Farmers’ willingness‐to‐pay towards soil and water conservation measures in agro‐ecosystems of Chotanagpur Plateau,India

Lack of importance given to farmers’ knowledge and perceptions towards soil and water conservation (SWC) is a major factor responsible for failure of conservation programs. The study explores farmers understanding of SWC and further adds to the limited empirical evidence towards farmers’ willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) for SWC. Contingent valuation survey conducted to elicit the WTP (cash and labor days) for SWC draws attention to the importance of adopting SWC to ensure year‐round water availability. The willing households of the area could generate US$1302.2 and/or 1207 labor days monthly. The WTP (cash) showed strong positive influence by qualification, total income, off‐farm income and previous irrigation farming experience; while WTP (labor days) showed strong negative influence by age, qualification, dependency ratio, market access and livestock holding. The study will be useful for decision makers regarding investments and policy purposes for soil–water conservation measures in agricultural lands of developing countries.     

Fabrication, nanostructure evaluation, 3D electrical transport and electrochemical capacitance of PEDOT–Ti(IV)-doped iron(III) oxide nanocomposite

Poly[3,4-(ethylenedioxy)thiophene] (PEDOT) nanocomposites (NCs) reinforced by varying titanium(IV)-doped iron(III) nano oxide (NITO) particles have been fabricated in dodecylbenzene sulphonic acid by in situ polymerization process using ammonium perdisulfate as initiator. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy, BET surface analysis etc. followed by subsequent evaluation of thermal properties, temperature-dependent 3D electrical transport. Thermal stability of the NCs increased with increasing NITO amount in PEDOT matrix. Electrical conductivity of the NCs increased significantly with increasing NITO content (0.45–67.73 S cm^?1) and also with the temperature (50–300 K). 3D variable range hopping conduction mechanism explained the conduction pathways. Specific capacitance of NCs are enhanced with higher NITO content in polymer from 107 F g^?1 (pristine PEDOT) to 158 F g^?1 (NC) owing to the development of mesoporous (pore size: 4.1 nm and cylindrical pore volume: 0.103 cm³ g^?1) structure and high specific surface area (~104 m² g^?1).     

Corrosion of laser joined silicon carbide in gasification environment

The production of synthesis gas from renewable fuels is an emerging technology. The aggressive process environment in fuel production systems poses a major challenge, potentially causing corrosion within currently used metallic heat exchangers. To improve the reliability and stability of silicon carbide heat pipes, which belong to an innovative heat exchanger design, the corrosion of involved materials due to contact with steam, ash and alkaline (earth) metals needs to be investigated. Exposures of laser joined SSiC connections with wood ash caused the formation of gas inclusions and an infiltration of the joint with alkaline (earth) metals that lead to crack formations, as revealed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis. It was shown that the use of silicon carbide heat pipes joined with solder materials of both the Mg–Al–Si and the Y–Al–Si systems is possible. A further result was that the gasification temperature has to be limited to 相似文献   

Development and high stress abrasive wear behavior of milled carbon fiber‐reinforced epoxy gradient composites

Milled carbon fiber‐reinforced polysulfide‐modified epoxy gradient composites have been developed. Density and hardness increases with the increase of carbon fiber content in the direction of centrifugal force, which shows the formation of gradient structure in the composite. High stress abrasive wear test was conducted on the gradient composites by using a Suga Abrasion Wear Tester. Abrasive wear rate reduced on increase of milled carbon fiber content from 0.15 to 1.66 vol%. Reduction in abrasive wear rate in milled carbon fiber‐reinforced epoxy gradient composites has been attributed to the increase of hardness, presence of random milled fibers, and debris of composite materials, which gave resistance and reduced wear rate. There is a small decrease in specific wear rate on adding 0.15 vol% milled carbon fibers. Further decrease of specific wear rate is observed on adding 0.45 vol% milled carbon fibers. After 3 N load, there is a decrease in specific wear rate behavior on adding 0.45 vol% carbon fibers, which further decreases on adding 0.60 vol% of carbon fibers. There is a remarkable decrease in specific wear rate up to 5 N load for 1.66 vol% milled carbon fiber‐reinforced composite. Reduction in specific wear rate on adding milled carbon fibers is based on the formation of debris, which remained intact in their respective positions due to the interfacial adhesion between milled carbon fibers and epoxy resin. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Sliding wear and friction characteristics of sisal fibre reinforced polyester composites: Effect of silane coupling agent and applied load

Chopped sisal fibre‐reinforced polyester composites with and without silane modification were prepared. Wear and friction measurements on the chopped sisal fibre reinforced polyester composites have been performed at different loads for different weight percentages of sisal fibre by using a pin‐on‐disc wear and friction tester. It has been found that increase of chopped sisal fibre content increased the Pressure‐Velocity (PV) limit of composites. Silane modification improved the wear resistance of untreated sisal fibre reinforced polyester composite. Coefficient of friction increased with increase of fibre content and decreased with increase of load. Wear mechanism has been discussed with the help of SEM observations. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Influence of wood flour loading on tribological behavior of epoxy composites

