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Governments have imposed lockdowns in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitals have restricted outpatient clinics and elective services meant for non-COVID illnesses. This has led to patients facing unprecedented challenges and uncertainties. This study was carried out to assess patients' concerns and apprehensions about the effect of the lockdown on their treatments.An ambispective, observational cross-sectional single centre study was conducted. Patients were contacted telephonically and requested to answer a structured questionnaire. Their responses were documented and summarized as frequency and proportions.A total of 727 patients were interviewed. Epilepsy (32%) was the most common neurological illness in our cohort followed by stroke (18%). About half the patients and/or their caregivers reported health-related concerns during the lockdown. The primary concern was how to connect with their treating neurologist if need arose. Forty-seven patients (6.4%) had drug default. Among patients on immunomodulatory treatments, only eight patients had drug default. High compliance rates were also observed in the stroke and epilepsy cohorts. Of the 71 patients who required emergency care during the lockdown, 24 could reach our hospital emergency. Fourteen patients either had a delay or could not seek emergency care. Two-thirds of our patients found the telemedicine experience satisfactory.The ongoing pandemic will continue to pose challenges to both physicians and patients. Patients in follow-up may need to be contacted regularly and counselled regarding the importance of maintaining drug compliance. Telemedicine can be used to strengthen the healthcare delivery to patients with non-COVID illnesses.

Neurological emergencies saw a paradigm shift in approach during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with the challenge to manage patients with and without COVID-19. We aimed to compare the various neurological disorders and 3 months outcome in patients with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection.In an ambispective cohort study design, we enrolled patients with and without SARS CoV-2 infection coming to a medical emergency with neurological disorders between April 2020 and September 2020. Demographic, clinical, biochemical, and treatment details of these patients were collected and compared. Their outcomes, both in-hospital and at 3 months were assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS).Two thirty-five patients (235) were enrolled from emergency services with neurological disorders. Of them, 81 (34.5%) were COVID-19 positive. The mean (SD) age was 49.5 (17.3) years, and the majority of the patients were male (63.0%). The commonest neurological diagnosis was acute ischemic stroke (AIS) (43.0%). The in-hospital mortality was higher in the patients who were COVID-19 positive (COVID-19 positive: 29 (35.8%) versus COVID-19 negative: 12 (7.8%),Patients with neurological disorders presenting with COVID-19 infection had worse outcomes, including in-hospital and 3 months disability.

The aggregate gradation is an important consideration in bound or unbound mixes, as it influences the engineering properties of the mixes (both during and after construction). In recent times, effo...

This study integrates field evidence with laboratory experiments to show the mechanical effects of a lithologically contrasting stratigraphic sequence on the development of frontal thrusts: Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) and Daling Thrust (DT) in the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya (DSH). We carried out field investigations mainly along two river sections in the DSH: Tista-Kalijhora and Mahanadi, covering an orogen-parallel stretch of ~20 km. Our field observations suggest that the coal-shale dominated Gondwana sequence (sandwiched between the Daling Group in the north and Siwaliks in the south) has acted as a mechanically weak horizon to localize the MBT and DT. We simulated a similar mechanical setting in scaled model experiments to validate our field interpretation. In experiments, such a weak horizon at a shallow depth perturbs the sequential thrust progression, and causes a thrust to localize in the vicinity of the weak zone, splaying from the basal detachment. We correlate this weak-zone-controlled thrust with the DT, which accommodates a large shortening prior to activation of th e weak zone as a new detachment with ongoing horizontal shortening. The entire shortening in the model is then transferred to this shallow detachment to produce a new sequence of thrust splays. Extrapolating this model result to the natural prototype, we show that the mechanically weak Gondwana Sequence has caused localization of the DT and MBT in the mountain front of DSH.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to identify quality indicators of the eye bank and validate their effectivity. Methods: Adverse reaction rate, discard rate, protocol deviation rate, and compliance rate were defined as Quality Indicators of the eye bank. These were identified based on definition of quality that captures two dimensions – “result quality” and “process quality.” The indicators were measured and tracked as part of quality assurance (QA) program of the eye bank. Regular audits were performed to validate alignment of standard operating procedures (SOP) with regulatory and surgeon acceptance standards and alignment of activities performed in the eye bank with the SOP. Prospective study of the indicators was performed by comparing their observed values over the period 2011–2016. Results: Adverse reaction rate decreased more than 8-fold (from 0.61% to 0.07%), discard rate decreased and stabilized at 30%, protocol deviation rate decreased from 1.05% to 0.08%, and compliance rate reported by annual quality audits improved from 59% to 96% at the same time. In effect, adverse reaction rate, discard rate, and protocol deviation rate were leading indicators, and compliance rate was the trailing indicator. Conclusion: These indicators fulfill an important gap in available literature on QA in eye banking. There are two ways in which these findings can be meaningful. First, eye banks which are new to quality measurement can adopt these indicators. Second, eye banks which are already deeply engaged in quality improvement can test these indicators in their eye bank, thereby incorporating them widely and improving them over time.

