An Evaluation of the sliding Wear Behaviour of SiC Particles Reinforced Copper Alloy Composite Materials

The present paper aims at evaluation of the sliding wear behaviour of SiC particles reinforced copper (phosphor-bronze) alloy composite materials studied as a function of sliding speed and applied loads under unlubricated conditions. The content of SiC particles in the composites was varied from 1-5% in steps of 2% by weight. A pin-on-disc wear testing machine was used to evaluate the wear rate, in which EN24 steel disc was used as the counterface. Loads of 20-160 N in steps of 20 N and speeds of 1.25, 1.56, 1.87 m/s were employed. The results indicated that the wear rate of both the composites and the matrix alloy increased with increase in load and sliding speed. However, the composites exhibited lower wear rate than the alloys.It was found that above a critical applied load, there exists a transition from mild to severe wear both in the unreinforced alloy and in the composites. But the transition loads for the composites were much higher than that of the unreinforced alloy. The transition loads increase with the increase in weight % of SiC particles, but decrease with the increase in sliding speeds. SEM analysis of the wear surfaces as well as the sub-surfaces are used to explain the observations made

HD 12098 and other results from NainiTal-Cape survey

NainiTal-Cape Survey is a survey started with the aim of searching for new rapidly oscillating Ap stars in the northern hemisphere and has discovered one mono-periodic roAp star HD 12098. The frequency separation of HD 12098 suggests a rotation period of 5.5 day for the star. The discovery of roAp oscillations in HD 12098 and the results of the multi-site observation campaign organized to resolve the ambiguity in the determination of the rotation period of HD 12098 is presented. The results of non oscillating Ap stars discovered in the survey and two promising roAp candidates HD 17431 and HD 207561 are also presented. If confirmed, the variability in HD 207561 will make it the first Am star showing roAp type rapid variability.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, JAA sty, To appear in the proceedings of ARIES international workshop on Asteroseismolog

Pediatric surgical specialty in India: Sunset or in an eclipse? Current status: 2014-15

Background: Pediatric surgical specialty in India is more than 50-year-old. In spite of the advances made in pediatric surgical care, the specialty is still not being recognized as a “super specialty” and given importance in par with other super specialties. There is a decrease in the demand for pediatric surgical trainee posts. Aims: To assess the current status of pediatric surgical services in India and analyze the factors contributing to decrease in demand for pediatric surgical trainee posts. Materials and Methods: A web-based survey was conducted in January 2014. A questionnaire was sent to all members of Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons via e-mail and the results were analyzed. Survey Monkey statistical software was used for analysis of data. Results: A total of 145 (24.5%) members responded to the survey. The majority of the members were practicing in metros and were dissatisfied because of the lesser remuneration as compared to other super specialties. However, the majority of the members were happy socially and professionally and expected a bright future for the specialty. Conclusion: Pediatric surgery, like any other surgical branch, has short comings. Pediatric surgical specialty in India is currently in an eclipse rather than in a sunset

Rectovestibular fistula: Is treatment always required?

The traditional teaching in the management of rectovestibular fistula involves corrective surgery, either in single or multiple stages.Usually, female children operated for the same are advised cesarean section during childbirth to prevent damage to the neoanus.Herein, we report a story of a 68-year-old woman with untreated rectovestibular fistula and has given birth to five children withoutany sequalae

A reliable micro-grid with seamless transition between grid connected and islanded mode for residential community with enhanced power quality

This paper presents a reliable micro-grid for residential community with modified control techniques to achieve enhanced operation during grid connected, islanded and resynchronization mode. The proposed micro-grid is a combination of solar photo-voltaic (PV), battery storage system and locally distributed DG systems with residential local loads. A modified power control technique is developed such that, local load reactive power demand, harmonic currents and load unbalance is compensated by respective residential local DG. However, active power demand of all local residential load is shared between the micro-grid and respective local DG. This control technique also achieves constant active power loading on the micro-grid by supporting additional active power local load demand of respective residential DG. Hence, proposed modified power control technique achieves transient free operation of the micro-grid during residential load disturbances. An additional modified control technique is also developed to achieve seamless transition of micro-grid between grid connected mode and islanded mode. The dynamic performance of this micro-grid during grid connected, islanded and re-synchronization mode under linear and non-linear load variations is verified using real time simulator (RTS)

Ayurvedic management of Chronic Kidney Disease : A Case Report

Background: Chronic kidney disease is a spectrum of different pathophysiologic processes associated with abnormal kidney function and a progressive decline in glomerular filtration rate. Globally it is the 12th cause of death and 17th cause of disability. Clinically this condition can be correlated to madumeha and mutrakshaya. Methodology: A 60yr old female patient with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease (stage 4) was advised hemo-dialysis, which she was not willing to undergo, attended out patient department of Kayachikitsa, at SDM College of Ayurveda & Hospital, Hassan. Patient was treated with shamanaaushadi, Mustadiyapana basti, and with specific pathyaahara. Assessment was done before and after treatment with serum creatinine, eGFR and oedema grade. Result: After 9 days of treatment, there was significant change in the bilateral pedal oedema, urine output, general condition and also reduction in the serum creatinine. Conclusion: Chronic kidney disease was effectively managed by treatment modalities mentioned in Ayurveda after proper assessment of the dosha, dushya and vyadhi avasta

