Great Expectations and the Ballad of the Road: Simple Annals of the Poor

Charles Dickens (1802-1870), thequintessential Victorian author has depicted variousrecurrent social evils of the 19th century England. InGreat Expectations particularly, he has shown how thepoor orphan young boy Pip, deeply unhappy with hiswretched domestic life, aspires for a better life andposition in the society by any means. Though in adifferent way, Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhay (1896-1950), one of the luminaries of Bengali literature and aneminent early 20th century writer, has also exhibited thestruggle of the orphan young adolescent Apu picturingthe domestic and social realities of the Bengali rural andurban society of the 1920s and 1930s in his well-knownback to back novels The Ballad of the Road (PatherPanchali) and its sequel The Unvanquished (Aparajito).Both these novelists have simultaneously portrayed theoutward impoverished life of common class people, andthe layered sensitibity and human emotions in them,especially in the thoroughly growing ordinary childcharacters like Pip, Apu and others. They have alsomade poverty a character itself, a condition thatrepresents the stark realities of life of the then Englishand Bengali societies respectively. But at the same time,they seem to be far different from each other in dealingwith poverty and their attitudes to life and reality.Therefore, this comparative study aims to criticallyanalyse these novels and explore how differently theseauthors have conveyed their ideology of ‘realism’

Beam quality improvement of high-power semiconductor lasers using laterally inhomogeneous waveguides

This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and AIP Publishing. This article appeared in Appl. Phys. Lett. 113, 221107 (2018) and may be found at https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5054645.High-brightness vertical broad-area edge-emitting (HiBBEE) semiconductor lasers in the 1060 nm wavelength range with excellent beam quality in both lateral and vertical directions are presented. An approach to modify the thresholds of the transverse lateral modes of ridge-waveguide (RW) lasers is investigated. It has been experimentally shown that inhomogeneities in both sides of the ridges increase optical losses of the higher-order lateral modes as compared to the fundamental mode. The resulting enhancement in the contrast of the optical losses favors the emission of the fundamental mode and improves the beam quality. Reference RW HiBBEE lasers with a 15 μm wide conventional ridge and a 2.0 mm long cavity provide laterally multi-lateral mode emission which is typical for RW lasers with such wide and homogeneous ridges. On the other hand, RW HiBBEE lasers with triangular-shaped corrugations in both sides of 15 μm wide ridges provide single-lateral mode emission across a wide current range and improve the lateral M2 factor by more than a factor of 2 in the investigated current range. The corrugated RW HiBBEE lasers provide an almost 2 times higher brightness than the reference RW lasers

Bootstrap mechanisms and unitary symmetries

We study the consequences of the applications of the 'Bootstrap’ hypothesis to the Unitary Symmetries. The groups SU(3), SU (6), U(6,6) and their applications to the strong Interactions of the Hadrons are discussed in the first Chapter. In the second Chapter, we discuss some of the methods that have been used in the past in dynamical (bootstrap) calculations. In the third Chapter, we consider the P-wave quark-pseudoscalar meson Octet scattering and investigate whether the existence of the three quarks, Q, which belong to the spinor representation of SU(3) and are supposed to have fractional charges, can be explained in a self-consistent scheme. The calculation shows that there exists a reciprocal bootstrap relationship between quarks, Q and some other particles, which have the baxyon number 1/3, spin 3/2 and belong to the 15-dimensional representation of SU(3), Using the determinantal method the self-consistent values we have obtained are: NA 2429Mev.,5251 Mev., 22 and 32, where MQ, MQ and g22 are respectively the masses and couplings of Q and Q*. In the fourth Chapter, we consider the meson-baryon scattering in the context of U(6,6) symmetry and study the mass-splittings of the , baryon Octet and Decouplet by N/D method. It is assumed that the SU(3) symmetry is approximately exact so that the masses of the baxyon Octet and Decouplet obtained by using the U(6,6) vertices in the calculation should correspond roughly to their respective 80(3) degenerate masses. Although the results are very much cut off-dependent, the calculations shows that by varying the cut off, S and U(6,6) coupling, g parameters It is possible to obtain the mass-spilttings in the right direction. Considering the very much involved nature of the calculations, one may conclude that the results agree reasonably well with the known experimental facts

Textiles Material dyeing with Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (CO2) without using water

