Preliminary<Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> characterizations of a sol-gel derived bioactive glass-ceramic system

This study investigates quantitatively and qualitatively the sol-gel derived bioactive glass-ceramic system (BGS)—apatite-wollastonite (AW) type granules in the size range of 0.5–1 mm, as an effective graft material for bone augmentation and restoration. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) of the sintered granules revealed the rough material surface with micropores in the range 10–30 μm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the granules revealed the presence of crystalline phases of the hydroxyapatite and wollastonite, and the functional groups of the silicate and phosphates were identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Thein vitro cell culture studies with L929 mouse fibroblast cell line showed very few cells adhered on the BGS disc after 24 h. This could be due to the highly reactive surface of the disc concomitant with the crystallization but not due to the cytotoxicity of the material, since the cellular viability (MTT assay) with the material was 80‰ Cytotoxicity and cytocompatibility studies proved that the material was non-toxic and biocompatible. After 12 weeks of implantation of the BGS granules in the tibia bone of New Zealand white rabbits, the granules were found to be well osteointegrated, as observed in the radiographs. Angiogram with barium sulphate and Indian ink after 12 weeks showed the presence of microcapillaries in the vicinity of the implant site implicating high vascularity. Gross observation of the implant site did not show any inflammation or necrosis. SEM of the implanted site after 24 weeks revealed good osteointegration of the material with the newly formed bone and host bone. New bone was also observed within the material, which was degrading. Histological evaluation of the bone healing with the BGS granules in the tibial defect at all time intervals was without inflammation or fibrous tissue encapsulation. After 2 weeks the new bone was observed as a trabeculae network around the granules, and by 6 weeks the defect was completely closed with immature woven bone. By 12 weeks mature woven bone was observed, and new immature woven bone was seen within the cracks of the granules. After 24 weeks the defect was completely healed with lamellar bone and the size of the granules decreased. Histomorphometrically the area percentage of new bone formed was 67.77% after 12 weeks and 63.37% after 24 weeks. Less bone formation after 24 weeks was due to an increased implant surface area contributed by the material degradation and active bone remodeling. The osteostimulative and osteoconductive potential of the BGS granules was established by tetracycline labelling of the mineralizing areas by 2 and 6 weeks. This sol-gel derived BGS granules proved to be bioactive and resorbable which in turn encouraged active bone formation.     

A genetic‐based neuro‐fuzzy controller for blind equalization of time‐varying channels

This paper presents a neuro‐fuzzy network (NFN) where all its parameters can be tuned simultaneously using genetic algorithms (GAs). The approach combines the merits of fuzzy logic theory, neural networks and GAs. The proposed NFN does not require a priori knowledge about the system and eliminates the need for complicated design steps such as manual tuning of input–output membership functions, and selection of fuzzy rule base. Although, only conventional GAs have been used, convergence results are very encouraging. A well‐known numerical example derived from literature is used to evaluate and compare the performance of the network with other equalizing approaches. Simulation results show that the proposed neuro‐fuzzy controller, all parameters of which have been tuned simultaneously using GAs, offers advantages over existing equalizers and has improved performance. From the perspective of application and implementation, this paper is very interesting as it provides a new method for performing blind equalization. The main contribution of this paper is the use of learning algorithms to train a feed‐forward neural network for M‐ary QAM and PSK signals. This paper also provides a platform for researchers of the area for further development. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Non-darcy natural convection from a heated vertical plate in saturated porous media with mass transfer

The nonsimilar and self-similar flows for the steady natural convection over a vertical heated surface in a saturated porous medium with mass transfer using non-Darcy model have been studied under boundary layer approximations. The differential equations governing both the nonsimilar and self-similar flows have been solved numerically using an implicit finite-difference scheme developed by Keller. The results indicate that both heat transfer and velocity field are appreciably affected by the modified Grashof number and mass transfer except that the effect of the modified Grashof number on the heat transfer for large suction is very small. It is found that the maximum velocity occurs at the wall and it increases as the modified Grashof number or injection increases.     

Serum enzyme abnormalities in protein energy malnutrition

A semi-quantitative right coronary artery score (RCA score) was derived from the ratio of the number of the major left ventricular branches of the right coronary artery to the total of the right coronary and left circumflex arteries, to stratify the extent of perfusion in patients with right coronary artery dominance. Thirty-seven patients with one-vessel coronary disease involving a dominant right coronary artery proximal to the left ventricular branches were selected for study. Thallium scintigraphy was performed after right intracoronary injection in 11 patients, and 26 patients underwent conventional stress thallium scintigraphy (24 exercise thallium and two dipyridamole thallium scintigraphy). Thallium scores of perfusion region size after right intracoronary thallium injection and perfusion defect size in stress thallium studies were quantitated from planar thallium images. Both the RCA score and the regional thallium scores spanned over a wide range. The RCA score (range 0.23-0.85) correlated best with the posterior (70 degrees left anterior oblique view) plus lateral segment (40 degrees left anterior oblique view) thallium score (r = 0.88 and 0.53 for intracoronary and stress thallium studies respectively). It also correlated with the summed thallium scores in the posterior, lateral, apical and inferior segments (r = 0.73 and 0.54 respectively) but not with thallium scores in the apex or inferior segment alone. The proposed RCA score quantitates the variable posterolateral perfusion territory of the right coronary artery, and could stratify the area of myocardium at risk from coronary stenosis in the majority of patients with right coronary dominance.     

