This study presents the information and conclusions about numerous tests – destructive and non-destructive – on concrete core specimens. The main focus is made on basic tests namely density test, water absorption test, rebound hammer test, ultrasonic pulse velocity test, and compression test. All test aim to provide us a comprehensive and sufficient data for assessing the „quality‟ and „strength‟ of concrete core specimens. The details all the necessary and essential points commencing from the preparation of core specimens, as per various nationally and internationally accepted design codes for concretes, ranging from procedures of tests, leading to final conclusions and findings of core strength and quality and their correlations. Comparative study of block concrete pavements and in-situ concrete pavements are briefly made and their strengths and quality are assessed. Basic requirements for ideal core dimensions are also explained. Also, two specimen cores from PCCBP (Plastic Cell filled Concrete Block Pavement) were tested for density test and water absorption test. Their inferences are also mentioned in conclusion section of the study.

The land use change has generally occurred locally, regionally and world wide over the last few decades and will carry on in the future as well the land use change has to be evaluated properly using conventional as well as latest techniques of Remaote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) . In order to obtain reliable and latest information on the temporal , spatial and structural change in forest cover and to appreciate the relationship between the current development and its likely impact on land cover / land use and total environment of the region. The variations in the attribution of total area into various specific land cover / use classes have been studied. Satellite images required for estimating land cover are being obtained from earth explorer. The conventional LULC (land use land cover ) map of the study area are obtained by classifying the images of year 2000, 2005,2011 and 2017 using ERDAS IMAGIN 9.2 and Arc GIS. We have devided our area into five different classes i.e. urban, water, agriculture, forest and barren land. Results obtained by analyzing the images shows a drastic increase of built up area, agriculture area and barren land followed by decrease forest area and water area.

Management of PPP project preparation process according to WEF (2013) is quite complex because it involves large team and multiple stakeholders such as ministries, regulatory organs and regulations, engineering firms, banks as well as multiple interfaces between different project functional feasibility studies. It is therefore very important at this stage to put together capable and experienced crossfunctional project team supported by committed political and project leadership in order to achieve a sustainable PPP project preparation process. The main feature of a PPP project preparation process includes; project planning, project coordination and project monitoring. This process according to Adamu et al. (2015) can be cost intensive, therefore the public sector needs to ensure sufficient upfront funding of the entire process. This study is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of road project preparation process in the development of road infrastructure under PPP concession. In order to achieve this aim, the study examined the concept of PPP models for infrastructure development and project preparation process in a PPP framework. Data collection was through administration of well-structured questionnaire on the target population. Data collected were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistic analytical techniques. The study revealed that there is urgent need to review the current Nigeria National Policy on PPP, institutional structure and individual capacity building in the area of PPP project preparation in order to encourage more private sector participation in the drive for provision and development of road infrastructure facility.

Fabrication high performance reverse osmosis (RO) membrane at low cost is necessary in desalination industry. In this paper, we report the use of clay nanoparticles (NPs) to improve RO thin film composite (TFC) membrane. Different concentrations of NPs were embedded into polyamide (PA) active layer of TFC membrane through interfacial polymerization (IP). Results indicated that the membrane impregnated with clay NPs exhibited higher water flux and fouling resistant than the pristine one, and maintained good salt rejection.

The presented study represents the different uses of strain gauge in civil infrastructure. The strain is used to measure load, deformation, resistance and strain at a specific point with strain gauge equipment. This is an experimental procedure used to measure strain by strain gauge equipment. It is more useful in now days to measure loads and deformation. Tremendous techniques and methods are there to measure strain. A gauge is also to prevent for tensile test application. It is most unique technique for beam structure of railway sleepers it carries research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).It is most innovative to measure cracks at specific point of structural assesment .it is use to measure `invented by Edward.E.Simmons and Arthur c. Ruge IN 1938 .The most common type of strain gauge consists foil pattern. Strain gauge is capable to measure load cantilever load. This gives the determination of the strain and stress state , and the effect of transverse effect on strain along the fibre. Sheath fold strain gauge as used to measure the strain. A novel long-gauge fiber optic sensor has been developed to measure the averaged strain within a long gauge length. A steel frame is designed to measure the existing pre stressing force in the concrete beams and slabs when embedded inside the concrete members. Strain gauge method to identify structural strain flexibility from long-gauge dynamic strain measurement.

The presented study represents the results of an experimental study handled with developed grouting materials. These experimental studies cover the effects of some mineral Admixtures and chemical admixtures on the characteristics of grout such as compressive strength, bleeding, setting time and viscosity for different curing times. All grout types were prepared under same water/cement ratio. Grout mixtures that 15% of mineral admixtures replaced with cement by weight were prepared. The results showed that grouts produced with silica fume (SF) and metakaolin (MK) in all mixtures were yielded the highest compressive strength at all ages. The all strength tests of fly ash (FA) grout exhibited low values till 28 days of curing time in accordance with reference grout, but a sharp increase was observed after this period. Grouts with perlite (PRL) and blast furnace slag (BFS) showed the similar strength values according to reference grout. Mineral admixtures can be used for high-strength and low cost grout in tunneling applications. In addition, the use of waste materials can contribute to the resolution of environmental problems. Compressive strength obtained by the grout prepared by using styrene butadiene rubber was found 23.644 N/mm2 and 34.793 N/mm2 for 7 and 14 of curing period where compressive strength obtained by the grout prepared by using fly ash was found 20.444 N/mm2 and 31.827 N/mm2 for 7 and 14 days of curing period.

