Elastic Contact Between a Cylindrical Surface and a Flat Surface - A non-Hertzian Model of Multi-asperity Contact

Contact between curved rough bodies is an important engineering problem. The paper addresses the problem in its simplest form where a smooth rigid cylinder presses down an elastic half space bounded by a plane of uniformly spaced cylindrical asperities. Keeping the separation between the bodies unchanged the problem is inverted and solved using the method of complex variables. As the asperities deform as well as move as rigid bodies, contact lengths and positions develop non-symmetrically with respect to the initial axes of symmetry of the asperities. The resulting local contact pressures are non-Hertzian and the normal load for a given contact area is greater than that estimated using a priori Hertzian pressure profiles

Deformation due to contact between a two-dimensional rough surface and a smooth cylinder

Stresses generated due to contact between an ideally rough but flat surface and a smooth cylinder are calculated using complex variable analysis. At low normal loads there are two possible responses: (i) the asperity is plastic when the subsurface is elastic and (ii) the asperity is elastic and the subsurface is plastic. It is found that it is possible to evoke a desired response by manipulating surface geometry and loa

Another deficient monsoon 2004 - A comparison with drought year 2002 and possible causes

The rainfall over India as a whole during the summer monsoon season of 2004 was deficient with –13% below normal. Earlier in 2002, India has faced another worst situation when large-scale drought occurred and all India rainfall was below –19%. In the present study, we have compared briefly salient observational features of both the monsoons to find out their distinct characteristics. Comparisons show appearance of many similar as well as contrasting features. Though, both seasons were deficient, their dates of onset of monsoon over Kerala were either before or near the normal date. Progress up to central India was also normal in both the seasons. While Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) during June was good, a few longest stagnation periods during advancing stage in July of both the years made unexpected delay of monsoon in covering entire India. Rainfall of July also suffered the most in both the seasons with a record lowest ISMR in 2002. Not a single depression formed in 2002 while in 2004, their frequency was less than half of normal. Analysis of other large-scale monthly anomalous ocean and atmospheric conditions over Indo-Pacific region including El-Nino conditions confirms that ENSO and Equatorial Indian Ocean Oscillation or EQUINOO have caused drought in July 2002, but not in July 2004. This is because very high typhoon formation and their recurvature with significantly higher than normal convection over northwest Pacific associated with record lowest ISMR in July, 2002 in contrast to occurrence of deficient ISMR in July 2004 which was associated with few typhoon formation and less convection. Also in 2002, Indian region was happened to fall exactly under the subsidence branch of Walker circulation with ascending branch over the western Pacific in the season in contrast to 2004, when subsidence was observed to be both over large part of western Pacific and adjoining Indian region.</jats:p

Gene therapy with RALA/iNOS composite nanoparticles significantly enhances survival in a model of metastatic prostate cancer

Recent approvals of gene therapies by the FDA and the EMA for treatment of inherited disorders have further opened the door for assessment of nucleic acid pharmaceuticals for clinical usage. Arising from presence of damaged or inappropriate DNA, cancer is a condition particularly suitable for genetic intervention. The RALA peptide has been shown to be a potent non-viral delivery platform for nucleic acids. This study reports that complexation of RALA with a plasmid encoding inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) DNA produces functional cationic nanoparticles with gene expression in PC-3 prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, repeated administrations of RALA/DNA nanoparticles to immunocompetent mice did not produce an immunological response, be that neutralization of the vector or release of inflammatory mediators. RALA/CMV-iNOS reduced the clonogenicity of PC-3 cells in vitro, and in an in vivo model of prostate cancer metastasis, systemically-delivered RALA/CMV-iNOS significantly improved the survival of mice. These results further validate RALA as a genetic cargo delivery vehicle and iNOS as a potent therapy for the treatment of cancer