Search

The study shows that a majority of the respondents belonged to male (59.08%) category whereas the remaining belonged to female (40.92%) category ,Majority of the respondents in this survey were married 354 (56.37%) whereas the remaining respondents were 274 (43.63%) unmarried who belonged to the category of students or younger generation., The study reveals that majority of the respondents i.e. 144 (22.93 %) were from the age group of up to 25 years and very few respondents i.e. 56 (8.92%) belonged to the age group of 66 and above, The survey finding reveals that majority of the respondents were bachelor's degree holders 162 (25.80%) and very few respondents were qualified in Technical and other fields 84 (13.38%). The study reveals that the majority of the respondents were from the student community 156 (24.84 %) which was followed by the retired person 109 (17.36 %), unemployed youth 107 (17.04 %), employee in private sector 104 (16.56 %) and employee in government sector 80 (12.74 %). The findings reveal that majority of the respondents 255 (40.61%) were getting a monthly income of Rs. 5001-10,000 whereas few respondents 71(11.31%) were getting a monthly income of below Rs.3, 000. The findings reveal that majority of the respondents 479 (76.27%) are the member of public library. Out of 76.27 percentages, male respondents contributed 47.29% and female respondents contributed 28.98 % to this study. Smaller percentage of respondents 149 (23.73%) who belonged to the non member category also contributed to this study. It is understood that out of 628 respondents, the majority of them 63.2% are visiting the library more than twice in a week and few respondents are visiting the library once in a month. It is understood that majority of the respondents spent one to two hours of time in the library and few respondents spent more than three hours of time in the library, Majority of the respondents i.e. 229 (36.46 %) prefer to visit the public library in the evening, Therefore, evening is most preferred and suitable time for the visit to the library; Keywords: Public Library, District Central Libraries, Online Public Access Catalogue, Current Awareness Services, newspapers, General Books., Introduction The Library is a social institution. Libraries form a vital part of the world social and educational system. They are entrusted with the responsibility of carrying knowledge to the [...]

The study shows that a majority of the respondents belonged to male (59.08%) category whereas the remaining belonged to female (40.92%) category ,Majority of the respondents in this survey were married 354 (56.37%) whereas the remaining respondents were 274 (43.63%) unmarried who belonged to the category of students or younger generation., The study reveals that majority of the respondents i.e. 144 (22.93 %) were from the age group of up to 25 years and very few respondents i.e. 56 (8.92%) belonged to the age group of 66 and above, The survey finding reveals that majority of the respondents were bachelor's degree holders 162 (25.80%) and very few respondents were qualified in Technical and other fields 84 (13.38%).The study reveals that the majority of the respondents were from the student community 156 (24.84 %) which was followed by the retired person 109 (17.36 %), unemployed youth 107 (17.04 %), employee in private sector 104 (16.56 %) and employee in government sector 80 (12.74 %). The findings reveal that majority of the respondents 255 (40.61%) were getting a monthly income of Rs. 5001-10,000 whereas few respondents 71(11.31%) were getting a monthly income of below Rs.3, 000.The findings reveal that majority of the respondents 479 (76.27%) are the member of public library. Out of 76.27 percentages, male respondents contributed 47.29% and female respondents contributed 28.98 % to this study. Smaller percentage of respondents 149 (23.73%) who belonged to the non member category also contributed to this study. It is understood that out of 628 respondents, the majority of them 63.2% are visiting the library more than twice in a week and few respondents are visiting the library once in a month. It is understood that majority of the respondents spent one to two hours of time in the library and few respondents spent more than three hours of time in the library, Majority of the respondents i.e. 229 (36.46 %) prefer to visit the public library in the evening, Therefore, evening is most preferred and suitable time for the visit to the library; Keywords: Public Library, District Central Libraries, Online Public Access Catalogue, Current Awareness Services, newspapers, General Books., Introduction The Library is a social institution. Libraries form a vital part of the world social and educational system. They are entrusted with the responsibility of carrying knowledge to the [...]

