Correlation of doppler studies at 34 weeks of gestation with perinatal outcome in high risk pregnancies

Background: Antepartum detection of the fetus at risk of death or compromise in utero remains a major challenge in modern obstetrics. The waveform analysis of the feto- maternal circulation by Doppler ultrasound has therefore become a quick and a simple way of screening and identifying fetal compromise. The main objective of the study is to evaluate Doppler flow indices as an index for assessing fetal well being in high risk pregnancies and to determine the predictive value of various Doppler parameters with perinatal outcome.Methods: The study was a prospective cohort study were forty pregnant women with a high risk factor (intrauterine growth restriction, pre eclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus) and forty pregnant women with no high risk(controls) were selected at 34 weeks of gestation. Both the groups underwent an obstetrical ultrasound with color Doppler examination of bilateral uterine arteries, umbilical artery and middle cerebral artery. Abnormality was serially monitored and pregnancy terminated in the presence of absent, reversal of end diastolic flow in umbilical artery or non-reassuring tests of fetal wellbeing.Results: Uterine artery S/D abnormality was seen in 32.5% of high risk cases were as abnormal umbilical artery S/D was seen in 25% and abnormal Pulsatility Index (PI) in 15% cases. Middle cerebral artery flow was abnormal in only 17.5% cases. Abnormality in the uterine artery flow correlated well with the incidence of preterm delivery (69.2%), need for cesarean section (53.8%) and length of Neonatal intensive care unit(NICU) stay >48 hours (69.23%). Abnormal umbilical artery flow was associated with a significant increase in the incidence of preterm delivery(75%), small for gestational age babies(93.75%) and length of NICU stay >48 hours (93.75%). There was no significant correlation seen with isolated abnormal middle cerebral artery flow.Conclusions: Both uterine and umbilical artery Doppler velocities correlate well with the perinatal outcome but abnormal uterine artery Doppler predicts adverse neonatal outcome better than the fetal vessels as it discriminates fetuses at risk because of abnormal placental vascularisation from those who are at risk due to other causes

ECONOMIC DISPATCH - A COMPARATIVE STUDY

In this paper we are comparing the widely used Heuristic Method and Genetic Algorithm with a faster and effective non-iterative “λ-Logic Based” algorithm for ED (Economic Dispatch) of Thermal Units. The non-iterative method uses pre-prepared data to obtain the solution for a specified power demand. Genetic Algorithm performs directed random searches through a given set of alternative with the aim of finding the best alternative with respect to the given criteria of goodness. In this paper ED problem is solved using iterative method by Heuristic method , Non-iterative approach by “ƛlogic Based” technique and genetic Algorithm approach (GA) .The proposed algorithms are tested on 3 and 38 bus system using MATLAB software and the results reported in the paper

Development of Fertilizer Prescription Targeted Yield-Equation for Carrot Crop Based on Soil Test Values

A field experiment was conducted on red soils (Kandic paleustalfs) of Zonal Agricultural Research Station, GKVK, Bangalore during kharif 2008-09 to develop a targeted yield equation for carrot crop. After developing three levels of fertility gradient with respect to available NPK in soil, the main experiment was conducted by taking carrot as a test crop. Initial soil data, carrot root yield and NPK uptake by carrot crop were used for obtaining four important basic parameters, viz., nutrients required to produce a quintal of carrot roots (NR%), contribution of nutrients from fertilizers (CF%), contribution of nutrients from soil (CS%) and contribution of nutrients from organic matter (%C-OM). These parameters were used for developing fertilizer-adjustment targeted yield equation. Comparison of the present soil testing laboratory method with Soil Test Crop Response approach of fertilizer recommendation clearly indicated superiority of STCR targeted yield approach for efficient and economic use of fertilizers to attain the required yield target

Importance of Glutamate Dehydrogenase (GDH) in Clostridium difficile Colonization In Vivo

Citation: Girinathan, B. P., Braun, S., Sirigireddy, A. R., Lopez, J. E., & Govind, R. (2016). Importance of Glutamate Dehydrogenase (GDH) in Clostridium difficile Colonization In Vivo. Plos One, 11(7), 18. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0160107Clostridium difficile is the principal cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Major metabolic requirements for colonization and expansion of C. difficile after microbiota disturbance have not been fully determined. In this study, we show that glutamate utilization is important for C. difficile to establish itself in the animal gut. When the gluD gene, which codes for glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), was disrupted, the mutant C. difficile was unable to colonize and cause disease in a hamster model. Further, from the complementation experiment it appears that extracellular GDH may be playing a role in promoting C. difficile colonization and disease progression. Quantification of free amino acids in the hamster gut during C. difficile infection showed that glutamate is among preferred amino acids utilized by C. difficile during its expansion. This study provides evidence of the importance of glutamate metabolism for C. difficile pathogenesis

