SHORT COMMUNICATION: Reduction of Spirometric Lung Function Tests in Habitually Smoking Healthy Young Adults: Its Correlation with Pack Years

Background: Adolescent smoking and the subsequent health problems are a major concern today. However there are very few studies done on spirometric lung functions and its relation with pack years in young adult habitual smokers who are apparently healthy. Aims and Objectives: The present study is undertaken to assess the change in lung functions in apparently healthy young adult habitual smokers compared to their age matched controls. Materials and Methods: A random sample of apparently healthy young adult habitual smokers (n=40) and nonsmokers (n=40) between age group17-35 years with history suggesting of pack years of 2-10 years were selected from students & employees of B.L.D.E.Us Sri B.M. Patil Medical College,Hospital & Research Centre Bijapur (Karnataka), India. Spirometric lung functions recorded were forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1%, Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and Maximal expiratory pressure (MEP). Results: The results suggested that inapparently healthy habitual smokers there was significant decrease in FEV1 (L) (-13.34%, p<0.001), FEV1 % (-10.76%, p<0.001), PEFR (-45.26%, p<0.0001) and MEP (-35.51%, p<0.0001) compared to nonsmokers and decrease in FEV1 was negatively correlated withpack years in smokers (r2=0.063, p=0.001). Reduced lung functions and negative correlation to pack years may be attributed todecreased airway diameter & reflex broncho- constriction in response to inhaled smoke particles. Conclusions: In conclusion young adulthabitual smokers who were apparently healthy are more prone for respiratory dysfunction than their nonsmoker counterparts. FEV1 reduction in relation to pack years acts as an important determinant for detecting lung dysfunction in the early stage of the disease. As the risk of having smoking related diseases depends mainly on number of pack years, it is suggested that quitting smoking earliest helps to get greatest health benefits in apparently healthy young adult habitual smokers

Modelling, analysis, and acceleration of a printed circuit board fabrication process

Product design and fabrication constitute an important business activity in any manufacturing firm. Designing an optimized product fabrication process is an important problem in itself and is of significant practical and research interest. In this paper, we look into a printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication process and investigate ways in which the fabrication cycle time can be minimized. Single class queueing networks constitute the modelling framework for our study. The model developed in this paper and the analysis experiments carried out are based on extensive data collected on a PCB fabrication company located in Bangalore, India. This is a representative PCB fabrication company involving multiple, concurrent fabrication works with contention for human/technical resources. Our model seeks to capture faithfully the flow of the fabrication process in this company and such other organisations, using queueing networks. Using the model developed, we explore how the cycle times can be reduced using input control, load balancing, and variability reduction. The model presented is sufficiently generic and conceptual; its scope extends beyond that of a PCB fabrication organization

Effect of Occupational Exposure on WBC Count and Oxidative Stress in Rice Mill Workers

Background: There are several occupations where individuals are exposed to high concentration of dust particles. The exposed dust can be organic, inorganic, bacterial toxins, viruses or lipopolysaccharides. Exposure to rice husk causes activation of eosinophils and inammation reactions. Cardiovascular diseases are associated with increased lipid peroxidation and decrease in levels of antioxidants. Aim & Objectives: Aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of occupational exposure on haematological and biochemical parameters of rice mill workers by analyzing blood cell Counts, Malondialdehyde (MDA), Nitric Oxide (NO) and Ascorbic acid. Material and Methods: A total of 134 eligible individuals who had been exposed to dust in rice mills for more than 5 years were included in the study group where as another 134 unexposed individuals constituted control group. Estimation of serum MDA, serum NO and plasma Ascorbic acid were done by using semiautoanalyzer. Results: There was no signicant difference between Total Leucocyte Count of exposed and unexposed individuals. Lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil and basophil counts are signicantly increased in exposed individuals. Serum levels of MDA, NO and Ascorbic acid are also signicantly increased in exposed group compared with control group. Conclusion: The ndings of our study clearly indicate that the rice mill workers are under high level of dust exposure which has deleterious effects on their blood and tissues. Increased MDA, NO and decreased Vitamin-C are probably due to high oxidative stress

Microstructural Studies and Material Characterization of Alumina Nanoparticulate Reinforced Functionally Graded Al-12Si (wt.%) alloy, produced using Centrifuge Casting Technique

Abstract The current research work discusses the concept of reinforcing alumina nanoparticulate to Al-12Si (wt.%) alloy using a unique casting technique known as centrifuge casting system established in-house at our advanced manufacturing centre. The resulting cast solid cylindrical specimen will be functionally graded along the length of the specimen containing higher percentage of primary silicon and alumina nanoparticulate at the top region than the bottom region, with a gradual transition in between the two regions. The microstructure of the functionally graded Al-12Si (wt.%) alloy, reinforced with 0.5, 1 and 1.5wt.% of alumina nanoparticulate was analysed using “Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)” and the elemental composition of the cast specimens were obtained using “Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX)”. The outcomes of the EDX analysis confirmed the presence of alumina nanoparticulate in the cast specimens. Further, the mechanical properties of the cast Al-12Si (wt.%) alloy, reinforced with alumina nanoparticulate were studied, and it was found that the specimen with the addition of alumina nanoparticulate showed enhanced mechanical properties when compared with the Al-12Si (wt.%) alloy, without alumina nanoparticulate addition, cast under identical conditions.</jats:p