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The National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) is one of the largest programs run by the state with many successes. However, underreporting is considered a real flaw of the current program. To report the characteristics and outcomes of TB patients registered in an upazila health complex in Kazipur, Sirajganj district, Bangladesh between September 2018 and February 2019 under the control of NTP was the objective of the study. This retrospective cohort study was conducted using routinely collected program data from the aforementioned site. Data retrieved from the hospital record form. Formal permission was obtained from the local authority. Consent statements and ethical aspects were waived due to the retrospective nature of the study. Analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0. A total of 207 tuberculosis cases were included with an average age of presentation of 43 years. Approximately 82.0% had pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and the rest had extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). PTB was more common in males, whereas EPTB was common in females (p=0.01). Of all cases, 84.0% were diagnosed by a positive sputum smear and 16.0% were diagnosed clinically with a negative sputum smear. Attendance at follow-up was 82.12%, 70.04% and 68.59% at months 2, 5 and 6 following index admission respectively. Overall, the cure rate was higher in PTB than EPTB [146 (85.9%) vs. 5 (13.5%), p0.001). The rate of treatment completion was 25.1% (n=52) and the death count was 1.4% (n=3) [PTB-1.2 (n=2) vs. EPTB-2.7% (n=1)]. A gradual decline in reporting or completion of treatment was observed in this setting. However, a nationwide study is warranted to explore this issue in detail.

Cancer cervix is diagnosed late in women due to anatomical inaccessibility of the area. Hence, a robust screening strategy will help detect carcinoma cervix early which will significantly decrease the mortality and morbidity due to this disease. We evaluated DNA methylation of three tumour suppressor genes p15, p16 and E-Cadherin on cervical smears to assess DNA methylation as a screening tool for detection of early cervical cancer in comparison to PAP smears. DNA was extracted from cervical smears of 20 cases and 30 controls. The DNA was bisulphite modified. Methylation specific PCR (MSP) was performed to assess the methylation status of the promoter region of each of the genes. MSP results were compared with PAP smears to assess the utility of DNA methylation of these genes in screening for cervical cancer. DNA methylation was detected in 55% subjects in p15 gene, 45% in p16 gene and 40% in E-Cadherin gene. This was statistically significant when compared to the controls. DNA methylation of E-Cadherin, and p15 genes as a panel has a sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 90% respectively, which is better than the sensitivity of PAP smear for detection of early cancer cervix. Increased DNA methylation is seen in p15, p16 and E-Cadherin genes in early cancer cervix. p15 and E-Cadherin in combination can be used as a screening tool for detection of early cancer cervix.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection per se and antiretroviral therapy (ART) both are associated with dyslipidemias, one of the important risk factors in the development of premature atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Certain classes of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), especially protease inhibitors, are more frequently associated with dyslipidemia. The objectives of this study were to evaluate and compare lipid profile – total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride in HIV patients before and after starting ART and also to correlate lipid profile and CD4 counts in HIV infection, thus evaluating the feasibility of using lipid profile to monitor the progression of infection in HIV-infected patients as an adjunct to CD4 counts in resource-limited settings. Methods: Paired samples of 100 newly diagnosed HIV patients were taken before and after treatment with HAART. CD4 cell counts and lipid parameters measured and compared using paired 't'-test. Each of the lipid parameter correlated with CD4 cell count. Results: Significant increase was seen in the levels of TC and HDL-C (P < 0.05) with treatment. CD4 cell count also showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) with therapy. HDL-C levels correlated significantly with CD4 cell counts in pretreatment group (r = 0.23, P = 0.020, 95% C.I.). Conclusion: Combination of zidovudine, lamivudine, and nevirapine is associated with significant increase in HDL-C. HDL-C levels are a good indicator of disease severity in HIV-infected patients before starting the therapy.

