Online courses from MIT

This is a list of more than 110 free online video courses from Top Universities like MIT, Stanford, Wharton, UC berkeley, Washington, NOVA etc., on various Subjects. Theses are  class room recorded videos. No Login, No fee required.             Computer Science & Programming (31)   1.        Introductoy Progamming [University of Washington] 2.        Understanding Computers and the Internet [Harvard University] 3.        Computer System Engineering 4.        Freshman Computer Science Seminar 5.        Data Structures 6.        Graduate Computer Architecture 7.        Introduction to Algorithms 8.        Introduction to Computers 9.        Machine Structures 10.        Computer Language Engineering 11.        Data Structures, Algorithms and Applications in Java 12.        Introduction to Copy Right Law 13.        Operating Systems and Systems Programming [OS] 14.        XML foundations 15.        Programming Languages 16.        Introduction to Symbolic Programming 17.        Vision Algorithms 18.        Data Management System Design 19.        Computer System Analysis 20.        Object oriented programming with Java 21.        Relational Database Management Systems [RDBMS] 22.        Introduction to Programming 23.        C Programming 24.        Programming in C++ 25.        C++ for Particle Physicists 26.        programming with JAVA 27.        JAVA, Advanced JAVA 28.        ASP.NET AJAX and 2.0 29.        SQL Server 2005 30.        Python, Java, Ruby, Linux, Graphics, Blender etc… 31.        MSVC Debugger Tutorial Electronics (17)   32.        Solid State Devices 33.        Circuits and Electronics 34.        Digital Integrated Circuits 35.        Electricity and Magnetism 36.        Electromagnetic Fields, Forces and Motion 37.        Integrated Circuits for Communications 38.        Introductions to MEMS Design 39.        Linear Integrated Circuits 40.        Introduction to Microelectronic Circuits 41.        Microelectronic Devices and Circuits 42.        Advanced Analog Integrated Circuits 43.        Advanced Digital Integrated Circuits 44.        Analysis and Design of VLSI Analog Digital Interface Integrated Circuits 45.        CMOS Analog IC Design [Boise State University] 46.        CMOS Mixed-Signal IC Design [Boise State University] 47.        Advanced Analog IC Design [Boise State University] 48.        Physics of Microfabrication: Front End Processing Signals & Systems, Communication systems  (6)   49.        Digital Image Processing [DIP] 50.        Digital Signal Processing [DSP] 51.        Electromagnetics and Applications 52.        Principles of Digital Communication II 53.        Structure and Interpretation of Systems and Signals 54.        MATLAB Tutorial Movies Computer Networking   (13)   55.        Introduction to Computer Networking 56.        Computer Communication Networking 57.        Wireless and Mobile Networking 58.        Internet Protocols [IP] 59.        Broadband and Optical Networks 60.        Wireless, Wi-Fi, VOIP and Many more 61.        Introduction to Network Communications [Audio only] 62.        Cisco Certified Networking Associate      [ Audio only] 63.        Local Area Networking [LAN]                  [ Audio only] 64.        Integrated Communication Networking  [Audio only] 65.        Communications Hardware                   [Audio only] 66.        Network Interface Design                   [Audio only] 67.        Internetworking and Higher Layer Protocol [Audio only] Mathematics  (20)   68.        Linear Algebra 69.        Differential Equations 70.        Introduction to Statistics 71.        Mathematical Methods for Engineers I 72.        Mathematical Methods for Engineers II 73.        Mathematics of Finance 74.        Fundamentals of Algebra 75.        Applied Probability 76.        Discrete Mathematics 77.        Calculus-I Key Concepts 78.        Limits, Differential Equations and Applications 79.        Mathematical video lectures [All Topics] 80.        Brief review of Elementary Algebra 81.        Mathematical Problems II 82.        Statistics and Numerical Methods in HEP 83.        Applied parallel Computing 84.        Finite Mathematics 85.        Integration and Infinite Series 86.        Single-variable Calculus 87.        Dovermann's Derive Videos Physics   (17)   88.        Introductory Physics [University of California] 89.        Physics I: Classical Mechanics 90.        Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism 91.        Physics III: Vibrations and Waves 92.        Physics for Future Presidents 93.        Descriptive Introduction to Physics 94.        Exploring BlackHoles: General Relativity & Astrophysics 95.        Electromagnetic Fields, Forces and Motion 96.        Introduction To Mathematical Physics [Audio podcast] 97.        Geometric Optics 98.        Modern Physics [Prof Sharma's] 99.        Lectures on Quantum Physics 100.        Physics of Microfabrication: Front End Processing 101.        The Wonders of Physics 102.        Physics - How Things Work 103.        String Theory 104.        Quantum Mechanics for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Chemistry  ( 9 )   105.        Introduction to Chemistry 106.        Introduction to Solid State Chemistry 107.        Principles of Chemical Science 108.        Chemical Structure and Reactivity 109.        Organic Chemistry 110.        Astrophysical Chemistry [NOVA] 111.        Organic Chemistry [Hoverford college] 112.        Organic Chemistry II [University Regensburg] 113.        Imperial college chemistry Anatomy & Physiology (4)   114.        General Human Anatomy 115.        Comparative Physiology 116.        Human Anatomy & Physiology 117.        Anatomy and Physiology [California State University] For more and recent courses visit http://freevideolectures.com

