Prevalence of Sleep Disturbances During COVID-19 Pandemic in a Nepalese Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

Avinash Chandra,Pooja Prakash,Nabina Sharma,Ayush Chandra 대한수면연구학회 2021 Journal of sleep medicine Vol.18 No.3

Objectives: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and news of daily increasing cases inside Nepal and worldwide is adding to the fear that leads to anger, anxiety, frustration, and stress, emotions that directly affect sleep quality. This study aimed to assess sleep disturbances during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Nepalese population.Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 206 Nepali residents who completed anonymous self-administered questionnaires. The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) questionnaire was used to measure sleep disturbances before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The gathered data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics using SPSS version 20 statistical software.Results: There was a significant variation in sleep disturbances among Nepalese residents before versus after the COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.001). The prevalence of clinical moderate insomnia has increased tremendously in Nepalese individuals. Before the pandemic’s onset, only 3.9% of the participants had moderate to severe levels of clinical insomnia; after its onset, this value increased to 17.5%. The mean ISI scores were 6.35±4.65 and 8.01±6.01 before and after the pandemic’s onset, respectively.Conclusions: Our study findings suggest that people are suffering tremendously with sleep disturbances and calls for further research and active measures to help increase sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comparative compression ignition engine performance, combustion, and emission characteristics, and trace metals in particulates from Waste cooking oil, Jatropha and Karanja oil derived biodiesels

Patel, Chetankumar,Chandra, Krishn,Hwang, Joonsik,Agarwal, Rashmi A.,Gupta, Neeraj,Bae, Choongsik,Gupta, Tarun,Agarwal, Avinash Kumar Elsevier 2019 Fuel Vol.236 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>In the present study, comparison of performance, combustion and emission characteristics of a single cylinder compression ignition (CI) genset engine fueled by biodiesels derived from Waste cooking oil (WCO), Jatropha and Karanja oils vis-á-vis baseline mineral diesel has been carried out. Performance and combustion investigations were carried out at constant engine speed (1500 rpm) and six engine loads (0–100%). WCO biodiesel showed slightly higher heat release rate (HRR) than baseline mineral diesel, while it was slightly lower for Karanja and Jatropha biodiesels. Hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NO<SUB>X</SUB>) emissions were lower, while carbon monoxide (CO) emission was relatively higher for biodiesels compared to baseline diesel. Smoke opacity was higher for Karanja and Jatropha biodiesels compared to baseline diesel. WCO biodiesel exhibited comparable smoke opacity with baseline mineral diesel except at full load, where it was relatively lower. Particulates were collected from the engine exhaust on a quartz filter paper using a partial flow dilution tunnel at 50 and 100% engine loads, for trace metal analysis using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). It was found that trace metals such as Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Zn and Al showed higher concentrations in particulates from all test fuels, while Ba, Cd, Cr, Mn and Mo showed relatively lower concentrations in the particulates collected.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Biodiesels exhibited higher P, HRR<SUB>max</SUB> but shorter CD. </LI> <LI> Biodiesels showed higher smoke opacity due to higher viscosity. </LI> <LI> Lower HC, NOx and trace metals in particulates from biodiesels. </LI> <LI> Trace metals in particulates reduced with increasing engine load. </LI> <LI> Most trace metal concentrations in biodiesel particulates were lower. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Longitudinal Dispersion Subjected to Rigid Vegetation in a Channel

Dwarikanath Ratha,Avinash Chandra,Richa Babbar,Arindam Sarkar 대한토목학회 2018 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.22 No.12

Estimation of longitudinal dispersion coefficient is an important parameter for dispersion of the contaminants and hence can be used in any river water quality management intervention. Since the natural river water body is dominated by the presence of vegetation, it is expected that the longitudinal dispersion coefficient will be affected by the presence or absence of the vegetation. Hence in this study the effect of vegetation on longitudinal dispersion coefficient has been studied. Experiments have been conducted in a channel having rigid vegetation using rhodamine as tracer and concentrations of rhodamine is measured at various time intervals at 2 and 4 m downstream from the point of injection. The longitudinal dispersion coefficient is determined in the presence as well as absence of vegetation in the channel having Reynolds number varying from 2500-10000 and Froude’s number varying from 0.02- 0.05. It is found that the longitudinal dispersion coefficient downstream to the vegetation is affected in the presence of the vegetation. It is also found that the dispersion coefficient depends on number of rows of vegetation but significantly depends on the diameter of vegetation. A new functional relationship between dimensionless terms is derived using dimensional analysis for predicting the dispersion coefficient.

