Master of Science

thesisThis research investigates confinement of concrete using glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) spirals. Concrete prisms 10 in. in diameter and 30 in. high were internally reinforced with GFRP spirals. Using different configurations of GFRP spirals, 21 prisms were built; in addition, three prisms were built without any reinforcement. The different series of specimens with GFRP spirals were created by varying the bar diameter and pitch. The bar sizes used for spirals were #3, #4 and #5. The pitch used for #3 spirals was 1.5 in., 2 in. and 3 in. The pitch used for #4 spirals was 1.5 in. and 2 in. The pitch used for #5 spirals was 1.5 in., 2 in. and 2.5 in. Wooden dowels were used to hold the spirals at the required pitch. Compression tests were conducted for each specimen and results were obtained in the form of axial load, axial stress, axial strain and hoop strain. A concrete confinement model was obtained which describes the increase in both compressive strength and axial strain of concrete confined internally with GFRP spirals. The confinement model was verified with tests conducted on four concrete columns reinforced with GFRP spirals and GFRP longitudinal bars and similar specimens from the literature. The four columns were 8 in. in diameter and 30 in. high reinforced with #3 GFRP spirals at a pitch of 1.5 in. and had either four or six #5 longitudinal GFRP bars. The agreement between the model and the columns was satisfactory for both confined concrete strength and ultimate axial compressive strain

Prevalence of asymptomatic and symptomatic bacterial vaginosis in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a tertiary care rural hospital

Background: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is one of the most common lower genital tract conditions, occurring in 35% of women attending sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics, 15% to 20% of pregnant women, and 5% to 15% of women attending gynaecology clinic. It has been associated with serious pregnancy complications, including premature rupture of the membranes, preterm delivery and postpartum endometritis. The diagnosis of BV is usually based on clinical criteria including homogeneous vaginal discharge, an elevated vaginal pH, the presence of clue cells, and an amine odour. Objective of this study was to study the prevalence of asymptomatic and symptomatic BV in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a tertiary care rural teaching hospital.Methods: Sample size of 301 patients over 6 months study duration in an observational cross sectioned prospective type of study. An unfixed vaginal smear was collected from pregnant women and sent to microbiology for staining and fixing and diagnosis was established.Results: The age range in pregnant women enrolled was 18 to 42 with mean age 26.10 years. As per the Nugent score criteria, 68 (23%) women tested positive for BV (Nugent score 7-10) and 77 (25%) had an intermediate score (Nugent score 4-6). While in 156 (52%) pregnant women’s Nugent score was in between 0-3 indicating no BV but 10% cases amongst these were showing presence of fungal elements mainly budding yeast cells with or without hyphae. In only 53% of cases of BV characteristic clue cells were present. In this study 69% cases of BV were observed in multigravida while 31% were present in primigravida.Conclusions: Screening of asymptomatic pregnant women’s by taking vaginal swab and evaluating gram smear using Nugent score system will play vital role early diagnosis of reproductive tract infections

Absorption of 2-butene and 2-methyl-2-butene in aqueous solutions of sulphuric acid

The kinetics of absorption of 2-butene in aqueous solutions of sulphuric acid was studied in a stirred cell in the range of acid concentration from 70.2 per cent w/w (11.5 g mole/l.) to 80.2 per cent w/w (14.56 g mole/l.). The absorption was found to conform to fast pseudo-first order mechanism. The pseudo-first order reaction rate constant at 28°C was found to vary from about 500 to 3.8 × 10<SUP>6</SUP> sec<SUP>-1</SUP> over the above concentration range. The absorption of 2-methyl-2-butene (isoamylene) in aqueous solutions of sulphuric acid was also found to conform to fast psuedo-first order mechanism, in the range of acid concentration from 61.5 per cent w/w (9.395 g mole/l.) to 75 per cent w/w (12.845 g mole/l.). The pseudo-first order reaction rate constant at 30°C was found to vary from about 4.2 × 10<SUP>5</SUP> to 2.2 × 10<SUP>8</SUP> sec<SUP>-1</SUP> over the above concentration range

Immediate sterility after vasectomy with the use of 0.1&#x0025; ethacridine lactate

Irrigation of the vas with 0.1&#x0025; ethacridine during vasectomy flushes the sperms and causes lysis from the distal genital tract, without any serious complication or side effect. In the light of this experience, it is suggested that this method can be used in all vasec-tomy operations carried out for primary sterilisation so as to pro-duce immediate sterility

Desorption of isoamylene from loaded acid liquors

The desorption of 2-methyl-2-butene (isoamylene) from loaded sulphuric acid solutions, having an acid strength of about 60 per cent (w/w) and loading upto 0.45 g mole of isoamylene per g mole of H<SUB>2</SUB>SO<SUB>4</SUB>, was found to be preceded by a fast reaction, which occurred in the film adjacent to the interface. The specific rates of desorption of isoamylene into inert hydrocarbons—n-heptane and toluene and an inert gas—nitrogen, were found to be proportional to the isoamylene concentration j, expressed as g mole of isoamylene per g mole of H<SUB>2</SUB>SO<SUB>4</SUB>, and agreed among themselves at the same value of j. The technique of desorption preceded by a fast reaction was employed for the measurement of effective interfacial area in liquid—liquid and gas—liquid agitated contactors. The absorption of isobutylene into fresh and loaded solutions of sulphuric acid was also used for the measurement of effective interfacial area in gas—liquid agitated contactors for comparative purposes. The values of effective interfacial area for the gas—liquid system obtained by the desorption technique were found to be comparable with those obtained from the absorption of isobutylene in fresh and loaded solutions of sulphuric acid, under otherwise comparable conditions

RNA therapeutics in the clinic

Abstract Ribonucleic acid (RNA) therapeutics are being actively researched as a therapeutic modality in preclinical and clinical studies. They have become one of the most ubiquitously known and discussed therapeutics in recent years in part due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Since the first approval in 1998, research on RNA therapeutics has progressed to discovering new therapeutic targets and delivery strategies to enhance their safety and efficacy. Here, we provide an overview of the current clinically relevant RNA therapeutics, mechanistic basis of their function, and strategies to improve their clinical use. We discuss the 17 approved RNA therapeutics and perform an in‐depth analysis of the 222 ongoing clinical trials, with an emphasis on their respective mechanisms and disease areas. We also provide perspectives on the challenges for clinical translation of RNA therapeutics and suggest potential strategies to address these challenges

Effective interfacial area in agitated liquid–liquid continuous reactors

A chemical method has been used to quantify the e ective interfacial area in a ba4ed continuous stirred liquid–liquid reactor. Two and four straight paddle impellers were used in the experimental runs, at 34◦C, with hold-up fractions of dispersed organic phase between 0.061 and 0.166 and stirring speed ranging from 360 to 1500 rpm. In:uence of the residence time on the formation of the interfacial area generated in this system was not registered; however, di erences were reported between continuous and batch mode operations. The interfacial area was correlated to hold-up fraction and Weber number by a new empirical model proposed in this work. This model allows to use only one equation to calculate the interfacial area in this continuous stirred reactor in the wide range of operating conditions tested (490¡We¡9600), which include di erent :ow regimes. This is a relevant contribution as previous studies in this =eld only contemplate turbulent :ow. In the transitional regime the mean drop size diameter decreases abruptly with Weber number, but this pattern changes in the higher range ofWeber where the dispersed drops become smaller very smoothly. This pattern does not depend on the agitator used or hold-up fraction. The mean drop size diameter is smaller for the four paddle impeller and increases with hold-up fraction. The model developed may be applicable to dispersions in aromatic nitration reactors, improving its operation and design