273 research outputs found
Manuel R. Agosin, David E. Bloom, Georges Chapelier and Jagdish Saigal (eds). Solving the Riddle of Globalization and Development
Manuel R. Agosin, David E. Bloom, Georges Chapelier and Jagdish Saigal (eds). Solving the Riddle of Globalization and Development. Oxon: Routledge, 2007. Pp. 300. ISBN: 978-0-415-77031-6 (harback)
An Unusual middle ear foreign body in a welder; our experience
Introduction: Welding accidents commonly present as burns, electrocution, skin injuries and penetrating foreign body in the eyes, face and neck. Ears are usually uninvolved, but the possibility of foreign bodies in the external ear canal or even in the middle ear should always be considered in non-resolving ear infections in welders.
Case Presentation: A thirty-year old welder presented with ear discomfort and swollen ear canal and initially diagnosed and managed as otitis externa. But since it failed to resolve, he was extensively investigated and a metallic foreign body was identified in the middle ear, which was removed via endoscopic tympanotomy.
Conclusion: This case highlights the fact that small sharp foreign bodies can penetrate through the tympanic membrane and leave an almost invisible perforation which heals completely. But in suspicious or symptomatic cases further investigations such as an X-ray or Computed Tomography [CT] scan might be needed to confirm diagnosis
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Intrahost Selection Pressures Drive Rapid Dengue Virus Microevolution in Acute Human Infections.
Dengue, caused by four dengue virus serotypes (DENV-1 to DENV-4), is a highly prevalent mosquito-borne viral disease in humans. Yet, selection pressures driving DENV microevolution within human hosts (intrahost) remain unknown. We employed a whole-genome segmented amplification approach coupled with deep sequencing to profile DENV-3 intrahost diversity in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and plasma samples from 77 dengue patients. DENV-3 intrahost diversity appears to be driven by immune pressures as well as replicative success in PBMCs and potentially other replication sites. Hotspots for intrahost variation were detected in 59%-78% of patients in the viral Envelope and pre-Membrane/Membrane proteins, which together form the virion surface. Dominant variants at the hotspots arose via convergent microevolution, appear to be immune-escape variants, and were evolutionarily constrained at the macro level due to viral replication defects. Dengue is thus an example of an acute infection in which selection pressures within infected individuals drive rapid intrahost virus microevolution
Mapping women’s role in small scale fisheries value chain in India for fisheries sustainability
Sustainability in small scale fisheries is receiving wider acceptance worldwide as the system faces different kinds of exploitations. Gender can play a significant role in achieving sustainability as they are the primary beneficiaries in small scale fisheries. Exploring their level of participation in resource use can provide a database that functions as the key determinants for sustainability. This article looks for empirical evidences on the role of men and women in small scale fisheries through gender structure analysis. The indigenous communities (n=154) in Vazhachal Forest Division, Kerala, southern state in India is considered for the study. Methods adopted includes household survey using semi structured questionnaire, transect walks, focus groups and direct observations. Results reveal that although higher percentage of men (66.20%), women’s role is substantial (33.80%) in fisheries value chain including pre harvest, harvest and post-harvest sector. Their presence had a significant relation in supporting men in fisheries activities like collection of baits (χ2= 6.189, p= 0.013), accompanying men in fishing (χ2= 4.153; p= 0.042), sorting of fishes (χ2= 3.566, p=0.059), processing of fishes (χ2=9.776, p= 0.002) and in mending of nets (χ2= 4.40, p=0.042). Results, further, reveal that men and women have unique and overlapping roles in small scale fisheries. The key findings of the study provide quantitative evidence to develop strategies for small scale fisheries sustainability
Neural Operator: Is data all you need to model the world? An insight into the impact of Physics Informed Machine Learning
Numerical approximations of partial differential equations (PDEs) are
routinely employed to formulate the solution of physics, engineering and
mathematical problems involving functions of several variables, such as the
propagation of heat or sound, fluid flow, elasticity, electrostatics,
electrodynamics, and more. While this has led to solving many complex
phenomena, there are some limitations. Conventional approaches such as Finite
Element Methods (FEMs) and Finite Differential Methods (FDMs) require
considerable time and are computationally expensive. In contrast, data driven
machine learning-based methods such as neural networks provide a faster, fairly
accurate alternative, and have certain advantages such as discretization
invariance and resolution invariance. This article aims to provide a
comprehensive insight into how data-driven approaches can complement
conventional techniques to solve engineering and physics problems, while also
noting some of the major pitfalls of machine learning-based approaches.
Furthermore, we highlight, a novel and fast machine learning-based approach
(~1000x) to learning the solution operator of a PDE operator learning. We will
note how these new computational approaches can bring immense advantages in
tackling many problems in fundamental and applied physics
Materials Design for Hypersonics
Hypersonic vehicles must withstand extreme conditions during flights that
exceed five times the speed of sound. This class of vehicles has the potential
to facilitate rapid access to space, bolster defense capabilities, and create a
new paradigm for transcontinental earth-to-earth travel. However, the extreme
aerothermal environments resulting from high Mach number trajectories create
significant challenges for vehicle materials and structures. As hypersonic
systems advance, there is a critical need to develop novel materials that are
resilient to a combination of thermal and mechanical loads, aggressive
oxidizing environments, and rapid heating rates. This work aims to provide a
succinct discussion of emerging design strategies for refractory alloys,
composites, and ceramics used for hypersonic vehicles. We will highlight key
design principles for critical vehicle areas such as primary structures,
thermal protection, and propulsion systems; the role of theory and computation
in elucidating structure-property-processing relationships; and strategies for
advancing laboratory scale materials to flight-ready components such as
aerostructures and thermal protection systems
Strengthening magnesium by design: integrating alloying and dynamic processing
Magnesium (Mg) has the lowest density of all structural metals and has
excellent potential for wide use in structural applications. While pure Mg has
inferior mechanical properties; the addition of further elements at various
concentrations has produced alloys with enhanced mechanical performance and
corrosion resistance. An important consequence of adding such elements is that
the saturated Mg matrix can locally decompose to form solute clusters and
intermetallic particles, often referred to as precipitates. Controlling the
shape, number density, volume fraction, and spatial distribution of solute
clusters and precipitates significantly impacts the alloy's plastic response.
Conversely, plastic deformation during thermomechanical processing can
dramatically impact solute clustering and precipitation. In this paper, we
first discuss how solute atoms, solute clusters, and precipitates can improve
the mechanical properties of Mg alloys. We do so by primarily comparing three
alloy systems: Mg-Al, Mg-Zn, and Mg-Y-based alloys. In the second part, we
provide strategies for optimizing such microstructures by controlling
nucleation and growth of solute clusters and precipitates during
thermomechanical processing. In the third part, we briefly highlight how one
can enable inverse design of Mg alloys by a more robust Integrated
Computational Materials Design (ICMD) approach
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