Application of Design of Experiments to Extrusion Freeform Fabrication (EFF) of Functional Ceramic Prototypes

Extrusion Freeform Fabrication (EFF) is an adaptation of the Stratasys Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) process for the Solid Freeform Fabrication (SFF) of functional ceramic prototypes. It is a complex process involving many process variables, including parameters that are operation, machine, materials, and geometry specific. A Taguchi factorial Design of Experiments (DOE) technique was utilized to study the effects of machine specific process parameters as well as their interactions based on the mechanical and physical properties of sintered ceramics specimens. Post-processing software was developed to control and modify these parameters. This software interface wasdesigned to mimic the Quickslice™ interface for setting motion parameters based upon the material and the operation. The results of this investigation provided useful information for the experimental analysis of the machine specific process parameters. Suitable parameters were selected for the EFF process for fabricating representative ceramic prototypes. With the optimized parameters, complicated parts were successfully fabricated using both Kyocera SN282 and Starck M-11 silicon nitride powders.Mechanical Engineerin

Planetary Nebulae with Ultra-Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT): Far Ultra-violet halo around the Bow Tie nebula (NGC 40)

Context. NGC 40 is a planetary nebula with diffuse X-ray emission, suggesting an interaction of the high speed wind from WC8 central star (CS) with the nebula. It shows strong Civ 1550 {\AA} emission that cannot be explained by thermal processes alone. We present here the first map of this nebula in C IV emission, using broad band filters on the UVIT. Aims. To map the hot C IV emitting gas and its correspondence with soft X-ray (0.3-8 keV) emitting regions, in order to study the shock interaction with the nebula and the ISM. This also illustrates the potential of UVIT for nebular studies. Methods. Morphological study of images of the nebula obtained at an angular resolution of about 1.3" in four UVIT filter bands that include C IV 1550 {\AA} and C II] 2326 {\AA} lines and UV continuum. Comparisons with X-ray, optical, and IR images from literature. Results. The C II] 2326 {\AA} images show the core of the nebula with two lobes on either side of CS similar to [N II]. The C IV emission in the core shows similar morphology and extant as that of diffuse X-ray emission concentrated in nebular condensations. A surprising UVIT discovery is the presence of a large faint FUV halo in FUV Filter with {\lambda}eff of 1608 {\AA}. The UV halo is not present in any other UV filter. FUV halo is most likely due to UV fluorescence emission from the Lyman bands of H2 molecules. Unlike the optical and IR halo, FUV halo trails predominantly towards south-east side of the nebular core, opposite to the CS's proper motion direction. Conclusions. Morphological similarity of C IV 1550 {\AA} and X-ray emission in the core suggests that it results mostly from interaction of strong CS wind with the nebula. The FUV halo in NGC 40 highlights the existence of H2 molecules extensively in the regions even beyond the optical and IR halos.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication as a letter in Astronomy & Astrophysic

EFFECT OF PROPOSED GRAIN STANDARDS ON MARKETING COSTS OF THE U.S. SORGHUM SECTOR: AN INTERREGIONAL TRANSSHIPMENT-PLANT LOCATION MODEL

Recent legislative initiatives call for studies to evaluate costs associated with cleaning U.S. grains to meet more stringent standards. This paper reports on a study which developed a mixed-integer programming model of the U.S. sorghum sector to (1) determine the least-cost geographic location for new cleaning investment at the country, terminal and port elevator stages of the marketing system and (2) measure additional system marketing costs associated with implementing the proposed standards. Results show the least-cost cleaning location to be at country and terminal elevators in excess supply regions. Implementing the proposed standard would increase system costs about 2 percent.Grain quality, Plant location, Sorghum, Mixed-integer, Crop Production/Industries, Marketing,

Planetary Nebulae with UVIT II: Revelations from FUV vision of Butterfly Nebula NGC 6302

The high excitation planetary nebula, NGC 6302, has been imaged in two far-ultraviolet (FUV) filters, F169M (Sapphire; {\lambda}$_{\rm eff}$: 1608 {\AA}) and F172M (Silica; {\lambda}$_{\rm eff}$: 1717 {\AA}) and two NUV filters, N219M (B15; {\lambda}$_{\rm eff}$: 2196 {\AA}) and N279N (N2; {\lambda}$_{\rm eff}$: 2792 {\AA}) with the Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT). The FUV F169M image shows faint emission lobes that extend to about 5 arcmin on either side of the central source. Faint orthogonal collimated jet-like structures are present on either side of the FUV lobes through the central source. These structures are not present in the two NUV filters nor in the FUV F172M filter. Optical and IR images of NGC 6302 show bright emission bipolar lobes in the east-west direction with a massive torus of molecular gas and dust seen as a dark lane in the north-south direction. The FUV lobes are much more extended and oriented at a position angle of 113{\deg}. They and the jet-like structures might be remnants of an earlier evolutionary phase, prior to the dramatic explosive event that triggered the Hubble type bipolar flows approximately 2200 years ago. The source of the FUV lobe and jet emission is not known, but is likely due to fluorescent emission from H$_2$ molecules. The cause of the difference in orientation of optical and FUV lobes is not clear and, we speculate, could be related to two binary interactions.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Unusual presentation of a case of ovarian endometrioma

