Search

Designing strategies to foresee the exhaustion life of designs has been accessible since the start of the twentieth 100 years. Be that as it may, a viable issue emerges from complex stacking conditions and a huge concern is the exactness of the strategies under factor plentifulness stacking. This paper gives an outline of existing weariness harm models with accentuation on generally new elective models and computational methodologies to anticipate weakness life. These models are contrasted and it are talked about with guarantee new abilities.

The Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, the contamination that prompts sickness19(covid-19), has spread quickly from the initially known cases in china in December 2019 to nations round the globe. On March 10,2020, the world health organization reported that there have been 113,702 affirmed instances of corona virus -19 round the globe, additionaly to 4,012 passing. Due to this worldwide well being emergency analysts are handling build up a corona virus immunization. Protected and compelling immunizations are going to be a game changer: yet for years to return we should always wearing covers, genuinely separating and staying faraway from swarms. Being inoculated doesn't imply that we will laugh in the face of any potential risk and put ourselves as well as other people in danger, especially in light of the very fact that it is as yet not satisfactory what proportions the antibodies can ensure against sickness also as against contamination and transmission. Vaccine for corona virus are basic devices for managing the pandemic when joined with compelling testing and existing anticipation measures. The general undertaking to form a secure and effective coronavirus vaccine is proving to be fruitful. A handful of vaccines now are authorized round the globe, may more in development. Antibodies save an excellent many lives per annum.

A plate fin heat exchanger is a type of heat exchanger design that uses plates and finned chambers to transfer heat between liquids. It is often classified as a compact heat exchanger to emphasize the relatively high ratio between the heat transfer surface and the volume. The main objective of the present work is to investigation of optimum design of plate fin tube heat exchanger using Computational fluid dynamic approach and maximizing thermal performance. There are total five designs of plate fin and tube heat exchanger are used in present work and CFD analysis have been performed in it to get maximum heat transfer. It has been observed from CFD analysis that the maximum heat transfer can be achieved from plate fin and tube heat exchanger with elliptical tube arrangement inclined at 30o with 23.22% more heat transfer capacity as compared to circular tube plate pin heat exchanger. So that it is recommended that if the plate fins and tube heat exchanger with inclined elliptical tube used in place of circular tube arrangement, batter heat transfer can be achieved.

Introduction: In India, 90% kidneys for transplantation are obtained from living donor while only 10% come from deceased donors. Since the rate of living organ donors is high, it therefore leads to the problem of organ trafficking.To minimize the chances of organ trafficking, the Transplantation of Human Organ Act (THOA) 2014 was enacted in India that makes it mandatory to prove the relationship between patient and donor by DNA testing. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the degree of matching between maternally related patients and donors, performed using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Methods: After taking an informed consent, a total of 84 subjects were recruited in the study, 42 kidney transplant recipients and 42 their corresponding donors. An attempt was made to establish and confirm the claimed relationship betweenrecipient and donor using mtDNA analysis. Results: Out of the total 42 cases, mtDNA analysis supported the claimed relationship in 33 (78.57%) cases, whereas in 9 (21.42%) cases claimed relationship could not be supported. Conclusion: mtDNA can be used as valuable tool to support the claimed relationships of maternal lineage. It is important that more and more organ transplant physicians, surgeons and committees are made aware of this diagnostic modality.

Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a sudden drop in renal transplant numbers across India in the initial months of 2020. Although the transplant numbers increased with easing of lockdown, the outcome of these transplants remains unknown. Methods This was a retrospective, observational, multi-center study done across 8 different transplant centers in India. All the transplants done from 30/01/2020 till 31/12/2020 were included. The primary outcomes studied were patient and death censored graft survival as well as incidence of COVID-19 infection and its outcomes. Results During the study period a total of 297 kidney transplants were done. After a median follow up of 265 days the patient and death censored graft survival was 95.3% and 97.6% respectively. Forty-one patients (13.8%) developed COVID-19 post-transplant. Majority (58.5%) were asymptomatic to mildly symptomatic and the case fatality ratio was 14.6%. On multivariable logistic regression analysis older age was associated with higher likelihood of COVID-19 infection (odds ratio 1.038; CI 1.002 to 1.077). Conclusions Patient and graft outcome of kidney transplants done during the COVID-19 pandemic in India was acceptable. The incidence of COVID-19 was 13.8% with a high case fatality ratio. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

