Distributed, Advanced Fiber Optic Sensors

India is poised to use nuclear energy in a big way. The safety of these systems depends upon monitoring various parameters in hazardous environment like high radiation, high temperature exceeding 1000°C, and gas/coolant leakages. In this chapter, we shall dwell on basics of distributed sensing, related instrumentation, device fabrication, and actual advanced field applications. Techniques like Raman scattering, resonance response of fiber gratings, and selective absorption are employed for design, development, and fabrication of distributed sensors and devices. Raman distributed sensors with advanced data processing techniques are finding increasing applications for fire detection, coolant leak detection, and safety of large structures. The systematic investigations related to portable systems developed at the author’s lab have been described. Wavelength-encoded fiber gratings are the attractive candidate for high gamma radiation dose measurements in environment such as particle accelerators, fission reactors, food processing facilities, and ITER-like installations. The basics of fiber gratings, their operational designs, and devices based on fiber gratings have been described with advanced applications like high temperature sensing, strain measurements at cryogenic temperatures, and strain in nuclear environment. Finally, novel approaches are described for distributed hazardous gas monitoring for large areas such as airports, train stations, and reactor containment buildings

Age-dependent increase in green autofluorescence of blood erythrocytes

Green auto-fluorescence (GAF) of different age groups of mouse blood erythrocytes was determined by using a double in vivo biotinylation (DIB) technique that enables delineation of circulating erythrocytes of different age groups. A significant increase in GAF was seen for erythrocytes of old age group (age in circulation >40 days) as compared to young erythrocytes (age <15 days). Erythrocytes are removed from blood circulation by macrophages in the reticulo-endothelial system and depletion of macrophages results in an increased proportion of aged erythrocytes in the blood. When mice were depleted of macrophages for 7 days by administration of clodronate loaded liposomes, the overall GAF of erythrocytes increased significantly and this increase could be ascribed to an increase in GAF of the oldest population of erythrocytes. Using the DIB technique, the GAF of a cohort of blood erythrocyte generated during a 5 day window was tracked in vivo. GAF of the defined cohort of erythrocytes remained low till 40 days of age in circulation and then increased steeply till the end of the life span of erythrocytes. Taken together our results provide evidence for an age dependent increase in the GAF of blood erythrocytes that is accentuated by depletion of macrophages. Kinetics of changes in GAF of circulating erythrocytes with age has also been defined

Analogy-based Instruction for Effective Teaching of Abstract Concepts in Computer Science

[EN] In the analogy-based learning method we map a concept that is being learned to a well-understood concept. An analogy is mainly useful when learners lack prior knowledge of the topic being learned. Computer Science (CS) is a subject whose concepts tend to be highly abstract and therefore difficult for undergraduate students to understand. Analogy-based instruction can greatly reduce a student’s burden of learning these abstract CS concepts. Role of analogy in teaching CS topics has not been adequately explored. In this paper we discuss analogy-based instruction in computer science and its advantages. Over the last decade we have developed analogies for a large number of difficult CS concepts and extensively used them in the classroom at our institution. We list these analogies and as an illustration discuss one of them (from the subfield of operating systems) in detail. We also present the evaluation of our analogy-based instruction method. Our results indicate that our techniques are quite effective in improving student learning outcomes.Saxena, P.; Singh, S.; Gupta, G. (2021). Analogy-based Instruction for Effective Teaching of Abstract Concepts in Computer Science. En 7th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'21). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 377-385. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAd21.2021.13115OCS37738

A rare case of CNS tuberculosis with pregnancy

Whereas pelvic tuberculosis leading to infertility is quite common in female population of developing countries, Central Nervous System (CNS) tuberculosis (TB) with pregnancy is a rare entity. Most of the information on this subject is based on sporadic case reports only. Most of the earlier reports suggest very high adverse outcome of CNS Tuberculosis in pregnancy. We are presenting a case of CNS Tuberculosis which was diagnosed timely and managed appropriately in our institute with a favourable outcome, thus highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and treatment

Heart Smart Diabetes Care

The world is growing smarter day by day, and so is health care. In spite of innumerable inventions and tech-tools, however, we struggle to contain chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. We need to work together and design a rational, scientific and socially sustainable Heart Smart diabetes care ecosystem, with Heart Smart management strategies, to ensure happiness and harmony in persons who live with diabetes

Heart Smart Diabetes Care

The world is growing smarter day by day, and so is health care. In spite of innumerable inventions and tech-tools, however, we struggle to contain chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. We need to work together and design a rational, scientific and socially sustainable Heart Smart diabetes care ecosystem, with Heart Smart management strategies, to ensure happiness and harmony in persons who live with diabetes

Pier Failure of Bridge and Geotechnical Investigation − A Case Study

In this paper a case of foundation failure, due to which the complete bridge structure has collapsed, is considered. The bridge is situated in Km. 26/6 on Langi Durg Road. It was constructed in the year 1980-81. This bridge has two solid slab spans of 15.25 meters each. The substructure is of solid coarse rubble stone masonry. The base dimensions of pier foundation are 3780 mm. in traffic direction and 10080 mm. in current direction at R.L. 94.00m. The pier foundation is resting on bouldary strata. During the floods in the year 1995 the pier constructed in mid-stream failed. This brought down both the deck slabs of the bridge at the bed level. Both the deck slabs are in good condition and it is proposed to use them by lifting of slabs and reconstructing central pier after complete investigation of founding strata

Modulating Effect of the −158 Gγ (C→T) Xmn1 Polymorphism in Indian Sickle Cell Patients

Xmn1 polymorphism is a known factor, which increases fetal haemoglobin production. Among the inherited disorders of blood, thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Diseases contributes to a major bulk of genetic diseases in India. Our aim was to verify the role of the Xmn1 polymorphism as a modulating factor in sickle cell patients and frequency of the polymorphism in Indian sickle cell patients. 60 sickle homozygous and 75 sickle beta thalassemia patients were included and 5 ml blood sample was collected from them. Screening of sickle patients was done by HPLC. An automated cell analyzer SYSMEX (K-4500 Model) was used to analyze the Complete Blood Count of patients. Xmn1 polymorphism analysis was done by PCR-RFLP and one-way ANOVA test was applied to analysis of variance between groups. Among the sickle patients 27 were heterozygous (+/−) and 19 were homozygous (+/+) while 30 were heterozygous (+/−) and 24 were homozygous (+/+) in sickle β-thalassemia patients. Extremely significant differences (p-value <0.001) of hematological parameters seen among patients with Xmn1 carrier and without the Xmn1 carrier. In our cases the clinical symptoms were barely visible and higher HbF level with Xmn1 carriers were found. Presence of Xmn1 polymorphism in sickle cell patients with higher HbF were phenotypically distinguished in the sickle cell patients. We conclude that the phenotypes of Indian sickle cell patients were greatly influenced by Xmn1polymorphism