Community based rehabilitation by paraplegic - a case report

A journey of a young man started from day one in the hospital. When he came with the traumatic paraplegia, no doubt a paraplegic has to face a lot of challenges in his life when he came to know that his both legs are not working. He became bedridden and his moral is also become down for his future planning. But we accept the challenge, a team work by an orthopaedician and a physio-occupational therapist make it little easier. Postoperatively we prefer to offer rehabilitation through community base programme. Inspiration of hospital environment and equipment are going to help him for such kind of programme he accepts the challenge, basic aim of providing this programme is to reduce duration as well as incurred monitor losses. Special attraction of this case report is homemade bicycle, which served the purpose of providing repetitive rhythmic mobilisation of bilateral lower limbs which facilitates normal pattern of ambulation. Now he is ambulatory and goes back to his work. So, a person with spinal cord injury involved with their community with a little modification in his activity and equipment is worth for him. Traumatic paraplegia offers a big challenge to physio- occupational therapist due to long term recovery it takes.  For Such patients on regular follow up till complete recovery, we preferred community based rehabilitation. This made him independent and incurred reduced monitory losses

A comparative clinical study of Amavatavidhwansa Rasa and Simhanaada Guggulu in the management of Amavata w.s.r. to Rheumatoid Arthritis

Amavata is the most challenging disease for the medical science, as it causes severe intolerable pain and severe deformities making the patient disable and bedridden. As it is the disease of Rasavaha Srotas and having several features similar to Rheumatoid Arthritis, Amavata can be correlated with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Amavata is the outcome of Agnidushti, Amotpatti and Sandhivikrutti, with the passage of the time most of the dietary habits, changing lifestyle and environment have been contributing to the disease, the risk factor include age, gender, genetics and environmental exposures. Hence Amavata have became a challenge to the human race. Management of the disease is merely insufficient in other system of medicine, in such condition disease which continues to pose challenge to the physician as well as for patients due to severe morbidity and crippling nature. So patients are continuously looking for the treatment from Ayurved to overcome this challenge. It also shows extra articular features like bodyache, stiffness etc. many research have been carried out to solve this clinical enigma.The therapy which normalizes Agni metabolizes Ama and regulates Vata and maintain healthy Sandhi and Sandhistha Shelshma will be the supreme one for this disease. The formulations of Amavatavidhvansa Rasa and Simhanaada Guggula is indicated, especially in treating the Amavata

Chandra High Resolution X-ray Spectroscopy of AM Her

We present the results of high resolution spectroscopy of the prototype polar AM Herculis observed with Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating. The X-ray spectrum contains hydrogen-like and helium-like lines of Fe, S, Si, Mg, Ne and O with several Fe L-shell emission lines. The forbidden lines in the spectrum are generally weak whereas the hydrogen-like lines are stronger suggesting that emission from a multi-temperature, collisionally ionized plasma dominates. The helium-like line flux ratios yield a plasma temperature of 2 MK and a plasma density 1 - 9 x10^12 cm^-3, whereas the line flux ratio of Fe XXVI to Fe XXV gives an ionization temperature of 12.4 +1.1 -1.4 keV. We present the differential emission measure distribution of AM Her whose shape is consistent with the volume emission measure obtained by multi-temperature APEC model. The multi-temperature plasma model fit to the average X-ray spectrum indicates the mass of the white dwarf to be ~1.15 M_sun. From phase resolved spectroscopy, we find the line centers of Mg XII, S XVI, resonance line of Fe XXV, and Fe XXVI emission modulated by a few hundred to 1000 km/s from the theoretically expected values indicating bulk motion of ionized matter in the accretion column of AM Her. The observed velocities of Fe XXVI ions are close to the expected shock velocity for a 0.6 M_sun white dwarf. The observed velocity modulation is consistent with that expected from a single pole accreting binary system.Comment: 6 figures, AASTEX style, accepted for publication in Ap

QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF TARTARIC ACID IN TOLTERODINE TARTRATE BY ION CHROMATOGRAPHY USING CONDUCTIVITY DETECTION

ABSTRACT The present paper deals with the development and validation of analytical method based on a single column high performance Ion chromatography with cation suppressed conductivity detection, developed for quantitation of tartaric acid. The diluent used for the preparation of sample solution was water and injected into a standard chromatographic system connected with 250mm length, 4.0 mm ID and 5.0 μm particle size Metrosep A supp 5 Ion exchange column and suppressed conductivity detector. The developed analytical method was highly precise and accurate compared to titration methods and HPLC-UV detection methods to analyze the counter-ion tartaric acid in Tolterodine tartrate drug substance. Calibration curves were linear with correlation co-efficient of > 0.999 for tartaric acid. The % RSD of area response of tartaric acid in standard injections was below 1.0, which demonstrates the system precision. The % RSD of results in samples is below 1.0, which demonstrates the method precision of the test procedure. The accuracy of the method is also studied and observed between 99% and 101%. The developed method was validated according to ICH guidelines for the quantitative determination of tartaric acid in Tolterodine tartrate taken for the study