Manpower information

A description of the NAL nominal roll database (listing basic information about NAL employees) created using the Ingres relational database software. Using this database it is possible to provide a wide variety of reports about NAL staff, respond to a wide assortment of queries and undertake elementary statistical analysis to tabulate (and pictorially depict) the average age of NAL scientists, the future retirement pattern of NAL employees etc

Hydrodynamic study on inverse fluidization: A CFD analysis

The term 'fluidization' is usually associated with two or three phase systems, in which the solid particles are fluidized by a liquid or gas stream flowing in the direction opposite to that of gravity. Fluidization where the liquid is a continuous phase is commonly conducted with an upward flow of the liquid in liquid-solid systems or with an upward co-current flow of the gas and the liquid in three phase systems. Under these conditions, a bed of particles with a density greater than that of the liquid is fluidized with an upward flow of the liquid counter to the net gravitational force of the particles. Fluidization can be achieved by downward flow of the liquid when the particles are having lesser density as compared to the continuous liquid medium. This phenomenon is termed as inverse fluidization. The inverse fluidization system has gained significant importance during the last decade in the field of environmental, biochemical engineering, and oil–water separation. The minimum fluidization velocity is lower in this case. Also it takes lesser energy to pump a fluid to force the particles in this case. Hence viewing on a larger scale, at the industrial level, it can save a lot of energy. Such energy efficient processes are the need of today when energy crisis is at its peak. The application of inverse fluidization technique in biotechnology is one of the most important areas in bioreactor engineering. In this report various hydrodynamic characteristics of the inverse fluidized bed is studied based on literature and CFD is proposed to be applied on the system for further analysis

A randomized cross over trial of oral nifedipine and intravenous labetalol in pregnant women with severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia

Background: The aim of treatment of severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia is to quickly bring about a smooth reduction in blood pressure to levels that are safe for both mother and baby but avoiding any sudden drops. There are not many studies comparing nifedipine and labetalol for this purpose. Authors conducted this study with the aim of comparing their efficacy in reducing maternal blood pressure.Methods: It was a cross over trial with 30 patients in each group conducted at a tertiary care hospital. 60 pregnant women were randomized to receive nifedipine (20mg loading dose followed by 10 mg tablet, orally, up to maximum of five doses) or  intravenous labetalol  (in an escalating dose regimen of 20, 40, 80, 80 and 80 mg)  every 20 minutes until the target blood pressure of 150/100 mmHg was achieved. Crossover treatment was affected if the initial treatment regimen was unsuccessful after 20 min of the last dose of the drug in the respective groups.Results: The mean time to achieve the target blood pressure was 32.0 ±18.64 minutes (mean ± SD) in nifedipine group as compared with 37.04 ± 16.36 minutes in those receiving labetalol (P = .002). In the nifedipine group 63.3% required only one dose compared to 36.6% in the labetalol group.  Only two women in the nifedipine group required maximum number of doses that is five doses. Cross over treatment was required by 10% of patients in the labetalol group and none in the nifedipine group.Conclusions: This study shows that oral nifedipine is more effective than intravenous labetalol in rapid control of hypertension in severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia

Comparative study of vectis versus manual method for extraction of fetal head during lower segment cesarean section

Background: Delivery of fetal head through uterine incision is often the major technical problem during low transverse cesarean section when the presenting part is unengaged. Techniques to deliver head under special circumstances are traumatic to both mother and fetus. This study aims to establish the role of vectis in extraction of fetal head during lower segment cesarean section (LSCS) and to assess associated difficulties or untoward effects of use of vectis over manual method.Methods: The study was undertaken in PESIMSR, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh over two years. Vectis was used in extraction of fetal head in LSCS in 100 cases of full term pregnancy and maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared with 100 cases of manual extraction.Results: Incision-delivery time interval was similar in both vectis and manual extraction method (p value of 0.390). Vectis group did not require any fundal pressure for extraction of head where as 100% of women in manual extraction group required fundal pressure (p value: <0.001) which is statistically significant. The length of abdominal incision for majority of cases in vectis group was smaller and statistically significant compared to manual extraction group (p value of 0.001). Neonatal outcomes were similar in both the groups.Conclusions: As per our study, usage of vectis has shown significant advantage in reducing maternal discomfort caused due to fundal pressure and length of abdominal incision required, with negligible difference in neonatal and other maternal outcomes in comparison to manual method of extraction

Variable Structure End Point Control of a Flexible Manipulator

We treat the question of control and stabilization of the elastic multibody system developed in the Phillips Laboratory, Edwards Air Force Base, California. The controlled output is judiciously chosen such that the zero dynamics are stable or almost stable. A variable structure control (VSC) law is derived for the end point trajectory control. Although, the VSC law accomplishes precise end point tracking, elastic modes are excited during the maneuver of the arm. A Linear stabilizer is designed for the final capture of the terminal state

