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Frequency Response Analysis (FRA) is a comparison based method and is useful to identify the mechanical fault in transformer winding only when the ‘healthy’ or ‘reference’ magnitude response is available. But, in practice, ‘healthy’ response may not be always available and the subsequent FRA measurement alone also cannot detect the fault. This is one serious limitation for conventional FRA method and the desired solution is still far away. To this effect, this paper presents an innovative way of measuring the frequency responses of transformer winding with two equal and opposite polarity sinusoidal excitations from two ends. For viability test, the present work is limited to fault-detection only in a single isolated uniformly-wound transformer winding followed by verification on an actual single-phase autotransformer. The two equal and opposite polarity excitations for such winding are likely to impose a virtual ground at the centre and hence the two admittances measured from the two source-ends are likely to be identical. Two admittances also get dissimilar for a fault in transformer winding and therefore the fault could be identified simply by measuring and comparing these two responses in absence of ‘healthy’ response. Pertinent simulation and experimental results are also included in the paper.

Although FRA method is very popular and well-known for its accuracy in fault-detection in three-phase transformer, it has not become an adept so far in fault localization. Fault-localization in transformer winding is undoubtedly an important aspect in fault diagnosis and providing a solution to any extent for this problem would be certainly a worthwhile contribution. Towards this approach, even identifying the faulty winding could be a substantial contribution to enhance the diagnostic performance of FRA method. To this context, this paper presents an innovative FRA measurement technique to identify the faulty phase (whether the middle or either of the two outer phases) in ‘delta-connected’ HV windings. Proposed technique imposes an apparent ‘second-delta’ from the terminals together with the presence of original ‘delta’ inside and measures the two desired output current responses simultaneously for an excitation to the middle phase. A mere observation of symmetry or asymmetry between the two responses determines whether the fault exists in the middle phase or in any of the two outer phase windings. Proposed technique is first evaluated by the simulation results followed by experimental measurements on actual three-phase transformer windings. Results reported in this paper are also found very promising and encouraging.

In this paper, a novel technique to improve the fault detection sensitivity in a three-phase transformer using the tank current method is reported. The tank current method was first published by the first author in recent past for single isolated transformer winding. A fault in single isolated transformer winding was uniquely identified employing the typical resonance behavior of tank current, but for three-phase transformer, such implementation is yet to be explored. The present scope of this paper is only for uniformly wound three-phase transformer windings. Implementing the tank current method for such a three-phase transformer may not be very simple, since the neighboring windings, unlike in the case of isolated winding, strongly influence the measurement of the tank current. Therefore, this paper appropriately considers the effect of neighboring windings in a three-phase transformer and investigates the resonance behavior of its tank current to propose a promising innovative extension approach of the method. Experimental results on actual transformers are also presented for practical validation of the proposed method. Results imply that the tank current method is indeed very sensitive to identify the fault in an actual transformer compared to the conventional neutral current method. The authors also believe that the method needs to be reinforced by field measurements on several transformers to ascertain its viability.

In schizophrenia, neurocognitive subtypes can be distinguished based on cognitive performance and they are associated with neuroanatomical alterations. We investigated the existence of cognitive subtypes in shortly medicated recent onset psychosis patients, their underlying gray matter volume patterns and clinical characteristics. We used a K-means algorithm to cluster 108 psychosis patients from the multi-site EU PRONIA (Prognostic tools for early psychosis management) study based on cognitive performance and validated the solution independently (N = 53). Cognitive subgroups and healthy controls (HC; n = 195) were classified based on gray matter volume (GMV) using Support Vector Machine classification. A cognitively spared (N = 67) and impaired (N = 41) subgroup were revealed and partially independently validated (Nspared = 40, Nimpaired = 13). Impaired patients showed significantly increased negative symptomatology (pfdr = 0.003), reduced cognitive performance (pfdr pfdr p = 0.01) separating impaired patients from HC revealed increases and decreases across several fronto-temporal-parietal brain areas, including basal ganglia and cerebellum. Cognitive and functional disturbances alongside brain morphological changes in the impaired subgroup are consistent with a neurodevelopmental origin of psychosis. Our findings emphasize the relevance of tailored intervention early in the course of psychosis for patients suffering from the likely stronger neurodevelopmental character of the disease.

Gomm-Button disease (Sweet syndrome) typically presents with abrupt onset of tender skin lesions accompanied by fever and neutrophilia. Histopathology shows the presence of dense neutrophilic infiltrates, oedema without vasculitis. One of the criteria for diagnosis of sweets syndrome is the absence of vasculitis. However, recent reports suggest that vasculitis should not exclude the diagnosis. We present a case of Sweet syndrome with an atypical clinical and histopathological presentation.

Finned pile is the foundation system that often resists larger lateral loads effectively than regular pile. In present study, a series of model tests were conducted to study the effect of the fin shape, its position along pile length, fin number, and effect of relative density on lateral resistance of finned piles embedded in sand. Two fin shapes, i.e., rectangular and triangular were employed. Two- and four-finned piles were tested. The effect of fin position was also investigated by mounting the fins at top, middle, and bottom of piles, and an attempt is also made to recommend the optimum fin dimensions. The tests were conducted for piles of varying pile lengths embedded in sand having relative density of loose and dense states, respectively. The pile lengths were selected by using Brom’s (1964a, b) recommendations. It was observed that lateral resistance increases with increase in pile length and relative density of sand, four-finned piles carry larger load than two-finned piles. Also, the rectangular fins carry more load than triangular fins mounted close to pile head. Finally, the lateral resistance increased effectively with increase in fin length up to Lf/Lp of 0.4.

