Issues on human acceleration tolerance after long-duration space flights

This report reviewed the literature on human tolerance to acceleration at 1 G and changes in tolerance after exposure to hypogravic fields. It was found that human tolerance decreased after exposure to hypokinetic and hypogravic fields, but the magnitude of such reduction ranged from 0 to 30 percent for plateau G forces and 30 to 70 percent for time tolerance on sustained G forces. A logistic regression model of the probability of individuals with 25 percent reduction in +Gz tolerance after 1 to 41 days of hypogravic exposures was constructed. The estimated values from the model showed a good correlation with the observed data. A brief review of the need for in-flight centrifuge during long-duration missions was also presented. Review of the available data showed that the use of countermeasures (such as anti-G suits, periodic acceleration, and exercise) reduced the decrement in acceleration tolerance after long-duration space flights. Areas of further research include quantification of the effect of countermeasures on tolerance, and methods to augment tolerance during and after exposures to hypogravic fields. Such data are essential for planning long-duration human missions

A generalization of midzuno-sen sampling scheme for finite populations

This paper proposes a generalization of the classical Midzuno-Sen sampling procedure to allow more than one PPSWOR selection followed by SRSWOR draws. The Horvitz-Thompson (H-T) estimator, its variance and variance estimator are discussed. Two methods of controlling the sampling variability of the H-T estimator are outlined. These require simple transformations of the study or the auxiliary variates. They can also be viewed as attempts to make the sampling scheme IPPS. Simple numerical illustrations are given

A preliminary assessment of the economic impact of conservation of knucles range of forest on rural communities in the vicinity

Conservation decisions are always made giving emphasis to long standing benefits and welfare of the whole society. But, some of the immediate adverse effects such as income losses due to conservation programs have to be borne by rural communities living in the vicinity of the forests. As experiences have shown, it is very unlikely that a conservation program will achieve its objectives unless the impact of the program on rural communities is assessed and alternative policy measures are taken to alleviate these negative effects. The objective of this study is to investigate the fanning systems of some selected villages in the Knuckles region and make a preliminary assessment on how the proposed conservation program is likely to affect the rural economy. Data were collected by conducting a survey in three grama niladhari divisions, namely, Meeraure, Narangamuwa and Ranamure. A farming system approach was adopted to describe the economic activities. Total revenue and total money income earned by farming, forest bound activities and off-farm activities were estimated. Average percentage loss of income under different assumed degrees of protection was assessed since no detailed conservation plan was proposed as yet. The results reveal that farming systems of the area consist of two resource bases, namely, village and forest Village based activities contribute 58.27 per cent of the total revenue and forest based activities contribute 41.73 per cent, on average. Among forest based activities, cardamom is the only activity which accounted for a significant income loss if banned under a conservation program. It contributes to a significant percentage of the total revenue as well as money income. Therefore, even under the lowest degree of protection, 25.78 per cent of the total revenue is expected to be lost. Since cardamom is die highest income earning activity, banning this will have serious implications on the economy. This study therefore, suggests investigating the possible alternative methods of cultivating cardamom in systems such as agro-forestry with minimum damage to the forest ecosystem. Further, it will be worthwhile to study the current resource utilization within the village resources systems in order to find out ways to improve the efficiency of resources utilization, so that the rural communities will be able to compensate part of the lost income

Towards a Framework for Analyzing and Evaluating Servitization Potential: Case Study of ENVIE Loire

Part 4: Transition Towards Product-Service SystemsInternational audienceFor a manufacturing company, moving from selling a product to selling a function is a process called “servitization”, leading to the suggestion of an offer oriented functionality that is more commonly called a Product-Service System (PSS). This process requires for a company to have a relatively clear vision of possible scenarios. Under the ServINNOV project, we proposed after a deep analysis of the main researches on PSS a new approach to analyze the servitization potential. In this paper, we present our conceptual framework for identifying and evaluating the different scenarios and we illustrate the practical use of this approach using the case study of ENVIE Loire which develops remanufacturing activities

Pre-operative ondansetron vs. metoclopramide for prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting in elective lower-segment caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia

Background: The problem of nausea and vomiting is a very old but a less thought of problem. Nausea and vomiting are the most common distressing symptom in the postoperative period. Antiemetic drugs play an important role in therapy of post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Though many drugs have been tried as prophylaxis and treatment of PONV, no drug has been proved significantly effective and hence, the present study was undertaken to compare the efficacy and safety of IV metoclopramide and IV Ondansetron as prophylaxis for postoperative nausea and vomiting in lower-segment caesarean section (LSCS) under spinal anaesthesia. Methods: After institutional approval and informed consent 100 ASA I & II patients undergoing non emergent LSCS taken for study. The patients were divided randomly into 2 groups of 50 each. Group I received IV metoclopramide 10mg and Group II received IV. Ondansetron 4mg. Anaesthetic management was standardized. The incidence of vomiting and retching as number of episodes was studied. Nausea was graded depending on the severity and data derived. Results: The mean age, weight and duration of surgery was not significantly different when compared group-1 parturiants with group-2. The mean episodes of emesis, nausea and retching at different postoperative duration were significantly decreased (p<0.05) in Ondansetron group when compared to metoclopramide group as postoperative time progresses. Conclusions: Injection ondansetron 4mg provided decrease in the incidence of PONV than metoclopramide as the side effects with these drugs were minimal.

