Congruence schemes

A new category of algebro-geometric objects is defined. This construction is a vast generalization of existing F1-theories, as it contains the the theory of monoid schemes on the one hand and classical algebraic theory, e.g. Grothendieck schemes, on the the other. It also gives a handy description of Berkovich subdomains and thus contains Berkovich's approach to abstract skeletons. Further it complements the theory of monoid schemes in view of number theoretic applications as congruence schemes encode number theoretical information as opposed to combinatorial data which are seen by monoid schemes

A Methodology for Afterburner Evaluation

A preliminary investigation of the performance of an afterburner module proposed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment, Bangalore for the Kaveri engine has been carried out. The investigation, which was both theoretical and experimental, evaluated the af-terburner configuration on the basis of flame stability, combustion efficiency and total pressure loss. An evaluation methodology, which was formulated, has been employed to arrive at design modifications for improved performance

Determinants of safety helmet use among motorcyclists in Kerala, India

Background: Motorcycles account for a large proportion of road traffic accidents in India and the riders of these vehicles run a high risk of injuries or death. This study aims to explore the determinants of helmet use among motorcyclists in Kerala, India. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in Kerala, India, over a period of six months. 309 motorcyclists in Kerala were interviewed for this study using a pretested structured questionnaire. Results: Among 309 motorcyclists, 80% were less than 40 years of age, and only 24% were females. Among the total, only 31.4% used a helmet. There was a statistically significant association between the use of helmet and gender, marital status, drunken driving, use of alcohol and attitude towards implementing legislative measures. Odds Ratios observed were 5.3 for female gender compared to male, 4.5 for those with a positive attitude towards the implementation of legislative measures on helmet use, 3.7 for those who were not drunk while driving and 2.3 for unmarried compared to married persons. Conclusions: The study concludes that the determinants associated with the practice of helmet use were gender, drunken driving, marital status and positive attitude towards legal measures

Incidence de certains facteurs sur l’issue d’une psychothérapie dans un essai clinique randomisé auprès de patients avec trouble de personnalité limite (TPL)

Au Personality Disorders Institute, nous avons étudié l’efficacité de la psychothérapie focalisée sur le transfert (PFT), une psychothérapie psychodynamique manualisée qui se déroule deux fois par semaine à l’intention de personnes souffrant de troubles de personnalité limite (TPL). Nous avons comparé la PFT à la thérapie dialectique comportementale (TDC) et à la psychothérapie psychodynamique de soutien (PPS) dans un essai clinique randomisé auprès de 90 patients ayant un TPL. Dans un premier temps, nous présentons certains fondements à l’origine du développement des TPL, suivis d’une discussion des bases théoriques de la PFT. Nous abordons ensuite les caractéristiques des patients qui influent sur les résultats du traitement. Nous présentons des données à la fois cliniques et empiriques dans une discussion de cas individuels représentatifs de l’échantillon de patients borderline traités en PFT.At the Personality Disorders Institute we have been investigating the efficacy of Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP), a twice weekly manualized psychodynamic psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder compared to Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Supportive Psychotherapy (SP) in a randomized clinical trial of 90 borderline patients. We will first present some developmental foundations of BPD, followed by a discussion of the theoretical foundations of TFP. We will then discuss patient characteristics that have an impact on outcome. We will present both clinical and empirical data in a discussion of individual cases that were representative of a sample of borderline patients treated in Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP).En el Personality Disorders Institute estudiamos la eficacia de la psicoterapia focalizada en la transferencia (PFT), una psicoterapia psicodinámica hecha manual, que se lleva a cabo dos veces por semana para las personas que sufren de trastornos de personalidad límite (TPL). Comparamos la PFT con la terapia dialéctica comportamental (TDC) y la psicoterapia psicodinámica de apoyo (PPS) en una prueba clínica aleatoria en 90 pacientes con TPL. En un primer momento, presentamos ciertos fundamentos al origen del desarrollo de las TPL, seguidos de una discusión de las bases teóricas de la PFT. Enseguida abordamos las características de los pacientes que influyen en los resultados del tratamiento. Presentamos los datos, a la vez clínicos y empíricos, en una discusión de casos individuales representativos de la muestra de pacientes límite tratados por medio de PFT.No Personality Disorders Institute, estudamos a eficácia da psicoterapia focalizada na transferência (PFT), uma psicoterapia psicodinâmica manualizada que é realizada duas vezes por semana com pessoas que sofrem de transtornos de personalidade borderline (TPB). Comparamos a PFT com a terapia comportamental dialética (TCD) e com a psicoterapia psicodinâmica de apoio (PPA) em um teste clínico randomizado junto a 90 pacientes que sofrem de um TPB. Primeiramente, apresentamos alguns fundamentos originários do desenvolvimento dos TPB, seguidos de uma discussão sobre as bases teóricas da PFT. Abordamos, em seguida, as características dos pacientes que influenciam os resultados do tratamento. Apresentamos dados, ao mesmo tempo clínicos e empíricos em uma discussão de casos individuais representativos da amostragem de pacientes borderline tratados em PFT