Piles are subjected to lateral and uplift loads in case of offshore structures, transmission towers and foundations for wind turbines. An attempt is made to investigate the effect of belled pile to resist lateral loads. Model tests were conducted by varying L/d ratio, Db/Ds; where Db = diameter of bell, Ds = diameter of shaft/pile and also by varying the relative density corresponding to loose and medium dense states of sand. A series of experiments were conducted in a model box, using aluminium piles with Ds of 48 mm and Db of 72 mm and 96 mm at base angles of 30°, 45° and 60° respectively are used. Relative density is achieved by means of rainfall technique. Tests were conducted for L/d ratios of 5, 7.5 and 10. The lateral load was applied in increments using lever hoist arrangement connected to prove ring and corresponding lateral deformations was observed with a dial gauge. From test results with increasing the L/d ratio, bell diameter and relative density would result in increase of the lateral resistance and decrease in deformation. It was also observed that lateral resistance of belled pile is more compared to monopile.

In the present study, an attempt is made to evaluate the strength and dilatancy parameters of sands mixed with jute fibres. A series of direct shear tests were performed on sample of sands with mixture of 0, 0.25 and 0.50% of jute fibres at three different relative density states, namely loose, medium dense and dense, the effect of stress level is also bought out by varying the effective normal stress. The tests were conducted on dry sand having different relative densities (i.e. 20, 50 and 80%) subjecting them to different constant values of vertical normal stress ranging from 50 to 400 kPa. At each stress level and density state for each case of sand fibre mixture, peak frictional angle and dilatancy angle were found out by conducting direct shear tests. A series of the direct shear tests were conducted up to shear strain value of 40%. The stress-strain response was observed, and the shear strength and dilatancy parameters were obtained for sand–jute fibre mixture with each relative density and normal stresses. Also, a correlation between peak friction angle, dilatancy angle and critical state friction angle was obtained for sands mixed with jute fibre. The present data was also compared with those of the previous established correlations by Bolton (Geotechnique 36(1):65–78, 1986) and Kumar et al. (Indian Geotech J 37(1):53, 2007).

This paper presents an in-depth analysis of tank current measurement for fault detection in a three-phase transformer winding model. In the first part of analysis, a unique fault detection sensitivity of tank current is presented for a three-phase winding model followed by determining the best terminal configuration to improve the sensitivity further. As a consequence of fault in three-phase winding model, it is found that tank current measurement always exhibits new additional resonance peaks. This feature is very unique for tank current response compared to the features in conventional FRA measurements. Further, an attempt is also made to quantify the fault-detection sensitivity of tank current by defining two indices. One index (named as “S-index”) is defined by the number of new extra resonance peaks in tank current magnitude response as a consequence of fault. Another is the well-known “root mean square deviation” between the two responses before and after the fault. Higher the index values, more is the sensitivity for tank current to fault detection. Using these indices, this paper also determines that the fault detection sensitivity is more for tank current if the non-tested phase terminals are kept shorted and grounded. Simulation results and experimental measurements on a practical three-phase winding model demonstrate the facts too. For practical viability, authors would also like to extend the present work for actual transformers in near future.

The present study focuses on the recent earthquake activity in Palghar region, Maharashtra, India. Until 31 August 2019, a total of 4854 earthquakes have been located here, whose local magnitude (M L) varied from 0.1 to 4.1. Majority of the earthquakes (~94%) were located in the depth range 4-16 km. The precise earthquake relocations reveal two clusters. The N-S trending cluster north of 20.04°N extends to a depth of 10 km, whereas the NE-SW trending cluster to the south of 20.04°N extends to 16 km depth. The shallow northern cluster is noticed to be sandwiched between two mapped mafic intrusions, whereas the deeper southern segment shows earthquakes clustering around the mafic intrusion. The modelled composite focal mechanism solutions for both the north and south clusters suggest normal faulting with a minor strike-slip component as the dominant deformation mode for the Palghar region. From relocated seismici-ty, we have detected a deeper seismically active zone (with M > 3) at 4-16 km depth, occupying a crustal volume of 1440 km 3 (i.e. 20 km (in N-S) × 6 km (in E-W) and 12 km (in depth)) that dips toward 20°S and 70°W. This could be attributed to the large crustal stresses induced by the mafic intrusive body below the region.

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common, chronic inflammatory disease characterized by nonscarring hair loss on the scalp or any hair-bearing area of the body. Recently, dermoscopy, a noninvasive diagnostic procedure, has been employed for the diagnosis of AA. Aim: To evaluate various dermoscopic patterns in AA and correlate these patterns with the disease activity and severity. Materials and Methods: Dermoscopy was performed on AA patients using DL1 dermoscope (magnification ×10 was used). The dermoscopic patterns recorded were analyzed to identify any correlation with the disease activity and severity. Results: A total of fifty patients of AA were recruited in the study. Female outnumbered males with the ratio being 1.173:1. Mean age of the patients was 25.06 years. Mean duration of disease was 14 months. The most common site involved was scalp (80%) and type noted was patchy (84%). Various dermoscopic patterns noted were yellow dots (YD) (88%), short vellus hair (66%), black dots (BD) (58%), broken hairs (BHs) (56%), tapering hair (TH) (26%), Coudability hairs (14%), pigtail hair (14%), and Pohl-Pinkus constrictions (2%). Statistically significant correlation was observed between BD, BHs, THs, and disease activity. No significant correlation was found between severity and any of the dermoscopic features. Conclusion: The most common dermoscopic pattern in our study was YD. Presence of BDs, BHs, and THs indicate active disease. Dermoscopic patterns were not affected by severity of the disease.

