Seam grinning behavior of single jersey fabric

120-126Influence of fibre, yarn count, loop length and fabric direction on seam grinning behavior of a single jersey fabric has been investigated. A 33 Box–Behnken design is employed to investigate the influence of various parameters on seam grinning behavior of single jersey fabric. The test results show that the seam grinning d5ecreases for the specimen having lycra filament but it is maximum for 100% cotton specimen. At higher value of loop length, seam grinning decreases in cotton and polyester/cotton fabrics but increases for polyester-lycra and cotton-lycra fabric samples. It had also been seen that seam grinning is higher in wale-wise and bias direction as compared to that in course-wise direction. Hence, seam grinning can be reduced by choosing appropriate values of yarn count, loop length for a particular kind of fibre. This study will be helpful for garment industrialist to minimise the seam grinning effect among knitted garments and to improve quality of producing seam

Seam performance of knitted fabrics based on seam strength and seam efficiency

22-28The current study has been conducted on 100% cotton, polyester/cotton and cotton/lycra single jersey fabrics for investigation of seam performance in term of seam strength and seam efficiency. The influence of various parameters, viz. sewing needle size, sewing needle type and seam angle, on seam performance of these fabrics have been studied and analyzed. The response surface methodology is employed to investigate their effect on seam strength and seam efficiency by analysis of variance and regression equations. The test results reveal that cotton and cotton/lycra fabrics have lower seam strength as compared to polyester/cotton fabric. Also, with increase in seam angle and needle size, seam strength decreases. However, with sewing needle type, an increase in seam strength is observed for all the three fabrics. The cotton/lycra half plated fabric shows higher seam efficiency among all the three fabrics. It is noted that seam efficiency increases with seam angle and sewing needle type. It has been found that SES needle type (Small ball point) exhibits poor seam efficiency but an improvement in efficiency has been observed with SUK (Medium ball point) and SAN needle type (Conical point) for all three knitted fabrics

Optimization of parameters for needle cut index using TOPSIS method

319-324The influence of loop length, stitches per inch, and sewing needle type on needle cut index in 100% cotton single jersey fabric has been studied considering factorial design. Further optimization of factors using Design Expert Tool has been done followed by ranking the optimized solution through TOPSIS method along with the confirmatory test. The results show that sewing needle type has the highest contribution with 29.83% followed by the 23.08% for stitches per inch and 11.95% in the case of loop length as far as needle cut index in the course direction is concerned. In the wale direction, sewing needle type has the highest contribution with 50.45% followed by the 13.30% for loop length and 10.77% for stitches per inch. It has also been observed that SES needle type is generating more needle cut as compared to SUK and SAN type needles. It is confirmed that the error percentage has been the lowest for highest rank solutions and subsequently the error increases with decreasing rank in terms of closeness coefficient. The present study is expected to be helpful for garment industrialists in minimising the needle cut defect among knitted garments and improve the quality of producing seam

Effect of yarn count and loop length on needle penetration force and needle cut index in single jersey fabrics

388-394The present study embodies the sewability of single jersey knitted fabric based on needle penetration force and needle cut index. Four types of single jersey fabric, viz. 100% cotton, polyester/cotton, polyester/lycra, and cotton/lycra, are taken for investigation. The materials are prepared on circular knitting machine by varying the yarn count and loop length. The influence of various parameters, viz. type of fibre, yarn count and loop length, on needle penetration force and needle cut index have been analyzed. In addition, the influence of seam direction on the needle cut index is also studied. A 3_level factorial design is employed to analyse the influence of there parameters. The statistical analysis shows that yarn count and loop length has a significant effect on needle penetration force and needle cut index. It has been observed that in all single jersey knitted fabrics, cotton-lycra and polyester-lycra half plated fabrics have higher value of needle penetration force than cotton and polyester/cotton.  The test results also show that for both coarser yarn and finer yarn count, longer loop length gives a lower value of needle penetration force. The needle cut index decreases with increase in the yarn count and loop length. Also it is observed that, the needle cut index is more in wale direction as compared to that in course direction. It is also concluded that cotton fabric samples are more susceptible to needle damages as compared to their counterparts