Context: Proximal lower limb weakness presenting acutely with or without preceding fever is a strong mimic of Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS). Benign acute childhood myositis (BACM) forms an important differential diagnosis in such cases. Aim: To characterize the clinical and laboratory findings of patients with BACM for better understanding of the disease. Settings and Design: This prospective longitudinal study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital of northern India. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two patients presenting in the outpatient or emergency clinic of the hospital with severe myalgia that exacerbated with straight leg raising test and fever from July 2016 to July 2017 were included in the study. Statistical Analysis: All the continuous data were expressed as number and percentage or mean ± standard deviation/median. Non-parametric continuous data between groups were analyzed by Friedman’s test. Results: The mean age of the patients was 14.3 (±8.7) years and they presented after a nonspecific febrile illness in most of the cases (53.1%). The symptoms resolved after a mean of 5.7 (±1.6) days. Myalgia was present in 21 (65%) cases, whereas proximal weakness was the prominent finding in 14 (43%) cases. Electrolyte abnormality (hypokalemia) was present in four (12.5%) cases. In all patients, the muscle enzymes (creatine phosphokinase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, and lactate dehydrogenase) were elevated at presentation, and electromyography showed myopathic pattern. A significant recovery took place in the next 5–7 days. Conclusion: BACM should be actively looked for in cases of painful acute proximal limb weakness in the adolescents.

Pavement surface characterisation usually consists of surface texture measurement and its consequent data analysis. Recently there has been significant development in automated and contactless surface characterisation techniques. This paper reviews some of these developments in connection with pavement surface characterisation.

Asphalt adsorption by aggregates is an important parameter in hot mix asphalt mix design. In the present study, a comparison is made between asphalt binder adsorption obtained from volumetric calculations with that of from microscopic observations. Four different types of aggregates (of sieve size 50–80 mm) are used in the study. Volumetric measurements are carried out on individual aggregates to calculate the percentage of adsorbed asphalt binder. On the other hand, the depth of asphalt binder penetration (obtained from microscopic observation) is used to quantify the amount of adsorbed asphalt binder. From the results, it appears that microscopic studies consistently over-estimate the percentage of asphalt binder adsorbed. Scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy is used to further investigate some possible reasons for such a discrepancy.

Online learning plays a key role in current education system. Engagement detection in online learning is crucial as the student's success in online courses heavily depends on his/her state of mind. In our previous work, we used facial expressions labeled as engaged and not-engaged for student's engagement detection. In this paper, we use student's behavioral (on-task and off-task) and emotional (satisfied, bored, and confused) information for engagement detection. Five different convolutional neural network models have been tested for the behavioral and the emotional dimensions detection to detect student's engagement in online learning. The models are All Convolutional Network, Network in Network, Very Deep Convolutional Network, Conv-Pool Convolutional Network, and a proposed model combing some special features from the above models. We used the dataset ─ Dataset for the Affective States in E-Environments — for the performance evaluation. Experimental results show that the behavioral and emotional dimensions─based engagement detection provides a high accuracy.

In this work, the effect of gradation of aggregates of size 4.75 mm and below on the rutting response of asphalt mix is studied (while all other parameters are held constant). Four different gradations of fine aggregate are used. These gradations are identified as FA0, FA1, FA2, and FA3. The gradation FA0 contains sieve sizes 4.75P-2.36R (that is, passing through 4.75 mm sieve and retained on 2.36 mm sieve), 2.36P-1.18R, 1.18P-0.6R, 0.6P-0.3R, 0.3P-0.15R, 0.15P-0.075R, and 0.075P. In gradation FA1 and FA2, the sizes 2.36P-1.18R and 0.6P-0.3R are skipped, respectively. The gradation FA3 contains the same sizes as in FA0, but with different relative proportions. Using these gradations, two different types of samples are prepared, namely fine aggregate mix (FAM) samples and asphalt mix samples. The FAM samples are made up of asphalt binder and aggregates of size 4.75 mm and below (that is, 4.75P). Creep tests are performed on all the samples. From the creep test results, it is observed that deformation curves for the FAM samples almost follow the same trend as those of the corresponding asphalt mix samples.