Background: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of intramuscularly administered nalbuphine, butorphanol and pentazocine for post-operative pain relief after abdominal hysterectomy. Methods: Seventy-five adult female patients, aged between 20-50 years, belonging to American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) class 1 and 2, posted for abdominal hysterectomy under spinal anesthesia were included in the study. The subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=25 each) and given – Group A: pentazocine lactate (30 mg, 1mL), Group B: butorphanol tartarate (2 mg, 1 ml) and Group C: nalbuphine hydrochloride (10 mg, 1 mL) when post-operative pain intensity reached ≥4 mm on the Visual analogue scale (VAS). The onset, duration, time to peak effect and adverse events were recorded at regular intervals for 24 hours, postoperatively. Results: The mean time to onset of anesthesia was significantly faster (P

Two experiments were designed to evaluate the impact of puberty status and the administration of melengestrol acetate (MGA) before onset of the breeding period on ovulatory responses (Exp. 1) and conception rate after AI performed on estrus detection during 10 d and the pregnancy rate through 80 d of breeding period (Exp. 2) of pasture-grazed beef heifers. In Exp. 1, heifers (15 pubertal and 15 prepubertal) received 0.5 mg per heifer/d -1 of MGA over 14 d. No differences in the ovulatory responses were found 10 d after the MGA administration (pubertal = 46.7% vs. prepubertal P = 53.3%; P = 0.72). In Exp. 2, 368 heifers were randomly assigned to groups according to pubertal status and the MGA treatment. All heifers were inseminated on estrus detection for up 10 d after MGA administration and following exposure to bulls between 20 and 80 d. The MGA-treated heifers exhibited a greater AI service rate than control heifers (72.1 vs. 41.6%;P < 0.01); however, heifers receiving MGA had lower conception results following AI (51.6 vs. 71.4%; P = 0.01). In addition, MGA-treated heifers were more likely to have a corpus luteum in the middle of the breeding period (95.3 vs. 87.5%;P < 0.01), although the Cox proportional hazard of pregnancy rate was similar (P = 0.29) at the end of the breeding period. At onset of the breeding period, pubertal heifers presented a greater pregnancy rate following AI (pubertal P = 42.2% vs. prepubertal P = 24.9%; P = 0.01). Therefore, pubertal heifers seem to have greater overall reproductive efficiency than prepubertal heifers, particularly at the beginning of the breeding period. Interestingly, administration of MGA before the onset of the breeding period increased AI service rate but did not alter the rate of pregnancy throughout the breeding period of pasture-grazed beef heifers.

Lateral forces are due to impact of ships during berthing, wave action, traction and breaking forces in bridges, wind forces in towers and transmission line towers. Pile foundations in such situations are usually provided by a combination of vertical and batter piles. Literatures pertaining to lateral load carrying capacity of batter pile groups of various combinations is limited, hence in the present work an attempt is made to conduct series of experiments on various combination of model batter pile groups in sand. The model tests were conducted on pile groups of 2x2, by keeping vertical length of pile 400mm, diameter of pile 20mm. The piles were driven in both, loose state of sand (relative density=35%) and medium dense sand (relative density =50%). The Batter angle is varied from-300 to+300with respect to vertical axis. It was found that the combination of all the piles with batter carried more lateral load than when compared to vertical piles or combination of vertical and batter piles in a group and also the lateral resistance was found to be more for all the combination of batter pile groups with load axis perpendicular to batter, than with load and batter in the same direction as in case of conventional nomenclature of positive and negative batter. Also as the density of sand is increased the lateral resistance was found to increase.

In the present study, an attempt is made to evaluate the lateral load carrying capacity of helical pile with varying embedment length and by varying relative density of sand. A series of model tests were conducted on pile with zero, one, two and three helices, with varying embedment depth of 700mm, 600mm and 450mm. The diameter of the shaft and helix is 30mm and 90mm respectively, the spacing of helices is one times the diameter of the helix i.e., 90mm. The pile is driven in both, loose state of sand (relative density = 35%) and medium dense sand (relative density = 50%).The ultimate lateral load increases as the embedment depth increases. The ultimate lateral load increases as L/d ratio (Where L=depth of embedment, d=diameter of shaft;) increases and also increases as the number of helices increases. The ultimate lateral load is more in the helical pile compare to plain vertical pile. The triple helical pile for all the embedment length offer more resistance and carry more load and higher resistance and least load is seen in the plain vertical pile. The ultimate load for all the embedment depth in medium dense sand was found to be more in all cases, than piles driven in loose sand. The increase in lateral load resistance with increase in embedment depth is attributed to increase in passive resistance. A Comparison was made between plain vertical pile and with varying number of helices in a helical pile with varying embedment depth. It was found that the lateral resistance increases even with increase of one helical and it is more as the number of helices increases. Also as the relative density of sand is increased, the lateral resistance was found to increase.

Cockayne syndrome (CS) is a rare genodermatosis with autosomal recessive inheritance and around 180 cases have been reported worldwide. It results from mutation in genes ERCC8 and ERCC6 coding for proteins involved in transcription-coupled repair. It is characterized by profound growth retardation, microcephaly, neurodevelopmental impairment, photosensitive skin eruption, premature skin aging, disproportionate large hands, feet and ears, ocular defects, and extensive demyelination. It spans a phenotypic spectrum that includes classic (CS-I), rare severe form with onset from birth (CS-II) and late onset milder form (CS-III). Here, we report an infant with neonatal onset CS-II along with a brief review of the literature.

