Pregnancy outcome of isolated oligohydramnios in uncomplicated term pregnancies: an observational comparative study

Background: Oligohydramnios and its outcome is a relevant issue related to mother and fetus. Purpose of this study is to establish the obstetric and perinatal outcome in pregnancy associated with ‘isolated oligohydramnios as compared to women with normal liquor.Methods: This is an observational comparative study done at Al Azhar Medical College, Thodupuzha, Kerala, India on 50 pregnant women of 37 weeks of gestation or more and diagnosed to have oligohydramnios without any high-risk factors. Age, parity, gestational age matched patients without any high-risk factors and AFI >5 cm attending the OPD /ward were taken as controls. In each group there were 25 subjects. After getting informed consent those who fulfilled inclusion criteria were followed through the delivery and immediate neonatal outcome were assessed. Parameters like age, parity, amniotic fluid volume, gestational age at delivery, mode of onset of labor, indication of induction, methods of induction, need for augmentation of labor, CTG patterns, color of liquor, mode of delivery, indications of caesarean section., distribution of APGAR score were analyzed.Results: There were significant difference in maternal outcomes in patients with isolated oligohydramnios in the form of increased rates of induction of labor, augmentation of labor, meconium-stained liquor, non-reassuring fetal heart pattern, caesarean section rates without any significant effects on neonatal outcome.Conclusions: Isolated oligohydramnios has increased rate of induction of labor, meconium-stained liquor, CTG abnormalities and caesarean section rates without significant increase in neonatal morbidity and mortality

Comparison of maternal and neonatal outcome in elective lower segment cesarean section done at 38 and 39 weeks

Background: Time to perform elective LSCS is a relevant issue related to mother and foetus. LSCS can be done from 37 weeks onwards because foetal lungs mature by then. But foetuses born at 37 weeks of gestation have more risk of developing respiratory problems, transient tachypnoea of new born, hypothermia, hypoglycaemia and NICU admission.The purpose of this study is to find out appropriate gestational age at which elective LSCS can be performed without adverse maternal and neonatal outcome.Methods: This is an observational comparative study done on 209 antenatal women who underwent elective caesarean section from December 2014 to January 2016.Patients were divided into two groups after taking consent. Maternal parameters like formation of lower uterine segment need for blood transfusion. Neonatal parameters like Apgar score, respiratory distress syndrome and NICU admission with indication and duration were analyzed by chi-square test. Gestational Age and Pre-Op Hb and Post-Op Hb were analyzed by independent ‘t’test.Results: In this study 55% of the pregnant women belong to 38 weeks,45% belongs to 39 weeks. The formation of lower uterine segment was statistically significant and the need for blood transfusion was slightly increased at 39 weeks. But there was no significant difference in Apgar score, Respiratory distress, NICU admission comparing both study groups.Conclusions: Elective caesarean section can be done safely at 38 weeks without affecting maternal and perinatal outcome

Graphene Based Mechanical Resonators Fabricated via Direct Dry Transfer

We present here the fabrication of large suspended sheets of graphene for mechanical resonators. The diameter of the circular resonators varies from 1.2 μm to 26.5 μm resulting in diameter-to-thickness aspect ratios as large as 74000. The membranes were fabricated in arrays with yields of up to more than 90%. Assuming low to moderate tensile stress, <1 GPa, the mechanical resonance frequency of these structures potentially spans the range from ~1 MHz to ~1 GHz. The successfully fabrication of graphene membranes will allow us to first study their mechanics (resonance frequency and damping) and later explore their use for various sensing applications, including mass sensing

A novel substitution 1381V in the sterol 14alpha-demethylase (CYP51) of Mycosphaerella graminicola is differentially selected by azole fungicides

