s. gupta

Bituminous mixes are prepared with aggregates, filler and bitumen as binder. Ageing of bitumen due to oxidation reduces the durability of such mixes. Various research efforts are therefore put in to decrease the ageing potential of binders and use of anti-oxidants has shown substantial success. In this research, Irganox 1010 has been identified as an anti-oxidant which has been found to be economical and yet of limited use in the field of pavement engineering. Various physical and rheological tests were conducted to determine the influence of Irganox 1010 on short-termed as well as long termed aged binders and results were analyzed. Softening Point Index (SPI) and Viscosity Ageing Index (VAI) were determined to understand the influence of Irganox 1010 on bituminous mixes. It was observed that Irganox 1010 significantly reduce ageing potential with usage of 0.6% by weight of bitumen. It has been found to be cost-effective due requirement of small quantities and being of comparatively lesser cost. This material has the potential of large scale usage to increase durability of bituminous mixes.

Rice straw degradation in the soil is slow because of the high percentage of complex carbohydrates. Hence, farmers prefer to burn it in the agricultural field as a quicker alternative to the open burning of rice straw. Therefore, this study aims to characterize the bacteria from cow dung that can degrade rice straw.

In the present study, four bacterial isolates were isolated from the fresh cow-dung sample. After initial screening, one isolate, i.e. AMB-CD-1, was used to degrade rice straw for 25 days. The degraded straw samples were then analyzed through FTIR and SEM analysis. Furthermore, the degraded sample was used for growing paddy plants.Results Out of four isolates, only the AMB-CD-1 isolate performed the best in all the screening analyses. The results concluded that the AMB-CD-1 culture inoculated straw had a low level of cellulose and hemicellulose, indicating these particles’ degradation. The isolated AMB-CD-1 was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa through the Sanger sequencing technique of the 16S rRNA gene.

also revealed that the highest germination percentage, shoot weight and shoot length were found to be significantly superior in T4 (50% Sand + 50% Compost) whereas the highest chlorophyll content was found in T7 (25% Sand + 25% Soil + 50% Compost), and T1 (100% Sand) was effective in terms of root length.

Overall, the study concluded that Pseudomonas aeruginosa AMB-CD-1 might be a fast decomposer of paddy straw.

A wound is a temporary break in the continuity of the protective skin barrier. Wound healing is central in maintaining the body’s normal homeostatic mechanism, and open wounds raise the risk of microbial infection and amputation. A successful wound healing event is achieved through a series of evolutionarily conserved biochemical pathways orchestrated by various cytokines, growth factors, and immune cells. Chronic wounds are generally oxygen-deficient, and wound hypoxia impairs the wound healing process. Therefore, the use of external oxygen may improve wound health by reducing wound hypoxia, promoting tissue regeneration and granulation tissue formation, reducing anaerobic bacteria colonization, and promoting the growth of beneficial aerobic bacteria. Relevant data were searched and gathered from scientific databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar using relevant keywords, such as “Chronic Wounds”,  “Topical Oxygen Therapy”, “Inflammatory Markers/ Lactate/ Matrix Metalloproteinase”, “Collagen”, and “Wound Healing”. Relevant articles were shortlisted and used in the present study. Chronic wounds show higher expression of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as C-reactive protein, and higher levels of tissue-degrading matrix metalloproteinases. In addition, chronic wounds are generally oxygen-deficient, and wound hypoxia is directly associated with wound deterioration. Several microbial, immunological, and biochemical markers show a direct association with the oxygen availability in the wound. Therefore, a detailed understanding of these microbial, immunological, and biochemical markers will certainly help clinicians understand the interplay between various factors and topical oxygen therapy and may improve patient outcomes.

The analysis and design of reinforced concrete slabs supported on 3-sides in masonry or reinforced concrete construction involve analytical formulations. In published analytical formulations, orthotropic coefficients and continuity factors are unknown parameters. To obtain moment carrying capacity of the slabs using available formulations, these factors must be required. In this research work, these orthotropic coefficients and continuity factors are presented for transverse loaded RC rectangular slabs supported on three sides under uniform area loading at top face of the slab. These coefficients were obtained using FEA (Finite element Analysis) based Structural Analysis Program (SAP) software. It is also validated with FEA (Finite element Analysis) based SCIA Engineer software and published formulations. It have been observed that obtained results are well comparable with published literature and FEM based software. Results presented in this research paper are conducive to predict the moment-field of the reinforced concrete rectangular slabs supported on three sides having one edge is unsupported. These coefficients will be very helpful for structural designers dealing with reinforced concrete slabs supported on three sides.

The present paper deals with the generation of Love waves in a layer of finite thickness over an initially stressed heterogeneous semi-infinite media. The rigidity and density of the layer are functions of temperature, i.e. they are temperature dependent.  The lower substratum is an initially stressed medium and its rigidity and density vary linearly with the depth. The frequency relation of Love waves has been acquired in compact form. Numerical calculations are accomplished and a number of graphs for non-dimensional phase velocity versus non-dimensional wave number are plotted to display the influence of intrinsic parameters like initial stress and inhomogeneity factors on the generation of Love waves. It is initiated that the non-dimensional phase velocity of Love wave decreases with increase in the non-dimensional wave number and is strongly influenced by the initial stress of the substratum and the inhomogeneity factors of the layer and the substratum. This study may provide effective information in the field of industrial engineering, civil engineering as well as geophysics and seismology.