Water is known as much valuable resource for existing in the entire world for its multifunctional properties. So, Scarcity of water and increased environmental awareness are world-wide concerns and that causes a sharp rise in prices for drinking and removal of water. It is well known that the textile industry is one of the largest consumers of water. Conventional textile dyeing uses huge amounts of fresh water and which then is disposed as waste water containing dyestuff chemicals. Water is used as a solvent in many pre-treatment and finishing processes in the textile industry, such as washing, scouring, bleaching dyeing and finishing. So the experts are tried to develop a new technology to dye the textile material without using water (waterless dyeing technology). Elimination of the water process and chemicals will be a real and significant advance for the textile dyeing industry.  This new process utilizes by-product carbon dioxide (CO2) for dyeing textile-materials. It is a completely waterless dyeing process using recycled carbon dioxide in certain temperature and pressure. Key words: Waterless dyeing process, Save the environment from polluted water, Reduction the consumption of water, Rapid process

Research on Comparative Analysis Toxic Effect of Formalin on MBBS Students of Several Medical College in Bangladesh

Formaldehyde is a common indoor pollutant with irritant properties. The evaporation of formaldehyde from cadavers in gross anatomy laboratories can produce high exposure among students and instructors. This study was conducted to assess acute toxic effects of formalin during dissection classes on medical students at the anatomy department in Armed forces medical college, Dhaka (AFMC), Army medical college, Cumilla (AMCC), and Eastern medical college, Cumilla (EMCC) in Bangladesh. A cross sectional approach was adopted to investigate medical students of AFMC (n=125), AMCC (n=50), & EMCC (n=75).Every medical students filled self administered predesigned questionnaire and submitted research authority. The most frequently reported symptoms by medical students of AFMC, AMCC & EMCC were unfavorable scent (84.8%, 86%, 76%), Tearing of eyes (84.8%, 90%, 72%), Running nose with prickling sensibility (61.6%, 82%, 65.33%), Neuralgia/migraine (52%, 86%, 62.67%), Inflammation of eyes (63.2%, 84%, 66.67%), Inconvenience inhale & exhale (72.8%, 86%, 66.67%) , Qualm (80%, 84%, 60%,) Extreme tears/ lacrimation (87.2%, 86% , 49.33%), Sore aphonia/throat(49.6%, 64%, 66.67%), Scabies (53.6%, 78%, 62.67%), Giddiness (63.2%, 72%, 64%), and Blister(52%, 70%, and 65.33%) respectively. Moreover in the current research 69.67%, students of AFMC reported wearing laboratory aprons 56.8%, reported wearing hand gloves and 5.6%, reported wearing eye goggles, where as 92%, of AMCC students reported wearing laboratory aprons/ coat 74%, student wearing hand gloves and 14%,students wearing eye goggles. On the other hand 73.33% of EMCC student reported wearing laboratory aprons 62.67%, students wearing hand gloves as well as only 21.33% students reported wearing eye goggles to protect formalin toxicity. So this research highlighted the irritation action of formalin on medical students during dissection classes in Anatomy department. The harmful effects of formalin can be reduced by some preventive measures like good exhaust ventilation by reducing the concentration of formalin in embalming fluid or using alternative for formalin in the form of phenoxyethanol

Effects of Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury on the Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability to [14C] and [13C]Sucrose

Hepatic encephalopathy that is associated with severe liver failure may compromise the blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity. However, the effects of less severe liver diseases, in the absence of overt encephalopathy, on the BBB are not well understood. The goal of the current study was to investigate the effects of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury on the BBB tight junction permeability to small, hydrophilic molecules using the widely used [14C]sucrose and recently-proposed alternative [13C]sucrose as markers. Rats were subjected to 20 min of hepatic ischemia or sham surgery, followed by 8 h of reperfusion before administration of a single bolus dose of [14C] or [13C]sucrose and collection of serial (0–30 min) blood and plasma and terminal brain samples. The concentrations of [14C] and [13C]sucrose in the samples were determined by measurement of total radioactivity (nonspecific) and LC-MS/MS (specific), respectively. IR injury significantly increased the blood, plasma, and brain concentrations of both [14C] and [13C]sucrose. However, when the brain concentrations were corrected for their respective area under the blood concentration-time curve, only [14C]sucrose showed significantly higher (30%) BBB permeability values in the IR animals. Because [13C]sucrose is a more specific BBB permeability marker, these data indicate that our animal model of hepatic IR injury does not affect the BBB tight junction permeability to small, hydrophilic molecules. Methodological differences among studies of the effects of liver diseases on the BBB permeability may confound the conclusions of such studies

