Friction stir form welding of aluminum structures

The objective of this work was to demonstrate the applicability of friction stir welding (FSW) technology in the automotive industry. Increasing fuel prices, stringent safety and emission norms are continuously striving automakers to make lightweight, fuel efficient vehicles. Automotive engineers are researching for alternate materials in order to meet weight savings targets. Use of aluminum in place of steel in a car has been increasing for making lightweight vehicles. Conventional welding and spot welding are used as preferred joining methods by the automotive industry. However, if aluminum is used in place of steel alternate joining methods are to be researched. Due to the problems associated with the joining of aluminum with conventional welding methods, use of aluminum has been limited. Substantial amount of research has been done for the development of friction stir welding for aluminum. Joints made in aluminum using the FSW method exhibit better mechanical properties, improved fatigue life and less processing problems. This work further analyzes the scope of the FSW method for the automotive industry. Welding of various shapes commonly used in a car is considered here. The first literature covers the FSW of partial penetration butt welds for rectangular section aluminum tubes. Mechanical property determination for these welds was also performed. The second paper demonstrates entire vehicle design considering FSW as a joining process. Finite element analysis was done for the analysis of vehicle frame performance --Abstract, page iv

Evaluation of safety and tolerability of antiretroviral therapy in pregnant and non-pregnant women

Background: The study was conducted to evaluate safety and tolerability of different components of combined antiretroviral therapy (CART) in pregnant and non-pregnant women and to find out substitute of the drug causing intolerance.Methods: An observational study on 75 pregnant and 125 non pregnant, HIV infected women receiving CART, over a period of 1 year (Jan 2013-Jan 20140 in SRN Hospital affiliated to MLN Medical college, Allahabad. All women were examined clinically and investigated for baseline hematology, LFT, RFT, S. Cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels. Safety and tolerability of CART was assessed by clinical assessment, investigations done at 6 months interval or earlier if required.  Results: 64% (48) pregnant women and 60.4% (63) non pregnant women had Adverse Effects (AE). Most common AE was Liver Function Abnormality (LFA). Among NRTIs, zidovudine was substituted in 42% (21) pregnant and 17.4% (11) non pregnant women and among NNRTIs, efavirenz was substituted in 92.3% (12) pregnant women and 52.6% (30) non pregnant women.Conclusions: The safety and tolerability of CART in pregnant and non-pregnant women did not differ by class of ARV, but there were differences among individual drugs. Zidovudine, efavirenz and nevirapine were substituted more commonly in pregnant women. 

ANTIFERTILITY ACTIVITY OF β-SITOSTEROL ISOLATED FROM BARLERIA PRIONITIS (L.) ROOTS IN MALE ALBINO RATS.

Objective: Plant–derived male antifertility agents need to address the basic requirements of fertility suppression without affecting libido. This study was undertaken to evaluate the male antifertility potential of the β-sitosterol (BS) which is an active component isolated from the methanolic root extract of Barleria prionitis in the male albino rats.Methods: β-sitosterol was extracted using silica gel column chromatography from the methanolic root extract of Barleria prionitis and characterized by IR and NMR spectral analysis. Extracted BS was further used to determine its antifertility activity. The rats were orally administered olive oil (Group-I, control), BS at the dose level of 5 (Group II), 15 (Group III) and 25 mg/kg body weight (Group IV) for 60 d. Body weight was measured weekly. At the end of the experimental duration, treated males were sacrificed and subjected to biochemical, hormonal and sperm analysis. Fertility was assessed by mating treated rats with normally cycling virgin females.Results: Average weight of reproductive organs, serum levels of Testosterone, Follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing hormone (LH), levels of Protein, Ascorbic acid, Glycogen, Fructose, sperm motility and sperm density was decreased significantly as compared to control group. While, Cholesterol level was increased significantly. Fertility percentage was also decreased in treated groups. Body weight remained unchanged.Conclusion: The results show that β-sitosterol from the roots of Barleria prionitis causes suppression of spermatogenesis and fertility thereby suggesting the potential of β-sitosterol for the development of male contraceptive which has very limited options available.Keywords: Libido, Fertility, Active component, NMR, Sperm, Testosterone, Contraceptive, SpermatogenesisÂ

A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON BARLERIA PRIONITIS (L.)

