Analytical design of the fractional order controller and robustness verification

This paper proposes a fractional order controller (FOC) for the level control problem of the coupled tank system, using the desired time domain specifications. The coupled tank system is used in the chemical industries for the storage and mixing of liquids. The FOC is designed analytically using the direct synthesis method. In the direct synthesis method, the Bode's ideal loop transfer function is chosen as the desired transfer function. Bode's loop transfer function has the advantages like robustness to system gain variations, constant phase and very high gain margin. Performance of the proposed controller is compared with the state of the art literature. Simulation results showed that the proposed controller has the least peak overshoot. The robust performance of the proposed controller is also the best. Robust stability of the system with the proposed controller is verified, and the system is found to be robustly stable

BER Analysis of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface Assisted Downlink Power Domain NOMA

The use of software controlled passive Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) in wireless communications has attracted many researchers in recent years. RIS has a certain degree of control over the scattering and reflection characteristics of the electromagnetic waves, compared to the conventional communications in which the received signal is degraded due to the uncontrollable scattering of the transmitted signal and its interaction with the objects in propagating medium. Further, in RIS assisted communications, the phases of the multiple incoming signals can be controlled to enable constructive addition of multiple signals from different channel paths to improve Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR). On the other hand, Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) provides massive connectivity and low latency. The power domain variant NOMA uses superposition coded symbols with different powers for different user symbols. In this paper, a novel RIS assisted downlink NOMA system is proposed by combining the merits of both RIS and NOMA to improve the reliability of the system. Analytical expressions are derived for the Bit Error Rate (BER) performance of the proposed RIS assisted power domain NOMA system. The BER performance of the proposed system is analyzed using the numerical simulation results. It is observed that the proposed system has better performance than the conventional NOMA system.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, accepted manuscript for a conference, peer reviewe

Etiology and determinants of allograft dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION : Treatment option for Chronic Kidney Disease-Stage5 (CKD-stage5) patients fall into three categories viz., Haemodialysis, Peritoneal dialysis and Renal Transplantation. Many studies proved that the kidney transplantation is distinctly superior and it is associated with reduced mortality and morbidity compared to haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. The renal donors are of three types viz. live related, live unrelated and cadaver. Due to shortage organs and long waiting period in cadaver transplant prevention of second or re transplant is more important. To improve the graft survival identifying etiology of graft dysfunction or loss is more important. Once we identified the etiology we have to evaluate for immunologic, nonimmunologic, modifiable, non modifiable risk factors to improve the graft and patient survival. METHODS : All renal transplant recipients on regular follow up are included - September 2009 to march 2011. Those who died and those who are in irregular follow up during the period of study are excluded from the study. All the patient having graft dysfunction underwent renal biopsy. CONCLUSION : According to Univariate analysis following conclusion were made Tacrolimus gives a better graft survival than cyclosporine for both live and cadaveric transplants. Donor age has significant impact on long term graft survival; younger the donor better the outcome. With female donors the graft dysfunction is more, may be due to difference in antigencity and smaller renal mass. The Male recipients do worse than female recipients; probably due to female recipients has higher degree of sensitization to HLA antigen. Blood group, cross match results, day one urine output, First post operative day creatinine, discharge creatinine are not having significant association with cause graft dysfunction. Delayed graft function has significant impact on long term graft survival according to Univariate analysis. Side of the kidney , number of blood vessels, post operative events are not statistically significant to cause graft dysfunction

The Impact of Green Rewards and Recognition Systems on Employee Green Citizenship Behaviors

The aim of this research was to examine how green rewards and recognition systems affect employee green citizenship behaviors (EGCB) and how individual and organizational factors play a role in this effect. The research adopted a quantitative approach and used a convenience sample of 421 IT workers from Chennai, India. The researchers collected the data through online surveys and used multiple regression analysis to analyze it. The findings revealed that green rewards and recognition systems had a positive and significant impact on EGCB, and that this impact was moderated by individual factors and mediated by organizational factors. The research combined the social exchange theory and the social cognitive theory to illustrate the ways and means of how green rewards and recognition systems shape EGCB. The research also offered practical and feasible suggestions for the IT industry in Chennai to develop and apply effective green rewards and recognition systems and to nurture and encourage individual and organizational factors that can enable and strengthen EGCB. The research added to the knowledge on green human resource management and employee creativity by investigating the link between green rewards and recognition systems and EGCB and the role of individual and organizational factors in this link

CONCURRENT INFECTION OF INTESTINAL COCCIDIOSIS AND ASCARIDIA GALLI IN NATIVE ASEEL CHICKENS (GALLUS DOMESTICUS) FROM VILLUPURAM DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

Disease investigation was made in a native chicken farm with 150 numbers of 12 weeks old Aseel chickens kept in Iruvelpattu village, Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu. Clinical signs like dullness, inappetance, brownish diarrhoea in few birds and mortality of 5 birds within a span of 3 days were reported (3.33%). Necropsy examination of dead birds revealed that emaciated carcass, soiling of vent with reddish droppings, swelling of small intestine with haemorrhages and also duodenum with cylindrical worms. Examination of small intestinal contents and mucosal scrapings confirmed numerous unsporulated oocysts of Eimeria sp. and eggs of Ascaridia galli. The adult roundworms were identified as Ascaridia galli. Examination of droppings from live birds also confirmed of Eimeria (23.33%) and Ascaridia galli eggs (26.66%). Based on the lesions produced in mid-small intestine, oocysts morphometry and sporulation time involved, it was identified as Eimeria necatrix. The present study reports for concurrent parasitic infections of Eimeria necatrix and Ascaridia galli and importance of specific treatment and deworming for endoparasites in native chickens

Malpractice Litigation Related to Management of Varicocele: A Legal Database Review

There have been studies that examined litigation procedures stemming from the management and treatment of various urological issues [6, 8]. Varicocele is a common urologic condition and can be associated with pain, subfertility, and infertility, thus greatly impacting patient well-being and quality of life. It has a prevalence of 15% in the general male population and up to 35% in males with infertility [9]. Varicocele has a range of treatment options, from observation to pain management to surgical correction. To our knowledge, no legal claims database investigation into varicocele cases exists. Elucidating the factors that go into varicocele litigation could provide valuable insight into management considerations for this disease and provide an opportunity to improve care for patients. This study sought to investigate factors associated with malpractice litigation surrounding varicocele management

MINERAL BONE DISORDERS IN NAÏVE CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE PATIENTS – A COHORT STUDY FROM A TERTIARY CENTRE IN SOUTH INDIA

Background: Highest rates of morbidity and mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD) are encountered with its cardiovascular complications and Mineral Bone Disorders (MBD). MBD is now being recognized as a systemic disorder with far-reaching consequences on the quality of life and is no longer merely restricted to the histomorphometric findings in the bone biopsy. Objective: Few studies to date are available on the pattern of mineral bone disorders in Indian CKD population. Our primary aim was to study the varied patterns of CKD mineral bone disorders in our center based on biochemical parameters. Patients & Methods: Cross-sectional study involving 75 newly diagnosed patients with CKD stages G3, G4 & G5D. Patients were categorized into two groups based on their KDIGO CKD staging- Group A – CKD stages G3a, G3b, G4; Group B – CKD stage G5D. The biochemical markers of CKD-MBD, namely, serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), and 25-hydroxyvitamin Vitamin D were measured. Results: 24 patients were included in group A and 51 patients in group B. The most common underlying native kidney disease was chronic glomerulonephritis (41.3%), followed by diabetic nephropathy (37.3%) and chronic interstitial nephritis (21.3%). The mean age of our study population was 49.5 ± 22.9 years in group A and 54.1 ± 15.77 years in group B. Conclusions: A higher prevalence of hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia and vitamin D deficiency was observed in our CKD cohort. Early identification and treatment of these mineral bone disorders are of paramount importance to prevent complications, retard disease progression and improve quality of life

Uncovering the Interhospital Price Variations for Vasectomies in the United States

Due to the historic lack of transparency in healthcare pricing in the United States, the degree of price variation for vasectomy is largely unknown. Our study aims to assess characteristics of hospitals reporting prices for vasectomy as well as price variation associated with hospital factors and insurance status. A cross-sectional analysis was performed in October, 2022 using the Turquoise Database which compiles publicly available hospital pricing data. The database was queried for vasectomy prices to identify the cash (paid by patients not using insurance), commercial (negotiated by private insurers) and Medicare and Medicaid prices for vasectomies. Hospital characteristics of those that reported a price for vasectomy and those that did not were compared and pricing differences based on hospital ownership and reimbursement source were determined using multivariable linear regression analysis. Overall, only 24.7% (1657/6700) of hospitals reported a price for vasectomy. Those that reported a price had more beds (median 117 vs 80, p \u3c 0.001), more physicians (median 1745 vs 1275, p \u3c 0.001). They were also more likely to be nonprofit hospitals (77% vs 14%, p \u3c 0.001) and to be in well-resourced areas (ADI 91.7 vs 94.4, p \u3c 0.001). Both commercial prices and cash prices for vasectomy were lower at nonprofit hospitals than at for-profit hospitals (commercial: $1959.47 vs$2861.56, p \u3c 0.001; cash: $1429.74 vs$3185.37, p \u3c 0.001). Our study highlights the current state of pricing transparency for vasectomy in the United States. Patients may be counseled to consider seeking vasectomy at a nonprofit hospital to reduce their costs, especially when paying with cash. These findings also suggest a need for new policies to target areas with decreased price transparency to reduce price disparities