Analysis of Damping in Soil as Applied to Machine Foundations

The parameters needed for the design of machine foundations are usually evaluated from the model block resonance test conducted at a given site. Sometimes it may not be possible to attain complete resonance and the test results may be limited to the ascending part of the response. In this paper the possible effect of damping on the values of the design parameters evaluated from the ascending part of response is examined and the nature of damping which gives realistic values of design parameters is presented

Load Settlement Characteristics and Bearing Capacity of Clays Under Transient Load

The investigation presented here utilizes finite element technique coupled with Galerikins weighted residual process to predict the settlement of footing resting on the surface of clays and subjected to transient load. The predicted quantities have been compared with the experimental observations of model footing tests. The influence of fundamental natural period of soil and foundation system on the settlement and bearing capacity of footing has been brought out

Evaluation of wound healing activity of ethanolic extract of Azadirachta Indica leaves on incision and excision wound models in Wister albino rats

Background: Wound healing is complex cellular and biochemical cascade that lead to restitution of integrity and function. Recently, the traditional use of plants for wound healing has received attention by the scientific community, as traditional medicine is a source of less expensive, comprehensive medical care, especially in developing countries. Azadirachta indica (Neem) is well-known in India, as one of the most versatile medicinal plants having a wide spectrum of biological activity. Hence, this study was undertaken to evaluate the wound healing activity of the ethanolic extract of A. indica leaf in the experimentally-induced wound in rats.Methods: The healing effect produced by A. indica extract was assessed by the rate of wound contraction histopathology and skin breaking strength by using excision wound model and incision wound model in Wister albino rats. This was compared with control (soft white paraffin) and standard (1% w/w framycetin sulfate ointment). The results have been analyzed by calculating the mean values, standard deviation and compared by using student t-test.Results: The ethanol extract of leaves of A. indica significantly promoted the wound healing activity in both excision and incision wound models.Conclusion: The study revealed promising wound healing activity of ethanolic extract of A. indica and provides a scientific rationale for the traditional use in the management of wounds

Adverse drug reactions due to cancer chemotherapy in a tertiary care hospital in south Karnataka: a prospective observational study

Background: Cancer is a multi-cellular disease which can arise from any cell type and organs. Adverse drug reactions (ADR) are undesirable consequence of cancer chemotherapeutic drugs. A great importance has to be given for their assessment, detection, monitoring, reporting and preventing these ADR for the beneficial effects of the patients. So the present study was undertaken for the purpose of detecting and quantifying those adverse reactions which is of some importance in therapeutic setting.Methods: A prospective observational study conducted in chemotherapy ward, male and female patients of any age receiving cancer chemotherapy and presenting with ADR’s in duration of 3 months.Results: 160 patients were observed. Out of 160 patients 123 presented with ADR’s. Most common ADR’s were loss of appetite (67.6), diarrhea (61.8%), vomiting (21.5%), nausea (17.7%), anemia (24.7%). Cisplatin, paclitaxel, oxaliplatin, doxorubicin, gefitinib are common drugs causing ADR’s.Conclusions: Cancer chemotherapeutic drugs are associated with various adverse reactions. This study shows the importance of active monitoring of these reactions and measures to prevent their effects early in the treatment of cancer

Evaluation of pharmacotherapy in neonatal and pediatric intensive care unit of a south Indian tertiary care hospital: a prospective observational study

Background: Evaluating the pharmacotherapy is essential at neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) to identify and understand pattern and variability in drug use in polypharmacy, also to promote interventions that will improve patient outcomes.Methods: In our study, we audited pharmacotherapy of 300 neonates and 100 pediatric patients admitted to NICU and PICU from November 2018 to February 2019. WHO-CORE prescribing indicators, WHO-ATC system and WHO-ICD 10th version was used to evaluate pharmacotherapy and to understand the pattern and extent of medication use and to systematically classify drugs and diseases respectively.Results: A total of 1207 medications containing 34 unique active ingredients were prescribed for 300 neonates with an average of 4.02 (±2.0) drugs per neonate admitted to NICU and the most prescribed drugs were anti-infectives for systemic use 799. A total of 976 medications containing 69 unique active ingredients were prescribed with an average of 9.76 (±3.81) per pediatric patients admitted to PICU with anti-infectives for systemic use 331 tops the list. More than 75% of drugs was prescribed in generic name with 98% constant availability of key drugs at intensive care unit.Conclusions: This study substantiates the need for reinforcement of institutional antibiotic policies as antibiotics are widely prescribed and there is an increase trend of antibiotic resistance at critical care unit, assessment of WHO core prescribing indicators are reflective of quality care revealing the awareness about strict monitoring of pharmacotherapy

Chemical interaction, interfacial effect and the microstructural characterization of the induced zinc–aluminum–Solanum tuberosum in chloride solution on mild steel

In this study, we report the effect of Solanum tuberosum (ST) as a strong additive on the morphological interaction, wear, and hardness properties of electroplated zinc coating in chloride bath solutions. The structural and the mechanical behavior of the Zn–Al–ST coating were studied and compared with the properties of Zn coatings. Characterization of the electrodeposited coatings were carried out using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometer, AFM, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The adhesion between the coatings and substrate was examined mechanically using hardness and wear techniques. From the results, amorphous Zn–Al–ST coatings were effectively obtained by electrodeposition using direct current. The coating morphology was revealed to be reliant on the bath composition containing strong leveling additives. From all indications, ST content contribute to a strong interfacial surface effect leading to crack-free and better morphology, good hardness properties, and improved wear resistance due to the precipitation of Zn2Si and Zn7Al2Si3. Hence, addition of ST is beneficial for the structural strengthening, hardness, and wear resistance properties of such coatings

Effects of deletion of the Streptococcus pneumoniae lipoprotein diacylglyceryl transferase gene lgt on ABC transporter function and on growth in vivo