Thalassemia is a congenital hemolytic disease which is treated by repeated blood transfusion. Chronic iron overload is currently considered to be the primary cause of mortality in β-thalassemia, mainly due to the induction of left-sided cardiac failure. Iron overload results from a number of mechanisms associated with the disease itself. In addition to chronic iron overload thalassemic patients are more prone for procoagulant status which in turn lead to clinical thrombotic events. The hypercoagulable state in thalassemia is due to multiple elements, a combination of which is often the drive behind a clinical thromboembolic events. PAI-1 study was done in thalassemia major patients receiving multiple blood transfusion as a marker for procoagulant status. Total of 30 thalassemic patients on repeated blood transfusion was included in the study and total of 30 healthy age and sex matched controls were included in the study. It was also found that there was significant differences between cases and controls. The mean level of PAI 1 in controls was 3047 ± 414 pg/ml, the value in cases was 3683 ± 358 pg/ml. The level was significantly increased (p

Introduction: Diagnosis of gastro-duodenal mucosal damage usually requires endoscopy, an invasive procedure. An attempt has been made to assess the clinical validity of sucrose permeability test as a non-invasive marker of gastro-duodenal damage.Methods: The test was carried out in 65 patients of dyspepsia evaluated by endoscopy and 21 healthy controls. On endoscopy, gastro-duodenal epithelial damage was assessed in all patients of dyspepsia and grouped as: group 1 (normal gastro-duodenal mucosa, n=18), group 2 (Gastric ulcer, n=15), group 3 (Duodenal ulcer, n=10), group 4 (Gastritis, n=12) and group 5 (Duodenitis, n=10).Results: The mean urinary sucrose excretions (mg) in 5 hours after 100g oral load was found to be significantly higher in patients of gastric ulcers (183.6 ±169.7, p value < 0.001), duodenal ulcers (151.7± 79.2, p value 0.05). A ROC curve analysis taking endoscopic findings as gold standard was undertaken to find the optimum cut-off to detect gastro-duodenal epithelial damage.Conclusions: The cut-off value of 64.5 mg/5h for urinary sucrose excretion provided the best sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of both surgical (gastric and duodenal ulcer) and non-surgical (gastritis and duodenitis) gastro-duodenal mucosal damage. At this cutoff sucrose permeability test provided a sensitivity of 72 % and specificity of 92%. Similarly, a cut-off value of 66.5 mg/5h of urinary sucrose excretion provided the best sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of surgical gastro-duodenal mucosal damage with sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 97%.

Albumin excretion in microalbuminuria range is one of the earliest manifestation of nephropathy, specially in diabetes mellitus. The modified dye binding method using bromo-phenol blue was studied in 27 healthy controls and 54 patients of diabetes mellitus, negative for albuminuria by albustix test. The analytical recovery (99.4 to 104.0%), within run coefficient of variation (0.8 to 0.36%) and day-to-day coefficient of variation (2.39 to 0.82%), for low and higher range were within acceptable limits. The values in controls ranged as follows: urinary albumin concentration (mg/L) 7.7 - 28.4 in 2-hour specimen and 10.3 - 29.2 in overnight specimen; albumin excretion rate (µg/min) 7.8 - 29.7 in 2-hour and 9.2 - 29.6 in overnight specimen; and albumin creatinine ratio (mg/g) 10.6 - 29.6 in 2-hour and 11.9 - 29.6 in overnight specimens. Correlation analysis of various albumin excretion parameters revealed excellent correlation between estimations from overnight and 2-hour samples for albumin-creatinine ratio (r = 1.00) and albumin excretion rate (r=0.96). Equally good correlation was observed between 2-hour albumin-creatinine ratio and albumin excretion rate (r=0.95). In 10 of 54 patients excretion rate was more than 200 µg/min and could have been detected by repeat albustix test. Of the 36 positive for microalbuminuria, 21 had one or more target organ involvement. There was no target organ involvement in 8 patients negative for microalbuminuria. Screening for microalbuminuria by this simple and economic method, using 2-hour albumin-excretion rate or albumin-creatinine ratio could be one of the earliest investigations in diabetic patients.

An electronic nose based on ZnO nanowires (NWs) for toxic gas detection has been demonstrated. In order to realize the multiple sensor array the ZnO NW film was selectively modified with Al, Ti, and Au layer resulting in an array of 4 × 3 sensor films. Data repository was prepared using an indigenously developed data acquisition system, testing chamber and a Labview based program. The data bank is generated by recording the response curve of the sensor array towards NO 2 , NO and H 2 S as a function of gas concentration. A simple bar chart is used to identify the target gas. It indicates a unique signature pattern for the gases under investigation.

