Safe Solution Research Articles

Robotic assisted surgery reduces ergonomic risk during minimally invasive colorectal resection: the VOLCANO randomised controlled trial

PurposeMinimally invasive surgery benefits patients but poor operating ergonomics causes musculoskeletal injuries in surgeons. This randomised controlled trial aims to assess whether robotic-assisted surgery with the open-console Versius® system can reduce surgeons’ ergonomic risks during major colorectal resections.MethodsProspectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05262296) in March 2022. Adult patients requiring a minimally invasive colorectal resection were potentially eligible. Photographs taken at 2-min intervals were analysed using the objective Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) posture analysis scale to calculate intraoperative surgeon ergonomic risk. Secondary outcomes included team communication (Oxford NOTECHS II), surgeon cognitive strain (modified NASA-TLX scale), and clinical outcomes.ResultsSixty patients were randomised in a 2:1 ratio (40 robot, 20 laparoscopic). Mean age was 65yrs and 34 (57%) were male. Body Mass Index did not differ between the 2 groups (overall mean 29.0 ± 5) and there were equal proportions of left and right-colonic resections.REBA was significantly lower in the robotic arm (median robot REBA score 3 vs lap REBA 5 [p < 0.001]), equating to an injury risk category drop from “medium” to “low risk”. There were no significant differences in team communication, operative duration, or patient outcomes. Surgeon cognitive strain was lower in robotic cases (mean robot 32.4 ± 10.3 vs lap 45.6 ± 14.3 [p < 0.001]).ConclusionsThis trial demonstrates that robotic surgery with an open-console system reduces ergonomic risk scores and cognitive strain during colorectal resections, with no apparent detriment to team communication. This may therefore be a safe & feasible solution to the increasing problem of work-related musculoskeletal injuries in surgeons.

Modular Design of Functional Glucose Monomer and Block Co-Polymer toward Stable Zn Anodes.

Aqueous Zn batteries employing mildly acidic electrolytes have emerged as promising contenders for safe and cost-effective energy storage solutions. Nevertheless, the intrinsic reversibility of the Zn anode becomes a focal concern due to the involvement of acidic electrolyte, which triggers Zn corrosion and facilitates the deposition of insulating byproducts. Moreover, the unregulated growth of Zn over cycling amplifies the risk of internal short-circuiting, primarily induced by the formation of Zn dendrites. In this study, a class of glucose-derived monomers and a block copolymer are synthesized through a building-block assembly strategy, ultimately leading to uncover the optimal polymer structure that suppresses the Zn corrosion while allowing efficient ion conduction with a substantial contribution from cation transport. Leveraging these advancements, remarkable enhancements are achieved in the realm of Zn reversibility, exemplified by a spectrum of performance metrics, including robust cycling stability without voltage overshoot and short-circuiting during 3000 h of cycling, stable operation at a high depth of charge/discharge of 75% and a high current density, >95% Coulombic efficiency over 2000 cycles, successful translation of the anode improvement to full cell performance. These polymer designs offer a transformative path based on the modular synthesis of polymeric coatings toward highly reversible Zn anode.

Reactive optimal motion planning to anywhere in the presence of moving obstacles

In this paper, a novel optimal motion planning framework that enables navigating optimally from any initial, to any final position within confined workspaces with convex, moving obstacles is presented. Our method outputs a smooth velocity vector field, which is then employed as a reference controller in order to sub-optimally avoid moving obstacles. The proposed approach leverages and extends desirable properties of reactive methods in order to provide a provably convergent and safe solution. Our algorithm is evaluated with both static and moving obstacles in synthetic environments and is compared against a variety of existing methods. The efficacy and applicability of the proposed scheme is finally validated in a high-fidelity simulation environment.

