Ethics Pops up, Economy Constrains: Ethical Dilemma of Tobacco Retailers in Selling Cigarette to Minors

The paper investigates whether there is any ethical dilemma for the retailers of tobacco products to sell cigarettes to minors or not. With the study of secondary data and primary data coming from 60 retailers and 20 experts from Khulna City, Dhaka City, and Savar, the research concludes that in addition to the focus on retailers, policy makers have to think about mass awareness, mass education, proper implementation of laws, and availability of tobacco products to minors in order to reduce smoking by minors. Though not spontaneous, around 80 percent retailers find it unethical to sell cigarette to minors who is now 37 percent of the total market with 16 percent growth rate per year. Keywords: Retailers, Ethics, Smoking, Minor Smoker, Tobacco Market, Banglades

Voice Communication in Mobile Delay-Tolerant Networks

Push-to-talk (PTT) is one class of voice communication system generally employed in cellular phone services. Today's PTT services mainly rely on infrastructure and require stable end-to-end path for successful communication. But users with PTT enabled mobile devices may travel in challenged environments where infrastructure is not available or end-to-end path is highly unreliable. In such cases those PTT services may exhibit poor performance or may even fail completely. Even though some existing PTT solutions allow users to communicate in an ad-hoc fashion, they need sufficient node density to establish end-to-end path and eventually fail to communicate in sparse mobile ad-hoc environments. Delay-Tolerant Networking (DTN) is an emerging research area that addresses the communication requirements specfic to challenged networks. In this thesis we develop a voice communication system (DT-Talkie) which enables both individual and group users to communicate over infrastructure-less and challenged networks in the walkie-talkie fashion. The DTN concept of asynchronous message forwarding is applied to the DT-Talkie in order to transmit voice messages reliably. We employ variable-length fragmentation mechanism in the application layer with the vision to speed-up session interactivity in stable scenarios. Some approaches to resolve codec interoperability issues are implied in this thesis. To validate the concepts of the DT-Talkie, we implement an application for Maemo based Nokia Internet Tablets, leveraging the DTN reference implementation developed in the DTN Research Group. Moreover in this thesis we evaluate the performance of the DT-Talkie through conducting a set of simulations using several DTN routing protocols and using different mobility models

Investigation of Power Performance of a PEM Fuel Cell Using MATLAB Simulation

Fuel cell based power generation systems have gained remarkable interest in this modern age, due to its high conversion efficiency and reliability. Among the different types of fuel cells, PEM fuel cells are achieving more significance due to its fast start up time and low operating temperature. This paper studies the mathematical model of proton exchange membrane of fuel cell (PEMFC) using Matlab/SIMULINK software. The paper consists of the calculation of cell voltage, stack current, ohmic loss, activation loss. This model is used to research the fuel cell behavior and the characteristic of output values at different parameters. The model consists of the cathode gas channel, gas diffuser, catalyst layer, and the membrane. In order to composite shape of the gas diffuser and for its gradient in liquid water content, the gas diffuser is modeled as a series of parallel layers with different porosity. It represents in terms of the physical and thermodynamic parameters of the fuel cell. The curve of polarization is expressed parametrically as a function of the surface over potential. This paper expresses for cathode internal as well as overall effectiveness factors, active fraction of the catalyst layer resistance, catalyst layer, limiting current density, and the slope of the polarization curve

The need for a new I/O model

http://cidrdb.org/cidr2021/papers/cidr2021_abstract04.pdfPublished versio

A 15-year-old boy with huge facial swelling, recurrent severe epistaxis, progressive proptosis, nasal obstruction and impaired hearing on right side

This article has no abstract. The first 100 words appear below: A 15-year-old male hailing from Khagrachhari was admitted into the department with the complaints of swelling on the right side of face for 10 months with recurrent severe epistaxis, progressive proptosis, unilateral nasal obstruction and impairment of hearing for two months. On extraoral examination, there was a firm non-tender, nonmobile, fixed swelling on the right side of cheek causing facial asymmetry measuring about 10 × 12 cm in size extending from upper eyelid to middle of the right cheek supero-inferiorly and pre-auricular area to the medial wall of nose postero-anteriorl

Cross coupled interlinked split ring resonator based epsilon negative metamaterial with high effective medium ratio for multiband satellite and radar communications

