Design, Development, and Validation of a Vehicle-mounted Hydraulically-leveled Platform

Hydraulically-leveled platforms are required, to provide a leveled base for accurate leveling of high-rise masts and other vehicle-mounted communication devices. Design, development, and validation of one such platform on an 8x8, high mobility, wheeled vehicle is presented. The platform is a welded structure, designed to accommodate two ISO type shelters, and the shelters are secured to the platform at their four ISO corners using special twist locks. The leveling of the platform is enabled by actuation of four hydraulic cylinders bolted to the vehicle chassis. The concentrated type loading, resulting due to clearance maintained between the skids of shelters and the platform, and the loading pattern are the major design considerations. The other factors that have bearing on the design of platform include accommodation of variants of shelters, ease of operation of equipment mounted on the original chassis, and load distribution on axles, over-all height, ground clearance and departure angle of the integrated entity. Deflection and stress analysis of the platform structure using finite element analysis has been carried out for two types of shelter loadings. Limited track trials have been conducted at Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (VRDE) for assessment of structural integrity of the platform, and constructional and mobility aspects of platform-mounted-vehicle. Measurements of strain at critical locations, under-shelter loading, and while driving the vehicle at two different vehicle speeds on pave and cross-country tracks, have also been carried out for validation of design of platform. Details on problems faced during track trials, and the subsequent modifications carried out to the platform are also discussed.Defence Science Journal, 2010, 60(2), pp.169-177, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.60.33

Priprava i vrednovanje biorazgradljivih implantata s kontroliranim oslobađanjem za postoperativnu primjenu

Biodegradable implants of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride for post operative site delivery were prepared using glyceryl monostearate and different concentrations of polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) glycerol and Tween 80 as erosion enhancers by compression and molding technique. Formulations were subjected to in vitro drug release by the USP dissolution method, while promising formulations were subjected to in vitro drug release by the agar gel method and also to stability studies. It was observed that glyceryl monostearate formed hydrophobic matrix and delayed the drug delivery. Antibiotic release profile was controlled by using different combinations of erosion enhancers. The formulation prepared by compression method showed more delayed release as compared to formulations prepared by molding method.Biorazgradljivi implantati ciprofloksacin hidroklorida za postoperativnu primjenu pripravljeni su pomoću gliceril monostearata (GMS) i različitih koncentracija polietilen glikola (PEG 6000), glicerola i Tween 80 kao promotora erozije metodom kompresije i lijevanja. Oslobađanje ljekovite tvari iz pripravaka praćeno je in vitro prema USP metodi. Pripravci koji su dali dobre rezultate ispitani su i in vitro metodom s agarom te su podvrgnuti testovima stabilnosti. Primijećeno je da gliceril monostearat tvori hidrofobni matriks i usporava oslobađanje lijeka. Koristeći različite kombinacije promotora erozije postignuto je kontrolirano oslobađanje antibiotika. Oslobađanje iz implantata dobivenih metodom kompresije sporije je od implantata dobivenih metodom lijevanja

Understanding the effect of milk composition and milking season on quality characteristics of chhana

The quality characteristics ofchhanavaried due to the milk composition (cow-, buffalo-, and mixed- milk) which in turn was affected by the milking season (summer and winter). Upon heating and acidification of milk samples water holding phenomena and denatured protein association within and with other components lead to variation in both macroscale properties (color, texture, and rheology) and molecular bonding patterns (FTIR character). Yield, lightness (L* value), textural firmness, and elastic modulus ofchhanaincreased with increasing proportion of buffalo milk in mixed milk due to higher total solids and less moisture content in both the seasons. Total protein, fat, water, and interaction between them and extent of hydrogen bonding significantly affected the rheological and textural properties ofchhanasamples

Hypoxia and hypoxia inducible factor-1α are required for normal endometrial repair during menstruation

About a quarter of pre-menopausal women will suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding in their lives. Here, Maybin and colleagues show hypoxia and subsequent activation of HIF-1α during menses are required for normal endometrial repair, and identify pharmacological stabilisation of HIF-1α as a potential therapeutic strategy for this debilitating condition

Genomic Approaches to Enhance Stress Tolerance for Productivity Improvements in Pearl Millet

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.], the sixth most important cereal crop (after rice, wheat, maize, barley, and sorghum), is grown as a grain and stover crop by the small holder farmers in the harshest cropping environments of the arid and semiarid tropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Millet is grown on ~31 million hectares globally with India in South Asia; Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali in western and central Africa; and Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania in Eastern Africa as the major producers. Pearl millet provides food and nutritional security to more than 500 million of the world’s poorest and most nutritionally insecure people. Global pearl millet production has increased over the past 15 years, primarily due to availability of improved genetics and adoption of hybrids in India and expanding area under pearl millet production in West Africa. Pearl millet production is challenged by various biotic and abiotic stresses resulting in a significant reduction in yields. The genomics research in pearl millet lagged behind because of multiple reasons in the past. However, in the recent past, several efforts were initiated in genomic research resulting into a generation of large amounts of genomic resources and information including recently published sequence of the reference genome and re-sequencing of almost 1000 lines representing the global diversity. This chapter reviews the advances made in generating the genetic and genomics resources in pearl millet and their interventions in improving the stress tolerance to improve the productivity of this very important climate-smart nutri-cereal

Non-syndromic bilateral condylar aplasia: A rare case

The temporomandibular joint is one of the most complex joints of the human body. It consists of the mandibular condyle, glenoid fossa and the articular eminence of the temporal bone. Aplasia of the condyle is usually seen as part of a syndrome otherwise it is rare. We report a case of bilateral condylar aplasia in a 20-year-old male not associated with any syndrome. The patient reported to the department with a chief complaint of the underdeveloped lower jaw. Clinical examination, conventional radiographs, and 3D computer tomography images revealed a complete absence of condyle on the right and left sides