Investigation of physicochemical and tribological properties of TiO2 nano-lubricant oil of different concentrations

Nano-lubricants provide enhanced tribological properties in several applications like machines and engines. The presence of nanoparticles in the lubricating oil effects its wear, friction, thermal, chemical and physical properties in many ways. This article reports effect of TiO2 nanoparticles suspended in servo system lubricating oil prepared by sonication process without adding any surfactant. Four different volume concentrations (0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6% and 0.8%) of TiO2 nanoparticles in the base lubricating oil are used for analysis. Calorific value, flash point, viscosity are the physicochemical properties of the TiO2 nano-lubricant investigated at different Volume Concentrations (VC). Wear scar diameter and coefficient of friction are the tribological properties analyzed for the prepared nano-lubricant at different VCs. Calorific value and flash point of the nano-lubricant was found to be decreasing with increasing VCs compared to base lubricant oil. Viscosity, on the other hand was almost same as the base lubricant oil for the proposed VCs. Wear scar diameter and friction coefficient was found to increase with increase in VC of TiO2 nanoparticles in the lubricant oil. It is concluded that, to obtain better results agglomeration of nanoparticles has to be avoided which can be achieved with the use of surfactant

SEMANTIC BASED E-LEARNING RECOMMENDER SYSTEM

Introduction of new technologies in the last few decades have brought about some innovative methods in web-based education. However many of these online courses provide universal static solution which do not cater the individual needs of the learner. Recommender system has been successfully recommending items such as books, movies, news articles etc however recommendation techniques applied in the e-learning domain are relatively new. Many of the techniques applied in the e-learning domain are generic and usually derived from other domains. This paper will present semantic based recommender system for e-learner to facilitate effective learning. We use a novel alternative to conventional recommendation techniques by considering a social network tool such as twitter which is popular for information sharing. Relevant tweets are recommended to the learner as per the current learning topic of the learner

Comparsion of Topical Corticosteroid Nasal Spray / Second Generation Antihistamine with Topical Corticosteroid Nasal Spray

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of topical nasal corticosteroids alone and in combination with second generation oral antihistamine in the treatment of moderate to severe allergic rhinitis.Study design: Randomized control trialDuration of study: One year from 15th June 2011 to 15th June 2012, E.N.T outpatient department Fauji foundation hospital Rawalpindi.Methodology: 200 cases meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were taken from the outpatient E.N.T Department Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi and informed consent was taken from each of them for using their data in this study. My study variables are age, gender, the effectiveness of treatment given to each of the two groups, rhinorrhoea, sneezing, nasal blocking, nasal itching, post nasal drip and condition of nasal mucosa. Nasal speculum is used to examine the nose with the head light and post nasal drip is seen with the help of tongue depressor. There were 200 patients divided into two groups of 100 patients each. Group I treated with topical nasal corticosteroid spray (flunisolide) and group II receiving second generation oral antihistamine tablet (loratadine) in addition to the topical nasal corticosteroid (flunisolide). Results: 200 patients were included in the study from E.N.T outpatient department in Fauji foundation hospital Rawalpindi. On the basis of treatments, intranasal corticosteroid spray (INCS) alone and in combination with second generation oral antihistamine patients were divided into two groups of 100 patients in each group and evaluated for effectiveness of each treatment. Effectiveness was assessed by improvement score in symptoms for both the types of treatments to see which treatment of the two was more effective. Conclusion: The comparative study of Intranasal corticosteroids spray alone and in combination with second-generation antihistamines proved that combination treatment of INCS with antihistamine is better therapy than intranasal corticosteroid spray alone in allergic rhinitis

Effects of operating variables in adsorption for azo textile dye from wastewater: Optimization of process parameters by Box-Behnken design of RSM: Isothermal and kinetic studies

9-22The removal of dye from azo textile dye using raw wheat bran adsorbent prepared by coating on low-density Polypropylene (PP) particles has been studied by batch experimental studies. The batch adsorption studies have been performed for 36 h. Box–Behnken design of response surface methodology (RSM) is utilized to ascertain the impact of initial concentration, adsorbent dose, and pH on the removal of dye. The data obtained from experimental parameters have been analyzed through the fitting of kinetic models such as Pseudo-first order, Pseudo second-order model, Intraparticle diffusion, and Elovich model for dye removal along with correlation or regression coefficient (R2) values. The statistical analyses of the results collected in reaction kinetic modeling portray the superiority of the Pseudo second-order model for both dye removal. In the dye removal, the higher R2 values are seen in case of better suitability of the Pseudo second-order model. The isotherms of adsorption experiments have been performed by employing different adsorption isotherm models such as Dubinin–Radushkevich, and Halsey. It is observed that both isotherms reflect the equilibrium data for dye removal

Effect of Alpha-Type external input on annihilation of self-sustained activity in a two population neural field model

