Nondestructive evaluation of wooden logs using ground penetrating radar

Presently there are no suitable non-invasive methods for precisely detecting the subsurface defects in logs in real time. Internal defects such as knots, decays, and embedded metals are of greatest concern for lumber production. While defects such as knots and decays (rots) are of major concern related to productivity and yield of high value wood products, embedded metals can damage the saw blade and significantly increase the down time and maintenance costs of saw mills.;Nondestructive scanning of logs using techniques such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) prior to sawing can greatly increase the productivity and yield of high value lumber. Currently GPR has been widely used for civil engineering applications for nondestructive testing of bridges and highways. GPR is also being used for geological and archeological purposes where the imaging needs in many ways are similar to that of logs. However, GPR application in the field of wood industry is very new. GPR has advantages both technically and economically over other non-invasive techniques like X-ray, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Stress Wave and Ultrasound. GPR can collect subsurface data much faster compared to many other techniques and provides better penetrating power. For every application the frequency of EM wave plays a very important role.;The main objective of this research is to investigate the use GPR for identifying subsurface defects in logs. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Impact of serum magnesium levels in critically ill elderly patients—A study in a rural teaching hospital

AbstractBackground/PurposeMagnesium deficiency has been a common, but easily ignored, electrolyte abnormality. Studies on magnesium deficiency are lacking in India, especially in a rural setting. Here, we have correlated serum magnesium levels with outcomes in elderly patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit with respect to the length of intensive care unit stay, need for mechanical ventilatory support and its duration, and outcome (discharge/death).MethodsA prospective, observational study was conducted in patients aged 60 years and older, who had been admitted to the intensive care unit of the medicine department for over a year. The chi-square test was applied to correlate hypomagnesemia with the outcome.ResultsIn our study, 59.30% of the elderly patients had hypomagnesemia. Compared with patients with a normal magnesium level, hypomagnesemic patients had no correlation with the duration of medical intensive care unit stay (5.57±6.10 days vs. 5.61±5.55 days), but the need for mechanical ventilation (57.84% vs. 45.71%), rate of discharge from the intensive care unit or cure (60.28% vs. 71.42% ), rate of death (39.21% vs. 28.57%), and mean duration of ventilation (3.07±5.05 days vs. 2.15±3.46 days) were higher. However, no significant statistical difference was found between these groups.ConclusionHypomagnesemia was associated with a slightly higher mortality rate. Requirement and duration of ventilatory support were also higher, although not statistically significant. Hypomagnesemia was not found to have any impact on the duration of medical intensive care unit stay. Monitoring of serum magnesium levels may have prognostic and perhaps therapeutic implications in the elderly

Silver-Russell Syndrome: A Case Report

A 15-year-old male boy with hemihypertrophy (left side) of the body was admitted in the hospital with the history of repeated attacks of convulsion. The patient was diagnosed as Silver-Russell syndrome on clinical ground. Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) is a very rare genetic disorder that appears no later than early childhood. This is usually characterized by asymmetry in the size of the two halves or other parts of the body. Silver-Russell Syndrome occurs mostly in isolated cases because of sporadic genetic changes (mutations) for no apparent reason. For lack of facilities we were not able to do genetic study

