Study of surface morphology, elemental composition and origin of atmospheric aerosols (PM2.5 and PM10) over Agra, India

In situ measurements of PM (PM2.5 and PM10) particles were carried out using a medium volume air sampler (offline) and particle number concentrations of PM were measured by a Grimm aerosol spectrophotometer (online) during the study period of 2010�2011. The morphology and elemental composition analyses of PM were performed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS), respectively. The average mass concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 were 97.2 and 242.6 µg/m3 at roadside (RD) and 121.2 and 230.5 µg/m3 at a semirural (SR) site, respectively. These concentrations were substantially higher than the NAAQS, WHO and USEPA standards. The highest mass and number concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 were observed during winter, followed by those during the post-monsoon period and summer, with the lowest in the monsoon period. SEM and EDS analysis of PM indicated the presence of soot, mineral, tarballs, fly ash, aluminosilicates/silica, fluorine, carbon rich, and Cl-Na rich particles. Of these particles, soot, tarballs, and F-C rich particles dominate in PM2.5, whereas mineral, aluminosilicates, and Cl-Na rich particles dominate in PM10. The morphology and elemental composition of the particles varied over the seasons due to atmospheric processing. The highest carbon concentration (56) was observed in PM2.5 during summer at the RD, while in the monsoon, post-monsoon period and winter the carbon concentration was ~9 lower at the RD as compared to the SR. However, the concentration of carbon in PM10 was ~38 higher at the RD as compared to SR during both summer and winter. Air mass backward trajectory cluster analysis was performed, and the results indicate that the aerosol loadings over Agra are mainly transported from the Middle East and Arabian Sea during the summer and monsoon period, while during the pre-monsoon period and winter the aerosol loadings came from the northern region, and were due to the burning of biomass and coal, as well as other local activities

Discrete wavelet transform de-noising in eukaryotic gene splicing

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This paper compares the most common digital signal processing methods of exon prediction in eukaryotes, and also proposes a technique for noise suppression in exon prediction. The specimen used here which has relevance in medical research, has been taken from the public genomic database - GenBank.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Here exon prediction has been done using the digital signal processing methods viz. binary method, EIIP (electron-ion interaction psuedopotential) method and filter methods. Under filter method two filter designs, and two approaches using these two designs have been tried. The discrete wavelet transform has been used for de-noising of the exon plots.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Results of exon prediction based on the methods mentioned above, which give values closest to the ones found in the NCBI database are given here. The exon plot de-noised using discrete wavelet transform is also given.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Alterations to the proven methods as done by the authors, improves performance of exon prediction algorithms. Also it has been proven that the discrete wavelet transform is an effective tool for de-noising which can be used with exon prediction algorithms.</p

Hf-based high-k materials for Si nanocrystal floating gate memories

Pure and Si-rich HfO2 layers fabricated by radio frequency sputtering were utilized as alternative tunnel oxide layers for high-k/Si-nanocrystals-SiO2/SiO2 memory structures. The effect of Si incorporation on the properties of Hf-based tunnel layer was investigated. The Si-rich SiO2 active layers were used as charge storage layers, and their properties were studied versus deposition conditions and annealing treatment. The capacitance-voltage measurements were performed to study the charge trapping characteristics of these structures. It was shown that with specific deposition conditions and annealing treatment, a large memory window of about 6.8 V is achievable at a sweeping voltage of ± 6 V, indicating the utility of these stack structures for low-operating-voltage nonvolatile memory devices

Association analysis of ADPRT1, AKR1B1, RAGE, GFPT2 and PAI-1 gene polymorphisms with chronic renal insufficiency among Asian Indians with type-2 diabetes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To determine association of nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ADP ribosyltransferase-1 (ADPRT1), aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B1 (AKR1B1), receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE), glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase-2 (GFPT2), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) genes with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) among Asian Indians with type 2 diabetes; and to identify epistatic interactionss between genes from the present study and those from renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), and chemokine-cytokine, dopaminergic and oxidative stress pathways (previously investigated using the same sample set).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Type 2 diabetes subjects with CRI (serum creatinine ≥3.0 mg/dl) constituted the cases (n = 196), and ethnicity and age matched individuals with diabetes for a duration of ≥ 10 years, normal renal functions and normoalbuminuria recruited as controls (n = 225). Allelic and genotypic constitution of 10 polymorphisms (SNPs) from five genes namely- <it>ADPRT1</it>, <it>AKR1B1, RAGE, GFPT2 </it>and <it>PAI-1 </it>with diabetic CRI was investigated. The genetic associations were evaluated by computation of odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. Multiple logistic regression analysis was carried out to correlate various clinical parameters with genotypes, and to study epistatic interactions between SNPs in different genes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Single nucleotide polymorphisms -429 T>C in <it>RAGE </it>and rs7725 C>T SNP in 3' UTR in <it>GFPT2 </it>gene showed a trend towards association with diabetic CRI. Investigation using miRBase statistical tool revealed that rs7725 in <it>GFPT2 </it>was a perfect target for predicted miRNA (hsa miR-378) suggesting the presence of the variant 'T' allele may result in an upregulation of GFPT2 contributing to diabetic renal complication. Epistatic interaction between SNPs in transforming growth factor <it>TGF-β1 </it>(investigated using the same sample set and reported elsewhere) and <it>GFPT2 </it>genotype was observed.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Association of SNPs in <it>RAGE </it>and <it>GFPT2 </it>suggest that the genes involved in modulation of oxidative pathway could be major contributor to diabetic chronic renal insufficiency. In addition, GFPT2 mediated overproduction of TGF-β1 leading to endothelial expansion and thereby CRI seems likely, suggested by our observation of a significant interaction between GFPT2 with TGF-β1 genes. Further, identification of predicted miRNA targets spanning the associated SNP in <it>GFPT2 </it>implicates the rs7725 SNP in transcriptional regulation of the gene, and suggests <it>GFPT2 </it>could be a relevant target for pharmacological intervention. Larger replication studies are needed to confirm these observations.</p

