Bulk viscous Zel'dovich fluid model and it's asymptotic behavior

In this paper we have considered a flat FLRW universe with bulk viscous Zel'dovich as the cosmic component. Being considered the bulk viscosity as per the Eckart formalism, we have analyzed the evolution of the Hubble parameter and constrained the model with the Type Ia Supernovae data thus extracting the constant bulk viscous parameter and present Hubble parameter. Further we have analyzed the scale factor, equation of state and deceleration parameter. The model predicts the late time acceleration and is also compatible with the age of the universe as given by the oldest globular clusters. We have also studied the phase-space behavior of the model and found that a universe dominated by bulk viscous Zel'dovich fluid is stable. But on the inclusion of radiation component in addition to the Zel'dovich fluid, makes the model unstable. Hence, even though the bulk viscous Zel'dovich fluid dominated universe is a feasible one, the model as such failed to predict a prior radiation dominated phase.Comment: 14 pages, eight figure

Microfluidics and Neural Interfaces Development for the Safe Direct Current Stimulator

Safety of commercial neural implants fundamentally limits its working to the use of charge-balanced, biphasic pulses to interact with target neurons using metal electrodes. Short biphasic pulses are used to avoid toxic electrochemical reactions at the electrode-tissue interfaces. Biphasic pulses are effective at exciting neurons, but quite limited in inhibiting their activity. In contrast, direct current can both excite and inhibit neurons, however it leads to the formation of harmful, Faradaic reactions at the metal electrode/tissue interface. To address this challenge of safety over chronic use, we are developing the Safe Direct Current Stimulator (SDCS) technology, that generates an ionic direct current (iDC) from a biphasic input signal using a network of microfluidic channels and mechanical valves. This rectified iDC is applied to the target neural tissue through an ionically conductive neural interface. A key enabler towards transforming the SDCS concept from a benchtop design to an implantable neural prosthesis is the design of a miniature valve. Several valve architectures and actuation mechanism were studied for the development of the microfluidics in SDCS technology, before settling on the plunger-membrane microvalve design. This thesis characterizes a miniature polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based elastomeric normally closed (NC) mechanical valve actuated using a shape-memory alloy (SMA) wire through distinct tests and examines its current capability for iDC delivery. The analysis of the test outputs confirmed the feasibility of using this design for rectifying the charge-balanced alternating current (AC) into iDC. As metal electrodes are unsuitable for delivering iDC to the neural tissue safely, an ionic conductive neural lead is built. These gel-based, PDMS electrodes should be designed within the acceptable pressure limits that a nerve can handle safely. Preliminary experiments were conducted to verify the design and conductivity of the lead. While the results suggest that the lead design maintains the pressure below the maximum limit, its high impedance raises concerns. Although this thesis forms a basis for development of the SDCS device, further experimentation and progress is required for a reliable, safe, chronic, and fully functional device

A New Extension of Two Parameter Pranav Distribution with Applications in Industrial and Medical Sciences

In this study, a new distribution has been proposed called as weighted three parameter Pranav distribution. The different statistical properties of new distribution have been obtained which include moments, harmonic mean, order statistics, survival analysis, entropies, bonferroni and Lorenz curves. For estimating the model parameters of the new distribution, the technique of maximum likelihood estimation has been used. Finally, three real life data sets have been fitted in new distribution to discuss its goodness of fit

A New Generalization of Power Garima Distribution with Applications in Blood Cancer and Relief Times

The present study deals with the weighted version of power Garima distribution and its various statistical properties have been obtained. For estimating its parameters, the technique of maximum likelihood estimation have been used and also observed its Fisher’s information matrix. Finally, the two real lifetime data sets from medical sciences have been used to discuss the superiority of new distribution

Hydrographic features off northeast coast and Andaman - Nicobar Islands in relation to demersal finfish resources

Temperature varied from 17.6 to 28.5°C, salinity values from 32.12 to 35.21 x 10"" and dissolved oxygen from 0.8 to 4.41 ml/1. No identifiable relationship could be established between these three parameters and the total fish abundance, probably because the catch was made up of many species having different requirements. Higher abundance of trawl catches was from January to May when bottom water temperature was relatively low. The highest level of abundance of 2764 kg/hr in February 1989 was recorded when the parameters were 26°C, 33.6 x 10" and 2.71 ml/1; and the lowest level of 43.2 kg/hr in July 1988 was when the parameters were 25.3°C, 34.48 x 10'^ and 1.6 ml/1

Marine pollution - its effects on living resources with special reference to aquaculture

Due to large scale industrialisation and indiscriminate discharge of effluents with high BOD, toxic chemicals and particulate matter reach the aquatic environment, either directly or indirectly. Enrichment of the coastal waters through nutrients and minerals lead to immediate and long term effects on the biota and fishery resources causing severe eutrophication or mass mortality. Among a large variety of pollutants which reach the aquatic environment, the domestic sewage, agricultural pesticides, industrial wastes, oil and oil dispersants, radioactive wastes and the polluted water from the coconut retting zones causes deleterious effects in the inshore and fish fanning areas

Escherichia coli in hospitalised patients

Background Extended spectrum betalactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms are a major cause of hospital-acquired infections. ESBL-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) have been recovered from the hospital environment. These drug-resistant organisms have also been found to be present in humans as commensals. The present investigation intended to isolate ESBL-producing E. coli from the gut of already infected patients; to date, only a few studies have shown evidence of the gut microflora as a major source of infection. Aims This study aimed to detect the presence of ESBL genes in E.coli that are isolated from the gut of patients who have already been infected with the same organism. Methods A total of 70 nonrepetitive faecal samples were collected from in-patients of our hospital. These in-patients were clinically diagnosed and were culture-positive for ESBL-producing E. coli either from blood, urine, or pus. Standard microbiological methods were used to detect ESBL from clinical and gut isolates. Genes coding for major betalactamase enzymes such as blaCTX-M, blaTEM, and blaSHV were investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results ESBL-producing E. coli was isolated from 15 (21 per cent) faecal samples of the 70 samples that were cultured. PCR revealed that out of these 15 isolates, the blaCTX-M gene was found in 13 (86.6 per cent) isolates, the blaTEM was present in 11 (73.3 per cent) isolates, and blaSHV only in eight (53.3 per cent) isolates. All 15 clinical and gut isolates had similar phenotypic characters and eight of the 15 patients had similar pattern of genes (blaTEM, blaCTX-M, and blaSHV) in their clinical and gut isolates. Conclusion Strains with multiple betalactamase genes that colonise the gut of hospitalised patients are a potential threat and it may be a potential source of infection

Mortality prediction in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: evaluation of computer-based CT analysis with conventional severity measures

Computer-based computed tomography (CT) analysis can provide objective quantitation of disease in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). A computer algorithm, CALIPER, was compared with conventional CT and pulmonary function measures of disease severity for mortality prediction.CT and pulmonary function variables (forced expiratory volume in 1 s, forced vital capacity, diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, transfer coefficient of the lung for carbon monoxide and composite physiologic index (CPI)) of 283 consecutive patients with a multidisciplinary diagnosis of IPF were evaluated against mortality. Visual and CALIPER CT features included total extent of interstitial lung disease, honeycombing, reticular pattern, ground glass opacities and emphysema. In addition, CALIPER scored pulmonary vessel volume (PVV) while traction bronchiectasis and consolidation were only scored visually. A combination of mortality predictors was compared with the Gender, Age, Physiology model.On univariate analyses, all visual and CALIPER-derived interstitial features and functional indices were predictive of mortality to a 0.01 level of significance. On multivariate analysis, visual CT parameters were discarded. Independent predictors of mortality were CPI (hazard ratio (95% CI) 1.05 (1.02-1.07), p<0.001) and two CALIPER parameters: PVV (1.23 (1.08-1.40), p=0.001) and honeycombing (1.18 (1.06-1.32), p=0.002). A three-group staging system derived from this model was powerfully predictive of mortality (2.23 (1.85-2.69), p<0.0001).CALIPER-derived parameters, in particular PVV, are more accurate prognostically than traditional visual CT scores. Quantitative tools such as CALIPER have the potential to improve staging systems in IPF

Experiences of people with dementia and their caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic in India: a mixed-methods study

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has unprecedented consequences for the management of chronic diseases such as dementia. However, limited evidence exists on the condition of persons with dementia and their caregivers during the pandemic in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs). The study aimed to provide insights into the experiences of persons with dementia and their families during the early phases of the pandemic in India. Methods This study adopted a mixed-method approach. One hundred and four persons with dementia and their caregivers were evaluated via telephone using validated instruments and a semi-structured interview guide. We used the quantitative data collected to establish a baseline, whereas qualitative data were analysed thematically. Results The study revealed that persons with dementia and their caregivers experienced difficulties during the pandemic, which included worsening of behaviour, problems in accessing care, disruptions in functional activities and struggles in enforcing infection prevention contributing to caregiver distress. An important finding that emerged was the unchanging reality of caregiving for families. The relative success of the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic contrasted with the lack of awareness and formal support for dementia. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of persons with dementia and their caregivers. This calls for a collaborative reframing of medical care and public health policies to address dementia care