Study on Emotional Improvement and Health Promotion of Senior Citizens Participating in Virtual Reality Games

In addition to medical care and health promotion, happiness, care and thoughtfulness associated with medical assistance are among the expectations and demands of the elderly society. Therefore, this study aims to explore the effects of health promotion and emotional improvement on elderly people by understanding the behavioral intentions of elderly people with various personality traits in participating in virtual reality games. In this study, we used a questionnaire on five personality traits, including extraversion (Extraversion), friendliness (Agreeableness), diligence and integrity (Conscientiousness), and psychosomatic (Neurotic), which was designed by the scholar Martinez and John (1998) in 1998 as a tool to improve the mental health of the elderly. This study validates that sensorial perception is an important influencing factor in the theoretical model of the behavioral intention of the elderly using virtual reality (VR) wearable devices. That is, the stronger the behavioral intention of the elderly when using VR high-tech products, the more frequent the use will be, and the more significant the improvement of the emotional effect. It is suggested that future research could develop a game plan suitable for the elderly with different characteristics.

Efficacy of Rehabilitation Measures on the Functional Development of Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Background: Spastic cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common type of CP. Up to 80% of all Individuals with cerebral palsy suffer from some degree of spasticity. Spasticity adversely affects muscles and joints of the extremities, causing abnormal movements, and it is especially harmful in growing children. Cerebral palsy (CP) is a syndrome of motor impairment that results from a lesion occurring in the developing brain. The degree of spasticity can vary from mild muscle stiffness to severe, painful, and uncontrollable muscle spasms .Normally; muscles must have enough tone to maintain posture or movement against the force of gravity while at the same time providing flexibility and speed of movement. Spasticity is a velocity-dependent increase in resistance of a muscle when the muscle is moved passively or stretched. Individuals with spastic CP experience stiffness in affected limbs due to focal muscular hyperactivity, resulting in limited or awkward movements. In this research work Quasi experimental design was adopted for Pre- assessment of physical and functional status of children with cerebral palsy assessed by appropriate tools and the results discussed in detailed in different sections of the paper.

Influence of Crosslinking Agent Concentration on The Microencapsulation Parameters of Collagen Hydrolysate-Walled Microcapsules

Despite being a lot of discussion, a large amount of chrome tanned leather is still being tanned in the world. After tanning with chrome, chrome solid leather wastes occurred. These chrome wastes arise during mechanical processes such as trimming, shaving, buffing and splitting. These solid wastes containing trivalent chromium and may be oxidized to hexavalent chromium by the appropriate conditions in the landfill areas. Increasing environmental awareness and regulations have been making great pressure on the leather industry. Nowadays, solid leather wastes tanned with chromium are assessed by hydrolysis with the enzyme in high alkaline media and can subsequently be used for several applications. However, there is still no definitive solution to these chromed solid leather wastes. In this study, microcapsules of collagen hydrolysate cross-linked with glutaraldehyde containing Lavender essential oil were prepared by coacervation method. The influence of crosslinking agent concentration on the oil load (%), oil content (%) and encapsulation efficiency (%) of lavender oil microcapsules were investigated. As the crosslinking agent concentration increased, the oil load (%) decreased but oil content (%) and encapsulation efficiency (%) of microcapsules increased. The best result obtained by using 5 g of collagen hydrolysate, 7 ml of glutaraldehyde and 7 ml of lavender oil.

Time to Attrition and Factors Associated among Adults enrolled in Pre-Anti- Retroviral Therapy Care in Tepi General Hospital, Ethiopia

Pre-antiretroviral therapy (Pre-ART) patient attrition is a growing concern in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, there is little information that assesses the magnitude and its related factors. This study assessed time to attrition and factors associated among adults enrolled in pre ART care at Tepi General Hospital in South West Ethiopia. Records of adult pre-ART patients enrolled at Tepi General Hospital from October 2010 to September 2013 were reviewed to find factors linked with time to attrition. We defined time to attrition as the period a patient was enrolled in pre-ART service till attrition. We Used Kaplan Meir curve to estimate survival time, and log-rank test to compare the time to attrition among different categories of patients. We used Cox hazard model to assess factors related with time to attrition. We followed 652 pre-ART patients for 337.6 person years of follow-up from start up to pre-ART outcomes. Of these, 179 patients were lost to follow up and 37 patients died, contributing to an overall attrition of 33.13%. During the early six months the attrition rate was 89.8%. Not starting cotrimoxazole prophylaxis (AHR=1.51, 95% CI, 1.02-2.25), being co-infected with tuberculosis (TB) (AHR=2.16, 95%CI, 1.35-3.45), living further than 10 km away from the hospital (AHR=1.44, 95%CI, 1.07-2.0), and not disclosed status of HIV(AHR=3.04) were factors significantly associated with time to attrition. Pre-ART patient attrition rate was high among clients not using cotrimoxazole prophylaxis, TB/HIV co-infected, living > 10 km from a health care facility and with undisclosed HIV status. Close follow-up of clients during the early months' follow-up period is greatly recommended.

