Rapid chloride penetration on high performance fly ash incorporated silica fume concrete

Mechanical and durability properties of fly ash incorporated high performance silica fume concretes are discussed with respective to the obtained experimental results. Concrete specimens are prepared at the water-to-binder ratio of 0.28.  The effect of inclusion of various percentages of silica fume (4%, 8%, 10% and 12%) on the workability, the Compressive strength and the Rapid chloride penetration, according to ASTM C 1202  are determined and compared with the reference mix in which 12% of fly ash is kept constant as cement replacement material. The consumption of alternative  fine aggregate is an accepted step towards solving part of the depletion of natural aggregate and hence sand was substituted with M-sand of 50 %. Total binder content was kept constant as  600 kg/m3 for all the concrete mixtures. Result show that the combination of 8 to 10 % silica fume and 12% fly ash increase the  strength  of concrete, but beyond 10% of silica fume with 12% of fly ash combination the compressive strength get decreased. The incorporation of  silica fume and fly ash in the concrete mixtures, increased the resistance to chloride ions while an increasing percentage of silica fume in ternary mix and shaped the concretes with very low permeability - high performance

Unity Attractors Inspired Programmable Cellular Automata and Barnacles Swarm Optimization-Based Energy Efficient Data Communication for Securing IoT

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is the innovative technology that covers wide range of application that possesses high potential merits such as long-term operation, unmonitored network access, data transmission, and low implementation cost. In this context, Internet of Things (IoT) have evolved as an exciting paradigm with the rapid advancement of cellular mobile networks, near field communications and cloud computing. WSNs potentially interacts with the IoT devices based on the sensing features of web devices and communication technologies in sensors. At this juncture, IoT need to facilitate huge amount of data aggregation with security and disseminate it to the reliable path to make it reach the required base station. In this paper, Unity Attractors Inspired Programmable Cellular Automata and Barnacles Swarm Optimization-Based Energy Efficient Data Communication Mechanism (UAIPCA-BSO) is proposed for  Securing data and estimate the optimal path through which it can be forwarded in the IoT environment. In specific, Unity Attractors Inspired Programmable Cellular Automata is adopted for guaranteeing security during the data transmission process. It also aids in determining the optimal path of data transmission based on the merits of Barnacles Swarm Optimization Algorithm (BSOA), such that data is made to reach the base station at the required destination in time. The simulation results of UAIPCA-BSO confirmed minimized end-to-end delay , accuracy and time taken for malicious node detection, compared to the baseline approaches used for comparison

Validity of admission test as a screening test in differentiating high and low observational antenatal women

INTRODUCTION: Non Stress test is a non invasive test most commonly used for the ante partum evaluation of fetal well being. The rationale underlying this test is that the presence of spontaneous fetal heart rate accelerations with fetal movements is an indicator of fetal well being. Admission cardiotocogram is usually a 20 min recording of fetal heart rate immediately after admission to labor ward. Abnormal tracing might indicate and identity potential fetal compromise at an early stage and allow early intervention. Admission test enable the obstetrician to concentrate more on those fetuses having abnormal tracings than those with reactive tracings. AIM OF THE STUDY: To asses the validity of admission test as a screening test in differentiating high and low observational antenatal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Material : Fetal Monitor BT – 300 Consists of 1. BT 300 Main body, 2. Ultrasound transducer (Doppler Probe), 3. The Co transducer (uterine contraction probe), 4. Event marker, 5. Thermal print paper, 6. Power adapter, 7. Ultrasound gel, 8. Transducer Belt. Type of Study: It is a prospective study of assessing the validity of admission test as a screening test to differentiate high and low observational antenatal women. Place of Study: The study was conducted at Institute of Social obstetrics and Govt. Kasturba Gandhi Hospital, Triplicane, Chennai during period of April 2007 to April 2008. Study Population: 800 antenatal women were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion Criteria: 1. Primi & Second gravida, 2. Singleton pregnancy, 3. Cephalic presentation, 4. No contra indications for vaginal delivery, 5. No Medical, Surgical, Obstetrical complications. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Multigravida, 2. Preeclampsia, 3. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, 4. Multiple pregnancy, 5. Abruptio Placenta, 6. Heart Disease complicating pregnancy, 7. Malpositions and Malpresentations, 8. Anemia, 9. FGR - Fetal growth restriction, 10. Post Term. METHOD OF STUDY: Antenatal Women who are admitted through casualty were taken for the study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After eliciting the history and complete clinical examination of the patient (both general & obstetrical) consent was obtained from each patient for admission test. Before getting consent from the patients, the entire procedure is explained to her. The admission test is performed on each patient for 20 minutes. The admission test tracings were typed into (i) Reactive, (ii) Suspicious, (iii) ominous. Depending on the type of tracings, the mode of management varies. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: The present study was carried out at Institute of Social obstetrics and Govt. Kasturba Gandhi Hospital, Chennai from April 2007 to April 2008, to analyze the efficacy of admission test as a predictor of observational status for women in early labor. In settings with restricted man power and qualified staff, there is always a need to differentiate the patients who require constant monitoring and those who could be monitored less frequently. However, this differentiation could be arrived at only after an initial screening and such bifurcation. In this study, 800 AN women who were admitted to the labor ward of this tertiary care centre were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria and after obtaining informed consent, all of them were subjected to a 20 minute admission test. Based on the findings of the admission test, they were divided into low observational staus (Reactive tracing) and high observational status (suspicious and/or ominous tracings). The onset, duration and mode of delivery along with the maternal and fetal outcome were analysed. The study shows that there is a good correlation between reactive tracings and good fetal outcome even with less frequent monitoring. Hence the admission test can be used as an useful tool to differentiate between these two categories of women in early labor to maximally utilize the available limited man power

