Casting of thrown away tool steel bits in the centrifugal casting route

Cutting tools get worn out due to wear and are ground in order to use them again. This wear may be due to abrasive wear, diffusion wear, fatigue wear, adhesive wear. Wear of tool steels leads to shortening of the length, so small that the tool bits are no more usable. These waste and thrown away tool bits were collected which may include steel waste, pig iron, molybdenum iron, chromium iron, vanadium iron, tungsten iron and other waste material. This mixture was melted in induction furnace at temperature about 1600 o C to 1700 o C. After that the casting of the melt was done through the centrifugal route at speeds of 200 rpm and 250 rpm. The cast obtained is in the shape of tool steel cylinder. Then the samples were prepared for the hardness test, machinability test and SEM analysis. The hardness was measured across the radius of the cast cylinder by using Rockwell hardness test machine in C-scale. The machinability test specimens were taken from the outer zone of the cast cylinder and the test was carried out in Lathe by keeping the variables such as rotation speed (420 rpm), feed rate (0.15 KM), rack angle (10 0 ) material to be machined (mild steel) and time of machining (5 minutes 40 seconds) constant. The machinability of the centrifugally cast samples were compared with the as-cast samples. SEM micrographs were taken for the outer region of the cast cylinder and a comparative study was made with the as-cast samples. We found that there is an increase in hardness values with the distance from the centre to the outer periphery of the cast samples also the hardness values are higher for speed 250 rpm than 200 rpm. The Machinability of the centrifugally cast samples was better than generally used tool steels

Advancements in nano-enabled therapeutics for neuroHIV management

This viewpoint is a global call to promote fundamental and applied research aiming toward designing smart nanocarriers of desired properties, novel noninvasive strategies to open the blood–brain barrier (BBB), delivery/release of single/multiple therapeutic agents across the BBB to eradicate neurohuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV), strategies for on-demand site-specific release of antiretroviral therapy, developing novel nanoformulations capable to recognize and eradicate latently infected HIV reservoirs, and developing novel smart analytical diagnostic tools to detect and monitor HIV infection. Thus, investigation of novel nanoformulations, methodologies for site-specific delivery/release, analytical methods, and diagnostic tools would be of high significance to eradicate and monitor neuroacquired immu-nodeficiency syndrome. Overall, these developments will certainly help to develop personalized nanomedicines to cure HIV and to develop smart HIV-monitoring analytical systems for disease management

Numerical models of solar distillation device: present and previous

In this paper, a detailed comparison of a few numerical models (with and without considering humid air properties) for the estimation of water production from a solar water distillation device is investigated. An extensive laboratory production experiments were executed under fifteen sets of external conditions to find the properties of evaporation and condensation coefficients to incorporate with the present evaporation and condensation models (two unique and independent theoretical models), respectively. The calculation accuracy of the evaporation flux computed by two evaporation models (present and previous), Dunkle's and Ueda's model, and of the hourly condensation flux estimated by two condensation models (present and previous) was examined using the field experimental results. It was found that the previous evaporation and condensation models using empirical relationships extremely overestimated and underestimated the observed production flux, respectively. The evaporation flux calculated by the conventional models of Dunkle and Ueda notably underestimated and overestimated the observed values, respectively. Finally, it is revealed that the present models have the smallest deviation between the calculated and the observed values among these six models and can predict the daily production flux

Electrochemical sensing method for point-of-care cortisol detection in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients

A novel electrochemical sensing method was devised for the first time to detect plasma cortisol, a potential psychological stress biomarker, in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive subjects. A miniaturized potentiostat (reconfigured LMP91000 chip) interfaced with a microfluidic manifold containing a cortisol immunosensor was employed to demonstrate electrochemical cortisol sensing. This fully integrated and optimized electrochemical sensing device exhibited a wide cortisol-detection range from 10 pg/mL to 500 ng/mL, a low detection limit of 10 pg/mL, and sensitivity of 5.8 μA (pg mL)-1, with a regression coefficient of 0.995. This cortisol-selective sensing system was employed to estimate plasma cortisol in ten samples from HIV patients. The electrochemical cortisol-sensing performance was validated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The results obtained using both methodologies were comparable within 2%–5% variation. The information related to psychological stress of HIV patients can be correlated with disease-progression parameters to optimize diagnosis, therapeutic, and personalized health monitoring

Sustained-release nanoAR T formulation for the treatment of neuroAIDS

A novel approach was developed for the coencapsulation of an anti-HIV drug (tenofovir) and a latency-breaking agent (vorinostat), using magnetically guided layer-by-layer (LbL) assembled nanocarriers for the treatment of neuroAIDS. Ultrasmall iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (10±3 nm) were synthesized and characterized. The LbL technique was used to achieve a sustained release profile, and application of 2 bilayers ([tenofovir+dextran sulphate]2+vorinostat)to magnetic nanoparticles resulted in a 2.8 times increase in drug (tenofovir) loading and also resulted in an increase in the drug release period by 30-fold, with 100% drug release in sustained manner over a period of 5 days with the simultaneous stimulation of latent HIV expression. Nanoformulation showed a good blood–brain barrier transmigration ability (37.95%±1.5%) with good in vitro antiviral efficacy (~33% reduction of p24 level) over a period of 5 days after HIV infection in primary human astrocytes, with good cell viability (.90%). Hence, LbL arrangements of drugs on magnetic nanoparticles provides sustained release and, therefore, may improve the patient’s adherence to therapy and lead to better compliance