Envisioning ‘Prabuddha Bharat’: A Discourse for Social Transformation

Editoria

A COMMUNITY BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY: INCREASING PREVALENCE OF TYPE 2 DIABETES AMONG RURAL ADULT POPULATION OF KARNATAKA, INDIA

A community based cross-sectional study in the age group 25 years and above conducted at the field area of primary health centre Chakenahalli, Hassan district, Karnataka, India. The population was similar in characteristics regarding occupation, socio-economic status and food habits. Total of 626 subjects were included by multi-stage sampling. Information collected by the interviewers through face to face interview, after informed consent. The individuals were assessed on anthropometric parameters and screening was done by Random Blood Glucose (RBG) with a standardized technique; diagnosis of type 2 diabetes done by WHO criteria. Prevalence of diabetes was found in 11.3% males and 15% females, altogether the total prevalence was 13.09% with 8.79% self reported cases of diabetes . Hypertension was associated with 25.6% diabetic subjects. It was also observed that 28.1% of study population had BMI ≥ 25

Laxative Property of Safoof-E-Sana, a Unani Formulation

An investigation was carried out to study the laxative property of aqueous extract Safoof-ESana in the unani formulation. Aqueous extract of Safoof-E-Sana was evaluated for laxative property and was measured by weighing the fecal out at 8th and 16th hour of drug administration. Safoof-E-Sana at 50, and 100 mg/kg showed dose dependent laxative effect. The results are compared with standard Senna. Safoof-E-Sana was showed significant laxative activity

The timing of death in patients with tuberculosis who die during anti-tuberculosis treatment in Andhra Pradesh, South India

Background: India has 2.0 million estimated tuberculosis (TB) cases per annum with an estimated 280,000 TBrelated deaths per year. Understanding when in the course of TB treatment patients die is important for determining the type of intervention to be offered and crucially when this intervention should be given. The objectives of the current study were to determine in a large cohort of TB patients in India:- i) treatment outcomes including the number who died while on treatment, ii) the month of death and iii) characteristics associated with “early” death, occurring in the initial 8 weeks of treatment. Methods: This was a retrospective study in 16 selected Designated Microscopy Centres (DMCs) in Hyderabad, Krishna and Adilabad districts of Andhra Pradesh, South India. A review was performed of treatment cards and medical records of all TB patients (adults and children) registered and placed on standardized anti-tuberculosis treatment from January 2005 to September 2009. Results: There were 8,240 TB patients (5183 males) of whom 492 (6%) were known to have died during treatment. Case-fatality was higher in those previously treated (12%) and lower in those with extra-pulmonary TB (2%). There was an even distribution of deaths during anti-tuberculosis treatment, with 28% of all patients dying in the first 8 weeks of treatment. Increasing age and new as compared to recurrent TB disease were significantly associated with “early death”. Conclusion: In this large cohort of TB patients, deaths occurred with an even frequency throughout anti-TB treatment. Reasons may relate to i) the treatment of the disease itself, raising concerns about drug adherence, quality of anti-tuberculosis drugs or the presence of undetected drug resistance and ii) co-morbidities, such as HIV/ AIDS and diabetes mellitus, which are known to influence mortality. More research in this area from prospective and retrospective studies is needed

Incidence of multiple Herpesvirus infection in HIV seropositive patients, a big concern for Eastern Indian scenario

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with an increased risk for human <it>herpes viruses </it>(HHVs) and their related diseases and they frequently cause disease deterioration and therapeutic failures. Methods for limiting the transmission of HHVs require a better understanding of the incidence and infectivity of oral HHVs in HIV-infected patients. This study was designed to determine the seroprevalence of human herpes viruses (CMV, HSV 2, EBV-1, VZV) antibodies and to evaluate their association with age, sex as well as other demographic and behavioral factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A study of 200 HIV positive patients from Eastern India attending the Calcutta Medical College Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, Apex Clinic, Calcutta Medical College Hospital and ART Center, School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata, West Bengal was done. Serum samples were screened for antibodies to the respective viruses using the indirect ELISA in triplicates.</p> <p><it>CytoMegalo virus </it>(CMV), <it>Herpes Simplex virus </it>type 2 (HSV-2), <it>Varicella Zoster virus </it>(VZV), and <it>Epstein Barr virus </it>(EBV-1) were detected in 49%, 47%, 32.5%, and 26% respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study has contributed baseline data and provided insights in viral OI and HIV co-infection in Eastern India. This would undoubtedly serve as a basis for further studies on this topic.</p