The correlation between full biophysical profile and rapid biophysical profile in antepartum fetal surveillance

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency of rapid biophysical profile in antepartum fetal surveillance and ability to predict adverse perinatal outcome and to compare it with the gold standard full biophysical profile. The objective was to determine the correlation between the rapid biophysical profile (RBP) and the full biophysical profile (FBP) and to compare the individual scores with pregnancy outcomes.Methods: A prospective study was performed in 153 singleton pregnancies with no fetal anomalies between 34-42 weeks of gestation. All participants received both the standard (FBP) and the new RBP. Abnormal fetal test was defined as having a score of ≤ 6 for FBP or ≤ 2 for RBP. The main outcome measured was Spearman’s correlation coefficient (rs) between both examinations and also between each examination and pregnancy outcomes measured in terms of Apgar scores and NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) admissionsResults: The data showed a positive correlation between the two tests (rs = 0.62; p < 0.0001). Out of the individual biophysical variables, only NST (Non Stress Test) had a positive correlation with RBP. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of RBP in predicting adverse outcomes was found to be 71.4%, 87.1%, 35.7%. 96.8% respectively.Conclusions: The statistically significant positive correlation between RBP and FBP has been revealed. Due to its simplicity, rapidity, and no need for experienced interpreter, the RBP may be alternatively used as a primary screening antepartum fetal test in the overcrowded obstetric center

An Evaluation of Non-Stochastic Lattice Structures Fabricated Via Electron Beam Melting

Metal foam structures have many applications and can be used as structural supports, heat exchangers, shock absorbers, and implant materials. Stochastic metal foams having different cell sizes and densities have been commercially available for a number of years. This paper addresses a different type of foams which are known as non-stochastic foams, or lattice structures. These foams have a well defined repeating unit cell structure rather than the random cell structure in commercially available stochastic foams. The paper reports on preliminary research on the fabrication of non-stochastic Ti-6Al-4V alloy foams using the Electron Beam Melting process. Behavior of the structures in compression, bending, and low cycle repeating load tests are discussed, and recommendations about cell geometry and processing conditions are made.Mechanical Engineerin

Dual frequency bi-othogonally polarized antennas for GPS applications

Dual frequency bi-orthogonally polarized antenna to be used in Global Positioning System applications operating in Li (1575.42 ± 10.23 MHz) and L2 (1227.60 ± 10.23 MHz) Bands has been studied. To ensure compatibility with existing applications, the antenna size is limited in dimensions to 4.120 x 4.680 x 1.250 including the radome. Orthogonally placed two dual frequency probe excited patches were designed using a high dielectric constant substrate (ε r = 9.8 and thickness of 250 mils, Rogers TMM10i material) to obtain vertical and horizontal polarization for each band. The measured performance of this antenna showed good agreement with the specifications required to meet the application needs. As an attractive alternative a stacked dual patch antenna configuration has been suggested and a prototype antenna has also been developed. Using low and high dielectric constants of 2.20 and 9.8 and relative thicknesses of 125 and 250 mils for each layer an orthogonally placed dual patch configuration has been designed, fabricated and tested on a 2 square feet ground plane. Effects of radomes using materials with different permittivities have been studied through numerical simulations and radomes have been fabricated using plastic materials including UMHW, HDPE and Delrin. Numerical simulations have been carried out using IIE3D software package developed by Zeland Software Inc. Antennas that were fabricated based on optimized parameters have further required tuning due to inaccuracies in simulation and material properties. The measurement setup has been enhanced to accommodate axial ratio measurements in polarization pattern characterization by adding a rotary joint to rotate a linearly polarized antenna operating in the receiving mode. The performance characteristics showed that adequate bandwidths and beam widths were obtained and gain of these antennas were measured to be in the order of 3.5 dBi along the main lobe. Further work is continuing to obtain antennas with wider bandwidths using thicker substrates

Manual removal versus spontaneous delivery of the placenta at caesarean section: a randomized controlled trial by Abdelfattah et al: a letter to the editor

I highly admire the article “Abdelfattah LE, Bastawy AMA, Fahmy MSED. Manual removal versus spontaneous delivery of the placenta at caesarean section: a randomized controlled trial in International journal of reproduction, contraception, obstetrics and gynecology”.1 Really there is dearth of randomized control trials (RCTs) on this issue of managing third stage of labour during caesarean section, and this is making obstetricians to continue practicing MRP (manual removal of placenta) during caesarean section.2 The general reason for MRP at caesarean section is to save time of surgical procedure of caesarean section. The authors of this article have rightly pointed out by RCT that this does not save time and in fact add many other complications to the outcome of caesarean section surgery

Influence of film thickness on the performance of solid lubricants

The object of this investigation was to determine the effect of lubricant film thickness on the coefficient of friction and on the wear life of solid lubricants. Bonded molybdenum disulphide and bonded graphite were the lubricants tested. Dow Corning\u27s LFW-1 and Falex lubricant tester were the two machines used for testing these lubricants. The lubricants were sprayed on the specimen surface. Pretreatment, spraying and curlng were done according to standard or manufacturer\u27s recommended procedures. During the entire research, the procedure for experimentation was followed according to ASTM No. 2625 on Falex and CRC recommendations on LFW-1 machine. It was found that the film thickness lS an important factor in deciding performance of a solid lubricant. The coefficient of friction increases with increase in film thickness for thicknesses in the range tested (0.0017 in. to 0.0007 in.). For a maximum wear life, there is a definite optimum film thickness, above and below which the wear life decreases --Abstract, page ii

Doppler prediction of adverse perinatal outcome in intrauterine growth restriction

Background: Objective of current study was to determine and compare the diagnostic performance of Doppler ultrasonography of the fetal Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) and Umbilical Artery (UA) for prediction of adverse perinatal outcome in suspected intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).Methods: Fifty singleton pregnancies in third trimester of pregnancy with suspected intrauterine growth restriction were examined with Doppler ultrasonography of fetal MCA and UA.Results: Twenty patients of the fifty included patients had at least one major or minor adverse outcome. Major adverse outcome included perinatal deaths which included both intrauterine deaths and early neonatal deaths, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, pulmonary hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis and septicemia. Minor outcomes included cesarean section for fetal distress, Apgar score below 7 at 5 minutes and admission to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for treatment. MCA PI is the most sensitive(90%) index in predicting any adverse perinatal outcome i.e. including both major and minor outcomes, Positive Predictive Value (PPV) and specificity being greatest for MCA/UA PI (96.6%, 93.7%). For the major adverse outcome most sensitive (86.6%) most specific (91.4%) and with highest PPV (81.2%) and NPV (94.1%), is MCA/UA PI. Ratio of MCA/UAPI is more sensitive (90%) than PI of both the arteries alone for overall prediction of adverse perinatal outcome.Conclusions: Thus we conclude that the Doppler studies of the multiple vessels in the fetoplacental unit can help in the monitoring of the compromised fetus and can help us predicting neonatal morbidity. This may be helpful in determining the optimal time of deliveries in pregnancies complicated by IUGR

A study of simulated boiling in vertical upward and downward flow

An investigation of the distribution of air and water in the upflow tube, U-bend and downflow tube of a two phase flow apparatus is presented here with the help of experimental results and photographs. Isokinetic and sampling probes were used to sample the flow. Probing was done at the centres and at the beginning of the upflow and downflow tubes