Linear quadratic regulator(LQR) and proportional-integral-derivative(PID) control methods, which are generally used for control of linear dynamical systems, are used in this paper to control the nonlinear dynamical sy...Linear quadratic regulator(LQR) and proportional-integral-derivative(PID) control methods, which are generally used for control of linear dynamical systems, are used in this paper to control the nonlinear dynamical system. LQR is one of the optimal control techniques, which takes into account the states of the dynamical system and control input to make the optimal control decisions.The nonlinear system states are fed to LQR which is designed using a linear state-space model. This is simple as well as robust. The inverted pendulum, a highly nonlinear unstable system, is used as a benchmark for implementing the control methods. Here the control objective is to control the system such that the cart reaches a desired position and the inverted pendulum stabilizes in the upright position. In this paper, the modeling and simulation for optimal control design of nonlinear inverted pendulum-cart dynamic system using PID controller and LQR have been presented for both cases of without and with disturbance input. The Matlab-Simulink models have been developed for simulation and performance analysis of the control schemes. The simulation results justify the comparative advantage of LQR control method.展开更多
VisuShrink, ModineighShrink and NeighShrink are efficient image denoising algorithms based on the discrete wavelet transform (DWT). These methods have disadvantage of using a suboptimal universal threshold and identic...VisuShrink, ModineighShrink and NeighShrink are efficient image denoising algorithms based on the discrete wavelet transform (DWT). These methods have disadvantage of using a suboptimal universal threshold and identical neighbouring window size in all wavelet subbands. In this paper, an improved method is proposed, that determines a threshold as well as neighbouring window size for every subband using its lengths. Our experimental results illustrate that the proposed approach is better than the existing ones, i.e., NeighShrink, ModineighShrink and VisuShrink in terms of peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) i.e. visual quality of the image.展开更多
Hatchery-roared juvenile black sea breams are characterized by a low level of highly unsaturated fatty acids in their bodies, as compared with wild fish. To assess the effect of docosahaxaenoic acid （DHA） on lipegen...Hatchery-roared juvenile black sea breams are characterized by a low level of highly unsaturated fatty acids in their bodies, as compared with wild fish. To assess the effect of docosahaxaenoic acid （DHA） on lipegenic and lipelysis enzymes, one-year fish were roared on a casein-based purified diet and a DHA fortified diet （ 1.5% DHA ethyl ester/kg diet） for 60 d, followed with a period of 55 d for starvation. Dietary DHA was effectively incorporated into the fish body. Fortification of DHA depressed activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase as lipogenic enzymes in the hepatopancroas and intraperitoneal fat body. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase as lipolysis enzyme in the hepatopancreas was active in the DHA fortified fish. Starvation after feeding experiment induced increased carnitine palmitoyltransferase activity in both control and DHA fortified fish and the activity remained higher in the DHA fortified fish, while the monoenes were selectively consumed prior to highly unsaturated fatty acids. These results indicated that dietary DHA depressed lipogenesis and activated lipolysis.展开更多
Coal has been used as an energy resource around the world, primarily for the generation of electricity. The cleaning of coal by removing its unwanted sulfur and mineral matter components is utmost essential before the...Coal has been used as an energy resource around the world, primarily for the generation of electricity. The cleaning of coal by removing its unwanted sulfur and mineral matter components is utmost essential before their gainful utilizations. The ionic liquids （ILs） are considered as non-toxic solvents for using in different industrial processes. The effect of two ILs namely, 1-n-butyl, 3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoro borate （ILl） and 1-n-butyl, 3-methylimidazolium chloride （IL2） in oxidative de-sulfurization and de-ashing of two industrially important high sulfur coal samples from Meghalaya （India） is discussed in this paper. The maximum removal of total sulfur, pyritic sulfur, sulfate sulfur and organic sulfur are observed to be 37.36 %, 62.50 %, 83.33 % and 31.63 % respectively during this oxidative process. The quantitative diffuse reflectance Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy analysis supports the formation of sulfoxides （S--O） and sulfones （-SO2） and their subsequent removal during the oxidation of the coals in presence of ILs. The X-ray fluorescence combined with near edge X-ray absorption fine structure and scanning electron microscopic studies reveal the removal of mineral matters （ash yields） from the coal samples. The thermogravimetric analysis of the raw and clean coals indicates their high combustion efficiencies and suitability for using in thermal plants. The method is partially green and the ILs could be recovered and reused in the process.展开更多
Objective:To study detail pharmacognosy and anti-inflammatory activity of Callistemon lanceolatus(C.lanceolatus) leaf.Methods:Leaf sample was studied by organoleptic, macroscopical,microscopical,phytochemical and othe...Objective:To study detail pharmacognosy and anti-inflammatory activity of Callistemon lanceolatus(C.lanceolatus) leaf.Methods:Leaf sample was studied by organoleptic, macroscopical,microscopical,phytochemical and other WHO recommended methods for standardizations.The methanolic leaf extract of the plant was also screened for antiinflammatory activity on carrageenan-induced paw edema in rat at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, orally.The detail pharmacognostic study of the C.lanceolatus leaf was carried out to lay down the standards which could be useful in future experimental studies.Results:C.lanceolatus methanolic leaf extract showed significant(P<0.0S) anti-inflammatory activity at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg.This significant anti-inflammatory of C.lanceolatus methanolic leaf extract at the dose of 400 mg/kg was comparable with diclofenac sodium.Conchuioiis:The pharmacognostic profile of the C.lanceolatus leaf is helpful in standardization for quality,purity and sample identification.The methanolic extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg shows a significant activity in comparison with the standard drug diclofenac sodium(50 mg/kg).展开更多
