Embedded workbench application of GPS sensor for agricultural tractor.

This paper presents a design of an embedded workbench application of Global Positioning System (GPS) for agricultural tractor. Electronic Control Unit (ECU) is Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor using IAR (IAR Embedded Workbench) and an open source library which follows the most important characteristics of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 11783 communication protocol in the serial communication network of agricultural vehicles. These applications are written in C/C++ programming methods. We explain some test connection configuration between working Personal Computer (PC) and test board for studying the application program and GPS sensor working status. This research work mainly describes the system architecture and programming methodology of an application program which follows some standards for agricultural machinery

Impact of primary kidney disease on the effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease: secondary analyses of the EMPA-KIDNEY trial

Background: The EMPA KIDNEY trial showed that empagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary composite outcome of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death in patients with chronic kidney disease mainly through slowing progression. We aimed to assess how effects of empagliflozin might differ by primary kidney disease across its broad population. Methods: EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA). Patients were eligible if their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher at screening. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily or matching placebo. Effects on kidney disease progression (defined as a sustained ≥40% eGFR decline from randomisation, end-stage kidney disease, a sustained eGFR below 10 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or death from kidney failure) were assessed using prespecified Cox models, and eGFR slope analyses used shared parameter models. Subgroup comparisons were performed by including relevant interaction terms in models. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110. Findings: Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5–2·4). Prespecified subgroupings by primary kidney disease included 2057 (31·1%) participants with diabetic kidney disease, 1669 (25·3%) with glomerular disease, 1445 (21·9%) with hypertensive or renovascular disease, and 1438 (21·8%) with other or unknown causes. Kidney disease progression occurred in 384 (11·6%) of 3304 patients in the empagliflozin group and 504 (15·2%) of 3305 patients in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·71 [95% CI 0·62–0·81]), with no evidence that the relative effect size varied significantly by primary kidney disease (pheterogeneity=0·62). The between-group difference in chronic eGFR slopes (ie, from 2 months to final follow-up) was 1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (95% CI 1·16–1·59), representing a 50% (42–58) reduction in the rate of chronic eGFR decline. This relative effect of empagliflozin on chronic eGFR slope was similar in analyses by different primary kidney diseases, including in explorations by type of glomerular disease and diabetes (p values for heterogeneity all >0·1). Interpretation: In a broad range of patients with chronic kidney disease at risk of progression, including a wide range of non-diabetic causes of chronic kidney disease, empagliflozin reduced risk of kidney disease progression. Relative effect sizes were broadly similar irrespective of the cause of primary kidney disease, suggesting that SGLT2 inhibitors should be part of a standard of care to minimise risk of kidney failure in chronic kidney disease. Funding: Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, and UK Medical Research Council

Anti-tuberculosis Drug Resistance Pattern among Different Category of Tuberculosis Patients

Background: Anti-Tuberculosis (TB) drug resistance is emerging as a new global health problem. No national data on drug resistance is available in Bangladesh. The absolute number of multidrug resistant TB (MDR-TB) is expected to be high considering high TB burden. This study was aimed to determine the resistance pattern of mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates among different category of patient. Method: A total 1123 randomly selected patients having clinical and or radiological features of tuberculosis attending out patients department of NIDCH were enrolled in this study during January to December, 2008. Sputum were collected and processed for culture by digestion, decontamination and concentration following modified Petroff's method and were inoculated on to two slopes of Lowenstein- Jensen (L-J) media for six weeks. The identity of the isolates was made by growth rate, colony morphology, P-nitrobenzoic acid (PNB) susceptibility, catalase and nitrate reduction tests. Ultimately drug susceptibility testing (DST) were performed. Result: Drug susceptibility testing for Isoniazid (INH), Rifampicin (RIF), Ethambutol (EMB) and Streptomycin (SM) was done among 363 cases. Resistance rates for INH, RIF, EMB and SM were 76.03%, 71.63%, 27.55% and 55.65% respectively. According to DST report, total 221 cases were detected as multi drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). Among them, 87% cases were MDR-TB in category II (CAT - II) failure and 13% were MDR-TB in category I (CAT - I) failure and it was 0% in new cases. Conclusion: Pattern of anti TB drug resistance was identified in this study. More surveillance and immediate therapeutic interventions should be performed in order to combat the threat of MDR-TB to the general population. Keywords: Tuberculosis, Multi drug resistance, Drug susceptibility testing.   doi: 10.3329/jom.v10i2.2812 J MEDICINE 2009; 10 : 45-47</jats:p

Wealth Differentials in Prevalence of Self- Reported Diabetes Mellitus in Bangladeshi Adults

Background: We report relationship of wealth indices with self-reported diabetes data in Bangladeshi people. As a secondary objective we examine whether educational achievement can be used as a proxy of wealth indices.&#x0D; Methods: We have analyzed data of a nationally representative STEPS survey (STEPwise Surveillance of NCD risk factors) done in 2010 in 8808 adults selected at their households using a multistage cluster sampling approach to describe association of socioeconomic status with diabetes mellitus. We created wealth indices using principal component analysis based on a 20-item household asset items; and then divided subjects in to quartiles.&#x0D; Results: Prevalence of documented diabetes was 3.9% but it was more than 11 times (9.3%) in the fourth quartile (richest) compared to the first quartile (0.8%). This may either mean that the detection rate is higher among the higher socioeconomic group or there are some intervening factors accompanied by the economic achievements that favors occurrence or detection of diabetes in Bangladeshi adults.&#x0D; Conclusion: Future studies need to identify the factor(s) that provides such a putative effect. Educational achievement also has shown similar trend. Therefore, education might be a proxy variable to determine socioeconomic status instead of a long list of household asset items.&#x0D; Cardiovasc. j. 2020; 13(1): 52-55</jats:p