Gender differences in COVID-19 knowledge, risk perception, and public stigma among the general community: Findings from a nationwide cross-sectional study in India.

Introduction: Individual and community characteristics predictive of knowledge, perception, and attitude on COVID-19, specifically on gender, have not been adequately explored. Objective: To examine the gender differences in COVID-19 knowledge, self-risk perception and public stigma among the general community and to understand other socio-demographic factors which were predictive of them. Method: A nationally representative cross-sectional multi-centric survey was conducted among adult individuals(≥18 yrs) from the community member (N = 1978) from six states and one union territory of India between August 2020 to February 2021. The participants were selected using systematic random sampling. The data were collected telephonically using pilot-tested structured questionnaires and were analyzed using STATA. Gender-segregated multivariable analysis was conducted to identify statistically significant predictors (p < 0.05) of COVID-19-related knowledge, risk perception, and public stigma in the community. Results: Study identified significant differences between males and females in their self-risk perception (22.0% & 18.2% respectively) and stigmatizing attitude (55.3% & 47.1% respectively). Highly educated males and females had higher odds of having COVID-19 knowledge (aOR: 16.83: p < 0.05) than illiterates. Highly educated women had higher odds of having self-risk perception (aOR: 2.6; p < 0.05) but lower public stigma [aOR: 0.57; p < 0.05]. Male rural residents had lower odds of having self-risk perception and knowledge [aOR: 0.55; p < 0.05 & aOR: 0.72; p < 0.05] and female rural residents had higher odds of having public stigma [aOR: 1.36; p < 0.05]. Conclusion: Our study findings suggest the importance of considering thegender differentials and their background, education status and residential status in designing effective interventions to improve knowledge and reduce risk perception and stigma in the community about COVID-19.

Challenges in Accessing and Delivering Maternal and Child Health Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Rapid Survey from Six States of India.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic and its prevention and control policies have impacted maternal and child health (MCH) services. This study documents the challenges faced by patients in accessing MCH services, and the experiences of health care providers in delivering those services during the COVID-19 outbreak, explicitly focusing on the lockdown period in India. METHODS: A cross-sectional study (rapid survey) was conducted in 18 districts from 6 states of India during March to June, 2020. The sample size included 540 MCH patients, 18 gynaecologists, 18 paediatricians, 18 district immunisation officers and 108 frontline health workers. Bivariate analysis and multivariable analysis were used to assess the association between sociodemographic characteristics, and challenges faced by the patients. RESULTS: More than one-third of patients (n = 212; 39%) reported that accessing MCH services was a challenge during the lockdown period, with major challenges being transportation-related difficulties (n = 99; 46%) unavailability of hospital-based services (n = 54; 23%) and interrupted outreach health services (n = 39; 18.4%). The supply-side challenges mainly included lack of infrastructural preparedness for outbreak situations, and a shortage of human resources. CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS: A holistic approach is required that focuses on both preparedness and response to the outbreak, as well reassignment and reinforcement of health care professionals to continue catering to and maintaining essential MCH services during the pandemic.

Factors associated with COVID-19 stigma during the onset of the global pandemic in India: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: To assess factors associated with COVID-19 stigmatizing attitudes in the community and stigma experiences of COVID-19 recovered individuals during first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 18 districts located in 7 States in India during September 2020 to January 2021 among adults > 18 years of age selected through systematic random sampling. Data on socio demographic and COVID-19 knowledge were collected from 303 COVID-19 recovered and 1,976 non-COVID-19 infected individuals from community using a survey questionnaire. Stigma was assessed using COVID-19 Stigma Scale and Community COVID-19 Stigma Scale developed for the study. Informed consent was sought from the participants. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis were conducted. Results: Half of the participants (51.3%) from the community reported prevalence of severe stigmatizing attitudes toward COVID-19 infected while 38.6% of COVID-19 recovered participants reported experiencing severe stigma. Participants from the community were more likely to report stigmatizing attitudes toward COVID-19 infected if they were residents of high prevalent COVID-19 zone (AOR: 1.5; CI: 1.2-1.9), staying in rural areas (AOR: 1.5; CI:1.1-1.9), belonged to the age group of 18-30 years (AOR: 1.6; CI 1.2-2.0), were male (AOR: 1.6; CI: 1.3-1.9), illiterate (AOR: 2.7; CI: 1.8-4.2), or living in Maharashtra (AOR: 7.4; CI: 4.8-11.3). COVID-19 recovered participants had higher odds of experiencing stigma if they had poor knowledge about COVID-19 transmission (AOR: 2.8; CI: 1.3-6.3), were staying for 6-15 years (AOR: 3.24; CI: 1.1-9.4) in the current place of residence or belonged to Delhi (AOR: 5.3; CI: 1.04-26.7). Conclusion: Findings indicated presence of stigmatizing attitudes in the community as well as experienced stigma among COVID-19 recovered across selected study sites in India during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Study recommends timely dissemination of factual information to populations vulnerable to misinformation and psychosocial interventions for individuals affected by stigma.

