Drug-eluting Biodegradable Coronary Stent

A Drug-eluting Biodegradable Coronary Stent is an expandable wire form with a drug-coating over it that delivers medications to a specific area of the artery and is degraded into harmless products in the body after its function. Currently the types of stents used for preventing the coronary artery collapse include simple metallic stents and drug-eluting metallic stents.

One of the main reasons to develop a ‘drug-eluting biodegradable coronary stent’ is the short-term need for a stent and to avoid the potential long-term complications of metallic stents.These biodegradable coronary stents are generally made of a PLA {poly-L/D-lactic acid} polymer. They are known to deliver medications at specific sites of the arteries and they degrade into the body after 2 years of their implantation. Since they are biocompatible, they evoke minimum inflammatory response as compared to the traditional metallic stents. Moreover, they decrease the artery collapse rate (restenosis) to 10.5%

Stents are inserted in the coronary arteries (that provide blood supply to heart) and are enlarged to a diameter either greater than or equal to the diameter of the lumen so as to allow the free flow of fluid there through.

Metallic stents with/without drug-coating open up the arteries that have been blocked by fatty deposits (atherosclerosis).But the downside can be formation of thrombus and the process of restenosis(re-blockage of the artery).Metallic stents also cause infection and interference with some diagnostic procedures like MRI.

To overcome these problems, stents made up of biodegradable polymer that has the capacity to deliver drugs have been developed. These stents minimize restenosis and degrade into harmless products after a few months. They deliver medications at the local areas of the arteries and then they degrade into harmless products after a few months of their implantation.

Basically these stent are double-spiral zigzag helical structures consisting of a of 0.2 mm wire. Their outer diameter varies from 2.2 to 2.4 mm; with an initial lumen of 1.8 to 2.2 mm. The zigzag structure facilitatesreduced vessel wall injury at the time of stent implantation.

There are laminated multilayers wherein one layer addresses the structural requirements of the stent and additional layers release drugs at predictable rates that prevent proliferation of cell growth and blood clotting.

With multiple layers of polymer films, up to 20 layers of drugs can be released at varying rates. They are coated with anticoagulants, such as heparin, or platelet inhibitors, such as glycoprotein IIa-IIIB.

PLA is about 37% crystalline, with a melting point of 175—178°C and a glass-transition temperature of 60—65°C.It has lower tensile strength, higher elongation and a much more rapid degradation time, making it more attractive as a drug delivery-system. Dexamethasone[DEX]andSimvastatin[SIM]are the two drugs used in the combination with poly-96L/4D-lactic acid (PLA) stents.

These stents are designed in such a way that they can be broken down into lactic acid, which can be absorbed harmlessly into the body. The biological process of degradation begins at the 6^th month of the implantation and is known to be completed after 24 months. The main degradation end products of are normal metabolic products which are then used by the body.24months after implantation, the stent material appears largely hydrolyzed and cannot be detected in polarizing light.

On performing Angiography as a post-stenting procedure it was observed stented arteries were angiographically patent.The mean luminal diameter (3.05 mm) and area (30.36 mm2) of PLA stents was decreased as compared to other stents.

Some advantages are mentioned below:

1. These stents are biocompatible, producing negligible inflammation and provide excellent haemodynamic stability.

2. They are known to self-expand for at least 3 months and this prevents restenosis process in the specific area of artery where they are placed.

3. They can be used in the cases where repeat angioplasty or bypass grafting are required.

4. They cause minimum interaction with fibrinogen and hence can minimize blood clot formation in the arteries.

5. Moreover they are opaque to X-rays and hence can be easily visualized.

Some drawbacks are mentioned below:

1. The time for the complete degradation of these stents cannot be predicted.

2. After the stenting, the patients the patient must take an anti-clotting or antiplatelet drug, (such as clopidogrel or ticlopidine) for 6 or more months to prevent the blood from reacting to the new device by thickening and clogging up the newly expanded artery.

3. To effectively impact tissue growth, it may be necessary to add specific antiproliferative compounds to this biodegradable stent and so they are very costly.

4. High temperature (65°C to 75°C for few seconds) required during the process of insertion will result in the pathologic death of the living tissues (necrosis) of the arterial walls.

5. Moreover high temperature (around 55°C) also results in the platelet adhesion to the vessel wall seems which may cause thrombosis.

CONCLUSION

Stents and other modern endovascular devices such as stent grafts have undoubtedly changed the field of vascular interventions. Their use is an important step towards more sophisticated treatment of vascular diseases.Thus, biodegradable materials, such as PLA96, may be promising for small-vessel use as stent core materials and may prove to be an effective alternative to the metallic versions.

COMPILED BY:-

MEET OZA

JAHANVI MODI

5^TH BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

U.V.PATEL COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Cryptography-An Introduction...

The art of scrambling messages has actually been in use for thousands of years. However, beginning with the development of the telegraph, cryptography has been growing outside of military and highly diplomatic circles, and into the public domain. E-commerce, personal and corporate privacy have continued the pervasive need for secure communications. Additionally, cryptographic techniques are not limited to the purpose of hiding messages. For instance, archeologists can use cryptographic techniques to interpret ancient or lost languages.

