Geothermal Energy as a Major Source of Renewable Energy - Learning from Asian Neighbours

Energy is one of the fundamental necessities for economic growth, increased social equity, and an environment that allows livelihoods to thrive. Development is not possible without energy, and sustainable development is not possible without sustainable energy. Renewable Energy (RE) is a key to sustainable development and offers an opportunity to improve access to modern energy services for the impoverished segments of society, which is essential for sustainable community development. In Asia, Indonesia and the Philippines are rich in Geothermal (GT) energy. Being a renewable, sustainable, and indigenous energy resource, GT is reliable because its supply is independent of season and global energy market dynamics. Japan has a huge potential for GT and wants to expand renewable energy resources after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Accident. In the near future, GT is set to play a major role in national energy supply in Japan. Therefore, the objective of this study is to look at various challenges and opportunities in GT energy policies of Indonesia and the Philippines to adopt them to meet Japanese needs in the future

Clinical evaluation of the proximal femur intramedullary nail antirotation system-II for treatment of unstable pertrochanteric fractures

Background: Pertrochanteric fractures are relatively common among the elderly. Common techniques for fixation of these fractures are sliding hip screw and plate or intramedullary nailing. The objective of the present study was designed to evaluate and analyze the role of proximal femoral nail antirotation II (PFNA II) in the treatment of unstable pertrochanteric fractures.Methods: It was a prospective study on 50 cases of unstable pertrochanteric fractures. Harris hip score was used for functional assessment.Results: In this study at 6 months follow up, Union was achieved in 48 cases, technical and mechanical complications were noted in 6% cases (3 cases). Reoperation rate was 4% (2 cases). According to Harris Hip scoring system Excellent results were noted in 26 cases, good in 14 cases, fair in 8 cases and poor result in 2 cases.Conclusions: It is concluded from our study that PFNA II is an attractive and suitable implant for unstable pertrochanteric fractures

Genetic variability, character association and path analysis in ashwagandha [Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal] under rainfed conditions

Twenty six diverse genotypes of ashwagandha [Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal]were evaluated for fourteen quantitative traits under rainfed conditions. Both phenotypicand genotypic coefficients of variation were higher for important traits like number ofberries/plant, fresh weight of berries/plant, biomass yield at maturity and ratio of freshabove ground biomass: fresh root biomass. High heritability in conjunction with highgenetic advance were observed for number of berries/plant, fresh weight of berries/plant,seed yield/plant, fresh root yield/plant, biomass yield at maturity and ratio of fresh aboveground biomass : fresh root biomass which indicated predominant role of additive geneaction for the expression of these characters. Fresh root yield/ plant was found to bepositively and significantly correlated with number of berries/plant, fresh weight ofberries/plant, seed yield/plant and root diameter. Path analysis revealed that totalalkaloid content showed the highest positive direct effect on fresh root yield/plantfollowed by biomass yield at maturity, seed yield/plant, root diameter and number ofberries/plant which suggested that selection for these traits would be quite effective toimprove fresh root yield in ashwagandha

Modelling the Flow of Aqueous Humor in Schlemm’s Canal in the Eye

A simple mathematical model for the transient flow of aqueous humor in the canal of Schlemm is developed to investigate the acceleration effects of a sudden elevation in the intraocular pressure on the flow characteristics of the aqueous humor in the canal. The model treats a canal segment as a tube of elliptic cross-section. Exact analytical solution to the model is obtained using separation of variables method. The effects of some important model parameters on the maximum and minimum shear stresses exerted on the Schlemm’s canal epithelial cells (wall) by flowing aqueous humor are investigated for the steady-state flow

Outcome of staged injection of autologous platelet rich plasma in treatment of mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis

Background: Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) offers an easy solution for delivering multiple growth factors needed for tissue repair. Intra-articular injections of PRP have been proposed as a simple low cost minimally invasive way to obtain the concentration of growth factors and biologically active molecules to promote cartilage healing in osteoarthritic (OA) knee joint. The objective of the present study was designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of autologous platelet rich plasma injection in mild to moderate osteoarthritic knee and to assess the role of serial staged autologous platelet rich plasma injection.Methods: 50 patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of knee were divided into two groups. Group A was given staged injection of freshly prepared autologous PRP in the affected knee. Group B was given single injection of PRP. The Results were evaluated on the basis of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire and visual analog scale (VAS) before treatment and 3 weeks, 8 weeks, 16 weeks and 24 weeks after treatment.Results: At 24-weeks follow up the following observations were made; the MeanVAS in Group A decreased to 3.30 whereas in Group B it increased to 4.54. The Mean WOMAC score in Group A was reduced to a mere28.64 in Group A and in Group B it was 39.76.Conclusions: It is concluded from our study that concomitant use of serial staged injection (two) of PRP over four months is more effective than single injection in patients with mild to moderate OA of knee

