Force-displacement evaluation of macromolecular materials in flexural impact tests. I. Apparatus and data handling

The determination of the force-displacement curve during an impact experiment can provide more qualitative and quantitative information on the impact behavior of a material than conventional single-value characterization. To this aim, and Izod-type pendulum was instrumented, so that both the impact force and the displacement of the free end of the specimen can be accurately monitored and recorded. The force-displacement curves produced are analyzed by means of a suitable computer program to obtain different significant characteristics.     

Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology in abdominal tuberculosis

Although barium studies and CT are useful in assessing abdominal pathology in tuberculosis, imaging findings are not always specific and a histopathological or bacteriological confirmation is often required. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of ultrasound (US) guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis in patients with non-palpable lesions detected on US/CT. FNAC was performed on 31 sites in 30 patients. The sites included enlarged lymph nodes (n = 14), focal lesions in liver (n = 2) and spleen (n = 8), and thickened bowel in the ileocaecal region (n = 7). The results were classified cytomorphologically into four groups: (1) definite evidence of tuberculosis; (2) presumptive evidence of tuberculosis; (3) suggestive of tuberculosis; and (4) negative for tuberculosis. 18 of the 31 FNACs (58%) revealed a positive diagnosis of tuberculosis (definite evidence in nine patients and presumptive evidence in nine patients). 13 of the 31 FNACs (42%) showed either necrosis alone (n = 4) or negative results (n = 9). Zeihl-Neelson staining for acid-fast bacilli on direct smear was positive in only nine patients (29%). Splenic and lymph nodal FNAC had a high sensitivity (87.5% and 78.6%, respectively) in the diagnosis of tuberculosis. None of the bowel and liver FNACs was diagnostic. No complications were encountered. US guided FNAC offers a safe and accurate method of achieving a diagnosis in patients with suspected abdominal tuberculosis who present with radiologically demonstrable but non-palpable lesions, especially those involving lymph nodes and spleen.     

Solar absorption cooling effect on operational parameters on power saving

The paper deals with engineering estimates of the electrical power consumption of equivalent cooling capacity vapour-compression and vapour-absorption (solar) cooling systems. The effects of operational parameters on absorption chiller performance have been studied to define the breakeven point at which the two systems will consume equivalent amounts of electrical energy per unit of cooling output.     

Influence of ion implantation and overlay coatings on various physico-mechanical and wear properties of stainless steel,titanium and aluminium

This work represents the data on the wear behaviour of 304 stainless steel, commercial grade titanium and commercial grade aluminium without and with different surface treatments, namely ion implantation of boron and nitrogen and overlay coatings of titanium carbide and nitride.The surface treatments were characterized by phase identification, hardness, bend strength, as well as adhesion of overlay coatings. Wear properties were evaluated in adhesive, erosive and abrasive modes of wear.The experimental results showed that surface treatments produced measurable changes in hardness and strength. The results of adhesive wear tests indicated that the wear resistance of all the substrate materials can be considerably improved by overlay coating with superhard materials in dry as well as lubricated test conditions. Ion implantation resulted in improvement of wear properties for only a limited regime of adhesive wear under lubricated conditions and for the abrasive mode of wear. Overlay coatings produced a marked improvement in abrasive wear tests under lubricated conditions on all substrate materials.