Reports from Saudi Arabia have showed a relationship between patients with oral cancer and a history of smokeless tobacco usage. Thus the aim of this study was to assess the levels of awareness of smokeless tobacco users towards the health effects of smokeless tobacco usage and find out, which are common smokeless products used in Northern and Western Saudi Arabia. This is a descriptive cross sectional study conducted in Northern and Western Saudi Arabia. The study included 420 smokeless tobacco users’ volunteers living in three cities: Tabuk and Hail cities in Northern Saudi Arabia and Makkah in the Western Saudi Arabia. Out of 420 respondents, only 198 (47.2%) heard something about the health consequences of smokeless tobacco use and the remaining 222(52.8%) were completely ignored the health effects resulting from smokeless tobacco use. With regard to the smokeless tobacco type, the most common was Toombak followed by Shamma, Afdhal and Nashoog representing 127(3.2%), 65(15.5%), 64(15.2%), 44(10.4%) and 33(7.8%) in this order. Different forms of smokeless tobacco are prevalent in Saudi Arabia. Since most of the users were non-Saudi workers, work places may serve as an effective platform to deliver targeted strategies aimed at smokeless tobacco cessation.

The aim of this investigation was to explores the dental specialties and availability of rubber dam facilities among private dental clinics in Al-Kharj city, Saudi Arabia. This was completed by in-person investigation of all private dental clinics in Al-Kharj city, recording the number of dental professionals, their specialties, status of their authorization, and the availability of rubber dam facilities within each clinic. One hundred and six dentists were distributed between 100 clinics in 28 centers. General dental practitioners (GDPs) were the most of them (84%). Only 10 out of the total of 14 orthodontists were authorized to practice orthodontic treatment. Rubber dam was available in only five centers. Lack of various dental specialties in Al-Kharj city was noted. The GDPs should not practice dental procedures which are not included in their job description and duty. Low rubber dam availability indicating the underuse of them which would affect the quality of dental treatment.

The objective of this study is to determine the effect of progesterone antagonist, Mifepristone in perimenopausal women in decreasing the severity of symptoms like menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, abdominal pain and urinary symptoms, in decreasing the fibroid volume and uterine volume, in improving the hemoglobin percentage, in increasing the endometrial thickness, to look for the side effects profile and to look for the effects which were present at the end of treatment persisted during post treatment follow up. It is a prospective and interventional study done among the perimenopausal women with symptomatic fibroid uterus who came to the Gynecological OPD in Gandhi Hospital, Secunderabad for a period of one and half year in a sample size of 50 patients. After taking a detailed menstrual history and calculating Pictorial Blood loss Assessment Chart (PBAC) score for menorrhagia and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score for dysmenorrhea and abdominal pain, baseline fibroid and uterine volumes, haemoglobin percentage and endometrial thickness were noted and endometrial biopsy was done when endometrial thickness crossed≥8mm. The drug mifepristone 25 mg was given orally for a period of 3 months.

The aim of this research is to assess the soils and water quality along Sokoto-Rima Floodplain; the correlation analysis was used to find out the degree of relationship between pollutants in soils and water. Seven sample points was selected systematically from the map at 6.13km interval, and in each sample point, three samples were taken each of soils and water from the river at hundred meters interval. A total of 21 samples of each soils and water were taken. The samples were taken to the laboratory for analysis. The results from the analysis show that: Positive correlations exist between soils and river in P and PO4, Mg, Ca, and Fe. R2 (coefficient of determination) values are .124, .013, .053, and .445 respectively. While, negative correlations exist between soils and river in pH, N and NO3, K, and OC and CO3. R2 values are .015, .224, .075, and .027 respectively. The correlation is statistically significant between N and NO3 at 0.05 and also, it is significant in Fe at 0.01 levels.

