AC susceptibility study of superconducting YBa2Cu3O7:Agx bulk composites (x = 0.0-0.20): The role of intra and inter granular coupling

We report the effect of silver addition on superconducting performance of bulk YBCO (YBa2Cu3O7) superconductor. All the studied samples are prepared by conventional solid-state reaction method. Rietveld fitted X-ray diffraction data confirmed the single phase formation for all the studied samples. Detailed AC susceptibility measurements as a function of driven AC amplitude (1Oe-17Oe) of these samples revealed the enhancement of grains coupling with increasing Ag content in YBCO+Agx composite system. 10wt% Ag added YBCO superconductors exhibited the optimum inter granular coupling. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) observations indicate an increase in the grains connectivity in terms of narrow grain boundaries for doped samples. The average grain size is found to increase with Ag doping. It is concluded that limited addition of Ag in bulk YBCO superconductor significantly improves the grains coupling and as result optimum superconducting performance. YBCO+Ag composites could prove to be potential candidates for bulk superconducting applications of the studied high Tc system.Comment: 15 pages of text + Fig

Evolution of superconductivity in PrFe1-xCoxAsO with x = 0.0 to 1.0

We report the synthesis and physical property characterization of PrFe1-xCoxAsO with x = 0.0 to 1.0. The studied samples are synthesized by solid state reaction route via vacuum encapsulation method. The pristine compound PrFeAsO does not show superconductivity, but rather exhibits a metallic step like transition due to spin density wave ordering of Fe moments below 150 K, followed by another upward step due to anomalous ordering of Pr moments at 12 K. Both the Fe-SDW and Pr-TN temperatures decrease monotonically with Co substitution at Fe site. Superconductivity appears in a narrow range of x from 0.07 to 0.25 with maximum Tc at 11.12 K for x = 0.15. Samples, with x = 0.25 exhibit metallic behavior right from 300 K down to 2 K, without any Fe-SDW or Pr-TN steps in resistivity. In fact, though Fe-SDW decreases monotonically, the Pr-TN is disappeared even with x = 0.02. The magneto transport measurements below 14 Tesla on superconducting polycrystalline Co doped PrFeAsO lead to extrapolated values of the upper critical fields [Hc2(0)] of up to 60 Tesla.Comment: 15 pages Text+Fig

IIMA in HealthCare Management: Abstract of Publications (2000-2010)

The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA), was established in 1961 as an autonomous institution by the Government of India in collaboration with the Government of Gujarat and Indian industry. IIMA’s involvement in the health sector started with the establishment of the Public Systems Group in 1975. In the initial period, our research focused on the management of primary healthcare services and family planning. We expanded our research activities to include the management of secondary healthcare services in the 80s and to tertiary healthcare services in the 90s. Currently our research interests focus on the governance and management issues in the areas on Rural Health, Urban Health, Public Health and Hospital Management. In June 2004, IIMA Board approved the setting up of a Centre for Management Health Services (CMHS) in recognition of IIMA’s contributions to the health sector in the past and the felt need to strengthen the management of health sector in the context of socio-economic developments of our country. The overall objectives of CMHS are to address the managerial challenges in the delivery of health services to respond to the needs of different segments of our population efficiently and effectively, build institutions of excellence in the health sector, and influence health policies and wider environments. All our research projects are externally funded and we have developed research collaborations with 15-20 international universities in USA, UK, Europe, and Asia. CMHS has also established strong linkages with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the national and state government levels, particularly in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Orissa, and Bihar. This working paper is a compilation of the abstracts of all our publications in the last 10 years, which include 40 referred journal articles, 54 Working Papers, 19 Chapters in Books and 18 Case Studies.

Cost variation analysis of ACE inhibitors in India

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the most prevalent cause of death and disability in developed and developing countries. There is a wide variation in the prices of antihypertensive drugs marketed in India. Thus, a study was planned to find out variation in cost in the ACE Inhibitors available in India either as a single drug or in combination and to evaluate the difference in cost of various brands of the same ACE Inhibitors and ARBs by calculating percentage variation in cost in Indian rupees.Methods: Minimum and maximum costs in rupees (INR) of antihypertensive agents manufactured by different companies, in the same strength and dosage forms were obtained from “current index of medical specialties” January April 2016 and Drug Today October-December 2016. The cost ratio and percentage cost variation were calculated for each generic antihypertensive agent (ACE Inhibitors and ARBs).Results: This study shows that there is a wide variation in the prices of different brands of same ACE Inhibitors and ARBs in Indian market.Highest cost variation 400% is for Lisinopril (2.5mg), followed by Enalapril (10mg) 394.16%, Telmisartan (20mg) 322.22%.Conclusions: There is a wide difference in the cost of different brands of ACE Inhibitors and ARBs available in India. They have important role in management of hypertension particularly if associated with other morbidities like diabetes. The clinicians prescribing these drugs should be aware of these variations in cost so as to reduce the cost of drug therapy and increase the patient adherence to the therapy

Particulate Suspension Blood Flow through a Stenosed Catheterized Artery

The flow of blood through a narrow catheterized artery with an overlapping stenosis has been investigated. To account for the presence of red cells, blood has been represented by a macroscopic two-phase model (i.e., a suspension of erythrocytes in plasma). The expression for the flow characteristics-the flow rate, the impedance (resistance to flow), the wall shear stress in the stenotic region, the shear stresses at the stenosis two throats and at critical height of the stenosis, has been derived. It is found that the impedance increases with the catheter size, with the hematocrit and also with the stenosis size (height and length). A significant increase in the magnitude of the impedance and other flow characteristics occur even for a small increase in the catheter size. Variations in the magnitude of all the flow characteristics are observed to be similar in nature with respect to any parameter given

