Application of Case Studies to Practice in Foundation Engineering in India

India has massive developments, urbanization, housing, communication in last decade. The optimization of cost and saving construction time to complete, are now new aspects which geotechnical engineers are facing. Till today the typical design of shallow foundations of structure-buildings, fly over and dams on non-plastic silty fine sand subsoils found in alluvial deposits of state like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Bengal and long coastal belt, were designed by age old practice based on soil mechanics of 1948. Such proven practice became BIS codes for design and construction of structural foundations in 1976-81. The common sense and observational approach of Terzaghi (1959) did not confirm such interpretation of Standard Penetration (SP) test. SP test on non – plastic silty sand at 2 to 3 m below ground surface, being loose (Rd \u3c 15%), had permissible bearing capacity for 25 mm settlement (qa25) less than 100 kPa. This required almost double concrete in footings. Vast country with fast growth had more than million structures built/year, saving of RCC would be around 900 million cubic meter/year. The time reduced will be added advantage. Even up to 10m depth, at number of sites N recorded as 5 to 10 blows/30cm, was considered as “loose” to “medium” by the code indicating prima-facie high liquefaction potential under low seismic activity. This phobia did not spare proposed, under construction over years and existing structures from a long process of reinvestigations, consultants opinions and cost. High rise housing at Chennai, Delhi, Surat, monumental structures at Delhi, Agra, Ahmedabad, Kollkata, Panipat, Rajasthan suffered setback and perpetual suspense due to lack of proper interpretation. Some dams under construction like Ukai, Tenughat, barrages in West Bengal, Delhi, unique projects like Akshardham (Delhi) had to be stopped or delayed by suspected liquefaction. Long chain of opinions and additional tests like evaluation of Rd by alternative methods, rechecking of SPT values, blasting test as well as cross bore holes shear wave velocity tests had to be planned to remove notional interpretation. Study proposes to eliminate such decays & cost escalation by providing alternatives. Typical case studies, showing methodology are also illustrated. Authors with professionals (30 numbers) in geotechnical engineering practicing in India formed a TC-16 technical group (Year 2000-2005) to prepare a report on ground characterization by in-situ testing. The final recommendations for interpretation of SP test (N) and DCP test (NC) for non-plastic alluvial deposit, investigated as per IS code are presented in the form of a chart. It gives for observed N or NC at P0’ (effective overburden pressure) the relative density (Rd), ∅’ (angle of shear resistance), E (deformation modulus) and permissible bearing capacity for 40 mm permissible settlement. The chart also indicate likely liquefaction potential at depth for a = 0.1g for preliminary analysis. Typical case studies have been illustrated. The authors advocated bore holes to be supplemented by uncased DCPT adequate in number, to provide recommendation for an area (not point). If results are not satisfying commonsense, check by in-situ tests for Rd, plate load, even prototype test shall be used before resorting to rejection of site or adopting ground improvement. Any recommendation, for probable liquefaction for existing or under construction project, must be checked by proper reinvestigations and interpretation

Effect of metabolized polyethylene terephthalate, vacuum packaging and storage temperature on shelf life of papaya pulp Kalakand (Indian cookie)

The dairy plants are looking for newer products for diversification and value addition. There is scope for the dairy industry to introduce newer products as healthy, convenience and ready to eat foods for capacity utilization and value addition, but because of complex biochemical composition and high water content, milk and milk products act as an excellent culture medium for growth and multiplication of varieties of microorganisms. Vacuum packaging reduces product shrinkage, trim losses by eliminating oxidation and freezer burn resulting it can enhance product quality. Now a day metabolized polyethylene terephthalate (MET PET) with vacuum packaging have a promising role in storage of various value added milk product. The developed value added Kalakand product (Indian cookie) could be stored successfully for 5 days in MET PET packaging material at 4±1°C and when the product was packaged under vacuum the shelf life increased up to 10 days at 4±1°C

Luminal-Applied Flagellin Is Internalized by Polarized Intestinal Epithelial Cells and Elicits Immune Responses via the TLR5 Dependent Mechanism

Bacteria release flagellin that elicits innate responses via Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5). Here, we investigated the fate of apically administrated full length flagellin from virulent and avirulent bacteria, along with truncated recombinant flagellin proteins in intestinal epithelial cells and cellular responses. Flagellin was internalized by intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) monolayers of IEC-18. Additionally, apically applied flagellin was internalized by polarized human Caco-2BBe and T-84 cells in a TLR5 dependent mechanism. More, flagellin exposure did not affect the integrity of intestinal monolayers. With immunofluorescent staining, internalized flagellin was detected in both early endosomes as well as lysosomes. We found that apical exposure of polarized Caco-2BBe and T-84 to flagellin from purified Salmonella, Escherichia coli O83:H1 (isolate from Crohn’s lesion) or avirulent E. coli K12 induced comparable levels of basolateral IL-8 secretion. A recombinant protein representing the conserved amino (N) and carboxyl (C) domains (D) of the flagellin protein (ND1/2ECHCD2/1) induced IL-8 secretion from IEC similar to levels elicited by full-length flagellins. However, a recombinant flagellin protein containing only the D3 hypervariable region elicited no IL-8 secretion in both cell lines compared to un-stimulated controls. Silencing or blocking TLR5 in Caco-2BBe cells resulted in a lack of flagellin internalization and decreased IL-8 secretion. Furthermore, apical exposure to flagellin stimulated transepithelial migration of neutrophils and dendritic cells. The novel findings in this study show that luminal-applied flagellin is internalized by normal IEC via TLR5 and co-localizes to endosomal and lysosomal compartments where it is likely degraded as flagellin was not detected on the basolateral side of IEC cultures

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Optimization of solvent requirement for refining of karanja (Pongamia glabra) oil by liquid- liquid extraction

319-324An improved detoxification method using liquid-liquid extraction of karanja (Pongamia glabra) oil is developed. Only 2 stage extractions [using oil and HCl (1:0.35 w/v)] followed by 3 extractions [using oil and alkaline MeOH (1:2 w/ v)] can completely detoxify oil. After HCl extraction, if alkaline isopropanol (IPA), dimethylformamide (DMF) and acetonitrile are used for extraction, total HCl and corresponding solvent requirement would be (w/v) 1:1.0, 1:6.0; 1:0.2, 1:1.2; and 1:0.4, 1:1.6 respectively. When only acetonitrile is used, 5 stage extraction using oil: acetonitrile (1:0.5, w/v) per batch makes total acetonitrile requirement 2.5 times (v/w) of oil for complete detoxification. Physicochemical characteristics of refined oils are acceptable. Overall oil yield (75-80% w/w) is obtained when alkaline MeOH, IPA and DMF are used, but higher yield (85-88%, w/w) is obtained when acetonitrile is used

Synthesis and antimicrobial studies of Schiff bases of fluoroquinolone

1645-1657Series of Schiff bases of fluoroquinolone have been synthesized from lead molecule 1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-chloro-3-quinolinecarbonyl chloride, converted to hydrazide and further reacted with substituted aldehydes and finally condensed with piperazines, morpholine, imidazole. The title compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR spectra. All the synthesized compounds have been screened for their antimicrobial activity against five microbes. Majority of them exhibit moderate activity where as good activity has been observed for S. aureus

The laparoscopic transperitoneal approach for irreducible inguinal hernias: Perioperative outcome in four patients

Background : Incarceration and strangulation are the most feared complications of inguinal hernia. Till date, incarcerated hernias have traditionally been treated by conventional open repair. Reports are now available for the feasibility of laparoscopic repair of incarcerated inguinal hernia. Here, we described our experience with the transperitoneal approach for incarcerated hernias. Materials and Methods : Between January 2008 and May 2008, four patients were presented with a history of irreducible hernia, abdominal distention and vomiting. All the patients had right-sided inguinal hernia. Reductions of the hernia contents were not possible in any patient. The patients were treated on emergency basis with laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair. Retrospective analyses of all the patients were done. Results: Reduction of the bowel was achieved in all but one patient, who required the division of the internal ring on lateral side. Transperitoneal mesh repair was performed. No major complications were encountered. One patient developed seroma formation that was treated conservatively. Conclusion: Laparoscopic transperitoneal approach has the advantage of observation of the hernia content for a longer period of time. The division of the internal ring can be done under direct vision. Other intra-abdominal pathology and opposite side hernia can be diagnosed and treated at the same time