Cryptography, which derives from the Greek word kryptos meaning hidden, is both an art and a science. It is the science of using mathematics to encrypt and decrypt data. The purpose of cryptography is to transmit information in such a way that access to it is restricted entirely to the intended recipient. Originally the security of a cryptotext depended on the secrecy of the entire encrypting and decrypting procedures; however, today we use ciphers for which the algorithm for encrypting and decrypting could be revealed to anybody without compromising the security of a particular cryptogram. In such ciphers a set of specific parameters, called a key is supplied together with the plain text as an input to the encrypting algorithm, and together with the cryptogram as an input to decrypting algorithm. Thus there exist three fundamental parts to the encryption/decryption process namely the message, a key and an algorithm.

The oldest encryption method is known as Secret Key (symmetric) encryption. Here the same key is used both to encrypt the plain text and then to decrypt the cipher text.

Symmetric systems are generally fast and can now be made effectively impossible to break. Like anything of this sort, there is no absolute guarantee, but it's quite reasonable to say that with the knowledge available at present and with access to current levels of computing power, a properly constructed system can be made entirely secure. For better security the key should be as large as possible. The greater the length of a key, all other things being equal, the progressively more difficult it becomes to break the encryption.

Another well-known encryption method is a system of Public (asymmetric) key cryptography. Public key systems use two keys constructed from prime numbers and which complement each other such that one key is used for encrypting plain text which can then be decrypted by, and only by, the other. One of the key pairs is kept private and is known as the private key while the other, the public key, is widely publicized. The unique nature of the process is that anyone who knows the public key can encrypt a message that can then only be decrypted by he sender using the secure private key. Conversely, a message can be encrypted with the private key and anyone decrypting it, using the freely available public key, can be confident that it came from the sender. Asymmetric keys are very long, typically ranging from perhaps 768 bits versus 56 or 128 bits.

However, inspite of the various security measures, there is a possibility of the message to get altered. For this purpose Hashing Technique is used as message authentication. It is becoming as important as information hiding. Hashing is the technique that involves a string of characters of variable length being converted to a fixed-length result, usually 128 bits. In practice, any change to the message, even one as trivial as adding or removing a space, will result in a different hash value being created when the process is run.

Cryptographic protocols and algorithms are difficult to get right. Creating cryptography algorithms requires years in professional review of the algorithm. Hence trying to create one is a sheer wastage of time and energy. Instead one should always opt for algorithms that are widely used, heavily analyzed, and accepted as secure. Algorithms for Symmetric Key Encryption, Public Key as well as for Cryptographic Hash are available worldwide.

Secret Key encryption and Public key cryptography techniques have been used for over thousands of years. However, if and when mathematicians or computer scientists come up with fast and clever procedures for factoring large integers the whole privacy and discretion of public-key cryptosystems would vanish overnight. Such an upcoming method is Quantum Cryptography. Recent work in Quantum computation shows that quantum computers can factorize much faster than classical computers. Quantum cryptography is a way to combine the relative ease and convenience of key exchange in public key cryptography with the ultimate security of a onetime pad. Here, any attempt by an enemy to obtain the bits in a key not only fails, but gets detected as well. This is due to a certain phenomena that occur at the subatomic level. The sender is required to prepare a chain of polarized photons. This chain is then sent through an optical fiber to the receiver. To obtain the original message the receiver makes a series of measurements.

The main objective of all these methods remains the same – Security. Security cannot be eliminated but can be improved with upcoming technologies. Cryptography has become an essential part of this strategy. It is regarded as backbone in various developments. The space of an introductory article is not enough to describe it. Efforts have been made to provide unprecedented levels of security. Using quantum computing, cryptographers will be able to build stronger crypto-systems, thus providing better security. However, the question of implementation of such systems and understanding of implications at machine level still prevails.

Prepared by,

Purnima Shewale,

Usha Mittal Institute of Technology,

S.N.D.T. University,

Mumbai.

Comparison between microsoft vista and xp...!!!

When you start using Windows Vista, you will recognize familiar elements such as the Start menu, which is now faster, more streamlined, and more helpful than in previous versions of Windows. The Start menu features integrated desktop search through a new feature called Quick Search which can help you find and launch almost anything on your PC. Just type in a word, a name, or a phrase, and Quick Search can find the right file for you. But more than that, the new start menu makes it very easy for you to navigate across all of the installed applications on your PC. Eliminating the slow performing, cascading "All Programs" view, the new start menu can help you get something! started more quickly than ever.

Explorers


The new Explorers are powerful yet easy-to-use tools for working with files consistently across Windows Vista. Explorers give you more information and control while simplifying how you work with your files. The experience is easy and consistent, whether you're browsing photos or documents or even using the new Control Panel.

The new Document Explorer makes working with your files a snap. Find your files more quickly with the new Live Icon feature, and see what they contain without having to open them.
Key elements of the Explorers in Windows Vista are designed to help you get to the informa! tion you need, when you need it. Quick Search is always available to help you find files instantly. The navigation pane contains the new Search Folders found in Windows Vista, as well as traditional folders that you have created on your computer. Command Bars display only the tasks that are most appropriate for the files being displayed. With new Live Icons (scalable thumbnails) used throughout Windows Vista, you can see the first page of documents, the actual image of a photo, or the album art for individual songs in your music collection, making it easier to find exactly what you are looking for.

Type keywords into the Quick Search box in the new Control Panel to find the right system setting quickly.

