Simplified Production of Large Prototypes using Visible Slicing

Rapid Prototyping (RP) is a totally automatic generative manufacturing technique based on a “divide-and-conquer” strategy called ‘slicing’. Simple slicing used on 2.5-axis kinematics of the existing RP machines is responsible for the staircase error. Although thinner slices will have less error, the slice thickness has practical limits. Visible Slicing overcomes these limitations. A few visible slices exactly represent the object. Each visible slice can be realized using a 3- axis kinematics machine from two opposite directions. Visible slicing is implemented on Segmented Object Manufacturing (SOM) machine under development. SOM can produce soft large prototypes faster and cheaper with accuracy comparable to that of CNC machining.Mechanical Engineerin

QENS and FTIR studies on binding states of benzene molecules adsorbed in zeolite HZSM-5 at room temperature

Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) were employed for monitoring of the binding states of benzene molecules, adsorbed in HZSM-5 zeolite at 300 K and for loadings of 0.6 to 7 molecules per unit cell. While the in-plane combination C-C and C-H stretching bands of adsorbed benzene remained una.ected, a splitting was observed in the out-of-plane C-H bending vibrational bands, a feature reported for the transformation of benzene from liquid to solid phase. Also, the intensity ratio of the in-plane C-C stretching band (ν19 of adsorbed benzene at 1479 cm-1 and the bands in the region ) 3100-3035 cm-1 due to fundamentals and combination C-C and C-H stretching vibrations indicated a trend observed typically for a condensed phase of benzene. No shift was observed in the frequency of the above-mentioned IR bands when zeolite samples exchanged with Na+ or Ca2+ were employed. QENS results suggest that the benzene molecules occluded in zeolitic pores (~3 molecules per unit cell) undergo a 6-fold rotation but their translation motion is too slow. Also, a high residence time of 16.5 ps was observed for the benzene entrapped in HZSM-5, compared to a time of ~2.5 ps reported for the liquid and ~19 ps for the solid state of benzene. These results reveal again the compression of the benzene molecules on adsorption in zeolitic pores. It is suggested that the benzene molecules confined in cavities experience a strong intermolecular interaction, giving rise eventually to their clustered state depending on the loading. In the clustered state, benzene molecules are packed with their plane parallel to zeolitic walls and interact with each other through p-electron clouds. No electronic bonding is envisaged between these clusters and the framework or the extra-framework zeolitic sites

Recent advances in non-surgical management of cancer in the elderly [version 1; referees: 2 approved]

This article summarizes the seminal publications from mid-2016 through 2017 in the area of medical care for older adults with cancer. Areas addressed include chemotherapy tolerance and efficacy in the aged, geriatric fitness assessments, and advancements in palliative and supportive care. The practice-changing finding from this past year’s publications is that antipsychotics should not be used in the management of terminal delirium in older adults receiving palliative care. The other trials demonstrated an improved understanding of the utility of geriatric assessments in patients with cancer, developed the body of information about which chemotherapy agents are safe and effective in older adults (and which are not), and expanded our understanding of good palliative and supportive care

Characteristics and freezability of Gir bull semen

The present research was undertaken to study the characteristics of fresh and cryo-preserved semen of elite pure breed Gir (Bos indicus) bulls. The mean values of fresh seminal parameters in neat semen viz. seminal volume (ml), sperm concentration (millions/ml), progressive sperm motility (%), live sperm (%), intact acrosome (%), total morphological sperm abnormalities (%), hypo osmotic swelling (HOS %) and sperm penetration distance (SPD- mm) were 4.99 ± 0.26, 895.33 ± 82.68, 69.10 ± 0.75, 72.16 ± 0.64, 84.42 ± 0.77, 15.96 ± 0.44, 60.12 ± 1.19 and 31.32 ± 0.70, respectively. Sperm concentration, individual motility, live sperm, total sperm abnormalities and sperm penetration distance differed significantly between bulls. The semen was extended, filled and sealed in 0.25 ml straws maintaining 20 million spermatozoa/straw and cryo-preserved using programmable bio freezer (IMV). Cryo-preserved semen was assessed 24 h after freezing and immediately after thawing. Freezing significantly lowered progressive sperm motility (69.10 ± 0.75 vs 53.81 ± 0.61), intact acrosome (84.42 ± 0.77 vs 75.69 ± 1.10), HOST (60.12 ± 1.19 vs 55.71 ±1.33) and CMPT (31.32 ± 0.70 vs 27.97 ±0.72). Whereas, significantly higher percentages of sperm abnormalities (15.96 ± 0.44 vs 16.92 ± 0.57) were observed after freezing

A human MAP kinase interactome.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways form the backbone of signal transduction in the mammalian cell. Here we applied a systematic experimental and computational approach to map 2,269 interactions between human MAPK-related proteins and other cellular machinery and to assemble these data into functional modules. Multiple lines of evidence including conservation with yeast supported a core network of 641 interactions. Using small interfering RNA knockdowns, we observed that approximately one-third of MAPK-interacting proteins modulated MAPK-mediated signaling. We uncovered the Na-H exchanger NHE1 as a potential MAPK scaffold, found links between HSP90 chaperones and MAPK pathways and identified MUC12 as the human analog to the yeast signaling mucin Msb2. This study makes available a large resource of MAPK interactions and clone libraries, and it illustrates a methodology for probing signaling networks based on functional refinement of experimentally derived protein-interaction maps

Critical sources of bacterial contamination and adoption of standard sanitary protocol during semen collection and processing in Semen Station

Abstract Aim: The present investigation was conducted to locate the critical sources of bacterial contamination and to evaluate the standard sanitation protocol so as to improve the hygienic conditions during collection, evaluation, and processing of bull semen in the Semen Station. Materials and Methods: The study compared two different hygienic procedures during the collection, evaluation and processing of semen in Central Semen Station, Anjora, Durg. Routinely used materials including artificial vagina (AV) inner liner, cone, semen collection tube, buffer, extender/diluter, straws; and the laboratory environment like processing lab, pass box and laminar air flow (LAF) cabinet of extender preparation lab, processing lab, sealing filling machine, and bacteriological lab were subjected to bacteriological examination in two phases of study using two different sanitary protocols. Bacterial load in above items/environment was measured using standard plate count method and expressed as colony forming unit (CFU). Results: Bacterial load in a laboratory environment and AV equipments during two different sanitary protocol in present investigation differed highly significantly (p<0.001). Potential sources of bacterial contamination during semen collection and processing included laboratory environment like processing lab, pass box, and LAF cabinets; AV equipments, including AV Liner and cone. Bacterial load was reduced highly significantly (p<0.001) in AV liner (from 2.33±0.67 to 0.50±0.52), cone (from 4.16±1.20 to 1.91±0.55), and extender (from 1.33±0.38 to 0) after application of improved practices of packaging, handling, and sterilization in Phase II of study. Glasswares, buffers, and straws showed nil bacterial contamination in both the phases of study. With slight modification in fumigation protocol (formalin @600 ml/1000 ft 3 ), bacterial load was significantly decreased (p<0.001) up to 0-6 CFU in processing lab (from 6.43±1.34 to 2.86±0.59), pass box (from 12.13±2.53 to 3.78±0.79), and nil bacterial load was reported in LAFs. Conclusion: Appropriate and careful management considering critical points step by step starting right from collection of semen to their processing can significantly minimize bacterial contamination