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The paper presents the details of various investigations conducted for the laboratory evaluation of the performance of crumb-rubber modified asphalt mixes. Crumb rubber (CR) obtained from discarded truck and bus tires was used to modify 80/100 penetration grade asphalt cement. Fatigue and permanent deformation characteristics, temperature and moisture susceptibility, and oxidative aging are some of the performance indicators of mixes evaluated. A static indentation test was adopted for assessing the relative permanent deformation characteristics of different mixes. Three aggregate gradations: (1) superpave; (2) gradation specified by the Ministry of Surface Transport, India for asphalt concrete; and (3) one gap gradation, were considered in the investigation. Compared to normal mixes, CR modified mixes were found to have improved fatigue and permanent deformation characteristics. They also showed lower temperature susceptibility and greater resistance to moisture damage compared to normal mixes. Superpave mixes gave better overall performance compared to the mixes having other aggregate gradations. CE Database subject headings: Rubber; Binders, materials; Asphalt mixes; Laboratory tests; Fatigue strength; Deformation.

Bituminous mixes are generally designed with gradation and air void content ranges adopted by different agencies. The selected gradation and binder content are permitted to vary within specified tolerance limits. This leads to the possibility of a wide range of mixes with varying mix performance. Thus, it is essential to understand the influence of variation in these parameters on the performance of mixes. The present study aims to examine the sensitivity of the mix performance to variation within the specified gradation and air void ranges. Five aggregate gradations were considered for designing mixes for the volumetric design criterion of 4% air voids. For three of the five gradations, mixes were also designed for two additional design air void contents, 3% and 5%. Rutting resistance of the mixes was measured using a rut tester and moisture resistance was evaluated in terms of Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR). The densification characteristics represented by voids in mineral aggregate (VMA) values of the mixes prepared using the five aggregate gradations are similar to those of the corresponding aggregate packing characteristics (dry aggregate air voids, DAAV). A good relationship was observed between mix rutting and minimum voids in mineral aggregate and DAAV. Sensitivity analysis carried out with different aggregate gradations, design air void contents and tolerances, indicated that rut depth as well as TSR vary over a wide range for the combinations of mixes considered (all within the gradation, air void content and tolerance limits).Compared to the design air void content, aggregate gradation is found to have significantly larger effect on rut depth whereas both gradation and design air void content have similar effect on the TSR value. Using the results obtained from the present investigation, the Indian Marshall mix design criteria (MoRTH 2013) for stability and flow were revisited and new criteria are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a two-stage heuristic approach is presented for the allocation of buses to regional transit bus routes. In the first stage, bus frequencies required to handle peak link demand on each route are worked out. Overcrowding of buses to a certain level is considered in the computation of base frequencies. If additional fleet are available, surplus frequencies will be allocated in the second stage minimizing the degree of overcrowding in the network. Passenger discomfort due to overcrowding has been formulated as a nonlinear objective function. Genetic algorithms have been used to solve the problem of allocation of surplus fleet. Overlapping of routes, which is a common feature in many regional transit networks in India, has been considered in this model. Frequencies are set considering a maximum of one transfer. The model has been demonstrated with the help of a case study of a regional transit network in India.

