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Introduction: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a serious health care-associated infection. It prolongs hospital stay and drives up hospital costs reporting high morbidity and mortality. VAP is defined as pneumonia that occurs 48h or more after endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy, caused by infectious agents not present or incubating at the time mechanical ventilation.VAP requires rapid diagnosis and initiation of the appropriate antibiotics. Materials and Methods: The present study was done in the department of Microbiology, Rajarajeswari Medical college, Bangalore. All the clinically suspected cases of VAP from intensive care units over a period of one year were included in the study. Endotracheal aspirate (ETA) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples were collected from all patients and processed . Identification was carried out according to standard biochemical tests. Sensitivity pattern was determined using Kirby-bauer disc diffusion according to CLSI guidelines. Results: Out of 160 patients, who were on mechanical ventilation, 7 patients fulfilled the clinical and microbiological criteria. Incidence of VAP in our study is 4.4 and incidence density is 10.5 for 1000 ventilator days.57% of bacterial isolates were found to be Acinetobacter spp. followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 29% and Klebsiella pneumoniae 14%. Among 7 cases, 3(43%) were Early onset, 4(57%) were late onset VAP. Discussion and Conclusion: Even in the era of advanced medical care VAP remains a major challenge. The risk of developing VAP can be reduced by VAP prevention care bundles. Timely diagnosis is a major step to initiate appropriate antibiotics for better outcomes. Both patients and units are at risk of developing multidrug–resistant organisms and therefore appropriate antibiotic stewardship is essential. Better knowledge of local patterns of pathogens causing VAP can help facilitate treatment choice, in turn reducing the ventilator days and hospital stay.

Introduction and Objectives: Onychomycosis, or fungal infection of the nail apparatus by dermatophytes or nondermatophytes, is more than just a cosmetic problem. Dermatophytes are known to cause 90% of toenail and atleast 50% of fingernail onychomycosis. Our study offers insight into the unique current epidemiological aspects of onychomycosis in our region, including the less known nondermatophytemolds;. Since histopathology of nail clippings using Periodic Acid Schiff is clearly an invaluable tool in diagnosing onychomycosis, we integrated and comparatively evaluated it with the tests of routine mycology for the same. Materials and Methods: Patients in Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital (a tertiary care hospital) presenting with clinically apparent onychomycosis were included in this study. Each specimen of subungual debris and nail clippings was divided into two portions- one for direct microscopy and the other for culture. Nail clippings alone were used for PAS staining. Results: The present study was carried out on 40 clinically suspected cases of onychomycosis in the Department of Microbiology, Rajarajeshwari Medical College and Hospital over a period of one year. Out of 40 samples, 14(35%) samples showed fungal elements in 20% KOH, in 12(30%) samples fungal culture was positive and 19(47.5%) were PAS stain positive. Out of 12 isolates, 5(41.6%) were dermatophytes and 7(58.4%) were nondermatophytes. Keywords: KOH, PAS, Dermatophytes, Nondermatophytes, Nail infection, Onychomycosis.

It is well known to the aircraft designers that the design of structure using only metals or only composite materials can be realized with higher confidence level based on the database or tools available present in their aircraft design bureau. However, data availability for design of primary structural element/joint using metal, composites, and mechanical fasteners is minimal, and many of them are proprietary; moreover, they are depending on type of design. There is a need to design and test a feature level test specimen with appropriate boundary and loading conditions, which simulates behavior of full-scale component. Primary structural joint for actuator mounting on the composite fin has been considered for feature level testing. The purpose of the tests was to demonstrate the validity of the structural joint by applying static limit and ultimate loads. The feature level test specimen consists of composite and metal joints was successfully loaded to the ultimate design load without evidence of failure. The global behavior predicted by the finite element (FE) model of the test arrangement was in close agreement with the experimental results as evidenced by the strain and displacement results. The success of the testing program demonstrated the importance of feature level test in the design stage of primary composite structural joints of a civil transport aircraft.

Objectives: To know the incidence of bacterial meningitis in children below five years of age. To compare conventional culture and antigen detection methods ( Latex agglutination test). Materials and Methods: 100 CSF samples of clinically suspected meningitis cases in children below 5 years of age were included. The samples were subjected to cell count, Gram stain, culture and LAT. The organisms isolated in the study were characterized according to standard procedures. Results: Of the 100 cases studied, 31 cases were diagnosed as ABM by Gram stain, culture and latex agglutination test as per WHO criteria. The hospital frequency of ABM was 1.7%. 15 (48.38) cases were culture positive. Gram stain was positive in 22(70.96) cases and LAT in 17(54.83) cases. Haemophilus influenzae was the most common causative agent of acute bacterial meningitis followed by S.pneumoniae. Case fatality rate was 45.16%.The sensitivity and specificity of LAT was 66.66% and 87.91% respectively. Conclusion : Bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency and early diagnosis and treatment is life saving and reduces chronic morbidity. LAT was more sensitive compared to conventional Gram stain and Culture technique in identifying the fastidious organisms like H.influenzae, S.pneumoniae and Group B Streptococcus. However, the combination of Gram stain, Culture and LAT proved to be more productive than any of the single tests alone.

Rhizomucor variabilis is a rare cause of human infections. We report a case of primary cutaneous zygomycosis in an immunocompetent host. Although microscopy reveals the fungal aetiology, the need for species identification is highlighted to better understand the species and establish an epidemiological pattern as it is reported from restricted geographical locations.

