Reanalysis of a Vacuum Distillation Unit Foundation

This paper deals with the reanalysis of the foundation of an already existing Vaccum Distillation Unit in an oil refinery. The reanalysis is required to suggest if the existing foundation of the unit would be capable enough to withstand an additional pressure intensity to which it would be subjected due to proposed expansion of the unit. The paper therefore discusses the geotechnical investigation program undertaken for evaluating the relevant design parameters and the methodology adopted to compute the sustainable pressure of the foundation

Study of Co-seismic Planetary Conditions for Earthquake Prediction

The periodicities in the occurrence of earthquakes, as indicated by the cosmic conditions, have been traced by analysing the planetary data at the time of occurrence of more than 1100 earthquakes of magnitude, M 27.0, which occurred during the period 1896 to 1965. Correlation between the transits of planets in the sensitive areas and at sensitive longitudes in the zodiac and the seismicity of California and adjoining area has been shown. Based on the analysis, a method for forecasting earthquakes is also proposed

Taj Mahal – An Appraisal of Foundation Performance

Because of severe restrictions placed by the National Authority, no authentic data on subsoil details below Taj Mahal - a protected monument - is available. For the first time, an attempt has been made to fill in gaps that exist in our knowledge of subsoil profile below the structure and present a plausible appraisal of foundation performance during the existence of the structure. Since details of foundations cited in literature on Taj Mahal really fall into the realms of architectural conjecture, in the present analysis, engineering intuition and judgement have gone into making certain premises regarding the probable type, dimensions and the depth of the existing foundations of Taj Mahal. These premises, complimented by borehole data and laboratory tests have enabled the assessment of the foundation performance to be made in as realistic a manner as is practically possible

Potentiation of Anticancer Drugs: Effects of Pentoxifylline on Neoplastic Cells

The drug efflux activity of P-glycoprotein (P-gp, a product of the mdr1 gene, ABCB1 member of ABC transporter family) represents a mechanism by which tumor cells escape death induced by chemotherapeutics. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms involved in the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on P-gp-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) in mouse leukemia L1210/VCR cells. Parental sensitive mouse leukemia cells L1210, and multidrug-resistant cells, L1210/VCR, which are characterized by the overexpression of P-gp, were used as experimental models. The cells were exposed to 100 μmol/L PTX in the presence or absence of 1.2 μmol/L vincristine (VCR). Western blot analysis indicated a downregulation of P-gp protein expression when multidrug-resistant L1210/VCR cells were exposed to PTX. The effects of PTX on the sensitization of L1210/VCR cells to VCR correlate with the stimulation of apoptosis detected by Annexin V/propidium iodide apoptosis necrosis kit and proteolytic activation of both caspase-3 and caspase-9 monitored by Western blot analysis. Higher release of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP-2, which could be attenuated by PTX, was found in L1210/VCR than in L1210 cells by gelatin zymography in electrophoretic gel. Exposure of resistant cells to PTX increased the content of phosphorylated Akt kinase. In contrast, the presence of VCR eliminated the effects of PTX on Akt kinase phosphorylation. Taken together, we conclude that PTX induces the sensitization of multidrug-resistant cells to VCR via downregulation of P-gp, stimulation of apoptosis and reduction of MMPs released from drug-resistant L1210/VCR cells. These facts bring new insights into the mechanisms of PTX action on cancer cells

Fenites associated with carbonatite complexes : a review

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.Carbonatites and alkaline-silicate rocks are the most important sources of rare earth elements (REE) and niobium (Nb), both of which are metals imperative to technological advancement and associated with high risks of supply interruption. Cooling and crystallizing carbonatitic and alkaline melts expel multiple pulses of alkali-rich aqueous fluids which metasomatize the surrounding country rocks, forming fenites during a process called fenitization. These alkalis and volatiles are original constituents of the magma that are not recorded in the carbonatite rock, and therefore fenites should not be dismissed during the description of a carbonatite system. This paper reviews the existing literature, focusing on 17 worldwide carbonatite complexes whose attributes are used to discuss the main features and processes of fenitization. Although many attempts have been made in the literature to categorize and name fenites, it is recommended that the IUGS metamorphic nomenclature be used to describe predominant mineralogy and textures. Complexing anions greatly enhance the solubility of REE and Nb in these fenitizing fluids, mobilizing them into the surrounding country rock, and precipitating REE- and Nb-enriched micro-mineral assemblages. As such, fenites have significant potential to be used as an exploration tool to find mineralized intrusions in a similar way alteration patterns are used in other ore systems, such as porphyry copper deposits. Strong trends have been identified between the presence of more complex veining textures, mineralogy and brecciation in fenites with intermediate stage Nb-enriched and later stage REE enriched magmas. However, compiling this evidence has also highlighted large gaps in the literature relating to fenitization. These need to be addressed before fenite can be used as a comprehensive and effective exploration tool.This research has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant No 689909

The carbonatites of Amba Dongar, Gujarat, India

The geology, petrography and major and trace element geochemistry of Amba Dongar carbonatites are described. The ring structure of Amba Dongar carbonatite-alkalic complex has a central core of basalt collared by carbonatite breccia which in turn is surrounded by a sovite rim. Ankeritic carbonatite occurs as disjointed plugs intruding sovite and also as small dikes in surrounding sovite, fenites and basalts. Sideritic carbonatite forms thin veins in ankeritic carbonatite. Plugs of nephelinite and phonolitic nephelinite form the outermost ring of the complex. The complex is intrusive into Bagh sandstone-Deccan Traps sequence (Cretaceous-Eocene) and is situated in the rift zone of Narmada valley. The trace element contents reveal certain characteristic features such as pronounced enrichment in Ce + La ( > 3.0 %) in ankeritic carbonatite and high values of Th, Ba and P. Fenitization of surrounding Bagh sandstone shows two distinct trends: 1. earlier soda fenitization (orthoclase-albiteaegirine rock) and 2. potash fenitization leading to the development of pure feldspar rocks. The paper describes briefly the fenitization of nephelinites for the first time

Guanine rich oligonucleotide-amino acid/peptide conjugates: preparation and characterization

Covalent addition of aminoacyl or peptidyl groups could improve the performance of RNA/DNA molecules either in catalysis or in other attributes such as their ability to interact with membranes. This can explain the transformation of the RNA world first into a peptidyl-RNA world and eventually into a RNA-protein world. Subsequently, the emergence of DNA as more stable storage of genetic information than RNA finally gave shape to present day DNA-RNA-Protein world. For this reason, this paper reports a stepwise study, of the direct incorporation of amino acid/peptide onto synthetic amino modified deoxyoligonucleotide. The amino acid/peptide has been covalently linked to the primary amine of amino modified oligonucleotide, which is separated from the oligomer by a spacer arm of 10 atoms. The yield depends on the presence of bulky amino acid side chains that possibly hinder the attack of incoming nucleophile. On the other hand, the use of relatively high concentrations of EDC has improved the conjugation yield remarkably and complete conjugation can be achieved within few hours. Such a facile incorporation of amino acids or peptides may help oligonucleotides with greater cell membrane permeability, stability and reactivity. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved