Effect of pregnancy induced hypertension on maternal and perinatal outcome at tertiary care center in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Background: Pregnancy is a physiological event for utmost women. Almost 20% - 30% of the adult population and more than 5% - 8% of all pregnancies in the world suffered from hypertension (HTN) and 5% - 22% of all pregnancies have develop some kind of medical problem due to hypertensive. To study the prevalence of PIH and to find out the association of PIH with perinatal and maternal outcome.Methods: Prospective study was done among 110 cases of PIH admitted at department of obstetrics and Gynecology in B.J. Medical college, Ahmedabad during July 2005 to July 2007. Hypertension was identified based on the definition by the Australian Society of the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy and that of the Working Group Report on High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy, which establish blood pressure levels > 140/90 mmHg or hypertension diagnosis marked on the record.Results: Almost 44% participants had mild PIH and 56% had severe PIH. Almost 32% participants had grade I changes and 29% had grade II changes. Low birth weight was found in 53% baby. Maternal complication observed in 16% participants. Out of 16 patients, highest incidence of eclampsia was observed followed by APH, DIC respectively. One incidence of maternal death also occurred. Perinatal complications were observed in 46% cases which include IUGR (60.9%), birth asphyxia (8.7%), RDS (4.3%) and perinatal death (15.2%) respectively.Conclusions: Pregnancy-induced hypertension is associated with multiple complications in the mother and baby, and particularly preterm delivery. Timely intervention of regular ANC check-up, nutrition, health education etc. can reduce the severity of PIH which lead to decrease in maternal and perinatal complications

Measurement techniques for polar electromagnetic bandgap structures using an air spaced microstrip line

The ability to accurately pinpoint with a high degree of accuracy the occurrence of the stop-band property in the newly engineered EBG materials is fundamental to their establishment. Measurement methods capable of achieving this have been proposed in literature but require intricate adjustments to suit particular requirements. In this paper we report on a repeatable measurement technique for characterising the bandgap properties of EBG structures using an air spaced microstrip line. The device constructed is simple, economical, robust and capable of quantifying the properties of a wide range of EBG materials. A tapered microstrip line transition is used to match a 50 coaxial port. Simulation and measurement results using a Polar-EBG are presented to show the versatility of the proposed technique. In addition to this we demonstrate that by changing the orientation of the surface under test (SUT), transverse electric surface wave measurements can be carried out. This apparatus and measurement technique is particularly applicable to fabric based EBG materials where measurements are especially challenging

Differences in public's perception of air quality and acceptability of a clean air zone : A mixed-methods cross sectional study

Background: Air pollution is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Clean Air Zones (CAZs) which restrict the entry of polluting vehicles in targeted areas have been identified as potentially effective in improving health and reducing air pollution; however, their implementation can be controversial. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was completed by 1949 respondents who lived or worked in Bradford, a multi-cultural deprived city in England, between April and December 2021. Of these, 1137 were recruited from the longitudinal Born in Bradford (BiB) family cohort (families with children born in the city during 2007–2011) and 812 were from the general public. Bradford is the seventh largest metropolitan district in England and Wales with a population of over half a million mainly white British and Pakistani origin. The BiB families cohort and the general public respondents were used for descriptive analysis of perception of air quality and acceptability of CAZ, then the relationship between participants responses with demographic characteristics were investigated using the BiB families cohort. Outcomes included perceptions of air quality and acceptability of the CAZ supplemented by free-text questions. Thematic analysis was used to code free-text data. Descriptive analyses were performed on the entire sample. Latent class analysis was used to characterise participants was performed in the BiB dataset for whom detailed existing socio-demographic data were available. Results: The majority of participants (67%) considered improving air quality in Bradford as extremely important; 70% supported implementation of the CAZ. Three latent classes were identified within the BiB sample: deprived white British families (25%), more affluent white British families (32%) and deprived Pakistani-origin families (43%). Deprived white British (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.34 to 0.84) and more affluent white British families (OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.36 to 0.79) were less likely to say the air quality was good/excellent when compared with deprived Pakistani-origin families. Affluent White British families were more likely to support the CAZ compared with deprived white British families (OR = 2.24; 95% CI: 1.55. to 3.25) and deprived Pakistani-origin families (OR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.50 to 2.85). Qualitative analysis suggested that a perceived lack of cohesion in the policy and concerns about financial impacts drove negative attitudes. Conclusion: Families in Bradford were generally supportive of the planned CAZ and efforts to reduce pollution; however, support was weaker in more deprived communities. Pakistani-origin communities living in deprived areas perceived air quality as better than other groups. Tailored approaches to communicate about the proposed benefits of policies such as CAZ prior to implementation may be an important way to increase acceptability amongst vulnerable groups

Experimental and thermodynamic analysis of a bottoming Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) of gasoline engine using swash-plate expander

