Rheology of Fumed Silica and Polyethylene Glycol Shear Thickening Suspension with Nanoclay as an Additive

Shear thickening properties of fumed silica-polyethylene glycol (PEG) with shear thickening fluid (STF) of different concentrations and with an organically modified clay, Nanomer I.28 E as nano-additive have been investigated by both steady-state and dynamic state rheology. Difference in rheology if instead of nanoclay, an equal wt% of additional fumed silica is added to 20 per cent fumed silica-PEG200 STF, has been studied. At 25 °C, in case of addition of nanoclay the increase in critical viscosity is less than that observed for same additional amount of fumed silica. Interestingly, an opposite result is seen at higher temperatures i.e. 45 °C and 55 °C. Moreover, the difference in steady-state and dynamic state viscosity values decreases on addition of nanoclay. It is noted that an increase in concentration of clay increases the value of dynamic parameters whereas for STF of only fumed silica particles the values are constant irrespective of the change in concentration. More importantly, ease of processing, elasticity, stability and consistency of rheological results of STF increases to a significant extent on addition of relatively inexpensive nano-additive

Design and Development of Microcontroller-Based Clinical Chemistry Analyser for Measurement of Various Blood Biochemistry Parameters

Clinical chemistry analyser is a high-performance microcontroller-based photometric biochemical analyser to measure various blood biochemical parameters such as blood glucose, urea, protein, bilirubin, and so forth, and also to measure and observe enzyme growth occurred while performing the other biochemical tests such as ALT (alkaline amino transferase), amylase, AST (aspartate amino transferase), and so forth. These tests are of great significance in biochemistry and used for diagnostic purposes and classifying various disorders and diseases such as diabetes, liver malfunctioning, renal diseases, and so forth. An inexpensive clinical chemistry analyser developed by the authors is described in this paper. This is an open system in which any reagent kit available in the market can be used. The system is based on the principle of absorbance transmittance photometry. System design is based around 80C31 microcontroller with RAM, EPROM, and peripheral interface devices. The developed system incorporates light source, an optical module, interference filters of various wave lengths, peltier device for maintaining required temperature of the mixture in flow cell, peristaltic pump for sample aspiration, graphic LCD display for displaying blood parameters, patients test results and kinetic test graph, 40 columns mini thermal printer, and also 32-key keyboard for executing various functions. The lab tests conducted on the instrument include versatility of the analyzer, flexibility of the software, and treatment of sample. The prototype was tested and evaluated over 1000 blood samples successfully for seventeen blood parameters. Evaluation was carried out at Government Medical College and Hospital, the Department of Biochemistry. The test results were found to be comparable with other standard instruments

A Comparative study of product life cycle and its marketing applications

In this paper we explain the product life-cycle models that studies a set of strategic choices facing manufacturers as they design the product/service bundle which may require maintenance and repair support after its sale. Traditional market analysis relies on purely macroeconomic and political factors and fails to account for an emerging market's dynamism and future potential. The objective of this paper is to present all composed product life cycle (PLC) specific to the assessment of emerging markets at domestic and international expansion opportunities. Based on the literature pointing out the product life cycle in domestic and international markets with graphic presentation and models the need for a specialized composite and comprehensive approach, additional criteria are introduced to assess emerging market potential. Emerging markets provided the rationale for the product life cycle in dealing with common product life cycle (FMCG), retail PLC, industrial products PLC, services PLC, engineering PLC and international PLC criteria. Marketing with PLC philosophy gives insights to practicing managers to follow the options and make visionary decisions for products they are dealing with. Composite PLC has been overlooked in literature and this paper will fill the gaps by collective study on five market conditions. Keywords: product life-cycle, marketing DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/63-06 Publication date: December 31st 201

Etiopathogenesis of aplastic anemia in children: a case control study

Background: Aplastic anemia is not an infrequent clinical syndrome that we encounter. In about two thirds of cases of aplastic anemia it is not possible to identify any likely cause. Aim of the study was to study the role of organochlorine compounds, Parvovirus B19, Hepatitis viruses B and C and HIV I and II in causation of aplastic anemia in children.Methods: 25 children of bone marrow biopsy proved aplastic anemia and 25 age Matched controls were investigated for the presence of Parvovirus B19, Hepatitis viruses B and C, HIV I and II and for increased levels of organo-chlorines in blood and bone marrow. ELISA technique to detect antibodies against Parvovirus B19 (IgM), HCV (IgG), HbsAg, HIV I and II was used. Gas chromatography was used to measure blood levels of organo-chlorine compounds α, β, γ, δ HCH, p-p DDE.Results: out of 25 children of aplastic anemia 5 cases (20%) were IgM ELISA positive against Parvovirus B19, 6 cases (24%) were positive for IgG antibody against HCV and 1 case (4%) was Australia antigen positive. 14 cases (56%) showed increased levels (>mean±2SD) of organochlorine compounds α, β, γ, δ HCH, p-p DDE. None of the cases were positive for HIV I and II. None of the controls were positive for Parvovirus B19 (IgM) neither for HCV (IgG). Multiple factors (>1) were positive in 4 cases (16%). 5 cases (20%) didn’t have any positivity for studied factors. 22 cases (88%) of aplastic anemia children were >5 years of age. 21 cases (84%) belonged to rural areas. 11 cases (44%) presented in the month of March and April. Parvovirus B19 was more prevalent (80% cases) in the older age group of children (8-12years).Conclusions: Majority of virological agents contribute to non-severe aplastic anemia. Significant association was found between very severe and severe aplastic anemia with organochlorine compounds. However larger community based studies are needed to correlate this

Putative amniotic fluid stem (AFS) cells express transcription factor Oct-4 in goat (Capra aegagrus hircus)

Abstract The current study was carried out to isolate, culture, characteriz

Four Zero Texture Fermion Mass Matrices in SO(10) GUT

We attempt the integration of the phenomenologically successful four zero texture of fermion mass matrices with the renormalizable SO(10) GUT. The resulting scenario is found to be highly predictive. Firstly, we examine the phenomenological implications of a class of the lepton mass matrices with parallel texture structures and obtain interesting constraints on the parameters of the charged lepton and the neutrino mass matrices. We combine these phenomenological constraints with the constraints obtained from SO(10) GUT to reduce the number of the free parameters and to further constrain the allowed ranges of the free parameters. The solar/atmospheric mixing angles obtained in this analysis are in fairly good agreement with the data.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl

Inhibition of Protein Aggregation: Supramolecular Assemblies of Arginine Hold the Key

BACKGROUND: Aggregation of unfolded proteins occurs mainly through the exposed hydrophobic surfaces. Any mechanism of inhibition of this aggregation should explain the prevention of these hydrophobic interactions. Though arginine is prevalently used as an aggregation suppressor, its mechanism of action is not clearly understood. We propose a mechanism based on the hydrophobic interactions of arginine. METHODOLOGY: We have analyzed arginine solution for its hydrotropic effect by pyrene solubility and the presence of hydrophobic environment by 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonic acid fluorescence. Mass spectroscopic analyses show that arginine forms molecular clusters in the gas phase and the cluster composition is dependent on the solution conditions. Light scattering studies indicate that arginine exists as clusters in solution. In the presence of arginine, the reverse phase chromatographic elution profile of Alzheimer's amyloid beta 1-42 (Abeta(1-42)) peptide is modified. Changes in the hydrodynamic volume of Abeta(1-42) in the presence of arginine measured by size exclusion chromatography show that arginine binds to Abeta(1-42). Arginine increases the solubility of Abeta(1-42) peptide in aqueous medium. It decreases the aggregation of Abeta(1-42) as observed by atomic force microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our experimental results we propose that molecular clusters of arginine in aqueous solutions display a hydrophobic surface by the alignment of its three methylene groups. The hydrophobic surfaces present on the proteins interact with the hydrophobic surface presented by the arginine clusters. The masking of hydrophobic surface inhibits protein-protein aggregation. This mechanism is also responsible for the hydrotropic effect of arginine on various compounds. It is also explained why other amino acids fail to inhibit the protein aggregation

Case Reports1. A Late Presentation of Loeys-Dietz Syndrome: Beware of TGFβ Receptor Mutations in Benign Joint Hypermobility