 

Brilliant Idea! A Cell Phone Defibrillator - Innovation for humanity

 Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is responsible for more deaths every year than AIDS, breast cancer, lung cancer and stroke combined. Sudden cardiac arrest means that, without warning, the heart stops beating. If the heart is not defibrillated (therapeutically shocked) within a few minutes, the victim dies. Imagine how difficult it is to reach the victims of SCA in time to save their lives. In fact, 95 percent of victims die as a direct result of SCA.

But suppose we all carried our own personal defibrillators? What if defibrillators became a feature of our cell phones?

Just that brilliant idea is addressed in Benjamin Sacketkhou's international patent application entitled "Wireless Communication Device With Integrated Defibrillator," published in December 2007.

Sudden cardiac arrest is caused by an interruption in the heart's electrical system, causing the heart to stop beating, or pumping blood. If the heart is not "jump started" within a few minutes after SCA, the victim will die. Automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) can be used with minimal training by most adults to restart the victim's heart, and many public buildings and transportation systems have them, but access to them may be too late.

Although many persons, including professional athletes in their seeming "physical primes," have no advance warning before an sudden cardiac arrest, almost half of SCA victims have had episodes of cardiac arrhythmia or heat attacks. Cardiac arrhythmias can be curtailed by defibrillator implants (formerly "pacemakers"), but they are not advised for all cardiac patients.

What Mr. Sacketkhou describes in his patent application is a GPS device, such as a cell phone, with a component part of an automatic external defibrillator, that a user could

1) attach, by electrical pads, to his or her chest to detect any occuring arrhythmia. 

 2) Such device would automatically check for the necessity of a therapeutic shock,

3) automatically deliver the therapeutic shock to the heart,

4) and automatically notify the nearest emergency professionals as to the victim's whereabouts though the cell phone (GPS system).

If the defibrillator wires are not attached to the victim, a passerby could observe the cell phone, quickly employ the defibrillator, and set the same system into motion.

When you consider that just a few minutes is all you have to revive an SCA victim, a portable personal cell phone/defibrillator is just what the doctor ordered... and fast! Mr. Sacketkhou, please develop this invention!

via Register Hardware. Sources: "Wireless Communication Device With Integrated Defibrillator," Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

All about SENSEX

Bombay Stock Exchange Limited is the oldest stock exchange in Asia with a rich heritage. Popularly known as "BSE", it was established as "The Native Share & Stock Brokers Association" in 1875. It is the first stock exchange in the country to obtain permanent recognition in 1956 from the Government of India under the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956.The Exchange's pivotal and pre-eminent role in the development of the Indian capital market is widely recognized and its index, SENSEX, is tracked worldwide. Earlier an Association of Persons (AOP), the Exchange is now a demutualised and corporatised entity incorporated under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956, pursuant to the BSE(Corporatisation and Demutualisation) Scheme, 2005 notified by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
The BSE Sensex or Bombay Stock Exchange Sensitive Index is a value-weighted index composed of over 4000 stocks with the base April 1979 = 100. It consists of the 30 largest and most actively traded stocks, representative of various sectors, on the Bombay Stock Exchange. These companies account for around one-fifth of the market capitalization of the BSE.
The base value of the Sensex is 100 on April 1, 1979 and the base year of BSE-SENSEX is 1978-79.
At irregular intervals, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) authorities review and modify its composition to make sure it reflects current market conditions.
The abbreviated form "Sensex" was coined by Deepak Mohoni around 1990 while writing market analysis columns for some of the business newspapers and magazines. It gained popularity over the next year or two.
The stock market has grown by over ten times from June 1990 to today. Using information from April 1979 onwards, the long-run rate of return on the BSE Sensex can be estimated to be 0.52% per week (continuously compounded) with a standard deviation of 3.67%. This translates to 27% per annum, which translates to roughly 18% per annum after compensating for inflation.

