Optimization of CO2 production rate for firefighting robot applications using response surface methodology

A carbon dioxide gas-powered pneumatic actuation has been proposed as a suitable power source for an autonomous firefighting robot (CAFFR), which is designed to operate in an indoor fire environment in our earlier study. Considering the consumption rate of the pneumatic motor, the gas-powered actuation that is based on the theory of phase change material requires optimal determination of not only the sublimation rate of carbon dioxide but also the sizing of dry ice granules. Previous studies that have used the same theory are limited to generating a high volume of carbon dioxide without reference to neither the production rate of the gas nor the size of the granules of the dry ice. However, such consideration remains a design requirement for efficient driving of a carbon dioxide-powered firefighting robot. This paper investigates the effects of influencing design parameters on the sublimation rate of dry ice for powering a pneumatic motor. The optimal settings of these parameters that maximize the sublimation rate at the minimal time and dry ice mass are presented. In the experimental design and analysis, we employed full-factorial design and response surface methodology to fit an acceptable model for the relationship between the design factors and the response variables. Predictive models of the sublimation rate were examined via ANOVA, and the suitability of the linear model is confirmed. Further, an optimal sublimation rate value of 0.1025 g/s is obtained at a temperature of 80°C, the mass of 16.1683 g, and sublimation time of 159.375 s

The Role and Welfare of Cart Donkeys Used in Waste Management in Karachi, Pakistan

Equine ownership is a common income-generating strategy in Pakistan. In Karachi, donkey carts are used to transport building materials, commercial produce and garbage. This study aimed to articulate the role and welfare of donkeys used in waste management. We conducted interviews with donkey owners (n = 200), households which use donkey carts for waste collection (n = 50) and key informants (n = 14). To assess the welfare of donkeys, the Standardised Equine-Based Welfare Assessment Tool (SEBWAT) was used (n = 204). Collection of waste was the primary source of income for 89% of owners interviewed. Of those directly involved in waste collection, 62% were found to be under 18 years of age. During interviews with donkey cart customers the majority reported that there would be a huge garbage build-up if donkey carts were not available. Welfare assessments demonstrated that 52.9% of donkeys had a body condition score of two. Muzzle mutilation was extremely high (78.4%) and 66.7% of donkeys had superficial knee lesions. This is the first study that has explored the role of donkey carts in waste management in Pakistan. The data demonstrate the sizable role that donkey-owning communities play in waste management and the important livelihood option this offers, as well as considerable animal welfare concerns

A Novel Derivatization Ultraviolet Spectrophotometric Method for the Determination of Amlodipine Besylate Using Benzoyl Chloride

The present research work aims to develop a novel ultraviolet UV spectrophotometric method for the determination of Amlodipine Besylate using Benzoyl Chloride as a derivatizing agent, which is simple, rapid, sensitive, selective, and accurate method for the spectrophotometric determination of Amlodipine Besylate in powder form.  Synthesis is based upon the Schotten Baumann Reaction. In this method, derivatization of aliphatic amine group of Amlodipine Besylate carried out with benzoyl chloride and aqueous sodium hydroxide (NaOH).The λmax was found to be 237 and 226nm for assay of Amlodipine Besylate and synthesised product respectively. The linearity was found in concentration range of 1-10 μg/ml. The correlation coefficient (r2)was found 0.9985. The regression equation, intercept (a) and slope (b) was found as Y=0.0762x - 0.0077, 0.0077 and 0.0762 respectively. Method was developed and validated as per ICH guidelines for linearity, accuracy, precision, LOD, LOQ, interday and intraday. The LOD and LOQ for estimation of Amlodipine besylate were found as 0.2367, 0.7178 respectively. Recovery of Amlodipine besylate was found to be 93.30%.The proposed method is found to be simple, rapid, selective and highly sensitive than most of the Spectrophotometric methods available in literature. Keywords: Derivatization, Ultraviolet spectrophotometry, Amlodipine besylate, Validation, Synthesis

