ABSTRACT
This paper provides an overview of a multidisciplinary project focused on application of acoustic technologies in the discipline of forensic engineering. This freshman project was developed by faculty in civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering to highlight collaboration between disciplines and provide students a highly interactive hands-on experience. The course objectives were to: identify the broad range of applications of acoustics in electrical, mechanical, and civil engineering to solve complex technical problems, apply acoustic and ultrasonic technologies to collect and analyze data for material classification and flaw detection, nondestructively evaluate material characteristics of products and structures, construct and destructively evaluate reinforced concrete beams, and to clearly and succinctly present technical data in written, visual, and oral formats. The format of the lectures, hands-on laboratory exercises, and homework assignments are provided. Course and teacher survey data highlight the many aspects of the project that were successful and data comparisons between other courses are made. Recommendations for how this topic could be included in other discipline-specific courses and potential modifications due to Covid-19 are presented. © Forensic Engineering 2022: Elevating Forensic Engineering - Selected Papers from the 9th Congress on Forensic Engineering.All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Several systemic anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory agents were tried in the management of hyper inflammatory manifestations of COVID 19. JAK inhibitors have been widely deployed in rheumatology due to their benefits in managing uncontrolled inflammation. Tofacitinib is one of the most widely studied immunomodulators in rheumatology. We assessed the safety and efficacy of Tofacitinib in an open-labeled randomized control study, in addition to the standard of care (SOC) in hospitalized adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 pneumonia. Patients (n=100) with COVID 19 pneumonia admitted during October-December 2020 were randomly assigned to either control (N=50) (SOC treatment alone) or to study groups (N=50) receiving Tofacitinib in addition. Patients, reporting positive RT-PCR for SARS-COV2 and radiological evidence of pneumonia were hospitalized for over 7 days. The study group received Tofacitinib for 14 days irrespective of the discharge status and was followed up to 28 days. There was a greater relative reduction in levels of important markers of inflammation in the Tofacitinib group than in the control group (CRP:78% vs 45%;Ferritin:15% vs 10%;D. Dimer: 37% vs 15%) although there were no differences in duration of hospitalizations or oxygen requirement. Tofacitinib, 10 mg was well-tolerated and was devoid of any serious adverse event. We are the first to record the benefits of Tofacitinib in India to our knowledge although a Brazilian study conducted around the same time showed mortality benefit in severe COVID. We conclude that Tofacitinib use is safe and aids in the reduction of the overwhelming inflammatory response during COVID-19 infections. © 2021 Journal of Association of Physicians of India. All rights reserved.