Back ground: Death due to hanging is one of the most common forms of suicide in most parts of the world. It is the commonest method of suicide in India, Canada, second most common method in USA and most common method of suicide in men in UK.The incidence of suicide in all metropolitan cities in India is on the rise. Their magnitude is also quite significant among the total number of deaths. Aims & Objectives: To evaluate the types of hanging, the pattern of ligature mark and the type of material used as ligature in relation to the ligature mark. Material and Method: The study is done on dead bodies that were subjected to post-mortem examination. The study included 100 cases out of 108 cases selected from both the sexes for statistics. Result: The total of hanging deaths is 6.9%. The male to female ratio is 2:1 remains unaltered from previous studies. Age group is 21 years to 40 years .rural area 54% outnumbered the sub-urban 24% and urban area 22%.Low socio economic status 65% ranged over middle class25% and higher income 10%. Typical hanging is seen in 22 cases and atypical hanging in 88 cases. Partial hanging is seen in 68 deaths where as complete hanging is seen in 32 deaths. The ratio of male to female 2:1.Ligaturemark impression prominent in 94 percent deaths. In 6 cases ligature mark was faint. Conclusion: Suicidal atypical hanging deaths are common. Ligature mark is prominently seen and Ligature Material was whatever available in the surroundings-rope, electric wires, loop of trousers, nawar patti, neck threads bed sheets, dupatta, sari etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Road traffic injuries are the eighth leading cause of death globally, and the leading cause of death for young people aged 15-29. More than a million people die each year on the world's roads, and the cost of dealing with the consequences of these road traffic crashes runs to billions of dollars. Current trends suggest that by 2030 road traffic deaths will become the fifth leading cause of death unless urgent action is taken. Objective: In road traffic accident fatalities, deaths are mainly due to head injuries, especially in case of two wheelers. An attempt is made in this study to make a scientific observation of these motor vehicle accidents with special reference to two wheelers, in the city of Hyderabad. A general reference is made towards the use of helmets in preventing head injuries. Methodology: A comprehensive study of pattern of injuries sustained by the victims of road traffic accidents involving two-wheeler reported to Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad during a period of 2010-11. Results: The total number of autopsies conducted in the year 2010 are 4,636 which constitute roughly about 27.54 % and in the year 2011 are 4,530 which constitutes 28.69 %, RTAs showing a marginal increase of 100 cases per year. Two-wheeler rider fatalities are taken up as they themselves are constituting roughly about 39% in the year 2010 and 41% in the year 2011 of total number of road traffic accidents. Males are more prone to death by RTAs (83.78%) as compare to females (16.21%), making an M: F ratio of 5:1. Incidences of RTA are more in third (24.06%) and fourth decade (18.99%) as compared to both extremes of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Death due to hanging is not an uncommon cause in the present day. Suicidal manner is more common in hanging deaths. The tendency towards suicidal hanging is found to be higher because of the easy availability of the ligature material. Deaths due to suicidal hanging are common in the Warangal area of Andhra Pradesh. Their magnitude is quite significant among the total number of deaths subjected to postmortem examinations. Hence it is necessary to analyze these deaths, in relation to their manner of occurrence. As a part of this study it is mandatory to know the different factors influencing suicide. Suicidal hangings are more common than others (95%). The number of deaths due to suicidal hanging is increasing in the society; the Male to Female ratio being unaltered at 2:1 and the common Age group of occurrence being 21-40 years Victims are usually from rural setup with low social economic background. Illiteracy is one of the main cause of deaths due to suicidal hanging (76%). The percentage of hanging deaths is found to be higher in married women (76%) than in the others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the amount of pesticides and heavy metals residues in the tissues of pigs in Hyderabad, India. It stresses the importance of determining the presence of residues in domestic produce to ensure public health safety. Residues examined include heavy metals as well as organochlorine pesticides such as dichloro diphenyl trichloro ethane, cyclodiene compounds and hexachloro cyclo hexane (HCH).

