I have heard many crazy stories about
scientific research and discoveries from fellow researchers during my PhD days
in IISc and I am so surprised that I did not hear about the research work by
Masters and Johnson. Their research journey was made as a television series
called "Masters of Sex" loosely based on Thomas Maier's biography
"Masters of Sex", and aired between 2013 and 2016. Now it is
available in Amazon prime.
Their research is about wiring up the humans
and record their response during various sexual acts. Crazy huh!! The year was
1957 and US was still a conservative society.
This television series speaks beyond their
research journey and explores how their own life was affected/influenced
because of their research work. It subtly touches upon feminism, homosexuality,
civil rights and Vietnam war. The television series was well made and can keep
you at the edge of the seat many times. The actors did an amazing job. Sets and
cinematography was excellent. It was very well glued with the content. The
television series was fictionalised at few parts to protect the identity of
living persons.
For sure, the research work itself is an
interesting thing to me. You can find how the initial curiosity of Dr. Masters
on "what woman finds pleasure during various sexual acts!!!" led
Masters & Johnson to treat sexual dysfunction couples in their later
career. Then you can notice the two sides of the coin though it is not
explicitly mentioned. On one side, Dr. Masters' obsession on his research work
and his attempts to win his love over Mrs. Johnson. On other side, Mrs.
Johnson's passion to pursue some kind of research work despite of her lack of
qualification and her struggles not to jeopardize her professional life due to
her personal life.
This is purely my opinion. I too believe that
Mrs. Johnson never loved Dr. Masters though they two got married and lived for
20 years. Dr. Masters and Mrs. Johnson were like work-couples.
It is worth watching!!!! Now time to read the
book
Stop your maids,
cooks and servants but not their pay
What more we or our government can do?
Create
awareness about “Social distancing” through celebrities like actors/sportsperson and play it
repeatedly in all television channels.
oBelow is some nice content on “Social distancing”
but with unpopular faces which can be made with popular faces like
actors/Sportsperson and play it repeatedly in all television channels.
Government can
set up hotlines with the help of few Television channels and disaster
management experts to provide solutions for the problems that people face on
day to bay basis while maintaining social distancing. Film industry
people or sportsperson participating in such shows along-with the experts also helps people to watch such shows.
oWhen we try to maintain social distancing, many
do not know how to deal the situation which led to panic situation. For example, when
the government locked down the borders, there was a huge rush for the people to
reach their hometowns. People gathered in the bus stands and supermarket shops. The whole idea of
social distancing fails here. At the same time, many Paying-Guests are getting closed. One
solution I can think of is: May be the government should allow limited buses and trains
to operate with half of its capacity so that passengers can maintain some
distance from each other. The passengers should also be instructed to be in self-quarantine
or the complete family to be under home-quarantine after reaching their hometown. Ask
your neighbours/அண்ணாச்சி-கடை to help you with grocery to be delivered at your
door step. Etc.....
We may require
many isolation rooms and not necessarily require medical facilities. Isolation
rooms should give a sense of comfort to people so that people do not panic on hearing the
word “isolation rooms”. We might need isolation rooms in the future as well, as
soon as the borders are opened across countries. It is better to be prepared.
oHotels and Paying-Guests can offer sophisticated
isolation rooms (provided with proper toilets cum bathroom, hygienic food and
internet connection) at a nominal cost.
oSimple isolation rooms can be quickly built in
big grounds, auditoriums and marriage halls.
What Researchers/Technologists/Engineers are doing and how you can contribute?
Check out LinkedIn for more inventions. Allow your imagination to solve our problems. However,
none of these things will not be available tomorrow. So still “Social
distancing” is important till any of these inventions comes to market or cure to disease is found.
Beware of scams
Few scammers are looking for opportunities. So
beware of those as well. Please check the authenticity of the news,data or person visiting you.
Please ask for ID card if any government officials visit your doorstep.
I was surprised that few of my friends have misunderstood the way
"how Coronavirus spread" and the concept of "Social
distancing". So I thought of posting this.
