Welding of Non-Ferrous Metals by the Argon Arc & Argonaut Processes

The paper deals with the latest inert -gas arc method of welding of non-ferrous metals

Recent Developments in the Welding of Light Metals & alloys

THE popularity and increase in use of any metal and its alloys in industry depend largely on their weldability. The post-war development of inert gas shielded are welding processes, which made it possible to obtain consistently and easily, reliable and good welds in the difficult-to-weld light metals and alloys contributed a great deal to the recent phenomenal increase in the use of these materials. This situation has greatly been helped by the latest development of readily weldable alloys, especially aluminium magnesium alloys, which are cold worked and therefore do not suffer the same loss in properties as experienced with some of the other preci-pitation hardening alloys

Prevalence & risk factors for soil transmitted helminth infection among school children in south India

Background & objectives: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are a major public health problem in tropical and sub-tropical countries, affecting the physical growth and cognitive development in schoolage children. This study was aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of STH infection among school children aged 6-14 yr in Vellore and Thiruvanamalai districts in south India. Methods: Children aged 6-14 yr, going to government and government aided schools (n=33, randomly selected) in Vellore and Thiruvanamalai districts were screened to estimate the prevalence of STH, and a case control study was done on a subset to assess the risk factors for the infection. Results: The prevalence of STH was 7.8 per cent, varying widely in schools from 0 to 20.4 per cent, in 3706 screened children. Hookworm (8.4%) rates were high in rural areas, while Ascaris (3.3%) and Trichuris (2.2%) were more prevalent among urban children. Consumption of deworming tablets (OR=0.25, P<0.01) offered protection, while residing in a field hut (OR=6.73, P=0.02) and unhygienic practices like open air defaecation (OR=5.37, P<0.01), keeping untrimmed nails (OR=2.53, P=0.01) or eating food fallen on the ground (OR=2.52, P=0.01) were important risk factors for STH infection. Interpretation & conclusions: Our study indicated that school children with specific risk factors in the studied area were vulnerable subpopulation with elevated risk of STH infection. Identifying risk factors and dynamics of transmission in vulnerable groups can help to plan for effective prevention strategies

Compliance to Treatment among Type II Diabetics receiving care at Peripheral Mobile Clinics in Kaniyambadi Block of Vellore District.

INTRODUCTION : Diabetes Mellitus has been recognized for long and in all ancient civilizations. The endeavour to understand and treat this condition is a long one. Numerous Studies have been conducted to understand its etiopathogenesis, progression and Treatment . The incidence of diabetes is increasing and the onset is at a younger Age. Diabetes related complications are on the rise, thereby creating a large burden On the health care system. OBJECTIVES : To measure ; 1. The rate of compliance to oral hypoglycemic agents, 2. The level of physical activity and caloric intake and 3. The level of glycemic control among diabetics managed in the periphery. 4. To measure the association between each of these factors independently and in combination with glycemic controls. METHODS : A cross sectional study was done. One hundred participants were randomly selected for the study. All those above the age of thirty, being treated for diabetes mellitus type 2 in the doctor-run mobile clinic were eligible to participate in the study. Those on insulin therapy and those bedridden were not included. The following parameters were measured for each person: (a) Diet intake, (b) Physical activity, (c) Compliance to therapy, (d) Glycated hemoglobin Correlation between these factors and glycemic control was measured. RESULTS : Out of the 100 participants, 74% were female, and47% were from the upper middle class. Those who were taking 80% of the expected number of pills were classified as compliant and it was found that 50.5% of those prescribed metformin were compliant and 45.3% of those prescribed glibenclamide were compliant. The mean caloric intake per day was 1614.83 Kcals (95%CI 1494.6- 1735.1) Out of the 100 participants 39% had a sedentary lifestyle and 60% had moderately active lifestyle. The mean Hba1c was 7.3% and 48.8% had ideal glycemic control. The remaining 25.6% had unsatisfactory control. No correlation was found between sedentary lifestyle and uncontrolled sugars. It was found that HbA1c significantly reduced with better adherence

Life in times of COVID-19

Should vegetables be washed with soap before using them? Can COVID-19 spread from newspapers, coins, bank notes, ATM cards, or air conditioning? Do Indians have innate immunity against SARS�CoV-2? How do we use herd immunity to our advantage

Molecular studies of fecal anaerobic commensal bacteria in acute diarrhea in children

