Stable Atrial Sensing on Long-Term Follow Up of VDD Pacemakers

Background: The hemodynamic advantages of maintaining AV synchrony through AV synchronous pacing are widely known as compared to single chamber pacing. DDD pacemaker implantation entails higher cost and is technically more challenging than the VDD pacemaker. Methods: Seventy one patients underwent VDD lead (Biotronik GmbH, St. Jude Medical and Medtronic Inc.) implantation at KEM hospital, Mumbai during a period of 3 years through subclavian, axillary and cephalic routes for degenerative, post-surgical or congenital high grade atrioventricular or complete heart block. They were followed up regularly for ventricular threshold and P wave amplitude of the floating atrial dipole. Results: Follow up data of almost 95% of patients is available for a period of 15.8 ± 6.7 months. P wave amplitude at implant was 2.1 ± 0.7mV and at follow up 1.1 ± 0.6mV with mean ventricular threshold of <0.5V at implant and <1V at follow-up. Conclusion: Implantation of a single lead VDD pacemaker is possible in all patients with symptomatic AV block and intact sinus node function without any technical complications. P wave sensing is reliable and consistent with floating atrial lead at an average follow up of 15.8 months, providing an excellent alternative to DDD pacemaker implantation

Seasonal Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in Tropical Mangrove Sediments (Goa, India)

Mangrove swamps along the Mandovi estuary, Goa are exposed to an influx of metal effluents from the ferromanganese mining activities.  The present study was carried out to assess the seasonal concentrations of metals in the sediments of Divar, an anthropogenically-influenced mangrove swamp in the Mandovi estuary, and compared to Tuvem along the Chapora River, a relatively pristine mangrove site. In both the sites, the average heavy metal concentration in sediments decreased in the order: Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Co > Pb > Cr and showed a marked seasonal variability (p< 0.001; df=2).  However, the Pollution Load Index (PLI) for Divar sediments was far greater (1.65-2.19) than that of Tuvem (0.91-1.3) reflecting the intensity of anthropogenic inputs into the ecosystem. Further, Muller geochemical index values for Divar sediments indicated that during pre and post-monsoon season, the sediments were moderately contaminated with Fe whereas at Tuvem, the sediments were below contamination levels. The comparison with Screening Quick Reference Table (SQuiRT) also revealed the poor sediment quality for Divar. The transport of ferromanganese ore along the Mandovi River could be a major source of the entry of heavy metals in this riverine system. The Effect Range- Low (ER-L) values for these elements exceeded the reference values suggesting a potential eco-toxicological risk to the benthic organisms and a possible transfer to higher trophic levels

Bacteria from Salt Pans: A Potential Resource of Antibacterial Metabolites

Marine salt pans are important ecological niches which inhabit halobacteria. These bacteria tolerate and thrive in salt concentrations ranging from 0.5 to more than 5 M in which only very few other organisms are able to survive. Bacteria from marine salt pans of varying salinities of 220 to 395 psu were isolated during the peak salt harvesting season and screened to evaluate their antibiotic producing potential. In this report, a total of 119 bacteria were screened on 12 different solid media supplemented with either natural salt or sea water or distilled water to check their substrate utilization and salinity requirement. Based on their morphological variations, 94 isolates were further screened for their antagonistic properties, against 20 different clinical pathogens. Thirty one isolates were found to produce antibacterial compounds of which, 21 showed bactericidal action and one was bacteriostatic while 9 isolates exhibited both bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity. Eleven isolates were broad spectrum antibiotic producers. This study provides information regarding the applied value of potential halotolerant and halophilic isolates as pharmaceutically important microorganisms

The structure ofAl(111)-K−(√3 × √3)R30° determined by LEED: stable and metastable adsorption sites

It is found that the adsorption of potassium on Al(111) at 90 K and at 300 K both result in a (√3 × √3)R0° structure. Through a detailed LEED analysis it is revealed that at 300 K the adatoms occupy substitutional sites and at 90 K the adatoms occupy on-top sites; both geometries have hitherto been considered as very unusual. The relationship between bond length and coordination is discussed with respect to the present results, and with respect to other quantitative studies of alkali-metal/metal adsorption systems

Study of Structural Stability of a Concrete Gravity Dam Using a Reliability Approach

The safety of dams is a priority at the international level, based on a large amount of data from a dam-reservoir allows analysts to make optimization on its structural stability, the latter is based on the estimation of the probability of failure from the effects of stress and resistance acting on the dam-reservoir system. This investigation is to establish a methodology in order to optimize the safety of a concrete gravity dam in operation by carrying out a risk analysis which includes the identification of the sources of danger in terms of scenarios that can occur due to a failure on the dam-reservoir system on an implication of natural hazards (floods, earthquakes) and technical accidents such as malfunction of a spillway gate, drain valve, drainage system or important silting. Reliability methods provide a basis for the probabilistic assessment of the structural safety of a dam. They make it possible to take into account in a probabilistic context, the uncertainties in the data associated with the calculation parameters used in the justifications of structural stability and make it possible to assess as closely as possible the intrinsic safety of a concrete gravity dam