As produtividades de biomassa de sistemas tradicionais (cultivos de milho e feijão, capim buffel ou palma) e agroflorestais (cultivos entre fileiras de gliricídia ou maniçoba) foram comparadas em experimento em parcelas subdivididas, de 2006 a 2009, em Taperoá, Paraíba. A precipitação média é de 600 mm. Nas parcelas agroflorestais as fileiras de árvores distavam 6 m, com 1 m entre árvores. No sistema tradicional, os cultivos produziram 33% mais biomassa e a biomassa de milho e feijão foi o dobro da produzida nos sistemas agroflorestais. O capim buffel foi o cultivo que mais produziu no sistema agroflorestal. No sistema tradicional os cultivos que mais produziram foram buffel e consórcio milho e feijão. A gliricídia produziu nove vezes mais biomassa de folhas, galhos finos e lenha que a maniçoba. Incluindo essas biomassas, a produtividade total nos sistemas agroflorestais foi 260% maior que nos sistemas tradicionais. Os coeficientes de variação da produtividade anual de biomassa foram menores nos sistemas agroflorestais. Portanto, a presença de árvores não só aumentou a produtividade total como conferiu maior estabilidade aos sistemas.The biomass productivity of traditional systems (corn and beans, buffel grass and prickly pear cactus) and agroforestry systems (crops betwenn lines of gliricídia or maniçoba) were compared in a split plot experiment, during 2006 to 2009, in Taperoá, Paraíba, Brazil. Mean annual rainfall in the region is 600 mm. The agroforestry alleys were 6 m apart with 1 m between trees. In the traditional systems, the crops produced 33% more biomass and the corn and beans double the biomass of the agroforestry systems. Buffel grass was the most productive crop in the agroforestry systems. In the traditional systems, buffel and intercrops corn and beans were the most productive crops. Gliricidia produced nine times more leaf, twig and fuel wood biomass than maniçoba. Including these biomasses the productivity of the agroforestry systems was 260% higher than that of the traditional systems. The coefficient of variation of the annual biomass productivity was lower for the agroforestry systems. Therefore, the presence of trees increases not only the productivity but also the stability of the systems.

Silent transmission of Mycobacterium leprae, as evidenced by stable leprosy incidence rates in various countries, remains a health challenge despite the implementation of multidrug therapy worldwide. Therefore, the development of tools for the early diagnosis of M. leprae infection should be emphasised in leprosy research. As part of the continuing effort to identify antigens that have diagnostic potential, unique M. leprae peptides derived from predicted virulence-associated proteins (group IV.A) were identified using advanced genome pattern programs and bioinformatics. Based on human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-binding motifs, we selected 21 peptides that were predicted to be promiscuous HLA-class I T-cell epitopes and eight peptides that were predicted to be HLA-class II restricted T-cell epitopes for field-testing in Brazil, Ethiopia and Nepal. High levels of interferon (IFN)-γ were induced when peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from tuberculoid/borderline tuberculoid leprosy patients located in Brazil and Ethiopia were stimulated with the ML2055 p35 peptide. PBMCs that were isolated from healthy endemic controls living in areas with high leprosy prevalence (EChigh) in Ethiopia also responded to the ML2055 p35 peptide. The Brazilian EChigh group recognised the ML1358 p20 and ML1358 p24 peptides. None of the peptides were recognised by PBMCs from healthy controls living in non-endemic region. In Nepal, mixtures of these peptides induced the production of IFN-γ by the PBMCs of leprosy patients and EChigh. Therefore, the M. leprae virulence-associated peptides identified in this study may be useful for identifying exposure to M. leprae in population with differing HLA polymorphisms.

Nanocrystalline wollastonite (?-CaSiO3) phosphor powder has been synthesized by low temperature combustion method and characterized by powder XRD (X-ray diffraction). The structural morphology and the particle size have been analyzed by SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and TEM (transmission electron microscopy) respectively. The powder has been subjected to ?-irradiation and the resulted thermoluminescence (TL) behaviour has been investigated. The TL glow curves reveal that the TL intensity increases with the radiation dose, a property desired by a TL dosimeter. The trapping parameters like activation energy (E) and order of kinetics (b) were estimated by deconvolution method using peak shape of 60 Gy glow curve and the results are discussed. © 2011 The Indian Ceramic Society.

In this work we use cyclic voltammetry, linear polarization resistance (LPR) measurements and Fourier transform electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (FT-EIS) to study the chemical mechanisms of chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) of TaN wafers in pH-controlled solutions of Tartaric acid (C4H6O6) and H2O2. These solutions can support CMP of TaN diffusion-barriers in the fabrication of interconnect structures, and can be particularly useful for chemically dominant low-pressure CMP in a non- or weakly alkaline environment to avoid OH− induced damages to Si-based low-k dielectrics. Electrochemical results presented here demonstrate how the individual and synergistic chemistries of C4H6O6 and H2O2 control the removal of TaN surface layers. LPRs measured in tartaric acid solutions at pH 3–8 exhibit strong correlations with TaN wafer polish rates obtained in these solutions. A.C. impedance measurements help to clarify the underlying chemical mechanisms of material removal. These findings indicate that the Ta sites of TaN are oxidized to Ta2O5 by O2 and H2O2 in the solution, followed by structural weakening of the oxide film due to the formation of Ta(OH)5 and mechanically fragile Ta-tartarate surface complexes.

As quantidades de esterco disponíveis nas propriedades não são suficientes para adubar as áreas agrícolas na região semiárida do Brasil. Além disso, o esterco apresenta, em geral, baixa qualidade e pode causar imobilização de nitrogênio do solo. Sendo assim, os adubos verdes, como as ramas de gliricídia ou a sua mistura com esterco, podem ser boa alternativa para aumentar a disponibilidade e a qualidade de adubos orgânicos. O crescimento inicial e a absorção de nutrientes pelo algodoeiro e pela mamoneira, adubados com esterco e/ou gliricídia, foram medidos em dois cultivos consecutivos, em casa de vegetação, utilizando-se os tratamentos: testemunha; incorporação de 20 t ha-1 de esterco; incorporação de 20 t ha-1 de folhas de gliricídia; e incorporação da mistura de 10 t ha-1 de esterco e de 10 t ha-1 de gliricídia. O tratamento com a incorporação de gliricídia apresentou maior crescimento das plantas de algodão e de mamona, tal como a maior e mais rápida disponibilização de N mineral e o maior acúmulo de nutrientes, com recuperações aparentes de N, P e K, significativamente superiores às dos demais tratamentos. O esterco não aumentou a disponibilidade de N no solo, mas sua mistura com a gliricídia aumentou a disponibilidade de N, P e K do solo em relação à testemunha, tratando-se de prática promissora capaz de melhorar a qualidade do esterco.The amount of manure available on farms in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil is usually insufficient to fertilize the cultivated areas. Besides this, in most cases the manure available is of low quality and may immobilize soil nitrogen. For these reasons, the use of green manures, such as gliricidia prunings, or the mixture of these with animal manures, may be a good alternative to increase the availability and quality of organic fertilizers. The initial growth and uptake of nutrient by cotton and castor bean fertilized with manure and/or gliricidia were measured in two consecutive growing periods in the greenhouse. The treatments were: incorporation 20 t ha-1 of manure; incorporation of 20 t ha-1 of gliricidia prunings; incorporation of the mixture of 10 t ha-1 of manure and 10 t ha-1 of gliricidia; and a control without fertilization. The treatment with gliricídia incorporation resulted in better development of both crops, greater soil N availability, greater accumulation of nutrients in the dry biomass of the crops, and greater apparent recovery of N, P and K, relative to the other treatments. The manure did not increase soil N availability, but the mixture of manure and gliricidia increased availability of soil N, P and K in relation to the control treatment, proving to be a promising practice capable of improving the quality of animal manure.

Alkylation of 1-naphthol with methanol has been carried out over various MSAPO-5, MSAPO-11 and MMCM-41 catalysts for the first time. These catalysts have been showed good activity and characterized using XRD, XPS, FTIR, ESR etc. The framework substitution of metal ion is confirmed by various analytical techniques.

Integration of Cu/Ta/low-k dielectric structures requires that chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) of Cu lines and barrier layers be performed at low down pressures (~2 psi) to avoid damages to the underlying fragile dielectrics. At the same time, to avoid loss of throughput, the chemical activity of the slurry must be increased. We report an approach to slurry engineering that can help to achieve these goals in CMP of Cu/Ta/TaN over low-k dielectrics. These slurries employ silica abrasives in a single dispersion of oxalic and tartaric acids, with the objective of removing both Cu lines and Ta/TaN barrier layers simply by varying the operating slurry pH. In this approach, bulk Cu can be removed at high rates and residual Cu can be removed at lower rates (to minimize dishing) by adjusting the pH and the H2O2 content of the slurries. Ta/TaN can also be removed at good polish rates.

In a continuation of the authors’ recent work, the ultimate tip resistance of a miniature cone using triaxial equipment was determined for samples of dry sand mixed with dry fly ash. The effect of (i) the proportion of fly ash, (ii) the relative density of samples, and (iii) the vertical overburden pressure was examined. It was noted that an addition of fly ash in sand for the same range of relative density leads to a significant reduction in the ultimate tip resistance of the cone (qcu). This occurs due to a decrease in the friction angle (ϕ) of the sample with an increase in the fly ash content for a given relative density. For ϕ greater than about 30°, two widely used correlation curves from published literature, providing the relationships between qcuand ϕ for cohesionless soils, were found to provide satisfactory predictions, even for sand – fly ash mixtures. As was expected, the values of qcuincrease continuously with an increase in the relative density of the soil mass and the vertical effective (overburden) stress on the sample.

Herbivory contributes substantially to plant functional diversity and in ways that move far beyond direct defence trait patterns, as effective growth strategies under herbivory require modification of multiple functional traits that are indirectly related to defence. In order to understand how herbivory has shaped plant functional diversity, we need to consider the physiology and architecture of the herbivores and how this constrains effective defence strategies. Here we consider herbivory by mammals in savanna communities that range from semi-arid to humid conditions. We posited that the saplings of savanna trees can be grouped into two contrasting defence strategies against mammals, namely architectural defence versus low nutrient defence. We provide a mechanistic explanation for these different strategies based on the fact that plants are under competing selection pressures to limit herbivore damage and outcompete neighbouring plants. Plant competitiveness depends on growth rate, itself a function of leaf mass fraction (LMF) and leaf nitrogen per unit mass (Nm). Architectural defence against vertebrates (which includes spinescence) limits herbivore access to plant leaf materials, and partly depends on leaf-size reduction, thereby compromising LMF. Low nutrient defence requires that leaf material is of insufficient nutrient value to support vertebrate metabolic requirements, which depends on low Nm. Thus there is an enforced tradeoff between LMF and Nm, leading to distinct trait suites for each defence strategy. We demonstrate this tradeoff by showing that numerous traits can be distinguished between 28 spinescent (architectural defenders) and non-spinescent (low nutrient defenders) of Fabaceae tree species from savannas, where mammalian herbivory is an important constraint on plant growth. Distributions of the strategies along an LMF-Nm tradeoff further provides a predictive and parsimonious explanation for the uneven distribution of spinescent and non-spinescent species across water and nutrient gradients.

