E-waste Management-Suggested Solutions

Electronic waste has been identified as discarded computers, old television sets, electronic equipment, entertainment devices, mobile phones, and refrigerators. This definition mostly include used electronics. Because loads of surplus electronics are frequently not eliminated including goods, recyclable, and non-recyclable so several people apply the term "e-waste" broadly to all surplus electronics. Rapid changes in technology, changes in media, falling prices, and planned obsolescence have resulted in a fast-growing surplus of electronic waste around the globe. This paper has an objective to present an overview of the problem and tries to advocate some concrete solutions to tackle the issue

Electronic, Magnetic And Fermi Surface Properties Of Cu2MnX ( X=Al, In, Sn): Ab-Initio Study

The band structure, density of states, Fermi surface (FS) topology and vibrational properties of the ferromagnetic Heusler alloys, Cu2MnX (X = Al, In, Sn) have been studied using the first principles electronic structure calculation at ambient as well as under compression. The major contribution to the total magnetic moment arises from the Mn atom with adequate exchange splitting as revealed from the calculated local magnetic moment as well as from the density of states plots. The Fermi surface topology is found to be similar for the majority band for all the compounds and remain unaltered under compression, where we have seen the linear variation of the density of states (N(EF)) at the Fermi level, whereas the FS topology change is observed in the minority spin band with non-monotonic variation of the N(EF). Apart from this, under compression at nearly V/V0=0.75, we have seen the Fermi surface topology of the minority spin of Cu2MnSn to change drastically resembling the majority band Fermi surface. From the phonon dispersion relation, we find a lattice instability in the case of Cu2MnSn with negative slope around Γ point at ambient as well as under compression and this might induce the anomalous behavior observed in the Fermi surface topology, whereas for other compounds we have found the positive slope at the same point with all positive frequency under all compression, ensuring the dynamical stability of these compounds. Content

Financing of International Collective Action for Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness.

The global pandemic response has typically followed cycles of panic followed by neglect. We are now, once again, in a phase of neglect, leaving the world highly vulnerable to massive loss of life and economic shocks from natural or human-made epidemics and pandemics. Quantifying the size of the losses caused by large-scale outbreaks is challenging because the epidemiological and economic research in this field is still at an early stage. Research on the 1918 influenza H1N1 pandemic and recent epidemics and pandemics has shown a range of estimated losses (panel).1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6 ; 7 A limitation in assessing the economic costs of outbreaks is that they only capture the impact on income. Fan and colleagues8 recently addressed this limitation by estimating the “inclusive” cost of pandemics: the sum of the cost in lost income and a dollar valuation of the cost of early death. They found that for Ebola and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the true (“inclusive”) costs are two to three times the income loss. For extremely serious pandemics such as that of influenza in 1918, the inclusive costs are over five times income loss. The inclusive costs of the next severe influenza pandemic could be US$570 billion each year or 0·7$1 billion over 5 years, is developing vaccines against known emerging infectious diseases as well as platforms for rapid development of vaccines against outbreaks of unknown origin. The WHO R&D Blueprint for Action to Prevent Epidemics12 is a new mechanism for coordinating and prioritising the development of drugs and diagnostics for emerging infectious diseases. Consolidating and enhancing donor support for these new initiatives would be an efficient way to channel resources aimed at improving global outbreak preparedness and response. Crucial components of the global and regional system for outbreak control include surge capacity (eg, the ability to urgently deploy human resources); providing technical guidance to countries in the event of an outbreak; and establishing a coordinated, interlinked global, regional, and national surveillance system. These activities are the remit of several essential WHO financing envelopes that all face major funding shortfalls. The Contingency Fund for Emergencies finances surge outbreak response for up to 3 months. The fund has a capitalisation target of $100 million of flexible voluntary contributions, which needs to be replenished with about$25–50 million annually, depending on the extent of the outbreak in any given year. However, as of April 30, 2017, only $37·65 million had been contributed, with an additional$4 million in pledges.13 The WHO Health Emergencies and Health Systems Preparedness Programmes face an annual shortfall of $225 million in funding their epidemic and pandemic prevention and control activities.14 Previous health emergencies have shown that it can take time to organise global collective action and provide financing to the national and local level. In such situations, a global mechanism should offer a rapid injection of liquidity to affected countries. The World Bank\u27s Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility (PEF) is a proposed global insurance mechanism for pandemic emergencies.15 It aims to provide surge funding for response efforts to help respond to rare, high-burden disease outbreaks, preventing them from becoming more deadly and costly pandemics. The PEF currently proposes a coverage of$500 million for the insurance window; increasing the current coverage will require additional donor commitments. In addition, the PEF has a $50–100 million replenishable cash window. As the world\u27s health ministers meet this month for the World Health Assembly, we propose five key ways to help prevent mortality and economic shocks from disease outbreaks. First, to accelerate development of new technologies to control outbreaks, donors should expand their financing for CEPI and support the WHO R&D Blueprint for Action to Prevent Epidemics. Second, funding gaps in the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies and the WHO Health Emergencies Programme should be urgently filled and the PEF should be fully financed. Third, all nations should support their own and other countries\u27 national preparedness efforts, including committing to the JEE process. Fourth, we believe it would be valuable to create and maintain a regional and country-level pandemic risk and preparedness index. This index could potentially be used as a way to review preparedness in International Monetary Fund article IV consultations (regular country reports by staff to its Board). Finally, we call for a new global effort to develop long-term national, regional, and global investment plans to create a world secure from the threat of devastation from outbreaks. This article summarises the recommendations of a workshop held at the National Academy of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA, co-hosted by the Center for Policy Impact in Global Health at Duke University, Durham, NC, USA and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Oslo, Norway. Participants\u27 travel and accommodation were supported by the Center for Policy Impact in Global Health. BO is a consultant to Metabiota, a private company engaged in infectious disease risk modelling and analytical services. In this capacity, he has led the development of an index measuring national capacity to respond to epidemic and pandemic disease outbreaks

