Optimalna lokacija i parametri za FACT uređaj za kompenzaciju reaktivne snage koristeći algoritam harmonijskog pretraživanja

Reactive Power Compensation (RPC) is an important issue in the operation and control of power system. In this paper, two FACTS controller like Static Var Compensator (SVC) and Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor (TCSC) are considered for RPC. RPC is a multi-objective nonlinear optimization problem that minimizes the bus voltage deviation and real power loss. In this work, Harmony Search Algorithm (HSA) is used to determine the optimal location and setting of SVC and TCSC respectively. The efficacy of HSA is demonstrated on modified IEEE 30 bus power system for two operating conditions. A comparison of simulation results reveals the effectiveness of proposed algorithm over other well established population based optimization technique like Simple Genetic Algorithm (SGA),Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Differential Evolution (DE).Kompenzacija reaktivne snage (RPC) važan je zadatak pri radu i upravljanju energetskim sustavima. U ovome radu razmatra se FACT regulator kao što su statički kompenzator (SVC) i tiristorski serijski kondenzator (TCSC). RPC je više kriterijski nelinearni optimizacijski problem gdje se minimizira odstupanje napona sabirnice i gubitci snage. Korišten je HSA algoritam (engl. Harmony Search Algorithm) za određivanje položaja i parametara SVC i TCSC. Efikasnost sustava demonstrirana je na modificiranom energetskom sustavu IEEE 30 za dva različita uvjeta. Usporedbna simulacijskih rezultata prikazuje efikasnost predloženog algoritma u odnosu na ostale metode kao što su genetski algoritmi (SGA), čestična optimizacija roja (PSO) i diferencijalna evolucija (DE)

An awareness program on dengue fever among adults residing in an urban slum area, Coimbatore

Background: Dengue fever is a mosquito borne disease transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. This disease is known to be worldwide problem, affecting the tropical and sub-tropical regions. One third of the world’s population is at risk of transmission of disease. So, creating awareness is an effective way of preventing Dengue Fever. The objective of the study was to create awareness on Dengue Fever among adults residing in an Urban Slum area in Coimbatore.Methods: The study was conducted among 150 adults residing in an urban slum area in Coimbatore. After informed consent, pre-test questionnaire was administered to assess their awareness on Dengue Fever. Health education programme was conducted and after one month their improvement in the knowledge on dengue fever was recorded using post-test questionnaire.Results: After the awareness program the improvement in knowledge on Dengue Fever among the study participants was assessed and found to have improved significantly (p< 0.001).Conclusions: Health education on Awareness of Dengue Fever among adults aged 20 to 30 years in urban slum at Coimbatore has produced an improvement in knowledge by 48 percent

Feminist Thought in Short Stories by K. Alagirisamy

Tamil is the first language of human civilization. Among the languages of the world, Tamil language occupies a prime position and has its own uniqueness. Tamil language is considered to be the whole history of Tamils. In each period, different literatures appeared and illuminated Tamil. Literature renews itself from time to time. Various literatures appear as they evolve from one to the other. The charity of the Tamil artists who helped the development of these animals is commendable. Through his works, the creators have volunteered to build a new society where social evils have disappeared and been revived. Short stories have been widely read and researched in twentieth-century Tamil literature. The short story creator K. Alagirisamy stands for femininity and knows the problems of women and expresses them in his short stories. The research summary of this article is to explore and bring out the feminist ideas expressed in this way

The comparisons of the efficacy of two fixed dose combinations, i.e. Salmeterol and Fluticasone vs. Formoterol and Tiotropium bromide in moderate to severe COPD patients

Background: Bronchodilators are essential for symptomatic management of all stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For patients whose COPD is not sufficiently controlled by monotherapy, combining a ß2-agonist with either inhaled steroid or anticholinergic drug is a convenient way of delivering treatment. Currently, there is no documentation to say that one drug is superior to other or the contrary, but a combination of two drugs is more effective than giving single drug alone in patients suffering from COPD.Methods: The study was prospective, open labelled, randomized, comparative interventional clinical study conducted by the Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine, Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital, Chitradurga in 60 moderates to severe COPD patients.Results: Both the treatments i.e. Salmeterol/Fluticasone and Tiotropium/Formoterol were equally effective as far as the improvement of the lung functions and Borg dyspnoea score are concerned. The difference in improvement with the combination of Salmeterol/Fluticasone was not statistically significant (p>0.05) compared to the combination of Tiotropium/Formoterol. However, Salmeterol/Fluticasone was found to be better than Tiotropium/Formoterol in improving the lung function of moderate to severe COPD patients.Conclusions: Salmeterol/Fluticasone is efficacious and better than Tiotropium /Formoterol combination for maintenance therapy in moderate to severe COPD patients

