PLC system for producing perforated music

In this application, a Mitsubishi FX3U PLC is used to collect data from a piece of music with a set sampling rate. The data is stored in the PLC data register sequentially and then used to control a punching system which perforates the notes on a plastic paper roll in the same sequence. The roll is used in musical instruments, automata, and mechanical music devices

Ni/H-ZSM-5 as a stable and promising catalyst for COx free H2 production by CH4 decomposition

Catalytic decomposition of methane for COx free hydrogen production is carried out over Ni supported on H-ZSM-5 catalysts with different Si/Al ratios (i.e. 40, 150, 300 and 485) at 550 °C and atmospheric pressure. Methane decomposition activity of Ni/H-ZSM-5 is decreased with time on stream and finally deactivated completely. The fresh and reduced catalysts are characterized by BET-SA, XRD, FT-IR, UV-DRS, TPR, pulse chemisorption of H2 and N2O and some of the used catalysts are characterised by CHNS, SEM, TEM and Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectra of the used catalysts showed both ordered and disordered carbon at 1580 cm-1 and 1320 cm-1. The 20 wt% Ni/H-ZSM-5 (Si/Al = 150) exhibited a higher H2 production rate over the other Ni loadings. The superior performance of 20 wt% Ni/H-ZSM-5 (Si/Al = 150) is rationalized by the physico-chemical properties of the various Ni loaded H-ZSM-5 catalysts

Preslaughter diet management in sheep and goats: effects on physiological responses and microbial loads on skin and carcass

Sixteen crossbred buck goats (Kiko x Spanish; BW = 32.8 kg) and wether sheep (Dorset x Suffolk; BW = 39.9 kg) were used to determine the effect of preslaughter diet and feed deprivation time (FDT) on physiological responses and microbial loads on skin and carcasses. Experimental animals were fed either a concentrate (CD) or a hay diet (HD) for 4 d and then deprived of feed for either 12-h or 24-h before slaughter. Blood samples were collected for plasma cortisol and blood metabolite analyses. Longisimus muscle (LM) pH was measured. Skin and carcass swabs were obtained to assess microbial loads. Plasma creatine kinase activity (863.9 and 571.7 ± 95.21 IU) and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations (1,056.1 and 589.8 ± 105.01 mEq/L) were different (P < 0.05) between sheep and goats. Species and diet treatments had significant effects on the ultimate pH of LM. Pre-holding total coliform (TCC) and aerobic plate counts (APC) of skin were significantly different between species. Goats had lower (P < 0.05) TCC (2.1 vs. 3.0 log(10) CFU/cm(2)) and APC (8.2 vs. 8.5 log(10) CFU/cm(2)) counts in the skin compared to sheep. Preslaughter skin E. coli counts and TCC were different (P < 0.05) between species. Goats had lower (P < 0.05) counts of E. coli (2.2 vs. 2.9 log(10) CFU/cm(2)) and TCC (2.3 vs. 3.0 log(10) CFU/cm(2)) in the skin compared with those in sheep. Diet, species, and FDT had no effect (P > 0.05) on E. coli and TCC in carcass swab samples. The APC of carcass swab samples were only affected (P < 0.05) by the FDT. The results indicated that preslaughter dietary management had no significant changes on hormone and blood metabolite concentrations and sheep might be more prone for fecal contamination than goats in the holding pens at abattoir

INVESTIGATIONS OF CuInTe2 / CdS & CdTe / CdS HETEROJUNCTION SOLAR CELLS

Thin film solar cells of Copper Indium Telluride and Cadmium Sulfide junctions were fabricated on plain ITO glass slides and also on those coated with intrinsic Tin Oxide. CdS was deposited through chemical bath deposition and CIT by electrodeposition. Both compounds were subjected to annealing at temperatures between 350°C and 500°C which produced more uniform film thicknesses and larger grain sizes. The CIT/ CdS junction was characterized after performing XRD and spectral absorption of individual compounds. Studies were also made on CdS / CdTe solar cells with respect to effect of annealing temperatures on open circuit voltages. NP acid etch, the most important process to make the surface of CdTe tellurium rich, was also studied in terms of open circuit voltages. Thermally evaporated CdS of four different thicknesses was deposited on Tin Oxide coated ITO and inferences were drawn as to what thickness of CdS yields better results

Barrier Membranes For Ridge Augmentation - Is There An Optimal Pore Size?

