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This purpose of this research work primarily focuses on assessing the contact characteristics of a novel 3D printed flexible poly lactic acid (PLA) fingertip exposed to a normal load ranging from 1–750 N. The 3D printed fingertip is pressed against three different target surfaces having concave, convex and flat profiles to facilitate a rational comparison. The growth of contact area is recorded for a wide range of applied normal force against the fingertip on logging sheets and the same is converted in vector format for facilitating digital measurements. From close examination of the results, it may be noted that the rate of growth of contact area follows the parametric relationship a = cN γ . A weighted least squares fit algorithm is used to formulate the parametric relationship based on experimental data. Further, the contact characteristics of the 3D printed fingertip follows the same pattern of soft neoprene fingertip, and it is well in line with the expected results. Hence, it is evident that 3D printed fingertips could be utilized for handling fragile to hard objects and capable of handling multi-profiled objects in dexterous robotic manipulation. Moreover, complex profiled fingertips can easily be manufactured by 3D printing, and it can be considered as a better alternative for conventionally manufactured anthropomorphic robotic grippers. Practical implications of this research will be highly useful for development of soft-fingered robotic grippers for dexterous robotic manipulations.

Introduction and Aim: Stroke is one of the prominent causes of long-term disability. Stroke affects everyone uniquely depending on the level and location of the area affected in the brain and how long the brain tissue was deprived of oxygen. Individuals with stroke usually demonstrate changes in breathing patterns, decreased strength of respiratory muscles, and decreased ventilatory function. The aim of the study is to assess the effects of water aerobics on the pulmonary function of people with stroke. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in a clinical setup. A total number of 16 subjects were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All the subjects received water aerobic exercises for 40minutes sessions for 4days per week for 12weeks. Pre- and Post-treatment assessments were done by measuring chest expansion and forced vital capacity. Results: All the 16 subjects completed the 12 weeks water aerobics intervention. After 12 weeks post treatment assessments were taken. The outcome measures, of chest expansion and forced vital capacity showed a significant improvement. Conclusion: The results of this study show that there is a significant improvement in the chest expansion and pulmonary function after giving water aerobics intervention.

Outlier detection and robust estimation are an integral part of data mining and has attracted much attention recently. Generally, the data contain abnormal or extreme values either due to the characteristics of the individual or due to errors in tabulation/data entry. The presence of outliers will severely affect the data modelling and analysis. A robust nonparametric method is proposed to fit the spatial/surface regression that is not influenced by the presence of outliers in the data. Robust M-kernel weighted local linear regression smoother was used to fit the spatial regression function. The proposed method is useful to estimate/eliminate the spatial effect and identify the high potential trees in an orchard, which is useful for breeding programs. The method is illustrated through simulated data. The comparison of AMSE corresponding to the optimum bandwidth shows that the non-robust Kernel Weighted Local Regression Estimator (KWLRE) performs very badly in the presence of outliers. Among the robust estimators, the robust spatial smoother with biweight robustness weight function performed better than the Huber and Hampel weight functions. Comparison of AMSE corresponding to the optimum bandwidth showed that there is not much difference between different types of robustness weight function in the absence of outliers. In the case of robust spatial smoother with biweight per cent robustness weight function, the AMSE for 0 per cent, 4 per cent and 8 per cent outliers are almost the same, indicating that the method is robust against the outliers. The method was also applied to the annual yield data of 225 coconut palms in a field to eliminate spatial effect and to identify the high potential trees. It was found that by removing spatial effects and outliers, the MSE has reduced more than 50 per cent.

In the modern world, high performance embedded applications in the field of multimedia, networking, and imaging are increasing day by day. These applications require high performance and more complex out-of-order superscalar processor. These complex dynamic instructions scheduling superscalar processors need higher levels of on-chip integration designs which are often associated with power dissipation. These out-of-order superscalar processors achieve higher performance compared to other processors by simultaneous fetching, decoding and execution for multiple instructions in out-of-order that are used in the next generation network processors. The main data path resources of the processor use CAM+RAM structure which is the major power consuming unit in the overall out-of-order processor design. The proposed new design of CAM+RAM with power-gating technique reduces the overall average power consumption compared to the conventional design without any significant impact on their performance.

Increasing emission norms, deteriorating fossil fuel reserves and development in alternative fuel technologies have made a tremendous impact in the field of renewable energy. Nano-additives (or) nano-metal oxides were found to improve the engine performance simultaneously without a drop in emission spectra as a result of catalytic activity and oxygen assisted combustion phenomenon. Then, there were no reported studies on utilizing reduced graphene oxide platelet as a novel fuel additive which is focussed on this present research. Then, it was synthesized using the sol–gel method, characterized and blended with (20% Indian Geranium Biodiesel + 80% mineral diesel) and was tested in a single-cylinder diesel engine for performance, combustion and emission characteristics. Results revealed that 25 parts per million reduced graphene oxide platelet biodiesel blend resulted in 5.92% higher brake thermal efficiency and 15.5% lowered brake-specific energy consumption due to catalytic combustion activity of nanoparticles. Emission-wise, hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emission was reduced significantly with a marginal increase in oxides of nitrogen emissions. Combustion-wise, 14.7% improvement in-cylinder pressure is observed for 25 parts per million reduced graphene oxide platelet biodiesel blend along with improvements in heat release rate curve indicating a reduction in ignition delay and improvement in premixed combustion phase with higher surface area-to-volume ratio of nano-additives.

Nutrient uptake in the biomass of healthy and root (wilt) disease affected coconut palms are different. Root (wilt) is a predominant phytoplasmal disease affecting coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) palms and to sustain the palm health and productivity, better nutrient management practices are required. The objective of this research was to understand the uptake pattern and the partitioning of nutrients in the total biomass of healthy and root (wilt) diseased palms grown in humid tropical Entisol of Kerala. 5 coconut palms each were selected from diseased palms viz., Early (DE), Middle (DM) and Advanced (DA) category along with the control, which is Apparently Healthy palm (AH), without any diseases. The total biomass component with respect to each part viz., leaf (L), petiole (P), spadix (S), spathe (Sp), stem (St), leaf sheath fiber (LSF), husk (H) and nuts (copra:C + shell (Sh)) (N) were estimated. Nutrient uptake by the entire biomass uptake is classified as 1. Recyclable portion (L, P, S, Sp, H, LSF and Sh) 2. Removable portion (C) 3. Reserve biomass (St) and then computed the nutrient partitioning by standard analytical procedures. For all nutrients except Mg, reserve biomass had the greatest nutrient uptake followed by recyclable biomass and removable biomass components. Among the nutrients, potassium recorded the highest total uptake. In AH palm, the total uptake of potassium was 1075 g per palm, whereas it was 407.3 g per palm in the diseased palms. The total uptake of nutrients which showed a significant relation with disease index followed the order K > N > Ca > S > P > Mg in apparently healthy palms and N > K > Ca > S > P > Mg in diseased palms. The percentage reduction in total uptake of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S and B by diseased palms in comparison with healthy palms was 36.5, 37.6, 57.5, 44.1 23.3, 43.7 and 48.9. The results of the study indicated that the pattern of nutrient uptake in the different biomass components of apparently healthy and root (wilt) disease affected palms are significantly different. This can instigate the formulation of appropriate nutrient management strategies in coconut with emphasis on its residue recycling potential.

In modern engineering industries, unconventional machining methods are applied to form the hard material. Laser machining is used to cut the hard material with accuracy. The cutting experiment is conducted on strenx 900 steel plates. The experiment is processed under some factors such as cutting angle, cutting speed and laser power. Computer Numerical Control (CNC) laser cutting machine was used to cut the strenx steel plate. The cutting quality is confirmed through measurement of Surface Roughness (SR). The result is analyzed and it is determined the best cutting quality which is derived from taguchi technique. The parametric effect is studied through variance analysis and interaction plot.

Solar still has been proposed as a potential solution to tap potable water from the brackish water in recent times. The absorber of the solar still is playing a pivotal role on the performance of the solar still. This paper presents the outcome of an experimental work, which was carried to improve the performance of a conventional solar still by coating its absorber with a nano-doped black paint (NDBP). Two solar stills with similar dimensions were used in this work. One solar still was fabricated by coating the black paint on the absorber and labelled as conventional still with black paint (CS-BP). The second still was fabricated by coating the absorber with nano-doped black paint and labelled as conventional still with nano-doped black paint (CS-NDBP). The experiments were conducted on two consecutive days by maintaining 15 mm and 25 mm water depths in both solar stills, respectively. Before hand, nano-SiO2 particles (0.5% mass) were thoroughly mixed with the black paint for fabricating CS-NDBP. The results provided the evidence that the yield of the solar still was augmented by 8.78% and 7.83% for 15 mm and 25 mm water depths, respectively, with the coating of NDBP as compared to the plain black paint.

On-farm management of farm residues for mass multiplication of beneficial microbes plays an important role in organic farming as well as integrated nutrient management by improving soil health. Community-level production of organic inputs from crop residues can be a potential source of income for farmers’ groups also. A large scale operational research on community-based bio-resource management, along with soil test based nutrient management, was undertaken by ICAR-CPCRI with financial support from NABARD in the major organic tract of Kerala in the coastal belt - Kanjikuzhy block during 2014-2016. The bio-resource management components under technology integration included farm-level production of organics from crop residues, enrichment using bio-agents, utilization of enriched organics for soil and plant health management and production of bio-primed planting materials. For enhancing the efficiency of Trichoderma-enriched organic manure, two ideal media viz., coir pith compost + neem cake (4:1) and coir pith compost + neem cake + poultry manure + cow dung (2:1:1:1) were standardized. Coconut seedlings produced through bio-priming with Trichoderma sp. showed early germination (90%), higher recovery percentage (79.5%), higher collar girth (17 cm), more number of fronds (9) and height (160 cm). Farm-based participatory action management integrating cost-effective bio-resource management interventions in coconut-based farming systems resulted in improvements in income from coconut by 26 per cent and intercrops by 142.9 per cent, contributing to an increase in the average farm income by 149.8 per cent. The average knowledge index of the respondents related to bio-resource management increased by 115.8 per cent and that of integrated nutrient management by 74.5 per cent.

