Tribological Characterisation of Graphene Oxide as Lubricant Additive on Hypereutectic Al-25Si/Steel Tribopair

The performance of a lubricant greatly depends on the additives it involves. However, recently used additives produce severe pollution when they are burned and exhausted. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new generation of green additives. Graphene oxide (GO) is considered to be environmentally friendly. The scope of this study is to explore the fundamental tribological behavior of graphene, the first existing 2D material, and evaluate its performance as a lubricant additive. The friction and wear behavior of 0.5 wt% concentrations of GO particles in ethanol and SAE20W50 engine oil on a hypereutectic Al-25Si alloy disc against steel ball was studied at 5 N load. GO as an additive reduced the wear coefficient by 60–80% with 30 Hz frequency for 120 m sliding distance. The minimum value of the coefficient of friction (0.057) was found with SAE20W50 + 0.5 wt% GO. A possible explanation for these results is that the graphene layers act as a 2D nanomaterial and form a conformal protective film on the sliding contact interfaces and easily shear off due to weak Van der Waal's forces and drastically reduce the wear. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and Raman spectroscopy were used for characterization of GO and wear scars

K-Sign in retrocaecal appendicitis: a case series

which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Background: Variations in position of the vermiform appendix considerably changes clinical findings. Retrocaecal appendicitis presents with slightly different clinical features from those of classical appendicitis associated with a normally sited appendix. K-sign looks for the presence of tenderness on posterior abdominal wall in the retrocaecal and paracolic appendicitis. This is the first case report of this kind in the literature. The K-sign has been named, as a mark of respect, after the region of origin of this sign, Kashmir, so called as "Kashmir Sign". The sign being present in view of inflamed appendix crossing above its non palpable position above iliac crest on the posterior abdominal wall and the tenderness is by irritation of posterior peritoneum Case presentation: The author is reporting a case series of four patients in whom a K-sign, a clinical sign, was elicited and found positive on the posterior abdominal wall for presence of tenderness in a specific area bound by the 12th rib superiorly, spine medially, lateral margin of posterior abdominal wall laterally and iliac crest inferiorly and was found to be present in three retrocaecal and one paracolic appendicitis. Each case had tenderness in this specific area o

Improved Livelihood System of Farm Households through Community Watersheds Learnings and Insights from Thailand and Vietnam

Identifying the socio economic contributions of the integrated watershed project on farm households in Thailand and Vietnam was the end goal of the one-month study conducted in January 2006. Data was obtained with the use of an interview schedule, field visits, focus group discussions, and key informants. Findings on the biophysical aspects of the watershed were used for investigating the contributions of various interventions on the agricultural and social system of farmers. Awareness and adoption of the different technological packages are high except on the installation of soil and water monitoring instrument. Less interest by farmers for soil and water monitoring instrument should be dealt by spreading awareness of their importance. Modifications in farmers’ agricultural systems included a change in cropping system such as addition of new crops (legumes and fruit trees), new varieties, adjustments in the cropping calendar and investments in aquaculture as well as poultry. Apparently, these have contributed to the improvement in income levels, enhancement of community participation, and fulfillment among household members. The trainings and exposures provided to farm households opened windows for self-help group formation and alliances/partnerships. A contributing factor to gains obtained in the watershed project has been due to the inculcation of the sense of ownership among farmers. And this explains the clamor for continuous capacity building in the form of technical assistance, various types of information, education and communication (IEC) materials, and market price information to ensure sustainability of the initial gains. The SCOT analysis and transects, which are validated from implementers’ perspective showed strong resemblance with farmer-respondents’ needs assessment. Alongside the development of other potential resources, there were expressions for relevant extension support, market and credit assistance, and more innovations in agri-related livelihoods like pasture-based livestock and agro forestry. On the social aspect, an understanding of problems and the ways in which affected farm households respond to them can be used as an enabling mechanism for watershed initiatives specifically in developing appropriate framework for evaluating, informing, and educating farm households

Efficient land water management practice and cropping system for increasing water and crop productivity in semi‐arid tropics

In Indian semi-arid tropics (SATs), low water and crop productivity in Vertisols and associated soils are mainly due to poor land management and erratic and low rainfall occurrence. This study was conducted from 2014 to 2016 at the ICRISAT in India to test the effect of broad bed furrows (BBF) as land water management against conventional flatbed planting for improving soil water content (SWC) and water and crop productivity of three cropping systems: sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]–chickpea (Cicer arientinum L.) and maize (Zea mays)–groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) as sequential and pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.)] + pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] as intercropping, grown under different nutrients management involving macronutrients (N, P, and K) only and combined application of macro- and micronutrients. The results stated that the SWC in BBF was higher over flatbed by 9.35–10.44% in 0- to 0.3-m, 4.56–9.30% in 0.3- to 0.6-m and 3.85–5.26% in 0.6- to 1.05-m soil depths during the cropping season. Moreover, depletion of the soil water through plant uptake was higher in BBF than in flatbed. Among the cropping systems, sorghum–chickpea was the best in bringing highest system equivalent yield and water productivity with the combined application of macro- and micronutrients. The BBF minimized water stress at critical crop growth stages leading to increase crop yield and water productivity in SATs. Thus, BBF along with the application of macro- and micronutrients could be an adaptation strategy to mitigate erratic rainfall due to climate change in SATs

Friction and wear properties of nano-Si<inf>3</inf>N<inf>4</inf>/nano-SiC composite under nanolubricated conditions

Friction and wear properties of nano-Si3N4/nano-SiC composite were studied under nanolubricated conditions. Mineral oil mixed with nanoparticles of diamond was used as lubricant. A friction coefficient of 0.043 and a wear coefficient of 4.2×10-7 were obtained for nano-Si3N4/nano-SiC composite under normal load of 600 N with mineral oil + 0.5 wt% nanodiamond, whereas a friction coefficient of 0.077 and a wear coefficient of 10.3×10-7 were obtained for nano-Si3N4/nano-SiC composite under normal load of 600 N with mineral oil. 3D surface profilometer was used to study the surface morphology of wear scars. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies were conducted to illustrate reduction in friction and wear

DNA methylation-based classification of central nervous system tumours.

Accurate pathological diagnosis is crucial for optimal management of patients with cancer. For the approximately 100 known tumour types of the central nervous system, standardization of the diagnostic process has been shown to be particularly challenging-with substantial inter-observer variability in the histopathological diagnosis of many tumour types. Here we present a comprehensive approach for the DNA methylation-based classification of central nervous system tumours across all entities and age groups, and demonstrate its application in a routine diagnostic setting. We show that the availability of this method may have a substantial impact on diagnostic precision compared to standard methods, resulting in a change of diagnosis in up to 12% of prospective cases. For broader accessibility, we have designed a free online classifier tool, the use of which does not require any additional onsite data processing. Our results provide a blueprint for the generation of machine-learning-based tumour classifiers across other cancer entities, with the potential to fundamentally transform tumour pathology

The acute phase management of spinal cord injury affecting polytrauma patients: the ASAP study

Background: Few data on the management of acute phase of traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) in patients suffering polytrauma are available. As the therapeutic choices in the first hours may have a deep impact on outcome of tSCI patients, we conducted an international survey investigating this topic. Methods: The survey was composed of 29 items. The main endpoints of the survey were to examine: (1) the hemodynamic and respiratory management, (2) the coagulation management, (3) the timing of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spinal surgery, (4) the use of corticosteroid therapy, (5) the role of intraspinal pressure (ISP)/spinal cord perfusion pressure (SCPP) monitoring and (6) the utilization of therapeutic hypothermia. Results: There were 171 respondents from 139 centers worldwide. A target mean arterial pressure (MAP) target of 80–90&nbsp;mmHg was chosen in almost half of the cases [n = 84 (49.1%)]. A temporary reduction in the target MAP, for the time strictly necessary to achieve bleeding control in polytrauma, was accepted by most respondents [n = 100 (58.5%)]. Sixty-one respondents (35.7%) considered acceptable a hemoglobin (Hb) level of 7&nbsp;g/dl in tSCI polytraumatized patients. An arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) of 80–100&nbsp;mmHg [n = 94 (55%)] and an arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) of 35–40&nbsp;mmHg [n = 130 (76%)] were chosen in most cases. A little more than half of respondents considered safe a platelet (PLT) count &gt; 100.000/mm3 [n = 99 (57.9%)] and prothrombin time (PT)/activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) &lt; 1.5 times the normal control [n = 85 (49.7%)] in patients needing spinal surgery. MRI [n = 160 (93.6%)] and spinal surgery [n = 158 (92.4%)] should be performed after intracranial, hemodynamic, and respiratory stabilization by most respondents. Corticosteroids [n = 103 (60.2%)], ISP/SCPP monitoring [n = 148 (86.5%)], and therapeutic hypothermia [n = 137 (80%)] were not utilized by most respondents. Conclusions: Our survey has shown a great worldwide variability in clinical practices for acute phase management of tSCI patients with polytrauma. These findings can be helpful to define future research in order to optimize the care of patients suffering tSCI