Search

Objective Caroverine is an antagonist of non-NMDA and NMDA glutamate receptors. Cochlear synaptic tinnitus arises from a synaptic disturbance of NMDA or non-NMDA receptors on the afferent dendrites of spiral ganglion neurons. This forms a basis for the use of caroverine in the treatment of tinnitus. Hence, the present study was carried out to find the effect of oral caroverine in the treatment of tinnitus. Methodology This quasi-experimental study was carried out on sixty consecutive patients of tinnitus. Thirty patients were given the usual standard of care consisting of Tab. Cinnarizine 25mg twice daily along with fixed dose combination Cap. B-complex and Ginkgo biloba once daily for ninety days and thirty patients were given Cap. Caroverine 40mg, twice daily for ninety days. Outcome assessment was done using the tinnitus case history questionnaire, tinnitus handicap inventory score, and VAS. The data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism Trial Version. A P value ≤ 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results There was a significant improvement in the tinnitus case history questionnaire score at 90 days in patients suffering from mild tinnitus when treated with caroverine. There was a larger decrease in the tinnitus handicap inventory score at 90 days of treatment in the caroverine-treated patients. The median VAS showed an improvement in the caroverine-treated group. The overall reduction in tinnitus in the caroverine-treated group was 53.3% with an odds ratio, 95% CI of 0.375 (0.12-1.08). Conclusion Oral caroverine was found to be better than the usual standard of care in reducing mild cochlear synaptic tinnitus. It also improved sensory–neural hearing loss during the treatment period.

Abstract-: Partial shading deteriorates the overall performance of photovoltaic (PV) arrays by reducing the power output. Various shading mitigation strategies have been proposed in the literature with vulnerabilities of limited applications, switches, sensor counts, design, cost, and complexities. In this paper, a multi-string differential power processing (MS-DPP) based voltage equalizer is proposed for power output improvement in the PV arrays during shading. The equalizer is utilized for the series-parallel array which is equipped with a shading detection system achieved from the optimal placement of minimum sensor counts. The technique uses the concept of a switching capacitor that balances the voltage ratio between the modules of individual strings to ensure higher power generation and convex power curves during shading. The system is simulated and validated in MATLAB simulation and further verified on the OPAL-RT 4510 hardware-in-loop FPGA-based real-time platform. The technique is executed on three array sizes and compared with existing techniques under static and dynamic partial shading cases. The analysis shows that MS-DPP enhances the array power output with a conversion efficiency higher than 99 % during shading with lower system size and 98.38 % and 95.05 % reduced counts of switches and sensors than dynamic reconfigurations.

Background The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act (PC&PNDT Act), 1994 was enacted to prevent sex determination and female feticide. As a mandatory statutory requirement, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India has to renew its PC&PNDT license after every 5 years.

Purpose: Despite hazardous consequences, the use of fertilizers and pesticides has been exceptionally high, mainly to increase crop yield. Socio-economic factors have been explored to understand the inability to curb its overuse; however, literature on psychological factors affecting farmers' decision-making is very scarce. Psychological factors are important to understand as these factors mediate the effects of external socio-economic factors on one's behaviour. The present study focused on farmers' intentions to convert their farming practices from conventional to organic. Design/methodology/approach: The data was collected from 389 participants, mainly using semi-structured face-to-face interviews. The observations were analysed through regression and structural equation modelling. Findings: A significant association has been observed between attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, awareness and farmers' intention to switch to organic farming practices. Practical implications: As the observed factors are significantly associated with conversion intentions and malleable by nature, the study serves as a confirmatory node to proceed with the interventional plan based on the belief system restructuring module to educate farmers about sustainable farming practices. Theoretical implications: The study verified the applicability of the theory of planned behaviour in the Indian context and highlighted the factors to be targeted to convert the intentions of conventional farmers to organic farming. Originality/value: In order to curb the overuse of chemicals in agriculture, policymakers can plan suitable interventions and use the relevant psychological measures to target the factors identified in the present study.

The present paper analyzes the relationship between perceived public service performance, trust in the government, and citizens' willingness to participate in water governance with insights into broader state–citizen relations. The study is based on a household survey conducted in June 2022 that employed a multistage stratified random sampling within the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation limits of Andhra Pradesh, a southern state of India. The analysis reveals that citizens' perception of water service delivery performance positively affects trust in water managers while negatively affecting their willingness to participate in water governance. In contrast, the citizens' trust in water managers positively correlates to their willingness to participate. Moreover, the identified correlations among the three variables elucidate a circular pattern. The intricate circular pattern observed among these three variables complicates the citizen–state relationship. Understanding and navigating this complex web of relationships is crucial for policymakers and researchers seeking to enhance citizen participation and trust in water services. The circular nature of these interactions underscores the need for holistic and integrated approaches in addressing the multifaceted dynamics within the citizen–state relationship. HIGHLIGHTS Investigates the interplay among citizens'perceptions of water service delivery, trust in water managers, and willingness to participate.; Establishes evidence for mutual reciprocity among the three essential aspects of water governance.; Contributes empirically from a city in the Global South.; The study findings are instrumental in contributing to effective water management practices, strengthening the citizen–state relationship.;

