Experimental Study for Load-Settlement Behavior of Flat and Shell Footings on Sandy Silt Soil

Shell foundations are often used to raise the carrying capacity of a structure on weak soils. In cases where large superstructure loads must be transferred to poorer soils, shell foundations are more cost-effective than ordinary shallow foundations. Advances in the study and design of shell-type foundations have shown their superiority over traditional footings in poorer soils. The current study aims to investigate shell shape’s influence on ultimate load capacity. Seven footing types’ models were created along with an appropriate testing box. The soil needed for the study was from the region north of Mosul city, classified as silt with low plasticity (sandy silt) soil. A laboratory model experimentally determined the ultimate load capacities for inverted and upright conical, inverted and upright pyramid, and hemispherical shell foundations on silty soil. The achieved results were associated with those for conventional flat squares and circles. According to the findings, the “upright conical” shell footing has a load capacity of 12.7 kN, higher than the other foundations, and its efficiency was 51%. When comparing foundations, the “upright pyramidal” shell footing has better settling characteristics and a settlement factor of 0.017. As the shell factor decreases, the shell foundation begins to behave more like a flat foundation, which reduces the maximum load capacity of the shell foundation

Improvement of Soft Soil Properties Using Dynamic Compaction with Stone Columns: Case Study (AL-Mualla Site-Yeman)

Dynamic compaction was considered as one of a deep compaction method which was used to improve the soil properties. Also it was used to save cost and time in comparison with other methods.The aims of the present studies were to study the improvement and changes in soil properties that occurred in Al-Mualla Site-Yeman using dynamic compaction. The site soils classified as Silty Sand with small boulder with Clayey-Silt layer extend from 2.2 m to 3.2 m deep.Cone penetration test was done before and after treatment process using dynamic compaction for approximately the same two tested boreholes. As a result of the treatment and based on how the soil properties changes, the soil was divided into three zones varied from (1.2 to 5, 5 to 8.6, and 8.6 to 11 m) respectively. Field results show that there was increased in bearing capacity from 80 kN/m2 to 110 kN/m2. Cone penetration test for the first zone increased from (1.2 to 8.35 MN/m2), and from (2.43 to 7.07 MN/m2) for the first and third zone respectively at the first tested borehole and also from (2.05 to 6.8 MN/m2), and (2.14 to 5.0 MN/m2) for the second tested borehole. Also can be noted that the cone penetration test results decreased from (5.22 to 3.77 MN/m2) for the second zone at the first tested borehole, with no change was happening for the second tested boreholes.Also the effect of soil improvement on the settlement value and effective stress distribution was studied theoretically using finite element package PLAXIS2D program. The result shows that the improvement in soil properties leads to decrease in the expected settlement

Nurturing Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in a Developing Economy: Myths and Realities

Entrepreneurship is considered as a panacea for economic infirmities. Development and prosperity can be fostered, upon the organized availability of the required resources, ambidextrously.  Entrepreneurship ecosystem is an appropriate approach where a systematic and conducive atmosphere for business activities is paved by providing support and services in the area of business policy, financing, human capital availability, infrastructure accessibility, entrepreneurial culture orientation and internationalization of indigenous products. However, despite having numerous entrepreneurship reinforce institutions, the entrepreneurship ecosystem of many developing countries is still sluggish, Pakistan is prominent among those. To improve entrepreneurship ecosystem, experts have endorsed the role of state ‘pivotal’. In this study, the entrepreneurship ecosystem of Pakistan is explored by focusing the role of government along other dimensions. For the purpose of this examination, an inductive approach was adopted in which twelve open ended interviews were conducted from policy makers, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship professors and trade associations across the country. After thematic analysis, entrepreneurial ecosystem was found stagnant, where the role of government revealed as ambivalent, yet unfriendly and deficient. In order to develop entrepreneurship, a specific national policy for entrepreneurship should be enacted on priority and then ‘one size fit approach’ must be relinquished. Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Ecosystem, Small and Medium Enterprises, Developing Economy, SME

Stability Behavior of Lime Stabilized Gypseous Soil

In arid and semi-arid zones, gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) is one of the soluble of the common minerals that found in soils. In Iraq, gypseous soils is a worldwide stability problem that causes extensive damage upon wetting, and occur in certain areas characterized by variation of climatic conditions. The results of the stability behavior of lime stabilized gypseous soil where present in this paper under different tests. These tests were erosion, leaching and soaking. Erosion test was conducted under different variables such as water temperature, water velocity and flow duration. The soil used in this study was taken from a site near Al – Hader district about (80 km) from Mosul city. Its main geotechnical index properties are liquid limit is (46%), plastic limit (22%) and specific gravity is 2.58. The amount of the gypsum was 20%. The soil samples were treated with optimum lime percent (4%) depending on the Illinois procedure. A gypseous soil with 20% gypsum content was used and stabilized with 4% lime. All stabilized soil samples were cured for 2 days at 490 C. The results indicate that, the loss in weight increased for samples subjected to the flowing water, further increase in weight losses with increasing flow duration. High water velocity causes increasing in weight losses and loss in gypsum content , more loss in weight and more loss in gypsum content, for all values of flow duration and water temperature. Unconfined compressive strength decreased during the soaking process and further decrease in strength with increasing soaking duration. The leaching effect causes a continuous increasing in the permeability value of unstabilized soil samples, while it has an insignificant effect on the permeability of lime stabilized soil samples. Leaching is a time-dependent process. The results showed that the pH values of natural and lime stabilized soil samples decreases during leaching process