Sol-gel synthesized SnO2 nanoparticles with an average size of 20.0 nm obtained at 100° C were gradually annealed to 800° C in air for 60 minutes. Crystal density, lattice volume and microstrain are found to be nearly constant with annealing temperature, which confirm the formation of monophase SnO2. The prepared powders were characterized for their structural, morphological, and electrical properties. Spherical particles in the nanoscale level, with the size increasing with temperature are observed from XRD, SEM and TEM results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal influenza virus infections may lead to debilitating disease, and account for significant fatalities annually worldwide. Most of these deaths are attributed to the complications of secondary bacterial pneumonia. Evidence is accumulating to support the notion that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) harbor several antibacterial proteins, and trap and kill bacteria. We have previously demonstrated the induction of NETs that contribute to lung tissue injury in severe influenza pneumonia. However, the role of these NETs in secondary bacterial pneumonia is unclear. In this study, we explored whether NETs induced during pulmonary influenza infection have functional significance against infections with Streptococcus pneumoniae and other bacterial and fungal species. Our findings revealed that NETs do not participate in killing of Streptococcus pneumoniae in vivo and in vitro. Dual viral and bacterial infection elevated the bacterial load compared to animals infected with bacteria alone. Concurrently, enhanced lung pathogenesis was observed in dual-infected mice compared to those challenged with influenza virus or bacteria alone. The intensified NETs in dual-infected mice often appeared as clusters that were frequently filled with partially degraded DNA, as evidenced by punctate histone protein staining. The severe pulmonary pathology and excessive NETs generation in dual infection correlated with exaggerated inflammation and damage to the alveolar-capillary barrier. NETs stimulation in vitro did not significantly alter the gene expression of several antimicrobial proteins, and these NETs did not exhibit any bactericidal activity. Fungicidal activity against Candida albicans was observed at similar levels both in presence or absence of NETs. These results substantiate that the NETs released by primary influenza infection do not protect against secondary bacterial infection, but may compromise lung function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organometallic lead halide perovskite powders have gained widespread attention for their intriguing properties, showcasing remarkable performance in the optoelectronic applications. In this study, formamidinium lead iodide (α-FAPbI 3 ) microcrystals (MCs) is synthesized using retrograde solubility-driven crystallization. Additionally, methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr 3 ) and cesium lead iodide (δ-CsPbI 3 ) MCs are prepared through a sonochemical process, employing low-grade PbX 2 (X = I & Br) precursors and an eco-friendly green solvent (γ-Valerolactone). The study encompasses an analysis of the structural, optical, thermal, elemental, and morphological characteristics of FAPbI 3, MAPbBr 3 , and CsPbI 3 MCs. Upon analysing phase stability, a phase transition in FAPbI 3 MCs is observed after 2 weeks. To address this issue, a powder-based mechanochemical method is employed to synthesize stable mixed cation perovskite powders (MCPs) by subjecting FAPbI 3 and MAPbBr 3 MCs with varying concentrations of CsPbI 3 . Furthermore, the performance of mixed cation perovskites are examined using the Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS-1D) software. The impact of cesium incorporation in the photovoltaic characteristics is elucidated. All mixed cation absorbers exhibited optimal device performance with a thickness ranging between 0.6-1.5 µm. It's worth noting that the MCPs exhibit impressive ambient stability, remaining structurally intact and retaining their properties without significant degradation for 70 days of ambient exposure., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Background: The dengue virus is present throughout the tropics. Thrombocytopenia is one of the severe manifestations of the dengue virus. We studied the association of thrombocytopenia with serum transaminase level, leucopenia, and nonstructural protein one antigen (Ns1Ag) level., Methods: Data were taken retrospectively from hospital records after obtaining ethical committee approval. In the study, we included 102 patients with acute febrile illness with clinical features suggestive of dengue fever (dengue Ns1Ag positive, dengue IgM positive, or both). We excluded patients with thrombocytopenia due to other causes. Patients' demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters were collected. We also noted episodes of bleeding or the need for a platelet transfusion. We did a statistical analysis to find out the correlation between age, sex, leucopenia, transaminitis, Ns1Ag level, and thrombocytopenia and its severity., Results: Multiple regression analysis was used to find thrombocytopenia predictors among aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), Ns1Ag level, and leucopenia. AST and ALT correlated inversely with thrombocytopenia, with p-values of 0.012 and 0.027, respectively. Ns1Ag and leucopenia were not associated with thrombocytopenia, with p-values of 0.802 and 0.532, respectively (p-values significant at 0.01<= p<=0.05)., Conclusion: Serum AST and ALT levels correlate with thrombocytopenia in dengue fever., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Ramalingam et al.)

