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Diabetes mellitus (DM) represents a significant global health crisis, with its prevalence and complications posing substantial challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like India. The relationship between chronic hyperglycemia, impaired immune response, and increased susceptibility to infections, especially surgical site infections (SSIs), is well-documented. SSIs, defined as infections occurring within 30 days post-surgery or up to one year if an implant is involved, can range from superficial to deep-seated organ infections, leading to prolonged hospital stays, increased morbidity and mortality, and substantial financial burdens on healthcare systems. This study investigates the impact of perioperative glycemic control on the incidence and severity of SSIs among Indian surgical patients. It aims to elucidate the relationship between preoperative and postoperative glycemic levels and the risk of SSIs, the correlation between the degree of hyperglycemia and SSI severity, and the predominant bacterial pathogens involved, including their antibiotic susceptibility profiles. Emerging evidence indicates that maintaining optimal glycemic control during the perioperative period is crucial for reducing the risk of SSIs. The study's findings are expected to fill the existing knowledge gap, providing valuable data to inform clinical guidelines and enhance the quality of care for surgical patients with diabetes in India. This research underscores the necessity for a multidisciplinary approach to glycemic management, involving surgeons, anesthesiologists, endocrinologists, and nursing staff, to achieve improved surgical outcomes and mitigate complications associated with hyperglycemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid polymer electrolyte films (SPEs) based on poly(methy1 methacrylate) are prepared using a solution cast technique. The temperature-dependent behavior of dielectric, modulus spectra and ac conductivity has been investigated. The long tail of the real part of modulus (M') in the low frequency indicates the capacitive nature of the samples. The frequency dependence of imaginary part of modulus (M') shows a non-Debye relaxation that has been explained using the Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts stretched exponential function. The activation energy for the relaxation is almost same as the activation energy for the conduction. The relaxation time obtained from the tangent loss graph ([[tau].sub.[delta]]) is about two orders of magnitude larger than that obtained from the imaginary part of modulus graph ([[tau].sub.m]). The ac conductivity has been found to obey Jonscher's universal power law. Transport parameters show that addition of filler creates additional hopping sites for the charge carriers and also increases the charge carrier density. It is also observed that the higher ionic conductivity at higher temperature is due to increased thermally activated hopping rates accompanied by a significant increase in carrier concentration. The contribution of carrier concentration to the total conductivity is also confirmed from Summerfield scaling., INTRODUCTION The future of electric vehicles and other higher energy battery applications will depend on solving the challenges associated with lithium-ion batteries such as low energy density, low efficiency, high [...]

The polymer nanocomposite films (PNC) with varying amounts of organically modified sodium montmorillonite (DMMT) clay in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) based polymer matrix were prepared by solution cast technique. Dielectric measurements were carried out on these films as a function of frequency at 30[degrees]C and 100[degrees]C. The addition of clay significantly improved the ionic conductivity. Transport parameters, such as the diffusion coefficient (D), number density (n) and mobility (n) of charge carriers were determined using a new approach, which is based on impedance spectroscopy. The temperature-dependent dc conductivity, relaxation and mobility plots obey the Arrhenius rule. The results suggest that the higher ionic conductivity of these PNC films at elevated temperature is not only due to increased mobility of ions, but it is accompanied by a significant increase in carrier concentration. Analysis of DSC thermogram reveals a very high percentage of amorphous content for all samples. A good correlation among dielectric permittivity, carrier concentration, mobility and ionic conductivity has also been observed., INTRODUCTION Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which already have achieved widespread use in portable electronic devices, are making the transition into fields such as electrical vehicles, grid energy storage, and flexible electronic [...]

The quality of evaluation of essay type answer books involving multiple evaluators for courses with large number of enrollments is likely to be affected due to heterogeneity in experience, expertise and maturity of evaluators. In this paper, we present a strategy to detect anomalies in evaluation of essay type answers by multiple evaluators based on the relationship between marks/grades awarded and symbolic markers, opinionated words recorded in answer books during evaluation. Our strategy is based on the results of our survey with evaluators, analysis of large number of essay type evaluated answer books and our own experiences regarding grievances of students regarding marks/grades. Results of both survey and analysis of evaluated answer books identified underline, tick and cross as frequently used markers compared to circle and question mark. Further, both opinionated words and symbolic markers identified through the survey are used by evaluators to express either positive or negative sentiments. They have differential usage pattern of these symbols as single evaluator and as one amongst multiple evaluators. Tick and cross have well define purposes and have strong correlation with marks awarded. However, the underline marker is being used for dual purpose of expressing both correctness and incorrectness of answers. Our strategy of inconsistency detection first identifies outliers based on the relationship between marks/grades awarded and number of symbols and/or opinionated words used in evaluation. Subsequently, marks and number of symbolic markers of outliers are compared with peer non-outlier answer books having same marks but different number of markers used. Such outlier answer books are termed as anomalous. We discovered 36 anomalies out of total 425 evaluated answer books. We have developed a prototype tool to facilitate online evaluation of answer book and to proactively alert evaluators of possible anomalies.