Classic Driver VR

A VR car-driving simulator for evaluating the user experience of new drivers by helping them to learn driving rules and regulations. The Classic VR Driver helps new drivers to learn driving rules and regulations using various audio and visual feedback. The simulator helps them to get acquainted with the risks and mistakes associated with real life driving. In addition, the users have to play the game in an immersive environment using a Virtual Reality system. This project attempts to fulfill two important goals. The major goal is to evaluate whether the user can learn driving rules and regulations of the road. The game allows the users to take a road test. The road test determines the type of mistakes the user makes and it also determines if they passed or failed in it. I have conducted A/B testing and let the testers participate in user-interviews and user-survey. The testing procedure allowed me to analyze the effectiveness of learning driving rules from the simulator as compared to learning rules from the RMV (Registry of Motor Vehicles) manual. Secondly, the user experience was evaluated by allowing users to participate in user-interviews and user-surveys. It helped me to understand the positives and drawbacks of the game. These feedback are taken into consideration for future improvement. All these factors were considered to make the game as enjoyable and useful in terms of skill training

Exploring diffuse radio emission in galaxy clusters and groups with the uGMRT and the SKA

Diffuse radio emission has been detected in a considerable number of galaxy clusters and groups, revealing the presence of pervasive cosmic magnetic fields, and of relativistic particles in the large-scale structure (LSS) of the Universe. Since cluster radio emission is faint and steep spectrum, its observations are largely limited by the instrument sensitivity and frequency of observation, leading to a dearth of information, more so for lower-mass systems. The unprecedented sensitivity of recently commissioned low-frequency radio telescope arrays, aided by the development of advanced calibration and imaging techniques, have helped in achieving unparalleled image quality. At the same time, the development of sophisticated numerical simulations and the availability of supercomputing facilities have paved the way for high-resolution numerical modeling of radio emission, and the structure of the cosmic magnetic fields in LSS, leading to predictions matching the capabilities of observational facilities. In view of these rapidly-evolving scenerio in modeling and observations, in this review, we summarise the role of the new telescope arrays and the development of advanced imaging techniques and discuss the detections of various kinds of cluster radio sources. In particular, we discuss observations of the cosmic web in the form of supercluster filaments, studies of emission in poor clusters and groups of galaxies, and of ultra-steep spectrum sources. We also review the current theoretical understanding of various diffuse cluster radio sources and the associated magnetic field and polarization. As the statistics of detections improve along with our theoretical understanding, we update the source classification schemes based on their intrinsic properties. We conclude by summarising the role of the upgraded GMRT and our expectations from the upcoming Square Kilometre Array (SKA) observatories.Comment: 32 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in the Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy (JoAA) (to appear in the special issue on "Indian participation in the SKA"

Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017

A double burden of malnutrition occurs when individuals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4% (62.3 (55.1–70.8) million) to 6.4% (58.3 (47.6–70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target of <5% in over half of LMICs by 2025. Prevalence of overweight increased from 5.2% (30 (22.8–38.5) million) in 2000 to 6.0% (55.5 (44.8–67.9) million) children aged under 5 years in 2017. Areas most affected by double burden of malnutrition were located in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon and central Nigeria. Our estimates provide a new perspective to researchers, policy makers and public health agencies in their efforts to address this global childhood syndemic

Mapping inequalities in exclusive breastfeeding in low- and middle-income countries, 2000–2018

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF)—giving infants only breast-milk for the first 6 months of life—is a component of optimal breastfeeding practices effective in preventing child morbidity and mortality. EBF practices are known to vary by population and comparable subnational estimates of prevalence and progress across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are required for planning policy and interventions. Here we present a geospatial analysis of EBF prevalence estimates from 2000 to 2018 across 94 LMICs mapped to policy-relevant administrative units (for example, districts), quantify subnational inequalities and their changes over time, and estimate probabilities of meeting the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target (WHO GNT) of ≥70% EBF prevalence by 2030. While six LMICs are projected to meet the WHO GNT of ≥70% EBF prevalence at a national scale, only three are predicted to meet the target in all their district-level units by 2030