In the present work, we investigate the annihilation of persistent localized activity states (bumps) in a Wilson-Cowan type two-population neural field model in response to $\alpha$ -type spatio-temporal external input. These activity states serves as working memory in the prefrontal cortex. The impact of different parameters involved in the external input on annihilation of these persistent activity states is investigated in detail. The $\alpha$ -type temporal function in the external input is closer to natural phenomenon as observed in Roth et. al . ( Nature Neuroscience , vol. 19 (2016), 229–307). Two types of eraser mechanism are used in this work to annihilate the spatially symmetric solutions. Initially, if there is an activity in the network, inhibitory external input with no excitatory part and over excitation with no inhibition in the external input can kill the activity. Our results show that the annihilation of persistent activity states using $\alpha$ -type temporal function in the external input is more roubust and more efficient as compare to triangular one as used by Yousaf et al. ( Neural networks. , vol. 46 (2013), pp. 75–90). It is also found that the relative inhibition time constant plays a crucial role in annihilation of the activity. Runge-Kutta fourth order method has been employed for numerical simulations of this work.publishedVersio

Being Dissimilar: Religious Dissimilarity, Gender Dissimilarity, Value Dissimilarity and Job Satisfaction

The aim of this research is to study the impact of religious dissimilarity, and gender dissimilarity on job satisfaction. Religious dissimilarity and sexual dissimilarity definitely exaggerated supposed value dissimilarity, which in line, detained a pessimistic relationship with job satisfaction. These properties are capable, though, by a considerable religious difference, religious personal identity relations such that, for people whose religious values are a vital element of who they are, becoming religiously dissimilar in the place of work robustly impact their supposed value dissimilarity

An Overview on Synthetic Biology: its Classification, Engineering Approaches, and Applications of Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on living organisms and systems, employing engineering techniques to create innovative biological devices, systems, and components. It represents the convergence of old and new approaches, bridging the gap between chemistry and biology, with synthetic chemistry laying the foundation for its emergence. At its core, synthetic biology aims to develop and engineer biological systems by bringing together engineers and biologists to design and construct novel biomolecular parts, circuits, and pathways. These constructs are then utilized to reconstruct, reanalyze, and reprogram organisms for various purposes. There are five primary categories within synthetic biology: bioengineering, synthetic genome, protocell synthetic biology, unconventional molecular biology, and in silico techniques. Traditionally, four engineering approaches have been employed in synthetic biology, including top-down, parallel, orthogonal, and bottom-up methods. These approaches provide a systematic and rational way of reassembling and reconstructing biological components, enabling the creation of functional biological devices, systems, and organisms with known, useful, and novel functions. Synthetic biology holds the promise of providing efficient solutions to various significant challenges in the modern world, encompassing areas such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, energy, and bioremediation. By leveraging engineering methods in the realm of biology, synthetic biology benefits from over 50 years of molecular biological and functional genomic research, along with advanced technologies that allow for the analysis, synthesis, assembly, modification, and transfer of genetic components into living organisms. In essence, synthetic biology offers an exciting avenue to unlock the potential of biological systems and revolutionize multiple industries through innovative modifications and breakthrough innovations

Optimum spacing between grooved tubes: an experimental study

An experimental study on the optimum spacing between grooved tubes is reported in this paper. Two grooved tubes having a pitch of 10 mm and 15 mm and a plain tube were considered for the heat transfer analysis. The spacing between two tubes with the same pitch was varied from 10 mm to 35 mm with a step size of 5 mm. The velocity of air flowing over the tube surfaces was changed from 0.4 m/s to 1 m/s using a blower fan. Based on Nusselt number (Nu) the optimum spacing between the tubes was decided. The optimum spacing between grooved tubes of pitch 10 mm and 15 mm was compared with that of plain tubes. From the experimental analysis, it was noticed that with an increase in air velocity (increase in Reynolds number) the tube surface temperature reduced irrespective of any tube considered. Nu increased with an increase in air velocity for all the tubes. The important conclusion drawn from the present study was that there exists a limiting spacing (optimum) between the tubes above which no change in Nu was observed. The spacing of 30 mm was found to be the optimum spacing between the tubes irrespective of its surface geometry modifications

Cytotoxic and antioxidant potentials of ellagic acid derivatives from Conocarpus lancifolius (Combretaceae)

Purpose: Isolation, characterisation and structure elucidation of compounds obtained from Conocarpus lancifolius and screening of their pharmacological effects in vitro.Methods: After collection, authentication and extraction from whole C. lancifolius plants, screening for secondary metabolites, thin-layer  chromatography and subsequent open column chromatography were performed for phytochemical analysis and subsequent purification of the compounds. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic (UV-visible, infrared and mass) spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR including BB, DEPT-135, 90 and two-dimensional correlation techniques, including HMBC and HSQC). The cytotoxic and antioxidant potentials of extracts and compounds obtained from C. lancifolius were evaluated using in vitro models.Results: Two ellagic acid derivatives, 2,3,8-tri-o-methylellagic acid (A) and 3-O-methylellagic acid 4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (B), were isolated. Both compounds (A and B) were cytotoxic in a variety of cancer cell lines, including murine lymphocytic leukaemia (P-388, half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) =3.60 and 2.40 μg/mL, respectively), human colon cancer (Col-2, IC50 = 0.76 and 0.92 μg/mL, respectively) and human breast cancer (MCF-7, IC50 = 0.65 and 0.54 μg/mL, respectively). Moreover, both compounds showed significant antioxidant potential in vitro.Conclusion: C. lancifolius extract and isolated ellagic acid derivatives (compounds A and B) possess cytotoxic and antioxidant properties. These findings suggest that C. lancifolius contains bioactive compounds that can be potentially developed as natural cytotoxic and antioxidant compounds. Keywords: Conocarpus lancifolius, Ellagic acid, Combretaceae, Cytotoxic activity, Antioxidan