Compressibility Characteristics of Compacted Black Cotton Soil Treated with Rice Husk Ash

One dimensional consolidation studies on compacted black cotton soil treated with up to 16% rice husk ash (RHA) at the British Standard light compactive effort was carried out to access the compressibility characteristics. The consolidation characteristics of black cotton soil containing 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16% RHA were observed at different moulding water contents (2% dry of optimum, optimum moisture content and 2% wet of optimum) simulating different field placement conditions. Variations of the soil’s index properties with ash treatment were also observed. The Atterberg limits showed improved index properties; plastic limit of the soil was found to increase while the liquid limit and plasticity index decreased with increased RHA treatment. The optimum moisture content (OMC) was observed to increase while Maximum Dry Density (MDD) decreased with increased RHA treatment. The swelling pressure decreased with increased RHA content. The consolidation parameters also showed appreciable changes; with the gross yielding stress irrespective of the particle state increasing with increased RHA treatment. The compression index decreased with increased RHA content but increased with increasing moulding water content. The coefficient of volume compressibility, coefficient of consolidation generally decreased with increased loading pressure and RHA treatment for up to 8%.  The coefficient of permeability decreased with increased RHA content for up to 8%. These results show an overall improvement in the consolidation properties for up to 8% treatment; suggesting the suitability of the material in fills for embankment and low lying marginal land for foundation works. This also helps in ameliorating the environmental problems associated with the disposal of waste rice husk ash

13C-ETHANE IN THE ATMOSPHERES OF JUPITER AND SATURN

High-resolution12C- and13C-ethane spectra of Jupiter and Saturn were acquired with the McMath-Pierce 60 inch (1.5 m) Telescope and Celeste, Goddard Space Flight Center's cryogenic grating spectrometer, in 1995 November and December. A relative abundance ratio12C/13C of 91 +26–13 for Jupiter and 99+43-23 for Saturn was derived from the measurements. These nearly terrestrial values suggest little or no fractionation of carbon isotopes in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn. A weighted average of the available12C/13C ratios for the outer planets yields 88 ± 7, thus presenting no evidence for change in the carbon isotopic ratio between the presolar nebula and the present atmospheres of the outer planets

Prophylactic Ketamine Reduces Incidence of Postanaesthetic Shivering

General anesthesia influences the thermoregulatory process. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of low-dose prophylactic ketamine with that ofplacebo in preventing postoperative shivering. A prospective randomized double-blind study involved 76 ASA I and II patients undergoing general anesthesia that was expected to last no more than 2 hours. Patientswere randomly allocated to receive normal saline (Group P, n=33) or ketamine 0.5 mg kg (Group K, n=33) intravenously 20 min before completion of surgery. The anesthesia was induced with propofol 2.5-3.0 mgkg and fentanyl (2 -3 μgkg ), atracurium 0.5 mgkg ) was given to facilitateorotracheal intubation. It was maintained with propofol (510 mgkg hr ), fentanylup to (5 μg · kg · h and a mixture of nitrous oxide/oxygen (2:1). Ambient temperature was maintained at 20°22°C with constant humidity. Postoperative shivering in the recovery room was evaluated according to 5 point scale ofWrench. The two groups did not differ significantly regarding patient characteristics. The number of patients shivering onarrival in the recovery room, and at 10 and 20 min after operationwas significantly less in Groups K than in Group P. In group P 36% have had shivering in T0 whereas in group K 6%, in T10 45% in group P whereas 18% in group K. In T 20 24% in group Phave had shivering compared with6%in group K, whereas in T309%in group P compared with 0% in group K. The incidence of free Postanaesthetic shivering (no shivering) on arrival in the recovery room T0 was: 63.6% in group P compared with 90.9 % in group K. The postoperative hemodynamic parameters were similar in the two groups. Active warming was not required in group K but was needed in 8 cases in group P. None of patients had episodes of O desaturation or respiratory depression during the study period. No hallucinations, delirium, nausea, vomiting, hypertension, tachycardia, and feeling like walking in the space or nystagmus were seen in any of the patients. Prophylactic low-dose ketamine was found to be effectivein preventing postoperative shivering.

A Descriptive Analysis of Strategies for Reducing Voluntary Employee Turnover in the Current Business Environment

A skilled and experienced workforce gives an organization a competitive advantage. Organizations that can persuade their most valuable asset, the employee, to stay employed over a prolonged period drastically improve their chance of survival and enjoy continued success; however, convincing them to stay is one of the toughest challenges for managers. Furthermore, replacing key employees is very costly, and organizations must develop a fully consolidated policy that entices their employees to stay employed and committed to the organizational strategic plans. This study aims to critically analyze the various studies on reducing voluntary employee turnover, highlight factors responsible for employee departure, and the initiatives that can be applied to persuade them to stay. Recent devastating natural disasters, the raging effects of the covid 19 pandemic, technological enhancement, innovation, and globalization have brought stiff competition for a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. As the study is descriptive, several secondary articles are analyzed to summarize and synthesize fragmented knowledge and organize the literature review in a terse format. Therefore, the literature review will present traditional and contemporary strategies for reducing voluntary employee turnover. Additionally, more emphasis is put on factors such as the leadership style of superiors, ability to exercise control concerning decision-making and problem-solving, desire for career advancement and skills development, conducive working environments, and ever-increasing aspiration for retention of key employees