Windows Aero

Windows Vista is the first Windows operating system that has a user experience that can gracefully scale to the hard! ware capabilities of the computer it is installed on. All computers that meet minimal hardware requirements will see the Windows Vista Basic user experience, which provides the benefits of the refined interface features already mentioned.

Windows Vista Aero provides spectacular visual effects such as glass-like interface elements that you can see through.
Windows Aero is an environment with an additional level of visual sophistication, one that is even more responsive and manageable, providing a further level of clarity and confidence to Windows users.

Live taskbar thumbnails

Resting the mouse pointer over a taskbar item displays a live thumbnail of the window, showing the content of that window. The live thumbnail is displayed whether the window is minimized or not, and whether the content of the window is a document, ! photo, or even a running video or process.

See thumbnail views of the items in your taskbar by resting your mouse pointer on them.

Windows Flip and Windows Flip 3D

Windows Vista provides two entirely new features to manage windows: Windows Flip and Windows Flip 3D. Flip allows you to flip through open windows (by using Alt+Tab), providing a live thumbnail of each window, rather than just a generic icon and file name. Live thumbnails make it easier to quickly identify the window you want, particularly when multiple windows of the same kind are open. With Flip 3D, you can use the scroll wheel on your mouse to flip through open windows in a stack, and quickly locate and select the one you want to work with.

Use Flip to view and navigate more easily through open windows.

Use Flip 3D to navigate through open windows using the scroll wheel on your mouse.

Windows Sidebar and Gadgets

As you use your computer to access more information, perform more tasks, and interact with more software applications, you increasingly face information overload. You open a web browser just to check the weather, open an application to view your calendar, and open a calculator program to simply add numbers. You need simple, specialized, and lightweight mini-applications that put information and tasks at your fingertips—no matter what you're doing.
Windows Sidebar boosts your personal productivity by providing i! nstant access to gadgets—a wide variety of engaging, easy-to-use, and customizable mini-applications that offer information at a glance and provide easy access to frequently used tools.


Windows Sidebar gives you quick access to gadgets like picture slide shows, Windows Media Player controls, or news headlines. You pick the gadgets you want to see in Windows Sidebar.

Windows Internet Explorer 7

New Internet Explorer 7 features, like tabbed browsing and live previews, make it easier for you to get to the websites you want to visit.
Internet Explorer 7 also provides new tools to give you direct access to information you want, with built-in support for web feeds known as Re! ally Simple Syndication (RSS). RSS is a technology you can use to have information sent to you, so you don't have to look for it. Through RSS subscriptions, you can automatically receive feeds (lists) of headlines from Internet sites. Internet Explorer 7 discovers these feeds on sites and allows you to preview and subscribe to them. Once you subscribe, Internet Explorer 7 systematically consolidates headlines from each feed into one list. This lets you quickly browse new information from various sites without having to visit each site separately.
Windows Vista also builds upon the User Account Protection initiative—by default, limiting Internet Explorer 7 to just enough permissions to browse the web, but not enough to modify your files or settings—keeping your PC safer from web-based attacks. This Windows Vista-only feature, known as protected mode, means that even if a malicious site attacks a potential vulnerability in Internet Explorer 7, the site's code will not have enou! gh privileges to install software, copy files to the Startup folder, or hijack the settings for your browser's home page or search provider.

Windows Vista enhances the Internet Explorer experience. The upcoming release of Internet Explorer 7 not only adds important new security and privacy features, but makes everyday tasks easier through features such as tabbed browsing, inline search, and shrink-to-fit printing.

Network Center

Windows Vista puts you in control of your network experience with the Network Center —the central place for all your networking needs. Network Center informs you about the network your computer is connected to and verifies whether it can successfully reach the Internet. It even presents this information in a summary in the Network Map so you can immediately see your connectivity to the network and Internet. If a PC on the network loses Internet connectivity, you can graphically see that the link is down, and t! hen use Network Diagnostics to help determine the cause of the problem and get a suggestion for a solution.

Check your connection status, see your network visually, or troubleshoot a connection problem in the Network Center .
Network Center also allows you to quickly connect to other available networks, or create entirely new connections. You can view and configure your most important network settings in one place. And for less frequently accessed settings, Network Center provides direct links so you can easily find what you're looking for.
Network Center also makes it easy to connect your workplace network from home.

Easily connect to your workplace from home using the Network Center .

Network Setup

With Windows Vista, setting up a network between multiple PCs and devices (including printers, music players, and game systems) is simple and intuitive. The Network Setup Wizard allows you to set up wired or wireless networks by identifying unconfigured network devices and adding them to the network. The Network Setup Wizard also automates the process of adding new devices to your network. It automatically generates secure network settings to keep your network safe from intruders.
Network settings can also be saved to a portable USB flash drive to make adding PCs and devices to the network a quick and easy process. Simply insert the USB flash drive into a PC or device and it will automatically read the data and ready itself to join the network. File and printer sharing is also easily enabled on each PC on the network from the Network Setup Wizard, so you can share documents, photos, music, and other files across your network.
Network Explorer

Once a network is set up, you need to be able to easily browse content on networked PCs, devices, and printers. The new Network Explorer in Windows Vista makes it easy to share files and take advantage of the connectivity that a network provides. It presents a view of all PCs, devices, and printers on the network, and is significantly faster and more reliable than My Network Places in Windows XP. The Network Explorer is even able to use custom, representative icons for different devices (when enabled by manufacturers). You can also directly interact with select devices—adjust settings or control music playback, for example.

