Failure of a Shipping Berth

A Major port in India had six cargo berths and a seventh one was to be added to cater for the heavy cargo traffic. The top layer of the soil along the berth was 20 m thick soft and sensitive marine silty clay with an average shear strength of 2 tons/Sqm. The design provided for a berth 342 m long. It had a quay and transit area supported on 750 mm diameter bored piles which was followed by open stacking ground 60 m wide, to be preconsolidated by sand drains. Finally it had a paved unconsolidated area 120 m wide. The design was also provided with a defense dyke and a filled up area to allow the machinery to work in the dry. Soon after start of piling a sudden settlement of the soil was observed in a length of about 40 m. The defense dyke also bodily shifted towards the sea. After a period of about seven months there was a serious foundation failure. Investigations were carried out into the causes of failure. The paper describes the details of investigations and final remedial measures taken

FORMULATION OF FLUCONAZOLE AS TOPICAL ANTIFUNGAL GELS BY MICROSPONGE BASED DELIVERY SYSTEMS

The purpose of present work was to formulate Fluconazole loaded microsponge-based topical delivery system for modified release. Microsponges with varied drug–polymer ratios were prepared by emulsion solvent diffusion technique using Ethyl cellulose as release retard material. Prepared microsponges were studied for particle size and physical characterization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed the microsponges porous and spherical in shape. The microsponges were then incorporated in carbopol gel and evaluated for pH, viscosity, spreadability, drug content, in-vitro release. The In vitro drug release showed that microsponges with 1:1.5 drug–polymer ratios (F3) were more efficient to give sustained release of 74.2% at the end of 8 hr. All the microsponge gel formulations (i.e.F1- F10) showed better results like pH between 6.5-7.0, viscosity between 25,030-47,390 cps, spreadability 2-4 cm/s and drug content of 76.20±0.02% to 96.41±0.01%.  Hence, the fabricated microsponge based formulation of Fluconazole would be anticipation and promising substitute to conventional therapy of skin infections

SOLAR POWERED THREE PHASE MOTOR FOR VARIOUS APPLICATIONS

The Power electronics plays a vital role in the conversion and control of the electrical power for various applications such as heating & lightning control, electrochemical processes, DC & AC electrical machine drives, electrical welding, active power line filtering, static var compensator and many more.The main aim of the paper is to analyze and design of a current fed push pull DC-DC boost converter to integrate three phase electric motor through inverter. The regulated output which is obtained by the developed converter is fed to a typical load side inverter, and then to the various loads. To analyze the CFPP DC-DC converter in different operating cycles. The hardware circuit will be designed to test for the required output.Among the existing DC/DC converters, current-fed push-pull (CFPP) converter is a better option owing to its voltage boosting, isolation and compact characteristics

Electronegativity, Hardness and Atomic number: Mutual relationships explored via novel isoelectronic series methodology

The novel isoelectronic methodology proposed recently, reveals electronic configuration dependent relationship between the hardness and atomic number, and electronegativity and hardness.  In eight out of the first ten isoelectronic series, the hardness measure (I-A)/2 is an excellent linear function of atomic number (Z), and the electronegativity measure, (I+A)/2 is a quadratic function of the hardness measure; Hence, it is inferred that hardness (η) is proportional to atomic number (η α Z) and electronegativity (χ) is proportional to square of hardness (χ α η2). In both the cases, the two inert gas series species are the exceptions where η α Z2 and χ α η, respectively. These relationships are slightly in discord with the previously reported mutual connections. Previous reports do not indicate electronic configuration dependency as well. The linear (I-A)/2 versus Z plots arises as a result of cancellation of Z2 terms, and the slopes of these plots are sensitive indicator of the electron spin pairing and orbital change. A potential use of (I-A)/2 versus Z, and (I+A)/2 versus (I-A)/2 plots in pointing the incorrect ionization potentials and their evaluation has been elaborated by the striking example of the sixth ionization potential of phosphorous. The (I-A)/2 versus Z relations also provides us a new way to obtain hardness values of cationic and anionic atomic species

The Politics of Sustainable Transport and the Modernisation of Urban Transport in Delhi and Stockholm

This article addresses issues of transport systems taking its examples from Delhi and Stockholm. The introduction of the BRT and a congestion tax in these two cities respectively is presented and discussed in terms of modernisation and sustainable transport. This paper explores the perceptions of politicians and examines some transport plans in the search for the opening of a new window of opportunity in matters of urban traffic. The ongoing high proportion of non-motorised modes of transport and use of public transport in Delhi over the past fifty years gives it a greater political opportunity for creating a more inclusive city than Stockholm. In Stockholm, awareness of the influence of emissions on climate change makes the inhabitants more inclined to accept fees for the use of city streets. Sustainable transport and modernisation of transport systems are seen as key activities, but are perceived and operationalised differently in Delhi and Stockholm. Despite all the differences, some similarities in the development of their urban transport projects have been found. This paper inquires into the planning and operationalisation of transport modernisation and the politics of sustainable transport - with a special focus on the process leading up to the final decision

Microsponge based drug delivery system of voriconazole for fungal infection: formulation development and In-vitro evaluation

The plan behind the present research work was to develop a microsponge based dosage form for modified delivery of voriconazole prepared by quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method using polymer Ethylcellulose with two factors drug-polymer ratios and surfactant concentration, these two factors influences micro particles and physical properties. The characterization techniques followed for the formed microsponges were DSC, FT-IR, SEM and particle size analysis, along with morphology, drug loading, in-vitro drug release data.  DSC and FT-IR data discloses that there were no chemical interactions between drug and polymer used. The drug-polymer ratio and surfactant concentration showed notable impact on drug content, encapsulation efficiency and particle size, SEM micrographs revealed that microsponges formed were spherical in shape with porous surface, and had 119.47 μm mean particle size. The microsponges were then loaded in carbopol gel followed by ex vivo drug deposition, primary skin irritancy study, in vivo antibacterial activity and in-vitro drug release study; which depicted that microsponges with drug-polymer ratio of 1:3 were more capable to give extended drug release of 93.79.±0.06 % at the end of 24 h, better in contrast to conventional formulation. Hence, the developed microsponge based formulation of voriconazole would be a hopeful, promising alternate to conventional therapy for the fungal treatment. Keywords: Voriconazole, Microsponge, Particle size, Entrapment efficiency,  ex vivo drug deposition primary skin irritanc

Kinetic study of metal ion adsorption from wastewater onto coal industry by-products

Se llevó a cabo un estudio comparativo sobre el uso de cenizas volantes y clinker natural como adsorbentes de metales pesados de agua contaminada a partir de experimentos de adsorción a temperatura ambiente. Las concentraciones de metales pesados en los filtrados se determinaron por espectrometría de emisión atómica por plasma inductivamente acoplado. En los estudios de adsorción en batch, la retención aumento con el aumento del tiempo de contacto, la cantidad de adsorbente y el pH de la solución. La adsorción de los metales a partir de la solución contaminada artificialmente fue Cr>Cu>Pb>Ni>Zn, mientras que a partir de drenaje ácido de mina fue Pb>Zn>As>Fe>Cr>Cu>Ni. Las constantes de primer orden de Lagergren se calcularon para concentraciones iniciales de iones metálicos específicas, dando un excelente ajuste como lo indica el coeficiente de correlación (R2), con valores próximos o iguales a 1 para el tratamiento de la solución contaminada artificialmente y de 0.25 a 0.99 para el tratamiento del drenaje ácido de mina. Los datos de este estudio revelan que los cationes metálicos en solución acuosa pueden ser adsorbidos exitosamente en cantidades significativas por los adsorbentes usados

Feeding practices in infants: ritual factors dominating mother’s education - a cross sectional study

Background: The objective was to know the impact of mother education on feeding practices of infants.Methods: Observational analytic cross sectional study. We used Semi-structured, pre-tested questionnaire to interview 355 mothers of infants, aged one and half to 12 months, who came in OPD of Department of Paediatrics UPRIMS and R, Saifai for immunization or some problem.Results: Total 267 (75.2 %) out of 355 women had initiated breast feeding within 24 hours of birth. 172 (48.5%) mothers exclusively breast fed their infants. Total 166 (46.8%) practiced Prelacteal feed. Out of 166 subjects, 121 (34.1%) practiced for 7 days and 41 (12.7%) beyond the 7 days. There were highly significant relationship found between education level of mothers with type of breast feeding, in the form of exclusive or non- exclusive breast feeding and Prelacteal feeding practices ( p 0.05), but an important pattern of initiation of breast feeding was seen at the different level of mothers education.Conclusion: Ritual and customary factors have much impact then mother’s education on breast feeding practices of infants. Apart from education, breast feeding awareness programme should be increased including both literate and illiterate mothers.