Modified epoxy coatings on mild steel: A study of tribology and surface energy.

A commercial epoxy was modified by adding fluorinated poly (aryl ether ketone) and in turn metal micro powders (Ni, Al, Zn, and Ag) and coated on mild steel. Two curing agents were used; triethylenetetramine (curing temperatures: 30 oC and 70 oC) and hexamethylenediamine (curing temperature: 80 oC). Variation in tribological properties (dynamic friction and wear) and surface energies with varying metal powders and curing agents was evaluated. When cured at 30 oC, friction and wear decreased significantly due to phase separation reaction being favored but increased when cured at 70 oC and 80 oC due to cross linking reaction being favored. There was a significant decrease in surface energies with the addition of modifiers

Dydrogesterone usage pattern in India: a knowledge, attitude and practice survey among Indian gynaecologists

Background: There is limited data about the knowledge, perception, and routine clinical usage pattern of dydrogesterone among medical practitioners in India. Therefore, the present survey was undertaken to assess attitudes and perception/practices of obstetrician and gynaecologists towards use of dydrogesterone in the real-life setting.Methods: Total 1168 gynaecologists across India participated in the KAP survey. Sixteen questions which explored indications, dosages, duration, efficacy, tolerability and comparison were asked and results were expressed as percentages.Results: Dydrogesterone has been marketed since the 1960s and has been extensively used worldwide for the treatment of threatened miscarriage (TM) and recurrent miscarriage (RM). Dydrogesterone is approved for hormone replacement therapy (HRT), as well as pregnancy and non-pregnancy-related conditions where there is a progesterone deficiency. In the present survey, dydrogesterone 10 mg twice daily was found to be the most commonly preferred dosage by 823 (73%) gynaecologists. Poor tolerability, compliance and lower efficacy were reported as major limitations of micronized progesterone by 68% of doctors. The average clinical pregnancy rate noted at 12 weeks after Dydrogesterone usage was around 40% by majority of the doctors. However, 30% of doctors noted more than 40% of clinical pregnancy rate after dydrogesterone usage. Almost 35% of doctors reported that the average live birth rate noticed after dydrogesterone usage is around 40%.Conclusions: The present KAP survey highlights that the effectiveness and the tolerability of dydrogesterone is valued by Indian gynaecologists which accounts for its robust clinical utility

Impact of Green Human Resource Management on Sustainable Performance

The major purpose of Green Human Resource Management is to create a workforce that recognizes, values, and implements green ideas while upholding the company's green goal in the Human Resource Management practice of hiring, selecting, training, developing, rewarding, and promoting the human capital of the company. Two key elements of green HR are the protection of intellectual capital and eco-friendly Human Resource practices. Numerous academics have examined the value of green HRM in fostering an environmentally conscious mindset among employees, although this area of study is still in its infancy. Businesses now place a higher priority on environmental management and green management, and they have aligned their goals and tactics to reflect this. As a result of the realities of corporate globalization, the economy has changed from a traditional banking and economic structure to a more modern, capacity-based one. In other words, it takes both environmental economics and environmental management into account. Green human resource management, which has received a lot of attention in corporate organizations, may be used effectively to maintain green workplaces and green practices, which will help to green organizational culture. For businesses to achieve their environmental objectives, such as going green, green HRM is a crucial strategic tool. The results of this study indicate that practices like green hiring have an impact on the sustainable performance of both public and commercial healthcare organizations. Data were acquired using a quantitative research approach. 200 persons, including representatives of both public and private healthcare services, participated in the survey. Partial least squares-structural equation modelling was used to analyze the data. Hiring green candidates benefits the performance of the environment, the economy, and society as a whole. This research benefits organizations by assisting them in applying GHRM techniques that support organizations in every way. Additionally, this research will be helpful to policymakers because it will provide them a better understanding of how to promote GHRM practices and improve organizational sustainability

Customers' Attitude Towards Digital Advertising Communication

This article aims to investigate how consumers feel about digital marketing messages before making a purchase. 198 respondents to the research solely utilised conventional lines of communication and refrained from using digital channels while making purchases. The essay outlines the benefits of not communicating digitally. Additionally, the research uses cluster analysis to identify the client categories that use conventional communication methods

Development of a spray process for manufacturing carbon nanotube films

This dissertation describes the development of a processing route for fabricating conventional and doped multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/polymer composite films for dielectric applications. Previous research has shown that such composites are promising dielectric materials, but their commercial development has been impeded by the nanotube agglomeration in the polymer matrix and the inefficiency in forming uniform films. Moreover, the harsh fabrication treatments often disrupt the structure of the nanotubes, hence damaging their inherent electrical properties. This work presents safer routes for forming non-aqueous, surfactant free dispersions of conventional and doped MWCNTs, which can be readily mixed with polymers and formed into films through aerosol spraying. Dispersibility behaviour of in-house synthesised conventional, nitrogen doped (N-MWCNTs), and boron doped (B-MWCNTs) MWCNTs was studied in 22 organic solvents. Based on thermodynamic theories it was suggested that doping, in particular nitrogen doping, significantly reduced the surface energy of the nanotubes. This aspect was crucial to understand the dispersibility of N-MWCNTs in low surface energy solvents and to achieve dispersions with high nanotube concentrations (0.82 mg/ml). Also, a "destruction reduced sonication protocol" involving mild sonication was suggested for forming MWCNT dispersions in organic solvents. Dispersions formed using this protocol were homogeneous and showed high stability of at least 2.5 years. Furthermore, the effect of ultrasonic probes on MWCNT lengths was studied and a decrease of 96–99&amp;percnt; for MWCNTs and 85–95&amp;percnt; for N-MWCNTs was observed. A numerical value for the nanotube length decrease during sonication has been reported for the first time. Preliminary studies to generate dielectric films of MWCNT/perfluoro alkoxy polymer were performed using aerosol spraying. An improvement in the dielectric constant (3.56) with a low dissipation factor (0.003) was observed in 0.3 wt.&amp;percnt; B- MWCNT/PFA composite films. Consistency in the test results from various parts of the films confirmed the uniformity of the nanotube distribution within the composite. Future work should concentrate on the effects of B-MWCNTs and N-MWCNTs at the percolation threshold due to their inherent electric properties.</p

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of cyclophilin from Leishmania donovani

Cyclophilin from the parasite Leishmania donovani is a protein with peptidylprolyl cis±trans isomerase activity, in addition to being a receptor for the drug cyclosporin. Crystals of the enzyme have been obtained in space group P43212, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 48.73, c = 140.93 A Ê , and diffract to 3.5 A Ê resolution. One molecule per asymmetric unit gives a solvent content and Matthews coef®cient of 46% and 2.3 A Ê 3 Da ÿ1, respectively. Molecular-replacement calculations with human cyclophilin A as the search model give an unambiguous solution in rotation and translation functions

Crystal structure of cyclophilin from Leishmania donovani at 3.5 Å resolution

The crystal structure of cyclophilin from Leishmania donovani has been solved at 3.5 Å resolution. The protein with peptidylprolyl cis-trans isomerase activity is also a receptor for the drug, cyclosporin. The crystal structure of cyclophilin obtained in space group P43212 with cell parameters a = b =48.73 Å, c = 140.93 Å and one molecule in the asymmetric unit, was solved by molecular replacement using human cyclophilin A as the search model. The refined low resolution structure (R = 0.218 and /Rfree = 0.324) clearly indicates the conservation of the cyclosporin binding-site geometry with respect to human cyclophilin A