Introduction: Application of objective fatigue detection tools in aviation bases is limited. This study was envisaged to conduct a systematic comparative analysis between a well-established objective method and short fatigue questionnaires which are used in fatigue research to employ them as a fatigue screening tool for aviation personnel. Material and Methods: Thirty-eight aviation personnel volunteered for this cross-sectional observational study. Work-rest/sleep data collected using actigraphy over 1 week were fed to a PC running Fatigue Avoidance Scheduling Tool. Objective fatigue parameters in the form of Fatigue Risk Time (FRT) and Fatigue Free Occupational Time (FFOT) were retrieved. Fatigue questionnaires Groningen Sleep Quality Scale (GSQS) for assessing sleep quality and Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS) to detect day-time sleepiness were used as subjective fatigue parameters. Comparative analysis was carried out using appropriate statistical tests. Results: A consistent Total Sleep Time (TST) ranging from 353 to 378 min in the week of the study with no statistically significant differences between the nights were recorded. The increasing trend of FRT and decreasing trend of FFOT over the week were observed. The GSQS, SSS (morning), and SSS (afternoon) also demonstrated a progressive increase in the scores, but only the increase from day 1 to day 2 was statistically significant. Conclusion: Gradual increase in FRT with a reciprocal decrease in FFOT, which was observed, in this study, could be attributed to a progressive increase in sleep debt over the week. A consistent TST of the duration, which is less than the optimal duration of 7–8 h for night sleep, can lead to a gradual increase in sleep debt. The regression equations computed for FFOT was: FFOT = 657 + (0.24 × TST in min) – {(27 × Morning GSQS) + (73 × Day factor)}. This regression equation could be used to extrapolate the fatigue free occupation time for aviation personnel. The study has confirmed the effectiveness of both GSQS and SSS as the fatigue prevention tool and their application in the field setup, especially in the absence of any objective fatigue detection tool.

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Background: Maggot meal, popularly magmeal is a core product consisting of dried defatted larvae that is ground into a high protein larvae meal. It is a potential alternative for fish replacement in the diet of quails. Methods: A study on 240 Japanese quail birds from day old to six week of age was conducted at Poultry Research Station, Madhavaram Milk Colony, Chennai with magmeal supplementation during the year 2015-16. The birds were divided into four groups and each having with three replicates with 20 birds in each replicate. Group 1 (Control group) was fed basal diet (with 7% fish meal), group 2 was fed basal diet replacing 50% fish meal with magmeal, group 3 was fed basal diet replacing 75% fish meal with magmeal and group 4 was fed with Japanese quail basal diet replacing 100% fish meal with magmeal. Economic evaluation of magmeal at various levels of inclusion in Japanese quail diet was calculated. Result: There was a sizeable reduction in the cost of production in all the treatment groups when compared to control group. It is concluded that feed containing magmeal was found to be cost effective than the feed containing fishmeal for the Japanese quails.

Objectives: The adverse effects of hypoxia and sleep deprivation (SD) have been studied separately but there is little literature on their effects when acting in conjunction. Hence, the effects of SD on hypoxia tolerance and cognitive performance when exposed to altitude were investigated. Material and Methods: In a cross-sectional repetitive measure design, 15 healthy volunteers assessed on cognitive performance were made to perform cognitive tests (Dual Task Test, Stroop Test [ST], and Digit Symbol Substitution Test [DSST] of Psychometric Evaluation Designed for Aviators test battery) on the ground and at a simulated altitude of 17,000 ft in a hypobaric chamber on 4 days. On the 2nd and 3rd day, the tests were done following 2 h of SD the previous night, and on the 4th day, the same was repeated following normal recovery sleep. Heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) were measured on the ground and 17,000 ft. The Lake Louise Acute Mountain Sickness (LLAMS) scores were used to assess the severity of symptoms of hypoxia and time to arterial oxygen desaturation of 75% was used to measure hypoxia tolerance. Results: Although not statistically significant, the LLAMS scores showed an increasing trend on SD days with an improvement in recovery of sleep. No statistically significant differences in the HR (F = 0.569, P = 0.637) and RR (F = 0.569, P = 0.637) were observed across the days of SD or recovery. The time to oxygen desaturation to 75% also showed no significant effect (F = 0.587, P = 0.625). A statistically significant increase in response times of two cognitive tests (ST and DSST) was observed on exposure to altitude on all 4 days. The three cognitive tests did not show any statistically significant effect following 2 h of SD or recovery. Conclusion: The study could not elicit a statistically significant effect of 2 h of SD across 2 consecutive nights on the cognitive performance measures on exposure to hypoxia.