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The building profile plays a very important role in controlling the direct penetration of daylight into the interior space of a building. The excess depth of external offsets developed by the building profile during the planning process and a window within such offsets are often not sufficient and, the occupants may have to suffer from the visual and thermal discomfort. For this research, the representative case ‘Type Design’ is a residential building from Nagpur region of Central India, has a hot and dry climate. This ‘Type Design’ and other residential buildings often have the major issues related to the performance of daylight and thermal comfort due to a lack of rules related to minimum and maximum size of the depth of offsets formed by the building profile in the Development Control Regulation. The windows inside of offsets are often insufficient to light the interior spaces. Similarly, adding balconies to a residential building profile acts as a type of offset where a window in such a wall may have similar such problems of penetration of daylight into the interior space. The aim of this research is to derive the applicable size of the depth of these offsets that are most importantly configured with the balcony of the livable area of a dwelling unit of the ‘Type Design’ to achieve the optimum daylight and thermal comfort. This research includes an evaluation of the selected parameters by comparative analysis of useful daylight illuminance (UDI), thermal comfort hours and orientation of the building with the help of dynamic simulation by using ‘Daysim’, a ‘radiance analysis tool’ and ‘temperature distribution tool’ from Ecotect software. The findings of this research include the applicable minimum depth of an offset shall be 0.65 m and the maximum shall be 1.40 m when it configured with balconies of livable areas of the residential building without compromising the comfort indoor temperature with respect to the orientation of residential building.

The dynamic behaviour of fiber reinforced composites plays a significant role on the performance of the laminated composite materials. In the present study the dynamic characteristics of cellulose Glass Epoxy Composites (CGEC) and Cellulose Kevlar epoxy composites (CKEC) were investigated and compared with pristine glass epoxy (GE) and Kevlar Epoxy (KE) composites using Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA). Cellulose particles were liquefied in organic solvents such as Acetone, Dimethylformamide (DMF), Ethanol and Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) to inspect the settling time and it was found that cellulose particles settled in short interval of time in solvents and hence NaOH was used to make solution as better dispersion with high settling time was observed with NaOH. The Glass and Carbon plies were coated with Cellulose using semi automated coating technique. The DMA test was conducted in accordance with ASTM 1867-13. The tests results revealed that initially all the samples exhibited high storage modulus but there was a small drop in storage modulus in the temperature range of 50-70˚C and considerable drop in storage modulus was observed in the temperature range of 70-90˚C and also it was found that composite laminates changed in state from solid to elastic beyond glass transition temperature (Tg)

Three different models of tipping bucket rain gauges (TBRs), viz. HS-TB3 (Hydrological Services Pty Ltd.), ISCO-674 (Isco, Inc.) and TR-525 (Texas Electronics, Inc.), were calibrated in the lab to quantify measurement errors across a range of rainfall intensities (5 mm·h− 1 to 250 mm·h− 1) and three different volumetric settings. Instantaneous and cumulative values of simulated rainfall were recorded at 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20-min intervals. All three TBR models showed a substantial deviation (α = 0.05) in measurements from actual rainfall depths, with increasing underestimation errors at greater rainfall intensities. Simple linear regression equations were developed for each TBR to correct the TBR readings based on measured intensities (R2 > 0.98). Additionally, two dynamic calibration techniques, viz. quadratic model (R2 > 0.7) and T vs. 1/Q model (R2 = > 0.98), were tested and found to be useful in situations when the volumetric settings of TBRs are unknown. The correction models were successfully applied to correct field-collected rainfall data from respective TBR models. The calibration parameters of correction models were found to be highly sensitive to changes in volumetric calibration of TBRs. Overall, the HS-TB3 model (with a better protected tipping bucket mechanism, and consistent measurement errors across a range of rainfall intensities) was found to be the most reliable and consistent for rainfall measurements, followed by the ISCO-674 (with susceptibility to clogging and relatively smaller measurement errors across a range of rainfall intensities) and the TR-525 (with high susceptibility to clogging and frequent changes in volumetric calibration, and highly intensity-dependent measurement errors). The study demonstrated that corrections based on dynamic and volumetric calibration can only help minimize—but not completely eliminate the measurement errors. The findings from this study will be useful for correcting field data from TBRs; and may have major implications to field- and watershed-scale hydrologic studies.

