Damping of giant resonances in asymmetric nuclear matter

The giant collective modes in asymmetric nuclear matter are investigated within a dynamic relaxation time approximation. We derive a coupled dispersion relation and show that two sources of coupling appear: (i) a coupling of isoscalar and isovector modes due to different mean-fields acting and (ii) an explicit new coupling in asymmetric matter due to collisional interaction. We show that the latter one is responsible for a new mode arising besides isovector and isoscalar modes.Comment: Varenna conference proceeding

Intraurethral Catheter: Alternative Management for Urinary Retention in Patients With Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy

A polyurethane intraurethral catheter (IUC) was used in 27 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy who were unfit for surgery, or were awaiting surgery. All of them had previously had a periurethral catheter inserted. The IUC was inserted with a cystoscope under fluoroscopic control. Spontaneous voiding through the IUC resumed in 25 patients (93%) in the immediate postprocedure period. At the end of 6 months follow-up, the peak flow rates and the residual volumes estimated in 22 patients were satisfactory. Immediate complications included incontinence due to distal displacement in 2 patients and hematuria in one patient; long-term complications included mild encrustation of the IUC in 2 patients and calculus formation on the IUC in 1 patient. None of the patients had clinically significant urinary tract infection. The presence of the IUC did not compromise the subsequent transurethral resection of the prostate gland. We recommend the use of an IUC for up to 6 months in patients with urinary retention who are awaiting surgery or are unfit for surgery as an alternative to an indwelling urethral catheter

Study on effect of Microbial Induced Calcite Precipitates on strength of fine grained soils

For construction purposes, it is very essential to provide a strong foundation for the structure. If required, the suitability of soil has to be improved; this process of improving properties of soil is called Soil Stabilisation. This study intends to experimentally analyse the effectiveness of use of an unorthodox liquid soil stabiliser, Microbial Induced Calcite Precipitates (MICP) for improving the shear strength parameters of two different types of fine grained soils. For this process, a species of Bacillus group, B. pastuerii was used to activate and catalyse the calcite precipitation caused by reaction between urea and calcium chloride. Two types of soils, i.e. intermediate compressible clay and highly compressible clay were used for the study. Parameters included concentration of B. pasteurii, concentration of the cementation reagent and duration of treatment. These parameters were applied on both the soils in a specified range in order to optimise their usage. The results proved that with the use of MICP, there was a noticeable improvement (1.5–2.9 times) in the unconfined compressive strength of both type of soils. It was also found that the strength increased with an increase in duration of treatment. Based on this study, optimum quantity and concentration of liquid additive to be added for different soil types for better strength increments were established

Seismic Hazard Assessment and Land Use Analysis of Mangalore City, Karnataka, India

This article presents a combined seismic risk assessment of Mangalore city, considering seismic hazard and Land Use (LU) patterns. Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis was carried out considering different source models and attenuation relations to predict Peak Ground Acceleration at every square kilometer. LU of the area was assessed using GIS tools with the built-in supervised Gaussian maximum likelihood algorithm on processed remote sensing data from temporal Landsat images. The risk map showed the concentration of built-up area South-West, toward the sea and the seismic hazard following an increasing trend from the coast to further inland

Porous Concrete Slabs Underlain by Polypropylene Fabric for Restoration of Beaches

Beaches in India and elsewhere are getting destroyed at an alarming rate as many small ports are being built and sea walls are coming up on the banks. There is an urgent need to stop it. In 1966, Posey used cylinders of net filled with rock (called rock sausages) underlain by a reverse gravel filter for safety against scour in hydraulic structures. Pillai used a bed of stones enclosed in nets underlain by a reverse filter to allow overflow over a sand embankment. Later it was understood that a Polypropylene Fabric (P.F.) could be effective as a filter, and a bed of polypropylene bag filled with sand (like geo-tubes) can be used to prevent scour. However, the P.F. get weathered when exposed to sunlight. A breakthrough came when porous concrete blocks with high porosity, high strength and seawater resistance were developed and were used underlined by a P.F. An attempt was made in an experimental study on the Cheriathura Beach at Trivandrum. Porous concrete blocks 0.5 m X 0.5m, 10 cm thick were cast and arranged at a time of low tide, covering an area of 10 m x 5 m (with the P.F. underneath). When the waves acted frontally during high tide, this rode smoothly on the pavement, had their run-up, and later receded without displacing the slabs. This showed that porous concrete slabs could be a good armour for protecting the beach. The side slabs got displaced with lateral waves because no sidewall could be provided in the narrow strip of protection. It is felt that the porous concrete slabs can be placed deep in the beach so that during the erosive phase, the slab could function as armour, and when there is accretion, there would be deposition of sand on the slabs maintaining the beach

Percutaneous CAPD catheter insertion by a nephrologist versus surgical placement: A comparative study

Peritoneal dialysis catheter (PDC) for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis is inserted into the abdominal cavity either by a surgeon, interventional radiologist or nephrologist. Various innovations have been made in the methodology adopted in the placement of the PDC. We compared the percutaneous approach for PDC insertion with the open surgical technique. From January 2006 to May 2007, 25 of the 46 catheters were successfully inserted using the percutaneous Seldinger technique. The incision size (2.6 ± 0.7 vs 7.3 ± 0.6 cm) and the length of hospital stay (11.9 ± 5.9 vs 17.3 ± 6.8 d) were considerably less in the percutaneously placed group compared to the surgically placed group. Early initiation of exchanges and reduction in the expenses were other important advantages of this method