The rate of non-fatal deliberate self-harm (DSH) in Sri Lanka has increased in recent years, with associated morbidity and economic cost to the country. Pesticide ingestion is the commonest mode of suicide in Asia with an estimated loss of around 300,000 lives every year. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study in patients with 12 years of age and above who were admitted with deliberate self-harm (DSH) in Teaching Hospital Batticaloa, SriLanka. Of the 121 patients observed 83 (68.6%) females and 38 (31.4%) males. Among them, 119 (98.34%) cases (1.65%)) were of intentional poisoning and only two cases (1.44%) were of accidental poisoning. In this study, the majority of victims 47(38.84%) were young age group (20-29). Forty-two (34.71%) were teenagers.In the present study, the commonest poisoning agent was yellow oleander seeds 33 (27.3 %) followed by organophosphorus compounds 23(19%) and Paracetamol overdose 22 (18.2%). These findings support a strategy of limiting easy access to pesticides and oleander, and for improving the supply and effectiveness of antidotes, as a strategy for reducing fatal self- poisoning in rural SriLanka

Abstract: Tax non-compliance reduces tax collection and the tax performance within a country. The Kenyan government has implemented various strategies to bring businesses in the informal sector into the tax bracket. However, available data shows that tax collections from the informal sector are above average but on a declining trend. The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of complexity of tax returns on tax compliance in the informal sector in Nyeri Town. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design and targeted 715 informal businesses in Nyeri Town. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 143 informal businesses to participate. Researcher-administered questionnaires were used to collect data from the respondents. Descriptive methods such as frequency distribution, percentages, mean, were used to summarize and organize data. Chi-square tests and correlation analysis were employed to establish relationships between study variables. Findings were presented using tables of frequencies and percentages, Majority (71%) of the participants indicated that they could not calculate their tax returns on their own. The study found that complexity of tax returns had a significant relationship (p=0.001) with tax compliance at 95% confidence level. The researcher therefore concludes that there is a significant relationship between complexity of tax returns and tax compliance It was recommended that the government should commit monies to eservice delivery to enhance tax compliance.

Cancer is a major public health problem and a cause of morbidity and mortality in many parts of the world. On the other hand radiotherapy is one of the cancer treatment methods available but it has many side effects. Hypoalbuminaemia and hypoproteinaemia are common effects of radiotherapy and are often used to assess nutritional status of patients but there are few published reports on albumin and total protein levels in cancer patients on radiotherapy in Zimbabwe. Hence this study was carried out to determine the levels of serum albumin and total protein and compare levels in radiotherapy-exposed patients at Parirenyatwa Radiotherapy Clinic by type of cancer. A total of 63 cancer patients took part in this cross-sectional study, 30 had breast cancer while 18 had cervical cancer and 15 had prostate cancer. Samples were analysed using the Beckman Coulter AU680 Chemistry Analyser based on Bromocresol Green (BCG) method for albumin and the Biuret method for total protein, respectively. One way ANOVA was used for comparison of normally distributed data while the Kruskal-Wallis test was used for skewed data. Out of all cancer patients who took part in this study, 18 (28.6%) were hypoalbuminaemic and 3 (4.7%) had hypoproteinaemia. There was no significant difference between albumin and total protein of patients with different types of cancer. Prevalence of patients with hypoalbuminaemia (28.6%) and hypoproteinaemia (4.7%) was comparable to studies from other countries. High prevelance of hypoalbuminaemia is worrying in this context as it worsens prognosis of cancer patients

This article explores the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of sacrifice and religious ritual using instrument made of animal and human body parts among the Memba tribe of Menchuka Valley. The Memba is a name given to a collection of group of Buddhist people who migrated from various parts of Bhutan, present Tawang district and Tibet (China) respectively and settled in Menchuka Circle of West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India during the early 17th Century A.D. The paper tries to present the ritual tradition of Memba tribe of Menchuka who follow Tibetan form of Buddhism and belong to Nying-ma-pa sect. It is interesting to know that Memba are still following and preserving most of the age-old ritualistic tradition of their ancestor. They followed extensive tantric ritual and comes under third vessel Vajrayana form of Buddhism introduced by Guru Padmasambhava in Eight century A.D. in Tibet. The article tries to provide brief information regarding the types of sacrificial ritual and use of animal and human body parts that are still prevalent among the Memba tribe. The paper also traces the belief and myth associate with it. In order to do so, varieties of sources in the form of secondary, primary, field study and folk narration are briefly examined to provide glimpse of their ritualistic practice.

Perinatal mortality rate is an important indicator of community health status. This study is to analyze the cause of perinatal death in Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa. A retrospective study was done over a period of last three and half years from January 2014 to June 2017, which included total 21,079 deliveries out of which 204 perinatal deaths occurred, hence perinatal mortality rate was 12.51 per 1000 birth on 2014, 15.11 per 1000 birth on 2015 and 13.28 per 1000 birth on 2016. The causes of perinatal deaths and risk factors were identified and analyzed. Out of 204 perinatal deaths, majority (53.4%) occurred due to pretermwith or without associated other factors, majority (87.2%) of perinatal death occurred in maternal age of 20-39 years, and found to be more common in (64.8%) multigravida patients and majority of perinatal deaths (58.3%) occurred during early neonatal period. Early identification of mothers at risk of pregnancy complications, especially intrauterine growth restricted fetuses, through antenatal care screening, educating pregnant women to recognize warning signs of pregnancy complications, timely access to obstetric care, monitoring of labour for fetal distress, and proper newborn resuscitation may reduce some of the categories of deaths. Fetal autopsy in future could detect many unknown causes. There should also be increased communication to work closelybetween neonatology team and obstetric team to bring down perinatal mortality