Housing related
1. Associated Cement Companies Ltd
2. Gujarat Ambuja Cements Ltd
Transport Equipments
3. Bajaj Auto Ltd
4. Hero Honda Motors Ltd
5. Maruti Udyog Ltd
6. Tata Motors Ltd.
Capital Goods

7. Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd
8. Larsen & Toubro Limited
Telecom
9. Bharti Airtel Ltd
10. Reliance Communications Limited
Healthcare
11. Cipla Ltd
12. Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd
13. Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd
Diversified

14. Grasim Industries Ltd
Finance
15. HDFC
16. HDFC Bank Ltd
17. ICICI Bank Ltd
18. State Bank of India
Metal, Metal Products & Mining

19. Hindalco Industries Ltd
20. Tata Steel Ltd
FMCG

21. Hindustan Lever Ltd
22. ITC Ltd
Information Technology

23. Infosys Technologies Ltd
24. Satyam Computer Services Ltd
25. Tata Consultancy Services Limited
26. Wipro Ltd
Power

27. NTPC Ltd
28. Reliance Energy Ltd
Oil & Gas
29. ONGC Ltd
30. Reliance Industries Ltd

 

Facts about CO2 pollution and to control it

• 3.7 tonnes of CO2 will offset 1 Person flying from London to Sydney (Australia) and back. This can be done by planting 5 trees!
• 850 pounds is the same as 386.4 kgCO2 (0.3864 tonnes CO2). This is the equivalent of an average UK house’s electricity, gas, coal and oil usage for 2 weeks!
• Insulating your home by adding hot water tank lagging to your home’s hot water tank will save 150 kgCO2 per year. This is equivalent to a one way flight from London to Barcelona.
• About 10% of all electricity used in UK homes is consumed by electronic items left on standby. By switching appliances off standby 150 kgCO2 per year can be saved. A PC monitor switched off over night saves enough energy to microwave 6 dinners!
• Switching off the lights when not in the room saves 30 kgCO2 per year. Lighting an office overnight wastes enough energy to heat water for 1000 cups of tea!
• Turning down your thermostat by 1 degree can save as much as 10% off electricity bills, 300 kgCO2 per year. This is equivalent to a return flight from London to Barcelona.
• Drive smoothly, check the road ahead, anticipate traffic and avoid harsh braking and acceleration. Eco-driving can reduce fuel consumption by around 10%, saving 280 kgCO2 per year. This is the equivalent to a return flight from London to Milan, Italy.
• An average petrol car making a saving of 10 miles a week = 520 miles a year = 175 kgCO2. This is approximately equivalent to a return flight from London to Belfast.
• If every home in the UK changed just 3 light bulbs, enough energy would be saved to light the UK’s street lamps.
• 1 Tree will offset on average about 10 kgCO2 each year
• Not using a screensaver equates to a saving of 810 kWh per year = 348 kgCO2. This is the equivalent of a return flight from London to Madrid.
• Washing your clothes at 30°C could save 40% of your washing machines energy consumption, saving 35 kgCO2 per year.

World's 10 biggest banks

1) UBS AG, Zurich, Switzerland

    UBS AG is the world's biggest manager of other people's money. The bank's asset stood at $1,963.227 billion as in January 2008.

    Present in major financial centers worldwide, UBS has offices in 50 countries. The bank had 81,557 employees on June 30, 2007. It originated in 1747, with its

    maiden branch coming up in the Swiss region of Valposchiavo.

2) Barclays PLC

    The bank has registered assets worth $1,951.041 billion. It is also the sponsor of the English Premier League. Forbes Global 2000 ranked Barclays PLC as the 18th

     Largest company in the world in 2007.

3) BNP Paribas

     It was created on May 23, 2000 through the merger of Banque Nationale de Paris and Paribas. As on January 31, the bank's assets stood at $1,899.186 billion.

4) The Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc

    Is the largest banking group in Scotland and the fifth largest in the world by market capitalisation. As on January 31, the bank's assets stood at $1,705.680 billion.

5) Credit Agricole SA

    The largest retail banking group in France and the eighth largest in the world, according to The Banker magazine. On January 31, the bank's assets stood at

     $1,663.101 billion

6) Deutsche Bank AG

    Headquartered in Frankfurt. It employs more than 78,000 people in 76 countries. As on January 31, the bank's asset stood at $1,485.008 billion.

