Fracture Simulation of Concrete Beams to assess softening behavior by varying different fractions of Aggregates

Simulating the concrete fracture unlike other elastic and brittle materials quite different due to its quasibrittleness. The present research focussed on assess softening behavior by varying different fractions of aggregates  and cement matrix in micro details. Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM) for crack modeling implemented for simulating and visualizing crack propagation through Cement matrix, Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ) and Aggregates . This approach permits the initializing crack by from enrichment zone and propagation of crack through element by traction separation law .The crack formation initiates when the maximum principal tensile stress reaches the tensile strength. The work involves creating python script for iterative process of random distribution of aggregates with in the matrix using Monte Carlo method and creating Cohesive zone element for zero thickness ITZ. introduces a finite element modeling technique for investigating multiscale fracture characteristics. This approach encompasses multiple levels of analysis, including the generation of aggregate particles using a Monte Carlo method implemented via a Python script. Additionally, we replicate the Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ) between aggregate and mortar in the model. The load-deflection curves can be used to assess the softening behavior of concrete and suggest the realistic fraction of coarse aggregate in mix proportion to impart more ductility to beams

A case of Guillain-Barre syndrome presenting at third trimester of pregnancy complicated with pre-eclampsia and acute kidney injury

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is immune mediated injury of the peripheral nerves. This condition can affect any individuals with some trigger. Here the disease affected the lady in her last trimester of pregnancy which was complicated with pre-eclampsia and acute kidney injury. Later she recovered by multimodal treatment approach, with a prolonged intensive care unit stay. Currently she and her baby are stable with frequent follow up. This case highlights the fact that GBS can affect any trimester of pregnancy and her pregnancy could be a trigger. Further, treatment approach involves multiple specialties including internal medicine, nephrologist, neurologist, physiotherapist and psychiatrist

Pycnodysostosis: a distinctive brittle bone disease?

Pycnodysostosis is a rare disorder that is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait usually diagnosed at an early age with an estimated incidence of 1.7 per 1 million births. It is a rare clinical entity, first described in 1962 by Maroteaux and Lamy. The disease has also been named Toulouse-Lautrec syndrome, after the French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who suffered from the disease. Pycnodysostosis is a lysosomal storage disorder of the bone caused by a mutation in the gene that codes the enzyme Cathepsin K causing osteosclerosis. However, the diagnosis is sometimes late, made as a result of bone fracture, given the severe bone fragility resulting from increased bone density. Oral and maxillofacial manifestations of this disease are very common

The purview of Parkinsonism in Ayurveda

Parkinsonism is a clinical syndrome in which the Parkinson’s disease accounts for 80% of involvement. Parkinson’s disease specifically refers to patients who have Parkinsonism, without any atypical features and who have essentially normal MRI that excludes other causes for their Parkinsonian symptoms.The main difference between the two are the effect of levadopa drug in Parkinson’s disease and not the other. Parkinson’s disease, which is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer disease, occurs in approximately 1 in 1000 in the general population and in 1% of persons older than 65 years. Men are affected slightly more often than women (3:2). The cause of Parkinson’s disease is believed to be a variable combination of poorly understood genetic and environmental factors. Hence treatment is often aimed at prevention of further complications and preserving the condition using general measures, drug therapy and surgery. In Ayurveda, giving importance to prevention of further derangement, Lakshanika Chikitsa is often attributed to the different stages of the disease. Parkinson’s disease is generally understood as Kampavata in Ayurveda. But the development of the disease can be understood under various concepts of Bahukampavata, Snayugatavata, Kaphavruta Vyanavata and Kampavata. As Parkinsonism is widely treated with better efficacy in Ayurveda, hence it is the need of the hour to understand it in all its aspects with its relevant treatment.Hence the main aim of this article is to understand these varied concepts in possible correlation with the Parkinson’s disease

Effect of feeding concentrates of Lactobacillus organisms on intestinal colonization by Escherichia coli in swine

