When Does It Make Sense to Acquire a Single Weapon System Design That Can Be Used in Both Manned and Unmanned Operational Modes

There is a strong push to change from manned toward both unmanned and optionally manned systems within the Department of Defense. There are significant open questions about how the manned versus unmanned versus optionally manned options influence costs, adaptability, operational utility, and suitability for missions. The Institute for Defense Analyses developed an approach to address these questions that links underlying physical attributes and engineering relationships to mission attributes and costs. We discuss this approach, where it fits into the acquisition process, and how it can be used to quantitatively inform the unmanned versus optionally manned discussions at both a system level and fleet level.Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research Progra

Study of cervical pap smears in a tertiary care hospital of south Gujarat, India

Background: In India cervical cancer is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Cancer of cervix is preventable, and can be diagnosed at the pre-malignant/pre-invasive stage with adequate and repetitive cytological screening by Papanicolaou (Pap) smears.  Methods: The prospective study includes total 1425 patients who were presented with various gynecological problems. Samples were taken and prepared smear were stained with PAP stain. Reporting was carried out by two independent cytopathologist as per Bethesda system.Results: Total 1425 patients were screened; there were 1034 (72.56%) abnormal Pap smears, with 354 (24.84%) normal cases and 37 (2.59%) unsatisfactory or inadequate samples. Total 27 (1.89%) cases showed epithelial cell abnormalities. ASCUS was the most commonly found (40.74%) epithelial cell abnormality out of 27 cases.Conclusions: Incidence of invasive cervical malignancy can be prevented if Pap screening program is effectively implemented in target population

Automating Interplanetary Trajectory Generation for Electric Propulsion Trade Studies.

The goal of this work is to provide methods which can be used to auto-generate feasible electric propulsion interplanetary trajectories for use with Hall and Ion thrusters. The research is aimed at automating the trajectory generation for trade studies. Automating the trajectory generation process allows non trajectory specialists to generate a good initial guess for use in optimizers and to rapidly conduct trade studies. Two types of trade studies are considered, high and low level trades. High level trades utilize reduced order models, which simplify the problem, while low level trades use high fidelity models of the thruster and power system. Novel methods are designed to automate the entire trajectory generation process. They use information from previous iterations so the user does not have to supply an initial guess. The initial guess for the first iteration is generated using a “self starting” method, which allows for the generation of a unique initial guess for each subproblem. For high level trades with variable efficiency constant specific impulse thrusters it is found that the optimal specific impulse is independent of the launch mass and varies with the propellant and power system. The optimal solution favors a larger power system mass vs. the propellant mass. To carry out these trade studies a homotopy method is used in a proof of concept tool which optimizes the C3, power level, and specific impulse over a range of power systems power to mass ratios. A two phase approach is used to generate trajectories for low level trades. The first phase uses Chebyshev polynomials to model the trajectories. The Chebyshev coefficients are optimized, which allows for the selection of a unique low cost trajectory for a large range of launch and arrival dates. The Chebyshev trajectory is then used as an initial guess to a feasible trajectory solver which integrates the trajectory and uses thruster and power system models to constrain the trajectory. The use of the Chebyshev polynomials with the fully integrated solver allows trajectories to be generated without requiring the user to supply any initial guess.Ph.D.Aerospace EngineeringUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/61553/1/patelpr_1.pd

Death due to sickle cell anaemia, an autopsy diagnosis: a study at a tertiary care hospital

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the generic term for the group of inherited haemoglobinopathies caused by the occurrence of Haemoglobin S (HbS) in the homozygous or heterozygous form in combination of Hbs with another abnormal haemoglobin such as HbSC or beta-thalassaemias (HbS-thal). Sickle cell syndromes are remarkable for their clinical heterogeneity, including their presentations as sudden and unexpected deaths due to a sickle cell crisis. Less numbers of deaths are reported due to this cause because of ignorance of autopsy surgeon in considering this disease as a cause of death despite of its high prevalence. While doing autopsy in cases of deaths with no apparent cause and physical over activity medical officer must keep in mind the possibility of death due to vaso-occlusive crisis in sickle cell disease.  Methods: The study covers a period of one year (January 2013 - December 2013) and it is a study of cases of autopsy carried out in a tertiary care hospital of South Gujarat.Results: A total of 607 cases examined, out of which sickled red blood cells were detected in 17 cases. The respective records were reviewed. Out of 17 cases, 13 cases were male and 4 cases were females. The youngest person was 15 years female and oldest was 70 years male.  Conclusion: Sickle cell crisis is one of the causes of sudden unexplained deaths. The present study highlights the role of autopsy in such cases. Community awareness and marriage counseling programs are also helpful in preventing sickle cell disease.

Characteristic and trends of malaria in Surat district of Gujarat: a hospital based study

Background: Malaria is a major health problem and infects many individuals despite of various efforts to control it. The present study was aimed to observe characteristics of malaria, seasonal variation and prevalence of malaria in our region.Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in our institute from period of January 2012 to December 2012.  All the fever cases undergone investigations for malarial parasites were included in present study for defined time period.  All the laboratory data of the patients having fever were retrieved from the Pathology Laboratory of our institute.Results: out of total 32674 reports studied 4907(15.01%) were positive for malaria with overall Slide positivity rate and slide falciparum rate were 15.01% and 38.29% respectively. Incidence of malaria occurs throughout year with increased incidence of P. falciparum in monsoon.Conclusion: In the present study incidence of malaria was higher in monsoon in comparison to other seasons. But throughout the year no declining trends in incidence of malaria was observed. P. vivax malaria was more commonly observed in our study but incidence of P. falciparum increased in monsoon

Changes in WBC and platelet count in patients with malaria: a hospital based comparative study

Introduction: Malaria is one of the most common infectious diseases of tropics. It presents with varied clinicopathological manifestations. Most of the complication in malaria occurs due to various hematological abnormalities. Present study was aimed to find out abnormalities in WBC and platelet counts in patients with malaria. Methods: A total 135 patients either hospitalized or treated on an outpatient basis were included in the study after positive identification for malarial parasites on Giemsa stained PSMP smears. WBC and platelet count was carried out on 3 part hematology analyzer (Sysmax KX 21). WBC count less than 4000/cumm was considered as leucopenia and platelet count less than 150000/cumm was considered as thrombocytopenia. Results: The present study includes 135 patients with malaria from which 72.59% of subjects were male and 27.41% of subjects were female. P. falciparum was present in 68.89% of cases, P. vivax in 28.15% of cases. Majority of patients had normal leucocyte count (97.03%). Neutrophilia with lymphopenia was observed in both species of malaria in our study. Thrombocytopenia was observed in89.62% of cases in malaria. Thrombocytopenia in P. falciparum was found in 92.48% of cases and in P. vivax it was 81.57% of cases. Conclusion: Present study did not show any significant change in WBC count. Present study showed neutrophilia with relative lymphopenia in both group of malaria. Incidence of thrombocytopenia was observed in both species of malaria without any statistical significance.

Effect of Various Concentrations of Lignocaine & Adrenaline Combination as Local Anesthetic on ECG Parameters of Patients Undergoing Dental Procedures

