MSF Scientific Days 2017: improving the effectiveness of humanitarian programmes through scientific research and innovation

MSF Scientific Days is a global network of events focused on how scientific research and innovation can improve the effectiveness of humanitarian medical programmes. Sarah Venis presents some of the highlights of this year’s programme, including discussion of how to best gather evidence from emergency settings, and the challenges of community engagement; as well as an examination of different approaches to managing projects’ processes and partnerships, and of innovations around mapping and surveillance data. You can contribute to discussions online using the hashtag #MSFsci

Evidence and innovation in humanitarian assistance: ‘Conference without Borders’ to address Syrian conflict #MSFSci

The MSF Scientific Days are a round of conferences looking at how humanitarian action can be improved by scientific research and innovation. On behalf of the organisers, Sarah Venis presents an overview. This year will feature a strong focus on the effects of the Syrian conflict and the resultant refugee and migration crisis. Another theme will also look at how to use technology to help and not hinder medical care. Join the discussion online and share your thoughts on the conference using the Twitter hashtag #MSFSci

Design and performance of a 39cm balloon-borne telescope

A system for stabilizing a balloon-borne telescope using a star sensor device is described. Guide stars from minus four to plus four magnitude can be used and the sensor may be offset with respect to the telescope by as much as plus or minus five degrees in elevation and cross elevation to enable parts of the sky containing no suitable guide stars to be viewed. Acquisition of the guide star and setting of the offset coordinates is carried out by ground command and both may be changed in flight. The main design parameters of the equipment are summarized. Block diagrams and circuit diagrams of the star tracker are provided

A fed back level-set method for moving material-void interfaces

AbstractThis report is a feasibility study of a level-set method for the computation of moving material-void interfaces in an Eulerian formulation. The report briefly introduces level-set methods and focuses on the development of such a method, that does not just accurately resolve the geometry of the interface, but also the physical quantities at and near the interface. Results are presented for illustrative model problems. As concerns its ability to improve the geometrical resolution of free boundaries, as expected, the level-set method performs excellently. Concerning the improvement of physical (all other than merely geometrical) free-boundary properties, the method performs very well for downstream-facing fronts and is promising for upstream-facing ones

A level-set method for moving material-void interfaces

This report is a feasibility study of a level-set method for the computation of moving interfaces, in an Eulerian formulation. The report briefly introduces level-set methods and focuses on the development of such a method for moving material-void interfaces. Results are presented for illustrative model problems. As concerns its ability to improve the geometrical resolution of free boundaries, the level-set method appears to perform excellently. Concerning the improvement of other than merely geometrical free-boundary properties, the method performs very well for downstream-facing fronts and is promising for upstream-facing ones

Professional Quality of Life and Mental Health among Doctors in Tamil Nadu during COVID19 Pandemic

Background: The pandemic COVID19, a serious global threat has led to elevated levels of pressure on medical professionals. The research shows that occupational stressors has been significantly associated with the pandemic.Objective: To estimate the professional quality of life of doctors in Tamil Nadu and their mental health during the COVID19 pandemic. Settings andDesign: Cross-sectional study in Tamil Nadu, South India. Method: Among 318 doctors from both private and government sectors in Tamil Nadu, South India during April 9th - May 10th 2021, the study was conducted to estimate the professional quality of life [Compassion Satisfaction (CS), Secondary Traumatization (ST) and burnout] using ProQOL-5 scale. Depression and Anxiety were estimated using PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales respectively. Statistical analysis used: Association between the variables was found using Chi-square test. Results: Among the 318 respondents (170 males and 148 females), CS and ST levels were high in 77(24.2%), and 10(3.1%) respondents respectively. Severe depression and anxiety were among 36(11.3%) and 109(34.3%) respectively. Statistically significant association was found for Burnout (?2=55.671; OR=15.135; 95% CI=6.361-36.013 and ?2=57.518; OR=18.014; 95% CI=7.054-46.007) and ST (?2=56.701; OR=15.432; 95% CI=6.486-36.717 and ?2=26.281; OR=4.558; 95% CI=2.476-8.390) with both depression and anxiety (p<0.05). Conclusions: Doctors of Tamil Nadu, South India are challenged with adverse mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic with a significant association between the quality of life at work and psychological distress

Delineation of signalling pathway in alpha adrenoceptor mediated vasorelaxation using goat arterial strips

Phenylephrine (PE) is a sympathomimetic agent belonging to a class of drugs known commonly as the alpha adrenergic agonists. This drug group is long known to cause constriction in vascular smooth muscles. Recently, our department has demonstrated that PE can also induce vasorelaxation in a nitric oxide (NO)-dependent manner under certain circumstances in goat leg arteries. Such vasorelaxation is shown to be mediated through alpha adrenergic receptors, particularly α1, and was demonstrated on spiral strip preparations of goat arteries. However, it was later demonstrated that the relaxant response was seen only in longitudinal strips and not in transverse preparations. In this study, we have tested if either the ring or longitudinal strip preparations of goat aorta demonstrate a vasorelaxant response to PE. AIM OF THE STUDY: To determine if the alpha adrenoceptor mediated vasorelaxant pathway described in small artery preparations is present in goat aorta too. OBJECTIVES: 1. To test the effect of vasoconstrictors on two different preparations of aorta – the longitudinal strip and transverse cylinder. a) To test if the alpha adrenergic agonist PE produces vasoconstriction or vasorelaxation in longitudinal strips made from aorta. b) To test if the alpha adrenergic agonist PE produces vasoconstriction or vasorelaxation in transverse cylinders (rings) made from aorta. 2. If vasoconstriction occurs in either of the above cases, then to test the response of PE in the presence of NO donors, SNP and L-Arginine. 3. If vasorelaxation occurs in objectives 1a and 1b, or 2, to test if the vasorelaxation produced by PE alone or PE/NO combination is preventable by prazosin (specific α1-blocker). METHODS: Aortae were isolated from fresh goat hearts and were cut into rings or longitudinal strips. The preparations were then suspended in an organ bath of 25 ml capacity which was filled with physiological salt solution, maintained at 37ºC by means of a circulating water bath, and also aerated with carbogen (95% oxygen and 5% carbondioxide). One end of the aortic preparation was fixed to the organ bath and the other end of the isolated tissue was connected to a force transducer and tension was recorded using a data acquisition system (PowerLab from AD Instruments). Drugs were then added to the organ bath and any change in tension recorded by the force transducer was recorded. Data of the viable tissue was analyzed using SPSS 23.0 and visualized using Igor pro. RESULTS: In both ring and longitudinal strips of aorta, Phenylephrine (PE) caused vasoconstriction under normal and high NO environment, unlike in small arteries. CONCLUSION: There is no alpha-adrenoceptor mediated vasorelaxant pathway in aortic smooth muscle