Background and Objective: The commensal bacterial flora of the colon may undergo changes during diarrhea, owing to colonization of the intestine by pathogens and to rapid intestinal transit. This study used molecular methods to determine changes in the composition of selected commensal anaerobic bacteria during and after acute diarrhea in children. Materials and Methods: Fecal samples were obtained from 46 children with acute diarrhea in a rural community during an episode of acute diarrhea, immediately after recovery from diarrhea, and 3 months after recovery. DNA was extracted and quantitative polymerase chain reaction using SYBR green and genus- and species-specific primers targeting 16S rDNA were undertaken to quantitate the following groups of bacteria: Bifidobacterium spp., Bifidobacterium longum group, Bacteroides-Prevotella group, Bacteroides fragilis, Lactobacillus acidophilus group, Faecalibacterium prauznitzii, and Eubacterium rectale, relative to amplification of universal bacterial domain 16S rDNA. Results: Bacteria belonging to the Bacteroides-Prevotella-Porphyromonas group, E rectale, L acidophilus, and F prauznitzii groups were low during acute diarrhea compared with their levels after recovery from diarrhea. The pattern was similar in rotavirus diarrhea and nonrotavirus diarrhea. Administration of amylase-resistant maize starch as adjuvant therapy was associated with lower levels of F prauznitzii at the time of recovery but did not lead to other changes in the floral pattern. Conclusions: Specific classes of fecal bacteria are lower during episodes of acute diarrhea in children than during periods of normal gastrointestinal health, suggesting specific alterations in the flora during diarrhea

Chronic growth faltering amongst a birth cohort of Indian children begins prior to weaning and is highly prevalent at three years of age

BACKGROUND: Poor growth of children in developing countries is a major public health problem associated with mortality, morbidity and developmental delay. We describe growth up to three years of age and investigate factors related to stunting (low height-for-age) at three years of age in a birth cohort from an urban slum. METHODS: 452 children born between March 2002 and August 2003 were followed until their third birthday in three neighbouring slums in Vellore, South India. Field workers visited homes to collect details of morbidity twice a week. Height and weight were measured monthly from one month of age in a study-run clinic. For analysis, standardised z-scores were generated using the 2006 WHO child growth standards. Risk factors for stunting at three years of age were analysed in logistic regression models. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to examine the effect of missing values. RESULTS: At age three years, of 186 boys and 187 girls still under follow-up, 109 (66%, 95% Confidence interval 58-73%) boys and 93 (56%, 95% CI 49-64%) girls were stunted, 14 (8%, 95% CI 4-13%) boys and 12 (7%, 95% CI 3-11%) girls were wasted (low weight-for-height) and 72 (43%, 95% CI 36-51) boys and 66 (39%, 95% CI 31-47%) girls were underweight (low weight-for-age). In total 224/331 (68%) children at three years had at least one growth deficiency (were stunted and/or underweight and/or wasted); even as early as one month of age 186/377 (49%) children had at least one growth deficiency. Factors associated with stunting at three years were birth weight less than 2.5 kg (OR 3.63, 95% CI 1.36-9.70) 'beedi-making' (manual production of cigarettes for a daily wage) in the household (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.05-2.86), maternal height less than 150 cm (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.12-3.62), being stunted, wasted or underweight at six months of age (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.05-2.93) and having at least one older sibling (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.14-3.51). CONCLUSION: A high proportion of urban slum dwelling children had poor growth throughout the first three years of life. Interventions are needed urgently during pregnancy, early breastfeeding and weaning in this population

Trends in caesarean section rates in a rural block of southern India

Background: Over the last decade many programmes have been implemented to improve the health of pregnant women and neonates. This study aims to look at the changes in modes of delivery and perinatal mortality rates in a rural block of Tamil Nadu between 2006 and 2015.Methods: Data on all the births that have occurred in this rural block of Tamil Nadu that has been prospectively collected between 2006 and 2015 was analysed. A longitudinal analysis was done to calculate the primary and overall caesarean section rate and the average annual rate of increase. The perinatal mortality rate was also calculated.Results: The primary LSCS rate has increased from 9.08% in 2005 to 16.1% in 2015. The overall caesarean section rate has increased from 11.7% to 19.2% in the same time with an average annual rate of increase of 5.1%. During this period the perinatal mortality has decreased from 33 per 1000 live births to 17 per 1000 live births.Conclusions: Though the overall caesarean section rate is higher than the 15% prescribed by WHO the rates are lower than the rest of the country and rural Tamil Nadu