The rapid consumption of fossil fuel and increased environmental damage caused by it have given a strong impetus to the growth and development of fuelefficient vehicles. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) have evolved fr...The rapid consumption of fossil fuel and increased environmental damage caused by it have given a strong impetus to the growth and development of fuelefficient vehicles. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) have evolved from their inchoate state and are proving to be a promising solution to the serious existential problem posed to the planet earth. Not only do HEVs provide better fuel economy and lower emissions satisfying environmental legislations, but also they dampen the effect of rising fuel prices on consumers. HEVs combine the drive powers of an internal combustion engine and an electrical machine. The main components of HEVs are energy storage system, motor, bidirectional converter and maximum power point trackers (MPPT, in case of solar-powered HEVs). The performance of HEVs greatly depends on these components and its architecture. This paper presents an extensive review on essential components used in HEVs such as their architectures with advantages and disadvantages, choice of bidirectional converter to obtain high efficiency, combining ultracapacitor with battery to extend the battery life, traction motors’ role and their suitability for a particular application. Inclusion of photovoltaic cell in HEVs is a fairly new concept and has been discussed in detail. Various MPPT techniques used for solar-driven HEVs are also discussed in this paper with their suitability.展开更多
Chickpea is the third most important pulse crop as a source of dietary protein. Ever-increasing demand in Asian countries calls for breeding superior desi-type varieties, in turn necessitating the availability of char...Chickpea is the third most important pulse crop as a source of dietary protein. Ever-increasing demand in Asian countries calls for breeding superior desi-type varieties, in turn necessitating the availability of characterized germplasm to breeders. The Indian National Genebank,located at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, conserves 14,651 accessions of chickpea. The entire set was characterized in a single large-scale experiment.High variation was observed for eight quantitative and 12 qualitative agro-morphological traits. Allelic richness procedure was employed to assemble a core set comprising 1103 accessions, 70.0% of which were of Indian origin. Comparable values of total variation explained by the first three principal components in the entire collection(51.1%) and the core(52.4%)together with conservation of nine pairwise r values among quantitative traits in the core collection and a coincidence rate around 99.7% indicated that the chickpea core was indeed an excellent representation of the entire chickpea collection in the National Genebank. The chickpea core exhibited greater diversity than the entire collection in agro-morphological traits, as assessed by higher variance and Shannon–Weaver diversity indices, indicating that the chickpea core maximized the phenotypic diversity available in the Indian chickpea germplasm. The chickpea core, comprising mainly indigenous desi genotypes, is expected to be an excellent resource for chickpea breeders. Information on the chickpea core can be accessed at http://www.nbpgr.ernet.in/pgrportal.展开更多
Objective:Our aim was to prospectively evaluate the accuracy of the bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis(BISAP)score in predicting mortality,as well as intermediate markers of severity,in a tertiary care c...Objective:Our aim was to prospectively evaluate the accuracy of the bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis(BISAP)score in predicting mortality,as well as intermediate markers of severity,in a tertiary care centre in east central India,which caters mostly for an economically underprivileged population.Methods:A total of 119 consecutive cases with acute pancreatitis were admitted to our institution between November 2012 and October 2014.BISAP scores were calculated for all cases,within 24 hours of presentation.Ranson’s score and computed tomography severity index(CTSI)were also established.The respective abilities of the three scoring systems to predict mortality was evaluated using trend and discrimination analysis.The optimal cut-off score for mortality from the receiver operating characteristics(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the development of persistent organ failure and pancreatic necrosis(PNec).Results:Of the 119 cases,42(35.2%)developed organ failure and were classified as severe acute pancreatitis(SAP),47(39.5%)developed PNec,and 12(10.1%)died.The area under the curve(AUC)results for BISAP score in predicting SAP,PNec,and mortality were 0.962,0.934 and 0.846,respectively.Ranson’s score showed a slightly lower accuracy for predicting SAP(AUC 0.956)and mortality(AUC 0.841).CTSI was the most accurate in predicting PNec,with an AUC of 0.958.The sensitivity and specificity of BISAP score,with a cut-off of≥3 in predicting mortality,were 100%and 69.2%,respectively.Conclusions:The BISAP score represents a simple way of identifying,within 24 hours of presentation,patients at greater risk of dying and the development of intermediate markers of severity.This risk stratification method can be utilized to improve clinical care and facilitate enrolment in clinical trials.展开更多
