A Novel Approach for Fabrication of Cu-Al2O3 Surface Composites by Friction Stir Processing

AbstractIn this study Copper- Al2O3 surface composites are produced with different volume percentages using micron sized particles via friction stir processing in order to enhance surface mechanical properties. Tool rotational speed and traverse speeds were fixed at 900rpm and 40mm/min respectively. The fabricated surface composites have been examined by optical microscope for dispersion of reinforcement particles and found that Al2O3 particles are uniformly dispersed in the stir zone. It is also observed that the microhardness at the higher volume percentage increases due to presence of hard Al2O3 particles. The tensile properties of the surface composites increased with the increase in the volume percentage of the Al2O3 particles. This is due to the addition of the reinforcement particles which increases the temperature of recrystallization by pinning of grain boundaries of the copper matrix and blocking the movement of the dislocations. The observed mechanical properties have been correlated with microstructure and fracture features

Ecología reproductiva de Cipadessa baccifera (Meliaceae)

Cipadessa baccifera is a woody shrub that propagates through seed and underground root stock. The flowers display urceolate androecium, strong protandry, stigma receptivity displayed by turbinate style-head and secondary pollination mechanism. They are self-compatible, nectariferous and produce all three common sugars and certain amino acids in the nectar, and also certain amino acids in the pollen. Further, the flowers present generalist pollination syndrome adapted for pollination by different classes of insects. Bees, wasps and butterflies act as pollinators with the first group effecting mostly geitonogamy while the other two, mostly xenogamy. In this species, spontaneous autogamy is not functional because protandry prevents it. However, flower-visitors could effect autogamy after the stigma attains receptivity but most of the pollen of the flower has been removed by insects by that time. Hand-pollination tests indicated that manipulated autogamy, geitonogamy and xenogamy are functional with highest fruit set in the last mode. Such breeding system indicates the function of facultative xenogamy which delays self-pollination by strong protandry and promotes cross-pollination. The fruit is a fleshy globular drupe that produces 5–10 seeds united by a common fleshy arillod. Seed dispersal modes include ornithochory, barochory and hydrochory. Therefore, the dual mode of propagation, facultative xenogamy, secondary pollination mechanism, generalist pollination syndrome, entomophily and polychory functional in C. baccifera enable it to grow prolifically and expand its distribution in areas where there is no tree cover.Cipadessa baccifera es un arbusto leñoso que se propaga a través de semillas y raíces subterráneas. Las flores muestran androceo urceolado, protandria fuerte y receptividad del estigma mostrada por la cabeza del estilo turbinada que permite un mecanismo de polinización secundaria. Son autocompatibles, nectaríferas y producen los tres azúcares comunes y ciertos aminoácidos en el néctar, y también ciertos aminoácidos en el polen. Además, las flores presentan un síndrome de polinización generalista adaptado a la polinización por diferentes clases de insectos. Las abejas, avispas y mariposas actúan como polinizadores; el primer grupo efectúa principalmente geitonogamia, mientras que los otros dos, principalmente xenogamia. En esta especie, la autogamia espontánea no es funcional porque la protandria la impide. Sin embargo, los visitantes de las flores podrían efectuar la autogamia después de que el estigma alcance la receptividad, pero en ese momento los insectos han dispersado la mayor parte del polen de la flor. Las pruebas de polinización manual indicaron que la autogamia, la geitonogamia y la xenogamia manipuladas son funcionales con la mayor producción de frutos en el último modo. Tal sistema de reproducción indica la función de xenogamia facultativa que retrasa la autopolinización por protandria fuerte y promueve la polinización cruzada. El fruto es una drupa globular carnosa que produce de 5 a 10 semillas unidas por un arillo carnoso común. Los modos de dispersión de semillas son por ornitocoria, barocoria e hidrocoria. Por lo tanto, el modo dual de propagación, la xenogamia facultativa, el mecanismo de polinización secundaria, el síndrome de polinización generalista, la entomofilia y la policoria funcional de permite a C. baccifera crecer prolíficamente y ampliar su distribución en áreas donde no hay cobertura arbórea

