Passivity and Pitting Corrosion of Carbon Steel in Chloride Containing Borate Buffer Solution

Passivity breakdown of high manganese steel in deaerated borate buffer solution has been studied in the following thesis. The steel used here is a special high strength C-Mn steel used extensively in pressure vessels. This article describes an attempt to predict and interpret the pitting corrosion of the steel in terms of the point defect model (PDM) in deaerated borate buffer solution at different pH (6, 8, 9, 10) at different chloride ion concentration ([Cl¯] = 0.01, 0.1, 0.6, 1M). The objectives of the work is to study the state of passivity and the related characteristics, determine the breakdown potential (Vc) as functions of pH, chloride concentration and potential sweep rate (?), analyze the relationship between Vc and [Cl¯], pH and scan rate (v) in terms of PDM to extract parameter values for passivity breakdown and assess the ability of PDM to account for passivity breakdown. The passive film was found to contain n-type defect with film thickness depending directly on the passivation potential. The near normal distribution in breakdown potential is in satisfactory agreement with the analytical prediction of the breakdown potential distribution obtained from PDM. The linear dependence of breakdown potential on the square root of potential scan rate and polarizability dependence of the barrier layer/solution interface upon potential and pH are 0.83 and ­ 0.01 respectively, as predicted by the PDM, yields an estimate of the critical areal concentration of condensed vacancies at the metal/film interface (? = 4.9×1014 cm-2) that leads to passivity breakdown. The value of the critical areal concentration of condensed vacancies falls in well agreement with the value obtained from structural argument. These provide convincing evidence for the validity of PDM for modelling passivity breakdown on high manganese carbon steel

Comparison of Baska Mask Versus I-Gel in Short Gynaecological Laparoscopic Surgeries Under General Anaesthesia in Adult Female: A Randomized Interventional Study

Background: Various newer generations of Supraglottic Airway Devices (SAD) with improved designs and performance are available for use by anaesthesiologist. We conducted the present study to compare 3rd generation SAD Baska Mask with 2nd generation SAD I-gel with the aim of comparing their clinical performance in terms of insertion parameters and oropharyngeal leak pressure in short laparoscopic gynaecological surgeries in adult females. Methods: 80 adult female patients were randomly allocated to either Baska Mask (n=40) or I-gel (n=40) groups. Insertion characteristics that included number of attempts, mean insertion time and manipulation frequency were recorded and compared. Oropharyngeal leak pressure was measured just after insertion of device and after 5 min of creating pneumoperitoneum in both devices and were compared. Results: Baska Mask insertion was successfully achieved in first attempt in 38/40 patients in Baska group vs 35/40 patients in I-gel group. Mean oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP) in Baska Mask versus I-gel just after insertion was (29.24±4.20cm H20 vs 26.33±2.51cm H2O, P=0.003) whereas it was (29.42±2.70 vs 26.18±2.54 cm H2O) after 5 min of creating pneumoperitoneum. Both groups were comparable in terms of removal characteristics and postoperative laryngopharyngeal airway morbidities. Conclusion: Baska Mask provided more effective ventilation in terms of greater oropharyngeal leak pressure as compared to I-gel. However Baska Mask was more difficult to insert and the incidence of postoperative laryngopharyngeal morbidity was higher in case of Baska Mask

ASSESSMENT OF DIFFERENT DOSES OF NEOSTIGMINE IN REVERSING CISATRACURIUM INDUCED NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCK BY USING NEUROMUSCULAR MONITOR: A PROSPECTIVE, DOUBLE-BLIND RANDOMIZED TRIAL

