During a 4-year period (2001-2005) 09 animals were surgically treated because of abdominal wall defects (hernia). Out of 9 animals 8 were bovines and one caprine. In each case the defect was repaired with carbon fibre mesh. All the cases were successfully treated and no complication was observed up to six months postoperatively.

During a 3-year period (2001-2004) 18 animals were surgically treated because of abdominal wall defects (hernia). Out of 18 animals 8 were bovines, 5 caprines and 5 canines. In each case the defect was bridged with carbon fibres. Carbon fibres were placed either in simple interrupted pattern or as mattress overlapping pattern. All the cases were successfully treated and no complication was observed up to six months postoperatively.

This paper describes a Plasma Assisted Debinding and Sintering (PADS) equipment, which has been designed to process Metal Injection Molded (MIM) components. The use of a hybrid system combining a glow discharge with a conventional heating system makes debinding and sintering of MIM components, in the same heating cycle, a feasible industrial process. Characteristics as density, carbon content and mechanical properties are similar to traditionally processed MIM materials. The reduction of energy and gas consumption and shorter lead-times are economic advantages of PADS system. The clean environment of PADS is also an ecological advantage.

The authors have assembled a sample of 80 W UMa binary systems (42 W-subtype and 38 A-subtype) whose light curves have all been solved by means of the recent W-D code and combined with up-to-date radial velocity solutions. The absolute parameters (masses, radii and luminosities) have been derived (without any constraint on the physical parameters). The main results of this paper are: (1) the mass-luminosity relations for both W&A-subtypes. as well as for all W UMa contact binaries have been shown, (2) the mass-radius relations have been found for both subtypes, (3) some remarks on the evolution status have been presented.

Sixteen clinically healthy New Zealand white rabbits of either sex were divided into two equal groups I and II of 8 animals each. Under thiopental sodium (2.5%) anaesthesia a linear full thickness abdominal wall defect of 3 cm in length was created and repaired with continuous suture pattern using 3000 filaments of carbon fibres and 1~0 black braided nylon suture, ingroup I and II respectively. Increased vascularity was observed in carbon fibres (group I) and on day 30 the carbon fibres were covered by white fibrous tissue. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) values of glucose was seen on day 14 in group I, whereas, decrease in glucose value was observed in group II. Histopathologically, the carbon fiber implant induced extensive fibrous tissue (collagen fiber) reaction. Negligible inflammatory cells in the stroma indicate the host tissue tolerance to carbon fibers. Histochemically, gradually increased alkaline phosphatase activity up to day 14 in group I, suggested the proliferation of fibroblasts in early stages.

Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were produced using the arc-discharge graphite evaporation technique. Composite films were developed using MWNT dispersed in polystirol polymer. In the present work, various properties of the polymeric thin film containing carbon nanotubes were investigated by optical absorption, electrical resistivity and the same have been discussed.

An x-ray astronomy experiment consisting of three collimated proportional counters and an X-ray Sky Monitor (XSM) was flown aboard the Indian Satellite IRS-P3 launched on March 21, 1996 from SHAR range in India. The Satellite is in a circular orbit of 830 km altitude with an orbital inclination of 98° and has three axis stabilized pointing capability. Each pointed-mode Proportional Counter (PPC) is a multilayer, multianode unit filled with P-10 gas (90% Ar + 10% CH4) at 800 torr and having an aluminized mylar window of 25 micron thickness. The three PPCs are identical and have a field of view of 2°×2° defined by silver coated aluminium honeycomb collimators. The total effective area of the three PPCs is about 1200 cm2. The PPCs are sensitive in 2-20 keV band. The XSM consists of a pin-hole of 1 cm2 area placed 16 cm above the anode plane of a 32 cm×32 cm position sensitive proportional counter sensitive in 3-8 keV interval. The position of the x-ray events is determined by charge division technique using nichrome wires as anodes. The principal objective of this experiment is to carry out timing studies of x-ray pulsars, x-ray binaries and other rapidly varying x-ray sources. The XSM will be used to detect transient x-ray sources and monitor intensity of bright x-ray binaries. Observations of black-hole binary Cyg X-1 and few other binary sources were carried out in early May and July-August 1996 period. Details of the x-ray detector characteristics are presented and preliminary results from the observations are discussed.

We present the results of an rocket-borne observation of far-infrared [CII] line at 157.7 μm from the diffuse inter-stellar medium in the Ursa Major. We also introduce a part of results on the [CII] emission recently obtained by the IRTS, a liquid-helium cooled 15cm telescope onboard the Space Flyer Unit. From the rocket-borne observation we obtained the cooling rate of the diffuse HI gas due to the [CII] line emission, which is 1.3±0.2 × 10-26 ergss-1 H-1atom. We also observed appreciable [CII] emission from the molecular clouds, with average CII/CO intensity ratio of 420. The IRTS observation provided the [CII] line emission distribution over large area of the sky along great circles crossing the Galactic plane at I = 50° and I = 230°. We found two components in their intensity distributions, one concentrates on the Galactic plane and the another extends over at least 20° in Galactic latitude. We ascribe one component to the emission from the Galactic disk, and the another one to the emission from the local interstellar gas. The [CII] cooling rate of the latter component is 5.6 ± 2.2 ×10.

The premiums on closed-end country funds tend to move in tandem, but do not move together with premiums on domestic closed-end funds. After controlling for foreign maket fundamentals, changes in the stock price of country funds co-move with U.S. market returns, but changes in their net asset values do not. An index of changes in country fund premiums explains cross-sectional stock returns in the U.S. market, particularly for small firms. Collectively, these findings suggest U.S. stock prices are affected by market-wide sentiments which are reflected in closed-end country fund premiums.