Effect of quenching media on properties of aluminium-alumina metal matrix composite

Particle reinforced aluminium matrix composites are frequently used in various automotive and aerospace applications involving critical functions like piston rings, wing mid and inner cover etc. Here the composites are frequently subjected to extreme conditions involving large temperature differentials in a short period of time like in pistons facing an average temperature of 300 0C or in aeroplane wings facing cryogenic temperatures at high altitudes. Such conditions can deteriorate the particle matrix interface resulting in a decreased ability to resist matrix deformation or strengthen the matrix through dislocation generation due to thermal misfit between matrix and reinforcement. Hence, this phenomena has been investigated in the course of this work by quenching aluminium alumina micro and nano composites in different quenchants and studying the effects on mechanical properties as well as the microstructure. Increase in hardness was likely due to dislocation generation as was realized from the greater increase for higher vol. fration reinforcement composites, while post quench softening was likely due to decohesion and cracking of matrix and particles

Amelioration of experimental rheumatoid arthritis by selected ultra-diluted preparations by down regulating increased expression of TNF-α & IL-6

956-964The current work explored the inhibitory effect of selected homeopathic drugs, in experimental models of inflammation and CFA-induced arthritis. Twelve groups of animals were made, each containing 6 animals. The selected homeopathic drugs (causticum, calcarea, medorrhinum, mercurius, formica, proteus, silica, sulphur, thuja), placebo and standard drug, Indomethacin. In CFA model, treatment groups and the reference drug were administered daily for a period of 21 days. Dysfunction in joints was evaluated by parameters such as joint diameter, expression of inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6). Findings of the study revealed that on CFA administration, there is a significant (p<0.01) increase in joint diameter in all the tested animals. On day 3, we found highest increase in the joint diameter in all treatment groups. Medorrhinum, silica, sulphur showed significant (p<0.01) decrease in joint diameter on day 21. Significant (p<0.05) reduction in paw edema was observed at 5 h post carrageenan administration. IHC of NF-kB in CFA treated group revealed presence of vacuoles, infiltration of inflammatory cells. However, prominent reversal of joint damage was seen in homeopathic drugs (medorrhinum, silica, sulphur) and indomethacin. Study inferred that the homeopathic drugs (medorrhinum, silica, sulphur) and indomethacin were found to be potent in ameliorating inflammation

Validation of Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) Advisories (2006 – 2007)

The Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) Advisories are being generated and disseminated by Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS). The methodology used for generation of these advisories and the scientific basis behind the identification of the PFZ locations was described. With a view to validate these PFZ Advisories and to assess the potential benefits to the fishing community, INCOIS had undertaken PFZ validation experiments at various places under the leadership of fishery experts. Simultaneous fishing operations have been conducted within the PFZ Areas and outside PFZ Areas using identical vessels. The quantitative results of the experiments were described

PRIMARY CELL CULTURE OF AEDES ALBOPICTUS MIDGUT CELLS: A PROSPECTIVE MODEL FOR IN VITRO STUDY OF ARBOVIRUSES

  Objective: Midgut cells play a key role in the propagation of mosquito borne Arboviruses. The existing mosquito cell lines for studying viral pathogenesis are derived either from larvae or from eggs since there is no cell line available from the mosquito midgut. Therefore, to delineate the in situ viral interaction which naturally occurs within the mosquito midgut and represent cellular pathogenesis in human beings, the present work was aimed to develop a primary cell line from the midgut cells of Aedes albopictus.Methods: The midgut cells of A. albopictus were collected, cultured and incubated at 28°C to study the growth after every 24 hrs for 7 days.Result: The primary cell culture showed an increasing growth pattern of columnar cells up to 48 hrs followed by decrease in cell population afterward. However, the number of stem cells increased significantly throughout the study period, and their population outnumbered the columnar cells after 72 hrs. There was no significant change of goblet cells and regenerating cells which were scanty in number throughout the experiment.Conclusion: The present method will help to develop the individual cell lines from mosquito midgut and study the host pathogen interaction in arboviral diseases in future