Purpose: To understand trends, awareness, influences and barriers to eye donation in Indian society. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in Delhi from March 2017 to February 2018. About 10 hospitals collaborated with the Eye Bank under Human Cornea Retrieval Program (HCRP). Eye Bank recruited Eye Donation Counselors (EDCs) to approach family members of the deceased. A pretested questionnaire was used for this study. Irrespective of whether the next of kin of the deceased consented for eye donation or not, the option of participating in the survey was given. Results: Out of 473 potential donors identified, 407 (86%) next of kin consented to participate in the study. Of these, 388 (95.3%) were males and 19 (4.7%) were females. About 168 (41%) consented for eye donation and were assigned to donor group, while 239 (59%) participants refused eye donation and were assigned to non-donor group. Majority of the participants were siblings 170 (41.8%) of the deceased and the mean age of the deceased was 42.71 ± 17.56 years. The foremost concern before decision-making was transparency in how the cornea would be used (32.25%). The concern with regards to whether the body would remain intact after eye donation significantly decreased the probability of consent for eye donation. Conclusion: The study highlights that barriers to eye donation in India are not cultural or religious but more due to misinformation and proper utilization of the donated tissue. This study also emphasizes the pivotal role of EDC's in facilitating the eye donation movement.

The duration of antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment in the management of seizures due to ring enhancing lesions (REL) remains a matter of debate. We undertook a prospective cohort study to look into the seizure patterns and incidence of recurrence in association with two of the most common causes of RELs after gradually stopping AEDs at least 18 months after acheiving seizure control.Ninety patients with neurocysticercosis (NCC) and twenty-nine patients with tuberculoma were treated with anti-helminthic and anti-tubercular drugs according to current recommended guidelines, and followed up for a minimum of 2 years after the last seizure free day. In every patient included in the study, AEDs were tapered within six months of attaining a seizure-free interval of 18 months. We looked at the incidence of recurrent seizures after stopping AEDs in both groups of patients.The frequency of baseline seizures (2.1 vs 1.5 per year, p0.001) and number of antiepileptic drugs (2.12 vs 1.48, p0.001) were greater in patients with NCC than those with tuberculoma. Patients with NCC had a greater incidence of recurrent seizures (1.17 vs 0.07 in the next six months, p0.001) after stopping the AEDs. The median interval to seizure recurrence after stopping AEDs was 2.2 months in patients with NCC.Among RELs, NCC lesions have a greater epileptogenic potential than tuberculomas. AEDs can be tapered in patients with tuberculoma after a seizure free period of 18 months with a very low risk of recurrence.

Central Nervous System (CNS) tuberculosis is a common disease in developing countries with varied presentation, the most common being tuberculous meningitis. Meningitis, in many cases leads to infection of the underlying cortex resulting in cerebritis, encephalitis or abscess formation. Tuberculous cerebritis has either been described as a focal entity in normal subjects or as a diffuse entity in immunocompromised hosts. We present here two cases of diffuse tuberculous cerebritis in immunocompetent patients. One had presented with left focal seizure with paraparesis while the other presented with non-localising features of raised intracranial pressure. Tubercular Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was positive in Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) in the first patient while CSF picture was suggestive of tubercular meningitis in the second, making him a possible case of tuberculosis. Both the patients improved significantly on anti-tubercular drugs.

Pavement surface undulations affect friction, ride comfort, water drainage, noise etc. Various indices have been proposed in the literature to characterize the pavement surface undulations. The present paper compares a few pavement surface undulation indices in the spatial domain and the frequency domain. For this study, core samples of pavement surface were collected from freshly constructed pavements, which had not been opened to the traffic yet. The core samples were sliced using a high-speed diamond saw. Images of the side view of the slices were captured using a digital camera. Suitable image processing scheme was employed to detect the pavement surface profiles. Various indices were subsequently estimated and compared.

