Influence of convection on microstructure

The mechanism responsible for the difference in microstructure caused by solidifying the MnBi-Bi eutectic in space is sought. The objectives for the three year period are as follows: (1) completion of the following theoretical analyses - determination of the influence of the Soret effect on the average solid composition versus distance of off-eutectic mixtures directionally solidified in the absence of convection, determination of the influence of convection on the microstructure of off-eutectic mixtures using a linear velocity profile in the adjacent melt, determination of the influence of volumetric changes during solidification on microconvection near the freezing interface and on microstructure, and determination of the influence of convection on microstructure when the MnBi fibers project out in front of the bismuth matrix; (2) search for patterns in the effect of microgravity on different eutectics (for example, eutectic composition, eutectic temperature, usual microstructure, densities of pure constituents, and density changes upon solidification); and (3) determination of the Soret coefficient and the diffusion coefficient for Mn-Bi melts near the eutectic composition, both through laboratory experiements to be performed here and from data from Shuttle experiments

Influence of convection on microstructure

In eutectic growth, as the solid phases grow they reject atoms to the liquid. This results in a variation of melt composition along the solid/liquid interface. In the past, mass transfer in eutectic solidification, in the absence of convection, was considered to be governed only by the diffusion induced by compositional gradients. However, mass transfer can also be generated by a temperature gradient. This is called thermotransport, thermomigration, thermal diffusion or the Soret effect. A theoretical model of the influence of the Soret effect on the growth of eutectic alloys is presented. A differential equation describing the compositional field near the interface during unidirectional solidification of a binary eutectic alloy was formulated by including the contributions of both compositional and thermal gradients in the liquid. A steady-state solution of the differential equation was obtained by applying appropriate boundary conditions and accounting for heat flow in the melt. Following that, the average interfacial composition was converted to a variation of undercooling at the interface, and consequently to microstructural parameters. The results obtained show that thermotransport can, under certain circumstances, be a parameter of paramount importance

Patient satisfaction of outpatient department at ESIS hospital, Nagpur, India

Background: Employee state insurance scheme (ESIS) is a multidimensional social security system providing medical facilities to the insured persons and their family through large network of hospitals and dispensaries all over India. The present study was done to measure the satisfaction of OPD (Outpatient Department) patients.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in ESI Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India on 500 patients attending OPD. Patients were approached at the end of their OPD visits to know their perceptions towards the public health facilities, during the months of September and October 2017. Data collected was analyzed.Results: In present study, out of 500 patients, 210 (42%) said that crowd was average, 270 (54%) were satisfied with queue system, 390 (78%) were satisfied with the availability of drugs, 380 (76%) were satisfied with the behaviour of pharmacist.205 (41%) patients said it was not overcrowded, 310 (62%) patients were happy with the behaviour of registration clerk, 330 (66%) were satisfied with the seating arrangements for the patients and attendants, 265 (53%) were satisfied with the cleanliness, 205 (41%) were satisfied with the condition of toilets.390 (78%) patients said that doctor was available, 270 (54%) said that waiting time was less, 325 (65%) said that doctor listened to the problem attentively, 435 (87%) said that the doctor explained nicely about the disease while 425 (85%) were satisfied with the time given by the doctor.Conclusions: Almost half of the patients were satisfied with the registration facilities, basic amenities, service by doctor and pharmacy services. Mostly, patients chose this hospital as it was free for them due to their insurance and as it was near their house. Still, there is scope for improvement

Awareness of PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) in adolescent and young girls

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder which affects the adolescent girls It affects 5% to 10% of women in their reproductive age. Awareness and accurate diagnosis is the first step in managing PCOS as it improves quality of life of the patient. The study was conducted to assess the knowledge on PCOS among the medical students.Methods: Survey of 200 girls was done to assess the knowledge on the polycystic ovarian syndrome among the medical students of different colleges studying in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year. The data was collected from the students by using structured questionnaire.Results: In present study, 51% girls had normal BMI, 19.5% were overweight, 16.5% were obese while 13% were underweight. 33.5% females had acne, 16% had irregularity of menses, 5% had hirsutism while 2% had infertility. In present study, 33% adolescent and young girls had information about PCOS from teacher, 19% got information from friend, 11.5% got information from a doctor, 3.5% got information from newspaper while 5% got information from internet. 28% adolescent and young girls were unaware of PCOS.Conclusions: Thorough knowledge of the disorder and counseling for adolescents should be included in the curriculum which will provide awareness towards the disorder and lifestyle modification. Accurate diagnosis at a younger age may be a key

Factors leading to surgical evacuation in first trimester medical termination of pregnancy