Islanded microgrids must be self-sufficient in terms of frequency and voltage control due to their islanded operation.A control strategy for frequency regulation by combining the operation of a wind generator,a diesel...Islanded microgrids must be self-sufficient in terms of frequency and voltage control due to their islanded operation.A control strategy for frequency regulation by combining the operation of a wind generator,a diesel generator,a battery energy storage system and a dump load in a microgrid is proposed in this paper.In the proposed strategy,the control task is partitioned into two subtasks:1)choosing the appropriate element to be used for regulation,and 2)providing frequency regulation.A global controller chooses the element to operate.Then,the frequency regulation is provided by separate individual controllers.The proposed control strategy is tested on a microgrid with mixed types of generation and modeled on Simulink.By monitoring the power of individual elements and system frequency,it is shown that the proposed control strategy operates efficiently.The proposed strategy facilitates the integration of renewable energy sources and enhances frequency regulation.展开更多
This review presents the justification of research into heavy metals and clean-up technologies with particular emphasis on phytoremediation of heavy metals contaminated soils. The generating sectors and heavy metal co...This review presents the justification of research into heavy metals and clean-up technologies with particular emphasis on phytoremediation of heavy metals contaminated soils. The generating sectors and heavy metal contaminant contributors are reviewed alongside likely types. The new paradigm by researchers in response to negative impacts of various clean-up methodologies has been discussed. This work reports limitations and prospects of phytoremediation in view of the future direction and reviewed issues with bioavaliability, mobility, and response by plants to heavy metals in their environment. It reviews various plants used in phytoremediation of heavy metals and level of success recorded by teeming researchers. Diverse options available for optimization of this relatively novel technique to enhance performance have been elaborated. Suggestions for responsible abandonment of emitting sites and facilities, safety issues and appropriate disposal and management methods for plants used in this technology have been documented.展开更多
Background and Aims: Pulse pressure variation (PPV) is a reliable and predictive dynamic parameter presently being utilized for fluid responsiveness. In the operating room, fluid administration based on PPV monitoring...Background and Aims: Pulse pressure variation (PPV) is a reliable and predictive dynamic parameter presently being utilized for fluid responsiveness. In the operating room, fluid administration based on PPV monitoring helps the physician in deciding whether to volume resuscitate or use interventions in patients undergoing surgery. Propofol is an intravenous induction agent which lowers blood pressure. There are multiple causes such as depression in cardiac output, and peripheral vasodilatation for hypotension. We undertook this study to observe the utility of PPV as a guide to fluid therapy after propofol induction. Primary outcome of our study was to monitor PPV as a marker of fluid responsiveness for the hypotension caused by propofol induction. Secondary outcome included the correlation of PPV with other hemodynamic parameters like heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP);after induction with propofol at regular interval of time. Methods: A total number of 90 patients were recruited. Either of the radial artery was then cannulated under local anaesthesia with 20G VygonLeadercath arterial cannula and invasive monitoring transduced. A baseline recording of heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and PPV was then recorded. Patients were then induced with predetermined doses of propofol (2 mg/kg) and recordings of HR, SBP, DBP, and PPV were taken at 5, 10 and 15 minutes. Results: Intraoperatively, PPV was significantly higher at 5 minutes and significantly lower at 15 minutes after induction. It was observed that there were no statistically significant correlations between PPV and SBP or DBP. PPV was strongly and directly associated with HR. Conclusion: We were able to establish that PPV predicts fluid responsiveness in hypotension caused by propofol induction;and can be used to administer fluid therapy in managing such hypotension. However, PPV was not directly correlated with hypotension subsequent to propofol administration.展开更多
Background: Sub arachnoid block (SAB) performed by traditional landmark palpation technique can be inaccurate. This problem is exacerbated by altered patient anatomy due to obesity and age-related changes. A pre-proce...Background: Sub arachnoid block (SAB) performed by traditional landmark palpation technique can be inaccurate. This problem is exacerbated by altered patient anatomy due to obesity and age-related changes. A pre-procedural ultrasound scan of the lumbar spine has been shown to be of benefit in guiding lumbar epidural insertion in obstetric patients. Information on the use of real-time ultrasound (RUS) guided SAB, to date, been limited. This study compared RUS guided SAB to traditional landmark guided technique in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia for different surgical procedures. Methods: This was a prospective, single center, comparative observational study conducted in the department of anesthesiology at our center. 560 patients who underwent spinal anesthesia either by landmark based technique or real-time ultrasound-guided methods. The primary outcome was the first attempt success rate of dural puncture when employing the two methods. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar in the two study groups. The first attempt success rate of dural puncture in landmark guided group was 64.3% compared to 72.6% in the ultrasound guided group. This difference was not statistically significant. The procedure performance time was significantly shorter with landmark palpation compared to use of real-time ultrasound guided method. Conclusion: Use of RUS-guided technique does not significantly improve the first attempt success rate of SAB dural puncture during spinal anesthesia compared to the traditional landmark-guided technique.展开更多
