A study of the application of singular perturbation theory

A hierarchical real time algorithm for optimal three dimensional control of aircraft is described. Systematic methods are developed for real time computation of nonlinear feedback controls by means of singular perturbation theory. The results are applied to a six state, three control variable, point mass model of an F-4 aircraft. Nonlinear feedback laws are presented for computing the optimal control of throttle, bank angle, and angle of attack. Real Time capability is assessed on a TI 9900 microcomputer. The breakdown of the singular perturbation approximation near the terminal point is examined Continuation methods are examined to obtain exact optimal trajectories starting from the singular perturbation solutions

Restraint-induced Corticosterone Secretion and Hypothalamic CRH mRNA Expression are Augmented During Acute Withdrawal from Chronic Cocaine Administration

Stress responses during cocaine withdrawal likely contribute to drug relapse and may be intensified as a consequence of prior cocaine use. The present study examined changes in stressor-induced activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis during acute withdrawal from chronic cocaine administration. Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats received daily administration of cocaine (30 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline for 14 days. Twenty-four hours after the last injection, rats in each group were sacrificed under stress-free conditions or following 30 min of immobilization. Plasma corticosterone (CORT) was measured in trunk-blood using radioimmunoassay, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA levels in the paraventricularnucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus were measured using in situ hybridization and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) protein expression in the pituitary gland and dissected brain regions was measured using Western blot analysis. Basal CRH mRNA in the PVN was unaltered as a result of prior cocaine administration. However, a significant increase in CRH mRNA was observed 90 min following the termination of restraint in cocaine withdrawn, but not saline-treated, rats. Basal CORT was also unaffected by prior cocaine administration, but the CORT response measured immediately after restraint was significantly augmented in cocaine-withdrawn rats. Differences in GR protein expression in number of regions implicated in negative feedback regulation of HPA function, including the hypothalamus, were not observed. These findings indicate that the HPA response to stressors is intensified during early withdrawal from cocaine administration and may be independent of changes in GR-mediated negative feedback

Assessment and evaluation of drug information services provided by drug information centre at a multispecialty hospital in Erode, Tamil Nadu, India

Background: To evaluate the performance of Drug Information Centre (DIC) in providing quality drug information services to the health care professionals.Methods: It was a prospective study carried out for a period of six months (June-November 2017). The drug information services provided by the pharmacist at the DIC during ward rounds, direct access, telephone and mail were documented in the drug information request and documentation forms. The quality of drug information provided was assessed with the help of feedback questionnaire which was filled by receivers.Results: A total of 283 queries were received, with a maximum from ward rounds 140(49.47%). On evaluation, it was found that most of the queries were from physicians 207 (73.14%) followed by nurses 33(11.66%), pharmacists 26 (9.18%), patients 17 (6.07%). Among that 178 (62.89%) queries were received from department of general medicine. Most of the queries were intended to update knowledge 110 (38.86%) and for the purpose of better patient care 90 (31.81%). The time frame for an authentic reply ranged from minutes to 24 hours, where a maximum of 110 (38.86%) queries had sent a 24 hours deadline. The majority of the queries were for adverse drug reactions [ADR-60 (21.20%)] and most preferred resources were primary 188 (66.43%).Conclusions: The DIC has always presented and offered itself to be an impressive resource, which is used routinely as an information source by all levels of professionals involved in the health system, in addition to the patients themselves

Speckle pattern analysis of security holograms and related foils for quality assessment and authentication.

A speckle pattern is produced by the mutual interference of a set of coherent wavefronts. Speckle patterns typically occur in diffuse reflections of monochromatic light such a laser light. When a rough surface is illuminated by a coherent light is imaged, a speckle pattern is observed in the image plane. This study involves the quality assessment and authentication of security holograms and its related foils by analyzing the speckle pattern generated from the specimen itself. Speckle pattern from various type of security holograms and foils are taken. By processing the image of the speckle pattern, the size of the speckles is analyzed using MATLAB software. By evaluating the size of the speckle generated, the feasibility of analyzing the quality and authenticity of the security hologram is assessed. The paper discusses about the experimental setup, image capturing, and processing method and the result obtained in detail

A taxonomic note on Truncatella guerinii A. Villa & J. B. Villa, 1841 in India (Mollusca: Littorinimorpha: Truncatellidae)

1452-1457Members of the family Truncatellidae Gray, 1840 are widely distributed globally, but their presence in India is unclear. So far, only one species Truncatella guerinii A. Villa & J. B. Villa, 1841 has been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, but most malacologists were unsure of its occurrence due to the lack of appropriate descriptions and proper identification. In this paper, we confirm its presence in the Andaman Islands and also in Pondicherry in Indian waters. In addition, its natural history, distribution and the detailed taxonomy of the species is discussed

A Rare Case of HIV-Induced Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy.

Background:Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) is an uncommon form of neuropathy in HIV-infected patients that can cause pain, sensory disturbance, and motor weakness. Case presentation:A 23-year-old African American male with past medical history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), Lyme disease, and sexually transmitted infections including syphilis and chlamydia presented with acute back pain radiating to bilateral lower extremities with worsening right foot weakness for four days. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) studies including meningoencephalitis panel were negative as well as blood tests for Lyme disease and HIV antibody testing. Patient was initially treated with penicillin for positive treponemal serology but without improvement in lower extremity weakness. Electromyogram showed evidence of early demyelinating motor polyneuropathy. Four days after presentation, repeat HIV antibody testing returned positive. Recurrent AIDP in this case was suspected to be secondary to acute HIV infection, and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was administered along with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Muscle strength improved with therapy and patient was expected to have continued improvement with intensive rehabilitation after discharge. Conclusion:Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) tends to present early in course of HIV infection. Therefore, HIV testing should be obtained in individuals presenting with new neurological deficits. Our patient received HAART therapy, in addition to the traditional modalities to manage AIDP, which led to a substantial recovery of his sensorimotor function

Friction Stir Welding of Aluminum 6082 with Mild Steel and Its Joint Analyses

Energy-saving and reduction in CO2 emission are the two important challenging issues that must be resolved in the coming future. Introducing aluminum components in a standard steel car body or in the hulls of ship brings the reduction in weight of vehicles, thereby reducing the emission. In this research study, Aluminum 6082 alloy and mild steel were tried to join together (weld) by an eco-friendly and energy efficient technology named as Friction Stir Welding (FSW), which is far advantageous than the conventional fusion welding especially in the case of joining dissimilar materials. As this is a solid state welding process, most of the defects occurring in the molten state of the material could be completely eliminated. Also, welding takes place at low temperature (below the melting point of the material) due to which there is less chance of intermetallics formation at the heat affected region that will eventually degrade the mechanical properties of the weld

First record of the twostripe goby, Valenciennea helsdingenii (Gobiidae, Gobiiformes) from the southeast coast of India

Two specimens of Valenciennea helsdingenii (Bleeker, 1858) were collected off Punnakayal coast, from Gulf of Mannar, southeast coast of India in November 2012. The morphometric and meristic characters of the recorded specimens are described and discussed. This is the first record of the species from the Indian waters that is a range extension of its known range within the Indian Ocean

First record of the twostripe goby, Valenciennea helsdingenii (Gobiidae, Gobiiformes) from the southeast coast of India

Two specimens of Valenciennea helsdingenii (Bleeker, 1858) were collected off Punnakayal coast, from Gulf of Mannar, southeast coast of India in November 2012. The morphometric and meristic characters of the recorded specimens are described and discussed. This is the first record of the species from the Indian waters that is a range extension of its known range within the Indian Ocean