An alternative surgical approach to subclavian and innominate stenosis: a case series

We report three cases of symptomatic stenosis of the great vessels or supra-aortic trunks successfully treated surgically with aorto-subclavian and aorto-innominate bypass. Two were performed via manubriotomy and a third case via standard median sternotomy because of concomitant coronary revascularisation. There was complete symptomatic relief on follow-up, and radiological imaging confirmed good flow in the grafts and post-stenotic arteries

Mortality, morbidity, and hospitalisations due to influenza lower respiratory tract infections, 2017: an analysis for the global burden of disease study 2017

Although the burden of influenza is often discussed in the context of historical pandemics and the threat of future pandemics, every year a substantial burden of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and other respiratory conditions (like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are attributable to seasonal influenza. The Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2017 is a systematic scientific effort to quantify the health loss associated with a comprehensive set of diseases and disabilities. In this Article, we focus on LRTIs that can be attributed to influenza. Methods: We modelled the LRTI incidence, hospitalisations, and mortality attributable to influenza for every country and selected subnational locations by age and year from 1990 to 2017 as part of GBD 2017. We used a counterfactual approach that first estimated the LRTI incidence, hospitalisations, and mortality and then attributed a fraction of those outcomes to influenza. Findings: Influenza LRTI was responsible for an estimated 145 000 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 99 000–200 000) deaths among all ages in 2017. The influenza LRTI mortality rate was highest among adults older than 70 years (16·4 deaths per 100 000 [95% UI 11·6–21·9]), and the highest rate among all ages was in eastern Europe (5·2 per 100 000 population [95% UI 3·5–7·2]). We estimated that influenza LRTIs accounted for 9 459 000 (95% UI 3 709 000–22 935 000) hospitalisations due to LRTIs and 81 536 000 hospital days (24 330 000–259 851 000). We estimated that 11·5% (95% UI 10·0–12·9) of LRTI episodes were attributable to influenza, corresponding to 54 481 000 (38 465 000–73 864 000) episodes and 8 172 000 severe episodes (5 000 000–13 296 000). Interpretation: This comprehensive assessment of the burden of influenza LRTIs shows the substantial annual effect of influenza on global health. Although preparedness planning will be important for potential pandemics, health loss due to seasonal influenza LRTIs should not be overlooked, and vaccine use should be considered. Efforts to improve influenza prevention measures are needed. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Attitudes and practices of public health academics towards research funding from for-profit organizations: cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVES: The growing trend of for-profit organization (FPO)-funded university research is concerning because resultant potential conflicts of interest might lead to biases in methods, results, and interpretation. For public health academic programmes, receiving funds from FPOs whose products have negative health implications may be particularly problematic. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey assessed attitudes and practices of public health academics towards accepting funding from FPOs. The sampling frame included universities in five world regions offering a graduate degree in public health; 166 academics responded. Descriptive, bivariate, and logistic regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Over half of respondents were in favour of accepting funding from FPOs; attitudes differed by world region and gender but not by rank, contract status, % salary offset required, primary identity, or exposure to an ethics course. In the last 5 years, almost 20% of respondents had received funding from a FPO. Sixty per cent of respondents agreed that there was potential for bias in seven aspects of the research process, when funds were from FPOs. CONCLUSIONS: Globally, public health academics should increase dialogue around the potential harms of research and practice funded by FPOs

Campylobacter Infection as a Trigger for Guillain-Barré Syndrome in Egypt

BACKGROUND: Most studies of Campylobacter infection triggering Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) are conducted in western nations were Campylobacter infection and immunity is relatively rare. In this study, we explored Campylobacter infections, Campylobacter serotypes, autoantibodies to gangliosides, and GBS in Egypt, a country where Campylobacter exposure is common. METHODS: GBS cases (n = 133) were compared to age- and hospital-matched patient controls (n = 374). A nerve conduction study was performed on cases and a clinical history, serum sample, and stool specimen obtained for all subjects. RESULTS: Most (63.3%) cases were demyelinating type; median age four years. Cases were more likely than controls to have diarrhea (29.5% vs. 22.5%, Adjusted Odds Ratio (ORa) = 1.69, P = 0.03), to have higher geometric mean IgM anti-Campylobacter antibody titers (8.18 vs. 7.25 P<0.001), and to produce antiganglioside antibodies (e.g., anti-Gd1a, 35.3 vs. 11.5, ORa = 4.39, P<0.0001). Of 26 Penner:Lior Campylobacter serotypes isolated, only one (41:27, C. jejuni, P = 0.02) was associated with GBS. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike results from western nations, data suggested that GBS cases were primarily in the young and cases and many controls had a history of infection to a variety of Campylobacter serotypes. Still, the higher rates of diarrhea and greater antibody production against Campylobacter and gangliosides in GBS patients were consistent with findings from western countries

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London