Tension fatigue of glass/epoxy and graphite/epoxy tapered laminates

Symmetric tapered laminates with internally dropped plies were tested with two different layups and two materials, S2/SP250 glass/epoxy and IM6/1827I graphite/epoxy. The specimens were loaded in cyclic tension until they delaminated unstably. Each combination of material and layup had a unique failure mode. Calculated values of strain energy release rate, G, from a finite element analysis model of delamination along the taper, and for delamination from a matrix ply crack, were used with mode I fatigue characterization data from tests of the tested materials to calculate expected delamination onset loads. Calculated values were compared to the experimental results. The comparison showed that when the calculated G was chosen according to the observed delamination failures, the agreement between the calculated and measured delamination onset loads was reasonable for each combination of layup and material

Computed tomography guided laser ablation of osteoid osteoma: a study of 30 cases

Background: Osteoid osteoma (OO) is a benign but painful bone lesion that primarily occurs in children and young adults 1. Male:Female ratio is 3:1. The aim of the study was to present our experience of CT guided LASER  ablation  of  radiologicaly proven Osteoid osteomas  in the various bones.Methods: Over the period of 5 years 30 cases of osteoid osteomas in various bones diagnosed on various modalities were treated by CT guided LASER ablation. Bone wise distribution of cases was spine (3), upper end of femur (11), lower end of femur (6), upper end of tibia (4), upper end of humerus (3), lower end of radius (2) and calcaneum (1). 22 patients were treated under spinal and regional anesthesia and 8 patients were treated under short general anesthesia. All the patients were treated on day care basis. The LASER fiber was inserted in the nidus under CT guidance through bone biopsy needle and 1800 joules energy delivered in the lesion continuous mode.Results: 29 (96%) patients have complete relief of pain in twenty-four hours after LASER ablation, One week after treatment all 30 patients were pain free. No neurologic complication was observed in any of our patients with spinal osteoid osteomas.Conclusions: CT guided LASER ablation is a safe, simple and effective method of treatment for osteoid osteoma

Surgical management of proximal tibial fractures with locking compression plate

Background: Incidence of proximal tibial fractures is increasing due to increasing incidence of road traffic accidents (RTA). Knee joint being one of the major weight bearing joint of the body, appropriate management of fracture around it will be of paramount importance in maintaining mobility. The recent development of locking compression plate (LCP) has revolutionized the treatment of proximal tibial fractures by overcoming the few drawbacks of conventional buttress plate.Methods: We studied 30 patients involving proximal tibial fracture manged using LCP [23 patients with minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis, (MIPO) technique and 7 patients with Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) technique]. We followed up all the patients until complete union of fractures.Results: The average time for union of fracture was 14 weeks (range: 12-24 weeks). Overall 96.7% patients had acceptable outcome (70% excellent and 26.7% good). Patients treated with MIPO technique healed earlier and more frequently had excellent results than those treated with ORIF. A total of four patients had complications (knee joint stiffness in 1, postoperative loss of reduction in 1, infection in 1 and knee instability in 1). Conclusions: Locking compression plate system acts as a good biological fixation for proximal tibial fractures even in difficult fracture situations. MIPO technique offers faster healing and better outcome than ORIF in patients with proximal tibial fractures

Interlaminar shear fracture toughness and fatigue thresholds for composite materials

Static and cyclic end notched flexure tests were conducted on a graphite epoxy, a glass epoxy, and graphite thermoplastic to determine their interlaminar shear fracture toughness and fatigue thresholds for delamination in terms of limiting values of the mode II strain energy release rate, G-II, for delamination growth. The influence of precracking and data reduction schemes are discussed. Finite element analysis indicated that the beam theory calculation for G-II with the transverse shear contribution included was reasonably accurate over the entire range of crack lengths. Cyclic loading significantly reduced the critical G-II for delamination. A threshold value of the maximum cyclic G-II below which no delamination occurred after one million cycles was identified for each material. Also, residual static toughness tests were conducted on glass epoxy specimens that had undergone one million cycles without delamination. A linear mixed-mode delamination criteria was used to characterize the static toughness of several composite materials; however, a total G threshold criterion appears to characterize the fatigue delamination durability of composite materials with a wide range of static toughness

Lymphoepithelial Carcinoma of Parotid Gland- A Case Report

Lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) is most commonly seen in the nasopharynx. Very rarely it is found in the salivary gland, preferably in parotid gland followed by submandibular gland where it accounts for 0.4% of all malignant salivary gland tumours. Most commonly it is seen in fifth decade with female predominance. Significant correlation has been reported between this tumour and the Epstein Barr virus (EBV).It has a racial predilection for Inuits,Chinese and Japanese. Very rarely it is found In Indians. So we present a case of LEC of parotid gland in a 23 year old male Indian patient. As this is a very radiosensitive tumour, surgery followed by radiotherapy remains the treatment of choice

Upanaha Sveda and its modification - A Critical Review

A fired building is best saved by pouring water , in the same way tropical problems are successfully managed by tropical treatment rather than systemic treatment. Upanaha is an ideal tropical treatment. Pradeha, Sankara/Panda Sveda, Bandhana are three varieties of Upanaha. It helps in reducing Vata Dosha, Sheeta (coldness), Shoola (pain), Sthambha (stiffness), Gouravatha (heaviness). It induces sweating and brings Doshavilayana. Sveda helps in Gatravinamana (increase the flexibility of body). Upanaha an Ayurvedic tropical treatment needs to evolve or adapt according to time so that it is easy to practice without changing its efficacy. Here an effort made to bring some modification in Upanaha

Focussed antenatal care a possible opportunity towards safe motherhood

Background: The Primary Health Care Setting gives a challenging opportunity for the clinicians to deal with pregnancy into favorable outcomes solely based on the clinical skills in view of innumerable socio-cultural-economic barriers. The Pregnant women make satisfactory progress-  to  full term, deliver  with  minimal morbidity, no loss of life and healthy baby-How to ensure? This is the objectives of our study. Suppose Obstetricians spare time, use checklist, Prioritize and provide care will it make any difference in saving mothers? Objectives: Describe in detail the process of Focused Antenatal Care as practiced in Primary Health Care setting and Minimize mortality and morbidity due to pregnancy by 25 percent from 169. (Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR 169).Methods: This is a community based descriptive, prospective, cohort study about a group of pregnant women till their delivery, using multiple cluster random sampling of 251 high risk pregnant women and subsequent follow up over 3 months with focused care. Compilation of data and analysis using SPSS Version 20.Results: Total Study participants 251 represented all the sections of target population with regard to socio-economic and cultural background. The participants attended FANC giving a response rate of 100%. These participants had one or more risk factor. All but 10 participants attended 4 or more FANC clinic visits 241 (96%). In these participants the commonest manageable morbid conditions are underweight (20%), anaemia (14%) preeclampsia (8%), eclampsia (2%) and gestational diabetes. In our finding 87% mothers completed full term pregnancy, 11.5% preterm (>28 but 2.5Kg, 13% Baby weight < 2.5 Kg. with an average of 2.9Kg.Conclusions: We are able to describe the Focused ANC and able to help improve the quality of life and to minimize morbidity and mortality in pregnant women

One step synthesis of Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoflakes by microwave irradiation technique and effect of Cu concentration

The influence of cyclic microwave irradiation and effect of Cu concentration has been investigated for synthesis of pure phase Cu2ZnSnS4 powder. It has been observed that Cu concentration plays a vital role to get pure phase Cu2ZnSnS4. The optical properties, phase purity, crystallographic structure and morphology have been investigated by spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The results reveal that single phase kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 with no other secondary phase can be obtained by precisely controlling the cyclic microwave irradiation time and the precursor concentrations. The optical band gap of prepared Cu2ZnSnS4 powder, estimated from UV-Visible spectroscopy has been found to be ~ 1.45 eV which is superlative for photovoltaic application. Systematic Raman study confirms the formation of Cu2ZnSnS4 phase and suppression of CuS peak with proper control in copper concentration. TEM image shows nanoflakes kind of morphology having thickness of flakes between 25 nm to 45 nm. Further the crystal inter-planer spacing is found to be 0.32 nm, which is consistent with the XRD data and ascribed to (112) plane

BRONCHOCONSTRICTION SECONDARY TO USE OF TOPICAL TIMOLOL IN A NON-ASTHMATIC PATIENT

Ophthalmic application of a non-selective beta blocker like timolol maleate is known to produce bronchoconstriction in asthmatic individuals or patients with obstructive lung diseases. Timolol-induced bronchoconstriction in a previously healthy young adult without any pulmonary disease is rare. We report a case of a young adult who developed bronchoconstriction following ocular instillation of timolol maleate ophthalmic solution when he was treated for open-angle glaucoma