Waterproofing sprayed concrete Linings -Existing Methods and Potential Developments

Sprayed concrete tunnel linings are a popular solution to the increasing need for fast and efficient transport systems in urban environment worldwide. Achieving an acceptable level of watertightness in sprayed concrete linings with a view to increasing the speed of construction, reducing costs and improving the carbon footprint remains a significant challenge for the construction industry. Sheet and sprayed membranes and, to a lesser extent, integral waterproofing admixtures are currently being used for achieving the required level of watertightness. Each of these technologies have advantages and disadvantages, which determine their suitability and ease of use in a particular project. This paper examines the existing technologies and outlines emerging technologies in the concrete admixtures that have the potential to control the water penetration in a sprayed concrete tunnel lining. It describes the laboratory work carried out using integral waterproofing admixtures as part of research in the UK towards the development of a one-pass watertight sprayed concrete tunnel lining, where different admixtures were tested using conventional tests normally performed in the industry and a modification of a standard test to reveal the benefits of the use of technologies such as crystalline and Polymer Latex additives to reduce the permeability of the joints over time

Effect of different cooking methods on the antioxidant properties of bitter gourd (Mormodica charantia) cultivated in Jaffna district

Purpose: Bitter gourd (Mormodica charantia) is a widely cultivated vegetable crop in Jaffna. It is well-known to possess medicinal properties, mainly because of its antioxidant properties. Changes in the antioxidant properties of vegetables during different cooking methods have an influence on dietary nutrition. Therefore, this study is aimed at determining the effect of three cooking methods on the antioxidant properties of bitter gourd. Research Method: Fresh bitter gourds were cut into small pieces and subjected to three different cooking methods (boiling, microwave cooking and stir-frying). The conditions of the cooking methods were; boiling at 100ºC for 14 min, microwave cooking at 560W for 4 min and stir-frying at 230ºC for 15 min. Ethanol (70%, v/v) was used to extract the antioxidants from fresh and cooked samples and antioxidant properties were determined as total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant capacity and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Results were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance using Statistical Analysis System (SAS 9.1). Findings: TPC, TFC, antioxidant capacity and DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50value) of fresh bitter gourd were 27.47±1.52 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry matter, 19.36±2.01 mg catechin equivalent/g dry matter, 103.55±3.60 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/g dry matter and 0.210±0.008 mg/mL respectively. Compared to the antioxidant properties of fresh bitter gourd, boiling has significantly (p<0.05) increased TPC (by 48.63%) and TFC (by 42.77%) while, antioxidant capacity was reduced (by 17.84%). However, TPC, TFC, and antioxidant capacity of bitter gourd were reduced by 38.70%, 40.13% and 23.55%, respectively, after microwave cooking and 77.94%, 75.88% and 67.77%, respectively, after stir-frying. Thus, it can be concluded that boiling found to be the better method than other two methods to retain antioxidant properties of the bitter gourd.Originality/ Value: This study could be useful to create the awareness among the people on different cooking methods to retain as much of the antioxidant as possible in order to get benefited by the consumption of bitter gourd.</p

Effect of different cooking methods on antioxidant properties of Tomato (<i>Lycopersicon</i> <i>esculentum</i>)

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is one of the rich sources of antioxidants, mainly, lycopene which is known to be associated with decreased risks of chronic diseases. However, cooking influences the antioxidant properties of vegetables. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of three cooking methods on the antioxidant properties of tomato. The conditions of the cooking methods of tomato were boiling at 100 ºC for 6 min, microwave cooking at 560W for 40 sec and stir-frying at 230 ºC for 4.5 min. Ethanol (70 %, v/v) was used to extract the antioxidant properties (such as phenolics, flavonoid and other antioxidant compounds) of tomato. These antioxidant properties were determined by using total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant capacity and DPPH radical scavenging activity analysis. Results indicated that cooking has significant influences on the antioxidant properties of tomato. Boiling did not have significant changes in the TPC, however microwave cooking and stir-frying caused significant losses compared to fresh tomato. Stir-fried tomato had significantly the lowest TPC. All three cooking methods caused significant losses in TFC, however the losses are less significant during boiling compared to microwave cooking and stir-frying. Significantly higher antioxidant capacity was observed in microwave cooked tomato than fresh and other cooked tomatoes. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in microwave cooked tomato followed by stir-fried and fresh tomatoes

ASPECTS Decay During Inter-facility Transfer in Patients with Large Vessel Occlusion Strokes

