Antenatal parameters to predict mortality and major morbidity in very low birth weight preterm neonates

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine effect of maternal factors and abnormal antenatal color Doppler of umbilical artery on mortality and major morbidity in very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, of a teaching institution of central India. All consecutive intramural live-born preterm neonates, delivered with BW of 1000–<1500 g, were included in the study. All preterm neonates received standardized neonatal care as per the unit protocol. A total of 400 intramural live-born VLBW, preterm neonates (diagnosed as per WHO criteria) were included in the study; out of which, 103 had absent or reversed end-diastolic blood flow and 117 had forward enddiastolic blood flow and in the remaining 180 babies, color Doppler could not be done. All the VLBW neonates were followed up till the time of discharge or death. The mortality and major morbidity (one or more of the following: intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) during hospital stay were assessed in all the babies. Results: A total of 400 preterm neonates were enrolled in study, out of which, 109 died (27.25%). The causes of neonatal mortality included septicemia (44.9%), birth asphyxia (18.34%), hyaline membrane disease (30.6%), pulmonary hemorrhage (11.34%), prematurity (10.09%), aspirationpneumonia (8.25%), IVH (1.83%), and NEC (1.83%). Abnormal antenatal Doppler 15.1 (8.7–25.5) (p=0.0001) was an important factor for the major morbidities. Among maternal risk factors, premature rupture of membrane (p=0.015), meconium-stained liquor (p=0.01), fetal distress (p=0.001), and the absence of antenatal steroid (p=0.0001) significantly predict the mortality. Conclusion: Among maternal factors, premature rupture of membrane, meconium-stained liquor, and abnormal antenatal color Doppler are the important predictors of early mortality and major morbidities such as respiratory distress syndrome, IVH, NEC in VLBW neonate

Chemical Stablilisation of Sand : Part VIII Furan Resins as Dune and Coastal Sand Stabiliser

Studies on furan resin as dune sand stabiliser are presented. Influence of acid catalysts, viz. phenol disulphonic acid, sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid and phosphoric acid and other catalysts, viz. trichlorotoluene and benzoyl chloride along with promoters, zinc chloride and ferric chloride, on the strength of stabilised furan resin-sand specimens has been discussed. Optimisation studies on resin content, catalysts and promoters and curing conditions have revealed that maximum strength of 260 kg/cm/sup 2/ of the standard specimens made by compaction of coastal sand using furan resins (10 per cent), sulphuric acid (9N, 30 per cent) and a curing time of 2 hr at 40 degree Centigrade is higher than the 170 kg/cm/sup 2/ of specimens made of Rajasthan desert sand. Sandy patches stabilised by seepage technique recorded a maximum strength of 125 kg/cm/sup 2/. Physico-chemical characteristics of this system and effect of environment on stabilised specimens have also been studied and field trials conducted successfully. This resin-catalyst system would be extremely useful in humid and saline field (coastal) areas for different military applications

Chemical Stabilisation of Sand : Part VII Natural Resins as Dune Sand Stabiliser

The comparative studies on use of a few natural resins as dune sand stabiliser are discussed. Guar-gum - a product of Rajasthan desert,Terminalia alata tannins and rosin have proved promising for short-termand emergency use in field, where water, aggregates, skilled manpower and road constructing machines are not available.Effect of compaction on strength has also been studied in order to optimise the thickness of stabilised surfaces required for construction of roads and helipads in sandy areas. Effect of temperature and bacteria on stabilised specimens have also been discussed

Removal of Dissolved Salts and Toxic Substances from Water Using Desert Desalting Kit

A portable desert desalting kit for converting natural brackish water or waters deliberately contaminated with certain toxic substances into potable water has been developed. The potable water is of acceptable standards laid down by WHO/ICMR.Based on ion exchange resin, the kit consists of desalting bag with filter and eight chemical packets. It requires 15 min to obtain potable water (450 ml from each chemical packet) from brackish water containing dissolved solids upto 7000 mg/l yielding in all 3.6 litres of potable water sufficient for a man to survive for a day

FORMULATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF MUCOADHESIVE MICROSPHERES OF VALSARTAN BY USING BOX-BEHNKEN DESIGN