In the bitumen recycling process, aged binder from reclaimed asphalt pavement material (RAPM) and virgin binder (which is added externally) get blended. The extent of blending depends on several factors. In this study, RAPM sample is kept in a pool of virgin binder and the extent of blending is studied (by taking samples from the blended binder) with the variation of temperature and RAPM size. Subsequently, the extent of blending is studied for two different RAPM samples of different ageing levels. Appropriate level of temperature and adequate mixing (by stirring) is maintained so as to create a favourable condition for blending between the aged and virgin binder to occur. After the test, the blended binder is retrieved and its chemical composition is analysed using FTIR spectroscopy, and the results are compared.

Smaller fractions of aggregates in asphalt mix are known as fillers. Although substantial literature dealing with, (i) the response of asphalt mastic due to load and (ii) estimation of optimal quantity of filler for different types of fillers, is available, literature on the effect of gradation of filler (derived from same natural source) on the response of asphalt mix is rather scanty. This issue has been explored in the present work. In this study, granite stone dust is used as filler. Three different gradations of filler (G1, G2 and G3) are prepared from natural filler (G0) by varying the size proportions of the filler particles. Indirect tensile strength (IDT) and creep tests are conducted on filler–binder mix and also on asphalt mix. The results show that gradation of filler affects the creep response of the filler–binder mix as well as that of the asphalt mix. It is observed that the IDT value varies from about 555 to 665 kPa across the four fillers (G0, G1, G2 and G3) for 5.5% of asphalt content. L...

Isomerization reactions of cyclooctyne mediated by N-heterocyclic carbene supported gold(I) leading to ring-contraction and the formation of 5/5-fused bicyclic alkenes have been observed. Isolation and complete characterization, including X-ray structural data of the cationic gold(I) complexes featuring the precursor alkyne and the product alkenes are also described.

Ethyl zinc complexes [N{(C3F7)C(Dipp)N}2]ZnEt, [N{(C3F7)C(Cy)N}2]ZnEt, [N{(CF3)C(2,4,6-Br3C6H2)N}2]ZnEt and [N{(C3F7)C(2,6-Cl2C6H3)N}2]ZnEt have been synthesized from the corresponding 1,3,5-triazapentadiene and diethyl zinc. X-ray data show that [N{(C3F7)C(Dipp)N}2]ZnEt has a distorted trigonal planar geometry at the zinc center. The triazapentadienyl ligand binds to zinc in a κ(2)-mode. The zinc-ethyl bonds of [N{(C3F7)C(Dipp)N}2]ZnEt, [N{(C3F7)C(Cy)N}2]ZnEt, [N{(CF3)C(2,4,6-Br3C6H2)N}2]ZnEt and [N{(C3F7)C(2,6-Cl2C6H3)N}2]ZnEt readily undergo oxygen insertion upon exposure to dry air to produce the corresponding zinc-ethoxy or zinc-ethylperoxy compounds. The ethoxy zinc adducts {[N{(CF3)C(2,4,6-Br3C6H2)N}2]ZnOEt}2 and {[N{(C3F7)C(2,6-Cl2C6H3)N}2]ZnOEt}2 as well as the ethylperoxy zinc adduct {[N{(C3F7)C(Cy)N}2]ZnOOEt}2 have been isolated and fully characterized by several methods including X-ray crystallography. They feature dinuclear structures with four-coordinate zinc sites and bridging-ethoxy or -ethylperoxy groups. The ethyl zinc complexes catalyze the Tishchenko reaction of benzaldehyde under solventless conditions affording benzyl benzoate. The reaction of ethyl zinc complexes with dioxygen and their catalytic behaviour in the Tishchenko reaction are affected by the electronic and steric factors of the triazapentadienyl ligand. {[N{(C3F7)C(Cy)N}2]ZnOOEt}2 is an excellent reagent for the epoxidation of trans-chalcone.

The present paper deals with the application of imaging technique to estimate the aggregate size distribution in asphalt mix. Aggregate size in asphalt mix typically varies by several orders of magnitude. Thus, it may become difficult to use a single imaging technique to assess the entire spectrum of aggregate size distribution. In the present study, different imaging equipment namely, camera, scanner and scanning electron microscope (SEM) are used to capture images of asphalt mix. Each equipment has a upper and a lower size limit within which the aggregates are distinguishable. The images are analyzed to derive information on aggregate size distribution. Performance of the individual imaging techniques on an asphalt mix sample of known aggregate gradation is studied.

