Mesoscopic simulation of abnormal grain growth

Grain growth is the process that takes place during annealing of polycrystalline materials; its major feature is a systematic increase in grain size. Two different types of grain growth can be distinguished: the normal and abnormal grain growth. During normal grain growth, the microstructure exhibits a uniform increase in grain size with time and the grain size distribution follows the log-normal distribution with the grain sizes ranging from 0 - 2.2 times the average grain size (R). On the contrary, when the abnormal grain growth is the dominant mechanism, there are certain grains (abnormal grains) in the microstructure that grow much faster than the majority of the grains and in the end consume the fine-grained matrix around them. There has been a lot of work done in the field of abnormal grain growth, but the actual mechanism of abnormal grain formation and development from a uniform grain size distribution is not fully understood. In this study, various aspects of abnormal grain growth are investigated using a mesoscopic simulation approach. Our investigation focuses on two possible venues that are, in general, considered as main sources promoting abnormal grain growth. The role of both the geometrical inhomogeneities (size effect) and grain boundary (GB) anisotropic properties are investigated. Simulations are done on various microstructures in which there are certain fraction of preexistent large grains (size greater than 2.2), as well as on microstructures in which a given fraction of grains has different GB properties (mobility and energy). Our simulation results indicate that the presence of some large grains in the initial microstructure does not promote the abnormal grain growth. However, when certain grains in the microstructure have grain boundary energies below a certain threshold or mobilities above a certain threshold value relative to the rest of the grains, the microstructure may evolve by abnormal grain growth

EVALUATION OF RENAL CHANGES IN SICKLE CELL DISEASE IN A REFERRAL GOVERNMENT INSTITUTE OF SOUTHERN ODISHA

Objective: The objective of the study was to study various renal manifestations in sickle cell disease (SCD) and to establish a cause and effect relationship with the evaluation of risk factors. Methods: This prospective observational cross-sectional study was conducted on 82 SCD patients belonging to the age group of 15–50 years of both the genders over a period of 2 years from January 2019 to December 2020 in MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur, Odisha, India. Eighty-two patients, 32 (39.02%) having sickle cell anemia (SCA) and 50 (60.98%) having sickle cell trait (SCT), admitted to medicine and nephrology wards of the hospital were included in this study. SCD patients with other hemolytic anemia and with renal congenital/structural abnormality and patients with systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, systemic hypertension, and systemic lupus erythematosus were excluded from the study. Various laboratory investigations such as complete blood count, hemoglobin (Hb), serum sodium, serum potassium, serum urea, serum creatinine, fasting blood sugar, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, liver function test, urine routine, and microscopic test were carried out. Diagnosis of SCD patients was based on sickling test and high-performance liquid chromatography testing. Radiologic imaging (Sonography for renal changes) was done at radiodiagnosis department of the hospital. Results: Glomerular and tubular dysfunction was more in SCA (Hb SS) patients than SCT (Hb AS) patients and the abnormality was more in patients in crisis. Albuminuria in 78.12%, hematuria in 46.87%, cast and crystal in 28.12%, epithelial cell in 31.25%, and hyposthenuria in 56.25% were found in SCA patients. In SCT patients, albuminuria in 38%, hematuria in 16%, cast and crystal in 22%, epithelial cell in 12%, and hyposthenuria in 24% were found. All the above findings were more in percentages in crisis patients of both the groups. In SCA, 37.5% and in SCT, 2% were found to have chronic kidney disease. Conclusion: Renal involvement in the form of glomerular and tubular dysfunction occur in SCD and more in crisis patients, leading to renal complications, and end-stage renal disease

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF HYPERTENSIVE CHANGES IN ELDERLY PATIENTS OF ISOLATED SYSTOLIC HYPERTENSION WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CARDIOVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the echocardiographic changes and cardiovascular complications in patients with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH). Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study done in the Departments of General Medicine, Cardiology, and Radiodiagnosis of MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur, Odisha, India. Seventy patients above the age of 65 years with systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥140 mm Hg and diastolic BP <90 mm Hg, without any secondary causes of hypertension and antihypertensive drug therapy were selected for this study. Echocardiography and electrocardiography studies were implemented for demonstrating the development of cardiovascular complications. Results: Of 70 cases (41 males and 29 females), 64.3% were asymptomatic and 35.7% were symptomatic, with palpitation being the major symptom, 40% (28 cases) developed retinopathy, 45.71% developed increased left ventricular mass index (p=0.04), 18.57% had increased in LV volume (>90 ml/m2), 30% cases had regional wall motion abnormalities, 27.1% had reduced ejection fraction (<56%), and 52.66% showed LA enlargement in this study (p=0.048). Doppler measurements of diastolic filling were significant in patients with ISH with higher peak atrial velocity (A wave) of 79.71±11.79 cm/s and a lower ratio of peak early to atrial velocity of 0.82±0.29. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that elderly patients with ISH had a prevalence of concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) which was found to be more in female patients than in male patients followed by left atrial enlargement