The study of density variations in computed tomographic images of the liver and its clinical importance

The liver which is a common site of metastatic disease has prompted the researches to select it as the organ most often studied in the truncal body with recent advanced techniques. Computed tomography has become established as the imaging method of choice for routine screening of the liver. This study of density variations in computed tomographic images of the liver was done on sixty patients in the department of anatomy and the department of radiology, Stanley Medical College, Chennai. The study was done by two methods. 1. Non contrast study, 2. Contrast study. The fluctuations of the CT images of the liver were observed as • Focal decreased attenuation masses. • Hyper enhancing focal liver lesions on contrast enhanced computed tomography and • Generalized abnormal attenuation of the liver. The following disease entities with different density range was observed in this study. • Liver cyst - simple cyst. • Liver abscess. • Multiple abscesses. • Hydatid cyst. • Cirrhosis. • Hemangioendothelioma. • Hepatocellular carcinoma – solitary. • Multicentric hepatocellular carcinoma. • Secondaries liver – Hypodense. • Hyperdense secondaries liver. • Cholangiocarcinoma. • Normal anatomy.56 Seventeen cases were observed with normal anatomy of the liver. Diseases like hypodense secondaries, solitary hepatocellular carcinoma, liver abscess and cirrhosis of the liver were observed in majority of the patients. One rare case of hemangioendothelioma was observed in a six year old child, one case of cholangiocarcinoma was also observed. These observations of the density of the liver in CT is of much value to the surgeons in planning an accurate and conservative surgery. CT techniques to evaluate the liver have advanced during the past decade and continues to evolve. We now have a better definition of when and how to utilize these examination to review liver anatomy and disease processes for prompt diagnosis and treatment

Mycorrhizae in sedges as related to root character and its ecological significance

Twenty four sedges were examined to assess the role of root characters on mycorrhizal status. Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) injection was positively related to root thickness and negatively to root hair number and length. Dried mycorrhizal roots of Bulbostylis barbata, Cyperus cyperinus. C. kyllingia and Fimbristylis ovata served as inocula oj VAMJungi in pot culture study indicating that mycorrhizal sedge roots could act as inocula in initiating and reviving mycorrhizae in natural soils

DNA CLEAVAGE ACTIVITY OF NOVEL SCHIFF BASE COPPER(II) COMPLEXES WITH SULFUR CONTAINING-LIGANDS: (2-(2-METHYLTHIO)PHENYLIMINO)METHYLPHENOL, N-BENZYLIDINE-2-METHYLTHIOANILINE

Objective: To study the DNA cleavage activity of all copper(II) complexes using supercoiled pUC19 DNA by agarose gel electrophoresis.Methods: In this study, six new schiff base mixed ligand copper(II) complexes containing [Cu(L1)(8Hq)Cl2], [Cu(L2)(8Hq)Cl],[Cu(L2)(phen)Cl2], [Cu(L1)(Bpy)Cl2], and [Cu(L2)(Bpy)Cl] (where, phen=1,10-phenanthroline, Bpy=2, 2'-bipyridyl, 8Hq=8-hydroxy quinoline, ligandL1=(2-(2-methylthio)phenylimino)methylphenol, ligand L2=N-benzylidine-2-methylthioaniline) were synthesized. The six novel schiff base ligandswere characterized by molar conductance, ultraviolet, infrared (IR), and cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements. Low molar conductance values ofcopper(II) complexes showed non-electrolyte in nature. The IR spectral data indicate that nitrogen, sulfur, and azomethine nitrogen coordinate to thecentral metal ion. The electrochemical properties such as anodic, cathodic peak potential, and electron transfer process of the complexes were studiedusing CV measurements. Based on these spectral data, octahedral geometry was proposed to all copper(II) complexes.Results: The result confirmed that binding constant value of 13.95 × 1023 M for complex (VI) suggested good intercalative binding with calf thymus(CT) DNA. When DNA (pUC19) cleavage analyses was performed, copper(II) complexes - I, II, V, VI showed cleavage activity.−1Conclusion: The complexes - III and IV did not exhibit DNA binding as well as DNA cleavage potential which may be due to the presence ofO-phenanthroline.Keywords: (2-(2-methylthio)phenylimino)methylphenol, N-benzylidine-2-methylthioaniline, Copper(II) complexes, Calf thymus DNA, pUC19 DNA,DNA binding and cleavage activity.2], [Cu(L1)(phen)Cl

HEPARIN INDUCED SUBLINGUAL HEMATOMA: A RARE ORAL COMPLICATION

lingual and sublingual hematoma is a rare complication following heparin therapy which may result in serious life-threatening airway obstruction. A 75-year-old female with ischemic heart disease was heparinized for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of the left anterior descending artery leading to sublingual hematoma with difficulty in swallowing and breathing. This paper presents a case report and management of sublingual hematoma following heparin therapy