To establish utility of single enzymatic marker for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. This is a cohort study. Tertiary care centre proven cases of acute pancreatitis (n = 50) admitted in surgery ward between December 2011 and May 2013 were included in the study. Serum amylase and lipase were performed along with many analytes. All relevant data including serum lab values and imaging were collected. All 50 patients included in the study had raised serum lipase, 42 patients had both amylase and lipase raised, 8 patients had amylase normal but lipase raised. In smaller hospitals where limited lab and radiological facilities are available, estimation of serum lipase will be a better choice over serum amylase in diagnosis of acute pancreatitis.

Invasive pulmonary mucormycosis is an unusual but an emerging cause of fatal massive hemoptysis. The commoner causes of massive hemoptysis are pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchiectasis and lung carcinoma. Pulmonary mucormycosis, unlike rhinocerebral mucormycosis has been reported infrequently. Co-morbidity such as uncontrolled diabetes mellitus is an important predisposing factor for acute fulminant mucormycosis. Herein we report a case of fatal massive hemoptysis caused due to mucormycosis in a young male patient.

Cancer cells generally exhibit increased glycolysis for ATP generation (the Warburg effect). Compounds that inhibit glycolysis have potential applications in cancer treatment. dl-glyceraldehyde (DLG) and 2-Deoxyglucose (2-DG) have been proven effective in the inhibition of glucose metabolism. Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells were injected intraperitoneally (i.p) in 10–12 weeks old Swiss albino mice, weighing between 20 and 30 g. The anticancer activity of DLG and 2-DG were determined by tumor volume, tumor weight, viable and nonviable tumor cell count, average survival time, percentage increase in life span and tumor inhibition ratio. The blood samples were obtained for biochemical analysis after 9 days of treatment to study the effect on liver, kidney and haematological parameters. Histopathological examination of liver and kidney was also performed. One-way ANOVA test and Dunnett’s test were used for comparisons of parameters in study groups. Both DLG and 2-DG individually decreased the tumor weight, tumor volume, viable tumor cell count and significantly increased the life span of treated mice, however the combination was found to be better. The biochemical parameters of liver and kidney functions and haematological parameters were restored close to control group as compared with the EAC bearing mice. Histopathological examination of liver and kidney in EAC control group showed large areas of necrosis, congestion and mononuclear cell infiltration but such changes were not observed in liver and kidney sections observed after i.p injection of DLG and 2-DG for 9 days. Improvement was much better in the group where combination of these two drugs were used.

CRLH (composite right/left-handed) based and SRR (split-ring resonator) based filters have been designed at microwave frequency which can provide better performance compared to conventional edge-coupled band-pass filter designed around the same frequency, 2.45 GHz. Both CRLH and SRR are unit cells used in metamaterial design. The primary aim of designing filters with such structures is to realize size reduction and also to realize novel filter performance. The CRLH based filter has been designed in microstrip transmission line, while the SRR based filter is designed with SRR loading in waveguide. The CRLH based filter designed at 2.45 GHz provides an insertion loss of 1.6 dB with harmonic suppression up to 10 GHz with 67 % size reduction when compared with a conventional edge-coupled band-pass filter designed around the same frequency. One dimensional (1-D) SRR matrix loaded in a waveguide shows the possibility of realizing a stop-band with sharp skirts in the pass-band while a stop-band in the pass-band of normal rectangular waveguide with tailoring of the dimensions of SRR unit cells. Such filters are expected to be very useful for communication systems at microwave frequency., {"references":["J. B. Pendry, A. J. Holden, D. J. Robbins, and W. J. Stewart, \"Magnetism from Conductors and Enhanced Nonlinear Phenomena\", IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 47, No. 11, pp. 2075 - 2084, 1999.","A. Sanada, C. Caloz, T. Itoh, \"Characteristics of the composite right/left handed transmission lines\", IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 68 - 70, 2004.","C. Caloz, and T. Itoh, \"A Novel composite right/left handed coupled line directional coupler with arbitrary coupling level and broadband width\", IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 52, No. 3, pp. 980 - 992, 2004.","S. Lim, C. Caloz, and T. Itoh, \"Electronically scanned composite right/left handed microstrip leaky wave antenna\", IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, Vol. 14, No. 6, pp. 277 - 279, 2004.","A. L. Borja, J. Carbonell, V. E. Boria, J. Cascon, and D. Lippens \"A 2% Bandwidth C-Band Filter Using Cascaded Split Ring Resonators\" IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 9, pp. 256-259, 2010.","G. Jang, S. Kahng \"Compact metamaterial zeroth-order resonator band-pass filter for a UHF band and its stop-band improvement by transmission zeros\" IET Microwave Antennas Propagation, Vol. 5, pp. 1175–1181, 2011.","I. Bahl, \"Lumped elements for Rf and microwave circuits,\" Artech House, Boston, 2003."]}