A comparative study of the learning styles among 1st, 2nd and final year MBBS students

Background: Learning style is the way students begin to focus, internalize and remember new and difficult information. Identifying the learning styles of medical students will enable the faculty to use appropriate T/L method to increase the grasping ability of their subject/ learning. Purpose of the study was to assess and compare the learning styles of 1st, 2nd and final MBBS students by using VARK questionnaire.Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional study based on the questionnaire, conducted by the department of Pharmacology at Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital, Chitradurga. The VARK learning styles assessment questionnaire was administered to 1st (96 students), 2nd (60 students) and Final year (49 students). The students were categorized as auditory, kinaesthetic, visual learner or read/write depending on the predominant option they chose. Independent sample 't' test was used to compare the mean scores between the two groups using the software SPSS v22.Results: 40% of students had unimodal and 60% had multimodal learning style. Final year MBBS students had higher percentage of multimodal learning style (73%). The most preferred style of learning among all the medical students was kinesthetic (6.6), followed by aural (5.5), visual (4.0) and read/write (3.5). There was significant difference between the learning styles of 1st and Final year MBBS students in Visual (p=0.01) and Read /Write (p= 0.008).Conclusions: Knowing that students have different learning styles and kinesthetic being the most preferred mode of learning will help medical faculty to develop teaching/learning strategies for better outcomes

A comparative study of efficacy and safety of flupirtine versus piroxicamin patients with low back pain

Background: Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal symptom caused by a variety of disorders that affect the lumbar spine. The most frustrating aspect in the treatment of low back pain is that there is “no magic bullets”. The objective of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety of flupirtine versus piroxicam in patients with back pain.Methods: This was prospective, open labeled, randomized, comparative clinical study conducted by the Departments Orthopedics and Pharmacology, BMC&H, Chitradurga. Study was conducted on 60 patients of either sex, aged above 18 years with low back pain. Assessments were done for Finger-to-Floor Distance (FFD), lumbar pain, Lasegue’s sign, tenderness of vertebral muscles, pain & sensory disturbance in lower limbs and response to therapy for efficacy. Parametric data was analyzed by t-test and proportions were compared using Chi-square test.Results: 74 patients were randomized to 2 groups of 37 each. Group I patients received flupirtine maleate 100 mg twice daily and Group II patients received piroxicam 20 mg twice daily for 14 days. 30 patients in each group completed the study and were analysed. On intergroup comparison, there was no statistical difference (p>0.05) in the efficacy parameters of finger-to-floor distance (FFD), lumbar pain, Lasegue’s sign, tenderness of vertebral muscles, sensory disturbance in lower limbs, VAS scores & global assessment of response to therapy. 13.3% in flupirtine group and 16.6% in piroxicam group reported adverse events.  Conclusions: Both flupiritine and piroxicam were equally effective but flupirtine was better tolerated than piroxicam.

Phase-morphology and molecular structure correlations in model fullerene-polymer nanocomposites

Organic or polymer based photovoltaic devices promise solar technologies that are inexpensive enough to be widely exploited and therefore provide a significant fraction of the future energy needs. There are many promising polymer-fullerene mixtures that are promising materials candidates for achieving high performance device, but their exploitation requires an improved understanding of their structure-property relationships. Of particular relevance is the molecular structural as well as mesoscale phase behaviour. In order to guide the use of electron acceptor fullerenes in these systems we are using multi-scale molecular modelling coupled with neutron and X-ray scattering to determine the structure behavior of model polymer-fullerene mixtures. Neutron scattering is particularly useful for these types of studies since the fullerene generally have a high scattering contrast with respect to most polymers. This natural contrast, enhanced by careful selective deuteration allows us to carefully probe the atomic and molecular interactions in these complex systems. We are studying model polymer systems to establish fullerene-polymer phase behaviour. To establish how fullerene addition changes polymer phase behaviour, using advanced scattering techniques we are studying phase morphology and molecular structure. Control of morphology development is being examined with particular relevance to solid state processing

