220 research outputs found
Simulation model of human cupula for free vibration analysis
Any dysfunction of vestibular system leads to various diseases, the most common among them is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). BPPV is most found in elderly people causing vertigo/dizziness which leads to fall and serious injuries. The primary system in inner ear helping in human body balancing and postural adjustment is the cupula. Cupulolithiasis is a type of BPPV caused when otoconia get settles on the cupula. In the present work, a three-dimensional model of cupula and otoconia particle is modelled. A free vibration modal analysis is carried out on the cupula with and without otoconia particle to extract the natural frequency and mode shapes. Change in natural frequency of the cupula due to presence of otoconia particle is presented. Present work has a future scope involving fluid solid interaction (FSI) and extracting response of the cupula incorporating damping to obtain complete dynamic characteristics of cupula. The extracted results help in future investigation of new therapeutical solution to treat BPPV
Investigation of Submarine Groundwater Discharge using Thermal Satellite and Radon mapping along the East Coast of the Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry Region, India
Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) demarcated as a significant component of hydrological cycle found to discharge greater volumes of terrestrial fresh and recirculated seawater to the ocean associated with chemical constituents (nutrients, metals, and organic compounds) aided by downward hydraulic gradient and sediment-water exchange. Delineating SGD is of primal significance due to the transport of nutrients and contaminants due to domestic, industrial, and agricultural practices that influence the coastal water quality, ecosystems, and geochemical cycles. An attempt has been made to demarcate the SGD using thermal infrared images and radon-222 (222Rn) isotope. Thermal infrared images processed from LANDSAT-8 data suggest prominent freshwater fluxes with higher temperature anomalies noted in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam districts, and lower temperature noted along northern and southern parts of the study area suggest saline/recirculated discharge. Groundwater samples were collected along the coastal regions to analyze Radon and Physico-chemical constituents. Radon in groundwater ranges between 127.39 Bq m-3 and 2643.41 Bq m-3 with an average of 767.80 Bq m-3. Calculated SGD fluxes range between -1.0 to 26.5 with an average of 10.32 m day-1. Comparison of the thermal infrared image with physio-chemical parameters and Radon suggest fresh, terrestrial SGD fluxes confined to the central parts of the study area and lower fluxes observed along with the northern and southern parts of the study area advocate impact due to seawater intrusion and recirculated seawater influence
Rare Origin of Accessory Left Gastric Artery from Splenic Artery and Its Clinical Significance: A Case Report
During routine dissection of abdomen an accessory left gastric artery was found arising from the splenic artery in one out of 30 adult formalin fixed cadavers in the Department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College Manipal. The origin of left gastric artery was normal. The accessory artery was running upwards behind usual left gastric artery and run along lesser curvature of the
stomach and also gave oesophageal branch supplying the lower part of esophagus. Before attempting any surgical procedure on stomach or lower end of oesophagus, preoperative evaluation of the arterial pattern and variations is desirable for correct surgical
approach and to reduce postoperative complications. However, accessory left gastric origin from splenic artery becomes important to be noted when the patient undergoes angiography for diagnostic bleeding or during trans catheter therapy. Knowledge about these variations is also important to be noted prior to surgery in order to prevent postoperative complications which
would be fatal
Recent Advances on Metal Oxide Based Nano-Photocatalysts as Potential Antibacterial and Antiviral Agents
Photocatalysis, a unique process that occurs in the presence of light radiation, can potentially be utilized to control environmental pollution, and improve the health of society. Photocatalytic removal, or disinfection, of chemical and biological species has been known for decades; however, its extension to indoor environments in public places has always been challenging. Many efforts have been made in this direction in the last two–three years since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Furthermore, the development of efficient photocatalytic nanomaterials through modifications to improve their photoactivity under ambient conditions for fighting with such a pandemic situation is a high research priority. In recent years, several metal oxides-based nano-photocatalysts have been designed to work efficiently in outdoor and indoor environments for the photocatalytic disinfection of biological species. The present review briefly discusses the advances made in the last two to three years for photocatalytic viral and bacterial disinfections. Moreover, emphasis has been given to the tailoring of such nano-photocatalysts in disinfecting surfaces, air, and water to stop viral/bacterial infection in the indoor environment. The role of such nano-photocatalysts in the photocatalytic disinfection of COVID-19 has also been highlighted with their future applicability in controlling such pandemics
Estimating groundwater inputs from Sankarabarani River Basin, South India to the Bay of Bengal evaluated by Radium (226Ra) and nutrient fluxes
Sankarabarani river basin gains significance due to presence of major industrial, agricultural, urban development and tourist related activities has influenced the water quality in the estuarine environment. Investigations about river water quality has been attempted but not more studies focus about the evaluation of groundwater discharge a significant process that connects groundwater and the coastal seawater have been attempted. For the present study, radium (226Ra) a naturally occurring isotope was measured at three locations and used as effective tracers for estimating the groundwater discharge along with nutrient inputs to the Bay. Groundwater samples representing north east monsoon (December, 2017) has been collected during tidal variation in three locations (Location A- away from the coast towards inland, Location B-intermediate between Location A and the coast and Location C-at the estuary). 226Ra mass balance calculated groundwater fluxes irrespective of tidal variations were 2.27×108 m3/d, 2.19×108 m3/d and 5.22×107m3/d for A, B and C locations respectively. The nutrients like Dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), Dissolved inorganic Phosphate (DIP) and Dissolved Silica (DSi) were found to be influencing the coastal groundwater by contributing fluxes to the sea of about 679.33 T mol/day. The study suggests increasing radium and nutrient fluxes to the Bay altering the coastal ecosystems would result in surplus algal blooms creating hypoxia
Effect of plasma treatment on polyester knitted fabrics: Part II — Moisture management properties
This study focuses on the moisture management properties of plasma-treated polyester knitted fabrics (spun, continuous filament, micro denier and hollow fibre). The effect of different loop lengths and the impact of oxygen plasma treatment on the moisture management properties of the fabric has also been studied. The moisture management properties are better for the plasma-treated fabric and also for the fabric having highest loop length. The moisture management properties of the fabric have been improved with the oxygen plasma treatment.