In this article, we highlight the evolution of a multimodal approach in the overall management of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) in India; present advances in technology (newer surgical techniques), novel medical and radiotherapy (RT) approaches; review their roles for an integrated approach for treating SCCHN and discuss the current role of immunotherapy in SCCHN. For locally advanced (LA) SCCHN, the multidisciplinary approach includes surgery followed by RT, with or without chemotherapy (CT) or concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Improved surgical techniques of reconstruction and voice-preservation are being implemented. Advanced forms of high-precision conformal techniques like intensity-modulated radiotherapy are used to deliver highly conformal doses to tumors, sparing the surrounding normal tissue. Compared with RT alone, novel CT regimens and targeted therapeutic agents have the potential to improve locoregional control and survival and reduce treatment-induced toxicities. Several clinical trials have demonstrated efficacy, safety, and quality of life benefits of adding cetuximab to RT regimens in LASCCHN. Studies have also suggested a cetuximab-related laryngeal preservation benefit. At progression, platinum-based CT combined with cetuximab (a monoclonal anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody) is the only validated option available as the first-line therapy. Thus, an integrated multidisciplinary approach plays a key role in maximizing patient outcomes, reduction in treatment related morbidities that consequently impact quality of life of survivors.

Aim To assess the clinical, parental involvement and economic impact of the weaning methods of oxyen in LTOT. Methodology Retrospective review of clinical records of babies discharged between Jan 2014 and Dec 2015 were compared to babies discharged between Jan 2016 to Dec 2017. Old protocol, weaning done in increments of 30 min, 1 hr, 2 hr, 3 hr twice daily off, 6 hr, 8 hr, 10 hr off with an OOS at each step. New protocol, general health and nutritional status guide the daytime O2 weaning. Weaning done in increments of 30 min, 2 hr twice daily off, 6 hr and 12 hr off in day time followed 2–3 weeks later by two OOS, one in oxygen and one in air. Results 33 babies were discharged each year on LTOT. Groups were comparable in mean birth weight (kg), gestational age and comorbidities (table 1). New protocol was associated with shorter duration of O2 therapy (P value0.005). There was saving of £3215.54 for cost of oxygen in 2016–17. The parent satisfaction and the Friends and Family test score were 100%. Conclusions Structured monitoring and weaning based on clinical parameters and parental input led to shorter duration of LTOT The service users’ feedback was 100% positive. Not all activities to provide this service were coded.

The plate Fin-and-tube heat exchangers are one of the most common types of heat exchangers used in various industrial applications such as heating, cooling, air conditioning, power plants, chemical plants, petrochemical plants, oil refineries, natural gas processing, industry aerospace, and wastewater treatment. It is very important to reduce the size and weight and improve the heat transfer rate of the heat exchanger. Finned and tubular heat exchangers with different geometries and orientations are used to improve thermal performance. This paper presents the Plate fin heat exchanger and types of Plate Fin Heat Exchanger Surfaces.

We report on TiO2 coated thin films with high level of transparency were fabricated using sol-gel spin coating technique. The coating preparation is made by forming first nanocolloids through polyol reduction method using titanium (IV) oxysulfate (TiOSO4) precursor. The surface morphology and transparency of deposited thin films were investigated using FESEM and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The self-cleaning/anti soiling of thin films was studied by placing coated and uncoated samples in dusty region. The coated substrate shows, remarkably 50% reduction in the dust deposition rate and only less than 4% transmission loss as compared with bare glass substrates.We report on TiO2 coated thin films with high level of transparency were fabricated using sol-gel spin coating technique. The coating preparation is made by forming first nanocolloids through polyol reduction method using titanium (IV) oxysulfate (TiOSO4) precursor. The surface morphology and transparency of deposited thin films were investigated using FESEM and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The self-cleaning/anti soiling of thin films was studied by placing coated and uncoated samples in dusty region. The coated substrate shows, remarkably 50% reduction in the dust deposition rate and only less than 4% transmission loss as compared with bare glass substrates.

Background: Eunuchs are considered as the most vulnerable, frustrated, and insecure community. The accessibility to medical and dental facilities for the eunuchs is nearly nonexistent. Due to these reasons, they might be at a high risk of developing severe dental problems like tooth loss. Aim: The present cross‑sectional study aimed to evaluate the dental prosthetic status and prosthetic needs among eunuchs residing in Bhopal city, Madhya Pradesh, India. Subjects and Methods: On the basis of convenient nonprobability snowball sampling technique, all the self‑identified eunuchs residing in the city of Bhopal along with a matched control consisting of cross section of the general population residing in the same locality was examined to evaluate the prosthetic status and prosthetic needs of the population. All the obtained data were entered into a personal computer on Microsoft excel sheet and analyzed using the software; Statistical Package for Social Science version 20. Data comparison was done by applying Chi‑square test. Results: A total of 639 subjects comprised of 207 eunuchs, 218 males and 214 females. Among all participants, 2.8% (18/639) were having prosthesis. The overall prosthetic status among males was 3.2% (7/218) followed by 2.9% (6/207) eunuchs and 2.3% (5/214) females. However, need for multi‑unit and combination of one and more unit prosthesis for upper and lower jaws was higher in males compared to females and eunuchs, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The findings of this study clearly demonstrate a high unmet need for prosthetic care among the population surveyed.Keywords: Eunuchs, Prosthetic needs, Prosthetic status, Trans genders

Saliva, a multi constituent oral fluid has high potential for the surveillance of general health and disease. To reach the above goal through saliva based diagnostics, two requisites must be fulfilled as discovering biomarker for different diseases among the complicated components of saliva and advancing sensitivity and specificity of biomarkers through persistent development of technologies with collective efforts over several years. Saliva has been demonstrated to be a promising bodily fluid for early diagnosis of disease and salivary diagnostics has exhibited tremendous potential in clinical applications. This review presents an impression of the value of saliva as a credible diagnostic tool, the innovation of salivary biomarkers and development of salivary diagnostics in the future.

Introduction: Laparotomy with peritoneal lavage and perforation repair is the standard management of perforated peptic ulcer. But the open surgery is associated with increased morbidity and delay in returning to routine activities. Laparoscopic procedures are associated with less pain post-operatively with early return to daily activities. Aim: To assess the feasibility of laparoscopy in the management of peptic ulcer perforation at our centre. Materials and Methods: It was an observational study, conducted from June 2009 to November 2011. Patients with peptic ulcer perforation aged 18-50 years, presenting within 72 hours of initiation of symptoms were included. Feasibility of laparoscopic repair was evaluated in terms of intra-op difficulties during repair, operative duration, postop recovery and complications. Descriptive statistic was used. Results: All 42 patients were male with mean age of 29.3 years. Seventy six percent patients presented within 48 hours. Mean duration for repair was 69.34 minutes. Ryle’s tube was kept for mean duration of 2.14 days. Mean duration for drain removal was 4.24 days and for hospital stay, it was 5.52 days. Conclusion: It is feasible to use laparoscopy for repair of perforation in earlier presenting patients.

Objective: To analyze the perioperative outcome of the first 190 cases of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy performed at our center from July 2006 to December 2010. Materials and Methods: Operative and recovery data for men with localized prostate cancer undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy at our center were reviewed. All surgeries were performed using the 4-arm da Vinci-S surgical robot. Preoperative data included age, body mass index (BMI), prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, prostate weight, biopsy Gleason score and TNM staging, while operative and recovery data included total operative time, estimated blood loss, complications, hospital stay and catheter time. These parameters were evaluated for the safety and efficacy of this procedure in our center. Results: The mean age of our patients was 65 ± 1.2 years. The mean BMI was 25.20 ± 2.88 and the median PSA was 14.8 ng/ml. Majority of our patients belonged to clinical stage T2 (51.58%). The mean total operative time was 166.44 ± 11.5 min. Six patients required conversion to open procedure and there was one rectal injury. The median estimated blood loss was 302 ± 14.45 ml and the median duration of hospital stay was 4 days. The overall margin positivity rate was 12.63%. Conclusion: Despite our limited robotic surgery experience, our perioperative outcome and complication rate is comparable to most contemporary series. Robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) is easy to learn and provides the patient with the benefits of minimally invasive surgery with minimal perioperative morbidity.

There are conflicting data regarding the comparative efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) versus azathioprine (AZA) as maintenance immunosuppressive agent in kidney transplantation. The data are even less in combination with tacrolimus (TAC) in living donor kidney transplantation. A total of 205 living donor kidney transplants, on TAC-based triple drug immunosuppression were included in the study. A total of 113 patients received AZA and rest 92 were on MMF based protocol. TAC levels were monitored and graft biopsy was done whenever rejection was suspected. The outcomes were evaluated in terms acute rejection (AR) episodes at 1 year, infections, renal function, graft loss, and death between two groups. The study group comprised 163 males (79.5%) and 42 (20.5%) females. The mean age of patients was 42.4±11.8 years in the AZA group and 39.4 ±13.4 in the MMF group (P=0.09). The mean duration of follow-up was 491.7±240.7 and 478.8±334.4 days respectively in the AZA and MMF groups (P=0.75). Thirty-seven of 92 (40.2%) patients in the MMF group and 70/113 (61.9%) patients in the AZA group received IL-2 RAb induction (P=0.002). 32 patients (15.6 %) developed AR within a year. The incidence of AR was similar in patients who received MMF (12/92, 13%) and those who received AZA (20/113, 17.5%), (P=0.36). There was no difference in the incidence of AR in the subgroup of patients who received IL-2 RAb compared to those who did not receive induction in the two groups (5/37 vs. 7/55 in the MMF group and 10/70 vs. 10/43 in the AZA group, P=0.72). The incidence of infections was similar in the two groups (19/92, 20.6% vs. 25/113, 22.1%, P=0.79). Three patients developed CMV disease, of which two were in the MMF group. Graft loss occurred in 7/205 (3.4%) and death in 8/205 (3.9%) patients. Six of eight patients who died had functioning grafts. The rate of graft loss (3/92 vs. 4/113, P=0.97) and death (5/92 vs. 3/113, P=0.27) was similar in two groups. The overall patient survival was 94.5% and death censored graft survival was 97.4%. Cost comparison suggests AZA to be 6-10 times cheaper than MMF. This study suggests that, in tacrolimus-based immunosuppression, azathioprine may be as good as MMF as maintenance immunosuppressive drug in living donor kidney transplantation. It is also a more cost-effective immunosuppression.

Introduction : There is insufficient scientific data on the medical management options for idiopathic oligoasthenoteratospermia (iOATs). We conducted a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy and safety of the herbo-mineral supplement, Addyzoa® , in infertile men with iOATs. We also evaluated its effect on semen reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and DNA fragmentation index. Materials and Methods : Fifty infertile men with iOATS were recruited into an institutional ethics committee approved protocol from April to August 2009. Randomization was done using numbered, identical containers. Baseline semen samples were evaluated for routine parameters, ROS level, DNA fragmentation index and TAC. Drug/placebo was administered at a dose of two capsules twice a day for 3 months. All parameters were reassessed at 3 months and clinical side-effects were recorded. The study was registered with the Clinical Trials Registry of India and is available at www.ctri.in as study protocol number CTRI/2009/091/000551. Results : Forty-four subjects completed the study, 21 in the drug arm and 23 in the placebo arm. There was no difference in baseline parameters between the two groups. Men in the drug group had significant improvement in mean total motility from 23.2 ± 17.3% to 33.4 ± 23.2% (P-value: 0.008) and mean progressive (Type A+B) motility from 15.7 ± 12.6% to 22.6 ± 18.0% (P-value: 0.024). ROS, TAC and DFI did not change significantly in either group and did not show any correlation with other semen parameters. Conclusions : Treatment with Addyzoa resulted in a significant improvement in total and progressive motility in the semen of men with iOATs after 3 months of therapy. There was no change in the sperm concentration, ROS, DFI or TAC levels.

Hydatid disease has characteristic imaging features on CT, which allow accurate preoperative diagnosis in most cases. However, when it occurs at unusual locations the diagnosis is often difficult, especially as the imaging appearance varies at different sites. In this article we have presented a pictorial review of the CT features of disease due to Echinococcus granulosus at various sites in the human body.

The present study was designed to determine the changes in serum sodium, anion gap, different antioxidants and free radicals in preeclamptic patients and control subjects. Serum sodium, chloride, bicarbonate, calcium, potassium and magnesium were estimated and anion gap was determined in 100 proteinuric hypertensive and 100 normotensive pregnant women. Mean serum sodium, chloride and bicarbonate level (133.26 +/- 13.1, 104.97 +/- 11.37, and 22.01 +/- 4.66 mEq/l, respectively) were significantly higher in proteinuric hypertensive women as compared to controls (125.85 +/- 10.4, 101.90 +/- 6.3, 19.34 +/- 3.21 mEq/l, respectively) whereas anion gap level (6.28 +/- 16.147) was nonsignificantly higher in proteinuric hypertensive as compared to normotensive (4.61 +/- 11.84). Total serum sodium concentration increases in preeclamptic subjects, the exact distribution of serum sodium in various compartments of the body are not clear and correlation of serum sodium and anion gap with proteinuria is also not known. The levels of different antioxidants were decreased in preeclamptic patients as compared to the controls while the level of free radicals elevated in preeclamptic subjects as compared to controls. In our study, anion gap level was found to be rather non-significantly higher in proteinuric hypertensive women as compared to normotensive women.

A rotating composite blade, modeled as a box-beam with transverse shear flexibility, shear-tractionless bounding faces and restrained warping, and subjected to a time dependent pressure pulse is considered. It comprises an orthotropic (graphite-epoxy laminate) host structure with surface embedded and spanwise distributed transversely isotropic (PZT-4) sensors and actuators. The total current output from the sensors is distributed to the actuators after suitable weighting. A modified Galerkin method using only admissible functions is considered, and the optimal control problem is studied via the classical and instantaneous LQR methods. Results reveal that structural tailoring can yield a lower steady-state response at the expense of increased settling time. Increasing the patch length beyond a limit proves ineffective. The instantaneous LQR control algorithm provides a reduced response, as does the present model involving through-thickness shear strain variation. Studies regarding the effect of location and weighting of piezopatches on the controlled response are presented.

Laser flow visualization using fluorescent dye provides instantaneous snapshots of dye concentration across selected sections of the flow. We demonstrate the potential power of wavelet analysis in revealing the nature of organization present in such pictures of turbulent shear flows, in a case where it is difficult to discern any such organization in the raw image. The technique consists of examining the contours of the transform coefficients using two-dimensional wavelets on the raw image. It is applied here to diametral cross sections of a plume with and without off-source heating. It is found that in the unheated plume there is definite evidence for a sinuous large-scale ring-like organization, which, however, is absent when the off-source heating is switched on. The proposed technique not only enables eduction of coherent structures in flow-visualization pictures, but can also provide a wealth of scale-specific information on flow structure.

We have fabricated 1 kV 4H and 6H SiC Schottky diodes utilizing a metal-oxide overlap structure for electric field termination. This simple structure when used with a high barrier height metal such as Ni has consistently given us good yield of Schottky diodes with breakdown voltages in excess of 60% of the theoretically calculated value. This paper presents the design considerations, the fabrication procedure, and characterization results for these 1 kV Ni-SiC Schottky diodes. Comparison to similarly fabricated Pt-SiC Schottky diodes is reported. The Ni-SiC ohmic contact formation has been studied using Auger electron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The characterization study includes measurements of current-voltage (I-V) temperature and capacitance-voltage (C-V) temperature characteristics. The high-temperature performance of these diodes has also been investigated. The diodes show good rectifying behavior with ON/OFF current ratios, ranging from 10/sup 6/ to 10 at 27/spl deg/C and in excess of 10/sup 6/ up to 300/spl deg/C.

A novel triterpenoid saponin was isolated from the seeds ofPithecellobium dulce, which has been identified as 3-O [β-D-glucopyranosyl (1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl] 28-O [α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→4)β-D-glucopyranosyl (1→4)β-D-glucopyranosyl] echinocystic acid by spectral analysis and chemical degradation methods.

Electrons photo-excited to high-energy conduction band states of GaAs exhibit complex energy and momentum distributions determined by the anisotropic valence band structure and the optical matrix elements. In p-type GaAs a fraction of these hot electrons combine with localised acceptor states, producing a hot electron luminescence (HEL) spectrum with a cascade of peaks corresponding to discrete energy losses resulting from LO-phonon emission. The highest peak involves unscattered electrons, and their energy distribution is due to warping of the initial heavy-hole (HH) bands. We report measurements of the line shape of this 0-HH peak, and its polarisation profile which identifies emission from electrons along particular directions. An applied electric field of 1 kV cm−1 distorts the hot electron momentum distribution, and this is reflected in the polarisation profile. These line shapes and profiles, with and without field, are calculated using a computer model incorporating a k·p band structure and optical matrix elements, the effect of electric field being included using a k-broadening model. The data and model are in good quantitative agreement assuming an electron lifetime of ∼100 fs, and confirm the expected differences in the profiles for different excitation polarisation states and applied field directions.

Aim: A clinical study was done to assess the clinical diagnostic accuracy of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in detecting proximal cavitated carious lesions in order to determine whether cavitation should be reported when a CBCT examination is available. Materials and Methods: 79 adjacent proximal surfaces without restorations in permanent teeth were examined. Patients suspected to have carious lesions after a visual clinical and a bitewing examination participated in a CBCT examination (Kodak 9000 3D, 5 × 3.7 cm field of view, voxel size 0.07 mm). Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained according to the Helsinki Declaration. Radiographic assessment recording lesions with or without cavitation was performed by two observers in bitewings and CBCT sections. Orthodontic separators were placed interdentally between two lesion-suspected surfaces. The separator was removed after 3 days and the surfaces recorded as cavitated (yes/no), i.e. validated clinically. Differences between the two radiographic modalities (sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy) were estimated by analyzing the binary data in a generalized linear model. Results: For both observers, sensitivity was significantly higher for CBCT than for bitewings (average difference 33%, p < 0.001) while specificity was not significantly different between the methods (p = 0.19). The overall accuracy was also significantly higher for CBCT (p < 0.001). Conclusion: CBCT was more accurate in detecting cavitation in proximal surfaces than bitewing radiographs; therefore a CBCT examination performed for other clinical applications should also be assessed for proximal surface cavities in teeth without restorations, and when detected, this pathology must be part of the dentist's report.

Photoelectrons in the conduction band of GaAs have energy, momentum and spin distributions determined by the anisotropic valence band structure and the optical matrix elements. In p-type GaAs, a small fraction recombine with acceptor states, producing a Hot Electron Luminescence (HEL) spectrum with a series of peaks due to discrete energy losses through LO-phonon emission. The highest peak has an energy structure due to warping of the initial heavy hole (HH) band. We report measurements of its lineshape and polarisation, identifying emission from electrons along particular k-directions. An electric field of 1 kV cm—1 distorts the momentum distribution, and this is reflected in the polarisation profiles. The lineshapes and profiles are modelled using a k · p band structure and optical matrix elements, the effect of the field being included using a k-broadening model.

The present study estimated residual feed intake (RFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) over two juvenile growth periods i.e. 21–28 days and 28–35 days to find out various genetic factors influencing these traits and their correlations with other growth traits. The birds were maintained in individual cages and provided standard management during 35 day experimental period. The heritability (h2) estimate of RFI (28–35 days) was 0.49 which was higher that of RFI during 21–28 days (0.29). The h2 estimate of FCR during 28–35 days was 0.38 which was less than that of FCR during 21–28 days (0.44). Higher genetic correlation (0.60) between RFI and feed intake (FI) for period 21–28 days than that of 28–35 days (0.49) indicates that selection for RFI at 21–28 days will be more effective in decreasing the feed intake. Simultaneously, the genetic correlation between RFI and body weight gain (BWG) for the period 28–35 days was higher than that of 21–28 days thereby making selection for RFI at this period is more useful. The correlation between feed intake and RFI justify the age of selection as 28 days; however, the correlations with BWG indicate that 28–35 day is suitable for selection. Finally, based on the mean body weight (BW) of 987.97g achieved at 35 d indicates that for achieving better market weight with reduced feed intake, the selection may be based on RFI 28–35 days.

The Rayleigh-Ritz method has been employed to find the first three frequencies of free flexural vibration of a plate in the form of a quadrant of a circle and of thickness varying quadratically with radial distance. The results for constant thickness and linearly varying thickness have been obtained as special cases. The three edges of the plate have been taken as clamped, simply supported or free. This gives rise to 18 different cases. Previous results are available only for a few simple cases of uniform thickness which agree well with our results. Graphs and tables are given to depict the effect of various parameters on the frequencies and mode shapes.

A simple approach was developed that calculates the output factors and tissue maximum ratio of an asymmetric field at any point within the open field, and specifically both at the central axis (when the jaws do not shadow it) and at the effective center of the open field, using the existing tables for symmetric fields and the multidepth profile information for the largest available field size (either open or with a wedge present). Day's method was adapted to calculate the effective values of the usual field-size-dependent parameters. This approach makes these parameters also dependent on the location of the calculation point relative to the field edges in an asymmetric field. This algorithm was tested by comparing its predictions with measurements of asymmetric and half blocked fields, with and without wedges, in a water phantom at different depths and off-axis distances. The agreement between calculated and measured dose rate is within 1%-3% even in highly asymmetric fields for both 6- and 18-MV photons.