Background and Aims While chest X-ray (CXR) has been a conventional tool in intensive care units (ICUs) to identify lung pathologies, computed tomography (CT) scan remains the gold standard. Use of lung ultrasound (LU...Background and Aims While chest X-ray (CXR) has been a conventional tool in intensive care units (ICUs) to identify lung pathologies, computed tomography (CT) scan remains the gold standard. Use of lung ultrasound (LUS) in resource-rich ICUs is still under investigation. The present study compares the utility of LUS to that of CXR in identifying pulmonary edema and pleural effusion in ICU patients. In addition, consolidation and pneumothorax were analyzed as secondary outcome measures. Material and Methods This is a prospective, single centric, observational study. Patients admitted in ICU were examined for lung pathologies, using LUS by a trained intensivist;and CXR done within 4 hours of each other. The final diagnosis was ascertained by an independent senior radiologist, based on the complete medical chart including clinical findings and the results of thoracic CT, if available. The results were compared and analyzed. Results Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of LUS was 95%, 94.4%, 94.67% for pleural effusion;and 98.33%, 97.78%, 98.00% for pulmonary edema respectively. Corresponding values with CXR were 48.33%, 76.67%, 65.33% for pleural effusion;and 36.67%, 82.22% and 64.00% for pulmonary edema respectively. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of LUS was 91.30%, 96.85%, 96.00% for consolidation;and 100.00%, 79.02%, 80.00% for pneumothorax respectively. Corresponding values with CXR were 60.87%, 81.10%, 78.00% for consolidation;and 71.3%, 97.20%, 96.00% for pneumothorax respectively. Conclusion LUS has better diagnostic accuracy in diagnosis of pleural effusion and pulmonary edema when compared with CXR and is thus recommended as an effective alternative for diagnosis of these conditions in acute care settings. Our study recommends that a thoracic CT scan can be avoided in most of such cases.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the in vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of rhizome extracts of Rhodiola imbricata(R.imbricata) in HT-29 human colon cancer cell line.Methods:The successively extracted rhizome ...Objective:To investigate the in vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of rhizome extracts of Rhodiola imbricata(R.imbricata) in HT-29 human colon cancer cell line.Methods:The successively extracted rhizome of R.imbricata using various solvents was analyzed for their total phenolics,tannins and flavonoid contents.In vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by employing different assays,including DPPH,ABTS radical scavenging assays,FRAP, phosphomolybdenum reduction assay,superoxide anion,hydroxyl radical scavenging activities and metal chelating ability.Results:Acetone and methanol extracts recorded higher phenolic content and showed comparable antioxidant activity with standard reference.Additionally,they also inhibited the proliferation of HT-29 cells upon treatment at higher concentration(200μg/mL) (acetone and methanol,84%and 84%.respectively).On examination acetone extract exhibited antiproliferative activity in a concentration dependent manner whereas,methanol extract showed both dose dependent and lime dependent inhibitory activity.Conclusions:The results obtained justify the traditional usage of R.imbricata from their promising antioxidant activity.展开更多
Malnutrition is a highly prevalent and under recognized condition in developing countries of South Asia.The presence of malnutrition causes a severe impact on patients with liver cirrhosis.The etiology of cirrhosis di...Malnutrition is a highly prevalent and under recognized condition in developing countries of South Asia.The presence of malnutrition causes a severe impact on patients with liver cirrhosis.The etiology of cirrhosis differs in the South Asian region compared to the West,with hepatitis B and C still being the leading causes and the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increasing over time.Comorbid malnutrition worsens outcomes for cirrhosis patients.Urgent attention to address malnutrition is needed to improve patient outcomes.The etiology and pathophysiology of malnutrition in liver diseases is multifactorial,as reduction in liver function affects both macronutrients and micronutrients.A need for nutritional status assessment for liver disease patients exists in all parts of the world.There are many widely studied tools in use to perform a thorough nutritional assessment,of which some tools are low cost and do not require extensive training.These tools can be studied and evaluated for use in the resource limited setting of a country like Pakistan.Treatment guidelines for proper nutrition maintenance in chronic liver disease exist for all parts of the world,but the knowledge and practice of nutritional counseling in Pakistan is poor,both amongst patients and physicians.Emphasis on assessment for nutritional status at the initial visit with recording of vital signs is needed.Simultaneously,treating physicians need to be made aware of the misconceptions surrounding nutritional restrictions in cirrhosis so that patient education is done correctly based on proper scientific evidence.展开更多
In abandoned mine sites, i.e., mine sites where mining operations have ended, wide spread contaminations are often evident, but the potential sources and pathways of contamination especially through the subsurface, ar...In abandoned mine sites, i.e., mine sites where mining operations have ended, wide spread contaminations are often evident, but the potential sources and pathways of contamination especially through the subsurface, are difficult to identify due to inadequate and sparse geochemical measurements available. Therefore, it is essential to design and implement a planned monitoring net-work to obtain essential information required for establishing the potential contamination source locations, i.e., waste dumps, tailing dams, pits and possible pathways through the subsurface, and to design a remediation strategy for rehabilitation. This study presents an illustrative application of modeling the flow and transport processes and monitoring network design in a study area hydrogeologically resembling an abandoned mine site in Queensland, Australia. In this preliminary study, the contaminant transport process modeled does not incorporate the reactive geochemistry of the contaminants. The transport process is modeled considering a generic conservative contaminant for the illustrative purpose of showing the potential application of an optimal monitoring design methodology. This study aims to design optimal monitoring network to: 1) minimize the contaminant solute mass estimation error;2) locate the plume boundary;3) select the monitoring locations with (potentially) high concentrations. A linked simulation optimization based methodology is utilized for optimal monitoring network design. The methodology is applied utilizing a recently developed software package CARE-GWMND, developed at James Cook University for optimal monitoring network design. Given the complexity of the groundwater systems and the sparsity of pollutant concentration observation data from the field, this software is capable of simulating the groundwater flow and solute transport with spatial interpolation of data from a sparse set of available data, and it utilizes the optimization algorithm to determine optimum locations for implementing monitoring wells.展开更多
