Influence of cerium oxide additive and aloe vera biodiesel on a CI engine

Diesel is the main source of world transportation due to higher combustion efficiency, compliance, consistency and cost-economy. It is also a major contributor to the world prosperity since it is used extensively. Diesel engine’s emissions are the serious hazard to the world environment and it is measured to be the major causes of air pollution. The demand in biofuels for years created a scope for aloe vera into biodiesels. Aloe vera, having higher calorific value vnthan other plant sources used as biodiesels, enhanced us in making another alternative biodiesel, which has lesser emissions and better performance. In this research work, four biodiesel blends from aloe vera oil with cerium oxide additive are explored for their performance and emission characteristics. The results proved B30 (30% biodiesel, 68% diesel and 1% cerium oxide) gives good performance when compared to other blends.     

A static verification approach for architectural integration of mixed-signal integrated circuits

In this paper we present a static method for verifying the proper integration of analog and mixed-signal macroblocks into an integrated circuit. We consider the problem in a setting where there is no golden reference for verifying the validity of the interconnections between the blocks. The proposed verification methodology relies on an abstract modeling of the functional behavior of the blocks and a set of consistency criteria defined over the composition of these abstract models. A new formalism called mode sequence chart (MSeqC) has been presented for capturing the behavior of the blocks at a level of abstraction that is suitable for interconnection verification. We present rules to compose the MSeqCs of each block in an integrated design and present three criteria that indicate possible interconnection faults. We present a tool called AMS-IV (AMS-interconnection verification) that takes the design netlist as input, the MSeqC model of each design block as reference, and tests the three criteria.     

Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir for untreated HCV genotype 1 infection in end stage renal disease patients: A prospective observational study

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in end stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with increased mortality. Recently, numerous directly acting antiviral agents have been approved for the management of HCV. Ledipasvir along with Sofosbuvir has been approved for management of genotype 1 infection in patients with eGFR ≥30 mL/min. However, there is paucity of data regarding its role in the management of patients on dialysis. Material and Methods: This is a single center prospective open label observational study to assess the safety and efficacy of Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir in hemodialysis (HD) patients who were diagnosed with HCV genotype 1 infection. Eligibility criteria were treatment naive HD patients with normal liver histology. We administered Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir combination tablet on alternate days for a period of 12 weeks. Primary efficacy end point was the assessment of sustained virological response (SVR12), and the safety end point was the discontinuation of therapy secondary to adverse drug effects. Results: A total of 21 patients were treated with this regimen. Two patients expired during the study period and are not related to the therapy. SVR12 was achieved in all the 19 patients. None of the patients in our study discontinued the therapy or had severe adverse drug effects. One patient had head ache and another patient had giddiness which were managed symptomatically. Conclusion: Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir combination therapy on alternate days, is effective even in ESRD patients, with excellent SVR12 rates, and it is as safe as in other population groups, without any major adverse reactions.     

Demarcating wetting states in textured microchannels under flow conditions by Poiseuille number

In this work, flow friction in microchannels decorated with micropillars was investigated experimentally, with an interest to understand the wetting transition through two simple means: Poiseuille number and scaling laws. Different wetting states were demarcated by qualitatively assessing the behaviour of Poiseuille number (Po = f·Re, where f is friction factor and Re is Reynolds number), which are further corroborated by confocal microscopy-based measurements and numerical simulations. The wetting transition ensued smoothly with an increase in Re, independent of the gas fraction (a ratio of area covered by the liquid–gas interface to the total projected area), for moderate gas fractions, whereas an early breakdown of the Cassie–Baxter state occurred irrespective of Re at high gas fractions. Additionally, the scaling laws were found to correlate well with the underlying state of the flow. Our observations revealed that the liquid–gas interface exhibits a partial slip, contrary to the common notion that it is shear free. It is inferred that an increase in effective flow area leads to a reduction in flow friction in textured microchannels. The present work underlines three important outcomes. The first is the identification of wetting states in flow conditions shown by tracking the Poiseuille number. The second is that the liquid–gas interface is deduced to behave like a partial slip boundary. The third is that a textured microchannel can be worse than an enlarged dimension microchannel.