Bacillus subtilis JW1 enhances plant growth and nutrient uptake of Chinese cabbage through gibberellins secretion

In the present study, we have isolated rhizospheric bacteria JW1 from rice paddy in Andong, South Korea. The culture filtrate (CF) analysis of JW1 showed higher contents of gibberellins GA1, GA4, GA7, organic acids, fatty acids and tricalcium phosphates. The 16S rDNA gene sequencing and phylogentic analysis revealed that thestrain JW1 has a 99% homology with Bacillus subtilis sequences from BLAST search.The growth promotion capability of the strain JW1 was initially assessed on Waito-C and Whayoung-beyo rice cultivars, which improved the growth attributes of the rice cultivars. Similarly, a significant increase in plant height, biomass, chlorophyll contents and nutrient uptake have been noticed, when the Chinese cabbage was treated with JW1 strain. From the results, it is concluded that the integrative use of B. subtilis JW1 can promote plant growthby secreting bioactive compounds. Therefore, B. subtilis JW1 may be utilized as an eco-friendly bio-fertilizer in the agricultural fields after successful field trials

N-(2-Methoxy­phen­yl)phthalimide

The phthalimide fused-ring system and the phenyl­ene ring in the title compound, C15H11NO3, are inclined at an angle of 54.2 (1)°

The application of diniconazole and prohydrojasmon as plant growth regulators to induce growth and tuberization of potato

The potato is a major vegetable crop around the world, and tuberous hypertrophy is a highly complex developmental process effected by various factors that play central role in potato growth. Tuber growth under hypertrophic conditions is regulated by variations in carbohydrates and endogenous phytohormones. In the present study, we aimed to establish the basis for the enlargement of potato tubers, including changes in the chemical content of factors related to tuber formation and hypertrophy based on phytohormonal regulation, plants height and tuber biomass and other selected attributes. Our results reveal that the application of plant growth regulators such as diniconazole (Din) and prohydrojasmon (PDJ) significantly impact on potato plants growth and yield, including that of tubers. Plants treated with Din and PDJ effectively showed stunted growth and re-duced development but enhance the tuber formation and its weight. Plants treated with Din and PDJ significantly reduced the GAs and ABA accumulation and increase the sucrose level and cause significant increase in tuber development. In conclusion, a higher gibberellin content in potatoes may inhibit tuberization. Diniconazole and PDJ treatment reduced gibberellin accumulation, which in turn regu-lated abscisic acid content, demonstrating that the abscisic acid content mostly increased as gibberellin content decreased, and thereby promoting tuberization

Quantifying the improvement of surrogate indices of hepatic insulin resistance using complex measurement techniques

We evaluated the ability of simple and complex surrogate-indices to identify individuals from an overweight/obese cohort with hepatic insulin-resistance (HEP-IR). Five indices, one previously defined and four newly generated through step-wise linear regression, were created against a single-cohort sample of 77 extensively characterised participants with the metabolic syndrome (age 55.6±1.0 years, BMI 31.5±0.4 kg/m2; 30 males). HEP-IR was defined by measuring endogenous-glucose-production (EGP) with [6–62H2] glucose during fasting and euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamps and expressed as EGP*fasting plasma insulin. Complex measures were incorporated into the model, including various non-standard biomarkers and the measurement of body-fat distribution and liver-fat, to further improve the predictive capability of the index. Validation was performed against a data set of the same subjects after an isoenergetic dietary intervention (4 arms, diets varying in protein and fiber content versus control). All five indices produced comparable prediction of HEP-IR, explaining 39–56% of the variance, depending on regression variable combination. The validation of the regression equations showed little variation between the different proposed indices (r2 = 27–32%) on a matched dataset. New complex indices encompassing advanced measurement techniques offered an improved correlation (r = 0.75, P<0.001). However, when validated against the alternative dataset all indices performed comparably with the standard homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (r = 0.54, P<0.001). Thus, simple estimates of HEP-IR performed comparable to more complex indices and could be an efficient and cost effective approach in large epidemiological investigations