Development of TIMP1 magnetic nanoformulation for regulation of synaptic plasticity in HIV-1 infection

Although the introduction of antiretroviral therapy has reduced the prevalence of severe forms of neurocognitive disorders, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-associated neurocognitive disorders were observed in 50% of HIV-infected patients globally. The blood–brain barrier is known to be impermeable to most of antiretroviral drugs. Successful delivery of antiretroviral drugs into the brain may induce an inflammatory response, which may further induce neurotoxicity. Therefore, alternate options to antiretroviral drugs for decreasing the HIV infection and neurotoxicity may help in reducing neurocognitive impairments observed in HIV-infected patients. In this study, we explored the role of magnetic nanoparticle (MNP)-bound tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP1) protein in reducing HIV infection levels, oxidative stress, and recovering spine density in HIV-infected SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells. We did not observe any neuronal cytotoxicity with either the free TIMP1 or MNP-bound TIMP1 used in our study. We observed significantly reduced HIV infection in both solution phase and in MNP-bound TIMP1-exposed neuronal cells. Furthermore, we also observed significantly reduced reactive oxygen species production in both the test groups compared to the neuronal cells infected with HIV alone. To observe the effect of both soluble-phase TIMP1 and MNP-bound TIMP1 on spine density in HIV-infected neuronal cells, confocal microscopy was used. We observed significant recovery of spine density in both the test groups when compared to the cells infected with HIV alone, indicting the neuroprotective effect of TIMP1. Therefore, our results suggest that the MNP-bound TIMP1 delivery method across the blood–brain barrier can be used for reducing HIV infectivity in brain tissue and neuronal toxicity in HIV-infected patients

Simple vs ugly adnexal lesions: is ultrasonography alone good enough?

Background: Ultrasound (USG) is easily available and effective imaging modality for adnexal lesions. A simple looking lesion on ultrasound is usually benign and an ugly looking adnexal lesion is either benign or malignant. This study aims to evaluate the varied appearance of simple and ugly benign adnexal lesions on USG and to find out any additional role of colour Doppler in such suspected benign lesions. The confirmation of diagnosis was done either by follow up appearance of lesions on USG or by histopathological evaluation.Methods: A total of 55 consecutive female patients with age between 18 to 50 years were enrolled in this prospective cross sectional study. USG and colour Doppler for all the lesions were done. The patients found to have malignant lesions on histopathological examination, were later excluded from the analysis. Follow up USG was done for all the cases. Those cases wherein there was no resolution of lesions even after 08 weeks, were given an option to undergo laparoscopy as next management step.Results: Out of 50 benign adnexal masses, 88% masses were ovarian in origin and 12% were tubal masses. Ovarian masses included hemorrhagic cysts, endometriosis, simple cysts, serous cystadenomas and ovarian dermoid. All extra-ovarian masses were hydrosalpinx. Colour Doppler did not add any additional finding. Some of the patients underwent diagnostic laparoscopy followed by excision of masses in majority of them.Conclusions: Benign adnexal lesions can have varied appearance ranging from simple to ugly on USG. Ultrasonographic features of benign lesions on USG can be appreciated very well even without further use of colour Doppler or cross sectional imaging. Follow up USG remains key modality for benign adnexal masses in absence of MRI

A study of ultrasonographic transcerebellar diameter in assessment of fetal gestational age

Background: Accurate assessment of gestational age is of paramount importance for the clinician to impart holistic antenatal care and is also essential prerequisite to plan the various clinical tests and interventions. Ultrasound (USG) morphometric measurements of fetal parts have been used to assess gestational age of the fetus with improved accuracy. The present study aims at comparing the ultrasonographic measurement of transverse cerebellar diameter (TCD) with other previously established fetal ultrasound biometric parameters, to study its role in patients of suspected intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and to study ultrasonographic appearance of fetal cerebellum with advancing gestational age.Methods: A total of 153 pregnant women who were referred for antenatal ultrasound examination were divided into two groups-Group I had 137 healthy pregnant women with normal fetuses between 14-40 weeks of gestation and Group II had 16 patients suspected to have IUGR clinically.Results: In group I, there was a curvilinear relationship between TCD and BPD, TCD and HC, TCD and AC and TCD and FL with correlation coefficients being 0.9810, 0.9181, 0.9649 and 0.9513 respectively. In group II, TCD correlated with gestational age predicted by last menstrual period. The remaining biometric parameters in group-II predicted a fetus of much earlier grade. The study findings also suggested a gradual and steady change in ultrasonographic appearances of cerebellum with advancing gestation.Conclusions: Ultrasonographic measurement of TCD shows excellent correlation with advancing gestational age and with other previously established biometric parameters. TCD can serve as an independent and reliable indicator of gestational age and a standard against which aberrations in fetal growth may be compared