A Method to Guarantee Local Convergence for Sequential Quadratic Programming with Poor Hessian Approximation

Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) is a powerful class of algorithms for solving nonlinear optimization problems. Local convergence of SQP algorithms is guaranteed when the Hessian approximation used in each Quadratic Programming subproblem is close to the true Hessian. However, a good Hessian approximation can be expensive to compute. Low cost Hessian approximations only guarantee local convergence under some assumptions, which are not always satisfied in practice. To address this problem, this paper proposes a simple method to guarantee local convergence for SQP with poor Hessian approximation. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated in a numerical example

Kontrolirano izgaranje vodika i kisika u plamenu pri visokom tlaku

In this article the results of experiments of technology of controlled combustion of hydrogen-oxygen flame are presented during the special conditions in high-pressure chamber. The measurement of achieved pressures and temperatures at the controlled process of combustion of hydrogen and oxygen flame was realised as temperature measurement in calibration zone, temperature measurement at the front face of the head, temperature measurement in the pressure chamber and pressure measurement in the pressure chamber.U ovom članku prikazani su rezultati eksperimenata tehnološki kontroliranog izgaranja mješavine vodika i kisika u plamenu tijekom posebnih uvjeta u visokotlačnoj komori. Mjerenja ostvarenih tlakova i temperatura pri kontroliranom procesu izgaranja vodika i kisika u plamenu realizirana su kao mjerenje temperature u zoni kalibracije, mjerenje temperature na prednjoj strani glave, mjerenje temperature u tlačnoj komori i mjerenje tlaka u tlačnoj komori

Vitamin C in the Prevention and Treatment of Frostbite

Two series of experiments were conducted on rats to evaluate the effect of Vit C for prevention and treatment of frostbite. For studies on prevention, 45 rats were divided into 3 groups, as control, Vit C-short term and Vit C-long term. Frostbite was produced experimentally in both the hind limbs by exposing the animals at -15 degree centigrade for 1 h and the assessment of cold injury was done after 15 days. In another study on prevention, frostbite was produced on 20 rats twice, in each limb separately with and without Vit C therapy. The result showed that administration of Vit C for a short period prior to cold exposure period maintained higher rectal temperature and significantly reduced the incidence of frostbite. For studies on treatment, frostbite was produced experimentally in 4 groups of rats. Group I was treated as control, group II was administered 5 mg of Vit C/100 g bw (orally) daily for 15 days. rapid rewarming at 37 degree centigrade on the exposed limbs of group III animals was carried out immediately after cold exposure. Combination of rapid rewarming followed by C therapy was given to group IV. The degree of injury of various groups were compared statistically. Prolonged Vit C therapy as well as waterbath rewarming at body temperature immediately after cold exposure showed significant reduction in tissue damage. High dose of Vit C therapy preceded by rapid rewarming showed additional benefit in reducing the tissue loss

Increased Frequency of Down Syndrome in Young Mothers of Rural Population

Studies were conducted in 222 children clinically diagnosed with Down syndrome (properly diagnosed on the basis of symptoms by Dr. Chandraleka, Pediatrician) to understand the frequency and type distribution of such cases; and to determine the origin of extrachromosome in the 21st pair. Clinical diagnosis was confirmed with karyotyping. Results have shown that nondisjunction or pure trisomy 21 appears to be the main cytogenetic cause; with a percentage frequency of 96.4%; comprising of 114 boys (53.3%) and 108 girls (46.7%). Also the cytological and molecular analysis result revealed that Down syndrome was increased in the young Indian mothers especially in the rural areas.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1Department of Advanced Zoology & Biotechnology, Auxillium College, Vellore2School of Bio Sciences & Technology, VIT University, Vellore – 632014*Corresponding author, Email: [email protected] Please Cite This Article As:  R. Regina Mary, K.M. Gothandam, T. Lazar Mathew. 2010. Increased Frequency of Down Syndrome in Young Mothers of Rural Population. Journal of Ecobiotechnology 2/3: 40-44

Two modes of accelerated glacier sliding related to water

We present the first glacier-wide detailed measurement of basal effective pressure and related observations including bed separation to elucidate the role of water in sliding. The hard bedded glacier instrumented in our study exhibited two phases of accelerated sliding motion apparently driven by separate mechanisms. The first acceleration phase (up to 5 fold increase in speed) was closely tied to an increase in bed separation. The faster second phase (up to 9 fold increase in speed) was related to an unusually high level of connectivity of subglacial waters. We infer the first mode was related to cavity opening and the second mode was related to reduced ice contact with the bed. Glacier sliding over a hard bed is typically represented by sliding laws that include the effective basal pressure, but neither sliding phase was accompanied by a simultaneous decrease in local or regional effective pressure

Free Radical Scavenging, Cytotoxic and Hemolytic Activities from Leaves of Acacia nilotica (L.) Wild. ex. Delile subsp. indica (Benth.) Brenan

Dietary intake of phytochemicals having antioxidant activity is associated with a lower risk of mortality from many diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the free radical scavenging, cytotoxic and hemolytic activities of leaves of Acacia nilotica by using various methods. The results of the present study revealed that ethanol extract was the most effective and IC50 value was found to be 53.6 μg mL−1 for Vero cell lines and 28.9 μg mL−1 for Hela cell lines in cytotoxicity assays. The zone of color retention was 14.2 mm in β-carotene bleaching assay, which was as significant as positive control, butylated hydroxy toluene. None of the tested extracts possessed any hemolytic activity against rat and human erythrocytes revealing their cytotoxic mechanism and non-toxicity. Thus, only the ethanol extract could be considered as a potential source of anticancer and antioxidant compounds. Further phytochemical studies will be performed for specification of the biologically active principles

Underwater Breathing Apparatus

An independent closed circuit regenerative type of breathing apparatus has been developed for isolating the respiratory tract from the ambient medium for use during breathing by personnel working in underwater or polluted atmosphere. An oxygen reducer is used in the design of this apparatus for catering to the required flows of oxygen for breathing during use of the apparatus and thus avoiding oxygen poisoning. The paper describes some of the salient aspects of the breathing apparatus to be deployed for submariners and other diving personnel of the Indian Navy and its potential usefulness as a life saving equipment