Physiological Control of Human Heart Rate and Oxygen Consumption during Rhythmic Exercises

Physical exercise has significant benefits for humans in improving the health and quality of their lives, by improving the functional performance of their cardiovascular and respiratory systems. However, it is very important to control the workload, e.g. the frequency of body movements, within the capability of the individual to maximise the efficiency of the exercise. The workload is generally represented in terms of heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption VO2. We focus particularly on the control of HR and VO2 using the workload of an individual body movement, also known as the exercise rate (ER), in this research. The first part of this report deals with the modelling and control of HR during an unknown type of rhythmic exercise. A novel feature of the developed system is to control HR via manipulating ER as a control input. The relation between ER and HR is modelled using a simple autoregressive model with unknown parameters. The parameters of the model are estimated using a Kalman filter and an indirect adaptive H1 controller is designed. The performance of the system is tested and validated on six subjects during rowing and cycling exercise. The results demonstrate that the designed control system can regulate HR to a predefined profile. The second part of this report deals with the problem of estimating VO2 during rhythmic exercise, as the direct measurement of VO2 is not realisable in these environments. Therefore, non-invasive sensors are used to measure HR, RespR, and ER to estimate VO2. The developed approach for cycling and rowing exercise predicts the percentage change in maximum VO2 from the resting to the exercising phases, using a Hammerstein model.. Results show that the average quality of fit in both exercises is improved as the intensity of exercise is increased

Transmission Dynamics Model of Coronavirus COVID-19 for the Outbreak in Most Affected Countries of the World

The wide spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) has threatened millions of lives and damaged the economy worldwide. Due to the severity and damage caused by the disease, it is very important to fore-tell the epidemic lifetime in order to take timely actions. Unfortunately, the lack of accurate information and unavailability of large amount of data at this stage make the task more difficult. In this paper, we used the available data from the mostly affected countries by COVID-19, (China, Iran, South Korea and Italy) and fit this with the SEIR type model in order to estimate the basic reproduction number R_0. We also discussed the development trend of the disease. Our model is quite accurate in predicting the current pattern of the infected population. We also performed sensitivity analysis on all the parameters used that are affecting the value of R0

Depression among Students with Congenital and Adventitious Vision Loss

The key purpose of this study was to investigate the depression in students with congenital and adventitious vision loss. The purposive sampling technique was used to select sample. A sample of 81 students with visual impairment (51 with congenital and 30 with adventitious) was selected from different educational institutions of Punjab, Pakistan. An Instrument was developed and validated through expert opinion and piloting on 30 students. The value of Cronbach Alpha was found .88. Data was analyzed by using independent t test and ANOVA on SPSS. Independent sample t-test was used to see the significant difference in depression of students with congenital and adventitious vision loss. Results of t-test showed high significant difference (t= -2.285*) of depression between students with congenital and adventitious vision loss. Adventitiously Visually Impaired students (mean, 65.70) were more depressive than congenitally visually impaired (mean, 58.37). Results also showed no significant difference (-.856) between male and female students with vision loss. But females had high mean of depression (63.31) than males (60.25), it showed females were more depressive than males. To know about the difference of depression among age groups, ANOVA was applied. It showed there is no significant difference (F, .113) of depression among three age groups. As result revealed adventitiously visually impaired are more depressive because of their late onset so they should be needed psychological counseling to cope their depression

Inclusive Education Facilities in Secondary Schools of Pakistan: A Gender Based Comparison

Man is the most civilized and enlightened creation of Allah. Man and women formulate the basic unit of civilization. A comparison about provision of rights and facilities in every field of life has been going on since their creation. Nowadays inclusive education has proved a successful educational system for persons with disabilities. In this study, researchers have tried to explore difference between inclusive education facilities in male and female secondary schools of the province of Punjab, Pakistan. In order to attain this goal the survey technique was used to collect the data from 196 male and female secondary school teachers working in rural and urban secondary schools conveniently selected from five districts viz Okara, Sahiwal, Lahore, Pakpattan and Kasur by a self developed and validated questionnaire i.e. Research Questionnaire about the Condition of Available Inclusive Education Facilities and Opportunities in Secondary Schools of Punjab. For cross validation of data, interview schedule was used to collect data from 17 secondary school students with disabilities. Both the descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the collected data. This study describes that there is no significant difference in inclusive education facilities between male and female secondary schools. Moreover special students denied provision of inclusive education facilities as claimed by the teachers. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations were made

Impact of pregnancy on cancer survival: Experience at a tertiary care hospital

Objectives: To assess the overall survival of pregnant women diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy or became pregnant thereafter.Methods: A retrospective medical record review of 90 patients who were diagnosed with cancer when pregnant or who became pregnant thereafter between 1996 and 2015 in Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.Results: A total of 90 patients were analyzed. The malignancies that expectant mothers had were, breast cancer 38 (42.2%), hematological cancers 29 (32.2%), brain cancer 10 (11.1%), and other malignancies 13 (14.4%) that included thyroid cancers, gestational trophoblastic disease and synovial tumor of foot. We observed only four deaths out of 90 patients and mean survival time in pregnant patients with malignancies was 17.98 years [CI 16.35-19.31].Conclusions: The diagnosis of most cancer types before or during pregnancy does not influence on overall survival of patients

