Rajesh Varma
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A simple Node-RED implementation for digital twins in the area of manufacturing
No full textInterest in digital twins continues to strengthen with technological advancements in Industrial IoT. A digital twin is a virtual representation that models a physical object and effectively provides a two-way interaction with the real system. Digital twin models can be set up to test or analyze industrial applications before deployment thereby improving the efficiency of industries. In this work, a Node-RED implementation for digital twins in the manufacturing sector is developed. Plastic injection molding is the chosen case study for the implementation of this digital twin. Node-RED is a platform that allows developers to quickly build Internet of Things applications using a simple web browser interface. The digital twin uses the Random Forest Classifier algorithm to do predictive maintenance tasks including classification of quality of products. An easy-to-use dashboard is developed to enable the user to interact with the digital twin. Important modules such as communication with the real environment, SMS, and email notifications are successfully implemented in the digital twin. The findings show that it is feasible to build a Node-RED digital twin. The flexibility of Node-RED makes it suitable for building architecture of varying complexity.</p
An assessment of the effects of deforestation on biodiversity in OJO local government area of Lagos State, Nigeria
No full textThis study assessed the impact of deforestation on biodiversity in the Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria. Three hundred respondents were randomly selected from ten communities of the local government. Primary data were collected with a structured questionnaire in order to address the objectives of the study. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data collected. Respondents in the study area affirmed that there is deforestation activity in the local government and at a high rate. The study revealed that poverty is the major driver of deforestation in the study area, followed by urbanization and industrialization, while education level is the least factor responsible for deforestation. It was also uncovered that deforestation aids displacement and loss of plant and animal species from their natural habitats. It also leads to the loss of indigenous people’s homeland, contributes to erosion and infertility, and results in the loss of plants and animal species used for research, economic, and medicinal purposes. Chi-square analysis revealed that there is a significant relationship between deforestation and displacement of both plants and animal species in the study area. Considering the high rate and effects of deforestation in the study area, it was then recommended that the elected chairman of Ojo Local Government in partnership with various community leaders of the study halt deforestation activity for five to ten years, for the forest to rebound. Raise awareness among the people about the impact of their actions on the forest and initiate comprehensive tree-planting programs with stringent monitoring. </p
Analysis of induction and maintenance immunosuppression choices in the US during the first year post kidney transplant for patients over 70
No full textRates of kidney transplantation in patients over 70 years of age have steadily increased over the last 20 years, however age-appropriate immunosuppression regimens in the elderly remain unclear. Investigators utilized the SRTR database to evaluate elderly kidney transplant recipients’ outcomes against a younger population. Post-transplant outcomes measured at an approximately 1-year time interval included graft survival, patient survival, rejection, malignancy, and serum creatinine. Elderly patient survival was improved for those patients that were on dialysis for less than 1 year (95.4% vs. 91.4% p < .01). Patients able to be maintained on CNI immunosuppression regimens also had improved graft survival compared to those managed with other immunosuppression (95.5% vs. 91.1%, p < .01). Patients maintained on mTOR inhibitors had the lowest patient survival (85.5% vs. 92.6%, p < .01). The choice of induction therapy did not affect long term patient or graft survival. These results translated to investigators’ own centers in patients over 60. Results for the SRTR database showed that minimizing time on dialysis prior to transplant improved graft and patient survival, while the type of induction agent had minimal effect on all outcomes at the time of follow-up. The results also support the use of CNI’s and belatacept for maintenance immunosuppression but did not encourage the use of mTOR inhibitors. </p
Differential expression of markers of pluripotency and neural/progenitor cells throughout embryonic brain development in mice
No full textKnowledge regarding the spatiotemporal distribution of cells that express pluripotent and Progenitor-Neural Stem Cell Markers (PNSC) is vital for understanding their role in various stages of embryonic brain development. However, there are few data that connect these markers’ expression with the developmental stage in the mouse brain. We investigated the expression of pluripotent cell markers (Oct4, Nanog, and Sox2) and PNSC markers (Sox 1; nestin, vimentin, GFAP) in mice brains on Embryonic (E) days E9.5, E12.5, E15.5 and E18.5 and in the mature adult brain. We observed the expression of all studied markers in rostral and caudal neuropores at E9.5. The cells at E12.5 in primary brain vesicles showed only expression of four markers: Oct4, Sox2, vimentin and nestin. In addition, hindbrain cells express Sox1 and midbrain – Fragilis. The Ventricular Zone (VZ) at E15.5 and E18.5 shared the expression of Oct 4, Sox 2, Sox1, nestin, and GFAP, besides at E18.5 VZ expressed Fragilis. The olfactory bulb (OB) at E18.5 showed the expression of Sox2, Nanog, Fragilis, Nestin, and GFAP. In the adult brain, the sub-VZ (SVZ) showed expression of all studied markers, but not for Sox2 and Nanog; OB is positive for Nestin only, while cerebellum for Sox1 and Sox2. Neuropores in embryonic and the Subventricular Zone (SVZ) in adult brains express the most considerable number of studied markers, suggesting less cell specification. SVZ is a stem cell niche in the adult brain. Oct4, Sox2 and Nestin seem indispensable during brain development and in the adult brain in mice.</p
Bullying, spirituality, anxiety and depression
No full textA recently developed Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT)-based process has been used to understand and explore the nature of spirituality and spiritual experience and its healing characteristics. Experiences of self-worth and dignity (both are operationalized) as the core of spirituality are directly injured by bullying with resultant depression and anxiety. Bullying experiences with progression to actively bullying are devastating to our spiritual core and undermine fundamental faith in self, others and life. This level of injury is often not recognized by many bullying programs. This preliminary communication is presented for researchers in these areas to consider how this process may be used for further research and prevention and intervention efforts. </p