Create networks to share files, printers, and other devices.

Network Map

When people have multiple computers and devices on a network, with a combination of wireless a! nd wired connections, it can be difficult to understand how everything is connected. Windows Vista provides a new feature called Network Map which shows you an easy-to-understand, graphical view of everything on the network, and how everything is connected. This helps you optimize your network for the best performance and easily locate any problems.

Network Map in a home environment showing a broken connection to a wireless router.


Wireless Networking

Windows Vista improves the wireless network experience in a number of ways. The new Network Awareness feature in Windows Vista keeps your applications aware of and optimized for the network's changing capabilities. Your data is also more secure with enhanced support for the latest wireless security protocols, including WPA2. Windows Vista helps you avoid connecting to fra! udulent wireless networks which seem like legitimate hotspots but, in fact, are not. Windows Vista also provides an easy way to create ad-hoc wireless networks to use peer-to-peer applications such as file sharing and application collaboration.

Network Awareness

Network Awareness provides the ability to report changes in network connectivity to applications in order to provide a more seamless connected experience. As you connect to different networks, the change is communicated to Network Awareness-supported applications, which can then take appropriate actions for your connection to that network. For example, when you switch from your home office to your corporate network, firewall settings can be configured to open the ports needed to allow the use of IT management tools. Group Policy will detect the reconnection to the corporate network and automatically begin processing policy changes instead of waiting for the next detection cycle.

Prepared by,

Raj Shah,

Techyuth,

Contact no: 09825867994

TIPS TO MAKE YOUR SELECTION IN TCS A SUCCESS!!!!

TIPS TO MAKE YOUR SELECTION IN TCS A SUCCESS !

TCS’ recruitment and selection process has been designed to identify potential and select that talent which will take the company to newer levels of growth and excellence. Our vision of achieving Global Top 10 by 2010 can only be achieved by choosing those who have the knowledge, the skill and the attitude to make the real difference.

The criteria that have been laid down primarily assess the candidate on multiple parameters by ensuring that the candidate has been assessed holistically via various levels and processes.

Mentioned below are brief guidelines that will keep you informed about what we really are looking for in you:

APTITUDE TEST:

Part I: Comprehension and English grammar - Assesses your vocabulary, understanding of concepts, comprehension, contextual differentiation, knowledge of antonyms and synonyms.

Part II: General reasoning - Maths, quantitative reasoning, time and motion studies, calculus, pie-charts, logarithms etc.

Part III: Critical reasoning - This includes scenarios with preferred outcomes that are given to you. Choice of the correct solution to the scenario is required here.

Guidelines:

1.The test is on-line and automated.

2.The questions are generated by a random sampler so question papers are unique.

3.There is no negative marking.

4.Use of calculators are not permittedTime duration is of 1-½ hours.

5.Each section has a cut off time.

6.There is no sectional cut-off

TECHNICAL INTERVIEWS:

1.Knowledge of specialization/ discipline and subject matter.

2.Competence reflected while executing projects and your role in the team.

3.Additional skills that have been developed by undertaking value-adding assignments.

4.Ability to think out of the box to analyze technical questions and problems.

5.Problem solving capability and the ability to persevere in confusing and ambiguous situations

6.Ability to comprehend questions, assimilate and interpret the same in a manner that meets the expectations of the panel.

7.Minimal knowledge of software related subjects and various applications.

8.Logical sequencing and analytical resonating would be assessed here

9.Ability to communicate effectively, which includes oratory skills, grammatical accuracy, pronunciation and presentation skills.

10.Knowledge of the industry, current events and topics of national importance.

HR ASSESSMENT:

(This would be done either at the Technical round or at the management round)

1.Confidence in your capabilities, potential and growth

2.Clarity in your objectives and goals

3.Reflections of team skills and interpersonal attributes

4.Capability to handle ambiguity and challenging situations

5.Well-rounded personality, which reflects value-systems like truth and integrity

6.Ability to envision the future and identify a career path

7.Reflection of resilience (ability to continue with perseverance and enthusiasm when faced with failure)

8.Enthusiasm to undertake new challenges and tasks

9.Willingness to unlearn, learn and re-learn so as to adapt to new challenges and situations.

10.Excellent presentation skills and communication of ideas.

MANAGEMENT INTERVIEW:

(Final round that is conducted by either a Senior Consultant, Principal Consultant or Vice President with 15 years and above of experience).

1.Re-confirm the initial assessment that was done by the technical panel

2.Ascertain whether the candidate has the capability and the potential of being a software consultant

3.Determine whether the candidate reflects the knowledge, skill and the attitude commensurate for the job profile

4.Probe into whether the candidate has the qualities meritorious of a TCSer.

5.Validate whether the candidate will complement TCS’ vision of becoming Global Top 10 by 2010.

DO’s:

1.Dress code for gents must be formal shirts and trousers, a tie, polished shoes and well kept hair. For ladies, a saree, salwar kameez or formal western outfits are preferred. Light make will further enhance your personality.

2.Prepare an introduction line of not more than 30 words mentioning your capabilities, strengths, personality traits and your career outlook.

3.Carry certificates of any extra-curricular events that you have participated in along with your project report.

4.Maintain a kit with a water bottle, sandwiches and a hand towel in the eventuality of the process getting delayed.

