Protein-energy malnutrition and oxidative injury in growing rats

1. Weaning rats were fed ad libitum isocaloric diets containing 5% and 20% casein based proteins. 5% protein diet was protein deficient diet. Pair fed rats with the 5% protein group were maintained simultaneously on 20% protein diet but the amount restricted to the amount taken up by PEM group. 2. Glutathione, antioxidative enzymes, lipid peroxidation and histopathological studies in liver and only glutathione and antioxidative enzymes in blood were carried out. 3. Rats fed the 5% protein diet developed a severe protein energy malnutrition (PEM) whereas those on pair-fed diet developed mild to moderate PEM. 4. Glutathione related thiols superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and glutathione-Stransferase with (1 Chloro 2,4-dinitro benzene (CDNB) substrate) were decreased in liver with concomitant increase of lipid peroxidation in severe PEM. In blood glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and catalase were decreased while superoxide dismutase was increased in severe PEM group. 5. Mild to moderate PEM (pair-fed group) also resulted in similar changes in liver except glutathione peroxidase, lipid peroxidation in liver and superoxide dismutase in blood. 6. Hepatic injury was detectable only in the severe PEM group. 7. Oxidative-stress and hepatic injury occurred in severe PEM and to a lesser degree in mild to moderate PEM.     

Effect of immunosuppression and splenectomy in transplantation sarcomas in mice

After spontaneous regression of transplanted tumours, marked reduction in number of tumours was found when challenged with isogenic tumour cells. The ALS abrogates this effect. Tumour removal by surgical excision of limb and subsequent time scheduled challenge by tumour cells maximally suppress on the 10th day and continues up to the 42nd day the tumorogenic effect. Splenectomy has no effect if done before a day or 3 days after challenge but marked decrease in tumour development was seen when challenged on the 8th day after splenectomy. Amputation and splenectomy together potentiates tumour formation. Only in tumour extrication, does resistance develop up to the 42nd day from surgery. Challenging at a different site in mice with tumours, resulted in prolongation of the intervals of tumour formation. Challenge after surgical removal of tumour after a time lapse, results in marked reduction in number and size of tumours. Surgical tumour extrication after splenectomy and subsequent challenge on 11th day inhibited tumour formation. Whereas splenectomized tumour bearing mice when challenged at a heterosite did not develop resistance.     

Spatial memory deficits following stimulation of hippocampal 5-HT1B receptors in the rat

The authors review the principles of reconstructive surgery for lower limb salvage after severe lower limb trauma to determine factors that have been used as decision-making criteria for limb salvage or amputation in severe lower extremity injuries and the methods of reconstruction and their outcome. The use of scoring systems and their value in acute decision making (primary amputation or limb salvage) are described. Soft-tissue reconstructive techniques, with emphasis on the use of flaps and the importance of selecting the best technique and time for the reconstruction are reviewed. Skeletal reconstructive techniques are described, including available options and currently held views on indications and use of the best contemporary methods. It is essential for the physician to make a good initial decision on the need for primary amputation or limb salvage. A multidisciplinary approach is fundamental to successful salvage.     

Detonation-induced coal gasification

A preliminary experimental and theorotical investigation of the feasibility of detonation-induced pulverized coal gasification is described. The concept envisions a closed annular detonation duct through which a hydrogen/oxygen gasphase detonation propagates continuously. Coal particles injected into the violent and rapidly changing atmosphere produced by the detonation would undergo gasification reactions and be subsequently expelled from the duct. These events would occur in a time period compatible with one revolution of the detonation. A one-dimensional analysis of the response of a single coal particle within the expansion-wave region behind the detonation front is presented. Independent variables include particle diameter, initial H₂/O₂ stoichiometry and expansion wavelength (at the time the particle is overtaken by the detonation front). The most significant result of this analysis is the prediction of relative gas/particle velocities ranging between 125 and 1500m/s, which are sustained throughout particle residence times of 1–15 ms corresponding to 10–1000 μm diameter particles. An experimental facility comprising a 47 m ‘single-shot’ detonation duct that was built for this study is discussed. The duct was 2.54 cm square and was terminated at each end by a 0.36 m diameter × 2.44 m long cylindrical tank which contained helium gas during a test. Sized coal particles were placed at a point within the first 3.7 m length of the duct, and thin brass diaphragms initially separated the duct from the two helium-filled tanks. Detonation was initiated at the duct, end closest to these particles. The diaphragm at that end burst, allowing combustion and gasification products to exhaust into the adjoining tank where they were quenched and decelerated. When the detonation reached the far end of the duct the second diaphragm burst, minimizing wave reflections which would otherwise return to the ‘test section’ end and interfere with the flow field there. After a test the contents of both tanks and the duct were circulated and mixed. A gas sample was then drawn and analysed for yield. Results from preliminary experiments using this facility are presented. Although too few tests were conducted for conclusive observations to be reported, in two experiments yields of CO + CH₄ representing 40 per cent of the total initial carbon content in the coal samples were obtained.     

A decision-making approach to the operation of flexible manufacturing systems

This paper introduces a generic decision-making framework for assigning resources of a manufacturing system to production tasks. Resources are broadly defined production units, such as machines, human operators, or material handling vehicles; and tasks are activities performed by resources. In the specific context of FMS, resources correspond to individual machines; tasks correspond to operations to be performed on parts. The framework assumes a hierarchical structure of the system and calls for the execution of four consecutive steps to make a decision for the assignment of a resource to a task. These steps are 1) establishment of decision-making criteria, 2) formation of alternative assignments, 3) estimation of the consequences of the assignments, and 4) selection of the best alternative assignment. This framework has been applied to an existing FMS as an operational policy that decides what task will be executed on which resource of this FMS. Simulation runs provide some initial results of the application of this policy. It is shown that the policy provides flexibility in terms of system performance and computational effort.