Dynamic Response of 2 Piles in Series and Parallel Arrangement

In the present study, dynamic analysis of laterally loaded vertical pile group is carried out by keeping in the mind the three dimensional nature of the soil-pile system. Piles and soil are modelled using three-dimensional finite element techniques treating them as linear elastic. The interface of soil and pile under the lateral load has been accounted for by incorporating interface elements in the modelling. The special type of transmitting boundary using Kelvin element is used to transfer the propagating waves from near field to the far field. Group of two piles in series and parallel configuration have been considered for present study. Individual piles are considered monolithic with pile cap. Parametric studies have been performed to examine the effects of pile spacing and soil modulus on the response of pile group

Databases and Algorithms in Allergen Informatics

Allergic diseases are considered as one of the major health problems worldwide due to their increasing prevalence. Advancements in genomic, proteomic, and analytical techniques have resulted in considerable progress in the field of allergology, which has led to accumulation of huge amount of data. Allergen bioinformatics comprises allergen-related data resources and computational methods/tools, which deal with an efficient archival, management, and analysis of allergological data. Significant work has been done in the area of allergen bioinformatics that has proven pivotal for the development and progress of this field. In this chapter, we describe the current status of databases and algorithms, encompassing the field of allergen bioinformatics by examining work carried out thus far with respect to features such as allergens and allergenicity, allergen databases, algorithms/tools for allergen/allergenicity prediction, allergen epitope prediction, and allergenic cross-reactivity assessment. This chapter illustrates concepts and algorithms in allergen bioinformatics, as well as it outlines the key areas for potential development in allergology field

Extended release delivery system of metoprolol succinate using hot-melt extrusion: effect of release modifier on methacrylic acid copolymer

The current study reports on the manufacturing of extended release dosage forms of metoprolol succinate via hot-melt extrusion (HME) technology. Either Eudragit®S100 and Eudragit®L100 alone or in combination with release modifying agent Polyox™ WSR 303 and Eudragit®L100-55 were processed to obtain complete and faster release. Metoprolol succinate with similar solubility parameters to polymer was dispersed in polymer matrix and was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Stability of drug after extrusion was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis and high-performance liquid chromatography. Physical characterization method exhibited that the drug was homogeneously dispersed in non-crystalline state in Eudragit®L100-55-based formulations whereas in semi-crystalline state in Polyox™ WSR 303. The drug release percentage was below 3 and 40% in 0.1 N HCL with Eudragit®L100-55- and Polyox™ WSR 303-containing formulations, respectively, and exhibited pH-dependent dissolution properties. The drug-release mechanism was anomalous with Polyox™ WSR 303 formulations whereas diffusion through pore formation was obtained with Eudragit®L100-55. Both Eudragit®L100-55 and Polyox™ WSR 303 changed the release mechanism and kinetics of drug release from thermally processed dosage forms. The optimized stable formulation is similar to the marketed formulation with F2 value of 72.36. Thus, it can be concluded that HME was exploited as an effective process for the preparation of controlled release matrix system based on pH-dependent polymer matrices Eudragit®S100 and Eudragit®L100

The social ecology of water in a Mumbai slum: failures in water quality, quantity, and reliability

Background: Urban slums in developing countries that are not recognized by the government often lack legal access to municipal water supplies. This results in the creation of insecure “informal” water distribution systems (i.e., community-run or private systems outside of the government’s purview) that may increase water-borne disease risk. We evaluate an informal water distribution system in a slum in Mumbai, India using commonly accepted health and social equity indicators. We also identify predictors of bacterial contamination of drinking water using logistic regression analysis. Methods: Data were collected through two studies: the 2008 Baseline Needs Assessment survey of 959 households and the 2011 Seasonal Water Assessment, in which 229 samples were collected for water quality testing over three seasons. Water samples were collected in each season from the following points along the distribution system: motors that directly tap the municipal supply (i.e., “point-of-source” water), hoses going to slum lanes, and storage and drinking water containers from 21 households. Results: Depending on season, households spend an average of 52 to 206 times more than the standard municipal charge of Indian rupees 2.25 (US dollars 0.04) per 1000 liters for water, and, in some seasons, 95% use less than the WHO-recommended minimum of 50 liters per capita per day. During the monsoon season, 50% of point-of-source water samples were contaminated. Despite a lack of point-of-source water contamination in other seasons, stored drinking water was contaminated in all seasons, with rates as high as 43% for E. coli and 76% for coliform bacteria. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, monsoon and summer seasons were associated with significantly increased odds of drinking water contamination. Conclusions: Our findings reveal severe deficiencies in water-related health and social equity indicators. All bacterial contamination of drinking water occurred due to post-source contamination during storage in the household, except during the monsoon season, when there was some point-of-source water contamination. This suggests that safe storage and household water treatment interventions may improve water quality in slums. Problems of exorbitant expense, inadequate quantity, and poor point-of-source quality can only be remedied by providing unrecognized slums with equitable access to municipal water supplies

A System for Household Enumeration and Re-identification in Densely Populated Slums to Facilitate Community Research, Education, and Advocacy

Background: We devised and implemented an innovative Location-Based Household Coding System (LBHCS) appropriate to a densely populated informal settlement in Mumbai, India. Methods and Findings: LBHCS codes were designed to double as unique household identifiers and as walking directions; when an entire community is enumerated, LBHCS codes can be used to identify the number of households located per road (or lane) segment. LBHCS was used in community-wide biometric, mental health, diarrheal disease, and water poverty studies. It also facilitated targeted health interventions by a research team of youth from Mumbai, including intensive door-to-door education of residents, targeted follow-up meetings, and a full census. In addition, LBHCS permitted rapid and low-cost preparation of GIS mapping of all households in the slum, and spatial summation and spatial analysis of survey data. Conclusion: LBHCS was an effective, easy-to-use, affordable approach to household enumeration and re-identification in a densely populated informal settlement where alternative satellite imagery and GPS technologies could not be used

Investigations on the age, growth and mortality parameters of Kawakawa, Euthynnus affinis (Cantor, 1849) from the North west coast of India

Kawakawa, Euthynnus affinis contributes to the tune of 35,466 tonnes forming 1% to the total marine fish landings of India. Investigations on growth and mortality were of this species carried out based on the length frequency data during 2008-2012. The length-weight relationship for the pooled samples were derived for intercept a=0.0286, slope b=2.857 and coefficient of determination r2=0.917. The values obtained for growth parameters of L∞ was 67.86 cm, for growth coefficient (K) 0.70 and for to -0.26y-1. The natural, total and fishing mortalities recorded as 0.86, 1.48 and 0.62 y-1,respectively. The exploitation ratio (F/Z) was observed as 0.42. The M/K ratio was estimated at 1.23. The average fork length of 46 cm and weight of 2024 g were estimated in the samples collected. The length at the end of 1st year to 5th year was observed to be 33, 52, 64, 70 and 75 cm, respectively. The fishing mortality derived in this study is more than the optimum and limit value indicated the sign of overexploitation

The high cost of diarrhoeal illness for urban slum households–a cost-recovery approach: a cohort study

Objectives: Rapid urbanisation has often meant that public infrastructure has not kept pace with growth leading to urban slums with poor access to water and sanitation and high rates of diarrhoea with greater household costs due to illness. This study sought to determine the monetary cost of diarrhoea to urban slum households in Kaula Bandar slum in Mumbai, India. The study also tested the hypotheses that the cost of water and sanitation infrastructure may be surpassed by the cumulative costs of diarrhoea for households in an urban slum community. Design: A cohort study using a baseline survey of a random sample followed by a systematic longitudinal household survey. The baseline survey was administered to a random sample of households. The systematic longitudinal survey was administered to every available household in the community with a case of diarrhoea for a period of 5 weeks. Participants: Every household in Kaula Bandar was approached for the longitudinal survey and all available and consenting adults were included. Results: The direct cost of medical care for having at least one person in the household with diarrhoea was 205 rupees. Other direct costs brought total expenses to 291 rupees. Adding an average loss of 55 rupees per household from lost wages and monetising lost productivity from homemakers gave a total loss of 409 rupees per household. During the 5-week study period, this community lost an estimated 163 600 rupees or 3635 US dollars due to diarrhoeal illness. Conclusions: The lack of basic water and sanitation infrastructure is expensive for urban slum households in this community. Financing approaches that transfer that cost to infrastructure development to prevent illness may be feasible. These findings along with the myriad of unmeasured benefits of preventing diarrhoeal illness add to pressing arguments for investment in basic water and sanitation infrastructure

Epigenetic reprogramming of cell cycle genes by ACK1 promotes breast cancer resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitor

Hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancers exhibit high sensitivity to CDK4/6 inhibitors such as palbociclib. However, most patients inevitably develop resistance, thus identification of new actionable therapeutic targets to overcome the recurrent disease is an urgent need. Immunohistochemical studies of tissue microarray revealed increased activation of non-receptor tyrosine kinase, ACK1 (also known as TNK2) in most of the breast cancer subtypes, independent of their hormone receptor status. Chromatin immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that the nuclear target of activated ACK1, pY88-H4 epigenetic marks, were deposited at cell cycle genes, CCNB1, CCNB2 and CDC20, which in turn initiated their efficient transcription. Pharmacological inhibition of ACK1 using its inhibitor, (R)-9b dampened CCNB1, CCNB2 and CDC20 expression, caused G2/M arrest, culminating in regression of palbociclib-resistant breast tumor growth. Further, (R)-9b suppressed expression of CXCR4 receptor, which resulted in significant impairment of metastasis of breast cancer cells to lung. Overall, our pre-clinical data identifies activated ACK1 as an oncogene that epigenetically controls the cell cycle genes governing the G2/M transition in breast cancer cells. ACK1 inhibitor, (R)-9b could be a novel therapeutic option for the breast cancer patients that have developed resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors

Tekućinski antisolvent postupak taloženja za modifikaciju topljivosti bikalutamida

Liquid antisolvent process was explored as a solubility modulating tool. Bicalutamide, a poorly water soluble drug, was used as a candidate. Low aqueous solubility and poor dissolution of bicalutamide results into poor and variable bioavailability. Therefore, the objective of the present work was to modify the solubility of bicalutamide using the liquid antisolvent precipitation process. HPMC E5 and Poloxamer 407 were shortlisted as a hydrophilic polymer and surfactant, respectively, for the process. Process optimization was done with respect to the hydrophilic polymer, surfactant and drug loading concentration. The resultant microcrystals were characterized with various instrumental techniques for material characterization such as IR, DSC, SEM, XRD, particle size, specific surface area and dissolution kinetics.Tekućinski antisolvent postupak upotrijebljen je za moduliranje topljivosti bikalutamida. Zbog vrlo slabe topljivosti u vodi i sporog oslobađanja, bioraspoloživost bikalutamida je mala i varijabilna. Cilj rada je poboljšati topljivost bikalutamida koristeći antisolvent precipitaciju. Kao hidrofilni polimer korišten je HPMC E5, a kao surfaktant Poloxamer 407. Variranjem količine polimera, surfaktanta i lijeka proces je optimiran. Nastali mikrokristali analizirani su uobičajenim instrumentalnim tehnikama za karakterizaciju materijala kao što su IR, DSC, SEM, XRD, veličina čestica, specifična površina i brzina oslobađanja

The psychological toll of slum living in Mumbai, India: A mixed methods study

In India, “non-notified” slums are not officially recognized by city governments; they suffer from insecure tenure and poorer access to basic services than “notified” (government-recognized) slums. We conducted a study in a non-notified slum of about 12,000 people in Mumbai to determine the prevalence of individuals at high risk for having a common mental disorder (i.e., depression and anxiety), to ascertain the impact of mental health on the burden of functional impairment, and to assess the influence of the slum environment on mental health. We gathered qualitative data (six focus group discussions and 40 individual interviews in July-November 2011), with purposively sampled participants, and quantitative data (521 structured surveys in February 2012), with respondents selected using community-level random sampling. For the surveys, we administered the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ) to screen for common mental disorders (CMDs), the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHO DAS) to screen for functional impairment, and a slum adversity questionnaire, which we used to create a composite Slum Adversity Index (SAI) score. Twenty-three percent of individuals have a GHQ score ≥5, suggesting they are at high risk for having a CMD. Psychological distress is a major contributor to the slum’s overall burden of functional impairment. In a multivariable logistic regression model, household income, poverty-related factors, and the SAI score all have strong independent associations with CMD risk. The qualitative findings suggest that non-notified status plays a central role in creating psychological distress—by creating and exacerbating deprivations that serve as sources of stress, by placing slum residents in an inherently antagonistic relationship with the government through the criminalization of basic needs, and by shaping a community identity built on a feeling of social exclusion from the rest of the city