A brief overview to give a new perspective on mole drainage
No full textDraining excess water from the soil is the general purpose of drainage. Thus, soil protection is provided and product losses are prevented. Mole drainage consists of underground galleries that act as piped drainage. This type of drainage is mostly used successfully in clay, organic, and highly cohesive soils. It is used successfully in areas with high groundwater, during the improvement of salty and sodium soils. The biggest benefit of mole drainage is cheap and economical. In the mole drainage method, tunnels are opened under the tillage depth with a torpedo-shaped piece at the end of a foot extending under the soil. These tunnels are called mole drains. In the mole drainage method, the channels are built with mole drain plows and subsoilers. In order to benefit more effectively from mole drainages, parameters such as suitable working width, working depth and slope must be finely adjusted. For this, modern alternatives such as GPS and laser positioning systems can be used.</p
Structural integrity of reinforced concrete slabs of some selected existing buildings based on field assessment
No full textQuality assurance and reinforcement detailing may affect the primary function of a reinforced concrete slab to transfer the load upon it by bending. This paper is focused on a probability-based approach to investigate the structural integrity of the reinforced concrete slabs of two selected buildings at a university campus. The in situ strength of all accessible floor slabs was measured using the Schmidt rebound hammer and Ultrasonic pulse velocity tester. The loadings on the slabs were analysed using Orion Software on the structural layouts of the two buildings. The integrity of the slabs, measured by their reliability indices, considering the yielding of the steel and deflection criteria, were estimated using the first-order reliability procedure. The computed indices were related to a target reliability index of 3.8 for the ultimate limit state and 1.5 for the serviceability limit state, chosen for a 50-years reference period of Class RC2 structural members according to BS EN 1990:2002+A1:2005. Generally, the safety indices decrease as the applied loads/moments increase for all the slabs in the two buildings. Although the estimated safety indices reveal that the slabs are over-designed, some of the slab panels in one of the buildings will fail the deflection criterion when loaded to about 80% of their ultimate capacity. Based on this assessment, a disparity in quality assurance between the two buildings has been established.</p
Preparation, production and characteristics of sugarcane vinegar
No full textSugarcane is one of the main crops worldwide, and it has an important impact on environmental issues. Sugarcane is used in daily routine life in many ways like as vinegar, jiggery, juices etc. In India sugarcane crop is best cultivated in the west U.P. Sugarcane original vinegar drink with high nutritional quality was produced from fresh sugarcane juice using the yeast culture and acetic acid bacteria by fermentation techniques such as submerged alcoholic fermentation followed by acetic fermentation at room temperature. Refined sugarcane is the primary product of sugarcane juice, during its processing, various other valuable products are also obtained in an unrefined form such as brown sugar, molasses, jaggery and vinegar. Sugarcane juice is widely used in the treatment of jaundice, hemorrhage, dysuria, and other urinary disease. Nowadays sugarcane vinegar is also used in Indian kitchens commonly in pickles, salads, etc. Vinegar is extremely useful for human health including antimicrobial activity, blood pressure reduction, antioxidant activity, reduction in the effects of diabetes, and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Phenolic acid in vinegar can scavenge superoxide anion and free radicals in vivo resulting in a potent antioxidant activity.</p
Temperature effects on grain growth phenomena and magnetic properties of silicon steels used in marine applications
No full textThe present paper investigates the stages of the microstructure and texture evolution in non-oriented electrical silicon steels by means of magnetic measurements and metallographic analysis. The goal of this work was to study temperature effects and their influence on grain growth processes in non-oriented electrical steels while being subjected to different annealing conditions and to clarify the mechanism of grain boundary motion during annealing. It is important to study the development of texture and grain size in electrical steel samples along the entire production line chain (hot rolling, cold rolling, and final annealing), as both are affected by each processing stage. The lack of magnetic data dependent on the operating temperature of non-oriented electrical steels makes it impossible to accurately design high-power motors (e.g., propulsion systems in ships) or generators that are to operate at high temperatures. The correlation of magnetic properties with the microstructure of electrical steels can yield important information about their suitability for various substrates and marine applications. In addition, it can potentially non-destructively define both the annealing stage and the preferred crystallographic growth pattern in single-phase ferritic steels, which affect the performance and longevity of the electromagnetic devices in which these are used. </p
NGS analysis of unexplained Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) cases in South Korea
No full textIn general, pneumonia has known to be closely associated with respiratory infection of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. In South Korea, pneumonia is a leading cause of death that continues to threaten public health every year. Through the tertiary hospital-based influenza surveillance system in South Korea, nasopharyngeal swab specimens were obtained from patients with unexplained cases of Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) between 2011 and 2017. After real-time PCR screening using respiratory viral panels, the samples were found negative for 16 common respiratory pathogens including adenovirus, influenza viruses, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, coronavirus, metapneumovirus, and parainfluenza viruses. The aim of this study was to investigate the patient microbiota and examine the etiology of CAP requiring hospitalization. The nasopharyngeal microbiome of adult patients during CAP was analyzed using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) on the Illumina MiSeq platform and a subsequent bioinformatics pipeline. Viral nucleic acids were nearly absent in the samples and failed to generate any sequence reads. On the other hand, samples were enriched with a diverse bacterial community, which was mainly comprised of Corynebacterium, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Haemophilus, Moraxella, Acinetobacter, and Rhizobium genera. Despite the diversity of bacterial composition, only a few dominant species with > 1% abundance were identified in each patient sample. Population analysis at the genus level showed that microbial diversity varied according to age, sex, and location. </p