Surgical Treatment of Mitral Valve Disease

This paper discusses the indications for surgery in mitral valve disease by comparing the natural history of the disease, as it can best be determined from the literature, with the results of various surgical procedures. It may be stated at the outset, however, that there are no controlled studies comparing medical and surgical treatment nor are they likely to be carried out in the near future

Effects of variable resistance on smart structures of cubic reconnaissance satellites in various thermal and frequency shocking conditions

Piezoelectric materials are widely used as smart structures in cubic reconnaissance satellites because of their sensing, actuating, and energy-harvesting abilities. In this study, an analytical model is developed in specific mechanical thermal shocking conditions. A special circuit and apparatus is designed for experimentation on the basis of the inverse piezoelectric effect. An equivalent circuit method is used to establish the relationship between the resistance and peak-to-peak voltage of lead zirconate titanate used as smart materials for cubic reconnaissance satellites. Various frequencies and resistance were applied in different mechanical thermal shocking conditions. Moreover, numerical simulations are conducted in various mechanical loading conditions to determine the accumulative effect. The model provides a novel mechanism to characterize the smart structures in cubic reconnaissance satellites. A rise in temperature increases peak-to-peak voltage; a rise in frequency decreases peak-to-peak voltage; and intensified resistance decreases peak-to-peak voltage. Based on experimentation and simulation, the optimum resistance is predicted for the various frequencies and temperatures. The various conditions may correspond to the different applications of smart structures for cubic reconnaissance satellites. The analytical calculations are in good agreement with experimental and numerical calculations. © 2017, The Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany

Generation of electrical energy using lead zirconate titanate (PZT-5A) piezoelectric material: Analytical, numerical and experimental verifications

Energy harvesting is the process of attaining energy from the external sources and transforming it into usable electrical energy. An analytical model of piezoelectric energy harvester has been developed to determine the output voltage across an electrical circuit when it is forced to undergo a base excitation. This model gives an easy approach to design and investigate the behavior of piezoelectric material. Numerical simulations have been carried out to determine the effect of frequency and loading on a Lead zirconate titanate (PZT-5A) piezoelectric material. It has been observed that the output voltage from the harvester increases when loading increases whereas its resonance frequency decreases. The analytical results were found to be in good agreement with the experimental and numerical simulation results

Impacts of spiritual and cultural intelligence on leadership effectiveness: a conceptual analysis

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impacts of Spiritual and Cultural Intelligence on Leadership effectiveness in global environment using the available current literature. Through the review of past work, the most dominant concept of cultural intelligence was introduced by Ang et al. (2007) where four dimensions of cultural intelligence were proposed (metacognitive intelligence, cognitive intelligence, motivational intelligence, and behavioural intelligence). In terms of spiritual intelligence, Zohar and Marshall (2005) and Reeve (2005) work could be a very useful and gain much attention in the field. Both framework to measure cultural intelligence and spiritual intelligence were empirically examined in relations with leadership effectiveness. A mixed result was reported. However it is important to note that majority of the study indicated that Cultural intelligence and Spiritual Intelligence have positive and significant impact on global leadership effectiveness in terms of decision making, performance, and commitment. Therefore this paper is proposed to collect data using three instruments: Ang et al. (2007)’s four cultural intelligence dimensions and the measurement tool will be used to measure cultural intelligence. To measure Spiritual Intelligence, Zohar and Marshall (2005)’s measurement tools will be used and to measure leadership effectiveness, Kouzes and Posner (1995). This study will be useful for individual managers and organisation in developing global mind-set and effectiveness of their managers in global environment and working with diverse workgroups