This paper deals with the experimental testing of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) integrate in a 2 liter turbocharged gasoline engine using ethanol as working fluid. The main components of the cycle are a boiler, a condenser, a pump and a swash-plate expander. Five engine operating points have been tested, they correspond to a nominal heat input into the boiler of 5, 12, 20, 25 and 30 kW. With the available bill of material based on prototypes, power balances and cycles efficiencies were estimated, obtaining a maximum improvement in the ICE mechanical power and an expander shaft power of 3.7% and 1.83 kW respectively. A total of 28 steady-state operating points were measured to evaluate performance of the swash-plate expander prototype. Operating parameters of the expander, such as expander speed and expansion ratio, were shifted. The objective of the tests is to master the system and understand physical parameters influence. The importance of each parameter was analyzed by fixing all the parameters, changing each time one specific value. In these sensitivity studies, maximum ideal and real Rankine efficiency value of 19% and 6% were obtained respectively.This work is part of a research project called "Evaluation of bottoming cycles in IC engines to recover waste heat energies" funded by a National Project of the Spanish Government with reference TRA2013-46408-R.Galindo, J.; Ruiz Rosales, S.; Dolz Ruiz, V.; Royo Pascual, L.; Haller, R.; Nicolas, B.; Glavatskaya, Y. (2015). Experimental and thermodynamic analysis of a bottoming Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) of gasoline engine using swash-plate expander. Energy Conversion and Management. 103:519-532. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2015.06.085S51953210

National survey of variations in practice in the prevention of surgical site infections in adult cardiac surgery, United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland

Background: Currently no national standards exist for the prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) in cardiac surgery. SSI rates range from 1% to 8% between centres. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore and characterize variation in approaches to SSI prevention in the UK and the Republic of Ireland (ROI). Methods: Cardiac surgery centres were surveyed using electronic web-based questionnaires to identify variation in SSI prevention at the level of both institution and consultant teams. Surveys were developed and undertaken through collaboration between the Cardiothoracic Interdisciplinary Research Network (CIRN), Public Health England (PHE) and the National Cardiac Benchmarking Collaborative (NCBC) to encompass routine pre-, intra- and postoperative practice. Findings: Nineteen of 38 centres who were approached provided data and included responses from 139 consultant teams. There was no missing data from those centres that responded. The results demonstrated substantial variation in over 40 aspects of SSI prevention. These included variation in SSI surveillance, reporting of SSI infection rates to external bodies, utilization of SSI risk prediction tools, and the use of interventions such as sternal support devices and gentamicin impregnated sponges. Conclusion: Measured variation in SSI prevention in cardiac centres across the UK and ROI is evidence of clinical uncertainty as to best practice, and has identified areas for quality improvement as well as knowledge gaps to be addressed by future research

Reperfusion therapy for ST elevation acute myocardial infarction 2010/2011: current status in 37 ESC countries

Aims Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the preferred reperfusion therapy in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We conducted this study to evaluate the contemporary status on the use and type of reperfusion therapy in patients admitted with STEMI in the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) member countries. Methods and results A cross-sectional descriptive study based on aggregated country-level data on the use of reperfusion therapy in patients admitted with STEMI during 2010 or 2011. Thirty-seven ESC countries were able to provide data from existing national or regional registries. In countries where no such registries exist, data were based on best expert estimates. Data were collected on the use of STEMI reperfusion treatment and mortality, the numbers of cardiologists, and the availability of PPCI facilities in each country. Our survey provides a brief data summary of the degree of variation in reperfusion therapy across Europe. The number of PPCI procedures varied between countries, ranging from 23 to 884 per million inhabitants. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention and thrombolysis were the dominant reperfusion strategy in 33 and 4 countries, respectively. The mean population served by a single PPCI centre with a 24-h service 7 days a week ranged from 31 300 inhabitants per centre to 6 533 000 inhabitants per centre. Twenty-seven of the total 37 countries participated in a former survey from 2007, and major increases in PPCI utilization were observed in 13 of these countries. Conclusion Large variations in reperfusion treatment are still present across Europe. Countries in Eastern and Southern Europe reported that a substantial number of STEMI patients are not receiving any reperfusion therapy. Implementation of the best reperfusion therapy as recommended in the guidelines should be encourage

National Survey of Variations in Practice in the Prevention of Surgical Site Infections in Adult Cardiac Surgery, United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland

Currently no national standards exist for the prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) in cardiac surgery. SSI rates range from 1% to 8% between centres. The aim of this study was to explore and characterise variation in approaches to SSI prevention in United Kingdom(UK) and Republic of Ireland (ROI)

On the modeling and analysis of a vibration absorber for overhead powerlines with multiple resonant frequencies

Stockbridge dampers are primarily used to suppress or reduce Aeolian vibrations of transmission lines. The number of resonant frequencies characterizes the effectiveness of the Stockbridge damper. Aeolian vibrations refers to the vibration of conductor cables in the range of 3–150 Hz. Unlike the primitive Stockbridge damper which has only two resonant frequencies, the asymmetric Stockbridge damper exhibits up to four resonant frequencies. The numerical simulations and parametric studies conducted previously showed a correlation between the increase of natural frequencies and the change in the geometry of the counterweight. This paper presents an analytical model of a novel Aeolian vibration damper with an increased number of resonant frequencies. The analytical model is used to deduce the resonant frequencies of the damper. A 3D finite element model is developed to validate the analytical model. The natural frequencies and the subsequent mode shapes of both analytical and finite element models are presented. Experiment is conducted to validate the proposed models