Clinical, hematological and cytogenetic profile in fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 rearranged hematoloymphoid malignancies

The background of this study is FGFR1 belongs to a family of four, high-affinity receptor tyrosine kinase and is a legitimate oncogene associated with uterine, cervical, prostate, bladder, colorectal and lung cancers. It is rarely concomitant in myeloid and lymphoid neoplasms but has an aggressive clinical course with a high mortality rate when present. Cytogenetic abnormalities involving the FGFR1 gene is most frequently observed in AML, MPN with eosinophilia, T-ALL and T-LBL with ZMYM2 gene being the most common fusion partner. Methods of this study was to authors report a series of 4 cases with FGFR1 rearrangements. Results is three patients presented as T-cell Lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) and one as mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL). The T-LBL cases harboured the FGFR1/ ZMYM2 fusion and the MPAL case harbored the CNTRL/FGFR1 fusion as identified by conventional cytogenetics and confirmed by molecular studies. Conclusion is authors herewith describe the clinical, biochemical, molecular and cytogenetic features observed in these cases

Eagle Syndrome- An Entity Often Misdiagnosed

Introduction Throat pain is one of the most common complaints that an otolaryngologist encounters in daily practice, there can be numerous aetiologies to it. Eagle Syndrome is one such entity which is characterized by chronic throat pain due to elongation of the styloid process or mineralization of the stylohyoid ligament. The vague symptomatology of this condition often leads to delayed diagnosis and treatment.    Case Reports We report 5 cases of Eagle Syndrome. All the patients presented to us with complaints of chronic throat radiating to neck which did not relieve on taking medications, for the same they have been consulting multiple specialities. The diagnosis of Eagle Syndrome was confirmed by palpation in tonsillar fossa and orthopantomogram revealed enlarged styloid process measuring more than 30mm. Upon confirmation, all the 5 patients underwent tonsillo-styloidectomy and on consequent follow ups, they were symptomatically improved. Discussion Eagle Syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion and should raise high index of suspicion in patients with nonspecific throat and neck pain not responding to any conservative treatment. With an increasing incidence of side effects following injudicious treatment given in such cases, this condition requires attention, as it a rare entity and often misdiagnosed

Potential of X-ray imaging to detect citrus granulation in different cultivars with progress in harvesting time

263-268Granulation, a physiological disorder of citrus is manifested by shriveled juice sacs and internal dryness. Extractable juice in granulated tissue is drastically reduced as a consequence of gelatinization and secondary epidermis formation. Since, the defect cannot be detected externally it leads to consumer dissatisfaction and poor returns to farmers. Processing industry also faces huge economic loss due to reduction in the juice recovery from granulated fruit. In this context, here, we studied the possibility of developing an image processing algorithm through MATLAB software to detect granulation with advancement of maturity via X-ray micrographs. Fruit of eight citrus cultivars comprising of granulation susceptible and tolerant varieties harvested at four different intervals were exposed to X-rays. Voltage of 46 kV and current of 6.5 mA given to fruit for an exposure time of 320 mAs gave the best X-ray image contrasts. The developed algorithm could effectively distinguish the healthy and granulated fruit with an accuracy of 90% as validated by subsequent destructive analysis when estimated for four different harvesting dates. The imaging technique can be employed by the processors to determine the severity of granulation and to sort out fruit online which will help in saving economic losses

Herbex-kid Inhibits Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions in Mice and Rats