Utilization of cloud RAN architecture with eCPRI fronthaul in 5G network

With increased reliability, massive network capacity, and extremely reduced latency, 5G expands the mobile ecosystem into new realms. 5G impacts every industry and innovation, making transportation and conveyance safer, remote healthcare, accuracy agriculture, digitized logistics, and much more. In this age, 5G calls for new levels of flexibility and broadness in architecting, scaling, and deploying telecommunication networks, which need a further step ahead in technology and enter Cloud Technology. Cloud technology provides fascinating possibilities to complement the existing tried and tested technologies in the Radio Access Network (RAN) domain. Cloud RAN (CRAN) refers to relying on RAN functions over an inclusive platform instead of a purpose-built hardware platform. It represents a progression in wireless communication technology, leveraging the Common public radio interface (CPRI) standard, Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) innovation, and millimeter wave (mmWave) propagation for extended-range signals. A CRAN network comprises of three fundamental elements. The initial element is the Distant Wireless Unit (DRU) or Remote Radio Component (RRH), utilized within a network to link wireless devices to entry points; these units are equipped with transceivers for transmitting and receiving signals. Next, a Baseband Unit (BBU) centre or hub serves as a centralized site functioning as a data processing hub. Separate BBU modules can be assembled independently or interconnected to distribute resources, adapting to the network's changing dynamics and needs. Communication among these modules boasts remarkably high bandwidth and exceptionally low latency. The BBU can be further segmented into DU (Distributed Unit) and CU (Centralized Unit). The third crucial component is a fronthaul or conveyance network – the connecting layer between a baseband unit (BBU) and a set of RRUs, utilizing optical fibres, cellular links, or mmWave communication. The goal of this thesis is to find a way to utilize the 5G RAN Architecture as efficiently as possible and for this purpose, Enhanced Common Public Radio Interface (eCPRI) or enhanced CPRI fronthaul is adopted instead of CPRI as it is a manner of splitting up the functions performed by baseband unit and putting some of that in the RRU so it can reduce the burden on the fibre. Enhanced CPRI makes it possible to send some data packets to a virtual Distributed Unit (vDU) and others to a virtual Centralized Unit (vCU) which results in reduced data traffic on fibre. The first part of this research paper focuses on considering and learning about the 5G Cloud RAN architecture's main components, some cloud RAN history, and important components included in the 5G Cloud RAN. In the second part, research goes in depth about the fronthaul gateway technology that is eCPRI structure, its functional split, its difference from CPRI in structure and functionality, and how it is enhanced and developed. Considering CRAN specifications, it will also include some eCPRI protocol delay management and timing studies. Finally, Test cases are developed that can authenticate the low latency and high throughput of data with eCPRI fronthaul in 5G Cloud RAN as compared to CPRI fronthaul. The inspiration behind this is to recreate the model with substantial changes that work with an ideal behaviour of a subsystem, with this a tool or an environment can be obtained that maximizes the efficiency of 5G CRAN. It will also permit network architects and designers to experiment with new features, which can reduce costs, save time, improve latency. It can also provide a tool to verification engineers that will help them to generate optimal replies of the system necessary for evaluating the practical realization of that system

Analyzing Indian Socio-Political Thoughts, Hunger and Freedom in Bhabhani Bhattacharya’s Novel “So Many Hungers”

This paper focuses on the Indian cultural background having the themes like hunger, poverty, famine, war, politics, freedom, imperialism, economic exploitation, class consciousness in the Indo-Anglian English fiction writer Bhabani Bhattacharya’s novel So Many Hungers!, related to the socio-political and economic situations of Bengali’s society. The theme of the novel is mainly the existing pressing problems of India, especially the rural India before and after the Independence. Realism is one of the most remarkable features of Bhabani Bhattacharya’s fiction. His novel shows a passionate awareness of life in India, the social awakening and protest, the utter poverty of peasants, the Indian freedom struggle and its various dimensions, the tragedy of partition of the country, the social and political transitions, the mental as well as the physical agony of the poor peasants and labor class people of the Indian society, especially that of Bengal and other adjoining states. Bhattacharya believes that an artist should inevitably be concerned with truth and reality, his portrayal of the life and society is never a photographic one nor a journalistic record. One can very well find the reflection of Indian culture, tradition and struggle in it

Utilizing Chat GPT for Automation of Material Supply in Construction Projects using Programming and Primavera P6 Scheduling

Construction Industry (CI) is considered as the backbone of a country’s economy. Despite the fact, it experiences high fragmentation and reduced productivity, delays, cost overruns and lack of innovation from the start till the end of a project. It has been identified that material deliveries often affect productivity at site therefore this study focuses on the development of Automated Materials Supply (AMS). Supply chain in construction being automated presents a feasible solution to late material deliveries and cost and time overruns on a project by proposing a framework for information transfer by using primavera schedule and OPEN AI among stakeholders of the project to avoid material overruns on-site and reducing human effort. The result of this study leads to the development of a framework that executes the information transfer among various stakeholders of a project to automate the material delivery process