ANTIMICROBIAL STUDY OF VYADHIVIDHWANSANA RASA (AN HERBOMINERAL PREPARATION): IN VITRO STUDY

Ayurveda-The traditional medicinal science in India has holistic approach and practiced widely in the subcontinent. Large parts of the Ayurvedic drugs are heromineral preparations. These preparations are broad spectrum as far as its indications are concerned. Definite mode of action of these drugs are inexplicable. Vyadhividhwansana Rasa is an herbomineral preparation used for treating acute fever, interrupted fever, fever of unknown origin, ascites, splenomegaly, colic pain, Vata vyadhi, Aama jwara (first stage of fever) and Vishama jwara (irregular fever). In view of its therapeutic indications an antimicrobial study was designed to ascertain its probable mode of action. The present study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Vyadhividhwansana Rasa against test organisms at different concentration. Vyadhividhwansana Rasa was prepared as per Ayurvedic texts. Positive control Streptomycin [5mg(w/v)] and negative control 20% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were prepared. Solution of Vyadhividhwansana Rasa were prepared in three concentrations at 50 mg/ml, 100 mg/ml and 150 mg/ml in DMSO and was tested for its antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi by agar-well diffusion method. The measured Inhibition Zone ranged from 4-34 mm for all the sensitive bacteria. All the bacteria except Salmonella typhi were found Susceptible (S) against Vyadhividhwansana Rasa compared to standard. Salmonella typhi was found Intermediate sensitive (I). The antimicrobial activity of the extracts increased when the solution is more concentrated

Unusual presentation of fibrolamellar carcinoma: A rare case report

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (fHCC) is a distinct type of first time used hence- hepatocellular carcinoma affecting particularly young patient with no gender predilection. However, there is increasing evidence of occurrence of this tumor in elderly patients also. Abdominal imaging with pre-operative biopsy provides accurate diagnosis. However, in difficult situations, CD68, cytokeratin 7, HepPar1, etc., immunohistochemical stains provide accurate diagnosis to differentiate this condition from other malignancies. Hereby, we present a case of fHCC in a 55-year-old female with equivocal imaging features and diagnosis was made by histopathology aided by immunohistochemistry

Assessment of radiological evidence of collapse of distal end radius fracture after treating with cast, percutaneous k-wire fixation and external fixator

Background: Distal end radius fractures are the most common fractures seen among all orthopaedic injuries, accounts for nearly 20% of all fractures coming to the emergency department.There are various treatment modalities for distal end radius fracture which includes closed reduction and casting, closed reduction with external fixation and closed reduction with internal fixation.Methods: This retrospective study was done on patients who underwent distal end radius fracture surgery in the Department of Orthopaedics at MGM Hospital Kamothe in the last 2 years from May 2015 to May 2017. Total of 108 patients were included in the study, out of which 62 were males and 46 were females undergoing distal end radius fracture surgery. The mean age was 34.5 (28-75 years age group). All patients were assessed with wrist radiograph to see the collapse post-operatively and after 4-6 weeks.Results: The mean age was 34.5 (28-75 years age group). Out of 108, three females treated with cast lost for follow up. Out of all three modalities we took under study, we found that the average radial height in cast was 15 mm, in k wire was 10.5 mm while in external fixator was 12.5 mm. The average articular step in cast was 1.3 mm, in k wire was 2.1 mm while in external fixator was 1.8 mm. Fracture collapse was seen as 23.3% in cast, 21.4% in k-wire and 13.8% by external fixator.Conclusions: Distal end radius fractures are most common fractures seen daily in both OPD and emergency. A basic idea about this fracture should be known general physicians also such as splinting as they also encountered with them routinely. External fixator is quite effective method of treatment for these fractures. In our study we have discussed closed reduction and fixation techniques and found better results with external fixator using principle of ligamentotaxis

Quantitative evaluation of essential oils for the identification of chemical constituents by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Essential oils are greatly strenuous aromatic materials having various constituents. They are used in the preparation of various precious substances like making perfumes, medicines, cleaning agent, and aromatic treatment etc. The purpose of the present investigation was to identify the major and minor chemical constituent in eighteen essential oils viz., amyris, basil, black pepper, camphor, catnip, chamomile, cinnamon, citronella, dill, frankincense, galbanum, jasmine, juniper, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, tagetes and thyme with the help of gas chromatography /mass spectrometry (GC/MS). In eighteen essential oils the identified compounds studied by GC-MS contain various types of high and low molecular weights of chemical ingredients. Therefore, GC/MS efficiently and speedily screened all the volatile elements present in the essential oils for the quantitative use of these identified chemical constituents for various reasons