Superior Supercapacitors based on Biowaste Materials

Carbon nano spheres derived from Allium cepa were synthesized at different temperatures in a one-step pyrolysis process for supercapacitor electrodes. Obtained carbon nano spheres were analyzed using SEM, FTIR, BET and XRD. The nano materials were fabricated into conducting electrodes for cyclic voltammetry, constant current charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies. All the studies were done in 3.0 M KOH electrolyte. Specific capacitance from charge discharge experiments were found to be 132.03 F/g and 149.49 F/g for nano materials synthesized at 500ºC and 600ºC respectively. Obtained values suggest a way forward in producing a green electrode for commercial applications

Ayurvedic management of Diabetic Foot Ulcer - A Case Study

There are 424.9 million adults estimated to currently have diabetes globally.[1] Diabetic patients have an inherent risk of foot problems. Globally every 30 seconds, a major amputation occurs; 85% of which are preceded by trivial foot lesions.[2] In Ayurvedic literature, it is explained that Pidakas are formed in Adhoshaka in patients with Prameha due to the weakness of Rasayanis of lower limbs.[3] Such Pidakas if neglected over a period of time, without treatment will undergo Paaka and form a Vrana. Acharya Sushruta has described Shashti Upakramas (60 modalities) for the successful management of Vranas. Among them this article highlights the use of Shodhana, Kshara Varma, Chedana, Ropana and Bandhana Upakramas in the management of Diabetic Foot Ulcer/ Madhumehajanya Dushtavrana and also the need of Shastrakarma (surgical intervention) at the right time. In this study, Triphala Kashaya Avagaha and Pratisaraneeya kshara Karma for Vranashodhana, Chedana Karma followed by Ropana with Jatyaditaila was carried out. The course of treatment carried out brought about Dushtavranaavastha to Shuddhavranaavastha

Enhancement of magnetoresistance in manganite multilayers

Magnanite multilayers have been fabricated using La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 as the ferromagnetic layer and Pr0.7Ca0.3MnO3 and Nd0.5Ca0.5MnO3 as the spacer layers. All the multilayers were grown on LaAlO3 (100) by pulse laser deposition. An enhanced magnetoresistnace (defined (RH- R0)/R0) of more than 98% is observed in these multilayers. Also a low field magnetoresistance of 41% at 5000 Oe is observed in these multilayer films. The enhanced MR is attributed to the induced double exchange in the spacer layer, which is giving rise to more number of conducting carriers. This is compared by replacing the spacer layer with LaMnO3 where Mn exists only in 3+ state and no enhancement is observed in the La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 / LaMnO3 multilayers as double exchange mechanism can not be induced by external magnetic fields.Comment: 13 pages, 5 Figure

Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation in humans - Results in 59 consecutive patients

Background - Right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction with valved conduits in infancy and childhood leads to reintervention for pulmonary regurgitation and stenosis in later life.Methods and Results - Patients with pulmonary regurgitation with or without stenosis after repair of congenital heart disease had percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI). Mortality, hemodynamic improvement, freedom from explantation, and subjective and objective changes in exercise tolerance were end points. PPVI was performed successfully in 58 patients, 32 male, with a median age of 16 years and median weight of 56 kg. The majority had a variant of tetralogy of Fallot (n = 36), or transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect with pulmonary stenosis (n = 8). The right ventricular (RV) pressure (64.4 +/- 17.2 to 50.4 +/- 14 mm Hg, P < 0.001), RVOT gradient (33 +/- 24.6 to 19.5 +/- 15.3, P < 0.001), and pulmonary regurgitation ( PR) (grade 2 of greater before, none greater than grade 2 after, P < 0.001) decreased significantly after PPVI. MRI showed significant reduction in PR fraction (21 +/- 13% versus 3 +/- 4%, P < 0.001) and in RV end-diastolic volume (EDV) (94 +/- 28 versus 82 +/- 24 mL (.) beat(-1) (.) m(-2), P < 0.001) and a significant increase in left ventricular EDV ( 64 +/- 12 versus 71 +/- 13 mL (.) beat(-1.) m(-2), P = 0.005) and effective RV stroke volume ( 37 +/- 7 versus 42 +/- 9 mL (.) beat(-1) (.) m(-2), P = 0.006) in 28 patients (age 19 +/- 8 years). A further 16 subjects, on metabolic exercise testing, showed significant improvement in V(O2)max (26 +/- 7 versus 29 +/- 6 mL (.) kg(-1) (.) min(-1), P < 0.001). There was no mortality.Conclusions - PPVI is feasible at low risk, with quantifiable improvement in MRI-defined ventricular parameters and pulmonary regurgitation, and results in subjective and objective improvement in exercise capacity

