Geothermal probabilistic cost study

A tool is presented to quantify the risks of geothermal projects, the Geothermal Probabilistic Cost Model (GPCM). The GPCM model was used to evaluate a geothermal reservoir for a binary-cycle electric plant at Heber, California. Three institutional aspects of the geothermal risk which can shift the risk among different agents was analyzed. The leasing of geothermal land, contracting between the producer and the user of the geothermal heat, and insurance against faulty performance were examined

Genetic Divergence Study in Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

The genetic divergence of forty bitter gourd genotypes was studied for sixteen different parameters by adopting Mahalanobis D2 statistics using Tocher's method. The genotypes were grouped into six clusters irrespective of geographic divergence, indicating no parallelism between geographic and genetic diversity. A maximum of 32 genotypes entered in cluster I, followed by 4 genotypes in cluster II. The cluster III, IV, V and VI had single genotypes each. The maximum inter-cluster distance was obtained between cluster II and VI (1620.05) while minimum distance was between III and V (103.32). Cluster V followed by cluster VI showed superiority for yield and other desirable traits, which indicate the potentiality of these diverse genotype collection for providing basic material for future breeding programmes

Effect of modified atmosphere package on physico-chemical properties of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruits

Pomegranate is an important table and processed fruit owing to its nutritional quality. Extending the fruit life of the plant is very much limited owing to its metabolic activities viz., respiration, transpiration and microbial infection. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different packaging materials on physico-chemical properties of pomegranate fruits during storage. Fruits were harvested with stalk and washed with sodium hypochlorite, air dried and graded. Fruits were stored under modified atmospheric packaging conditions using different packaging materials viz., polyethylene bag, polypropylene bag, Xtend® bag and silver nano bag Hima Fresh®. Fruits without package served as controls. Fruits were stored at low temperature 7±2 °C and 90±5 % RH. MAP treated fruits had higher quality parameters across all packaging treatments. PLW and respiration rate increased while, moisture content, colour, texture and acidity decreased with prolonged storage, but the rate of decrease was highest in unpacked fruits. MAP maintained the quality of pomegranate fruits upto 100 days compared to unpackaged fruits (40 days). Shelf life of stored fruit at ambient condition was 4 to 5 days. Fruit decay was 12 % in polyethylene whereas it was 6 % in Xtend® bag at the end of 100 day of storage

Genetic Divergence Study in Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

The genetic divergence of forty bitter gourd genotypes was studied for sixteen different parameters by adopting Mahalanobis D2 statistics using Tocher's method. The genotypes were grouped into six clusters irrespective of geographic divergence, indicating no parallelism between geographic and genetic diversity. A maximum of 32 genotypes entered in cluster I, followed by 4 genotypes in cluster II. The cluster III, IV, V and VI had single genotypes each. The maximum inter-cluster distance was obtained between cluster II and VI (1620.05) while minimum distance was between III and V (103.32). Cluster V followed by cluster VI showed superiority for yield and other desirable traits, which indicate the potentiality of these diverse genotype collection for providing basic material for future breeding programmes

Prognostic model to predict postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery based on a national prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Acute illness, existing co-morbidities and surgical stress response can all contribute to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of this study was prospectively to develop a pragmatic prognostic model to stratify patients according to risk of developing AKI after major gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: This prospective multicentre cohort study included consecutive adults undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection, liver resection or stoma reversal in 2-week blocks over a continuous 3-month period. The primary outcome was the rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery. Bootstrap stability was used to select clinically plausible risk factors into the model. Internal model validation was carried out by bootstrap validation. Results: A total of 4544 patients were included across 173 centres in the UK and Ireland. The overall rate of AKI was 14·2 per cent (646 of 4544) and the 30-day mortality rate was 1·8 per cent (84 of 4544). Stage 1 AKI was significantly associated with 30-day mortality (unadjusted odds ratio 7·61, 95 per cent c.i. 4·49 to 12·90; P < 0·001), with increasing odds of death with each AKI stage. Six variables were selected for inclusion in the prognostic model: age, sex, ASA grade, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate, planned open surgery and preoperative use of either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. Internal validation demonstrated good model discrimination (c-statistic 0·65). Discussion: Following major gastrointestinal surgery, AKI occurred in one in seven patients. This preoperative prognostic model identified patients at high risk of postoperative AKI. Validation in an independent data set is required to ensure generalizability

