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Background: Tobacco smoking in India has been increasing alarmingly. Smoking is a known risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers, especially, the lung cancer. The percentage prevalence of cigarette smoking (18.5%) and cigar smoking (4%) in males is high in Andhra Pradesh compared to other southern states. There is not enough scientific literature to correlate about intensity of cigarette and cigar smoking and their impact on lung function though high prevalence is reported in Andhra Pradesh, India. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine whether PEFR differs between cigarette and cigar smokers compared to non-smokers and also to estimate the intensity of cigarette and cigar smoking on PEFR. Methods: PEFR was recorded in cigarette smokers (n=49) and cigar smokers (n=10) as well as in non-smokers (n=64) using Wright’s mini Peak Flow Meter. Results: PEFR is decreased in both cigarette as well in cigar smokers compared to non-smokers and the magnitude of decline was higher in cigar smoking elderly individuals. Conclusion: The intensity of cigarette and cigar smoking (pack-years) emerged as the main variable to influence airway obstruction in smokers that caused greater reduction in PEFR.

Solar energy is one of the emerging technologies and the use of concentrating power technology is increasing in solar power plants. Parabolic trough collector is a concentrating solar power technology that is situated in the open terrain and subjected to wind loads. The structural stability of these devices under such loads determines the ability to accurately concentrate the rays at the absorber tube, which affects the overall optical and thermal efficiencies. A detailed numerical analysis is carried out at different wind loads and design conditions. It is observed that for a change in velocity from 5 m/s to 25 m/s, slope deviations increase from 1.21 mrad to 3.11 mrad at the surface of the reflector exceeding the shape quality of the mirror panels. Higher yaw angles and pitch angles of 60° and 120° are observed to be decisive in the design of collectors. Roof-mounted collectors experience a 40% higher drag force than ground-mounted collectors at a 0° pitch angle. For the Aluminium trough, the slope deviation at the surface of the reflector is higher by 4.62% than glass. The study will be helpful for engineers and scientists in the design of the parabolic trough collectors. • Estimation of displacement and slope deviations caused due to the wind and gravity load. • Maximum displacements are 36.5% higher at 60° yaw angle than 0°. • Higher yaw angles are decisive in the design of collectors. • Drag force increases nearly 25 times for change in velocity from 5 m/s to 25 m/s. • Pitch angles of 60° and 120° are decisive in the design of parabolic trough collector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adhesive interactions between E-selectin lectin domain and the cell surface carbohydrate sialyl Lewis X (SLX) were investigated. E-selectin is a cell adhesion molecule that mediates cell adhesion by binding to SLX. The study protocol involved generating chimeric human-rabbit lectin domains and using these to map epitopes recognized by anti-E-selectin monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Furthermore, functional residues identified from analyses of mutant E-selectin binding to anti-E-selectin mAbs were superimposed on a three-dimensional lectin model. The study identified a small region in the E-selectin lectin domain which is critical for SLX recognition.

This paper focusses on the effects produced by the viscoelastic modelling of pavement on the dynamics of vehicle–pavement coupled system. The pavement is modelled as a two-layer finite length Euler–Bernoulli beam with uniform cross-section resting on a nonlinear Pasternak foundation. A harmonic roughness profile is considered for the pavement. The top layer of the pavement is modelled as a viscoelastic material representing the asphalt topping and the bottom layer is modelled as elastic material representing the base course. Burgers model is used to model the viscoelastic response of the top layer. Galerkin method and Runge–Kutta method are employed to discretise the differential equations arising from the dynamic equations of motion of the system. The vehicle is modelled as a spring-mass-damper system. The physical parameters of the system are compared for determining their influences on the coupled vibratory response. The effect of pavement roughness on the dynamic responses is also studied. The effects of acceleration of the vehicle and temperature on the response of the system are investigated. Additionally, the effect of coupling action on pavement displacements and vehicle body vertical displacement is examined. Numerical results suggest that the viscoelastic effects of asphalt pavement cannot be neglected in the dynamic analysis of vehicle–pavement coupled systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]