| 1. |
- Ahmed, Anisuddin, et al.
(author)
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Factors influencing delivery-related complications and their consequences in hard-to-reach areas of Bangladesh
- 2024
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In: Sexual & Reproductive HealthCare. - : Elsevier. - 1877-5756 .- 1877-5764. ; 40
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and objectives: Bangladesh's high maternal mortality ratio is exacerbated by delivery-related complications, particularly in hard-to-reach (HtR) areas with limited healthcare access. Despite this, few studies have explored delivery-related complications and factors contributing to these complications among the disadvantaged population. This study aimed to investigate the factors contributing to delivery-related complications and their consequences among the mothers residing in the HtR areas of Bangladesh. Methods: Data were collected using a cross-sectional study design from 13 HtR sub-districts of Bangladesh between September 2019 and October 2019. Data from 1,290 recently delivered mothers were analysed. Results: Around 32% (95% CI: 29.7-34.8) of the mothers reported at least one delivery-related complication. Prolonged labour pain (21%) was the highest reported complication during the delivery, followed by obstructive labour (20%), fever (14%), severe headache (14%). Mothers with higher education, a higher number of antenatal care (ANC) visits, complications during ANC, employed, and first-time mothers had higher odds of reporting delivery-related complications. More than one-half (51%) of these mothers had normal vaginal delivery. Nearly one-fifth (20%) of mothers who reported delivery-related complications were delivered by unskilled health workers at homes. On the other hand, about one-fifth (19%) of the mothers without any complications during delivery had a caesarean delivery. Nine out of ten of these caesarean deliveries were done at the private facilities. Conclusion: Delivery-related complications are significantly related to a woman's reproductive history and other background characteristics. Unnecessary caesarean delivery is prominent at private facilities.
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| 2. |
- Ahmed, Anisuddin, et al.
(author)
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Measuring the effectiveness of an integrated intervention package to improve the level of infection prevention and control : a multi-centre study in Bangladesh
- 2024
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In: Journal of Hospital Infection. - : Elsevier. - 0195-6701 .- 1532-2939. ; 145, s. 22-33
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a critical component of delivering safe, effective and high -quality healthcare services, and eliminating avoidable healthcare -associated infections (HAIs) in health facilities, predominantly in populationdense settings such as Bangladesh.Aim: Our study aimed to assess the effect of an integrated intervention package in improving the IPC level of the health facilities in Bangladesh.Methods: We conducted a pre -post intervention study in six district hospitals (DHs) and 13 Upazila Health Complexes (UHCs) in the six districts of Bangladesh. Baseline and endline assessments were conducted between March and December 2021 using the adapted World Health Organization Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Framework (WHO-IPCAF) tool. The IPCAF score, ranging from 0-800, was calculated by adding the scores of eight components, and the IPC promotion and practice level was categorized as Inadequate (0 -200), Basic (201-400), Intermediate (401-600) and Advanced (601-800). The integrated intervention package including IPC committee formation, healthcare provider training, logistics provision, necessary guidelines distribution, triage/flu corners establishment, and infrastructure development was implemented in all facilities.Results: The average IPCAF score across all the facilities showed a significant increase from 16% (95% CI: 11.5-20.65%) to 54% (95% CI: 51.4-57.1%). Overall, the IPCAF score increased by 34 percentage points (P<0.001) in DHs and 40 percentage points (P<0.001) in UHCs. Following the intervention, 12 (three DHs, nine UHCs) of 19 facilities progressed from inadequate to intermediate, and another three DHs upgraded from basic to intermediate in terms of IPC level.Conclusion: The integrated intervention package improved IPCAF score in all facilities.
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| 3. |
- Jabeen, Rida, et al.
(author)
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General construction of efficient circular partially strongly-balanced repeated measurements designs
- 2024
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In: Communications in statistics. Simulation and computation. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0361-0918 .- 1532-4141. ; 53:5, s. 2461-2471
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Residual effects in repeated measurements design (RMDs) leads to wrong estimation of direct treatment effects. Minimal strongly balanced RMDs are preferred to balance out the residual effects. The partially strongly balanced designs form an important family of RMDs which provide designs where minimal strongly balanced RMDs do not exist. In this article, a general construction of efficieint circular partially strongly-balanced RMDs is given in periods of k different sizes which produces these designs in periods of equal sizes, two different sizes, three different sizes, …, by putting k = 1, 2, 3, …, respectively.
