Application of the levitation technique for investigation of metal alloys and phase equilibria in slags

Experimental methods, based on electromagnetic levitation, have been developed for preparation and investigation of copper-rich alloys, and for the determination of oxide-metal phase equilibria. These techniques involve high-temperature equilibration, rapid quenching and chemical analysis of the phases using electron probe X-ray microanalysis. The experiments can be carried out in the temperature range 1373-1873 K (= 1100 degrees C-1600 degrees C). A developed calibration method, using phase equilibria data in known oxide systems, was applied for pyrometric temperature measurements. Described methods of the application of the electro-magnetic levitations were used for in-situ formation of Cu-based alloys and for formation of Ca-ferrite slags equilibrated with metallic copper

Prevention of initiation of smokeless tobacco (SLT) consumption among rural children

Background: India Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2019 observed that 8.5% of the young age group (13-15 years) consume tobacco (9.6 % are boys and 7.4 % are girls). No interventional studies among adolescents were conducted before the initiation of the SLT use. Aims & Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of consumption of tobacco and non-tobacco products and to provide school based interventions to bring behavioral changes. Materials and Methods: An interventional study was carried out in Primary Schools. For estimation of the prevalence of tobacco and non tobacco use all the students of 1st to 5th while for the interventions, 4th and 5th standard were selected. Baseline data and change in the behavior at the end of one year was collected. FGD with key informants were also conducted. Descriptive Statistics was conducted. Results: The prevalence of smokeless tobacco consumption and non-tobacco product was found to be 1.3% and 36.5% respectively. After intervention 40.5% students had quit non tobacco products. Findings of FGD suggested that children should not be sent to purchase tobacco products on behalf of their parents. Conclusion: School based intervention and sensitization of the field workers along with knowing their perceptions for the predictors of consumption could be useful

Study of COVID-19 Seroprevalence Among Healthcare Workers at Dedicated COVID Hospital in Southern Rajasthan

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a pandemic, has affected approximately 90,000 healthcare workers (HCWs) worldwide and 548 HCWs in India with an infection rate of 6%. Seroprevalence studies can provide relevant information which is useful for assessing the level of exposure among hospital personnel, to avoid unnecessary quarantines and for healthcare resource planning. Aims and objectives: Study of COVID-19 seroprevalence, clinical profile and outcomes among HCWs working at a dedicated COVID hospital in southern Rajasthan. Material and methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted among 100 HCWs posted in various wards of dedicated COVID hospital at the RNT Medical College, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, over a period of 2 months from April 2020 to May 2020. Results: Out of 100 HCWs, 68% were male and 32% were female with mean age 31.90 years and 16% had seropositive response. Majority, i.e., 81% seropositive HCWs were asymptomatic and all had good outcome (discharged). Conclusion: It is advisable that this high-risk population of HCWs should follow infection prevention and control (IPC) protocol as well as institutional quarantine protocol, screening and training at timely interval to protect themselves

Emissions to the Atmosphere from Amine-Based Post Combustion CO

Amine-based Post Combustion Capture (PCC) of CO2 is a readily available technology that can be deployed to reduce CO2 emissions from coal fired power plants. However, PCC plants will likely release small quantities of amine and amine degradation products to the atmosphere along with the treated flue gas. The possible environmental effects of these emissions have been examined through different studies carried out around the world. Based on flue gas from a 400 MW ultra-supercritical coal fired power plant Aspen-Plus PCC process simulations were used to predict the potential atmospheric emissions from the plant. Different research initiatives carried out in this area have produced new knowledge that has significantly reduced the risk perception for the release of amine and amine degradation products to the atmosphere. In addition to the reduction of the CO2 emissions, the PCC technology will also help in reducing SOx and NO2 emissions. However, some other pollutants such as NH3 and aerosols will increase if appropriate control technologies are not adopted. To study the atmospheric photo-oxidation of amines, attempts are being made to develop chemical reaction schemes that can be used for air quality assessment. However, more research is still required in this area to estimate the reactivity of amino solvents in the presence of other pollutants such as NOx and other volatile organic compounds in the background air. Current air quality guidelines may need to be updated to include limits for the additional pollutants such as NH3, nitrosamines and nitramines once more information related to their emissions is available. This paper focuses on describing the predicted concentrations of major pollutants that are expected to be released from a coal fired power plant obtained by ASPEN-Plus PCC process simulations in terms of current air quality regulations and other regulatory aspects

Tubulin Tyrosine Ligase-like Genes ttll3 and ttll6 Maintain Zebrafish Cilia Structure and Motility*

Tubulin post-translational modifications generate microtubule heterogeneity and modulate microtubule function, and are catalyzed by tubulin tyrosine ligase-like (TTLL) proteins. Using antibodies specific to monoglycylated, polyglycylated, and glutamylated tubulin in whole mount immunostaining of zebrafish embryos, we observed distinct, tissue-specific patterns of tubulin modifications. Tubulin modification patterns in cilia correlated with the expression of ttll3 and ttll6 in ciliated cells. Expression screening of all zebrafish tubulin tyrosine ligase-like genes revealed additional tissue-specific expression of ttll1 in brain neurons, ttll4 in muscle, and ttll7 in otic placodes. Knockdown of ttll3 eliminated cilia tubulin glycylation but had surprisingly mild effects on cilia structure and motility. Similarly, knockdown of ttll6 strongly reduced cilia tubulin glutamylation but only partially affected cilia structure and motility. Combined loss of function of ttll3 and ttll6 caused near complete loss of cilia motility and induced a variety of axonemal ultrastructural defects similar to defects previously observed in zebrafish fleer mutants, which were shown to lack tubulin glutamylation. Consistently, we find that fleer mutants also lack tubulin glycylation. These results indicate that tubulin glycylation and glutamylation have overlapping functions in maintaining cilia structure and motility and that the fleer/dyf-1 TPR protein is required for both types of tubulin post-translational modification