Mercury(II) complexes (Me-maloNHCDipp)HgCl (1b), (t-Bu-maloNHCDipp)HgCl (2b) and (t-Bu-maloNHCDipp)HgMe (2c) supported by anionic N-heterocyclic carbenes have been obtained in good yields from the reaction of the potassium salt of N-heterocyclic carbene ligand precursors and mercury(II) salts, HgCl2 and MeHgI. These molecules have been characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. X-ray crystal structures of 1b and 2b are also presented. Interestingly, complex 1b is polymeric {(Me-maloNHCDipp)HgCl}n in the solid state, as a result of inter-molecular Hg-O contacts, and features rare three coordinate mercury sites with a T-shaped arrangement, whereas the (t-Bu-maloNHCDipp)HgCl (2b) is monomeric and has a linear, two-coordinate mercury center. The formation of T-shaped structure and the aggregation of complex 1b is attributable to the reduced steric demand of the N-heterocyclic carbene ligand backbone substituent.

Sintering temperature might have varied effects on the properties of composites in general. Through this paper, an attempt has been made to investigate the effect of sintering temperature on the properties of Aluminium composites fabricated by powder metallurgy process. Alumina and Silicon Carbide were different types of reinforcements in this work. Green compacts of Aluminium composites were made at a compressing load of 1 tonne and 2 tonne separately. These compacts were sintered at 2 different sintering temperatures of 400°C and 450°C in oxygen free environment using muffle furnace for 1 hour, followed by annealing process which took 12 hours. Sintered compacts were than subjected to micro-structural examination and mechanical properties evaluation. Higher hardness has been attained for the composites containing 2.5% Silicon Carbide. Optical microstructure images show the uniform distribution of particles into aluminium matrix.

A 70-year-old woman presented with sudden onset headache and vomiting followed by bilateral vision loss within the next 30 min while she was brushing in the morning. She did not have any seizures or focal deficit. On examination, she was found to be hypertensive with systolic blood pressure of 220 mm Hg and only perception of hand movement in bilateral eyes. Pupils were bilaterally 2 mm and reacting to light. Fundus examination showed grade 3 hypertensive retinopathy. Power in all four limbs was 5/5 at all joints. Sensory examination was not suggestive of any cortical sensory deficits. Cerebellar and extrapyramidal system examination …

In the present work distribution of filler particles within asphalt mix is studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Three different fillers namely, limestone dust, granite dust and rhyolite dust are used for making separate asphalt mix samples. Images are captured at two locations within the asphalt binder film, (i) close to the aggregate surface and (ii) away from the aggregate surface, typically at the middle of the binder film. Images are analyzed for (i) each location and (ii) each of the type of fillers. Image analysis results suggest that the fillers are homogenously distributed within the asphalt binder film and the distribution is not affected by the nature of possible surface charge of the filler particles.

Summary This paper presents a detailed study on feasibility of un-bonded fiber reinforced elastomeric isolator (U-FREI) as an alternative to steel reinforced elastomeric isolator (SREI) for seismic isolation of un-reinforced masonry buildings. Un-reinforced masonry buildings are inherently vulnerable under seismic excitation, and U-FREIs are used for seismic isolation of such buildings in the present study. Shake table testing of a base isolated two storey un-reinforced masonry building model subjected to four prescribed input excitations is carried out to ascertain its effectiveness in controlling seismic response. To compare the performance of U-FREI, same building is placed directly on the shake table without isolator, and fixed base (FB) condition is simulated by restraining the base of the building with the shake table. Dynamic response characteristic of base isolated (BI) masonry building subjected to different intensities of input earthquakes is compared with the response of the same building without base isolation system. Acceleration response amplification and peak response values of test model with and without base isolation system are compared for different intensities of table acceleration. Distribution of shear forces and moment along the height of the structure and response time histories indicates significant reduction of dynamic responses of the structure with U-FREI system. This study clearly demonstrates the improved seismic performance of un-reinforced masonry building model supported on U-FREIs under the action of considered ground motions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Procedures to perform structural design of pavements are detailed in various design guidelines. Even though the recommendations may be different across the different guidelines, some of the underlying principles are similar. The present paper briefly reviews various pavement design guidelines on structural design of asphalt pavements with reference to the design principles employed. The focus is primarily kept on the mechanistic–empirical pavement design approach. The discussion covers few specific aspects of asphalt pavement design, and does not intend to present an exhaustive treatise on the subject.

