Improvement of Strength and Permeability Attributes of Silty Sand Type of Soils using Enzyme Induced Calcite Precipitation

ABSTRACT Enzyme Induced Calcite Precipitation (EICP) is one of the soil stabilization techniques based on microbiological activity. In this technique, urea decomposes with the aid of urease enzymes in the presence of calcium chloride and produces calcite, which acts as a bio-clogging and bio-cementing material. In this study, test tube experiments are performed to assess the optimal amount of calcium chloride, urea, and urease enzymes to be used for engineering applications. The silty sand type of soil is treated with different proportions namely; P1 (0.1g urease enzymes, 0.375g urea, 0.9g CaCl2), P2 (0.2g urease enzymes, 0.75g urea, 1.8g CaCl2), and P3 (0.4g urease enzymes, 1.5g urea, 3.6g CaCl2), to analyze their effect on strength and permeability attributes of soils after 14 days of curing time. It was observed that an increase in EICP content causes a substantial increase in shear strength particularly cohesion due to the bio-clogging phenomenon induced in soil particles by EICP which eventually leads to a decrease in permeability and inhibits the activity of urease. Overall, P3 yields higher cohesion (48 kPa) than P1(40 kPa), P2 (43kPa), and untreated soil samples (31 kPa). Furthermore, P3 causes a significant decrease in permeability as compared to P2, P1, and untreated soil samples tested after 14 days of the curing period. The findings of the study suggest the successful implementation of EICP for soil stabilization. Key Words: Enzyme Induced Calcite Precipitation (EICP); permeability; shear strength; bio-clogging; bio-cementation

TO EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF TREATING PREHYPERTENSION WITH AN ANGIOTENSION RECEPTOR BLOCKER CANDESARTAN CILEXETIL

ABSTRACT Prehypertension is considered a precursor of stage 1 hypertension and a predictor of excessive cardiovascular risk. The trial of preventing hypertension (TROPHY) was an investigator-initiated study to examine whether early treatment of prehypertension, defined for this study as systolic blood pressure of 130 to 139 mmHg and diastolic pressure blood pressure of 89 mmHg or lower and systolic pressure of 139 mmHg or lower, might prevent or delay the development of subsequent incident hypertension. The primary objective of the present study was to determine whether in patients with prehypertension six months of treatment with an angiotensin II, type 1 receptor antagonist (at a dose of 8mg once a day) reduces the incidence of hypertension in borderline patients

COMPARISON OF EARLY POSTOPERATIVE PAIN FOLLOWING LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY WITH AND WITHOUT PORT SITE & INTRAPERITONEAL BUPIVACAINE

Objective: to compare mean early postoperative pain score with and without use of port site & intraperitoneal bupivacaine in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anaesthesia. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial Setting: Department of Anaesthesia, Mayo Hospital Lahore Duration Of Study: from April 2012 to October 2012. Material & methods: 100 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized in two groups (50 in each). Patients in study group(Group-A) received 20ml of intraperitoneal bupivacaine 0.25% and another 20ml of 0.25% bupivacaine for infiltration at port sites(5 ml at each). No intervention was done with patients in study group (Group-B). Assessment of early postoperative pain was done at 0, 2, 4 and 6 hours and two groups were compared. Results: Mean age in the study was calculated as 39.42 ± 4.27 years in group A and 37.88 ± 4.03 years in group B. Regarding gender distribution, 18 %( n=9) in Group-A and 28 %( n=14) in Group-B were males while 82 %( n=41) in Group-A and 72 %( n=36) in Group-B were females. Mean pain score was recorded at 0, 2, 4 and 6 hours postoperatively. Mean pain score at 0 hour was 2.28 ± 0.99 in Group-A and 2.26 ± 0.98 in Group-B; p value was recorded as 0.920, which is insignificant. Similarly, there was no significant difference (p=0.068) between the groups regarding mean pain score at 2 hours which was recorded as 4.580 ± 0.57 in group A and 4.808 ± 0.80 in Group B respectively. Mean pain score at 4 hour was 4.20 ± 0.80 in group A and 5.86 ± 0.94 in group B (p=0.000) while at 6 hour it was 5.02 ± 0.91 in group A and 7.16 ± 1.36 in group B (p=0.000). Conclusion: We concluded that the use of port site and intraperitoneal bupivacaine is simple, safe, non-invasive and effective in decreasing early postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Keywords: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, early post-operative pain, bupivacaine, mean pain score

