Verification of ZVS boost converter with resonant circuit & modelling of an accurate two-diode PV array system simulator using MATLAB simulink

This thesis proposes a MATLAB Simulink simulator for Photo Voltaic (PV) Array system. The main contribution is the utilisation of a Two-Diode model to represent a PV cell. This model is preferred because of its better accuracy at low irradiance levels. A PV of Kyocera (KC200GT) 50*10 Array is taken & the characteristics curves are plotted. The same simulator can be interfaced with MPPT algorithms & Power Electronics converters for better efficiency. The P-V & I-V Curves of this simulator is found in exact with that given by the manufacturers. It is expected that the proposed work can be very useful for PV professionals who require a simple, fast & accurate PV simulator in order to design their systems. A detailed analysis of a resonant circuit based soft-switching boost-converter for PV applications is also performed. The converter operates at Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS) turn-on and turn-off of the main switch, & Zero Current Switching (ZCS) turn-on and ZVS turn-off of the auxiliary switch due to resonant circuit incorporated into the circuit. Detailed operation of the converters, analysis of various modes, simulation as well as experimental results for the design has also been aptly presented. The systems are modelled & simulated in MATLAB 2013a 64-bit version and the output waveforms are shown

A questionnaire based study to assess feedback on teaching methodology and evaluation methods in pharmacology

Background: The reviewing of teaching and evaluation methods by feedback from students and modification is very important for further development and restructuring of medical education in future. The curriculum that we follow needs to be assessed periodically as it highlights the strengths as well as points out the fallacies, which are required to improve the medical teaching.Methods: The present study was carried out at Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre in a total of 100 third year MBBS students. Pre-validated questionnaire was used. Suggestions were also enquired regarding the modifications needed in pharmacology teaching methods.Results: Out of the topic of interest in pharmacology, CNS ranks first with 28%, followed by CVS with 20%. Regarding the topic to be added in regular Pharmacology teaching, 37% preferred on case study and treatment discussion, while 32% preferred group discussion and 16% for quiz. Among the students 54% preferred text books only for studying pharmacology. Regarding the special topics to be discussed in pharmacology, 31% opted for paediatric pharmacology. The students have also suggested for clinical based teaching.Conclusions: The results of present study can serve as positive feedback to make the teaching programme more interesting. A well designed and systematic prospective research needs to be carried out, so that students get updated every year. It can also pave way for a rational prescribing practice after acquiring a proper and updated knowledge about Pharmacology as part of the undergraduate teaching programme

Strand plant communities of the Indian sub-continent

Strand plant-communities, other than the mangroves, composed of psammophytes, halophytes have been described along with bioclimatic, edaphic factors for the seven coastal biogeographic sub-divisions of the sub-continent

Direct measurement of atomic entanglement via cavity photon statistics

We propose an experimental scheme for the measurement of entanglement between two two-level atoms. Our scheme requires one of the two entangled atoms to interact with a cavity field dispersively, and we show that by measuring the zero time-delay second-order coherence function of the cavity field, one can measure the concurrence of an arbitrary Bell-like atomic two-qubit state. As our scheme requires only one of the atoms to interact with the measured cavity, the entanglement quantification becomes independent of the location of the other atom. Therefore, our scheme can have important implications for entanglement quantification in distributed quantum systems.Comment: Accepted in Annalen der Physi

How Engineering Technology Students Perceive Mathematics

Engineering Technology (ET) is often combined with that of Engineering. Although Engineering Technology is based on a more hands-on approach and Engineering a theoretical approach, the two majors share a very similar pedagogy in teaching students the same engineering and scientific principles. An observation by an ET professor found that ET students more often than not would eschew the use of mathematical computations and instead provide answers they believe to be correct, without computation or explanation. Leading researchers to delve into possible reasons as to why ET students are reluctant to utilize mathematics. This study utilized in-person interviews with 15 undergraduate participants from a Midwestern University in the United States of America from ET to ascertain how ET students perceive mathematics. The results of the study found that although ET students were stated to not hate mathematics and are open to using mathematics, there was a slight apprehension towards math due to bad math experiences and not being able to connect the conceptual nature of mathematics to the visual and real-life scenarios ET students are used to facing. The results of this study help to lay the foundation for future research studies geared towards further understanding why ET students are apprehensive towards mathematics and ultimately how to help ET students overcome this apprehension