Background: Systemic absorption of local anesthetics occurs due to its local vasodilator effects. This leads to inhibitory action on the heart which is represented in the form of a decrease in conduction rate, the excitability of myocardium and force of contraction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Lignocaine and adrenaline combinations on electrocardiogram undergoing dental procedures. Methods: This was a prospective, observational clinical study done in collaboration with the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. All patients scheduled for oral surgeries under local anesthesia with Lignocaine 2% and adrenaline (1:80000 or 1:200000) combination of age 18 years or above 150 patients were included in the study. Patients with a history of hepatic, renal, cardiovascular and thyroid disorders were excluded from the study. A standard 12-lead ECG (25 mm/s) was recorded for each patient before administration of drugs (Basal), during the dental procedure (Intraoperative) and immediately after completion of surgical procedure. Results: There was no statistically significant difference seen between the Group A (Lignocaine 2% with 1:80000 adrenaline) and B (Lignocaine 2% with 1:200000 adrenaline) when the age, gender, PR interval, RR interval, mean QT & QTc dispersion, and heart rate were compared. Statistically significant difference was seen in comparing the mean QT & QTc interval, which was higher in Group A. ECG parameters in Group A and B showed a statistically significant decrease in PR interval, RR interval, QT interval, QTc interval, QT dispersion and QTc dispersion, with the basal, was compared with intraoperative and postoperative findings. The increase in heart rate although was statistically significant in both the groups, it was always within normal limits suggestive of no clinical significance. There was a statistically significant decrease in QT and QTc interval, QT and QTc dispersion. The change in all these parameters was within the physiologic range. All these relevant parameters for cardiac arrhythmias did not show any arrhythmogenic potential of lignocaine-adrenaline combination in both the groups. Both the combinations are comparable with each other in terms of ECG parameters with changes more with group A suggesting the effect of increased concentration of adrenaline. The change in the heart rate and ECG parameters in both the study group might be attributed to the presence of adrenaline in the combination. No cardiovascular morbidities were observed except palpitation. Conclusion: Thus it can be very well concluded that the effects of lignocaine-adrenaline combinations on electrocardiographic parameters are minimal and clinically irrelevant. Both the combination appears to be safe to use in healthy individuals. Keywords: Adrenaline; Lignocaine; ECG parameters; Dental procedures

Nanorg Microbial Factories: Light-Driven Renewable Biochemical Synthesis Using Quantum Dot-Bacteria Nanobiohybrids

Living cells do not interface naturally with nanoscale materials, although such artificial organisms can have unprecedented multifunctional properties, like wireless activation of enzyme function using electromagnetic stimuli. Realizing such interfacing in a nanobiohybrid organism (or nanorg) requires (1) chemical coupling via affinity binding and self-assembly, (2) the energetic coupling between optoelectronic states of artificial materials with the cellular process, and (3) the design of appropriate interfaces ensuring biocompatibility. Here we show that seven different core−shell quantum dots (QDs), with excitations ranging from ultraviolet to near-infrared energies, couple with targeted enzyme sites in bacteria. When illuminated by light, these QDs drive the renewable production of different biofuels and chemicals using carbon-dioxide (CO2), water, and nitrogen (from air) as substrates. These QDs use their zinc-rich shell facets for affinity attachment to the proteins. Cysteine zwitterion ligands enable uptake through the cell, facilitating cell survival. Together, these nanorgs catalyze light-induced air−water−CO2 reduction with a high turnover number (TON) of ∼106-108 (mols of product per mol of cells) to biofuels like isopropanol (IPA), 2,3-butanediol (BDO), C11−C15 methyl ketones (MKs), and hydrogen (H2); and chemicals such as formic acid (FA), ammonia (NH3), ethylene (C2H4), and degradable bioplastics polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). Therefore, these resting cells function as nanomicrobial factories powered by light

ASSESSMENT OF METERED DOSE INHALER TECHNIQUE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE AT TERTIARY HEALTH CARE CENTRE

Introduction: Bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive airway disease are the two most common chronic lung diseases encountered at C.U.Shah Medical College. The treatment usually includes the use of bronchodilators and steroids, which are best, delivered through the inhalational route. Metered-dose inhalers are routinely prescribed for this purpose. Metered dose inhalers (MDIs) are an affective modality of treatment for fast relief from asthma flare-ups and other symptoms, and are often used by asthmatic athletes. It has got lots of benefits and some drawbacks depending on usage technique. With proper technique and training drawbacks can be minimized. The aim of this study was to assess the metered dose inhaler technique in patients with chronic lung disease at our hospitals. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted at a Tertiary Health care centre. The inhalation technique was assessed in six steps. Result: Clear evidence showed that only 28% patient could perform all the steps correctly. Percentages of people that followed individual steps properly were: preparation (90%), exhalation (55%), lip closure (70%), inhalation (58%), breath-holding (30%) and puff interval (38%). Conclusion: This study showed that a number of patients in our hospitals were unable to use metered-dose-inhaler properly and therefore indicates the need to make people aware of this technique either by counseling or arranging seminars