Application of Lateral Wedge in Knee Osteoarthritis for Improving Pain and Quality of Life

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of lateral wedge with and without conventional physiotherapy in relieving knee pain and quality of life in patients of knee Osteoarthritis. METHODOLOGY: This Randomized controlled study was conducted in Madina Clinics, Faisalabad. By using simple random technique 40 patients in range 40-60 years of age with clinically and radiologically diagnosed cases of grade II and III were studied, from February to August 2016. Subjects were divided in two groups with 20 subjects in each group. KOOS knee survey was used for the assessment of Quality of life. RESULTS: Mean total pain score on baseline of experimental group was 79.95±2.5 while the score amongst the control group was 79.95±7.69, after application of lateral wedges along with other treatments, score after 2nd week was 84.65 ± 2.94 while in control group was 80.25±2.9.97. After 4th week the symptoms score in experimental group was 83.00 ± 0.00 while control group was 88.95 ± 2.96. After the 6th week score was 91.5±14.5 of experimental and 81.8±9.5 of control group.These results of insole Wedges is also correlated with a lateral shift in the location of the COP in stance phase. Increase in the knee joint varus moment with insole Wedges suggests that the indication and limitations of laterally wedged insoles in general should be analysed in detail. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that the lateral wedges were significant in reduction of pain and symptoms as well as improve the quality of life

Distribution of Selenium in Soils and Human Health

Selenium (Se) is essential as well as a toxic element for humans and animals if it exceeds a certain limit. Soil selenium plays an important role through the food chain. Total selenium in world soils ranges from 0.125 to 0.3 mg kg−1 and varies with the soils’ nature. High and low selenium in soils also poses serious environmental and health risks. However, in addition to selenium\u27s overall quantity in soil, selenium reactivity, and bioavailability also depend on its chemical structure. The amount of available selenium in the soil varies depending on its oxidation state since selenium species include selenide (Se2−), elemental selenium (Se0), selenite (Seo32−), selenate (Seo42−). The pH, soil texture, amount of organic matter, and the presence of competing ions are the four most significant soil characteristics that affect Se availability. Similarly, selenium uptake and accumulation are influenced by the crop type whether it is an accumulator or not. The selenium environmental and health risk assessment is necessary to evaluate in soils with high selenium contents and crops with higher selenium uptake. Whereas in areas where selenium deficiency is observed or vulnerable to selenium, deficiency needs to be supplemented through Se inputs. The selenium deficiency and toxicity areas should be monitored carefully from a health perspective

Comparison of Recurrence Rate of Wrist Ganglion Between Seton and Open Surgical Excision in Military Hospitals of Pakistan

Objective: To evaluate the recurrence following open surgical excision and Seton placement in treating symptomatic wrist ganglions in Military Hospitals in a six-month follow-up study. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study Place and Duration of Study: Department of General Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Bahawalpur Pakistan, Combined Military Hospital, Dera Nawab Sahib Pakistan and Pakistan Airforce Force Hospital, Shorkot Pakistan, from Jun 2015 to Dec 2020. Methodology: The patients were divided into two groups after informed consent. A consultant general surgeon carried out every procedure. The findings were recorded on a uniform proforma, and recurrence was recorded at ten days, six weeks and six months for both groups. Results: The mean age of the patients was 29.45±8.13 years in Group-A (Seton-Group) and 28.56±8.32 years in Group-B (OpenSurgery). There was no difference in the recurrence rates between the Seton-Group (n=7, 4.35%) and Open Surgery-Group (n=2, 4.65%, p=0.931). Conclusion: Seton insertion for treating Ganglions of the wrist is a simple, economical and cosmetic procedure which can be done in the outpatient department. It is a safe alternative to open resection for successful treatment of the wrist Ganglion. Keywords: Ganglion, Open surgery, Recurrence, Seton, Wrist