Barleria prionitis is a famous perennial plant commonly known as porcupine flower or Vajradanti. It is a shrub with yellow flowers and two flat seeds shielded with matted hairs, inhabit most parts of India. Various parts of the plant such as leaves, roots, aerial parts, flowers, and stems are used in the traditional system of medicine. Conventionally, various infusions are prepared using the plant parts and utilized for the treatment of different kinds of diseases. Owing to its incredible odontalgic property, it is extensively used in treating bleeding gums and toothache. From the pharmacological point, the plant has been effectively screened for antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antifertility, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, anticancer, and anticataract activities. Compounds such as tannins, saponins, glycosides, phenolic acids, phytosterols, and terpenes have been identified in the plant. The plant contains some specific compounds such as barlenoside, barlerine, acetylbarlerine, and balarenone and some common secondary metabolites such as lupeol, β-sitosterol, vanillic acid, and syringic acid. This review provides morphological, ethnomedical, pharmacological, and phytochemical data of the plant B. prionitis

2-(2-Chloro­phen­yl)acetic acid

In the title compound, C8H7ClO2, the carboxyl group forms a dihedral angle of 74.83 (9)° with the benzene ring plane. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked into inversion dimers by pairs of O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The dimers are linked into layers parallel to the bc plane by weak C—H⋯O inter­actions

Bis(μ-N-benzyl-N-furfuryldithio­carbamato)-1:2κ3 S,S′:S′;2:1κ3 S,S′:S′-bis­[(N-benzyl-N-furfuryldithio­carbamato-κ2 S,S′)cadmium]

In the centrosymmetric title compound, [Cd2(C13H12NOS2)4], pairs of dithio­carbamate ligands exhibit different structural functions. Each of the terminal ligands is bidentately coordinated to one CdII atom and forms a planar four-membered CS2Cd chelate ring, whereas pairs of the tridentate bridging ligands link two neighbouring CdII atoms, forming extended eight-membered C2S4Cd2 tricyclic units whose geometry can be approximated by a chair conformation. The coordination polyhedron of the CdII atoms is a distorted square-pyramid. The five-membered furan ring and the benzene ring are disordered over two sets of sites with an occupancy ratio of 0.62 (8):0.38 (8)

Therapeutic Approach and Characterisation of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Rind against Acrylamide Toxicity

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a cheap and easily available fruit in the local markets of India. The rind, which is the outer layer of watermelon, is completely edible. It is the only fruit with 90 per cent of water, and is fully edible including its rind and seeds as they contains different types of nutrients which are needed by our body in day to day life. The benefits in our body, includes reduced blood pressure, presence of different types of vitamins, such as vitamin A, B & C, as well as different types of minerals required by our body. The present study aims in evaluating the presence of different secondary metabolites in the watermelon rind. The therapeutic efficacy of watermelon rind against acrylamide toxicity in the lymphocyte cell line is studied. As selenium is an important micronutrient, an attempt has been made to prepare the selenium nanoparticles followed by its characterisation

Cleidocranial dysplasia: Radiological mimic of pyknodysostosis – A case report

Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) is a rare autosomal dominant skeletal disorder with predominant membranous bone involvement. It may also occur as a sporadic mutation. The diagnosis of this condition is based on the clinical, radiological and genetic findings. It is characterised by hypoplasia or aplasia of the lateral thirds of the clavicles; craniofacial and dental anomalies; and hypoplastic iliac bones. Pyknodysostosis is a close radiological mimic of this entity. Definite diagnosis is based on the genetic analysis. A 36-year-old short-statured female was referred for computed tomography of the paranasal regions for complaints of a deviated nasal septum and midline depression in her forehead. Skeletal screening demonstrated an open metopic suture, wormian bones, maxillary hypoplasia, maldentition and aplastic lateral thirds of both clavicles. In this article, we report a case of CCD, discuss various overlapping features between CCD and pyknodysostosis and attempt to differentiate them radiologically

1-[(6-Chloro­pyridin-3-yl)meth­yl]­imidazolidin-2-one

In the title mol­ecule, C9H10ClN3O, the dihedral angle between the pyridine ring and imidazoline ring mean plane [maximum deviation = 0.031–(3) Å] is 76.2 (1)°. In the crystal, N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link pairs of mol­ecules to form inversion dimers. In addition, weak C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking inter­actions between pyridine rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.977 (2) Å] are observed

Ethyl 2-{3-[(6-chloro­pyridin-3-yl)meth­yl]-2-(nitro­imino)­imidazolidin-1-yl}acetate

In the title compound, C13H16ClN5O4, the imidazole ring is in a slight envelope conformation. The dihedral angle between the pyridine ring and the four essentially planar atoms [maximum deviation 0.015 (2) Å] of the imidazole ring is 80.8 (1)°. In, the crystal, weak C—H⋯O and C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds are present. In addition, there are weak π–π stacking inter­actions between symmetry-related pyridine rings with a centroid–centroid distance of 3.807 (1) Å