Information about Coronavirus and the concept
of "Social distancing"
The following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtN-goy9VOY explains
in a very precise and concise way (＜10 mins) about the
Coronavirus, how it spreads and how social distancing would help us to fight
this outbreak. Don't be worried if you don't understand the first 4 minutes of
the video because it can be too technical for few people but hang on till the
end of this video.
The below websites are good to know the
statistics by country-wise:
It is not just the doctors and bioscience
researchers are studying about this virus and trying to develop the medicines
to cure the disease. Quite a few Engineers and Technologists have also put
their heads into it. One interesting invention that I read:
Allow your imagination to solve our problems. However none of these things will not be available tomorrow.
India’s position
As far as India concern, I feel the government is doing a great job. But
that won't be suffice. We as individuals also should act responsibly for at least
next one month. Indians who don't have foreign travel history are also equally
responsible to spread the virus at this point. It would be great to maintain
social distancing even among your family members within your home. People who
are returning to their home towns from cities should confine in a room of your
house for at least 14 days to avoid spreading it to your parents or family
members whose immunity is compromised or be under home quarantine as a family.
India being the highest population density and do not have proper health
care facilities might see more number of deaths if we allow to increase the
number of cases. Our government is taking all possible preventive measures to
reduce the rate of spread. In fact, I feel India has indeed reduced the rate of
spread compared to other countries by imposing curfew and locking down the
state borders but India have already reported 10 deaths out of 519 reported
cases which is a big percentage, I feel. So, it is important for each of us to
act responsibly and smartly without panicking.
My story
I came from Spain on 13th March and then took the
following steps:
Since I reached my home from airport, I have not stepped out of my home.
I work from my home.
I have asked my maid not to come but have not
stopped her pay (…. very important).
I buy my groceries through big basket. For the past
couple of days, big basket also starts cancelling my orders due to high demand.
I informed my Apartment association members about my status and they
immediately asked a vegetable vendor to deliver the list of vegetables and
fruits I have asked for. The vegetable vendor placed the vegetables/fruits
carton at my doorstep and maintained a distance of more than 6 feet before
calling me outside. I am happy that he requested me to pay by Google-Pay when I
offered for cash.
The airport authorities have checked my temperature, got my contact
details and then allowed me to enter the country. Maybe they should have
directly sent us to some quarantine centers, I felt. However, yesterday the
government officials knocked my door and stamped on my hand and requested me
not to leave my home before 28th March. Now they are
tracking/monitoring each and every person who have come from abroad in the past
two weeks.
The worst part in my story is that I took taxi from airport to home
- my only point of contact. Now you can think of how many people might have
come in contact with this taxi driver though I have confined myself in my room.
Now you can think of how this can spread and that is why I reiterate that
"Persons who don't have foreign travel history are also equally responsible
to spread the virus at this point". So, maintain "Social
distancing" for at least next few days to avoid spreading it to your
parents or family members whose immunity is compromised. We need strength to
recover our economy after this is over. The good part in my story is that I did not
show any symptoms so far and I have 5 more days to complete my incubation period.
Thanks to the digital world!!!!
Nevertheless, I will stay indoors as long as I could. Thanks to the digital world which allowed me to work from home, enjoy
unlimited entertainment, could buy essential things and talk to my friends
& family members – all by online. Of course this is not the case for
everyone. But whoever is possible to isolate themselves in this way should do
so till we see zero number of cases for a week. Each and every person is
responsible here because we are talking about exponential increase. So please
act responsibly, especially young people. Educate your-self, your
friends, relatives, neighbours and servants about Coronavirus and "Social
distancing".
It would be great if someone translates the above video to their local
language and circulate it, after getting proper rights from the video makers.
Educate your-self, your friends, relatives, neighbours and servants.