Development of a cost-based design model for spread footings in cohesive soils

The use of cost-effective construction design approaches is an emerging concept in the field of sustainable environments. The design of the foundation for the construction of any infrastructure-related building entails three basic requirements, i.e., serviceability limit state (SLS), ultimate limit state (ULS), and economics. Engineering economy coupled with safety are the two main essentials for a successful construction project. The conventional design approaches are based on hit and trial methods to approach cost-effective design. Additionally, safety requirements are prioritized over the economic aspect of foundation design and do not consider safety requirements and cost simultaneously. This study presents a design approach that considers foundation construction costs while satisfying all the technical requirements of a shallow foundation design. This approach is called an optimization process in which the cost-based isolated foundation design charts were developed based on the field SPT N data. The design charts are the first of their kind for the robust design of foundations and can be used to compare the economic impact of different bearing capacity models. Furthermore, the design framework considers the quantitative impact of the different applied factors of safety values in terms of cost. The results show that Vesic’s equation yields higher values of bearing capacities than Terzaghi and Meyerhof. On the other hand, Vesic’s theory offers a 37.5% reduction in cost as compared to the conventional design approach of the foundation for isolated footing

Solar PV adoption at household level: Insights based on a systematic literature review

The conventional model of energy production and consumption has come under severe scrutiny. Concerns related to climate change, increased energy needs and issues surrounding conventional sources of energy generation have highlighted a need to adopt sustainable means of energy generation. Renewable energy sources are believed to have the potential to meet rising energy needs in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. Solar energy is particularly interesting in this respect as it has the potential to be used at commercial as well as household level; however, to this end, its contribution to global energy supply has remained limited. A number of studies have explored factors influencing the adoption of solar photovoltaics (PV) at the household level and proposed measures to foster its development. This paper aims to systematically review and analyse the state of solar PV adoption by exploring “What are the key factors influencing the adoption of solar PV at household level?”. From 146 studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, the study identifies 127 unique factors influencing adoption behaviour, and groups these into eight categories, namely economic, environmental, social, personal, demographic, technical, regulatory and market-related factors. Based on the findings, this paper proposes guidelines for practitioners, identifies knowledge gaps and suggests directions for future research to strengthen the scholarship in this domain

EAUHHCAMA: Extending and Adapting Usability Heuristics for Healthcare Related Context-Aware Mobile Applications

Fitness related context-aware mobile applications (FCAMA) being the fragment of healthcare informatics, use emerging technologies and provide continuous and real-time information to the end-users. This information supports the users in understanding the physical condition and the way to improve health using cues. That's why; healthcare informatics is the fast-growing domain of interest for researchers. FCAMA has collected information from inbuilt smartphone tools including accelerometer, GPS, microphone, camera, and others. FCAMA transformed the extracted data into a usable form and formulated individual plans to track and improve fitness. But, it is ambiguous whether the user interfaces of FCAMA is really effective in improving health and fitness. Although, several studies attempt to establish an effective usability evaluation mechanism, it still needs further work for comprehensively identifying usability flaws. Evaluators of FCAMA use inspection based heuristics set to identify user-related issues. In order to identify the usability issues comprehensively, it is important that heuristics are pertinent. In this paper, we propose an enhanced and adapted set of fourteen usability heuristics for FCAMA. Eleven heuristics were selected and adapted after cross-linking the usability flaws with the existing sets of heuristics. Usability flaws were captured in a user study with 850 students from the human-computer interaction (HCI) course. While we added two more against uncaptured usability flaws, to be able to adapt the heuristics set to the context awareness aspect. The FCAMA was validated using two evaluation studies conducted by students in (HCI) course, and second by usability experts. Results have justified the proposed heuristics both in terms of effectiveness and relevance

Performance Analysis of MPLS and Traditional IP in Node Scalable Networks

Multiprotocol label switching is the latest and developing technology in the world of the internet. It speeds up the network by using the technique of label instead of an IP address. It provides the reliable transmission of data with high speed and low delay. For efficient use of network utilization MPLS has a key feature of QoS. Due to the effective utilization of network resources, minimum delay and predictable performance MPLS technology make it more appropriate for implementing multimedia type applications. In this research, the performance of MPLS technology is compared with the traditional IP network for multimedia traffic in node scalable networks. For simulating and comparing the performance of both technologies OPNET modular 14.5 is used. This comparison is done on the basis of network performance parameters such as packet loss/ traffic drop, end-to-end delay, and throughput. Finally, the results have been evaluated which show that MPLS technology provides better performance as compared to IP in node scalable environment