Periodontal vaccines via plantibodies: Bridging the gap between aspiration and achievement

Periodontitis, a multifaceted immune-inflammatory disorder, is intricately linked to systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. Recent advancements in cellular and molecular biology have catalyzed the development of innovative vaccination strategies for various viral diseases. The concept of vaccination, pioneered by Edward Jenner in the late 18th century, capitalizes on the phenomenon of acquired immunity following recovery from an illness. Jenner's groundbreaking work with cowpox virus, which conferred cross-protection against smallpox, laid the foundation for modern vaccination practices.The advent of microbial genome sequencing and bioinformatics has revolutionized our ability to explore the genetic makeup of human pathogens comprehensively. This approach holds promise for identifying novel targets for antimicrobial drugs and vaccines, providing new avenues for combating infectious diseases.Given the pervasive nature of periodontal disease, there is an imperative need for effective management and prevention strategies. In the realm of immunization, the emergence of plant-based vaccines represents a novel paradigm. This review employed various search engines, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, Medline, and Google Scholar, to identify pertinent articles in medical and dental research. The findings from these studies underscore the potential efficacy of plant-derived vaccines in addressing a diverse range of disorders, including periodontal disease.This comprehensive review sheds light on the broad spectrum of applications of plant-based vaccines in periodontal care. By harnessing the unique properties of plant-derived antigens, these vaccines hold promise for offering safe, effective, and scalable solutions for the prevention and management of periodontitis. Further research and clinical trials are warranted to explore the full potential of plant-based vaccines in revolutionizing periodontal therapeutics.

Antimicrobial polysaccharide hydrogels embedded with methyl-β-cyclodextrin/thyme oil inclusion complexes for exceptional mechanical performance and chilled chicken breast preservation

While hydrogels have potential for food packaging, limited research on hydrogels with excellent mechanical performance and antibacterial activity for preserving chicken breasts. Herein, we created antibacterial hydrogels by embedding methyl-β-cyclodextrin/thyme oil inclusion complexes (MCD/TO-ICs) into a polyvinyl alcohol matrix containing dendrobium polysaccharides and guar gum in varying ratios using freeze-thaw cycling method. The resulting hydrogels exhibited a more compact structure than those without MCD/TO-ICs, enhancing thermal stability and increasing glass transition temperature due to additional intermolecular interactions between polymer chains that inhibited chain movement. XRD analysis showed no significant changes in crystalline phase, enabling formation of a 3D network through abundant hydrogen bonding. Moreover, the hydrogel demonstrated exceptional durability, with a toughness of 350 ± 25 kJ/m3 and adequate tearing resistance of 340 ± 30 J/m2, capable of lifting 3 kg weight, 1200 times greater than the hydrogel itself. Additionally, the hydrogels displayed excellent antimicrobial activity and antioxidant properties. Importantly, the hydrogels effectively maintained TVB-N levels and microbial counts within acceptable ranges, preserving sensory properties and extending the shelf life of chilled chicken breasts by four days. This study highlights the potential of MCD/TO-IC-incorporated polysaccharide hydrogels as safe and effective active packaging solutions for preserving chilled chicken in food industry.

Artificial Intelligence for Safety-Critical Systems in Industrial and Transportation Domains: A Survey

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can enable the development of next-generation autonomous safety-critical systems in which Machine Learning (ML) algorithms learn optimized and safe solutions. AI can also support and assist human safety engineers in developing safety-critical systems. However, reconciling both cutting-edge and state-of-the-art AI technology with safety engineering processes and safety standards is an open challenge that must be addressed before AI can be fully embraced in safety-critical systems. Many works already address this challenge, resulting in a vast and fragmented literature. Focusing on the industrial and transportation domains, this survey structures and analyzes challenges, techniques, and methods for developing AI-based safety-critical systems, from traditional functional safety systems to autonomous systems. AI trustworthiness spans several dimensions, such as engineering, ethics and legal, and this survey focuses on the safety engineering dimension.