This post should concern the Hypersonic researchers. It is about reporting a ridiculous
research work published in a reputed journal which also declined to publish my
“Comments” that reports the errors/mistakes of the published article. Firstly,
I informed about the errors/mistakes of the published article to a retired
Professor who is ex-Head of that Laboratory, then informed the first author of
the article and finally reported to The Editor of the journal. Since all went
in vain and my intention is to let other researchers know about the errors in
the published article so that they can use the data with utmost caution and
spare their time, I decided to publish it in an archive (http://viXra.org/abs/1903.0557) and
provide its background here.
Paper title:Comments on “Aerothermodynamic Effects of
Controlled Heat Release Within the Hypersonic Shock Layer Around a Large Angle
Blunt Cone” [phys. Fluids 30, 106103 (2018)]
Paper title:Comments on “Aerodynamic Drag Reduction by
Heat Addition Into the Shock Layer for a Large Angle Blunt Cone in Hypersonic
Flow” [physics of Fluids 20, 081703 (2008)]
Please
forward this to the concerned researchers which would save their precious time
and effort. PS: I spend more than two years of my PhD convincing my Professor
that the data given to me by my senior is wrong. This is one of the primary
reason why I am very much concerned about this.
An
article titled “Aerothermodynamic effects of controlled heat release within the
hypersonic shock layer around a large angle blunt cone” was published in a
Physics of Fluids journal in October 2018 (https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5046191). The
Physics of Fluids journal is one of the highly reputed journal in the world of
Fluid dynamics with an impact factor of ~2.3. This article was a featured
article of that month.
This
article is about investigating a flow physics of a spacecraft if its surface is
coated with chromium using four different measurement techniques (heat flux
using thin film sensors, temperature using pyrometry technique, shock stand-off
distance using flow visualization technique) and also matched the experimental
results with computational simulation (CFD) results. I found all the four
measurement techniques were improperly used and the data was manipulated to
achieve the desired results. On top of these, the test conditions itself were
wrongly calculated which is used as an input to perform computational
simulation. I discussed it with few experts. We found the scientific errors are
substantial and so stupid. The errors are very obvious to any Experimental
Hypersonic/Supersonic expert. One of the expert described it as “The article contains substantial claims
with mere evidences from a vague research methodology with questionable
outcomes”.
I
contacted the first author of the paper and his answers were not convincing. So
I decided to list out the major errors and send it to the Physics of Fluids
journal to be published as “Comments”. The Editor immediately rejected it
saying the first paragraph was mean-spirited. I immediately send an apologising
letter and requested for resubmission. I rephrased the words and resubmitted my
“Comments”. It was rejected again after the peer-review process. The first
reviewer have strongly recommended my “Comments” for publication. Please find
the detailed reviewers comments towards the end of the post. The second
reviewer seems to have mistaken the manuscript type as “Full length paper”
instead of “Comments” and refused it to publish it as a standalone paper as
there is no new science involved. The second reviewer’s comments goes as
follows:
“This
article seeks to question the data presented in an earlier paper and, in
itself, adds nothing new to the science involved. It seems to me that the
objections should be taken up directly with the authors of the original paper,
rather than being published as a standalone paper. If the author wishes to
publish on this matter then I would recommend that they complete a set of
experiments of their own, at similar conditions, and highlight any
differences.”
As
a policy of Physics of Fluids, "Comments are to address scientific issues
in a very concise and substantive manner with no harsh criticism" (https://aip.scitation.org/phf/info/policies). It
is basically to notify the errors in the article to other researchers so that
the other researchers can use the data with utmost caution. In this case no new
science material or additional experimental data are required as suggested by
the second reviewer. Many such comments have been published in the past. So I
immediately wrote an email to the Associate Editor clarifying that my
manuscript type is "Comment/Response" and not "Full length
paper" for which I received a reply from The Editor that they are not at
liberty to publish material that has not satisfied the reviewers.
I
didn’t expect such vague statements as a reason for rejection from a highly
reputed journal. I believe that people in academic research can get a feel of
this situation. Whatever!!! Open access journal and social networking sites
gives life to such issues.