Routine laboratory investigations play an important role in estimating the risk of mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The significance of urea:albumin ratio (UAR) in predicting the stay and mortality of ICU patients is not known. It is a retrospective study of patients admitted to ICU (n = 412) with non-chronic kidney disease (non-CKD). Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) analysis for predicting mortality was carried out to find area under curve (AUC) and threshold levels. Analysis of survival probability was carried out by Kaplan–Meier method and Log-rank test. The AUC to predict mortality were 0.695, 0.767 and 0.791 for serum albumin, urea and UAR, respectively. The threshold levels for albumin, urea and UAR were 2.8 g/dL, 53 mg/dL, and 23.44 mg/g, respectively. The highest odds ratio (OR) of 9.75 to predict mortality at threshold level was observed for UAR, while OR were 7.0 and 3.62 for serum urea and albumin, respectively. The serum urea above and albumin below threshold level were associated with increase in ICU stay of >3 days but the highest OR of 4.73 to predict stay of >3 days was observed for UAR. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis shows significant (p

Butt welding of austenitic stainless steel 304 plates was carried out using an electron beam. Experiments were conducted for various combinations of input process parameters determined according to central composite design. Three input parameters, namely accelerating voltage, beam current, and welding speed were considered during the experiments. The weld-bead parameters, namely bead width and its depth of penetration, and weld strength in terms of yield strength and ultimate tensile strength, were measured as the responses of the process. Input–output modelling of this process was carried out in the forwards direction using regression analysis, a back-propagation neural network (BPNN), and a genetic algorithm-tuned neural network (GANN). Reverse mapping of this process was also attempted using the BPNN and GANN-based approaches, although the same could not be done from the obtained regression equations. The GANN was found to outperform the other two approaches in forward mapping. In reverse mapping also, GANN was seen to perform better than BPNN. The reason for this could have been that the back-propagation algorithm of the BPNN was replaced by a genetic algorithm in the GANN.

The problem of an elliptical crack embedded in an unbounded transversely isotropic piezoelectric media with the crack-plane parallel to the plane of isotropy of the media and subjected to remote normal mechanical as well as electric loading is considered first. The problem has been successfully reduced to a pair of coupled integral equations that are suitable for the application of an integral equation method developed earlier for three-dimensional problems of LEFM. Solution to the mechanical displacement and electric potentials are obtained for prescribed uniform loadings and expressions for corresponding intensity factors and crack opening displacement are deduced. The above method has further been applied to solve the problem of a rigid flat-ended elliptical punch indenting a transversely isotropic piezoelectric half-space surface with the plane of isotropy parallel to the surface. Solutions to mechanical stress and electric displacement are obtained for prescribed constant normal displacement and constant electric potential interior to the elliptical region and expression for the total force required to maintain a prescribed indentation is deduced.

Bead-on-plate welds were carried out on aluminum plates Al-1100 using an electron beam welding machine. The weld runs were conducted as per central composite design. Regression analysis was then carried out to establish input–output relationships of the process. The weldment area was minimized, after satisfying the condition of maximum bead penetration. The above constrained optimization problem was solved utilizing a genetic algorithm (GA) with a penalty function approach. The GA was able to determine optimal weld-bead geometry and recommend the necessary process parameters for the same. An attempt was also made to model the complicated dagger-like profile of electron-beam welded material by utilizing three third-order curves. The profiles were predicted by utilizing both back-propagation trained and GA-tuned neural networks. The latter was able to yield better predictions compared to the former.

