Effect of Thermal Radiation on MHD Casson Fluid Flow over a Stretched Surface of Variable Thickness

This study deals with the free convective heat transfer in a 2D magneto hydrodynamic flow of Casson fluid over a non-uniform thickness stretching sheet in the presence of thermal radiation and non-uniform heat source/sink effects. The governing equations of the flow and heat transfer are transformed as the asset of nonlinear ODEs and solved numerically using bvp4c Mat lab package. The effect of pertinent parameters, namely, magnetic field parameter, Casson parameter, thermal radiation parameter, non-uniform heat source/sink parameters on the flow and heat transfer is investigated with the assistance of graphs. Numerical results are computed for the friction factor and reduced Nusselt number. It is observed that the thermal radiation has tendency to enhance the temperature field of Casson fluid. Keywords: MHD, Casson fluid, Thermal radiation, Slendering sheet, non-Uniform heat source/sink

K-Means and Fuzzy based Hybrid Clustering Algorithm for WSN

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) acquired a lotof attention due to their widespread use in monitoring hostileenvironments, critical surveillance and security applications. Inthese applications, usage of wireless terminals also has grownsignificantly. Grouping of Sensor Nodes (SN) is called clusteringand these sensor nodes are burdened by the exchange of messagescaused due to successive and recurring re-clustering, whichresults in power loss. Since most of the SNs are fitted with nonrechargeablebatteries, currently researchers have been concentratingtheir efforts on enhancing the longevity of these nodes. Forbattery constrained WSN concerns, the clustering mechanism hasemerged as a desirable subject since it is predominantly good atconserving the resources especially energy for network activities.This proposed work addresses the problem of load balancingand Cluster Head (CH) selection in cluster with minimum energyexpenditure. So here, we propose hybrid method in which clusterformation is done using unsupervised machine learning based kmeansalgorithm and Fuzzy-logic approach for CH selection

Drug utilization study of antipsychotics among schizophrenia patients in a tertiary care teaching hospital: a retrospective observational study

Background: Aim of the study was to evaluate the drug utilization pattern of antipsychotics in schizophrenia patients in a tertiary care hospital.Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted over a period of one year. Demographic data and drug utilization pattern of antipsychotics was collected from the surveyed prescriptions. Using WHO prescribing indicators data was analysed. Results were expressed in percentage.Results: Out of 300 prescriptions analysed, males were 58% and females 42%. Majority of schizophrenia patients were in age group of 15 to 45 years 70.33%. Olanzapine 75% was most common antipsychotic drug prescribed followed by risperidone 10.7%. Haloperidol 9.6%, fluphenazine 3.7% and chlorpromazine 1% were the other antipsychotics prescribed. Atypical antipsychotics 85.7% were commonly prescribed than conventional ones 4.3%. Concomitant drugs prescribed were anticholinergics, antihistaminics, sedative-hypnotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antiulcer drugs and vitamin B complexes. Average number of drugs prescribed per prescription 3.26.Conclusions: Nowadays atypical antipsychotics are preferred over conventional ones because of their less side effects. Drug utilization study helps in rational usage of drugs important for patient care

Study on assessment of awareness about concepts in undergraduate pharmacology curriculum among clinicians in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Rational prescribing forms the corner stone of successful implementation of rational drug use. To boost the cause of rational use of Medicine, the P-drug concept was given in late nineties. The idea was to make Physicians familiar with few personal drugs chosen from National Essential drug list based on efficacy, safety, suitability and cost. The present study was conducted to assess the awareness of clinicians about basic pharmacological concepts.Methods: It is a cross sectional study with a study population of 100, conducted in RRMCH for a period of one month. It is a questionnaire based study involving clinicians and post graduates working in this hospital. Descriptive statistical analysis has been carried out in the present study.Results: In our study, 38% of physicians were aware of the term Essential drugs and 26% of doctors prescribed drugs from National Essential drug list. 56% of respondents were aware of term rational drug use but only 1/3 of them were aware of adverse effects, drug interactions of the drugs they prescribed. Majority of physicians (85%) used standard text book as the source of drug information.Conclusions: Lack of knowledge among physicians about new concepts like p-drug, rational drug use and essential drugs points towards need for having more CMEs on basic pharmacological concepts