Ca-125 is a cell surface glycoprotein present in epithelial ovarian tumors. It is called as a biomarker because it provides information about the biological state of a disease. It is also considered a “tumor associated protein” because elevated CA 125 levels do not always indicate ovarian cancer. Pelvic inflammatory disease irritable bowel disease, tuberculosis pancreatitis and endometriosis can also increase the Ca125 levels in these benign conditions the Ca 125 levels are rarely markedly. Here authors report a case of ovarian endometrioma with markedly elevated levels of Ca 125 who was diagnosed as a case of ovarian malignancy due to presence of ascites and a large ovarian mass of 20x20 cm size arising from the pelvis

High-energy spectral and temporal characteristics of GRO J1008-57

A transient X-ray source, GRO J1008-57, was discovered by the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on board the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) in 1993 July. It reached a maximum intensity of about 1.4 times that of the Crab, in the 20-60 keV energy band. Pulsations in the X-ray intensity were detected at a period of 93.5 s. It has subsequently been determined to be a member of the Be star subclass of X-ray transients. In addition to BATSE, GRO J1008-57 was observed during its outburst by several pointed high-energy experiments: ROSAT, ASCA, and CGRO/OSSE. These nonsimultaneous but contemporaneous observations took place near and shortly after the peak of the outburst light curve. We report for the first time on a combined analysis of the CGRO and ASCA data sets. We have attempted to model the broadband high-energy continuum distribution and phase-resolved spectra. The broadband, phase-averaged continuum is well approximated by a power law with an exponential cutoff. Evidence for 6.4 keV line emission due to Fe is presented based on our spectral analysis. The energy dependence of the pulse profiles is examined in order to determine the energy at which the low-energy double-peaked profile detected by ASCA evolves into single-peaked pulse profile detected by BATSE. We discuss the implications of this pulse profile for the magnetic field and beam distribution for GRO J1008-57. Analysis of the BATSE and Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer/ASM flux histories suggests that Porbital~135 days. We further suggest that a transient disk is likely to form during episodes of outbursts

Utilization pattern of child health care services in the rural area of Surendranagar district: a community based cross sectional study

Background: Infant and child mortality continues to be a major public health problem all over the country. Despite the existence of national programmes for improving child health in India, child mortality and morbidity continue to be high. Utilization of child health care services is poor in the rural areas, causing significant impact on the health causing increased morbidity and mortality.Methods: It was a Community based Cross-sectional study carried out in the rural area of Surendranagar district through oral questionnaire method which was pre-designed and pretested. Data on demography, history of colostrum, initiation of breastfeeding, prelacteal feeds, exclusive breastfeeding, introduction of complementary feeding, immunization, respiratory infections etc. were collected, compiled and analyzed by applying appropriate tests using SPSS.Results: Out of 154 participants, 43.51% were offered breastfeeding within one hour of birth. Association was observed between initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, time of introduction of complementary foods and duration of breastfeeding and utilization of health education services. Educational level of mothers and immunization status of the children had a significant statistical association. The overall prevalence of ARI was 31.82% & of Diarrhoea was 39.61%.Conclusions: A positive association was observed between nutritional status and utilization of nutritional services. Significant impact of health education services given during the antenatal period was observed on initiation of breastfeeding as well as exclusive breastfeeding. Although child services in India have been created, strengthened and expanded over the years, their performance in terms of utilization particularly in rural area is still limited

Oscillation Effects On Neutrinos From The Early Phase Of a Nearby Supernova

Neutrinos emitted during stellar core collapse leading to a supernova are primarily of the electron neutrino type at source which may undergo oscillation between flavor eigenstates during propagation to an earth-bound detector. Although the number of neutrinos emitted during the pre-bounce collapse phase is much smaller than that emitted in the post-bounce phase (in which all flavors of neutrinos are emitted), a nearby supernova event may nevertheless register a substantial number of detections from the pre-bounce phase at SuperKamiokande (SK) and the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO). The calorimetric measurement of the supernova neutrino fluence from this stage via the charge current and neutral current detection channels in SNO and the corresponding distortion of detected spectrum in SK over the no-oscillation spectrum, can probe information about neutrino mass difference and mixing which are illustrated here in terms of two- and three-flavor oscillation models

Comparisons of various model fits to the Iron line profile in MCG-6-30-15

The broad Iron line in MCG-6-30-15 is fitted to the Comptonization model where line broadening occurs due to Compton down-scattering in a highly ionized optically thick cloud. These results are compared to the disk line model where the broadening is due to Gravitational/Doppler effects in the vicinity of a black hole. We find that both models fit the data well and it is not possible to differentiate between them by fitting only the ASCA data. The best fit temperature and optical depth of the cloud are found to be kT = 0.54 keV and $\tau = 4.0$ from the Comptonization model. This model further suggests that while the temperature can be assumed to be constant, the optical depth varies during the observation period. We emphasis an earlier conclusion that simultaneous broad band data ($3 - 50$ keV) can rule out (or confirm) the Comptonization model.Comment: 4 figures. uses aasms4.sty, accepted by ApJ, email: [email protected]

Violence against women: a study on nature, prevalence and extent

Background: To study the nature, prevalence and extent of domestic violence against women in the study area.Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out in the urban and rural area of Surendranagar district of Gujarat. Total 600 ever married women of 15-49 years of age were selected for the study purpose. The self-administered questionnaire was used to gather all the information. Steps were taken up to maintain confidentiality.Results: Out of total 600 women, 231 (38.5%) were victims of domestic violence in one form or the other. The analysis based on each form of violence discloses that about 83% were victims of psychological violence, about 54% of the victims had experienced physical violence, about 32% were victims of economical violence and about 24% were victims of sexual violence.Conclusions: Husband was the frequent instigator of domestic violence. Psychological violence is the commonest form of violence experienced by the victims