This survey paper provides a review and perspective on intermediate and advanced reinforcement learning(RL)techniques in process industries. It offers a holistic approach by covering all levels of the process control ...This survey paper provides a review and perspective on intermediate and advanced reinforcement learning(RL)techniques in process industries. It offers a holistic approach by covering all levels of the process control hierarchy. The survey paper presents a comprehensive overview of RL algorithms,including fundamental concepts like Markov decision processes and different approaches to RL, such as value-based, policy-based, and actor-critic methods, while also discussing the relationship between classical control and RL. It further reviews the wide-ranging applications of RL in process industries, such as soft sensors, low-level control, high-level control, distributed process control, fault detection and fault tolerant control, optimization,planning, scheduling, and supply chain. The survey paper discusses the limitations and advantages, trends and new applications, and opportunities and future prospects for RL in process industries. Moreover, it highlights the need for a holistic approach in complex systems due to the growing importance of digitalization in the process industries.展开更多
文摘Linear quadratic regulator(LQR) and proportional-integral-derivative(PID) control methods, which are generally used for control of linear dynamical systems, are used in this paper to control the nonlinear dynamical system. LQR is one of the optimal control techniques, which takes into account the states of the dynamical system and control input to make the optimal control decisions.The nonlinear system states are fed to LQR which is designed using a linear state-space model. This is simple as well as robust. The inverted pendulum, a highly nonlinear unstable system, is used as a benchmark for implementing the control methods. Here the control objective is to control the system such that the cart reaches a desired position and the inverted pendulum stabilizes in the upright position. In this paper, the modeling and simulation for optimal control design of nonlinear inverted pendulum-cart dynamic system using PID controller and LQR have been presented for both cases of without and with disturbance input. The Matlab-Simulink models have been developed for simulation and performance analysis of the control schemes. The simulation results justify the comparative advantage of LQR control method.
文摘VisuShrink, ModineighShrink and NeighShrink are efficient image denoising algorithms based on the discrete wavelet transform (DWT). These methods have disadvantage of using a suboptimal universal threshold and identical neighbouring window size in all wavelet subbands. In this paper, an improved method is proposed, that determines a threshold as well as neighbouring window size for every subband using its lengths. Our experimental results illustrate that the proposed approach is better than the existing ones, i.e., NeighShrink, ModineighShrink and VisuShrink in terms of peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) i.e. visual quality of the image.
文摘Hatchery-roared juvenile black sea breams are characterized by a low level of highly unsaturated fatty acids in their bodies, as compared with wild fish. To assess the effect of docosahaxaenoic acid （DHA） on lipegenic and lipelysis enzymes, one-year fish were roared on a casein-based purified diet and a DHA fortified diet （ 1.5% DHA ethyl ester/kg diet） for 60 d, followed with a period of 55 d for starvation. Dietary DHA was effectively incorporated into the fish body. Fortification of DHA depressed activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase as lipogenic enzymes in the hepatopancroas and intraperitoneal fat body. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase as lipolysis enzyme in the hepatopancreas was active in the DHA fortified fish. Starvation after feeding experiment induced increased carnitine palmitoyltransferase activity in both control and DHA fortified fish and the activity remained higher in the DHA fortified fish, while the monoenes were selectively consumed prior to highly unsaturated fatty acids. These results indicated that dietary DHA depressed lipogenesis and activated lipolysis.
文摘Coal has been used as an energy resource around the world, primarily for the generation of electricity. The cleaning of coal by removing its unwanted sulfur and mineral matter components is utmost essential before their gainful utilizations. The ionic liquids （ILs） are considered as non-toxic solvents for using in different industrial processes. The effect of two ILs namely, 1-n-butyl, 3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoro borate （ILl） and 1-n-butyl, 3-methylimidazolium chloride （IL2） in oxidative de-sulfurization and de-ashing of two industrially important high sulfur coal samples from Meghalaya （India） is discussed in this paper. The maximum removal of total sulfur, pyritic sulfur, sulfate sulfur and organic sulfur are observed to be 37.36 %, 62.50 %, 83.33 % and 31.63 % respectively during this oxidative process. The quantitative diffuse reflectance Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy analysis supports the formation of sulfoxides （S--O） and sulfones （-SO2） and their subsequent removal during the oxidation of the coals in presence of ILs. The X-ray fluorescence combined with near edge X-ray absorption fine structure and scanning electron microscopic studies reveal the removal of mineral matters （ash yields） from the coal samples. The thermogravimetric analysis of the raw and clean coals indicates their high combustion efficiencies and suitability for using in thermal plants. The method is partially green and the ILs could be recovered and reused in the process.
