Abstract We describe a nanocomposite made of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs, a naturally occurring tube-like nanoparticle), natural rubber (NR), ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM), and ethylene-propylene-diene monomer grafted with maleic anhydride (EPDM-g-MA). Diethoxydimethyl silane (DMS), a silane coupling agent, was used to modify highly hydrophilic HNT nanotubes to ensure proper dispersion of these nanoparticles in the hydrophobic NR/EPDM rubber matrix. After the silane modification, the functional groups on the surface of the HNTs were characterised and the degree of modification was determined using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The maximal tensile strength, stress at 100% elongation (M100), and elongation at break are reached at 8 phr after the addition of DMS modified HNTs to NR/EPDM. Any additional growth causes the tensile strength, M100, and elongation at break to gradually decline.

Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) has increased in popularity over the last two decades, owing to its economic and environmental benefits over flood cooling. But there are still challenges in the form of mist formation, an inability to carry away chips, and contradicting results in terms of surface roughness and tool wear. This study is a combined experimental and computational investigation to compare the effects of flood lubrication and MQL on the milling of a common low-machinability aerospace-grade titanium alloy. The influence of process parameters viz. feed, speed and depth of cut on the cutting forces, machining zone temperature and surface finish is studied. The cutting forces reduced by up to 35% and temperatures reduced by up to 47% as compared to flood lubrication across the different parameter range tested. Surface roughness in MQL was about 35% lower than that produced in flood lubrication. Computational fluid dynamics analysis is then carried out to compare the temperature profile and heat transfer to the cutting tool and the analysis proves that MQL offers better thermal gradient than flood cooling (similar to 30 times higher than MQL) thereby giving rise to lower cutting forces and consequently increased tool life.

Problems for drinking water world faced a lot from water scarcity for drinking and cooking this book aims to identify the problems and give simple solutions to solve these problems. This will be useful to arid areas were many people will benefit. Water covers 70.9% of the earth's surface, and is vital for all known forms of life. On earth, 96.5% of the planet's water is found in oceans, 1.7% is in groundwater, and the remaining is in glaciers and the ice caps of Antarctica and Greenland leaving a small fraction in other large water bodies, and 0.001% in the air as vapor, clouds (formed of solid and liquid water particles suspended in air), and precipitation. Less than 0.3% of freshwater is in rivers, lakes, and the atmosphere, and an even smaller amount of the earth's freshwater (0.003%) is contained within biological bodies and manufactured products. Water on earth moves continually through the hydrological cycle of evaporation and transpiration, condensation, precipitation, and runoff, usually reaching the sea. Evaporation and transpiration contribute to the precipitation over land.

Manufacturing industries frequently face the problem of reducing earliness and tardiness penalties, owing to the emerging concept of the just-in-time production philosophy. The problem studied in this work is the Non-identical Parallel-machine?Earliness-Tardiness Non-common Due Date?Sequence-dependent Set-up Time Scheduling Problem (NPETNDDSP) for jobs with varying processing times, where the objective is to minimise the sum of the absolute deviations of job completion times from their corresponding due dates for the different weighted earliness and tardiness combinations. A Genetic Algorithm-Fuzzy Logic Approach (GA-Fuzzy) has been proposed to select the optimal weighted earliness-tardiness combinations in a non-identical parallel-machine environment. The performance of the combined objective function obtained by the proposed GA-Fuzzy technique has been compared with the solutions yielded by the Genetic Algorithm (GA) techniques available in literature, known as GA with Partially Mapped Crossover Operator (GA-PMX) and GA with Multi-Component Uniform Order-based Crossover Generator (GA-MCUOX). The comparison shows that the proposed GA-Fuzzy technique outperforms both the GA-PMX and GA-MCUOX.

Just-in-time production philosophy has led to the growing interest in scheduling problems considering both earliness and tardiness penalties. This research work considers the uniform parallel machine earliness-tardiness non-common due date sequence-dependent set-up time scheduling problem (UPETNDDSP) for jobs with varying processing times, where the objective is to minimize the sum of the absolute deviations of job completion times from their corresponding due dates. A simulated annealing (SA) -fuzzy logic approach has been proposed to select the optimal weighted earliness-tardiness combinations in a non-identical parallel machine environment. The SA algorithm identifies the best sequences for the different weighted combinations of earliness and tardiness measures for each given set of jobs. Fuzzy logic is then used to select the optimal weighted combination, which satisfies the combined objective function to a larger extent. The performance of the combined objective function and individual objective measure obtained by the proposed SA-fuzzy technique has been compared with the solutions yielded by the genetic algorithm technique known as the genetic algorithm with partially mapped cross-over operator (GA-PMX) and with those of the results reported in literature. The comparison shows that the proposed SA-fuzzy technique outperforms the existing available techniques.