5.Always listen to the question being asked before responding

6.Seek a clarification incase you are not certain about the nature of the question

DON’TS

1.Wear flashy/ bright clothes or a combination that lacks taste.Ask other candidates what questions are being asked by the panel for it may alter your thought processes and responsiveness to various questions.

2.It is like studying for one paper for an examination and going for another!

3.Argue with the panel member to assert your point of view.

4.Shielding away from the question by giving ambiguous answers.

5.Jump to conclusions or false assumptions if the question has not been completely understood.

Prepared by,

Raj Shah
Mobile- 09825867994

Courtesy- TCS.

Speed up your Start Menu...!!

The default speed of the start menu is pretty slow, but you can fix this by editing the registry key. Fire up the Registry Editor and navigate to the following key :
HKEY_CURRENT_USER_\CONTROL PANEL\DESKTOP\MENUSHOWDELAY. By default, the value is 400. Change this to a smaller value such as 0 to speed it up. Now press OK and U r start menu should load faster than before.

Prepared by.

Raj Shah.

Mobile- 09825867994

How to make windows xp faster????

Services You Can Disable

There are quite a few services you can disable from starting automatically.
This would be to speed up your boot time and free resources.
They are only suggestions so I suggestion you read the description of each one when you run Services
and that you turn them off one at a time.

Some possibilities are:

Alerter
Application Management
Clipbook
Fast UserSwitching
Human Interface Devices
Indexing Service
Messenger
Net Logon
NetMeeting
QOS RSVP
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
Remote Registry
Routing & Remote Access
SSDP Discovery Service
Universal Plug and Play Device Host
Web Client


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cleaning the Prefetch Directory

WindowsXP has a new feature called Prefetch. This keeps a shortcut to recently used programs.
However it can fill up with old and obsolete programs.

To clean this periodically go to:

Star / Run / Prefetch
Press Ctrl-A to highlight all the shorcuts
Delete them

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not Displaying Logon, Logoff, Startup and Shutdown Status Messages

To turn these off:

Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\policies\system
If it is not already there, create a DWORD value named DisableStatusMessages
Give it a value of 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clearing the Page File on Shutdown

Click on the Start button
Go to the Control Panel
Administrative Tools
Local Security Policy
Local Policies
Click on Security Options
Right hand menu - right click on "Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile"
Select "Enable"
Reboot

For regedit users.....
If you want to clear the page file on each shutdown:

Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Session Manager\Memory Management\ClearPageFileAtShutdown
Set the value to 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No GUI Boot

If you don't need to see the XP boot logo,

Run MSCONFIG
Click on the BOOT.INI tab
Check the box for /NOGUIBOOT

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Speeding the Startup of Some CD Burner Programs

If you use program other than the native WindowsXP CD Burner software,
you might be able to increase the speed that it loads.

Go to Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Services
Double-click on IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service
For the Startup Type, select Disabled
Click on the OK button and then close the Services window
If you dont You should notice

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Getting Rid of Unread Email Messages

To remove the Unread Email message by user's login names:

Start Regedit
For a single user: Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\UnreadMail
For all users: Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\UnreadMail
Create a DWORD key called MessageExpiryDays
Give it a value of 0

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Decreasing Boot Time

Microsoft has made available a program to analyze and decrease the time it takes to boot to WindowsXP
The program is called BootVis

Uncompress the file.
Run BOOTVIS.EXE
For a starting point, run Trace / Next Boot + Driver Delays
This will reboot your computer and provide a benchmark
After the reboot, BootVis will take a minute or two to show graphs of your system startup.
Note how much time it takes for your system to load (click on the red vertical line)
Then run Trace / Optimize System
Re-Run the Next Boot + Drive Delays
Note how much the time has decreased
Mine went from approximately 33 to 25 seconds.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increasing Graphics Performance
By default, WindowsXP turns on a lot of shadows, fades, slides etc to menu items.
Most simply slow down their display.

To turn these off selectively:

Right click on the My Computer icon
Select Properties
Click on the Advanced tab
Under Performance, click on the Settings button
To turn them all of, select Adjust for best performance
My preference is to leave them all off except for Show shadows under mouse pointer and Show window contents while dragging

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Increasing System Performance

If you have 512 megs or more of memory, you can increase system performance
by having the core system kept in memory.

Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Session Manager\Memory Management\DisablePagingExecutive
Set the value to be 1
Reboot the computer

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Increasing File System Caching

To increase the amount of memory Windows will locked for I/O operations:

Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Session Manager\Memory Management
Edit the key IoPageLockLimit

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Resolving Inability to Add or Remove Programs

If a particular user cannot add or remove programs, there might be a simple registry edit neeed.

Go to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Pol icies\Uninstall
Change the DWORD NoAddRemovePrograms to 0 disable it

4096 - 32megs of memory or less
8192 - 32+ megs of memory
16384 - 64+ megs of memory
32768 - 128+ megs of memory
65536 - 256+ megs of memory

Regards,

Raj Shah,
Team techyuth,
Mobile- 09825867994

Interview Questions You May Be Asked..!!!

Interview Questions You May Be Asked

Before attending an interview you should think about your responses to the following questions. Your answers may depend on the job or company in question, so you should go through your responses just before each interview.

Why do you want this job?

Think carefully about this question. Stress the positive aspects, which have attracted you to applying for this position. Do not mention the negative aspects of your current job or the job in question.