An Enhanced AES-ECC model with Key Dependent Dynamic S-Box for the Security of Mobile Applications using Cloud Computing

The spectacular growth of computational clouds has drawn attention and enabled intensive computing on client devices with constrained resources. Smart phones mostly use the data centre demand service model to provide data to computationally intensive applications. It is challenging to outsource sensitive and private information to distant data centres due to growing concerns about data privacy and security. Therefore, conventional security algorithms have to be upgraded to address the brand-new security concerns that have emerged in the cloud environment. The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm encrypts and decrypts messages using the four steps, namely Sub-Bytes, Shift-Rows, Mix-Columns, and Add Round Key. It has been changed so that the Sub-byte transformation depends on the round key. Making the S box round key dependent is intended to make it such that even a little change in the key will have a big impact on the cipher text. The avalanche effect and execution time of the standard and modified AES algorithms are implemented and assessed. In order to suggest a safe and efficient solution, the study also aims to modify the shift rows and the mix column phases of AES. Using cryptographic techniques such as elliptic curve cryptography (ECC), several protocols and algorithms have been developed to guarantee the security and integrity of the data. The proposed solution combines the enhanced and updated The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) technology with the ECC to guarantee data secrecy. The avalanche effect approach is used in this study to explore and analyze the strength and quality of the new s-box. The results demonstrated that each encryption operation generates a unique cipher text. A strong avalanche effect was also achieved with the redesigned dynamic s-box using irreducible polynomials, surpassing the strict avalanche criterion (SAC). The results show that the proposed method ECC-EAESKDS Elliptic Curve Cryptography-Enhanced AES with Key Dependent S box is efficient and yields better results than the alternatives. According to the suggested security architecture, cloud users may control data protection and integrity in a secure manner.

Reverse Logistics Network Design for Medical Waste Disposal under the Scenario of Uncertain Proposal Demand

With the development of the healthcare industry, the demand for medical services and protective equipment is boosted, causing the generation rate of infectious medical waste to increase rapidly. Therefore, it is of utmost importance for decision makers to effectively predict the potential risks and propose corresponding solutions. This paper investigates the reverse logistics network optimization for medical waste under the conditions of an uncertain proposal demand. Firstly, a prediction model of medical waste based on the SEIR epidemiological dynamics is constructed, in which both routine and public health emergency scenarios are simultaneously considered. Secondly, a bi-objective location-routing optimization model for a medical waste reverse logistics network is proposed, by simultaneously optimizing the total economic cost and potential risk throughout the entire logistics process. Subsequently, an NSGA-II algorithm is designed for a model solution in response to the model’s characteristics. The epidemiological dynamics-based prediction model is validated by the real case to be scientifically effective in predicting the amount of generated medical waste with a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 18.08%. The constructed reverse logistics network model and the NSGA II algorithm provide a medical waste process center location, transportation routing, and vehicle selection solutions for both routine and emergency public health cases of Xi’an city with large, medium, and small scales. The above results indicate that the research scheme proposed in this paper could significantly reduce the medical waste logistics-related risks and costs and provide decision makers with more safe and reliable logistical solutions.

The evolution and development of electronic payment in a bank. Case study: CPA-Bank

The research makes an attempt at analysing the state of affairs of the electronic payment in Algeria and propose perspectives for future development in that regard. To attain this objective, the bank of Crédit Populaire Algérie (CPA) in Algeria was taken as a case study. The primary reason of choosing this bank was by virtue of its leading market share in the local market and many electronic services and payment cards in use. The bank data from 2016 to 2022 was collected to perform an analysis of the growth rate of electronic payment services and to carry out a forecast of these services using exponential smoothing. Hypotheses tests demonstrate with validity that in the upcoming years, the number of electronic payment services will considerably increase. First, the use of electronic payment in Algeria has increased due to consumers’ changing preferences and due to the necessity of practical and safe payment solutions. Second, the bank used as a case study has invested in the development of electronic payment by proposing e-payment solutions to its consumers. Finally, the future of electronic payment will be marked by an increase in the number of electronic services. The findings of the research highlight consumers’ changing preferences towards electronic payment and consequently all banks should invest in designing and executing strategies of electronic payment services. It is recommended that scholars could use the findings of this research and perform a benchmark with other banks in Algeria or banks in other MENA countries. Moreover, the number of years could be further increased to determine if the growth of these services is to increase, decrease, or stay constant.