Global, regional, and national progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 for neonatal and child health: all-cause and cause-specific mortality findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 has targeted elimination of preventable child mortality, reduction of neonatal death to less than 12 per 1000 livebirths, and reduction of death of children younger than 5 years to less than 25 per 1000 livebirths, for each country by 2030. To understand current rates, recent trends, and potential trajectories of child mortality for the next decade, we present the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 findings for all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality in children younger than 5 years of age, with multiple scenarios for child mortality in 2030 that include the consideration of potential effects of COVID-19, and a novel framework for quantifying optimal child survival. Methods We completed all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality analyses from 204 countries and territories for detailed age groups separately, with aggregated mortality probabilities per 1000 livebirths computed for neonatal mortality rate (NMR) and under-5 mortality rate (USMR). Scenarios for 2030 represent different potential trajectories, notably including potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential impact of improvements preferentially targeting neonatal survival. Optimal child survival metrics were developed by age, sex, and cause of death across all GBD location-years. The first metric is a global optimum and is based on the lowest observed mortality, and the second is a survival potential frontier that is based on stochastic frontier analysis of observed mortality and Healthcare Access and Quality Index. Findings Global U5MR decreased from 71.2 deaths per 1000 livebirths (95% uncertainty interval WI] 68.3-74-0) in 2000 to 37.1 (33.2-41.7) in 2019 while global NMR correspondingly declined more slowly from 28.0 deaths per 1000 live births (26.8-29-5) in 2000 to 17.9 (16.3-19-8) in 2019. In 2019,136 (67%) of 204 countries had a USMR at or below the SDG 3.2 threshold and 133 (65%) had an NMR at or below the SDG 3.2 threshold, and the reference scenario suggests that by 2030,154 (75%) of all countries could meet the U5MR targets, and 139 (68%) could meet the NMR targets. Deaths of children younger than 5 years totalled 9.65 million (95% UI 9.05-10.30) in 2000 and 5.05 million (4.27-6.02) in 2019, with the neonatal fraction of these deaths increasing from 39% (3.76 million 95% UI 3.53-4.021) in 2000 to 48% (2.42 million; 2.06-2.86) in 2019. NMR and U5MR were generally higher in males than in females, although there was no statistically significant difference at the global level. Neonatal disorders remained the leading cause of death in children younger than 5 years in 2019, followed by lower respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases, congenital birth defects, and malaria. The global optimum analysis suggests NMR could be reduced to as low as 0.80 (95% UI 0.71-0.86) deaths per 1000 livebirths and U5MR to 1.44 (95% UI 1-27-1.58) deaths per 1000 livebirths, and in 2019, there were as many as 1.87 million (95% UI 1-35-2.58; 37% 95% UI 32-43]) of 5.05 million more deaths of children younger than 5 years than the survival potential frontier. Interpretation Global child mortality declined by almost half between 2000 and 2019, but progress remains slower in neonates and 65 (32%) of 204 countries, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia, are not on track to meet either SDG 3.2 target by 2030. Focused improvements in perinatal and newborn care, continued and expanded delivery of essential interventions such as vaccination and infection prevention, an enhanced focus on equity, continued focus on poverty reduction and education, and investment in strengthening health systems across the development spectrum have the potential to substantially improve USMR. Given the widespread effects of COVID-19, considerable effort will be required to maintain and accelerate progress. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd

Optical and thermodynamic properties of a rotating dyonic black hole spacetime in

The null geodesics and the distance of closest approach for photon around a rotating dyonic black hole in $${\mathcal {N}} = 2, U(1)^2$$ gauged supergravity is studied. The phenomenon of black hole shadows with various black hole parameters has also analyzed. Further, the investigation of various thermodynamic properties for this black hole is performed with various thermodynamic parameters at the horizon. The heat capacity to study the thermodynamic stability of this black hole spacetime is also studied. The influence for different values of the black hole parameters $$\nu$$, e, $$\nu$$, g and $$N_{g}$$ on the phenomenon of black hole shadows and thermodynamic parameters is also investigated visually

Reduced Look Ahead Orthogonal Matching Pursuit

Compressed Sensing (CS) is an elegant technique to acquire signals and reconstruct them efficiently by solving a system of under-determined linear equations. The excitement in this field stems from the fact that we can sample at a rate way below the Nyquist rate and still reconstruct the signal provided some conditions are met. Some of the popular greedy reconstruction algorithms are the Orthogonal Matching Pursuit (OMP), the Subspace Pursuit (SP) and the Look Ahead Orthogonal Matching Pursuit (LAOMP). The LAOMP performs better than the OMP. However, when compared to the SP and the OMP, the computational complexity of LAOMP is higher. We introduce a modified version of the LAOMP termed as Reduced Look Ahead Orthogonal Matching Pursuit (Reduced LAOMP). Reduced LAOMP uses prior information from the results of the OMP and the SP in the quest to speedup the look ahead strategy in the LAOMP. Monte Carlo simulations of this algorithm deliver promising results

Exploring diffuse radio emission in galaxy clusters and groups with the uGMRT and the SKA

Diffuse radio emission has been detected in a considerable number of galaxy clusters and groups, revealing the presence of pervasive cosmic magnetic fields, and of relativistic particles in the large-scale structure (LSS) of the Universe. Since cluster radio emission is faint and steep spectrum, its observations are largely limited by the instrument sensitivity and frequency of observation, leading to a dearth of information, more so for lower-mass systems. The unprecedented sensitivity of recently commissioned low-frequency radio telescope arrays, aided by the development of advanced calibration and imaging techniques, have helped in achieving unparalleled image quality. At the same time, the development of sophisticated numerical simulations and the availability of supercomputing facilities have paved the way for high-resolution numerical modeling of radio emission, and the structure of the cosmic magnetic fields in LSS, leading to predictions matching the capabilities of observational facilities. In view of these rapidly-evolving scenerio in modeling and observations, in this review, we summarise the role of the new telescope arrays and the development of advanced imaging techniques and discuss the detections of various kinds of cluster radio sources. In particular, we discuss observations of the cosmic web in the form of supercluster filaments, studies of emission in poor clusters and groups of galaxies, and of ultra-steep spectrum sources. We also review the current theoretical understanding of various diffuse cluster radio sources and the associated magnetic field and polarization. As the statistics of detections improve along with our theoretical understanding, we update the source classification schemes based on their intrinsic properties. We conclude by summarising the role of the upgraded GMRT and our expectations from the upcoming Square Kilometre Array (SKA) observatories