7) The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd

    Came into being with the merger of The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Limited and UFJ Bank Limited. As on January 31, the bank's assets stood at $1,362.598 billion.

8) ABN AMRO Holding NV

     evolved from the amalgamation of AMRO and ABN. As on January 31, the bank's assets stood at $1,301.508 billion.

9) Societe Generale

    One of the oldest banks in France is also one of the main European financial services companies. As on January 31, 2008, its assets stood at $1,261.657 billion.

10) Bank of America

      Was formed after the consolidation of quite a few historical banks, the most prominent of those being the Bank of Italy. On January 31, the bank's assets stood

       at $1,196.124 billion.

 

Difference between PF & PPF- highly useful

A young reader wrote in telling us he has just landed his first job and has begun investing. He had a very basic question: What is the difference between PPF and PF?

We attempt to clear his doubts.

1. What is PPF and PF?

EPF/ PF

The Employee Provident Fund, or provident fund as it is normally referred to, is a retirement benefit scheme that is available to salaried employees.

Under this scheme, a stipulated amount (currently 12%) is deducted from the employee's salary and contributed towards the fund. This amount is decided by the government.

The employer also contributes an equal amount to the fund.

However, an employee can contribute more than the stipulated amount if the scheme allows for it. So, let's say the employee decides 15% must be deducted towards the EPF. In this case, the employer is not obligated to pay any contribution over and above the amount as stipulated, which is 12%.

PPF

The Public Provident Fund has been established by the central government. You can voluntarily decide to open one. You need not be a salaried individual, you could be a consultant, a freelancer or even working on a contract basis. You can also open this account if you are not earning. 

Any individual can open a PPF account in any nationalised bank or its branches that handle PPF accounts. You can also open it at the head post office or certain select post offices.

The minimum amount to be deposited in this account is Rs 500 per year. The maximum amount you can deposit every year is Rs 70,000.

2. What is the return on this investment?

EPF: 8.5% per annum

PPF: 8% per annum

3. How long is the money blocked?

EPF

The amount accumulated in the PF is paid at the time of retirement or resignation. Or, it can be transferred from one company to the other if one changes jobs.

In case of the death of the employee, the accumulated balance is paid to the legal heir.

PPF

The accumulated sum is repayable after 15 years.

The entire balance can be withdrawn on maturity, that is, after 15 years of the close of the financial year in which you opened the account.

It can be extended for a period of five years after that. During these five years, you earn the rate of interest and can also make fresh deposits.

4. What is the tax impact?

EPF

The amount you invest is eligible for deduction under the Rs 1,00,000 limit of Section 80C. If you have worked continuously for a period of five years, the withdrawal of PF is not taxed.  If you have not worked for at least five years, but the PF has been transferred to the new employer, then too it is not taxed.  The tenure of employment with the new employer is included in computing the total of five years. If you withdraw it before completion of five years, it is taxed. But if your employment is terminated due to ill-health, the PF withdrawal is not taxed.

PPF

The amount you invest is eligible for deduction under the Rs 1,00,000 limit of Section 80C.  On maturity, you pay absolutely no tax.

5. What if you need the money?

EPF

If you urgently need the money, you can take a loan on your PF.  You can also make a premature withdrawal on the condition that you are withdrawing the money for your daughter's wedding (not son or not even yours) or you are buying a home.  To find out the details, you will have to talk to your employer and then get in touch with the EPF office (your employer will help you out with this).

PPF

You can take a loan on the PPF from the third year of opening your account to the sixth year. So, if the account is opened during the financial year 1997-98, the first loan can be taken during financial year 1999-2000 (the financial year is from April 1 to March 31).

The loan amount will be up to a maximum of 25% of the balance in your account at the end of the first financial year. In this case, it will be March 31, 1998.

You can make withdrawals during any one year from the sixth year. You are allowed to withdraw  50% of the balance at the end of the fourth year, preceding the year in which the amount is withdrawn or the end of the preceding year whichever is lower. 

For example, if the account was opened in 1993-94 and the first withdrawal was made during 1999-2000, the amount you can withdraw is limited to 50% of the balance as on March 31, 1996, or March 31, 1999, whichever is lower.

If the account extended beyond 15 years, partial withdrawal -- up to 60% of the balance you have at the end of the 15 year period -- is allowed.

The better option?

In both cases, contributions get a deduction under Section 80C and the interest earned is tax free.    Having said that, PF scores over PPF in two aspects.  

In the case of PF, the employer also contributes to the fund. There is no such contribution in case of PPF. The rate of interest on PF is also marginally higher (currently 8.50%) than interest on PPF (8%).