Analysis of ITU-R Performance and Characterization of Ku Band Satellite Downlink Signals during Rainy Season over Chennai Region of India

In this paper, we present the analysis of Ku band Satellite signal reception during rainy season over Chennai region, India (Latitude: 12° 56' 60 N, Longitude: 80° 7' 60 E). We also examine the effectiveness of International Telecommunication Union – Radio communication (ITU-R) model in predicting the rainfall induced attenuation in Ku band, over this region. An improved Simulink model for Digital Video Broadcast – Satellite (DVB-S2) downlink channel incorporating rain attenuation and Cross Polarization Discrimination (XPD) effects is developed to study the rain attenuation effects, by introducing the experimental data in the ITU-R model pertaining to that region. Based on the improved model, a Monte Carlo simulation of the DVB–S2 signal link is carried out and the performance is analyzed by received constellation and Bit Error Rate (BER) parameters

Modulus and stiffness of laterally loaded single free headed pile in stratified soil

Laterally loaded piles gained its attention when structures like transform towers, offshore structures etc., met huge horizontal loads. Initially, to study the behaviour of laterally loaded piles, homogeneous soil is assumed; whereas in reality the soil stratum would be stratified/ multi-layer soil with various consistency and relative density. Considering this real field situation, an 1g experimental investigation is carried out on a single pile embedded in layered soil by varying the number of layers with respect to the length of the pile. With a sand layer on top and in-between, it increases the lateral capacity of the pile. The main soil-structure interaction parameters are modulus and stiffness factor, the modulus of the homogenous sand layer is very high when compared to the clay layer sandwiched between the sand layer

Modulus and stiffness of laterally loaded single free headed pile in stratified soil

Laterally loaded piles gained its attention when structures like transform towers, offshore structures etc., met huge horizontal loads. Initially, to study the behaviour of laterally loaded piles, homogeneous soil is assumed; whereas in reality the soil stratum would be stratified/ multi-layer soil with various consistency and relative density. Considering this real field situation, an 1g experimental investigation is carried out on a single pile embedded in layered soil by varying the number of layers with respect to the length of the pile. With a sand layer on top and in-between, it increases the lateral capacity of the pile. The main soil-structure interaction parameters are modulus and stiffness factor, the modulus of the homogenous sand layer is very high when compared to the clay layer sandwiched between the sand layer

Stone and pelvic urine culture and sensitivity are better than bladder urine as predictors of urosepsis following percutaneous nephrolithotomy - A Prospective Clinical study.

INTRODUCTION : Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the procedure of choice for the management of large and complex renal stones and is one of the most frequent renal procedures done at our institution. Indications are larger stones (greater than 2 cms), stones not suitable for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, and stones in kidneys with abnormal anatomy. Urosepsis and bacteremia following PCNL can be devastating despite sterile preoperative urine and prophylactic antibiotics. Despite careful pre-operative evaluation and ensuring strict aseptic precautions during the procedure, patients still have this complication of a life threatening Urosepsis. Infected stones, stone burden, hydronephrosis, prolonged manipulation, access difficulties, bleeding and comorbidity have been held responsible for Urosepsis, which often needs intensive care treatment that escalates the cost of treatment. The present investigation analyzed and studied the culture and sensitivity of the three samples namely the bladder urine, pelvic urine, and extracted stone during PCNL and compared them to ascertain as the better predictors of urosepsis following the procedure. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES : 1. To determine the correlation of culture and sensitivity between various sites of urine sampling in the form of bladder urine, pelvic urine and extracted stone during PCNL procedure. 2. To monitor the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) and Septic shock following PCNL procedure. 3. To determine the better predictors of Urosepsis following PCNL. MATERIAL AND METHODS : 68 patients who had symptomatic renal calculi who underwent PCNL during the period between December 2012 to February 2014. We excluded patients with a stent, nephrostomy tube or indwelling catheter, who are diabetic, with renal failure, with episodes of fever prior to surgery, previous manipulation/procedure, and presence of contralateral renal/ureteral stones. Inclusion Criteria : Patients with renal calculi undergoing Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy. Exclusion Criteria: Diabetes mellitus, Pyrexia prior to procedure , Renal failure, Patients with a stent, nephrostomy tube or indwelling catheter, Contralateral renal and ureteric calculus, Any previous procedures or manipulations done. CONCLUSIONS : In our study, Upper urinary tract cultures have higher sensitivity and NPV for determining urosepsis post PCNL than bladder urine culture. The Profile of organism cultured in stone as well as pelvic urine has better agreement. Stone culture had highest positivity rate as compared to bladder urine. Pelvic urine had highest positive predictive value in predicting sepsis. Hence, routine upper urinary tract culture is highly recommended following PCNL. Whenever possible culture specific antibiotic regimen has to be followed and samples collected from the upper tract will be the best guide to therapeutic antibiotic use. Our study has helped us to define our department protocol, in sending pelvic urine and stone for culture sensitivity and following culture specific antibiotics in better management of postoperative fever following PCNL

Effect of infected Bile in Post Operative outcome of Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