Uncertainties of Parameters Quantification in SHM

The uncertainties of parameters quantification due to various known and unknown conditions are crucial to understand structural health monitoring (SHM) systems. For instance, the amplitudes and the variation of loading conditions play a vital rule how the structural parameters are going to be changed. Hence, the aforementioned issue leads to an additional challenge in the area of SHM that requires attention. This study observed the behaviour of a steel bridge experimentally by employing multi-sensors scenarios e.g. accelerometers and laser triangulation sensor. The dynamical properties such as the peak (e.g. maximum-minimum) accelerations and displacements are evaluated. Additionally, the frequencies and damping ratio from the measured data of the tested bridge has been estimated by utilizing the fast Fourier transform (FFT) estimation. The outcome shows that the variation of input excitations (i.e., random, free-decay, extra-loading) effects the investigated properties as well as on their magnitudes considerably. Therefore, the findings suggest that before making a final judgement based on the identified/estimated properties from measured data, the underlying uncertainties need to be considered to avoid sub-optimal assessment strategy

Enhancement of Web Security Against External Attack

The security of web-based services is currently playing a vital role for the software industry. In recent years, many technologies and standards have emerged in order to handle the security issues related to web services. This paper shows techniques to enhance the security of web services, and some of the recent challenges and recommendations of a proposed model to secure web services. It shows the security process of a real life web application, which includes; HTML5 forms, login security, and a single signon solution. This paper also aim to discuss the ten (10) most common web security vulnerabilities and how to prevent the web application from three (3) of the vulnerabilities. Amongst them are; SQL Injection, Cross Site Scripting and Broken Authentication, and Session Management

Evaluation of [14C] and [13C]Sucrose as Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability Markers

Non-specific quantitation of [14C]sucrose in blood and brain has been routinely used as a quantitative measure of the in vivo blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity. However, the reported apparent brain uptake clearance (Kin) of the marker varies widely (∼100 fold). We investigated the accuracy of the use of the marker in comparison with a stable isotope of sucrose ([13C]sucrose) measured by a specific LC-MS/MS method. Rats received single doses of each marker, and the Kin values were determined. Surprisingly, the Kin value of [13C]sucrose was 6-7 fold lower than that of [14C]sucrose. Chromatographic fractionation after in vivo administration of [14C]sucrose indicated that the majority of the brain content of radioactivity belonged to compounds other than the intact [14C]sucrose. However, mechanistic studies failed to reveal any substantial metabolism of the marker. The water: octanol partition coefficient of [14C]sucrose was \u3e 2 fold higher than that of [13C]sucrose, indicating presence of lipid-soluble impurities in the [14C]sucrose solution. Our data indicate that [14C]sucrose overestimates the true BBB permeability to sucrose. We suggest that specific quantitation of the stable isotope (13C) of sucrose is a more accurate alternative to the current widespread use of the radioactive sucrose as a BBB marker

Implementation of a grid-tied emergency back-up power supply for medium and low power application

Emergency back-up power supply units are necessary in case of grid power shortage, considerably poor regulation and costly establishment of a power system facility. In this regard, power electronic converters based systems emerge as consistent, = properly controlled and inexpensive electrical energy providers. This paper presents an implemented design of a grid-tied emergency back-up power supply for medium and low power applications. There are a rectifier-link boost derived DC-DC battery charging circuit and a 4-switch push-pull power inverter (DC-AC) circuit, which are controlled by pulse width modulation (PWM) signals. A changeover relay based transfer switch controls the power flow towards the utility loads. During off-grid situations, loads are fed power by the proposed system and during on-grid situations, battery is charged by an AC-link rectifier-fed boost converter. Charging phenomenon of the battery is controlled by a relay switched protection circuit. Laboratory experiments are carried out extensively for different loads. Power quality assessments along with back-up durations are recorded and analyzed. In addition, a cost allocation affirms the economic feasibility of the proposed framework in case of reasonable consumer applications. The test-bed results corroborate the reliability of the research work