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| 4. |
- David, Deepthi Anna, et al.
(author)
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Porous Carbon Materials and Their Composites for Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Shielding: The State-of-the-Art of Technologies
- 2023
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In: Materials Horizons. - Singapore : Springer Nature. ; , s. 669-702
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Portable gadgets and electronic devices are pervasive in any modern society today. However, these devices transmit electromagnetic radiations in radio frequency range called electromagnetic interference (EMI) which interfere with other electronic technologies. One of the most common hazards of EMI is the harm it can cause to medical devices and make them unreliable. Apart from this, EMI may affect the human tissue as well as can ignite flammables if not shielded. Hence, it is necessary to develop a material to absorb these EM waves. EMI shielding blocks radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation and can reduce the coupling of radio waves, electromagnetic fields, and electrostatic fields. EMI shielding depends mainly on electrical conductivity and magnetic permeability of shield material, the frequency of radiation. EMI shielding mainly involves three mechanisms: reflection, absorption, and multiple reflection. Reflection is often known as the primary mechanism for EMI where the shield material should possess mobile charge carriers such as electrons or holes, which interact with the EM field in the radiation. Since metals have more free electrons, they attenuate EM radiation significantly by reflection. For shielding by absorption, the shield should possess either electrical or magnetic dipoles, which interact with incoming EM radiation and help in the attenuation of EM radiation by absorption. Materials having a high dielectric constant, such as zinc oxide or barium titanate, may provide electric dipoles, while materials having a high magnetic permeability, such as ferrite or nickel, may offer magnetic dipoles. Multiple reflections also help in the attenuation of EM radiation. There are variety of materials employed for the fabrication of EMI shielding application including metals, polymers, carbon, ceramics, and their composite materials. Among these materials, the demand of carbon materials and their composites is growing for EMI shielding. Carbon materials are more attractive over metals which are by far the most common materials for this application, due to their oxidation resistance, chemical and thermal stability as well as lower density, and high dielectric loss properties. Since last two decades, among other 1D and 2D carbon-based materials; 3D porous graphite and amorphous carbon have been successfully developed, and their microwave absorption performance has been tested by many researchers. This chapter summarizes the state-of-the-art technological advanced in the area of EMI shielding with the focus on carbon and carbon-based composites.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Mushtaq, I, et al.
(author)
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A unique amphiphilic triblock copolymer, nontoxic to human blood and potential supramolecular drug delivery system for dexamethasone
- 2021
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In: Scientific reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 11:1, s. 21507-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The drug delivery system (DDS) often causes toxicity, triggering undesired cellular injuries. Thus, developing supramolecules used as DDS with tunable self-assembly and nontoxic behavior is highly desired. To address this, we aimed to develop a tunable amphiphilic ABA-type triblock copolymer that is nontoxic to human blood cells but also capable of self-assembling, binding and releasing the clinically used drug dexamethasone. We synthesized an ABA-type amphiphilic triblock copolymer (P2L) by incorporating tetra(aniline) TANI as a hydrophobic and redox active segment along with monomethoxy end-capped polyethylene glycol (mPEG2k; Mw = 2000 g mol−1) as biocompatible, flexible and hydrophilic part. Cell cytotoxicity was measured in whole human blood in vitro and lung cancer cells. Polymer-drug interactions were investigated by UV–Vis spectroscopy and computational analysis. Our synthesized copolymer P2L exhibited tuned self-assembly behavior with and without external stimuli and showed no toxicity in human blood samples. Computational analysis showed that P2L can encapsulate the clinically used drug dexamethasone and that drug uptake or release can also be triggered under oxidation or low pH conditions. In conclusion, copolymer P2L is nontoxic to human blood cells with the potential to carry and release anticancer/anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone. These findings may open up further investigations into implantable drug delivery systems/devices with precise drug administration and controlled release at specific locations.
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| 7. |
- Brengman, Latisha A., et al.