Experimental real-time multi-model ensemble (MME) prediction of rainfall during monsoon 2008: Large-scale medium-range aspects

Realistic simulation/prediction of the Asian summer monsoon rainfall on various space-time scales is a challenging scientific task. Compared to mid-latitudes, a proportional skill improvement in the prediction of monsoon rainfall in the medium range has not happened in recent years. Global models and data assimilation techniques are being improved for monsoon/tropics. However, multimodel ensemble (MME) forecasting is gaining popularity, as it has the potential to provide more information for practical forecasting in terms of making a consensus forecast and handling model uncertainties. As major centers are exchanging model output in near real-time, MME is a viable inexpensive way of enhancing the forecasting skill and information content. During monsoon 2008, on an experimental basis, an MME forecasting of large-scale monsoon precipitation in the medium range was carried out in real-time at National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), India. Simple ensemble mean (EMN) giving equal weight to member models, biascorrected ensemble mean (BCEMn) and MME forecast, where different weights are given to member models, are the products of the algorithm tested here. In general, the aforementioned products from the multi-model ensemble forecast system have a higher skill than individual model forecasts. The skill score for the Indian domain and other sub-regions indicates that the BCEMn produces the best result, compared to EMN and MME. Giving weights to different models to obtain an MME product helps to improve individual member models only marginally. It is noted that for higher rainfall values, the skill of the global model rainfall forecast decreases rapidly beyond day-3, and hence for day-4 and day-5, the MME products could not bring much improvement over member models. However, up to day-3, the MME products were always better than individual member models

Corporate tax: what do stakeholders expect?

Motivated by the ongoing controversy surrounding corporate tax, this article presents a study that explores stakeholder expectations of corporate tax in the context of UK business. We conduct a qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with representatives of community groups (NGOs/think tanks and special interest groups), as well as interviews with those representing business groups (business leaders and industry representatives). We then identify eight themes that together describe “what” companies need to do, “how” they need to do it, and “why” they need to do it, if they wish to appeal to a wide group of interested parties. We discuss our findings based on the corporate social responsibility literature and propose novel ways for community groups and business groups to connect on the topic of corporate tax, suggesting opportunities and themes for dialogue and potential steps to co-create solutions in a stakeholder society

Distinguishing patterns in the dynamics of long-term medication use by Markov analysis: beyond persistence

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In order to accurately distinguish gaps of varying length in drug treatment for chronic conditions from discontinuation without resuming therapy, short-term observation does not suffice. Thus, the use of inhalation corticosteroids (ICS) in the long-term, during a ten-year period is investigated. To describe medication use as a continuum, taking into account the timeliness and consistency of refilling, a Markov model is proposed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Patients, that filled at least one prescription in 1993, were selected from the PHARMO medical record linkage system (RLS) containing >95% prescription dispensings per patient originating from community pharmacy records of 6 medium-sized cities in the Netherlands.</p> <p>The probabilities of continuous use, the refilling of at least one ICS prescription in each year of follow-up, and medication free periods were assessed by Markov analysis. Stratified analysis according to new use was performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The transition probabilities of the refilling of at least one ICS prescription in the subsequent year of follow-up, were assessed for each year of follow-up and for the total study period.</p> <p>The change of transition probabilities in time was evaluated, e.g. the probability of continuing ICS use of starters in the first two years (51%) of follow-up increased to more than 70% in the following years. The probabilities of different patterns of medication use were assessed: continuous use (7.7%), cumulative medication gaps (1–8 years 69.1%) and discontinuing (23.2%) during ten-year follow-up for new users. New users had lower probability of continuous use (7.7%) and more variability in ICS refill patterns than previous users (56%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In addition to well-established methods in epidemiology to ascertain compliance and persistence, a Markov model could be useful to further specify the variety of possible patterns of medication use within the continuum of adherence. This Markov model describes variation in behaviour and patterns of ICS use and could also be useful to investigate continuous use of other drugs applied in chronic diseases.</p