A series of wood flour (WF) filled epoxy composites consisting of five samples were prepared by varying the concentration of WF in step of 10 wt%. These samples were characterized for its wear behavior in abrasive and sliding wear modes to study the influence of WF. It was observed that specific wear rate (k₀) of all the composites decreased with increasing load in sliding wear mode. Specific wear rate was of the order of 10⁻¹⁰ m³/Nm in abrasive wear mode and ∼10⁻¹⁴ m³/Nm in sliding wear mode. Composite containing 40 wt% WF exhibited the lowest specific wear rate in abrasive wear mode. While composite containing 20 wt% WF exhibited lowest specific wear rate in sliding wear mode. This was attributed to the fact that in abrasive wear mode, the wear debris consisting of mainly WF particles was maximum for 10 wt% composite and minimum for 40 wt% composite. In sliding wear mode, the exposed WF particles caused maximum roughening of steel counterface in the case of composite containing higher concentration of WF particles. Hence, they exhibited a higher value of specific wear rate. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Crosstalk between β-Catenin and CCL2 Drives Migration of Monocytes towards Glioblastoma Cells

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype glioblastoma (GBM) is a fast growing and highly heterogeneous tumor, often characterized by the presence of glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs). The plasticity of GSCs results in therapy resistance and impairs anti-tumor immune response by influencing immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Previously, β-catenin was associated with stemness in GBM as well as with immune escape mechanisms. Here, we investigated the effect of β-catenin on attracting monocytes towards GBM cells. In addition, we evaluated whether CCL2 is involved in β-catenin crosstalk between monocytes and tumor cells. Our analysis revealed that shRNA targeting β-catenin in GBMs reduces monocytes attraction and impacts CCL2 secretion. The addition of recombinant CCL2 restores peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) migration towards medium (TCM) conditioned by shβ-catenin GBM cells. CCL2 knockdown in GBM cells shows similar effects and reduces monocyte migration to a similar extent as β-catenin knockdown. When investigating the effect of CCL2 on β-catenin activity, we found that CCL2 modulates components of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and alters the clonogenicity of GBM cells. In addition, the pharmacological β-catenin inhibitor MSAB reduces active β-catenin, downregulates the expression of associated genes and alters CCL2 secretion. Taken together, we showed that β-catenin plays an important role in attracting monocytes towards GBM cells in vitro. We hypothesize that the interactions between β-catenin and CCL2 contribute to maintenance of GSCs via modulating immune cell interaction and promoting GBM growth and recurrence.     

Physician knowledge,attitudes, and practices regarding physical activity restrictions in pediatric hemodialysis patients

Introduction

Epidemiologic studies of physical activity among pediatric hemodialysis (HD) patients are lacking. A sedentary lifestyle in End-Stage Kidney Disease is associated with a higher cardiovascular mortality risk. In those patients receiving HD, time spent on dialysis and restrictions on physical activity due to access also contribute. No consensus exists regarding physical activity restrictions based on vascular access type. The aim of this study was to describe the patterns of physical activity restrictions imposed by pediatric nephrologists on pediatric HD patients and to understand the basis for these restrictions.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study involving US pediatric nephrologists using an anonymized survey through Pediatric Nephrology Research Consortium. The survey consisted of 19 items, 6 questions detailed physician characteristics with the subsequent 13 addressing physical activity restrictions.

Findings

A total of 35 responses (35% response rate) were received. The average years in practice after fellowship was 11.5 years. Significant restrictions were placed on physical activity and water exposure. None of the participants reported accesses damage or loss that was attributed to physical activity and sport participation. Physicians practice is based on their personal experience, standard practice at their HD center, and clinical practices they were taught.

Discussion

There is no consensus among pediatric nephrologists about allowable physical activity in children receiving HD. Due to the lack of objective data, individual physician beliefs have been utilized to restrict activities in the absence of any deleterious effects to accesses. This survey clearly demonstrates the need for more prospective and detailed studies to develop guidelines regarding physical activity and dialysis access in order to optimize quality of care in these children.     

CFD analysis of a flat tube with semi-circular fins using graphene nanofluid and to compare performance with square type of fins

CFD analysis on a flat tube with semi-circular fins under laminar flow conditions was performed with graphene-based nanofluids considering the nanofluids as incompressible. Different simulations were performed at four different concentrations of nanofluids (0.01%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.4%) and at different volume flow rates (4, 6, 8, and 10 LPM) and at four different forced convective heat transfer coefficients at different wind velocities at 300 K (50, 100, 150, and 200 W/m² K). It was observed that with an increase in the concentration of nanoparticles in nanofluids, the thermal conductivity of base fluid water was increased (at 353 K the nanofluid of 0.4% volume concentration, the thermal conductivity of nanofluid increased by 200% with respect to base fluid). Graphene-based nanofluids have higher effectiveness than most nanofluids hence it is considered for the analysis, at 0.4% concentration of nanofluid the effectiveness observed was 36.84% at 4 LPM, and for water, the effectiveness was 28.22% under similar conditions. The effect of flow rate on temperature drop was significant. At 4 LPM and at 0.4% of nanofluid, an outlet coolant temperature of 333 K was observed whereas the water outlet temperature at 10 LPM is 346.13 K. The effect of forced convective air heat transfer coefficient was significantly high. At h = 50 W/m² K the outlet temperature of 0.4% nanofluid at 4 LPM was 345.25 K and at h = 200 W/m² K, the outlet coolant temperature was 333.47 K. A single tube of the radiator was considered for the analysis whereas the original radiator consists of 50 tubes due to problems of Ansys in meshing.