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Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most commom cancer in the world. If remain untreated for several years, it may be fatal. Hence, it is important to prevent and treat OSCC at an early stage. In this study the effect of aqueous and dry leaves extract of Ocimum sanctum was observed on Ca9-22 cell line, which is an OSCC cell line. For this, Ca9-22 cell line was cultured and maintained. After 24 h, the cells were treated with aqueous and dry leaves extract of Ocimum sanctum plant. Viability of the cancerous cells were studied by 3-(4, 5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and neutral red uptake (NRU) assay. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), lethal concentration 25 (LC 25), lethal concentration 50 (LC 50) and highest permissive concentration (HPC) was calculated by probit computational method. Experimentally, the MIC value was 5 mg/L, whereas the HPC was 30 mg/L of the plant extract in aqueous state. For the dry extract the MIC was 5 mg/L whereas the HPC was 35 mg/L for both MTT and NRU assays. For MTT assay LC values: 7.41 (LC 25), 14.79 (LC 50) and 26.91 mg/L (LC 75) for aqueous extract and 12.58 (LC 25), 20.89 (LC 50), 29.51 mg/L (LC 75) for dry extract. For NRU assay LC values were 10.23 (LC 25), 14.79 (LC 50) and 20.89 mg/L (LC 75) aqueous extract, and 16.59 (LC 25), 23.44 (LC 50), 30.19 mg/L (LC 75) dry extract of the plant. From the above study it was concluded that, Ocimum sanctum have anti-cancerous activity. It can further be used for therapeutic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultimate load capacity assessment of nuclear containments has been a thrust research area for Indian Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) power programme. For containment safety assessment of Indian PHWRs a finite element code ULCA was earlier developed at BARC, Trombay. This code has been extensively benchmarked with experimental results. The present paper highlights the analysis results obtained from code ULCA for Prestressed Concrete Containment Vessel (PCCV) that was tested at Sandia National Labs, USA in a Round Robin analysis. This test programme was co-sponsored by Nuclear Power Engineering Corporation (NUPEC), Japan and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Three values of failure pressure predictions namely the upper bound, the most probable and the lower bound (all with 90% confidence) were made as per the requirements of the round robin analysis activity. The most likely failure pressure is predicted to be in the range of 2.95–3.15 Pd (Pd=design pressure of 0.39 MPa for the PCCV model) depending on the type of liners used in the construction of the PCCV model. The lower bound value of the ultimate pressure of 2.80 Pd and the upper bound of the ultimate pressure of 3.45 Pd are also predicted from the analysis. These limiting values depend on the assumptions of the analysis for simulating the concrete-tendon interaction and the strain hardening characteristics of the steel members. The experimental test has been recently concluded at Sandia Laboratory and the peak pressure reached during the test is 3.3 Pd that is enveloped by our upper bound prediction of 3.45 Pd and is close to the predicted most likely pressure of 3.15 Pd. This paper highlights the features of BARC code ULCA and addresses a few issues related to constitutive modeling of pre-stressed concrete structure that is relevant for ultimate load capacity prediction of nuclear containments. These would be useful for evaluation of the present numerical results with the test data obtained by Sandia National Laboratory. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Coarser mill tailings used as backfill to stabilize the stoped out areas in underground uranium mines is a potential source of radon contamination. This paper presents the quantitative assessment of radon emanation from the backfilled tailings in Jaduguda mine, India using a cylindrical accumulator. Some of the important parameters such as 226Ra activity concentration, bulk density, bulk porosity, moisture content and radon emanation factor of the tailings affecting radon emanation were determined in the laboratory. The study revealed that the radon emanation rate of the tailings varied in the range of 0.12–7.03 Bq m−2 s−1 with geometric mean of 1.01 Bq m−2 s−1 and geometric standard deviation of 3.39. An increase in radon emanation rate was noticed up to a moisture saturation of 0.09 in the tailings, after which the emanation rate gradually started declining with saturation due to low diffusion coefficient of radon in the saturated tailings. Radon emanation factor of the tailings varied in the range of 0.08–0.23 with the mean value of 0.21. The emanation factor of the tailings with moisture saturation level over 0.09 was found to be about three times higher than that of the absolutely dry tailings. The empirical relationship obtained between 222Rn emanation rate and 226Ra activity concentration of the tailings indicated a significant positive linear correlation (r = 0.95, p < 0.001). This relationship may be useful for quick prediction of radon emanation rate from the backfill material of similar nature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] We used morphotectonics and Paleoseismology investigation along Firouzkuh fault, north of Iran. [•] In this paper, we estimate ∼2.5mm/yr slip as slip rate for the fault. [•] As first time we made estimation on its probable seismic potential and return period. [•] The Firouzkuh fault was broken in earthquake 856 AD at the same time the Astaneh fault! [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimation of radon emanation in uranium mines is given top priority to minimize the risk of inhalation exposure due to short-lived radon progeny. This paper describes the radon emanation studies conducted in the laboratory as well as inside an operating underground uranium mine at Jaduguda, India. Some of the important parameters, such as grade/226Ra activity, moisture content, bulk density, porosity and emanation fraction of ore, governing the migration of radon through the ore were determined. Emanation from the ore samples in terms of emanation rate and emanation fraction was measured in the laboratory under airtight condition in glass jar. The in situ radon emanation rate inside the mine was measured from drill holes made in the ore body. The in situ 222Rn emanation rate from the mine walls varied in the range of 0.22–51.84 × 10−3 Bq m−2 s−1 with the geometric mean of 8.68 × 10−3 Bq m−2 s−1. A significant positive linear correlation (r = 0.99, p < 0.001) between in situ 222Rn emanation rate and the ore grade was observed. The emanation fraction of the ore samples, which varied in the range of 0.004–0.089 with mean value of 0.025 ± 0.02, showed poor correlation with ore grade and porosity. Empirical relationships between radon emanation rate and the ore grade/226Ra were also established for quick prediction of radon emanation rate from the ore body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper attempts to evaluate the seismic fragility for a typical elevated water-retaining structure. The structure is analysed for two cases: (i) empty tank; and (ii) tank filled with water. The various parameters that could affect the seismic structural response include material strength of concrete and reinforcing steel, effective prestress available in the tank, ductility ratio and structural damping available within the structure, normalised ground motion response spectral shape, foundation and surrounding soil parameters and the total height of water available in the tank. Based on this case study, the seismic fragility of the structure is developed. The results are presented as families of conditional probability curves plotted against peak ground acceleration (PGA) at two critical locations. The procedure adopted, incorporates the various randomness and uncertainty associated with the parameters under consideration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]