Superconductivity in single crystals of a quasi-one dimensional infinite chain cuprate SrCaCuO at 90 K
Although there is no complete theory of high temperature superconductivity,
the importance of CuO planes in cuprate superconductors is confirmed from
both theory and experiments. Strong Coulomb repulsion between electrons on the
CuO plane makes the resultant electron system highly correlated and a
difficult problem to solve since exact solutions of many-body Hamiltonian in
two dimensions do not exist. If however, superconductivity can arise in
structures having chains rather than planes and having a high critical
temperature, then the high temperature superconductivity problem could become
more tractable since exact solutions in one dimension do exist. In this paper,
we report the observation of bulk superconductivity in single crystals of a
cuprate SrCaCuO at very high critical temperature, T, of
90 K whose structure reveals the presence of infinite double chains of
Cu-O-Cu-O instead of CuO planes, thus, ensuring quasi-one dimensional
superconductivity. Bulk superconducting behaviour was observed in \textit{dc}
magnetisation, \textit{ac} susceptibility as well as resistance measurements.
The observation of bulk superconductivity in SrCaCuO having
chains of Cu-O-Cu-O rather than planes of CuO at a high T of 90 K is
expected to profoundly impact our understanding of high temperature
superconductivity.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure
Effect of plasma treatment on polyester knitted fabrics: Part I - Thermal comfort
Plasma-treated thermal comfort properties of four different types of polyester knitted fabrics (spun, continuous filament, micro denier and hollow fibre polyester), have been studied. The oxygen plasma treatment shows an encouraging effect on the air permeability, thermal conductivity, relative water vapour permeability, and wicking of the fabric samples. The findings mostly depend on the oxygen gas, loop length parameter and the thickness of the fabric. The oxygen plasma treatment also affects the thickness of fabric. The plasma-treated micro denier fabric, having courser count with higher loop length, shows higher air permeability. The plasma-treated hollow fibre polyester fabric has higher water vapour permeability, higher thermal conductivity and the highest wicking height.
The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment: Exploring Fundamental Symmetries of the Universe
The preponderance of matter over antimatter in the early Universe, the
dynamics of the supernova bursts that produced the heavy elements necessary for
life and whether protons eventually decay --- these mysteries at the forefront
of particle physics and astrophysics are key to understanding the early
evolution of our Universe, its current state and its eventual fate. The
Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE) represents an extensively developed
plan for a world-class experiment dedicated to addressing these questions. LBNE
is conceived around three central components: (1) a new, high-intensity
neutrino source generated from a megawatt-class proton accelerator at Fermi
National Accelerator Laboratory, (2) a near neutrino detector just downstream
of the source, and (3) a massive liquid argon time-projection chamber deployed
as a far detector deep underground at the Sanford Underground Research
Facility. This facility, located at the site of the former Homestake Mine in
Lead, South Dakota, is approximately 1,300 km from the neutrino source at
Fermilab -- a distance (baseline) that delivers optimal sensitivity to neutrino
charge-parity symmetry violation and mass ordering effects. This ambitious yet
cost-effective design incorporates scalability and flexibility and can
accommodate a variety of upgrades and contributions. With its exceptional
combination of experimental configuration, technical capabilities, and
potential for transformative discoveries, LBNE promises to be a vital facility
for the field of particle physics worldwide, providing physicists from around
the globe with opportunities to collaborate in a twenty to thirty year program
of exciting science. In this document we provide a comprehensive overview of
LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the landscape of neutrino physics
worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate and the capabilities it will
possess.Comment: Major update of previous version. This is the reference document for
LBNE science program and current status. Chapters 1, 3, and 9 provide a
comprehensive overview of LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the
landscape of neutrino physics worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate
and the capabilities it will possess. 288 pages, 116 figure
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