Use of rescue high frequency oscillation ventilation in neonates with acute respiratory failure after failing conventional ventilation

Background: High frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) is a newer mode of ventilation in neonates. The objective of this study was to study the efficacy of rescue HFOV in improving the oxygenation and ventilation in neonates with acute respiratory failure after failing synchronised intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV).Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted over a period of 12 months. Neonates with respiratory distress requiring ventilation on SIMV mode based upon the unit protocol were included in the study. Babies who have failed on SIMV were then switched over to HFOV. The primary outcome measures were oxygenation index (OI), ventilation: alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (AaDO2) and duration of ventilation with a secondary outcome measure of mortality and complications associated with ventilation.Results: A total of 65 babies were ventilated out of which 11 babies required high frequency oscillatory ventilation as per the study protocol. Of 11 neonates who were oscillated eight (72.7%) improved and survived. Among the babies who survived OI<13 was seen in a total of six babies in the first three hours of oscillation and OI<10 was seen in two babies. There was no statistically significance difference in the incidence of intra-ventricular haemorrhage (IVH) and pneumothorax between HFOV and SIMV group.Conclusions: High frequency oscillatory ventilation was found to improve short term oxygenation and ventilation in neonates who failed SIMV. HFOV is not associated with increased risk of pneumothorax or IVH

Marshall-Smith syndrome: a distinct entity

This article does not have an abstract

Enhanced visible fluorescence in highly transparent Al-doped ZnO film by surface plasmon coupling of Ag nanoparticles

ZnO:Al (AZO) film has been deposited on quartz substrate by Pulsed laser deposition and showed monophasic hexagonal structure of c-axis oriented nanorods upto 80 nm in height. AZO film was optimally conjugated with Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in a hybrid nanostructure to achieve significant enhancement in the visible fluorescence emission. Augmented near field and extinction spectra of shape tailored Ag NPs and their dimers are simulated through FDTD method, and a direct association with fluorescence enhancement is established. Such plasmon-enhanced visible emission from a transparent conducting oxide could be very important for solar cell applications

Simplified Burn-Rate Model for CMDB Propellants

A single model has been proposed to predict the burning rates of bimodal AP,RDX and aluminum containing CMDB propellants. This is done in terms of the respective physical constants on the basis of a recently developed model of combustion of CMDB propellants. The study has been carried out to examine the effects of changes in propellants composition, AP particle size and pressures on burning rate. Computer programs were developed for this purpose and the results obtained for typical sets of input data have been presented and compared with the actual results

Jarcho-Levin syndrome

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Studies on Physico-Mechanical and Explosive Characteristics of RDX/HMX-Based Castable Plastic-Bonded Explosives

Conventional cast explosives (RDX/TNT) have major drawbacks of poor mechanical properties,shrinkages and higher sensitivity .These properties can be improved by applying plastic bindersystems. The plastic-bonded explosive (PBX) is a composite material in which solid explosive particles are dispersed in a polymer matrix. The present paper describes the development of anitramine/hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB)-based castable PBX. The PBXs were processed as per standard procedures. Bimodal/trimodal particle size system was selected to reach asolid loading of 88 wt per cent. High solid loading was made possible through proper combination ofcoarse/fine ratio of solid ingredients, which was based on a number of tap density experiments.Processability of the binder system was studied by using various wetting agents as well as by selectingbinder/plasticizer ratios. Mechanical properties of the PBXs were enhanced by different crosslinkingagents. The explosive properties ofPBXs including detonation velocity , processability and sensitivityto different types of stimuli, were studied. The results show that PBXs can be manufactured withdetonation properties better than those of composition B/octol with the added advantages of superiorthermal and sensitivity characteristics

Studies on Some New Ru(III) Complexes Using aryl-azo Pentane- 2,4-dione and 2,6-bis (2'-Benzimidazolyl) Pyridine as Ligands: Synthesis, Spectroscopic, Luminescent, Electrochemical and Biological Activities

Some ruthenium(III) complexes with aryl-azo 2,4-pentanedione as co-ligands (L1H - L3H2) have been synthesized and characterized spectroscopically IR, 1H NMR, UV/Vis, ESR, conductimetric) along with elemental analysis and FAB-mass data. Their luminescent and redox properties have been studied. The antibacterial, anti-HIV and antitmnour activities have also been reported

Red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and haemoglobin variants among ten endogamous groups of Maharashtra and West Bengal

Over 900 individuals from ten endogamous groups in the Indian states of Maharashtra and West Bengal were studied for G-6-PD deficiency and haemoglobin variants. The incidence of G-6-PD varied from nil to 17.3%, while that of Hb-S varied from nil to 22.3%. In general, the tribal populations of Maharashtra are characterized by the presence of a high incidence of both Hb-S and G-6-PD deficiency. The caste Hindus showed an absence of Hb-S and rather low G-6-PD deficiency. Immigrant Parsis possessed the highest incidence of G-6-PD deficiency (17.3%)

Vulnerability analysis of satellite-based synchronized smart grids monitoring systems

The large-scale deployment of wide-area monitoring systems could play a strategic role in supporting the evolution of traditional power systems toward smarter and self-healing grids. The correct operation of these synchronized monitoring systems requires a common and accurate timing reference usually provided by a satellite-based global positioning system. Although these satellites signals provide timing accuracy that easily exceeds the needs of the power industry, they are extremely vulnerable to radio frequency interference. Consequently, a comprehensive analysis aimed at identifying their potential vulnerabilities is of paramount importance for correct and safe wide-area monitoring system operation. Armed with such a vision, this article presents and discusses the results of an experimental analysis aimed at characterizing the vulnerability of global positioning system based wide-area monitoring systems to external interferences. The article outlines the potential strategies that could be adopted to protect global positioning system receivers from external cyber-attacks and proposes decentralized defense strategies based on self-organizing sensor networks aimed at assuring correct time synchronization in the presence of external attacks