Antenatal breast milk expression at term increases postnatal lactational performance

Background: Breast milk contains balanced nutrients for the complete growth of body and brain of neonates and infants. Breast feeding is rich in anti-infective factors and improves immune system, thus reducing the child mortality rate. Objective of present work was to study the effect of antenatal breast milk expression at term in improving lactational performance as compared to control group.Methods: The prospective, comparative study was conducted for 2 years to observe effects of antenatal expression of breast milk on postnatal lactational performance in a tertiary care centre   in Central India.  200 Subjects after 37 weeks of pregnancy divided in two groups of 100 each 1) study group 2) control group by systematic random sampling technique. Prior examination was done to exclude any inverted or cracked nipples and appropriate treatment instituted. The women with diseased breast and conditions, high risk pregnancy, congenitally anomalous fetus and drugs affecting lactation were excluded from study. Study group women were counselled to express milk 2-3 times every day preferably during bathing. All women were followed up in hospital and postnatal lactation performance was observed in both groups.Results: The study group did not find it difficult to initiate breast feeding after vaginal or caesarean delivery  and in 78% of patients time interval from initiation of lactation to establishment of lactation was less than half hour as compared to control group (38%) P value <0.001. Statistical analysis showed significant difference in the results of those groups.Conclusions: Daily antenatal breast milk expression after 37 weeks of pregnancy significantly reduced the time for establishing full breast feeding and reduced breast feeding failures

Cathode materials for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells

305-309The superfine crystallites of Nd1.8Ce0.2CuO4+δ are obtained when prepared by mechanochemical reaction using different process control agents. The crystallite size, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Cs = 34 nm is the smallest for Nd1.8Ce0.2CuO4+δ prepared using salicylic acid process control agent (NCCO(Sa)) as compared to others. The dc conductivity (1.64 S cm-1) is the highest for NCCO(Sa) amongst all, which is attributed to the smallest crystallite size and high sintered density. The agglomeration of superfine grains leads to optimal distribution of nano-pores results in low area specific resistance (1.1 ohm cm2) for the NCCO(Sa). The electrochemical performance suggests adsorption of oxygen by cathode as rate-limiting step. The proposed mechanochemical reaction is useful as a technique for the synthesis of materials with submicron-sized crystallites

<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: HI" lang="EN-US">Effect of Sr doping on structural, electrical and electrochemical properties of Nd₂_{<span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Symbol;mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: HI;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Symbol" lang="EN-US">-<i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:HI" lang="EN-US">x</span></i></span>}<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:HI" lang="EN-US">Sr<i>_x</i>NiO₄₊<i>_δ</span></i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:HI" lang="EN-US"> mixed ionic-electronic conductors</span></span></span>

376-380The Nd2-xSrxNiO4+δ(x = 0.2 and 0.4) solid solutions prepared by combustion synthesis are of submicron/superfine crystallites size. The linear variation in dc conductivity with oxygen partial pressure around Nd1.6Sr0.4NiO4+δ is understood on the basis of defect chemistry. The electrochemical properties of the cathode material, studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, reveal area specific resistance (ASR) = 0.84 ohm cm2 at 973 K. The charge transfer process in cathode and across cathode-electrolyte interface is the rate limiting reaction

Development of solid proton conductors based on doped polyvinyl alcohol

367-371The different ammonium salts are added in polyvinyl acetate to increase the proton conductivity. Amongst all the added salts, ammonium nitrate salt addition gives maximum conductivity with minimum activation energy. Salt addition increases the amorphocity in turn the molecular weight. Enhanced conductivity with increased hydrogen concentration and relative humidity suggest H+ mobility through complex polymer electrolyte