E-book with Integrated Social Features

Users read e-books on different devices that may connect to a network. The techniques of this disclosure utilize information from a user’s social network to determine reviews and feedback from the user’s friends, media content, and trending topics on the social network that are related to an e-book that a user is reading. Such information is presented to the user on an e-book display device in the form of an overlay. The techniques augment ebooks with related content from the web thus providing an enhanced reading experience

Multi Stream Video Display With Automatic Prominence Switching

Viewing or managing multiple video streams, e.g., live streams from a video game, on a mobile device with a relatively small display can lead to fatigue. This disclosure describes a multi-screen mode for live streaming applications that include multiple video streams in which one of the streams is automatically selected and made prominent, e.g., displayed at a larger size relative to the other streams. Automatic stream selection can be based, e.g., on the relative amounts of video or audio activity in each stream

Scheduling Automatic Pickup by Self-driving Cars

This disclosure includes techniques to automatically schedule pickups by self-driving cars. The techniques utilize data about a user such as the user’s location, payments, calendar, to-do list etc. An example technique uses data from commercial establishments (e.g., payments systems), and self-driving cars to determine a location and a time at which the user needs to be picked up. A self-driving car system schedules a self-driving car to pick up the user at the specific location and time. The techniques described may be implemented in selfdriving cars, a central server system, user mobile devices, client devices, or different combinations of these systems and devices

Mapping Samudra Tapu glacier:A holistic approach utilizing radar and optical remote sensing data for glacier radar facies mapping and velocity estimation

Himalayan glaciers have shown more sensitivity and visible changes to the climate change and global warming in the last 150 years. The highly rugged topography and inaccessible remote areas makes satellite images as the most appropriate source of information retrieval. We performed remote sensing based glacier change study for Samudra Tapu glacier, located in the Chandra basin of North-West Himalaya. In the present study, the capabilities of both optical and microwave remote sensing data was analysed in glacier change study in terms of its coverage, shift in equilibrium line altitude (ELA) and surface velocity over a period from 2000 to 2021. Multi Sensor (RISAT-1, Sentinel-1) time series of C-band SAR data along with a object oriented classification technique were used to identify different glacier facies such as percolation facies, icefalls, bare ice facies, refreeze snow and supraglacial debris. These classified maps were also used to detect the snow line and firn line along with ELA, aided with elevation information from digital elevation model (DEM). It was identified that more than 50 % of the total glacier area still lies into accumulation region. Further, we estimated the glacier surface velocity using Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) technique using European Remote Sensing Satellite (ERS-1/2) tandem data of 1996. High value of coherence was observed from the SAR return signal for one-day temporal difference. A mean velocity of 17–24 cm/day was found for the months of March and May 1996, highest flow rates were seen in the high accumulation area located in the Eastern and Southern Aspect of glacier. Spatial analysis of velocity patterns with respect to slope and aspect show that high rates of flow was found in southern slopes and movement rates generally increase with increase in slope. Feature tracking approach was used to estimate the glacier flow for long term and seasonal basis using optical and SAR datasets (IRS-1C, 1D PAN, Landsat-7, 8 PAN, and TANDEM-x) during 1999–2020 period. The results suggest that glacier flow varies with season, i.e., high velocity during spring-summer season, as compared to late summer or winter and, the rate of ice flow changes over the years. The mean glacier velocity reduced to 49.5 m/year during 2013–2020 time, as compared to 67.67 m/year during 1999–2003 time. These results of reducing glacier velocity and changing snow line altitude indicates enhanced glacier's melt rate and overall negative mass balance for Smudra tapu glacier.</p

Development of inhaled PLGA encapsulated Ivermectin for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2

OBJECTIVE: SARS-CoV-2 is a global threat to public health because of its high rate of infection causing fatalities. The arrival of vaccines has provided relief, but newer strains of SARS-CoV-2 are difficult to contain. As such, there is an urgent need to repurpose FDA-approved drugs with proven activity against COVID-19 as therapeutics to prevent proliferation of the virus. Recently, we reported that ivermectin (IVM) inhibited 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), an enzyme vital to SARS-CoV-2 replication, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 21μM. However, when taken orally, under 2 μM of IVM reaches the lungs, which is less than the IC50 against 3CLpro. Hence, site-specific delivery of IVM to the lungs will yield better results. We propose to develop an inhaled form of IVM and indocyanine green (ICG) encapsulated Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) to deliver IVM to the respiratory tract. METHODS: We hypothesize that once the formulation is delivered, the presence of ICG will enable in vivo imaging of the nanoparticles, and IVM will inhibit 3CLpro to prevent viral replication. Particle size and morphology of the synthesized particles will be characterized via particle size analyzer and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis, and Differential Scanning Calorimeter will be used to confirm the presence of IVM in the nanoparticles and the amount of IVM in the nanoparticles will be quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The Aerodynamic Particle Size Distribution Profiles tests (APSD) will be used to investigate their deposition profile. The nanoparticles were synthesized via double emulsion method with 0.3% polyvinyl alcohol as surfactant. RESULTS: Particle size analysis revealed that PLGA, PLGA-ICG, and PLGA-IVM-ICG were 100, 160, and 175 nm, respectively, and SEM confirmed their spherical morphology. FTIR validated the presence of IVM in the nanoparticles, and, once completely analyzed, they will be characterized in vitro and in vivo. Finally, in vitro assays have shown approximately 60% inhibition of our formulations against the enzyme. CONCLUSION: In summary, our data suggests that these formulations will act as a successful drug delivery mechanism to deliver IVM directly to the lungs. Furthermore, the efficacy of this system in vitro has shown that there is a need for in vivo trials in the future

Low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols diet versus traditional dietary advice for functional dyspepsia: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Prospective trials evaluating efficacy of specific diet restriction in functional dyspepsia (FD) are scarce. We aimed to assess efficacy of low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) diet in FD, compared with traditional dietary advice (TDA). METHODS: In this prospective, single-blind trial, patients with FD (Rome IV) were randomized into low FODMAP diet (LFD) and TDA groups, for 4 weeks (phase I). In phase II (4-12 weeks), LFD group was advised systematic re-introduction of FODMAPs. Symptom severity and quality of life were assessed using Short-Form Nepean Dyspepsia Index (SF-NDI). Primary outcome was symptomatic response (symptom score reduction of ≥ 50%), at 4 weeks. Study was registered with CTRI (2019/06/019852). RESULTS: Of 184 patients screened, 105 were randomized to LFD (n = 54) and TDA (n = 51) groups. At 4 weeks, both groups showed significant reduction in SF-NDI symptom scores compared with baseline, with no significant difference in inter-group response rates [LFD: 66.7% (36/54); TDA: 56.9% (29/51); P = 0.32]. On sub-group analysis, patients with postprandial distress syndrome or bloating had significantly better symptomatic response with LFD (P = 0.04). SF-NDI quality of life scores improved significantly in both groups. On multivariate analysis, factors predicting response to LFD were bloating and male gender. Incidences of adverse events (minor) were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with FD, LFD and TDA lead to significant symptomatic and quality of life improvement. Patients with postprandial distress syndrome or bloating respond significantly better to LFD. Therefore, dietary advice for FD should be individualized according to FD subtype

Polystyrene Laboratory Analysis: A Hands-On Experience to Determine the Molecular Weight of Polystyrene Through Spin Casting in A University Laboratory Setting

Hands-on learning is a staple in high school science education, as it provides students with a fast-learning curve and a great degree of field competency. However, due to the safety risks associated with high school students in university chemistry laboratory settings, high school students rarely engage in authentic hands-on chemical learning. To bridge the gap between the benefits and drawbacks, this study investigates a method to educate high school students (with no previous experience) about standard chemical laboratory practices. 98 high school students experimented throughout two days to determine the molecular weights and characteristics of various polystyrene samples, essential knowledge for polymer recycling. Students were split into 5 groups so that laboratory usage be organized and staggered. After laboratory safety training was administered, students created different types and concentrations of toluene-based samples and spin casted these samples onto silicon wafers, determining thickness through ellipsometry. With the data, each group calculated molecular weight, propagated error, and wrote laboratory reports. In order to evaluate the extent of learning through this process, students were given pre-training and post-experimentation assessments with the same questions pertaining to laboratory safety, equipment usage, and materials science related topics. On average, students displayed scores 63% higher on the post-experiment assessment compared to those of the pre-training assessment. The results suggest the experience not only taught students about the various materials science concepts, but also improved their laboratory logic. Therefore, our method is recommended to be implemented at the university level for motivated high school and first-year undergraduate students

Prevalence, overlap, and risk factors for Rome IV functional gastrointestinal disorders among college students in northern India.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: There is scarcity of data on prevalence, overlap, and risk factors for functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) by Rome IV criteria. We evaluated these factors among medical, nursing, and humanities students. METHODS: Rome IV Diagnostic Questionnaire (for all FGIDs), Rome III questionnaire (for irritable bowel syndrome [IBS], functional diarrhea [FDr], and functional constipation [FC]), and questionnaires assessing demography, physical activity, anxiety, and depression were used. RESULTS: A total of 1309 college students were included (medical 425, nursing 390, humanities 494; mean age 20.5 ± 2.1 years; 36.5% males). Prevalence of Rome IV FGIDs was 26.9% (n = 352), significantly higher among females compared with males (32.3% vs. 17.6%; p \u3c 0.001) and significantly higher among medical (34.4%) and nursing students (29.2%) compared with humanities students (18.6%) (p \u3c 0.05). Most common FGIDs were functional dyspepsia (FD) (15.2%), IBS (6.2%), reflux hypersensitivity (3.5%), FDr (2.9%), FC (2.1%), and unspecified functional bowel disorder (2.1%). FGID overlap was present in 9.3%, most common being FD-IBS overlap (4.4%). With Rome III criteria, prevalence of IBS was higher (9.5%), while that of FDr (0.92%) and of FC (1.3%) were lower. On multivariate analysis, independent predictors for FGIDs were female gender, medical student, non-vegetarian diet, junk food, tea/coffee, poor physical activity, anxiety, and insomnia. CONCLUSION: Rome IV FGIDs were present among one-fourth of college students with preponderance among females and medical students. FD, IBS, and reflux hypersensitivity were the most common FGIDs. Rome IV criteria led to a reduction in IBS prevalence and increase in FDr and FC prevalence. Dietary factors, physical activity, anxiety, and insomnia affected FGID prevalence