In-Cylinder Spray and Combustion Investigations in a Heavy-Duty Optical Engine Fueled With Waste Cooking Oil, Jatropha, and Karanja Biodiesels

Patel, Chetankumar,Hwang, Joonsik,Chandra, Krishn,Agarwal, Rashmi A.,Bae, Choongsik,Gupta, Tarun,Agarwal, Avinash Kumar ASME International 2019 Journal of energy resources technology Vol.141 No.1

Evaluation of RECIST, PERCIST, EORTC, and MDA Criteria for Assessing Treatment Response with Ga68-PSMA PET-CT in Metastatic Prostate Cancer Patient with Biochemical Progression: a Comparative Study

Manoj Gupta,Partha Sarathi Choudhury,Sudhir Rawal,Harish Chandra Goel,S. Avinash Rao 대한핵의학회 2018 핵의학 분자영상 Vol.52 No.6

Purpose The aim of the study was to compare response evaluation criteria in solid tumours 1.1 (RECIST 1.1), positron emissiontomography response criteria in solid tumours (PERCIST), European organisation for research and treatment of cancer (EORTC),andMDAnderson (MDA) criteria for response assessment by Gallium 68-prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emissiontomography-computed tomography (Ga68-PSMA PET-CT) in metastatic adenocarcinoma prostate cancer (mPCa) patients withbiochemical progression. Methods Eighty-eight mPCa patients with pre and post treatment Ga68-PSMA PET-CTwere included. A ≥ 25% increase and ≥2 ng/ml above the nadir if prostate specific antigen (PSA) drop or ≥ 2 ng/ml above the baseline if PSA does not drop wasconsidered as biochemical progression. RECIST 1.1 and MDA criteria for morphology and PERCIST and EORTC criteria formolecular response were investigated. Percentages of progressive disease (PD), partial response (PR), and stable disease (SD)were calculated. Chi-square test was used for statistical significance. Results Proportion of PD, SD, and PR by RECIST 1.1 and MDA criteria were 44 (50.57%), 39 (44.83%), 4 (4.6%), and 33(39.76%), 48 (57.83%), 2 (2.41%) respectively. Proportion of PD, SD, and PR by PERCIST and EORTC criteria were 71(80.68%), 11 (12.50%), 6 (6.82%), and 74 (84.09%), 8 (9.09%), 6 (6.82%) respectively. Chi-square test showed statisticallysignificant (P < 0.05) higher proportion of progression detected by both molecular criteria as compare to both morphologicalcriteria. Conclusion We concluded that for Ga68-PSMA PET-CT response evaluation, molecular criteria performed better than morphologicalcriteria in mPCa patient with PSA progression.

Gastroprotective and digestive potential of an Ayurvedic asava–arishta preparation

Anjan Adhikari,Amitabha Dey,Satyajyoti Kanjilal,Rajarshi Biswas,Deepa Gandhi,Kamarujjaman Mondal,Bibhuti Nath Bhatt,Tapas Kumar Sur,Satyabrata Mohapatra,Avinash Narwaria,Chandra Kant Katiyar 경희대학교 융합한의과학연구소 2018 Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine Vol.18 No.4

Asavas and arishtas are considered as important Ayurvedic self-fermented dosage forms which are being used widely to promote health and well-being and for management of digestive and metabolic disorders. The present investigation was carried out to study the potential of an Ayurvedic polyherbal asava–arishta preparation (ZP) in gastroprotection, intestinal motility and gastric dyspepsia in experimental rodent models. The gastroprotective effect of ZP at doses 1.5, 3 and 6 ml/ kg of body weight was studied using battery of animal models such as pyloric ligation in rats, intestinal transit time using charcoal meal test, gastric emptying and digestive stimulation action in rats. In addition, anti-spasmodic activity was studied using isolated guinea pig’s ileum. The role digestive enzymes such as pepsin, α-amylase and lipase were accessed by various enzymatic assays. A dose-dependent and statistically significant (p < 0.01) inhibitory effect on reducing gastric volume, free acidity, total acidity and ulcer index were observed in ZP treated animals as compared to the control. ZP also enhanced the mucin content of the gastric juice. Pre-treatment with ZP produced a dose-dependent effect in reducing intestinal motility, intestinal spasms and increased the gastric emptying time in rats. These observations validated the age old claims of ZP for its use as digestive tonic. Thus, results concluded that ZP is having potential to improve digestion and reduces recurrent digestive ailments.