Gallium-based nascent electrode materials towards promising supercapacitor applications: a review.

To meet the energy requirement of the modern era, supercapacitors are promising candidates for energy storage devices, which possess the potential to compete with the future battery technology. To accomplish this pivotal task, it is vital to choose electrode materials that have high power and energy density as well as superb electrochemical stability. For the past few years, the use of gallium-based materials for energy storage applications has attracted attention because of their excellent activity towards electrochemical energy storage applications despite the single oxidation state (i.e., +3 which is redox inactive and does not contribute towards pseudo capacitance). Recently, research on gallium-based materials has started and will be continued further owing to the fact that gallium-based materials possess numerous excellent properties such as fast charge and discharge rate, high power density, long cycle life, stability over a wide range of temperatures, excellent electron velocity, superior chemical and physical stabilities and high voltage application capability, which make them a potential class of electrode materials for supercapacitors. The enhancement in the electrochemical performance upon the introduction of gallium into the system can make it a futuristic candidate for electrochemical energy storage devices. Herein, we systematically outline the synthesis and characterization of gallium-based materials and their composites as explored by esteemed researchers focusing only on their supercapacitive performance via electrochemical techniques. For a better understanding, the underlying charge storage mechanism and identified characteristics are presented to give a crystal-clear idea about the field. In addition, the key challenges and impending perspectives of gallium-based electrodes for supercapacitor applications are debated.

A case report of Blastocystis infection and Steven Johnson's syndrome.

Blastocystis species (spp.) is an emerging pathogen. There are several unsolved issues linked to this parasite ranging from its nomenclature, commensal status, standardization of laboratory diagnostic methods, genotypes and treatment. Recently, there has been an increase in reports of Blastocystis spp. from symptomatic cases which provide enough evidence of its pathogenic potential. A range of signs and symptoms, from gastro-intestinal to cutaneous manifestations have been attributed to Blastocystis infection. Few reports have established an association between intestinal infection with Blastocystis spp. and skin manifestations in form of urticaria, palmoplantar pruritus and allergy with complete resolution of cutaneous lesions with eradication of the parasite. In this report, we describe a case of Steven Johnson's syndrome (SJS) in a 6 years old girl along with infection with Blastocystis spp. marked by diarrhea and abdominal pain. Stool examination revealed the presence of all forms of the parasite with subsequent decrease in parasite burden and diarrhea over a period of time. Interestingly, the clearance of Blastocystis spp. from stool was followed by recovery from skin lesions and other symptoms. In this case, the course of SJS was clearly associated with Blastocystis infection. Though skin manifestation with Blastocystis infection has been previously reported, this is the first report of its association with SJS. This report indicates newer insights of the parasite that are less well studied.

A case report of Blastocystis infection and Steven Johnson’s syndrome

@#Blastocystis species (spp.) is an emerging pathogen. There are several unsolved issues linked to this parasite ranging from its nomenclature, commensal status, standardization of laboratory diagnostic methods, genotypes and treatment. Recently, there has been an increase in reports of Blastocystis spp. from symptomatic cases which provide enough evidence of its pathogenic potential. A range of signs and symptoms, from gastro-intestinal to cutaneous manifestations have been attributed to Blastocystis infection. Few reports have established an association between intestinal infection with Blastocystis spp. and skin manifestations in form of urticaria, palmoplantar pruritus and allergy with complete resolution of cutaneous lesions with eradication of the parasite. In this report, we describe a case of Steven Johnson’s syndrome (SJS) in a 6 years old girl along with infection with Blastocystis spp. marked by diarrhea and abdominal pain. Stool examination revealed the presence of all forms of the parasite with subsequent decrease in parasite burden and diarrhea over a period of time. Interestingly, the clearance of Blastocystis spp. from stool was followed by recovery from skin lesions and other symptoms. In this case, the course of SJS was clearly associated with Blastocystis infection. Though skin manifestation with Blastocystis infection has been previously reported, this is the first report of its association with SJS. This report indicates newer insights of the parasite that are less well studied.

Real-time dynamic intraocular pressure fluctuations during microcoaxial phacoemulsification using different aspiration flow rates and their impact on early postoperative outcomes: a randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the impact of varying fluidic parameters on intraoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) fluctuations and postoperative outcomes. METHODS: Prospective randomized study of 80 eyes undergoing cataract surgery that were randomly assigned to low (aspiration flow rate: 20 cc/min; bottle height: 90 cm; vacuum: 400 mm Hg) and high (aspiration flow rate: 40 cc/min; bottle height: 110 cm; vacuum: 400 mm Hg) fluidic parameter groups. Real-time dynamic intraoperative IOP was measured during nuclear fragment removal. Mean maximum and minimum IOP and percentage reduction in IOP from maximum were compared between groups. Postoperatively, the rate of change in central corneal thickness and anterior chamber inflammation at days 1 and 7, endothelial cell density at 3 months, and corneal clarity on day 1 were compared. RESULTS: Minimum IOP in the low and high parameters groups was 35 ± 4.0 and 34.5 ± 6.8 mm Hg, respectively. Maximum IOP in the low and high parameters groups was 69 ± 3.0 and 85 ± 1.2 mm Hg, respectively (P < .002). Mean percent reduction from maximum was 59% in the high parameters group compared to 41% in the low parameters group, with the difference being statistically significant (P < .002). Rate of change in central corneal thickness was greater in the high parameters group at postoperative days 1 and 7 (P < .001). Anterior chamber inflammation and corneal clarity on the first postoperative day were significantly better in the low parameters group. CONCLUSIONS: Higher aspiration flow rate and bottle heights are associated with high intraoperative IOPs of up to 85 mm Hg. Prolonged elevated IOP during cataract surgery was found to have more anterior segment inflammation and more edematous corneas.

Prevalence of abnormal spermatozoa in tobacco chewing sub-fertile males.

AIM: The aim of the following study is to find out the prevalence of abnormal spermatozoa and associated functional parameters in clinical semen samples of sub-fertile males with the tobacco chewing habit. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Retrospective study was conducted at infertility unit of a tertiary health care center, in a period of 3 years. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Semen of 642 males were analyzed; of them 194 men (30.2%) were tobacco chewers and they were grouped according to their intensity of chewing (<10 and ≥ 10 packets/day). Counts, motility, vitality, and morphology of sperms were analyzed. RESULTS: In tobacco chewers, 66% of subjects were oligozoospermic, 85% asthenozoospermic and 28% teratozoospermic. Sperm counts (odds ratio [OR] =2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5-3.09), motility (OR = 3.2; 95% CI: 2.05-4.9), and normal morphology (OR = 8.4; 95% CI: 4.9-14.6) were significantly affected (P = 0.001) in tobacco chewers than the non-chewing group. Further, in comparison to the intensity of tobacco chewing, patients with the intensive practice of using ≥10 packets/day had a significant effect on sperm morphology (P = 0.003, OR = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.41-5.08) only. Structural defects in head (P = 0.001) and cytoplasmic residues (P = 0.001) were found to be positively correlated with the intensive chewing, but no significant changes were found in anomalies in mid-piece and tail. CONCLUSION: The adverse impact of tobacco chewing on semen parameters was evident even with mild chewers, but with the intensive chewing practice, phenotypes of sperms, mainly defects in the head and cytoplasmic residue were severely affected.

Incidence, management, and postoperative outcomes in pediatric eyes with coexisting posterior capsule plaque and cataract.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence and evaluate the management and postoperative outcomes of posterior capsule plaque in pediatric eyes with cataract. SETTING: Iladevi Cataract & IOL Research Centre, Ahmedabad, India. DESIGN: Cohort study. METHODS: This study evaluated consecutive eyes of children aged 1 month to 15 years having cataract surgery. In cases of posterior capsule plaque, plaque peeling (smaller plaque) or posterior vitrectorhexis (larger plaque) was performed. Intraocular lenses (IOLs) were implanted in all except microphthalmic eyes. The postoperative observations included visual axis obscuration and IOL decentration. RESULTS: Posterior capsule plaque was observed in 90 (13.4%) of 670 eyes (63 [13.2%] of 475 children). Of eyes with posterior capsule plaque, 70 had total white mature cataract and 20 had posterior subcapsular cataract. Plaque peeling was performed in 41 eyes (45.5%) and partial excision of the plaque with a vitrectome in 49 eyes (54.4%). The mean follow-up was 24.03 months ± 2.68 (SD). Of the 60 eyes that had an IOL, 54 (90%) had in-the-bag implantation and 6 (10%) had ciliary sulcus implantation. Postoperatively, there was no IOL decentration. Visual axis obscuration developed in 6 eyes (6.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Posterior capsule plaque was frequently observed in pediatric cataractous eyes, especially in eyes with total cataract. After plaque peeling or plaque removal with a vitrectome, the IOL was stable in the capsular bag and the visual axis was clear.

Impact of high and low aspiration parameters on postoperative outcomes of phacoemulsification: randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of fluidic parameters on the central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal endothelium, and anterior segment inflammation after phacoemulsification with longitudinal ultrasound. SETTING: Iladevi Cataract & IOL Research Center, Ahmedabad, India. METHODS: In this prospective randomized patient- and examiner-masked study, consecutive patients with age-related cataract were randomly assigned to Group 1 (low fluidic parameters: aspiration flow rate 25 cc/min; bottle height 70 cm and 90 cm; vacuum

Software-based assessment of postoperative rotation of toric intraocular lens.

A specially designed grid and software used to assess the postoperative rotation of a toric intraocular lens (IOL) are described. Postoperatively, a digital retroillumination image of the patient is taken and this image is superimposed on the grid. The software determines the center of the IOL. A prominent episcleral vessel is identified, and the axis of the toric IOL and the episcleral vessel are documented using the grid. These values act as references for aligning the images taken during the follow-up period.