The recent reduction in the efficacy of azole fungicides in controlling Septoria leaf blotch of wheat, caused by Mycosphaerella graminicola, has prompted concerns over possible development of resistance, particularly in light of the recent emergence of widespread resistance to quinone outside inhibitors (QoIs). We have recently implicated alterations in the target-encoding sterol 14 alpha-demethylase protein (CYP51), and over-expression of genes encoding efflux pumps, in reducing sensitivity to the azole class of sterol demethylation inhibitors (DMIs) in M. graminicola. Here we report on the prevalence and selection of two CYP51 alterations, substitution I381V and deletion of codons 459 and 460 (Delta Y459/G460), in populations of M. graminicola. Neither alteration has previously been identified in human or plant pathogenic fungi resistant to azoles. The presence of Delta Y459/G460 showed a continuous distribution of EC50 values across isolates with either I381 or V381, and had no measurable effect on azole sensitivity. Data linking fungicide sensitivity with the presence of I381V in M. graminicola show for the first time that a particular CYP51 alteration is differentially selected by different azoles in field populations of a plant pathogen. Substitution I381V although not an absolute requirement for reduced azole sensitivity, is selected by tebuconazole and difenoconazole treatment, suggesting an adaptive advantage in the presence of these two compounds. Prochloraz treatments appeared to select negatively for I381V, whereas other azole treatments did not or only weakly impacted on the prevalence of this substitution. These findings suggest treatments with different members of the azole class of fungicides could offer a resistance management strategy

The one health problem of azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus: current insights and future research agenda

Azole resistance is a concern for the management of diseases caused by Aspergillus fumigatus in humans. Azole fungicide use in the environment has been identified as a possible cause for development of resistance, which increases the complexity and number of stakeholders involved in this emerging problem. A workshop was held in Amsterdam early 2019 in which stakeholders, including medical and agricultural researchers, representatives from the government, public health, fungicide producers and end-users, reviewed the current evidence supporting environmental selection for resistance and to discuss which research and measures are needed to retain the effectiveness of the azole class for environmental and medical applications. This paper provides an overview of the latest insights and understanding of azole resistance development in the clinical setting and the wider environment. A One Health problem approach was undertaken to list and prioritize which research will be needed to provide missing evidence and to enable preventive intervention

Calibration of TCCON column-averaged CO₂: the first aircraft campaign over European TCCON sites

The Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) is a ground-based network of Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) sites around the globe, where the column abundances of CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, CO and O₂ are measured. CO₂ is constrained with a precision better than 0.25% (1-σ). To achieve a similarly high accuracy, calibration to World Meteorological Organization (WMO) standards is required. This paper introduces the first aircraft calibration campaign of five European TCCON sites and a mobile FTS instrument. A series of WMO standards in-situ profiles were obtained over European TCCON sites via aircraft and compared with retrievals of CO₂ column amounts from the TCCON instruments. The results of the campaign show that the FTS measurements are consistently biased 1.1% ± 0.2% low with respect to WMO standards, in agreement with previous TCCON calibration campaigns. The standard a priori profile for the TCCON FTS retrievals is shown to not add a bias. The same calibration factor is generated using aircraft profiles as a priori and with the TCCON standard a priori. With a calibration to WMO standards, the highly precise TCCON CO₂ measurements of total column concentrations provide a suitable database for the calibration and validation of nadir-viewing satellites

The Improvement of Durability of Reinforced Concretes for Sustainable Structures: A Review on Different Approaches

The topic of sustainability of reinforced concrete structures is strictly related with their durability in aggressive environments. In particular, at equal environmental impact, the higher the durability of construction materials, the higher the sustainability. The present review deals with the possible strategies aimed at producing sustainable and durable reinforced concrete structures in different environments. It focuses on the design methodologies as well as the use of unconventional corrosion-resistant reinforcements, alternative binders to Portland cement, and innovative or traditional solutions for reinforced concrete protection and prevention against rebars corrosion such as corrosion inhibitors, coatings, self-healing techniques, and waterproofing aggregates. Analysis of the scientific literature highlights that there is no preferential way for the production of “green” concrete but that the sustainability of the building materials can only be achieved by implementing simulta-neous multiple strategies aimed at reducing environmental impact and improving both durability and performances

Enveloping Sophisticated Tools into Process-Centered Environments

We present a tool integration strategy based on enveloping pre-existing tools without source code modifications or recompilation, and without assuming an extension language, application programming interface, or any other special capabilities on the part of the tool. This Black Box enveloping (or wrapping) idea has existed for a long time, but was previously restricted to relatively simple tools. We describe the design and implementation of, and experimentation with, a new Black Box enveloping facility intended for sophisticated tools --- with particular concern for the emerging class of groupware applications