Selection of Optimal Air Independent Propulsion System using Forced Decision Matrix

A project management decision tool viz., forced decision matrix (FDM) is implemented in this paper towards identification of a suitable optimal air independent propulsion (AIP) system for submerged vehicles. FDM is utilised in order to handle the trade-off from amongst multiple propulsion technologies. FDM is based on multi-attribute utility theory used extensively in decision analysis situations involving persuasive multiple alternatives. The efficiency and effectiveness of this methodology to tackle complex solutions is elaborated in this paper with appropriate calculations. A rational decision-making procedure is evolved using the FDM in order to select the best suited AIP technology for a submerged vehicle. It is inferred that FDM is an effective and potential tool towards identification of best suitable solution in a multi-option environment

Bottom-Up and Top-Down Approaches for MgO

In this chapter, we present an overview of synthesis of MgO nanoparticles and thin films by using top-down and bottom-up approaches. The bottom-up approaches are generally utilized to grow nanoparticles by the methods that involve chemical reactions. Sometimes, methods based on these reactions are also able to grow thin films. The top-down approaches are preferred for growing thin films where bulk material is used for depositions. The methods, which are frequently used, are radio frequency sputtering, pulsed lased deposition, and molecular beam epitaxy and e-beam evaporation. Sometimes, methods like mechanical milling and high energy ball milling are used to grow nanoparticles

Predicting Global Ranking of Universities Across the World Using Machine Learning Regression Technique

Digital transformation in the field of education plays a significant role especially when used for analysis of various teaching and learning parameters to predict global ranking index of the universities across the world. Machine learning is a subset of computer science facilitates machine to learn the data using various algorithms and predict the results. This research explores the Quacquarelli Symonds approach for evaluating global university rankings and develop machine learning models for predicting global rankings. The research uses exploratory data analysis for analysing the dataset and then evaluate machine learning algorithms using regression techniques for predicting the global rankings. The research also addresses the future scope towards evaluating machine learning algorithms for predicting outcomes using classification and clustering techniques

An Appraisal on auto-ignition/fire problems in coal mines: It's impact and few curative measures

Indeed, 'Agni' or the Fire is foremost important and essential for creature on the mother earth, but it is not well-thought of acceptable for coal mining fraternity. Despite of so much helpful to the mankind, auto-ignition/ fire in coal mines create several distresses. The problem of spontaneous combustion or fire in coal mines are became a global catastrophe. Due to fire in coal mines not only loss of huge amount of non-renewal energy resources, but it also produces several agonies on economy, society and environment of the nation. Despite of other reasons, coal mine fire also leads an immense impact on global warming. It leads to several complications on safety of the miners as well as productivity of mines. In this paper, problem associated with coal mine fire, its method of early detection, along with prevention and control methodologies used worldwide are discussed

Chlorophyll Fluorescence Spectra as an Indicator of X-Ray + EMS-Induced Phytotoxicity in Safflower

Abstract. The present investigation deals with the study of in vivo laser-induced chlorophyll florescence spectra (LICF) of safflower leaves (Carthamus tinctorius L.) for X-rays + EMS-treated plants. Seeds were treated with different doses of Xray + EM

STUDY OF IN VITRO ANTI-OXIDANT AND ANTI-DIABETIC ACTIVITY BY MUSSAENDA MACROPHYLLA ROOT EXTRACTS

Objective: The systematic study of effective alternative anti-diabetic drugs has great importance to manage diabetes as well as other oxidative stress-related diseases. According to previous research, root and bark of Mussaenda macrophylla plant has anti-microbial, anti-coagulant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective activity. Ethnomedicinal data shows that Mussaenda macrophylla is used to treat diabetes as well as oxidative stress. The objective of this research is to investigate in vitro anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant activity of root extract of Mussaenda macrophylla. Methods: DPPH free radical scavenging assay was used to detect anti-oxidant potency of ethanol and methanol root extract of the plant and expressed as % of radicle inhibition. Anti-diabetic activity was determined by the glucose diffusion method using a glucose oxidase kit and results were expressed as mean±SD. Results: The ethanol root extract at the concentration of 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml showed better glucose diffusion inhibition than that of methanol extract at the same concentration on increasing time interval. Ethanol extract at the concentration 100 µg/ml displayed better DPPH scavenging activity (89.83±0.19 %) than that of methanol extract (86.61±0.75%). Conclusion: This study concluded that ethanol and methanol root extract of Mussenda macrophylla have potent anti-diabetic as well as anti-oxidant activity but further advance research is necessary in the animal model

