FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF HELICAL COIL COMPRESSION SPRING FOR THREE WHEELER AUTOMOTIVE FRONT SUSPENSION

The current paper deals with the stress analysis of a helical coil compression spring, which is employed in three wheeler’s auto-rickshaw belonging to the medium segment of the Indian automotive market. In the design of this kind of spring both the elastic characteristics and the fatigue strength have to be considered as significant aspects. In addition to this particular elastic property, as a consequence of the research effort in reducing the mass of components typical of the automotive industry, these springs have to face very high working stresses. The structural reliability of the spring must therefore be ensured. So for this purpose the static stress analysis using finite element method has been done in order to find out the detailed stress distribution of the spring

Environmental and health hazards of textile industry wastewater pollutants and its treatment approaches

Textile industry wastewater (TIWW) causes serious water and soil pollution. TIWW has high pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total dissolved solids (TDS), total organic carbon (TOC), solids suspended (SS), total solids suspended (TSS) sulfate, nitrate, and chloride. It also has a variety of recalcitrant chemicals like dyes, detergents, salts, phenol, and metals like arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr), which cause serious threats in the environment and severe health hazards in human/animals. Textile dyes are well known for its highly toxic, mutagenic, carcinogenic, and genotoxic effects on living beings. Physicochemical methods are not efficient for the removal of TIWW due to the requirement of expensive chemicals and the production of a large amount of sludge as a secondary pollutant. Whereas biological methods use different classes of microbes and plant species for the removal and treatment of dyestuff and wastewater. Combined and membrane treatments are highly effective methods for the degradation and detoxification of textile wastewater. This chapter provides an overview of the textile industry, wastewater generation, and environmental pollution. Further, toxicity profile and bioremediation methods for degradation and detoxification of TIWW are also explained in this chapter

Growth Response of Ayapana on inoculation with Bacillus megaterium isolated from different soil types of various agroclimatic zones of Karnataka

A study was undertaken to find out the growth response of Ayapana on inoculation with Bacillus megaterium isolated from different soil types of various agroclimatic zones of Karnataka. Bacillus megaterium strains from different soil types of various agroclimatic zones of Karnataka were isolated, identified and confirmed using standard synaptic keys. Ayapana was used as a host plant to study the growth response, biomass and nutrient content. Treatments of Bacillus megaterium isolates from ten different soil types of various agroclimatic zones of Karnataka were given to seedlings of Ayapana. There were significant changes in the plant growth, biomass and nutrient uptake in plants inoculated with Bacillus megaterium when compared to control plants. The parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, shoot and root fresh weight, shoot and root dry weight and nutrient uptake were studied. Plants inoculated with Bacillus megaterium isolates performed well when compared to uninoculated plants. The heights of plants inoculated with Bacillus megaterium isolates were found to be more than uninoculated plants. In plants inoculated with B. megaterium isolates, the height, number of leaves, fresh and dry weight of roots and shoots, nitrogen content, P content and chlorophyll content remained higher than the uninoculated plants. Among ten isolates inoculated, Zone 7 isolate recorded significantly high values in almost all growth parameters chosen for the study. The results suggests that plants inoculated with Bacillus megaterium isolates showed better growth response, biomass yield and nutrient content when compared to uninoculated plants.Â&nbsp

Effect of inoculation of Bacillus megaterium isolates on growth, biomass and nutrient content of Peppermint

The investigation was carried out to study the effect of Bacillus megaterium isolates on growth, biomass and nutrient content of Pepper mint. Pepper mint was used as a host plant to study the growth response, biomass and nutrient content. Bacillus megaterium strains from different soil types of various agroclimatic zones were isolated, identified and confirmed using standard synaptic keys. A pot culture experiment was carried out to find out the influence of Bacillus megaterium isolates on seedlings of Pepper mint under greenhouse conditions. Pepper mint plants inoculated with Bacillus megaterium isolates manifested increase in plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, biomass and nutrient content compared to uninoculated plants. Among the ten isolates inoculated, the Bacillus megaterium isolates from zone 3 showed significantly high values in almost all growth parameters chosen for the study. Similarly biochemical parameters of the Pepper mint inoculated with ten isolates of Bacillus megaterium was studied. In the inoculated plants the biochemical parameters like chlorophyll content, nitrogen content and phosphorus content was higher as compared to uninoculated plants. The results suggests that plants inoculated with Bacillus megaterium isolates showed better growth response, biomass yield and nutrient content when compared to uninoculated plants. Also the studies showed that Zone 3 isolate was more effective among other isolates

The international knowledge base for new care models relevant to primary care-led integrated models: a realist synthesis

Background The Multispecialty Community Provider (MCP) model was introduced to the NHS as a primary care-led, community-based integrated care model to provide better quality, experience and value for local populations. Objectives The three main objectives were to (1) articulate the underlying programme theories for the MCP model of care; (2) identify sources of theoretical, empirical and practice evidence to test the programme theories; and (3) explain how mechanisms used in different contexts contribute to outcomes and process variables. Design There were three main phases: (1) identification of programme theories from logic models of MCP vanguards, prioritising key theories for investigation; (2) appraisal, extraction and analysis of evidence against a best-fit framework; and (3) realist reviews of prioritised theory components and maps of remaining theory components. Main outcome measures The quadruple aim outcomes addressed population health, cost-effectiveness, patient experience and staff experience. Data sources Searches of electronic databases with forward- and backward-citation tracking, identifying research-based evidence and practice-derived evidence. Review methods A realist synthesis was used to identify, test and refine the following programme theory components: (1) community-based, co-ordinated care is more accessible; (2) place-based contracting and payment systems incentivise shared accountability; and (3) fostering relational behaviours builds resilience within communities. Results Delivery of a MCP model requires professional and service user engagement, which is dependent on building trust and empowerment. These are generated if values and incentives for new ways of working are aligned and there are opportunities for training and development. Together, these can facilitate accountability at the individual, community and system levels. The evidence base relating to these theory components was, for the most part, limited by initiatives that are relatively new or not formally evaluated. Support for the programme theory components varies, with moderate support for enhanced primary care and community involvement in care, and relatively weak support for new contracting models. Strengths and limitations The project benefited from a close relationship with national and local MCP leads, reflecting the value of the proximity of the research team to decision-makers. Our use of logic models to identify theories of change could present a relatively static position for what is a dynamic programme of change. Conclusions Multispecialty Community Providers can be described as complex adaptive systems (CASs) and, as such, connectivity, feedback loops, system learning and adaptation of CASs play a critical role in their design. Implementation can be further reinforced by paying attention to contextual factors that influence behaviour change, in order to support more integrated working. Future work A set of evidence-derived ‘key ingredients’ has been compiled to inform the design and delivery of future iterations of population health-based models of care. Suggested priorities for future research include the impact of enhanced primary care on the workforce, the effects of longer-term contracts on sustainability and capacity, the conditions needed for successful continuous improvement and learning, the role of carers in patient empowerment and how community participation might contribute to community resilience

PRODUCTIVITY, NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND ECONOMICS OF RABI SUNFLOWER (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS. L) AS INFLUENCED BY TILLAGE PRACTICES AND NITROGEN MANAGEMENT

ABSTRACT: A field experiment was conducted during Rabi 2011 at Research farm, RARS, Bijapur on a deep black soil under rainfed condition with an objective to study the effect of different tillage practices imposed during kharif and nitrogen management on productivity, nutrient uptake and economics of rabi sunflower. Tillage practices had no significant effect on seed yield and stalk yield of sunflower crop. Seed yield (1187.5 kg ha -1 ) and stalk yield (2483.8 kg ha -1 ) of sunflower were significantly higher with 100% Recommended dose through fertilizer (N 3 ) over N 4 -Farmers' practice (24:30:0 N:P 2 O 5: K 2 O kg ha -1 ) but was on par with rest of the treatments. Significantly higher N uptake was seen with conventional tillage over minimum tillage but was on par with reduced tillage. Neither P nor K uptake was significantly influenced due to tillage practices in sunflower during rabi season. Sunflower fertilized with 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (N 3 ) recorded significantly higher N, P and K uptake at harvest. Maximum gross returns (38061Rs ha -1 ) and net returns (28729 Rs ha -1 ) was realized for the treatment combination T 3 N 3 (Minimum tillage with 100% recommended dose of fertilizer). Reducing the tillage intensity does not significantly influence economics and substituting 50% nitrogen through organic sources produces comparable yields that of inorganic source of nitrogen application

A New Model for Raf Kinase Inhibitory Protein Induced Chemotherapeutic Resistance

Therapeutic resistance remains the most challenging aspect of treating cancer. Raf kinase inhibitory protein (RKIP) emerged as a molecule capable of sensitizing cancerous cells to radio- and chemotherapy. Moreover, this small evolutionary conserved molecule, endows significant resistance to cancer therapy when its expression is reduced or lost. RKIP has been shown to inhibit the Raf-MEK-ERK, NFκB, GRK and activate the GSK3β signaling pathways. Inhibition of Raf-MEK-ERK and NFκB remains the most prominent pathways implicated in the sensitization of cells to therapeutic drugs. Our purpose was to identify a possible link between RKIP-KEAP 1-NRF2 and drug resistance. To that end, RKIP-KEAP 1 association was tested in human colorectal cancer tissues using immunohistochemistry. RKIP miRNA silencing and its inducible overexpression were employed in HEK-293 immortalized cells, HT29 and HCT116 colon cancer cell lines to further investigate our aim. We show that RKIP enhanced Kelch-like ECH-associated protein1 (KEAP 1) stability in colorectal cancer tissues and HT29 CRC cell line. RKIP silencing in immortalized HEK-293 cells (termed HEK-499) correlated significantly with KEAP 1 protein degradation and subsequent NRF2 addiction in these cells. Moreover, RKIP depletion in HEK-499, compared to control cells, bestowed resistance to supra physiological levels of H2O2 and Cisplatin possibly by upregulating NF-E2-related nuclear factor 2 (NRF2) responsive genes. Similarly, we observed a direct correlation between the extent of apoptosis, after treatment with Adriamycin, and the expression levels of RKIP/KEAP 1 in HT29 but not in HCT116 CRC cells. Our data illuminate, for the first time, the NRF2-KEAP 1 pathway as a possible target for personalized therapeutic intervention in RKIP depleted cancers

Elevated antiphospholipid antibody titers and adverse pregnancy outcomes: analysis of a population-based hospital dataset

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The primary objective of this study was to determine if elevated antiphospholipid antibody titers were correlated with the presence of preeclampsia/eclampsia, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), placental insufficiency, and a prolonged length of stay (PLOS), in women who delivered throughout Florida, USA.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cross-sectional analyses were conducted using a statewide hospital database. Prevalence odds ratios (OR) were calculated to quantify the association between elevated antiphospholipid antibody titers and four outcomes in 141,286 women who delivered in Florida in 2001. The possibility that the relationship between elevated antiphospholipid antibody titers and the outcomes of preeclampsia/eclampsia, placental insufficiency, and PLOS, may have been modified by the presence of SLE was evaluated in a multiple logistic regression model by creating a composite interaction term.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Women with elevated antiphospholipid antibody titers (n = 88) were older, more likely to be of white race and not on Medicaid than women who did not have elevated antiphospholipid antibody titers. Women who had elevated antiphospholipid antibody titers had an increased adjusted odds ratio for preeclampsia and eclampsia, (OR = 2.93 p = 0.0015), SLE (OR = 61.24 p < 0.0001), placental insufficiency (OR = 4.58 p = 0.0003), and PLOS (OR = 3.93 p < 0.0001). Patients who had both an elevated antiphospholipid antibody titer and SLE were significantly more likely than the comparison group (women without an elevated titer who did not have SLE) to have the outcomes of preeclampsia, placental insufficiency and PLOS.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This exploratory epidemiologic investigation found moderate to very strong associations between elevated antiphospholipid antibody titers and four important outcomes in a large sample of women.</p