Financial Autonomy for Unemployed and Disadvantaged Adolescents with Disabilities through Punjab Vocational Training Institutions

The central focus of this quantitative exploration was to know the awareness level of poor and disadvantaged students with disabilities (hearing impaired, visually impaired, physically handicapped and mild mentally challenged) about demand driven skill training provided by Punjab Vocational Training Institutions. A sample of 105 students with disabilities (male and female) enrolled in elementary and secondary level special education schools and centres located in Lahore division were selected through simple random sampling technique. A self developed and validated questionnaire (Cronbach Alpha 0.92) on five point Likert scale was used to elicit their responses. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. ANOVA was employed to find difference in awareness level among the students of four disabilities, t-test was used to find difference on the basis of gender, type of schools (public & private), and locale (urban & rural). No significant mean difference was found on the basis of gender. There was a significant difference on the basis of type of schools and disabilities. Recommendations were made to Government of the Punjab, Punjab Special Education Department, and private sector to increase employability through the enrolment of students with disabilities in Punjab Vocational Training Institutions

Violence Inflicted on Students with Disabilities in Special Education Institutions at Public Sector: A Remedial Inquiry

The central theme of this investigation was to explore types of violence being inflicted on students with disabilities (deaf, blind, mentally retarded and physically handicapped) enrolled at primary grade level in private and public sector Special Education Institutions in Punjab-Pakistan. A sample of randomly selected 5 districts (Lahore, Gujranwala, Okara, Pakpatan, Rawalpindi) out of 36 districts of Punjab was taken. A conveniently available sample of 68 special education teachers (male: 22, female: 46) including 20 Senior Special Education Teachers (SSET) and 48 Junior Special Education Teachers (JSET) was taken to collect data on a self-developed and validated questionnaire with statistically significant reliability index (Cronbach Alpha: 0.85) containing 30 statements on violence on five point Likert type scale (from strongly disagree to strongly agree). The data were collected personally and with the help of research assistants. Data were analyzed on SPSS version 21. Descriptive analysis was run to find frequency distribution of responses, percentages and mean score. Independent sample t-test was employed to find difference in responses of special education teachers on the basis of gender. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was run to find difference in the opinions of special education teachers on the basis of their age, qualifications, and teaching experience. There was statistically substantial variation in the responses of special education teachers based on their qualifications. There was not statistically significant difference among the responses of special education teachers on the basis of their gender, age and teaching experience. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations to Punjab Special Education Department were made

IMPACT OF MICROFINANCE ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT THROUGH POVERTY ALLEVIATION: AN ASSESSMENT OF SOCIO- ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN CHENNAI CITY OF TAMIL NADU

The empowerment of women is one of the central issues in the process of development of countries all over the world. Poverty is one of the major reasons of women’s disempowerment. Different micro and macro level strategies are being used by government agencies and NGOs for poverty alleviation of women as a way to empower them. Microfinance has become an important component of development, poverty reduction and economic regeneration strategy around the world. In India, Microfinance programme are implemented through Self Help Groups (SHGs). The SHG is an association of people belonging to similar socio-economic characteristic, residing in same locality. The SHGs are voluntary associations of people formed to attain some common goals. These are groups have similar social identity, heritage, caste or traditional occupations. The present study is analyses the role of microfinance in empowering Muslim women as well as non-Muslim women in a comparative perspective and a comparison between members of SHGs and non-members to gain better insights into the working of SHGs. The concept of microfinance is analysed by using the size of loan received, recovery of loan, and period of loan and the economic, social and knowledge empowerment is used to analyse the empowerment. The results were tabulated by using of logistic regression model. Finally, it is concluded that that microfinance brought knowledge and social empowerment than economic empowerment. Impact of micro finance is appreciable in bringing confidence, courage, skill development and empowerment

Modeling Calcium Dynamics and Inhibition Based Synaptic Plasticity in Dendritic Spines

Inhibitory synapses through GABAergic channels not only change spine's calcium dynamics but also modulate postsynaptic current mediated through glutamate receptors. However the mechanism and extent to which these inhibitory synapses can modulate postsynaptic potential is not clearly understood. We propose a mathematical model to explain this phenomenon which encompasses both presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms. Further this model also elaborates the effect of these channels in synaptic calcium dynamics and learning mechanism

Displacement: Placemaking for the Uprooted

Increasing migration to cities in developed countries is an inevitable part of present day’s globalizing society. For those migrating, the process is often a byproduct of war or absence of opportunities in migrants’ native homelands. It is a privilege, a manner of freedom, and a chance at a higher quality of life. As waves of migrants enter foreign countries, various problems arise, exacerbated by rising impressions of detachment from the loss of everything native. Migrants also experience feelings of displacement both physical and psychological. This thesis analyzes how architecture can mediate the process of assimilation into a new geography by creating a sense of place. The argument will assert that idiosyncrasies within the population are catalysts for an enlightened culture. This thesis does not intend to solve the problem of migration, but rather open a conversation about belonging, memory, and hybridity as it applies to the migrant and the built environment. Currently, there is a lack of architectural precedent successfully accommodating migrating populations. To fill this gap, this thesis will propose both a dwelling and a gallery to raise awareness, memorialize the remaining fragments of homelands and construe immigrants’ feelings of deracination to evoke a sense of empathy. The proposal will be situated in Washington D.C. so that it may serve as a model for creating similar forums in this age of mass migration