Detrimental Effects of Non-Functional Spermatozoa on the Freezability of Functional Spermatozoa from Boar Ejaculate

In the present study, the impact of non-functional spermatozoa on the cryopreservation success of functional boar spermatozoa was evaluated. Fifteen sperm-rich ejaculate fractions collected from five fertile boars were frozen with different proportions of induced non-functional sperm (0 –native semen sample-, 25, 50 and 75% non-functional spermatozoa). After thawing, the recovery of motile and viable spermatozoa was assessed, and the functional of the spermatozoa was evaluated from plasma membrane fluidity and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation upon exposure to capacitation conditions. In addition, the lipid peroxidation of the plasma membrane was assessed by the indirect measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) generation. The normalized (with respect to a native semen sample) sperm motility (assessed by CASA) and viability (cytometrically assessed after staining with Hoechst 33342, propidium iodide and fluorescein-conjugated peanut agglutinin) decreased (p<0.01) as the proportion of functional spermatozoa in the semen samples before freezing decreased, irrespective of the semen donor. However, the magnitude of the effect differed (p<0.01) among boars. Moreover, semen samples with the largest non-functional sperm subpopulation before freezing showed the highest (p<0.01) levels of MDA after thawing. The thawed viable spermatozoa of semen samples with a high proportion of non-functional spermatozoa before freezing were also functionally different from those of samples with a low proportion of non-functional spermatozoa. These differences consisted of higher (p<0.01) levels of intracellular ROS generation (assessed with 5-(and-6) chloromethyl-20,70-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate acetyl ester; CM-H2DCFDA) and increased (p<0.01) membrane fluidity (assessed with Merocyanine 540). These findings indicate that non-functional spermatozoa in the semen samples before freezing negatively influence the freezability of functional spermatozoa

Potential role of differential medication use in explaining excess risk of cardiovascular events and death associated with chronic kidney disease: A cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are less likely to receive cardiovascular medications. It is unclear whether differential cardiovascular drug use explains, in part, the excess risk of cardiovascular events and death in patients with CKD and coronary heart disease (CHD).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The ADVANCE Study enrolled patients with new onset CHD (2001-2003) who did (N = 159) or did not have (N = 1088) CKD at entry. The MDRD equation was used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using calibrated serum creatinine measurements. Patient characteristics, medication use, cardiovascular events and death were ascertained from self-report and health plan electronic databases through December 2008.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Post-CHD event ACE inhibitor use was lower (medication possession ratio 0.50 vs. 0.58, P = 0.03) and calcium channel blocker use higher (0.47 vs. 0.38, P = 0.06) in CKD vs. non-CKD patients, respectively. Incidence of cardiovascular events and death was higher in CKD vs. non-CKD patients (13.9 vs. 11.5 per 100 person-years, P < 0.001, respectively). After adjustment for patient characteristics, the rate of cardiovascular events and death was increased for eGFR 45-59 ml/min/1.73 m²(hazard ratio [HR] 1.47, 95% CI: 1.10 to 2.02) and eGFR < 45 ml/min/1.73 m²(HR 1.58, 95% CI: 1.00 to 2.50). After further adjustment for statins, β-blocker, calcium channel blocker, ACE inhibitor/ARB use, the association was no longer significant for eGFR 45-59 ml/min/1.73 m²(HR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.25 to 2.66) or for eGFR < 45 ml/min/1.73 m²(HR 1.19, 95% CI: 0.25 to 5.58).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In adults with CHD, differential use of cardiovascular medications may contribute to the higher risk of cardiovascular events and death in patients with CKD.</p