Management of septic sludge in Southwest Nigeria

This paper describes our experience on septic sludge management in a (South Western) Nigerian City, Ibadan, with a sprawling population of about 2.9 million. The main objectives of the study included assessment of the current management practices as far as septic sludge is concerned as well as design of a feasible management system

Respiratory evaluation through volumetric capnography among grade III obese and eutrophic individuals: a comparative study

sem informaçãoExcess trunk body fat in obese individuals influences respiratory physiological function. The of this study were to compare volumetric capnography findings (VCap) between severely obese patients and normal-weight subjects and to assess whether there is a1372177183sem informaçãosem informaçãosem informaçã

Inactivation of capsaicin-sensitive nerves reduces pulmonary remodeling in guinea pigs with chronic allergic pulmonary inflammation

Pulmonary remodeling is an important feature of asthma physiopathology that can contribute to irreversible changes in lung function. Although neurokinins influence lung inflammation, their exact role in the extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling remains to be determined. Our objective was to investigate whether inactivation of capsaicin-sensitive nerves modulates pulmonary ECM remodeling in animals with chronic lung inflammation. After 14 days of capsaicin (50 mg/kg, sc) or vehicle administration, male Hartley guinea pigs weighing 250-300 g were submitted to seven inhalations of increasing doses of ovalbumin (1, 2.5, and 5 mg/mL) or saline for 4 weeks. Seventy-two hours after the seventh inhalation, animals were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated and the lung mechanics and collagen and elastic fiber content in the airways, vessels and lung parenchyma were evaluated. Ovalbumin-exposed animals presented increasing collagen and elastic fiber content, respectively, in the airways (9.2 ± 0.9; 13.8 ± 1.2), vessels (19.8 ± 0.8; 13.4 ± 0.5) and lung parenchyma (9.2 ± 0.9; 13.8 ± 1.2) compared to control (P < 0.05). Capsaicin treatment reduced collagen and elastic fibers, respectively, in airways (1.7 ± 1.1; 7.9 ± 1.5), vessels (2.8 ± 1.1; 4.4 ± 1.1) and lung tissue (2.8 ± 1.1; 4.4 ± 1.1) of ovalbumin-exposed animals (P < 0.05). These findings were positively correlated with lung mechanical responses to antigenic challenge (P < 0.05). In conclusion, inactivation of capsaicin-sensitive nerve fibers reduces pulmonary remodeling, particularly collagen and elastic fibers, which contributes to the attenuation of pulmonary functional parameters

Hybridizing network reluctance and boundary integral methods: comparisons on an E-core actuator

International audienceHybridizing the network reluctance method (NRM) and the boundary integral method (BIM) aims to take advantage of both methods. First for ferromagnetic materials in order to take non linearity into account, and second for surrounding air in order to include fringing and leakages accurately. The automation of such modeling has been done with dedicated software and is compared to the tooth contour method (TCM) and finite element (FEM) simulations, which is applied to an E-core actuator

Generation Of Machined Multiple Flat Surfaces On Circular Bar By Its Rotation And In Synchronism With Cutting Tool

The operation of machining by lathe is one of the most common operations in automobile and machinery industries. The process is able to generate cylindrical bars under a wider variety of diameters/staggerings and using different materials, metallic's or non-metallic's (cupper, wood, aluminum, brass, steel, etc.). However, when more complex geometries are required, additional machines are used, like milling machine and/or machines under numerical control (CNC) and multiple axles. The possibility of joining circles, polygons, angular motion and synchronism, open the mind to multiple figures (shapes) and movements, which can generate different geometries. This paper aims to demonstrate that both operations (turning and milling), can be made at the same time and at the same machine, special but simpler lathe. The studies of geometry, associated with calculus (trigonometry) and angular motion give basis and sustain this statement. Tests in bench materialize the idea and reinforce this thesis.82146155Martin, J.T., Jonathan, M.B., Patrick, R.A., (1998) Fractal Geometry In Digital Imaging, p. 1. , Academic PressLandrini, M., Colagrossi, A., Greco, M., Tulin, M.P., (2012) The Fluid Mechanics of Splashing Bow Waves On Ships: A Hybrid BEM-SPH Analysis, 53, pp. 111-127. , Ocean EngineeringKline, (1972) Mathematical Thought From Ancient to Modern Times, p. 1032. , Oxford University PressFigueiredo, D.G., (2009) Análise De Fourier E Equações Diferenciais, p. 274. , Editora Projeto Euclides, in PortugueseIório, V.M., (2010) EDP: Um Curso De Graduação, p. 275. , Editora Coleção Matemática Universitária, in portugueseIório Jr., R., Iório, V.M., (2010), p. 343. , Equações Diferenciais Parciais: Uma Introdução, Editora Projeto Euclides, in PortugueseKnobloch, E., (2011) Kaspar Schott's "encyclopedia of All Mathematical Sciences", 7, pp. 225-247. , Poiesis Prax(1998) Trigonometric Delights, , by Eli Maor, Princeton University Press, Ebook version, in PDF format, full text presented(1914) Trigonometry, , by Alfred Monroe Kenyon and Louis Ingold, The Macmillan Company, In images, full text presentedhttp://www.mfg.mtu.edu/cyberman/machining.html, The John W Sutherland Research PageLiang, S.Y., Junz Wang, J.J., (1994), pp. 1177-1190. , Milling force convolution modeling for identification of cutter axis offset, International Journal of Machine Tools and ManufactureMartelloti, M.E., An analysis of the milling process (1941) Transactions of the ASME, 63, pp. 677-700Martellotti, M.E., An analysis of the milling process, Part II-Down milling (1945) Transactions of the ASME, 67, pp. 233-251Ber, A., Feldman, D., (1974) A Mathematical Model of the Radial and Axial Throw of Square Indexable Inserts In a Face Milling Cutter, pp. 19-23. , Annals of CIRP: Manufacturing TechnologyKline, W.A., Devor, R.E., The effect of runout on cutting geometry and forces in end milling (1983) International Journal of Machine Tool Design and Research, pp. 123-140Fu, H.J., Devor, R.E., Kapoor, S.G., A mechanistic model for the prediction of force system in face milling operations (1984) Transactions of the ASME: Journal of Engineering For Industry, pp. 81-88Desai, K.A., Piyush, K.A., Rao, P.V.M., Process geometry modeling with cutter runout for milling of curved surfaces (2009) International Journal of Machine Tools & Manufacture, pp. 1015-1028Boothroyd, G., Knight, W.A., (2006) Fundamentals of Machining and Machine Tools, , CRC Press, Boca Rato