What qualities do you think will be required for this job?

Their advertisement for the job may help you a little bit, but you should also think of the other qualities that may be required. These may include leadership ability, supervisory skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills, problem solving, analytical skills, etc.

What can you contribute?

This is your chance to shine. Tell them about your achievements in your previous position(s) which are relevant to the new position you are applying for.

Why do you want to work for this company?

Emphasis the positive reasons why you want to join their company, but avoid aspects such as more money or shorter hours. These would not endear you to a prospective employer.

What do you know about this company?

This is your chance to impress the interviewer with your knowledge of their company. Give them a run down of their products/services, sales figures, news, company figures, customers, etc.

What interests you about our product (or service)?

Again, your research into the company should aid you in answering this question.

What can we (the new company) offer that your previous company cannot offer?

Tread carefully here! Again do not mention money. Stress opportunities for personal growth, new challenges, etc.

You have not done this sort of job before. How will you cope/succeed?

Say that you are the sort of person who aims to succeed at everything you do and that you are very determined and will do whatever it takes to get the job done.

Why should we employ you?

The answer to this question will be based on your previous experience and achievements which relate to the company. At the end you could add that you think there is a good fit between you and the job, and do ask the interviewer for their opinion.

How long do you think it would be before you were making a significant contribution to the team/company?

If you think that you could contribute from day one then say so. Then turn the question round on them and say how soon would they expect it.

How ambitious are you? Would you compete for my job?

Depending on the position you are applying for you may want to sound fairly ambitious, but do not look as if you are after the interviewer's position.

What do you like and dislike about the job we are discussing?

Likes: stress things such as a new challenge or the opportunity to bring fresh experience to the company. Dislikes: Imply there is nothing to dislike about the job, which is why you are so interested.

Why did you choose a career in …?

Be positive about your reasons. If you have changed careers make a logical argument as to why you did so.

Why are you changing careers?

This question will only be asked if you are making a radical change in your career. Always stress the positive aspects of the change rather than the negative aspects of your previous career - you do not want to come across as someone who is moving just because you hate your old career. Say why you think you will be good in the new career - this should come from your experience and achievements, stress the transferable skills you have, such as leadership ability, etc.

How much does your last job resemble the one you are applying for? What are the differences?

The interviewer is trying to see how well you would fit in to the position you are applying for. So you should stress the similarities rather than the differences. When it comes to discussing the differences it will help your case if you can show that either you have done something similar in the past or that you can quickly pick up the new skills.

What do you think of the last company you worked for?

You should stress the positive aspects of your last company saying that they were a good company to work for. Tell them about the training you received or the work related experience you gained.

Why did you join your previous company? Did they live up to your expectations? Why are you leaving now?

Always be positive about your reasons for joining and leaving a company. Be very careful that you do not say anything negative about your present employer. If you do, the new company will wonder what you will say about them when you leave. You might want to stress that you are looking for a new challenge and that you feel that the company who is interviewing you fits the bill!

Explain the organisational structure in your last company and how you fitted into it?

This sort of question may be used to find out whether your old job is at a comparable level to your new job. If the new job being discussed would be a step up the ladder you will need to show that you are ready for a more demanding position. You may be able to show that you have already had many of the responsibilities and the necessary skills which would be required for the next step.

How long have you been looking for a new job?

If you have been unemployed for a long time this may be a rather tricky question to answer. But be honest. If you have been away on holiday or done some voluntary work you could mention this.

Do you prefer to work in a small, medium or large company?

Remember where you are! If the company interviewing you is a small to medium sized company say that you enjoy a close atmosphere with a good team spirit. At a large company say that you enjoy the stability of working for a large and established company.

What are you looking for in a new job?

Make sure your answer fits in with the company who is interviewing you. A suitable reply would be that you are looking for a new job where you can apply your existing skills and learn new ones.

What would your ideal job be?

Again, remember where you are! Describe the job in terms of the criteria they have used to describe their job. An ideal job might include things like challenging work, a fair rate of pay for the job, nice colleagues, good career prospects, good team atmosphere, opportunity to learn new skills, apply old skills, etc.

Are you considering any other positions at the moment?

If you are say so, but do not give too many details away - it will weaken your negotiating position later. If you do not have any other job offers at the moment just say that you have a few irons in the fire.

What did you think of your manager/supervisor?

Say that he/she was the sort of person you could learn from and you communicated well, which meant that the task in hand was completed on time.

What did you do on a day to day basis?

Stress the positive things you did including your achievements. Even if some or much of it was paperwork, you can still show your interest in the way it was tackled.

Did you increase sales or profits in your last job?

This question is only relevant for senior managers or sales people. If you have increased sales and/or profit then do not be afraid to shout about it. If you have not increased sales say why not, e.g. general downturn in the market, etc. It might then be a good idea to mention an achievement in a previous job if your performance was better there.

Have you reduced costs at your last company?

If you have reduced costs say so - companies are always looking for ways to reduce costs.

How would you describe yourself? / How would others describe you?

Pick your best attributes and achievements from your career.

Do you consider yourself successful?

You should say you do. Pick some work related achievements that are in line with the position that you are discussing.

What was your greatest success? How did you achieve it?

You should pick an achievement which is related to their needs.

What has been your biggest failure?

