Air Toxic Emissions Distribution and Performance Analysis of the CMAQ Air Toxic Model - A Case Study of Houston Area, Texas

Air quality models have been used in the past to predict the ambient air toxic concentration but CMAQ air toxics model, used in this thesis, is the first air quality model, which accounts the toxic chemical reactions in the ambient atmosphere. The main objective of this thesis was to analyze the distribution of air toxics emission in the Houston region, Texas using an emission processing tool and to determine the performance of the advanced air toxics model (CMAQ) used. Each year large amount of air toxics are emitted in the state of Texas, particularly in the Houston region. A study on the hourly distribution of major toxics species emitted in the region would help the emission reduction policy makers to focus on the counties and areas within the counties which emit large amount of toxics in the region. The Texas toxic inventory and the national emissions were processed using an EPA developed emission processing tool and the output from the tool was used to analyze the distribution of toxic emissions in the region. The latest air toxic model developed by the EPA is exclusively developed for air toxic species. The model has a detailed mechanism for chemical speciation in the atmosphere and has the ability to process most of major air toxic species. The output from the processing tool was also used to study the performance of this latest third generation air toxics model. The model was used to predict the concentration of major air toxics species for the year 2000 and the predicted concentration was compared with the monitored values in the region. A detailed analysis on the performance of the model was made and a conclusion on the effectiveness of the model was drawn

Association between components of metabolic syndrome and elevated intraocular pressure

Background: Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases which result in damage to the optic nerve and ultimately vision loss. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) remains as the one major known risk factor for both the development and progression of glaucoma. Metabolic syndrome (MS) have been found to relate to elevated IOP. The aim of the study is to examine the association between MS and IOP by comparing central corneal thicknesses (CCT).Methods: The study was carried out with 169 subjects consists of 94 were clinically diagnosed MS patients and 75 are healthy controls. Serum fasting glucose, triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels were measured, and waist circumference, body mass index and blood pressure of all patients were recorded. Ophthalmological examinations, including IOP and CCT measurements were done on everyone.Results: Higher IOP was observed in subjects with MS than those without MS. There was significant difference in the CCT values between the groups with and without MS (p<0.05). Most of the MS components were associated with IOP and CCT (p<0.05).Conclusions: The study concludes that components of MS have strong association with IOP and CCT. The prevalence of MS is increasing rapidly in developing countries and the main cause for MS is sedentary lifestyle. Since there is relationship between MS and IOP, lifestyle intervention might have therapeutic potential to reduce IOP. Further studies are warranted to bring about the possible underlying relationship between components of MS and IOP

Coasts and Estuaries: the future

Coasts and Estuaries: The Future provides valuable information on how we can protect and maintain natural ecological structures while also allowing estuaries to deliver services that produce societal goods and benefits. These issues are addressed through chapters detailing case studies from estuaries and coastal waters worldwide, presenting a full range of natural variability and human pressures. Following this, a series of chapters written by scientific leaders worldwide synthesizes the problems and offers solutions for specific issues graded within the framework of the socio-economic-environmental mosaic. These include fisheries, climate change, coastal megacities, evolving human-nature interactions, remediation measures, and integrated coastal management. The problems faced by half of the world living near coasts are truly a worldwide challenge as well as an opportunity for scientists to study commonalities and differences and provide solutions. This book is centered around the proposed DAPSI(W)R(M) framework, where drivers of basic human needs requires activities that each produce pressures. The pressures are mechanisms of state change on the natural system and Impacts on societal welfare (including well-being). These problems then require responses, which are the solutions relating to governance, socio-economic and cultural measures (Scharin et al 2016)

Moisture management properties of eri silk knitted fabrics

389-395Moisture management and wicking properties of eri silk knitted fabrics have been studied. Three different knit structures, namely single jersey, single pique and honeycomb, have been developed with the combination of two different yarn count and tightness level. The fabrics developed are analyzed in terms of wetting time, spreading speed, absorption rate, and maximum wetting radius, accumulative one way transport index (AOTI) and overall moisture management capacity (OMMC). It is discerned that the variables, such as yarn count, fabric tightness and knitting structure, have a significant influence on the wicking and moisture management properties. The OMMC indexes of eri silk knitted fabric are found to range from ‘very good’ to “excellent’ category, which indicates the suitability of eri silk yarn to skin fit as well as active wear applications

Moisture management properties of eri silk knitted fabrics

Moisture management and wicking properties of eri silk knitted fabrics have been studied. Three different knit structures,namely single jersey, single pique and honeycomb, have been developed with the combination of two different yarn countand tightness level. The fabrics developed are analyzed in terms of wetting time, spreading speed, absorption rate, andmaximum wetting radius, accumulative one way transport index (AOTI) and overall moisture management capacity(OMMC). It is discerned that the variables, such as yarn count, fabric tightness and knitting structure, have a significantinfluence on the wicking and moisture management properties. The OMMC indexes of eri silk knitted fabric are found torange from ‘very good’ to “excellent’ category, which indicates the suitability of eri silk yarn to skin fit as well as activewear applications

Maternal near miss review from a tertiary care center in South India

Background: Maternal near miss review acts as complimentary for mortality audits. It indicates the quality of obstetric care and helps obstetricians to revise policies and practices.Methods: A retrospective observational study was carried out at institute of maternal and child health, Government Medical College Kozhikode from January to December 2014. Cases were defined based on WHO criteria 2009.Results: Total live births during the study period were 15604 and there were 24 maternal deaths. Near Miss cases were 267. Maternal mortality rate was 153.5/lakh live births and maternal near miss incidence ratio was 17.03/1000 live births. Maternal near miss to mortality ratio was 11.1 and mortality index was 8.2%. Hypertensive disorders comprised 46%, followed by haemorrhage 36%, sepsis 7% and other causes 10%.Conclusions: Even with improving care, maternal near miss incidence (17.03 per 1000 live births) is found to be higher in our institution compared to developed nations. However high maternal near miss to mortality ratio (11.1) and low mortality index (8.2%) shows good quality of obstetric care in our institution

Critically Vulnerable Coastal Areas - A Framework for Community Based Resource Management: Vembanad, Kerala 2016

The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 emphasizes Conservation and Sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. Further, India's National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statement on Environmental and Development, 1992 and the National Environmental Policy, 2006 recognize the importance of multi stakeholder partnership in implementation of conservation plans for sustainable development of natural resources