Model Bin as a Measuring Element of Grain Pressures

The problems of measuring grain pressures in a grain bin are analysed. The difficulties in measurements in the past are critically studied and an attempt is made to minimise them in the present set-up. The important steps in instrumentation while fabricating and their effect on the results are indicated. The model bin with strain-gages affixed is examined for the measurement of grain pressures. Its use as a proper and convenient . measuring element is evaluated. It is found that the electric resistance strain gages for measuring the horizontal and vertical strains in the wall of a cylindrical bin are useful in observing pressure changes of the grain pressures on the wall

Theoretical Considerations for Viscoelastic Characterization of Biomaterials

The mechanical properties of biomaterials need to be known and standardised before design, construction and testing of processing and handling machinery can be undertaken. Since experiments in the past have proved the viscoelastic nature of biomaterials, it is necessary to characterize them in order to ascertain their response to handling and processing. For engineering materials, the application of the theory of viscoelasticity is now quite well known,. but this is not the case for biomaterials. In the characterization of biomaterials it will be necessary to modify the basic theory in the context of the bio-effects. The theoretical considerations are discussed in this study. The various bio-engineering terms are defined and viscoelastic representation with particular emphasis on bio-creep and relaxation is described. An attempt is made to show analogy with the mechanical models and their generalization. Barreleffect for viscoelastic materials of bio-origin is outlined. The shift-factors and their significance as a material property are also included

Phytotoxicity, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity evaluation of organic and inorganic pollutants rich tannery wastewater from a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in Unnao district, India using Vigna radiata and Allium cepa

The leather industry is a major source of environmental pollution in India. The wastewater generated by leather industries contains very high pollution parameters due to the presence of a complex mixture of organic and inorganic pollutants even after the treatment at a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) and disturbs the ecological flora and fauna. The nature, characteristics and toxicity of CETP treated wastewater is yet to be fully elucidated. Thus, this study aims to characterize and evaluate the toxicity of CETP treated tannery wastewater collected from the Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, India. In addition to measuring the physico-chemical parameters, the residual organic pollutants was identified by GC-MS analysis and phytotoxicity, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the treated wastewater was evaluated using Vigna radiata L. and Allium cepa L. Results showed that the treated wastewater contained very high pollution parameters (TDS 3850mg/L, BOD 680mg/L, COD-1300mg/L). GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of various types of residual organic pollutants including benzoic acid, 3-[4,-(T-butyl) Phenyl] furan-2-5-dione, benzeneacetamide, resorcinol, dibutyl phthalate, and benzene-1,2,4-triol. Further, toxicological studies showed the phytotoxic nature of the wastewater as it inhibited seed germination in V. radiata L. and root growth of A. cepa. Genotoxicity was evidenced in the root tip cell of A. cepa where chromosomal aberrations (stickiness, chromosome loss, C-mitosis, and vagrant chromosome) and nuclear abnormalities like micronucleated and binucleated cells were observed. Thus, results suggested that it is not safe to discharge these wastewater into the environment

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

The palm oil industry in Malaysia and its need for agricultural engineers

The palm oil industry in Malaysia is the second largest export earner and very well established technologically and economically. The government has recently established several agencies to develop and make the palm oil a most competitive enterprise. Future projections of both production and export of crude and refined products are very encouraging. The uses of palm oil, besides traditional ones like foodstuff and cooking media, are also being expanded rapidly in the industrial areas. This paper stresses the need for qualified agricultural engineers to fully exploit the potential of the palm oil industry as regards optimum productivity and the right environment

A study on the impact of various interventions on the prevalence of nutritional anemia among medicos of g.s.v.m. Medical college, kanpur

<p class="Bodytext201">Research Question :</p><p class="Bodytext71">What is the impact of varius interventions on the prevalence of nutritional anemia among medical students? Objectives :</p><ol><li>To study the prevalence of nutritional anemia among medical students.</li><li>To study the impact of interventions like deworming, iron and folic acid supplementation and nutrition and health education on the prevalence of nutritional anaemia among medicos.</li></ol><p class="Bodytext71">Study Design : Prospective study</p><p class="Bodytext71">Study Setting : Department of Community Medicine, GSVM Medical College, Kanpur</p><p class="Bodytext71">Study Subject : Under-graduate MBBS students belonging to admission years of 2000, 2001, 2002.</p><p class="Bodytext71">Study Period : March 2002 to May 2003</p><p class="Bodytext71">Study Variables : Age, sex, dietary habits, Hb - concentration</p><p class="Bodytext71">Statistical Analysis : Percentage and chi-square test.</p><p class="Bodytext191">Results :</p><p class="Bodytext71">Out of 496 volunteered students, 335 (67.5%) were males &amp; 161 (32.5%) were females. Overall prevalence of anemia was 23.9% Among total anemic cases, 89.0% had mild grade anemia. Out of total anemic cases, 89.9% (males 84.4% &amp; females 93.2%) were having nutritional anemia while 10.1% had non-nutritional anemia. Prevalence of nutritional anemia was 21.5% (42.8% in females&amp; 11.3% in males). Nutritional anemia was 45.1% in vegetarians &amp; 8.41% in non-vegetarians. Among 5.6% students with history of passing worms in stools, 46.4% were nutritionally anemic. At end of 3 months of first phase of interventions (Deworming + health and nutrition education) only 7.5% nutritionally anemic cases had shown increase in Hb concentration while at end of 6 months of second phase of interventions (iron &amp; folic acid tablets supplementation + health and nutrition education), 78.5% anemic cases had shown increase in Hb concentration and became non-anemic. 12.85% nutritionally anemic cases remained anemic even after 6 months of interventions.</p