(author)
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Textural, geochemical, and isotopic data from silicified rocks and associated chemical sedimentary rocks in the ~ 2.7 Ga Abitibi greenstone belt, Canada : Insight into the role of silicification
- 2020
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In: Precambrian Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0301-9268 .- 1872-7433. ; 351
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Silica-rich Precambrian rocks often preserve geochemical information and microfossil remnants from the early biosphere and could play a critical role in the formation of early crust. Because these rocks are important geochemical and paleontological archives, we need to better constrain their geochemical and isotopic attributes and generate a refined picture of the evolving Archean silica cycle. Here, we investigate a series of sub- to greenschist facies Si-rich Archean rocks from the ~ 2.7 Ga Abitibi greenstone belt, Canada, that represent chemical sedimentary rocks and rocks formed via silica-addition through the process of silicification. We report data for major and trace element geochemistry, multi-crystal silicon and oxygen isotopes of quartz using isotope ratio mass spectrometry, and texture-specific silicon isotope values measured using secondary ion mass spectrometry on Neoarchean chemical sedimentary rocks, their silicified equivalents, and associated silicified volcanic rocks. We find that in such a well-preserved terrane we can utilize petrographic textures and geochemical attributes to establish rock origin, distinguishing siliceous rocks that form via chemical sedimentation from those that form via silicification. Chemical sedimentary rocks display a wide range of 30Si-depleted silicon isotopes values that vary with stratigraphy similar to other Archean iron formation. Silicified volcanic rocks possess 30Si-enriched values, similar to Archean silicified basalts. We conclude that because silicon isotope values of iron formation shift toward 30Si-enriched values up stratigraphy, basinal changes in the composition of the silicon isotope reservoir may be preserved. Silicon isotope values of silicified volcanic rocks by contrast, likely represent precipitation from an isotopically heavy silicon reservoir, influenced by downward percolating seawater and upward moving convecting fluids interacting with host volcanic rock (basalt or andesite). Overall, we confirm that Neoarchean silicified rocks are 30Si-enriched like their Paleoarchean counterparts.
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| 8. |
- Gadallah, Adel S., et al.
(author)
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Anti-Inflammatory Principles from Tamarix aphylla L. : A Bioassay-Guided Fractionation Study
- 2020
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In: Molecules. - : MDPI AG. - 1431-5157 .- 1420-3049. ; 25:13
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Natural products have served as primary remedies since ancient times due to their cultural acceptance and outstanding biodiversity. To investigate whether Tamarix aphylla L. modulates an inflammatory process, we carried out bioassay-guided isolation where the extracts and isolated compounds were tested for their modulatory effects on several inflammatory indicators, such as nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), proinflammatory cytokine; tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), as well as the proliferation of the lymphocyte T-cells. The aqueous ethanolic extract of the plant inhibited the intracellular ROS production, NO generation, and T-cell proliferation. The aqueous ethanolic crude extract was partitioned by liquid-liquid fractionation using n-hexane (n-C6H6), dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc),n-butanol (n-BuOH), and water (H2O). The DCM and n-BuOH extracts showed the highest activity against most inflammatory indicators and were further purified to obtain compounds 1-4. The structures of 3,5-dihydroxy-4',7-dimethoxyflavone (1) and 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid methyl ester (2) from the DCM extracts; and kaempferol (3), and 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-(E)-cinnamic acid (4) from then-BuOH extract were elucidated by different spectroscopic tools, including MS, NMR, UV, and IR. Compound 2 inhibited the production of ROS and TNF-alpha, whereas compound 3 showed inhibitory activity against all the tested mediators. A better understanding of the potential aspect of Tamarix aphylla L. derivatives as anti-inflammatory agents could open the door for the development of advanced anti-inflammatory entities.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Aaltonen, T., et al.
(author)
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Combined Forward-Backward Asymmetry Measurements in Top-Antitop Quark Production at the Tevatron
- 2018
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In: Physical Review Letters. - : AMER PHYSICAL SOC. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 120:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The CDF and D0 experiments at the Fermilab Tevatron have measured the asymmetry between yields of forward- and backward-produced top and antitop quarks based on their rapidity difference and the asymmetry between their decay leptons. These measurements use the full data sets collected in proton-antiproton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of root s = 1.96 TeV. We report the results of combinations of the inclusive asymmetries and their differential dependencies on relevant kinematic quantities. The combined inclusive asymmetry is A(FB)(t (t) over bar) = 0.128 +/- 0.025. The combined inclusive and differential asymmetries are consistent with recent standard model predictions.
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