EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF CONCRETE PERFORMANCE

This study was experimental in nature and conducted with the view to make comparison between two samples. The first sample consisted of concrete with rice husk ash mixed in it and the other sample was without such addition. The first test conducted to test the performance was simple measurements. The results show that for the sample without addition of rice husk ash, the density was 2355.97 and for included sample, the density was 2354.44 with insignificant differences (t-stat= 0.766, P>.05). For V-B test, the sample without addition of rice husk as was 8.34 and for include sample, it was 8.01. The differences for V-B for both samples were statistically insignificant (t-stat=1.431, P>.05). The slump test without for the sample without addition of rice husk was 12.75 and for included sample, it was 18.56. The difference was statistically significant (t-stat=2.455, P<.05). The compressive strength for excluded sample was 24.32 and for included sample was 20.01. The results were statistically insignificant (t-value= 1.13, P>.05). For flexural strength test, for excluded sample, the average score was 9.02 and for included sample, the average score was 9.19. The difference was statistically insignificant (t-stat=1.45, P>.05). Overall, the results lead to the conclusion that there are insignificant differences of addition of rice husk ash in concrete

Lung Function Profiles among Individuals with Nonmalignant Asbestos-related Disorders

AbstractBackgroundInhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to adverse health effects on the lungs. This study describes lung function profiles among individuals with nonmalignant asbestos-related disorders (ARDs).MethodsThe study population was from the Workers' Compensation (Dust Diseases) Board of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Lung function measurements were conducted in males with asbestosis (n = 26), diffuse pleural thickening (DPT; n = 129), asbestosis and DPT (n = 14), pleural plaques only (n = 160) and also apparently healthy individuals with a history of asbestos exposure (n = 248). Standardized spirometric and single-breath diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) measurements were used.ResultsMean age [standard deviation (SD)] was 66.7 (10.3) years for all participants. Current and ex-smokers among all participants comprised about 9.0% and 54.8%, respectively. Median pack-years (SD) of smoking for ex- and current-smokers were 22.7 (19.9). Overall 222 participants (38.6%) and 139 participants (24.2%) had forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) measurements < 80% predicted, and 217 participants (37.7%) had FEV1/FVC results < 70%. A total of 249 individuals (43.8%) had DLco values < 80% predicted and only 75 (13.2%) had DLco/VA results < 80% predicted. A total of 147 participants (25.6%) had peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurements < 80% predicted. The presence of ARDs lowered the lung function measurements compared to those of healthy individuals exposed to asbestos.ConclusionLung function measurement differs in individuals with different ARDs. Monitoring of lung function among asbestos-exposed populations is a simple means of facilitating earlier interventions

Učinak dodataka prehrani acetaminofena i vitamina C na stres i upalni odgovor u korejske autohtone pasmine goveda cijepljene protiv slinavke i šapa - kratko priopćenje

This study evaluated the effect of a combination of acetaminophen and vitamin C (CAV) for reduction of stress and inflammatory responses in calves vaccinated with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine. Twenty-five calves were divided into five groups of 5 calves. The negative control was non-vaccination and non-drug treatment. The positive control, and experimental groups I, II and III were vaccinated with FMD vaccine and treated with CAV at concentrations of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 kg/ton feed, respectively, for five consecutive days post-vaccination. On day 5 post-treatment, serum cortisols and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were significantly decreased in all treatment groups compared with the positive control (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in serum cortisol and TNF-α levels between experimental groups I and II and the negative control. The results from this study suggest that CAV may be a useful drug for control of the stress and inflammation caused by FMD vaccination in calves.U ovom se radu istražuje učinak kombinacije acetaminofena i vitamina C (CAV) na smanjenje stresa i upalnog odgovora u teladi cijepljene protiv slinavke i šapa. Ukupno 25 životinja podijeljeno je u pet skupina po pet životinja. Životinje u negativnoj kontrolnoj skupini nisu cijepljene i nisu dobile dodatke prehrani. Životinje u pozitivnoj kontrolnoj skupini i pokusnim skupinama I, II i III cijepljene su cjepivom protiv slinavke i šapa i dobile su dodatak prehrani CAV u koncentracijama od 0,0, 0,5, 1,0 i 2,0 kg/toni hrane, pet uzastopnih dana poslije cijepljenja. Peti dan nakon tretmana serumski kortizol i faktor nekroze tumora alfa (TNF-α) bili su znakovito smanjeni u svim pokusnim skupinama u usporedbi s pozitivnom kontrolnom skupinom (P<0,05). Nije bilo znakovite razlike u vrijednostima serumskog kortizola i TNF-α između pokusne skupine 1 i 2 i negativne kontrolne skupine. Rezultati ovoga istraživanja upućuju na to da bi CAV mogao biti koristan u kontroli stresa i upale uzrokovane cjepivom protiv slinavke i šapa u teladi

Duplexer using microwave photonic band gap structure

We propose a frequency selective duplexer using microwave photonic band gap (PBG) structures. It uses two different PBGs to control the propagation of electromagnetic waves in the microwave region. In this structure, an additional narrow reflection band appears in the transmission spectrum when the PBG structure is not properly located relative to the T junction. By considering multiple reflections, it is proved that this additional reflection band in each PBG structure results from the interference between the input wave and the reflected wave from the other PBG structure. An effective way to prevent this interference effect is also discussed