Virtual Shopping Using Image Processing AND Augmented Reality

After studying the fact of emerging advancement in the e-commerce sector we come with an idea of developing project based on the combination of virtual reality and augmentation. To create a web and mobile based platform for end user which will give them a new shopping experience. We are making a web based e-commerce platform where consumer can interact with product such as shoes or clothes at their home place. This will not going required any costly sensor just they have to use their computer and web-cam/ Kinect to interact with the website 3D portal.Our Project will be useful for day to day user to have interaction with the product or services they buy from e-commerce market place prior to actually buying product. They can choose from different product or services they like. And this will be beneficial to manufacturer also to analysis there market plans and production

Analysis of gastrointestinal drugs in patients admitted in CCU and ICCU of a tertiary care hospital in Goa, India

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases are a common problem worldwide. They are frequently encountered in non-critical as well as in critically ill hospitalized patients.Methods: This was a prospective and observational study conducted on patients admitted in CCU and ICCU of Goa Medical College and Hospital. Data was collected from the patients’ case records and was analysed referring to WHO prescribing indicators. Data was represented as Mean±SD, number and frequency.Results: A total of 2250 drugs were prescribed, out of which 376 (16.71%) were gastrointestinal drugs. Most common route of administration was oral 323 (85.90%). Prescription patterns of GI drugs were:  275 (73.14%) from National List of Essential Medicines, 20 (5.31%) as fixed dose combinations and 4 (1.06%) by generic names. Pantoprazole 183 (48.67%) was the most frequently prescribed drug for peptic ulcer in present study.Conclusions: From the findings of this study we noted that among the GI drugs used, those for peptic ulcer were the most commonly prescribed. Also majority were from the essential drug list. But prescribing by generic names was low. Review of drug utilization trends is a necessary aid to formulate and modify existing protocols and guidelines to improve treatment outcomes in a given setting

Biotechnological significance of Actinobacterial research in India.

Actinobacteria are of special biotechnological interest since they are known to produce chemically diverse compounds with a wide range of biological activity. This distinct clade of Gram-positve bacteria include some of the key antibiotic producers and are also sources of several bioactive compounds, established commercially. The class Actinobacteria holds some of the resilient species, capable of growing in extreme, hostile and polluted environments. Their adaptation has been the outcome of several chemical entities which are answers to a number of medicinal and industrial questions of today. In India, actinobacterial research in both marine and terrestrial ecosystems has prospered significantly in past few decades. This valuable class contains large number of genera and demands more attention for exploration. Though substantial work in this field has been carried out, the diversity from the extreme environments in the Indian Peninsula remain unexplored. Marine actinobacterial research has been restricted to the coastal ecosystem while the deep sea oceanic floors remain untapped. Substantial bioprospecting of actinobacteria for bioactive molecules, has not been explored in extremophilic environments in India and the molecular mechanisms for the production of various bioactive compounds are yet to be reported. The present review enlists the prolific metabolites from culturable actinobacteria and attempts have been made to focus on the&nbsp; potentially feasible aspects of actinobacterial research in this field

Cardiac manifestations in mucopolysaccharoidosis

AbstractThrough this case, we want to highlight, that in patients with mucopolysaccharoidosis (MPS), coronary arteries need to be screened in patients with LV dysfunction. Further, CT scan may not be a good modality and newer diagnostic modalities like IVUS must be offered to delineate concentric obstruction. Also, meticulous screening for hypertension must be carried out in all MPS patients

Analyzing the Use of WhatsApp Services by the College Library Professionals to Connect With the Patrons during Covid-19 Pandemic

WhatsApp is a MIM application which connects people in real time. It has no additional cost to message and exchange the data between the mobile devices. Libraries can use it as an efficient tool for providing enhanced user services over the Smartphone. Exchange of messages, images, files, audio and video clips has been made much easier and faster thereby aiding in providing effective library services. The research study aims at analyzing the use and application of WhatsApp in the college libraries, its major advantages during pandemic period, its various benefits and difficulties faced by the library professionals while delivering services to the patrons. Considering the views of 112 college librarians, the study revealed that the aim of the utilizing WhatsApp media is to create a flexible platform that helps all users to build their professional skills. The study has revealed that 100% Library professionals are using WhatsApp in their respective libraries and are very comfortable in delivering quality library services through it. The research paper throws light on how a college librarian can make the utmost use of the WhatsApp to provide quick and efficient services to the patrons