The binary chalcogenide material Sb 2 Te 3 was synthesized via the melting technique. The synthesized materials were converted to a single crystal through the Bridgman-Stockbarger technique. The phase purity and structural properties of the grown crystal were analyzed using powder X-ray diffraction and single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements. X-ray photoemission spectroscopy reveals the local intermolecular bonding, changes in the stoichiometry, and the oxidation states of the elements present in the crystal. Transport properties like electrical resistivity, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity were measured. The power factor and figure of merit (ZT) of the grown crystal were calculated., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

In this study, we report about the preparation of nickel cobalt telluride nanorods (NiCoTe NRs) by the hydrothermal method using ascorbic acid and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as reducing agents. The NiCoTe NRs (NCT 1 NRs) were characterized through use of different methods. The nonlinear optical measurements were carried out using Z-scan techniques. The results give the nonlinear absorption that arises from the combined two photon absorption and free carrier absorption. NCT 1 has an excellent electrocatalytic activity toward hydrogen peroxide with a sensitivity of 3464 μA mM -1 cm -2 , a wide linear range of 0.002-1835 μM, and the lower detection limit of 0.02 μM, and the prepared electrode was strong in sensing in vivo H 2 O 2 free from raw 264.7 cells. Therefore, the binary transition metal chalcogenide based nanostructures have promising potential in live cell biosensing applications., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Myristica fragrans, also known as nutmeg, is a spice that cures various diseases. This study aimed to synthesize silver nanoparticles from a hydroethanolic extract of Myristica fragrans seeds (MFHE) and evaluate their anti-diabetic properties. To MFHE, AgNO 3 solution was added and exposed to sunlight to produce silver nanoparticles from hydroethanolic seed extract of Myristica fragrans (MFHENP). The MFHENP was characterized by numerous techniques. UV-visible spectroscopy confirmed the formation of silver nanoparticles by the absorption peak at 430nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies revealed the shape and size of the particles at the range of 50-60nm. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) disclosed the presence of silver ions. X-ray diffraction spectrum confirmed the crystalline nature of silver nanoparticles by the peak at 39°. FTIR analysis revealed the functional groups present in MFHE as well as in MFHENP and zeta potential analysis was found to be 14mV. Furthermore, in vitro anti-diabetic activity was investigated. MFHENP showed significant efficiency against the inhibition of alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes and also MFHENP retarded the glucose transport across the membrane which is analyzed by glucose diffusion and glucose uptake assays. Acarbose is used as a standard for all these methods and MFHENP efficiency proves their therapeutic potential for the treatment of diabetes mellitus., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 nanocomposites (NCs) are fabricated by optimization of calcination and subsequent hydrothermal technique decorated with CeO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) to build the g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 -CeO 2 hybrid NCs. The chemical and surface characterizations of structural, morphological, elemental composition, optical, photo-degradation, HER performance and the DFT computation has been efficiently analyzed. The g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 -CeO 2 composite photocatalysts (PCs) exhibit photocatalytic improved performance (∼97 %) for MB aqueous dye related to pristine g-C 3 N 4 and g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 composite PCs. The obtained k value of the g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 /CeO 2 heterostructure composite PCs has around 0.0262 min -1 and 6.1, 2.6 and 1.5 times higher than to g-C 3 N 4 (0.0043 min -1 ), g-C 3 N 4 /CeO 2 (0.0099 min -1 ) and g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 (0.0180 min -1 ) PCs respectively. Likewise, the synergistic probable S-scheme charge separation mechanism based on scavengers' tests and other values, which leads to effective separation of photo-excited (e - -h + ) pairs, whereas high degradation and more H 2 O molecules have photo-reduction to H 2 . The H 2 evolution reaction (HER) and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of the as-obtained samples were explored via electrochemical study. This exertion recommends that the rational strategy and building of g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 -CeO 2 nano-heterostructures were beneficial for developing visible-light-driven recyclable PCs for ecological refinement., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A systematic interpretation of the undoped and Fe doped ZnO based multifunctional sensor developed employing economic and facile low-temperature hydrothermal