Abrasive particles used in chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) of copper often agglomerate and cause scratches on the finished surface. Abrasive-free CMP offers a feasible solution to this problem, and our present work examines four dicarboxylic acids (oxalic, malonic, succinic and glutaric, with increasing carbon chain lengths) as possible complexing agents for such a chemically dominated CMP process. At pH 3.0-4.0, oxalic and malonic acids are most effective for abrasive-free Cu removal. The rates of Cu dissolution and polish (with or without abrasives) are correlated with pH dependent distributions of mono-anionic (for oxalic and malonic) and neutral (for succinic and glutaric) acid species. The surface morphologies of a Cu wafers obtained by abrasive-free CMP in these acids also are more defect free and flat compared to those obtained using abrasives.

A reposição do P mais lábil pelas frações menos lábeis do solo foi avaliada após dez extrações sucessivas com resina e incubação, durante quatro meses, em amostras dos horizontes A, BA e Bw de Latossolos e A e Bt de Luvissolos, coletadas do terço superior, médio e inferior de três toposseqüências de cada classe, fazendo-se um fracionamento seqüencial de P antes das extrações sucessivas e depois da incubação. O fracionamento foi feito com resina, NaHCO3 (fração orgânica e inorgânica), NaOH (fração orgânica e inorgânica), H2SO4 e uma digestão com H2SO4 e H2O2. Não houve diferenças significativas entre posições na encosta. As dez extrações sucessivas retiraram duas a cinco vezes mais P que a primeira extração nos Latossolos e duas a nove vezes nos Luvissolos. As últimas extrações mostraram estabilidade em torno de 1 mg kg-1 em todos os solos e horizontes. Após a incubação, o P-resina recuperou 20-30 % do seu valor inicial nos horizontes A (1,8 e 3,3 mg kg-1) e 50-90 % nos subsuperficiais (1,1 e 1,2 mg kg-1), para Latossolos e Luvissolos, respectivamente. As demais frações também se alteraram, mais nos Luvissolos e nos horizontes superficiais. Entretanto, as frações mais estáveis permaneceram com maiores teores. As frações com maiores decréscimos foram P-NaOH, nos Latossolos, e P-H2SO4, seguido de P-NaOH, nos Luvissolos, indicando serem elas as principais frações no processo de reposição do P disponível, nestes solos de semi-árido.The replenishment of labile phosphorus (P) from less labile soil P fractions was evaluated after 10 successive resin extractions and incubation during four months. Soil samples from the A, B and Bw horizons of Latosols (Oxisols) and A and Bt horizons of Luvisols were collected from the upper, middle, and lower position in the ladscape of three toposequences of each soil class. The evaluation was based on sequential fractionation of soil P with resin, NaHCO3 (organic and inorganic fractions), NaOH (organic and inorganic fractions), H2SO4, and by a H2SO4/H2O2 digestion, performed before the successive extractions and after incubation. There were no significant differences in P contents in a comparison of the slope positions. The 10 successive resin extractions removed 2 to 5 times more P than the first extraction in the Latosols and 2 to 9 times more in the Luvisols. The last extractions stabilized around 1 mg kg-1 in all horizons of both soil classes. After incubating soil samples, resin P recovered 20-30 % of its initial P value in the A horizons (1.8 and 3.3 mg kg-1) and 50-90 % in the subsuperficial layers (1.1 and 1.2 mg kg-1) of the Latosols and Luvisols, respectively. Changes occurred in all other fractions, being greater in the Luvisols and A horizons, although most of the P remained in the less labile P forms. The most depleted fractions were NaOH-P in the Latosols and H2SO4-P, followed by NaOH-P in the Luvisols, suggesting that they were the most important in replenishing labile P in these semi-arid soils.

Cerebral hemorrhages are fairly common in full-term neonates with no history of traumatic birth, mostly limited, and with benign evolution. We report a case of a full-term neonate from vaginal birth with caput succedaneum in the right parietal area. The neonate underwent cranial ultrasonography and color Doppler which showed extra-axial blood effusion. Color Doppler showed vessels crossing the collection area, which allowed the diagnosis of subarachnoid hematoma.

Background: Cutaneous tuberculosis constitutes 1.5% of extra pulmonary tuberculosis and the disease continues to be a challenging one because of its multifaceted presentation. The present study was done to document the most common type of cutaneous tuberculosis, atypical presentations if any and response to directly observed therapy short course (DOTS).Methods: All patients with clinically suspected cutaneous tuberculosis attending outpatient department of dermatology in our hospital from October 2012 to April 2016 were included in the study. A detailed history of presenting illness and thorough general, systemic and cutaneous examination was carried out along with documentation of demographic details. Routine blood invetigations, biopsy and mantoux test were done. Diagnosed cases were treated with DOTS.Results: A total of 25 cases of cutaneous tuberculosis were included in the study. Most common type of cutaneous tuberculosis was lupus vulgaris. Atypical presentations noted during the study were multifocal lupus vulgaris (LV), co-existence of tuberculosis verrucosa cutis (TVC) and LV, TVC of lower lip, erythema induratum of bazin presenting as annular plaque in one case and as erythema nodosum in another case. DOTS were effective in majority of the patients. Conclusions: Cutaneous tuberculosis is multifaceted. High clinical suspicion is necessary in rare presentations. Coexistence of two or more morphological patterns can occur. Doubtful cases, 5-6weeks of therapeutic trail helps. Adequate dose is essential for good response. Second line drugs are to be considered in case of failure /clinical resistance.

Hybrid series compensation using static synchronous series compensator (SSSC) and passive series capacitor can improve the stability of the system, increases the power transfer capability. This paper analyzes the subsynchronous resonance (SSR) characteristics of the hybrid series compensated power system in detail and proposes a simple method to damp the oscillations. In this work, SSSC is modeled by a combination of three-level, 24 pulse configuration. Using the IEEE First Benchmark Model, the effectiveness of the proposed for mitigating SSR due to torsional interaction will be shown. The machine and circuit parameters are real values taken from the Navajo Project.

