103 research outputs found
Thermal Analysis on Al-Si Piston Using Different Heat Barrier Coatings
The objective of the present work is to focus on the thermal analysis of ceramic coated piston, working under thermal loads. Thermal analysis was carried out on uncoated and ceramic coated piston to verify the temperature changes at the ceramic coated regions using Hyper-mesh and Ansys. The study of thermal stresses generated due to temperature differences at different materials junctions used in coating was analyzed
Synovial hemangioma: a pictorial essay of two cases
Synovial hemangiomas are uncommon benign tumours of vascular origin arising in relation to the synovium of joints or bursae. Usually, a long-standing history of pain and joint swelling is present affecting children and adolescents especially in the knee or elbow joint. We present two cases of knee swelling diagnosed as synovial hemangioma
Thermal Analysis on Exhaust Valve with Thermal Barrier Material
An exhaust valve is the important component in the engine system due to its direct involvement in the combustion and experiencing the high temperature and pressure from the hot gases during the exhaust stroke based on the valve timing for opening and closing. Because of this exposure to exhaust, high thermal loads are induced which leads to the failure of the valve. Therefore, a cooling provision is must to reduce the temperatures due to heat transfer effect or to increase the heat dissipation rate through valve by maintaining it at optimum thermal conditions. The cooling provisions are by filling the valve with sodium making valve hollow inside or by using the thermal barrier coatings on the outer surface of valve. In this an attempt is made to study the importance of cooling provision by doing thermal analysis on the valve geometry with different approaches under full load conditions of engine. The valve geometry is modelled using CAD software and the thermal analysis at steady state is done using Ansys under FEA basis. The expected results are temperature variation, heat flux, rate of heat transfer
Free-flap reconstitutions of head and neck defects after oncologic ablation
Background: Head and neck cancers are the sixth most common cancers worldwide. The primary treatment modality for most head and neck cancers is surgery with reconstruction of resultant defects. Reconstruction of these defects is a unique challenge as it has to not only restore integrity but also function and often cosmesis. The objective of this study was to assess the utility of free flaps in the reconstruction of these defects, done in a tertiary care centre in a three-tier city in India. Methodology: We analyzed the computerized medical records of the last 3 years in this retrospective study carried out in the department of head and neck oncology at the cancer centre. The study included cases that had undergone surgery for head and neck cancer and underwent free flap reconstruction. Results: Out of the 1061 cases requiring reconstruction after an oncologic ablation, 201 cases underwent free flap reconstruction. For defects requiring Facio cutaneous reconstruction, the radial forearm was the preferred donor free flap site, while the fibula was the preferred donor site for mandibular reconstructions survival rate was 94.5%, with factors like age and comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension or habits like cigarette smoking or tobacco chewing not affecting survival rates. Twenty cases of minor flap complications were observed. Conclusions: Free flap reconstructions for head and neck defects after oncologic ablation have been a boon with good survival rates and immense flexibility of use, giving good cosmetic and functional outcomes. Our study shows that a significant number of free flap reconstructions can be done in a tertiary care centre in a three-tier city in India with an internationally comparable survival rate
Free-flap reconstitutions of head and neck defects after oncologic ablation
Background: Head and neck cancers are the sixth most common cancers worldwide. The primary treatment modality for most head and neck cancers is surgery with reconstruction of resultant defects. Reconstruction of these defects is a unique challenge as it has to not only restore integrity but also function and often cosmesis. The objective of this study was to assess the utility of free flaps in the reconstruction of these defects, done in a tertiary care centre in a three-tier city in India. Methodology: We analyzed the computerized medical records of the last 3 years in this retrospective study carried out in the department of head and neck oncology at the cancer centre. The study included cases that had undergone surgery for head and neck cancer and underwent free flap reconstruction. Results: Out of the 1061 cases requiring reconstruction after an oncologic ablation, 201 cases underwent free flap reconstruction. For defects requiring Facio cutaneous reconstruction, the radial forearm was the preferred donor free flap site, while the fibula was the preferred donor site for mandibular reconstructions survival rate was 94.5%, with factors like age and comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension or habits like cigarette smoking or tobacco chewing not affecting survival rates. Twenty cases of minor flap complications were observed. Conclusions: Free flap reconstructions for head and neck defects after oncologic ablation have been a boon with good survival rates and immense flexibility of use, giving good cosmetic and functional outcomes. Our study shows that a significant number of free flap reconstructions can be done in a tertiary care centre in a three-tier city in India with an internationally comparable survival rate
Cytokines, GM-CSF and IFNÎł administered by priming and post-chemotherapy cycling in recurrent ovarian cancer patients receiving carboplatin
BACKGROUND: Monocyte/macrophages (MO/MA), a polymorphic population of innate immune cells, have the potential to mediate antitumor effects, and may also contribute to protumor effects. A priming and post-chemotherapy schedule of the myeloid cell mobilizing and immune stimulatory growth factor, granulocyte monocyte stimulating factor (GM-CSF, Leukine(Âź)) and the MO/MA activating cytokine recombinant interferon gamma 1b (rIFN-Îł1b, Actimmune(Âź)) has been developed. The pre- and post-chemotherapy design is based upon known in vivo kinetics and immune modulatory effects of these molecules. Carboplatin (Paraplatin(Âź)) was selected as the cornerstone of treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). METHODS: We studied hematopoietic and immunologic effects of GM-CSF and rIFN-Îł1b before and after carboplatin in patients with recurrent EOC. Potentially chemotherapy-sensitive patients with recurrent measurable tumors received subcutaneous GM-CSF (starting at 400 ÎŒg/day) for 7 days plus subcutaneous rIFN-Îł1b (100 ÎŒg) on days 5 and 7, before and after intravenous carboplatin (area under the curve of 5). We performed standard hematologic assessment and monitored monocyte (MO), dendritic cell, major cell subset counts, and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) against a Her2neu(+ )tumor cell line, as well as selected plasma inflammatory cytokine, chemokine and growth factor levels. RESULTS: Our analysis comprised only the first 3 months of treatment in the initial 25 patients. Relative to pretreatment baseline values, white blood cell, neutrophil, MO, and eosinophil counts increased (P †.001 for each); the proportion of platelets increased 9 days after the second (P †.002) and third (P †.04) carboplatin treatments; and the number of cells in the activated MO subsets CD14+HLA-DR+, CD14+CD64+, and CD14(+)CXCR3(+ )increased (P †.04 for each); plasma levels of the proangiogenic interleukins 1α, 6, and 8 were lower (P †.03 for each); M-CSF, a product of activated MO/MA, was increased on day 9 (P = .007); and GM-CSF was increased in plasma after GM-CSF administration (P †.04). Quality of life measurements were reduced during the GM-CSF/IFN-Îł1b cycle while recovering at pre-chemotherapy baseline for FACT-G scores only. CONCLUSION: A novel regimen of GM-CSF plus IFN-Îł1b administered to 25 EOC patients receiving carboplatin increased myeloid cells, platelets and total activated MO populations during the initial 3 months; however, ADCC responses were not consistently enhanced during this period
Rapid growth and high cloud-forming potential of anthropogenic sulfate aerosol in a thermal power plant plume during COVID lockdown in India
The COVID lockdown presented an interesting opportunity to study the anthropogenic emissions from different sectors under relatively cleaner conditions in India. The complex interplays of power production, industry, and transport could be dissected due to the signiïŹcantly reduced inïŹuence of the latter two emission sources. Here, based on measurements of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity and chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols during the lockdown, we report an episodic event resulting from distinct meteorological conditions. This event was marked by rapid growth and high hygroscopicity of new aerosol particles formed in the SO2 plume from a large coal-ïŹred power plant in Southern India. These sulfate-rich particles had high CCN activity and number concentration, indicating high cloud-forming potential. Examining the sensitivity of CCN properties under relatively clean conditions provides important new clues to delineate the contributions of different anthropogenic emission sectors and further to understand their perturbations of past and future climate forcing
Sensor-based precision nutrient and irrigation management enhances the physiological performance, water productivity, and yield of soybean under system of crop intensification
Sensor-based decision tools provide a quick assessment of nutritional and physiological health status of crop, thereby enhancing the crop productivity. Therefore, a 2-year field study was undertaken with precision nutrient and irrigation management under system of crop intensification (SCI) to understand the applicability of sensor-based decision tools in improving the physiological performance, water productivity, and seed yield of soybean crop. The experiment consisted of three irrigation regimes [I1: standard flood irrigation at 50% depletion of available soil moisture (DASM) (FI), I2: sprinkler irrigation at 80% ETC (crop evapo-transpiration) (Spr 80% ETC), and I3: sprinkler irrigation at 60% ETC (Spr 60% ETC)] assigned in main plots, with five precision nutrient management (PNM) practices{PNM1-[SCI protocol], PNM2-[RDF, recommended dose of fertilizer: basal dose incorporated (50% N, full dose of P and K)], PNM3-[RDF: basal dose point placement (BDP) (50% N, full dose of P and K)], PNM4-[75% RDF: BDP (50% N, full dose of P and K)] and PNM5-[50% RDF: BDP (50% N, full P and K)]} assigned in sub-plots using a split-plot design with three replications. The remaining 50% N was top-dressed through SPAD assistance for all the PNM practices. Results showed that the adoption of Spr 80% ETC resulted in an increment of 25.6%, 17.6%, 35.4%, and 17.5% in net-photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), respectively, over FI. Among PNM plots, adoption of PNM3 resulted in a significant (p=0.05) improvement in photosynthetic characters like Pn (15.69 ” mol CO2 mâ2 sâ1), Tr (7.03 m mol H2O mâ2 sâ1), Gs (0.175 ”mol CO2 molâ1 yearâ1), and Ci (271.7 mol H2O m2 sâ1). Enhancement in SPAD (27% and 30%) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (42% and 52%) values were observed with nitrogen (N) top dressing through SPAD-guided nutrient management, helped enhance crop growth indices, coupled with better dry matter partitioning and interception of sunlight. Canopy temperature depression (CTD) in soybean reduced by 3.09â4.66°C due to adoption of sprinkler irrigation. Likewise, Spr 60% ETc recorded highest irrigation water productivity (1.08 kg haâ1 mâ3). However, economic water productivity (27.5 INR haâ1 mâ3) and water-use efficiency (7.6 kg haâ1 mmâ1 dayâ1) of soybean got enhanced under Spr 80% ETc over conventional cultivation. Multiple correlation and PCA showed a positive correlation between physiological, growth, and yield parameters of soybean. Concurrently, the adoption of Spr 80% ETC with PNM3 recorded significantly higher grain yield (2.63 t haâ1) and biological yield (8.37 t haâ1) over other combinations. Thus, the performance of SCI protocols under sprinkler irrigation was found to be superior over conventional practices. Hence, integrating SCI with sensor-based precision nutrient and irrigation management could be a viable option for enhancing the crop productivity and enhance the resource-use efficiency in soybean under similar agro-ecological regions
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