Immunogenicity of infectious pathogens and vaccine antigens

The concept of the immunogenicity of an antigen is frequently encountered in the context of vaccine development, an area of intense interest currently due to the emergence or re-emergence of infectious pathogens with the potential for worldwide spread. However, the theoretical notion of immunogenicity as discussed in older textbooks of immunology needs reconsideration due to advances in our understanding of immunologic responses. Immunogenicity is a property that can either be a desirable attribute, for example in the generation of an effective protective immunity against infectious pathogens or an undesirable trait, for example when it relates to novel therapeutic compounds and drugs, where an immune response needs to be prevented or inhibited. In this Forum Article, we aimed to revisit the issue of immunogenicity to discuss a series of simple questions relevant to the concept that are frequently rephrased but incompletely resolved in the immunologic literature

EMERGENCY PARATHYROIDECTOMY UNDER COMBINED SUPERFICIAL AND DEEP CERVICAL PLEXUS BLOCK IN A PATIENT WITH HYPERPARATHYROID CRISIS: A CASE REPORT

Hyperparathyroid crisis is a serious and potentially life threatening complication of markedly increased serum calcium concentrations most commonly due to severe primary hyperparathyroidism. Identification and resection of the adenoma leads to cure of the disease. Parathy roidectomy for localized adenomas can be done under local anaesthesia and sedation or a cervical plexus block with sedation besides general anaesthesia. We report a case of successful management of a patient who presented with hyperparathyroid crisis and u nderwent emergency parathyroidectomy under combined deep and superficial cervical plexus bloc

EFFECT OF ADDITION OF DEXAMETHASONE TO ROPIVACAINE IN SUPRACLAVICULAR BRACHIAL PLEXUS BLOCK: A PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMISED, DOUBLE - BLIND STUDY

BACKGROUND: Addition of adjuvant has been widely used to prolong the duration of peripheral nerve block. We evaluated the effect of adding dexamethasone to ropivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block. METHODS: Sixty patients of age group 18 - 60 years, scheduled for various elective upper limb surgeries under supraclavicular brachial block were divided into 2 groups in a randomized, double - blinded fashion. In group R (n=30), 30ml of 0.5% ropivacaine +1.5ml saline and in group D (n=30), 30ml of 0.5% ropivacaine +1.5ml dexamethasone (6mg) were given. The time of onset of motor and sensory blockade, duration of analgesia and pain scores were recorded. RESULTS: Demographic data and surgical characteristics were similar in both groups. The sensory and motor block onset time was earlier in group D as compared to group R (P<0.001). Duration of analgesia was longer in group D than in group R (P<0.001). Pain score in the two groups – group R had moderate to extreme pain while the group D had no pain to moderate pain in the first 24 hours postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Addition of dexamethasone to 0.5% ropivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block speeds the onset and prolongs the duration of sensory and motor blockad

Log-backup Utility: A Secure Log Mining System

He purpose of the paper is to take back-up of all the activities conducted on a war ship. These activities will be stored in form of logs in our system. Winmon is software showing graphical interface of war ship. Log Backup Utility will interact with Winmon and store the generated logs. Different activities carried out on war ship will be captured through sensors while in LAN; logs will be collected by our system and stored at single server. The collected logs will be categorized by using K-Meansalgorithm. Software will auto enable USB ports for authorized user. The system will be such that all the logs will be stored in a single clustered database. All the event logs will be reviewed and this information will be used for further warfare techniques. This will help for nextsuccessful voyage of the warship