ANALYSIS OF PSYCHO-SOCIAL RISK FACTORS IN PATIENTS WITH RECENT ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

ABSTRACTObjective: Although psycho-social factors are reported to be independently associated with myocardial ischemia in many studies, the majority ofthese were done in the western population. This was conducted in India to determine the impact of psycho-social factors in subjects with the recentacute coronary syndrome (ACS).Methods: Patients with the first episode of ACS within 4 weeks of onset at LPS Institute of Cardiology, Kanpur, India between 2013 and 2015 wereenrolled as cases. Control was community-based individuals without coronary artery disease. Both were compared for demographic variables,the psycho-social profile including annual income, education status, depression, stressful life events (using presumptive stressful life events scale,i.e. PSLES), and independent predictors were determined using multiple logistic regression analysis and were computed as odds ratio (OR).Results: Between 200 cases and 200 controls, respectively, statistically significant difference was observed in mean annual income (2.74±1.95 vs.2.23±1.22 lac rupees; p<0.05), smoking exposure (13.93±16.17 vs. 4.88±3.10 pack years; p<0.05), mean number of stressful life events (8.18±2.57 vs.4.14±1.63; p<0.05). Depression (48% vs. 27%; p<0.05) while education status was comparable. Further, odds of having myocardial infarction werehigher for subjects with mild-to-moderate depression (OR: 2.45), family history of heart disease (OR: 2.25), hypertensive males (OR: 1.43), anddiabetic females (OR: 1.22).Conclusion: Psycho-social factors, particularly depression may have a significant role in the prognosis of ACS. Further systematic studies arewarranted to provide more important insights regarding the magnitude of the association between psycho-social factors and the onset of ACS.Keywords: Coronary artery disease, Depression, Psycho-social factors, Presumptive stressful life events scale, Stressful life events

Porównanie stymulacji koniuszkowej i przegrodowej prawej komory: wpływ na wskaźniki echokardiograficzne, czynność lewej komory i efekty kliniczne w obserwacji krótko- i średniookresowej

