21 research outputs found
Management of Colorectal Cancers in a Public Sector Hospital: A Lower-Middle-Income Country Experience
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The effect of locating public transit stations on their walking accessibility using an actual street network
No full textTransit-oriented development is a need of the modern world. It not only has the potential to solve traffic-related problems but also needs to comply with sustainability and equity. As a case study, bus rapid transit of the twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad in Pakistan is examined. The study utilizes a GIS-based analysis that quantifies the impact of street network attributes surrounding transit stations on pedestrian accessibility to optimize the station location in an urban environment. A GIS application is used to model the actual pedestrian network around transit stations, where street network attributes like density, connectivity and configuration are evaluated. Walking accessibility indices are estimated based on street network attributes. Results revealed that there exists a trend in accessibility index values and street network attributes, where network configuration is the most significant aspect in explaining accessibility. The actual network-based analysis demonstrated in this study can assist planners and policy makers in the strategic positioning of future transit stations while selecting network attributes that are crucial for walking accessibility
Electro-osmotic transport of a Williamson fluid within a ciliated microchannel with heat transfer analysis
No full textA novel theoretical model is devised for electro osmotic flow of Williamson fluid model by incorporating heat transfer phenomena in a micro ciliated channel. The physical fluid model is designed by exploiting the renowned Debye–Huckel, long wavelength small Reynolds number approximation. The exact expression for Poisson–Boltzmann equation is obtained to find the analytical solution for axial velocity, pressure gradient, temperature and stream functions comprehensively by using perturbation technique. Whereas, transverse velocity and pressure rise profile are explored numerically through the MATHEMATICA software infrastructure. The variations of paramount significant parameters on the velocity distribution, temperature, pressure gradient and pressure rise per wavelength are demonstrated graphically. It has been investigated that axial velocity profiles escalates with enhancing Weissenberg, electro-osmotic, mobility of medium parameter, while dual behavior is recorded for the case of traverse component of velocity. Cilia plays a crucial role in ductus efferentes and assumed to transfer sperm through the rete testis to the epididymis. Besides above mentioned application cilia like actuators serve in micro-mixers to regulate the flow in bio-sensors and in various drug-delivery mechanism
Sero-Prevalence of Brucellosis in Occupationally High-Risk Groups in Three Different Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
No full textObjectives: Brucellosis is a neglected zoonotic disease in Pakistan, but it causes immense impact on livestock and public health. This study was done to determine the prevalence of Brucellosis in occupationally high-risk groups encompassing butchers, milkers, and cattle caretakers in district Swabi, Mardan, and Peshawar of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 300 blood samples were collected through a non-probability purposive sampling technique from occupationally high-risk groups including butchers, milkers, and cattle caretakers at district Swabi, Mardan, and Peshawar from December 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018. All the blood samples were centrifuged and the serum was separated for further testing. Serum agglutination test was used for the detection of Brucellosis and the reagents used for this method were purchased from Biosciences PTE Ltd, Singapore.
Results: Out of 300 blood samples, 111 samples were positive and the overall prevalence of Brucellosis was 37% in occupationally high-risk groups. The overall 37% prevalence of Brucellosis comprised of 70% of B. abortus, 21.6% of B. melitensis, and 8.1% of both B. abortus and B. melitensis simultaneously. The prevalence of Brucellosis in butchers was 27.6%, milkers 13.3%, and cattle caretakers 45.7% while prevalence in males was 33% and in females 39.6%. The prevalence of Brucellosis in district Swabi was 45%, Mardan 33.3%, and Peshawar 30%. The socio demographic factors including age group, occupation, and locality showed statistically significant results.
