Principle and Application of the Spectrophotometry for the Analysis of Metallurgical Samples

The spectrophotometric method is in use over a period of many years with numerous contributions from many discipl-ines. At present, the technique has attained such a state of sophistication and maturity that it is one of the most widely used methods of chemical analysis. This paper covers (i) theoretical concepts underlying these methods (ii) essential characteristics of instrumentations (iii) the general methodology and (iv) its application to metallurgical analysis specially for minerals and metallurgical samples

Estimation of soil water deficit in an irrigated cotton field with infrared thermography

Plant growth and soil water deficit can vary spatially and temporally in crop fields due to variation in soil properties and/or irrigation and crop management factors. We conducted field experiments with cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) over two seasons during 2007-2009 to test if infrared thermography can distinguish systematic variation in deficit irrigation applied to various parts of the field over time. Soil water content was measured with a neutron probe and thermal images of crop plants were taken with a thermal infrared camera. Leaf water potential and stomatal conductance were also measured on selected occasions. All measurements were made at fixed locations within three replicate plots of an irrigation experiment consisting of four soil-water deficit treatments. Canopy temperature related as well with soil water within the root zone of cotton as the stomatal conductance index derived from canopy temperature, but it neglected the effect of local and seasonal variation in environmental conditions. Similarities in the pattern of spatial variation in canopy temperature and soil water over the experimental field indicates that thermography can be used with stomatal conductance index to assess soil water deficit in cotton fields for scheduling of irrigation and to apply water in areas within the field where it is most needed to reduce water deficit stress to the crop. Further confidence with application of infrared thermography can be gained by testing our measurement approach and analysis with irrigation scheduling of other crops

Midazolam Efficacy Against Acute Hydrogen Sulfide-Induced Mortality and Neurotoxicity.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a colorless, highly neurotoxic gas. It is not only an occupational and environmental hazard but also of concern to the Department of Homeland Security for potential nefarious use. Acute high-dose H2S exposure causes death, while survivors may develop neurological sequelae. Currently, there is no suitable antidote for treatment of acute H2S-induced neurotoxicity. Midazolam (MDZ), an anti-convulsant drug recommended for treatment of nerve agent intoxications, could also be of value in treating acute H2S intoxication. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that MDZ is effective in preventing/treating acute H2S-induced neurotoxicity. This proof-of-concept study had two objectives: to determine whether MDZ prevents/reduces H2S-induced mortality and to test whether MDZ prevents H2S-induced neurological sequelae. MDZ (4 mg/kg) was administered IM in mice, 5 min pre-exposure to a high concentration of H2S at 1000 ppm or 12 min post-exposure to 1000 ppm H2S followed by 30 min of continuous exposure. A separate experiment tested whether MDZ pre-treatment prevented neurological sequelae. Endpoints monitored included assessment of clinical signs, mortality, behavioral changes, and brain histopathological changes. MDZ significantly reduced H2S-induced lethality, seizures, knockdown, and behavioral deficits (p < 0.01). MDZ also significantly prevented H2S-induced neurological sequelae, including weight loss, behavior deficits, neuroinflammation, and histopathologic lesions (p < 0.01). Overall, our findings show that MDZ is a promising drug for reducing H2S-induced acute mortality, neurotoxicity, and neurological sequelae

A comparative study between manual vacuum aspiration and electrical vacuum aspiration for the first trimester medical termination of pregnancy

Background: The aim of this study is to compare the manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) and electrical vacuum aspiration (EVA) as the method for first trimester medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) in terms of efficacy, blood loss, duration, acceptability and complications. The study also compares paracervical block (PCB) and intramuscular sedation (IMS) i.e., injection pentazocine 30 mg and injection promethazine 25 mg as pre-operative analgesia for both the MTP procedures.Methods: The present study was conducted in the postpartum center and department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, SCB Medical College, Cuttack. A total 200 patients were studied of which randomly selected 100 patients underwent MVA and remaining 100 patients underwent EVA. Cases were compared with respect to their age, parity, blood loss, time taken and complications.Results: In the present study, MVA was effective in 97% and EVA in 98% cases. Thus, the two procedures did not show much difference as far as their effectiveness was concerned. Comparing intra and post-operative pain, PCB was significantly more effective in reducing pain as compared to IMS.Conclusions: MVA has a safety and efficacy profile similar to that of EVA. Furthermore, MVA is a simple, safe, effective procedure, portable and low cost technique. Hence, MVA is a promising method compared to EVA and can be practiced widely in rural areas where access to medical facilities are limited, high-tech equipments were not available and the power supply was erratic and maintenance of instruments were not up to the mark. The judicious use of MVA comes with a promise to make early abortions safe and easily accessible to women of both rural and urban societies belonging to any socio-economic strata

