Modeling of Cooling and Solidification of TNT based Cast High Explosive Charges

Cast trinitrotoluene (TNT) based high explosive charges suffer from different defects such as cracks, voids, etc. One of the quality control measures is to cool the castings gradually, so that the entire charge solidifies without a large temperature gradient from core to the periphery of the cast charge. The fact that the solidification of high explosive casting starts from the periphery (cooler side) and travels towards the center enables us to predict the solidification profile of TNT based explosive castings. Growth of solidification thickness and cooling temperature profiles of TNT based cast high explosive charges are predicted as functions of time and space using unsteady state heat transfer principles, associated with heat balance at solid to liquid interface as a moving boundary of solidification. This will enable adoption of proper quality control during solidification of the molten TNT to eliminate inherent drawbacks of cast high explosive charges. The solidification profiles of TNT based cast charges under controlled and natural conditions are predicted and the model is validated against 145 mm diameter TNT cast charge which is found to be in broad agreement with experiments.Defence Science Journal, Vol. 64, No. 4, July 2014, pp.339-343, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.64.467

Insecticidal effects of aqueous extracts of wild pomegranate peel and seed (Punica granatum L.) against rose aphids, Macrosiphum rosaeformis

Efficacy of wild pomegranate (Punica granatum Linn.) fruit peel and seeds aqueous extract was evaluated for the control of common insect pests aphids (Macrosiphum rosaeformis) and for its influence on useful non-target predators viz., Coccinella septempunctata. Lethal doses of daru peel and seed suggested these became more toxic to aphids after 24 hr of exposure. A significant difference was obtained in percentage aphids reached to untreated leaves over peel extract treated leaves (23:57 and 23:77) and seed extract treated leaves (7:80 and 17:80) at 90 and 180 min time intervals in food choice assays. No significant effect was observed against Coccinella. LC50 values of daru peel and seed extracts along with mixture of three flavonoids (Kaempferol, Quercetin and Myricetin) were assessed at 48 hr values were 34.9, 4.7 and 0.6 mg/ml and at 72 hr these were 16.1, 0.000001 and 0.00001 mg/ml, respectively. In both the cases field bioassays showed affectivity till 7 DAT. Field data indicated that only X1(1 mg/ml) and X2 (0.1 mg/ml) concentrations of mixture were effective till 11 days after treatment. These are the first reports of the toxic effect of wild pomegranate (daru) fruit peel aqueous extract against M. rosaeformis, hence the study suggests possible usage of Punica granatum peel for the control of rose aphids

LFM based Wideband DOA Estimation using Deep Neural Network at Low SNR

This work focuses on deep learning-based wideband direction-of-arrival (DoA) estimation for a wideband in particular LFM in case of extreme noise. We propose a convolutional neural network (CNN) that utilizes the correlation matrix to estimate and trained using multi-channel data in low SNR conditions. By using a systematic approach and treating the problem as a way to identify multiple possible DoAs, the CNN is trained to predict DoAs under different SNR conditions. This allows the CNN to accurately estimate the directions from which signals are coming, regardless of the level of noise in the environment. The architecture proposed exhibits robustness to noise, works effectively with a small number of snapshots, and achieves high resolution in angle estimation. Experimental findings demonstrate notable enhancements in performance under low SNR conditions when compared to existing methods, without the need for parameter tuning for correlated and uncorrelated sources. The enhanced robustness of our solution has broad applications in various fields, including wireless array sensors, acoustic microphones, and sonars

Expression of antixenosis and antibiosis components of resistance to spotted stem borer Chilo partellus in sorghum under greenhouse conditions

We studied antixenosis and antibiosis mechanisms of resistance to C. partellus at the seedling stage in a diverse array of stem borer resistant genotypes, and landraces/improved varieties susceptible to stem borer under greenhouse conditions

Study of Coefficient of Friction and Springback Analysis of Brass in Bendingat Elevated Temperature Conditions

In the present work, finite element analysis is carried out for the minimization of springback in theV-bending process for high-strength brass sheet metal. Firstly, the uniaxial tensile test is conducted to determine the variousmaterial properties required for finite element analysis. The various test parameters considered in the V-Bending process aretemperature (573 K, 673 K and 773K), punch speeds (1 mm/min, 5 mm/min and 10 mm/min), holding time (30 s, 60 s and90 s) and sheet orientation concerning rolling direction RD (00), ND (450) and TD (900) for finite element analysis. Thebending under tension test is used to determine the coefficient of friction at different temperatures and lubricationconditions, and these values are implemented in finite element simulations of the V-bending process. Taguchi analysis iscarried out to determine springback of high-strength brass alloy by selecting four control factors (temperature, punch speed,holding time, and orientation). From the analysis of the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, it is reported that the temperature(46.93%) is the most significant parameter which influences the springback followed by holding time (26.29%), sheetorientation (24.07%) and punch speed (2.69%). The optimal set obtained for the minimum springback of brass alloy and theconformation test is performed at the optimum set conditions (773 K temperature, 1 mm/min punch speed, 90 s holdingtime, and 90° to the rolling direction of a sheet). With the optimal set of process parameters, Springback decreasedsignificantly to around 68.68%. Through the investigation of springback analysis, it is directly proportional to thetemperature and holding time and inversely proportional to the punch speed, but sheet orientation doesn’t follow any trends

Antibiosis mechanism of resistance to spotted stem borer, Chilo partellus in sorghum, Sorghum bioclor

Spotted stem borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe), is the most important pest of sorghum in Asia and South and Eastern Africa, and host plant resistance is an important component for controlling this pest under subsistence farming conditions. Therefore, we studied the antibiosis mechanism of resistance in a diverse array of 20 sorghum genotypes at the seedling stage by incorporating the freeze-dried leaf powder into artificial diet. Freeze-dried sorghum leaf powder at 12.5 g per 250 ml of the standard artificial diet or replacement of chickpea flour in the artificial diet by 50% with sorghum leaf powder can be used to quantify the extent of antibiosis mechanism of resistance to C. partellus in sorghum. There was a significant variation in larval survival, larval and pupal weights, larval and pupal periods, and percentage pupation and adult emergence in diets impregnated with freeze-dried leaf powder of different sorghum genotypes. Sorghum genotypes such as IS 1044, IS 2123, IS 1054, IS 18573, and ICSV 714 showed antibiosis to C. partellus in terms of reduced survival and development. Principal component analysis indicated that there is considerable diversity in sorghum genotypes for antibiosis to C. partellus. Genotypes placed in different groups can be used in resistance breeding programs to diversify the basis of resistance to this pest

The Stomach Full of Hair-Trichobezoar

Trichobezoars are rare masses of hair resulting from hair plucking (trichotillomania) and hair eating (trichophagia). Few of the hair may also be carried by peristalsis into the duodenum. This condition is known as Rapunzel syndrome. Complications include gastric perforation, small bowel obstruction and pancreatitis. Here the authors present a case of 20-year old female patient who presented with complaints of abdominal pain, early satiety and non-bilious vomiting. On examination, there was a swelling of size 10×5 cm predominantly in the epigastric and umbilical regions. Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) of the abdomen revealed a grossly dilated stomach with a heterogeneous mass in the lumen obstructing the pylorus. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy confirmed the diagnosis of trichobezoar. Trichobezoar was removed by laparotomy and the patient had an uneventful recovery. Treatment is mainly laparotomy and minimally invasive methods can be used for small lesions with limited success rate. Psychiatric consultation is a must in all cases

ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF BARK AND LEAVES OF FICUS RELIGIOSA L. FROM NEPAL

Objective: Because of adverse side effects, caused by NSAIDs, tolerance, and dependence induced by opiates, the use of these analgesic agents has not been successful in all cases. Therefore, alternative analgesic drugs from plant sources are the new target now days. The objective of this study was to evaluate the analgesic activity of ethanolic extracts of stem barks and leaves of Ficus religiosa. Methods: The analgesic activity of ethanolic extract of stem barks and leaves was evaluated in the Swiss albino mice model using acetic acid-induced writing response and Eddy’s hot plate method. Analgesic activity was demonstrated with the percentage inhibition of acetic acid induced writings and the percentage increased in latency time of paw licking. The potency of test extracts was compared with standard drug, Diclofenac. Results: Ethanolic extract of leaves and bark of F. religiosa showed potential analgesic activity from both methods. From Eddy’s hot plate model, it was observed that the percentage of increased latency time at 90 min by ethanolic extract of leaves and stem bark was found to be 70.81 % (8.54 min) and 70.78 % (8.53 min) respectively at a dose of 400 mg/kg. Both of these results are statistically significant (p<0.05) as compared to the test group. Furthermore, both of these extracts showed the dose-dependent and time-dependent increased in latency time and these results are compared to that of standard drug Diclofenac. Similarly, ethanolic extract of leaves and stem at 400 mg/kg significantly inhibited the number of writhings induced by acetic acid. The percentage inhibition of writhings by ethanolic extract of leaves at a dose of 400 mg/kg was 68.47 % which was similar to that of standard drug Diclofenac (68.47 %). However, ethanolic extract of bark showed relatively lower percentage inhibition (60.79 %) as compared to leaf extract and standard, but the result was significant as compared to that of the test group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Ethanolic extracts of F. religiosa stem bark and leaf possess both central and peripheral analgesic properties and these effects may be beneficial for the management of pain

Advances in Developing Therapies to Combat Zika Virus: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives

Zika virus (ZIKV) remained largely quiescent for nearly six decades after its first appearance in 1947. ZIKV reappeared after 2007, resulting in a declaration of an international “public health emergency” in 2016 by the World Health Organization (WHO). Until this time, ZIKV was considered to induce only mild illness, but it has now been established as the cause of severe clinical manifestations, including fetal anomalies, neurological problems, and autoimmune disorders. Infection during pregnancy can cause congenital brain abnormalities, including microcephaly and neurological degeneration, and in other cases, Guillain-Barré syndrome, making infections with ZIKV a substantial public health concern. Genomic and molecular investigations are underway to investigate ZIKV pathology and its recent enhanced pathogenicity, as well as to design safe and potent vaccines, drugs, and therapeutics. This review describes progress in the design and development of various anti-ZIKV therapeutics, including drugs targeting virus entry into cells and the helicase protein, nucleosides, inhibitors of NS3 protein, small molecules, methyltransferase inhibitors, interferons, repurposed drugs, drugs designed with the aid of computers, neutralizing antibodies, convalescent serum, antibodies that limit antibody-dependent enhancement, and herbal medicines. Additionally, covalent inhibitors of viral protein expression and anti-Toll-like receptor molecules are discussed. To counter ZIKV-associated disease, we need to make rapid progress in developing novel therapies that work effectually to inhibit ZIKV