Selection of a Realistic Viscous Vortex Tangential Velocity Profile for Computer Simulation of Vortex-Structure Interaction

Structure loading by vortices is a relevant phenomenon in numerous fields of engineering significance. Computer modelling is a powerful tool that can be used to study the loading produced on structures by impacting vortices. Realistic simulation of vortex-loading of structures necessitates the use of a realistic vortex tangential velocity profile (TVP). The present study compiles measured TVPs from various types of experimentally-produced vortices as well as real-world tornado and hurricane vortices. The measured TVPs are compared with commonly-used, analytical TVPs. Analytical TVPs that realistically represent the range of measured TVPs are identified and selected for use in future computer simulation studies

An Dynamic Voltage Regulator For HVDC System On Low Power DC Line With Series Active Power Filter And Reducing Repulsion To The Transmitting Station

Harmonics in HVDC power systems, which are caused by highly non-linear devices, affect its performance. Therefore, the main concern of power engineers in power system design and operation have been controlling and eliminating such repulsion. In respect of this, HVDC power system repulsion analysis is, therefore, imperative in power system planning, control and operation. It is worthy of note that, different alternatives of filter design should be considered before making final decision on filter Configuration. In this paper the reduction of harmonics in the HVDC power transmission system by implementing the active power filter. Also the power factor is increased drastically by reducing the current harmonics in the load side. The solar PV output can be presented and analyzed with help of boost converter in order to proof that the solar output voltage can be increased by the boost converter. The series active power filter appears to be a viable solution for eliminating repulsion currents and current transient condition. Shunt active power filter compensates current by injecting equal voltage compensation is created by nonlinear loads

Iron bioavailability of sweet potato and moringa leaves in comparision with leafy green vegetables commonly consumed in Ghana

Introduction: Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is a significant public health problem in Northern Ghana especially amongst women and children. Leafy green vegetables are major contributors to iron intake in this part of the world; poor iron bioavailability from these food sources may be part of the reason for the high prevalence of IDA. Evidence suggests that sweet potato and Moringa leaves might be better sources of bioavailable iron, compared with other leafy green vegetables, as both have high levels of iron, and also beta−carotene − a dietary factor that has been suggested to improve iron bioavailability. Aims/Hypothesis: Our research aims were to evaluate iron bioavailability of sweet potato and Moringa leaves in comparison with other leafy green vegetables commonly consumed in Ghana. We hypothesized that iron uptake from sweet potato and Moringa leaves would be higher compared with the other tested vegetables. Methods: We used the Caco−2 cell/in vitro digestion system; Caco−2 cell ferritin formation was used as a surrogate marker of iron bioavailability. In addition, we also measured levels of other nutrients and dietary factors known to affect iron bioavailability: beta−carotene, iron, calcium, zinc, ascorbate, phytates and polyphenols. Results: Iron bioavailability from all tested vegetables was poor despite relatively high absolute levels of iron in the leaf samples (14.5 − 24.6 mg/100 grams dry weight); there was no statistically significant difference in iron uptake between any of the tested varieties or the control sample with no added iron. Levels of phytates and polyphenols, known inhibitors of iron uptake, were high and probably accounted for the low iron bioavailability of tested leaves. As expected, beta−carotene levels were highest in the sweet potato and Moringa leaves (ranging from 47−98 micrograms retinol activity equivalent)/gram freeze dried leaf) − approximately 100% more compared with the other leafy green vegetables, with the exception of the purple leafed sweet potato variety tested that had approximately the same amount of beta−carotene as the commonly consumed vegetables. Conclusion: In our in vitro model neither sweet potato nor Moringa leaves demonstrated good iron bioavailability suggesting that increased consumption of these vegetables would not lead to improved iron status. However, both leaves were good sources of beta−carotene, and further testing in vivo to evaluate whether they could impact on vitamin A status may be warranted

Soil organic carbon stock in natural and restored mangrove forests in Pichavaram south-east coast of India

801-808Mangrove ecosystem is one of the important coastal ecosystems providing ecological security of the coastal area and livelihood security to the coastal fishermen.  Besides it plays an important role in carbon sequestration as large amount of carbon is stored in the below ground biomass. The role of mangrove restoration in carbon stocking has not been studied comprehensively either globally or nationally. The aim of the present study is to quantify the soil organic carbon stock and carbon sequestration rate of the different age groups of restored and natural stands of Pichavaram mangroves forest. The soil organic carbon stock of the upper soil layer (0–90 cm) of six different sites from natural mangrove stands, 21years, 17 years, 16 years, 15 years and 12 years old stands were 146.1(Mg C ha-1), 99.29 (Mg C ha-1), 93.18 (Mg C ha-1), 57.41 (Mg C ha-1), 95.54 (Mg C ha-1) and 84.84 (Mg C ha-1), respectively. Carbon sequestration rate of Pichavaram mangrove forests ranged from 2.33 to 4.44 g C m-2 year-1. The result of the study reveals that soil organic carbon stock and burial rate were high in natural mangrove area than the restored areas. In this regard, restoration and rehabilitation of mangroves is required for preserving the ecologically important mangroves ecosystem to mitigate the impacts of climate change

Mass Spectrometry-based Sequencing of Venom Peptides (Conotoxins) from Vermivorous Cone Snail, Conus Loroisii: Toxicity of its Natural Venom