Intelligent monitor for typhoon in IoT system of smart city

The Journal of Supercomputing - Accidents often occur in the earth—typhoons, floods, earthquakes, traffic accidents and so on. Whether these accidents can be timely and effectively responded...     

Formation of Zinc–Antimony-Based Spinel Phases

Formation of spinel phases in ZnO–Sb₂O₃and ZnO–Sb₂O₃–Bi₂O₃systems is studied by the use of X-ray diffraction. The formation of nonstoichiometric Zn_2.33Sb_0.67O₄phase is observed in both the systems at ∼900°C. However, in these systems, at higher temperatures ( T ≥ 1100°C), formation of the inverse spinel phase Zn₇Sb₂O₁₂is observed. The study has been extended to understand the effect of CrO₃doping on the stability of the different spinel phases in the previously mentioned systems. Interestingly, in both the systems, samples doped with CrO₃, displayed the presence of Zn_2.33Sb_0.67O₄phase <1200°C, indicating the stabilization of the spinel phase by CrO₃.     

Microstructure determination and thermal studies of n‐acryloylcarbazole/vinyl acetate copolymers

Copolymers of N‐acryloylcarbazole (A) and vinyl acetate (V) were synthesized by bulk polymerization using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as free‐radical initiator at 65°C in different in‐feed ratios. The composition of the copolymer was determined by ¹H‐NMR spectrum. The comonomer reactivity ratios, determined by Kelen–Tudos (KT) and nonlinear error‐in‐variables (EVM) methods, were r_A= 16.75 ± 1.38, r_V = 0.015 ± 0.002, and r_A = 16.36, r_V = 0.015, respectively. Complete spectral assignments of the ¹H and ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectra of the copolymers were done by the help of distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer (DEPT) and two‐dimensional NMR techniques such as heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) and total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY). The methine and methylene carbon resonances were found to be compositional as well as configurational sensitive. The signals obtained were broad pertaining to the restricted rotation of bulky carbazole group. The thermal stability and glass‐transition temperatures (T_g) of the copolymers were found to be dependant on polymer composition and characteristic of rotational rigidity of the polymer chain. Variation in the values of T_g with the copolymer composition was found to be in good agreement with theoretical values obtained from Johnston and Barton equations. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2720–2733, 2007     

Multi-Model Approach to Assess the Dynamics of Hydrologic Components in a Tropical Ecosystem

Estimation of terrestrial water budget at global and regional scales are essential for efficient agricultural water management, flood predictions, and, hydrological modeling. In hydrological modeling, it is a challenging task to quantify the major hydrological components like runoff, evapotranspiration (ET), and total water storage (TWS) due to improper and limited availability of detailed meteorological datasets. Furthermore, there has been no consensus to answer a-decade-long critical question that a less data-intensive models can be an alternate to robust data-intensive models in data scarce conditions. This study aims at multi-model approach over the single models usage for representing the hydrological behaviour in the Kangsabati River Basin (KRB), India. It is done by applying the standard model selection criteria over various hydrological models. Two hydrological models are selected, a semi- distributed model, Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC-3 L), and a conceptually lumped model, Identification of unit Hydrograph and Component flows from Rainfall, Evapotranspiration and Streamflow (IHACRES). Both models were calibrated against the observed daily discharge at the KRB outlet for the period of 2001–2006 and validated for 2008–2010. The results show that both VIC-3 L and IHACRES produce reasonable runoff estimates at daily and monthly time scale in the KRB. The ET estimates show that VIC-3 L and IHACRES captured the seasonal variations with the percent change of 0.4% and 6.6% respectively. As IHACRES is simpler, parsimonious, fewer parameters, and better performances, it can be useful for hydrological modeling in data-scarce regions.

     

Hydrological Response to Agricultural Land Use Heterogeneity Using Variable Infiltration Capacity Model

Hydrological responses corresponding to the agricultural land use alterations are critical for planning crop management strategies, water resources management, and environmental evaluations. However, accurate estimation and evaluation of these hydrological responses are restricted by the limited availability of detailed crop classification in land use and land cover. An innovative approach using state-of-the-art Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model is utilized by setting up the crop-specific vegetation parameterization and analyse the effect of uniform and heterogeneous agricultural land use over the hydrological responses of the basin, in the Kangsabati River Basin (KRB). Thirteen year simulations (1998–2010) based on two different scenarios i.e., single-crop in agricultural land use (SC-ALU) and multi-crop in agricultural land use (MC-ALU) patterns are incorporated in the model and calibrated (1998–2006) and validated (2007–2010) for the streamflow at Reservoir and Mohanpur in the KRB. The results demonstrated that the VIC model improved the estimates of hydrological components, especially surface runoff and evapotranspiration (ET) at daily and monthly timescales corresponding to MC-ALU than SC-ALU (NSC?>?0.7). Grid-scale ET estimates are improved after incorporating heterogeneous agricultural land use (NSC?>?0.55 and R²?>?0.55) throughout the period of 1998–2010. This study improves our understanding on how the change in agricultural land use in the model settings alters the basin hydrological characteristics, and to provide model-based approaches for best management practices in irrigation scheduling, crop water requirement, and management strategies in the absence of flux towers, eddy covariance, and lysimeters in the basin.