Clinical Profile of Children with Osteosarcoma and Outcome of Children Treated for Osteosarcoma on Two Protocols and Quality of Life Among those who Had Amputation Versus Limb Sparing Surgery

OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical profile of children with osteosarcoma and outcome of children treated for osteosarcoma on two chemotherapy protocols. To look at treatment refusal and abandonment in the study population. To compare the quality of life in children with osteosarcoma who had amputation versus limb sparing surgery. METHODS: Variables: outcomes: Survival based on age at diagnosis, localised vs metastatic disease, high grade vs low or intermediate grade tumours, extremity vs axial skeleton tumours as well as chemotherapy used in these patients. predictors: Treatment complications, deformities, potential confounders: Socioeconomic factors- Poorer patients received CDDP+DOX Data Sources/measurement: Data sources are taken from Medical records of all these patients with Osteosarcoma. And also from the details from Chemotherapy records. Bias: No bias. Sample size: all children with osteosarcoma registered under pediatric Hemato-Oncology will be included in the study. Statistical methods: The data will be analysed using SPSS package 16.0 version. Tests of significance to be used are Chi-square tests, paired sample tests and Wilcoxon signed ranked tests. RESULTS: Study included 81 children. Male: Female ratio 1.07. Mean age at presentation was 11.4 years. Pain with swelling was most common symptom. Most common site was distal femur. 66% children completed treatment. Overall survival is 48% and event free survival is 41%. Abandonment rate was 22%. 50% in MAP group and 40% in CD group had good response to pre-op chemotherapy. 66% of children in CD group had amputation compared to 35% in MAP group. 57% in CD group and 76% in MAP group completed treatment. Abandonment rate was higher in CD group 38%, compared to 10% in MAP group. For quality of life 33/35 survivors responded. All those who had limb salvage surgery rated themselves to be having a good QOL

Impacts of Mercury Exposure on Human Health, Safety and Environment: Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis (1995 to 2021)

Introduction: Mercury is a highly toxic and persistent contaminant found in food and parts of the environment. Over the years, global research on mercury poison has soared owing to concerns about its effects on human health, occupational safety, and environmental sustainability. Although numerous studies have identified and examined the various types, sources, toxicity, exposure, and impacts of mercury, comprehensive studies on the research landscape and scientific developments on the subject areas are currently lacking. Therefore, this paper shows a bibliometric analysis (BA) and literature review (LR) of the top publications, funders, organisations, and countries working on Mercury research worldwide. Methods: The research landscape on the subject area was examined by BA from 1995 to 2021, whereas the scientific developments were highlighted through LR. Results: Results showed that mercury research has gained global prominence since the discovery of the Minamata disease in 1956. The most prolific mercury researchers, institutions, and funders are from the United States, Japan, Brazil, Canada, and China, whereas the publications on Mercury research doubled over the period. The top source titles for publications on Mercury are Neurotoxicology, Science of the Total Environment, and Environmental Health Perspectives. However, Micheal Aschner (US) and Takashi Yorifuji (Japan) are the most prolific researchers. Co-occurrence analysis revealed that mercury, methyl mercury, fish, toxicity, and Minamata disease are the most cited keywords, which shows the correlation nexus between fish consumption and mercury poisoning. Conclusion: The LR showed that mercury research is widely investigated due to global concerns about its impact on human health, safety, and the environment

Fc Effector Function Contributes to the Activity of Human Anti-CTLA-4 Antibodies.