Para acompanhar o impacto da implantação do porto de Suape, PE, na estrutura da vegetação do mangue, foram comparados dados de 1988 e 1995, em seis áreas pouco antropizadas (PA), quatro muito antropizadas (MA), três em regeneração inicial (RI) e duas em regeneração antiga (RA). Em cada área foram alocadas seis parcelas de 10 x 10m e medidos altura das plantas e diâmetro dos caules. Quatro espécies foram encontradas, sem um padrão de zonação definido: Rhizophora mangle L., Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn., Avicennia schauerianna Stapf. & Leechman e Avicennia germinans L. Conocarpus erecta L. apareceu apenas na transição mangue - restinga. A distribuição das espécies não teve mudanças marcantes entre 1988 e 1995 e nem diferenças nas situações de antropização. As áreas PA tiveram uma diversidade grande de estrutura (densidade, 917-5683 plantas/ha; área basal, 12,7-60,8m²/ha; diâmetros médios e máximos, 5,6-22,4 e 12-36cm; alturas médias e máximas, 6,7-16,3m e 10-18m) e mudanças, no período, indicando que tinham sofrido cortes seletivos, já sem marcas visíveis. Sem o acompanhamento no tempo, não seriam bom padrão de referência. As áreas MA tinham sinais visíveis de corte seletivo e reduções na densidade de plantas com diâmetro >10 cm e nas áreas basais. As áreas em regeneração após aterro ou alagamento, antes (RA) e depois de 1988 (RI), tinham alturas, diâmetros e áreas basais inferiores tanto aos de PA e MA, mas as de RA tinham as maiores densidades (7150-11850 plantas/ha). Portanto, oito anos não foram suficientes para sua recuperação.To monitor the impact of the Suape (PE, Brazil) port construction on the vegetation structure of the mangroves of the area, data from 1988 and 1995 were compared, using six little disturbed sites (LD), four sites undergoing selective logging (SL), three old regeneration sites (OR) and two new regeneration sites (NR). Six plots 10 x 10m were established in each site, all plants found in those in plots had for their height and stem diameter measured. Four species were found without a well defined distribution pattern: Rhizophora mangle L., Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn., Avicennia schauerianna Stapf. & Leechman and Avicennia germinans L. Conocarpus erecta L. was present in the mangrove - sand coastal transition area. The species distribution showed no marked change between 1988 and 1995 and no differences related to disturbance situation. LD sites had a large structural diversity (density, 917-5683 plant/ha; basal area, 12.7-60.8m²/ha; average and maximum diameter, 5.6-22.4 and 12-36 cm; average and maximum height, 6.7-16.3 and 10-18m) and their changes during the period indicate that selective cutting had occurred, but no signs of that could be detected. Without periodical monitoring, they would not provide an adequate reference pattern. SL sites had visible logging marks and decreases in the densities of plants with diameter > 10cm and in basal areas. Regeneration sites after flooding or filling up with earth, before (OR) and after 1988 (NR), had height, diameter and basal area lower than those of LD and SL, but OR had the highest density (7150-11850 plant/ha). Therefore, 8 years were not enough for recovery.

Tendo em vista ser a água limitante e haver poucos estudos sobre o balanço hídrico em cultivos do semi-árido nordestino, instalou-se um experimento em Coxixola, PB, com quatro tratamentos (plantios de milho e de feijão, solo nu e com cobertura morta), parcelas de 7,7 x 10 m e espaçamento de plantio de 1,1 x 1,0 m. Foram medidos chuva, evaporação (Tanque "classe A") e armazenamento de água no solo (sonda de nêutrons). A chuva pouca (212 mm) e mal distribuída causou restrição hídrica na parte final do experimento e foi responsável pelas baixas eficiências de uso de água e baixas produtividades do milho (grãos e biomassa total, 282 e 1141 kg ha-1) e do feijão (166 e 558 kg ha-1). Solo nu e com cobertura morta tiveram comportamento semelhante, com grandes perdas de água (1,57 e 1,48 mm dia-1, respectivamente) e apenas pequenos aumentos nas lâminas armazenadas no perfil do solo, ao final do experimento (28 e 35 mm, respectivamente). O pequeno aumento e a dificuldade de obtenção de resíduos vegetais fazem com que esta cobertura morta não seja prática promissora na região.Considering that water is a limiting factor and there are few studies on water balance in the semi-arid Northeastern Brazil, an experiment was established at Coxixola, PB, Brazil, with four treatments (corn and beans crops, bare soil and soil covered with mulch), in plots of 7.7 x 10 m and plant spacing of 1.1 x 1.0 m. Rainfall, evaporation (Class A tank) and soil water (neutron probe) were monitored. Low (212 mm) and irregular rainfall resulted in water deficit towards the final period of the experiment and was responsible for the low water use efficiencies and low productivity of corn (grain and total biomass, 282 and 1141 kg ha-1) and beans (166 and 558 kg ha-1). Bare soil and mulch had similar results, with high water losses, 1.57 and 1.48 mm day-1, respectively, and only small increases in stored soil water (28 and 35 mm, respectively) were observed at the end of experiment. Mulching does not seem to be a promising practice in the area due to this small increase and the difficulty in obtaining plant residues.

The influence of convex curvature on the mean and turbulent characteristics of three-dimensional wall jet generated from a circular orifice geometry is reported in this paper. Mild, moderate, and strong curvature are considered. Detailed results on a plane surface are also obtained for comparison purposes. Among the mean properties, the decay rate of maximum velocity and the growth of length scales are significantly altered due to curvature effects. The turbulent components, both turbulent normal and shear stresses, show an increase with curvature parameter in a direction normal to the curved surfaces; however, there is very little change in the spanwise direction.