In
fact the same research group have published an article in 2008 in Physics of
Fluids titled “Aerodynamic drag reduction by heat addition into the shock layer
for a large angle blunt cone in hypersonic flow“ (https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2944982).
Another research group performed numerical simulations on this work and found a
large discrepancy (>50%) with the experimental results. The results are
published in (https://doi.org/10.1177/0954410013490849) International
Journal of Heat and Mass transfer in 2014. I found the reason for such a
discrepancy is due to improper data analysis of the experimental signals and I
notice similar kind of lethargic research work with the present one as well.
The same is also reported in an open access journal (http://viXra.org/abs/1903.0555).
Please
find the details of my “Comments” for both the papers in the following links:
Paper title:Comments on “Aerothermodynamic Effects of
Controlled Heat Release Within the Hypersonic Shock Layer Around a Large Angle
Blunt Cone” [phys. Fluids 30, 106103 (2018)]
Paper title:Comments on “Aerodynamic Drag Reduction by
Heat Addition Into the Shock Layer for a Large Angle Blunt Cone in Hypersonic
Flow” [physics of Fluids 20, 081703 (2008)]
Please
cascade the information to the concerned researchers which would save their
precious time and effort.
Referee Comments:
Referee
#1 (Comments to Both Author and Editor):
I have read the
comments and the associated article by Deep and Jagadeesh. I agree with the
present author that the purported effects on the flow field due to the chromium
coating are based on very tenuous experimental data and a weak theoretical
analysis (Ref. 14 from the original article). I encourage the publication of
the comment by Anbuselvan because it raises fair questions about the validity
of the prior work. I cannot comment on all of the specific issues that
Anbuselvan raises, but they appear to be valid concerns and should be brought
to light.
Regarding the previous
paper, I have the following issues:
1. the test time is
extremely short and during the so-called steady test time, there are very large
variations in pitot pressure and heat flux. These variations are of the same
scale as the differences supposedly measured.
2. The authors say that
they ran at least 5 cases, but there is nothing presented to show the resulting
variation. Why not?
3. The estimates of the
free-stream conditions have unrealistically small error bars, as do all other
reported experimental data. How can the heat flux be measured to 2.3% accuracy,
when there are order 30% variations in heat flux during the test time. This is
ludicrous at best.
4. Why not just do some
runs with N2 as the test gas on the chromium coated model; that would at least
provide some verification that an inert gas would not produce the same effect
-- though given the variations discussed above, I am not sure these effects can
be discriminated.
5. Reference [14] is
qualitatively valid at best. It provides no support to the experimental data
shown in the subject paper.
Referee
#2 (Comments to Both Author and Editor):
This article seeks to
question the data presented in an earlier paper and, in itself, adds nothing
new to the science involved. It seems to me that the objections should be taken
up directly with the authors of the original paper, rather than being published
as a standalone paper. If the author wishes to publish on this matter then I
would recommend that they complete a set of experiments of their own, at
similar conditions, and highlight any differences.
Teja Conscious: I am Teja. I and Nikhil are close friends studying 3rd year Mechanical Engineering. We are happy that in few weeks time we will became “the seniors” of our college but at the same time we are sad that we will be missing the angels of our senior’s batch.
Scene 1: Class room during morning tea break
Nikhil is sitting on a chair of joint-school-desk-and-chair and Teja is sitting on the desk of the same joint-school-desk-and-chair, both facing towards the audience.
Nikhil:(Sadly looking at the floor) Dude, today is the last day. She will leave the campus.
Teja:(Turning towards Nikhil in a confused state) Whom are you speaking about?
Nikhil:(Looking at Teja) Swetha.
(Shot is frozen) Teja Conscious: Swetha is our senior who is about to complete her degree in IT. Many of my mates look at her, including me. My friend likes her a lot but he never tried to speak to her. Not only to her but to any of the girls because he is scared that he would be embarrassed by them.
Teja: oh, that pretty roomly figure (Nikhil scowls at Teja), oops sorry, it’s just a slip of the tongue; that pretty homely figure.