With the use of a mouse model expressing human Fc-gamma receptors (FcγRs), we demonstrated that antibodies with isotypes equivalent to ipilimumab and tremelimumab mediate intra-tumoral regulatory T (Treg) cell depletion in vivo, increasing the CD8+ to Treg cell ratio and promoting tumor rejection. Antibodies with improved FcγR binding profiles drove superior anti-tumor responses and survival. In patients with advanced melanoma, response to ipilimumab was associated with the CD16a-V158F high affinity polymorphism. Such activity only appeared relevant in the context of inflamed tumors, explaining the modest response rates observed in the clinical setting. Our data suggest that the activity of anti-CTLA-4 in inflamed tumors may be improved through enhancement of FcγR binding, whereas poorly infiltrated tumors will likely require combination approaches

Effect of Ice Pack on Pain and Activities of Daily Living after Episiotomy: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Introduction: Episiotomy is a common surgical procedure used during childbirth. Approximately 52% of women who have vaginal births undergo episiotomy, with 93.3% of primiparous women and 30.2% of multiparous women being affected. Perineal pain is a prevalent issue among mothers and can negatively impact their daily functioning and early experiences of motherhood. The use of an ice pack on the perineum is a simple, non pharmacological treatment for pain relief that may have an impact on postpartum recovery. However, no study has been conducted to determine the effect of an ice pack on postnatal mothers’ compliance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL) following episiotomy. Aim: To evaluate the effect of an ice pack on pain and ADL after episiotomy. Materials and Methods: This trial is an experimental, parallel, and assessor-blinded allocation with a computer-generated randomisation sequence. A randomised controlled trial conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OBG) at Justice KS Hegde Charitable Hospital in Deralakatte, Mangaluru, India. The study duration was one year, from March 2022 to March 2023. A total of 64 postnatal mothers (32 in each group) were included. This trial is an experimental, parallel, and assessorblinded allocation with a computer-generated randomisation sequence. The inclusion criteria were primiparous women aged between 18-35 years, who underwent episiotomy within 6 to 24 hours postpartum, delivered a live baby, complained of pain at the incision site, had a full-term labour, and had no other complications during pregnancy or labour. The participants were also required to be literate. Age, Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), and Barthel Index (BI) were compared between the groups using the independent sample t-test. The paired t-test was used for within group (pre to post-test) comparison of NPRS and Barthel index. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: There was a significant difference in pain experienced by the groups, as assessed by NPRS (p<0.001). However, there was no difference in ADL between the groups (p>0.05). No side effects or harms were reported. Ice pack application, once daily for two days, was found to be safe and feasible for postepisiotomy patients. Conclusion: The current randomised controlled trial concludes that the application of an ice pack once daily for two days is significantly effective in reducing pain after episiotomy. However, it does not improve ADL in patients with post-episiotomy

Influence of Al2O3 particles on the microstructure and mechanical properties of copper surface composites fabricated by friction stir processing

The influence of three factors, such as volume percentage of reinforcement particles (i.e. Al2O3), tool tilt angle and concave angle of shoulder, on the mechanical properties of Cu–Al2O3 surface composites fabricated via friction stir processing was studied. Taguchi method was used to optimize these factors for maximizing the mechanical properties of surface composites. The fabricated surface composites were examined by optical microscope for dispersion of reinforcement particles. It was found that Al2O3 particles are uniformly dispersed in the stir zone. The tensile properties of the surface composites increased with the increase in the volume percentage of the Al2O3 reinforcement particles. This is due to the addition of the reinforcement particles which increases the temperature of recrystallization by pinning the grain boundaries of the copper matrix and blocking the movement of the dislocations. The observed mechanical properties are correlated with microstructure and fracture features

Pollination Ecology Characteristics of Barringtonia racemosa (L.) Spreng. (Lecythidaceae)

Barringtonia racemosa is an evergreen mangrove associate. It is an year-round bloomer that produces attractive pinkish-white flowers on long, hanging racemes. The flowers open during evening-night time during which only hawk moths swiftly visit them for nectar collection effecting both self- and cross-pollination. Fruits are large, single-seeded, indehiscent and buoyant, and disperse in the direction of tidal or ocean currents. Seeds are exposed only when fruits rot; when anchored in the muddy substratum, they germinate within two or three weeks to produce new plants