Role of neutron transfer in the reaction mechanism of 9^9Be+169^{169}Tm, 181^{181}Ta, 187^{187}Re and 197^{197}Au systems

The contribution of one neutron stripping cross section to the total reaction cross section has been studied for $^9$Be projectile incident on $^{169}$Tm, $^{181}$Ta, $^{187}$Re and $^{197}$Au targets around Coulomb barrier energy. The measured one neutron stripping cross sections for these systems have been compared with the coupled channel calculations. The recently developed global set of optical model potential parameters for $^9$Be projectile has been used in the present calculations. The cumulative of measured complete fusion (CF), incomplete fusion (ICF), one neutron stripping and calculated non-capture breakup (NCBU) cross sections is found to explain almost the reaction cross sections for all the targets. A very small contribution from target inelastic states and elastic breakup may contribute to the remaining part. The percentage fraction of cross section for CF, ICF, one neutron stripping, and NCBU over reaction cross section show the dominance of neutron transfer and NCBU at below barrier energies while CF and ICF processes have the major contribution at above barrier energies.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

An elementary model for an advancing autoignition front in laminar reactive co-flow jets injected into supercritical water

In this paper we formulate and analyze an elementary model for the propagation of advancing autoignition fronts in reactive co-flow fuel/oxidizer jets injected into an aqueous environment at high pressure. This work is motivated by the experimental studies of autoignition of hydrothermal flames performed at the high pressure laboratory of NASA Glenn Research Center. Guided by experimental observations, we use several simplifying assumptions that allow the derivation of a simple, still experimentally feasible, mathematical model for the propagation of advancing ignition fronts. The model consists of a single diffusion-absorption-advection equation posed in an infinite cylindrical domain with a non-linear condition on the boundary of the cylinder and describes the temperature distribution within the jet. This model manifests an interplay of thermal diffusion, advection and volumetric heat loss within a fuel jet which are balanced by the weak chemical reaction on the jet's boundary. We analyze the model by means of asymptotic and numerical techniques and discuss feasible regimes of propagation of advancing ignition fronts. In particular, we show that in the most interesting parametric regime when the advancing ignition front is on the verge of extinction this model reduces to a one dimensional reaction-diffusion equation with bistable non-linearity. We hope that the present study will be helpful for the interpretation of existing experimental data and guiding of future experiments.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figure

The Sheared Central Venous Catheter?

A fractured central venous catheter (CVC) with embolization of the distal fragment may lead to life-threatening complications. We had inserted a right subclavian CVC in a 68-year-old female which upon a follow-up chest X-ray appeared to have been sheared. A guidewire was inserted through the CVC until the J-tip was just beyond the tip of the CVC which were then withdrawn as a single assembly. We suspected that the tip of the guidewire might have been entrapped in the opening of the middle port, which upon withdrawal of the guidewire could have led to CVC folding upon itself and shearing

Screening for resistance to downy mildew disease [Pseudoperonospora cubensis (Berk. and Curt.) Rostov.] in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Downy mildew, a foliar disease caused by the oomycete Pseudoperonospora cubensis (Berk. and Curt.) Rostov, is one of the most destructive disease of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). Moderately resistant cultivars are available, but yield losses are high without the use of fungicides, therefore, higher levels of resistance are required to reduce the use of fungicides. Therefore, in the present study, 12 advance breeding lines along with susceptible check of cucumber were screened against downy mildew disease under natural field condition and artificial inoculation through seedling assay technique. The results confirmed that three lines namely IIHR-177-1-1-S7, IIHR-82-1-S6 and IIHR-81-1-S6 were found to be resistant with &lt;10 per cent disease index (PDI) and significantly outperformed against check var. Swarna Agethi for yield and quality traits. These high yielding resistant lines can be utilized as one of the parents for the development of downy mildew resistant hybrids/ varieties