Reliability Based Seismic Design of Open Ground Storey Framed Buildings

Open Ground Storey (OGS) framed buildings in which the ground storey is kept open without providing any infill walls and mainly used for parking, are increasingly common in urban areas. Vulnerability of this type of buildings has been exposed in the past earthquakes. OGS buildings are conventionally designed considering a bare frame analysis, ignoring the stiffness of the infill walls present in the upper storeys, which under-estimates the inter-storey drift and the force demand in the ground storey columns. To compensate this, a multiplication factor (MF) is introduced by various international codes while calculating the design forces (bending moments and shear forces) in the ground storey columns. Present study focuses on the evaluation of seismic performances of OGS buildings designed with alternative MFs through performance-based design approach using a probabilistic framework. The probabilistic seismic demand models and corresponding fragility curves for all the selected OGS buildings are developed for different performance levels. Reliability curves are developed for the OGS building frames against the seismic hazard associated with maximum seismic zone of India (Zone-V of IS 1893, 2002). Similar analyses are also carried out on bare frames and fully infilled frames for reference. It is found from the present study that the application of MF only in ground storey, as suggested by many literatures and design codes (including Indian standards), is not an appropriate solution for design of OGS buildings as it leads to vulnerable adjacent storey. This study proposes an effective scheme of MF for design of OGS buildings that yields acceptable levels of reliability index

Support optimization tool for aero engine configuration systems

In an aircraft engine, basic functionality of configuration system is to form the network of supply lines for air, fuel & oil. Configuration hardware mainly consists of tubes, ducts, valves & support brackets. Many of the Aircraft engines are failed due to failure of fuel pipes and caused big hazards. Hence to avoid accidents, hard wares are designed properly against the failures. In order to use the resources properly optimum design of hard wares is necessary. The two basic design requirements for configuration systems are: (a) high cycle fatigue (vibratory stresses) and (b) low cycle fatigue (thermally induced stresses). Under these design requirements optimum design can be done through the selection of critical design parameters. Critical design parameters in a configuration system considered in the present study are: (i) Support location for the tube layout and (ii) Bracket support type at this location. The judicious selections of these two design parameters greatly influence the high cycle fatigue and low cycle fatigue life. This also helps in reducing the weight and cost of the system. Design optimisation is an iterative process and computer software can help to obtain an optimum design. In the present study, user friendly software is developed using TCL/TK environment. This is linked with a commercial software ANSYS and PEZ tool. ANSYS is used to carry out the structural analysis considering preliminary support locations. Analysis results from ANSYS are the inputs for the optimization analysis. PEZ tool modifies the support locations based on the optimization results. ANSYS will analyse the structure once again based on the modified support locations. This loop will continue till target reaches