Investigation on wear and corrosion behavior of equal channel angular pressed aluminium 2014 alloy

Aluminium 2014 alloy solutionized at 495°C, aged at 195°C was subjected to Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP). Dry sliding wear tests were conducted using pin on disc tribometer system under nominal loads of 10N and 30N with constant speed 2m/s for 2000m in order to investigate their wear behavior after ECAP. The Co-efficient of friction and loss in volume were decreased after ECAP. The dominant wear mechanism observed was adhesion, delamination in addition to these wear mechanisms, oxidation and transfer of Fe from the counter surface to the Al 2014 pin were observed at higher loading condition. The corrosion behavior was evaluated by potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 3.5% NaCl solution. The results obtained from PDP showed higher corrosion potential and lower corrosion density after ECAP than base. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed higher charge transfer resistance after ECAP. Surface morphology showed decreased pit size and increased oxygen content in ECAP sample than base after PDP

Physician and patient attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine in obstetrics and gynecology

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the U.S., complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is most prevalent among reproductive age, educated women. We sought to determine general attitudes and approaches to CAM among obstetric and gynecology patients and physicians.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Obstetrician-gynecologist members of the American Medical Association in the state of Michigan and obstetric-gynecology patients at the University of Michigan were surveyed. Physician and patient attitudes and practices regarding CAM were characterized.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Surveys were obtained from 401 physicians and 483 patients. Physicians appeared to have a more positive attitude towards CAM as compared to patients, and most reported routinely endorsing, providing or referring patients for at least one CAM modality. The most commonly used CAM interventions by patients were divergent from those rated highest among physicians, and most patients did not consult with a health care provider prior to starting CAM.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although obstetrics/gynecology physicians and patients have a positive attitude towards CAM, physician and patients' view of the most effective CAM therapies were incongruent. Obstetrician/gynecologists should routinely ask their patients about their use of CAM with the goal of providing responsible, evidence-based advice to optimize patient care.</p

The Advancement of Biomaterials in Regulating Stem Cell Fate.

Stem cells are well-known to have prominent roles in tissue engineering applications. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can differentiate into every cell type in the body while adult stem cells such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be isolated from various sources. Nevertheless, an utmost limitation in harnessing stem cells for tissue engineering is the supply of cells. The advances in biomaterial technology allows the establishment of ex vivo expansion systems to overcome this bottleneck. The progress of various scaffold fabrication could direct stem cell fate decisions including cell proliferation and differentiation into specific lineages in vitro. Stem cell biology and biomaterial technology promote synergistic effect on stem cell-based regenerative therapies. Therefore, understanding the interaction of stem cell and biomaterials would allow the designation of new biomaterials for future clinical therapeutic applications for tissue regeneration. This review focuses mainly on the advances of natural and synthetic biomaterials in regulating stem cell fate decisions. We have also briefly discussed how biological and biophysical properties of biomaterials including wettability, chemical functionality, biodegradability and stiffness play their roles

Implementing effective hygiene promotion: lessons from the process evaluation of an intervention to promote handwashing with soap in rural India

Background: An intervention trial of the ‘SuperAmma’ village-level intervention to promote handwashing with soap (HWWS) in rural India demonstrated substantial increases in HWWS amongst the target population. We carried out a process evaluation to assess the implementation of the intervention and the evidence that it had changed the perceived benefits and social norms associated with HWWS. The evaluation also aimed to inform the design of a streamlined shorter intervention and estimate scale up costs. Methods: Intervention implementation was observed in 7 villages. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the implementation team, village leaders and representatives of the target population. A questionnaire survey was administered in 174 households in intervention villages and 171 households in control villages to assess exposure to intervention activities, recall of intervention components and evidence that the intervention had produced changes in perceptions that were consistent with the intervention core messages. Costs were estimated for the intervention as delivered, as well as for a hypothetical scale-up to 1,000 villages. Results: We found that the intervention was largely acceptable to the target population, maintained high fidelity (after some starting problems), and resulted in a high level of exposure to most components. There was a high recall of most intervention activities. Subjects in the intervention villages were more likely than those in control villages to cite reasons for HWWS that were in line with intervention messaging and to believe that HWWS was a social norm. There were no major differences between socio-economic and caste groups in exposure to intervention activities. Reducing the intervention from 4 to 2 contact days, in a scale up scenario, cut the estimated implementation cost from $2,293 to$1,097 per village. Conclusions: The SuperAmma intervention is capable of achieving good reach across men and women of varied social and economic status, is affordable, and has the potential to be effective at scale, provided that sufficient attention is given to ensuring the quality of intervention delivery. Keywords: Handwashing with soap, Hygiene promotion, Process evaluation, Community-based interventio