Conclusion: The prevalence of Brucellosis is considerably higher in occupationally high-risk groups in district Swabi, Mardan, and Peshawar, Pakistan
Intelligent framework for dual solutions of copper oxide nanoparticles suspension in thermally varied fluid reservoirs using the Koo–Kleinstreuer–Li (KKL) Model
No full textThis analysis examines the thermal and momentum physiognomies of copper oxide nanoparticle suspensions (nanofluids) past a permeable wall, including general magnetic effects. Understanding these dynamics is critical for enhancing heat transfer in numerous engineering applications, such as cooling and energy systems. The Koo–Kleinstreuer–Li (KKL) rheological model is used to develop a mathematical outline that incorporate for both static and Brownian thermal conductivities. Dual solutions for the velocity and temperature profiles are calculated under varying circumstances. An artificial neural network (ANN) method is applied to confirm the precision of the results, employing convergence plots of mean squared errors, histograms, and regression investigation. The outcomes disclose that the generalized magnetic effects along with permeability of surface meaningfully impact both the velocity and temperature distributions, with copper oxide nanoparticles enhancing thermal conductivity by up to 20 %. This effort extends existing models by integrating ANN-based optimization and providing more reliable predictions for nanofluid behavior in thermally variable environments. The results recommend that magnetic effects and thermal conductivity can be leveraged to enhance heat transfer processes in nanofluid-based systems
BURDEN OF HEPATITIS B AND HEPATITIS C VIRUS IN HAEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS
No full textBackgrounds: Hepatitis B and C viral infection is a common issue worldwide and can cause hepatocellular carcinoma, chronic liver disorders and liver cirrhosis. Patients on haemodialysis are at high risk for hepatitis B and C viral infection due to manifold transfusions, renal transplant and incessant use of dialysis material. Objective of the study is to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and C in patients on haemodialysis.
Methods:This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted at the Institute of Kidney Diseases, Peshawar, Pakistan on kidney failure patients from January to May 2017. Two hundred and sixty two [262] patients were randomly selected and blood samples were taken before dialysis, screened for anti-HCV and hepatitis B surface antigen using ICT method, and all infected cases were confirmed by ELISA [generation 4]. Analysis of data was performed using SPSS version 22 software.
Results: In the present study 262 haemodialysis patients were screened for both HCV and HBsAg in which 151 [57.63%] were male and 111 [42.36%] were female patients. Mean age of the patient was 42.51 ± 14.69 years [15-67 years]. Out of total patients, 62 patients were infected with hepatitis B and C viral infection in which 47 [17.93%] were found positive for hepatitis C including 28 male and 19 female, whereas 15 [5.12%] were positive for hepatitis B including 7 male and 8 female. The highest prevalence was examined among 40-60 years [42.94%] of age group.
Conclusion: The current study reveals that patients of haemodialysis are more prone to hepatitis B and C infection. It is further known that vulnerability for HCV is more [17.93%] than HBsAg [5.12%] in such patients.
Key words: Haemodialysis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Prevalenc
Optimization of waste biomass demineralization through response surface methodology and enhancement of thermochemical and fusion properties
No full textAbstract This study examines the impact of leaching with dilute hydrochloric acid solution on the reduction of ash content and the thermal degradation behavior of sugarcane bagasse. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to statistically design the experiments and investigate the effect of three independent variables: treatment time, solid-to-liquid ratio, and reagent concentration. The leaching conditions were further optimized and experimentally validated for maximum ash reduction for suitability of treated biomass as feedstock for thermochemical conversion technologies. Reagent concentration and treatment time directly affected ash reduction, while the solid-to-liquid ratio inversely influenced it. Concentration had the highest impact, and treatment duration had the least. The maximum 78.2% ash reduction was achieved by treating the biomass with 1 M HCl for 80 min at a solid-to-liquid ratio of 50:1 (wt/vol). This ash reduction also resulted in a 9.82% increase in higher heating value (HHV). Hemicellulose hydrolysis during leaching was observed through chemical composition and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Ash fusion temperatures increased, indicating more thermally stable biomass. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed elevated maximum degradation temperature and activation energy
Formulation and in-vitro evaluation of topically applied curcumin hydrogel
No full textThe study aims to investigate a transdermal hydrogel formulation containing curcumin, which would attenuate the low bioavailability associated with oral administration of the drug. Carboxy polymethylene was used to develop topical hydrogel formulations of curcumin with different concentrations of penetration enhancers. Rheological properties, drug content, skin irritation, stability and in-vitro permeation studies were conducted. Permeation experiments were performed on silicon membrane and excised abdominal rabbit skin using Franz Diffusion Cell. All the prepared hydrogel formulations containing Curcumin showed good consistency, homogeneity, spreadability and has wider prospect for topical preparation. The formulation containing Curcumin (2 % w/w gel) and olive oil (2 % w/w, as enhancer) was found to have good permeation of the drug across artificial skin as well as rabbit skin. The anti-inflammatory activity of 2 % w/w Curcumin hydrogel in the rat hind paw edema model revealed that the drug was delivered to the inflammation site at a controlled rate over a desired period of about 3 h, using carboxy polymethylene as gel forming polymer and olive oil and tween 80 as penetration enhancers.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire
