Compliant strategy for shipowners towards sustainable maritime transport: a decision framework for air emission reduction measures

IMO uses three pillar strategy for air emission reduction including, technical, operational and market-based measures (MBM). The dissertation briefly describes the maritime regulatory framework for reduction of emissions. An overview on air emissions caused by the shipping sector is analysed. A brief look is taken on the need and methodology for inventory management of air emissions. A comparison between the market-based measures, operational measures, carbon tax and abatement measures for averting air emissions of carbon equivalent is made. The author has examined the abatement measures available to shipowners. This section also investigates the response of shipowners to different possible measures. There is a social cost which a company shall bear for the sustainability or go for abatement measures or MBM. By choosing correct abatement measures, shipowners can avoid carbon tax and avoid externality which ultimately will add to their financial gains. Emission scenarios are collated and evaluated to know how much shipping contribute to future climate change. The purpose of these scenarios is not for future predictions but to explore the scientific and real-time implications. Methanol has emerged as a strong alternative fuel option because of stringent air emissions regulations. A case study on a compliance cost for M.V. Stena Germanica demonstrated to show the applicability of the framework. The environmental and economic benefit is calculated to see the feasibility of the project, and then the result is compared with the different measures available to shipowners. The conclusion gives a holistic view of the decision framework for the shipowners to decide whether to comply with the abatement measures or not. The case study proves that in the long term by complying with abatement measures shipowners will avoid carbon tax and will have social benefits and financial benefit

Handwritten Digit Image Recognition Using Machine Learning

Machine Learning is a type AI (also known as Artificial Intelligence) that makes the pc or computer to act like individuals and learn more as they experience additional infor-mation from their client or user. So here in this report we got basic introduction about machine learning like actually what is it, what are its use, how it works, languages for coding, value of python for machine learning, and many more things. As python is ma-jorly used for machine learning, so we discussed about its use and its libraries. Thereaf-ter, we discussed about the categories in machine learning, i.e., supervised learning, un-supervised learning, semi-supervised learning and reinforcement learning. After this discussion we got a glimpse of some basic pros and cons of machine learning in artificial intelligence. After that we discussed about basic implementation formats of the algo-rithm in machine learning. Then we discussed about some majorly used applications of machine learning which are trending nowadays and has a great demand in today’s market. At the end we came to know about the future scopes in machine learning and concluded it

h→Υγh \to \Upsilon \gamma Decay: Smoking Gun Signature of Wrong-Sign hbbˉhb\bar{b} Coupling

We analyze in a model-independent way the potential to probe new physics using Higgs decay to $\Upsilon \gamma$. The $h \to \Upsilon \gamma$ decay width is unusually small in the Standard Model because of an accidental cancellation among the direct and indirect decay diagrams. Thus, any new physics that can modify the direct or the indirect decay amplitudes disrupts the accidental Standard Model cancellation and can potentially lead to a relatively large decay width for $h \to \Upsilon \gamma$. Here, we carry out a detailed model-independent analysis of the possible new physics that can disrupt this cancellation. We demonstrate that after taking into account all possible constraints on Higgs production and decay processes from experimental measurements, the wrong-sign $h b \bar{b}$ coupling is the only scenario in which the $h \to \Upsilon \gamma$ decay width can be changed by almost two orders of magnitude. We conclude that an observation of a significantly enhanced $h \to \Upsilon \gamma$ decay width at the LHC or any future collider will be a conclusive evidence of a wrong-sign $h b \bar{b}$ coupling.Comment: 39 pages, 30 figures, 12 table

A large deformation model for quasi-static to high strain rate response of rate-stiffening soft polymers

Soft polymers and polymer gels that contain dynamic, reversible crosslinks are rate-dependent materials used in applications ranging from biomedical to structural protection. Their highly rate-dependent response, especially for impact-mitigating structures, is important. Currently, there are no physics-motivated constitutive models that can predict the large-deformation elastic-viscoplastic response of these polymers at high loading rates (strain rates $\sim$10$^{\text{3}}$ s$^{\text{-1}}$). To address this gap, we have developed a constitutive model for rate-stiffening soft polymers with dynamic crosslinks to predict their large strain, non-linear, loading-unloading, and substantial rate-dependent response. We have conducted compression experiments on polyborosiloxane (PBS), an important rate-stiffening soft polymer with dynamic crosslinks, up to true strains of $\sim$125$\%$, over a wide strain rate range of 10$^{\text{-3}}$ s$^{\text{-1}}$ to 10$^{\text{3}}$ s$^{\text{-1}}$. The model reasonably accurately captures the response of PBS over six decades of strain rates. We propose boron-oxygen coordinate-bond dynamic crosslinks with relaxation time constant $\tau \approx$ 3 s and entanglements acting as dynamic crosslinks with $\tau \approx$ 0.001 s as the two main types of crosslink mechanisms in PBS. We have outlined a numerical update procedure to evaluate the convolution-like time integrals arising from dynamic crosslink kinetics. The predictive capabilities of our model and its finite element implementation are validated using experiments involving three-dimensional inhomogeneous deformations.Comment: Submitted for review in the Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids (JMPS

of vitamin D deficiency with occurrence of pre eclampsia among inpatients of tertiary care centre, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