Nikhil:(in a loud voice) If your tongue slips, apply fevicol and stick it. (After a pause & in a soft voice) Should do something. (Hastily) Atleast should give a chocolate to her.
Teja: Then give!
Nikhil: Hey dude help me man. You already have experience on it by giving a PERK chocolate to your girlfriend; that too during our first year itself.
Teja: Man, she is not my girlfriend. I just tried to speak with her and it is because of you guys, I started hitting on her and became mad about her. And last week she told that she has a boyfriend already.
Nikhil: Hey, are these things new to you or what. But still you have guts, buddy.
Teja:(Jumps from the desk and stands on the floor) Alright. (Facing Nikhil) I will help you. Buy one PERK chocolate now and keep it with you. I will look after the rest.
Scene 2: Canteen during lunch
Both Nikhil & Teja are sitting in the canteen facing each other, and Nikhil is looking at the canteen’s entrance for her arrival.
Teja: Has she come?
Nikhil: No da. Hey dude, many people are in canteen. What shall we do if it becomes an embarrassing moment?
Teja: If you are concerned about that, then we can’t speak to any girl. C’mon man you should lose your dignity and respect after you joined mechanical. Oh shit!, there goes the bell, let’s get back to the class; let’s try in the evening; let’s see how your luck works?
Scene 3: Around 6 PM; Nikhil just entered the canteen and Teja was following him
Nikhil:(excitedly) Dude there she is and no one is in the canteen except she and her friends.
Teja:(Softly) Ok ok. Control your excitement. That’s true but some of her friends are guys, so let’s sit near the counter and wait for the opportunity.
She gets up from her chair and comes to the counter. She buys cool drinks and is returning to her chair.
Teja: This is the time. Get up fast buddy. Hello Akka ........
She turns back.
Teja: I am Teja. He is my friend Nikhil. We know you. Today is your last day right? So thought of giving you a chocolate, just consider it as our compliment.
Swetha:(Smilingly) Oh thank u. Which department are you guys from?
Teja: Mechanical
She shows an awkward face.
Teja: Which company you got placed?
Swetha: Infosys
Nikhil: Your posting, akka?
Swetha: Pune
Teja: ok akka, best wishes. We will catch up sometime. (Nikhil frowns at Teja for ending the conversation so soon)
She shakes hands. Then Nikhil & Teja exits the canteen.
Nikhil:(Hugs Teja in overjoy) Hey dude thanks man, you rocked. You made her to shake hands with me!!!! I will not wash my hands for a week atleast.
Teja: Even I didn’t expect that. Ok Ok when is the treat?
Nikhil: Soon buddy.
Scene 4: The next day during lunch in the canteen
Teja is working in the lab and his phone rings.
Teja: hey tell me buddy.
Nikhil: Hey where are you. Come fast. Swetha is in canteen
Teja: Ok I am coming now.
Scene 5: Teja just entered into the canteen
Teja sees Nikhil standing far away from Swetha. Teja approaches Swetha who is sitting along-with her friends.
Swetha:(On seeing Teja) Oh oh. Now what? (Teja: akka.... )- nextyou guys keep coming and will start to take advantage. (She takes the chocolate from her bag) Take the chocolate and leave me.
Teja:(Hastily) Oops. akka, you keep the chocolate yourselves (Then Teja walked hastily towards Nikhil).
Nikhil sees the Teja conversation with Swetha and starts approaching them. Teja signals him not to come. But he didn’t listen and signs that he also wants to join in the conversation. So Teja drags himto the other corner of the canteen where few of their friends having lunch.
Nikhil:(With anger) Stupid, why are you so selfish?
Teja:(With anger) You asshole, you want to be embarrassed.
Nikhil:(in a slow voice) What happened?
Teja: She said we are annoying her.But that didn’t bother me much. She.... she...... she is still having that chocolate in her bag. (After a pause) May be I should have got that chocolate from her.
PS: I would like to express my gratitude to my friend’s sister who grammatically corrected the script.
