Development of limb volume measuring system

The mechanisms underlying the reductions in orthostatic tolerance associated with weightlessness are not well established. Contradictory results from measurements of leg volume changes suggest that altered venomotor tone and reduced blood flow may not be the only contributors to orthostatic intolerance. It is felt that a more accurate limb volume system which is insensitive to environmental factors will aid in better quantification of the hemodynamics of the leg. Of the varous limb volume techniques presently available, the ultrasonic limb volume system has proven to be the best choice. The system as described herein is free from environmental effects, safe, simple to operate and causes negligible radio frequency interference problems. The segmental ultrasonic ultrasonic plethysmograph is expected to provide a better measurement of limb volume change since it is based on cross-sectional area measurements

Apparatus for determining changes in limb volume

Measuring apparatus for determining changes in the volume of limbs or other boty extremities by determining the cross-sectional area of such limbs many comprise a transmitter including first and second transducers for positioning on the surface of the limb at a predetermined distance there between, and a receiver including a receiver crystal for positioning on the surface of the limb. The distance between the receiver crystal and the first and second transducers are represented by respective first and second chords of the cross-section of the limb and the predetermined distance between the first and second transducers is represented by a third chord of the limb cross section

Growth pattern of Prinsepia. utilis (Bhenkal) at different girth classes growing naturally at inner Himalayan region

Present study was undertaken to evaluate the growth pattern of Prinsepia.utilis growing at Western Himalayan region at four study sites i.e. S1 (Jhala), S2 (Dharali), S3 (Jaspur) and S4 (Sukki) at Uttarkashi district at Garhwal Himalaya in the year 2008-09 The data recorded for different parameters related to growth of Prinsepia.utilis at different sites showed variation. Growth parameters viz. lengths of plants, branch number, length of seed, seed output etc. were examined during the present study. Maximum shoot length at 25.1-30 cm girth class (220.5±23.13 cm), maximum leaf area at girth class 5.1 – 10 cm (1.98) and the maximum fruit productivity at girth class 25.1 – 30 cm (1800.63g) were observed where as minimum production was recorded at girth class 10.1 – 15 cm (756.9g)

Displacement ventilation: a viable ventilation strategy for makeshift hospitals and public buildings to contain COVID-19 and other airborne diseases.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has so far infected more than 31 million people around the world, and its impact is being felt by all. Patients with diseases such as COVID-19 should ideally be treated in negative pressure isolation rooms. However, due to the overwhelming demand for hospital beds, patients have been treated in general wards, hospital corridors and makeshift hospitals. Adequate building ventilation in hospitals and public spaces is a crucial factor to contain the disease (Escombe et al. 2007 PLoS Med. 4; Escombe et al. 2019 BMC Infect. Dis. 19, 88 (doi:10.1186/s12879-019-3717-9); Morawska & Milton 2020 Clin. Infect. Dis. ciaa939. (doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa939)), to exit lockdown safely, and reduce the chance of subsequent waves of outbreaks. A recently reported air-conditioner-induced COVID-19 outbreak caused by an asymptomatic patient, in a restaurant in Guangzhou, China (Lu et al. 2020 Emerg. Infect. Dis. 26) exposes our vulnerability to future outbreaks linked to ventilation in public spaces. We argue that displacement ventilation (either mechanical or natural ventilation), where air intakes are at low level and extracts are at high level, is a viable alternative to negative pressure isolation rooms, which are often not available on site in hospital wards and makeshift hospitals. Displacement ventilation produces negative pressure at the occupant level, which draws fresh air from outdoors, and positive pressure near the ceiling, which expels the hot and contaminated air out. We acknowledge that, in both developed and developing countries, many modern large structures lack the openings required for natural ventilation. This lack of openings can be supplemented by installing extract fans. We have also discussed and addressed the issue of the 'lock-up effect'. We provide guidelines for such mechanically assisted, naturally ventilated makeshift hospitals

Verification of ZVS boost converter with resonant circuit & modelling of an accurate two-diode PV array system simulator using MATLAB simulink

This thesis proposes a MATLAB Simulink simulator for Photo Voltaic (PV) Array system. The main contribution is the utilisation of a Two-Diode model to represent a PV cell. This model is preferred because of its better accuracy at low irradiance levels. A PV of Kyocera (KC200GT) 50*10 Array is taken & the characteristics curves are plotted. The same simulator can be interfaced with MPPT algorithms & Power Electronics converters for better efficiency. The P-V & I-V Curves of this simulator is found in exact with that given by the manufacturers. It is expected that the proposed work can be very useful for PV professionals who require a simple, fast & accurate PV simulator in order to design their systems. A detailed analysis of a resonant circuit based soft-switching boost-converter for PV applications is also performed. The converter operates at Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS) turn-on and turn-off of the main switch, & Zero Current Switching (ZCS) turn-on and ZVS turn-off of the auxiliary switch due to resonant circuit incorporated into the circuit. Detailed operation of the converters, analysis of various modes, simulation as well as experimental results for the design has also been aptly presented. The systems are modelled & simulated in MATLAB 2013a 64-bit version and the output waveforms are shown

Use of a simple pain model to evaluate analgesic activity of ibuprofen versus paracetamol

Objective: To evaluate the analgesic activity of ibuprofen against paracetamol using a simple pain model.Design: A double-blind study.Setting: Twenty general practitioners in Harare, Zimbabwe.Patients: Adults with acute sore throat of a maximum of two days’ duration.Interventions: One hundred and thirteen patients with acute pain associated with tonsillopharyngitis randomly received either 400mg ibuprofen or 1000mg paracetamol. The study design included repeated administration up to 48 hours to assess tolerability.Main outcome measures: At hourly intervals for six hours after the first dose of treatment, the patients evaluated pain intensity on swallowing, difficulty in swallowing and global pain relief according to visual analogue scales.Results: Ibuprofen 400mg was significantly more effective than paracetamol 1000mg in all three ratings, at all time-points for pain intensity and difficulty in swallowing, and from two hours onwards for pain relief. There were no serious adverse effects and no statisticallysignificant difference in the incidence of adverse effects in the two treatment groups.Conclusions: Sore throat pain provided a sensitive model to assess the analgesic efficacy of class I analgesics and discriminated between the analgesic efficacy of ibuprofen and paracetamol