7 years. (Mean 18 months). No clinical or radiological predictors for recurrence were identified. Patients who received steroid-sparing agents had a significantly lower recurrence 3/15 (20%) versus 14/26 (53.8%)P < 0.034.

Conclusions:

Around 50% of patients with THS can have recurrence. Steroid-sparing agents appear to prevent recurrence. A prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial may help to evaluate the risk and benefits of steroid-sparing therapy and to identify any possible predictors for recurrence.

What makes the pregnant women revisit public hospitals for research? Participant engagement and retention trial in a public hospital (PERTH): an RCT protocol

BACKGROUND

Cohort studies have public health importance as they effectively provide evidence on determinants of health from a life course perspective. Researchers often confront the poor follow-up rates as a major challenge in the successful conduct of cohort studies. We are currently recruiting in a birth cohort study, titled as "Maternal Antecedents of Adiposity and Studying the Transgenerational role of Hyperglycemia and Insulin" (MAASTHI) in a public hospital; with the aim of assessing maternal glycemic levels on the risk of adverse fetal outcomes. Nested within the ongoing cohort, the proposed trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of two interventions in improving the follow-up in the cohort study in a public hospital.

METHODS

A randomized trial of 795 pregnant women, with 265 women each in three arms observed through pregnancy, until their baby is 14 weeks old. The comparator group receives a standard leaflet, with details on the importance of glucose testing and regular follow up in pregnancy. Intervention arm-1 will receive the standard leaflet plus individualized messages, through an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system; a type of computer-linked telephone intervention system to remind the participants about the lab test and follow-up dates. Intervention arm- 2 will have the opportunity to attend Mother and Baby Affairs (MBA) workshops, which will provide information on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) screening and management to pregnant women and personalized counselling services. The outcome of interest is the difference in the proportion of participants completing follow-up at different points in time, among three arms.

DISCUSSION

Between the two interventions (IVR and MBA), the study results would uncover the contextually specific, timely intervention, which can increase the proportion of pregnant women followed up in public hospitals. If effective, this study will provide information on an effective intervention, useful in ensuring the success of longitudinal follow-up in the public hospitals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT03088501 , Date Registered: 16/03/2017.

Thermostatic properties of nitrate molten salts and their solar and eutectic mixtures

Nitrate molten salts are extensively used for sensible heat storage in Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants and thermal energy storage (TES) systems. They are the most promising materials for latent heat storage applications. By combining classical molecular dynamics and differential scanning calorimetry experiments, we present a systematic study of all thermostatic, high temperature properties of pure KNO₃ and NaNO₃ salts and their eutectic and "solar salt" mixtures, technologically relevant. We first study, in solid and liquid regimes, their mass densities, enthalpies, thermal expansion coefficients and isothermal compressibilities. We then analyze the c_P and c_V specific heats of the pure salts and of the liquid phase of the mixtures. Our theoretical results allow to resolve a long-standing experimental uncertainty about the c_P(T) thermal behaviour of these systems. In particular, they revisit empirical laws on the c_P(T) behaviour, extensively used at industrial level in the design of TES components employing the "solar salt" as main storage material. Our findings, numerically precise and internally consistent, can be used as a reference for the development of innovative nanomaterials based on nitrate molten salts, crucial in technologies as CSP, waste heat recovery, and advanced adiabatic compressed air energy storage.

Maternal antecedents of adiposity and studying the transgenerational role of hyperglycemia and insulin (MAASTHI): a prospective cohort study : Protocol of birth cohort at Bangalore, India

BACKGROUND

India is experiencing an epidemic of obesity-hyperglycaemia, which coincides with child bearing age for women. The epidemic can be sustained and augmented through transgenerational transmission of adiposity and glucose intolerance in women. This presents an opportunity for exploring a clear strategy for the control of this epidemic in India. We conducted a study between November 2013 and May 2015 to inform the design of a large pregnancy cohort study. Based on the findings of this pilot, we developed the protocol for the proposed birth cohort of 5000 women, the recruitment for which will start in April 2016. The protocol of the study documents the processes which aim at advancing the available knowledge, linking several steps in the evolution of obesity led hyperglycemia.

METHODS

Maternal Antecedents of Adiposity and Studying the Transgenerational role of Hyperglycemia and Insulin (MAASTHI) is a cohort study in the public health facilities in Bangalore, India. The objective of MAASTHI is to prospectively assess the effects of glucose levels in pregnancy on the risk of adverse infant outcomes, especially in predicting the possible risk markers of later chronic diseases. The primary objective of the proposed study is to investigate the effect of glucose levels in pregnancy on skinfold thickness (adiposity) in infancy as a marker of future obesity and diabetes in offspring. The secondary objective is to assess the association between psychosocial environment of mothers and adverse neonatal outcomes including adiposity. The study aims to recruit 5000 pregnant women and follow them and their offspring for a period of 4 years. The institutional review board at The Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH)-H, Bangalore, Public Health Foundation of India has approved the protocol. All participants are required to provide written informed consent.

DISCUSSION

The findings from this study may help to address important questions on screening and management of high blood sugar in pregnancy. It may provide critical information on the specific determinants driving the underweight-obesity-T2DM epidemic in India. The study can inform the policy regarding the potential impact of screening and management protocols in public healthcare facilities. The public health implications include prioritising issues of maternal glycemic control and weight management and better understanding of the lifecourse determinants in the development of T2DM.

Assessment of pollutants and gaseous emissions in sewer network in NCT of Delhi

The NCT of Delhi in India handles domestic sewage through a long sewerage networks. The network is into eight divisions. The aim of the present study is to arrive at a correlation between sewage quality and gas emissions in the sewer network of various divisions. This will aid in forewarning the sewer workers about the safety precautions. The health effects due to toxic sewer gases exposure and assessment of hazardous conditions and hazard potential are discussed. The study areas were broadly classified as residential, commercial, industrial and mix (combination of residential & commercial) for comparison. Sewage samples were collected from 1020 sites and analyzed for 10 different physicochemical parameters. The analytical data revealed wide variation in the chemical composition of sewage flowing at various sewerage network sites. Based on comparison with the regulatory standard for discharge in sewers, 89 sites with higher values of BOD and sulphate were marked as critical sites. Subsequently, the concentrations of CH4 and H2S in sewer emissions were determined for the 89 critical sites through onsite monitoring. Samples from 22 sites had significantly higher concentration of CH4 than the LEL and those from 40 sites showed concentrations higher than the LFL. On the other hand, samples from 38 locations showed significantly high H2S concentration, more than permissible limit of 10 ppm. The sewer workers in North East, North West and West region of the metropolis were exposed to hazards from excessive CH4 and H2S emissions, whereas those under South and South West regions were more vulnerable to H2S related risks. The sewer network under North, Central and South poses relatively less hazard with regard to gaseous emissions.

Treatment of gingival recession by modified Langer and Langer technique

In recent years, stronger need for esthetics and growing cosmetic demand for a pleasing smile has made many individuals more conscious of the recession on facial aspect of the teeth. Here we report a case illustrating treatment for facial gingival recession using modified Langer and Langer technique. The clinical results showed good soft tissue coverage of the root surfaces and improving esthetics.