FELA Evaluation of uplift, lateral and inclined capacity of buried pipeline in layered clays

The offshore buried pipelines are prone to upheaval and lateral buckling due to the high temperature and pressure of the materials being transported. The pipeline placed on marine soil or buried in layered soil can be subjected to drained and undrained loading conditions. An attempt has been made in the present study to evaluate the uplift and lateral capacity factor (Nu) of buried pipeline in layered clays using finite element limit analysis (FELA) considering the layered clay condition as soft clay over hard clay and hard clay over soft clay. The lateral and uplift capacity factors are evaluated corresponding to varying normalized C/D ratio, where C is the crown height and D is the diameter of the pipeline, h1/D ratio, where h1 is the height of upper layer of clay, and Su1/Su2, where Su1 is undrained shear strength of upper clay layer and Su2 is the undrained shear strength of bottom clay layer. The inclined capacity of buried pipeline in layered clays is also evaluated numerically and by interpolation using the vertical and lateral capacity factors. Then the assessment of the interpolated inclined capacity is also performed. The FELA results are compared with those solutions available in the literature and the present study outcomes are presented as design charts and tables. This study will be useful to the offshore foundation engineering practitioners

Experimental Study of Soil Water Characteristic Curve for a Clayey Soil Reinforced with Model Geocell for Freezing-Thawing Cycles

The category of geosynthetics includes geocells as a common subclass. As a low-cost, easilyinstalled solution to soil stabilisation problems, geocells are gaining popularity in the field of geotechnical engineering. Assessing and measuring the matric potential of geocell reinforced soil subjected to alternating freezing-thawing cycles depends on understanding the water retention behaviour of the soil. The water retention properties of geocell reinforced soil are influenced by alternate freezing-thawing cycles. For the objective of this study, the thawing soil freezing characteristic curve (SFCC) of a clayey soil with variable numbers of model geocells was determined (0, 1, and 2 number). With the progression of freezingthawing cycles, which dramatically changed the retention behaviour of reinforcing soil, the matric potential was measured using the filter paper method methodology. The thawing SFCC for reinforced soil with model geocell was assessed using the van Genuchten model. For the studied soil with varied numbers of model geocells, the VG model was evaluated for five consecutive freezing-thawing cycles, demonstrating its efficacy in determining the retention behaviour of geocell reinforced soils. The experimental findings showed that the matric potential in SFCC has considerably enhanced due to the presence of model geocell

Isolation Of Vibrio Cholera O1 During an Outbreak of Acute Gastroenteritis In Dahod District, Gujarat

Background: Epidemics of cholera caused by Vibrio cholerae O1 or O139 have been reported from different parts of India. It is necessary to investigate Acute Gastroenteritis cases for the presence of V. Cholerae by stool sample analysis in the reference laboratory. Objectives: To analyze stool samples for the presence of V. cholerae and subtypes in confirmed cases of cholera during an outbreak of Acute Gastroenteritis. Materials and Methods: During an outbreak of Acute Gastroenteritis, total 171 stool samples and 5 water samples were collected by local health authorities and sent to the Microbiology Department, Medical College, Baroda for the analysis. Results: Out of total 171 stool samples, 46 stool samples were found positive (27%) for V. cholerae O1 biotype El Tor, serotype Ogawa as a sole pathogen. Highest positivity (50%) was found in age group of 0-15 years. Positivity rate was same among both the genders. Water samples showed presence of coliform bacilli with high MPN (most probable number) count. Faecal coliform was also found in both the water samples. Conclusion: V. cholerae O1 biotype El Tor, serotype Ogawa was confirmed as a sole pathogen in stool samples confirm the cholera outbreak and water contamination was supported by the presence of Faecal coliform organisms in water samples

Molecular dynamics simulations based siRNA design against GPR10 reveals stable RNAi therapeutics for hormone-dependent uterine fibroids