Markov decision processes (MDPs) are models for sequential decision-making that inform decision making in many fields, including healthcare, manufacturing, and others. However, the optimal policy for an MDP may be sensitive to the reward and transition parameters which are often uncertain because parameters are typically estimated from data or rely on expert opinion. To address parameter uncertainty in MDPs, it has been proposed that multiple models of the parameters be incorporated into the solution process, but solving these problems can be computationally challenging. In this article, we propose a policy-based branch-and-bound approach that leverages the structure of these problems and numerically compare several important algorithmic designs. We demonstrate that our approach outperforms existing methods on test cases from the literature including randomly generated MDPs, a machine maintenance MDP, and an MDP for medical decision making.

Subsurface (tile) drainage is a necessary practice for economic crop production in humid, poorly drained regions of the world. Drainage water management (DWM), also known as controlled drainage, is among the suite of practices designed to mitigate water quality issues associated with subsurface drainage. Studies evaluating DWM generally include field experiments or simulation models to estimate water quality impacts. Combining field studies with model simulations can provide a more comprehensive assessment. Furthermore, using multiple approaches can provide a range of effectiveness rather than a single estimate, which can help define the uncertainty associated with DWM effectiveness. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the variability in estimated DWM effectiveness using 10 years of measured data and a calibrated hydrologic model. The study field, located in central Ohio, was under a free drainage (FD) mode from 2005 through 2008, and under DWM from 2009 through 2014. We used three approaches to compare discharge and nitrate concentrations and loads: before-and-after, paired-field, and DRAINMOD-NII simulated scenarios. Based on the three evaluation approaches, DWM increased surface runoff by 50% (∼13 mm), reduced annual drainage discharge between 8 and 23% (∼19 to 69 mm), annual mean NO3-N concentrations between −1 and 2.5%, and NO3-N loads between 9 and 25% (∼2.8 to 10.3 kg ha−1 yr−1). DWM also reduced the frequency of drainage discharge, and increased magnitudes of surface runoff, evapotranspiration, and seepage losses. The true magnitude of DWM effectiveness remains somewhat uncertain, especially in fields prone to seepage and runoff losses. However, using a combined assessment approach can help address the uncertainty associated with estimated DWM effectiveness at watershed and regional scales.

Summary Background Charts of size at birth are used to assess the postnatal growth of preterm babies on the assumption that extrauterine growth should mimic that in the uterus. Methods The INTERGROWTH-21 st Project assessed fetal, newborn, and postnatal growth in eight geographically defined populations, in which maternal health care and nutritional needs were met. From these populations, the Fetal Growth Longitudinal Study selected low-risk women starting antenatal care before 14 weeks' gestation and monitored fetal growth by ultrasonography. All preterm births from this cohort were eligible for the Preterm Postnatal Follow-up Study, which included standardised anthropometric measurements, feeding practices based on breastfeeding, and data on morbidity, treatments, and development. To construct the preterm postnatal growth standards, we selected all live singletons born between 26 and before 37 weeks' gestation without congenital malformations, fetal growth restriction, or severe postnatal morbidity. We did analyses with second-degree fractional polynomial regression models in a multilevel framework accounting for repeated measures. Fetal and neonatal data were pooled from study sites and stratified by postmenstrual age. For neonates, boys and girls were assessed separately. Findings From 4607 women enrolled in the study, there were 224 preterm singleton births, of which 201 (90%) were enrolled in the Preterm Postnatal Follow-up Study. Variance component analysis showed that only 0·2% and 4·0% of the total variability in postnatal length and head circumference, respectively, could be attributed to between-site differences, justifying pooling the data from all study sites. Preterm growth patterns differed from those for babies in the INTERGROWTH-21 st Newborn Size Standards. They overlapped with the WHO Child Growth Standards for term babies by 64 weeks' postmenstrual age. Interpretation Our data have yielded standards for postnatal growth in preterm infants. These standards should be used for the assessment of preterm infants until 64 weeks' postmenstrual age, after which the WHO Child Growth Standards are appropriate. Size-at-birth charts should not be used to measure postnatal growth of preterm infants. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Cisplatin is a widely used antineoplastic drug, but its clinical usefulness is limited due to dose dependent nephrotoxicity. Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) is a natural compound with broad pharmacological properties like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the possible beneficial effects of NDGA on cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity as well as its anticancer activity in rats bearing DMBA induced mammary tumors. The effect of NDGA on cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity was evaluated by checking serum nephrotoxicity markers, antioxidant enzymes and inflammatory markers level and kidney histopathology. NDGA induced amelioration of cisplatin nephrotoxicity was clearly visible from significant reductions in serum blood urea nitrogen (86.51 g/dl) and creatinine (5.30 g/dl) levels and significant improvement in body weight change (-10.34 g) and kidney weight (728 mg/kg). The protective effect of NDGA against cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity in the rats was further confirmed by significant restoration of antioxidant enzymes like SOD (86.28% inhibition), inflammatory markers like TNF-α (34.6 pg/ml) and histopathological examination. Moreover, our results showed that NDGA potentiated anti-breast cancer activity of cisplatin through an increment in the expression of antioxidant enzymes like SOD (85.35% inhibition) in breast cancer tissue. These results indicated that NDGA potentiated the anti-breast cancer activity of cisplatin, which was clearly evident from the tumor volume and % tumor inhibition in breast cancer rats. The current study demonstrated that NDGA may modify the therapeutic effect of cisplatin in DMBA induced breast cancer in female Sprague-Dawley rats.

Drainage water management (DWM) is promoted as an agricultural best management practice that reduces subsurface drainage volume and thereby the transport of soluble nutrients to streams. This study was conducted on private crop fields to quantify the effect of managed subsurface drainage on daily subsurface drainage volume, in poorly drained and somewhat poorly drained soils of northwest Ohio. A paired zone approach was used where a part of each field was conventional free draining and the other part was under drainage water management. At each site, comparison of median daily subsurface drainage volume from the two zones indicated that drainage water management was effective at reducing daily subsurface drainage volume. A linear mixed model procedure was applied to determine the percent reduction in daily subsurface drainage volume as a result of drainage water management. Using the paired dataset at each site, the model predicted the total daily subsurface drainage volume from the managed zone as a function of the observed total daily subsurface drainage volume from the conventional zone. The percent reduction of daily subsurface drainage volume varied from 40% to 100% depending on site. While the magnitude of the reduction of the daily subsurface drainage volume is site specific, the general expectation is that if DWM is instituted broadly and appropriately in northwest Ohio, mean daily subsurface drainage volume would lessen on an annual basis. Such reduction may eventually translate into a reduction in nutrient loads exported from farm fields.

A new measuring technique for studying heat transfer in gas–solid fluidized beds is proposed using infrared (IR) thermography. An infrared camera is coupled with a visual camera to simultaneously record images to give instantaneous thermal and hydrodynamic data of a pseudo 2D fluidized bed. The established techniques: digital image analysis (DIA) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) are combined with IR thermography to obtain combined quantitative (i.e. hydrodynamic and thermal) data sets. In this work, the calibration procedure and the methods that are used to combine the data obtained by the different techniques are discussed. The combined technique provides insightful information on the heat transfer in a fluidized bed for varying particle size, aspect ratio and background (or fluidization) gas velocity.