Bead-on-plate welds were carried out on austenitic stainless steel plates using an electron beam welding machine. Experimental data were collected as per central composite design and regression analysis was conducted to establish input–output relationships of the process. An attempt was made to minimize the weldment area, after satisfying the condition of maximum bead penetration. Thus, it was posed as a constrained optimization problem and solved utilizing a Genetic Algorithm with a penalty function approach. The Genetic Algorithm was able to determine optimal weld-bead geometry and recommend the necessary process parameters for the same.

A catastrophic failure of a Stacker-cum-Reclaimer led to loss of several days of service in one ore handling plant in India. The failure was severe enough to initiate an investigation into the possible causes of failure and estimation of the residual life for other units of Stacker-cum-Reclaimer of the same design and age, working in the plant. The failure analysis included a visual inspection of the failed structure, metallographic studies, static stress and stability analysis under normal operating conditions, stress analysis for a possible impact load on the structure, experimental stress analysis, and fatigue life cycle analysis. The results obtained indicate that the failure could be caused by an impact load arising out of some operational conditions resulting from the conditions of the rail track on which the machine travels. The material properties, the physical conditions of the material, and a fatigue analysis indicate that the existing system can work for several more decades, provided some checkpoints are planned and instituted to monitor the health of the structure at regular intervals.

In the present work, a commercial device for the detection of H 2 S using SnO 2 ; CuO thin film as a sensing material has been demonstrated. A complete device consist of SnO 2 : CuO sensor thin film deposited on alumina substrate, teflon head in stainless steel housing containing the temperature control circuit with Pt-50 based heater and Pt-100 as reader, and a stand-alone monitor consisting of Data Acquisition & Control Board (DACB) and touch screen based human-machine interface (HMI) module. The monitor measures the change in resistance of sensor element on exposure to gas and displays the result in concentration (ppm). The monitor is also provided with a programmable alarm set point, touch switch to change between Normal/ Calibration Mode and provision to enter the historical logs like last sensor installation date, last sensor calibration date, last fault detail etc,.

The problem of interaction between equal coplanar elliptic cracks embedded in a homogeneous isotropic elastic medium and subjected to shear loading was solved analytically by Saha et al. (1999) International Journal of Solids and Structures 36, 619–637, using an integral equation method. In the present study the same integral equation method has been used to solve the title problem. Analytical expression for the two tangential crack opening displacement potentials have been obtained as series in terms of the crack separation parameter β i up to the order β 5 ,(i=1,2) for both the elliptic as well as penny-shaped crack. Expressions for modes II and III stress intensity factors have been given for both the cracks. The present solution may be treated as benchmark to solutions of similar problems obtained by various numerical methods developed recently. The analytical results may be used to obtain solutions for interaction between macro elliptic crack and micro penny-shaped crack or vice-versa when the cracks are subjected to shear loading and are not too close. Numerical results of the stress-intensity magnification factor has been illustrated graphically for different aspect ratios, crack sizes, crack separations, Poisson ratios and loading angles. Also the present results have been compared with the existing results of Kachanov and Laures (1989) International Journal of Fracture 41, 289–313, for equal penny-shaped cracks and illustrations have been given also for the special case of interaction between unequal penny-shaped cracks subjected to uniform shear loading.

The scattering of normally incident elastic waves by an embedded elliptic crack in an infinite isotropic elastic medium has been solved using an analytical numerical method. The representation integral expressing the scattered displacement field has been reduced to an integral equation for the unknown crack-opening displacement. This integral equation has been further reduced to an infinite system of Fredholm integral equation of the second kind and the Fourier displacement potentials are expanded in terms of Jacobi’s orthogonal polynomials. Finally, proper use of orthogonality property of Jacobi’s polynomials produces an infinite system of algebraic equations connecting the expansion coefficients to the prescribed dynamic loading. The matrix elements contains singular integrals which are reduced to regular integrals through contour integration. The first term of the first equation of the system yields the low-frequency asymptotic expression for scattering cross section analytically which agrees completely with previous results. In the intermediate and high-frequency scattering regime the system has been truncated properly and solved numerically. Results of quantities of physical interest, such as the dynamic stress intensity factor, crack-opening displacement scattering cross section, and back-scattered displacement amplitude have been given and compared with earlier results.