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different reversal strategies with neostigmine in cisatracurium-induced neuromuscular blockade by, focusing on recovery times, incidence of residual blockade, and patient safety profile. Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blind trial was conducted involving six groups of patients (n=30 each) receiving different dosages of neostigmine at different TOF ratios. Neuromuscular function recovery, residual blockade incidence, and safety were assessed using various measurements. Statistical analysis included ANOVA, Chi-square tests, and post-hoc analyses. Results: The study found that recovery times varied based on neostigmine dosages and train-of-four (TOF) ratios at the time of administration. The study groups exhibited varying mean times to achieve TOF ratios of 0.9 and 1.0 after neostigmine administration. The incidence of post-extubation TOF ratios below 0.9 showed no substantial variation among the groups. The overall incidence of adverse effects was low, with no significant differences observed among the study groups. Conclusion: The study concludes that 30 mcg/kg administered at TOF ratio 0.6 may be the most effective dosage of neostigmine for rapid and sufficient recovery from shallow neuromuscular blockade at TOF ratio 0.4 or 0.6, with the fewest adverse effects. 20 mcg/kg is the lowest dose that can be used to successfully restore shallow neuromuscular block, albeit it does take longer time

The effect of short-term exposure to red and blue light on the autonomic tone of the individuals with newly diagnosed essential hypertension

The research study aimed to study the effect of short term exposure to light basically red, blue and white on the autonomic tone of essential hypertensive individuals. The objective was to find out the baseline cardiac autonomic function along with the effect of these lights on the cardiac autonomic function among them. Till date few if any study have been conducted upon the individuals with certain disorder as common as essential hypertension. This was a cross sectional observational study conducted in the institute itself that included 77 newly diagnosed hypertensive subjects who willingly participated in the study. After written informed consent, brief history taking with the help of self-made questionnaire and clinical examination, they were randomized to different intervention groups (IG) namely IG I (red) IG II (blue) and IG III (white). HRV analysis of the last 5-6 minutes of both the baseline and color exposure was finally analyzed using MS Excel version 13 and Graph Pad Prism version 7.05. Different HRV parameters have been found to be affected differently on different color exposures. Red has shown to have an impact, mainly on the sympathetic system whereas white showed a dominant vagal component thus acting as a parasympathetic regulator. On one hand, where no conclusive result was found on blue light exposure, white light showed the most prominent results affecting various time and frequency components of HRV like SDRR, TP, LF etc. The present study, both, contradicts as well as supports various other works done on the similar area of interest. One reason of such high variation in different results is because HRV is itself a very dynamic function affected by even a slight change in both the internal and external environment of the subject. As artificial lights of various colors are part and parcel of the aesthetics and designing of most of the work environment all over world, it is very pertinent to study its impact upon human health status. The outcome of the study may play a decisive role in the diagnostics and therapeutics of essential hypertension in days to come. Furthermore, on the basis of the present findings, a future study could be undertaken with bigger data base addressing the limitations of the present study to find some conclusive evidence in the area highlighted

Estimation of tuberculosis incidence at subnational level using three methods to monitor progress towards ending TB in India, 2015–2020

Objectives We verified subnational (state/union territory (UT)/district) claims of achievements in reducing tuberculosis (TB) incidence in 2020 compared with 2015, in India.Design A community-based survey, analysis of programme data and anti-TB drug sales and utilisation data.Setting National TB Elimination Program and private TB treatment settings in 73 districts that had filed a claim to the Central TB Division of India for progress towards TB-free status.Participants Each district was divided into survey units (SU) and one village/ward was randomly selected from each SU. All household members in the selected village were interviewed. Sputum from participants with a history of anti-TB therapy (ATT), those currently experiencing chest symptoms or on ATT were tested using Xpert/Rif/TrueNat. The survey continued until 30 Mycobacterium tuberculosis cases were identified in a district.Outcome measures We calculated a direct estimate of TB incidence based on incident cases identified in the survey. We calculated an under-reporting factor by matching these cases within the TB notification system. The TB notification adjusted for this factor was the estimate by the indirect method. We also calculated TB incidence from drug sale data in the private sector and drug utilisation data in the public sector. We compared the three estimates of TB incidence in 2020 with TB incidence in 2015.Results The estimated direct incidence ranged from 19 (Purba Medinipur, West Bengal) to 1457 (Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya) per 100 000 population. Indirect estimates of incidence ranged between 19 (Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli) and 788 (Dumka, Jharkhand) per 100 000 population. The incidence using drug sale data ranged from 19 per 100 000 population in Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli to 651 per 100 000 population in Centenary, Maharashtra.Conclusion TB incidence in 1 state, 2 UTs and 35 districts had declined by at least 20% since 2015. Two districts in India were declared TB free in 2020