Survey of Valinokkam Bay and adjoining area to assess its suitability for integrated sea farming — A report

The Valinokkam Bay and the adjoining area, east of the Bay surveyed, lie between Lat. 9°9' N and 9° 12' N and Long. 78°30'E and 78°42'E . The available information indicates that the bay and the adjoining grounds in the sea are highly productive and suitable for sea farming activities

Method for Aggregating The Reporting of Interventions in Complex Studies (MATRICS): successful development and testing

Objectives: To develop a tool for the accurate reporting and aggregation of findings from each of the multiple methods used in a complex evaluation in an unbiased way. Study Design and Setting: We developed a Method for Aggregating The Reporting of Interventions in Complex Studies (MATRICS) within a gastroenterology study [Evaluating New Innovations in (the delivery and organisation of) Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy services by the NHS Modernisation Agency (ENIGMA)]. We subsequently tested it on a different gastroenterology trial [Multi-Institutional Nurse Endoscopy Trial (MINuET)]. We created three layers to define the effects, methods, and findings from ENIGMA. We assigned numbers to each effect in layer 1 and letters to each method in layer 2. We used an alphanumeric code based on layers 1 and 2 to every finding in layer 3 to link the aims, methods, and findings. We illustrated analogous findings by assigning more than one alphanumeric code to a finding. We also showed that more than one effect or method could report the same finding. We presented contradictory findings by listing them in adjacent rows of the MATRICS. Results: MATRICS was useful for the effective synthesis and presentation of findings of the multiple methods from ENIGMA. We subsequently successfully tested it by applying it to the MINuET trial. Conclusion: MATRICS is effective for synthesizing the findings of complex, multiple-method studies.6 page(s

Genotype by environment studies demonstrate the critical role of phenology in adaptation of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to high and low yielding environments of India

In order to investigate specific and general adaptation of chickpea in India, a wide range of sub-continental, Australian and Mediterranean genotypes were grown across seven sites characterizing the major chickpea growing areas over 3 years, and extensive data on plant stand, early vigour, phenology, productivity and yield components collected. High and low yielding sites were clearly separated by a range of physical and biological characters, low yield being associated with low latitude and pre-season rainfall, high temperature, early phenology, short crop duration, low biomass and fecundity. Genotype by environment interactions for yield were highly significant (P <0.001), and accounted for more variance than that attributed to genotypes alone. Ward''s hierarchical clustering indicated that the genotypes could be separated into discrete groups, comprising material specifically adapted to the north (Clusters 2 and 3) or south (Cluster 5), widely or consistently poorly adapted germplasm (Clusters 1 and 4, respectively). Cluster 5, comprising germplasm from southern and central India, was characterized by early phenology, confirming the role of drought escape in southern India. With increasing latitude Cluster 5 genotypes remained early, but had the capacity to delay maturity considerably, resulting in average, and occasionally above average yields. However, compared to well-adapted material in the north, Cluster 5 biomass was low, and the time interval between flowering and podding up to 50 days, representing repeated cycles of flowering and subsequent abortion. Clusters 2 and 3, dominated by northern Indian genotypes, were characterized by later phenology, and were able to delay the onset of flowering significantly more than the remaining germplasm at late flowering northern sites. In Cluster 3, the second highest yielding group overall, this increased both source and sink potential at productive northern sites. Cluster 2 was uniformly later than Cluster 3, and lower yielding at most sites. Cluster 1 was characterized by intermediate flowering and relatively early, responsive maturity, a phenological compromise responsible for wide adaptation, by providing sufficient drought escape in the south, and enough biomass in the north to produce above average yields in these contrasting environments. ICCV 10 from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and 2 Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) lines, BG 391 and BG 1006, were the most consistently high yielding, ranking in the top 10 at 10 and 8 sites, respectively. Cluster 4, comprising largely Australian cultivars, was characterized by late, unresponsive phenology and the lowest yield at each sit