As produtividades de biomassa de sistemas tradicionais (cultivos de milho e feijão, capim buffel ou palma) e agroflorestais (cultivos entre fileiras de gliricídia ou maniçoba) foram comparadas em experimento em parcelas subdivididas, de 2006 a 2009, em Taperoá, Paraíba. A precipitação média é de 600 mm. Nas parcelas agroflorestais as fileiras de árvores distavam 6 m, com 1 m entre árvores. No sistema tradicional, os cultivos produziram 33% mais biomassa e a biomassa de milho e feijão foi o dobro da produzida nos sistemas agroflorestais. O capim buffel foi o cultivo que mais produziu no sistema agroflorestal. No sistema tradicional os cultivos que mais produziram foram buffel e consórcio milho e feijão. A gliricídia produziu nove vezes mais biomassa de folhas, galhos finos e lenha que a maniçoba. Incluindo essas biomassas, a produtividade total nos sistemas agroflorestais foi 260% maior que nos sistemas tradicionais. Os coeficientes de variação da produtividade anual de biomassa foram menores nos sistemas agroflorestais. Portanto, a presença de árvores não só aumentou a produtividade total como conferiu maior estabilidade aos sistemas. The biomass productivity of traditional systems (corn and beans, buffel grass and prickly pear cactus) and agroforestry systems (crops betwenn lines of gliricídia or maniçoba) were compared in a split plot experiment, during 2006 to 2009, in Taperoá, Paraíba, Brazil. Mean annual rainfall in the region is 600 mm. The agroforestry alleys were 6 m apart with 1 m between trees. In the traditional systems, the crops produced 33% more biomass and the corn and beans double the biomass of the agroforestry systems. Buffel grass was the most productive crop in the agroforestry systems. In the traditional systems, buffel and intercrops corn and beans were the most productive crops. Gliricidia produced nine times more leaf, twig and fuel wood biomass than maniçoba. Including these biomasses the productivity of the agroforestry systems was 260% higher than that of the traditional systems. The coefficient of variation of the annual biomass productivity was lower for the agroforestry systems. Therefore, the presence of trees increases not only the productivity but also the stability of the systems.

As produtividades de biomassa de sistemas tradicionais (cultivos de milho e feijão, capim buffel ou palma) e agroflorestais (cultivos entre fileiras de gliricídia ou maniçoba) foram comparadas em experimento em parcelas subdivididas, de 2006 a 2009, em Taperoá, Paraíba. A precipitação média é de 600 mm. Nas parcelas agroflorestais as fileiras de árvores distavam 6 m, com 1 m entre árvores. No sistema tradicional, os cultivos produziram 33% mais biomassa e a biomassa de milho e feijão foi o dobro da produzida nos sistemas agroflorestais. O capim buffel foi o cultivo que mais produziu no sistema agroflorestal. No sistema tradicional os cultivos que mais produziram foram buffel e consórcio milho e feijão. A gliricídia produziu nove vezes mais biomassa de folhas, galhos finos e lenha que a maniçoba. Incluindo essas biomassas, a produtividade total nos sistemas agroflorestais foi 260% maior que nos sistemas tradicionais. Os coeficientes de variação da produtividade anual de biomassa foram menores nos sistemas agroflorestais. Portanto, a presença de árvores não só aumentou a produtividade total como conferiu maior estabilidade aos sistemas.

This paper presents an acceptable solution for Available Transfer Capability (ATC) enhancement. This has been accomplished with Static Synchronous Series Compensation (SSSC) and Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC). The optimal usage of SSSC and UPFC leads to maximization of Total Transfer Capability (TTC). To illustrate the applicability of proposed approach and gain confidence, a case study has been done on a modified IEEE 30 bus system divided into two areas with eight interconnecting transmission lines using PSAT (Power System Analysis Tool Box) software. Calculations of ATC have been done with PSAT. The results demonstrate the capability of approach in ATC enhancement which may form a basis for existing transmission lines upgradation.

Leprosy is not eradicable with currently available diagnostics or interventions, as evidenced by its stable incidence. Early diagnosis of Mycobacterium leprae infection should therefore be emphasized in leprosy research. It remains challenging to develop tests based on immunological biomarkers that distinguish individuals controlling bacterial replication from those developing disease. To identify biomarkers for field-applicable diagnostics, we determined cytokines/chemokines induced by M. leprae proteins in blood of leprosy patients and endemic controls (EC) from high leprosy-prevalence areas (Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia) and from South Korea, where leprosy is not endemic anymore. M. leprae-sonicate–induced IFN-γ was similar for all groups, excluding M. leprae/IFN-γ as a diagnostic readout. By contrast, ML2478 and ML0840 induced high IFN-γ concentrations in Bangladeshi EC, which were completely absent for South Korean controls. Importantly, ML2478/IFN-γ could indicate distinct degrees of M. leprae exposure, and thereby the risk of infection and transmission, in different parts of Brazilian and Ethiopian cities. Notwithstanding these discriminatory responses, M. leprae proteins did not distinguish patients from EC in one leprosy-endemic area based on IFN-γ. Analyses of additional cytokines/chemokines showed that M. leprae and ML2478 induced significantly higher concentrations of MCP-1, MIP-1β, and IL-1β in patients compared with EC, whereas IFN-inducible protein-10, like IFN-γ, differed between EC from areas with dissimilar leprosy prevalence. This study identifies M. leprae-unique Ags, particularly ML2478, as biomarker tools to measure M. leprae exposure using IFN-γ or IFN-inducible protein-10, and also shows that MCP-1, MIP-1β, and IL-1β can potentially distinguish pathogenic immune responses from those induced during asymptomatic exposure to M. leprae.