Efficacy Of Vocal Cord Medialization by Injection Thyroplasty Using Liquid Paraffin In Relieving Hoarseness Of Voice In Idiopathic And Traumatic Unilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis

Objective: The objective of the study was to measure the efficacy of injection thyroplasty by liquid paraffin in the medialization of vocal cords in permanent post-traumatic or idiopathic hoarseness. Methodology: A total of 37 patients were enrolled in the study after obtaining approval from the ethical review board. The sample size was calculated using the WHO sample size calculator. All the patients in the study presented with hoarseness of voice due to either traumatic injury, idiopathic aetiology, or post-thyroidectomy. Samples were selected by simple random sampling. It was a Quasi-experimental study. All patients underwent an injection thyroplasty procedure using liquid paraffin to medialize the vocal cords. All the procedures were done under local anaesthesia. The patients were kept in follow-up for 1 year at an interval of 3 months. All the data was entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 24. Paired sample t-test was applied to measure pre-procedure and post-procedure scores. Results: The mean age of the participants was 38 years. Out of 37 patients 23 (62%) patients presented within 6 months of hoarseness of voice. 14 (38%) patients presented after 6 months of hoarseness of voice. 19 out of 23 patients (83%) underwent only a single dose of liquid paraffin via injection thyroplasty to resolve hoarseness of voice. However, out of 14 patients, 7 patients (50%) reportedly had to undergo 2 doses of liquid paraffin via injection thyroplasty. The p-value calculated was &lt;0.005 which was statistically significant. Out of patients presenting after 6 months, 11 patients (79%) underwent transcervical phonation surgery. The p-value calculated was &lt;0.05 which is statistically significant. Conclusion: Our study concludes that liquid paraffin is a safe and cost-effective solution for vocal cord paralysis. Liquid paraffin is not expensive and easily available which can be implied to yield excellent results to improve hoarseness of voice. Patients with late presentation are less likely to get the benefit of this procedure and may have to go for invasive transcervical phonation surgeries. It is recommended that this procedure should be done within 6 months of the development of hoarseness of voice. Keywords: vocal cord palsy, unilateral vocal cord paralysis, laryngeal paralysis, liquid paraffin, injection thyroplasty

The Art of Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has historically evolved from gastroplasty and anti-reflux procedures into one of the most commonly performed primary metabolic surgeries in the United States and worldwide. Initially initiated in the 1980s as part of the duodenal switch procedure, its standalone effectiveness and simplicity have led to increasing popularity globally. The rise in obesity rates transcends age boundaries, alarmingly affecting not only adults but also the younger demographic. This escalating trend is concerning, as it predisposes these populations to numerous future health complications, as well as highlighting the critical necessity for a safe and potent weight loss strategy. Although sleeve gastrectomy carries a higher risk for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) compared to other bariatric procedures, it stands out as a reliable, safe and effective surgical solution for obesity. It is particularly beneficial for adolescents and patients with complex medical comorbidities, including, but not limited to, heart failure and immunocompromisation. It has also served as a bridge for transplants in morbidly obese patients with end-stage heart, liver and kidney disease due to its favorable safety profile.

Privacy-Preserving and Ranked Search Using Advanced Multi-Keyword Scheme Over the Encrypted Cloud Environment