Residential Biomass Burning Emissions over Northwestern Himalayan Region of India: Chemical Characterization and Budget Estimation

In the present study, we have determined the emission factors (EF) and estimated the emission of particulate matter (PM), organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), water soluble inorganic constituents (WSIC) and trace gases such as SO2, NO and NO2 from the combustion of biomass fuels (FW: fuel wood and DC: dung cake) used in rural sectors for cooking over Himachal Pradesh (HP), representing the Northwestern Himalayan region of India. The average EFs of PM estimated from FW and DC were 3.44 +/- 2.38 and 11.43 +/- 1.13 g kg(-1), respectively. OC and EC emission ranged from 0.106 to 3.55 g kg(-1) and 0.07 to 0.90 g kg(-1), respectively for variety of biomass fuels. Total emission of PAHs from DC (44.37 mg kg(-1)) and FW (43.25 mg kg(-1)) noted in this study was almost similar. Similarly, the average EFs of NOx from FW and DC were 0.59 +/- 0.49 g kg(-1) and 0.34 +/- 0.18 g kg(-1), respectively. FWs have comparatively higher SO2 emission (average: 0.43 +/- 0.38 g kg(-1)) than from DC (average: 0.23 +/- 0.15 g kg(-1)). Among anionic inorganic constituents emitted from FW, maximum EF was noted for Cl- (0.30 +/- 0.26 g kg(-1)). Similarly for cations, highest EF was noted of K+ (0.20 +/- 0.09 g kg(-1)). Ca2+ and Na+ were the major cationic species identified in plumes of DC burning. Utilizing total annual consumption of biomass fuels and EFs of particulates and trace gases determined in the present study over HP and in the past study (Saud et al., 2011, 2012) over Uttarakhand, budget estimates of PM, OC, EC, TC, PAHs, SO2 and NOx have been determined over the Northwestern Himalayan region. Total annual emission estimated over Northwestern Himalayan region are as: PM (18.32 +/- 9.53 Gg), OC (4.38 +/- 2.31 Gg), EC (1.39 +/- 0.55 Gg) and trace gases (SO2: 1.47 +/- 1.0 Gg; NOx: 1.77 +/- 1.31 Gg)

Chemical characteristics and source apportionment of PM2.5 using PCA/APCS, UNMIX, and PMF at an urban site of Delhi, India

The present study investigated the comprehensive chemical composition [organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), water-soluble inorganic ionic components (WSICs), and major & trace elements] of particulate matter (PM2.5) and scrutinized their emission sources for urban region of Delhi. The 135 PM2.5 samples were collected from January 2013 to December 2014 and analyzed for chemical constituents for source apportionment study. The average concentration of PM2.5 was recorded as 121.9 +/- 93.2 mu g m(-3) (range 25.1-429.8 mu g m(-3)), whereas the total concentration of trace elements (Na, Ca, Mg, Al, S, Cl, K, Cr, Si, Ti, As, Br, Pb, Fe, Zn, and Mn) was accounted for similar to 17% of PM2.5. Strong seasonal variation was observed in PM2.5 mass concentration and its chemical composition with maxima during winter and minima during monsoon seasons. The chemical composition of the PM2.5 was reconstructed using IMPROVE equation, which was observed to be in good agreement with the gravimetric mass. Source apportionment of PM2.5 was carried out using the following three different receptor models: principal component analysis with absolute principal component scores (PCA/APCS), which identified five major sources; UNMIX which identified four major sources; and positive matrix factorization (PMF), which explored seven major sources. The applied models were able to identify the major sources contributing to the PM2.5 and re-confirmed that secondary aerosols (SAs), soil/road dust (SD), vehicular emissions (VEs), biomass burning (BB), fossil fuel combustion (FFC), and industrial emission (IE) were dominant contributors to PM2.5 in Delhi. The influences of local and regional sources were also explored using 5-day backward air mass trajectory analysis, cluster analysis, and potential source contribution function (PSCF). Cluster and PSCF results indicated that local as well as long-transported PM2.5 from the north-west India and Pakistan were mostly pertinent