Measurement of the Dipion Mass Spectrum in X(3872) -> J/Psi Pi+ Pi- Decays

We measure the dipion mass spectrum in X(3872)--> J/Psi Pi+ Pi- decays using 360 pb-1 of pbar-p collisions at 1.96 TeV collected with the CDF II detector. The spectrum is fit with predictions for odd C-parity (3S1, 1P1, and 3DJ) charmonia decaying to J/Psi Pi+ Pi-, as well as even C-parity states in which the pions are from Rho0 decay. The latter case also encompasses exotic interpretations, such as a D0-D*0Bar molecule. Only the 3S1 and J/Psi Rho hypotheses are compatible with our data. Since 3S1 is untenable on other grounds, decay via J/Psi Rho is favored, which implies C=+1 for the X(3872). Models for different J/Psi-Rho angular momenta L are considered. Flexibility in the models, especially the introduction of Rho-Omega interference, enable good descriptions of our data for both L=0 and 1.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures -- Submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Search for Higgs Boson Decaying to b-bbar and Produced in Association with W Bosons in p-pbar Collisions at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV

We present a search for Higgs bosons decaying into b-bbar and produced in association with W bosons in p-pbar collisions at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV. This search uses 320 pb-1 of the dataset accumulated by the upgraded Collider Detector at Fermilab. Events are selected that have a high-transverse momentum electron or muon, missing transverse energy, and two jets, one of which is consistent with a hadronization of a b quark. Both the number of events and the dijet mass distribution are consistent with standard model background expectations, and we set 95% confidence level upper limits on the production cross section times branching ratio for the Higgs boson or any new particle with similar decay kinematics. These upper limits range from 10 pb for mH=110 GeV/c2 to 3 pb for mH=150 GeV/c2.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures; updated title to published versio

Search for Second-Generation Scalar Leptoquarks in ppˉ\bm{p \bar{p}} Collisions at s\sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV

Results on a search for pair production of second generation scalar leptoquark in $p \bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=1.96 TeV are reported. The data analyzed were collected by the CDF detector during the 2002-2003 Tevatron Run II and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 198 pb$^{-1}$. Leptoquarks (LQ) are sought through their decay into (charged) leptons and quarks, with final state signatures represented by two muons and jets and one muon, large transverse missing energy and jets. We observe no evidence for $LQ$ production and derive 95% C.L. upper limits on the $LQ$ production cross sections as well as lower limits on their mass as a function of $\beta$, where $\beta$ is the branching fraction for $LQ \to \mu q$.Comment: 9 pages (3 author list) 5 figure

Search for anomalous semileptonic decay of heavy flavor hadrons produced in association with a W boson at CDF II

We present a search for anomalous semileptonic decays of heavy flavor hadrons produced in association with a $W$ boson, in proton-antiproton collisions at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV. We use 162 pb-1 of data collected with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We select events with one W boson and at least one jet with an identified secondary vertex. In the jets with a secondary vertex we look for a semileptonic decay to a muon. We compare the number of jets with both a secondary vertex and a semileptonic decay, and the kinematic properties of these jets, with the standard model expectation of W plus heavy flavor production and decay. No discrepancy is seen between the observation and the expectation, and we set limits on the production cross section of a B-like hadron with an anomalously high semileptonic branching ratio.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, submitted to PRD-RC; replaced to adjust the page forma

Measurement of the Ratios of Branching Fractions B(Bs->Ds- pi+)/B(B0->D-pi+) and B(B+->D0bar pi+)/B(B0->D-pi+)

We report an observation of the decay Bs -> Ds- pi+ in p pbar collisions at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV using 115 pb^(-1) of data collected by the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. We observe 83 +/- 11 Bs -> Ds- pi+ candidates, representing a large increase in statistics over previous measurements and the first observation of this decay at a p pbar collider. We present the first measurement of the relative branching fraction B(Bs -> Ds- pi+) / B(B0 -> D- pi+) = 1.32 +/- 0.18 (stat.) +/- 0.38 (syst.). We also measure B(B+ -> D0bar pi+) / B(B0 -> D- pi+) = 1.97 +/- 0.10(stat.) +/- 0.21(syst.), which is consistent with previous measurements

Precision measurement of the top quark mass from dilepton events at CDF II

We report a measurement of the top quark mass, M_t, in the dilepton decay channel of $t\bar{t}\to b\ell'^{+}\nu_{\ell'}\bar{b}\ell^{-}\bar{\nu}_{\ell}$ using an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb^{-1} of p\bar{p} collisions collected with the CDF II detector. We apply a method that convolutes a leading-order matrix element with detector resolution functions to form event-by-event likelihoods; we have enhanced the leading-order description to describe the effects of initial-state radiation. The joint likelihood is the product of the likelihoods from 78 candidate events in this sample, which yields a measurement of M_{t} = 164.5 \pm 3.9(\textrm{stat.}) \pm 3.9(\textrm{syst.}) \mathrm{GeV}/c^2, the most precise measurement of M_t in the dilepton channel.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, version includes changes made prior to publication by journa