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This research examines a new approach to using medical waste as a raw material. There are two types of medical waste: hazardous and non-hazardous. More than 70% of medical waste is considered non-hazardous waste, obtained from crushing used Surgical face mask (SFM) and Surgical Gloves (SG) as reinforcement materials chosen in this study. Biocomposites are eco-friendly and developed from natural and medical waste, with comparable performance to their lightweight synthetic counterparts. The research aims to increase the strength and high-temperature utilization of the Polyethylene (PE) matrix by employing bio-waste as particle reinforcement. Five different fiber composites of 3–12% weight fractions of natural fiber (Glass/pine apple leaf fiber) and a constant 10% medical waste were fabricated using an injection molding process to regulate the polymer structure and determine its thermal conduct. The thermal and mechanical characteristics (such as tensile, flexural, and impact strength) were enhanced by the incorporation of fillers. Tribological characteristics like specific wear rate and coefficient of friction were analyzed. Adding 9% (GF/PLF) with 10% (SFM/SG) particles improve the wear and mechanical properties of the hybrid composite by 52%, respectively. Interfacial bonding between the matrix material and fillers can be enhanced by including waste particles from the medical sector. Most domestic and automobile sectors have replaced metal components with plastics nowadays.

Byline: Y. Reddy, Subhendu. Parida, S. Reddy, Sreekanth. Yeduguri, Lalitha. Pidaparthi, Shyam. Jaiswal, Bhavna. Sadhvani, Jagarlapudi. Murthy 'Guitar pick sign,' also referred to as posterior globe tenting, is a radiological [...]

The study sought to investigate the effect of two low temperatures (8 °C ± 1 °C and 12 °C ± 1 °C) and various ethylene inhibitors (salicylic acid [SA], sodium nitroprusside [SNP] and 1‑methylcyclopropene [1-MCP]) on the storage life of guava cv. ‘Arka Mridula’. Hence freshly harvested mature green guava fruits were treated with ethylene inhibitors like SNP, SA and 1‑MCP. The fruit surface colour, texture, reduced respiration, and reduced ethylene rate along with biochemical parameters like total soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, total sugars, total phenols, total antioxidants, total flavonoids, and sensory quality were also high and better maintained throughout the storage period in 1‑MCP (500 ppb) treated fruits. A concentration-dependent effect on all the above attributes, which was significantly superior to control but inferior to 1‑MCP, was noticed due to SNP and SA treatments. Thus, 1‑MCP treatment combined with cold storage is a propitious way to extend the storage of guava and can be used to provide 1–2 weeks of extended marketability depending on the storage temperature, whereas synthesis inhibitors can be a second line of inhibitors to extend the post-harvest life of guava.

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The study investigates the impact of cryogenic treatment (CT) on the microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of chromium–molybdenum–vanadium (CrMoV) steels. The microstructures of CrMoV steels were extensively characterized using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction after they underwent CT in this study. Changes in grain size, phase composition, and precipitate distribution were examined to evaluate the impact of the CT on the steel's microstructure. Hardness, tensile strength, and elongation tests were also used to assess the treated CrMoV steels' mechanical characteristics. The investigation aimed to ascertain whether the steel's overall performance was enhanced by CT and to what extent it affected these important mechanical properties. Lastly, Charpy V-notch impact tests were used to evaluate the treated CrMoV steels' impact behavior. In order to understand how CT affected the steel's capacity to sustain dynamic loading circumstances, the impact toughness and energy absorption capabilities were examined. Recrystallization and restriction of grain growth during annealing reduced the average grain size, and further, grain refinement took place during CT. The CT samples had tiny precipitates generated inside them, according to SEM examination. These precipitates are essential for strengthening the substance and preventing grain development. By encouraging the production of these precipitates, the CT strengthened and further refined the microstructure. Phase changes, such as the introduction of new phases or modifications to the relative phase fractions, were seen in the CT samples. CT also caused phase shifts, such as converting residual austenite to martensite. The hardness, tensile strength, and impact energy values of the cryogenic-treated specimens showed a considerable improvement compared to the untreated samples.