基金Supported by a grant from AICTE.New Delhi(No.1-51/RID/CA/4/2009-10)
文摘Objective:To study detail pharmacognosy and anti-inflammatory activity of Callistemon lanceolatus(C.lanceolatus) leaf.Methods:Leaf sample was studied by organoleptic, macroscopical,microscopical,phytochemical and other WHO recommended methods for standardizations.The methanolic leaf extract of the plant was also screened for antiinflammatory activity on carrageenan-induced paw edema in rat at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, orally.The detail pharmacognostic study of the C.lanceolatus leaf was carried out to lay down the standards which could be useful in future experimental studies.Results:C.lanceolatus methanolic leaf extract showed significant(P<0.0S) anti-inflammatory activity at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg.This significant anti-inflammatory of C.lanceolatus methanolic leaf extract at the dose of 400 mg/kg was comparable with diclofenac sodium.Conchuioiis:The pharmacognostic profile of the C.lanceolatus leaf is helpful in standardization for quality,purity and sample identification.The methanolic extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg shows a significant activity in comparison with the standard drug diclofenac sodium(50 mg/kg).
文摘The rapid consumption of fossil fuel and increased environmental damage caused by it have given a strong impetus to the growth and development of fuelefficient vehicles. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) have evolved from their inchoate state and are proving to be a promising solution to the serious existential problem posed to the planet earth. Not only do HEVs provide better fuel economy and lower emissions satisfying environmental legislations, but also they dampen the effect of rising fuel prices on consumers. HEVs combine the drive powers of an internal combustion engine and an electrical machine. The main components of HEVs are energy storage system, motor, bidirectional converter and maximum power point trackers (MPPT, in case of solar-powered HEVs). The performance of HEVs greatly depends on these components and its architecture. This paper presents an extensive review on essential components used in HEVs such as their architectures with advantages and disadvantages, choice of bidirectional converter to obtain high efficiency, combining ultracapacitor with battery to extend the battery life, traction motors’ role and their suitability for a particular application. Inclusion of photovoltaic cell in HEVs is a fairly new concept and has been discussed in detail. Various MPPT techniques used for solar-driven HEVs are also discussed in this paper with their suitability.
基金funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research
文摘Chickpea is the third most important pulse crop as a source of dietary protein. Ever-increasing demand in Asian countries calls for breeding superior desi-type varieties, in turn necessitating the availability of characterized germplasm to breeders. The Indian National Genebank,located at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, conserves 14,651 accessions of chickpea. The entire set was characterized in a single large-scale experiment.High variation was observed for eight quantitative and 12 qualitative agro-morphological traits. Allelic richness procedure was employed to assemble a core set comprising 1103 accessions, 70.0% of which were of Indian origin. Comparable values of total variation explained by the first three principal components in the entire collection(51.1%) and the core(52.4%)together with conservation of nine pairwise r values among quantitative traits in the core collection and a coincidence rate around 99.7% indicated that the chickpea core was indeed an excellent representation of the entire chickpea collection in the National Genebank. The chickpea core exhibited greater diversity than the entire collection in agro-morphological traits, as assessed by higher variance and Shannon–Weaver diversity indices, indicating that the chickpea core maximized the phenotypic diversity available in the Indian chickpea germplasm. The chickpea core, comprising mainly indigenous desi genotypes, is expected to be an excellent resource for chickpea breeders. Information on the chickpea core can be accessed at http://www.nbpgr.ernet.in/pgrportal.
文摘Objective:Our aim was to prospectively evaluate the accuracy of the bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis(BISAP)score in predicting mortality,as well as intermediate markers of severity,in a tertiary care centre in east central India,which caters mostly for an economically underprivileged population.Methods:A total of 119 consecutive cases with acute pancreatitis were admitted to our institution between November 2012 and October 2014.BISAP scores were calculated for all cases,within 24 hours of presentation.Ranson’s score and computed tomography severity index(CTSI)were also established.The respective abilities of the three scoring systems to predict mortality was evaluated using trend and discrimination analysis.The optimal cut-off score for mortality from the receiver operating characteristics(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the development of persistent organ failure and pancreatic necrosis(PNec).Results:Of the 119 cases,42(35.2%)developed organ failure and were classified as severe acute pancreatitis(SAP),47(39.5%)developed PNec,and 12(10.1%)died.The area under the curve(AUC)results for BISAP score in predicting SAP,PNec,and mortality were 0.962,0.934 and 0.846,respectively.Ranson’s score showed a slightly lower accuracy for predicting SAP(AUC 0.956)and mortality(AUC 0.841).CTSI was the most accurate in predicting PNec,with an AUC of 0.958.The sensitivity and specificity of BISAP score,with a cut-off of≥3 in predicting mortality,were 100%and 69.2%,respectively.Conclusions:The BISAP score represents a simple way of identifying,within 24 hours of presentation,patients at greater risk of dying and the development of intermediate markers of severity.This risk stratification method can be utilized to improve clinical care and facilitate enrolment in clinical trials.