A prospective observational study was performed to know the profile and outcome of paediatric Intensive care unit admitted patients. Paediatric intensive care unit admitted patients are mostly male (65%), suffering from critical respiratory (36%) and CNS diseases (35.4%). The survival at paediatric intensive care unit was 37.5% (25% were mechanically ventilated). Successful mechanical ventilation was done for 45 days. Major cause of mortality was sepsis with multiorgan dysfunction. Commonest organism Isolated from blood was Klebsiella pneumoniae (38%). Most Gram-negative organisms were sensitive only to carbapenems, some were sensitive only to polymyxin B. All staphylococci were resistant to vancomycin.

A recently developed integral equation method has been used to derive the crack opening displacement of an elliptic crack in an infinite elastic medium subjected to a concentrated pair of point force loading at an arbitrary location on the crack faces. These results have been used to obtain the stress intensity factor along the elliptic crack front which corresponds to the weight function for an elliptic crack under normal loading. Analytical expression of the weight function can be used to derive the stress intensity factor for both polynomial loading as well as non-polynomial loading.

Measurements in a mixed flow pump of non-dimensional specific speed k = 1.89 [ NS = 100 r/min (metric)] are analysed to give loss distribution and local hydraulic efficiencies at different flowrates and values of tip clearance. Fairly close agreement is obtained between the relative flow angles leaving the blading as predicted by simple deviation and slip models and derived from the measurements. The head developed is broken up into two parts: that contributed by Coriolis action and that associated with blade circulation. It is suggested that lift coefficients based on blade circulation are of limited value in selecting blade profiles. The variation of pump efficiency with tip clearance is greater than that reported for centrifugal pumps.

Three-dimensional problem of crack-microcrack interaction is solved. Both the crack and microcrack are embedded in an infinite isotropic elastic medium which is subjected to constant normal tension at infinity. One of the cracks is circular while the other is elliptic and they are coplanar and are positioned in such a way that the axis of the elliptic crack passes through the centre of the circular crack. A recently developed integral equation method has been used to solve the corresponding two dimensional simultaneous dual integral equation involving the displacement discontinuity across the crack faces that arises in such an interaction problem. A series of transformations first reduce them to a quadruplet infinite system of equations. A series solution is finally obtained in terms of crack separation parameter β which depends on the separation of the crack microcrack centre. Analytical expression for the stress intensity factors have been obtained up to the order β6. Numerical values of the interaction effect have been computed for and results show that interaction effects fluctuate from shielding to amplification depending on the location of each crack with respect to the other and crack tip spacing as well as the aspect ratio of the elliptic crack. The short range interaction can play a dominant role in the prediction of crack microcrack propagation.

G season-specific effect of a sub-lethal ambient ammonium chloride concentration on the total autolysis of protein in different tissues of the Indian air-breathing murrel,Chauna punctatos (Bloch), has been demonstrated. While its effect on the autotytie levels of protein of different tissues (except white muscle) was marginal in the winter-adapted fish, the same in the summer-adapted fish was more pronounced. In general a reduction in the autolysic levels of the tissue protein of the ammonium chloride-stressed fish was observed. In certain tissues like white muscle of an ammonium chloride-stressed fish and gill of the ammonium hydroxide-stressed fish, augmented levels of autolysis were noticed. The present findings suggest that the accumulation of amino acids in different tissues of the ammonia-stressed fish, as observed earlier, can be explained best by mechanisms other than ammonia induced increased breakdown of proteins.

This article presents the different activity of Ingot niobium in BARC. BARC is developing a technology for the accelerator driven subcritical system (ADSS) that will be mainly utilized for the transmutation of nuclear waste and enrichment of U233. Design and development of superconducting medium velocity cavity has been taken up as a part of the ADSS project. The design and fabrication of f = 1050 MHz, β = 0.49 with Ingot niobium will be presented. Positron annihilation studies are conducted on small samples of ingot niobium to understand the defect depth profile of the niobium surface. The results are presented here.