Conus loroisii is a marine vermivorous snail found profusely in the southern seas of India. They harbor several toxic peptide components commonly called as ‘conotoxins’. In this study, we have identified and sequenced five conotoxins using proteome based tandem mass spectrometry analysis through Data analysis 4.1 software. Among them, we found Lo959 as contryphan which is previously described. All other conotoxins Lo1702, Lo1410, Lo1385 and Lo1686 belong to M-Superfamily conotoxins and novel to C. loroisii. Lo1410 is completely novel to conotoxin research with 3 disulfides and the amino acid sequence is derived as CCSTNCAVCIPCCP. All the identified M-Superfamily conotoxins are sub categorised to mini M2 superfamily conotoxins. Lo1702 and Lo1686 possess C- terminal amidation which is the key feature in conotoxins. Moreover, we have screened the natural venom for the occurrence of toxicity in the zebrafish model and brine shrimp

Giant popliteal aneurysm presenting with foot drop

Popliteal aneurysms are the most common peripheral arterial aneurysm and occur most commonly among older men with established cardiovascular disease. Popliteal aneurysms are asymptomatic or otherwise present with intermittent claudication, pressure symptoms in the popliteal fossa, distal embolization, and, rarely, rupture. We present a patient with a remarkably large popliteal aneurysm of 10 cm presenting as a popliteal swelling with foot drop and no signs of limb ischemia. According to our literature search, it is the largest reported popliteal aneurysm, and its corresponding symptoms are unusual. The diagnostic workup and treatment are presented

Agricultural bio-waste recycling through efficient microbial consortia

In India and other countries, rice straw, a byproduct of rice production, is burned in enormous amounts, which contributes to environmental pollution and climate change by releasing greenhouse gases viz., CO2, N2O, CH4, into the atmosphere. This study aimed to accelerate the degradation of this enormous amount of agricultural biomass via microbial inoculants. Four treatments—rice straw (RS), rice straw plus water (RSW), rice straw plus water plus Pusa decomposer (RSWF), and rice straw plus water plus Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) biomineralizer (RSWB) were used in the current investigation. The study's findings demonstrated that rice straw treated with microorganisms decomposed more quickly than RS and RSW treatments. According to EDAX spectra of elemental composition, the carbon content of rice straw in the RS, RSW, RSWF, and RSWB treatments was 33.66%, 29.75%, 13.33%, and 20.65% w/w, respectively. The RSWF treatment of rice straw was found to have the highest nitrogen concentration (0.64% w/w), followed by RSWB (0.61% w/w), RSW (0.45%) w/w, and RS (0.43% w/w). Treatments RSWF and RSWB had lower C/N ratios 20.83, and 33.85, respectively, than that RSW (66.11) and RS (78.28). The RSWF and RSWB treatments' porous, distorted, and rough surface structures provided further evidence that both microbial consortia could decompose rice straw more quickly than the RSW and RS treatments. Therefore, the results of this study imply that rice straw could be added to the soil to improve soil fertility for sustainable crop production rather than being burned

A Discrete Model of Three Species Prey- Predator System

ABSTRACT: This paper investigates an eco-system with two prey species and a predator. The model equations constitute a set of three first order non-linear coupled difference equations. All possible positive equilibrium points of the model are computed and criteria for the stability of all equilibrium states are established. Simulations are performed in order to illustrate the theoretical results and gain further insight into the behaviour of the system

IN VITRO ACTIVITY OF VARIOUS POTENCIES OF HOMEOPATHIC DRUG THUJA AGAINST MOLDS INVOLVED IN MYCOTIC KERATITIS

Objective: Isolation and characterisation of clinically isolated fungi from mycotic keratitis and exploration of the in vitro efficacy of various potencies of homeopathic preparations of Thuja occidentalis on the ocular fungal isolates. Methods: Clinical samples were collected from fungal keratitis patients attending a tertiary eye care hospital in Coimbatore, Tamilnadu state, India. The scrapings were also subjected to Gram staining and 10% KOH mount to detect the presence of fungal hyphae. The fungal isolates were subjected to lacto phenol cotton blue (LCB) mount employing cello tape flag method. Homeopathic drug Thuja occidentalis with various potencies viz., Q, 30 C, 200 C, 1 M, 10 M and 50 M were investigated for the growth inhibition of various fungal isolates by plate assay method. Further, a follow up analyses with varying dilutions of Q and 10 M homeopathic potencies of Thuja was carried out for the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration of both microdilution and minimum fungicidal concentration for the Biopolaris isolates. Results: Out of 35 samples analysed, Fusarium spp. (n=5), Aspergillus flavus (n=6), Bipolaris spp. (n=3), Exserohilum spp. (n=3) and Curvularia spp (n=3) were identified. All the potencies of Thuja had good inhibitory activity against Bipolaris spp., followed by Curvularia spp., Exserohilum spp. and Aspergillus flavus. Statistical analysis revealed significant inhibition of all the test isolates by Thuja Q and 50 M. Significant growth inhibition was exhibited by Thuja 30, 200 C, I M for Bipolaris, Exserohilum & A. flavus isolate and Thuja 10 M for all the isolates tested except Fusaria. It was revealed that for the Biopolaris isolates BS1, BS2, BS3 Thuja 10 M and Thuja Q had MIC and MFC of 0.125/10[20,00]0& 0.0625/10 and 0.25/10[20][00]0 & 0.125/10, respectively. Conclusion: The present investigation concludes that homeopathic drug Thuja has good inhibitory activity against the fungi causing keratitis, irrespective of the potencies. It is evident that no definite co-relation exists between various potencies of the same homeopathic drug with regard to their antimycotic properties