Determination of Optimum Machining Parameters for Face Milling Process of Ti6A14V Metal Matrix Composite.

This paper shows the novel approach of Taguchi-Based Grey Relational Analysis of Ti6Al4V Machining parameter. Ti6Al4V metal matrix composite has been fabricated using the powder metallurgy route. Here, all the components of TI6Al4V machining forces, including longitudinal force (Fx), radial force (Fy), tangential force (Fz), surface roughness and material removal rate (MRR) are measured during the facing operation. The effect of three process parameters, cutting speed, tool feed and cutting depth, is being studied on the matching responses. Orthogonal design of experiment (Taguchi L9) has been adopted to execute the process parameters in each level. To validate the process output parameters, the Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) optimization approach was applied. The percentage contribution of machining parameters to the parameter of response performance was interpreted through variance analysis (ANOVA). Through the GRA process, the emphasis was on the fact that for TI6Al4V metal matrix composite among all machining parameters, tool feed serves as the highest contribution to the output responses accompanied by the cutting depth with the cutting speed in addition. From optimal testing, it is found that for minimization of machining forces, maximization of MRR and minimization of Ra, the best combinations of input parameters are the 2nd stage of cutting speed (175 m/min), the 3rd stage of feed (0.25 mm/edge) as well as the 2nd stage of cutting depth (1.2 mm). It is also found that hardness of Ti6Al4V MMC is 59.4 HRA and composition of that material remain the same after milling operation.

Development & validation of scales to assess stigma related to COVID-19 in India.

Background & objectives: COVID-19 pandemic has triggered social stigma towards individuals affected and their families. This study describes the process undertaken for the development and validation of scales to assess stigmatizing attitudes and experiences among COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 participants from the community. Methods: COVID-19 Stigma Scale and Community COVID-19 Stigma Scale constituting 13 and six items, respectively, were developed based on review of literature and news reports, expert committee evaluation and participants' interviews through telephone for a multicentric study in India. For content validity, 61 (30 COVID-19-recovered and 31 non-COVID-19 participants from the community) were recruited. Test-retest reliability of the scales was assessed among 99 participants (41 COVID-19 recovered and 58 non-COVID-19). Participants were administered the scale at two-time points after a gap of 7-12 days. Cronbach's alpha, overall percentage agreement and kappa statistics were used to assess internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Results: Items in the scales were relevant and comprehensible. Both the scales had Cronbach's α above 0.6 indicating moderate-to-good internal consistency. Test-retest reliability assessed using kappa statistics indicated that for the COVID-19 Stigma Scale, seven items had a moderate agreement (0.4-0.6). For the Community COVID-19 Stigma Scale, four items had a moderate agreement. Interpretation & conclusions: Validity and reliability of the two stigma scales indicated that the scales were comprehensible and had moderate internal consistency. These scales could be used to assess COVID-19 stigma and help in the development of appropriate stigma reduction interventions for COVID-19 infected, and mitigation of stigmatizing attitudes in the community.

SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of concern including Omicron: A never ending pandemic.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is associated with high morbidity and mortality. This zoonotic virus has emerged in Wuhan of China in December 2019 from bats and pangolins probably and continuing the human-to-human transmission globally since last two years. As there is no efficient approved treatment, a number of vaccines were developed at an unprecedented speed to counter the pandemic. Moreover, vaccine hesitancy is observed that may be another possible reason for this never ending pandemic. In the meantime, several variants and mutations were identified and causing multiple waves globally. Now the safety and efficacy of these vaccines are debatable and recommended to determine whether vaccines are able to interrupt transmission of SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VOC). Moreover, the VOCs continue to emerge that appear more transmissible and less sensitive to virus-specific immune responses. In this overview, we have highlighted various drugs and vaccines used to counter this pandemic along with their reported side effects. Moreover, the preliminary data for the novel VOC "Omicron" are discussed with the existing animal models.

Influence of ß-phase stability in elemental blended Ti-Mo and Ti-Mo-Zr alloys.

This paper investigated the improvement of mechanical properties for one of the most used biomaterials, titanium-based alloy. To improve its mechanical properties, molybdenum was chosen to be added to Ti and Ti-Zr alloys through a mechanical blending process. After homogenization of Ti (12, 15) Mo and Ti (12, 15) Mo-6 Zr, the compaction pressure and sintering temperature were varied to create pellets. Characterization has been done using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Vickers's hardness, Archimedes test and ultrasonic method, and 3-point bending test. Micrograph of each pellet revealed the influence of Mo content that plays a prominent role in the variation of microstructure in the alloys Ti-Mo and Ti-Zr-Mo. The porosity and density were also influenced by changing the ß-phase. EBSD analysis shows the increase in ß-phase with the addition of Zr. The overall results indicated that the percentage of ß-phase greatly affects the mechanical properties for the specimens.

Anti-bacterial activity of inorganic nanomaterials and their antimicrobial peptide conjugates against resistant and non-resistant pathogens.

This review details the antimicrobial applications of inorganic nanomaterials of mostly metallic form, and the augmentation of activity by surface conjugation of peptide ligands. The review is subdivided into three main sections, of which the first describes the antimicrobial activity of inorganic nanomaterials against gram-positive, gram-negative and multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. The second section highlights the range of antimicrobial peptides and the drug resistance strategies employed by bacterial species to counter lethality. The final part discusses the role of antimicrobial peptide-decorated inorganic nanomaterials in the fight against bacterial strains that show resistance. General strategies for the preparation of antimicrobial peptides and their conjugation to nanomaterials are discussed, emphasizing the use of elemental and metallic oxide nanomaterials. Importantly, the permeation of antimicrobial peptides through the bacterial membrane is shown to aid the delivery of nanomaterials into bacterial cells. By judicious use of targeting ligands, the nanomaterial becomes able to differentiate between bacterial and mammalian cells and, thus, reduce side effects. Moreover, peptide conjugation to the surface of a nanomaterial will alter surface chemistry in ways that lead to reduction in toxicity and improvements in biocompatibility.

Development and characterization of ethylcellulose based microsphere for sustained release of nifedipine.

This article introduced the work of ethylcellulose based polymeric microsphere loaded with nifedipine for reduction in frequency of administration with low solubility in aqueous medium and high rate of absorption in the stomach. The non-aqueous polymeric suspension was put dropwise into an aqueous medium containing polyvinyl alcohol as a surfactant for the synthesis of microsphere by solvent evaporation. The microspheres were characterized by different techniques, namely, XRD, SEM, and NMR. The formation of microspheres was confirmed by SEM. XRD analysis revealed the semi-crystallinity nature of microspheres. The NMR study indicated the presence of hetero-aromatic nucleus in the microsphere.

Development and characterization of ethylcellulose based microsphere for sustained release of nifedipine$ / 药物分析学报

This article introduced the work of ethylcellulose based polymeric microsphere loaded with nifedipine for reduction in frequency of administration with low solubility in aqueous medium and high rate of absorption in the stomach. The non-aqueous polymeric suspension was put dropwise into an aqueous medium containing polyvinyl alcohol as a surfactant for the synthesis of microsphere by solvent eva-poration. The microspheres were characterized by different techniques, namely, XRD, SEM, and NMR. The formation of microspheres was confirmed by SEM. XRD analysis revealed the semi-crystallinity nature of microspheres. The NMR study indicated the presence of hetero-aromatic nucleus in the microsphere.