Neglected posterior acetabular wall fracture managed with uncemented total hip arthroplasty with posterior wall reconstruction by femoral head autograft: a case report

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) poses several challenges as a treatment option for acetabular fracture especially in the setting of a neglected fracture. The potential technical challenges of THA include the altered anatomy and hip centre, acetabular bone deficit, difficulty in achieving long-term fixation of the acetabular shell and risk of nerve injury. In our case, a forty two years old, male labrourer presented with a five months old injury, which was previously managed only conservatively. Preoperative evaluation revealed displaced posterior wall acetabulum with superiorly migrated femur head with flattened contour. We managed the case with uncemented THA. The acetabular defect was addressed using the femoral head autograft which was secured with screws. On three months follow up, radiographical evalution showed good graft consolidation without any acetabular component migration and functionally a Harris hip score of 76. Thus, in case of neglected acetabular fractures, with high probability of post traumatic arthritis to develop, THA remains the preferred choice of management. Albeit challenging to perform, THA provides effective way to decrease pain, improve stability and increase functional outcomes

Characterization and categorization of Indian mustard genotypes for agro-morphological traits

A total of sixty genotypes and germplasm lines were evaluated and characterized for 14 quantitative and 8 qualitative traits in Brassica juncea. Observations were recorded on the basis of scores given in the DUS descriptor. Majority of accessions were very late in maturity and medium in flowering. No variability was observed for leaf length and leaf width. On the basis of branches, most of the genotypes were classified under intermediate category. Long main shoot length (31), medium number of siliquae on main shoot (46), medium density on main shoot (52), short siliqua length (51), very tall plant height (38), few numbers of seeds per siliqua (33), medium 1000-seed weight (38), medium seed yield per plant (32) and low oil content (40) were observed in most of the genotypes. For qualitative traits, most of the genotype showed dark green leaf color, sparse hairs, dentation of leaf margin lyrate type, open leaf growth habit, yellow petal color, semi-appressedsiliqua angle with main shoot and intermediate siliqua surface texture. Wide (Yellow, Dull grey, Reddish brown, Brown and Black) diversity has been observed for seed color

Inheritance of determinate growth habit in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

Inheritance of determinate growth habit in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) was examined in six generations of the reciprocal crosses of HM 350 with NLM and HM 65. All the F1 plants had indeterminate growth habit in both the crosses. In F2, segregation was observed in 3 : 1 ratio for indeterminate and detenninate plant types revealing that determinate habit was under the control of a single recessive gene. The results were further confirmed by observing 1 : 1 ratio in back crosses involving HM 350 as one of the parents. &nbsp

Biochemical assessment of nutritional status in Indian mustard

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the nutritional potential of five different Indian mustard genotypes. Fatty acid composition was determined in the oil, whereas seed meal was analyzed for limiting amino acids (tryptophan and methionine), protein content, glucosinolate content and antioxidant potential (DPPH free radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant activity and iron chelating activity). The monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were found to be maximum in RH 0749 (58.70 %) followed by RH (OE) 0801 (48.91 %), JM 6011 (47.03 %), EC 597328 and EC 597340 (45.77 %). Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were observed maximum in EC 597340 (47.45 %).Glucosinolate content ranged from 42.80 (EC 597328) to 79.79 ?mole/g defatted seed meal (EC 597340). The methanolic seed meal extract exhibited a concentration dependent elimination of DPPH free radicals. All the five genotypes showed about 50 % inhibition in 3.0 mg of dry seed meal. The highest total antioxidant activity (20.41mg/g) and metal ion chelating activity (32.58 %) was observed in RH 0749. Protein content varied from 33.57 [RH (OE) 0801] to 38.01 % (RH 0749). Maximum methionine and tryptophan content were recorded in RH 0749 (0.99 and 1.01 g/100g protein, respectively). Thus, RH 0749 was observed as a potent variety in terms of total antioxidant activity, metal ion chelating activity, protein content, methionine and tryptophan content