This research work presents the uniform parallel machine, earliness-tardiness, non-common due date scheduling problem, for jobs with varying processing times, where the objective is to minimize the sum of the absolute deviations of job completion times from their corresponding due dates for the different weighted earliness and tardiness combinations. An enhanced Genetic Algorithm procedure identifies the best sequences for the different weighted combinations of earliness and tardiness measures for each given set of jobs. The effects of one objective against the others have also been analyzed.

BACKGROUND:Government Hospital of Thoracic Medicine, Tambaram Sanatorium, Chennai, is the largest HIV-care center in South East Asia. As many as 29,300 HIV patients visited this center at least once in the year 2005 for care and support.OBJECTIVES:Clinical manifestations and the modes of presentation of tuberculosis were assessed among 12,750 adult and adolescent patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attending the hospital for the first time.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Database of Hospital Information System, specially evolved for managing patients afflicted with tuberculosis and HIV, was utilized. The particulars confined to patients with tuberculosis and HIV co-infection who visited the hospital for the first time from January to December 2005 were considered for the analysis. Proportion test and Chi-square test with Yates correction were done.RESULTS:As many as 12,750 adult and adolescent HIV-confirmed patients were screened for the possible presence of tuberculosis. Out of them, 4,383 (34.4%) patients had tuberculosis. Among them, 2,448 (55.9%) had pulmonary tuberculosis, and the remaining 1,935 (44.1%) had either disseminated or extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (P<0.001). Positive sputum-smear microscopy for acid fast bacilli was evident in 1,363 (31.1%) patients; however, it was significantly lower compared to positive smear rate of 44% in HIV patients (P< 0.001).CONCLUSION:Tuberculosis was found to be the predominant co-infection among the symptomatic patients infected with HIV attending the largest care center for the first time in India. Advanced tuberculosis, disseminated tuberculosis and sputum smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis were the presenting clinical manifestations in 44% of the patients, as they had moderate to advanced immunosuppression. Early detection of tuberculosis co-infection is absolutely necessary.

The Sensor Cube platform is an ultra-compact, modular and power-aware way of building sensor networks; they are based on a stackable hardware design supported by a Tiny OS based operating environment. The Sensor Cube hardware measures 14× 14× 18mm3 and features an integrated coplanar antenna, a design that results in an ultra compact footprint. A core characteristic of the system is that its modular design allows for each of the radio, processor, sensing and power management layers to be interchangeable in a Lego-like manner. Moreover, its low power radio (based on the 2.4GHz Nordic nRF2401 design) and microcontroller (based on the Texas Instruments MSP430) allow for very efficient operation. The Sensor Cube operating and software development environment is derived from Tiny OS, which has been modified to meet the hardware requirements, in particular by introducing a power-aware and reliable ALOHA-type MAC protocol. In this paper we present our experience with the Sensor Cube platform and, in particular, the implications of its ultra-compact design on system performance, specifically as it relates to the characteristics and limitations of the radio unit.

The problem of flexible hybrid flow shop scheduling with identical and non-identical parallel machines in one or more stages has been considered with the objective of minimising the makespan. A Simulated Annealing (SA) approach has been developed to select the best solutions in a flexible hybrid flow shop scheduling. The SA approach identifies the best sequences for the given set of jobs in a 2-stage/2-machine and 2-stage/3-machine hybrid flow shop problems. The extent of deviation of the performance measures owing to the flexibility in the arrangement of machines in the two stages has been analysed. The proposed SA algorithm has been applied to benchmark problems taken from Taillard (1993). A comparison of the solutions yielded by the ant-colony algorithm by Stuetzle (1998), called Max-Min Ant System (MMAS) and the SA algorithm developed in this paper, with the heuristic solutions given by Taillard is undertaken with respect to the minimisation of makespan. The comparison shows that the proposed SA algorithm performs better on the average, than the MMAS.

Treatment of fractures of the mandibular condylar fractures varies among centres as there is still no general consensus. The aim of this study was to determine the safety of the approach using two different surgical methods for the sub-condylar region. A study was conducted on nine patients with displaced sub-condylar fractures. Patients were followed-up and postoperatively the various parameters like mouth opening, deviation while opening, occlusion, sialocele, facial nerve weakness and facial symmetry were analysed. In two cases, sialocele occurred which healed spontaneously. The occlusion was normal postoperatively in all cases. There was no facial nerve weakness encountered in any of the cases. Intraoperatively, the retromandibular vein was observed in three cases in the retromandibular approach and it was not encountered in any of the retromandibular approach with modified transparotid approach. In conclusion, the retromandibular with modified transparotid approach is safe and effective for mandibular sub-condylar fractures.

