Studies on mechanical behavior of glass epoxy composites with induced defects and correlations with NDT characterization parameters

Degradation in mechanical properties (compression, flexural and ILS) of glass epoxy composite laminates with induced defects (simulating delaminations) was studied. The defects were characterized by using the A-scan ultrasonic pulse-echo technique. The two A-scan parameters, viz. the back wall echo amplitude and time of flight, were followed respectively, as functions of the defect size (diameter) and its location in the laminate thickness. The mechanical properties of laminates were evaluated destructively for different defect sizes and locations. An attempt has been made to express the mechanical properties in terms of the two NDT scan parameters characterizing the defects and empirical equations presente

Mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways cooperate in zearalenone-induced apoptosis of human leukemic cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Zearalenone (ZEA) is a phytoestrogen from <it>Fusarium </it>species. The aims of the study was to identify mode of human leukemic cell death induced by ZEA and the mechanisms involved.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cell cytotoxicity of ZEA on human leukemic HL-60, U937 and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was performed by using 3-(4,5-dimethyl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Reactive oxygen species production, cell cycle analysis and mitochondrial transmembrane potential reduction was determined by employing 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate, propidium iodide and 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide and flow cytometry, respectively. Caspase-3 and -8 activities were detected by using fluorogenic Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (DEVD-AMC) and Ile-Glu-Thr-Asp-7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (IETD-AMC) substrates, respectively. Protein expression of cytochrome c, Bax, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL was performed by Western blot. The expression of proteins was assessed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel-electrophoresis (PAGE) coupled with LC-MS2 analysis and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) approach.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>ZEA was cytotoxic to U937 > HL-60 > PBMCs and caused subdiploid peaks and G1 arrest in both cell lines. Apoptosis of human leukemic HL-60 and U937 cell apoptosis induced by ZEA was via an activation of mitochondrial release of cytochrome c through mitochondrial transmembrane potential reduction, activation of caspase-3 and -8, production of reactive oxygen species and induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Bax was up regulated in a time-dependent manner and there was down regulation of Bcl-xL expression. Two-dimensional PAGE coupled with LC-MS2 analysis showed that ZEA treatment of HL-60 cells produced differences in the levels of 22 membrane proteins such as apoptosis inducing factor and the ER stress proteins including endoplasmic reticulum protein 29 (ERp29), 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein, heat shock protein 90 and calreticulin, whereas only <it>ERp29 </it>mRNA transcript increased.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>ZEA induced human leukemic cell apoptosis via endoplasmic stress and mitochondrial pathway.</p

A test system for cyclic loading of solar panel

A method to test solar panels against wind loads has13; been suggested. Also the use of Infra Red Detection13; method in measuring very low pressure has been explained

Estimation of Stability and Control Derivatives of Light Canard Research Aircraft from Flight Data

In this paper, stability and control derivatives of light canard research aircraft generated through the flight test using the parameter estimation technique has been presented. The maximum likelihood estimation, based on the output-error minimization technique, is used to estimate the derivatives from the aircraft response data. The validity of the estimates has been checked by the cross validation method, wherein the estimated model response is matched with the flight-test data that are not used for estimating derivatives

Developments on the HP Statistical Library Analysis Software

The data gathered from various transducers during the calibration tests of the C160 Tranasall aircraft, were analysed in the DLR Institute for Flight Mechanics, Braunschweig, Germany. The analysis were done on the HP Series 200 type computer, using the HP Statistical Library Software. The anaysis was done to establish the transfer functions of the tranducers. 13; While using this software it was noticed that if some improvements were carried out, the program can be more efficient, time saving and user friendly. Based on this idea the following improvements were done.13; During the analysis of the data, polynomil regression routine was used not only for the nonlinear models but also for the linear models. In the polynomial regression the selettion of the degree of regression level to have the best fit model, was made to run in auto mode. With a few questions to the user the program run in auto mode and finally displays the degree of regression at which the best13; fit model is possible.13; In the regression plot and in the residual plot changes were done to get the hysteresis curve of the transducer. Also the paper advanceing was made automatic while printing various analysis data, which the user was doing earlier

Improved Post-larval Production in Giant Prawn, <i>Macrobrachium rosenbergii, </i>through Modulation of Antioxidant Defence System by Dietary Vitamin-E

195-202Giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (deMan) (Crustacea-Decapoda) is an economically important species widely cultured in both freshwater and low saline water (brackish water) aquaculture. The experiments were conducted to study the effects of dietary supplementation of vitamin-E on the post-larval production (seed production), lipid peroxidation (LPX) and antioxidant defence system in the post larvae of M. rosenbergii. Objective of the study is to refine the existing seed production technology through the modulation of antioxidant defence system during larval progression. Results of the first feeding trial clearly exhibit the increased post-larval production in response to different levels of supplementary vitamin-E (50, 100, 200 or 400 mglkg feed). Results of the second feeding experiment with a selective dose of vitamin-E (200 mglkg feed) were also consistent with that and it was further observed that vitamin-E supplemented diet (200 mglkg feed) can reduce the level of LPX in the post larvae. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) was reduced significantly but that of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) was elevated in the post larvae receiving vitam.in-E supplementation. Though ascorbic acid content of the post larvae was elevated in response to vitamin-E supplemented diet, glutathione (GSH) content remained unaltered. The present findings indicate that modulation of antioxidant defence system in response to vitamin-E supplementation in the diet might have a positive role in improving post-larval production

Improvement in obsessive-compulsive disorder following right anterior temporal lobectomy and amygdalohippocampectomy in a patient with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy with right mesial temporal sclerosis

There are reports of co-occurrence of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). We present a report of a patient with refractory TLE due to hippocampal sclerosis with concomitant OCD on pharmacotherapy for both. She underwent surgery for standard anterior temporal lobectomy with amygdalohippocampectomy and reported improvement in obsessive–compulsive symptoms subsequently. We seek to further evidence of interaction between the two conditions and argue to undertake future research exploration on the same