Highly stable semiconducting silver doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (2.99 nm) have been synthesized from reducing chemicals of medicinal plant Prunus cerasifera (Rosacea family). Ag was doped onto ZnO by weight percent (0.2 – 2.0%) method. Synthesized Photocatalyst nanoparticles were analyzed via Ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV-vis), Fourier Transform Infrared analysis (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and band gap was calculated. Silver doped zinc oxide nanoparticles exhibited face centered cubic geometry while the size ranged between 72.11 – 100 nm with rough surface morphology. Organic dyes Methyl Orange, Safranin O and Rhodamine B have been sustainably photodegraded with silver doped zinc oxide nanoparticles in direct solar irradiance, which yielded remarkable degradation percentages upto 85.52% in 35 minutes with pseudo first order reaction kinetics (R2 =0.98, 0.99 and 0.97). Furthermore, silver doped zinc oxide nanoparticles inhibited the activity of agriculturally significant nine pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains i.e. Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri, Pseudomonas syringae, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus terreus, Penicillium chrysogenum, Fusarium solani and Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Facile, biomimetic synthesis route produced Ag doped ZnO nanoparticles as potential green remediators of polluted water and plant pathogens.
Machining fixture is a precision device meant for locating and constraining the workpiece during machining. Fixture mainly consists of locators, clamps, and support pads. The functions of these elements are to position the workpiece correctly with respect to machine tool, hold the workpiece rigidly in position, and support the workpiece during the machining operation. Dimensional and form accuracy of a work piece are influenced by the fixture layout selected for the machining operation. The position of fixture elements is called as fixture layout. The fixture layout influences the work piece deformation during the machining process. Hence optimization of fixture layout to minimize the work piece deformation is one of the critical aspects in the fixture design process. In this paper, the fixture layout is first optimized by discrete fixture layout optimization method [DFLOM] with a defined five different node systems. The optimal fixture layouts for the five node systems are ranked in the ascending order of the least workpiece deformation values, and finally fixture layout is optimized for the reduced range of distance calculated for each fixturing element using Genetic Algorithm based continuous fixture layout optimization method[CFLOM]. Using reduced range of distance of fixturing elements obtained from CFLOM as input to the integrated fixture layout optimization method, minimizes further the workpiece elastic deformation.
Optimization of fixturing elements in the fixture layout is important in manufacturing industry now a days. So the objective of this paper is to find the optimum position for each clamps and locators. In this work the impulse force is applied during slot milling operation. The integrated fixture layout optimization method (IFLOM) used in this work which takes advantages of Discrete fixture layout optimization method (DFLOM), and Continuous fixture layout optimization method (CFLOM). Simulated Annealing (SA) is the optimization technique used in this work. The Finite Element method is used to calculate the workpiece deformation during machining. The fixture layout gives minimum deformation value is concluded as optimal fixture layout.
Various reactions are described in this work. The derivatives of eugenol are obtained by simple reagents or optically active catalysts
PURPOSE:\nTo compare image quality and radiation doses of low kilovolt (kV) “prospective ECG-triggering” (PT) and standard “retrospective ECG-gating” (RG) coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography.\nMATERIALS AND METHODS:\nA total of 101 consecutive patients (76 males, 25 females; mean age: 55.44±8.28) with low-to-intermediate risk status for coronary artery disease and with a body mass index (BMI) of <30 kg/m² were prospectively included in the study. The images were acquired with a 64- detector (128-slice) CT using tube current modulation technique. PT CT technique (100 kV, heart rate [HR]<70) was applied in 59 patients while RG CT technique (120 kV, HR≥70-90) was applied in 42 patients. The study was approved by the ethics committee. All patients provided informed written consent.\nRESULTS:\nNo significant difference was found between age, sex and BMI of both groups (p>0.05). Mean image quality score was 2.87±0.25 for low kV PT CT technique and 2.73±0.31 for RG CT technique, which was statistically significant (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between groups for signal-noise and contrast-noise ratios (p>0.05). The mean effective dose was 1.43±0.3 mSv for low kV PT CT technique while it was 8.20±2.36 mSv for RG CT technique (p<0.001). Kappa value for interobserver agreement of image quality assessment was minimum κ=0.574 and maximum κ=0.926.\n2\nCONCLUSION:\nIn low kV PT CT technique radiation dose is significantly reduced without loss of image quality. This technique can reliably be used in patients with BMI<30 kg/m² and HR less than 70 bpm.
This study aimed to identify the significant factors for good glycemic control among Tamil adults with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in the Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa. A case -control study was conducted among 339 patients with T2DM in medical clinics. Cases (n=113) were patients with T2DM who had fasting blood sugar ≤ 110mg/dl in at least last 3 consecutive occasions during last 6 months and controls (n=226) were patients with T2DM who had fasting blood sugar ≥ 111 mg/dl in at least last 3 consecutive occasions during last 6 months. The validated and pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed by controlling confounding factors. Duration of T2DM (OR 0.30, 95% CI=0.14 - 0.64), rural residence (OR=2.08, 95% CI= 1.04 - 4.15), regular exercise (OR 5.96, 95% CI=3.08 – 11.51), fixed time for consumption of medication (OR 4.22, 95% CI=1.59 – 11.24), regular clinic follow-up (OR 4.61, 95% CI=1.22 – 17.34) and normal body weight (BMI < 23 Kg/m2) (OR 0.15, 95% CI=0.07 – 0.31) were found to be the significant factors for good glycemic control in the multivariate logistic regression model. Patients with T2DM should be advised on regular exercise, body weight and regular follow up to achieve good glycemic control.
Trombe wall is one of the unique features in passive solar house development, which facilitates heat storage. A mathematical model of semitransparent photovoltaic thermal Trombe wall (SPVT-TW) with air ducts (or vents) has been derived in this paper, for a single room of 30 m2 dimension, for winter season of New Delhi, India. The model is derived considering the energy balance equations taking into account the periodic nature of solar radiation and ambient temperature. Further, the effect of several parameters namely, thickness of wall, mass flow rate, packing factor, absorptivity and transmittivity of PV module on room air temperature and thermal stability have been examined. The performance of vented SPVT-TW has been compared with SPVT-TW without vent. The results illustrate that the thickness of the room should be 0.3 m, with a corresponding thermal load leveling of 0.0038, for vented SPVT-TW, from thermal stability point of view. Also, the room air temperature of 45 oC can be reached in case of vented SPVT-TW, which is higher than SPVT-TW without vent.