Objective: The purpose of this study was to formulate and optimize mucoadhesive microspheres of antihypertensive drug (valsartan) within ethyl cellulose as a carrier polymer and carbopol 934P as a mucoadhesive polymer for controlling the release of valsartan. Methods: The emulsion solvent evaporation technique was used for preparation of microspheres of valsartan and the Box-Behnken design was employed with thee independent variables that is amount of ethyl cellulose (X1) and amount of carbopol 934P (X2) and stirring speed (X3) and evaluate four dependent variables such as percentage mucoadhesion, Q1 h, t90% and drug entrapment efficiency. Results: The optimum conditions were found to be X1= 200 mg, X2= 107 mg and X3= 1200rpm. The optimized batch exhibited a high drug entrapment efficiency of 85.63±1.384%, percentage mucoadhesion was 66.76±0.986% and drug release was also sustained for more than 12 h. Conclusion: The analysis of variance showed a significant effect of independent variables. The scaning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the microspheres were spherical and free-flowing. The microspheres of valsartan were stable after thee month stability study at accelerated condition

Dynamic Model of Daily Runoff-Sediment Yield for a Himalayan Sub-Catchment of Ramganga River

Abstract: Runoff sediment yield process is dynamic in nature. To model this process, consideration of antecedent status of input and output variables is important, and this status depends to a great extent on the memory content of the watershed system. In this study, an attempt has been made to develop a dynamic model of daily runoff and sediment yield considering the memory content of the watershed system. The developed model was applied on the uppermost Himalayan catchment of Ramganga river comprising an area of 1010 square kilometres. The model estimated and predicated values of daily sediment yield were found to be in good agreement with the measured values of daily sediment yield from the area

Development of E Waste based Composite Microwave Absorbing Material

Microwave absorbing materials (MAMs) are widely researched due to their use in many practical applications including both civil and defense sectors. Irrespective of the humongous efforts of various researchers, the development of a wide bandwidth, thin coating thickness, and low-cost microwave absorber is still a challenging task. The existing materials have not been able to meet all the specifications together at once and require a trade-off in the performance parameters. In this paper, we have empirically corroborated a cost-effective technique using E-waste material for synthesising composite MAM. It is herein shown that the addition of different wt% of copper, graphite, and titanium dioxide in the E-waste successfully resulted in enhanced absorption due to altered electrical properties of the E-waste suitable for microwave absorption. The multilayering technique with the help of a genetic algorithm has also been used to broaden the bandwidth. As a result, a three-layer MAM with the total coating thickness of 3.2 mm has been synthesised showing the wideband absorption bandwidth of 8.47 GHz in the frequency range from 6.92 to 15.39 GHz. The results suggested that microwave absorption of E-waste can be drastically improved by appropriately tailoring electrical parameters such as permittivity and permeability

Chemical Stabilisation of Sand : Part* II Construction and Studies of 50m X 4m Road

An experimental track (50m X 4m) was constructed on a loose sand bed by using two chemical-sand composition containing either 9 per cent urea formaldehyde (UF) resin or 11 per cent sodium silicate binder (on solid content basis). The trafficability studies on 5-6 cm thick stabilised track was found to vary from 1625 to 1700 psi in UF stabilised track and from 1340 to 1460 psi in silicate stabilised track. The effect of resin, desert environmental conditions and trafficability studies showed cumulative loss of load bearing capacity from 1625-1700 to 645-1125 psi

Study on character association and path analysis in little millet (Panicum sumatrense L.)

Little millet (Panicum sumatrense L.) is one of the neglected crops which is becoming popular as nutri-cereal. Development of high yielding stable cultivars may offer better economic return from this crop. Assessment of interrelationship among important economic traits helps to identify major yield component traits which could be selected for overall yield improvement hence development of superior genotypes. In this context, 50 genotypes of little millet were evaluated during kharif 2021, to identify important yield component traits through correlation and path analysis of 16 quantitative traits. Estimates of genotypic correlation coefficients were found to be higher than the estimates of phenotypic correlation coefficients, indicating that association were majorly under genetic control. It was revealed that direct selection based on fodder yield per plant, plant height and 1000 seed weight may help in augmenting grain yield in the experimental material, whereas, harvest index came out as the most important character for indirect selection

INHIBITING EFFECTS OF ORGANIC INHIBITOR ON CORROSION OF STEEL IN 3.5 % BRINE SOLUTION

The experiment for API grade steel has been carried out by using weight loss measurement technique. All the experiments were carried out in an autoclave at varying temperature and a fixed partial pressure of carbon dioxide. The different concentration of imidazoline as organic inhibitor has been added in the solution to know the inhibition effect on the metal surface. The results indicated that addition of 40 ppm of inhibitor showed the higher efficiency due to the formation of more adhered and protective film over the metal surface. The exposed samples were characterized by using various techniques such as x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy