Status of Ferrosilicon and Pig Iron Production by Electric Smelting under the Liberalized Economy

Without adequate power infrastructure and demand from the steel industry,liberalization for the ferroalloy industry in general and ferrosilicon in particular can spell doom. The entry of many small producers has saddled the country with surplus installed capacity. Unless demand increases rapidly and cheap owner is available from either NTPC or captive power generation, FeSiproduction by electric smelting is not viable. Compulsion to generate cheap captive power and export for survival is great. Whereas the fate of electric pig iron was sealed long ago when tariff increases rendered the product unaffordable by the foundries necessitating imports.With the emergence mini-blast furnaces in the liberalized economy;revival of electric pig iron is no where in sight

Ferrosilicon industry faces demand and cost constraints

The ferrosilicon industry is caught in a vortex of demand recession, power shortage, and escalating cost of both power and charcoal — the two crucial inputs. Against an installed capacity of 91,200 tonnes, the demand is about 52,000 tonnes. Because of power cuts in Karnataka (40%) and Orissa (50%), the demand is just met at an overall capacity utilization of 54%. However, at 80% utilization under fortuitous power situation, a surplus production of 40% could result. India has successfully exported to Japan in the past. Export was banned in 1979. Therefore, power shortage and inflationary costs, not technology, are constraints on export today. Cost-competitiveness can be realised by controlled cost of inputs, liberalised credit and subsidy.As a typical case, the situation in Karnataka is cited. Power tariff in Karnataka has risen from 5.75 p/kWh (1977) to 25.95 p/kWh (1981), an increase of 351% in five years. Power cost per tonne of ferrosilicon is Rs. 2371, representing 28% of the current price; charcoal cost is Rs. 2131, representing 26% of price. The diminishing availability of charcoal owing to ecological compulsions continues to push the cost up. But more seriously, it is compelling a search for alternative reductants. Quality preference is discussed. Import of a suitable reductant seems inevitable. Under crisis ridden circumstances, it is vital that the Government takes an integrated approach to pull the industry out of its present malaise so that it can continue to support the iron and steel industry

The road to good spirits: perceived stress, self esteem and coping skills in patients with alcohol dependence

Background: Alcohol is the commonest psychoactive substance used by Indians. Stress and self-esteem issues may cause alcohol use as a coping mechanism. The purpose of this study was to analyze the severity of alcohol dependence, gauge levels of perceived stress and self-esteem and study coping skills in patients. It further examined the relations between sociodemographic variables of patients, their perceived stress, self esteem and coping skills as well as duration and severity of alcohol dependence.Methods: Cross-sectional study of 200 patients with alcohol use disorder recruited by complete enumeration technique was undertaken. They were administered a semi-structured questionnaire along with Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Coping Inventory for Stressful situations (CISS-21) and Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ). Associations and correlations were examined.Results: Almost half the patients had severe alcohol dependence. Less than one-fourth of the patients had low self esteem. There was a significant negative correlation between self esteem and severity of alcohol dependence as well as duration of alcohol use. Nearly half the patients had high perceived stress. There was a significant positive correlation between severity of alcohol dependence and perceived stress. Majority patients used task oriented coping skills. Patients of alcohol dependence having low self-esteem used predominantly avoidant-oriented coping skills.Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of thorough evaluation and screening in patients having alcohol dependence for self-esteem issues and perceived stress levels. Teaching effective coping skills, supportive psychotherapy and counselling can be effective. Multimodal treatment protocols will effectively lighten the stress caused by alcohol dependence

An assessment of pattern of adverse drug reactions of cardiovascular drugs in a tertiary care institute

Background: Cardiovascular disease is very prevalent in India. So, use of cardiovascular drugs is also more. So, it is very important to keep watch on adverse drug reactions. Aim of this study was to assess the pattern of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported with cardiovascular drugs in a tertiary care institute.Methods: The study was carried out in medicine department of a tertiary care hospital over a period of one year. Each ADR was analysed for demographic data, causality, relationship between frequency of ADRs and the number of drugs used etc. In statistical analysis Microsoft excel 2013, SPSS software was used.Results: A total of 136 patients, 58 (43%) men and 78 (57%) women, using cardiovascular medications reported ADRs during the entire study period. Total 168 ADRs were reported out of which, Amlodipine (causing headache and edema feet) was the most common drug with 51 (30.3%) ADR’s followed by Enalapril, Aspirin and Isosorbide Dinitrate with 37 (22%), 24 (14.2%), 23 (13.6%) ADRs respectively. Most common ADR was headache (due to amlodipine and Isosorbide di nitrate) affecting 38 (22.62%) cases followed by dry cough 37 (22.02%) cases, edema feet 36 (21.43%), gastritis 24 (14.29%) and 10 (5.95%) of nausea.Conclusions: Monitoring ADRs in patients using cardiovascular drugs is a matter of importance since this class of medicines are mostly used as multidrug therapy and always prone for ADRs

Experimental Study On Plastic Waste As A Course Aggregate For Structural Concrete

The use of plastic is increasing day by day, although steps were taken to reduce its consumption. This creates substantial garbage every day which is much unhealthy. The suitability of recycled plastics as coarse aggregate in concrete and its advantages are discussed here. In this project, Plastic Coarse Aggregates (PCA) and steel fibers were used as replacement of Natural Coarse aggregate by different percentage of plastic aggregate for making concrete of M-25 grade, with w/c ratio 0.48. The study involves replacement of natural coarse aggregates by 0, 15 and 30 percentage of PCA. The steel fibers are used 1 to 3 percent by weight of cement. OPC-53 grade cement was used for making concrete. The waste plastic of HDPE (High density poly Ethylene) is collected from Agriculture waste, E-waste. The study also involves casting cube, beam and cylinder by using M-25 concrete with varying percentage of PCA and then testing compressive strength, flexural strength and Split tensile strength respectively. Also, from this study Optimum percentage replacement of natural aggregate by PCA was found out and that can be used in structural concrete

Leukotrienes inhibit early stages of HIV-1 infection in monocyte-derived microglia-like cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Microglia are one of the main cell types to be productively infected by HIV-1 in the central nervous system (CNS). Leukotriene B₄(LTB₄) and cysteinyl-leukotrienes such as LTC₄are some of the proinflammatory molecules produced in infected individuals that contribute to neuroinflammation. We therefore sought to investigate the role of leukotrienes (LTs) in HIV-1 infection of microglial cells.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To evaluate the role of LTs on HIV-1 infection in the CNS, monocyte-derived microglial-like cells (MDMis) were utilized in this study. Leukotriene-treated MDMis were infected with either fully replicative brain-derived HIV-1 isolates (YU2) or R5-tropic luciferase-encoding particles in order to assess viral production and expression. The efficacy of various steps of the replication cycle was evaluated by means of p24 quantification by ELISA, luciferase activity determination and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We report in this study that virus replication is reduced upon treatment of MDMis with LTB₄and LTC₄. Additional experiments indicate that these proinflammatory molecules alter the pH-independent entry and early post-fusion events of the viral life cycle. Indeed, LT treatment induced a diminution in integrated proviral DNA while reverse-transcribed viral products remained unaffected. Furthermore, decreased C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) surface expression was observed in LT-treated MDMis. Finally, the effect of LTs on HIV-1 infection in MDMis appears to be mediated partly via a signal transduction pathway involving protein kinase C.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These data show for the first time that LTs influence microglial cell infection by HIV-1, and may be a factor in the control of viral load in the CNS.</p