Background Favorable imaging profile according to the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) on non-contrast head CT is a key criterion for the selection of patients with ischemic stroke from large vessel occlusion (LVO) for IA revascularization therapies. Objective To analyze factors associated with changes in ASPECTS during inter-hospital transfer and to determine how deterioration of ASPECTS affects eligibility for endovascular procedures. Methods We analyzed factors associated with changes in ASPECTS during inter-hospital transfer and their potential impact on eligibility for IA stroke therapies in patients with anterior circulation ischemic strokes. Clinical and demographic characteristics between patients with favorable (ASPECTS ≥6) and unfavorable (ASPECTS \u3c6) imaging on repeat CT were compared. Results Stroke evolution towards unfavorable ASPECTS occurred in 13/42 (31%) patients who initially had a favorable imaging profile at outside hospitals. A higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was the only significant predictor of ASPECTS decay, whereas other clinical characteristics, such as the use of IV thrombolysis and site of LVO, were similar between the two groups. Conclusions In our cohort, one out of three patients became ineligible for IA thrombectomy because of unfavorable ASPECTS ‘decay’ following inter-hospital transfer. Except for NIHSS severity, baseline clinical factors could not identify which patients were at risk for ASPECTS deterioration

Massively multiplex single-molecule oligonucleosome footprinting.

Our understanding of the beads-on-a-string arrangement of nucleosomes has been built largely on high-resolution sequence-agnostic imaging methods and sequence-resolved bulk biochemical techniques. To bridge the divide between these approaches, we present the single-molecule adenine methylated oligonucleosome sequencing assay (SAMOSA). SAMOSA is a high-throughput single-molecule sequencing method that combines adenine methyltransferase footprinting and single-molecule real-time DNA sequencing to natively and nondestructively measure nucleosome positions on individual chromatin fibres. SAMOSA data allows unbiased classification of single-molecular 'states' of nucleosome occupancy on individual chromatin fibres. We leverage this to estimate nucleosome regularity and spacing on single chromatin fibres genome-wide, at predicted transcription factor binding motifs, and across human epigenomic domains. Our analyses suggest that chromatin is comprised of both regular and irregular single-molecular oligonucleosome patterns that differ subtly in their relative abundance across epigenomic domains. This irregularity is particularly striking in constitutive heterochromatin, which has typically been viewed as a conformationally static entity. Our proof-of-concept study provides a powerful new methodology for studying nucleosome organization at a previously intractable resolution and offers up new avenues for modeling and visualizing higher order chromatin structure

Massively multiplex single-molecule oligonucleosome footprinting.

Our understanding of the beads-on-a-string arrangement of nucleosomes has been built largely on high-resolution sequence-agnostic imaging methods and sequence-resolved bulk biochemical techniques. To bridge the divide between these approaches, we present the single-molecule adenine methylated oligonucleosome sequencing assay (SAMOSA). SAMOSA is a high-throughput single-molecule sequencing method that combines adenine methyltransferase footprinting and single-molecule real-time DNA sequencing to natively and nondestructively measure nucleosome positions on individual chromatin fibres. SAMOSA data allows unbiased classification of single-molecular 'states' of nucleosome occupancy on individual chromatin fibres. We leverage this to estimate nucleosome regularity and spacing on single chromatin fibres genome-wide, at predicted transcription factor binding motifs, and across human epigenomic domains. Our analyses suggest that chromatin is comprised of both regular and irregular single-molecular oligonucleosome patterns that differ subtly in their relative abundance across epigenomic domains. This irregularity is particularly striking in constitutive heterochromatin, which has typically been viewed as a conformationally static entity. Our proof-of-concept study provides a powerful new methodology for studying nucleosome organization at a previously intractable resolution and offers up new avenues for modeling and visualizing higher order chromatin structure

Clinical and Procedural Predictors of Outcomes From the Endovascular Treatment of Posterior Circulation Strokes.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with posterior circulation strokes have been excluded from recent randomized endovascular stroke trials. We reviewed the recent multicenter experience with endovascular treatment of posterior circulation strokes to identify the clinical, radiographic, and procedural predictors of successful recanalization and good neurological outcomes. METHODS: We performed a multicenter retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with posterior circulation strokes, who underwent thrombectomy with stent retrievers or primary aspiration thrombectomy (including A Direct Aspiration First Pass Technique [ADAPT] approach). We correlated clinical and radiographic outcomes with demographic, clinical, and technical characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients were included in the final analysis (mean age, 63.5±14.2 years; mean admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, 19.2±8.2). Favorable clinical outcome at 3 months (modified Rankin Scale score ≤2) was achieved in 35% of patients. Successful recanalization and shorter time from stroke onset to the start of the procedure were significant predictors of favorable clinical outcome at 90 days. Stent retriever and aspiration thrombectomy as primary treatment approaches showed comparable procedural and clinical outcomes. None of the baseline advanced imaging modalities (magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomographic perfusion, or computed tomography angiography assessment of collaterals) showed superiority in selecting patients for thrombectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Time to the start of the procedure is an important predictor of clinical success after thrombectomy in patients with posterior circulation strokes. Both stent retriever and aspiration thrombectomy as primary treatment approaches are effective in achieving successful recanalization