"Personalized Medicine" : An Innovative Concept

"Personalized Medicine" is about empowering patients to have access to their health information at all times.[1] Empowering implies patient participation through the ongoing process of diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.[1] More importantly, "Personalized Medicine" is about having insights into one's health by being able to visualize, recognize, and take timely corrective action when necessary.[1] As important time may be wasted when looking for information during emergencies resulting in delays and potential medical errors, "Personalized Medicine" offers a way for medical and emergency personnel to immediately obtain accurate, adequate patient information which can be useful, especially if the patient is unable to communicate verbally.[1] By drawing insights from one's health data "Personalized Medicine" enables patients to seek medical care early on and helps them to make the right treatment choices.[1] Storing, retrieving and having access to one's health information, being able to edit and update it when necessary, the ability to draw valuable insight's from one's health data, and the availability of personal health information for quick and easy access by medical personnel and first responders encompasses the concept of “Personalized Medicine”.[1] Microchip technology can make patient information more accessible especially in rural and remote areas.[1] It improves productivity and quality of patient care by providing patients with the relevant information for making better treatment choices and reduces the cost of health care through early diagnosis and treatment.[1] A micro-chipped Personalized Medical Card is a convenient medium to store and retrieve up-to-date health information.[1] By conforming to the standards of privacy and security patient's can have access to their health data without compromising their personal information.[1] A subcutaneous gold-plated microchip insert designed to store vital life saving patient information can be accessed via a smartphone, tablet, or other electronic device from anywhere, anytime.[1] The gold-plated microchip implant is inserted underneath the patient's skin and contained in the subcutaneous layer.[1] The gold-plated microchip has a wireless connection with the device using the state-of-the-art technology and can be paired with a software application that can be readily edited and updated.[1] Therefore, the device saves not only extensive amount of time and effort but also eliminates the need for unnecessary medical tests and treatment.[1] In addition, timely access to updated information can prevent written or spoken patient information which might be lost in transition or translation thereby leading to medication error or wrong treatment.[1] A gold-plated microchip inserted inside the patient's body as a medical device or tagged to a medical device allows patient self-monitoring of vital statistics of specific conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, kidney functions and other metrics associated with different aspects of body function.[1] It acts as a sensor which enables patients to monitor vital parameters of their condition precisely in real time and allows them to lead independent and more productive lives without the need for continuous monitoring or medical supervision.[1] It could potentially be used for investigating structural and functional abnormalities of the heart, liver, kidney, etc.[1] The gold-plated microchip can prove useful in the treatment of conductive disorders such as dysaarythmias and to mitigate symptoms and dysfunction due to myocardial infarction, neurodegenerative disorders, chronic renal disorders, etc.[1] With soaring health care costs the patient's ability to manage their health condition with ease and convenience in the absence of their health care providers empowers patients to enhance their productivity and quality of life, and reduce the cost of care.[1] In addition to patient participation, leveraging technology drives better outcomes and empowers patients to lead a better quality of life which essentially is the true objective of "Personalized Medicine".[1] "Personalized Medicine" is a patented concept.[1] If you are interested as an investor or partner for "Personalized Medicine" please contact me at [email protected]

Stability Studies of Immobilized Saccharomyces Cerevisiae in Calcium Alginate and Carrageenan Beads

Currently the resources for fossil fuels are depleting together with increase in fuel prices. This has urged the need for cheaper alternative fuels especially biofuels. The production of the most common liquid biofuel which is bioethanol using immobilized yeast cells is an approach taken to increase its demand in the world’s market. There are various methods for the immobilization of yeast cells; however before they can be applied in the industry the stability of the immobilization technology must be investigated. This research aims to study the stabilities of immobilized S. cerevisiae in calcium alginate and carrageenan beads for bioethanol production. The S. cerevisiae was immobilized in calcium alginate and carrageenan beads using entrapment method. Next, screening for the optimal concentration of sodium alginate and semi refined carrageenan matrices were determined by employing fermentation and bioethanol quantification using GC-MS. Concentrations of 2% (w/v) calcium alginate and 2% (w/v) semi refined carrageenan beads were identified to produce the highest bioethanol yield which were 0.286 g/mL and 0.065 g/mL respectively. The two beads were then chosen to be tested in various stability studies with respect to bioethanol production such as storage stability, reusability, pH, thermaland permeability test. It was found out that a concentration of 2% (w/v) calcium alginate beads were more stable as immobilization matrix for S. cerevisiae as compared to 2% (w/v) semi refined carrageenan.

Preparation and Solvents Effect Study of Asymmetric Cellulose Acetated/Polyethyleneimine Blended Membranes for Dialysis Application

The aim of this research is to study the effect of various solvents on membrane morphology and performance of cellulose acetate (CA) based polymeric membranes having Polyetyleneimine (PEI) additive. The CA/PEI blended membranes are to be used for dialysis operation. For this purpose, acetic acid, formic acid, 1-Methyl-2-pyrolidone (NMP) and N, N-Dimethylacetamide (DMAC) are used. The best performing membrane is selected and is modified using various solvents to choose the best solvent that can enhance the membrane performance efficiently. Afterwards contact angle measurement, pure water flux and water up take of modified membranes are determined to check the change in dialysis performance. Surface morphology of membrane is studied using SEM and AFM. All these results displayed blending of polymer, solvents and additive in different ways. All prepared membranes were also tested for bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection and urea clearance. From all the solvents used, formic acid gave the best results. The blending is homogeneous and macro void formation is appropriate for dialysis application. The replacement of acetic acid with formic acid (C.A+ F.A+PEI) showed hydrophilic nature and increased the BSA rejection percentage. Urea clearance was augmented as well to an appreciable value. The results revealed that from all the mentioned above solvents, formic acid is most suitable one for dialysis operation.