This paper identifies and presents some examples of case studies of coastal zone engineering projects of the Atlantic Provinces, Canada, and discusses the interplay between the ecological aspects of the coastal systems in relation to engineering management. It focuses on the urgency of public involvement in the shore area problem-solving and points out the political sensitivities inherent in environmental and resource management problems. To illustrate the need for research to arrive at proper solutions, an example is presented on the Caraquet Bay, New Brunswick, Canada. Basic research is needed to understand the functioning of the coastal zone. Baseline studies will make a beginning by documenting the present environmental health of the coastal zone.

Water is polluted when it constitutes a health hazard or when its usefulness is impaired. The major sources of water pollution are municipal, manufacturing, mining, steam, electric power, cooling and agricultural. Municipal or sewage pollution forms a greater part of the man's activity and it is the immediate need of even smaller communities of today to combat sewage pollution. It is needless to stress that if an economic balance of the many varied services which a stream or a body of water is called upon to render is balanced and taken into consideration one could think of ending up in a wise management programme. In order to eliminate the existing water pollutional levels of the natural water one has to think of preventive and treatment methods. Of the various conventional and non-conventional methods of sewage treatment known today, in India, where the economic problems are complex, the waste stabilization ponds have become popular over the last two decades to let Public Health Engineers use them with confidence as a simple and reliable means of treatment of sewage and certain industrial wastes, at a fraction of the cost of conventional waste treatment plants used hitherto. A waste stabilization pond makes use of natural purification processes involved in an ecosystem through the regulating of such processes. The term "waste stabilization pond" in its simplest form is applied to a body of water, artificial or natural, employed with the intention of retaining sewage or organic waste waters until the wastes are rendered stable and inoffensive for discharge into receiving waters or on land, through physical, chemical and biological processes commonly referred to as "self-purification" and involving the symbiotic action of algae and bacteria under the influence of sunlight and air. Organic matter contained in the waste is stabilized and converted in the pond into more stable matter in the form of algal cells which find their way into the effluent and hence the term "stabilization pond".

Eighty nine fresh-water algae of various groups are described in this paper. This paper is one of the series of publications representing the studies on a series of small freshwater pools near St. John's, Newfoundland.

The presence of considerable quantities of starch in the banana pseudostem has been demonstrated for the ftrst time. Evidence is presented to show that the starch content of the stems varies and is influenced by the variety, locality, stage of growth, physiological state of the plant and climatic conditions. aud particularly by the moisture content of the stems. The desirability of screening varieties with a view to selectiug consistent yielders has been emphasized. The process evolved for the manufacture of banaua pseudostem starch is outlined. and the potentialities of this new raw material as a source of starch indicated. Physico-chemical properties of the starch have been described. The starch can be used for industrial and edible purposes in place of ordinary starches. Sizing tests have shown that it compares very favourably with the common starches and, in view of the somewhat transparent nature of the pastes, imparts better lustre to the finished goods.

Six plankton forms: Ankistrodesmus falcatus, A. convolutus, Dictyosphaerium ehrenbergianum, Frogilaria crotonensis, Spirulina platensis and Coelastrum sp. were isolated from the river Ganges and grown in unialgal cultures in three mineral solutions — Chu No. 10, Chu No. 10 with the addition of 5% soil extract, and Allen No. 3, in modified forms for growing Chloro-, Bacillario- and Myxo-phycean forms respectively.

An attempt has been made to find out the productivity and periodicity of the phytoplankton in relation to the physical and chemical characteristics of the river Ganges, between ‘University Ghat’ and ‘Raj Ghat’ at Varanasi. The observations were taken during a single year (i.e., March 1957 to March 1958). The chemical analyses of the water and estimates of the number of phytoplankton were made on samples collected fortnightly. The phytoplankton has proved to be eutrophic and polymixic in nature. Diatoms formed the largest bulk, blue-greens being the second major constituent while the green algae formed the third in order of abundance with, however, large number of species. A definite phytoplankton periodicity has been noticed and found to be seasonal in character. Correlations between the phytoplankton periodicity and population maxima, with the habitat factors revealed depletion of nutrients like, nitrogen, phosphate, silica, carbon, magnesium and sulphates. Changes in the phytoplankton populations were clearly evident more in relation to physical than to chemical conditions of the water. Changes in water-level, transparency and temperature affected the growth of the phytoplankton. High alkalinity and buffering capacity resulted in preferential growth of diatoms and blue-green algae. Rich phosphates and silicates coupled with moderate nitrogen contents were responsible for high phytoplankton yields in summer and winter seasons. The abundance of blue-greens may be due to the higher values of pH, temperature, dissolved organic matter, phosphate, nitrogen, and relatively high values of dissolved oxygen. Green algae showed a wide range of adaptability but could not develop in any abundance.

A detailed and systematic study of the algae present in the guts of several fishes from the river and their percentage composition was carried out. Only a few fishes like Hilsa ilisha, Gadusia chapra and Barbus stigma showed herbivorous and omnivorous habits. Definite grazing of the phytoplankton by fishes was clearly envisaged. Their comparative preference for diatoms was evident.

Changes in polyphenols of sapota fruit during maturation were determined by chemical analysis, paper chromatography and taste evaluation. Simple polyphenols decreased while polymeric leucoanthocyanidins increased. The reduction in astringency during maturation was found to be due to polymeric changes, the influence of other constituents such as sugar, and dilution of polyphenols by increase in fruit size.

The physico-chemical aspects on the river Ganges at Varanasi, India, during March, 1957 to March, 1958, were described and discussed in relation to their periodic changes and their inter-relationships.