Introduction. Right ventricular apical pacing (RVAP) has a greater ‘desynchronizing effect’ than pacing from the interventricular septum (RVSP) and may translate into worse outcomes in the long run. The aim of the present study was to examine the short- and intermediate-term effects of RVAP versus RVSP on echocardiographic features, left ventricular function, and clinical outcome. Materials and methods. 467 patients between August 2014 and March 2018 without structural heart disease were prospectively randomised to RVAP (N = 226) or RVSP (N = 241) and were studied at baseline, six months, and 12 months by echocardiography, biochemically [N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)], and clinically [six-minute walk test (6MWT)]. Left ventricular 2D strain and tissue velocity images were analysed to measure 18-segment time-to-peak longitudinal systolic strain and 12-segment time-to-peak systolic tissue velocity. Intraventricular dyssynchrony was calculated using tissue Doppler velocity data by comparing the time to systolic peak velocity between segments in multiple apical views by their respective standard deviations. Interventricular dyssynchrony was measured as the temporal difference of left ventricular pre-ejection period and right ventricular pre-ejection period by pulse-wave Doppler images. All the analysis was carried out using statistical package for social service version 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. The commonest indication for pacemaker implantation was atrioventricular block (N = 311, 66.6%), followed by sinus node dysfunction (N = 138, 29.5%) and chronic bifascicular and trifascicular block (N = 18, 3.9%), with all patients receiving a single chamber pacemaker (VVI: n = 107, 22.9% and VVIR: n = 360,77.1%). There were significant differences in NT-proBNP level (410 ± 254 pg/mL vs. 370 ± 168 pg/mL, p = 0.02), 6MWT (442 ± 19 m vs. 482 ± 21 m, p = 0.01), mean QRS duration (164 ± 8.3 ms vs. 148 ± 10.6 ms, p = 0.02), intraventricular dyssynchrony (septal to lateral wall delay: 88.6 ± 24.2 ms vs. 43.7 ± 11.2 ms, p = 0.04), interventricular dyssynchrony (31.2 ± 22.8 vs. 19.4 ± 11.2, 0 = 0.03), end diastolic volume (78.4 ± 15.6 mL vs. 72.8 ± 14.2 mL, p = 0.04), and end-systolic volume (30.2 ± 13.1 mL vs. 25.6 ± 11.7 mL, p = 0.05) at the end of 12 months between RVAP and RVSP respectively, though not significantly different at six months, favouring the RVS-paced group. However, no significant difference in ejection fraction (59 ± 5% vs. 61.5 ± 3.2%, p = 0.39) and New York Heart Association class (1.29 ± 0.3 vs. 1.28 ± 0.4, p = 0.3) at six and 12 months follow up were noted. Conclusion. Right ventricular septal pacing was associated with a better outcome in terms of echocardiographic indices, left ventricular function, and clinical outcome compared to patients with apical pacing over an intermediate-term follow up.Wstęp. Stymulacja koniuszkowa prawej komory ma większy „wpływ desynchronizacyjny” niż stymulacja przegrodowa prawej komory (RVSP) i w dłuższej perspektywie może prowadzić do poważniejszych skutków. Przedstawione badanie przeprowadzono w celu porównania krótko- i długookresowego wpływu RVAP i RVSP na parametry echokardiograficzne, czynność lewej komory i efekty kliniczne. Materiał i metody. Prospektywne badanie prowadzono od sierpnia 2014 roku do marca 2018 roku. Uczestniczyło w nim 467 chorych bez choroby strukturalnej serca, których przydzielono losowo do RVAP (N = 226) lub RVSP (N = 241). W czasie pierwszej wizyty wszystkich uczestników poddano badaniu echokardiograficznemu, badaniu biochemicznemu [stężenie N-końcowego fragmentu propeptydu natriuretycznego typu B (NT-proBNP)] i ocenie stanu klinicznego [test 6-minutowego marszu (6MWT)]. Badania te powtórzono po 6 i 12 miesiącach. Przeanalizowano lewokomorowe obrazy 2D z badania odkształcenia (strain) i prędkości ruchu miokardium (tissue velocity), aby zmierzyć czas do maksymalnego skurczowego odkształcenie podłużnego w 18 segmentach i czas do maksymalnej skurczowej prędkości ruchu miokardium w 12 segmentach. Dyssynchronię śródkomorową obliczano na podstawie danych uzyskanych w badaniu doplera tkankowego, porównując czas do maksymalnej prędkości skurczowej między segmentami w wielu projekcjach koniuszkowych na podstawie ich odchyleń standardowych. Dyssynchronię międzykomorową mierzono jako różnicę w czasie okresu przedwyrzutowego lewej i prawej komory w badaniu doplera fali pulsacyjnej. Wszystkie analizy statystyczne wykonano za pomocą pakietu oprogramowania SPSS, wersja 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Wartości p wynoszące poniżej 0,05 uznano za statystycznie istotne. Wyniki. Najczęstszym wskazaniem do wszczepienia stymulatora był blok przedsionkowo-komorowy (n = 311; 66,6%), a w następnej kolejności dysfunkcja węzła zatokowego (n = 138; 29,5%) i przewlekły blok dwu- lub trójwiązkowy (n = 18; 3,9%). Wszystkim chorym wszczepiono stymulator jednokomorowy (VVI: n = 107; 22,9% lub VVIR: n = 360;77,1%). Stwierdzono istotne różnice między RVAP i RVSP na korzyść stymulacji RVS w wartościach NT-proBNP (odpowiednio 410 ± 254 pg/ml vs. 370 ± 168 pg/ml; p = 0,02), dystansu 6MWT (442 ± 19 m vs. 482 ± 21 m; p = 0,01), średniego czasu trwania zespołu QRS (164 ± 8,3 ms vs. 148 ± 10,6 ms; p = 0,02), dyssynchronii śródkomorowej (opóźnienie między przegrodą międzykomorową a ścianą boczną: 88,6 ± 24,2 ms vs. 43,7 ± 11,2 ms; p = 0,04), dyssynchronii międzykomorowej (31,2 ± 22,8 vs. 19,4 ± 11,2; 0 = 0,03) oraz objętości końcoworozkurczowej (78,4 ± 15,6 ml vs. 72,8 ± 14,2 ml; p = 0,04) i końcowoskurczowej (30,2 ± 13,1 ml vs. 25,6 ± 11,7 ml; p = 0,05) po 12 miesiącach, jednak różnice zaobserwowane po 6 miesiącach. W badaniach przeprowadzonych po 6 i 12 miesiącach nie stwierdzono natomiast istotnych różnic pod względem frakcji wyrzutowej (59 ± 5% vs. 61.5 ± 3.2%, p = 0.39) ani klasy według New York Heart Association (1,29 ± 0,3 vs. 1,28 ± 0,4; p = 0,3). Wnioski. W obserwacji średnioterminowej stymulacja przegrody prawej komory wiązała się z lepszymi efektami w odniesieniu do wskaźników echokardiograficznych, czynności lewej komory i efektu klinicznego niż stymulacja koniuszkowa

ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF BARK AND LEAVES OF FICUS RELIGIOSA L. FROM NEPAL

Objective: Because of adverse side effects, caused by NSAIDs, tolerance, and dependence induced by opiates, the use of these analgesic agents has not been successful in all cases. Therefore, alternative analgesic drugs from plant sources are the new target now days. The objective of this study was to evaluate the analgesic activity of ethanolic extracts of stem barks and leaves of Ficus religiosa. Methods: The analgesic activity of ethanolic extract of stem barks and leaves was evaluated in the Swiss albino mice model using acetic acid-induced writing response and Eddy’s hot plate method. Analgesic activity was demonstrated with the percentage inhibition of acetic acid induced writings and the percentage increased in latency time of paw licking. The potency of test extracts was compared with standard drug, Diclofenac. Results: Ethanolic extract of leaves and bark of F. religiosa showed potential analgesic activity from both methods. From Eddy’s hot plate model, it was observed that the percentage of increased latency time at 90 min by ethanolic extract of leaves and stem bark was found to be 70.81 % (8.54 min) and 70.78 % (8.53 min) respectively at a dose of 400 mg/kg. Both of these results are statistically significant (p&lt;0.05) as compared to the test group. Furthermore, both of these extracts showed the dose-dependent and time-dependent increased in latency time and these results are compared to that of standard drug Diclofenac. Similarly, ethanolic extract of leaves and stem at 400 mg/kg significantly inhibited the number of writhings induced by acetic acid. The percentage inhibition of writhings by ethanolic extract of leaves at a dose of 400 mg/kg was 68.47 % which was similar to that of standard drug Diclofenac (68.47 %). However, ethanolic extract of bark showed relatively lower percentage inhibition (60.79 %) as compared to leaf extract and standard, but the result was significant as compared to that of the test group (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: Ethanolic extracts of F. religiosa stem bark and leaf possess both central and peripheral analgesic properties and these effects may be beneficial for the management of pain

Whole Genome Sequencing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Clinical Isolates From India Reveals Genetic Heterogeneity and Region-Specific Variations That Might Affect Drug Susceptibility

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been constructive in understanding its evolution, genetic diversity and the mechanisms involved in drug resistance. A large number of sequencing efforts from across the globe have revealed genetic diversity among clinical isolates and the genetic determinants for their resistance to anti-tubercular drugs. Considering the high TB burden in India, the availability of WGS studies is limited. Here we present, WGS results of 200 clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis from North India which are categorized as sensitive to first-line drugs, mono-resistant, multi-drug resistant and pre-extensively drug resistant isolates. WGS revealed that 20% of the isolates were co-infected with M. tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria species. We identified 12,802 novel genetic variations in M. tuberculosis isolates including 343 novel SNVs in 38 genes which are known to be associated with drug resistance and are not currently used in the diagnostic kits for detection of drug resistant TB. We also identified M. tuberculosis lineage 3 to be predominant in the northern region of India. Additionally, several novel SNVs, which may potentially confer drug resistance were found to be enriched in the drug resistant isolates sampled. This study highlights the significance of employing WGS in diagnosis and for monitoring further development of MDR-TB strains