Pattern of drug utilization in pediatric out patient department of a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Drug utilization studies have special significance among paediatric age groups as infant and children represent about 42% of the population in developing countries. This is the vital period of rapid growth and development. Therefore, drugs should be used very cautiously and rationally among these sub groups. The present study is conducted to analyse the prescribing pattern of drugs in paediatric age group for various illnesses. Methods: It was a prospective observational study, conducted in paediatric outpatient department of Raja Rajeswari medical college and research hospital for a period of 6 months after obtaining approval from institutional ethical committee. Descriptive statistical was used to determine the frequency, percentages, mean and standard deviation.Results: In the present study, fever (30.8%) followed by respiratory diseases were most common diseases seen. The commonly used drugs include antipyretics (66%), antimicrobials (53.6%), cough syrups (34.4%), antihistaminic (31.2%) and nasal decongestants (23.2%). Prescribing indicator shows existence of polypharmacy. Prescribing drugs by generic name was seen only in 8.1% and 47.82% of the drugs were prescribed from EDL. The frequency of use of injectables in our study was 5.8%. Conclusions: Irrational use of antibiotics and polypharmacy needs to be curbed. Prescribing drugs in their generic name and prescribing drugs from EDL need to be promoted. The present prescribing pattern can be improved by advocating rational drug prescribing, patient education and improving hospitals

Production and Optimisation of Tetracycline by Various Strains of Streptomyces under Solid State Fermentation using Pineapple Peel as a Novel Substrate

Pineapple peel is the principal solid waste product of the juice processing industry. The disposal of the fresh peels is becoming a major problem to many food processing industries. Dry pineapple peels are rich in biodegradable organic material and suspended solids; therefore, this waste was used as a novel substrate in present solid substrate fermentation. The effect of medium ingredients such as carbon, inorganic and organic nitrogen sources, inorganic salts on tetracycline production by various strains of Streptomyces [S. aureofaciens NCIM (2417, 2614, 2615), S. rimosus  NCIM 2213 and S. viridifaciens NCIM 2506] in solid-state fermentations (SSF) was observed. The 1.0-fold lower antibiotic yield than the control in the presence of glucose and sucrose in SSF at 10% w/w was observed , whereas peanut meal and ammonium sulphate was found to be a more favorable organic and inorganic nitrogen source than the control in SSF at 10% and 1% w/w. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) as inorganic salt favored 0.5% higher antibiotic yield than the control at 1% w/w. Various crucial parameters such as initial moisture content, incubation temperature, initial pH, substrate particle size and inoculum size were derived; 65% moisture level, 35oC temperature, pH 5-0-6.5, 6 x 4 mm particle size and (1.0 x 108 spores/ ml) inoculum size was found to be suited for maximal tetracycline production. The maximum tetracycline production was observed following 3–7 days of fermentation cycle

Study on antihyperglycemic effect of bromocriptine in dexamethasone induced hyperglycemic wistar rats

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder that develops due to insulin deficiency or insulin resistance. Recent animal and human studies have reported bromocriptine to be effective in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The present study was done to evaluate the antihyperglycemic effect of bromocriptine in dexamethasone induced hyperglycemic rats.Methods: Male wistar rats were used and divided into 5 groups. Dexamethosone was used to induce hyperglycemia in group B-E. Group A was the untreated control group, group B was the standard control group, group C was the oral 10 mg/kg of bromocriptine dissolved in 0.9% normal saline, group D was the oral 20 mg/kg metformin dissolved in 0.9% normal saline, group E was the oral 10 mg/kg bromocriptine+20 mg/kg metformin dissolved in 0.9% normal saline. Fasting blood glucose, post prandial blood glucose and body weight was estimated on day 1, 15, 30.Results: It was seen that dexamethasone induced hyperglycemia and increase in body weight in male wistar rats, which were significantly controlled by oral bromocriptine and bromocriptine with metformin combination.Conclusions: Results obtained from this study showed that bromocriptine can be a promising drug with novel mechanism to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus

Comparison of safety pattern of drugs used in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients in a tertiary care hospital

Background: As per GOLD (Global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease) guidelines bronchodilators are required for symptomatic treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Currently there is no evidence to say about the safety of fixed dose combinations used in COPD patients. Since the drugs are to be taken for longer period, it is essential to know the safety aspects of these drugs. Moreover we don’t have adequate studies and documentation to say that a particular drug combination is better and safer for COPD patients.Methods: Prospective, open labelled, randomized, comparative, interventional clinical study conducted by the Departments of Pharmacology and Pulmonary Medicine of Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital, Chitradurga in 40 COPD patients.Results: The fixed dose combinations of drugs used in both the treatment groups i.e. salmeterol/fluticasone and tiotropium/formoterol were equally safer and well tolerated. Some side effects noticed during the course of treatment were statistically significant when compared between the 2 groups, however they were milder and predictable adverse drug reactions.Conclusions: Systemic and severe adverse drug reactions were not observed during 8 week treatment period and the local side effects observed were mild in both the treatment groups. Hence the fixed dose combinations of salmeterol or fluticasone and tiotropium or formoterol are found to be safer for maintenance therapy in COPD patients

Performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a semi-adiabatic diesel engine using cotton seed and neem kernel oil methyl esters

AbstractThe performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a diesel engine are investigated using two methyl esters: One obtained from cotton seed oil and other from neem kernel oil. These two oils are transesterified using methanol and alkaline catalyst to produce the cotton seed oil methyl ester (CSOME) and neem kernel oil methyl ester (NKOME) respectively. These biodiesels are used as alternative fuels in low heat rejection engine (LHR), in which the combustion chamber temperature is increased by thermal barrier coating on piston face. Experimental investigations are conducted with CSOME and NKOME in a single cylinder, four stroke, direct injection LHR engine. It is found that, at peak load the brake thermal efficiency is lower by 5.91% and 7.07% and BSFC is higher by 28.57% and 10.71% for CSOME and NKOME in LHR engine, respectively when compared with conventional diesel fuel used in normal engine. It is also seen that there is an increase in NOx emission in LHR engine along with slight increase in CO, smoke and HC emissions. From the combustion characteristics, it is found that the values of cylinder pressure for CSOME and NKOME in LHR engine are near to the diesel fuel in normal engine

Study of adverse drug reactions among tuberculosis patients in a tertiary care hospital: a retrospective observational study

Background: The aims of the study was to study adverse drug reactions (ADRs) among tuberculosis (TB) patients in a tertiary care hospital and to determine causality, severity and outcome of ADRs.Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital over a period of 6 months. Data was collected from records of TB patients in RNTCP centre of a tertiary care hospital regarding information of patients, drugs used, ADRs. It was evaluated using appropriate scales. Simple descriptive statistics was used for analysis.Results: Out of 37 patients who experienced ADRs, 22 (59.45%) were male and 15 (40.54%) were female. Majority of patients were in the age group of 36 to 45 years (37.83%). 36 (97.3%) patients were diagnosed with pulmonary TB and 1 (2.7%) patient had extra pulmonary TB. Among 37 ADRs gastrointestinal (GI) reactions were most common 11 (29.72%) followed by musculoskeletal 9 (24.32%). Causality assessment showed 19 (51.35%) as probable and 18 (48.65%) ADRs as possible, Severity assessment was 24 (64.8%) reactions were in mild, 10 (27.02%) in moderate and 3 (8.1%) in severe grades. Outcome assessment was 26 (70.3%) patients were recovering from reactions, 9 (24.32%) had recovered and 2 (5.4%) did not recover at the time of reporting.Conclusions: Proper monitoring of ADRs helps in reducing patient’s burden of repeated hospital visits and expense occurring due to admissions. This can be prevented by educating patients about early reporting of ADRs