Spout fluidized beds are often utilized for gas-solid contacting operations involving physical and/or chemical transformations with simultaneous heat and mass transfer such as drying, coating, granulation, combustion, gasification etc. This is because these beds combine advantages of both spouted and fluidized beds. Since the development of the spout fluidized bed, several geometrical modifications have been proposed to optimize the bed performance. One of these modifications often applied in granulation and coating industries includes a draft tube insertion inside the bed, which results in improved performance by providing a restriction on lateral particle flow providing clear distinction for wet spout and dry annulus zones. Moreover, the insertion of the draft tube leads to a stable spouting at lower flow rates, due to the reduced bypassing of the inlet gas (from spout to annulus). In this work, the hydrodynamic characteristics of a spout fluidized bed with draft plates was studied to identify the flow characteristics by constructing a flow regime map by image analysis and a fast Fourier transform of the measured pressure signal. In addition, the captured images were used to determine the particle velocity via particle image velocimetry (PIV). Furthermore, simulations were carried using a discrete particle model with a sub grid scale turbulence model for two regimes, namely the spouting-with-aeration and fluidized bed-spouting-with-aeration (dispersed spout), which are of most interest from an industrial view point. The obtained results were compared with previously obtained experimental data i.e. PIV. This study highlights various flow pattern observed during operation of spout fluidized bed with a draft plate over a wider operating conditions, which is useful to select proper operating conditions; whereas the experimental data can be used for computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model validation, which serve as a building block for design and scale-up at higher operational scales. Besides this, the quantitative information such as particle velocity, residence time distribution, solid mixing and circulation can be obtained after suitable post processing hence useful in optimizing the bed performance.

Cesium fluorides in ionic liquid [bmim][BF4] have been used to promote the Henry reaction effectively. These reactions proceed smoothly and afford an excellent yield of the products.

Spout fluidized beds are often utilized for the gas–solid operations involving physical and/or chemical transformations such as drying, coating, granulation, combustion, gasification, etc. This is because these beds combine advantages of both spouted and fluidized beds. Following the spout fluidized bed development, several geometrical modifications have been proposed to optimize the bed performance. One of the modifications includes a draft tube insertion inside the bed, which results in improved performance by providing a restriction on particle cross flow. Moreover, the draft tube insertion leads to a stable spouting at lower flow rates, due to the reduced inlet gas bypassing (from spout to the annulus). In this work, a discrete particle model (DPM) with a sub-grid scale (SGS) turbulence model was used to simulate the bed dynamics and analyze the effects of the draft plates and particles physical properties by considering two regimes namely, the spouting-with-aeration and fluidized bed-spouting-with-aeration (dispersed spout), which are of interest from an industrial point of view. The obtained results were compared with our experimental data ( Sutkar et al., 2013b ) from particle image velocimetry (PIV) and digital image analysis (DIA). Furthermore, an alternative simulation approach has been used to simulate dynamics of the industrial scale gas–solid contactors consisting very large particles with reduced total computational time by changing the physical properties of the particles to maintain constant Archimedes and Reynolds numbers. The obtained results were compared with the experimental data, as well as with simulation data obtained with the original physical properties.

Spout fluidized beds often prove promising for gas–solid contacting operations involving chemical reactions with changing particle size. However, difficulties may arise during operation, such as unstable spouting, dead zones formation and limited flexibility in adjustment of maximum spoutable height and residence time. This can be improved by inserting draft tubes or plates. In this work, the hydrodynamics of a pseudo-2D spout fluidized bed with draft plates was studied by changing the background velocity from 0 to 1.75 m/s with increments of 0.25 m/s and the spout velocity from 10 to 50 m/s with increments of 5 m/s. The distinct flow regimes were identified by capturing high-speed images and Fast Fourier transformation (FFT) of measured pressure signals. In addition, the effects of the entrainment height (in the range of 0.03–0.05 m), static bed aspect ratio (in the range of 1–1.5) and particle properties (for glass and γ-aluminum oxide particles) on the hydrodynamics were investigated by determining the time-averaged particle volumetric flux by combined particle image velocimetry (PIV) and digital image analysis (DIA) for two regimes namely, spouting-with-aeration (IV) and fluidized bed-spouting-with-aeration (dispersed spout) (VIII).