Try to pick a failure which you were later able to correct or something that is not really important.

How could you improve yourself?

Do not mention anything negative about yourself - the interviewer is looking for a chink in your armour.

Did you feel you progressed satisfactorily in your last job?

If you progressed faster than normal you should say so. If growth was not as good as expected then be careful how you phrase this.

Are you a leader?

State how you have successfully acted as a leader, giving examples of your successes.

How do you handle criticism?

Your answer should be along the following lines: "I always think that it is important to get feedback on how I am performing so that I can improve any areas which my manager/supervisor highlights. Do you have regular staff appraisals and a staff development plan?"

What sort of manager are you? / What makes a good manager?

You should say that it is someone who listens to other people and can delegate whilst maintaining overall control of the task at hand, bringing in the project on time and to budget. Good planning skills are essential.

Do you work well with others? Or are you a loner?

Some jobs mean that you have to work very closely with other people whilst other jobs mean that you are largely working on your own, so you need to say that you are happy in both situations.

Do you need other people around to stimulate you or are you self-motivated?

You need to say that you are self-motivated.

Are you accepted into a team quickly?

Hopefully you can answer a resounding "Yes" to this question.

Can you act on your own initiative?

You should say that you can. You could ask how much responsibility you would have.

How do you run a meeting?

You could say that you must start with an agenda and stick to it. You could add that you would try to get the views and ideas from everyone present, working in an air of co-operation. If people moved off at a tangent you would bring them back to the item being discussed.

What motivates you?

Our suggestions are career growth, opportunity to learn new skills, good co-workers, etc.

What management style gets the best results out of you?

Try and think about how you have reacted to different managers and which factors have motivated you. Do not say too much in reply to this question, because if your answer is contrary to the management style of the company they will not be keen to employ you!

Do you know how to motivate other people?

Hopefully you can say "Yes", and say that you have to find out what motivates a person and give them recognition for a job well done. You should always give them encouragement and help them when required.

Are you competitive?

Your answer depends on the sort of job you are doing. If you will be working as part of a team you will need to show that you can work in the best interests of the team and not just for your own benefit.

Are you aggressive?

If you mean by this someone who gets things done, then the answer is "Yes". You need to defuse the implications of this question.

What do you dislike doing?

Say that you are prepared to do whatever it takes to get the job done well and on time and try to do disagreeable things first to get them out of the way rather than putting them off.

What problems did you encounter in your last job? What annoyed you about your last job?

Stick to the problems that you were able to solve, i.e. "I had problem X, which I later managed to resolve by doing Y". Show that you are a person who can solve problems rather than someone who lets things get on top of them.

What would you like to avoid in your next job?

You need to be positive here and say that there is nothing in particular that you would like to avoid.

Do you feel you are ready to take on greater responsibilities?

Show how you have progressed throughout your life and how you have accepted and taken on responsibility for the actions of yourself and others. If you have not really had many work related responsibilities you can mention other responsibilities you have had outside work.

Can you work under pressure?

You need to say that you can. You could ask how much pressure the job involves.

How many hours are you prepared to work?

You would be prepared to work the necessary hours to get the job done on time.

Do you mind working for someone older than yourself? Younger than you? Of the opposite sex?

Here you can say that you are prepared to work with anyone.

What are your career goals?

Link in your goals with the company who is interviewing you.

How did you get on with your previous manager/supervisor, co-workers and subordinates?

Hopefully you can say that you got on well with everyone.

Have you been responsible for implementing ISO9000/BS5750 or Total Quality Management (TQM)?

If you have, state how you implemented it successfully. If you have not, you will need to show that you are used to working to company quality standards or that you have a methodical approach to carrying out work.

What interests do you have outside work?

Your hobbies and interests can tell an employer a lot about you, including whether you are sociable or solitary, and whether you can take on 'leadership' roles. So you should think about which interests will paint the right picture of you given the position you are discussing.

If you have changed jobs a lot you may be asked how long you would stay in the new job.

You should state that you are looking for a long-term opportunity where you can learn and develop. You could then ask them if this applies to the job being discussed.

Have you ever been fired?

If you have, you will need to handle this question with great care. Try and put yourself in as favourable light as possible without being too dismissive. If you have later been able to correct any deficiency which resulted in you being fired you should tell the interviewer.

Are you too old for this job?

Tell them that you feel that your extra experience would enable you to make a bigger contribution to their company sooner than someone younger and less experienced.

Are you too young for this job?

"No, I do not think so!" is the answer you should give and then state the reason why you are not too young. If you have a lot of experience gained in a short time, say so.

You may be over qualified for this position?

Tell them that you feel that your extra experience would enable you to make a bigger contribution sooner than someone with less experience.

Are you prepared to relocate?

If you are, say so. If you do not want to move then you do not have to accept the job - try and come across as someone who is positive.

Are you willing to travel?

Again if you are, say so. You want to sound positive, so find out how much travelling is involved before you turn down the job.

How often are you off sick?

This can be a difficult question to answer if you are frequently off sick or you have just recovered from a prolonged period of illness. If you have generally enjoyed good health and this period of illness is not typical then you should say so.

What did you earn in your last job?

