Stabilization of expansive soils using alkali activated fly ash

This research work presents the efficacy of sodium based alkaline activators and class F fly ash as an additive in improving the engineering characteristics of expansive Black cotton soils. Sodium hydroxide concentrations of 10, 12.5 and 15 molal along with 1 Molar solution of sodium silicate were used as activators. The activator to ash ratios was kept between between 1 and 2.5 and ash percentages of 20, 30 and 40 %, relatively to the total solids. The effectiveness of this binder is tested by conducting the Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) at curing periods of 3,7 and 28 days and is compared with that of a common fly ash based binder, also the most effective mixtures were analysed for mineralogy with XRD. Suitability of alkaline activated fly ash mix as a grouting material is also ascertained by studying the rheological properties of the grout such as, setting time, density and viscosity and is compared with that of common cement grouts. Results shows that the fluidity of the grouts correlate very well with UCS, with an increase in the former resulting in a decrease in the latter

Response analysis of cracked structure subjected to transit mass – a parametric study

This work is focused on determining the response of a multi-cracked structure in the presence of different types of cracks vibrated due to a transit mass. The open transverse and inclined edge cracks of random crack depth are present at various locations of the cracked structure. The mass is moving on the beam at the different critical speeds of the structure. Runge-Kutta fourth order method is employed to evaluate the response of the structure numerically. The significance of different factors like the magnitude of the moving mass, moving speed, crack depth, crack inclination angle and their effects on the response of the deteriorated structure are investigated. Numerical analyses with numerous examples are carried out and validated the results with finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental investigations

Role of Meda (Adipocyte) in Yakrit Vikara (liver diseases) - Ayurveda prospective

Meda Dhatu (Adipose tissue) was considered as inert tissue that stores fat only but now it is an endocrine gland which controls coagulation, appetite regulation, immunity, glucose and lipid metabolism, reproduction, angiogenesis, fibrinolysis, body weight homeostasis and vascular tone control. Meda is the fourth Dhatu (stable constituent of body) as per Ayurveda doctrine and resemble with the adipose tissue. Meda can create not only Sthyaulya (Obesity) in general but also organ specific disorders like - Medaja Granthi , Medaja Masurika, Medaja Galaganda, Medaja Vridhi etc. Yakritmeda is found in Sanskrit literature. But Medaja Yakritdalludara or Yakrit Vikar is not enumerated in classical Ayurveda literature. Strong evidences suggested that accumulation of lipids in non-adipose tissues can contribute to cellular dysfunction and cell death, a phenomenon that is called lipotoxicity. Various components of Meda and its function found in Ayurveda literature are discussed. Multiple factors hit hypothesis for Samprapti (pathogenesis) of Medaja Yakrut Vikara (Fatty liver disorders) and its progression with preventive and curative strategies are described with scientific evidences

Integrated multisectoral strategy to improve girls' and women's nutrition before conception, during pregnancy and after birth in India (Swabhimaan): protocol for a prospective, non-randomised controlled evaluation

INTRODUCTION: Swabhimaan is a community-based programme to improve adolescent girls’ and women’s nutrition in the rural areas of three Indian states—Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Odisha with high prevalence of undernutrition. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Swabhimaan has a nested prospective, non-randomised controlled evaluation. Since 2017, five intervention sites receive community-led interventions through national government’s livelihood mission supported women’s self-help group federations and five control sites will initiate these activities 36 months later, in 2020. Community-led activities aim to improve coverage of 18 interventions including adequacy of food consumed, prevention of micronutrient deficiencies, access to basic health services and special care of nutritionally ‘at risk’ girls and women, improving hygiene and access to water and sanitation services and access to family planning services. The evaluation includes baseline (2016–2017), midline (2018–2019) and endline (2020–2021) surveys covering 6638 adolescent girls, 2992 pregnant women and 8755 mothers of children under 2. The final impact analysis will be by intention to treat, comparing primary and secondary outcomes in five intervention areas and five control areas. The primary outcomes are: (1) a 15% reduction in the proportion of adolescent girls with a body mass index (BMI) <18.5 kg/m2; (2) a 15% reduction in the proportion of mothers of children under two with a BMI <18.5 kg/m2 and (3) and a 0.4 cm improvement in mean mid-upper arm circumference among pregnant women. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: All procedures involving human subjects were approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Odisha and in compliance with guidelines laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki. Evidence will inform maternal and preconception nutrition policy at national and state level. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: 58261b2f46876 and CTRI/2016/11/007482; Pre-results

New FTY720-docetaxel nanoparticle therapy overcomes FTY720-induced lymphopenia and inhibits metastatic breast tumour growth

Purpose: Combining molecular therapies with chemotherapy may offer an improved clinical outcome for chemoresistant tumours. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor antagonist and sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) inhibitor FTY720 (FTY) has promising anticancer properties, however, it causes systemic lymphopenia which impairs its use in cancer patients. In this study, we developed a nanoparticle (NP) combining docetaxel (DTX) and FTY for enhanced anticancer effect, targeted tumour delivery and reduced systemic toxicity. Methods: Docetaxel, FTY and glucosamine were covalently conjugated to poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). NPs were characterised by dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy. The cellular uptake, cytotoxicity and in vivo antitumor efficacy of CNPs were evaluated. Results: We show for the first time that in triple negative breast cancer cells FTY provides chemosensitisation to DTX, allowing a four-fold reduction in the effective dose. We have encapsulated both drugs in PLGA complex NPs (CNPs), with narrow size distribution of ~ 100 nm and excellent cancer cell uptake providing sequential, sustained release of FTY and DTX. In triple negative breast cancer cells and mouse breast cancer models, CNPs had similar efficacy to systemic free therapies, but allowed an effective drug dose reduction. Application of CNPs has significantly reversed chemotherapy side effects such as weight loss, liver toxicity and, most notably, lymphopenia. Conclusions: We show for the first time the DTX chemosensitising effects of FTY in triple negative breast cancer. We further demonstrate that encapsulation of free drugs in CNPs can improve targeting, provide low off-target toxicity and most importantly reduce FTY-induced lymphopenia, offering potential therapeutic use of FTY in clinical cancer treatment

Ileal immune tonus is a prognosis marker of proximal colon cancer in mice and patients

Ileal epithelial cell apoptosis and the local microbiota modulate the effects of oxaliplatin against proximal colon cancer by modulating tumor immunosurveillance. Here, we identified an ileal immune profile associated with the prognosis of colon cancer and responses to chemotherapy. The whole immune ileal transcriptome was upregulated in poor-prognosis patients with proximal colon cancer, while the colonic immunity of healthy and neoplastic areas was downregulated (except for the Th17 fingerprint) in such patients. Similar observations were made across experimental models of implanted and spontaneous murine colon cancer, showing a relationship between carcinogenesis and ileal inflammation. Conversely, oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy could restore a favorable, attenuated ileal immune fingerprint in responders. These results suggest that chemotherapy inversely shapes the immune profile of the ileum-tumor axis, influencing clinical outcome