New Internet of Medical Things for Home-Based Treatment of Anorectal Disorders

Home-based healthcare provides a viable and cost-effective method of delivery for resource- and labour-intensive therapies, such as rehabilitation therapies, including anorectal biofeedback. However, existing systems for home anorectal biofeedback are not able to monitor patient compliance or assess the quality of exercises performed, and as a result have yet to see wide spread clinical adoption. In this paper, we propose a new Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) system to provide home-based biofeedback therapy, facilitating remote monitoring by the physician. We discuss our user-centric design process and the proposed architecture, including a new sensing probe, mobile app, and cloud-based web application. A case study involving biofeedback training exercises was performed. Data from the IoMT was compared against the clinical standard, high-definition anorectal manometry. We demonstrated the feasibility of our proposed IoMT in providing anorectal pressure profiles equivalent to clinical manometry and its application for home-based anorectal biofeedback therapy.

Highly Efficient Photocatalyst Fabricated from the Chemical Recycling of Iron Waste and Natural Zeolite for Super Dye Degradation

In this paper, Fe2O3 and Fe2O3-zeolite nanopowders are prepared by chemical precipitation utilizing the rusted iron waste and natural zeolite. In addition to the nanomorphologies; the chemical composition, structural parameters, and optical properties are examined using many techniques. The Fe2O3-zeolite photocatalyst showed smaller sizes and higher light absorption in visible light than Fe2O3. Both Fe2O3 and Fe2O3-zeolite are used as photocatalysts for methylene blue (MB) photodegradation under solar light. The effects of the contact time, starting MB concentration, Fe2O3-zeolite dose, and pH value on photocatalytic performance are investigated. The full photocatalytic degradation of MB dye (10 mg/L) is achieved using 75 mg of Fe2O3-zeolite under visible light after 30 s, which, to the best of our knowledge, is the highest performance yet for Fe2O3-based photocatalysts. This photocatalyst has also shown remarkable stability and recyclability. The kinetics and mechanisms of the photocatalytic process are studied. Therefore, the current work can be applied industrially as a cost-effective method for eliminating the harmful MB dye from wastewater and recycling the rusted iron wires.

Fabrication and Mechanical Testing of the Uniaxial Graded Auxetic Damper

Auxetic structures can be used as protective sacrificial solutions for impact protection with lightweight and excellent energy-dissipation characteristics. A recently published and patented shock-absorbing system, namely, Uniaxial Graded Auxetic Damper (UGAD), proved its efficiency through comprehensive analytical and computational analyses. However, the authors highlighted the necessity for experimental testing of this new damper. Hence, this paper aimed to fabricate the UGAD using a cost-effective method and determine its load–deformation properties and energy-absorption potential experimentally and computationally. The geometry of the UGAD, fabrication technique, experimental setup, and computational model are presented. A series of dog-bone samples were tested to determine the exact properties of aluminium alloy (AW-5754, T-111). A simplified (elastic, plastic with strain hardening) material model was proposed and validated for use in future computational simulations. Results showed that deformation pattern, progressive collapse, and force–displacement relationships of the manufactured UGAD are in excellent agreement with the computational predictions, thus validating the proposed computational and material models.

Understanding the Cost-Effectiveness of Hearing Aids and Surgery for the Treatment of Otosclerosis

Purpose of Review To summarize and critically review recent literature on the relative cost-effectiveness of hearing augmentation versus stapes surgery for the treatment of otosclerosis. Recent Findings Otosclerosis leads to reduced patient quality of life, which can be ameliorated by either stapes surgery, or hearing aid usage. The success of stapes surgery is high, and the risks of serious postoperative complications are low. Hearing aids don’t have the complications of surgery but are associated with long-term costs. Cost-effectiveness models have shown that stapes surgery is a cost-effective method for treating otosclerosis. Summary Both stapes surgery and hearing aids can improve patient-reported quality of life in otosclerosis. Stapes surgery has larger upfront costs and surgical risks, but hearing aids are associated with longer lifetime costs. Stapes surgery is cost-effective for the treatment of otosclerosis.

Eco-friendly ultraviolet spectrophotometric methods for the determination of clotrimazole and tinidazole in bulk and ointment dosage form

Analyzing a drug over its overlapped spectra utilizes sophisticated instruments and more toxic solvents, which has a deleterious effect on environmental safety. There is an alarming need to develop a simple, novel, and cost-effective method for determining combined substances that are non-toxic to the environment. So, the study aimed to develop four simple, fast and eco-friendly spectrophotometric techniques for quantifying clotrimazole and tinidazole in bulk and ointment dosage form. Stock solutions produced at concentrations of 7 to 13 and 17.5 to 32.5 µg/mL of clotrimazole and tinidazole in 10% v/v ethanol and scanned in the UV-visible range 200-450 nm, and used for all methods. The methods were validated according to the International Council for Harmonization guidelines and found to be within limits. Additionally, the outliers were tested by using the Grubbers test and found within limits. Finally, green evaluation studies show that the method is more environmentally friendly, as confirmed by four assessment tools.

Masquelet technique in management of infective non-union of long bones- A prospective study

Introduction and Aim: Masquelet’s technique is a 2-staged procedure, for treatment of infected segmental bone defect. 1st stage involves radical debridement with antibiotic-induced cement spacer. During second stage, the spacer is removed and the autologous bone graft is applied into the biomembrane formed. In this study, we evaluate the Masquelet’s technique for the management of infective non-union of long bones. Materials and Methods: 15 patients with infective non-union of long bones- tibia, femur and a case of congenital pseudoarthrosis of tibia, were treated with Masquelet’s technique. They underwent 2 stages of procedures 6-8 weeks apart and was followed up for about 9 months and radiological and clinical outcomes were assessed. Results: Out of 15 patients with infective non-union, 8 patients attained union. Out of the 7 patients with failure of the technique, higher failure rates were attributed to Pseudomonas infection. Conclusion: Masquelet’s technique is a cost-effective method for treating infective segmental non-unions, not requiring special training or sophisticated instruments. This method shows good results with Gram positive infections. Although, the outcome with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, have not shown satisfactory results.

Conservation Challenges and Emerging Trends of Digital Preservation for UNESCO Architectural Heritage, Pakistan

Recent worldwide initiatives at world heritage forums, especially UNESCO, have increased the importance of architectural heritage. Architectural heritage includes built structures that are of outstanding value of natural and cultural identity and require conservation, preservation, presentation and transmission to the future generations. In this regard, UNESCO has enlisted six World Heritage Sites in Pakistan that need to be preserved. Moreover, the heritage sites are undergoing theft, vandalism, natural decay and other socio-cultural harms. One of the state-of-the-art methodologies is the digital preservation of the historic sites. Amongst the various available computer technologies, photogrammetry is the quickest and most cost-effective method that can be used for digital preservation. The research will focus on the digital preservation of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which is an emerging trend in an architectural context. Developing countries have limited funds and resources and most historic sites are being neglected by the lack of financial resources. The paper suggests digital preservation as an emerging solution, identifies its challenges and suggests photogrammetry as a cost-effective solution to six UNESCO enlisted historic sites of Pakistan. It also suggests that once digitally recorded, information of historic sites can also be used in diverse applications to generate further finances.

Detection of basmati rice using microsatellite markers

Basmati rice is a fine and aromatic rice grown mainly in certain areas of Punjab province in Pakistan. It has high demand in the international market and a source of earning foreign exchange via export. Adulteration of non-basmati rice grains is a major challenge to secure its export standards. Hence, the development of a simple and cost-effective method is necessary to screen the basmati and non-basmati rice samples. In this study, we have validated the efficiency of different molecular markers by screening seven unknown rice samples. Our results demonstrated that three markers namely RM1, RM19 and RM225 proved to be efficient microsatellite molecular markers that could be used to screen basmati and non-basmati rice samples. Further, these results are validated based on expression pattern of Badh2 gene among the basmati and non-basmati rice. Thus, this study provides a contribution towards development of a simple and cost-effective method for rapid screening of basmati rice.

Indirect orthodontic bonding with drop-shaped hot glue tray: a simple and cost-effective technique

Despite being associated with more accuracy, the indirect bonding procedure is not yet the gold standard, probably because of sensitivity of the numerous variables that must be controlled. The aim of this article was to present a modified, standardized, and low-cost indirect bonding technique that allows this procedure to be performed successfully. The technique covers an initial clinical stage, to obtain the models; a laboratory stage, which involves placement of brackets on the models following the facial axis of the clinical crown and the labial projection of the marginal ridges of the posterior teeth and construction of transfer tray using hot glue; and a second clinical stage, to properly transfer the brackets to patient’s teeth. Hot glue used to build the tray molds the teeth and perfectly adapts to the teeth, having enough stiffness to maintain their anatomy and the position of the brackets, but also presenting adequate flexibility to allow removal of the tray avoiding excessive stress over the brackets. In conclusion, the new simplified indirect bonding technique presented here provides a precise placement of brackets on the models, a cheaper way to transfer them to patient, and an easy removal of transfer tray, being a very simple and cost-effective method.