Study of prevalence of Aplastic anaemia in Punjab Population

Background: Aplastic Anaemia is a rare yet a life threatening haematological disorder. Untreated AA results in very high mortality, Early diagnose of AA is essential for appropriate management. Method: Out of 550 adult patients aged between 18 to 40 years were studied among them 48 (8.7%) were positive with AA. Hb%, CBC, Bone marrow aspirate and trephines biopsy test, LFT confirmed the AA. To rule out inherited AA peripheral blood lymphocyte was tested for Mitomycin C test, radiologically chest x-ray was taken to rule out infection, USG to find out splenomegaly, lymph mode enlargements and anatomical displacement of Kidney which is a feature of Fanconi Anaemia. Results: Habits and profession of AA patients were tobacco usage alcoholic, exposure to pesticides, Drugs (Medication), exposure to radiation. The clinical features were pallor with bleeding, exposure to chemotherapy. Benzene, hepatitis, TB, congenital / inherited. Pregnancy related infections, vaginal bleeding. Conclusion: This pragmatic approach to AA will be useful for physician to diagnose and treat the patients efficiently to prevent the future risk of mortality and morbidly, although aetiology of AA yet to be known

Security Threats in Wireless Sensor Networks: A Comprehensive Overview

Abstrac

Study of Hypothyroidism in first trimester pregnancy in Punjab Population

Background: Hypothyroidism during pregnancy has an adverse effect on both mother and child. Children born untreated have profound effect on future intellectual development and mothers do have complications during pregnancy and delivery. Method: 92 (ninety two) pregnant women aged between 20 to 35 years having hypothyroidism were studied. BMI, CBC, Lipid-profile, BUN, serum creatinine, TSH free T4 and anti TPO antibodies test was carried out by using Roch modular kit using ECLIA technology. Results: BMI, GA, Cholesterol, BUN, Sr creatinine, ESR, Granulocytes and Hb% parameters had quite abnormal profile. Thyroid profile of first trimester had 6.8 (±1.3) TSH, 0.4 (±0.1) F T4, 13.2 (±0.5) Anti TpoAb. Conclusion: This pragmatic study of hypothyroidism in First trimester of pregnancy will be a tool for physician or endocrinologist to treat such patients efficiently to avoid the risk factors to both maternal and foetus as well