COVID-19: An Emerging Rapidly Evolving Situation

Coronaviruses are large group of enveloped viruses with unsegmented, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA as genetic material. These are collection related RNA viruses that cause diseases of economically important vertebrate viz. mammals and birds. In humans, these viruses cause respiratory tract infections that can range from asymptomatic to life threatening. The asymptomatic disease include very similar to some cases of the common cold, while other deadly varieties can cause SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. The SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) and MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) are zoonotic origin and extremely pathogenic coronaviruses that can cause localized and worldwide outbreak. The novel Coronaviruses, COVID-19 posses a unique morphology. The outer surface of the virus bearing surface spike and reveled like crown hence being named corona virus. The mode of replication of the virus is very unique as it replicate through the generation of nested set of viral mRNA. The HCoV (Human coronavirus) cause respiratory complication with asymptomatic to life threatening outcomes. From the past 15 years we have witnessed appearance of two zoonotic, extremely pathogenic human corona viruses the:  SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV

Prevention of bacterial meningitis: An overview of Cochrane systematic reviews

SummaryAcute bacterial meningitis (ABM) is an acute inflammation of leptomeninges caused by bacteria, and has a case fatality rate of 10–30%. Prevention strategies, such as vaccination and prophylactic antibiotics, can prevent ABM and have substantial public health impact by reducing the disease burden associated with it. The aim of this paper is to summarize the main findings from Cochrane systematic reviews that have considered the evidence for measures to prevent ABM. We assessed the evidence available in the Cochrane Library. We found five Cochrane reviews focused on the prevention of ABM; three with use of vaccination and two with prophylactic antibiotics. Polysaccharide serogroup A vaccine is strongly protective for the first year, against serogroup A meningococcal meningitis in adults and children over 5 years of age. Meningococcal serogroup C conjugate (MCC) vaccine is safe and effective in infants. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine is safe and effective against Hib-invasive disease at all ages. Ceftriaxone, rifampicin and ciprofloxacin are the most effective prophylactic antibiotics against Neisseria meningitidis. There is sufficient evidence to use polysaccharide serogroup A vaccine to prevent serogroup A meningococcal meningitis, MCC conjugate vaccines to prevent meningococcal C meningitis and Hib conjugate vaccine to prevent Hib infections. More studies are needed to evaluate the effects of Hib conjugate vaccine on mortality. Further, studies are required to compare the relative effectiveness of ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin and rifampicin in chemoprophylaxis against meningococcal infection

Interpretation of MPPT Techniques in Grid Connected Solar PV Array System

Solar energy is one of the most used and readily available renewable energy sources among the other energy sources. The power generated by PV systems is dependent on solar irradiance and temperature parameters. In the literature, many researchers and studies are interested in estimating true maximum efficiency point for the PV systems. Due to that fact, MPPT applications and techniques become an important issue for PV systems under both uniform and non uniform conditions. Although, PV system under uniform environment has only one maxima point on P-V curve which is simple to estimate correctly by conventional MPPT techniques, it is not as simple as under non-uniform condition such as partial shading and mismatch effects. To overcome the drawbacks of the conventional MPPTs under non uniform condition, researchers has been investigated new soft computing MPPTs, PV array configurations, system architectures and topologies

Clinical presentation of autoimmune disorders in pregnancy

Background: Autoimmune disorders have a significant impact over the health of an individual. This heterogenous group of disorders affects pregnancy in a multitude of ways. Pregnancies with autoimmune disorders are usually cared for by a multidisciplinary team of doctors.Methods: Pregnancies with autoimmune disorders were studied over a one-year period in one unit of a medical college teaching hospital set up. Obstetric and neonatal outcomes were studied.Results: Ten patients were studied. Average age was 29.9 years. Majority presented in early second trimester. Eight patients were ANA positive. Two patients had antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, for whom low molecular weight heparin was helpful. Hypothyroidism was seen in two patients. Bad obstetric history was seen in most patients. Successful neonatal outcome was seen in six patients. One patient had Evans syndrome. There were no maternal mortalities. There was one perinatal mortality.Conclusions: Autoimmune disorders in pregnancy when managed in a tertiary care centre with multidisciplinary approach can result in good obstetric and neonatal outcomes

MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR INVENTORY CONTROL PROBLEM USING IMPRECISE PARAMETERS

In this paper, an inventory control problem is discussed using imprecise parameters. The fusion of geometric programming and fuzzy logic is used as imprecise parameters to solve inventory control problems. In inventory, holding costs, set-up costs, etc. may be flexible due to vague information. Fuzzy set theory is used to convert the inventory model crisp to fuzzy for producing flexible output. Compensatory operator is used to aggregate the fuzzy membership functions corresponding to fuzzy sets for fuzzy objectives and constraints. This aggregation gives the overall achievement function and the model known as fuzzy geometric programming model. &nbsp

Ballistic Studies on TiB2-Ti Functionally Graded Armor Ceramics

The objective of this paper is to discuss the results of the ballistic testing of the spark plasma sintered TiB2-Ti based functionally graded materials (FGMs) with an aim to assess their performance in defeating small-calibre armor piercing projectiles. We studied the efficacy of FGM design and compared its ballistic properties with those of TiB2-based composites as well as other competing ceramic armors. The ballistic properties are critically analyzed in terms of depth of penetration, ballistic efficiency, fractographs of fractured surfaces as well as quantification of the shattered ceramic fragments. It was found that all the investigated ceramic compositions exhibit ballistic efficiency (η) of 5.1 -5.9. We also found that by increasing the thickness of FGM from 5mm to 7.8 mm, the ballistic property of the composite degraded. On comparing the results with available armor systems, it has been concluded that TiB2 based composites show better ballistic properties except B4C. SEM analysis of the fragments showed that the FGM fractured by mixed mode of failure.Defence Science Journal, 2012, 62(6), pp.382-389, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.62.266

The balancing act : how risk is experienced, navigated and perceived by users of performance enhancing drugs

The current literature concerning performance-enhancing drug (PED) use is often highly medicalised. Limited research exists which delves into the lived experience within the context of PED use, particularly in a risk-oriented context. This thesis uses qualitative methods to explore the experience, perception and navigation of risks associated with PED use in greater detail. The three empirical studies in this thesis are connected via PED use, which is self-identified as functional, but perceived as deviant by society. Study 1 uses Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to highlight the experiences and challenges of AAS use from the perspective of four women, drawing out the impact on their identity. Study 2 is a thematic analysis study of experiences and perceptions of twelve 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) users. This study evidenced strong control over every aspect of using a controversial and polarising compound. The thematic analysis of study 3 highlighted key influential factors that impact the physician-patient interaction and expands on the notion of risk for non-PED using individuals. The results collectively show how the perception and navigation of risks in a PED-use context shape the experiences of risk. These results are explored within a Risk Society Model (RSM). Risk perception is framed through a social-constructionist lens to reflect the highly individualistic nature of risk assessment impacted by sociocultural influences. Risk navigation in PED-use is complex and multifold, heavily dependent on the nature of the risk and the resources available to participants at the time. These studies highlight the importance of understanding lived experiences of risk and hazard management. These results offer a different perspective to those within the current literature and aim to contribute experiential knowledge and understanding upon which coproductive harm reduction interventions can be built