Home Automation with Personal Assistant

The Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm has been achieved in complex contexts, such as in the home automation market. Due to complexity in its working as well as huge internet traffic, the whole process is not long lasting and it becomes cumbersome to maintain the proper functioning of devices. Now-a-days, giant Techno-institutes are massively dependent on IoT based applications to provide better commercial as well as domestic e-products in terms of simplicity and feasibility. In the following project we have discussed a new methodology of Home Automation in which the electronic gadgets used in home environment as well as workplace can be controlled by the device itself. ?With a unique internet access point in the particular environment, the device is connected to the IP gateway so that it can be controlled from anywhere and any place with the help of proper internet connection. The IP address provided will not function for an individual device, but for the entire network to which all the devices are being accessed.?[1] The interconnection of all the devices can be enabled with the help of an open source software. Initially the device will act and remember the commands as given and will act accordingly. After some duration of time, it will automatically start the actions as previously in-scripted in its memory. Home automation not only helps to reduce human efforts but is also energy efficient and time saving. The main objective of home automation is to help handicapped and old aged people that will enable them to control home appliances and alert them in some immediate situations

Clinical and Stroboscopic evaluation of vocal cord function before and after thyroid surgery

Introduction: Voice change due to injury to the Recurrent Laryngeal nerve and the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve is an important complication of Thyroid Surgery Objectives: Video Laryngeal Stroboscopy comes in handy for the detection of vocal cord palsies postoperatively that may be missed on routine examination, to know the extent of the pathology. Methods: 100 patients with thyroid swelling who have been evaluated and planned for thyroidectomy in a tertiary care centre between June 2016 to June 2018 were taken as subjects for this prospective observational study. Clinical examination and Video Laryngeal Stroboscopy were done pre operatively and compared to the same on third post-operative day and 1month following surgery. Results: Preoperative Video Laryngeal Stroboscopy was normal in all subjects. 26 out of 100 subjects had subjective postoperative voice change of various degrees. Out of 26 patients, 22 were diagnosed to have Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve palsy and 4 with Superior Laryngeal Nerve palsy .Most common symptoms post-surgery were Voice fatigue in 26% followed by decreased pitch range in 13% and hoarseness in 6% cases. Bowing of vocal cords was seen in 4 subjects (4%), Asymmetry of travelling mucosal wave (slight to severe) in 8 subjects (8%), incomplete glottis closure in 6 subjects (6%). Conclusion: Video Laryngeal Stroboscopy is a useful tool in evaluation of patients with suspected laryngeal paralysis. Paralysis of Superior Laryngeal Nerve, Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve or both results in asymmetric laryngeal vibration that is easily identified by even inexperienced observers using Stroboscopy in an otherwise normal rigid telescopy of laryn

In vitro assessment of Ag and TiO2 nanoparticles cytotoxicity

Background:Silver (Ag) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are the most eminent nanoproducts. Due to their antimicrobial and antifungal activity, they have been the well commercialized nanosubstances. The hazards associated with human exposure to Ag and TiO2 nanoparticles should be investigated, and hence both the nanoparticles were synthesized to facilitate the risk assessment process.  Methods:Prior to the cytotoxic studies, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were carried out to ensure the particle size. Glutathione (GSH), Nitric Oxide (NO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) estimated by ELISA method.Results:In the present study, the cytotoxicity of Ag and TiO2 were investigated by using the glutathione (GSH), Nitric Oxide (NO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) by incubating various concentration of silver (0.25 to 76 mg/mL) and titanium dioxide (0.25 to 2 mg/mL) nanoparticles in different incubation periods (24, 48 and 74 hours at 37°C) in plasma.  Results observed that significant decrease (P <0.0001) in the concentration of GSH associated with increased concentration of NO (P <0.0001) and SOD (P <0.0001) after incubation with silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles at 24hrs at 37°C, however at 48 hours and 74 hours there is not much change.  Conclusion:The results indicate that silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles exhibits, nanoparticles mediated cytotoxicity by induction of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS).

Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) in sheep: an update on epidemiology, pathogenesis and diagnosis

Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) is a spontaneous lung tumor in sheep caused by Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) belonging to the Retroviridae. The primary aim of this review work is to give brief insights into the epidemiological aspects of OPA based on a meta-analysis of available research work. This review article also discussed pathogenesis, diagnostic tests and control strategies available for OPA in Sheep. This will help in developing future strategies for disease-free status in India. This disease is endemic in Europe, Africa, Asia, and American continents, causing significant economic losses due to chronic respiratory illness and persistent infections in flocks. The virus is unique among retroviruses with selective affinity to lungs and is the only virus known to cause spontaneous lung tumors in sheep. The incubation time ranges for sheep with naturally occurring OPA ranged from one to four years. There are two pathological forms of the disease: classical and atypical. At an early stage, OPA is difficult to detect in sheep due to a lack of preclinical diagnostic methods, as JSRV is poorly immunogenic and doesn't induce an immune response. PCR, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry are recommended methods for OIE diagnosis. To become a JSRV-free country, mandatory surveillance, detection, and removal of positive animals are required, as OPA is difficult to control due to a lack of vaccines and preclinical diagnostic tests. Due to its similar histological and molecular pathogenesis to that of human lung cancer, OPA is considered an ideal large animal model of human lung adenocarcinoma