A Lactobacillus species of human intestinal origin (strain MLC) used in swine feeding experiments was characterized using biochemical, genetic and serological techniques and found to be Lactobacillus lactis. Bottle feeding of the MLC strain in concentrate form (> 10⁹ cfu/ml) resulted in a reduction in both fecal coliforms and the incidence of scouring. In one group of pigs which received concentrate for 54 days, the Lactobacillus to coliform ratio was 1280:1; in the control group the ratio was 2.3:1. To increase the sample size, a herd of 125 swine was fed concentrates of Lactobacillus lactis MLC through the drinking water system using a water proportioner. After 90 days of such treatment, the coliform counts were reduced by 95%. The scouring incidence in the treated pigs was 13% as compared to 35% in the control group. However numbers of fecal lactobacilli were not increased. The influence of Lactobacillus MLC feeding on the bacterial flora of different parts of gastrointestinal tract was studied. In the case of scouring pigs, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EEC) were present in larger numbers in the tissue homogenate of different parts of the tract than in the lumen. The virulence of the EEC found present was confirmed by experimental infection in pigs. In control, non-scouring pigs only non-EEC were found in the tissue. In Lactobacillus MLC-fed pigs, E. coli both in the tissue and lumen was reduced to low numbers; also, the few E. coli observed were non-enteropathogenic. Thus by feeding Lactobacillus MLC concentrate, it was possible to reduce the E. coli to less than 10² /gm There were higher numbers of lactobacilli in the tissues of Lactobacillus-fed pigs than in control and scouring pigs. The lactobacilli isolated from tissue homogenate of the treated animals resembled biochemically and serologically (fluorescent antibody staining) the Lactobacillus MLC which was fed. Histological studies were done to show direct evidence of colonization in frozen sections of intestine obtained from Lactobacillus MLC-fed pigs. Gram and toluidine blue-staining revealed large numbers of Gram-positive bacilli colonizing the surface epithelium of the villi. On the other hand, control pigs which died of scouring revealed many EEC colonizing the small intestine. Pigs in groups receiving colostrum and lactobacilli performed very well. No symptoms of diarrhea was seen and many lactobacilli colonized throughout the small intestine. Even after the challenge with EEC serotype 09:K:NM, these two groups of pigs did not show any signs of disease and very few EEC colonized the intestines even after the challenge. Pigs not receiving colostrum but only lactobacilli did not scour before challenge with EEC 09:K:NM and many lactobacilli colonized the small intestine. However, 72 hours after challenge these latter animals revealed symptoms of diarrhea and EEC were seen colonizing the small intestine in addition to lactobacilli. The possible role of surface antigens in colonization by lactobacilli was studied. Data revealed that Lactobacillus lactis MLC and L. salivarius did not have any antigens in common. On the other hand, Lactobacillus FHS isolated from pig intestine had three antigens in common with the MLC strain. However, in vivo tests showed that all three strains colonized the small intestine to the same degree. This indicated that surface antigens were not involved in the colonization mechanism. The ability of Lactobacillus MLC to inhibit a variety of intestinal pathogens in broth cultures was demonstrated. Organisms inhibited included E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens and Bacterotdes sp. The mechanism of inhibition of S. aureus and E. coli in milk and broth was examined. These organisms did not grow in cell-free culture supernatants (whey at pH 4.0) after growth of the Lactobacillus MLC but they grew well in broth adjusted to pH 4.0 Supernatant from cultures of Lactobacillus MLC concentrate was found to contain 2-Deoxy-D-glucose in addition to glucose and galactose. Studies using 2-Deoxy-D-glucose alone and with glucose and galactose showed that the former was inhibitory to E. coli, S. aureus and Salmonella typhimurium. Possible applications of these findings in the animal industry as a substitute to antibiotics are discussed. A greater use of Lactobacillus organisms in preventive treatment of intestinal diseases is suggested

Effect of post harvest ripening on bioactive secondary metabolites and antioxidant activity in mango cv. Amrapali

Mango possesses many bioactive phytonutrients at ripe stage which boost our immune systemagainst many diseases. Post harvest ripening plays a major role in changes in those bioactivephytochemicals and their antioxidant activity. Hence, the present study was undertaken toassess the changes in bioactive phytonutrients and total antioxidant activity during ripeningof mango cv. Amrapali. The fruits were analyzed for total antioxidants, total phenols, totalflavonoids and total carotenoids from the day of harvest to its deterioration. Fruit peel andpulp color was measured with SPH850 spectrophotometer on the basis of the CIE LAB colorsystem (L*, a* and b*). The results revealed that total phenols (36.11 to 66.53mg GAE 100g-1),total flavonoids (14.33 to 34.67mg QE 100g-1), total carotenoids (2.23 to 11.47mg 100g-1) andtotal antioxidant (0.37 to 0.76 mmol Trolox 100g-1) activity increased gradually from day one toninth day after harvest and decreased slightly thereafter up to eleventh day of harvest excepttotal carotenoids, which remained constant. Strong correlations between total phenols (0.94),total flavonoids (0.86) and total carotenoids (0.97) with total antioxidant activity were noticed.Positive relationship between total carotenoids and L*, a*, b* values in mango peel and pulpduring ripening was also observed. It can be concluded that ripening affected the compositionof bioactive phytonutrients and their antioxidant activity in mango andmaximum nutraceuticalscontents were noticed from seven to nine days after harvest

