Investigations on Electrochemical Micro Drilling of Nickel Alloy using Taguchi based Grey Approach

Inconel 600 is the nickel based super alloy which is employed in numerous engineering applications like gas turbine blades, turbochargers and heat exchangers etc. However, it is very difficult to machine due to its high strength and poor thermal diffusion. Conventional machining methods of these materials may result in decreased life time. An electrochemical machining is an advanced non-traditional technique which is suitable for machining hard material, strenuous materials and Intricate shapes. In this paper, electrochemical micro drilling (ECMD) on Inconel 600 material is investigated. The experiments are devised and analyzed using Taguchi’s L18 orthogonal array and Grey relational analysis (GRA). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) has been implemented to find out the significance of electrochemical micro drilling parameters on the performance characteristics

Investigations on Electrochemical Micro Drilling of Nickel Alloy using Taguchi based Grey Approach

424-429Inconel 600 is the nickel based super alloy which is employed in numerous engineering applications like gas turbine blades, turbochargers and heat exchangers etc. However, it is very difficult to machine due to its high strength and poor thermal diffusion. Conventional machining methods of these materials may result in decreased life time. An electrochemical machining is an advanced non-traditional technique which is suitable for machining hard material, strenuous materials and Intricate shapes. In this paper, electrochemical micro drilling (ECMD) on Inconel 600 material is investigated. The experiments are devised and analyzed using Taguchi’s L18 orthogonal array and Grey relational analysis (GRA). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) has been implemented to find out the significance of electrochemical micro drilling parameters on the performance characteristics

MicroRNA-940 suppresses prostate cancer migration and invasion by regulating MIEN1.

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial molecules that regulate gene expression and hence pathways that are key to prostate cancer progression. These non-coding RNAs are highly deregulated in prostate cancer thus facilitating progression of the disease. Among the many genes that have gained importance in this disease, Migration and invasion enhancer 1 (MIEN1), a novel gene located next to HER2/neu in the 17q12 amplicon of the human chromosome, has been shown to enhance prostate cancer cell migration and invasion, two key processes in cancer progression. MIEN1 is differentially expressed between normal and cancer cells and tissues. Understanding the regulation of MIEN1 by microRNA may enable development of better targeting strategies. METHODS: The miRNAs that could target MIEN1 were predicted by in silico algorithms and microarray analysis. The validation for miRNA expression was performed by qPCR and northern blotting in cells and by in situ hybridization in tissues. MIEN1 and levels of other molecules upon miRNA regulation was determined by Western blotting, qPCR, and immunofluorescence. The functional effects of miRNA on cells were determined by wound healing cell migration, Boyden chamber cell invasion, clonal and colony formation assays. For knockdown or overexpression of the miRNA or overexpression of MIEN1 3'UTR, cells were transfected with the oligomiRs and plasmids, respectively. RESULTS: A novel miRNA, hsa-miR-940 (miR-940), identified and validated to be highly expressed in immortalized normal cells compared to cancer cells, is a regulator of MIEN1. Analysis of human prostate tumors and their matched normal tissues confirmed that miR-940 is highly expressed in the normal tissues compared to its low to negligible expression in the tumors. While MIEN1 is a direct target of miR-940, miR-940 alters MIEN1 RNA, in a quantity as well as cell dependent context, along with altering its downstream effectors. The miR-940 inhibited migratory and invasive potential of cells, attenuated their anchorage-independent growth ability, and increased E-cadherin expression, implicating its role in mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET). CONCLUSIONS: These results, for the first time, implicate miR-940, a regulator of MIEN1, as a promising novel diagnostic and prognostic tool for prostate cancer

Effects of chirality on the intracellular localization of binuclear ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes

Interest in binuclear ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes as luminescent cellular imaging agents and for biomedical applications is increasing rapidly. We have investigated the cellular localization, uptake, and biomolecular interactions of the pure enantiomers of two structural isomers of [μ-bipb(phen)4Ru2]4+ (bipb is bis(imidazo[4,5-f]-1,10-phenanthrolin-2-yl)benzene and phen is 1,10-phenanthroline) using confocal laser scanning microscopy, emission spectroscopy, and linear dichroism. Both complexes display distinct enantiomeric differences in the staining pattern of fixed cells, which are concluded to arise from chiral discrimination in the binding to intracellular components. Uptake of complexes in live cells is efficient and nontoxic at 5 μM, and occurs through an energy-dependent mechanism. No differences in uptake are observed between the structural isomers or the enantiomers, suggesting that the interactions triggering uptake are rather insensitive to structural variations. Altogether, these findings show that the complexes investigated are promising for future applications as cellular imaging probes. In addition, linear dichroism shows that the complexes exhibit DNA-condensing properties, making them interesting as potential gene delivery vectors

Risk factors for myocardial infarction among low socioeconomic status South Indian population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>As longevity increases, cases of myocardial infarction (MI) are likely to be more. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major global health problem reaching epidemic proportions in the Indian subcontinent, also among low socio-economic status (SES) and thin individuals.</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>The present study was undertaken to elicit risk factors for MI among low SES Southern Indians and to find out its association with body mass index (BMI).</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>A case-control study of patients with MI matched against healthy control subjects was carried out in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Standard methods were followed to elicit risk factors and BMI. Chi-square and Fishers exact test for categorical versus categorical, to show relationship with risk factors were analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 949 patients (male (M) = 692 and post menopausal female (F) = 257) and 611 age and sex matched healthy controls were included. In our study, BMI was below 23 in 48.2% of patients and below 21 in 22.5%. The risk of developing MI was significantly more in males (odds ratio (OR) = 3.3, 95% confidence interval (C.I.) = 2.69-4.13), among females with post-menopausal duration (PMD) of more than or equal to 3 years (OR = 9.27, 95% C.I. = 6.36-13.50) and in those with BMI less than 23 with one or other risk factors (P = 0.002, OR = 1.38, 95% C.I. = 1.13-1.70).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>BMI cannot be considered as a lone independent risk factor, as the study population had low BMI but had one or more modifiable risk factors. It would be advisable to keep BMI at least 21 kg/m²for screening program. Health education on life style modification and programs to diagnose and control diabetes and hypertension have to be initiated at community level in order to reduce the occurrence.</p

Insulin resistance and significance of postprandial lipid profile in normoglycemic coronary artery disease

Background: Coronary artery disease is a continuum of a pathological process, in which the coronary arteries gradually thicken, harden and atherosclerotic plaques develop which further occludes the blood flow. The prevalence of coronary artery disease is rapidly rising in India. There are various risk factors of CAD which have been extensively studied, out of which Type-2 diabetes is an important etiopathogenic factor of accelerated CAD. Insulin resistance plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the development of type- 2 diabetes. Despite the clear relationship between type-2 diabetes and CAD, the association of insulin resistance and CAD is more obscure in people without diabetes. Aims &amp; Objectives: To find the association between insulin resistance and Coronary artery disease, to evaluate the role of postprandial lipid profile and its relationship with development of CHD and the evaluation of apolipoproteins (a and b) on the same group. Subjects and Methods: Fifty patients of coronary artery disease admitted to ICCU/CCU of psg institute of medical sciences and research were studied. The cases of this present study were 50 non diabetic CAD patients and controls were selected based on age and sex matched non diabetic ‘and non CAD patients who has to undergo similar set of investigations as cases to find out association of insulin resistance by using HOMA score and to find out the significance in abnormalities of postprandial lipid profile in these patients. Results: 92% of the cases had insulin resistance, 52% of the controls had normal HOMA score when compared to cases. Apolipoprotein b was significantly elevated in cases (84%) than controls. All patients were normoglycemic. Serum triglycerides were significantly high in cases than controls in both fasting and postprandial states. Conclusion: Improving insulin sensitivity would offer substantial benefits by decreasing the morbidity, mortality, and economic burden associated with CAD especially in the country like Indi