method is reported. The tailoring of the performance improvement of the sensor was deliberately carried out using varied concentration (1, 3 and 5 Wt%) of Fe dopant in ZnO nanorods. The structural and morphological analysis reveal the undisturbed ZnO hexagonal wurtzite structure formation and 1D morphology grown even when the dopant is added. The optical property study evidences a decreased bandgap (3.10 eV) and decreased defects of 5 Wt% of Fe dopant in ZnO nanorods based sensor compared to the undoped one. The electrical process transpiring in the tailored multifunctional sensor is investigated using photoconductivity and impedance analysis elucidates proper construction of p-n junction between the piezoelectric n-type active layer (undoped and Fe doped ZnO nanorods) and p-type PEDOT:PSS ((poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate)) and reduced internal resistance of 5 Wt% of Fe dopant in ZnO nanorods based sensor (131.97 Ω) respectively. The investigation on the experimental piezoelectric acceleration and gas sensing validation and the performance measurement were interpreted using test systems. A revamped output voltage of 3.71 V for 1 g input acceleration and a comprehensive sensitivity of 7.17 V g -1 was achieved for the 5 Wt% of Fe dopant in ZnO nanorods based sensor sensor. Similarly, an upgraded sensitivity of 2.04 and 6.75 for 5 Wt% of Fe dopant in ZnO nanorods based sensor was obtained when exposed to 10 ppm of target gases namely CO and CH 4 respectively at room temperature. Appending to this, acceptable stability of the sensor for both the sensing (acceleration and gas) was also attained manifesting its prospective application in multifunctional based systems like sewage systems., (© 2021 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Aim: The quantification of neutrophils in blood is done to primarily screen the patients with acute infections. On the other hand, the neutrophils have also shown the antimicrobial activity by allowing the host cells to perform the primary function of preventing the wounds from being infected. The aim of this study was to quantify the blood neutrophil count in patients with chronic gingivitis and chronic periodontitis and to compare with the healthy controls in order to assess the protective role of neutrophils in periodontal inflammation., Methods and Material: A total of 30 subjects in the age group of 30-55 years were selected. Based on the clinical examination, the subjects were divided into three groups Group I (healthy), Group II (chronic gingivitis) and Group III (chronic periodontitis). The clinical parameters such as modified gingival index (MGI) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded. Two millilitres of venous blood was collected from each participant in all the groups and the differential neutrophil counts were obtained using the Neubauer's chamber under a light microscope. One way ANOVA test was used to calculate the mean and standard deviation for MGI, CAL and blood neutrophil count among various groups., Results: The mean neutrophil counts in the various study groups were 63.300, 64.100 and 60.800 in Group I, Group II and Group III, respectively. Though there was a decrease in the mean neutrophil count from Group II to Group III, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups., Conclusion: In our study, there was no significant increase in neutrophil count in chronic periodontitis as compared to healthy controls, thereby explaining the protective role of neutrophils in periodontal inflammation., Competing Interests: None

Background and Aims: To assess the factors influencing the awareness and practice of oral hygiene among the local population Maduravoyal, Chennai, India., Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire based study was conducted to understand the factors influencing the choice and practice of oral hygiene products among the population of Maduravoyal, Chennai, India. Data was collected by means of a self administered structured questionnaire written in English and validated through a pilot survey. One thousand two hundred and nine subjects, with an age range of 15 to 70 years, who visited the Department of Periodontology, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College, Chennai were selected for investigation. The data obtained was analyzed using the SPSS version 13.0. The frequency of distribution and percentages were calculated., Results: The results of the study showed that tooth brush (98.5%) and toothpaste (98%) were the main products used for the maintenance of oral hygiene and around 84.6% of the population brushed once daily. Information from the media (59.4%) and decay prevention (49.7%) were the major factors that influenced the choice of toothpaste among the study population., Conclusion: The major factor which influenced the choice of oral hygiene products was based on information obtained from advertisements and other sources. There is a need for the dental professionals to be aware of the ever-increasing development and marketing of oral hygiene products from various databases. Hence, the education of people regarding the importance of oral hygiene maintenance, proper selection of oral hygiene products is essential.

Aim: The present study was carried out to evaluate and compare the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) concentrations of leptin in periodontally healthy and diseased subjects, to compare GCF leptin levels with respect to Body Mass Index (BMI) among the study groups and essentially to obtain an insight into leptin's possible role in the initiation and progression of periodontal disease., Materials and Methods: A total of 60 subjects; both males and females, based on their body mass index were selected for the study. They were categorized into three groups of 20 subjects each, based on their periodontal status, as follows: Group I (clinically healthy periodontium); Group II (gingivitis); Group III (chronic periodontitis). GCF samples of 1 μl were collected extra-crevicularly using black color-coded 1-5 μl calibrated volumetric microcapillary pipettes from one site in each person, and samples were analyzed for leptin using a commercially available ELISA kit., Results: The concentration of leptin in GCF of patients in Group I (2272.25 pg/mL) was statistically higher (p < 0.001) than in those of Group II (1421.86 pg/mL) and Group III (1160.67 pg/mL). No statistically significant difference was found when comparing the mean values of leptin between BMI groups in each study group., Conclusion: As periodontal disease progressed, there was a substantial decrease in the gingival crevicular fluid leptin concentration. This suggests a protective role of leptin with regard to periodontal health.

Context: Invasion of the bifurcation and trifurcation of the multi-rooted teeth resulting in furcation involvement is one of the serious complications of periodontitis., Aim: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy using anorganic bovine bone graft and resorbable guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membrane versus open flap debridement alone in the management of Grade II furcation defects in mandibular molars., Materials and Methods: The study included a total number of 20 sites in 10 patients with bilateral mandibular furcation defects, out of which 10 sites were treated as test group and 10 as control group. The test group was treated with combination therapy and the control group with open flap debridement alone. The parameters were recorded on 0 day (baseline), 90th day, and 180th day, which included vertical probing depth and horizontal probing depth of the furcation defect, clinical attachment level, and defect fill., Statistical Analysis Used: Mean and standard deviation were calculated for different variables in each study group at different time points. Mean values were compared by using Wilcoxon signed ranks test, after adjusting the P values for multiple comparison by using Bonferroni correction method., Results: Both the test and control groups showed a definitive improvement in clinical parameters, which was statistically significant. On comparison, the vertical probing depth showed significant reduction in the test group with a mean reduction of 3.1 ± 0.7 mm, when compared to the control group which showed a mean reduction of 1.5 ± 0.5 mm. The horizontal probing depth of furcation defects was also significantly reduced in the test group with a mean reduction of 2.2 ± 0.6 mm, when compared to the control group in which the mean reduction was 0.9 ± 0.3 mm. There was also significant gain in attachment level in the test group which showed a mean gain of 3.2 ± 0.6 mm, when compared to the control group which showed a gain of 1.2 ± 0.6 mm. Radiographic defect fill was found to be more in the test group with a mean gain of 2.0 ± 0.1 mm, when compared to the control group which showed a defect fill of 0.2 ± 0.1 mm., Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated that the combined use of anorganic bovine bone graft and resorbable GTR membrane is effective than open flap debridement alone in the treatment of mandibular grade II furcation defects.

Dental implant is a device made of alloplastic (foreign) material implanted into the jaw bone beneath the mucosal layer to support a fixed or removable dental prosthesis. Dental implants are gaining immense popularity and wide acceptance because they not only replace lost teeth but also provide permanent restorations that do not interfere with oral function or speech or compromise the self-esteem of a patient. Appropriate treatment planning for replacement of lost teeth is required and imaging plays a pivotal role to ensure a satisfactory outcome. The development of pre-surgical imaging techniques and surgical templates helps the dentist place the implants with relative ease. This article focuses on various types of imaging modalities that have a pivotal role in implant therapy.