ASPEN plus modelling of air-steam gasification of biomass with sorbent enabled CO2 capture

The work deals with the modelling and simulation of carbon dioxide capture in air-steam gasification of saw dust using ASPEN Plus process simulator. The proposed quasi-steady state model incorporates pyrolysis, tar cracking and char conversion using existing experimental data. Prediction accuracy of the developed model is validated by comparing with available experimental results. Effects of CaO addition in air-steam gasification are analysed through key operating parameters such as gasification temperature, equivalence ratio, steam to biomass ratio and gasification efficiency. Maximum H2 mole fraction of 31.17% is obtained at a temperature of 900 K, equivalence ratio of 0.25, and steam to biomass ratio and sorbent to biomass ratio of unity. The H2 and CO2 mole fractions are found to be increased and decreased by 28.10% and 42.6%, respectively, when compared with the corresponding non- sorbent case

A Macroscopic Two-Phase Blood Flow through a Bell Shaped Stenosis in an Artery with Permeable Wall

The present work concerns the effects of the hematocrit and the permeability of the wall on blood flow characteristics due to the presence of a bell shaped stenosis in an artery. In this analysis, the flowing blood is represented by a macroscopic two-phase model, as a suspension of erythrocytes in plasma. The analytical expressions for the flow characteristics, namely, the flow resistance (impedance), the wall shear stress distribution in the stenotic region and the shearing stress at the stenosis throat have been derived. Results for the effects of permeability as well as of hematocrit on these flow characteristics are shown graphically and discussed briefly

Conservation Strategies Using Watershed Management and Rainwater Harvesting

Watershed management amp rainwater harvesting plays a vital role in reducing soil erosion amp water conservation. Several districts in coastal Maharashtra face the perennial problem of water storage despite of getting heavy rains during the monsoons lack of water is particularly acute problem during the months after the monsoon seasons. This study aims to cater the water scarcity by implementing watershed management amp rainwater harvesting systems, To model amp analyze watershed amp Rainwater harvesting project in our college (Vishwaniketanrsquos iMEET) area to fulfill water requirement.nbs

Novel Load Balancing Optimization Algorithm to Improve Quality-of-Service in Cloud Environment

Scheduling cloud resources calls for allocating cloud assets to cloud tasks. It is possible to improve scheduling outcomes by treating Quality of Service (QoS) factors as essential constraints. However, efficient scheduling calls for improved optimization of QoS parameters, and only a few resource scheduling algorithms in the available literature do so. The primary objective of this paper is to provide an effective method for deploying workloads to cloud infrastructure. To ensure that workloads are executed efficiently on available resources, a resource scheduling method based on particle swarm optimization was developed. The proposed method's performance has been measured in the cloud. The experimental results prove the efficiency of the proposed approach in reducing the aforementioned QoS parameters. Several metrics of algorithm performance are used to gauge how well the algorithm performs

In vitro comparison of flexural strength and elastic modulus of three provisional crown materials used in fixed prosthodontics

Objectives: To evaluate and compare the flexural strength and the elastic moduli of three provisional crown materials (methyl methacrylate based autopolymerized resin, bis acryl composite based autopolymerized resin and urethane dimethacrylate based light polymerized resin) after storing in artificial saliva and testing at intervals of 24 hours and 7 days. Study design: A metal master mould with four slots of dimensions 25x2x2 mm was fabricated to obtain samples of standard dimensions. A total of 135 specimens were thus obtained with 45 each of three provisional materials. Further 15 samples of each group were tested after storing for one hour at room temperature and again at intervals of 24 hours and 7 days after storing in artificial saliva. Three point flexural tests were carried out in the universal testing machine to calculate the flexural strength and the elastic modulus. The changes were calculated and data was analyzed with Fisher's test and ANOVA. Results: The flexural strength of the methyl methacrylate resin reduced significantly while bis-acrylic composite resin showed a significant increase in its flexural strength after storing in artificial saliva for 24 hours and the values of both remained constant thereafter. Contrary to these findings, light polymerized resin showed a significant decrease in flexural strength after storing in artificial saliva for 24 hours and then significantly increased in flexural strength after 7 days. However the changes in the values for elastic modulus of respective materials were statistically insignificant. Conclusion: Methacrylate based autopolymerizing resin showed the highest flexural strength and elastic moduli after fabrication and after storing in artificial saliva and for 24 hours and 7 days. Bis-acrylic composite resin showed the least flexural strength and elastic moduli

Quantum key distribution with multiphoton pulses: An advantage

In this article, we introduce a quantum key distribution protocol for the line of sight channels based on coincidence measurements. We present a proof-of-concept implementation of our protocol. We show that using coincidence measurements to monitor multi-photon pulses results in a higher secure key rate over longer distances for such channels. This key rate is higher than popular implementations of quantum key distribution protocol based on BB84, for example, the GLLP analysis [Quant. Info. Comput. \textbf{4}, 325 (2004)]. In the experiment, we could generate around $74 \%$ more key bits per signal pulse as compared to the GLLP analysis of BB84 protocol with similar parameters and equal value of mean photon number.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures and 3 tables. Final accepted version (Accepted for publication in OSA Continuum

Integration of systemic therapy and stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases

Brain metastasis (BM) represents a common complication of cancer, and in the modern era requires multi-modal management approaches and multi-disciplinary care. Traditionally, due to the limited efficacy of cytotoxic chemotherapy, treatment strategies are focused on local treatments alone, such as whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and resection. However, the increased availability of molecular-based therapies with central nervous system (CNS) penetration now permits the individualized selection of tailored systemic therapies to be used alongside local treatments. Moreover, the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), with demonstrated CNS activity has further revolutionized the management of BM patients. The rapid introduction of these cancer therapeutics into clinical practice, however, has led to a significant dearth in the published literature about the optimal timing, sequencing, and combination of these systemic therapies along with SRS. This manuscript reviews the impact of tumor biology and molecular profiles on the management paradigm for BM patients and critically analyzes the current landscape of SRS, with a specific focus on integration with systemic therapy. We also discuss emerging treatment strategies combining SRS and ICIs, the impact of timing and the sequencing of these therapies around SRS, the effect of corticosteroids, and review post-treatment imaging findings, including pseudo-progression and radiation necrosis

Vitamin D: prescription audit in tertiary health care centre

Background: Vitamin-D is critically important for development, growth and maintenance of health of human being. Many evidences show association between vit-D deficiency and several serious health conditions. Data collection on use of drugs is being obtained with the aim of optimizing drug therapy. So far till date only few studies about prescription pattern of vit-D have been found. Hence it is very important to do audit of prescriptions of vit-D. The aim of the study is to provide concise and updated information about the use of vit-D in tertiary care hospital and to record demographic details of patients.Methods: After ethical approval, this cross sectional study was conducted at tertiary health centre. Patient and drug data (name of drug, dose, dosage form and route of administration) was collected from the patient’s prescriptions in OPD.Results: Highest prescriptions of vit-D were found in orthopedic department (22% of total prescriptions of that department). Prescribing percentage of vit-D in medicine department was 4.6%, dermatology 1.5% and in psychiatry 0.8% of total prescriptions. Prescriptions of vit-D in combination with calcium were found in orthopedics (52%), medicine (7%) and obstetrics and gynecology (10%) departments.Conclusions: Highest prescriptions of vit-D alone and with calcium found in orthopedic department. Periodic therapeutic audit is necessary to rationalise the use of vit D