A number of methods are used to assess the road surface characteristics, in terms of its roughness, skid resistance, texture etc. In the present work, three-dimensional (3-D) road profile data of asphalt pavements, captured by a micro-optical 3-D measuring device (covering an area of about 26 mm × 20 mm), is used to study the road surface characteristics. Analysis is performed in frequency domain to extract information on both microtexture and macrotexture from the same source data collected by the equipment. The surface parameters derived from 3-D measurement are compared with conventional parameters gathered by standard methods namely, sand patch, pendulum tester, and sideway force coefficient measurement. The proposed surface parameters show a good correspondence with the results obtained by the conventional methods. Thus, the method presented in the paper seems to have a potential for fast and automated evaluation of functional characteristics of pavement surface.

During asphalt recycling process, diffusion of asphalt binder takes place between the aged binder adhered to the RAP aggregates and the virgin binder. Complete mixing between the two binders may not necessarily happen during the recycling process. Study of diffusion is, therefore, an important consideration in asphalt recycling. Researchers have experimentally studied the phenomenon of diffusion typically by using Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) or Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). In the present work, possibility of using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to study binder diffusion is explored. In this study, two different binders is used in a circular geometry, so as to closely resemble an aggregate (from RAP) surrounded by a pool of virgin binder. AFM images are taken along the radial direction of the sample to study the progression of diffusion at different locations. The relative concentration of binders at these locations are estimated from the AFM images. From the present study, based on limited data, it appears that AFM can be used for studying diffusion between asphalt binders.

Aggregates are the major constituent of asphalt mix and the properties of the aggregates significantly affect the response of the asphalt mix. In the present study, the effect of angle of repose on the strength of asphalt mix was investigated using indirect tensile strength as a measure of the strength of the asphalt mix. Statistical relationships have been proposed between the overall angle of repose of the aggregates to the indirect tensile strength of the mix. As the measurement of angle of repose is a simple and quick test, it can be used as an indicator of the mix strength. This may be helpful in the preliminary mix design stage for selecting some mixes for further study, out of a large number of aggregate mix combinations that may be possible.

A number of industrial and domestic wastes are being used as replacement of conventional fillers in asphalt mix. Since different fillers have different densities, conventional weight proportioning may give rise to excess or inadequate quantity of filler in the mix. Hence, volume proportioning for fillers is suggested in the present work. Fillers made up of brick dust, fly-ash, lime dust, recycled concrete waste aggregates dust and conventional stone dusts are studied. The fillers are characterized through uncompacted bulk density, particle size distribution, methylene blue, Blaine’s air permeability, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and loss on ignition tests. Creep, indirect tensile strength and moisture sensitivity tests are performed on the asphalt mixes and the results are compared.

The reaction of biphenylene (1) with Et2SiH2 in the presence of [Ni(PPhMe2)4] results in the formation of a mixture of 2-diethylhydrosilylbiphenyl [2(Et2HSi)] and 9,9,-diethyl-9-silafluorene (3). Silafluorene 3 was isolated in 37.5 % and 2(Et2HSi) in 36.9 % yield. The underlying reaction mechanism was elucidated by DFT calculations. 4-Methyl-9,9-diethyl-9-silafluorene (7) was obtained selectively from the [Ni(PPhMe2)4]-catalyzed reaction of Et2SiH2 and 1-methylbiphenylene. By contrast, no selectivity could be found in the Ni-catalyzed reaction between Et2SiH2 and the biphenylene derivative that bears tBu substituents in the 2- and 7-positions. Therefore, two pairs of isomers of tBu-substituted silafluorenes and of the related diethylhydrosilylbiphenyls were formed in this reaction. However, a subsequent dehydrogenation of the diethylhydrosilylbiphenyls with Wilkinson’s catalyst yielded a mixture of 2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-diethyl-9-silafluorene (8) and 3,6-di-tert-butyl-9,9-diethyl-9-silafluorene (9). Silafluorenes 8 and 9 were separated by column chromatography.