Assessments of the Effects of Legume Species Intercropping on Radiation Use Efficiency of Sorghum

A field experiment was executed to assess the effect of legume species intercropping on the Radiation use efficiency of Sorghum during summer 2021. In India, Sorghum is primarily raised for poultry and animal feed and it is being cultivated under poor resource conditions. Hence, intercropping sorghum with legumes can help in improving the resource use efficiency than sole sorghum and also enable farmers to boost their livelihood. The treatments were T1-Sorghum Sole crop (SS), T2-2rows of Sorghum+2rows of Cowpea (2S:2C), T3-2rows of Sorghum+1row of Cowpea (2S:1C), T4-2rows of Sorghum+2rows of Greengram (2S:2G), T5-2rows of Sorghum+1rows of Greengram (2S:1G), T6-2rows of Sorghum+2rows of Lablab (2S:2L), T7-2rows of Sorghum+1rows of Lablab (2S:1L). An experiment was carried out in Randomized Block Design and was replicated thrice. The results were statistically analysed using SPSS software. The results revealed that Sorghum + Lablab in 2:1 registered the highest leaf area index, dry matter production which ultimately resulted in high Radiation Use Efficiency. Overall, the intercropping system had high RUE than sole Sorghum. Thus it was concluded that planting sorghum with a legume in a 2:1 pattern would be recommended as it has better resource use efficiency than sole sorghum.</jats:p

Assessments of the Effects of Legume Species Intercropping on Radiation Use Efficiency of Sorghum

A field experiment was executed to assess the effect of legume species intercropping on the Radiation use efficiency of Sorghum during summer 2021. In India, Sorghum is primarily raised for poultry and animal feed and it is being cultivated under poor resource conditions. Hence, intercropping sorghum with legumes can help in improving the resource use efficiency than sole sorghum and also enable farmers to boost their livelihood. The treatments were T1-Sorghum Sole crop (SS), T2-2rows of Sorghum+2rows of Cowpea (2S:2C), T3-2rows of Sorghum+1row of Cowpea (2S:1C), T4-2rows of Sorghum+2rows of Greengram (2S:2G), T5-2rows of Sorghum+1rows of Greengram (2S:1G), T6-2rows of Sorghum+2rows of Lablab (2S:2L), T7-2rows of Sorghum+1rows of Lablab (2S:1L). An experiment was carried out in Randomized Block Design and was replicated thrice. The results were statistically analysed using SPSS software. The results revealed that Sorghum + Lablab in 2:1 registered the highest leaf area index, dry matter production which ultimately resulted in high Radiation Use Efficiency. Overall, the intercropping system had high RUE than sole Sorghum. Thus it was concluded that planting sorghum with a legume in a 2:1 pattern would be recommended as it has better resource use efficiency than sole sorghum

Energy Balance partitioning and Evapotranspiration in Sorghum based intercropping system in Western Region of Tamil Nadu

Quantifying energy balance components over cropped area helps in better understanding of the water balance and helps in economic use of water. A field experiment was conducted during summer 2021 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore to study the change of energy balance partitioning and evapotranspiration rate at each growth stage of sorghum based intercropping system. The energy balance components and evapotranspiration rate of crops was estimated by Bowen Ratio Energy Balance (BREB) method. The results revealed that the energy balance partitioning varied among crop growth stages. The variation in LE/Rn was 0.61(seedling) to 0.86(flowering).This variation was based on amount of net radiation, foliage cover, soil moisture condition, vapour pressure deficit .The total evapotranspiration for the crop period was observed to be 322 mm. The ET requirement was the highest during vegetative stage when the total LE was found to be maximum.</jats:p