In order to enable users to extract useful insights on demand, this paper presents a unique approach for secure and privacy-preserving ranked search in cloud environments. There is a rising need for strong systems that strike a balance between data utility and individual privacy as cloud-based data processing and storage become more and more prevalent. Our suggested methodology makes use of sophisticated multi-keyword operators and encryption methods to offer a safe and effective solution for cloud-based ranked search that protects privacy. Our methodology's essential component is the combination of a safe encryption technique and sophisticated multi-keyword search operators. With this combination, users can do ranked searches on encrypted data while maintaining the privacy of the underlying data. Our approach leverages strong cryptography protocols and an advanced indexing mechanism to provide rapid retrieval of relevant results while protecting confidential information from unauthorized individuals. Secure query processing techniques and encryption are added for added privacy protection. This guarantees that throughout the ranking search operations, the decrypted data cannot be accessed by the cloud service provider or any other parties participating in the data processing pipeline. Users don't have to compromise the privacy of their stored data or expose the exact text of their queries to obtain ranked results based on several keywords. Our technology is especially useful in situations when customers need instantaneous insights from data stored in the cloud without compromising privacy. Our technology protects the secrecy of the underlying datasets while enabling customers to obtain secure insights on demand in a variety of sensitive sectors, including financial analysis and medical research. The suggested method offers a strong and adaptable way to achieve privacy-preserving ranked search in cloud environments. Through the incorporation of sophisticated multi-keyword operators and encryption strategies, our approach guarantees users may effectively obtain pertinent data while maintaining personal privacy. With its ability to provide safe, anytime access to insights stored in cloud-based data repositories, this breakthrough has enormous potential for a variety of applications.

Stability study and validation of a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantitative analysis of polyphenols in fish feed ingredients

The perception of polyphenols as a safe, healthy, and sustainable solution for replacing synthetic antioxidants has been an important factor for their rapid growing in the global food market. Therefore, it is essential to use reliable methods for their quantification in commercial products intended for animal or human consumption. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of some solvents used for the extraction of selected polyphenols, explore their stability under different experimental conditions, and validate a liquid chromatography tandem mass-spectrometry method for their quantification in commercial fish feed ingredients by using the standard addition method. The regression models for gallic acid, hydroxytyrosol, catechin, oleuropein, carnosol and carnosic acid were linear in the range 0–30 μg/mL, limit of detection and quantification around 0.03 and 0.1 μg/mL, respectively, and accuracy within ± 15 % of the nominal concentrations. The method was successfully applied to the determination of specific polyphenols in commercial fish feed ingredients supplemented with polyphenols from olive and rosemary extracts.

Rechargeable Manganese Dioxide||Hard Carbon Lithium Batteries in an Ether Electrolyte

Earth-abundant, cost-effective electrode materials are essential for sustainable rechargeable batteries and global decarbonization. Manganese dioxide (MnO2) and hard carbon both exhibit high structural and chemical tunability, making them excellent electrode candidates for batteries. Herein, we elucidate the impact of electrolytes on the cycling performance of commercial electrolytic manganese dioxide in Li chemistry. We leverage synchrotron X-ray analysis to discern the chemical state and local structural characteristics of Mn during cycling, as well as to quantify the Mn deposition on the counter electrode. By using an ether-based electrolyte instead of conventional carbonate electrolytes, we circumvent the formation of a surface Mn(II)-layer and Mn dissolution from LixMnO2. Consequently, we achieved an impressive ∼100% capacity retention for MnO2 after 300 cycles at C/3. To create a lithium metal-lean full cell, we introduce hard carbon as the anode which is compatible with ether-based electrolytes. Commercial hard carbon delivers a specific capacity of ∼230 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 without plateau, indicating a surface-adsorption mechanism. The resulting manganese dioxide||hard carbon full cell exhibits stable cycling and high Coulombic efficiency. Our research provides a promising solution to develop cost-effective, scalable, and safe energy storage solutions using widely available manganese oxide and hard carbon materials.

Analyzing the safety of the parasiticide fungus Mucor circinelloides: first insights on its virulence profile and interactions with the avian gut microbial community.