Summary This paper presents three-dimensional finite element models for the analysis of square fiber-reinforced elastomeric isolators (FREI) subjected to cyclic horizontal displacement and constant vertical load. Direction of applied displacement has been varied to evaluate their influence on the isolator performance. Both bonded and un-bonded boundary conditions at the top and bottom contact surfaces of isolator have been simulated in the analysis. It is observed that the un-bonded FREI are more effective in seismic isolation as compared with bonded FREI, and stresses developed under lateral displacement are also significantly lower in un-bonded FREI. Experimental validation has been carried out for un-bonded isolators and very good agreement is observed in terms of mechanical properties and deformed configuration. In the absence of any close form solution of un-bonded FREI due to its complex deformation pattern, finite element solution is observed to be sufficiently accurate for arriving at the design parameters of an isolator. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Cationic bis(alkyne)copper(I) carbonyl and bis(alkyne)copper(I) isocyanide complexes have been synthesized from the precursor (cyclooctyne)2CuBr. [Cu(cyclooctyne)2(CO)][SbF6] and [Cu(cyclooctyne)2(CNtBu)][SbF6] have trigonal-planar and three-coordinate copper centers. The copper carbonyl complex [Cu(cyclooctyne)2(CO)][SbF6] displays its C–O stretching frequency in the “nonclassical” metal carbonyl region (2171 cm–1), and the analogous copper(I) isocyanide complex [Cu(cyclooctyne)2(CNtBu)][SbF6] also has an unusually high CN stretching band at 2230 cm–1. The reaction of 3,5-Me2C6H3NH2 and 4-tBuC6H4NH2 with [Cu(cyclooctyne)2(CO)][SbF6] led to CO displacement rather than addition to CO. CNtBu reacts with [Cu(cyclooctyne)2(CO)][SbF6] to afford [Cu(cyclooctyne)2(CNtBu)][SbF6]. The syntheses of [Cu(cyclooctyne)(CNtBu)2][SbF6] and [Cu(CNtBu)4][SbF6] from the (cyclooctyne)2CuBr precursor are also reported.

A 26-year-old patient of limited cutaneous sclerosis presented to us with insidious-onset posterior fossa symptoms of headache, vomiting, vertigo and gait imbalance, progressing over a period of 3 weeks. A diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic inflammation with pontine perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids was made by combining the clinical features with radiological evidence showing punctate infiltration of the pons, brainstem and cerebellum. Relevant differentials in the form of neurosarcoid, infections, central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma and Neuro-Behcet’s disease were ruled out by history and investigations. The patient responded dramatically to steroid therapy, and had no neurological deficits after 18 months of follow-up. This case highlights the rare association of a not-so-common immunological disease with a rare neurological disease.

The zinc adduct {[HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Zn}(+), which was generated from [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]ZnEt and [Ph3C]{B[3,5-(CF3)2C6H3]4}, catalyzes the activation of C-halogen bonds of chloromethanes via carbene insertion. Ethyl diazoacetate serves as the carbene precursor. The presence of {[HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Zn}(+) in the reaction mixture was confirmed by obtaining {[HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Zn(CN(t)Bu)3}(+) using CN(t)Bu as a trapping agent. {[HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Zn(CN(t)Bu)3}(+) loses one zinc-bound CN(t)Bu easily to produce five-coordinate {[HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Zn(CN(t)Bu)2}(+).

In recent years, recycling of old asphalt mixes in pavement structure has gained prominence due to various reasons. Increased environmental awareness, depletion of available resources, preservation of pavement geometrics are some of the reasons. Recently, researchers have proposed a formulation based on linear programming, where the preliminary constituent proportions (between RAP, virgin binder and aggregates) are suggested based on known properties of the RAP and virgin binder and target properties of the recycled mix. The present work proposes further extension of this formulation considering RAP and virgin binders obtained from multiple sources. In the proposed generalized formulation, different RAPs collected from different sources are assumed to contain varying binder contents and viscosities. A suitable viscosity mixing rule (among the binders and the rejuvenator) is assumed, to predict the target viscosity of the recycled binder. From workability and compatibility requirements, upper and lower limits on recycled binder viscosity are imposed. Minimization of total material cost or maximization of RAP quantities is assumed as objective function. It is expected that the proposed approach would save significant effort in the laboratory in terms of recycled mix design with large available options on possible usage of RAP and virgin binders from multiple sources.