Assessment of Strength of Hollow Concrete Blocks with Holes Reinforced with Half Portion of Coconut Shells

Natural building materials are diminishing day by day. Hence economical alternatives of natural building materials are necessary for sustainable development. A hollow concrete block was developed to reduce the use of natural building materials. Agricultural waste products like coconut shells from the coconut industry have disposal problems causing environmental concerns. Various studies were done in the past, replacing a portion of the natural aggregates with broken coconut shells for manufacturing the hollow concrete blocks. In this study, we have developed a new method of forming the holes of hollow concrete blocks by placing stacks of half portion of coconut shells at the bottom with convex surface upwards to reinforce the holes by arch action. The results show that the coconut shell reinforced hollow concrete blocks have better strength as compared to open-graded hollow concrete blocks available in the market. Most Searchable Keywords on the Web coconut shell building blocks, coconut shell building blocks journals, coconut shell building blocks ppt, hollow concrete blocks, literature review of coconut shell concrete, coconut shell bricks, alternative for hollow blocks, concrete blocks with holes &nbsp

Genomic clustering analysis identifies molecular subtypes of thymic epithelial tumors independent of World Health Organization histologic type

Further characterization of thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) is needed. Genomic information from 102 evaluable TETs from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset and from the IU-TAB-1 cell line (type AB thymoma) underwent clustering analysis to identify molecular subtypes of TETs. Six novel molecular subtypes (TH1-TH6) of TETs from the TCGA were identified, and there was no association with WHO histologic subtype. The IU-TAB-1 cell line clustered into the TH4 molecular subtype and in vitro testing of candidate therapeutics was performed. The IU-TAB-1 cell line was noted to be resistant to everolimus (mTORC1 inhibitor) and sensitive to nelfinavir (AKT1 inhibitor) across the endpoints measured. Sensitivity to nelfinavir was due to the IU-TAB-1 cell line’s gain-of function (GOF) mutation in PIK3CA and amplification of genes observed from array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), including AURKA, ERBB2, KIT, PDGFRA and PDGFB, that are known upregulate AKT, while resistance to everolimus was primarily driven by upregulation of downstream signaling of KIT, PDGFRA and PDGFB in the presence of mTORC1 inhibition. We present a novel molecular classification of TETs independent of WHO histologic subtype, which may be used for preclinical validation studies of potential candidate therapeutics of interest for this rare disease

Piezoelectric, impedance, electric modulus and AC conductivity studies on (Bi0.5Na0.5)0.95Ba0.05TiO3 ceramic

Lead-free piezoelectric perovskite ceramic (Bi0.5Na0.5)0.95Ba0.05TiO3 (BNT-BT0.05), prepared by conventional high temperature solid state reaction technique at 1160 °C/3h in air atmosphere, is investigated by impedance and modulus spectroscopy in a temperature range 35–400 °C, over a frequency range 100 Hz–1 MHz. The crystal structure, microstructure, and piezoelectric properties as well as the AC conductivity of the sample were studied. Powder X-ray diffraction pattern derived from the resulting data at the room temperature subjected to Rietveld refinements and Williamson-Hall plot analysis confirmed the formation of phase pure compound with monoclinic unit cells having a crystallite-size ~33.8 nm. Observed SEM micrograph showed a uniform distribution of grains inside the sample having an average grain size ~3 mm. Longitudinal piezoelectric charge coefficient of the sample poled under a DC electric field of ~ 2.5 kV/mm at 80 °C in a silicone oil bath was found to be equal to 95 pC/N. The frequency and temperature dependent electrical data analysed in the framework of AC conductivity, complex impedance as well as electric modulus formalisms showed negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) character of the material and the dielectric relaxation in the material to be of non-Debye type. Double power law for the frequency-dependence of AC conductivity and Jump Relaxation Model (JRM) were found to explain successfully the mechanism of charge transport in BNT-BT0.05

Migration, Health, and Gender and Its Effects on Housing Security of Ghanaian Women

We explored how migration influences our understanding of health and housing security of women who have or have not migrated to find work in Ghana. This article focuses on housing security. We used a multisite ethnographic research design. The setting was two distinct contexts in Ghana: a rural village and an urban context. We interviewed 44 women. Thematic content analysis was conducted. The main themes that emerged were decisions influencing migration, housing security, and the relationship between housing and health. Women voiced concerns about health related to housing conditions – for example, its effect on upper respiratory infections. We conclude that improving housing and services to the urban poor can have a positive impact on their health. Available, affordable, suitable, and adequate housing has the potential to contribute to economic growth, create more jobs, and improve the well-being of migrant women and, subsequently, their families in Northern Ghana

Marine bacterial prodigiosin as dye for rubber latex, polymethyl methacrylate sheets and paper

Prodigiosin is known for its immunomodulatory, antibacterial, antimycotic, antimalarial, algicidal and anticancer activities. Here, we reported the evaluation of prodigiosin pigment as a dyeing agent in rubber latex, paper and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) so that it can be considered as an alternative to synthetic pigments. Maximum color shade was obtained in rubber sheet prepared with 0.5 parts per hundred gram of rubber (phr) pigment and PMMA sheet incorporated with 0.08 μg pigment. Results indicate scope for utilization of prodigiosin as dye for PMMA and rubber and also prodigiosin dyed paper as a pH indicator. Further, being a natural and water insoluble pigment, it is ecofriendlyCochin University of Science and TechnologyAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(17), pp. 2266-2269, 24 April, 201