Study on Physico- Chemical Parameters and Structural Characterization of Soils in Pudukkottai District of Tamilnadu, India

The soil is the most important constituent to fulfilment of all the basic needs of human beings and also is an important component of our farming. The study was conducted with the main objective to investigate the soil samples of Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu for its physico-chemical analysis and structural characterization. The collected soil samples were analyzed for its pH, EC, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc and Iron. Besides, the sample was characterized by FTIR studies for structural conformation. From the study the results revealed that the collected soil was red soil and its texture was sandy clay loam. The soil pH was 9.29 which was alkaline and the EC was 0.02 dSm-1. The available macro-nutrients as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for paddy field soil samples had 118, 11 and 160 kg/ha respectively. Micronutrients Nutrients also analyzed. FT-IR spectrum of soil was recorded spectrum of soil was shown the C-H deformation vibrations occur at 1402. The C=C Stretching vibrations occur at 1644 and the N-H Stretching vibrations occur at 2344. Management options to improve the soil fertility were discussed

A Clinical Study of the Cutaneous Manifestations of Chronic Renal Failure.

The kidney and the skin are the two large networks of the body with their abundant blood supply, far in excess of their nutritional demands, the former for the constancy of the milieu interior and the latter maintaining mainly homeostasis. No wonder therefore, that they share many diseases and reflect mutually one another’s pathology which should be made use of by the clinician. Scientific and technologic improvements during the second-half of the 20th century have provided renal replacement therapy as a life-sustaining option for many individuals who otherwise may have died. For each year of the last 10 years, the number of individuals with end stage renal disease has grown approximately 20,000 per year. Cutaneous examination of patients with end stage renal disease has shown that 50 – 100% of the patients have at least one dermatologic condition. In addition to end stage renal disease, Uremia and conditions associated with replacement therapy are fraught with numerous and, often relatively unique cutaneous disorders. AIMS : 1. To study the various cutaneous manifestations and their incidence in patients with chronic renal failure. 2. To study the age and sex incidence of the individual cutaneous manifestations. 3. To study the incidence and types of cutaneous infections in chronic renal failure. 4. To study the treatment-related (medical and dialysis) dermatologic manifestations of chronic renal failure. 5. To correlate between the skin manifestations of systemic disorders with chronic renal failure. CONCLUSION: This clinical study of cutaneous manifestations of chronic renal failure was done during the period December ’03 to December ‘05 revealed the following 1. Most of the specific cutaneous manifestations of chronic renal failure were seen in this study. Pruritus and xerosis were the most common among the specific cutaneous manifestations of chronic renal failure. Pigmentary alterations and nail abnormalities were the next. Mucosal and hair abnormalities were noted in good percentage of cases. Nearly 10% had perforating dermatosis and purpura. Interesting findings noted in this study were digital gangrene, poor wound healing, and restless leg syndrome. 2. Skin changes due to treatment reported were arteriovenous shunt dermatitis, keratotic pits of palms in small percentage and blue nails in a patient during hemodialysis, other than pruritus and pigmentary alterations. 3. Cutaneous infections and infestations were seen in 43.8 % of the cases. This high incidence could be due to impaired immunity resulting in increased susceptibility to infections in chronic renal failure patients. Fungal infections were the most common, followed by viral, bacterial and parasitic infestations. 4. Associated skin changes of systemic diseases helped in finding varying etiologies of chronic renal failure such s diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, vasculitis, Henoch schonlein purpura, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. A case of cortical medullary disease in Ellis van creveld syndrome was reported with cutaneous changes. A case of tuberous sclerosis with renal involvement and skin changes was seen. Other associated skin changes were not related to the etiology and were found to be just coincidental