EFFECT OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE ON GROWTH, CHLOROPHYLL AND SULPHUR CONTENTS OF TOMATO (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L.)

The direct toxic effect of atmospheric pollutant such as sulphur dioxide on plants has been well documented. It is essentially a potent phytotoxic gas and its toxicity to plant is manifested in typical chronic or acute foliar symptom injury. The mode and extent of damage caused by this pollutant to tomato has not been precisely and systematically studied. Under such circumstances, the present investigation was undertaken under simulating condition to find out the possible extent of adaptability of tomato in SO2 emission of our state. The effect of varying levels of sulphur dioxide (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 ppm) fumigated for 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours under simulated conditions on tomato revealed that the important traits like leaf number, leaf area, fresh weight, dry weight and chlorophyll content in leaves were adversely affected, the latter treatment (SO2 1.0 ppm with 3 hours exposure) being more uninnocuous in this regards. However, no significant variation was seen amongst the treatments in respect of tissue fresh and dry weight when compared with that of control (ambient SO2). On the other hand, sulphur content in tissues increase progressively with increasing levels of SO2 and time of fumigation and the variation observed within treatments was significant to each other. It is suggested that the lowest concentration of SO2 (0.25 ppm) used in this study is more than sufficient to bring about a significant changes in most of the parameters studied

Observational study of fetomaternal outcome in pregnancy with COVID-19 infection

Background: According to World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 is declared as an infection of international health emergency on 11 March 2020. It is not clear whether clinical characteristics of pregnant women with COVID-19 infection differ from those of non-pregnant women and whether it aggravates its symptoms.Methods: This is a prospective observational study of 75 cases based on compiled clinical data of pregnant women with COVID-19 infection admitted to Hi-Tech Medical College from June 2020 to July 2021. All laboratory confirmed positive cases were included.Results: The most common symptoms reported was fever (24%) followed by myalgia, cough and shortness of breath, while 60% patients were asymptomatic. there were total 57 deliveries, out of which 46 were live birth. The incidence of preterm birth was 26.3%. Maternal mortality was maximum between 25-34 weeks of GA. 96.9% of new-born were tested for SARS CoV-2 and only 10 were found to be positive (17.5%).Conclusions: At present there is no evidence regarding increased risk of pregnant women succumbed to COVID-19 infection and experience severe pneumonia. The risk of preterm birth and spontaneous abortion not increased as reported in this study but shows possibilities of vertical transmission. COVID-19 infection in pregnancy with or without any comorbidities can cause complication to both mother and fetus irrespective of treatment. We aim to evaluate the association between SARS CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes

Vortex Dynamics of Rotating Bose-Einstein Condensate of Microcavity Polaritons

In this work we perform a numerical study of a rotating, harmonically trapped, Bose-Einstein condensate of microcavity polaritons. An efficient numerical method (toolbox) to solve the complex Gross-Pitaevskii equation is developed. Using this method, we investigate how the behavior of the number of vortices formed inside the condensate changes as the various system parameters are varied. In contrast to the atomic condensates, we show, there exists an (experimentally realizable) range of parameter values in which all the vortices can be made to vanish even when there is a high rotation. We further explore how this region can be tuned through other free parameters and also discuss how this study can help to realize the synthetic magnetic field for polaritons and hence paving the way for the realization of the quantum Hall physics and many other exotic phenomena.Comment: Typos/ notations corrected, results unchanged, arguments revise