Morpho-biochemical characterization of a unique avocado (Persia americana Mill.) accession PA-026 (IC0644455)

A unique avocado accession PA-026 (IC0644455) bearing yellow colour fruits was identified and evaluated for morphological and biochemical parameters. The accessions PA-026 characterise as yellow coloured pulp, young shoots and leaf midribs, fruit weight (398.3 g), pulp weight (255.38 g), seed weight (92.35 g) and peel thickness (1.43 mm). The biochemical profiling showed that, it has high carotenoid content (7.17 mg/100 g), total phenols (102.24 mg GAE/100 g), FRAP activity (87.32 AEAC/100 g) and high β-carotene (3.85 μg/g) followed by α-carotene (1.03 μg/g), while, fatty acid profile showed presence of five fatty acids, among which oleic acid (52.11%) and palmitic acid (41.56%) were most dominant. In conclusion, avocado accession PA-026 was found unique with respect to yellow fruit, pulp colour, and high carotenoid content especially β-carotene, which could be used to improve the carotenoids content in avocado through breeding

Implementation and delivery of group consultations for young people with diabetes in socioeconomically deprived, ethnically diverse settings

BACKGROUND: Young people with diabetes experience poor clinical and psychosocial outcomes, and consider the health service ill-equipped in meeting their needs. Improvements, including alternative consulting approaches, are required to improve care quality and patient engagement. We examined how group-based, outpatient diabetes consultations might be delivered to support young people (16-25 years old) in socio-economically deprived, ethnically diverse settings. METHODS: This multi-method, comparative study recruited a total of 135 young people with diabetes across two implementation and two comparison sites (2017-2019). Informed by a 'researcher-in-residence' approach and complexity theory, we used a combination of methods: (a) 31 qualitative interviews with young people and staff and ethnographic observation in group and individual clinics, (b) quantitative analysis of sociodemographic, clinical, service use, and patient enablement data, and (c) micro-costing analysis. RESULTS: Implementation sites delivered 29 group consultations in total. Overall mean attendance per session was low, but a core group of young people attended repeatedly. They reported feeling better understood and supported, gaining new learning from peers and clinicians, and being better prepared to normalise diabetes self-care. Yet, there were also instances where peer comparison proved difficult to manage. Group consultations challenged deeply embedded ways of thinking about care provision and required staff to work flexibly to achieve local tailoring, sustain continuity, and safely manage complex interdependencies with other care processes. Set-up and delivery were time-consuming and required in-depth clinical and relational knowledge of patients. Facilitation by an experienced youth worker was instrumental. There was indication that economic value could derive from preventing at least one unscheduled consultation annually. CONCLUSIONS: Group consulting can provide added value when tailored to meet local needs rather than following standardised approaches. This study illustrates the importance of adaptive capability and self-organisation when integrating new models of care, with young people as active partners in shaping service provision. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN reference 27989430

Sexual Dysfunction in Neurological Disorders with Special Emphasis on Parkinson’s Disease: Insights from Clinical Studies and Animal Models

Epidemiological studies illustrate that sexual dysfunction (SD) is common among the majority of patients suffering from neurological disorders (NLDs). However, our understanding of the SD in NLDs is in its infancy. Our effort in this review article reveals how the clinical studies illustrate different phenotypes relating to SD in both men and women suffering from NLDs, with special reference to PD, and how the development of animal models will provide a fantastic opportunity to decipher mechanistic insights into the biological and molecular processes of SD, understanding of which is critical to figure out the causes of SD and to develop therapeutic strategies either by targeting molecular players or altering and/or regulating the profiles of involved genetic targets. Specific emphasis is placed on dopamine-dependent and independent mechanism(s) of SD among PD patients, which is important because certain critical dopamine-independent phenotypes are yet to be characterized and understood in order to decipher the comprehensive pathophysiology of PD. Synergic efforts of both clinicians and bench scientists in this critical direction would significantly improve the quality of life of sufferers of NLDs who are already burdened. This knowledge relating to SD will help us to make one more step in reducing the burden of disease