Purpose: In a patient with elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH, >50 µIU/ml) with sellar mass, it is crucial to differentiate isolated pituitary hyperplasia (IPH) from primary hypothyroidism coexisting with nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma (PHCNFPA) pre-operatively to avoid unwarranted surgery in the former condition. Here, we describe patients having pituitary mass/enlargement with markedly elevated TSH (>50 µIU/ml) and attempt to find the differentiating features between IPH and PHCNFPA. Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted at a tertiary care center. Case records of patients presenting between January 2020 and December 2022 with elevated TSH (>50 µIU/ml) for whom magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the sella was available were reviewed. Demographic details, symptomatology, clinical examination findings, thyroid function tests, data on pituitary hormonal excess and deficiencies, MRI findings, and details regarding levothyroxine supplementation were noted. Based on the final diagnosis, the patients were categorized into two groups: PHCNFPA and IPH. Results: Five and 11 patients were diagnosed with PHCNFPA and IPH, respectively. The median (IQR) age at presentation of patients with PHCNFPA was significantly higher than that of IPH patients [37 (28–60.5) vs. 21 (10–21.5) years, p: 0.002]. A longer duration of hypothyroid symptoms was noted in the IPH group whereas visual field defects and corticotropin deficiency were more frequent and the pituitary lesion size was greater in PHCNFPA. Thyroid function tests were not different between the two groups. The pituitary enlargement in IPH was initially an increase in pituitary height that progressed to symmetrical nipple-, dome- or tent-shaped enlargement. Besides this characteristic enlargement pattern, isointense appearance on T1-weighted and T2-weighted images, homogeneous contrast enhancement, and prompt regression of pituitary lesion with levothyroxine replacement were characteristic of IPH whereas heterogeneous enhancement, cystic/hemorrhagic change, and ≥Knosp III invasion were characteristic of PHCNFPA. Peripheral rim enhancement and Knosp I-II parasellar extension were not uncommon in patients with IPH and did not distinguish it from PHCNFPA. Conclusions: The present study reports the radiological evolution of IPH and a unique series of PHCNFPA along with the distinguishing characteristics between them.

Effluents containing dyes, discharged by various industries, have become a significant contributor to water pollution. This study explores the use of green-synthesized palladium nanoparticle (PdNP) catalysts, which offer enhanced catalytic performance compared to traditional methods. The research focuses on the synthesis of palladium nanoparticles using Salmalia Malabarica(SM) gum via a microwave-assisted process and investigates their catalytic and antibacterial properties. SEM analysis confirms the even distribution of PdNPs on the surface of SM gum. Furthermore, TEM analysis reveals a PdNPs size distribution of 10 ± 2 nm. XPS study was used to identify the chemical state of Pd in the synthesized nanoparticles. The results demonstrate that PdNPs are highly effective catalysts for the degradation of dyes such as Methylene Orange (MO), Rhodamine-B (Rh-B), and 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP), even after being reused five times. The catalytic activity of PdNPs was remarkable, achieved 99% dye degradation in four minutes. The degradation data of PdNPs on 4 -NP, MO and Rh-B dyes are followed by pseudo-first-order kinetics with 0.0087, 0.0152 and 0.0164 s− 1, respectively. Additionally, PdNPs exhibit exceptional antimicrobial activity against both bacterial and fungal strains. This synthesis process proves to be cost-effective, devoid of toxic chemicals, and remarkably rapid. The findings suggest promising applications for PdNPs in fields like nanomedicine and environmental remediation, reflecting their potential for addressing water pollution issues.

Quantum computers represent a prominent example of technology harnessing quantum phenomena for practical applications. Implementations based on superconducting solid-state qubits play a leading role. These have facilitated the implementation of the first commercially viable quantum computers through the use of well-established and scalable fabrication technologies. As the number of qubits in these systems is continuously increasing, there is an urgent need to advance wiring and integration methods. Specifically, the demand for high-frequency control and readout lines within the millikelvin coolers introduces unwanted heat load. As a scalable alternative, superconducting digital electronics has been proposed as a promising candidate for direct interfacing with superconducting quantum circuits. We, therefore, advanced our well-established cross-type, sub-micrometer-sized Nb-based Josephson junction technology for analog circuits to allow for the implementation of digital circuits. Thus, an advanced mixed signal process CJ2 hosts both, analog and digital circuits, on a single chip, using Josephson junctions of a wide critical current range. We discuss the technology and the realization of first circuits as well as results of basic logic gate and dc-SQUID operations. This advanced technology CJ2 enables the development of digital interfaces for quantum circuits by academic and industrial partners in the framework of the European FLUXONICS foundry.

Although cashew nuts are universally edible, they pose a risk of allergic reactions to a few consumer groups. Germination of raw cashew nut enhanced their bioactive compounds and minerals by considerably reducing the anti-nutritional factors like phytic acid. Germinated raw cashews (sprouts and cotyledons) constitute a major biomass in cashew plantations, especially during monsoon, and are relished by the local habitants. However, consumption of cashew cotyledons after a certain stage of development is deemed to be unsuitable as they cause severe indigestion among humans. Thus, this experiment was carried out to determine the appropriate germination stages (stages I–V) of cashew for consumption and optimum temperature (35, 45 and 55 ± 1 °C) for drying these sprouts and cotyledons with maximum retention of nutrients. With the progression of sprouting and development, the protein and fat content gradually reduced, while certain minerals (iron and manganese) and bioactive compounds (phenols, flavonoids and anti-oxidant activities) increased throughout the germination process. During seed development, there was a significant rise in the mineral content of potassium, phosphorous, zinc, and copper. Higher temperature (55 ± 1 °C) affected the visual appearance (colour) as well as the internal quality, wherein the heat sensitive minerals such as iron and manganese were reduced compared to their respective stages dried at 45 ± 1 °C. Ultimately, it can be concluded that the cashew sprouts (stages I and II), dried at optimal temperature (45 ± 1 °C), were suitable for powder processing as they retained higher nutrients, colour values, and sensory properties making them a potential alternative for cashew kernel powder.

Sesame is an important oilseed crop, and the crop yields frequently fluctuate as the crop is largely grown in rainfed and low-fertile lands. Limited water availability negatively affects many physiological processes and the final productivity of sesame. Limited work has been carried out in the past to understand the role of plant growth regulators (PGRs) in modulating sesame growth and development for optimum productivity. A field study was conducted under rainfed conditions to evaluate the response of foliar application of different PGRs such as hormonal-based gibberellic acid (20 ppm); chemical-based thiourea (500 ppm); chemical-constituting structural component-based ortho-silicic acid (380 ppm); and control (water-sprayed) on sesame cultivars: Swetha til, GT-10, TKG-22, and JCSDT-26. The PGRs foliar application was done at the vegetative (25–30 days after sowing), 50% flowering (40–45 days after sowing), and seed development (70–75 days after sowing) stages of the crop. The results revealed that application of different PGRs positively influenced the plant’s growth, physiological, yield and quality traits; however, most effective results were obtained with gibberellic acid (20 ppm), followed by ortho-silicic acid (380 ppm), and thiourea (500 ppm) improved the morphological, yield, and yield-attributing traits. The interaction between PGRs and varieties was found significant and among the sesame cultivars, swetha til followed by JCSDT-29 was found most promising. The application of PGRs has significantly improved the plant height, leaf area, number of branches, capsules, seeds/capsules, seed yield oil content, and fatty acid content compared to the control by gibberellic acid, followed by ortho-silicic acid and thiourea. The interaction between PGRs and varieties was found to be significant, and cultivar Swetha til, a white-colored cultivar performed most superiorly among the different tested cultivars in terms of growth, physiology, yield as well and quality traits when treated with GA3 at 20 ppm. The seed yield was enhanced by 25–26%, 11–12%, and 6–7% with the application of gibberellic acid, ortho-silicic acid, and thiourea, respectively, over control. Considering the findings, it can be concluded that the application of PGRs (thiourea, ortho-silicic acid, and gibberellic acid) significantly enhanced the growth, physiology, yield, and quality of sesame under rainfed conditions; however, GA3at 20 ppm was found most effective and may not only enhance the optimum productivity but also effective in improving the quality traits of sesame.

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Studies on natural background outdoor environmental radioactivity levels were conducted in Siddipet district of Telangana state, India. The investigation was carried out in the major villages/mandal head quarters of the district using scintillation detector (NaI(Tl)) based μR- survey meter. The exposure rates measured on ground level and at 1 m height from ground (in μR.h−1) were converted into absorbed dose rates (in nGy.h−1) and annual effect doses (mSv) using appropriate conversion factors. The natural background radiation levels at 1 m height were found to vary from 139 nGy h−1to 435 nGy h−1with an average of 235±47 nGy h−1. The background radiation levels were observed to follow the normal distribution with a little deviation at the outliers. The excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) was also estimated.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had affected negatively the mental well-being of nursing students. However, limited research is currently available that explored mental health issues of nursing students.Aim: To investigate the impact of resilience on stress, anxiety, and fear of COVID-19 among the nursing students.Methods: A cross-sectional research design was adopted for this study. A total of 268 nursing students from three universities in South India. responded to an Online survey. Data was collected using self-reported questionnaires in June 2021.Results: The findings revealed that most of the students had a normal level of resilience (3.06 ± 0.39) and low levels of stress (17.885 ± 0.09). The mean scores on fear of COVID-19 (18.31 ± 5.68) and COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale (C-19ASS) (21.67 ± 7.42) suggest that around half of the participants had a high level of fear and anxiety. The resilience of the participants was negatively correlated with fear (r= −260, p< .001) and perceived stress (r= −0.307, p< .001). Similarly, fear was positively correlated with anxiety (r= 0.211, p< .001) and perceived stress (r= 0.418, p< .001).Conclusion: Our findings showed that nearly 50% of the nursing students had a high level of COVID-19 associated fear and anxiety. Therefore, we suggest that innovative strategies are needed to improve students’ resilience and mental health during highly stressful situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives To study oxygen saturation trends in newborns at birth and up to 15 min of life.Material and methods A prospective observational study was conducted on 300 healthy term and preterm newborns (those who did not require supplemental oxygen) delivered by SVD and LSCS at a tertiary care Centre. The convenience sampling technique was used based on the fact about 3–4 deliveries take place daily, and only a proportion of these met the study inclusion criteria.Results At 5 min of life, 0.7% of male newborns and 0.63% of female newborns had SpO2levels above 90%. All male and female newborns reached SpO2> 90% at 15 min of life, compared to 78.87% of male newborns and 71.52% of female newborns at 10 min of life. Male and female newborns revealed no statistically significant difference in saturations and in time to reach SpO2> 90% at 5, 10, and 15 min of life. Newborns born via LSCS had lower SpO2than newborns delivered by SVD in 5, 10, and 15 min, respectively, and this difference was statistically significant (p< 0.0001).Conclusion The relationship between SpO2and gender was not statistically different. Compared to newborns delivered by SVD, SpO2was significantly lower in newborns born via LSCS and required less time to reach >90% saturation.

Background The resilience of nursing students has a positive impact on their wellbeing and completion of courses, especially during pandemics like Covid-19. However, research on resilience factors among nursing students is limited to India.Aim This qualitative study aimed to explore senior nursing students’ perceptions of resilience factors in recovery from Covid-19 infection.Methods The virtual focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among final year undergraduate nursing students at a tertiary care center. We used an interview guide with semi-structured questions to collect the data.Results A narrative content analysis revealed four dominant themes: experiences and concerns while caring for patients with Covid-19 infection (subtheme: lack of adequate knowledge and skills, support by clinical preceptors, inadequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, fear of acquiring and spreading of Covid-19 infection to friends and other patients), reactions to Covid-19 infection (subtheme: anxiety, fear of rejection, academic worries, and uncertainty of illness), resilience (subtheme: support by seniors, teachers, friends, family support, positive self-concept, relaxation techniques, and organization support), and willingness to serve patients with Covid-19 infection (subtheme: professional responsibility, personal experiences, role models, and supportive working environment).Conclusions The findings suggest that it is crucial to prepare nursing students for adversity through resilience training. Further, studies that develop and evaluate effective strategies to promote resilience among nursing students are urgently needed.

Current system focuses on design & construction of a multistage reciprocating evaporative cooling test rig. Four packings that are used will undergo the reciprocating action, powered by the cam follower mechanism maintained at an actual rotation speed. Inlet dry bulb temperature & humidity values are varied to replicate the varying climatic conditions, and the output parameters such as cooling load, evaporation rate (ER), humidification efficiency (HE), coefficient of performance (COP) are obtained. Output results showed that as inlet humidity raises, the performance of system drops. With the rise in the camshaft speed or packing velocity, there is an upsurge in the performance until a cam speed of 10 r/min or packing velocity of 0.083 m/s and with further increases in the value, overall performance drops. The system gave a maximum COP, ER, and HE equal to 3.80, 73.87%, and 0.53 g/kg respectively. A rise in the inlet air temperature yielded a maximum change in dry bulb temperature of 8.2°C. Overall, results indicated that evaporative cooling is more effective in arid climates than the cold and humid climates. Air quality test is performed to measure CO2, Total Volatile Organic Compound (TVOC), and Formaldehyde (HCHO), and it is found that humidified air entering the defined space is of excellent quality.

Remote Sensing is an interesting topic for many applications to recognize the complete land resource through satellite images. However, the key drawback behind this remote sensing paradigm is analyzing the feature. Because the presence of noisy content has maximized the risk of identifying the features present in the satellite images. So, the current article has planned to invent the novel Vulture-based Convolutional Land behavior Prediction (VbCLBP) by extracting the land features from the satellite images and collecting the land resource information by tracking land-use area. Moreover, the resources such as water, forest, crop, barren and urban regions are considered. The region obtained to track the estimated resources is the Andhra Pradesh-Chittoor location. Here, satellite images from the year 2017 to 2021 were utilized. Furthermore, the planned method is elaborated in the Google-Earth-Engine platform, written in java language. Also, the proficient measure of the developed novel VbCLBP was estimated with some significant metrics like kappa score and accuracy.

A serendipitous Rauhut–Currier dimerization of 1,1-disubstituted activated olefins derived from Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts was observed in the presence of DABCO. The reaction is driven by the migration of an acyl group and produces multifunctionalized enol esters in yields greater than 90% in most cases, without necessitating column chromatographic purification. The acyl transfer is thought to proceed via a transition state typical of a Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) reaction, supported by a brief mechanistic study involving computational calculations.

This paper presents the design of a (i) soil sensing and monitoring wireless sensor network (S2M-WSN) that can sense and monitor farmland with distributed and networked motes equipped with multiple soil sensors and (ii) a prototype decision support system (DSS) that analyses the soil data received from S2M-WSN using statistical methods, stored rules and knowledge base (KB) and auto-transmits alerts on the mobile phones of end-users. Both S2M-WSN and the DSS are integrated through (iii) predefined data frame format and interface protocol. The developed system has been deployed both in the laboratory and real crop conditions for verification, validation and performance evaluation. The system is evaluated by considering various performance metrics such as ambiguities associated with data, data packet delivery rates, support delivery performance ratio, system response time, and resultant plant growth. The developed system empowers the end users with assistance in on-field decision making through relevant advisories and alerts at right time on their mobile phones. The authors believe that the developed system would definitely bridge the information gap between end-users and domain experts for sustainable growth of agriculture.

A heterogeneous network plays an important role in communication systems for several applications. In a heterogeneous network, multiple devices can be connected in parallel to communicate with base stations. By connecting more than one device to one channel, the complexity of network management is increased. Managing mobility is one of the toughest challenges in a heterogeneous network that is connected to mobile devices. The performance of the network must be balanced while the mobility process is in progress to get a stable operation to the other users. In this work, optimisation-based mobility management techniques are proposed to improve network performance. The Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard is modelled on a network architecture to test the proposed mobility management method. Decision-making efficiency has been improved through the use of Kinetic Gas Molecular Optimisation (KGMO), which can be performed with much less repetition compared to traditional Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) methods. The proposed method improves the performance of mobility management in terms of throughput by 27% when compared to the PSO method.

Stable nanomaterials, with their enhanced light absorption and synergistic effects, are crucial for the remediation of pollutants. The present study reports the synthesis of Fe and Cu co-doped ZnO nanocomposites by the auto-combustion high-temperature synthesis (AHS) approach. A stable metal oxide is formed at a temperature of 70 °C, according to TGA-DTA studies. At lower dopant concentrations, the perfect iron and copper inclusion in the ZnO lattice was visible, while at higher concentrations, an independent CuO peak formed. The porosity that occurred during the evolution of gas and dispersed nanoparticles (NPs) was clearly observed in FESEM images. EDX compositional analysis confirmed the presence of only the expected elements without any impurities in perfect proportion. Elemental mapping studies support the good dopant dispersion on the ZnO surface. A greater reduction in the PL intensity for the composites compared to that for ZnO confirms the inhibition of electron–hole recombination due to doping. The inclusion of Fe and Cu dopants into the lattice of ZnO resulted in a composite with higher light absorption properties and a redshift in the UV-vis-DRS plot when compared to the bare ZnO. Besides, the formation of ZnO–CuO and ZnO–Fe2O3heterojunctions (as confirmed by HRTEM analysis) is found to be beneficial for the photon-induced electron–hole recombination inhibiting properties. The doped nanocomposites outperformed ZnO in pollutant reduction and degradation activity, indicating their higher light absorption properties and synergistic effects. As a result, the AHS approach provides a comprehensive outlook for future environmental safety applications.

Eutectic high-entropy alloys (EHEAs) have emerged as one of the most important classes of HEAs due to their nano-lamellar microstructure and attractive mechanical properties. Amongst the different EHEAs, the (L12+ B2) AlCoCrFeNi2.1has attracted overwhelming attention due to the ease of processing, tunable microstructure, and outstanding mechanical properties. Recent developments of cost-effective HEAs with tailored microstructure and properties offer significant cost-performance benefits for realizing the application potential of HEAs. Despite the outstanding mechanical properties of the EHEAs, several key challenges remain, including reliable prediction of EHEA compositions, designing cost-effective EHEAs without sacrificing mechanical properties, and expanding the potential application areas of EHEAs. The brief yet critical perspective presented here highlights the state-of-the-art, and underlines the future development and application areas.

The use of natural wastes and biomasses has become a strategic sector widely used for industrial applications to meet sustainable development and cost-savings for Indians. The future growth is likely depending on the availability of biodegradable materials. In this study, two types of fibers, such as alkali-treated alfa fiber (ATAF) and alkali-treated hemp fiber (ATHF) with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), were used for the hybridization. It exhibits substantial energy and cost savings to improve the material's strength. The samples are fabricated using the melt mixing method with six different laminates at various weight quantities of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Each sample was cut from the composite sheets and measured mechanical properties according to ASTM standards. The study shows a significant impact of fibers on the characteristics of mechanical and thermal properties. Compared with the matrix, the addition of hybrid fibers results in a 43% of improvement in strength. Hybridization fiber content up to 15% mixture decreased porosity to 21%. The UHMWPE/AFHF/AFAF/PVA composites possess higher crystallization peak and thermal stability was lower than that of UHMWPE. The thermogravimetric analysis was conducted, and the sample with 15% of fiber and 6% of PVA-reinforced hybrid composite indicated excellent thermal stability. Surface morphology is also performed to identify material behavior. This material is widely used in marine components, medical equipment, chemical holding tanks and food processing parts.

