Experimental Study and Modeling of Machining with Dry Compressed Air, Flood and Minimum Quantity Cutting Fluid Cooling Techniques

AbstractIn the present work, the effect of dry air cooling (DAC), flood cooling (FC) and cooling with minimum quantity cutting fluid (MQCF) on average surface roughness (Ra), chip thickness and tool flank wear were studied. For MQCF, a specially designed and fabricated mist application system was developed. In MQCF, the cutting fluid and pressurized air are mixed externally to form homogenous mist at the exit of twin holed nozzle, which is delivered to cutting zone. Preliminary experiments were carried out to find the optimum air pressure (cutting fluid discharge) for minimum Ra and tool wear. Later complete experiments were planned according to central rotatable composite design technique. It was found from the experimental results that MQCF was effective in substantially bringing down the Ra (22% & 15.5%), chip thickness (9.5% & 5.0%), and flank wear (15.5% & 6.0%), compared to DAC and FC respectively. In MQCF, due to negligible consumption of cutting fluid, both emissions during machining and cutting fluid cost are negligible. Hence the product cost is reduced greatly in MQCF. Thus MQCF enhances safety standards, environmental cleanliness and reduces the manufacturing cost of the produc

Effect of Bed Temperature, Fuel Density and Particle Size on Hydrodynamic Parameters of 10 MW Fluidized Bed Combustion Power Plant Using Riser Waste

The design and operation of boilers using rice waste present a number of challenges. The overall capacity and efficiency of the boiler are strongly dependent on the fuel, and the supplier has to be able to guarantee the capacity and efficiency within the whole range of the fuel mixture being burned. It is well known that the exit gas composition is strongly dependent on the fuel. Bed temperature, fuel density and particle size significantly affect the hydrodynamic properties of a fluidized bed combustor. The effect of bed temperature, fuel density, particle size on exit gas composition and other hydrodynamic parameters of 10 MW power plant is discussed in this paper, and a heat balance sheet for the 10 MW fluidized bed boiler based on rice waste is prepared. Heat release in the fluidized bed region is also calculated and the efficiency of fluidized bed boiler is found

A note on higher-order nondifferentiable symmetric duality in multiobjective programming

AbstractIn this work, we establish a strong duality theorem for Mond–Weir type multiobjective higher-order nondifferentiable symmetric dual programs. This fills some gaps in the work of Chen [X. Chen, Higher-order symmetric duality in nondifferentiable multiobjective programming problems, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 290 (2004) 423–435]

Radioiodine Therapy for Hyperthyroidism Changing Pattern of Management over Three Decades at INMAS

Iodine - 131 therapy is a relatively simple, effective and economical method of treating hyperthyroidism. Even fifty years after the introduction of radioactive iodine, there is no concensus on the approach for selection of the dose for treatment of hyperthyroidism. Since the last three decades, the approach for radioiodine therapy at this Institute has been to treat with low, fractionated doses to produce partial destruction of the thyroid gland leaving the patient sufficient functioning gland for normal hormone production. New in vitro diagnostic techniques including free T/sub 3/, T/sub 4/ and sensitive TSH assay have been introduced over the past decade for the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism. Changes in the thyroid radioactive iodine uptake in the population due to introduction of iodized salt, and the high incidence of persistent hyperthyroidism after low dose radioiodine therapy, have prompted to go for a proporptionate increase in the /sup 131/I original dose schedules based on goitre grades. This has led to nominal increase in the incidence of post therapy hypothyroidism. However, the basic principle of low, fractionated dose therapy is still being followed at this Institute, which appears suitable for our social and economic condition

Morphological characterization of forage sorghum genotypes for its various DUS traits

The present investigation was conducted to characterize 20 genotypes of sorghum {Sorghum bicolor (L.) moench} on the basis of 33 morphological characters provided by Protection of Plant Variety & Farmer’s Right Act (PPV&FRA) for Distinctiveness Uniformity and Stability (DUS) testing in sorghum. Experimental results revealed that maximum variation was found on the basis of glume colour among the genotypes i.e. G 46, HC 308, HJ 513 had green white, IS 3237, SSG 9, HC 171 had yellow white, SSG 59-3, COFS 29 had grayed purple, S 437-1, SGL-87, S 540-S, SSG (PSSG) had grayed yellow and remaining seven genotypes had grayed orange glume colour. The studied traits showed five genotypes had distinct state of expression. Genotype S-540 showed very high plant height upto the base of flag leaf, HC 136 had compact panicle density at maturity, COFS 29 had very long glume length, SSG 59-3 had distinct expression for days to panicle emergence (50 % of the plants with 50 % of anthesis) and COFS 29 and IS 18551 had short and very long leaf width of blade, respectively. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed principal Factor (PFI) and Principal Factor (PFII) with maximum variability (64.99 %). Classification of genotypes on the basis of DUS traits provided identification of key characteristics of various genotypes

The accelerated path of ceritinib: Translating pre-clinical development into clinical efficacy

