A Software Tool for Parameter Estimation from Flight Test Data

A software package called FIDA is developed and implemented in PC MATLAB for estimating aircraft stability and control derivatives from flight test data using different system identification techniques. FIDA also contains data pre-processing tools to remove wild points and high frequency noise components from measured flight data. FIDA is a menu driven and user interactive software which is useful to scientists/flight test engineers/pilots who are engaged in experimental flights and analysis of flight test data. Also it has an educational value for students and practising engineers who are new to the field of aircraft parameter estimation

School dropouts or pushouts? Overcoming barriers for the right to education

Persistently high dropout rates are one of the biggest challenges to fulfilling the right to education in India. This paper attempts to assess the magnitude of the problem of dropout. The paper critically reviews the evidence on some of the commonly cited reasons for dropout, including poverty, limited to access to credit, child labour, and children’s and parents’ lack of interest in education. The paper argues that the literature rarely looks at the role of procedures and rules in schools and the wider education system in terms of pushing children out of school. It is the contention of this paper that the reason a persistently high dropout rate should be located in the absence of a social norm in terms of children’s right to education; and that this is reflected in the lack of systemic support available for children at risk of dropping out. The paper also documents an experiment initiated by MV Foundation in Shankarpalle Mandal, Ranga Reddy district, Andhra Pradesh, where procedures, rules and practices relating to various aspects of school were changed to ensure that every child stayed in school and completed elementary level

Target Tracking in Non-Gaussian Environment

Masreliez filter which is a Kalman type of recursive filter is implemented and validated. The main computation in Masreliez filter is to evaluate the score function which directly influences the estimates of the target states. Scalar approximation for score function evaluation is extended to vector observations, implemented and validated. The simulation studies have shown that the performance of the Masreliez filter is relatively better than that of the conventional Kalman filter in the presence of significant glint noise in the observation

Improving the exhaust pigment dyeing of cotton garments

Due to the rapid changes in fashion trends, garment dyeing is gaining popularity because of its quick response time and reduced costs, especially when dyeing with pigments. However, a drawback of pigment dyeing of cotton garments is the problem of unlevel dyeing and poor wet fastness, together with the high amount of staining of the dyeing equipment. This research has focused on investigating the effects of varying dyeing parameters on the colour strength and fastness of exhaust pigment dyed cotton garments, with the ultimate aim to improve colour strength, wet rub fastness and wash fastness; as well as try to reduce the amount of staining of the equipment, and in so doing reducing production and effluent treatment costs. The research was undertaken at a textile company, Spectrum Textiles (Pty) Ltd, which has been experiencing problems with poor wet fastness, unlevel dyeing and high staining of equipment for both knitted and woven cotton garments. Trials on knitted and woven garments were carried out in which the effects of the concentrations of the cationising agent, pigment and binder/fixer, on colour strength and dye fastness were investigated, as was also the effects of temperature, pH, material-to-liquor ratio and process route. The dyed fabrics were analysed in terms of colour strength, wash fastness and wet and dry rub fastness. It was found that, in general, increasing the amount of cationising agent, pigment, binder/fixer, pH, temperature and material-to-liquor ratio decreased the colour strength (K/S), with applying the binder/fixer prior to pigmenting mostly producing a higher K/S than when applying the binder/fixer after pigmenting. Furthermore, the use of a fixer achieved higher K/S values than when the binder was used. By the selection of the correct chemical levels and dyeing conditions, level pigment dyeing of cotton garments, with high colour strength, was achieved with Grey Scale ratings of 4 or higher for all the fastness criteria. A single optimum dyeing combination, which produced a high K/S and a Grey Scale rating of 4 or higher for wash fastness and wet and dry rub fastness, was derived

Transitional Care to Reduce 30-day Heart Failure Readmissions Among the Long-Term Care Elderly Population

Throughout the nation, there is an increased focus on reducing preventable hospital readmissions. This initiative started with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (CMS, 2014), which sets forth certain provisions for Medicare spending. Hospitals with higher than usual readmission rates, especially in terms of preventable readmissions, are receiving reductions in Medicare reimbursements (Stone & Hoffman, 2010, CMS, 2014). Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) or Heart Failure (HF) is recognized as a primary cause of 30-day hospital readmissions. Causes of HF readmission include inadequate patient education and planning for discharge, inappropriate medication reconciliation, and poor or inadequate follow-up in the days following discharge (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), 2009). Thus, many hospitals and facilities have implemented transitional care protocols to help reduce HF 30-day readmissions. Among the geriatric population, HF is a major contributor of morbidity and mortality, and the frail, elderly men and women residing in long-term care (LTC) or skilled nursing facilities (SNF) are particularly prone to the adverse health effects of repeated preventable hospitalizations. The purpose of this project is to provide and promote evidence-based transitional care methods to the nursing staff at a long-term care (LTC) facility in NJ in order to reduce 30-day HF hospital readmissions. This project’s significance lies in its potential to improve quality of life for the long-term care residents, by reducing the physical and emotional burden of frequent preventable hospitalizations. The conception of the project began with the realization of the lack of evidence-based transitional care practices, due to observed preventable re-hospitalizations within the LTC facility. This led to a thorough literature search, which confirmed the prevalence and incidence of repeated hospitalizations for HF as well as other conditions, and the effects of transitional care. Initiation of the project began with a meeting that was held with the key administrators, presenting the outline and the benefits of the proposed project. After approval was obtained, then educational in-services for the nursing staff, lasting approximately 30-35 minutes, were instituted. A pre- and post-test method was utilized to measure change in knowledge of CHF management. Out of 8 in-services to date, all revealed that education did indeed increase initial nursing knowledge regarding transitional care to reduce 30-day HF readmissions. A similar test should be administered 3-6 months later to measure the long term effects of the education

