Non-Linear Heart Rate Variability and Risk Stratification in Cardiovascular Disease

Traditional time and frequency domain heart rate variability (HRV) have cardiac patients at risk of mortality post-myocardial infarction. More recently, non linear HRV has been applied to risk stratification of cardiac patients. In this review we describe studies of non linear HRV and outcome in cardiac patients. We have included studies that used the three most common non-linear indices: power law slope, the short term fractal scaling exponent and measures based on Poincaré plots. We suggest that a combination of traditional and non-linear HRV may be optimal for risk stratification. Considerations in using non linear HRV in a clinical setting are described

AERODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF MORPHING WING

This thesis presents a modelling and design exploration study of a novel twisting wing whose motion is enabled by a tensegrity mechanism. First, the aerodynamic characteristics of the twisting wing, which does not require control surfaces to modulate its shape, are compared with those of a conventional wing having a control surface. It is shown via computational fluid dynamics analyses that the twisting wing displays higher lift-to-drag ratio than the conventional wing and hence the twisting wing is more aerodynamically efficient. In addition, due to the reduction of discontinuous rudder surfaces, morphing wings can further improve the stealth performance. A finite element model with geometrical nonlinear effects is then proposed to correct the errors of the linear analysis and verify the effectiveness of the optimization method. This design is shown to be able to reduce the overall weight of the structure and achieve control of the macro mechanical performance of the wing. The work provides a general optimization design method for similar modular structures, allowing independent programmable adjustment of the parameters of each single structural cell

The Stored Energy of Cold Work, Thermal Annealing, and Other Thermodynamic Issues in Single Crystal Plasticity at Small Length Scales

This paper develops a thermodynamically consistent gradient theory of single-crystal plasticity using the principle of virtual power as a paradigm to develop appropriate balance laws for forces and energy. The resulting theory leads to a system of microscopic force balances, one balance for each slip system, and to an energy balance that accounts for power expended during plastic flow via microscopic forces acting in concert with slip-rates and slip-rate gradients. Central to the theory are an internal energy and entropy, plastic in nature, dependent on densities that account for the accumulation of glide dislocations as well as geometrically necessary dislocations – and that, consequently, represent quantities associated with cold work. Our theory allows us to discuss – within the framework of a gradient theory – the fraction of plastic stress-power that goes into heating, as well as the reduction of the dislocation density in a cold-worked material upon subsequent (or concurrent) thermal annealing.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (NSF CMMI Award No.1063626)National Research Foundation (South Africa

Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Water Pollution in Indian Rivers -- A Case Study

Some of the important critical parameters for assessing the water quality like pH (Hydrogen ion concentration), DO (Dissolved Oxygen), BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand), etc., were monitored at different locations in some major Indian rivers. The results obtained from the study reveals that the critical parameters had increasing values in some monitoring locations, decreasing values, and no variation in values at some other places. It is recommended to have a pH value above 7, higher values of DO, lower values of BOD & FCC (Faecal Coliform Content) for improved water quality. Overall, the water quality improved in most Indian rivers. There was no discharge of industrial wastes, hotels/restaurants wastes, immersing of idols during religious festivals, etc., to the rivers during the COVID-19 lockdown. Therefore, enforcement of strict regulations by the Government of India for disposal of wastes produced from industrial & domestic activities can significantly reduce the water pollution levels in the Indian rivers.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figures, 8 table

Estimation of wheat crop evapotranspiration using NDVI vegetation index

The evapotranspiration of the wheat crop grown in Tarafeni South Main Canal (TSMC) irrigation command area of West Bengal, India was estimated based on Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from LANDSAT images. The crop evapotranspiration (ETc) of wheat crop was estimated using the crop coefficient (Kc) maps and the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) in the TSMC irrigation command area. The ETo was estimated from the well known temperature based ETo estimation method, i.e. FAO-24 modified Blaney-Criddle method using measured maximum and minimum air temperatures data during January 2011 in the command area. The Kc maps were mapped in ARC GIS software using procured LANDSAT images for the study period. The area under wheat crop was clipped from land use/land cover map generated from LANDSAT image of January, 2011 for winter season. Further, the crop evapotranspiration map was obtained by multiplying Kc map with the estimated ETo value i.e., 5.76 mm/day for a particular day. The maximum crop evapotranspiration computed for Rabi crop was 5.57 mm/ day, whereas minimum was 1.59 mm/day for the TSMC command area

Energy for a sustainable road/rail transport system in India

The main motivation for this study is that the strong transport-energy nexus has not received the attention it deserves, though energy is a crucial constraint on transport, and transport is a major determinant of energy demand. Also, many detailed treatments of the transport sector have not scrutinised the sustainability of the present pattern of development of this sector. Further, the prevailing paradigm guiding the development of the sector is made explicit and critiqued because it is often the root cause of its unsustainability. And, because treatments of transport policy issues tend to proceed without a clear statement of underlying goals and strategies, the entire hierarchy of interventions - from goals to strategies to policies - has been discussed. Finally, an attempt has been made to deal with both the supply and demand aspects of the transport sector. The study is restricted to road and rail transport since air and water (inland waters, and coastal and international seas) transport handle very small fractions of domestic traffic demand. The detailed discussions are preceded by overviews of the main features of the Indian transport system as well as of the energy sector as pertaining to transport. It is suggested that the goal of the Indian transport sector should be an efficient, capital-saving, non-import-intensive, affordable, service-oriented and environmentally sound transport system, i.e., a sustainable transport system. A strategy or broad plan to achieve this goal of a sustainable transport system should consist of several components: (1) minimisation of dependence on petroleum fuels, (2) maximisation of the level of safe, comfortable and time-saving transport services, (3) maximisation of the environmental soundness of the transport system, and in particular, reduction of local and global environmental pollution, (4) minimisation of the capital requirements for the transport modal mix that should also include non-motorised transport (NMT), and (5) minimisation of the energy used by the transport system without a reduction of the services provided. The detailed policies (plans or courses of action) to implement the above strategies for achieving a sustainable transport system fall into the following categories: (1) transport-energy database generation and use, (2) demand management, (3) technological improvements in road transport, (4) improvement of the capacity and quality of road infrastructure, (5) traffic management, (6) improvement of the railways, (7) improvement of urban transport, (8) providing a niche for non-motorised modes of transport, (9) pollution control and abatement, (10) costing and pricing, (11) modal shifts to achieve a least-cost freight modal mix, (12) modal shifts to achieve a least-cost passenger modal mix, (13) solutions to the transport sector's problems through measures in other sectors, (14) alternative fuels. Appropriate policy instruments or mechanisms for initiating and maintaining the policies as well as suitable policy agents to wield the policy instruments have also been identified. The market has the power of being an excellent allocator of money, materials and manpower, but unfortunately also has definite limits - it is not very good at looking after the poor, the environment, the long-term and the infrastructure and national strategic concerns such as self-reliance and external debt, all of which are of crucial relevance to the transport system. Hence, the visible hand of government and the people must complement the invisible hand of the market. In conclusion, both short-term low-cost measures to attract political decision-makers with short time-horizons and long-term measures have been mentioned. The short-term measures consist mainly of better maintenance, better driving practices, optimal routing of buses, dedicated routes for buses with traffic restrictions on these dedicated routes, special lanes for slow traffic, supply constraint on personal vehicles, export orientation to the production of personal vehicles, removal of kerosene and diesel subsidies, no long-haul truck permits, increase of truck taxes and shift of passengers travelling less than 300 km from rail to bus. The long-term measures consist mainly of increases in fuel efficiency, introduction of lower-power bus engines, increases in number of buses and/or suburban trains, investments on mass transportation infrastructure, home electrification, improvement of rail freight operations, truck-rail freight linkage, introduction of CNG for urban fleets, switches to biomass-derived fuels for transportation, biomass-derived fuels as petrol and diesel extenders, silviculture for biomass-derived fuels, and alternative cooking fuels and/or devices to replace kerosene

WhatsApp control: a new norm to succeed in LIMS adoption

Background: Adoption of the LIMS (laboratory information management system) serves varied purposes in the diagnostic laboratory and might take a very lengthy period for its implementation. But, without controls being put in place, it can create a barrier to the project’s execution and prevent it from being finished on time. Methods: A WhatsApp group with 22 members, including lab technicians, heads of lab sections, a billing manager, an operations assistant manager, an assistant nursing caretaker, and administrative staff, was created. The assistant operations manager posted the daily pending report status in the WhatsApp group to help the lab team ratify, correct, and complete the assignments. To track pending report closures in real-time, the WhatsApp group mediated weekly follow-ups. The laboratory services department head informed the team monthly on the project’s status. The nonparametric Wilcoxon rank test and paired student t-test were performed to compare pre and post-survey responses before and after the seven-month intervention period. Results: The non-parametric Wilcoxon rank test and paired t-test results of the post-test demonstrated that the participant’s answer had improved significantly since the pre-test. The questionnaire showed that participants liked the new WhatsApp control mechanism. The number of pending reports reduced from 4,000 to 240 in seven months, a statistically significant decrease at a p value of 0.01. This supports the newly implemented WhatsApp control. Conclusions: Based on this interventional study, WhatsApp-based controls can be employed in conjunction with more conventional ways to regulate process outcomes during LIMS adoption

Two Thumbs Up: Using Popular Films in Introductory Aging Courses

Good teaching requires thoughtful planning and creative thinking, especially when trying to engage students in material that is unfamiliar to them or encumbered by stereotypes, like aging. Classic and contemporary media can provide unique teaching opportunities in gerontology classrooms. Popular films can have a powerful influence over viewers’ attitudes and perceptions, and spur in-depth discussions of aging-related topics common to introductory aging courses (e.g., ageism, abuse, inequality, caregiving, healthy aging, and intimate relationships). Additionally, films appeal to multiple learning styles, engaging a variety of learners. This article examines the value of using films in introductory aging courses, offers strategies for incorporating films in the gerontology classroom, suggests sample activities and assignments that pair popular films with aging course topics, identifies challenges of using film in various classrooms settings, and provides a detailed typology of films on each of the following aging topics: ageism and stereotypes, cognitive impairment, death and dying, diversity, family relationships, health and wellness, sexuality and intimacy, and work and retirement