Proximate Analysis and Phytochemical Properties of Sesame (Sesamum Indicum L.) Seeds Grown and Consumed In Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Proximate and phytochemical compositions of Sesamum indicum seeds cultivated and consumed in Abakaliki, were determined. Abakaliki is the capital of Ebonyi State, one of the five south-eastern states of Nigeria. Sesame seeds are edible seeds which grow in pods. The fruit is a pubescent capsule grooved with a short triangular beak. Proximate analysis was carried out using the methods described by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists, A.O.A.C. (1997), while phytochemical analysis was carried out using the methods described by Harborne (1973). Sesame is principally cultivated in the northern part of Nigeria. However, bountiful harvest has been recorded recently in some southern states including Abakaliki, Ebonyi. This research was thus carried out to determine the effect of change in soil and climatic conditions on the nutritional contents of sesame. Proximate analysis indicated that sesame seeds contained 28.37% carbohydrate, 26.63% fats/oil, 23.32% protein, 7.37% moisture, 10.28% crude fibre and 4.02% ash. Determination of the phytochemical contents of the seed showed the presence of saponin (5.60mg/100g), alkaloid (4.80mg/100g), tannin (3.87mg/100g), phenol (13.83mg/100g) and flavonoids (18.03mg/100g). Statistical analyses showed that carbohydrates, fats/oil and proteins occur in significant quantities; an indication that sesame seeds possess high nutritive values. Also, the presence of significant values of some phytochemicals like flavonoids and phenol implies that sesame seeds are endowed with antioxidant and other medicinal potentials. Consumption of Sesamum indicum seeds is thus recommended as part of daily dietary intake due to the high nutritional and medicinal values.

The Use of Benzoyl-Dl-Arginine-Naphthylamide (Bana) Test as A Screening Test for Mother at Risk for Delivery of Pre-Term and Low Birth Weight in A Rwandan Population

Oral infections can act as the site of origin for dissemination of periodonto-bacteria and their toxins as well as induce inflammatory mechanisms to distant body sites, thus linking periodontal diseases to pre-term delivery of low birth weight (PLBW) infants. Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. Researchers showed that between 18 and 50 % of all pre-term deliveries are associated with periodontal disease. Porphyromonasgingivalis, Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia are among the subgingival microflora most frequently associated with periodontal disease. The presence of these bacteria can be identified by their ability to hydrolyse BANA. BANA is a rapid and effective diagnostic aid shown to correlate well with the clinical indices used to diagnose periodontal disease. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between the presence of member of the red complex (BANA positive species) in subgingival plaque and pre-term delivery of low birth weight in a Rwandan population. Three clinical indices (PI,GI and PD) were measured for each patient. Plaque sample were collected by inserting a sterile probe into the base of the pocket and this served for the measurement of the BANA enzyme test. The age of the population study was between 18 and 47 years with a mean of 30.8 (± 5.34). Among the 450 women examined, 57.1 % had a PI score of 2, 56.0 % had GI score of 2 and 89.6 % had a PD between 4-6 mm. At a level of 5%, a significant association of p-value=0.000 was found between PI vs BANA, GI vs BANA and PD vs BANA. No significant association (p-value=0.073) was found between BANA and mothers who delivered preterm of low birth weight (PLBW). In conclusion, findings of this study showed that BANA cannot be used for now as screening test for mother at risk for preterm delivery, while waiting for a multicenter study which will help to verify the cause of these discrepancies of results. In the other hand we can recommend BANA to be used as a routine test for the detection of periodontal disease due it strong relationship with clinical indices used to diagnose periodontal disease.

Ecological Management and Indian Ethos - A Review

Environment plays a very significant role in human civilization. Human beings have close relations with the biosphere in which they live. The whole environment and ecology consisting of earth, air, water, plants and animals provide the necessary and sufficient conditions for sustaining human life. The last few centuries have been dominated by human beings, and are referred to by some scholars as ‘anthropocene’, or a period of human domination over the planet. This domination has impacted the planet, leading to the rapid depletion of wildlife and their habitat. In the last few decades, growing human populations and their consumption levels, accompanied by greater need for water, electricity, metal, food, housing and other luxury items has led to the quick erosion of other species. This loss of species has been guesstimated by various scholars at anywhere between one per hour to one per day. Although human beings are considered the most intelligent life form on earth, they are responsible for most of the damage done to planet earth. Developing countries as well as developed countries alike are all suffering from environmental pollution. Therefore, today environmental problems have been the object of discussion everywhere from village to parliament.