Current implant therapy is a frequently employed treatment for individuals who have lost teeth, as it offers functional and biological advantages over old prostheses. Concurrently, active exploration of intervention strategies aims to prevent the progression of peri-implant diseases and manage the existing peri-implant tissue damage. Indian Society of Periodontology has recognized the need for systematic documents to update the everyday clinical practice of general dental practitioners and has provided evidence-based consensus documents, namely good clinical practice recommendations from time to time to raise the oral health-related awareness and standards of oral health-care delivery across the country. The current clinical practice recommendations focused on peri-implant care to bridge the gap between academic theory and clinical practice by compiling evidence-based suggestions for preventing and treating peri-implant diseases. Twenty-eight subject experts across the country prepared these recommendations after a thorough literature review and group discussions. The document has been prepared in three sections covering peri-implant health and maintenance, peri-implant mucositis, and peri-implantitis. It will be a quick and concise reference for oral implant practitioners in patient management. The guidelines provide distinct definitions, signs, and symptoms, treatment required; recall visit specifications for plausible clinical case situations, and home-care recommendations regarding maintaining peri-implant health. The document advocates combined efforts of oral implant practitioners and the population at large with evidence-based, integrated, and comprehensive peri-implant care. By providing accessible, applicable guidance, these guidelines would empower dental professionals to uphold the well-being of implant patients and ensure the long-term success of implant therapy.

Nowadays, nanotechnology is extensively employed in the medical profession. In this study, we used the aqueous extract of the bark of Mitragyna parvifolia to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by microwave-assisted green synthesis. The synthesis of AgNPs was confirmed by visual color change to brown color and characteristic surface plasmon resonance peak at 432 nm. The hydrodynamic diameter of the AgNPs was 171.81 nm having a zeta potential of −24.14 mV; Fourier Transmission Infrared Spectroscopy confirmed the presence of different functional groups on the NP surface; Scanning Electron Microscope and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy indicated predominantly circular shape of nanoparticle; Selected Area Electron Diffraction and X-ray Diffraction analyses determined the crystalline structure of AgNPs. Energy-Dispersive X-ray indicated the elemental composition and formation of AgNPs. The AgNPs were screened at different concentrations for antioxidant activity, antimicrobial, and anticancer potential in breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). The AgNPs exhibited remarkable antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. The sedative and antinociceptive activities were also tested on Swiss albino mice, which showed mild sedative and very potent antinociceptive activity. However, detailed mechanistic studies are warranted in the future for clinical application of the AgNPs as a biologically active agent as well as a carrier for drug delivery.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants’ performance is severely impacted by multi-level irradiances or partial shading, leading to power losses and voltage instability. Also, partial shading adds further complexity to the maximum power point tracking algorithms by introducing numerous peaks in the power curves, resulting in additional losses. Numerous solutions are presented to deal with shading losses, and dynamic reconfiguration is the most effective; however, higher switch count and complex architecture make it impractical in real-world implementation. Hence, this study proposes a low-complexity architecture based on the grouped string voltage balancing approach. This approach utilizes a voltage balancing converter connected to groups of strings to enhance the power output of the array of PV plants, maintain overall system voltage stability, and eliminate the possibility of multiple peaks formation in the power curves. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is tested under numerous static and dynamic partial shadings and analyzed using power curves, power output, losses, efficiencies, and voltage stability. The validation is done by comparing the proposed approach with conventional and advanced architectures for a 32.5 kW system. The results show that the proposed method requires a 50 % reduced switch count than existing techniques, achieves 99.54 % efficiency, and maintains an average voltage stability of 0.01.

Atypical parathyroid tumor (APT) is a rare neoplasm of the parathyroid gland, which shows atypical cytological or architectural features and lacks definite diagnosis criteria for malignancy. These cases can cause diagnostic challenges owing to their rarity and similarity with thyroid neoplasm on imaging and fine needle aspiration cytology. Also, differentiating APT from giant parathyroid adenoma or parathyroid carcinoma can be challenging based on clinical, imaging or cytological features. A 49-year-old male presented with clinical features of hyperparathyroidism. On laboratory evaluation, his serum calcium and serum parathyroid hormone was elevated. Imaging studies suggested a possibility of left inferior parathyroid neoplasm, and fine needle aspiration cytology showed features suggestive of parathyroid neoplasm. However, exact categorization of parathyroid tumor was difficult in pre-operative work-up. Possibilities of giant parathyroid adenoma as well as parathyroid carcinoma were considered. A final diagnosis of an atypical parathyroid tumor was made after detailed histopathological evaluation given focal capsular invasion but lack of unequivocal evidence of malignancy in the resected specimen. APT is a rare neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential. Knowledge of the radiological and pathological features will be helpful in accurately identifying the lesion and avoiding misdiagnosis.

This paper analyzes the effect of different types of dust on the reduction of PV systems' performance. The PV system installed on the field gives maximum output. However, in a real-time scheme, the PV system fails to generate the desired power output due to various realistic and unavoidable factors like soiling. Different dust particles accumulating on photovoltaic (PV) modules result in shadowing and reduced irradiance, impacting power production. The study investigates eight dust samples (ash, dirt, cement, brick powder, putty, wood dust, sand, and salt) in indoor and outdoor environments. It evaluates the decrease in power at solar irradiance levels of 500, 700, and 1000 W/m². The soiling experiments conducted indoors show that the maximum% reduction in power is 39.21 % in the case of Ash, while a minimum of 8.32 % in the case of red soil. The outdoor experiments suggest that red soil, sand, and brick dust can create huge power losses in the PV system, followed by ash powder, wood dust, putty dust, salt, and cement powder. The advantages of this research lie in its thorough analysis of several forms of dust and their impact on photovoltaic (PV) systems under different circumstances. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the crucial need for implementing dust control measures to maximize system performance, thereby providing insightful information for system design and maintenance procedures. The novelty of this study is to investigate the performance impact of various kinds of dust on PV systems, offering significant insights for improving system efficiency in real-world circumstances. The research enhances the reliability and applicability of its results by thoroughly assessing outdoor and indoor conditions, bridging the gap between laboratory results and practical applications.