Background: Aim of the study was to determine factors leading to surgical evacuation in first trimester medical termination of pregnancy of women attending SAT hospital, medical college, Thiruvananthapuram.Methods: A case control study was conducted at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, Government Medical college, Thiruvananthapuram. The sample size was calculated to be 58 in each group. Antenatal women attending family planning OPD for termination of pregnancy in first trimester at SAT hospital over a period of one year were recruited for this study. A structured questionnaire was used to record history, examination findings, and investigations including ultrasound. The clinical outcome was defined as successful medical abortion and failed medical abortion which leads to surgical evacuation due to retained products.Results: Previous caesarean, previous induced abortion, previous pregnancy loss or increasing gestational age showed increasing rate of failed medical abortion. Also, in patients with anaemia with haemoglobin <11 gm/dl or diabetes or hypertension showed independent association with failed medical abortion.Conclusions: If patient planning for medical abortion, can do at earlier gestational age as advancing gestation will leads to increasing rate of failed medical abortion and also after correcting anaemia, with proper medication

Functionalized Nanoparticles as Sorbents for Removal of Toxic Species

Removal of various toxic species from aqueous streams is of great importance. Sorption is one of the important remediation procedures as it involves the use of cheap and easily available materials. Also the advantage of regeneration of the sorbent involves the possibility of using novel sorbents. Nanosorbents are very important as the removal is based on the surface phenomena and this is greatly affected by surface charge and area. Functionalization has been very important to bring about the removal of metal ions with greater selectivity

Functionalized Nanoparticles as Sorbents for Removal of Toxic Species

Removal of various toxic species from aqueous streams is of great importance. Sorption is one of the important remediation procedures as it involves the use of cheap and easily available materials. Also the advantage of regeneration of the sorbent involves the possibility of using novel sorbents. Nanosorbents are very important as the removal is based on the surface phenomena and this is greatly affected by surface charge and area. Functionalization has been very important to bring about the removal of metal ions with greater selectivity

Evaluation of pain relief and satisfaction in women using epidural analgesia in labour

Background: Pain during childbirth is the most severe pain women may experience in their lifetime. Epidural analgesia is an effective form of pain relief during labour.Methods: This retrospective study was carried out at Omega Hospital, Nagpur in 50 women in labour who demanded epidural analgesia for pain relief. It was carried out to determine extent of pain relief and overall satisfaction in women using epidural analgesia.Results: In present study, out of 50, 28 (56%) patients delivered by normal vaginal delivery, 14 (28%) patients delivered by cesarean section, 8 (16%) patients had vacuum delivery while in no patient forceps were applied. In first stage,36 (72%) patients had zero score (no pain), 13 (26%) patients had 1-3 score (mild pain) while 1 (2%) patient had 4-6 score (moderate pain) after epidural analgesia. That means epidural analgesia had very good effect in first stage in terms of pain scoring. In second stage, 13 (26%) patients had zero score (no pain), 31 (62%) had 1-3 score (mild pain) while 6 (12%) had 4-6 score (moderate pain) after epidural analgesia. That means epidural analgesia had good effect in second stage in terms of pain scoring. In terms of satisfaction, 11 (22%) patients said it was excellent, 27 (54%) patients said it was good, 8 (16%) patients said it was average while 4 (8%) said it was poor. Apgar score for all babies at 1 min and 5 min was very good. It was ≥7 in all 50 (100%) of newborn babies.Conclusions: Epidural labor analgesia gives significantly less pain scores and has better maternal satisfaction. It is not associated with increased rate of instrumental vaginal delivery or cesarean delivery. Patients had excellent neonatal outcome

Antenatal screening for aneuploidy

Background: It is uncertain how best to screen pregnant women for the presence of fetal Down's syndrome and other aneuploides, whether to perform first-trimester screening or to perform second-trimester screening or both.Methods: Women with singleton and multiple pregnancies underwent first-trimester combined screening (measurement of nuchal translucency, pregnancy-associated plasma protein A [PAPP-A], and the free beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin at 10 weeks 3 days through 13 weeks 6 days of gestation). Also, second-trimester quadruple screening (measurement of alpha-fetoprotein, total human chorionic gonadotropin, unconjugated estriol, and inhibin A) and triple marker test was done from 15 to 18 weeks of gestation.Results: 12 (5%) patients had positive screening test for combined screening in first trimester, 6 (10.9%) patients had positive screening for quadruple test while 1 (2.85%) patients had positive screening for triple test. Out of 19 positive screening, 16 (84.21%) had their amniocentesis done for confirmation of diagnosis. In all 16 patients, chromosomal analysis was normal. Not a single patient turned out to have a baby with Down syndrome or any other aneuploidy. False positive rate for combined screening in first trimester was 5%, false positive rate for quadruple test in second trimester was 10.9%, false positive rate for triple marker test in second trimester was 2.85%.Conclusions: First-trimester combined screening is better than second-trimester quadruple test or triple marker test for syndrome or any other aneuploidy