Influence of accelerated curing on the compressive strength of polymer-modified concrete

In recent building practice, rapid construction is one of the principal requisites. Furthermore, in designing concrete structures, compressive strength is the most significant of all parameters. While 3-d and 7-d compressive strength reflects the strengths at early phases, the ultimate strength is paramount. An effort has been made in this study to develop mathematical models for predicting compressive strength of concrete incorporating ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) at the later phases. Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) goodness-of-fit test was used to examine distribution of the data. The compressive strength of EVA-modified concrete was studied by incorporating various concentrations of EVA as an admixture and by testing at ages of 28, 56, 90, 120, 210, and 365 d. An accelerated compressive strength at 3.5 hours was considered as a reference strength on the basis of which all the specified strengths were predicted by means of linear regression fit. Based on the results of KS goodness-of-fit test, it was concluded that KS test statistics value (D) in each case was lower than the critical value 0.521 for a significance level of 0.05, which demonstrated that the data was normally distributed. Based on the results of compressive strength test, it was concluded that the strength of EVA-modified specimens increased at all ages and the optimum dosage of EVA was achieved at 16% concentration. Furthermore, it was concluded that predicted compressive strength values lies within a 6% difference from the actual strength values for all the mixes, which indicates the practicability of the regression equations. This research work may help in understanding the role of EVA as a viable material in polymer-based cement composites.     

Enhancing power transfer capability through flexible AC transmission system devices:a review

Global demand for power has significantly increased, but power generation and transmission capacities have not increased proportionally with this demand. As a result, power consumers suffer from variou...     

Design of Scale Model Mechanism in Low Speed Wind Tunnel

Motion control can be considered as the synergistic collaboration of mechanical and electrical engineering, computer science and information technology to apply a controlled force to achieve useful motion in fluid or soiled electromechanical systems. With the development of computer, electronics, and automatic control theory, motion control comes to a new stage. Great applications are based on the characteristics, stemming from advantages of electronics and modern control technology achievements, having a v...     

Re-estimation of absolute gamma ray intensities of ^56Mn using k0-standardization

The thermal neutron capture gamma ray facility at Pakistan Research Reactor （PARR-1） is being used for the re-estimation of various properties like capture cross-sections, resonance integral, absolute gamma intensities, etc. of different isotopes. The data for gamma ray transitions from the capture of thermal neutrons by ^55Mn are not in good agreement specifically below 2 MeV. So there is a need to re-estimate its intensities with better accuracy. Analytical grade MnCl2 powder and high purity Mn metal pieces were used in this study. Standard ^152Eu and ^60Co radioactive sources as well as thermal neutron capture γ-rays in chlorine were chosen for efficiency calibration. The k0 standardization technique was applied for these measurements to eliminate systematic errors in efficiencies. Chlorine also acted as a comparator in k0-factor calculations. The results have been tabulated for the main gamma rays from ^56Mn in the low as well as in the medium energy regions. The absolute intensities are in good agreement with most of the reported values.     

On the prediction of the roundness error in BTA deep hole machining based on the stochastic description of the cutting tool motion

This paper presents a methodology of predicting the maximum possible out-of-roundness of the hole produced, in BTA deep hole machining, as a function of certain machining parameters. Based on the solutions of the stochastic differential equations representing the machine tool-workpiece system in BTA deep hole machining, and the true cutting tool motion, an index describing the upper bound of the roundness error is defined. A parametric analysis of the out-of-roundness index is carried out. This analysis points out that at a low length-to-diameter ratio of the cutting tool, the axial force is the predominant factor causing the tool-tip deviation from the ideal motion, and that the radial and tangential forces are the major causes for the tool tip deviation at high length-to-diameter ratio of the cutting tool. The experimental measurement of out-of-roundness of the specimens under different machining conditions shows that the roundness error obtained lies within the zone described by the theoretical prediction.     

An evaluation of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) digital data for discriminating coral reef zonation: Heron Reef (GBR)

Coral reefs exhibit patterns of zonation. In this study we have evaluated the usefulness of Landsat-TM digital data as a tool for discrimination and mapping of reef zones. Classification, on bands 1, 2 and 3, and grouping of classes into reef zones was carried out with the aid of canonical variate analysis and minimum spanning trees. Thirteen reef zones can be identified and mapped, at a spatial scale relevant to their dimensions, with confidence. These zones can be further subdivided and mapped as spatially coherent subzones, in order to provide detailed information regarding the density of coral cover on the reef flat. In addition, the canonical variate analysis provides the basis for the aggregation of classes into sub-zones on interpreted primary productivity gradients, which is of relevance to coral reef management, monitoring and research.     

Effect of Gas Atmosphere Packaging on Psychrotrophic Growth and Succession on Steak Surfaces

The influence of gas atmosphere packaging (1) 15% CO₂, 40% 0₂, 45% N₂; (2) 60% CO₂ 40% 0₂ (3) 10% CO₂, 5% 0₂, 85% N₂; (4) film overwrap (control) on the microbial growth and succession on steaks was studied during storage. Treatment 3 was most effective in reducing psychrotrophic growth on steaks. Pseudomonas species dominated the microflora for all packaging treatments during early storage. In all gas atmospheres. Serratia liquefaciens increased with storage time and the 10% CO₂ atmosphere showed the greatest increase. Enterobacter aerogenes appeared late in the storage period in all atmospheres and Yersinia enterocolitica was isolated after 12 days of storage from steaks in atmosphere 1.     

Pharmacotherapeutics and molecular docking studies of alpha-synuclein modulators as promising therapeutics for Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an age-related neurodegenerative ailment that affects dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain called the substantia nigra of the ventral midbrain. It is clinically characterized by movement disorder and marked with unusual synaptic protein alpha-synuclein accumulation in the brain. To date, only a few Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs are available on the market for the treatment of PD. Nonetheless, these drugs show parasympathomimetic related adverse events and remarkably higher toxicity; hence, it is important to find more efficacious molecules to treat PD. In our study, We chosen 22 natural compounds as inhibitors that potentially block the alpha-synuclein clump—the pathological hallmark of PD—and provide new avenues for its treatment. Most of these molecules exhibited good pharmacokinetic behaviors, making them decisively favorable drug candidates to cure PD. Molecular docking studies were performed to investigate the binding interactions between natural compounds and alpha-synuclein as anti-Parkinson drug targets. Among the examined compounds, curcumin and piperine emerged as promising phytochemicals with the highest binding affinity, key residual stable bindings and showed a good inhibitory features. Thus, the present study indicates that curcumin and piperine hold the potential to be developed as treatment options against PD. Experimental validations are needed for insights into their mechanism of action and potential clinical application.     

The Effect of the Earthed Electrode Size on the Ignition Voltage of Low-Pressure RF Capacitive Discharge in Argon

The effect of the grounded electrode diameter on the ignition voltage using 13.56 MHz in argon gas is studied experimentally. The results indicate a systematic decrease of the breakdown voltage with increasing electrode area for the same pd value. No multi-valued breakdown voltages are observed. The Paschen minimum is not affected by the electrode diameter as long as the parallel plane approximation is valid. A modified Paschen equation which takes into account indirect discharge via the chamber walls at high pd values gives reasonable fits to the experimental data.