Parasiticide fungi are considered an accurate, sustainable, and safe solution for the biocontrol of animal gastrointestinal (GI) parasites. This research provides an initial characterization of the virulence of the native parasiticide fungus Mucor circinelloides (FMV-FR1) and an assessment of its impact on birds' gut microbes. The genome of this fungus was sequenced to identify the genes coding for virulence factors. Also, this fungus was checked for the phenotypic expression of proteinase, lecithinase, DNase, gelatinase, hemolysin, and biofilm production. Finally, an in vivo trial was developed based on feeding M. circinelloides spores to laying hens and peacocks three times a week. Bird feces were collected for 3 months, with total genomic DNA being extracted and subjected to long-read 16S and 25S-28S sequencing. Genes coding for an iron permease (FTR1), iron receptors (FOB1 and FOB2), ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs) (ARF2 and ARF6), and a GTPase (CDC42) were identified in this M. circinelloides genome. Also, this fungus was positive only for lecithinase activity. The field trial revealed a fecal microbiome dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria in laying hens, and Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in peacocks, whereas the fecal mycobiome of both bird species was mainly composed of Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes fungi. Bacterial and fungal alpha-diversities did not differ between sampling time points after M. circinelloides administrations (P = 0.62 and P = 0.15, respectively). Although findings from this research suggest the lack of virulence of this M. circinelloides parasiticide isolate, more complementary in vitro and in vivo research is needed to conclude about the safety of its administration to birds, aiming at controlling their GI parasites.IMPORTANCEA previous study revealed that the native Mucor circinelloides isolate (FMV-FR1) can develop parasiticide activity toward coccidia oocysts, one of the most pathogenic GI parasites in birds. However, ensuring its safety for birds is of utmost importance, namely by studying its virulence profile and potential effect on commensal gut microbes. This initial study revealed that although this M. circinelloides isolate had genes coding for four types of virulence factors-iron permease, iron receptors, ADP-ribosylation factors, and GTPase-and only expressed phenotypically the enzyme lecithinase, the administration of its spores to laying hens and peacocks did not interfere with the abundances and diversities of their gut commensal bacteria and fungi. Although overall results suggest the lack of virulence of this M. circinelloides isolate, more complementary research is needed to conclude about the safety of its administration to birds in the scope of parasite biocontrol programs.

Radical rhetorics at/and the world’s end: epistemologies, ontologies, and otherwise possibilities

ABSTRACT This short essay introduces the special issue, “Radical Rhetorics at/and the World’s End,” which features original short essays that offer bold, risky, and provocative perspectives that share the general belief that we can no longer afford safe, incremental, or mechanical solutions and responses to the profound challenges that confront our planetary community/ies today. Rather than a new set of universals, or proscriptive, prescriptive, or diagnostic solutions, the essays included herein open an in/coherent political horizon and gesture to a diverse set of tools, concepts, and approaches that might help re-think what meaningful social change, world-building, and the pluriversal present and future might look like in all of its diversity, unpredictability, and in/coherence. This forum emerged from a roundtable discussion at the 2022 National Communication Association convention and was developed through a collaborative peer review process that involved all contributing authors. This introduction establishes the disciplinary, conceptual, and personal context surrounding this forum before providing a brief overview of the essays.

From cultural and natural heritage to reservoir of biomedicine: Prospection of bioactive compounds produced by bacterial isolates from caves

Caves, with distinctive features and specialized ecosystems, harbour microorganisms that have adapted metabolically to survive in seemingly harsh conditions with limited essential elements. Despite the potential threat of biodeterioration to subterranean heritage due to microbial proliferation, caves serve as vital reservoirs of bioactive compounds produced by subsurface-adapted microorganisms. These microorganisms form biofilms, producing diverse bioactive compounds with properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer capabilities. We conducted a comprehensive study with different bacterial strains isolated from terrestrial and marine caves (Escoural cave and in different caves on the Lanzarote island and on Selvagem Grande island). Extracts from these strains demonstrated potential in inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria, showed robust antioxidant effects, and exhibited antiproliferative activity against breast cancer cells, moreover some of these extracts (Knoellia sp. CI04-s2.2, Brevibacillus sp. MR02B-s3, Bacillus sp. CK03-s2 and Bacillus sp. SD03-s6) present more than one bioactivity. This study unveiled the potential of cave bacterial strains as valuable sources of bioactive compounds, with implications for the development of novel biocides and pharmaceuticals. Bioprospecting within these unique environments offers a distinct opportunity not only to explore and safeguard these ecosystems but also to promote the development of eco-friendly, safe, and sustainable solutions.

