Optimization of Process Parameters of Pulsed Electro Deposition Technique for Nanocrystalline Nickel Coating Using Gray Relational Analysis (GRA)

The moving parts of any mechanism and machine parts are always subjected to a significant wear due to the development of friction. It is an utmost important aspect to address the wear problems in present environment. But the complexity goes on increasing to replace the worn out parts if they are very precise. Technology advancement in surface engineering ensures the minimum surface wear with the introduction of polycrystalline nano nickel coating. The enhanced tribological property of the nano nickel coating was achieved by the development of grain size and hardness of the surface. In this study, it has been decided to focus on the optimized parameters of the pulsed electro deposition to develop such a coating. Taguchi’s method coupled gray relational analysis was employed by considering the pulse frequency, average current density and duty cycle as the chief process parameters. The grain size and hardness were considered as responses. Totally, nine experiments were conducted as per L9 design of experiment. Additionally, response graph method has been applied to determine the most significant parameter to influence both the responses. In order to improve the degree of validation, confirmation test and predicted gray grade were carried out with the optimized parameters. It has been observed that there was significant improvement in gray grade for the optimal parameters.

Current knowledge on the distribution of arsenic in groundwater in five states of India

Testing of groundwater used for drinking for arsenic has been undertaken more widely by state governments in several states of India in recent years with the support of UNICEF. Available data for five states are collated in this paper and this provides the most up-to-date picture of areas known to be affected by arsenic in groundwater in the Indian portion of the Ganges-Brahmaputra river basin. In West Bengal, water from 132,262 government installed handpumps in 8 districts has been tested and overall 25.5% of samples were found to contain arsenic at concentrations greater than 50 microgL(-1) and 57.9% at concentrations greater than 10 microgL(-1). On the banks of the Brahmaputra in Assam, to date, samples from 5,729 government handpump sources in 22 districts have been tested for arsenic. Overall, samples from 6.3% of sources were found to contain arsenic at concentrations greater than 50 microgL(-1) and 26.1% at concentrations greater than 10 microgL(-1). In Bihar, on the River Ganges upstream of West Bengal, 66,623 sources from 11 districts have been tested and water samples from 10.8% of sources were found to contain arsenic at concentrations greater than 50 microgL(-1) and 28.9% at concentrations greater than 10 microgL(-1). Upstream of Bihar in Uttar Pradesh, home of the Taj Mahal, to date water samples from 20,126 government-installed handpump sources have been tested. As a result 2.4% of the samples tested were found to contain arsenic at concentrations greater than 50 microgL(-1) and 21.5% at concentrations greater than 10 microgL(-1). Finally in one district of Jharkhand, lying on the Ganges alluvial plain between Bihar and West Bengal, 9,007 sources have been tested and water samples from 3.7% of sources were found to contain arsenic at concentrations greater than 50 microgL(-1) and 7.5% at concentrations greater than 10 microgL(-1). State governments have adopted different sampling strategies and these are described in this paper. Testing is ongoing in several states and the complete picture is yet to emerge in some areas.

A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, comparative safety, and efficacy trial of oral co-artemether versus oral chloroquine in the treatment of acute uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in adults in India

In India, treatment of acute, uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria is becoming increasingly difficult due to resistance to chloroquine, thus there is a need for new antimalarial drugs. CGP 56697 (co-artemether), a new drug, is a combination of artemether and lumefantrine in a single oral formulation (one tablet = 20 mg of artemether plus 120 mg of lumefantrine). In a double-blind study, 179 patients with acute uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria were randomly assigned to receive either CGP (n = 89) given as a short course of 4 x 4 tablets over a 48-hr period or chloroquine (n = 90) given as four tablets (one tablet = 150 mg of chloroquine base) initially, followed by two tablets each at 6-8, 24, and 48 hr. Due to a death in the chloroquine group and a decrease in the chloroquine cure rate to < 50% (based on the blinded overall cure rate at that time), recruitment was terminated prematurely. CGP 56697 showed a superior 28-day cure rate (95.4% versus 19.7%; P < 0.001), time to parasite clearance (median = 36 versus 60 hr; P < 0.001), and resolution of fever (median = 18 versus 27 hr; P = 0.0456). This drug provides a safe, effective, and rapid therapy for the treatment of acute uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria.

Effects of flunarizine on dopamine dependent behaviours in rats

1. Radio-ligand binding study has demonstrated that flunarizine has a high affinity for the rat striatal D 2 dopamine (DA) receptors. 2. In the present behavioural study conducted in rats it was observed that flunarizine, unlike the postsynaptic striatal D 2 DA receptor agonist apomorphine, did not induce stereotyped behaviour (SB) in rats. This indicates that flunarizine does not act as an agonist at the postsynaptic striatal D 2 DA receptors. 3. Flunarizine however, like the postsynaptic striatal D 2 DA receptor antagonist haloperiodal, inhibited the conditioned avoidance response, induced catalepsy and antagonized the SB induced by the DA agonists apomorphine and methamphetamine. 4. Our findings indicate that flunarizine acts as a postsynaptic striatal D 2 DA receptor antagonist.