Background: The study aims to know the safety and effectiveness of a stent with a string attached after ureteroscopy (URS) for self-removal of the stent by the patient in our practice. Subjects and Methods: After Institutional Review Board approval, a chart review was performed concerning patients who underwent URS & received an indwelling stent with or without a string attached to the stent (55 vs. 65, respectively). Statistical analyses included chi-square and Student’s t-tests. Results: The string group consisted of 55patients, in which 32.7% of the patients were male. In the no-string group, 33.8% of the 65 patients were males. No significant difference in complication rates between both groups (P-value = 0.317). Stent duration (Indwell time) was significantly more in no string group (13.32days) compared to the string group (6.28days). In the string group, stent dislodgement has significant (P-value = 0.0183), can be easily overcome by patient education. Post-procedural pain was significant in no string group (P-value = 0.0233). Conclusion: The use of a stent with an Extraction string after URS appears safe and effective and offers several advantages without increasing stent-related urinary symptoms, complications, or postoperative morbidity.

In the current scenario, the production of biodiesel from non-edible oil is a promising way to overcome the problems associated with the energy crisis and environmental issues. In this research, non-edible biodiesel blends of B10, B20, B30, B40, and B100 methyl esters of Ceiba pentandra oil with standard diesel fuel are used to investigate the performance, combustion and emission characteristics of a variable compression ratio engine at different load conditions compared to diesel. The compression ratios 16.5:1, 17.5:1, 18.5:1 are employed in a 1500 rpm constant speed, single-cylinder with a variable compression ratio, direct injection, four-stroke diesel engine for experimental investigation. Performance and combustion characteristics such as brake specific energy consumption, brake thermal efficiency, net heat release rate and emission characteristics such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen are investigated. The biodiesel blend B10 and B20 showed optimal performance with fewer emissions.

Background: After seeking a committee approval, a Retrospective and prospective non-randomized interventional study was conducted between Jan 2018 to February 2020 Department of Urology and Renal Transplant, Madurai Medical College Madurai T N India. Methods: It is the first kind study in South India for En Block TURBT. End points of the study, i.e., recurrence and progression rates were compared in two groups. ET and CT was carried out by a single surgeon. Results: Recurrence rate was 18.2% versus 58.2% (P = 0.03) and progression rate was 14%versus 38% (P = 0.32) in ET versus CT group respectively. In the ET group, the recurrence in non-lamina invasive NMIBC tumors was 12%, where as it was 51% in CT. Similarly in lamina invasive tumor, the recurrence rate was 34% and 68% in ET and CT group. Mean RFS Relapse free Survival was 23 months with ET and 14 months in CT with P value of 0.04. Regarding the site of tumor recurrence, only 1 (12%) patient had recurrence at the same site in ET group while 6 (36%) patients had recurrence at the same site with CTConclusion: The technique of TURBT is constantly evolving. It demands meticulous care and attention to achieve adequate cancer control and improve recurrence rates. In our study, though ET did not significantly affect the progression rate, it showed a significant reduction in the recurrence rate for NMIBC in comparison with CT. The concept of removing a bladder tumor by CT should be changed to a technique of en-bloc resection to provide better cancer control and long term outcome in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

There are many reasons companies undertake radical environmental improvements: It is the right thing to do, as regulations and norms are getting tougher every day. Waste eliminated is money saved.

The advent of information technology and science has affected almost every sphere of human life and also businesses. While traditional quality management practices were relying upon data collection-based approach, the upcoming generation demands a predictive maintenance system for quality control to cater to the need for real-time digitally generated data. Unlike the traditional quality management approach, the focus of such predictive maintenance system will be more on defect prevention instead of defect reduction. Understanding the changing scenario of quality management practices is, therefore, relevant to examine in order to reflect upon the contemporary need of the market. Hence, this research paper is aimed to propose a continuous thread of discussion regarding the quality management environment from the initiation of quality management practices to the futuristic digital economy. Various dimensions of quality management practices over different generations are reviewed and discussed in this paper. In addition to this, the paper also proposes a possible future scenario of quality management practices with reference to different dimensions like changing customer need, economic conditions, business environment, technology, etc.

An organizational process is a series of interconnected sub-processes. A process can be transactional as well as non-transactional. Transactional processes such as order processing, inventory control, order preparation/generation, credit checking/rating, mortgage application processing, and admission process.

Quality management is increasingly becoming a process/product improvement tool for many corporate institutions and organizations. A quality concept creates constancy of purpose toward improvement of product and service to become competitive, to stay in business, and to provide jobs. This increases a common interest in achieving better goals in product and service quality along with a long-term relationship of loyalty and trust.