Effect of Engine Speed on In-Cylinder Tumble Flows in a Motored Internal Combustion Engine - An Experimental Investigation Using Particle Image Velocimetry

Now-a-days, the stratified and direct injection spark ignition engines are becoming very popular because of their low fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. But, the challenges to them are the formation and control of the charge which is mainly dependent on the in-cylinder fluid flows. Today, an optical tool like particle image velocimetry (PIV) is extensively used for the in-cylinder fluid flow measurements. This paper deals with the experimental investigations of the in-cylinder fluid tumble flows in a motored internal combustion engine with a flat piston at different engine speeds during intake and compression strokes using PIV. The two-dimensional in-cylinder flow measurements and analysis of tumble flows have been carried out in the combustion space on a vertical plane at the cylinder axis. To analyze the fluid flows, ensemble average velocity vectors have been used. To characterize the tumble flow, tumble ratio has been estimated. From the results, it is found that the tumble ratio mainly varies with crank angle positions. At the end of compression stroke, maximum turbulent kinetic energy is more at higher engine speeds. Present study will be very useful in understanding the effect of engine speeds on the in-cylinder fluid tumble flows under real engine conditions

Patterns of genomic and phenomic diversity in wine and table grapes.

Grapes are one of the most economically and culturally important crops worldwide, and they have been bred for both winemaking and fresh consumption. Here we evaluate patterns of diversity across 33 phenotypes collected over a 17-year period from 580 table and wine grape accessions that belong to one of the world's largest grape gene banks, the grape germplasm collection of the United States Department of Agriculture. We find that phenological events throughout the growing season are correlated, and quantify the marked difference in size between table and wine grapes. By pairing publicly available historical phenotype data with genome-wide polymorphism data, we identify large effect loci controlling traits that have been targeted during domestication and breeding, including hermaphroditism, lighter skin pigmentation and muscat aroma. Breeding for larger berries in table grapes was traditionally concentrated in geographic regions where Islam predominates and alcohol was prohibited, whereas wine grapes retained the ancestral smaller size that is more desirable for winemaking in predominantly Christian regions. We uncover a novel locus with a suggestive association with berry size that harbors a signature of positive selection for larger berries. Our results suggest that religious rules concerning alcohol consumption have had a marked impact on patterns of phenomic and genomic diversity in grapes

Role of Duration of Diabetes on Ventilatory Capacities and Expiratory Flow Rates in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic debilitating problem with increasing incidence and long term complications such as diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy etc. These complications are mainly a consequence of macro vascular and micro vascular damages of the target organs. The magnitude of the complications of diabetes is related to its duration. Less has been known about the after effects of diabetes on lungs. So this work was carried out to know the relation between duration of diabetes and lung volumes and capacities in Type 2 DM patients. The presence of an extensive micro vascular circulation and abundant connective tissue in the lungs raises the possibility that lung tissue may be affected by Microangiopathy process and non-enzymatic glycosylation of tissue proteins, induced by chronic hyperglycemia, there by rendering the lung a “target organ” in diabetic patients.  This is a cross-sectional study, the test group were Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients (n=50) with duration of 2-35 years, the control group were staff of Narayana medical college (n=50). Written consent was obtained from them. The following lung function parameters were recorded: Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1), Forced Expiratory Volume percent (FEV1/FVC %), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), Forced Expiratory Flow 25-75% (FEF25-75%), Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV). The mean FVC, FEV1, PEFR, FEF25-75%, MVV values are low in diabetics compared to controls (p value <0.001) and the parameters showed significant negative correlation with duration of diabetes. Key words: Chronic hyperglycemia, Diabetes mellitus, Microangiopathy, Micro vascular circulation, Pulmonary function test

Somatic Embryogenesis in Pigeonpea CAJANUS CAJAN L.

Somatic embryogenesis was obtained from inlmature leaflet segments, root discs, epicotyl and hypocotyl segments, as well as from mature cotyledons or MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of NAA and BAP. Conversion of somatic embryos to plants was obtained only from the cotyledons

Embryo rescue and plant regeneration in vitro of selfed chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and its wild annual relatives

The main constraint to the transfer of desired traits into cultivated chickpea from wild Cicer relatives is the presence of post-zygotic barriers which result in abortion of the immature embryo following interspecific hybridisation. Rescue of hybrid embryos in vitro and regeneration of hybrid plantlets could allow chickpea breeders to transfer desirable traits from wild relatives of chickpea. The development of embryo rescue techniques using selfed chickpea and selfed wild relatives is being used as a first step to protocols for wide hybrids. Optical microscopy studies of embryogenesis, in both selfs and hybrids, identified deleterious changes in the fertilised hybrid seed as early as 2–4 days after pollination in some crosses. These observations suggest that the appropriate time to rescue chickpea × C. bijugum hybrids is at the early globular stage of embryogenesis (2–7 days old), which requires the development of a complex tissue culture medium. In contrast hybrids between chickpea × C. pinnatifidum abort later (up to 15–20 days old) at the heart-shaped or torpedo stages, and are easier to rescue in vitro. Genotype also plays a significant role in the ability of immature selfed ovules to germinate in vitro. In this paper we report on the optimisation of␣protocols for rescueing immature embryos using selfed chickpea and its wild relatives in ovule, and subsequently to regenerate plantlets

Pigeonpea

Pigeonpea was labeled as an orphan crop but is now a trendy and pacesetter, with ample genetic and genomic information becoming available in recent times. It is now possible to cross wild relatives not only from the Cajanus group placed in the secondary and tertiary gene pool but also the related genera placed in the quaternary gene pool. This is no small achievement for a legume which is an important crop of Asia and Africa and plays a major role in the diet of majority of the people of this region. The need of the hour is further committed research on wide crosses in pigeonpea

Wide Crossing Technology for Pigeonpea Improvement

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan Millsp,) has ample genetic and genomic information now. It is endowed with rich germplasm in different gene pools. One of the easiest material to use in those are in the primary gene pool, which are closely related to cultivated pigeonpea. It is observed that species placed beyond the primary gene pool are a rich source of genetic variation. They contribute beneficial traits to pigeonpea such as pest or disease resistance, resistance to abiotic stresses, cytoplasmic male sterile systems (CMS) leading to yield improvement, and some novel traits such as homozygous pigeonpea lines. To effectively utilize the immense variation present in the secondary, tertiary, and quaternary gene pool of pigeonpea, a thorough knowledge of crossability and concerted effort is essential