Math Anxiety: Engineering Technology Students Problem Solving Through Rational or Experiential Context

Math anxiety is a pernicious problem. The issue manifests in a variety of ways, some avoid math completely, while others enact coping skills to avoid the use of math. This study surveys students who are pursuing Engineering Technology degrees and delves into the tendencies of the students and how they utilize certain types of problem-solving techniques. The survey utilized the instrument Cognitive-Experiential Self Theory (CEST) [1]. The survey will help to learn the extent to which the students rely on the rational and experiential context of their lives to answer technical questions. The study is intended to enlighten educators and others to the degree intuition is used by students as a means of problem solving. The conclusions drawn will help to develop techniques to encourage students to have a more positive view of mathematics and to use mathematics for solving technical problems. The overall results will help to support future work on math anxiety and to develop methods to curb students’ negative reactions to scenarios contributing to math anxieties

Effect of educational intervention on the knowledge and attitude on prescribing amongst interns of a tertiary care hospital: a questionnaire based study

Background: Prescribing correct therapy is the essential part of physicians and therefore, adequate knowledge and confidence on drugs efficacy, safety, cost, and convenience is important. Understanding the knowledge and perceptions of medical students will help to identify the problems in clinical pharmacology teaching. Prescribing performance and competence can be significantly improved by training and giving feedback to the prescriber. The objective of the study was to evaluate and compare the effect of educational intervention in enhancing the knowledge of medical interns on prescribing practice.Methods: A Cross sectional, Educational Interventional observational study was conducted using two copies of a pretested validated questionnaire (Pre & Post CME) with 15 questions among 110 MBBS interns. They were subjected to a continuous medical education on rational prescription writing followed by a hand’s on training on prescription writing in which they were divided into 9 batches and asked to prescribe for the case scenario given to them and the same was audited and feedback was given.Results: Out of 110 internees’, 105 (95.50%) and 95 (96.90%) had completely filled the pre & post educational intervention questionnaire. The overall knowledge and attitude of interns has improved after the intervention. Significant increase (P value < 0.0001) in the Mean + Standard deviation value from 5.81 + 2.1 to 7.35 + 3.18 is noted on applying Paired t Test. All the prescriptions were rational. The formats of their prescriptions were scrutinized and the precise way of writing the same was explained to the interns.Conclusions: This study clearly shows that early sensitization of Physicians about rational prescription writing during Internship phase by means of educational intervention/training program can reduce the number of prescription errors

Math Anxiety in Female and Underrepresented Minority Students a Literature Review

Educators have noticed that some students respond to exercises requiring mathematical calculations with numerical answers that are not correct and far from realistic. These student solutions are often given without further comment or calculation by the students and seem to such avoidance by the students to engage with the numerical calculations. Anecdotal evidence, by these educators, suggest that such responses are more prevalent from female and underrepresented minority groups — raising the question of whether demographics play a role in a students’ approach to numerical problems. Researchers have searched for existing work in this area and find that there are gaps in reports on factors that may contribute to students’ decision to avoid math in their problem solving and a lack of research on how to support students who respond in these ways. Further focus on previous studies on female and underrepresented minority students is undertaken and shared through this document with the intent of sharing these findings and determine the gaps for work that may be done in this crucial area

Academic and Industry Collaboration: A Literature Review

As part of a larger project determining best practices for establishing and maintaining effective, sustainable, collaborative relationships between academic and industry professionals, this review will outline the available materials and, conversely, the multiple gaps that exist regarding course content, methods of teaching, and practical experience relating to preparation for careers in engineering and engineering technology. Currently, there is no clear agreement on which principles and practices best enable industrial partners and academic institutions to establish and maintain mutually-beneficial partnerships. In fact, there is no clear definition in the literature of what a mutually-beneficial partnership entails, across the full range of educational, research, and professional development and service activities carried out within the engineering and technical community. The authors of this paper established informally that educators in both engineering and engineering technology are often challenged by this lack of research on sound recommendations regarding collaborative efforts. This paper is intended to be the start of a larger systemic literature review