Phosphorus is considered to be one of the most important factors in the maintenance of an aquatic eco-system. The study deals with the relation of available inorganic phosphate in water with phytoplankton abundance. The phytoplankton count ranged between 487 and 1711 indiv./l, while phosphate ranged between 0.18 and 1.23 mg/l. A maximum population of phytoplankton was observed in the month of January 1988 and a minimum observed in April 1988. The correlation between the changes in phosphate concentration and phytoplankton abundance revealed an inverse relationship (r= −0.0773, P>0.05), and the regression is expressed by Y = 370 + 755 (x), indicating its link in the cycle of autotrophs though not significantly.

To establish the utility of endoscopic sclerotherapy using 1% ethoxysclerol for the control of intractable hematuria following post-irradiation telangiectatic cystitis (PTC).Our experience of treating 4 patients (one female and three male) with massive exsanguinating hematuria resulting from PTC, using a combined intralesional and perilesional injection of 1% ethoxysclerol, is presented. Observation on the distribution, grading of telangiectasis and pattern of bleeding are made.A dramatic and lasting cessation of the hematuria in all the 4 patients was achieved during the follow-up period varying from 1 month to 4 years.Endoscopic injection sclerotherapy is a simple, highly effective, less invasive new technique in the management of massive and intractable hematuria due to radiation-induced telangiectasia of the urinary bladder.

BARC is developing a technology for the accelerator driven subcritical system (ADSS) that will be mainly utilized for the transmutation of nuclear waste and enrichment of U233. Design and prototyping of a superconducting medium velocity cavity has been taken up as a part of the ADSS project. The cavity design for ? = 0.49, f = 1050 MHz has been optimized to minimize the peak electric and magnetic fields, with a goal of 5 MV/m of accelerating gradient at a Q > 5?109 at 2 K. After the design optimization one single cell cavity was fabricated from large grain (RRR>99) Niobium material. This report presents the design, fabrication, electron beam welding and RF measurements at room temperature before and after electron beam welding.

Fabrication of superconducting cavities has been taken up as a part of the development of accelerator driven sub critical system (ADSS) by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. Large grain (RRR>99) pure niobium was chosen as the material for the cavity. Niobium,for its application as superconductor requires extremely high quality joints, feasible only by electron beam welding at high vacuum environment. An indigenously developed 100kV, 4kW high vacuum electron beam welding machine has been utilized to carry out the welding operations. Planning of the weld sequences was chalked out. Holding fixtures for the cavity, consists of seven numbers of joints have been fabricated beforehand. A few coupons were welded for optimization of the weld parameters and for inspection of the weld purity by indigenously developed secondary ion mass spectroscopy. The report describes the welding equipment and the stage wise joining operations of the cavity in details and also discusses the qualification testing of the welded cavity.

All reactive metals and their alloys, during welding process, are subjected to contamination by the gases present in the atmosphere which affects the strength, elasticity and corrosion resistance behavior of the weld. Although the use of shielded electrodes and inert gas surrounding during welding could reduce the difficulty of welding to a great extent, still the quality of the weld is not suitable as far as the nuclear and aerospace applications are concern. Electron beam has been recognized as a versatile tool for welding of reactive materials as the process is carried out under high vacuum, which is being considered to be the best inert environment. A number of reactive materials have been welded by electron beam in BARC and elsewhere for aerospace, accelerator, nuclear and defense applications. A brief description of the EB welding process for some of the above materials will be given in this paper with a discussion about their post weld mechanical properties and corrosion resistance behavior.