A Study on Soothaga Vaayu

The results obtained from the studies are summarized below: • High incidence of cases was noted in the age group 21-25 years (50%) from upper middle socio economic group (50%) in their vatha kaalam (95%). • 85% of patients are Non vegetarian with 55% of patients with normal physical built. • Majority of patients belong to Neithal thinai (90%) and in Muthuvenil kaalam(40%). • In observing the Mukkutram, Abana vayu and sathaga pitham were affected in all patients indicating derangement of vatham and pitham. • In Ezhu udal thathukkal, Saaram and Suronitham are affected in all patients. • In Envagai thervugal Naa, Niram, Vizhi and Malam were affected in majority of patients. • Most of patients had pitha vatha naadi. • In soothaga vaayu all patients had irregular menstruation,75% had Dysmenorrhoea, 65% had Oligomenorrhoea and 50% patients had constipation. • The trial medicines having kaippu and Uppu taste neutralizes the deranged vayu and pitham based on oppurai. • The ingredients of the trial drugs have Emmenagogue, Antivatha, Anti-pitha, Anti-Spasmodic, Anti-Tumour, Laxative, Carminative, hypolipidimic and Anti-diabetic action. • The pre clinical studies show that the medicines were safe with no signs of Toxicity and significant Ovulation Induced activity. • The clinical trial shows that there is significant improvement in the clinical manifestations of Soothaga vaayu. • There is 75% relief from amenorrhoea, oligomenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea constipation and 90% relief from irregular menstruation. • 5% of patients conceived during the course of the treatment. • The pre clinical and clinical data’s were analysed statistically and observed that they are significant in relieving the symptoms with P value < 0.05. • Also the trial drugs are affordable to all the patients. CONCLUSION: Soothaga Vaayu (PCOS) is primarily due to the derangement of vatham and pitham. • The trial medicine Soothagathai Udaikkum Kasayam and Maeni Lavana Chooranam predominating with kaippu and karppu taste respectively neutralizes the vatham and pitham. • The trial medicines regularise the irregular menstruation, induces the ovulation and regulate hormonal imbalance. Therefore the trial medicines are beneficial in treating irregular menstruation and infertility due to anovulation. • From the pre-clinical, pharmacological studies it is evident that the trial medicines were significant Ovulation Induced activity. • Toxicity (Acute/Sub-Acute) study reliveded Soothagathai Udaikkum Kasayam had no signs of Toxicity. • No contra indications were reported during the course of the treatment. • The trial medicines gave maximum relief from the symptoms of Soothaga vaayu. • The trial drugs are easily preparable and affordable. • Therefore I conclude that the Trial Medicines are best solution for Soothaga Vaayu (PCOS)

Evaluation of the Performance and Ranking of Suppliers of a Heavy Industry by TOPSIS Method

144–147The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the performance of the suppliers of a heavy industry and to rank them based on their performance by using Multi Criteria Decision Making Tool (MCDM) – TOPSIS Method. The Criteria and Sub Criteria for the supplier performance evaluation has been decided by a team of experts from the manufacturing industry. DEMATEL is used to calculate the weightage of the criteria and TOPSIS is used to evaluate and rank the suppliers based on these criteria. This paper ranks the suppliers of the industry based on their performance. It also provides a clear picture about various factors affecting the performance of the suppliers. This research provides an insight to all the suppliers as to where they stand with respect to their performance. It helps them identify the factors in which they need to strengthen in order to improve their performance. It also provides a competitive environment for improving their performance which ultimately aids the manufacturing industry with better results from the suppliers