Numerical Studies on Flexural Behaviour of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer-Wrapped Reinforced Concrete Beam

Construction faults and poor maintenance of concrete buildings become crucial as a result of heavy loading. Fibre reinforced polymer increases load bearing capacity, improves ductility, and decreases degradation damages. The researchers are looking for new and novel ways to strengthen beams since traditional techniques of reinforcement have limits that must be addressed. Due to its better qualities, the technology of wrapping a Reinforced Concrete (RC) beam with composite material has become popular and widely employed in structural applications. FRP has a lower labour cost and is a simple technique to reinforce buildings for a more effective solution. The experimental and analytical work was done for both conventional and CFRP strengthening with various intervals, such as CFRP wrapped with a 100mm interval, CFRP wrapped with a 200mm interval, and CFRP wrapped without an interval, with improved results in deformation and stress analysis.  All of the experimental data were compared to the calculated analytical values. When CFRP is used on a beam, it enhances its strength, load bearing capability, and ductility

Optimization of SSF parameters for natural red pigment production from Penicillium purpurogenum using cassava waste by central composite design

Pencillium purpurogenum 8904.12, a red pigment producer, was isolated from soil screened and selected based on the pigment production. The pigment production by P.purpurogenum was optimizedby using factorial design and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in SSF. Cassava waste is a low cost and nutrient rich substrate used in this study as a substrate. RSM based central composite design was employed to obtain best combination of substrate concentration, inoculum volume, incubation time, initial moisture and initial pH. By the point prediction tool of Design-Expert 8.0, the optimum values of the factors for maximum red pigment production were determined. Under the optimized conditions (substrate concentration 10 g, inoculum volume 5 ml, 15 days incubation time, 50 % initial moisture and initial pH of 6), the red pigment yield was 28.33 colour value units / g of dry fermented substrate which agreed closely with the predicted yield. The model showed that the value of R2 (0.9936) was high and pvalue of interaction of variance was <0.0001. Hence the model can be said to be of highly significant. A significant Increase in red pigment production was achieved using RSM. Thus, utilization of cassava waste for red pigment production in this study could provide the most effective use of cassava resource, and lead to technology of development for its further utilization and value addition

Study on the Behavior of Cold-formed Steel Angle Tension Members

Cold-formed steel tension members with bolted end connections are frequently used in a variety of structures such as trusses, transmission towers etc. Among all the shapes, angles are widely used. When angle sections are connected with gusset plates and eccentrically loaded, their ultimate load- carrying capacity is influenced by the effect of shear lag. This paper presents the details of an experimental and numerical investigation with a primary objective of studying the effect of shear lag on cold-formed steel single and double angles subjected to tension. Seventy-two single plain and lipped angles made from thicknesses 2,3 and 4 mm connected to gusset plates at their ends by ordinary black bolts were tested. Forty-eight double angles of 3 and 4 mm thicknesses connected to the opposite side of gusset plate and to the same side of the gusset plate at their ends by black bolts were also tested. All the one hundred and twenty specimens were tested in an Universal Testing machine subjected to eccentric tensile load. From the test results, load vs deflection behaviour and the failure modes were studied. The actual load carried by the specimen was compared with the theoretical load carrying capacity predicted by International codal provisions and with the load carrying capacity predicted by numerical investigation by ANSYS. An empirical equation is proposed to determine the load-carrying capacity of the cold-formed steel angles and the predicted values agree with the experimental results

Screening for fetal anomalies in 11 to 13 weeks Ultrasonogram: A Prospective study

SUMMARY: This study was chosen to detect the incidence of major fetal abnormalities in general obstetric population and to evaluate the performance of ultrasonogram screening during 11 to 13 weeks gestation. 284 antenatal mother were screened for fetal anomalies in a two stage ultrasound scanning at 11 to 13 weeks gestation and follow up scan at 18 -22 weeks. • The incidence of major fetal abnormalities was 3.2%. • The sensitivity of first trimester (11-13 wks ) scan in detecting the anomalies was 33% in this study. • The overall sensitivity of ultrasonogram in detecting the anomalies was 100%. • Increased nuchal translucency measurement was detected in two cases. • 3 cases of missed abortion was detected at the time of 11-13 weeks scan which was an incidental finding. • Craniospinal abnormalites were the most common abnormalities detected and hence it indicates the need for periconceptional folic acid intake. CONCLUSION: 1. The detection of the major anomalies at this early gestation (11-13 wks) offers to the parents the option of an earlier, safer and psychologically less traumatic termination of the pregnancy. 2. The ultrasound examination at 11-14 wks to screen for fetal abnormalities is effective and can be an adjunct to the routine 18-22 weeks anomaly scan. 3. Hence first trimester ultrasound (11-13wks) must be made mandatory, not only for the detection of major fetal anomalies, but also for diagnosing multiple pregnancy and abnormal pregnancy like missed abortion, molar pregnancy and ectopic pregnancy

Efficacy of neck exercises in addition to work station modifications in tension neck syndrome in sewing machine operators: An Experimental study

INTRODUCTION : Sewing machine operators experience more chronic neck pain than other working populations, In a cross sectional study on 224 subjects sewing machine operators, 67% reported with Neck pain and 24 % reported with Tension Neck syndrome. In India, the readymade garment industry had its beginning during the first half of the 20th century and has witnessed impressive growth during the last four decades. India is the second contributor in readymade garments next to Gems and Jwellery. In India there are around 70,000 garments manufacturing units and more than 3 million workers play a role in it. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The purpose of the study was to compare the efficacy of neck exercises in addition to workstation modification on tension neck syndrome in sewing machine operators. OBJECTIVES : 1. To find out the efficacy of neck exercises in reducing disability in subjects with tension neck syndrome. 2. To find out the efficacy of work station modifications with neck exercises in reducing disability in subjects with tension neck syndrome. 3. To compare the efficacy of neck exercises in addition to Workstation modifications in reducing the disability in subjects with tension neck syndrome. METHODS : Study Design - Pre test vs. Post test Experimental study design. Study Setting - Outpatient Department, K.G College of Physiotherapy. K.G Hospital, Coimbatore. Study Population - Patients with chronic neck pain were selected for the study after due consideration of the inclusion and exclusion criteria’s. A questionnaire was used up to find out the appropriate patients for the study. The selection method was detailed in the procedure of the study. Study Duration - The study was conducted for a duration of six months. Selection of Samples - Total of 40 patients were included for the study using simple random sampling method. RESULT : The percentage of musculoskeletal involvement for the 145 subjects data were assessed and noted in table I, The data shows that neck pain is the common musculoskeletal ailment in sewing machine operators. This followed by back pain, knee & thigh, shoulder and others. CONCLUSION : There is a significant reduction of pain in both treatment groups 2. There is a significant reduction in neck disability on both treatment groups. 3. When compared with Neck stabilization exercises the neck exercises with Ergonomic corrections will help in reduction of pain in subjects with tension neck syndrome. 4. When compared with Neck stabilization exercises the neck exercises with Ergonomic corrections will help in reduction of disability in subjects with tension neck syndrome. 5. When compared with Neck stabilization exercises the neck exercises with Ergonomic corrections will have significant difference on treatment effectiveness. So this study concludes that the Pain and disability following Tension neck syndrome were significantly reduced through application of Neck exercises with Ergonomic corrections

Weed Management Studies in Cassava (Manihot esculenta L.) Intercropping Systems under Irrigated Conditions

A field experiment was conducted during 2003-04 and 2004-05 to asses the production potential of intercropping of cassava (Manihot esculenta L.) with groundnut (Arachis hypogea), vegetable cowpea (Vigna sinensis) and black gram (Vigna mungo) in relation to various weed control practices. Intercropping influenced the population of grasses, sedges, BLW and total dry matter production of weeds. Weed management caused significant improvement in growth, yield and economic returns of cassava system. Best results were achieved with intercropping of vegetable cowpea with pre-emergence application of fluchloralin 0.75 kg/ha + one hand weeding 4 weeks after planting followed by application of alachlor @ 1.5 kg/ha + one hand weeding 4 weeks after planting

eNOS Protects from Atherosclerosis Despite Relevant Superoxide Production by the Enzyme in apoE−/− Mice

All three nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms are expressed in atherosclerotic plaques. NOS enzymes in general catalyse NO production. However, under conditions of substrate and cofactor deficiency, the enzyme directly catalyse superoxide formation. Considering this alternative chemistry, the effects of NOS on key events in spontaneous hyperlipidemia driven atherosclerosis have not been investigated yet. Here, we evaluate how endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) modulates leukocyte/endothelial- (L/E) and platelet/endothelial- (P/E) interactions in atherosclerosis and the production of nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide by the enzyme. Intravital microscopy (IVM) of carotid arteries revealed significantly increased L/E-interactions in apolipoproteinE/eNOS double knockout mice (apoE(-/-)/eNOS(-/-)), while P/E-interactions did not differ, compared to apoE(-/-). eNOS deficiency increased macrophage infiltration in carotid arteries and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression, both in endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Despite the expression of other NOS isoforms (inducible NOS, iNOS and neuronal NOS, nNOS) in plaques, Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) measurements of NO showed significant contribution of eNOS to total circulating and vascular wall NO production. Pharmacological inhibition and genetic deletion of eNOS reduced vascular superoxide production, indicating uncoupling of the enzyme in apoE(-/-) vessels. Overt plaque formation, increased vascular inflammation and L/E- interactions are associated with significant reduction of superoxide production in apoE(-/-)/eNOS(-/-) vessels. Therefore, lack of eNOS does not cause an automatic increase in oxidative stress. Uncoupling of eNOS occurs in apoE(-/-) atherosclerosis but does not negate the enzyme's strong protective effects

Numerical analysis of dusty hypersonic viscous gas flow over a flat plate

We present an analysis of dilute gas-particle flows at hypersonic Mach number in which the flow parameters are obtained by solving complete two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations numerically for a Bat-plate geometry. The conservation equations for both the gas and particle phases have been solved using finite volume upwind schemes, Time marching is carried out using the Euler-implicit scheme for the gas phase and the Euler-explicit scheme for the particle phase. Roe's flux-difference-splitting scheme is used for the gas phase, and the Steger-Warming Bu-vector-splitting scheme is applied for the particle phase. The detailed Bow structures of the gas and particle phases are given in three distinct regions: the large-slip region near the leading edge, the moderate-slip region, and the small-slip region far downstream. It is found that the presence of solid particles in the flow has an appreciable effect on the flowfield parameters. Also the presence of particles enhance the skin friction and heal transfer along the wall and decreases the boundary-layer thickness compared with the pure-gas case