An IoT Framework for Addressing Parents Concerns about Safety of School Going Children

In this paper, we have proposed a novel application using Internet of things (IOT). This application is focused to address the concerns of the parents towards their school going kids. Mainly the concerns of the parents are to ensure the safety of their kids in school bus as well as at school premises. In this paper, we have tried to provide detailed technical implementation about how different sensing, communication technologies clubbing together provides a platform in terms of IoT, where proposed application can be implemented to ensure safety of school going children as it is the priority and concern for parents. In Proposed application, parents get notification when his child boards the bus for school and gets down the bus at home’s doorstep. Parents also get notification when child enters his Class Room first time in a day. Parents any time can access the location his child or school bus in which his child is travelling. In case of emergency, child can disseminate the signal to parents / Single point of contact (SPOC) at school to make them aware about emergency

Revisiting heat capacity of bulk polycrystalline YBa2Cu3O7-{\delta}

In this letter, we present the superconducting property characterization of a phase pure reasonably good quality YBa2Cu3O7-{\delta} sample. Studied compound is crystallized in orthorhombic Pmmm space group with lattice parameters a, b, and c are 3.829(2) {\AA}, 3.887(1) {\AA} and 11.666(3) {\AA} respectively. Bulk superconductivity is observed below 90K as evidenced by resistivity and dc/ac magnetization measurements. The resistivity under magnetic field ({\rho}TH) measurements showed clearly both the intra-grain and inter-grain transitions, which are supplemented by detailed (varying frequency and amplitude) ac susceptibility studies as well. The upper critical field at 0K i.e., Hc2(0) being determined from {\rho}TH measurements with 50% criteria of resistivity drope is ~ 70 Tesla. Studied polycrystalline YBa2Cu3O7-{\delta} is subjected to detailed heat capacity (CP) studies. Cp exhibited well defined anomaly at below 90 K, which decreases with applied field. Though the Cp anomaly/peak at Tc reduces with applied field, the same is not completely suppressed in high applied fields of up to 12 Tesla. The Sommerfeld constant ({\gamma}) and Debye temperature ({\Theta}D) as determined from low temperature fitting of CP(T) data to Sommerfeld-Debye model, are 10.65 mJ/mole-K2 and 312.3 K respectively. The results are compared with existing literature on bulk polycrystalline superconducting YBa2Cu3O7-{\delta} sampleComment: 9 pages text + Figs: short articl

Demographic parameters of women with uterine fibroids presenting as abnormal uterine bleeding

Background: Uterine fibroids are commonest benign uterine tumors. Only about 25% women with fibroids are symptomatic. Around 70-80% are discovered incidentally during routine pelvic examination. Using ultrasonography screening, some authors have estimated a cumulative incidence of 70% in all women by age 50. Symptoms attributable to fibroids are mainly abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), pelvic pressure, pain, and reproductive dysfunction. Heavy and/or prolonged menses is the typical bleeding pattern with myomas. Uterine fibroids are a leading cause of hysterectomy in perimenopausal women, thus, this study was done to find out its prevalence and demography in women presenting with AUB. The objectives of the present investigation were to find out the prevalence of uterine fibroid in women with AUB and to find out the various demographic features of womenMethods: The study was done for 2 years in the Dept of Obstetrics and Gynecology of a rural tertiary institute after taking clearance from institutional ethical committee. All the women presenting with AUB were included in the study. History and demographic features was enquired and entered in a predesigned proforma. All women were clinically examined after consent. Women with suspicion of fibroid were subjected to diagnostic modalities and the reports were followed and correlated.Results: Total 11,841 patients came to Gynaeological OPD during the study period. Out of these 3,878 (32.75%) presented with AUB, 2,126 were diagnosed as having fibroids after examination and investigations. Hence, the prevalence of fibroids amongst the women with AUB was 54.82% and 17.95% amongst all gynaecological patients. Maximum women were between 31-40 years, (64.78% rural and 62.73% urban). Majority were having parity between 1-2 (40.73% in urban, 38.96% in rural).Conclusions: Uterine fibroids are the commonest reason of AUB in reproductive age group with the prevalence of 54.82%. The trends in age incidence have remained the same over the years, commonly affecting women in third decade. There is no difference in incidence of fibroids amongst various socioeconomic classes.

Obstructive mullerian anamolies: a case series

AIM of the study was to review the heterogeneous clinical presentations and management options for some of the obstructive mullerian anomalies through a case series. Background: Müllerian duct anomalies (MDAs) are a miscellaneous group of entities that result from the non-development, defective vertical or lateral fusion, or resorption failure of the müllerian ducts due to genetic mutation. 5 cases of obstructive mullerian anomaly are reviewed. Cases of OHVIRA (obstructed Hemivagina with Renal Agenesis) syndrome, transverse vaginal septum, imperforate hymen and obstructed rudimentary horn of unicornuate uterus are included. Results: We found that cyclical abdominal pain was the most common presenting complaint. There is a high incidence of associated renal anomalies. Psychosocial counselling before treatment is necessary to address the functional and emotional aspects of the patient. Surgical management was done in all patients with good postoperative outcome. Conclusion: Obstructive mullerian anomalies need to be evaluated by a meticulous examination and imaging studies to reach the diagnosis with precision. The treatment has to be tailored to the specific anomaly