Design of a microwave radiometer for monitoring high voltage insulator contamination level

Microwave radiometry is a novel method for monitoring contamination levels on high voltage insulators. The microwave radiometer described measures energy emitted from the contamination layer and could provide a safe, reliable, contactless monitoring method that is effective under dry conditions. The design of the system has focused on optimizing accuracy, stability and sensitivity using a relatively low cost architecture. Experimental results demonstrate that the output from the radiometer is able to clearly distinguish between samples with different contamination levels under dry conditions. This contamination monitoring method could potentially provide advance warning of the future failure of wet insulators in climates where insulators can experience dry conditions for extended periods

Hybrid reduced-order modeling and particle-Kalman filtering for the health monitoring of flexible structures

MEMS-based, surface-mounted structural health monitoring systems were recently proposed to locate possible damage events in lightweight composite structures. To track the structural dynamics induced by the external actions and identify in real-time the inception of drifts from the virgin, or undamaged state, recursive Bayesian filters are here adopted. As the main drawback of any on-line identification method might be linked to the excessive computational costs, two solutions are jointly enforced: an order-reduction of the numerical model used to track the structural behavior, through the proper orthogonal decomposition in its snapshot-based version; an improved particle filtering strategy, which features an extended Kalman updating of each evolving particle before the resampling stage. While the former method alone can reduce the number of effective degrees-of-freedom of the structure to a few only (depending on the excitation), the latter allows to track the evolution of damage and also locate it thanks to an intricate formulation. To assess the proposed procedure, the case of a thin plate subject to bending is investigated; it is shown that, when the procedure is fed by measurements gathered by a network of inertial MEMS sensors appropriately deployed over the plate, damage is efficiently and accurately estimated and located

Diabetes knowledge, beliefs and practices among people with diabetes attending a university hospital in Karachi, Pakistan

A structured questionnaire on knowledge, beliefs and practices regarding diabetes was administered to 199 persons with diabetes (92.5% type 2) attending the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. Mean age [standard deviation (SD)] was 53 (11) years. Mean duration of diabetes (SD) was 8 (7) years in men and 9 (6) years in women. Men had a significantly better knowledge score than women (P = 0.02); there was no significant difference in the beliefs and practices scores. Scores were classed as good (\u3e 60%) in only 13.6% of participants for knowledge, 17.6% for beliefs and 11.2% for practices. About 38% of the participants had received education on diabetes care

Effects of Electromagnetic Field on the Dynamical Instability of Cylindrical Collapse

The objective of this paper is to discuss the dynamical instability in the context of Newtonian and post Newtonian regimes. For this purpose, we consider non-viscous heat conducting charged isotropic fluid as a collapsing matter with cylindrical symmetry. Darmois junction conditions are formulated. The perturbation scheme is applied to investigate the influence of dissipation and electromagnetic field on the dynamical instability. We conclude that the adiabatic index $\Gamma$ has smaller value for such a fluid in cylindrically symmetric than isotropic sphere

Macrovascular complications and their associated factors among persons with type 2 diabetes in Karachi, Pakistan--a multi-center study

Objective: To assess the prevalence of macrovascular complications and factors associated with these complications among persons with Type 2 diabetes.Methods: A multi-center, cross-sectional survey was conducted in three diabetes clinics of Karachi from November 2000 to April 2001. Six hundred and seventy-two persons were interviewed to determine the prevalence of ischemic heart disease (IHD), cerebrovascular disease (CVA) and diabetic foot (DF). Demographic data and co-variables obtained include age, sex, duration of diabetes, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, exercise habits and history of hypertension (HTN).Results: Overall, 26.4%, 6.8% and 3.9% of individuals had IHD, CVA and DF respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that subjects having IHD were more likely to have HTN (AOR=1.88, 95% CI 1.31-2.69), not performing regular exercise (AOR = 2.09, 95% CI 1.39-3.17) and be current smokers (AOR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.10-3.10) Subjects having CVA were more likely to have diabetes for more than 5 years (AOR = 1.94, 95% CI 0.97-3.87). Males were more prone than females to have DF (AOR = 3.48, 95% CI 1.46-8.31). Those who had DF were more likely to have diabetes for more than 5 years (AOR = 3.29, 95% CI 1.09-9.89) and of reporting current smoking (AOR = 4.01, 95% CI 1.49-10.71).CONCLUSION: Large proportions of persons with Type 2 diabetes were suffering from preventable macrovascular complications in Karachi, Pakistan. There is a need to develop risk factor modification interventions to reduce the impact of long-term complications

Influence of case definition on incidence and outcome of acute coronary syndromes

© 2016, BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved. Objective: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are common, but their incidence and outcome might depend greatly on how data are collected. We compared case ascertainment rates for ACS and myocardial infarction (MI) in a single institution using several different strategies. Methods: The Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals serve a population of ∼560 000. Patients admitted with ACS to cardiology or general medical wards were identified prospectively by trained nurses during 2005. Patients with a death or discharge code of MI were also identified by the hospital information department and, independently, from Myocardial Infarction National Audit Project (MINAP) records. The hospital laboratory identified all patients with an elevated serum troponin-T (TnT) by contemporary criteria ( > 0.03 μg/L in 2005). Results: The prospective survey identified 1731 admissions (1439 patients) with ACS, including 764 admissions (704 patients) with MIs. The hospital information department reported only 552 admissions (544 patients) with MI and only 206 admissions (203 patients) were reported to the MINAP. Using all 3 strategies, 934 admissions (873 patients) for MI were identified, for which TnT was > 1 μg/L in 443, 0.04-1.0 μg/L in 435, =0.03 μg/L in 19 and not recorded in 37. A further 823 patients had TnT > 0.03 μg/L, but did not have ACS ascertained by any survey method. Of the 873 patients with MI, 146 (16.7%) died during admission and 218 (25.0%) by 1 year, but ranging from 9% for patients enrolled in the MINAP to 27% for those identified by the hospital information department. Conclusions: MINAP and hospital statistics grossly underestimated the incidence of MI managed by our hospital. The 1-year mortality was highly dependent on the method of ascertainment

Immunomodulatory interventions in myocardial infarction and heart failure: a systematic review of clinical trials and meta-analysis of IL-1 inhibition

Following a myocardial infarction (MI), the immune system helps to repair ischaemic damage and restore tissue integrity, but excessive inflammation has been implicated in adverse cardiac remodelling and development towards heart failure (HF). Pre-clinical studies suggest that timely resolution of inflammation may help prevent HF development and progression. Therapeutic attempts to prevent excessive post-MI inflammation in patients have included pharmacological interventions ranging from broad immunosuppression to immunomodulatory approaches targeting specific cell types or factors with the aim to maintain beneficial aspects of the early post-MI immune response. These include the blockade of early initiators of inflammation including reactive oxygen species and complement, inhibition of mast cell degranulation and leucocyte infiltration, blockade of inflammatory cytokines, and inhibition of adaptive B and T-lymphocytes. Herein, we provide a systematic review on post-MI immunomodulation trials and a meta-analysis of studies targeting the inflammatory cytokine Interleukin-1. Despite an enormous effort into a significant number of clinical trials on a variety of targets, a striking heterogeneity in study population, timing and type of treatment, and highly variable endpoints limits the possibility for meaningful meta-analyses. To conclude, we highlight critical considerations for future studies including (i) the therapeutic window of opportunity, (ii) immunological effects of routine post-MI medication, (iii) stratification of the highly diverse post-MI patient population, (iv) the potential benefits of combining immunomodulatory with regenerative therapies, and at last (v) the potential side effects of immunotherapies

WHAT FACTORS MOST? IMPACT OF PROGRAMME QUALITY DIMENSIONS ON SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ SATISFACTION WITH BIOSYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMME IN SRI LANKA

In general, education quality can be conceptually determined by the evaluation of students’ satisfaction. In fact, satisfying the students in programme of studies is a key element which directly effect on future students’ intake to a programme or course. The purpose of present study was to determine the impact of programme quality on students' satisfaction amongst the Sri Lankan senior secondary schools students and to analyze which dimensions of programme quality contribute the most in achieving students' satisfaction. This study used quantitative method and administered a questionnaire to 410 Biosystems Technology students from senior secondary schools in the central province of Sri Lanka. The findings revealed that programme quality is an important antecedent and determinant of the students' satisfaction with their programme of study. Interestingly, the findings indicated that subject availability for electives is the critical factor that contributes the most on students' satisfaction followed by subject content in major, classroom environment and class size and also school facilities and learning resources. Thus, the findings of the present study have provided significant contribution to the body of the knowledge in programme quality and students' satisfaction and also relevant authorities in general education such as policymakers, curriculum developers, and other relevant personnel to make necessary amendments to be improve the quality of existing programme that ensures the students' satisfaction.  Article visualizations