Background: Pre eclampsia has remained a significant public health threat in both developed and developing countries contributing to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality globally. Vitamin D has direct influence on molecular pathways proposed to be important in the pathogenesis of pre eclampsia, yet the vitamin D-pre eclampsia relation has seldom been studied. In the present study we aimed to assess the association of vitamin D deficiency with the occurrence of pre eclampsia. If indeed vitamin D deficiency is related to pre eclampsia, this correlation can inform future studies, which hopefully will ultimately lead to a decrease in the incidence of pre eclampsia hence a decrease in adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.Methods: We conducted a comparative cross sectional study carried out for a period of one year from August 2014 to July 2015. A total of 384 patients were selected. 192 pre eclamptic and 192 non pre eclamptic pregnant patients aged 16-45 years attending in-patient department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology BRD Medical college Gorakhpur were included in the study.Results: About 82.8% of pre eclamptic and 31.25% of non pre eclamptic patients were found deficient in vitamin D. Also, severe pre eclamptic patients had more severe deficiency of vitamin D. Majority of these patients (51.78%) had very low vitamin D concentration.Conclusions: Maternal vitamin D deficiency may be an independent risk factor for preeclampsia. Vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy should be explored for preventing preeclampsia and promoting neonatal well-being

A study of spectrum and outcome of liver diseases in pregnant women at BRD medical college

Background: Different spectrum of liver disease can affect outcome of pregnancy. The incidence of liver disorders in pregnancy varies in different parts of the world. The present study was designed to see the incidence, spectrum, and outcome of liver disease in pregnancy.Methods: All pregnant women with deranged liver profile, attending antenatal clinic and labour room in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of BRD Medical College over the period of one year (August 2015 to July 2016) were included in the study. Enrolled cases were followed up till discharge in respect to maternal and fetal outcome.Results: Liver disease was found in 214 (2.37%) cases out of 9011 pregnancies. Pregnancy specific liver disease was the most common type (85.98%). Among pregnancy specific liver disease Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was the commonest abnormality (66.35%). Rest were Cholestasis, Acute viral hepatitis, Chronic liver disease, Hyperemesis gravidarum, Acute fatty liver of pregnancy. Out of 214, 22 patients dropped out. Overall maternal and perinatal mortality were 13.02% and 29.17% respectively.Conclusions: Liver disease in pregnancy is not uncommon and it can seriously affect pregnancy outcome if not treated properly on time. Early diagnosis (by clinical suspicion and blood investigation) and timely intervention can improve maternal and fetal outcome in pregnancy with liver disease

Changing trends in intrauterine contraceptive device: from interval intrauterine contraceptive device to postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device: a prospective observational study in a tertiary care hospital in eastern Uttar Pradesh

Background: The current outburst of Indian population (1.21 billion as per census 2011) is because of the lack of awareness and acceptance of contraception in the immediate postpartum period. Postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device (PPIUCD) insertion can do wonders and curb this unmet need of family planning if good counselling and proper insertion techniques are followed.Methods: The present study was carried among 526 women in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology of Nehru Hospital in BRD medical college Gorakhpur, India. Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) was inserted in 424 women in PPIUCD group and in 102 women in interval IUCD group after taking proper consent and following the WHO medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use (MEC). Follow-up was done at 6 weeks and 6 months.Results: The acceptance rate of PPIUCD was 30.34% as compared to 18% in interval IUCD group (p-value <0.05). The chief reason for declining the use of IUCD was fear of excessive pain and bleeding (26.3%). Long term reversible method (32%) was the main reason given for accepting IUCD. There was no perforation or any other major complication at the time of insertion in both the groups. Rate of expulsion was 5.7% in PPIUCD and 2.22% in interval IUCD group p-value (>0.05).Conclusions: PPIUCD is a safe, effective, feasible and reversible method of contraception. It should be made a part of family health care programmes in India

Compliant strategy for shipowners: A decision framework for air emission reduction measures

The main aim of the paper is to develop a decision framework for ship owners to comply with the emission reduction regulations. Various measures available to ship owners will be analysed. This paper will discuss the need of Carbon Tax or Market Based Measures in the maritime market. A comparison between the market-based measures, operational measures, carbon tax and abatement measures for averting air emissions of carbon equivalent will be made. An overview of air emissions caused by the shipping sector will be given along with the methods to keep records of air emissions. There are no uniform standardised methods available for keeping the records of air pollution. A brief description is done on the need and methodology for inventory management of air emissions. Emission scenarios are collated and evaluated to know how much shipping contribute to future climate change. A case study on the compliance cost of complying with the regulations for M.V. Stena Germanica will be demonstrated. The environmental and economic benefit will be evaluated to find the feasibility of the project. The externality will be assessed for the case study before and after fuel switching of Methanol. A cost-benefit analysis will be done with regards to decision making for ship owners. In conclusion, a holistic view of the decision framework for the ship owners is given. The case study will prove that in the long term by complying with abatement measures or alternative fuel ship owners will avoid carbon tax and will have social and financial benefits