Remedial Measures to Seepage and Instability Aspect of a Dam Near Bombay

The paper describes the distress caused to a minor earth dam constructed at a high elevation in a mountainous area to conserve water. The distress related to instability of the dam and also due to high percolation underneath the dam coupled with formation of piping. The remedial measures taken to rectify instability and reduce percolation are described in this paper

Nature and Properties of Earthquake Energy and Waves and their Contribution to Liquefaction Aspects at Adani Port During 2001 Bhuj Earth Quake

During Bhuj earthquake of 2001, certain distinct phenomenon in coastal saturated granular deposits were observed causing extensive distress to Adani Port facilities. An attempt is made to analyse the root cause by examining nature and properties of earthquake energy, geometry of earth and the origin of energy and propagation of waves, including excess pore water pressure contributed by Pwave. Although pile raft system were less damaged due to liquefaction, the tests showed extensive loss of load capacity. These aspects are presented in this paper

Mod-phi convergence I: Normality zones and precise deviations

In this paper, we use the framework of mod-$\phi$ convergence to prove precise large or moderate deviations for quite general sequences of real valued random variables $(X_{n})_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$, which can be lattice or non-lattice distributed. We establish precise estimates of the fluctuations $P[X_{n} \in t_{n}B]$, instead of the usual estimates for the rate of exponential decay $\log( P[X_{n}\in t_{n}B])$. Our approach provides us with a systematic way to characterise the normality zone, that is the zone in which the Gaussian approximation for the tails is still valid. Besides, the residue function measures the extent to which this approximation fails to hold at the edge of the normality zone. The first sections of the article are devoted to a proof of these abstract results and comparisons with existing results. We then propose new examples covered by this theory and coming from various areas of mathematics: classical probability theory, number theory (statistics of additive arithmetic functions), combinatorics (statistics of random permutations), random matrix theory (characteristic polynomials of random matrices in compact Lie groups), graph theory (number of subgraphs in a random Erd\H{o}s-R\'enyi graph), and non-commutative probability theory (asymptotics of random character values of symmetric groups). In particular, we complete our theory of precise deviations by a concrete method of cumulants and dependency graphs, which applies to many examples of sums of "weakly dependent" random variables. The large number as well as the variety of examples hint at a universality class for second order fluctuations.Comment: 103 pages. New (final) version: multiple small improvements ; a new section on mod-Gaussian convergence coming from the factorization of the generating function ; the multi-dimensional results have been moved to a forthcoming paper ; and the introduction has been reworke

Composite nanoclay-hydroxyapatite-polymer fiber scaffolds for bone tissue engineering manufactured using pressurized gyration

A novel fabrication of polymer composite fibers using polycaprolactone (PCL), montmorillonite nanoclay (MMT-Clay), and nano-hydroxyapatite-clay (HAP MMT-Clay) is reported for bone tissue engineering applications. Using a pressurized gyration (PG) setup, polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers incorporated with in situ mineralized HAP MMT-Clay and MMT-Clay were investigated. Using the novel fabrication method, we were able to successfully manufacture HAP-nanoclay-PCL fibers. Further, 3D scaffolds made using the prepared fibers were able to enhance bone growth, cell viability, and proliferation. The results demonstrated that the polymer fiber scaffolds are biocompatible, and the cells were able to thrive and differentiate on the fiber scaffolds. A significant increase in cell viability, osteogenic differentiation, ECM formation, and collagen formation was observed with PCL HAP MMT-Clay fibers scaffolds compared to the behaviors in PCL fibers. Further, the intracellular ALP levels increased with PCL HAP MMT-Clay fiber scaffold, indicating enhanced osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. This work shows a promising outlook for the future of manufacturable composite nanoclay polymer fibers incorporated as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications

Nanomedicine approach for sustained release delivery of Avastin : treatment for PXE and AMD [abstract]

Gold nanoparticles possess unique properties including preferential binding to leaky blood vessels, ability to bind to a variety of ligands, with no evidence of cellular toxicity, making them an excellent platform for targeted sustained release of drugs. Avastin (Bevacizumab) is a humanized monoclonal antibody specifically targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that has found widespread use in inhibiting intraocular neovascularization manifested in macular degeneration and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The conjugation of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) with Avastin (Av) yields AvAuNP nanoconjugates. Avastin conjugated gold nanoparticles (AvAuNP) can be used as therapeutic agents in the treatment of ophthalmic neovascular disorders, such as macular degeneration, PXE and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. AvAuNP nanoconjugate is a potential clinical therapeutic agent and has demonstrated excellent ability to deliver Avastin for sustained release of therapeutic dose within the eye. The design and development of AvAuNP conjugate would help in the initiation and completion of preclinical evaluations aimed at determining the ability to achieve long-term suppression of intraocular neovascularization in large animals. INVENTOR(S): Ravi Shukla; Kavita K. Katti; Raghuraman Kannan; Dean Hainsworth and Kattesh V. Katti CONTACT INFO: Paul Hippenmeyer, Ph.D., M.B.A.; [email protected]; (573)-882-047

Stability of Hill Slopes and Foundation Condition at Radio Astronomy Centre Ootacamand

Stability aspects of hill slopes and foundation considerations of Radio Astronomy Centre at Ootacamand are described. The analysis of slopes indicated that if joints are not covered, the material in joints may lose strength and the slopes may enter a state of instability. Footings with inclined legs were found to resist the horizontal forces, pull and overturning movements. Lime piles adopted for strengthening soft material at one of the tower locations were found to be effective