INTRODUCTION : Bile in normal subjects is sterile. This is brought about by various factors like the presence of biliary sphincter, antegrade flow of bile , mucus secretion of the biliary tract, antibacterial , anti fungal action of the bile salts , Ig A secretion , presence of hepatic tight junctions & other factors . Various pathologic conditions lead to bactibilia . Biliary obstruction is the most common condition associated with bactibilia .It results in increased pressure in the biliary system leading to breakdown of bile junction leading to cholangiovenous reflux, obstruction leads to diminishing the physical barrier of flushing, decreased bile salt delivery in the intestine resulting in less bile salt mediated bacteriostatic / bacteriocidal activity, promoting bacterial overgrowth, subsequent t increased translocation of bacteria into portal circulation . In addition the jaundice associated with biliary obstruction causes decreased kupffer cell function. In the presence of the gall stones within the gallbladder or the biliary tree, positive cultures are seen in 15% to 50% and 70 to 90% respectively . Where as in complete ductal obstruction with malignancy 25% to 40% have positive cultures. If a preoperative bile stent had been placed 69% of bile cultures were positive when a preoperative stent had been placed. AIM : The aim of present study was to determine association between bile infection and invasive preoperative investigations and its influence on morbidity and mortality following pancreatico duodenectomy. MATERIALS & METHODS : Between May 2007 and April 2009, 51 consecutive patients underwent Pancreaticoduodenectomy with routine bile culture at our institution. This study compared two groups: one with positive bile culture (group A n = 23), and the other with sterile bile (group B, n =28). After induction of anesthesia, all patients received intravenous antibioprophylaxis with cefazolin (2 g, followed by 1 g every 4hours). At the beginning of the procedure, patients had bile sampling from the common bile duct for bacterial examination and study of susceptibility to antibiotics. ancreaticoduodenectomy without pylorus preservation was performed with lymphadenectomy including nodes of the peripancreatic groups, hepatic pedicle, and right aspects of both celiac axis and superior mesenteric artery. Reconstruction was routinely performed with pancreaticogastrostomy, hepaticojejunostomy, and gastrojejunostomy. Octreotide 100 μg subcutaneously 3 times per day was given only to patients with a soft pancreas and was started at the time of operation. The abdominal cavity was drained routinely using an open silicone drain. Oral diet was initiated 7 days after operation in patients without pancreatic leak or other intraabdominal complication. CONCLUSION : In conclusion, Infected bile increases the post operative complications and associated with life threatening septicemia & renal insufficiency. Endoscopic stenting increases the risk of bactibilia, and post operative complications. Endoscopic stenting should be done only to strictly indicated patients. In patients with bactibilia intra operative spillage should be kept minimum & should be carefully followed post operatively to identify this complications and treated promptly .In view of increased septic complications , life threatening septicemia and renal failure in this patients with positive bile culture especially with preoperative biliary stenting , we advocate routine intra operative bile culture in all cases, specific antibiotic prophylaxis in patients with significant bactibilia in Gram stain smear & positive bile culture depending on the sensitivity patterns in the treating institution

OPTIMIZATION OF LIPASE PRODUCTION FROM DIFFERENT AGROINDUSTRIAL WASTES BY MARINE ACTINOMYCETES

Objective: To identify the production of extracellular lipase by solid state fermentation (SSF) using coconut cake and groundnut cake using thermophilic strain of marine actinomycetes. Methods: From the isolated strains of marine actinomycetes a comparative study has been evaluated on different intends such as pH, temperature, carbon sources, nitrogen sources and additive sources were optimized for maximum yield. Results: Five different pH was used from 5 to 9 and on the other hand 3 different temperatures were maintained, sucrose, fructose and dextrose were used as carbon sources while urea, peptone and Ammonium nitrate was used as nitrogen sources similarly Tween 20 was used as additive sources. On comparing coconut oil cake and groundnut oil cake for all these different intends, there was maximum extracellular lipase specific activity was obtained in groundnut oil cake

Tamil Nadu: Samathuvapuram : Towards Spatial Equality

Thanthai Periyar, a great social revolutionary of the Dravidian movement of the early 20th century India opposed 'cheries' and introduced the concept of 'Samathuvapuram'. The concept of housing communities, where dalits and people of other castes live together in mixed neighbourhood and share all facilities - focuses for the firts time on social and cultural equality in housing programmes. Thanks Kalaigner M. Karunanidhi, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, for implementing the scheme successfully. The scheme (Samathuvapuram) itself germinated in response to recurrent caste and communal clashes in the state and has received considerable acceptance among the public

COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF F LOW BEHAVIOR OVER THE MULTISTAGE LAUNCH VEHICLE WITH STRAPONS

ABSTRACT Technology has the enemy of nature in one way. But sometimes technologies do come out as an exception to the above rule. In this paper conclude that multi-stage launch vehicle with strapons is a complex configuration to know the flow behaviour over it. Generally extensive wind tunnel testing is done to understand the flow characteristics of such a configuration with the Computation Fluid Dynamics (CFD) as a design tool, it is appropriate to make use of its technology to understand the complex flow behaviour over a multi-stage launch vehicle with strapons. In the present paper conclude the flow behaviour over a typical multi stage launch vehicle with strapons was known using commercial CFD software. This involves choice of flow model, discretization, grid generation, solution technique and analysis of results. Grid generation and body shape generation are done in Structured and an unstructured grid on 2D, and it is generated to know the effect of flow behaviour. Both Euler and Navier-Stokes solvers are attempted. Sensitivity of results on turbulence models is analyzed