Cultivation of Black Goji Berry (Lycium Ruthenicum Murr.) in the Trans Himalayan Region Ladakh Agro Technique Harvest, Yield and Cost Benefit Analysis

The present study discusses the agro technique, harvesting, yield, and economics of less explored highly medicinal plant black goji berry (Lycium ruthenicum). It was observed that black goji berries can be easily cultivated through seed, pencil-thickness hardwood stem cuttings, and rootstock. Black goji berry harvesting is a very difficult and tedious task for goji growing farmers as the berries get easily ruptured during harvesting and lose their content. To address these obstacles, DIHAR-DRDO, Leh conducted several goji berry harvesting trials deploying various techniques. Collecting fruits/berries to their full potential requires careful planning and tactics, which involves the use of an appropriate harvesting method that minimizes damage. After performing various method of harvesting, the best outcome was reported in cutting the fruit-bearing branch method as its less expensive with minimum fruit damage (5 %), time-saving, and retain the quality of fruit as compared to the other harvesting methods. An approximate cost production and net profit calculation were performed for 1011.71 square meters (02 Kanal) plantations of L. ruthenicum to their average yield of fruit production per plant. The average yield of three-year-old hardwood stem cutting and uprooted plant is 500-600 gm of fresh berry per plant on average. The economic relation to the cost production of L. ruthenicum is highly beneficial and it has all the capabilities of enhancing the socio-economy of the fragile ecosystem

Parenting Adolescence

Adolescence is derived from Latin word “Adolescere” meaning to grow in maturity.[1] World Health Organization (WHO) defines “adolescence” as a period between 10 to 19 years of age.[2] It is a period in which a person is no longer a child and not yet an adult. It is a phase of growth and development from childhood to adulthood and onset of puberty to reproductive maturity. There are estimated 1.2 billion (120 crores) adolescents in the world [3] and in India these constitute nearly 21.4% of population i.e. 243 millions.[4]Adolescence is life’s fascinating and perhaps one of the most complex stages of life. It is the time when young people take on responsibilities and experiences experiments with independence. During adolescence there is a rapid physical growth and development of physical, mental, social, psychological and sexual aspects. In addition to these changes some behavioral changes also occur like independency, intimacy, identity, intellect, peer group dependence. The process of rapid and multifaceted changes makes them vulnerable to many problems. About 40% of global burden of diseases falls on them.[3] For majority of the problems of adolescents the root cause is the lack of proper guidance and support by parents; providing which is a challenge

Differential Expression of Heat Shock Protein (HSP) 70-2 Gene Polymorphism in Benign and Malignant Pancreatic Disorders and Its Relationship with Disease Severity and Complications

Context The role of heat shock protein (HSP) 70-2 gene polymorphism (at position 1267, A to G transition) in patients with pancreatic disorders is not clear. Objective To evaluate HSP 70-2 gene polymorphism (at position 1267, A to G transition) in patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis as well as pancreatic carcinoma, and to find any association of this polymorphism with disease complications and severity. Methods One-hundred and fifty patients (50 each of acute, chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatic carcinoma) and 50 healthy blood donors as controls were prospectively studied. Three alleles (AA, AG and GG) of HSP 70-2 gene determined by PstI restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results There was a statistically significant difference in the distribution pattern of HSP 70-2 gene polymorphism in patients with acute pancreatitis (P=0.001) and pancreatic carcinoma (P<0.001) as compared to controls. The frequency of mutant allele (G allele) was significantly higher in diseased group as compared to control group (19% in control group, 40% in acute pancreatitis, 33% in chronic pancreatitis and 45% in pancreatic carcinoma). No association of this polymorphism was found with disease severity in patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic carcinoma. Conclusions In our patient sample the frequency of mutant allele (G allele) of HSP 70-2 gene is significantly higher in patients with acute pancreatitis and pancreatic carcinoma compared to controls (50 healthy blood donors). However, this polymorphism was not associated with disease severity and complications.Image: Allelic distribution in the study population