Herbex-kid (HK), a polyherbal formulation was evaluated in various experimental allergic models of Type I hypersensitivity reactions. Compound 48/80 (C 48/80) has been shown to induce rat mesentery mast cell degranulation and HK (1.07, 10.75 and 107.5 mg ml−1) inhibited the mast cell degranulation in a dose dependent manner. HK (1.07, 10.75 and 107.5 mg kg−1; p.o.) showed dose-dependent protection against C 48/80 induced systemic anaphylaxis in male Balb/C mice. In active anaphylaxis model, male Wistar rats orally administered with 10.75 and 107.5 mg kg−1 of HK showed significant (P < 0.01) protection against mast cell degranulation, while in passive anaphylaxis model, only at 107.5 mg kg−1 showed significant (P < 0.01) reduction in mast cell degranulation. HK at all dose levels was able to significantly decrease the time spent in nasal rubbing in Wistar rats sensitized to ovalbumin, while only at 107.5 mg kg−1 it showed significant (P < 0.01) reduction in number of sneezes. In C 48/80-induced skin itch model, all dose levels of HK significantly (P < 0.001) decreased the time spent in itching and the number of itches. HK did not produce any significant inhibition in histamine induced contraction in guinea pig ileum. From the above findings we conclude that the HK possesses antiallergic activity mediated by reducing of the release mediators from mast cells and also by 5-HT antagonism without the involvement of histamine (H1) receptors

Genetic dissection of drought tolerance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the second most important grain legume cultivated by resource poor farmers in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Drought is one of the major constraints leading up to 50 % production losses in chickpea. In order to dissect the complex nature of drought tolerance and to use genomics tools for enhancing yield of chickpea under drought conditions, two mapping populations—ICCRIL03 (ICC 4958 × ICC 1882) and ICCRIL04 (ICC 283 × ICC 8261) segregating for drought tolerance-related root traits were phenotyped for a total of 20 drought component traits in 1–7 seasons at 1–5 locations in India. Individual genetic maps comprising 241 loci and 168 loci for ICCRIL03 and ICCRIL04, respectively, and a consensus genetic map comprising 352 loci were constructed (http://cmap.icrisat.ac.in/cmap/sm/cp/varshney/). Analysis of extensive genotypic and precise phenotypic data revealed 45 robust main-effect QTLs (M-QTLs) explaining up to 58.20 % phenotypic variation and 973 epistatic QTLs (E-QTLs) explaining up to 92.19 % phenotypic variation for several target traits. Nine QTL clusters containing QTLs for several drought tolerance traits have been identified that can be targeted for molecular breeding. Among these clusters, one cluster harboring 48 % robust M-QTLs for 12 traits and explaining about 58.20 % phenotypic variation present on CaLG04 has been referred as “QTL-hotspot”. This genomic region contains seven SSR markers (ICCM0249, NCPGR127, TAA170, NCPGR21, TR11, GA24 and STMS11). Introgression of this region into elite cultivars is expected to enhance drought tolerance in chickpea

Social and environmental sustainability model on consumers’ altruism, green purchase intention, green brand loyalty, and evangelism

Across the globe, the awareness for environmental degradation and its harmful effects is rapidly growing. The whole world has come together to work in the direction to protect the environment. Consumers are increasingly becoming cautious towards the impact of their consumption pattern on environment and organisations can attain a competitive edge by leveraging this cautiousness by offering them green products/brands. However, it is importance for the marketers to understand that how increasing levels of sustainability awareness impacts other factors which explain pro-environmental behaviour of customers. To fill the existing gap in the current literature in this regard, the current study aims to build a structural model which includes social and environmental sustainability awareness in measuring customer altruism, buying intention, loyalty and customer evangelism. The theoretical model extends the existing framework of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and explores the decision-making framework regarding ethical behaviour. Through existing literature review and expert input, the indicators (variables) for each construct were recognised. After that, data was collected from 331 respondents through a structurally designed questionnaire; the hypothetical model was test using the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) technique. The findings of the study indicate that sustainability awareness positively influence the consumer altruism which in turn enhances the consumer purchase intention, green brand loyalty and green brand evangelism and altruism can and can bridge value-action gap for green brands. Current analysis supports the view that there are significant positive associations among the identified constructs.N/