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Introduction: Acute appendicitis remains one of the most common surgical emergencies, accounting for 1% of all emergency operations. The diagnosis can at times be very difficult, so any test which can contribute towards the diagnosis is very valuable. Even though USG, MRI and CT scan of abdomen and blood tests can confirm the diagnosis but not its severity. Aim: The aim of this study is to establish the role of deranged liver function tests as a new diagnostic tool and also to predict gangrenous and ruptured appendicitis which would serve the purpose of decreasing the mortality and morbidity in these patients. Methods: Ninety patients of different age groups from 8 to 70 years of both sexes were included in this study over a span of 14 months. They were confirmed by USG, routine blood examination and clinical findings. LFT were performed, studied and compared with all patients of acute appendicitis. Results: Out of 90 patients, hyperbilirubinemia was observed in 45 cases (50%). There was an increase in other liver enzymes like SGOT in 18 patients (20%), SGPT in 3 patients (2.7%), and Alkaline Phosphatase in 10 patients (9%). However, serum albumin was found to be normal in all patients. GGT increase is seen in 6 patients (9.23%). Specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value and p value were highly significant (p<0.001) in complicated appendicitis. Conclusion: The elevated parameters of LFT in patients of complicated appendicitis (ruptured, gangrenous) carried considerable prognostic significance. Hence LFT can be used as a diagnostic and prognostic indicator in patients of acute appendicitis, thus avoiding unnecessary morbidity and mortality in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of statistical convergence has attracted the pervasive attention of the current researchers due basically to the fact that it is stronger than the ordinary convergence. Korovkin-type approximation theorem plays a vital role in the convergence of sequences of positive linear operators. Moreover, this type of approximation theorems has been extended through different statistical summability methods over general sequence spaces. The paper investigated statistical (C , 1) (E , μ) product summability mean for sequences of fuzzy numbers and proved a fuzzy Korovkin-type approximation theorem. Furthermore, we have established another result for the fuzzy rate of convergence which is uniform in fuzzy Korovkin-type approximation theorem under our proposed summability mean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have studied an estimate of the rate of convergence of Fourier series in the generalized Hölder metric H L r (ω) space by using deferred Nörlund mean and established some new results. Our results are more advanced that generalize and unify many other results available in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To assess feasibility of visual inspection with acetic acid and treatment with cryotherapy for cervical cancer screening and prevention and assess risk factors for cervical cancer in the screened population. Methods: A prospective analysis of all patients enrolled for cervical cancer screening by visual inspection, meeting the eligibility criteria for screening and treatment as per national guidelines 2011 was analyzed form March 2012 to April 2013. Results: A total of 4138 met the eligibility criteria and were counseled for screening, 33 rejected for screening. Out of 4105 screened 241 were VIA positive, 211 were treated with cryotherapy, 25 treated with LEEP, 5 rejected to treatment. Mean age of patient in year's ± SD 41.48 ± 9.72 .The VIA positivity rate was 5.9 % Conclusions: Single visit approach is a feasible and acceptable form of cervical cancer screening strategy in our population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study was done to assess the main causes of maternal mortality and other co-morbid factors contributing to maternal death at a university teaching hospital. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology analyzing all case record of maternal deaths from April 2008 to April 2011. Results: Eclampsia, unsafe abortion, puerperal sepsis, hemorrhages were the leading causes of death. Majority of the patients were unbooked. Conclusions: Eclampsia, sepsis and hemorrhage were the main causes of maternal deaths. Elderly ages, illiterate status, rural residence, presence of prior medical disease were statistically significant factors contributing to maternal death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This was performed to examine pelvic organ prolapse using POP-Q technique and correlate pre-existing urinary symptoms with segments of pelvic organ prolapse. Methods: All patients admitted with pelvic organ prolapse were included. Patients were asked regarding any concomitant urinary symptoms and then all patients were examined by POP-Q technique and correlation of urinary symptoms was done with various segments of pelvic organ prolapse. Results: Eighty patients were studied in one year duration. Majority of patients had presented with stage 4 prolapse (58.8%). Majority of patients had urinary symptoms among which 87.5% had increased urinary frequency, 88.8% had dysuria, 65% had stress urinary incontinence (SUI), 72.5% had incomplete evacuation. Dysuria and SUI was found to have significant correlation with anterior segment prolapse (p<0.05%). Conclusions: Site specific measurements by POP-Q system showed anterior segment prolapse to be more and were significantly associated with various urinary symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selective laser sintering (SLS) of iron powder has been investigated through a number of experiments statistically planned as per Taguchi L8 design. Seven input parameters, namely, laser peak power density, laser pulse on-time, laser scan speed, stepping distance (distance traveled between pulses), interval–spot ratio (ratio of laser scan line interval and laser spot diameter), size range of iron powder particles, and powder layer thickness, were selected for the investigation. Density, porosity, and hardness were considered for the characterization of the sintered samples. Analysis of the results show that these properties are significantly affected by these factors. A discussion on the probable physical phenomena contributing to such dependence and an attempt towards the optimization of the process have also been included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Stenosis of the upper subglottis presents special problems. Its vicinity to the vocal