Effect of heat and moisture exchangers on the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill patients

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remains one of the major causes of infection in the intensive care unit (ICU) and is associated with the length of hospital stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. We compared the frequency of VAP 10 months prior to (pre-intervention group) and 13 months after (post-intervention group) initiation of the use of a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) filter. This is a study with prospective before-and-after design performed in the ICU in a tertiary university hospital. Three hundred and fourteen patients were admitted to the ICU under mechanical ventilation, 168 of whom were included in group HH (heated humidifier) and 146 in group HME. The frequency of VAP per 1000 ventilator-days was similar for both the HH and HME groups (18.7 vs 17.4, respectively; P = 0.97). Duration of mechanical ventilation (11 vs 12 days, respectively; P = 0.48) and length of ICU stay (11 vs 12 days, respectively; P = 0.39) did not differ between the HH and HME groups. The chance of developing VAP was higher in patients with a longer ICU stay and longer duration of mechanical ventilation. This finding was similar when adjusted for the use of HME. The use of HME in intensive care did not reduce the incidence of VAP, the duration of mechanical ventilation, or the length of stay in the ICU in the study population

The effects of cold working on sensitization and intergranular corrosion behavior of AISI 304 stainless steel

The effects of prior cold rolling of up to an 80 pct reduction in thickness on the sensitization-desensitization behavior of Type AISI 304 stainless steel and its susceptibility to intergranular corrosion have been studied by electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (EPR) and Strauss-test methods. The results indicate that the prior deformation accelerated the sensitization as compared to the undeformed stainless steel. The deformed Type 304 stainless steel experienced desensitization at higher temperatures and times, and it was found to be enhanced by increased cold deformation. This could be attributed to the increased long-range chromium diffusion, possibly brought on by increasing pipe diffusion and vacancies. The role of the deformation-induced martensite (DIM) and texture, introduced by uniaxial cold rolling, on the sensitization-desensitization kinetics has also been discussed. This study could not reveal any systematic relationship between texture and the degree of sensitization (DOS) obtained. The effect of DIM on DOS seems to be pronounced at 500 °C when the steel retained significant amounts of DIM; however, the retained DIM is insignificant at higher sensitization times and temperatures

Atrial Natriuretic Factor: Is It Responsible For Hyponatremia And Natriuresis In Neurosurgery?

To evaluate the presence of hyponatremia and natriuresis and their association with atrial natriuretic factor in neurosurgery patients. Methods: The study included 30 patients who had been submitted to intracranial tumor resection and cerebral aneurism clipping. Both plasma and urinary sodium and plasma atrial natriuretic factor were measured during the preoperative and postoperative time periods. Results: Hyponatremia was present in 63.33% of the patients, particularly on the first postoperative day. Natriuresis was present in 93.33% of the patients, particularly on the second postoperative day. Plasma atrial natriuretic factor was increased in 92.60% of the patients in at least one of the postoperative days; however, there was no statistically significant association between the atrial natriuretic factor and plasma sodium and between the atrial natriuretic factor and urinary sodium. Conclusion: Hyponatremia and natriuresis were present in most patients after neurosurgery; however, the atrial natriuretic factor cannot be considered to be directly responsible for these alterations in neurosurgery patients. Other natriuretic factors are likely to be involved.28215416