AbstractThis paper presents an experimental study on the effective use of high calcium fly ash (HCFA) and dolomite powder in geopolymer mortar (GPM) and concrete. Trail HCFA GPM mixes were made with 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% dolomite powder. The alkaline liquids used for polymerization are sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate (Na2SiO3). To prepare different mixes, 8 M, 10 M, 12 M and 14 M concentration of NaOH solution, NaOH to sodium silicate ratio 2.5 and liquid to binder ratio 0.5 were selected. Ambient temperature was used to cure the specimens. Test results show that HCFA GPM mix with 20% dolomite powder and 14 M NaOH concentration yielded remarkably higher compressive strength with 41.95 MPa at 28 days than the other mixes. Further, experimental work on HCFA geopolymer concrete (GPC) using 20% dolomite powder demonstrated more excellent strength properties than those demonstrated by control mix cement concrete.

Low weight is one of the most important factors in the design process of road and flight vehicles. The design engineers are careful with regards to the weight decrease without thinking twice about the primary strength. The composite is a lightweight material that has decent underlying properties and it is generally utilized. Fiber-supported polymer composites assumed a prevailing part for quite a while in an assortment of uses for their high explicit strength. The current work portrays the turn of events and the portrayal of another arrangement of GFRP. Experiments are carried out to study the effect of the addition of fillers by varying their percentages. The present work focus on the effect of the fillers on properties of Glass fiber epoxy laminates with aluminum oxide and magnesium hydroxide powders as the fillers. In the present work, fabrication and experimental investigation on unidirectional glass epoxy composites are carried out. Initially, glass fiber reinforced polymer laminate fabricated without filler material, hand layup followed by vacuum bagging methods are used . Then, by adding Aluminium oxide and Magnesium hydroxide as a filler material with different percentages like 5%, 10%, and 15% by weights and laminates are fabricated and experimental investigation is conducted to study their mechanical behavior. The comparative studies on the laminates are carried out and the obtained results are analyzed and those are quite interesting.

Background and ObjectivesCardiovascular diseases are the leading source of global deaths, and obesity is an independent risk factor. An obese mutant (WNIN/Ob) rat strain was identified and propagated at the animal facility of National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), India. In the current study, we have investigated alterations in WNIN/Ob rat heart in comparison with its lean littermates. MethodsSix- and 12- month-old male WNIN/Ob rats along with their age-matched lean controls were overnight fasted to collect heart tissue. The sorbitol levels, aldose reductase activity, advanced glycation end products, and hydroxyproline of the cardiac tissue were measured by spectrophotometric and fluorometric methods. Masson’s trichrome staining was done for studying fibrosis. The status of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers was analyzed by quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence. TUNEL assay was performed to know the extent of apoptosis. ResultsWhile the heart weight was significantly higher in 12-month-old obese rats, organ to body weight ratio was lower in both 6 and 12 months of age. Histology revealed enlarged interstitial space and perinuclear vacuoles and increased cardiomyocyte size in the 12-month-old obese rats. Further, we have observed an increase in aldose reductase activity, sorbitol levels, fibrosis, ER stress markers and apoptosis in the 12-month-old obese rats. ConclusionWNIN/Ob rat displayed the typical obesity-associated cardiac alterations like that of both genetic- and diet-induced animal models of obesity and thus may serve as a valuable animal model to investigate obesity-associated cardiac alterations.

Gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), at the medium voltage (MV) level, uses vacuum interrupters for current interruption. They are as compact as GIS while retaining the superior performance of vacuum interrupters. The presence of SF6 influences the transient behavior of the system. As the use of GIS with vacuum interrupters becomes rampant, the knowledge of differential transient behavior is critical for proper application. This article presents a comparative study of the transients in GIS and air-insulated switchgear (AIS) with vacuum interrupters, through simulation and observations during testing of switchgear.