Abstract The discovery of anaplastic lymphoma kinase ( ALK )-rearranged non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in 2007 led to the development and subsequent approval of the ALK inhibitor crizotinib in 2011. However, despite its clinical efficacy, resistance to crizotinib invariably develops. There is now a next generation of ALK inhibitors, including two that have been approved—ceritinib and alectinib—and others that are in development—brigatinib, lorlatinib and X-396. Ceritinib and the other next-generation ALK inhibitors are more potent than crizotinib and can overcome tumor cell resistance mechanisms. Ceritinib gained US Food and Drug Administration approval in 2014 following accelerated review for the treatment of patients with ALK -positive ( ALK +) metastatic NSCLC who have progressed on or are intolerant to crizotinib. In pre-clinical studies, it demonstrated more potent inhibition of ALK than crizotinib in enzymatic assays, more durable responses in xenograft models and the ability to potently overcome crizotinib resistance mutations in vitro (including the gatekeeper mutation). There is also evidence for ceritinib penetration across the blood-brain barrier. In clinical trials, ceritinib has demonstrated durable responses and progression-free survival in ALK-inhibitor–pre-treated and –naive NSCLC patients, including high overall and intracranial response rates in those with central nervous system metastases. Selective gastrointestinal toxicity of ceritinib, such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting is generally manageable with prophylactic medication and prompt dose reduction or interruption. Future progress in treating ALK + NSCLC will focus on determining the optimal sequencing of therapies and strategies to overcome acquired resistance, an ongoing challenge in treating ALK -mutation–driven tumors

A Mechanoresponsive Phase-Changing Electrolyte Enables Fabrication of High-Output Solid-State Photobioelectrochemical Devices from Pigment-Protein Multilayers

Exploitation of natural photovoltaic reaction center pigment proteins in biohybrid architectures for solar energy harvesting is attractive due to their global abundance, environmental compatibility, and near-unity quantum efficiencies. However, it is challenging to achieve high photocurrents in a device setup due to limitations imposed by low light absorbance by protein monolayers and/or slow long-range diffusion of liquid-phase charge carriers. In an attempt to enhance the photocurrent density achievable by pigment proteins, here, an alternative solid-state device architecture enabled by a mechanoresponsive gel electrolyte that can be applied under nondenaturing conditions is demonstrated. The phase-changing electrolyte gel provides a pervading biocompatible interface for charge conduction through highly absorbing protein multilayers that are fabricated in a simple fashion. Assembled devices exhibit enhanced current stability and a maximal photoresponse of ≈860 μA cm -2 , a fivefold improvement over the best previous comparable devices under standard illumination conditions. Photocurrent generation is enhanced by directional energy transfer through extended layers of light-harvesting complexes, mimicking the modular antenna/transducer architecture of natural photosystems, and by metastable radical pair formation when photovoltaic reaction centers are embedded throughout light-harvesting regions of the device

Crop physiology of elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst. Nicolson)

Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst. Nicolson), syn. A. campanulatus (Roxb.) BL. exDence (also elephant foot yam) is largely cultivated in the Philippines, Java, Indonesia, Sumatra, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India and China. In India, it is cultivated in the states of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Jarkhand. Sree Padma, Gajendra, Sree Athira (a hybrid), Bidhan Kusum and NDA-9 are some of the high yielding Amorphophallus varieties released for cultivation. The corm production potential of this crop is 50-80 t ha-1 and net economic return is about 2000 – 3000 US$ per ha. Plant growth and corm yield is influenced by the size of planting material (corms/cormels/corm pieces), plant spacing, nutrient management and water availability. Nevertheless, the production aspect of this crop is less understood as scanty research has been conducted in this crop. The available literature on growth and productivity of elephant foot yam is briefly described in this article

Coconut-growing soils of Kerala: 2. Assessment of fertility and soil related constraints to coconut production

Growth, productivity and health of coconut plantations in humid tropics are influenced by soil qualities. Fertility of coconut-growing soils of Kerala was assessed by analysing samples drawn from the distinct agro-ecological regions of the state: Central and Eastern Palakkad, Northern Kerala, Central Kerala and Southern Kerala, Onattukara sandy plain and coastal sandy plain. The strongly acid soils of Northern and Central Kerala and Onattukara sandy plain are unfavorable for plant nutrient availability and microbial processes. Surface and sub-soils of Central Kerala and sandy plains have low levels of organic carbon. Available phosphorus was high in soils of Southern Kerala and Onattukara sandy plain. Plant available potassium was not adequate in these coconut-growing soils. The nutrient levels in soils of Central Kerala and sandy plain were extremely low. The same pattern was true for secondary nutrients calcium and magnesium. Soils of all regions have adequate levels of available sulphur, iron and manganese. Copper and zinc deficiency was recorded for laterite soils of central region and sandy soils of Onattukara and coastal plain. Plant available boron was deficient in all regions except for the soils of Southern Kerala. Molybdenum levels were marginal in coconut growing soils, except for the soils of Palakkad. Overhead climate and soil moisture availability does not constrain the palm in the state except for Eastern Palakkad where irrigation during dry period is an absolute necessity. The extensive areas of midland laterites and Onattukara sandy plain with strong acid reaction and aluminium in soil solution severely constrain coconut. The acid soils also suffer from deficiencies of potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc and boron. These soil related constraints affect coconut production significantly and alleviation of the same through liming and adequate application of deficient nutrients can ensure satisfactory yields from the palm

Shifting support for inequitable gender norms among young Indian men to reduce HIV risk and partner violence

India accounts for the second largest population of people living with HIV/AIDS (5.1 million), and almost half of new infections occur in young men below age 30. While there are multiple factors influencing young men’s HIV risk in India, one that is receiving increasing attention is early socialization about masculinity. Young men in India mature and develop in a male-dominated context, having little contact with female peers and virtually no sex education. In this context, most boys develop a sense of masculinity characterized by male dominance in the sexual arena and other areas. Although there is increasing awareness of the role that norms that encourage gender inequality play in fostering HIV risk behaviors and partner violence, few studies have attempted to influence these norms and measure changes in support for them among young men exposed to an intervention. As detailed in this research summary, the Horizons Program, CORO for Literacy, and Instituto PROMUNDO conducted operations research to examine the impact on young men of promoting gender equity as part of an HIV-prevention program