You have to be very careful when answering this question because once an interviewer knows your current salary they will try and fix your next remuneration based on this figure. This may be satisfactory if you only wanted a modest rise in salary and your current salary is in line with their salary range, but, what if your current salary is substantially lower than the rate for the job, or if you want a substantial salary rise? In these cases you would be best advised to say that you do not really want to prejudice yourself by being too high or too low. Ask if you can discuss this later after the responsibilities for the job have been discussed; you may also want to ask them what the range for the job is (if you do not already know).

What level of salary are you looking for now?

Be very careful when you answer this question - you do not want to appear to be greedy. If you are applying for a specific vacancy you could ask them what the salary range is. Once they have answered you could say "I think my experience would place me at the top end of your range, don't you?" If they ask you this question fairly early on in the interview you could delay answering by saying "It is hard to discuss salary without first knowing a little bit more about the job and the responsibilities."

What will your referees say about you?

Say that you expect excellent references.

Difficult questions

If you cannot answer a question you might reply with "That's an interesting question - how would you tackle it?"

Fantasy questions

These sort of questions can be very difficult to answer. Such questions might include: "What would you do if you won the National Lottery?" You should give the answer, which in your opinion will give you the best chance of getting the job.

Questions to Ask the Interviewer

The interview is a two-way process. The company interviewing you will want to find out whether you are suitable to the position and you will want to find out if the company and position are right for you. You should therefore ensure that you have enough information to make up your mind whether you want the job. For example:

· What will be my responsibilities?

· Where will I fit into the overall organisational structure?

· Who will I report to?

· Where does he/she fit in the structure?

· Who will report to me?

· How experienced are they?

· What do you expect me to do in the first 6 months?

· What level of performance do you expect from me?

· Who are your customers?

· Where is the company going? Upwards? Expansion plans?

· What are the chances of advancement/promotion in this position? When?

· What will be my salary, benefits and bonuses? [Do not bring this up too early in the interview - wait until they are sold on you.]

· Will travelling be required in this position?

· Will relocation be required now or in the future?

· What training do you provide?

· When will you decide on the appointment?

· What is the next step?

Answering Interview Questions – Difficult Questions – Personal Questions
These questions give you the opportunity to answer in a way that enables you to provide focused information about your skills and abilities.

Here are some common examples of this type of question:

Do you consider yourself a natural leader?
The ideal answer to this is 'yes', but in reality not all of us possess the confidence required to lead. You can substitute 'natural' with either 'competent' or 'conscientious', focusing more on leading by example with good organizational and interpersonal skills. Most professional jobs require an element of leadership that you should be taking the trouble to cultivate, whether it comes naturally or not.

Tell me about yourself?
This can be a frustratingly open question, but it does give you an excellent opportunity to communicate your skills and experience. Aim to keep your answer professionally orientated, specific to the characteristics that the interviewer may want to hear. Although your objective is to show you've got the perfect profile to fulfil the role, try to do so in a friendly manner so that you can show the interviewer that you have an agreeable personality.

What are your biggest accomplishments?
Answers to this should always be job-related, impressive but also hinting that your best work is yet to come. Don't be hesitant or vague when answering this question. Show that you have a clear idea of your achievements to date.

Answering Interview Questions – Difficult Questions – Dangerous Questions
These questions give you the opportunity to overcome direct objections that the interviewer may have with your application. If these are not addressed, you will effectively rule yourself out as a serious candidate.

Here are some common examples of this type of question:

What did you dislike about your last job?
Ideally you would answer 'there was nothing I disliked', although this may not be realistic.

Hiring someone who easily fits into the existing complement of staff is very important, therefore steer clear of criticizing former colleagues or managers. Once again, if you pay attention to the company culture when they described the role to you, you can mention factors that would be likely to impress them.

How long have you been looking for another position?
If you are currently unemployed and have been looking for some time, try to minimize the 'time gap' by mentioning any other activities in which you have been involved, such as study or charity work.

If your work is of a specialist nature and you've been determined to continue in that field, point this out provided that it isn't at odds with the demands of the new role. A resourceful answer here can certainly score you points, instead of putting you at a disadvantage.

Why aren't you earning more at your this stage of your career?
This is another implied negative, which can be turned into a positive by emphasizing your desire to gain solid experience instead of continually changing jobs for the sake of money.

This question gives you scope to ask; "How much do you think I should be earning?" This could possibly lead to an offer.

Why have you changed jobs so frequently?
This is another question that can prove difficult. The best response can be to blame it on your need to gain experience and grow.

Emphasize that the variety of jobs has been good experience and that you're now more mature and settled. Questions like this can be turned around, but be careful not to dwell too much on the subject, or over-justify yourself.

Why were you made redundant?
If you were made redundant as a result of a re-organization; then this is a legitimate excuse that most recruiters will understand - they have probably been involved with laying off people themselves at some time.

Try to give acceptable reasons, such as downsizing or restructuring. Try to be brief and to matter-of-fact , encouraging the interviewer to move on.

Why were you fired?
If, however, you were fired and cannot realistically pass it off as a redundancy, then it's advisable to be open and honest whilst minimizing the reason for your dismissal. Try to portray the incident as 'one of those unlucky things that happens to the best of us' and modestly explain how you've learnt from the experience and the steps you've since taken. The objective is to put the interviewer at ease in the hope that they won't place too much importance on a reference check. It is however a good idea to reconcile with your former employers and ask them to at least give you a fair reference.

Prepared by,

Raj Shah,
Founder Member,
Techyuth,
Mobile- 09825867994.