Lead content in new decorative paints in India

The paint industry in India is broadly classified into two categories: organized sector and unorganized sector. Multinational and big Indian companies form the organized sector, whereas the small- and medium-scale industries which produce paints for the local market form the unorganized sector. The present study was undertaken to determine the level of lead in decorative paints in India. A total of 148 paint samples sourced from four organized sector companies and six unorganized sector companies were analyzed for the total lead content. Results of this study reveal that 39 % of the total paints tested (n = 148) contain lead more than 300 ppm, the voluntary limit prescribed by Bureau of Indian Standards, BIS (IS 15489:2011), and 45 % of the tested paints contain lead more than 90 ppm, the US limit. Further analysis of the data indicates that only 5 % of the tested paints manufactured by organized sector companies contain lead more than 300 ppm (n = 91), whereas 93 % of the tested paints manufactured by unorganized sector companies contain lead more than 300 ppm (n = 57). Comparison with earlier reported data suggests that while organized sector companies are gradually abandoning the use of leadbased compounds in their paints, the unorganized sector companies are still adding lead based compounds intentionally in their paints despite the potential health hazards associated with it. The maximum concentration of lead obtained was 80,350 ppm in one of the paints manufactured by an unorganized sector company. The presence of high concentration of lead in yellow and green color paints indicates that color can be a predictor of lead content in decorative paints

IJTC2008-71152 MISALIGNMENT EFFECT ON CEMENT KILN SUPPORT BEARING

ABSTRACT This paper illustrates the effect of misalignment on performance of cement kiln partial journal bearing. The performance parameters include minimum film thickness, load carrying capacity, power loss and dynamic coefficients such as elastic coefficients and damping coefficients. The bearing analyses have been carried out using a commercial rotor dynamics software package

Economic Evaluation of the PV Micro Utilities Installed by Grameen Shakti for Rural Electrification in Bangladesh

Sharing expensive technology can serve many users, even poor users. Grameen Shakti has developed a special programnamed PV micro utility to make it easier for those who cannot afford SHSs individually. Under this program, GrameenShakti allows people to share the cost and the subsequent benefit of using a SHS. In this study, operation and financialmechanism, analysis of cost of systems, tariff system, simple payback period, NPV and IRR of the micro utility systemshave been analyzed to show the financial viability of PV MU from the PV MU owner’s perspective. Results suggest thatthese systems have simple payback period of around 4-6 years. The NPV of systems varied from 27,000 BDT to 144,000BDT. The levelized electricity cost of PV MU systems is 70 BDT (~0.86 $)/kWh in Bangladesh. The owner has to spendonly 7.50 BDT/day but can earn at least 30-40 BDT per day, and up to 130-200 BDT/day.Keywords - Rural Electrification, Solar PV, Grameen Shakti, Bangladesh, Economic Evaluation

High prevalence of metabolic syndrome & its correlates in two tribal populations of India & the impact of urbanization

Background & objectives: Metabolic syndrome is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. The prevalence of this syndrome is high among Asians, including Indians, and is rising, particularly with the adoption of a modernized life style. Whether traditional societies in India have a low prevalence and the extent to which a transition to a modern life style contributes to the increase in prevalence are unknown. To examine the role of environmental and genetic factors in metabolic syndrome we conducted a study in two sub-Himalayan tribal populations with shared ancestry (Toto and Bhutia). The Toto live exclusively in a rural area, whereas a section of the Bhutia has adopted a modern life style. Methods: Fasting (12 h) blood samples of Toto (n=258); rural Bhutia (n=75) and urban Bhutia (n=230) were collected, with written informed consent. Lipid profile, blood pressures, body fat and other anthropometric parameters were assessed. Criteria suggested by National Cholesterol Education Programme (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III (2001) were used for assessment of metabolic syndrome. Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was high (about 30-50%) among the Bhutia, with no significant rural-urban difference. Among the Toto, though the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was low (about 4-9%), their lipid levels were alarmingly adverse (about 37-67% had low HDLcholesterol or high triglyceride levels). There was an additional adverse impact of adoption of urban life-styles (perhaps primarily mediated through dietary changes) on cardiovascular risk factors. Interpretation & conclusion: Our study suggested that metabolic syndrome and its correlates could be a major health problem even in traditional societies, indicating that this syndrome was not necessarily a result of modernization. Further, our study indicates that genetic factors that adversely affect the levels of such variables have long antiquities in Indian ethnic groups

Proficiency Testfor Proximate Analysis of Coal: Determination of Moisture, Ash, Volatile Matter and Total Sulfur

Proficiency test (PT) is an important way of meeting the requirements of NABL accreditation (ISO/IEC 17025) in the areas of chemical testing. It provides laboratories with an objective means of assessing and demonstrating the reliability of data they produce. In this study, 18 laboratories interested in the ultimate analysis of coal participated in a proficiency test conducted by CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur in collaboration with CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi in 2011-12. The participating Iaboratories used classical and instrumental methods of analysis to determine moisture, ash, volatile matter and total sulfur in a homogenized coal sample. This paper reports the analytical results and statistical evaluation of the results using z-score

A semi-analytical approach to perturbations in mutated hilltop inflation

We study cosmological perturbations and observational aspects for mutated hilltop model of inflation. Employing mostly analytical treatment, we evaluate observable parameters during inflation as well as post-inflationary perturbations. This further leads to exploring observational aspects related to Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation. This semi-analytical treatment reduces complications related to numerical computation to some extent for studying the different phenomena related to CMB angular power spectrum for mutated hilltop inflation.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures. Improved version to appear in IJMP

Clinical comparison between femoral transfixation and bioscrew fixation using hamstring tendon graft for ACL reconstruction

Background: One of the popular graft choices for ACL reconstruction have been Hamstrings tendon autograft. There is no consensus on the ideal technique of fixation of hamstrings graft to femoral condyle. Theoretically we hypothesized that transfixation method of hamstrings graft fixation to femoral condyle should be superior to bio-interference screw fixation technique. Hence aim of our study is to compare this two fixation methods of hamstrings autografts clinically.Methods: 50 clinically and radiologically proven ACL deficient fighting soldiers are selected for the study. In group A; 25 patients underwent ACL reconstruction with Bioscrew using aperture technique on femoral side. Other 25 patients in group B underwent ACL reconstruction with transfixation screw using cortico-cancellous fixation technique on femoral side. In both groups quadrupled semitendinosus autograft is utilized. All the patients evaluated for functional outcome at the end of 6 weeks and at 6 months and at the end of 1 year following the procedure. The subjects are evaluated using the modified Lysholm knee score and knee laxity is measured by Rolimeter.Results: At 01 year post op. there was no statistically significant difference in both groups in terms of Manual laity tests,Rollimeter laity measurement and Lysholm knee score.The overall satisfactory result (Excellent + Good) in both the groups at 01 year follow up were 98% by Lysholm score.Conclusions: Transfixation and Bioscrew fixation showed comparable results in manual knee laxity tests, instrumental knee laxity tests using Rolimeter, Lyslohm scores and high patient satisfaction, with almost 96% of patients in both groups returned to their pre-injury levels.

The use of new pedagogical practices and modern technologies to increase the competence level of I and II stage students of the specialty “ Physical Training” of Polotsk State University

The changes taking place in the higher education system in the Republic of Belarus require the search for new pedagogical teaching technologies, the updating of tools, methods and methodological techniques. At Polotsk State University, innovative pedagogical practices and technologies, information and communication technologies and distance learning technologies are widely used in the training of specialists in physical education. When choosing and implementing new pedagogical practices, technologies, forms and methods of teaching, constant requests for the formation of future specialists ' competencies are taken into account. The use of innovative teaching methods increases the quality of students ' knowledge, interest in studying the course and future professional activity

Perfect Fluid Quantum Anisotropic Universe: Merits and Challenges

The present paper deals with quantization of perfect fluid anisotropic cosmological models. Bianchi type V and IX models are discussed following Schutz's method of expressing fluid velocities in terms of six potentials. The wave functions are found for several examples of equations of state. In one case a complete wave packet could be formed analytically. The initial singularity of a zero proper volume can be avoided in this case, but it is plagued by the usual problem of non-unitarity of anisotropic quantum cosmological models. It is seen that a particular operator ordering alleviates this problem.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures; Accepted for publication in Gen Relativ Gravi

Polotsk State University in the Educational Space of Polotsk Region

The article considers the role of university education in the regional space. It is proved that the regional university is faced with the task of working out a qualitatively new educational policy, as well as the fact that the mutual influence of the university and the region is one of the leading factors of regional development. The university provides an influx of young people into the region from other areas, leading to an increase in the number of young specialists who are actively involved in new areas of the economy. Polotsk State University is a major educational, scientific and cultural centre of the northern region of the Republic of Belarus. It has a direct impact on the improvement of the quality of life in Polotsk region, providing a wide and diverse range of professional, educational, cultural and leisure services to its population, especially young people, and organizing various types of vocational training and retraining of employees in accordance with the demand of the region for a particular profession and specialty. In addition, the university concentrates the bulk of scientific research of fundamental importance for the sustainable socio-economic and cultural development of the region