Archives-December  

This work has been done in two phases. In the first phase, the controllable parameters (cutting speeds, feed rates, type of drill tool, cutting fluids) which influence the responses (torque, cutting force, surface roughness, material removal rate, power) in drilling of En8 steel are identified and an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model has been developed to predict the responses. The developed ANN model has been trained and tested with experimental data of drilling process which is conducted under Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) condition. ANN tested results are closely matched with experimental results. In the second phase, the ANN predicted results are analyzed by performing Taguchi’s S/N ratio analysis and optimum combinations of input parameters are determined. Further, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) is employed to find the contribution of input parameters on output parameters. This work is useful in predicting the multi responses while cutting different materials in different processes.

Enhancement of photocatalytic activity of titania in the visible region and stabilization of anatase phase are significant from the view point of water pollution abatement, since this will enable solar light mediated processes to be scaled up to meet industrial requirements. Recent research has focused on designing nano titania based catalytic systems due to the large surface areas and improved photogeneration of oxidant-reductant species that the nano particles offer. There are several methods for the synthesis of nanoTiO2. Compared to bare TiO2, metal ion doped TiO2 is advantageous, as the doped metal ion alters the band gap and surface adsorption properties. Iron, zinc, cadmium, lanthanum, cerium, cobalt and nickel ions doped TiO2 have been reported in the literature for photocatalytic application. In this context, the present study aims at the co-doping of nano titania with a transition metal ion and a rare earth metal ion. Copper and Samarium ions have been chosen for this purpose as this co-doping has not been reported in the literature so far. In this paper we have synthesized Cu and Sm ions co-doped nano titania prepared by the sol-gel method. This catalyst was characterized by FTIR, XRD, TGA, SEM and UV- visible to analyze the band gap chatacteristics and the effect of calcination on the photodegradation of 4CP

The bladder Adenocarcinoma is an extremely rare urological entity. We report the case of an 80 year old patient. The Cystoscopic exploration found a solid tumor located at the anterior side, the rest of the bladder mucosa was featureless. The anatomopathological study showed the presence of an adenocarcinoma with glandular architecture. The immunohistochemical study showed a positive labeling of the tumor cells by the anti CK 20, with an absence of nuclear labeling of ?-catenin, thus confirming the primitive bladder character of the mucinous Adenocarcinoma. Due to the localized appearance of the tumor an anterior pelvectomy with drainage type cutaneous ureterostomy was performed.

We are very happy to announce that from 20th January 2011, Prof. Eleonore Fröhlich has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on the Medical Research. Prof. Eleonore Fröhlich is currently an Associate professor at Center for Medical Research, Medical University Graz Stiftingtalstr. 24, A-8010 Graz, Austria. The appointment of Prof. Eleonore Fröhlich as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. Please send any expressions of interest to chiefeditor@elixirjournal.org. Sincerely Editor-in-Chief

We are very happy to announce that from 21st March 2011, Prof.M. Ashraf Bhat has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on the Molecular Biology. Prof.M. Ashraf Bhat is currently working Molecular Biology Laboratory Division of Plant Breeding and Genetics Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir Shalimar-191 121, Srinagar, J&K, India. The appointment of Prof.M. Ashraf Bhat as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links with Iran and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. Please send any expressions of interest to chiefeditor@elixirjournal.org. Sincerely Editor-in-Chief

This study discusses the rationale for public-private partnerships (PPP) in the management of urban solid waste (SWM) as well as the conditioning factors (both enhancers and impediments) to the success of PPPs in developing countries. The study adopted the desk review approach largely depending on published and unpublished journal articles and other relevant policy documents on PPP and SWM. The paper argues that three key phases of PPP processes should be seen as closely interlinked and public officials need to demonstrate tactfulness in the processes. The study noted that constraining or limiting factors that affect PPPs in sanitation services of developing countries include secrecy in contracts, inexperienced technical staff and bad faith of local policy elites, poor engagement and inadequate consultation. The study concludes that while PPPs could provide opportunities for harnessing the comparative advantages of both the private sector, PPP should not be regarded as the panacea if adequate measures are not instituted. The paper argues that city authorities need to adopt a prudent approach in their dealings with the private sector towards PPP in solid waste management. Whilst transparency and fair competition in the pre-contract phase, tactfulness and good faith in the contract phase are critical, the regulatory role of the public agency is very crucial in all three phases, especially the post contract phase to check the potential excesses and inertia that could engulf the private partner upon given the contract. The study posits that the efficacy of PPP in solid waste management revolves around competitive procurement process; well-organized private sector; availability of competent and loyal personnel to facilitate or champion fair PPP brokerage and good governance devoid of bad faith on the part of public officials and private actors.

The present study focused on the numerical solution of boundary layer flow of a radiating dusty fluid over a stretching porous surface. The governing boundary layer equations of the problem are formulated and transformed into ordinary differential equation by using similarity transformation. The resulting equations are then solved numerically using Runge Kutta fourth order scheme along with shooting technique. It has been observed that the temperature of the particle phase increases with the increase of radiation parameter but the radiation parameter has no significant effect on fluid phase temperature.

The activity concentrations of gross alpha, gross beta, 228Ra and 226Ra in fifteen brands of sachet water produced in Accra Metropolis of Ghana were measured. The analysis was carried out in the Alpha Spectrometry Laboratory at Radiation Protection Center of Ghana Atomic Energy Commission by using gross alpha/beta counter system to quantify the radionuclides of interest in the water samples. The investigation revealed a recorded measured activity concentration for alpha ranged from 1.28±0.04 to 8.3±0.02 mBq/L with an average concentration of 3.36±2.05 mBq/L. Beta activity concentration also ranged from 21.34±0.03 to 64.38±0.04 mBq/L with average activity of 33.69±12.23 mBq/L. The concentration values of gross - alpha and gross -beta for all the sachet water samples were below the Ghana Standard Authority and World Health Organization recommended guideline levels set for drinking water quality which is 0.1Bq/L and 1.0Bq/L, and 0.5Bq/L and 1.0Bq/L respectively. The results obtained indicated that, the inhabitants in the Accra municipality are not exposed to any significant radiological health hazard associated in drinking sachet water produced in Accra. This research would provide some useful monitoring data for establishing a regulatory limit (base –line radiometric radioactivity) on radiation in public drinking water as well as sachet water produced in Ghana, which could be used as baseline data for future studies in the study area and provide some useful data (base –line radiometric values) to be used by the regulatory authority to evaluate possible changes in the future.

This study specifically investigates the value or importance given to different sources of Word-of-Mouth. It also investigates the effect of Negative Word-of-Mouth on consumer decision-making. The study further investigates how actively people share their healthcare institute-related experiences with others. The study is based on primary data collected from 120 attendants from 4 hospitals (2 private hospitals and 2 government hospitals) in Delhi, India. The data is analysed using various statistical tools and methods. The results reveal that recommendations from medical practitioners and people who have availed the service are considered to be the most credible where as an individual’s own opinion takes the back seat while choosing a healthcare facility. The results of the study also reveal that people share their healthcare institute-related experiences very actively with others so as to express a sense of care and humanity. The results also reveal that Negative Word-of-Mouth plays a significant role in consumer decision-making about choosing a healthcare facility. Thus healthcare practitioners should focus on positive as well as negative Word-of-Mouth, and should come up with different strategies for different sources of Word-of-Mouth, in accordance to the importance given to those sources by consumers, so as to enhance their position in the market.

Present study was designed to investigate the role of instructional practices in determining students’ satisfaction. Major objectives of the study include, comparing instructional practices adopted by private and public sectors universities. It was descriptive in nature in which university students’ satisfaction was measured in relation with teachers’ instructional practices. Here instructional practices were taken as independent variable while students’ satisfaction was considered as dependent variable of the study. For sampling a stratified random sample of 700 respondents was collected from respondents of two distinct groups’ i.e., students, and teachers. Two different tools were developed and use to get the views of students, and teachers in public and private sector universities. Collected data was analyzed statistically (descriptive and inferential statistics) in relation with objectives of the research. Various statistical tests such as mean, Standard Deviation, Analysis of variance, correlation and regression were used to explore research variables with the help of SPSS 21. On the basis of results it reveled that students of public sector universities are more satisfied with instructional practices of their teachers.