Energy and the macroeconomy

I specialize in the field of energy economics and the macroeconomy. Currently I am researching the demand and supply side effects of oil markets. I examine the impact of demand and supply shocks in the crude oil market on industrial production in the US and other OECD countries (as opposed to treating oil price shocks as exogenous). My work examines the functional form & structural stability of the relationship between oil prices and the economy using disaggregated data. My research agenda includes the effect of oil prices on labor markets; role of energy policy; and effects of steel prices on the economy. In addition to energy economics, I have presented and written papers in areas of economics education, worked on an inter-disciplinary research project on bottled water use in Mexico, and co-authored a white paper describing the results and conclusions from an NSF funded food-energy-water nexus workshop at Michigan Tech.https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/techtalks/1017/thumbnail.jp

Predicting Outcomes of Horse Racing using Machine Learning

Machine learning with its vast framework is making its way into every aspect of modern society. The segment of betting sports particularly horse racing calls for the attention from a large spectrum of research community owing to its value to the stakeholders and the amount of money involved. Horse racing prediction is a complex problem as there are a large number of influencing variables. The present study aims to contribute in this domain by training machine learning algorithms for predicting horse racing results or outcomes. For this, data for a whole racing season from 2017 to 2019 of races conducted by Turf Club of India was considered which amounts to over 14,700 races.  Six algorithms namely Logistic Regression, Random Forest, Naive Bayes, and k-Nearest Neighbors) k-NN were used to predict the winning horse for each race. Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) technique was applied to the imbalanced horse racing data set and the attributes of the horse race repository were analyzed. The results were compared with other sampling methods to evaluate the relative effectiveness of this method. The proposed framework is able to give an accuracy of 97.6% which is substantially higher when compared to other similar studies. The research can be beneficial to the stakeholders as well as researchers in the same area to do further analysis and experiments

Monitoring disease activity and damage in adult and juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathy

Purpose of review: We have reviewed the literature to identify significant advances related to disease activity and damage in the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) from January 2019 - July 2020. Recent findings: New observations in the field from 2019-2020 have resulted in a better understanding of the clinical association and pathogenic origins of IIM. The use of patient-reported outcome measures and perspectives, identifying biomarkers, and making better use of auto-antibody testing are summarised. Basic sciences have led to an improved understanding of the role of NETosis in calcinosis, and of interferon type 1, in IIM. Preliminary insights are offered into Covid-19 in the setting of IIM, and the use of potential tools for monitoring disease remotely, which may assume larger importance for optimal disease management during a global pandemic. The wider exploration of newer imaging modalities and the use of nail fold capillaroscopy is a further step in better management of the condition.Summary: The summarised research in IIM is a step forward in being able to further define, and to distinguish disease activity from damage, in order to potentially aid future clinical diagnosis and management in this challenging disease.<br/

Hysteroscopic evaluation in infertile patients: a prospective study

Background: Hysteroscopy is the gold standard procedure for uterine cavity exploration. However, hysteroscopy is only recommended by the WHO when clinical or complementary exams (ultrasound, HSG) suggest intrauterine abnormality or after in vitro fertilization failure. Nevertheless, many specialists feel that hysteroscopy is a more accurate tool. The aim of this prospective study is to assess the value of diagnostic hysteroscopy in a primary workup of infertility by describing hysteroscopy findings in a population of 324 infertile patients during 18 months (December 2010 - May 2012).Methods: We analysed prospectively 324 infertile patients in gynaecology OT setting. Diagnostic video-assisted hysteroscopy was performed using a flexible hysteroscope. Hysteroscopy was performed with a standard sequence, inspecting the endocervical canal, uterine cavity, endometrium, and tubal ostia and findings recorded.Results: Hysteroscopy was normal in 65.12% of patients. Cervico-isthmic abnormalities were present in 6.48% of patients with cervical stenosis being the major abnormality. Uterine cavity was normal in 86% of patients. Observed abnormalities were septate uterus in 10 cases, intrauterine synechiae in 16 cases, sub mucus myoma in 2 cases, deformed cavity in 10 cases and endometrial polyp in 2 cases. Ostial fibrosis was observed in 29 patients. Endometrial abnormalities (fibrosis, inflammation) were observed in 30 patients. Seven patients turned out to be of genital tuberculosis with endometrial biopsy. No significance was found regarding the total number of intrauterine pathologies when comparing the groups of primary versus secondary infertility.Conclusions: Rates of abnormal findings in infertile patient who underwent diagnostic hysteroscopy was 34.88% in our study. Our data are an additional argument to suggest hysteroscopy as part of investigation in infertile woman. Routine diagnostic hysteroscopy should be part of an infertility workup in primary and secondary infertility

