Echocardiographic Study of Cardiac Structure in Cyclists and Runners

We sought to study the cardiac morphology of cyclists and runners in male and female athletes and control subjects and to find association cardiac morphological measurements with body composition measurements. Endurance training is associated with increases in both left ventricular mass (LVM) and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD). Cardiac morphology shows sports specific adaptations which are studied in the two groups, runners involving lower limb and cyclists involving upper limb. 28 runners and 26 cyclists were taken to do a comparison study with 38 control subjects, aged between 18-25 years of age and comprising of males and females both. All participants underwent transthoracic echocardiography and hydrostatic underwater weighing for body composition along with routine measurements. Athletes showed enlarged LV dimensions and mass (p<0.05) as compared to controls. Right ventricular and aortic root dimensions were also found to be significantly higher in athletes (p<0.05). Lean tissue mass was found to be independent predictor of LVM. Increased LV wall thickness in relation to the ventricular dimension appears to be proportionate in runners; it is disproportionate in cyclists, probably because of the isometric training component involved during upper limb training cycling. Hence runners show eccentric hypertrophy and cyclist showed mixed eccentric and concentric hypertrophy. LVM was found to be correlated only to lean tissue mass. The extent of LV remodeling (athletic heart) in trained individuals may reflect a normal physiologic response to increased lean tissue mass induced by training

Congenital diverticular disease of jejunum presenting as obstruction in adulthood: A case report from Ladakh

Of the many causes of small bowel obstruction, volvulus of the midgut is seen mainly in paediatric age group only, along with malrotation of the gut. However, the volvulus of the small gut in an adult is rare. Volvulus of the midgut in adulthood could be due to many reasons like long mesentery, adhesive bands, internal herniation, endometrioses, etc. But volvulus occurring due to diverticulosis of small intestine is a rare occurrence. The diverticulosis in most of the adult patient are acquired (pulsion diverticuli) with a diverticular wall having only two layers of the intestine. Congenital diverticulosis with the diverticuli bearing all the layers of the intestine leading to the volvulus of the midgut makes it still rarer. We present the case of midgut volvulus arising due to congenital true jejunal diverticulosis in a 50-years-old adult along with a brief review of the literature. In our case report, volvulus occurred in an adult due to congenital diverticulosis of jejunum making it a difficult preoperative diagnosis and a rare case reporting

Rapid and Efficient Pesticide Detection via Cyclodextrin-Promoted Energy Transfer

Cyclodextrins facilitate non-covalent fluorescence energy transfer from a variety of pesticides to high quantum-yield fluorophores, resulting in a rapid, sensitive detection scheme for these compounds with detection limits as low as two micromolar. Such a facile detection tool has significant potential applications in agriculture and public health research

Design and fabrication considerations for three dimensional scaffold structures

Porous three dimensional structures have seen extensive investigation among design engineers for a wide range of novel applications. The fabrication of such designs would not be possible using traditional manufacturing approaches owing to the dimensional intricacy of such structures, but have now become a distinct possibility owing to the maturity of 3D printing technologies. In this study, we have examined the creation of novel unit cells from mathematic surface renderings as a basis for creating tailored porous structures, before realising the final designs through Fuse Deposition Modelling (FDM) 3D printing. We examined the use of Gyroid and Schwarz primitive (P) surfaces to create novel unit cells not typically found in design software libraries. We then transpose these structures into several test geometries comprising a cylinder, cuboid and tetrahedron, which will adequately test limits of design and fabrication in regular and irregularly shaped structures. It was found that the porosities of the resulting models could be adjusted through discrete dimensional changes in the unit cell and digital wrapping procedures. It was also found that models could be fabricated using FDM printing to a minimum pore diameter of approximately 1mm with a high degree of accuracy and repeatability. Ultimately this work will provide guidance to engineering's when creating porous structures and could find usefulness in applications where optimal material usage versus porosity are required, such as in high throughput 3D fluidic applications, such as heat exchangers and tissue engineered structures

A Model for Turbulent Compressible Vortices

In this thesis the effects of turbulence are introduced by combining the past turbulent tangential velocity model with the preceding work on the laminar compressible vortices. The radial and axial velocity components are derived from the tangential and mass conservation equations. The temperature is then found numerically from the energy equation. Upon code verification several characteristics of the problem have been examined in detail. The mysterious temperature separation is known since 1933 from the work of first Ranque and then Hilsch. Although several possibilities for its origin have been suggested no comprehensive theory for its causality has yet reported. The present novel approach is used to show conclusively that the cause of the thermal effect is the product of competition between the heating up of the gas because of friction and cooling due to material element expansion as it moves towards the region of decreasing pressure. As originally inferred empirically, it is now shown theoretically that stream wise vortices within supersonic flow fields and high Rossby number atmospheric vortices such as tornadoes and waterspouts, display the classical heating/cooling effect. The new information is used to elaborate on several, yet inexplicable instrument recordings related to these natural phenomena. Finally the new results are used to justify some odd physiological encounters made by several witnesses, trapped inside overpassing tornado’s funnels, and lived to tell their unusual experiences. The new basic methodology and findings can now be used to improve the design of vortex tubes. Keywords: Vortex model, compressible vortices, turbulent vortices, temperature separation

Understanding vulnerabilities using a hotspot approach

Our research indicates and reemphasises that social vulnerability maybe compounded by changing biophysical and climatic conditions, indicating likely situations of widespread vulnerability. We also observe that biophysical conditions are changing distinctly and influencing livelihood regimes. Hence, it becomes imperative to address underlying socioeconomic and biophysical conditions that drives vulnerabilities, but in the context of changing livelihood and agricultural practises. This also has strong complementarity with the targets under Sustainable Development Goals and resonates with the Hotspot Approach. The various pieces of research when weaved together present unique findings that on one hand are very location specific and on the other, when synthesised and abstracted, can lead to informing proactive climate planning. These issues will be further discussed in Brief 3 on Adaptation Policy

A low carbon footprint approach to the reconstitution of plastics into 3D-printer filament for enhanced waste reduction

In this study we aim to investigate recycling of waste plastics products into filaments for use in a typical FDM 3D printing system. We investigate the parameters relating to control of the filament thickness to a variety of different plastic types, which include HDPE and ABS. Following filament generation, parameters were investigated to optimise the print parameters to produce a variety of demonstration models, which test the print resolution. Results suggest that the proposed supply chain can allow for highly repeatable ABS and HDPE filament generation with a diameter of 1.74 ± 0.1mm and 1.65 ± 0.1mm respectively. Ultimately, the production of usable filaments can provide a viable means of consuming waste plastics and reducing the burden of increased landfill.

Portal vein thrombosis after robot-assisted laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

AbstrAct Introduction: Portal vein thrombosis after gastric bypass has been rarely described in medical literature. It is a multifactorial occurrence, one related to surgical technique as well as predispositions to thrombosis in the patient. Nonetheless, it is one with deadly consequences if not diagnosed and treated promptly. the patient exhibited vague abdominal symptoms at presentation and was diagnosed with portal vein thrombosis via abdominal computed tomography. case report: Herein, we discuss a case of a 40-year-old female, with an undiscovered Leiden V mutation and positive lupus anticoagulant, presented with portal vein thrombosis two weeks after robot-assisted laparoscopic gastric bypass and successful discharge. conclusion: A clinician managing a postoperative laparoscopic rouxen-Y gastric bypass patient should be aware of the possibility of portal vein thrombosis, and the precipitating factors predisposing patients to this condition