Transitional Care to Reduce 30-day Heart Failure Readmissions Among the Long-Term Care Elderly Population

Throughout the nation, there is an increased focus on reducing preventable hospital readmissions. This initiative started with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (CMS, 2014), which sets forth certain provisions for Medicare spending. Hospitals with higher than usual readmission rates, especially in terms of preventable readmissions, are receiving reductions in Medicare reimbursements (Stone & Hoffman, 2010, CMS, 2014). Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) or Heart Failure (HF) is recognized as a primary cause of 30-day hospital readmissions. Causes of HF readmission include inadequate patient education and planning for discharge, inappropriate medication reconciliation, and poor or inadequate follow-up in the days following discharge (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), 2009). Thus, many hospitals and facilities have implemented transitional care protocols to help reduce HF 30-day readmissions. Among the geriatric population, HF is a major contributor of morbidity and mortality, and the frail, elderly men and women residing in long-term care (LTC) or skilled nursing facilities (SNF) are particularly prone to the adverse health effects of repeated preventable hospitalizations. The purpose of this project is to provide and promote evidence-based transitional care methods to the nursing staff at a long-term care (LTC) facility in NJ in order to reduce 30-day HF hospital readmissions. This project’s significance lies in its potential to improve quality of life for the long-term care residents, by reducing the physical and emotional burden of frequent preventable hospitalizations. The conception of the project began with the realization of the lack of evidence-based transitional care practices, due to observed preventable re-hospitalizations within the LTC facility. This led to a thorough literature search, which confirmed the prevalence and incidence of repeated hospitalizations for HF as well as other conditions, and the effects of transitional care. Initiation of the project began with a meeting that was held with the key administrators, presenting the outline and the benefits of the proposed project. After approval was obtained, then educational in-services for the nursing staff, lasting approximately 30-35 minutes, were instituted. A pre- and post-test method was utilized to measure change in knowledge of CHF management. Out of 8 in-services to date, all revealed that education did indeed increase initial nursing knowledge regarding transitional care to reduce 30-day HF readmissions. A similar test should be administered 3-6 months later to measure the long term effects of the education

Influence of Contextual, Developmental, and Demographic Variables on Social Activism Among Undergraduates in Sri Lankan Universities

Engagement in social activism is one of the means for building identity and citizenship competencies of young people. On campus, one of the vehicles that provide engagement in social activism is the students’ union. In Sri Lankan campuses the students’ union system has been established by the University Act and it has accorded the Student Unions with a wider scope for the engagement in such activities. Sri Lankan campus youth are encouraged to engage in both internal and external socio economic and welfare issues and to voice for the betterment of both campus youth and the public at large. Therefore a study that aims to measure the important determinants of youth’s contribution relating to the engagement in social activism, should essentially take into consideration the related developmental as well as contextual variables. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the level of social activism of campus youth, the level of social activism across selected contextual variables and demographic variables and the relationships between the level of social activism and the selected contextual variables and developmental variables. Finally, the contribution made by the selected demographic, developmental, and contextual factors on social activism was examined. Four hundred and forty nine subjects were randomly selected from six campuses and representing three faculties (Science, Arts & Commerce/Management). The findings showed that the developmental variables such as self esteem, aggression and impression on governance were significantly related to the social activism of youth. Similarly, contextual variables namely, school extra curricular activities, campus club engagement and gender as a demographic variable was significantly related to social activism. Even though social activism among campus youth was high, an important feature within this observed phenomenon was the gender segregation. Female voice was not significantly represented in the context of contemporary social activism among campus youth. Subsequently, seniority in terms of age as well as the number of years stayed at the campus enhances the level of engagement in social activism. The level of self esteem, impression on governance, parents’ income and female composition at campuses negatively effect the engagement in social activism. The conceptual model developed for this study was able to explain the factors influencing social activism among campus youth. Accordingly, the influence of the contextual factors on the engagement with social activism was greater than the influence of the developmental factors. Hence, external factors (contextual and demographic) have greater influence on the level of engagement in social activism than internal (Developmental) factors. Policy recommendations for positive youth development are discussed with special attention to minimizing aggressive nature of social activism and building a harmonious democratic culture among youth at the higher educational institutions