Background: - Alveolar bone loss is often a sequelae of edentulism. However, several reconstruction procedures with bone grafts and barrier membranes are used to restore the lost bony architecture. The value of titanium mesh barriers has been shown to be reliable both in vertical and horizontal ridge augmentation procedures. However, there is a paucity of literature supporting the role of pore size of barrier membranes in preventing soft tissue ingrowth during ridge augmentation procedures. There are multiple reports describing a layer of soft tissue with varying thickness beneath the mesh and adhering to the newly regenerated bone. The objective of this study was 1) to identity the presence of an optimal pore size that facilitates qualitative bone regeneration, 2) to identify the critical pore size that excludes soft tissue ingrowth into regenerative sites, 3) to determine if cortical perforations have any effect on bone regeneration, and 4) to reiterate that bone graft containment is an important parameter for successful regeneration. Methods: - The study involved 4 adult hound dogs that were randomly divided into 3 groups. Groups 1 and 2 consisted of one animal each, sacrificed at one month and two months respectively. Group 3 consisted of two animals, sacrificed at the end of four months after the surgical procedure. All the animals received corticocancellous tibial bone grafting to the bilateral mandibular body/ramus areas. The left mandible received iii cortical perforations in all animals. The experiment analyzed three different pore sized meshes compared to the controls without mesh. Two different pore sized titanium meshes (1.2mm and 600 μm) and a resorbable mesh (1mm) were pre-formed into the shape to a cube with one face open. Each side of the cube measured approximately 10 millimeters in size. The cubes were open face on the surface facing the bone. A total of 31 sites were included in the study. Prior to sacrifice, all the animals received 2 doses of tetracycline as a marker for new bone formation. Data Analysis: Histomorphometry was performed by using Bioquant image analysis software. Areas of new bone and soft tissue were measured. The rate of mineral apposition was also calculated. All the values obtained with histomorphometry were statistically analyzed with a student’s t-test procedure. Results: The amount of new bone growth into the macroporous titanium mesh was significantly higher than the other groups. The mean area of new bone formation in large and small titanium meshes was 66.26 mm2 and 52.82 mm2 respectively. In the resorbable mesh group, the mean area of new bone formed is 46.76 mm2. The amount of new bone formed in the control group was 29.80 mm2. There was no significant difference in the amount of bone formation between the left and right sides (p=0.3172). Resorbable meshes had significant soft tissue ingrowth (23.47 mm2) compared to macroporous titanium mesh (16.96 mm2), and microporous titanium mesh (22.29 mm2). The controls had least amount of soft tissue ingrowth (9.41 mm2). Mineral apposition rate was found to be higher in the resorbable group (2.41μm/day) and the rate was least (1.09 μm/day) in the large pore titanium mesh group. iv Conclusion: - The macroporous membranes facilitated greater bone regeneration compared to microporous and resorbable membranes. The macroporous mesh also prevented significant soft tissue ingrowth compared to other meshes. Containment of the bone graft is the most critical issue in successful bone regeneration. The presence of cortical perforations did not have any effect on the quality or the quantity of regenerated bone. Further research should be directed towards identifying a critical pore size and manufacturing a reliable mesh that would prevent excessive soft tissue ingrowth in ridge augmentation procedures

Impaired overload-induced hypertrophy in Obese Zucker rat slow-twitch skeletal muscle

How insulin resistant muscle responds to mechanical overload (MOV) is not well understood. Using immunohistochemical analysis and immunoblotting, we investigated whether Lean Zucker (LZ) and insulin resistant Obese Zucker rats (OZ) respond in a similar fashion to MOV. Five young adult (2 months old) male LZ and OZ rats were subjected to a surgical ablation of the gastrocnemius muscle and overloaded for 8 weeks. MOV-induced increases in soleus muscle mass and average fiber cross-sectional area were attenuated in OZ compared to LZ animals. This reduction in OZ muscle adaptation was associated with decreased activity / phosphorylation levels of STAT3, β-catenin and calcineurin. These data suggest that insulin resistance may decrease the ability of skeletal muscle to hypertrophy and that this impairment may be due to alterations in the ability of insulin-resistant muscle to activate STAT3, β-catenin and calcineurin signaling

Drug Use in Indiana: A Regional Perspective

Indiana consists of 92 counties, which can be divided into 8 service regions. The prevalence of substance misuse can differ between the individual regions. Compared to the state’s average, rates of underage drinking, smoking, and illicit drug use were particularly high in Indiana’s Western region. The most frequently used substances among Indiana students in grades 8, 10, and 12 were alcohol, electronic vape products, marijuana, traditional (combustible) cigarettes, and prescription drugs. Understanding each region’s unique needs is a vital component to designing programs dedicated to improving overall Hoosier health

What is the best model for managing health care surge for COVID patients?

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is projected to infect a substantial proportion of Hoosiers. Experts are forecasting the number of individuals who will become infected over time and the subset of those that will require hospitalization. Given the COVID-19 experience in other countries, many of those hospitalized will require intensive care services including mechanical ventilation. Demand for all U.S. hospital services is projected, by many computer models, to outpace supply. In preparation for this surge, the current brief report explores issues associated with approaches that could facilitate the expansion of acute care and intensive care capacity within Indiana