Nerve conduction studies and its importance in diagnosis of acute poliomyelitis

Motor nerve conduction velocities was performed on 50 subjects in the pediatric age group. Thirty two patients with acute poliomyelitis and 18 controls. The MNCV was studied in the median nerve in the upper limb and the posterior tibial in the lower limb. The motor nerve conduction velocity in polio patients matched well with the controls, as well as within the accepted standards for normal. The MNCV of the median nerve ranged from 41.8±2.76 m/sec in under 1 year to 44±2.1 m/sec in 3–8 years, in polio patients, while the range in controls varied from 37 to 53 m/sec. Similarly, for the posterior tibial nerve, in polio patients the value of MNCV varied from 38.7±4.9 m/sec to 42.5±3.1 m/sec. In the controls, also the MNCV ranged from 38.5±6.3 m/sec to 48.4±3.42 m/sec. Thus, no delay on the motor nerve conduction velocity was seen. Poliomyelitis is a major problem in developing countries like Pakistan and India, where serological diagnosis is a luxury. The determination of motor nerve conduction velocity provides a quick and easy method of distinguishing poliomyelitis from other motor nerve disorders esp. Guillian Barre syndrome.     

The Disclosure Process and its Impact on South Asian Families with a Child with Severe Intellectual Disabilities

Background Although several research studies have investigated parental experiences of the disclosure process in White families with a child with severe disabilities, little work has focused on the experiences of South Asian families. Materials and methods This study aimed to provide a rich picture of the disclosure experiences of South Asian parents of a child with severe intellectual disabilities, using semi‐structured qualitative interviews with 26 parents over two time points, and structured quantitative interviews with 136 parents. Results Parents reported variable experiences of the disclosure process, with many parents experiencing disclosure in the wrong language for them and most parents reporting little post‐disclosure support. Parents identified good practice in disclosure as prompt disclosure in the appropriate language, with the partner present (where possible), with emotional support as part of the process, with clear and practical information, and linked to post‐disclosure support from a keyworker. Conclusions Good practice in disclosure was also associated with parental understanding of their child, and parents being more likely to mobilize informal and formal supports. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

Nanoimprinted Hybrid Metal-Semiconductor Plasmonic Multilayers with Controlled Surface Nano Architecture for Applications in NIR Detectors

We present a proof of concept for tunable plasmon resonance frequencies in a core shell nano-architectured hybrid metal-semiconductor multilayer structure, with Ag as the active shell and ITO as the dielectric modulation media. Our method relies on the collective change in the dielectric function within the metal semiconductor interface to control the surface. Here we report fabrication and optical spectroscopy studies of large-area, nanostructured, hybrid silver and indium tin oxide (ITO) structures, with feature sizes below 100 nm and a controlled surface architecture. The optical and electrical properties of these core shell electrodes, including the surface plasmon frequency, can be tuned by suitably changing the order and thickness of the dielectric layers. By varying the dimensions of the nanopillars, the surface plasmon wavelength of the nanopillar Ag can be tuned from 650 to 690 nm. Adding layers of ITO to the structure further shifts the resonance wavelength toward the IR region and, depending on the sequence and thickness of the layers within the structure, we show that such structures can be applied in sensing devices including enhancing silicon as a photodetection material.     

Peri‐implant soft tissue inflammatory parameters and crestal bone loss among waterpipe (narghile) smokers and never‐smokers with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus

1 Background

Peri‐implant soft tissue inflammatory parameters and crestal bone loss (CBL) among waterpipe smokers (WS) with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains uninvestigated. The aim of the present study was to assess peri‐implant soft tissue inflammatory parameters and CBL among WS and never smokers (NS) with and without T2DM.

2 Methods

Demographic data and information regarding duration of implants in function, daily frequency of smoking, duration and treatment of T2DM, and daily toothbrushing was collected using a questionnaire. Peri‐implant plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD) ≥4 mm, CBL, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were assessed in all individuals. Level of significance was set at 5%.

3 Results

Seventy‐nine male individuals (39 patients with T2DM [20 WS and 19 NS] and 40 systemically healthy individuals [21 WS smokers and 19 NS]) were included. The mean age was comparable among individuals in all groups. The mean HbA1c levels were significantly higher among patients with T2DM compared to controls (P < 0.01). Peri‐implant PI, BOP, PD, and CBL were comparable among WS and NS with T2DM. Among patients without T2DM, PI (P < 0.05), PD ≥4 mm (P < 0.05) and mesial and distal CBL (P < 0.05) were significantly higher in WS than NS. Among individuals without T2DM, BOP was significantly higher among NS (P < 0.05) than WS. In patients with T2DM, BOP was comparable among WS and NS.