In this paper, a cross coupled interlinked split ring resonator based (CCI-SRR) based metamaterial has been presented. Epsilon negative (ENG) with a highly effective medium ratio (EMR) is attained in this metamaterial. The metamaterial unit cell consists of one square shaped split ring resonator and two rectangular rings. The rectangular rings reside within the outer square split ring. Two internal rings are coupled together by using a cross-shaped metal segment. These inner rings are also interlinked to the outer ring by using metal strips. Coupling causes to increase the electrical length and modifies the inductance of the unit cell. Multiple resonances covering C, X and Ku-band are achieved due to the interconnection of rings. The symmetric nature of the CCI-SRR unit cell exhibits unique quality to minimize noise and harmonics effect. The unit cell is designed on FR4 substrate with a thickness of 1.6 mm. The overall dimension of the unit cell is 0.124λ × 0.124λ, where λ is the wavelength calculated at a lower resonance frequency of 4.15 GHz. Three resonances are obtained for |S21| at frequencies of 4.15 GHz, 10.38 GHz and 14.93 GHz performing numerical simulation in CST microwave studio. Permittivity, permeability, refractive index and impedance are explored by using the Newton-Ross-Weir (NRW) method. ENG performance is observed in frequencies ranging from 3.95 to 5.65 GHz, 9.57–11.46 GHz, 13.68–16 GHz. Near-zero refractive index is attained within the frequency ranges, 4.16–5.75 GHz, 10.16–11.58 GHz, 14.46–16 GHz. An LC equivalent circuit is designed, and component values are achieved by Advanced Design Software (ADS) justifying |S21| with CST result. The study of electromagnetic wave interaction between the unit cell and the double positive medium reveals that the unit cell exhibits evanescent wave properties. The compact nature of the unit cell is confirmed by calculating EMR with a value of 8.03. The electromagnetic coupling effect is examined for 2 × 2 array in various orientations. The |S21| performance of 2 × 2, 4 × 4 and 8 × 8 is matched with the unit cell. Due to symmetric patterns, near-zero refractive index, negative permittivity and high EMR, the proposed unit cell can be used to enhance the performance of microwave devices used for C, X and Ku-bands, especially Satellite and Radar communications.The project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia under grant no. KEP-24-135-38. The authors, therefore, acknowledge with thanks DSR technical and financial support. Also, it was made possible by NPRP12S-0227-190164 from the Qatar National Research Fund, a member of Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar. The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors. The author also like to thanks Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia research grant code: KK-2020-005.Scopu

Association between clinically diagnosed lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse and magnetic resonance image findings

There are contradictory reports on the findings of magnetic resonance image (MRI) in lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse. A study was conducted on 54 patients using 3 of 4 clinical criteria (low back pain with radiation down to the lower limbs, radicular pain along specific dermatomes, positive straight leg raising test, presence of neurological symptoms and signs e.g. motor or sensory deficit and MRI of lumbosacral spine of the respondent). Evaluation of MRI of lumbosacral spine was done based on extent of disc prolapse, disc degeneration, nerve root compression neural foramen compromise. The logistic regression analysis between the findings of MRI and the clinical features show that there was a significant association in the neural foramen or lateral recess (Odd's ratio 7.106, p<0.05), the root compression (p<0.01) as well as the disc extrusion (p<0.05). There was no statistical association between clinical levels and other MRI findings like disc protrusion and disc bulge (p value 0.21 and 0.14, respectively). The strength of agreement between clinical and MRI diagnosis level of disc prolapse was calculated using kappa statistics (k-value). The test revealed a very good agreement for L3/4 (k-value = 0.812) and good agreement for L4/5 and L5/SI  level (k-value 0.75 and 0.75 respectively) between these two procedures, suggesting that level of disc prolapse could be correctly  diagnosed without MRI findings.  In conclusion, clinically diagnosed levels associate well with MRI levels, but all MRI abnormalities do not have any clinical significance.

Correlation between Glasgow coma scale on admission and clinical outcome of patients with unilateral chronic subdural hematoma after surgery

This study was undertaken to determine the influence of Glasgow coma scale (GCS) on admission on clinical outcome of patients with unilateral chronic subdural hematoma after surgery. A cross- sectional study was conducted on 33 consecutive patients, among them 28 were male, 5 were female with GCS 6 to 15. 19 patients out of 22 who had GCS 14-15 had favorable GOS at 24 hours as compared to 2 out of 7 in GCS 9-13 group and none in GCS ?8 group. All patients (22 out of 22) had favorable GOS at the time of discharge in GCS 14-15 group while 8 out of 9 had favorable GOS in GCS 9-14 group and 1 out of 2 patients had favorable GOS in GCS ?8 group. Chi square test showed significant difference in outcome between 14-15, 9-13 and ?8 GCS groups (p values 0.001, 0.015, 0.013 respectively). In conclusion, clinical outcome of patients with unilateral chronic subdural hematoma depends on Glasgow coma scale on admission.

Social auditing in the supply chain: business legitimisation strategy rather than a change agent

Purpose This paper aims to examine the role of social auditing in legitimising the relationship between the buyer and supplier firms rather than strengthening corporate accountability in the global supply chain. Design/methodology/approach Applying case study methodology and drawing on Suchman’s theory on societal legitimacy, it is argued that social audits are artefacts of legitimacy, and global firms dominate the buyer–supplier relationship across the supply chain. The analysis is based on data collected from different secondary sources, including Walmart’s corporate sustainability reports. Findings Using Walmart’s relationship with Tazreen Fashions Limited around the Tazreen factory fire incident as a case study, it explains that the practices which attempt to symbolically demonstrate accountability from social audits need to shift to a more continuous and sincere demonstration of accountability through the social audit process. For this to occur, the cognitive and pragmatic approaches that international buyers have previously used in auditing their supply firms’ social responsibility are no longer sufficient to achieve societal legitimacy. Instead, a moral turn needs to underpin the intentions and actions of these buyers to maintain legitimacy and demonstrate accountability across the supply industry in developing economies. Originality/value The findings of the study answer the questions raised in the extant literature about the expectation from social auditing and whether social auditing serves to ensure corporate accountability. The paper contributes to the policymaking discussion of how social auditing can be configured to include a legal provision to ensure that social auditing is not a parroting tool for corporations