Orochi: Investigating Requirements and Expectations for Multipurpose Daily Used Supernumerary Robotic Limbs

Supernumerary robotic limbs (SRLs) present many opportunities for daily use. However, their obtrusiveness and limitations in interaction genericity hinder their daily use. To address challenges of daily use, we extracted three design considerations from previous literature and embodied them in a wearable we call Orochi. The considerations include the following: 1) multipurpose use, 2) wearability by context, and 3) unobtrusiveness in public. We implemented Orochi as a snake-shaped robot with 25 DoFs and two end effectors, and demonstrated several novel interactions enabled by its limber design. Using Orochi, we conducted hands-on focus groups to explore how multipurpose SRLs are used daily and we conducted a survey to explore how they are perceived when used in public. Participants approved Orochi's design and proposed different use cases and postures in which it could be worn. Orochi's unobtrusive design was generally well received, yet novel interactions raise several challenges for social acceptance. We discuss the significance of our results by highlighting future research opportunities based on the design, implementation, and evaluation of Orochi

Disruption of the prostaglandin metabolome and characterization of the pharmaceutical exposome in fish exposed to wastewater treatment works effluent as revealed by nanoflow-nanospray mass spectrometry-based metabolomics

Fish can be exposed to a complex mixture of chemical contaminants, including pharmaceuticals, present in discharges of wastewater treatment works (WwTWs) effluents. There is little information on the effects of effluent exposure on fish metabolism, especially the small molecule signaling compounds which are the biological target of many pharmaceuticals. We applied a newly developed sensitive nanoflow-nanospray mass spectrometry nontargeted profiling technique to identify changes in the exposome and metabolome of roach (Rutilus rutilus) exposed to a final WwTWs effluent for 15 days. Effluent exposure resulted in widespread reduction (between 50% and 90%) in prostaglandin (PG) profiles in fish tissues and plasma with disruptions also in tryptophan/serotonin, bile acid and lipid metabolism. Metabolite disruptions were not explained by altered expression of genes associated with the PG or tryptophan metabolism. Of the 31 pharmaceutical metabolites that were detected in the effluent exposome of fish, 6 were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs but with plasma concentrations too low to disrupt PG biosynthesis. PGs, bile acids, and tryptophan metabolites are important mediators regulating a diverse array of physiological systems in fish and the identity of wastewater contaminants disrupting their metabolism warrants further investigation on their exposure effects on fish health

Meta-analysis of changes in the levels of catecholamines and blood pressure with continuous positive airway pressure therapy in obstructive sleep apnea

Stress from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) stimulates catecholamine release consequently exacerbating hypertension. However, different studies have shown a conflicting impact of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment in patients with OSA on catecholamine levels and blood pressure. We aimed to examine changes to catecholamine levels and blood pressure in response to CPAP treatment. We conducted a meta‐analysis of data published up to May 2020. The quality of the studies was evaluated using standard tools for assessing the risk of bias. Meta‐analysis was conducted using RevMan (v5.3) and expressed in standardized mean difference (SMD) for catecholamines and mean difference (MD) for systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). A total of 38 studies met our search criteria; they consisted of 14 randomized control trials (RCT) totaling 576 participants and 24 prospective cohort studies (PCS) of 547 participants. Mean age ranged between 41 and 62 year and body mass index between 27.2 and 35.1 kg/m(2). CPAP treatment reduced 24‐hour urinary noradrenaline levels both in RCT (SMD = −1.1; 95% confidence interval (CI): −1.63 to − 0.56) and in PCS (SMD = 0.38 (CI: 0.24 to 0.53). SBP was also reduced by CPAP treatment in RCT (4.8 mmHg; CI: 2.0‐7.7) and in PCS (7.5 mmHg; CI: 3.3‐11.7). DBP was similarly reduced (3.0 mmHg; CI: 1.4‐4.6) and in PCS (5.1 mmHg; CI: 2.3‐8.0). In conclusion, CPAP treatment in patients with OSA reduces catecholamine levels and blood pressure. This suggests that sympathetic activity plays an intermediary role in hypertension associated with OSA‐related stress

Merkel cell polyomavirus: molecular insights into the most recently discovered human tumour virus.

A fifth of worldwide cancer cases have an infectious origin, with viral infection being the foremost. One such cancer is Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare but aggressive skin malignancy. In 2008, Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) was discovered as the causative agent of MCC. It is found clonally integrated into the majority of MCC tumours, which require MCPyV oncoproteins to survive. Since its discovery, research has begun to reveal the molecular virology of MCPyV, as well as how it induces tumourigenesis. It is thought to be a common skin commensal, found at low levels in healthy individuals. Upon loss of immunosurveillance, MCPyV reactivates, and a heavy viral load is associated with MCC pathogenesis. Although MCPyV is in many ways similar to classical oncogenic polyomaviruses, such as SV40, subtle differences are beginning to emerge. These unique features highlight the singular position MCPyV has as the only human oncogenic polyomavirus, and open up new avenues for therapies against MCC