4 Conclusions

Peri‐implant soft tissue inflammatory parameters and CBL were comparable among WS and NS with T2DM. Among individuals without T2DM, these parameters were worse among WS than NS.     

Bioresource derived porous carbon from cottonseed hull for removal of triclosan and electrochemical application

Biomass-derived porous carbon materials have drawn considerable attention due to their natural abundance and low cost. In this work, nitrogen enriched porous carbons (NRPCs) with large surface areas were designed and prepared from cottonseed hull via simultaneous carbonization and activation with a facile one-pot approach. The NRPCs were tunable in terms of pore structure, nitrogen content and morphology by adjusting the ratio of the carbon precursor (cottonseed hull), nitrogen source (urea), and activation agent (KOH). The as-synthesized NRPCs exhibited three-dimensional oriented and interlinked porous structure, high specific surface area (1160–2573 m² g⁻¹) and a high level of nitrogen-doping (6.02–10.7%). In a three electrode system, NRPCs prepared at 800 °C with the ratio (cottonseed hull : KOH : urea) of 1 : 1 : 2 (NRPC-112) showed a high specific capacitance of 340 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.5 A g⁻¹ and good rate capability (∼80% retention at a current density of 10 A g⁻¹) with 6 M KOH as electrolyte. In a two electrode cell, NRPC-112 demonstrated a high specific capacitance of 304 F g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹ and an excellent rate capacity (∼71% retention at current density of 10 A g⁻¹) as well as excellent cycling stability (∼91% retention at 5 A g⁻¹) after 5000 cycles. Furthermore, the NRPCs exhibited an extraordinary adsorption capacity up to 205 mg g⁻¹ for emerging pollutant triclosan. The work provided a sustainable approach to prepare functional carbon materials from biomass-based resource for environment remediation and electrochemical applications.

Biomass derived nitrogen-enriched porous carbon materials from cottonseed hull for emerging pollutant triclosan removal and electrochemical application.     

A DFT study on nanocones,nanotubes (4,0), nanosheets and fullerene C60 as anodes in Mg-ion batteries

In this article, we studied the interactions between Mg atom and Mg²⁺ ion and four nanostructures, including a nanocone, nanotube (4,0), nanosheet, and C₆₀ nanocage, to obtain the cell voltages (V) for Mg-ion batteries (MIBs). Total energy, geometry optimization, frontier molecular orbital (FMO) and density of states (DOS) analyses have been performed using the ωB97XD level of theory and the 6-31G(d) basis set. The DFT calculations clarified that the changes in energy adsorption between Mg²⁺ ion and the nanostructures, E_ad, are in the order tube > cone > sheet > cage. However, V_cell for the nanocone is the highest. The changes in V_cell of the MIBs are in the order cone > tube > sheet > cage. This study theoretically considers the possibilities of Mg as an anode in batteries due to its high V_cell values.

In this article, we studied the interactions between Mg atom and Mg²⁺ ion and four nanostructures, including a nanocone, nanotube (4,0), nanosheet, and C₆₀ nanocage, to obtain the cell voltages (V) for Mg-ion batteries (MIBs).     

Clinical and obstetric characteristics of pregnant women with Covid-19: A case series study on 26 patients

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pregnant women with Covid-19.Materials and methodsThis case series study was performed to investigate demographic, clinical and obstetric characteristics of 26 pregnant women with COVID-19 referring to a university hospital of Kashan during the epidemic of COVID-19 (March to May 2020).ResultsThe mean gestational age of the patients at admission and delivery was 31.8 ± 5.2 and 36.3 ± 3.4 weeks, respectively. The most common symptoms were fever (96.2%) followed by dyspnea and cough (30.8%). The findings of lung CT scan showed abnormalities confirming the pneumonia in 22 patients (84.6%). Cesarean section was performed in 69.2% of the mothers. The most common maternal–fetal outcome was preterm delivery (38%). Two mothers were transferred to the ICU due to deterioration in clinical condition and they underwent mechanical ventilation without any maternal death. The most common neonatal outcomes were prematurity (38%) and low birth weight (34.6%). No cases of confirmed COVID-19 were observed in the neonates.ConclusionClinical manifestations and laboratory and radiographic findings in pregnant women with COVID-19 are similar to the general population. Common outcomes of pregnancy and delivery in mothers included increased rate of preterm delivery and cesarean section. The most prevalent neonatal outcomes included prematurity and LBW. Careful monitoring of pregnant women with COVID-19 is recommended.