The Indian Vacuum Society (IVS) was established in 1970. It has over 800 members including many from Industry and R & D Institutions spread throughout India. The society has an active chapter at Kolkata. The society was formed with the main aim to promote, encourage and develop the growth of Vacuum Science, Techniques and Applications in India. In order to achieve this aim it has conducted a number of short term courses at graduate and technician levels on vacuum science and technology on topics ranging from low vacuum to ultrahigh vacuum So far it has conducted 39 such courses at different parts of the country and imparted training to more than 1200 persons in the field. Some of these courses were in-plant training courses conducted on the premises of the establishment and designed to take care of the special needs of the establishment. IVS also regularly conducts national and international seminars and symposia on vacuum science and technology with special emphasis on some theme related to applications of vacuum. A large number of delegates from all over India take part in the deliberations of such seminars and symposia and present their work. IVS also arranges technical visits to different industries and research institutes. The society also helped in the UNESCO sponsored post-graduate level courses in vacuum science, technology and applications conducted by Mumbai University. The society has also designed a certificate and diploma course for graduate level students studying vacuum science and technology and has submitted a syllabus to the academic council of the University of Mumbai for their approval, we hope that some colleges affiliated to the university will start this course from the coming academic year. IVS extended its support in standardizing many of the vacuum instruments and played a vital role in helping to set up a Regional Testing Centre along with BARC. As part of the development of vacuum education, the society arranges the participation of expert members on the subject to deliver lectures and take part in devising courses in the universities. IVS publishes a quarterly called the `Bulletin of Indian Vacuum Society' since its inception, in which articles on vacuum and related topics are published. NIRVAT, news, announcements, and reports are the other features of the Bulletin. The articles in the Bulletin are internationally abstracted. The Bulletin is distributed free to all the members of the society. The society also publishes proceedings of national/international symposia and seminars, manuals, lecture notes etc. It has published a `Vacuum Directory' containing very useful information on vacuum technology. IVS has also set up its own website http://www.ivsnet.org in January 2002. The website contains information about IVS, list of members, list of EC members, events and news, abstracts of articles published in the `Bulletin of Indian Vacuum Society', utilities, announcements, reports, membership and other forms which can be completed online and also gives links to other vacuum societies. Our Society has been a member of the executive council of the International Union of Vacuum Science, Techniques and Applications (IUVSTA) and its various committees since 1970. In 1983 IVS conducted an International Symposium on Vacuum Technology and Nuclear Applications in BARC, Mumbai, under the sponsorship of IUVSTA. In 1987 IVS arranged the Triennial International Conference on Thin Films in New Delhi, where more than 200 foreign delegates participated. IVS also hosted the IUVSTA Executive Council Meeting along with the conference. The society organized yet again an International Conference on Vacuum Science and Technology and SRS Vacuum Systems at CAT, Indore in1995. IVS arranges the prestigious Professor Balakrishnan Memorial Lecture in memory of its founder vice-president. Leading scientists from India and abroad in the field are invited to deliver the talks. So far 23 lectures have been held in this series. IVS has instituted the `IVS- Professor D Y Phadke Memorial Prize' in memory of our founder president, the late Professor D Y Phadke at the University of Mumbai. The prize is given every year to the student ranked top in the MSc (PHY.) examination conducted by the university. The IVS Kolkata Chapter has established the Dr A S Divatia Memorial Trust with the objective of organizing the Dr A S Divatia Memorial Lecture and a seminar once a year and to set up a vacuum testing and calibration facility. IVS has instituted an award in memory of the late Shri C Ambasankaran, its past president and pioneer of vacuum technology in India. This award is given to one of the best papers presented in the national symposium conducted by IVS. One more best paper award `Smt. Shakuntalabai Vyawahare Memorial Prize' is established from a donation given by Shri Mohan R Vyawahare, a life member and a present EC member of the society, in memory of his mother. During the symposia, IVS felicitates two of its members, one from Industry and one from an R & D Institution for their lifetime contribution to vacuum science and technology. Dr A K Gupta, Ex BARC, Ex Generla Manager, IBP, Head, Energy Group, Shapoorji Pallonji & Co Ltd (Industry), and Dr S R Gowariker, Ex BARC, Ex Director, CSIO, Chandigarh, Director, Tolani Education Foundation (R & D) are being honoured this year. T K Saha Geneneral Secretary, IVS

The mucosal biopsies from duodenum and jejunum of 31 patients showing Giardia lamblia in their feces were studied histologically. Although the trophozoites were found in all the biopsy specimens in the luman, the tissue invasion by the parasites in different stages, from their entry through the epithelium to the lamina propria could be demonstrated in 12 of them, all of the latter having diarrhea and steaterrhea. Varying histological changes in jejunal mucosa were also observed in 9 cases, of which 7 showed mucosal invasion by giardia trophozoites. In 17 of the series neither tissue invasion by the parasite nor mucosal change could be found.