文摘Islanded microgrids must be self-sufficient in terms of frequency and voltage control due to their islanded operation.A control strategy for frequency regulation by combining the operation of a wind generator,a diesel generator,a battery energy storage system and a dump load in a microgrid is proposed in this paper.In the proposed strategy,the control task is partitioned into two subtasks:1)choosing the appropriate element to be used for regulation,and 2)providing frequency regulation.A global controller chooses the element to operate.Then,the frequency regulation is provided by separate individual controllers.The proposed control strategy is tested on a microgrid with mixed types of generation and modeled on Simulink.By monitoring the power of individual elements and system frequency,it is shown that the proposed control strategy operates efficiently.The proposed strategy facilitates the integration of renewable energy sources and enhances frequency regulation.
文摘This review presents the justification of research into heavy metals and clean-up technologies with particular emphasis on phytoremediation of heavy metals contaminated soils. The generating sectors and heavy metal contaminant contributors are reviewed alongside likely types. The new paradigm by researchers in response to negative impacts of various clean-up methodologies has been discussed. This work reports limitations and prospects of phytoremediation in view of the future direction and reviewed issues with bioavaliability, mobility, and response by plants to heavy metals in their environment. It reviews various plants used in phytoremediation of heavy metals and level of success recorded by teeming researchers. Diverse options available for optimization of this relatively novel technique to enhance performance have been elaborated. Suggestions for responsible abandonment of emitting sites and facilities, safety issues and appropriate disposal and management methods for plants used in this technology have been documented.
文摘Background and Aims: Pulse pressure variation (PPV) is a reliable and predictive dynamic parameter presently being utilized for fluid responsiveness. In the operating room, fluid administration based on PPV monitoring helps the physician in deciding whether to volume resuscitate or use interventions in patients undergoing surgery. Propofol is an intravenous induction agent which lowers blood pressure. There are multiple causes such as depression in cardiac output, and peripheral vasodilatation for hypotension. We undertook this study to observe the utility of PPV as a guide to fluid therapy after propofol induction. Primary outcome of our study was to monitor PPV as a marker of fluid responsiveness for the hypotension caused by propofol induction. Secondary outcome included the correlation of PPV with other hemodynamic parameters like heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP);after induction with propofol at regular interval of time. Methods: A total number of 90 patients were recruited. Either of the radial artery was then cannulated under local anaesthesia with 20G VygonLeadercath arterial cannula and invasive monitoring transduced. A baseline recording of heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and PPV was then recorded. Patients were then induced with predetermined doses of propofol (2 mg/kg) and recordings of HR, SBP, DBP, and PPV were taken at 5, 10 and 15 minutes. Results: Intraoperatively, PPV was significantly higher at 5 minutes and significantly lower at 15 minutes after induction. It was observed that there were no statistically significant correlations between PPV and SBP or DBP. PPV was strongly and directly associated with HR. Conclusion: We were able to establish that PPV predicts fluid responsiveness in hypotension caused by propofol induction;and can be used to administer fluid therapy in managing such hypotension. However, PPV was not directly correlated with hypotension subsequent to propofol administration.
文摘Background: Sub arachnoid block (SAB) performed by traditional landmark palpation technique can be inaccurate. This problem is exacerbated by altered patient anatomy due to obesity and age-related changes. A pre-procedural ultrasound scan of the lumbar spine has been shown to be of benefit in guiding lumbar epidural insertion in obstetric patients. Information on the use of real-time ultrasound (RUS) guided SAB, to date, been limited. This study compared RUS guided SAB to traditional landmark guided technique in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia for different surgical procedures. Methods: This was a prospective, single center, comparative observational study conducted in the department of anesthesiology at our center. 560 patients who underwent spinal anesthesia either by landmark based technique or real-time ultrasound-guided methods. The primary outcome was the first attempt success rate of dural puncture when employing the two methods. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar in the two study groups. The first attempt success rate of dural puncture in landmark guided group was 64.3% compared to 72.6% in the ultrasound guided group. This difference was not statistically significant. The procedure performance time was significantly shorter with landmark palpation compared to use of real-time ultrasound guided method. Conclusion: Use of RUS-guided technique does not significantly improve the first attempt success rate of SAB dural puncture during spinal anesthesia compared to the traditional landmark-guided technique.
文摘Background and Aims While chest X-ray (CXR) has been a conventional tool in intensive care units (ICUs) to identify lung pathologies, computed tomography (CT) scan remains the gold standard. Use of lung ultrasound (LUS) in resource-rich ICUs is still under investigation. The present study compares the utility of LUS to that of CXR in identifying pulmonary edema and pleural effusion in ICU patients. In addition, consolidation and pneumothorax were analyzed as secondary outcome measures. Material and Methods This is a prospective, single centric, observational study. Patients admitted in ICU were examined for lung pathologies, using LUS by a trained intensivist;and CXR done within 4 hours of each other. The final diagnosis was ascertained by an independent senior radiologist, based on the complete medical chart including clinical findings and the results of thoracic CT, if available. The results were compared and analyzed. Results Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of LUS was 95%, 94.4%, 94.67% for pleural effusion;and 98.33%, 97.78%, 98.00% for pulmonary edema respectively. Corresponding values with CXR were 48.33%, 76.67%, 65.33% for pleural effusion;and 36.67%, 82.22% and 64.00% for pulmonary edema respectively. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of LUS was 91.30%, 96.85%, 96.00% for consolidation;and 100.00%, 79.02%, 80.00% for pneumothorax respectively. Corresponding values with CXR were 60.87%, 81.10%, 78.00% for consolidation;and 71.3%, 97.20%, 96.00% for pneumothorax respectively. Conclusion LUS has better diagnostic accuracy in diagnosis of pleural effusion and pulmonary edema when compared with CXR and is thus recommended as an effective alternative for diagnosis of these conditions in acute care settings. Our study recommends that a thoracic CT scan can be avoided in most of such cases.