Potential donors with congenital renal anomalies but normal renal function are often overlooked because of a possible increase in technical difficulty and complications associated with the surgery. However, as the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney transplant continues to grow, it is important to consider these kidneys for potential transplant. This paper describes the procurement of a crossed fused ectopic kidney, and subsequent parenchymal transection prior to transplantation as part of a combined simultaneous kidney pancreas transplant. The transplant was uncomplicated, and the graft had immediate function. The patient is now two years from transplant with excellent function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backcalculation of pavement layer moduli refers to the process of evaluating the pavement layers using pavement surface deflections. The genetic algorithm (GA) technique was successfully used in the past for backcalculation. The BACKGA model developed by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur is one such program used for backcalculation using the GA technique. Though GA-based backcalculation models are considered to be robust due to the search algorithm adopted in the process, they require more computational time due to the large number of times the surface deflections are computed using different sets of layer moduli. In the present work, artificial neural network (ANN) models have been developed for computing surface deflections using elastic moduli and thicknesses of pavement layers as inputs. The ANN models have been used in BACKGA for forward calculation of surface deflections to combine the computational efficiency of ANNs with the robustness of the GAs. The performance of the resulting model, BACKGA–ANN, has been evaluated and found to be satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of pavement evaluation, backcalculation is the process of estimation of elastic properties of pavement layers using measured structural responses. A number of backcalculation programs are available for estimating effective pavement layer moduli from surface deflections. Different optimization techniques have been used in the development of these backcalculation models. Genetic algorithm (GA) has been used successfully in the recent past for backcalculation of pavement layer moduli. Selection of appropriate GA parameters is important for the efficient performance of the GA-based algorithm. However, there are no general guidelines available at present for the selection of GA parameters. This paper presents a study conducted for the selection of optimal GA parameters to be adopted for backcalculation of pavement layer moduli. The parameters have been selected on the basis of the level of accuracy desired and the corresponding computational effort (CE). The performance of the GA-based program with the selected parameters was evaluated using some hypothetical and field problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faced with an extreme shortage of organs transplant professionals continue to explore various strategies to expand the donor pool. Transplantation of kidneys from older and very young donors are two such options. Although kidneys from young donors (less than 5 years of age) have been associated with a high rate of technical complications and suboptimal results, use of these kidneys en bloc has been advocated to improve the outcomes. We reviewed our experience with en bloc kidney transplantation at the University of Kentucky over the past 10 years. Between 1991 and 2000 ten patients underwent kidney transplantation using kidneys en bloc from donors <5 years age. The mean age of the donors was 2.8 years with a mean weight of 16 kg (range 13-21). Mean age of the recipients was 42 years. One patient lost the graft on day one from venous thrombosis. One patient lost the graft 7 years post-transplant from chronic rejection. All of the remaining patients are doing well with functioning grafts (mean follow-up 4.5 years; range 6 months to 10 years). Both one-year and five-year graft survival rates are 89 per cent. The present study confirms that excellent results can be achieved with kidney transplantation using kidney transplantation using kidneys en bloc from donors younger than 5 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights a study which examined the presence of organochlorine pesticide residues in the tissues of sheep. Muscle, kidney and liver tissues were collected and analyzed using gas chromatography. Organochlorine pesticide residues found in the tissues include dichloro diphenyl trichloro ethane (DDT), endosulfan, hexachloro cyclo hexane (HCH) and aldrin.

Abstract: This study was conducted with an objective to improve the tenderness of tough buffalo meat using ammonium hydroxide. Buffalo meat chunks from Biceps femoris muscle were marinated with distilled water (control), 0.1%, 0.5% and 1.0% solution of ammonium hydroxide for 48h at 4±1°C and subjected to various physico-chemical analysis and ultrastructural studies. Ammonium hydroxide increased (P <0.05) the pH, water holding capacity (WHC), collagen solubility, total and salt soluble protein extractability and cooking yield. Reduction (P <0.05) in Warner–Bratzler shear force values were observed in all ammonium hydroxide treated samples compared to non-treated control. Electrophoretic pattern of muscle proteins exhibited reduction in the intensity and number of certain protein bands for 0.1% and 0.5% ammonium hydroxide treated samples compared to control. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy also revealed breakdown of endothelium layers surrounding muscle fibers and weakening of Z-discs respectively, in treated samples compared to controls. These results suggest that ammonium hydroxide might be used to tenderize tough buffalo meat. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The antioxidant and antimicrobial efficacy of grape seed extract (GSE) was studied in restructured mutton slices (RMS) under aerobic and vacuum packaging conditions during refrigerated storage. The RMS treated with grape seed extract (GSE) had significantly (P<0.05) lower thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) values and free fatty acids (FFA) % compared to control (C) and butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA) treated RMS during storage at 4±1°C. Addition of GSE significantly (P<0.05) reduced the total psychrophilic and coliform counts in RMS during refrigerated storage. The GSE treated mutton slices recorded significantly (P<0.05) superior scores of color, flavor, juiciness and overall palatability than C and BHA treated RMS. The TBARS values, FFA % and microbial counts increased significantly (P<0.05) during storage. It can be concluded that GSE has excellent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties compared to control and BHA treated RMS during refrigerated storage under aerobic and vacuum conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]