Essays On The Impact Of Oil Price Shocks On The Macroeconomy

ABSTRACT ESSAYS O THE IMPACT OF OIL PRICE SHOCKS O THE Advisor: Dr. Ana María Herrera Major: Economics Degree: Doctor of Philosophy MACROECOOMY by LATIKA GUPTA LAGALO December 2011 This dissertation analyzes the relationship between oil price and industrial production. use recently developed methods and techniques to investigate the functional form and structural stability of the relationship between oil prices and industrial production. In my first chapter, I use both slope-based tests and impulse response based tests to provide evidence of nonlinearity in the response of U.S. industrial production to oil price shocks My second essay further empirically assesses the presence (or absence) of asymmetry in the response of industrial production to real oil price shocks using a sample of 18 industrialized economies using various nonlinear transformations of the price of oil. In my third essay I examine the impact of demand and supply shocks in the crude oil marke on industrial production in the U.S. as opposed to treating oil price shocks as exogenous

Study of sociodemographic profile and pattern of gynaecological malignancies in a tertiary care center

Background: Gynaecological malignancies are second most common cancer of females after cancer breast. Carcinoma cervix is the commonest gynaecological malignancy in developing countries while in developed countries, ovarian cancer is the commonest gynaecological malignancy. Appropriate screening and timely diagnosis can save many lives. The objective of this study was to study socio-demographic profile of patients presenting with gynaecological malignancy. And to study presenting symptoms and pattern of gynaecological malignancies in themMethods: It was a retrospective record based study from December 2011 to December 2015. Various parameters from Case records of patients with gynaecological malignancies who visited outpatient department of unit IV were retrieved and analysis done.Results: In our study, most of the patients (30.52%) belonged to age group of 51-60 years, were multiparous (94.21%), Illiterate (67.3%) and belonged to rural background (65.28%). Most of the patients of cancer cervix had their presenting complaint as post-menopausal bleeding (48.38%), followed by excessive white discharge (33.87%). Majority of patients (65.26%) had cancer cervix, were in FIGO stage II .Commonest histopathological type was squamous cell carcinoma.Conclusions: Most common gynaecological malignancy in India is carcinoma cervix. Proper screening and timely diagnosis can save many lives

Chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy:a new emerging landscape in autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy, an innovative immune cell therapy, has revolutionized the treatment landscape of haematological malignancies. The past 2 years has witnessed the successful application of CD19-targeting CAR constructs in refractory cases of autoimmune rheumatic diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis and anti-synthetase syndrome. In comparison with existing B cell depletion therapies, targeting CD19 has demonstrated a more rapid and profound therapeutic effect, enabling drug-free remission with manageable adverse events. These promising results necessitate validation through long-term, large-sample randomized controlled studies. Corroborating the role of CAR-T therapy in refractory rheumatological disorders and affirming safety, efficacy and durability of responses are the aims of future clinical studies. Optimizing the engineering strategies and better patient selection are also critical to further refining the successful clinical implementation of CAR-T therapy

THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE: AGING, MULTIMORBIDITY, AND AUTOIMMUNE RHEUMATIC DISEASES

Rapid aging of population in recent years has been accompanied by accumulation of multimorbid conditions. Chronic diseases often share common risk factors. As an example, autoimmune rheumatic diseases often evolve in combination with other autoimmune conditions. High rates of inflammatory disorders and rheumatic diseases are common multimorbidities in the elderly. A lack of practice guidelines for the management of multimorbidities, particularly in the elderly population and those with rare rheumatic diseases, has led to the inadequate treatment and added burden on the healthcare system. This opinion piece aims to draw attention on rising multimorbidity in the aging population prone to autoimmune rheumatic diseases and justify further research in this field

A rare case of urinary bladder rupture and rupture uterus in an unscarred uterus during vacuum assisted vaginal delivery

Operative vaginal delivery is the use of a vacuum or a forceps device to assist the mother in effecting vaginal delivery of a fetus. The incidence of operative vaginal delivery in U.S.A is 5% or one in 20 deliveries. A 30 year old Para 2 was referred to our institute with complaints of abdominal distension and urinary catheter draining hemorrhagic urine since her delivery. Patient gave history of a Vacuum assisted vaginal delivery three days back at a government hospital. Her previous obstetric history was uneventful. On general examination, she was conscious, with B.P. 110/60 mm of Hg and pulse rate was 84/min. Mild pallor was present.  Abdominal examination revealed a distended and tender abdomen. Laparotomy was performed along with a team of general surgeon and Urologists. Rupture of uterus in an unscarred uterus is a very rare entity with an estimated occurrence of one in 8000 to 15,000 deliveries8. Common risk factors for rupture uterus are caesarean section, inappropriate prostaglandin and oxytocin usage, previous instrumental abortion, instrumental delivery, vigorous fundal delivery, etc. Assisted vaginal delivery using vacuum or forceps avoids unnecessary caesarean sections, and thus reduces the associated morbidity. Different studies have proved vacuum is safer than forceps; however expertise is needed for the application of both the instruments