Lipoproteins are an important class of surface associated proteins that have diverse roles and frequently are involved in the virulence of bacterial pathogens. As prolipoproteins are attached to the cell membrane by a single enzyme, prolipoprotein diacylglyceryl transferase (Lgt), deletion of the corresponding gene potentially allows the characterisation of the overall importance of lipoproteins for specific bacterial functions. We have used a Δlgt mutant strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae to investigate the effects of loss of lipoprotein attachment on cation acquisition, growth in media containing specific carbon sources, and virulence in different infection models. Immunoblots of triton X-114 extracts, flow cytometry and immuno-fluorescence microscopy confirmed the Δlgt mutant had markedly reduced lipoprotein expression on the cell surface. The Δlgt mutant had reduced growth in cation depleted medium, increased sensitivity to oxidative stress, reduced zinc uptake, and reduced intracellular levels of several cations. Doubling time of the Δlgt mutant was also increased slightly when grown in medium with glucose, raffinose and maltotriose as sole carbon sources. These multiple defects in cation and sugar ABC transporter function for the Δlgt mutant were associated with only slightly delayed growth in complete medium. However the Δlgt mutant had significantly reduced growth in blood or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and a marked impairment in virulence in mouse models of nasopharyngeal colonisation, sepsis and pneumonia. These data suggest that for S. pneumoniae loss of surface localisation of lipoproteins has widespread effects on ABC transporter functions that collectively prevent the Δlgt mutant from establishing invasive infection

Structural and properties of Zn-Al2O3-SiC nano-composite coatings by direct electrolytic process

In this paper, Zn-SiC and Zn-Al2O3-SiC composite coating were fabricated by electrodeposition technique from sulfates bath. The resulting composite coating was carried out by adding Al2O3/SiC particulate to a zinc-containing bath. The properties of the composite coating were investigated by SEM equipped with EDS, XRD, and AFM. The electrochemical behavior of the coating alloy was evaluated in 3.65 % NaCl with linear polarization technique and mechanically examined by durascan microhardness tester. The morphology of the thermal treated coatings at 400 °C in 6 h was viewed with high optical microscope (OPM). The results show hardness, thermal stability, and anti-corrosion properties of Zn-Al2O3-SiC were improved significantly as against Zn- SiC coating matrixes. This was attributed to dispersive strengthening effect and grain induced effort of Al2O3/SiC particulate. The decrease in corrosion and thermal stability at 15 g/L of SiC concentration may be as a result of agglomeration and the superimposed particle in the plating bath

Identification of a Polycystin-1 Cleavage Product, P100, That Regulates Store Operated Ca2+ Entry through Interactions with STIM1

Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is a genetic disorder resulting in large kidney cysts and eventual kidney failure. Mutations in either the PKD1 or PKD2/TRPP2 genes and their respective protein products, polycystin-1 (PC1) and polycystin-2 (PC2) result in ADPKD. PC2 is known to function as a non-selective cation channel, but PC1's function and the function of PC1 cleavage products are not well understood. Here we identify an endogenous PC1 cleavage product, P100, a 100 kDa fragment found in both wild type and epitope tagged PKD1 knock-in mice. Expression of full length human PC1 (FL PC1) and the resulting P100 and C-Terminal Fragment (CTF) cleavage products in both MDCK and CHO cells significantly reduces the store operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) resulting from thapsigargin induced store depletion. Exploration into the roles of P100 and CTF in SOCE inhibition reveal that P100, when expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, directly inhibits the SOCE currents but CTF does not, nor does P100 when containing the disease causing R4227X mutation. Interestingly, we also found that in PC1 expressing MDCK cells, translocation of the ER Ca2+ sensor protein STIM1 to the cell periphery was significantly altered. In addition, P100 Co-immunoprecipitates with STIM1 but CTF does not. The expression of P100 in CHO cells recapitulates the STIM1 translocation inhibition seen with FL PC1. These data describe a novel polycystin-1 cleavage product, P100, which functions to reduce SOCE via direct inhibition of STIM1 translocation; a function with consequences for ADPKD

Protective Contributions against Invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae Pneumonia of Antibody and Th17-Cell Responses to Nasopharyngeal Colonisation

The nasopharyngeal commensal bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae is also a frequent cause of serious infections. Nasopharyngeal colonisation with S. pneumoniae inhibits subsequent re-colonisation by inducing Th17-cell adaptive responses, whereas vaccination prevents invasive infections by inducing antibodies to S. pneumoniae capsular polysaccharides. In contrast, protection against invasive infection after nasopharyngeal colonisation with mutant S. pneumoniae strains was associated with antibody responses to protein antigens. The role of colonisation-induced Th17-cell responses during subsequent invasive infections is unknown. Using mouse models, we show that previous colonisation with S. pneumoniae protects against subsequent lethal pneumonia mainly by preventing bacteraemia with a more modest effect on local control of infection within the lung. Previous colonisation resulted in CD4-dependent increased levels of Th17-cell cytokines during subsequent infectious challenge. However, mice depleted of CD4 cells prior to challenge remained protected against bacteraemia, whereas no protection was seen in antibody deficient mice and similar protection could be achieved through passive transfer of serum. Serum from colonised mice but not antibody deficient mice promoted phagocytosis of S. pneumoniae, and previously colonised mice were able to rapidly clear S. pneumoniae from the blood after intravenous inoculation. Thus, despite priming for a Th17-cell response during subsequent infection, the protective effects of prior colonisation in this model was not dependent on CD4 cells but on rapid clearance of bacteria from the blood by antibody-mediated phagocytosis. These data suggest that whilst nasopharyngeal colonisation induces a range of immune responses, the effective protective responses depend upon the site of subsequent infectio