folds leads to a high incidence of vocal fold fixation, and also precludes surgical treatment by cricotracheal resection and anastomosis. Objective To describe the experience with posterior cricoid split and insertion of free costal cartilage graft in the treatment of high subglottic stenosis and posterior commissural glottic stenosis. Setting Tertiary care university hospital. Methods Four cases with Grade III/ IV high subglottic stenosis/ posterior commissure glottic webbing recalcitrant to previous surgical therapy treated with posterior cricoid split and insertion of free costal cartilage graft by a laryngofissure approach. Temporary airway stenting for 4 months post surgery with a silicone T-Tube. Results Successful restoration of the airway and decannulation in all 4 cases. Conclusion Grade III or IV stenosis of the upper half of the subglottis is successfully treated in a high proportion of patients with posterior cricoid split and augmentation with costal cartilage free graft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the results of a series of monotonic undrained triaxial compression tests on clay specimens improved by columnar reinforcement. The process of loading and stress redistribution of a fly ash – clay specimen (FCS), in comparison with a sand–clay specimen (SCS), is examined in terms of stress–strain characteristics, generation of excess pore-water pressure, effective and total earth pressures, development of stress concentration, and the normalized undrained shear strength of the improved soil. It was found, predictably, that the deviator stress of the composite specimens was influenced by the consolidation stress, replacement area ratio, and properties of the column material. The stress concentration at the top of the composite ground which depends on the loading stage reaches a peak after the consolidation state and is reduced due to stress redistribution between the column and the soft ground. In terms of improvement effects, the mean shear strengths of FCS and SCS relative to the clay specimen are three and seven times greater, respectively, for a replacement area ratio of 49%.Key words: composite ground, fly ash, soil improvement, soft ground, triaxial test.Cette étude présente les résultats d'une série d'essais de compression triaxiale non drainée monotonique sur des spécimens d'argile améliorés par un armature en colonnes. Le processus de chargement et de redistribution des contraintes du spécimen cendres volantes-argile (FCS), en comparaison avec un spécimen sable-argile (SCS), est examiné en fonction des caractéristiques contrainte-déformation, de la génération des pressions interstitielles, des pressions des terres effectives et totales, du développement de la concentration des contraintes, et de la résistance au cisaillement non drainé normalisée du sol amélioré. Tel qu'on pouvait le prédire, on a trouvé que les spécimens composites étaient influencés par la contrainte de consolidation, par le rapport de surface de remplacement, et par les propriétés du matériau avec colonnes. La concentration des contraintes au sommet du terrain composite qui dépend de l'étape de chargement, est au pic après la consolidation et est réduite par la redistribution des contraintes entre le terrain mou et la colonne. En termes d'effet d'amélioration, les résistancea au cisaillement moyennes du FCS et du SCS par rapport au spécimen d'argile sont de 3 et 7 respectivement, pour un rapport de surface de remplacement de 49 %.Mots clés : terrain composite, cendres volantes, amélioration du sol, sol mou, essai triaxial.[Traduit par la Rédaction] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops a mathematical model for growth and exploitation of a schooling fish species, using a realistic catchrate function and imposing a tax on the catch to control harvesting. Fishing effort is assumed to depend on the net revenue. The steady states of the system are determined and their local and global stability are discussed. Taking the tax as a control variable; the optimal harvest policy is formulated and solved as a control problem. The results are illustrated with the help of a numerical example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops a mathematical model for growth and exploitation of a schooling fish species, using a realistic catchrate function and imposing a tax on the catch to control harvesting. Fishing effort is assumed to depend on the net revenue. The steady states of the system are determined and their local and global stability are discussed. Taking the tax as a control variable; the optimal harvest policy is formulated and solved as a control problem. The results are illustrated with the help of a numerical example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Il Nuovo Cimento della Societa Italiana di Fisica: B is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Il Nuovo Cimento: B is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aims: This study was done to evaluate the effectiveness of subcutaneous injection of sterile water compared with placebo in reduction of labor pain. Methods: Two hundred and forty pregnant women at term planned for normal vaginal delivery during the first stage of labor were randomized to receive either subcutaneous injection of sterile water (study group, n=120) or normal saline as placebo (control group, n=120) at painful point in lumbosacral region. Pain score was measured before and 10, 45 and 90 minutes after the injections. Main outcome measured was reduction of low back labor pain using visual analogue scale. Methods: Two hundred and forty pregnant women at term planned for normal vaginal delivery during the first stage of labor were randomized to receive either subcutaneous injection of sterile water (study group, n=120) or normal saline as placebo (control group, n=120) at painful point in lumbosacral region. Pain score was measured before and 10, 45 and 90 minutes after the injections. Main outcome measured was reduction of low back labor pain using visual analogue scale. Conclusions: The subcutaneous injection of sterile water administered at painful point in lumbosacral area was effective in reducing low back labor pain during labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is shown that the gauge-particle associated with local-duality transformation of Maxwell electro-magnetic equations is a massless axial vector boson which mediates universal long-range interaction between spins. Possible existence of a pure gauge field of this type in an inhomogeneous magneto-electric material is examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]