基金supported by the DIHAR,Defense Research Development Organization Indiathe Food Security Center,University of Hohenheim,Stuttgart,Germany for awarding the Sandwich Scholarship
文摘Objective:To investigate the in vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of rhizome extracts of Rhodiola imbricata(R.imbricata) in HT-29 human colon cancer cell line.Methods:The successively extracted rhizome of R.imbricata using various solvents was analyzed for their total phenolics,tannins and flavonoid contents.In vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by employing different assays,including DPPH,ABTS radical scavenging assays,FRAP, phosphomolybdenum reduction assay,superoxide anion,hydroxyl radical scavenging activities and metal chelating ability.Results:Acetone and methanol extracts recorded higher phenolic content and showed comparable antioxidant activity with standard reference.Additionally,they also inhibited the proliferation of HT-29 cells upon treatment at higher concentration(200μg/mL) (acetone and methanol,84%and 84%.respectively).On examination acetone extract exhibited antiproliferative activity in a concentration dependent manner whereas,methanol extract showed both dose dependent and lime dependent inhibitory activity.Conclusions:The results obtained justify the traditional usage of R.imbricata from their promising antioxidant activity.
文摘Malnutrition is a highly prevalent and under recognized condition in developing countries of South Asia.The presence of malnutrition causes a severe impact on patients with liver cirrhosis.The etiology of cirrhosis differs in the South Asian region compared to the West,with hepatitis B and C still being the leading causes and the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increasing over time.Comorbid malnutrition worsens outcomes for cirrhosis patients.Urgent attention to address malnutrition is needed to improve patient outcomes.The etiology and pathophysiology of malnutrition in liver diseases is multifactorial,as reduction in liver function affects both macronutrients and micronutrients.A need for nutritional status assessment for liver disease patients exists in all parts of the world.There are many widely studied tools in use to perform a thorough nutritional assessment,of which some tools are low cost and do not require extensive training.These tools can be studied and evaluated for use in the resource limited setting of a country like Pakistan.Treatment guidelines for proper nutrition maintenance in chronic liver disease exist for all parts of the world,but the knowledge and practice of nutritional counseling in Pakistan is poor,both amongst patients and physicians.Emphasis on assessment for nutritional status at the initial visit with recording of vital signs is needed.Simultaneously,treating physicians need to be made aware of the misconceptions surrounding nutritional restrictions in cirrhosis so that patient education is done correctly based on proper scientific evidence.
文摘In abandoned mine sites, i.e., mine sites where mining operations have ended, wide spread contaminations are often evident, but the potential sources and pathways of contamination especially through the subsurface, are difficult to identify due to inadequate and sparse geochemical measurements available. Therefore, it is essential to design and implement a planned monitoring net-work to obtain essential information required for establishing the potential contamination source locations, i.e., waste dumps, tailing dams, pits and possible pathways through the subsurface, and to design a remediation strategy for rehabilitation. This study presents an illustrative application of modeling the flow and transport processes and monitoring network design in a study area hydrogeologically resembling an abandoned mine site in Queensland, Australia. In this preliminary study, the contaminant transport process modeled does not incorporate the reactive geochemistry of the contaminants. The transport process is modeled considering a generic conservative contaminant for the illustrative purpose of showing the potential application of an optimal monitoring design methodology. This study aims to design optimal monitoring network to: 1) minimize the contaminant solute mass estimation error;2) locate the plume boundary;3) select the monitoring locations with (potentially) high concentrations. A linked simulation optimization based methodology is utilized for optimal monitoring network design. The methodology is applied utilizing a recently developed software package CARE-GWMND, developed at James Cook University for optimal monitoring network design. Given the complexity of the groundwater systems and the sparsity of pollutant concentration observation data from the field, this software is capable of simulating the groundwater flow and solute transport with spatial interpolation of data from a sparse set of available data, and it utilizes the optimization algorithm to determine optimum locations for implementing monitoring wells.
基金supported in part by the Natural Sciences Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)。
文摘This survey paper provides a review and perspective on intermediate and advanced reinforcement learning(RL)techniques in process industries. It offers a holistic approach by covering all levels of the process control hierarchy. The survey paper presents a comprehensive overview of RL algorithms,including fundamental concepts like Markov decision processes and different approaches to RL, such as value-based, policy-based, and actor-critic methods, while also discussing the relationship between classical control and RL. It further reviews the wide-ranging applications of RL in process industries, such as soft sensors, low-level control, high-level control, distributed process control, fault detection and fault tolerant control, optimization,planning, scheduling, and supply chain. The survey paper discusses the limitations and advantages, trends and new applications, and opportunities and future prospects for RL in process industries. Moreover, it highlights the need for a holistic approach in complex systems due to the growing importance of digitalization in the process industries.