The study investigated the possible relationship between the X/Y chromosomes bearing spermatozoa and the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) therapy and morphological appearance/shape (Tygerberg criteria) of the sperm cell injected into the oocyte during ICSI therapy and fertilisation. Thirty-nine patients were recruited for the study from an assisted reproductive programme. Semen samples were prepared by using gradient centrifugation techniques. Prior to injection sperm images were captured using high-quality video graphic equipment. Sperm selection was based on the concept of 'best-looking' spermatozoa i.e. spermatozoa lacking gross and obvious malformations such as broken necks, cytoplasmic droplets, amorphous or elongated heads. Photomicrographs of each sperm cell were produced from video footage. The photographical material was used to determine the basic shape and the actual length-to-width ratio of the injected sperm heads. Embryo biopsies and fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) was performed on 12 randomly selected couples from a set of 39. Embryos were evaluated on day 3 for development and embryo transfer. Embryo biopsies and FISH analyses were performed on those embryos that showed no developmental potential following injection. It was found that 70% of the embryos that showed no developmental potential were Y chromosome-bearing embryos. The sperm selection process for ICSI based on the approach of choosing the 'best-looking' spermatozoon in the ejaculate seems to provide cells that can be classified as normal based on the length-to-width ratio set by the World Health Organization for normal cells.

In this poster and demonstration we present the Sensor Cube platform, an ultra-compact, modular and power-efficient way to build sensor networks. The design, implementation and the complete technical details of this platform have been discussed elsewhere. Here, we aim to showcase the platform in action and argue in support of its features. Sensor Cubes are developed using two ingredients: a stackable hardware design recently developed by the human++ research initiative at IMEC, and a Tiny OS based operating environment. The hardware measures less than a cubic centimetre when configured with standard environmental monitoring capability and integrated coplanar antenna. The operating and software development environment is derived from Tiny OS, which has been modified to meet the hardware requirements of the Sensor Cube. In particular, we have introduced a power-aware, reliable, ALOHA-type MAC protocol that closely matches the operational characteristics of the low- power radio chip. In this poster and demonstration we will show the Senor Cubes executing standard data harvesting tasks.

New services, which bank on cellular networks being able to determine handset position accurately, are said to be the next holy grail for mobile operators. The article describes the main technical flavours and their prospects. There are various practical techniques used to determine the location of a mobile phone. The main ones are: cell identify (cell-ID); enhanced cell ID (e-cell ID); angle-of-arrival (AOA); time-of-arrival (TOA) and time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA); enhanced observed time difference (E-OTD); assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS); signal strength; hybrid techniques. In order to compare expected theoretical results with real-world performance, we set up a series of field trials based on one of these location finding techniques. Experiments were conducted in both urban and rural environments. The experiment measured the level of accuracy provided by cell-ID with an exclusive GSM parameter (timing advance, or TA), using triangulation.

This paper presents a review of the organic solid-state polymer materials, which have become established as a new laser media. The photostability of these materials is discussed. Different types of solid-state lasers built around these materials are also reviewed.

The stability of liposomes after introduction into the body is presently being discussed and needs thorough understanding. Hence, as a nonliposomal approach, egg albumin nanospheres were prepared by the pH-coacervation method, and a preliminary study was carried out of the influence of process variables on the size and shape of nanospheres by changing the pH of the albumin solution, concentration of albumin solution, and volume of cross-linking agent. The batch prepared with an albumin medium of pH 9, 2% concentration, and 100 microliters of 4% glutaraldehyde-ethanol solution was found to have a spherical uniform shape with an average size of 497.6 nm. The ideal batch was loaded with the systemic antifungal drug amphotericin-B. Drug-loaded nanospheres were evaluated to study their in vitro release. They were found to exhibit a biphasic pattern with a cumulative percentage release of 97.7%.

Studies of 59Fe3+ uptake by brush-border membrane vesicles prepared from mouse duodenum have indicated that uptake represents transport across the brush-border membrane which is rate-limited by the membrane-transfer step (Simpson, R.J. and Peters, T.J. (1984) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 772, 220-226). Further studies presented here reveal that the uptake rate represents the net influx rate for Fe3+ and is independent of Na+ in the medium and of the method of vesicle preparation. Uptake by brush-border membrane vesicles prepared from mouse distal ileum also represents predominantly transport and is higher than that observed with duodenal brush-border membrane vesicles. Studies of the initial uptake rate by vesicles prepared from normal and hypoxic mouse intestine demonstrated an increase in Fe3+ transport in duodenal vesicles only.