Abstract Uterine fibroids, though benign in nature, are burdensome tumors of the myometrium and continue to weigh heavily on the landscape of women’s health. They affect millions and yet receive a fraction of the therapeutic innovation afforded to malignant diseases. Despite their prevalence, the molecular underpinnings of fibroid pathogenesis have long been met with a blind eye in drug development. Recent insights, however, reveal G-protein-coupled receptor 10 (GPR10) as a central driver of fibroid growth, promoting cell survival through the PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways following REST repression. In this study, we present a rigorous, computationally guided approach to design small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that silence GPR10 expression at the transcriptomic level. Beginning with a library of 275 siRNA candidates, we undertook a layered in-silico refinement process, combining thermodynamic assessment, secondary structure modeling and off-target filtration, to distill a shortlist of ten high-confidence molecules. These were subjected to structural docking against Argonaute 2, the catalytic engine of the RNA-induced silencing complex, revealing siRNA8 and siRNA12 as lead candidates distinguished by robust binding affinity, high predicted silencing efficacy, which was greater than 93.5%, and precise conformational fit. Subsequent molecular dynamics simulations under CHARMM-GUI/CHARMM36m force field, confirmed the structural stability and sustained silencing potential of the complex. Collectively, these findings identify GPR10 as a therapeutically actionable driver in fibroid biology and lay the groundwork for precision RNAi strategies targeting non-malignant, yet clinically neglected, hormone-dependent disorders

Experimental Study of Soil Water Characteristic Curve for a Clayey Soil Reinforced with Model Geocell for Freezing-Thawing Cycles

The category of geosynthetics includes geocells as a common subclass. As a low-cost, easilyinstalled solution to soil stabilisation problems, geocells are gaining popularity in the field of geotechnical engineering. Assessing and measuring the matric potential of geocell reinforced soil subjected to alternating freezing-thawing cycles depends on understanding the water retention behaviour of the soil. The water retention properties of geocell reinforced soil are influenced by alternate freezing-thawing cycles. For the objective of this study, the thawing soil freezing characteristic curve (SFCC) of a clayey soil with variable numbers of model geocells was determined (0, 1, and 2 number). With the progression of freezingthawing cycles, which dramatically changed the retention behaviour of reinforcing soil, the matric potential was measured using the filter paper method methodology. The thawing SFCC for reinforced soil with model geocell was assessed using the van Genuchten model. For the studied soil with varied numbers of model geocells, the VG model was evaluated for five consecutive freezing-thawing cycles, demonstrating its efficacy in determining the retention behaviour of geocell reinforced soils. The experimental findings showed that the matric potential in SFCC has considerably enhanced due to the presence of model geocell

2734. Lack of Influence of Early Exposure to Influenza A(H3N2) Viruses on Vaccine Effectiveness Against A(H3N2)-Associated Illness in US Children <18 Years, 2016–2018

Abstract Background During 2017–2018, influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against A(H3N2) illness was highest among children &lt;5 years compared with all other ages. A child’s first influenza infection can shape later immune responses. The emergence of antigenically distinct influenza A(H3N2) viruses in 2014–2015 provided an opportunity to explore potential effects of first virus infection on vaccine effects. We compared VE against influenza A(H3N2) during 2016–2017 and 2017–2018 among children born after and before 2014. Methods Outpatient children aged 6 months–17 years with acute respiratory illness with cough were enrolled in the United States Influenza VE Network and tested for influenza infection by RT–PCR. Vaccination status was derived through medical records and immunization registries. Children with partial or unknown vaccination status were excluded. We used a test-negative design to estimate VE and 95% confidence intervals (CI) from logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders. Cohorts were defined by birth after or before June 2014; we assumed exposure to the new A(H3N2) virus among children born after June 2014. Results During 2016–2017, among 2,545 children, 445 (18%) tested positive for A(H3N2) and 1,809 (71%) tested negative. VE against A(H3N2) did not differ among children born after June 2014 and among those born before June 2014 [49% (95% CI: −12%, 77%) vs. 43% (27%, 55%); interaction P &lt; 0.75]. During 2017–2018, among 2,936 patients, 631 (22%) tested positive for A(H3N2), and 1,852 (63%) tested negative. VE against A(H3N2) was 59% (36%, 74%) among children born after June 2014 vs. 20% (−1%, 37%) among those born before June 2014 (interaction P &lt; 0.01). Conclusion We did not consistently see differences in VE against A(H3N2) between children potentially exposed to different A(H3N2) viruses. However, error in exposure assignment to A(H3N2) viruses and few seasons since the emergence of the new A(H3N2) viruses limit our interpretation. Future study will include additional A(H3N2) seasons as initial exposures to current circulating viruses increase among young children. Alternative explanations for age-related differences will also be explored, such as prior seasonal vaccination. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures. </jats:sec