Vibro Replacement for Liquefaction Hazard Mitigation for Operational Storage Facility in Coronado, California, USA

Vibro replacement stone columns were installed for soil improvement for the construction of a 20,000-square-foot operational storage facility in Coronado, CA. The soil improvement program was conducted to meet seismic and static performance criteria for spread footings founded on improved soil. CPT testing was conducted before and after stone column construction to verify the vibro replacement program. Comparison between pre- and post-construction CPTs showed remarkable increase in the tip resistance in loose sand layers. Accounting for densification and shear reinforcement, the anticipated post-improvement liquefaction-induced settlement was reduced significantly

Prognostic role of immune cells in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with rising incidence rates, is the most commonly occurring malignancy of the liver that exerts a heavy disease burden particularly in developing countries. A dynamic cross-talk between immune cells and malignant cells in tumor microenvironment governs the hepatocarcinogenesis. Monitoring immune contexture as prognostic markers is quite relevant and essential to evaluate clinical outcomes and to envisage response to therapy. In this review, we present an overview of the prognostic value of various tumor infiltrating immune cells and the continually evolving immune checkpoints as novel biomarkers during HCC. Tumor infiltration by immune cells such as T cells, NK cells and dendritic cells is linked with improved prognosis and favorable outcome, while the intra-tumoral presence of regulatory T cells (Tregs) or myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) on the other hand is associated with poor clinical outcome. In addition to these, the overexpression of negative regulatory molecules on tumor cells also provides inhibitory signals to T cells and is associated with poor prognosis. The limitation of a single marker can be overcome by advanced prognostication models and algorithms that evaluate multiple prognostic factors and ultimately aid the clinician in improving the disease free and overall survival of HCC patients

Association of Nutritional Status with Failure to Complete Planned Treatment in patients with HNSCC- a prospective cohort study in a Tertiary cancer centre in Northern India.

Background: To determine the association between Nutritional status of patient and the ability to complete all planned treatment in Head & Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma(HNSCC). Materials & Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted at CRI India between 2018 and 2020. Patients diagnosed with HNSCC and planned for treatment were enrolled after written informed consent. Nutritional status was determined using- anthropometric measures and Subjective Global Assessment(SGA) scale before starting treatment. Patients were followed up for treatment details, complications and failure to complete planned treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22. Data was analyzed using parametric and non-parametric tests, p value of 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Total 161 patients were analyzed, mean age 56.3yr (±13.27 SD), 88.2% male, 64% cT3/4 stage, 91.9% ECOG PS 0 to 2. The age, gender, PS, subsite, stage, grade were not significantly associated with failure to complete planned treatment. Mean weight was 51.76 (±12.52 SD), 58.65 (±11.3 SD) kg (p=0.012), mean Body Mass Index(BMI) 19.36 (±4.3 SD), 21.92 (±4.09 SD) (p=0.009), median weight loss within 6months 11%, 3% (p=0.01), median SGA score 49, 38 (p=0.000) in patients who failed to complete treatment and who completed treatment. Percentage failure to complete treatment was 20%, 10.34% patients with weight ≤50kg, \u3e50kg (p=0.12, RR=2.17); 28.95%, 8.2% with BMI21cm (p=0.008, RR=5.2), 7.06%, 19.74% with SGA score Conclusions: Nutritional parameters like weight, BMI, MUAC, weight loss in 6 months, and SGA score are significantly associated with failure to complete treatment. Disparities in nutritional status of patients undergoing treatment for HNSCC need to be acknowledged

Compaction Grouting for Seismic Retrofit of the North Torrey Pines Bridge

The North Torrey Pines Road Bridge in Del Mar, California was built in 1933 and is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. As a result of its outdated design and deterioration in a corrosive saline environment, the bridge was classified as structurally and seismically deficient and functionally obsolete. The historic significance of this bridge is important to the surrounding community and thus a seismic retrofit project was initiated with the goal of improving the expected seismic performance of the bridge while preserving its aesthetic and historic character. This paper provides a brief description of the overall retrofit design strategy, and detailed descriptions of the design of compaction grouting ground improvement to mitigate liquefaction and seismic slope instability hazards. Techniques used in the compaction grouting construction are presented, along with some particular construction challenges and solutions. Pre- and post-construction Standard Penetration Test data are compared and the improvements to the soil are discussed. The compaction grouting program was successful in achieving the ground improvement levels required by the design

Haemoglobin measurement by point-of-care devices- a need of the hour: study conducted on antenatal females

Background: Haemoglobin measurement in antenatal care can help in timely detection and treatment of anaemia, which is a major contributory factor to maternal mortality in developing countries. The transport of samples for haemoglobin assessment may delay the treatment, resulting in preventable deaths. Haemoglobin measurement by point of care testing (POCT) devices is easy, quick and less invasive. There are very few studies which compare the capillary blood haemoglobin using point of care devices with venous blood samples. This study was conducted to compare capillary blood haemoglobin using POCT device with venous blood haemoglobin using haematology analysers in antenatal Indian females.Methods: One hundred pregnant women were recruited during their first trimester antenatal visits. Hemoglobin by finger prick capillary sample (POCT) was compared with haemoglobin of venous sample analysed by the haematology analyser (Beckman coulter) which was considered as gold standard. Intraclass correlation co-efficient based on Bland Altman analysis was computed using SPSS v21. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.97 was recorded with central laboratory reference standard, with a mean difference of -0.481 gm% and -0.482 gm% by capillary and venous blood samples, respectively (p<0.0001).Conclusions: A good agreement between capillary blood haemoglobin (POCT device) and venous blood (haematology analyser) was achieved

Alcoholism with central pontine demyelination: a case report

Central pontine myelinolysis is a non-inflammatory demyelinating disease characterized by loss of myelin with relative neuron sparing, associated with rapid correction of hyponatremia and sometimes hypernatremia or chronic alcoholism. We are reporting a case of 52 year old male patient who was chronic alcoholic from past 20 years, presented to us with complaints of altered sensorium and dysarthria of 5 days duration .He was investigated and diagnosed as case of central pontine myelinosis associated with chronic alcoholism

Analyzing Regional Variations in Capacity Utilization of Indian Sugar Industry using Non-parametric Frontier Technique

Using time series data spanning over the period 1974/75 to 2004/05, this paper provides the trends of capacity utilization (CU) levels in Indian sugar industry from regional perspectives. The results reveal that: i) on an average, the sugar industry in India is operating with the excess capacity in tune to 13 percent in each sampled year; ii) substantial variations in CU levels appear in the sugar industry of 12 major sugar producing states under consideration; iii) a precipitous decline in CU levels is noted in the post-reforms years relative to what has been observed in the prereforms period; iv) except the state of Rajasthan, the sugar industry in the remaining 11 states observed a significant decline in CU levels during the postreforms period relative to the pre-reforms period; and v) availability of raw material is most significant variable explaining the CU in Indian sugar indust

Assessment of Disease Activity and Complications in Patients of Pulmonary Tuberculosis by High Resolution Computed Tomography

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health problem and the second most common infectious cause of death. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is far more superior to chest radiography as well as conventional CT for analyzing the pulmonary parenchyma. This study aimed to evaluate the role of HRCT in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) with respect to disease activity and complication after anti-tubercular therapy (ATT). Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Radiodiagnosis, Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College & Research Centre (TMMC&RC) for a period of 1.5 years. A total of 50 cases of newly diagnosed TB were included in the study and a standard six-month ATT was given to the patients. Pulmonary involvement was evaluated by HRCT (128 slice multi-detector PHILIPS INGENUITY CT scanner), twice for each patient (first scan after diagnosis and second after treatment completion). The acquired HRCT images were reconstructed on a highresolution lung algorithm and parenchymal, bronchial, and extra parenchymal findings were recorded systematically. Results: Out of the 50 patients, 5 died within two months of the initiation of treatment and four were lost to follow-up. Thus, post treatment follow-up sample size was reduced to 41 patients. Ill-defined nodules (96%), tree-in-bud pattern (74%), consolidation (86%), cavitary lesions (98%), and ground glass opacities (58%) were the main imaging features of active cases of TB on HRCT. Resolution to thin-walled cavitary lesions (36.5%), bronchiectasis (41.5%), and fibrotic (parenchymal) bands (66%) were common complications or sequelae which were observed after completion of treatment. Conclusion: HRCT thorax is a sensitive modality for evaluation of parenchymal and airway manifestations in cases of PTB and can aid in differentiation of active disease from healed disease. It allows early identification of post-treatment complications and sequelae in patients of PTB

Diagnostic efficacy of FNAC by liquid based technique versus conventional smear in lung and mediastinal masses

Background: Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) has proven to be less costly and less invasive procedure than biopsy for diagnosing benign and malignant lesions. Of the two methods liquid based cytology (LBC) and conventional cytology (CC), LBC has been standardized as more efficacious in reporting in Gynaecological cases. But, this is still lacking in non-gynaecological cases and many studies are now focusing on studying LBC due to its proven advantages in Pap smear evaluation.Methods: An observational study of 72 patients with lung mass and 11 with mediastinal mass was done for a period of six months in a tertiary care hospital in Gurugram to compare the diagnostic efficacy of LBC and CC in fine needle aspirates from lung/mediastinal mass.Results: Of the 83 cases, reporting of LBC was adequate in 75 cases and CC in only 53 cases. LBC was better when differentiating malignant and benign lesions than CC. CC smears had better cellularity in comparison to LBC smears (36%), but rest cytological features of cytoplasmic detailing, cell architecture, less background debris and blood were all more appreciable in LBC smears than CC preparations.Conclusions: LBC is a better method than conventional smear for smear preparation and processing of aspirates obtained from lung and mediastinal mass