Global Magnitude of Reported and Unreported Mesothelioma

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the global magnitude of mesothelioma. In particular, many developing countries, including some with extensive historical use of asbestos, do not report mesothelioma. OBJECTIVES: We estimated the global magnitude of mesothelioma accounting for reported and unreported cases. METHODS: For all countries with available data on mesothelioma frequency and asbestos use (n = 56), we calculated the 15- year cumulative number of mesotheliomas during 1994-2008 from data available for fewer years and assessed its relationship with levels of cumulative asbestos use during 1920-1970. We used this relationship to predict the number of unreported mesotheliomas in countries for which no information on mesothelioma is available but which have recorded asbestos use (n = 33). RESULTS: Within the group of 56 countries with data on mesothelioma occurrence and asbestos use, the 15-year cumulative number of mesothelioma was approximately 174,300. There was a statistically significant positive linear relation between the log-transformed national cumulative mesothelioma numbers and the log-transformed cumulative asbestos use (adjusted R -2 = 0.83, p < 0.0001). Extrapolated to the group of 33 countries without reported mesothelioma, a total of approximately 38,900 (95% confidence interval, 36,700-41,100 ) mesothelioma cases were estimated to have occurred in the 15-year period (1994-2008). CONCLUSIONS: We estimate conservatively that, globally, one mesothelioma case has been overlooked for every four to five reported cases. Because our estimation is based on asbestos use until 1970, the many countries that increased asbestos use since then should anticipate a higher disease burden in the immediate decades ahead

Relationships between 24-Hour Blood Pressures, Subcortical Ischemic Lesions, and Cognitive Impairment

Background and Purpose The most important treatment for subcortical vascular dementia (SVaD) is controlling the blood pressure (BP). However, the few studies that have investigated the relationships between diurnal BP rhythm and subcortical ischemic vascular cognitive impairment have produced inconclusive results. In the study presented here, the 24-hour BP values of three groups of subjects-patients with subcortical vascular mild cognitive impairment (SvMCI), patients with SVaD, and normal controls-were compared using working criteria and 24-hour ambulatory BP (ABP) monitoring. Methods The subjects (42 patients with SVaD, 37 patients with SvMCI, and 30 controls) were selected according to the Study`s inclusion/exclusion criteria. All subjects underwent brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR angiography, detailed neuropsychological testing, and 24-hour ABP monitoring. Results The prevalence of nondippers differed markedly between the control group and both the SVaD and SvMCI groups. Loss of nocturnal dipping was significantly associated with SVaD [odds ratio (OR), 4.827; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.07-12.05]. Conclusions It was found that SVaD is associated with loss of nocturnal BP dipping combined with increased pulse pressure and systolic BP (SBP) variability. Correction of these factors could therefore be important in the prevention of SVaD, independent of measures used to reduce BP. J Clin Neurol 2009;5:139-145Ohmine T, 2008, HYPERTENS RES, V31, P75van Boxtel MPJ, 2006, J HUM HYPERTENS, V20, P5, DOI 10.1038/sj.jhh.1001934van der Flier WM, 2005, STROKE, V36, P2116Birns J, 2005, STROKE, V36, P1308, DOI 10.1161/01.STR.0000165901.38039.5fYamamoto Y, 2005, CEREBROVASC DIS, V19, P302, DOI 10.1159/000084498BOWLER JV, 2005, J NEUROL NEUROSUR S5, V76, P35KU HM, 2004, J KOREAN NEUROPSYCHI, V43, P189O`Brien E, 2003, J HYPERTENS, V21, P821, DOI 10.1097/01.hjh.0000059016.82022.caKANG Y, 2003, INCHEON HUMAN BRAINOhkubo T, 2002, J HYPERTENS, V20, P2183de Leeuw FE, 2002, BRAIN, V125, P765O`Brien JT, 2002, ANN NY ACAD SCI, V977, P436Kario K, 2001, HYPERTENSION, V38, P852Wahlund LO, 2001, STROKE, V32, P1318Dufouil C, 2001, NEUROLOGY, V56, P921Puisieux F, 2001, EUR NEUROL, V46, P115Staessen JA, 1999, JAMA-J AM MED ASSOC, V282, P539Swan GE, 1998, NEUROLOGY, V51, P986Blacher J, 1998, HYPERTENSION, V32, P570Cummings JL, 1998, J PSYCHOSOM RES, V44, P627Kilander L, 1998, HYPERTENSION, V31, P780Guo ZC, 1997, AM J EPIDEMIOL, V145, P1106Liao DP, 1996, STROKE, V27, P2262LAUNER LJ, 1995, JAMA-J AM MED ASSOC, V274, P1846YAMAMOTO Y, 1995, STROKE, V26, P829VERDECCHIA P, 1994, HYPERTENSION, V24, P793KUUSISTO J, 1993, HYPERTENSION, V22, P771SHIMADA K, 1992, J HYPERTENS, V10, P875SCHERR PA, 1991, AM J EPIDEMIOL, V134, P1303TOHGI H, 1991, STROKE, V22, P603OBRIEN E, 1988, LANCET, V2, P397PARATI G, 1987, J HYPERTENS, V5, P93HACHINSKI VC, 1975, ARCH NEUROL-CHICAGO, V32, P632