Evaluation of Antihyperlipidaemic and Cardioprotective Action of a Herbal Formulation

As per WHO, Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally. CVDs also impart a huge financial burden and remain a hurdle for sustainable development in low and middle income countries. Hence there is an urgent need to identify individuals with high CVD risk and begin appropriate preventive intervention well in advance. In this study, 60 individuals of either sex, within the age group of 30 – 70 years, having hyperlipidaemia along with more than 10% of CVD risk were identified in lipid screening camps with the help of JBS 3 Heart Risk android application tool. A combination of three well known herbs in capsule form containing 500mg extract of Guggulu (Commiphora mukul), Pushkarmool (Inula racemosa) and Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) in equal proportion was administered in a dose of 1 capsule twice daily after food with warm water for 3 months to treat hyperlipidaemia. Only 55 participants completed the trial. Different parameters of lipid profile, CVD risk score and biological heart age were compared before and after treatment using appropriate statistical method. The intervention resulted in reduction of total cholesterol by 17.49%, LDL by 21.04%, VLDL by 24.55% and Triglycerides by 24.55% whereas HDL increased by 10.48 %. As a secondary outcome, the mean CVD risk score was reduced by 6.91% and the mean biological heart age was also reduced by 6.64 years. The trial drug was well tolerated and free from adverse effects. Hence the trial drug can offer a safe and effective solution to individuals with hyperlipidaemia and moderate CVD risk.

PVDF piezoelectric sensor based on solution blow spinning fibers for structural stress/strain health monitoring

Strain monitoring is of great significance to the maintenance and safe operation of engineering structures. To address the shortcomings of piezoelectric ceramics such as high inflexibility and brittleness, in this study, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) fibrous films were prepared by a safe and efficient solution blow spinning technique. In the case of similar β-phase content, the preparing efficiency of PVDF fibers by the solution blow spinning method increased by about 8–10 times compared to that of electrospinning method in our previous work. The fibers with average diameter of 0.79 μm had the highest β-phase content, around 83%. A flexible piezoelectric fiber sensor with simple design for structural strain monitoring was prepared based on the PVDF fibers. The sensor responded well to strains as low as 23 μϵ, better than commercial strain gauges, with a high response accuracy of 1.11 mV/μϵ. And the piezoelectric properties of the sensors could charge a 4.7 μF capacitor to 3 V in 40 s, offering the potential for low-cost, self-powered structural health monitoring.

Effect of Uttar Basti in Management of Tubal Block

Infertility is a condition of reproductive system that causes people to be unable to get pregnant (conceive). It has been considered the second biggest reason for female infertility Infections, abdominal surgery, and diseases such as endometriosis can cause scarring at the inner linings of fallopian tubes. According to Acharya Susruta, four factors essential for conception are Ritu (season), Kshetra (reproductive system), Ambu (nourishing Substances) and Beeja (ovum and sperm). All these terms have broad are compared with the Artavavaha (Artava-bija-vaha) Srotas, blocking of fallopian tubes is compared with the Sanga Srotodushti of Aartavavaha Srotas.&#x0D; The goal of this study was to determine Uttar Bastis potential as a more affordable and safe solution for treating tubal obstruction. The present paper is based on a clinical success story of the treatment of primary infertility due to tubal blockage. After the 1-month of procedure improvement in general condition was reported. On completion of the second month patient reported amenorrhea in subsequent month and went for UPT which was positive. On USG (after 3 weeks) a single well-defined gestational sac with foetal cardiac activity was seen. The result obtained in this single case study was quite encouraging with minimum invasion and side effects as well as cost-effective. So, the treatment protocol can be followed for patients of infertility due to corneal end tubal block. Success was achieved with Uttar Basti and some supportive Ayurvedic formulations.