Background: Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) and dissections are not uncommon causes of sudden death in young adults. Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is a rare, recently described, autosomal dominant, connective tissue disease characterized by aggressive arterial aneurysms, resulting from mutations in the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) receptor genes TGFBR1 and TGFBR2. Mean age at death is 26.1 years, most often due to aortic dissection. We report an unusually late presentation of LDS, diagnosed following elective surgery in a female with a long history of joint hypermobility. Methods: A 51-year-old Caucasian lady complained of chest pain and headache following a dural leak from spinal anaesthesia for an elective ankle arthroscopy. CT scan and echocardiography demonstrated a dilated aortic root and significant aortic regurgitation. MRA demonstrated aortic tortuosity, an infrarenal aortic aneurysm and aneurysms in the left renal and right internal mammary arteries. She underwent aortic root repair and aortic valve replacement. She had a background of long-standing joint pains secondary to hypermobility, easy bruising, unusual fracture susceptibility and mild bronchiectasis. She had one healthy child age 32, after which she suffered a uterine prolapse. Examination revealed mild Marfanoid features. Uvula, skin and ophthalmological examination was normal. Results: Fibrillin-1 testing for Marfan syndrome (MFS) was negative. Detection of a c.1270G > C (p.Gly424Arg) TGFBR2 mutation confirmed the diagnosis of LDS. Losartan was started for vascular protection. Conclusions: LDS is a severe inherited vasculopathy that usually presents in childhood. It is characterized by aortic root dilatation and ascending aneurysms. There is a higher risk of aortic dissection compared with MFS. Clinical features overlap with MFS and Ehlers Danlos syndrome Type IV, but differentiating dysmorphogenic features include ocular hypertelorism, bifid uvula and cleft palate. Echocardiography and MRA or CT scanning from head to pelvis is recommended to establish the extent of vascular involvement. Management involves early surgical intervention, including early valve-sparing aortic root replacement, genetic counselling and close monitoring in pregnancy. Despite being caused by loss of function mutations in either TGFβ receptor, paradoxical activation of TGFβ signalling is seen, suggesting that TGFβ antagonism may confer disease modifying effects similar to those observed in MFS. TGFβ antagonism can be achieved with angiotensin antagonists, such as Losartan, which is able to delay aortic aneurysm development in preclinical models and in patients with MFS. Our case emphasizes the importance of timely recognition of vasculopathy syndromes in patients with hypermobility and the need for early surgical intervention. It also highlights their heterogeneity and the potential for late presentation. Disclosures: The authors have declared no conflicts of interes

Spatial, temporal, and demographic patterns in prevalence of smoking tobacco use and attributable disease burden in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019 : a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Ending the global tobacco epidemic is a defining challenge in global health. Timely and comprehensive estimates of the prevalence of smoking tobacco use and attributable disease burden are needed to guide tobacco control efforts nationally and globally. Methods We estimated the prevalence of smoking tobacco use and attributable disease burden for 204 countries and territories, by age and sex, from 1990 to 2019 as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study. We modelled multiple smoking-related indicators from 3625 nationally representative surveys. We completed systematic reviews and did Bayesian meta-regressions for 36 causally linked health outcomes to estimate non-linear dose-response risk curves for current and former smokers. We used a direct estimation approach to estimate attributable burden, providing more comprehensive estimates of the health effects of smoking than previously available. Findings Globally in 2019, 1.14 billion (95% uncertainty interval 1.13-1.16) individuals were current smokers, who consumed 7.41 trillion (7.11-7.74) cigarette-equivalents of tobacco in 2019. Although prevalence of smoking had decreased significantly since 1990 among both males (27.5% [26. 5-28.5] reduction) and females (37.7% [35.4-39.9] reduction) aged 15 years and older, population growth has led to a significant increase in the total number of smokers from 0.99 billion (0.98-1.00) in 1990. Globally in 2019, smoking tobacco use accounted for 7.69 million (7.16-8.20) deaths and 200 million (185-214) disability-adjusted life-years, and was the leading risk factor for death among males (20.2% [19.3-21.1] of male deaths). 6.68 million [86.9%] of 7.69 million deaths attributable to smoking tobacco use were among current smokers. Interpretation In the absence of intervention, the annual toll of 7.69 million deaths and 200 million disability-adjusted life-years attributable to smoking will increase over the coming decades. Substantial progress in reducing the prevalence of smoking tobacco use has been observed in countries from all regions and at all stages of development, but a large implementation gap remains for tobacco control. Countries have a dear and urgent opportunity to pass strong, evidence-based policies to accelerate reductions in the prevalence of smoking and reap massive health benefits for their citizens. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe