Research options for controlling Zoonotic disease in India, 2010-2015

BACKGROUND: Zoonotic infections pose a significant public health challenge for low- and middle-income countries and have traditionally been a neglected area of research. The Roadmap to Combat Zoonoses in India (RCZI) initiative conducted an exercise to systematically identify and prioritize research options needed to control zoonoses in India. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Priority setting methods developed by the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative were adapted for the diversity of sectors, disciplines, diseases and populations relevant for zoonoses in India. A multidisciplinary group of experts identified priority zoonotic diseases and knowledge gaps and proposed research options to address key knowledge gaps within the next five years. Each option was scored using predefined criteria by another group of experts. The scores were weighted using relative ranks among the criteria based upon the feedback of a larger reference group. We categorized each research option by type of research, disease targeted, factorials, and level of collaboration required. We analysed the research options by tabulating them along these categories. Seventeen experts generated four universal research themes and 103 specific research options, the majority of which required a high to medium level of collaboration across sectors. Research options designated as pertaining to 'social, political and economic' factorials predominated and scored higher than options focussing on ecological, genetic and biological, or environmental factors. Research options related to 'health policy and systems' scored highest while those related to 'research for development of new interventions' scored the lowest. CONCLUSIONS: We methodically identified research themes and specific research options incorporating perspectives of a diverse group of stakeholders. These outputs reflect the diverse nature of challenges posed by zoonoses and should be acceptable across diseases, disciplines, and sectors. The identified research options capture the need for 'actionable research' for advancing the prevention and control of zoonoses in India

Microstructural Studies on Cryogenically treated High Carbon High Chromium D3 Cold work tool steel used in hole piercing operation on Chain component

In sheet metal stamping operations like Blanking and Piercing the punches are more prone to failure than the dies. The wear on the punches will affect the size and shape of the components produced. Hence industries are striving to innovate the ways by which the punch life can be prolonged which results in reduced punch changeover time and reduced spending on punch costs. In this study, the effect of cryogenic treatment on the properties of the piercing punches made of High Carbon High Chromium D3 Cold work type tool steels on microstructure, for improvement of tool life has been investigated. Conventionally the tool steel is heat treated by following Stress Relieving, Hardening and Tempering processes. In the present study 4 different groups of punch samples were prepared in High Carbon High Chromium D3 type cold work tool steel. First group of punches were conventional heat treated (HT). The second group of punches are cryogenically treated immediately after Stress relieving and hardening without performing tempering (HC). The third set of punches were cryogenically treated immediately after stress relieving and hardening and finally tempered (HCT) and the last group of punches were conventionally heat treated followed by cryogenic treatment (HTC). The cryogenic treatment is expected to improve the life of punches by improving the properties of the punches. The SEM and OM images of the cryogenically treated punches were taken to assess the improvement in their properties. The results showed significant improvement in properties of cryogenically treated punches favouring improvement in their life

Design, Construction and Performance Evaluation of Multiple Casting Machine

Design and development of a new casting machine which performs the various casting techniques are presented. It may be noted that during solidification, crystal structures form in every fraction of a second and hence the time taken for solidification, plays an important role in the casting. There should not be any time delay in the transport of molten metal to the mould. Even with a slight delay, solidification may occur before the metal reaches the mould. Due to this, mechanical properties get affected significantly and hence resulting in defects. Therefore, it is necessary to manage time required to transport the molten metal. The complex casting machine has been designed to perform the following techniques: gravity casting, stir casting, squeeze casting, vacuum casting, compocasting and thixoforming. All these casting techniques have been integrated into this complex casting machine as different units which work with the help of automation. Especially this machine designed for Low melting point light metals such as; Al, Cu, and Mg etc. are melted in this furnace by heating up to 1000°C. The particle preheating chamber (1000°C) is also integrated in this machine. This machine is newly designed for multipurpose casting methods and is very helpful to improving all the mechanical properties of materials

Detoxification of cyanides in cassava flour by linamarase of Bacillus subtilis KM05 isolated from cassava peel

Defensive cyanogenic glucoside linamarin accounts for 80% cyanide content of cassava and is known to cause severe diseases upon continual consumption. Detoxification of this cyanide would enhance the nutritive quality and hence market value of cassava flour. We isolated cyanogenic glucoside utilizing indigenous bacteria from cyanide rich cassava peel waste and exploited their potential for detoxification. Among the isolates, Bacillus subtilis KM05 utilized cyanogenic glycoside through assimilatory degradation with the release of hydrogen cyanide and ammonia. The partially purified linamarase (53 KDa) enzyme from this organism showed considerable activity (9.6 U/ml) and effected rapid cyanide reduction in cassava flour. The results indicate scope for enzymatic detoxification of cassava cyanide without compromising nutrients in sago industries.Key words: Cyanogenic glucoside, enzymatic treatment, linamarin, linamarase

Use Of Glucan From Saccharomyces Cerevisiae As An Immunostimulant In Carp: Impact On Hematology, Phagocyte Function, And Infection With Aeromonas Hydrophila

Glucan was extracted from yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and subjected to chemical analy- ses. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) revealed that glucan is primarily composed of glucose units and contains 97.2% glucose. Infrared spectrum showed a major band at 883/cm, suggest- ing that glucan is linked to β-glycosidic. Intraperitoneal administration of different doses of glu- can enhanced the survival rate of carp (Cyprinus carpio) infected by Aeromonas hydrophila. When a concentration above 500 μg glucan per fish was administered, survival relative to the uninfected control was 100%. The total leukocyte count and neutrophil and monocyte popula- tions increased after administration of the glucan. The maximum effect occurred on day 6 after injection. Macrophages of compound-administrated test animals significantly increased produc- tion of superoxide anions, efficiently killing the bacterial pathogen. This study showed that glu- can can be effective in inducing non-specific cellular defense mechanism in carp

Investigation of the Performance and Emission Characteristics of Ceiba Pentandra Biodiesel Blends in a Variable Compression Ratio Engine

In the current scenario, the production of biodiesel from non-edible oil is a promising way to overcome the problems associated with the energy crisis and environmental issues. In this research, non-edible biodiesel blends of B10, B20, B30, B40, and B100 methyl esters of Ceiba pentandra oil with standard diesel fuel are used to investigate the performance, combustion and emission characteristics of a variable compression ratio engine at different load conditions compared to diesel. The compression ratios 16.5:1, 17.5:1, 18.5:1 are employed in a 1500 rpm constant speed, single-cylinder with a variable compression ratio, direct injection, four-stroke diesel engine for experimental investigation. Performance and combustion characteristics such as brake specific energy consumption, brake thermal efficiency, net heat release rate and emission characteristics such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen are investigated. The biodiesel blend B10 and B20 showed optimal performance with fewer emissions